hPCL3s Promotes Hepatocellular Carcinoma Metastasis by Activating β-Catenin Signaling.

Two isoforms of human Polycomb-like protein 3 (hPCL3) have been reported as components of the nuclear Polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2), with the short isoform (hPCL3s) showing a dominant cytoplasmic localization. The function of cytoplasmic hPCL3s has, however, not been addressed. In this study, we report that hPCL3s is upregulated in clinical hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) samples and its expression correlated with HCC clinical features.

Activation of liver X receptor β-enhancing neurogenesis ameliorates cognitive impairment induced by chronic cerebral hypoperfusion.

Chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (CCH), a leading cause of various cerebrovascular diseases, leads to cognitive dysfunction due to neuron loss and impaired neurogenesis. Liver X receptors (LXRs), including LXRα and LXRβ isoforms, are crucial for cholesterol metabolism, synaptic plasticity as well as neurogenesis. However, it is not clear the potential roles of LXRs in the pathogenesis of cognitive impairment induced by CCH.

Contact reductions from live poultry market closures limit the epidemic of human infections with H7N9 influenza.

An early steep increase in the number of humans infected with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus was observed in China, raising great public concern domestically and internationally. Little is known about the dynamics of the transmission contacts between poultry and human populations, although such understanding is essential for developing effective strategies to control this zoonosis. In this study, we evaluated the effects of contact reductions from live poultry markets (LPMs) closures on the transmission of H7N9 virus during epidemics in Guangdong Province, China.

Spontaneous umbilical artery haematoma diagnosed in the third trimester: a case report.

Spontaneous haematoma of the umbilical cord is a rare, unpreventable maternal event. The complications of this anomaly are an uneventful pregnancy, foetal distress or even an intrauterine foetal death. Umbilical cord haematoma usually results from the rupture of the umbilical vein, rarely of the umbilical arteries.

Risk factors, outcomes and genotypes of carbapenem-nonsusceptible Klebsiella pneumoniae bloodstream infection: a three-year retrospective study in a large tertiary hospital in Northern China.

Objective: To investigate the independent risk factors, outcomes and genotypes associated with carbapenem-non-susceptible K. pneumoniae bloodstream infections (BSIs) in northern China from 2014 to 2016.

Methods: Over a three-year period, a total of 289 K.

A novel thiazolidinediones ATZD2 rescues memory deficits in a rat model of type 2 diabetes through antioxidant and antiinflammation.

Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) has been associated with learning and memory impairment; however, drugs for diabetes could not prevent the development of cognitive decline in T2DM patients. In the present study, compounds derived from thiazolidinediones (TZD), a PPAR-γ agonist, were synthesized by conjuncting the alkyl-substituted benzimidazole group to TZD group (ATZDs). Based on the evaluation, the neuroprotection of ATZD2 was further investigated using a streptozotocin-induced T2DM rat model.

Cilia loss sensitizes cells to transformation by activating the mevalonate pathway.

Although cilia loss and cell transformation are frequently observed in the early stage of tumorigenesis, the roles of cilia in cell transformation are unknown. In this study, disrupted ciliogenesis was observed in cancer cells and pancreatic cancer tissues, which facilitated oncogene-induced transformation of normal pancreatic cells (HPDE6C7) and NIH3T3 cells through activating the mevalonate (MVA) pathway. Disruption of ciliogenesis up-regulated MVA enzymes through β catenin-T cell factor (TCF) signaling, which synchronized with sterol regulatory element binding transcription factor 2 (SREBP2), and the regulation of MVA by β-catenin-TCF signaling was recapitulated in a mouse model of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and human PDAC samples.

Curcumin Protects against Atherosclerosis in Apolipoprotein E-Knockout Mice by Inhibiting Toll-like Receptor 4 Expression.

Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) has been reported to play a critical role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, the current study aimed to investigate whether curcumin suppresses atherosclerosis development in ApoE-knockout (ApoE) mice by inhibiting TLR4 expression. ApoE mice were fed a high-fat diet supplemented with or without curcumin (0.1% w/w) for 16 weeks.

Probiotics for vulvovaginal candidiasis in non-pregnant women.

