Community structure and niche differentiation of endosphere bacterial microbiome in Camellia oleifera.

IMPORTANCE: Microorganisms inhabited various tissues of plants and play a key role in promoting plant growth, nutritional absorption, and resistance. Our research indicates that the diversity of Camellia oleifera endophytic bacterial communities is highly dependent on the plant compartment. Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Chloroflexi, and Verrucomicrobia are dominant bacteria phyla. The tissues of Camellia oleifera contain various bacteria with nitrogen fixation potential, host life promotion, and plant defense. This study provides a scientific theoretical basis for an in-depth discussion of plant-endosphere microbial interaction and better exploration of benign interaction of beneficial microorganisms and plants.

[Technology and principle of improving solubility of Dioscoreae Rhizoma formula granules based on powder modification].

The powder modification technology was used to improve the powder properties and microstructure of Dioscoreae Rhizoma extract powder, thereby solving the problem of poor solubility of Dioscoreae Rhizoma formula granules. The influence of modifier dosage and grinding time on the solubility of Dioscoreae Rhizoma extract powder was investigated with the solubility as the evaluation index, and the optimal modification process was selected. The particle size, fluidity, specific surface area, and other powder properties of Dioscoreae Rhizoma extract powder before and after modification were compared. At the same time, the changes in the microstructure before and after modification was observed by scanning electron microscope, and the modification principle was explored by combining with multi-light scatterer. The results showed that after adding lactose for powder modification, the solubility of Dioscoreae Rhizoma extract powder was significantly improved. The volume of insoluble substance in the liquid of modified Dioscoreae Rhizoma extract powder obtained by the optimal modification process was reduced from 3.8 mL to 0 mL, and the particles obtained by dry granulation of the modified powder could be completely dissolved within 2 min after being exposed to water, without affecting the content of its indicator components adenosine and allantoin. After modification, the particle size of Dioscoreae Rhizoma extract powder decreased significantly, d_(0.9) decreased from(77.55±4.57) µm to(37.91±0.42) µm, the specific surface area and porosity increased, and the hydrophilicity improved. The main mechanism of improving the solubility of Dioscoreae Rhizoma formula granules was the destruction of the "coating membrane" structure on the surface of starch granules and the dispersion of water-soluble excipients. This study introduced powder modification technology to solve the solubility problem of Dioscoreae Rhizoma formula granules, which provided data support for the improvement of product quality and technical references for the improvement of solubility of other similar varieties.

Crop rotations increased soil ecosystem multifunctionality by improving keystone taxa and soil properties in potatoes.

Continuous cropping of the same crop leads to soil degradation and a decline in crop production, and these impacts could be mitigated through rotation cropping. Although crop rotation enhances soil fertility, microbial community diversity, and potato yield, its effects on the soil ecosystem multifunctionality (EMF) remain unclear. In the present research, we comparatively examined the effects of potato continuous cropping (PP) and rotation cropping [potato-oat rotation (PO) and potato-forage maize rotation (PFM)] on the soil EMF as well as the roles of keystone taxa, microbes abundance, and chemical properties in EMF improvement. It was demonstrated that soil EMF is increased in rotation cropping (PO and PFM) than PP. Soil pH was higher in rotation cropping (PO and PFM) than in PP, while total phosphorus (TP) and available phosphorus (AP) were significantly decreased than that in PP. Rotation cropping (PO and PFM) markedly changed the bacterial and fungal community compositions, and improved the potential plant-beneficial fungi, e.g., Schizothecium and Chaetomium, while reducing the abundances of the potentially phytopathogenic fungi, e.g., Alternaria, Fusarium, Verticillium dahiae, Gibberella, Plectosphaerella, Colletotrichum, Phoma, and Lectera in comparison with PP. Also, co-occurrence patterns for bacteria and fungi were impacted by crop rotation, and keystone taxa, e.g., Nitrospira.1, Lysinibacillus, Microlunatus.1, Sphingomonas.3, Bryobacter.1, Micromonospora, and Schizothecium, were enriched in PO and PFM than PP. The structural equation model (SEM) further demonstrated that cropping systems increased soil ecosystem multifunctionality through regulating SOM and keystone taxa (Schizothecium1), and keystone taxa were mediated by soil pH. This study suggested that rotation cropping might contribute to the improvement of soil ecosystem multifunctionality as well as the development of disease-suppressive soils in comparison with potato continuous cropping.

