Growth, Optical, and Spectroscopic Properties of Pure and Nd3+-Doped GdSr3(PO4)3 Crystals with Disordered Structure.

Disordered crystals have attracted immense attention for the generation of ultrashort laser pulses due to their good thermomechanical characteristics and wide emission bandwidths. In this work, a Gd-based orthophosphate crystal, GdSr3(PO4)3, (GSP), and a Nd3+-doped GdSr3(PO4)3 crystal, (Nd:GSP), were obtained by the Czochralski method. The crystal structure, optical properties, electronic band structure, laser damage threshold, and hardness of the GSP crystal were comprehensively investigated. It exhibited a disordered structure due to the random distribution of Sr and Gd atoms in the same Wyckoff site, which caused inhomogeneous spectral broadening. Additionally, it exhibited a short UV absorption cutoff edge (<200 nm), a large band gap (5.81 eV), and a high laser damage threshold (∼1850 MW/cm2). The spectral properties and Judd-Ofelt calculations of the Nd:GSP crystals were analyzed. A wide absorption band at 803 nm, with a full width at half-maximum value of 20 nm, makes the Nd:GSP crystal suitable for the efficient pumping of AlGaAs laser diodes. Sub-100-fs pulses could be supported by its 25 nm emission bandwidth. Hence, the GSP crystal could be a promising disordered crystal laser matrix.

[Research on the correlation of brain function based on improved phase locking value].

The phase lock value(PLV) is an effective method to analyze the phase synchronization of the brain, which can effectively separate the phase components of the electroencephalogram (EEG) signal and reflect the influence of the signal intensity on the functional connectivity. However, the traditional locking algorithm only analyzes the phase component of the signal, and can't effectively analyze characteristics of EEG signal. In order to solve this problem, a new algorithm named amplitude locking value (ALV) is proposed. Firstly, the improved algorithm obtained intrinsic mode function using the empirical mode decomposition, which was used as input for Hilbert transformation (HT). Then the instantaneous amplitude was calculated and finally the ALV was calculated. On the basis of ALV, the instantaneous amplitude of EEG signal can be measured between electrodes. The data of 14 subjects under different cognitive tasks were collected and analyzed for the coherence of the brain regions during the arithmetic by the improved method. The results showed that there was a negative correlation between the coherence and cognitive activity, and the central and parietal areas were most sensitive. The quantitative analysis by the ALV method could reflect the real biological information. Correlation analysis based on the ALV provides a new method and idea for the research of synchronism, which offer a foundation for further exploring the brain mode of thinking.

[An improved electroencephalogram feature extraction algorithm and its application in emotion recognition].

The result of the emotional state induced by music may provide theoretical support and help for assisted music therapy. The key to assessing the state of emotion is feature extraction of the emotional electroencephalogram (EEG). In this paper, we study the performance optimization of the feature extraction algorithm. A public multimodal database for emotion analysis using physiological signals (DEAP) proposed by Koelstra et al. was applied. Eight kinds of positive and negative emotions were extracted from the dataset, representing the data of fourteen channels from the different regions of brain. Based on wavelet transform, δ, θ, α and ß rhythms were extracted. This paper analyzed and compared the performances of three kinds of EEG features for emotion classification, namely wavelet features (wavelet coefficients energy and wavelet entropy), approximate entropy and Hurst exponent. On this basis, an EEG feature fusion algorithm based on principal component analysis (PCA) was proposed. The principal component with a cumulative contribution rate more than 85% was retained, and the parameters which greatly varied in characteristic root were selected. The support vector machine was used to assess the state of emotion. The results showed that the average accuracy rates of emotional classification with wavelet features, approximate entropy and Hurst exponent were respectively 73.15%, 50.00% and 45.54%. By combining these three methods, the features fused with PCA possessed an accuracy of about 85%. The obtained classification accuracy by using the proposed fusion algorithm based on PCA was improved at least 12% than that by using single feature, providing assistance for emotional EEG feature extraction and music therapy.

