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Purpose To evaluate the efficacy and safety of short-term insemination and early-rescue intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), an approach that rescued oocytes with unclear second polar body 6 h after initial insemination by ICSI (early R-ICSI) to avoid total or near-total fertilization failure in conventional in vitro fertilization (IVF). Methods We performed a retrospective study in 16,769 patients (short-term IVF, n = 12,094; ICSI, n = 3452; early R-ICSI, n = 1223) who received IVF/ICSI treatment in our hospital from January 2009 to October 2018. Fertilization and clinical outcomes were compared among those three groups. Results When considering the R-ICSI embryos in the early R-ICSI group independently, the rates of fertilization and day-3 cleaved embryos in 2PN oocytes were comparable, the rates of fertilization (2PN) and high-quality embryos were lower, whereas the multi-PN fertilization rate (3.27%) was significantly higher than the ICSI group (1.26%). The difference of clinical pregnancy rate between the part of transferred R-ICSI embryos (40.81%) and the ICSI group (44.73%) remained nonsignificant. Furthermore, the rate of congenital birth defects in the early R-ICSI group (0.99%) was not significantly different from those in the short-term IVF (0.76%) and ICSI groups (1.07%). Conclusion Despite the multi-PN fertilization rate, our study highlights early R-ICSI as a safe and effective alternative in assisted reproduction to decrease complete IVF fertilization failure and reduce ICSI utilization. Additional large amount and long-term follow-up studies are needed to further validate the use of early R-ICSI.

Research question Are there associations between dyslipidaemia and pregnancy outcomes in the first complete cycle of IVF/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)? Design This long-term, retrospective real-world analysis involved 5030 infertile women who underwent a first complete IVF/ICSI cycle between January 2015 and October 2020. They were categorized into dyslipidaemia (n = 1903) and control (n = 3127) groups according to serum lipid concentrations before ovarian stimulation. Propensity score matching and multivariable logistic regression were used to control for confounding variables. Results In the raw cohort, women with dyslipidaemia had a significantly increased late miscarriage rate (P = 0.039), decreased term birth rate (P = 0.002) and decreased live birth rate (P = 0.005) compared with non-dyslipidaemic women. In the propensity score-matched cohort, the term birth rate (P = 0.038) and live birth rate (P = 0.044) were significantly lower in the dyslipidaemia group (n = 1686) than the controls (n = 1686). Multivariable logistic regression indicated that infertile women with dyslipidaemia (P = 0.026) and elevated serum total cholesterol concentrations (total cholesterol ≥5.20 mmol/l; P = 0.028) were significantly less likely to have a live birth. Rates of late miscarriage (P = 0.027), term birth (P = 0.003) and live birth (P = 0.010) differed significantly among women with normal, borderline increased and increased serum lipid concentrations. Compared with controls, women with increased serum lipid concentrations had a significantly higher late miscarriage rate, lower term birth rate and lower live birth rate. Women with increased serum lipid concentrations were significantly less likely than controls to have a live birth. Conclusions Dyslipidaemia, total cholesterol ≥5.20 mmol/l and degrees of elevated serum lipid concentrations are negatively associated with live birth rate in the first complete IVF/ICSI cycle in infertile women.

Genomic instability and aberrant tumor mutation burden are widely accepted hallmarks of cancer. Glioblastoma (GBM) is a common brain tumor in adults, and survival of patients with GBM is poor. This study aimed to investigate the prognostic value of genomic instability-derived genes in GBM.GBM data were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas and Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas databases. Differential expression analysis of all samples with different tumor mutation burden was performed. Univariate Cox and LASSO Cox regression analyses were integrated to determine the optimal genes for constructing a risk score model. Multivariate Cox regression analysis and survival analysis determined independent prognostic indicators. Immune cell infiltration was analyzed by CIBERSORT algorithm.In GMB patients with high and low tumor mutation burden, we identified 154 differentially expressed genes, which were significantly enriched in 47 Gene Ontology terms and 6 Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways. To establish a risk score, 9 genes were further screened, including SDC1, CXCL1, CXCL6, RGS4, PCDHGB2, CA9, ZAR1, CHRM3, and SLN. High-risk patients had worse prognosis in two databases. The performance of a nomogram including prognostic factors (risk score and age) was good. Moreover, mast cells resting was significantly differentially infiltrated between high- and low-risk GBM samples.The risk score constructed by 9 genomic instability-derived genes could reliably predict prognosis of GBM patients. The nomogram based on age and risk score also had a good prognostic predictive value.

