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An ultrasensitive and selective voltammetric platform combined a molecularly imprinted poly(pyrrole) membrane with Ag-nanoparticle-functionalized black phosphorus nanosheets (MIP/BPNS-AgNPs) was developed for trace GAT detection. The physicochemical properties of the MIP/BPNS-AgNPs were studied by various spectroscopic and electrochemical techniques. BPNS-AgNPs improved the ambient stability and electrochemical activity of the BPNS and possessed a large surface area for accommodating abundant templates to produce specific imprinted sites. The resulting MIP/BPNS-AgNP-modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) greatly enhanced voltammetric responses for GAT. The MIP/BPNS-AgNP/GCE exhibited admirable GAT determination performance, with two linear responses (0.001-1 and 1-50 μM), high sensitivity (9.965 and 0.5378 μA μM -1 ), and a low detection limit of 0.2 nM. In addition, the MIP electrode could selectively detect GAT in complex matrices and retain roust responses for a month. The applicability of MIP/BPNS-AgNP/GCE toward the detection of GAT in pharmaceutical formulations, milk, and human serum was verified with satisfactory results., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Authors.)

Bone marrow fibrosis (BMF) of unknown etiology was common in hematological malignancies, but its prognostic value for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is unclear. We interrogated data from 532 newly diagnosed subjects with AML receiving allogeneic hematological stem cell transplantation to evaluate the prognostic impact of BMF on transplant outcomes. Using the European consensus on the grading of BMF at diagnosis, 255 (48%) subjects were BMF-0, 209 (39%), BMF-1 and 68 (13%), BMF-2-3. Subjects with BMF-2-3 had poor overall survival (P < 0.001), disease-free survival (P < 0.001) and a higher incidence of relapse (CIR, P < 0.001). Multi-variable analyses in subjects achieving pre-transplant complete remission showed BMF-2-3 was an independent risk factor for CIR (Hazard Ratio [HR] = 2.17, (95% CI, 1.11, 4,24); P = 0.02). Furthermore, BMF-2-3 group showed delayed neutrophil and platelet engraftment and delayed B cell recovery post-transplantation. These findings demonstrate the significance of BMF in transplant outcomes and attract more attention to AML with BMF., Competing Interests: Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests. Ethics approval and consent to participate: All cases were included in the National Longitudinal Cohort of Hematological Diseases (NICHE, NCT04645199) which was approved by the Ethics Committee of IHCAMS. All patients provided informed consent for clinical information for scientific research at the time of first admission. Consent for publication: All the authors consent for publication., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The Sysmex XN series haematopoietic progenitor cell (XN-HPC) is a novel tool for assessing stem cell yield before allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. This study aimed to establish a reference interval (RI) for XN-HPC in peripheral blood allogeneic transplant donors following granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) stimulation and determine its clinical significance. All specimens were analysed using Sysmex XN-20. Samples were collected and analysed using non-parametric percentile methods to define the RIs. Quantile regression was used to explore the dependency of the RIs on sex and age. Samples were included in clinical decision limits for apheresis based on receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. The non-parametrically estimated RI for XN-HPC was 623.50 (90% confidence interval [CI90%] 510.00-657.00) to 4,144.28 (CI90% 3,761.00-4,547.00). The RIs for the XN-HPC were not age-dependent but were sex-dependent. The RI for males was 648.40 (CI90% 582.00-709.00)-4,502.60 (CI90% 4,046.00-5,219.00) and for females was 490.90 (CI90% 311.00-652.00)-3,096.90 (CI90% 2,749.00-3,782.00). Comparisons based on XN-HPC values between the poor and less-than-optimal groups, good and less-than-optimal groups, and good and non-good groups had areas under the curve of 0.794 (P < 0.001), 0.768 (P < 0.001), and 0.806 (P < 0.001), respectively, indicating a good predictive value for mobilisation effectiveness. XN-HPC data exceeding 3974 × 10 6 /L suggested that a sufficient number of stem cells could be collected clinically. Values > 5318 < 10 6 /L indicated 100% mobilisation effectiveness. We established an RI for XN-HPC in peripheral blood allogeneic transplant donors following G-CSF stimulation and determined clinical decision thresholds for mobilisation efficiency., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Disease recurrence is the leading cause of treatment failure in patients with RUNX1::RUNXT1-positive acute myeloid leukemia (AML) after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). Post-transplant maintenance therapy, guided by monitoring minimal residual disease (MRD), is commonly administered; however, relapse rates remain high. This prospective study aimed to assess the effectiveness and safety of epigenetic agents as prophylactic therapy in patients with RUNX1::RUNXT1-positive AML. Thirty high-risk patients received prophylactic therapy (n = 17 and n = 13 in the chidamide and AZA groups, respectively) between January 2019 and July 2023. 34 high-risk patients who received preemptive treatment due to molecular relapse were included in the analysis. The two-year relapse-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) were significantly higher in the prophylactic group compared to the preemptive group (82.82% vs. 51.38%, P = 0.014; 86.42% vs. 56.16%, P = 0.025, respectively); 2-year cumulative incidence of relapse rates were 13.8% and 36.40%, respectively (P = 0.037). In conclusion, prophylactic therapy with epigenetic agents may improve long-term prognosis and is well-tolerated in patients with RUNX1::RUNXT1-positive high-risk AML. Timely post-transplant prophylactic therapy may be more effective than preemptive therapy based on positive MRD results., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Wilms tumor 1 (WT1) gene mutations are infrequent in myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), but MDS with WT1 mutations (WT1 mut ) is considered high risk for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) transformation. The influence of WT1 mutations in patients with MDS after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) is unclear. We performed a retrospective analysis of 136 MDS with excess blasts 2 (MDS-EB2) patients with available WT1 status who underwent their first allo-HSCT between 2017 and 2022 in our center. There were 20 (20/136, 15%) cases in the WT1 mut group and 116 (116/136, 85%) cases in the WT1 wild-type (WT1 wt ) group. WT1 mut patients had a higher 2-year cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR) than WT1 wt cases (26.2% vs. 9.4%, p = 0.037) after allo-HSCT. Multivariate analysis of relapse showed that WT1 mutations (HR, 6.0; p = 0.002), TP53 mutations (HR, 4.2; p = 0.021), and ≥ 5% blasts in bone marrow (BM) at transplantation (HR, 6.6; p = 0.004) were independent risk factors for relapse. Patients were stratified into three groups according to the risk factors. Two-year CIR differed significantly in high-, intermediate-, and low-risk groups (31.8%, 11.6%, and 0%, respectively). Hence, WT1 mutations may be related to post-transplant relapse in patients with MDS-EB2, which warrants further study., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

