Donor-Acceptor Assembly of Amphiphilic Molecules Based on 9,10-Distyrylanthracene Derivatives with Terminal Naphthalene Groups.

Amphiphilic rod-coil compounds have excellent photophysical properties and can be assembled into supramolecular nanostructures of different sizes in water or polar solvents. Herein, we synthesized the amphiphilic compounds 2N-DSA, 4N-DSA, and 6N-DSA with 9,10-distyrylanthracene (DSA) as the core and a naphthalene unit as the terminal group that connected DSA through a tetraethylene glycol chain. These compounds have excellent aggregation-induced emission (AIE) properties in aqueous solution and are assembled into worm-like fragments or different sizes of spherical assemblies, defending the volume ratio of the rod to coil segments. Notably, the donor-acceptor interaction between DSA and electron- deficient compounds 2,4,6-trinitrophenol (TNP), 2,4,5,7-tetranitrofluorenone (TNF), and tetraethylene glycol dinitrobenzoate (TGDNB) forms a charge transfer complex, which can be used as a nanoreactor to improve the yield of the Suzuki coupling reaction about 8-10 times. The experimental results reveal that the synergy effect of the donor-acceptor, intermolecular π-π stacking, and hydrophobic-hydrophilic interactions significantly influences the morphology of aggregates and the efficiency of the nanoreactor.

Stimuli-Responsive Supramolecular Chirality Switching and Nanoassembly Constructed by n-Shaped Amphiphilic Molecules in Aqueous Solution.

Self-assembled nanomaterials composed of amphiphilic oligomers with functional groups have been applied in the fields of biomimetic chemistry and on-demand delivery systems. Herein, we report the assembly behavior and unique properties of an emergent n-shaped rod-coil molecule containing an azobenzene (AZO) group upon application of an external stimulus (thermal, UV light). The n-shaped amphiphilic molecules comprising an aromatic segment based on anthracene, phenyl linked with azobenzene groups, and hydrophilic oligoether (chiral) segments self-assemble into large strip-like sheets and perforated-nanocage fragments in an aqueous environment, depending on the flexible oligoether chains. Interestingly, the nano-objects formed in aqueous solution undergo a morphological transition from sheets and nanocages to small one-dimensional nanofibers. These molecules exhibit reversible photo- and thermal-responsiveness, accompanied by a change in the supramolecular chirality caused by the conformational transitions of the rod backbone. The architecture of n-shaped amphiphilic molecules with a photosensitive group makes them ideal candidates for intelligent materials for applications in advanced materials science.

The relationship between molecular structure and supramolecular morphology in the self-assembly of rod-coil molecules with oligoether chains.

Controlling the morphology of rod-coil molecular aggregates is crucial for studying and obtaining functional materials with exceptional properties. In this paper, we report the construction of rod-coil molecular nanoaggregates with well-defined structures. The rod-coil molecules, labeled 1a-1d, consist of a rod section, composed of phenyl and biphenyl groups, and oligoether chains with 7 and 12 repeating units. The final assembled structures showed either oblique or hexagonal columnar structures, depending on the length of the coils in the bulk state. Interestingly, in water, molecules 1a and 1c self-assemble into scrolled nanofibers and cylindrical micelles. Instead, molecules 1b and 1d, which have methyl groups decorated at the interface of the rod and coil sections, self-organize into helical nanofibers and nanorings, respectively. Thus, controlling the length of the coil chains and inserting lateral methyl groups is an effective strategy to construct precise rod-coil molecular assemblies in the bulk and in aqueous solution.

Cognitive dysfunction associated with activation of the mTOR signaling pathway after TSH suppression therapy in rats.

Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) suppression therapy after thyroid carcinoma surgery could lead to cognitive impairment. But, the possible mechanism of TSH suppression therapy impairs cognitive function is yet unknown. In this study, forty Wistar rats were randomized into the sham operation control (OC), total thyroidectomy (TD), thyroxine replacement therapy (TR), and TSH suppression therapy (TS) groups. We observed that compared to the OC group, escape latency on 1-4 days was significantly prolonged in the TD and TS groups, and the number of rats crossing the virtual platform was significantly reduced in the TD and TS groups. In the TD, TR, and TS groups, the residence time in the target quadrant was significantly decreased, while the activity distance in the target quadrant in the TD group was significantly decreased compared with OC group. In the TD and TS groups, the pyramidal cells in the hippocampal CA1 region showed a disordered arrangement. The cytoplasm was lightly stained, the cells were swollen and round, and spotty liquefaction necrosis could be observed. Compared to the OC group, hippocampal p-mTOR and p-p70s6k levels were significantly decreased in the TD group, while no significant changes were detected in the TR group. Hippocampal p-mTOR and p-p70s6k amounts in the TS group were significantly increased compared with OC group. These results indicated that TSH suppression therapy after total thyroidectomy in rats could impair cognitive function, which might be related to the activation of the mTOR signaling pathway and the damage and necrosis of hippocampal neurons.

Supramolecular nanostructures constructed by rod-coil molecular isomers: effect of rod sequences on molecular assembly.

Coil-rod-coil molecules, composed of flexible oligoether chains and conjugated rod blocks, have a well-known ability to produce various nanostructures in bulk and in aqueous solution. Herein we report the synthesis and self-assembly of coil-rod-coil molecules based on the sequence of the rod building block and the type of oligoether coil chain. These molecules consist of conjugated rod segments, which are composed of biphenyl, terphenyl, and acetylenic bonds, with chiral oligoether chains as flexible coil segments. The experimental results imply that the sequence of the rod segments markedly influences the self-assembled nanostructures of coil-rod-coil molecules in the bulk state, and that the type of coil chain strongly affects the morphology of the supramolecular nanoassemblies of these molecules in aqueous solution. In the bulk state, molecules 1a and 1b, which contain biphenyl units connected to the end of the coil segments self-organize into a hexagonal perforated lamellar phase, and oblique columnar and body-centred tetragonal structures, respectively. However, molecules 2a and 2b bearing terphenyl units linked to the end of the coil segments self-assemble into lamellar, hexagonal perforated lamellar and hexagonal columnar structures. In aqueous solution, rod-coil molecular isomers with linear chiral oligoether chains self-assemble into helical nanofibres of various lengths. Meanwhile, isomers with chiral oligoether dendron chains self-organize into sheet-like nanoribbons of different sizes.

Morphological Control of Coil-Rod-Coil Molecules Containing m-Terphenyl Group: Construction of Helical Fibers and Helical Nanorings in Aqueous Solution.

Rod-coil molecules, composed of rigid segments and flexible coil chains, have a strong intrinsic ability to self-assemble into diverse supramolecular nanostructures. Herein, we report the synthesis and the morphological control of a new series of amphiphilic coil-rod-coil molecular isomers 1-2 containing flexible oligoether chains. These molecules are comprised of m-terphenyl and biphenyl groups, along with triple bonds, and possess lateral methyl or butyl groups at the coil or rod segments. The results of this study suggest that the morphology of supramolecular aggregates is significantly influenced by the lateral alkyl groups and by the sequence of the rigid fragments in the bulk and in aqueous solution. The molecules with different coils self-assemble into lamellar or oblique columnar structures in the bulk state. In aqueous solution, molecule 1a, with a lack of lateral groups, self-assembled into large strips of sheets, whereas exquisite nanostructures of helical fibers were obtained from molecule 1b, which incorporated lateral methyl groups between the rod and coil segments. Interestingly, molecule 1c with lateral butyl and methyl groups exhibited a strong self-organizing capacity to form helical nanorings. Nanoribbons, helical fibers, and small nanorings were simultaneously formed from the 2a-2c, which are structural isomers of 1a, 1b, and 1c. Accurate control of these supramolecular nanostructures can be achieved by tuning the synergistic interactions of the noncovalent driving force with hydrophilic-hydrophobic interactions in aqueous solution.

Association of Subclinical Thyroid Dysfunction with Cognitive Impairment in Rats: The Role of Autophagy.

