Clinical observation of posterior decompression, fusion and fixation in the treatment of spinal gout: a case series.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of posterior decompression, fusion and fixation in the treatment of spinal gout. Spinal gout is a disease of gouty arthritis involving the spine, which can affect all segments of the spine. At present, the etiology and pathogenesis of spinal gout are not clear, and there are no definite methods for the treatment of spinal gout. METHODS: This was a case series of seven patients (seven men) who underwent posterior decompression, fusion and fixation in the treatment of spinal gout between January 2016 and January 2020. Physical examination, radiography, CT, MRI, Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score and visual analog scale (VAS) score were used to evaluate the effect of this procedure. All patients were followed up every 3 months. The evaluation time point was 12 months after the operation. Comparisons of the functional indexes of the patients before and after the operation were performed using SPSS 22.0 (IBM, Armonk, NY, USA). RESULTS: The JOA score was 13.43 ± 6.55 and the VAS score was 7.43 ± 1.51 preoperatively. The JOA score was 24.43 ± 3.74 and the VAS score was 0.86 ± 0.90 postoperatively at 12 months after surgery. At 12 months after surgery, the JOA and VAS score showed significant improvements when compared with those before surgery (P = 0.004 and P = 0.002, respectively). None of the patients had re-surgery of the gout due to actively and reasonably controlling uric acid. No loosening or displacement of screws was reported. There was only one screw tail cap loosening. Radiographic examination revealed that there was no obvious accumulation of gout or surrounding bone destruction, and the segmental instability was significantly improved. There was no progressive aggravation of neurological symptoms of the seven patients. CONCLUSIONS: Posterior approach decompression, fusion and fixation can stabilize the vertebral body, remove gout and directly relieve local spinal cord compression. The method is a reliable surgical choice for the treatment of spinal gout.

LncRNA-HEIH suppresses hepatocellular carcinoma cell growth and metastasis by up-regulating miR-199a-3p.

The article "LncRNA-HEIH suppresses hepatocellular carcinoma cell growth and metastasis by up-regulating miR-199a-3p, by M.-M. Wu, W.-D. Shen, C.-W. Zou, H.-J. Chen, H.-M. Guo, published in Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2020; 24 (11): 6031-6038-DOI: 10.26355/eurrev_202006_21497-PMID: 32572917" has been withdrawn from the authors due to some technical issues in the data retrieval. The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause. https://www.europeanreview.org/article/21497.

LncRNA-HEIH suppresses hepatocellular carcinoma cell growth and metastasis by up-regulating miR-199a-3p.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to explore the functional changes of long non-coding ribonucleic acid (lncRNA)-HEIH on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) Huh7 and Hep3B cells. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The expression changes of HEIH in 18 pairs of HCC tissues and adjacent normal tissues were detected by quantitative real time-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). According to its expression changes in HCC cells silenced by short hairpin ribonucleic acid (shRNA) transfection in vitro, these cells were divided into sh-HEIH group and sh-NC group. The effects of lowly expressed HEIH on the proliferation, migration and apoptosis of HCC cells were examined through functional assays. Western blotting was adopted to determine the expression changes of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) proteins, vimentin, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-3. In addition, the role of HEIH downstream effector micro RNA (miR)-199a-3p in HCC was explored. RESULTS: Compared with adjacent normal tissues, HEIH was highly expressed in HCC tissues (p<0.01). HEIH silencing significantly inhibited the proliferation and migration, but induced the apoptosis of Huh7 cells (p<0.05). The expressions of vimentin and MMP-2 in sh-HEIH group were remarkably lower than those in sh-NC group (p<0.05). Furthermore, miR-199a-3p was identified as the downstream effector of HEIH. The expression of miR-199a-3p increased markedly in Huh7 and Hep3B cells with silenced HEIH expression (p<0.01). Moreover, when miR-199a-3p expression was inhibited, the effects of HEIH on Huh7 and Hep3B cells were weakened, manifested as notably enhanced cell proliferation and migration capabilities (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: LncRNA-HEIH suppresses HCC cell growth and metastasis by up-regulating miR-199a-3p. Our findings suggest that HEIH may be a promising target for HCC treatment.

[Effect of endoscopic stent placement combined with neoadjuvant chemotherapy on short-term and long-term results in patients with acute left-sided malignant colorectal obstruction without distant metastases].

