Search

Objective • This study aims to review recent developments in the diagnosis and treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD )and provide insights for its clinical management. Methods• The literatures were researched fro the pubmed, Wanfang and CNKI. We searched for research on the etiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis (screening and evaluation), and treatment of Autism spectrum disorder. When selecting papers to be included, priority should be given to randomized clinical trials, systematic evaluations, meta-analyses, clinical practice guidelines, and articles related to general medical readers. Results • ASD is a widely present neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by social and communication difficulties, narrow interests, and repetitive behavior, accompanied by symptoms such as irritability, self-harm, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and sleep problems. Irritability, self-harm, ADHD, and sleep problems are common accompanying symptoms that contribute to the challenges faced by individuals with ASD. At present, there is no fully effective treatment method for ASD, and key factors affecting the prognosis of ASD include early diagnosis time, early language communication level, intelligence level, disease severity, comorbidities, family participation, appropriate intervention, and social support. Therefore, early individualized long-term comprehensive training and drug therapy, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and combined family participation can improve the prognosis of pediatric patients. Before selecting treatment plans for children, collecting as much information as possible about various treatment methods and choosing personalized treatment plans based on the child’s developmental assessment level is necessary. In addition, the treatment of ASD is also influenced by factors such as family economic status, parental mentality, and social environment. During the training process, it is important to be family-centered, tolerant, and understand children’s behavior. Conclusion • It is significant to take effective treatment measures to improve the quality of life and prognosis of children with autism spectrum disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To determine the association between phosphatidylethanolamine binding protein 1, which is an Raf kinase inhibitor protein (RKIP), and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) via analysis of the association between RKIP and clinical responses in individuals treated using fluorouracil-based chemotherapy. Methods: Human gastric cancer cell lines MGC-803 and SGC-7901 were used in this study. Cell viability was measured using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Apoptosis and migration were determined with flow cytometry and Transwell chamber assays, respectively. The mRNA and protein expressions of apoptosis-related factors were assayed using realtime polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blotting, respectively, while the expression of RKIP was determined by immunohistochemical staining. Results: Chemotherapeutic drug (5-FU) treatment induced low RKIP expression levels in tumorigenic GC cells, thereby sensitizing the cells to apoptosis (8.57 vs 1.25 %, p < 0.01). The highest RKIP level correlated well with initiation of apoptosis (4.20 vs 1.25 %, p < 0.01). Following in vitro downregulation of RKIP, there was increase in the viability and proliferation of RKIP-inhibited cells over time, and these changes were linked to alterations in cell cycle phases and increased optical density in MTT proliferation assay (1.55 vs 1.18, p < 0.01). In vitro Transwell assay measurement revealed an association between RKIP downregulation and enhancement of cell migration potential (652 vs 436, p < 0.01). Ectopic RKIP expression restored the apoptotic sensitivity of resistant cells (14.30 vs 1.36 %, p < 0.01). This sensitization was annulled by upregulation of survival routes. Reduction of RKIP by expression of antisense and siRNA conferred resistance on cancer cells sensitive to 5-FU-mediated apoptosis (6.88 vs 2.13 %, p < 0.01). Conclusion: Thus, RKIP is a promising therapeutic strategy for improving the efficacy of clinically relevant chemotherapeutic drugs for GC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetic cardiac fibrosis increases ventricular stiffness and facilitates the occurrence of diastolic dysfunction. Retinoid X receptor (RXR) plays an important role in cardiac development and has been implicated in cardiovascular diseases. In the present study, we investigated the effects of RXR agonist treatment on streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) and the underlying mechanism. Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats induced by STZ injection were treated with either RXR agonist bexarotene (Bex) or vehicle alone. Echocardiography was performed to determine cardiac structure and function. Cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) were treated with high glucose (HG) with or without the indicated concentration of Bex or the RXR ligand 9-cis-retinoic acid (9-cis-RA). The protein abundance levels were measured along with collagen, body weight (BW), blood biochemical indexes and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) levels. The effects of RXRα down-regulation by RXRα small interfering RNA (siRNA) were examined. The results showed that bexarotene treatment resulted in amelioration of left ventricular dysfunction by inhibiting cardiomyocyte apoptosis and myocardial fibrosis. Immunoblot with heart tissue homogenates from diabetic rats revealed that bexarotene activated liver kinase B1 (LKB1) signaling and inhibited p70 ribosomal protein S6 kinase (p70S6K). The increased collagen levels in the heart tissues of DCM rats were reduced by bexarotene treatment. Treatment of CFs with HG resulted in significantly reduced LKB1 activity and increased p70S6K activity. RXRα mediated the antagonism of 9-cis-RA on HG-induced LKB1/p70S6K activation changes in vitro. Our findings suggest that RXR agonist ameliorates STZ-induced DCM by inhibiting myocardial fibrosis via modulation of the LKB1/p70S6K signaling pathway. RXR agonists may serve as novel therapeutic agents for the treatment of DCM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In poultry production, vaccination is an effective measure to protect chickens from diseases. Vaccination, however, is a stressor that may induce stress responses that interfere with the growth and development of chickens. The interaction between the skeletal and immune systems on bone quality has gained more attention. In the present study, the influence of high frequency vaccinations on the bone development of layer pullets was investigated. Thirty 35-day-old SPF White Leghorn layer pullets were obtained and randomly