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A combined in situ electrochemical attenuated total reflection-surface enhanced IR absorption spectroscopy, microkinetic simulation, and density functional theory calculation study shows that not only can the adsorbed sulfide disproportionally affect the surface binding of OOH* (EOOH*) vs OH* (EOH*), i.e., breaking the original scaling relationship of pure metals (Ir, Pd, Pt, Au), to enhance oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity but can also be used as a reaction pathway alternating species to help deepen our mechanistic understanding of ORR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

GH11 enzyme is known to be specific and efficient for the hydrolysis of xylan. It has been isolated from many microorganisms, and its enzymatic characteristics and thermostability vary between species. In this study, a GH11 enzyme PphXyn11 from a novel xylan-degrading strain of Paenibacillus physcomitrellae XB was characterized, and five mutants were constructed to try to improve the enzyme's thermostability. The results showed that PphXyn11 was an acidophilic endo - β -1,4-xylanase with the optimal reaction pH of 3.0–4.0, and it could deconstruct different kinds of xylan substrates efficiently, such as beechwood xylan, wheat arabinoxylan and xylo-oligosaccharides, to produce xylobiose and xylotriose as the main products at the optimal reaction temperature of 40 °C. Improvement of the thermal stability of PphXyn11 using site-directed mutagenesis revealed that three mutants, W33C/N47C, S127C/N174C and S49E, designed by adding the disulfide bonds at the N -terminal, C -terminal and increasing the charged residues on the surface of PphXyn11 respectively, could increase the enzymatic activity and thermal stablility significantly and make the optimal reaction temperature reach 50 °C. Molecular dynamics simulations as well as computed the numbers of salt bridges and hydrogen bonds indicated that the protein structures of these three mutants were more stable than the wild type, which provided theoretical support for their improved thermal stability. Certainly, further research is necessary to improve the enzymatic characteristics of PphXyn11 to achieve the bioconversion of hemicellulosic biomass on an applicable scale. • PphXyn11 is an acidophilic GH11 endoxylanase from P. physcomitrellae strain XB. • The mutant S49E improves the optimal temperature and thermostability of PphXyn11. • Disulfide bond at the N - or C -terminus improves the thermostability of PphXyn11. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbohydrate-binding module (CBM) family 91 is a novel module primarily associated with glycoside hydrolase (GH) family 43 enzymes. However, our current understanding of its function remains limited. PphXyl43B is a β -xylosidase/ α -L-arabinofuranosidase bifunctional enzyme from physcomitrellae patens XB belonging to the GH43_11 subfamily and containing CBM91 at its C terminus. To fully elucidate the contributions of the CBM91 module, the truncated proteins consisting only the GH43_11 catalytic module (rPphXyl43B-dCBM91) and only the CBM91 module (rCBM91) of PphXyl43B were constructed, respectively. The result showed that rPphXyl43B-dCBM91 completely lost hydrolysis activity against both p -nitrophenyl- β -D-xylopyranoside and p -nitrophenyl- α -L-arabinofuranoside; it also exhibited significantly reduced activity towards xylobiose, xylotriose, oat spelt xylan and corncob xylan compared to the control. Thus, the CBM91 module is crucial for the β -xylosidase/ α -L-arabinofuranosidase activities in PphXyl43B. However, rCBM91 did not exhibit any binding capability towards corncob xylan. Structural analysis indicated that CBM91 of PphXyl43B might adopt a loop conformation (residues 496–511: ILSDDYVVQSYGGFFT) to actively contribute to the catalytic pocket formation rather than substrate binding capability. This study provides important insights into understanding the function of CBM91 and can be used as a reference for analyzing the action mechanism of GH43_11 enzymes and their application in biomass energy conversion. • PphXyl43B belongs to GH43_11 subfamily with CBM91 module at its C terminus. • The CBM91 module is crucial for the bifunctional enzymatic activities of PphXyl43B. • CBM9I in PphXyl43B has low affinity for insoluble BWX and cannot bind soluble CCX. • The enhancement effect of CBM91 on PphXyl43B depends on its unique loop conformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Multiple liver metastases is considered a risk factor for overall survival of colorectal liver metastases patients (CRLM) after curative resection. However, whether the prognostic factors were constant in patients with various liver metastases (LM) numbers has not been adequately investigated. This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the changing of prognostic factors on overall survival (OS) in CRLM patients with various LM after curative resection. Methods: Patients who underwent liver resection for CRLM between January 2000 and November 2020 were retrospectively studied. They were divided into three subgroups according to LM numbers by X-tile analysis. Multivariable analysis identified prognostic factors in each subgroup. Nomograms were built using different prognostic factors in three subgroups, respectively. Performance of the nomograms was assessed according to the concordance index (C-index) and calibration plots. The abilities of different scoring systems predicting OS were compared by calculating the area under the time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC). Results: A total of 1095 patients were included. Multivariable analysis showed tumor number increasing was an independent risk factor. Patients were subsequently divided into 3 subgroups according to the number of LM by X-tile analysis, namely solitary (n = 375), 2–4 (n = 424), and ≥ 5 (n = 296). The 3-year and 5-year OS rates were 64.1% and 54.0% in solitary LM group, 58.1% and 41.7% in 2–4 LM group, and 50.9% and 32.0% in ≥ 5 LM group, respectively (p < 0.001). In multivariable analysis, RAS mutation was the only constant independent risk factor in all subgroups. The nomograms were built to predict survival based on independent factors in three subgroups. The C-index for OS prediction was 0.707 (95% CI 0.686–0.728) in the solitary LM group, 0.695 (95% CI 0.675–0.715) in the 2–4 LM group, and 0.687 (95% CI 0.664–0.710) in the ≥ 5 LM group. The time-dependent AUC values of nomograms developed using different risk factors after stratifying patients by tumor number were higher than the traditional scoring systems without patient stratification. Conclusions: The prognostic factors varied among CRLM patients with different LM numbers. RAS mutation was the only constant risk factor. Building prediction models based on different prognostic factors improve patient stratification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is assumed that the impact of primary tumor stage (PTS) on prognosis gradually weakens with increasing disease-free interval (DFI) from colorectal cancer resection to liver metastases. Data from 733 patients undergoing hepatectomy in the Hepato-pancreato-biliary Surgery Department I of Peking University Cancer Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Early and late metastases were defined as DFI ≤ and >12 months, respectively. In early metastases group, patients with T 4 stage had a significantly worse recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) than those with T 1-3 stage (P = 0.002 and P < 0.001, respectively). Patients with N 1-2 stage disease also demonstrated a worse RFS and OS than those with N 0 stage (P = 0.006 and P = 0.007, respectively). In late metastases group, patients with T 4 and T 1-3 stages as well as patients with N 1-2 and N 0 stages, had comparable RFS (P = 0.395 and P = 0.996, respectively) and OS (P = 0.387 and P = 0.684, respectively). T and N stages were independent prognostic predictors only in patients with early metastases. The impact of PTS on prognosis is diminished with increasing DFI and limited only to patients with early metastases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microporous organic polymers with high surface area are widely used in many applications. Among them, hypercrosslinked polymers have been extensively concerned because of their simple processes and low-cost reagents. However, due to most state-of-the-art strategies for HCPs based on condensation reactions, the release of small molecules such as hydrochloric acid and methanol involved in such strategies brings about new hazards to environment. Herein, we propose a method of fabrication of hypercrosslinked polymers via self-addition polymerization of divinyl benzene and its crosslinking with polar aromatic molecules. The hypercrosslinked polyDVB-based products are demonstrated by Friedel-Crafts addition reaction of double bonds on DVB that can connect adjacent phenyl rings of aromatic molecules to form the crosslinked networks. The HCPDVB-CB obtained in 1-chlorobutane as solvent has a high micropore content and displays high surface area up to 931 m2/g. Following this finding, DVB is used as a novel external crosslinker for