Fe-Cr-Ni alloys were widely applied to produce aero-engine, industrial gas turbine and other equipments because of their high temperature strength and toughness and creep resistance. In-situ Al2O3/Fe-Cr-Ni composites were prepared by hot pressing sintering process and in-situ synthesis method. In order to reduce the effect of brittle phase on the properties of composites, the prepared samples were kept in vacuum for 2 h at 1000 ℃. Effect of heat treatment on microstructures and mechanical properties of Al2O3/Fe-Cr-Ni composites at room temperature was investigated by XRD and SEM. The results show that Al2O3/Fe-Cr-Ni composites are mainly composed of Fe-Cr-Ni alloy phase, Fe-Cr phase and Al2O3 ceramic reinforcement phase. The Vickers hardness, bending strength and fracture toughness of the hot pressed sintered samples are 4.16 GPa, 298.31 MPa and 8.04 MPa·m1/2, respectively. Austenitic transformation of Fe-Cr phase in composites results in the reduction of hardness to 2.98 GPa through high-heat treatment at 1000 ℃. The values of bending strength and fracture toughness increase obviously with the increasing of the ductile phase contents in the alloy matrix, which are 459.33 MPa and 12.81 MPa·m1/2, respectively.

Language is the carrier of culture and culture influences language, whereas their relation is not static but dynamic which can be indicted from the Shigandang Cultural records in the English language. As an important folk culture, Taishan Shigandang was believed to ward off evil spirits, protect people and keep security. And this belief can be found in the English literary records about Taishan Shigandang. This paper is to describe the cultural development in Taishan Shigandang studies in the English records, then search for the similarities and differences between the Shigandang culture in English and Chinese after a historical analysis. Finally, an explanation is provided to fully understand Shigandang culture.

Sinology studies have focused on the study of Taishan Belief Culture when their writers were studying Taishan culture. A historical record shows that this focus varies due to the authors’ knowledge of Dongyue Dadi and Bixia Yuanjun beliefs which are regarded as the major beliefs in Taishan culture. However different, the theme of the belief described is similar as they all reflect the relationship between human and nature, which can be regarded as an aspect of eco-culture study. This paper firstly illustrates how these sinology studies describe the two major beliefs about Taishan; then analyzes how they are related to eco-culture, and finally provides a conclusion that not only are the two beliefs closely related to eco-culture but they reflect a harmonious existence between human and nature from the records of foreign cultural literature.

IntroductionEndometrium characteristics that are most likely to induce ectopic pregnancy were investigated on the basis of the data of 5,960 pregnant freeze-thaw cycles.MethodsA total of 5,960 pregnancy cycles after freeze-thaw embryos transfer were included, with the number of intrauterine and ectopic pregnancies being 5,777 and 183, respectively. Ectopic pregnancy was the primary outcome. Endometrial thickness was the main measured variable. The risk factors of ectopic pregnancy were eventually determined based on univariate analysis and subsequent multiple-stepwise logistic regression analysis.Results1. After adjusting for confounders, endometrial thickness could independently predict ectopic pregnancy. The adjusted odd ratios for women with endometrial thickness in the ranges of < 8 mm, 8–9.9 mm, and 10–11.9 mm were 3.270 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.113–9.605, P = 0.031], 2.758 (95% CI, 0.987–7.707, P = 0.053), and 1.456 (95% CI, 0.502–4.225, P = 0.489), respectively, when compared with those having an endometrial thickness of 12–13.9 mm. 2. Endometrial type and preparation protocol were however not identified as risk factors for ectopic pregnancy.Discussion1. After freeze-thaw embryo transfer, risks of ectopic pregnancy were significantly higher when the endometrial thickness was < 8 mm. 2. A thin endometrial thickness could be linked with abnormal endometrial peristaltic waves or abnormal endometrial receptivity. 3. Adequate attention should therefore be paid to patients with a thin endometrial thickness to prevent EP or to achieve early diagnosis during the peri-transplantation period.

