Mutational analysis of TOX3 in Chinese Han women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

A previous genome-wide association study of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) identified several susceptibility loci. TOX3 is the nearest gene to signal rs4784165. In the present study, all exons and exon-intron boundaries of TOX3 were amplified and sequenced in 200 Chinese women with PCOS.

Genome-wide identification of housekeeping genes in maize.

In the wake of recent progress of high throughput transcriptome profiling technologies, extensive housekeeping gene mining has been conducted in humans. However, very few studies have been reported in maize (Zea mays L.), an important crop plant, and none were conducted on a genome -wide level.

Reduced expression of p21-activated protein kinase 1 correlates with poor histological differentiation in pancreatic cancer.

Background: P21-activated protein kinase 1 (PAK1), a main downstream effector of small Rho GTPases, is overexpressed in many malignancies. PAK1 overexpression is associated with poor prognosis in some tumor types, including breast cancer, gastric cancer, and colorectal cancer. However, the expression and clinical relevance of PAK1 expression in human pancreatic cancer remains unknown.

Carbon nanotubes on nanoporous alumina: from surface mats to conformal pore filling.

Unlabelled: Control over nucleation and growth of multi-walled carbon nanotubes in the nanochannels of porous alumina membranes by several combinations of posttreatments, namely exposing the membrane top surface to atmospheric plasma jet and application of standard S1813 photoresist as an additional carbon precursor, is demonstrated. The nanotubes grown after plasma treatment nucleated inside the channels and did not form fibrous mats on the surface. Thus, the nanotube growth mode can be controlled by surface treatment and application of additional precursor, and complex nanotube-based structures can be produced for various applications.

Single-walled carbon nanotube-based polymer monoliths for the enantioselective nano-liquid chromatographic separation of racemic pharmaceuticals.

Single-walled carbon nanotubes were encapsulated into different polymer-based monolithic backbones. The polymer monoliths were prepared via the copolymerization of 20% monomers, glycidyl methacrylate, 20% ethylene glycol dimethacrylate and 60% porogens (36% 1-propanol, 18% 1,4-butanediol) or 16.4% monomers (16% butyl methacrylate, 0.

The role of low levels of fullerene C60 nanocrystals on enhanced learning and memory of rats through persistent CaMKII activation.

Engineered nanomaterials are known to exhibit diverse and sometimes unexpected biological effects. Fullerene nanoparticles have been reported to specifically bind to and elicit persistent activation of hippocampal Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII), a multimeric intracellular serine/threonine kinase central to Ca(2+) signal transduction and critical for synaptic plasticity, but the functional consequence of that modulation is unknown. Here we show that low doses of fullerene C60 nanocrystals (Nano C60), delivered through intrahippocampal infusion and without any obvious cytotoxicity in hippocampal neuronal cells, enhance the long-term potentiation (LTP) of rats.

Plasma-Enabled Carbon Nanostructures for Early Diagnosis of Neurodegenerative Diseases.

Carbon nanostructures (CNs) are amongst the most promising biorecognition nanomaterials due to their unprecedented optical, electrical and structural properties. As such, CNs may be harnessed to tackle the detrimental public health and socio-economic adversities associated with neurodegenerative diseases (NDs). In particular, CNs may be tailored for a specific determination of biomarkers indicative of NDs.

Extracting the globally and locally adaptive backbone of complex networks.

A complex network is a useful tool for representing and analyzing complex systems, such as the world-wide web and transportation systems. However, the growing size of complex networks is becoming an obstacle to the understanding of the topological structure and their characteristics. In this study, a globally and locally adaptive network backbone (GLANB) extraction method is proposed.

Association analysis identifies new risk loci for non-obstructive azoospermia in Chinese men.

Male factor infertility affects one-sixth of couples worldwide, and non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) is one of the most severe forms. Our previous genome-wide association study (GWAS) identified three susceptibility loci for NOA in Han Chinese men. Here we test promising associations in an extended three-stage validation using 3,608 NOA cases and 5,909 controls to identify additional risk loci.

Single-cell chemical proteomics with an activity-based probe: identification of low-copy membrane proteins on primary neurons.

We propose a novel single-cell chemical proteomics (SCCP) strategy to profile low-abundance membrane proteins in single cells. In this approach, the membrane protein GB1 and its splicing variants were targeted on cultured cell lines and primary neurons using a specifically designed activity-based probe. The functionally labeled single cells were encapsulated in individual buffer droplets on a PDMS microwell array, and were further picked up one at a time and loaded into a capillary electrophoresis system for cell lysis, separation, and laser-induced fluorescence detection of the targeted proteins.

Synergistic fusion of vertical graphene nanosheets and carbon nanotubes for high-performance supercapacitor electrodes.

Graphene and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are attractive electrode materials for supercapacitors. However, challenges such as the substrate-limited growth of CNTs, nanotube bundling in liquid electrolytes, under-utilized basal planes, and stacking of graphene sheets have so far impeded their widespread application. Here we present a hybrid structure formed by the direct growth of CNTs onto vertical graphene nanosheets (VGNS).

Organic/hybrid nanoparticles and single-walled carbon nanotubes: preparation methods and chiral applications.