knitting polar aromatic molecules. When L-phenylalanine and bisphenol A are used as the aromatic units, the obtained HCP(Phe-DVB) and HCP(BPA-DVB) could reach surface area of 612 and 471 m2/g, and have hydrogen uptake of 0.62 wt% and 0.58 wt% at 77 K and 1.13 bar by comparison with HCPDVB-CB having hydrogen uptake of 0.30 wt%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute alcoholism (AAI) is a common emergency. Currently, there is a lack of preventive and therapeutic drugs with superior safety and efficacy. Curcuma longa, Panax ginseng, Pueraria lobata, Pueraria flower, and Hovenia dulcis Thunb., which are the components of compound turmeric recipe (CTR), are, respectively, used in China as adjuvant therapeutic agents for AAI and alcoholic liver injury, respectively. The purpose of this research was to investigate the effect of traditional compound turmeric recipe in anti-inebriation treatment and to identify its underlying mechanisms. The mice were administered with CTR mixture, and ethanol was subsequently given to mice by gavage. The effects of CTR on the righting reflex, 24-hour survival, drunken behavior, blood ethanol concentration, and pathological changes of liver are depicted. The activities of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were detected. Besides, the activities of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-8 (IL-8), alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), cytochrome P450 (P450), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and malondialdehyde (MDA) in the liver and the levels of β-endorphin (β-EP) and leucine enkephalin (LENK) in the brain were also measured. Our results demonstrated that CTR can increase the activities of ADH, ALDH, P450, and SOD and decrease the contents of TNF-α, IL-8, and MDA in the liver. In addition, it can decrease the activities of ALT, AST, and ALP in serum and β-EP and LENK activities in the brain. CTR showed effects on prevention of acute alcoholism, promoting wakefulness, and alleviating alcoholic liver injury, which were likely mediated by the above mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been shown to involve in a variety of cancers. Our present study aimed to explore the exact roles of lncRNA LINC00909 (LINC00909) in the progression of pediatric acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and to study the potential molecular mechanism. In this study, the levels of LINC00909 were observed to be distinctly upregulated in AML patients and cell lines. Higher levels of LINC00909 were associated with FAB classification, cytogenetics and poorer prognosis. Functionally, knockdown of LINC00909 suppressed cell viabilities, migration and invasion, and promoted apoptosis of NB4 and HL-60 cells. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that LINC00909 functioned as a molecular sponge for miR-625. In addition, we observed that Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway was suppressed by LINC00909 knockdown. Moreover, miR-625 levels were dramatically decreased in AML cells when Wnt/β-catenin signaling was activated. Overall, our findings identified a new AML-related lncRNA LINC00909 which may represent a novel biomarker and a potential therapeutic target of AML. • LncRNA LINC00909 was highly expressed in acute myeloid leukemia. • LncRNA LINC00909 promoted the metastasis of acute myeloid leukemia cells. • LncRNA LINC00909 sponged miR-625 to regulate Wnt/β-catenin signaling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To characterize profile of cytokines in aqueous humour of common macular diseases during intravitreal anti‐VEGF therapy. Methods: Aqueous humour from eyes with central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO), branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO), diabetic macular oedema (DME), neovascular age‐related macular degeneration (nAMD) or pathologic myopia associated choroidal neovascularization (pmCNV) was sampled prior to 1st (n = 144) and 2nd (n = 48) intravitreal anti‐VEGF therapy. Cytokines including vascular endothelium growth factor (VEGF), intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM‐1) and interleukin 6 (IL‐6) were quantitated and analysed along with retinal thickness data by optical coherence tomography (OCT) across two intravitreal injections and five macular disease types. Results: ICAM‐1, IL‐6 and VEGF are positively associated in the aqueous humour of naive eyes (r = 0.39–0.77, p = 0.018 to <0.0001). ICAM‐1, VEGF and IL‐6 were significantly higher in CRVO and DME while lowest in pmCNV (p < 0.0001). Reduction of central retinal thickness (CRT) as a favourable response to anti‐VEGF therapy was in the order of CRVO, BRVO, DME and nAMD/pmCNV (p < 0.0001). The strongest predictor for favourable CRT reduction was baseline CRT (p < 0.0001) followed by baseline ICAM‐1 (p = 0.04). After the 1st intravitreal anti‐VEGF therapy, VEGF in aqueous humour lowered significantly but ICAM‐1 and IL‐6 levels remained unchanged. ICAM‐1 was not predictive for CRT reduction following 2nd anti‐VEGF therapy. Conclusion: Rate of cytokine production is disease‐dependent and higher in CRVO and DME. Anatomical response to intravitreal anti‐VEGF therapy is disease‐specific and best in RVO patients. A combination therapy using both anti‐VEGF and anti‐inflammatory therapeutics may be superior to single anti‐VEGF therapy, at least for RVO and DME. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated UV-shielding performances and biodegradation abilities under controlled hydrolytic, soil burial, and thermal conditions of transparent polylactic acids (PLA) nanocomposite films embedded with cellulose nanocrystal-zinc oxide (CNC-ZnO) hybrids. By adding high content of 15wt %CNC-ZnO hybrids into the PLA matrix, the highest UV radiation was blocked out by (85.31%) of UV-A and (95.90%) of UV-B. It is found that the weight loss of PLA nanocomposites after being hydrolytic degraded for 70 days increased from 9% for PLA to 25% with 15 wt% CNC-ZnO hybrids. Meanwhile, in soil burial test, pure PLA shows smallest degradation rate with only 8% weight loss after 110 days, while the PLA nanocomposite film with 15 wt% CNC-ZnO hybrids was degraded by about 28%. Besides, the resultant degradation byproducts from the thermally-decomposed catalysis have been identified by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Moreover, the morphologies and appearances changes during the hydrolytic and soil degradation of PLA nanocomposite films were evaluated. This study is expected to provide meaningful insights into nanocomposite films embedded with CNC-ZnO hybrids as a result of contourable degradation and high ultraviolet protection factor value (UPF). • Transparent PLA-based nanocomposites reinforced with CNC-ZnO hybrids is proposed. • Biodegradation ability of films at hydrolytic, soil burial, and thermal conditions is enhanced. • Morphologies and appearance changes of films during various degradation is evaluated. • Great improvements in UV-shielding performances of PLA films are achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Co-doped MnxGe1–x (Co–MnxGe1–x) (x = 0.02, 0.1, 0.3) films had been deposited at different sputtering powers on silicon (100) substrates using direct current (DC) and radio frequency (RF) magnetron co-sputtering. The films were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy disperse X-ray (EDX), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). It was shown that the samples with low Mn content had polycrystalline cubic structure with an (220)-preferential orientation. The roughness of samples enhanced with the increase of Co content. In addition, we found that introducing Co can improve the ferromagnetism of the samples when sputtering power is 20 W. At the same time, the Co–MnxGe1–x (80W) films have a stronger ferromagnetic property due to the introduction of substantial Co atoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Microvascular invasion (MVI) is a powerful predictor of recurrence in patients who undergo liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of postoperative adjuvant transarterial chemoembolization (PA-TACE) in HCC patients with MVI, and further select potential patients benefitting from PA-TACE. Methods Patients who had HCC with MVI and underwent liver resection between September 2004 and December 2015 were identified for further analysis. Overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were compared between patients treated with and without PA-TACE. Propensity score matching analysis was used to minimize inter-group differences. Results A total of 176 patients with HCC and MVI were included. In both the entire and propensity-matched cohorts, OS and DFS were higher in PA-TACE group than non-TACE group (all P < 0.05). In subgroup analyses, PA-TACE showed efficacy in improving OS and DFS in HCC patients at early stage beyond Milan criteria and intermediate stage, but not in patients within Milan criteria. Multivariable analysis identified PA-TACE as a significantly favorable factor of OS and DFS for patients beyond Milan criteria, but not for those within Milan criteria. Conclusion PA-TACE could be beneficial for patients who have HCC with MVI beyond Milan criteria, but