The activation of GABAergic neurons in the hypothalamic tuberomammillary nucleus attenuates sevoflurane and propofol-induced anesthesia in mice.

The histaminergic neurons in the hypothalamic tuberomammillary nucleus (TMN) have been suggested to play a vital role in maintaining a rising state. But the neuronal types of the TMN are in debate and the role of GABAergic neurons remains unclear. In the present study, we examined the role of TMN GABAergic neurons in general anesthesia using chemogenetics and optogenetics strategies to regulate the activity of TMN GABAergic neurons.

The Correlation Between F-Fluorodeoxyglucose-Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography Semiquantitative Parameters and the Clinical Features and Pathological Biological Indexes of Gastric Cancer.

This study explored the application value of the maximum standard uptake value (SUV) of F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography (F-FDG PET/CT) in gastric cancer. Data of 164 patients with gastric cancer who had undergoneF-FDG PET/CT before a biopsy were collected, and the correlation of SUV with clinical stage, pathological differentiation degree, human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER-2) status, and Ki-67 index of gastric cancer was analyzed. The SUV of poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma was significantly higher than that of moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma and signet-ring cell carcinoma ( < 0.

Redesign of (R)-Omega-Transaminase and Its Application for Synthesizing Amino Acids with Bulky Side Chain.

ω-Transaminase (ω-TA) is an attractive biocatalyst for stereospecific preparation of amino acids and derivatives, but low catalytic efficiency and unfavorable substrate specificity hamper their industrial application. In this work, to obtain applicable (R)-ω-TA responsible for amination of α-keto acids substrates, the reactivities of eight previously synthesized ω-TAs toward pyruvate using (R)-α-methylbenzylamine ((R)-α-MBA) as amine donor were investigated, and Gibberella zeae TA (GzTA) with the highest (R)-TA activity and stereoselectivity was selected as starting scaffold for engineering. Site-directed mutagenesis around enzymatic active pocket and access tunnel identified three positive mutation sites, S214A, F113L, and V60A.

Comparison of Posterior Fixation Strategies for Thoracolumbar Burst Fracture: A Finite Element Study.

The management of thoracolumbar (TL) burst fractures remained challenging. Due to the complex nature of the fractured vertebrae and the lack of clinical and biomechanical evidence, currently, there was still no guideline to select the optimal posterior fixation strategy for TL burst fracture. We utilized a T10-L3 TL finite element model to simulate L1 burst fracture and four surgical constructs with one- or two-level suprajacent and infrajacent instrumentation (U1L1, U1L2, U2L1, and U2L2).

Precise diagnosis of three top cancers using dbGaP data.

The challenge of decoding information about complex diseases hidden in huge number of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotypes is undertaken based on five dbGaP studies. Current genome-wide association studies have successfully identified many high-risk SNPs associated with diseases, but precise diagnostic models for complex diseases by these or more other SNP genotypes are still unavailable in the literature. We report that lung cancer, breast cancer and prostate cancer as the first three top cancers worldwide can be predicted precisely via 240-370 SNPs with accuracy up to 99% according to leave-one-out and 10-fold cross-validation.

Covalent immobilization of recombinant Citrobacter koseri transaminase onto epoxy resins for consecutive asymmetric synthesis of L-phosphinothricin.

Transaminase responsible for alienating prochiral ketone compound is applicable to asymmetric synthesis of herbicide L-phosphinothricin (L-PPT). In this work, the covalent immobilization of recombinant transaminase from Citrobacter koseri (CkTA) was investigated on different epoxy resins. Using optimum ES-105 support, a higher immobilized activity was obtained via optimizing immobilization process in terms of enzyme loading, coupling time and initial PLP concentration.

Integrative genomic analyses identify WDR12 as a novel oncogene involved in glioblastoma.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most malignant primary brain tumor in adults. Due to its invasive nature, it cannot be thoroughly eliminated. WD repeat domain 12 (WDR12) processes the 32S precursor rRNA but cannot affect the synthesis of the 45S/47S primary transcript.

Asymmetric synthesis of l-phosphinothricin using thermostable alpha-transaminase mined from Citrobacter koseri.

α-Transaminase (α-TA) responsible for catalyzing the reversible transfer of amino groups between amine donors and amine acceptors, is applicable to enzymatic route for asymmetric synthesis of herbicide l-phosphinothricin (l-PPT). In the search for α-TAs with better catalysis performance, three α-TAs were discovered by genome mining approach using a known sequence encoding Escherichia coli tyrosine TA (TyrB) as probe. Through detailed comparison of their expression amount, activities and characteristics, Citrobacter koseri TA (CkTA) exhibited better activity and thermostability, which retain 65.

Sumoylation Negatively Regulates CSR1-Dependent Prostate Cancer Cell Death.

Background/aims: SUMOylation is a dynamic process and reversed by the activity of SUMO-specific proteases (SENPs) family. SENP1, a member of this family, is highly expressed and plays oncogenic roles in diverse cancers including prostate cancer. However, the SENP1-transgenic mice exhibit aberrant transformation of the mouse prostate gland but do not develop cancer.

Downregulation of miR‑205 is associated with glioblastoma cell migration, invasion, and the epithelial-mesenchymal transition, by targeting ZEB1 via the Akt/mTOR signaling pathway.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common type of malignant brain tumor. In spite of recent advancements in surgical techniques, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy, patients with GBM often face a dire prognosis. MicroRNAs have been shown to modulate the aggressiveness of various cancers, and have emerged as possible therapeutic agents for the management of GBM.

