Biological activity and molecular mechanism of inactivation of Microcystis aeruginosa by ultrasound irradiation.

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) significantly impact on water quality and ecological balance. Ultrasound irradiation has proven to be an effective method for algal control. Nevertheless, the molecular mechanisms underlying the inactivation of M. aeruginosa by ultrasound are still unknown. In this study, the physiological activity and molecular mechanism of algal cells exposed to different frequencies of ultrasound were studied. The results indicated a pronounced inhibition of algal cell growth by high-frequency, high-dose ultrasound. Moreover, with increasing ultrasound dosage, there was a higher percentage of algal cell membrane ruptures. SEM and TEM observed obvious disruptions in membrane structure and internal matrix. Hydroxyl radicals generated by high-frequency ultrasound inflicted substantial cell membrane damage, while increased antioxidant enzyme activities fortified cells against oxidative stress. Following 2 min of ultrasound irradiation at 740 kHz, significant differential gene expression occurred in various aspects, including energy metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, and environmental information processing pathways. Moreover, ultrasound irradiation influenced DNA repair and cellular apoptosis, suggesting that the algal cells underwent biological stress to counteract the damage caused by ultrasound. These findings reveal that ultrasound irradiation inactivates algae by destroying their cell structures and metabolic pathways, thereby achieving the purpose of algal suppression.

Explore Key Genes and Mechanisms Involved in Colon Cancer Progression Based on Bioinformatics Analysis.

To explore underlying mechanisms related to the progression of colon cancer and identify hub genes associated with the prognosis of patients with colon cancer. GSE10950 and GSE62932 were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. GEO2R was utilized to screen out the differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Gene ontology (GO) analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis were conducted on DEGs. Moreover, STRING and Cytoscape software were utilized for establishing the network of protein-protein interaction (PPI) and identifying hub genes. Afterward, data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) was utilized for identifying prognosis-related hub genes by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. Colon cancer cell line LOVO and human normal intestinal epithelial cell line NCM-460 were exploited to demonstrate the differential expression of selected hub genes through RT-qPCR and western blot. The LOVO cells were transfected to regulate expressions of prognosis-associated genes, followed by exploring the effects of those genes on prognosis by Cell Counting Kit-8 assay and colony-forming assay for cancer cell proliferation, cell scratch test and transwell migration assay for cancer cell migration and Annexin V-PE/7-AAD double staining as well as flow cytometry for cancer cell apoptosis. In this study, 266 common DEGs were obtained from the intersection of two datasets. The GO analysis suggested the common DEGs mainly participated in the one-carbon metabolic process, cell cycle G2/M phase transition, organelle fission, cell cycle phase transition regulation, and regulation of mitotic cell cycle phase transition. The KEGG analysis demonstrated the common DEGs were related to the p53 signaling pathway, nitrogen metabolism, mineral absorption, and cell cycle. 10 hub genes including CCNB1, KIF4A, TPX2, MT1F, PRC1, PLK4, CALD1, MMP9, CLCA1, and MMP1 were identified and CCNB1, CLCA1, and PLK4 were prognosis-related. Increased expression of CCNB1, CLCA1, and PLK4 restrained proliferation as well as migration of cancer cells and induced apoptosis of cancer cells. CCNB1, KIF4A, TPX2, MT1F, PRC1, PLK4, CALD1, MMP9, CLCA1, and MMP1 were identified as hub genes and CCNB1, CLCA1, and PLK4 could inhibit the progression of colon cancer through inhibiting proliferation as well as migration of the cancer cell and promoting apoptosis of cancer cell.

Characterization of an Iron-Copper Bimetallic Metal-Organic Framework for Adsorption of Methyl Orange in Aqueous Solution.

