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Background: Apigenin effectively inhibits the growth of human gastric carcinoma SGC-7901 cells and induces apoptosis as well. This study investigated the effects of ATF6 and PERK signaling pathways in unfolded protein response (UPR) and endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) on the apoptosis induced by apigenin in human gastric carcinoma SGC-7901 cells. Materials and Methods: SGC-7901 cells were cultured with apigenin and tunicamycin for 48 h or with apigenin for 12–48 h. CCK-8 was used to determine cell viability. The mRNA expression level was detected by RT-qPCR. The expression of related proteins was explored by Western blot. The apoptosis rate of cells and cell-cycle arrest were evaluated by flow cytometer. Results: The results of CCK-8 confirmed that apigenin could induce apoptosis of SGC-7901 cells. In the apigenin -treated cells group, the protein and mRNA levels of GRP78 and GRP94 dose- and time-dependently increased. Additionally, apigenin -activated UPR components PERK and ATF6. However, apigenin exerted no influence on CHOP expression or JNK activation. Pretreatment with 4-PBA significantly increased the apigenin -triggered apoptosis in SCG-7901 cells (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The results revealed the protective effect of UPR performance on apigenin -triggered apoptosis in SGC-7901 cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The objective of this trial was to compare outcomes of electrocoagulation tuboplasty and continued medical therapy for treating persistent Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD) with hypertrophic mucosa disease in the Eustachian tube (ET) orifice. Study Design: Prospective, case-control trial. Material and Methods: Patients with persistent ETD were recruited and allocated to electrocoagulation tuboplasty and continued medical therapy groups. The ETD questionnaire-7 (ETDQ-7) score and objective parameters were compared between the groups at 6 and 12 months. Results: The proportion of patients with a decrease in ETDQ-7 scores was greater in the electrocoagulation group than in the medical therapy group at the 6-month follow-up (53.49% and 34.38%, respectively; p =.158), but the difference was not statistically significant. However, at the 12-month follow-up, there was a significantly higher proportion of patients with a decrease in ETDQ-7 scores in the electrocoagulation group (88.37% and 40.63%, respectively; p =.001). Additionally, a significant difference was observed between the groups in terms of the proportion of patients who improved 12 months after the treatment (tympanometry: 72.09% and 9.38%, respectively; p =.001; air-bone gap: 79.07% and 25.00%, respectively; p =.001; tympanic membrane status: 62.79% and 0.00%, respectively). In addition, the proportion of patients with improvements in the ET inflammation score was significantly different between the groups at 6-month (67.44% and 34.38%, respectively; p =.009) and 12-month (93.02% and 34.38%; p =.001) follow-ups. No device- or procedure-related serious adverse events were reported in any patients. Conclusions: Electrocoagulation Eustachian tuboplasty appears to be a safe and feasible procedure for adult persistent ETD with hypertrophic mucosa disease in the ET orifice, and is superior to continued medical management alone. The improvements in ETDQ-7 and objective parameters persisted for 12 months. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Two series of cardo polyimides were prepared from 1,4‐bis(4‐fluorophthalimide)cyclohexane with different trans/cis ratios and phenolphthalein/o‐cresolphthalein via aromatic nucleophilic substitution reaction. The inherent viscosities of the synthesized polymers were found to be 0.55–0.66 dL g−1 in N,N′‐dimethylacetamide. The cardo polyimides showed excellent solubility in organic solvents, high glass transition temperatures (Tg) of 275–312 °C and moderate thermal stability with 5% weight loss temperatures (Td5%) of 415–441 °C in nitrogen and 370–436 °C in air. The polyimide films exhibited high optical transparency with cut‐off wavelengths of 350–355 nm and moderate mechanical properties. The different properties of the polymers caused by trans and cis configurations of 1,4‐diaminocyclohexane were also investigated. It was found that with an increasing content of trans configuration of 1,4‐diaminocyclohexane in the polyimide backbone, Tg of the polyimides increased as well as Td5%, while the solubility gradually decreased. The polyimide films had good optical transparency regardless of trans/cis configuration. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oligosaccharides have been used for an environmentally friendly insect control in the agricultural industry. In order to discover novel eco-friendly pesticides, a series of partially acetylated oligorhamnoses mezzettiasides, 2-8, and their analogues, 9-14, with biosurfactant characteristics were designed and synthesized, some of which exhibited comparable to or even stronger aphicidal activity than pymetrozine. Preliminary SAR studies demonstrated that the aphicidal activity of mezzettiasides analogs is highly dependent on their structures, including both the sugar length and the substitutes on the sugar. Among them, trirhamnolipid 9 displayed the strongest aphicidal activity, with an LC50 of 0.019 mmol/L, indicating that the biosurfactant 9 may have potential for use as an environmentally friendly agricultural pesticide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: A pilot study was performed to investigate the utility of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in the repair of blast-induced total or near-total tympanic membrane perforations (TMPs).Study Design: Prospective clinical study.Setting: Tertiary university hospital.Subjects and Methods: Patients who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were treated with 0.10-0.15 mL of bFGF solution applied directly to total or near-total TMPs once daily until the perforations closed or for a maximum of 6 months. The treatment response was monitored via serial otoendoscopy, and audiometric outcomes were evaluated.Results: Complete TMP closure was achieved in 16 of 17 patients with a blast-induced