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Left atrial (LA) function and mechanical dispersion changes in breast cancer patients treated with chemotherapy remain unclear.LA function and LA mechanical dispersion in breast cancer patients would be impaired after chemotherapy.This single-center retrospective study included 91 consecutive breast cancer patients treated with chemotherapy and 30 controls. Patients were examined by echocardiography three times at intervals. Conventional parameters, left ventricular strain, LA strain, and LA mechanical dispersion were evaluated and compared.LA strain during reservoir phase (LASr), conduit phase (LAScd), and contraction phase (LASct) all decreased markedly after chemotherapy and were lower than those of the controls (all p .01). The standard deviation of time to peak positive strain during LA reservoir phase corrected by R-R interval (LA SD-TPSr) was significantly increased after chemotherapy and was higher than that of the controls (p .001). The change of LA function was expressed as Δ. Multivariate linear regression analyses showed that LAVIp (0.399, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.610, 1.756, p = .000) was independently associated with ΔLASr, LAPEF (-0.325, 95% CI: -45.123, -10.676, p = .002) and age (0.227, 95% CI: 0.021, 0.350, p = .027) were independently associated with ΔLAScd, and LAVImax (0.341, 95% CI: 0.192, 0.723, p = .001) was independently associated with ΔLASct. LAVImax (0.505, 95% CI: 0.000, 0.001, p = .039) and mitral E (-0.256, 95% CI: 0.000, 0.000, p = .024）were independently associated with ΔLA SD-TPSr.Mechanical function of LA declined after chemotherapy in breast cancer patients. With the decrease of LA mechanical function, LA mechanical dispersion assessed by two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography increased significantly, and its clinical value needs to be further studied.

The fatigue tests of Chinese RPV steel (A508-3) were carried out under the simulated primary coolant environment of AP1000 which is a kind of 3rd generation nuclear power plant. The effects of temperature, strain rate and dissolved oxygen (DO) on fatigue life were analyzed. During the fatigue test, the material exhibited a cyclic hardening followed by cyclic softening behavior, with no obvious cyclic stability region. In logarithmic coordinates, the S–N curve showed a bilinear relationship. As the strain amplitude increased from 0.2 to 0.6%, the fatigue life approximately decreased from 105 to 3 × 102. The environmental correction factor (Fen), which is defined as the ratio of life in air at room temperature to that in the primary coolant environment, decreases as the temperature decreases from 321 to 150 °C. The Fen also decreases as the DO decreases from 0.6 to 0.03 ppm while it increases as the strain rate decreases from 1 to 0.0004%/s. Compared with the NUREG6909 model, the presented model is more applicable for fatigue life prediction of Chinese A508-3 steel.

Left atrial thrombus (LAT)/left atrial spontaneous echo contrast (LASEC) still exists in CHAA total of 834 NVAF patients with complete data on transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) were included in this study. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the risk factors that associate with LAT/SEC, and a nomogram was established based on the results. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC), calibration curve and decision curve analysis were performed to verify the predictive power of nomogram.The rates for LAT/SEC for the training and validation cohorts were 84 (14.7%) and 30 (11.4%), respectively. Independent factors including age, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left atrial diameter (LAD), smoke, non-paroxysmal AF (NPAF), and E/e' were considered to construct the nomogram for LAT/SEC. The AUC for nomogram was 0.839 and 0.811 in the training and validation cohorts, respectively. The calibration and decision curve analysis showed that the nomogram had a good prediction capacity and would be clinically useful.Age, LVEF, LAD, smoke, NPAF, and E/e' are independently associated with LAT/SEC in NVAF patients with low/borderline CHA

Objective We examined the associations among the circadian rhythms of blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR) and left atrial function in essential hypertensive patients. Methods The study included 237 essential hypertensive patients who completed 24-h ambulatory BP, HR monitoring and two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2DSTE). The strain and strain rate images were studied, and the following parameters were measured: left atrial reservoir strain and strain rate (LAS-S and LASR-S), left atrial conduit strain and strain rate (LAS-E and LASR-E), and left atrial booster strain and strain rate (LAS-A and LASR-A). The left atrial stiffness index (LASI) was identified as the ratio of E/e' to LAS-S. All participants were divided into three groups according to the percentage of nocturnal BP dipping (dippers, nondippers and reverse dippers). Results The LASI was significantly higher in BP reverse dippers than in dippers and nondippers. LAS-S, LAS-E and LASR-E were significantly lower in BP reverse dippers than dippers and nondippers. Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that age, night-time mean SBP and the percentage of nocturnal HR decline were independently related to an increased LASI. Conclusion Impairment of the left atrial reservoir and conduit functions was correlated with abnormal BP and HR circadian rhythms in hypertension. Increased left atrial stiffness was associated with night-time SBP and the percentage of nocturnal HR decline.

