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Background and Objectives. Strokes resulting from atrial fibrillation (AF) increase with age. The relationship between N-terminal- (NT-) prohormone brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) level and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score is not well established. Also, the collateral circulation plays an important role in NHISS scores. In this study, the effects of NT-proBNP on collateralization were assessed in patients with and without AF. Methods. In this study, 326 hospitalized patients with acute anterior circulation ischemic stroke (AACIS) were included. A comparison of the clinical characteristics of those with and without AF was conducted. The Spearman rank correlation was used for the correlation analysis of plasma NT-proBNP level, regional leptomeningeal collateral (rLMC) score, and computed tomography perfusion (CTP) status in the AF and non-AF groups. An analysis of multivariate linear regression was used to determine how plasma NT-proBNP level, rLMC score, and CTP status influenced the score on the NIHSS. Results. There was a greater plasma NT-proBNP level in the AF group compared with the non-AF group, an increased CTP volume (including CTP ischemic volume, CTP infarct core volume, and CTP ischemic penumbra volume ( P = 0.002 )), higher NIHSS score on admission, and lower rLMC score ( P < 0.001 for the remaining parameters). A negative correlation exists between plasma NT-proBNP level and rLMC score ( r = − 0.156 , P = 0.022 ), but a positive correlation exists between plasma NT-proBNP level and both CTP ischemic volume and CTP infarct core volume ( r = 0.148 , P = 0.003 ) in the AF group, but not in the non-AF group. Multivariate linear regression analysis demonstrated that NT-proBNP, CTP ischemic penumbra volume, and rLMC score were associated with NIHSS score, and NT-proBNP was positively associated with NIHSS scores (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.000-0.002; P = 0.004 ) in the AF group, whatever in the unadjusted model or adjusted models, but not in the nonlarge artery atherosclerosis (LAA) group. Conclusion. In AACIS patients with AF, NT-proBNP level negatively correlated with collateral status, positively with CTP ischemic volume, and positively with NIHSS score.

As potential candidates for treating ulcerative colitis (UC), polysaccharides from natural Cordyceps sinensis inhibited the activation of the NF-κB pathway, enhanced the intestinal barrier, increased the content of sIgA and modulated the gut microbiota in colitis mice.

Abstract: Platycodon grandiflorus is a well-known and widely distributed traditional herbal medicine and functional food in Asia, with triterpenoids as the main bioactive component in its roots. Acetyl-CoA C-acetyltransferase (AACT) is the initiation enzyme in the mevalonate pathway and plays an important role in the biosynthesis of terpenoids. Objective: The objective of this study was to clone and identify the PgAACT function in P. grandiflorus. Method: The full-length sequence of PgAACT genes was isolated and cloned from P. grandiflorus by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The recombinant plasmid was constructed using the pET-32a vector and expressed in E. coli Transetta (DE3) cells. Subcellular localization of AACT was observed in the epidermal cells of N. tabacum. Quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to identify the PgAACT gene transcription levels. After MeJA treatment, the changes in AACT gene expression were observed, and UHPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap MS/MS was used to detect the changes in P. grandiflorus saponins. Results: In this study, two full-length cDNAs encoding AACT1 (PgAACT1) and AACT2 (PgAACT2) were isolated and cloned from P. grandiflorus. The deduced PgAACT1 and PgAACT2 proteins contain 408 and 416 amino acids, respectively. The recombinant vectors were constructed, and the protein expression was improved by optimizing the reaction conditions. Sodium dodecyl sulphate-polycrylamide gel electrophloresis and western blot analysis showed that the PgAACT genes were successfully expressed, with molecular weights of the recombinant proteins of 61 and 63 kDa, respectively. Subcellular localization showed that the PgAACT genes were localized in the cytoplasm. Tissue specificity analysis of P. grandiflorus from different habitats showed that PgAACT genes were expressed in the roots, stems, and leaves. After MeJA treatment, the expression level of PgAACT genes and the content of total saponins of P. grandiflorus were significantly increased, suggesting that PgAACT genes play an important role in regulating plant defense systems. Conclusion: Cloning, expression, and functional analysis of PgAACT1 and PgAACT2 will be helpful in understanding the role of these two genes in terpene biosynthesis.

Background and purpose Cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) is a common cause of stroke and senile vascular cognitive impairment, imposing a heavy burden on public health care systems worldwide. Hypertension and 24-hour blood pressure variability (BPV), known to be significant risk factors for cognitive dysfunction, have been found to be associated with cognitive function in CSVD patients in previous studies. However, as a derived part of BPV, there are few studies on the relationship between circadian rhythm of blood pressure and cognitive dysfunction in CSVD patients, and the relationship between them is still unclear. Thus, this study aimed to investigate whether the disturbance of circadian rhythm of blood pressure can affect the cognitive function of patients with CSVD. Methods A total of 383 CSVD patients hospitalized in the Geriatrics Department of the Lianyungang Second People’s Hospital between May 2018 and June 2022 were enrolled in this study. The clinical information and parameters of 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring were compared between the cognitive dysfunction group (n = 224) and the normal group (n = 159). Finally, a binary logistic regression model was used to assess the relationship between circadian rhythm of blood pressure and cognitive dysfunction in patients with CSVD. Results (1) Patients in the cognitive dysfunction group were older, had lower blood pressure on admission, and had a greater number of previous cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases (P P P = 0.001), and reverse-dipper type was 8.002 times higher than those with dipper type (95% CI, 3.367–19.017; P Conclusions The disturbance of circadian rhythm of blood pressure may affect the cognitive function of patients with CSVD, and the risk of cognitive dysfunction in non-dipper and reverse-dipper types are higher.