Iron-based organic frame material MIL-53 (Fe) was synthesized by the hydrothermal method with Cu2+ incorporated to obtain bimetallic composite MIL-53 (Fe, Cu). The structure and morphology of the material were characterized by SEM, XRD, BET, FTIR, XPS, and zeta potential. The adsorption performance of MIL-53 (Fe, Cu) on methyl orange was tested under a variety of conditions, including the effects of pH and material dosage, by the static adsorption test. The results show that under the condition of pH = 7, a temperature of 30°C, and an adsorbent dosage of 20 mg, the removal rate of MIL-53 (Fe, Cu) for methyl orange can reach more than 96% within 4 h, and the maximum adsorption capacity after fitting by the thermodynamic model can reach 294.43 mg/g, showing the excellent adsorption performance of MIL-53 (Fe, Cu) on methyl orange. In addition, by exploring the adsorption mechanism of MIL-53 (Fe, Cu) on methyl orange, it is found that the adsorption of MIL-53 (Fe, Cu) on methyl orange depends on chemical adsorption, as evidenced by combining Fe3+ and Cu2+ in the material with methyl orange molecules to form complexes to achieve adsorption. While the specific surface area of the material had no obvious effect on adsorption, the effects of pH, temperature, and concentration were explored. At a pH of 6.5, greater adsorption occurred at higher temperatures, as determined by thermodynamic model fitting, as well as with higher initial methyl orange molecule concentration.

Serum alpha-fetoprotein level is correlated with the level of inflammatory markers in the immune-clearance phase of chronic hepatitis B in Eastern China.

PURPOSE: To clarify the association of serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) with inflammatory markers interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) during the immune-clearance phase in Eastern China. METHODS: This research selected 60 CHB patients during the immune clearance phase who tested positive for AFP, including 32 cases treated by non-antiviral therapy (experimental group) and 28 cases treated by antiviral therapy (positive control group). Another 30 cases tested negative for AFP were set as a negative control group. The correlations of serum AFP with IL-6 and TNF-α in patients were analyzed. RESULTS: HBV DNA clearance in patients receiving antiviral therapy, in both the positive or negative control groups, was not significantly related to other clinical data. In the experimental group, a positive correlation of HBV DNA clearance with serum AFP level (r=0.5126, P=0.0027), alanine aminotransferase (r=0.3924, P=0.0263), and total bilirubin (r=0.5126, P=0.0027) was found. The experimental and positive control groups exhibited elevated serum IL-6 and TNF-α contents versus the negative control group (P<0.05). A positive association of AFP with IL-6 and TNF-α was also identified. CONCLUSION: Serum AFP level is positively related to IL-6 and TNF-α levels in CHB patients during the immune-clearance phase.

Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles for the Uptake of Toxic Antimony from Aqueous Matrices.

Contamination of water sources by toxic antimony Sb(III) ions poses a threat to clean water supplies. In this regard, we have prepared a mesoporous silica nanoparticle (MSN)-derived adsorbent by reverse microemulsion polymerization, using cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC) and triethanolamine (TEA) as co-templates. The physical and chemical properties were characterized using advanced tools. The MSN exhibits a higher surface area of up to 713.72 m2·g-1, a pore volume of 1.02 cm3·g-1, and a well-ordered mesoporous nanostructure with an average pore size of 4.02 nm. The MSN has a high adsorption capacity for toxic Sb(III) of 27.96 mg·g-1 at pH 6.0 and 298 K. The adsorption data followed the Langmuir isotherm, while the kinetics of adsorption followed the pseudo-second-order model. Interestingly, the effect of coexisting iron showed a promoting effect on Sb(III) uptake, while the presence of manganese slightly inhibited the adsorption process. The recyclability of the MSN adsorbent was achieved using a 0.5 M HCl eluent and reused consecutively for three cycles with a more than 50% removal efficiency. Moreover, the characterization data and batch adsorption study indicated physical adsorption of Sb(III) by mesopores and chemical adsorption due to silicon hydroxyl groups.

A five-cuproptosis-related LncRNA Signature: predicting prognosis, assessing immune function & drug sensitivity in lung squamous cell carcinoma.

