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This paper describes work performed in an attempt to bring more clarity regarding the differences in potential corrosive effect between sulfides and disulfides at specified reaction conditions as defined in ASTM 1275 B. SEM/EDS was used to further evaluate testing results. The results show that Dibenzyl disulfide (DBDS) has a strong tendency to form copper sulfides while Dibenzyl sulfide (DBS) display no tendency at all to form copper sulfides in the virgin insulating oils, but the reactivity of DBS increase if in the thermally degraded oils. In addition, the insulating paper decrease the oxidation of the copper surface due to that oxygen is adsorbed and consumed when migrating through the cellulose phase. With the improvement of surface smoothness, the specific surface area accessible for reactions will decrease and consequently it is more difficult for the copper to be corroded by DBDS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The analyses for temporal variation pollution sources of Qijiawan treatment pond show that in non-livestock and poultry breeding area, total phosphorus (TP) pollution mainly happens during the period from June to August with both farmland and domestic sewage as the main pollution source and during the Spring Festival with domestic sewage as the source. Total nitrogen (TN) pollution mainly occurs during the rainy season from July to September taking domestic sewage and nitrogen fertilizer as main sources, besides the Spring Festival with domestic sewage as the main pollution source. As for ammonia nitrogen pollution, it is similar to TN pollution, and domestic sewage is the first pollution source. The emphasis of pollution control should be put on the phosphorus especially particle phosphorus (PP) in the domestic sewage and dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) in the sewage and farmland fertilizer. In addition, nitrate‑nitrogen (NO 3 −-N) is mainly from the impervious land surface and transfers into the treatment pond with rainfall. COD into the pond in the rainy season was greater than that in the dry season, but anyhow, it firstly comes from domestic sewage, especially in the Spring Festival. Research on the purification performance of Myriophyllum spicatum treatment pond shows that it is relatively difficult for Myriophyllum spicatum to absorb COD and TN with DON as the main form, but it is very easy to absorb TP and NH 3 -N before October. Therefore, Myriophyllum spicatum should be harvested in this month in order to realize effective removal. The removal of COD and TN mainly depends on microbial degradation, and so it should be enhanced in order to improve water quality of treatment pond. Unlabelled Image [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Homocysteine (Hcy) has been found to be closely related to the occurrence of diabetes mellitus (DM) and is considered as one of the risk factors of DM. However, Hcy alone is not enough as a factor to predict DM, and our study analyzed and determined the relationship between the main metabolites involved in the Hcy metabolic pathway and DM. Methods: A total of 48 clinical samples were collected, including 18 health control samples and 30 DM samples. All standards and samples were detected by LC-QTOF-MS. Multivariate statistical analysis and k-means cluster analysis were performed to screen and confirm the metabolites significantly correlated with DM. Results: A total of 13 metabolites of the Hcy metabolic pathway were detected in the samples. The content of Hcy, cysteine, taurine, pyridoxamine, methionine, and choline were significantly increased in the DM group (p < 0.05). Hcy, choline, cystathionine, methionine, and taurine contributed significantly to the probabilistic principal component analysis (PPCA) model. The odds ratios (OR) of Hcy, cysteine, taurine, methionine, and choline were all greater than one. K-means cluster analysis showed that the Hcy, taurine, methionine, and choline were significantly correlated with the distribution of glucose values (divided into four levels: 10.5–11.7 mmol/L, 7.7–9.7 mmol/L, 6.0–6.9 mmol/L, and 5.0–5.9 mmol/L, respectively). Conclusion: Hcy, taurine, methionine, and choline can be used as risk factors for diabetes diagnosis and are expected to be used for the assessment of diabetes severity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gastric bacterial pathogen Helicobacter pylori persistently colonizes the gastric mucosa of humans and plays a critical role in the development of gastritis, peptic ulceration and gastric adenocarcinoma. Consequently, the eradication of H. pylori might contribute to the prevention of H. pylori-associated gastric diseases. In this study, a multi-epitope vaccine CTB-UE (CUE) was displayed on the surface of non-genetically modified Lactococcus lactis particles (GEM) to enhance immunogenicity. This particulate vaccine CUE-GEM induced serum and mucosal specific antibody responses against native H. pylori urease and provided potent protection to eliminate H. pylori colonization and relieve gastritis in an H. pylori-infected BALB/c mouse model. The immuno-protective mechanisms are highly associated with CD4 Th cell-mediated and humoral immunity, especially local immunity. There might be two main aspects of this association. One aspect is related to the suppression of urease activity by promotion of the production of specific mucosal neutralizing antibody. The other aspect is correlated with alleviating gastritis by regulating the gastric pro-inflammatory cytokine profile, especially IFN-γ and IL-17. These results demonstrated that conjugating antigen vaccines with GEM particles could lead to promising oral therapeutic vaccine formulations against H. pylori infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is an increasing need for rapid and on-site detection of emerging drugs of abuse. In this work, we developed a method using a miniature dual-LIT (linear ion trap) mass spectrometer recently developed with comprehensive tandem mass spectrometry analysis capability, for qualitative and quantitative analysis of