Use of the P300 event-related potential component to index transcranial direct current stimulation effects in drug users.

Drug use causes significant social and financial problems and these are exacerbated by difficulties in stopping use and subsequent maintenance of abstinence. There is also difficulty in identifying the beneficial treatment for an individual, made more problematic given the high drop-out rates in treatment programs. Here, the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on the amplitude of the P300 event-related potential component, previously suggested to be indicative of successful remission, was measured in recently abstinent amphetamine users. This component was collected during a Posner cuing task which was presented to this group and to control (non-user) participants, using task cues of neutral and drug-related images. The abstinent drug users were divided into two groups, one of which received tDCS daily for five days, with the cathode over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and the anode over the right DLPFC, and one receiving sham stimulation over the same time period. Behavioral performance and P300 amplitudes were measured before and after the period of tDCS delivery. Control participants were tested with the same time-schedule of task presentation but without administration of tDCS. Drug users initially showed a larger cost of invalid cues on task performance compared to control (non-drug user) participants and this was reduced following delivery of tDCS. Additionally, tDCS resulted in increased amplitude of the P300 component, significantly so for neutral cues, with the resulting pattern being more similar to that of the non-users. This provides a good basis for further investigation of both the utility of tDCS in modulation of cognition in addict groups, and to investigate the effects of modulating the P300 component on remission rates, a relationship that seems to be the case for this measure without use of tDCS modulation. Importantly, this study also provides a further addiction group showing P300 amplitude modulation as a result of tDCS administration.

Effect of ammonia-oxidizing bacterial strain that survives drought stress on corn compensatory growth upon post-drought rewatering.

A pot experiment was performed under rain-shelter conditions to explore the effects of drought stress and post-drought rewatering on the abundance of an ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) strain in corn (Zea mays L.) rhizosphere soils and the relationship between the AOB strain and corn (Zea mays L.) compensatory growth after drought stress rewatering. Corn seedlings were used as test materials, and one AOB strain was isolated and screened from the soil. The experimental design included six treatments: (1) wet (WT), (2) wet with AOB strain inoculation during wetness (WI), (3) wet with AOB strain inoculation during rewatering (WR), (4) post-drought rewatering (DT), (5) post-drought rewatering with AOB strain inoculation during wetness (DI), and (6) post-drought rewatering with AOB strain inoculation during rewatering (DR). Wetness and drought stress were obtained by keeping the soil water content at 75-80% and 50-55% of the field capacities, respectively. The results showed that the isolated and screened AOB strain (S2_8_1) had 100% similarity to Ensifer sesbaniae. The inoculation of S2_8_1 during the wet period in the DI treatment caused it to colonize the rhizosphere soil. Drought stress decreased its abundance, but rewatering resulted in a great increase. The S2_8_1 in the DI treatment increased the total biomass, water use efficiencies, net photosynthetic rates, rhizosphere soil nitrification rates, leaf cytokinin concentrations, xylem sap cytokinin concentrations, copy number of S2_8_1 in rhizosphere soils, and organic carbon contents in rhizosphere soils by 23, 104, 35, 30, 18, 29, 104, and 23% on day 10 after rewatering compared with WT treatment. In the DI treatment, the increase in rhizosphere soil nitrification rates caused by S2_8_1 during wetness was closely related to the cytokinin delivery from roots to leaves and increased leaf cytokinin concentrations. The increase in leaf cytokinin concentrations improved rewatering corn growth, which caused compensatory growth and increased water use. Compensatory and over-compensatory growths occurred in DT and DR treatments, respectively. Therefore, the coexistence of the strain of AOB with corn in rhizosphere soil increased the corn compensatory growth by regulating soil nitrification and root-induced leaf cytokinin.

Exploration of animal models to study the life cycle of Fasciola hepatica.

