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Cathelicidin-BF-30 (BF-30), a water-soluble peptide isolated from the snake venom of Bungarus fasciatus containing 30 amino acid residues, was incorporated in poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) 75∶25 microspheres (MS) prepared by a water in oil in water W/O/W emulsification solvent extraction method. The aim of this work was to investigate the stability of BF-30 after encapsulation. D-trehalose was used as an excipient to stabilize the peptide. The MS obtained were mostly under 2 µm in size and the encapsulation efficiency was 88.50±1.29%. The secondary structure of the peptide released in vitro was determined to be nearly the same as the native peptide using Circular Dichroism (CD). The ability of BF-30 to inhibit the growth of Escherichia coli was also maintained. The cellular relative growth and hemolysis rates were 92.16±3.55% and 3.52±0.45% respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Poly( l-lactic acid) (PLA) is now a very attractive polymer for food packaging applications. In this study, PLA/poly(trimethylene carbonate) (PTMC)/talc composite films were prepared by solvent casting. The influence of the talc loading (0, 1, 2, and 3 wt %) on the phase morphology of the PLA/PTMC/talc composites and the improvement in the resulting properties are reported in this article. The scanning electron microscopy images of the composite films demonstrated good compatibility between the PLA and PTMC, whereas talc was not thoroughly distributed in the PLA matrix at talc contents exceeding 3 wt %. The tensile strength and elongation at break of the composite films significantly improved ( p < 0.05). On the contrary, the water vapor permeability and oxygen properties of the composite films decreased by 24.7 and 39.2%, respectively, at the 2 wt % talc loading. Differential scanning calorimetry showed that the crystallinity of the PLA phase increased with the presence of talc filler in the PLA/PTMC/talc composites. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2014, 131, 40016. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Virtual enterprises are currently characterised as having a fixed process model, fixed meta-data model and a fixed set of users. This paper proposes a behaviour network based approach to support dynamic and self-organised virtual organisations with less common knowledge and synchronising models, which are often the case in internet-based social interaction at its inception. The architecture is based on Maes' Behaviour Network method. Each agent assesses RSS feeds from others using a virtual sensor by calculating the semantic similarity between the incoming ambiguous information and its own interests. Each agent also contains a local behaviour network which uses an energy spreading mechanism to react to a combination of its own goals and state changes. An action-selector continuously looks for the best possible action to take, rather than carry out a model-based planning. A test-bed is developed on the JADE environment. A case study for new product development demonstrates the system self-organises a virtual organisation at its inception without a centralised model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • DESP prepared using cyclodextrin and organic acids efficiently dissolves chitosan. • The well-designed antibacterial dressing is natural and simple. • The synergy of low pH and antibacterial promotes wound healing. • DESP with cavity structure is a promising solvent for preparing novel medical materials. Burn damage causes loss of the barrier function of the skin against bacteria, but providing a weakly acidic environment is beneficial for preventing bacterial invasion and promoting wound healing. The utilization of the natural antibacterial properties of chitosan is ideal for treating wounds. In this work, a deep eutectic supramolecular polymer (DESP) prepared with a cyclodextrin and an organic acid effectively improved the antibacterial properties of chitosan through its cavity structure and provided a weakly acidic environment for wound healing. Through genipin crosslinking, the mechanical strength and swelling rate of the prepared dressing reached 9.79 MPa and 1100 %, respectively. As a wound dressing, this new material shows good flexibility, breathability and stability. The cell survival rate when using this new wound dressing was greater than 90.0 %, and the hemolysis rate was less than 5.0 %. It had high biocompatibility and cell compatibility and facilitated cell proliferation. The dressing showed excellent antibacterial effects on E. coli and S. aureus , and the size of the inhibition rings was up to 11 mm and 14 mm. In in vivo wound healing experiments, new capillaries and collagen fibers appeared earlier, and the dressing in multiple forms could reduce inflammation, promote angiogenesis, and accelerate wound healing. Therefore, the use of a DESP with a cavity structure provides