Regulation of plasma lipid homeostasis by hepatic lipoprotein lipase in adult mice.

LPL is a pivotal rate-limiting enzyme to catalyze the hydrolysis of TG in circulation, and plays a critical role in regulating lipid metabolism. However, little attention has been paid to LPL in the adult liver due to its relatively low expression. Here we show that endogenous hepatic LPL plays an important physiological role in plasma lipid homeostasis in adult mice. We generated a mouse model with the Lpl gene specifically ablated in hepatocytes with the Cre/LoxP approach, and found that specific deletion of hepatic Lpl resulted in a significant decrease in plasma LPL contents and activity. As a result, the postprandial TG clearance was markedly impaired, and plasma TG and cholesterol levels were significantly elevated. However, deficiency of hepatic Lpl did not change the liver TG and cholesterol contents or glucose homeostasis. Taken together, our study reveals that hepatic LPL is involved in the regulation of plasma LPL activity and lipid homeostasis.

Efficacy and safety of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists for patients with heart failure and diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to systematically assess the efficacy and safety of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) for patients with heart failure (HF) and diabetes mellitus (DM). METHODS: We conducted a comprehensive search for controlled studies that evaluated the efficacy and safety of MRAs in patients with DM and HF. Medline, Embase and Cochrane databases were searched. Two reviewers independently identified citations, extracted data and evaluated quality. Risk estimations were abstracted and pooled where appropriate. RESULTS: Four observational studies were included. MRAs use was associated with reduced mortality compared with controls (RR = 0.78; 95% CI: 0.69-0.88; I(2) = 0%; P < 0.001). Increased risk of developing hyperkalaemia was observed in those patients taking MRAs (RR = 1.74; 95% CI: 1.27-2.38; I(2) = 0%; P = 0.0005). CONCLUSIONS: The current cumulative evidence suggests that MRAs can improve clinical outcomes but increase the risk of hyperkalaemia in patients with DM and HF. TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42015025690 .

[Applications of Wavelet Transform Combining Empirical Mode Decomposition in EEG Analysis with Music Intervention].

In the present paper,wavelet transform and empirical mode decomposition(EMD)are combined to extracted the features of electroencephalogram(EEG)signal with music intervention,and to achieve a better classification accuracy rate and reliability in emotional assessment in order to provide a support for music therapy.The data were from Database for Emotion Analysis using Physiological Signals(DEAP).Based on wavelet transformα,ßandθrhythms were extracted at frontal(F3,F4),temporal(T7,T8)and central regions(C3,C4).Based on the EMD,the intrinsic mode function(IMF)was analyzed and extracted.Furthermore,average energy and amplitude difference of IMF were analyzed and obtained.The support vector machine was used to assess the state of emotion in order to support music therapy.According to this algorithm,the classification accuracy rate could reach 100% between no emotions,positive emotions and negative emotions,which made a 10%improvement between positive and negative emotion recognition.Effective evaluation result between positive and negative emotions was achieved.The states of emotion would influence the effect of music therapy,undoubtedly,the classification accuracy rate increasing of emotional assessment will further help improve the effect of music therapy and provide a better support to the therapy.

