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Abstract Background The diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy (TP) presents a significant challenge due to the low bacterial load in pleural effusion (PE) samples. Cell-free Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA (cf-TB) in PE samples is considered an optimal biomarker for diagnosing TP. This study aimed to evaluate the applicability of cf-TB testing across diverse research sites with a relatively large sample size. Methods Patients suspected of TP and presenting with clinical symptoms and radiological evidence of PE were consecutively enrolled by treating physicians from 11 research sites across 6 provinces in China between April 2020 and August 2022. Following centrifugation, sediments obtained from PE were used for Xpert MTB/RIF (Xpert) and mycobacterial culture, while the supernatants were subjected to cf-TB testing. This study employed a composite reference standard to definite TP, which was characterized by any positive result for Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) through either PE culture, PE Xpert, or pleural biopsy. Results A total of 1412 participants underwent screening, and 1344 (95.2%) were subsequently enrolled in this study. Data from 1241 (92.3%) participants were included, comprising 284 with definite TP, 677 with clinically diagnosed TP, and 280 without TP. The sensitivity of cf-TB testing in definite TP was 73.6% (95% CI 68.2–78.4), significantly higher than both Xpert (40.8%, 95% CI 35.3–46.7, P

Background:. The demand for soft tissue filler injections has experienced a significant increase in recent years. Therefore, this study used bibliometric analysis to identify prominent research areas and emerging trends within the field. Methods:. Publications concerning research on soft tissue filler injections were collected from the Web of Science Core Collection database. Subsequently, VOSviewer 1.6.18 and CiteSpace 6.2.R4 software were used to analyze the co-authorship, co-occurrence, and citations of countries, institutions, authors, hotspot keywords, and journals associated with these studies. Results:. A total of 1370 records pertaining to filler injection research conducted between 2000 and 2022 were identified. The United States (524 publications) emerged as the country with the highest number of publications in this field, with Mayo Clinic (37 publications) making the most substantial contribution. Dermatologic Surgery emerged as the leading journal in this field, publishing the highest number of research articles (151 publications) and also being the most frequently co-cited. Cotofana proved to be the most prolific author with 51 publications, and Lemperle emerged as the most frequently co-cited author with 628 citations (including total link strength: 6587). The most popular keywords, in descending order of popularity, were “dermal filler,” “injection,” “soft-tissue augmentation,” “complications,” and “hyaluronic acid.” Conclusions:. The findings of this study offer a comprehensive overview of the main directions in filler injection research. Furthermore, they underscore the imperative of intensifying efforts to prevent complications linked to filler injections.

AIM: To quantify the lacrimal punctum using anterior segment optical coherence tomography(AS-OCT)and analyze the correlation between the epiphora and primary punctal stenosis.METHODS: A cross-sectional study. There were 43 healthy volunteers(57 eyes)and 44 patients(62 eyes)with primary lacrimal punctal stenosis and epiphora enrolled in the Lacrimal Center of the Third Medical Center of PLA General Hospital from September 2020 to January 2021. The inferior punctum of all subjects were scanned by AS-OCT, and the images were quantified in order to observe the AS-OCT image features. The outer punctal diameter, punctal depth, tear well diameter and tear well depth were all measured simultaneously. The inferior punctum's punctal reserve and punctal reserve ratio were estimated according to the available parameter data.RESULTS: 1)The measured parameters conforming to normal distribution were expressed as mean±standard deviation. The observation group's outer punctal diameter, tear well diameter, tear well depth, and punctal reserve ratio were 458.19±63.58μm, 200.34±84.69μm, 188.95±87.50μm and 0.32±0.18, respectively, while the control group's outer punctal diameter, tear well diameter, tear well depth and punctal reserve ratio were 655.53±82.62μm, 230.26±107.02μm, 275.30±144.34μm, 0.46±0.23, respectively. The parameters in observation group were all lower than those of control group(P

At present, multiple myeloma (MM) is still an essentially incurable hematologic malignancy. Although BCMA-targeted therapies have achieved remarkable results, BCMA levels were found to be downregulated in patients with MM who relapsed after these treatments. Therefore, the search for other antigens specific to MM has become a priority. Independently of BCMA expression, G-protein-coupled receptor family C group 5 member D (GPRC5D) is mainly expressed in the plasma cells of MM patients, while it is expressed in a limited number of normal tissues. Combining MM-specific antigen GPRC5D and T-cell-mediated therapies would be a promising therapeutic strategy for MM. Recently, we constructed a new anti-GPRC5D × anti-CD3 T-cell-engaging bispecific antibody (TCB), BR109, which was capable of binding to human GPRC5D and human CD3ε. Moreover, BR109 was proven to have relatively good stability and antitumor activity. BR109 could specifically trigger T-cell-mediated cytotoxicity against many GPRC5D-positive MM cells in vitro. Meanwhile, antitumor activity was demonstrated in MM cell line xenograft mouse models with human immune cell reconstitution. These preclinical studies have formed a solid foundation for the evaluation of MM treatment efficacy in clinical trials.

