Bi-ligand-fabricated CdS quantum dots to photo-induce aqueous-phase aldol condensation for biomass-derived carbonyl compounds.

CdS QDs were fabricated using bi-ligands 11-sulfanylundecanoic acid and proline for photo-induced aqueous-phase aldol condensation of biomass-derived furfural compounds and ketones, and they displayed acceptable selectivity, activity and recycling properties for generation of a wide range of products with diverse applications. This work facilitates understanding the molecular-level design concepts of semiconductor photocatalysts.

Enterobacter asburiae E7, a Novel Potential Probiotic, Enhances Resistance to Aeromonas veronii Infection via Stimulating the Immune Response in Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio).

Probiotics are an alternative strategy for antibiotics, but most probiotics are Gram-positive bacteria suitable for terrestrial animals. Therefore, it is imperative to develop dedicated probiotics for the common carp industry to be ecologically efficient and environmentally friendly. A novel Enterobacter asburiae named E7 was isolated from the intestine of healthy common carp and displayed an extensive antibacterial spectrum against Aeromonas hydrophila, A. veronii, A. caviae, A. media, A. jandaei, A. enteropelogenes, A. schubertii, A. salmonicida, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Ps. putida, Plesiomonas shigelloides, and Shewanella. E7 was nonpathogenic to the host and susceptible to the majority of antibiotics used in human clinical practice. E7 could grow between 10 and 45°C and between pH 4 and 7 and was extremely resistant to 4% (wt/vol) bile salts. Diets were supplemented with 1 × 107 CFU/g E. asburiae E7 for 28 days. No significant difference in the growth of fish was observed. Expression of immune-related genes IL-10, IL-8, and lysozyme in common carp kidney was significantly upregulated at weeks 1, 2, and 4 (P < 0.01). A significant upregulation of IL-1ß, IFN, and TNF-α expression was observed after week 4 (P < 0.01). There was a significant increase in mRNA expression of TGF-ß at week 3 (P < 0.01). Following challenge by Aeromonas veronii, the survival rate (91.05%) was significantly higher than observed in the controls (54%; P < 0.01). Collectively, E. asburiae E7 is a promising new Gram-negative probiotic that can enhance health and bacterial resistance of aquatic animals and could thus be developed as an exclusive aquatic probiotic. IMPORTANCE In the present study, we evaluated for the first time the efficiency of Enterobacter asburiae as a prospective probiotic for aquaculture applications. The E7 strain showed extensive resistance to Aeromonas, no pathogenicity to the host, and stronger environmental tolerance. We observed that the resistance of common carp to A. veronii was enhanced by feeding a diet containing 1 × 107 CFU/g E. asburiae E7 for 28 days, but growth was not improved. Strain E7 can act as an immunostimulant to induce the upregulation of some innate cellular and humoral immune responses, resulting in enhanced resistance to A. veronii. Hence, the continuous activation of immune cells can be maintained by adding suitable fresh probiotics to the diet. E7 has the potential to act as a probiotic agent for green, sustainable aquaculture and aquatic product safety.

A Hybrid Assembly with Nickel Poly-Pyridine Polymer on CdS Quantum Dots for Photo-Reducing CO2 into Syngas with Controlled H2 /CO Ratios.

A hybrid photocatalytic assembly with Ni poly-pyridine polymers binding on CdS quantum dots was developed via thiophene immobilization. The fabricated hybrid assembly facilitated efficient charge separation, and each component endowed great synergy. As a result, a high syngas production rate was achieved over 5500 µmol gcat -1 h-1 from photocatalytic CO2 reduction under visible-light irradiation, accompanied by an adjustable H2 /CO ratio ranging from 4 : 1 to 1 : 3. A novel hybrid assembly was described for syngas synthesis with boosted activity and controlled selectivity, which provides a profile to ingeniously understand molecular-level design for photocatalysts.

miR-340 Exerts Suppressive Effect on Retinoblastoma Progression by Targeting KIF14.

