Your browser doesn't support javascript.
loading
Show: 20 | 50 | 100
Results 1 - 20 de 60
Filter
Add more filters

Country/Region as subject
Affiliation country
Publication year range
1.
J Med Virol ; 96(6): e29711, 2024 Jun.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38847304

ABSTRACT

The emerging evidence of human infections with emerging viruses suggests their potential public health importance. A novel taxon of viruses named Statoviruses (for stool-associated Tombus-like viruses) was recently identified in the gastrointestinal tracts of multiple mammals. Here we report the discovery of respiratory Statovirus-like viruses (provisionally named Restviruses) from the respiratory tracts of five patients experiencing acute respiratory disease with Human coronavirus OC43 infection through the retrospective analysis of meta-transcriptomic data. Restviruses shared 53.1%-98.8% identities of genomic sequences with each other and 39.9%-44.3% identities with Statoviruses. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that Restviruses together with a Stato-like virus from nasal-throat swabs of Vietnamese patients with acute respiratory disease, formed a well-supported clade distinct from the taxon of Statoviruses. However, the consistent genome characteristics of Restviruses and Statoviruses suggested that they might share similar evolutionary trajectories. These findings warrant further studies to elucidate the etiological and epidemiological significance of the emerging Restviruses.


Subject(s)
Genome, Viral , Phylogeny , Respiratory Tract Infections , Humans , China/epidemiology , Genome, Viral/genetics , Respiratory Tract Infections/virology , Respiratory Tract Infections/epidemiology , Male , Female , Retrospective Studies , Respiratory System/virology , Child, Preschool , Adult , Child , RNA, Viral/genetics , Middle Aged
2.
Blood ; 140(12): 1390-1407, 2022 09 22.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35544603

ABSTRACT

Recurrent MEF2D fusions with poor prognosis have been identified in B-cell precursor ALL (BCP-ALL). The molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenic function of MEF2D fusions are poorly understood. Here, we show that MEF2D-HNRNPUL1 (MH) knock-in mice developed a progressive disease from impaired B-cell development at the pre-pro-B stage to pre-leukemia over 10 to 12 months. When cooperating with NRASG12D, MH drove an outbreak of BCP-ALL, with a more aggressive phenotype than the NRASG12D-induced leukemia. RNA-sequencing identified key networks involved in disease mechanisms. In chromatin immunoprecipitation-sequencing experiments, MH acquired increased chromatin-binding ability, mostly through MEF2D-responsive element (MRE) motifs in target genes, compared with wild-type MEF2D. Using X-ray crystallography, the MEF2D-MRE complex was characterized in atomic resolution, whereas disrupting the MH-DNA interaction alleviated the aberrant target gene expression and the B-cell differentiation arrest. The C-terminal moiety (HNRNPUL1 part) of MH was proven to contribute to the fusion protein's trans-regulatory activity, cofactor recruitment, and homodimerization. Furthermore, targeting MH-driven transactivation of the HDAC family by using the histone deacetylase inhibitor panobinostat in combination with chemotherapy improved the overall survival of MH/NRASG12D BCP-ALL mice. Altogether, these results not only highlight MH as an important driver in leukemogenesis but also provoke targeted intervention against BCP-ALL with MEF2D fusions.


Subject(s)
Oncogene Proteins, Fusion , Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma , Animals , Chromatin , DNA/metabolism , Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors , MEF2 Transcription Factors/genetics , MEF2 Transcription Factors/metabolism , Mice , Oncogene Proteins, Fusion/genetics , Oncogene Proteins, Fusion/metabolism , Panobinostat , Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/genetics , RNA
3.
Phys Chem Chem Phys ; 26(24): 17383-17395, 2024 Jun 19.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38860766