Abstract Background Acute lung injury (ALI) caused by intestinal ischemia–reperfusion is a life-threatening disease. Interferon gene stimulator (STING) is a cytoplasmic DNA sensor that participates in the initiation of the inflammatory response. This study aims to establish whether C-176 (STING inhibitor) improves ALI under intestinal ischemia–reperfusion conditions. Methods To induce ALI, 72 male C57BL/6 mice were subjected to intestinal ischemia for 60 min and reperfusion for 3 h. Through intraperitoneal injection, C-176, a selective STING inhibitor, was injected 30 min before surgical treatment; meanwhile, compound C, an antagonist of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), was administered 30 min after surgery. Based on immunofluorescence and Western blot assays, post-ALI assessments included lung water content (TLW), bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) protein, H&E staining, Masson staining, pulmonary pyroptosis [Gasdermin-D (GSDMD), cleaved caspase-1], and apoptosis (TUNEL, cleaved caspase-3). Results C-176 administration significantly attenuated intestinal ischemia–reperfusion-mediated ALI; this effect was reflected by exacerbated TLW and BALF protein, aggravated lung injury score, elevated degree of pulmonary fibrosis, increased TUNEL- and GSDMD-positive cells, and upregulated phospho-AMPK, cleaved caspase-1, cleaved caspase-3 and IFNβ mRNA expression. Moreover, C-176 increased phospho-AMPK under ALI conditions. Nonetheless, compound C partially reversed these beneficial effects. Conclusion C-176, a selective STING inhibitor, improves intestinal ischemia–reperfusion-mediated ALI, and its underlying mechanism may be associated with AMPK signal activation.

Abstract While some individuals infected by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) present mild-to-severe disease, many SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals are asymptomatic. We sought to identify the distinction of immune response between asymptomatic and moderate patients. We performed single-cell transcriptome and T-cell/B-cell receptor (TCR/BCR) sequencing in 37 longitudinal collected peripheral blood mononuclear cell samples from asymptomatic, moderate, and severe patients with healthy controls. Asymptomatic patients displayed increased CD56briCD16− natural killer (NK) cells and upregulation of interferon-gamma in effector CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and NK cells. They showed more robust TCR clonal expansion, especially in effector CD4+ T cells, but lack strong BCR clonal expansion compared to moderate patients. Moreover, asymptomatic patients have lower interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) expression in general but large interpatient variability, whereas moderate patients showed various magnitude and temporal dynamics of the ISGs expression across multiple cell populations but lower than a patient with severe disease. Our data provide evidence of different immune signatures to SARS-CoV-2 in asymptomatic infections.

Abstract Downstream processing of mAb charge variants is difficult owing to their similar molecular structures and surface charge properties. This study aimed to apply a novel twin‐column continuous chromatography (called N‐rich mode) to separate and enrich acidic variants of an IgG1 mAb. Besides, a comparison study with traditional scaled‐up batch‐mode cation exchange (CEX) chromatography was conducted. For the N‐rich process, two 3.93 mL columns were used, and the buffer system, flow rate and elution gradient slope were optimized. The results showed that 1.33 mg acidic variants with nearly 100% purity could be attained after a 22‐cycle accumulation. The yield was 86.21% with the productivity of 7.82 mg/L/h. On the other hand, for the batch CEX process, 4.15 mL column was first used to optimize the separation conditions, and then a scaled‐up column of 88.20 mL was used to separate 1.19 mg acidic variants with the purity of nearly 100%. The yield was 59.18% with the productivity of 7.78 mg/L/h. By comparing between the N‐rich and scaled‐up CEX processes, the results indicated that the N‐rich method displays a remarkable advantage on the product yield, i.e. 1.46‐fold increment without the loss of productivity and purity. Generally, twin‐column N‐rich continuous chromatography displays a high potential to enrich minor compounds with a higher yield, more flexibility and lower resin cost.

