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Background and purposeThe efficacy and safety of endovascular treatment (EVT) in acute basilar artery occlusion (ABAO) has been confirmed by four randomized clinical trials. Nevertheless, the predictors of a 90-day favorable outcome after EVT have not been elucidated. We attempted to establish a nomogram for the prediction of a 90-day favorable outcome in ABAO patients with EVT.MethodsClinical data of ABAO patients with EVT were obtained from two nationwide clinical trial registries in China. Factors associated with a 90-day favorable outcome were screened by multivariable step-wise regression on the basis of univariable analysis. A nomogram was established to predict 90-day favorable outcome after EVT.ResultsThe proportion of ABAO patients with a favorable outcome was 41.53% (157/378). Seven variables, including baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS)

ObjectThere is mounting clinical evidence that an increase in obesity is linked to an increase in cancer incidence and mortality. Although studies have shown a link between obesity and colon cancer, the particular mechanism of the interaction between obesity and colon cancer in females remains unknown. The goal of this work is to use bioinformatics to elucidate the genetic link between obesity and colon cancer in females and to investigate probable molecular mechanisms.MethodsGSE44076 and GSE199063 microarray datasets were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. In the two microarray datasets and healthy controls, the online tool GEO2R was utilized to investigate the differential genes between obesity and colon cancer. The differential genes (DEGs) identified in the two investigations were combined. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment studies were performed on the DEGs. The STRING database and Cytoscape software were then used to build protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks to discover hub genes. NetworkAnalyst was also used to build networks of target microRNAs (miRNAs) and hub genes, as well as networks of transcriptions.ResultsBetween the two datasets, 146 DEGs were shared. The DEGs are primarily enriched in inflammatory and immune-related pathways, according to GO analysis and KEGG. 14 hub genes were identified via PPI building using the Cytoscape software’s MCODE and CytoNCA plug-ins: TYROBP, CD44, BGN, FCGR3A, CD53, CXCR4, FN1, SPP1, IGF1, CCND1, MMP9, IL2RG, IL6 and CTGF. Key transcription factors for these hub genes include WRNIP1, ATF1, CBFB, and NR2F6. Key miRNAs for these hub genes include hsa-mir-1-3p, hsa-mir-26b-5p, hsa-mir-164a-5p and hsa-mir-9-5p.ConclusionOur research provides evidence that changed genes are shared by female patients with colon cancer and obesity. Through pathways connected to inflammation and the immune system, these genes play significant roles in the emergence of both diseases. We created a network between hub genes and miRNAs that target transcription factors, which may offer suggestions for future research in this area.

Monthly runoff forecasting has always been a key problem in water resources management. As a data-driven method, the least square support vector machine (LSSVM) method has been investigated by numerous studies in runoff forecasting. However, selecting appropriate parameters for LSSVM is the key to obtaining satisfactory model performance. In this study, we propose a hybrid model for monthly runoff forecasting, VMD-SSA-LSSVM for short, which combines variational mode decomposition (VMD) with LSSVM and the parameters of LSSVM are optimized by a sparrow search algorithm (SSA). Firstly, VMD is utilized to decompose the original time series data into several subsequences. Secondly, LSSVM is employed to simulate each subsequence, for which the parameters are optimized by SSA. Finally, the simulated results for each subsequence are accumulated as the final results. The validity of the proposed model was verified by forecasting monthly runoff for two reservoirs located in China. Four frequently-used statistical indexes, namely the Nash efficiency coefficient, root mean squared error, correlation coefficient and mean absolute percentage error were used to evaluate model performance. The results demonstrate the superiority of VMD-SSA-LSSVM over the compared models in terms of all statistical indexes, indicating that it is beneficial for enhancing monthly runoff forecast accuracy. HIGHLIGHTS A hybrid model of VMD-SSA-LSSVM is proposed for monthly runoff forecasting.; VMD is utilized to decompose monthly runoff data into several subsequences.; LSSVM is employed to simulate each subsequence and the SSA is used to optimize the parameters of LSSVM.; The forecast results for each subsequence are aggregated as the final forecast results.; The results verify the superiority of the proposed model.;

AIM: To evaluate the accuracy, efficiency, and reliability of a handheld infrared eccentric autorefractor (hICA) with artificial intelligence (AI) by comparing its refraction measurements to those recorded using hICA and a clinical table-mounted automatic refractor (TAR). METHODS: A cross-sectional study using three optometers, including hICA with or without AI and TAR, for refractometry of adults (aged 19-49 years old) with no signs of ocular disease or trauma in the absence of cycloplegia. Right and left eye refraction data were recorded, including the spherical equivalent (SE), diopter of spherical power (DS), diopter of cylindrical power (DC) decomposed into vectors J0 and J45, and measurement times. To avoid analytical difficulties associated with the interdependence of observations between eyes from the same individual, the Generalized Estimation Equation was used to compare the SE, DS, J0 and J45 measurements, and the times thereof, among the different groups. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Spearman's rank correlation coefficient were used to evaluate correlations among the measurements recorded by the three different instruments. Bland-Altman were used to analyze the precision of the equipment by the agreement. RESULTS: A total of 70 patients (140 eyes; mean age: 31.37y; range: 19-49y) were assessed using refractometry. In a brightly lit environment, there was no significant difference between the mean SE recorded using TAR and that recorded using hICA with AI or without AI (both P>0.05). In an intense-light environment, hICA equipped with AI showed a better detection rate than without AI. Light intensity had a greater effect on dioptric measurements recorded using hICA without AI (P

The assessment of heavy metal pollution is crucial for water conservation. This study determined the contents of heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn and As) from 39 soil samples surrounding a reservoir, and analyzed the corresponding source and enrichment using enrichment factors and partial least-squares regression. The concentration of Cr (54.06 mg/kg) was lower than the background value of the reservoir area, while the Cd concentration was higher (0.96 mg/kg). Moreover, Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb, Zn and As concentrations in the south exceeded those of the northeast in the Nanwan lake reservoir (NLR). Cd and As were the dominant contaminated elements in the NLR. The Cd enrichment factor value was 11.25, areas with moderate and higher levels of pollution of Cd occupied 89.0% of the total area, while As occupied 18.4%. The dominant sources of Zn, Ni, Cu, Pb and Cr were identified as natural inputs, those of As were agricultural production activities, and those of Cd were industrial production activities. This study provides insight into the heavy metal pollution and key factors of land-use types in watersheds with tea trees as the dominant vegetation cover, and aids in the planning of water pollution prevention and ecological protection. HIGHLIGHTS A novel technology partial least-squares regression model.; The principle sources were identified by calculating the variable importance for the projection (VIP).; The inherent defects of traditional regression algorithms in handling multicollinear and noisy data were overcome.;

