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Topological superconductors (TSCs) are unconventional superconductors with bulk superconducting gap and in-gap Majorana states on the boundary that may be used as topological qubits for quantum computation. Despite their importance in both fundamental research and applications, natural TSCs are very rare. Here, combining state of the art synchrotron and laser-based angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, we investigated a stoichiometric transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD), 2M-WS2 with a superconducting transition temperature of 8.8 K (the highest among all TMDs in the natural form up to date) and observed distinctive topological surface states (TSSs). Furthermore, in the superconducting state, we found that the TSSs acquired a nodeless superconducting gap with similar magnitude as that of the bulk states. These discoveries not only evidence 2M-WS2 as an intrinsic TSC without the need of sensitive composition tuning or sophisticated heterostructures fabrication, but also provide an ideal platform for device applications thanks to its van der Waals layered structure.

Recently, layered copper chalcogenides Cu2X family (X=S, Se, Te) has attracted tremendous research interests due to their high thermoelectric performance, which is partly due to the superionic behavior of mobile Cu ions, making these compounds "phonon liquids."Here, we systematically investigate the electronic structure and its temperature evolution of the less studied single crystal Cu2-xTe by the combination of angle resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) and scanning tunneling microscope/spectroscopy (STM/STS) experiments. While the band structure of the Cu2-xTe shows agreement with the calculations, we clearly observe a 2×2 surface reconstruction from both our low temperature ARPES and STM/STS experiments which survives up to room temperature. Interestingly, our low temperature STM experiments further reveal multiple types of reconstruction patterns, which suggests the origin of the surface reconstruction being the distributed deficiency of liquidlike Cu ions. Our findings reveal the electronic structure and impurity level of Cu2Te, which provides knowledge about its thermoelectric properties from the electronic degree of freedom.

Weyl semimetals are crystalline solids that host emergent relativistic Weyl fermions and have characteristic surface Fermi-arcs in their electronic structure. Weyl semimetals with broken time reversal symmetry are difficult to identify unambiguously. In this work, using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, we visualized the electronic structure of the ferromagnetic crystal Co3Sn2S2 and discovered its characteristic surface Fermi-arcs and linear bulk band dispersions across the Weyl points. These results establish Co3Sn2S2 as a magnetic Weyl semimetal that may serve as a platform for realizing phenomena such as chiral magnetic effects, unusually large anomalous Hall effect and quantum anomalous Hall effect.

Topological insulators represent unusual topological quantum states, typically with gapped bulk band structure but gapless surface Dirac fermions protected by time-reversal symmetry. Recently, a distinct kind of topological insulator resulting from nonsymmorphic crystalline symmetry was proposed in the KHgX (X=As, Sb, Bi) compounds. Unlike regular topological crystalline insulators, the nonsymmorphic glide-reflection symmetry in KHgX guarantees the appearance of an exotic surface fermion with hourglass shape dispersion (where two pairs of branches switch their partners) residing on its (010) side surface, contrasting to the usual two-dimensional Dirac fermion form. Here, by using high-resolution angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, we systematically investigate the electronic structures of KHgSb on both (001) and (010) surfaces and reveal the unique in-gap surface states on the (010) surface with delicate dispersion consistent with the "hourglass Fermion" recently proposed. Our experiment strongly supports that KHgSb is a nonsymmorphic topological crystalline insulator with hourglass fermions, which serves as an important step to the discovery of unique topological quantum materials and exotic fermions protected by nonsymmorphic crystalline symmetry.

Chiral materials have attracted significant research interests as they exhibit intriguing physical properties, such as chiral optical response, spin-momentum locking, and chiral induced spin selectivity. Recently, layered transition metal dichalcogenide 1T-TaS_{2} has been found to host a chiral charge density wave (CDW) order. Nevertheless, the physical consequences of the chiral order, for example, in electronic structures and the optical properties, are yet to be explored. Here, we report the spectroscopic visualization of an emergent chiral electronic band structure in the CDW phase, characterized by windmill-shaped Fermi surfaces. We uncover a remarkable chirality-dependent circularly polarized Raman response due to the salient in-plane chiral symmetry of CDW, although the ordinary circular dichroism vanishes. Chiral Fermi surfaces and anomalous Raman responses coincide with the CDW transition, proving their lattice origin. Our Letter paves a path to manipulate the chiral electronic and optical properties in two-dimensional materials and explore applications in polarization optics and spintronics.

The design principle of establishing an intracellular protein gradient for asymmetric cell division is a long-standing fundamental question. While the major molecular players and their interactions have been elucidated via genetic approaches, the diversity and redundancy of natural systems complicate the extraction of critical underlying features. Here, we take a synthetic cell biology approach to construct intracellular asymmetry and asymmetric division in Escherichia coli, in which division is normally symmetric. We demonstrate that the oligomeric PopZ from Caulobacter crescentus can serve as a robust polarized scaffold to functionalize RNA polymerase. Furthermore, by using another oligomeric pole-targeting DivIVA from Bacillus subtilis, the newly synthesized protein can be constrained to further establish intracellular asymmetry, leading to asymmetric division and differentiation. Our findings suggest that the coupled oligomerization and restriction in diffusion may be a strategy for generating a spatial gradient for asymmetric cell division.

