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Removing large concentrations of organic pollutants from water efficiently and quickly under visible light is essential to developing photocatalytic technology and improving solar energy efficiency. This study used a simple hydrothermal method to prepare a non-metallic, S-doped NaTaO3 (S-NTO) photocatalyst, which was then loaded onto biochar (BC) to form a S-NTO/BC composite photocatalyst. After uniform loading onto BC, the S-NTO particles transformed from cubic to spherical. The photogenerated electron-hole pair recombination probability of the composite photocatalyst was significantly lower than those of the NTO particles. The light absorption range of the catalyst was effectively widened from 310 nm UV region to visible region. In addition, a dual-effect catalytic system was constructed by introducing peroxymonosulfate (PMS) into the environment of the pollution to be degraded. The Rhodamine B, Methyl Orange, Acid Orange 7, tetracycline, and ciprofloxacin degradation efficiency at 40 mg/L reached 99.6%, 99.2%, 84.5%, 67.1%, and 70.7%, respectively, after irradiation by a 40 W lamps for 90 min. The high-efficiency visible-light catalytic activity of the dual-effect catalytic system was attributed to doping with non-metallic sulfur and loading of catalysts onto BC. The development of this dual-effect catalytic system provides new ideas for quickly and efficiently solving the problem of high-concentration organic pollution in aqueous environments, rationally and fully utilizing solar energy, and expanding the application of photocatalytic technology to practice.
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Contaminantes Ambientales , Catálisis , Carbón Orgánico , LuzRESUMEN
ABSTRACT: The skin redraping method for medial epicanthoplasty is characterized by some shortcomings which warrants modification. In this study, clinical data of 193 patients who underwent medial epichanthoplasty by the modified skin redraping technique or the classic skin redraping technique were reviewed retrospectively. The patients underwent operation between May 2018 and June 2020 and were followed up for not less than 6 months. Interepicanthal distance, interpupillary distance, patient satisfaction, and postoperative complications were evaluated. In terms of interepicanthal distance/inter-pupillary distance ratio (P > 0.05) and satisfaction score (P = 0.759), the modified skin redraping technique and the classic skin redraping technique were similar. In the classic skin redraping group, there were 3 cases of visible scarring in the lower eyelid, corresponding to significantly more cases than in the modified skin redraping group (n = 0, P < 0.001). There were more out-fold cases in the modified skin redraping group (76/90) than in the classic skin redraping group (17/88) (P < 0.001). Utilizing the modified skin redraping medial epicanthoplasty can prevent medial hooding of the upper eyelid, reduce the probability of visible scarring, and produce more out-fold with concurrent double eyelidplasty compared with classic skin redraping epicanthoplasty. Level of evidence: IV.
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Blefaroplastia , Blefaroplastia/métodos , Estudios de Casos y Controles , Cicatriz/cirugía , Humanos , Estudios Retrospectivos , Resultado del TratamientoRESUMEN
BACKGROUND Aquaporin 4 (AQP4), the most abundant aquaporin in the brain, is a type of bidirectional water channel controlling the brain-water balance and plays a critical role in physiologic and pathologic water balance in the brain. AQP4 was reported to be elevated in hydrocephalus; therefore, we hypothesized that AQP4 contributes to hydrocephalus. In this study, the role of AQP4 in hydrocephalus was explored. MATERIAL AND METHODS The hydrocephalus rat model was established by injection of autologous blood. On Day 1 and Day 3 after injection of autologous blood, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining were performed to detect the changes in ventricles, and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry were carried out to detect the changes in AQP4 level. Thereafter, an AQP4-specific siRNA was used to downregulate AQP4. Then, on Day 3 after injection of autologous blood, the levels of AQP4 and connexin-43 were detected by qRT-PCR, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, or Western blot analysis. MRI and HE staining were performed to detect the changes in ventricles, and Evans blue extravasation assay was used to assess blood-brain barrier integrity. RESULTS The hydrocephalus rat model was established successfully, and hydrocephalus rats showed a higher AQP4 level. Silencing AQP4 aggravated the hydrocephalus, with enlarged lateral ventricles and destruction of ependymal integrity and blood-brain barrier. CONCLUSIONS Our study demonstrates that silencing AQP4 aggravates hydrocephalus, indicating that AQP4 protects against hydrocephalus.
