Current investigation of neurocognitive functioning in preschool children with cancer: A cross-sectional study from western China.

Background And Aims: Cancer and its treatments may cause neurocognitive impairments in preschool children, but there is limited research on the neurocognitive outcomes of this population. This study, which assessed the neurocognitive function of preschool children with cancer and analyzed various influencing factors of neurocognitive functioning, is of significant importance. We aimed to investigate neurocognitive function and related risk factors in preschool children with cancer to inform preventive and intervention strategies.

Parents' Distress and Demands for Children With Cancer-Related Cognitive Impairment in Western China: A Qualitative Study.

Backgroud: Cancer-related cognitive impairment is one of the common complications in children with cancer, but our understanding of their experience with cognitive deficits remains limited. From the perspective of parents, this study aimed to explore the distress and demands faced by children with cancer-related cognitive impairment, to provide references for developing targeted intervention strategies for cancer children.

Methods: We used a purposeful sampling method to conduct semi-structured interviews with the parents of 18 children with cancer-related cognitive impairment.

Altered spontaneous brain activities in maintenance hemodialysis patients with cognitive impairment and the construction of cognitive function prediction models.

Objective: The brain neuromechanism in maintenance hemodialysis patients (MHD) with cognitive impairment (CI) remains unclear. The study aimed to probe the relationship between spontaneous brain activity and CI by using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) data.

Methods: Here, 55 MHD patients with CI and 28 healthy controls were recruited.

Analytical comparability demonstrated for an IgG4 molecule, inclacumab, following transfer of manufacturing responsibility from Roche to Global Blood Therapeutics.

Background: Inclacumab is a recombinant, fully human, immunoglobulin IgG4 monoclonal antibody that selectively binds to P-selectin. Initially discovered and developed by Roche through phase 2 clinical studies in peripheral arterial disease and coronary artery disease, inclacumab has been in-licensed by Global Blood Therapeutics (GBT) as a potential treatment to reduce the frequency of vaso-occlusive crises in individuals with sickle cell disease.

Research Design And Methods: GBT sought to demonstrate the analytical comparability between material produced by Roche and material produced by GBT to ensure that no meaningful differences in identity, safety, purity, potency, or bioavailability exist between the GBT and Roche lots.

Identification of a miRNA biomarker for the large artery atherosclerosis subtype of acute ischemic stroke.

Aim Of The Study: To identify miRNA biomarkers of arterial atherosclerosis subtypes in acute ischemic stroke.

Material And Methods: 40 participants recruited in our hospital from October 2017 to January 2018. There were 12 patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS), 13 patients with atherosclerosis (AS) and 15 healthy subjects.

Physiologically based pharmacokinetic combined BTK occupancy modeling for optimal dosing regimen prediction of acalabrutinib in patients alone, with different CYP3A4 variants, co-administered with CYP3A4 modulators and with hepatic impairment.

Purpose: To develop a mathematical model combined between physiologically based pharmacokinetic and BTK occupancy (PBPK-BO) to simultaneously predict pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) changes of acalabrutinib (ACA) and active metabolite ACP-5862 in healthy humans as well as PD in patients. Next, to use the PBPK-BO to determine the optimal dosing regimens in patients alone, with different CYP3A4 variants, when co-administration with four CYP3A4 modulators and in patients with hepatic impairment, respectively.

Methods: The PBPK-BO model was built using physicochemical and biochemical properties of ACA and ACP-5862 and then verified by observed PK and PD data from healthy humans and patients.

Structural, magnetic, and electronic properties of EuSi thin films on the Si(111) surface.

Searching for magnetic silicide thin films has long been a hot topic in condensed matter physics and materials science based on their fundamental physics and promising device applications. Here we report a systematic study on the structural, magnetic, and electronic properties of EuSi thin films on the Si(111) surface by calculations. Total energy calculations show that the EuSi thin film in AA stacking is more favorable than that in AB or ABC stacking.

La induced Si trimer bilayer on the Si(111) surface.