subjected to the following treatments: vaccinated against Newcastle disease (ND) with LoSota vaccine once at 35-day-old (V1, control); 4 times at 35, 49, 63, and 77 d of age (V4); and 7 times at 35, 42, 49, 56, 63, 70, and 77 d of age (V7). The body weight and organ index of the spleen, thymus, and tibia were recorded. The antibody titer and serum and the tibia calcium and phosphorus concentrations were measured. The transcription levels of the IL-6, IL-17, TNF-α, receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL), and osteoprotegerin (OPG) genes were determined in spleen, thymus, and the tibia. The results showed that V7 decreased body weight and increased the ND antibody titer, compared to V1-chickens. The expression levels of IL-6, IL-17, and TNF-α were upregulated in spleen, thymus, and the tibia of V7 chickens. In the tibia, RANKL was upregulated, while OPG was downregulated by V7 treatment. The results indicate that high frequency vaccination induces immune stress and impairs bone development. The results suggest that the augmented cytokine expression in immune organs and the tibia is associated with activation of the OPG/RANKL pathway, which, in turn, enhances osteoclastogenesis. The appropriate frequency of vaccination should support optimal bone development and full immunoprotection in layer pullets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taking the identification of glucose as an example, this article outlines the instructional design and video production process for integrating scientific visualization into the pharmaceutical analysis experiment. The principle, procedure, and phenomenon of the experiment are vividly demonstrated through the pictures and videos, enhancing the interest and attraction of the experiment course. A series of related videos have been applied to classroom teaching and uploaded to the video website, achieving favorable educational outcomes and facilitating broader sharing and communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel adsorbent of mesoporous carbon with high specific surface area was successfully prepared by hydrothermal and template method, using sodium lignosulfonate (LSs) as a raw material and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as a template agent. The mesoporous carbon was characterized by SEM, TEM, BET, FTIR, and XPS. The formation mechanism of the mesoporous carbon was analyzed. The adsorption of uranium(VI) on the mesoporous carbon from the simulated aqueous solution and actual radioactive wastewater was respectively investigated. The optimum conditions for U(VI) adsorption were determined by studying experimental variables including pH, contact time, sorbent dose, initial concentration, and temperature. The results indicated that the maximum adsorption capacity of the mesoporous carbon for U(VI) in the simulated aqueous solution and actual radioactive wastewater was respectively 109.46 mg/g at pH 5.5 and 328.15 K and 195.6 mg/g at pH 5.5 and the initial U(VI) concentration of 189.75 mg/L. The adsorption data could be well described by the pseudo-second-order model and Freundlich isotherm model. The adsorption of U(VI) on the mesoporous carbon was an endothermic and spontaneous process. The adsorption mechanism may be a complex chemical reaction between uranium and the oxygen-containing functional groups on the mesoporous carbon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) of carbohydrates has been widely used for the synthesis of carbon materials. Most of the chemical transformations (e.g., fragmentation, dehydration) of carbohydrates in the HTC synthesis of carbon-rich microspheres need relatively high temperatures. However, the superficial functionalities (e.g., reactive oxygen groups) of the microspheres are susceptible to the synthesis temperature. It synthesis of HTC microspheres with highly abundant reactive oxygen groups is seldom reported at low temperatures. Herein, HTC of glucose was proposed to synthesize carbon materials using AlCl3 as the catalyst at 120-150 °C in this study. The chemical properties and structural characteristics of HTC microspheres were analyzed using Fourier transform infrared, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, solution 13C NMR, and scanning electron microscopy. The results showed that the HTC microspheres were successfully synthesized with near single-spherical shapes and smooth surfaces and the size of the diameter in the range of 0.5-5.5 μm. There were cross-linked furanic structure and abundant reactive oxygen groups on the surface of the HTC microspheres. 5-Hydroxymethylfural was detected by solution 13C NMR, which played a key role in the HTC synthesis of carbon-rich microspheres. The HTC microspheres exhibit the maximum adsorption capacity of 163 mg/g for uranium(VI). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we deal with the second-order Hamiltonian system (*) ü-L(t)u + ΔW(t, u) = 0. We establish some criteria which guarantee that the above system has at least one or infinitely many homoclinic solutions under the assumption that W(t, x) is subquadratic at infinity and L(t) is a real symmetric matrix and satisfies ... for some constant ? < 2. In particular, L(t) and W(t, x) are allowed to be sign-changing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on a study which investigated the relationship between higher serum alkaline phosphatase level (ALP) and the adverse outcomes of peritonitis in chronic peritoneal dialysis patients. The research revealed the association between higher ALP and the effects of liver function and other bone metabolism markers.

The core of skeletal muscle Z-discs consists of actin filaments from adjacent sarcomeres that are cross-linked by α-actinin homodimers. Z-disc-associated, alternatively spliced, PDZ motif-containing protein (ZASP)/Cypher interacts with α-actinin, myotilin, and other Z-disc proteins via the PDZ domain. However, these interactions are not sufficient to maintain the Z-disc structure. We show that ZASP directly interacts with skeletal actin filaments. The actin-binding domain is between the modular PDZ and LIM domains. This ZASP region is alternatively spliced so that each isoform has unique actin-binding domains. All ZASP isoforms contain the exon 6-encoded ZASP-like motif that is mutated in zaspopathy, a myofibrillar myopathy (MFM), whereas the exon 8-11 junction-encoded peptide is exclusive to the postnatal long ZASP isoform (ZASP-LΔex10). MFM is characterized by disruption of skeletal muscle Z-discs and accumulation of myofibrillar degradation products. Wild-type and mutant ZASP interact with α-actin, α-actinin, and myotilin. Expression of mutant, but not wild-type, ZASP leads to Z-disc disruption and F-actin accumulation in mouse skeletal muscle, as in MFM. Mutations in the actin-binding domain of ZASP-LΔex10, but not other isoforms, cause disruption of the actin cytoskeleton in muscle cells. These isoform-specific mutation effects highlight the essential role of the ZASP-LΔex10 isoform in F-actin organization. Our results show that MFM-associated ZASP mutations in the actin-binding domain have deleterious effects on the core structure of the Z-discs in skeletal muscle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We deal with the existence of Nehari-type ground state positive solutions for the nonlinear Schrödinger equation -Δu + V(x) u = f (x,u), x ∈ ℝN, u ∈ H¹ (ℝN). ( ) R R . Under a weaker Nehari condition, we establish some existence criteria to guarantee that the above problem has Nehari-type ground state solutions by using amore direct method in two cases: the periodic case and the asymptotically periodic case. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ferrate(VI) is an efficient multi-functional water treatment reagent that has several novel properties, such as strong oxidation, absorption, flocculation, disinfection and deodorization. The removal of cationic surfactants based on ferrate (K2FeO4) was performed in the case of cetylpyridinium bromide (CPB). The influence of operating variables on the mineralization efficiency was studied as a function of ferrate dosage, initial pH and reaction time. Total organic carbon (TOC), UV and infrared spectra were performed to gain a better understanding of the degradation process. Results show that the optimal treatment conditions are as follows, solution initial pH is over 5, oxidation time is 5 min and ferrate dosage is 1.5 times that of CPB. The removal efficiency of CPB above 99% and TOC removal percentage of 91.3% can be achieved in minutes. The reaction of CPB with K2FeO4 responds to a second-order kinetic law. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We give several sufficient conditions underwhich the first-order nonlinear Hamiltonian system x'(t) = α(t)x(t)+f(t, y(t)), y'(t) = -g(t, x(t))-α(t)y(t) has no solution (x(t), y(t)) satisfying condition0 < -8 +8 [|x(t)|]v +(1+β(t))|y(t)|μ]dt < +8, where μ, ν > 1 and (1/μ) + (1/ν) = 1, 0 = xf(t, x) = β(t)|x|μ, xg(t, x) = γ0 (t)|x|ν, β(t), γ0 (t) = 0, and α(t) are locally Lebesgue integrable real-valued functions defined on ℝ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Epidemiological evidence has clearly indicated that chronic infection with the hepatitis B virus (HBV) is the major risk factor for developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Nonetheless, the mechanisms by which HBV contributes to the pathogenesis of HCC have not been fully elucidated. Objectives: Our aim was to characterize differential gene expression profiles related to the Wnt signaling pathway between primary tumor and adjacent normal tissues in HCC patients with concomitant HBV infection. Materials and Methods: An oligoGEArray® (an oligonucleotide-based gene expression array platform) containing 126 Wnt signaling pathway-related genes was used to compare gene expressions between primary HCC and adjacent non-tumorous liver tissues from 10 patients with HCC. Selected differential genes were identified with real-time RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry (IHC). In particular, the protein of the differential gene DVL3 (disheveled, dsh homolog 3 [Drosophila]) was chosen to investigate whether it is up regulated in primary tumor correlated with the clinic pathological characteristics of HCC patients. For this purpose we examined 56 HCC tissue samples via IHC for the presence of DVL3 protein. Results: Sixteen genes were identified with significant differential expression between HCC and adjacent non-tumorous liver tissue. These genes have been previously associated with the Frizzled signaling pathway, cell cycle, transcription, or protein degradation. All (100%) of the tumor samples results from 56 HCC patients tested were positive for DVL3 via IHC. Based on the intensity of DVL3 immunoreactivity, 25 (44.6%) and 31 (55.4%) of the patients were classified as low and high-DVL3, respectively, which correlated with tumor stage (P = 0.029). Conclusions: This study clarified a number of Wnt pathway-related genes which are dysregulated in HBV-associated HCC. These genes may be contributed to the frequent activation of the Wnt signaling pathway. Our results promote the role of the Wnt signaling pathway in HBV- associated HCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some results for the existence of homoclinic orbits are obtained for the second order discrete Hamiltonian systems [image omitted] , where [image omitted] and [image omitted] is [image omitted] -periodic with respect to n, [image omitted] and [image omitted] . Our assumptions on K and f are rather loose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Correlations of non-photonic electrons with charged hadrons are studied using the PYTHIA Monte Carlo event generator in p+p collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}} = 200\, {\rm GeV}$. We propose experimental methods to estimate the relative contributions to non-photonic electrons from charm and bottom decays. We present the measurement of azimuthal correlations between non-photonic electrons and charged hadrons in p+p collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}} = 200\, {\rm GeV}$ from STAR. The results are compared to PYTHIA simulations to estimate the relative contributions of D and B meson semi-leptonic decays to non-photonic electrons. Our preliminary result indicates that at pT ∼ 4.0 - 6.0 GeV/c the measured B contribution to non-photonic electrons is comparable to D contribution, and is consistent with the FONLL calculation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Based on a detailed ray-tracing code for capillary optics, a MATLAB program for the simulation of X-ray transmission in a cylindrical polycapillary is described. The simulated and experimental results for the spatial distributions and power density gain of the X-rays in the beam guided through a cylindrical polycapillary are in good agreement, and the results show that the spatial distribution of the X-rays in the beam guided through a cylindrical polycapillary is uneven. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A novel microcalorimetric technique based on the bacterial heat output was applied to evaluate the special growth model, the protein expression and the generation time of Bacillus thuringiensis for the first time. The thermogenic curves of the aerobic metabolism of B. thuringiensis strains YBT-833, YBT-1520 and YBT-833-2-1 were determined by using an LKB-2277 BioActivity Monitor. The analysis of the thermogenic curves indicated both the mutant strain and the wild-type strains followed the same linear growth model during sporulation. The metabolism heat output revealed heat output was correlated to the yield of the insecticidal crystal proteins (ICPs) very well, the more protein product, and the less heat output. Based on the data acquired, we proposed that this method could be a useful tool in monitoring the fermentation of B. thuringiensis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3) has been identified as a methyltransferase responsible for N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification of mRNA. METTL3 functions in tumorigenesis and tumor development by promoting the translation of oncoproteins; however, the role of METTL3 in ovarian cancer has not been extensively studied. The present study performed immunohistochemistry to detect METTL3 expression levels in 52 samples of ovarian cancer tissue paired with corresponding paracancerous tissue. RNA interference was conducted to downregulate the expression levels of METTL3 in the SKOV3 and OVCAR3 ovarian cancer cell lines. Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR and western blot analysis demonstrated the effects of METTL3 knockdown on mRNA and protein levels, respectively. CCK-8, colony formation, apoptosis and Transwell assays were also performed. The results demonstrated that METTL3 exhibited significantly higher expression levels in ovarian cancer tissues compared with corresponding paracancerous tissue. High METTL3 expression levels were associated with large tumors, lymph node metastasis and high pathological grade. Cell proliferation analysis revealed that METTL3 knockdown reduced the proliferation and clonogenic ability of SKOV3 and OVCAR3 cells. Apoptotic rates were increased in METTL3-silenced ovarian cancer cells, which may have been mediated by the activation of the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway, and METTL3 knockdown reduced cell invasion. METTL3 knockdown downregulated the phosphorylation levels of AKT and the expression of the downstream effector Cyclin D1. These results suggested that METTL3 may serve an oncogenic function in the progression of human ovarian cancer cells partially through the AKT signaling pathway, indicating that METTL3 may be a potentially novel therapeutic target for the treatment of ovarian cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background • Cerebral stroke (CS) remains a leading cause of mortality worldwide. In addition to effective treatment, nursing intervention plays a pivotal role in the rehabilitation of CS patients. Objective • This study aims to assess the impact of meticulous care integrated with risk management on rehabilitating cerebral stroke patients. The objective is to provide valuable clinical insights for the management of CS patients. Methods • A comparative observational study was conducted, including a total of 180 CS patients admitted between February 2020 and February 2022 were selected for this study. Among them, 98 patients received meticulous care combined with risk management (research group), while 82 patients underwent routine nursing intervention (control group). We analyzed the changes in the Fugl-Meyer Motor Assessment scale, National Institute of Health Stroke Scale, Activities of Daily Living scale, and Barthel Index before and after the care interventions. Additionally, we documented nursing risk events during treatment, assessed nursing quality scores, and conducted a quality-of-life survey after a one-year follow-up. Results • The research group exhibited significantly higher post-care scores in the Fugl-Meyer Motor Assessment, Activities of Daily Living, and Barthel Index, along with lower National Institute of Health Stroke Scale scores, compared to the control group (P < .05). Furthermore, the research group experienced a lower incidence of nursing risk events and demonstrated higher nursing quality (P < .05). During the prognostic follow-up, the research group displayed a superior quality of life compared to the control group (P < .05). Conclusions • Meticulous care integrated with risk management enhances the recovery of CS patients and is strongly recommended for clinical implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New-structure polycapillary x-ray optics for high pressure x-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) absorption spectroscopy using the diamond anvil cells (DAC) method are applied in synchrotron radiation analysis. The optics are composed of a solid glass fiber in the center and surrounded by a hollow glass capillary array. They can restrain the higher harmonic of incident synchrotron radiation and obtain smooth and clear XAFS spectra. At the biological macromolecule station in the Beijing Synchrotron Radiation Facility (BSRF), a method of aligning these optics was developed and the transmission efficiency for both fundamental and higher harmonic waves investigated. The XAFS spectra of topological insulator material of Bi2Se3 were obtained by combining the optics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The morphologies and properties of polycaprolactone (PCL)/chitosan (CS) blends were studied by experiment and dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) simulation. The simulation predicted the morphologies and dispersion of PCL/CS blends with different PCL/CS ratios. Experiments were performed for characterising morphology, thermal and mechanical properties. Both experimental and DPD simulation results indicated that the PCL/CS blend with weight ratio 90/10 possessed homogeneous morphology with excellent ductility. The study indicated that the combination of experiments and the computer simulation can be an effective way of designing and developing the polymer blends with the tailored properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of the application of copper waterline on the performance and gut health of aged laying hens was evaluated in this study. Forty-eight 70-week-old laying hens were divided into two groups (three replicates of eight hens each): control and copper (Cu) groups provided with normal polyvinyl chloride (PVC) waterline or Cu waterline. The laying performance was measured during the four-week period of the experiment. The intestinal antioxidant status and the microbiota diversity of the cecal content were determined. Moreover, a bacteriostasis test on Escherichia coli and Salmonella enteritidis was conducted after inoculation in waterline and hens, respectively. The water Cu2+ content was increased by Cu waterline compared to the control (P<0.05). Cu waterline had no detectable effect on most production performances, however, it increased the egg weight (P<0.05). Cu waterline increased the Cu level in the eggshell. Cu level in excreta increased with time, especially in the final two weeks, however, there was no significant change in fecal Cu excretion. The lipid peroxidation product malondialdehyde content in ileum decreased (P<0.01), while the activities of CuZn-superoxide dismutase (SOD) of ileum and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) activity