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Background: Lung adenocarcinoma is a very pervasive histological form of lung cancers, and inhibiting metastasis is crucial for effective treatment. In this investigation, we explored the functional interaction of miR-30a-5p and the putative transcription factor 2 of the homeodomain (PHTF2) in dictating the aggressiveness and metastasis of lung adenocarcinoma. Method: We collected clinical samples to evaluate the expression patterns of miR-30a-5p and PHTF2 in lung adenocarcinoma along with normal tissues. Cellular experiments including cell count kit (CCK)-8 growth assay, apoptosis analysis, migration and invasion examinations were performed to assess the aggressiveness of lung adenocarcinoma cells. Furthermore, we examined tumorigenesis and metastasis in a nude mouse model. Results: MiR-30a-5p exhibited downregulation pattern in lung adenocarcinoma samples. Transfection of miR-30a-5p mimic in lung adenocarcinoma cells resulted in the suppression of malignant characteristics. Notably, the administration of miR-30a-5p mimic also curbed tumorigenesis and metastasis of lung adenocarcinoma cells in animal model. Moreover, PHTF2 was found to be a molecular target of miR-30a-5p. Upregulating PHTF2 counteracted the tumorsuppressive effect of the miR-30a-5p mimic. Conclusion: miR-30a-5p functions as a tumor-suppressive molecule while PHTF2 acts as an oncogenic factor in the development and metastasis of lung adenocarcinoma. Therefore, targeting miR-30a-5p and PHTF2 could be developed into a promising therapeutic approach for inhibiting metastasis in lung adenocarcinoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective • This study aims to compare patient data from two different surgical approaches for minimally invasive valve surgery: hemi-sternotomy and right anterolateral thoracotomy. The primary objective is to determine the safety and efficacy of both surgical incisions. Methods • Between December 2019 and December 2022, a total of 90 patients underwent minimally invasive valve surgery at our center. Among them, 36 patients received the hemi-sternotomy incision with an average age of 45.86 ± 14.83, and 54 patients received the right anterolateral thoracotomy with an average age of 56.77 ± 14.83 years. In the hemi-sternotomy group, 21 patients underwent aortic valve surgery, and 15 had mitral valve surgery, while in the right anterolateral thoracotomy group, 30 patients underwent aortic valve surgery, and 15 patients had mitral valve surgery. Results • No deaths or significant bleeding occurred in the hemi-sternotomy group. However, in the right anterolateral thoracotomy group, one patient died from continuous low cardiac output syndrome after surgery, and one patient suffered a femoral artery dissection. All other patients were discharged without complications. The aortic clamp time and the cardiopulmonary bypass time were significantly lower in the hemi-sternotomy group compared to the right anterolateral thoracotomy group. Conversely, the two groups had no significant differences in intubation time, 24-hour drainage, hospitalization time, and blood transfusion. On the second day after surgery, serum c-TNT and NT-PROBNP levels significantly increased in both groups, but they were significantly higher in the right anterolateral thoracotomy group than in the hemi-sternotomy group. However, on the fifth day after surgery, serum c-TNT and NT-PROBNP levels decreased significantly in both groups, with no significant differences between them. Conclusions • Minimally invasive valve surgery, whether performed with right anterolateral thoracotomy or hemisternotomy, is safe and effective after the learning curve. Patients can benefit from these advances in minimally invasive cardiac surgery, and surgeons can easily master these techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Patients with multiple myeloma (MM) are prone to developing persistent renal insufficiency. Novel therapeutic medications have improved long-term survival, making kidney transplantation (KT) a viable treatment option for MM survivors with end-stage renal disease. This study aimed to investigate the clinical outcomes in patients with MM who have received KT. Methods: Data from hospitalized patients ≥40 years of age with MM in the Nationwide Inpatient Sample 2016-2018 of the United States were queried. Patients were classified as having or not having undergone KT, as well as the stage of chronic kidney disease (CKD) for those who had not received KT. Propensity-score matching (PSM) was applied to balance the characteristics between the groups. Binary logistic regression was utilized to determine the associations between study variables and in-hospital mortality, unfavorable discharges, prolonged length of stay (LOS), and major complications. Results: In total, 50,654 hospitalized patients with MM were identified, of whom 165 (0.3%) had received KT and 50,489 had not (5,905 at stage 5 CKD [CKD5D], 11,559 at stage 1-4 CKD [CKD1-4D], and 33,025 who were CKD-free). After PSM, between- group demographic and hospital-related characteristics were balanced. Binary regression analysis revealed that, compared to patients who were CKD-free, patients at CKD5D were significantly more likely to experience a prolonged LOS (odds ratio [OR], 1.31; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01-1.70) after adjusting for relevant confounders. Furthermore, compared to CKD-free patients, those who underwent KT were significantly more likely to have sepsis (OR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.02-2.14). However, KT showed no association with the other adverse inpatient outcomes. Conclusions: Although KT is not common in MM patients, those who had undergone KT had comparable hospital outcomes to CKD-free patients. These data will help clinicians deliver better consultations to MM patients attempting to receive KT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Betanin is a member of natural pigment betacyanins family and has extensive application in the food industry as an important natural red food colorant. Its relatively inefficient production in nature however hampers access to this phytochemicals through traditional crop-based manufacturing. Microbial bioproduction therefore represents an attractive alternative. Here, we present the construction of a Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain for betanin production. Through minimizing metabolic crosstalk, screening and modifying biosynthetic enzymes, enhancing pathway flux and optimizing fermentation conditions, a final titer of betanin of 28.7 mg/L was achieved from glucose at 25 °C in baffled shake-flask, which is the highest reported titer produced by yeast to our knowledge. This work provides a promising step towards developing synthetic yeast cell factories for de novo biosynthesis of value-added betanin and other betacyanins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new tigliane-type diterpenoid (1) and three known analogues (2−4) were isolated from the seeds of Croton tiglium. Extensive spectroscopic analyses, especially the 2D NMR experiments were used to determine their structures. The absolute configuration of 1 was defined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction data. The cytotoxicity 1−4 was evaluated against melanoma cell line A375, and the results showed that compounds 1, 3, and 4 exhibited certain cytotoxicities [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Small lung metastases change their location with respiration, making difficult to localize, therefore, increasing the number of punctures. Accurate puncture can reduce trauma to lung tissue and accelerate patient's recovery. The aim of the study was to present our experience with the technique of using local anesthesia 5-ml syringe as a guide for computerized tomography-guided iodine-125 seed implantation (CT-ISI). Material and methods: This was a retrospective study, including patients with small metastatic tumors in the lung, treated with CT-ISI between December 2013 and March 2018 at the Affiliated Hospital of the University. The patients were divided according to whether a 5-ml syringe was used as a guide during CT-ISI or not. The final follow-up was on March 31st, 2018. Implantation success and complications were examined. Results: Nineteen patients were included. A total of 840 seeds were used, with 44.2 ±33.6 (range, 10-160) seeds per patient. The mean D90 for CT-ISI was 134.5 ±7.5 Gy. Treatment intervention for eleven patients was performed using a 5-ml syringe as a guide during CT-ISI. There were no differences in total dose and number of implanted seeds between the two groups, but the number of punctures per lesion was lower in the syringe group than in the no-syringe group (1.9 ±0.5 vs. 2.9 ±0.6, p < 0.001), suggesting a higher puncture accuracy. The total number of SMTIL was 50 (median, 2; range, 1-10), and the median size was 1.9 cm (range, 0.8-2.4 cm). All SMTIL were well-controlled at 6-months follow-up (response rate [RR] = 100%). One patient in the no-syringe group experienced grade 2 chest tightness, chest pain, intraoperative needle tract bleeding, and post-operative blood in sputum. Conclusions: Puncture with a 5-ml syringe as a guide during CT-ISI seems to be a more accurate option for patients with small (< 2.5 cm) lung metastasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of computed tomography (CT)-guided iodine-125 (125I) seed implantation (ISI) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or