The overuse of pefloxacin (PEF) leaves residues in foods. Therefore, the development of robust analytical techniques for the selective detection of PEF is of great importance. In this study, a highly stable electrochemical sensing platform has been constructed, using molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP)-coated gold nanoparticle/black phosphorus nanocomposites (BPNS-AuNPs), for the selective detection of PEF. BPNS-AuNPs significantly enhance the black phosphorus (BP) stability and electrochemical activity and offer a larger surface area to accommodate more imprinted sites for selective PEF binding. MIP/BPNS-AuNPs exhibit a broad linear detection range (0.005-10 μM), low detection limit (0.80 nM), and high sensitivity (3.199 μA μM -1 ). The MIP/BPNS-AuNPs show a high binding affinity for PEF, even in the presence of structural analogs, and maintain stable voltammetric signals for at least 35 d. The MIP sensor exhibits consistent high sensitivity in the detection of PEF in real milk and orange juice samples., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T - ALL)/T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma (T-LBL) is an uncommon but highly aggressive hematological malignancy. It has high recurrence and mortality rates and is challenging to treat. This study conducted bioinformatics analyses, compared genetic expression profiles of healthy controls with patients having T-ALL/T-LBL, and verified the results through serological indicators. Data were acquired from the GSE48558 dataset from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). T-ALL patients and normal T cells-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were investigated using the online analysis tool GEO2R in GEO, identifying 78 upregulated and 130 downregulated genes. Gene Ontology (GO) and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analyses of the top 10 DEGs showed enrichment in pathways linked to abnormal mitotic cell cycles, chromosomal instability, dysfunction of inflammatory mediators, and functional defects in T-cells, natural killer (NK) cells, and immune checkpoints. The DEGs were then validated by examining blood indices in samples obtained from patients, comparing the T-ALL/T-LBL group with the control group. Significant differences were observed in the levels of various blood components between T-ALL and T-LBL patients. These components include neutrophils, lymphocyte percentage, hemoglobin (HGB), total protein, globulin, erythropoietin (EPO) levels, thrombin time (TT), D-dimer (DD), and C-reactive protein (CRP). Additionally, there were significant differences in peripheral blood leukocyte count, absolute lymphocyte count, creatinine, cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, folate, and thrombin times. The genes and pathways associated with T-LBL/T-ALL were identified, and peripheral blood HGB, EPO, TT, DD, and CRP were key molecular markers. This will assist the diagnosis of T-ALL/T-LBL, with applications for differential diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Ren, Liang, Huang, Miao, Li, Qiang, Wu, Qi, Li, Xia, Huang, Wang, Kong, Zhou, Zhang and Zhu.)

Background: The quality and quantity of hematopoietic stem cells in apheresis products are essential to the success of peripheral blood hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (PB-HSCT). While the flow cytometry measurement of CD34+ cells as a golden standard for stem cell count is labor and cost-intensive, hematopoietic progenitor cell number evaluated by XN Sysmex series automated hematology analyzers (XN-HPC) is suggested as a surrogate marker., Materials and Methods: We evaluated the correlation and consistency of XN-HPC and CD34+ cell count in apheresis samples from both allogeneic donors and autologous patients during PB-HSCT., Results: Good correlation and consistency were observed between XN-HPC and CD34+ cell counts in harvests collected from healthy donors (R = .852) rather than autologous patients (R = .375). Subgroup analysis showed that the correlation was especially poor when autologous patients used plerixafor as an additional mobilizer or were diagnosed with multiple myeloma (MM). In the setting of allogeneic transplantation, the correlation coefficients were even better in samples from non-first-round apheresis (R = .951), with high white blood cell (WBC) counts (R = .941), or having successful engraftment within 2 weeks (R = .895). ROC analysis suggested that an optimal XN-HPC count of 1127 × 10 6 /L best predicted a sufficient yield of CD34 + stem cells, with diagnostic sensitivity and specificity being 92% and 72%, respectively (AUC = 0.852)., Conclusions: XN-HPC is a sufficient quantitative marker for stem cell assessment of harvest yield in allogeneic but not autologous HSCT., (© 2023 AABB.)

