A novel material of cross-linked styrylpyridinium salt intercalated montmorillonite for drug delivery.

A facile synthesis of a styrylpyridinium salt (SbQ)/montmorillonite (MMT) via cationic exchange interactions between styrylpyridinium species (specifically SbQ) and MMT platelets is reported in this work. The SbQ-MMT solutions were irradiated under ultraviolet (UV) light for a specific time to obtain the cross-linked SbQ-MMT materials. Scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy analyses revealed the structures and morphologies of MMT and modified MMT.

Induction of caspase-3-like activity in rice following release of cytochrome-f from the chloroplast and subsequent interaction with the ubiquitin-proteasome system.

It has been known that the process of leaf senescence is accompanied by programmed cell death (PCD), and the previous study indicated that dark-induced senescence in detached leaves from rice led to the release of cytochrome f (Cyt f) from chloroplast into the cytoplasm. In this study, the effects of Cyt f on PCD were studied both in vitro and in vivo. In a cell-free system, purified Cyt f activated caspase-3-like protease and endonuclease OsNuc37, and induced DNA fragmentation.

Molecular characterization of a Spirometra mansoni antigenic polypeptide gene encoding a 28.7 kDa protein.

The Spirometra mansoni antigenic polypeptide (SmAP) gene was expressed in Escherichia coli, and its characteristics and value as an antigen for the serodiagnosis of sparganosis were investigated. The recombinant SmAP protein (rSmAP) has the molecular weight of 28.7 kDa.

[Lithology feature extraction of CASI hyperspectral data based on fractal signal algorithm].

Hyperspectral data is characterized by combination of image and spectrum and large data volume dimension reduction is the main research direction. Band selection and feature extraction is the primary method used for this objective. In the present article, the authors tested methods applied for the lithology feature extraction from hyperspectral data.

Involvement of NF-κB/IL-6 Pathway in the Processing of Colorectal Carcinogenesis in Colitis Mice.

Nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB)/interleukin (IL-6) pathway links chronic inflammation to colitis associated cancer (CAC). In this study, we examined the dynamic temporal changes of the NF-κB/IL-6 pathway during the procession of experimental CAC mouse model. Mice were sacrificed after induction for 14, 16, 18, and 22 weeks for the examination of tumor burden, inflammation degree, and protein level of NF-κB and IL-6 in bowel tissues.

Circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D level and risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between preclinical circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] and RA in two nested case-control studies within the prospective cohort Nurses' Health Study (NHS) and NHS II (NHSII).

Methods: We included 166 women with RA and blood specimens collected 3 months to 16 years prior to the first RA symptom and 490 matched controls (3:1, matched on age, date of blood draw, hormonal factors). We calculated the odds ratio (OR) and 95% CI for incident RA using conditional logistic regression multivariable adjusted models, including additional covariates for smoking status, parity and breastfeeding, alcohol consumption, BMI, median income and region of residence in the USA.

Vinpocetine inhibits amyloid-beta induced activation of NF-κB, NLRP3 inflammasome and cytokine production in retinal pigment epithelial cells.

Chronic inflammation is a key pathogenic process in age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Amyloid-beta (Aβ) is a constituent of AMD drusen and promotes the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome which facilitates the production of cytokines. We investigated the role of transcription factor NF-κB in the activation of inflammasome in the RPE and the effect of vinpocetine, a dietary supplement with inhibitory effect on NF-κΒ.

[Dynamics simulation on plant growth, N accumulation and utilization of processing tomato at different N fertilization rates].

Three field experiments were conducted to simulate the dynamics of aboveground biomass, N accumulation and utilization of drip-irrigated processing tomatoes at different N fertilization rates (0, 75, 150, 300, 450, or 600 kg x hm(-2)). The results showed that Logistic models best described the changes in aboveground biomass, N accumulation, and utilization of accumulated N efficiency with the physiological development time (PDT). Rapid accumulation of N began about 4-6 d (PDT) earlier than the rapid accumulation of aboveground biomass.

