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BackgroundIn tea plantations with high-pH (pH > 6.5) in Northern China, tea plants are prone to yellowing disease, albinism, and reductions in components that contribute to plant quality, which affect the scale and rate of tea plantation development in Northern China.MethodsTo investigate the potential causes of these issues, Camellia sinensis cv. Pingyang Tezao and Camellia sinensis cv. Ruixue were planted in Shouguang city (a high-pH area, soil pH > 6.5) and Rizhao city (a normal-pH area, soil pH is 4.5–5.5), respectively; differences in growth morphology, pigment content, cell structure, quality-determining components, and element content of the two varieties in the two areas were analyzed.ResultsThe results showed that tea leaves planted in Shouguang had varying degrees of yellowing disease and albinism; the pigment content in both varieties was significantly lower when planted in Shouguang compared with Rizhao. The cell structure was severely damaged and the main quality-determining components were decreased. Nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu) and manganese (Mn) contents in the leaves of the two tea plant varieties were significantly lower when planted in Shouguang compared with those in Rizhao; the levels of these elements in Shouguang soil were significantly higher than in Rizhao soil. Calcium (Ca) contents in Shouguang soil was 9.90 times higher than that of Rizhao soil.ConclusionsWe conclude that the soil in high-pH areas hindered tea plant uptake of N, Zn, Cu, and Mn, which had a detrimental effect on chloroplasts and reductions in chlorophyll synthesis, contributing to yellowing disease and albinism. In addition, excessive calcium (Ca) in Shouguang soil was also an important contributor to these negative effects. High-pH soil hindered tea plant uptake of P and K, resulting in reductions in tea polyphenols, amino acids, and other major quality components.

The detection of X-rays has always been a frontier of scientific research. An Eu-MOF with both X-ray-induced photochromic and scintillation properties has been synthesized through the combination of a photochromism-active viologen ligand and rare earth Eu element with high-efficiency absorption of X-rays. In a bright environment, Eu-MOF exhibits different color changes under high-energy X-rays and low-energy X-rays, which can effectively distinguish X-rays. Eu-MOF can also be used for X-ray detection by scintillation properties in dark environments. This work provides a new perspective on the design of multifunctional materials that can perform simple X-ray detection in different environments.

Modulation of surface acid sites (SAS) can effectively enhance the efficiency of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in recent. However, the role of SAS has been neglected for photo-reduction reactions. Here, we report a Lewis acid site (L-acid) rich TiO2 prepared by synergistic effect of ethanol and halogen ions. The formation of L-acid improves the adsorption and mobility of O2, which facilitates to be reduced into superoxide radical (·O2-). L-acid may lift the population of photogenerated electrons (e-), which is concluded from the presence of ·CH3 signal in DMPO-·O2- ESR of only L-acid rich TiO2. In addition, L-acid enhances the migration of photogenerated holes (h+) to the surface of catalyst, which induces a continuous photo-oxidation reaction of H2O or -OH. Therefore, L-acid simultaneously enhances the photo-redox ROS generation reaction, resulting in higher photocatalytic activity. This work illustrates a dual function of L-acid and provides a useful strategy for improving the photocarriers separation and surface reaction efficiency.

Background/purpose Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic inflammatory lesion of oral mucosal, and its pathogenesis involves immune cell-mediated aberrances. However, the findings conflict with each other. This research aimed to comprehensively detect the salivary cytokine profile of patients with OLP. Materials and methods The cohort included 60 OLP patients (30 reticular and 30 erosive), and 30 healthy controls, matched in age and sex. Human Cytokine/Chemokine Magnetic Bead Panel Kit (HCYTMAG-60K-PX41) was used to detect salivary inflammation-related cytokines. Rank sum test, group t-test, and ANOVA were used for data analysis in different groups. Moreover, Spearman's rank correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between salivary cytokine levels and OLP lesion severity. Results The levels of TNF-α, G-GSF, IL-1α, IL-1β and IL-8 were statistically significant higher in both erosive and reticular OLP patients than in the healthy group, while the IL-13 level was significantly lower. Particularly, the salivary TNF-α, GM-CSF, MIP-1α, MIP-1β, IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-8 levels were higher in erosive OLP group than other groups. Spearman's rank correlation analysis revealed that the salivary TNF-α, GM-CSF, MIP-1α, MIP-1β, IL-1β and IL-6 levels were positively correlated with OLP lesion severity. Conclusion Imbalance of the Th1/Th2-mediated immune response contributes to OLP. Certain salivary cytokines, such as MIP-1α, MIP-1β, GM-CSF, and IL-6, are positively correlated with OLP severity, and they have a high potential as biomarkers to diagnose and predict OLP prognosis.

