Association of osteoporosis with genetic variants of circadian genes in Chinese geriatrics.

Unlabelled: This study was designed to investigate the association of circadian gene single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with the risk of osteoporosis. We found that the rs3781638 GG genotype was positively associated with osteoporosis prevalence in females, whereas the rs2292910 AC genotype was negatively associated with osteoporosis prevalence in a geriatric cohort.

Introduction: Studies have shown that disruption of endogenous circadian rhythms may increase the risk of developing type II diabetes and obesity, which are reportedly associated with osteoporosis (OP).

Incidence of postoperative residual neuromuscular blockade after general anesthesia: a prospective, multicenter, anesthetist-blind, observational study.

Objective: Evidences demonstrate that postoperative residual neuromuscular blockade (rNMB) is a primary and frequent anesthetic risk factor for postoperative complications. This study was designed to mitigate the paucity of data regarding the occurrence and degree of rNMB in a real-life setting.

Methods: This prospective, multicenter, anesthetist-blind, observational study enrolled 1571 Chinese adults undergoing elective open or laparoscopic abdominal surgery lasting ≤4 hours from 32 hospitals across China.

Analysis of MTR and MTRR Polymorphisms for Neural Tube Defects Risk Association.

Neural tube defects (NTDs) are the most common congenital defects of the central nervous system among neonates and the folate status during pregnancy was considered as the most important etiopathogenesis of NTDs. Besides, methionine synthase (MTR) gene and methionine synthase reductase (MTRR) gene were folate metabolism involved genes and had been investigated in several previous studies with inconsistent results. Hence, we aimed to explore the association of 4 selected single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on MTRR/MTR gene and the susceptibility of NTDs in a Chinese population.

[Long-term effect of cadmium exposure on residents' renal dysfunction: An epidemiologic study].

Objective: To study long-term effect on renal function exposed to environmental cadmium.

Methods: Stratified random sampling and cluster sampling method of epidemiological investigations were carried out in northern Guangdong province between April, 2011 and August, 2012. A total of 167 residents who lived in high cadmium exposure area for more than 15 years, aged above 40 were selected in exposed group.

Application of low-gossypol cottonseed meal in laying hens' diet.

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the application of dietary low-gossypol cottonseed meal (LCSM) in layers' diets. A total of 432 40-week-old Hy-line W36 laying hens were allocated to one of the six dietary treatments with 6 replicates of 12 birds each. The control group was fed a corn-soybean meal basal diet, and the 4 experimental diets consisted of a basal diet with 50, 98.

Aging-related viscoelasticity variation of tendon stem cells (TSCs) characterized by quartz thickness shear mode (TSM) resonators.

Aging not only affects the whole body performance but also alters cellular biological properties, including cell proliferation and differentiation. This study was designed to determine the effect of aging on the mechanical properties of tendon stem cells (TSCs), a newly discovered stem cell type in tendons, using quartz thickness shear mode (TSM) resonators. TSCs were isolated from both old and young rats, and allowed to grow to confluency on the surface of TSM resonators.

Effect of K2FeO4/US treatment on textile dyeing sludge disintegration and dewaterability.

The effect of potassium ferrate/ultrasonic (K2FeO4/US) treatment on the physicochemical features of textile dyeing sludge was studied. The soluble chemical oxygen demand (SCOD), deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), sludge volume index (SVI), sludge viscosity, capillary suction time (CST) and particle size were measured to understand the observed changes in the sludge physicochemical features. The results showed that the combined K2FeO4/US treatment presented great advantages for disrupting the sludge floc structure over K2FeO4 or ultrasonic treatments alone.

Correlation between genetic polymorphism of matrix metalloproteinase-9 in patients with coronary artery disease and cardiac remodeling.

Objective: To explore the correlation between genetic polymorphism of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and cardiac remodeling.

Methods: A total of 272 subjects who received coronary angiography in our hospital from July 2008 to September 2013 were selected, including 172 CAD patients (CAD group) and another 100 ones (control group). Both groups were subjected to MMP-9 and ultrasonic detections to determine vascular remodeling and atherosclerotic plaques.

Impact of zinc supplementation on the improved fructose/xylose utilization and butanol production during acetone-butanol-ethanol fermentation.

