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A triethylamine (TEA) sensor working temperature of 280 °C with high sensitivity and selectivity for TEA gas has been successfully fabricated by building Au@SnO2/ZnO nanosheets. By introducing a seed layer, ZnO nanosheets have been directly grown on Al2O3 tubes with a facile hydrothermal method. The Au@SnO2/ZnO structure is formed by utilizing DC-sputtering and pulsed laser deposition (PLD) methods. Compared with the pristine ZnO and SnO2/ZnO nanosheets sensors, the Au@SnO2/ZnO nanosheets sensors measured at 280 °C get a higher response of 48.1 toward 50 ppm of TEA gas. Moreover, the Au@SnO2/ZnO nanosheets sensor exhibits excellent selectivity. The enhanced sensing properties of the Au@SnO2/ZnO nanosheets sensor are discussed with a model of semiconductor depletion layer on the basis of n–n heterojunction and Schottky contact.

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been widely used as photocatalysts and nanosensors. Observation of the spectroscopy of a single AgNP greatly helps us understand the catalytic characteristics and morphology change of the AgNP during reactions. In the present study, AgNPs physically adsorbed on indium tin oxide (ITO) conductive glass were electrochemically reduced and oxidized, and the plasmonic resonance Rayleigh scattering (PRRS) spectrum of an individual AgNP was observed under a dark-field microscopy (DFM) equipped with a spectrometer. The electrochemical oxidization of the AgNP under constant potential caused a redshift of the PRRS peak for 30±5 nm. However, electrochemical reduction of the AgNP could not make the PRRS peak completely shift back to the initial position. In situ AFM and SEM characterization confirmed that very small Ag fragments (

In this paper, the thermal mechanical coupling problem of an infinite two-dimensional decagonal quasicrystal matrix containing elastic elliptic inclusion is studied under remote uniform loading and...

Two dimensional semiconductors are promising gas sensing materials due to their large surface-to-volume ratio. However, some drawbacks just like low response, long recovery time, and insufficient selectivity limits the development of two dimensional semiconductors gas sensors. In order to optimize the gas sensing properties of MoS 2 sensors, tri-material compound nanostructure of sensing materials is designed and synthesized by depositing Au and SnO 2 nanoparticles on the surface of MoS 2 nanoflowers. Comparing with the pristine MoS 2 sensor, the Au@SnO 2 /MoS 2 sensor exhibits better sensing properties to triethylamine, such as higher sensitivity and faster response/recovery speed. The enhanced sensing properties of Au@SnO 2 /MoS 2 sensor are discussed from the points of Au@SnO 2 Schottky contact and SnO 2 /MoS 2 N-N heterojunction on the basic of depletion layer model. Moreover, MoS 2 nanoflowers are directly grew on Al 2 O 3 tubes via a facile and cost-effective hydrothermal method. And the construction of Au nanoparticles decorated SnO 2 /MoS 2 nanoflowers heterostructure were built by employing the pulsed laser deposition and DC-sputtering methods.

Laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (LDG) for gastric cancer has gradually gained popularity. However, laparoscopic total gastrectomy (LTG) has been reported rarely when compared with LDG. This study was designed to evaluate the surgical outcomes as well as the morbidity and mortality of LTG compared with LDG to confirm the feasibility and safety of LTG.We reviewed the data of patients at our institution undergoing LTG (n = 448) or LDG (n = 956) for gastric cancer between January 2008 and July 2016. Then the clinical characteristics and perioperative clinical outcomes of the two groups were compared.Except for tumor size and stage, there were no statistically significant differences in the clinicopathological parameters between the groups. LTG was associated with significantly longer operation time, late time to postoperative diet, and longer hospital stay compared with the LDG group. Overall complications developed in 60 patients (13.4%) and surgical complications in 48 patients (10.7%) after LTG. Postoperative complications were less frequent in the LDG group than in the LTG group (8.4% versus 13.4%, p .01), and fewer surgical complications were observed with LDG than with LTG (7.5% versus 10.7%, p = .05).The results of LTG were favorable even though are not inferior to those of LDG. LTG for gastric cancer is technically feasible and safe. However, because of the limits of this study, other high-quality studies are needed for further evaluation.

Triethylamine (TEA) is one of toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which deserve to be studied in the field of gas sensors. In this paper, three kinds of ZnO samples (microrods, microflowers, and mircropyramids) were synthesized to learn the inner relationship which results in the different TEA sensing performances. Based on the model of surface atoms arrangement and theory of oxygen vacancy, we found that the different surface structures plays crucial role in the TEA sensing properties. Moreover, the order of TEA sensing properties of ZnO crystallite planes is confirmed as list: ( 0001 ) > { 10 1 ¯ 0 } > { 10 1 ¯ 1 } > ( 000 1 ¯ ) .

ZnO micropyramids had been successfully synthesized by an economical and environmental molten salt method (MSM). Compared with the reported works, we made a comprehensively and deeply sensing research for the ZnO micropyramids based triethylamine (TEA) sensors. The results of characterization reveal that the as-prepared ZnO crystallized sufficiently and have high purity. The sensors based on ZnO micropyramids have better TEA sensing performances, for instance higher response, better selectivity, and faster recovery speed than commercial ZnO. The response of ZnO micropyramids sensors can reach to 45 for 50 ppm of TEA. Moreover, the detection limit can also be as low as 2 ppm. These results indicate that the ZnO micropyramids synthesized by MSM are highly promising candidates for TEA gas detector. The space-charge layer model and the oxygen vacancies theory have also been proposed to interpret the gas sensing performance of ZnO micropyramids.

Anatomical liver resections (ALR), which both remove the tumor and the corresponding segments, meet more with the surgical oncology’s radical nature as reported by Makuuchi.1 Nevertheless, laparoscopic ALR remains a highly specialized procedure due to technical difficulty in the selection of the transection plane. This video aimed to present a novel laparoscopic ALR strategy of tumor-bearing portal territory hepatectomy with an indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescent dual staining technique. Video: A 42-year-old man admitted to our center for a single hepatic mass at the end of segment 5. To test liver reserve function and locate the tumor, we intravenously administrated ICG (0.5 mg/kg) 5 days before the operation. The ICG-R15 of the patient was 4.1%. The Glissonian pedicles of target portal territory were approached and temporally clamped with Takasaki’s Glissonian method as discussed by Takasaki.2 Then, we intravenously administered ICG (1 mL, 5 mg/L) to negative stain the portal territory of segment 5 and expose biliary leak from the cut surface. Fusion ICG imaging of the tumor and positive fluorescent region were obtained using the PINPOINT image system (Stryker, Kalamazoo, MI). Liver parenchyma transection was performed alongside the boundary of negative fluorescence region using an ultrasonic scalpel and L-PMOD as reported by Cai et al..3 Since the tumor located at the junction of segments 5 and 8, we did some extended resection. Operative time was 195 min, and the estimated intraoperative blood loss was 100 mL. The patient was discharged on the seventh day, without any complications. HCC was confirmed in histopathology with a free margin (over 1.3 cm). No recurrence was noted in the follow-up period for 6 months after the operation. Laparoscopic anatomical S5 segmentectomy using portal territory hepatectomy strategy in a dual staining method was technically feasible and safe for patients with HCC located in segment 5.