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Acuaporina 4/metabolismo , Hidrocefalia/metabolismo , Animales , Acuaporina 4/genética , Barrera Hematoencefálica/metabolismo , Encéfalo/irrigación sanguínea , Encéfalo/diagnóstico por imagen , Encéfalo/metabolismo , Encéfalo/patología , Ventrículos Cerebrales/diagnóstico por imagen , Ventrículos Cerebrales/metabolismo , Ventrículos Cerebrales/patología , Modelos Animales de Enfermedad , Hidrocefalia/diagnóstico por imagen , Hidrocefalia/genética , Hidrocefalia/patología , Inmunohistoquímica , Imagen por Resonancia Magnética , Masculino , Ratas , Ratas Sprague-DawleyRESUMEN
PURPOSE: We investigated the expression of neuropilin-1 (NRP1), neuropilin-2 (NRP2), vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A), semaphorin-3A (Sema-3A), and semaphorin-3F (Sema-3F) in normal salivary gland (NSG) tissue, nonmetastatic salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma (SACC), and metastatic SACC to better understand their role in intratumoral angiogenesis and hematogenous metastasis of SACC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included 60 SACC patients, equally divided between nonmetastatic SACC and metastatic SACC. We used 30 NSG samples as the control. The expression of cytokines was studied by immunohistochemistry and compared using the integrated optical density. The relationship between NRP1, NRP2, VEGF-A, and Sema-3A expression and microvessel density (MVD) was analyzed in the 3 groups. RESULTS: In metastatic SACC, the expression levels of NRP1 and VEGF-A were significantly greater than those in nonmetastatic SACC and NSG. The expression of Sema-3A and Sema-3F was significantly lower in metastatic SACC than that in nonmetastatic SACC and NSG (P < .0001). No significant differences were found in NRP2 expression among the 3 groups (P = .43). The MVD of metastatic SACC was significantly greater than that of nonmetastatic SACC and NSG (P < .0001). However, the lymphatic vessel density of the 3 groups was not significantly different statistically. The relationship between MVD and NRP1 or VEGF-A showed a significant positive correlation (P < .0001, for both). However, a significant negative correlation was found between the MVD and Sema-3A or Sema-3F expression (P < .0001, for both). CONCLUSIONS: Hematogenous metastasis of SACC is correlated with high expression of NRP1 and VEGF-A and low expression of Sema-3A and Sema-3F. The increased numbers of microvessels induced by VEGF-A signaling, combined with NRP1, could be one of the key reasons leading to the enhanced hematogenous metastasis in SACC.
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Carcinoma Adenoide Quístico/patología , Neuropilinas/metabolismo , Neoplasias de las Glándulas Salivales/patología , Adulto , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Carcinoma Adenoide Quístico/metabolismo , Humanos , Masculino , Proteínas de la Membrana/metabolismo , Persona de Mediana Edad , Proteínas del Tejido Nervioso/metabolismo , Neuropilina-1/metabolismo , Neuropilina-2/metabolismo , Neoplasias de las Glándulas Salivales/metabolismo , Glándulas Salivales/metabolismo , Semaforina-3A/metabolismo , Factor A de Crecimiento Endotelial Vascular/metabolismoRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is defined as an abnormal communication between the high flow arterial system and the low flow venous network, which directly connects the arterial feeding vessels and the near draining veins without normal intervening capillary bed. Arteriovenous fistula incurs in preauricular region is exceeding rare. Most of these fistulae occur as a result of an iatrogenic injury, the volume is small, feeding and draining vessels of feeding and draining are simple, and can be cured easily. However, the treatment of the large and complicated AVF after incidental trauma in preauricular region is a challenge even for senior neurosurgeon. In this study, the authors discuss the management of a traumatic AVF through combined therapeutic method of surgical ligation and transarterial embolization. It is fed by ipsilateral superficial temporal artery, internal maxillary artery, posterior auricular artery, and their accessory branches and is drained by ipsilateral common facial vein and external jugular vein. Also the etiology, clinical manifestations, pathology, diagnosis, and management are summarized. CONCLUSION: Large and complicated traumatic AVF in preauricular region is rare, often due from an injury in maxillofacial region, combined therapy needed.
