Increased PT/SS may play an important role in the pathogenesis of lumbar spondylolisthesis with degenerative lumbar scoliosis.

Objective: To explore the clinical and spinopelvic features in patients with lumbar spondylolisthesis and degenerative lumbar scoliosis (LSDLS) and those with standalone lumbar spondylolisthesis (SALS).

Patients And Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 130 patients with lumbar spondylolisthesis seen between 05/2013 and 12/2016 in our hospital. Propensity score matching was used to reduce an age distribution imbalance between the two groups.

Biosynthesis of Long-Chain N-Acyl Amide by a Truncated Polyketide Synthase-Nonribosomal Peptide Synthetase Hybrid Megasynthase in Fungi.

Truncated iterative polyketide synthase-nonribosomal peptide synthetase (PKS-NRPS) megasynthases in which only the C domain is present are widespread in fungi, yet nearly all members have unknown functions. Bioinformatics analysis showed that the C domains of such PKS-C enzymes are noncanonical due to substitution at the second histidine in the active site HHxxxDG motif. Here, we used genome mining strategy to characterize a cryptic PKS-C hybrid from Talaromyces wortmanii and discovered the products are reduced long-chain polyketides amidated with a specific ω-amino acid 5-aminopentanoic acid (5PA).

State-switchable and wavelength-tunable gain-switched mid-infrared fiber laser in the wavelength region around 2.94 μm.

We demonstrate a gain-switched singly Ho-doped ZBLAN fiber laser for the first time in the wavelength region around 2.94 μm which circumvents the strong water vapor lines. Four switchable gain-switched temporal states with 1/n (n = 4,3,2,1) pump repetition rates are first observed.

[Biomechanical effects on adjacent segments of different growing-rod fixation in early onset scoliosis].

To analyse the biomechanical effects on adjacent segments of different growing-rod (GR) fixation in early onset scoliosis through a finite element analysis method. A severe early-onset scoliosis patient was selected and the pre-operation and post-GR-operation (Upper instrumented levels: T(4), T(5). Lower instrumented levels: L(3), L(4)) whole spine 3-dimentional CT scan data were collected to build the finite models.

Autophagy enhanced antitumor effect in K562 and K562/ADM cells using realgar transforming solution.

Realgar transforming solution (RTS) can be produced from a biotransformation process by using microorganisms cultured with realgar in our lab. RTS has been demonstrated as a novel arsenic anti-leukemia agent in K562 and K562/ADM. However, its underlying mechanism is unclear.

Increased DOT1L in synovial biopsies of patients with OA and RA.

The studies aimed to determine the changes of histone methylation in synovial tissues of patients with osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Synovial tissues were obtained from 30 patients including 12 OA, 16 RA, and 2 trauma that were used as control. A histone methyltransferase DOT1L of the tissues was examined for transcript level with quantitative RT-PCR and protein expression with western blot.

Cascaded gain-switching in the mid-infrared region.

In this report, we demonstrate mid-infrared dual-waveband (i.e., ~3 μm and ~2 μm) pulses from a cascaded gain-switched Ho-doped ZBLAN fiber laser by the use of hybrid pumping of 1150 nm CW and pulse LDs for the first time.

Aspersymmetide A, a New Centrosymmetric Cyclohexapeptide from the Marine-Derived Fungus Aspergillus versicolor.

A new centrosymmetric cyclohexapeptide, aspersymmetide A (), together with a known peptide, asperphenamate (), was isolated from the fungus isolated from a gorgonian coral sp., collected from the South China Sea. The chemical structure of was elucidated by analyzing its NMR spectroscopy and MS spectrometry data, and the absolute configurations of the amino acids of were determined by Marfey's method and UPLC-MS analysis of the hydrolysate.

SNP mutations occurring in thyroid hormone receptor influenced individual susceptibility to triiodothyronine: Molecular dynamics and site-directed mutagenesis approaches.

The increasing evidences have suggested that expression of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) coded thyroid hormone receptors (THR) generally are associated with individual susceptibility to chemicals. In the present research, multiple molecular dynamics simulations on four SNP mutants (G332R, T337Δ, G345R, and G347E) were performed to investigate the structural and dynamical altering, which could lead to a binding capability variation to triiodothyronine (T3). It proved the structures of two SNP mutants (G345R and T337Δ) occurring in the THR proteins had experienced conformational change to a great extend, which also led to a significant decreasing in binding ability with T3.

Risk factors and preventative measures of early and persistent dysphagia after anterior cervical spine surgery: a systematic review.

Purpose: To conduct a systematic review of literature to determine risk factors and preventative measures of early and persistent dysphagia after anterior cervical spine surgery (ACSS).

Methods: On March 2017, we searched the database PubMed, Medline, EMBASE, the Cochrane library, Clinical key, Springer link and Wiley Online Library without time restriction using the term 'dysphagia', 'swallowing disorders', and 'anterior cervical spine surgery'. Selected papers were examined for the level of evidence by published guidelines as level I, level II, level III, level IV studies.

Genetically Determined Plasma Lipid Levels and Risk of Diabetic Retinopathy: A Mendelian Randomization Study.

Results from observational studies examining dyslipidemia as a risk factor for diabetic retinopathy (DR) have been inconsistent. We evaluated the causal relationship between plasma lipids and DR using a Mendelian randomization approach. We pooled genome-wide association studies summary statistics from 18 studies for two DR phenotypes: any DR ( = 2,969 case and 4,096 control subjects) and severe DR ( = 1,277 case and 3,980 control subjects).

