Search

Sarcoplasmic calcium-binding protein is a stable allergen in Scylla paramamosain and named Scy p 4. To explore the importance of linear epitopes in the immunoglobulin G (IgG)/immunoglobulin E (IgE)-binding capacity of Scy p 4, chemical denaturants were used to destroy the structure. Scy p 4 was reduced with dithiothreitol and subsequently alkylated with iodoacetamide (IAA). Furthermore, the structural analysis indicated that IAA-Scy p 4 was an unstructured protein. The inhibition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay showed that IAA-Scy p 4 could inhibit the binding of Scy p 4 to sensitize serum, with inhibition rates reached 55%. Moreover, the linear mimotopes of Scy p 4 were predicted in silico. Three linear epitopes were verified by serological tests and named L-Scy p 4-1 (AA76-91), L-Scy p 4-2 (AA111-125), and L-Scy p 4-3 (AA137-146). Overall, these data provide an understanding of the relationship between the structure and allergenicity about Scy p 4, and the identified linear epitopes can be used for diagnosis and food processing of shellfish allergy.

Scallop (Chlamys nobilis) causes an IgE-mediated food allergy; however, studies of the allergens in its musculus are not sufficiently comprehensive. In this context, the target protein was purified from scallops and confirmed to be the major allergen tropomyosin (TM) using proteomic technology and serological testing. Subsequently, seven potential IgE epitopes of TM were obtained using phage display technology with IgE enrichment from the serum of scallop-sensitized patients and identified via inhibition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. A method for the Maillard reaction of TM and xylose was established, and Maillard-reacted TM (MR-TM) showed significantly decreased immunobinding activity and CD63 and CD203c expression in basophils compared with TM. Furthermore, shotgun proteomics analysis showed that eleven specific amino acids (K12, R15, K28, K76, R125, R127, K128, R133, R140, K146, and K189) of the six IgE epitopes of TM were modified after the Maillard reaction. Overall, the immunoactivity of MR-TM was reduced, which provides a theoretical reference for the development of hypoallergenic foods.

Sarcoplasmic-calcium-binding protein (SCP) has been investigated as a novel allergen in Crassostrea angulata. Nevertheless, knowledge of its effector-cell-based allergic relevance and epitopes is limited. In this study, the heat-resistant allergen SCP was able to induce significant upregulation of CD63 and CD203c (p < 0.05), which showed obvious allergenicity in a basophil activation test. Furthermore, immunoinformatic tools, a one-bead-one-compound peptide library, and phage display technology were combined to analyze the allergenic epitopes of SCP. Five linear epitopes named L-SCP-1 (AA22-33), L-SCP-2 (AA64-75), L-SCP-3 (AA80-90), L-SCP-4 (AA107-116), and L-SCP-5 (AA144-159) were verified using serological tests. Additionally, two conformational epitopes (C-SCP-1 and C-SCP-2) were determined, and C-SCP-1 was located at one of the calcium-binding sites (AA106-117). Moreover, SCP showed weaker typical α-helical features and higher hydrophobicity after Ca2+ depletion, which reduced its IgE-binding capacity. Overall, these epitope data could enhance our understanding of oyster allergens, which could be used to develop hypoallergenic shellfish products.

Oyster is a common food that causes allergy. However, little information is available about its allergens and cross-reactivity. In this study, arginine kinase (AK) was identified as a novel allergen in Crassostrea angulata. The primary sequence of AK was cloned which encoded 350 amino acids, and recombinant AK (rAK) was obtained. The immunodot results, secondary structure and digestive stability showed that native AK and rAK had similar IgG/IgE-binding activity and physicochemical properties. Serological analysis of 14 oyster-sensitive individuals demonstrated that AK exhibited cross-reactivity among oysters, shrimps, and crabs. Furthermore, nine epitopes in oyster AK were verified using inhibition dot blots and inhibition enzyme linked immunosorbent assay, six of which were similar to the epitopes of shrimp/crab AK. The most conserved epitopes were P5 (121–133) and P6 (133–146), which may be responsible for the cross-reactivity caused by AK. These findings will provide a deeper understanding of oyster allergens and cross-reactivity among shellfish.

Anterior percutaneous endoscopic cervical discectomy (APECD) is a common treatment for cervical spondylotic radiculopathy (CSR). In this study, the effects of various channel diameters and approach angles on cervical vertebrae on postoperative outcomes in APECD surgery were explored. A finite element model of intact cervical C

Carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins are the three major nutrients required by the human body. The lipids, comprising triglycerides, phospholipids, and sterols, provide energy and essential fatty acids for the body, and are required for the growth and maintenance of human cells and tissues. A variety of lipid molecules and their intermediates are involved in cell signaling and inflammation, and have been reported to promote tumor transformation and progression. Fatty acid biosynthetic enzymes are also involved in the lipid metabolism of tumors. Dyslipidemia is closely related to many solid tumors, and may both play a role in both tumorigenesis and be a consequence of tumor development. Therefore, abnormal lipid metabolism is strongly associated with tumor transformation and progression. This review discusses the signaling pathways, related genes, enzymes, and inflammatory cell factors involved in tumor lipid metabolism, as well as the roles of dyslipidemia in tumor transformation and progression. We believe the information provided will serve as valuable reference highlighting molecules that can be targeted to improve the treatment of tumors.