Introduction: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a common autoimmune disease with unknown etiology. Recently, a growing number of evidence suggested that mitochondrial dysfunctions played active roles in the pathogenesis of SLE, but its detailed mechanism remains largely undetermined. The aim of this study was to analyze the frequencies of mitochondrial tRNA (mt-tRNA) variants in Chinese individuals with SLE., Methods: We carried out a mutational screening of mt-tRNA variants in a cohort of 200 patients with SLE and 200 control subjects by PCR-Sanger sequencing. The potential pathogenicity of mt-tRNA variants was evaluated by phylogenetic conservation and haplogroup analyses. In addition, trans-mitochondrial cybrid cell lines were established, and mitochondrial functions including ATP, reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and mt-RNA transcription were analyzed in cybrids with and without these putative pathogenic mt-tRNA variants., Results: We identified five possible pathogenic variants: tRNAVal G1606A, tRNALeu(UUR) A3243G, tRNAIle A4295G, tRNAGly T9997C, and tRNAThr A15924G that only found in SLE patients but were absent in controls. Interestingly, these variants were located at extremely conserved nucleotides of the corresponding tRNAs and may alter tRNAs' structure and function. Furthermore, cells carrying these tRNA variants had much lower levels of ATP, mtDNA copy number, MMP, and SOD than controls; by contrast, the levels of ROS increased significantly (p < 0.05 for all). Furthermore, a significant reduction in mt-ND1, ND2, ND3, ND5, and A6 mRNA expression was observed in cells with these mt-tRNA variants, while compared with controls. Thus, failures in tRNA metabolism caused by these variants would impair mitochondrial translation and subsequently lead to mitochondrial dysfunction that was involved in the progression and pathogenesis of SLE., Conclusions: Our study suggested that mt-tRNA variants were important causes for SLE, and screening for mt-tRNA pathogenic variants was recommended for early detection and prevention for this disorder., (© 2024 The Author(s). Published by S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Polyphenols, also known as phenolic compounds, are chemical substances containing aromatic rings as well as at least two hydroxyl groups. Natural phenolic compounds exist widely in plants, which protect plants from ultraviolet radiation and other insults. Phenolic compounds have superior pharmacological and nutritional properties (antimicrobial, antibacterial, antiviral, anti-sclerosis, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities), which have been paid more and more attention by the scientific community. Phenols can protect key cellular components from reactive free radical damage, which is mainly due to their property to activate antioxidant enzymes and alleviate oxidative stress and inflammation. It can also inhibit or isolate reactive oxygen species and transfer electrons to free radicals, thereby avoiding cell damage. It has a regulatory role in glucose metabolism, which has a promising prospect in the prevention and intervention of diabetes. It also prevents cardiovascular disease by regulating blood pressure and blood lipids. Polyphenols can inhibit cell proliferation by affecting Erk1/2, CDK, and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways. Polyphenols can function as enhancers of intrinsic defense systems, including superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX). Simultaneously, they can modulate multiple proteins and transcription factors, making them promising candidates in the investigation of anti-cancer medications. This review focuses on multiple aspects of phenolic substances, including their natural origins, production process, disinfection activity, oxidative and anti-inflammatory functions, and the effects of different phenolic substances on tumors., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Limited numbers of available hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) limit the widespread use of HSC-based therapies. Expansion systems for functional heterogenous HSCs remain to be optimized. Here, we present a convenient strategy for human HSC expansion based on a biomimetic Microniche. After demonstrating the expansion of HSC from different sources, we find that our Microniche-based system expands the therapeutically attractive megakaryocyte-biased HSC. We demonstrate scalable HSC expansion by applying this strategy in a stirred bioreactor. Moreover, we identify that the functional human megakaryocyte-biased HSCs are enriched in the CD34 + CD38 - CD45RA-CD90 + CD49f  low CD62L - CD133 + subpopulation. Specifically, the expansion of megakaryocyte-biased HSCs is supported by a biomimetic niche-like microenvironment, which generates a suitable cytokine milieu and supplies the appropriate physical scaffolding. Thus, beyond clarifying the existence and immuno-phenotype of human megakaryocyte-biased HSC, our study demonstrates a flexible human HSC expansion strategy that could help realize the strong clinical promise of HSC-based therapies., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Objectives: Sysmex® XN series hematopoietic progenitor cell (XN-HPC) is a sensitive, fast, and economic analytical method for predicting the yields of peripheral blood stem cell enumeration and products, and does not require a sophisticated or expensive workflow. However, various studies have shown that the characteristics of its diagnostic performance were non-uniform., Methods: We performed a systematic inquiry using PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library, to comprehensively search for studies published before November 21, 2021. The pooled specificity (SPE), sensitivity (SEN), negative likelihood ratio (NLR), positive likelihood ratio (PLR), diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were summarized to appraise the diagnostic merit of XN-HPC. A forest plot was used to research the sensitivities and specificities of XN-HPC performance. Subgroup analysis was performed to investigate heterogeneity where of importance., Results: Our research included four studies that assessed the diagnostic performance of XN-HPC in hematopoietic progenitor cell collection. The pooled accuracy was 95.4% (95% CI, 94.3-96.3), SPE was 0.81 (95% CI, 0.71-0.88), SEN was 0.95 (95% CI, 0.75-0.99), NLR was 0.06 (95% CI, 0.01-0.37), PLR was 5.0 (95% CI, 3.0-8.5), DOR was 78 (95% CI, 9-707) and the summary of the area under the ROC was 0.90 (95% CI, 0.87-0.92). Forest plot of sensitivities and specificities from XN-HPC test accuracy studies indicated the existence of high heterogeneity. We deduced that the patients were the source of heterogeneity via subgroup analysis., Conclusions: XN-HPC is an excellent diagnostic marker for quantitative detection of peripheral blood hematopoietic progenitor cells.

Herein we present a facile synthesis of the graphene oxide-decorated binary transition metal oxides of Bi 2 O 3 and MnO 2 nanocomposites (Bi 2 O 3 /MnO 2 /GO) and their applications in the voltammetric detection of lead ions (Pb 2+ ) in water samples. The surface morphologies, crystal structures, electroactive surface area, and charge transferred resistance of the Bi 2 O 3 /MnO 2 /GO nanocomposites were investigated through the scanning electron microscopy (SEM), power X-ray diffraction (XRD), cyclic voltammetry (CV), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) techniques, respectively. The Bi 2 O 3 /MnO 2 /GO nanocomposites were further decorated onto the surface of a glassy carbon electrode (GCE), and Pb 2+ was quantitatively analyzed by using square-wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV). We explored the effect of the analytical parameters, including deposition potential, deposition time, and solution pH, on the stripping peak current of Pb 2+ . The Bi 2 O 3 /MnO 2 /GO nanocomposites enlarged the electroactive surface area and reduced the charge transferred resistance by significant amounts. Moreover, the synergistic enhancement effect of MnO 2 , Bi 2 O 3 and GO endowed Bi 2 O 3 /MnO 2 /GO/GCE with extraordinary electrocatalytic activity toward Pb 2+ stripping. Under optimal conditions, the Bi 2 O 3 /MnO 2 /GO/GCE showed a broad linear detection range (0.01-10 μM) toward Pb 2+ detection, with a low limit of detection (LOD, 2.0 nM). The proposed Bi 2 O 3 /MnO 2 /GO/GCE electrode achieved an accurate detection of Pb 2+ in water with good recoveries (95.5-105%).

In this article, a continuous-time complex-valued projection neural network (CCPNN) in a matrix state space is first proposed for a general complex-variable basis pursuit problem. The proposed CCPNN is proved to be stable in the sense of Lyapunov and to be globally convergent to the optimal solution under the condition that the sensing matrix is not row full rank. Furthermore, an improved discrete-time complex projection neural network (IDCPNN) is proposed by discretizing the CCPNN model. The proposed IDCPNN consists of a two-step stop strategy to reduce the calculational cost. The proposed IDCPNN is theoretically guaranteed to be global convergent to the optimal solution. Finally, the proposed IDCPNN is applied to the reconstruction of sparse signals based on compressed sensing. Computed results show that the proposed IDCPNN is superior to related complex-valued neural networks and conventional basis pursuit algorithms in terms of solution quality and computation time.

