A new transfer entropy method for measuring directed connectivity from complex-valued fMRI data.

Background: Inferring directional connectivity of brain regions from functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data has been shown to provide additional insights into predicting mental disorders such as schizophrenia. However, existing research has focused on the magnitude data from complex-valued fMRI data without considering the informative phase data, thus ignoring potentially important information.

Methods: We propose a new complex-valued transfer entropy (CTE) method to measure causal links among brain regions in complex-valued fMRI data.

Estimation of complete mutual information exploiting nonlinear magnitude-phase dependence: Application to spatial FNC for complex-valued fMRI data.

Background: Real-valued mutual information (MI) has been used in spatial functional network connectivity (FNC) to measure high-order and nonlinear dependence between spatial maps extracted from magnitude-only functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). However, real-valued MI cannot fully capture the group differences in spatial FNC from complex-valued fMRI data with magnitude and phase dependence.

Methods: We propose a complete complex-valued MI method according to the chain rule of MI.

Dynamic functional network connectivity based on spatial source phase maps of complex-valued fMRI data: Application to schizophrenia.

Background: Dynamic spatial functional network connectivity (dsFNC) has shown advantages in detecting functional alterations impacted by mental disorders using magnitude-only fMRI data. However, complete fMRI data are complex-valued with unique and useful phase information.

Methods: We propose dsFNC of spatial source phase (SSP) maps, derived from complex-valued fMRI data (named SSP-dsFNC), to capture the dynamics elicited by the phase.

Denoising brain networks using a fixed mathematical phase change in independent component analysis of magnitude-only fMRI data.

Brain networks extracted by independent component analysis (ICA) from magnitude-only fMRI data are usually denoised using various amplitude-based thresholds. By contrast, spatial source phase (SSP) or the phase information of ICA brain networks extracted from complex-valued fMRI data, has provided a simple yet effective way to perform the denoising using a fixed phase change. In this work, we extend the approach to magnitude-only fMRI data to avoid testing various amplitude thresholds for denoising magnitude maps extracted by ICA, as most studies do not save the complex-valued data.

Influence of coal gangue mulching with various thicknesses and particle sizes on soil water characteristics.

Water availability seriously affects vegetation restoration in arid mining areas, and mulching is an effective way to improve soil water conditions. Coal gangue occupies large swathes of land resources, resulting in ecological fragility and various environmental problems. Despite coal gangue having mineral elements similar to those in soil, its potential function as a mulch for soil water conservation has been unclear.

Sparse representation of complex-valued fMRI data based on spatiotemporal concatenation of real and imaginary parts.

Background: Spatial sparsity has been found to be in line with the intrinsic characteristic of brain activation. However, identifying a sparse representation of complex-valued fMRI data is challenging due to high noise within the phase data.

New Methods: We propose to reduce the noise by combining real and imaginary parts of complex-valued fMRI data along spatial and temporal dimensions to form a real-valued spatiotemporal concatenation model.

An Elevated Platelet-to-Lymphocyte Ratio Predicts Poor Prognosis and Clinicopathological Characteristics in Patients with Colorectal Cancer: A Meta-Analysis.

The aims of this study were to evaluate the clinicopathological and prognostic values of platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) in colorectal cancer (CRC). The PubMed and Embase databases and the references of relevant studies were systematically searched. This study was performed with hazard ratios (HRs) and odd ratios (ORs) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) as effect measures.

Effect of radiotherapy after breast-conserving surgery in older patients with early breast cancer and breast ductal carcinoma in situ: a meta-analysis.

Background: There are no consistent agreements on whether radiotherapy after breast-conserving surgery (BCS) could provide local control and survival benefit for older patients with early breast cancer or breast ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of radiotherapy after BCS in older patients with early breast cancer or DCIS.

Results: Radiotherapy could reduce the risk of local relapse in older patients with early breast cancer.

Aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs use reduce gastric cancer risk: A dose-response meta-analysis.

Background: The association between non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and gastric cancer (GC) risk is controversial. The aim of this study is to evaluate the chemopreventive effect of NSAIDs for GC.

Methods: A literature search was performed for relevant studies using the PubMed and Embase database (up to March 2016).

Phenolic alkaloids from Menispermum dauricum inhibits BxPC-3 pancreatic cancer cells by blocking of Hedgehog signaling pathway.

Background: The Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway plays an important role in pancreatic cancer (PC) cells. Phenolic alkaloids from Menispermum dauricum (PAMD), a traditional Chinese medicine used for the treatment of immune disorders, have been reported to have antitumor activity recently.

