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Nano-magnetite with superparamagnetism could be coated by some organic compounds or by nano Au or Pt via surface modifications with multi-step reactions for the applications of isolating histidine-tagged (His-tagged) proteins. Introducing active sites of binding histidine onto the surface of nano-magnetite was the ultimate task. However, multi-step treatments might result in departure of the coatings from the surface of the nano-magnetite, which led to loss of active sites. In this work, we reported a convenient and efficient way of treating nano-magnetites and applied them in isolating His-tagged proteins. Carboxylates were introduced on the surface of home-made nano-magnetite directly via ultrasonic mixing with sodium bitartrate rather than complicated surface modifications, which was proved by thermogravimetric analyses. Ni2+ was, therefore, caught by the carboxylates of the coating via the coordinate interaction, demonstrated by X-ray photoelectron spectra. The coated magnetic nanoparticles with the bonded Ni2+ were successfully employed to selectively bind and separate recombinant His-tagged proteins directly from the mixture of Escherichia coli cell lysate, and showed wonderful affinity for His-tagged proteins with the saturated adsorption amount being 556 mg g−1. Additionally, such functionalized nano-magnetite manifested the excellent recyclability in isolating His-tagged proteins.

Many previous studies have discussed the influence of extrinsic factors (e.g. living environment) on academic achievement of children from western China. The present study focused on four non-cognitive factors, self-educational aspiration, self-efficacy, instrumental motivation, and anxiety, which could affect mathematics achievement. The purpose of this study was to investigate the mechanisms how these four non-cognitive factors affected mathematics achievement. 5774 primary school students from fourth and fifth grade in western China participated in this study. A moderated chained mediation model was constructed. The results showed that self-educational aspiration could positively predict mathematics achievement. However, instrumental motivation and anxiety formed chained mediation between self-educational aspiration and mathematics achievement, and negatively predicted mathematics achievement. Besides, self-efficacy played a moderated role in the relationship between self-educational aspiration and anxiety.

Background Ongoing neuropathic pain is difficult to treat. The authors examined whether dermorphin [D-Arg2, Lys4] (1–4) amide, a peripherally acting µ-opioid receptor agonist, attenuates ongoing pain-associated manifestations after nerve injury in rats and mice. Methods Using conditioned place preference assay, the authors tested whether animals show a preference to the environment associated with drug treatment. Wide-dynamic range and dorsal root ganglion neuronal activities were measured by electrophysiology recording and calcium imaging. Results Nerve-injured animals stayed longer in dermorphin [D-Arg2, Lys4] (1–4) amide–paired chamber after conditioning than during preconditioning (rats: 402.4 ± 61.3 vs. 322.1 ± 45.0 s, 10 mg/kg, n = 9, P = 0.009; mice: 437.8 ± 59.4 vs. 351.3 ± 95.9 s, 2 mg/kg, n = 8, P = 0.047). Topical ganglionic application of dermorphin [D-Arg2, Lys4] (1–4) amide (5 μM, 1 μl, n = 5) reduced the numbers of small-diameter dorsal root ganglion neurons that showed spontaneous activity (1.1 ± 0.4 vs. 1.5 ± 0.3, P = 0.044) and that were activated by test stimulation (15.5 ± 5.5 vs. 28.2 ± 8.2, P = 0.009) after injury. In neuropathic rats, dermorphin [D-Arg2, Lys4] (1–4) amide (10 mg/kg, n = 8) decreased spontaneous firing rates in wide-dynamic range neurons to 53.2 ± 46.6% of predrug level, and methylnaltrexone (5 mg/kg, n = 9) blocked dermorphin [D-Arg2, Lys4] (1–4) amide–induced place preference and inhibition of wide-dynamic range neurons. Dermorphin [D-Arg2, Lys4] (1–4) amide increased paw withdrawal threshold (17.5 ± 2.2 g) from baseline (3.5 ± 0.7 g, 10 mg/kg, n = 8, P = 0.002) in nerve-injured rats, but the effect diminished after repeated administrations. Conclusions Peripherally acting μ-opioids may attenuate ongoing pain-related behavior and its neurophysiologic correlates. Yet, repeated administrations cause antiallodynic tolerance.