Objective To ascertain the biomechanical effects of a degenerated L4 -L5 segment on the lower lumbar spine through a comprehensive simulation of disc degeneration. Methods A three-dimensional nonlinear finite element model of a normal L3 -S1 lumbar spine was constructed and validated. This normal model was then modified such that three degenerated models with different degrees of degeneration (mild, moderate, or severe) at the L4 -L5 level were constructed. While experiencing a follower compressive load (500 N), hybrid moment loads were applied to all models to determine range of motion (ROM), intradiscal pressure (IDP), maximum von Mises stress in the annulus, maximum shear stress in the annulus, and facet joint force. Results As the degree of disc degeneration increased, the ROM of the L4 -L5 degenerated segment declined dramatically in all postures (flexion: 5.79°-1.91°; extension: 5.53°-2.62°; right lateral bending: 4.47°-1.46°; left lateral bending: 4.86°-1.61°; right axial rotation: 2.69°-0.74°; left axial rotation: 2.69°-0.74°), while the ROM in adjacent segments increased (1.88°-8.19°). The largest percent decrease in motion of the L4 -L5 segment due to disc degeneration was in right axial rotation (75%), left axial rotation (69%), flexion (67%), right lateral bending (67%), left lateral bending right (67%), and extension (53%). The change in the trend of the IDP was the same as that of the ROM. Specifically, the IDP decreased (flexion: 0.592-0.09 MPa; extension: 0.678-0.334 MPa; right lateral bending: 0.498-0.205 MPa; left lateral bending: 0.523-0.272 MPa; right axial rotation: 0.535-0.246 MPa; left axial rotation: 0.53-0.266 MPa) in the L4 -L5 segment, while the IDP in adjacent segments increased (0.511-0.789 MPa). The maximum von Mises stress and maximum shear stress of the annulus in whole lumbar spine segments increased (L4 -L5 segment: 0.413-2.626 MPa and 0.412-2.783 MPa, respectively; adjacent segment of L4 -L5 : 0.356-1.493 MPa and 0.359-1.718 MPa, respectively) as degeneration of the disc progressively increased. There was no apparent regularity in facet joint force in the degenerated segment as the degree of disc degeneration increased. Nevertheless, facet joint forces in adjacent healthy segments increased as the degree of disc degeneration increased (extension: 49.7-295.3 N; lateral bending: 3.5-171.2 N; axial rotation: 140.2-258.8 N). Conclusion Degenerated discs caused changes in the motion and loading pattern of the degenerated segments and adjacent normal segments. The abnormal load and motion in the degenerated models risked accelerating degeneration in the adjacent normal segments. In addition, accurate simulation of degenerated facet joints is essential for predicting changes in facet joint loads following disc degeneration.

Background and purpose Anxiety disorder is a common mental health disorder. However, there are few safe and fast-acting anxiolytic drugs available that can treat anxiety disorder. We previously demonstrated that the interaction of neuronal NOS (nNOS) with its carboxy-terminal PDZ ligand (CAPON) is involved in regulating anxiety-related behaviours. Here, we further investigated the anxiolytic effects of nNOS-CAPON disruptors in chronic stress-induced anxiety in animals. Experimental approach Mice were intravenously treated with nNOS-CAPON disruptors, ZLc-002 or Tat-CAPON12C, at the last week of chronic mild stress (CMS) exposure. We also infused corticosterone (CORT) into the hippocampus of mice to model anxiety behaviours and also delivered ZLc-002 or Tat-CAPON12C on the last week of chronic CORT treatment via pre-implanted cannula. Anxiety-related behaviours were examined using elevated plus maze, open field, novelty-suppressed feeding and light-dark (LD) tests. The level of nNOS-CAPON interaction was determined by co-immunoprecipitation (CO-IP) and proximity ligation assay (PLA). The neural mechanisms underlying the behavioural effects of nNOS-CAPON uncoupling in anxiety animal models were assessed by western blot, immunofluorescence and Golgi-Cox staining. Key results ZLc-002 and Tat-CAPON12C reversed CMS- or CORT-induced anxiety-related behaviours. ZLc-002 and Tat-CAPON12C increased synaptogenesis along with improved dendritic remodelling in CMS mice or CORT-treated cultured neurons. Meanwhile, blocking nNOS-CAPON interaction significantly activated the cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB)-brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) pathway, which is associated with synaptic plasticity. Conclusion and implications Collectively, these results provide evidence for the anxiolytic effects of nNOS-CAPON uncouplers and their underlying mechanisms in anxiety disorders.

Oysters are an important shellfish group known to cause food allergy; however, knowledge of their sensitization components and cross-reactivity is limited. This study aimed to identify a novel allergen in Crassostrea angulata and investigate its cross-reactivity. To this end, a 20 kDa protein was purified from oyster and confirmed to be a sarcoplasmic-calcium-binding protein (SCP) by LC-MS/MS. A 537 bp open reading frame was obtained from oyster SCP total RNA, which encoded 179 amino acids, and was expressed in Escherichia coli. According to the circular dichroism results, digestion assay, and inhibition ELISA, the recombinant SCP (rSCP) exhibited similar physicochemical properties and IgG-binding activity to native SCP. rSCP displayed stronger IgE-binding activity by immunological method. Moreover, a different intensity of cross-reactivity and sequence homology were demonstrated between shellfish species. Collectively, these findings provide novel insight into shellfish allergens, which can be used to aid in the in vitro diagnosis of oyster-sensitized patients.

Numerous clinical studies investigated how low expression of CD9 predicts poor prognosis of solid tumor. However, the results were inconclusive. This present meta-analysis was therefore performed to determine the prognostic value of CD9 expression in solid tumors. In this meta-analysis, 25 studies involving 5,555 participants were included; the result showed strong significant associations between declined expression of CD9 and all endpoints: overall survival (OS) (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.88, 95% CI = 1.45–2.43, p < 0.000) and time to progression (TTP) (HR = 2.0, 95% CI = 1.38–2.88, p < 0.000). The subgroup analysis was also performed, which revealed that the associations between CD9 downregulated expression related to poor OS in lung cancer and head and neck cancer. Also, low expression of CD9 was significantly connected with poor TTP in patients with head and neck cancer. The adverse prognostic impact of decreased expression of CD9 was observed in patients of different ethnicities. In conclusion, these results showed that declined expression of CD9 was associated with poor survival in human solid tumors. CD9 may be a valuable prognostic predictive biomarker and a potential therapeutic target in human solid tumors.

Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is common and affects approximately 15% of individuals at different ages and activity levels. As a non-surgical intervention, physiotherapy is widely used to treat PFPS. Neuromuscular training exercise is one of the most effective methods for decreasing musculoskeletal pain and improving knee function. However, the effectiveness of neuromuscular training exercise for treating PFPS is not without argument. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of neuromuscular training exercise on patellofemoral pain and whether the neuromuscular training exercise have more advantage effects than taping and health education. We will operate a prospective, single-blind, randomized controlled trial of 60 patients with patellofemoral pain. Individuals will be indiscriminately assigned to two intervention groups and a health education group. The neuromuscular training exercise which includes the muscle strength training, balance training and knee joint proprioception training, and taping group will use “Y” and “I” type taping on the participants three times a week for three months. The health education group will be given education lectures once each week and which last for three months. The primary outcome measures include the adverse events, visual analog scale for pain, and Anterior Knee Pain Scale Index, which is a knee function self-report questionnaire to evaluate the function of the knee especially for PFPS patients. The secondary outcome measures are the muscle strength and endurance of knee joint flexion and extensor muscles, knee joint proprioception, muscle thickness of the quadriceps femoris, knee function ability, and quality of life. We will manage the intention-to-treat analysis for individuals who will withdraw from this study. According to previous studies, neuromuscular training exercise and the taping method are effective treatment for PFPS patients. In this study, we will perform a neuromuscular training exercise for patients with PFPS. We believe that this study may prove the effectiveness of neuromuscular training exercise in treating PFPS. Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR1800014995 . Registered on 27 February 2018.

Background In patients with diabetic foot ulcers requiring flap reconstruction, the choice of local flaps is limited by the lack of adequate tissue available. Free flaps are often bulky, presenting footwear difficulty due to poor contouring. Here, we present our experience of using the proximal lateral leg perforator flap in the reconstruction of thin diabetic foot ulcers. Methods This is a retrospective study of 17 patients with diabetic foot ulcers reconstructed with the proximal lateral leg perforator flap during January 2013 and December 2015. Results Nine patients had varying degrees of peripheral arterial disease. The perforator was located 7 to 14 cm (mean, 9.7 cm) from the fibula head. The pedicle length ranged from 5 to 9 cm (mean, 6.9 cm). The arterial diameter of the pedicle measured 0.8 to 1.9 mm (mean, 1.4 mm). There was 1 total flap failure. One other flap complicated by venous thrombosis was successfully salvaged. All donor sites were closed primarily without morbidities. All the wounds were stable without recurrent ulceration during a mean follow-up time of 12 months. Conclusion The thin, pliable proximal lateral leg perforator flap is an option for the reconstruction of small to moderate diabetic foot defects especially when it is located over the dorsal foot or the ankle. The flap is simple and quick to harvest without sacrificing a major artery. Although it is limited by the short length and the small diameter of the pedicle, for experienced microsurgeons, the success rate is high.

Background Dyslipidaemia is a well-known risk factor for the development of atherosclerosis, however, little is known about the effect of dyslipidaemia on intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD). Thus, the purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between dyslipidaemia and IVDD, and to identify the possible mechanism by which dyslipidaemia aggravates the degeneration of intervertebral discs. Methods Hyperlipidaemia rats were induced, thirty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups: normal chow diet control group (CON) and high-fat diet group (HFD) for 8 weeks. And then, a rat disc degeneration model was established, rats were divided into three experimental groups: the normal chow diet + sham surgery group (CON-Sham); the normal chow diet + needle puncture group (CON-NP); and the high-fat diet + needle puncture group (HFD-NP), all rats were continually fed with normal chow diet or HFD 8 weeks. At the end of the experiment, the discs were harvested and histomorphological analysis, immunohistochemistry staining, real-time PCR and western blot were performed for all groups. Results The degenerative histological score of disc in the HFD-NP group was significantly higher than the CON-NP group. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed remarkable reductions in aggrecan and collagen type II expressions, and significant increases in IL-1β, TNF-α, MMP-13, HIF-1α and P65 expression in the HFD-NP group. RT-PCR and western blot analysis showed that the mRNA levels and protein expressions of MMP-13 and TIMP-1 were higher in the HFD-NP group. Conclusions Hyperlipidaemia resulted in an exaggerated degenerative changes and altered expression and transcription of the degeneration-associated molecules in the rat disc tissue. These results raise the possibility that hyperlipidaemia may accelerate the progression of disc degeneration.

With great interest, we read a study about a novel model modification for end-stage liver disease-sodium (MELD).(1) Starlinger P and colleagues concluded that the addition of C-reactive protein (CRP) and von Willebrand factor antigen (vWF-Ag) to the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease-Sodium (MELD-Na) improves the prediction of waitlist mortality. However, several crucial concerns attached our due attention.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate a possible association between changes in low parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels and cardiac function decline in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients. Methods: A total of 150 MHD patients were included and followed for 24 months. The enrolled patients were divided into 3 groups based on their PTH status at baseline and 24 months. Factors potentially involved in changes in the PTH level and cardiac function were compared using multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: At 24 months, the presence of low PTH levels increased by 26.7%. The main independent factors for low PTH levels were a low BMI, hemoglobin, and serum albumin and high serum calcium (p < 0.05). A persistently low PTH level at 24 months was associated with a decrease in the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and increase in valvular calcification (p < 0.05). Additionally, a decrease in PTH levels from normal or high to low values was associated with a decrease in LVEF and cardiac output (CO) and an increase in valvular calcification (p < 0.05). Furthermore, compared with those of the persistently low PTH level group, LVEF values were lower at 24 months in the group with a decrease from high/normal to low PTH level (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Persistently low PTH levels and changes in the PTH level from high/normal to low were associated with cardiac function decline in MHD patients. Moreover, a PTH level change from high/normal to low showed a stronger correlation with cardiac function decline.

