Unveiling the metabolic and coagulation disruptions in SARS-CoV-2-associated acute macular neuroretinopathy: A case-control study.

SARS-CoV-2 infection has been associated with the increased incidence of acute macular neuroretinopathy (AMN), an infrequent ocular disorder. However, the precise mechanisms underpinning AMN in the context of SARS-CoV-2 infection (AMN-SARS-CoV-2) remain elusive. In this case-control study, 14 patients diagnosed with AMN-SARS-CoV-2 between 2022/12 and 2023/3 were enrolled and compared with 14 SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals without AMN, who served as controls (SARS-CoV-2-no AMN). Metabolomic profiling using ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-online electrospray mass spectrometry revealed significant alterations in serum metabolites in AMN-SARS-CoV-2 patients. Coagulation abnormalities were observed in AMN-SARS-CoV-2 patients, and their relationship with metabolic disorders was studied. Finally, a predictive model for AMN-SARS-CoV-2 was established. Seventy-six upregulated and 42 downregulated metabolites were identified in AMN-SARS-CoV-2 cases. Notably, arginine metabolism within the urea cycle was significantly altered, evidenced by variations in ornithine, citrulline,  l-proline, and ADAM levels, correlating with abnormal coagulation markers like platelet crit, fibrinogen degradation product, and fibrinogen. Additionally, increased arginase 1 (AGR1) activity within the urea cycle and reduced nitric oxide synthase activity were observed in AMN-SARS-CoV-2. The integration of urea cycle metabolite levels with coagulation parameters yielded a robust discriminatory model for AMN-SARS-CoV-2, as evidenced by an area under the curve of 0.96. The findings of the present study enhance our comprehension of the underlying metabolic mechanisms associated with AMN-SARS-CoV-2 and offer potential diagnostic markers for this uncommon ocular disorder within the context of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Genome-Wide Identification of the SPP/SPPL Gene Family and BnaSPPL4 Regulating Male Fertility in Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.).

Signal peptide peptidase (SPP) and its homologs, signal peptide peptidase-like (SPPL) proteases, are members of the GxGD-type aspartyl protease family, which is widespread in plants and animals and is a class of transmembrane proteins with significant biological functions. SPP/SPPLs have been identified; however, the functions of SPP/SPPL in rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) have not been reported. In this study, 26 SPP/SPPLs were identified in rapeseed and categorized into three groups: SPP, SPPL2, and SPPL3. These members mainly contained the Peptidase_A22 and PA domains, which were distributed on 17 out of 19 chromosomes. Evolutionary analyses indicated that BnaSPP/SPPLs evolved with a large number of whole-genome duplication (WGD) events and strong purifying selection. Members are widely expressed and play a key role in the growth and development of rapeseed. The regulation of rapeseed pollen fertility by the BnaSPPL4 gene was further validated through experiments based on bioinformatics analysis, concluding that BnaSPPL4 silencing causes male sterility. Cytological observation showed that male infertility caused by loss of BnaSPPL4 gene function occurs late in the mononucleate stage due to microspore dysplasia.

Preparation of Bamboo-Based Activated Carbon via Steam Activation for Efficient Methylene Blue Dye Adsorption: Modeling and Mechanism Studies.

Dye pollution has long been an ecological and human health issue. Activated carbon is considered to be the most promising material for dye adsorption. In this study, bamboo was used as a biomass precursor to produce activated carbon with a high specific surface area by the steam activation method. The physical activation reaction between water vapor and bamboo promotes the carbonization product to have a rich porous structure. The prepared activated carbon was investigated from the perspectives of surface morphology, elemental change, surface porosity, and surface functional groups using a variety of techniques. According to the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller analysis, the activated carbon has a high surface area (1273 m2/g) and a mesoporous structure (average pore size 3.1 nm). On this basis, the effect of activated carbon on the removal of methylene blue (MB) dye from aqueous environments was evaluated and optimized by response surface methodology (RSM). Key adsorption parameters include initial MB concentration (150-200 mg/L), adsorption time (5-120 min), adsorbent dosage (30-50 mg), adsorption temperature (5-50 °C), and solution pH (3-11). Box-Behnken design (BBD) was used for modeling and analysis. Kinetic and isotherm model studies show that pseudo-second-order model kinetics and Langmuir isotherm can better describe the process of MB dye adsorption. This study will provide new ideas for the preparation of bamboo-activated carbon and provide a model prediction basis for dye adsorption research.