One of the most prevalent malignant tumors of the digestive tract is gastric cancer (GC). Age, high salt intake, Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection, and a diet deficient in fruits and vegetables are risk factors for the illness. A significant risk factor for gastric cancer is infection with H. pylori. Infecting gastric epithelial cells with virulence agents secreted by H. pylori can cause methylation of tumor genes or carcinogenic signaling pathways to be activated. Regulate downstream genes’ aberrant expression, albeit the precise mechanism by which this happens is unclear. Oncogene, oncosuppressor, and other gene modifications, as well as a number of different gene change types, are all directly associated to the carcinogenesis of gastric cancer. In this review, we describe comprehensive H. pylori and its virulence factors, as well as the activation of the NF-κB, MAPK, JAK/STAT signaling pathways, and DNA methylation following infection with host cells via virulence factors, resulting in abnormal gene expression. As a result, host-related proteins are regulated, and gastric cancer progression is influenced. This review provides insight into the H. pylori infection, summarizes a series of relevant papers, discusses the complex signaling pathways underlying molecular mechanisms, and proposes new approach to immunotherapy of this important disease.

Corydoras is a speciose catfish genus from South America with widely investigated phylogenetic and evolutionary relationships. The complete mitogenomes of C. aeneus and C. paleatus were sequenced, assembled, and annotated using next-generation sequencing. The genome arrangements, gene contents, genome structures, base compositions, evolutionary features, codon usage, and tRNA structures of the two mitogenomes were compared and analyzed with nine published mitogenomes of Corydoras. Phylogenetic analysis was performed using concatenated nucleotide sequences with 13 protein-coding genes and two rRNAs with 44 mitogenomes of Siluriformes. These results provide information on the mitogenomes of eleven Corydoras species and evolutionary relationships within the suborder Loricarioidei, which may be applicable for further phylogenetic and taxonomic studies on Siluriformes and Loricarioidei.

AIM: To investigate whether circular RNA(circRNA)circ_0000144 targets microRNA(miRNA)-502-5p to regulate the proliferation, apoptosis, migration and invasion of human retinoblastoma Y79 cells. METHODS: Y79 cells were divided into si-NC group(transfected with si-NC), si-circ_0000144 group(transfected with si-circ_0000144), miR-NC group(transfected with miR-NC), miR-502-5p group(transfected with miR-502-5p mimic), pcDNA group(transfected with pcDNA), pcDNA-circ_0000144 group(transfected with pcDNA-circ_0000144), si-circ_0000144+anti-miR-NC group(transfected with si-circ_0000144+anti-miR-NC), si-circ_0000144+anti-miR-502-5p group(transfected with si-circ_0000144+anti-miR-502-5p). Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction(qRT-PCR)was used to detect the expression of circ_0000144 and miR-502-5p in retinoblastoma tissues and cells, thiazole blue tetrazolium bromide(MTT)detected cell proliferation, and western blot was employed to determine the expression of nuclear associated antigen Ki67(Ki-67), B cell lymphoma/lewkmia-2(Bcl-2), Bcl-2 associated X protein(Bax), matrix metalloprotease(MMP)-2, MMP-9 protein. Flow cytometry detected cell apoptosis, and Transwell measured cell migration and invasion. Bioinformatics prediction and dual luciferase report experiment analyzed whether circ_0000144 targets miR-502-5p. RESULTS: The expression of circ_0000144 in 31 cases of retinoblastoma tissue was higher than that of adjacent tissues, and the expression of miR-502-5p was lower than that of adjacent tissues(P

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have become far and wide used in a number of technical and merchant applications as a result of substantial advances in nanotechnology, therein single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) are one of the most promising nanoparticles. Inhaling CNTs has been linked to a variety of health problems, including lung fibrosis. Glycyrrhetinic acid 3-O-mono-β-D-glucuronide (GAMG), a natural sweetener, has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant capacities. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential for GAMG to alleviate SWCNT-induced lung inflammation and fibrosis. During days 3–28 after SWCNT intratracheal administration, we observed a remarkable increase of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) on day 3 and collagen deposition on day 28. GAMG treatment remarkably ameliorated SWCNT-induced pulmonary fibrosis and attenuated SWCNT-induced inflammation and collagen deposition, and suppressed the activation of PI3K/AKT/NF-κB signaling pathway in the lungs. Therefore, GAMG has a therapeutic potential for the treatment of SWCNT-induced pulmonary fibrosis. Targeting PI3K/AKT/NF-κB signaling pathway may be a potential therapeutic approach to treat pulmonary fibrosis in mice with SWCNT.

Abstract Background Oral cancer is a malignant disease that threatenshuman life and greatly reducespatientquality of life. ANLN was reported to promote the progression of cancer. This study aims to investigate the role of ANLNin oral cancer and the underlying molecular mechanism. Methods ANLN expression was downregulated by RNAi technology. The effect of ANLN on cell behaviors, including proliferation, cell cycle progression, invasion, and apoptosis, was detected. Western blotting analysis was used to explore the mechanism by whichANLN functions in oral cancer. Results Data from TCGA database showed that ANLN was expressed at significantly higher levels in tumor tissues thanin normal control tissues. Patients with higher ANLN expression exhibitedshorter survivaltimes. ANLN was alsoabundantly expressedin the cancer cell lines CAL27 and HN30. When ANLN was knocked down in CAL27 and HN30 cells, cell proliferation and colony formation weredecreased. The cell invasion ability was also inhibited. However, the cell apoptosis rate was increased. In addition, the levels of critical members of the PI3K signaling pathway, includingPI3K, mTOR, Akt, and PDK-1, were significantlyreducedafter ANLN was knocked down in CAL27 cells. Conclusions ANLN contributes to oral cancerprogressionand affects activation ofthe PI3K/mTOR signaling pathway. This study providesa new potential targetfor drug development and treatment in oral cancer.