Nanoparticles are molecular-sized solids with at least one dimension measuring between 1-100 nm or 10-1000 nm depending on the individual discipline's perspective. They are aggregates of anywhere from a few hundreds to tens of thousands of atoms which render them larger than molecules but smaller than bulk solids. Consequently, they frequently exhibit physical and chemical properties somewhere between.

Atoh1 expression levels define the fate of rat cochlear nonsensory epithelial cells in vitro.

Atonal homolog 1 (Atoh1) is a basic helix‑loop‑helix transcription factor that is essential for inner ear hair cell differentiation. Previous studies have reported that Atoh1 gene transfer induces the production of ectopic hair cell‑like cells (EHCLCs). In the present study, the effect of different Atoh1 expression levels and the duration of EHCLC formation on the lesser epithelial ridge (LER) of cochleae was examined using a human adenovirus serotype 5 (Ad5) vector encoding atoh1 and the reporter gene EGFP.

Improvement of microcirculation and wound healing in vertical ridge augmentation after pre-treatment with self-inflating soft tissue expanders - a randomized study in dogs.

Objectives: We investigated the effect of soft tissue expansion (STE) on vertical ridge augmentation with regard to the incidence of wound dehiscences and the impairment of microcirculation in dogs, and the applicability of laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) to explore the relation between microcirculation and wound healing.

Material And Methods: Bone defects were created on both mandibular sides in ten beagle dogs by extraction of premolars and removal of bone. Six weeks later, self-filling tissue expanders were implanted in randomly assigned test sites.

[Imaging evaluation of the cases with tympanicum and pulsatile tinnitus].

Objective: To analyze the CT and MRI features of glomus tympanicum tumors accompanied with tympanitis and evaluate the diagnostic value of CT and MRI in order to improve the cognition for the disease.

Methods: The clinical materials and images of 8 patients with the symptoms of pulsatile tinnitus and hearing loss in whom glomus tympanicum tumors with tympanitis surgically and pathologically confirmed were retrospectively reviewed. The characteristics and diagnostic value of CT and MR imaging were summarized.

Caffeine inhibits the activation of hepatic stellate cells induced by acetaldehyde via adenosine A2A receptor mediated by the cAMP/PKA/SRC/ERK1/2/P38 MAPK signal pathway.

Unlabelled: Hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation is an essential event during alcoholic liver fibrosis. Evidence suggests that adenosine aggravates liver fibrosis via the adenosine A2A receptor (A2AR). Caffeine, which is being widely consumed during daily life, inhibits the action of adenosine.

[Clinical analysis of the diagnosis and treatment of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo by TRV-CRP].

Objective: To explore the effective of the new mechanical assistant canalith repositioning procedure (TRV-CRP) to the diagnosis and treatment of the benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV).

Method: The data of the cases with suspected diagnosis of BPPV from April to June of 2012 checked and treated by TRV-CRP in our vestibular function checking room were collected and analyzed. All of the cases were followed up to one to three months.

Atmospheric gas plasma-induced ROS production activates TNF-ASK1 pathway for the induction of melanoma cancer cell apoptosis.

Atmospheric gas plasmas (AGPs) are able to selectively induce apoptosis in cancer cells, offering a promising alternative to conventional therapies that have unwanted side effects such as drug resistance and toxicity. However, the mechanism of AGP-induced cancer cell death is unknown. In this study, AGP is shown to up-regulate intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and induce apoptosis in melanoma but not normal melanocyte cells.

Prognostic relevance of Period1 (Per1) and Period2 (Per2) expression in human gastric cancer.

Period1 (Per1) and Period2 (Per2) are members of the circadian genes. Mounting evidence suggests that the deregulation of the circadian clock plays an important role in the development of mammalian cancer. However, the expression and clinical significance of Per1 and Per2 in gastric cancer is still unexplored.

Hypomethylation of the LH/choriogonadotropin receptor promoter region is a potential mechanism underlying susceptibility to polycystic ovary syndrome.

Our previous genome-wide association study identified LH/choriogonadotropin receptor (LHCGR) as a susceptibility gene for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The objective of this study was to determine whether the genetic or epigenetic components associated with LHCGR participate in the pathogenesis of PCOS. The exons and flanking regions of LHCGR were sequenced from 192 women with PCOS, and no novel somatic mutations were identified.

Soft tissue perineurioma with peripheral lymphoid cuff of the tongue: a case report and literature review.

Perineurioma are rare tumors, derived from nerve sheath perineurial cells. Soft tissue perineurioma are extraordinarily rare in the tongue, with only one previous report in a child to our knowledge. Herein, we describe the first case of an adult patient who had a soft tissue perineurioma localized to the tongue, with emphasis on the clinic pathologic and immunohistochemical features of this tumor, and review the previously reported soft tissue cases.

High-Voltage Insulation Organic-Inorganic Nanocomposites by Plasma Polymerization.

In organic-inorganic nanocomposites, interfacial regions are primarily influenced by the dispersion uniformity of nanoparticles and the strength of interfacial bonds between the nanoparticles and the polymer matrix. The insulating performance of organic-inorganic dielectric nanocomposites is highly influenced by the characteristics of interfacial regions. In this study, we prepare polyethylene oxide (PEO)-like functional layers on silica nanoparticles through plasma polymerization.