BackgroundEosinophilic leukemia (EL) is a rare, serious and potentially life-threatening condition characterized by the overproduction of eosinophils leading to tissue eosinophilic infiltration and damage. Although multiple organ systems may be involved, progressive eosinophilic myocarditis (EM) is the most common cause of morbidity and mortality. Early diagnosis and follow-up surveillance combined with multimodal imaging are crucial for appropriate treatment of EM.Case SummaryIt’s a rare case of EL with EM and intracardiac thrombus in a 59-year-old patient who presented with asthenia for 3 weeks. Full blood count analysis indicated significant eosinophilia. Bone marrow aspirate revealed dysplastic eosinophilia and a FIP1L1-PDGFRA fusion gene (4q12) was detected, confirming EL. Echocardiography revealed EM with intracardiac thrombus. This was later confirmed by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. The patient was commenced on imatinib and prednisolone and good clinical response was obtained. Through 18F-FAPI PET/CT imaging, we obtained in vivo visualization of fibroblast activation changes in the early stage of cardiac structure remodeling. With anti-fibrotic therapy after heart failure, the patient achieved a good clinical response.ConclusionThis case demonstrates in vivo visualization of fibroblast activation after EM. Multimodality imaging can provide early diagnosis and may guide tailored antifibrotic therapy in early stage of EM.

In this paper, a comparative study of the very-high-cycle fatigue (VHCF) behavior of railway wheel steel under axial loading and rolling contact loading was conducted. Fatigue tests were performed with an ultrasonic fatigue test machine under axial loading, and the fracture surfaces from the fatigue tests and shattered rims taken from the failed railway wheels were observed. The wheel steel under axial loading presents a VHCF behavior with Mode I crack, and that under rolling contact loading is a VHCF behavior with mix Mode II-III crack. For the VHCF behavior with Mode I crack ,surface and interior crack initiation occurred with equal probability at both low and high stress levels and produced a dual linear S-N curve since the value of fatigue limits for the surface and interior crack initiation are close. For the VHCF behavior with mix Mode II-III crack, cracks were initiated from the interior Al O inclusion and the fatigue life was beyond 10 cycles. Fatigue bands were observed on the fracture surface under rolling contact loading. The ferrite nanograins formed due to the stress state of shear plastic strain with a large compressive stress. The formed nanograins were softer than the matrix caused by the redistribution of the carbon.

Background: The predictive power of the CHADS2 and CHA2DS2-VASc scores for the presence of Left atrial thrombus (LAT)/ spontaneous echo contrast (SEC) in non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) is modest. The aim of this analysis is to define clinical and ultrasonic variables associated with LAT/SEC and to propose nomograms for individual risk prediction.Methods: Data on 1,813 consecutive NVAF patients who underwent transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) from January 2016 to January 2021 were collected. The univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to construct a nomogram. We examined the predictive ability of the risk scores by calculating the area under the curve (AUC). Moreover, the performance of the nomogram was assessed with respect to calibration, discrimination, and clinical usefulness.Results: LAT/SEC was found in 260 (21.0%) and 124 (21.6%) patients in the training and validation cohorts, respectively. On multivariate analysis, independent factors for LAT/SEC were Age, left atrial diameter (LAD), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), hypertension (HTN), previous stroke or transient ischemic attack, Non-paroxysmal AF and a nomogram was built based on these variables. The calibration curve for the probability of LAT/SEC showed good prediction agreement with actual observation. The nomogram achieved good concordance indexes of 0.836 and 0.794 in predicting LAT/SEC in the training and validation cohorts, respectively. Decision curve analysis demonstrated that the nomogram would be clinically useful.Conclusions: In this study, a nomogram was constructed that incorporated six characteristics of NVAF patients. The nomogram may be of great value for the prediction of LAT/SEC in NVAF patients.

We examined the effects of phosphorus (P) levels on photosynthetic and P/Fe traits of soybean under the stress of low Fe and their genotypic differences, to provide a theoretical basis for rational application of P and Fe fertilizer. Six P-efficient and six P-inefficient soybean varieties screened in the early stage were used as experimental materials. Four treatments of P:Fe ratio were set, including 0:30, 30:30, 150:30 and 300:30 (μmol·L为了明确低铁胁迫下磷素用量对大豆光合和磷/铁性状的影响及基因型差异,为磷、铁肥的合理施用提供理论依据,以前期筛选的6个磷高效基因型和6个磷低效基因型大豆为供试材料,设4个P∶Fe配比处理,分别为0∶30、30∶30、150∶30和300∶30(μmol·L