Background. Honokiol (HNK) has been reported to possess various beneficial effects in the context of metabolic disorders, including fatty liver, insulin resistance, and oxidative stress which are closely related to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), however with no particular reference to CFLAR or JNK. Methods. C57BL/6 mice were fed methionine-choline-deficient (MCD) diet and administered simultaneously with HNK (10 and 20 mg/kg once a day, ig) for 6 weeks, and NCTC1469 cells were pretreated, respectively, by oleic acid (OA, 0.5 mmol/L) plus palmitic acid (PA, 0.25 mmol/L) for 24 h, and adenovirus-down Cflar for 24 h, then exposed to HNK (10 and 20 μmol/L) for 24 h. Commercial kits, H&E, MT, ORO staining, RT-qPCR, and Western blotting were used to detect the biomarkers, hepatic histological changes, and the expression of key genes involved in NASH. Results. The in vivo results showed that HNK suppressed the phosphorylation of JNK (pJNK) by activating CFLAR; enhanced the mRNA expression of lipid metabolism-related genes Acox, Cpt1α, Fabp5, Gpat, Mttp, Pparα, and Scd-1; and decreased the levels of hepatic TG, TC, and MDA, as well as the levels of serum ALT and AST. Additionally, HNK enhanced the protein expression of oxidative stress-related key regulatory gene NRF2 and the activities of antioxidases HO-1, CAT, and GSH-Px and decreased the protein levels of prooxidases CYP4A and CYP2E1. The in vivo effects of HNK on the expression of CLFAR, pJNK, and NRF2 were proved by the in vitro experiments. Moreover, HNK promoted the phosphorylation of IRS1 (pIRS1) in both tested cells and increased the uptake of fluorescent glucose 2-NBDG in OA- and PA-pretreated cells. Conclusions. HNK ameliorated NASH mainly by activating the CFLAR-JNK pathway, which not only alleviated fat deposition by promoting the efflux and β-oxidation of fatty acids in the liver but also attenuated hepatic oxidative damage and insulin resistance by upregulating the expression of NRF2 and pIRS1.

IntroductionAchieving efficacious and safe treatments for unstable angina pectoris (UAP) is still a challenging clinical problem. The availability of different oral Chinese patent medicines frequently poses a practical challenge to clinicians, namely, which one to choose as first-line regimen for treatment. This study aims to examine the comparative effectiveness and safety of oral Chinese patent medicines for UAP on the national essential drugs list of China.Methods and analysisWe will conduct a network meta-analysis (NMA) of all randomised controlled trials to evaluate the use of oral Chinese patent medicines as adjuvant for the treatment of UAP. We will explore eight electronic databases from their inception to June 2018 and search for grey literature. Primary outcomes include mortality and the cardiovascular events. Secondary outcomes include: (1) symptom improvement; (2) ECG improvement; (3) frequency of acute angina attack; (4) duration of angina; (5) adverse effects. Two independent authors will screen titles and abstracts, review full texts, extract data, assess the risk of bias using the Cochrane risk of bias tool and assess the quality of evidence and strength of the recommendations using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE). If adequate data are available, NMA will be performed with Bayesian analysis methods.Ethics and disseminationThe NMA will help us to reduce the uncertainty of interventions and help clinicians to make optimal and more accurate therapeutic decisions for adults with UAP. Therefore, we will publish the findings of this study in a peer-reviewed journal. No ethics approval is necessary for this study based on the nature of its design.Trial registration numberCRD42018092822.

Background Endovascular mechanical thrombectomy (MT) can significantly improve the prognosis of patients with Large Vessel Occlusion (LVO) stroke. It is still unclear whether it is safe and effective to perform MT again in patients with renal failure and atrial fibrillation (AF) in a short period of time. Case presentation We present the case of a LVO petients with concomitant AF and uremia who was successfully treated by MT for M1 segment occlusion of right middle cerebral artery (MCA) with good outcome. 15 days after the first MT, the patient's stroke recurred, angiography again revealed M1 segment and branch occlusion of right MCA, and repeated MT were performed. The recurrent strokes might attributed to no anticoagulant therapy. In an 4-months follow-up, no further vascular events occurred. Conclusions Repeated MT for recurrent LVO appears safe and effective. In patients with uremia and AF, it might be beneficial to give anticoagulant therapy after careful assessment of the patient's condition, which needs further evidence.

BACKGROUND The factors contributing to the eosinophilic inflammation in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) remain elusive. This study was designed to investigate the inflammatory patterns and tissue remodeling of CRSwNP in patients from central China at two time points over 14 years apart and the influence of age. METHODS One hundred and eight CRSwNP patients enrolled in 2000 and 2001 (group A), and 134 CRSwNP patients enrolled in 2014 and 2015 (group B) were retrospectively studied. Hematoxylin-eosin stained tissue sections were used to study characteristics of inflammation and tissue remodeling. Immunohistochemistry was used to further evaluate the cells positive for eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), IL-5, IgE, tryptase or myeloperoxidase (MPO). Time- and age-related difference was analyzed. RESULTS The number of eosinophils and proportion of eosinophilic CRSwNP were increased, whereas the numbers of total inflammatory cells and lymphocytes were decreased in group B as compared with group A. Group B had severer epithelial squamous metaplasia and basement membrane thickening, and a lower number of mucosal glands than group A. Higher numbers of ECP plus, IL-5 plus and IgE plus cells were detected in group B than those in group A. The elderly (60 yrs or older) and non-elderly (less than 60 yrs) had a comparable number of eosinophils and ratio of eosinophilic CRSwNP. CONCLUSION Eosinophilic inflammation has been significantly augmented over time, which is associated with increased Th2 response and IgE production, and accompanied by exaggerated epithelium remodeling in CRSwNP patients from central China. Age has no significant influence on eosinophilic inflammation.