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Fístula Arteriovenosa , Oído Externo , Fístula Arteriovenosa/etiología , Fístula Arteriovenosa/terapia , Oído Externo/anomalías , Oído Externo/irrigación sanguínea , Oído Externo/lesiones , Cara/irrigación sanguínea , HumanosRESUMEN
Broad-spectrum disease resistance is a highly valuable trait in plant breeding and attracts special attention in research. The Arabidopsis gene locus RESISTANCE TO POWDERY MILDEW 8 (RPW8) contains two adjacent homologous genes, RPW8.1 and RPW8.2, and confers broad-spectrum resistance to powdery mildew. Remarkably, the RPW8.2 protein is specifically localized to the extrahaustorial membrane (EHM) encasing the feeding structure of powdery mildew whereby RPW8.2 activates haustorium-targeted defenses. Here, we show that ectopic expression of the yellow fluorescent protein (YFP)-tagged RPW8.1 from the native promoter leads to unique cell death lesions and enhances resistance to virulent fungal and oomycete pathogens that cause powdery mildew and downy mildew diseases, respectively. In powdery mildew-infected plants, RPW8.1-YFP accumulates at higher levels in the mesophyll cells underneath the infected epidermal cells where RPW8.2-YFP is mainly expressed. This cell type-preferential protein accumulation pattern largely correlates with that of H(2)O(2) accumulation, suggesting that RPW8.1 may spatially collaborate with RPW8.2 in activation of resistance to powdery mildew. Interestingly, when ectopically expressed from the RPW8.2 promoter, RPW8.1-YFP is also targeted to the EHM of powdery mildew and the transgenic plants display resistance to both powdery mildew and downy mildew. Using YFP as a reporter, we further reveal that the RPW8.1 promoter is constitutively active but induced to higher levels in cells at the infection site, whereas the RPW8.2 promoter is activated specifically in cells at the infection site. Taken together, our results suggest that RPW8.1 (and its promoter) is functionally distinct from RPW8.2 and may have a higher potential in engineering broad-spectrum resistance in plants.
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Proteínas de Arabidopsis/genética , Arabidopsis/inmunología , Ascomicetos/fisiología , Resistencia a la Enfermedad , Oomicetos/fisiología , Enfermedades de las Plantas/inmunología , Arabidopsis/citología , Arabidopsis/genética , Arabidopsis/microbiología , Proteínas de Arabidopsis/metabolismo , Muerte Celular , Expresión Génica , Genes Reporteros , Interacciones Huésped-Patógeno , Células del Mesófilo , Fenotipo , Enfermedades de las Plantas/microbiología , Epidermis de la Planta/citología , Epidermis de la Planta/genética , Epidermis de la Planta/inmunología , Epidermis de la Planta/microbiología , Hojas de la Planta/citología , Hojas de la Planta/genética , Hojas de la Planta/inmunología , Hojas de la Planta/microbiología , Plantas Modificadas Genéticamente , Regiones Promotoras Genéticas/genética , Proteínas Recombinantes de Fusión , Transducción de SeñalRESUMEN
Bismuth-based compounds have been regarded as a kind of promising material due to their narrow bandgap, high carrier mobility, low toxicity, and strong oxidation ability, showing potential applications in the field of photoelectrochemical (PEC) activities. They can be applied in sustainable energy production, seawater desalination and treatment, optical detection and communication, and other fields. As a member of the broader family of bismuth-based materials, ß-Bi2O3 exhibits significant advantages for applications in engineering, including high photoelectric response, stability in harsh environments, and excellent corrosion resistance. This paper presents the synthesis of ß-Bi2O3 thin films utilizing the mist chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method at the optimal temperature of 400 °C. Based on the ß-Bi2O3 thin film synthesized at optimal temperature, a PEC-type photodetector was constructed with the highest responsivity R of 2.84 mA/W and detectivity D of 6.01 × 1010 Jones, respectively. The photodetection performance was investigated from various points like illumination light wavelength, power density, and long-term stability. This study would broaden the horizontal and practical applications of ß-Bi2O3.