Research question Does the endometrial aspiration (EA) of ultrasound-invisible fluid immediately preceding embryo transfer affect in vitro fertilization/frozen-thawed embryo transfer (IVF/FET) outcomes? Design A prospective matched cohort study was conducted in 96 women and 96 controls to assess the effect of endometrial aspiration performed immediately before embryo transfer on pregnancy outcomes. This study was carried out at a university-affiliated assisted reproductive medical center between January 2019 and December 2019. Patients were divided into two groups: EA group: cycles with EA of ultrasound-invisible fluid performed before embryo transfer and non-EA group featuring cycles without endometrial aspiration. The EA group was matched by propensity score (PS) with the non-EA group at a ratio of 1:1. The EA group consisted of 99 participants before PS matching and 96 participants after matching. The numbers of subjects in the non-EA group before and after PS matching were 203 and 96, respectively. Results No significant differences were detected in the baseline characteristics and cycle characteristics of the EA and non-EA groups. No significant between-group differences were found in reproductive outcomes in the overall population. Subgroup analysis of blastocyst transfer cycles showed the implantation rate was significantly higher in the EA group (61 women per group; 57.1% vs 40.8%; RR: 1.40; 95%CI: 1.04, 1.88; P=0.022). Live birth rate, clinical pregnancy rate, ongoing pregnancy rate, and multiple pregnancy rate were not different among the groups (P>0.05). Conclusion The endometrial aspiration immediately preceding embryo transfer does not affect IVF/FET outcomes. Interestingly, it could improve the frozen-thawed blastocyst implantation rate. Randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm this result. Study funding This study was funded by the National Key Research and Developmental Program of China (grant number 2018YFC1004800) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant number 8187061497).

Background Window of implantation (WOI) displacement is one of the endometrial origins of embryo implantation failure, especially repeated implantation failure (RIF). An accurate prediction tool for endometrial receptivity (ER) is extraordinarily needed to precisely guide successful embryo implantation. We aimed to establish an RNA-Seq-based endometrial receptivity test (rsERT) tool using transcriptomic biomarkers and to evaluate the benefit of personalized embryo transfer (pET) guided by this tool in patients with RIF. Methods This was a two-phase strategy comprising tool establishment with retrospective data and benefit evaluation with a prospective, nonrandomized controlled trial. In the first phase, rsERT was established by sequencing and analyzing the RNA of endometrial tissues from 50 IVF patients with normal WOI timing. In the second phase, 142 patients with RIF were recruited and grouped by patient self-selection (experimental group, n = 56; control group, n = 86). pET guided by rsERT was performed in the experimental group and conventional ET in the control group. Results The rsERT, comprising 175 biomarker genes, showed an average accuracy of 98.4% by using tenfold cross-validation. The intrauterine pregnancy rate (IPR) of the experimental group (50.0%) was significantly improved compared to that (23.7%) of the control group (RR, 2.107; 95% CI 1.159 to 3.830; P = 0.017) when transferring day-3 embryos. Although not significantly different, the IPR of the experimental group (63.6%) was still 20 percentage points higher than that (40.7%) of the control group (RR, 1.562; 95% CI 0.898 to 2.718; P = 0.111) when transferring blastocysts. Conclusions The rsERT was developed to accurately predict the WOI period and significantly improve the pregnancy outcomes of patients with RIF, indicating the clinical potential of rsERT-guided pET. Trial registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry: ChiCTR-DDD-17013375. Registered 14 November 2017, http://www.chictr.org.cn/index.aspx

As one of the most sacred mountains in China, Taishan had drawn people’s attention near and far to make pilgrimage each year. In the corner of the 19th and 20th centuries, this changed as Christian religion came into Tai’an city at the foot of Taishan. The paper tries to describe what was happening, the result and why, from the aspect of historical description.