Lung squamous cell carcinoma has so far lacked effective targets for diagnosis and treatment. In cancer research, long noncoding RNAs (LncRNAs) emerge as novel therapeutic targets and biomarkers. Cuprophosis is a new death type involving multiple biological processes in tumor cells. Here, we aimed to explore whether Cuprophosis-related lncRNAs could be used to predict prognosis, assess immune function, and test drug sensitivity in LUSC patients. The Cancer Genome Map (TCGA) was used to obtain genome and clinical data, and Cuprophosis-relevant genes were found in the literature. A cuproptosis-related lncRNA risk model was built using co-expression analysis, univariate/multivariate Cox regression, and LASSO analysis. The survival analysis was used to assess the model's prognostic value. The univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed to determine whether risk score, age, gender, or clinical stages could be used as independent prognostic factors. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis and mutation analysis were performed on differentially expressed mRNA between high-risk and low-risk groups. The (TIDE) algorithm was used to conduct immunological functional analysis and drug sensitivity testing. Five cuproptosis-related LncRNAs were identified, and the selected LncRNAs constructed a prognosis model. According to the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, the overall survival time for patients in the high-risk group was shorter than for those in the low-risk group. For LUSC patients, the risk score serves as an independent prognostic indicator. The GO and KEGG enrichment analysis revealed that the differentially expressed mRNAs between the high- and low-risk groups were enriched in several immune-related processes. The enrichment score of differentially expressed mRNAs in the high-risk group is higher than that of the low-risk group in multiple immune function pathways, including the IFN-γ and MHC I pathways. The Tumor Immune Dysfunction and Exclusion (TIDE) test revealed that the high-risk group was more likely to experience immune escape. The drug sensitivity analysis showed that patients with low-risk ratings were likely to respond to GW441756 and Salubrinal. In contrast, patients with higher risk scores were more responsive to dasatinib and Z-LLNIe CHO. The 5-Cuprophosis-related lncRNA signature can be used to predict prognosis, assess immune function, and test drug sensitivity in LUSC patients.

The mechanisms of optimal nitrogen conditions to accelerate flowering of Chrysanthemum vestitum under short day based on transcriptome analysis.

Nitrogen (N) plays an important role in the development of plants, with N application having been shown to accelerate flowering of cultivated plants. However, the mechanism of optimal N conditions to accelerate flowering of short-day plants is still unclear. In this study, it was found that Chrysanthemum vestitum is a typical short-day plant like most chrysanthemum varieties, and its flowering must go through a short-day induction stage. Further observations on the growth of C. vestitum showed that the N range of external application for growth was limited to between 0.25 and 2.50 mM. The results showed that, under optimal N (ON, 1.25 mM) conditions, the plants increased rapidly and flowering time was advanced; under high N (HN, 2.50 mM) or limited N (LN, 0.25 mM) conditions, the growth of plants were inhibited and flowering time was delayed. On the basis of transcriptome data, analysis of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) revealed that the floral-related genes B-box19 (BBX19), Cryptochromes (CRYs), CONSTANS-like (COLs), nitrate transporter protein (NRT), and NIN-like protein (NLP) could respond to N availability. Most of the genes in the photoperiod pathway were upregulated by ON conditions, and their expression was inhibited under HN and LN conditions. Our findings indicated that N could affect flowering by regulating the transcription levels of genes that are involved mainly in the photoperiod pathway. These candidate genes provide important clues for the subsequent analysis of the mechanism of N-induced flowering of short-day plants, and provide a possibility to improve the flowering of chrysanthemum by molecular breeding.

Genome-wide identification and characterization analysis of RWP-RK family genes reveal their role in flowering time of Chrysanthemum lavandulifolium.

BACKGROUND: RWP-RKs are plant specific transcription factors, which are widely distributed in plants in the form of polygenic families and play key role in nitrogen absorption and utilization, and are crucial to plant growth and development. However, the genome-wide identification and function of RWP-RK in Compositae plants are widely unknown. RESULTS: In this study, 101 RWP-RKs in Chrysanthemum lavandulifolium were identified and tandem repeat was an important way for the expansion of RWP-RKs in Compositae species. 101 RWP-RKs contain 38 NIN-like proteins (NLPs) and 31 RWP- RK domain proteins (RKDs), as well as 32 specific expansion members. qRT-PCR results showed that 7 ClNLPs in leaves were up-regulated at the floral transition stage, 10 ClNLPs were negatively regulated by low nitrate conditions, and 3 of them were up-regulated by optimal nitrate conditions. In addition, the flowering time of Chrysanthemum lavandulifolium was advanced under optimal nitrate conditions, the expression level of Cryptochromes (ClCRYs), phytochrome C (ClPHYC) and the floral integration genes GIGANTEA (ClGI), CONSTANS-LIKE (ClCOL1, ClCOL4, ClCOL5), FLOWERING LOCUS T (ClFT), FLOWERING LOCUS C (ClFLC), SUPPRESSOR OF OVER-EXPRESSION OF CONSTANS 1 (ClSOC1) also were up-regulated. The expression level of ClCRY1a, ClCRY1c, ClCRY2a and ClCRY2c in the vegetative growth stage induced by optimal nitrate reached the expression level induced by short-day in the reproductive growth stage, which supplemented the induction effect of short-day on the transcription level of floral-related genes in advance. CONCLUSIONS: It was speculated that ClNLPs may act on the photoperiodic pathway under optimal nitrate environment, and ultimately regulate the flowering time by up-regulating the transcription level of ClCRYs. These results provide new perspective for exploring the mechanism of nitrate/nitrogen affecting flowering in higher plants.