Background This study uses a method of systematic evaluation to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of heated humidified high-flow nasal cannula (HHHFNC) as an initial ventilation method in the treatment of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS) scientifically. In the field of evidence-based medicine, this study provides a theoretical reference and basis for choosing appropriate initial non-invasive ventilation methods in the treatment of NRDS, thereby providing assistance for clinical treatment. Methods The main electronic network databases were searched by computer, including 4 Chinese databases: CNKI, WangFang Data, CQVIP, SinoMed and 3 English databases: PubMed, The Cochrane Library and EMBASE, the time range of retrieval from the beginning of each database to September 1, 2020. The content involves all the published randomized controlled trials on the effectiveness of HHHFNC compared with NCPAP as an initial ventilation method in the treatment of NRDS. Using a search method that combines medical subject words and free words. Based on the Cochrane risk bias assessment tool, 2 researchers independently screen the literature, and then extract the data we needed in the literature, and cross-check. If it is difficult to decide whether to include literature, then turning to a third researcher for help and making a final decision after discussion, and using RevMan 5.3 and STATA 13.0 to analyze the relative data. Results Based on the method of meta-analysis, this study analyzes the pre-determined outcome indicators through scientific statistical analysis, and compares the effectiveness and safety of HHHFNC compared with NCPAP as an initial ventilation method in the treatment of NRDS. All results will be published in peer-reviewed high-quality professional academic journals. Conclusion Based on evidence-based medicine, this study will obtain the establishing evidence of comparison that the clinical effectiveness and safety of HHHFNC compared with NCPAP as an initial ventilation method in the treatment of NRDS through the existing data and data, which provides the evidence support of evidence-based medicine in the treatment of NRDS. Osf registration number September 17, 2020. osf.io/f6at4 (https://osf.io/f6at4).

Lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (LiFSI) is a promising replacement for lithium hexafluorosphate due to its excellent properties. A solution to the corrosion of aluminum (Al) current collectors by LiFSI at elevated temperatures is essential. The mechanisms of Al corrosion in LiFSI-based electrolyte at 45 °C were studied with density functional theory calculations and spectroscopic investigations. It is found that the irregular, loose and unprotected AlF3 materials caused by the dissolution of co-generated Al(FSI)3 can exacerbate Al corrosion with the increase of temperature. Lithium bis(oxalate)borate (LiBOB) can effectively inhibit the Al corrosion with a robust and protective interphase; this can be attributed to the interfacial interactions between the Al foil and electrolyte. Boron-containing compounds promote the change from AlF3 to LiF, which further reinforces interfacial stability. This work allows the design of an interface to Al foil using LiFSI salt in lithium-ion batteries.

Background Solitary fibrous tumors (SFTs) occurring in the parapharyngeal space are rare, and their final diagnosis depends on pathological and immunohistochemical analyses. Once the tumor is diagnosed, complete resection and regular postoperative follow-up are required. Case summary A 40-year-old male patient with a right parotid gland mass discovered 8 years ago was admitted to hospital. The mass showed no tenderness or local skin redness. Imaging was carried out as the patient had stable vital signs and showed that the mass was a dumbbell-shaped tumor comprising a superficial tumor approximately 5 cm long and 3 cm wide in size that compressed the right parotid gland and a deep tumor located in the right parapharyngeal space approximately 4.5 cm long and 2.5 cm wide in size. Both tumors were connected in the middle. Prior to surgery, the tumors were considered to be parapharyngeal schwannomas. During surgical dissection, the tumors were found to be smooth and tough, without obvious adhesion to the surrounding tissues. The tumors were revealed to be a SFT following postoperative pathological analysis. Conclusion SFTs in the parapharyngeal space are rarely reported, and complete resection of such tumor is recommended. Adjuvant chemoradiotherapy is used in patients with extensive tumor invasion to lower the recurrence rate. Postoperative long-term follow-up is required.

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) plays an essential role in brain, and its status is dependent on dietary intakes. School-aged children in rural China, who consume diets low in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, may benefit from DHA supplementation. Therefore, this trial was performed to examine the effect of 6-month DHA supplementation on executive functions (EFs) among healthy school-aged children in rural China. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted among 106 primary school children aged 7–12 years in rural China. Participants were randomized to receive either 300 mg/d DHA or placebo for 6 months. EFs including working memory and cognitive flexibility were evaluated at baseline, at 3 months and at 6 months, using Digit Span Backwards and Wisconsin card sorting test, respectively. Socio-demographic data were collected at baseline, and erythrocyte membrane fatty acids and serum neurotransmitters were measured at baseline and after 6-month intervention. Ninety-four children (88.7%) completed the study according to the protocol. Changes in erythrocyte membrane fatty acids indicated good compliance of the participants. There was no significant intervention effect on serum neurotransmitters. In two-factor ANCOVA, both groups showed a significant improvement in the Digit Span Backwards and the Wisconsin card sorting test from baseline to endpoint. However, no significant intervention effect was found on any EF scores. Linear regression analysis suggested no significant association between changes in erythrocyte DHA level with changes in any EF scores. Supplementation with 300 mg/d DHA for 6 months had no benefit on EFs including working memory and cognitive flexibility among healthy school-aged children. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02308930 on December 5, 2014.

