SGLT2 inhibitor empagliflozin alleviates cardiac remodeling and contractile anomalies in a FUNDC1-dependent manner in experimental Parkinson's disease.

Recent evidence shows a close link between Parkinson's disease (PD) and cardiac dysfunction with limited treatment options. Mitophagy plays a crucial role in the control of mitochondrial quantity, metabolic reprogramming and cell differentiation. Mutation of the mitophagy protein Parkin is directly associated with the onset of PD.

[Laparoscopic management of persistent Müllerian duct syndrome: A case report and pedigree investigation].

Objective: To investigate the clinical characteristics, diagnosis, treatment and etiology of persistent Müllerian duct syndrome (PMDS).

Methods: A 3-year-old boy was diagnosed with PMDS according to the clinical manifestations and the results of ultrasonography, laboratory examinations and earlier surgical examination. We performed genetic tests for the patient and his family members, removed the infantile uterus by laparoscopic wedge hysterectomy, biopsied and descended the bilateral testes, and ligated the bilateral internal rings, followed by a retrospective analysis and review of relevant literature.

Congenital cytomegalovirus infection and the risk of hearing loss in childhood: A PRISMA-compliant meta-analysis.

Background: Congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) infection is the most common cause of childhood hearing loss (HL), although the strength of this association remains limited and inconclusive. Thus, the purpose of this study was to summarize evidence regarding the strength of the relationship between cCMV and childhood HL and to determine whether this relationship differs according to patient characteristics.

Methods: The PubMed, EmBase, and Cochrane Library databases were searched for studies evaluating the relationship between cCMV and HL from inception to September 2019.

Laboratory Research and Evaluation on Design and Application Performance of High-Performance Cold-Mix Resin.

To improve the safety of orthotropic steel bridge decks and the construction efficiency of bridge deck pavement by enhancing the performance of pavement materials, a new-generation, high-performance cold-mix resin was prepared by carrying out the combination of micro-characteristic analysis and performance test. Meanwhile, the pavement performance and fatigue performance of high-performance cold-mix resin mixtures and hot-mix epoxy saphalt mixtures as a control group were studied experimentally. The results show that different kinds of epoxy resins show bisphenol structure in essence.

Mechanical Properties and Uniaxial Compression Stress-Strain Relation of Recycled Coarse Aggregate Concrete after Carbonation.

The application of recycled coarse aggregate (RCA) made from waste concrete to replace natural coarse aggregate (NCA) in concrete structures can essentially reduce the excessive consumption of natural resources and environmental pollution. Similar to normal concrete structures, recycled concrete structures would also suffer from the damage of carbonation, which leads to the deterioration of durability and the reduction of service life. This paper presents the experimental results of the cubic compressive strength, the static elastic modulus and the stress-strain relation of recycled coarse aggregate concrete (RAC) after carbonation.

The role of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma and adiponectin in children with Kawasaki disease.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) mRNA, serum adiponectin (ADP) and lipids in paediatric patients with Kawasaki disease (KD).

Methods: This prospective study enrolled paediatric patients with KD and grouped them according to the presence or absence of coronary artery lesions (CAL). A group of healthy age-matched children were recruited as the control group.

[Clinical screening and genetic diagnosis for Prader-Willi syndrome].

Objective: To study the clinical screening and genetic diagnosis of children suspected of Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS), as well as the differences in the scores of clinical diagnostic criteria among the children with a confirmed diagnosis of PWS.

Methods: A total of 94 children suspected of PWS who were admitted from July 2016 to December 2018 were enrolled as subjects. Methylation-specific multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MS-MLPA) was performed to confirm the diagnosis.

[Association of +45 and +276 polymorphisms in the adiponectin gene with the development of Kawasaki disease].

Objective: To investigate the distribution of adiponectin +45T/G and +276G/T polymorphisms and its association with the development of Kawasaki disease and coronary artery lesion (CAL).

Methods: A total of 81 children with Kawasaki disease (among whom 11 had CAL) and 100 normal children who underwent physical examination (control group) were enrolled in a case-control study. Sequencing was performed to investigate the distribution of adiponectin +45T/G and +276G/T polymorphisms.

Fast Eruption Desorption Ionization for Mass Spectrometric Analysis.

Fast eruption desorption ionization (FEDI) technique was developed for simple, rapid, and sensitive analysis of various compounds. The FEDI allows three analytical modes each with the unique characteristic. The results demonstrated that non-assisted eruption was suitable for stable and volatile compounds, energetic material (EM)-assisted for nonvolatile molecules especially metal compounds, and solvent-assisted eruption for fragile molecules.

Profiling microRNA from Brain by Microarray in a Transgenic Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs, which regulate numerous cell functions by targeting mRNA for cleavage or translational repression, and have been found to play an important role in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Our study aimed to identify differentially expressed miRNAs in AD brain as a reference of potential therapeutic miRNAs or biomarkers for this disease. We used amyloid precursor protein (APP) and presenilin 1 (PS1) double transgenic mice and age-matched wild-type (WT) littermates to determine the expression of miRNAs in the brain.

[Serum adiponectin levels in children with Kawasaki disease].

Objective: To explore the change in serum adiponectin levels and its significance in children with Kawasaki disease (KD).

Methods: Forty-five KD patients were enrolled in this study, including 18 with coronary artery lesions (CAL group) and 27 without coronary artery lesions (NCAL group). Twenty healthy children were recruited to the control group.

Skin texture parameters of the dorsal hand in evaluating skin aging in China.

Background/purpose: There are various non-invasive methods in skin morphology for assessing skin aging. The use of digital photography will make it easier and more convenient. In this study, we explored some skin texture parameters for evaluating skin aging using digital image processing.

Diurnal variations in solar ultraviolet radiation at typical anatomical sites.

Objective: Solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation is an important environmental factor that affects human health. The understanding of diurnal variations of UV radiation at anatomical sites may be helpful in developing ways to protect humans from the harmful effects of UV radiation.

Methods: In order to characterize the diurnal variations, the UV exposure values were measured at 30 min intervals by using Solar-UV Sensors and a rotating manikin in Shenyang city of China (41 degrees 51'N, 123 degrees 27'E).

Effects of UVA on TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, and IL-10 expression levels in human keratinocytes and intervention studies with an antioxidant and a JNK inhibitor.

Objective: To understand the expressions and transduction pathways of cytokines in ultraviolet (UV)A-irradiated keratinocytes.

Methods: We cultured human keratinocytes of the HaCaT cell line and investigated both mRNA and protein expressions of cytokines in cells that were not irradiated or were exposed to 2.4 J/cm(2) UVA, with or without an antioxidant (beta-carotene) or a c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) inhibitor (SP600125).

Molecular cloning and characterization of cDNA encoding fibrinolytic enzyme-3 from earthworm Eisenia foetida.

The earthworm fibrinolytic enzyme-3 (EFE-3, GenBank accession No: AY438622), from the earthworm Eisenia foetida, is a component of earthworm fibrinolytic enzymes. In this study, cDNA encoding the EFE-3 was cloned by RT-PCR. The cDNA contained an open reading frame of 741 nucleotides, which encoded a deduced protein of 247 amino acid residues, including signal sequences.