ABSTRACT

Although GaN is a promising candidate for semiconductor devices, degradation of GaN-based device performance may occur when the device is bombarded by high-energy charged particles during its application in aerospace, astronomy, and nuclear-related areas. It is thus of great significance to explore the influence of irradiation on the microstructure and electronic properties of GaN and to reveal the internal relationship between the damage mechanisms and physical characteristics. Using a combined density functional theory (DFT) and ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) study, we explored the low-energy recoil events in GaN and the effects of point defects on GaN. The threshold displacement energies (Eds) significantly depend on the recoil directions and the primary knock-on atoms. Moreover, the Ed values for nitrogen atoms are smaller than those for gallium atoms, indicating that the displacement of nitrogen dominates under electron irradiation and the created defects are mainly nitrogen vacancies and interstitials. The formation energy of nitrogen vacancies and interstitials is smaller than that for gallium vacancies and interstitials, which is consistent with the AIMD results. Although the created defects improve the elastic compliance of GaN, these radiation damage states deteriorate its ability to resist external compression. Meanwhile, these point defects lead the Debye temperature to decrease and thus increase the thermal expansion coefficients of GaN. As for the electronic properties of defective GaN, the point defects have various effects, i.e., VN (N vacancy), Gaint (Ga interstitial), Nint (N interstitial), and GaN (Ga occupying the N lattice site) defects induce the metallicity, and NGa (N occupying the Ga lattice site) defects decrease the band gap. The presented results provide underlying mechanisms for defect generation in GaN, and advance the fundamental understanding of the radiation resistances of semiconductor materials.

4.
Exp Cell Res ; 431(1): 113741, 2023 10 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37549804

ABSTRACT

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is a relatively rare but highly malignant cancer. Few effective systemic targeted therapies are available for patients with unresectable ICC, but there exists an urgent need to explore mechanisms underlying the initiation and progression of ICC. MicroRNA (miRNA) plays vital roles in the initiation, progression, and drug resistance of different cancers. Recently, the biological function of a novel miRNA, miR-552, has been widely analyzed in hepatocellular carcinoma and colorectal, cervical, gastric, and other cancers. However, its role in ICC has not yet been elucidated. In this study, we found that miR-552 expression was upregulated in ICC and that miR-552 predicted poor prognosis. Using functional studies, we found that miR-552 enhanced the proliferation and invasion ability of ICC cells. Mechanistic research identified that forkhead box O1 (FOXO1) is the target of miR-552 in ICC. Moreover, the combined panels of miR-552 and FOXO1 exhibited a better prognostic value for ICC patients than did miR-552 alone. In conclusion, these findings demonstrated that the miR-552/FOXO1 axis drove ICC progression, further suggesting that targeting this axis could be a novel therapeutic strategy for ICC.


Subject(s)
Bile Duct Neoplasms , Cholangiocarcinoma , Liver Neoplasms , MicroRNAs , Humans , Cell Line, Tumor , MicroRNAs/genetics , MicroRNAs/metabolism , Cholangiocarcinoma/metabolism , Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic/metabolism , Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic/pathology , Liver Neoplasms/pathology , Bile Duct Neoplasms/metabolism , Cell Proliferation/genetics , Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic/genetics , Forkhead Box Protein O1/genetics , Forkhead Box Protein O1/metabolism
5.
Acta Pharmacol Sin ; 2024 Jun 20.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38902503

ABSTRACT

Identification of compounds to modulate NADPH metabolism is crucial for understanding complex diseases and developing effective therapies. However, the complex nature of NADPH metabolism poses challenges in achieving this goal. In this study, we proposed a novel strategy named NADPHnet to predict key proteins and drug-target interactions related to NADPH metabolism via network-based methods. Different from traditional approaches only focusing on one single protein, NADPHnet could screen compounds to modulate NADPH metabolism from a comprehensive view. Specifically, NADPHnet identified key proteins involved in regulation of NADPH metabolism using network-based methods, and characterized the impact of natural products on NADPH metabolism using a combined score, NADPH-Score. NADPHnet demonstrated a broader applicability domain and improved accuracy in the external validation set. This approach was further employed along with molecular docking to identify 27 compounds from a natural product library, 6 of which exhibited concentration-dependent changes of cellular NADPH level within 100 µM, with Oxyberberine showing promising effects even at 10 µM. Mechanistic and pathological analyses of Oxyberberine suggest potential novel mechanisms to affect diabetes and cancer. Overall, NADPHnet offers a promising method for prediction of NADPH metabolism modulation and advances drug discovery for complex diseases.