Male infertility is a rising problem around the world. Often the cause of male infertility is unclear, and this hampers diagnosis and treatment. Spermatogenesis is a complex process under sophisticated regulation by many testis-specific genes. Here, we report the testis-specific gene 1700102P08Rik is conserved in both the human and mouse and highly expressed in spermatocytes. To investigate the role of 1700102P08Rik in male fertility, knockout mice were generated by CRISPR-Cas9. 1700102P08Rik knockout male mice were infertile with smaller testis and epididymis, but female knockout mice retained normal fertility. Spermatogenesis in the 1700102P08Rik knockout male mouse was arrested at the spermatocyte stage, and no sperm were found in the epididymis. The deletion of 1700102P08Rik causes apoptosis in the testis but did not affect the serum concentration of testosterone, luteinizing hormone, and follicle-stimulating hormone or the synapsis and recombination of homologous chromosomes. We also found that 1700102P08Rik is downregulated in spermatocyte arrest in men. Together, these results indicate that the 1700102P08Rik gene is essential for spermatogenesis and its dysfunction leads to male infertility., (© 2020 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Objective: To investigate the antioxidative and spermatogenesis-repairing effects of Shenjing Guben Pills (SGP), a Chinese medicine for invigorating the kidney and blood circulation, on the testis, epididymis and sperm in rats with oxidative stress injury (OSI) induced by cadmium chloride., Methods: Seventy-two male Wistar rats were equally randomized into six groups: normal control, OSI model control, Wuzi Yanzong Pills (WYP) and low-, medium- and high-dose SGP. The OSI model was made in the latter five groups by intraperitoneal injection of cadmium chloride at 1 mg/kg, and 24 hours later, the rats of the normal and model control groups treated intragastrically with 0.9% normal saline, those of the WYP group with WYP at 4.5 g/kg/d, and those of the low-, medium- and high-dose SGP groups with SGP at 2.8, 5.6 and 11.2 g/kg/d, respectively, all for 56 days. Then, all the animals were sacrificed for obtainment of the visceral indexes and histopathological changes of the testis, epididymis and seminal vesicle, measurement of sperm concentration and motility and the percentage of morphologically normal sperm (MNS) in the epididymis, and determination of the levels of glutathione perox-idase (GSH-PX), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondial-dehyde aldehyde (MDA) and serum testosterone (T)., Results: Compared with the OSI model controls, the rats in the high-, medium- and low-dose SGP groups showed significantly higher visceral indexes of the testis (［0.237 ± 0.098］ vs ［0.403 ± 0.090］, ［0.357 ± 0.150］ and ［0.348 ± 0.140］ g/100 g, P < 0.05) and seminal vesicle (［0.241 ± 0.118］ vs ［0.347 ± 0.115］, ［0.336 ± 0.090］ and ［0.320 ± 0.065］ g/100 g, P < 0.05) and those of the high-dose SGP group in the epididymal index (［0.099 ± 0.088］ vs ［0.156 ± 0.030］ g/100 g, P < 0.05). In comparison with the OSI model controls, the animals of the high-, medium- and low-dose SGP groups exhibited significant increases in sperm concentration (［10.5 ± 17.7］ vs ［58.1 ± 32.2］, ［36.0 ± 36.2］ and ［31.9 ± 32.7］ ×10⁶/ml, P < 0.05) and serum T (［2.56 ± 0.75］ vs ［3.62 ± 0.96］, ［3.48 ± 1.33］ and ［3.24 ± 0.83］ nmol/L, P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), and those of the high- and medium-dose SCG groups in total sperm motility (［9.5 ± 13.0］% vs ［26.5 ± 15.5］% and ［18.9 ± 8.2］%, P < 0.05) and MNS (［36.2 ± 40.2］% vs ［85.3 ± 23.3］% and ［65.8 ± 28.1］%, P < 0.05) and the levels GSH-PX (［3.62 ± 2.22］ vs ［5.70 ± 1.73］ and ［5.42 ± 2.35］ U/mg prot, P < 0.05 ) and SOD (［41.3 ± 8.8］ vs ［52.7 ± 14.6］ and ［51.3 ± 14.7］ U/mg prot, P < 0.05). The MDA level, however, was markedly decreased in the high-, medium- and low-dose SGP groups (［0.41 ± 0.29］, ［0.44 ± 0.19］ and ［0.47 ± 0.20］ nmol/mg prot) as compared with that in the OSI model controls (［0.69 ± 0.28］ nmol/mg prot) (P < 0.05). Histopathological examinations manifested coagulative necrosis, calcification and disappearance of spermatogenic and Sertoli cells in the seminiferous tubules of the OSI model controls, with decreased intraluminal secretions and atrophic epithelial papillae in the seminal vesicles and non-sperm cells in the narrowed lumens of the atrophic epididymis. With the increased dose of SGP, the proportion of normal seminiferous tubules was enlarged, the epithelia of the seminal vesicle became column-shaped again, and the epididymal lumens grew lager with more sperm cells, which indicated a dose-dependent therapeutic efficacy. Medium- and high-dose SGP achieved a significantly better effect than WYP., Conclusions: Shenjing Guben Pills can antagonize oxidative stress, elevate the levels of testicular antioxidant enzymes and serum T, repair pathological injury of the testis, epididymis and seminal vesicle, and improve semen quality and spermatogenic function.