BACKGROUND We report a rare case of first branchial cleft anomaly (FBCA) accompanied by bony atresia of the external auditory canal, middle ear malformation, and location malformation of the facial nerve according to the intraoperative findings. CASE SUMMARY A 19-year-old male patient presented to our department with a mass behind the right earlobe and recurrent postauricular swelling and pain since childhood, he also had severe hearing loss in the right ear since birth. The patient underwent surgery including mass removal, mastoidectomy, and simultaneous meatoplasty and ossiculoplasty under microscopy. No facial palsy or recurrence was noted during postoperative follow-up. CONCLUSION FBCAs are rare, and to our knowledge, this is the first report of FBCA accompanied by external auditory canal bony atresia, middle ear malformation, and location malformation of the facial nerve. An effective postauricular approach under microscopy facilitated complete lesion removal and simultaneous otologic reconstruction.

This study analyzed the advantages and disadvantages of existing animal models in China and abroad and their goodness of fit based on the clinical characteristics and diagnostic criteria of stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD) in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) and western medicine, followed by the collation and summarization of model evaluation methodologies. The results showed that the existing animal models of stable COPD were mainly modeled via smoke exposure or the combination of multiple methods like smoke exposure plus lipopolysaccharide or protease or bacterial infection. These animal models generally failed to simulate the clinical characteristics of TCM, and their goodness of fit in western medicine was higher than that in TCM. There is a lack of research on the animal models of stable COPD and the disease-syndrome combination models. Although the modeling is guided by the pathogenesis or mechanism of diseased humans, the established models were still not identical with the actual clinical situations. In-depth research is needed to develop quantitative standards for stable COPD models.

Microencapsulated phase change materials (MicroPCMs) were fabricated using n-octadecane as PCM and melamine-formaldehyde as shell via in situ polymerization. They were coated with polypyrrole (PPy) to fabricate conductive microcapsules. The structure, morphology, thermal properties and the electrical conductivity of the microcapsules were characterized using the scanning electron microscope (SEM), the Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), the thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA), the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and the standard four-probe method. The results show that, n-octadecane is well encapsulated in rough and compact spherical composites. The melting and freezing the composites latent heats are 90.2 and 92.0 J/g, respectively, while the mass percentage of the n-octadecane in the composites is 49.7%. The melting and crystallizing peak temperature of PPy/MicroPCMs is 24.6°C and 17.9°C, respectively. The addition of PPy improves the thermal stability of the composites. The conductivity of the PPy/MicroP-CMs increases from 0.1 S‧cm–1 to 0.33 S‧cm–1 as the PPy concentration increases from 3 to 10 wt%.

Current literature does not indicate if the amount and animal vs plant protein are equally important in the prevention of muscle loss in middle-aged and older Chinese adults.The aim of the study was to examine the associations between amount or animal vs plant protein and skeletal muscle mass in Chinese adults aged 40 to 80 years.A cross-sectional analysis of a prospective, community-based cohort was performed.Participants included 1,044 men and 2,169 women aged 40 to 80 years from the Guangzhou Nutrition and Health Study 2011-2013 with body composition measurements by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry.The skeletal muscle index (SMI) was defined as appendicular skeletal muscle mass divided by body weight. Participants in the lowest quartile of the sex-specific SMI were considered to have low muscle mass (LMM).Analyses of covariance were performed to estimate the SMI across quintiles of relative dietary intake of total, animal, and plant protein and the ratio of animal-to-plant protein. Logistic regression models were applied to assess the associations between quintiles of protein intake and LMM.The SMI increased significantly across quintiles of relative dietary intake of total, animal, and plant protein (all P trends0.001). Odds ratios (95% CIs) for LMM among participants in the highest (vs lowest) quintile were 0.3 (0.2, 0.4) for total protein, 0.3 (0.2, 0.5) for animal protein, and 0.4 (0.3, 0.7) for plant protein, respectively (all P trends0.001). However, the ratio of animal-to-plant protein was not associated with either the SMI or the presence of LMM.Higher dietary intakes of total, animal, and plant protein, regardless of the ratio of animal-to-plant protein, are associated with greater skeletal muscle mass in community-dwelling middle-aged and older Chinese adults with a mean protein intake above the current recommendation for protein of 0.8 g/kg per day.

