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The surface activities and application properties for the mixtures of cationic surfactants tetramethylene-1,4-bis[ N , N -bis(hydroxypropyl)-hexa/decyloxypropylammonium] bromide (GC 10 -P) and tetramethylene-1,4-bis[ N , N -bis(hydroxyethyl)-hexa/decyloxypropylammonium] bromide (GC 10 -E) and anionic surfactant isomeric sodium fatty alcohol ether sulfates (iso-AE 9 S) were investigated using both the tensiometry and the conductometry. The interaction parameters and thermodynamic micellization parameters of GC 10 -P/iso-AE 9 S and GC 10 -E/iso-AE 9 S mixtures were evaluated by Clint-Rubingh and Motomura theoretical models. When the mole fraction of α 1 for GC 10 -P/iso-AE 9 S mixed system was 0.2, the critical micelle concentration (CMC) reached a minimum of 1.61 × 10 -4 mol/L, and the minimum critical micelle concentration of the GC 10 -E/iso-AE 9 S mixed system is 2.67 × 10 -5 mol/L at α 1 = 0.6. The CMC value of the mixed system is 1-2 orders of magnitude lower than that of any single component. The results indicate that the synergistic effects of the investigated mixed systems (evaluated by β m ) are in order of GC 10 -P/iso-AE 9 S < GC 10 -E/iso-AE 9 S, with maximum β m values of -17.98 and -9.78, respectively. The change in zeta potential indicates that the poly(ethylene oxide) chain has weakened the charge density of the hydrophilic headgroup of the anionic surfactant. The interfacial tension at the oil-water interface in the mixed system of anionic/cationic surfactants is lower than that of any single component, exhibiting a higher interfacial activity. The mixed system exhibits a decreased contact angle and superior wetting ability over any single component, and it also enhances foam performance, emulsification performance, and degreasing performance.

Objective: To investigate the clinical characteristics and risk factors of nosocomial infection in patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), in order to guide better clinical prevention and treatment of nosocomial infection., Methods: The incidence of nosocomial infection, infection site, characteristics of pathogenic bacteria, drug sensitivity test results and infection risk factors of 472 non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients admitted to the Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University from January 2015 to September 2020 were retrospectively analyzed., Results: Among the 472 patients, 97 (20.6%) had nosocomial infection, mainly in the lower respiratory tract (41.2%), followed by oral cavity, upper respiratory tract, urogenital tract, and blood. A total of 71 strains of pathogenic bacteria were isolated, including Gram-negative (G - ) bacteria (52.1%), Gram-positive (G + ) bacteria (28.2%), and fungi (19.7%). The detection rate of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBLs) in Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli was 36.4% and 22.2%, respectively. The resistance rate of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to carbapenems (imipenem) in G- bacteria was 33.3%, while the sensitivity rate of other G- bacteria was 100%. Among the 7 strains of Staphylococcus aureus, 1 strain was found to be methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and the sensitivity of G + bacteria to linezolid, tigecyclinetegacycline and vancomycin was 100%. Candida albicans was the main source of fungal infection. Univariate analysis showed that nosocomial infection was associated with hospital day, bone marrow involvement, clinical stage, chemotherapy, neutrophil count in peripheral blood, and lymphoma type. Multivariable Logistic regression model showed that hospital days ≤7 was the protective factor of nosocomial infection, while clinical stage (Ⅲ, Ⅳ period), tumor involving bone marrow, and peripheral blood neutrophil count <0.5×10 9 /L were major risk factors., Conclusion: NHL patients show high nosocomial infection rate and lower respiratory tract infection is common. Hospital day, clinical stage, presence of bone marrow invasion, and neutrophil count in peripheral blood are independent risk factors.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common malignancy globally. The aim of the present study was to explore the role and the working mechanism of circular RNA NADPH oxidase 4 (circNOX4; circBase ID, hsa&#95;circ&#95;0023990) in CRC. Reverse transcription‑quantitative (RT‑q)PCR was used to examine the expression of circNOX4, NOX4 mRNA and microRNA (miR)‑485‑5p in CRC tissues and cell lines. 3‑(4,5‑Dimethylthiazol‑2‑yl)‑2,5‑diphenyltetrazolium bromide and Transwell assays were performed to analyze CRC cell viability and motility. The glycolytic ability of CRC cells was assessed by measuring glucose consumption, lactate production, extracellular acidification and O2 consumption rates using commercial kits. The starBase database was used to predict the targets of circNOX4 and miR‑485‑5p, and the interaction was confirmed by dual‑luciferase reporter and RNA immunoprecipitation assays. A murine xenograft model was established to verify the role of circNOX4 in CRC in vivo. The results demonstrated that the expression of circNOX4 was upregulated in CRC tissues and cell lines compared with that in adjacent normal tissues and a normal colon epithelial cell line, respectively. The expression of circNOX4 was negatively associated with the prognosis of patients with CRC. CircNOX4 silencing suppressed the proliferation, migration, invasion and glycolysis of CRC cells. miR‑485‑5p was identified as a target of circNOX4. CircNOX4 promoted CRC progression by sponging miR‑485‑5p. miR‑485‑5p was demonstrated to bind to the 3' untranslated region (UTR) of CDC28 protein kinase regulatory subunit 1B (CKS1B). miR‑485‑5p overexpression‑mediated malignant properties of CRC cells were partly reversed by the transfection with the CKS1B overexpression plasmid. CircNOX4 silencing restrained the CRC xenograft growth in vivo. Collectively, the results of the present study demonstrated that circNOX4 may serve an oncogenic role in CRC by promoting the proliferation, migration, invasion and glycolysis of CRC cells via the miR‑485‑5p/CKS1B axis.

Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) plays important roles in modulating innate immunity. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic and complex disease that is characterized by impaired insulin resistance and dysregulated immune response. In the current study, we investigated whether TLR4 polymorphisms were correlated with susceptibility to T2DM in the Chinese population. Four TLR4 polymorphisms (-2431T/C, Asp299Gly, Thr399Il3, and +3725G/C) were genotyped in 936 T2DM patients and 978 healthy controls. Results showed that the prevalence of TLR4 +3725GC and CC genotypes was significantly decreased in T2DM cases than those in controls [odds ratio (OR) = 0.68, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.55-0.84, p = 0.0003, and OR=0.46, 95% CI = 0.32-0.67, p = 3.71 × 10(-5) , respectively). Also, the frequency of TLR4 +3725C allele was significantly lower in T2DM patients (p = 2.50 × 10(-8) ). The -2431T/C did not reveal any significant differences between cases and controls. We did not detect Asp299Gly and Thr399Il3 polymorphisms in our study group. Stratification analysis of the clinical features in the patients demonstrated that frequency of +3725CC genotype was lower in patients older than 50 years old (p = 0.047). In conclusion, these results indicate that TLR4 +3725G/C polymorphism may be a novel protective factor against T2DM in the Chinese population., (© 2012 APMIS. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

We report the observation of longitudinally uniform plasma waveguide with a controlled length of up to nearly 5 mm, in argon clustered gas jet. This self-channeling plasma is obtained using a 35 mJ, 30 fs FWHM pulse as a pump laser pulse to create the plasma channel. A 1 mJ pulse of the same laser is used for probing the plasma channels using interferometric diagnostics. The radial distribution of the electron density confirms the formation of a plasma waveguide. Clustered argon enhances the absorption efficiency of femtosecond pulses which enables the use of pump pulses of only 35 mJ, approximately 10 times less energy than required for heating conventional gas targets. The plasma channel length is controlled by the laser focus point (F), the laser intensity (I), the pump-probe delay time (t) and the laser height from a nozzle (z). The variation of the electron density for these parameters is also studied. We found that the highest density of 1.2 x 10(19) cm(-3) was obtained at I = 5.2 x 10(16) W/cm(2), z = 2 mm and t = 7.6 ns. It was demonstrated that by using a clustered jet, both the plasma waveguide length and the plasma density could be controlled., (© 2011 Optical Society of America)

Background: Mechanical stress plays a crucial role in tissue morphogenesis and remodeling. These processes depend in part on force transmission mediated through integrins and the cytoskeleton., Methods: Ventricular myocytes isolated from neonatal Sprague-Dawley rats (NRVMs) were exposed to persistent centrifugal force stretch for 12 or 24 h. The NRVMs were exposed to colchicine (4 micromol/ml) and anti-integrin beta1 specific antibody (10 microg/ml). Cell viability was assessed by MTT assay and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity. Incorporation of 3H-leucine, and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and angiotensin II (Ang II) levels were assessed. Pixel intensity and distribution of the microtubule were estimated from laser scanning confocal images., Results: Changes in LDH release and the MTT assay showed that 180 rpm. centrifugal force had minimal effect on the viability and number of NRVMs. Mechanical stretch significantly increased 3H-leucine incorporation into cardiomyocytes. Anti-integrin beta1 blocking antibody effectively inhibited the increase in 3H-leucine incorporation and release of ANP (p < 0.05). Following anti-integrin-beta1-blocking antibody, the pixel intensity of the microtubule image was decreased after both12 and 24 h stretch, this was similar to the effect of colchicine. Both treatments also inhibited the secretion of Ang II induced by stretch (p < 0.05)., Conclusions: Anti-integrin-beta1-blocking antibody and colchicine had similar effects, partly inhibiting the stretch-induced increase in microtubule polymerization and the secretion of Ang II in hypertrophic cardiac myocytes.

Objective: To explore the mechanism of the effect of chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH), an important pathophysiological state of sleep apnea syndrome (SAS), on cardiovascular system., Methods: Thirty male ICR mice were divided into three groups: an experimental group, an air mimic control group and a blank control group. Immunohistochemistry was used to examine the expression of hypoxia inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS-2) in the myocardial cells. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure the plasma concentration of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and endothelin-1 (ET-1)., Results: The expression of HIF-1alpha in myocardial cells of the experimental group significantly increased compared with that of the air mimic control group (t = 3.54, P < 0.05), and that of the blank control group (t = 2.92, P < 0.05). The expression of HIF-1alpha in myocardial cells of the air mimic control group was not significantly different from that of the blank control group (P > 0.05). The plasma concentration of VEGF of the experimental group [(9.57 +/- 1.41) ng/ml] was significantly higher than that of the blank control group [(8.10 +/- 0.62) ng/ml, q = 4.27, P < 0.05], and that of the air mimic control group [(8.32 +/- 0.99) ng/ml, q = 3.64, P < 0.05]. While the plasma concentration of ET-1 of the experimental group [(3.31 +/- 0.81) ng/ml] was significantly higher than that of the blank control group [(2.50 +/- 0.72) ng/ml, q = 3.64, P < 0.05], it was not significantly different from that of the air mimic control group [(2.69 +/- 0.43) ng/ml, P > 0.05]. There was no significant difference between the expression of NOS-2 in myocardial cells of all groups (P > 0.05)., Conclusion: CIH enhances the expression of HIF-1alpha and its target gene products VEGF and ET-1, and therefore affects the cardiovascular system.