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Previous studies have supported a tumor‐suppressive role of semaphorin 3A (SEMA3A) in several tumors including oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). However, in‐depth characterization of the role of SEMA3A in OSCC and the underlying molecular mechanisms is lacking. Gene and protein expressions were detected using quantitative real‐time PCR, western blot assay, and immunohistochemistry. OSCC cell metastasis was evaluated using Transwell and angiogenesis of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) was determined using tube formation assay. The interactions among molecules were predicted using bioinformatics analysis and validated using luciferase activity experiment and RNA immunoprecipitation assay. Pulmonary metastasis was evaluated using hematoxylin and eosin staining after constructing a lung metastasis tumor model in mice. SEMA3A expression was decreased in OSCC cells and its overexpression led to suppression of epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT), migration, and invasion of OSCC cells and angiogenesis of HUVECs. miR‐32‐5p was identified as an upstream molecule of SEMA3A and long non‐coding RNA NR2F2 antisense RNA 1 (NR2F2‐AS1) was validated as an upstream gene of miR‐32‐5p. Further experiments revealed that the inhibitory effects of NR2F2‐AS1 overexpression on EMT, migration, invasion of OSCC cells, and angiogenesis of HUVECs as well as tumor growth and metastasis in mice were mediated via the miR‐32‐5p/SEMA3A axis. To conclude, NR2F2‐AS1 may attenuate OSCC cell metastasis and angiogenesis of HUVECs and suppress tumor growth and metastasis in mice via the miR‐32‐5p/SEMA3A axis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the risk of chloramphenicol exposure among Guangxi residents by consuming aquatic products from Beibu Gulf, this study monitored chloramphenicol residues in aquatic products from Beibu Gulf from 2018 to 2020. The chloramphenicol content of various types of aquatic products from Beibu Gulf was analyzed. Margin of exposure (MOE) values were calculated to evaluate exposure probability and risk. In this research, chloramphenicol was detected in 2.69% of samples. Chi-square analyses indicate that chloramphenicol detection rates are significantly correlated with types of aquatic product. The chloramphenicol detection rate in shellfish is 13.33% while that in freshwater fish is merely 0.24%. No chloramphenicol is detected in marine fish point and probability. Assessments demonstrate that dietary exposure to chloramphenicol through consuming aquatic products from Beibu Gulf is extremely low. However, the MOE of the population with exposure above the 50th percentile is below 10000, suggesting some health risks. At all percentiles, the daily exposure from consuming shellfish is one order of magnitude higher than that associated with consumption of other aquatic products. 54.7% of Guangxi residents might experience health risks due to their intake of chloramphenicol in aquatic products from Beibu Gulf. The chloramphenicol content in shellfish exerts the greatest influence on daily exposure, making shellfish the key sensitivity factor (r=0.99). Therefore, the population with higher exposure should limit their consumption of shellfish. Health authorities should more strictly monitor chloramphenicol levels in shellfish from Beibu Gulf, Guangxi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Backgrounds Effects of myocardial injury on E-selectin remain unclear. Thus, we investigated the diagnostic value of E-selectin for myocardial injury in paediatric patients with mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia. Methods In this prospective and blinded clinical study, plasma E-selectin, cardiac troponin I, creatine kinase isoenzyme MB, interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha concentrations were measured in paediatric patients with mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP group, n = 138). The control group comprised 120 healthy children. The definition of cardiac injury was based on cardiac troponin I or CK-MB (with or possibly without abnormal electrocardiogram evidence). Diagnostic value of E-selectin for myocardial injury was determined by analysing receiver operating characteristic curves. Results Among the 138 mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia patients, 40 patients were identified with myocardial injury, while 98 patients were identified without myocardial injury. Plasma E-selectin concentrations were: 40.22 ± 4.80 ng/mL, in patients with myocardial injury; 18.55 ± 2.16 ng/mL, in patients without myocardial injury and 12.39 ± 3.27 ng/mL, in healthy children. For the 40 patients identified with myocardial injury, area under the receiver operating characteristic curve value for plasma E-selectin concentrations was 0.945 (95% CI: 0.899-0.991), and optimal diagnostic cut-off value was 29.93 ng/mL (positive likelihood ratio = 72.5). Conclusion E-selectin was shown to be an effective index for myocardial injury in paediatric patients with mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia, and its role in other causes of myocardial injury warrants further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To improve the enzymatic hydrolytic efficiency and reduce the supplementation of enzymes, the mixture designed experimental approach was used to optimize the composition of enzyme mixture and promote the hydrolysis of ball-milled corn stover. From the experimental results, a synergistic effect was found when combinations of the three enzymes, two kinds of cellulases and a kind of xylanase, were used. The optimal hydrolysis of pretreated corn stover accorded with enzymes activity ration of FPU/CMCase/β-glucosidase/xylanase = 4.4:1:75:829, and the hydrolysis efficiency of corn stover increased significantly compared with using individual enzyme. The results indicated that the mixture design experiment could be an effective tool for optimized enzyme mixture for lignocellulose hydrolysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We construct an exponential-type PT-symmetric potential, which includes the PT-symmetric versions of the Rosen–Morse well and Scarf potential and the complex PT-invariant potential well V(x)=q2tanh2αx+i(q1/2)sechαxtanhαx+q0, q2>0. The discrete energy eigenvalues of the latter complex potential are shown to be real when &z.sfnc;q1&z.sfnc;⩽α2/2+2q2, while they are complex conjugate pairs if &z.sfnc;q1&z.sfnc;>α2/2+2q2. The PT symmetry is unbroken in the former case and spontaneously broken in the latter case. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective: To define cut-off values of plasma amino-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-ProBNP) for the diagnosis of congenital heart failure (CHF) and evaluate the importance of plasma NT-ProBNP measurement in the assessment of cardiac function prior to heart surgery in infants with congenital heart disease (CHD)., Methods: Plasma levels of NT-proBNP were measured in 120 infants with CHD before heart surgery and in 100 age-matched healthy infants between June 2010 and June 2013. The data were stratified based on the presence or absence of CHF in the whole group of CHD infants and on age (i.e., <1 year and ≥1 year) and time (i.e., before surgery) within the subgroup of CHF infants., Results: Of the 120 infants with CHD, 41 met the criteria for CHF defined in the Ross Classification for Heart Failure in Infants.The cut-off values of plasma NT-ProBNP were ≥498 ng/L for infants of all ages, 557 ng/L for <1 year age group and 452 ng/L for ≥1 year age group, respectively, in the 41 CHF patients. In CHF infants, plasma NT-proBNP was significantly decreased after protecting of cardiac function (P<0.001)., Conclusions: The cut-off values of plasma NT-ProBNP for CHF differ between infants <1 year and infants ≥1 year. Moreover, plasma NT-ProBNP can be used as an additional parameter in the preoperative assessment of cardiac function in CHD infants.