cholangiocellular carcinoma (CCC) lesions in challenging locations after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE). Material and methods: A retrospective single-center review of 24 patients with HCC or CCC tumors in challenging locations (hepatic dome or close to the heart/diaphragm/hepatic hilum) was conducted. Patients who underwent CT-guided 125I implantation from May 2014 to January 2019 were recruited. Patients' demographics and details including technical success, treatment response, patient survival, and complication rate were also evaluated. Results: Treated tumors were located in the hepatic dome (n = 10; 41.7%), subcapsularly (n = 6; 25%), close to the heart (n = 3; 12.5%), and in the liver hilum (n = 5; 20.8%). The mean maximum diameter of tumors in challenging locations was 40.08 ±11.34 mm (range, 25-68 mm). TACE (2 ±1, 1-4 times) was applied before ISI. There were 27 ISI treatments administered (3 patients also received supplemental ISI). The total number of implanted seeds was 1,160, with mean 48 ±16 seed per patient (range, 30-90 seeds). The mean D90 value for ISI was 125 Gy. Technical success rate was 100%, while a complete response + partial response (CR + PR) was documented in 70.83%, 79.17%, 83.33%, and 79.17% of patients at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months post-ISI, respectively. There were no major complications, although 2 cases experienced 125I seed transfer to the diaphragm, and 1 case experienced transfer to the heart cavity. Conclusions: CT-guided ISI for HCC or CCC lesions in challenging locations after TACE is both highly effective and safe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analytical solution of tensile stress of square specimen under splitting load was obtained through Fourier Series Solution of plane stress problems. According to the stress distribution of the un-cracked square specimen, the calculation formula of Mode I fracture toughness of cracked straight through the square specimen, CSTSS, under splitting load was obtained, and the shape function was corrected by the finite element interaction integration method. In order to verify the correctness of the formula, a CSTSS splitting test was performed. The test results indicated that the stress distribution on the axis of symmetry is consistent with the theoretical results, and the minimum tensile stress occurs at the center point of the un-cracked specimens. The Mode I fracture toughness of CSTSS, KIC, was stabilized in relative range and the average value of KIC was 0.140 MPa×m1/2. The three-point-bend experiment was introduced as a comparative test and the average value of KIC was 0.158 MPa×m1/2 which was slightly larger than that of CSTSS. The test results indicated that both of the two tests could be reliable and the CSTSS under splitting load could be a potential method to determine the Mode I fracture toughness of rock. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of the study was to determine how many times iodine-125 (125I) seed brachytherapy (ISB) for recurrent pulmonary metastases (RPM) can be done, and the clinical efficacy and complications of repeated ISB in RPM treatment. Material and methods: Between September 2013 and August 2018, 18 patients with RPM, after conventional chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and trans-arterial chemoembolization, received CT-guided repeated ISB. Patients were followed up, and local control, survival, and post-operative complications were analyzed retrospectively. The Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analyses. Results: Eighty-two metastases in 18 patients were treated with ISB, with 71 implantations (mean number of implantations per patient, 4; range, 3-8). The total number of implanted 125I seeds was 1,220 (mean number per patient, 68; minimum, 40; maximum, 110). The mean value of D90 for ISB was 138 Gy. Local control was 91.46%, 90.24%, and 89.02% at 1, 3, and 6 months after ISB, respectively. After repeated ISB, good local control was achieved, and all patients were discharged from hospital within 3 days. One month after, six metastases of large diameter were treated with ISB; computed tomography revealed level 1 radioactive injury to the lungs, but special treatment was not administered. Post-operative renal, hepatic, and vascular functions were normal. Conclusions: ISB for RPM is safe and efficacious. RPM treatment seems not to be limited by number of times ISB could be repeated; at least up to 8 times for different sites of lung. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective • The objective of this study was to construct and validate a nomogram for preoperatively identifying central lymph node metastasis (CLNM) in patients with papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) using ultrasound imaging characteristics and the BRAF V600E gene mutation. Methods • A retrospective data analysis was conducted on 216 PTMC patients who underwent surgery at our facility between February 2016 and June 2022. Univariate and multivariate analyses examined the relationship between CLNM and clinicopathological traits, the BRAF V600E mutation, and ultrasound imaging characteristics. The area under the curve (AUC) was calculated, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed to assess the predictive efficacy of the model in both the training and validation sets. Calibration curves were generated to evaluate the agreement between predicted and observed outcomes. Decision curve analysis (DCA) was performed to assess the clinical suitability of the model. A nomogram was developed to illustrate the predicted likelihood of CLNM. Results • The incidence rate of CLNM was found to be 38.4% (83/216 patients). Logistic univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that the BRAF V600E mutation, patient age less than 45 years, tumor size greater than 5 mm, thyroid capsule invasion, and presence of microcalcification in the tumor were independent risk factors for CLNM. The model demonstrated high exclusionary performance with AUC values of 0.88 and 0.877 in the training and validation cohorts, respectively. The calibration curve and DCA confirmed the accuracy of the predicted outcomes and the clinical value of the nomogram. Conclusions • A model incorporating ultrasound imaging characteristics and the BRAF V600E mutation can effectively predict the risk of central lymph node metastasis in patients with papillary thyroid microcarcinoma before surgery. The identified risk factors, including tumor size greater than 5 mm3, BRAF V600E mutation, patient age less than 45 years, nodule capsule invasion, and presence of microcalcification, can aid in surgical decision-making. The nomogram provides a valuable tool for clinicians to assess the likelihood of CLNM in PTMC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacies of 125I seed implantation and stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) in treatment of recurrent lung metastases from colorectal cancer, to compare the tolerance of lung tissue to both forms of radiotherapy, and to analyze the factors that affect the prognosis. Material and methods: According to treatment received, thirty colorectal cancer patients with post-operative lung metastases were separated into two groups: 125I seed implantation group (group A; n = 16) and SBRT group (group B; n = 14). Patients were followed up, and local control rate, survival, and post-operative complications were analyzed retrospectively. Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis. Cox proportional hazards model was used to identify the independent predictors of poor prognosis. Results: Survival was significantly different between group A and group B (median survival, 15 months and 11.5 months, respectively; p = 0.015). Local control rates at the first, third, sixth, and twelfth months after treatment were all > 80%, with no significant difference between the two groups (p = 0.829). Significant differences were seen between the two groups in the number of treatments received (p = 0.009) and the incidence of radiation pneumonitis (p < 0.001) as well as radiation-induced pulmonary fibrosis (p = 0.005). On multivariate regression analysis radiation pneumonitis was an independent predictor of poor prognosis (HR = 3.356, 95% CI: 1.518-7.421; p = 0.003). Conclusions: 125I seeds brachytherapy and SBRT are both effective for control of lung metastases but the former causes milder lung tissue damage. It can be repeated after short intervals, and appears to be a safe and efficient treatment for lung metastases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human movement refers to the various actions completed by the human body with flexibility and diversity which cannot be found in actions completed by robots. This paper proposed to use inertial sensors to collect the information about body movements and apply the collected information to analyze and identify human movements. It was found through the experiment that the inertial sensor could well identify the human body movement postures, which provided theoretical basis for its application in the field of human motion posture recognition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the population genetic structure and demographic dynamics of important agricultural pest insects is very important in studying insecticide resistance and control strategies. The plant bug Adelphocoris fasciaticollis (Reuter) (Hemiptera: Miridae) is one of the main insect pests on