an effective strategy for the preparation of future medical materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industrial wastewater containing heavy metal Cr(VI) seriously affects the health of organisms and may even lead to cancer. Developing efficient adsorbents that can quickly separate heavy metals is crucial for treating wastewater. In this study, magnetic multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MMWCNTs) with moderate particle size and abundant surface active sites were prepared by coating multiwalled carbon nanotubes with magnetic nanoparticles. The results of FTIR, XRD, TG, VSM, BET, and EDS showed MWCNTs completely encapsulated on the surface of the magnetic nanoparticles, with a particle size of approximately 30 nm. Oxygenated groups provided abundant surface active sites and formed numerous mesopores. The response surface methodology was used to optimize the adsorbent dose, adsorption contact time and adsorption temperature, and the removal rate of Cr(VI) was more than 95%. The quasi-second order kinetics and Freundlich adsorption isotherm model explained the adsorption process to Cr(VI). MMWCNTs interacted with Cr(VI) through electrostatic attraction, reduction reactions, complexation, and other means. The extensive hydrogen bonding of the green solvent deep eutectic solvent (DES) was employed to desorb the MMWCNTs and desorption rate exceed 90%. Even after five adsorption-regeneration cycles, the adsorbent maintained a high capacity. In conclusion, these novel MMWCNTs, as efficient adsorbents paired with DES desorption, hold broad potential for application in the treatment of Cr(VI)-contaminated wastewater. [Display omitted] • The spherical MMWCNTs had moderate particle sizes and abundant surface active sites. • MMWCNTs exhibited remarkable efficiency in removing Cr(VI) from aqueous solutions. • The use of DES facilitated the efficient desorption of Cr(VI) from the MMWCNTs. • The process of adsorption and desorption was rapid and green. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was performed to promote the clinical application of Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS), which present anti-inflammatory and antitumor activities, and provided insights for the preparation of controlled-release dosage forms of traditional Chinese medicine. A series of drug-loaded microspheres with degradable amphiphilic polymer material polyethylene glycol monomethyl ether-polylactic acid (mPEG-PLA) as the carrier was synthesized. The degradation, sustained-release behavior, and biocompatibility of the drug-loaded microspheres were studied through in vitro release, degradation, hemolysis, anticoagulation, and cytotoxicity experiments. The pharmacological activities of the microspheres were studied through anti-inflammatory and antitumor experiments. The results showed that the best carrier material was mPEG 2k -PLA (1:9), with an average particle size of 3.47 ± 0.35 μm, a drug load of 5.50 ± 0.28 %, and an encapsulation efficiency of 38.52 ± 1.93 %. This material could be released stably for approximately 24 days and degrade in approximately 60 days. Moreover, the microspheres had good biocompatibility and anti-inflammatory and antitumor activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Using a self-assembly strategy to synthesize catalysts with enzyme-like Co-Nx active sites. • The presence of acid-base synergism in H 2 activation was demonstrated by DFT and acid-base shielding experiments. • N-doped carbon carriers facilitate electron transfer for efficient and selective hydrogenation of C = O bonds. • Among non-precious metal catalysts, Co/CoNx/C-600 exhibits excellent activity in selective hydrogenation. In response to increasing energy and environmental concerns, enzyme-like catalysts (ELC) have been widely and artificially created for the conversion of biomass into alternative chemicals. However, the precise construction of desired ELC and the clarification of their conformational relationships still face great challenges. Here, we report a metal nitrogen-doped carbon-based catalyst with enzyme-like properties for targeted adsorption-selective hydrogenation of biomass molecules containing conjugated double bonds. Density-functional theory (DFT) calculations show that nitrogen doping excites electron-directed transfer effects, which promote the polarization and rearrangement of surface charges. This promotes the target adsorption of C = O bonds and reducing the energy barrier for the hydrogenation of RC(CH 3) = CHCHO* to RC(CH 3) = CHCHOH*. Kinetic calculations indicate that the decrease in the reaction activation energy 67.1 kJ/mol to Ea = 30.86 kJ/mol was due to the doping of the N. This work lays a theoretical foundation for further clarification of the structure–activity relationship of ELC and provides an important paradigm for realizing the conversion of biomass platform molecules into high value-added chemicals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two