Lone-Pair-Electron-Driven Ionic Displacements in a Ferroelectric Metal-Organic Hybrid.

A displacive-type mechanism, which accounts for the occurrence of ferroelectricity in most inorganic ferroelectrics, is rarely found in molecule-based ferroelectrics. Its role is often covered by the predominant order-disorder one. Herein, we report a lone-pair-electron-driven displacive-type ferroelectric organic-inorganic hybrid compound, [H2dmdap][SbCl5] (1; dmdap = N,N-dimethyl-1,3-diaminopropane). The structure of 1 features a typical zigzag chain of [SbCl5]∞ containing cis-connected anionic octahedra. The compound undergoes a second-order paraelectric-ferroelectric phase transition at 143 K (P21/c ↔ Pc) with a saturation polarization of 1.36 µC·cm-2 and a coercive field of 3.5 kV·cm-1 at 119 K. Theoretical study discloses the ferroelectricity mainly originating from the relative displacements of the Sb and Cl ions in the crystal lattice, which are driven by the 5s2 lone-pair electrons of the SbIII center. Furthermore, on the basis of analysis, possible routes are suggested to enhance ferroelectric polarization in this class of compounds.

DNA methylation and hydroxymethylation profiles reveal possible role of highly methylated TLR signaling on Fasciola gigantica excretory/secretory products (FgESPs) modulation of buffalo dendritic cells.

BACKGROUND: Excretory/secretory products (ESPs) released by parasites influence the development and functions of host dendritic cells (DCs). However, little is known about changes of DNA (hydroxy)methylation on DC development during Fasciola gigantica infection. The present study aimed to investigate whether F. gigantica ESPs (FgESPs) affects the development and functions of buffalo DCs through altering the DNA (hydroxy)methylation of DCs. METHODS: Buffalo DCs were prepared from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and characterized using scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM/TEM) and quantitative reverse transcriptional PCR (qRT-RCR). DCs were treated with 200 µg/ml of FgESPs in vitro, following DNA extraction. The DNA methylome and hydroxymethylome were profiled based on (hydroxy)methylated DNA immunoprecipitation sequencing [(h)MeDIP-Seq] and bioinformatics analyses. qRT-RCR was also performed to assess the gene transcription levels of interest. RESULTS: FgESPs markedly suppressed DC maturation evidenced by morphological changes and downregulated gene expression of CD1a and MHC II. Totals of 5432 and 360 genes with significant changes in the 5-methylcytosine (5-mC) and the 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5-hmC) levels, respectively, were identified in buffalo DCs in response to FgESPs challenge. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis revealed that these differentially expressed genes were highly enriched in pathways associated with immune response. Some cancer-related pathways were also indicated. There were 111 genes demonstrating changes in both 5-mC and 5-hmC levels, 12 of which were interconnected and enriched in 12 pathways. The transcription of hypermethylated genes TLR2, TLR4 and IL-12B were downregulated or in a decreasing trend, while the mRNA level of high-hydroxymethylated TNF gene was upregulated in buffalo DCs post-exposure to FgESPs in vitro. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, the present study provides for the first time a unique genome-wide profile of DNA (hydroxy)methylation for DCs that interact with FgESPs, and suggests a possible mechanism of FgESPs in suppressing DC maturation and functions that are involved in TLR signaling.

[Case-control study on retaining articular capsule in the total hip replacement for old patients with unstable femoral neck fractures].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of reserving articular capsule and traditional total hip replacement for old patients with unstable femoral neck fractures. METHODS: From January 2010 to January 2015, one hundred and twenty patients with femoral neck fracture were retrospective review. Among them, sixty patients were treated with total hip arthroplasty reserving articular capsule, the others were treated with traditional total hip arthroplasty without reserving articular capsule. The gender of reserving articular capsule group and traditional group were (male/female) 34/26, 31/29 respectively; the age were (73.4±4.4), (72.3±4.1) years old, respectively. All patients were followed up for six months, the operation time, blood loss, length of stay, incidence of postoperative complications, incidence of postoperative hip dislocation and hip Harris score of the two groups were observed. RESULTS: The operative time of the reserving articular capsule group and traditional group were (95.68±6.90), (93.39±7.90) min (P>0.05), and the blood loss were (998.78±15.20), (1 000.25±16.80) ml (P>0.05). The time for hospital stay were (10.74±2.90), (13.25±2.20) days(P<0.05). The Harris scores were 58.53±5.10, 49.38±4.90(P<0.05) at 1 month after operation;91.08±7.50, 90.74±7.10(P>0.05) at 6 months after operation. CONCLUSIONS: The method of reserving auricular capsule can not increase the operative time and the blood loss. But it has a favorable effect on decreasing the hospital stay, complication, the rate of early dislocation of the hip joint, improving the function of hip joint.

Cholesterol polyps in the distal common bile duct: a case report.

RATIONALE: Cholesterol polyps are rare in the common bile duct and difficult to diagnose. PATIENT CONCERNS: The small polypoid lesions often go undetected when using routine imaging methods, such as ultrasonography. DIAGNOSES: We treated a patient with cholesterol polyps in the common bile duct. After failing to detect choleliths using ultrasonography, magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography revealed mild dilation of the common bile duct. Choledochoscopy was performed during laparoscopic cholecystectomy, which revealed yellowish-white polyps circumferentially distributed across the luminal surface of the distal common bile duct. Histological examination of biopsy specimens indicated cholesterol polyps with characteristic foamy cells. INTERVENTIONS: The patient was treated with ursodeoxycholic acid, and the number of polyps was found to have been reduced at the 6-week follow-up based on T-tube choledochoscopic examination. OUTCOMES: Recovery was unremarkable, and the ursodeoxycholic acid treatment was discontinued at the 6-month follow-up. LESSONS SUBSECTIONS: Our findings suggest that this rare condition can be treated pharmacologically to avoid potential postsurgical complications following resection of the distal common bile duct.

The chronergy of recombinant streptokinase thrombolysis in acute myocardial infarction.

The aim of this study was to explore the chronergy of intravenous recombinant streptokinase (r-SK) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). A total of 114 patients were divided into two groups according to the time of AMI onset: the morning onset (6:01-12:00, n=53) and non-morning onset (12:01-06:00, n=61) groups. The recanalization rate was recorded, as well as anticoagulant and fibrinolytic indices. Statistical analysis was performed to evaluate the recanalization rate following thrombolysis, as well as the anticoagulant and fibrinolytic activities. The recanalization rates following thrombolysis in the morning onset and non-morning onset groups were 60.4 and 82.0%, respectively (P<0.05). The level of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) antigen was significantly higher in the morning onset group compared with that in the non-morning onset group (P<0.05). This indicated a resistance to r-SK thrombolysis in the morning at the early stage of AMI, which possibly correlates with increased PAI-1 antigen levels and activity.