cotton in Northern China. We studied large-scale genetic structure and genetic diversity patterns and explored the demographic history. We also employed a phylogeographical approach on A. fasciaticollis samples using sequence data from mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and nuclear DNA (ncDNA). MtDNA showed a significant correlation between genetic and geographical distances, but ncDNA did not support this correlation. Both datasets revealed that A. fasciaticollis populations had experienced recent expansion and lacked a geographical structure. One reason for lack of a genetic structure is a high level of gene flow among the populations. We suggest that the strong flight capability of A. fasciaticollis has been aided by the East Asian monsoon and cold fronts to accelerate the rate of range expansion. In addition, decreased insecticide usage and disturbances from human activities may all have contributed to population expansion. The low effective population number was based on two datasets. It is suggested that the host crop use, local climate conditions, and the recent population expansion might be the main influencing factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land use and land cover changes (LUCC) are thought to be amongst the most important impacts exerted by humans on climate. However, relatively little research has been carried out so far on the effects of LUCC on extreme climate change other than on regional temperatures and precipitation. In this paper, we apply a regional weather research and forecasting (WRF) climate model using LUCC data from Heilongjiang Province, that was collected between the 1900s and 2010s, to explore how changes in forest cover influence extreme temperature indexes. Our selection of extreme high, low, and daily temperature indexes for analysis in this study enables the calculation of a five-year numerical integration trail with changing forest space. Results indicate that the total forested area of Heilongjiang Province decreased by 28% between the 1900s and 2010s. This decrease is most marked in the western, southwestern, and northeastern parts of the province. Our results also reveal a remarkable correlation between change in forested area and extreme high and low temperature indexes. Further analysis enabled us to determine that the key factor explaining increases in extreme high temperature indexes (i.e., calculated using the number of warm days, warm nights, as well as tropical nights, and summer days) is decreasing forest area; data also showed that this factor caused a decrease in extreme low temperature indexes (i.e., calculated using the number of cold days and cold nights, as well as frost days, and ice days) and an increase in the maximum value of daily minimum temperature. Spatial data demonstrated that there is a significant correlation between forest-to-farmland conversion and extreme temperature indexes throughout most of our study period. Spatial data demonstrated that there is a significant correlation between forest-to-farmland conversion and extreme temperature indexes throughout most of our study period. Positive correlations are also present between decreasing forest area, the more frequent occurrence of extreme high temperature events, and a rise in the maximum value of daily minimum temperature. At the same time, we found clear negative correlations between decreasing forest area and less frequent occurrence of extreme low temperature events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dysregulation of microRNAs (miRNAs) in colorectal cancer provides important opportunities for the development of future miRNA‑based therapies. The present study aimed to assess the role of miRNA‑630 (miR‑630) expression in colorectal cancer. HCT116 human colorectal cancer cells were transfected with miR‑630 inhibitor, mimic or control miRNA, and the effects of miR‑630 dysregulation on cell viability, proliferation and apoptosis were analyzed using MTT and bromodeoxyuridine assays, and an annexin V‑fluorescein isothiocyanate cell apoptosis kit, respectively. In addition, the changes in the protein expression of proliferation‑associated and AKT signaling pathway proteins were analyzed by western blot analysis. The results of the present study demonstrated that overexpression of miR‑630 significantly promoted HCT116 cell proliferation however inhibited apoptosis. Furthermore, miR‑630 overexpression reduced the protein expression of p27, BCL2‑associated X apoptosis regulator, procaspase‑3 and active caspase‑3, and increased the levels of phosphorylated‑AKT and BCL2 apoptosis regulator. The suppression of miR‑630 led to the opposite results. In conclusion, the present findings suggested that miR‑630 may function as an oncogenic miRNA in colorectal cancer, and may promote cellular proliferation and inhibit apoptosis, through the regulation of the expression of p27 and the AKT signaling pathway. The present study suggested that the inhibition of miR‑630 may have potential as an alternative therapeutic strategy for the treatment of patients with colorectal cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There have been no previous report of hand joint destruction prevalence in Chinese rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and potential factors of hand joint destruction among RA patients from Nantong China. In addition, we wanted to examine the differences between functional capacity, psychological status, and quality of life in patients with hand joint destruction compared to those without hand joint destruction.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from the Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University between July 2015 and June 2016. RA patients completed questionnaires for demographic or clinical variables, the 10-cm Visual Analog Scale for pain, the 28-joint Disease Activity Score-erythrocyte sedimentation rate for disease activity, the Health Assessment Questionnaire-disability index for physical function, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale for anxiety and depression, and the Short Form 36 health survey for quality of life. Laboratory examinations were taken to obtain some biochemical indicators (e.g., rheumatoid factor, anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody). X-ray assessment of hand was performed and hand joint destruction was defined as Sharp score > 0. Independent sample t-test, Mann-Whitney U-test, Chi-square test, and multivariate analysis using backward stepwise logistic regression model were used to analyze these data.Results: One hundred and sixty-one RA patients were included in this study. Radiographic findings revealed that almost 47.2% (n = 76) of patients had hand joint destruction. Multivariate analysis found that education ≤ 9 years (p = 0.041), anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody positive (p = 0.021), high disease activity (p = 0.020), and long disease duration (p < 0.001) were important potential risk factors of hand joint destruction. Participants with hand joint destruction tended to have lower physical function and quality of life, and more severe depressive symptoms compared to individuals without hand joint destruction.Conclusions: 47.2% of people with RA from Nantong China experienced hand joint destruction. Education, anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody, disease activity, and disease duration had great impacts on hand joint destruction. The results suggested that rheumatologists should pay attention to RA patients' hand joint destruction, especially those with low education levels, anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody positive, high disease activity, and long disease duration by patient education or other ways to improve patients' prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: As an important outcome measure among rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, functional disability may contribute to unemployment, loss of work productivity, and impaired quality of life. However, little is known about the risk factors of functional disability in Chinese RA patients. This study aimed (1) to examine the prevalence of functional disability in Chinese RA patients; (2) to explore factors associated with the health assessment questionnaire-disability index (HAQ-DI).Methods: A total of 101 RA patients in this cross-sectional study underwent standardized laboratory examinations and responded to the questionnaire for demographic data, the HAQ-DI for functional disability, the Compliance Questionnaire on Rheumatology (CQR) for medication adherence, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) for psychological status, and the Short Form 36 health survey (SF-36) for quality of life. Pain, grip/pinch strength, disease activity, and large joint mobility were recorded. Independent samples t-tests, chi-square analyses, and logistic regression modeling were used to analyze the data.Results: The mean ± SD age of RA patients was 54.9 ± 11.9 years. Approximately 15.8% RA patients in mainland China experience functional disability (defined as a HAQ-DI score ≥ 1). Long disease duration, pain, high disease activity, a larger number of tender and swollen joints, high C-reactive protein (CRP) level, decreased grip strength, and limitation of shoulder, elbow, wrist, knee, and ankle motion were associated with the HAQ-DI. Participants with functional disability tended to have more severe depressive symptoms and a lower quality of life compared with