A continuous tri-phase transition effect for HIFU-mediated intravenous drug delivery.

Aiming at substantially enhanced efficacy and biosafety of clinical HIFU therapy, a natural solid medium, L-menthol (LM), characteristic of mild and controllable "solid-liquid-gas" (SLG) tri-phase transition, was adopted, instead of those conventional explosive liquid-gas (LG) bi-phase transitional media, in constructing a multifunctional theranostic system. Owing to the continuous and controllable characteristics of SLG tri-phase transition, such a novel tri-phase transition-based theranostic system has been demonstrated of the repeatedly enhanced HIFU efficacy ex vivo and in vivo under once intravenous injection and the significantly improved treatment precision, controllability and biosafety when comparing to the traditional bi-phase transition medium, perfluorohexane (PFH), thus promising great application potential in clinical HIFU treatment. Moreover, this theranostic system has been demonstrated a long blood-circulation lifetime and continuous accumulation in tumor in 24 h, which is very beneficial for the enhanced tumor ablation in vivo along with SLG tri-phase transition.

miR-19b promotes tumor growth and metastasis via targeting TP53.

Tumor suppressor TP53 (or p53) is one of the most important regulators in numerous physiological and pathological processes. Recently, the miRNA-mediated post-transcription regulation of p53 has been studied. However, systematic studies of miRNA targeting sites within the p53 gene are still a challenging task.

[Mercury fluxes from conifer-broadleaf forested field in central subtropical forest zone].

Total gaseous mercury fluxes of forested field soils in the subtropical forest zones, Chongqing, Southwestern China were continually monitored from April 2011 to March 2012 to provide insights into the characteristics of gaseous mercury flux with conifer-broadleaf forest covers. Samples were collected from surfaces of forest fields as the most representative terrestrial surfaces in Jinyun Mountain. Simultaneously, meteorological parameters at the soil level relating to GEM fluxes, such as soil temperature, air humidity, and solar radiation were analyzed, and variations of atmospheric GEM concentration were examined.

Impact of Lewis base on chemical reactivity and separation efficiency for hydrated fourth-row transition metal (II) complexes: an ONIOM DFT/MM study.

In this paper, two-layer ONIOM combinations of high-level quantum mechanics (QM) and inexpensive molecular mechanics (MM) are successfully used to investigate the structural characters of metal (M, all the transition metals in the fourth period)-H2O-Lewis base (A(-)) complexes. Global and local descriptors of chemical reactivity and selectivity from conceptual density functional theory are employed to show the properties of the active complexes of M(H2O)2A2 and to study the effect of the Lewis base for the separation of transition metal ions. It is shown that chemical potential, hardness, electrophilicity, as well as the dual and multiphilic descriptors are adequate for characterizing the global and local reactivity trends of the M(H2O)2A2 complex.

Effect of Tai Chi exercise on the physical and mental health of the elder patients suffered from anxiety disorder.

Objective: Observe the effect of Tai Chi exercise on the rehabilitation of elder patients suffered from the anxiety disorder.

Methods: 32 elder patients suffered from the anxiety disorder are randomly divided into the experimental group and the control group and each of them consists of 16 patients. The control group only receives the drug therapy, while the experimental group is treated with Tai Chi exercise in addition to the drug therapy.

Dorsal raphe neurons signal reward through 5-HT and glutamate.

The dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) in the midbrain is a key center for serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT)-expressing neurons. Serotonergic neurons in the DRN have been theorized to encode punishment by opposing the reward signaling of dopamine neurons. Here, we show that DRN neurons encode reward, but not punishment, through 5-HT and glutamate.

Biosynthetic potential-based strain prioritization for natural product discovery: a showcase for diterpenoid-producing actinomycetes.

Natural products remain the best sources of drugs and drug leads and serve as outstanding small-molecule probes to dissect fundamental biological processes. A great challenge for the natural product community is to discover novel natural products efficiently and cost effectively. Here we report the development of a practical method to survey biosynthetic potential in microorganisms, thereby identifying the most promising strains and prioritizing them for natural product discovery.

Efficient purification of ginkgolic acids from Ginkgo biloba leaves by selective adsorption on Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles.

Ginkgolic acids (GAs; anacardic acids; 6-alkylsalicylic acids) are both unwanted constituents in standardized Ginkgo biloba (Ginkgo) extracts and desirable constituents for pharmacological assays. Thus, for the quality control of Ginkgo extracts, the availability of pure GAs is important. In this investigation, inexpensive and easily prepared Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) in methanol were used to selectively adsorb GAs from crude petroleum ether extracts of Ginkgo leaves in the presence of various lipids including other alkylphenols (cardanols and cardols).

Therapeutic effect of transplanting bone mesenchymal stem cells on the hind limbs' motor function of rats with acute spinal cord injury.

