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We applied 532 nm-excited two-photon resonance hyper-Raman (RHR) spectroscopy to nucleotides (dA, dG, dT, and dC) to obtain fundamental knowledge about their spectral patterns. The RHR spectrum of each nucleotide exhibited various modes of the purine and pyrimidine rings, showing the ability to acquire the structural information on the chromophore. The band positions of the RHR spectrum and the 266 nm-excited one-photon UV-resonance Raman (UVRR) spectrum were identical, while the intensity patterns differed. The peak assignments of the RHR bands were given by analogy to the UVRR spectrum. In examining the polynucleotides, which form a double-stranded helix through intermolecular hydrogen bonds, some RHR bands were found to be available as structural markers. Moreover, several overtone and combination bands were detected above 2000 cm -1 . The frequencies of dA and dG were accounted for by considering the involvement of the vibration of dA at 1579 cm -1 and that of dG at 1482 cm -1 , respectively. Multiple vibronically active modes were seen for dT and dC. HR spectroscopy offers unique information on the fundamental, combination, and overtone modes of dA and dG, of which the multiple electronic states are involved in the resonance process.

Advancing continuous health monitoring beyond vital signs to biochemistry will revolutionize personalized medicine. Herein, we report a biosensing platform to achieve remote biochemical monitoring using microparticle-based biosensors and optical coherence tomography (OCT). Stimuli-responsive, polymeric microparticles were designed to serve as freely dispersible biorecognition units, wherein binding with a target biochemical induces volumetric changes of the microparticle. Analytical approaches to detect these submicron changes in 3D using OCT were devised by modeling the microparticle as an optical cavity, enabling estimations far below the resolution of the OCT system. As a proof of concept, we demonstrated the 3D spatiotemporal monitoring of glucose-responsive microparticles distributed throughout a tissue mimic in response to dynamically fluctuating levels of glucose. Deep learning was further implemented using 3D convolutional neural networks to automate the vast processing of the continuous stream of three-dimensional time series data, resulting in a robust end-to-end pipeline with immense potential for continuous in vivo biochemical monitoring.

Ferroptosis is a newly discovered form of programmed cell death, which has unique biological effects on metabolism and redox biology. In this study, the prognostic value of ferroptosis-related genes was investigated in lower-grade gliomas (LGG). We downloaded the ferroptosis-related genes from the FerrDb dataset. Univariate Cox and LASSO regression analyses were applied to identify genes correlated with overall survival (OS). Subsequently, 12 ferroptosis-related genes were screened to establish the prognostic signature using stepwise multivariate Cox regression. According to the median value of risk scores, patients were divided into low- and high-risk subgroups. The Kaplan-Meier curves showed the high-risk group had a lower OS. The predictive power of the risk model was validated using the CGGA. Functional analysis revealed that the terms associated with plasma membrane receptor complex, immune response and glutamate metabolic process were primarily related to the risk model. Moreover, we established a nomogram that had a strong forecasting ability for the 1-, 3- and 5-year OS. In addition, we compared the risk scores between different clinical features. We also detected infiltration of macrophages and monocytes in different subgroups. Overall, our study identified the prognostic signature of 12 ferroptosis-related genes, which has the potential to predict the prognosis of LGG., (© 2021 The Authors. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine published by Foundation for Cellular and Molecular Medicine and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background : Domestic migrant populations are highly mobilized at a sexually active age, and often fail to meet their needs for contraception. Moreover, they assume sexual and reproductive health (SRH) risks and utilize fewer family planning services. Method : A quasi-experimental trial (community intervention) was adopted. Two-stage stratified cluster sampling was applied to recruit participants in Beijing and Chongqing. A comprehensive SRH/family planning intervention was implemented from August 4 2014 to August 3 2015. Propensity score matching (PSM) and multivariate probit models were adopted. Results: In total, 2100 and 2024 eligible participants were involved, and 815 and 629 pairs were matched by PSM in Beijing and Chongqing, respectively. The knowledge and attitudes of the participants regarding SRH and contraception were significantly improved through the comprehensive intervention. Reversible contraceptive methods were the most prevalent; couples largely decided to utilize condoms and family planning services. Conclusions : The comprehensive intervention had positive effects on knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) for SRH/family planning among the domestic migrant population. The results acquired can be extrapolated to some extent, and the pattern of this intervention is well geared toward other similar settings in China.