The Circular RNA Circ_0085494 Regulates Prostate Cancer Progression Through NRBP1/miR-497-5p Axis.

Aberrant expression of circular RNA (circRNA) is closely linked to the progression of various human cancers, including prostate cancer (PCa). In this research, we aimed to investigate the biological role of and mechanisms of circ_0085494 in PCa. The quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) assay was used to detect circ_0085494, miR-497-5p, and nuclear receptor binding protein 1 (NRBP1) mRNA expression in PCa tissues and cell lines. Subsequently, colony formation, cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU), and transwell assays were performed to evaluate PCa cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Western blot assay was applied for assessing the protein levels. Dual-luciferase reporter and RNA pull-down assays were implemented for verifying the association between miR-497-5p and circ_0085494 or NRBP1. The role of circ_0085494 in vivo was measured by establishing a mice xenograft model. Circ_0085494 was highly expressed in PCa tissues and cells, and its absence suppressed PCa cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Circ_0085494 impacts NRBP1 content by adsorbing miR-497-5p. Meanwhile, the repression of circ_0085494 absence on tumor growth in vivo was validated. Our finding revealed that circ_0085494 downregulation might repress PCa tumor progression through in part regulating the miR-497-5p/NRBP1 pathway.

Antimildew Effect of Three Phenolic Compounds and the Efficacy of Antimildew Sliced Bamboo Veneer.

The development of the bamboo industry has been hindered by environmental issues caused by the application of bamboo preservatives. Chinese herbal phenolic compounds have been shown to possess broad-spectrum, potent antimildew properties, making them promising candidates for the development of new bamboo mildew inhibitors. In this study, we investigated the antimildew properties of three phenolic compounds, eugenol, carvacrol, and paeonol, against common mildews in bamboo materials using the Oxford cup method and the double-dilution method. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to analyze the antimildew mechanism and its effects on mildew cell morphology. Our results showed that carvacrol exhibited the strongest antimildew activity, with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) values of 1.56 mg/mL and 1.76 mg/mL, respectively, followed by eugenol and paeonol. At a concentration of 25 mg/mL, eugenol and carvacrol had an inhibitory rate of over 50% against various mildews. Different concentrations of the three compounds significantly disrupted the morphology and structural integrity of mildew hyphae, with the extent of damage increasing with concentration and treatment duration. In the sliced bamboo mildew prevention experiment, carvacrol at a concentration of 29.25 mg/mL was found to be highly effective against all tested mildews. Our study provides new insights and a theoretical basis for the development of eco-friendly bamboo mildew inhibitors based on plant phenolic compounds.

Screening of Ionic Liquids against Bamboo Mildew and Its Inhibition Mechanism.

Ionic liquids are a class of organic molten salts that consist entirely of cations and anions. They are characterized by their low vapor pressure, low viscosity, low toxicity, high thermal stability, and strong antifungal potential. In this study, the inhibitory performance of ionic liquid cations against Penicillium citrinum, Trichoderma viride, and Aspergillus niger was investigated, along with the mechanism of cell membrane disruption. The Oxford cup method, SEM, and TEM were employed to examine the extent of damage and the specific site of action of ionic liquids on the mycelium and cell structure of these fungi. The results showed that 1-decyl-3-methylimidazole had a strong inhibitory effect on TV; benzyldimethyldodecylammonium chloride had a weak inhibitory effect on PC, TV, AN, and a mixed culture; while dodecylpyridinium chloride exhibited significant inhibitory effects on PC, TV, AN, and Mix, with more prominent effects observed on AN and Mix, exhibiting MIC values of 5.37 mg/mL, 5.05 mg/mL, 5.10 mg/mL, and 5.23 mg/mL, respectively. The mycelium of the mildews showed drying, partial loss, distortion, and uneven thickness. The cell structure showed separation of the plasma wall. The absorbance of the extracellular fluid of PC and TV reached the maximum after 30 min, while that of AN reached the maximum after 60 min. The pH of the extracellular fluid decreased initially and then increased within 60 min, followed by a continuous decrease. These findings provide important insights for the application of ionic liquid antifungal agents in bamboo, medicine, and food.

