[Distribution Characteristics and Source Analysis of Carbonaceous Aerosols Before and After the Spring Festival in the Guanzhong Plain].

The spatio-temporal variation characteristics and potential sources of carbonaceous aerosols in the Guanzhong Plain during the Spring Festival in 2023 were analyzed using inverse distance weighting spatial interpolation （IDW）, secondary organic carbon （SOC） estimation, and potential source contribution factor analysis （PSCF）, with the OC and EC in the PM2.5 of five cities： Xi'an, Baoji, Xianyang, Weinan, and Tongchuan as the research objects. The results showed that in terms of time distribution, ρ（OC） was as follows： after the Spring Festival [（18.6 ±11.0） µg·m-3] > during the Spring Festival [（16.2 ±15.1） µg·m-3] > before the Spring Festival [（10.0 ±8.3） µg·m-3], and ρ（EC） was as follows： after the Spring Festival [（2.2 ±1.2） µg·m-3] > during the Spring Festival [（1.7 ±1.5） µg·m-3] > before the Spring Festival [（1.4 ±1.1） µg·m-3], which indicated that OC and EC concentrations were the most severe after the Spring Festival. In terms of spatial distribution, ρ（OC） was as follows： Xianyang [（21.4 ±17.3） µg·m-3] > Baoji [（15.8 ±12.8） µg·m-3] > Xi'an [（13.6 ±11.3） µg·m-3] > Weinan [（11.6 ±9.1） µg·m-3] > Tongchuan [（10.0 ±8.3） µg·m-3], and ρ（EC） was as follows： Xianyang [（2.1 ±1.4） µg·m-3] > Weinan [（1.8 ±1.4） µg·m-3] > Xi'an [（1.8 ±1.2） µg·m-3] > Tongchuan [（1.6 ±1.4） µg·m-3] > Baoji [（1.2 ±0.9） µg·m-3]. Overall, Xianyang had the most severe PM2.5 and carbon aerosol pollution, whereas Tongchuan had the least pollution. IDW results showed that the high-value center of OC and EC concentration [ρ（OC） > 27.3 µg·m-3, ρ（EC） > 2.9 µg·m-3] was in the middle of the plain, the low-value center of OC and EC concentration [ρ（OC） <7.0 µg·m-3, ρ（EC） < 1.0 µg·m-3] was in the northern plain, and the distribution of OC was higher in the west and lower in the east, whereas the distribution of EC was higher in the east and lower in the west. The proportion of SOC in OC was as follows： after the Spring Festival （51.7%） > during the Spring Festival （41.1%） > before the Spring Festival （36.8%）. The SOC/OC values of each city and the contribution rate of SOC of each city to the Guanzhong Plain indicated that Tongchuan, Baoji, and Xianyang were greatly affected by the secondary conversion of organic carbon. The correlation of OC and EC before, during, and after the Spring Festival （r = 0.85, r = 0.98, and r = 0.94, respectively） indicated a high degree of homology between them. Carbonaceous aerosols had a certain correlation with humidity and wind speed before and during the Spring Festival but had a weak correlation with meteorological factors after the Spring Festival. Carbonaceous aerosols generally were strongly correlated with CO and NO2, and the correlation was strongest after the Spring Festival, whereas the correlation with SO2 was strongest during the Spring Festival. The potential source areas of carbonaceous aerosols in the five cities were mainly concentrated in the local and surrounding areas of southern Gansu, northern Shaanxi, and southern Shaanxi. They were also affected by long-distance transportation from the northwest before the Spring Festival.

Significant increase of the photoresponse range and conductivity for a chalcogenide semiconductor by viologen coating through charge transfer.

Widening the photoresponse range while enhancing the electrical properties of semiconductors could reduce the complexity and cost of photodetectors or increase the power conversion efficiency of solar cells. Surface doping through charge transfer with organic species is one of the most effective and widely used approaches to achieve this aim. It usually features easier preparation over other doping methods but is still limited by the low physicochemical stability and high cost of the used organic species or low improvement of electrical properties. This work shows unprecedented surface doping of semiconductors with highly stable, easily obtained, and strong electron-accepting viologen components, realizing the significant improvement of both the photoresponse range and conductivity. Coating the chalcogenide semiconductor KGaS2 with dimethyl viologen dichloride (MV) yields a charge-transfer complex (CTC) on the surface, which broadens the photoresponse range by nearly 300 nm and improves the conductivity by 5 orders of magnitude. The latter value surpasses all records obtained by surface doping through charge transfer with organic species.

