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The association between lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] levels and metabolic syndrome (MetS) remains uncertain, especially in the Asian population. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the association between Lp(a) levels and MetS in a middle-aged and elderly Chinese cohort. A cross-sectional study of 10,336 Chinese adults aged 40 years or older was conducted in Jiading District, Shanghai, China. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the association between serum Lp(a) levels and MetS. In the overall population, 37.5% of participants had MetS. Compared with individuals in the lowest quartile of serum Lp(a) levels, those in the highest quartile had a lower prevalence of MetS (30.9% vs. 46.9%, P for trend < 0.0001). Multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that compared with participants in the bottom quartile of serum Lp(a) levels, those in the top quartile had decreased odds ratio (OR) for prevalent MetS [multivariate-adjusted OR 0.45 (95% confidence interval 0.39-0.51); P < 0.0001]. Additionally, Lp(a) level was conversely associated with the risk of central obesity, high fasting glucose, high triglycerides, and low HDL cholesterol, but not with hypertension. Stratified analyses suggested that increasing levels of Lp(a) was associated with decreased risk of MetS in all the subgroups. Serum Lp(a) level was inversely associated with the risk of prevalent MetS in a middle-aged and elderly Chinese cohort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arsenic-hyperaccumulator Pteris vittata is efficient in taking up arsenate (AsV) and arsenite (AsIII), however, their impacts on P. vittata growth and nutrient uptake remain unclear. The uptake of AsV and AsIII, their influences on nutrient uptake and plant biomass, and As speciation were investigated in P. vittata after exposing to 5 or 50 μM AsV or AsIII for 12 d under hydroponics. The results show that AsV uptake in P. vittata was 1.2 times more efficient than AsIII, corresponding to 1.7–2.1 fold greater biomass than the control at 50 μM As. While AsV was dominant in the roots at ∼60%, AsIII was more dominant in the fronds at ∼70% in all treatments. Macronutrients P, K, Ca, and S were increased by 118−185% at 50 μM As, with greater uptake of micronutrients Fe, Mn, Cu, and Zn at 5 μM As. Further, positive correlations between P. vittata biomass and its As contents (r = 0.97), and P. vittata biomass and its S, Mg, P, or Ca contents (r = 0.70–0.98) were observed. Our results suggest that its increased nutrient uptake probably enhanced P. vittata growth under As exposure. [Display omitted] •Arsenic enhanced nutrient uptake and plant growth by As-hyperaccumulator P. vittata. • P. vittata was more efficient in taking up AsV than AsIII. • P. vittata was efficient in translocating both AsV and AsIII. •Arsenic at 50 μM increased P. vittata uptake of macronutrients P, S, K, and Ca. •Arsenic at 5 μM increased P. vittata uptake of micronutrients Fe, Mn, Cu, and Zn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the serious threat of methanol to human health, the convenient, quick and specific detection of methanol is of great importance. Therefore, in this study, a biomass-derived chiral nematic composite film is fabricated by the co-evaporation of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) and water-soluble polymer of β-cyclodextrin (PCD). The freestanding iridescent CNC-PCD film shows distinguishing structural colors of red and yellow green for methanol and ethanol respectively, realizing the identification of the two homologous alcohols by naked eyes. Besides, the quick, reversible and quantitative colorimetric sensing of the CNC-PCD film to methanol is verified. As its structural color and maximum reflection wavelength redshift to the greatest extent for methanol than other alcohols, the CNC-PCD film exhibits the specificity and selectivity for methanol detection in both single and mixed solvents. Such less-consumed and easy-to-handle CNC-PCD film may be useful as a colorimetric sensor to detect or discriminate methanol in some industrial products. A novel and green chiral nematic CNC-PCD composite film was fabricated from two types of important sustainable polysaccharides, CNC and β-CD. CNC-PCD can be used for the quick, reversible and specific colorimetric sensing of methanol. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antimony (Sb) and arsenic (As) are chemical analogs, but their behaviors in plants are different. To investigate the Sb uptake, translocation and speciation in As-hyperaccumulator P. cretica , a hydroponic experiment was conducted. In this study, P. cretica was exposed to 0.2-strength Hoagland nutrient solution, which contained 0.5 or 5 mg/L antimonite (SbIII) or antimonate (SbV). After 14 d exposure, P. cretica took up 1.4–2.8 times more SbIII than SbV. Since P. cretica was unable to translocate Sb, its roots accumulated >97% Sb with the highest at 7965 mg/kg. In both SbIII and SbV treatments, SbIII was the predominant species in P. cretica , with 90–100% and 46–100% SbIII in the roots. As the first barrier against Sb to enter plant cells, more Sb was accumulated in cell wall than cytosol or organelles. The results suggest that P. cretica may detoxify Sb by reducing SbV to SbIII and immobilizing it in root cell walls. Besides, the presence of SbIII significantly reduced the concentrations of dissolved organic C including organic acids in P. cretica root exudates. Further, increasing Sb levels promoted P accumulation in the plant, especially in the fronds, which may help P. cretica growth. The information from this study shed light on metabolic transformation of Sb in As-hyperaccumulators P. cretica , which helps to better understand Sb uptake and detoxification by plants. [Display omitted] •As-hyperaccumulator Pteris cretica accumulated >7000 mg/kg Sb in the roots. • P. cretica was 2.8 times more efficient in taking up SbIII than SbV. •Most SbV in the roots was reduced to SbIII and was associated with cell wall. •SbIII reduced root exudates but increased frond P accumulation in P. cretica. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) related differentially expressed CBX family genes were identified based on multiple public databases, such as TCGA, DAVID, TIMER, GEPIA, HPA, PDB, and Oncomine database. • The 8 CBX family genes with relatively expression for the patients of DLBCL were identified. • 8 CBXs potential molecular functions and regulations were identified for DLBCL. Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the main pathological type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Chromobox (CBX) family proteins are classical components of polycomb group (PcG) complexes in many cancer types, resulting in accelerated carcinogenesis. Nevertheless, the prognostic, functional and expression significance of these CBX family members in DLBCL remain unclear and elusive. CBX transcriptional levels were confirmed using Oncomine, Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) and Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia (CCLE) databases. The protein levels of CBX family members were analysed using The Human Protein Atlas (HPA) database. Information on the PPI network, functional enrichment, drug sensitivity, prognostic value, miRNA network, protein structure, genetic alteration and immune cell infiltration were generated using the GeneMANIA, Metascape, GSCALite, GEPIA, PDB, cBioPortal, and TIMER databases, and the correlation of these factors with CBX expression levels in DLBCL was assessed. CBX1/2/3/5/6/8 mRNA levels were significantly enhanced in DLBCL tissues compared to corresponding normal tissues. CBX1/3/4/5/8 protein expression levels were obviously increased, whereas CBX7 was obviously decreased. This difference might be attributed to miRNA regulation based on the miRNA network. Overall survival (OS) analysis showed that CBX levels were not correlated with prognosis in DLBCL patients, indicating that CBXs are not good biomarkers for DLBCL patients. Furthermore, functional enrichment analyses indicated that CBXs were closely related to DNA duplex unwinding, covalent chromatin modification, and histone lysine methylation. The levels of CBXs were also significantly associated with diverse immune cell infiltration in DLBCL. This study reveals that dysregulated CBXs are involved in DLBCL development and might represent potential therapeutic targets for DLBCL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is among the most common liver diseases in the world. Flavonoids from Scutellaria amoena (SAF) are used in the treatment of hepatopathy in China. However, the effect and mechanism against NASH remain unclear. We investigated the alleviating effect of SAF on NASH via regulating mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress. The effects of SAF on NASH were evaluated using in vitro and in vivo methods. L02 cells were induced by fat emulsion to establish an adipocytes model, followed by treatment with SAF for 24 h. NASH rat models were established by the administration of a high-fat diet for 12 weeks and were administered SAF for six weeks. Changes in body weight, organ indexes, lipid levels, inflammatory cytokines, mitochondrial indicators, and fatty acid metabolism were investigated. SAF significantly improved body weight, organ indexes, lipid levels, liver injury, and inflammatory infiltration in NASH rats. SAF notably regulated interleukin-6, tumor necrotic factor-alpha, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1), nuclear factor-erythroid factor 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). Additionally, SAF improved mitochondrial dysfunction, increased the levels of GSH, SOD, ATP synthase, complex I and II, and decreased the level of MDA in liver mitochondria. SAF regulated the expression of β-oxidation genes, including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor -gamma