Melatonin Induces Cell Apoptosis in AGS Cells Through the Activation of JNK and P38 MAPK and the Suppression of Nuclear Factor-Kappa B: a Novel Therapeutic Implication for Gastric Cancer.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Melatonin, synthesized by the pineal gland and released into the blood, appears to have antitumour properties; however, the mechanisms of its anti-cancer effects are largely unknown, especially in stomach cancer. Here, we explore the antitumour activity of melatonin in a gastric cancer cell line (AGS) and analyse its molecular mechanisms. METHODS: AGS cells were treated with melatonin, and cell viability was assessed using a CCK-8 assay. Flow cytometry was performed to evaluate apoptosis, and protein expression was examined by Western blotting. RESULTS: Melatonin significantly inhibited cell viability, clone formation, and cell migration and invasion and induced apoptosis in AGS cells. Moreover, MAPK pathways (p38, JNK and ERK) were activated by melatonin treatment, which also significantly increased caspase-3 cleavage and Bax protein expression and decreased Bcl-2 protein expression in a time-dependent manner. Our results demonstrate that p38 and JNK inhibitors (SB203580 and SP600125, respectively) prevented melatonin-induced apoptosis; thus, the propensity of p38 MAPK and JNK to promote apoptosis could be at least partly due to the inhibition of NF-x03BA;B p65 activation by p38 and JNK. Finally, melatonin was able to strengthen cisplatin-mediated antitumour effects in human gastric carcinoma cells by up-regulating the expression of Bax, down-regulating the expression of Bcl-2 and activating the caspase-dependent apoptotic pathway. CONCLUSION: Melatonin induced apoptosis in AGS cells by activating the caspase-dependent apoptotic pathway and by inhibiting the nuclear translocation of NF-x03BA;B p65, two processes that are regulated by p38 and JNK. Furthermore, melatonin significantly enhanced the anti-tumour effects of cisplatin, with low systemic toxicity. These new findings suggest that melatonin may act as a potent anti-tumour agent and may have great potential as an adjuvant therapy in the future.

Circ_0082374 Promotes the Tumorigenesis and Suppresses Ferroptosis in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer by Up-Regulating GPX4 Through Sequestering miR-491-5p.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been identified to be dysregulated in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and implicated in the progression of this cancer. Here, this work aimed to investigate the role and mechanism of circ_0082374 on NSCLC progression. Levels of circ_0082374, miR-491-5p, GPX4 (glutathione peroxidase 4) and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related proteins were examined by quantitative real-time PCR or western blotting, respectively. Cell proliferation and metastasis were detected using cell counting kit-8, colony formation, EdU, transwell, and Scratch assays. Cell ferroptosis was evaluated by measuring cell survival after the treatment of different ferroptosis inducers or inhibitors, as well as the accumulation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), ferrous iron (Fe2+) and malondialdehyde (MDA). The binding between miR-491-5p and circ_0082374 or GPX4 was confirmed using dual-luciferase reporter and RNA pull-down assays. In vivo experiments were conducted using murine xenograft assay and immunohistochemistry. Circ_0082374 was a stable circRNA with high expression in NSCLC tissues and cells. Functionally, circ_0082374 silencing suppressed NSCLC cell proliferation and metastasis. Moreover, its down-regulation enhanced ferroptosis by decreasing iron and lipid peroxidation accumulation. Mechanistically, circ_0082374 could indirectly up-regulate GPX4 expression via miR-491-5p, indicating the circ_0082374/miR-491-5p/GPX4 competitive endogenous RNAs (ceRNA) network. Rescue experiments demonstrated that the miR-491-5p/GPX4 axis mediated the regulatory effects of circ_0082374 exerted on NSCLC cells. Moreover, knockdown of circ_0082374 impeded NSCLC growth and EMT via regulating miR-491-5p and GPX4. Circ_0082374 silencing could suppress NSCLC cell proliferation, metastasis and induce ferroptosis through miR-491-5p/GPX4 axis, suggesting a novel therapeutic approach for NSCLC patients.

Preparation and Optical Properties of Nd:Bi2Ti2O7 Laser Crystal with Disordered Structure and Attractive Multiwavelength Emission Characteristics.

Laser crystals with multiwavelength emission characteristics are potential light sources for terahertz radiation. Herein, the pure and Nd-doped Bi2Ti2O7 (BTO) laser crystals with sizes up to 16 × 13 × 5 mm3 were successfully grown using the flux method in the KF-B2O3-CaBi4Ti4O15 growth system. The crystal structure, ideal morphology, chemical, mechanical, and thermal properties, optical transmission and Raman spectra, refractive index, absorption, and fluorescence spectra, as well as fluorescence lifetimes, were systematically studied. Besides, the spectral parameters of Nd3+ ions in the BTO crystal were systematically calculated based on the Judd-Ofelt theory. The Nd:BTO crystal has a wide transmittance range (0.44-7.30 µm), a small coefficient of thermal expansion (5.80 × 10-6 K-1), and a large absorption full width at half-maximum (fwhm) (31.2 nm) at around ∼804 nm, making it more potential for use in high-power laser systems. Moreover, fluorescence spectra show four emission peaks at 1054, 1062, 1104, and 1112 nm. The strong multiwavelength emission property makes Nd:BTO a promising laser crystal, serving as a potential light source for terahertz radiation.