Background The number of oblique lumbar interbody fusion (OLIF) procedures has continued to rise over recent years. Adjacent segment degeneration (ASD) is a common complication following vertebral body fusion. Although the precise mechanism remains uncertain, ASD has gradually become more common in OLIF. Therefore, the present study analyzed the association between disc degeneration and OLIF to explore whether adjacent degeneration was promoted by OLIF in degenerative disc disease. Methods A three-dimensional nonlinear finite element (FE) model of the L3-S1 lumbar spine was developed and validated. Three lumbar spine degeneration models with different degrees of degeneration (mild, moderate and severe) and a model of OLIF surgery were constructed at the L4-L5 level. When subjected to a follower compressive load (500 N), hybrid moment loading was applied to all models of the lumbar spine and the range of motion (ROM), intradiscal pressure (IDP), facet joint force (FJF), average mises stress in the annulus (AMSA), average tresca stress in the annulus (ATSA) and average endplate stress (AES) were measured. Results Compared with the healthy lumbar spine model, the ROM, IDP, FJF, AMSA, ATSA and AES of the segments adjacent to the degenerated segment increased in each posture as the degree of disc degeneration increased. In different directions of motion, the ROM, IDP, FJF, AMSA, ATSA and AES in the OLIF model in the L3-L4 and L5-S1 segments were higher than those of the healthy model and each degenerated model. Compared with the healthy model, the largest relative increase in biomechanical parameters above (ROM, IDP, FJF, AMSA, ATSA or AES) was observed in the L3-L4 segment in the OLIF model, of 77.13%, 32.63%, 237.19%, 45.36%, 110.92% and 80.28%, respectively. In the L5-S1 segment the corresponding values were 68.88%, 36.12%, 147.24%, 46.00%, 45.88% and 51.29%, respectively. Conclusions Both degenerated discs and OLIF surgery modified the pattern of motion and load distribution of adjacent segments (L3-L4 and L5-S1 segments). The increases in the biomechanical parameters of segments adjacent to the surgical segment in the OLIF model were more apparent than those of the degenerated models. In summary, OLIF risked accelerating the degeneration of segments adjacent to those of a surgical segment.

Mud crab (Scylla paramamosain) is widely consumed after thermal processing. It is necessary to comprehensively evaluate of the allergenic potential and epitopes of allergens in high temperature-pressure (HTP) treated S. paramamosain. Tropomyosin and arginine kinase presented higher prevalence (30.77% and 42.13%) than the other three important crab allergens by component-resolved diagnosis. The surface expression of basophils CD63 and CD203c were decreased in HTP treated crab, an effect that was even more evident after digestion and absorption by the intestinal Caco-2 cell model. Of the 35 stable epitope, six were for the first time identified in shellfish. Seven heat/digested stable peptides of tropomyosin retained IgE-binding capacity and were shown to interact with MHC-II. Five epitopes (amino acids 19-29, 99-109, 153-162, 170-188 and 211-221) were the first identified in crab. The study provides insight into prevention and therapy of crab allergy, as well as helps to reduce crab allergenicity during thermal processing.

Neck injury is one of the most frequent spine injuries due to the complex structure of the cervical spine. The high incidence of neck injuries in collision accidents can bring a heavy economic burden to the society. Therefore, knowing the potential mechanisms of cervical spine injury and dysfunction is significant for improving its prevention and treatment. The research on cervical spine dynamics mainly concerns the fields of automobile safety, aeronautics, and astronautics. Numerical simulation methods are beneficial to better understand the stresses and strains developed in soft tissues with investigators and have been roundly used in cervical biomechanics. In this article, the simulation methods for the development and application of cervical spine dynamic problems in the recent years have been reviewed. The study focused mainly on multibody and finite element models. The structure, material properties, and application fields, especially the whiplash injury, were analyzed in detail. It has been shown that simulation methods have made remarkable progress in the research of cervical dynamic injury mechanisms, and some suggestions on the research of cervical dynamics in the future have been proposed.

Backgroud The use of rhBMP-2 in anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is still “off-label” therapy because of higher incidence of potential complications such as adverse swelling, dysphagia, and airway compromise. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether the low dose rhBMP-2 (0.5 mg/level) decreases the incidence and severity of local complications in ACDF. Methods 173 consecutively patients from June 2015 to March 2016 at seven participating centers in the China were enrolled. All the patients had primary one- or two-level ACDF with either rhBMP-2(BMP, n=110) or iliac-crest bone autograft (IGB, n=63) were analyzed. Patients in both groups had compared preoperative pain and disability. The follow up timing was postoperative third days, postoperative-1, 3, 6 and 12 months. Results Patient demographics have no significantly difference between the BMP group and IGB group pre-operation (P>0.05). No significant difference in overall dysphagia incidence between the two groups (p > 0.05). There was significant difference of PSTS at C3 level between two groups at all interval time (P0.05). Conclusion The adverse events associated with low dose rhBMP-2 for one- and two-level ACDF are rare. We recommend placing the rhBMP-2 carrier in the center of cage, and bilateral coverage of the carrier with excised local osteophytes.