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the outcomes of colorectal obstruction patients without distant metastases treated with different strategies. Methods: This retrospectively study included 82 patients who presented in Beijing Chaoyang Hospital from 2010 to 2015 with acute left-sided malignant colorectal obstruction. Patients with distant metastases were excluded. After informed consent, patients were divided into colonic stenting (SEMS group, n=28) , neoadjuvant chemotherapy(NCT group, n=15) or immediate emergency surgery(control group, n=39). Patients who had successful colonic stenting underwent elective surgery 1 to 2 weeks later or underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy before elective surgery, while the other group had emergency surgery. Short-term data on postoperative mortality, morbidity, length of intensive care and hospital stay were compared. Overall survival and disease-free survival were also analyzed. Results: Patients in the three study arms had similar demographic profiles. The laparoscopic resection of the NCT and SEMS group was higher than that of the control group, the stoma rate was lower, and the differences were statistically significant[73.3% (11/15) , 42.9% (12/28) vs 25.6% (10/39) (P=0.006) and 13.3% (8/15) , 28.6% (8/28) vs 66.7% (26/39) (P<0.001) respectively].Compared with the SEMS and NCT group, the control group had a higher rate of postoperative complications, less of retrieved lymph nodes, longer of intensive care and lower total hospitalization expenses, and the difference was statistically significant[32.1% (9/28) , 13.3% (2/15) vs 59.0% (23/39) (P=0.004) , 21 (16,25) , 23 (19,34) vs 17 (13,25) (P=0.02) , 1.5 (0,3.0) , 1.0 (0,3.0) vs 3.0 (1.0, 4.0) (P=0.028) and 7.3 (2.8,14.1) , 11.1 (6.9,18.5) vs 7.1 (3.3,37.4) (P=0.004) respectively]. The overall and disease-free survival rate of the NCT group were higher than the SEMS group and control group, and the difference was statistically significant[93.3% (14/15) , 57.1% (16/28) vs 61.5% (24/39) (P=0.033) and 86.7% (13/15) , 53.6% (15/28) vs 51.3% (20/39) (P=0.047) respectively]. There was no significant difference among the NCT, SEMS and control group in the rate of systemic recurrence of the[6.7% (1/15) , 25.0% (7/28) vs 28.2% (11/39) (P=0.243) ]. Conclusions: For acute left-sided malignant colorectal obstruction without distant metastases, endoscopic stent placement combined with NCT not only is a bridge to elective operation, but also significantly improves the long-term results.

One-step synthesis and luminescence properties of tetragonal double tungstates nanocrystals.

A versatile one-step thermolysis protocol is demonstrated to produce a uniform dispersion of tetragonal double tungstates NaRE(WO4)2 (RE = rare earth) nanocrystals (NCs). Oriented attachment in the [001] direction occurred. Doping with luminescent RE(3+) ions resulted in highly luminescent NCs showing characteristic line emission of the dopant as well as a blue emission assigned to surface adsorbed organic species.

[The role of PACAP protein in chronic sinusitis with or without nasal polyps].

Objective:To investigate the expression of PACAP protein in chronic rhinosinusitis without/with nasal polyps and refractory chronic rhinosinusitis.Method: Fifty-three patients with nasal polyps,70 cases with chronic sinusitis, 28 patients with refractory chronic rhinosinusitis and 20 control cases were enrolled for this study. The expression of PACAP protein was detected by immunochemistry.Result: ①PACAP protein were expressed in nasal epithelium，glandular epithelium and goblet cells；②The positive intensity of PACAP was" +", " +++", "－-+",and " ++" in nasal polyps, chronic rhinosinusitis, refractory chronic rhinosinusitis, and control group, respectively.Conclusion:PACAP protein mainly locates in nasal epithelium，glandular epithelium and goblet cells. Reduced expression of PACAP may be related with onset of chronic rhiniosinusitis without/with nasal polyps.

Metabolic profiles in the response to supplementation with composite antimicrobial peptides in piglets challenged with deoxynivalenol.