6.
Ecotoxicol Environ Saf ; 280: 116509, 2024 Jul 15.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38833979

ABSTRACT

Cadmium, as a typical heavy metal, has the potential to induce soil pollution and threaten human health through the soil-plant-human pathway. The conventional evaluation method based on the total content in soil cannot accurately represent the content migrated from the food chain to plants and the human body. Previous studies focused on the process of plant enrichment of heavy metals in soil, and very few studies directly predicted human exposure or risk through the labile state of Cd in soil. Hence, a relatively accurate and convenient prediction model of Cd release and translocation in the soil-rice-human system was developed. This model utilizes available Cd and soil parameters to predict the bioavailability of Cd in soil, as well as the in vitro bioaccessibility of Cd in cooked rice. The bioavailability of Cd was determined by the Diffusive Gradients in Thin-films technology and BCR sequential extraction procedure, offering in-situ quantification, which presents a significant advantage over traditional monitoring methods and aligns closely with the actual uptake of heavy metals by plants. The experimental results show that the prediction model based on the concentration of heavy metal forms measured by BCR sequential extraction procedure and diffusive gradients in thin-films technique can accurately predict the Cd uptake in rice grains, gastric and gastrointestinal phase (R2=0.712, 0.600 and 0.629). This model accurately predicts Cd bioavailability and bioaccessibility across the soil-rice-human pathway, informing actual human Cd intake, offering scientific support for developing more effective risk assessment methods.


Subject(s)
Biological Availability , Cadmium , Oryza , Soil Pollutants , Oryza/metabolism , Oryza/chemistry , Cadmium/metabolism , Cadmium/analysis , Soil Pollutants/analysis , Soil Pollutants/metabolism , Humans , Soil/chemistry , Environmental Monitoring/methods , Risk Assessment , Metals, Heavy/analysis , Metals, Heavy/metabolism
7.
Int J Mol Sci ; 25(2)2024 Jan 12.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38256065

ABSTRACT

Our previous study showed that COPPER-CONTAINING AMINE OXIDASE (CuAO) and AMINOALDEHYDE DEHYDROGENASE (AMADH) could regulate the accumulation of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in tea through the polyamine degradation pathway. However, their biological function in drought tolerance has not been determined. In this study, Camellia sinensis (Cs) CsCuAO1 associated with CsAMADH1 conferred drought tolerance, which modulated GABA levels in tea plants. The results showed that exogenous GABA spraying effectively alleviated the drought-induced physical damage. Arabidopsis lines overexpressing CsCuAO1 and CsAMADH1 exhibited enhanced resistance to drought, which promoted the synthesis of GABA and putrescine by stimulating reactive oxygen species' scavenging capacity and stomatal movement. However, the suppression of CsCuAO1 or CsAMADH1 in tea plants resulted in increased sensitivity to drought treatment. Moreover, co-overexpressing plants increased GABA accumulation both in an Agrobacterium-mediated Nicotiana benthamiana transient assay and transgenic Arabidopsis plants. In addition, a GABA transporter gene, CsGAT1, was identified, whose expression was strongly correlated with GABA accumulation levels in different tissues under drought stress. Taken together, CsCuAO1 and CsAMADH1 were involved in the response to drought stress through a dynamic GABA-putrescine balance. Our data will contribute to the characterization of GABA's biological functions in response to environmental stresses in plants.


Subject(s)
Arabidopsis , Camellia sinensis , Drought Resistance , Arabidopsis/genetics , Camellia sinensis/genetics , Putrescine , Plants, Genetically Modified/genetics , gamma-Aminobutyric Acid , Tea
8.
J Med Virol ; 95(6): e28861, 2023 06.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37310144