Purpose: To research the therapeutic effect of the allograft of bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) on hind limbs' motor function of rats that underwent acute injury to their spinal nerve.

Design: 40 Wistar rat samples with the acute injury to the spinal cord were established and divided into the transplantation group and the control group, 20 for each group; One week after injury, BMSCs were slowly injected into the center of the injured spinal cord of the rats, and the physiological saline was injected into the control group.

Main Outcome Measures: The rehabilitation of the motor function of the rats' hind limbs was observed; furthermore, eight weeks after the injury, the protein disparity of the nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) between the two groups of rats was noted.

Filling carbon nanotubes with Prussian blue nanoparticles of high peroxidase-like catalytic activity for colorimetric chemo- and biosensing.

Facile filling of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) with Prussian blue nanoparticles (PBNPs) of high peroxidase-like catalytic activity was performed to develop novel colorimetric sensing protocols for assaying H2O2 and glucose. Fine control of PBNP growth was achieved by modulating the concentration ratio of K3 [Fe(CN)6] and FeSO4 precursors in an acidic solution containing ultrasonically dispersed MWCNTs, and thus size-matched PBNPs could be robustly immobilized in the cavities of the MWCNTs (MWCNT-PBin). Unlike other reported methods involving complicated procedures and rigorous preparation/separation conditions, this mild one-pot filling method has advantages of easy isolation of final products by centrifugation, good retention of the pristine outer surface of the MWCNT shell, and satisfactory filling yield of (24±2) %.

[The role and mechanism of costimulatory molecule B7-H3 in the immune reaction of corneal transplantation in mice].

Objective: To investigate the role of B7-H3 in the immune reaction of corneal transplantation in mice

Methods: Experimental study. Thirty Corneas of C57BL/6 mice were orthotopically transplanted into the eyes of BALB/c mice, and graft survival was assessed on the basis of Sonoda's standard. When the RI grade was ≥ 2, rejection was acknowledged and brought into the rejected group(R), and the others into the accepted group (A); 8 BALB/c Corneas into their own eyes belonged to isografts (I) ; In addition, 8 normal BALB/c mice were the control group (C) .

Dynamic expression of N-myc in mouse embryonic development using an enhanced green fluorescent protein reporter gene in the N-myc locus.

N-myc belongs to the Myc oncogene family and plays an essential role in mammalian embryonic development. The expression of N-myc is dynamically regulated during embryonic development; however, its expression pattern has not been well characterized due to the lack of a suitable animal model. In this paper, a genetically modified mouse model was generated in which the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) coding sequence was inserted into the N-myc locus, so that endogenous N-myc expression could be traced by the signal of EGFP.

Apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 is a novel target molecule for cognitive impairment induced by chronic cerebral hypoperfusion.

Objective: There are currently no specific strategies for the treatment or prevention of vascular dementia. White matter lesions, a common pathology in cerebral small vessel disease, are a major cause of vascular dementia. We investigated whether apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1) might be a key molecule in cerebral hypoperfusion, associated with blood-brain barrier breakdown and white matter lesions.

An intelligent nanotheranostic agent for targeting, redox-responsive ultrasound imaging, and imaging-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound synergistic therapy.

A novel multifunctional nanotheranostic agent with targeting, redox-responsive ultrasound imaging and ultrasound imaging-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) therapy (MSNC-PEG-HA(SS)-PFH, abbreviated as MPH(SS)-PFH) capabilities is developed. The redox-responsive guest molecule release and ultrasound imaging functions can be both integrated in such a "smart" theranostic agent, which is accomplished by the redox-triggered transition from the crosslinking state to retrocrosslinking state of the grafted polyethylene glycol-disulfide hyaluronic acid molecules on the particle surface when reaching a reducing environment in vitro. More importantly, under the tailored ultrasound imaging guiding, in vivo Hela tumor-bearing nude mice can be thoroughly and spatial-accurately ablated during HIFU therapy, due to the targeted accumulation, responsive ultrasound imaging guidance and the synergistic ablation functions of nanotheranostic agent MPH(SS)-PFH in the tumors.

Evaluation of international federation of gynecology and obstetrics stage IB cervical cancer: comparison of diffusion-weighted and dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging at 3.0 T.

Objective: The objective of this study was to compare the diagnostic performance of diffusion-weighted (DW) imaging with that of dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) imaging in the evaluation of tumor extent in patients with stage IB cervical cancer.

Methods: This retrospective study was approved by the institutional review board. Between June 2010 and March 2012, 46 consecutive patients with FIGO (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics) stage IB who underwent preoperative DCE, DW (b = 0 and 800 s/mm), and T1- and T2-weighted imaging were included in this study.