Robotic-assisted proctosigmoidectomy for Hirschsprung's disease: A multicenter prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Robotic surgery is a cutting-edge minimally invasive technique that overcomes many shortcomings of laparoscopic techniques, yet few studies have evaluated the use of robotic surgery to treat Hirschsprung's disease (HSCR). AIM: To analyze the feasibility and medium-term outcomes of robotic-assisted proctosigmoidectomy (RAPS) with sphincter- and nerve-sparing surgery in HSCR patients. METHODS: From July 2015 to January 2022, 156 rectosigmoid HSCR patients were enrolled in this multicenter prospective study. Their sphincters and nerves were spared by dissecting the rectum completely from the pelvic cavity outside the longitudinal muscle of the rectum and then performing transanal Soave pull-through procedures. Surgical outcomes and continence function were analyzed. RESULTS: No conversions or intraoperative complications occurred. The median age at surgery was 9.50 months, and the length of the removed bowel was 15.50 ± 5.23 cm. The total operation time, console time, and anal traction time were 155.22 ± 16.77, 58.01 ± 7.71, and 45.28 ± 8.15 min. There were 25 complications within 30 d and 48 post-30-d complications. For children aged ≥ 4 years, the bowel function score (BFS) was 17.32 ± 2.63, and 90.91% of patients showed moderate-to-good bowel function. The postoperative fecal continence (POFC) score was 10.95 ± 1.04 at 4 years of age, 11.48 ± 0.72 at 5 years of age, and 11.94 ± 0.81 at 6 years of age, showing a promising annual trend. There were no significant differences in postoperative complications, BFS, and POFC scores related to age at surgery being ≤ 3 mo or > 3 mo. CONCLUSION: RAPS is a safe and effective alternative for treating HSCR in children of all ages; it offers the advantage of further minimizing damage to sphincters and perirectal nerves and thus providing better continence function.

Application of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography for treatment of obstructive jaundice after hepatoblastoma surgery: A case report.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to investigate the effectiveness of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) for treating obstructive jaundice (OJ) post hepatoblastoma (HB) surgery (post-HB OJ) by analyzing the data of a case and performing a literature review. CASE SUMMARY: Clinical data of one patient with post-HB OJ treated by ERCP were retrospectively analyzed. Furthermore, clinical characteristics and insights into the diagnosis and treatment of post-HB OJ in children were summarized via searching various databases and platforms, such as China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang database, CQVIP database, PubMed, Ringer Link, and Google Scholar. The patient reported herein underwent five chemotherapy sessions after the diagnosis of HB and right hemihepatectomy after tumor size reduction; these were followed by two postoperative chemotherapy sessions. Three months postoperatively, the patient developed icteric sclera, strong tea-colored urine, and clay-like stools, and showed signs of skin itchiness; blood analysis showed significantly an increased conjugated bilirubin (CB) level (200.3 µmol/L). Following the poor efficacy of anti-jaundice and hepatoprotective treatments, the patient underwent ERCP. Intraoperative imaging showed a dilated bile duct in the porta hepatis with significant distal stenosis. A 5 Fr nasopancreatic tube was placed in the dilated area through the stricture for external drainage, and the patient was extubated on postoperative day 6. Postoperatively, the patient's stool turned yellow, and the CB level decreased to 78.2 µmol/L. Fifteen days later, ERCP was repeated due to unrelieved jaundice symptoms, wherein a 7 Fr nasobiliary drainage tube was successfully placed. Three months post-ERCP, the jaundice symptoms resolved, and the CB level was reduced to 33.2 µmol/L. A follow-up examination one year postoperatively revealed no jaundice symptoms and normal CB level. CONCLUSION: Post-HB OJ is rare. Compared to biliary tract reconstruction, ERCP is less invasive and has a better therapeutic effect.