To analyse the impact of dezocine-remifentanil intravenous anaesthesia on perioperative signs, serum tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in liver cancer patients undergoing radiofrequency ablation (RFA).An experimental study.Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China, from January 2017 to February 2018.Eighty patients with small hepatocellular carcinoma (SHCC) were selected as the research object. They were divided into Group A and Group B with the random number table method, with 40 cases in each group. Group A were given dezocine-remifentanil intravenous anaesthesia and Group B were given midazolam-remifentanil intravenous anaesthesia. Patients' situations in the surgery were compared between the two groups. Changes in heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP) and blood oxygen saturation (SpOsub2/sub) were recorded before the surgery (Tsub0/sub), at 5 minutes after the RFA (Tsub1/sub) and at the end of the RFA (Tsub2/sub). Levels of tumour necrosis factor-alpha; (TNF-alpha;) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) on the 1sup2/supday after the RFA were compared between the two groups.The wake-up time in Group A was shorter than Group B (p0.001), and the VAS pain score in Group A was lower than Group B (p0.001). At Tsub1/sub, the MAP in Group A was higher than Group B (p0.001). There was no significant difference in MAP between the two groups at Tsub0/suband Tsub2/sub(p=0.881, 0.696, respectively). At Tsub1/suband Tsub2/sub, the HR in Group A was lower than Group B (all p0.001). There was no significant difference in HR between the two groups at Tsub0/sub(p=0.684). There was no significant difference in SpOsub2/subbetween the two groups at Tsub0/sub, Tsub1/suband Tsub2/sub(p=0.654, 0.884 and 0.798, respectively). On the 1st day after the RFA, the level of TNF-alpha;, IL-6 in Group A were lower than those of Group B (all p0.001). There was no significant difference in the incidence of intraoperative complications between the two groups (p=0.644).Compared with midazolam-remifentanil intravenous anaesthesia, the dezocine-remifentanil method has a better analgesic effect, shorter wake-up time, and can effectively regulate the expression of inflammatory cytokines TNF-alpha; and IL-6. However, the effect of remifentanil on the respiratory function is dose-dependent. Therefore, respiratory cycle monitoring and management should be strengthened during the surgery.

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between the endometrial features (endometrial thickness(EMT), pattern and endometrium growth amplitude and rate) and the embryo stage transferred and ectopic pregnancy after IVF-ET based on the data of 628 matched cases. Methods: This was a 1:1 matched case-control study that enrolled 314 EP patients and 314 matched IUP patients from the ART center of Xiangya Hospital of Central South University from January 2014 to April 2020. Univariate analysis and multiple-stepwise logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the risk factors of EP, and a receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve was generated to predict EP. Results: 1. The EP group had a higher cleavage stage embryo transfer rate(94.57% vs 86.22%), a thinner endometrium on transformation day(the day when progesterone was added in the frozen embryo cycle or the trigger day in the fresh embryo cycle) (9.40(2.60) mm vs 9.80(2.60)mm) compared with IUP group. In fresh embryo cycles, the EP group had a higher endometrium pattern C proportion on transformation day, a smaller endometrium increment, and a slower endometrial growth rate compared with the IUP group. 2.The ROC curves were used to analyze the cut-off values of the EMT on transformation day, the endometrial growth amplitude and rate in fresh cycles, the results were 9.35mm, 4.90mm and 0.491 mm/d, respectively. The incidence of EP was significantly different between groups according to cut-off values. 3.The transferred embryo stage and EMT on transformation day were independent factors affecting outcome in the general population. The area under the curve(AUC) of the EMT and the stage of embryos transferred for EP prediction was 0.604, sensitivity was 0.702, and specificity was 0.465. The EMT on trigger day was an independent factor affecting outcome in the fresh cycles. The AUC of the EMT for EP prediction in fresh cycles was 0.605, sensitivity was 0.805, and specificity was 0.420. Conclusions: 1. Transferring cleavage stage embryo, and thin EMT on the transformation day were risk factors for EP. 2. Thin EMT and pattern C on transformation day may be related to abnormal endometrial receptivity and endometrial peristaltic waves. 3.The combined indicator of EMT and embryonic development stage could not well predict the occurrence of EP after ET.