Abstract Background Despite extensive molecular epidemiological studies, the prevalence and characteristics of Mouse Mammary Tumor Virus-Like Virus (MMTV-LV) in Chinese women breast cancer are still unclear. Besides, the prevalence of MMTV-LV in women breast cancer tissue varies in different countries and its dependent factors remain inconclusive. Methods In the first part of the study, a case-control study was performed. 119 breast cancer samples (84 from Northern China and 35 from Southern China) and 50 breast fibroadenoma specimens were collected from Chinese women patients. MMTV-like env sequence and the homology to MMTV env gene were analysed by semi-nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR). We also explored the association of MMTV-LV prevalence with sample sources (Southern and Northern China) and patients’ clinicopathological characteristics. To investigate the dependent factors of the prevalence of MMTV-LV in breast cancer worldwide, a meta-analysis was conducted in the second part of the study. Results We found that the prevalence of MMTV-LV was much higher in breast cancer tissues (17.65%) than that in breast fibroadenoma specimens (4.00%) (P

Abstract Background The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is now becoming an enormous threat to public health. The clinical spectrum of COVID-19 is extensive, of which critical cases are with rapid disease progression and high mortality. The aim of our study is to summarize the characteristics of different subtypes and explore risk factors of illness severity for early identification and prompt treatment. Methods In this retrospective study, we collected data of patients confirmed COVID-19 in Zhejiang Province from 17 January to 12 February 2020. According to the definition of clinical classification, we divided confirmed cases into four types, and summarize epidemiological and clinical characteristics, laboratory and radiograph findings, treatments, and outcomes, respectively. Moreover, we used univariate and multivariate ordinal logistic regression models to explore risk factors for the severity of illness in patients with COVID-19. Results A total of 788 patients were enrolled in our study, of whom 52 cases (6.6%) were mild type, 658 cases (83.5%) were common type, 61 cases (7.2%) were severe type, and 17 cases (2.2%) were critical type. Multivariate ordinal logistic regression demonstrated increasing odds of the severity of illness in patients with COVID-19 associated with male (odds ratio [OR] = 1.7, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.2–2.6 P = 0.008), fever (OR = 3.6, 95% CI: 2.1–6.3, P

Abstract. Background. Pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) activation plays a critical role in the development of chronic pancreatitis. Previous studies confirmed that thromboxane A2 receptor (TxA2r) was overexpressed in activated PSCs in rats. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of TxA2r in the activation of PSCs induced by 8-epi-prostaglandin F2α (8-epi-PGF2α). Methods. TxA2r expression in both quiescent and activated PSCs was detected by immunocytochemistry and immunoblot assay. Isolated PSCs were treated with 8-epi-PGF2α (10−6, 10−7, 10−8 mol/L) for 48 h, and SQ29548 (10−4, 10−6, and 10−7 mol/L), a TxA2r-specific antagonist for 48 h, respectively, to identify the drug concentration with the best biological effect and the least cytotoxicity. Then isolated PSCs were treated with SQ29548 (10−4 mol/L) for 2 h, followed by 10−7 mol/L 8-epi-PGF2α for 48 h. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed to detect the messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and collagen I. Comparisons between the groups were performed using Student's t test. Results. TxA2r was up-regulated in activated PSCs in vitro compared with quiescent PSCs (all P

Abstract Objectives Microvesicles (MVs) derived from human Wharton’s jelly mesenchymal stem cells (MSC-MVs) were demonstrated to ameliorate acute lung injury (ALI). We have previously found that MSC-MV-transferred hepatocyte growth factor was partly involved in their therapeutic effects. Since MSC-MVs also contained a substantial quantity of miR-100, which plays an important role in lung cancer and injury, we speculated that miR-100 might similarly account for a part of the therapeutic effects of MSC-MVs. Methods MSCs were transfected with miR-100 inhibitor to downregulate miR-100 in MSC-MVs. A rat model of ALI and cell injury in rat type II alveolar epithelial cell line (L2) was induced by bleomycin (BLM). A co-culture model of alveolar epithelial cells and MSC-MVs was utilized to examine the therapeutic role of MSC-MVs and mechanism. Results MSC-MV treatment attenuated BLM-induced apoptosis and inflammation in BLM-treated L2 cells and ameliorated BLM-induced lung apoptosis, inflammation, and fibrosis in BLM-induced ALI rats. The beneficial effect of MSC-MVs was partly eliminated when miR-100 was knocked down in MSCs. Moreover, MSC-MV-transferred miR-100 mediated the therapeutic effect of MSC-MVs in ALI through enhancing autophagy by targeting mTOR. Conclusion MSC-MVs enhance autophagy and ameliorate ALI partially via delivery of miR-100.

Abstract Background The function of 4-coumarate-CoA ligases (4CL) under abiotic stresses has been studied in plants, however, limited is known about the 4CL genes in cotton (G. hirsutum L.) and their roles in response to drought stress. Results We performed genome-wide identification of the 4CL genes in G. hirsutum and investigated the expression profiles of the identified genes in various cotton tissues and in response to stress conditions with an aim to identify 4CL gene(s) associated with drought tolerance. We identified 34 putative 4CL genes in G. hirsutum that were clustered into three classes. Genes of the same class usually share a similar gene structure and motif composition. Many cis-elements related to stress and phytohormone responses were found in the promoters of the Gh4CL genes. Of the 34 Gh4CL genes, 26 were induced by at least one abiotic stress and 10 (including Gh4CL7) were up-regulated under the polyethylene glycol (PEG) simulated drought stress conditions. Virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) in cotton and overexpression (OE) in Arabidopsis thaliana were applied to investigate the biological function of Gh4CL7 in drought tolerance. The Gh4CL7-silencing cotton plants showed more sensitive to drought stress, probably due to decreased relative water content (RWC), chlorophyll content and antioxidative enzyme activity, increased stomatal aperture, and the contents of malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Arabidopsis lines overexpressing Gh4CL7, however, were more tolerant to drought treatment, which was associated with improved antioxidative enzyme activity, reduced accumulation of MDA and H2O2 and up-regulated stress-related genes under the drought stress conditions. In addition, compared to their respective controls, the Gh4CL7-silencing cotton plants and the Gh4CL7-overexpressing Arabidopsis lines had a ~ 20% reduction and a ~ 10% increase in lignin content, respectively. The expression levels of genes related to lignin biosynthesis, including PAL, CCoAOMT, COMT, CCR and CAD, were lower in Gh4CL7-silencing plants than in controls. Taken together, these results demonstrated that Gh4CL7 could positively respond to drought stress and therefore might be a candidate gene for improvement of drought tolerance in cotton. Conclusion We characterized the 4CL gene family in upland cotton and revealed a role of Gh4CL7 in lignin biosynthesis and drought tolerance.

Clonorchiasis is recognized as an important zoonotic parasitic disease worldwide. However, the roles of host long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and messenger RNAs (mRNAs) in the response to Clonorchis sinensis (C. sinensis) infection remain unknown. Here we compared the expression of lncRNAs and mRNAs in the liver tissue of mice infected with C. sinensis, in order to further understand the molecular mechanisms of clonorchiasis. A total of 388 lncRNAs and 1,172 mRNAs were found to be differentially expressed with absolute value of fold change (FC) ≥ 2.0 and p < 0.05 by microarray. Compared with controls, Gm6135 and 4930581F22Rik were the most over- and under-expressed lncRNAs; flavin-containing monooxygenase 3 (Fmo3) and deleted in malignant brain tumors 1 (Dmbt1) were the most over- and under-expressed mRNAs. Moreover, functional annotation showed that the significantly different mRNAs were related with “FOXO signaling pathway”, “Wnt signaling pathway”, and “AMPK signaling pathway”. Remarkably, lncRNA Gm8801 were significantly correlated with mRNA glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase mitochondrial (Gpam), insulin receptor substrate 2 (Irs2), and tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 19 (Tnfrsf19) in ceRNA networks. These results showed that the expression profiles of lncRNAs and mRNAs in the liver changed after C. sinensis infection. Our results provided valuable insights into the lncRNAs and mRNAs involved in clonorchiasis pathogenesis, which may be useful for future control strategies.