BACKGROUND: We investigated the effect of subclinical hyperthyroidism and subclinical hypothyroidism on cognitive function in rats and the role of autophagy in this process. METHODS: Forty Wistar rats were randomized into normal control (NC), hyperthyroidism (Hyper), hypothyroidism (Hypo), subclinical hyperthyroidism (sHyper), and subclinical hypothyroidism (sHypo) groups. Cognitive function (spatial learning and memory) was tested by the Morris water maze test. Hippocampal histopathology was analyzed by H&E staining, and expression levels of caspase-3 in hippocampal CA1 neurons were measured. In addition, immunoblot analysis was performed to detect hippocampal autophagy-related proteins. RESULTS: Escape latency from day 1 to day 4 was significantly longer in the Hypo, Hyper, and sHyper groups than in the NC group (P < 0.01). In addition, the number of rats crossing the virtual platform was significantly lower in the Hypo, Hyper, and sHyper groups than in the NC group (P < 0.01). Compared with the NC group, all four groups had significantly lower residence time in the target quadrant (P < 0.05). Beclin-1 and LC3-II protein expression in hippocampal tissues was significantly higher in the Hyper and sHyper groups than in the NC group (P < 0.01). Beclin-1 and LC3-II protein expression in hippocampal tissues did not significantly differ between the sHypo group and NC group (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Subclinical thyroid dysfunction in rats might lead to cognitive impairment. Subclinical hyperthyroidism might be associated with excessive activation of autophagy and hippocampal neuron damage and necrosis.

Active dry yeast supplementation benefits ruminal fermentation, bacterial community, blood immunoglobulins, and growth performance in young dairy goats, but not for intermittent supplementation.

This study evaluated the effects of active dry yeast (ADY) supplementation and supplementation strategies on ruminal fermentation, bacterial community, blood metabolites, and growth performance in young dairy goats. Sixty young female Guanzhong dairy goats of similar age (4.00 ± 0.50 months) and BW (19.65 ± 0.41 kg) were randomly divided into 3 groups (n = 20): (1) basal diet group (CON); (2) basal diet continuously supplemented with 3.0 g/goat per day commercial ADY (a proprietary strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae with 5.0 × 109 cfu/g) group (CSY); (3) basal diet with intermittently supplemented ADY group (ISY; 5 d supplementation with ADY at 4.5 g/goat per day following 5 d of no supplementation). The experiment lasted 67 d with the first 7 d as an adaptive period. Rumen fluid and blood samples were collected bi-weekly. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure combined with the SLICE option in SAS. Specific orthogonal contrasts of ADY vs. CON and CSY vs. ISY were also analyzed. During the experimental period, ADY supplementation resulted in greater DMI (P = 0.03), ruminal acetate proportion (P < 0.01) and acetylesterase activity (P = 0.01), and blood contents of glucose (P = 0.01) and IgM (P = 0.02) and tended to have greater ADG (P = 0.05) and paunch girth (P = 0.06) than the CON, despite the propionate proportion (P = 0.03) and contents of total protein (P = 0.04) and IgA (P = 0.03) being lower. The lower ruminal NH3-N (P < 0.01) and blood urea nitrogen (P = 0.07) contents indicated greater nitrogen utilization with ADY supplementation. ADY supplementation showed persistent effects after it was stopped because the BW at 12 months of age (P = 0.03) and birth weight of lambs (P = 0.02) were greater than the CON. However, the ISY did not show those benefits and had significantly lower relative abundances of fiber-degrading related bacteria than the CSY. In conclusion, ADY supplementation, especially continuously supplemented, may enhance ADG and ADG:DMI ratio by improving DMI, ruminal cellulolytic bacteria abundance and enzyme activity, nitrogen utilization, and immune status. These findings provide a theoretical basis for the rational application of ADY and have important practical implications for the design of nutritional strategies in growing dairy goats.

Hierarchical porous photosensitizers with efficient photooxidation.