Spermatozoa are not mature until they transit the epididymis where they acquire motility and the ability to fertilize an egg through sequential modifications. The epididymis has three functional regions, caput, corpus, and cauda, and the luminal proteins of the epididymis play important roles in the above modifications. However, the proteins with differential enrichment between the caput and cauda are still largely unknown. To reveal the functions of the caput and cauda during sperm maturation, luminal proteins from caput and cauda of mice were analyzed by isobaric tag for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ). Overall, 128 differentially enriched proteins were found, of which 46 were caput enriched and 82 were cauda enriched. Bioinformatic analysis showed that lipid metabolism was active in the caput; while anion- and cation-binding activity and phosphorus and organophosphate metabolism were active in the cauda. A new epididymal luminal protein, the caput-enriched PDZ domain containing 1 (Pdzk1), also named Na + /H + exchange regulatory cofactor 3 (NHERF3), which plays a critical role in cholesterol metabolism and carnitine transport, was found in the lipid metabolism. Western blotting and immunofluorescence analyses showed that Pdzk1 was expressed in the epididymis but not in the testis, and localized at the middle piece of the sperm tail. Pdzk1 protein level was also reduced in the spermatozoa in case of asthenozoospermic patients compared with that in normozoospermic men, suggesting that Pdzk1 may participate in sperm maturation regulation and may be associated with male infertility. These results may provide new insights into the mechanisms of sperm maturation and male infertility.

Epididymal lumen fluids are directly responsible for sperm maturation. However, very little is known about the molecular details of small molecule metabolites in the epididymal lumen fluids until now. Here we identified and compared the metabolic profiles of mouse caput and cauda epididymal lumen fluids using GC-MS technique. Among 236 metabolites identified in caput and cauda epididymis, 36 were significantly enriched in caput epididymis while 18 were significantly enriched in cauda epididymis. Pathway analysis identified ascorbate and aldarate metabolism and beta-alanine metabolism as most relevant pathways in caput and cauda epididymis, respectively. Ascorbate, dehydroascorbic acid and beta-alanine associated with these two pathways were firstly reported in mouse epididymal lumen fluids and might play important roles in sperm maturation., (© 2017 American Society of Andrology and European Academy of Andrology.)

Siderophores are small molecules used to specifically transport iron into bacteria via related receptors. By adapting siderophores and hijacking their pathways, we may discover an efficient and selective way to target microbes. Herein, we report the synthesis of a siderophore-fluorophore conjugate VF-FL derived from vibrioferrin (VF). Using flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy, the probe selectively labeled vibrios, including V. parahaemolyticus, V. cholerae, and V. vulnificus, even in the presence of other species such as S. aureus and E. coli. The labeling is siderophore-related and both iron-limited conditions and the siderophore moiety are required. The competitive relationship between VF-FL and VF in vibrios implies an unreported VF-related transport mechanism in V. cholerae and V. vulnificus. These studies demonstrate that the siderophore scaffold provides a method to selectively target microbes expressing cognate receptors under iron-limited conditions.

Circulating fetal nucleated cells (CFNCs) in maternal blood offer an ideal source of fetal genomic DNA for noninvasive prenatal diagnostics (NIPD). We developed a class of nanoVelcro microchips to effectively enrich a subcategory of CFNCs, i.e., circulating trophoblasts (cTBs) from maternal blood, which can then be isolated with single-cell resolution by a laser capture microdissection (LCM) technique for downstream genetic testing. We first established a nanoimprinting fabrication process to prepare the LCM-compatible nanoVelcro substrates. Using an optimized cTB-capture condition and an immunocytochemistry protocol, we were able to identify and isolate single cTBs (Hoechst+/CK7+/HLA-G+/CD45-, 20 μm > sizes > 12 μm) on the imprinted nanoVelcro microchips. Three cTBs were polled to ensure reproducible whole genome amplification on the cTB-derived DNA, paving the way for cTB-based array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) and short tandem repeats analysis. Using maternal blood samples collected from expectant mothers carrying a single fetus, the cTB-derived aCGH data were able to detect fetal genders and chromosomal aberrations, which had been confirmed by standard clinical practice. Our results support the use of nanoVelcro microchips for cTB-based noninvasive prenatal genetic testing, which holds potential for further development toward future NIPD solution.