AVO fluid inversion technology can quantitatively determine the probability distribution of fluids in reservoir and decrease the uncertainty of AVO analysis. The forward model with many types of fluid combination can be synthesized from logging data by using of Monte-Carlo method, the templet of oil, gas and water distribution can be gotten, which can be calibrated with the models and production data, thus whether the templet is right or not, which can be verified. The gradient and intercept of the 3D seismic data can be computed by the Shuey’s function; compared with the templet, the probability of hydrocarbon fluid can be estimated by means of the Bayes theory. The fluids in reservoir and the burial depth of the reservoir are the main factors that affect the results of AVO fluid inversion. AVO fluid inversion technology is applied to estimate hydrocarbon probability in the target layer in Yong’an area of Subei basin. Combining with drilling data, the results shown that this technology could reduce the uncertainty of estimation and increase the drilling success rate.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has become the sixth highly diagnosed cancer and the fourth main reason of cancer deaths worldwide. HuaChanSu, an extract from dried toad skin, exhibits good anticancer effects and has been widely used in the treatment of liver cancer. The reprogramming of glucose metabolism is one remarkable feature of hepatocellular carcinoma, and the effects of HuaChanSu on the abnormal glucose metabolism of cancer cells have not been elucidated. In our study, we investigate the effects of HuaChanSu on glucose metabolism of hepatocellular carcinoma cells and tumor growth in vivo. The results show that HuaChanSu inhibits the tumor growth of hepatoma H22-bearing mice and prolongs the survival time of tumor-bearing mice, additionally, HuaChanSu has no obvious adverse effects in these mice. In vitro, HuaChanSu restrains the proliferation, induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest of human hepatoma cells. HuaChanSu also promotes ROS production and causes mitochondrial damage. Furthermore, HuaChanSu inhibits glucose uptake and lactate release in human hepatoma cells. Mechanistically, we find that HuaChanSu downregulates Hexokinase-2 (HK2) expression, and using RNA interference, we confirm that HuaChanSu suppresses the growth of HepG2 cells by interfering with glucose metabolism through downregulation of Hexokinase-2. However, knockdown of Hexokinase-2 has no obvious effect on the proliferation of SK-HEP-1 cells, although glucose uptake and lactate release are reduced in siHK2-transfected SK-HEP-1 cells, subsequently, we illustrate that two human hepatoma cell lines exhibit glucose metabolism heterogeneity, which causes the different cell proliferation responses to the inhibition of Hexokinase-2. Taken together, our study indicates that HuaChanSu could inhibit tumor growth and interfere with glucose metabolism via suppression of Hexokinase-2, and these findings provide a new insight into the anti-hepatoma mechanisms of HuaChanSu and lay a theoretical foundation for the further clinical application of HuaChanSu.

Molten salt synthesis is an efficient method for preparation of photocatalyst. Enhancing precursor mixing effect is important. In this study, we found ethanol is important for synthsis of face-to-face type Bi4Ti3O12/Bi2Ti2O7 composite photocatalyst. The prepared Bi4Ti3O12/Bi2Ti2O7 (B3) composite under molar ratio of Bi:Ti of 4:3.6 displays higher photocatalytic activity compared with Bi4Ti3O12 (B1) and Bi2Ti2O7 (B4). The photocurrent density of B3 is 2 times higher than B1 and 1.6 times higher than B4, and B3 has smallest charge resistance between sample and solution. Combined with XPS, the study found that the higher photocatalytic activity origins from large charge transfer interface and built-in electric field (BIEF) around such interface, rathor than light absorption and dark adsorption.

Three-dimensional nitrogen-doped graphene/polyaniline hydrogels (RGNP) was synthesized by facile hydrothermal method with graphene oxide (GO) and polyaniline nanorods (PANI-NRs), and urea as the reducing agent and nitrogen source. The structures and morphologies of the composites were characterized by various techniques, and electrochemical properties were also investigated. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) demonstrated nitrogen atom was doped into graphene and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) indicated PANI-NRs fully inset into the three-dimensional graphene layers. The RGNP composite electrode exhibited the significantly improved electrochemical performances compared to the undoped equivalents or the separate components. The specific capacitance is up to 589.3 Fg−1 at current density of 3 mA cm−2 in 1 M H2SO4 electrolyte, which also displays superior pseudocapacitive cycling stability (retention of 80.5% after 500 cycles). In addition, good capacitance retention rate (80.2% at 30 mA cm−2) has been achieved. These results indicate that the RGNP composite electrode can be applied for high performance supercapacitor.

To explore whether probiotic supplementation could attenuate serum trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) level and impact the intestinal microbiome composition. Forty healthy males (20–25 years old) were randomized into the probiotic group (1.32 × 1011 CFU live bacteria including strains of Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, Bifidobacterium animalis, and Bifidobacterium longum daily) or the control group for 4 weeks. All participants underwent a phosphatidylcholine challenge test (PCCT) before and after the intervention. Serum TMAO and its precursors (TMA, choline and betaine) were measured by UPLC-MS/MS. The faecal microbiome was analyzed by 16S rRNA sequencing. Serum TMAO and its precursors were markedly increased after the PCCT. No statistical differences were observed in the probiotic and the control group in area under the curve (AUC) (14.79 ± 0.97 μmol/L 8 h vs. 19.17 ± 2.55 μmol/L 8 h, P = 0.106) and the pre- to post-intervention AUC alterations (∆AUC) (− 6.33 ± 2.00 μmol/L 8 h vs. − 0.73 ± 3.04 μmol/L 8 h, P = 0.131) of TMAO; however, higher proportion of participants in probiotic group showed their TMAO decrease after the intervention (78.9% vs. 45.0%, P = 0.029). The abundance of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii (P = 0.043) and Prevotella (P = 0.001) in the probiotic group was significantly increased after the intervention but without obvious differences in α- and β-diversity. The current probiotic supplementation resulted in detectable change of intestinal microbiome composition but failed to attenuate the serum TMAO elevation after PCCT. NCT03292978. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03292978 .

Many practical networks, such as city networks, road networks and neural networks, usually grow up on basis of topological structures and geographical measures. Big hubs, importance of which have been well known in complex networks, still play crucial roles in growing networks with geographical measures. Therefore, it is very necessary to investigate the underlying mechanisms of statistical features of different top hubs in such networks. Here, we propose a growing network model based on optimal policy in geographical ground. Through the statistics of a great number of geographical networks, we find that the degree and position distributions of top four hubs are diverse between them and closely interrelated with each other, and further gain the relationships between the upper limits of top hubs and the size of networks. Then, the underlying mechanisms are explored. Meanwhile, we are diligent to obtain the corresponding relationships of different spatial distribution areas for different top hubs, and compute their abnormal average degrees at different spatial positions, which show significant differences and imply the advantage of spatial positions and intense competition between top hubs. We hope our results could offer useful inspirations for related practical network studies.