Early diagnosis and therapy of cancer metastasis are of great importance for disease outcome. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) offer the ability for noninvasive tumor profiling in real time. However, simply capturing and counting tumor cells are inadequate to provide valuable information about tumor. Efficiently releasing the captured cells is necessary for the downstream characterization. Herein, we describe a mild electrochemical strategy to effectively isolate CTCs from the bloodstream and rapidly release the captured cells in 2 min for downstream molecular characterization, as realized on a conductive poly(aminophenylboronic acid) derivatized electrode. The boronic ester linkage between dopamine (DA) and boronic acids-functionalized electrode is stable, and only upon the application of a weak potential perturbation does the boronic ester dissociate and release cells without compromising cell viability. This platform is reusable after acid treatment and has the potential to be the next-generation platform for cell capture and release, realizing the clinical value of CTCs as biomarkers.

Ethnopharmacological relevance Nauclea officinalis Pierrc ex Pitard. is a Chinese medicinal herb that contains high level of alkaloids which is the most abundant and active constituent. Strictosamide isolated from Nauclea officinalis Pierrc ex Pitard. showed significant effects on inflammatory response, compared with pumiloside, 3- epi -pumiloside, vincosamide, 3α,5α-tetrahydrodeoxycordifoline lactam and naucleamide A-10-O-β-D-glucopyranoside of this plant. Aim of study we investigated the biological activities of the six compounds mentioned-above, and the underlying molecular mechanism exerted by the most potent one, strictosamide. Materials and methods The effects of strictosamide and other five compounds on the inhibitory activity of nitric oxide (NO) were screened by Griess test. The contents of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in media were detected by using Enzyme-linked immunosorbent (ELISA) kits. The effects on the mRNA expression of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), TNF-α and IL-1β of strictosamide were further investigated by RT-qPCR. Western blot assay was conducted to illustrate the effects of strictosamide on iNOS and phosphorylation of p65, inhibitor of NF-κB (IκB)-α, IκB-kinase (IKK)-α as well as p-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), p-c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p-p38 in the protein levels. Results Strictosamide potently suppressed the productions of NO, TNF-α and IL-1β in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages, and it dose-dependently alleviated the LPS-simulated protein level of iNOS as well as the mRNA expressions of iNOS, TNF-α and IL-1β. In addition, molecular data revealed that strictosamide markedly decreased the expressions of p-p65, p-IκBα and p-IKKα. Furthermore, strictosamide significantly attenuated LPS-induced the phosphorylation of p38, ERK and JNK. Conclusions At present study, the results indicated that the anti-inflammatory activity of strictosamide was associated with the restraint of NO, TNF-α and IL-1β via negative regulation of both NF-κB and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells.

Ethnopharmacological relevance Corydalis bungeana Turcz. (C. bungeana) is one of traditionally used medicines in China and possesses various biological effects, such as anti-inflammatory, antibacterial activity and inhibition of the immune function of the host. Aim of the study we studied the anti-inflammatory effect and molecular mechanism involved of C. bungeana both in vitro and in vivo model system in which the inflammatory response was induced by LPS treatment. Materials and methods Anti-inflammatory activity of C. bungeana was investigated by LPS-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages and BALB/c mice. The production and expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines were evaluated by Griess reagent, ELISA kits and RT-qPCR, respectively. Phosphorylation status of IκBα and p65 was illustrated by western blot assay. Results C. bungeana reduced the secretion of NO, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β through inhibiting the protein expression of iNOS, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β in vitro and in vivo. Western blot analysis suggested that C. bungeana supressed NF-κB activation via regulating the phosphorylation of IκBα and p65. Immunohistochemical assay also demostrated the histological inflammatory change in liver tissue. Conclusions The results indicate that C. bungeana supresses the activation of NF-κB signaling pathway through inhibiting phosphorylation of IκBα and p65, which results in good anti-inflammatory effect. In addition, C. bungeana attenuates inflammatory reaction by supressing the expression of various inflammatory cytokines both in vivo and in vitro.

Ethnopharmacological relevance Nauclea officinalis has been traditionally used in China for the treatment of fever, pneumonia and enteritidis etc. This study aims to investigate effects of N. officinalis on the inflammatory response as well as the possible molecular mechanism in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 murine macrophage cells. Materials and methods Anti-inflammatory activity of N. officinalis (10, 20, 50, and 100 µg/mL) was investigated by using LPS-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages. The NO production was determined by assaying nitrite in culture supernatants with the Griess reagent. The levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β in culture media were measured with ELISA kits. Real time fluorescence quantitative PCR was detected for mRNA expression of iNOS, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β. Western blot assay was performed to illustrate the inhibitory effects of N. officinalis on phosphorylation of IκB-α and NF-κB p65. Results Treatment with N. officinalis (10–100 µg/mL) dose-dependently inhibited the production as well as mRNA expression of NO, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β in RAW 264.7 macrophages. Western blot assay suggested that the mechanism of the anti-inflammatory effect was associated with the inhibition of phosphorylation of IκB-α and NF-κB p65. Conclusions The results indicated that N. officinalis potentially inhibited the activation of upstream mediator NF-κB signaling pathway via suppressing phosphorylation of IκB-α and NF-κB p65 to inhibit LPS-stimulated inflammation.

Activation of mast cells associates with eosinophilic inflammation in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP). The disease-specific mast cell-triggering mechanisms apart from immunoglobulin E are poorly understood in CRSwNP. CD30L/CD30 are members of the tumor necrosis factor/receptor superfamily and display immune modulatory function on mast cells. The aim of this study was to explore the expression and function of CD30 and CD30L in CRSwNP.The mRNA expression of CD30 and CD30L was analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction. The cellular expression of CD30L was determined by immunofluorescence staining. The soluble CD30 levels in nasal tissues were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. HMC-1 cells, a human mast cell line, were cultured and stimulated with CD30.Compared with control tissues, CD30 mRNA expression levels were increased in eosinophilic polyps, and soluble CD30 protein levels were upregulated in both eosinophilic and noneosinophilic polyps with a greater increase in eosinophilic type. CD30 was expressed by T cells and B cells in nasal polyps. The CD30L mRNA expression levels and the number of CD30LCD30/CD30L-mediated mast cell activation may promote the eosinophilic inflammation in CRSwNP.NA Laryngoscope, 129:E110-E117, 2019.