ABSTRACT

The seasonal human coronaviruses (HCoVs) have zoonotic origins, repeated infections, and global transmission. The objectives of this study are to elaborate the epidemiological and evolutionary characteristics of HCoVs from patients with acute respiratory illness. We conducted a multicenter surveillance at 36 sentinel hospitals of Beijing Metropolis, China, during 2016-2019. Patients with influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) were included, and submitted respiratory samples for screening HCoVs by multiplex real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assays. All the positive samples were used for metatranscriptomic sequencing to get whole genomes of HCoVs for genetical and evolutionary analyses. Totally, 321 of 15 677 patients with ILI or SARI were found to be positive for HCoVs, with an infection rate of 2.0% (95% confidence interval, 1.8%-2.3%). HCoV-229E, HCoV-NL63, HCoV-OC43, and HCoV-HKU1 infections accounted for 18.7%, 38.3%, 40.5%, and 2.5%, respectively. In comparison to ILI cases, SARI cases were significantly older, more likely caused by HCoV-229E and HCoV-OC43, and more often co-infected with other respiratory pathogens. A total of 179 full genome sequences of HCoVs were obtained from 321 positive patients. The phylogenetical analyses revealed that HCoV-229E, HCoV-NL63 and HCoV-OC43 continuously yielded novel lineages, respectively. The nonsynonymous to synonymous ratio of all key genes in each HCoV was less than one, indicating that all four HCoVs were under negative selection pressure. Multiple substitution modes were observed in spike glycoprotein among the four HCoVs. Our findings highlight the importance of enhancing surveillance on HCoVs, and imply that more variants might occur in the future.


Subject(s)
Coronavirus 229E, Human , Coronavirus NL63, Human , Coronavirus OC43, Human , Humans , Seasons , Betacoronavirus , China , Coronavirus OC43, Human/genetics
9.
J Drugs Dermatol ; 22(1): 74-81, 2023 Jan 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36607759

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The infraorbital hollow is characterized by a sunken hollowing appearance of the junction between the lower eyelid and the cheek. Dermal fillers provide a suitable option to reduce the appearance of infraorbital hollowing. To objectively evaluate treatmentrelated improvements in clinical practice and research, a validated photonumeric scale is needed. OBJECTIVE: To present the scale development methods for the Merz Infraorbital Hollow Assessment Scale and establish its reliability and clinical relevance. METHODS: A 5-point photonumeric scale was developed to objectively assess the infraorbital hollowing among subjects of varying sex, age, and skin type. Intra- and inter-rater reliability was evaluated using live assessments conducted 2 weeks apart. The clinical relevance of a 1-point difference in scale-severity grade was evaluated through side by-side comparisons of photographs with either same grade or a one-grade difference. RESULTS: The scale demonstrated excellent reliability when used by trained physicians and other healthcare practitioners. Intra-rater agreement between the 2 live-subject rating sessions was nearly perfect. Substantial inter-rater agreement between the raters from both live sessions was also demonstrated. The mean absolute difference (95% confidence interval) in scale ratings was 1.08 (1.02, 1.14) for "clinically different" pairs and was 0.34 (0.27, 0.41) for "clinically same" pairs, suggesting a 1-point difference is clinically relevant. CONCLUSION: The Merz Infraorbital Hollow Assessment Scale is a validated, reliable, and clinically relevant photonumeric scale for rating infraorbital hollowing. The scale maintains its validity and reliability with reproducible results across a diverse group of males and females of various ages and Fitzpatrick Skin Types. J Drugs Dermatol. 2023;22(1):74-81.doi:10.36849/JDD.7191.


Subject(s)
Photography , Male , Female , Humans , Reproducibility of Results , Observer Variation , Severity of Illness Index , Cheek
10.
J Drugs Dermatol ; 22(2): 203-209, 2023 Feb 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36745368

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: A naturally aged face is often characterized by a noticeable lack of jawline contour and decreased volume in the lower region. Several options are available to redefine the jawline. To objectively evaluate treatment-related improvements in clinical practice and research, a validated photonumeric scale is needed. OBJECTIVE: To present scale-development methods for the Merz Jawline Assessment Scale and establish its reliability. METHODS: A 5-point photonumeric scale was developed to objectively assess jawline volume loss and contour disruption using male and female subjects of various ages and skin types. Seven board-certified dermatologists and plastic surgeons evaluated 90 subjects live in 2 sessions, 3 weeks apart to establish intra- and interrater reliability. RESULTS: The weighted kappa for intra- and interrater agreement were ≥ 0.7 in all cases. Intrarater agreement between the 2 rating sessions was nearly perfect (median weighted kappa = 0.908). Substantial interrater agreement between each rater pair was also demonstrated for both rating sessions. CONCLUSION: The Merz Jawline Assessment Scale is a validated and reliable photonumeric scale for rating loss of jawline volume and contour. The scale maintains its validity and reliability with reproducible results across a diverse group of males and females of various ages and Fitzpatrick skin types. J Drugs Dermatol. 2023;22(2):203-209. doi:10.36849/JDD.7193.


Subject(s)
Photography , Surgeons , Humans , Male , Female , Aged , Reproducibility of Results , Observer Variation , Severity of Illness Index
11.
Sensors (Basel) ; 22(9)2022 May 08.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35591271

ABSTRACT

When a traditional Deep Deterministic Policy Gradient (DDPG) algorithm is used in mobile robot path planning, due to the limited observable environment of mobile robots, the training efficiency of the path planning model is low, and the convergence speed is slow. In this paper, Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) is introduced into the DDPG network, the former and current states of the mobile robot are combined to determine the actions of the robot, and a Batch Norm layer is added after each layer of the Actor network. At the same time, the reward function is optimized to guide the mobile robot to move faster towards the target point. In order to improve the learning efficiency, different normalization methods are used to normalize the distance and angle between the mobile robot and the target point, which are used as the input of the DDPG network model. When the model outputs the next action of the mobile robot, mixed noise composed of Gaussian noise and Ornstein-Uhlenbeck (OU) noise is added. Finally, the simulation environment built by a ROS system and a Gazebo platform is used for experiments. The results show that the proposed algorithm can accelerate the convergence speed of DDPG, improve the generalization ability of the path planning model and improve the efficiency and success rate of mobile robot path planning.


Subject(s)
Robotics , Algorithms , Computer Simulation , Memory, Long-Term , Policy , Robotics/methods
12.
Protein Expr Purif ; 179: 105788, 2021 03.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33221504

ABSTRACT

MEF2D-fusions have recently been identified as one of the major oncogenic drivers in precursor B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). More importantly, they are often associated with patients with poor prognosis in B-ALL. To have a better understanding of the pathogenic mechanism underpinning MEF2D-fusions-driven leukemogenesis, it's essential to uncover the related structure information. In this study, we expressed and purified the MEF2D N-terminal DNA binding domain. The recombinant protein was engineered by cloning the encoding gene into the expression vector pET-32 m. A series of chromatographic steps involving affinity, ion-exchange and gel-filtration chromatography were used to achieve a final purity of >95%. For the crystallization of the MEF2D-DNA complex, a double-stranded DNA encoding 5'-AACTATTTATAAGA-3' and 5'-TTCTTATAAATAGT-3' was used (Wu et al., 2010) [1]. The MEF2D-DNA crystal with the size of about 20 µm × 20 µm × 20 µm was obtained at a final concentration of 12 mg/ml at the reservoir condition containing 30% PEG1500. The X-ray examination showed that the MEF2D-DNA crystal diffracted to 4.5 Å resolution, and belonged to space group P1, with unit-cell parameters of a = 77.2 Å, b = 77.2 Å, c = 231.4 Å.


Subject(s)
DNA , Recombinant Proteins , Binding Sites/genetics , Chromatography, Liquid , DNA/chemistry , DNA/metabolism , Humans , MEF2 Transcription Factors/chemistry , MEF2 Transcription Factors/genetics , MEF2 Transcription Factors/isolation & purification , MEF2 Transcription Factors/metabolism , Precursor B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma , Recombinant Proteins/chemistry , Recombinant Proteins/genetics , Recombinant Proteins/isolation & purification , Recombinant Proteins/metabolism , X-Ray Diffraction
14.
Hum Hered ; 79(1): 20-7, 2015.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-25765051

ABSTRACT

Cardiovascular diseases are among the most significant health problems in the United States today, with their major risk factor, hypertension, disproportionately affecting African Americans (AAs). Although GWAS have identified dozens of common variants associated with blood pressure (BP) and hypertension in European Americans, these variants collectively explain <2.5% of BP variance, and most of the genetic variants remain yet to be identified. Here, we report the results from rare-variant analysis of systolic BP using 94,595 rare and low-frequency variants (minor allele frequency, MAF, <5%) from the Illumina exome array genotyped in 2,045 HyperGEN AAs. In addition to single-variant analysis, 4 gene-level association tests were used for analysis: burden and family-based SKAT tests using MAF cutoffs of 1 and 5%. The gene-based methods often provided lower p values than the single-variant approach. Some consistency was observed across these 4 gene-based analysis options. While neither the gene-based analyses nor the single-variant analysis produced genome-wide significant results, the top signals, which had supporting evidence from multiple gene-based methods, were of borderline significance. Though additional molecular validations are required, 6 of the 16 most promising genes are biologically plausible with physiological connections to BP regulation.