Tension-compression and tension-tension fatigue tests were conducted on a high-strength steel and a titanium alloy in the very-high-cycle fatigue (VHCF) regime. A shared interior crack initiation mechanism for high strength steel and titanium alloy was proposed based on the common nanograins and facet formation, i.e., (i) cleavage of local brittle microstructure; (ii) gradual growth of originated cracks (facets), and the coalescence of adjacent facets, facets disappear and nanograins form for the cyclic pressing in the cases of tension-compression fatigue and (iii) coalesced crack forming a main crack. The experimental results indicate that the stress ratio magnitude has a substantial effect on the fatigue strength, which decreases with the increasing of stress ratio. The tendency of the S-N curves from low cycle fatigue to VHCF regime is similar for the high-strength steel and the titanium alloy with different stress ratios. It is shown that the relationship of fatigue strength, fatigue life, inclusion size and stress ratio in the VHCF of high-strength steel and Ti-6Al-4V are correlated by the Sun model. The predicted results are in good agreement with the experimental data.

Due to the improvement of the wear property, rolling contact fatigue including shattered rim and shelling are the main failure causes of the high-speed railway wheels. In this paper, shattered rim and shelling occurred on the service wheels of the China Railway High-speed (CRH) trains were systematically investigated. The recorded data of the last ten years CRH operation indicated that all shattered rims and shelling were detected with serving >106 km (corresponding to the fatigue life 107–109 cycles) which is very-high-cycle fatigue (VHCF). The crack initiation region of shattered rim located at the depth of 10–25 mm from the tread, while that of shelling located at the depth

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to investigate the value of real time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (RT3DTEE) in percutaneous closure of the left atrial appendage (LAAC). In addition, this study also explored the change in the size of the left atrial appendage (LAA) from 24 hours before the operation to just before implantation during the operation. METHODS AND RESULTS In a retrospective study, 32 patients underwent two-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (2DTEE) and RT3DTEE 24 hours prior to operation and during operation. The maximal LAA orifice diameter (by 2DTEE, 22.7 ± 2.7 vs 24.6 ± 2.2 mm, P

Background: Pulmonary vein (PV) occlusion generally depends on repetitive contrast agent injection when cryoballoon ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF). The present study was to compare the effect of cryoballoon ablation for AF guided by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) vs. contrast agent injection. Methods: Eighty patients with paroxysmal AF (PAF) were enrolled in the study. About 40 patients underwent cryoballoon ablation without TEE (non-TEE group) and the other 40 underwent cryoballoon ablation with TEE for PV occlusion (TEE group). In the TEE group during the procedure, PVs were displayed in 3-dimensional images to guide the balloon to achieve PV occlusion. The patients were followed up at regularly scheduled visits every 2 months. Results: No differences were identified between the groups in regard to the procedure time and cryoablation time for each PV. The fluoroscopy time (6.7±4.2 min vs. 17.9±5.9 min, P

With the rapid development of big data, big data research in the security protection industry has been increasingly regarded as a hot spot. This article mainly aims at solving the problem of predicting the tendency of juvenile delinquency based on the experimental data of juvenile blindly following psychological crime. To solve this problem, this paper proposes a rough ant colony classification algorithm, referred to as RoughAC, which first uses the concept of upper and lower approximate sets in rough sets to determine the degree of membership. In addition, in the ant colony algorithm, we use the membership value to update the pheromone. Experiments show that the algorithm can not only solve the premature convergence problem caused by stagnation near the local optimal solution but also solve the continuous domain and combinatorial optimization problems and achieve better classification results. Moreover, the algorithm has a good effect on predicting classification and can provide guidance for predicting the tendency of juvenile delinquency.

Background and Purpose: Cancer patients treated with anthracyclines are susceptible to atrial fibrillation (AF) with unknown mechanisms. Due to sudden and unpredictable features of AF, detection or prediction of anthracycline-induced AF at early phase is difficult. Experimental Approach: Breast cancer patients (post-surgery) with an anthracycline-containing regimen were recruited for echocardiography at pre-, and 3 and 6 months post-chemotherapy. Mice were injected with doxorubicin or vehicle and the following parameters were determined: left atrial diameter, electrical transmission, AF inducibility. Meanwhile, oxidative stress, cardiomyocyte size, vacuolization, inflammation and fibrosis were measured in mouse atria. The therapeutic effect of dexrazoxane on doxorubicin-induced changes in the aforementioned parameters were also determined. Key Results: Whilst ventricular parameters and functions were unchanged in cancer patients pre- and post-chemotherapy, strain and strain rate of left atrial reservoir function and conduit function were decreased at 3 months post-chemotherapy vs pre-chemotherapy. Doxorubicin-induced atrial dilatation and susceptibility to AF occurred in mice prior to onset of ventricular dysfunction. Doxorubicin-induced AF was via inducing structural remodeling (i.e. cardiomyocyte death, hypotrophy and vacuolization) and electrical remodeling (i.e. reduction and redistribution of connexin 43) in the atrium, which was effectively prevented by dexrazoxane. Atrial remodeling and AF inducibility were induced after doxorubicin injection, which can be inhibited by dexrazoxane. Conclusions and Implications: Clinically, we tested whether anthracycline-induced early atrial remodeling in patients could be detected by echocardiography. Experimentally, we investigated the mechanisms of doxorubicin-induced atrial remodeling and AF in mice, and the protective effect of the free radical scavenger dexrazoxane.