individuals without functional disability. Stepwise logistic regression analyses found that limitation of wrist extension (P = 0.001) and lower body pain (BP) score (P = 0.001) explained higher HAQ-DI score.Conclusions: The present study reported that functional disability was common in Chinese RA patients. A low quality of life and limitation of joint mobility had great impacts on functional disability in Chinese RA patients. Targeted and culturally sensitive interventions should be strengthened to delay the onset of disabilities of this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drying characteristics of soybeans under different microwave (MW) processing schemes were studied in regard to energy aspects. For drying in a single microwave power density, the experiments were carried out at a constant MW output power throughout the process. It was found that the drying rate is enhanced together with reduced energy consumption at higher single power density, but the soybean cracking ratio is increased gradually from 2 % to 40 % when the power density was changed from 0.2 W/g to 0.8 W/g. Efforts were made to reach a compromise between the drying rate and dried soybean quality by varying the MW power density in several steps overall the drying process, but soybean cracking occurred at a higher ratio due to the fluctuation of drying rate. Microwave drying of soybeans under the power density less than 0.2 W/g with slow and stable drying rate can achieve the soybean cracking ratio controlled within 5 % and lower energy consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To retrospectively evaluate the efficacy and safety of computed tomography (CT)-guided percutaneous interstitial brachytherapy using 125I radioactive seeds for multiple pulmonary metastatic tumors. Material and methods: Between September 2013 and December 2015, 22 patients with multiple pulmonary metastases, who after conventional chemotherapy and trans-arterial chemoembolization (TACE) therapy were considered unable to withstand stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), received CT-guided 125I brachytherapy. Clinical data were studied retrospectively. A planning target volume of 90% (D90) was 120-160 Gy for 125I seeds with an activity of 25.9 MBq. A CT-based evaluation performed 1, 2, and 6 months' post-implantation enabled review of local control of tumors. Results: Twenty-two patients with 65 pulmonary metastases successfully completed treatment. The mean value for D90 for implantation for 125I seeds was 132 Gy. Complete response (CR) + partial response (PR) was documented in 81.54%, 78.46%, and 78.46% of patients at 1, 2, and 6 months after implantation, respectively. Fourteen out of 22 patients had CR, 3 had PR, 2 had stable disease (SD), and 3 had progressive disease (PD). Most of the metastases (CR + PR + SD; 87.69% after 6 months) were controlled by implantation. Conclusions: CT-guided 125I brachytherapy is a safe and effective treatment for multiple pulmonary metastatic tumors, and can achieve good short-term local control, so long as the radiation dose is sufficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients are at high risk for depression and anxiety. However, the estimated prevalence of these disorders varies substantially between studies. This systematic review aimed to establish pooled prevalence levels of depression and anxiety among adult SLE patients. Methods: We systematically reviewed databases including PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, and the Cochrane database library from their inception to August 2016. Studies presenting data on depression and/or anxiety in adult SLE patients and having a sample size of at least 60 patients were included. A random-effect meta-analysis was conducted on all eligible data. Results: A total of 59 identified studies matched the inclusion criteria, reporting on a total of 10828 adult SLE patients. Thirty five and thirteen methods of defining depression and anxiety were reported, respectively. Metaanalyses revealed that the prevalence of major depression and anxiety were 24% (95% CI, 16%-31%, I2 = 95.2%) and 37% (95% CI, 12%-63%, I2 = 98.3%) according to clinical interviews. Prevalence estimates of depression were 30% (95% CI, 22%-38%, I2 = 91.6%) for the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale with thresholds of 8 and 39% (95% CI, 29%-49%, I2 = 88.2%) for the 21-Item Beck Depression Inventory with thresholds of 14, respectively. The main influence on depression prevalence was the publication years of the studies. In addition, the corresponding pooled prevalence was 40% (95% CI, 30%-49%, I2 = 93.0%) for anxiety according to the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale with a cutoff of 8 or more. Conclusions: The prevalence of depression and anxiety was high in adult SLE patients. It indicated that rheumatologists should screen for depression and anxiety in their patients, and referred them to mental health providers in order to identify effective strategies for preventing and treating depression and anxiety among adult SLE patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) encompasses a diverse group of Mendelian disorders leading to progressive degeneration of rods and then cones. For reasons that remain unclear, diseased RP photoreceptors begin to deteriorate, eventually leading to cell death and, consequently, loss of vision. Here, we have hypothesized that RP associated with mutations in phosphodiesterase-6 (PDE6) provokes a metabolic aberration in rod cells that promotes the pathological consequences of elevated cGMP and Ca2+, which are induced by the Pde6 mutation. Inhibition of sirtuin 6 (SIRT6), a histone deacetylase repressor of glycolytic flux, reprogrammed rods into perpetual glycolysis, thereby driving the accumulation of biosynthetic intermediates, improving outer segment (OS) length, enhancing photoreceptor survival, and preserving vision. In mouse retinae lacking Sirt6, effectors of glycolytic flux were dramatically increased, leading to upregulation of key intermediates in glycolysis, TCA cycle, and glutaminolysis. Both transgenic and AAV2/8 gene therapy-mediated ablation of Sirt6 in rods provided electrophysiological and anatomic rescue of both rod and cone photoreceptors in a preclinical model of RP. Due to the extensive network of downstream effectors of Sirt6, this study motivates further research into the role that these pathways play in retinal degeneration. Because reprogramming metabolism by enhancing glycolysis is not gene specific, this strategy may be applicable to a wide range of neurodegenerative disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to provide an animal experimental basis for the protective effect of the adenoviral vector-mediated interleukin-10 (Ad-mIL-10) gene on islet β-cells during the early stages of type 1 diabetes (T1D) in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice. A total of 24 female NOD mice at the onset of diabetes were allocated at random into three groups (n=8 per group): Group 1, intraperitoneally injected with 0.1 ml Ad-mIL-10; group 2, intraperitoneally injected with 0.1 ml adenovirus vector; and group 3, was a diabetic control. In addition to groups 1, 2 and 3, 8 age- and gender-matched NOD mice were intraperitoneally injected with 0.1 ml PBS and assigned to group 4 as a normal control. All mice were examined weekly for body weight, urine glucose and blood glucose values prior to onset of diabetes, and at 1, 2 and 3 weeks after that, and all mice were sacrificed 3 weeks after injection. Serum levels of interleukin (IL)-10, interferon (IFN)-γ, IL-4, insulin and C-peptide were evaluated, and in addition the degree of insulitis and the local expression of IL-10 gene in the pancreas were detected. The apoptosis rate of pancreatic β-cells was determined using a TUNEL assay. Compared with groups 2 and 3, IL-10 levels in the serum and pancreas were elevated in group 1. Serum IFN-γ levels were decreased while serum IL-4 levels and IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio were significantly increased in group 1 (P<0.01). C-peptide and insulin levels were higher in group 1 compared with groups 2 and 3, (P<0.01). Furthermore, compared with groups 2 and 3, the degree of insulitis, islet β-cell apoptosis rate and blood glucose values did not change significantly (P>0.05). The administration of the Ad-mIL-10 gene induced limited immune regulatory and protective effects on islet β-cell function in NOD mice with early T1D, while no significant reduction in insulitis, islet β-cell apoptosis rate and blood glucose was observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent research has revealed a role for Ambra1, an autophagy-related gene-related (ATG) protein, in the autophagic pro-survival response, and Ambra1 has been shown to regulate Beclin1 and Beclin1-dependent autophagy in embryonic stem cells and cancer cells. However, whether Ambra1 plays an important role in the autophagy pathway in ovarian cancer cells is unknown. In this study, we hypothesized that Ambra1 is an important regulator of autophagy and apoptosis in ovarian cancer cells. We firstly confirmed autophagic activity in ovarian cancer OVCAR-3 cells which were treated with cisplatin by assessing endogenous microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3) localization and the presence of autophagosomes and LC3 protein levels in OVCAR-3 cells. Cell apoptosis and viability were measured by annexin-V and PI staining and MTT assays. We then