Deoxynivalenol (DON) causes various toxic effects in human and animals. However, our previous studies have shown that composite antimicrobial peptides (CAP) can have a protective effect in piglets challenged with DON. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of the CAP GLAM 180# on the metabolism of piglets challenged with DON using a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-based metabolomics approach. A total of 28 individually housed piglets (Duroc × Landrace × Large Yorkshire) weaned at 28 d of age were randomly assigned into 4 treatment groups (7 pigs/treatment) based on a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement that were fed, respectively, a basal diet (NC), basal diet + 0.4% CAP (basal + CAP), basal diet + 4 mg/kg DON (basal + DON), and basal diet + 4 mg/kg DON + 0.4% CAP (DON + CAP). A 7-d adaptation period was followed by 30 d of treatment. Blood samples were then collected for metabolite analysis by proton NMR (H-NMR) spectroscopy and liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The combined results of H-NMR spectroscopy and LC-MS/MS showed that DON increased ( < 0.05) the serum concentrations of low-density lipoprotein, glycoprotein, urea, trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO), and lactate as well as those of almost all essential AA and some nonessential AA but decreased the concentrations of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), unsaturated lipids, citrate, choline, and fumarate compared with those in NC treatment ( < 0.05). There was a significant interaction effect ( < 0.05) of supplementation with DON and CAP on some metabolites showed that the serum concentrations of HDL, unsaturated lipids, Pro, citrate, and fumarate were greater ( < 0.05) whereas those of glycoprotein, urea, TMAO, Gly, and lactate were lower in the DON + CAP treatment compared with those in the basal + DON treatment ( < 0.05). These findings indicated that DON causes disturbances in AA, lipid, and energy metabolism and that CAP could partially attenuate the above metabolic disturbances induced by DON.

Oral administration of putrescine and proline during the suckling period improves epithelial restitution after early weaning in piglets.

Polyamines are necessary for normal integrity and the restitution after injury of the gastrointestinal epithelium. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of oral administration of putrescine and proline during the suckling period on epithelial restitution after early weaning in piglets. Eighteen neonatal piglets (Duroc × Landrace × Large Yorkshire) from 3 litters (6 piglets per litter) were assigned to 3 groups, representing oral administration with an equal volume of saline (control), putrescine (5 mg/kg BW), and proline (25 mg/kg BW) twice daily from d 1 to weaning at 14 d of age. Plasma and intestinal samples were obtained 3 d after weaning. The results showed that oral administration of putrescine or proline increased the final BW and ADG of piglets compared with the control (P < 0.05). Proline treatment decreased plasma D-lactate concentration but increased the villus height in the jejunum and ileum, as well as the percentage of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) positive cells and alkaline phosphatase (AKP) activity in the jejunal mucosa (P < 0.05). The protein expressions for zonula occludens (ZO-1), occludin, and claudin-3 (P < 0.05) but not mRNA were increased in the jejunum of putrescine- and proline-treated piglets compared with those of control piglets. The voltage-gated K+ channel (Kv) 1.1 protein expression in the jejunum of piglets administrated with putrescine and the Kv1.5 mRNA and Kv1.1 protein levels in the ileum of piglets administrated with proline were greater than those in control piglets (P < 0.05). These findings indicate that polyamine or its precursor could improve mucosal proliferation, intestinal morphology, as well as tight junction and potassium channel protein expressions in early-weaned piglets, with implications for epithelial restitution and barrier function after stress injury.

Biochemical characterization and functional analysis of UDP-glucose dehydrogenase, in the synthesis of biopolymer Ss from Sphingomonas sanxanigenens NX02.

Biopolymer Ss of Sphingomonas sanxanigenens strain NX02 is an sphingan that can be extracted using a small quantity of acid, which is a low cost extraction process. A UDP-glucose dehydrogenase gene (ugdG), related to Ss biosynthesis, was cloned from S. sanxanigenens NX02 and expressed in Escherichia coli. It encoded a 454-residue protein of 48.2 kDa. The deduced amino acid sequence had 77% identity with UDP-glucose dehydrogenase (UgdG) from Sphingomonas sp. KC8, and 73% identity with UgdG from Sphingomonas elodea ATCC31461. Purified recombinant UgdG had maximum activity at 35°C and pH 8.0, with Km values of 0.47 and 0.38 mM for UDP-glucose and NAD+, respectively. Overexpression of the ugdG gene in S. sanxanigenens resulted in increased (14.9 ± 0.5)% Ss production and higher fermentation broth viscosity. Furthermore, the weight-average molecular weight of polymer Ss from the recombinant strain was (5.3 ± 0.16)% higher and the viscosity was (74 ± 0.15)% higher than those from the WT strain at a shear rate of 1 rev/min.

Pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate restores gastric damages and suppressive autophagy induced by hydrogen peroxide.