In our study, 49 key genes significantly associated with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) stemness were obtained. Next, we developed a molecular prognostic signature associated with stemness features of pan-RCC. The difference in overall survival (OS) between the high- and low-risk groups was statistically significant (p < .05). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for 1-year OS, 5-year OS, and 10-year OS was 0.759, 0.712, and 0.918, respectively. The results of validation in The Cancer Genome Atlas cohort and International Cancer Genome Consortium cohort revealed the predictive capability of this signature. Furthermore, we selected three genes and further validation showed that these three hub genes were potential hub biomarkers for pan-RCC stemness features.

Background Fat embolism syndrome (FES) is a rare complication caused by the presence of fat particles in the microcirculation, which usually occurs within 12-72 h after trauma. At present, there have been few cases of fat embolism presenting within 3 h after trauma. Here, we report a case of femoral fracture complicated with an acute fat embolism caused by a car accident. Case summary A 29-year-old woman with pain, swelling and limited movement of her left lower limb after a car accident was taken by ambulance to our hospital. X-ray examination showed fracture of the middle and lower part of the left femur and fracture of the base of the left fifth metatarsal bone. She was hospitalized and admitted to the orthopedic ward. After the attending doctor performed tibial tubercle bone traction, the patient became confused, followed by respiratory distress. Finally, she was transferred to the intensive care unit. After nearly a month of treatment in the intensive care unit, the patient's cognitive function gradually recovered over 6 mo. Conclusion For patients with early traumatic fractures, young emergency physicians and orthopedics should be aware of the possibility of FES.

Using next‐generation sequencing, this study found that the prevalence of ROS1 fusions in a large cohort of non‐small‐cell lung cancers (NSCLCs) was 1.5%, including most frequent fusion partners and rare ROS1 fusion pairs. Crizotinib demonstrated robust response in treating patients with ROS1‐rearranged NSCLC. TP53 mutations in ROS1‐positive patients were significantly associated with shorter crizotinib progression‐free survival., ROS1 gene rearrangements have been reported in diverse cancer types including non‐small‐cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and with a notably higher prevalence in lung adenocarcinoma. The tyrosine kinase inhibitors, crizotinib, lorlatinib, and entrectinib, have demonstrated favorable efficacy in treating ROS1‐rearranged NSCLCs. Herein, we retrospectively reviewed 17 158 NSCLC patients whose tumor specimen and/or circulating cell‐free DNA underwent comprehensive genomic profiling. A total of 258 unique patients were identified with ROS1 rearrangements, representing an overall prevalence of approximately 1.5% of ROS1 fusions in newly diagnosed and relapsed NSCLC patients. CD74 (38%) was the most common fusion partner of ROS1, followed by EZR (13%), SDC4 (13%), SLC34A2 (10%), and other recurrent fusion partners with lower frequencies, including TPM3, MYH9, and CCDC6. Variant breakpoints occurred in ROS1 introns 33 (37%), 31 (25%), 32 (17%), and 34 (11%) with no obvious hotspots. CD74 (63%) and EZR (50%) were more frequently fused to ROS1 intron 33 than other introns, while ROS1 intron 31 was most frequently fused with SDC4 (79%) and SLC34A2 (81%). Crizotinib progression‐free survival (PFS) was not significantly different between fusion variants involving breakpoints in different ROS1 introns, nor was there a significant difference in PFS between CD74‐ROS1 and non‐CD74‐ROS1 groups of patients. Furthermore, TP53 was most frequently mutated in patients who progressed on crizotinib, and TP53 mutations were significantly associated with shorter crizotinib PFS. ROS1 mutations, including G2032R, were observed in approximately 33% of post‐crizotinib samples. Collectively, we report the prevalence of ROS1 fusions in a large‐scale NSCLC population and the efficacy of crizotinib in treating patients with ROS1‐rearranged NSCLC.

A polysaccharide from Cordyceps sinensis (NCSP) was reported to attenuate intestinal injury and regulate the balance of T helper (Th)1/Th2 cells in immunosuppressed mice. However, whether it influences Th17 and regulatory T (Treg) cells as well as gut ecology remains unknown. In the present study, the intestinal injury mouse model was also established by intraperitoneal injection of cyclophosphamide (Cy) for three consecutive days. NCSP was found to increase the number of CD4+ T cells, stimulate the secretion of interleukins (IL)-17 and IL-21, and the expression of transcription factor (retinoic acid-related orphan receptor (ROR)-γt). The levels of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β3 and transcription factor (forkhead box (Fox)p-3) were increased in NCSP-treated groups. Moreover, NCSP upregulated the mRNA expression of toll like receptors (TLR-2, -6 and -9), while it downregulated the TLR-4 expression. In addition, NCSP modulated the intestinal microbiota composition and increased the levels of SCFAs. These findings indicated that NCSP may enhance intestinal immunity and have the potential to become a prebiotic to regulate intestinal microbiota.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) infection causes one of the most economically important swine diseases worldwide. Tripartite motif-containing 22 (TRIM22), a TRIM family protein, has been identified as a crucial restriction factor that inhibits a group of human viruses. Currently, the role of cellular TRIM22 in PRRSV infection remains unclear. In the present study, we analyzed the effect of TRIM22 on PRRSV replication in vitro and explored the underlying mechanism. Ectopic expression of TRIM22 impaired the viral replication, while TRIM22-RNAi favored the replication of PRRSV in MARC-145 cells. Additionally, we observed that TRIM22 deletion SPRY domain or Nuclear localization signal (NLS) losses the ability to inhibit PRRSV replication. Finally, Co-IP analysis identified that TRIM22 interacts with PRRSV nucleocapsid (N) protein through the SPRY domain, while the NLS2 motif of N protein is involved in interaction with TRIM22. Although the concentration of PRRSV N protein was not altered in the presence of TRIM22, the abundance of N proteins from simian hemorrhagic fever virus (SHFV), equine arteritis virus (EAV), and murine lactate dehydrogenase-elevating virus (LDV) diminished considerably with increasing TRIM22 expression. Together, our findings uncover a previously unrecognized role for TRIM22 and extend the antiviral effects of TRIM22 to arteriviruses.