Subject(s)
Black or African American/genetics , Blood Pressure/genetics , Genetic Variation , Exome , Humans , Systole
15.
Curr Microbiol ; 69(3): 381-7, 2014 Sep.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-24810291

ABSTRACT

In this study, the isolation of an endophytic fungus from the leaves of the medicinal herb adlay (Coix lacryma-jobi L. var. ma-yuen Stapf) is reported for the first time. The fungus produced Triolein (trioleoylglycerol), a major constituent of triacylglycerols (TAGs) of adlay, in rice medium under shake-flask and bench-scale fermentation conditions. The fungus was identified as Gibberella moniliformis (Fusarium verticillioides) by its morphology and authenticated by ITS analysis (ITS1 and ITS2 regions and the intervening 5.8S rDNA region). Triolein was identified by HPLC-ELSD coupled with APCI-MS and confirmed through comparison with authentic standard. The concentration of triolein produced by G. moniliformis AH13 reached 2.536 ± 0.006 mg/g dry weight of mycelium. Moreover, the EtOAc extract of G. moniliformis AH13 showed strong antitumor activity against four types of tumor cells (A549, HCT116, MDA-MB-231, and SW1990). These results suggest that G. moniliformis AH13 in adlay has significant scientific and industrial potential to meet the pharmaceutical demands and sustainable energy requirements for TAGs in a cost-effective, easily accessible, and reproducible way and is also a potential novel source of natural antitumor bioactive agents.


Subject(s)
Antineoplastic Agents/metabolism , Coix/microbiology , Endophytes/classification , Endophytes/isolation & purification , Gibberella/classification , Gibberella/isolation & purification , Triolein/metabolism , Cell Line, Tumor , Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid , Cluster Analysis , Culture Media/chemistry , DNA, Fungal/chemistry , DNA, Fungal/genetics , DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry , DNA, Ribosomal/genetics , DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/chemistry , DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/genetics , Endophytes/genetics , Endophytes/metabolism , Gibberella/genetics , Gibberella/metabolism , Humans , Mass Spectrometry , Molecular Sequence Data , Phylogeny , Plant Leaves/microbiology , RNA, Ribosomal, 5.8S/genetics , Sequence Analysis, DNA
16.
J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis ; 23(10): 2914-2919, 2014.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-25440368

ABSTRACT

We examined the benefit of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), delivered as part of usual stroke management, on patient-reported outcomes and health care utilization. Using a case control design, patients who received tPA as part of usual stroke management were compared with patients who would have received tPA had they arrived to the hospital within the therapeutic time window. Data were collected from surveys 6 months after stroke using standardized patient-reported outcome measures and questions about health care utilization. Demographic and medical data were acquired from hospital records. Patients were matched on stroke severity, age, race, and gender. Matching was done with 1:2 ratio of tPA to controls. Results were compared between groups with 1-tailed tests because of a directionally specific hypothesis in favor of the tPA group. The tPA (n = 78) and control (n = 156) groups were matched across variables, except for stroke severity, which was better in the control group; subsequent analyses controlled for this mismatch. The tPA group reported better physical function, communication, cognitive ability, depressive symptomatology, and quality of life/participation compared with the control group. Fewer people in the tPA group reported skilled nursing facility stays, emergency department visits, and rehospitalizations after their stroke compared with controls. Reports of other postacute services were not different between groups. Although it is known that tPA reduces disability, this is the first study to demonstrate the effectiveness of tPA in improving meaningful, patient-reported outcomes. Thus, use of tPA provides a large benefit to the daily lives of people with ischemic stroke.