PurposeThis clinical research aims to assess the safety and efficacy of a combination of fusiform capsulectomy of the posterior capsule and percutaneous flexion tendon release in the treatment of a fused knee with severe flexion contracture during total knee arthroplasty (TKA).MethodsA retrospective analysis was performed in three patients (six knees) who had preoperative severe bony fused flexion contracture (>80°) prior to TKA and received a combination of fusiform capsulectomy of posterior capsule and percutaneous flexion tendon release during TKA between January 2016 and December 2019. The range of motion (ROM), knee functional score, postoperative complications, and radiographic results were evaluated.ResultThree patients (six knees) were enrolled in this study. The mean duration of follow-up was 42.83 ± 15.77 months. The postoperative knee ROM was 100.0 (76.0, 102.75) (p

Placental morphogenesis is a highly dynamic process involving mutual recognition and interlacing between the trophoblast–uterus and ultimately the initiation of the maternal–fetal circulatory system. During placental morphogenesis in mice, the trophoblast lineage, which integrates maternal and fetal signaling, undergoes stage-specific changes in gene regulatory programs directing cellular proliferation and fate specification, generating diverse trophoblast subtypes. While accumulating evidence from studies on genetically engineered and mutant mice has revealed the involvement of cell-specific core transcription factors in certain key events during placental morphogenesis, the precise molecular mechanisms by which multipotent trophoblasts gradually differentiate into different subtypes are still largely unknown. In this review, we primarily focus on mutant mouse models with placental phenotypes to provide a comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying cell-fate specification and cellular diversity of the trophoblast lineage during the placental morphogenesis.

Background The CD47-SIRPα pathway acts as an important myeloid cell immune checkpoint and targeting the CD47/SIRPα axis represents a promising strategy to promote antitumor immunity. Several CD47-targeting agents show encouraging early activity in clinical trials. However, due to ubiquitous expression of CD47, the antigen sink and hematologic toxicity, such as anemia and thrombocytopenia, are main problems for developing CD47-targeting therapies. Considering the limited expression of SIRPα, targeting SIRPα is an alternative approach to block the CD47-SIRPα pathway, which may result in differential efficacy and safety profiles.Methods SIRPα-targeting antibody BR105 was generated by hybridoma fusion and following humanization. BR105 was characterized for binding to human SIRPα alleles and blockade of the interaction with CD47. The functional activity was determined in in vitro phagocytosis assays by using human macrophages. The effect of BR105 on human T cell activation was studied using an OKT3-induced T-cell proliferation assay and an allogeneic mixed lymphocyte reaction. Human SIRPα-humanized immunodeficient mice were used in cancer models for evaluating the in vivo antitumor efficacy of BR105. Safety was addressed in a repeat-dose toxicity study in cynomolgus monkeys, and toxicokinetic analysis was further evaluated.Results BR105 shows broad binding activity across various SIRPα variants, and potently blocks the interaction of SIRPα and CD47. In vitro functional assays demonstrated that BR105 synergizes with therapeutic antibodies to promote phagocytosis of tumor cells. Moreover, the combination of BR105 and therapeutic antibody significantly inhibits tumor growth in a xenograft tumor model. Although BR105 may slightly bind to SIRPγ, it does not inhibit T cell activation, unlike other non-selective SIRPα-targeting antibody and CD47-targeting agents. Toxicity studies in non-human primates show that BR105 is well tolerated with no treatment-related adverse effects noted.Conclusions The novel and differentiated SIRPα-targeting antibody, BR105, was discovered and displays promising antitumor efficacy in vitro and in vivo. BR105 has a favorable safety profile and shows no adverse effects on T cell functionality. These data support further clinical development of BR105, especially as a therapeutic agent to enhance efficacy when used in combination with tumor-targeting antibodies or antibodies that target other immune checkpoints.