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The human permanent dentition has been commonly used for personal identification due to its uniqueness. Limited research, however, is conducted using 3D digital dental models. We propose to develop a new 3D superimposition method using the contours of human dentition and to further evaluate its feasibility. A total of 270 intraoral scan models were collected from 135 subjects. After a one-year interval, 52 subjects were chosen at random and the secondary intraoral scan models were obtained. The dentition contours of the first and secondary models were extracted to form a resource dataset and a test dataset. Through the application of the iterative nearest point (ICP) algorithm, the test dataset was registered with the resource dataset, and the root mean square error (RMSE) values of the point-to-point distances were calculated. 104 genuine pairs and 13,936 imposter pairs were generated, and in this study, the registration accuracy was 100%. The difference between mean RMSE values for the genuine pair (0.20 ± 0.06 mm) and the minimum RMSE value for the imposter pair (0.83 ± 0.06 mm) was significant in the maxillary arch (p < 0.05). Similarly, in the mandibular arch, the difference between mean RMSE values for the genuine pair (0.22 ± 0.07 mm) and the minimum RMSE value for the imposter pair (0.85 ± 0.08 mm) was significant (p < 0.05). The difference between the RMSE value for the genuine pair in the maxillary and the mandibular arch was significant (p < 0.05). This study indicated the feasibility of dentition contour-based model superimposition and could be considered for personal identification in the future.
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Dentición , Imagenología Tridimensional , Humanos , Maxilar/diagnóstico por imagenRESUMEN
The present study was designed to investigate the effects of various extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins on the biological characteristics of late endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs). Density gradient centrifugation-isolated rat bone marrow mononuclear cells were cultured in complete M199 medium, which contained 15% fetal calf serum, 10 µg/L vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and 5 µg/L basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). EPCs were plated on substrates containing fibronectin (Fn), laminin (Ln) or rat tail tendon collagen (Col), and the corresponding cells were defined as Fn, Ln and Col groups. The 3rd generation EPCs, namely late EPCs, were harvested. The proliferation, adhesion, migration and the ability of forming tubes were assayed using CCK-8, adhesion test, wound healing assay and Matrigel, respectively. The mRNA expressions of endothelial cell differentiation markers, vWF and CD31, were analyzed by real time RT-PCR. The apoptosis was assayed by flow cytometry (FCM). The results showed that cell proliferation ability of Fn and Col groups were higher than that of Ln group; Fn group showed increased adhesion compared to Col and Ln groups (P < 0.01); The migration ability of Fn and Col groups were higher than that of Ln group. Moreover, Fn group showed increased tube formation abilities compared to Col and Ln groups (P < 0.05). Although 24-hour free-serum-induced apoptosis in Ln group was the highest, there was no difference of auto-apoptosis among the three groups. Furthermore, the mRNA expressions of vWF and CD31 exhibited no difference among the three groups. These results suggest the ECM affects the biological functions of late EPCs, which would have a high probability of providing new directions that lead to the development of artificial heart and blood vessels.