of jejunum and ileum increased after Cu treatment. The relative abundance and richness of cecal microbiota increased after Cu treatment (P<0.05). Cu waterline changed the microbial composition, including the increased proportion of Methanocorpusculum, Paludibacter, and decreased proportion of Fucobacterium, Anaerobiospirillum, and Campylobacter. The colonization of E. coli and S. enteritidis in Cu waterline was suppressed by Cu treatment, indicating that Cu waterline had potential antibacterial properties. The result suggests that Cu waterline could inhibit the colonization of pathogenic microorganisms such as E. coli and Salmonella and facilitate the enrichment of cecal microbiota diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteoarthritis (OA), one of the most common joint disorders, is one of the leading causes of disability among the elderly. Proinflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-1β, which is synthesized locally by synovial cells and chondrocytes, have been shown to play a critical role in sustaining cartilage damage in arthritis by creating an imbalance between cartilage degradation and the repair process. Alpha-lipoic acid (α-LA), which is synthesized in animal and plant tissues, has demonstrated its protective effects in a variety of diseases. However, whether or not LA has a protective effect in OA is still unknown. In this study, we found that α-LA inhibits the IL-1β-induced increase in matrix metallopeptidase 3 (MMP-3) and matrix metallopeptidase 13 (MMP-13) expression and activity. Our data also demonstrate that interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF-1) participates in the induction of MMP-3 and MMP-13. However, α-LA treatment did not change IRF-1 levels. Importantly, we found that α-LA increases SUMOylation of IRF-1, which attenuates IRF-1's transcriptional activity. Finally, we found that α-LA treatment leads to an increase in SUMO-1, but not in SUMO-2 or SUMO-3. Taken together, this study shows that α-LA exerts anti-inflammatory effects in an IL-1β-stimulated chondrocyte model, thereby suggesting a potential protective effect of α-LA in OA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PEGylation of peptide drugs prolongs their circulating lifetimes in plasma. However, PEGylation can produce a decrease in the in vitro bioactivity. Longer poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) chains are favourable for circulating lifetimes but unfavourable for in vitro bioactivities. In order to circumvent the conflicting effects of PEG length, a hydrophobic peptide, using an antimicrobial peptide as a model, was PEGylated with short PEG chains. The PEGylated peptides self-assembled in aqueous solution into micelles with PEG shell and peptide core. In these micelles, the core peptides were protected by the shell, thus reducing proteolytic degradation. Meanwhile, most of the in vitro antimicrobial activities still remained due to the short PEG chain attached. The stabilities of the PEGylated peptides were much higher than that of the unPEGylated peptides in the presence of chymotrypsin and serum. The antimicrobial activities of the PEGylated peptides in the presence of serum, an ex vivo assay, were much higher than that of the unPEGylated peptide. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract: The effect of Mn addition on the magnetic properties and microstructure of exchange coupled Nd2Fe14B/α-Fe nanocomposites magnets was investigated. The results show that, for nanocomposite NdFeB, the manganese addition can promote crystallization and enhance both coercivity and remanence ratio. Thermomagnetic analysis (TMA) showed that the Mn doping reduces the Curie temperature (T c) of the Nd2Fe14B phase and raises that of α-Fe phase. Extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) shows an increase of disorder degree around Fe atoms with increasing Mn doping content for as-spun samples. Nevertheless, similar to the results of X-ray diffraction (XRD), after annealing, the effect of Mn doping on the EXAFS results almost disappeared. Hysteresis loops after zero-field cooling (ZFC) and field cooling (FC) shows that there is an exchange bias between the Fe–Mn alloy and the magnetic phases. The results of TMA and exchange bias are explained in terms of two roles of the doping Mn element: ferromagnetism at high temperature and antiferromagnetism at low temperature. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Two novel mRNA transcripts have been identified that result from species- and tissue-specific, alternative polyadenylation and splicing of the pre-mRNA encoding the apolipoprotein B (apoB) editing catalytic subunit 1 (APOBEC-1) complementation factor (ACF) family of related proteins. The alternatively processed mRNAs encode 43- and 45-kDa proteins that are components of the previously identified p44 cluster of apoB RNA binding, editosomal proteins. Recombinant ACF45 displaced ACF64 and ACF43 in mooring sequence RNA binding but did not demonstrate strong binding to APOBEC-1. In contrast, ACF43 bound strongly to APOBEC-1 but demonstrated weak binding to mooring sequence RNA. Consequently ACF45/43 complemented APOBEC-1 in apoB mRNA editing with less efficiency than full-length ACF64. These data, together with the finding that all ACF variants were co-expressed in rat liver nuclei (the site of apoB mRNA editing), suggested that ACF variants might compete with one another for APOBEC-1 and apoB mRNA binding and thereby contribute to the regulation of apoB mRNA editing. In support for this hypothesis, the ratio of nuclear ACF65/64 to ACF45/43 decreased when hepatic editing was inhibited by fasting and increased when editing was re-stimulated by refeeding. These findings suggested a new model for the regulation of apoB mRNA editing in which the catalytic potential of editosomes is modulated at the level of their assembly by alterations in the relative abundance of multiple related RNA-binding auxiliary proteins and the expression level of APOBEC-1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An efficient and convenient Ni-catalyzed C-N bond formation for the synthesis of various benzimidazoles from various 2-haloanilines, aldehydes, and ammonia in a concise manner is reported. This protocol uses commercially available, nonhazardous, clean ammonia as a reaction partner instead of other nitrogen sources. Benzimidazoles, as the sole products, were obtained in high to excellent yields (up to 95%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Esophageal cancer-related gene 4 (ECRG4) is a candidate tumor suppressor gene, which is involved in cell apoptosis, migration, infection and inflammation responsiveness; however, its expression level and clinical significance in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unclear. In the present study, the authors aim to evaluate the clinical