In this paper, we present a theory of smooth stable manifold for the non-instantaneous impulsive differential equations on the Banach space or Hilbert space. Assume that the non-instantaneous linear impulsive evolution differential equation admits a uniform exponential dichotomy, we give the conditions of the existence of the global and local stable manifolds. Furthermore, C k -smoothness of the stable manifold is obtained, and the periodicity of the stable manifold is given. Finally, an application to nonlinear Duffing oscillators with non-instantaneous impulsive effects is given, to demonstrate the existence of stable manifold., Competing Interests: We declare we have no competing interests., (© 2022 The Authors.)

Background: In recent years, B-cell dysfunction has been found to play an important role in the pathogenesis of primary nephrotic syndrome (PNS). B cells play a pathogenic role by secreting antibodies against their target antigens after transforming into plasma cells. Therefore, this study aimed to screen the autoantibodies that cause PNS and explore their pathogenic mechanisms., Methods: Western blotting and mass spectrometry were employed to screen and identify autoantibodies against podocytes in children with PNS. Both in vivo and in vitro experiments were used to study the pathogenic mechanism of PNS. The results were confirmed in a large multicenter clinical study in children., Results: Annexin A 2 autoantibody was highly expressed in children with PNS with a pathological type of minimal change disease (MCD) or focal segmental glomerulosclerosis without genetic factors. The mouse model showed that anti-Annexin A 2 antibody could induce proteinuria in vivo . Mechanistically, the effect of Annexin A 2 antibody on the Rho signaling pathway was realized through promoting the phosphorylation of Annexin A 2 at Tyr24 on podocytes by reducing its binding to PTP1B, which led to the cytoskeletal rearrangement and damage of podocytes, eventually causing proteinuria and PNS., Conclusions: Annexin A 2 autoantibody may be responsible for some cases of PNS with MCD/FSGS in children., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at https://dx.doi.org/10.21037/atm-21-3988). The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (2021 Annals of Translational Medicine. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: In patients requiring percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) for painful cervical spine metastases (PCSMs), the surgical approach is of utmost importance. Anterolateral and transoral routes are generally used at present, whereas PKP as well as percutaneous pediculoplasty (PPP) via posterolateral transpedicular approach (PTPA) has yet to be pursued in the treatment of PCSMs. The study was designed to evaluate safety and efficacy of PKP procedures combined with PPP via PTPA as treatment of PCSMs., Patients and Methods: The patients with PCSMs were enrolled and housed in a database. The pain intensity of enrolled patients was gauged by Visual Analog Scale (VAS), ranging from 0 (none) to 10 (extreme). After preprocedural imaging assessment, combined PKP/PPP via PTPA was performed under the guidance of CT and fluoroscopic monitoring. Postprocedural VAS scores, complications, cement dosage, and hospitalization were recorded in the database for analysis. All cases were followed up for 6 months., Results: Adult enrollees (7 women, 4 men) with PCSMs successfully underwent PKP/PPP via PTPA between February 2019 and January 2020, injected with 3.7±0.7 mL (range, 2.5-4.8 mL) of cement on average. Other than a single instance of asymptomatic cement leakage into paravertebral soft tissues, no complications ensued. Significant analgesic effects observed 24 hours after procedures were sustained for up to 6 months in follow-up surveys. Postprocedural hospitalizations were as brief as 2.2±0.8 days., Conclusion: Combined PKP/PPP via PTPA is safe and effective as treatment of PCSMs, enabling quick pain relief and patient recovery., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (© 2021 Xia et al.)

Liver cancer is the second leading cause of cancer‑related deaths. Traditional therapeutic strategies, such as chemotherapy, targeted therapy and interventional therapy, are inefficient and are accompanied by severe side effects for patients with advanced liver cancer. Therefore, it is crucial to develop a safer more effective drug to treat liver cancer. Veratramine, a known natural steroidal alkaloid derived from plants of the lily family, exerts anticancer activity in vitro. However, the underlying mechanism and whether it has an antitumor effect in vivo remain unknown. In the present study, the data revealed that veratramine significantly inhibited HepG2 cell proliferation, migration and invasion in vitro. Moreover, it was revealed that veratramine induced autophagy‑mediated apoptosis by inhibiting the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway, which partly explained the underlying mechanism behind its antitumor activity. Notably, the results of in vivo experiments also revealed that veratramine treatment (2 mg/kg, 3 times a week for 4 weeks) significantly inhibited subcutaneous tumor growth of liver cancer cells, with a low systemic toxicity. Collectively, the results of the present study indicated that veratramine efficiently suppressed liver cancer HepG2 cell growth in vitro and in vivo by blocking the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway to induce autophagic cell death. Veratramine could be a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of liver cancer.

Four nanostructured MnO 2 with various controllable morphologies, including nanowires, nanorods, nanotubes and nanoflowers were synthesized, and then further composited with nitrogen-doped graphene (NG) with the assistance of ultrasonication. The surface morphologies, phase structures, and electrochemical performances of the proposed MnO 2 /NG nanohybrids were investigated by various techniques, and their catalytic activities on the electrooxidation of dopamine (DA) and uric acid (UA) were compared systematically. The sensing performances were found to be highly correlated with their morphologies. Among these morphologies, the nanoflower-like MnO 2 , composited with NG, displayed the most sensitive response signals for DA and UA. The boosted electrocatalytic activity was ascribed to the unique porous structure, large electroactive area, and low charge transfer resistance (R ct ), which facilitated the electron transfer between electrode and analytes. Two linear response ranges (0.1 μM-10 μM and 10 μM-100 μM) were accompanied with very low detection limits of 34 nM and 39 nM for DA and UA, respectively. Moreover, the successful application of the MnO 2 NFs/NG composites for the simultaneous detection of DA and UA in human serum was realized using second-derivative linear sweep voltammetry (SDLSV). These findings give valuable insights for understanding the morphology-dependent sensing properties of MnO 2 based nanomaterials, which is conducive to the rapid development of ubiquitous MnO 2 -based electrochemical sensors., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: With the rapid development of EEG-based wearable healthcare devices and brain-computer interfaces, reliable and user-friendly EEG sensors for EEG recording, especially at forehead sites, are highly desirable and challenging. However, existing EEG sensors cannot meet the requirements, since wet electrodes require tedious setup and conductive pastes or gels, and most dry electrodes show unacceptable high contact impedance. In addition, the existing electrodes cannot absorb sweat effectively; sweat would cause cross-interferences, and even short circuits, between adjacent electrodes, especially in the moving scenarios, or a hot and humid environment. To resolve these problems, a novel printable flexible Ag/AgCl dry electrode array was developed for EEG acquisition at forehead sites, mainly consisting of screen printing the Ag/AgCl coating, conductive sweat-absorbable sponges and flexible tines., Approach: A systematic method was also established to evaluate the flexible dry electrode array., Main Results: The experimental results show the flexible dry electrode array has reproducible electrode potential, relatively low electrode-skin impedance, and good stability. Moreover, the EEG signals can be effectively captured with a high quality that is comparable to that of wet electrodes., Significance: All the results confirmed the feasibility of forehead EEG recording in real-world scenarios using the proposed flexible dry electrode array, with a rapid and facile operation as well as the advantages of self-application, user-friendliness and wearer comfort.