The parasite Fasciola hepatica is an important zoonotic parasite. The development of an animal model of F. hepatica's life cycle is critical for studying the biological characteristics of the parasite in snails and mammals. Eggs of F. hepatica of bovine origin were cultured, and metacercariae were obtained after infection of Galba pervia snails. The life cycle system of F. hepatica was initiated in 2 different animals by orally infecting rabbits, SD rats and Kunming mice with the metacercariae. The animals' survival after infection, parasite migration in the animals and pathological damage to the liver were observed. We discovered that rabbits died due to acute suppurative hepatitis 60­69 days after infection, and eggs were found in the feces on day 63 of infection. The liver of SD rats showed punctate lesions on day 3 of infection, and further changes occurred as the infection progressed. However, liver repair was observed at week 9. SD rats survived for more than a year after infection and continued the F. hepatica life cycle. The liver lesions in Kunming mice after infection were similar but more severe than those in SD rats. Death was observed on the 31st post-infection day. We discovered that while rabbits, SD rats and Kunming mice can all be used as animal models of F. hepatica, SD rats are more suitable experimental animals in terms of tolerance and pathological response.

A lead-free bismuth iodide organic-inorganic ferroelectric semiconductor.

Organic-inorganic metal halide ferroelectric semiconductors are mainly lead halide ones, suffering from the presence of toxic lead. Herein, we report a lead-free bismuth iodide ferroelectric semiconductor [1,4-butanediammonium]BiI5, showing a high Curie temperature of 365 K and a small band gap of 1.95 eV, smaller than those of most lead halide counterparts.

Three-Dimensional Lead Bromide Hybrid Ferroelectric Realized by Lattice Expansion.

Three-dimensional (3D) organic-inorganic lead halide hybrids have become a hot academic topic because of their various functional properties. However, 3D lead halide hybrid ferroelectrics are still very rare until now. Here, we report a new 3D lead halide perovskite-related ferroelectric, (EATMP)Pb2Br6 [EATMP = (2-aminoethyl)trimethylphosphanium]. Based on nonferroelectric CH3NH3PbBr3, by replacing PbBr6 octahedra with a Pb2Br10 dimer of edge-sharing octahedra as the basic building unit, the expanded 3D lead bromide perovskite analog was formed with the large [EATMP]2+ cations occupying the voids of framework. Notably, (EATMP)Pb2Br6 displays a direct bandgap of 2.81 eV, four polarization directions, and a high Curie temperature (Tc) of 518 K (much beyond that of BaTiO3, 393 K), which is the highest among all reported 3D organic-inorganic hybrid ferroelectrics. Such a high Tc may result from the high rotational energy barrier of cations induced by a larger molecular volume and relatively low crystal symmetry. Our work provides an efficient avenue to construct new 3D organic-inorganic lead halide hybrids and would inspire the further exploration of 3D lead halide ferroelectrics.

Superior Transverse Piezoelectricity in a Halide Perovskite Molecular Ferroelectric Thin Film.

Piezoelectric materials with inherent mechanical-electric coupling effect are a crucial family of functional materials in high-end information technology. For practical applications, the transverse piezoelectric performance (d31 or d32) is mainly considered, because this parameter is a vitally important index to characterize the performance of piezoelectric thin films. However, the transverse piezoelectricity of the thin films as a key figure of merit is seldom mentioned in molecular ferroelectrics. Herein, we report that a new 1D halide perovskite ferroelectric N,N-dimethylallylammoniumCdCl3 (DMAACdCl3) exhibits an above room-temperature ferroelectric phase transition with a saturated polarization of 1.9 µC cm-2 and a coercive field of 5.0 kV cm-1. The thin film of DMAACdCl3 is successfully fabricated using an easy processing spinning method and maintains well ferroelectric properties verified by piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM). More significantly, the ferroelectric thin film offers superior transverse piezoelectricity with an in-plane piezoelectric response of about 41 pC N-1, which is about twice that of well-known piezoelectric polymer PVDF (21 pC N-1). Transverse piezoelectricity has been scarcely studied in molecular ferroelectrics, and its exploitation would play an important role in the design of next-generation smart piezoelectric devices.

High-Tc Enantiomeric Ferroelectrics Based on Homochiral Dabco-derivatives (Dabco=1,4-Diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane).