This study aimed to evaluate left atrial (LA) mechanics using two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography (2DSTE) and investigate their correlations with measures of target organ damage (TOD) in hypertension. We enrolled 42 healthy controls (Group I) and 286 hypertension patients: Group II (n = 79) had an LA volume index (LAVI)

To investigate the capacity of biphasic cardiac CT (CCT) for qualitative and quantitative evaluation of different grades of left atrial appendage spontaneous echo contrast (LAASEC). The study included 267 inpatients with confirmed atrial fibrillation who underwent both CCT and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). CT numbers for LAA, ascending aorta (AA), and left atrium (LA) were identified, and ROC curves for LAA, LAA/AA, and LAA/LA were plotted. With TEE as the standard, the sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and accuracy of CCT for LAASEC grade ≥ 1 were 60.3, 92.9, 92.4, 64.8, and 75.7%; and for grade ≥ 2 were 100.0, 84.4, 71.4, 100.0, and 88.8% respectively. The values of LAA, LAA/AA, and LAA/LA were significantly larger in LAASEC grade 0 versus 1 and in grade 1 versus 2, but were similar in grades 2 and 3 or in grades 3 and 4. The values of LAA/AA were larger in grade 2 versus 4. When the cutoff value for LAA/AA = 0.897, sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and accuracy of CCT for LAASEC grade ≥ 1 was 89.6, 83.2, 87.9, 85.5, and 86.9% and with a cutoff for LAA/AA of 0.524, the sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and accuracy for LAASEC grade ≥ 2 was 98.7, 92.7, 84.1, 99.4, and 94.4%. Although CCT showed limited diagnostic accuracy for grade 1 LAASEC, grade ≥ 2 LAASEC could be excluded when there was no LAA filling defect on first-phase CCT, and TEE can be avoided. CCT has an excellent accuracy in diagnosing LAASEC, and quantitative analysis (in particular LAA/AA) is superior.

The shattered rim on railway wheels is increasingly concerned in recent years. Based on the failure analysis, the mechanism of shattered rim was revealed. The contact stress distribution of wheel/rail with inclusions in the wheel was analyzed by ABAQUS. Then the stress field was imported into FRANC3D to simulate the crack propagation. It is found that the simulation results were in good agreement with those obtained experimentally from the actual shattered rim, which proves the availability of the simulation. Meanwhile, the influence of the size and location of the inclusions on the fatigue life of the wheel was evaluated. Based on the crack propagation curves obtained by simulation, the rolling contact fatigue damage tolerance analysis and remaining fatigue life assessment method of wheels were proposed.

Cardiac remodeling is an important pathological process ultimately leading to heart failure. Ubiquitin carboxy-terminal hydrolase 1 (UCHL1) is a deubiquitinase that plays a critical role in neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. However, its role in cardiac remodeling in spontaneously hypertensive rats remains unclear. Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) were administered the UCHL1 inhibitor LDN-57444 (20 μg/kg/day) from 2 months of age for 4 months. Blood pressure, cardiac hypertrophy, fibrosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress were evaluated by the tail-cuff system, echocardiography, and histological analysis. Gene and protein expression levels were examined by real-time PCR and immunoblotting analysis. At 6 months of age, the expression of UCHL at the mRNA and protein levels was significantly upregulated in SHRs compared with WKYs. Moreover, systolic blood pressure, cardiac performance, left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy, fibrosis, inflammation, and superoxide production were significantly increased in SHRs compared with WKYs, and these effects were markedly attenuated by LDN-57444 after 4 months of administration. These beneficial actions were possibly associated with a reduction in blood pressure and inactivation of multiple signaling pathways, including AKT, ERK1/2, STAT3, calcineurin A, TGF-β/Smad2/3, and NF-κB. In conclusion, the results indicate that UCHL1 is involved in hypertensive cardiac remodeling in SHRs, and targeting UCHL1 activity may be a novel potential therapeutic approach for the treatment of hypertensive heart diseases.