Analysis of the network pharmacology and the structure-activity relationship of glycyrrhizic acid and glycyrrhetinic acid.

Licorice, a herbal product derived from the root of Glycyrrhiza species, has been used as a sweetening agent and traditional herbal medicine for hundreds of years. Glycyrrhizic acid (GL) and glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) are the most important active ingredients in licorice. Both GL and GA have pharmacological effects against tumors, inflammation, viral infection, liver diseases, neurological diseases, and metabolic diseases. However, they also exhibit differences. KEGG analysis indicated that licorice is involved in neuroactive ligand‒receptor interactions, while 18ß-GA is mostly involved in arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy. In this article, we comprehensively review the therapeutic potential of GL and GA by focusing on their pharmacological effects and working mechanisms. We systemically examine the structure-activity relationship of GL, GA and their isomers. Based on the various pharmacological activities of GL, GA and their isomers, we propose further development of structural derivatives of GA after chemical structure modification, with less cytotoxicity but higher targeting specificity. More research is needed on the clinical applications of licorice and its active ingredients.

Congenital vaginal obstruction in a female with Cornelia de Lange syndrome: A case report.

Cornelia de Lange syndrome (CdLS) is a rare genetic disease involving multiorgan systems that varies in clinical manifestations. Female genital abnormalities in patients with CdLS are rarely reported, and current guidelines for CdLS contain little information related to female genital abnormalities. We report a case of classic CdLS with an NIPBL gene pathogenic variant in a 4.5-year-old girl who experienced recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) with vesical tenesmus. Urogenital physical and imaging examinations revealed external vaginal orifice obstruction and bilateral vesicoureteral reflux (VUR). Vaginal diaphragm-like tissue resection and vaginal orifice plasty were performed on this patient. The symptoms of urination disorders and recurrent UTIs, as well as VUR grading, improved after relieving the vaginal obstruction during the operation. For female CdLS patients, especially those with VUR, it is necessary to check for genital abnormalities and perform timely treatment, which is of great significance in improving urination disorder symptoms, reducing resistance during voiding, decreasing the occurrence of secondary VUR, and controlling recurrent UTIs.

Optimization of the adsorption and removal of Sb(iii) by MIL-53(Fe)/GO using response surface methodology.

In this study, a graphene oxide metal-organic framework (MIL-53(Fe)/GO) composite adsorbent was successfully synthesized using a simple method at room temperature. The specific surface area of the synthesized MIL-53(Fe)/GO nanoparticles was 268.43 m2 g-1, with an average pore size of 2.52 nm. The Box-Behnken response surface method was applied to optimize the adsorption time, dosage, pH, temperature, and initial concentration of Sb(iii) in the MIL-53(Fe)/GO adsorption treatment employed for synthetic wastewater containing Sb(iii). We determined the optimal adsorption conditions and explored the isotherm model, adsorption kinetic model, and adsorption mechanism during the adsorption process. For an optimal adsorption of Sb(iii) by MIL-53(Fe)/GO, the adsorption time, dosage, pH, temperature, and initial Sb(iii) concentration should be set to 4.86 h, 85.79 mg L-1, 10.00, 39.29 °C, and 10.09 mg L-1, respectively. Under these optimal conditions, the removal rate of Sb(iii) will be as high as 97.97%. The adsorption of Sb(iii) by MIL-53(Fe)/GO conformed to the Freundlich isotherm adsorption model, and its maximum adsorption capacity was 69.014 mg g-1. The adsorption kinetics process, which is a nonhomogeneous reaction, could be fitted using a quasi-first-order kinetic model. A Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis showed that MIL-53(Fe)/GO hydroxyl and amine groups play a vital role in the adsorption process. MIL-53(Fe)/GO did not exhibit any changes in its adsorption efficiency in the presence of its anion and showed high specificity to Sb(iii). XPS characterization showed that Sb successfully adsorbed onto the adsorbent and that no oxidation-reduction reaction occurred during the adsorption process. The adsorption efficiency remained high even after four cycles of use. MIL-53(Fe)/GO is highly recyclable with significant application potential for treating wastewater containing Sb(iii).

