Serum HOTTIP expression is upregulated in nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients and predicts poor prognosis.

Objective: Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma (NPC) is a tumor with ethnic and geographic distribution characteristics. HOXA Transcript at the distal Tip (HOTTIP) has been confirmed to have cancer-promoting effects in various tumors. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical significance of HOTTIP in the development of NPC and its role in prognostic assessment.

5-HT receptors exert differential effects on seizure-induced respiratory arrest in DBA/1 mice.

Both clinical and animal studies demonstrated that seizure-induced respiratory arrest (S-IRA) contributes importantly to sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP). It has been shown that enhancing serotonin (5-HT) function relieves S-IRA in animal models of SUDEP, including DBA/1 mice. Direct activation of 5-HT3 and 5-HT4 receptors suppresses S-IRA in DBA/1 mice, indicating that these receptors are involved in S-IRA.

Enhancing the action of serotonin by three different mechanisms prevents spontaneous seizure-induced mortality in Dravet mice.

Objective: Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) is an underestimated complication of epilepsy. Previous studies have demonstrated that enhancement of serotonergic neurotransmission suppresses seizure-induced sudden death in evoked seizure models. However, it is unclear whether elevated serotonin (5-HT) function will prevent spontaneous seizure-induced mortality (SSIM), which is characteristic of human SUDEP.

Review on mechanism and remediation strategies of dissolved oxygen abnormal in surface water.

Dissolved oxygen (DO) is an important index to evaluate the quality of surface water environments. In recent years, anomalies in DO level have emerged as a major contributor to the decline of surface water quality. These anomalies have triggered several ecological and environmental challenges such as biodiversity loss, the degradation of water environmental quality, intensification of eutrophication, and an exacerbation of the greenhouse effect.

Enhancing microbial salt tolerance through low-voltage stimulation for improved p-chloronitrobenzene (p-CNB) removal in high-salinity wastewater.

As an important raw material for the synthesis of chemical and pharmaceutical, hazardous carcinogen p-chloronitrobenzene (p-CNB) has been widely found in high-salinity wastewater which need to be treated carefully. Due to the high-salinity shock on microorganisms, conventional microbial treatment technologies usually show poor effluent quality. This study initially investigated the p-CNB removal performance of microorganisms stimulated by 1.

Response to Singh et al. 2023: It is premature for a unified hypothesis of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy: A great amount of research is still needed to understand the multisystem cascade.

In response to the comments by Singh and colleagues about our recent paper proposing a unified hypothesis of SUDEP, we definitely agree that more research is needed. This research should include studies in other models, including Dravet mice, emphasized by Singh et al. However, we strongly believe the hypothesis is timely, because it is based on the continuing progress on SUDEP-related research on serotonin (5-HT) and adenosine as well as neuroanatomical findings.

A unified hypothesis of SUDEP: Seizure-induced respiratory depression induced by adenosine may lead to SUDEP but can be prevented by autoresuscitation and other restorative respiratory response mechanisms mediated by the action of serotonin on the periaqueductal gray.

Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) is a major cause of death in people with epilepsy (PWE). Postictal apnea leading to cardiac arrest is the most common sequence of terminal events in witnessed cases of SUDEP, and postconvulsive central apnea has been proposed as a potential biomarker of SUDEP susceptibility. Research in SUDEP animal models has led to the serotonin and adenosine hypotheses of SUDEP.

The impact of powdered activated carbon types on membrane anti-fouling mechanism in membrane bioreactors.

Dosing powdered activated carbon (PAC) has been proven to be an economical and effective method to mitigate membrane fouling. However, the effects of pretreated PAC with different redox properties on membrane fouling still need to be further investigated. Here, the impact of commercial PAC, oxidized-PAC, and reduced-PAC on membrane fouling was investigated in membrane bioreactors (MBRs).

Mechanism on the microbial salt tolerance enhancement by electrical stimulation.

The application of biological methods in industrial saline wastewater treatment is limited, since the activities of microorganisms are strongly inhibited by the highly concentrated salts. Acclimatized halotolerant and halophilic microorganisms are of high importance since they can resist the environmental stresses of high salinity. The acclimation to salinity can be passive or active based on whether external simulation is used.

Genistein, a Natural Isoflavone, Alleviates Seizure-Induced Respiratory Arrest in DBA/1 Mice.

Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) is a fatal event that ranks second in years of potential life lost among neurological disorders. Seizure-induced respiratory arrest (S-IRA) is the primary instigator leading to death in many SUDEP cases. However, there are currently no effective preventive strategies against S-IRA other than the seizure control.

Testosterone attenuates sevoflurane-induced tau phosphorylation and cognitive impairment in neonatal male mice.

Background: Sevoflurane anaesthesia induces phosphorylation of the microtubule-associated protein tau and cognitive impairment in neonatal, but not adult, mice. The underlying mechanisms remain largely to be determined. Sex hormones can be neuroprotective, but little is known about the influence of testosterone on age-dependent anaesthesia effects.

Adrenergic α2 receptors are implicated in seizure-induced respiratory arrest in DBA/1 mice.

Aims: Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) is a serious and underestimated public health burden. Both clinical and animal studies show that seizure-induced respiratory arrest (S-IRA) is the primary cause of death in SUDEP. Our previous studies demonstrated that atomoxetine, a norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (NRI), suppresses S-IRA in DBA/1 mice, suggesting that noradrenergic neurotransmission modulates S-IRA.

Acylglycerol kinase promotes paclitaxel resistance in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells by regulating FOXM1 via the JAK2/STAT3 pathway.