Purpose: This work aimed to investigate the influences of microRNA-340 (miR-340) on proliferation and apoptosis of retinoblastoma (RB) cells and explore its regulatory mechanism. MATERIALS AND METHODS: miR-340 mimic and inhibitor were applied for up-regulating or inhibiting the expression of miR-340 in RB cell lines. Then, CCK-8 and AnnexinV-FITC/PI staining were used to measure cell proliferation and apoptosis, respectively. After that, luciferase assay was performed to affirm the direct targets of miR-340. Furthermore, qRT-PCR and western blotting assay were carried out to detect the levels of miR-340 and KIF14. RESULTS: Our results indicated that the miR-340 was lowly expressed in RB cell lines, and up-regulation of miR-340 can decrease the proliferation and induce the apoptosis of RB cells. Moreover, we verified that miR-340 controls KIF14 expression, either directly or through a subsequent molecular cascade, and inversely related to its expression. The results obtained from the rescue assays presented that over-expression of KIF14 reversed the miR-340-mediated inhibition on malignant phenotype of RB cells. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, we proved that miR-340 can decrease the proliferation and increase the apoptosis of RB cells, and its function in RB cells was at least partially achieved via down-regulation of KIF14, prompting that miR-340 was expected to supply a new direction for clinical therapy of RB in the future.

Diabetic retinopathy predicts cardiovascular mortality in diabetes: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The prognostic significance of diabetic retinopathy (DR) for cardiovascular diseases (CVD) remained unclear. Therefore, we performed this meta-analysis to assess whether DR predicted CVD mortality in diabetic patients. METHODS: We searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and Cochrane Library for cohort studies reporting the association of DR and CVD mortality. Then we pooled the data for analysis. RESULTS: After screening the literature, 10 eligible studies with 11,239 diabetic subjects were finally included in quantitative synthesis. The pooled risk ratio (RR) of DR, mild DR, and severe DR for CVD mortality was 1.83 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.42, 2.36; p < 0.001), 1.13 (95% CI 0.81, 1.59; p = 0.46), and 2.26 (1.31, 3.91; p = 0.003), respectively, compared to those without DR. In type 2 DM, the patients with DR had a significantly higher CVD mortality (RR: 1.69; 95% CI 1.27, 2.24; p < 0.001). Subgroup analysis also showed a significantly higher CVD mortality in DR according to various regions, study design, data source, and follow-up period (all RR > 1; all P values < 0.05). Data from 2 studies showed no significant correlation of DR and CVD mortality in diabetic patients receiving cardiovascular surgery (RR: 2.40; 95% CI 0.63, 9.18; P = 0.200). CONCLUSIONS: DR is a risk marker of cardiovascular death, and severe DR predicts a doubled mortality of CVD in diabetes. These findings indicate the importance of early identification and management of diabetic patients with DR to reduce the risk of death.

Generation of Donor/Donor Copper Carbenes through Copper-Catalyzed Diyne Cyclization: Enantioselective and Divergent Synthesis of Chiral Polycyclic Pyrroles.

The generation of metal carbenes from readily available alkynes represents a significant advance in metal carbene chemistry. However, most of these transformations are based on the use of noble-metal catalysts and successful examples of such an asymmetric version are still very scarce. Here a copper-catalyzed enantioselective cascade cyclization of N-propargyl ynamides is reported, enabling the practical and atom-economical construction of diverse chiral polycyclic pyrroles in generally good to excellent yields with wide substrate scope and excellent enantioselectivities (up to 97:3 e.r.). Importantly, this protocol represents the first copper-catalyzed asymmetric diyne cyclization. Moreover, mechanistic studies revealed that the generation of donor/donor copper carbenes is presumably involved in this 1,5-diyne cyclization, which is distinctively different from the related gold catalysis, and thus it constitutes a novel way for the generation of donor/donor metal carbenes.

[Application of Structural Biology in Research on Toxoplasma gondii].