Meningiomas, which are the most common primary intracranial tumors, have highly aggressive cells in malignant cases. Due to its extensive antitumor effects, curcumin is widely used in experimental and clinical studies. However, the role of curcumin during the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in meningioma has not been established. We found that curcumin blocks hepatocyte growth factor- (HGF-) induced proliferation, migration, invasion, and EMT of human malignant meningioma cells by regulating the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway. In addition, treatment of human malignant meningioma cells with the tyrosine protein kinase (c-MET) inhibitor (SU11274) or the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor (LY294002) suppressed HGF-induced migration and EMT. Furthermore, we found that curcumin inhibited tumor growth and HGF-induced EMT in mice subjected to subcutaneous xenotransplantation. These findings indicate that HGF regulates EMT in human malignant meningioma cells through c-MET/PI3K/Akt/mTOR modulation. In conclusion, curcumin inhibits HGF-induced EMT by targeting c-MET and subsequently blocking the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway.

BACKGROUND: Total or near total fertilization failure remains inevitable in conventional in vitro fertilization (IVF). The experts searched for the release of the second polar body 6 h after initial insemination, and rescued those oocytes with unclear second polar body by ICSI (early R-ICSI). Studies found that early R-ICSI can effectively decrease complete IVF fertilization failure and excessive ICSI treatment.METHODS: We performed a retrospective study in 16,769 patients (short-term IVF, n=12,094; ICSI, n=3,452; early R-ICSI, n=1,223) who received IVF/ICSI treatment in our hospital from January 2009 to October 2018. Fertilization and clinical outcomes were compared among those three groups.RESULTS: When considering the R-ICSI embryos in the early R-ICSI group independently, the rates of fertilization and day-3 cleaved embryos in 2PN oocytes were comparable, the rates of fertilization (2PN) and high-quality embryos were lower, whereas the multi-PN fertilization rate (3.27%) was significantly higher than the ICSI group (1.26%). The difference of clinical pregnancy rate between the part of transferred R-ICSI embryos (40.81%) and the ICSI group (44.73) remained nonsignificant. Furthermore, the rate of congenital birth defects in the early R-ICSI group (0.99%) was not significantly different from those in the short-term IVF (0.76%) and ICSI groups (1.07%).CONCLUSIONS: Despite the multi-PN fertilization rate, our study highlights early R-ICSI as a safe and effective alternative in assisted reproduction to reduce ICSI utilization. Additional large amount and long-term follow-up studies are needed to further validate the use of early R-ICSI.

Neuroimaging evidence implies that cognitive impairment in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) is related to the disruption of the default-mode network (DMN). The DMN can be divided into three functionally independent subsystems, which include the cortical hub subsystem [consisting of the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) and the anterior medial prefrontal cortex (aMPFC)], the dorsal medial prefrontal cortex (dMPFC) subsystem, and the medial temporal lobe (MTL) subsystem. However, it is unknown how the functional connectivity (FC) in DMN subsystems is differentially impaired in ESRD. This prospective study was carried out at the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, China, between August 2018 and July 2020. Thirty-two ESRD patients and forty-five healthy controls (HCs) were recruited for this study and received resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) scanning, and FCs on predefined regions of interest (ROIs) were individually calculated in three DMN subsystems using both ROI- and seed-based FC analyses to examine FC alterations within and between DMN subsystems. The two-sample t-test was used for the comparisons between groups. We also tested the associations between FC changes and clinical information using Pearson's correlation analysis. The results demonstrated that ESRD patients, compared with HCs, exhibit reduced FC specifically within the cortical hubs and between the DMN hubs and two subsystems (the dMPFC and MTL subsystems). Moreover, the FC values between the aMPFC and PCC were positively correlated with creatinine and urea levels in the ESRD patients. Our results suggest that the cortical hubs (PCC and aMPFC) are preferentially disrupted and that other subsystems may be progressively damaged to a certain degree as the disease develops.