multiple drugs of abuse. Paper-capillary spray cartridges were used with related workflow established to simplify overall analysis procedure. Quantitation of ketamine and methamphetamine was achieved by beam-type collision-induced dissociation on the miniature dual-LIT mass spectrometer and a linear concentration range of 100–5000 ng/mL was obtained. The system has been applied in analysis of real urine samples from individuals addicted to morphine and methamphetamine use. The changes of the ratio of cocaine to its metabolite benzoylecgonine were also explored to estimate the time of cocaine intaking. Image 1 • Miniature dual-LIT mass spectrometry system was developed for quantitative analysis. • On-site testing of drugs of abuse in urine samples. • Testing of real urine samples from morphine and methamphetamine users. • Exploration of the time of cocaine intaking by the changes of cocaine/benzoylecgonine ratios in urine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Breast cancer is one of the most common malignancies and the leading cause of women's death, most of breast cancers are estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer which can develop into advanced stage from early stage with treatment resistance. The purpose of this study was to investigate anti-ER+ breast cancer effects of 1,2,3,4,6-penta- O -galloyl-β- d -glucose (PGG) and its possible mechanisms. Cell viability was analyzed by MTT assay. The cell cycle distribution and apoptosis were detected by Flow cytometry. The expressions of cell proliferation- and apoptosis-related proteins were determined by western blot and immunofluorescence staining. The results showed PGG induced cytotoxicity and decreased viability of ER+ breast cancer T-47D and BT-474 cells. Flow cytometry analysis revealed that cell cycle was blocked in S phase at lower dose (25 μM PGG), and G1 phase at higher dose (50 or 75 μM PGG). One of the underlying mechanisms of the anti-cancer effect exerted by PGG was owed to inhibition of the expression of HURP, an up-regulated protein in human hepatocellular carcinoma which is closely related to tumor proliferation, invasion and metastasis. PGG affected cell cycle- or apoptosis-related proteins such as cyclin D1, Bcl-2 and Bax. These data suggest that PGG exerts anti-ER+ breast cancer effects. In this sense, our study provides new alternative therapies to treat breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recurrent implantation failure (RIF) associated with impaired endometrial receptivity and other factors. Disease-specific therapy has yet to be developed due to the lack of understanding of underlying mechanism(s). Herein we investigated the key factors of endometrial receptivity in RIF patients by transcriptomic sequencing. In vitro cellular model was used to delineate the molecular mechanism of key factors on proliferation, invasion and migration of trophoblast cells. SEMA4D was identified as the key factors of endometrial receptivity with significantly lower expression in the mid-secretory endometrium of RIF patients compared with those from normal fertile women. The binding of SEMA4D to its receptor Plexin-B1 on human trophoblast cells HTR-8/SVneo resulted in the activation of Met/PI3K/Akt signaling, which promotes trophoblast cell invasion and migration by enhancing MMP-2 expression. Moreover, the effect of SEMA4D on HTR-8/SVneo could be blocked by knocking down Met with specific siRNA or treating with LY294002. Collectively, our data indicate that decreased expression of SEMA4D in endometrium impair the process of trophoblast invasion and migration through Met/PI3K/Akt pathway, which provides insights into this essential physiological process in the development of RIF. • SEMA4D is a potential novel factor of the mid-luteal endometrium in the RIF patients. • SEMA4D promoted HTR-8/SVneo cells invasion and migration via Met/PI3K/Akt pathway. • SEMA4D promoted MMP-2 expression in HTR-8/SVneo cells. • Knockdown of Met could block SEMA4D mediated effects on trophoblast behavior. • Inhibition of the PI3K/Akt pathway abrogated SEMA4D mediated effects on trophoblast behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] TALENickases were described for the first time. [•] TALENickases stimulated targeted gene addition remarkably. [•] TALENickases were even more effective than TALENs at the rDNA locus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human ribosomal DNA (hrDNA) targeting vector (pHm) is one of the human derived vectors, which was devised by our lab and has got patent authority. To investigate its effect on gene therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma, a double suicide fusion gene expression cassette, CDUPRT/GFP controlled by a synthetic CMV enhancer-enhanced hTERT promoter (CeTp) which was determined by luciferase assays was constructed in pHrn backbone, creating an expression vector pHr-CeTpCDUPRT/GFP. After transfer of plasmid to hepatocellular carcinoma cell line Be17402 in vitro, the transfection efficiency reached 30%-50% by using flow cytometer. The expression of CDUPRT/GFP was detected by RT-PCR and Western Blotting. After the administration of 5-FC, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was applied to examine the level of 5-FU in supernatant, resulting in a concentration of 60.15 µg/mL. The Methylthiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay was then utilized to investigate the antitumor effect of pHr-CeTpCDUPRT/GFP in Be17402 cells, and relative cell survival of 60%-35% was observed after 5-FC treatment. In vivo experiments, the nude mouse model of hepatocellular carcinoma was constructed and in situ gene therapy was performed. The results indicated the tumor growth of treatment group was obviously suppressed, and some even shrank, when the vectors and prodrugs were injected continuously. The expression of CDUPRT in tumor tissues was also identified by RT-PCR, and the concentration of 5-FU was 7.694 µg/mL in blood serum using HPLC detection. Then the pathological section of tumor tissues revealed significant tumor cell necrosis. All of these results provide important experiment