It is well known that gastric barrier is very important for protecting host from various insults. Simultaneously, autophagy serving as a prominent cytoprotective and survival pathway under oxidative stress conditions is being increasingly recognized. Thus, this study was conducted for investigating the effect of pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) on gastric barrier function and autophagy under oxidative stress induced by intragastric administration of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). The gastric tight junction proteins [zonula occludens-1 (ZO1), occludin, and claudin1], autophagic proteins [microtubule-associated protein light chain 3I(LC3I), LC3II, and beclin1], and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway (p65 and IκB kinase α/ß) were determined by Western blot. The results showed that H2O2 exposure disturbed gastric barrier function with decreased expression of ZO1, occludin, and claudin1, and reduced gastric autophagy with decreased conversion of LC3I into LC3II in mice. However, treatment with PDTC restored these adverse effects evidenced by increased expression of ZO1 and claudin1 and increased conversion of LC3I into LC3II. Meanwhile, H2O2 exposure decreased normal human gastric epithelial mucosa cell line (GES-1) viability in a concentration-dependent way. However, after being exposed to H2O2, GES-1 exhibited autophagic response which was inconsistent with our in vivo results in mice, while PDTC failed to decrease autophagy in GES-1 induced by H2O2. Simultaneously, the beneficial effect of PDTC on gastric damage and autophagy in mice might be independent of inhibition of NF-κB. In conclusion, PDTC treatment restores gastric damages and reduced autophagy induced by H2O2. Therefore, PDTC may serve as a potential adjuvant therapy for gastric damages.

Highly stable sub-5 nm Sn6O4(OH)4 nanocrystals with ultrahigh activity as advanced photocatalytic materials for photodegradation of methyl orange.

Among numerous active photocatalytic materials, Sn-based oxide nanomaterials are promising photocatalytic materials in environmental protection measures such as water remediation due to their excellent physicochemical property. Research on photocatalytic nanomaterials for photodegradation of methyl orange (MO) so far has focused on TiO2-based nanostructures; e.g., TiO2-P25 is recognized to be the best commercial photocatalyst to date, rather than Sn-based oxide nanomaterials, in spite of their impressive acid- and alkali-resistant properties and high stability. Here, we demonstrate very high photocatalytic activity of highly stable sub-5 nm hydromarchite (Sn6O4(OH)4) nanocrystals synthesized by a simple and environmentally friendly laser-based technique. These Sn6O4(OH)4 nanocrystals exhibit ultrahigh photocatalytic performance for photodegradation of MO and their degradation efficiency is far superior to that of TiO2-P25. The detailed investigations demonstrated that the great photocatalytic activity results from the ultrafine size and unique surface activity induced by the laser-based technique. Mass production of reactive species of hydroxyl radicals was detected in the experiments due to the appropriate bandgap of Sn6O4(OH)4 nanocrystals. These findings actually open a door to applications of Sn-based oxide nanomaterials as advanced photocatalytic materials.

Development of an antioxidant system after early weaning in piglets.

The objective of this experiment was to investigate oxidative injury and the development of an antioxidant system after early weaning in piglets. A total of 40 piglets (Landrace× Large White, weaned at 14 d after birth) were randomly slaughtered 0 (w0d), 1 (w1d), 3 (w3d), 5 (w5d), or 7 d (w7d; n = 8) after weaning. Concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA), 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), and protein carbonyl and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and catalase were measured in plasma. Gene expressions of antioxidant enzymes were determined by quantitative reverse transcription PCR analysis. The mediation of transcription factor 65 (p65) and the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathways by oxidative stress was determined by Western blot analysis. Results showed that the plasma MDA level was significantly higher at 3 d (P < 0.05) and that the protein carbonyl level increased at 1, 3, and 5 d (P < 0.05) compared with w0d. In addition, early weaning suppressed the plasma activity of SOD at 1 d (P < 0.05) and reduced the GSH-Px activity at 3 d (P < 0.05). The expression results in the jejunum indicate that the genes related to antioxidant enzymes were downregulated (P < 0.05) at 3 and 5 d after weaning. Uncoupling protein 2 (Ucp2), which is considered to be a feedback regulation on reactive oxygen species generation, tended to decrease in the ileum (P < 0.05) after weaning. Tumor protein 53 (p53), which regulates reactive oxygen species generation, was enhanced (P < 0.05) in the jejunum after weaning. Meanwhile, early weaning suppressed p65 (at 3, 5, and 7 d; P < 0.05) and Nrf2 (at 5 and 7 d; P < 0.05) signals in the jejunum, which might feedback-regulate antioxidant gene expression and promote the development of the antioxidant system. Therefore, we speculate that weaning disrupted oxidative balance and caused oxidative injury in piglets, and this imbalance can recover with the development of an antioxidant system via feedback regulation.