Using first-principles calculations, we identify a robust R30° reconstruction of a Si3 trimer bilayer on the Si(111) surface with a La coverage of 2/3 monolayer. Each surface unit cell contains two Si3 trimers and two La atoms, where the upper Si3 trimer is located just above the lower one with a rotation of about 60°, while two La atoms with different heights are distributed between the Si3 trimers and located on the T4 top site of the Si(111) surface, forming a honeycomb-like network structure. We find that the two La atoms have different valence states, La2+ and La3+, respectively.

Effects of age on the peak ratio of ophthalmic artery Doppler.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of age on the peak ratio (PR) of ophthalmic artery (OA) Doppler.The initial peak velocity (P1), second peak velocity (P2) and PR of OA were detected by color Doppler ultrasonography in 147 healthy subjects. All of the subjects were divided into 6 groups (G1-G6) according to the age.

Prognostic Role of Serum Lactate Dehydrogenase in Patients With Urothelial Carcinoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

To investigate the potential prognostic role of serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in patients with urothelial carcinoma (UC) using the method of systematic review and meta-analysis. We searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science for eligible studies up to February 2020. Pooled hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to estimate the relationship.

Mn-Doped Sr/Si(111)-(3 × 2) HCC Surfaces: Antiferromagnetic Semiconductors for Spintronic Applications.

Manganese and manganese silicide as promising candidates for spintronic applications have attracted great interest in recent years. Here, we adopt Sr-induced Si(111)-(3 × 2) honeycomb-chain channel (HCC) surface as a template and perform a systematical study on the structural stability and magnetic and electronic properties of Mn-doped Sr/Si(111)-(3 × 2) HCC surfaces by ab initio calculations. Our energetic and kinetic results show two robust inserting structures M and H, where Mn atoms are located below the honeycomb Si chain and on the top or hollow site of the Si(111) surface.

Structural stability and electronic properties of alkaline-earth metal induced Si(111)-(3 × 2) surfaces.

Alkaline-earth metal (Ca, Sr, and Ba) induced Si(111)-(3 × 2) honeycomb chain-channel (HCC) surfaces have been systematically studied by means of ab initio calculations. The large adsorption energy and anisotropic diffusion energy barriers ensure the high structural stability of the one-dimensional HCC structure. Electronic band structures and band-decomposed charge density distributions reveal that the first conduction band and the third valence band level are contributed by the surface Si and metal atoms, while the top first and second valence bands are caused by the bulk silicon atoms.

DL-Propargylglycine protects against myocardial injury induced by chronic intermittent hypoxia through inhibition of endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Background: Chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH), an important basis of the pathogenesis of organ damage induced by obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), is associated with myocardial injury, such as left ventricular dysfunction, apoptosis, and oxidative stress. Endogenous hydrogen sulfide (HS) plays an important role in maintaining cardiovascular functions. Many studies have demonstrated that exogenous HS has protective effects against myocardial injury induced by various cardiovascular diseases, and inhibiting the generation of endogenous HS has opposite effects.

Establishment of a Rabbit Model of Chronic Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Application in Cardiovascular Consequences.

Background: Although obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been recognized as a major risk factor for cardiovascular complications and its clinical features are well characterized, it is difficult to replicate the OSA hypoxic model in humans. We aimed to establish an experimental rabbit model for chronic OSA and to explore its application to measure blood pressure (BP), myocardial systolic function, and oxidative stress.

Methods: The rabbit model for OSA was established by repeatedly closing the airway and then reopening it.

The role of the Nox4-derived ROS-mediated RhoA/Rho kinase pathway in rat hypertension induced by chronic intermittent hypoxia.

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, which is a risk factor for resistant hypertension, is characterized by chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) and is associated with many cardiovascular diseases. CIH elicits systemic oxidative stress and sympathetic hyperactivity, which lead to hypertension. Rho kinases (ROCKs) are considered to be major effectors of the small GTPase RhoA and have been extensively studied in the cardiovascular field.

Inhibition of BDNF-AS Provides Neuroprotection for Retinal Ganglion Cells against Ischemic Injury.

Background: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) protects retinal ganglion cells against ischemia in ocular degenerative diseases. We aimed to determine the effect of BDNF-AS on the ischemic injury of retinal ganglion cells.