AIM: To study the imaging characteristics of lacrimal punctum lesion with optical coherence tomography (OCT), and provide imaging basis for the diagnosis and treatment of lacrimal punctum diseases. METHODS: A total of 25 patients (28 eyes) with epiphora and lacrimal puncta lesions were enrolled. Lacrimal puncta lesions included: punctum membrane obstruction in 7 cases (9 eyes), punctum agenesis in 1 case (1 eye), a mass protruded from the punctum in 1 case (1 eye), slit puncta in 1 case (1 eye), peri-puncta mass in 2 cases (2 eyes), chronic dacryocystitis in 4 cases (4 eyes), and primary puncta stenosis in 9 cases (10 eyes; 3 eyes mild, 4 eyes moderate and 3 eyes severe). All patients were examined by slit lamp microscopy and OCT to observe the morphological characteristics of abnormal punctum. RESULTS: Two types of complete membrane obstruction and incomplete membrane obstruction of puncta were observed in OCT images of 7 patients. No lacrimal punctum and lacrimal canalicular cavity were found in 1 case with punctum agenesis. OCT images showed that a narrow lumen remained in the lacrimal puncta in 1 patient with a mass protruded from the punctum. OCT of punctum in a patient with slit punctum after stent placement showed stent and abnormal lacrimal structure. No abnormal intraluminal structure was found in 2 cases of peri-puncta mass after OCT scan, and the lacunar space was narrower than that of the contralateral eye. OCT of puncta in 4 patients with chronic dacryocystitis showed that pus floated in tear with lump-like medium-low reflex. In 9 patients with primary lacrimal puncta stenosis, OCT image could clearly show the changes of puncta lumen in different degrees and shapes. CONCLUSION: OCT is feasible for the examination of pathological punctum, and can provide imaging basis for the diagnosis and treatment of punctum disease.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth most frequently diagnosed cancer worldwide. However, the clinical outcomes remain unsatisfactory. The aim of this study is to unravel the functional role and regulatory mechanism of HOXA9 in HNSCC. A cohort of 25 HNSCC tumor tissues and normal tissue counterparts was collected. qRT-PCR and western blotting were performed to determine the levels of HOXA9 and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related markers. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and colony formation assays were conducted to monitor cell viability and cytotoxicity. Transwell and wound healing assays were used to determine cell migration and invasion. Annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate/propidium iodide (FITC/PI) staining was performed to detect cell apoptosis. Bioinformatic analysis, electrophoretic mobility shift assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays were performed to investigate the direct binding between HIF-1α or CCCTC binding factor (CTCF) and HOXA9. Glutathione S-transferase (GST) pull-down and RNA pull-down assays were used to validate the interaction between CTCF and HOTTIP. HOXA9 was upregulated in HNSCC tissues and cells. Knockdown of HOXA9 inhibited cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and chemoresistance but promoted apoptosis in CAL-27 and KB cells. Knockdown of HOXA9 also regulated EMT-related marker via targeting YAP1/β-catenin. Silencing of HOTTIP or CTCF exerted similar tumor-suppressive effects in HNSCC. Mechanistically, HIF-1α or CTCF transcriptionally regulated HOXA9, and HOTTIP/CTCF cooperatively regulated HOXA9 in KB cells. HIF-1α or HOTTIP/CTCF transcriptionally modulates HOXA9 expression to regulate HNSCC progression and drug resistance.

Abstract Background To compare the efficacy of three-point locating versus routine locating techniques for implanting helical blades for proximal femoral nail anti-rotation-II in the treatment of trochanteric fractures. Methods From January 2010 to June 2013, 90 patients with intertrochanteric fractures were surgically treated, including 48 males and 42 females with an average age of 70.5 ± 7.2 years. According to the AO classification, there were 45 cases of A2.1, 35 cases of A2.2, and 10 cases of A2.3. Based on locating techniques, the 90 patients were divided into two groups: the three-point group and the routine group, with 45 patients in each group. All operations were performed by the same group of surgeons using proximal femoral nail anti-rotation (PFNA); the helical blade was inserted into the femoral neck with the three-point locating technique or by the usual method according to treatment group. Several figures including total operation time, elapsed time for implanting the helical blade, intraoperative blood loss, X-ray exposure time, and tip-apex distance (TAD) were measured and compared. Results The three-point group was significantly superior as compared to the routine group in terms of total operation time [(59.34 ± 9.42) min vs (67.61 ± 12.63) min, P

The transition from spermatogonia to spermatocytes and the initiation of meiosis are key steps in spermatogenesis and are precisely regulated by a plethora of proteins. However, the underlying molecular mechanism remains largely unknown. Here, we report that Src homology domain tyrosine phosphatase 2 (Shp2; encoded by the protein tyrosine phosphatase, nonreceptor type 11 [Ptpn11] gene) is abundant in spermatogonia but markedly decreases in meiotic spermatocytes. Conditional knockout of Shp2 in spermatogonia in mice using stimulated by retinoic acid gene 8 (Stra8)-cre enhanced spermatogonial differentiation and disturbed the meiotic process. Depletion of Shp2 in spermatogonia caused many meiotic spermatocytes to die; moreover, the surviving spermatocytes reached the leptotene stage early at postnatal day 9 (PN9) and the pachytene stage at PN11–13. In preleptotene spermatocytes, Shp2 deletion disrupted the expression of meiotic genes, such as disrupted meiotic cDNA 1 (Dmc1), DNA repair recombinase rad51 (Rad51), and structural maintenance of chromosome 3 (Smc3), and these deficiencies interrupted spermatocyte meiosis. In GC-1 cells cultured in vitro, Shp2 knockdown suppressed the retinoic acid (RA)-induced phosphorylation of extracellular-regulated protein kinase (Erk) and protein kinase B (Akt/PKB) and the expression of target genes such as synaptonemal complex protein 3 (Sycp3) and Dmc1. Together, these data suggest that Shp2 plays a crucial role in spermatogenesis by governing the transition from spermatogonia to spermatocytes and by mediating meiotic progression through regulating gene transcription, thus providing a potential treatment target for male infertility.

