The complex behavioral phenotype of 15q13.3 microdeletion syndrome.

Background: Chromosome 15q13.3 represents a hotspot for genomic rearrangements due to repetitive sequences mediating nonallelic homologous recombination. Deletions of 15q13.

Calcium Deficiency Triggers Phloem Remobilization of Cadmium in a Hyperaccumulating Species.

Understanding cadmium (Cd) accumulation in plants is critical for the development of plant-based strategies for soil remediation and crop safety. Sedum alfredii is a nonbrassica plant species known to hyperaccumulate Cd. The characteristics of Cd uptake, distribution, and retranslocation affected by the Ca status were investigated at cellular levels in S.

Highly active, stable and self-antimicrobial enzyme catalysts prepared by biomimetic mineralization of copper hydroxysulfate.

A nature-inspired approach to encapsulate enzymes in spindle-like copper hydroxysulfate nanocrystals was developed by a biomimetic mineralization process. Several types of enzymes including glucose oxidase (GOx), horseradish peroxidase (HRP), Candida antarctica lipase B (CALB) and cytochrome c (Cyt c) were successfully encapsulated in copper hydroxysulfate nanocrystals quickly (within 1 hour) with maintained or even greatly enhanced catalytic efficiencies (k/K of Cyt c showed a 143-fold increase) and high stabilities, demonstrating the feasibility of utilizing copper hydroxysulfate nanocrystals as a novel type of nanocarrier for enzyme immobilization. In addition, by this approach, for the first time, we showed that an immobilized enzyme can be endowed with self-antibacterial activity by an inorganic component.

Direct Intertube Cross-Linking of Carbon Nanotubes at Room Temperature.

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have long been regarded as an efficient free radical scavenger because of the large-conjugation system in their electronic structures. Hence, despite abundant reports on CNT reacting with incoming free radical species, current research has not seen CNT itself displaying the chemical reactivity of free radicals. Here we show that reactive free radicals can in fact be generated on carbon nanotubes via reductive defluorination of highly fluorinated single-walled carbon nanotubes (FSWNTs).

Deubiquitinase USP2a Sustains Interferons Antiviral Activity by Restricting Ubiquitination of Activated STAT1 in the Nucleus.

STAT1 is a critical transcription factor for regulating host antiviral defenses. STAT1 activation is largely dependent on phosphorylation at tyrosine 701 site of STAT1 (pY701-STAT1). Understanding how pY701-STAT1 is regulated by intracellular signaling remains a major challenge.

N'-[(3-[benzyloxy]benzylidene]-3,4,5-trihydroxybenzohydrazide (1) protects mice against colitis induced by dextran sulfate sodium through inhibiting NFκB/IL-6/STAT3 pathway.

IBD has attracted much attention for its negative influence on the quality of life and increased risk of colorectal cancer. In this study, we discovered the inhibitory activity of the polyphenol compound (1) in DSS induced colitis in mice by targeting NFκB/IL-6/STAT3 pathway. This compound effectively protected against body weight loss and colon length shortening induced by DSS.

Tobacco TTG2 regulates vegetative growth and seed production via the predominant role of ARF8 in cooperation with ARF17 and ARF19.

Background: Plant TRANSPARENT TESTA GLABRA (TTG) proteins regulate various developmental activities via the auxin signaling pathway. Recently, we elucidated the developmental role of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) NtTTG2 in association with 12 genes that putatively encode AUXIN RESPONSIVE FACTOR (ARF) proteins, including NtARF8, NtARF17, and NtARF19.

Development of hydroxy-based sphingosine kinase inhibitors and anti-inflammation in dextran sodium sulfate induced colitis in mice.

Sphingosine kinase (SphK)-catalyzed production of sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) regulates cell growth, survival and proliferation as well as inflammatory status in animals. In recent study we reported the N'-(3-(benzyloxy)benzylidene)-3,4,5-trihydroxybenzohydrazide scaffold as a potent SphK inhibitor. As a continuation of these efforts, 51 derivatives were synthesized and evaluated by SphK1/2 inhibitory activities for structure-activity relationship (SAR) study.