To investigate the possible factors relevant to fertilization failure in in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET).The medical records of 4 205 infertile patients undergoing IVF-ET treatment at the Reproductive Medicine Center, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University from January 2016 to December 2017 were collected. The patients were divided into a complete fertilization failure group, a low fertilization rate group, and a control group based on fertilization rate. We examined the associations among the 3 groups in terms of female age, duration of infertility, duration of stimulation, gonadotropin (Gn) dosage, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) dosage, and total number of retrieved oocytes. According to theincidence factors, the patients were divided into a single female factor group, a single male factor group and a unisex factor group, and the correlation analysis of incidence factor among the 3 groups was performed. The patients were divided into a primary infertility and a secondary infertility in accordance with the type of infertility. We analyzed the correlation of infertility type among the three groups. Risk factors for complete fertilization failure and low fertilization rate in IVF-ET were obtained by stepwise multiple linear regression analysis.Primary infertility, long infertility duration, total number of retrieved oocytes, and unisex factor were associated with completefertilization failure and low fertilization rate in IVF-ET (Complete fertilization failure and low fertilization rate in IVF-ET are related to duration of infertility, total number of retrieved oocytes, cause of onset, and type of infertility, but they are not relevant to female age, duration of stimulation, and Gn and FSH dosage.

Tumor-infiltrating immune cells play a decisive part in prognosis and survival. Until now, previous researches have not made clear about the diversity of cell types involved in the immune response. The objective of this work was to confirm the composition of tumor-infiltrating immune cells and their correlation with prognosis in meningiomas based on a metagene approach (known as CIBERSORT) and online databases. A total of 22 tumor-infiltrating immune cells were detected to determine the relationship between the immune infiltration pattern and survival. The proportion of M2 macrophages was more abundant in 68 samples, reaching more than 36%. Univariate Cox regression analysis displayed that the proportion of dendritic cells was obviously related to prognosis. Hierarchical clustering analysis identified two clusters by the method of within sum of squares errors, which exhibited different infiltrating immune cell composition and survival. To summarize, our results indicated that proportions of tumor-infiltrating immune cells as well as cluster patterns were associated with the prognosis, which offered clinical significance for research of meningiomas.

The Ministry of Transportation began to carry out demonstration operation of modular centre axle trailer trains nationwide in April 2018. However, since the possibility of a traffic accident in a trailer train relative to a single vehicle is greater, it is necessary to study the handling stability of a centre axle trailer train. This paper is aimed to study the multi-objective optimization method for the handling stability of centre axle trailer trains, and provide reference for the design of centre axle trailer trains. This paper proposes a multi-objective optimization method for handling stability of the centre axle trailer train based on Isight, TruckSim and Matlab. The simulation model of the centre axle trailer train is established Firstly. Then, based on the multi-objective optimization principle, the peak load transfer rate LTR and the lateral acceleration rearward amplification ARA in the single lane change test, and the peak yaw rate ω1 of tractor and the peak yaw rate ω2 of trailer in the pylon course slalom test are selected as optimization targets. The sensitivity analysis is used to screen the design variables and the optimization operation is performed by the second generation non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm with elite strategy (NSGA-II). The optimal compromise solution is obtained by the combined weighting method. The results show that LTR and ARA of the centre axle trailer train in the single lane change verification test are reduced by 7.14% and 5.17%, respectively, and ω1 and ω2 of the centre axle trailer train in the serpentine verification test. are reduced by 0.52% and 2.70%, respectively. Using Isight, TruckSim and Matlab co-simulation to optimize the handling stability of the centre axle trailer train has achieved the optimization goal. More evaluation indexes can be considered in subsequent studies.