Mouse models of the transcriptional modulator Methyl-CpG-Binding Protein 2 (MeCP2) have advanced our understanding of Rett syndrome (RTT). RTT is a 'prototypical' neurodevelopmental disorder with many clinical features overlapping with other intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Therapeutic interventions for RTT may therefore have broader applications. However, the reliance on the laboratory mouse to identify viable therapies for the human condition may present challenges in translating findings from the bench to the clinic. In addition, the need to identify outcome measures in well-chosen animal models is critical for preclinical trials. Here, we report that a novel Mecp2 rat model displays high face validity for modelling psychomotor regression of a learned skill, a deficit that has not been shown in Mecp2 mice. Juvenile play, a behavioural feature that is uniquely present in rats and not mice, is also impaired in female Mecp2 rats. Finally, we demonstrate that evaluating the molecular consequences of the loss of MeCP2 in both mouse and rat may result in higher predictive validity with respect to transcriptional changes in the human RTT brain. These data underscore the similarities and differences caused by the loss of MeCP2 among divergent rodent species which may have important implications for the treatment of individuals with disease-causing MECP2 mutations. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that the Mecp2 rat model is a complementary tool with unique features for the study of RTT and highlight the potential benefit of cross-species analyses in identifying potential disease-relevant preclinical outcome measures., (© The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press.)

Previous studies have reported aberrant expression of the miR-183-96-182 cluster in a variety of tumors, which indicates its' diagnostic or prognostic value. However, a key characteristic of the miR-183-96-182 cluster is its varied expression levels, and pleomorphic functional roles in different tumors or under different conditions. In most tumor types, the cluster is highly expressed and promotes tumorigenesis, cancer progression and metastasis; yet tumor suppressive effects have also been reported in some tumors. In the present study, we discuss the upstream regulators and the downstream target genes of miR-183-96-182 cluster, and highlight the dysregulation and functional roles of this cluster in various tumor cells. Newer insights summarized in this review will help readers understand the different facets of the miR-183-96-182 cluster in cancer development and progression., Competing Interests: The authors disclose no potential conflicts of interest.

Background: Although enumeration of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) has shown some clinical value, the pool of CTCs contains a mixture of cells that contains additional information that can be extracted. The authors subclassified CTCs by shape features focusing on nuclear size and related this with clinical information., Methods: A total of 148 blood samples were obtained from 57 patients with prostate cancer across the spectrum of metastatic states: no metastasis, nonvisceral metastasis, and visceral metastasis. CTCs captured and enumerated on NanoVelcro Chips (CytoLumina, Los Angeles, Calif) were subjected to pathologic review including nuclear size. The distribution of nuclear size was analyzed using a Gaussian mixture model. Correlations were made between CTC subpopulations and metastatic status., Results: Statistical modeling of nuclear size distribution revealed 3 distinct subpopulations: large nuclear CTCs, small nuclear CTCs, and very small nuclear CTCs (vsnCTCs). Small nuclear CTCs and vsnCTC identified those patients with metastatic disease. However, vsnCTC counts alone were found to be elevated in patients with visceral metastases when compared with those without (0.36 ± 0.69 vs 1.95 ± 3.77 cells/mL blood; P<.001). Serial enumeration studies suggested the emergence of vsnCTCs occurred before the detection of visceral metastases., Conclusions: There are morphologic subsets of CTCs that can be identified by fundamental pathologic approaches, such as nuclear size measurement. The results of this observational study strongly suggest that CTCs contain relevant information regarding disease status. In particular, the detection of vsnCTCs was found to be correlated with the presence of visceral metastases and should be formally explored as a putative blood-borne biomarker to identify patients at risk of developing this clinical evolution of prostate cancer., (© 2015 American Cancer Society.)

Objective: To investigate the effect of ovarian stimulation on the expression of EG-VEGF mRNA and protein in peri-implantation endometrium in women undergoing IVF and its relation with endometrial receptivity (ER)., Design: Prospective laboratory study., Setting: University hospital., Patients: Eighteen women in stimulated cycles (SC) as study subjects and 18 women in natural cycles (NC) as controls. Women in SC group were classified with two subgroups, high ovarian response (SC1, n=9) with peak serum E2>5,000 pg/mL and moderate ovarian response (SC2, n=9) with peak serum E2 1,000-5,000 pg/mL., Intervention(s): Endometrial biopsies were collected 6 days after ovulation in NC or after oocyte retrieval in SC., Main Outcome Measure(s): Endometrium histological dating was observed with HE staining. EG-VEGF mRNA expression levels determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis, and protein levels by immunohistochemistry., Results: All endometrial samples were in the secretory phase. The endometrial development in SC1 was 1 to 2 days advanced to NC, and with dyssynchrony between glandular and stromal tissue. Immunohistochemistry analysis showed that EG-VEGF protein was predominantly expressed in the glandular epithelial cells and endothelial cells of vessels, and also presented in the stroma. The image analysis confirmed that both the gland and stroma of endometrium in SC1 had a significantly lower EG-VEGF protein expression than that in SC2 and NC endometrium. Moreover, EG-VEGF mRNA levels were significantly lower in SC1 than in NC. Both EG-VEGF protein and mRNA levels had no significant difference between SC2 and NC., Conclusion: Decreased expression of EG-VEGF in the peri-implantation is associated with high ovarian response, which may account for the impaired ER and lower implantation rate in IVF cycles.

Unlike tumor biopsies that can be constrained by problems such as sampling bias, circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are regarded as the "liquid biopsy" of the tumor, providing convenient access to all disease sites, including primary tumor and fatal metastases. Although enumerating CTCs is of prognostic significance in solid tumors, it is conceivable that performing molecular and functional analyses on CTCs will reveal much significant insight into tumor biology to guide proper therapeutic intervention. We developed the Thermoresponsive NanoVelcro CTC purification system that can be digitally programmed to achieve an optimal performance for purifying CTCs from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. The performance of this unique CTC purification system was optimized by systematically modulating surface chemistry, flow rates, and heating/cooling cycles. By applying a physiologically endurable stimulation (i.e., temperature between 4 and 37 °C), the mild operational parameters allow minimum disruption to CTCs' viability and molecular integrity. Subsequently, we were able to successfully demonstrate culture expansion and mutational analysis of the CTCs purified by this CTC purification system. Most excitingly, we adopted the combined use of the Thermoresponsive NanoVelcro system with downstream mutational analysis to monitor the disease evolution of an index NSCLC patient, highlighting its translational value in managing NSCLC.

Joint replacement is the most effective treatment for end-stage osteoarticular disease. However, macrophage-mediated aseptic loosening of joint prosthesis severely hampers the clinical effects of joint replacement. Until now, the mechanism by which macrophages regulate the secretion of inflammatory cytokines after particle stimulation is not clear. It is well known that the PI3K/AKT pathway participates in multiple cellular processes, including cell growth, survival, and inflammation. However, whether the PI3K/AKT pathway participates in the proinflammatory response of macrophages after particle stimulation and secondary aseptic loosening is still unknown. In this study, ceramic and titanium particles of different sizes were prepared to stimulate macrophages. LY294002, a specific inhibitor of PI3K, was pretreated prior to particle stimulation. The expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and all the subunits of PI3K and AKT were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and Western blot. The result showed that LY294002 could suppress the RNA and protein expression of TNF-α in RAW264.7 cells after stimulation of different particles. The subunits of PI3K (p110β and p85β), followed by activation of phosphor-AKT (Ser473), participated in the regulation of activating macrophages by wear particles, ultimately resulting in the secretion of TNF-α., (© 2013, Copyright the Authors. Artificial Organs © 2013, International Center for Artificial Organs and Transplantation and Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Objective: Several gene alterations have been identified associated with ovarian cancer (OC) development. However, how these genetic elements are coordinated in transcription network during OC initiation and progression is poorly understood. Thus, the objective of this study was to interpret the transcription regulation network of OC., Materials and Methods: The GSE14407 microarray data was used for analysis of the transcription regulation network of OC., Results: The results showed that the TP53 (tumor protein p53) was the most crucial transcription factor in the transcriptome network. P53 could down-regulate CDC14A (CDC14 cell division cycle 14 homolog A [S. cerevisiae]) and FAS (TNF receptor superfamily, member 6) expression, but up-regulate SFN (stratifin) and THBS1 (thrombospondin 1) expression to involve in pathways in cancer, cell cycle, p53 signaling pathway, and apoptosis pathway., Conclusion: This transcriptional regulation may provide a better understanding of molecular mechanism and some potential therapeutic targets in the treatment of OC.

Using aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), we imaged iridium atoms in isolated iridium complexes in the one-dimensional nonintersecting 14-ring channels of zeolite SSZ-53. STEM allows tracking of the movement of atoms in the channels, demonstrating the interaction of iridium with the zeolite framework (channel confinement) and providing a direct visualization of the initial steps of metal nanocluster formation. The results demonstrate how STEM can be used to help design improved catalysts by identifying the catalytic sites and observing how they change in reactive atmospheres.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of interferential electrical stimulation (IES) in pain relief after spine surgery., Methods: From January 2004 to December 2008, 166 patients after spine operation received pain treatment. All the patients were divided into two groups: the drug treatment group, which was the control group, including 46 cases, 22 patients were male and 24 patients were female, with an average age of (51.0 +/- 6.5) years; and the IES treatment group, including 120 cases, 50 patients were male and 70 patients were female, with an average age of (48.0 +/- 5.6) years. Before treatment, there were 4 patients with pain of Grade III in the control group, in which 3 patients had stenosis, 1 patient had spondylolisthesis; 42 patients had Grade II pain. In the IES group before treatment,17 patients had Grade II pain, in which 13 patients had stenosis, 4 patients had spondylolisthesis; 103 patients had Grade II pain. The preoperative and postoperative pains were evaluated and compared by the WHO Pain Criteria., Results: The composing of IES group with pain grade III, II and I were 1/96/23, 0/17/103, 0/0/ 120 at the 3rd day, the 7th day and the 14th day after treatment respectively, while in the control group they were 4/42/0, 2/ 44/0, 0/4/42 respectively. There were statistical differences between the two groups with Kruskal-Wallis test. The percent of mid and severe grade pain decreased much faster in IES group., Conclusion: Interferential electrical stimulation (IES) therapy can improve patients' postoperative pain relief more quickly and reduce duration of hospitalization.