Objective To make a bibliometric analysis of global trends in research into exercise interventions for low back pain between 1980 and 2018. Methods Systematic literature, published from 1980 to 2018, was obtained from the Web of Science Core Collection database. CiteSpace software was used to analyse the relationship between publications and country, institution, journals, authors, references, and key words. Results A total of 1,140 publications were included in the analysis. Over the period studied there was an increase in the number of publications. A total of 276 academic journals focused on the categories Rehabilitation, Orthopedics, and Sports Science. The USA and the University of Sydney were the most productive country and institution, respectively. Spine, which is the main journal for research into exercise for managing low back pain, had the most publications. Burst key words showed that the stability, balance, and gait of individuals with low back pain have become the research development trend and focus in this field of research. Conclusion Overall, studies on exercise for low back pain have increased in number in the last 4 decades. This historical overview of research into exercise interventions for low back pain will be a useful basis for further research into potential collaborators, focus issues, and development trend.

The plant extract piperine is used as a traditional Chinese medicine due to its anti-inflammatory effects and efficacy against numerous types of cancer. The aim of the present study was to investigate the antitumor mechanism of piperine in human osteosarcoma U2OS and 143B cell lines. The effects of piperine on cell apoptosis and invasion of human osteosarcoma cells were assessed using flow cytometry and Transwell assays. Moreover, western blotting was used to measure the effects of piperine on the protein expression levels of the metastasis markers matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). In addition, the involvement of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in modulating the effects of piperine was examined via western blot analysis. The results of MTT and Transwell invasion assays indicated that piperine treatment dose-dependently reduced U2OS and 143B cell viability and invasion. Furthermore, a significant reduction was identified in MMP-2, VEGF, glycogen synthase kinase-3β and β-catenin protein expression levels, as well as the expression levels of their target proteins cyclooxygenase-2, cyclin D1 and c-myc, in U2OS cells after piperine treatment. In addition, similar results were observed in 143B cells. Therefore, the present study demonstrated the efficacy of piperine in osteosarcoma, and identified that the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway may modulate the antitumor effects of piperine on human U2OS and 143B cells.

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text, Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is one of the most frequent malignancies of salivary glands. The objective of this study was to identify key genes and potential mechanisms during ACC samples. The gene expression profiles of GSE88804 data set were downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus. The GSE88804 data set contained 22 samples, including 15 ACC samples and 7 normal salivary gland tissues. The gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses were constructed, and protein–protein interaction network of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) was performed by Cytoscape. The top 10 hub genes were analyzed based on Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis. Then, DEGs between ACC samples and normal salivary gland samples were analyzed by gene set enrichment analysis. Furthermore, miRTarBase and Cytoscape were used for visualization of miRNA-mRNA regulatory network. KEGG pathway analysis was undertaken using DIANA-miRPath v3.0. In total, 382 DEGs were identified, including 119 upregulated genes and 263 downregulated genes. GO analysis showed that DEGs were mainly enriched in extracellular matrix organization, extracellular matrix, and calcium ion binding. KEGG pathway analysis showed that DEGs were mainly enriched in p53 signaling pathway and salivary secretion. Expression analysis and survival analysis showed that ANLN, CCNB2, CDK1, CENPF, DTL, KIF11, and TOP2A are all highly expressed, which all may be related to poor overall survival. Predicted miRNAs of 7 hub DEGs mainly enriched in proteoglycans in cancer and pathways in cancer. This study indicated that identified DEGs and hub genes might promote our understanding of molecular mechanisms, which might be used as molecular targets or diagnostic biomarkers for ACC.

Background. Researchers are highly interested in the study of nonspecific low back pain (NSLBP). However, few have attempted to collect global data, analyze the emerging trends, and conduct reviews from the perspectives of visualization and bibliometrics. Purpose. We aimed to evaluate research situation and capture subsequent developmental dynamics regarding NSLBP via CiteSpace. Methods. Publications on NSLBP in recent 19 years were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC). We used CiteSpace to analyze publication outputs, document types, countries, institutions, journals, authors, references, and keywords. Knowledge foundation, hot topics, and future direction were then stated. Results. A total of 1099 papers were collected, and the trend of annual publications maintained growth with small fluctuations. Australia (188) and the University of Sydney (76) were the most prolific country and institution, respectively. The Netherlands (0.84) and the University of Sydney (0.47) had the maximum centrality, thus indicating that they have importance in this field. The journal Spine (publication: 87, cocitation counts: 942) ranked first in terms of the volume of publications and cocitation counts. Maher CG (52) who published the most papers and Waddell G (286) who was cited most frequently were the leading authors, thus making strong academic influences. “Motor control exercise” was the largest cluster, which contained most related research articles. 14 references with the strongest citation counts were cited until 2018, thus implying the future development trend. Current hotspots were treatment, meta-analysis, method, and risk factors. Spine, efficacy, adult, and meta-analysis can be regarded as research frontiers. Conclusion. This study offers insights into the trend of NSLBP to determine major research countries and institutions, core journals, pivotal authors, overall development tendency, hot topics, and research frontiers. Moreover, it will help researchers extract hidden valuable information for further study.