significance and potential role of ECRG4 in HCC. Level of ECRG4 protein expression in HCC and peripheral tissues was investigated in tissue specimens obtained from 56 consecutive HCC patients by immunohistochemistry. Cell proliferation, cell migration and invasion regulations were examined by MTT curves, flow cytometry, Transwell assays and western blotting. ECRG4 expression was weak positive in normal liver cells but was downregulated in HCC cells in vivo or in vitro. A decreased expression of ECRG4 was associated with the age of the patients, metastasis and Ki-67 proliferation index. However, decreased ECRG4 expression was not associated with differentiation, tumor size, the presence of portal vein tumor thrombosis, satellite lesions, tumor relapse or mortality. Further investigations revealed that ectopic expression of ECRG4 inhibited cell proliferation, migration and invasion and promoted cell apoptosis in SMMC-7721 cells, which was mediated by the regulation of BAX and B cell lymphoma-2, in addition to the upregulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition markers. In conclusion, the results of the present study indicated that ECRG4 was downregulated in HCC and served important roles in promoting cell proliferation and migration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Plant glutathione S-transferases (GSTs, EC 2.5.1.18) are multifunctional enzymes involved in heavy metal cellular detoxification by conjugating the tripeptide (g-Glu-Cys-Gly) glutathione to heavy metals. Previous studies demonstrated that individual rice GSTs were differentially induced by heavy metal exposure at the mRNA transcript level. However, little information is available concerning changes in protein concentration of rice GSTs under heavy metal stress. Because the correlation between changes in protein concentration and gene expression under abiotic stress is poor, direct determination of rice GSTs protein concentrations during cadmium (Cd) exposure is a more effective and reliable approach to explore possible mechanisms of rice Cd translocation and accumulation. Results: This study established an optimized and advanced liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)-based targeted proteomics assay for quantification of OsGSTF14 and OsGSTU6 proteins in Cd-stressed rice roots. The tryptic signature peptides were chosen as surrogate analytes and winged peptides containing the isotopelabeled signature peptides were used as the internal standards. The signature peptides exhibited good linearity in the range of 0.6-60 and 0.3-30 nM, respectively. The limit of detection and limit of quantification were 4.5 and 14.5 μg/g for OsGSTF14, respectively, and 2.1 and 7.0 μg/g for OsGSTU6. The spiking recoveries rates at low, medium and high levels were in the range of 72.5-93.4%, with intra- and inter-day precisions of 5.5-9.1 and 4.2-10.2%, respectively. Conclusions: The assay successfully quantified the temporal and dose responses of OsGSTF14 and OsGSTU6 proteins in Cd-stressed rice roots, with good accuracy, precision and high-throughput. This assay will have significant application in developing quantification methods of other proteins in Cd-stressed rice, which may provide more insight into the mechanisms of Cd translocation and accumulation in rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A porous adsorbent was prepared from leather waste by activation with alkali. The adsorbent, alkali-activated leather waste (AALW), was applied to adsorb uranium(VI) and characterized by scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray detection, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The influence of the pH, initial uranium(VI) concentration, temperature, and contact time on the adsorption of uranium(VI) was systematically investigated. The adsorption of uranium(VI) on AALW obeyed the Langmuir isotherm model and was attributed to ion exchange and complexation coordination. Thermodynamic and kinetic studies showed that the adsorption process was spontaneous and endothermic, and it reached adsorption equilibrium in 360 min. Moreover, the selective adsorption of uranium(VI) from an aqueous solution containing coexisting ions and adsorption of trace uranium(VI) from a simulated high-salinity environment showed that AALW had not only a strong affinity but a high selectivity for uranium(VI). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Better methods to predict prognosis can play a supplementary role in administering individualized treatment for breast cancer patients. Altered expressions of PTHrP and TGF-β have been observed in various types of human cancers. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the association of PTHrP and TGF-β level with the clinicopathological features of the breast cancer patients.Methods: Immunohistochemistry was used to examine PTHrP and TGF-β protein expression in 497 cases of early breast cancer, and Kaplan-Meier method and COX's Proportional Hazard Model were applied to the prognostic value of PTHrP and TGF-β expression.Results: Both over-expressed TGF-β and PTHrP were correlated with the tumor in larger size, higher proportion of axillary lymph node metastasis and later clinical stage. Additionally, the tumors with a high TGF-β level developed poor differentiation, and only TGF-β expression was associated with disease-free survival (DFS) of the breast cancer patients. Followed up for a median of 48 months, it was found that only the patients with negative TGF-β expression had longer DFS (P < 0.05, log-rank test). Nevertheless, those with higher PTHrP expression tended to show a higher rate of bone metastasis (67.6 % vs. 45.8 %, P = 0.019). In ER negative subgroup, those who developed PTHrP positive expression presented poor prognosis (P < 0.05, log-rank test). The patients with both positive TGF-β and PTHrP expression were significantly associated with the high risk of metastases. As indicated by Cox's regression analysis, TGF-β expression and the high proportion of axillary lymph node metastasis served as significant independent predictors for breast cancer recurrence.Conclusions: TGF-β and PTHrP were confirmed to be involved in regulating the malignant progression in breast cancer, and PTHrP expression, to be associated with bone metastasis as a potential prognostic marker in ER negative breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The failure of the key parts, such as bearings and gears, in cutting drum long chain gear driving system of long-wall shearer is a crucial factor for service life of gear systems. A short driving system is driven by multiple electric motors for cutting drum has been proposed as an alternative to long chain gear driving system. An electromechanical dynamic model based on lumped-parameter method of short driving system is established considering the effect of intrinsic mechanical characteristic