[Surgical techniques and perioperative management for improving the success rate of orthotopic liver transplantation in rats].

Objective: To investigate the surgical techniques and appropriate perioperative management for ensuring successful orthotopic liver transplantation (ROLT) in rats.

Methods: Based on the double-cuff technique of Kamada, we modified the surgical techniques of separation, perfusion and cold preservation of the donor liver, shearing and anastomosis of the suprahepatic vena cava with optimized postoperative infusion protocols and animal care.

Results: Two hundred and seventy rats underwent ROLT and a learning curve of the success rate was built to reflect the improvement of techniques.

Downregulation of miR-151-5p contributes to increased susceptibility to arrhythmogenesis during myocardial infarction with estrogen deprivation.

Estrogen deficiency is associated with increased incidence of cardiovascular diseases. But merely estrogen supplementary treatment can induce many severe complications such as breast cancer. The present study was designed to elucidate molecular mechanisms underlying increased susceptibility of arrhythmogenesis during myocardial infarction with estrogen deprivation, which provides us a new target to cure cardiac disease accompanied with estrogen deprivation.

Anticancer loading and controlled release of novel water-compatible magnetic nanomaterials as drug delivery agents, coupled to a computational modeling approach.

The preparation, characterization and application of novel anticancer "epirubicin" (EPI) water-compatible magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers (M-MIPs) like artificial antibodies by computational design and chemical synthesis as a carrier for drug delivery is described herein. Two monomers: methacrylic acid (MAA) and methacrylamide (MAM) were selected by computational simulation from the four chemicals used. Covalent and non-covalent bonds were evaluated by this technique based on the interaction mode and energy with template or solvent.

Quantitative assessment of the influence of glutathione S-transferase T1 null variant on gastric cancer risk.

Glutathione S-transferase T1 (GSTT1) catalyzes reactions between glutathione and lipophilic compounds with electrophilic centers, leading to neutralization of toxic compounds, xenobiotics, and products of oxidative stress. In the past decade, a number of case-control studies have been carried out to investigate the relationship between the GSTT1 null polymorphism and gastric cancer (GC), but the results have been inconclusive. To investigate this inconsistency, we performed a meta-analysis of 46 studies involving a total of 9012 GC cases and 14,215 controls for null variant of the GSTT1 gene to evaluate the effect of GSTT1 on genetic susceptibility for GC.

Development of novel amphiphilic magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers compatible with biological fluids for solid phase extraction and physicochemical behavior study.

In the present work, a novel amphiphilic magnetic molecularly imprinted polymer (M-MIP) has been synthesized by a simple non covalent method for the loading of gatifloxacin (GTFX) in polar solvent. This nanomaterial used as sorbent has been applied to the solid phase extraction of GTFX in different spiked biological fluids. For the first time, studies of dispersibility and solubility behaviors with different solvents and water were performed to demonstrate amphiphilicity and also to find the better nanomaterial obtained.

Immobilized heavy chain-hyaluronic acid polarizes lipopolysaccharide-activated macrophages toward M2 phenotype.

Despite the known anti-inflammatory effect of amniotic membrane, its action mechanism remains largely unknown. HC-HA complex (HC-HA) purified from human amniotic membrane consists of high molecular weight hyaluronic acid (HA) covalently linked to the heavy chain (HC) 1 of inter-α-trypsin inhibitor. In this study, we show that soluble HC-HA also contained pentraxin 3 and induced the apoptosis of both formyl-Met-Leu-Phe or LPS-activated neutrophils and LPS-activated macrophages while not affecting the resting cells.

Characteristics of Wenchuan earthquake victims who remained in a government-supported transitional community.

Introduction: The Chinese government and provincial authorities built a large number of temporary communities to shelter survivors after the May 2008 Wenchuan earthquake. Most residents left within a few months but others remained. This study describes the characteristics and psychological status of those victims who remained in a government-supported transitional community 12 months post-earthquake compared to residents who departed prior to that time.

Identification of miRNAs and miRNA-mediated regulatory pathways in Carica papaya.