Constipation and defecatory dysfunctions are frequent symptoms in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). The pathology of Lewy bodies in colonic and rectal cholinergic neurons suggests that cholinergic pathways are involved in colorectal dysmotility in PD. However, the underlying mechanism is unclear. The aim of the present study is to examine the effect of central dopaminergic denervation in rats, induced by injection 6-hydroxydopamine into the bilateral substania nigra (6-OHDA rats), on colorectal contractive activity, content of acetylcholine (ACh), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and expression of neural nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) and muscarinic receptor (MR). Strain gauge force transducers combined with electrical field stimulation (EFS), gut transit time, immunohistochemistry, ELISA, western blot and ultraperformance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry were used in this study. The 6-OHDA rats exhibited outlet obstruction constipation characterized by prolonged transit time, enhanced contractive tension and fecal retention in colorectum. Pretreatment with tetrodotoxin significantly increased the colorectal motility. EFS-induced cholinergic contractions were diminished in the colorectum. Bethanechol chloride promoted colorectal motility in a dose-dependent manner, and much stronger reactivity of bethanechol chloride was observed in 6-OHDA rats. The ACh, VIP and protein expression of nNOS was decreased, but M2R and M3R were notably upregulated in colorectal muscularis externa. Moreover, the number of cholinergic neurons was reduced in sacral parasympathetic nucleus (SPN) of 6-OHDA rats. In conclusion, central nigrostriatal dopaminergic denervation is associated with decreased cholinergic neurons in SPN, decreased ACh, VIP content, and nNOS expression and upregulated M2R and M3R in colorectum, resulting in colorectal dysmotility, which contributes to outlet obstruction constipation. The study provides new insights into the mechanism of constipation and potential therapeutic targets for constipation in PD patients.

The cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway (CAIP) has been proposed to regulate gastrointestinal inflammation via acetylcholine released from the vagus nerve activating α7 nicotinic receptor (α7nAChR) on macrophages. Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients and PD rats with substantia nigra (SN) lesions exhibit gastroparesis and a decayed vagal pathway. To investigate whether activating α7nAChR could ameliorate inflammation and gastric dysmotility in PD rats, ELISA, western blot analysis, and real-time PCR were used to detect gastric inflammation. In vitro and in vivo gastric motility was investigated. Proinflammatory mediator levels and macrophage numbers were increased in the gastric muscularis of PD rats. α7nAChR was located on the gastric muscular macrophages of PD rats. The α7nAChR agonists PNU-282987 and GTS-21 decreased nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) activation and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 mRNA expression in the ex vivo gastric muscularis of PD rats, and these effects were abolished by an α7nAChR antagonist. After treatment with PNU-282987 in vivo, the PD rats showed decreased NF-κB activation, inflammatory mediator production, and contractile protein expression and improved gastric motility. The present study reveals that α7nAChR is involved in the development of gastroparesis in PD rats and provides novel insight for the treatment of gastric dysmotility in PD patients.

Purpose: Incidence of contrast induced nephropathy (CIN) and related risk factors in patients with liver cancer and chronic kidney disease after trans-catheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) is higher. The purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility and safety of TACE therapy in such patients.Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on 103 patients with liver cancer and chronic kidney disease who underwent TACE treatments. TACE was performed according to Seldinger's technique of arterial embolization with minor modifications. Based on CIN diagnostic criteria, patients were divided into non-CIN (n=89) and CIN (n=14) groups. Multiple clinical parameters were assessed for the two groups after TACE. Serum creatinine levels were measured 48-72 h after TACE.Results: Tumor size (>5 cm), TACE frequency, contrast agent dosage, solitary kidney, volume of iodized oil used in the TACE (ml) and urea levels were significantly higher in CIN group in comparison with the non-CIN group, while serum albumin and haemoglobin levels were significantly lower. Multivariate logistic regression analysis confirmed that the volume of iodized oil and TACE frequency were significantly positively correlated, and serum albumin level was negatively correlated in the CIN group.Conclusion: Volume of iodized oil, TACE frequency and low serum albumin levels were found to be independent risk factors for CIN after TACE. Thus, it is safe and feasible for hepatocellular carcinoma patients with chronic kidney disease to receive TACE treatment, but adverse events management after TACE needs to be addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salt stress can be alleviated by straw layer burial in the soil, but little is known of the appropriate form of the straw layer for optimal regulation of soil water and salinity because of the uncontrollability of field tests. Here, the following four straw forms with compaction thickness of 5 cm buried 40–45 deep were studied: no straw layer (CK), segmented straw (SL, 5 cm in length), straw pellet (SK), and straw powder (SF). The three straw forms (SL, SK and SF) significantly delayed the infiltration of irrigation water down the column profile by 71.20–134.3 h relative to CK and the migration velocity of the wetting front under SF was the slowest. It took longer for the wetting front to transcend SK than SL but shorter for it to reach the bottom of soil column after water crossed the straw layer. Compared with CK, the average volumetric water content in the 0–40 cm soil layer increased by 6.45% under SL, 1.77% under SK and 5.39% under SF. The desalination rates at the 0–40 and 0–100 cm soil layers increased by 5.85 and 3.76% under SL, 6.64 and 1.47% under SK and 5.97 and 4.82% under SF. However, there was no significant difference among straw forms in the 0–40 cm soil layer. Furthermore, the salt leaching efficiency (SLE, g mm−1 h−1) above the 40 cm layer under SL was 0.0097, being significantly higher than that under SF (0.0071) by 37.23%. Salt storage under SL, SK and SF in the 40–45 cm layer accounted for 4.50, 16.92 and 7.43% of total storage in the 1-m column profile. Cumulative evaporation under SL and SF decreased significantly by 41.20 and 49.00%, with both treatments having the most significant inhibition of salt accumulation (resalinization rate being 36.06 and 47.15% lower than CK) in the 0–40 cm soil layer. In conclusion, the different forms of straw layers have desalting effects under high irrigation level (446 mm). In particular, SL and SF performed better than SK in promoting deep salt leaching and inhibiting salt accumulation on the soil surface. However, SL was simpler to implement and its SLE was higher. Therefore, the segmented 5 cm straw can be recommended as an optimum physical form for establishing a straw layer for managing saline soils for crop production.