Photosensitizers (PSs) with nano- or micro-sized pore provide a great promise in the conversion of light energy into chemical fuel due to the excellent promotion for transporting singlet oxygen (1O2) into active sites. Despite such hollow PSs can be achieved by introducing molecular-level PSs into porous skeleton, however, the catalytic efficiency is far away from imagination because of the problems with pore deformation and blocking. Here, very ordered porous PSs with excellent 1O2 generation are presented from cross-linking of hierarchical porous laminates originated by co-assembly of hydrogen donative PSs and functionalized acceptor. The catalytic performance strongly depends on the preformed porous architectures, which is regulated by special recognition of hydrogen binding. As the increasing of hydrogen acceptor quantities, 2D-organized PSs laminates gradually transform into uniformly perforated porous layers with highly dispersed molecular PSs. The premature termination by porous assembly endows superior activity as well as specific selectivity for the photo-oxidative degradation, which contributes to efficient purification in aryl-bromination without any postprocessing.

Controlled assembly of photosensitizers through directional interactions for effective photooxidation.

Despite the fact that effective photosensitizers (PSs) can be achieved through rational molecular design, controlling the hierarchical assemblies of individual PSs with distinct function and morphological nanoscopic architectures remains a challenge. Here, very ordered one-dimensional PS polymers and their hollow tubular structures are presented from aqueous assembly of organic PS-based di- or tri-blocked supramolecules. Di-blocked PSs were interdigitated into 1D fibrils, significantly quenching photooxidation. Meanwhile, tri-blocked PSs were tilted with respect to each other to generate hollow tubules, showing remarkable photo-activities as well as photo-stability, which are particularly suited for green chemistry due to their unusual rapid photo-oxidation.

Comprehensive analysis of DNA methylation for periodontitis.

BACKGROUND: Periodontitis is an infectious disease, and a risk factor for peri-implantitis that could result in the implant loss. DNA methylation has an essential role in the etiology and pathogenesis of inflammatory disease. However, there is lack of study on methylation status of genes in periodontitis. This study sought to explore the gene methylation profiling microarray in periodontitis. METHODS: Through searching in the Gene Expression Omnibus database, a gene methylation profiling data set GSE173081 was identified, which included 12 periodontitis samples and 12 normal samples, respectively. Thereafter, the data of GSE173081 was downloaded and analyzed to determined differentially methylated genes (DMGs), which then were used to perform Gene Ontology analysis and pathway enrichment analyses through online database. In addition, the DMGs were applied to construct the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network information, predict the hub genes in pathology of periodontitis. RESULTS: In total 668 DMGs were sorted and identified from the data set, which included 621 hypo-methylated genes and 47 hyper-methylated genes. Through the function and ontology analysis, these 668 genes are mainly classified into intracellular signaling pathway, cell components, cell-cell interaction, and cellular behaviors. The pathway analysis showed that the hypo-methylated genes were mostly enriched in the pathway of cGMP-PKG signaling pathway; RAF/MAP kinase; PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, while hyper-methylated genes were mostly enriched in the pathway of bacterial invasion of epithelial cells; sphingolipid signaling pathway and DCC mediated attractive signaling. The PPI network contained 630 nodes and 1790 interactions. Moreover, further analysis identified top 10 hub genes (APP; PAX6; LPAR1; WNT3A; BMP2; PI3KR2; GATA4; PLCB1; GATA6; CXCL12) as central nodes that are involved in the immune system and the inflammatory response. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides comprehensive information of methylation status of genes to the revelation of periodontitis pathogenesis that may contribute to future research on periodontitis.

Enhancing Performance and Stability of Perovskite Solar Cells through Surface Defect Passivation with Organic Bidentate Lewis Bases.