Effects of composite antimicrobial peptides in weanling piglets challenged with deoxynivalenol: I. Growth performance, immune function, and antioxidation capacity.

The mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON) is a food contaminant that leads to reduced feed intake and reduced BW gain, as well as organ impairment. On the other hand, antimicrobial peptides have been shown to have positive effects on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and immune function. The purpose of this study was to investigate the protective effects of composite antimicrobial peptides (CAP) on piglets challenged with DON. After a 7-d adaptation period, 28 individually housed piglets (Duroc × Landrace × Large Yorkshire) weaned at 28 d of age were randomly assigned to receive 1 of 4 treatments (7 pigs/treatment): negative control, basal diet (NC), basal diet + 0.4% CAP (CAP), basal diet + 4 mg/kg DON (DON), and basal diet + 4 ppm DON + 0.4% CAP (DON + CAP). On d 15 and 30 after the initiation of treatment, blood samples were collected for the determination of blood profile. Piglets were monitored for 30 d to assess performance and then were slaughtered to obtain organs for the determination of the relative weight of organs. The results showed that dietary supplementation with DON decreased (P < 0.05) ADFI, ADG, and G:F, whereas dietary supplementation with CAP improved ADG and G:F (P < 0.05). The relative weight of the kidney and pancreas was greater and the relative weight of the spleen was lighter in the DON treatment than in the other 3 treatments (P < 0.05). There were no effects (P > 0.05) on other relative weights of viscera, except the relative weight of the gallbladder, but the diamine oxidase activity in the liver decreased in DON-treated piglets (P < 0.05). Piglets in the DON treatment had increased serum concentrations of alkaline phosphatase, alanine transaminase, and aspartate aminotransferase and a dramatic decrease in total protein (P < 0.05), whereas there were no differences (P > 0.05) between the DON + CAP treatment and the other treatments. The DON treatment decreased the numbers of red blood cells and platelets, as well as the serum catalase concentrations, and decreased the serum concentrations of H2O2, maleic dialdehyde, and nitric oxide (P < 0.05). The numbers of platelets and thrombocytocrit, as well as the serum concentrations of catalase, were greater, whereas the maleic dialdehyde concentrations were decreased, in both the CAP and DON + CAP treatments compared with the other treatments (P < 0.05). Compared with the control treatment, DON decreased peripheral lymphocyte proliferation on d 15, whereas supplementation with CAP increased it on d 15 and 30 (P < 0.05). These findings indicate that CAP could improve feed efficiency, immune function, and antioxidation capacity and alleviate organ damage, and thus, it has a protective effect in piglets challenged with DON.

Effects of composite antimicrobial peptides in weanling piglets challenged with deoxynivalenol: II. Intestinal morphology and function.

Deoxynivalenol (DON) affects animal and human health and targets the gastrointestinal tract. The objective of this study was to evaluate the ability of composite antimicrobial peptides (CAP) to repair intestinal injury in piglets challenged with DON. A total of 28 piglets (Duroc × Landrace × Large Yorkshire) weaned at 28 d of age were randomly assigned to receive 1 of 4 treatments (7 pigs/treatment): negative control, basal diet (NC), basal diet + 0.4% composite antimicrobial peptide (CAP), basal diet + 4 mg/kg DON (DON), and basal diet + 4 mg/kg DON + 0.4% CAP (DON + CAP). After an adaptation period of 7 d, blood samples were collected on d 15 and 30 after the initiation of treatment for determinations of the concentrations of D-lactate and diamine oxidase. At the end of the study, all piglets were slaughtered to obtain small intestines for the determination of intestinal morphology, epithelial cell proliferation, and protein expression in the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway. The results showed that DON increased serum concentrations of D-lactate and diamine oxidase, and these values in the CAP and DON + CAP treatments were less than those in the NC and DON treatments, respectively (P < 0.05). The villous height/crypt depth in the jejunum and ileum and the goblet cell number in the ileum in the CAP and DON + CAP treatments were greater than those in the NC and DON treatments (P < 0.05). The proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) labeling indexes for the jejunum and ileum in the DON + CAP treatment were greater than those in the DON treatment (P < 0.05). The DON decreased (P < 0.05) the relative protein expression of phosphorylated Akt (Protein Kinase B) and mTOR in the jejunal and ileal mucosa and of phosphorylated 4E-binding protein 1 (p-4EBP1) in the jejunal mucosa, whereas CAP increased (P < 0.05) the protein expression of p-4EBP1 in the jejunum. These findings showed that DON could enhance intestinal permeability, damage villi, cause epithelial cell apoptosis, and inhibit protein synthesis, whereas CAP improved intestinal morphology and promoted intestinal epithelial cell proliferation and protein synthesis, indicating that CAP may repair the intestinal injury induced by DON.