[Protective effect of celastrol on allergic rhinitis in rats].

Objective: To investigate the protective effect of celastrol on allergic rhinitis rats and its possible mechanism.

Method: Allergic rhinitis (AR) model of rats was established by OVA. The behavioural characteris tics were observed at the 1st, 4th and 7th dayafter stimulation treatment.

Identification of early diagnostic antigens from Spirometra erinaceieuropaei sparganum soluble proteins using immunoproteomics.

In order to identify early specific diagnostic antigens of Spirometra erinaceieuropaei (syn. S. erinacei or S.

Bioinformatics analyses combined microarray identify the deregulated microRNAs in oral cancer.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are important in the regulation of cell growth, differentiation, apoptosis and carcinogenesis. The overexpression of oncogenic miRNAs or the underexpression of tumor suppressor miRNAs exhibits a critical function in the tumorigenesis of oral cancer. The aim of the present study was to identify differentially expressed miRNAs (DE-miRNAs), which may differentiate oral cancer from normal tissues, as well as the molecular signatures that differ in tumor histology.

Quantification of gross tumour volume changes between simulation and first day of radiotherapy for patients with locally advanced malignancies of the lung and head/neck.

Introduction: To quantify changes in gross tumour volume (GTV) between simulation and initiation of radiotherapy in patients with locally advanced malignancies of the lung and head/neck.

Methods: Initial cone beam computed tomography (CT) scans from 12 patients with lung cancer and 12 with head/neck cancer (head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC)) treated with intensity-modulated radiotherapy with image guidance were rigidly registered to the simulation CT scans. The GTV was demarcated on both scans.

The piggyBac transposon-mediated expression of SV40 T antigen efficiently immortalizes mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs).

Mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) are mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-like multipotent progenitor cells and can undergo self-renewal and differentiate into to multiple lineages, including bone, cartilage and adipose. Primary MEFs have limited life span in culture, which thus hampers MEFs' basic research and translational applications. To overcome this challenge, we investigate if piggyBac transposon-mediated expression of SV40 T antigen can effectively immortalize mouse MEFs and that the immortalized MEFs can maintain long-term cell proliferation without compromising their multipotency.

Quality of life in patients with advanced cancer at the end of life as measured by the McGill quality of life questionnaire: a survey in China.

Context: Quality of life (QOL) is the main outcome measure for patients with advanced cancer at the end of life. The McGill Quality of Life Questionnaire (MQOL) is designed specifically for palliative care patients and has been translated and validated in Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the QOL of patients with advanced cancer using the MQOL-Taiwan version after cultural adaptation to the Chinese mainland.

Subgrouping of patients with rheumatoid arthritis based on pain, fatigue, inflammation, and psychosocial factors.

Objective: Among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), pain may be attributed to peripheral inflammation or other causes, such as central pain mechanisms. The aim of this study was to use self-report measures and physical examination findings to identify clusters of RA patients who may have different causes of pain as well as different prognoses and treatment options.

Methods: Data from 169 RA patients with pain scores of >0 (on a 10-point numeric rating scale) in the Brigham and Women's Hospital Rheumatoid Arthritis Sequential Study were analyzed.

Rice photosynthetic productivity and PSII photochemistry under nonflooded irrigation.

Nonflooded irrigation is an important water-saving rice cultivation technology, but little is known on its photosynthetic mechanism. The aims of this work were to investigate photosynthetic characteristics of rice during grain filling stage under three nonflooded irrigation treatments: furrow irrigation with plastic mulching (FIM), furrow irrigation with nonmulching (FIN), and drip irrigation with plastic mulching (DI). Compared with the conventional flooding (CF) treatment, those grown in the nonflooded irrigation treatments showed lower net photosynthetic rate (PN), lower maximum quantum yield (Fv/Fm), and lower effective quantum yield of PSII photochemistry (ΦPSII).

Predicting survival time in noncurative patients with advanced cancer: a prospective study in China.

Background: Accurate prediction of prognosis for cancer patients is important for good clinical decision making in therapeutic and care strategies. The application of prognostic tools and indicators could improve prediction accuracy.