The foaming process and cellular morphologies of poly(styrene-co-acrylonitrile) (SAN)/chlorinated polyethylene (CPE) blends with supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO₂) as a blowing agent were investigated in this study. As compared to pure SAN foam in the same batch, the foamed blends with various CPE elastomer content had smaller average pore size and larger cell density. This is probably related to the inhibition of bubble growth by elastomer, resulting in poor melt flowability and strong viscoelasticity, and the efficient bubble heterogeneous nucleation caused by numerous phase interfaces inside the incompletely compatible blend system. In addition, many tiny interconnected holes through the pore walls were formed to connect adjacent micropores in foamed blend samples. The formation mechanism of such interconnected pores is probably due to the fracture of stretched melt around the bubble from phase interfaces with weak interactions. These facts suggest an effective path to control pore size, cell density and even interconnected pores of blend foams depends on the compatibility of the blend system and difference in foamability of individual components in supercritical CO₂.

Objective: With the increased population mobility and the transition in population policy, scholars are quite concerned about family planning/sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and related factors among internal migrant population of reproductive age. Therefore, the proposed study was designed to explore the association between factors related to family planning/SRH and contraceptive use as well as consistent condom use among the above-described population in China., Design: Cross-sectional study., Setting: Three municipalities in China, namely Beijing, Shanghai and Chongqing., Participants: Among the 6545 participants, 2099, 2414 and 2031 subjects came from Beijing, Shanghai and Chongqing, respectively., Results: A total of 6545 eligible participants were included as the full sample, 6188 of whom who had intercourse in the last 3 months were selected as the subsample. Among the subsample, 80.88% (5005/6188) adopted any form of contraceptive methods and 49.14% (3041/6188) consistently used condom in the last three sexual intercourses. Meanwhile, the involved participants had a better mastery of knowledge on SRH than on contraception (p<0.0001). The results of the Heckprobit models revealed that the factors associated with both contraceptive use and consistent condom use were relationship with the first intercourse partner, communication frequency with spouse/sexual partners on sex, actual number of children and knowledge on SRH, while knowledge on contraception and age at first intercourse were associated with contraceptive use and consistent condom use, respectively (p<0.05)., Conclusions: In the current study, we revealed a high-level contraceptive prevalence, a relatively low-level consistent condom use and a poor mastery of knowledge on contraception and SRH. The Heckprobit selection model specified the existence of selection bias, providing evidence on the association between the factors on family planning/SRH and contraceptive use as well as consistent condom use, respectively. Our findings indicated that health institutions should offer appropriate technology and high-quality family planning/SRH services for the internal migrant population in China., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2018. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Objective: To investigate the utilization of reproductive health services and relating factors among internal migrant population in Beijing, Shanghai and Chongqing. Methods: A multi-stage cluster sampling method was adopted in this cross-sectional study, conducted in Beijing, Shanghai and Chongqing from August 2014 to August 2015. Standard methods on statistics and nonlinear canonical correlation were applied. Results: Out of the 6 545 internal migrant persons, 41.76% ever used the reproductive health services in the past year. Results from the nonlinear canonical correlation analysis revealed that the utilization of reproductive health services was correlated with the demographic features (=0.28, P <0.000 1) and characteristics of the population mobility (=0.21, P <0.000 1), respectively. For the above said demographic features, canonical variable L(1) which represented the demographic features was mainly determined by area, occupation and education attainment. Canonical variable M(1) that reflected the utilization of reproductive health services, was mainly determined by factors as free contraceptives, education on contraception/reproductive health, and pregnancy diagnosis/antenatal care. As for the characteristics of the population mobility, canonical variable U(1), which represented population mobility characteristics, was mainly determined by factors as purpose of migration, current pattern of residence and the length of annual stay in the area. Again, the canonical variable V(1), reflecting the use of reproductive health services was mainly determined by factors as free contraceptives, check-up on reproductive tract infection, education on contraception/reproductive health, and pregnancy diagnosis/antenatal care. Conclusions: The utilization of reproductive health services was low among the internal migrant population under study. Responsible departments for health and family planning in those cities should make internal migrants attach importance to reproductive health.

