Simultaneous detection of 9 respiratory pathogens using a newly developed multiplex real-time PCR panel based on an automatic molecular detection and analysis system.

Timely identification of respiratory pathogens guides specific treatment, reduces hospital costs and minimizes the excessive use of antibiotics. A new multiplex real-time PCR panel was developed based on an automatic molecular detection and analysis system (AutoMolec system), consisting of three separate internally controlled assays. Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Chlamydia pneumoniae, adenovirus, human metapneumovirus, influenza B virus, respiratory syncytial virus and human parainfluenza virus 1-3 may be directly detected in original samples.

[Correlation of seminal plasma biochemical indexes with routine semen parameters in sperm donors].

Objective: To investigate the relationship of seminal plasma biochemical indexes with routine semen parameters and that between seminal plasma biochemical indexes.

Methods: Using the automatic biochemical analyzer, we measured the contents of neutral α-glucosidase (NAG), fructose hexokinase (Fru) , citric acid (CA), acid phosphatase (ACP), (zinc) Zn, uric acid (UA), lactase dehydrogenase (LDH) and α-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (α-HBDH) in the seminal plasma of 84 sperm donors in the Human Sperm Bank of Hebei Province. We analyzed the correlation between these indexes and that between routine semen parameters and these indexes.

[Ultra-performance liquid chromatography for determination of the contents of biogenic amines in the seminal plasma].

Objective: To establish an ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) method for determination of the contents of the three biogenic amines putacine, spermidine and spermine in human seminal plasma.

Methods: Seminal plasma samples were extracted with 5% trichloroacetic acid and processed by pre-column derivatization with dansyl chloride. Chromatographic separation was performed with a C18 (2.

Displacement of the retina after idiopathic macular hole surgery with different internal limiting membrane peeling patterns.

Aim: To explore retinal displacement after surgical treatment for idiopathic macular hole (IMH) with different internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling patterns.

Methods: Totally 22 eyes from 20 patients with IMH were randomly allocated into two groups, N-T group (11 eyes) and T-N group (11 eyes). For patients in N-T group, ILM was peeled off from nasal to temporal retina.

Analysis of the Efficacy and Safety of PEGylated Interferon-α2b Treatment in Inactive Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Carriers.

Introduction: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is associated with the onset of several major liver diseases. Inactive hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carriers (IHCs) may be successfully treated with PEGylated interferon-α2b (PEG-IFNα2b)-based antiviral therapy; however, studies on this treatment have been insufficient. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of PEG-IFNα2b treatment in IHCs.

Efficacy of Peginterferon alfa-2b in Nucleoside Analogue Experienced Patients with Negative HBeAg and Low HBsAg: A Non-Randomized Clinical Trial.

Introduction: Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) clearance is the treatment goal for hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-negative patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). However, its rate is extremely low with nucleoside (acid) analogues (NAs) monotherapy. Peginterferon could enhance HBsAg clearance.

Early Diagnostic Biomarkers of Sepsis for Patients with Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure: A Multicenter Study.

Introduction: Sepsis is a complication in acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) patients associated with high rates of mortality and morbidity. Early diagnosis of sepsis in ACLF patients can improve prognosis. This study aimed to explore potential effective biomarkers for the early diagnosis of sepsis in ACLF patients.

Potential predictors for prognosis and postpartum recovery time of acute fatty liver of pregnancy.

Background: Acute fatty liver of pregnancy (AFLP) is a potentially lethal condition of pregnant women with a high mortality rate. Potential predictors related to postpartum recovery time and prognostic factors of AFLP are still unclear. This study aimed to evaluate potential predictors for prognosis and postpartum recovery time of AFLP.

CD51 distinguishes a subpopulation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells with distinct migratory potential: a novel cell-based strategy to treat acute myocardial infarction in mice.

Background: Experimental and clinical trials have demonstrated the efficiency of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (bMSCs) in the treatment of myocardial infarction. However, after intravenous injection, the ineffective migration of engrafted bMSCs to the hearts remains an obstacle, which has an undesirable impact on the efficiency of cell-based therapy. Therefore, we attempted to identify a marker that could distinguish a subpopulation of bMSCs with a promising migratory capacity.

Activity-Dependent Sulfhydration Signal Controls N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Subtype Glutamate Receptor-Dependent Synaptic Plasticity via Increasing d-Serine Availability.