Relaxation training during chemotherapy for breast cancer improves mental health and lessens adverse events.

Objective: Mental health issues like anxiety and depression and other adverse events often accompany chemotherapy for breast cancer and can result in reduced quality of life for patients. The present study was aimed to determine whether relaxation training intervention reduces anxiety and other adverse reactions during chemotherapy in patients with breast cancer.

Methods: Using a prospective, randomized study design, patients with breast cancer were divided into a control group (n=50) and an experimental group (n=50).

Silica-coated magnetite nanoparticles labeled by nimotuzumab, a humanised monoclonal antibody to epidermal growth factor receptor: preparations, specific targeting and bioimaging.

Uniform fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-incorporated silica-coated core-shell SPIO nanoparticles (MNP@SiO2) with sizes of about 30 nm have been prepared by controlled hydrolysis of tetraethyl orthosilicateb. Monoclonal antibody nimotuzumab (h-R3) is labeled to the core-shell MNP@SiO2 for targeting to cancer cell A431 overexpressing epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). The result shows h-R3 labeled MNP@SiO2 nanoparticle (MNP@SiO2-mAb(h_R3)) has desired specificity to cancer cell A431.

[Association between vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms and pediatric Crohn's disease in China: a study based on gene sequencing].

Objective: To investigate the association between TaqI, BsmI, and ApaI polymorphisms of vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene and pediatric Crohn's disease (CD) in China.

Methods: Nineteen children with CD were selected as a case group, and 122 healthy children who underwent physical examination were selected as a control group. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 [25(OH)D3] levels were measured using ELISA.

A guide RNA sequence design platform for the CRISPR/Cas9 system for model organism genomes.

Cas9/CRISPR has been reported to efficiently induce targeted gene disruption and homologous recombination in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Thus, we developed a Guide RNA Sequence Design Platform for the Cas9/CRISPR silencing system for model organisms. The platform is easy to use for gRNA design with input query sequences.

Ontogenetic and sexual differences of thermal biology and locomotor performance in a lacertid lizard, Eremias multiocellata.

A viviparous lizard, Eremias multiocellata, was used to investigate the possible sexual and ontogenetic effects on selected body temperature, thermal tolerance range and the thermal dependence of locomotor performance. We show that adults are sexually dimorphic and males have larger bodies and heads than females. Adults selected higher body temperatures (34.

Simultaneous analysis of dopamine and homovanillic acid by high-performance liquid chromatography with wall-jet/thin-layer electrochemical detection.

Wall-jet/thin-layer amperometric electrochemical detection (ECD) coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used here for the simultaneous analysis of dopamine (DA) and homovanillic acid (HVA) at a glassy carbon electrode. Compared with the conventional thin-layer mode and wall-jet mode, the presented wall-jet/thin-layer ECD has the advantages of enhanced capture of electroactive DA and HVA on the working electrode to give enhanced responses and more convenient washing/refreshment of the working electrode surface. Under optimized conditions, the HPLC-ECD calibration curves show good linearity from 0.

[Eurasian Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla)-a new bird record in China].

A new bird species record, the Eurasian Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla), was witnessed and subsequently recorded from 22 December 2012 to 9 January 2013, in Kashi (N39°28', E76°00', altitude 1 260 m), southwest Xinjiang, China.

7,8-dihydroxycoumarin may promote sciatic nerve regeneration by suppressing NF-κB expression in mice.

Nuclear factor (NF)-κB expression occurs during sciatic injury. In addition, 7,8-dihydroxycoumarin exhibits a neurotrophic effect on peripheral nerve regeneration. To investigate the effects of 7,8-dihydroxycoumarin on the expression levels of NF-κB in L4-6 spinal cord segments of the injured sciatic nerve in mice and on the functional recovery and regeneration following nerve injury, a total of 160 healthy adult male BALB/c mice underwent unilateral sciatic nerve interruption and anastomosis.

Runx1-deficient afferents impair visceral nociception, exacerbating dextran sodium sulfate-induced colitis.

Colitis is a group of inflammatory and auto-immune disorders that affect the tissue lining of the gastrointestinal (GI) system. Studies of chemically-induced animal models of colitis have indicated that nociceptive afferents or neuropeptides have differing effects on GI inflammation. However, the molecular mechanisms involved in visceral pain and the role of visceral sensory afferents involved in the modulation of colitis remains unclear.

Facile fabrication of network film electrodes with ultrathin Au nanowires for nonenzymatic glucose sensing and glucose/O2 fuel cell.

We report here on the facile fabrication of network film electrodes with ultrathin Au nanowires (AuNWs) and their electrochemical applications for high-performance nonenzymatic glucose sensing and glucose/O2 fuel cell under physiological conditions (pH 7.4, containing 0.15M Cl(-)).