Biomedical Applications of Chitosan and Its Derivative Nanoparticles.

Chitosan is a biodegradable natural polymer with many advantages such as nontoxicity, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. It can be applied in many fields, especially in medicine. As a delivery carrier, it has great potential and cannot be compared with other polymers.

Preparation and Performances of Warp-Knitted Hernia Repair Mesh Fabricated with Chitosan Fiber.

In this paper, warp-knitted knitted fabrics with chitosan fibers for ventral hernia repair were fabricated with three kinds of structures. The properties of chitosan fiber, yarns, and fabrics were tested. The results demonstrated that the properties of a mesh fabricated with 1-0/1-2/2-3/2-1// structure were slightly better than those of other fabrics.

Quaternized Chitosan Nanoparticles in Vaccine Applications.

Different natural and synthetic biodegradable polymers have been used in vaccine formulations as adjuvant and delivery system but have faced various limitations. Chitosan is a new delivery system with the potential to improve development of nano vaccines and drugs. However, chitosan is only soluble in acidic solutions of low concentration inorganic acids such as dilute acetic acid and dilute hydrochloric acid and in pure organic solvents, which greatly limits its application.

MnCoReO: a robust multisublattice antiferromagnetic perovskite with small A-site cations.

Mn2CoReO6, the fourth known magnetic transition-metal-only double perovskite oxide (space group P21/n) was synthesized at high pressure and temperature (8 GPa, 1350 °C). Large structural distortions are induced by the small A-site Mn2+ cations. Mn2CoReO6 exhibits complex magnetic properties with a robust antiferromagnetic order (TN = 94 K) involving all cation sublattices.

[Neuroprotective effect of rapamycin against Parkinson's disease in mice].

Objective: To investigate the effect of rapamycin on Parkinson's disease (PD) and its underlying mechanism in mice.

Methods: Sixty SPF adult male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into control group, model group and treatment group. 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1, 2, 3, 6-tetrahydropyridine(MPTP) was used to induce Parkinson's disease in model group and treatment group.

Specific sequences of infectious challenge lead to secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis-like disease in mice.

Secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (sHLH) is a highly mortal complication associated with sepsis. In adults, it is often seen in the setting of infections, especially viral infections, but the mechanisms that underlie pathogenesis are unknown. sHLH is characterized by a hyperinflammatory state and the presence hemophagocytosis.

Identification of differentially expressed genes and enriched pathways in lung cancer using bioinformatics analysis.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer‑associated mortality worldwide. The aim of the present study was to identify the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and enriched pathways in lung cancer by bioinformatics analysis, and to provide potential targets for diagnosis and treatment. Valid microarray data of 31 pairs of lung cancer tissues and matched normal samples (GSE19804) were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus database.

Oncogenic functions of protein kinase D2 and D3 in regulating multiple cancer-related pathways in breast cancer.

Protein Kinase D (PKD) family contains PKD1, PKD2, and PKD3 in human. Compared to consistent tumor-suppressive functions of PKD1 in breast cancer, how PKD2/3 functions in breast cancer are not fully understood. In the current study, we found that PKD2 and PKD3 but not PKD1 were preferentially overexpressed in breast cancer and involved in regulating cell proliferation and metastasis.

[Awareness of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome and Its Influencial Factors among College Students in Universities Implementing "Red Ribbon in Colleges" Event across China].

Objective To investigate the college students'awareness of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and its influencial factors in universities implementing "Red Ribbon in Colleges" event.Methods A multistage random sampling method was used to select 2057 students from 8 universities. Among them,1977 students were surveyed by quantitative questionnaires and 80 students were interviewed qualitatively.

Organochlorine pesticides in ambient air from the littoral cities of northern China: Spatial distribution, seasonal variation, source apportionment and cancer risk assessment.

Concentrations, composition and seasonal variations of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in the atmosphere (particulate phase and gaseous phase) at coastal cities in northern China were determined. OCP transport from emission source areas and lifetime excess cancer risks by inhalation exposure to specific OCPs were also investigated. The annual average concentration of total OCPs in gaseous phase ranged from 1.

CAlX (X = B/Al/Ga/In/Tl) with 16 valence electrons: can planar tetracoordinate carbon be stable?

As a perpetual chemical curiosity, planar tetracoordinate carbon (ptC) that violates the traditional tetrahedral carbon (thC) has made enormous achievements. In particular, the 18-valence-electron (18ve) counting rule has been found to be very effective in predicting ptC structures, as in CX (X = Al/Ga/In/Tl). By contrast, the corresponding neutral CX with 16ve each takes the thC form like methane.

Beryllium-beryllium double-π bonds in the octahedral cluster of Be(μ-X) (X = Li, Cu, BeF).

Metal-metal double-π bonding in s-block metals has not been reported until now. The octahedral clusters of Be(μ-X) only possessing degenerate Be-Be double-π bonds were first achieved by an innovative concerted electron-donating strategy from the vertical plane of the Be-Be midpoint using four s-type electron-donating ligands. Moreover, this novel strategy is universal and independent of electronegativity.

Polysaccharides as vaccine adjuvants.

Adjuvant is a substance added to vaccine to improve the immunogenicity of antigens, and it can induce stronger immune responses and reduce the dosage and production cost of vaccine in populations responding poorly to vaccination. Adjuvants in development or in use mainly include aluminum salts, oil emulsions, saponins, immune-stimulating complexes, liposomes, microparticles, nonionic block copolymers, polysaccharides, cytokines and bacterial derivatives. Polysaccharide adjuvants have attracted much attention in the preparation of nano vaccines and nano drugs because natural polysaccharides have the characteristics of intrinsic immunomodulating, biocompatibility, biodegradability, low toxicity and safety.