Lateral transportation of soil heavy metals in rainfall events could significantly increase the scope of pollution. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a model with high accuracy to simulate the migration quantity of heavy metals. A model for heavy metal migration simulation was developed based on the SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool) model. This model took into consideration the influence of soil pH value, soil particle size, runoff volume, sediment amount, concentration of water-soluble heavy metals dissolved in runoff and insoluble absorbed to the soil particles. This model was reasonable in Huanjiang watershed, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, south China, covering an area of 273 km2. The optimal drainage area threshold was determined by analyzing the effects of watershed subdivision on the simulation results to ensure the simulation accuracy. The main conclusions of this paper were: (1) watershed subdivision could affect simulation migration quantity of heavy metals; (2) the quantity of heavy metals transported by sediment accounted for 97%–99% of the total migration quantity in the study watershed. Therefore, sediment played the most important role in heavy metal migration; (3) the optimal drainage area threshold percentage to ensure high simulation accuracy was determined to be 2.01% of the total watershed; (4) with the optimal threshold percentage, this model could simulate the migration quantity of As, Pb and Cd accurately at the total watershed and sub-watershed level. The results of this paper were useful for identifying the key regions with heavy metal migration.

Background Middle-aged females, especially perimenopausal females, are vulnerable to depression, but the potential mechanism remains unclear. Dopaminergic and GABAergic system dysfunction is involved in the pathophysiology of depression. In the current study, we used 2-month-old and 11-month-old C57BL/6 mice as young and middle-aged mice, respectively. Chronic immobilization stress (CIS) was used to induce depressive-like behaviour, and the sucrose preference test (SPT), tail suspension test (TST) and forced swim test (FST) were used to assess these behaviours. We then measured the mRNA levels of dopamine receptor D1 (DRD1) and the GABAA receptors GABRA1, GABRB2 and GABRG2 in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and prefrontal cortex (PFC). Results We found that immobility time in the FST was significantly increased in the middle-aged mice compared with the middle-aged control mice and the young mice. In addition, the preference for sucrose water was reduced in the middle-aged mice compared with the middle-aged control mice. However, CIS did not induce obvious changes in the performance of the young mice in our behavioural tests. Moreover, the middle-aged mice exhibited equal immobility times as the young mice in the absence of stress. Decreases in the mRNA levels of DRD1, GABRA1, and GABRB2 but not GABRG2 were found in the NAc and PFC in the middle-aged mice in the absence of stress. Further decreases in the mRNA levels of DRD1 in the NAc and GABRG2 in the NAc and PFC were found in the middle-aged mice subjected to CIS. Conclusions Our results suggested that ageing could not directly induce depression in the absence of stress. However, ageing could induce susceptibility to depression in middle-aged mice in the presence of stress. CIS-induced decreases in DRD1 and GABRG2 levels might be involved in the increase in susceptibility to depression in this context.

Cucurbit[7]uril (Q[7]) was first used as a dispersant sorbent material in a matrix solid-phase dispersion for the simultaneous extraction of four quaternary ammonium pesticides from vegetables before analysis using high-performance liquid chromatography with UV detection. Q[7] exhibited a better selectivity and adsorption capability for these compounds, which is due to its ability to bind selectively organic molecules into its hydrophobic cavity and to form stable host–guest inclusion complexes. Various parameters affecting the extraction were investigated and optimized, such as sorbent/sample mass ratio, grinding time, rinsing and eluting conditions. Under optimized conditions, the proposed method exhibited a linear response in the concentration range of 1–100 μg·kg−1, satisfactory recoveries for eight types of vegetable samples (>70%), and high repeatability (RSD

A series of novel propargylamine-modified pyrimidinylthiourea derivatives ( 1–3 ) were designed and synthesized as multifunctional agents for Alzheimer's disease (AD) therapy, and their potential was evaluated through various biological experiments. Among these derivatives, compound 1b displayed good selective inhibitory activity against AChE ( vs BuChE, IC 50 = 0.324 μM, SI > 123) and MAO-B ( vs MAO-A, IC 50 = 1.427 μM, SI > 35). Molecular docking study showed that the pyrimidinylthiourea moiety of 1b could bind to the catalytic active site (CAS) of AChE, and the propargylamine moiety interacted directly with the flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) of MAO-B. Moreover, 1b demonstrated mild antioxidant ability, good copper chelating property, effective inhibitory activity against Cu 2+ -induced A β 1−42 aggregation, moderate neuroprotection, low cytotoxicity, and appropriate blood−brain barrier (BBB) permeability in vitro and was capable of ameliorating scopolamine-induced cognitive impairment in mice. These results indicated that 1b has the potential to be a multifunctional candidate for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

A new method involving matrix solid-phase dispersion (MSPD) and dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (DLLME) was optimized with the aid of stoichiometry and applied to the extraction, purification, and determination of benzimidazole residues in vegetables. Carbendazim, thiabendazole, and thiophanate-methyl were selectively extracted from vegetables using cucurbit[7]uril as the MSPD extractant and transferred to an aqueous solution, then further enriched using DLLME with acetonitrile and chloroform as dispersive and extraction solvents, respectively. The optimal extraction conditions of MSPD and DLLME were selected by two-level full-factorial design and central-composite design (CCD). The developed method (MSPD–DLLME–HPLC–UV) showed good linearity in the range of 0.025–5 μg/g, with R2 > 0.9984. Intra- and interday precisions were 5.3–10.9% and 10.6–12.4%, respectively, and the limit of detection was between 0.004 and 0.007 μg/g of fresh weight. This method was applied to the analysis of four different types of vegetables, and the recoveries ranged from 65.4% to 124.0%. The method was environmentally friendly, easy to operate, and sensitive.