Risk Analysis of 24 Residual Antibiotics in Poultry Eggs in Shandong, China (2018-2020).

Although antibiotics have played a certain positive role in the prevention and treatment of poultry diseases, as well as the promotion of poultry growth, some farmers use antibiotics in an incorrect way in the breeding process, resulting in antibiotic residues in poultry tissues, organs and edible products. Residual antibiotics enter the human body through the food chain and accumulate, which not only causes poisoning and allergic reactions, but also drug resistance of pathogenic microorganisms, thus endangering the health of consumers. In this investigation, the residues of 24 antibiotics, including fluoroquinolones, sulfonamides, macrolides, tetracyclines, antivirals, lincomycin and florfenicol, were analyzed in 1211 poultry egg samples in Shandong, China, from 2018 to 2020. Then, based on the per capita intake of poultry eggs recommended in the dietary guidelines of Chinese residents, the maximum residue limit of veterinary drugs specified in Chinese regulations and the average weight of males and females aged 18 and over in 2020, the risk of residual antibiotics was evaluated by International Food Safety indices (IFS). The detection results showed that 104 of 1211 samples were detected with antibiotic residues, with a detection rate of 8.58%. Among them, the main residues were enrofloxacin, sulfonamides and florfenicol. The IFS calculation results showed that the IFS of residual antibiotics ranged from 1.44 × 10-7 to 0.102. Therefore, although enrofloxacin, sarafloxacin, danofloxacin, sulfonamides, tilmicosin, doxycycline, florfenicol, which are banned during egg laying, were detected in poultry eggs in Shandong, these residues did not pose a threat to the health of Chinese adult consumers, according to the daily dietary habits of Chinese people. However, it is strongly suggested that Shandong should strengthen the monitoring of antibiotic use during egg laying.

Value of transesophageal echocardiography in device closure of perimembranous ventricular septal defects in children via ultra-minimal trans intercostal incision.

AIMS: To investigate the value of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in perimembranous ventricular septal defect (PmVSD) closure via a left parasternal ultra-minimal trans intercostal incision in children. METHODS: From January 2015 to December 2020, 212 children with PmVSDs underwent device occlusion via an ultra-minimal trans intercostal incision. TEE was used throughout the perioperative period, including TEE assessment, TEE-guided localization of the puncture site, and TEE guidance. All patients were followed up using transthoracic echocardiography for more than 6 months. RESULTS: A total of 207 cases were successfully occluded, and the success rate was 97.64%. One hundred forty-five patients had a single orifice, and 62 patients had multiple orifices in the aneurysm of the membranous septum (AMS). During the operation, the surgeon readjusted the device or replaced it with a larger device in 17 cases. After the operation, 19 cases of a slight residual shunt, 13 cases of pericardial effusion, and 4 cases of pleural effusion were noted. All patients returned to normal during the 4-month follow-up period. Mild mitral regurgitation was present in one patient and remained the same during the follow-up period. No other complications were found. CONCLUSIONS: Under TEE guidance, PmVSDs were closed successfully using a concentric occluder via an ultra-minimal trans intercostal incision. TEE, which was used to assess defects and postoperative effect, effectively guide PmVSDs closure, is of great value.

Fabrication of magnetic nickel incorporated carbon nanofibers for superfast adsorption of sulfadiazine: Performance and mechanisms exploration.