of electric motor. By taking into account time-varying stiffness, damping, electric motor synchronization error, manufacturing eccentric error and transmission error of gears, the load-sharing characteristic and dynamic characteristic of the multiple motor driving unit (MMDU) of short driving system are analyzed under shock load. The results of simulation show that the electric motor synchronization error has significant effect on the load-sharing characteristic of MMDU. The load-sharing coefficient evidently increases as the electric motor synchronization error go up, decreasing the electric motor synchronization error can improve the load-sharing characteristic of MMDU; and the synchronization error must be controlled fewer than 5 % to ensure the load-sharing coefficient of the MMDU under 1.1. The imbalance of dynamic meshing force distribution of pinions of the MMDU can be obviously decreased and the load-sharing characteristic of the MMDU can be greatly improved by controlling the synchronization error of electric motor, but the effect is unobvious by controlling the manufacturing eccentric error or transmission error. It provides an effective method to choose a suitable control ranges under different synchronization errors of electric motor according to different load-sharing requirements for the MMDU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Histiocytic sarcoma (HS) is a rare malignant tumor. Underlying or associated disorders have been reported in some patients with HS. We herein report a very rare case of HS combined with acute monocytic leukemia (AMoL). Case presentation: A 62-year-old man presented with systemic lymph node enlargement and pancytopenia in August 2012. Bone marrow (BM) aspirate showed abnormal hematopoiesis with 3 % blast, but no obvious abnormalities on flow cytometric immunophenotyping. A BM cytogenetic study and fluorescence in situ hybridization revealed a 46, XY karyotype and no myelodysplastic syndrome-associated features, respectively. A right cervical node biopsy showed disrupted node structure with diffuse pleomorphic neoplastic cells that were positive for cluster of differentiation (CD) 68, MAC387 and lysozyme, but negative for CD1a, CD21, CD30, S100, and T-cell, B-cell, and myeloid lineage markers. The patient was diagnosed with HS and treated with 8 courses of CHOP chemotherapy. After 4 courses, total-body FDG-PET imaging showed partial remission and disappearance of abnormal hematopoiesis in the BM, but 2 % blasts remained. Lymphadenopathy and pancytopenia recurred 1 month after the his last chemotherapy dose. He became resistant to second-line chemotherapy, with gradually increasing leukocytes, up to 50 % blasts in BM in December 2013, and abnormal cells positive for CD117, CD13, CD33, HLA-DR, CD34, CD11c, CD38, and myeloperoxidase. He was diagnosed with acute monocytic leukemia (AMoL-M5), and treated by CAG regimen + decitabine, but died of severe pneumonia and hepatic failure. Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first case of HS combined with AMoL. The coexistence of these two neoplasms was shown by the lymph node biopsy findings and BM myeloid markers. The patient had a transient response to chemotherapy and a poor prognosis. Whether these two neoplasms were related is unclear; however, if so, we suspect the combination might be caused by a malignant transformation of a promonocyte or stem cell, upstream of histiocytes and monocytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Histiocytic sarcoma (HS) is a rare malignant tumor. Underlying or associated disorders have been reported in some patients with HS. We herein report a very rare case of HS combined with acute monocytic leukemia (AMoL). Case presentation: A 62-year-old man presented with systemic lymph node enlargement and pancytopenia in August 2012. Bone marrow (BM) aspirate showed abnormal hematopoiesis with 3 % blast, but no obvious abnormalities on flow cytometric immunophenotyping. A BM cytogenetic study and fluorescence in situ hybridization revealed a 46, XY karyotype and no myelodysplastic syndrome-associated features, respectively. A right cervical node biopsy showed disrupted node structure with diffuse pleomorphic neoplastic cells that were positive for cluster of differentiation (CD) 68, MAC387 and lysozyme, but negative for CD1a, CD21, CD30, S100, and T-cell, B-cell, and myeloid lineage markers. The patient was diagnosed with HS and treated with 8 courses of CHOP chemotherapy. After 4 courses, total-body FDG-PET imaging showed partial remission and disappearance of abnormal hematopoiesis in the BM, but 2 % blasts remained. Lymphadenopathy and pancytopenia recurred 1 month after the his last chemotherapy dose. He became resistant to second-line chemotherapy, with gradually increasing leukocytes, up to 50 % blasts in BM in December 2013, and abnormal cells positive for CD117, CD13, CD33, HLA-DR, CD34, CD11c, CD38, and myeloperoxidase. He was diagnosed with acute monocytic leukemia (AMoL-M5), and treated by CAG regimen + decitabine, but died of severe pneumonia and hepatic failure. Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first case of HS combined with AMoL. The coexistence of these two neoplasms was shown by the lymph node biopsy findings and BM myeloid markers. The patient had a transient response to chemotherapy and a poor prognosis. Whether these two neoplasms were related is unclear; however, if so, we suspect the combination might be caused by a malignant transformation of a promonocyte or stem cell, upstream of histiocytes and monocytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the prognostic value of TFPI-2 expression in breast cancer patients through examining the correlation between TFPI-2 expression and breast cancer clinicopathologic features. Methods: Immunohistochemical staining combined with digital image analysis was used to quantify the expression of TFPI-2 protein in breast tumor tissues. For evaluation of the prognostic value of TFPI-2 expression to each clinicopathologic factor, Kaplan-Meier method and COX's Proportional Hazard Model were employed. Results: TFPI-2 expression was significantly correlated with tumor size, lymph node metastasis, histologic grade, clinical stage, and vessel invasion. More importantly, TFPI-2 expression was also associated with disease-free survival (DFS) of breast cancer patients. We found that patients with high TFPI-2 expression had longer DFS compared with those with low or negative expression of TFPI-2 (P <0.05, log-rank test). Cox's regression analysis indicated that TFPI-2 expression, histologic grade, and vessel invasion might be significant prognostic factors for DFS, while TFPI-2 expression and histologic grade were the most significant independent predictors for tumor recurrence. Compared with the group with low/high TFPI-2 expression, the TFPI-2 negative group was more likely to have tumor relapse. The hazard ratio of DFS is 0.316 (P <0.01). Conclusions: Low or negative expression of TFPI-2 is associated with breast cancer progression, recurrence and poor survival outcome after breast cancer surgery. TFPI-2 expression in breast tumors is a potential prognostic tool for breast cancer patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