knocked down Ambra1 expression with transfection with the plasmid expressing the small hairpin RNA (shRNA) targeting AMBRA1, then re-evaluated autophagy in the OVCAR-3 cells subject to cisplatin treatment, and re-determined the sensitivity of OVCAR-3 cells to cisplatin. Results demonstrated that cisplatin treatment induced autophagy in OVCAR-3 cells in association with Ambra1 upregulation in the ovarian cancer cells. When Ambra1 expression was reduced by shRNA, the ovarian cancer cells were more sensitive to cisplatin. In conclusion, Ambra1 is a crucial regulator of autophagy and apoptosis in ovarian cancer cells subject to cisplatin to maintain the balance between autophagy and apoptosis. And the Ambra1-targeting inhibition might be an effective method to sensitize ovarian cancer cells to chemotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mass-analyzed threshold ionization spectra of jet-cooled cis- and trans-3-fluoro-N-methylaniline (3FNMA) were recorded by ionizing via the vibrationless 00 and various vibrational levels of the S1 state. The adiabatic ionization energies of cis- and trans-3FNMA are determined to be 61 742 ± 5 and 61 602 ± 5 cm-1, respectively. In the 0-1800 cm-1 region, most of the observed vibrations in the D0 state result from the in-plane ring deformation and substituent-sensitive modes. For the high-frequency vibration region, the infrared-ultraviolet double-resonance and autoionization-detected infrared spectroscopies were applied to investigate the N-H and C-H stretching vibrations of bare 3FNMA in the S0 and D0 states. The C-H stretching vibrational information, which we failed to obtain for the bare 3FNMA cation, is complemented by recording the infrared-photodissociation spectra of its Ar cluster cation. It is revealed that a red-shifted frequency and an enhanced intensity are observed for the N-H stretch, while blue-shifted frequencies and greatly decreased intensities are found for both aromatic and the methyl C-H stretches. The blue shift of the C-H stretches is first explained by the balance of two factors, namely, the hyperconjugative interaction and the rehybridization effect. Analysis of the vibrational frequencies reveals a correlation between the relative stability of two rotamers in different electronic states and the relative rigidity of aromatic ring, indicating a mechanism of the long-range interactions "through bond" between the substituents. The density functional theory calculations can well reproduce the vibrational spectra in both S0 and D0 states. With the experimental and theoretical data, the substitution and conformation effects on the properties of 3FNMA in the S0 and D0 states, including the molecular structures, the reactive sites of electrophilic attack, and the vibrational behaviors, were discussed in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The occurrence of primary extranodal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) of soft tissue is rare, particularly in skeletal muscle. The present study describes a case of diffuse large B cell lymphoma of the right lower extremity and provides a detailed review of the literature associated with this disorder, with the aim of improving the future diagnosis and therapy of extranodal NHL. The present case report was of a 76-year-old woman who presented with a right thigh and calf mass. In view of the tumor's location and the patient's age, soft tissue tumors were considered to be soft tissue sarcoma. Imaging scans were performed to determine the location and size of the tumor, followed by a biopsy of the muscle. Histopathological examination then yielded a diagnosis of diffuse large B cell lymphoma. The patient then underwent 4 cycles of chemotherapy. There was evident relief of pain and swelling in the right extremity; however, positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) determined insufficient treatment efficacy. Chemotherapy was adjusted for 2 cycles; however, the patient suffered an aggravation of edema, so a different chemotherapy regimen of bleomycin, cytarabine, vincristine, cyclosphamide and dexamethasone (BCOAD) was performed for a further 2 cycles. The edema was alleviated and magnetic resonance imaging revealed shrinkage of the lower limb mass and the right thigh mass was undetectable. In conclusion, the present case report demonstrated that PET/CT may help determine the efficacy of chemotherapy treatment and that the BCOAD chemotherapy regimen may be more effective than standard treatments in certain cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Repeated loading test has been widely used to simulate the true stress state of pavement materials under traffic loading with more accuracy. In this paper, a half-sinusoidal load with 0.1-s loading duration and 0.9-s rest period was selected to simulate the dynamic traffic loading. A generalized Kelvin viscoelastic model of asphalt mixtures based on linear-superposition principle under repeated load is developed. The Prony-series coefficients of the generalized Kelvin model are obtained by the static creep tests of AC-13C and AC-20C unmodified and modified asphalt mixtures. Then, the strain of AC-13C and AC-20C asphalt mixtures under repeated load could be predicted by the proposed viscoelastic model. Comparing the predicted strain obtained by retardation-time spectrum having and not having fixed time with the measured strain, it is believed that the retardation-time spectrum covering both the loading and unloading time processes should be selected in predicting strain of asphalt mixtures under repeated load. The proposed generalized Kelvin viscoelastic model under repeated load allows for prediction of permanent deformation of asphalt mixtures as well as rutting in asphalt pavement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxygen vacancies can control a number of distinct properties of oxides. However, rapid and simple detection of oxygen vacancies is a great challenge owing to their elusive species and highly diluted contents. In this work, we have discovered that cataluminescence (CTL) intensity in diethyl ether oxidation reaction on the surface of TiO2 nanoparticles is proportional to the content of oxygen vacancies. The oxygen vacancy-dependent diethyl ether CTL is attributed to the fact that abundant chemisorbed O2 in oxygen vacancies could facilitate its contact reaction with chemisorbed diethyl ether molecules, resulting in an obvious improvement of CTL intensity. Therefore, diethyl ether CTL can be employed as a simple probe for oxygen vacancies in TiO2 nanoparticles. Its feasibility is validated by detecting the CTL intensity of diethyl ether on the surface of TiO2 with variable oxygen vacancies by metal ion-doped TiO2 nanoparticles (Cu, Fe, Co, and Cr) and hydrogen-treated TiO2 nanoparticles at different temperatures. The content of oxygen vacancies by the present CTL probe is in good agreement with that obtained by conventional X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) technique. The superior properties of the developed CTL probe over already-developed methods include fast response, easy operation, low cost, long-term stability, and simple configuration. We believe that the oxygen vacancy-sensitive CTL probe has a great potential in distinguishing oxygen vacancies in oxides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using a liquid-solid phase inversion method, a hybrid matrix poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) membrane was prepared with alumina (Al2O3) nanoparticle addition. Pd/Fe nanoparticles (NPs) were successfully immobilized on the Al2O3/PVDF membrane, which was characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). The micrographs showed that the Pd/Fe NPs were dispersed homogeneously. Several important experimental parameters were optimized, including the mechanical properties, contact angle and surface area of Al2O3/PVDF composite membranes with different Al2O3 contents. At the same time, the ferrous ion concentration and the effect of hydrophilization were studied. The results showed that the modified Al2O3/PVDF membrane functioned well as a support. The Al2O3/PVDF membrane with immobilized Pd/Fe NPs exhibited high efficiency in terms of dichloroacetic acid (DCAA) dechlorination. Additionally, a reaction pathway for DCAA dechlorination by Pd/Fe NPs immobilized on the Al2O3/PVDF membrane system was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emergence of aggregation-induced emission (AIE) has opened up a new avenue for scientists. There is a great demand for the development of a new generation chemiluminescence resonance energy transfer (CRET) acceptors with AIE characteristics due to the aggregation-caused chemiluminescence (CL) quenching effect commonly observed in the conventional fluorophore CL acceptors at high concentrations. However, the systematical studies involving in AIE-amplified CL are still scarce. Herein, it is the first report that the gold nanocluster aggregates (a type of well-defined AIE molecules) are used to study their influence on the bis(2,4,6-trichlorophenyl) oxalate (TCPO)–H2O2 CL reaction. Interestingly, the AIE molecules in the diluted solution are unable to boost the CL signal of the TCPO–H2O2 system, but their aggregates display a strongly enhanced CL emission compared to their counterparts of fluorophore molecules, thanks to the unique AIE effect of gold nanoclusters. In comparison to rhodamine B with the aid of an imidazole catalyst, the detection limit of the gold nanocluster aggregate-amplified