Herein, novel magnetic nickel incorporated carbon nanofibers (Ni@CNF) were successfully synthesized via electrostatic spinning method for sulfadiazine (SDZ) adsorption. We combined computational and experimental tools to clarify the distinct nature of SDZ on Ni@CNF. Extensive computations and characterizations of SDZ-Ni adsorption complexes evidenced that Ni atoms were indispensable for SDZ adsorption and increasing the number of Ni atoms in Ni@CNF significantly improved SDZ adsorption due to the lower adsorption energy (Ead). As we surmised, the adsorption capacity of Ni@CNF enhanced gradually with increasing the mass ratio of Ni in the composite. The as-prepared 9%Ni@CNF achieved removal efficiency of 98.9% for SDZ (2.5 mg/L) in 25 min, while the pure CNF hardly removed any SDZ under the identical conditions. The experimental data was better fitted by the Langmuir model with the maximum monolayer adsorption capacity of 103.21 mg/g at 318 K. Besides, the 9%Ni@CNF exhibited great applicability to various organic contaminants, and excellent stability and reusability over five consecutive cycles. Overall, for the first time, we provide the evidence that Ni atoms in the Ni@CNF plays a crucial role in SDZ adsorption, which can guide us for constructing nickle incorporated adsorbents with impressive adsorption capacity in environmental remediation.

Removal of Sb(III) by 3D-reduced graphene oxide/sodium alginate double-network composites from an aqueous batch and fixed-bed system.

We created 3D-reduced graphene oxide/sodium alginate double network (GAD) beads to address the problem of local water pollution by antimony. GAD is a novel material with the high specific surface area of graphene and biosecurity of sodium alginate. Due to the introduction of graphene, the thermal stability and specific surface area of GAD are enhanced, as shown from the FTIR, TGA, BET, Raman, and XRD characterizations. The influence of different environmental variables-such as the pH, dosage, temperature, contact time, and sodium chloride concentration on the Sb(III) sorption with GAD-was investigated. The adsorption results fit well with both the pseudo-second order (R2 > 0.99) and Freundlich (R2 > 0.99) isotherm models. The temperature rise has a negative influence on the adsorption. The Langmuir adsorption capacity is 7.67 mg/g, which is higher than many adsorbents. The GAD results from the fixed-bed adsorption experiment were a good fit with the Thomas model (R2 > 0.99). In addition, GAD appears to be a renewable and ideal adsorbent for the treatment of antimony pollution in aqueous systems.

hucMSCs transplantation promotes locomotor function recovery, reduces apoptosis and inhibits demyelination after SCI in rats.

AIMS: Spinal cord injury (SCI) can cause a variety of cells apoptosis, neurodegeneration, and eventually permanent paralysis. This study aimed to examine whether transplanting human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hucMSCs) can promote locomotor function recovery, reduce apoptosis and inhibit demyelination in SCI models. MAIN METHODS: Rats were allocated into Sham group (spinal cord exposure only), SCI + PBS group (spinal cord impact plus phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) injections), SCI + hucMSCs group (spinal cord impact plus hucMSCs injections) groups. Behavioral tests, Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan locomotion scores (BBB scores), were carried out at 0, 3, 7, 14, 21, 28 days after SCI surgery. Hematoxylin-eosin staining observed spinal cord morphology. Nissl staining detected the number of nissl bodies. Myelin basic protein (MBP) and oligodendrocyte (CNPase) were examed by immunohistochemical staining. The apoptosis of oligodendrocyte and neurons were detected by immunofluorescence. RESULTS: The 28-day behavioral test showed that the BBB score of rats in the SCI + hucMSCs group increased significantly, comparing to the SCI + PBS group. The numbers of nissl bodies and myelin sheath in the damaged area of SCI + hucMSCs group were also significantly increased compared to the SCI + PBS group. HucMSCs transplanting decreased the expression of protein level of Caspase-3 and Bax and increased the Bcl-2, MBP and CNPase, rescued the apoptosis of neurons and the oligodendrocyte. CONCLUSION: These results showed that hucMSCs can improve motor function, tissue repairing and reducing apoptosis in SCI rats.

Sonographic diagnosis of an unusual cervical foreign body that migrated through a pyriform sinus fistula.

Foreign body ingestion is common in the pediatric population. We report a case of ingestion of sunflower seeds that migrated in the left neck through a pyriform sinus fistula, ultrasound plays an important role in preoperative diagnosis and is a useful tool for diagnosing both pyriform sinus fistulas and radiolucent foreign bodies.