1,4-Diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (dabco) and its derivatives have been extensively utilized as building units of excellent molecular ferroelectrics for decades. However, the homochiral dabco-based ferroelectric remains a blank. Herein, by adding a methyl (Me) group accompanied by the introduction of homochirality to the [H2 dabco]2+ in the non-ferroelectric [H2 dabco][TFSA]2 (TFSA=bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)ammonium), we successfully designed enantiomeric ferroelectrics [R and S-2-Me-H2 dabco][TFSA]2 . The two enantiomers show two sequential phase transitions with transition temperature (Tc ) as high as 405.8 K and 415.8 K, which is outstanding in both dabco-based ferroelectrics and homochiral ferroelectrics. To our knowledge, [R and S-2-Me-H2 dabco][TFSA]2 are the first examples of dabco-based homochiral ferroelectrics. This finding opens an avenue to construct dabco-based homochiral ferroelectrics and will inspire the exploration of more eminent enantiomeric molecular ferroelectrics.

Preoperative albumin levels predict prolonged postoperative ileus in gastrointestinal surgery.

BACKGROUND: Prolonged postoperative ileus (PPOI) is a prolonged state of "pathological" gastrointestinal (GI) tract dysmotility. There are relatively few studies examining the influence of preoperative nutritional status on the development of PPOI in patients who underwent GI surgery. The association between preoperative albumin and PPOI has not been fully studied. We hypothesized that preoperative albumin may be an independent indicator of PPOI. AIM: To analyze the role of preoperative albumin in predicting PPOI and to establish a nomogram for clinical risk evaluation. METHODS: Patients were drawn from a prospective hospital registry database of GI surgery. A total of 311 patients diagnosed with gastric or colorectal cancer between June 2016 and March 2017 were included. Potential predictors of PPOI were analyzed by univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses, and a nomogram for quantifying the presence of PPOI was developed and internally validated. RESULTS: The overall PPOI rate was 21.54%. Advanced tumor stage and postoperative opioid analgesic administration were associated with PPOI. Preoperative albumin was an independent predictor of PPOI, and an optimal cutoff value of 39.15 was statistically calculated. After adjusting multiple variables, per unit or per SD increase in albumin resulted in a significant decrease in the incidence of PPOI of 8% (OR = 0.92, 95%CI: 0.85-1.00, P = 0.046) or 27% (OR = 0.73, 95%CI: 0.54-0.99, P = 0.046), respectively. Patients with a high level of preoperative albumin (≥ 39.15) tended to experience PPOI compared to those with low levels (< 39.15) (OR = 0.43, 95%CI: 0.24-0.78, P = 0.006). A nomogram for predicting PPOI was developed [area under the curve (AUC) = 0.741] and internally validated by bootstrap resampling (AUC = 0.725, 95%CI: 0.663-0.799). CONCLUSION: Preoperative albumin is an independent predictive factor of PPOI in patients who underwent GI surgery. The nomogram provided a model to screen for early indications in the clinical setting.

Computational understanding of catalyst-controlled borylation of fluoroarenes: directed vs. undirected pathway.

In this work, density functional theory (DFT) calculations are performed to understand the origin of the regioselective C-H borylation of aromatics catalyzed by Co(i)/iPrPNP and Ir(iii)/dtbpy (4,4-di-tert-butyl bipyridine). The calculation results indicate that for the Co(i)/iPrPNP catalytic system, the undirected pathway is 2.9 kcal mol-1 more favoured over the directed pathway leading to ortho-to-fluorine selectivity. In contrast, for the Ir(iii)/dtbpy catalytic system, the directed pathway is 1.2 kcal mol-1 more favoured over the undirected pathway bringing about ortho-to-silyl selectivity. For Co(i)/iPrPNP catalyzed borylation, the undirected pathway which involves steps of ortho-to-fluorine C-H oxidative addition, C-B reductive elimination, B-B oxidative addition, and B-H reductive elimination is favorable due to the electron deficient character of the ortho-to-fluorine C-H bond. For Ir(iii)/dtbpy catalyzed borylation, the directed pathway consisting of Si-H oxidative addition, B-H reductive elimination, C-H oxidative addition, B-B oxidative addition, C-B reductive elimination, Si-H reductive elimination is favored over the undirected pathway attributed to the directing effect of the hydrosilyl group. The favourable undirected pathway (ortho-to-fluorine selectivity) for Co(i)/iPrPNP catalyzed borylation and the favourable directed pathway (ortho-to-silyl selectivity) for Ir(iii)/dtbpy catalyzed borylation could explain well the experimentally observed ortho-to-fluorine borylation of hydrosilyl substituted fluoroarenes with cobalt catalyst (J. V. Obligacion, M. J. Bezdek and P. J. Chirik, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2017, 139, 2825-2832) and ortho-to-silyl selectivity with iridium catalyst (T. A. Boebel and J. F. Hartwig, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2008, 130, 7534-7535).