The authros developed a new approach to preparing the Au@SiO2 core-shell nanostructure. The morphology and stability of the composite were characterized by the UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) methods. The stable SERS spectra were obtained from the PMBA-functionalized Au@SiO2 composite. In addition, the authros succeeded in adjusting the thickness of SiO2 layer by controlling the precursor consumption. The stability of Au@SiO2 in basic solution was studied and the results showed that the SiO2 shell was facile to be etched. The present work may provide a reference and gist for research on the preparation, storage and application of Au@SiO2.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are the typical persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the environment. As a ubiquitous attenuation course of chlorinated organic compounds in anoxic environment, the microorganism-mediated reductive dechlorination process plays an important role in PCBs transformation, especially the transformation of higher chlorinated PCBs. The higher chlorinated PCBs can be dechlorinated in anaerobic condition, and thus, their persistence and toxicity can be decreased. The resultant lower chlorinated PCBs from the dechlorination can be further degraded and completely mineralized in aerobic condition. This paper summarized the research advances of PCBs microbial reductive dechlorination, introduced the mechanisms and characteristics of the dechlorination and the related specific microorganisms, and approached the affecting factors of PCBs bio-dechlorination, as well as the significances of anaerobic dechlorination coupling with aerobic degradation. The future research directions, including the complex metabolic networks of dechlorinating microbial populations, the screening of novel specific dechlorinators and their practical applications in the remediation of PCBs contaminated sites were also prospected.

Persistent organic pollutants have increasingly become a critical environmental concern, while thermophiles have the high potential of degrading various kinds of environmental organic pollutants. At high temperatures, thermophiles have higher metabolic activity, and the competition by mesophiles is reduced, meanwhile, the solubility and bioavailability of some persistent organic pollutants are greatly increased, and thus, the degradation of the pollutants by thermophiles is more rapid and complete. Therefore, thermophils are of great significance for the bio-treatment of organic wastewater and the bioremediation of organic pollutants-contaminated sites. This paper introduced the research progress on the degradation of organic pollutants by thermophiles in terms of the characteristics of thermophiles in degrading organic pollutants, the effects of temperature on the degradation, the degradation pathways, the degradation enzymes, their coding genes, and practical engineering applications. The future research directions including the degradation mechanisms of thermophiles, their resources reserve, related technology strategies and their applications were also prospected.

Sequence to structure alignment is an important step in homology modeling of protein structures. Incorporation of features such as secondary structure, solvent accessibility, or evolutionary information improve sequence to structure alignment accuracy, but conventional generative estimation techniques for alignment models impose independence assumptions that make these features difficult to include in a principled way. In this paper, we overcome this problem using a Support Vector Machine (SVM) method that provides a well-founded way of estimating complex alignment models with hundred of thousands of parameters. Furthermore, we show that the method can be trained using a variety of loss functions. In a rigorous empirical evaluation, the SVM algorithm outperforms the generative alignment method SSALN, a highly accurate generative alignment model that incorporates structural information. The alignment model learned by the SVM aligns 50% of the residues correctly and aligns over 70% of the residues within a shift of four positions.

Objectives: To examine the gene expression profile of bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) during entochondrostosis of mice and explore the expression rules and effects between BMP-2 and VEGF, and to detect the expression of VEGF in BMP-2 induced entochondrostosis in vivo., Methods: cDNA microarray technique with 34,000 genes was used to analyze the gene expression profiles during entochondrostosis in the limbs of mice embryo from E10 to E14. Pathway analysis of BMP-2 and VEGF was performed with GCOS1.2 software. An experimental model of femoral muscular pouch in 20 mice was adopted. The expression of VEGF was examined by in situ hybridization method and immunohistochemical method in BMP-2 induced entochondrostosis in vivo., Results: The expression signals of VEGF mRNA and VEGF appeared in cytoplasm during condensation of mesenchymal cell. As the mesenchymal cells differentiated into precartilage, the expression signals decreased in mesenchymal cells, but increased in chondrocytes and kept getting denser in the process of cartilage maturity. The peak expression of VEGF mRNA and VEGF in the experimental group appeared on the 14th day, accompanied by numerous hypertrophic chondrocytes. When mature cartilage calcified and new bone trabecula formed, the expression of VEGF mRNA and VEGF decreased in chondrocytes, but still expressed moderately in the osteoblasts and osteocytes., Conclusions: The finding reveals a complex pattern of gene coexpression of BMP-2 and VEGF during the critical period of entochondrostosis. It's feasible for the clinical application of BMP-2 in orthopedics.