Borneol, a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), is often orally co-administered with other TCM and chemical drugs, but the drug–drug interactions between borneol and the other compounds remains unclear. This work investigates the effect of orally administered borneol on the transcription and expression of hepatic uptake transporters (Ntcp, Oatp2b1, Oatp1a1, Oatp1a4, Oct1, Oct2, Octn2 and Oat2) and efflux transporters (Mdrla, Mrp2, Mrp4 and Mrp5) in rats, aiming to obtain essential information to guide its clinical applications. Rats were administered borneol (33, 100 and 300 mg/kg/day, respectively) and vehicle (control) orally via intragastric gavage for 7 consecutive days. The mRNA levels of rat hepatic uptake transporters (Ntcp, Oatp2b1, Oatp1a1, Oatp1a4, Oct1, Oct2, Octn2 and Oat2) and efflux transporters (Mdrla, Mrp2, Mrp4 and Mrp5) were determined using real-time quantitative PCR, while the hepatic Ntcp, Mdrla, Mrp2, Mrp4 and Mrp5 proteins were quantified using western blotting. The oral administration of borneol led to dose-dependent inhibition of mRNA and protein expression of Mrp4 and Mdr1a, dose-independent inhibition of mRNA and protein expression of Mrp2, and inverse dose-dependent inhibition of mRNA and protein expression of Ntcp. No significant effects were observed for mRNA expression of the other transporters tested following borneol administration. Oral administration of borneol may affect the metabolism of substances that are involved in bile acid enterohepatic circulation and substrates of Ntcp, Mdrla, Mrp2 and Mrp4 transporters.

Lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease have shared etiology, including key etiological changes (e.g., DNA damage and epigenetics change) and lung function impairment. Focusing on those shared targets may help in the prevention of both. Certain micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) and phytochemicals (carotenoids and phenols) have potent antioxidant or methyl-donating properties and thus have received considerable interest. We reviewed recent papers probing into the potential of nutrients with respect to lung function preservation and prevention of lung cancer risk, and suggest several hypothetical intervention patterns. Intakes of vitamins (i.e., A, C, D, E, B12), carotenoids, flavonoids, curcumins, resveratrol, magnesium, and omega-3 fatty acids all show protective effects against lung function loss, some mainly by improving average lung function and others through reducing decline rate. Dietary interventions early in life may help lung function reserve over the lifespan. Protective nutrient interventions among smokers are likely to mitigate the effects of cigarettes on lung health. We also discuss their underlying mechanisms and some possible causes for the inconsistent results in observational studies and supplementation trials. The role of the lung microbiome on lung health and its potential utility in identifying protective nutrients are discussed as well. More prospective cohorts and well-designed clinical trials are needed to promote the transition of individualized nutrient interventions into health policy.

This study was aimed to clarify the effect of honokiol (Hon) on the activity of Cytochrome P450 (CYP450) enzymes, and the level of mRNA expression of liver and kidney transporters in type 2 diabetic rats induced by high-fat diet and strepotozotocin. Rats were randomly divided into normal control (NC) group, diabetic control (DC) group and Hon groups (n = 6). The activities of hepatic CYP1A2, CYP2E1, CYP2C, CYP2B, CYP3A and CYP4A, and the mRNA expression levels of hepatic and renal transporters, were determined. Compared to the NC group, the activities of CYP1A2, CYP2E1, CYP4A and CYP2C in DC group were increased by 2.36-, 2.10-, 2.55- and 1.86-fold, respectively. The mRNA expression levels of hepatic Oat2, Oatp2b1 and Oatp1a5, and renal Oct1, Octn2, Oatp2b1 and Oatp1a5, were significantly down-regulated, while the mRNA expression levels of hepatic Octn2, Oatp3a1, Oatp1a1 and Mdr2, and renal Oat2, Mrp4 and Bcrp, were significantly upregulated. Compared to the DC group, Hon treatment significantly inhibited the activity of hepatic CYP2E1, CYP4A, 3A and CYP1A2 by 45.6%, 29.2%, 22.7% and 20.7% in Hon high dose group, respectively. Moreover, Hon treatment significantly inhibited the mRNA expression levels of renal Bcrp and Mrp4 by 2.63-fold and 1.54-fold, while significantly upregulated the mRNA expression levels of hepatic Oat2 and Oatp2b1 by 1.52-fold and 1.54-fold in Hon high dose group, respectively. The results suggested that under the diabetes condition, the changes of CYP450 activity and transporter expression inevitably interfere the normal transport, metabolism and efficacy of drugs. The present work firstly reported that Hon treatment ameliorated the abnormal change of hepatic CYP activity (including CYP2E1, CYP4A and CYP1A2) and the transporter mRNA expression (including hepatic Oat2 and Oatp2b1, renal Bcrp and Mrp4) in type 2 diabetic rats induced by high-fat diet and strepotozotocin, which are associated with the occurrence and development of diabetes.

Nauclea officinalis has long been used in China for the treatment of cold, fever, swelling of throat, pink eyes, and so on; however, the in vivo integrated metabolism of its multiple bioactive components remains unknown. In this paper, an ultra-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF/MS) method was established to identify chemical constituents in N. officinalis and metabolites in rat biological fluids after oral administration of N. officinalis. First, 40 chemical constituents in N. officinalis were detected within 19min by UPLC-QTOF/MS. Among them, 18 alkaloids and 7 phenolic acids and iridoids were identified or tentatively characterized. Secondly, 22 metabolites were identified after oral administration of N. officinalis extract, including 3, 9, 6 and 4 metabolites in the plasma, feces, urine and bile samples, respectively. Finally, the metabolic pathway was proposed, which were the hydroxylation, the hydroxylation of deglycosyation product of parent compound, the hydroxylation and dehydrogenation product of parent compound, and acetylation. Among these, hydroxylation was considered as the main metabolic processes. This work suggests that the integrative metabolism approach makes a useful template for drug metabolism research of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).

In order to improve the gaseous and electrochemical hydrogen storage kinetics of the Mg2Nitype alloy, the elements Cu and Nd were added in the alloy. The nanocrystalline and amorphous Mg2Ni-type alloys with the composition of (Mg24Ni10Cu2)100-xNdx (x = 0, 5, 10, 15, 20) were prepared by melt spinning technology. The effects of Nd content on the structures and hydrogen storage kinetics of the alloys were investigated. The characterization by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) reveals that all the as-cast alloys hold multiphase structures, containing Mg2Ni-type major phase as well as some secondary phases Mg6Ni, Nd5Mg41, and NdNi, whose amounts clearly grow with increasing Nd content. Furthermore, the as-spun Nd-free alloy displays an entire nanocrystalline structure, whereas the as-spun Nd-added alloys hold a mixed structure of nanocrystalline and amorphous structure and the amorphization degree of the alloys visibly increases with the rising of the Nd content, suggesting that the addition of Nd facilitates the glass forming in the Mg2Ni-type alloy. The measurement of the hydrogen storage kinetics indicates that the addition of Nd significantly improves the gaseous and electrochemical hydrogen storage kinetics of the alloys. The addition of Nd enhances the diffusion ability of hydrogen atoms in the alloy, but it impairs the charge-transfer reaction on the surface of the alloy electrode, which makes the high rate discharge ability (HRD) of the alloy electrode first mount up and then go down with the growing of Nd content.