The effects of inclusion size and stress ratio (R) on the very-high-cycle fatigue (VHCF) behavior of pearlitic steel were experimentally assessed. The S–N curve under rotating bending loading exhibited a horizontal asymptote shape and a clear fatigue limit. In contrast, the S–N curve under ultrasonic axial loading exhibited a continuously descending shape, and the fatigue limit disappeared at a fatigue life of 107 cycles. The fine granular area (FGA) within nanograins formed in the crack initiation region only for the samples subjected to VHCF at R = −1. All instances of interior crack initiation were caused by the MnS inclusions.

The left atrium (LA) is a dynamic apparatus that modulates left ventricular (LV) filling and cardiovascular performance with its reservoir, conduit, and booster pump functions. We used two dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2DSTE)-based strain and strain rate imaging to evaluate LA

Background Left ventricular remodeling (LVr) is common after ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) for predicting LVr 6–9 months after late percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with STEMI. Methods Patients with first STEMI who accepted late PCI were enrolled. Echocardiography was performed within 48 hours of admission. Six to nine months after MI, an echocardiography examination was repeated. LVr was defined as >15% increase in LV end-systolic volume (LVESV) after 6 months. Results One hundred and twenty-seven patients were divided into two groups: 86 patients without LVr and 41 patients with LVr. There were significant differences in the global longitudinal strain (GLS), SD of time to peak longitudinal systolic strain (longitudinal Ts-SD), longitudinal postsystolic index, radial strain (RS), and SD of time to peak radial systolic strain (Radial Ts-SD). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, the GLS(odds ratio [OR] = 0.39, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.26–0.57, P

Background The aim of this study was to investigate left atrial (LA) function and synchrony in paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) patients using two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (STE). Methods Forty-five PAF patients and 30 healthy controls were enrolled. LA peak ventricular systolic longitudinal strain (LAS-S) and strain rate (LASR-S) and left atrial longitudinal strain (LAS-A) and strain rate (LASR-A) during late diastole were determined using STE, and the standard deviation of the time to peak (TPSD) of the regional strains was calculated to quantify LA dyssynchrony. TPSD during ventricular systole and late diastole were named SDs and SDa, respectively. Results Left atrial peak longitudinal strain during ventricular systole (LAS-S) (29.34±8.57 vs 36.73±6.13), LASR-S (1.27±0.311 vs 1.57±0.25), LAS-A (13.11±4.91 vs 17.86±3.57), and LASR-A (−1.51±0.58 vs −1.90±0.30) were reduced in the PAF group compared with the controls (P

Fibroblast migration is a central process in skin wound healing, which requires the coordination of several types of growth factors. bFGF, a well-known fibroblast growth factor (FGF), is able to accelerate fibroblast migration; however, the underlying mechanism of bFGF regulation fibroblast migration remains unclear. Through the RNA-seq analysis, we had identified that the hedgehog (Hh) canonical pathway genes including Smoothened (Smo) and Gli1, were regulated by bFGF. Further analysis revealed that activation of the Hh pathway via up-regulation of Smo promoted fibroblast migration, invasion, and skin wound healing, but which significantly reduced by GANT61, a selective antagonist of Gli1/Gli2. Western blot analyses and siRNA transfection assays demonstrated that Smo acted upstream of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)-c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)-β-catenin to promote cell migration. Moreover, RNA-seq and qRT-PCR analyses revealed that Hh pathway genes including Smo and Gli1 were under control of β-catenin, suggesting that β-catenin turn feedback activates Hh signaling. Taken together, our analyses identified a new bFGF-regulating mechanism by which Hh signaling regulates human fibroblast migration, and the data presented here opens a new avenue for the wound healing therapy.

Balancing with the influence coefficient method can eliminate rotor unbalance effectively and briefly which usually causes mechanical vibration. But the accuracy of this method is susceptible to operating condition and the structure of mechanical equipments will leads to unstable equilibrium outcomes. The theoretical study of the influence coefficient balancing method can find that the solution process of balancing weight does not involve the mechanical nature of unbalance vibration, and therefore it will be subject to greater interference of equation’s ill-conditioned characteristics. By introducing the modal superposition, vibration mode function can be linked with the influence coefficients to establish the relationship between counter weight location parameters and ill-conditioned equations. The simulation results of multiple-blade rotor shows that positions of balancing weight will exert great influence on ill-conditioned characteristics. So the position parameters should be chosen in front of balancing service reasonably.

