MiR-30a inhibits Th17 differentiation and demyelination of EAE mice by targeting the IL-21R.

T helper cells 17 (Th17) are recognized as key participants in the pathogenesis of chronic autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS). Regulation of Th17 differentiation is a valuable strategy for diagnosis and treatment of these complicated immune disorders. Here, by genome-wide expression profiling of microRNAs (miRs), we screened miR-30a, whose level was greatly decreased during Th17 differentiation and the process of demyelination disease, both in MS patients and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) mice.

Biodegradation of DDT by Stenotrophomonas sp. DDT-1: Characterization and genome functional analysis.

A novel bacterium capable of utilizing 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethane (DDT) as the sole carbon and energy source was isolated from a contaminated soil which was identified as Stenotrophomonas sp. DDT-1 based on morphological characteristics, BIOLOG GN2 microplate profile, and 16S rDNA phylogeny. Genome sequencing and functional annotation of the isolate DDT-1 showed a 4,514,569 bp genome size, 66.

Diabetes and cancer, common threads and missing links.

Diabetes mellitus is a serious and growing health problem worldwide and is associated with severe acute and chronic complications. Accruing epidemiological and clinical evidence have suggested that an increased cancer incidence is associated with diabetes as well as certain diabetes risk factors and diabetes medications. Several pathophysiological mechanisms for this relationship have been postulated, including insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia, enhanced inflammation, aberrant metabolic state, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and deregulation of autophagy.

Open access to journal articles in dentistry: Prevalence and citation impact.

Objectives: To investigate the current prevalence of open access (OA) in the field of dentistry, the means used to provide OA, as well as the association between OA and citation counts.

Methods: PubMed was searched for dental articles published in 2013. The OA status of each article was determined by manually checking Google, Google Scholar, PubMed and ResearchGate.

Thirty percent of abstracts presented at dental conferences are published in full: a systematic review.

Objectives: To review the publication fate of abstracts presented at dental conferences and investigate the association between full publication proportion (FPP) and abstract characteristics, conference characteristics, and methodological quality of primary studies.

Study Design And Setting: PubMed, EMBASE, and Google Scholar were searched up to November 2014 for studies that reported at least one FPP of abstracts presented at dental conferences, with a follow-up length of no less than 48 months.

Results: Sixteen studies involving 10,365 abstracts presented at 52 conferences were included.

[Effect of Natural Organic Matter and Electrolytes on the Aggregation of C60 Nanoparticles in Aquatic Systems].

The ettect of natural organic matter (NOM) and electrolytes on the aggregation of G60 nanoparticles in aquatic systems was studied by using dynamic light scattering. The results showed that the concentration of C60 stable suspension prepared by toluene solvent-exchange method was about 20 mg x L(-1). The C60 nanoparticles in the suspension showed a high zeta potential and particle diameter was around 120 nm.

Reporting quality of randomized controlled trial abstracts presented at European Orthodontic Society congresses.

Objectives: To assess the reporting quality of randomized controlled trial (RCT) abstracts presented at the European Orthodontic Society (EOS) congresses, investigate any improvement after the release of CONSORT (CONsolidated Standards Of Reporting Trials) for Abstracts guidelines, and identify factors associated with reporting quality.

Methods: Abstract books of the 2003-07 (Pre-CONSORT period) and 2010-14 (Post-CONSORT period) EOS congresses were obtained from the official website of European Journal of Orthodontics. A hand-search was conducted to identify RCTs.

Nanoscale zerovalent iron-mediated degradation of DDT in soil.

Nanoscale zerovalent iron (nZVI)-mediated degradation of 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethane (DDT) was investigated in a spiked soil under different conditions (iron sources, iron dosage, soil moisture, temperature, and soil types) and DDT-contaminated field. The degradation efficiency of p,p'-DDT by nZVI and nZVI coated with sodium oleate (SO-nZVI) was much higher than that by nZVI coated with polyimide (PI-nZVI). The rapid degradation of p,p'-DDT by nZVI only occurred in flooded soil.

Dual effects of heme oxygenase-1 on astrocyte injury induced by hemin in vitro.

Primary Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) on astrocyte injury induced by hemin.

Research Design: Primary astrocytes were isolated from Sprague Dawley rat pups and cultured in vitro. The expression of HO-1 was induced by hemin in a quantitative fashion and the effects of HO-1 on hemin-induced astrocyte injury were estimated by cell viability, cell membrane permeability and apoptosis.

Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Novel Gigantol Derivatives as Potential Agents in Prevention of Diabetic Cataract.

As a continuation of our efforts directed towards the development of natural anti-diabetic cataract agents, gigantol was isolated from Herba dendrobii and was found to inhibit both aldose reductase (AR) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) activity, which play a significant role in the development and progression of diabetic cataracts. To improve its bioefficacy and facilitate use as a therapeutic agent, gigantol (compound 14f) and a series of novel analogs were designed and synthesized. Analogs were formulated to have different substituents on the phenyl ring (compounds 4, 5, 8, 14a-e), substitute the phenyl ring with a larger steric hindrance ring (compounds 10, 17c) or modify the carbon chain (compounds 17a, 17b, 21, 23, 25).

Simultaneous Determination of Fucoxanthin and Its Deacetylated Metabolite Fucoxanthinol in Rat Plasma by Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry.

Fucoxanthin and its deacetylated metabolite fucoxanthinol are two major carotenoids that have been confirmed to possess various pharmacological properties. In the present study, fucoxanthinol was identified as the deacetylated metabolite of fucoxanthin, after intravenous (i.v.

iMStrong: Deployment of a Biosensor System to Detect Cocaine Use.