Plant microRNAs (miRNAs) post-transcriptionally regulate target gene expression to modulate growth and development and biotic and abiotic stress responses. By analyzing small RNA deep sequencing data in combination with the genome sequence, we identified 75 conserved miRNAs and 11 novel miRNAs. Their target genes were also predicted.

A pilot study of interpersonal psychotherapy for alcohol-dependent women with co-occurring major depression.

Background: Co-occurring major depression is prevalent among alcohol-dependent women and is a risk factor for poor treatment outcomes. This uncontrolled pilot study tested the feasibility, acceptability, and initial effects of interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) for women with co-occurring alcohol dependence and major depression (AD-MD) in an outpatient community addiction treatment program.

Methods: Fourteen female patients with concurrent diagnoses of alcohol dependence and major depression participated.

Combination of radiofrequency ablation and sequential cellular immunotherapy improves progression-free survival for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurs frequently after minimally invasive therapy. The aim of our study was to observe the efficiency and safety of the combined treatment of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) with cellular immunotherapy (CIT) for HCC patients. In our study, 62 patients with HCC who were treated with radical RFA were divided into two groups: RFA alone (32 patients) and RFA/CIT (30 patients).

[Expression of Nusap1 in the surgical margins of hepatocellular carcinoma and its association with early recurrence].

Objective: To detect the expression of Nusap1 of surgical margins in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and investigate its association with early tumor recurrence.

Methods: The expression of Nusap1 in the surgical margins of HCC, which were histopathologically negative for tumor cells, was examined using immunohistochemistry in 61 HCC cases.

Results: Fifteen of 21 (71.

Characterization of transcriptional complexity during longissimus muscle development in bovines using high-throughput sequencing.

Background: Beef cattle are among the most economically important animals in the world because they are farmed for their meat and leather. However, a lack of genetic information remains an obstacle to understanding the mechanisms behind the development of this animal. Analysis of the beef cattle transcriptome and its expression profile data are essential to extending the genetic information resources for this species and would support studies on this animal.

Classification accuracy of serum Apo A-I and S100B for the diagnosis of mild traumatic brain injury and prediction of abnormal initial head computed tomography scan.

The objective of the current study was to determine the classification accuracy of serum S100B and apolipoprotein (apoA-I) for mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and abnormal initial head computed tomography (CT) scan, and to identify ethnic, racial, age, and sex variation in classification accuracy. We performed a prospective, multi-centered study of 787 patients with mTBI who presented to the emergency department within 6 h of injury and 467 controls who presented to the outpatient laboratory for routine blood work. Serum was analyzed for S100B and apoA-I.

A novel metabolic balance model for describing the metabolic disruption of and interactions between cardiovascular-related markers during acute myocardial infarction.

Objective: After acute myocardial infarction (AMI), an integral evaluation of risk using multimarker approach and the understanding of the pathophysiological processes involved have recently received much attention. This study aimed to develop a model to integrally evaluate the metabolic disruption of cardiovascular-related markers and unveil their interactions after AMI.

Methods: AMI was induced in rats by coronary artery ligation.

Assay sensitivity and study features in neuropathic pain trials: an ACTTION meta-analysis.

Objective: Our objective was to identify patient, study, and site factors associated with assay sensitivity in placebo-controlled neuropathic pain trials.

Methods: We examined the associations between study characteristics and standardized effect size (SES) in a database of 200 publicly available randomized clinical trials of pharmacologic treatments for neuropathic pain.

Results: There was considerable heterogeneity in the SESs among the examined trials.

Ocular demodicosis as a risk factor of pterygium recurrence.

Purpose: To evaluate ocular demodicosis as a potential risk factor in pterygium recurrence.

Design: Cross-sectional study to correlate clinical findings with laboratory data.

Participants: We retrospectively reviewed 94 patients (43 with primary and 51 with recurrent pterygia), among whom 68 patients received surgical correction, and prospectively enrolled another 23 pterygium patients and 14 nonpterygium controls for measuring the tear level of interleukin (IL)-17.

