AR-v7 protein expression is regulated by protein kinase and phosphatase.

Failure of androgen-targeted therapy and progression of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) are often attributed to sustained expression of the androgen receptor (AR) and its major splice variant, AR-v7. Although the new generation of anti-androgens such as enzalutamide effectively inhibits AR activity, accumulating pre-clinical and clinical evidence indicates that AR-v7 remains constitutively active in driving CRPC progression. However, molecular mechanisms which control AR-v7 protein expression remain unclear.

[Clinical feature of severe hand, foot and mouth disease with acute pulmonary edema in pediatric patients].

Objective: To explore the clinical feature of severe hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) in pediatric patients, and to observe the hemodynamic changes in those with acute pulmonary edema.

Methods: A prospective observation study was conducted. Thirty-five severe HFMD pediatric patients with acute pulmonary edema admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) and Department of Pediatric of First People's Hospital of Foshan from May 2008 to September 2014 were enrolled.

Screening of APP interaction proteins by DUALmembrane yeast two-hybrid system.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the most common forms of neurodegenerative disease. There is a growing interest in the amyloid precursor protein (APP) over the years due to its involvement in AD. Besides its role in pathological mechanisms of AD, APP participates in many signaling pathways as well.

Mutation of N-linked glycosylation at Asn548 in CD133 decreases its ability to promote hepatoma cell growth.

The membrane glycoprotein CD133 is a popular marker for cancer stem cells and contributes to cancer initiation and invasion in a number of tumor types. CD133 promotes tumorigenesis partly through an interaction between its phosphorylated Y828 residue and the PI3K regulatory subunit p85, and the interaction with β-catenin. Although CD133 glycosylation is supposed to be associated with its function, the contribution of N-glycosylation to its functions remains unclear.

High-precision surface measurement with an automated multiangle low coherence interferometer.

We propose a novel measurement system based on a low coherence Michelson interferometer and six-axis hexapod platform to accurately measure structures with high aspect ratio using different tilt angles of the measured surface. In order to realize automatic measurement, the system is designed to automatically perform autofocusing, adjust the tilt angle of the test surface, make surface measurements, and merge the measurement data sets. Due to certain topography, e.

A resonant pressure microsensor capable of self-temperature compensation.

Resonant pressure microsensors are widely used in the fields of aerospace exploration and atmospheric pressure monitoring due to their advantages of quasi-digital output and long-term stability, which, however, requires the use of additional temperature sensors for temperature compensation. This paper presents a resonant pressure microsensor capable of self-temperature compensation without the need for additional temperature sensors. Two doubly-clamped "H" type resonant beams were arranged on the pressure diaphragm, which functions as a differential output in response to pressure changes.

Factors affecting daily physical activity and physical performance in maintenance dialysis patients.

Maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients display reduced daily physical activity (DPA) and physical performance (PP). Previous studies did not differentiate the effects of kidney failure and MHD treatments from comorbidities as causes for reduced DPA and PP. In relatively healthy MHD patients and normal adults, we evaluated DPA and PP and examined relationships between DPA and PP and possible associations between anxiety or depression and DPA and PP.

A high-Q resonant pressure microsensor with through-glass electrical interconnections based on wafer-level MEMS vacuum packaging.

This paper presents a high-Q resonant pressure microsensor with through-glass electrical interconnections based on wafer-level MEMS vacuum packaging. An approach to maintaining high-vacuum conditions by integrating the MEMS fabrication process with getter material preparation is presented in this paper. In this device, the pressure under measurement causes a deflection of a pressure-sensitive silicon square diaphragm, which is further translated to stress build up in "H" type doubly-clamped micro resonant beams, leading to a resonance frequency shift.

Inhibition of endothelial Slit2/Robo1 signaling by thalidomide restrains angiogenesis by blocking the PI3K/Akt pathway.

Background: Thalidomide is effective in the treatment of angiodysplasia. The mechanisms underlying its activity may be associated with inhibition of angiogenic factors. It was recently shown that Slit2/Robo1 signaling plays a role in angiogenesis.