Crocodile lizards (Shinisaurus crocodilurus) are an endangered, ‘living fossil’ reptile from a monophyletic family and therefore, a high priority for conservation. We constructed climatic models to evaluate the potential impact of climate change on the distribution of crocodile lizards for the period 2000 to 2100 and determined the key environmental factors that affect the dispersal of this endangered species. For the construction of climatic models, we used 985 presence-only data points and 6 predictor variables which showed excellent performance (AUC = 0.974). The three top-ranked factors predicting crocodile lizard distribution were precipitation of the wettest month (bio13, 37.1%), precipitation of the coldest quarter (bio19, 17.9%), and temperature seasonality (bio4, 14.3%). Crocodile lizards were, just as they are now, widely distributed in the north of Guangdong Province in China and Quảng Ninh Province in Vietnam at the last glacial maximum (LGM). Since the LGM, there has been an increase in suitable habitats, particularly in east-central Guangxi Province, China. Under future global warming scenarios, the potential habitat for crocodile lizards is expected to decrease significantly in the next 100 years. Under the most optimistic scenario, only 7.35% to 6.54% of suitable habitat will remain, and under the worst climatic scenario, only 8.34% to 0.86% of suitable habitat will remain. Models for no dispersal and limited dispersal showed that all crocodile lizards would lose habitat as temperatures increase. Our work contributes to an increased understanding of the current and future spatial distribution of the species, supporting practical management and conservation plans.

Phyllodiaptomus tunguidus (Copepoda: Calanoida) is largely endemic to and widespread in freshwater in southern China, where it inhabits a complex landscape from lowland to highland across an elevation gradient of 2000m. A deep genetic differentiation can be expected between its most distant geographic populations. Here, we sequenced nine mitogenomes from diverse populations. All mitogenomes contained 37 genes, including 13 protein-coding genes (PCG), two rRNA genes, 22 tRNA genes and one control region. Their base composition, genetic distance and tRNA structure indeed revealed a wide differentiation between mitogenomes. Two P. tunguidus from Guangxi near Vietnam differed from the other seven by up to 10.1%. Their tRNA-Arg had a complete clover-leaf structure, whereas that of the others did not contain an entire dihydrouridine arm. The nine mitogenomes also differed in the length of rRNA. NJ, ML, and Bayesian analyses all split them into two clades, viz. the two P. tunguidus from Guangxi (Clade 1), and the other seven (Clade 2). Both the structure and phylogeny of the mitogenomes suggest that P. tunguidus has complex geographic origin, and its populations in Clade 1 have long lived in isolation from those in Clade 2. They currently reach the level of subspecies or cryptic species. An extensive phylogenetic analysis of Copepoda further verified that Diaptomidae is the most recently diverging family in Calanoida and that P. tunguidus is at the evolutionary apex of the family.

Highly immunogenic exotoxins are used as carrier proteins because they efficiently improve the immunogenicity of polysaccharides. However, their efficiency with protein antigens remains unclear. In the current study, the candidate antigen PA0833 from Pseudomonas aeruginosa was fused to the α-hemolysin mutant HlaH35A from Staphylococcus aureus to form a HlaH35A-PA0833 fusion protein (HPF). Immunization with HPF resulted in increased PA0833-specific antibody titers, higher protective efficacy, and decreased bacterial burden and pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion compared with PA0833 immunization alone. Using fluorescently labeled antigens to track antigen uptake and delivery, we found that HlaH35A fusion significantly improved antigen uptake in injected muscles and antigen delivery to draining lymph nodes. Both in vivo and in vitro studies demonstrated that the increased antigen uptake after immunization with HPF was mainly due to monocyte- and macrophage-dependent macropinocytosis, which was probably the result of HPF binding to ADAM10, the Hla host receptor. Furthermore, a transcriptome analysis showed that several immune signaling pathways were activated by HPF, shedding light on the mechanism whereby HlaH35A fusion improves immunogenicity. Finally, the improvement in immunogenicity by HlaH35A fusion was also confirmed with two other antigens, GlnH from Klebsiella pneumoniae and the model antigen OVA, indicating that HlaH35A could serve as a universal carrier protein to improve the immunogenicity of protein antigens.

Gastrointestinal probiotics play an important role in maintaining intestinal bacteria homeostasis. They might benefit people with human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS), which remains a global health challenge. However, there is a controversy regarding the efficacy of probiotics for the treatment of AIDS. This study systematically reviewed the evidence of the effects of existing probiotic interventions on AIDS and sought to provide information on the role of probiotics in the treatment of HIV/AIDS patients. A meta-analysis of studies identified by screening multiple databases was performed using a fixed-effects model in Review Manager 5.2 software. The meta-analysis showed that probiotics could reduce the incidence of AIDS-related diarrhea (RR = 0.60 (95% CI: 0.44–0.82), p = 0.001). The short-term use of probiotics (supplementation duration shorter than 30 days) did not reduce the incidence of diarrhea (RR = 0.76 (95% CI: 0.51–1.14), p = 0.19), while the long-term use of probiotics (supplementation duration longer than 30 days) reduced diarrhea (RR = 0.47 (95% CI: 0.29–0.76), p = 0.002). Probiotics had no effect on CD4 cell counts in HIV/AIDS patients (MD = 21.24 (95% CI: −12.95–55.39), p = 0.22). Our data support that probiotics were associated with an obvious reduction in AIDS-related diarrhea, which indicates the need for additional research on this potential preventive strategy for AIDS.

Arachis pintoi Krapov. & W.C.Greg. is an important leguminous forage grass species that have extremely wide ranges of distribution in the tropical and sub-tropical regions. It has high feeding value and horticultural value. In this study, we sequenced and assembled the complete chloroplast genome of A. pintoi. The chloroplast genome is 156,185 bp in length, containing a pair of inverted repeated (IR) regions of 25,820 bp that are separated by a large single copy (LSC) region of 85,637 bp, and a small single copy (SSC) region of 18,908 bp. The complete chloroplast genome contains 112 unique genes, including 80 protein-coding genes, 28 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs), and four ribosomal RNA genes (rRNAs). The overall GC content was 36.4%. The phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that A. pintoi formed a single branch among genus Arachis. The whole chloroplast genome of A. pintoi will be a useful resource for future studies on phylogeny and conservation in Arachis.

Background: Abnormal sleep duration predicts depression and anxiety. We seek to evaluate the impact of sleep duration before stroke on the occurrence of depression and anxiety at 3 months after acute ischemic stroke (AIS).Methods: Nationally representative samples from the Third China National Stroke Registry were used to examine cognition and sleep impairment after AIS (CNSR-III-ICONS). Based on baseline sleep duration before onset of stroke as measured by using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), 1,446 patients were divided into four groups: >7, 6–7, 5–6, and 7 h, 5–6 h, and

According to the strange quark matter hypothesis, pulsars may actually be strange stars composed of self-bound strange quark matter. The normal matter crust of a strange star, unlike that of a normal neutron star, is supported by a strong electric field. A gap is then presented between the crust and the strange quark core. Therefore, peculiar core–crust oscillation may occur in a strange star, which can produce distinctive gravitational waves. In this paper, the waveforms of such gravitational waves are derived using a rigid model. We find that the gravitational waves are extremely weak and undetectable, even for the next-generation detectors. Therefore, the seismology of a strange star is not affected by the core–crust oscillation. Observers will have to search for other effects to diagnose the existence of the crust.