Background: Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is estimated to be the second most common form of infection after bacterial vaginosis. The ability of probiotics in maintaining and recovering the normal vaginal microbiota, and their potential ability to resist Candidas give rise to the concept of using probiotics for the treatment of VVC.

Objectives: To assess the effectiveness and safety of probiotics for the treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis in non-pregnant women.

Comparisons of glyphosate adsorption properties of different functional Cr-based metal-organic frameworks.

A Cr-based metal-organic framework, namely, MIL-101(Cr), was modified with amino (NH -) and urea (UR -) groups, and the materials were evaluated as adsorbents for glyphosate, and a comparison with commercial activated carbon was also discussed. The effects of the adsorption factors, such as adsorbent concentration, adsorption time, pH and ionic strength were mainly investigated. The results showed that a pseudo-second-order rate equation described the adsorption kinetics mechanisms well, while the Langmuir model and the Freundlich model fitted different adsorption isotherms, respectively.

Effects of metal ions and pH on ofloxacin sorption to cassava residue-derived biochar.

In this study, the impacts of various cations, cation strength and pH on ofloxacin (OFL) adsorption to cassava residue-derived biochars were determined. The associated adsorption mechanisms are discussed. The biochars were prepared at pyrolysis temperatures ranging from 350°C to 750°C, and labeled as CW350, CW450, CW550, CW650 and CW750.

Hydrothermal synthesis of SnQ (Q = Te, Se, S) and their thermoelectric properties.

Lead-free IV-VI semiconductors SnQ (Q = Te, Se, S) are deemed as promising thermoelectric (TE) materials. In this work, we designed a hydrothermal route to selectively synthesize single phase SnTe, SnSe and SnS nanopowders. For all three samples, the phase structure were characterized by x-ray diffraction, SnTe particles with octahedron structure and SnSe/SnS particles with plate-like shape were observed by field emission scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy, the formation mechanism was discussed in detail.

The values of neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio and/or prostate-specific antigen in discriminating real Gleason score ≥ 7 prostate cancer from group of biopsy-based Gleason score ≤ 6.

Background: The discrepant concordance between biopsy and radical prostatectomy (RP) specimen are well reported. To validate the clinical usefulness of neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in discriminating real GS ≥ 7 PCa from biopsy-based GS ≤ 6 PCa in comparison with serum total prostate-specific antigen (tPSA) and value of their combination.

Methods: One hundred one patients who underwent physical examinations incidentally found elevated tPSA and subsequently received biopsy with a conclusion of GS ≤ 6 and RP with an interval of 4-6 weeks after biopsy were enrolled.

Extraordinary Thermoelectric Performance Realized in n-Type PbTe through Multiphase Nanostructure Engineering.

Lead telluride has long been realized as an ideal p-type thermoelectric material at an intermediate temperature range; however, its commercial applications are largely restricted by its n-type counterpart that exhibits relatively inferior thermoelectric performance. This major limitation is largely solved here, where it is reported that a record-high ZT value of ≈1.83 can be achieved at 773 K in n-type PbTe-4%InSb composites.

An Integrative Analysis Reveals a Central Role of P53 Activation via MDM2 in Zika Virus Infection Induced Cell Death.

(ZIKV) infection is an emerging global threat that is suspected to be associated with fetal microcephaly. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying ZIKV disease pathogenesis in humans remain elusive. Here, we investigated the human protein interaction network associated with ZIKV infection using a systemic virology approach, and reconstructed the transcriptional regulatory network to analyze the mechanisms underlying ZIKV-elicited microcephaly pathogenesis.

The hepatic circadian clock fine-tunes the lipogenic response to feeding through RORα/γ.

Liver lipid metabolism is under intricate temporal control by both the circadian clock and feeding. The interplay between these two mechanisms is not clear. Here we show that liver-specific depletion of nuclear receptors RORα and RORγ, key components of the molecular circadian clock, up-regulate expression of lipogenic genes only under fed conditions at Zeitgeber time 22 (ZT22) but not under fasting conditions at ZT22 or ad libitum conditions at ZT10.

Proteomics analysis reveals a dynamic diurnal pattern of photosynthesis-related pathways in maize leaves.

Plant leaves exhibit differentiated patterns of photosynthesis rates under diurnal light regulation. Maize leaves show a single-peak pattern without photoinhibition at midday when the light intensity is maximized. This mechanism contributes to highly efficient photosynthesis in maize leaves.