CL probe for H2O2 (S/N = 3) is low in the absence of any catalyst. Finally, the other two typical AIE molecules, Au(I)-thiolate complexes and 9,10-bis[4-(3-sulfonatopropoxyl)-styryl]anthracene (BSPSA), are investigated to verify the generality of the AIE molecule-amplified CL emissions. These results demonstrate effective access to highly fluorescent AIE molecules with practical applications in avoiding the aggregation-induced CL quenching at high concentrations, which can be expected to provide a novel and sensitive platform for the CL amplified detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Daoism is a traditional Chinese religion. Daoism has had a deep and pervasive impact on the lives of China's peoples. Chinese theatrical performances were often integrated with religious activities, thereby gradually giving rise to many forms of popular drama that are deeply inflected with religious overtones. Xianggong Tapeng (Xianggong stamps the shed) is one component of Puxian opera's rites for stage cleaning that is closely linked with Daoist thought. First, Xianggong is both a theatrical spirit within Puxian opera and a member of the Daoist pantheon. Second, the lyric "luo li lian" featured in Xianggong Tapeng bears a remarkable resemblance to the two Daoist spells Yuanshuai Zhou (Incantation of Yuanshuai) and Xiangmo Zhou (Incantation for Subduing Demons). This is due to the fact that traditional Daoist verse often features phrases such as "luo li lian". Moreover, the stage cleaning rites that are characteristic of Puxian opera share many similarities with Daoist altar purification rites. A detailed investigation and comparison reveal that Xianggong Tapeng is an adaptation of the Daoist altar purification rite to the needs of popular custom and theatrical performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In general, the chemiluminescence (CL) sensing of vitamin B12 is achieved by determining Co(II) liberated from acidified vitamin B12 by a luminol system. However, the luminol system for sensing vitamin B12 has poor selectivity due to serious interference from other metal ions. In this study, as a novel CL amplifier of the Co(II)+H2O2+OH- ultra-weak CL reaction (Fenton-like system), dodecylbenzene sulfonate (DBS)-layered double hydroxides (LDHs) have been applied to the specific determination of vitamin B12 by liberating Co(II). The CL intensity increased with increasing the concentration of vitamin B12 in a wide range from 1.0 ng mL-1 to 5 µg mL-1 with a detection limit of 0.57 ng mL-1 (S/N=3). The proposed method has been successfully applied to determine vitamin B12 in egg yolk with simple procedures, shorter time and higher selectivity. Recoveries from spiked real samples were 96-103%. The results of the proposed method for sensing vitamin B12 in real samples were agreed with those obtained by the standard inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) method. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the CL sensing of vitamin B12 with high selectivity in the absence of luminol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four isostructural lanthanide--organic complexes [Ln(HPDH)(ox)(H2O)]n (Ln = Eu3+ 1, Tb3+ 2, Sm3+ 3, Gd3+ 4; H2PDH = 6,7-dihydropyrido(2,3-d)pyridazine-5,8-dione; H2ox = oxalic acid) have been synthesized successfully under hydrothermal conditions and characterized by means of elemental analysis, powder XRD, TG-DTA, IR and UV-vis spectroscopy. Complexes 1 and 2 were structurally characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. All complexes are composed of 2-D layers, which further construct a 3-D supramolecular network. Each 2-D layer in complexes 1-4 is composed of 1-D Eu-ox infinite chains, which are further connected by biconnected HPDH- ligands. The photoluminescent properties of complexes 1-4 were studied in the solid state at room temperature. The singlet energy level (34 722 cm-1) and the lowest triplet energy level (21 786 cm-1) for the ligand H2PDH were calculated on the basis of its UV-vis absorbance edges (1 x 10-4 M in ethanol) and phosphorescence spectrum of complex 4 at 77 K, respectively. The complexes 1, 2, and 3 exhibit metal centered luminescence with characteristic red, green and pink emission, respectively. The energy transfer mechanism and photoluminescence properties were investigated. Complex 1, in which the energy transition from the triplet energy level (3ππ*) of ligand HPDH- to Eu3+ cation is more effective, has been selected as a representative to examine the potential for sensing small molecules by its luminescence properties in different emulsions. EtOH was found to be an excellent enhancing while DMF a highly quenching solvent in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid and effective evaluation techniques for heterogeneous base catalysts in biodiesel production are highly desirable with increased global demand for biofuels. In this work, we have discovered direct connections between the number of medium-strength basic sites of heterogeneous base catalysts in biodiesel production and cataluminescence intensity in acetone aldol condensation reactions. Accordingly, acetone cataluminescence has been employed as an indicator for rapid evaluation of heterogeneous base catalysts in biodiesel production. Its practical feasibility has been first established using commercially available heterogeneous base catalysts in biodiesel production (including MgO, Al2O3, TiO2, and ZnO), indicating a good matching between the proposed cataluminescence screening method and routine temperature-programmed desorption measurements. subsequently, the proposed cataluminescence method can be used to effectively distinguish a set of layered double hydroxides and layered double oxide with fewer differences of basic sites, and the relative standard deviation (RSD) of the proposed method is 2.90%. The developed cataluminescence platform is able to take advantage of low cost, simple configuration, fast response, long-term stability, and easy operation. This work has a great potential in distinguishing weak/strong basic sites and even acidic sites of each catalyst system by tuning molecular probes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Image pair is often aligned initially based on a rigid or affine transformation before a deformable registration method is applied in medical image registration. Inappropriate initial registration may compromise the registration speed or impede the convergence of the optimization algorithm. In this work, a novel technique was proposed for prealignment in both monomodality and multimodality image registration based on statistical correlation of gradient information. A simple and robust algorithm was proposed to determine the rotational differences between two images based on orientation histogram matching accumulated from local orientation of each pixel without any feature extraction. Experimental results showed that it was effective to acquire the orientation angle between two unregistered images with advantages over the existed method based on edge-map inmultimodalities. Applying the orientation detection into the registration of CT/MR, T1/T2 MRI, and monomadality images with respect to rigid and nonrigid deformation improved the chances of finding the global optimization of the registration and reduced the search space of optimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As emerging tick born rickettsial diseases caused by A. phagocytophilum and E. chaffeensis, anaplasmosis and ehrlichiosis have become a serious threat to human and animal health throughout the world. In particular, in China, an unusual transmission of nosocomial cases of human granulocytic anaplasmosis occurred in Anhui Province in 2006 and more recent coinfection case of A. phagocytophilum and E. chaffeensis was documented in Shandong Province. Although the seroprevalence of human granulocytic anaplasmosis (former human granulocytic ehrlichiosis, HGE) has been documented in several studies, these data existed on local investigations, and also little data was reported on the seroprevalence of human monocytic ehrlichiosis (HME) in China. In this cross-sectional epidemiological study, indirect immunofluorescence antibody assay (IFA) proposed by WHO was used to detect A. phagocytophilum and E. chaffeensis IgG antibodies for 7,322 serum samples from agrarian residents from 9 provinces/cities and 819 urban residents from 2 provinces. Our data showed that farmers were at substantially increased risk of exposure. However, even among urban residents, risk was considerable. Seroprevalence of HGA and HME occurred in diverse regions of the country and tended to be the highest in young adults. Many species of ticks were confirmed carrying A. phagocytophilum organisms in China while several kinds of domestic animals including dog, goats, sheep, cattle, horse, wild rabbit, and some small wild rodents were proposed to be the reservoir hosts of A. phagocytophilum. The broad distribution of vector and hosts of the A. phagocytophilum and E. chaffeensis, especially the relationship between the generalized susceptibility of vectors and reservoirs and the severity of the disease's clinical manifestations and the genetic variation of Chinese HGA isolates in China, is urgently needed to be further investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To improve the effect of adaptive optics images' restoration, we put forward a deconvolution algorithm improved by the EM algorithm which joints multiframe adaptive optics images based on expectation-maximization theory. Firstly, we need to make a mathematical model for the degenerate multiframe adaptive optics images. The function model is deduced for the points that spread with time based on phase error. The AO images are denoised using the image power spectral density and support constraint. Secondly, the EM algorithm is improved by combining the AO imaging system parameters and regularization technique. A cost function for the joint-deconvolution multiframe AO images is given, and the optimization model for their parameter estimations is built. Lastly, the image-restoration experiments on both analog images and the real AO are performed to verify the recovery effect of our algorithm. The experimental results show that comparing with the Wiener-IBD or RL-IBD algorithm, our iterations decrease 14.3% and well improve the estimation accuracy. The model distinguishes the PSF of the AO images and recovers the observed target images clearly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An iterative algorithm for finding a common element of the set of common fixed points of a finite family of asymptotically nonextensive nonself mappings and the set of solutions for equilibrium problems is discussed. A strong convergence theorem of common element is established in a uniformly smooth and uniformly convex Banach space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