not for those within Milan criteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Background: The Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) staging system is the most widely used staging system for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the classifications of early (BCLC‐A) and intermediate (BCLC‐B) stage HCC remain controversial. Aim: To refine the staging of BCLC‐A and ‐B. Methods: A total of 986 patients with HCC undergoing liver resection from two institutions formed the training cohort, and 694 from another institution were the validation cohort. Time‐dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to evaluate the performance of tumour size in predicting overall survival (OS), and determined the optimised cut‐off. Discriminatory performance was evaluated using Harrell's concordance index (C‐index). Results: Patients with multiple tumours exceeding Milan criteria but within up‐to‐seven criteria had similar OS and disease‐free survival (DFS) to those with multiple tumours meeting Milan criteria, and were assigned to the modified BCLC‐A stage. The area under the ROC curve of tumour size for predicting OS was 0.778, and the diameter of 7 cm was the optimal cut‐off to identify patients with single tumours who had higher OS than BCLC‐B stage patients. Due to the similar OS, patients with single HCCs >7 cm were assigned to the modified BCLC‐B stage. The C‐indexes of the modified BCLC classification for OS and DFS were higher compared to the original version. The findings were supported by the validation cohort. Conclusions: The modified staging of BCLC‐A and ‐B, based on single tumour >7 cm and multiple tumours beyond up‐to‐seven criteria, could be more accurate to predict the prognosis of HCC patients. Liver resection could benefit patients with resectable multifocal HCCs beyond the Milan criteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The liquid-crystal assembly of semiflexible-coil diblock copolymers with coil or semiflexible homopolymers is studied by dissipative particle dynamics simulation. Phase diagrams of the blends and orientation ordering parameters among semiflexible blocks are constructed as a function of chain stiffness and homopolymer volume fraction. For semiflexible-coil/coil blends with varying stiffness of semiflexible blocks, we display the rich phase behaviors of the system transited from coil-coil/coil to rod-coil/coil blends. The disorder-lamellae or lamellae-liquid crystalline transition and “dry brush” phenomenon induced by coil homopolymers are observed. For semiflexible-coil/semiflexible blends, adding semiflexible homopolymers also leads to a disorder-order transition and even a transition between monolayer and bilayer smectic-A phase. The results demonstrate that blending homopolymers into semiflexible copolymers can induce liquid-crystal assembly and even improve the orientation ordering of semiflexible blocks effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of pyrazolo[3,4- d ]pyrimidine derivatives containing a Schiff base moiety were synthesized, characterised, and evaluated for their activity against tobacco mosaic virus (TMV). Biological assays indicated that several of the derivatives exhibited significant activity against TMV. In particularly, compounds 5y and 5aa displayed excellent inactivating activity against TMV, with half maximal effective concentration (EC 50 ) values of 70.3 and 53.65 μg/mL, respectively, which were much better than that of ribavirin (150.45 μg/mL), and 5aa was superior to ningnanmycin (EC 50  = 55.35 μg/mL). Interactions of compounds 5y and 5aa with TMV coat protein (TMV-CP) were investigated using microscale thermophoresis and molecular docking. Compounds 5y and 5aa displayed strong binding capability to TMV-CP with dissociation constant ( K d ) values of 22.6 and 9.8 μM, respectively. These findings indicate that pyrazolo[3,4- d ]pyrimidine derivatives containing a Schiff base may be potential antiviral agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVES: Few studies have reported the association between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and immunoglobulins. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between serum immunoglobulin levels and NAFLD in a Chinese adult population. METHODS: We performed a cross‐sectional study including 11 261 Chinese adults. NAFLD was diagnosed based on the Chinese Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of fatty liver diseases and an alcohol intake of <70 g/week in women and <140 g/week in men, and serum immunoglobulin (Ig) levels were determined using immune nephelometry. Multiple logistic regression analysis was done to assess relationships between concentrations of serum immunoglobulins and NAFLD. RESULTS: Of the 11 261 adults recruited from January 2010 to December 2015, the prevalence of NAFLD was 40.8% (n = 4598). The geometric mean levels of IgG, IgM, IgE and IgA were 1177.49 mg/dL (95% confidence interval [CI] 1173.07–1181.93), 93.56 mg/dL (95% CI 92.70–94.42), 30.70 IU/mL (95% CI 29.92–31.49) and 216.64 mg/dL (95% CI 214.95–218.34), respectively. Compared with the lowest quintile, the multivariable adjusted odds ratio (95% CI) of NAFLD for the highest quintile of IgG, IgM, IgE, and IgA were 0.78 (0.66–0.92), 0.71 (0.60–0.84), 0.98 (0.84–1.15) and 1.41 (1.21–1.66), respectively. CONCLUSION: Increased IgA and decreased IgG and IgM levels are independently associated with NAFLD prevalence. Further research is needed to explore the causal association between serum immunoglobulins and NAFLD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The glutamatergic projection from the motor cortex to the subthalamic nucleus (STN) constitutes the cortico-basal ganglia circuit and plays a critical role in the control of movement. Emerging evidence shows that the cortico-STN pathway is susceptible to dopamine depletion. Specifically in Parkinson's disease (PD), abnormal electrophysiological activities were observed in the motor cortex and STN, while the STN serves as a key target of deep brain stimulation for PD therapy. However, direct morphological changes in the cortico-STN connectivity in response to PD progress are poorly understood at present. In the present study, we used a trans-synaptic anterograde tracing method with herpes simplex virus-green fluorescent protein (HSV-GFP) to monitor the cortico-STN connectivity in a rat model of PD. We found that the connectivity from the primary motor cortex (M1) to the STN was impaired in parkinsonian rats as manifested by a marked decrease in trans-synaptic infection of HSV-GFP from M1 neurons to STN neurons in unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-lesioned rats. Ultrastructural analysis with electron microscopy revealed that excitatory synapses in the STN were also impaired in parkinsonian rats. Glutamatergic terminals identified by a specific marker (vesicular glutamate transporter 1) were reduced in the STN, while glutamatergic neurons showed an insignificant change in their total number in both the M1 and STN regions. These results indicate that the M1-STN glutamatergic connectivity is downregulated in parkinsonian rats. This downregulation is mediated probably via a mechanism involving the impairments of excitatory terminals and synapses in the STN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At present, near-surface shear wave velocities are mainly calculated through Rayleigh wave dispersion-curve inversions in engineering surface investigations, but the required calculations pose a highly nonlinear global optimization problem. In order to alleviate the risk of falling into a local optimal solution, this paper introduces a new global optimization method, the shuffle frog-leaping algorithm (SFLA), into the Rayleigh wave dispersion-curve inversion process. SFLA is a swarm-intelligence-based algorithm that simulates a group of frogs searching for food. It uses a few parameters, achieves rapid convergence, and is capability of effective global searching. In order to test the reliability and calculation performance of SFLA, noise-free and noisy synthetic datasets were inverted. We conducted a comparative analysis with other established algorithms using the noise-free dataset, and then tested the ability of SFLA to cope with data noise. Finally, we inverted a real-world example to examine the applicability of SFLA. Results from both synthetic and field data demonstrated the effectiveness of SFLA in the interpretation of Rayleigh wave dispersion curves. We found that SFLA is superior to the established methods in terms of both reliability and computational efficiency, so it offers great potential to improve our ability to solve geophysical inversion problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of novel sulfone derivatives containing a [1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]pyridine moiety was synthesized and characterized via1H NMR,13C NMR, IR, and elemental analyses. Bioassay results indicated some of the derivatives displayed good antifungal activities and insecticidal activity. The inhibition rates of 8-chloro-3-((2,6-difluorobenzyl)sulfonyl)-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]pyridine against Rhizotonia erealis and