Comparing complications of vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty for treating osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures: a meta-analysis of the randomized and non-randomized controlled studies.

Purpose: To compare complications of percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) and balloon kyphoplasty (BKP) for the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs).

Background: PVP and BKP are two minimally invasive procedures for treating OVCFs, while few studies emphases attention to intra- and post-operative complications about the two procedures.

Methods: Online databases were searched for studies comparing complications of PVP and BKP for OVCFs, the randomized controlled trials, clinical controlled trials and cohort studies that provided related data were identified.

Relation between anxiety, depression, and physical activity and performance in maintenance hemodialysis patients.

Objective: Maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients have a high prevalence of anxiety and depression and decreased daily physical activity (DPA) and exercise capacity. Because affective disorders may affect DPA and physical performance, we investigated possible relationships between anxiety or depression and DPA and physical performance in relatively healthy MHD patients.

Design And Methods: This cross-sectional study included 72 relatively healthy MHD patients and 39 normal adults.

The isolation and cultivation of bone marrow stem cells and evaluation of differences for neural-like cells differentiation under the induction with neurotrophic factors.

The bone marrow represents the most common source from which to isolate mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). They can be obtained directly from patients and successfully induced to form various differentiated cell types. In addition, cell-based transplantation therapies have been proven to be promising strategies for curing disease of the nerve system.

Terahertz quantitatively distinguishing gasoline mixtures using multiparameter-combined analysis.

Refined oil mixtures can be quantified using terahertz-absorption-coefficient spectra and dualistic linear regression fitting. However, when this method was used to quantify mixtures of 90# and 97# gasolines, the absolute error between the real and fitted value was large (25%), and this was due to the component similarity between 90# and 97# gasolines. To solve this problem, the present research addresses the possibility of developing a method that would allow direct, simple, and accurate determination of the 97# gasoline content in gasoline mixtures using a terahertz time-domain pulse coupled to a multiparameter-combined analysis.

Design, synthesis and evaluation of stationary phases for improved achiral supercritical fluid chromatography separations.

A series of novel stationary phases for improved Supercritical Fluid Chromatography (SFC) separation of achiral mixtures is described. Several of these stationary phases show chromatographic performance and generality that is comparable with that of the best commercial stationary phases currently available. The effects of stationary phase structure on chromatographic performance and generality are considered, and suggestions for further improvements in this important field are offered.

Extensor digitorum brevis manus muscle in association with a metacarpal boss.

Awareness of the existence of accessory muscles in the hand, such as the extensor digitorum brevis manus (EDBM) muscle, is important when making a differential diagnosis and considering the treatment of mass lesions with similar appearances. Cases of EDBM with associated dorsal wrist ganglion have been reported in earlier published reports. This report describes an unusual case of the EDBM muscle in association with carpometacarpal (CMC) boss.

The efficacy of thymosin alpha 1 for severe sepsis (ETASS): a multicenter, single-blind, randomized and controlled trial.

Introduction: Severe sepsis is associated with a high mortality rate despite implementation of guideline recommendations. Adjunctive treatment may be efficient and require further investigation. In light of the crucial role of immunologic derangement in severe sepsis, thymosin alpha 1 (Tα1) is considered as a promising beneficial immunomodulatory drug.

Biochemical properties of a novel glycoside hydrolase family 1 β-glucosidase (PtBglu1) from Paecilomyces thermophila expressed in Pichia pastoris.

A novel β-glucosidase gene (PtBglu1) from the thermophilic fungus, Paecilomyces thermophila, was cloned and expressed in Pichia pastoris. PtBglu1 contained an open reading frame of 1440-bp nucleotides and encoded a protein of 479 amino acids which showed significant similarity to other fungal β-glucosidases from glycoside hydrolase (GH) family 1. The recombinant β-glucosidase (PtBglu1) was secreted at high level of 190.