Background To evaluate the safety and efficacy of selective catheter-directed thrombolysis (SCDT) in treating acute massive pulmonary thromboembolism (AMPTE). Methods Twenty-six AMPTE patients were enrolled between March 2010 and March 2013. A Uni*Fuse infusion system was inserted into the main pulmonary artery thrombus. The thrombolytic regimen included an intraoperative bolus injection of 250,000 IU urokinase, followed by continuous thrombolytic infusion of 5,000 IU/kg per (every) 24 hr urokinase for 72 hr postoperatively. Clinical symptoms, shock index (SI), systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP), peripheral arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2), and Miller index (MI) were assessed before and after treatment. Results The patients included 16 men and 10 women (49.9 ± 18.8 years old; time to onset of 50.2 ± 28.5 hr). After thrombolysis, dyspnea and cough were relieved to varying degrees; chest pain, hemoptysis, and syncope disappeared. Importantly, a clinical success rate of 100% was achieved. All objective indices were improved: SI decreased from 1.74 ± 0.38 before operation to 0.71 ± 0.09 postoperatively (P = 0.00); PaO2 increased from 52.78 ± 6.92 mm Hg to 85.98 ± 5.91 mm Hg (P = 0.00); sPAP was reduced from 65.19 ± 8.22 mm Hg to 34.42 ± 4.05 mm Hg (P = 0.00); MI dropped from 0.69 ± 0.09 to 0.33 ± 0.06 (P = 0.00). Mean total urokinase amounts were 1,298,000 IU for each patient. Postoperative complications included 2 cases of puncture-site hematoma (cured by pressure bandage) and 1 case of gastrointestinal hemorrhage (healed by conservative treatment without blood transfusion). Conclusions SCDT may be considered a safe and efficacious treatment for AMPTE.

OBJECTIVES: This pilot study investigated the safety and efficacy of a novel shunt surgery combined with foam sclerotherapy of varices in patients with prehepatic portal hypertension. METHODS: Twenty-seven patients who were diagnosed with prehepatic portal hypertension and underwent shunt surgeries were divided into three groups by surgery type: shunt surgery alone (Group A), shunt surgery and devascularization (Group B), and shunt surgery combined with foam sclerotherapy (Group C). Between-group differences in operation time, intraoperative blood loss, portal pressure decrease, postoperative complications, rebleeding rates, encephalopathy, mortality rates and remission of gastroesophageal varices were compared. RESULTS: Groups A, B and C had similar operation times, intraoperative bleeding, and portal pressure decrease. The remission rates of varices differed significantly (p

A pot experiment was conducted to examine the roles of indigenous and non-indigenous arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi in As uptake by maize (Zea mays L.) from original As-polluteded soil, and their effects on As and P fractions in the rhizosphere. The As-polluted soils with three As levels, were collected from As-polluted arable soil near an As mine. Indigenous AM fungi (M2: including Glomus spp., Acaulospora spp.) isolated from these soils were compared with a non-indigenous AM fungus (M1: Glomus caledonium 90036). The plants were harvested after 10 weeks of growth. Mycorrhizal colonization rate, dry weight (DW) and P, As concentrations in plants, as well as As and P fractions, were determined. Compared to the non-mycorrhizal treatment, at the high soil As level, maize inoculated with AM fungi had higher shoot and root DW and P contents, both M1 and M2 inoculations increased As accumulation in root, though M1 reduced shoot As content, and M2 transported more As from roots to shoots. M1 decreased root and shoot As contents at the low and medium soil As levels. Plants mainly took up non-specifically sorbed As at the high soil As level, but As was taken up from hydrous oxides of Fe and Al at the low and medium soil As levels. All results indicate that indigenous consortia M2 could protect their host plants from the toxicity of excessive As through P nutrition by activating P, though non-indigenous M1 could alleviate As toxicity through stabilizing As and P in the soil.

Suprarenal abdominal aortic rupture cannot be repaired using a conventional covered stent without branches because it is necessary to reconstruct the visceral arteries. Traditional open aortic repair is associated with relatively high perioperative mortality and morbidity rates. We present a patient with a history of thoracoabdominal aortic pseudoaneurysm that had been treated with bypass grafting from the thoracic aorta to the left common iliac artery 5 months earlier. The patient presented with rupture of the suprarenal abdominal aortic stump. He was successfully treated by placement of a modified stent graft using a hybrid technique, which decreased the difficulty of operation and avoided serious postoperative complications. This hybrid method, which has not previously been reported, highlights the usefulness of vascular surgeons having experience in both open and endovascular techniques.