Screening of ulcerative colitis biomarkers and potential pathways based on weighted gene co-expression network, machine learning and ceRNA hypothesis.

BACKGROUND: Ulcerative colitis (UC) refers to an intractable intestinal inflammatory disease. Its increasing incidence rate imposes a huge burden on patients and society. The UC etiology has not been determined, so screening potential biomarkers is critical to preventing disease progression and selecting optimal therapeutic strategies more effectively. METHODS: The microarray datasets of intestinal mucosal biopsy of UC patients were selected from the GEO database, and integrated with R language to screen differentially expressed genes and draw proteins interaction network diagrams. GO, KEGG, DO and GSEA enrichment analyses were performed to explore their biological functions. Through machine learning and WGCNA analysis, targets that can be used as UC potential biomarkers are screened out. ROC curves were drawn to verify the reliability of the results and predicted the mechanism of marker genes from the aspects of immune cell infiltration, co-expression analysis, and competitive endogenous network (ceRNA). RESULTS: Two datasets GSE75214 and GSE87466 were integrated for screening, and a total of 107 differentially expressed genes were obtained. They were mainly related to biological functions such as humoral immune response and inflammatory response. Further screened out five marker genes, and found that they were associated with M0 macrophages, quiescent mast cells, M2 macrophages, and activated NK cells in terms of immune cell infiltration. The co-expression network found significant co-expression relationships between 54 miRNAs and 5 marker genes. According to the ceRNA hypothesis, NEAT1-miR-342-3p/miR-650-SLC6A14, NEAT1-miR-650-IRAK3, and XIST-miR-342-3p-IRAK3 axes were found as potential regulatory pathways in UC. CONCLUSION: This study screened out five biomarkers that can be used for the diagnosis and treatment of UC, namely SLC6A14, TIMP1, IRAK3, HMGCS2, and APOBEC3B. Confirmed that they play a role in the occurrence and development of UC at the level of immune infiltration, and proposed a potential RNA regulatory pathway that controls the progression of UC.

Efficacy evaluation of intravitreal ranibizumab therapy for three types of retinopathy of prematurity.

AIM: To evaluate efficacy of intravitreal ranibizumab (IVR) therapy for aggressive posterior retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), threshold ROP disease and type 1 pre-threshold ROP. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on 40 patients (76 eyes) who had IVR as the primary treatment for ROP from April 2017 to January 2018. According to disease pathogenic features, the 76 eyes were divided into three groups: aggressive posterior ROP (AP-ROP) group (16 eyes), threshold ROP group (28 eyes) and type 1 pre-threshold ROP group (32 eyes). The characteristics of patients and lesions situation before the first intravitreal injection, and posttreatment fundus outcomes determined by wide-angle RetCam fundus imaging were recorded. RESULTS: The birth weight and postmenstrual age of first IVR treatment in AP-ROP, threshold ROP, and type 1 pre-threshold ROP groups were significant difference (1087.50±246.78, 1103.75±168.30, 1257.03±210.82 g, P=0.005; 34.50±1.46, 36.89±2.97, 36.50±2.36wk, P=0.008), while the gestational age was not difference (28.00±2.00, 28.54±1.90, 28.59±1.43wk, P=0.510). The retina hemorrhage ratio (with/without: 14/2, 8/20, 5/27), iris neovascularization or vascular engorgement ratio (with/without: 12/4, 11/17, 6/26), and the zone I (inside/outside: 16/0, 2/26, 5/27) in AP-ROP, threshold ROP, and type 1 pre-threshold ROP group were difference significantly (all P<0.05). The regression rates were 37.5%, 92.86%, and 100%, and the recurrence rates were 62.5%, 7.14%, and 0 in AP-ROP, threshold ROP, and type 1 pre-threshold ROP group, respectively (both P<0.05). The recurrence eyes were cured by secondary IVR or retinal laser photocoagulation. CONCLUSION: IVR is an effective treatment for all types of ROP. The regression of AP-ROP is significantly lower than type 1 pre-threshold and threshold disease. Birth weight, retinal hemorrhage, iris neovascularization or vascular engorgement and lesions located in zone I may be associated with AP-ROP recurrence and retreatment, which should be noted in follow-up.