Biosensor systems are increasingly promoted for use in behavioral interventions. Portable biosensors might offer advancement over self-report use and can provide improved opportunity for detection and intervention in patients undergoing drug treatment programs. Fifteen participants wore a biosensor wristband capable of detecting multiple physiologic markers of sympathetic nervous system (SNS) arousal for 30 days.

Clinical features of patients with Myasthenia gravis from the Henan province, China.

Introduction: Myasthenia gravis (MG) occurs globally, and many studies have indicated that there are regional differences in epidemiology, biomarkers, and prognosis of MG.

Methods: A total of 478 patients with MG who visited hospitals in the Henan Province between January 2010 and February 2014 were included. Age, gender, age at onset, serum antibody, thymus pathology, treatment information, and Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America (MGFA) classification were assessed.

Reporting quality of randomized controlled trial abstracts: survey of leading general dental journals.

Background: The authors conducted a study to assess the reporting quality of randomized controlled trial (RCT) abstracts published in leading general dental journals, investigate any improvement after the release of the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) for Abstracts guidelines, and identify factors associated with better reporting quality.

Methods: The authors searched PubMed for RCTs published in 10 leading general dental journals during the periods from 2005 to 2007 (pre-CONSORT period) and 2010 to 2012 (post-CONSORT period). The authors evaluated and scored the reporting quality of included abstracts by using the original 16-item CONSORT for Abstracts checklist.

Effects of brewing conditions on the antioxidant capacity of twenty-four commercial green tea varieties.

A novel paper-based Nanoceria Reducing Antioxidant Capacity (NanoCerac) assay for antioxidant detection (Sharpe, Frasco, Andreescu, & Andreescu, 2012), has been adapted for the first time as a high-throughput method, in order to measure the effect of brewing conditions and re-infusion on the antioxidant capacity of twenty-four commercial green teas. The oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assay, frequently applied to complex foods and beverages, was used as a comparator measure of antioxidant capacity. A novel measure of sustained antioxidant capacity, the total inherent antioxidant capacity (TI-NanoCerac and TI-ORAC) was measured by infusing each tea six times.

Transport and uptake of clausenamide enantiomers in CYP3A4-transfected Caco-2 cells: An insight into the efflux-metabolism alliance.

The present study developed a CYP3A4-expressed Caco-2 monolayer model at which effects of the efflux-metabolism alliance on the transport and uptake of clausenamide (CLA) enantiomers as CYP3A4 substrates were investigated. The apparent permeability coefficients (Papp) of (-) and (+)CLA were higher in the absorptive direction than those in the secretory direction with efflux ratios (ER) of 0.709±0.

The TRIB3-SQSTM1 interaction mediates metabolic stress-promoted tumorigenesis and progression via suppressing autophagic and proteasomal degradation.

Cancer and diabetes are 2 multifactorial chronic diseases with tremendous impact on health worldwide. Metabolic risk factors play a critical role in fueling a wide range of cancers, but with undefined mechanisms. We recently reported that TRIB3, a stress-induced protein, mediates a reciprocal antagonism between autophagic and proteasomal degradation systems and connects insulin-IGF1 to malignant promotion.

Stereoselective Regulation of P-gp Activity by Clausenamide Enantiomers in Caco-2, KB/KBv and Brain Microvessel Endothelial Cells.

The (-)- and (+)-clausenamide (CLA) enantiomers have different pharmacokinetic effects in animals, but their association with putative stereoselective regulation of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) remains unclear. Using three cells expressing P-gp-Caco-2, KBv and rat brain microvessel endothelial cells(RBMEC), this study investigated the association of CLA enantiomers with P-gp. The results showed that the rhodamine 123 (Rh123) accumulation, an indicator of P-gp activity, in Caco-2, KBv and RBMECs was increased by (-)CLA (1 or 5 μmol/L) at 8.

Intranasal administration of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells-conditioned medium enhances vascular remodeling after stroke.

Stem cell-based treatments have been reported to be a potential strategy for stroke. However, tumorigenic potential and low survival rates of transplanted cells could attenuate the efficacy of the stem cell-based treatments. The application of stem cell-condition medium (CM) may be a practicable approach to conquer these limitations.

TRB3 links insulin/IGF to tumour promotion by interacting with p62 and impeding autophagic/proteasomal degradations.

High insulin/IGF is a biologic link between diabetes and cancers, but the underlying molecular mechanism remains unclear. Here we report a previously unrecognized tumour-promoting mechanism for stress protein TRB3, which mediates a reciprocal antagonism between autophagic and proteasomal degradation systems and connects insulin/IGF to malignant promotion. We find that several human cancers express higher TRB3 and phosphorylated insulin receptor substrate 1, which correlates negatively with patient's prognosis.

Preoperative hepatic hemodynamics in the prediction of early portal vein thrombosis after liver transplantation in pediatric patients with biliary atresia.

Background: Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is one of the main vascular complications after liver transplantation (LT), especially in pediatric patients with biliary atresia (BA). This study aimed to assess the preoperative hepatic hemodynamics in pediatric patients with BA using Doppler ultrasound and determine whether ultrasonographic parameters may predict early PVT after LT.

Methods: One hundred and twenty-eight pediatric patients with BA younger than 3 years of age underwent Doppler ultrasound within seven days before LT, between October 2006 and June 2013.