The up‑regulation of cellular Fas‑associated death domain‑like interleukin‑1β‑converting enzyme (FLICE)‑like inhibitory protein (c‑FLIP) has been reported in various tumor types, and has been previously shown to be associated with the clinicopathological features of melanoma. To assess its potential role in cancer therapy, the present study evaluated the effects of short hairpin (sh)RNAs of different c‑FLIP isoforms on cellular proliferation and c‑Jun N‑terminal kinase (JNK) signaling. Human c‑FLIP shRNA plasmids were constructed and transfected into the A875 melanoma cell line. It was observed that c‑FLIP shRNA exhibited strong inhibitory effects against the levels of phosphorylated‑JNK and inhibited cellular proliferation in A875 cells. Thus, this indicated that c‑FLIP long form shRNA serves a specific inhibitory role in cellular proliferation through inducing the activation of the JNK pathway in A875 cells. The present study provided insight into the development of RNAi based therapies for melanoma.

Aims To compare serum protein expression profiles between lung cancer patients and healthy individuals, and to examine whether there are differences in serum protein expression profiles among patients with lung cancers of different histological types and whether the characteristic expression of serum proteins may assist in differential diagnosis of various subtypes of lung cancers. Methods Blood samples were collected from 123 lung cancer patients before commencement of treatment who attended Shanxi Cancer Hospital, China, between 2008 and 2013. Blood samples from 60 healthy individuals were also collected in the same period. Serum protein expression profiles were analyzed using surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The differences in the serum protein spectrums of lung cancer patients with different histological subtypes were analyzed by one-way Analysis of Variance and receiver operating characteristic curves. Results A cluster of 48 protein mass-to-change ratio (M/Z) peaks was differentially expressed between sera of lung cancer patients and healthy individuals. The M/Z 1205, 4673, 1429 and 4279 peaks were differentially expressed among patients with lung squamous cell carcinomas, adenocarcinomas and small-cell lung carcinomas. Conclusion These results reinforce the notion that profiling of serum proteins may be of diagnostic value in lung cancer, and suggest that the differences in serum protein profiles may be useful in differential diagnosis of lung cancers of varying histological subtypes.

Customer churn analysis has become an important focus of corporate marketing. It will be a great help to profitability if there is a method can find losing customers in time. In the paper, a method based on RFM and Cross-correlation model is proposed. Firstly, the customer’s value is calculated by RFM. Secondly, the typical losing curves of customer value are matched via cross-correlation. And finally, integrated with social network analysis (SNA) and community detection, the group of potential losing customers are revealed. The effectiveness of the presented method has been proven in a dataset of retail sales records.

THIS ARTICLE WAS WITHDRAWN BY THE PUBLISHER IN OCT 2021

Background: This study aims to explore the circadian rhythm of interictal epileptiform discharges (IEDs) and changes of spindles in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). Methods: Subjects were divided into two groups: research group (patients diagnosed with TLE, n=50) and control group (n=30). The whole-night natural sleep of all subjects was monitored, analysis and statistics were performed on IED, and the number, amplitude and the average duration of spindles were compared between these two groups. Results: (1) In TLE patients, the number of IED was larger in non-rapid eye movement (NREM) stages 1+2 and NREM stages 3+4 than in the waking stage and rapid eye movement (REM) stage, and the differences were statistically significant (P

Background Acute kidney injury (AKI) is an abrupt loss of kidney function. MicroRNA-30b (miR-30b) has been reported to be involved in the inflammatory reaction of a variety of diseases. However, the role of miR-30b in AKI remains unknown. In this research, we aimed to investigate the role of miR-30b in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced kindey inflammatory injury in vitro and in vivo . Methods In vitro, after miR-30b mimic/inhibitor transfection and/or LPS treatment, the viability, apoptosis, autophagy and inflammatory cytokines releases, as well as activation of c-Jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) pathways were detected by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, flow cytometry, qRT-PCR, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and western blot, respectively. In vivo , after LPS treatment and/or anti-miR-30b administration, the levels of creatinine, the activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and histologic scores, as well as concentrations of inflammatory cytokines were assessed by creatinine assay kit, ALT assay kit and ELISA, respectively. Results LPS inhibited HK-2 cell viability and induced HK-2 cell apoptosis, autophagy and the releases of inflammatory cytokines. Overexpression of miR-30b promoted LPS-induced HK-2 cell viability inhibition, cell inflammatory cytokines releases, cell apoptosis induction and activation of JNK and NF-κB signaling pathways, but inhibited LPS-induced HK-2 cell autophagy. Suppression of miR-30b had opposite effects. Moreover, suppression of miR-30b alleviated the LPS-induced kidney injury in mice model by decreasing creatinine level, ALT activity and histologic scores, as well as concentrations of inflammatory cytokines. Conclusion miR-30b participated in the LPS-induced kindey inflammatory injury in vitro and in vivo .