Is telephone follow-up reliable in maternal and neonatal outcomes surveys in in vitro fertilization?

BACKGROUND: Many studies that collect maternal and neonatal outcomes rely on patient self-report phone calls. It is unclear how reliable or accurate these phone call reports are. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the reliability of telephone calls in information collection in IVF. STUDY DESIGN: The women were interviewed seven days after delivery by a nurse via telephone. The maternal and neonatal outcomes were recorded based on a self-report from one of the spouses. Meanwhile, the standardized electronic hospitalized discharge records were extracted from the hospital medical database. For each case, maternal and neonatal information obtained from telephone interviews and extracted from medical files were compared. RESULTS: Agreement was classified as "almost perfect, K = 0.81-1.00" for preterm birth, cesarean delivery, low birth weight baby, and macrosomia. The strength of agreement was classified as "moderate, K = 0.41-0.60" for some antepartum complications: gestational diabetes (K = 0.569); pregnancy-induced hypertension (K = 0.588); intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (K = 0.597) and oligohydramnios (K = 0.432). The strength of agreement between telephone interviews and hospitalized discharge records can be classified as "slight (K = 0-0.20)" for some complications: thyroid diseases (K = 0.137), anemia (K = 0.047), postpartum hemorrhage (K = 0.016), and Fetal distress (K = 0.106). CONCLUSION: Some variables (preterm birth, cesarean delivery, birth weight) information collected by telephone follow-up were reliable. However, other complications (thyroid diseases, anemia, postpartum hemorrhage, and fetal distress) collected via self-report was non-reliable. Compared with complications during labor, antepartum complications have higher agreement between different follow-up methods. IVF records and hospitalized discharge records should be matched and collected simultaneously when discussing maternal and neonatal outcomes of IVF.

Melatonin suppresses the metastatic potential of osteoblastic prostate cancers by inhibiting integrin α2 ß1 expression.

Advanced prostate cancer often develops into bone metastasis, which is characterized by aberrant bone formation with chronic pain and lower chances of survival. No treatment exists as yet for osteoblastic bone metastasis in prostate cancer. The indolamine melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) is a major regulator of the circadian rhythm. Melatonin has shown antiproliferative and antimetastatic activities but has not yet been shown to be active in osteoblastic bone lesions of prostate cancer. Our study investigations reveal that melatonin concentration-dependently decreases the migratory and invasive abilities of two osteoblastic prostate cancer cell lines by inhibiting FAK, c-Src, and NF-κB transcriptional activity via the melatonin MT1 receptor, which effectively inhibits integrin α2 ß1 expression. Melatonin therapy appears to offer therapeutic possibilities for reducing osteoblastic bone lesions in prostate cancer.

Laser Shock Fabrication of Nitrogen Doped Inverse Spinel Fe3O4/Carbon Nanosheet Film Electrodes towards Hydrogen Evolution Reactions in Alkaline Media.

The reliable and cost-effective production of high-performance film electrodes for hydrogen evolution reactions remains a challenge for the laser surface modification community. In this study, prior to a thermal imidization reaction, a small number of Fe3O4 nanoparticles were vortexed into a poly(amic acid) (PAA) prepolymer, and the achieved flat composite film was then ablated by a 1064 nm fiber laser. After laser irradiation, the hierarchical architectures of carbon nanosheets decorated with Fe3O4 nanoparticles were generated. Although pure polyimide (PI) film and laser carbonized PI film, as well as bare Fe3O4, showcase poor intrinsic catalytic activity toward alkaline hydrogen evolution reactions, our laser-derived Fe3O4/carbon nanosheet hybrid film demonstrated enhanced electrocatalytic activity and stability in 1 M KOH electrolyte; the overpotential(η10) reached 247 mV when the current density was 10 mA cm-2 with a slight current decay in the chronoamperometric examination of 12 h. Finally, we proposed that the substitution of N to O in Fe-O sites of trans spinel structured magnetite would be able to modulate the free energy of hydrogen adsorption (ΔGH*) and accelerate water dissociation.