The expected values of the total numbers of independent edge sets and independent sets in random alpha-type pentagonal chains.

A independent edge set of G containing mutually independent edges is also called a matching of G. The total numbers of matchings and independent sets of a graph G, namely, the Hosoya index and the Merrifield-Simmons index, respectively, are two important topological indices. We compute the average total numbers of independent edge sets and independent sets in random alpha-type pentagonal chains.

Effect of Glucose Contents on Electrochemical Corrosion Behavior of Ti/ZrO2 Brazing Joint in SBF.

The effect of glucose content on the electrochemical corrosion behavior of the Ti/ZrO2 brazing joint in simulated body fluid (SBF) was researched by the means of SEM morphologies, electrochemical and XPS analyses. Herein, pitting is observed to be a dominating corrosion model under the investigated glucose content. The pitting corrosion of the joint in 200 mg/dL SBF is minimal. In addition, the joint in 200 mg/dL SBF manifests the best corrosion resistance by electrochemical analyses, which indicates that glucose content has a bidirectional effect on corrosion of the Ti/ZrO2 brazing joint. Additionally, the corrosion current value and impedance of titanium and brazing joint are close, which indicates that their corrosion resistance is similar. Finally, the OH-, Cl-, Sn2+/Sn4+ and -COOH on the joint surface are found by XPS analysis, and the mechanism of Ti/ZrO2 brazing joint corrosion is elucidated. The study provides a novel understanding of the corrosion behavior and relevant corrosion mechanism of the Ti/ZrO2 brazing joint in body fluids with different glucose content.

Coordination polymerization of nitrogen-rich linkers and dicyanamide anions toward energetic coordination polymers with low sensitivities.

The design and synthesis of energetic materials (EMs) with high energy and reliable stabilities has attracted much attention in the field of EMs. In this work, we employed a strategy of the coordination polymerization of mild dicyanamide ions (DCA-), two isomeric ligands 1-methyl-5-aminotetrazole (1-MAT) and 2-methyl-5-aminotetrazole (2-MAT) to construct energetic coordination polymers (ECPs). Four new ECPs {[Co(DCA)2(1-MAT)2]·H2O}n1, [Cu(DCA)2(1-MAT)]n2, [Cd(DCA)2(1-MAT)2]n3 and [Cd(DCA)2(2-MAT)2]n4 were successfully synthesized through solvent evaporation routes. Compounds 1 and 4 display 1D chains, while 2 and 3 exhibit 2D-layered structures. Compounds 1-3 with the 1-MAT ligand all exhibit reliable thermal stabilities (> 200 °C). The calculated heats of detonation (ΔHdet) of 1-3 are all higher than 1.4 kJ g-1, which are higher than traditional explosive TNT (1.22 kJ g-1) and the reported ECP AgMtta (HMtta = 5-methyl-1H-tetrazole, ΔHdet = 1.32 kJ g-1). Furthermore, sensitivity testing demonstrates that 1-4 features low mechanical sensitivity to external mechanical action in contrast with the extremely sensitive azide-based ECPs [Cu3(2-MAT)2(N3)6]n. In addition, compound 2 shows hypergolic properties via an 'oxidizer-fuel' drop experiment, demonstrating its application prospects in the field of propellants. This work details an approach of synthesizing multipurpose ECPs with reliable stabilities by introducing mild dicyanamide anions into nitrogen-rich skeletons.

Stroke incidence and cognitive outcomes of intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis: study protocol for a multicenter, prospective, observational cohort study.