evidences of the gene therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma with the utilization of our vectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In humans, the maternal endometrium participates in the physical and physiological interaction with the blastocyst to begin implantation. A bidirectional crosstalk is critical for normal implantation and then a successful pregnancy. While several studies have used animal models or cell lines to study this step, little knowledge was acquired to address the role of endometrial cells in humans. Here, we analyzed single-cell sequencing data from a previous study including 24 non-coculture endometrial stromal cells (EmSCs) and 57 EmSCs after coculture with embryos. We further explored the transcriptomic changes in EmSCs and their interactions with trophoblast cells after coculture. Differentially expressed gene (DEG) analysis showed 1783 upregulated genes and 569 downregulated genes in the cocultured embryos. Weight gene coexpression network and gene ontology analysis of these DEGs showed a higher expression of RAMP1, LTBP1, and LRP1 in EmSCs after coculture, indicating the enrichment of biological processes in blood vessel development and female pregnancy. These data imply that EmSCs start blood vessel development at the implantation stage. Compared with endometrium data in vivo at the implantation window, key pathways including epithelial cell development and oxygen response were involved at this stage. Further analysis using CellphoneDB shed light on the interactions between EmSCs and embryonic trophoblasts, suggesting the important role of integrins and fibroblast growth factor pathways during implantation. Taken together, our work reveals the synchronization signaling and pathways happening at the implantation stage involving the acquisition of receptivity in EmSCs and the interaction between EmSCs and trophoblast cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The causal priority between ADHD and internet addiction among young adults was tested across a six-month interval. • ADHD symptoms predicted internet addiction severity but not vice versa. • Three subtypes of dysfunction in ADHD were distinguished by cognitive tasks. • Motivational dysfunction in ADHD is a better predictor of internet addiction than executive dysfunction. This study tested the causal link between Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Internet addiction (IA) and investigated motivational and executive dysfunction as explanatory mechanisms in this association. A sample of 682 young adults completed self-report measures both at Time1 and Time2, six-months apart, including 54 ADHD participants diagnosed by the Conners' Adult ADHD Rating Scale and the Continuous Performance Test. According to the performance in four cognitive tasks, ADHD participants were classified into three groups based on the dual pathway model of ADHD: executive dysfunction (ED), motivational dysfunction (MD) and combined dysfunction (CD). Participants' severity of IA symptoms was assessed using the self-report Chen IA Scale. Results indicated that ADHD scores at Time1 predicted IA scores at Time2 but not vice versa. ADHD participants were easier to be IA than controls, while the severity of IA among the three ADHD groups changed differently. The MD and CD groups became more excessively engaged in Internet use over the course of the six-months while the ED group was unchanged. These findings identify ADHD as a potential risk factor for IA and suggest that motivational dysfunction, characterized by an excessive preference for immediate reward over delayed rewards, is a better predictor of IA than executive dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A correction to the article "Expression profiling of white sponge nevus by RNA sequencing revealed pathological pathways," by C. Wenping and colleagues that was published in the 2015 issue is presented.

Purpose: Increasing evidence indicates that neuroinflammation plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE). The aim of this study was to investigate the dynamic expression of interleukin (IL)-1β as a proinflammatory cytokine and microRNA (miR)-146a as a posttranscriptional inflammation-associated microRNA (miRNA) in the hippocampi of an immature rat model and children with MTLE. Methods: To study the expression of IL-1β and miR-146a, we performed a reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, Western blot, and real-time quantitative PCR on the hippocampi of immature rats at 11 days of age. Expression was monitored in the acute, latent, and chronic stages of disease (2 h and 3 and 8 weeks after induction of lithium-pilocarpine status epilepticus, respectively), and in control hippocampal tissues corresponding to the same timeframes. Similar expression methods were applied to hippocampi obtained from children with MTLE and normal controls. Key Findings: The expression of IL-1β and miR-146a in both children and immature rats with MTLE differs according to the stage of MTLE development. Both IL-1β and miR-146a are significantly up-regulated, but in opposite ways: IL-1β expression is highest in the acute stage, when expression of miR-146a is at its lowest level; miR-146a expression is highest in the latent stage, when IL-1β expression is at its lowest level. Both IL-1β and miR-146a are up-regulated in the chronic stage, but not as much as in the other stages. Significance: Our study is the first to focus on the expression of miR-146a in the immature rat model of lithium-pilocarpine MTLE and in children with MTLE. We have detected that the expression of proinflammatory cytokine IL-1β and posttranscriptional inflammation-associated miR-146a is variable depending on the disease stage. Furthermore, both IL-1β and miR-146a are up-regulated in immature rats and children with MTLE. Our findings elucidate the role of inflammation in the pathogenesis of MTLE in the immature rat model and children. Therefore, modulation of the IL-1β-miR-146a axis may be a novel therapeutic target in the treatment of MTLE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]