Abstract. Proper development of the human placenta is of vital importance for a successful pregnancy, and a series of pregnancy complications are considered originating from dysfunctional placentas. Like other organ system development, placentation requires large numbers of co-regulators, while the underlying molecular mechanisms orchestrating the placental formation and function are poorly understood. Although we have made many signs of progress in understanding the placental architectures and developments using mouse models, the species-specific differences impede our progress due to the lack of appropriate model systems. In the past few years, major progress has been made by the establishment of novel in-vitro self-renewing stem cell models, as well as identifying the full picture of the cellular organization of the maternal and fetal interface. Providing the tools for the investigation of placentation and reproductive-related regulation mechanism. In this review, we focus on the detailed progress of the human trophoblast stem cells culturing system, and the cellular and molecular terrain at the maternal-fetal interface, respectively, thus providing new insights into placental development.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are remarkable breakthroughs in treating various types of cancer, but many patients still do not derive long-term clinical benefits. Increasing evidence shows that TGF-β can promote cancer progression and confer resistance to ICI therapies. Consequently, dual blocking of TGF-β and immune checkpoint may provide an effective approach to enhance the effectiveness of ICI therapies. Here, we reported the development and preclinical characterization of a novel bifunctional anti-PD-L1/TGF-β fusion protein, BR102. BR102 comprises an anti-PD-L1 antibody fused to the extracellular domain (ECD) of human TGF-βRII. BR102 is capable of simultaneously binding to TGF-β and PD-L1. Incorporating TGF-βRII into BR102 does not alter the PD-L1 blocking activity of BR102. In vitro characterization further demonstrated that BR102 could disrupt TGF-β-induced signaling. Moreover, BR102 significantly inhibits tumor growth in vivo and exerts a superior antitumor effect compared to anti-PD-L1. Administration of BR102 to cynomolgus monkeys is well-tolerated, with only minimal to moderate and reversing red cell changes noted. The data demonstrated the efficacy and safety of the novel anti-PD-L1/TGF-β fusion protein and supported the further clinical development of BR102 for anticancer therapy.

BackgroundThere have been reports of increasing azole resistance in Candida tropicalis, especially in the Asia-Pacific region. Here we report on the epidemiology and antifungal susceptibility of C. tropicalis causing invasive candidiasis in China, from a 9-year surveillance study.MethodsFrom August 2009 to July 2018, C. tropicalis isolates (n = 3702) were collected from 87 hospitals across China. Species identification was carried out by mass spectrometry or rDNA sequencing. Antifungal susceptibility was determined by Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute disk diffusion (CHIF-NET10–14, n = 1510) or Sensititre YeastOne (CHIF-NET15–18, n = 2192) methods.ResultsOverall, 22.2% (823/3702) of the isolates were resistant to fluconazole, with 90.4% (744/823) being cross-resistant to voriconazole. In addition, 16.9 (370/2192) and 71.7% (1572/2192) of the isolates were of non-wild-type phenotype to itraconazole and posaconazole, respectively. Over the 9 years of surveillance, the fluconazole resistance rate continued to increase, rising from 5.7 (7/122) to 31.8% (236/741), while that for voriconazole was almost the same, rising from 5.7 (7/122) to 29.1% (216/741), with no significant statistical differences across the geographic regions. However, significant difference in fluconazole resistance rate was noted between isolates cultured from blood (27.2%, 489/1799) and those from non-blood (17.6%, 334/1903) specimens (P-value < 0.05), and amongst isolates collected from medical wards (28.1%, 312/1110) versus intensive care units (19.6%, 214/1092) and surgical wards (17.9%, 194/1086) (Bonferroni adjusted P-value < 0.05). Although echinocandin resistance remained low (0.8%, 18/2192) during the surveillance period, it was observed in most administrative regions, and one-third (6/18) of these isolates were simultaneously resistant to fluconazole.ConclusionThe continual decrease in the rate of azole susceptibility among C. tropicalis strains has become a nationwide challenge in China, and the emergence of multi-drug resistance could pose further threats. These phenomena call for effective efforts in future interventions.