Objective: To investigate the dynamic changes of uterine artery and umbilical artery in the first, second, and third trimester of normal pregnancy and hypertensive disorders in pregnancy (HDP)., Methods: A multi-center prospective study was conducted on 1098 women with normal singleton pregnancies at the first prenatal visit in the Second West China Hospital of Sichuan University, First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University, Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, Wuhan Union Hospital Affiliated to Medical School of Huazhong University of Science and Technology and Renji Hospital Affiliated to Medical School of Shanghai Jiao Tong University from April 2005 to July 2006, with the average age of (28.3 ± 3.3). The pulsatility indices (PI), resistance indices (RI) and systolic to diastolic velocity ratios (S/D) of uterine artery and umbilical artery were measured for all subjects in the first (10th-14th gestational weeks), second (20th-26th gestational weeks) and third trimester (30th-36th gestational weeks), respectively. In this longitudinal study, women who developed HDP were classified into HDP group, and the rest into normal pregnancy group., Results: (1) Among the 1098 pregnant women, 44 developed HDP during the index pregnancy, including 20 gestational hypertension, 15 mild pre-eclampsia and 9 severe pre-eclampsia, giving an incidence of 4.17%, and the rest 1054 were normal until delivery. (2) In the normal pregnancy group, the RI, PI and S/D of uterine artery were decreased with the progress of pregnancy (RI: 0.64, 0.57, 0.50; PI: 1.24, 0.98, 0.80; S/D: 3.26, 2.58, 2.20; P < 0.01). However, the above indices showed an increasing trend with the increase of gestations in the HDP group (RI: 0.55, 0.67, 0.64; PI: 1.22, 1.36, 1.20; S/D: 3.18, 3.41, 3.05; P < 0.01). In the second and third trimester, the RI, PI and S/D of uterine artery in the HDP group were higher than those in the normal pregnancy group (P < 0.01). (3) In the normal pregnancy group, the RI, PI and S/D of the umbilical artery decreased from the second to the third trimester (RI: 0.71 and 0.58; PI: 1.16 and 0.87; S/D: 3.58 and 2.48; P < 0.01). However, no significant difference was found in the RI, PI and S/D value of umbilical artery in the second and third trimester between the normal and HDP group (RI: 0.71 and 0.63; PI: 1.20 and 0.95; S/D: 3.71 and 2.69; P > 0.05, respectively), despite the decreasing trend in the HDP group., Conclusions: In uncomplicated pregnancies, the blood flow resistance of uterine artery decreases and the end-diastolic blood flow of uterine artery increases with the progress of pregnancy. However, in pregnant women with HDP, the blood flow resistance of uterine artery increases significantly with the increase of gestations which shows significant difference to that in normal pregnancies. The blood flow resistance of umbilical artery decreases in both normal and HDP pregnant women with the increasing gestational age.

Structures of zeolite-anchored organorhodium complexes undergoing conversions with gas-phase reactants were characterized by infrared spectra bolstered by calculations with density functional theory and analysis of the gas-phase products. Structurally well-defined zeolite-supported rhodium diethylene complexes were synthesized by chemisorption of Rh(C(2)H(4))(2)(acac) (acac = CH(3)COCHCOCH(3)) on dealuminated Y zeolite, being anchored by two Rh-O bonds, as shown by extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy. In contrast to the nonuniformity of metal complexes anchored to metal oxides, the near uniformity of the zeolite-supported species allowed precise determination of their chemistry, including the role of the support as a ligand. The anchored rhodium diethylene complex underwent facile, reversible ligand exchange with deuterated ethylene at 298 K, and ethylene ligands were hydrogenated by reverse spillover of hydrogen from support hydroxyl groups. The supported complexes reacted with CO to form rhodium gem-dicarbonyls, which, in the presence of ethylene, gave rhodium monocarbonyls. The facile removal of ethylene ligands from the complex in H(2)-N(2) mixtures created coordinatively unsaturated rhodium complexes; the coordinative unsaturation was stabilized by the site isolation of the complexes, allowing reaction with N(2) to form rhodium complexes with one and with two N(2) ligands. The results also provide evidence of a new rhodium monohydride species incorporating a C(2)H(4) ligand.

Objective: To investigate the association of 86 bp variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) polymorphism of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) gene with lumbar disc disease and intervertebral disc degeneration., Methods: The 86 bp VNTR polymorphism of IL-1Ra gene was analyzed with PCR and electrophoresis for 81 patients with lumbar disc disease and 101 volunteers without sciatica (control). The grade of intervertebral disc degeneration was determined with magnetic resonance imaging, and the association of 86 bp VNTR polymorphisms with lumbar disc disease and intervertebral disc degeneration in those younger than 45 years was assessed., Results: The presence of 86bp VNTR polymorphisms of IL-1Ra gene was detected in both patients with lumbar disc disease and the control subjects. The distribution of 86 bp VNTR polymorphisms of IL-1Ra gene showed no significant difference between the two groups, but the distributions of 1/1, 1/2 and 2/2 or 1, 2 genotypes differed significantly. The current data did not support a significant association between the distribution of IL-1Ra gene 86bp VNTR polymorphism and lumbar disc degeneration., Conclusions: IL-1Ra gene 86bp VNTR polymorphism is present among Chinese population in association with lumbar disc disease, but not with lumbar disc degeneration.