Adsorption-desorption behavior of atrazine on agricultural soils in China.

Adsorption and desorption are important processes that affect atrazine transport, transformation, and bioavailability in soils. In this study, the adsorption-desorption characteristics of atrazine in three soils (laterite, paddy soil and alluvial soil) were evaluated using the batch equilibrium method. The results showed that the kinetics of atrazine in soils was completed in two steps: a "fast" adsorption and a "slow" adsorption and could be well described by pseudo-second-order model.

Fabrication of superhydrophobic coating for preventing microleakage in a dental composite restoration.

Superhydrophobic coatings were successfully fabricated by photo-crosslinked polyurethane (PU) and organic fluoro group-functionalized SiO nanoparticles (F-SiO NPs), and were introduced for preventing microleakage in a dental composite restoration. The F-SiO NPs possessed low surface energy and the PU can not only improve the mechanical stability but also promote F-SiO NPs to form multiscale structure, which could facilitate the properties of the as-prepared superhydrophobic coating by synergetic effect. The morphology and properties of the resulted superhydrophobic coatings with different PU/F-SiO ratios were studied using H NMR spectrum, fourier transform infrared spectra, scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy and UV-vis spectrophotometry.

Cryo-EM structure of the activated GLP-1 receptor in complex with a G protein.

Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) is a hormone with essential roles in regulating insulin secretion, carbohydrate metabolism and appetite. GLP-1 effects are mediated through binding to the GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R), a class B G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) that signals primarily through the stimulatory G protein G. Class B GPCRs are important therapeutic targets; however, our understanding of their mechanism of action is limited by the lack of structural information on activated and full-length receptors.

A scoring system to effectively evaluate central nervous system tuberculosis in patients with military tuberculosis.

There is currently no convenient way to effectively evaluate whether a miliary tuberculosis patient is complicated with central nervous system (CNS) tuberculosis. We aimed to find such a way by analyzing the clinical data of these patients. Fifty patients with confirmed miliary tuberculosis and 31 patients with confirmed miliary tuberculosis complicated with CNS tuberculosis from 2010 to 2014 were selected.

Immunogenicity and safety of a high-dose hepatitis B vaccine among patients receiving methadone maintenance treatment: A randomized, double-blinded, parallel-controlled trial.

Background And Aims: To explore whether the immunization with high-dose (60μg) hepatitis B vaccines in patients receiving methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) could yield a superior protection against hepatitis B infection than did the standard dose (20μg).

Methods: We conducted a randomized, double-blinded, parallel-controlled trial in MMT patients. Patients with serologically negative hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs) were randomized in a ratio of 1:1 to receive three intramuscular injections of 20μg or 60μg recombinant hepatitis B vaccine at months 0, 1, and 6.

Immunogenicity and safety of high-dose hepatitis B vaccine among drug users: A randomized, open-labeled, blank-controlled trial.

Due to the low uptake, adherence, and completion of vaccination among drug users, and their compromised immune responses to hepatitis B vaccination, the current practice of hepatitis B vaccination may not provide optimal protection. The aim of this study was to evaluate the immunogenicity and safety of 60 µg and 20 µg hepatitis B vaccines among drug users. A randomized, open-labeled, blank-controlled trial was conducted among drug users at 2 drug rehabilitation centers in China.

Imbalance between TNFα and progranulin contributes to memory impairment and anxiety in sleep-deprived mice.

Sleep disorder is becoming a widespread problem in current society, and is associated with impaired cognition and emotional disorders. Progranulin (PGRN), also known as granulin epithelin precursor, promotes neurite outgrowth and cell survival, and is encoded by the GRN gene. It is a tumor necrosis factor α receptor (TNFR) ligand which is implicated in many central nervous system diseases.

A single-center analysis of Henoch-Schonlein purpura nephritis with nephrotic proteinuria in children.

Background: In children with Henoch-Schonlein purpura nephritis (HSPN), the degree of proteinuria has been proven to be not only a sign of kidney damage, but also an accelerator of kidney disease progression. Nephrotic proteinuria at disease onset has been proposed as a predictor of a poor renal outcome. This study aims to assess the clinical and pathological features of HSPN with nephrotic proteinuria in a single center.