For hundreds of years, Ding 1541 is used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for the treatment of numerous ailments, including qi and blood stasis-related disorders. It showed good efficacy in relieving irregular menstruation, dysmenorrhea, metrorrhagia, and metrostaxis. Now, Ding 1541 has been widely used in various conditions, including primary dysmenorrhea, menstrual disorder, endometriosis, infertility, premenopausal syndrome, polycystic ovary syndrome, and premature ovarian failure. Compared with western medicine treatment, Ding 1541 has showed some advantages. In this review, we tried to summarize the underlying mechanisms for Ding 1541's effects. We collected clinical data and briefly analyzed these diseases based on the theories of TCM and the pathology. These data suggested that the underlying mechanisms of Ding 1541 involved increasing uterine blood supply, decreasing menstrual blood prostaglandin F2α level, improving the immune, and enhancing the function of the hypothalamus-pituitary-ovary, etc.

We carried out a pool culture experiment to determine the optimal water treatment depth in loam and clay soils during the late growth stage of super rice. Three controlled water depth treatments of 0–5, 0–10 and 0–15 cm below the soil surface were established using alternate wetting and drying irrigation, and the soil water potential (0 to –25 kPa) was measured at 5, 10 and 15 cm. A 2-cm water layer was used as the control. We measured soil enzyme activities, root antioxidant enzyme activities, chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, and rice yield. The results showed that the 0–5-cm water depth treatment significantly increased root antioxidant enzyme activities in loam soil compared with the control, whereas soil enzyme activities, chlorophyll fluorescence parameters and yield did not differ from those of the control. The 0–10- and 0–15-cm water depth treatments also increased root antioxidant enzyme activities, whereas soil enzyme activities, chlorophyll fluorescence parameters and yield decreased. In clay soil, the soil enzyme activities, root antioxidant enzyme activities, chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, and yield did not change with the 0–5-cm water treatment, whereas the 0–10- and 0–15-cm water treatments improved these parameters. Therefore, the appropriate depths for soil water during the late growth period of rice with a 0 to –25 kPa water potential were 5 cm in loam and 15 cm in clay soil.

In clinical practice, early pregnancy loss has afflicted approximately 15%–25% women of reproductive age worldwide, which is partially attributed to defects associated with the endometrium. During pregnancy, the endometrial stromal cells experience remarkable tissue remodeling and transformation, termed as decidualization, to support embryonic development, placental formation, and the maintenance of normal pregnancy in both mice and human. During this process, a series of dynamic developmental events, including rapid stromal proliferation, increased stromal cell size, enhanced angiogenesis, taken place in a highly-ordered manner under the precise regulation of steroid hormones. Meanwhile, diverse molecules exhibit spatiotemporal-specific expression pattern, implying their unique roles in decidual development. To achieve a more comprehensive understanding of these biological events and explore the underlying causes of early pregnancy disorders, this review emphasizes on the detailed developmental progression of decidual transformation and patterning as well as related pregnancy complications at the early stage of pregnancy.

Background: Several previous studies have shown that snoring is associated with glucose metabolism and the development of diabetes, but rare study has shown the association between snoring frequency and prediabetes, particularly in China. We hypothesized that individuals who snore might have a higher risk of prediabetes. This study aimed to investigate the association between self-reported snoring and prediabetes in a Chinese population. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed in three large communities of Beijing from December 2011 to August 2012 by recruiting individuals aged ≥40 years old. All participants were requested to complete a detailed questionnaire and undergo anthropometric measurements. A 75 g oral glucose tolerance test was performed in individuals without diabetes. Blood samples of all participants were collected; blood glucose and blood fat levels were measured. Multivariate logistic regression models were built to assess the association between snoring frequency and prediabetes. Results: A total of 13,592 participants (female: 66.56%; mean age: 56.8 ± 7.9 years; mean body mass index: 25.5 ± 3.4 kg/m2) were included in the final analysis. Of these, 30.9% were diagnosed with prediabetes, while 41.3% and 25.4% had occasional and habitual snoring, respectively. Habitual snoring was associated with an increased risk of prediabetes (odds ratio [OR]: 1.3, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.1–1.4, P< 0.001), after adjusting for diabetes and sleep-related confounders in the multivariable models. Habitual snoring was also associated with isolated impaired fasting glucose (IFG; OR: 1.3, 95% CI: 1.0–1.6; P< 0.001) and isolated impaired glucose tolerance (IGT; OR: 1.3, 95% CI: 1.2–1.5; P< 0.001), but not IFG + IGT (OR: 1.1, 95% CI: 0.9–1.4; P = 0.281). When stratified by total cholesterol (TC) levels, this association between habitual snoring and prediabetes was observed only in individuals with TC