Due to the existence of tiny cracks in rock, underground engineering has begun to consider how to divert a large amount of groundwater. To divert groundwater more effectively, it is necessary to master the seepage characteristics of fluids in the micropores of rocks. Based on rock samples obtained from an underground engineering site, this paper analyzes the microscopic pore structure of the rock through a combination of laboratory tests and numerical simulations and inputs this information into a computer model. The fluid seepage state in the rock under different conditions is simulated in the computer model, and parameters such as the fluid seepage velocity in the rock are obtained. Afterwards, it has been verified by engineering practice that the smallest remaining water inflow can reach 0.06‰. The results of this paper can effectively guide the discharge of groundwater to better manage water resources, greatly reduce the pollution of groundwater in construction and production environments, and reduce the pollution caused by grouting projects. Furthermore, the cleanliness and safety of underground engineering construction and production could be ensured.

The Characidae family contains the largest number of tropical fish species. Morphological similarities make species identification difficult within this family. Here, the complete mitogenomes of two Characidae fish were determined and comparatively analyzed with those of nine other Characidae fish species. The two newly sequenced complete mitogenomes are circular DNA molecules with sizes of 16,701 bp (Hyphessobrycon amandae; MT484069) and 16,710 bp (Hemigrammus erythrozonus; MT484070); both have a highly conserved structure typical of Characidae, with the start codon ATN (ATG/ATT) and stop codon TAR (TAA/TAG) or an incomplete T−−/TA−. Most protein-coding genes of the 11 Characidae mitogenomes showed significant codon usage bias, and the protein-coding gene cox1 was found to be a comparatively slow-evolving gene. Phylogenetic analyses via the maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference methods confirmed that H. amandae and H. erythrozonus belong to the family Characidae. In all Characidae species studied, one genus was well supported; whereas other two genera showed marked differentiation. These findings provide a phylogenetic basis for improved classification of the family Characidae. Determining the mitogenomes of H. erythrozonus and H. amandae improves our understanding of the phylogeny and evolution of fish species.

This work reports on a compositionally graded heterojunction for photovoltaic application by cooperating fluorine-doped carbon quantum dots (FCQDs in short) into the CsPbI2.5Br0.5 inorganic perovskite layer. Using this CsPbI2.5Br0.5/FCQDs graded heterojunction in conjunction with low-temperature-processed carbon electrode, a power conversion efficiency of 13.53% for 1 cm2 all-inorganic perovskite solar cell can be achieved at AM 1.5G solar irradiation. To the best of our knowledge, this is one of the highest efficiency reported for carbon electrode based all-inorganic perovskite solar cells so far, and the first report of 1 cm2 carbon counter electrode based inorganic perovskite solar cell with PCE exceeding 13%. Moreover, the inorganic perovskite/carbon quantum dot graded heterojunction photovoltaics maintained over 90% of their initial efficiency after thermal aging at 85° for 1056 hours. This conception of constructing inorganic perovskite/FCQDs graded heterojunction offers a feasible pathway to develop efficient and stable photovoltaics for scale-up and practical applications.

Abstract Background Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) is a behavioral disorder that mainly refers to a recurrent pattern of disobedient, defiant, negativistic and hostile behaviors toward authority figures. Previous studies have showed associations of serotonin transporter (5-HTT) and monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) with behavioral and psychiatric disorders. The purposes of this study were to investigate the potential association of 5-HTT gene promoter polymorphism (5-HTTLPR) and MAOA gene polymorphism with susceptibility to ODD in a Han Chinese school population. Methods The 5-HTTLPR gene polymorphism and the MAOA gene polymorphism were genotyped in a case–control study of 257 Han Chinese children (123 ODD and 134 healthy controls). Results There was significant difference in the allele distribution of 5-HTTLPR (χ2 = 7.849, P = 0.005) between the ODD and control groups. Further, there were significant differences in genotype (χ2 = 5.168, P = 0.023) and allele distributions (χ2 = 10.336, P = 0.001) of the MAOA gene polymorphism that is variable-number tandem repeat (MAOA-uVNTR) between two groups. Moreover, there were significant differences in genotype (χ2 = 4.624, P = 0.032) and allele distributions (χ2 = 9.248, P = 0.002) of MAOA-uVNTR only in the male ODD and healthy groups. Conclusions Our results suggest that 5-HTTLPR and MAOA-uVNTR gene variants may contribute to susceptibility to ODD. Further, MAOA-uVNTR gene polymorphism may play a role in susceptibility to ODD only in male children.

Chenopodium album is an annual herb from Amaranthaceae with worldwide distribution. It is a leafy vegetable as well as an important subsidiary grain crop with high nutritional value and medicinal value. In this study, we reported the complete chloroplast genome of C. album. The total chloroplast genome was 152,167 bp in length, containing a large single-copy region (LSC, 83,676 bp), a small single-copy region (SSC, 18,105 bp), and a pair of inverted repeat regions (IRs, 25,193 bp). The complete chloroplast genome contains 110 genes, including 78 protein-coding genes, 28 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, and 4 ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes with an overall GC content of 37.3%. Phylogenetic analysis showed that C. album was sister to C. acuminatum within Chenopodioideae. The complete chloroplast genome of C. album will provide useful resources for the development and utilization of this species and the phylogenetic study of Amaranthaceae.

Background/Aims: The alterations in myocyte autophagy after myocardial infarction (MI) and the underlying mechanisms have not been fully understood. In this study, we investigated the temporal changes of myocyte autophagy in the remote non-infarcted myocardium in rabbits after MI and the relationships between alterations of myocyte autophagy and left ventricular (LV) remodeling and myocardial oxidative stress. Methods: Rabbits were assigned to MI or sham operation. Rabbits with MI or sham were randomly assigned to receive chloroquine, an autophagy inhibitor, antioxidant vitamins C and E or placebo for 4 weeks. H9C2 cardiomyocytes were subjected to hypoxia or hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) treatment. Results: MI rabbits exhibited progressive increases of LV end-diastolic dimension (EDD), and decreases of LV fractional shortening (FS) and dP/dt over 8 weeks. Myocyte autophagy assessed by the scores of LC3 and Beclin1 expression was progressively decreased at 1, 4 and 8 weeks after MI. The ratio of LC3 II/I and Beclin1 and Atg5 proteins were also decreased at 4 weeks after MI. There was a negative correlation between autophagy and LV EDD and a positive correlation between autophagy and LV FS and dP/dt. The autophagy inhibitor chloroquine worsened LV remodeling after MI. Decreased myocyte autophagy was associated with increased myocardial 4-hydroxynonenal. Antioxidant vitamins C and E prevented the decrease in myocyte autophagy after MI. In cultured H9C2 cardiomyocytes, the LC3 II/I ratio was decreased at 4 and 8 h after exposure to hypoxia, and the change was associated with increased 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine. A low concentration of H2O2 decreased the LC3 II/I ratio. Conclusion: Progressive reduction in myocyte autophagy in the remote non-infarcted myocardium was associated with myocardial oxidative stress and LV remodeling after MI. Antioxidants prevented the reduction in myocyte autophagy after MI, suggesting that oxidative stress mediates reduction in myocyte autophagy that contributes to post-MI remodeling.