Scope Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), the metabolite of choline generated by gut microbiota, is associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and could influence bile acid (BA) metabolism. However, whether TMAO aggravates liver steatosis by modulating BA metabolism and the related mechanisms has not been investigated. Methods and results A case-control study including biopsy-proven NAFLD patients (n = 34) and controls (n = 14) is conducted to determine the correlation between TMAO and BA metabolism. Serum levels of total BA and the percentage of farnesoid X receptor (FXR)-antagonistic BA species are markedly higher in NAFLD patients than in the controls. Serum levels of TMAO positively correlated with the serum levels of total BA and hepatic mRNA expression of cholesterol 7 alpha hydroxylase (CYP7A1). In a murine model, it is found that 18 weeks administration of TMAO impairs liver function and increases hepatic triglyceride accumulation and lipogenesis in mice fed with a high-fat diet. TMAO increases BA synthesis and shifted hepatic BA composition toward FXR-antagonistic activity. Knockdown of CYP7A1 via small interfering RNA or activation of FXR by GW4064 blocks the effect of TMAO-induced lipogenesis in palmitic acid-treated HepG2 cells. Conclusion TMAO aggravates liver steatosis by suppressing BA-mediated hepatic FXR signaling.

Few studies have investigated the effect of long-term protein supplementation alone on muscle health in older adults with low lean mass.To determine the effect of whey, soy or whey-soy blended protein supplementation on lean muscle mass and physical performance in older adults with low lean mass.A 4-arm randomized controlled trial.Chinese older adults (n = 123, 65-79 years) with low lean mass (appendicular skeletal muscle index7.0 kg/mParticipants were randomly assigned to receive approximately 16 g/d of whey, soy, or whey-soy blend protein or maintained habitual diets in control group for 6 months.Lean mass, handgrip strength, and physical performance (gait speed, chair stand test, and Short Physical Performance Battery) were assessed at baseline and 6 months.Two-way analysis of variance with the main effects of treatment and time and treatment × time interaction and analysis of covariance was used to determine differences in outcomes.Appendicular skeletal muscle index, lean mass, percent lean mass in legs and appendicular areas, gait speed, and Short Physical Performance Battery score were maintained in the treatment groups and decreased in the control group, resulting in significant reduction in these variables from baseline in the control compared with treatment groups (all P.01; percent differences between treatment and control groups ranged from 80% to 156%). The chair stand test time at month 6 decreased from baseline in the treatment groups and increased in the control group, resulting in a significant increase in the control compared with treatment groups (all P.01; percent differences between treatment and control groups ranged from 132% to 155%). Handgrip strength remained unchanged. There were no significant differences in outcomes among treatment groups.Supplementation with whey, soy, or whey-soy blended protein for 6 months equally maintained lean muscle mass and physical performance in older adults with low lean mass.

The electrodes of conducting polymers polyaniline (PANI) and polyaniline doped with zirconium ions (PANI/Zr4+) were synthesized by interfacial polymerization strategy. The structures and morphologies of PANI and PANI/Zr4+ nanocomposites were characterized by Fourier transform infrared, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy techniques, respectively. The electrochemical properties of PANI and PANI/Zr4+ electrodes were investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic charge–discharge test, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy in 0.5 M Na2SO4 electrolyte in three-electrode system. The effect of doping concentrations of zirconium ions (Zr4+) varied from 0.04 to 0.20 M on the specific capacitance of PANI were studied. In comparison with PANI electrode, the PANI/Zr4+ electrode indicated higher capacitance value (416 F g−1), lower resistance and better stability when the concentration of Zr4+ is 0.08 M, which demonstrated its potential superiority for supercapacitors.

Previous studies have demonstrated that betaine supplements increase lean body mass in livestock and improve muscle performance in human beings, but evidence for its effect on human lean mass is limited. Our study assessed the association of circulating betaine with lean mass and its composition in Chinese adults. A community-based study was conducted on 1996 Guangzhou residents (weight/mass: 1381/615) aged 50–75 years between 2008 and 2010. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect general baseline information. Fasting serum betaine was assessed using HPLC-MS. A total of 1590 participants completed the body composition analysis performed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry during a mean of 3·2 years of follow-up. After adjustment for age, regression analyses demonstrated a positive association of serum betaine with percentage of lean mass (LM%) of the entire body, trunk and limbs in men (all PP=0·016). Each sd increase in serum betaine was associated with increases in LM% of 0·609 (whole body), 0·811 (trunk), 0·422 (limbs), 0·632 (arms) and 0·346 (legs) in men and 0·350 (trunk) in women. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that the prevalence of lower LM% decreased by 17 % (whole body) and 14 % (trunk) in women and 23 % (whole body), 28 % (trunk), 22 % (arms) and 26 % (percentage skeletal muscle index) in men with each sd increment in serum betaine. Elevated circulating betaine was associated with a higher LM% and lower prevalence of lower LM% in middle-aged and elderly Chinese adults, particularly men.