Combined Transcriptome and Metabolome Profiling Provide Insights into Cold Responses in Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) Genotypes with Contrasting Cold-Stress Sensitivity.

Low temperature is a major environmental factor, which limits rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) growth, development, and productivity. So far, the physiological and molecular mechanisms of rapeseed responses to cold stress are not fully understood. Here, we explored the transcriptome and metabolome profiles of two rapeseed genotypes with contrasting cold responses, i.e., XY15 (cold-sensitive) and GX74 (cold-tolerant). The global metabolome profiling detected 545 metabolites in siliques of both genotypes before (CK) and after cold-stress treatment (LW). The contents of several sugar metabolites were affected by cold stress with the most accumulated saccharides being 3-dehydro-L-threonic acid, D-xylonic acid, inositol, D-mannose, D-fructose, D-glucose, and L-glucose. A total of 1943 and 5239 differentially expressed genes were identified from the transcriptome sequencing in XY15CK_vs_XY15LW and GX74CK_vs_GX74LW, respectively. We observed that genes enriched in sugar metabolism and biosynthesis-related pathways, photosynthesis, reactive oxygen species scavenging, phytohormone, and MAPK signaling were highly expressed in GX74LW. In addition, several genes associated with cold-tolerance-related pathways, e.g., the CBF-COR pathway and MAPK signaling, were specifically expressed in GX74LW. Contrarily, genes in the above-mentioned pathways were mostly downregulated in XY15LW. Thus, our results indicate the involvement of these pathways in the differential cold-stress responses in XY15 and GX74.

Process and Anti-Mildew Properties of Tea Polyphenol-Modified Citral-Treated Bamboo.

In order to reduce the oxidative degradation of citral, our research group modified citral with the natural antioxidant from tea polyphenols and applied it to bamboo processing to enhance the anti-mold effect of bamboo, but its application to the bamboo treatment process and the anti-mold effect is still not clear. For this reason, in this paper, the tea polyphenol-modified citral anti-mildew treatment of bamboo as well as the anti-mildew properties of bamboo were explored using the orthogonal testing method and a UV-vis spectrophotometer. The results showed that when the concentration of tea polyphenol-modified citral reached 175 mg mL-1 and above, the efficacy of the anti-mildew treated bamboo against common molds reached 100%; the improved anti-mildew treatment process parameters for bamboo were as follows: impregnation pressure 0.6 MPa, impregnation time 150 min, and tea polyphenol-modified citral concentration 200 mg mL-1. Following the tea polyphenol-modified citral anti-mildew treatment of bamboo, not only did it improve the anti-mildew properties of the bamboo materials, but it also added a fresh lemon fragrance without altering the original colour, microstructure, and chemical properties of the bamboo materials.

Clinical Application of the Computed-Tomography-Based Three-Dimensional Models in the Surgical Planning and Intraoperative Navigation of Ureteropelvic Junction Obstruction Complicated with Renal Calculi.

Background and Objectives: To clinically validate the computed tomography (CT)-based three-dimension (3D) model for treatment planning and intraoperative navigation of ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) complicated with renal calculi. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively collected the data of 26 patients with UPJO and renal calculi who were surgically treated in our institution from January 2019 to December 2021. Before surgery, 3D models based on preoperative CT scans were constructed in all patients. Additionally, the patients were divided into three groups according to the results of 3D models, distinguished by different treatment of renal calculi, that is, left untreated (1), pyelolithotomy (2), and endoscopic lithotomy (3). The quantitative analysis of renal calculi parameters, and perioperative and follow-up data were compared. Results: The mean number of involved renal calyces (p = 0.041), and the mean maximum cross-sectional area (p = 0.036) of renal stones were statistically different among the three groups. There were no significant differences among the three groups in the mean operative time, mean estimated blood loss, mean pararenal draining time, and mean hospital stay. The intraoperative stone clearance rates were 100% (11/11) and 77.8% (7/9) in group 2 and group 3, respectively. The trends of increased estimated glomerular filtration rate and decreased creatinine on the average levels after surgery were observed, although these changes were not statistically significant. At a mean follow-up of 19.4 ± 6.4 months, the overall surgical success rate of the UPJO was 96.2% (25/26), and the overall success rate of renal calculi removal was 80.8% (21/26). Renal stones in 66.7% (4/6) of patients in group 1 spontaneously passed out. Conclusions: Preoperative 3D CT models have exact clinical value in the surgical planning and intraoperative navigation of UPJO patients complicated with renal calculi.