Titania/electro-reduced graphene oxide nanohybrids (TiO 2 /ErGO) were synthesized by the hydrolysis of titanium sulfate in graphene oxide suspension and in situ electrochemical reduction. It provides a facile and efficient method to obtain nanohybrids with TiO 2 nanoparticles (TiO 2 NPs) uniformly coated by graphene nanoflakes. TiO 2 /ErGO nanohybrids were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, cyclic voltammogram, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy in detail. Compared with pure ErGO and TiO 2 NPs, TiO 2 /ErGO nanohybrids greatly enhanced the electrocatalytic activity and voltammetric response of Allura Red. In the concentration range of 0.5-5.0 μM, the anodic peak currents of Allura Red were linearly correlated to their concentrations. However, the linear relationship was changed to the semi-logarithmic relationship at a higher concentration region (5.0-800 μM). The detection limit (LOD) was 0.05 μM at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3. The superior sensing performances of the proposed sensor can be ascribed to the synergistic effect between TiO 2 NPs and ErGO, which provides a favorable microenvironment for the electrochemical oxidation of Allura Red. The proposed TiO 2 /ErGO/GCE showed good reproducibility and stability both in determination and in storage, and it can accurately detect the concentration of Allura Red in milk drinks, providing an efficient platform for the sensitive determination of Allura Red with high reliability, simplicity, and rapidness., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

In this study, we reported facile synthesis of Fe 3 O 4 /C composite and its application for the cost-effective and sensitive determination of tryptophan (Trp) in human serum samples. Fe 3 O 4 /C composites were prepared by a simple one-pot hydrothermal method followed by a mild calcination procedure, using FeCl 3 ∙6H 2 O as Fe 3 O 4 precursor, and glucose as reducing agent and carbon source simultaneously. The Fe 3 O 4 /C composite modified glassy carbon electrode (Fe 3 O 4 /C/GCE) was prepared by drop-casting method. The microstructure and morphology of Fe 3 O 4 /C composite was characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. Due to large specific surface area and synergistic effect from Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles and carbon coating, Fe 3 O 4 /C composite showed excellent electrocatalytic activity toward the oxidation of Trp. As a result, the proposed Fe 3 O 4 /C/GCE displayed superior analytical performances toward Trp determination, with two wide detection ranges (1.0-80 μM and 80-800 μM) and a low detection limit (0.26 μM, S/N = 3). Moreover, successful detection of Trp in human serum samples further validate the practicability of the proposed sensor.

This study reports facile synthesis of MnO 2 nanoflowers/N-doped reduced graphene oxide (MnO 2 NFs/NrGO) composite and its application on the simultaneous determination of dopamine (DA) and uric acid (UA). The microstructures, morphologies, and electrochemical performances of MnO 2 NFs/NrGO were studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), cyclic voltammetry (CV), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), respectively. The electrochemical experiments showed that the MnO 2 NFs/NrGO composites have the largest effective electroactive area and lowest charge transfer resistance. MnO 2 NFs/NrGO nanocomposites displayed superior catalytic capacity toward the electro-oxidation of DA and UA due to the synergistic effect from MnO 2 NFs and NrGO. The anodic peak currents of DA and UA increase linearly with their concentrations varying from 0.2 μM to 6.0 μM. However, the anodic peak currents of DA and UA are highly correlated to the Napierian logarithm of their concentrations ranging from 6.0 μM to 100 μM. The detection limits are 0.036 μM and 0.029 μM for DA and UA, respectively. Furthermore, the DA and UA levels of human serum samples were accurately detected by the proposed sensor. Combining with prominent advantages such as facile preparation, good sensitivity, and high selectivity, the proposed MnO 2 NFs/NrGO nanocomposites have become the most promising candidates for the simultaneous determination of DA and UA from various actual samples., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Various morphologies of iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe 2 O 3 NPs), including cubic, thorhombic and discal shapes were synthesized by a facile meta-ion mediated hydrothermal route. To further improve the electrochemical sensing properties, discal Fe 2 O 3 NPs with the highest electrocatalytic activity were coupled with graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets. The surface morphology, microstructures and electrochemical properties of the obtained Fe 2 O 3 NPs and Fe 2 O 3 /GO nanohybrids were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) techniques. As expected, the electrochemical performances were found to be highly related to morphology. The discal Fe 2 O 3 NPs coupled with GO showed remarkable electrocatalytic activity toward the oxidation of dopamine (DA) and uric acid (UA), due to their excellent synergistic effect. The electrochemical responses of both DA and UA were linear to their concentrations in the ranges of 0.02-10 μM and 10-100 μM, with very low limits of detection (LOD) of 3.2 nM and 2.5 nM for DA and UA, respectively. Moreover, the d-Fe 2 O 3 /GO nanohybrids showed good selectivity and reproducibility. The proposed d-Fe 2 O 3 /GO/GCE realized the simultaneous detection of DA and UA in human serum and urine samples with satisfactory recoveries.

We study theoretically and computationally the behavior of the classical and quantum parametrically periodically driven linear oscillator. As a basic paradigm of such a Floquet system we consider the case of the harmonic oscillation of the oscillator frequency, which is convenient to handle theoretically and computationally, while keeping the general features. We derive an explicit analytic formula for the quantum propagator in terms of the classical propagator. Using this, we derive the explicit exact formula for the evolution of the expectation value of the energy starting from an arbitrary normalizable initial state. In the case of the starting pure stationary eigenstate the evolution is exactly the same as for the classical microcanonical ensemble of initial conditions of the same starting energy. We perform a rather complete computational analysis of the system's behavior inside the instability regions (lacunae), where the energy of the oscillator increases exponentially, as well as in the stability regions, and in particular in the vicinity of the (in)stability borders. We confirm also numerically with absolute certainty that the borders of (in)stability regions classically and quantally coincide exactly, in accordance with the theory, which is an important check of the numerical accuracy of computations, and we find a number of important empirical results, especially an equation of the elliptic type describing the rate of exponential energy growth inside the lacunae in terms of other systems' quantities. We believe that our approach and findings are of generic linear type, i.e., applicable in most such linear Floquet systems, and we present a strong motivation for a general theory, classically and quantally.