Organic Lewis bases [2,2'-bipyridine (BPY), 4-hydroxy-1,5-naphthyridine-3-carbonitrile (DQCN), and thenoyltrifluoroacetone (TTFA)] with bi-coordination sites of N and O were employed as perovskite surface defect passivants to address the efficiency and stability issues of perovskite solar cells (PSCs), with typical phenethylammonium iodide (PEAI) and piperazinium iodide (PI) passivants as reference. The surface properties of the perovskite films before and after passivation were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared, ultraviolet-visible, photoluminescence (PL), and time-resolved PL spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy. The characterizations reveal that BPY, DQCN, or TTFA forms coordination bonds with exposed "Pb2+", leading to a slight decrease in the highest occupied molecular orbital or lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energy level and bandgap. These passivants (especially TTFA) can passivate the perovskite surface defects to inhibit non-radiative recombination while having almost no influence on the grain size and surface morphology. Utilizing the passivated perovskite as the light absorption layer, solar cells with an inverted configuration of indium tin oxide/NiO x /passivated MAPbCl x I3-x /C60/BCP/Ag have been fabricated, and power conversion efficiencies of 19.22, 17.85, 16.49, 16.31, and 17.88% have been achieved from PEAI, PI, BPY, DQCN, and TTFA, respectively. All the device performance based on passivated perovskite is superior to that of the control (15.75%) owing to the reduced carrier recombination. The device from TTFA exhibits almost comparable efficiency to that of PEAI and PI controls, indicating that TTFA has an equal excellent passivation effect to state-of-the-art PEAI and PI. Furthermore, the devices based on BPY, DQCN, and TTFA show superior long-term stability with an efficiency loss of only 13.2, 16.7, and 12.9%, respectively, after being stored for 40 days in a ∼12% humidity, low-oxygen level environment, which is 45.4, 38.8, and 44.4% for the control, PEAI, and PI devices, respectively, primarily due to the improved hydrophobicity of the perovskite surface. Our results demonstrate that it is feasible to achieve high-efficiency and long-term-stable perovskite solar cells via selecting the appropriate molecules to passivate perovskite surface defects.

Real-time monitoring of ruminal microbiota reveals their roles in dairy goats during subacute ruminal acidosis.

Ruminal microbiota changes frequently with high grain diets and the occurrence of subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA). A grain-induced goat model of SARA, with durations of a significant decrease in the rumen pH value to less than 5.6 and an increase in the rumen lipopolysaccharides concentration, is constructed for real-time monitoring of bacteria alteration. Using 16 S rRNA gene sequencing, significant bacterial differences between goats from the SARA and healthy groups are identified at every hour for six continuous hours after feeding. Moreover, 29 common differential genera between two groups over 6 h after feeding are all related to the altered pH and lipopolysaccharides. Transplanting the microbiota from donor goats with SARA could induce colonic inflammation in antibiotic-pretreated mice. Overall, significant differences in the bacterial community and rumen fermentation pattern between the healthy and SARA dairy goats are real-time monitored, and then tested using ruminal microbe transplantation to antibiotic-treated mice.

Effect of hepatic blood inflow occlusion without hemihepatic artery control on apoptosis of liver cells in rats.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To investigate the effect of hepatic blood inflow occlusion without hemihepatic artery control on the apoptosis of liver cells during ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats. METHODOLOGY: Animal models of three hepatic vascular occlusion methods were established. Hepatic blood inflow occlusion without hemihepatic artery control (WH group), hemihepatic vascular occlusion (HH group) and Pringle maneuver (PR group) were compared. RESULTS: At each time point after reperfusion, ALT, AST, and apoptosis rates were significantly higher in the PR group than in the HH group or the WH group (p < 0.01), and the pathology and hepatocyte ultrastructure at 6 hours after reperfusion were significantly worse in the PR group than in the HH group or the WH group (p < 0.01). ALT, AST, apoptosis rate, pathology and hepatocyte ultrastructure at 6 hours after reperfusion were not significantly different between the WH group and the HH group (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Hepatic blood inflow occlusion without hemihepatic artery control can reduce hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury, and the effect is similar to that of hemihepatic vascular occlusion.

Proteomic analysis of the papillary thyroid microcarcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: The present study applied iTRAQ and LC-MS/MS techniques for proteome analysis and compared data between specimens of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) vs appropriate controls, in order to investigate the mechanisms underlying the invasion and metastasis process in PTMC development. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fresh-tissue specimens were collected from 40 patients with thyroid disease who underwent surgical treatment. Specimens were divided into four groups: normal histology (NH; n=8), benign thyroid tumor (BTT; n=10), classic PTMC with lymph node metastasis (PTC-LNM(+); n=11), and classic PTMC without lymph node metastasis (PTC-LNM(-); n=11). Proteomic studies were conducted on PTMC tissue samples without capsule invasion and with tumor diameter ranging from 0.5cm to 1cm, so as to focus the study on PTMC development excluding metastasis. RESULTS: A total of 8036 proteins were identified in the four groups. Based on protein function analysis, proteins that might be associated with PTMC invasion and metastasis were screened: alpha-actinin-1, alpha-1-antitrypsin, hepatoma-derived growth factor (HDGF), high-mobility group protein HMGI-C, and carbonic anhydrase 4. In addition, proteins involved in the focal adhesion pathway were examined. Immunohistochemistry confirmed the reliability of the iTRAQ results and the universality of differentially expressed proteins. The data showed that HDGF and high-mobility group protein HMGI-C are up-regulated in PTMC and that the focal adhesion pathway that promotes PTMC LNM is activated. CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide insight into the mechanisms underlying PTMC invasion and metastasis.

Naming difficulties after thyroid stimulating hormone suppression therapy in patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) suppression therapy after differentiated thyroid carcinoma surgery causes cognitive impairment. However, data on naming difficulties (anomia)-related specific cognitive impairment are lacking. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was conducted, in which, patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma and benign thyroid nodules were given oral L-T4 therapy after surgery, after meeting the criteria of TSH suppression therapy and thyroxine replacement therapy, respectively, the patients were continually given L-T4 therapy for 6 and 12 months, and then, the neuropsychological test was performed. RESULTS: Of the 255 subjects, 212 cases (83.13%) completed all the tests, including 33 cases in the normal control group (NC group), 110 cases in the TSH suppression therapy group (TS group), and 69 cases in the thyroxine replacement therapy group (TR group). There was no significant difference in background data among the three groups (P > 0.05). The scores of mini-mental state examination, clock drawing test, digit symbol substitution test, personal history, temporal and spatial orientation, digit order relation, visual object recognition, associative learning, and color naming in the TS and TR groups were not significantly different from those in the NC group after 6 and 12 months of L-T4 therapy (P > 0.05); the scores of picture recall, visual recall, comprehension memory, and digit span forward in the TS and TR groups were notably lower than those in the NC group (P < 0.01); the scores of confrontation naming and listing the names in the TS group were significantly lower than those in the NC and TR groups, and the scores decreased with the prolongation of TSH suppression therapy (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: TSH suppression therapy after differentiated thyroid carcinoma surgery could lead to short-term memory impairment, attention impairment, word selection anomia, and depression, of which, word selection anomia was aggravated with the prolongation of TSH suppression therapy. Therefore, we suggested that optimal TSH goals for individual patients must balance the potential benefit of TSH suppression therapy with the possible harm from subclinical hyperthyroidism especially in low risk differentiated thyroid carcinoma patients (ClinicalTrials.gov Protocol Registration System: ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT0266532, Registered on 21 June 2016).

Specific enrichment of microbes and increased ruminal propionate production: the potential mechanism underlying the high energy efficiency of Holstein heifers fed steam-flaked corn.

Corn grain has a high starch content and is used as main energy source in ruminant diets. Compared with finely ground corn (FGC), steam-flaked corn (SFC) could improve the milk yield of lactating dairy cows and the growth performance of feedlot cattle, but the detailed mechanisms underlying those finding are unknown. The rumen microbiome breaks down feedstuffs into energy substrates for the host animals, and contributes to feed efficiency. Therefore, the current study was conducted to investigate the ruminal bacterial community changes of heifers fed differently processed corn (SFC or FGC) using 16S rRNA sequencing technologies, and to uncover the detailed mechanisms underlying the high performance of ruminants fed the SFC diet. The results revealed that different processing methods changed the rumen characteristics and impacted the composition of the rumen bacteria. The SFC diet resulted in an increased average daily gain in heifers, an increased rumen propionate concentration and a decreased rumen ammonia nitrogen concentration. The relative abundance of the phylum Firmicutes and Proteobacteria were tended to increase or significantly increased in the heifers fed SFC diet compared with FGC diet. In addition, the relative abundance of amylolytic bacteria of the genera Succinivibrio, Roseburia and Blautia were elevated, and the cellulolytic bacteria (Ruminococcaceae_UCG-014 and Ruminococcaceae_UCG-013) were decreased by the steam flaking method. Spearman correlation analysis between the ruminal bacteria and the microbial metabolites showed that the rumen propionate concentration was positively correlated with genera Succinivibrio and Blautia abundance, but negatively correlated with genera Ruminococcaceae_UCG-014 abundance. Evident patterns of efficient improvement in rumen propionate and changes in rumen microbes to further improve feed conversion were identified. This observation uncovers the potential mechanisms underlying the increased efficiency of the SFC processing method for enhancing ruminant performance.

Effect of PrP105-132 on the secretion of interleukin-6 and interleukin-8 from microglial cells in vitro.

In the present study, the effect of prion protein (PrP) on the secretion of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-8 from microglial cells in vitro and its possible underlying pathway were investigating by establishing a cell model for prion disease. Rat neuroglial cells were cultured in vitro, and were treated with 80 µM PrP peptides 105-132 (PrP105-132) only, PrP+MG132 or PrP+cyclosporin A (CsA). After 48 h, the IL-6 and IL-8 levels in the supernatant fluid of the treated cells were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In addition, the expression levels of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) were evaluated using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The results indicated that the microglial cells were activated by treatment with PrP peptides. Cell bodies were augmented and appeared to have round, rod and amoeba-like shapes. In addition, the protuberances were shortened and eventually disappeared. Furthermore, the mRNA expression levels of NF-κB and NFAT in microglial cells increased, as well as the IL-6 and IL-8 levels in the supernatant fluid after treatment with PrP. However, the mRNA expression levels of NF-κB, and the IL-6 and IL-8 levels decreased after these cells were treated with MG132, a specific inhibitor of NF-κB. The mRNA expression of NFAT decreased after these cells were treated with CsA, a specific inhibitor of NFAT; however, the IL-6 level decreased, while no significant difference was observed in the IL-8 level. In conclusion, PrP-treated microglial cells secreted IL-6 and IL-8, and the secretion of IL-6 was associated with the activation of NF-κB and NFAT pathways. In addition, the secretion of IL-8 was mainly dependent on the NF-κB pathway.

Signaling Pathways in Thyroid Cancer.

The morbidity of thyroid cancer is increasing gradually year by year, showing an increasing tendency in nationality, sex, age, tumor size, and tumor staging. The changes of thyroid cell genes, signaling pathways, and related molecular dysfunction promote the occurrence, development, invasion, and metastasis of thyroid cancer. Surgical operation, radioiodine, and endocrinotherapy models can achieve a better prognosis for most patients with thyroid cancer. Although targeted therapeutic drugs bring possible therapeutic opportunities for refractory thyroid cancer, there is a great gap between their predictive value and their actual efficacy. Currently, there is still no completely effective drug for the treatment. Based on the signaling pathways, the "reclaim therapy" for residual tumor and systemic intervention aims to increase anticancer ability and to encourage new directions and thoughts in the treatment of refractory thyroid cancer.

Establishing a prediction model for lateral neck lymph node metastasis in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma.

This study aimed to establish a model for predicting lateral neck lymph node metastasis in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma. A total of 106 patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma undergoing initial treatment of neck lymph node dissection (including central and lateral neck lymph nodes) at the thyroid surgery department were enrolled from January 2009 to April 2017. Logistic regression analysis was used to screen the factors influencing lateral neck lymph node metastasis and develop a prediction model. The receiver operating characteristic curve was used to evaluate the predictive power and boundary value of the model for lateral neck lymph node metastasis. Prediction model: Logistic(P) = -5.699 + 0.681 × (TSH) + 0.342 × (Metastatic rate of central lymph nodes) + 1.463 × (Combined with Hashimoto's disease) + 1.525 × (Number of tumors). When logistic (P) was ≥ 0.821, it was predicted that lateral neck lymph node metastasis occurred in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma. When logistic (P) was <0.821, it was predicted that no metastasis was found in the lateral neck lymph node. The prediction accuracy was 78.3%. The model helped in evaluating lateral neck lymph node metastasis in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma. Also, it had significance in determining reasonable surgical range, reducing unnecessary lateral neck lymph node dissection, and further improving the quality of life of patients.