Quantitative identification of the main sources of heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soils around multiple types of key areas is of great significance for blocking pollution sources. However, there is a lack of more comprehensive relevant research. In this study, Beijing was taken as the research area and four main sources were identified using the positive matrix factorization (PMF) method. The concentration of Pb, PAHs, Cr, and Hg in soils was significantly affected by the presence of landuse type, road traffic, natural factor, and industrial production, respectively, and the farmland, distance to main road, Proterozoic Changcheng-Jixian parent material and cinnamon soil type, and the gross industrial production make greater contributions to these four factors respectively than other variables. Moreover, the uncertainty of the PMF indicates that this four-factor PMF solution is stable and appropriate. These results provide support for the comprehensive control of soil environmental risks.

A novel solid-phase microextraction coating that contains perhydroxy cucurbit[6]uril((OH)12Q[6]) was prepared by a sol-gel method. (OH)12Q[6] was used as a starting coating material with hydroxy-terminated poly(dimethylsiloxane) (OH-PDMS) to bond chemically to a fused-silica substrate using 3-(2-cyclooxypropoxyl)propyltrimethoxysilane as cross-linking agent; hydrolysis and polycondensation reactions then led to the formation of a (OH)12Q[6]/PDMS-coating. The coating has a high thermal stability (360°C), long lifetime and can withstand organic and inorganic solvent rinsing because of the chemical binding between the coating and silica substrate. Its performance was tested by headspace (HS) solid-phase microextraction fiber coupled with gas chromatography to determine polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs) compounds in water samples. The (OH)12Q[6]/PDMS-coated fiber exhibited higher enrichment factors from fourfold for naphthalene to tenfold for pyrene compared with commercial PDMS fiber, and the enrichment factors increased with the number of condensed PAH rings. The strong adsorption affinity is believed to be attributed to hydrogen bonding and CH⋯π interactions between PAHs and (OH)12Q[6], according to the results of quantum chemical calculations. In the PAH analysis, the (OH)12Q[6]-coated fiber showed a good repeatability (

Highlights • A Chinese PDCoV strain CHN-HN-2014 was isolated from piglet with severe diarrhea. • CHN-HN-2014 shares 91.6%–99.4% nucleotide identity with other known PDCoV strains. • PDCoV strain CHN-HN-2014 is pathogenic in 5-day-old and 21-day-old piglets., Porcine deltacoronavirus (PDCoV) is an emerging swine coronavirus that causes diarrhea in piglets. Since the first outbreak of PDCoV in the United States in 2014, this novel porcine coronavirus has been detected in South Korea, Canada, Mexico, Thailand, and China. In this study, a Chinese PDCoV strain, designated CHN-HN-2014, was isolated from piglets with severe diarrhea on a pig farm in Henan Province, China, and examined with a specific immunofluorescence assay and electron microscopy. Genomic analysis showed that CHN-HN-2014 shares 91.6%–99.4% nucleotide identity with other known PDCoV strains. The pathogenicity of CHN-HN-2014 was further investigated in 5-day-old and 21-day-old piglets. Both kinds of piglets developed clear clinical symptoms, including vomiting, anorexia, lethargy, and severe diarrhea, by 2 days postinoculation (DPI), and diarrhea persisted for about 5–6 days. Viral shedding was detected in rectal swabs until 14 DPI in challenged 5-day-old pigs and until 18 DPI in challenged 21-day-old pigs. At necropsy at 4 DPI, macroscopic and microscopic lesions were observed and viral antigen was detected in the small intestines with immunohistochemical staining. These data demonstrate that Chinese PDCoV strain CHN-HN-2014 shares high nucleotide identity with previously reported PDCoV strains and is pathogenic in 5-day-old and 21-day-old piglets.

An asymmetric 1,6-conjugate addition of thioacetic acid with para-quinone methides has been developed by using chiral phosphoric acid catalysis in the presence of water. A series of sulfur-containing compounds were thus obtained in high yields with good to excellent enantioselectivities. Theoretical studies indicated that the water-bridged proton transfer is a potentially favorable reaction pathway. An unprecedented O-H⋅⋅⋅π interaction between water and the aromatic nucleus of chiral phosphoric acid was discovered to contribute significantly to the stereocontrol in the catalysis.

Ultrasonography assessments of optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) is a non-invasive method that may help identify elevated intracranial pressure (ICP). However, this technique was used to evaluate the elevated ICP caused by traumatic brain injury. The objective of this study was to examine clinical cases of the changes in ICP with venous sinus stenosis and venous sinus thrombosis found the advantage of this technique in the application. And we dynamically monitor ONSD and ICP as a lens for understanding the dynamic assessment for ICP. The first case of venous sinus stenosis with elevated ICP identified in real-time by changes in ONSD, which are correlated with ICP before and after stenting. Another case of venous sinus thrombosis with elevated ICP. And after treatment, the patient underwent an ultrasound ONSD examination and lumbar puncture (LP) at the 1st, the 2nd and 3rd month of follow-up. The previously enlarged ONSDs retracted and LP opening pressure gradually returned to normal. These cases indicate that ONSD examination may help dynamically assess ICP changes and evaluate the efficacy of ICP treatment. These results provide utile, evidence based, preliminary clinical recommendations and indicate that ONSD examination might be a useful method of evaluating ICP, especially if repeated evaluations are needed.