A Schiff base compound derived from naphthalene has been synthesized and characterized as an Al

To investigate the effects of zinc deficiency on the relevant immune function in rats with LPS-induced sepsis.Sixty rats were divided into low zinc group (LZ), normal zinc pair-fed group (NP), and normal zinc control group (NC) according to the random number table, with 20 rats in each group. The rats in group LZ were fed with low zinc diet, and the rats in group NP were fed with normal zinc diet, with the same intake as that of group LZ by manual control, and the rats in group NC were fed with normal zinc diet freely. After being fed for 7 d, the rats all fasted and were further divide into the below subgroups named LZ-LPS, LZ-normal saline (NS), NP-LPS, NP-NS, NC-LPS, and NC-NS according to the random number table, with 10 rats in each subgroup. Rats in the LPS subgroups were intraperitoneally injected with 1 mg/mL LPS solution with the dosage of 5 mg/kg, rats in the corresponding NS subgroups were intraperitoneally injected with equivalent NS. The rats were sacrificed at post injection hour 6 to collect blood, spleen, and thymus. The serum level of zinc was detected by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, and the serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity was detected by automatic blood biochemical analyzer. The body weight and weight of spleen and thymus of rats were weighed, and the indices of spleen and thymus were calculated. Six routine blood indices were examined by automatic blood cell analyzer. The serum levels of interferon gamma (IFN-γ), TNF-α, IL-4, and IL-10 were determined with ELISA, and the ratio of IFN-γ to IL-4 was calculated. Data were processed with one-way analysis of variance and SNK test.(1) Serum levels of zinc and ALP activity in the LPS subgroups were significantly lower than those in the corresponding NS subgroups (with P values below 0.05). The two former indices in subgroups NP-NS and NC-NS were significantly higher than those in subgroup LZ-NS (with P values below 0.05). The two former indices in subgroups NP-LPS and NC-LPS were significantly higher than those in subgroup LZ-LPS (with P values below 0.05). (2) Body weight, spleen and thymus weight, indices of spleen and thymus in the LPS subgroups were similar with those in the corresponding NS subgroups (with P values above 0.05). The 4 former indices, except for body weight, in subgroups NP-NS and NC-NS were significantly higher than those in subgroup LZ-NS (with P values below 0.05). The 4 former indices, except for body weight, in subgroups NP-LPS and NC-LPS were significantly higher than those in subgroup LZ-LPS (with P values below 0.05). (3) Levels of leucocyte count in subgroups LZ-LPS and NP-LPS were significantly higher than those in the corresponding NS subgroups (with P values below 0.05). Level of leucocyte count in subgroup NC-NS was significantly higher than that in subgroup LZ-NS (P0.05). Level of leucocyte count in subgroup NC-LPS was significantly lower than that in subgroup LZ-LPS (P0.05). Levels of neutrophilic granulocyte count (NGC) and NG in the LPS subgroups were significantly higher than those in the corresponding NS subgroups (with P values below 0.05). The two former indices in subgroup NC-LPS were significantly lower than those in subgroup LZ-LPS (with P values below 0.05). Level of NG in subgroup NC-NS was significantly lower than that in subgroup LZ-NS (P0.05). Levels of lymphocyte count and lymphocyte in subgroups LZ-NS, LZ-LPS, NP-NS, NP-LPS, NC-NS, and NC-LPS were respectively (1.8 ± 0.4) × 10⁹/L, (1.0 ± 0.3)× 10⁹/L, (2.6 ± 0.7) × 10⁹/L, (1.4 ± 0.4) × 10⁹/L, (3.3 ± 0.6) × 10⁹/L, (1.5 ± 0.5) × 10⁹/L, and 0.39 ± 0.10, 0.11 ± 0.03, 0.47 ± 0.12, 0.14 ± 0.04, 0.50 ± 0.09, 0.24 ± 0.07. The two former indices in the LPS subgroups were significantly lower than those in the corresponding NS subgroups (with P values below 0.05). The two former indices in subgroup NC-NS were significantly higher than those in subgroup LZ-NS (with P values below 0.05). The two former indices in subgroups NP-LPS and NC-LPS were significantly higher than those in subgroup LZ-LPS (with P values below 0.05). Level of lymphocyte count in subgroup NP-NS was significantly higher than that in subgroup LZ-NS (P0.05). Levels of platelet count (PC) in subgroups NP-LPS and NC-LPS were significantly lower than those in the corresponding NS subgroups (with P values below 0.05). Levels of PC in subgroups NP-NS and NC-NS were significantly higher than those in subgroup LZ-NS (with P values below 0.05). Level of PC in subgroup NC-LPS was significantly higher than that in subgroup LZ-LPS (P0.05). (4) Serum levels of TNF-α, IL-4, and IL-10 in each subgroup showed no significant differences (with P values above 0.05). Serum levels of IFN-γ and ratios of IFN-γ to IL-4 in subgroups LZ-NS, LZ-LPS, NP-NS, NP-LPS, NC-NS, and NC-LPS were respectively (75 ± 21), (233 ± 40), (80 ± 14), (345 ± 74), (66 ± 7), (821 ± 189) pg/mL, and 3.1 ± 1.0, 6.6 ± 1.7, 3.9 ± 1.7, 20.2 ± 8.3, 3.4 ± 1.5, 45.7 ± 7.6. The two former indices in the LPS subgroups were significantly higher than those in the corresponding NS subgroups (with P values below 0.05). The two former indices in subgroups NP-NS and NC-NS were similar with those in subgroup LZ-NS (with P values above 0.05). The two former indices in subgroups NP-LPS and NC-LPS were significantly higher than those in subgroup LZ-LPS (with P values below 0.05).Zinc deficiency can induce the atrophy of spleen and thymus, and reduction of peripheral blood lymphocyte. In sepsis, zinc deficiency can further decrease the production of IFN-γ, thus making the cytokines of Th1/Th2 shift to Th2 and the immune imbalance worse.

