Three-dimensional culture may promote cell reprogramming.

Stem cells reside in stem cells niches, which maintain the balance of self-renewal and differentiation of stem cells. In stem cell niches, cell-cell, cell-extracellular matrix interactions and diffusible signals are important elements. However, another pivotal element is that localized and diffusible signals are all organized as three-dimensional (3-D) structures, which is easily neglected by in vitro cell biology research.

Isolation of immunoglobulin G from bovine milk whey by poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate)-based anion-exchange cryogel.

Bovine milk whey contains several bioactive proteins such as α-lactalbumin, β-lactoglobulin, and immunoglobulin G (IgG). Chromatographic separation of these proteins has received much attention in the past few years. In this work, we provide a chromatographic method for the efficient isolation of IgG from bovine milk whey using a poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate)-based anion-exchange cryogel.

Prediction of bioactivity of ACAT2 inhibitors by multilinear regression analysis and support vector machine.

Two quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSAR) models for predicting 95 compounds inhibiting Acyl-coenzyme A: cholesterol acyltransferase2 (ACAT2) were developed. The whole data set was randomly split into a training set including 72 compounds and a test set including 23 compounds. The molecules were represented by 11 descriptors calculated by software ADRIANA.

Salts drive controllable multilayered upright assembly of amyloid-like peptides at mica/water interface.

Surface-assisted self-assembly of amyloid-like peptides has received considerable interest in both amyloidosis research and nanotechnology in recent years. Despite extensive studies, some controlling factors, such as salts, are still not well understood, even though it is known that some salts can promote peptide self-assemblies through the so-called "salting-out" effect. However, they are usually noncontrollable, disordered, amorphous aggregates.

Hierarchical ordering of amyloid fibrils on the mica surface.

The aggregation of amyloid peptides into ordered fibrils is closely associated with many neurodegenerative diseases. The surfaces of cell membranes and biomolecules are believed to play important roles in modulation of peptide aggregation under physiological conditions. Experimental studies of fibrillogenesis at the molecular level in vivo, however, are inherently challenging, and the molecular mechanisms of how surface affects the structure and ordering of amyloid fibrils still remain elusive.

[Trans-sylvian-insular approach endoscopic surgery for basal ganglia hypertensive hemorrhage].

Objective: To explore the operative techniques and efficacy of trans-sylvian-insular approach endoscopic surgery for hypertensive basal ganglia hemorrhage.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted in 54 patients with hypertensive basal ganglia hemorrhage from December 2009 to December 2011. All of them underwent neuroendoscopic surgery via a trans-sylvian-insular approach.

Using self-organizing map (SOM) and support vector machine (SVM) for classification of selectivity of ACAT inhibitors.

Using a self-organizing map (SOM) and support vector machine, two classification models were built to predict whether a compound is a selective inhibitor toward the two Acyl-coenzyme A: cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) isozymes, ACAT-1 and ACAT-2. A dataset of 97 ACAT inhibitors was collected. For each molecule, the global descriptors, 2D and 3D property autocorrelation descriptors and autocorrelation of surface properties were calculated from the program ADRIANA.

Association of KIF6 variant with lipid level and angiographic coronary artery disease events risk in the Han Chinese population.

KIF6 is a class of molecular motor from the kinesin superfamily. Recently, multiple large studies consisting mainly of Europeans have shown that KIF6 Trp719Arg SNP may be a new predictive factor for coronary artery disease (CAD) event risk. The allelic frequency distribution of rs20455 is different in various populations, yet studies among the Han population, one of the largest ethnic groups in the World, have not been conducted.

Transthoracic resection versus non-transthoracic resection for gastroesophageal junction cancer: a meta-analysis.

Background: The aim of this meta-analysis is to evaluate the impact of transthoracic resection on long-term survival of patients with GEJ cancer and to compare the postoperative morbidity and mortality of patients undergoing transthoracic resection with those of patients who were not undergoing transthoracic resection.

Method: Searches of electronic databases identifying studies from Medline, Cochrane Library trials register, and WHO Trial Registration etc were performed. Outcome measures were survival, postoperative morbidity and mortality, and operation related events.

[Endoscopic microvacular decompression for trigeminal neuralgia].

Objective: To explore the feasibility, operating technique and precautions of endoscopic microvascular decompression for trigeminal neuralgia.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted for 21 patients with primary trigeminal neuralgia. All underwent neuroendoscopic microvascular decompression for trigeminal nerves.

Quality of life following laparoscopic-assisted distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer.

Background/aims: This study investigated quality of life (QoL) of patients 6 months after surgery for early or advanced gastric cancer.