coactivator-1alpha (PGC-1α), carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 (CPT1) A, CPT1B, medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase, long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase, very long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase, and PPARα. SAF can alleviate NASH by regulating mitochondrial function and oxidative stress via the Keap1/Nrf2/HO-1 axis. [Display omitted] • SAF has a strong effect on improving NASH. • SAF can alleviate HFD-induced NASH by regulating mitochondrial dysfunction. • SAF improves HFD-induced NASH by regulating oxidative stress Keap1/Nrf2/HO-1 axis. • SAF offers new mitochondrial regulators/nutrients for NASH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of novel hybrid compounds between benzofuran and N -aryl piperazine have been designed and prepared. These derivatives were evaluated for their in vitro anti-tumor activity against a panel of human tumor cell lines by MTT assay. The results demonstrated that amide derivatives were more bioactive than sulfonamide compounds in general, and that chloro or trifluoromethyl substituent was vital for modulating cytotoxic activity. In particular, compound 13 was found to be the most potent compound against 4 strains human tumor cell lines, and exhibited cytotoxic activity selectively against Hela (0.03 μM). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging infectious disease of which the clinical progression and factors related to death are still unclear. Objective: To identify the clinical progression of SFTS and explore predictors of fatal outcome throughout the disease progress. Study design: A prospective study was performed in a general hospital located in Xinyang city during 2011–2013. Confirmed SFTS patients were recruited and laboratory parameters that were commonly evaluated in clinical practice were collected. The clinical progression was determined based on analysis of dynamic profiles and Friedman's test. At each clinical stage, the laboratory features that could be used to predict fatal outcome of SFTS patients were identified by stepwise discriminant analysis. Results: Totally 257 survivors and 54 deceased SFTS patients were recruited and the data of 11 clinical and laboratory parameters along their entire disease course were consecutively collected. Three clinical stages (day 1–5 post onset, day 6–11 post onset and day 12 to hospital discharge) were determined based on distinct clinical parameters evaluations. Multivariate discriminant analysis at each clinical stage disclosed the indicators of the fatal outcome as decreased platelet counts at early stage, older age and increased AST level at middle stage, and decreased lymphocyte percentage and increased LDH level at late stage. Conclusions: The significant indicators at three clinical stages could be used to assist identifying the patients with high risk of death. This knowledge might help to perform supportive treatment and avoid fatality. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Background: The long-term immunogenicity after novel vaccine against A(H1N1)pdm09 administration or natural infection has not been well investigated. Methods: Six cohorts of subjects were followed up for over one year: one-dose A(H1N1)pdm09 vaccine recipient, A(H1N1)pdm09-seasonal trivalent vaccine recipients in different orders, confirmed A(H1N1)pdm09 patients without vaccination, with previous A(H1N1)pdm09 or seasonal influenza vaccination. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells and sera samples were collected at baseline and month 1, 2, 3, 7 and 14 after vaccination (infection). The immunogenicity was determined by hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) and B cell enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assays. Results: Single dose of A(H1N1)pdm09 vaccine elicited antibody titer of greater than 1:40 in 40% adults for 1 year and mean live of this adequate antibody was determined as 8.35 months. In contrast, responses after natural infections had lower peaking level and a relatively longer antibody duration, with estimated mean lives of 11.8 months. Pre-vaccination with the seasonal flu vaccine led to a significant reduction in HI titer to A(H1N1)pdm09 one month after vaccination, while pre-vaccination with A(H1N1)pdm09 had no effect on seasonal influenza vaccination. Seasonal flu vaccination followed by A(H1N1)pdm09 infection elicited boosting effect on antibody response against A(H1N1)pdm09. A similar memory B cell response was elicited from both vaccination and infection by ELISPOT assay. Conclusions: The long-term decay of immunity for A(H1N1)pdm09 vaccine and natural infection indicates the need of revaccination after the host lose protection acquired from either vaccination or infection. Prior infection, rather than the pre-vaccination with seasonal influenza could act on the host immunity to elicit boosting effect on the A(H1N1)pdm09. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]