Rapid analysis of synthetic cannabinoids using a miniature mass spectrometer with ambient ionization capability.

Synthetic cannabinoids are an emerging class of drugs of abuse and are of a great concern for transport control and usage regulation. In this study, we have developed rapid analytical methods using a miniature mass spectrometer for the identification of synthetic cannabinoids, as the traces of bulk powders on surfaces or substances in blood and urine. Significantly simplified work flows were developed by employing two ambient ionization methods, the paper spray and extraction spray ionization.

[Construction of genetically engineered strain producing 5- oxomilbemycin by knocking out milF in Steptomyces hygroscopicus HS023].

Objective: To construct a 5-oxomilbemycin producing strain by knocking out milF gene in Streptomyces hygroscopicus HS023.

Methods: Plasmid pMSST-ΔmilF was constructed and introduced into milbemycin industrial strain Streptomyces hygroscopicus HS023, and milF mutant F2-18 was selected by PCR amplification.

Results: Fermentation experiments showed that no milbemycins was produced in F2-18, but 5-ketomilbemycin, the intermediate of milbemycin, was obviously accumulated, and the fermentation titer was enhanced.

The effects of insulin pre-administration in mice exposed to ethanol: alleviating hepatic oxidative injury through anti-oxidative, anti-apoptotic activities and deteriorating hepatic steatosis through SRBEP-1c activation.

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) has become an important liver disease hazard to public and personal health. Oxidative stress is believed to be responsible for the pathological changes in ALD. Previous studies have showed that insulin, a classic regulator of glucose metabolism, has significant anti-oxidative function and plays an important role in maintaining the redox balance.

Comprehensive analysis of fatty alcohol ethoxylates by ultra high pressure hydrophilic interaction chromatography coupled with ion mobility spectrometry mass spectrometry using a custom-designed sub-2 μm column.

Comprehensive analysis of fatty alcohol ethoxylates has been conducted by coupling ultra high pressure hydrophilic interaction chromatography and ion mobility spectrometry mass spectrometry. A custom-designed sub-2 μm column was used for the chromatographic separation of fatty alcohol ethoxylates by hydrophilic interaction chromatography. Ion mobility spectrometry provided a post-ionization resolution during a very short period of 6.

A common genetic variant as an effect modifier for primary angle closure glaucoma.

Background: Epidemiological studies provide evidence of a genetic basis for primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG), and genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified various candidate genes as susceptibility loci. However, different results produced by previous studies make the role of a common genetic variant in the COL11A1 gene (rs3753841) remains elusive. Thus, we carried out a meta-analysis, attempting to determine the association of rs3753841 with PACG.

A high-efficiency recombineering system with PCR-based ssDNA in Bacillus subtilis mediated by the native phage recombinase GP35.

Bacillus subtilis and its closely related species are important strains for industry, agriculture, and medicine. However, it is difficult to perform genetic manipulations using the endogenous recombination machinery. In many bacteria, phage recombineering systems have been employed to improve recombineering frequencies.

Simultaneous determination of 15 nitroimidazoles in cosmetics by HPLC coupled with electrospray ionization- tandem mass spectrometry.

A sensitive and reliable analytical method based on HPLC/MSIMS has been developed for the simultaneous determination of 15 nitroimidazoles in cosmetics. A diversity of cosmetic samples, including powder, lotion, shampoo, and cream were collected. The samples were ultrasonically extracted with aqueous methanol, and the extracts were then subjected to cleanup bySPE using an Oasis HLB cartridge followed by filtration with a 0.

Hydrogen peroxide modulates the proliferation/quiescence switch in the liver during embryonic development and posthepatectomy regeneration.

Aims: The liver undergoes marked changes in the rate of proliferation during normal development and regeneration through the coordinated activity of numerous signaling pathways. Little is known, however, about the events that act upstream of these signaling pathways. Here, we explore the modulatory effects of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) on these pathways in the context of liver development and regeneration.

Low-dose-intensity bevacizumab with weekly irinotecan for platinum- and taxanes-resistant epithelial ovarian cancer.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of low-dose-intensity bevacizumab and weekly irinotecan as salvage treatment for patients with platinum- and taxanes-resistant advanced epithelial ovarian cancer.

Methods: Fifty-two patients with platinum- and taxanes-resistant advanced epithelial ovarian cancer received bevacizumab 5 mg/Kg days 1 and 15; irinotecan 60 mg/m(2) days 1, 8 and 15. The combined therapy was repeated every 28 days, up to six cycles.

Nitrogen-driven stem elongation in poplar is linked with wood modification and gene clusters for stress, photosynthesis and cell wall formation.

Background: Nitrogen is an important nutrient, often limiting plant productivity and yield. In poplars, woody crops used as feedstock for renewable resources and bioenergy, nitrogen fertilization accelerates growth of the young, expanding stem internodes. The underlying molecular mechanisms of nitrogen use for extension growth in poplars are not well understood.

[Identification of pearl powder using microscopic infrared reflectance spectroscopy].

Pearl is a precious ornament and traditional Chinese medicine, which application history in China is more than 2000 years. It is well known that the chemical ingredients of shell and pearl are very similar, which all of them including calcium carbonate and various amino acids. Generally, shell powders also can be used as medicine; however, its medicinal value is much lower than that of pearl powders.

The role of microRNA-133b and its target gene FSCN1 in gastric cancer.

Background: Increasing evidences have documented that microRNAs (miRNAs) act as oncogenes or tumor suppressors in gastric cancer (GC). In this study, we aimed to investigate the expression of miR-133b in a large number of GC samples and elucidate its role in GC carcinogenesis and the detailed mechanism.

Methods: We used Taqman probe stem-loop real-time PCR to accurately measure the levels of miR-133b in 100 pairs of gastric cancer tissues and the adjacent non-neoplastic tissues.

Quantification and dynamic monitoring of EGFR T790M in plasma cell-free DNA by digital PCR for prognosis of EGFR-TKI treatment in advanced NSCLC.

Background: Among advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with an acquired resistance to epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKI), about 50% carry the T790M mutation, but this frequency in EGFR-TKI-naïve patients and dynamic change during therapy remains unclear. This study investigated the quantification and dynamic change of T790M mutation in plasma cell-free DNA (cf-DNA) of advanced NSCLC patients to assess the clinical outcomes of EGFR-TKI therapy.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively investigated 135 patients with advanced NSCLC who obtained progression-free survival (PFS) after EGFR-TKI for >6 months for their EGFR sensitive mutations and T790M mutation in matched pre- and post-TKI plasma samples, using denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC), amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS), and digital-PCR (D-PCR).

Magnetron sputtered zinc oxide nanorods as thickness-insensitive cathode interlayer for perovskite planar-heterojunction solar cells.

Suitable electrode interfacial layers are essential to the high performance of perovskite planar heterojunction solar cells. In this letter, we report magnetron sputtered zinc oxide (ZnO) film as the cathode interlayer for methylammonium lead iodide (CH3NH3PbI3) perovskite solar cell. Scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis demonstrate that the sputtered ZnO films consist of c-axis aligned nanorods.

Analysis of BIM (BCL-2 like 11 gene) deletion polymorphism in Chinese non-small cell lung cancer patients.

Background: Drug resistance significantly weakens the efficacy of cancer treatment, and the BIM (also known as the BCL2L11 gene) deletion polymorphism has been identified as a potential biomarker for drug resistance. In this retrospective study, we included a total of 290 patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who received treatment with epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) and chemotherapy.

Methods: The BIM deletion polymorphism of each patient was detected by polymerase chain reaction.

Rechallenge with pemetrexed-based chemotherapy improves the survival of patients with advanced non-squamous non-small-cell lung cancer.

Rechallenge chemotherapy with pemetrexed was shown to be efficient in malignant pleural mesothelioma; however, its role in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has not been investigated. In this study, we retrospectively enrolled 31 patients with non-squamous NSCLC who had achieved disease control with initial pemetrexed treatment, followed by rechallenge with pemetrexed-based chemotherapy (PBC) upon disease progression. After the rechallenge, 5 patients (16.

Au photosensitized TiO2 ultrathin nanosheets with {001} exposed facets.

We report a general route for the direct growth of metal particles on TiO2 nanosheets with (001) exposed facets by an oxygen-vacancy-driven self-redox reaction. As there is no need for thermal treatment to remove stabilizing agents, the structure of the nanoparticles can be retained, preserving the active sites associated with high activity.

Combined effects of six cytokine gene polymorphisms and SNP-SNP interactions on hepatocellular carcinoma risk in Southern Guangxi, China.

Cytokine gene single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are involved in the genesis and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We hypothesized that combined effects of cytokine gene SNPs and SNP-SNP interactions are associated with HCC risk. Six SNPs in cytokine genes (IL-2, IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-10) were genotyped in a study of 720 Chinese HCC cases and 784 cancer-free controls.

[Effects of controllable dynamic inhaled exposure of moxa smoke on LDL-r, ICAM-1 and morphology of heart tissue in rats].

Objective: To observe the change of lipid metabolism and vascular endothelium as well as morphology of heart tissue in rats who were long-time exposed to moxa smoke with different concentrations in order to provide reference for safety assessment of moxa smoke on cardiovascular system.

Methods: One hundred and sixty-eighty Wistar rats were randomly divided into a control group, a low-concentration group, a median-concentration group and a high-concentration group, 42 rats in each one. The rats were exposed to moxa smoke with concentration of 0%, 10%, 40% and 70%, respectively, for 20 min per day.

Polymeric nanoporous materials fabricated with supercritical CO2 and CO2-expanded liquids.

Both academia and industries have put great efforts into developing non-destructive technologies for the fabrication of polymeric nanoporous materials. Such non-destructive technologies developed with supercritical CO2 (scCO2) and CO2-expanded liquids (CXLs) have been attracting more and more attention because they have been demonstrated to be green and effective media for porous polymer preparation and processing. In this tutorial review, we present several such new technologies with scCO2 and CXLs, which have the capacity to prepare polymeric nanoporous materials with unique morphologies.

Insulin therapy and colorectal cancer risk among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients: a systemic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Insulin is widely used in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). More attention was focused on its higher risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). This meta-analysis examined the relationship between levels of insulin use and the risk of CRC.

Prevalence and burden of headache disorders in two neighboring provinces of China.

To our knowledge, studies concerning the prevalence and burden of primary headache in China are limited to specific regions without comparison of different districts. A survey in a different area with similar climate and culture may enhance our knowledge of the factors causing primary headache and the burden of headache. We conducted a 1 year survey on the prevalence and burden of primary headache in the Chinese provinces of Guangdong and Guangxi.

Formation of breath figure arrays in methanol vapor assisted by surface active agents.

Breath figure (BF) process is a promising technique for fabricating honeycomb polymer films. It is usually conducted in water vapor. While, in organic vapors only unique polymer can be used to prepare BF arrays as reported in our previous article (Breath Figure in Nonaqueous Vapor.

Corneal biomechanical assessment using corneal visualization scheimpflug technology in keratoconic and normal eyes.

Purpose. To compare the corneal biomechanical properties of keratoconic patients and age-matched controls using corneal visualization Scheimpflug technology (Corvis ST). Methods.