Objective We aimed to investigate the role of the intestinal neurotransmitters vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and substance P (SP) at different time points in infants with acute intussusception. Methods Thirty patients who were diagnosed with acute intussusception were enrolled in the study and classified as the experimental group. Another 30 patients with an indirect inguinal hernia who had no intestinal injury were included as the control group. Serum SP and VIP levels at different time points, including pre- and postoperation, were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and compared between the two groups. Results Serum SP levels in patients with acute intussusception were significantly higher than those in controls. However, with recovery of acute intussusception, SP levels gradually decreased after treatment. Serum VIP levels in patients with acute intussusception were significantly lower than those in controls. However, with recovery of acute intussusception, VIP levels gradually increased after treatment. Conclusions SP and VIP levels may have a potential relationship with the pathogenetic process of intussusception.

Objective. To investigate the association between the hypertriglyceridemic waist (HTGW) phenotype and prediabetes in Chinese adults aged 40 years and older. Methods. 12757 adults (4101 men and 8656 women) without diabetes or cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, free of using lipid-modified agents, were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. The HTGW phenotype was defined as elevated serum triglyceride concentrations and enlarged waist circumference. A two-hour post 75 g oral glucose tolerance test was performed in all participants. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the relationship of the HTGW phenotype with prediabetes. Results. Individuals with the HTGW phenotype had a higher adjusted odds ratio (OR: 1.70; 95% CI: 1.48–1.95) of prediabetes than those without the phenotype. There existed a strong relationship of the HTGW phenotype with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) (OR: 1.83; 95% CI: 1.57–2.13), but not with impaired fasting glucose (IFG) (OR: 0.87; 95% CI: 0.65–1.17). Only women with the HTGW phenotype are significantly associated with the combined IFG and IGT (OR: 1.83; 95% CI: 1.28–2.62). Conclusions. The HTGW phenotype was a useful risk indicator and a practical screening tool to benefit in the early diagnosis and intervention for prediabetes, particularly for IGT and the combined IFG and IGT.

LaCoO3 epitaxial films were grown on (100), (110) and (111) oriented LaAlO3 substrates by the polymer-assisted deposition method. Crystal structure measurement and cross-section observation indicate that all the LaCoO3 films are epitaxially grown in accordance with the orientation of LaAlO3 substrates, with biaxial compressive strain in the ab plane. Owing to the different strain directions of CoO6 octahedron, the mean Co–O bond length increases by different amounts in (100), (110) and (111) oriented films compared with that of bulk LaCoO3, and the (100) oriented LaCoO3 has the largest increase. Photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange indicates that the order of photocatalytic activity of the three oriented films is (100) > (111) > (110). Combined with analysis of electronic nature and band structure for LaCoO3 films, it is found that the change of the photocatalytic activity is closely related to the crystal field splitting energy of Co3+ and Co–O binding energy. The increase in the mean Co–O bond length will decrease the crystal field splitting energy of Co3+ and Co–O binding energy and further reduce the value of band gap energy, thus improving the photocatalytic activity. This may also provide a clue for expanding the visible-light-induced photocatalytic application of LaCoO3.

2,6-diamino-3,5-dinitropyrazine-1-oxide (ANPZO), as an insensitive high explosive, with a high yield and excellent purity has been prepared at pilot plant scale by an improved method. The synthesized ANPZO is characterized by IR, laser granularity measurement, SEM and HPLC. The particle analysis revealed that the improved method could offer desired product with average particle size of 40 μm and high purity (>98.45%). The experimental parameters exhibited that the detonation velocity of the formulation based on ANPZO was higher than that of the corresponding TATB formulation. The DSC curve showed that the exothermic decomposition of the product occurred at the temperature between 300.5 °C and 360.4 °C. Furthermore, the sensitivity test suggests its safe nature towards mechanical stimulus.

C82H64N12O11Co2, orthorhombic, Pbcn (no. 60), a = 22.286(7) Å, b = 22.725(7) Å, c = 14.056(5) Å, V = 7119(4) Å3, Z = 4, Rgt(F) = 0.0582, wRref(F2) = 0.1634, T = 296(2) K.