biobased composite films have been prepared with poly (lactic acid-trimethylene carbonate), polylactic acid and Laponite by solvent evaporation method. The 1H NMR and FTIR spectrums illustrate that P (LA-TMC) polymer is successfully synthesized and designed composite films are produced. Morphometric analyses demonstrate that the roughnesses of the film's surface and cross-section are on the increase with higher PLA and Laponite content. Mechanical performances reveal that the rise in tensile strength and modulus while maintaining excellent elongation at break is mainly due to the increase in the content of polylactic acid and Laponite. By utilizing the nano effect of Laponite, the maximum tensile strength of the composite film reaches 34.59 MPa. Thermal property results illustrate that the Tg and initial decomposition temperature are on the growth with the increase of PLA content. However, it is not significant on the effect of Laponite on the initial decomposition temperature. The water vapor permeability measurements prove that the barrier property of P(LA-TMC)/PLA/Laponite composite film is on the ascent with the Laponite addition. Hydrolytic degradation tests indicate that PLA and Laponite play avital part in accelerating the degradation rate of composite films and alkaline media is superior acidic and neutral conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To accurately determine flavonoids (rutin, quercetin or kaempferol), it is necessary to extract them from complex matrices. The ultrasound-assisted magnetic dispersion microsolid phase extraction technique has been predominantly used for separation and enrichment of the target analytes. The combination of magnetic chitosan nanoparticles and a deep eutectic supramolecular solvent (DESP) is likely to enhance the efficiency of flavonoid extraction from food. In this study, adsorbents were prepared by modifying chitosan with magnetic nanoparticles, and the eluent was a DESP derived from β-cyclodextrin and an organic acid. The successful preparation of these materials was confirmed by FTIR, XRD, FE-SEM and 1H NMR. The extraction recovery rates exceeded 93 %, with limits of detection and quantitation ranging from 0.9 to 2.4 μg/L and 2.7 to 7.2 μg/L, respectively, and the flavonoid clearance rates for ABTS and DPPH radicals reached 100 %. Therefore, the integration of magnetic chitosan nanoparticles with the DESP provides a new and efficient method for the extraction of flavonoids while also presenting a potential application of the DESP in separations. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Hydrophobic indicator film was facilely prepared by electrospinning technique. • The film is highly responsive and indicative to both acid and alkaline gases. • BPA and CIN endow PLA film with antioxidant and antibacterial properties. • The smart film can be effectively applied for visual monitoring of beef spoilage. • The film has a significant effect on extending the shelf life of beef. A nanofiber film was prepared by a facile electrospinning technique using polylactide (PLA), butterfly pea flower extract (BPA) and cinnamaldehyde (CIN). The as-prepared film shows the prominent antioxidative, antibacterial, colorimetric and hydrophobic properties so that the beef freshness can be monitored and maintained up to 6 days at 4 °C simultaneously. Besides, the nanofiber structure endows the film with a fast color responsiveness under acidic-alkaline atmospheres with different concentrations. Moreover, this film exhibits higher tensile strength (9.56 Mpa) than that of the pure PLA electrospinning film (4.40 Mpa). Especially the introduction of the BPA effectively boosts the antimicrobial ability of the CIN. The freshness, sub-freshness and spoilage levels of the beef can be easily testified by observing the color difference change of the film. So the polylactide based multifunctional film as an intelligent packaging has an excellent potential for the sub-freshness detection of meat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fabrication of an adsorbent with excellent performance has been a focus of attention because of the toxicity, mutagenicity and carcinogenicity of methyl orange (MO)-containing wastewater discharged from the textile, tannery and pharmaceutical industries. In this study, chitosan (CS) membranes were modified with a deep eutectic supramolecular polymer (DESP), and adsorbent membranes with porous structures were prepared with polyethylene glycol (PEG). Microstructural characterization of the CS-DESP-PEG composite membranes with FT-IR, XRD and SEM showed that the membranes had amorphous crystalline structures and that hydrogen bonding interactions weakened the crystallinity and formed loose porous structures. Optimization of the chitosan to β-cyclodextrin ratio, pH, PEG proportion, MO concentration and adsorbent dose significantly improved the adsorption efficiencies of the membranes. The adsorption behaviours