Objective: To explore the polymorphisms of vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene Tru I polymorphisms and the influence of this variation on Bsm I polymorphisms in Han nationality., Methods: Venous blood samples from 80 healthy individuals of Han nationality were collected and genomic DNA was extracted, VDR Bsm I and Tru I were tested by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) to analyze the polymorphisms of VDR gene; After using another primers to test VDR Bsm I in the same samples, the consistence of each method was assessed., Results: The frequencies of the VDR Tru I genotype in the groups were: TT 68.7%, Tt 26.3%, tt 5.0%; VDR Bsm I were: BB 6.2%, Bb 52.5%, bb 41.3%; Both polymorphisms were under Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. After using another pair of primer, the frequencies of Bsm I genotype were BB 20.0%, Bb 26.2%, bb 53.8%, 22 genotype Bb changed to genotype BB or genotype bb in comparison with the result of first detection., Conclusion: The VDR Tru I polymorphism is found in the Han nationality, the distribution of this site's polymorphism is different from that of other nationalities. The presence of Tru I variation can result in some allele of Bsm I genotype drop-out in some study.

Objective: To evaluate the pregnancy outcome of women with rheumatic heart disease., Methods: Clinical data of 65 cases of pregnant women with rheumatic heart disease from Jan 1993 to July 2006 were analyzed. They were divided into four groups according to the degree of mitral stenosis: normal group (> 4.0 cm(2)), slight group (2.5 - 4.0 cm(2)), moderate group (1.5 - 2.5 cm(2)) and severe group (< 1.5 cm(2)); four groups according to the degree of pulmonary hypertension: normal group, slight group (pulmonary hypertension ranging from 31 to 49 mm Hg, 1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa) moderate group (from 50 to 79 mm Hg) and severe group (equal to and more than 80 mm Hg); two groups according to heart operation: non-operated group and operated group; and four groups according to the degree of New York heart association (NYHA) class. The perinatal mortality and morbidity of mothers and fetus were analysed., Results: (1) The rate of NYHA class IV was 80% (12/15 cases) in moderate-severe group of mitral stenosis and the rate of NYHA class I and II was 80% (16/20 cases) in normal group, with a significant difference between them (P < 0.05). (2) The rate of NYHA class I and II was 73% (24/33 cases) in group of normal pulmonary pressure and the rate of NYHA class IV was 6/7 in severe group of pulmonary hypertension (P < 0.05). (3) The rate of NYHA class I and II was 71% (10/14), and NYHA class III or IV was 14% (2/14) in heart operated women (P < 0.05). (4) The delivery week was 34.6 and the birth weight was 2176 g averagely in NYHA class IV group and had significant differences from NYHA class I group (P < 0.05). There were 9 cases of abortion medically (18.9%, 9/65), 18 of preterm labor medically (28%, 18/65), 4 of fetal growth restriction (FGR) (6%, 4/65) and 3 of perinatal mortality (5%, 3/65), which all happened in groups of NYHA class III and IV. (5) The rate of NYHA class III and IV was 6/7 in atrial fibrillation women., Conclusion: Pregnant women with rheumatic heart disease of moderate-severe mitral stenosis, severe pulmonary hypertension and atrial fibrillation are at high risk of heart failure. The fetal outcome is not good in cases of NYHA class III and IV.

Molecular approaches to understanding the functional circuitry of the nervous system promise new insights into the relationship between genes, brain and behaviour. The cellular diversity of the brain necessitates a cellular resolution approach towards understanding the functional genomics of the nervous system. We describe here an anatomically comprehensive digital atlas containing the expression patterns of approximately 20,000 genes in the adult mouse brain. Data were generated using automated high-throughput procedures for in situ hybridization and data acquisition, and are publicly accessible online. Newly developed image-based informatics tools allow global genome-scale structural analysis and cross-correlation, as well as identification of regionally enriched genes. Unbiased fine-resolution analysis has identified highly specific cellular markers as well as extensive evidence of cellular heterogeneity not evident in classical neuroanatomical atlases. This highly standardized atlas provides an open, primary data resource for a wide variety of further studies concerning brain organization and function.