Lignocellulosic biomass and dedicated energy crops such as Jerusalem artichoke are promising alternatives for biobutanol production by solventogenic clostridia. However, fermentable sugars such as fructose or xylose released from the hydrolysis of these feedstocks were subjected to the incomplete utilization by the strains, leading to relatively low butanol production and productivity. When 0.

Zinc Finger Protein 259 (ZNF259) Polymorphisms are Associated with the Risk of Metabolic Syndrome in a Han Chinese Population.

Background: Zinc finger protein 259 (ZNF259) binds to the cytoplasmic domain of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in quiescent cells and contributes tolipid metabolism. This case and control study investigated the association between ZNF259 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and metabolic syndrome (MetS).

Methods: This study included 1,812 MetS patients and 2,036 controls from the Jilin province of Northeastern China.

Riboflavin concentration in corneal stroma after intracameral injection.

Aim: To evaluate the enrichment of riboflavin in the corneal stroma after intracameral injection to research the barrier ability of the corneal endothelium to riboflavin in vivo.

Methods: The right eyes of 30 New Zealand white rabbits were divided into three groups. Different concentrations riboflavin-balanced salt solutions (BSS) were injected into the anterior chamber (10 with 0.

[Effects on vascular permeability with different fluid resuscitation regimens during burn stage in swines].

Objective: To explore the effects of different fluid resuscitation regimens on vascular permeability during burn stage in swines.

Methods: A total of 24 Guangxi-BAMA miniature swines were numbered from 1 to 24 and randomly divided by EXCEL 2007 into 4 groups of succinylated gelatin, hydroxyethyl starch (HES 130/0.4), Parkland (lactated Ringer's solution) and allogeneic plasma (n = 6 each).

Polymorphisms of FGFR1 in HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV)-induced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in China. It is important to understand the genetic mechanisms underlying the development and progression of HBV-related HCC and to identify new biomarkers for clinical treatment. The important role of fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs) has been widely recognized in many types of cancers, but the association between FGFR polymorphisms and HCC carcinogenesis has been rarely reported.

Myeloperoxidase genetic polymorphisms and susceptibility to Kawasaki disease in Taiwanese children.

Background/purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the myeloperoxidase (MPO) -463G>A polymorphism in Kawasaki disease (KD) patients, and the relationship between gene polymorphism and MPO levels.

Methods: A total of 334 KD children and 492 sex-matched controls were assayed for polymorphism analysis. TaqMan assays were used for genotyping.

WEE1 kinase polymorphism as a predictive biomarker for efficacy of platinum-gemcitabine doublet chemotherapy in advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients.

DNA-damaging agents are commonly used for first-line chemotherapy of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). As a G2/M checkpoint kinase, Wee1 can phosphorylate CDC2-tyr15 and induce G2/M cell cycle arrest in response to DNA damage. The correlation of WEE1 polymorphisms to the efficacy of chemotherapy was tested in 663 advanced NSCLC patients.

Synthesis and insecticidal activity of β-dihydroagarofuran ether analogues.

Background: 1β, 2β, 4α, 6α, 8β, 9α, 12-hepthydroxyl-β-dihydroagarofuran is the main skeleton of β-dihydroagarofuran sesquiterpenoids, which exhibit excellent insecticidal activity. To study further the structure-activity relationship of β-dihydroagarofuran sesquiterpenoids towards finding novel botanical pesticides, two series of new structurally modified ether analogues were designed and synthesised, and their insecticidal activities were evaluated.

Results: Twenty-two ether derivatives were synthesised using 1β, 2β, 4α, 6α, 8β, 9α, 12-hepthydroxyl-β-dihydroagarofuran as starting material.

Efficient free fatty acid production in engineered Escherichia coli strains using soybean oligosaccharides as feedstock.

To be competitive with current petrochemicals, microbial synthesis of free fatty acids can be made to rely on a variety of renewable resources rather than on food carbon sources, which increase its attraction for governments and companies. Industrial waste soybean meal is an inexpensive feedstock, which contains soluble sugars such as stachyose, raffinose, sucrose, glucose, galactose, and fructose. Free fatty acids were produced in this report by introducing an acyl-ACP carrier protein thioesterase and (3R)-hydroxyacyl-ACP dehydratase into E.