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Células Progenitoras Endoteliales/citología , Proteínas de la Matriz Extracelular/química , Matriz Extracelular/fisiología , Animales , Proliferación Celular , Células Cultivadas , Colágeno/química , Factor 2 de Crecimiento de Fibroblastos/química , Fibronectinas/química , Ratas , Factor A de Crecimiento Endotelial Vascular/químicaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) is considered the most relevant bacteria during the transition of the non-pathogenic commensal oral microbial community to plaque biofilms that promote the development of dental caries. Oregano (Origanum vulgare L.), is a universally natural flavoring and its essential oil has been demonstrated to have good antibacterial effects. However, the specific antibacterial mechanism of oregano essential oil (OEO) against S. mutans is still not completely understood. METHODS: In this work, the composition of two different OEOs was determined by GCâMS. Disk-diffusion method, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were determined to assess their antimicrobial effect on S. mutans. The inhibition of acid production, hydrophobicity, biofilm formation and real-time PCR for gtfB/C/D, spaP, gbpB, vicR, relA and brpA mRNA expression by S. mutans were assessed to preliminarily investigate the mechanisms of action. Molecular docking was performed to simulate the interactions with the virulence proteins and active constituents. MTT test using immortalized human keratinocytes cells was also performed to investigate cytotoxicity. RESULTS: Compared with the positive drug Penicillin /streptomycin 100X (DIZ: 34.13 ± 0.85 mm, MIC: 0.78125 µL/mL, MBC: 6.25 µL/mL), the essential oils of Origanum vulgare L. (DIZ: 80 mm, MIC: 0.625µL/mL, MBC:2.5µL/mL) and Origanum heracleoticum L. (DIZ: 39.67 ± 0.81 mm, MIC: 0.625µL/mL, MBC: 1.25µL/mL) could also exhibit similar effects to inhibit the acid production and reduce the hydrophobicity and biofilm formation of S. mutans at 1/2-1MIC concentration. And gene expression of gtfB/C/D, spaP, gbpB, vicR and relA were found to be downregulated. Due to the composition of essential oils from different sources being highly variable, through effective network pharmacology analysis, we found that OEOs contained many effective compounds, like carvacrol and its biosynthetic precursors γ-terpinene and p-cymene, which may directly target several virulence proteins of S. mutans. Besides, no toxic effect was instigated by OEOs at 0.1 µL/mL in the immortalized human keratinocytes cells. CONCLUSION: The integrated analysis in the present study suggested that OEO might be a potential antibacterial agent for the prevention of dental caries.
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Caries Dental , Aceites Volátiles , Origanum , Humanos , Aceites Volátiles/farmacología , Streptococcus mutans , Simulación del Acoplamiento Molecular , Antibacterianos/farmacologíaRESUMEN
Obesity has become one of the most prevalent health concerns of our time. A long-term high-fat diet is closely related to obesity. Food emulsifiers are incorporated into high-fat foods to enhance the texture and stability. Whether food emulsifiers exacerbate obesity and metabolic disorders induced by a high-fat diet remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effects of polysorbate-80 (P80) and polyglycerol polyricinoleate (PGPR) on lipid metabolism, bile acid profile, and gut microbiota in normal and high-fat-diet-induced obesity in mice. The results of this study showed that P80 and PGPR had little effect on body weight but significantly increased epididymal-fat weight, total energy intake, and blood lipid levels. P80 and PGPR stimulated colon inflammation and improved the expression of inflammatory factors in the colon and liver significantly. P80 and PGPR changed the bile acid profile. However, P80 and PGPR did not aggravate inflammation, obesity and alter bile acid profile by altering the composition of the gut microbiota. The results of this study provide an experimental reference for the rational use of food additives and the adjustment of dietary structure, which are important and have application value.
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Dieta Alta en Grasa , Hepatopatías , Ratones , Animales , Dieta Alta en Grasa/efectos adversos , Ácidos y Sales Biliares , Obesidad/metabolismo , Inflamación/inducido químicamente , Emulsionantes/efectos adversos , PolisorbatosRESUMEN
The formation of a compact and stable cathode electrolyte interphase (CEI) film is a promising way to improve the high voltage resistance of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). However, challenges arise due to the corrosion of hydrogen fluoride (HF) and the dissolution of transition metal ions (TMs) in harsh conditions. To address this issue, researchers have constructed an anion-derived CEI film enriched with LiF and LiPO2F2 soluble product on the surface of LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 (LNMO) cathode in highly concentrated electrolytes (HCEs). The strong binding of LiF and LiPO2F2 generated an inert LiPO2F2 soluble product interface, which inhibited HF corrosion and maintained the spinel structure of LNMO, contributing to a capacity retention of 92% after 200 cycles at 55°C in the resulting cell with a soluble LiPO2F2-containing CEI film. This new approach sheds light on improving the electrode/electrolyte interface for high-energy LIBs.