[Investigation on human infections in Nanchang City in 2014].

Objective: To investigate the endemic situation of human infection in Nanchang City in 2014 and analyze the influencing factors, so as to provide the evidence for control measures.

Methods: The high-risk population of infection in Nanchang City was collected as an experiment group, and a control group was settled with the ratio of 1∶1. The serum tests and epidemiology surveys were conducted simultaneously, and the influencing factors were analyzed.

[Survey of epidemic status of principal human parasites in Jiangxi Province in 2014].

Objective: To understand and analyze the epidemic status of principal human parasites in Jiangxi Province, so as to provide the evidence for formulating The 13rd Five-Year Project of Parasites Control.

Methods: A survey was performed according to the scheme of The 3rd National Survey of Principal Human Parasites as well as the specific situation of Jiangxi Province. The survey of the soil-transmitted nematodes and intestinal protozoa were performed based on the ecological regions and stratified by economic and geographic situation.

Pancreatic metastasis resulting from thymic neuroendocrine carcinoma: A case report.

Thymic neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) is a rare type of cancer. Unlike other thymic epithelial tumors and carcinoids originating in other locations, thymic NEC possesses a more aggressive biological behavior, including invasion to proximal structures, local recurrence and distant hematogenous metastasis. Distant metastasis is often observed in the bones, lungs, spleen, liver and adrenal glands.

[Observation on comprehensive control strategy for schistosomiasis with emphasis on infectious source control in Poyang Lake areas from 2009 to 2014].

Objective: To evaluate the long-term effect of the comprehensive control strategy for schistosomiasis with emphasis on infectious source control in marshland-type endemic areas of Poyang Lake.

Methods: Three heavy endemic villages with schistosomiasis in the lake areas were selected as pilots for the comprehensive control strategy which included replacing bovine with tractors and forbidding grazing on marshlands. The data of schistosome infections of residents and Oncomelania hupensis snails were collected and analyzed statistically from 2009 to 2014.

Polydopamine tethered enzyme/metal-organic framework composites with high stability and reusability.

An enzyme/metal-organic framework (MOF) composite with both highly stable and easily reusable features was prepared via tethering enzyme/MOF nanocrystals with polydopamine (PDA). The micrometer-sized PDA tethered enzyme/MOF composite can be easily repeatedly used without obvious activity loss, promising for efficient enzymatic catalysis at low cost with long-term operational stability under harsh conditions.

A study of deafness-related genetic mutations as a basis for strategies to prevent hereditary hearing loss in Hebei, China.

Hearing loss is the most common sensory disorder, and at least 50% of cases are due to a genetic etiology. Two-thirds of individuals with congenital deafness are nonsyndromic. Among the nonsyndromic forms, the large majority are monogenic autosomal recessive traits.

Facilitated Neural Differentiation of Adipose Tissue-Derived Stem Cells by Electrical Stimulation and Nurr-1 Gene Transduction.

Neuron-like cells derived from adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ADSCs) have been considered one of the most promising cells for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases and neurotrauma in the central nervous system (CNS). Thus far, extensive efforts have been made to facilitate neuronal differentiation of ADSCs, but limited progress has been achieved. In the present study, we tested the possibility of using a combination of electrical stimulation (ES) with Nurr-1 gene transduction to promote neuronal differentiation of ADSCs.

Facile synthesis of multiple enzyme-containing metal-organic frameworks in a biomolecule-friendly environment.

The one-step and facile synthesis of multi-enzyme-containing metal-organic framework (MOF) nanocrystals in aqueous solution at 25 °C was reported in this study. The GOx&HRP/ZIF-8 nanocomposite displayed high catalytic efficiency, high selectivity and enhanced stability due to the protecting effect of the framework.

Transfemoral Device Occlusion and Minimally Invasive Surgical Repair for Doubly Committed Subarterial Ventricular Septal Defects.