Subject(s)
Fibrinolytic Agents/administration & dosage , Health Resources/statistics & numerical data , Process Assessment, Health Care , Stroke/drug therapy , Thrombolytic Therapy , Tissue Plasminogen Activator/administration & dosage , Aged , Comparative Effectiveness Research , Disability Evaluation , Emergency Service, Hospital/statistics & numerical data , Female , Health Care Surveys , Humans , Male , Mental Health , Middle Aged , Patient Readmission , Quality of Life , Recovery of Function , Retrospective Studies , Skilled Nursing Facilities/statistics & numerical data , Stroke/diagnosis , Stroke/physiopathology , Stroke/psychology , Surveys and Questionnaires , Time Factors , Treatment Outcome
17.
Histol Histopathol ; 39(3): 391-398, 2024 Mar.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37382210

ABSTRACT

Duodenitis refers to inflammation that occurs in the duodenum. Helicobacter pylori (Hp) is a known risk factor for duodenitis. This paper attempted to analyze the correlation between Hp virulence genotypes and the initiation and development of duodenal bulbar inflammation (DBI) to lay the foundation for the management of duodenitis induced by Hp infection. Total RNA was extracted from duodenal samples of 156 Hp-positive patients [70 with DBI and 86 with duodenal bulbar ulcer (DBU)] and 80 Hp-free DBI patients, followed by RT-qPCR detection of COX-2 mRNA expression and the presence of virulence factors. The cagA positive (62.2%), vacAs1 (21.79%), vacAm2 (23.72%), vacAs1m2 (19.87%) and iceA1 (55.80%) genotypes were dominant in 156 Hp-positive samples. Statistical difference was observed in vacAs and vacA mixtures between DBI and DBU patients. Gastric metaplasia had an association with vacA allelotypes, and its occurrence had strong correlations with vacAs1 and vacAs1m2 genotypes. The vacAs1 and vacAs1m2 genotypes were correlated with gastric metaplasia occurrence (all p<0.05). There were significant correlations between vacAs and vacA mixtures with cagA genotypes, and between iceA genotypes with vacA mixtures (all p<0.05). COX-2 was strongly expressed in Hp-infected duodenal mucosa and showed correlations with vacA genotype. COX-2 was differentially expressed in vacAs1- and vacAs2-positive patients. COX-2 was more highly upregulated in vacAs1m1- and vacAs1m2-positive patients than vacAs2m2-positive patients. Overall, Hp virulence genotype vacA was correlated with DBI and DBU initiation and development.


Subject(s)
Duodenal Ulcer , Duodenitis , Helicobacter pylori , Humans , Bacterial Proteins/genetics , Helicobacter pylori/genetics , Cyclooxygenase 2/genetics , Inflammation , Duodenum , Metaplasia , Mucous Membrane
18.
ChemSusChem ; : e202400856, 2024 Jun 18.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38894517

ABSTRACT

Chemical looping reforming of methane (CLRM) with Fe-based oxygen carriers is widely acknowledged as an environmentally friendly and cost-effective approach for syngas production, however, sintering-caused deactivate of oxygen carriers at elevated temperatures of above 900 °C is a longstanding issue restricting the development of CLRM. Here, in order to reduce the reaction temperature without compromising the chemical-looping CH4 conversion efficiency, we proposed a novel operation scheme of CLRM by manipulating the reaction pressure to shift the equilibrium of CH4 partial oxidation towards the forward direction based on the Le Chatelier's principle. The results from thermodynamic simulations showed that, at a fixed reaction temperature, the reduction in pressure led to the increase in CH4 conversion, H2 and CO selectivity, as well as carbon deposition rate of all investigated oxygen carriers. The pressure-negative CLRM with Fe3O4, Fe2O3 and MgFe2O4 could reduce the reaction temperature to below 700 °C on the premise of a satisfactory CLRM performance. In a comprehensive consideration of the CLRM performance, energy consumption, and CH4 requirement, NiFe2O4 was the Fe-based OCs best available for pressure-negative CLRM, especially for an excellent syngas yield of 23.08 mmol/gOC. This study offered a new strategy to address sintering-caused deactivation of materials in chemical looping from the reaction thermodynamics point of view.