Methodology: Between June, 2006 and December, 2009, 39 patients undergoing laparoscopic assisted distal gastrectomy (LADG) and 35 patients undergoing open distal gastrectomy (ODG) were enrolled. All the patients completed a validated questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) and site specific module (QLQ-STO22) after surgery.

[Neuroendoscopic treatment of different types of quadrigeminal cistern arachnoid cysts].

Objective: To evaluate the method, strategy and efficacy of treating different types of quadrigeminal cistern arachnoid cysts (QCAC) with neuroendoscope.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted for 12 QCAC patients with obstructive hydrocephalus. They were classified into 3 types and underwent neuroendoscopic operation at our hospital between November 2005 and November 2009.

Gastric tube reconstruction reduces postoperative gastroesophageal reflux in adenocarcinoma of esophagogastric junction.

Background: The anastomosis of gastric remnant to esophagus after proximal gastrectomy is the traditional surgical treatment procedure for patients with types II and III adenocarcinoma of esophagogastric junction. However, the postoperative complications such as gastroesophageal reflux are frequent.

Aims: To assess the outcome of the intraperitoneal anastomosis of the reconstructed gastric tube to esophagus after proximal gastrectomy for types II and III adenocarcinoma of esophagogastric junction.

[Operative approach for hydrocephalus associated with cerebellar tonsillar hernia].

Objective: To assess the pre-operative examination and operative approach for hydrocephalus associated with cerebellar tonsillar hernia.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted for 24 patients of hydrocephalus associated with cerebellar tonsillar hernia. All subjects received both pre-operative and post-operative Cine MRI examinations to detect the velocity and quantity of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) at the important sites in ventricular system.

[Qualitative and quantitative analyses of some saccharides by THz-TDS].

Terahertz (THz) radiation lies between the infrared and microwave range of the electromagnetic spectrum. Absorption spectrum in the THz range provides rich information about structure and weak interactions of biomolecules. THz absorption spectra of D-(-)-ribose, D-glucose, alpha-lactose monohydrate and beta-lactose were measured by terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) in the frequency range of 0.

Efficient removal of unwanted signals in NMR spectra using the filter diagonalization method.

It is often desirable to selectively remove corrupting or uninteresting signals from complex NMR spectra without disturbing overlapping or nearby signals. For biofluids in particular, removal of solvent and urea signals is important for retaining quantitative accuracy in NMR-based metabonomics. This article presents a novel algorithm for efficient filtering of unwanted signals using the filter diagonalization method (FDM).

[Study on optical emission spectroscopy of pulse corona methane plasma].

From experiments of methane pulse corona plasma and plasma emission spectrometry, the emission spectra of methane ranging from 370 to 1 100 nm were recorded and marked with CCD (Charge Coupled Device) grating spectrometry. The ionization products of H, C+, CH, C, C2, C3, C4, C5 and hydrocarbon were confirmed through high purity methane (purity 99.99%) ionized by pulse high voltage of 100 kV and 100 Hz under normal temperature and normal pressure.

[Endoscopic therapy for obstructive hydrocephalus caused by cysts in the pathway of CSF circulation].

Objective: To explore the process and technique of neuroendoscopic operation to treat obstructive hydrocephalus caused by cysts located in the pathway of CSF circulation.

Methods: The cine MRI examinations and endoscopic operations were taken to treat 30 cases with obstructive hydrocephalus. Among all the cases, there are 11 intraventricular cysts (8 lateral ventricular cysts, 4 fourth ventricular cysts), 4 suprasellar arachnoid cysts, 1 quadrigeminal cistern arachnoid cyst, 6 Dandy-Walker malformations and 8 posterior fossa arachnoid cysts.

[Progress in application of THz-TDS to protein study].

Terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) is a newly developed terahertz far infrared spectroscopy based on ultra-fast laser technology. Various applications of THz electromagnetic waves have been investigated by researchers in various fields, including life sciences, pharmaceutical, security detection and etc. THz-TDS has been proven a promising technique in biological and medical applications.

Molecular factor computing for predictive spectroscopy.

Purpose: The concept of molecular factor computing (MFC)-based predictive spectroscopy was demonstrated here with quantitative analysis of ethanol-in-water mixtures in a MFC-based prototype instrument.

Methods: Molecular computing of vectors for transformation matrices enabled spectra to be represented in a desired coordinate system. New coordinate systems were selected to reduce the dimensionality of the spectral hyperspace and simplify the mechanical/electrical/computational construction of a new MFC spectrometer employing transmission MFC filters.