Background It has been shown that 14-3-3 σ serves as a tumor suppressor gene, and is downregulated in various tumor tissues. However, the role of 14-3-3 σ during the initiation and progression of lung squamous cell carcinoma (SqCC) is not well understood. Methods The expression status of 14-3-3 σ in archival tissue samples from 40 lung SqCC patients (36 with normal bronchia, 19 squamous metaplasia, and 17 dysplasia/carcinoma in situ, in their tissue samples) was examined by immunohistochemical analysis. The proliferation rate and tumor formation ability of the H520 cell transfected with 14-3-3 σ was tested with methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium assay and nude mice subcutaneous injection, respectively. Results In the normal bronchial epithelia, 14-3-3 σ was highly expressed, whereas it was significantly decreased in precancerous and cancerous tissues. Compared with matched invasive cancer tissues, the expression level of 14-3-3 σ in squamous metaplasia was significantly higher (P = 0.049), while that in dysplasia/carcinoma in situ showed no significant changes (P = 0.135). Statistical analysis showed that the expression level of 14-3-3 σ in tumor tissue was associated with the differentiation grade of the tumor (P = 0.001) and the prognosis of the patient (P = 0.003). The overexpression of 14-3-3 σ significantly suppressed the proliferation of H520 cells in vitro and in vivo. Conclusion The inactivation of 14-3-3 σ may be a very early event in tumorigenesis and could facilitate the initiation and progression of lung SqCC in a sustainable way.

Background Coronary slow flow (CSF) is a special coronary microvascular disorder. The pathogenesis and effective therapeutics of CSF remain unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the global and regional functions of the left ventricle (LV) and investigate the efficacy of nicorandil in patients with CSF. Patients and methods Thirty-six patients with CSF in the left anterior descending (LAD) branch and 20 patients with normal coronary arteries were included. Global and regional functions of the LV supplied by LAD were measured using conventional Doppler echocardiography and two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography, respectively, within 24 h after coronary angiography. Concentrations of plasma nitric oxide (NO) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) were detected using colorimetry and radioimmunoassay, respectively. The function of the LV and the levels of NO and ET-1 were also investigated before and 90 days after treatment with 15 mg/day of nicorandil. Results Compared with the control group, the early diastolic peak velocity (E), E/A ratio, and plasma NO levels were lower, whereas the late diastolic peak flow velocity (A) and plasma ET-1 levels were significantly higher in the CSF group (P

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of therapeutic care (TC) for fatigue in breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. Methods: A total of 48 breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy were randomly divided into the intervention group and the control group, with 24 patients in each group. The patients in the intervention group were treated with TC, while the participants in the control group received the sham intervention. The interventions in both groups were for 30 min/d, 3 days weekly for 12 weeks. The primary outcome of fatigue was measured by the multidimensional fatigue inventory (MFI). The secondary outcomes were measured by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). All outcomes were assessed before and after 6 and 12 weeks of the intervention. Results: The intervention with TC showed greater efficacy than sham TC in decreasing the MFI score after week 6 (P

The effects of two admixtures content i.e. water reducer, cellulose ether and water-cement ratio on mechanical strength and dry density of cement-based lightweight thermal insulation board are studied. The result indicates that the water-cement ratio is the important influential factor, which is easier to get good workability. And based on the mechanical strength and dry density, the best range of water reducer content and cellulose ether content are 0.3%-0.6% and 0.4%-0.6% respectively.

The effect of SO3 on the mineral composition and performance of phosphoaluminate clinker was investigated by means of XRD, IR and SEM. Also, the compressive strength of clinker was performed. The experimental results showed that a certain amount of SO3 would promote the formation of calcium phosphoaluminate mineral, which was good for the strength development of phosphoaluminate clinker. Moreover, the addition of SO3 was benefit to the formation of C4A3 in phosphoaluminate clinker. So, the 5% dosage clinker owns a good strength development.

In the sodium citrate solution systems containing double metal ions with different Pd-Pt molar ratios and single Pt (IV) ions, Pd Core @ Pt Shell nanoparticles were synthesized by the photochemical coreduction and Pd seed method, respectively. By means of characterization of TEM, the change regularity of the composite nanoparticle sizes was studied in both preparation methods. The surface chemical state of the composite nanoparticles and their structure were analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), confirming that Pd @ Pt nanoparticles formed are core-shell structure. Keywords: Pd Core @ Pt Shell; Photochemical; Simultaneous reduction; Seeding growth

The proportion of wind power in power systems is increasing year by year. Large-scale wind turbine off the grid when grid system failures. So the wind turbine needs to low voltage ride through (LVRT) function of wind turbine. Aiming at this problem, which in this article by DIgSILENT simulation software build 1.5MW doubly-fed wind turbine(DFIG) model, using active Crowbar and series grid side converter (SGSC) control strategy to realize the simulation of low voltage ride through of wind turbine. The control strategy of active Crowbar is mainly through the short circuit of rotor side converter to realize LVRT, and needs to be matched with the active and reactive power control strategy. SGSC is a novel converter structure, which mainly through compensating stator flux drop to realize LVRT. Finally this two kinds of control strategies were compared, demonstrated SGSC control strategy can achieve the low voltage ride through capabilities of the doubly-fed wind turbine.

This article adopts resistance method measuring saturation, and do research about the impact of polymer resistance - saturation curve measurement. Results showed that in the resistance method for detection of residual oil distribution, there are significant effects of the experiment of water salinity on measuring the resistance and standard curve. When the polymer water ionic concentration is small, resistances of polymers are double impacted by the salinity of formation water and the polymer concentration. Experiments show that as the polymer concentration increased, the resistance value decreases. In view of the configuration of CNOOC formation water polymer, concentration has no effect on resistance of basic, the influence of polymer for measuring resistance value and relation curve is mainly depended on formation water salinity, and consistent with the influence of formation water salinity.

This paper introduces measurement principle, structure and technical indicators of the fullbore turbine flowmeter, presents application examples and measurement results in Daqing oilfield, analyzes and discusses the result chart of measurement, and puts forward relevant insights on the flowmeter.