Helminthosporium maydis were 78.6% and 76.4% activities at 50 μg mL−1, respectively. And compound 8-chloro-3-(((6-chloropyridin-3-yl)methyl)sulfonyl)-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]pyridine showed >95% mortality at 500 μg mL−1and >65% mortality at 200 μg mL−1against Plutella xylostella, respectively. As well as 8-chloro-3-(((6-chloropyridin-3-yl)methyl)sulfonyl)-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]pyridine displayed >90% mortality at 500 μg mL−1against Helicoverpa armigera. A preliminary structure activity relationship (SAR) is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objectives: The research work in the past years showed that detection of phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R) antigen and its dominant IgG4 autoantibody in glomerular deposits of patients with membranous nephropathy (MN) was useful for the differentiation between primary MN (PMN) and secondary MN (SMN), but so far such research data from large Chinese patient series is little. Here, we are going to report a research work in a Chinese cohort. Design, setting, participants, & measurements: This study enrolled 179 patients with PMN, 40 patients with membranous lupus nephritis (LN-MN), 26 patients with hepatitis B virus-associated MN (HBV-MN), 2 patients with malignancy-associated MN (M-MN) and one patient with IgG4-related MN (IgG4-MN). PLA2R and IgG subclasses in glomerular deposits of these patients were examined by and/or staining, and the potential value of the above examinations for differential diagnosis of PMN and SMN was evaluated. Results: Glomerular PLA2R deposition was present in 92.2% patients with PMN and 7.7% patients with HBV-MN, but none of the patients with LN-MN. Predominant/codominant IgG4 deposition was found in 93.3% patients with PMN and 11.5% patients with HBV-MN, but none of the patients with LN-MN. The two M-MN patients both had glomerular PLA2R and predominant/codominant IgG4 deposition. The one IgG4-MN patient had deeply staining IgG4 but no PLA2R in glomeruli. Conclusions: The glomerular PLA2R and predominant/codominant IgG4 deposition is frequently observed in Chinese patients with PMN. and staining of renal biopsy tissue for detection of glomerular PLA2R and IgG subclasses deposition can help to distinguish PMN from LN-MN and most of HBV-MN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reactions between Ln(NO 3 ) 3 aq (Ln = La (1), Ce (2), Pr (3) and Nd(4)), pyridine-2, 6-dicarboxylic acid (2, 6-pdc), and sodium nitroprusside Na 2 [Fe(CN) 5 NO] lead to three-dimensional network structures: {[Ln 2 (2, 6-pdc) 2 (H 2 O) 8 ][Fe(CN) 5 NO]·4H 2 O} n (Ln = La (1), Ce (2), Pr (3) and Nd(4)). The complexes 1 and 2 crystallize in the monoclinic space group Cc while complexes 3 and 4 crystallize in the monoclinic space group I2 . The Ln(III) ion is nine-coordinate by four oxygen atoms of three 2, 6-pdc ligands, four oxygen of water and one nitrogen atom of 2, 6-pdc. Ln(III) ions are bridged by 2, 6-pdc ligands via bridging/chelating-bridging pentadentate coordination to form 3-D framework structures. Hydrogen bonds provide additional stabilization of the crystal structures. The magnetic properties of 2 - 4 have been investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

: Background: The influence of diabetes mellitus (DM) on the prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains controversial. Here we investigated the impact of DM on the prognosis of such patients after curative hepatectomy. Methods: A consecutive cohort of 505 patients with HCC (134 with DM, 371 without) underwent curative hepatectomy were retrospectively evaluated. Postoperative morbidity and mortality, overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were compared between patients with or without DM. Independent prognostic predictors were identified using the Cox proportional hazards model. Results: Patients with or without DM showed similar morbidity and 30- and 90- day mortality after curative hepatectomy (all P>0.05), as well as similar DFS at 1, 3, 5 years (P = 0.781). However, the group of patients with DM showed significantly lower OS at 1, 3, 5 years than the group without DM (P = 0.038). Similar results were obtained in the propensity-matched cohort. Cox multivariate analysis identified DM as an independent predictor of poor OS, but not of poor DFS. We repeat compared OS and DFS for DM and non-DM subgroups defined according to the presence or absence of hepatitis B virus infection and cirrhosis. Similar results were obtained in all subgroups except the non-cirrhotic subgroup which showed patients with and without DM had similar OS. Conclusions: DM does not significantly affect the postoperative morbidity or mortality or the DFS of patients with HCC after curative hepatectomy. It is, however, associated with significantly lower OS, especially in patients with cirrhosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dendritic cells are able to present Ag-derived peptides on MHC class I and II molecules and induce T cells priming. Lipopolysaccharides (LPS), an activator of Toll-like 4 receptor (TLR4) signaling, has been demonstrated to facilitate Ag-presentation, up-regulate surface molecules expression but impair T cells priming. In this study, we investigated the effect of LPS on nicotine-enhanced DCs-dependent T cells priming and the mechanisms of LPS orchestrating the immunosuppressive program. We could demonstrate that the treatment with LPS resulted in increased surface molecules expression, enhanced Ag-presentation, up-regulated release of TGF-beta, TNF-alpha, IL-6, and IFN-beta. Concomititantly, the upregulation of IFN-beta in DCs induces the up-regulation of coinhibitory molecules B7H1 and GITRL, which cause an impaired activation of naïve Ag-specific T cells and the induction of T cell tolerance by enhancing B7H1-PD-1 interactions and promoting GITRL-GITL facilitated Treg generation, respectively. These data provide a mechanistic basis for the immunomodulatory action of IFN-beta which might open new possibilities in the development of therapeutic approaches aimed at the control of excessive immune response and persistent infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The inflammasome is a multi-protein complex which when activated regulates caspase-1 activation and IL-1β secretion. Inflammasome activation is mediated by NLR proteins that respond to stimuli. Among NLRs, NLRP3 senses the widest array of stimuli. NLRP3 inflammasome plays an important role in the development of many cancer types. However, Whether NLRP3 inflammasome plays an important role in the process of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is still unknown. Here, the anticancer effect of luteoloside, a naturally occurring flavonoid isolated from the medicinal plant Gentiana macrophylla, against HCC cells and the underlying mechanisms were investigated. Luteoloside significantly inhibited the proliferation of HCC cells in vitro and in vivo. Live-cell imaging and transwell assays showed that the migration and invasive capacities of HCC cells, which were treated with luteoloside, were significantly inhibited compared with the control cells. The inhibitory effect of luteoloside on metastasis was also observed in vivo in male BALB/c-nu/nu mouse lung metastasis model. Further studies showed that luteoloside could significantly reduce the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation. The decreased levels of ROS induced by luteoloside was accompanied by decrease in expression of NLRP3 inflammasome resulting in decrease in proteolytic cleavage of caspase-1. Inactivation of caspase-1 by luteoloside resulted in inhibition of IL-1β. Thus, luteoloside exerts its inhibitory effect on proliferation, invasion and metastasis of HCC cells through inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome. Our results indicate that luteoloside can be a potential therapeutic agent not only as an adjuvant therapy for HCC, but also, in the control and prevention of metastatic HCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To analyze the detonation characteristics and propulsive performance of pulse detonation engine (PDE) with conical divergent nozzle under different filling conditions, the CE/SE method using triangular meshes, which are suitable to the conical tube, has been proposed and applied to calculate the internal and external flow field of gas-droplets two-phase pulse detonation engine. The results show that the strong gradient such as detonation shock and complicated wave interaction patterns in the straight tube and conical tube can both be perfectly described by using this CE/SE method. When the conical divergent nozzle is not filled with fuel, the PDE achieves a higher fuel specific impulse, with more complex flow field, much lower pressure peak and bigger Mach peak appearing in the nozzle than that in the detonation tube. In contrast, simpler flow field and smaller pressure peak difference have been gained in the divergent nozzle of PDE when the nozzle is full filled with fuel. However, larger total thrust and bigger impulse of PDE are produced under this condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The one-pot solvothermal reaction of Ni(NO) with 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid (Hbtc) and 4,4′-bis(imidazol-1-yl)benzene (bibp) affords two coordination compounds. The Hbtc ligand is deprotonated step-by-step, and connects Ni ions into two different valence-bonded structures (the binuclear molecule and 2D (4,4) grid) under the cooperation of bibp. Hydrogen bonds have been deeply investigated, and yield an interpenetrating binodal (3,5)-connected supramolecular network with the Schäfli symbol of [4.6]·[4.6.8] and interdigitating binodal (4,6)-connected supramolecular network with the Schäfli symbol of [4.5]·[4.5.6.7], respectively. Graphical Abstract: The one-pot solvothermal reaction of Ni(NO) with 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylate and 4,4′-bis(imidazol-1-yl)benzene affords two complexes 1 and 2 which illustrate various valence-bonded architectures, i.e. discrete binuclear molecule, 2D (4,4) layer. The supramolecular networks of two complexes have been deeply investigated. [Figure not available: see fulltext.] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The field emission (FE) characteristics of nano-structured carbon films (NSCFs) are investigated. The saturation behaviour of the field emission current density found at high electric field E cannot be reasonably explained by the traditional Fowler{Nordheim (F{N) theory. A three-region E model and the curve-fitting method are utilized for discussing the FE characteristics of NSCFs. In the low, high, and middle E regions, the FE mechanism is reasonably explained by a modified F{N model, a corrected space-charge-limited-current (SCLC) model and the joint model of F{N and SCLC mechanism, respectively. Moreover, the measured FE data accord well with the results from our corrected theoretical model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first full-length cDNA library for lichenized fungi was constructed from cultured mycobiont of the arid desert lichen Endocarpon pusillum. Based on small-scale sequencing results, 111 genes of the lichenized fungi were identified for the first time, among which 11 genes shared no homology with any known fungal genes. Real-time PCR showed that the size of the mycobiont genome is 39.13 Mb and the copy number of ribosomal RNA gene repeat units is 43. The results of this study will be valuable for the ongoing lichen genome-sequencing project and the large-scale identification of functional genes from lichenized fungi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A new red electroluminescent complex (2Fphen-bpy)Eu(DBM)3(2Fphen-bpy: 4-(2,4-difluorophenylene)-2,2′-bipyridine; DBM: dibenzoylmethanate) was designed and synthesized. X-ray single crystal structural analysis shows that the dihedral angles involving the difluorophenylene moiety and two pyridine rings of the 2,2′-bipyridine unit in (2Fphen-bpy)Eu(DBM)3 are 42° and 51.6°, indicant of non-conjugation between the two segments. The europium complex was incorporated into the doped electroluminescent device: ITO/TPD(40nm)/(2Fphen-bpy)Eu(DBM)3:CBP(30nm, 3%)/BCP(20nm)/Alq3(30nm)/LiF(1nm)/Al(100nm). At the brightness of 100cd/m2, the current and power efficiency are about 2.53cd/A and 0.79lm/W, respectively. In comparison with the inefficient control device using (2,2′-bipyridine)Eu(DBM)3 as the red emitter in the same configuration, the introduction of difluorophenylene moiety into the Eu(III) complex could possibly account for the improved performance of the title compound. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective To understand the detection of four prohibited veterinary drugs of fresh and live freshwater fish sold in Guangzhou by analyzing the test data from risk monitoring and supervision sampling, so as to provide reference basis for food safety supervision. Methods Through the Guangzhou Food Safety Risk Monitoring system and the Food Safety Supervision and Inspection Public Information report of Guangzhou Market Administration, the test results of fresh water fish samples col-lected from supermarkets, markets, and online e-commerce in Guangzhou from 2017 to 2021 were obtained. The detection of nitrofuran drugs, chloramphenicol, sodium pentachloro phenate, and malachite green drugs were analyzed. Results The total detection rate of banned veterinary drugs in risk monitoring samples was 35.3% (84/238), and that in supervised sampling samples was 3.10% (118/3 806). The banned veterinary drugs with high detection rates of the two data sources were different. The risk monitoring rates of chloramphenicol and sodium pentachloro phenate were 17.23% (41/238) and 17.23% (41/238), respectively, and that of malachite green was 2.18% (83/3 806). The drug detection rate of the samples collected by risk monitoring in the network e-commerce link was Al.50% (19/40), which was the highest among all sampling links. The results of the two data sources showed that the detection rate of banned veterinary drugs in the wholesale market was high: 47.37% (18/38) and 4.13% (5/121), respectively. Conclusion The results of data analysis from the two sources complement each other and jointly reveal the problem of banned veterinary drug residues in fresh freshwater fish sold in Guangzhou from 2017 to 2021. It is suggested that the relevant departments pay more attention to the illegal use of chloramphenicol, sodium pentachloro phenate, and malachite green drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We report here the development of an optical biosensor based on the resonant mirror for kinetic analysis of soluble Interleukin-1 receptor I (sIL-1R I) in solution binding to immobilized Interleukin-1α (IL-1α). IL-1α was immobilized through its surface amine groups via amide bonds with the carboxyl groups of the carboxymethyl dextran (CMD) on cuvette surface. The interaction of sIL-1R I and IL-1α was monitored in real time. Evaluation of the binding curves allowed the analysis of the binding kinetics. The linear range of sIL-1R I in solution was over a range of 100–1600nM (R =0.9962). Equilibrium dissociation constant (K D) was derived by Scatchard plot analysis for sIL-1R I binding to immobilized IL-1α. For this assay, the K D was 2.6×10−6 M. The CMD cuvette modified by IL-1α was successfully regenerated using 10mM HCl, and the same sensing surface was used repeatedly for the interaction analysis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This study examined how often children with persistent familial hematuria were from families where hematuria segregated with the known genetic locus for the condition known as benign familial hematuria or thin basement membrane nephropathy (TBMN) at COL4A3/COL4A4. Twenty-one unrelated children with persistent familial hematuria as well as their families were studied for segregation of hematuria with haplotypes at the COL4A3/COL4A4 locus for benign familial hematuria and at the COL4A5 locus for X-linked Alport syndrome. Eight families (38%) had hematuria that segregated with COL4A3/COL4A4, and four (19%) had hematuria that segregated with COL4A5. At most, eight of the other nine families could be explained by disease at the COL4A3/COL4A4 locus if de novo mutations, non-penetrant hematuria or coincidental hematuria in unaffected family members was present individually or in combination. This study confirms that persistent familial hematuria is not always linked to COL4A3/COL4A4 (or COL4A5) and suggests the possibility of a further genetic locus for benign familial hematuria. This study also highlights the risk of excluding X-linked Alport syndrome on the basis of the absence of a family history or of kidney failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COL4A4 mutation in thin basement membrane disease previously described in Alport syndrome. Background. Carriers of autosomal-recessive and X-linked Alport syndrome often have a thinned glomerular basement membrane (GBM) and have mutations in the COL4A3/COL4A4 and COL4A5 genes respectively. Recently, we have shown that many individuals with thin basement membrane disease (TBMD) are also from families where hematuria segregates with the COL4A3/COL4A4 locus. This study describes the first COL4A4 mutation in an individual with biopsy-proven TBMD who did not have a family member with autosomal-recessive or X-linked Alport syndrome, inherited renal failure, or deafness. Methods. The index case and all available family members were examined for dysmorphic hematuria> 50,000/mL using phase contrast microscopy and for segregation of hematuria with the COL4A3/COL4A4 and COL4A5 loci using DNA satellite markers. COL4A4 exons from the index case were then studied using the enzyme mismatch cleavage method, and exons that demonstrated abnormal cleavage products were sequenced. Results. Hematuria in this family segregated with a haplotype at the COL4A3/COL4A4 locus (P = 0.031) but not with haplotypes at the COL4A5 locus. A mutation in COL4A4 that changed C to T resulting in an arginine residue being replaced by a stop codon (R1377X) was demonstrated in exon 44, which encodes part of the α4(IV) collagen sequence close to the junction with the noncollagenous domain. This mutation was present in all five family members with hematuria, but not in the four unaffected family members, 33 