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BACKGROUND: Streptococcus mutans is a well-known oral pathogen that plays a critical role in the development of dental caries. Many studies have been directed to discover the chemical compounds present in natural products to inhibit the growth and biofilm formation activity of S. mutans. Thymus essential oils exhibit good inhibition on the growth and pathogenesis of S. mutans. However, details about the active compounds in Thymus essential oil and the inhibition mechanism still remain unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial activity of 6 Thymus species (Three samples of Thymus vulgaris, two samples of Thymus zygis, and one sample of Thymus satureioides essential oils) on S. mutans, to identify the potential active components, and to reveal the underlying mechanism. METHODS: The composition of Thymus essential oils was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. And its antibacterial effect was evaluated based on the bacterial growth, acid production, biofilm formation and genetic expression of virulence factors by S. mutans. Potential active components of the Thymus essential oil were identified using molecular docking and correlation analysis. RESULTS: GC-MS analysis showed that the major components in the 6 Spain Thymus essential oils were linalool, α-terpineol, p-cymene, thymol and carvacrol. MIC and MBC analysis showed that 3 Thymus essential oils showed very sensitive antimicrobial activity, and were chosen for further analysis. The 3 Thymus essential oil exhibited a significant inhibitory effect on acid production, adherence and biofilm formation of S. mutans and the expression of virulence genes, such as brpA, gbpB, gtfB, gtfC, gtfD, vicR, spaP and relA. Correlation analysis showed that phenolic components, such as carvacrol and thymol, were positively related to DIZ value, which suggests that they are the potential antimicrobial components. Molecular docking between the Thymus essential oil components and virulence proteins also found that carvacrol and thymol exhibited strong binding affinity with functional domains of virulence genes. CONCLUSIONS: Thymus essential oil showed significant inhibition against the growth and pathogenesis of S. mutans depending on their composition and concentration. And phenolic compounds, such as carvacrol and thymol, are the major active components. Thymus essential oil could be used in oral healthcare products as a potential anti-caries ingredient.
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Antiinfecciosos , Caries Dental , Aceites Volátiles , Thymus (Planta) , Aceites Volátiles/farmacología , Streptococcus mutans , Timol/farmacología , Thymus (Planta)/química , Cariostáticos/farmacología , Simulación del Acoplamiento Molecular , España , Aceites de Plantas/farmacología , Antiinfecciosos/farmacologíaRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To summarize the clinical experiences of normal saline pressed injection via lumbar puncture in the treatment of acute tonsillar hernia induced apnea. This procedure was routinely carried out after external ventricular drainage and/or lesion removal via open craniotomy. METHODS: During the period of 1969 to 2005, a total of 43 patients failed to regain respiratory after external ventricular drainage using rapid small hole cranio-puncture apparatus or lesion removal via open craniotomy. They underwent lumbar puncture and normal saline was pressed injected via a lumbar puncture needle. The patient data were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: Eleven of 43 patients had spontaneous respiration and fully recovered (25.6%), 16 patients regained respiration but died eventually (37.2%) and 16 patients failed to regain respiration (37.2%). The effective rate was 62.8%. CONCLUSION: For the patients failing to regain respiration after external ventricular drainage or supratentorial lesion removal via open craniotomy, the conservative treatment should not be the first choice. The pressed injection of normal saline via lumbar puncture may rescue some patients.
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Apnea/terapia , Encefalocele/terapia , Punción Espinal , Adolescente , Adulto , Apnea/etiología , Niño , Craneotomía , Drenaje/métodos , Encefalocele/complicaciones , Femenino , Foramen Magno , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical efficacy of Shengjing prescription for oligoasthenozoospermia and its action mechanism. METHODS: We equally assigned 120 patients with oligoasthenozoospermia to receive Shengjing prescription (treatment group) and vitamin E (control group), respectively, for 12 weeks. Before and after the treatment, were obtained sperm concentration, sperm motility, the percentage of morphologically normal sperm, the levels of serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), testosterone (T) and luteinizing hormone (LH), sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI), the percentage of hypotonic swelling sperm, and the levels of seminal plasma elastase, x-glucosidase, fructose, zinc and acrosin. RESULTS: Compared with vitamin E, Shengling prescription significantly improved sperm concentration, motility and morphology (P < 0.01), decreased the serum FSH level, elevated the serum T level (P <0. 01) , reduced DFI and seminal plasma elastase, and increased the percentage of hypotonic swelling sperm as well as the levels of seminal plasma cx-glucosidase, fructose, zinc and acrosin. CONCLUSION: Shengjing prescription improves semen parameters of patients with oligoasthenozoospermia at multiple levels and through multiple channels.