The paper analyses the error factors of every part of the new pv fault diagnosis system which may affect the final diagnostic result and the fault positioning result. According to the different characteristics of each factor, we present the effective methods from the aspect of hardware or software to eliminate or reduce the errors, so the precision of the whole system can be improved.

To compensate for the differences among heritage experts knowledge, design knowledge and user knowledge in cultural product design, the regional cultural image conveyed by Liangzhu artifacts was analyzed from the aspect of industrial design. The cultural images of Liangzhu jadeware were obtained through the methods of focus groups and questionnaires. The images were classified and reducted into six recognition dimensions by Kansei engineering and Factor Analysis. Based on the recognition dimensions, the Liangzhu cultural image knowledge base and evaluation system was constructed. The knowledge of Liangzhu artifacts could be reviewed. And the images of them could be evaluated. The evaluation trends of different user groups on the Liangzhu cultural images could be obtained by designers accordingly. Thus the process of computer-aided cultural product redesign could be improved.

An asymmetric 1,6-conjugate addition of thioacetic acid with para-quinone methides has been developed by using chiral phosphoric acid catalysis in the presence of water. A series of sulfur-containing compounds were thus obtained in high yields with good to excellent enantioselectivities. Theoretical studies indicated that the water-bridged proton transfer is a potentially favorable reaction pathway. An unprecedented O-H⋅⋅⋅π interaction between water and the aromatic nucleus of chiral phosphoric acid was discovered to contribute significantly to the stereocontrol in the catalysis.

A variety of bis-imidazolines are synthesized and evaluated as ligands in Pd-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation reactions of 1,3-diarylpropenyl acetates (I) with malonates.

An asymmetric Michael reaction of 2-alkyl substituted benzofuran-3(2H)-ones with nitroolefins via bifunctional tertiary-amine squaramide catalysis is developed.

Objective. To report the experience of a percutaneous technique for retrieving fractured peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) segments migrating into the heart or the pulmonary artery.Method. From April 2013 to July 2015, we performed percutaneous retrieval of fractured PICC segments migrating into the heart or the pulmonary artery in five cancer patients who had undergone chemotherapy via PICC. The fractures were diagnosed with chest plain radiography. The patients included three cases of breast cancer, one case of rectal cancer, and one case of lower limb Ewing’s tumor. The fractures were retained in the vessels of the patients for 1 to 3 days. All the fractures were retrieved by using a novel two-step technique in the digital subtraction angiography (DSA) suite. This two-step technique involves inserting a pigtail catheter to the heart or the pulmonary artery to grasp the fractured catheter fragment and bring it to the lower segment of the inferior vena cava, followed by grasping and removing the catheter fragment with a retrieval loop system of the vena cava filter retrieval set.Result. The fractured PICC segments were removed successfully in all five patients via unilateral (four patients) or bilateral (one patient) femoral vein access. No complications occurred during the interventional procedure.Conclusion. Percutaneous retrieval can be a safe, convenient, and minimally invasive method for the removal of fractured PICC segments. The technique reported in this paper will be applicable for the retrieval of fractured PICC segments and other catheter fragments migrating into the heart or the pulmonary artery.

Recent studies have emphasized the importance of apoptosis in subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and the subsequent early brain injury. However, the apoptotic pathways induced by SAH in different brain regions are not fully understood. We investigated gene expression levels of classical apoptosis-related molecules (caspase-3, bax, and bcl-2) following SAH in the hippocampus of male Wistar rats. Temporally specific changes were found in caspase-3 and bax messenger RNA only. Interestingly, we found increased expression of bax, but not caspase-3, in the prefrontal cortex, which indicates different molecular mechanisms of apoptosis in distinct brain regions. Most important, changes in expression were reversed by functional blockade of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, which has a critical role in brain injury. In addition, we found that apoptosis induced by SAH may be associated with a relative elevation of pro-brain derived neurotrophic factor.

The degree of substitution (DS) markedly affects the properties of carboxymethyl starch (CMS). The conventional methods for the DS determination are time-consuming and not environment friendly. Fourier transform mid-infrared (FT-MIR) spectroscopy coupled with partial least squares (PLS) regression is applied to determine the DS of CMS in the present study. Calibration models with direct titration as the reference method were optimised by cross validation. A PLS regression model with a coefficient of determination ( R 2 ) of 0.9593 and root-mean-square error of cross validation (RMSECV) of 0.0141 was obtained in the spectral range from 500 to 4000 cm −1 . The prediction set gave a coefficient of determination ( R 2 ) and root-mean-square error of prediction (RMSEP) of 0.9368 and 0.0228, respectively. The results obtained in this study indicate that FT-MIR spectroscopy can be used as an easy, rapid, and novel tool to quantitatively predict the DS of CMS.

A new synthesis of Ag @ Au core-shell composite nanoparticles (NPs) was described by spontaneous deposit Au on the surface of Ag seeds which were prepared with the photochemical method in sodium citrate solution. The Ag core @ Au shell (or Ag core @ Au-Ag alloy shell) composite NPs with monodisperse and uniform shape were about 10 nm. The core/shell nanostructure was confirmed by UV-vis spectrum and TEM characterization as well as cyanide ion (CN-) dissolution experiment. The reaction mechanism of forming Ag @ Au composite NPs was briefly discussed.

This study aimed to explore the efficacy and toxicity of image-guided stereotactic body radiotherapy (IGSBR) by helical tomotherapy in patients with lung cancer among Chinese Han population. A total of 21 patients with stage I lung cancer were included. They received a total of 60 Gy factions IGSBR. The outcomes included complete response (CR), partial response (PR), stable disease (SD), progress disease (PD), overall response rate (ORR), and overall survival (OS). In addition, toxicities were also recorded in this study. Three-year CR, PR, SD, PD, ORR, and OS were 47.6%, 38.1%, 9.5%, 4.8%, 85.7%, and 48.0 months, respectively. Additionally, mild toxicities were found in this study. This study demonstrated that IGSBR is efficacious for patients with stage I lung cancer with mild toxicities among Chinese Han population.

