Cholesterol impairs hepatocyte lysosomal function causing M1 polarization of macrophages via exosomal miR-122-5p.

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a major threat to health worldwide. Lipotoxicity and macrophage-mediated inflammation play key roles in the pathogenesis of NASH. In this study, we found that individuals with higher serum LDL-C levels have a higher prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and elevated levels of glutamic-pyruvic transaminase, glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase and alkaline phosphatase.

Exploratory study on application of MALDI‑TOF‑MS to detect serum and urine peptides related to small cell lung carcinoma.

Matrix‑assisted laser desorption/ionization time‑of‑flight mass spectrometry (MALDI‑TOF‑MS) was employed to analyze differential serum and urine peptides in patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and healthy individuals, and SCLC diagnostic classification models were constructed. Serum and urine samples from 72 patients with SCLC, age‑ and gender‑matched with 72 healthy individuals, were divided into training and testing sets in a 3:1 ratio. Serum and urine peptides were extracted using copper ion‑chelating nanomagnetic beads, and mass spectra were obtained using MALDI‑TOF‑MS.

Rab7 regulates primary cilia disassembly through cilia excision.

The primary cilium is a sensory organelle that protrudes from the cell surface. Primary cilia undergo dynamic transitions between assembly and disassembly to exert their function in cell signaling. In this study, we identify the small GTPase Rab7 as a novel regulator of cilia disassembly.

Analysis of the association of TNF-α, IL-1A, and IL-1B polymorphisms with peri-implantitis in a Chinese non-smoking population.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the genetic variations which could regulate inflammatory responses were associated with the risk of peri-implantitis.

Materials And Methods: We evaluated three genetic variants including tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) - 308G/A, interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1A) - 889C/T, and IL-1 beta (IL-1B) + 3954C/T, as risk factors for peri-implantitis, in a total of 144 patients with peri-implantitis and 174 healthy controls in a Chinese non-smoking population.

Results: Logistic regression analyses revealed that subjects carrying the T allele of IL-1A - 889C/T and IL-1B + 3954C/T had a significant 2.

Hashing with Mutual Information.

Binary vector embeddings enable fast nearest neighbor retrieval in large databases of high-dimensional objects, and play an important role in many practical applications, such as image and video retrieval. We study the problem of learning binary vector embeddings under a supervised setting, also known as hashing. We propose a novel supervised hashing method based on optimizing an information-theoretic quantity, mutual information.

Inhibiting effects of flue gas desulfurization gypsum on soil phosphorus loss in Chongming Dongtan, southeastern China.

To explore the possibility of using flue gas desulfurization gypsum (FGDG) for inhibiting phosphorus (P) loss due to agricultural runoff, a 3-year study was performed in the farmlands of Chongming Dongtan between 2012 and 2015. Five different quantities of FGDG were used to treat the soil, and the effects of different treatments on the characteristics of soil P and crop growth were investigated. The results showed that 2 years after application of FGDG, the soil density at a depth of 0-10 cm decreased by 4.

Metal-organic framework derived 3D graphene decorated NaTi(PO) for fast Na-ion storage.

NASCION-type materials featuring super ionic conductivity are of considerable interest for energy storage in sodium ion batteries. However, the issue of inherent poor electronic conductivity of these materials represents a fundamental limitation in their utilization as battery electrodes. Here, for the first time, we develop a facile strategy for the synthesis of NASICON-type NaTi2(PO4)3/reduced graphene oxide (NTP-rGO) Na-ion anode materials from three-dimensional (3D) metal-organic frameworks (MOFs).

Cryo-thermal therapy inducing MI macrophage polarization created CXCL10 and IL-6-rich pro-inflammatory environment for CD4 T cell-mediated anti-tumor immunity.

Purpose: We previously developed a novel cryo-thermal therapy to treat malignant mammary carcinoma and melanoma in a mouse model; long-term survival and CD4 T cell orchestrating anti-tumor immune memory response were achieved. Moreover, cryo-thermal-induced CD4 T cell differentiation into Th1 and CD4CTL sub-lineages, in which M1 macrophage polarization played a direct, important role. In particular, cryo-thermal therapy triggered M1 macrophage polarization with up-regulated expression of C-X-C motif ligand 10 (CXCL10) and Interleukin 6 (IL-6).

Comparative analysis of proteomic and metabolomic profiles of different species of Paris.

An extract prepared from species of Paris is the most widely consumed herbal product in China. The genus Paris includes a variety of genotypes with different medicinal component contents but only two are defined as official sources. Closely related species have different medicinal properties because of differential expression of proteins and metabolites.

Cryo-thermal therapy induces macrophage polarization for durable anti-tumor immunity.

Many cancer therapies are being developed for the induction of durable anti-tumor immunity, especially for malignant tumors. The activation of antigen-presenting cells (APCs), including macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs), can bridge innate and adaptive immune responses against tumors. However, APCs have an immunosuppressive phenotype and reversing it for effective tumor-specific antigen presenting is critical in developing new cancer treatment strategies.

Acetylation Blocks cGAS Activity and Inhibits Self-DNA-Induced Autoimmunity.

The presence of DNA in the cytoplasm is normally a sign of microbial infections and is quickly detected by cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) to elicit anti-infection immune responses. However, chronic activation of cGAS by self-DNA leads to severe autoimmune diseases for which no effective treatment is available yet. Here we report that acetylation inhibits cGAS activation and that the enforced acetylation of cGAS by aspirin robustly suppresses self-DNA-induced autoimmunity.

Characteristics of multiple pool fires in a tunnel with natural ventilation.