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Astenozoospermia/tratamiento farmacológico , Medicamentos Herbarios Chinos/uso terapéutico , Fitoterapia , Adulto , Astenozoospermia/fisiopatología , Humanos , Infertilidad Masculina , Masculino , Recuento de Espermatozoides , Motilidad Espermática , Resultado del Tratamiento , Vitamina E/uso terapéuticoRESUMEN
Compelling evidence has confirmed that inflammatory pathways involving TLR4-regulated cytokines and immune cells are vitallyimportant for the pathogenesis of posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus (PHH), hinting that pharmacological prevention of PHH is feasible. TAK-242, as a toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) inhibitor, downregulates TLR4-induced inflammatory responses and becomes a potent and noveltherapeuticdrugcandidatefor PHH. In the present study, we investigate whether TAK-242 protects against hydrocephalus and improves the prognosis of intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH). We also explore the possible role of TAK-242 for the regulation of TLR4-NF-κB signaling pathway. A model of PHH was conducted in 6-week-old Male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. The rats were divided into four main groups, including the sham, IVH + vehicle, IVH + TAK-242 and IVH groups. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was applied to measure the lateral ventricle volume. Western blot (WB) and immunofluorescence (IF) were applied to detect the expression of TLR4, NF-κB, fibronectin and laminin. A combined scoring system and Morris water maze were employed to evaluate neurological functions after IVH. We found that IVH induced heightened activation of TLR4-NF-κB signaling pathway. We observed the increased lateral ventricular volume, elevation of NF-κB in choroidplexus, as well as fibronectin and laminin in the subarachnoid space (SAS) and ventricular wall after IVH. Obviously, TAK-242 treatment effectively inhibited the up-regulation of NF-κB, fibronectin, laminin and significantly alleviated ventriculomegaly after IVH. Importantly, TAK-242 improved neurocognitive deficits after PHH. In conclusion, TAK-242 attenuated IVH-induced hydrocephalus and improved the prognosis of PHH. The underlying mechanism involved the TAK-242-mediated downregulation of TLR4-NF-κB signaling pathway.
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Hidrocefalia , Receptor Toll-Like 4 , Animales , Hemorragia Cerebral/tratamiento farmacológico , Hidrocefalia/tratamiento farmacológico , Hidrocefalia/etiología , Hidrocefalia/metabolismo , Masculino , FN-kappa B/metabolismo , Ratas , Ratas Sprague-Dawley , Transducción de Señal , Sulfonamidas , Receptor Toll-Like 4/metabolismoRESUMEN
Background: Almost every patient with lung cancer has multiple pulmonary nodules; however, the significance of nodule multiplicity in locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains unclear. Methods: We identified patients who had undergone surgical resection for stage I-III NSCLC at the Peking University People's Hospital from 2005 to 2018 for whom preoperative chest computed tomography (CT) scans were available. Deep learning-based artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms using convolutional neural networks (CNN) were applied to detect and classify pulmonary nodules (PNs). Maximally selected log-rank statistics were used to determine the optimal cutoff value of the total nodule number (TNN) for predicting survival. Results: A total of 33,410 PNs were detected by AI among the 2,126 participants. The median TNN detected per person was 12 [interquartile range (IQR) 7-20]. It was revealed that AI-detected TNN (analyzed as a continuous variable) was an independent prognostic factor for both recurrence-free survival (RFS) [hazard ratio (HR) 1.012, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.002 to 1.022, P=0.021] and overall survival (OS) (HR 1.013, 95% CI: 1.002 to 1.025, P=0.021) in multivariate analyses of the stage III cohort. In contrast, AI-detected TNN was not significantly associated with survival in the stage I and II cohorts. In a survival tree analysis, rather than using traditional IIIA and IIIB classifications, the model grouped cases according to AI-detected TNN (lower vs. higher: log-rank P<0.001), which led to a more effective determination of survival rates in the stage III cohort. Conclusions: The AI-detected TNN is significantly associated with survival rates in patients with surgically resected stage III NSCLC. A lower TNN detected on preoperative CT scans indicates a better prognosis for patients who have undergone complete surgical resection.