Underlying mechanism of the photodynamic activity of hematoporphyrin‑induced apoptosis in U87 glioma cells.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a relatively novel type of tumor therapy method with low toxicity and limited side‑effects. The aim of the present study was to investigate the underlying mechanism and potential microRNAs (miRNAs) involved in the treatment of glioma by PDT with hematoporphyrin, a clinical photosensitizer. The photodynamic activity of hematoporphyrin on the cell viability and apoptosis of gliomas was investigated by MTT, and flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy, respectively.

MALAT1 is a prognostic factor in glioblastoma multiforme and induces chemoresistance to temozolomide through suppressing miR-203 and promoting thymidylate synthase expression.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most malignant brain tumor with limited therapeutic options. Temozolomide (TMZ) is a novel cytotoxic agent used as first-line chemotherapy for GBM, however, some individual cells can't be isolated for surgical resection and show treatment-resistance, thus inducing poor prognosis. By using the HiSeq sequencing and bioinformatics methods, we identified lncRNAs showing different expression levels in TMZ-resistant and non-resistant patients.

CPEB4 interacts with Vimentin and involves in progressive features and poor prognosis of patients with astrocytic tumors.

Cytoplasmic polyadenylation element binding protein 4 (CPEB4) is a regulator of gene transcription and has been reported to be associated with biological malignancy in cancers. However, it is unclear whether CPEB4 has any clinical significance in patients with astrocytic tumors, and mechanisms that CPEB4 contribute to progression of astrocytic tumors remain largely unknown. Here, correlation between CPEB4 expression and prognosis of patients with astrocytic tumors were explored by using qPCR, WB and IHC, and X-tile, SPSS software.

Prognostic significance of Nemo-like kinase expression in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Nemo-like kinase (NLK) is an evolutionarily conserved serine/threonine protein kinase and belongs to the extracellular signal-regulated kinases/microtubule-associated protein kinase families (Erks/MAPKs). Previous studies have indicated that abnormal expressions of NLK played critical roles in various types of human cancers. Recent studies suggested that NLK expression was significantly upregulated in the hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) specimens.

[Position analysis of three recombinant proteins of Echinococcus granulosus protoscolex with two-dimensional electrophoresis].

Objective: To obtain specific antibodies of the three recombinant antigens obtained previously, rEgZW-5, rEg14-3-3 and rEgP-29, for identifying the corresponding proteins in two-dimensional electrophoretogram of Echinococcus granulosus protoscolex.

Methods: The distribution of proteins from E. granulosus protoscoleces was judged by SDS-PAGE previously.

[A comparative study of the cytotoxicity of five dental bonding agents to human periodontal ligament cells].

Purpose: To compare the cytotoxicity of 5 different dental bonding agents to human periodontal ligament cells(HPDLCs).

Methods: Primary cultured HPDLCs were exposed to different concentrations (100%,50% and 25%) of Super Bond, Clearfil SE Bond, G-Bond, Single Bond2, and Adper Easy One for different times (24 h, 48 h and 72 h). Cytotoxicity of 5 different agents to HPDLCs were observed by MTT method.

HMME-based PDT restores expression and function of transporter associated with antigen processing 1 (TAP1) and surface presentation of MHC class I antigen in human glioma.

Numerous studies have established that photodynamic therapy (PDT) can trigger tumor-specific immunity and cancer cell immunogenicity, both of which play a critical role in the long-term control of oncogenesis; however, the underlying mechanisms are largely unexplained. Deficiency of the transporter associated with antigen processing 1 (TAP1) has been observed in a variety of tumors, and the question has been raised whether the restoration of TAP1 could facilitate the activation of antitumor immunity. To elucidate the mechanisms underlying PDT-induced immunopotentiation, we examined the hypothesis that upregulating TAP1 via PDT may contribute to enhancement of antitumor immunity and cancer cell immunogenicity.

Simultaneous liver and kidney transplantation: analysis of a single-center experience.

Background: Simultaneous liver and kidney transplantation (SLKT) has been proven to be a favorable treatment for combined renal and hepatic end-stage disease. However, recipients receiving SLKT have a long medical history, poor general condition that is often accompanied by anemia, hypoalbuminemia, coagulopathy, water-electrolyte imbalance and acid-base disorders. This study aimed to explore the indications, surgical techniques, therapeutic experience, prevention and treatment of postoperative complications of SLKT.

Clinical and pathological analysis of acute rejection following orthotopic liver transplantation.

Background: Acute rejection is one of the most important factors for prognosis following liver transplantation. With the use of potent immunosuppressants, acute rejection does not always present typical manifestations. Moreover, other complications often occur concomitantly after liver transplantation, which makes early diagnosis of acute rejection more difficult.

Liver retransplantation: a single-centre experience.

Background: The curative effect of liver transplantation for patients with end-stage liver disease was encouraging in recent years and the 5-year patient survival rate can reach up to 70%. However, some patients might lose grafts due to a variety of reasons, including bile duct complications, vascular complications, primary non-function, graft rejection and disease recurrence etc. Liver retransplantation (re-LT) was the only available means for those patients whose initial grafts had failed, but the inferior outcomes of re-LT compared to primary liver transplantation (PLT) continue to be a major concern.

[Appropriate soil nitrate N content for a winter wheat/summer maize rotation system in North China Plain].

A field experiment with 12-level N fertilization in winter wheat growth season and zero-N in summer maize growth season was conducted to study the appropriate soil nitrate N content for a winter wheat/summer maize rotation system in North China Plain. The results showed that when the soil mineral N content before sowing was higher, a split application of 150 kg N x hm(-2) in winter wheat growth season could meet the N demand of both winter wheat and summer maize in the rotation system. The N use efficiency of winter wheat in different N treatments was only from 11% to 23%, while the residual N use efficiency of summer maize ranged from 30% to 52%.