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OBJECTIVE: DEPDC1B, which encodes DEP domain-containing protein 1B, exerts pathogenic effects in diverse cancers, but no such effect has been reported in the case of lower-grade glioma (LGG). Therefore, we sought to investigate the relationship between DEPDC1B expression and the prognosis of patients with LGG and reveal the underlying molecular mechanism. MATERIALS AND METHODS: First, RT-qPCR and immunohistochemical staining were used to examine DEPDC1B mRNA and protein expression in LGG. Second, transcriptomic data were collected from The Cancer Genome Atlas and Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas databases to investigate the impact of DEPDC1B expression on LGG patients by using the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, receiver operating characteristic analysis and Cox models. Third, the effects of DEPDC1B on LGG cell proliferation and migration were revealed using wound-healing and Cell Counting Kit-8 assays and Ki67 immunofluorescence staining. Fourth, the Tumor Immune Estimation Resource database was used to examine how DEPDC1B affects the LGG immune microenvironment, and gene set enrichment analysis was used to uncover the signaling pathways in which DEPDC1B is involved in LGG. RESULTS: DEPDC1B was significantly upregulated in both LGG cells and tissues, and high expression of DEPDC1B contributed to poor prognosis of LGG patients and represented an independent risk factor for LGG. Moreover, DEPDC1B knockdown reduced the proliferation and migration abilities of LGG cells. Lastly, DEPDC1B was found to be positively associated with multiple immune infiltrates and immune-checkpoint markers. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate for the first time that DEPDC1B is a pathogenic gene in LGG. More importantly, we provide a new biomarker and immunotherapeutic target for improving the diagnosis and treatment of LGG patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Although subchondral bone marrow lesions (BMLs) and synovitis have been well acknowledged as important sources of pain in knee osteoarthritis (KOA), it is unclear if synovitis plays the mediating role in the relationship between BMLs and knee pain.Methods: We analyzed 600 subjects with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the Foundation for National Institutes of Health Osteoarthritis Biomarkers Consortium (FNIH) cohort at baseline and 24-month. BMLs and synovitis were measured according to the MRI Osteoarthritis Knee Score (MOAKS) scoring system. BMLs were scored in five subregions. A summary synovitis score of effusion and Hoffa-synovitis was calculated. Knee pain was evaluated using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC). Linear regression models were applied to analyze the natural direct effect (NDE) of BMLs and synovitis with knee pain, respectively, and natural indirect effect (NIE) mediated by synovitis.Results: 590 participants (58.8% females, with a mean age of 61.5) were included in the present analyses. For NDE, knee pain was cross-sectionally associated with medial femorotibial BMLs (β = 0.23, 95% CI: 0.09, 0.38) and synovitis (β = 0.40, 95% CI: 0.20, 0.60). Longitudinal associations retained significant [medial femorotibial BMLs (β = 0.37, 95% CI: 0.21, 0.53); synovitis (β = 0.72, 95% CI: 0.45, 0.99)]. In the NIE analyses, synovitis mediated the association between medial femorotibial BML and knee pain at baseline (β = 0.051, 95% CI: 0.01, 0.09) and over 24 months (β = 0.079, 95% CI: 0.023, 0.15), with the mediating proportion of 17.8% and 22.4%, respectively.Conclusion: Synovitis partially mediates the association between medial femorotibial BMLs and knee pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been proved to play a vital role in tumorigenesis and progression. Nevertheless, the potential mechanism of circRNAs in prostate cancer (PC) remains unclear. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the exact role of circ_0004417 in the progression of prostate cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to detect the expression of circ_0004417 in primary PC tissues and cell lines. In vitro experiments were conducted to explore the function of circ_0004417 in PC progression, including cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, colony formation assay and transwell assay. Furthermore, the regulatory function of circ_0004417 on miRNA, p-Akt and E-cadherin was investigated to elucidate the potential mechanisms. RESULTS: Circ_0004417 was significantly down-regulated in PC tissues and cells (p<0.05). Functional experiments proved that circ_0004417 overexpression markedly inhibited the proliferation and invasion of PC cells (p<0.05). In addition, the results demonstrated that circ_0004417 served as a sponge for miR-1228 and regulated expressions of p-Akt and E-cadherin. CONCLUSIONS: Circ_0004417 inhibits the progression of prostate cancer through sponging miR-1228. All our