Ultrasound has been widely employed in food industry, while some of its working parameters are usually neglected to be described in its application, which caused the difficulty of reproducing and comparing the results obtained by different groups. So it is definitely not sufficient to simply state the ultrasound conditions such as ultrasound power, frequency and temperature, additionally, other parameters including the geometry of the reaction vessel, vessel distance, initial temperature of water, ultrasonic power density and positions used for fixing vessel are also very important for the actual/practical ultrasound power delivered to the targeted solution. Considering these facts, the above-mentioned factors were systematically conducted to study their effects on the actual ultrasound power, i.e. ultrasound power density for achieving maximum benefit, as a result, to highlight the importance of fully describing the ultrasound working parameters about its application.As expected, the results confirmed our assumption that nearly all the studied parameters did have a great influence on the actual ultrasound power density dissipated into the targeted solution, excluding vessel position. In a word, this research would make this paper valuable to the scientific community, underline the importance of these neglected or rejected problems in the application of ultrasound bath, and persuade the readers to give some more thoughts to these issues.

Abstract. Introduction:. Pterygium inversum unguis (PIU) refers to a disorder that distal portion of the nail bed adheres to ventral surface of the nail plate, leading to the absence of the distal groove. This is not a common condition in existing literature, thus its pathogenesis has not been elucidated. The occurrence can be congenital, idiopathic, or secondary. Here we present a case of PIU associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Case presentation:. A 33-year-old woman presented with distal nail bed of the bilateral fingers (excluding the thumbs) adheres to the ventral surface of the nail plate, associated with a malar rash, photosensitivity, and arthritis, whose further laboratory examinations confirmed immunologic disorders. All these clinical characteristics and laboratory results point to the diagnosis of PIU secondary to SLE. Treatment of SLE and topical application of tretinoin 0.025% were performed and resulted in the improvement of most discomforts but PIU. There has no aggravation or alleviation of the PIU during a year of follow-up. Discussion:. Acquired form of PIU is reportedly associated with connective tissue diseases or other conditions, which may be caused by abnormal distal circulation or exposure to certain chemical stimuli. Some therapies may be available, while the most effective strategy is to treat potential disorder. Clinicians should be vigilant to find out the underlying causes of PIU, so as to obtain better therapeutic efficacy. Conclusion:. We observed a rare disorder of PIU associated with SLE. Hence when identifying a patient of PIU, comprehensive evaluations and long-term follow-up are imperative to to detect the development of connective tissus diseases, such as SLE.

ObjectiveTranscranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS) is a noninvasive approach that can alter brain excitability. Several studies have shown the effectiveness of tDCS in improving language and movement function in stroke patients. However, the effect of tDCS on cognitive function after stroke remains uncertain.MethodsWe searched Medline, Embase, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), the China National Knowledge Infrastructure, the China Science and Technology Journal Database, and the Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform from inception to April 2, 2019. Two reviewers independently screened the studies, extracted the data, and evaluated the quality of the included studies using the Cochrane Collaboration Risk of Bias Tool. All statistical analyses were performed in RevMan 5.3, and the mean difference (MD) or standard mean difference (SMD) were used as the pooled statistics.ResultsFifteen studies involving 820 participants were included. When compared with passive tDCS, anodal tDCS was associated with improved general cognitive performance as examined by the Minimum Mental State Examination or Montreal Cognitive Assessment (SMD = 1.31, 95% CI 0.91-1.71, P < 0.00001), attention performance (SMD = 0.66, 95% CI 0.11-1.20, P = 0.02). There was no significant difference in memory performance (SMD = 0.41, 95% CI -0.67-1.50, P = 0.46).ConclusionstDCS is likely to be effective for patients with cognitive impairment after stroke. The evidence for different effects based on population characteristics and stimulation methods was limited, but a real effect cannot be ruled out. More high-quality research in this field is required to determine the potential benefits of tDCS in the treatment of cognitive deficits after stroke and to establish the optimal treatment program.

Background: In vitro experiments have revealed that toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) pathway is involved in the progression of immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) by induction of proinflammatory cytokines. Evidence showed that, in other disease models, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) agonists have been shown to exert anti-inflammatory effects through suppression of the expression and activity of TLR4. However, the interaction between PPAR-γ and TLR4 in IgAN has not been fully studied both in vitro and in vivo. In this study, we explored whether TLR4 pathway attributed to the progression of IgAN in experimental rats. Methods: Bovine gamma globulin was used to establish IgAN model. Fifty-four Lewis rats were randomly divided into six groups: ControlTAK242, IgANTAK242, toll-like receptor 4 inhibitor (TAK242) groups (rats were administrated with TLR4 inhibitor, TAK242) and ControlPio, IgANPio, Pio groups (rats were administrated with PPAR-γ agonist, pioglitazone). Urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR), serum creatinine, and blood urea nitrogen were detected by automatic biochemical analyzer. Renal histopathological changes were observed after hematoxylin-eosin staining, and the IgA deposition in glomeruli was measured by immunofluorescence staining. Real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting were used to detect TLR4 and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) message ribonucleic acid (mRNA) and protein expression in renal tissues. Results were presented as mean ± standard deviation. Differences between groups were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance. Results: Compared to normal rats, experimental rats showed higher ACR (4.45 ± 1.33 mg/mmol vs. 2.89 ± 0.96 mg/mmol, P < 0.05), obvious IgA deposition with mesangial hypercellularity, hyperplasia of mesangial matrix accompanied by increased serum IL-1β (48.28 ± 13.49 pg/ml vs. 35.56 ± 7.41pg/ml, P < 0.05), and renal expression of IL-1β and TLR4. The biochemical parameters and renal pathological injury were relieved in both TAK242 group and Pio group. The expressions of renal tissue TLR4, IL-1β, and serum IL-1β were decreased in rats treated with TAK242, and the expression of TLR4 mRNA and protein was significantly reduced in Pio group compared to IgANPiogroup (1.22 ± 0.28 vs. 1.72 ± 0.45, P < 0.01, and 0.12 ± 0.03 vs. 0.21 ± 0.05, P < 0.01). Conclusions: Our study proves that inflammation mediated by TLR4 signaling pathway is involved in the progression of IgAN in rat models. Moreover, pioglitazone can inhibit the expression of TLR4 in IgAN.