The aim of this study was to obtain the soluble protein of human pregnane X receptor ligand binding domain (PXRLBD) through the coexpression of PXRLBD and 88 amino acids of steroid receptor coactivator-1 (SRC88) and apply the protein to constructing a new model of screening PXR ligands. Expression plasmid of pETDuet-1-SRC88-PXRLBD was constructed and transformed into Escherichia coli Rosetta (DE3) to coexpress PXRLBD and SRC88 via induction by IPTG at low temperature. Then an equilibrium dialysis model was constructed to study the interaction between PXRLBD and drugs including clotrimazole and dexamethasone, using HPLC as the analysis method. The results showed that the soluble protein of PXRLBD was obtained and the HPLC data indicated that clotrimazole bound to PXRLBD, while dexamethasone did not bind to PXRLBD, which indicated the successful establishment of a new method for studying the interaction between PXR and drugs. The new method may be useful in the screening of PXR ligands in vitro.

Objective: To study the stereoselective glucuronidation of carvedilol (CARV) by three Chinese liver microsomes., Methods: The metabolites of CARV were identified by a hydrolysis reaction with beta-glucuronidase and HPLC-MS/MS. The enzyme kinetics for CARV enantiomers glucuronidation was determined by a reversed phase-high pressure liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) assay using (S)-propafenone as internal standard after precolumn derivatization with 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-beta-D-glucopyranosylisothiocyanate., Results: Two CARV glucuronides were found in three Chinese liver microsomes incubated with CARV. The non-linear regression analysis showed that the values of K(m) and V(max) for (S)-CARV and (R)-CARV enantiomers were (118+/-44) micromol/L, (2 500+/-833) pmol/(min.mg protein) and (24+/-7) micromol/L, (953+/-399) pmol/(min.mg protein), respectively., Conclusion: These results suggested that there was a significant (P<0.05) stereoselective glucuronidation of CARV enantiomers in three Chinese liver microsomes, which might partly explain the enantioselective pharmacokinetics of CARV.

Objective: To evaluate the effects and mechanism of radiation-sterilized allogeneic bone sheets in inducing vertebral plate regeneration after laminectomy in sheep., Methods: Twelve adult male sheep (aged 1.5 years and weighing 27 kg on average) provided by China Institute for Radiation Protection underwent L3-4 and L4-5 laminectomy. Then they were randomly divided into two groups: Group A (n=6) and Group B (n=6). The operated sites of L4-5 in Group A and L3-4 in Group B were covered by "H-shaped" freeze-drying and radiation-sterilized allogeneic bone sheets (the experimental segments), while the operated sites of L3-4 in Group A and L4-5 in Group B were uncovered as the self controls (the control segments). The regeneration process of the vertebral plate and the adhesion degree of the dura were observed at 4, 8, 12, 16, 20 and 24 weeks after operation. X-ray and CT scan were performed in both segments of L3-4 and L4-5 at 4 and 24 weeks after operation., Results: In the experimental segments, the bone sheets were located in the anatomical site of vertebral plate, and no lumbar spinal stenosis or compression of the dura was observed. The bone sheets were absorbed gradually and fused well with the regenerated vertebral plate. While in the control segments, the regeneration of vertebral plate was not completed yet, the scar was inserted into the spinal canal, compressing the dura and the spinal cord, and the epidural area almost disappeared. Compared with the control segments, the dura adhesion degree in the experimental regenerated segments was much milder (P less than 0.01), the internal volume of the vertebral canal had no obvious change and the shape of the dura sack remained well without obvious compression., Conclusions: Freeze-drying and radiation-sterilized allogeneic bone sheets are ideal materials for extradural laminoplasty due to their good biocompatibility, biomechanical characteristics and osteogenic ability. They can effectively reduce formation of post-laminectomy scars, prevent recurrence of post-laminectomy spinal stenosis, and induce regeneration of vertebral plates.