Objective: To investigate the efficacy and mechanism of PAMD against PC cell BxPC-3.

Hydrogen sulfide upregulates heme oxygenase-1 expression in rats with volume overload-induced heart failure.

The present study investigated the role of hydrogen sulfide (HS), a novel gaseous transmitter, in chronic heart failure (CHF) induced by left-to-right shunt, leading to volume overload. Thirty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: the shunt group, the sham group, the shunt + sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS) group and the sham + NaHS group. CHF was induced in the rats by abdominal aorta-inferior vena cava shunt operation.

Hydrogen sulfide suppresses the expression of MMP-8, MMP-13, and TIMP-1 in left ventricles of rats with cardiac volume overload.

Aim: To study the effects of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) on the left ventricular expression of MMP-8, MMP-13, and TIMP-1 in a rat model of congenital heart disease.

Methods: Male SD rats underwent abdominal aorta-inferior vena cava shunt operation. H2S donor NaHS (56 μmol·kg(-1)·d(-1), ip) was injected from the next day for 8 weeks.

A422T mutation in HERG potassium channel retained in ER is rescurable by pharmacologic or molecular chaperones.

In the present study, we characterized biologic and electrophysiologic consequences of A422T mutation in HERG K(+) channel and the role of pharmacologic or molecular chaperons by employing a heterogeneous expression system in HEK 293 cells. It was found that A422T mutation led to a marked decrease in whole-cell recording currents, and that a complexly glycosylated form protein band at 155 kDa was missing by Western blotting analysis compared to wild type (WT). And the mutant protein was mainly located in the cytoplasm as illustrated in immunocytochemical assay, indicating that the mutation underwent a trafficking defect.

Changes in plasma hydrogen sulfide and nitric oxide levels and their clinical significance in children with Kawasaki disease.

Background: Cardiac involvement is the most common complication of Kawasaki disease (KD); however, the underlying mechanisms are not understood. The present study was designed to investigate changes in plasma hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S) and nitric oxide (NO) levels in the acute and recovery stages of KD children and to examine their clinical significance.

Methods: Thirty-five KD patients and 32 healthy children were enrolled in the study.

[Sodium hydrosulfide improves cardiac functions and structures in rats with chronic heart failure].

Objective: To explore the effects of sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS), a hydrogen sulphide (H(2)S) donor, on cardiac functions and structures in rats with chronic heart failure induced by volume overload and examine its influence on cardiac remodelling.

Methods: A total of 47 SD rats (120 - 140 g) were randomly divided into 5 groups:shunt group (n = 11), sham group (n = 8), shunt + NaHS group (n = 10), sham + NaHS group (n = 8) and shunt + phentolamine group (n = 10). The rat model of chronic heart failure was induced by abdominal aorta-inferior vena cava puncture.

Cytocompatibility of electrospun nanofiber tubular scaffolds for small diameter tissue engineering blood vessels.

A tubular scaffold was fabricated by using electrospun polymer solution blends of pNSR32 (recombinant spider silk protein), PCL (polycaprolactone) and Gt (gelatin). The physicochemical properties and cytocompatibility of these scaffolds were investigated. Afterwards, the pNSR32/PCL/Gt tubular scaffold (inner diameter=3mm) showed high porosity of 86.

[Toxic effects of Hg2+, Cd2+ and Cu2+ on cell membrane system of Cabomba caroliniana A. Gray].

By the observation with electron- and confocal laser scanning microscopy and the determination of physiological and biochemical reactions, the toxic effects of Hg2+, Cd2+ and Cu2+ on the cell membrane system of Cabomba caroliniana A. Gray were investigated. The results showed that under the actions of the three heavy metal ions, the contents of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in C.

[Statistical analysis of articles, citations and authors in Chinese Journal of Burns from 2003 to 2005].

Objective: To study the characteristics of articles, citations and authors in Chinese Journal of Burns (Chin J Burns).

Methods: The date concerning articles, citations and authors of Chin J Burns from 2003 to 2005 were collected and analyzed in terms of bibliographic parameters.

Results: There were 741 papers published in Chin J Burns during these 3 years, and papers with funded projects accounted for 19.

[Location and relative quantity of coumarins in the stem of Dendrobium thyrsiflorum].

Aim: To determine the location and relative quantity of coumarins in the stem of Dendrobium thyrsiflorum Rchb. f. , and to provide a scientific basis for evaluating and utilizing the famous medicinal plant.