In water-deficient areas, water resource management requires evapotranspiration at high spatiotemporal resolution-an impossible situation given the trade-off between spatial and temporal resolutions in space-borne systems. Some researchers have suggested sharpening the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) land-surface temperature product with a resolution from 1 km to 250 m and a functional relationship between surface temperature (Tr) and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). Evapotranspiration at 250 m resolution can be obtained once every few days using this technique. Based on the interpretation of the triangular Tr-NDVI space and assuming uniform soil moisture conditions in a coarse pixel, this paper suggests an alternative algorithm-the triangle algorithm-for sharpening. The triangle algorithm was tested using Landsat 7 Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) data from an arid zone. Sharpened surface temperatures and reference temperatures were compared at 60 m and 240 m resolutions. Root mean square errors with the triangle algorithm are smaller than those with a functional relationship between Tr and NDVI. This paper will also discuss the impact of soil moisture variations in the coarse pixel on the triangle algorithm. Finally we should mention that the triangle algorithm only applies to regions with non-stressed vegetation canopies.

Novel P-doped GaN triangular microtubes were synthesized by a facile chemical vapor deposition method. This novel structure consists of a single hexagonal wurtzite phase with a triangular cross section. The tube lengths range from tens of to several hundred micrometers, and each side has a width between 0.5 and 1 mu m, with a tube wall thickness of several tens of nanometers. The formation mechanism of this triangular tubular structure is a vapor solid methanism, as determined by electron microscopy. Extraordinary and stable infrared emission (centered at similar to 724 nm) from the P-doped GaN triangular microtubes was observed from their photoluminescence spectroscopy. The low turn-on field (2.9 V mu m(-1)), high field-enhancement factor, large current density (3 mA cm(-2) at a field of similar to 9.5 V mu m(-1)), and high stability indicate the suitability of P-doped GaN microtubes as potential field emitters. This field emission property is attributed to the specific crystallographic feature-the rigid triangular structures with effective P doping and rough surface hillocks.

Delta-catenin was first identified because of its interaction with presenilin-1, and its aberrant expression has been reported in various human tumors and in patients with Cri-du-Chat syndrome, a form of mental retardation. However, the mechanism whereby delta-catenin is regulated in cells has not been fully elucidated. We investigated the possibility that glycogen-synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) phosphorylates delta-catenin and thus affects its stability. Initially, we found that the level of delta-catenin was greater and the half-life of delta-catenin was longer in GSK-3beta(-/-) fibroblasts than those in GSK-3beta(+/+) fibroblasts. Furthermore, four different approaches designed to specifically inhibit GSK-3 activity, i.e. GSK-3-specific chemical inhibitors, Wnt-3a conditioned media, small interfering RNAs, and GSK-3alpha and -3beta kinase dead constructs, consistently showed that the levels of endogenous delta-catenin in CWR22Rv-1 prostate carcinoma cells and primary cortical neurons were increased by inhibiting GSK-3 activity. In addition, it was found that both GSK-3alpha and -3beta interact with and phosphorylate delta-catenin. The phosphorylation of DeltaC207-delta-catenin (lacking 207 C-terminal residues) and T1078A delta-catenin by GSK-3 was noticeably reduced compared with that of wild type delta-catenin, and the data from liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analyses suggest that the Thr(1078) residue of delta-catenin is one of the GSK-3 phosphorylation sites. Treatment with MG132 or ALLN, specific inhibitors of proteosome-dependent proteolysis, increased delta-catenin levels and caused an accumulation of ubiquitinated delta-catenin. It was also found that GSK-3 triggers the ubiquitination of delta-catenin. These results suggest that GSK-3 interacts with and phosphorylates delta-catenin and thereby negatively affects its stability by enabling its ubiquitination/proteosome-mediated proteolysis.

