Triple network hypothesis-related disrupted connections in schizophrenia: A spectral dynamic causal modeling analysis with functional magnetic resonance imaging.

Objective: The symptom-related neurobiology characteristic of schizophrenia in the brain from a network perspective is still poorly understood, leading to a lack of potential biologically-based markers and difficulty identifying therapeutic targets. We aim to test the dysregulated cross-network interactions among the Salience Network (SN), Central Executive Network (CEN) and Default Mode Network (DMN) and how they contributed to different symptoms in schizophrenia patients.

Methods: We examined network interactions among the SN, CEN and DMN in 76 patients with schizophrenia vs.

Simultaneous or Staged Decompressions for Patients with Tandem Spinal Stenosis.

Objective: To compare the clinical effects of cervical decompression first, lumbar decompression first, or simultaneous decompression of both lesions in the treatment of tandem spinal stenosis (TSS).

Methods: This is a retrospective analysis. From January 2013 to December 2018, 51 TSS patients underwent our surgery and postoperative investigation.

Biopromoters for Gas Hydrate Formation: A Mini Review of Current Status.

Gas hydrates have promising application prospects in the fields of future energy sources, natural gas storage and transportation, CO capture and sequestration, gas separation, and cold energy. However, the application of hydrate technologies is being restricted due to the slow formation rate of gas hydrates. Kinetic promoters have been receiving increased attention, given that they can improve the hydrate formation rate with very small doses and do not affect gas storage capacity.

CD226 deletion improves post-infarction healing via modulating macrophage polarization in mice.

Macrophages are essential for wound repair after myocardial infarction (MI). CD226, a member of immunoglobulin superfamily, is expressed on inflammatory monocytes, however, the role of CD226 in infarct healing and the effect of CD226 on macrophage remain unknown. Wild type and CD226 knockout (CD226 KO) mice were subjected to permanent coronary ligation.

Diagnostic performance of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging in pulmonary malignant lesions: a meta-analysis.

Background: Overuse or misuse of positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) should be avoided for its ionizing-radiation. Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI), characterized by no radiation, may be regarded as an alternative in differentiating pulmonary nodules. We aim to estimate the diagnostic accuracy of DW-MRI in diagnosing of pulmonary lesions.

A meta-analysis of selected near-road air pollutants based on concentration decay rates.

Traffic-related air pollution has been associated with various health risks for human populations living near roadways. Understanding the relationship between traffic density and dispersion of vehicle-released air pollutants is important for assessing human exposure to near-road air pollutants. We performed a literature survey targeting publications containing measurement data of traffic-related air pollutants near roads with distance information on their concentration distribution.

Alterations in β‑catenin/E‑cadherin complex formation during the mechanotransduction of Saos‑2 osteoblastic cells.

Mechanical load application promotes bone formation, while reduced load leads to bone loss. However, the underlying mechanisms that regulate new bone formation are not fully understood. Wnt/β‑catenin signaling has an important role in bone formation, bone growth and remodeling.

Evaluation of Traffic Density Parameters as an Indicator of Vehicle Emission-Related Near-Road Air Pollution: A Case Study with NEXUS Measurement Data on Black Carbon.

An important factor in evaluating health risk of near-road air pollution is to accurately estimate the traffic-related vehicle emission of air pollutants. Inclusion of traffic parameters such as road length/area, distance to roads, and traffic volume/intensity into models such as land use regression (LUR) models has improved exposure estimation. To better understand the relationship between vehicle emissions and near-road air pollution, we evaluated three traffic density-based indices: Major-Road Density (MRD), All-Traffic Density (ATD) and Heavy-Traffic Density (HTD) which represent the proportions of major roads, major road with annual average daily traffic (AADT), and major road with commercial annual average daily traffic (CAADT) in a buffered area, respectively.

Effects of Mountain Uplift and Climatic Oscillations on Phylogeography and Species Divergence in Four Endangered Herbs.