Structural biology is a rapidly-developing comprehensive discipline that interprets the atom-level assembling, interaction and movement between molecules. This paper summarizes basic methods in structural biology, with a focus on structure research progress of Toxoplasma gondii rhoptry and calmodulin-like domain protein kinase, to illustrate the application of structural biology in research on important virulence factors and drug targets of T. gondii.

[Therapeutic effect of 138 imported falciparum malaria patients].

OBJECTIVES: To summarize the clinical characteristics of imported falciparum malaria patients and the treatment, so as to provide the evidences for improving the diagnosis and treatment of the disease. METHODS: A total of 138 imported falciparum malaria patients who received the treatment in Shandong Institute of Parasitic Diseases from January 2007 to February 2013 were adopted as the observation subjects, and their clinical data were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: All the 138 patients were back from African countries. The main manifestations were fever, headache, asthenia, and hepatosplenomegaly, and most of them were with decreased RBC, PLT levels and increased LDH levels, and 36.96% of them were misdiagnosed as respiratory diseases, nephritis, hepatitis and so on. Through antimalarial treatment of artemether or artesunate or dihydroartemisinin and primaquine, or dihydroartemisinin and piperaquine, and symptomatic treatment, the short-term and long-term cure rates were 98.55% and 94.93% respectively, with 1 case unrecovered and 1 died. CONCLUSIONS: Artemisinins are still the most effective antimalarial drugs for falciparum malaria. However, some patients recrudesce as the Plasmodium in their body is resistant or insensitive to these drugs. We should pay more attention to the antimalarial and symptomatic treatments in the early stage of severe malaria so as to improve the cure rate.

Treatment and prevention of serious perioperative complications of obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To summarize experiences of serious perioperative complications management of obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS), and evaluate the effect of intervention in decreasing the incidence of serious complications.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Retrospective analysis of clinical data in Shenyang General Hospital of PLA and Liaoning Province Jinqiu Hospital of OSAHS surgery cases from January 1995 to December 2009 were included in this study, patients were divided into two groups according to with or without intervention. Experience and lessons were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Patients without and with intervention were 402 and 521 respectively, and uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) cases in each group were 387 and 390. Five patients in the first group who accepted UPPP had breathing difficulty and were all successfully rescued, while no one in the second group had breathing difficulty. The difference was significant (P < 0.05). Sixteen patients in the first group had severe bleeding after UPPP, while only 5 patients had the severe bleeding in the second group. The difference was significant, too P < 0.05. No breathing difficulty cases in the second group, and serious bleeding cases in each group was 5 and in 1, there was no significant difference (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Breath difficulty and serious bleeding are serious perioperative complications of OSAHS surgery, and with systemic intervention the incidence of the complications can be decreased.</p>

Study of lingual arterial CT angiography and security of partial glossectomy in obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the difference of lingual arterial CT angiography images(CTA) between obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) patients and normal subjects, and to investigate the safety of partial glossectomy guided by lingual arteria CT angiography.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Seventy-four patients with OSAHS and 10 control adults were included in the study. The lingual upper airway and lingual arterial CT angiography were obtained. The area and the dimensions of lingual upper airway, and the length and thickness of lingua, length of lingual arteria, depth and bilateral lingual arteria spacing were studied. The CT measuring data of OSAHS patients and normal adults were compared. The multinomial logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the main factors which affects the lingual arterial measuring results. Guided by the lingual arterial CT angiography and measuring results, glossectomy was performed in 23 OSAHS patients with lingua hypertrophy.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The area and dimensions of lingual airway of OSAHS patients were less than those of control adults, and the length and thickness of lingua of OSAHS were more than those of control adults (t test, P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). There were no difference in length of lingual arteria and bilateral lingual arteria spacing between OSAHS patients and control adults. The 3 measured points' depth (x(-) +/- s) of lingual arteria of OSAHS patients were (29.1 +/- 5.5) mm, (26.9 +/- 5.1) mm and (25.6 +/- 5.2) mm, respectively, and those of control adult were (23.0 +/- 3.8) mm, (22.6 +/- 2.7) mm and (21.5 +/- 2.6) mm, the depth of lingual arteria of OSAHS was more than that of control adults (t test, P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The main factors affects lingual arterial depth were body mass index (BMI), lingual length and lingual thickness, unstandardized regression coefficient were 0.255, 0.11 and 0.03, respectively (analysis of variance, F = 6.216, P < 0.05). No damage of lingual arteria and nerve in 23 patients who had expanded glossectomy.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The study showed statistical difference significance of lingual arterial CTA measurements between OSAHS patients and control adults. Guided with lingual arteria CTA data, the expanded glossectomy in OSAHS patients has proved good safety and high cure rate.</p>