Background: The supine position is the most common birth position adopted in China, but the World Health Organization recommends non-supine positions for delivery. The hands-and-knees position shows several advantages, such as wide pelvic diameter and easy fetal rotation during delivery. Small trials conducted in China in 2011 revealed that the hands-and-knees position resulted in improved maternal and neonate outcomes than those in the supine position. However, a comprehensive study must be conducted before the hands-and-knees position can be introduced into clinical practice. Hence, we conducted this multicenter trial to comprehensively examine the benefits of the hands-and-knees position over the supine position during delivery. Methods: Our clinical study was conducted in 11 hospitals in China from May to December 2012. A total of 446 pregnant women who gave birth in the hands-and-knees position were assigned into the experimental group, and 440 women who gave birth in the supine position were classified into the control group. Episiotomy rate was evaluated as the primary outcome, and perineum laceration degree was considered the secondary outcome. Results: Women in the experimental group achieved lower rates of episiotomy and higher rates of intact perineum and first-degree perineum lacerations compared with those in the control. Postpartum bleeding amount, neonatal asphyxia, and APGAR scores at 1 and 5 min were not significantly different between the two groups. Conclusions: This study proves that women who delivered in the hands-and-knees position achieved low rates of episiotomy and intact perineum. Moreover, the rates of neonatal asphyxia and postpartum bleeding did not increase. Pregnant patients who prefer to adopt the hands-and-knees position should be assisted in assuming such position during delivery.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.

Background: Hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) is the most common etiology of acute pancreatitis (AP) after alcohol and gallstone-induced disease. Elevation of serum triglyceride (TG) levels to ≥1000 mg/dl in a patient with AP strongly indicates HTG as the cause. The absolute risk of pancreatitis based on serum TG ≤1000 mg/dl has not been clearly defined. The aims of this study were to address the role of elevated TG levels between 500 and 1000 mg/dl in the clinical course of HTG pancreatitis (HTGP); and assess the relationship between the level of serum TG and disease severity. Methods: A total of 224 HTGP patients between 2007 and 2011 were divided into two subgroups. Totally, 122 patients in Group A had serum TG >1000 mg/dl; 102 patients in Group B had maximal TG levels between 500 and 1000 mg/dl accompanied by lactescent serum; 100 patients with biliary AP and 99 patients with alcoholic AP hospitalized during the study period were enrolled as controls. The clinical and biochemical data were analyzed. Results: The clinical presentation of HTG-induced pancreatitis was similar to other causes. Severe form of AP in Group A was higher than Group B (χ2 = 4.002, P = 0.045). The severity with HTGP was significantly higher as compared to biliary AP (χ2 = 33.533, P = 0.000) and alcoholic AP (χ2 = 7.179, P = 0.007). Systemic complications with HTGP were significantly higher than biliary AP (χ2 = 58.763, P = 0.000). Conclusions: The study demonstrated that TG level ≥500 mg/dl should raise a high degree of suspicion, especially if no other etiology of AP is apparent. The severity of HTGP seems to correlate directly with TG level. HTGP seems be more severe than other causes of AP.

Long-rod penetration in a wide range of velocity means that the initial impact velocity varies in a range from tens of meters per second to several kilometers per second. The long rods maintain rigid state when the impact velocity is low, the nose of rod deforms and even is blunted when the velocity gets higher, and the nose erodes and fails to lead to the consumption of long projectile when the velocity is very high due to instantaneous high pressure. That is, from low velocity to high velocity, the projectile undergoes rigid rods, deforming non-erosive rods, and erosive rods. Because of the complicated changes of the projectile, no well-established theoretical model and numerical simulation have been used to study the transition zone. Based on the analysis of penetration behavior in the transition zone, a phenomenological model to describe target resistance and a formula to calculate penetration depth in transition zone are proposed, and a method to obtain the boundary velocity of transition zone is determined. A combined theoretical analysis model for three response regions is built by analyzing the characteristics in these regions. The penetration depth predicted by this combined model is in good agreement with experimental result.

The introduction of nickel in Fe-Al pillared montmorillonite was studied to enhance the catalytic performance of metal-pillared clays during Catalytic Wet Peroxide Oxidation (CWPO). Fe-Ni-Al pillared montmorillonite was synthesized by ion exchange method and tested by CWPO reaction. Catalysts were characterized by several methods: chemical composition analysis, X-ray diffraction analysis, N 2 adsorption/desorption, Fourier Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy, H 2 temperature-programmed reduction and thermal analysis. The results indicated the enhanced structural properties and catalytic performance of prepared clays could correspond to the introduction of active metal oxides as pillars supporting the interlayer space. Besides, the effects of active metal molar loading (AML), Fe/Ni molar ratio and calcination temperature on the pillared clays were measured and discussed. It was proposed the introduction of nickel to the pillaring solution may contribute to better active iron stability and catalytic performance. It turned out the iron presented in the clays as FeOOH form when nickel was introduced. Further, moderate calcination temperature would keep a modified clay structure and retain FeOOH as active sites in the clay, while high temperature (above 773 K) heating process may damage the interlayer structure. Throughout this work, Fe(4)Ni(6)Al-MMT(773 K), heated at 773 K with 4:6 Fe/Ni molar ratio and 6% active metal loading, shows better catalytic behavior and stronger stability among all the prepared materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the title compound, C14H13NO, the two six-membered rings make a dihedral angle of 52.8 (3)°. An intramolecular N—H...O hydrogen bond involving an amine H atom and the adjacent carbonyl O atom occurs. In the crystal, N—H...O and C—H...N intermolecular hydrogen bonds are observed, which may be effective in stabilizing the structure.

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, C14H11NO2·0.33H2O, contains three 3-hydroxy-3-phenylisoindolin-1-one (HPIO) molecules and one water molecule. The three independent HPIO molecules differ in the orientations of hydroxy and phenyl groups substituted at the 3-position with respect to the planar [r.m.s. deviations of 0.0173, 0.0170 and 0.0102 Å] dihydroisoindolin-1-one ring system. In the crystal structure, molecules are linked into a three-dimensional network by O—H...O, N—H...O and C—H...O hydrogen bonds.

Exfoliated polyurethane/montmorillonite nanocomposites with both high elongation at break and high tensile strength were studied by dynamic-infrared spectroscopy (dynamic-IR). The results show that crystallization induced by additional stress is impeded by the nano-layered organo montmorillonite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]