Watching individual molecules flex within lipid membranes using SERS.

Interrogating individual molecules within bio-membranes is key to deepening our understanding of biological processes essential for life. Using Raman spectroscopy to map molecular vibrations is ideal to non-destructively 'fingerprint' biomolecules for dynamic information on their molecular structure, composition and conformation. Such tag-free tracking of molecules within lipid bio-membranes can directly connect structure and function.

The low expression of Dmrt7 is associated with spermatogenic arrest in cattle-yak.

Dmrt7 is a member of the DM domain family of genes. Dmrt7 deficiency is also a strong candidate as a cause for male cattle-yak infertility, as it is regarded as essential for male spermatogenesis, between the pachynema and diplonema stages. In our study, the coding region sequence of yak and cattle-yak Dmrt7 was cloned by molecular cloning techniques, and the sequence, conserved domains, functional sites, and secondary and tertiary structures of the Dmrt7-encoded protein were predicted and analyzed using bioinformatics methods.

MRI-based segmentation of pubic bone for evaluation of pelvic organ prolapse.

Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a major women's health problem. Its diagnosis through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has become popular due to current inaccuracies of clinical examination. The diagnosis of POP on MRI consists of identifying reference points on pelvic bone structures for measurement and evaluation.

miR-339-5p inhibits cell migration and invasion and may be associated with the tumor-node-metastasis staging and lymph node metastasis of non-small cell lung cancer.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the potential role of microRNA (miRNA or miR) in invasion and metastasis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). miRNA-microarray analysis was used to detect the differentially expressed miRNAs between various metastatic levels of NSCLC cells. The microarray results were verified by quantitative polymerase chain reaction.

Long-term cognitive function change among breast cancer survivors.

Cognitive decline is a common health problem among breast cancer patients and understanding trajectories of cognitive change following among breast cancer survivors is an important public health goal. We conducted a longitudinal study to investigate the cognitive function changes from 18 month to 3 years after breast cancer diagnosis among participants of the Shanghai Breast cancer survivor study, a population-based cohort study of breast cancer survivors. In our study, we completed cognitive function evaluation for 1,300 breast cancer survivors at the 18th month's survey and 1,059 at 36th month's survey, respectively, using a battery of cognitive function measurements.

[Secular trends of overweight and obesity prevalence between 2007 and 2011 in children and adolescents in Guangzhou].

Objective: This study aimed to explore the secular trends of overweight and obesity prevalence between 2007 and 2011 in children and adolescents in Guangzhou.

Methods: The data of physical examination was collected from the routine measurements carried out by the Health Care Facilities of Primary and Secondary schools between 2007 and 2011. Random stratified cluster sampling was conducted, all the students aged 5-18 years old form 19 primary and secondary schools from 4 districts (Tianhe district, Yuexiu district, Baiyun district and Haizhu district) were included in this survey, including 27 944 students in 2007 and 38 284 students in 2011.

Characterization of the complete mitochondrial genome sequence of Gannan yak (Bos grunniens).

Gannan yak is the native breed of Gansu province in China. In this work, the complete mitochondrial genome sequence of Gannan yak was determined for the first time. The total length of the mitogenome is 16,322 bp long, with the base composition of 33.

On the roles of graphene oxide doping for enhanced supercurrent in MgB2 based superconductors.

Due to their graphene-like properties after oxygen reduction, incorporation of graphene oxide (GO) sheets into correlated-electron materials offers a new pathway for tailoring their properties. Fabricating GO nanocomposites with polycrystalline MgB2 superconductors leads to an order of magnitude enhancement of the supercurrent at 5 K/8 T and 20 K/4 T. Herein, we introduce a novel experimental approach to overcome the formidable challenge of performing quantitative microscopy and microanalysis of such composites, so as to unveil how GO doping influences the structure and hence the material properties.

The complete mitochondrial genome sequence of the Datong yak (Bos grunniens).

Datong yak is a famous artificially cultivated breed in China. In the present work, we report the complete mitochondrial genome sequence of Datong yak for the first time. The total length of the mitogenome is 16,323 bp long, containing 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA genes, two rRNA genes and one non-coding region (D-loop region).

Critical role of myeloid differentiation factor 88 in necrotizing enterocolitis.

Background: The importance of toll-like receptor 4 in necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) has been intensively studied, but its downstream signaling and the potential regulatory mechanisms remain unidentified. Our study focused on the role of myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88), the first downstream adaptor of toll-like receptor 4 inflammatory and apoptotic signaling in the pathogenesis of NEC.

Methods: MyD88 knockout (MyD88(-/-)-Ko) mice and lentivirus-mediated stable MyD88-knockdown cell line (IEC-6) were used.

Association of plasma glucose, insulin, and cardiovascular risk factors in overweight and obese children.

Objective: To investigate the association between fasting plasma glucose (FPG), 2-hour post challenge plasma glucose (2hPG), fasting plasma insulin (FINS), 2-hour post challenge plasma insulin (2hINS), and cardiovascular risk factors in obese and overweight children.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study of 452 obese and overweight children (male: 312, female: 140, aged 6-16 years). This study was conducted in the Department of Pediatrics, General Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China between June 2008 and November 2012.

Wnt inhibitory factor-1 functions as a tumor suppressor through modulating Wnt/β-catenin signaling in neuroblastoma.

Neuroblastoma is the most common extracranial solid tumor in childhood and is associated with serious morbidity and mortality. The effective treatment of neuroblastoma remains one of the major challenges in pediatric oncology. The Wnt signaling pathway has been shown to play a significant role in the pathogenesis of adult and pediatric tumors.

Assessment of a semiautomated pelvic floor measurement model for evaluating pelvic organ prolapse on MRI.

Introduction And Hypothesis: The objective of this study was to assess the performance of a semiautomated pelvic floor measurement algorithmic model on dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images compared with manual pelvic floor measurements for pelvic organ prolapse (POP) evaluation.

Methods: We examined 15 MRIs along the midsagittal view. Five reference points used for pelvic floor measurements were identified both manually and using our semiautomated measurement model.

Association of novel single-nucleotide polymorphisms of the vascular endothelial growth factor-A gene with high-altitude adaptation in yak (Bos grunniens).

Vascular endothelial growth factor-A gene (VEGF-A) is a key regulator of angiogenesis and an endothelial cell mitogen that plays an important role in high-altitude adaptation. In this study, we detected 2 novel single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of VEGF-A by screening for genetic variation in 700 individuals of 3 domestic Chinese yak breeds--namely Gannan (GN), Datong (DT), and Tianzhu white (TZW)--using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism and DNA sequencing techniques. GN and DT yaks live at high altitude and TZW yaks live at low altitude on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.

Retrospective comparison of robot-assisted minimally invasive versus open pancreaticoduodenectomy for periampullary neoplasms.

Background: As with other open procedures now routinely performed using laparoscopy, minimally invasive pancreaticoduodenectomy (MIPD) may result in decreased pain, fewer wound complications, and accelerated recovery. However, when used for periampullary cancers, it is also important to assess if MIPD offers comparable oncologic outcomes.

Methods: Technical and perioperative outcomes were compared between patients with a preoperative diagnosis of periampullary neoplasm offered MIPD or open pancreaticoduodenectomy (OPD) from November 2009 to July 2011.

Menopausal symptoms among breast cancer patients: a potential indicator of favorable prognosis.

Menopausal symptoms have been suggested to be an indicator of better prognosis among patients treated for breast cancer, because women who experience these symptoms usually have a lower level of estrogen. We tested this hypothesis in a population-based, prospective cohort study involving 4,842 women with stage 0 to III primary breast cancer who were enrolled in the Shanghai Breast Cancer Survival Study between March 2002 and April 2006, were aged 20 to 75 years, and were recruited 6 months post-diagnosis. They were followed-up by in-person surveys and record linkages with the vital statistics registry.