Nomogram to predict prolonged postoperative ileus after gastrectomy in gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: Prolonged postoperative ileus (PPOI) is one of the common complications in gastric cancer patients who underwent gastrectomy. Evidence on the predictors of PPOI after gastrectomy is limited and few prediction models of nomogram are used to estimate the risk of PPOI. We hypothesized that a predictive nomogram can be used for clinical risk estimation of PPOI in gastric cancer patients. AIM: To investigate the risk factors for PPOI and establish a nomogram for clinical risk estimation. METHODS: Between June 2016 and March 2017, the data of 162 patients with gastrectomy were obtained from a prospective and observational registry database. Clinical data of patients who fulfilled the criteria were obtained. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression models were performed to detect the relationship between variables and PPOI. A nomogram for PPOI was developed and verified by bootstrap resampling. The calibration curve was employed to detect the concentricity between the model probability curve and ideal curve. The clinical usefulness of our model was evaluated using the net benefit curve. RESULTS: This study analyzed 14 potential variables of PPOI in 162 gastric cancer patients who underwent gastrectomy. The incidence of PPOI was 19.75% in patients with gastrectomy. Age older than 60 years, open surgery, advanced stage (III-IV), and postoperative use of opioid analgesic were independent risk factors for PPOI. We developed a simple and easy-to-use prediction nomogram of PPOI after gastrectomy. This nomogram had an excellent diagnostic performance [area under the curve (AUC) = 0.836, sensitivity = 84.4%, and specificity = 75.4%]. This nomogram was further validated by bootstrapping for 500 repetitions. The AUC of the bootstrap model was 0.832 (95%CI: 0.741-0.924). This model showed a good fitting and calibration and positive net benefits in decision curve analysis. CONCLUSION: We have developed a prediction nomogram of PPOI for gastric cancer. This novel nomogram might serve as an essential early warning sign of PPOI in gastric cancer patients.

Extensive disseminated cysticercosis: a case report in Yunnan province, China.

BACKGROUND: Cysticercosis is spreading all over the world and it is a major health problem in most countries of Latin America, Africa, and Asia. Extensive disseminated cysticercosis is relatively rare and fewer than 120 case have been reported in the worldwide. We reported a rare case of extensive disseminated cysticercosis in Yunan province, China. CASE PRESENTATION: A rare case of extensive disseminated cysticercosis, in a 61-year-old male Chinese was detected from Yunnan province in 2018. Clinical and etiological examination was performed, as well as the epidemiological investigation. CONCLUSION: The life cycle of T. solium in the area where the case came from is complete. We expect this case could raise the attentions to the control of Taenia solium infection and subsequent cysticercosis there.

Depth of anesthesia measured by bispectral index and postoperative mortality: A meta-analysis of observational studies.

INTRODUCTION: Whether anesthesia depth affects postoperative mortality remains uncertain. MEASUREMENTS: Several databases were systematically searched to identify all articles studying the relationship between depth of anesthesia and postoperative mortality. Post hoc subgroup analyses were conducted for follow-up period (30 days vs. longer than 90 days) and type of surgery. MAIN RESULTS: The analysis included 38,722 patients from nine studies. We observed a significant relationship between low bispectral index (BIS) and mortality (pooled aHR, 1.22;95% CI, 1.08 to 1.38; P = 0.001; I2 = 85.4%). Post hoc subgroup analyses indicated low BIS to be linked with significantly elevated mortality risk in patients with ≥90 days follow-up (pooled adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.09; 95% CI, 1.00-1.19; P = 0.01; I2 = 79.4%), but this association did not achieve significance in those with a 30 day follow-up duration (pooled aHR, 1.52; 95% CI, 0.97-2.38; P = 0.28; I2 = 79.0%). In addition, this link between postoperative mortality and low BIS was significant in those who had undergone cardiac surgery (pooled aHR, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.14 to 1.49; P < 0.001; I2 = 0.0%), but not in patients that had received other forms of surgery (pooled aHR, 1.06; 95% CI, 0.98 to 1.14; P = 0.14; I2 = 73.2%). CONCLUSIONS: We observed a significant relationship between deep anesthesia and long-term mortality, though this was not significant 30 days following surgery. In patients who had received cardiac surgery, deep anesthesia may increase mortality. However, this trend was not observed in patients who had undergone other forms of surgery.