Objective. To investigate the intra- and inter-rater reliability of three measurements on painful and pain-free sides in participants with chronic low back pain (CLBP) at different ages. Methods. We recruited 60 participants with CLBP and divided them equally into a group of younger participants with chronic low back pain (18 ≤ age ≤ 35, Y-CLBP) and a group of older participants with chronic low back pain (36 ≤ age ≤ 65, O-CLBP). Participants were assessed by two testers within the same day (10 min interval), and one of the testers repeated the assessment program 24 h later. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to assess reliability. The Pearson correlation coefficient was used to analyze the correlation between tactile acuity and age, waistline, and pain-related variables. Results. In the Y-CLBP group, the intra-rater reliability of two-point discrimination (TPD), point-to-point test (PTP), and two-point estimation (TPE) on the painful and pain-free sides was good (ICC range: 0.74–0.85), whereas the inter-rater reliability of TPD, PTP, and TPE on the painful and pain-free sides was moderate to good (ICC range: 0.65–0.76). In the O-CLBP group, the intra-rater reliability of TPD, PTP, and TPE on the painful and pain-free sides was good (ICC range: 0.75–0.85), whereas the inter-rater reliability of TPD, PTP, and TPE on the painful and pain-free sides was moderate to good (ICC range: 0.70–0.85). Age, waistline, duration of pain, maximum pain, general pain, and unpleasant score caused by pain were positively correlated with tactile acuity thresholds (D-TPD, A-TPD, PTP, and TPE) (r > 0.365, p < 0.05 ). When BMI was controlled, age, waistline, and pain-related variables were positively correlated with tactile acuity thresholds (r > 0.388; p < 0.05 ). Conclusion. In the participants of Y-CLBP and O-CLBP groups, TPD, PTP, and TPE have moderate-to-good intra- and inter-rater reliability on the painful and pain-free sides of the fifth lumbar vertebrae.

Physiological aging is associated with a range of medical problems. However, the treatment of aging-associated diseases and prolonging human life are vital to our current aging societies. Panax ginseng, a traditional Chinese medicine, has been shown to have anti-oxidative and anti-aging effects. In the current study, aging rats induced by d-galactose were administered ginsenoside Rg1, then splenocytes and thymocytes were extracted and changes in activity were detected. The results demonstrated that compared with the d-gal group, the level of advanced glycation end products (AGE), the ratio of splenocytes and thymocytes in G0 phase (%), and apoptosis (%) of splenocytes and thymocytes, the ratio (%) of SA-gal positive splenocytes and thymocytes, the content of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA), the ratio of glutathione (GSH) to oxidized glutathione (GSSG) and senescence-associated protein expression were significantly decreased and the index of the spleen and thymus, the proportion of white pulp in the spleen, the proportion of cortex in the thymus, the content of interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-6 (IL-6), granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), and the proliferative capacity of splenocytes and thymocytes were increased in the Rg1+ d-gal group. These findings demonstrated that ginsenoside Rg1 may antagonize spleen and thymus damage in d-galactose-induced aging rats by alleviating oxidative stress injury and down-regulating the expression of senescence-associated protein.

The functional characterization of non-coding microRNAs (miRNAs) has been shown to be associated with the pathophysiology of the disease, but it is still a challenging task to elucidate the pathogenesis of microRNAs and disease. In addition, the understanding of the role of miRNAs in the development of LSCC still needs further exploration.In this study, to identify miRNAs that play a key role in LSCC, we analyzed miRNA and mRNA sequence data from 162 LSCC samples from the TCGA database, and screened specific miRNAs and mRNAs by differential gene expression analysis. And then, construct a differentially expressed miRNAs and mRNAs interaction network.In our investigation, 23 miRNAs (P 0.01, log2FoldChange 2) and 331 mRNAs (P 0.01, log2FoldChange 4) were identified differentially expressed in LSCC and reduced the number of loosely linked miRNAs and mRNAs according to appropriate thresholds. Finally, 13 miRNAs and 35 mRNAs were enriched in a network.Our study provides the most comprehensive information on the expression of miRNAs in LSCC and identifies the known oncogenic miRNAs (such as miR-163a), as well as aberrant expression of novel miRNAs involved in cell regulation and metabolic defects that occur during development of LSCC.

The hematopoietic system is one of the potential targets of lead intoxication. Recognition of the lead-related deleterious outcomes promotes us to explore the potential therapeutic intervention. Here, we show that ginsenoside Rg1 (Rg1), extracted from the Chinese herb Panax ginseng, remarkably ameliorates the lead acetate-caused hematological index distortion as well as advanced hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) aging and aging associated inflammation response. Specifically, Rg1 administration alleviated the increment of aging associated p53-p21-Rb signaling in aged HSCs induced by lead acetate. It also led a reduction of the lead acetate-induced increased inflammation level in blood plasma, which also partly contribute the aged HSCs rejuvenation. In conclusion, our results indicate that ginsenoside Rg1 therapeutically alleviated the essential blood deficits and advanced HSCs aging by lead acetate exposure, by which it could be viewed as a potential candidate for lead acetate-caused blood toxicity treatment.

The myofibril-bound serine proteinase (MBSP) from the skeletal muscle of fish belongs to a class of trypsin-like serine proteinases with higher thermal stability than trypsin. To investigate the mechanism responsible for the thermal stability of MBSP from Crucian carp , mutagenesis of key residues were identified by amino acid sequence alignments and Protein Mutant Stability Prediction online prediction software. Meanwhile, five mutants (MutP95T, MutR125N, MutA127S, MutI130D, and MutA127S/I130D) were obtained using site-directed mutagenesis. The mutants and wild-type enzymes were expressed in Pichia pastoris (SMD1168), the secondary structure of the mutants of MBSP was approximately similar to that of wild-type MBSP by circular dichroism spectroscopy analysis. The thermal Inactivation parameters showed that the half-life for thermal inactivation ( t 1/2 ) of MutP95T was reduced by approximately 10 min, whereas MutA127S, MutI130D and MutA127S/I130D were more stable than the wild-type and increased by approximately 18 min, 15 min and 24 min, respectively. The unfolding free energy difference (ΔΔG) between the variants and wild-type of MutA127S, MutI130D and MutA127S/I130D was enhanced when compared with the wild-type. As a result, the mutants were efficiently produced with altered thermal stability, and MBSP could potentially be used as novel tool enzyme for mass spectrometric identification.