RNA probes constitute an important class of functional nucleic acids (FNAs). However, because of their notorious vulnerability to enzymatic degradation, extremely careful and special protocols must be followed when dealing with RNA probes. To fully use the large number of RNA FNAs available for bioanalysis and biomedicine, it is important to explore effective methods to protect RNA probes from enzymatic digestion. In this work, we systematically demonstrate that graphene oxide (GO) can effectively protect RNA probes from enzymatic digestion. Based on this finding, we propose an effective way to design robust RNA biosensors by simply mixing RNA probes with GO for analysis of nucleic acids, proteins, and small molecules. The entire assay is sensitive, selective, rapid, and more importantly, does not require any special protocols. The ability to protect ssRNA from enzymatic digestion by GO offers an exciting new way to stabilize ssRNA, which will not only provide new opportunities to utilize the large number of currently available, yet rarely explored, RNA FNAs for bioanalysis but also offer a new solution to protect important ssRNA molecules, such as microRNA and antisense ssRNA, for a great variety of biomedical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A laboratory confocal micro X-ray fluorescence (micro-XRF) spectrometer based on a polycapillary focusing X-ray lens (PFXRL) in the excitation channel and a polycapillary parallel X-ray lens (PPXRL) in the detection channel was used to carry out the size-resolved source apportionment of aerosol particles. The PPXRL in the detection channel both increased the collection angle of the detector and improved the signal-to-noise ratio of the X-ray spectrum. When this confocal micro-XRF spectrometer was used to carry out the quantitative XRF analysis of single aerosol particles with smaller size than that of the overlapping foci of the PFXRL and the PPXRL, the sensitivity was corrected by using a Gaussian function. The size-resolved “fingerprint database” for the air pollution sources was established based on the quantitative XRF results for single aerosol particles. The size-resolved aerosol particles on hazy-foggy days in Beijing were apportioned. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gastrodia elata (Tianma) is a traditional Chinese medicine often used for the treatment of headache, convulsions, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases. The vasodilatory actions of Tianma led us to investigate its specific effects on memory and learning as well as on Alzheimer's disease (AD)-related signaling. We conducted a radial arm water maze analysis and the novel object recognition test to assess the cognitive functions of Tianma-treated mice. Our data show that Tianma enhances cognitive functions in mice. Further investigations revealed that Tianma enhances the α-secretase-mediated proteolytic processing of the amyloid precursor protein (App) that precludes the amyloid-β peptide production and supports the non-amyloidogenic processing of App which is favorable in AD treatment. We hypothesize that Tianma promotes cognitive functions and neuronal survival by inhibiting β-site App-cleaving enzyme 1 activity and promoting the neuroprotective a-secretase activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liquid−liquid equilibria for the two ternary systems of CH3OH + Rb2CO3+ H2O and CH3CH2OH + Rb2CO3+ H2O were measured at T= (298.15, 308.15, and 318.15) K. Binodal curves, tie-lines, and integrated phase diagrams for the two ternary systems are given. The experimental binodal curve data are correlated using a three- parameter equation, and the tie-line data are corrected by the Othmer−Tobias and Bancroft equations. The salting-out effect of ethanol is greater than that for methanol, but the effect of temperature on the equilibrium was not significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genomic expansions of simple tandem repeats can give rise to toxic RNAs that contain expanded repeats. In myotonic dystrophy, the expression of expanded CUG repeats (CUGexp) causes abnormal regulation of alternative splicing and neuromuscular dysfunction. We used a transgenic mouse model to show that derangements of myotonic dystrophy are reversed by a morpholino antisense oligonucleotide, CAG25, that binds to CUGexp RNA and blocks its interaction with muscleblind-like 1 (MBNL1), a CUGexp-binding protein. CAG25 disperses nuclear foci of CUGexp RNA and reduces the overall burden of this toxic RNA. As MBNL1 is released from sequestration, the defect of alternative splicing regulation is corrected, thereby restoring ion channel function. These findings suggest an alternative use of antisense methods, to inhibit deleterious interactions of proteins with pathogenic RNAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A confocal technology based on polycapillary X-ray optics is proposed to perform three-dimensional energy-dispersive micro X-ray diffraction. A three-dimensional energy-dispersive micro X-ray diffractometer based on a polycapillary focusing X-ray lens (PFXRL) in the excitation channel and a polycapillary parallel X-ray lens (PPXRL) in the detection channel has been designed. At , the lateral resolution of this diffractometer is 49.7  49.9 at 7.5 keV, and its depth resolution is 48.1 at 8.0 keV. The total resolution of this diffractometer in is 6.5% at 6.4 keV and . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the protective properties of carbon nanoparticles for aptamers against the digestion of nuclease, we have developed a nucleaseassisted target recycling signal amplification method for highly sensitive detection of biomolecules, such as ATP and kanamycin. The high binding specificity between aptamers and targets leads to excellent selectivity of the assay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One-dimensional metallodielectric heterostructural photonic band gap (PBG) material is designed to reach high transmittance band in short wavelength, broad and deep forbidden band in long wavelength, especially sharp cutoff edge between the transmission and forbidden bands. The designed PBG material is applied to modify the emission spectrum of a BaF2 scintillator and is proved to be adequate to suppress the slow component of the scintillation light. The suppression ratio of the slow to the fast component reaches 28 dB with a tolerable attenuation of the fast component. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]