Background: Intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (ICAS) is one of the leading causes of stroke worldwide. Current diagnostic evaluations and treatments remain insufficient to assess the vulnerability of intracranial plaques and reduce the recurrence of stroke in symptomatic ICAS. On the other hand, asymptomatic ICAS is associated with an increased risk of cognitive impairment. The pathogenesis of ICAS related cognitive decline is largely unknown. The aim of SICO-ICAS study (stroke incidence and cognitive outcomes of ICAS) is to elucidate the pathophysiology of stroke and cognitive impairment in ICAS population, comprehensively evaluating the complex interactions among life-course exposure, genomic variation, vascular risk factors, cerebrovascular burden and coexisting neurodegeneration. Methods: SICO-ICAS is a multicenter, prospective, observational cohort study. We aim to recruit 3,000 patients with symptomatic or asymptomatic ICAS (>50% or occlusion) who will be followed up for ≥12 months. All participants will undergo pre-designed magnetic resonance imaging packages, blood biomarkers testing, as well as detailed cognitive domains assessment. All participants will undergo clinical visits every 6 months and telephone interviews every 3 months. The primary outcome measurement is ischemic stroke or cognitive impairment within 12 months after enrollment. Discussion: This study will establish a large prospective ICAS cohort, hopefully discover new biomarkers associated with vulnerable intracranial plaques, identify subjects at high risk for incident ischemic stroke or cognitive impairment, and eventually propose a precise diagnostic and treatment strategy for ICAS population. Trial Registration: Chinese Clinical Trials Register ChiCTR2200061938.

Factors Influencing Post-Stroke Cognitive Impairment in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Objective: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and ischemic stroke, which are common diseases among older people, are closely related to cognitive impairment. This study aims to investigate the influencing factors of post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) in patients with T2DM. Methods: We enrolled 161 patients with T2DM who experienced acute ischemic stroke and were hospitalized in the Department of Neurology, Jinan Central Hospital, Shandong, China. Cognitive function was evaluated with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment scale. According to the results, patients were divided into three groups-the cognitively normal group, mild cognitive impairment group, and severe cognitive impairment group. We analyzed general demographic data, laboratory information, imaging data, the results of neuropsychological evaluation, and clinical features as well as influencing factors of PSCI in these patients and established a prediction model. Results: The three groups of patients were significantly different in terms of age, education level, course of diabetes mellitus (DM), recurrent cerebral infarction (RCI), and other factors. RCI, course of DM, and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) were independent risk factors of PSCI in patients with T2DM, with odds ratio (95% confidence interval): 7.17 (2.09, 30.37), 5.39 (2.40, 14.59), and 3.89 (1.66, 10.04), respectively, whereas female, senior high school, serum albumin were protective factors: 0.28 (0.07, 0.95), 0.05 (0.01, 0.21), 0.20 (0.08, 0.42), respectively. Furthermore, we constructed a prediction model using sex, age, education level, RCI, DM course, HbA1c and serum albumin and obtained a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. The area under the ROC curve is 0.966, suggesting the significant association of these influencing factors with PSCI in patients with T2DM. Conclusion: In this study, the occurrence of PSCI in patients with T2DM was related to RCI, course of DM, and HbA1c, among other factors. Attention to influencing factors is needed in these patients for early diagnosis and timely intervention of cognitive impairment.

Ginkgetin Alleviates Inflammation, Oxidative Stress, and Apoptosis Induced by Hypoxia/Reoxygenation in H9C2 Cells via Caspase-3 Dependent Pathway.

Ginkgetin, the extract of Ginkgo biloba leaves, has been reported to exert preventive and therapeutic effects on cardiovascular disease. However, little is known about its role in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MIRI). The present study aimed to unveil the function of ginkgetin in cardiomyocytes subjected to hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) injury. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) was employed to evaluate the impact of ginkgetin on cell viability in the absence or presence of H/R. Proinflammatory cytokines and malondialdehyde (MDA), reactive oxygen species (SOD), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were determined via corresponding kits. In addition, flow cytometry was performed to detect apoptotic level. Western blot analysis was utilized to estimate caspase-3 and cytochrome C. Ginkgetin had no significant effect on cell viability; however, it could enhance viability of H9C2 cells exposed to H/R. Inflammation and oxidative stress induced by H/R injury were relieved via pretreatment with ginkgetin. Preconditioning of ginkgetin also decreased apoptotic rate and the protein levels of caspase-3, cytochrome C under H/R condition. Furthermore, 2-HBA, an inducer of caspase-3, was used for the activation of caspase-3 signaling pathway. It was found that induction of caspase-3 eliminated the protective effect of ginkgetin on H9C2 cells exposed to H/R. These results indicated that ginkgetin attenuated inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis. These protective roles of ginkgetin may attribute to caspase-3 dependent pathway.