findings suggest that circ_0004417 can be used as a potential therapeutic target for PC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: This study is aimed at analysing the endogenous metabolites profiling of patients with diabetic osteoporosis, so as to provide the reference for pathogenesis research of diabetic osteoporosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The 1H-NMR metabolomics technology, combined with pattern recognition analysis and SIMCA-P 12.0 statistical analysis, were employed to identify the metabolites differences between diabetic patients with disordered bone metabolism (research group) and healthy volunteers (normal group) in this study. RESULTS: Compared with normal group, the results show that in research group, the levels of O-acetyl glycoprotein, proline, 1-methyl histidine, tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA cycle) product (citric acid and α-ketoglutaric acid) decline, while the levels of branched chain amino acids (leucine, isoleucine, valine), glucose, choline, creatine, inositol, glutamine, aspartic acid, alanine, glycine, and citrulline increase. CONCLUSIONS: There are disordered metabolic pathways and imbalanced bone synthetic materials and regulatory substances in diabetic patients with bone metabolic abnormality. These metabolic abnormalities could be the specific indicators in early diagnosis of diabetic osteoporosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a Francis turbine, the gu de vanes are arranged in the direction of flow behind the stay vanes. And as it is generally believed that the outlet angle of water after it flows through the spiral case and stay vanes is fixed, the flow and flow circulation are altered by changing the opening of the guide vanes so as to change the output of the turbine. The rotor-stitor interaction effect induced by the interaction between the guide vanes and the runner of the Francis turbine was one of the main causes of the pressure fluctuation. The effect of guide vanes placement on pressure fluctuation in vaneless zone of Francis turbine was studied. In this study, the commercial software ANSYS CFX16.0 was used for the three-dimensional numerical simulation of the whole flow passage of a Francis turbine model it a power station. The turbulence model used in the calculation was the shear stress transport (SST) model. The independence between the total number of computational meshes and the timestep was verified to ensure the -eliability of the calculation results. Five schemes with different diameters of the guide vanes distribution circle were proposed including D0/D1 (guide vane pitch circle diameter /diameter of runner inlet) equaling to 1.119, 1.128, 1.138, 1.144, and 1.15. The steady calculation results showed that, when the turbine was operating under the design condition, D0/D1 increased from 1.119 to 1.15, and the turbine efficiency and output showed a monotonically increasing trend, with the efficiency increased by 0.17 percentage point and outpu: increased by 3.9 lkw. Twenty monitoring points were set up in the vaneless zone between the guide vanes and the runner to collect pressure fluctuation signals in the vaneless zone. By analyzing the characteristics of unsteady pressure fluctuations in the vaneless zone under design conditions of the five schemes, the optimal posh ion of the guide vanes was determined. The numerical results showed that the pressure fluctuation amplih.de at monitoring points in the same axial direction increased gradually from the top cover to the bottom ring. When the unit operated under the design conditions, by increasing the guide vane pitch circle diameter, the rolor-stator interaction between the guide vanes and the runner domain was weakened, and the pressure fluctuation amplitude in the vaneless zone between the guide vanes and the runner was reduced, thereby the stability of unit operation was improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the role of Prunella vulgaris L (PVL) in protecting glucocorticoids (GC)-induced osteogenesis inhibition, thereafter, protecting the deterioration of osteoporosis (OP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay was conducted to assess the influence of PVL treatment on MSCs viability. Osteogenesis in MSCs was induced by Dexamethasone (DEX) stimulation. Regulatory effects of PVL on osteogenesis-related gene expressions, ALP activity, and mineralization ability in DEX-induced MSCs were determined. At last, protein levels of p-Smad1/5/9 and total- Smad1/5/9 influenced by DEX and PVL were measured by Western blot. RESULTS: PVL treatment did not pose a timeor dose-dependent influence on MSCs viability. DEX induction in MSCs downregulated ALP, RUNX2, Bglap, and Osterix. ALP activity and mineralization in DEX-induced MSCs were suppressed. Downregulated osteogenesis-related genes decreased ALP activity and mineralization in MSCs undergoing DEX stimulation were partially reversed by PVL treatment. Moreover, the downregulated p-Smad1/5/9 level in DEX-induced MSCs was elevated by PVL treatment, while total-Smad1/5/9 was not affected. CONCLUSIONS: PVL alleviated GC-induced suppression in MSCs osteogenesis by activating the Smad pathway, thereafter, protecting the deterioration of OP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of micro ribonucleic acid (miR)-21 on tibial fracture healing in rabbits by regulating the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling pathway, and to explore its possible underlying mechanism. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 15 healthy male rabbits were randomly divided into three groups, including: model group A (fracture group, n=5), model group B (fracture treatment group, n=5), and model group C (miR-21 siRNA + treatment group, n=5). Fracture healing was observed by imaging. The content of the serum collagen I and collagen II in rabbits was detected via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The morphology of bone tissues was observed via staining. Moreover, the expressions of ERK, transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), and Smad in osteoblasts of tibia were observed via Western blotting and Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RTPCR), respectively. RESULTS: There was bony callus formation in group B and C when compared with group A. Compared with group B, bony callus formation was significantly accelerated in group C, while healing cycle was shortened. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and Masson staining indicated that compared with group A, group C had more fibrous calluses, new capillaries, and fibroblasts in tissues. Meanwhile, group C exerted better maturity of collagen tissues and higher osteoid content at 20 d after modeling. Compared with group C, there were more osteoid tissues with poor maturity in group B. Meanwhile, intramembranous bone formation was deformed, and collagen content was remarkably lower in group B. The content of serum collagen I and collagen II remarkably increased in group B compared with group A (p<0.05). However, it was significantly upregulated in group C compared with group B, showing statistically significant differences (p<0.05). According to the results of Western blotting, the protein expressions of TGF-β1, Smad, and ERK in osteoblasts were significantly upregulated in group B when compared with those in group A (p<0.05). However, they increased remarkably in group C when compared with group B (p<0.05). Besides, RTPCR results revealed that the messenger RNA (mRNA) expressions of TGF-β1, Smad, and ERK in osteoblasts were significantly higher in group B than those in group A (p<0.05). However, they were markedly raised in group C in comparison with group B (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Down-regulation of miR-21 promotes tibial fracture healing in rabbits by activating the ERK signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ammonia (NH3) concentrations in confined layer hen houses are the highest among buildings of different animal species and are of great concern to indoor air quality and animal welfare. However, little has been done to investigate the dynamic relationships between NH3 concentrations and the influencing factors. A Distributed Lag Non-linear Model was applied to study the dynamics of NH3 in two high-rise layer houses using a two-year dataset, compiled with hourly data, and its two subsets of summer and winter. Three major influencing factors, the ventilation rate, outdoor temperature, and outdoor relative humidity, were identified to have lagged effects on indoor NH3 concentrations in both houses. The duration of lagged effects of ventilation rate ranged from non-observable (<1 h) to a few subsequent hours. However, in winter, the changes in ventilation rates within the low operational ranges were not sufficiently high to induce NH3 concentration changes. The effects of temperature were not observable in winter. Higher outdoor relative humidity was related to elevated NH3 concentrations in winter, with a lag time of about 1 h in both houses. The lagged effects were considerably different between summer and winter for all three influencing factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been identified as important regulators in regulating cancer progression. The study aims to investigate the expression of circular RNA_LARP4 (circ LARP4) and clinical significance in ovarian cancer (OC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The expression of circ LARP4 was detected in a total of 78 paired ovarian cancer tissue and adjacent normal tissue samples using quantitative Reverse Transcription- Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) analyses. The chi-square test was used to assess the association between expression of circLARP4 and clinical-pathological parameters. Survival plot was evaluated using the Kaplan-Meier method. The multivariate Cox analysis model was used for tumor prognosis analysis. RESULTS: We identified that circLARP4 expression was significantly down-regulated in ovarian cancer tissues compared with corresponding controls. Furthermore, we found that circLARP4 expression was significantly associated with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage and lymph node metastases. Lower circLARP4 expression was associated with poor prognosis of OC patients. Moreover, multivariate Cox analysis showed that lower circLARP4 was an independent risk for OC prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicated that circLARP4 expression was lower and highlighted that circLARP4 was identified as a potential biomarker of ovarian cancer prognosis.. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel dumb-bell-like AgBr/Ag3PO4heterostructured photocatalyst was developed by a simple and efficientin situion exchange method in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)/water mixed solvent systems at room temperature, and characterised by X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectrometry. Subsequently, the photocatalytic experiment for this heterojunction was conducted under visible light irradiation using typical organic dyes including Rhodamine B, methyl blue and methyl orange dyes as targeted pollutant, which indicate AgBr/Ag3PO4exhibited higher photocatalytic activity compared with pure AgBr or Ag3PO4, and the highest photocatalytic activity was reached by AgBr/Ag3PO4hybrid photocatalyst with 20 w% of AgBr. Moreover, Superior stability was also observed by recycling experiments indicating that heterostructured AgBr/Ag3PO4is highly desirable for the remediation of organic waste-contaminated wastewaters. In addition, the possible photocatalytic mechanisms of AgBr/Ag3PO4heterojunction and degradation pathways on basis of the experimental results are also proposed in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Visible-light-driven core–shell structured AgBr/g-C3N4heterogeneous photocatalyst have been synthesised by a sonication-assisted deposition-precipitation route at room temperature, and characterised by scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscope, UV–visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and N2adsorption–desorption analysis. Subsequently, the photocatalytic activity of AgBr/g-C3N4is evaluated by the degradation of typical Rhodamine B (RhB), methyl blue (MB) and methyl orange (MO) dyes under visible-light irradiation (>420 nm). The as-prepared AgBr/g-C3N4core–shell photocatalyst show higher photocatalytic activity than the pure g-C3N4and AgBr nanoparticles, which is ascribed to synergistic effects at the interface of AgBr and g-C3N4. Moreover, superior stability was also observed by recycling experiments indicating that core–shell structured AgBr/g-C3N4was highly desirable for the remediation of organic contaminated wastewaters. In addition, the possible photocatalytic  mechanism of AgBr/g-C3N4composite with enhanced heterogeneous photocatalytic activity is also proposed in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

OBJECTIVE: Hypertension is a common disorder related to cardiovascular diseases and stroke. Identification of genetic variations related to hypertension may advance our knowledge of the molecular mechanism underlying blood pressure regulation. Here, we aimed to investigate the associations between ABCB1 gene polymorphisms and hypertension-related traits in 1154 Han Chinese subjects. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 13 SNPs in ABCB1 were genotyped. RESULTS: Three SNPs were significantly associated with systolic blood pressure (SBP), including rs17327624 (p = 6.167 × 10-4, beta = 5.650), rs3789243 (p = 4.331 × 10-3, beta = 2.800), and rs4148734 (p = 3.514 × 10-3, beta = 3.692). Rs17327624 (p = 2.818 × 10-4, beta = 2.753) and rs3789243 (p = 6.345 × 10-3, beta = 1.497) were significantly associated with diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and rs17327624 was significantly associated with hypertension (p = 1.746 × 10-4, OR = 1.605). These three SNPs (rs17327624, rs3789243 and rs4148734) were also associated with hypertension in female subjects but no significant signal was detected in males. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that ABCB1 polymorphisms may contribute to the blood pressure variation in Han Chinese population and the effect may be specific in females. Further studies performed in other populations are needed to confirm our findings and elucidate the underlying molecular mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we studied the mechanical performance of the thermoplastic composites serviced in aging environment. A serious of specimens was exposed in various conditions for up to 28 days, and then the hygroscopicity and mechanisation of the material were investigated. It is found that water absorb rate first increases and then decreases with increasing of the duration in corrosion tests. Chloride ion