Control and detection of sunset yellow is an utmost demanding issue, due to the presence of potential risks for human health if excessively consumed or added. Herein, cuprous oxide-electrochemically reduced graphene nanocomposite modified glassy carbon electrode (Cu₂O-ErGO/GCE) was developed for the determination of sunset yellow. The Cu₂O-ErGO/GCE was fabricated by drop-casting Cu₂O-GO dispersion on the GCE surface following a potentiostatic reduction of graphene oxide (GO). Scanning electron microscope and X-ray powder diffractometer was used to characterize the morphology and microstructure of the modification materials, such as Cu₂O nanoparticles and Cu₂O-ErGO nanocomposites. The electrochemical behavior of sunset yellow on the bare GCE, ErGO/GCE, and Cu₂O-ErGO/GCE were investigated by cyclic voltammetry and second-derivative linear sweep voltammetry, respectively. The analytical parameters (including pH value, sweep rate, and accumulation parameters) were explored systematically. The results show that the anodic peak currents of Cu₂O-ErGO /GCE are 25-fold higher than that of the bare GCE, due to the synergistic enhancement effect between Cu₂O nanoparticles and ErGO sheets. Under the optimum detection conditions, the anodic peak currents are well linear to the concentrations of sunset yellow, ranging from 2.0 × 10 -8 mol/L to 2.0 × 10 -5 mol/L and from 2.0 × 10 -5 mol/L to 1.0 × 10 -4 mol/L with a low limit of detection (S/N = 3, 6.0 × 10 -9 mol/L). Moreover, Cu₂O-ErGO/GCE was successfully used for the determination of sunset yellow in beverages and food with good recovery. This proposed Cu₂O-ErGO/GCE has an attractive prospect applications on the determination of sunset yellow in diverse real samples.

Distal renal tubular acidosis (dRTA) is characterized by metabolic acidosis due to uric acid dysfunction. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the genetic diagnosis of Chinese children with dRTA by whole-exome sequencing. From Jan. 2010 to Sept. 2015, 16 children with dRTA were recruited to investigate the possibility of genetic diagnosis and to examine any genotype-phenotype relationships in these patients. Sanger sequencing was used to confirm mutations identified by whole-exome sequencing. Clinical and biological features in the patients included hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis, impaired growth, hypokalemia, nephrocalcinosis, nephrolithiasis, hypercalciuria, hypocitraturia, and rickets or osteomalacia. Seventeen mutations in the solute carrier family 4 member 1 ( SLC4A1) , ATPase H+ transporting V0 subunit a4 (ATP6V0A4), ATPase H+ transporting V1 subunit B1 (ATP6V1B1), WNK lysine deficient protein kinase 1 (WNK1) and the claudin 16 ( CLDN16 ) were identified in 15 patients, and 14 of these mutations are novel. Only 1 patient was negative for any mutations. Our results demonstrate the existence of SLC4A1 , ATP6V1B1 , ATP6V0A4 , WNK1 and CLDN16 mutations in Chinese children with dRTA and indicate that compound heterozygosity at 2 or more different but related genes can be responsible for its pathogenesis. This study also indicates that whole-exome sequencing is a labor and cost-effective means of analyzing dRTA-associated genes., Competing Interests: None., (IJCEP Copyright © 2018.)

BACKGROUND The most appropriate management of Henoch-Schönlein Purpura (HSP) nephritis with nephrotic-range proteinuria remains uncertain. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical therapeutic effects of mycophenolate mofetil and low-dose steroid in Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis (HSPN) with nephrotic-range proteinuria and pathological classification less than IV in children. MATERIAL AND METHODS The clinical effects of MMF and low-dose steroid therapy were studied in children with Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis manifested with nephrotic-range proteinuria, normal kidney function, and <50% crescents or sclerosing lesions on renal biopsy. We enrolled 32 boys and 29 girls with nephrotic-range proteinuria, normal kidney function, and pathological classification less than IV on renal biopsy. We treated 41 cases (67.2%) with mycophenolate mofetil and low-dose prednisone combined therapy and 20 cases (32.8%) were treated with full-dose prednisone alone. RESULTS Short-term response was significantly different between 2 groups (χ²=4.371, P=0.037), while no significant difference was found in long-term prognosis (χ²=0.419, P=0.522) after follow-up. The ROC curve showed that the most appropriate cutoff value was 30.67 μg·h/ml for MPA-AUC and the area under the ROC curve was 0.731, with 85.2% sensitivity and 64.3% specificity. CONCLUSIONS Mycophenolate mofetil and low-dose prednisone combined therapy is a reasonable treatment choice which can promote the remission of proteinuria without increasing obvious adverse reactions in pediatric HSPN with nephrotic state and pathological classification less than grade IV. MPA-AUC more than 30 μg·h/ml was an appropriate value for MMF in the combined therapy with MMF and steroid for treating children with HSPN.

Elevated inflammatory markers are associated with poor outcomes in various types of cancers; however, their clinical significance in multiple myeloma (MM) have seldom been explored. This study investigated the prognostic relevance of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR) in MM. Totally 559 MM patients were included in this study. NLR, PLR and MLR were calculated from whole blood counts prior to therapy. Kaplan-Meier curves and multivariate Cox proportional models were used for the evaluation of the survival. It has shown that newly diagnosed MM patients were characterized by high NLR and MLR. Elevated NLR and MLR and decreased PLR were associated with unfavorable clinicobiological features. Applying cut-offs of 4 (NLR), 100 (PLR) and 0.3 (MLR), elevated NLR, MLR and decreased PLR showed a negative impact on outcome. Importantly, elevated NLR and decreased PLR were independent prognostic factors for progression-free survival. Thus, elevated NLR and MLR, and decreased PLR predict poor clinical outcome in MM patients and may serve as the cost-effective and readily available prognostic biomarkers.