[Molecular Features and Clinical Significance of Acute Myeloid Leukemia in Elderly Patients].

OBJECTIVE: To study the molecular characteristics and clinical significance of elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). METHODS: Dideoxy sequencing was used to analyze the mutation spectrum and clinical significance of 51 hematopathy-related genes in 52 patients with newly diagnosed elderly AML. The efficacy of 39 patients receiving DCAG chemotherapy was also analyzed. RESULTS: The mutational frequency was high in elderly AML patients (98.1%, 51/52), and there were some coexistence or mutual exclusion between different mutations. Both the number of mutations and the incidence of epigenetic mutations DNMT3A, TET2 (P<0.01), as well as FLT3-ITD (P<0.05) increased with age. c-KIT mutations were most common in favorable-risk AML (P<0.01), while NPM1 and DNMT3A were common in intermediate-risk AML (P<0.05), especially in AML with normal karyotype. The complete remission rate of elderly AML patients receiving DCAG chemotherapy was 71.8% (28/39). CONCLUSION: Elderly AML patients have specific molecular characteristics, and the incidence of methylation-related gene mutations is very high, showing a certain significance for clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Characteristics and prognostic significance of genetic mutations in acute myeloid leukemia based on a targeted next-generation sequencing technique.

To explore the characteristics and prognostic significance of genetic mutations in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), we screened the gene mutation profile of 171 previously untreated AML patients using a next-generation sequencing technique targeting 127 genes with potential prognostic significance. A total of 390 genetic alterations were identified in 149 patients with a frequency of 87.1%. Younger age and high sensitivity to induction chemotherapy were associated with a lower number of mutations. NPM1 mutation was closely related to DNMT3A and FLT3-internal tandem duplication (FLT3-ITD) mutations, but mutually exclusive with ASXL1 mutation and CEBPAdouble mutation . In univariate analysis, ASXL1 or TET2 mutation predicted shorter overall survival (OS) or relapse-free survival (RFS), DNMT3A, FLT3-ITD, or RUNX1 mutation predicted a higher likelihood of remission-induction failure, whereas NRAS mutation or CEBPAdouble mutation predicted longer OS. Concurrent DNMT3A, FLT3-ITD, and NPM1 mutations predicted shorter OS. Hypomethylation agents could improve the OS in patients with DNA methylation-related mutations. According to multivariate analysis, TET2 mutation was recognized as an independent prognostic factors for RFS. In summary, our study provided a detailed pattern of gene mutations and their prognostic relevance in Chinese AML patients based on targeted next-generation sequencing screening.

Open heart surgery or echocardiographic transthoracic or percutaneous closure in secundum atrial septal defect: a developing approach in one Chinese hospital.

BACKGROUND: To study the clinical manifestations and advantages of open-heart surgery and echocardiographic transthoracic or percutaneous closure with secundum atrial septal defect (ASD). The surgeon's learning curve was also analyzed. METHODS: In all, 115 consecutive patients with ASD from May 2013 to May 2019 were enrolled. According to the operative procedure, patients were divided into three groups: group one (open repair group) (n = 24), where patients underwent ASD repair (ASDR) under cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB); group two (closed surgical device closure group) (n = 69), where patients (six patients ≤1 y and sixteen ≤10 kg) underwent transthoracic ASD occlusion under transesophageal echocardiographic (TEE) guidance; and group three (transcatheter occlusion group) (n = 22), where patients underwent percutaneous ASD occlusion under echocardiography. The clinical features and results of each group were analyzed. All patients were telephonically followed-up after 3 months. RESULTS: All the three methods treating ASD were successfully performed in our hospital. It was also a typical developing history of congenital heart disease (CHD) surgery in China. One patient in the group two was transferred to emergency surgery for occluder retrieval and CPB-ASDR. Eight patients experienced failed transthoracic or percutaneous occlusion, two of whom underwent unsuccessful percutaneous closure at another hospital. Two patients each in the groups two and three were intraoperatively converted to CPB-ASDR. Two patient in the group three was converted to transthoracic occlusion surgery. All patients were discharged without any residual shunt. The three-month follow-up also did not show any residual shunt and occluder displacement. CONCLUSION: In low-weight, infants, or huge ASDs with suitable rim for device occlusion, transthoracic ASD closure was successfully performed. Based on knowledge of ASD anatomy and skilled transthoracic occlusion of ASD, surgeons can perform percutaneous occlusion of ASD under echocardiographic guidance.