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Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is a malignant tumor that originates from exocrine gland epithelial cells. We profiled the transcriptomes of 49,948 cells from paracarcinoma and carcinoma tissues of three patients using single-cell RNA sequencing. Three main types of the epithelial cells were identified into myoepithelial-like cells, intercalated duct-like cells, and duct-like cells by marker genes. And part of intercalated duct-like cells with special copy number variations which altered with MYB family gene and EN1 transcriptomes were identified as premalignant cells. Developmental pseudo-time analysis showed that the premalignant cells eventually transformed into malignant cells. Furthermore, MYB and MYBL1 were found to belong to two different gene modules and were expressed in a mutually exclusive manner. The two gene modules drove ACC progression into different directions. Our findings provide novel evidence to explain the high recurrence rate of ACC and its characteristic biological behavior.
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BACKGROUND: The fertility of females with advanced age declines with aging. Therefore, for medical and social reasons, it is important to establish mechanisms to protect and improve the fertility of such populations. With widespread use of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in in vitro fertilization (IVF), studies have evaluated their impact on improving the fertility of females with advanced age. In this study, we performed proteomic analysis of follicular fluid to reveal mechanisms of the Erzhi Tiangui (EZTG) granule (Chinese herbs for replenishing vital essence to tonify the kidney) in improving the outcomes of IVF in infertile women with advanced age. METHODS: This was a randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled trial in which 100 patients with advanced age were divided into the EZTG group and the placebo group by the random number table plus envelope method. Both groups were subjected to controlled ovarian stimulation with a GnRH antagonist regimen. Differences between the two groups were evaluated, including the TCM syndrome score after treatment, gonadotrophin (Gn) days and Gn doses, the number of retrieved oocytes, 2 pronucleus (PN) fertilization, 2PN cleavage, and high-quality embryos. Differentially expressed proteins were identified using the LC-MS/MS method, and their functions were determined through bioinformatics analyses. RESULTS: The number of high-quality embryos in the placebo group was significantly lower than that in the EZTG group (2.88 ± 1.85 vs. 4.13 ± 2.83, p=0.011). Eleven differentially expressed proteins were identified between the two groups. Four proteins were highly expressed, whereas seven were suppressed in the control group, compared to the EZTG group. The overall trend suggested that the apoptotic effect in the follicular fluid of the EZTG group was downregulated. CONCLUSION: Treatment with the EZTG granule can improve embryo quality in IVF of advanced age females with both kidney Qi and Yin deficiency syndromes. The mechanism is attributed to downregulation of apoptotic-effector protein expressions in the follicular fluid. This trial is registered with ChiCTR1900025139.
RESUMEN
Endowing photocatalytic materials with a broader range of light responses is important for improving their performance and solar energy utilization. In this study, a simple sol-gel method was used to prepare Yb3+/Tm3+-co-doped Y2O3 upconversion materials and Y2O3:Yb3+, Tm3+/ZnO (Y/Z) composite photocatalysts for the photocatalytic degradation of dyes. The Y/Z composite photocatalyst achieved degradation rates of 38%, 95%, and 89% for methyl orange, methylene blue (MB), and acid chrome blue K dye solutions, respectively, within 30 minutes. The degradation efficiency for MB after three cycles of degradation was 86%. The spherical Y2O3:Yb3+, Tm3+ particles had diameters of 20-50 nm and attached to the ZnO nanosheets, forming a heterojunction structure with ZnO. Fluorescence spectroscopy showed that Y2O3:Yb3+, Tm3+ could convert near-infrared (NIR) light into three sets of ultraviolet light (290, 320, and 360 nm) under NIR excitation. Photoluminescence spectroscopy demonstrated that the photogenerated electron-hole pair recombination probability of the composite photocatalyst was significantly lower than that of ZnO nanosheets, thereby reducing the energy loss during the migration process. Furthermore, the addition of Y2O3:Yb3+, Tm3+ to ZnO substantially improved the absorption capacity for ultraviolet light, which enhanced the photocatalytic activity. A possible mechanism for the enhanced photocatalytic performance of the Y/Z composites was proposed based on the synergistic effect of heterojunction formation and the photoconversion process. The composite photocatalyst with upconversion characteristics and heterogeneous structure provides a new strategy for removing organic pollutants from water.