Idiopathic retinal vasculitis, aneurysms, and neuroretinitis (IRVAN) syndrome is a disease characterized by multiple retinal macroaneurysms, neuroretinitis and peripheral capillary non-perfusion, leading to irreversible visual loss. It includes five stages and has previously been rarely reported. IRVAN syndrome is especially rare in Asia. In this report, we describe laser diagnosis and therapy in an Asian patient with IRVAN syndrome over two years of follow-up. We observed non-perfusion retina and dilated retinal capillaries in the contralateral eye. Photocoagulation is an effective therapy to control retinal macroaneurysms and nonperfusions and to prevent visual loss, particularly in the early stages of IRVAN syndrome (stages 2 & 3). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first long-term observation of photocoagulation in IRVAN syndrome. We discovered the early signs of such lesions, which may be beneficial for clinical diagnosis and therapy., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: The purpose of this study was to introduce a novel, simple and effective technique for creating a reliable rabbit model of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) via a combination of periaortic calcium chloride (CaCl2) and elastase incubation., Methods: Forty-eight New Zealand white rabbits were divided into four groups. The AAA model was developed via a 20-minute periaortic incubation of CaCl2 (0.5 mol/L) and elastase (1 Unit/µL) in a 1.5-cm aortic segment (Group CE). A single incubation of CaCl2 (Group C) or elastase (Group E) and a sham operation group (Sham Group) were used for the controls. Diameter was measured by serial digital subtraction angiography imaging on days 5, 15 and 30. Animals were sacrificed on day 5 and day 30 for histopathological and immunohistochemical studies., Results: All animals in Group CE developed aneurysm, with an average dilation ratio of 65.3% ± 8.9% on day 5, 86.5% ± 28.7% on day 15 and 203.6% ± 39.1% on day 30. No aneurysm was found in Group C, and only one aneurysm was seen on day 5 in Group E. Group CE exhibited less intima-media thickness, endothelial recovery, elastin and smooth muscle cell (SMC) content, but stronger expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2, matrix metalloproteinase-9 and RAM11 compared to the controls., Conclusions: The novel rabbit model of AAA created by using a combination of periaortic CaCl2 and elastase incubation is simple and effective to perform and is valuable for elucidating AAA mechanisms and therapeutic interventions in experimental studies.

Objectives: Familial steroid-sensitive idiopathic nephrotic syndrome is rare, and only approximately 3% of patients have affected siblings., Methods: Herein, we report seven cases of patients with steroid-sensitive idiopathic nephrotic syndrome from three Chinese families. Mutational screening of the Nphs2 gene was performed in all the patients., Results: All seven of the familial steroid-sensitive idiopathic nephrotic syndrome cases in our sample exhibited minimal change disease, and one case also presented with mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis, according to the renal pathology. No significant was associations were found between Nphs2 gene mutations and the onset of proteinuria and nephrotic syndrome in these familial cases., Conclusions: The presence of minimal change disease is important, but it is not an unusual finding in patients with familial steroid-sensitive idiopathic nephrotic syndrome, which appears to be clinically benign and genetically distinct from other types of nephrosis.

Background: Cyclosporine A (CsA) and tacrolimus (TAC) are often alternative treatment choices for patients with nephrotic syndrome., Methods: In this prospective study, the efficacy and safety of CsA and TAC in inducing and maintaining remission in 74 children with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS) were evaluated., Results: In terms of short-term efficacy, TAC was more effective than CsA in children with steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (χ(2) = 13.75, P = 0.001), although no significant difference in number of episodes of relapse were found in patients with complete remission between the two treatment groups (first year: χ(2) = 0.261, P = 0.88; second year: χ(2) = 2.685, P = 0.26). In patients with frequently relapsing or steroid-dependent nephrotic syndrome, no significant difference in short-term remission (χ(2) = 1.908, P = 0.39) or in relapse frequency during follow-up (within first year: χ(2) = 1.046, P = 0.59; within second year: χ(2) = 0.587, P = 0.75) were found between the two groups. There was a difference in the rate of adverse effects between the two treatment groups [nephrotoxicity: 4/24 (CsA) vs .0/50 (TAC), P = 0.002; hirsutism: 8/24 (CsA) vs. 0/50 (TAC), P < 0.001]., Conclusions: In our pediatric patient cohort, the treatment of steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome with tacrolimus was associated with higher efficacy and lower renal toxicity in comparison to CsA, although no favorable outcome in relapse rate during long-term follow-up was seen. On the other hand, tacrolimus was not always the better choice to replace CsA in the treatment of severe frequently relapsing or steroid-dependent nephrotic syndrome.

IgM nephropathy presents with refractory nephrotic syndrome and its treatment is a significant challenge for pediatricians. We present two patients with IgM nephropathy and frequently relapsing nephrotic syndrome treated with rituximab and subsequently mycophenolate mofetil. Both showed complete remission, which 24 to 30 months later, was still maintained. The role of mycophenolate mofetil therapy in maintaining remission after successful treatment of rituximab in IgM nephropathy needs to be examined.

Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) is one of the most common causes of systemic vasculitis in children. The incidence of HSP nephritis (HSPN) among HSP patients has been reported to be 15-62%. Even so, what constitutes severe HSPN is controversial. In the study reported here, we retrospectively reviewed the clinical features and prognosis of 101 children with HSPN, ISKDC grade IIIa/IIIb, from January 1992 to November 2008. Patients with isolated hematuria and/or proteinuria <50 mg/kg/day received triptolide alone, and those with nephrotic range proteinuria received a combination therapy of prednisone and triptolide. Nephrotic syndrome was the most common clinical manifestation (45.5%). There were no significant differences in the clinical features (χ(2) = 2.756, P = 0.252), the side effects related to treatment (χ(2) = 2.259, P = 0.894), prognosis between IIIa and IIIb (χ(2) = 3.013, P = 0.222), or prognosis in grade IIIa patients receiving triptolide alone or triptolide and prednisone (χ(2) = 1.207, P = 0.272) and grade IIIb patients (χ(2) = 1.158, P = 0.282). No significant difference in clinical manifestations and long-term prognosis of our HSPN patients with grade IIIa or grade IIIb were found, implying that our patients with International Study and Kidney Disease in Children (ISKDC) grade IIIb were not the most severe cases of HSPN. Our results may also suggest that treatment with steroid may not alter the clinical outcome of such grade IIIa or IIIb patients.