Background & Objective: Caffeine could act on cell cycle checkpoints and affect the progression of cell cycle, but its impact on apoptosis of tumor cells is in debate. This study was carried out to investigate the effects of caffeine on camptothecin-induced apoptosis and cell cycle checkpoints of leukemia cell line Molt-4., Methods: The cell apoptosis was induced by camptothecin, and caffeine was used to interfere with cell cycle checkpoints. The apoptosis rate and cell cycle during apoptosis were analyzed using sub-G1 method and Annexin V-propidium iodide (Annexin V/PI) staining., Results: Caffeine (2.0-20.0 mmon/L) had no effect on proliferation of Molt-4 cells in exponentially growth phase. Camptothecin selectively induced apoptosis of Molt-4 cells in S phase; when induced with camptothecin (0.15 micromol/L) for 4 or 6 h, the apoptosis rates were (23.69+/-2.26)% and (36.99+/-1.42)%. This cell cycle-specific apoptosis were inhibited obviously by caffeine with the apoptosis rates of (4.79+/-0.64)% and (2.69+/-0.56)%. When caffeine was removed, the apoptosis rates increased obviously to (46.23+/-0.21)% and (55.81+/-0.41)%, and still mainly happened in S phase., Conclusions: Caffeine could inhibit camptothecin-induced apoptosis of Molt-4 cells. As a drug acting on cell cycle checkpoints, caffeine could transiently shield the surveillance of checkpoints to damaged cells and inhibit cell apoptosis. The effect may be reversed when caffeine is removed away.

Objective: To examine the association between dental functional status and dietary intakes of Chinese vegetarian old age home residents., Subjects and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was performed in a group of 76 older vegetarian Chinese women living in an old age home. Oral examination was performed by a dental surgeon. Sixty-eight of them had a 24-hour food record by direct observation, analysed by a Chinese food composition table. Nutritional status was measured by Body Mass Index (BMI), and the functional status by modified Barthel Index (BI)., Results: Forty-two subjects (55.3%) were edentulous; 59 subjects (77.6%) had chewing difficulties; 35 subjects (46%) had poor dental functional status defined by having five or less functional teeth unit (FTU). When compared with those older people with better dental functional status, the poor dental functional status group was more likely to have chewing difficulties, tolerate soft diet only, and be functionally dependent (BI < 15/20). Poor dental functional status was associated with lower mean daily fibre intake, but not with intakes of macronutrients and micronutrients, after adjustment by BI categories., Conclusion: Poor dental functional status is associated with impaired chewing and lower fibre intake in Chinese vegetarian old age home residents, but it is not associated with reduced intakes of macronutrients or micronutrients.

We investigated the average operating time and extent of intra-operative blood loss in orthognathic surgeries performed using induced hypotensive general anaesthesia, with the intention of devising a practical guideline for blood unit preparation for these procedures. We prospectively studied 32 Chinese patients undergoing surgery to correct dentofacial deformities at a public hospital in Hong Kong from 1 December 1997 to 1 December 1998. Most patients (72. 4%) needed double-jaw surgery. The mean estimated blood loss was approximately 617.6 mL. The blood loss during simple Le Fort I osteotomies was about half that of multiple segmentalised osteotomies. For mandibular ramus osteotomies, the mean blood loss and operating time for were approximately 280 mL and 2 hours, respectively; for anterior mandibular osteotomies, the corresponding values were 171.3 mL and 1 hour 13 minutes. The average drop in the haematocrit value was 15.4%, and the crossmatch to transfusion ratio was 29. A bivariate correlation test between the blood loss and operating time gave a strong correlation (P<0.01), as did blood loss with a drop in haematocrit value (P<0.01). Orthognathic surgeries are thus safe and predictable in terms of intra-operative blood loss and operating time, and a 'type, screen, and save' policy for blood unit preparation is more appropriate than a 'crossmatch' policy.

A series of 5-phenyl-2-furamidines has been synthesized and evaluated for antidepressant activities. Substitution in the phenyl ring with a nitro (4) or an amino (12) group in the ortho-position resulted in an increase in antidepressant activity. Both 4 and 12 antagonized tetrabenazine-induced ptosis in rodents and inhibited norepinephrine (noradrenaline) uptake into crude synaptosomes of whole mouse brain at doses or concentrations comparable to those of the tricyclic antidepressants. However, these compounds did not possess the anticholinergic and antihistaminic activities common to tricyclic antidepressants. In addition, they lacked monoamine oxidase inhibitory activity. The 5-phenyl-2-furamidines represent a new chemical class of antidepressants and may be useful for depressive patients who cannot tolerate the compromising side effects of the tricyclic antidepressants and monoamine oxidase inhibitors.