Previous studies of implantable cardiac resynchronization therapy plus defibrillator (CRT-D) therapy used for primary prevention of sudden cardiac death have suggested that CRT-D therapy is less effective in patients with mild heart failure and a wide QRS complex. However, the long-term benefits are variable. We performed a meta-analysis of randomized trials identified in systematic searches of MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Database. Three studies (3858 patients) with a mean follow-up of 66 months were included. Overall, CRT-D therapy was associated with significantly lower all-cause mortality than was implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) therapy (OR, 0.78; 95 % CI, 0.63–0.96; P = 0.02; I 2 = 19 %). However, the risk of cardiac mortality was comparable between two groups (OR, 0.74; 95 % CI, 0.53–1.01; P = 0.06). CRT-D treatment was associated with a significantly lower risk of hospitalization for heart failure (OR, 0.67; 95 % CI, 0.50–0.89; P = 0.005; I 2 = 55 %). The composite outcome of all-cause mortality and hospitalization for heart failure was also markedly lower with CRT-D therapy than with ICD treatment alone (OR, 0.67; 95 % CI, 0.57–0.77; P

Background Pemphigus is one of the potentially fatal autoimmune blistering diseases. An early and accurate diagnosis is important for prognosis and therapy. It may be difficult to diagnosis based on clinical grounds alone. Direct and indirect immunofluorescence, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, the Tzanck smear test, or histopathology are all available for the diagnosis of pemphigus. However, there are no generally accepted diagnostic criteria for the diagnosis of this condition at present. Objective To evaluate the diagnostic value of indirect immunofluorescence, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the Tzanck smear test for the diagnosis of pemphigus in dental clinics. Methods A single-center retrospective study was conducted, and the clinical data of 33 patients with pemphigus and 61 controls were collected and analyzed from the Department of Oral Medicine, Peking University School of Stomatology, during 2010–2014. The sensitivities and specificities of indirect immunofluorescence, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the Tzanck smear test were calculated and compared in two groups. Results Sensitivities for the Tzanck smear test, indirect immunofluorescence, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were 96.7%, 84.8%, and 84.8%, respectively, whereas the specificities of these tests were 60%, 91.8%, and 96.7%, respectively. The serial tests for the Tzanck smear test and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay showed 82% sensitivity and 98.7% specificity. Conclusions The serial test for the Tzanck smear test and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay may represent a simple, rapid, and reliable way to definitive diagnosis of pemphigus. It is recommended as a common test for the diagnosis of pemphigus in dental clinics.

We investigate the tunneling time of massive Dirac electrons through an electric barrier in a ferromagnetic quantum structure consisting of normal/ferromagnetic/ normal MoS 2 parts. The results show that the dwell time is not only spin-separated but also valley-separated due to the spin-valley coupling of valence-band edges together with the exchange field. When the electric barrier broadens, the spin-dependent and valley-dependent dwell times increase with oscillating behavior. These behaviors are different from the massless Dirac electrons in graphene. Moreover, both the spin- and valley-dependent dwell times can be effectively modulated by the angle of incidence, the width, and the height of the electric barrier.

Background: A possible relationship between oral lichen planus (OLP) and thyroid disease has received attention in recent years. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between OLP and thyroid diseases in Chinese ethnic patients. Methods: 192 OLP patients, 123 patients with oral lichenoid lesions (OLL), and 162 controls were recruited in this case-control study. All participants received screening for thyroid function and underwent ultrasound. Sex and age of the patients in the three groups were matched. The prevalence of thyroid diseases in the subjects was analyzed. Using logistic regression, the odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) was appraised for associations between OLP, OLL, and different types of thyroid diseases (Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis（HT）, hypothyroidism, and thyroid nodule). Results: The prevalence of thyroid diseases in the OLP group (72.4%) and OLL group (68.3%) was higher than the control group (49.4%) with statistical significance. The OR of HT was 3.16 (1.87-5.33) for OLP, 2.09 (1.18-3.70) for OLL, while the OR of thyroid nodule was 2.31 (1.30-4.09) for OLP. Conclusion: Our study suggested a close relationship between OLP/OLL and HT and thyroid nodule in a Chinese population. The possible mechanism behind this association warrants further investigation.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of Bifidobacterium on the expression of β-defensin-2(BD-2) in intestinal tissue of neonatal rats with necrotizing enterocolitis(NEC). METHODS: A total of 40 rats were randomly divided into four groups:normal control, Bifidobacterium control, NEC model, and Bifidobacterium treatment, with 10 rats in each group.A rat model of NEC was induced by hypoxia, cold stimulation, and artificial feeding.The rats in the Bifidobacterium control and Bifidobacterium treatment groups were given Bifidobacterium via the gastric tube after cold stimulation once a day for three consecutive days.The morphological changes of the terminal ileum were observed under a light microscope and the intestinal injury score was determined.Immunohistochemistry and qRT-PCR were used to measure the protein and mRNA expression of BD-2 in the ileal mucosal tissue. RESULTS: The NEC model group had a significantly higher intestinal injury score than the normal control, Bifidobacterium control, and Bifidobacterium treatment groups(P < 0.05).The Bifidobacterium treatment group had a significantly higher intestinal injury score than the normal control and Bifidobacterium control groups(P < 0.05).The mRNA and protein expression of BD-2 in the normal control group was significantly lower than in the Bifidobacterium control, NEC model, and Bifidobacterium treatment groups(P < 0.05).The Bifidobacterium control group had significantly higher mRNA and protein expression of BD-2 than the NEC model and Bifidobacterium treatment groups(P < 0.05).The Bifidobacterium treatment group had significantly higher mRNA and protein expression of BD-2 than the NEC model group(P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Bifidobacterium can induce the expression of BD-2 in intestinal tissue of rats and reduce inflammatory response by increasing the expression of BD-2.This provides a protective effect on neonatal rats with NEC.