Mountain uplift and climatic fluctuations are important driving forces that have affected the geographic distribution and population dynamics history of organisms. However, it is unclear how geological and climatic events might have affected the phylogeographic history and species divergence in high-alpine herbal plants. In this study, we analyzed the population demographic history and species differentiation of four endangered herbs on the high-altitude Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP) and adjacent areas.

Temporal variability of pyrethroid metabolite levels in bedtime, morning, and 24-h urine samples for 50 adults in North Carolina.

Pyrethroid insecticides are widely used to control insects in both agricultural and residential settings worldwide. Few data are available on the temporal variability of pyrethroid metabolites in the urine of non-occupationally exposed adults. In this work, we describe the study design and sampling methodology for the Pilot Study to Estimate Human Exposures to Pyrethroids using an Exposure Reconstruction Approach (Ex-R study).

Epigenetics of Notch1 regulation in pulmonary microvascular rarefaction following extrauterine growth restriction.

Background: Extrauterine growth restriction (EUGR) plays an important role in the developmental origin of adult cardiovascular diseases. In an EUGR rat model, we reported an elevated pulmonary arterial pressure in adults and genome-wide epigenetic modifications in pulmonary vascular endothelial cells (PVECs). However, the underlying mechanism of the early nutritional insult that results in pulmonary vascular consequences later in life remains unclear.

Epigenetics of hyper-responsiveness to allergen challenge following intrauterine growth retardation rat.

Background: Epidemiological studies have revealed that intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) or low birth weight is linked to the later development of asthma. Epigenetic regulatory mechanisms play an important role in the fetal origins of adult disease. However, little is known regarding the correlation between epigenetic regulation and the development of asthma following IUGR.

Decreased Kv1.5 expression in intrauterine growth retardation rats with exaggerated pulmonary hypertension.

Chronic hypoxia pulmonary hypertension (CH-PHT) in adulthood is likely to be of fetal origin following intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR). Oxygen (O₂)-sensitive voltage-gated potassium channels (Kv channels) in resistance pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) play an important role in scaling pulmonary artery (PA) pressure. Expression and functional changes of Kv channels are determined, in part, by embryonic development.

Development and evaluation of a sandwich ELISA method for the detection of human CD306.

CD306, also known as soluble leukocyte-associated immunoglobulin-like receptor-2 (LAIR-2), is a member of an immunoglobulin superfamily with the shared characteristic of an immunoglobulin-like C2-type domain. CD306 is speculated to be secretory and has 84% similarity with the extracellular domain of CD305, which binds to the same ligands as CD306. However, data on its distribution are absent due to the lack of an efficient method to detect it.

Proteomics based detection of differentially expressed proteins in human osteoblasts subjected to mechanical stress.

Mechanical stress is essential for bone development. Mechanical stimuli are transduced to biochemical signals that regulate proliferation, differentiation, and cytoskeletal reorganization in osteoblasts. In this study, we used proteomics to evaluate differences in the protein expression profiles of untreated Saos-2 osteoblast cells and Saos-2 cells subjected to mechanical stress loading.

Expression of FGF4 mRNA is mediated by mating behaviours in mice.

In mammals, breeding is preceded by species-specific mating behaviours. In this study, we investigated whether parthenogenetic embryo quality could be improved by mating behaviours in mice. To investigate this hypothesis, female mice were mated with vasectomized Kunming white male mice after superovulation.

Prefabrication of axial vascularized tissue engineering coral bone by an arteriovenous loop: a better model.

The most important problem for the survival of thick 3-dimensional tissues is the lack of vascularization in the context of bone tissue engineering. In this study, a modified arteriovenous loop (AVL) was developed to prefabricate an axial vascularized tissue engineering coral bone in rabbit, with comparison of the arteriovenous bundle (AVB) model. An arteriovenous fistula between rabbit femoral artery and vein was anastomosed to form an AVL.

Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor C correlates with lymphatic vessel density and prognosis in human gastroesophageal junction carcinoma.

Background: The present study clarifies the clinical significance of vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C) in patients with gastroesophageal junction carcinoma treated with curative resection, as well as the correlation between VEGF-C expression and lymphatic vessel density (LVD).

Patients And Methods: VEGF-C expression was immunohistochemically detected in 128 patients with gastroesophageal junction carcinoma, who underwent curative surgical resection. The mean optical density (MOD) was measured to represent the expression level of VEGF-C.

Synthesis and characterization of organic dyes containing various donors and acceptors.

New organic dyes comprising carbazole, iminodibenzyl, or phenothiazine moieties, respectively, as the electron donors, and cyanoacetic acid or acrylic acid moieties as the electron acceptors/anchoring groups were synthesized and characterized. The influence of heteroatoms on carbazole, iminodibenzyl and phenothiazine donors, and cyano-substitution on the acid acceptor is evidenced by spectral, electrochemical, photovoltaic experiments, and density functional theory calculations. The phenothiazine dyes show solar-energy-to-electricity conversion efficiency (eta) of 3.

Modified approach to construct a vascularized coral bone in rabbit using an arteriovenous loop.

The most important factor for the survival of thick three-dimensional tissues is the degree of vascularization. In this study, a modified arteriovenous loop (AVL) model was developed to prefabricate an axial vascularized tissue-engineered coral bone. In group A (n = 28), an arteriovenous fistula between rabbit femoral artery and vein was anastomosed to form an AVL.

[Constructing tissue engineered trachea-like cartilage graft in vitro by using bone marrow stromal cells sheet and PLGA internal support: experimental study in bioreactor].

Objective: To explore the feasibility of constructing tissue engineered trachea-like cartilage graft in vitro by using bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) sheet and PLGA internal support.

Methods: Rabbit BMSCs were expanded and induced by transforming growth factor-1 to improve chondrocyte phenotype of BMSCs. BMSCs sheets were obtained by continuous culture and wrapped the PGLA scaffold in the shape of cylinder.

Traffic and meteorological impacts on near-road air quality: summary of methods and trends from the Raleigh Near-Road Study.

A growing number of epidemiological studies conducted worldwide suggest an increase in the occurrence of adverse health effects in populations living, working, or going to school near major roadways. A study was designed to assess traffic emissions impacts on air quality and particle toxicity near a heavily traveled highway. In an attempt to describe the complex mixture of pollutants and atmospheric transport mechanisms affecting pollutant dispersion in this near-highway environment, several real-time and time-integrated sampling devices measured air quality concentrations at multiple distances and heights from the road.

Treatment of alopecia by transplantation of hair follicle stem cells and dermal papilla cells encapsulated in alginate gels.

The affected individual of hair loss demands help, because hair is viewed as a sign of youth and good health. Nowadays treatment of alopecia includes drug therapy and hair transplantation. Some drugs may promote hair growth, at least temporarily, but the treatment is effective only in milder alopecia, instead of extensive alopecia.

[The preparation of series of the controllable degradation coral-hydroxyapatite (SCHA-200R) and the on its application as the scaffold in bone tissue-engineering].

Objective: Fabricate series of the controllable degradation coral-hydroxyapatite.

Methods: The natural coral undergo a chemical reaction with (NH4)2 HPO4 at high temperature and pressure for different time-lengths. After getting the products, the components and the special structures were analyzed.

Enhancing skin flap survival by a cell-permeable wild-type survivin.

Skin grafts, including skin flaps, are widely used in plastic and reconstructive surgery to cover wounds and tissue defects resulting from mechanic or burn injury. Ischemic necrosis is the main complication in skin graft surgery due to inefficient revascularization. Though the surgical delay procedure has been proved to be the only effective technique to prevent skin flap ischemic necrosis by mechanism of inducing adaption to hypoxia, but it is time consuming, costly, and having high risk of infection due to repeated surgery.