Efficiency analysis by mfERG and OCT of intravitreal injection with ranibizumab on diabetic macular edema.

AIM: To analyze the clinical efficacy of intravitreal injection of ranibizumab (IVR) on diabetic macular edema (DME) with multifocal electroretinography (mfERG) and optical coherence tomography (OCT). METHODS: A total of 41 patients (41 eyes) with DME were treated with IVR. The best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), mfERG results, and OCT were analyzed to compare to the baselines at 1wk, 1, and 3mo after operation. RESULTS: The BCVA was significantly improved in all eyes at each time point (P<0.001). The macular area leakage and edema were reduced 1wk and 1mo after IVR, and the central fovea thickness (CFT) was significantly reduced compared to baseline (P<0.001). The mfERG, two-dimensional and three-dimensional images all showed that the macular fovea (1 ring) response density decreased, and the fovea and macular area spikes significantly decreased or disappeared. The amplitude density of the P1 wave was increased, and the latency of the P1 wave was shortened than preoperation (P<0.001). At 1wk and 1mo after the operation, there was a negative correlation between the amplitude density of P1 waves and CFT. CONCLUSION: OCT and mfERG fully demonstrate the importance of IVR for DME patients from the macular morphology and function, especially the significance of mfERG in this disease.

Transition-Metal-Free Site-Selective γ-C(sp2)-H Monoiodination of Arenes Directed by an Aliphatic Keto Group.

A general γ-C(sp2)-H iodination method directed by an aliphatic keto group has been developed under transition-metal-free conditions for the first time, generating iodoarenes in good to excellent yields with excellent site selectivity. This protocol features a wide range of aryl-substituted ketones, short reaction times, mild reaction conditions, and scalable synthetic procedures. A possible reaction mechanism was also proposed based on several control experiments.

Carnosic Acid Reverses the Inhibition of ApoE4 on Cell Surface Level of ApoER2 and Reelin Signaling Pathway.

The cell surface level of apolipoprotein E receptor 2 (ApoER2) increases by cyclic transport of ApoER2 and then activates Reelin signaling pathway to exert neuroprotective function in AD. ApoER2 ligand Apolipoprotein E4 (ApoE4) inhibits the recycling of ApoER2 to the cell surface rendering neurons unresponsive to Reelin. Carnosic acid (CA) is proven to possess neuroprotective and neurotrophic functions in Alzheimer's disease (AD) mouse model. However, there are few reports about how ApoE4 impairs the recycling of ApoER2 and if CA can affect the cyclic transport of ApoER2. In this study, we demonstrated that ApoE4 attenuates the binding of sorting nexin 17 (SNX17) to ApoER2 and inhibits the recycling of ApoER2, resulting in decreased cell surface level of ApoER2. Further, we found that CA enhances the binding of SNX17 to ApoER2, counteracts the negative effects of ApoE4 on the cell surface level of ApoER2 to reverse the ApoE4-induced reduction in Reelin signaling activation by increasing the phosphorylation of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) and cAMP-response element-binding protein (CREB) and the expression of Gria2. Thus, CA promotes neurite growth inhibited by ApoE4. Our work suggests that CA may be a potential approach to attenuate the risk of ApoE4-associated AD.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of 1-(benzofuran-3-yl)-4-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-1H-1,2,3-triazole derivatives as tubulin polymerization inhibitors.

The key functions of microtubules and the mitotic spindle in cell division make them attractive targets for cancer therapy. In this study, a series of 1-(benzofuran-3-yl)-4-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-1H-1,2,3-triazole derivatives was synthesized, and their antiproliferative activities against HCT116, HeLa, HepG2, and A549 cells were evaluated. 6-Methoxy-N-phenyl-3-(4-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl)benzofuran-2-carboxamide (17g) exhibited the strongest antiproliferative activities, with IC50 values ranging from 0.57 to 5.7 µM. Mechanistic studies showed that 17g inhibited tubulin polymerization, leading to the disruption of mitotic spindle formation, cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase, and apoptosis of A549 cells. A docking study indicated that 17g was a good molecular fit at the colchicine binding site of tubulin. These results showed that 17g is a potential anticancer compound that is worthy of further development as a tubulin polymerization inhibitor.