Objective(s): Studies have reported that whole body vibration (WBV) played a vital role in bone remodeling. Circulating serotonin is also involved in negative regulating bone mass in rodents and humans. However, both WBV and inhibition of serotonin biosynthesis may suppress receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappaB ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclastogenesis in vitro . The purpose of the current study was to investigate the effect of WBV therapy on the levels of serum serotonin in ovariectomized rats. Materials and Methods: Thirty-six-month-old female Sprague Dawley rats weighing 276.15±37.75 g were ovariectomized to induce osteoporosis, and another ten rats underwent sham operation to establish sham control (SHAM) group. After 3 months, ovariectomized rats were divided into three subgroups and then separately treated with WBV, Alendronate (ALN) and normal saline (OVX), SHAM group was given normal saline. After 6 weeks of treatment, rats were sacrificed. Serum serotonin, RANKL, bone turnover markers, and bone mineral density (BMD), bone strength were evaluated. Results: The serum serotonin level was significantly lower in WBV group than OVX and ALN groups (P

Engineering surface structure of catalysts is an efficient way towards high catalytic performance. Here, we report on the synthesis of regular iridium nanospheres (Ir NSs), with abundant atomic steps prepared by a laser ablation technique. Atomic steps, consisting of one-atom level covering the surface of such Ir NSs, were observed by aberration-corrected high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM). The prepared Ir NSs exhibited remarkably enhanced activity both for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in acidic medium. As a bifunctional catalyst for overall water splitting, they achieved a cell voltage of 1.535 V @ 10 mA/cm2, which is much lower than that of Pt/C-Ir/C couple (1.630 V @ 10 mA/cm2).

We analyzed changes in immunologic values over time for 28 hospitalized patients with pandemic (H1N1) 2009. Levels of interleukin-6, interferon-γ, and interleukin-10 increased 1 day after illness onset and then decreased to baseline levels. Levels of virus-specific antibody were undetectable 1 day after illness onset and peaked 36 days later.

R-spondin proteins are novel Wnt/β-catenin agonists, which signal through their receptors leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein coupled receptor (LGR) 4/5/6 and substantially enhance Wnt/β-catenin activity. R-spondins are reported to function in embryonic development. They also play important roles in stem cell functions in adult tissues, such as the intestine and mammary glands, which largely rely on Wnt/β-catenin signaling. However, in the skin epithelium and hair follicles, the information about R-spondins is deficient, although the expressions and functions of their receptors, LGR4/5/6, have already been studied in detail. In the present study, highly-enriched expression of the R-spondin family genes (Rspo1/2/3/4) in the hair follicle dermal papilla is revealed. Expression of Rspo1 in the dermal papilla is specifically and prominently upregulated before anagen entry, and exogenous recombinant R-spondin1 protein injection in mid-telogen leads to precocious anagen entry. Moreover, R-spondin1 activates Wnt/β-catenin signaling in cultured bulge stem cells in vitro, changing their fate determination without altering the cell proliferation. Our pioneering study uncovers a role of R-spondin1 in the activation of cultured hair follicle stem cells and the regulation of hair cycle progression, shedding new light on the governance of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in skin biology and providing helpful clues for future treatment of hair follicle disorders.

In the title compound, C4H9NO·C20H14O2, the dihedral angle between the naphthalene ring systems of the binaphthalenediol molecule is 77.53 (14)°. In the crystal, the two components are linked by O—H...O hydrogen bonds, forming a zigzag chain along the c axis.

In the crystal structure of the title compound, C3H8N2O2·H2O, the organic molecule exists as zwitterion with the carboxyl group deprotonated and the amino group protonated. In the crystal, the components are linked by O—H...O and N—H...O hydrogen bonds.

In the centrosymmetric title compound, 2C4H12NO+·C8H4O42−, two N,N-diethyl(hydroxy)ammonium cations are linked to a benzene-1,4-dicarboxylate dianion by a combination of O—H...O and N—H...O hydrogen bonds, which can be described in graph-set terminology as R22(7). The crystal structure is further stabilized by C—H...O hydrogen bonds, leading to the fomation of a ribbon-like network.

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, 2C6H9N2+·SO42−·H2O, contains two isomeric protonated aminomethylpyridine cations, a sulfate anion and a solvent water molecule. The cations are in the iminium tautomeric form. In the crystal structure, intermolecular O—H...O, N—H...O and weak C—H...O hydrogen bonds link the components into a three-dimensional network. Additional stabilization is provided by weak π–π stacking interactions, with centroid–centroid distances of 3.758 (2) and 3.774 (1) Å.

The title compound, (C6H9N2)2[CuCl4], contains a distorted tetrahedral [CuCl4]2− anion and two protonated aminopyridinium cations. The geometries of the protonated aminopyridinium cations reveal amine–imine tautomerism. The crystal packing is influenced by N—H...Cl and C—H...Cl hydrogen bonds and π–π stacking interactions [centroid–centroid distances = 3.635 (4) and 3.642 (4)°].