Frontal sinusitis after transfrontal craniotomy: causes and management / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the causes, clinical manifestation and therapy of frontal sinusitis after transfrontal craniotomy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-three patients with frontal sinusitis after transfrontal craniotomy were included in the study. Among them, 7 cases had frontal sinus abscess and 4 cases had frontal sinus fistula. Twenty-three patients were treated with traditional frontal sinus surgery with facial incision. The nasofrontal dilatation tube was positioned for more than 3 months. Nine patients were treated with endoscopic frontal sinus surgery, and 1 patient was treated with combined endoscopic and traditional frontal sinus surgery, with nasofrontal dilatation tube positioned for less then 1 month. In the revision surgery, the bone wax and phlogistic acestoma were cleaned out in both operational methods. The causes of frontal sinusitis after transfrontal craniotomy were discussed by studying the frontal sinus CT image, and prior surgical data.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All patients were followed up for more than 6 months after the nasofrontal dilatational tube was removed. Among 33 patients, two cases with traditional frontal sinus surgery were operated twice due to nasofrontal dilatation tube fall off in 1 month. In all 33 patients, 30 cases cured and 3 cases got better. There were no curative difference between two operational methods.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The causes of frontal sinusitis after transfrontal craniotomy were inadequate sinus management in craniotomy and bone wax tamping in frontal sinus. There was more frontal sinus abscess and fistula occurring in frontal sinusitis after transfrontal craniotomy than that in ordinary frontal sinusitis. The therapy included cleaning out bone wax and phlogistic acestoma, and expanding the frontal sinus ostium. The satisfying curative effect was obtained in both operational methods, but endoscopic frontal sinus surgery was better because it is minimally invasive, no facial incision and quick recovery with less nasofrontal dilatational tube posting time.</p>

Relationship of lingual region upper airway stricture and lingua-palate position type in obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome patients / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the relationship ol lingual region upper airway stricture and lingua-palate position type in obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred patients with OSAHS were included in the study and divided into 4 groups by lingua-palate age, AHI, BMI and lowest SaO2, the dimensions and area of lingual region airway, the thickness of retropharyngeal and lateral pharyngeal tissue, the tongue width, tongue length and tongue area were compared among four groups. The multinomial step regression process was performed with SPSS software to explore the effects of lingua-palate position type on lingual region upper airway stricture.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were no statistical difference of age, BMI, AHI and lowest pulse oxygen among four groups OSAHS patients (P > 0.05). And the CT results showed: starting from type I to type IV, the area, coronal and arrowe diameter of lingual region upper airways were decreasing, tongue length, tongue area and the percentage of lingual region airway stricture were increasing, the percentage of lingual region airway stricture were 0/25, 3/39, 7/22, 14/14, respectively (P < 0.05). The multinomial step regression analysis showed that the area of lingual airway was the most important factor of lingua-palate position type, the unstandardized coefficient was -0.39, and standardized coefficient was -0.545.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The study suggests that there is evident correlation between lingual region airway stricture and lingua-palate position type, and lingual region airway stricture can be roughly determined by lingua-palate position type.</p>