By anchoring metal complexes to supports, researchers have attempted to combine the high activity and selectivity of molecular homogeneous catalysis with the ease of separation and lack of corrosion of heterogeneous catalysis. However, the intrinsic nonuniformity of supports has limited attempts to make supported catalysts truly uniform. We report the synthesis and performance of such a catalyst, made from [Rh(C(2)H(4))(2)(CH(3)COCHCOCH(3))] and a crystalline support, dealuminated Y zeolite, giving {Rh(C(2)H(4))(2)} groups anchored by bonds to two zeolite oxygen ions, with the structure determined by extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy and the uniformity of the supported complex demonstrated by (13)C NMR spectroscopy. When the ethylene ligands are replaced by acetylene, catalytic cyclotrimerization to benzene ensues. Characterizing the working catalyst, we observed evidence of intermediates in the catalytic cycle by NMR spectroscopy. Calculations at the level of density functional theory confirmed the structure of the as-synthesized supported metal complex determined by EXAFS spectroscopy. With this structure as an anchor, we used the computational results to elucidate the catalytic cycle (including transition states), finding results in agreement with the NMR spectra.

Objective: To analyze the risk factors of heterotopic (HO) ossification after total lumbar disc replacement and probe the preventive strategies for it., Methods: The radiographs and clinical data of 78 discs in 65 patients who received artificial lumbar disc replacement (ADR) from April 1998 to December 2003 were analyzed retrospectively by two radiologists and one orthopaedic surgeon and then postoperative HO were graded according to McAfee system. The bony formations in disc spaces, time of HO were found, and range of motion (ROM) of the operated levels were measured on radiographic films. In addition, the risk factors such as preoperative peri-annulus ossification, bony endplates injuries, and subsided or mal-position of the prostheses were also analyzed by Logistic regression analysis., Results: Postoperative HO was found in 10 spaces of 9 cases. Class I of HO were occurred in 7 patients at means 2.1 years postoperatively with normal range of motion preserved. Three of them turned into class II or III with 10 degrees of mean ROM in the following 2.5 years. Another 2 (2/9) cases with preoperative peri-annulus ossification had bridging trabecular bone (class III) between the endplates and 9 degrees of ROM 2 years after surgery, then turned into class IV at 6 years with 0 degrees and 4 degrees of motion in the operated levels. As the risk factors of HO, preoperative annulus ossification (2 cases), bony endplates injuries (5 cases), mal-positioned prostheses (2 cases) and subsided prostheses (2 cases) were found simultaneity with significant positive relation to HO occurred (P < 0.05)., Conclusions: Factors such as preoperative ossification of annulus, endplate injuries, prosthesis subsided and mal-position would have higher risks to have HO occurred after ADR, but ROM of most affected levels are preserved. Strict control indication and avoid all above risk factors can prevent HO occurring effectively.

The reaction of Rh(C2H4)2(acac) with the partially dehydroxylated surface of dealuminated zeolite Y (calcined at 773 K) and treatments of the resultant surface species in various atmospheres (He, CO, H2, and D2) were investigated with infrared (IR), extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS), and 13C NMR spectroscopies. The IR spectra show that Rh(C2H4)2(acac) reacted readily with surface OH groups of the zeolite, leading to loss of acac ligands from the Rh(C2H4)2(acac) and formation of supported mononuclear rhodium complexes, confirmed by the lack of Rh-Rh contributions in the EXAFS spectra; each Rh atom was bonded on average to two oxygen atoms of the zeolite surface with a Rh-O distance of 2.19 A. IR, EXAFS, and 13C NMR spectra show that the ethylene ligands remained bonded to the Rh center in the supported complex. Treatment of the sample in CO led to the formation of site-isolated Rh(CO)2 complexes bonded to the zeolite. The sharpness of the nu(CO) bands in the IR spectrum gives evidence of a nearly uniform supported Rh(CO)2 complex and, by inference, the near uniformity of the mononuclear rhodium complex with ethylene ligands from which it was formed. The supported complex with ethylene ligands reacted with H2 to give ethane, and it also catalyzed ethylene hydrogenation at 294 K.

Objective: To investigate the role of artificial disc replacement (ADR) in restoring lumbar segment motion and intervertebral height (IH)., Methods: Seventy-five patients with intervertebral disc diseases underwent artificial disc replacement and were divided into 3 groups to be followed up for 2 years (group A, n = 32), 3 years (group B, n = 27), and 5 years (group C, n = 19) respectively. Before the operation and during the follow-up the range of motion (ROM) of the involved lumbar segments and IH were assessed., Results: The mean ROM and IH of the group A were 15 degrees and 14.1 mm respectively during the follow-up 2 years after operation. The mean ROM and IH of the group B were 14.2 degrees and 13.8 mm respectively during the follow-up 2 years after the operation and 13.7 degrees and 13.4 mm respectively during the follow-up 3 years after operation. The mean ROM and IH of the group C were 9.1 degrees and 11.5 mm respectively during the follow-up 2 years after the operation and 8.8 degrees and 11.0 mm respectively during the follow-up 3 years after operation, and 8.0 degrees and 10.3 mm respectively during the follow-up 5 years after operation. No significant differences in ROM and IH were found among different groups at any time point (all P > 0.05). Malposition was found in immediately after operation in 11 patients, all of the group C. During the follow-up, 3 cases of prostheses subsidence and 3 cases of annular ossification were found. No severe complications appeared., Conclusion: ADR is effective in restoring the ROM and IH of vertebrae suffering from intervertebral disc diseases.