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Background Kimura's disease (KD) is a rare chronic inflammatory condition characterized by nodules and lymphadenopathy in the head and neck region, exhibiting type II inflammation. Dupilumab is commonly used against type II inflammation. Aim To evaluate the efficacy and safety of dupilumab in KD patients. Design The real-world study was conducted in a hospital in China. Methods Six male patients with a mean age of 24.50 ± 15.47 years were treated with dupilumab following the same protocol as that for atopic dermatitis (AD). Clinical and laboratory indicators, such as maximum nodule diameter, blood eosinophil count, eosinophil percentage, and total serum IgE levels were assessed at baseline, Week 12 and Week 24. Adverse events were documented. Paired t -tests and one-way ANOVA were used for statistical analysis. Results The results showed significant reductions in the longest nodule diameter at Week 12 (P  =   0.006) and Week 24 (P  =   0.017) compared to baseline. Blood eosinophil count decreased by 57.95% (P  =   0.024) at Week 12 and 90.59% (P  =   0.030) at Week 24. Eosinophil percentage decreased by 58.44% (P  =   0.026) at Week 12 and 89.37% (P  =   0.013) at Week 24. Total serum IgE levels decreased by 78.02% (P  =   0.040) at Week 12 and 89.55% (P  =   0.031) at Week 24. The presence of AD did not affect the results. One patient experienced temporary facial erythema after 32 weeks of treatment, which resolved with topical treatment. No other adverse events were reported. Conclusion Dupilumab demonstrated effectiveness in treating KD without severe adverse events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the past 40 years after China adopted the reform and open-up policy, China’s expediting industries spatial agglomeration has resulted in severe damage to the environment. In China, the one whether the pollution haven hypothesis (PHH) is true or not is the hot issue under the research of academic circles. By establishing the mechanism model of industries spatial agglomeration and environmental pollution in this paper, we discovered upon our empirical study that China’s industrial spatial agglomeration process had apparent threshold characteristics for environmental pollution, those direct investment and scientific innovation of foreign merchants apparently improved environmental pollution, so PHH is not true in China and such conclusion provides empirical support for China’s industrial agglomeration and environmental policymaking. At the end of the paper, the policy proposals for improving environmental pollution in future are made, which have important significance for China’s high-quality economic development.

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of early transplantation of the faecal microbiota from Tibetan pigs on the gut development of dextran sulphate sodium- (DSS-) challenged piglets. In total, 24 3-day-old DLY piglets were divided into four groups (n = 6 per group); a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement was used, which included faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) (from Tibetan pigs) and DSS challenge. The whole trial lasted for 55 days. DSS infusion increased the intestinal density, serum diamine oxidase (DAO) activity, and colonic Escherichia coli count (P < 0.05), and decreased the Lactobacillus spp. count and mRNA abundances of epidermal growth factor (EGF), glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), occludin, mucin 2 (MUC2), regeneration protein IIIγ (RegIIIγ), and interleukin-10 (IL-10) in the colon (P < 0.05). FMT increased the Lactobacillus spp. count and mRNA abundances of GLP-2, RegIIIγ, and IL-10 in the colon (P < 0.05), and decreased the intestinal density, serum DAO activity, and colonic E. coli number (P < 0.05). In addition, in DSS-challenged piglets, FMT decreased the disease activity index (P < 0.05) and attenuated the effect of DSS challenge on the intestinal density, serum DAO activity, and colonic E. coli number (P < 0.05). These data indicated that the faecal microbiota from Tibetan pigs could attenuate the negative effect of DSS challenge on the gut development of piglets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study was conducted to determine the effects of stale maize on growth performance, immunity, intestinal morphology, and antioxidant capacity in broilers. Methods: A total of 800 onedayold male Arbor Acres broilers (45.4±0.5 g) were blocked based on body weight, and then allocated randomly to 2 treatments with 20 cages per treatment and 20 broilers per cage in this 6week experiment. Dietary treatments included a basal diet and diets with 100% of control maize replaced by stale maize. Results: The content of fat acidity value was higher (p<0.05) while the starch, activities of catalase and peroxidase