Relationship of polymorphisms within ZBED6 gene and growth traits in beef cattle.

ZBED6 is a novel transcription factor that was identified and shown to act as a repressor of IGF2 transcription in skeletal muscle. The aim of this study was to examine the association of the ZBED6 polymorphism with growth traits in beef cattle breed. Three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified in the bovine ZBED6 by sequencing pooled DNA samples (Pool-Seq) and forced polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (Forced PCR-RFLP) methods.

Ternary K2Zn5As4-type pnictides Rb2Cd5As4 and Rb2Zn5Sb4, and the solid solution Rb2Cd5(As,Sb)4.

Dirubidium pentacadmium tetraarsenide, Rb2Cd5As4, dirubidium pentazinc tetraantimonide, Rb2Zn5Sb4, and the solid-solution phase dirubidium pentacadmium tetra(arsenide/antimonide), Rb2Cd5(As,Sb)4 [or Rb2Cd5As3.00(1)Sb1.00(1)], have been prepared by direct reaction of the component elements at high temperature.

Activation of mTOR ameliorates fragile X premutation rCGG repeat-mediated neurodegeneration.

Fragile X associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS) is a late onset neurodegenerative disorder caused by aberrant expansion of CGG repeats in 5' UTR of FMR1 gene. The elevated mRNA confers a toxic gain-of-function thought to be the critical event of pathogenesis. Expressing rCGG90 repeats of the human FMR1 5'UTR in Drosophila is sufficient to induce neurodegeneration.

Preparation of molecularly imprinted polymers on the surface of magnetic carbon nanotubes with a pseudo template for rapid simultaneous extraction of four fluoroquinolones in egg samples.

Fluoroquinolones (FQs) have emerged as one of the most important class of antibiotics. Due to their low concentration in bio-matrix samples which contain a lot of interfering substances, the efficient solid phase extraction and accurate determination of FQs remain a challenge. In this paper, a new strategy for the isolation and enrichment of FQs from egg samples was obtained by molecularly imprinted polymers on the surface of magnetic carbon nanotubes (MCNTs@MIP), which not only can be collected and separated rapidly by an external magnetic field, but also have a high specific surface area, outstanding mechanical properties and specific recognition for FQs.

SNV and haplotype analysis reveals new CSRP1 variants associated with growth and carcass traits.

The cysteine and glycine-rich protein 1 and 2 genes (CSRP1 and CSRP2) are an effective growth factor in promoting skeletal muscle growth in vitro and vivo. However, in cattle, the information on the CSRP1 and CSRP2 genes is very limited. The aim of this study was to examine the association of the CSRP1 and CSRP2 variants with growth and carcass traits in cattle breeds.

Microwave-assisted one-step green synthesis of amino-functionalized fluorescent carbon nitride dots from chitosan.

We present an economical, facile and effective microwave pyrolysis approach to synthesize highly amino-functionalized fluorescent carbon nitride dots (CNDs). The formation and the functionalization of CNDs was accomplished simultaneously through the dehydration of chitosan. It is suggested that these CNDs have good water solublility and exhibit strong fluorescence.

Identification and genetic effect of haplotype in the bovine BMP7 gene.

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are peptide growth factors belonging to the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) superfamily, and some members of the BMP family support white adipocyte differentiation. In this study, we focused on the BMP7 which singularly promotes the differentiation of brown preadipocytes. Haplotypes involving 5 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) sites in the bovine BMP7 gene were identified and their effect on body weight was analyzed.

Effects of salvianolic acid A on plasma and tissue dimethylarginine levels in a rat model of myocardial infarction.

: This study aimed to investigate the effects of salvianolic acid A (Sal A) on the time course of plasma and tissue dimethylarginine levels after myocardial infarction (MI) induced by left coronary artery ligation. The rats were assigned to 4 groups: Sham, MI, and MI treated with Sal A (1 or 5 mg/kg). The results showed that plasma symmetric dimethylarginine and asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) levels separately reached the peak at the first and second day after MI.