Bisphosphonates-related osteonecrosis of the jaws (BRONJ) is a severe complication of BPs therapy with unknown pathogenesis. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of Actinomyces naeslundii (A. naeslundii) on the progression of BRONJ in ovariectomized (OVX) rat model with periodontal diseases. Sixty rats were randomly assigned into four groups. All rats underwent bilateral ovariectomy. Six weeks after surgery, animals with periodontitis induced by ligature placement were administrated with normal saline (NS), NS &A. naeslundii inoculation, zolecdronic acid (ZA) and ZA &A. naeslundii inoculation for 12 weeks, respectively. Loads of total bacteria and A. naeslundii in the mouth were assessed by real time PCR. After sacrifice, the mandibles were harvested for micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) and histological examination. Real-time PCR demonstrated that A. naeslundii was not routinely found in the rats and ZA treatment did not promote its accumulation. Micro-CT examination disclosed that ligature placement induced significant alveolar bone loss, which was greatly attenuated by ZA treatment and aggravated by A. naeslundii. Histological assessment demonstrated that ZA treatment increased the risk of developing BRONJ-like disease but this condition was not worsen with the presence of A. naeslundii. Our study suggested that oral A. naeslundii inoculation aggravated periodontal disease but not BRONJ in our animal model.

A novel series of 3-[{2-[(4-carbamimidoylphenylamino)methyl]-1-substituted-1H-benzoimidazole-5-carbonyl}(3-chloro-4-fluorophenyl)amino]propionic derivatives of dabigatran was synthesized. The structures of the compounds were characterized by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, HRMS, and elemental analysis. The compounds were screened for in vitro thrombin inhibitory activity. The results indicated that the compounds had low to moderate inhibitory activity. The compounds with N-methyl and N-ethyl side chains had much greater inhibitory activity against thrombin than those with other side chains.

Background Eosinophils (EOS) is one of the most important cells involved in the pathogenesis of chronic airway inflammation in asthma, and its apoptosis is part of the mechanisms of asthma. Therefore, this study aimed to observe the effect of Chinese medicine Wentong decoction (WTD) in EOS apoptosis in asthmatic rats. This work also explored the mechanism of WTD regulation in EOS apoptosis and provided a new target for clinical treatment of asthma. Methods Asthmatic rats induced by ovalbumin were treated with WTD. Lung function of rats in each group was detected, and lung tissue pathology, EOS counts in blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were observed. The degree of the EOS apoptosis in rats was detected. The expression content of interleukin (IL)-5, IL-10, chemokine (C–C motif) ligand 5 (CCL5), granulocyte–macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1), interferon (IFN)-γ, and other cytokines in rat serum and the genes of Eotaxin mRNA, Fas mRNA, FasL mRNA, Fas/FasL and Bcl-2 mRNA in the lung tissues were determined. Results WTD can reduced airway resistance in rat models and improved airway compliance. The pathological changes of lung tissue in WTD group were significantly alleviated, at the same time, WTD could reduce the EOS count in the blood and BALF smears of the asthmatic model rats. Compared with the model group, the apoptosis degree of EOS significantly increased in rats in the WTD group. The expression of IL-5, CCL5, and GM-CSF in the serum and the expression of Eotaxin mRNA, Bcl-2 mRNA in the lung tissues in rats in the WTD group rats decreased. Moreover, the expression of IL-10, TGF-β1, and IFN-γ in the serum and the expression of Fas mRNA, FasL mRNA in the lung tissues in rats in the WTD group rats increased compared with that in rats in the model group. Conclusions Wentong decoction may accelerate EOS apoptosis, reduce asthma inflammation, and alleviate the disease through regulating and controlling the factors related to the anti-apoptosis and pro-apoptosis. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13020-018-0180-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

A series of dabigatran derivatives were designed and synthesized to discover effective thrombin inhibitors. All the target compounds were characterized by 1H NMR, 13C NMR and HRMS. These compounds were evaluated in vitro and showed potent anticoagulant activities against thrombin. Among these compounds, the ethyl group substitution at N-1 of benzimidazole exhibited better anticoagulant activity against thrombin. Especially, compound 10i showed an IC50 of 2.04 nM. Docking simulations demonstrated that compound 10i could bind tightly with the crystal structure of the thrombin active site. Based on the results obtained, compound 10i may act as a candidate compound for further development of direct thrombin inhibitors.