In Situ Construction of Mo2 C Quantum Dots-Decorated CNT Networks as a Multifunctional Electrocatalyst for Advanced Lithium-Sulfur Batteries.

The slow redox kinetics during cycling process and the serious shuttle effect caused by the solubility of lithium polysulfides (LiPSs) dramatically hinder the practical application of Li-S batteries. Herein, a facile and scalable spray-drying strategy is presented to construct conductive polar Mo2 C quantum dots-decorated carbon nanotube (CNT) networks (MCN) as an efficient absorbent and electrocatalyst for Li-S batteries. The results reveal that the MCN/S electrode exhibits a high specific capacity of 1303.3 mAh g-1 at 0.2 C, and ultrastable cycling stability with decay of 0.019% per cycle even at 1 C. Theoretical simulation uncovers that Mo2 C exhibits much stronger binding energies for S8 and Li2 Sn . The energy barrier for the conversion between Li2 S4 and Li2 S2 decreases from 1.02 to 0.72 eV when hybriding with Mo2 C. Furthermore, in situ discharge/charge-dependent Raman spectroscopy shows that long-chain Li2 S8 configuration is generated via S8 ring opening near the first plateaus at ≈2.36 V versus Li/Li+ and the S6 2- configuration in CNT/S electrode is maintained below the potential of ≈2.30 V versus Li/Li+ , indicating that the shuttle of soluble LiPSs happens during the whole discharge process. This work provides deep insights into the polar nanoarchitecture design and scalable fabrication for advanced Li-S batteries.

Construction of a Self-Assembled Polyelectrolyte/Graphene Oxide Multilayer Film and Its Interaction with Metal Ions.

In this study, a composite multilayer film onto gold was constructed from two charged building blocks, i.e., negatively charged graphene oxide (GO) and a branched polycation (polyethylenimine, PEI) via layer-by-layer (LbL) self-assembly technology, and this process was monitored in situ with quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) under different experimental conditions. This included the differences in frequency (Δf) as well as the changes in dissipation to yield information on the absorbed mass and viscoelastic properties of the formed PEI/GO multilayer films. The experimental conditions were optimized to obtain a high amount of the adsorbed mass of the self-assembled multilayer film. The surface morphology of the PEI/GO multilayer film onto gold was studied with atomic force microscopy (AFM). It was found that the positively charged PEI chains were combined with the oppositely charged GO to form an assembled film on the QCM sensor surface, in a wrapped and curled fashion. Raman and UV-vis spectra also showed that the intensities of the GO-characteristic signals are almost linearly related to the layer number. To explore the films for their use in divalent ion detection, the frequency response of the PEI/GO multilayer-modified QCM sensor to the exposure of aqueous solutions solution of Cu2+, Ca2+, Zn2+, and Sn2+ was further studied using QCM. Based on the Sauerbrey equation and the weight of different ions, the number of metal ions adsorbed per unit area on the surface of QCM sensors was calculated. For metal ion concentrations of 40 ppm, the adsorption capacities per unit area of Cu2+, Zn2+, Sn2+, and Ca2+ were found to be 1.7, 3.2, 0.7, and 4.9 nmol/cm2, respectively. Thus, in terms of the number of adsorbed ions per unit area, the QCM sensor modified by PEI/GO multilayer film shows the largest adsorption capacity of Ca2+. This can be rationalized by the relative hydration energies.

TRIM21 Polymorphisms are associated with Susceptibility and Clinical Status of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma patients.