Network models of prostate cancer immune microenvironments identify ROMO1 as heterogeneity and prognostic marker.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the fifth leading cause of death from cancer in men worldwide. Its treatment remains challenging due to the heterogeneity of the tumor, mainly because of the lack of effective and targeted prognostic markers at the system biology level. First, the data were retrieved from TCGA dataset, and valid samples were obtained by consistent clustering and principal component analysis; next, key genes were analyzed for prognosis of PCa using WGCNA, MEGENA, and LASSO Cox regression model analysis, while key genes were screened based on disease-free survival significance. Finally, TIMER data were selected to explore the relationship between genes and tumor immune infiltration, and GSCAlite was used to explore the small-molecule targeted drugs that act with them. Here, we used tumor subtype analysis and an energetic co-expression network algorithm of WGCNA and MEGENA to identify a signal dominated by the ROMO1 to predict PCa prognosis. Cox regression analysis of ROMO1 was an independent influence, and the prognostic value of this biomarker was validated in the training set, the validated data itself, and external data, respectively. This biomarker correlates with tumor immune infiltration and has a high degree of infiltration, poor prognosis, and strong correlation with CD8+T cells. Gene function annotation and other analyses also implied a potential molecular mechanism for ROMO1. In conclusion, we putative ROMO1 as a portal key prognostic gene for the diagnosis and prognosis of PCa, which provides new insights into the diagnosis and treatment of PCa.

Pulmonary tumor thrombotic microangiopathy of patient with both hepatocellular carcinoma and gastric signet-ring cell carcinoma: a case report and review of literature.

Pulmonary tumor thrombotic microangiopathy (PTTM) is a rare cancer-related complication characterized by intimal proliferation in the pulmonary small arteries with or without tumor emboli, which can be fatal due to progressive pulmonary hypertension (PH). And PTTM is hard to be confirmed during lifetime; hence, it is vital to pay more attention to high-risk PTTM, which may progress quickly. PTTM patients have an extremely poor prognosis. Here, we have reported a case of a patient with both hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and gastric signet-ring cell carcinoma who presented with dyspnea and died rapidly and was diagnosed with suspected PTTM. In addition, we have reviewed some related literature. This patient showed a poorer prognosis, with a survival time of only 3 days after oxygen supplementation (very poor compared to the average level of PTTM patients caused by gastric carcinoma only, which was 18 days according to our summary). Besides, respiratory discomfort is the main symptom of PTTM. Abnormal pulmonary imaging was reported with the appearance of septal thickening, ground-glass opacities, small nodules, pleural effusion, and a tree-in-bud pattern in PTTM patients. No effective therapeutic options have been established for PTTM. PTTM should be considered in patients with cancer who progress to rapid respiratory failure and PH, especially in patients with multiple tumors whose condition is more likely to deteriorate quickly.

The effects of Helicobacter pylori infection on pregnancy-related diseases and fetal development in diabetes in pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to determine the association of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection with pregnancy-related diseases and fetal development in women with diabetes in pregnancy (DIP). METHODS: All the participants were recruited before 16 weeks of gestation. According to their medical history and the results of a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test at the 24th week of pregnancy, the participants were divided into a normal control group (NC group), a gestational diabetes mellitus group (GDM group), and a pre-pregnancy diabetes mellitus group (PGDM group). According to the results of an H. pylori serum antibody detection test, each group was further divided into two subgroups: an H. pylori positive subgroup (HP+ subgroup) and an H. pylori negative group (HP- subgroup). The incidences of pregnancy-related diseases, the fetal developmental status, and the newborn status were compared among the groups. RESULTS: This study recruited 356 pregnant women. The infection rates of type I H. pylori were significantly higher in the GDM group and the PGDM group than in the NC group (χ2=6.949, P=0.031). With the exception of the NC-HP+ subgroup, there were higher incidences of pregnancy-related diseases in the HP+ subgroups than in the HP- subgroups (P<0.05). Furthermore, the incidences of pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH), preeclampsia, and premature delivery were significantly higher in the GDM-HP+ subgroup and the PGDM-HP+ subgroup than in the NC-HP+ subgroup (P<0.05). At the end of pregnancy, all 3 HP- subgroups showed better fetal development than the HP+ subgroups (P<0.05), and the NC-HP+ subgroup showed better fetal development than the GDM-HP+ and PGDM-HP+ subgroups (P<0.05). Meanwhile, the PGDM-HP+ subgroup showed poor fetal development, even in the 2nd trimester of pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: H. pylori infection is extremely common in DIP. For women with DIP, infection with H. pylori can increase the risks of pregnancy-related diseases and poor fetal development. H. pylori screening and eradication therapy before pregnancy may aid in preventing pregnancy-related diseases and improve fetal development.

Crumpled Graphene/Poly (azure I) Modified Electrode for Non-enzymatic Detection of Hydrogen Peroxide Secreted from Tumor Cells.

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), an important representatives of reactive oxygen species, its aberrant expression is related to many diseases, including cancers. Therefore, it is very significant to design a reliable method for the real-time detection of endogenous H2O2. Herein, we describe preparing a poly (azure I)/crumpled graphene (cGN) modified electrode by an electro-polymerization method. The results showed that this electrode presented obvious electrocatalytic effect on the reduction of H2O2. Amperometric method was employed to monitor H2O2, and the amperometric response exhibited a good linear relationship with its concentration in the range of 8.0 × 10-6 - 1.25 × 10-3 mol/L; the detection limit reached to 6.7 × 10-7 mol/L (S/N = 3). Furthermore, this modified also displayed good selectivity, long-term stability and a high anti-interference ability. Excitingly, the established method could be successfully used to detect H2O2 in human serum samples, and measured H2O2 secreted from living MCF-7 cells. It could have potential use in cancer diagnosis.

Osimertinib-induced severe interstitial lung disease: A case report.

Lung cancer is globally one of the leading causes of malignant tumor-related mortality and ranks as having the highest incidence found in men and second in women. Osimertinib is a drug used to target lung cancer but its toxicity is not fully understood. Here we present a case of lung adenocarcinoma in a 78-year-old man that was treated and responded favorably with Osimertinib after the failure of other therapies. Unfortunately, the patient developed severe interstitial lung disease during the treatment procedure.

Melatonin treatment induces apoptosis through regulating the nuclear factor-κB and mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways in human gastric cancer SGC7901 cells.

Melatonin, which is synthesized by the pineal gland and released into the blood, exhibits antitumor properties. However, the mechanisms underlying these effects, particularly in stomach cancer, remain unknown. In the present study, the effect of melatonin on the nuclear factor (NF)-κB signaling pathway and the mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway, involving p38 and c-Jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK), were investigated in SGC7901 gastric cancer cells. In addition, the effect of melatonin on the survival, migration and apoptosis of these cells was investigated in vitro in order to evaluate the use of melatonin for the treatment of gastric cancer. The results of the present study revealed that melatonin decreased the viability and migration of SGC7901 cells. Furthermore, melatonin induced apoptosis. Melatonin was identified to elevate the expression levels of phosphorylated (p)-p38 and p-JNK protein, and decrease the expression level of nucleic p-p65. These results suggest that the protein levels of p65, p38 and JNK are associated with the survival of SGC7901 cells following treatment with melatonin. The optimal concentration of melatonin was demonstrated to be 2 mM, which significantly induced apoptosis following a 24 h treatment period. These findings suggest that conflicting growth signals in cells may inhibit the efficacy of melatonin in the treatment of gastric cancer. Therefore, adjunct therapy would be required to improve the efficacy of melatonin in the treatment of cancer.