Purpose: To determine the efficacy of sirolimus-eluting bioabsorbable magnesium alloy stents (SEBMAS) in restenosis prevention., Methods: A balloon-expandable bioabsorbable magnesium alloy stent (BMAS) was created and coated with biodegradable poly(lactic acid-co-trimethylene carbonate) that contained the antiproliferative drug sirolimus (140 ± 40 µg/cm²). Both the uncoated BMAS and the coated SEBMAS were deployed 2 cm apart in balloon-injured infrarenal abdominal aortas of 20 New Zealand white rabbits. The stented aortic segments were removed at 30, 60, 90, and 120 days (5 rabbits per interval) after implantation. The average stent strut sectional area of each group was measured to evaluate the degree of magnesium corrosion and to forecast the biodegradation time profile of the magnesium stent. Histology and histopathology of the sectioned stented aortic segments were performed to evaluate neointima formation, endothelialization, and inflammation., Results: The SEBMAS degraded gradually after being implanted into the rabbit aorta, and total biocorrosion occurred after ~120 days. In all groups, the lumen area was significantly greater, but the neointimal area was significantly smaller in SEBMAS segments compared with the uncoated BMAS segments (p < 0.05) at all time points. There was no significant difference in the injury or inflammation scores between the groups. Endothelialization was delayed at 30 days in the SEBMAS segments vs. the uncoated BMAS segments., Conclusion: SEBMAS further reduces intimal hyperplasia and improves the lumen area when compared to uncoated BMAS; however, it delays vascular healing and endothelialization.

Aim: To compare the fluid management of hypernatraemic dehydration in acute gastroenteritis in those who developed cerebral oedema (cases) versus those who did not (controls)., Methods: A retrospective study of 97 cases of hypernatraemic dehydration at a tertiary children's hospital in China over five years, in which rehydration regimes of 49 children who developed cerebral oedema were compared with 48 children who made an uneventful recovery., Results: Risk factors for cerebral oedema (vs. no cerebral oedema) were an initial fluid bolus (29/49 vs. 15/48, P=0.006), the mean rate of bolus infusion (14.7+/-2.2 vs. 10.8+/-1.4 mL/kg/hr, P<0.001), the severity of hypernatraemia (serum sodium 167.7+/-7.8 vs. 161.3+/-7.9 mmol/L, P<0.001) and the overall rehydration rate (8.2+/-1.1 vs. 6.4+/-0.6 mL/kg/hr, P<0.001). On logistic regression, a rapid rehydration rate was the most significant contributor to cerebral oedema. From receive operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, the safe rate of rehydration was <6.8 mL/kg/hr., Conclusion: The key risk factors for the development of cerebral oedema during recovery from hypernatraemic dehydration were too rapid a rate of rehydration, an initial fluid bolus to rapidly expand plasma volume and the severity of the hypernatraemia. Thus, we conclude that a uniformly slow rate of rehydration is the best way of preventing cerebral oedema.

Based on the inequality analysis, matrix theory and spectral theory, a class of general periodic neural networks with delays and impulses is studied. Some sufficient conditions are established for the existence and globally exponential stability of a unique periodic solution. Furthermore, the results are applied to some typical impulsive neural network systems as special cases, with a real-life example to show feasibility of our results.

This paper considers the lag synchronization (LS) issue of unknown coupled chaotic delayed Yang-Yang-type fuzzy neural networks (YYFCNN) with noise perturbation. Separate research work has been published on the stability of fuzzy neural network and LS issue of unknown coupled chaotic neural networks, as well as its application in secure communication. However, there have not been any studies that integrate the two. Motivated by the achievements from both fields, we explored the benefits of integrating fuzzy logic theories into the study of LS problems and applied the findings to secure communication. Based on adaptive feedback control techniques and suitable parameter identification, several sufficient conditions are developed to guarantee the LS of coupled chaotic delayed YYFCNN with or without noise perturbation. The problem studied in this paper is more general in many aspects. Various problems studied extensively in the literature can be treated as special cases of the findings of this paper, such as complete synchronization (CS), effect of fuzzy logic, and noise perturbation. This paper presents an illustrative example and uses simulated results of this example to show the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed adaptive scheme. This research also demonstrates the effectiveness of application of the proposed adaptive feedback scheme in secure communication by comparing chaotic masking with fuzziness with some previous studies. Chaotic signal with fuzziness is more complex, which makes unmasking more difficult due to the added fuzzy logic.

Aim: IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is the most common primary form of glomerulonephritis worldwide. In the present study, the genetic structure of the NPHS2 gene was studied to verify if podocin plays a role in the pathogenesis of IgAN., Methods: Clinical characteristics and DNA samples were collected from 26 Chinese children with sporadic IgAN. A direct sequencing was performed after polymerase chain reaction amplification to all the eight exons of the NPHS2 gene., Results: Three synonymous variants as known polymorphisms (954T-->C homozygous, 1038A-->G heterozygous and homozygous) were found in 3, 4 and 1 patients, respectively. There was no significant difference in the genotypic and allelic frequencies of 954T > C and 1038A > G polymorphisms between the patients and normal controls., Conclusion: No significant difference in the genotypic and allelic frequencies of the identified 954T > C and 1038A > G polymorphisms between the patients and normal controls was found.

Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) is one of the most common forms of small-vessel vasculitis in childhood, and renal involvement (HSP nephritis, HSPN) is the main determinant of morbidity after acute phase. Considering the racial diversity and clinical heterogeneity in the prevalence, genetic factors might play a role in pathogenesis of HSP and HSPN. Direct sequencing was performed after PCR amplification of all 8 exons of the NPHS2 gene in 20 Chinese children with HSPN and 30 controls in present study. The genetic analyses revealed 3 polymorphisms (954T > C heterozygous, 1038A > G heterozygous and homozygous, all in exon 8) in 7 out of 20 patients studied, but there was no significant difference in the genotypic and allelic frequencies of these polymorphisms between the patients and controls. The result did not support the possible role of the NPHS2 gene in susceptibility to HSPN in the population studied. Studies in a larger sample population with different genetic backgrounds will be necessary in the future.

Sufficient conditions are obtained for the existence and global exponential stability of a unique periodic solution of a class of impulsive tow-neuron networks with variable and unbounded delays. The approaches are based on Mawhin's continuation theorem of coincidence degree theory and Lyapunov functions.