Aims: Reactive sulfur species, including hydrogen sulfide (HS) and its oxydates, have been raised as novel redox signaling molecules. The present study aimed at examining whether endogenous sulfhydration signal is required for long-term potentiation (LTP), a cellular model for memory.

Results: In this study, we found that increased synaptic activity triggered sulfide generation and protein sulfhydration.

Hydrogen Sulfide Promotes Surface Insertion of Hippocampal AMPA Receptor GluR1 Subunit via Phosphorylating at Serine-831/Serine-845 Sites Through a Sulfhydration-Dependent Mechanism.

Aims: Hydrogen sulfide (H2 S) has been widely accepted as a gas neuromodulator to regulate synaptic function. Herein, we set out to determine the effect of H2 S on α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionic acid receptor (AMPAR) and its mechanism.

Methods: BS(3) protein cross-linking, Western blot, patch clamp, and biotin-switch assay.

Methylprednisolone exerts neuroprotective effects by regulating autophagy and apoptosis.

Methylprednisolone markedly reduces autophagy and apoptosis after secondary spinal cord injury. Here, we investigated whether pretreatment of cells with methylprednisolone would protect neuron-like cells from subsequent oxidative damage via suppression of autophagy and apoptosis. Cultured N2a cells were pretreated with 10 µM methylprednisolone for 30 minutes, then exposed to 100 µM H2O2 for 24 hours.

Fast Micro-Differential Evolution for Topological Active Net Optimization.

This paper studies the optimization problem of topological active net (TAN), which is often seen in image segmentation and shape modeling. A TAN is a topological structure containing many nodes, whose positions must be optimized while a predefined topology needs to be maintained. TAN optimization is often time-consuming and even constructing a single solution is hard to do.

Differential Evolution with an Evolution Path: A DEEP Evolutionary Algorithm.

Utilizing cumulative correlation information already existing in an evolutionary process, this paper proposes a predictive approach to the reproduction mechanism of new individuals for differential evolution (DE) algorithms. DE uses a distributed model (DM) to generate new individuals, which is relatively explorative, whilst evolution strategy (ES) uses a centralized model (CM) to generate offspring, which through adaptation retains a convergence momentum. This paper adopts a key feature in the CM of a covariance matrix adaptation ES, the cumulatively learned evolution path (EP), to formulate a new evolutionary algorithm (EA) framework, termed DEEP, standing for DE with an EP.

Interactions between N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor and GluR2 in the nucleus accumbens contribute to the expression of locomotor sensitization to cocaine.

Many studies have reported a withdrawal-dependent increase in synaptic AMPA receptor (AMPAR) levels in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) of cocaine-sensitized rats; however, the exact relationship between the expression of sensitization and altered AMPAR surface expression in the NAc has not yet been investigated. We demonstrated that the expression of behavioral sensitization was negatively controlled by N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor (NSF)-GluR2 interactions in the NAc. The upregulation of NSF-GluR2 interactions, which may be resulted by the increase in NSF S-nitrosylation after withdrawal from cocaine, was associated with the changes in the expression of behavioral sensitization.

A specific and rapid colorimetric method to monitor the activity of methionine sulfoxide reductase A.

Considerable evidence indicates that methionine sulfoxide (MetO) reductase A (MsrA) plays an important role in cytoprotection against oxidative stress and serves as a potential drug target. To screen for MsrA regulators, a rapid and specific assay to monitor MsrA activity is required. Most of current assays for MsrA activity are based on the reduction of radioactive substrates such as [3H]-N-acetyl-MetO or fluorescent derivatives such as dimethylaminoazo-benzenesulfonyl-MetO.

Resveratrol preconditioning increases methionine sulfoxide reductases A expression and enhances resistance of human neuroblastoma cells to neurotoxins.

Methionine sulfoxide reductases A (MsrA) has been postulated to act as a catalytic antioxidant system involved in the protection of oxidative stress-induced cell injury. Recently, attention has turned to MsrA in coupling with the pathology of Parkinson's disease, which is closely related to neurotoxins that cause dopaminergic neuron degeneration. Here, we firstly provided evidence that pretreatment with a natural polyphenol resveratrol (RSV) up-regulated the expression of MsrA in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells.