Preservation of the celiac branch of the vagus nerve reduces the incidence of postoperative diarrhea in gastric cancer: a cohort study.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the short-term and long-term outcomes of preserving the celiac branch of the vagus nerve during laparoscopic distal gastrectomy. METHODS: A total of 149 patients with prospective diagnosis of gastric cancer who underwent laparoscopic-assisted distal gastrectomy (LADG) combined with Billroth-II anastomosis and D2 lymph node dissection between 2017 and 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into the preserved LADG group (P-LADG, n = 56) and the resected LADG group (R-LADG, n = 93) according to whether the vagus nerve celiac branch was preserved. We selected 56 patients (P-LADG, n = 56) with preservation of the celiac branch of the vagus nerve and 56 patients (R-LADG, n = 56) with removal of the celiac branch of the vagus nerve by propensity-matched score method. Postoperative nutritional status, weight change, short-term and long-term postoperative complications, and gallstone formation were evaluated in both groups at 5 years of postoperative follow-up. The status of residual gastritis and bile reflux was assessed endoscopically at 12 months postoperatively. RESULTS: The incidence of diarrhea at 5 years postoperatively was lower in the P-LADG group than in the R-LADG group (p < 0.05). In the multivariate logistic analysis, the removal of vagus nerve celiac branch was an independent risk factor for the occurrence of postoperative diarrhea (odds ratio = 3.389, 95% confidential interval = 1.143-10.049, p = 0.028). In the multivariate logistic analysis, the removal of vagus nerve celiac branch was an independent risk factor for the occurrence of postoperative diarrhea (odds ratio = 4.371, 95% confidential interval = 1.418-13.479, p = 0.010). CONCLUSIONS: Preservation of the celiac branch of the vagus nerve in LADG reduced the incidence of postoperative diarrhea postoperatively in gastric cancer. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study was registered with the Ethics Committee of the First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University in 2014 under the registration number: LCKY2014-04(X).

[Corrigendum] Role of cysteine­rich angiogenic inducer 61 in fibroblast­like synovial cell proliferation and invasion in rheumatoid arthritis.

Following the publication of the above article, an interested reader drew to the authors' attention that Fig. 4A on p. 921, showing the results from cell migration assay experiments, featured a pair of duplicated data panels. After having consulted their original data, the authors have realized that Fig. 3A on the same page, showing the fluorometric images of apoptotic cells, also contained a pair of duplicated data panels. These errors in the presentation of these figures arose inadvertently as a consequence of selecting the wrong images for the 'RA NC' data panel in Fig. 3A and the NOR-FLS data panel in Fig. 5E. The revised versions of Figs. 3 and 4 are shown on the next two pages. All the authors approve of the publication of this corrigendum, and the authors are grateful to the Editor of Molecular Medicine Reports for granting them the opportunity to publish this. The authors regret their oversight in allowing these errors to be included in the paper, and also apologize to the readership for any inconvenience caused. [Molecular Medicine Reports 11: 917­923, 2015; DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2014.2770].

MicroRNA-141-3p inhibits the progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma via targeting PBX1 through the JAK2/STAT3 pathway.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), which is the most common epithelial malignant neoplasm in the head and neck, is characterized by local infiltration and metastasis of lymph nodes. The five-year survival rate of OSCC remains low despite the advances in clinical methods. miR-141-3p has been shown to activate or inhibit tumorigenesis. However, the effects of miR-141-3p on invasion and migration of OSCC remain unclear. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of miR-141-3p on invasion, proliferation, and migration in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Reverse transcription quantitative PCR, western blotting and immunohistochemistry were used to detect microRNA(miR)-141-3p and pre-B-cell leukaemia homeobox-1 (PBX1) expression in OSCC tissues and cell lines. The luciferase reporter assay was used to detect targets of miR-141-3p in OSCC. MTT, Transwell and wound healing assays were used to determine the cell proliferation and invasive and migratory abilities, respectively. Expression of constitutive phosphorylated (p)-Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) and p-signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) was detected using western blotting in tissues and cells. miR-141-3p expression was decreased in OSCC tissues and cells, while PBX1 protein expression was increased compared with non-cancerous controls. The result from the dual-luciferase reporter assay revealed that PBX1 was the direct target of miR-141-3p in OSCC tissues. Furthermore, miR-141-3p overexpression and PBX1 knockdown could reduce cell invasion, proliferation and migration, and inhibit the JAK2/STAT3 pathway; however, miR-141-3p downregulation had the opposite effects. In addition, silencing of PBX1 using small interfering RNA could weaken the effects of miR-141-3p inhibitor on JAK2/STAT3 pathway and cell progression in CAL27 cells. In summary, the findings from this study indicated that miR-141-3p upregulation could inhibit OSCC cell invasion, proliferation and migration, by targeting PBX1 via the JAK2/STAT3 pathway.

Inhibitory effect of miR­182­5p on retinal neovascularization by targeting angiogenin and BDNF.

Retinal neovascularization (RNV) is a type of serious vision­threating disease, commonly induced by hypoxia of ischemic retinopathy, which happens in various ocular diseases including diabetic retinopathy and retinopathy of prematurity. In clinical work, anti­VEGF therapy is the preferred strategy for treating RNV. However, not all cases are sensitive to anti­VEGF injection. It is urgent and necessary to develop novel targets for inhibiting neovascularization in ocular diseases. Angiogenin (ANG) and brain­derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) are implicated in angiogenesis, although their regulation and effects in RNV remain to be elucidated. microRNA (miRNA) is a type of small non­coding RNA, which can modulate targets by degrading transcripts or inhibiting protein translation. In the present study, miRNA­mediated modulation of ANG and BDNF was explored in an oxygen­induced retinopathy mouse model and human retinal microvascular endothelial cells (HRECs) under hypoxia. The results showed that downregulation of miR­182­5p and upregulation of ANG and BDNF were found in vivo and in vitro. Overexpression of miR­182­5p suppressed the expression of ANG and BDNF significantly in HRECs under hypoxia. In addition, knockdown of ANG and BDNF by miR­182­5p transfection significantly improved hypoxia­induced HRECs dysfunctions, including enhancing cell viability, reducing cell migration and improved tube integrity. In conclusion, miRNA­dependent regulation on ANG and BDNF indicates a critical role in hypoxia­induced retinal microvascular response. miR­182­5p­based therapy can influence the expression of ANG and BDNF, which demonstrates the potential for treating RNV diseases.

Effect of Applying Binocular Visual Training after Slanted Lateral Rectus Recession on Orthophoric Rate and Binocular Visual Function Recovery on Patients with Convergence Insufficiency-Type Intermittent Exotropia.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of applying binocular visual training after slanted lateral rectus recession on orthophoric rate and binocular visual function recovery on patients with convergence insufficiency-type intermittent exotropia (CI-IXT). METHODS: A total of 76 CI-IXT child patients treated at the Strabismus and Pediatric Ophthalmology Department of our hospital from June 2019 to June 2020 were selected as the research objects, and those who met the inclusion criteria were equally divided into group A (63 eyes) and group B (61 eyes) according to the sealed envelope randomization. All child patients accepted the slanted lateral rectus recession, and after that, those in group A accepted the binocular visual training and those in group B accepted the conventional visual function rehabilitation training, so as to compare their position of eye, the best corrected visual acuity, etc., after training for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Compared with group B after one month of surgery, group A had significantly less patients with grade I binocular vision function (P < 0.001) and more patients with grade II and III vision function (P < 0.05); between group A and group B, after 3 months and 6 months of treatment, the number of eyes with normal stereoscopic vision was significantly higher in group A (P < 0.05); at 15 days, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months of treatment, the visual strain scores of group A were significantly lower (P < 0.001); after treatment, the number of orthophoria eyes was significantly higher in group A (P < 0.001), while the numbers of overcorrected eyes and undercorrected eyes were significantly higher in group B (P < 0.001); and the total incidence rate of adverse reactions was significantly lower in group A (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Applying binocular visual training to child patients with CI-IXT after slanted lateral rectus recession can promote the recovery of binocular vision and ensure higher safety, and further study will help to establish a better solution for the affected children.

[A 180-day mortality predictive score based on frailty syndrome in elderly patients with sepsis: a Logistic regression analysis model].

OBJECTIVE: To establish a 180-day mortality predictive score based on frailty syndrome in elderly sepsis patients [elderly sepsis score (ESS)]. METHODS: A prospective study for sepsis patients aged 60 years and above who were admitted to a medical intensive care unit of the General Hospital of Southern Theatre Command from January 1st, 2018 to December 31st, 2018 was conducted. Univariate analysis was performed on 19 independent variables including gender, age, body mass index (BMI), tumor, charlson comorbidity index (CCI), activity of daily living (ADL), instrumental activity of daily living (IADL), mini-mental state examination (MMSE), geriatric depression scale (GDS), clinical frail scale (CFS), sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA), Glasgow coma scale (GCS), acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE II, APACHE IV), modified NUTRIC score (MNS), multiple drug resistance (MDR), mechanical ventilation (MV), continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) and palliative care. Continuous independent variables were converted into classified variables. Multivariate binary regression analysis of risk factors was conducted to screen independent risk factors which affecting 180-day mortality in elderly sepsis patients. Then a 180-daymortality predictive score was established, and the discrimination of the mortality of patients using CFS, SOFA, GCS, APACHE II, APACHE IV, MNS scores were compared. RESULTS: A total of 257 patients were enrolled, with a 180-day mortality of 60.7%. Univariate analysis showed that age, tumor, CCI, ADL, IADL, MMSE, CFS, SOFA, GCS, APACHE II, APACHE IV, MNS, MDR, MV, CRRT, palliative care were risk factors of 180-day mortality in elderly sepsis patients [age: odds ratio (OR) = 1.027, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) was 1.005-1.050, P = 0.018; tumor: OR =2.001, 95%CI was 1.022-3.920, P = 0.043; CCI: OR = 1.193, 95%CI was 1.064-1.339, P = 0.003; ADL: OR = 0.851, 95%CI was 0.772-0.940, P = 0.001; IADL: OR = 0.894, 95%CI was 0.826-0.967, P = 0.005; MMSE: OR = 0.962, 95%CI was 0.937-0.988, P = 0.004; CFS: OR = 1.303, 95%CI was 1.089-1.558, P = 0.004; SOFA: OR = 1.112, 95%CI was 1.038-1.191, P = 0.003; GCS: OR = 0.918, 95%CI was 0.863-0.977, P = 0.007; APACHE II: OR = 1.098, 95%CI was 1.053-1.145, P < 0.001; APACHE IV: OR = 1.032, 95%CI was 1.020-1.044, P < 0.001; MNS: OR = 1.315, 95%CI was 1.159-1.493, P < 0.001; MDR: OR = 2.029, 95%CI was 1.197-3.437, P = 0.009; MV: OR = 6.408, 95%CI was 3.480-11.798, P < 0.001, CRRT: OR = 2.744, 95%CI was 1.529-4.923, P = 0.001, palliative care: OR = 5.760, 95%CI was 2.177-15.245, P < 0.001]. By binary regression analysis, CFS stratification (OR = 1.934, 95%CI was 1.267-2.953, P = 0.002), MV (OR = 4.531, 95%CI was 2.376-8.644, P < 0.001), CRRT (OR = 2.471, 95%CI was 1.285-4.752, P = 0.007), palliative care (OR = 6.169, 95%CI was 2.173-17.515, P = 0.001) were independent risk factors of 180-day mortality in elderly patients with sepsis. The model of "ESS = 0.660×CFS stratification+1.511×MV+0.905×CRRT+1.820×palliative care" was established. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC curve) analysis showed that the area under the ROC curve (AUC) for predicting 180-day mortality by ESS was 0.785 (95%CI was 0.730-0.834, P < 0.001). When the best cut-off value was 2.2 points, its sensitivity was 78.9%, specificity was 70.3%, the positive predictive value was 80.4%, and the negative predictive value was 68.3%. Simplified ESS was defined as "0.5×CFS stratification+1.5×MV+1×CRRT+2×palliative care". ROC curve analysis showed that AUC for predicting 180-day mortality by simplified ESS was 0.784 (95%CI was 0.729-0.833, P < 0.001). When the best cut-off value was 2.0 points, sensitivity was 76.9%, specificity was 70.3%, the positive predictive value was 80.0%, and the negative predictive value was 66.4%. Compared with CFS, SOFA, GCS, APACHE II, APACHE IV and MNS, ESS had a significant difference in discriminating 180-day mortality in elderly patients with sepsis (AUC was 0.785 vs. 0.607, 0.607, 0.600, 0.664, 0.702, 0.657, 95%CI: 0.730-0.734 vs. 0.537-0.678, 0.537-0.677, 0.529-0.671, 0.598-0.730, 0.638-0.766, 0.590-0.725, all P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: CFS, MV, CRRT, and palliative care are independent risk factors of 180-day mortality in elderly patients with sepsis. We established ESS based on these risk factors. The ESS model has good discrimination and can be used as a reference and assessment tool for prediction and treatment guidance in elderly patients with sepsis.

Predictive Value of Blood Interleukin-6 Level in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome: A Meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Conflicting results have been reported on the association between blood level of interleukin-6 and adverse outcomes in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The current meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the predictive utility of elevated blood interleukin-6 level in patients with ACS. METHODS: A systematically literature search was performed using PubMed and Embase databases up to December 31, 2019. Observational studies or post hoc analysis of randomized controlled trials investigating the values of blood interleukin-6 level for predicting major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE including death, re-infarction, revascularization, angina, heart failure, malignant arrhythmia, or stroke), all-cause mortality or cardiovascular mortality in ACS patients were eligible. The predictive values were summarized by pooling the multivariable-adjusted risk ratio (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the highest versus lowest category of interleukin-6 level. RESULTS: Thirteen studies enrolling 30,289 patients with ACS were included. When comparing the highest with lowest category of interleukin-6 level, the pooled RR was 1.29 (95% CI 1.12-1.48) for MACE, 1.50 (95% CI 1.35-1.67) for all-cause mortality, and 1.55 (95% CI 1.06-2.28) for cardiovascular mortality, respectively. Moreover, the predictive values of interleukin-6 level on MACE were consistently found in different study designs, subtypes of patients, sample sizes, follow-up duration, and cutoff value of interleukin-6 elevation subgroups. CONCLUSION: Increased blood level of interleukin-6may be independently associated with higher risk of MACE, cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in patients with ACS. Measurement of blood interleukin-6 level has potential to improve risk stratification of ACS.

Melatonin Plays a Critical Protective Role in Nicotine-Related Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm.

Aim: Smoking is a major risk factor for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). Among the components of smoke, nicotine is known to exert pro-atherosclerotic, prothrombotic, and proangiogenic effects on vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). The current study was designed to investigate the mechanisms through which nicotine induces vascular wall dysfunction and to examine whether melatonin protects against nicotine-related AAA. Methods: In this study, an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure melatonin and TNF-α levels, as well as total antioxidant status (TAS), in patients with AAA. We established a nicotine-related AAA model and explored the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of melatonin. Tissue histopathology was used to assess vascular function, while western blotting (WB) and immunofluorescence staining were performed to detect protein expression. Results: We observed melatonin insufficiency in the serum from patients with AAA, particularly smokers. Moreover, melatonin level was positively correlated with antioxidant capacity. In the in vivo model, nicotine accelerated AAA expansion and destroyed vascular structure. Furthermore, OPN, LC3II, p62, matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), NF-κB p65, TNF-α, phosphorylated AKT, and phosphorylated mTOR levels were increased, in vivo, following nicotine treatment, while SM22α and α-SMA levels were reduced. Additionally, melatonin attenuated the effects of nicotine on AAA and reversed changes in protein expression. Moreover, melatonin lost its protective effects following bafilomycin A1-mediated inhibition of autophagy. Conclusion: Based on our data, melatonin exerts a beneficial effect on rats with nicotine-related AAA by downregulating the AKT-mTOR signaling pathway, improving autophagy dysfunction, and restoring the VSMC phenotype.

Improved Water-Tree Resistances of SEBS/PP Semi-Crystalline Composites under Crystallization Modifications.

Water-tree resistances of styrene block copolymer/polypropylene (SEBS/PP) composites are investigated by characterizing crystallization structures in correlation with the dynamic mechanical properties to elucidate the micro-structure mechanism of improving insulation performances, in which the accelerated aging experiments of water trees are performed with water-knife electrodes. The water-tree morphology in spherulites, melt-crystallization characteristics and lamella structures of the composite materials are observed and analyzed by polarizing microscopy (PLM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. Dynamic relaxation and stress-strain characteristics are specifically studied by means of a dynamic thermomechanical analyzer (DMA) and electronic tension machine, respectively. No water-tree aging occurs in both the highly crystalline PP and the noncrystalline SEBS elastomer, while the water trees arising in SEBS/PP composites still has a significantly lower size than that in low-density polyethylene (LDPE). Compared with LDPE, the PP matrix of the SEBS/PP composite represent a higher crystallinity with a larger crystallization size in consistence with its higher mechanical strength and lower dynamic relaxation loss. SEBS molecules agglomerate as a "island" phase, and PP molecules crystallize into thin and short lamellae in composites, leading to the blurred spherulite boundary and the appreciable slips between lamellae under external force. The high crystallinity of the PP matrix and the strong resistance to slips between lamellae in the SEBS/PP composite essentially account for the remarkable inhibition on water-tree growth.

TNF-α polymorphisms might influence predisposition to periodontitis: A meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) polymorphisms might influence predisposition to periodontitis, but the results of already published studies were still controversial and ambiguous. So the authors designed this meta-analysis to more precisely estimate relationship between TNF-α polymorphisms and periodontitis by pooling the results of already published related studies. METHODS: The authors searched Pubmed, Embase, Web of Science and CNKI for already published studies. Forty-five already published studies were pooled analyzed in this meta-analysis. RESULTS: The crude pooled meta-analyses results showed that distributions of TNF-α rs361525, rs1800629, rs1800630 and rs1799964 polymorphisms among patients and controls differed significantly, which suggested that these polymorphisms might influence predisposition to periodontitis in the general population. We also got similar significant results for rs361525, rs1800629, rs1800630 and rs1799964 polymorphisms in subgroup analyses in Asians. The crude findings were further subjected to Bonferroni correction to account for multiple comparisons. For rs361525, rs1800629 and rs1799964 polymorphisms, basically no changes of results were detected. But for rs1800630 polymorphism, the results were no longer significant after adjustment for multiple comparisons. CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis suggested that TNF-α rs361525, rs1800629 and rs1799964 polymorphisms might influence predisposition to periodontitis, particularly in Asians.

Botulinum Toxin Injection with Conjunctival Microincision for the Treatment of Acute Acquired Comitant Esotropia and Its Effectiveness.

PURPOSE: To report on an improved botulinum toxin injection with conjunctival microincision for beginners, and to determine the effectiveness of botulinum toxin A (BTXA) in the treatment of patients with acute acquired comitant esotropia (AACE). METHODS: Medical records of 29 AACE patients were retrospectively analyzed. BTXA was injected into the unilateral or bilateral medial rectus muscle with conjunctival microincision without electromyographic guidance. Success was defined as total horizontal deviation ≤10 prism diopters (PD) and evidence of binocular vision. RESULTS: Twenty-nine patients were included, of whom 22 were male and 7 were female. The mean age at onset was 14.2 ± 7.4 (range, 4-34) years. The mean time from onset of AACE to injection was 18.4 ± 20.3 (range, 1-96) weeks. All patients completed at least 6 months of follow-up, and the mean follow-up after BTXA injection was 12.3 ± 4.8 months (range, 7-24 months). Neurological evaluation and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were unremarkable in all patients. The mean spherical equivalent refraction was -1.22 ± 2.85D and -0.97 ± 2.80D in the right and left eyes, respectively. Mean preinjective esotropia was 38.4 ± 18.9 PD (range, +10-+80 PD) at near and 40.2 ± 17.7 PD (range, +20-+80 PD) at far distance. The mean angle of deviation at 6 months after injection was 0.6 ± 4.1 PD (range, -3-+15 PD) at near and 3.0 ± 5.9 PD (range, 0-+20 PD) at far distance. There was significant difference in the angle of deviation at near and far fixation between pre-BTXA and post-BTXA 6 months (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, resp.). There was no significant difference in the angle of deviation at near and far fixation between post-BTXA 6 months and post-BTXA at final follow-up (p = 0.259 and 0.326, resp.). Mean stereoacuity improved from 338 to 88 arc seconds. During the follow-up period, 5 of 29 patients had recurrent esotropia. Two patients refused all further treatment, and the other 3 patients required incisional strabismus surgery. The success rates were 86.2% (25/29) at 6 months and 82.8% (24/29) at final follow-up. CONCLUSION: Conjunctival microincision injection of botulinum toxin is a practical and safe method for beginners to locate an extraocular muscle, which is as effective as the traditional methods. Botulinum toxin injection can be preferred as the first-line treatment for AACE patients with potential binocular vision.

An auto-inducible expression and high cell density fermentation of Beefy Meaty Peptide with Bacillus subtilis.

Currently, some cases about the expression of flavor peptides with microorganisms were reported owing to the obvious advantages of biological expression over traditional methods. However, beefy meaty peptide (BMP), the focus of umami peptides, has neither been concerned in its safe expression nor its overproduction in fermenter. In this study, multi-copy BMP (8BMP) was successfully auto-inducibly expressed and efficiently produced in Bacillus subtilis 168. First, 8BMP was successfully auto-inducibly expressed with srfA promoter in B. subtilis 168. Further, the efficient production of 8BMP was researched in a 5-L fermenter: the fermentation optimized by Pontryagin's maximum principle obtained the highest 8BMP yield (3.16 g/L), which was 1.2 times and 1.8 times than that of two-stage feeding cultivation (2.67 g/L) and constant-rate feeding cultivation (1.75 g/L), respectively. Overall, the auto-inducible expression of 8BMP in B. subtilis and fermentation with Pontryagin's maximum principle are conductive for overproduction of BMP and other peptides.

Facile Dual-Ligand Modulation Tactic toward Nickel-Cobalt Sulfides/Phosphides/Selenides as Supercapacitor Electrodes with Long-Term Durability and Electrochemical Activity.

The use of high electrochemical active binary nickel-cobalt sulfides/phosphides/selenides (Ni-Co-X, X = S, P, Se) as electrochemical energy storage materials still has a space for improvement because they become electrochemically unstable during long-term use. Herein, a facile and cost-effective dual-ligand synergistic modulation tactic is described to substantially improve the durability of Ni-Co-X (X = S, P, Se) at the atomic level by partially substituting S, P, and Se ligands into the nickel-cobalt hydroxide precursor, respectively. Remarkably, the dual-ligand electrodes on Ni-foam achieve superior durability and high electrochemical activity when used as positive electrodes in supercapacitors. Impressively, the density functional theory calculations demonstrate that the OH ligand in NiCo2(MOH)x (M = S, P, Se) could attract electrons from metal-S/metal-P/metal-Se bonds to the metal-O bond, enhancing the binding energy of metal-S/metal-P/metal-Se bonds and improving the long-term durability of Ni-Co-X (X = S, P, Se) in alkaline electrolytes. Moreover, OH and S/P/Se ligands could effectively alter the electron structure and result in favorable electrochemical activity. Overall, this tactic could offer an exciting avenue to achieve long-term durability and electrochemical activity of supercapacitor electrodes simultaneously.

Improved DC Dielectric Performance of cPP-g-MAH/iPP/SEBS Composite with Chemical Graft Modification.

In order to achieve both high toughness and favorable dielectric properties of polypropylene materials, a styrene⁻butadiene⁻styrene block copolymer (SEBS) was employed as a toughening filler, in addition to a copolymerized polypropylene grafted by maleic anhydride (cPP-g-MAH) as a compatibilization modifier, to develop a novel isotactic polypropylene (iPP) composite (cPP-g-MAH/iPP/SEBS composite) with significantly improved direct-current (DC) dielectric performance and tenacity. The underlying physical and chemical mechanisms of modifying electric insulation were studied utilizing micro-structure characterization methods in combination with multiple thermal⁻mechanic⁻electric tests. The SEBS phase islands are uniformly distributed in the PP matrix with evidently improved dispersion due to cPP-g-MAH compatibilization. Compared with iPP, the elastic modulus of cPP-g-MAH/iPP/SEBS composites can be reduced by 58% with doubled thermal elongation, which is still superior to that of cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE), implying that the composites are qualified in terms of mechanical properties for use as power cables. The space charge accumulation and electric conduction are considerably suppressed in comparison with pure iPP and the iPP/SEBS composite. In the interest of charge-trapping characteristics modified by chemically grafting MAH, the deep traps introduced into polypropylene by grafting MAH were measured with a thermal stimulation current experiment to be 1.2 and 1.6 eV of energy level in trapping depth, verified through the first-principles electronic structure calculations with an all-electron numerical orbital scheme. It was concluded that the acquired high density of deep traps can effectively restrict the carrier transport and suppress the injection of space charge, resulting in a remarkable improvement of DC dielectric properties for the MAH grafted composites. The present work demonstrates that the cPP-g-MAH/iPP/SEBS composites are eligible to be applied to polypropylene-based high-voltage DC cables due to their excellent DC insulation performance, together with the appropriate mechanical properties.

Long noncoding RNA H19 promotes vascular remodeling by sponging let-7a to upregulate the expression of cyclin D1.

Vascular remodeling is mainly caused by excessive proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) have emerged as important regulators in diverse pathological processes. Previous work has shown the functions and mechanisms of long noncoding RNA H19 (LncRNA H19) on VSMCs. As long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are complex in their mechanisms of action, the aim of the study is to identify if there are any other molecular mechanisms of LncRNA H19 on VSMCs. In vivo studies demonstrated that cyclin D1 was overexpressed in neointima of balloon-injured artery. In vitro studies identified that the overexpression of LncRNA H19 promoted VSMCs proliferation and cyclin D1 upregulation. On the contrary, cellular proliferation and expression of cyclin D1 were inhibited in VSMCs after infection with let-7a. Furthermore, luciferase reporter assays and RNA pull-down assays were used to explore the regulatory mechanism, we found that LncRNA H19 functioned as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) by sponging let-7a to promote the expression of the target gene cyclin D1. In conclusion, LncRNA H19 positively regulated cyclin D1 expression through directly binding to let-7a in VSMCs. Our findings provide new insight into the mechanism of LncRNA H19 in VSMCs proliferation and vascular remodeling, and further indicate the implications of LncRNA H19 in the diagnosis and treatment of vascular proliferative diseases.

High expression of microRNA­31 and its host gene LOC554202 predict favorable outcomes in patients with colorectal cancer treated with oxaliplatin.

The expression levels of microRNA­31 (miR­31) and LOC554202 have been previously investigated in colorectal cancer (CRC) and their oncogenic and/or tumor suppressive roles have been described. The aim of the present study was to examine the role of miR­31 and its host gene LOC554202 in the prognosis of patients with CRC. Patients with CRC treated with oxaliplatin­based chemotherapy between June 2005 and March 2010 were recruited to the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University. Tumor and adjacent mucosal tissues were collected. The detection of miR­31 and/or LOC554202 was performed with probe hybridization targeting. Correlation analysis was performed among the expression levels of miR­31, LOC554202, and their association with clinicopathological parameters and/or survival rates. miR­31 and LOC554202 were expressed at high levels in CRC (P<0.01) compared with adjacent intestinal mucosa. A linear correlation was noted for the two markers in CRC tissues (P<0.01). The expression of miR­31 was significantly higher in adenocarcinoma than in the adjacent intestinal mucosa (P<0.01), whereas the expression of LOC554202 was significantly higher in the adenocarcinoma and the rectal cancer tissue regions (P<0.01). The high expression levels of miR­31 and LOC554202 were associated with high disease­free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) rates (P<0.05). Associations between the increase in DFS and OS and the elevated expression levels of miR­31 and LOC554202 were present in patients with colon cancer but not in patients with rectal cancer (P<0.05). These data indicated that miR­31 and LOC554202 may be potential markers for evaluation of the prognosis of patients treated with oxaliplatin­based chemotherapy.

A successful treatment of severe systemic lupus erythematosus caused by occult pulmonary infection-associated with hemophagocytic syndrome: A case report.

RATIONALE: A 27-year-old woman with a history of systemic lupus erythaematosus (SLE) developed hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS) secondary due to an unrecognized infection that led to severe SLE with a prolonged recovery. PATIENT CONCERNS: The patient showed a high spiking fever and myalgia. Laboratory data revealed pancytopenia and immunological abnormalities. Pulse methylprednisone plus intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) failed to improve the clinical symptoms and laboratory data. DIAGNOSES: As activated macrophages with hemophagocytosis were confirmed in bone marrow histology, the patient was diagnosed as having reactive HPS. INTERVENTIONS AND OUTCOMES: Her reactive HPS was successfully treated with intravenous antibiotics and was followed by oral prednisolone and hydroxychloroquine maintenance therapy. LESSONS: In severe SLE, patients with persistent high fever, cytopenia, and elevated levels of serum ferritin and liver enzymes should be strongly suspected of reactive HPS, and aggressive examination, such as bone marrow biopsy, needs to be considered for early diagnosis and proper treatment.

Long noncoding RNA H19-derived miR-675 aggravates restenosis by targeting PTEN.

Restenosis is mainly attributed to excessive proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Noncoding RNAs have been identified as key regulators of diverse pathological processes. We reported that the long noncoding RNA H19 (LncRNA H19) and LncRNA H19-derived microRNA (miR-675) are overexpressed in neointima of balloon-injured artery. Thus, the present study aims to evaluate the role of LncRNA H19 on VSMCs proliferation. To determine the changes of LncRNA H19 and miR-675 expression in the injured arterial wall, the standard rat carotid artery balloon injury model was used. In vivo studies demonstrated that both LncRNA H19 and miR-675 were upregulated after vascular injury. Correlation analysis revealed a positive relationship between LncRNA H19/miR-675 and the ratio of intima to media. Gain-of-function studies showed that the overexpression of LncRNA H19 accelerated T/G HA-VSMC proliferation in vitro. We further validated that PTEN is the target gene of miR-675 as demonstrated by luciferase assay. Finally, the results of the rescue experiment indicated that LncRNA H19 promoted the proliferation of T/G HA-VSMC in a miR-675-dependent manner. This finding not only reveal a novel function of LncRNA H19, but also has important diagnostic and therapeutic implications in the setting of restenosis and perhaps other vascular proliferative disorders as well.

Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Molecular Diffusion Equilibrium and Breakdown Mechanism of Oil-Impregnated Pressboard with Water Impurity.

The water molecule migration and aggregation behaviors in oil-impregnated pressboard are investigated by molecular dynamics simulations in combination with Monte Carlo molecular simulation technique. The free energy and phase diagram of H2O-dodecylbenzene (DDB) and H2O-cellulose mixtures are calculated by Monte Carlo technique combined with the modified Flory-Huggins model, demonstrating that H2O molecules can hardly dissolved with infinitesimal content in cellulose system at temperature lower than 650 K, based on which the oil/cellulose layered structure with water impurity representing three-phase coexistence in oil-impregnated pressboard are modeled and performed for molecular dynamics. The molecular dynamics of H2O/DDB/cellulose three-phase mixture simulating oil-paper insulating system with H2O impurity indicates that DDB molecules can thermally intrude into the cellulose-water interface so as to separate the water phase and cellulose fiber. The first-principles electronic structure calculations for local region of H2O/DDB interface show that H2O molecules can introduce bound states to trap electrons and acquire negative charges, so that they will obtain sufficient energy from applied electric field to break DDB molecular chain by collision, which are verified by subsequent molecular dynamics simulations of H2O-/DDB interface model. The electric breakdown mechanism under higher than 100 kV/m electric field is presented based on the further first-principles calculations of the produced carbonized fragments being dissolved and diffusing in DDB phase. The resulted broken DDB fragments will introduce impurity band between valence and conduction bands of DDB system, evidently decreasing bandgap as to that of conducting materials in their existence space. The conductance channel of these carbonized DDB fragments will eventually be formed to initiate the avalanche breakdown process by the cycle-feedback of injected charge carriers with carbonized channels.

Association between matrix metalloproteinases polymorphisms and ovarian cancer risk: A meta-analysis and systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Published data on the relationship between matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) polymorphisms and ovarian cancer risk have implicated inconclusive results. To evaluate the role of MMPs polymorphisms in ovarian cancer risk, a meta-analysis and systematic review were performed. METHODS: MMPs polymorphisms which could be quantitatively synthesized were involved in meta-analysis. Five comparison models (homozygote model, heterozygote model, dominant model, recessive model, additive model) were carried out, a subgroup analysis was performed to clarify heterogeneity source. The remaining polymorphisms which could not be quantitatively synthesized were involved in systematic review. RESULTS: 10 articles with 20 studies were included in this paper. Among those studies, 8 studies involving MMP1 rs1799750 and MMP3 rs34093618 could be meta-analyzed and 12 studies involving 12 polymorphisms could not. Meta-analysis showed that no associations were found between MMP1 rs1799750 (homozygote model: OR = 0.93, 95%CI = 0.70-1.23, POR = 0.60; heterozygote model: OR = 1.09, 95%CI = 0.78-1.54, POR = 0.61; dominant model: OR = 1.02, 95%CI = 0.83-1.25, POR = 0.84; recessive model: OR = 0.95, 95%CI = 0.75-1.21, POR = 0.67; additive model: OR = 1.00, 95%CI = 0.85-1.17, POR = 0.99), MMP3 rs34093618 (homozygote model: OR = 1.25, 95%CI = 0.70-2.24, POR = 0.46; heterozygote model: OR = 1.08, 95%CI = 0.51-2.31, POR = 0.84; dominant model: OR = 0.97, 95%CI = 0.68-1.38, POR = 0.85; recessive model: OR = 1.12, 95%CI = 0.69-1.80, POR = 0.65; additive model: OR = 1.01, 95%CI = 0.79-1.31, POR = 0.91) and ovarian cancer. Furthermore, similar results were detected in subgroup analysis. The systematic review on 12 polymorphisms suggested that MMP2 C-735T, MMP7 A-181G, MMP8 rs11225395, MMP9 rs6094237, MMP12 rs2276109, MMP20 rs2292730, MMP20 rs12278250, MMP20 rs9787933 might have a potential effect on ovarian cancer risk. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, polymorphisms of MMPs might not be associated with ovarian cancer risk. However, it is necessary to conduct more larger-scale, multicenter, and high-quality studies in the future.