Objective: This study aimed to develop a new prognostic scale to predict survival time of advanced cancer patients in China.

Skin dose effects of postmastectomy chest wall radiation therapy using brass mesh as an alternative to tissue equivalent bolus.

Purpose: The use of brass mesh as a bolus is relatively uncommon in postmastectomy chest wall radiation therapy (PMRT). This study aimed to characterize the skin dose effects of using 2-mm fine brass mesh as an alternative to the traditional tissue-equivalent bolus during chest wall PMRT.

Methods And Materials: Data were collected from patients who received PMRT using brass mesh at the University of California Davis Department of Radiation Oncology between January 2008 and June 2011.

Audits of the quality of perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis in Shandong Province, China, 2006 to 2011.

Background: A prospective multicenter survey was conducted to assess the rational use of antibiotics in clean and clean-contaminated elective surgical procedures applied in 53 grade III first class hospitals in Shandong Province, China, from 2006 to 2011. The survey was designed to examine the prevalence of antibiotic prophylaxis, evaluate the quality of perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis (PAP) prescriptions, and investigate the risk factors associated with inappropriate indication for antibiotic prophylaxis.

Methods: Medication charts and medical, anesthetic, and nursing records were reviewed.

XPD Lys751Gln polymorphism is not associated with oral cancer risk: evidence from a meta-analysis.

Several studies have investigated the association between xeroderma pigmentosum group D (XPD) Lys751Gln polymorphism and oral cancer. However, the impact of XPD Lys751Gln polymorphism on oral cancer risk is unclear, owing to the obvious inconsistence among those studies. The aim of this study was to derive a more precise estimation of the association of XPD Lys751Gln polymorphism with oral cancer by performing a meta-analysis.

Laccase immobilized on a PAN/adsorbents composite nanofibrous membrane for catechol treatment by a biocatalysis/adsorption process.

The treatment of catechol via biocatalysis and adsorption with a commercial laccase immobilized on polyacrylonitrile/montmorillonite/graphene oxide (PAN/MMT/GO) composite nanofibers was evaluated with a homemade nanofibrous membrane reactor. The properties in this process of the immobilized laccase on PAN, PAN/MMT as well as PAN/MMT/GO with different weight ratios of MMT and GO were investigated. These membranes were successfully applied for removal of catechol from an aqueous solution.

Dose--volume modeling of brachial plexus-associated neuropathy after radiation therapy for head-and-neck cancer: findings from a prospective screening protocol.

Purpose: Data from a prospective screening protocol administered for patients previously irradiated for head-and-neck cancer was analyzed to identify dosimetric predictors of brachial plexus-associated neuropathy.

Methods And Materials: Three hundred fifty-two patients who had previously completed radiation therapy for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck were prospectively screened from August 2007 to April 2013 using a standardized self-administered instrument for symptoms of neuropathy thought to be related to brachial plexus injury. All patients were disease-free at the time of screening.

Targeting BMP9-promoted human osteosarcoma growth by inactivation of notch signaling.

Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common primary malignancy of bone and is usually associated with poor prognosis due to its high incidence of metastasis and chemoresistance. Molecular pathogenesis of OS is poorly understood. We previously showed that OS cells are refractory to BMP9-induced osteogenesis and respond favorably to proliferation and tumor growth.

Outbreak of Salmonella enterica serotype Infantis infection in humans linked to dry dog food in the United States and Canada, 2012.

CASE DESCRIPTION--In April 2012, Salmonella enterica serotype Infantis was detected in an unopened bag of dry dog food collected during routine retail surveillance. PulseNet, a national bacterial subtyping network, identified humans with Salmonella Infantis infection with the same genetic fingerprint as the dog food sample. CLINICAL FINDINGS--An outbreak investigation identified 53 ill humans infected with the outbreak strain during January 1 to July 5, 2012, in 21 states and 2 provinces in Canada; 20 (38%) were children ≤ 2 years old, and 12 of 37 (32%) were hospitalized.