C-termini of proteins often play an important role in various biological processes. The determination of the protein C-terminus is crucial because it provides not only distinct functional annotation but also a way to monitor the proteolysis-modified proteins. In this study, an isotopic labeling approach based on oxazolone chemistry was developed to achieve the identification and quantification of C-termini. Aminolysis reagents such as arginine selectively react with the a-carboxyl group at the peptide C-terminus via an oxazolone-like intermediate. Side chain carboxyl groups do not participate in this reaction. When an isotopic mixture consisting of 50% arginine (0Arg) and 50% C6-arginine (6Arg) was introduced to react with C-terminus of protein and followed by proteolysis, the C-terminal peptide could be directly recognized in the mass spectrum due to its unique isotopic paired peaks, and the sequence could be interpreted in MS2. Besides, the incorporation of an additional basic amino acid in the C-terminal peptide greatly enhanced the signal intensity for C-termini detection. Moreover, the isotopic arginine labeling strategy could be applied for relative C-termini quantitation. Our method showed an excellent correlation of the measured ratios to theoretical ratios and high reproducibility within 2 orders of magnitude of the dynamic range. The correlation coefficients (R2) were higher than 0.99, with the coefficients of variation (CVs) ranging from 1.16 to 10.91%. Finally, the approach was used to analyze the C-termini from Thermoanaerobacter tengcongensis, which was cultured under different temperatures. As a result, 68 C-termini have been identified, and 53 of them were quantified in total using our strategy. In addition, 24 neo-C-terminal peptides have also been discovered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A severe MD was broken out at a farm in Shandong, China, despite FC126 vaccination of the chickens at 1-day-old. The mortality of the flocks reached up to 38.3%. The infected chickens were found to have MD pathological changes, including enlargement of spleens, livers and kidneys, and tumors occurred on organs later. Samples were collected from the chickens for diagnosis. Methods: The collected samples were inoculated into primary duck embryo fibroblast (DEF) cells, and the MDV strain named SD2012-1 was isolated. In order to identify the isolate, amplification by PCR and sequencing of oncogenic Meq and vIL-8 gene were processed, the obtained sequences were compared with the sequences of reference strains, and SD2012-1 was used to challenge immunized SPF chickens. Results: A very virulent MDV isolate strain, SD2012-1, was isolated from a chicken flock in Shandong Province, China, the isolate had the characteristics of very virulent MDV-1, nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequence comparisons of Meq and vIL-8 gene of SD2012-1 with those of reference strains showed SD2012-1 had high homology with MDV strains isolated from China, SD2012-1 could break through the protection provided by HVT vaccine and HVT + SB-1 vaccine immunization and caused the mortality of SPF chickens over 60%. The immune failure occurred at the farm could be due to the improper selection of vaccines. SD2012-1 produced death later and the gross postmortem lesions of chickens died early and later were different. Conclusions: MDV strain SD2012-1 isolated from Shandong Province, China was found to have the characteristics of very virulent MDV-1, which could break through the protection provided by HVT vaccine and HVT + SB-1 vaccine, the virus seemed to have a long latent period, and cause different gross postmortem lesions of chickens between chickens died early and later. A better immunization way should be chosen to prevent infection of this MDV strain in field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A soft tissue's macroscopic behavior is largely determined by its microstructural components (often a collagen fiber network surrounded by a nonfibrillar matrix (NFM)). In the present study, a coupled fiber-matrix model was developed to fully quantify the internal stress field within such a tissue and to explore interactions between the collagen fiber network and nonfibrillar matrix (NFM). Voronoi tessellations (representing collagen networks) were embedded in a continuous three-dimensional NFM. Fibers were represented as one-dimensional nonlinear springs and the NFM, meshed via tetrahedra, was modeled as a compressible neo-Hookean solid. Multidimensional finite element modeling was employed in order to couple the two tissue components and uniaxial tension was applied to the composite representative volume element (RVE). In terms of the overall RVE response (average stress, fiber orientation, and Poisson's ratio), the coupled fiber-matrix model yielded results consistent with those obtained using a previously developed parallel model based upon superposition. The detailed stress field in the composite RVE demonstrated the high degree of inhomogeneity in NFM mechanics, which cannot be addressed by a parallel model. Distributions of maximum/minimum principal stresses in the NFM showed a transition from fiber-dominated to matrix-dominated behavior as the matrix shear modulus increased. The matrix-dominated behavior also included a shift in the fiber kinematics toward the affine limit. We conclude that if only gross averaged parameters are of interest, parallel-type models are suitable. If, however, one is concerned with phenomena, such as individual cell-fiber interactions or tissue failure that could be altered by local variations in the stress field, then the detailed model is necessary in spite of its higher computational cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The flood-duration-frequency (QDF) analysis is performed using annual maximum streamflow series of 1-10 day durations observed at Pingshi and Lishi stations in southern China. The trends and change point of annual maximum flood flow and flood duration are also investigated by statistical tests. The results indicate that (1) the annual maximum flood flow only has a marginally increasing trend, whereas the flood duration exhibits a significant decreasing trend at the 0.10 significant level. The change point for the annual maximum flood flow series was found in 1991 and after which the mean maximum flood flow increased by 45.26%. (2)The period after 1991 is characterized by frequent and shorter duration floods due to increased rainstorm. However, land use change in the basin was found intensifying the increased tendency of annual maximumflow after 1991. And (3) under nonstationary environmental conditions, alternative definitions of return period should be adapted. The impacts on curve fitting of flood series showed an overall change of upper tail from "gentle" to "steep," and the design flood magnitude became larger. Therefore, a nonstationary frequency analysis taking account of change point in the data series is highly recommended for future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iron deficiency anemia is an extra-stomach disease experienced in H. pylori carriers. Individuals with type A blood are more prone to suffering from H. pylori infection than other individuals. To clarify the molecular mechanisms underlying H. pylori-associated anemia, we collected erythrocytes from A, B, O, and AB blood donors and analyzed morphology, the number of erythrocytes with H. pylori colonies attached to them, and iron contents in erythrocytes and H. pylori (NCTC11637 and SS1 strains) by means of optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and synchrotron radiation soft X-ray imaging. The number of type A erythrocytes with H. pylori attached to them was significantly higher than that of other erythrocytes (P<0.05). Far more iron distribution was observed in H. pylori bacteria using dual energy analysis near the iron L2, 3 edges by soft X-ray imaging. Iron content was significantly reduced in host erythrocytes after 4 hours of exposure to H. pylori. H. pylori are able to adhere more strongly to type A erythrocytes, and