Subclavian steal syndrome (SSS) is a condition characterized by a steno-occlusive impairment of the proximal subclavian artery. The majority of patients with SSS are asymptomatic, while symptomatic patients present with neurological symptoms. SSS is a risk factor for cerebral ischemia, which reacts badly upon cognitive function; however, it remains unknown whether SSS is able to cause progressive cognitive impairment. In the present study, the potential effects of SSS on cognitive function were investigated using atherosclerotic rabbits as a model of SSS. A total of 48 male New Zealand rabbits were divided into the control, sham and SSS groups. The results of eyeblink experiments indicated no significant differences among the three groups; however, SSS did appear to exert a negative impact on neurogenesis in the cerebellar cortex. In order to further clarify the mechanisms underlying this SSS-mediated reduction in cell proliferation, the energy metabolism, immune function and oxidative stress statuses were evaluated by determining the levels of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), adenosine, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, malondialdehyde, 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine, CuZn-superoxide dismutase and catalase. The results showed that the levels of extracellular ATP in the cerebellar cortex had decreased, while levels of adenosine had also decreased. These findings suggest that SSS is able to inhibit neurogenesis in the cerebellar cortex by decreasing the extracellular ATP levels. Furthermore, these changes may result in an impairment of the cognition of the rabbits. The early diagnosis and treatment of SSS may, therefore, prevent or mitigate cognitive impairment in the future.

The as-cast RE–Mg–Ni-based AB2-type La1−xPrxMgNi3.6Co0.4 (x = 0–0.4) alloys were prepared by vacuum induction melting followed by annealing treatment. The phase composition and structure were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results show that LaMgNi4 and LaNi5 coexist in as-cast alloys, but only LaMgNi4 is detected in the annealed alloys. The morphology of annealed alloys is more homogeneous than that of as-cast alloys. The gaseous hydrogen storage and electrochemical properties were investigated by pressure–composition isotherm (P-C-T) and electrochemical measurements. The P-C-T curves of annealed alloys show flatter and wider pressure plateaus corresponding to absorption/desorption pressure plateaus of LaMgNi4 hydride. But the maximum hydrogen storage content of annealed alloys is lower than that of as-cast alloys. In consideration of the electrochemical properties, the annealed La0.8Pr0.2MgNi3.6Co0.4 alloy exhibits a maximum discharge capacity of 354.2 mAh·g−1.

In order to investigate the influences of the stoichiometric ratio of La/Mg (increasing La and decreasing Mg on the same mole ratio) on the structure and electrochemical performances of the La–Mg–Ni-based A 2 B 7 -type electrode alloy, the as-cast and the annealed ternary La 0.8+ x Mg 0.2− x Ni 3.5 ( x =0−0.05) electrode alloys were prepared. The characterization of electrode alloys by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) shows that all the as-cast and the annealed alloys hold two major phases of (La,Mg) 2 Ni 7 and LaNi 5 as well as a residual phase of LaNi 3 . Moreover, the increase of La/Mg ratio brings on a decline of (La,Mg) 2 Ni 7 phase and a rise of LaNi 5 and LaNi 3 phases. The variation of La/Mg ratio gives rise to an evident change of the electrochemical performances of the alloys. The discharge capacities of the as-cast and the annealed alloys evidently decrease with growing the La/Mg ratio, while the cycle stabilities of the alloys visibly augment under the same condition. Furthermore, the high rate discharge ability (HRD), the electrochemical impedance spectrum (EIS), the Tafel polarization curves, and the potential step measurements all indicate that the electrochemical kinetic properties of the alloy electrodes increase with the La/Mg ratio rising.

In order to ameliorate the electrochemical characteristics of Mg2Ni-type alloy, the elements Cu and Nd are added in the alloy. The nanocrystalline and amorphous Mg2Ni-type alloys with the composition of (Mg24Ni10Cu2)100–x Nd x (x = 0, 5, 10, 15, 20) are prepared by melt spinning technology. The effects of Nd content and spinning rate on structures and electrochemical performances of the alloys are investigated. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) reveal that the as-spun Nd-free alloy displays an entirely nanocrystalline structure, whereas the as-spun Nd15 alloy, differing from Nd0 alloy, exhibits nanocrystals embedded in an amorphous matrix. This suggests that the addition of Nd facilitates the amorphous formation ability of the alloys. The electrochemical measurement indicates that both adding Nd and melt spinning significantly improve the electrochemical performances of the alloys, involving the discharge potential characteristics, discharge capacity, cycle stability, and the high rate dischargeability (HRD). The Nd addition and melt spinning enhance the diffusion ability of hydrogen atoms in the alloy, but both of them impair the charge-transfer ability on the surface of the alloy electrode, which gives rise to the HRD values first mounting up and then going down with the growing of the Nd content and the spinning rate.

In an attempt to improve the cyclic stability of La-Mg-Ni-based A2B7-type electrode alloys, La0.8Mg0.2Ni3.3Co0.2Si x (x = 0−0.2) electrode alloys were fabricated by casting and annealing, and the effects of annealing temperature on the structures and electrochemical hydrogen storage performances of the alloys were systematically investigated. The results indicate that the as-cast and annealed alloys exhibit multiple structures that contain two major phases, (La,Mg)2Ni7 with a Ce2Ni7-type hexagonal structure and LaNi5 with a CaCu5-type hexagonal structure; and one residual phase, LaNi3. Both the lattice constants and cell volumes of the two major phases increase with the increasing annealing temperature. Instead of altering the phase composition, the annealing treatment causes the abundances of these two major phases to vary. Based on electrochemical measurements, the cycle stabilities of the alloys are found to be considerably improved by annealing, and the alloy’s discharge capacity yields a maximum value with the increasing annealing temperature due to the variation in phase abundance and the homogenization of the composition, respectively. The influence of the annealing treatment on the electrochemical kinetics of the alloys is associated with the alloy’s composition; the electrochemical kinetics of the Si-free alloy become slower with the increasing annealing temperature, whereas those of the Si-added alloys first mount up and then go down under the same conditions.

The effective capture and release of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) is of significant importance in cancer prognose and treatment. Here we report a highly efficient method to capture and release human leukemic lymphoblasts (CCRF-CEM) using aptamers modified gold nanowire arrays (AuNWs). The gold nanowires, showing tunable morphologies from relatively random pillar deposit to relatively uniform arrays, were fabricated by electrochemical deposition using anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) as template. Upon simply being modified with aptamers by Au–S chemistry, the AuNWs exhibit higher specificity to target cells. Also compared to flat gold substrate, the AuNWs with nanostructure can capture target cells with much higher capture yield. Moreover, the captured CCRF-CEM cells can be released from AuNWs efficiently with little damage through an electrochemical desorption process. We predict that our strategy has great potential in providing a simple and economical platform for CTCs isolation, cancer diagnosis, and therapy.