of the membranes were fit with pseudo-second-order adsorption kinetics and the Freundlich adsorption isotherm model. Regeneration experiments showed that the membranes were reusable multiple times and maintained good adsorption capacities. [Display omitted] • Chitosan films were fabricated and modified with deep eutectic supramolecular polymers. • The loose and porous structure of the composite membranes enhanced the efficiency of the adsorbent. • The adsorption of methyl orange was first performed using a CS-DESP-PEG composite film. • The prepared membranes can be quickly recycled and reused multiple times. • The adsorption mechanism of the composite membranes was elucidated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A combination of magnetic κ-carrageenan nanoparticles and deep eutectic supramolecular solvents used for extraction of catechol from water was evaluated by the magnetic dispersion solid phase extraction method. The magnetic κ-carrageenan nanoparticles (KC@Fe 3 O 4 MNPs) and the deep eutectic supramolecular solvent (DESP) were characterised by 1H NMR, FT-IR, XRD, SEM, VSM, TG, and BET. The adsorption kinetics, adsorption isothermal model, adsorption thermodynamics and effects of pH and salt concentration were investigated. Additionally, the factors used in the desorption process, such as the type, dosage, concentration and time, were analysed. Under the optimised conditions, the analytes were linear over the range 5–5000 ng mL−1, with a correlation coefficient greater than 0.999 and detection and quantitation limits of 1.6 and 4.7 ng mL−1, respectively. The procedure was successfully applied to determinations of the analytes of interest in spiked water samples with relative average recoveries ranging from 94.3% to 101.5%. These results indicated that the combination of functionalized magnetic nanoparticles and DESP had high specificity and extraction efficiency for catechol and will be a feasible alternative to conventional analyses of organic phenolic pollutants in water. [Display omitted] • κ-carrageenan modified nanoparticles was first used as the adsorbent of catechol. • The developed method provided good sensitivity from 5 to 5000 ng mL−1. • DESP was utilized for rapid elution of catechol pollutants. • Adsorption fitted with pseudo-second-order kinetic and Langmuir isotherm model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Passiflora edulis peel derived N-doping porous carbon and hollow conductive carbon interlayer show the significant synergetic adsorption and conversion towards polysulfides in ultrahigh sulfur content cathode. Therefore, the corresponding sulfur cathodes based on the carbon interlayer deliver excellent cycle stability and rate capability. [Display omitted] • Passiflora edulis peel derived in-situ N -doped porous carbon is easily prepared. • Synergistic adsorption/conversion of polysulfides by PINPC and 3DHCI interlayer. • Sulfur cathode with ultrahigh sulfur content of 95 wt% and excellent capacity retention of 96 % at 0.2 C after 200 cycles is obtained. Low sulfur content and inevitable polysulfide shuttle effect have always been the critical obstacle of the practical application of high-energy–density lithium sulfur batteries. Herein, a waste passiflora edulis peel derived in-situ N -doping porous carbon (PINPC) combined with three-dimensional hollow carbon cloth interlayer (3DHCI) was designed and constructed by facile simultaneous activation/carbonization. The abundant porous structure and nitrogen heteroatom doping of the PINPC not only significantly confine the soluble polysulfides through the physical and chemical adsorption, but also the high conductivity of the 3DHCI effectively accelerate the conversion reaction of polysulfides encapsulated in the unique hollow carbon skeletons. Owing to the synergetic enhancement of the PINPC and 3DHCI, the sulfur contents of the corresponding sulfur cathode composites are easily regulated from 70 wt% to 95 wt%, whilst exhibiting excellent electrochemical performances. The PINPC/S with a sulfur content of 70 wt% and 3DHCI interlayer obtains a high initial discharge capacity of 1032 mAh·g−1 and then retains 954 mAh·g−1 at 0.2 C after 200 cycles. At 2 C, a durable cycle life with capacity retention of 86% can be achieved up to 500 cycles. Even with an ultrahigh sulfur content of 95 wt%, the relatively high initial discharge capacity of 692 mAh·g−1 and capacity retention of 96 % are also achieved at 0.2 C after 200 cycles. This work offers a potential design for high-performance lithium sulfur batteries simultaneously with a high sulfur content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inferior conductivity of sulfur and inevitable shuttle effect of polysulfides are major obstacle of commercial application for Li–S batteries. Balancing the relation between adsorption effect and polysulfides synchronous conversion on the surfaces of metal oxides is crucial. Herein, a combination strategy with graphitized