Circulating microRNA 134 sheds light on the diagnosis of major depressive disorder.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a prevalent and debilitating psychiatric mood disorder that lacks objective laboratory-based tests to support its diagnosis. A class of microRNAs (miRNAs) has been found to be centrally involved in regulating many molecular processes fundamental to central nervous system function. Among these miRNAs, miRNA-134 (miR-134) has been reported to be related to neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity. In this study, the hypothesis that plasma miR-134 can be used to diagnose MDD was tested. Perturbation of peripheral and central miR-134 in a depressive-like rat model was also examined. By reverse-transcription quantitative PCR, miR-134 was comparatively measured in a small set of plasma samples from MDD and healthy control (HC) subjects. To determine its diagnostic efficacy, plasma miR-134 levels were assessed in 100 MDD, 50 bipolar disorder (BD), 50 schizophrenic (SCZ), and 100 HC subjects. A chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) rat model was also developed to evaluate miR-134 expression in plasma, hippocampus (HIP), prefrontal cortex (PFC), and olfactory bulb. We found that plasma miR-134 was significantly downregulated in MDD subjects. Diagnostically, plasma miR-134 levels could effectively distinguish MDD from HC with 79% sensitivity and 84% specificity, while distinguishing MDD from HC, BD, and SCZ subjects with 79% sensitivity and 76.5% specificity. Congruent with these clinical findings, CUMS significantly reduced miR-134 levels in the rat plasma, HIP, and PFC. Although limited by the relatively small sample size, these results demonstrated that plasma miR-134 displays potential ability as a biomarker for MDD.

Innovative methodology for recovering titanium and chromium from a raw ilmenite concentrate by magnetic separation after modifying magnetic properties.

Raw ilmenite concentrate containing Cr can be either as a resource or as one kind of the most hazardous solid waste. In order to recover titanium and chromium from the raw concentrate which was separated from the Promenade deposit, Gaza province, Mozambique, an innovative technology using modification of magnetic property followed by magnetic separation was proposed. Magnetic property, phase and surface morphology of the sample before and after oxidizing roasting were firstly characterized by magnetism, chemistry, XRD and MLA analyses to interpret the mechanism of oxidizing roasting of the ilmenite. Then, these factors such as oxidizing roasting temperature, residence time and magnetic induction affecting on magnetic separation performance were examined and the optimum process parameters were determined. A commercial concentrate containing 47.94% TiO2 and 0.23% Cr2O3 was obtained and the recovery of TiO2 and Cr2O3 was 78.52% and 5.42%, respectively. The tailing obtained was preliminarily concentrated by a high-intensity magnetic separator and a rough chromite concentrate was gained. In order to further purify the rough one, reducing roasting was carried out to transform the minerals containing hematite into the minerals containing magnetite, followed by a low-intensity magnetic separation. The effects of these parameters such as temperature, carbon powder dosage, holding time and magnetic induction on magnetic separation performance were investigated and the optimal conditions were determined. A concentrate containing 28.65% Cr2O3 was obtained and the total recovery of Cr2O3 was 84.18%.

[Three-dimensional imaging for quantitative evaluation of facial profile of edentulous patients before and after complete dentures restoration].

OBJECTIVE: To collect and analyze the Three-dimensional (3D) facial profile variation of edentulous patients restored by complete denture. METHODS: The 3D facial images of 20 Atwood Class II edentulous patients were taken by DSC-2 3D facial imaging system before and after restoration of complete denture. Then, the two 3D facial images of each patient before and after restoration were registered in the same coordinate system by partial structure overlap. The differences between these two 3D facial images were statistically analyzed. RESULTS: The major facial profile variation of Atwood Class II edentulous patients restored by complete denture focused in the area around the upper lip and the corner of the mouth. The change of lower lip and chin area was not obvious. The shift in the sagittal direction was significantly more evident than that in the vertical direction, while the shift in the horizontal direction was the least one. CONCLUSION: The pattern of facial profile variation of edentulous patients restored by complete denture based on 3D imaging may provide reliable data support for prediction and communication in clinical practice.

Chemical composition, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of essential oil from Ampelopsis megalophylla.

Chemical composition, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of the essential oil of Ampelopsis megalophylla were evaluated in this research. GC-MS analysis of the essential oil revealed 42 compounds, representing 88.54% of the oil. The major compounds were borneol (10.81%), α-pinene (6.74%) and ß-elemene (6.23%). The antimicrobial activity of the essential oil was evaluated against 13 micro-organisms using the disc diffusion and broth microdilution methods. Results demonstrated higher effects of this oil against Gram-positive bacteria than the other reference strains tested. The antioxidant effect of the essential oil was evaluated by using 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,20-azinobis-3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonate scavenging assays. The essential oil exhibited moderate antioxidant activity.

[µ-11,23-Dibromo-3,7,15,19-tetra-aza-tri-cyclo-[19.3.1.1]hexa-cosa-1(25),2,7,9,11,13(26),14,19,21,23-deca-ene-25,26-diolato-κN,N,O,O':κO,O',N,N]bis[perchloratocopper(II)].

The title complex, [Cu(2)(C(22)H(20)Br(2)N(4)O(2))(ClO(4))(2)], was prepared by the condensation of 2,6-diformyl-4-bromo-phenol with 1,3-diamino-propane in the presence of copper(II) ions. The macrocyclic ligand shows an approximately planar structure except for the two propene groups in the macrocycle. The coordination polyhedron of each Cu atom can be described as distorted square pyramidal. The two Cu atoms are bridged by two phenolate O atoms of the macrocycle, with a Cu⋯Cu distance of 3.109 (2) Å.

[The effect of simulate intraoral sandblasting on the band strength between enamel and composite resin].

OBJECTIVE: To study whether the bond strength between enamel and composite resin could be enhanced by intraoral sand abrasive. METHODS: Ten human maxillary first incisior teeth were divided into 2 groups The experimental group was sandblasted with 30 microm Al2O3 (CoJet-Sand, pressure 300 kPa) from a distance of 5 mm for 5 seconds, and the control group were not sandblasted. The Herculite composite resin composite cylinders were bonded with Coltene system. Bonded specimens were stored in 37 degrees C distilled water for 24 h, then were subjected to shear force in a testing machine. Stress at failure was calculated in Mpa, and mode of failure was recorded. The Student t test was applied to the data. RESULTS: The shear bond strength of experimental groups was (33.0+/-1.8) MPa, and that of control groups was (26.7+/-5.2) MPa,there was significant difference between these two groups. All the adhesive failures happened at the enamel composite resin interface, except that cohesive failure happened in one sandblasted specimen. CONCLUSION: Intraoral sandblasting could significantly enhance the shear bond strength between enamel and composite resin.