This study aimed to evaluate the clinical usefulness of postoperative surveillance by ultrasound (PSU) in patients after breast cancer surgery.In this retrospective study, 324 patients with breast cancer after mastectomy were included between January 2006 and December 2008. The final-positive lesions (FPL) were diagnosed according to the results of cytopathology, clinical and imaging examinations. The outcome evaluations included the sensitivity (SS), specificity (SC), ultrasound accuracy for FPL (UAFPL), and positive predictive value (PPV) after the mastectomy.A total of 5117 ultrasound examinations were conducted for all those patients to the December 2016. After mastectomy, the SS, SC, UAFPL, and PPV were as follows: mastectomy bed (SS, 100.0%; SC, 99.7%; UAFPL, 99.7%; and PPV, 36.0%), contralateral breast (SS, 100.0%; SC, 99.0%; UAFPL, 99.0%; and PPV, 25.4%), ipsilateral axillary or supraclavicular (SS, 91.7%; SC, 99.4%; UAFPL, 99.4%; and PPV, 25.6%), and contralateral axilla or supraclavicular lymph nodes (SS, 100.0%; SC, 99.9%; UAFPL, 99.9%; and PPV, 33.3%).In summary, we demonstrated that applied PSU can detect the malignant lesions in the breast regional area with high sensitivity, specificity and accuracy.

Analyzed the relationship between 568 site A/G polymorphism in mucin 1(MUC1) gene in a population from Liaoning Province and susceptibility to gastric cancer. Sequence specific primers-polymerase chain reaction(PCR-SSPs) were performed to analyze the genotype of the A/G polymorphism in its 568 site of exon 2 for 138 gastric cancer cases and 131 normal ones tested, and ELISA was performed to test IgG antibody of H. pylori. We found that the distribution fre-quency of AA, AG, GG three genotypes were 73.3%, 22.1%, 4.6%, respectively. The frequency of AA genotype was statis-tically higher in the gastric cancer (GC) group compared to the control group(P=0.03), moreover, individuals with the MUC1 AA genotype increased 1.92 fold risk for gastric cancer. And compared with subjects carrying both AG+GG geno-type and H. pylori-IgG negative, there was an obviously increased risk of developing gastric cancer for those who carried both AA genotype and H. pylori-IgG negative, both AG+GG genotype and H. pylori-IgG positive, and both AG+GG geno-type and H. pylori-IgG negative, but there were no significantly differences between the every two of the latter three. Our results indicated that there was a relationship between MUC1 A/G polymorphism and susceptibility to gastric cancer. Andthere were probably no statistically interaction between the 568 site A/G polymorphism in MUC1 and H. pylori infection in the occurrence and development process of gastric cancer.

Caffeine is one of the most commonly ingested neuroactive compounds and exhibits anticancer effects through induction of apoptosis and suppression of cell proliferation. However, the mechanisms underlying these effects are currently unknown. In this study, we investigated the mechanisms of caffeine-induced apoptosis in U251 cells (human glioma cell line). We analyzed the inhibitory effects of caffeine on cell proliferation by performing WST-8 and colony formation assays; in addition, cell survival was assessed by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay and flow cytometric analysis. Western blotting was used to investigate the role played by FoxO1 in the proapoptotic effects of caffeine on glioma cells. Results showed that caffeine inhibited proliferation and survival of human glioma cells, induced apoptosis, and increased the expression of FoxO1 and its proapoptotic target Bim. In addition, we found that FoxO1 enhanced the transcription of its proapoptotic target Bim. In summary, our data indicates that FoxO1-Bim mediates caffeine-induced regression of glioma growth by activating cell apoptosis, thereby providing new mechanistic insight into the possible use of caffeine in treating human cancer.

GPS observed crustal deformation usually includes both tectonic and non-tectonic deformation signals, and it is vitally important to remove the non-tectonic deformation signals in the data in order to effectively use GPS observations for tectonic deformation studies. Using the Earth satellite data and geophysical models, we calculate non-tectonic crustal deformation caused by the ocean tide loading, atmospheric mass loading, snow and soil moisture mass loading, and non-tidal ocean mass loading. Based on the quantitative analyses, the effects due to non-tectonic crustal deformation on the position time series of GPS fiducial stations from the Crustal Movement Observation Network of China are studied and corrected. Our study shows that these effects on the vertical components of station positions are remarkable, especially the effects resulting from the atmospheric mass loading and snow and soil moisture mass loading. Using these models to correct for the non-tectonic deformation, we have reduced the RMS of the station vertical position by about 1mm, which is about 11% of the total RMS. The amplitudes of annual vertical position variations are also reduced by about 37%. Moreover, we find that the position time series corrected using geophysical models followed by an empirical fitting of annual and semi-annual variations are smoother than that corrected using the empirical fitting of annual and semi-annual variations alone, indicating that the geophysical model corrections can not be substituted by pure empirical fitting in removing the non-tectonic deformation effects.