19.
Eur J Pharm Sci ; 192: 106641, 2024 Jan 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37972905

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Drug Delivery System was constructed using dopamine-coated organic-inorganic hybrid hollow mesoporous organic silica nanoparticles (HMON-PDA) as drug carriers and salvianolic acid B (SAB) as a model drug. Then, we further investigated whether it can inhibit lung metastasis of breast cancer by inhibiting cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). METHODS: The organic-inorganic hybrid hollow mesoporous organic silica nanoparticles (HMON) were prepared. The particle size, zeta potential, and polydispersion coefficient were characterized. High-performance liquid chromatography was used to determine the effect of different feed ratios of HMON and SAB on drug loading rate. Then, SAB-loaded HMON were modified by polydopamine, which is called SAB@HMON-PDA. Cell viability was detected by MTT assay. The migration of 4T1 cells was investigated by wound healing experiment, and the invasion of 4T1 cells was detected by the transwell method. Finally, the mouse breast cancer lung metastasis models were used to explore whether SAB@HMON-PDA can inhibit lung metastasis of breast cancer by inhibiting CAFs. RESULTS: The obtained nanoparticles have hollow spherical structure. The average particle sizes of HMON, SAB@HMON, and SAB@HMON-PDA were 143.5 ± 0.03, 138.3 ± 0.02, and 172.3 ± 0.18 nm, respectively. The zeta potentials were -44.33±0.15, -41.4 ± 1.30, and -24.13±0.47 mV, respectively. When the ratio of HMON to SAB was 2:1, the drug loading rate reached (18.37±0.04)%. In addition, the prepared SAB@HMON-PDA responded to release SAB under acidic and GSH conditions. The prepared SAB@HMON-PDA could inhibit the migration and invasion of 4T1 cells. The results showed that SAB@HMON-PDA and SAB could inhibit lung metastasis of breast cancer in mice, and SAB@HMON-PDA had a more significant inhibitory effect than SAB. CONCLUSION: We successfully prepared SAB@HMON-PDA with the dual response of pH and GSH. SAB@HMON-PDA can inhibit the migration and invasion of 4T1 cells, and the effect is more significant than free SAB. This inhibitory effect may be related to the inhibition of CAFs. In vivo experiments demonstrated that SAB@HMON-PDA can inhibit lung metastasis of breast cancer by inhibiting CAFs, and its effect was more significant than that of free SAB.


Subject(s)
Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts , Lung Neoplasms , Nanoparticles , Skin Neoplasms , Animals , Mice , Silicon Dioxide/chemistry , Drug Carriers/chemistry , Nanoparticles/chemistry , Lung Neoplasms/drug therapy , Porosity
20.
Sci Total Environ ; 917: 170302, 2024 Mar 20.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38272089

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Rift valley fever (RVF) is listed as one of prioritized diseases by WHO. This study aims to describe RVF virus' landscape distribution globally, and to insight dynamics change of its evolution, prevalence, and outbreaks in the process of breaking geographical barriers. METHODS: A systematic literature review and meta-analyses was conducted to estimate RVF prevalence by hosts using a random-effect model. Molecular clock-based phylogenetic analyses were performed to estimate RVF virus nucleotide substitution rates using nucleotide sequences in NCBI database. RVF virus prevalence, nucleotide substitution rates, and outbreaks were compared before and after breaking geographical barriers twice, respectively. RESULTS: RVF virus was reported from 26 kinds of hosts covering 48 countries from 1930 to 2022. Since RVF broke geographical barriers, (1) nucleotide substitution rates significantly increased after firstly spreading out of Africa in 2000, (2) prevalence in humans significantly increased from 1.92 % (95 % CI: 0.86-3.25 %) to 3.03 % (95 % CI: 2.09-4.12 %) after it broke Sahara Desert geographical barriers in 1977, and to 5.24 % (95 % CI: 3.81-6.82 %) after 2000, (3) RVF outbreaks in humans and the number of wildlife hosts presented increasing trends. RVF virus spillover may exist between bats and humans, and accelerate viral substitution rates in humans. During outbreaks, the RVF virus substitution rates accelerated in humans. 60.00 % RVF outbreaks occurred 0-2 months after floods and (or) heavy rainfall. CONCLUSION: RVF has the increasing risk to cause pandemics, and global collaboration on "One Health" is needed to prevent potential pandemics.


Subject(s)
Disease Outbreaks , Rift Valley Fever , Rift Valley fever virus , Rift Valley Fever/epidemiology , Rift Valley fever virus/genetics , Humans , Animals , Prevalence , Phylogeny
SELECTION OF CITATIONS
SEARCH DETAIL