Terahertz spectroscopy for quantifying refined oil mixtures.

In this paper, the absorption coefficient spectra of samples prepared as mixtures of gasoline and diesel in different proportions are obtained by terahertz time-domain spectroscopy. To quantify the components of refined oil mixtures, a method is proposed to evaluate the best frequency band for regression analysis. With the data in this frequency band, dualistic linear regression fitting is used to determine the volume fraction of gasoline and diesel in the mixture based on the Beer-Lambert law.

Temperature and pressure-mediated structural transition of ZnS nanoparticles.

We demonstrate that the structural transition of ZnS nanoparticles from sphalerite to wurtzite is influenced by high pressures and temperatures. Under the pressure of 1 GPa, the structural transition of ZnS nanoparticles commences at 250 degrees C, much lower than that 400-500 degrees C for ZnS nanoparticles under normal pressures. With the increase of the annealing temperature, the transition is enhanced then inhibited with a maximum transition fraction of 14% at 300 degrees C and disappears at 500 degrees C.

High level expression of extracellular secretion of a β-glucosidase gene (PtBglu3) from Paecilomyces thermophila in Pichia pastoris.

A novel β-glucosidase gene (designated PtBglu3) from Paecilomyces thermophila was cloned and sequenced. PtBglu3 has an open reading frame of 2,557 bp, encoding 858 amino acids with a calculated molecular mass of 90.9 kDa.

A fluorescent chiral chemosensor for the recognition of the two enantiomers of chiral carboxylates.

A new 7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazole (NBD)-based fluorescent chiral chemosensor (NBD-1) was prepared and applied to the recognition of the two enantiomers of the tetrabutylammonium salts of N-t-Boc-α-amino acids and chiral carboxylic acids including naproxen. In particular, the chiral recognition by the new fluorescent chiral chemosensor for the two enantiomers of N-t-Boc-threonine (tetrabutylammonium salt) was quite excellent, the Stern-Volmer constant ratio (K(D)/K(L)) for the two enantiomers being as high as 4.89.

[Improvement of catalytic capability of Paecilomyces thermophila J18 thermostable beta-1,3-1,4-glucanase under acidic condition by directed evolution].

Directed evolution was used to improve the performance of beta-1,3-1,4-glucanase (designated as PtLicl6A) from Paecilomyces thermophila J18 under acidic condition. A mutant library was constructed by error-prone PCR and DNA shuffling, and positive clones were screened by Congo red staining. More than 1 500 mutants were selected.

Engineering a thermostable β-1,3-1,4-glucanase from Paecilomyces thermophila to improve catalytic efficiency at acidic pH.

To fulfill the need for acid-tolerant and thermostable β-1,3-1,4-glucanases, an error-prone PCR and DNA-shuffling approach was employed to enhance the activity of thermostable β-1,3-1,4-glucanases from Paecilomyces thermophila (PtLic16A) at acidic pH. Mutant PtLic16AM2 was selected and characterized, and showed optimal activity at pH 5.0, corresponding to an acidic shift of 2.

High level expression of a novel β-mannanase from Chaetomium sp. exhibiting efficient mannan hydrolysis.

A novel β-mannanase gene (CsMan5A) was cloned from Chaetomium sp. CQ31 and expressed in Pichia pastoris. It had an open reading frame of 1251bp encoding 416 amino acids and contained two introns.

A colorimetric chiral sensor based on chiral crown ether for the recognition of the two enantiomers of primary amino alcohols and amines.

A new colorimetric chiral sensor material consisting of three different functional sites such as chromophore (2,4-dinitrophenylazophenol dye), binding site (crown ether), and chiral barrier (3,3'-diphenyl-1,1'-binaphthyl group) was prepared and applied to the recognition of the two enantiomers of primary amino alcohols and amines. Among five primary amino alcohols and two primary amines tested, the two enantiomers of phenylalaninol show the highest difference in the absorption maximum wavelength (Δλ(max)=43.5 nm) and in the association constants (K(S)/K(R)=2.