Curcumin Analog L48H37 Prevents Lipopolysaccharide-Induced TLR4 Signaling Pathway Activation and Sepsis via Targeting MD2.

Endotoxin-induced acute inflammatory diseases such as sepsis, mediated by excessive production of various proinflammatory cytokines, remain the leading cause of mortality in critically ill patients. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), the characteristic endotoxin found in the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, can induce the innate immunity system and through the myeloid differentiation protein 2 (MD2) and Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) complex, increase the production of inflammatory mediators. Our previous studies have found that a curcumin analog, L48H37 [1-ethyl-3,5-bis(3,4,5-trimethoxybenzylidene)piperidin-4-one], was able to inhibit LPS-induced inflammation, particularly tumor necrosis factor α and interleukin 6 production and gene expression in mouse macrophages.

Nucleotides Acting at P2Y Receptors: Connecting Structure and Function.

Eight G protein-coupled P2Y receptor (P2YR) subtypes are important physiologic mediators. The human P2YRs are fully activated by ATP (P2Y2 and P2Y11), ADP (P2Y1, P2Y12, and P2Y13), UTP (P2Y2 and P2Y4), UDP (P2Y6 and P2Y14), and UDP glucose (P2Y14). Their structural elucidation is progressing rapidly.

Detoxification of biomass hydrolysates with nucleophilic amino acids enhances alcoholic fermentation.

Carbonyl compounds generated in biomass pretreatment hinder the biochemical conversion of biomass hydrolysates to biofuels. A novel approach of detoxifying hydrolysates with amino acids for ethanol production was developed. Among the 20 amino acids assessed for their detoxification efficiency and nucleophilicity, cysteine was the most effective one.

In vitro scleral lutein distribution by cyclodextrin containing nanoemulsions.

Lutein is a macular pigment that contributes to maintaining eye health. The development of lutein-laden nanocarriers for ocular delivery would have the advantages of user friendliness and cost-effectiveness. Nano-scaled vehicles such as cyclodextrin (CD) and nanoemulsion could overcome the barriers caused by the scleral structure.

Genetic susceptibility to prosthetic joint infection following total joint arthroplasty: A systematic review.

Background: Prosthetic joint infection (PJI) is the most common cause of total joint arthroplasty failure and revision surgery. Genetic polymorphisms could be determinant factors for PJI.

Methods: We performed a systematic research of Medline, Pubmed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar, and identified 11 studies with 34 kinds of gene polymorphisms, were included in the synthesis.

Diversity of platelet function and genetic polymorphism in clopidogrel-treated Chinese patients.

We investigated the correlation between genetic polymorphisms of cytochrome P450 enzyme genes and the outcome of clopidogrel treatment in 118 coronary disease patients after percutaneous coronary intervention at the Chinese PLA General Hospital. Patients were divided into an ischemia event relapse group (IERG) and a non-IERG group (NIERG) based on relapse of ischemia events within 6 months after percutaneous coronary intervention. Ischemia occurred in 26.

Evaluation of industrial Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains as the chassis cell for second-generation bioethanol production.

To develop a suitable Saccharomyces cerevisiae industrial strain as a chassis cell for ethanol production using lignocellulosic materials, 32 wild-type strains were evaluated for their glucose fermenting ability, their tolerance to the stresses they might encounter in lignocellulosic hydrolysate fermentation and their genetic background for pentose metabolism. The strain BSIF, isolated from tropical fruit in Thailand, was selected out of the distinctly different strains studied for its promising characteristics. The maximal specific growth rate of BSIF was as high as 0.

[Placental Foxp3 expression in patients with preeclampsia and correlation of Foxp3 gene locus 924 (rs2232365) polymorphism with preeclampsia].

Objective: To detect changes of Foxp3 expression in the decidua in patients with preeclampsia and investigate the correlation of Foxp3-924 (rs2232365) polymorphisms with preeclampsia.

Methods: From October 2011 to December 2012, 252 normal pregnant women and 156 preeclampsia patients of Han nationality from the same geographic region were tested for Foxp3-924 genotypes by polymerase chain reaction with sequence-specific primer (PCR-SSP). Sixty-eight of the patients with preeclampsia (33 with mild and 35 with severe preeclampsia) and 30 of the normal pregnant women were also examined for Foxp3 expression in the decidua using immunohistochemical method.