unrelated individuals with TBMD, or 22 nonhematuric normals. Conclusions. R1377X has been described previously in a compound heterozygous form of autosomal-recessive Alport syndrome. Our observation is evidence that TBMD can represent a carrier state for autosomal-recessive Alport syndrome in at least some individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The prognosis of patients with liver metastases during or early after adjuvant chemotherapy for colorectal cancer (CRC) is significantly worse. This study aimed to explore the efficacy of perioperative second-line chemotherapy in prolonging survival in those patients. Methods: Patients who underwent liver resection, with resectable liver metastases that occurred within 12 months after the last cycle of adjuvant chemotherapy for CRC, from January 2006 to December 2019, were included. The long-term outcome of overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) between different groups was analyzed. Results: A total of 200 patients were included, of whom 112 underwent direct hepatectomy and 88 received upfront second-line chemotherapy. OS and PFS were significantly better in patients receiving upfront second-line chemotherapy than direct surgery (PFS, P = 0.016; OS, P = 0.013). Further analysis showed that perioperative second-line chemotherapy could provide a greater survival benefit, which was also confirmed by propensity score matching (OS: P = 0.03; PFS: P = 0.04). Multivariate analysis determined that perioperative second-line chemotherapy was an independent factor influencing OS (OR [95% CI]: 0.468 [0.294–0.744], P = 0.001) and PFS (OR [95% CI]: 0.517 [0.353–0.758], P = 0.001). Discussion: Perioperative second-line chemotherapy could improve the survival of patients who underwent hepatectomy, with resectable liver metastases that occurred during or early after adjuvant chemotherapy for CRC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Differentially expressed microRNAs (miRNAs) in the blood of breast cancer patients may serve as diagnostic biomarkers. In this study, miRNA microarray of the blood of breast cancer patients and healthy controls was performed. Candidate differentially expressed miRNAs were further verified by real-time polymerase chain reaction in 68 breast cancer patients and 13 healthy controls. Six upregulated blood miRNAs (miR-26b-5p, miR-106b-5p, miR-142-3p, miR-142-5p, miR-185-5p, and miR-362-5p) were identified in breast cancer patients. These six miRNAs could discriminate breast cancer patients from healthy controls, with areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUCs) of 0.8891, 0.8158, 0.8529, 0.8507, 0.9050, and 0.9333, respectively. Bioinformatic analysis showed that the six miRNAs were potentially involved in numerous cancer-related pathways, including the mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway, nuclear factor-kappa B signaling pathway, and the transforming growth factor-beta signaling pathway. Importantly, two miRNAs (miR-185-5p and miR-362-5p) were used to construct a two-miRNA panel by logistic regression. The two-miRNA panel displayed a better diagnostic performance than each of the miRNAs alone, with a higher AUC (0.957), sensitivity (92.65 %), and specificity (92.31 %). Additionally, the high expression of the six miRNAs or the two-miRNA panel was associated with poor prognosis of breast cancer. We identified six upregulated miRNAs and a two-miRNA panel in the blood as potential biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Linked Content This article is linked to Wang et al and Liem and Janssen papers. To view these articles, visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.15074 and https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.15121. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The role of preoperative carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) in colorectal cancer liver metastases (CRLM) patients is still unclear. The present study aimed to explore the prognostic significance of preoperative CA19-9 in those patients.A total of 691 CRLM patients were included in this study. X-tile analyses were performed to determine the optimal cut-off values of CA19-9 and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). Prognostic predictors were identified by multivariate analyses.The optimal cut-off values of CA19-9 and CEA for 5-year recurrence-free survival (RFS) were 35.24 U/ml and 20.4 ng/ml, respectively. Patients with high-level CA19-9 had significantly worse RFS and overall survival (OS) than those with low-level CA19-9 (P = 0.001 and P = 0.002, respectively). In addition, patients with high-level CA19-9 had poor RFS and OS (P = 0.028 and P = 0.011, respectively) at low-level CEA. Multivariate analyses confirmed that preoperative CA19-9 was an independent predictor for RFS (hazard ratio [HR] 1.295; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.043–1.607; P = 0.019) but not for OS (HR 1.213; 95% CI 0.902–1.631; P = 0.201).CA19-9 is a promising predictor of recurrence for CRLM patients undergoing hepatectomy, and an effective supplement for patients with low-level CEA.Methods: The role of preoperative carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) in colorectal cancer liver metastases (CRLM) patients is still unclear. The present study aimed to explore the prognostic significance of preoperative CA19-9 in those patients.A total of 691 CRLM patients were included in this study. X-tile analyses were performed to determine the optimal cut-off values of CA19-9 and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). Prognostic predictors were identified by multivariate analyses.The optimal cut-off values of CA19-9 and CEA for 5-year recurrence-free survival (RFS) were 35.24 U/ml and 20.4 ng/ml, respectively. Patients with high-level CA19-9 had significantly worse RFS and overall survival (OS) than those with low-level CA19-9 (P = 0.001 and P = 0.002, respectively). In addition, patients with high-level CA19-9 had poor RFS and OS (P = 0.028 and P = 0.011, respectively) at low-level CEA. Multivariate analyses confirmed that preoperative CA19-9 was an independent predictor for RFS (hazard ratio [HR] 1.295; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.043–1.607; P = 0.019) but not for OS (HR 1.213; 95% CI 0.902–1.631; P = 0.201).CA19-9 is a promising predictor of recurrence for CRLM patients undergoing hepatectomy, and an effective supplement for patients with low-level CEA.Results: The role of preoperative carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) in colorectal cancer liver metastases (CRLM) patients is still unclear. The present study aimed to explore the prognostic significance of preoperative CA19-9 in those patients.A total of 691 CRLM patients were included in this study. X-tile analyses were performed to determine the optimal cut-off values of CA19-9 and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). Prognostic predictors were identified by multivariate analyses.The optimal cut-off values of CA19-9 and CEA for 5-year recurrence-free survival (RFS) were 35.24 U/ml and 20.4 ng/ml, respectively. Patients with high-level CA19-9 had significantly worse RFS and overall survival (OS) than those with low-level CA19-9 (P = 0.001 and P = 0.002, respectively). In addition, patients with high-level CA19-9 had poor RFS and OS (P = 0.028 and P = 0.011, respectively) at low-level CEA. Multivariate analyses confirmed that preoperative CA19-9 was an independent predictor for RFS (hazard ratio [HR] 1.295; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.043–1.607; P = 0.019) but not for OS (HR 1.213; 95% CI 0.902–1.631; P = 0.201).CA19-9 is a promising predictor of recurrence for CRLM patients undergoing hepatectomy, and an effective supplement for patients with low-level CEA.Conclusion: The role of preoperative carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) in colorectal cancer liver metastases (CRLM) patients is still unclear. The present study aimed to explore the prognostic significance of preoperative CA19-9 in those patients.A total of 691 CRLM patients were included in this study. X-tile analyses were performed to determine the optimal cut-off values of CA19-9 and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). Prognostic predictors were identified by multivariate analyses.The optimal cut-off values of CA19-9 and CEA for 5-year recurrence-free survival (RFS) were 35.24 U/ml and 20.4 ng/ml, respectively. Patients with high-level CA19-9 had significantly worse RFS and overall survival (OS) than those with low-level CA19-9 (P = 0.001 and P = 0.002, respectively). In addition, patients with high-level CA19-9 had poor RFS and OS (P = 0.028 and P = 0.011, respectively) at low-level CEA. Multivariate analyses confirmed that preoperative CA19-9 was an independent predictor for RFS (hazard ratio [HR] 1.295; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.043–1.607; P = 0.019) but not for OS (HR 1.213; 95% CI 0.902–1.631; P = 0.201).CA19-9 is a promising predictor of recurrence for CRLM patients undergoing hepatectomy, and an effective supplement for patients with low-level CEA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the chiral unitary approach, we have studied the single Cabibbo-suppressed decays Λ c → p K + K - and Λ c → p π + π - by taking into account the s-wave meson–meson interaction as well as the contributions from the intermediate vectors ϕ and ρ 0 . Our theoretical results for the ratios of the branching fractions of Λ c → p K ¯ ∗ 0 and Λ c → p ω with respect to the one of Λ c → p ϕ are in agreement with the experimental data. Within the picture that the scalar resonances f 0 (500) , f 0 (980) , and a 0 (980) are dynamically generated from the pseudoscalar-pseudoscalar interactions in s-wave, we have calculated the K + K - and π + π - invariant mass distributions respectively for the decays Λ c → p K + K - and Λ c → p π + π - . One can find a broad bump structure for the f 0 (500) and a narrow peak for the f 0 (980) in the π + π - invariant mass distribution of the decay Λ c → p π + π - . For the K + K - invariant mass distribution, in addition to the narrow peak for the ϕ meson, there is an enhancement structure near the K + K - threshold mainly due to the contribution from the f 0 (980) . Both the π + π - and K + K - invariant mass distributions are compatible with the BESIII measurement. We encourage our experimental colleagues to measure these two decays, which would be helpful to understand the nature of the f 0 (500) , f 0 (980) , and a 0 (980) . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The resource utilization of non-metallic components (NMC) in waste printed circuit boards (WPCBs) was concerned in this study. Pyrolysis oil, calorific value and building materials in NMC were recovered and utilized. Organic matter in NMC was recycled in the form of pyrolysis oil by pyrolysis treatment. The pyrolysis temperature was determined by thermogravimetric analysis. The composition of pyrolysis oil was analyzed by GC-MS. Thermogravimetric analysis shows that 300–400 °C is the main temperature range for the formation of pyrolysis oil, and the weight loss reaches 20.58%. Further, weight loss only achieves 6.38% within 400–800 °C. The GC-MS results show that the main components are phenols, which can be used for the synthesis of oil-based resins. In addition, the calorific value of pyrolysis residues was measured. The results show that the calorific value of pyrolysis residues obtained at 400 °C and 800 °C reaches 4.62 MJ/kg and 3.76 MJ/kg respectively in aerobic conditions. Finally, the residue without calorific value was prepared into building material with cement, and the compressive strength is proven to reach 9.43 MPa. This study provides a practical approach to the reutilization of NMC in WPCBs. Image 10502 • Non-metallic components in the separation tailings of WPCBs are fully utilized. • Organic matter in WPCBs is converted into pyrolysis oil. • The calorific value in the pyrolysis products is deeply utilized. • Fiberglass residues can be used as building materials. • The economic value of WPCBs is fully demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. There are few studies comparing recurrences between endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and open choledochotomy (OCT). Aims. To compare the effect of different surgical methods on single and multiple recurrences of choledocholithiasis. Methods. A total of 1255 patients with choledocholithiasis who underwent ERCP or OCT were retrospectively studied. The recurrence of choledocholithiasis was calculated by the Kaplan–Meier method with the log-rank test. Multivariate analyses of recurrent choledocholithiasis were performed by introducing variables with P < 0.20 in univariate analysis into the logistic regression model. Results. A total of 204 (16.7%, 204/1225) patients relapsed. Among the 204 patients, 74.5% relapsed within three years after surgery, of whom 39.7% (81/204) had multiple relapses (≥ 2). The recurrence rate of ERCP (17.2%, 119/692) was higher than that of OCT (15.1%, 85/563), but the difference was not statistically significant. The independent risk factors for a single recurrence of choledocholithiasis were diabetes, stone number ≥ 2 , maximum stone diameter ≥ 15 mm , sedentary occupation, the approach of ERCP (EST or EPBD), periampullary diverticulum, primary suture, high-fat diet (postoperative), frequency of weekly vegetable intake (< 4, postoperative), and drinking (postoperative). However, the ERCP approach (EST or EPBD), OCT approach (LCBDE), primary suture, high-fat diet (postoperative), and frequency of weekly vegetable intake (< 4, postoperative) were independent risk factors for multiple recurrences of choledocholithiasis. Conclusion. Patients with choledocholithiasis should be followed up regularly for one to three years after treatment. Stone number ≥ 2, diabetes mellitus, periampullary diverticulum, surgical methods, and lifestyle are all risk factors for the recurrence of choledocholithiasis. ERCP is still the preferred surgical method based on the advantages of low risk of cholangitis recurrence, less hospital stay, minimally invasive surgery, fewer postoperative complications, and easier acceptance by elderly patients. In addition to optimizing the treatment plans, postoperative lifestyle management is also vital. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The objective of this study is to explore the relationship between family communication, family violence, problematic internet use, anxiety, and depression and validate their potential mediating role. Methods: The study population consisted of Chinese adolescents aged 12 to 18 years, and a cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2022. Structural equation models were constructed using AMOS 25.0 software to examine the factors that influence adolescent anxiety and depression and the mediating effects of problematic internet use and family violence. Results: The results indicate that family communication was significantly and negatively related to family violence (β = -.494, p < 0.001), problematic internet use (β = -.056, p <.05), depression (β = -.076, p <.01), and anxiety (β = -.071, p <.05). And the finds also indicate that family violence mediated the relationships between family communication and depression (β = -.143, CI: -.198 -.080), and between family communication and anxiety (β = -.141; CI: -.198 -.074). Chain indirect effects between family communication and depression (β = -.051; CI: -.081 -.030) or anxiety (β = -.046; CI: -.080 -.043) via family violence and then through problematic internet use were also found in the present study. Conclusions: In conclusion, positive family communication is crucial in reducing anxiety and depression in adolescents. Moreover, problematic internet use and family violence mediate the effects of positive family communication on anxiety and depression. Therefore, improving family communication and promoting interventions aimed at reducing family violence and problematic internet use can help reduce anxiety and depression in adolescents, thus promoting their healthy development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant R2R3-MYB transcription factors (TFs) have been suggested to play crucial roles in the response to diverse abiotic and biotic stress factors but there is little molecular evidence of this role in soybean plants. In this work, we identified and functionally characterized an R2R3-MYB TF, namely, GsMYB15, from the wild soybean ED059. Protein and promoter sequence analysis indicated that GsMYB15 is a typical R2R3-MYB TF and contains multiple stress-related cis-elements in the promoter region. GsMYB15 is located in the nucleus and exhibits transcriptional activation activity. QPCR assays suggested that the expression of GsMYB15 could be induced by NaCl, insect attacks and defense-related hormones (MeJA and SA). Furthermore, GsMYB15 exhibited highest expression in pods compared to other tissues. Functional analysis of GsMYB15 demonstrated that overexpression of GsMYB15 could increase salt tolerance and enhance the resistance to H. armigera larvae in transgenic Arabidopsis plants. Moreover, overexpression of GsMYB15 also affected the expression levels of salt stress- and defense-related genes in the transgenic plants. Feeding with transgenic Arabidopsis plant leaves could significantly suppress the expression levels of immunity-related genes in H. armigera larvae. Overexpression of GsMYB15 also increased mesophyll cell levels in transgenic plants. Taken together, these results provide evidence that GsMYB15 is a positive regulator of salt stress tolerance and insect resistance in transformed Arabidopsis plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Twin growth discordance was demonstrated to be a risk factor for adverse perinatal outcomes, and prenatal ultrasonographic methods were utilized to predict twin growth discordance to improve outcomes. The results currently reported are not consistent due to the poor unified parameters and gestational durations.Methods: A total of 71 dichorionic twins with growth discordance and 346 dichorionic twins with normal growth were respectively included in the retrospective cohort study. The weight discordance of more than 25% was defined as a "growth discordant twin". The clinical baseline information, maternal outcomes, twin birth weights and fetal growth parameters (which