Regulation of flowering time via miR172-mediated APETALA2-like expression in ornamental gloxinia (Sinningia speciosa).

We investigated the microRNA172 (miR172)-mediated regulatory network for the perception of changes in external and endogenous signals to identify a universally applicable floral regulation system in ornamental plants, manipulation of which could be economically beneficial. Transgenic gloxinia plants, in which miR172 was either overexpressed or suppressed, were generated using Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. They were used to study the effect of altering the expression of this miRNA on time of flowering and to identify its mRNA target. Early or late flowering was observed in transgenic plants in which miR172 was overexpressed or suppressed, respectively. A full-length complementary DNA (cDNA) of gloxinia (Sinningia speciosa) APETALA2-like (SsAP2-like) was identified as a target of miR172. The altered expression levels of miR172 caused up- or down-regulation of SsAP2-like during flower development, which affected the time of flowering. Quantitative real-time reverse transcription PCR analysis of different gloxinia tissues revealed that the accumulation of SsAP2-like was negatively correlated with the expression of miR172a, whereas the expression pattern of miR172a was negatively correlated with that of miR156a. Our results suggest that transgenic manipulation of miR172 could be used as a universal strategy for regulating time of flowering in ornamental plants.

Serum substance P and vasoactive intestinal peptide levels in infants with acute intussusception.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate the role of the intestinal neurotransmitters vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and substance P (SP) at different time points in infants with acute intussusception. METHODS: Thirty patients who were diagnosed with acute intussusception were enrolled in the study and classified as the experimental group. Another 30 patients with an indirect inguinal hernia who had no intestinal injury were included as the control group. Serum SP and VIP levels at different time points, including pre- and postoperation, were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Serum SP levels in patients with acute intussusception were significantly higher than those in controls. However, with recovery of acute intussusception, SP levels gradually decreased after treatment. Serum VIP levels in patients with acute intussusception were significantly lower than those in controls. However, with recovery of acute intussusception, VIP levels gradually increased after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: SP and VIP levels may have a potential relationship with the pathogenetic process of intussusception.

In vivo selective inhibition of TRPC6 by antagonist BI 749327 ameliorates fibrosis and dysfunction in cardiac and renal disease.

Transient receptor potential canonical type 6 (TRPC6) is a nonselective receptor-operated cation channel that regulates reactive fibrosis and growth signaling. Increased TRPC6 activity from enhanced gene expression or gain-of-function mutations contribute to cardiac and/or renal disease. Despite evidence supporting a pathophysiological role, no orally bioavailable selective TRPC6 inhibitor has yet been developed and tested in vivo in disease models. Here, we report an orally bioavailable TRPC6 antagonist (BI 749327; IC50 13 nM against mouse TRPC6, t1/2 8.5-13.5 hours) with 85- and 42-fold selectivity over the most closely related channels, TRPC3 and TRPC7. TRPC6 calcium conductance results in the stimulation of nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) that triggers pathological cardiac and renal fibrosis and disease. BI 749327 suppresses NFAT activation in HEK293T cells expressing wild-type or gain-of-function TRPC6 mutants (P112Q, M132T, R175Q, R895C, and R895L) and blocks associated signaling and expression of prohypertrophic genes in isolated myocytes. In vivo, BI 749327 (30 mg/kg/day, yielding unbound trough plasma concentration ∼180 nM) improves left heart function, reduces volume/mass ratio, and blunts expression of profibrotic genes and interstitial fibrosis in mice subjected to sustained pressure overload. Additionally, BI 749327 dose dependently reduces renal fibrosis and associated gene expression in mice with unilateral ureteral obstruction. These results provide in vivo evidence of therapeutic efficacy for a selective pharmacological TRPC6 inhibitor with oral bioavailability and suitable pharmacokinetics to ameliorate cardiac and renal stress-induced disease with fibrosis.