Mechanisms of Differential Sensitivity to Ethanol-Induced Apoptosis in Mouse Spinal Cord at Different Developmental Stages-Akt/GSK Signaling and BAX.

The current study investigated differences in ethanol-induced apoptosis of spinal cord dorsal horn neurons at different developmental stages and the molecular mechanisms involved. A mouse ethanol intervention model was established on postnatal days 4, 7, and 12. Primary cells were derived from the spinal cord at postnatal day 4.

GBP2 inhibits pathological angiogenesis in the retina via the AKT/mTOR/VEGFA axis.

Pathological retinal angiogenesis is not only the hallmark of retinopathies, but also a major cause of blindness. Guanylate binding protein 2 (GBP2) has been reported to be associated with retinal diseases such as diabetic retinopathy and hypoxic retinopathy. However, GBP2-mediated pathological retinal angiogenesis remains largely unknown.

An automated parallel multi-channel chromatographic system for isotopic analysis - Demonstration considering Sr.

A fully automated, closed-column chromatographic system with parallel multi-channel has been developed. This system is established with seven reagent reservoirs, one multi-channel syringe pump, eight 10-port valves, forty sample tubes, 40 columns, and a fraction collection tray. Four samples can be purified simultaneously at a time, and 40 samples can be purified in one batch.

ZnSnO based gas sensors for pyridine volatile marker detection in rice aging during storage.

This study reports the development of ZnSnO based gas sensors for pyridine detection in rice aging. Pyridine is one of heterocyclic markers formed via Maillard reaction and lipid oxidation. Herein, graphitic carbon nitride (g-CN) decorated ZnSnO microstructures were obtained through a template-free approach.

DDX1 is a prognostic biomarker and correlates with immune infiltrations in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the leading lethal malignant tumors worldwide. DEAD-box (DDX) family helicases are implicated in numerous human cancers. However, the role of DDX1 in HCC has not yet been fully elucidated.

Research advance in gas detection of volatile organic compounds released in rice quality deterioration process.

Rice quality deterioration will cause grievous waste of stored grain and various food safety problems. Gas detection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by deterioration is a nondestructive detection method to judge rice quality and alleviate rice spoilage. This review discussed the research advance of VOCs detection in terms of nondestructive detection methods of rice quality deterioration, applications of VOCs in grain detection, inspection of characteristic gas produced during rice spoilage, rice deterioration prevention and control, and detection of VOCs released by rice mildew and insect attack.

Correction to: The Association Between Phosphorylated Neurofilament Heavy Chain (pNF-H) and Small Fiber Neuropathy (SFN) in Patients with Impaired Glucose Tolerance.

In the original article, there was some error in Table 2. The correct table is given below.

Odor-mediated contextual learning induced memory consolidation and hippocampus development in neonate rat.

The hippocampus in neonatal rats is not fully developed after birth, and the effect of odor-aversion learning on memory consolidation in the immature hippocampus is not well understood. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to explore the effects of odor-aversion learning in neonatal rats on memory consolidation and neurodevelopment in the immature hippocampus. The effect of hippocampal-induced learning was measured at two different developmental stages using the Y-maze and c-Fos protein levels.

The Association Between Phosphorylated Neurofilament Heavy Chain (pNF-H) and Small Fiber Neuropathy (SFN) in Patients with Impaired Glucose Tolerance.

Introduction: Small fiber neuropathy (SFN)-the early stage of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN)-progresses gradually and is difficult to diagnose using neurophysiological tests. To facilitate the early diagnosis of SFN, biomarkers for SFN must be identified. The purpose of this study was to investigate the characteristics of SFN in prediabetic patients and the relationship between pNF-H and SFN.

Chinese cropland losses due to urban expansion in the past four decades.

Since 1970s, China has experienced the large-scale losses of croplands during urban expansion process, which has drawn great attentions to Chinese government. Although in-depth studies about cropland losses have been executed widely, relatively little attention has been paid to describe long term and high frequency influences of urban expansion on it and reveal its differences systematically. Based on remote sensing and GIS technology, we quantified, analyzed, and mapped cropland losses in China due to urban expansion from the national, administrative-level, population-size, and city scales.

17-Estradiol Promotes Islet Cell Proliferation in a Partial Pancreatectomy Mouse Model.

17-Estradiol (E2) is a multifunctional steroid hormone in modulating metabolism . Previous studies have reported that E2 could promote insulin secretion and protect cells from apoptosis. In this study, the partial pancreatectomy (PPx) model was used to study the role of E2 in islet cell proliferation.

Alkaline Phosphatase-Instructed Self-Assembly of Gadolinium Nanofibers for Enhanced T-Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Tumor.

Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) is an important enzyme but using ALP-instructed self-assembly of gadolinium nanofibers for enhanced T-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of tumor has not been reported. In this work, we rationally designed a hydrogelator Nap-FFFYp-EDA-DOTA(Gd) (1P) which, under the catalysis of ALP, was able to self-assemble into gadolinium nanofibers to form hydrogel Gel I for enhanced T-weighted MR imaging of ALP activity in vitro and in tumor. T phantom MR imaging indicated that the transverse relaxivity (r) value of Gel I was 33.

Ziziphi spinosae lily powder suspension in the treatment of depression-like behaviors in rats.

Background: Depression is a chronic, recurring and potentially life-threatening illness. Current treatments for depression are characterized by a low success rate and associated with a wide variety of side effects. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the behavioral anti-depressant effect of a novel herbal compounds named ziziphi spinosae lily powder suspension, as well as to investigate its potential mechanisms.

Casp3/7-Instructed Intracellular Aggregation of Fe3O4 Nanoparticles Enhances T2 MR Imaging of Tumor Apoptosis.

Large magnetic nanoparticles or aggregates are advantageous in their magnetic resonance properties over ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide (USPIO) nanoparticles (NPs), but the former are cleared faster from the blood pool. Therefore, the "smart" strategy of intracellular aggregation of USPIO NPs is required for enhanced T2-weighted MR imaging. Herein, employing an enzyme-instructed condensation reaction, we rationally designed a small molecule Ac-Asp-Glu-Val-Asp-Cys(StBu)-Lys-CBT (1) to covalently modify USPIO NPs to prepare monodispersive Fe3O4@1 NPs.

Vanillin-induced amelioration of depression-like behaviors in rats by modulating monoamine neurotransmitters in the brain.

Olfaction plays an important role in emotions in our daily life. Pleasant odors are known to evoke positive emotions, inducing relaxation and calmness. The beneficial effects of vanillin on depressive model rats were investigated using a combination of behavioral assessments and neurotransmitter measurements.

[Study on the differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells into vascular endothelial-like cells].

To explore the feasibility of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) acting as seed cells in tissue engineering, we isolated human bone marrow MSCs and differentiated them into vascular endothelial-like cells (ELCs) in vitro. Bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMSCs) were isolated by the method of percoll density centrifugation, and seeded in Dulbecco Modified Eagle Medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum. MSCs were purified through multiple adherent cultures, and differentiated into ELCs induced by endothelial cell growth medium-2 (EBM-2) medium containing vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), human fibroblast growth factor (hFGF), insulin like growth factors 1 (IGF-1), and human epidermal growth factor (hEGF).