porous carbon and bifunctional separator is proposed for the multiple suppression of shuttle effect by the synergistic adsorption and synchronous conversion of polysulfides. Silk cocoon derived in-situ N-doping porous carbon and nano-TiO 2 /Super P decorated bifunctional separator are prepared by simultaneous activation/carbonization and surface coating approach, respectively. The unique lamellar porous carbon and nano-TiO 2 effectively encapsulate active sulfur and immobilize polysulfides by the physical/chemical synergetic adsorption. The density functional theory calculations effectively testify that TiO 2 with exposed (101) plane shows high chemical affinity toward polysulfides. Especially the as-prepared porous carbon shows an ultrahigh degree of graphitization that enhances the electronic conductivity. The TiO 2 /Super P-coated conductive bifunctional separator not only accelerates the electron transmission but also synchronously facilitates the redox conversion of polysulfides adsorbed on the TiO 2 surface. Benefiting from the above structure merits, the optimized battery delivers high initial discharge capacity of 1311 mAh g−1 at 0.2C and good cycling stability with a low capacity decay of 0.037% per cycle at 1.0C as well as excellent rate capacity of 977 mAh g−1 at 2.0C. Even with 4.2 mg cm−2, the discharge capacity of 697 mAh g−1 is still retained after 70 cycles at 0.1C. This combination strategy exploits a novel way for the design and preparation of advanced lithium-sulfur batteries. Silk cocoon derived in-situ N-doping lamellar porous carbon with an ultrahigh graphitization is prepared via a facile simultaneous activation/carbonization. Meanwhile, a bifunctional separator with high conductivity and strong chemical adsorption of polysulfides is also constructed by Super P and nano-TiO 2 decoration. Owing to the synergistic merits of porous carbon host and bifunctional separator, the corresponding sulfur cathode shows an excellent discharge capacity of 977 mAh g−1 at high current rate of 2C. [Display omitted] • Silk cocoon derived INPC with an ultrahigh graphitization is easily prepared. • Balancing adsorption effect and synchronous conversion of LiPSs adsorbed on TiO 2 surface by INPC and PP@ST-5 separator. • INPC/S cathode with PP@ST-5 separator shows 739 mAh g−1after 500 cycles at 1C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Magnetic chitosan nanoparticles effectively adsorbed phenolic compounds. • A deep eutectic supramolecular polymer was an efficient eluent. • The desorption process avoids toxic substances and environmental pollution. • The proposed determination method proved to be facile, effective and sensitive. A magnetic dispersive micro-solid phase extraction technique (CS@Fe 3 O 4 -MD-μSPE-DESP) based on magnetic chitosan nanoparticles and a deep eutectic supramolecular solvent was developed and applied to determinations of four phenolic compounds in food samples. To prevent environmental pollution and the introduction of toxic substances, deep eutectic supramolecular solvents (DESPs), which exhibited greater desorption capacities than conventional organic solvents and deep eutectic solvents, were used as novel green eluents for the first time. Some important parameters were screened by the Plackett–Burman method and then further optimized with response surface methodology (RSM). Under the optimal conditions, the proposed method showed excellent methodological indices with linearity over the range 0.1–200.0 µg·mL-1, R2 > 0.9988, extraction recoveries above 94.8 %, and precision (RSD%) below 2.9 %. The established method finishes the process of adsorption and desorption in approximately 3 min and enhances the efficiency for determination of phenolic compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poly (lactic acid) (PLA) composite films with the addition of mesoporous silica nanoparticles MSN (0, 2, 4 and 6 wt%) loaded with 10 wt% citral (CIT) were prepared for application in Chanterelles packaging. Composite films with added MSN/CIT showed good mechanical properties, especially 4MSN/CIT/PLA. Changes in physicochemical properties and bacterial flora of Chanterelles during packaging and storage were tested. Compared with CIT/PLA, Chanterelles packed with 4MSN/CIT/PLA showed about 1.62-times lower browning value, 1.53-times lower electrolyte permeability, and 1.83- and 1.78-times lower PPO and POD, respectively, at 12 day. Better physicochemical properties of Chanterelles can be maintained. For bacterial flora changes, Chanterelles packaged with 4MSN/CIT/PLA had more stable flora ( p  < 0.05) and lower species diversity during storage ( p  < 0.05), effectively controlling the growth and reproduction of their dominant spoilage bacteria ( Enterobacteriaceae spp ). In conclusion, the composite membranes obtained by the addition of MSN/CIT to PLA have great potential in the storage of Chanterelles., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2023 The Author(s).)