Squamous cell cancer of head and neck (HNSCC) is the sixth most common malignancy worldwide. One of the most common HNSCC types is oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), which is the fifth leading cause of cancer death in Taiwan. Tripartite motif 21 (TRIM21) has been reported to play an important role in different cancer types. We found a correlation between TRIM21 and survival of HNSCC patients, but little information exists about how altered TRIM21 expression contributes to tumorigenesis. Thus, we investigated the combined effect of TRIM21 polymorphisms and exposure to environmental carcinogens on the susceptibility and clinicopathological characteristics of OSCC. Two single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of TRIM21 (rs4144331, rs915956) from 1194 healthy controls and 1192 OSCC patients were analyzed by real-time PCR. Among 1632 smokers, TRIM21 polymorphism carriers with the betel-nut chewing habit had a ~4.8-fold greater risk of OSCC than TRIM21 wild-type carriers without the betel-nut chewing habit. After adjusting for other covariants, OSCC patients with G/T at TRIM21 rs4144331 had a high risk for distant metastasis compared with G/G homozygotes. This study is the first to examine the risk factors associated with TRIM21 SNPs in OSCC progression and development. Thus, our findings suggest that this study is the first to examine the risk factors associated with TRIM21 SNPs in OSCC progression and development and suggest that interactions between mutant genes may alter the susceptibility to OSCC.

Long non-coding RNA SNHG6 regulates the sensitivity of prostate cancer cells to paclitaxel by sponging miR-186.

BACKGROUND: Chemo-resistance is one of the main obstacles in the treatment of prostate cancer (PCa). Long non-coding RNA small nucleolar RNA host gene 6 (SNHG6) is involved in the chemo-resistance of various tumors. We aim to survey the role and underlying molecular mechanism of SNHG6 in PCa resistance to paclitaxel (PTX). METHODS: The expression of SNHG6 and miR-186 was detected using quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis of PTX-resistant PCa cells were determined via 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT), transwell assay, or flow cytometry assay. Protein levels of CyclinD1, matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9), Vimentin, E-cadherin, Cleaved-caspase-3 (Cleaved-casp-3) Cleaved-caspase-9 (Cleaved-casp-9), Multidrug Resistance associated Protein 1 (MRP1), and multidrug resistance-1 (MDR1) were assessed by western blot analysis. The relationship between SNHG6 and miR-186 were confirmed by dual-luciferase reporter assay. The role of SNHG6 in vivo was confirmed by xenograft tumor model. RESULTS: SNHG6 expression was increased and miR-186 expression was reduced in drug-resistant PCa tissues and cells. SNHG6 knockdown elevated PTX-resistant PCa cells sensitivity to PTX in vitro and in vivo, and repressed proliferation, migration, and invasion of PTX-resistant PCa cells in vitro. Importantly, SNHG6 acted as a sponge of miR-186. Furthermore, miR-186 downregulation reversed SNHG6 silencing-mediated cell sensitivity to PTX, proliferation, migration, and invasion in PTX-resistant PCa cells. CONCLUSIONS: SNHG6 knockdown elevated the sensitivity of PTX-resistant PCa cells to PTX by sponging miR-186, indicating that SNHG6 might be a therapeutic target for PCa.

Copy number variant hotspots in Han Taiwanese population induced pluripotent stem cell lines - lessons from establishing the Taiwan human disease iPSC Consortium Bank.

BACKGROUND: The Taiwan Human Disease iPSC Service Consortium was established to accelerate Taiwan's growing stem cell research initiatives and provide a platform for researchers interested in utilizing induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology. The consortium has generated and characterized 83 iPSC lines: 11 normal and 72 disease iPSC lines covering 21 different diseases, several of which are of high incidence in Taiwan. Whether there are any reprogramming-induced recurrent copy number variant (CNV) hotspots in iPSCs is still largely unknown. METHODS: We performed genome-wide copy number variant screening of 83 Han Taiwanese iPSC lines and compared them with 1093 control subjects using an Affymetrix genome-wide human SNP array. RESULTS: In the iPSCs, we identified ten specific CNV loci and seven "polymorphic" CNV regions that are associated with the reprogramming process. Additionally, we established several differentiation protocols for our iPSC lines. We demonstrated that our iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes respond to pharmacological agents and were successfully engrafted into the mouse myocardium demonstrating their potential application in cell therapy. CONCLUSIONS: The CNV hotspots induced by cell reprogramming have successfully been identified in the current study. This finding may be used as a reference index for evaluating iPSC quality for future clinical applications. Our aim was to establish a national iPSC resource center generating iPSCs, made available to researchers, to benefit the stem cell community in Taiwan and throughout the world.