Rapid sonochemical synthesis of irregular nanolaminar-like Bi2WO6 as efficient visible-light-active photocatalysts.

Irregular Bi(2)WO(6) nanolaminars have been successfully synthesized via a rapid sonochemical approach using bismuth nitrate and tungstic acid as precursors in an aqueous solution. The characteristics of them were investigated in detail by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), N(2) adsorption, pore value, PL spectroscopy and UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-vis DRS). These irregular nanolaminars are of geometric shapes of orthorhombic Bi(2)WO(6) with their basal plane being (001). They possess high crystallinity, lager surface area and pore value, which means fewer traps and stronger photocatalytic activity. The growth mechanism of such special nanolaminar was related to the sonochemical synthesis route, which played a key role in the formation of Bi(2)WO(6) nanolaminar. Simultaneously, it was found that the formation of Bi(2)WO(6) nanolaminar is a time dependent process. The Bi(2)WO(6) nanolaminar has higher photocatalytic activity than bulk Bi(2)WO(6) nanoparticle obtained by refluxing method for rhodamine B (Rh.B) degradation under visible light irradiation (λ>400 nm).

Comparison of catalytic activities for photocatalytic and sonocatalytic degradation of methylene blue in present of anatase TiO2-CNT catalysts.

Anatase TiO(2)-CNT catalysts with high specific surface areas were prepared by depositing TiO(2) particles on the surface of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) using a modified sol-gel technique. These catalysts prepared with different amounts of CNTs were characterized by nitrogen adsorption, Fourier Transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) and ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy. The catalytic activity of the anatase TiO(2)-CNT catalysts was assessed by examining the degradation of methylene blue (MB) from model aqueous solutions as a probe reaction under visible light and ultrasonic irradiation. The synergistic effect of the greater surface area and catalytic activities of the composite catalysts was examined in terms of the strong adsorption ability and interphase interaction by comparing the different amounts and roles of CNTs in the catalysts.

[The accuracy of occlusal simulation of virtual craniofacial movement simulation system].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the accuracy of occlusal contacts simulated by virtual craniofacial movement simulation system, and to provide theoretical basis for its application. METHODS: Ten pairs of plaster dental casts were fabricated, and mounted on Kavo PROTA 7 articulator. Lateral movement was produced on the articulator. Then each pair of the casts on the articulator was scanned three dimensionally and used as the reference model. The movement of the articulator was simulated using the virtual craniofacial movement simulation system. Then, the digital casts were established on the simulation system and used as the test model. To evaluate the accuracy of the simulation system, positional differences between the simulated and the reference lower dentition were compared. RESULTS: The mean value of the absolute average distance between the simulated and reference lower dentition was (0.18 ± 0.05) mm. Among the left, right, anterior and posterior areas of the dentition, the maximum mean value of the absolute average distance between the simulated and the reference model was found in the right posterior area, which was (0.19 ± 0.07) mm. CONCLUSIONS: The in vitro accuracy of occlusal contacts simulated by virtual craniofacial movement simulation system is 0.19 mm, and this could be a reference data for the practical application of this system.

[Preparation of solvent impregnated resin with [omim] [PF6] and mechanism of adsorpting naphthalene].

Solvent impregnated resin was prepared by [omim] [PF6] immobilizied which as liquid film to macroporous absorption resin. The mechanism of solvent impregnated resin adsorbing naphthalene in aqueous phase and the impact factors were studied. The results showed that naphthalene was distributed in the hydrophobic saturated hydrocarbons of [omim]+ in process of being extracted by [omim] [PF6]; when the mass ratio of resin and [omim] [PF6] were 10:1 and 20:1, the solubility of [omim] [PF6] was less than that of 2:1 and 5:1; the sequence of saturated adsorbance of naphthalene with different solvent impregnated resin was q0(10:1) > q0(20:1) > q0(rsein); the adsorption of naphthalene by resin was according with Freundlich isotherm, but by solvent impregnated resin was accord with Langmuir isotherm; the saturated adsorbance ranked in a descending order as follows: 20 degrees C, 15 degrees C, 25 degrees C; the saturated adsorbance were improving with the decline of pH and the increase of concentration of inorganic salts; the best condition was that: temperature was 30 degrees C, pH was 3, the concentration of NaCl was 2 000 mg x L(-1), and pH was the most important factor by orthogonal experiments.