The flammability, thermal and mechanical properties on cotton fabric were improved by being finished with the composite containing montmorillonite. To this aim, polymer dimethyl diallyl ammonium chloride-allyl glycidyl ether (P DMDAAC-AGE ) was prepared and its structure characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and Nuclear magnetic resonance ( 1 H NMR). The quaternary ammonium salt copolymer/montmorillonite composite (P DMDAAC-AGE /MMT) was obtained by polymer intercalation method. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) indicated that the MMT interlayer spacing increased after the polymer intercalation. Composite materials were loaded onto the cotton fabrics by a dip-pad-dry method. The thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA), vertical flame test and limiting oxygen index (LOI) results showed that the thermal and flammability properties of the cotton fabric were improved after it was finished with the composite. Tensile testing revealed an increase on mechanical properties of the finished fabric, but the physical properties hardly changed from the bending length and whiteness results. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy disperse X-ray spectroscope (EDX) results verified the improvement of those properties due to the presence of montmorillonite in the composite.

Aphasia will occur in cultural communication with no exception of Taishan culture to the world. This article analyses the cultural aphasia from aspects of communication, discusses the reasons and proposes the solutions which is a tentative study to Chinese traditional culture communication.

The ultra- and microstructure of the female reproductive system of Matsucoccus matsumurae was studied using light microscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The results revealed that the female reproductive system of M. matsumurae is composed of a pair of ovaries, a common oviduct, a pair of lateral oviducts, a spermatheca and two pairs of accessory glands. Each ovary is composed of approximately 50 telotrophic ovarioles that are devoid of terminal filaments. Each ovariole is subdivided into an apical tropharium, a vitellarium and a short pedicel connected to a lateral oviduct. The tropharium contains 8–10 trophocytes and two early previtellogenic oocytes termed arrested oocytes. The trophocytes degenerate after egg maturation, and the arrested oocytes are capable of further development. The vitellarium contains 3–6 oocytes of different developmental stages: previtellogenesis, vitellogenesis and choriogenesis. The surface of the vitellarium is rough and composed of a pattern of polygonal reticular formations with a center protuberance. The oocyte possesses numerous yolk spheres and lipid droplets, and is surrounded by a mono-layered follicular epithelium that becomes binucleate at the beginning of vitellogenesis. Accessory nuclei are observed in the peripheral ooplasm during vitellogenesis.

A Gram-stain-positive bacterial strain, 11097T, was isolated from traditional pickle in Heilongjiang Province, China. The bacterium was characterized using a polyphasic approach, including 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, phenylalanyl-tRNA synthase (pheS) gene sequence analysis, RNA polymerase α subunit (rpoA) gene sequence analysis, fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) analysis, determination of DNA G+C content, DNA–DNA hybridization and an analysis of phenotypic features. Strain 11097T was phylogenetically related to Enterococcus devriesei , E. pseudoavium , E. viikkiensis , E. avium , E. malodoratus , E. gilvus and E. raffinosus . Strain 11097T had 99.1–99.9 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities, 78.2–83.2 % pheS gene sequence similarities and 93.8–96.6 % rpoA gene sequence similarities with type strains of phylogenetically related species. Based upon polyphasic characterization data obtained in the present study, a novel species of the genus Enterococcus , Enterococcus xiangfangensis sp. nov., is proposed with the type strain 11097T ( = LMG 27495T = NCIMB 14834T).

Small mammals in temperate areas face seasonal fluctuations of temperature and food availability, both of which may influence their immune responses, which are critical to survival. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that low temperature and food restriction suppress immune function in striped hamsters (