were measured by ultrasound) were compared between the two groups from early gestation to late gestation. Multiple logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic curves were adopted to evaluate the predictive value of the growth parameters.Results: Compared with normal dichorionic twins, the clinical baseline conditions were similar in the twins those finally developed growth discordance. The fetal growth parameters and the deepest volume pocket of amniotic fluid in early and mid-pregnancy showed no obvious predictive values. The fetal growth parameters in late pregnancy showed predictive values, especially the discordance of estimated fetal weight (EFW) in the early third-trimester (P < 0.001, area under the curve, 0.822; the cut-off value, 20%; sensitivity, 66.67%; specificity, 91.30%; positive predictive value, 88.46%).Conclusion: Two assessment approaches were suggested and adopted to predict twin growth discordance in the current study. Twin growth should be assessed longitudinally and dynamically. Normal twins may show growth imbalance in the early stage. The discordance of EFW in late pregnancy may be a useful indicator for a growth discordance of more than 25%, which is required further confirmation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) regulate tumor development and progression by promoting proliferation, invasion, and metastasis. The oncogenic role of lncRNA SNHG16 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has not been revealed. LncRNA SNHG16 is upregulated in HCC and correlates with poorer prognosis. Patients with high SNHG16 expression showed lower rates of overall and disease‐free survival than patients with low SNHG16 expression. Multivariate Cox regression revealed that SNHG16 expression was an independent predictor of poor overall and disease‐free survival. In vitro, SNHG16 promoted HCC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion while inhibiting apoptosis; in vivo, it accelerated tumor development. Altering SNHG16 expression altered levels of miR‐17‐5p, which in turn modified expression of p62, which has been shown to regulate the mTOR and NF‐κB pathways. Indeed, altering SNHG16 expression in HCC cells activated mTOR and NF‐κB signaling. These results reveal a potential mechanism for the oncogenic role of SNHG16 in HCC. SNHG16 may therefore be a promising diagnostic marker as well as therapeutic target in HCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To clarify the relationship between aldo-keto reductase family 1 member B10 (AKR1B10) expression and early hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence, this study detected AKR1B10 expression in tumor and adjacent non-tumor tissues from 110 patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related HCC underwent liver resection and analyzed its correlations with clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of these patients. Detected by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, AKR1B10 mRNA expression showed significantly higher in HCC tissues than in adjacent non-tumor tissues, with a low level in normal liver tissues. Similar results was confirmed at the protein level using immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. High AKR1B10 expression was negatively correlated with serum alpha-fetoprotein level and positively correlated with HBV-DNA level. Patients with high AKR1B10 expression had significantly higher disease-free survival than those with low expression within 2 years after liver resection. Multivariate analysis also confirmed high AKR1B10 expression to be a predictor of low risk of early HCC recurrence. In addition, high AKR1B10 expression was found to be a favorable factor of overall survival. These results suggest that AKR1B10 is involved in HBV-related hepatocarcinogenesis, but its high expression could predict low risk of early tumor recurrence in patients with HBV-related HCC after liver resection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accumulating evidence indicates that human circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) could serve as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in various cancers. We aimed to explore novel miRNA biomarkers in the blood of breast cancer patients based on miRNA profiling. A miRCURY™ LNA Array was used to identify differentially altered miRNAs in the whole blood of breast cancer patients (n = 6) and healthy controls (n = 6). Levels of candidate miRNAs were quantified by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) in whole blood specimens of 15 breast cancer patients and 13 age-matched healthy control individuals. The miRWalk database was used to predict miRNA targets and the DAVID tool was used to identify significant enrichment pathways. A total of 171 differentially expressed miRNAs were identified by microarray, including 169 upregulated and 2 downregulated miRNAs in breast cancer. Five upregulated miRNAs (miR-30b-5p, miR-96-5p, miR-182-5p, miR-374b-5p, and miR-942-5p) were confirmed by qRT-PCR. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve of miR-30b-5p, miR-96-5p, miR-182-5p, miR-374b-5p, and miR-942-5p were 0.9333, 0.7692, 0.7590, 0.8256, and 0.8128, respectively. Importantly, upregulation of these five miRNAs was observed even in patients with very early-stage breast cancer. A total of 855 genes were predicted to be targeted by the five miRNAs, and the one cut domain family member 2 gene ( ONECUT2 ) was a shared target of the five miRNAs. Analysis of publicly available data revealed that these dysregulated miRNAs and the target genes were associated with the survival of breast cancer patients. Furthermore, the five miRNAs were significantly enriched in numerous cancer-related pathways, including “MicroRNAs in cancer”, “Pathways in cancer”, “FoxO signaling pathway”, “Ras signaling pathway”, “Rap1 signaling pathway”, “MAPK signaling pathway”, and “PI3K-Akt signaling pathway”. Our data support the potential of the five identified miRNAs as novel biomarkers for the detection of breast cancer, and indicate that they may be involved in breast cancer development and progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnopharmacological relevance Acute alcohol intoxication (AAI) is a frequent emergency, but therapeutic drugs with superior efficacy and safety are lacking. Panax ginseng (PG) and Hippophae rhamnoides (HR) respectively has a wide application as a complementary therapeutic agent in China for the treatment of AAI and liver injury induced by alcohol. We investigated the effects of aqueous extracts from PG and HR (AEPH) on AAI mice and identified its underlying mechanisms. Materials and methods Models of AAI were induced by intragastric administration of ethanol (8 g/kg). Seventy-two Specific pathogen-free (SPF) male Kunming mice were randomly divided into six groups: normal group, positive control group, AEPH of low dosage (100 mg/kg) group, AEPH of medium dose (200 mg/kg) group, AEPH of high dosage (400 mg/kg) group and model group. The mice were treated with metadoxine (MTD, 500 mg/kg) and AEPH. Thirty minutes later, the normal group was given normal saline, while the other groups were given ethanol (i.g., 8 g/kg). The impact of AEPH was observed. In the same way, another seventy-two Kunming mice were randomly divided into six groups equally. The blood ethanol concentration at 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 3 and 6 h after ethanol intake was determined by way of gas chromatography. The activity of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) and microsomal ethanol oxidase (EO) in liver, and the concentration of β-endorphin (β-EP), leucine-enkephalin (LENK) in the brain were determined by enzyme-linked-immunosorbent serologic assay (ELISA). Results AEPH markedly prolonged alcohol tolerance time and shortened sober-up time after acute ethanol administration. AEPH decreased blood ethanol levels in six tests after ethanol intake. The 7-day survival rate of AEPH group was obviously superior to model group. AEPH increased the activities of ADH, ALDH, and decreased EO activity in liver. The crucial find was that AEPH markedly decreased β -EP and LENK concentration in the brain. Conclusions AEPH can markedly increase the levels of ADH, ALDH, decrease EO activity in liver and decrease the concentration of β-EP and LENK in the brain to against acute alcohol intoxication in mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel 1D alternating copper(II) chain complex of the composition {[Cu3(dmg)2(Hdmg)2(4,4′-bpy)]n⋅n[Cu(Hdmg)2(4,4′-bpy)]⋅0.5nH2dmg⋅5nH2O} (H2dmg = dimethylglyoxime, 4,4′-dpy = 4,4′-dipyridine) (1) was synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The structure of1consists of neutral 1D alternating copper(II) chains [Cu3(dmg)2(Hdmg)2(4,4′-bpy)]n, [Cu(Hdmg)2(4,4′-bpy)] mononuclear units, noncoordinated H2dmg and lattice water molecules. 1D alternating copper(II) chains is built up of trinuclear unit, in which copper ions are linked by three kinds of bridging ligands: dmg, Hdmg and 4,4′-bpy. The authors also studied the electronic structure and orbital energies of1by DFT methods, and the results are consistent with UV-vis spectrum. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]