Objective: Drug resistance is an important factor that impedes the treatment of nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC). Acylglycerol kinase (AGK) has been found to be overexpressed in NPC and correlates with poor prognosis. Our objective was to demonstrate the effect of AGK on paclitaxel resistance in NPC and determine the underlying mechanisms.

Quantifying the electron-donating and -accepting capacities of wastewater for evaluating and optimizing biological wastewater treatment processes.

Biological processes have been widely used for the treatment of both domestic and industrial wastewaters. In such biological processes, pollutants are converted into pollution-free substances by microorganisms through oxidation-reduction reactions. Thus, how to quantify the internal oxidation-reduction properties wastewaters and seek out targeted countermeasures is essential to understand, operate, and optimize biological wastewater treatment systems.

Numerical study of hydrodynamic characteristics in a moving bed biofilm reactor.

The moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) has certain advantages, such as high wastewater treatment efficiency, low maintenance and operating costs, and simple operation. It has emerged as a valuable option for small decentralized facilities. The filling ratio, aeration mode and aeration intensity are the main factors that affect the performance of MBBRs in wastewater treatment.

Fouling behaviors are different at various negative potentials in electrochemical anaerobic membrane bioreactors with conductive ceramic membranes.

Membrane fouling remains a critical challenge to the practical application of anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR). To address this challenge, a conductive ceramic membrane was prepared for fouling control in AnMBR. By using the conductive membranes, the anti-fouling performances were enhanced about 3 times at potentials below -1.

[3D Porous Photothermal Materials for High Salt Wastewater Treatment].

The treatment of high salinity wastewater is complex with high cost and energy consumption. Interfacial solar vapor generation technology because of its green, high efficiency and low energy consumption has become a hot spot in the field of water resource recovery and utilization. In this study, a novel three-dimensional porous graphene composite material (3D h-CN/r-GO) was designed by a hydrothermal reaction with fibrous carbon nitrogen (h-CN) modified graphene (r-GO), and its performance for adsorption of nitrobenzene and phenol as simulated contaminants via photothermal evaporation was studied.

A potent photoreactive general anesthetic with novel binding site selectivity for GABA receptors.

The pentameric γ-aminobutyric acid type A receptors (GABARs) are the major inhibitory ligand-gated ion channels in the central nervous system. They mediate diverse physiological functions, mutations in them are associated with mental disorders and they are the target of many drugs such as general anesthetics, anxiolytics and anti-convulsants. The five subunits of synaptic GABARs are arranged around a central pore in the order β-α-β-α-γ.

Effect of Blocking the OX40/OX40L Signaling Pathway by siRNA Interference on Animal Experimental Study of Allergic Rhinitis.

Background: The identification of new approaches and intervention targets for the treatment of AR is urgently needed. We aimed to investigate the effect of blocking the OX40/OX40L signaling pathway by small interfering RNA (siRNA) on ovalbumin (OVA)-induced AR in a mouse model.

Methods: After establishment of the AR model, the mice were interfered by siRNA-OX40L (experimental group), siRNA-C (negative control group), or PBS (control group).

Repeated generalized seizures can produce calcified cardiac lesions in DBA/1 mice.

Studies suggest that cardiorespiratory dysfunction likely contributes to sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP). Seizures result in autonomic and respiratory dysfunction, leading to sympathetic hyperactivity and respiratory distress, including apnea. While the heart is vulnerable to catecholamine surges and hypoxia, it remains unknown if repetitive generalized seizures lead to cardiac damage.

Sustainable synthesis of novel carbon microwires for the modification of a Ti mesh anode in bioelectrochemical systems.

Herein, an effective method was developed to integrate carbon microwires on Ti mesh (denoted as CM/TiM) to fabricate high-performance anodes with long-time stability in microbial fuel cell. CM/TiM was synthesized by colonizing filamentous fungi on the bread modified Ti mesh followed by carbonization, which could convert the attached mycelium into carbon microwires (denoted as CM). Benefiting from the biocompatibility and 3D interlaced structure of carbon microwires, the biomass accumulation (1027 ± 83 μg cm) of CM/TiM have been significantly improved nearly 3 folds, thus the fabricated CM/TiM demonstrated 2-fold higher current density (12.

Etomidate Effects on Desensitization and Deactivation of 43 GABA Receptors Inducibly Expressed in HEK293 TetR Cells.

Central 4 receptors are the most abundant isoform of subunit-containing extrasynaptic GABA receptors that mediate tonic inhibition. Although the amplitude of GABA-activated currents through 4 receptors is modulated by multiple general anesthetics, the effects of general anesthetics on desensitization and deactivation of 4 receptors remain unknown. In the current study, we investigated the effect of etomidate, a potent general anesthetic, on the kinetics and the pseudo steady-state current amplitude of 43 receptors inducibly expressed in human embryonic kidney 293 TetR cells.

Comparison of αβδ and αβγ GABA receptors: Allosteric modulation and identification of subunit arrangement by site-selective general anesthetics.

GABA receptors play a dominant role in mediating inhibition in the mature mammalian brain, and defects of GABAergic neurotransmission contribute to the pathogenesis of a variety of neurological and psychiatric disorders. Two types of GABAergic inhibition have been described: αβγ receptors mediate phasic inhibition in response to transient high-concentrations of synaptic GABA release, and αβδ receptors produce tonic inhibitory currents activated by low-concentration extrasynaptic GABA. Both αβδ and αβγ receptors are important targets for general anesthetics, which induce apparently different changes both in GABA-dependent receptor activation and in desensitization in currents mediated by αβγ vs.