The role of nesfatin-1 in glucose homeostasis has been investigated previously. However, although numerous studies have examined the relationships between circulating nesfatin-1 levels and type 2 diabetes, the conclusions are contradictory. We aimed to probe the relationship between circulating nesfatin-1 levels and type 2 diabetes by meta-analysis. Seven studies including 328 type 2 diabetes patients and 294 control subjects were included. Although there was no obvious difference in circulating nesfatin-1 levels between patients with type 2 diabetes and the control group (MD = −0.04; 95% CI = −0.32 to −0.23), subgroup analysis showed higher nesfatin-1 levels in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes patients (MD = 0.59; 95% CI = 0.45 to 0.74) and significantly lower nesfatin-1 levels in type 2 diabetes patients receiving antidiabetic treatment (MD = −0.26; 95% CI = −0.33 to −0.20). In conclusion, the analysis supports a relationship between circulating nesfatin-1 levels and type 2 diabetes, where newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes was associated with an elevated Nesfatin-1 level, and type 2 diabetes patients receiving antidiabetic treatment showed lower circulating nesfatin-1 levels.

Background Laparoscopic resections for submucosal tumors (SMTs) of the stomach have been developed rapidly over the past decade. Several types of laparoscopic methods for gastric SMTs have been created. We assessed the short-term outcomes of two commonly used types of laparoscopic local resection (LLR) for gastric SMTs and reported our findings. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinicopathological results of 266 patients with gastric SMTs whom underwent LLR between January 2006 and September 2016. 228 of these underwent laparoscopic exogastric wedge resection (LEWR), the remaining 38 patients with the tumors near the esophagogastric junction (EGJ) or antrum underwent laparoscopic transgastric resection (LTR). Results All the patients underwent laparoscopic resections successfully. The mean operation times of LEWR and LTR were 90.2 ± 37.2 min and 101.7 ± 38.5 min respectively. The postoperative length of hospital stays for LEWR and LTR were 5.1 ± 2.1 days and 5.3 ± 1.7 days respectively. There was a low complication rate (4.4%) and zero mortality in our series. Conclusion ELWR is technically feasible therapy of gastric SMTs. LTR is secure and effective for gastric intraluminal SMTs located near the EGJ or antrum.

Background Obesity is a growing epidemic around the world, and obese patients are generally regarded as high risk for surgery compared with normal weight patients. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of obesity on the surgical outcomes of laparoscopic gastrectomy (LG) for gastric cancer. Methods We reviewed data for all patients undergoing LG for gastric cancer at our institute between October 2004 and December 2016. Patients were divided into non-obese and obese groups and the perioperative outcomes were compared. Furthermore, a subgroup analysis was conducted to evaluate which of the two commonly used methods of LG, laparoscopic-assisted gastrectomy (LAG) and totally laparoscopic gastrectomy (TLG), is more suitable for obese patients. Results A total of 1691 patients, 1255 non-obese and 436 obese or overweight patients, underwent LG during the study period. The mean operation time was significantly longer in the obese group than in the non-obese group (209.9 ± 29.7 vs. 227.2 ± 25.7 min, P

The 70-kD heat shock proteins (HSP70s or HSC70s) function as molecular chaperones and are involved in diverse cellular processes. We recently demonstrated the roles of mitochondrial HSC70-1 (mtHSC70-1) in the establishment of cytochrome c oxidase (COX)-dependent respiration and redox homeostasis in Arabidopsis thaliana. Defects in COX assembly were observed in the mtHSC70-1 knockout lines. The levels of Cox2 (COX subunit 2) proteins in COX complex were markedly lower in the mutants than in wild-type plants; however, the levels of total Cox2 proteins in the mutants were not obviously different from those in wild-type plants, suggesting that the stability of COX or the availability of Cox2 was impaired in the mtHSC70-1 mutants. Here, we further detected the interaction between mtHSC70-1 and Cox2 proteins through co-immunoprecipitation, pull-down and firefly luciferase complementation imaging assays. The results showed that mtHSC70-1 could directly combine Cox2 in vivo and in vitro, providing supporting evidence for the role of mtHSC70-1 in COX assembly.

The partial substitution of M (M=Sm, Nd, Pr) for La was performed in order to ameliorate the electrochemical hydrogen storage performance of RE–Mg–Ni-based A2B7-type electrode alloys. The La0.8–xMxMg0.2Ni3.35Al0.1Si0.05 (M=Sm, Nd, Pr; x=0–0.4) electrode alloys were fabricated by casting and annealing and their microstructures were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The major phases (La, Mg)2Ni7 with the hexagonal Ce2Ni7-type structure and LaNi5 with the hexagonal CaCu5-type structure make up the basic microstructure of the experimental alloys. The discharge capacities of the as-cast and annealed alloys all gain their maximum values with the M (M=Sm, Nd, Pr) content varying. The electrochemical cycle stability of the as-cast and annealed alloys clearly rises with the M (M=Sm, Nd, Pr) content growing. Furthermore, the electrochemical kinetics of the alloys, including the high rate discharge ability, charge transfer rate, limiting current density and hydrogen diffusion coefficient, all present a increase trend at first and then decrease with the rising of M (M=Sm, Nd, Pr) content.

The (Mg 24 Ni 10 Cu 2 ) 100— x Nd x ( x =0, 5, 10, 15, 20) alloys with nanocrystalline and amorphous structures were prepared by melt spinning technology. The structures of the as-cast and spun alloys were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The effects of Nd content and spinning rate on the structures and hydrogen storage kinetics of the alloys were investigated. The results show that the as-spun Nd-free alloy displays an entire nanocrystalline structure, whereas the as-spun Nd-added alloys hold nanocrystalline and amorphous structures, suggesting that the addition of Nd facilitates the glass forming of the alloys. Both the Nd-addition and the melt spinning significantly improve the gaseous and electrochemical hydrogen storage kinetics of the alloys. The addition of Nd and melt spinning enhance the diffusion ability of hydrogen atoms in the alloy, but both of them impair the charge-transfer reaction on the surface of the alloy electrode, which makes the high rate discharge ability (HRD) of the alloy electrode first mount up and then go down with the growing Nd content and spinning rate.