Guanjiang Huang,1,* Mengsi Luo,2,* Jingxuan Zhang,1 Hongbing Liu1 1Department of Otolaryngology– Head and Neck Surgery, 2Department of Anesthesiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, People’s Republic of China *These authors contributed equally to this work Background and objectives: The voice quality assessment of laser surgery (LS) in comparison with radiotherapy (RT) remains uncertain in T1a glottic carcinoma treatment. This systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to compare the voice quality of the two treatments.Methods: Searches were conducted in PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane with the following index words: glotti*, layn*, vocal cord, vocal, surgery, cordectomy, laser, radiation, irradiation, radiotherapy, cancer, and carcinoma for relative studies that compared the voice quality between LS and RT. Random-effect models were used, and heterogeneity was assessed.Results: A total of 14 studies were included in the analysis, consisting of 1 randomized controlled trial, 1 prospective study, and 12 retrospective studies. RT has increased the maximum phonation time (MPT; mean difference [MD]=-1.89, 95% confidence interval [CI]=-3.66 to -0.11, P=0.04) and decreased the fundamental frequency (MD=14.06, 95% CI=10.30–17.83, P

// Yan Lv 1, * , Meng Si 2, * , Nannan Chen 3, * , Ya Li 3, * , Xingkai Ma 4 , Huijun Yang 4 , Ling Zhang 1 , Hongyan Zhu 1 , Guang-yin Xu 1, 3 , Ge-ping Wu 1, 4 and C. Cao 3 1 Center of Translational Medicine, The First People Hospital of Zhangjiagang City, Soochow University, Suzhou, China 2 Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China 3 Institute of Neuroscience, Soochow University, Suzhou, China 4 Department of Otolaryngology, The First People Hospital of Zhangjiagang City, Soochow University, Suzhou, China * These authors have contributed equally to this work Correspondence to: Ge-ping Wu, email: gordon-wu@qq.com C. Cao, email: caocong@suda.edu.cn Guang-yin Xu, email: guangyinxu@suda.edu.cn Keywords: TBX2, nasopharyngeal cancer, invasion, proliferation, siRNA Received: December 06, 2016 Accepted: March 12, 2017 Published: April 13, 2017 ABSTRACT TBX2 is a member of the T box transcription factor family. Its expression and potential biological functions in nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) cells are studied here. We showed that TBX2 mRNA and protein expression was significantly elevated in multiple human NPC tissues, as compared with that in adjacent normal tissues. Knockdown of TBX2 by targeted-siRNA significantly inhibited proliferation and invasion of NPC cells (CNE-1 and HONE-1 lines). Meanwhile, TBX2 knockdown also induced G1-phase cell cycle arrest. At the molecular level, we discovered that expressions of several tumor suppressor genes, including p21, p27, phosphatase with tensin homology (PTEN) and E-Cadherin , were increased dramatically after TBX2 knockdown in above NPC cells. Collectively, our results imply that TBX2 over-expression promotes NPC cell proliferation and invasion, possibly via silencing several key tumor suppressor genes.

The aim of this study was to investigate progranulin (PGRN) expression and its effect in cartilage degradation and in the pathogenesis of osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH). Cartilage specimens were obtained from ONFH and FNF patients and PGRN expression was analyzed by immunohistochemistry, western blot analysis, and RT-PCR. Peripheral blood PGRN level was detected by ELISA. Additionally, primary chondrocytes were cultured and treated with PGRN. Next, the expression of aggrecan and collagen II and the activation of ERK1/2 were detected. We observed that the expression of PGRN was significantly upregulated in ONFH patients' articular cartilage, and recombinant PGRN could promote expression of aggrecan and collagen II and the activation of ERK1/2. Collectively, PGRN can improve chondrocyte anabolism and perform a therapeutic role in the pathogenesis of ONFH. This study helps to elucidate the pathogenesis of ONFH and presents PGRN as a potential target for the treatment of ONFH.

// Xue-Lian Xu 1, * , Hao Cheng 3, * , Meng-Si Tang 1, 2 , Hai-Liang Zhang 1 , Rui-Yan Wu 1 , Yan Yu 1 , Xuan Li 1 , Xiu-Min Wang 1 , Jia Mai 1 , Chen-Lu Yang 1, 2 , Lin Jiao 1 , Zhi-Ling Li 1 , Zhen-Mei Zhong 1, 2 , Rong Deng 1 , Jun-Dong Li 1, 2 , Xiao-Feng Zhu 1 1 State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Cancer Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510060, China 2 Department of Gynecological Oncology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China 3 The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510060, China * These authors have contributed equally to this work Correspondence to: Xiao-Feng Zhu, email: zhuxf@sysucc.org.cn Jun-Dong Li, email: lijd@sysucc.org.cn Keywords: LODDS, epithelial ovarian cancer, nomogram, prognosis, SEER Received: July 20, 2016 Accepted: November 22, 2016 Published: December 22, 2016 ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: To develop and validate a nomogram based on log of odds between the number of positive lymph node and the number of negative lymph node (LODDS) in predicting the overall survival (OS) and cancer specific survival (CSS) for epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 10,692 post-operative EOC patients diagnosed between 2004 and 2013 were obtained from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database and randomly divided into training (n = 7,021) and validation (n = 3,671) cohorts. Multiple clinical pathological parameters were assessed and compared with outcomes. Parameters significantly correlating with outcomes were used to build a nomogram. Bootstrap validation was subsequently used to assess the predictive value of the model. RESULTS: In the training set, age at diagnosis, race, marital status, tumor location, stage, grade and LODDS were correlated significantly with outcome in both the univariate and multivariate analyses and were used to develop a nomogram. The nomogram demonstrated good accuracy in predicting OS and CSS, with a bootstrap-corrected concordance index of 0.757 (95% CI, 0.746-0.768) for OS and 0.770 (95% CI, 0.759-0.782) for CSS. Notably, in this population our model performed favorably compared to the currently utilized Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) model, with concordance indices of 0.699 (95% CI, 0.688-0.710, P < 0.05) and 0.719 (95% CI, 0.709- 0.730, P < 0.05) for OS and CSS, respectively. Using our nomogram in the validation cohort, the C-indices were 0.757 (95% CI, 0.741-0.773, P < 0.05, compared to FIGO) for OS and 0.762 (95% CI, 0.746-0.779, P < 0.05, compared to FIGO) for CSS. CONCLUSIONS: LODDS works as an independent prognostic factor for predicting survival in patients with EOC regardless of the tumor stage. By incorporating LODDS, our nomogram may be superior to the currently utilized FIGO staging system in predicting OS and CSS among post-operative EOC patients.