Mycotoxins are commonly encountered natural products, and are capable of poisoning animals or humans that inhale mold particles from mycotoxin-contaminated foods. Ochratoxin A (OTA) is produced by Aspergillu ochracus and Penicillium verrucosum, and is often found in cereals and agricultural products. Although previous studies have focused on the potent nephrotoxicity and renal carcinogenicity of OTA, more recent studies suggest that it accumulates in the brain and causes oxidative stress and DNA damage in various brain regions and neuronal populations. In the present study, we undertook to investigate the potential harm caused by environmental exposure to OTA in terms of its effects on neuronal cell viability and proteome profiles. OTA was found to significantly reduce the viabilities of human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y and mouse hippocampal HT22 cells, as assessed by lactic dehydrogenase release into culture media. Generation of reactive oxygen species was detected in OTA-treated SH-SY5Y and HT22 cells, however, caspase activation and increase in p53 phosphorylation were only detected in HT22 cells, and the expressions of several proteins were found to be significantly altered after treating HT22 cells with OTA. Valosin containing protein, prolyl 4-hydroxylase, Atp5b protein, nucleophosmin 1, eukaryotic translation elongation factor 1 delta isoform, ornithine aminotransferase, prohibitin, and peroxiredoxin 6, which have been suggested to be implicated in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders, were up-regulated. Our findings suggest that coordinated regulations of molecular networks are involved in the OTA-induced cytotoxicity and that proteome response can be an indicative for neurodegeneration.

A novel fluorescence-based method for protein staining on SDS polyacrylamide gel is described. In this method, proteins are stained using counterion (palmatine and SDS) staining solution, which is inexpensive, easy to perform, and does not involve a destaining step. Fixing and staining of proteins using the counterion protocol take less than an hour. As little as 2 ng of protein can be detected. Another interesting feature of the staining protocol described here is the compatibility with MALDI-TOF MS which shows a similar number of identification score and sequence coverage compared with those of SYPRO Ruby.

A simple and sensitive fluorescent staining method for the detection of proteins in SDS-PAGE, namely IB (improved 4,4'-dianilino-1,1'-binaphthyl-5,5'-disulfonic acid) stain, is described. Non-covalent hydrophobic probe 4,4'-dianilino-1,1'-binaphthyl-5,5'-disulfonic acid was applied as a fluorescent dye, which can bind to hydrophobic sites in proteins non-specifically. As low as 1 ng of protein band can be detected briefly by 30 min washing followed by 15 min staining without the aiding of stop or destaining step. The sensitivity of the new presented protocol is similar to that of SYPRO Ruby, which has been widely accepted in proteomic research. Comparative analysis of the MS compatibility of IB stain and SYPRO Ruby stain allowed us to address that IB stain is compatible with the downstream of protein identification by PMF.

A fast and sensitive protein fluorescent detection method in SDS-PAGE using the natural product palmatine is described. Palmatine is an alkaloid found in various plants exhibiting a broad spectrum of antibiotic activity in humans. The sensitivity of palmatine staining is similar to those of the SYPRO Red, SYPRO Tangerine, and SYPRO Orange protein gel stains - about 4 ng per protein band. This detection sensitivity is comparable to colloidal CBB staining. Since proteins stained with palmatine do not need destaining, the staining procedure can be easily shortened and completed in about 30 min. Stained proteins can be photographed using a UV transilluminator. The results of the present study suggest that the palmatine staining is sensitive, rapid, low cost, and safe for a broad application to the research of protein.

Aim: To observe the antifibrotic effects of Masson Pine Pollen aqueous extract. Methods: Adult Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into control (CG), hepatic fibrosis model (MG), MPPAE low dose (LG), MPPAE high dose (HG), and MPP original powder (MPPOP; OG) groups. Each group was treated with specific protocols and sacrificed 8 weeks later. Multiple indicators such as serum transaminase, HE staining of the liver tissue, and relevant indexes to fibrosis were determined. Results: Severe hyperplasia of fibrous connective tissues was observed in livers of the MG group rats, while aspartate transaminase and alanine transaminase levels and collagen content obviously increased, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities and MMPs expression decreased, malondialdehyde (MDA) and 8-hydroxy-2’-deoxyguanosine concentrations increased, while mRNA expressions of hepatic stellate cell (HSC)-related cytokines such as transforming growth factor-β1 and platelet-derived growth factor, transcription factors such as nuclear factor-κB p65, and signaling protein α-smooth muscle actin were all increased significantly. Conclusions: MPPAE effectively inhibited the fibrotic process in this CCl4-induced hepatic fibrosis rat model. It may be associated with synergic functions of antioxidant activity, inhibitory activity on HSC proliferation, collagen synthesis, and MMPs expression induction.