concentration and corrosion time have influence on the moisture absorption kinetics of the materials. Results also show that mechanical properties such as modulus and strength of poly cyclic butylene terephthalate and its glass fibre-reinforced composites various with moisture absorption curves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The shape memory polymer composites with trans-1,4-polyisoprene matrix and chopped carbon fibre reinforcement are developed to improve the mechanical weakness of pure trans-1, 4-polyisoprene in this study. The specimens are fabricated with carbon fibre weight fraction of 5%, 10% and 15%, and the average length of short chopped carbon fibre is 2 mm. The influences of various carbon fibre weight fractions on mechanical behaviour are characterised, and the thermodynamic properties of the developed SMP composites are investigated. The results show that there exists an optimum carbon fibre weight fraction between 0% and 10% to have a highest fracture stress and an extremely low residual strain. The fracture strain gets larger with the increment of temperature, and the value of the residual strain becomes relatively stable with the increase of the number of cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, the in vitro biological responses of Titanium (Ti) and two competitive titanium alloys (Ti6Al4V and Ti6Al7Nb) were investigated after modifying their surfaces by sandblasting and acid etching. The sandblasting and acid etching process was sandblasted by Al2O3 particles and acid etched by a mixture of hydrochloric acid and sulphuric acid. After the process, the surfaces of Ti, Ti6Al4 V and Ti6Al7Nb were porous of micrometres. Simulated body fluid tests were conducted to compare the biological performance of the samples. The sample surface morphologies were characterised by SEM, surface crystal structure of the samples was analysed by X-ray diffractometer. Even though microstructure of the alloys exhibited somewhat similar, the deposition of calcium (Ca), and phosphate (P) on the surface of Ti6Al7Nb alloy was greater and faster than that of Ti6Al4V and Ti, which is significant for implant surface modification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an experimental research on timber columns with externally bonded fibre reinforced polymer sheets, which consist of aramid fibre reinforced polymer, carbon fibre reinforced polymer and basalt fibre reinforced polymer. This is to provide a strengthening solution to upgrade the structural behaviour and load carrying capacities of such columns under the influence of fractured wood texture. In total, 14 columns were constructed and tested, consisting of 8 circular timber columns and 6 square ones. Besides, three columns of such two section types with knag were reinforced by wrapping of carbon fibre reinforced polymer sheets and tested. The failure mode was analysed, as well as the fracture surface. Externally bonded fibre reinforced polymer sheets were found to be very effective in upgrading the compressive strength of the columns strengthened. The enhancement on load carrying capacities by fibre reinforced polymer reinforcement is in the range of 69-103% for the specimens with a circular section and of 35-83% for the ones with a square section. The test results also show that better ductile behaviour and higher ultimate load carrying capacities were obtained for the columns with externally reinforcing of fibre reinforced polymer sheets. However, there is a great reduction in ultimate loading capacities on columns with fractured wood texture, and the cracks were found on the fracture surface because of the fibres near the cracks being compressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical effect of laparoscopy on patients with endometriosis and a high expression of CA125. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred cases of endometriosis treated in our hospital from May 2012 to August 2014 were selected as research subjects, after approval from the hospital and the informed consent of patients. The subjects were randomly divided into a control group and a study group with 50 cases in each group. The control group underwent the traditional surgery, while the research group underwent laparoscopy. The clinical curative effect were compared between the two groups of patients. RESULTS: The research group's postoperative 6h, 12h, 24h CA125 levels were compared to those of the control group. There was statistically significant difference between groups (p < 0.05). Surgery and hospitalization time, intraoperative bleeding volume, and and incision length index of the two groups of patients were compared. There were statistically significant differences between the two groups (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic surgery in endometriosis patients with high expression of CA125 is curative, and the patients'recovery after surgery is promising. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]