Efficacy of Nucleotide/Nucleoside Analogues and Hepatitis B Immunoglobulin Therapy in Blocking Mother-to-Child Transmission of Hepatitis B in an Eastern Chinese Group.

The objective of this study was to investigate the efficacy and potential side-effects of nucleotide/nucleoside analogues and hepatitis B immunoglobulin injection of newborns in blocking mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B virus in the middle and late pregnancy period. 238 cases of enrolled pregnant women were divided into the Telbivudine group, the Tenofovir group, the Lamivudine group, and the hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) group. Enrolled patients received corresponding therapies. Clinical and laboratory data were collected. Results showed that the levels of HBV DNA of the enrolled pregnant women in the Telbivudine, Tenofovir, and Lamivudine groups decreased rapidly after 12 weeks of drug intervention compared with those in the control. HBsAg positive rate in newborns and in children 24 weeks after birth was 0/60, 0/60, 0/60, 3/30, and 11/28 in the Telbivudine, Tenofovir, Lamivudine, HBIG, and control groups, respectively. No significant side-effects were identified after following up to 12 months after birth. Our results show that routine HBV vaccine plus HBIG injections is insufficient in blocking mother-to-child HBV transmission. Administration of nucleotide/nucleoside analogues or HBIG at pregnancy is suggested to maximize the blocking of vertical HBV transmission.

Modeling Product Manufacturing Reliability with Quality Variations Centered on the Multilayered Coupling Operational Characteristics of Intelligent Manufacturing Systems.

For intelligent manufacturing systems, there are many deviations in operational characteristics, and the coupling effect of harmful operational characteristics leads to the variations in quality of the work-in-process (WIP) and the degradation of the reliability of the finished product, which is reflected as a loss of product manufacturing reliability. However, few studies on the modeling of product manufacturing reliability and mechanism analysis consider the operating mechanism and the coupling of characteristics. Thus, a novel modeling approach based on quality variations centered on the coupling of operational characteristics is proposed to analyze the formation mechanism of product manufacturing reliability. First, the PQR chain containing the co-effects among the manufacturing system performance (P), the manufacturing process quality (Q), and the product manufacturing reliability (R) is elaborated. The connotation of product manufacturing reliability is defined, multilayered operational characteristics are determined, and operational data are collected by smart sensors. Second, on the basis of the coupling effect in the PQR chain, a multilayered product quality variation model is proposed by mining operational characteristic data obtained from sensors. Third, an integrated product manufacturing reliability model is presented on the basis of the variation propagation mechanism of the multilayered product quality variation model. Finally, a camshaft manufacturing reliability analysis is conducted to verify the validity of the proposed method. The method proposed in this paper proved to be effective for evaluating and predicting the product reliability in the smart manufacturing process.

Reduced TIPE2 expression is inversely associated with proinflammatory cytokines and positively correlated with bone mineral density in patients with osteoporosis.

AIMS: The tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha-induced protein 8-like 2 (TIPE2) participates in multiple inflammatory diseases. However, its underlying mechanism in osteoporosis has not been elucidated. The aim of current study is to preliminarily clarify the function of TIPE2 in the pathogenesis of osteoporosis. MAIN METHODS: TIPE2 expression in patients with osteoporosis was measured by Western blot and qRT-PCR methods. Proinflammatory cytokines including TNF-α, IL-1 and IL-6 were assessed via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Serum fasting PINP and ß-CTX were measured by the chemiluminescence method. Simple logistic regression analysis was performed for the odds ratio (OR) for TIPE2. KEY FINDINGS: TIPE2 expression in patients with osteoporosis was dramatically decreased and negatively correlated with proinflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, TIPE2 level was negatively correlated with fasting ß-CTX, but not PINP, indicating that TIPE2 participates in the pathogenesis of osteoporosis dominantly by supression of bone resorption. Interestingly, TIPE2 expression level was positively correlated with bone mineral density (BMD), and its expression level can predict the risk of bone fracture using the simple logistic regression assay. SIGNIFICANCE: Our findings clarify that TIPE2 alleviates the pathogenesis of osteoporosis by suppressing the inflammatory status and the ability of TIPE2 for predicts bone fracture further demonstrated that TIPE2 might serve as a novel diagnostic marker and a therapeutic target for osteoporosis.