EVALUATION OF MULTISPECTRAL IMAGING IN DIAGNOSING DIABETIC RETINOPATHY.

PURPOSE: To investigate multispectral imaging (MSI) as a novel diagnostic approach for diabetic retinopathy (DR) in clinic. METHODS: A total of 50 Type-2 diabetic patients (99 eyes) were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. All subjects underwent digital fundus photography (DFP), MSI, and fundus fluorescein angiography. A total exact agreement, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of no DR/mild nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) and severe NPDR/proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) grading were calculated based on DFP and MSI and were compared with fundus fluorescein angiography. RESULTS: Compared with fundus fluorescein angiography, the exact agreement for MSI was 0.835; for DFP, it was 0.614; the sensitivity for no DR/mild NPDR in both MSI and DFP was 100%, and for severe NPDR/PDR, it was 97.4% and 88.3%. The specificity for no DR/mild NPDR in MSI and DFP was 96.3% and 95%, and for severe NPDR/PDR, it was 100% in both. The positive predictive value for no DR/mild NPDR in MSI and DFP was 86.4% and 82.6%, and for severe NPDR/PDR, it was 100% in both; the negative predictive value for no DR/mild NPDR in MSI and DFP was 100%, and for severe NPDR/PDR, it was 91.7% and 71.0% in both. CONCLUSION: Multispectral imaging displayed an excellent agreement with fundus fluorescein angiography in DR grading, which suggested that it might serve as a new diagnostic technique and an informative tool for evaluating DR.

Long-term effect of triamcinolone acetonide in the treatment of upper lid retraction with thyroid associated ophthalmopathy.

AIM: To report the long-term outcomes of a large cohort of upper lid retraction patients treated with subconjunctival triamcinolone acetonide injections. METHODS: This retrospective clinical study was conducted from 2009 to 2016. The documents of 97 patients (126 eyes) were reviewed. The patients were treated with subconjunctival triamcinolone acetonide injections monthly and evaluated pre- and post-treatment by taking measurements of the upper margin reflex distance (MRD1, the distance between the upper-lid margin and the pupil center), lid aperture, lagophthalmos and proptosis. The patients were divided into the cured group, the improved group and the ineffective group based on the final treatment effectiveness. The improved group and the ineffective group were combined into non-cured group. RESULTS: The follow-up time was 23.45±14.86mo. Of the patients, 63 (64.9%) were assigned to the cured group, 22 (22.7%) in the improved group, 12 (12.4%) in the ineffective group. Injection times for cured group was 4.66±1.74, and for non-cured group was 5.17±2.08 (P≤0.05). The MRD1 was significantly reduced between baseline and 1mo after the initiation of treatment in the cured and improved groups (P<0.001). The values did not change significantly after 4mo for the improved group, while they continued to decrease in the cured group. In the ineffective group, the MRD1 did not significantly change after treatment. A statistically significant difference was observed between the baseline and post-treatment values of the mean muscle thickness (2.95±0.99 mm vs 2.04±0.63 mm, P<0.05) and surface area (27.27±10.5 mm2vs 18.3±7.04 mm2, P<0.05) of the levator superioris with magnetic resonance imaging examination. Twelve patients (12.4%) relapsed after treatment and required additional subconjunctival injections. The main side effects included menstrual cycle disturbances (32%) and elevations of intra-ocular pressure (18.6%). CONCLUSION: A repeated subconjunctival injection of triamcinolone is an effective and relatively safe treatment for upper lid retraction due to thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy. This is related to the anti-inflammation effect of the medicine and the levator thickness can become thinner. Patients must be monitored regularly for recurrences and side effects.