this is related to iron shift from the host to the bacteria. This may explain the reasons for refractory iron deficiency anemia and elevated susceptibility to H. pylori infection in individuals with type A blood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Spotted fever caused spotted fever group rickettsiae (SFGR) is prevalent throughout China. In this study, we describe a rapid, simple, and sensitive loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay targeting the ompB gene of spotted fever group rickettsiae ideal for application in China. The LAMP assay has the potential to detect spotted fever group rickettsiae early in infection and could therefore serve as an alternative to existing methods. Methods: A set of universal primers which are specific 7 common species of spotted fever group rickettsiae in China were designed using PrimerExplorer V4 software based on conserved sequences of ompB gene. The sensitivity, specificity and reproducibility of the LAMP were evaluated. The LAMP assay for detecting SFGR was compared with conventional PCR assays for sensitivity and specificity in early phase blood samples obtained from 11 infected human subjects. Results: The sensitivity of the LAMP assay was five copies per reaction (25 µL total volume), and the assay did not detect false-positive amplification across 42 strains of 27 members of the order Rickettsiales and 17 common clinical pathogens. The LAMP assay was negative to typhus group rickettsiae including R. prowazekii and R. typhi for no available conserved sequences of ompB was obtained for designing primers. To evaluate the clinical applicability of the LAMP assay, a total of 11 clinical samples, 10 samples confirmed serologically (3 cases), ecologically (1 case), by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR; 2 cases), ecologically and by real-time PCR (1 case), and serologically and by real-time PCR (3 cases) were analyzed by the ompB LAMP assay. Data were validated using a previously established nested PCR protocol and real-time PCR. A positive LAMP result was obtained for 8 of the 10 confirmed cases (sensitivity, 73%; specificity, 100%), while none of these samples were positive by nested PCR (sensitivity, 0%; specificity, 100%). Conclusions: The LAMP assay described here is the most reliable among the three methods tested and would be an ideal choice for development as a rapid and cost-effective means of detecting SFGR in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new 3-D isomorphous lanthanide(iii) compounds [Eu2(H2L)2(C2O4)2]·2.51H2O (1) and [Tb2(H2L)2(C2O4)2]·2.46H2O (2, H3L = glyphosate), based on glyphosate and oxalate have been successfully synthesized under hydrothermal conditions, and structurally characterized. In the two compounds, tetra-connected glyphosate ligands are coordinated to Ln3+, resulting in the formation of 1-D {Ln2(H2L)2}ndouble chains along the cdirection. Each of the chains is connected to its four neighbors viathe O atoms of phosphates of H2L−ligands, resulting in a 3-D (4, 6)-connected framework with 43·58·63·7 topology, which possesses 1-D channels with oxalates and lattice water molecules as troglodytes. The oxalates are stabilized viachelating Ln3+in the form of 1-D Ln-C2O42−zigzag chains along the cdirection. To the best of our knowledge, compounds 1and 2represent the first single-crystal structures of lanthanide(iii)-glyphosate compounds incorporating second ligands. The luminescent properties of compounds 1and 2have been investigated at room temperature. The energy gaps between the triplet excited state of oxalic acid and the lowest excited resonance levels of Eu3+(5D0) and Tb3+(5D4) are 7270 cm−1and 4070 cm−1, respectively, indicating that oxalate is more suitable for the sensitization of Tb3+luminescence than Eu3+luminescence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, we developed a novel proteomic research strategy named antigen-subtracted 2-DE/MS strategy and applied it to comparative proteomic analysis of anti-benzo(a)pyrene-7,8-dihydrodiol-9,10-epoxide-transformed human bronchial epithelial cell line (16HBE-C) and its parental cell line (16HBE) G0/G1 cells. Following pre-purification by ammonium sulfate precipitation, rabbit antibodies against 16HBE G0/G1 cells were coupled with protein A/G PLUS-agarose under the maximal coupling rate of about 50%. The agarose-antibody complex was then used in immunoprecipitation known as antigen subtraction. When the mass ratio of antibody to the sample was 2.5-3:1, the subtraction rates for 16HBE and 16HBE-C G0/G1 cell proteins were 44 and 34%, respectively. Both subtracted and unsubtracted samples were then subjected to the 2-DE resolution. In 16HBE-subtracted 2-DE maps, 315 protein spots were subtracted and 49 new protein spots were detected, whereas in 16HBE-C-subtracted 2-DE maps, 287 protein spots were subtracted and 33 new protein spots were detected. Taken together, antigen subtraction results in 65 new protein spots being allowed to be detected, therefore, makes it possible to get more information of the samples. Finally, 4 protein spots only detected in 16HBE-C-subtracted 2-DE maps were analyzed by the Q-TOF MS/MS, and successfully identified as U6 snRNA-associated Sm-like protein LSm3, 60S acidic ribosomal protein P1, Peroxiredoxin-6 and 60S acidic ribosomal protein P2. These proteins are involved in carcinogenesis, oxidation stress and protein synthesis. In conclusion, the antigen-subtracted 2-DE/MS strategy could reduce the complexities of protein samples and therefore, improve the resolution for the sample analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new ferrous molybdophosphates, (H2enMe)7FeII[Mo(HPO4)2(PO4)6(OH)6O24]·7H2O 1 and (H2enMe)6FeII[Mo(HPO4)4(PO4)4(OH)6O24]·4H2O 2 (enMe = 1,2-propanediamine), have been synthesized from an identical starting mixture through hydrothermal reactions using temperature as the only independent variable, and thoroughly characterized by IR, TG, single crystal X-ray diffraction and cyclic voltammetry. The structures of both 1 and 2 are built from the building blocks of the formula, {FeII[Mo6P4O31]2}, consisting of a network of MO6 (M = Fe, Mo) octahedra and PO4 tetrahedra linked through their vertices as anions, and protonated 1,2-propanediamine as cations, respectively. The most important aspect is that the non-hydrogen atomic ratio of Mo, Fe, P, O in the anions of 1 and 2 is the same, but the protonation of the PO4 groups is different in 1 and 2. Less protonation of the PO4 groups in 1 obtained at high temperature results in the anion carrying more charges and gives rise to more H2enMe cations per [FeII(P8Mo)] unit compared with that in 2 obtained at low temperature, and as a consequence, different interpenetrating hydrogen-bonded network structures are formed in the two different compounds in terms of packing efficiency and the system energy minimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the investigation of a synthesis of Ramelton, a new drug approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) in treating insomnia, wherein a six-step synthesis of the tricyclic compound 6 has developed from 6-methoxyindan-1-one. It notes that Ramelton targets MT1 and MT2, two receptors in the brain and Ramelton shows no risk of drug dependence and abuse. Several procedures from 2,3-dihydrobenzofuran were involved on the synthetic route to 1,2,6,7-tetrahydro-8H-indeno[5,4-b]furan-8-one.

Water-soluble and stable CdTe quantum dots (QDs) were synthesized in aqueous solution with glutathione (GSH) as the stabilizer. GSH is employed by nature to detoxify heavy metal ions. As a result of specific interaction, the fluorescence intensity of GSH-capped QDs is selectively reduced in the presence of Cr(VI). Under the optimum conditions, the relative fluorescence intensity decreases linearly with the Cr(VI) concentration in the range from 0.01 to 1.00 µg mL−1, and the detection limit is 0.008 µg mL−1. The luminescence response of the QDs to ions markedly depended on the particle size, and a new strategy for tuning the selectivity of luminescent QDs to certain ions without changing the capping layer of the QDs can be achieved by changing the crystallite size of the QDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Core−shell polystyrene−silica spheres with diameters of 800 nm and 1.9 μm were synthesized by soap-free emulsion and dispersion polymerization of the polystyrene core, respectively. The polystyrene spheres were used as templates for the synthesis of silica shells of tunable thickness employing the Stöber method [Graf et al. Langmuir2003, 19, 6693]. The polystyrene template was removed by thermal decomposition at 500 °C, resulting in smooth silica shells of well-defined thickness (15−70 nm). The elastic response of these hollow spheres was probed by atomic force microscopy (AFM). A point load was applied to the particle surface through a sharp AFM tip, and successively increased until the shell broke. In agreement with the predictions of shell theory, for small deformations the deformation increased linearly with applied force. The Youngʼs modulus (18 ± 6 GPa) was about 4 times smaller than that of fused silica [Adachi and Sakka J. Mater. Sci.1990, 25, 4732] but identical to that of bulk silica spheres (800 nm) synthesized by the Stöber method, indicating that it yields silica of lower density. The minimum force needed to irreversibly deform (buckle) the shell increased quadratically with shell thickness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]