Background The effect of high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) therapy in patients after planned extubation remains inconclusive. We aimed to perform a rigorous and comprehensive systematic meta-analysis to robustly quantify the benefits of HFNC for patients after planned extubation by investigating postextubation respiratory failure and other outcomes. Method We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library from inception to August 2018. Two researchers screened studies and collected the data independently. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and crossover studies were included. The main outcome was postextubation respiratory failure. Results Ten studies (seven RCTs and three crossover studies; HFNC group: 856 patients; Conventional oxygen therapy (COT) group: 852 patients) were included. Compared with COT, HFNC may significantly reduce postextubation respiratory failure (RR, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.41, 0.92; z = 2.38; P = 0.02) and respiratory rates (standardized mean differences (SMD), − 0.70; 95% CI, − 1.16, − 0.25; z = 3.03; P = 0.002) and increase PaO2 (SMD, 0.30; 95% CI, 0.04, 0.56; z = 2.23; P = 0.03). There were no significant differences in reintubation rate, length of ICU and hospital stay, comfort score, PaCO2, mortality in ICU and hospital, and severe adverse events between HFNC and COT group. Conclusions Our meta-analysis demonstrated that compared with COT, HFNC may significantly reduce postextubation respiratory failure and respiratory rates, increase PaO2, and be safely administered in patients after planned extubation. Further large-scale, multicenter studies are needed to confirm our results. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13054-019-2465-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The triosephosphate isomerase (TIM), Scy p 8, is a crab allergen and shows cross-reactivity in the shellfish. Here, recombinant Scy p 8 was expressed, and its crystal structure was determined at a resolution of 1.8 Å. The three-dimensional structure of Scy p 8 is primarily composed of a (β/α)

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text, Immune infiltration of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is closely associated with the patients’ prognosis. However, previous studies have not interpreted the difference of infiltrating immune cells in NPC. We comprehensively analyzed the tumor-infiltrating immune cells present in NPC for the first time, which was based on a scientific deconvolution algorithm (CIBERSORT) and the gene expression data of GSE64634. The fractions of 22 immune cells were assessed to reveal the associations between normal samples and NPC samples. Profiles of immune infiltration vary significantly between normal samples and NPC samples, and the variation could characterize the individual differences. NPC samples contained a higher proportion for M1 macrophages, whereas memory B cells and CD4 memory resting T cells were relatively lower. Our data suggest that the differences in the infiltrating immune cells in NPC and these differences would probably facilitate patient consultation and individualized treatment.

Background. Comorbid pain and depression occur with high prevalence in clinical observations, and published academic journals about them have been increasing in number over time. However, few studies used the bibliometric method to analyze the general aspects of scientific researches on the comorbidity of pain and depression. The aim of this study is to systematically provide global scientific research in the comorbidity of pain and depression from 1980 to 2018. Methods. The published papers were searched between 1980 and 2018 in Web of Science. Publications related to comorbid pain and depression research were included. The language was restricted to English, and no species limitations were specified. Results. A total of 2,519 papers met the inclusion criteria in our study. The results revealed that the publications had a significant growth over time in the comorbidity of pain and depression research (P<0.001) by linear regression analyses. The United States had the largest number of publications and citations and the highest value of H-index. According to subject categories of Web of Science, research areas of the 2,519 papers mainly focused on clinical neurology (28.78%), neurosciences (22.9%), and psychiatry (22.23%). In accordance with types of pain, headache (19.09%) was the most popular topic in the included papers on comorbid pain and depression research. Conclusions. The findings provide useful information for pain and depression researchers to detect new areas related to collaborators, cooperative institutions, popular topics, and research frontiers.

Mud crab (Scylla paramamosain) is a commonly consumed seafood as a result of its high nutritional value; however, it is associated with food allergy. The current understanding of crab allergens remains insufficient. In the present study, an 18 kDa protein was purified from crab muscle and confirmed to be myosin light chain 1 (MLC1) by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-tandem time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Total RNA was isolated and amplified to obtain a MLC1 open reading frame of 462 bp, encoding 154 amino acids. A structural analysis revealed that recombinant MLC1 (rMLC1) expressed in Escherichia coli contained α-helix and random coil. Moreover, rMLC1 displayed strong immunoactivity by dot blot and a basophil activation test. Furthermore, seven allergenic epitopes of MLC1 were predicted, and five critical epitope regions were identified by an inhibition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and human mast cell degranulation assay. This comprehensive research of an allergen helps to conduct component-resolved diagnoses and immunotherapies related to crab allergies.