Tunnel fires are usually accompanied with major casualties and properties losses, and multiple fires in a tunnel may cause intense burning behavior like fire merging, which could be more destructive and hazardous. Therefore, the characteristics and hazards of multiple pool fires in a tunnel were investigated under natural ventilation in this study through a series of experiments. Experimental results showed that the characteristics of one-dimensional fire arrays were different from those of square fire arrays in open space.

A facile and scalable process to synthesize flexible lithium ion conductive glass-ceramic fibers.

Solid-state electrolytes have emerged as a promising alternative to existing liquid electrolytes for next-generation flexible Li metal batteries with enhanced safety and stability. Nevertheless, the brittleness and inferior room temperature conductivity are major obstacles for practical applications. Herein, for the first time, we have fabricated a flexible lithium ion conductive glass-ceramic fiber by using a melt-spun homogeneous NASICON-type structured LiAlGe(PO) (LAGP) glass melt and annealed at 825 °C.

Cholesterol attenuated the progression of DEN-induced hepatocellular carcinoma via inhibiting SCAP mediated fatty acid de novo synthesis.

Worldwide, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains a top instigator of cancer mortality. Previous clinical studies have revealed that low serum cholesterol predicts a poor outcome in HCC patients, but the potential role of cholesterol in the progression of HCC remains controversial. In the present study,we tested the influence of cholesterol on the progression of DEN-induced HCC by feeding mice with a high cholesterol diet (HCD) and by depriving cholesterol with atorvastatin, a widely used inhibitor of the mevalonate pathway.

[Cathepsin B in hepatic Kupffer cells regulates activation of TLR4-independent inflammatory pathways in mice with lipopolysaccharide-induced sepsis].

Objective: To investigate the role of cathepsin B in hepatic Kupffer cells (KCs) in activating Toll-like receptor 4(TLR- 4)-independent inflammatory pathways in mice with lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced sepsis.

Methods: Eighteen wild-type (WT) mice and 18 TLR4-knockout (TLR4) mice were both divided into 3 groups for intraperitoneal injections of a lethal dose (54 mg/kg) of LPS, LPS and CA-074(a cathepsin B inhibitor), or normal saline, and the survival of the mice were observed. Another 36 WT mice and 36 TLR4mice were also divided into 3 groups and subjected to intraperitoneal injections of normal saline, 20 mg/kg LPS, or LPS with CA-074 pretreatment.

Imaging of soft materials using in situ liquid-cell transmission electron microscopy.

This review summarizes the breakthroughs in the field of soft material characterization by in situ liquid-cell transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The focus of this review is mostly on soft biological species such as cells, bacteria, viruses, proteins and polymers. The comparison between the two main liquid-cell systems (silicon nitride membranes liquid cell and graphene liquid cell) is also discussed in terms of their spatial resolution and imaging/analytical capabilities.

Curative resolution of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension with pulmonary thromboendarterectomy in primary antiphospholipid syndrome: A case report.

Rationale: Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is a severe complication of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). Once diagnosed, the recommendation for the treatment of CTEPH is long-term anticoagulation and pulmonary thromboendarterectomy (PTE). However, cardiac surgeons apply PTE cautiously for these patients, as there is an increased risk of perioperative complications.

Liraglutide protects non-alcoholic fatty liver disease via inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation in a mouse model induced by high-fat diet.

Liraglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogue that has recently become the first-line treatment for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), has also been reported to decrease fatty degeneration of the liver. The purpose of this study is to explore whether liraglutide improves high-fat diet-induced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in mice through inhibiting the NLRP3 inflammasome in the liver. After daily intraperitoneal injection of liraglutide (0.

FDA Approval Summary: Pembrolizumab for Recurrent Locally Advanced or Metastatic Gastric or Gastroesophageal Junction Adenocarcinoma Expressing PD-L1.

On September 22, 2017, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted accelerated approval for pembrolizumab (Keytruda, Merck & Co.

Fatty acid activates NLRP3 inflammasomes in mouse Kupffer cells through mitochondrial DNA release.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common liver disease in many developed and developing countries worldwide. It has been well established that the chronic sterile inflammation caused by the NLRP3 inflammasome is closely related to NAFLD development. Kupffer cells (KCs) are involved in the pathogenesis of various liver diseases.

In situ study of nucleation and growth dynamics of Au nanoparticles on MoS nanoflakes.

Two-dimensional (2D) substrates decorated with metal nanoparticles offer new opportunities to achieve high-performance catalytic behavior. However, little is known on how the substrates control the nucleation and growth processes of the nanoparticles. This paper presents the visualization of dynamic nucleation and growth processes of gold nanoparticles on ultrathin MoS2 nanoflakes by in situ liquid-cell transmission electron microscopy (TEM).

Sema3a inhibits the differentiation of Raw264.7 cells to osteoclasts under 2Gy radiation by reducing inflammation.

Astronauts and cancer patients receive different types of radiation, and radiation decreases bone strength and leads to radiation-induced osteoporosis. This effect is attributed to the activation of osteoclasts. Our aim was to study the effect of Sema3a on the differentiation of the murine macrophage cell line Raw264.

U-Shaped Bone Splitting and Osteotome Techniques for Narrow Alveolar Ridge in Implant Surgery.

Purpose: Bone splitting and osteotome are common ridge expansion choices for patients with a narrow alveolar ridge requiring dental implant restoration. Despite the effectiveness of the 2 techniques in horizontal ridge augmentation, they could also result in severe complications, which is thus considered a contraindication.

Materials And Methods: A modification of the bone splitting and the osteotome techniques is proposed hereby as an alternative.