were lower (p<0.05) than the control maize. Feeding stale maize diets reduced (p<0.05) average daily feed intake (ADFI) throughout the experiment, feed conversion ratio (FCR) during d 0 to 21 and the whole experiment as well as relative weight of liver, spleen, bursa of Fabricius and thymus (p<0.05) on d 21. Feeding stale maize diets decreased jejunum villus height (VH) and VH/crypt depth (CD) (p<0.05) on d 21 and 42 as well as ileum VH/CD on d 42. The levels of immunoglobulin G, acid αnaphthylacetate esterase positive ratios and lymphocyte proliferation on d 21 and 42 as well as lysozyme activity and avian influenza antibody H5N1 titer on d 21 decreased (p<0.05) by the stale maize. Feeding stale maize diets reduced (p<0.05) serum interferonγ, tumor necrosis factorα, interleukin2 on d 21 and interleukin6 on d 21 and 42. Broilers fed stale maize diets had lower levels of (p<0.05) total antioxidative capacity on d 42, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase on d 21 and 42, but higher (p<0.05) levels of malondialdehyde on d 21 and 42. Conclusion: Feeding 100% stale maize decreased ADFI and FCR, caused adverse effects on immunity and antioxidant function and altered intestinal morphology in broilers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of the absorbent (a mixture of activated carbon and hydrated sodium calcium aluminosilicate) on growth performance, blood profiles and hepatic genes expression in broilers fed diets naturally contaminated with aflatoxin. Methods: A total of 1,200 one-day-old male chicks were randomly assigned to 6 treatments with 10 replicate cages per treatment. The dietary treatments were as follows: i) control (basal diets); ii) 50% contaminated corn; iii) 100% contaminated corn; iv) control+1% adsorbent; v) 50% contaminated corn+1% absorbent; vi) 100% contaminated corn+1% absorbent. Results: During d 1 to 21, feeding contaminated diets reduced (p<0.05) body weight (BW), average daily gain (ADG), and average daily feed intake (ADFI), but increased (p<0.05) feed-to-gain ratio (F/G). The absorbent supplementation increased (p<0.05) BW, ADG, and ADFI. There were interactions (p<0.05) in BW, ADG, and ADFI between contaminated corn and absorbent. Overall, birds fed 100% contaminated diets had lower (p<0.05) final BW and ADG, but higher (p<0.05) F/G compared to those fed control diets. The absorbent addition increased (p<0.05) serum albumin concentration on d 14 and 28 and total protein (TP) level on d 28, decreased (p<0.05) alanine transaminase activity on d 14 and activities of aspartate aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase on d 28. Feeding contaminated diets reduced (p<0.05) hepatic TP content on d 28 and 42. The contaminated diets upregulated (p<0.05) expression of interleukin-6, catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD), but downregulated (p<0.05) glutathione S-transferase (GST) expression in liver. The absorbent supplementation increased (p<0.05) interleukin-1β, CAT, SOD, cytochrome P450 1A1 and GST expression in liver. There were interactions (p<0.05) in the expression of hepatic CAT, SOD, and GST between contaminated corn and absorbent. Conclusion: The results suggest that the naturally aflatoxin-contaminated corn depressed growth performance, while the adsorbent could partially attenuate the adverse effects of aflatoxin on growth performance, blood profiles and hepatic genes expression in broilers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to determine the effect of methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) on growth performance, immune function, antioxidant capacity, and meat quality in Pekin ducks. A total of 960 female 1-day-old Pekin ducklings (53.3 ± 0.4 g) were randomly allotted to 3 treatments with 8 replicates of 40 birds, based on their body weight (BW). The experiment lasted 6 wks, and dietary treatments included a corn–soybean meal–based diet supplemented with 0%, 0.15%, and 0.3% MSM, that is, CON, MSM1, and MSM2, respectively. Growth performance, serum profiles, and meat quality were determined. During the period of days 22–42, BW gain (BWG) in MSM2 treatment was higher (P < 0.05) and feed-to-gain ratio (F/G) was lower (P < 0.05) than those of CON and MSM1 treatments. BW gain and final BW in MSM2 treatment were increased (P < 0.05) compared with CON and MSM1 treatments during the period of days 1–42. Serum activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase, total antioxidative capacity, and concentrations of interleukin-2 and interleukin-6 were higher (P < 0.05) in MSM2 than in CON treatment. Ducks in the MSM2 treatment group had lower (P < 0.05) serum malondialdehyde, interferon gamma, and tumor necrosis factor-α levels than those in the CON treatment group. The supplementation of MSM increased (P < 0.05) water-holding capacity and redness (a*) and decreased (P < 0.05) values for 2-thiobarbituric acid and drip loss on day 5. Ducks in the MSM2 treatment group had higher (P < 0.05) pH24h than those in the CON treatment group. Taken together, the inclusion of MSM (0.3%) increased final BW and BWG during periods of days 22–42 and days 1–42, reduced feed-to-gain ratio during the period of days 22–42, and resulted in positive effects on immunity, antioxidant capacity, and meat quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a malignant cancer with a high fatality rate, and the expression of microRNA-145 (miR- 145) is significantly low in HCC tissue. Therefore, the effect of miR-145 on HCC was explored. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Primary hepatocellular carcinoma samples and corresponding normal samples, and HepG2 cells were analyzed using flow cytometry, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol- 2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, Real-time quantitative reverse transcription- polymerase chain reaction, Western blotting, ad dual-luciferase reporter assay. RESULTS: miR-145 expression was significantly downregulated in HCC tissue and HepG2 cells as compared to normal liver tissue. After HepG2 cells were transfected with miR-145 mimics, miR-145 expression was recovered, accompanied by a significantly lower cell number, inhibition of the G1/S phase transition, and promotion of the apoptosis of HepG2 cells, as well as changes in levels of G1/S-specific cyclin-E1 (CCNE1) and activated caspase-3. Furthermore, the rho-associated protein kinase 1 (ROCK1) levels were opposite the levels of miR-145 expression in vivo and in vitro, and additional experiments with co-transfection of miR-145 mimics and pEGFP-N3-3'UTR provided the direct evidence that the ROCK1 gene is a target of miR- 145. Moreover, a significant decrease or increase in the expression of ROCK1 was associated with nuclear factor-kB (NF-κB)(p65) activity, and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) significantly increased NF-κB(p65) activity, accompanied by recovery of the reduction in the number of HepG2 cells for miR-145 mimics. The NF-κB activity and cell number were significantly (p < 0.05, p < 0.01) increased in response to the overexpression of the ROCK1 gene in HepG2 cells. CONCLUSIONS: We showed that miR-145 can target and downregulate ROCK1 expression, and it controls HCC by inhibiting the cell cycle and activating apoptosis via the ROCK1/NF-κB signaling pathway. Our findings will provide a new perspective for the therapy of HCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: To explore the role of microRNA-24 (miR-24) in the proliferation and apoptosis of lung carcinoma, and to investigate its underlying mechanism. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The expression level of miR-24 in 50 pairs of lung carcinoma tissues and para-cancerous tissues was detected by quantitative Real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The relationship between miR-24 expression and pathological indicators of lung carcinoma was analyzed. Meanwhile, the corresponding plasmids of miR-24 were constructed. The viability, proliferation, apoptosis and cell cycle of lung carcinoma cells after transfection with miR-24 plasmids were detected by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), colony formation assay, and flow cytometry, respectively. The binding condition of miR-24 and MAPK7 was predicted by bioinformatics and verified by Luciferase reporter gene assay. The regulatory effect of miR-24 on MAPK7 in lung carcinoma cells was further detected. RESULTS: MiR-24 was significantly overexpressed in lung carcinoma tissues than that of para-cancerous tissues. Compared with lung carcinoma patients with Grade I-II and tumor size smaller than 3 cm, upregulated miR-24 expression was observed in those with Grade IIIIV and tumor size larger than 3 cm. The overall survival (OS) of patients with higher miR-24 expression was remarkably shorter than those with lower expression. Results of clinical data analysis suggested that miR-24 expression was correlated with tumor size and tumor node metastasis (TNM), whereas not correlated with age, gender and lymph node metastasis. In vitro experiments demonstrated that miR-24 overexpression promoted the viability, proliferation and cell cycle of lung carcinoma cells, whereas inhibited cell apoptosis. Furthermore, luciferase reporter gene assay indicated that miR-24 could bind to MAPK7. Meanwhile, overexpressed miR- 24 resulted in decreased mRNA and protein levels of MAPK7. In addition, decreased apoptosis and increased cell cycle induced by miR-24 overexpression could be partially reversed by MAPK7 overexpression. CONCLUSIONS: We found that miR-24 promoted lung carcinoma development by increasing cell proliferation and inhibiting cell apoptosis via targeting MAPK7. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large recoverable strain of more than several percent arising from superelasticity in shape memory alloys is important for actuators, sensors, and solid-state refrigeration. Here, we report a Ni50.0Mn31.4Sn9.6Fe9.0 magnetic microwire showing a giant tensile recoverable strain of about 20.0% along the ⟨001⟩ direction of austenite at 263 K. The recoverable strain represents the largest value reported heretofore in Ni-Mn-based shape memory alloys and is also larger than that of the Ni-Ti wire available for practical applications at present. This giant tensile superelasticity is associated with the stress-induced two-step transformation, and the transformation sequence could be L21 (austenite) → 6M (six-layered modulated martensite) → NM (non-modulated martensite), as suggested by the temperature-dependent in-situ synchrotron high-energy X-ray diffraction experiments and the transformation strain calculation based on the crystallographic theory of martensitic transformation. In addition, this Ni50.0Mn31.4Sn9.6Fe9.0 microwire shows a transformation entropy change ΔStr of 22.9 J kg−1 K−1 and has the advantages of easy fabrication and low cost, promising for miniature sensor, actuator, and solid-state refrigeration applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. The lithium abundances in a few percent of giants exceed the value predicted by the standard stellar evolution models, and the mechanisms of Li enhancement are still under debate. The Large Sky Area Multi-Object Fiber Spectroscopic Telescope (LAMOST) survey has obtained over six million spectra in the past five years, and thus provides a great opportunity to search these rare objects and to more clearly understand the mechanisms of Li enhancement. Aims. The aim of this work is to accurately measure the Li abundance and investigate the possible mechanisms of Li enrichment for a newly found super Li-rich giant, TYC 3251-581-1, located near the luminosity function bump with a low carbon isotopic ratio. Methods. Based on the high-resolution spectrum we obtained the stellar parameters (Teff, logg, [Fe/H]), and determined the elemental abundances of Li, C, N, α, Fe-peak, r-process, s-process elements, and the projected rotational velocity. For a better understanding of the effect of mixing processes, we also derived the 12C to 13C ratio, and constrained the evolutionary status of TYC 3251-581-1 based on the BaSTI stellar isochrones. Results. The super Li-rich giant TYC 3251-581-1 has A(Li) = 3.51, the average abundance of two lithium lines at λ = 6708 Å and 6104 Å based on the non-local thermodynamic equilibrium analysis. The atmospheric parameters show that our target locates on the luminosity function bump. The low carbon isotopic ratio (12C/13C = 9.0), a slow rotational velocity vsini = 2.2 km s−1, and no sign of IR excess suggest that additional mixing after first dredge up (FDU) should occur to bring internal synthesized Li to the surface. The low carbon ([C/Fe] ~−0.34) and enhanced nitrogen ([N/Fe] ~ 0.33) are also consistent with the sign of mixing. Conclusions. Given the evolutionary stage of TYC 3251-581-1 with the relatively low 12C/13C, the internal production which replenishes Li in the outer layer is the most likely origin of Li enhancement for this star. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report three new barium (Ba) dwarfs lying in Sirius-like systems. They provide direct evidence that Ba dwarfs are companions to white dwarfs (WDs). Atmospheric parameters, stellar masses and the chemical abundances of 25 elements, including light, α, Fe-peak and s-process elements, are derived from high-resolution and high S/N spectra. The enhancement of s-process elements with [s/Fe] ratios between 0.4 and 0.6 confirm them as mild barium stars. The estimated metallicities (-0.31, -0.06 and 0.13) of BD+68°1027, RE J0702+129 and BD+80°670 are in the range of known Ba dwarfs and giants. As expected, the observed indices [hs/ls], [s/Fe] and [C/Fe] show an anti-correlation with metallicity. Asymptotic giant branch (AGB) progenitor masses are estimated for the WD companions of RE J0702+129 (1.47M⨀) and BD+80°670 (3.59M⨀). These confirm the predicted range of progenitor AGB masses (1.5-4M⨀) for unseen WDs around Ba dwarfs. The surface abundances of s-process elements in RE J0702+129 and BD+80°670 are compared with AGB models and they are in close agreement, within the predicted accretion efficiencies and pollution factors for Ba stars. These results support that the origin of s-process overabundances in Ba dwarfs is similar to those of Ba giants via the McClure hypothesis in which Ba stars accumulate s-process elements through mass transfer from their host companions during the AGB phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The present study was conducted to compare the differences in gut microbiota composition and gut-phenotypes among pig breeds, and determine whether these differences would transmit to mice colonized with fecal microbiota of different pig breeds. A total of 24 1-day-old germ-free BALB/C mice were divided into 3 groups (TFM, YFM and RFM), which were transplanted with intact fecal microbiota of Tibetan pig (TP), Yorkshire pig (YP) and Rongchang pig (RP), respectively. Results: Results showed that different pig breeds exhibited distinct gut microbiota profile based on high-throughput pyrosequencing. YP exhibited a lower Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio and apparent genera differences compared with RP and TP, and higher levels of bacteria from Spirochaetes were observed in TP compared with RP and YP (P < 0.05). Transplanted porcine microbiota into GF mice replicated the phenotypes of pig donors. Moreover, the three groups of donor pigs and their mice recipients exhibited different intestinal index and morphology. TP and RP had higher intestinal weight and relative CDX2 mRNA expression in ileum than YP, and longer intestine, higher villus height of duodenum and jejunum were observed in TP compared with YP and RP (P < 0.05). TP exhibited higher GLP-2 mRNA expression in duodenum and jejunum than RP (P < 0.05). Similarly, YFM had lower intestine weight and CDX2 mRNA expression in ileum than TFM and RFM (P < 0.05). The intestine length in TFM was longer than that in RFM, and TFM had higher villus height in duodenum and jejunum and GLP-2 mRNA expression in ileum than the other two groups (P < 0.05). Besides, the digestive and absorptive ability was different among the three groups in donor pigs and mice recipients. YP had higher jejunal lactase and maltase activities than TP and RP, while TP had higher activities of jejunal ATPase, γ-GT, and relative SGLT1 mRNA expression in duodenum and jejunum than YP and RP (P < 0.05). Likewise, YFM had higher jejunal sucrase and maltase activities than TFM and RFM, whereas higher jejunal γ-GT activity and relative SGLT1 mRNA expression in duodenum and ileum were observed in TFM compared with YFM and RFM (P < 0.05). In addition, Tibetan pigs-derived microbiota improved gut barrier in mice recipients. The concentration of MDA in YP was higher than that in TP and RP (P = 0.078), and the relative ZO-1 mRNA expression in ileum in TP was higher than that in YP (P < 0.05). Likely, compared with TFM and RFM, YFM exhibited increasing MDA concentration in jejunum (P = 0.098), and the relative ZO-1 mRNA expression in duodenum and ileum in TFM were higher than that in YFM (P < 0.05). Conclusions: There were huge differences in gut microbiota composition and gut characteristics among pig breeds, and gut microbiota could partially convey host gut characteristics from pigs to mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sequential thermal dissolution (STD) of Geting bituminous coal (GBC) in benzene, methanol, ethanol, and isopropanol was conducted at 150 to 300°C for 2 h. Anthracene was added into the system as the hydrogen acceptor to trace hydrogen transfer (HT) behavior during the STD. All of the soluble portions (SPs) were analyzed with a gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer. The once-through yields of SPs did not fluctuate obviously with raising the thermal dissolution (TD) temperature from 150 to 250°C, but significantly increased over 250°C. HT from GBC to anthracene in benzene, methanol, and ethanol occurred at 300°C and in isopropanol at 250°C. Unlike TD in benzene, alkanolysis significantly proceeded during TD in alkanols at 300°C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monochromatic cathodoluminescence image of Mn-doped ZnO nanorods shows that Mn elements are mainly distributed on the surface of nanorods. The intensity of ultraviolet luminescence decreases with the increment in Mn-doped concentration. Mn-doped ZnO nanorods exhibit a room temperature ferromagnetic characteristic with a saturation magnetization (MS) of 0.39 μB/Mn and a coercive field of 50 Oe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mn-doped ZnO nanorods are prepared by a chemical vapor deposition method using zinc and MnO2 powders as source materials of Zn and Mn, respectively. Cathodoluminescence (CL) characterization indicates that the Mn-doped ZnO nanorods grown at different growth temperatures have different oxygen vacancy concentrations. Room temperature ferromagnetism with a saturation magnetization of 0.87μB/Mn has been observed in Mn-doped ZnO nanorods grown at 650 °C, in which moderate oxygen vacancy concentration is observed by CL characterization. It is also found that oxygen vacancies play an important role in the appearance of room temperature ferromagnetism in Mn-doped ZnO nanorods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]