Retrospective analysis of CT-guided percutaneous cryoablation for treatment of painful osteolytic bone metastasis.

This study aimed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of CT-guided percutaneous cryoablation for treatment of painful osteolytic bone metastases. A total of 26 patients (36 bone metastases) treated with CT-guided percutaneous cryoablation between May 2012 and June 2016 were enrolled in this retrospective study. All procedures were performed under local anesthesia. A visual analog scale (VAS) was used to evaluate pain before the procedure and at 1 day, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months after the procedure. Complications during and after the procedure were recorded and graded by the Clavien-Dindo classification. The mean VAS pain score was 7.1 ± 1.1 (range, 4-10) before cryoablation. It was significantly lower at all timepoints after treatment: 2.1 ± 1.7 (P < 0.0001) at 1 day after treatment, 1.3 ± 1.8 (P < 0.0001) at 1 month, 1.6 ± 1.7 (P < 0.0001) at 3 months, and 1.8 ± 1.3 (P < 0.0001) at 6 months. The response rates were 91.7%, 94.4%, 91.7%, and 94.4%, respectively, at 1 day, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months after cryoablation; the complete response rates were 22.2%, 41.7%, 36.1%, and 22.2%, respectively. Adverse events (skin frostbite, nerve injury, pathologic fracture) occurred in 3 patients. CT-guided percutaneous cryoablation under local anesthesia appears to be a safe and effective treatment for painful osteolytic bone metastases. Prospective clinical trials on large samples needed to confirm this conclusion.

Using ß-ocimene to increase the artemisinin content in juvenile plants of Artemisia annua L.

OBJECTIVE: The anti-malarial drug, artemisinin, is harvested from the leaves of adult Artemisia annua L. plants. As its concentration in juvenile plants is very low, the present study aimed to assess if the airborne signaling molecule, ß-ocimene, could be used to enhance artemisinin accumulation in juvenile A. annua plants. RESULTS: Application of exogenous ß-ocimene increased artemisinin accumulation in A. annua. Treatment with 10 µM ß-ocimene for 4 days resulted in juvenile plants accumulating artemisinin contents of up to 25 mg/g (2.5%) of dry weight. The expression levels of key genes encoding enzymes involved in both precursor biosynthetic pathways and artemisinin biosynthetic pathways induced by ß-ocimene were upregulated. Glandular secretory trichome (GST) size and density increased by 49.2% and 38.2%, respectively, along with the upregulation of genes associated with GST development. CONCLUSION: ß-ocimene enhances artemisinin accumulation in juvenile A. annua plants by modulating artemisinin biosynthetic pathways and GST development.

[Determination of sennoside B, sennoside A and physcion in slimming health foods].

OBJECTIVE: To establish a quantitative analysis method for sennoside A, sennoside B and physcion by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry(UPLC-MS/MS). METHODS: The sample was extracted by methanol-2 mmol/L ammonium formate(9∶1) at 40 ℃ for 1 h. The separation was performed using Agilent Eclipse Plus C_(18 )(2. 1 mm × 50 mm, 1. 8 µm) column with gradient elution. The mobile phase was consisted of 0. 1% formic acid and methanol. Qualitative and quantitative analysis was conducted with an electrospray ionization source operated in the negative ionization(ESI~-) mode and multiple reaction monitoring(MRM) mode. RESULTS: The linear range of three compounds were from 0. 1 to 10 µg/mL with the correlation coefficients(r) above 0. 995. The spiked recoveries were in the range of 81. 9% to 114. 5% at the concentrations of 0. 02, 0. 15 and 1. 60 mg/g with relative standard devisions(RSDs) ranged from 0. 30% to 3. 43%(n=6). The detection limits of sennoside A and sennoside B were 1. 2 µg/g. The detection limit of physcion was 2. 4 µg/g. Sennoside A, sennoside B or physcion were detected in 19 out of 40 batches of samples. The content of sennoside A ranged from 0. 184 to 6. 33 mg/g and the content of sennoside B ranged from 0. 202 to 7. 23 mg/g. The content of physcion ranged from 0. 042 to 0. 79 mg/g. CONCLUSION: The method is simple, accurate and suitable for the determination of sennoside A, sennoside B and physcion.