[Biodegradation of [omim][PF6]].

Acclimatized the activated sludge with [omim][PF6] which was used as the C, N, P resources for microbe, the biodegradation ratio of [omim][PF6] with different inoculants which were acclimatized or not was investigated. And the influence of appending an ester in the side chain of the imidazolium cation on the biodegradation of [omim][PF6] was discussed in the same conditions. The biodegradation pathways of [omim]+ were analyzed. The results showed that the biodegradation of ionic liquids was improved by appending an ester in the side chain; the biodegradation rate of [omim][PF6] was less than 20% when the inoculant was original activated sludge, which was not referred as "readily biodegradable"; [omim][PF6] would stay in environment for a long time; the biodegradation ratio reached 60% when the inoculant was acclimatized activated sludge; 1-methyl-imidazolium was residual in the course of biodegradation of [omim]+, the semifinished products of biodegradation of [omim]+ was analyzed by HPLC-MS/MS and the pathways were presumed.

[Patterns of occlusal contacts during unilateral mastication in asymptomatic subjects].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze occlusal contact areas on the working and nonworking sides during unilateral mastication. METHODS: Eighteen subjects without any temporomandibular disorder (TMD) symptoms participated in the present study. The subjects were presented with 3 g gum for right masticating. Chewing movement was simulated using virtual craniofacial movement simulation system. Then occlusal contact areas were calculated at four selected moments during the closing phase in the third chewing cycle: the occurrence of occlusal contact, one third time, two thirds time, the intercuspal occlusion. RESULTS: During the closing phase in the third chewing cycle, the total occlusal contact areas on working side increased from (9.3+/-0.4) mm2 to (39.2+/-1.2) mm2, and that on nonworking side increased from (2.3 +/-0.5) mm2 to (40.3+/-1.2) mm2. At the occurrence of occlusal contacts, occlusal contact areas of the first and second mandibular molars were on average (3.7+/-0.2) mm2 and (3.5+/-0.2) mm2 on working side, and (0.5+/-0.2) mm2 and (1.2+/-0.3) mm2 on nonworking side, respectively. However, when the mandible moved to the intercuspal position, their areas were sharply increased to (14.8+/-0.7) mm2 and (13.9+/-0.4) mm2 on working side, and (13.6+/-0.5) mm2 and (12.1+/-0.5) mm2 on nonworking side, respectively. In addition, nonworking-side contacts were observed for 12 subjects at the occurrence of occlusal contacts, and for all subjects at two thirds time. CONCLUSION: This paper provides a new method useful for analyzing occlusal contacts during functional movements. This study revealed the pattern of occlusal contacts during the closing phase in the chewing cycle. Moreover, it was confirmed that nonworking-side contacts occurred during unilateral mastication.

[Treatment of phenol wastewater by extractive membrane bioreactor].

Phenol-degrading bacteria were isolated from activated sludge which had been acclimated, and then bacterium solution was prepared. The effects of initiating phenol concentration, reactor temperature etc. and the velocity of membrane extraction and biodegradation were investigated in order to make the comparison of activated sludge and bacterium solution systems of extractive membrane bioreactor (EMB). The results showed that, by using phenol as single carbon resource and increasing the phenol concentration gradually, the removal rate of phenol was more than 99% when the concentration of phenol was 700 mg x L(-1). Increasing reactor temperature and initiating phenol concentration is propitious to the membrane extraction. There was some phenol accumulation in microbial system when the initiating concentration was 2000 mg x L(-1). The thickness of the membrane-attached biofilm in the bacterium solution system was thinner than that in activated sludge system, and it could be controlled by hydrodynamic backwashing. The results of GC-MS analysis for the effluent of biodegradation showed that biodegradation of phenol was complete, and there was no residual intermediate product.