In this work, a comprehensive comparison regarding the impacts of M (M=Cu, Co, Mn) substitution for Ni on the structures and the hydrogen storage kinetics of the nanocrystalline and amorphous Mg20Ni10−xMx (M=Cu, Co, Mn; x=0–4) alloys prepared by melt spinning has been carried out. The analysis of XRD and TEM reveals that the as-spun (M=None, Cu) alloys display an entire nanocrystalline structure, whereas the as-spun (M=Co, Mn) alloys hold a mixed structure of nanocrystalline and amorphous structure when M content x=4, indicating that the substitution of M (M=Co, Mn) for Ni facilitates the glass formation in the Mg2Ni-type alloy. Besides, all the as-spun alloys have a major phase of Mg2Ni but M (M=Co, Mn) substitution brings on the formation of some secondary phases, MgCo2 and Mg phases for M=Co as well as MnNi and Mg phases for M=Mn. Based upon the measurements of the automatic Sieverts apparatus and the automatic galvanostatic system, the impacts engendered by M (M=Cu, Co, Mn) substitution on the gaseous and electrochemical hydrogen storage kinetics of the alloys appear to be evident. The gaseous hydriding kinetics of the alloys first rises and then declines with the growing of M (M=Cu, Co, Mn) content. Particularly, the M (M= Mn) substitution results in a sharp drop in the hydriding kinetics when x=4. The M (M=Cu, Co, Mn) substitution ameliorates the dehydriding kinetics dramatically in the order (M=Co)>(M=Mn)>(M=Cu). The electrochemical kinetics of the alloys visibly grows with M content rising for (M=Cu, Co), while it first increases and then declines for (M=Mn).

To avoid the defects of physical detection methods, such as road spoiling, complex algorithms and equipment maintenance, SVM (Support Vector Machine) and PHOW (Pyramid Histogram of Words) are explored to detect the traffic and road condition. Experimental results show that the average accuracies go beyond 82.5% in the case of different weather. The proposed method can effectively classify 4 types of traffic and road condition images.

In order to avoid the drawbacks of physical detection methods, such as spoiling the road, having complex algorithms and affected by weather factors, the detection methods of traffic and road condition are explored using the Adaboost algorithm and its three variants based on PHOG (pyramid histogram of edge orientation gradients) image feature. Experimental results show that this method can effectively classify 4 types of traffic and road condition images, and Gentle Adaboost algorithm has the best performance for the noisy samples.

Background The contribution of ectopic lymphoid tissues (eLTs) to local immunoglobulin hyperproduction in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) is unclear. Objective We sought to explore the cellular basis, formation mechanisms, and function of eLTs in patients with CRSwNP. Methods We graded lymphoid aggregations in sinonasal mucosa and histologically studied their structures. The expression of lymphorganogenic factors and molecules required for immunoglobulin production was measured by using real-time PCR, and their localization was analyzed by means of immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence. The phenotype of follicular helper T cells was analyzed by performing flow cytometry. Immunoglobulin levels were quantified by using the Bio-Plex assay or ImmunoCAP system. Nasal tissue explants were challenged ex vivo with Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus group 1 (Der p 1), and the expression of Ie-Cμ and Ie-Cγ circle transcripts was detected by using seminested PCR. Results Increased formation of eLTs with germinal center–like structures was discovered in patients with eosinophilic (20.69%) and noneosinophilic (17.31%) CRSwNP compared with that in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis without nasal polyps (5.66%) and control subjects (3.70%). The presence of eLTs was associated with increased expression of lymphorganogenic and inflammatory chemokines and cytokines, as well as their receptors. The expression of molecules required for immunoglobulin production, generation of follicular helper T cells, and production of IgE in eosinophilic polyps and IgG and IgA in both eosinophilic and noneosinophilic polyps were predominantly upregulated in patients with eLTs. After Der p 1 challenge ex vivo , Ie-Cμ transcript was detected only in eosinophilic polyps with eLTs but not in polyps without eLTs and noneosinophilic polyps. Conclusion eLTs might support local immunoglobulin production and therefore significantly contribute to the development of CRSwNP.

To establish an Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography fingerprint of Corydalis bungeana from different habitats.UPLC-PDA was adopted to analysis ten batches of Corydalis bungeana from different habitats with Phenomenex Luna C₁₈ column (250 mm x 4.6 mm, 5 µm) eluted with the mobile phase of acetonitrile and 0. 02% triethylamine in a gradient mode. The flow rate was 0.3 mL/min and the column temperature was 30 °C. The detection wavelength was set at 289 nm.The fingerprints of ten batches of Corydalis bungeana from different habitats had 13 common peaks, three of them were identified. The similarities were larger than 0.80. Ten batches of samples were divided into three categories by cluster analysis. Three principal components were ob- served via principal component analysis and the value of three principal components accounted for 89. 607% of the total variance. Two major chemical components of Corydalis bungeana were confirmed.The high-performance and rapid method is successfully used for fingerprint analysis and can be used to evaluate the quality of Corydalis bungeana.

The stress response of fracture trauma section has certain inertia and pure lag, conventional PID control can not obtain optimal stress control accuracy. In allusion to this problem, this paper proposes using fuzzy adaptive PID control, aims at the optimal physiological stimulation stress (Jorgensen curve) in the course of fracture healing, conducts real-time control to the fracture trauma section stress. According to the established fracture trauma system model, the fuzzy self-adaptive PID controller has been designed, and conducts simulation research on real-time stress control in the Matlab/Simulink simulation environment. The simulation results show that the stress control accuracy of fuzzy self-adaptive PID control is obviously better than that of the classical PID control and classical fuzzy control, which can effectively control the stress of trauma section in fracture healing, to promote bone repair and bone growth towards the optimal level, and then to ensure the speed and quality of fracture healing.

Li 3 V 2-2/3 Mn x (PO 4 ) 3 (O≤ x ≤0.12) powders were synthesized by sol-gel method. The effect of Mn 2+ -doping on the structure and electrochemical performances of Li 3 V 2 (PO 4 ) 3 /C was characterized by XRD, SEM, XPS, galvanostatic charge/discharge and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy(EIS). The XRD study shows that a small amount of Mn 2+ -doped does not alter the structure of Li 3 V 2 (PO 4 ) 3 /C materials, and all Mn 2+ -doped samples are of pure single phase with a monoclinic structure (space group P 2 1 / n ). The XPS analysis indicates that valences state of V and Mn are +3 and +2 in Li 3 V 1.94 Mn 0.09 (PO 4 ) 3 /C, respectively, and the citric acid in raw materials was decomposed into carbon during calcination, and residual carbon exists in Li 3 V 1.94 Mn 0.09 (PO 4 )/C. The results of electrochemical measurements show that Mn 2+ -doping can improve the cyclic stability and rate performance of these cathode materials. The Li 3 V 1.94 Mn 0.09 (PO 4 ) 3 /C cathode material shows the best cyclic stability and rate performance. For example, at the discharge current density of 40 mA/g, after 100 cycles, the discharge capacity of Li 3 V 1.94 Mn 0.09 (PO 4 ) 3 /C declines from initial 158.8 mA·h/g to 120.5 mA·h/g with a capacity retention of 75.9%; however, that of the Mn-undoed sample declines from 164.2 mA·h/g to 72.6 mA·h/g with a capacity retention of 44.2%). When the discharge current is increased up to 1C, the intial discharge capacity of Li 3 V 1.94 Mn 0.09 (PO 4 ) 3 /C still reaches 146.4 mA·h/g, and the discharge capacity maintains at 107.5 mA·h/g after 100 cycles. The EIS measurement indicates that Mn 2+ -doping with a appropriate amount of Mn 2+ decreases the charge transfer resistance, which is favorable for the insertion/extraction of Li + .

