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Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine malignancy in the pediatric population. A recent study has revealed a recent decline in overall US thyroid cancer incidence rates. The aim of this study is to assess whether there has been a corresponding decline in incidence rates in the pediatric population. We used the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database to analyze the pediatric thyroid cancer incidence rate. The results demonstrate that the incidence rate of pediatric thyroid cancer continued to increase from 2000 to 2018. Future studies are needed to understand how recent changes in guidelines are affecting incidence rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Limited data exist regarding the utility and validity of the 21-gene recurrence score (RS) in patients with de novo metastatic breast cancer (dnMBC). This study aimed to investigate the practice patterns as well as associated survival outcomes based on 21-gene RS in dnMBC. The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Oncotype database was queried for women with hormone receptor-positive and Her2-negative dnMBC. A total of 153 patients were identified, including 62.7% and 37.3% of patients who had RS < 26 and ≥ 26, respectively. Patients with RS ≥ 26 were more likely to receive chemotherapy compared to those with RS < 26 (61.4% vs. 28.1%, p < 0.001). Patients with RS ≥ 26 had an inferior breast cancer-specific survival (BCSS) (2-year BCSS: 84.3% vs. 89.5, p = 0.067) and overall survival (OS) compared to those with RS < 26 (2-year OS: 76.9% vs. 87.4%, p = 0.018). The multivariate Cox proportional hazard models showed that those with RS ≥ 26 had a significantly inferior BCSS (hazard ratio [HR] 2.251, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.056–4.799, p = 0.036) and OS (HR 2.151, 95%CI 1.123–4.120, p = 0.021) compared to those with RS < 26. The 21-gene RS assay is an important prognostic factor in patients with dnMBC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As one of the most cost-effective genome editing technologies, CRISPR/Cas9 has attracted considerable attention from worldwide scientists and international organizations. Therefore, it is fundamentally important for them to understand the research progress on the topic. Using the bibliometric method, this article characterizes the CRISPR/Cas9-related literature based on the network database platform of SCI-Expanded from Web of Science. We found: (1) Annual publications about CRISPR/Cas9 exhibited a sharp increase, with only one in 2011 and 1,055 in 2016. (2) The number of journals with an impact factor (IF) from 1 to 5 were major collections (n = 257, or 60.5%); the number of articles were mainly published in journals whose IF ranged from 3 to 8 (n = 1,128, or 51.9%). Number of articles per journal, citations per journal, and citations per article were ascending as the rising impact factor except for IF from 10 to 20. (3) Scientific Reports (IF = 5.228) published the highest number of articles with 216 records (10.1%), and Science (IF = 34.661) had the highest number of citations with 9,021 records. (4) The United States, China, and Japan not only had the greatest number of articles and citations but also produced the highest single-country articles, with the maximum proportion in Japan. International collaboration analysis further confirmed that the United States plays the leading role in this area. (5) Harvard University and the Chinese Academy of Sciences appeared at the top position of the publication output ranking. And cooperation among institutions often occurred within the same country and even in the same unit. (6) The teams of F. Zhang and J. A. Doudna were the strongest in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Circadian rhythm and dairy zinc levels linked tightly to the lipid metabolism in animals. The aim of the experiment was to evaluate the cross effects of zinc status and daily rhythm on lipid metabolism in male mice. A total of 40 male C57BL/6J mice (9 week-old, weight) were randomly into Zn+(30ug/g) and Zn-(0.3ug/g) groups for 30 days. The results showed that zinc-deficient diet significantly reduced the epididymis/body weight (BW) ratio, but increased the epididymal white adipose tissue/BW ratio and tend to increase the abdominal WAT/BW ratio relative weight. Zn status could shift the circadian rhythm by regulate the Bmal1 and Per2 expressions. Moreover, zinc-deficient diet significantly decreased the serum adiponectin at Clo18. Significant circadian variations on serum CHOL and triglyceride were observed in mice that fed zinc-deficient diet. Further, the FASD1 and FASD2 genes that related to de novo synthesis of long-chained fatty acids were up-regulated, and adipose triglyceride lipase gene expression of lipolysis was decreased compared to the control. Taken together, dairy zinc levels would change the daily rhythm and its lipid metabolism in mice, which might affect the serum lipids thereby change lipids accumulation in body. Abbreviations: ALT, alanine aminotransferase; AST, aspartate aminotransferase; ATGL, adipose triglyceride lipase; aWATs, abdominal WAT; β-actin, beta-actin; Bmal1, brain and muscle arnt-like protein-1; BW, body weight; CHOL, cholesterol; Cyp21a1, 21-hydroxylase; eWAT, epididymal white adipose tissue; FASD1, delta 5-desaturase; FASD2, delta 6-desaturase; ingWAT, inguinal WAT; mWAT, mesenteric WAT; Per2, period2; TG, triglyceride; WAT, white adipose tissue; SHP small heterodimer partner, Zn, Zinc; [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new kind of visual acoustic