Background: Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is the most common cause of death among gynecological cancers. FOXP3 gene is the most dependable marker for regulatory T cells (Treg) which play a major role in immune tolerance. The aim of this study was to explore whether the FOXP3 gene polymorphisms (rs3761548 A/C and rs5902434del/ATT) were associated susceptibility and prognosis for EOC., Methods: A total of 455 ovarian cancer patients and 337 healthy female controls were enrolled. Genotyping of FOXP3 polymorphisms rs3761548 A/C was determined by polymerase chain reaction-restrictive fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP), while rs5902434 del/ATT was directly visualized in a 6% polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis stained after PCR. Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression analysis were used to find an association between the FOXP3 gene and survival of EOC patients., Results: Data showed that AC genotype of FOXP3 rs3761548 was associated with the high susceptibility of EOC (overdominant model: OR=1.42, 95% CI=1.07-1.89, P =0.015), while AA genotype showed lower risk for ovarian cancer compared with CC/AC genotypes (OR=0.45, 95% CI=0.23-0.90, P =0.022). In contrast, there were no significant differences for rs5902434 polymorphism of FOXP3 in ovarian cancer patients and controls. However, del/ATT genotype might be an independent risk factor for EOC prognosis in the dominant (HR=2.60, 95% CI=1.26-5.38, P =0.010) and overdominant (HR=2.46, 95% CI=1.31-4.61, P =0.005) models., Conclusions: Our findings suggest that rs3761548 could contribute to EOC risk in a Chinese Han population. Rs5902434 polymorphisms might be a marker to identify high risk patients., Competing Interests: None., (IJCEP Copyright © 2018.)

Objective: At present, cancer genetic markers of susceptibility (CGEMS) are a very important cancer research topic. This study aims to investigate possible correlations between the emergence of endometrial cancer (EC) and the presence of polymorphisms in two gene sites (rs4758680 and rs7977932) of interleukin-31 (IL-31) in a well-defined Chinese cohort., Methods: Polymerase Chain-Reaction (PCR) was performed to determine the genotypic composition and the allelic frequencies of IL-31 gene variants in 255 EC patients and 370 healthy controls., Results: Our results revealed a statistically significant association between the presence of allele A of rs4758680 and increased EC risk (P = 0.009). Moreover, genotypic frequencies in the codominant (P = 0.0041), dominant (P = 0.0018), and overdominant (P<0.001) genetic models of rs4758680 were associated with EC susceptibility. For rs7977932, allele G was statistically more frequent in EC patients (P = 0.043)., Conclusions: Our findings suggest that polymorphisms in rs4758680 and rs7977932 of IL-31 may have a role in increased susceptibility to EC in Chinese Han women., Competing Interests: None., (IJCEP Copyright © 2018.)

The programmed cell death 6 ( PDCD6 ) gene, originally identified as a pro-apoptotic gene, has recently been reported to have contradictory roles in different diseases and may promote cell proliferation. Here, we examined whether single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in PDCD6 were associated with endometrial cancer (EC). The genotypes of these two SNPs (rs3756712 and rs4957014) in PDCD6 were distinguished by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism in 238 patients with EC and 518 controls. Briefly, the T allele of rs3756712 was found to increase EC risk ( P = 0.028, odds ratio [OR] = 0.747). Moreover, EC risk was associated with these two SNPs in different genetic models ( P = 0.031, OR = 1.42 for rs3756712 in the dominant model; P = 0.019, OR = 0.63 for rs4957014 in the codominant model; P = 0.0073, OR = 0.65 for rs4957014 in the dominant model; P = 0.0076, OR = 0.66 for rs4957014 in the overdominant model). Results of stratified analyses revealed that rs4957012 was linked to body mass index (BMI) and parametrial invasion and that rs4957014 was associated with BMI, although this associated was not statistically significant ( P = 0.065, OR = 4.42, 95% confidence interval = 1.06-18.51). Our results indicated that these two tag SNPs in PDCD6 were associated with EC, suggesting that PDCD6 may play a crucial role in the tumorigenesis of EC., Competing Interests: None., (IJCEP Copyright © 2017.)

The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of a novel biodegradable membrane on the prevention of postoperative adhesion formation. The membrane was prepared by blending 50% PLA (polylactic acid) with 50% PTMC (polytrimethylene carbonate). The prepared blends polymer membrane was more flexible than pure PLA membrane, as measured by glass-transition temperature and tensile study. Cytotoxicity study revealed that PLA/PTMC blends membrane showed good biocompatibility. The membrane elicited slight tissue reaction based on the results of histological study. Thirty adult Japanese rabbits were used for the intestine adhesion model. The treatment group had PLA/PTMC membrane, the control group had chitosan, and the blank control group was not operated. The animals were housed for two weeks and sacrificed to investigate adhesion of intestine. Compared with the blank control group, the treatment group and the control group lowered the extent of adhesions (p < 0.01), but the treatment group was better than the control group (p < 0.05). The in-vivo studies confirmed that PLA/PTMC blends membrane could prevent postoperative adhesions., ((c) 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)