Ultrathin Beta-Nickel hydroxide nanosheets grown along multi-walled carbon nanotubes: A novel nanohybrid for enhancing flame retardancy and smoke toxicity suppression of unsaturated polyester resin.

Novel nanohybrid (β-Ni(OH)-CNTs) obtained by ultrathin Beta-Nickel hydroxide (β-Ni(OH)) nanosheets grown along multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) was successfully synthesized and then incorporated into UPR to prepare UPR/β-Ni(OH)-CNTs nanocomposites. Structure of β-Ni(OH)-CNTs nanohybrid was confirmed by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy measurements. Compared with single CNTs or β-Ni(OH), the dispersion of β-Ni(OH)-CNTs in UPR was improved greatly.

SAM-dependent enzyme-catalysed pericyclic reactions in natural product biosynthesis.

Pericyclic reactions-which proceed in a concerted fashion through a cyclic transition state-are among the most powerful synthetic transformations used to make multiple regioselective and stereoselective carbon-carbon bonds. They have been widely applied to the synthesis of biologically active complex natural products containing contiguous stereogenic carbon centres. Despite the prominence of pericyclic reactions in total synthesis, only three naturally existing enzymatic examples (the intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction, and the Cope and the Claisen rearrangements) have been characterized.

Long-term clinical results following Charite III lumbar total disc replacement.

Background Context: Lumbar total disc replacement (TDR) operation represents an alternative to lumbar fusion for the treatment of symptomatic lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration and has gained increasing attention in recent years.

Purpose: This study aimed to assess clinical outcomes in a cohort of patients with TDR and the long-term survival rate of the prostheses.

Study Design: This is a retrospective, single-center clinical study.

Coordination Mechanism and Bio-Evidence: Reactive γ-Ketoenal Intermediated Hepatotoxicity of Psoralen and Isopsoralen Based on Computer Approach and Bioassay.

Psoralen and isopsoralen are secondary plant metabolites found in many fruits, vegetables, and medicinal herbs. Psoralen-containing plants ( L.) have been reported to cause hepatotoxicity.

Differentiating Chondrocytes from Peripheral Blood-derived Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells.

In this study, we used peripheral blood cells (PBCs) as seed cells to produce chondrocytes via induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) in an integration-free method. Following embryoid body (EB) formation and fibroblastic cell expansion, the iPSCs are induced for chondrogenic differentiation for 21 days under serum-free and xeno-free conditions. After chondrocyte induction, the phenotypes of the cells are evaluated by morphological, immunohistochemical, and biochemical analyses, as well as by the quantitative real-time PCR examination of chondrogenic differentiation markers.

ARID1A-mutated ovarian cancers depend on HDAC6 activity.

ARID1A, encoding a subunit of the SWI/SNF chromatin-remodelling complex, is the most frequently mutated epigenetic regulator across all human cancers. ARID1A and TP53 mutations are typically mutually exclusive. Therapeutic approaches that correlate with this genetic characteristic remain to be explored.

Near Full-Length Genome Sequence of a Novel HIV-1 Second-Generation Recombinant Form (CRF01_AE/CRF07_BC) Detected Among Blood Donors in North China.

In this study, a novel CRF01_AE/07_BC HIV-1 recombinant form, with five breakpoints in the pol, vpr, env, and nef gene regions, was identified from a voluntary blood donor in North China. Our study showed that this HIV-1 recombinant form might be a second-generation recombinant form from two predominant strains in the men who have sex with men (MSM) population, with the CRF07_BC fragments belonging to a CRF07_BC lineage specific to Chinese MSM and the CRF01_AE fragments belonging to the CRF01_AE lineage 5 common among MSM in northern China. Our findings supported the high-risk blood donation behaviors of MSM, implied the increasing complexity of the HIV-1 epidemic among the Chinese MSM population, and called more attention to the effectiveness of the screening test for the growing number of new HIV-1 recombinant forms.

High-resolution diffusion tensor imaging in cervical spondylotic myelopathy: a preliminary follow-up study.

Diffusion imaging is a promising technique as it can provide microstructural tissue information and thus potentially show viable changes in spinal cord. However, the traditional single-shot imaging method is limited as a result of various image artifacts. In order to improve measurement accuracy, we used a newly developed, multi-shot, high-resolution, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) method to investigate diffusion metric changes and compare them with T -weighted (T2W) images before and after decompressive surgery for cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM).

Structural Basis for Aza-Glycine Stabilization of Collagen.

Previously, we have demonstrated that replacement of the strictly conserved glycine in collagen with aza-glycine provides a general solution for stabilizing triple helical collagen peptides (Chenoweth, D. M.; et al.

Relationship between catecholamine level and gene polymorphism of β1 adrenergic receptor G1165C in children with EV71 infection in hand foot and mouth disease.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between the levels of plasma adrenaline and norepinephrine and gene polymorphism of β1 adrenergic receptor G1165C in children with enterovirus 71 (EV71) infection in hand foot and mouth disease (HFMD).

Methods: The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect the expression of gene polymorphism of β1 adrenergic receptor G1165C in vitro. The levels of plasma adrenaline and norepinephrine were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Cement leakage in osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures with cortical defect using high-viscosity bone cement during unilateral percutaneous kyphoplasty surgery.

The purpose of this study was to investigate cement leakage (CL) in osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs) with cortical defect using high-viscosity bone cement during unilateral percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) surgery.This study included a series of 77 patients (23 males, 54 females) with single level osteoporotic vertebral body fracture (OVCF) who underwent unilateral PKP in our hospital. Preoperative x-ray, computed tomography (CT) scan, and 3-dimensional reconstructions were studied.