measurement system was developed to obtain the acoustic characteristics of seabed sediment and the working state of in situ measuring equipment in real time. The control unit of the system structure is mainly made up of the underwater control unit and the deck control unit. In comparison with similar traditional systems, the system can transmit the working video image, the measured acoustic data and the waveform synchronous from the underwater control equipment to the deck control unit through the connecting cable. Apart from self-contained in situ measurement, the working modes of it include visual online real-time control. In order to guarantee the stability and measurement precision of the video control system, the process control of in situ measurement was strictly tested in the experimental tank. In 2017, sea trials of the in situ measurement system was carried out in the South China Sea. In the process, data related to measurement, including the acoustic velocity and attenuation coefficient of the seabed sediment, were obtained as well. The results from sea trials show that the control process of the visual system is intuitive, reliable and accurate, and therefore it can be popularized and applied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study is to determine the effects of iron on circadian clock gene expression and serum lipid metabolism in sucking piglets. Twenty-four neonatal piglets were selected and randomly assigned into three groups (A, B, and C) with eight replicates. Group A were received 1 mL physiological saline by intramuscular administration at d 3 and d 10; group B were received 1 mL iron dextran (100 mg) by intramuscular administration at d 3 and 1 mL physiological saline at d 10, respectively; group C were received 1 mL of iron dextran (100 mg) by intramuscular administration at both d 3 and d 10. Our results reveal that the relative expressions of Cry1, Cry2, Per1, Per2, and Bmal in liver were significantly different in the three groups (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, the content of triglyceride (TG) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) in serum were also affected by the iron supplementation (p < 0.05). These results indicated that iron affected hepatic circadian clock genes significantly, meanwhile, it may possible association with lipid metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zucchini yellow mosaic virus(ZYMV) causes one of the most destructive diseases of cucurbits worldwide. Although the virus has been present in China for more than 25 years, there is little information about biological and molecular traits of ZYMV isolates from China. This study aimed to characterize 26 ZYMV isolates from Xinjiang, China based on pathotypes, molecular variability and host range. Phylogenetic analysis of the complete sequences of the coat protein gene revealed three distinct groups (A, B and C), with four subgroups in A (I–IV). All isolates from Xinjiang were placed in group C and subgroups A–I and A–II. To test for differences in host range among different phylogenetic groups from Xinjiang, 13 isolates were mechanically inoculated onto 14 plant species in five families and their pathotypes were also identified based on the reaction of a resistant melon accession PI414723. Overall, the results showed that there were no correlations of host responses to inoculation with ZYMV isolates from different phylogenetic groups. However, onCucurbita pepo, differences in host responses to inoculation with the ZYMV isolates from different phylogenetic groups were observed. Although the host range of the 13 isolates tested was similar, their biological properties on different hosts were slightly different from the ZYMV isolates characterized in other countries. The results of the pathotype test showed that the 13 ZYMV isolates were classified as pathotype 0. The information obtained is important in breeding for resistant varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new intact resin glycoside (3) and two glycosidic acids (1 and 2), all having a common trisaccharide moiety and (11S)-hydroxytetradecanoic acid or (3S,11S)-dihydroxytetradecanoic acid as the aglycone, were obtained from the roots of Porana duclouxii. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analyses and chemical correlations. These compounds represent the first examples of resin glycosides from the genus Porana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new coordination polymer, {[Ni2(CH3O-ip)2(1,6-bih)2]}n(1), (CH3O-H2ip = 5-methoxyisophthalic acid, 1,6-bih = 1,6-bis(imidazol-1-yl)hexane), has been obtained under hydrothermal conditions. Complex 1 was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis and further characterized by elemental analysis and IR spectroscopy. Complex 1 shows a two-dimensional corrugated layer with (3,5)-connected (42.6)(42.67.8) topology. Furthermore, thermogravimetric property of 1 was also investigated. Supplemental materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition ofSynthesis and Reactivity in Inorganic, Metal-Organic, and Nano-Metal Chemistryto view the supplemental file. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is a well-known topic to characterize a finite simple group by using two quantities the order of G and π e (G) in the past 30 years, where π e (G) denotes the set of orders of elements in G. Recently this topic has been finished by Mazurov et al. Here the authors will try to characterize some finite simple groups by using less quantities and have successfully characterized simple K 3-groups by using the order of a group and the largest and the second largest element orders, where a K 3-group is a group of order containing exactly three distinct primes. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Conclusion: The selected scFv antibody could specifically recognize and target nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), and could be applied to clinical diagnosis and therapy. Objective: The aim was to construct and screen fully human anti-NPC single chain Fv fusion phage libraries, and to identify the specificity of the scFv antibody. Methods: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with NPC were immunized in vitro by NPC cells and transformed by Epstein-Barr virus. The total RNAwas used to construct the scFv libraries. By means of ELISA and immunochemistry, the positively bound scFv was selected and identified. The positive scFv was fused to EGFP, and was then expressed in E. coli strain BL21 (DE3) and purified. Furthermore, we observed the binding bioactivity. Results: The fusion protein has the biological activity of binding the NPC cells and emitting green fluorescence. In targeting experiments in vivo, the results showed that the fusion protein can successfully target the NPC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new coordination polymer, {[Cu(Brip)(1,4-btb)1.5]·2H2O}n, (H2Brip = 5-bromoisophthalic acid, 1,4-btb = 1,4-bis(triazol) butane) was prepared under hydrothermal condition by the reactions of Cu(II) acetate with H2Brip and 1,4-btb. The title complex was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis and further characterized by elemental analysis and IR spectroscopy. Complex 1 has a 3D network extended by both H2Brip and 1,4-btb ligands that employ the same bis-monodentate bridging coordination modes. From the view of topology, the structure of 1 could be described as a 5-connected (44·66)-nov net. Two of such nets penetrate with each other to generate a 2-fold interpenetrating 3D network. In addition, the thermal stability of the title complex was briefly investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two lanthanide complexes, [Ln(HCAM)2(OH-Py)·3H2O]· 2H2O (HCAM = 4-hydroxypyridine-2, 6-dicarboxylate, OH-Py = 4-hydroxypyridine; Ln = Ce(1), Tb(2), have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy, and X-ray single-crystal diffraction. X-ray diffraction reveals that the two complexes are isostructural, crystallizing in monoclinic system, space group of P2(1)/c, and each forms monomeric structure. The complexes exhibits one dimensional (1-D) zigzag chain array, and these 1-D chains are further linked into 3D supramolecular frameworks by extensive intra and intermolecular hydrogen-bonding and the π-π stacking interactions. The luminescence emission spectra of the complexes vary depending on which lanthanide ion is present. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new azobenzene-containing gelator for liquid crystals, AG2, was synthesized and used to prepare a ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) gel. The FLC gel shows interesting features. On cooling from the isotropic phase into the N[sup *] phase, the dissolved AG2 acts as a chiral dopant and has a compensation effect on the helical pitch of the N[sup *] phase. With 0.5 wt % of AG2 in the FLC host, a homogeneous alignment of the FLC molecules is formed in the N[sup *] phase, ensuring the bulk alignment in the SmC[sup *] phase, even on quenching the mixture from the isotropic phase. This alignment under fast cooling contrasts sharply with the slow cooling rate required for the alignment of a pure FLC. After formation of the bulk alignment, the aggregation of AG2 occurs in the lower temperature SmA or SmC[sup *] phases, and the gelator molecules self-assemble into nanometer-sized fibres (about 100 nm diameter) that are aligned and located between the smectic layers. As the gelator is microphase-separated from the FLC in the SmC[sup *] phase, it exerts little disruption on the electro-optic properties of the FLC cell. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Gliomas are aggressive tumors with various molecular and clinical characteristics and exhibit strongly resistance to radio-chemotherapy. Programmed cell death 1 ligand 2 (PD-L2) is a cell surface protein, which was reported in many cancers, modulating cancer-associated immune responses, while the role of PD-L2 in gliomas remained unclear. Herein, we aimed to investigate the biological behaviors and clinical prognostic values of PD-L2 in gliomas. Methods: Totally, we enrolled RNA sequencing data of 325 glioma samples from Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA) as training cohort and RNA expression data of 1032 samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset as validation cohort in this research. Then, the clinical and molecular characteristics, and the prognostic value of PD-L2 were analyzed. Results: We found that PD-L2 expression level was significantly upregulated in higher grade glioma and IDH wild-type glioma. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis revealed that PD-L2 was a potential indicator of mesenchymal subtype. PD-L2 exhibited tight relationship with immune response and immune-modulating process in glioma. Moreover, PD-L2 expression level could predict unfavorable prognoses of patients independent of age, grade, IDH status and 1p/19q status. Conclusions: Our study revealed that PD-L2 was closely related with inflammation and immune response. Patients with lower PD-L2 expression level tended to experience improved survival. Targeting PD-L2 may become a valuable approach for the treatment of gliomas in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]