Melatonin induces cell apoptosis in Mia PaCa-2 cells via the suppression of nuclear factor-κB and activation of ERK and JNK: A novel therapeutic implication for pancreatic cancer.

Melatonin is synthesized by the pineal gland and is released into the blood. In the last several years, some studies have shown that melatonin has anticancer properties; however, the mechanisms behind the antitumour traits are unclear, especially in pancreatic cancer. Therefore, in the present study, we investigated the antitumour effects of melatonin on the human pancreatic carcinoma cell line MIA PaCa­2 and explored its biological mechanisms. MIA PaCa­2 cells were treated with melatonin, and we used a CCK­8 assay to evaluate the cell viability. We also used flow cytometry to observe cell apoptosis and western blot analysis to assess the protein expression. Our study found that melatonin inhibited cell viability, suppressed colony formation and reduced cell migration and invasion and induced cell apoptosis in MIA PaCa­2 cells. Our results showed that melatonin treatment inhibited NF­κB p65 activation. Moreover, melatonin treatment activated the mitogen­activated protein kinase pathways (c­jun N­terminal kinase and extracellular­regulated kinase 1/2), which increased Bax protein expression and caspase­3 cleavage and decreased Bcl­2 protein expression. These new developments demonstrate that melatonin plays a potential role in anticancer treatment and may act as an effective therapeutic agent in the future.

Association of SLC30A8 gene polymorphism with type 2 diabetes, evidence from 46 studies: a meta-analysis.

The solute carrier family 30 member 8 (SLC30A8) gene may be involved in the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) through disrupting ß-cell function. The aim of this study was to assess the association between SLC30A8 rs13266634 polymorphism and susceptibility to T2DM. We searched all reports regarding the association between SLC30A8 rs13266634 polymorphism and T2DM risk through Pubmed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library for English language reports and Chongqing VIP database, Wanfang data, CBMDisc, and CNKI for Chinese language studies. Allelic and genotype comparisons between cases and controls were evaluated, and odds ratios with 95 % confidence intervals were used to assess the strength of their association. A random effects model was selected. Publication bias was estimated using Begg's test. Forty-six studies were included in the analysis with a total of 71,890 cases and 96,753 controls. This meta-analysis suggests that SLC30A8 (rs13266634) polymorphism was associated with T2DM risk. Although previous meta-analyses have shown that this association was only found in Asian and European groups, and not in African populations, our analysis revealed the deleterious effect of SLC30A8 rs13266634 on T2DM in an African population when stratified by ethnicity under additive model even with a small number of studies.

Fluorescence enhancement effect of Eu(III)-thenoyltrifluoroacetone-cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide in water-dissolved organic matter extracted from wheat straw.

The fluorescence spectral characteristics of water-dissolved organic matter extracted from wheat straw (DOM-WS) were studied using three-dimensional excitation-emission matrix (3D-EEM) fluorescence spectroscopy. The results indicated that 3D-EEM spectra of DOM-WS showed four different fluorophores: humic-like, visible fulvic-like, UV fulvic-like and protein-like substances. It is interesting that DOM-WS can obviously enhance the fluorescence intensity of Eu(III)-thenoyltrifluoroacetone-cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide system. On the basis of this study, a new fluorescence method for the determination of trace amounts of Eu(III) was developed. Under the optimal conditions, the enhanced fluorescence intensity was in proportion to the concentration of Eu(III) in the range of 8.0×10(-8)-8.0×10(-7)mol/L. The detection limit (S/N=3) was 1.1×10(-9)mol/L. This method was applied to the analysis of Eu(III) concentration in standard sample and obtained satisfactory results. It may be a new way to use wheat straw effectively.