Changes in peripheral blood Th1 and Th2 cells in rat liver transplantation under different immune statuses.

In this study, early expressions of peripheral blood Th1 and Th2 cells were documented following rat liver transplantation and related to immune status. Rats were divided into 3 groups: group A (control): syngeneic transplantation (Brown Norway (BN) → BN); group B: allogeneic transplantation + cyclosporine A (CsA); group C: allogeneic transplantation (Lewis → BN). Flow cytometry was used to analyze peripheral blood CD4(+)CD45RC percentage on days 1, 3, 5, 7, and 14 following transplantation, and were compared to graft rejection pathological grades and receptor survival times. The average survival of groups A and B exceeded 100 days, which was significantly longer than that of group C (3.56 ± 34.3 days). With the exception of the first day, rejection grades were significantly higher in groups C and B compared to group A, and group C rejection grades were significantly higher than those of group B. Three days after transplantation, the CD4(+)CD45RC(+) to CD4(+)CD45RC(-) ratio of group C was significantly higher than that of groups A and B. In group B, the CD4(+)CD45RC(+) to CD4(+)CD45RC(-) ratio was negatively correlated to the rejection grade (r = -0.565, P < 0.01), whereas this relationship was positive in group C (r = 0.745, P < 0.01). In conclusion, peripheral blood Th1 was highly expressed during rejection in rat liver grafts. Peripheral blood Th2 tended to increase early under rejection inhibition with CsA, and its high expression level may correlate with long-term acceptance or tolerance of transplanted livers.

Theoretical study of the stability and electronic structure of Al(BH4)n=1→4 and Al(BF4)n=1→4 and their hyperhalogen behavior.

Using density functional theory (DFT), we have systematically calculated the equilibrium geometries, electronic structure, and electron detachment energies of Al(BH(4))(n=1→4) and Al(BF(4))(n=1→4) at the B3LYP/6-311+G(2d,p) level of theory. The electron affinities of Al(BH(4))(n) not only exhibit odd-even alternation, just as seen in (BH(4))(n), but also, for n = 3 and 4, show a remarkable behavior: whereas the electron affinities of BH(3) and BH(4) are, respectively, 0.06 and 3.17 eV, those of Al(BH(4))(3) and Al(BH(4))(4) are 0.71 and 5.56 eV. Results where H is replaced by F are also very different. The electron affinities of BF(3) and BF(4) are, respectively, -0.44 and +6.86 eV, and those of Al(BF(4))(3) and Al(BF(4))(4) are 1.82 and 8.86 eV. The results demonstrate not only marked difference when H is replaced by F but also substantially enhanced electron affinities by almost 2 eV when BH(4) and BF(4) units are allowed decorate a metal atom, confirming the recently observed hyperhalogen behavior of superhalogen building blocks.

HLA-DQB1*0317 is a novel allele with an unusual DR-DQ haplotype.

HLA-DQB1*0317 may have arisen by gene conversion from the DQB1*030302 backbone, leading to one amino acid change from Leu to Gly at codon 26.

Resonant field emission through amorphous diamond thin films (a model study).

A model for field emission through an amorphous diamond thin film with defects is constructed. Theoretical study shows that the emission is enhanced by attractive defects which would make the resonant emission observable for films with thickness of about 10nm. The emitted current density in typical parameters is calculated as functions of thickness, field strength and defect density. The energy distribution of emitted electrons is attained.

Biosynthesis and secretion of pituitary hormones: dynamics and regulation.

Production and secretion of hormones by the pituitary involve highly orchestrated intracellular transport and sorting steps. Hormone precursors are routed through a series of compartments before being packaged in secretory granules. These highly dynamic carriers play crucial roles in both prohormone processing and peptide exocytosis. We have employed the ACTH-secreting AtT-20 cell line to study the membrane sorting events that confer functionality (prohormone activation and regulated exocytosis) to these secretory carriers. The unique ability of granules to promote prohormone processing is attributed to their acidic interior. Using a novel avidin-targeted fluorescence ratio imaging technique, we have found that the trans-Golgi of live AtT-20 cells maintains a mildly acidic (approximately pH 6.2) interior. Budding of secretory granules causes the lumen to acidify to