Methods: The levels of BDNF and BDNF-AS were measured in retinal ganglion cells subjected to oxygen and glucose deprivation.

Anti-tumor activity of tanshinone IIA in combined with cyclophosphamide against Lewis mice with lung cancer.

Objective: To explore the anti-tumor activity of tanshinone IIA in combined with cyclophosphamide against Lewis mice with lung cancer and the effect on cellular immune function.

Methods: Lewis tumor cells were inoculated subcutaneously into the right armpit of mice in each group (n = 20) to establish Lewis lung cancer mice model. After model establishment, mice in the model group were given normal saline by lavage, qd.

Adenotonsillectomy can decrease enuresis and sympathetic nervous activity in children with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

Background: The nocturnal intermittent hypoxia caused by obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) can provoke the sympathetic nervous activity (SNA). Salivary alpha-amylase (sAA) is a sensitive, non-invasive biomarker for reflecting the SNA, and a useful marker for pediatric OSAS subjects. Adenotonsillar hypertrophy (ATH) is the most commonly identified risk factor in OSAS childhood, therefore, several studies showed that the adenotonsillectomy (T&A) may alleviate nocturnal enuresis (NE) in children with OSAS.

Association between polymorphisms of the HSPB7 gene and Cheyne-Stokes respiration with central sleep apnea in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure.

Background: CSR-CSA is frequent in patients with CHF. Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a structural heart disease with strong genetic background, yet one of the leading etiological causes of CHF. Studies have showed that the HSPB7 gene is associated with DCM.

Dissociation Dynamics of XPC-RAD23B from Damaged DNA Is a Determining Factor of NER Efficiency.

XPC-RAD23B (XPC) plays a critical role in human nucleotide excision repair (hNER) as this complex recognizes DNA adducts to initiate NER. To determine the mutagenic potential of structurally different bulky DNA damages, various studies have been conducted to define the correlation of XPC-DNA damage equilibrium binding affinity with NER efficiency. However, little is known about the effects of XPC-DNA damage recognition kinetics on hNER.

Conformational Insights into the Mechanism of Acetylaminofluorene-dG-Induced Frameshift Mutations in the NarI Mutational Hotspot.

Frameshift mutagenesis encompasses the gain or loss of DNA base pairs, resulting in altered genetic outcomes. The NarI restriction site sequence 5'-G1G2CG3CX-3' in Escherichia coli is a well-known mutational hotspot, in which lesioning of acetylaminofluorene (AAF) at G3* induces a greater -2 deletion frequency than that at other guanine sites. Its mutational efficiency is modulated by the nature of the nucleotide in the X position (C ∼ A > G ≫ T).

Identification of susceptibility genes in non-syndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate using whole-exome sequencing.

Background: Non-syndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate (NSCL/P) is among the most common congenital malformations. The etiology of NSCL/P remains poorly characterized owing to its complex genetic heterogeneity. The objective of this study was to identify genetic variants that increase susceptibility to NSCL/P.

Chronic intermittent hypoxia versus continuous hypoxia: Same effects on hemorheology?

Although both chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) and chronic continuous hypoxia (CCH) have effects on hemorheology, we do not know whether their roles are the same. In this study, we explored the effect of simulated-apnea CIH on hemorheology in experimental rats and compared with the effect of CCH. 45 adult SD rats were randomly divided into the normoxic control group, CCH and CIH groups.

Antagonism effects of cypermethrin on interleukin-6-induced androgen receptor activation.

To identify whether androgen receptor (AR) antagonism by cypermethrin involves interleukin-6 (IL-6)-induced ligand-independent AR signaling, we have developed the AR reporter gene assay. The reporter gene plasmid pMMTV-chloramphenicol transferase (CAT) was transfected into LNCaP cells. IL-6 increased expression of MMTV-CAT significantly (P<0.

Identification of a novel gene fusion (BMX-ARHGAP) in gastric cardia adenocarcinoma.

Background: Gastric cardia adenocarcinoma (GCA) is one of the major causes of cancer related mortality worldwide. We aim to provide new understanding in the pathogenesis of GCA through investigations on gene expression alterations.

Methods: We preformed RNA-Seq for one pair of GCA and matched non-tumor tissues.