Effects of experimental N addition on plant diversity in an old-growth temperate forest.

Temperate forest ecosystems have experienced mounting negative effects due to increasing levels of nitrogen (N) deposition. We examined the effects of experimental N addition on plant diversity in an old-growth temperate forest to test the following hypothesis: Long-term excessive N addition decreases plant diversity by affecting the growth of plants, which results from changes in the soil nutrient content and a decrease in the soil pH in temperate forests. Experimental N additions were administered at the following levels since 2008: control (0 kg N hayear), low N (30 kg N ha year), medium N (60 kg N hayear), and high N (120 kg N ha year).

Diagnostic value and lymph node metastasis prediction of a custom‑made panel (thyroline) in thyroid cancer.

Differentiation of benign and malignant thyroid nodules is crucial for clinical management. Here, we explored the efficacy of next‑generation sequencing (NGS) in predicting the classification of benign and malignant thyroid nodules and lymph node metastasis status, and simultaneously compared the results with ultrasound (US). Thyroline was designed to detect 15 target gene mutations and 2 fusions in 98 formalin‑fixed, paraffin‑embedded (FFPE) tissues, including those from 82 thyroid cancer (TC) patients and 16 patients with benign nodules.

MicroRNA-222 Promotes Invasion and Metastasis of Papillary Thyroid Cancer Through Targeting Protein Phosphatase 2 Regulatory Subunit B Alpha Expression.

Background: Increasing evidence indicates that microRNA dysfunction is involved in the pathogenesis and progression of cancer. MicroRNA-222 (miR-222) is upregulated in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). However, the role of miR-222 in invasion and metastasis of PTC remains unknown.

Altered activity and information flow in the default mode network of pilocarpine-induced epilepsy rats.

Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is considered a brain activity disorder that is likely related to allomnesia and conscious disturbance. In rodents, TLE epileptiform discharges can be triggered by systemic administration of a dose of pilocarpine. However, how these pilocarpine-induced epileptiform discharges generate and propagate through the whole brain has not been well studied.

Machine Learning Based Automatic Neovascularization Detection on Optic Disc Region.

In this paper, the automatic detection of neovascularization in the optic disc region (NVD) for color fundus retinal image is presented. NV is the indicator for the onset of proliferative diabetic retinopathy and it is featured by the presence of new vessels in the retina. The new vessels are fragile and pose a high risk for sudden vision loss.

Phase Engineering in Quasi-2D Ruddlesden-Popper Perovskites.

Quasi-2D Ruddlesden-Popper (RP) halide perovskites have drawn intensive research interest because they possess superior ambient stability while retaining excellent device performance as compared to their pure 2D or 3D counterparts. By phase engineering strategy, quasi-2D perovskites can fall into three types-large- n 2D perovskite, 2D:3D mixed perovskite, and 3D/2D bilayer perovskite. This Perspective discusses the modulation of phase composition, hierarchical distribution, and crystal orientation in quasi-2D perovskites, aiming to uncover the correlation between morphological structure, band alignment, and charge recombination.

Urethane-based low-temperature curing, highly-customized and multifunctional poly(glycerol sebacate)-co-poly(ethylene glycol) copolymers.

Unlabelled: Poly (glycerol sebacate) (PGS), a tough elastomer, has been widely explored in tissue engineering due to the desirable mechanical properties and biocompatibility. However, the complex curing procedure (high temperature and vacuum) and limited hydrophilicity (∼90° of wetting angle) greatly impede its functionalities. To address these challenges, a urethane-based low-temperature setting, PEGylated PGS bioelastomer was developed with and without solvent.

Role of the EZH2/miR-200 axis in STAT3-mediated OSCC invasion.

Abnormal activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) serves a pivotal role in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) tumor cell invasion into normal tissues or distant organs. However the downstream regulatory network of STAT3 signaling remains unclear. The present study aimed to investigate the potential mechanism underlying how STAT3 triggers enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) expression and inhibits microRNA (miR)-200a/b/429 expression in SCC25 and SCC15 cells in vitro and in vivo.

Characterization of cluster of differentiation 47 expression and its potential as a therapeutic target in esophageal squamous cell cancer.

The increased expression of cluster of differentiation (CD)47 has been identified in a number of different tumor types and is recognized as an adverse prognostic factor that indicates an increased risk of mortality in patients. The binding of CD47 to signal regulatory protein α (SIRPα) inhibits the macrophage phagocytosis of tumor cells by triggering an inhibitory 'do not eat me' signal. This is one of the mechanisms used by tumor cells to evade immune surveillance.

Polygonatum sibiricum polysaccharides play anti-cancer effect through TLR4-MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathways.

Objective: To investigate the anti-cancer effect of Polygonatum sibiricum polysaccharides (PSP) and the underlying mechanism.

Methods: Tumor-bearing mice were randomly divided into normal saline (NS) group, adriamycin (ADM) group, PSP group and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) group. RAW264.

Amelioration of streptozotocin‑induced pancreatic β cell damage by morin: Involvement of the AMPK‑FOXO3‑catalase signaling pathway.

Pancreatic β cells are sensitive to oxidative stress, which is one of the predominant causes of cell damage and the emergence of diabetes. The identification of effective therapeutic strategies to protect pancreatic cells from oxidative stress has increased interest in the screening of antioxidants from natural products. The present study aimed to investigate the protective effects of morin against streptozotocin (STZ)‑induced cell damage in a rat insulinoma cell line (RINm5F pancreatic β cells) and to identify the underlying mechanisms.