Transfemoral device occlusion and minimally invasive surgical repair are performed for doubly committed subarterial ventricular septal defect (dcVSD) to reduce the invasiveness of the conventional surgical repair through a median sternotomy. However, few studies have compared them in terms of effectiveness and cost. Inpatients with isolated dcVSD who had undergone transfemoral device occlusion or minimally invasive surgical repair from January 2011 to June 2014 were reviewed for a comparative investigation between the two procedures.

A general method for synthesizing enzyme-polymer conjugates in reverse emulsions using Pluronic as a reactive surfactant.

Using aldehyde-functionalized Pluronic as the reactive surfactant, enzyme-Pluronic conjugates with sizes ranging from nanometers to micrometers were synthesized in reverse emulsions. Compared with the direct conjugation in aqueous solution, this method gave an increased conjugation efficiency and well-controlled size of the conjugates. The versatility of this method was validated using horseradish peroxidase (HRP), Candida rugosa lipase (CRL) and Candida antarctica lipase B (CALB).

Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and core antigen (HBcAg) combine CpG oligodeoxynucletides as a novel therapeutic vaccine for chronic hepatitis B infection.

Hepatitis B virus infection is a non-cytopathic hepatotropic virus which can lead to chronic liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma. Traditional therapies fail to provide sustained control of viral replication and liver damage in most patients. As an alternative strategy, immunotherapeutic approaches have shown promising efficacy in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B patients.

Aberrant expression and dysfunction of TLR2 and its soluble form in chronic HBV infection and its regulation by antiviral therapy.

Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) plays an important role in the immunopathogenesis of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. The relationship between TLR2 expression and clinical outcome of chronic HBV infection is not yet elucidated in details so far. Here, we employed clinical cohorts to investigate TLR2 expression and function in different phases of HBV infection and dynamic changes of TLR2 expression in HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients during antiviral therapy.

Association of CYP2D6*10, OATP1B1 A388G, and OATP1B1 T521C polymorphisms and overall survival of breast cancer patients after tamoxifen therapy.

Background: The global incidence of breast cancer is increasing, mainly due to the sharp rise in breast cancer incidence in Asia. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of CYP2D6*10 (c.100C>T and c.

Hepatitis B virus reactivation and hepatitis in gastrointestinal cancer patients after chemotherapy.

Purpose: The objectives of this study were to investigate the incidences of hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation and hepatitis in gastrointestinal cancer patients with positive hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) after chemotherapy and assess the effect of antiviral therapy on preventing HBV reactivation and hepatitis.

Methods: The medical records of gastric or colorectal cancer patients with positive HBsAg undergoing chemotherapy in West China Hospital were reviewed from January 2009 to August 2014.

Results: One hundred and fifty-six patients were included.

c-Jun gene-modified Schwann cells: upregulating multiple neurotrophic factors and promoting neurite outgrowth.

Genetically modified Schwann cells (SCs) that overexpress neurotrophic factors (NFs), especially those that overexpress multiple NFs, hold great potential for promoting nerve regeneration. Currently, only one NF can be upregulated in most genetically modified SCs, and simultaneously upregulating multiple NFs in SCs remains challenging. In this study, we found that the overexpression of c-Jun, a component of the AP-1 transcription factor, effectively upregulated the expression and secretion of multiple NFs, including glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, artemin, leukemia inhibitory factor, and nerve growth factor.

Generation of hepatitis B virus PreS2-S antigen in Hansenula polymorpha.

Despite the long availability of a traditional prophylactic vaccine containing the HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) and aluminum adjuvant, nearly 10% of the population remains unable to generate an effective immune response. Previous studies have indicated that hepatitis B virus (HBV) PreS2-S is abundant in T/B cell epitopes, which induces a stronger immune response than HBsAg, particularly in terms of cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) reaction. In the current study, the HBV PreS2-S gene encoding an extra 26 amino acids (PreS2 C-terminus) located at the N-terminus of HBsAg was cloned into the pVCH1300 expression vector.