sGlucocorticoid (GC) resistance is the major obscule in the treatment of pemphigus vulgaris (PV) for both patients and clinicans with unclear mechanism. A hypotheis for this resistance is the mutations or polymorphisms present in the nuclear receptor subfamily 3, group C, member 1 (NR3C1) gene that encodes receptors for steroid hormones. This study aimed to investigate the association between NR3C1 gene polymorphisms and GC effectiveness in PV patients. 94 PV patients (64 GC-sensitive and 30 GC-resistant) and 100 healthy volunteers were enrolled in this case-control study. The genotyping of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in BCL1, Arg23Lys, Asn363Ser 1548 t-insert, and le747Met, together with tag-SNP sites of the NR3C1 gene were evaluated. No significant differences were observed in genotypic and allelic frequencies of the 16 SNPs between PV patients and healthy volunteers. However, SNPs rs 11745958 C/T (OR: 8.95) and rs17209237 A/G (OR: 4.07) may be associated with an increased risk of GC resistance, while rs 33388 A/T (OR: 0.45) and rs7701443 A/G (OR: 0.51) may indicate a decreased risk of GC resistance in PV patients. NR3C1 gene variation may be associated with GC resistance in PV patients. More extensive genetic analyses and mechanistic analysis are required for further exploration.

We explored the applicability of Facescan three-dimensional (3D) facial reconstruction technology for adjunctive diagnosis and therapeutic evaluation of cheilitis granulomatosa (CG) in 33 patients with CG and 29 healthy controls at the Dept. of Oral Medicine, Peking University, School and Hospital of Stomatology (PKUSS), from January 2015 to May 2016. The Facescan structured-light 3D facial reconstruction scanner was used to scan the scope of lips in both groups, in order to acquire 3D morphological data of the lips. The lengths of six characteristic line segments were measured from the 3D lip model of the two groups, and the acquired data were compared. The results showed that the distance between the labiale superius and labiale inferius, and the lengths of the upper and lower vermilion borders showed significant differences between the CG and control groups, by using the 3D lip model. Thus, Facescan 3D facial reconstruction technology showed good reproducibility in the evaluation of lip swelling in CG patients, and it can be used to analyse the degree of lip swelling and evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of different treatments for CG.

Based on the Floquet theory and transfer-matrix method, We investigated the influence of light-field on the spin-polarized transport properties for electrons tunneling through two kinds of magnetic-electric barrier structures (the \begin{document}$\delta$\end{document}-doped magnetic-barrier can be realized in experiments by depositing two ferromagnetic stripes on top and bottom of a semiconductor heterostructure and the light-field can be realized by placing a hemispherical silicon lens on the back surface of the semiconductor substrate). Transport properties result from the interaction of electrons with the light-field by means of photon absorption and emission. It is found that the light-field can greatly affect the transmission probabilities as well as the corresponding polarizations. The distance between the adjacent peaks and the number of the transport peaks can be controlled by adjusting the frequency and the amplitude of the light-field, respectively. It is shown that a significant spin-polarization effect can be induced by such light-field in the kind of antisymmetric magnetic barrier structure (\begin{document}$B_{1}=-B_{2}$\end{document}) and the light-field can greatly change the spin-polarization effect in the kind of symmetric magnetic barrier structure (\begin{document}$B_{1}=B_{2}$\end{document}). When the frequency of the light-field increases, the spin-polarization shifts toward the low-energy end and gradually increases. These remarkable properties of spin polarization may be beneficial for the devising tunable spin filtering devices.

Objective This study aimed to investigate the role of progressive periodontal disease in inducing bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaws (BRONJ) using an ovariectomized (OVX) rat model mimicking human intracortical remodeling process. Materials and methods Thirty 12-week-old Spraque–Dawly (SD) female rats were randomly assigned into two groups. All rats underwent bilateral ovariectomy. Six weeks after surgery, zoledronic acid (ZA) or vehicle control was administered intraperitoneally for 12 weeks. On the same day of injection, a cotton ligature was placed subgingivally around the first left lower molar to induce periodontitis. All animals were sacrificed 12 weeks after injection. The entire mandibles were harvested for micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) and histological examinations. Results Micro-CT examination showed that ligature placement caused significant alveolar bone loss both in ZA (0.63 ± 0.13 vs. 0.38 ± 0.06 mm, P

H+ and Co2+ ions co-doped polyaniline were synthesized by cyclic voltammetry onto the stainless steel mesh with various concentrations of cobalt chloride (CoCl2 · 6H2O) in electrolyte. The structure and morphology of polyaniline (PANI) and PANI/Co2+ films were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) techniques. The electrochemical properties of PANI and PANI/Co2+ films were investigated by cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge–discharge test, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) in 0.5 mol L−1 H2SO4 electrolyte in a three-electrode system. The PANI/0.3 M Co2+ film shows a larger specific capacitance of 736 F g−1 at a current density of 3 mA/cm2 and lower resistance compared with the pure PANI film. The results indicated that the PANI/Co2+ films are promising material for supercapacitors.