total or near-total TMP. The mean closure time was 28.4 ± 10.9 days. The improvement in hearing from pre- to post-treatment was statistically significant. There were no complications or adverse outcomes.Conclusions: The direct application of bFGF to blast-induced total or near-total TMPs is a promising, minimally invasive alternative to conventional tympanoplasty, with a comparable success rate. As reported in the literature, the closure rate was higher than achieved with spontaneous healing. There was no effect of the inverted edge on healing outcome. The use of bFGF in this setting has immediate therapeutic applications for military personnel with blast-induced TMPs who are stationed in isolated, remote environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: BUB1 mitotic checkpoint serine/threonine kinase B (BUB1B) is a member of the spindle assembly checkpoint family and is related to cancer disease progression, invasion, metastasis, and functional promotion of angiogenesis. Several studies have noted that the BUB1B gene is frequently upregulated in various types of cancers. However, the expression patterns of BUB1B across different cancer types and its diagnostic and prognostic potential have not been investigated from a pan-cancer perspective., Methods: The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data were used to explore the diagnostic and prognostic immunological potential of BUB1B in 33 cancer types., Results: BUB1B was almost universally upregulated across all cancers, with increased protein expression in at least six cancer types and an enhanced phosphorylation level of S670 in two cancer types. Furthermore, BUB1B expression was negatively associated with clinical progression and prognosis in most cancers. BUB1B expression was positively associated with tumor mutational burden and microsatellite instability in 17 and 7 cancer types, respectively, and there was a correlation between BUB1B expression and DNA methylation at multiple probes in 30 cancer types. Additionally, a positive relationship existed between BUB1B expression and the infiltration levels of Th2, Tcm, and T helper cells, whereas BUB1B showed a negative correlation with the infiltration levels of other immune cells in multiple cancers. Moreover, functions associated with cell cycle progression and ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis were involved in the functional mechanism of BUB1B., Conclusions: Our pan-cancer study offers a comprehensive understanding of the role of BUB1B in tumorigenesis and tumor immunity across different types of cancer.

Objective: To evaluate the dietary quality and find the dietary problems among heat-exposed steelworkers., Methods: During May and June of 2015, 301 heat-exposed steelworkers were recruited using a cluster sampling method from three workshops in steel works of the Tangshan Iron & Steel Group. In the study, 3 day twentyfour hour(24 h) recall method was used to conduct the dietary survey. The adjusted diet balance index(DBI)-2007 was used to evaluate the dietary quality., Results: The low bound score(LBS) and high bound score(HBS) of heat-exposed steelworkers were 26-39 and 14-20, their diet quality distance(DQD) was 49. 85±7. 3. About 159(52. 8%)and 131(43. 5%) workers were in moderate and high dietary imbalance status. The LBS and DQD of the workers at occupational exposure to heat stress level IV((33. 7±6. 3) and(51. 1±7. 1)) were higher than those of the workers at heat stress level Ⅱ((27. 7±6. 0)and(44. 9±7. 2)) and Ⅲ((28. 5 ± 5. 7) and(45. 1 ± 6. 1))(P < 0. 001). The main dietary pattern of 43. 5% workers was pattern E. The percentages of worker 's intake meeting to high temperature recommended amount(score 0-1) of vegetable, fruit, bean, salt and drinking water in working were respectively 9. 3%, 11. 0%, 43. 8%, 1. 7% and17. 3%. All(100%) workers ' intakes of milk and fish did not meet diet pagoda recommended amount. 278(92. 4%) and 254(84. 4%) workers' meat and egg intakes achieved or exceeded diet pagoda recommended amount., Conclusion: nutritional structure of heat-exposed steelworkers was still unreasonable. The intakes of water during working, vegetables, fruits, milk, beans, fish and shrimp and salt were insufficient, while the intakes of grains and meat were excessive. The main dietary pattern of workers was pattern E, which reflect middle insufficient intake and excessive intake. No workers was pattern A, which reflect optimal dietary pattern with less insufficient intake and excessive intake.

Objective: To study the effect of the nutritional education and dietary intervention on nutritional status and bone mineral density (BMD) of middle-aged and senile patients with osteoporosis., Methods: Ninty middle-aged and senile osteoporosis patients were enrolled. They were randomly divided into two groups (intervention and control group) with 45 cases each. The control group was received conventional therapy and the intervention group added with nutritional education and dietary intervention for six months on the basis of conventional therapy. The methods of education and intervention included seminars, brochures distribution, dietary survey and individual guidance. The nutritional status and BMD were analyzed at the beginning and the end of the intervention respectively., Results: After the intervention, the ratios of subjects whose intake of grain, vegetables, fruits, eggs, milk and beans in line with recommended intake of the intervention group were higher than those of the control group (P < 0.05). After the intervention, frequencies of coarse grain, dairy, beans and seafood consumption of the intervention group were higher than those of the control group (P < 0.05). After the intervention, the daily intakes of protein, VA, VC, calcium, zinc, magnesium, dietary fiber of the intervention group were significantly superior to the control group (P < 0.05). BMDs of lumbar spine and femoral neck in the intervention group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05)., Conclusion: The nutritional education and dietary intervention could promote middle-aged and senile patients' reasonable diet, improve their nutritional status, enhance bone mineral density and improve the effect of conventional therapy for osteoporosis.