Background Although upregulated expression of local IgD has been reported in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), its function is unclear. Objective We sought to explore the expression and function of soluble IgD in patients with CRS, particularly CRS with nasal polyps. Methods IgD levels in sinonasal mucosa were analyzed by using RT-PCR and ELISA. Numbers and phenotypes of IgD+ cells were studied by means of immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, and flow cytometry. HMC-1 cells, a human mast cell line, and mast cells purified from eosinophilic polyps were cultured alone or with naive B cells purified from peripheral blood. The antigen specificity of nasal IgD was investigated by using ELISA. Results The mRNA expression of immunoglobulin heavy constant delta gene, numbers of IgD+ cells, and protein levels of secretory IgD in sinonasal mucosa were increased in patients with CRS with or without nasal polyps compared with control subjects. Numbers of IgD+ plasmablasts were increased in both eosinophilic and noneosinophilic polyps, whereas numbers of IgD+ mast cells were only increased in eosinophilic polyps. Cross-linking IgD induced serum preincubated HMC-1 cells and polyp mast cells to produce B-cell activating factor, IL-21, IL-4, and IL-13 and to promote IgM, IgG, IgA, and IgE production from B cells. In eosinophilic polyps expression of those B cell–stimulating factors in mast cells and close contact between mast cells and B cells were found. Moreover, positive correlations of total IgD levels with total IgE levels and eosinophilia and upregulation of specific IgD against house dust mites were discovered in eosinophilic polyps. Conclusion IgD-activated mast cells can facilitate IgE production and eosinophilic inflammation in patients with CRS with nasal polyps.

Purpose Oxidative stress has been shown to be intimately involved in the pathogenesis of fatty liver disease (FLD). A major factor contributing to oxidative stress is the depletion of glutathione (GSH). Our previous studies in glutamate cysteine ligase modifier subunit (Gclm)-null mice demonstrate that ~85% deficiency in hepatic GSH renders mice protected from fatty liver injuries induced by varieties of hepatic insults, including alcohol exposure. It is well-known that epigenetic mechanisms play active roles in modulating gene expression and disease outcome in FLD. The purpose of the current study is to utilize the Gclm-null mouse model to examine in vivo interplay between chronic oxidative stress and DNA methylation at the epigenome level and whether these epigenetic changes are functionally involved in FLD. Methods we performed DNA methylation profiling in the liver and whole blood using the Mouse Promoter Methylation Array. Genes with CpG sites that were significantly affected by GSH deficiency were further investigated for network and functional enrichment. Results Among 22,327 gene promoter regions (from -1300bp to +500bp of the Transcription Start Sites) that were analyzed, in the liver, only 52 and 6 gene promoters were hypo- and hyper-methylated, respectively, in Gclm-null mice relative to wild-type mice, indicating an overall hypo-methylated genome associated with low GSH. Interestingly, the DNA methylation profiles in the liver and blood appeared to be comparable irrespective of the genotype, which leads to the possibility of potential circulating biomarker(s) for hepatic epigenetic fingerprints related to chronic oxidative stress. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) revealed that hypo-methylated genes in the KO liver are enriched in canonical pathways of protein phosphorylation, RNA transcription, cytoplasm organization and organismal death. Conclusion our preliminary data indicate that chronic GSH deficiency induces global DNA hypomethylation. The functional significance of observed epigenomic changes is under investigation.

Efficient water splitting through electrocatalysis holds great promise for producing hydrogen fuel in modern energy devices. Its real application however suffers from sluggish reaction kinetics due to the lack of high-performance catalysts except noble metals such as platinum. Herein, we report an active system of plasmonic-metal Au nanorods/molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) nanosheets hybrids for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The plasmonic Au-MoS2 hybrids dramatically improve the HER, leading to a ∼3-fold increase of current under excitation of Au localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR). A turnover of 8.76 s(-1) at 300 mV overpotential is measured under LSPR excitation, which by far exceeds the activity of MoS2 catalysts reported recently. The HER enhancement can be largely attributed to the increase of carrier density in MoS2 induced by the injection of hot electrons of Au nanorods. We demonstrate that the synergistic effect of the hole scavengers can further facilitate electron-hole separation, resulting in a decrease of the overpotential of HER at MoS2 to ∼120 mV. This study highlights how metal LSPR activates the HER and promises novel opportunities for enhancing intrinsic activities of semiconducting materials.

Background Locally produced IgE contributes to the initiation and development of eosinophilic inflammation in eosinophilic nasal polyps independent of systemic atopy. However, whether CXCR5 + CD4 + T follicular helper (T FH ) cells are involved in local IgE production at mucosal sites remains unexplored. Objective We sought to explore the presence, phenotype, and function of CXCR5 + CD4 + T FH cells in eosinophilic nasal polyp tissues compared with noneosinophilic nasal polyp and control normal nasal tissues. Methods T FH cell-surface phenotypes and subsets and B-cell subsets in nasal tissues and peripheral blood were studied by means of flow cytometry. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the tissue location of T FH cells. Sorted nasal T FH cells and CXCR5 − T cells were cultured with autologous naive B cells purified from blood. Results Nasal T FH cells expressed inducible costimulator, programmed cell death protein 1, and the transcription factor B-cell lymphoma 6 (Bcl-6) at an intermediate level when compared with bona fide T FH cells in tonsils and circulating T FH cells. Although counts of total T FH cells and IL-21 + , IFN-γ + , and IL-17 + T FH cells were increased in both eosinophilic and noneosinophilic nasal polyp tissues compared with those in normal nasal tissues, IL-4 + T FH cell counts were only increased in eosinophilic polyp tissues. IL-4 and IL-21 were involved in polyp T FH cell–induced IgE production from naive B cells, and nasal IL-4 + T FH cell counts correlated highly with local IgE levels in vivo . IL-4 + Bcl-6 + CD4 + T FH cells were identified in ectopic lymphoid structures in eosinophilic nasal polyps. T FH cells also positively correlated with germinal center B cells and plasma cells in nasal tissues. Conclusion Nasal IL-4 + T FH cells might be involved in local IgE production in eosinophilic nasal polyps.