[Upregulation of miR-498 suppresses Th17 cell differentiation by targeting STAT3 in rheumatoid arthritis patients].

To investigate the effect and mechanism of miR-498 on Th17 cell differentiation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PMBCs) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, peripheral blood samples were collected from RA patients and healthy controls, respectively. The proportion of CD4+IL-17+ T cells (Th17 cells) or CD4+FOXP3+ T cells (Tregs) in T cells and the Th17/Treg ratio were identified by the flow cytometer. The STAT3 and miR-498 expression were measured by Western blot and real-time PCR, respectively. ELISA was used to detect IL-17 concentrations. Luciferase assay was performed to confirm that miR-498 directly targeted the 3' untranslated region (3'UTR) of STAT3 in CD4+ T cells. The effect of miR-498 on Th17 cell differentiation was explored by transfection of miR-498 mimic and/or pcDNA-STAT3 into CD4+ T cells. In PMBCs of RA patients, the Th17/CD4+ T cell ratio was significantly increased, while the Tregs/CD4+ T cell ratio was obviously decreased, leading to a higher Th17/Treg ratio. The results showed a reduced miR-498 expression and an increased STAT3 protein expression in PMBCs, and an increased IL-17 concentration in serum of RA patients. In cells transfected with wild-type-STAT3-LU, miR-498 mimic significantly reduced the luciferase activity, STAT3 gene and protein expression, and miR-498 inhibitor had an opposite function. While the miR-498 mimic/inhibitor had no effect on the luciferase activity and STAT3 expression in cells transfected with mutant-STAT3-LU. CD4+ T cells transfected with miR-498 mimic had a lower Th17/CD4+ T cell ratio and IL-17 concentration, however, transfection of pcDNA-STAT3 reversed the effect of miR-498 mimic on Th17/CD4+ T cell ratio and IL-17 concentration. These results suggest that overexpression of miR-498 suppresses Th17 cell differentiation by targeting STAT3 in RA patients.

Data Retention Characterization of Gate-Injected Gold-Nanoparticle Non-Volatile Memory with Low-Damage CF4-Plasma-Treated Blocking Oxide Layer.

Gold-nanoparticle (Au-NP) non-volatile memories (NVMs) with low-damage CF4 plasma treatment on the blocking oxide (BO) layer have been investigated to present the gate injection of the holes. These holes, injected from the Al gate with the positive gate bias, were explained by the bandgap engineering of the gradually-fluorinated BO layer and the effective work function modulation of the Al gate. The Si-F complex in the BO layer was analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), while the depth of fluorine incorporation was verified using a secondary ion mass spectrometer (SIMS). In addition, the valence band modification of the fluorinated BO layer was examined by ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS) to support the bandgap engineering. The reactive power of the CF4 plasma treatment on the BO layer was modified to increase the electric field of the BO layer and raise the effective work function of the Al gate, leading to the hole-injection from the gate. The injected holes are trapped at the interface between the gold-nanoparticles (Au-NPs) and the tunneling oxide (TO) layer, resulting in superior data retention properties such as an extremely low charge loss of 5.7% at 104 s and a nearly negligible increase in charge loss at 85 °C of the CF4-plasma-treated Au-NP NVMs, which can be applied in highly reliable consumer electronics.

ZEB1 Regulates Multiple Oncogenic Components Involved in Uveal Melanoma Progression.

Human uveal melanoma (UM) is a major ocular malignant tumor with high risk of metastasis and requires multiple oncogenic factors for progression. ZEB1 is a zinc finger E-box binding transcription factor known for participating epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a critical cellular event for metastasis of malignant tumors of epithelium origin. ZEB1 is also expressed in UM and high expression of ZEB1 correlates with UM advancement, but has little effect on cell morphology. We show that spindle UM cells can become epithelioid but not vice versa; and ZEB1 exerts its tumorigenic effects by promoting cell dedifferentiation, proliferation, invasiveness, and dissemination. We provide evidence that ZEB1 binds not only to repress critical genes involving in pigment synthesis, mitosis, adherent junctions, but also to transactivate genes involving in matrix degradation and cellular locomotion to propel UM progression towards metastasis. We conclude that ZEB1 is a major oncogenic factor required for UM progression and could be a potential therapeutic target for treating UM in the clinic.