In subjects with hepatitis B, carcinogenesis has been associated with the hepatitis B virus (HBV) X protein (HBX) and human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT). In the experiments reported here, we used immunohistochemical methods to study the expression of hTERT and HBV antigens (HBsAg, HBcAg and HBxAg) in 34 cases of HCC and corresponding paratumor tissues, 30 cases of liver cirrhosis, and 6 normal livers. To examine the effect of HBX on hTERT expression and activity in hepatoma cells, we transiently and stably transfected the pCMV-X plasmid cloned HBx gene into H7402 hepatoma cells, then measured the expression of c-Myc and hTERT in these cells with the use of Western-blot analysis. Telomerase activity was detected with the use of the telomerase repeat amplification protocol (TRAP) in transiently and stably transfected cells. We found that hTERT expression was 67.6%, 73.5%, and 100% in tumor, paratumor, and cirrhosis samples, respectively, but found no hTERT positivity in samples of normal liver. HBsAg, HBcAg, and HBxAg were expressed in 58.8%, 26.5%, and 76.5% of tumor tissues, respectively; in 64.7%, 41.2%, and 85.3% of the corresponding paratumor tissues; and in 76.7%, 66.7%, and 100% of cirrhotic tissues. The chi 2 test revealed no significant difference between the expression of hTERT and HBxAg in these tissues. Western-blot analysis revealed that expression of c-Myc and hTERT in the transiently transfected cells was much greater than that in the control cells. We elicited a similar result when we used the TRAP method to measure telomerase activity. Our data collectively demonstrate that HBX up-regulates the expression and activity of hTERT in hepatoma cells, suggesting that hTERT is associated with tumor development.

This reaction sequence yields the spiro-products with adjacent quaternary and tertiary stereocenters with excellent enantioselectivities.

Monoclonal antibody 2F5 recognizing the ELDKWA epitope on HIV-1 gp41 has a significant neutralization potency against 90% of the investigated viruses of African, Asian, American, and European strains, but the antibody responses to the epitope 2F5 in HIV-1-infected individuals were very low. We attempted to induce high levels of epitope-specific antibodies to ELDKWA and its three mutated epitopes by candidate epitope vaccines. The four candidate epitope vaccines all induced strong antibody responses at dilutions from about 1:6,400 to 1:25,600. We tested the cross-reactions between these antisera and four epitope peptides. The ELDKWA-specific antisera showed strong cross-reactivity with three neutralizing-resistant mutated epitopes which contain changes in the D or K positions of the epitope sequence. Virus variants containing these changes could escape neutralization by monoclonal antibody 2F5. In immunoblotting analysis, the ELDKWA, ELDEWA, and ELEKWA epitope specific antibodies all recognized rsgp41 which confirms that the antibodies against both mutated epitopes, ELDEWA and ELEKWA, could cross-react with the native epitope on rsgp41. Although it is not clear whether the polyclonal antibodies induced by the ELDKWA epitope vaccine could neutralize the mutated viruses containing these mutated epitopes, it is conceivable that epitope vaccines based on mutated epitopes could induce strong antibody responses with predefined epitope specificity to neutralize mutated viruse containing the mutated epitope. An epitope vaccine, using different epitopes including mutated epitopes, could provide a new concept for developing a new vaccine against HIV-1.

The title reaction affords the desired spirocyclic products (III)/(IV) and (VI)/(VII) in good to high yields and with moderate to good regioselectivities.

The title complexes, diaquabis(dichloroacetato)bis(1,10-phenanthroline)europium(III) dichloroacetate, [Eu(CH-Cl 2 CO 2 ) 2 (C 12 H 8 N 2 ) 2 (H 2 O) 2 ]CHCl 2 CO 2 , and diaquabis-(dichloroacetato)bis( 1,10-phenanthroline)erbium(III) dichloroacetate, [Er(CHCl 2 CO 2 ) 2 (C 12 H 8 N 2 ) 2 (H 2 O) 2 ]CH-Cl 2 CO 2 , are isostructural. The central atom in each is eight-coordinate and the coordination polyhedra are slightly distorted square antiprisms. The phenanthroline and dichloroacetato ligands compete to coordinate to the lanthanide ions. The structures of the series of lanthanide complexes Ln = La to Yb fall into two types, changing structure between Sm and Eu.

The title complexes, [La(CHCl 2 CO 2 ) 3 (C 12 H 8 N 2 ) 2 (C 2 H 5 OH)(H 2 O)] and [Sm(CHCl 2 CO 2 ) 3 (C 12 H 8 N 2 ) 2 (C 2 H 5 OH)(H 2 O)], are isostructural. The La and Sm atoms are nine-coordinate with distorted tricapped trigonal prismatic coordination geometry. The average bond distances in the two structures are La-O(dichloroacetate) 2.470(14), La-O(H 2 O and C 2 H 5 OH) 2.59(9), La-N 2.72(2), Sm-O(dichloroacetate) 2.39(3), Sm-O(H 2 O and C 2 H 5 OH) 2.54(13) and Sm-N 2.63(4)A. The complexes form one-dimensional intermolecular-hydrogen-bonded chains in a direction nearly parallel to the a axis. This stabilizes the crystal packing.

Objective Excessive fluoride intake during enamel formation may result in enamel fluorosis and apoptosis is regarded to be involved in the process by an unclear mechanism. We hypothesize that excessive fluoride might cause apoptosis in the ameloblasts and fluoride-induced apoptosis varies with the maturation stages of ameloblasts. Methods We set up an in vitro differentiation model of ameloblasts by using retinoic acid (RA) and dexamethasone (DEX) to induce the maturation of mouse ameloblast-like LS8 cells. Results The mRNA and protein levels of two enamel matrix proteins and two enamel proteinases were downregulated and upregulated, respectively, in the RA/DEX induced cells, indicating RA/DEX induced cells possessed the characteristics of matured ameloblasts. The strengthened endocytosis function and decreased intracellular pH value inside RA/DEX treated ameloblasts confirmed the maturation inducing effect of RA/DEX on ameloblasts. Excessive fluoride inhibited cell proliferation of ameloblasts within 72 h. High amounts of fluoride also induced more apoptosis/dead cells and reduced the expression of Bcl-2 , but to a different degree in the non-induced cells and RA/DEX induced cells. Conclusions We inferred that high doses of fluoride may easily target the transitional/early maturation ameloblasts and cause apoptosis or cell death. Bcl-2 might be involved in this process.