Cumulative effect in information diffusion: empirical study on a microblogging network.

Cumulative effect in social contagion underlies many studies on the spread of innovation, behavior, and influence. However, few large-scale empirical studies are conducted to validate the existence of cumulative effect in information diffusion on social networks. In this paper, using the population-scale dataset from the largest Chinese microblogging website, we conduct a comprehensive study on the cumulative effect in information diffusion.

Associations of single nucleotide polymorphisms in candidate genes with the polled trait in Datong domestic yaks.

The domestic yak (Bos grunniens) is an iconic symbol of animal husbandry at high altitudes. Yaks exhibit unique external characteristics including long hair and large horns. However, hornless yaks can be found in different breeds and different populations.

Quantitative analyses of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RubisCO) large-subunit genes (cbbL) in typical paddy soils.

The Calvin cycle is known to be the major pathway for CO2 fixation, but our current understanding of its occurrence and importance in paddy soils is poor. In this study, the diversity of three ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase large-subunit genes (cbbLG, cbbLR, cbbM) was investigated by clone library, T-RFLP, qPCR, and enzyme assay in five paddy soils in China. The cbbLG sequences revealed a relatively low level of diversity and were mostly related to the sequences of species from Thiobacillus.

Performance of breast cancer screening methods and modality among Chinese women: a report from a society-based breast screening program (SBSP) in Shanghai.

To evaluate the screening performance of individual and combined use of clinical breast examination, ultrasonography and mammography in Chinese women, we conducted a biennial breast cancer screening program among 14,464 women aged 35 to 74 years old who lived in Qibao County, Minhang district of Shanghai, China, between May 2008 and Sept 2012. All participants were submitted to clinical breast examination, and then women with positive results and all women at age of 45-69 years old were preformed breast ultrasonography and mammography. The examination results were compared against pathological findings as the gold standard of reference.

[Recent incidences and trends of childhood malignant solid tumors in Shanghai, 2002-2010].

Objective: To examine the recent incidences and trends of childhood malignant solid tumors in Shanghai.

Method: Data from the population-based Shanghai Cancer Registry and related retrospective survey were used to analyze the patterns of incidence and trends of malignant solid tumors diagnosed between 2002 and 2010 in children aged 0-14 years. The distributions of incidences were described according to gender, age and cancer types which were classified according to International Classification of Childhood Cancer (ICCC).

Exercise after diagnosis and metabolic syndrome among breast cancer survivors: a report from the Shanghai Breast Cancer Survival Study.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is an established risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and mortality. Limited data are available on the prevalence of MetS and its association with exercise among breast cancer survivors. The present study included 1,696 breast cancer survivors from the Shanghai Breast Cancer Survival Study, a population-based prospective cohort study conducted between April 2002 and October 2011 in Shanghai, China.

No association between genetic variants in angiogenesis and inflammation pathway genes and breast cancer survival among Chinese women.

Background: Angiogenesis and inflammation are implicated in breast cancer prognosis; however, the role of individual germline variation in related genes is unknown.

Methods: A two-stage candidate pathway association study was conducted among 6983 Chinese women. Stage 1 included 2884 women followed for a median of 5.

The association between metabolic syndrome and vascular endothelial dysfunction in adolescents.

The aim of this study was to investigate the association between metabolic syndrome (MS) and vascular endothelial cell dysfunction (ECD) in adolescents. Sixty obese pediatric inpatients at the General Hospital of Tianjin Medical University from February 2011 to February 2012 were included. Among these, 30 patients were obese and 30 patients were diagnosed with MS.

Rare coexistence of metastatic neuroblastoma of liver and solid pseudo papillary tumor of pancreas: case report and literature review.

Neuroblastoma is the second most common malignant solid tumor in children, and often metastasizes to liver, most notably in patients with stage 4S tumors. Solid pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas (SPT) is a pancreatic borderline tumor with low malignant potential. Coexistence of these two tumors in one patient has never been reported before.