Reduction of alkaline reflux gastritis and marginal ulcer by modified Braun enteroenterostomy in gastroenterologic reconstruction after pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Background: The incidence of alkaline reflux gastritis (ARG) after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) is high. Although Braun enteroenterostomy (BEE) may reduce ARG, BEE may result in marginal ulcers (MUs) due to the additional anastomotic stoma. We conducted this study to compare clinical outcomes of using a modified BEE (MBEE) with traditional gastrojejunostomy (TGJ), by inducting a purse-string suture instead of an additional anastomotic stoma.

Deactivation mechanism of potassium on the V₂O₅/CeO₂ catalysts for SCR reaction: acidity, reducibility and adsorbed-NOx.

A series of V2O5/CeO2 catalysts with different potassium loadings were prepared to investigate alkali deactivations for selective catalytic reduction of NOx with NH3. An alkali poisoning mechanism could be attributed to surface acidity, reducibility, and NOx adsorption/desorption behaviors. The detailed factors are as follows: (1) decrease of surface acidity suppresses NH3 adsorption by strong bonding of alkali to vanadia (major factor); (2) low reducibility prohibits NH3 activation and NO oxidation by formation bonding of alkali to vanadia and ceria (important factor); (3) active NOx(-) species at low temperature diminish because of coverage of alkali on the surfaces (minor factor); and (4) stable, inactive nitrate species at high temperature increase by generating new basic sites (important factor).

MicroRNA-194 (miR-194) regulates ROMK channel activity by targeting intersectin 1.

The aim of the study is to explore the role of miR-194 in mediating the effect of high-K (HK) intake on ROMK channel. Northern blot analysis showed that miR-194 was expressed in kidney and that HK intake increased while low-K intake decreased the expression of miR-194. Real-time PCR analysis further demonstrated that HK intake increased the miR-194 expression in the cortical collecting duct.

Identification of a novel role of ZMIZ2 protein in regulating the activity of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

ZMIZ2, also named ZIMP7, is a protein inhibitor of activated STAT (PIAS)-like protein and a transcriptional coactivator. In this study, we investigated the interaction between ZMIZ2 and β-catenin, a key regulator of the Wnt signaling pathway. We demonstrated that the expression of exogenous ZMIZ2 augments TCF (T cell factor) and β-catenin-mediated transcription.

IL-18 expression results in a recombinant vaccinia virus that is highly attenuated and immunogenic.

Interferon-γ (IFN-γ) is an attenuating factor for vaccinia virus (VACV), decreasing its virulence in vivo by more than a million fold. It is also a highly effective adjuvant when administered at the time of immunization with protein antigens. However, recombinant VACV (rVACV) vaccines expressing IFN-γ do not induce enhanced immune responses.

Inhibition of miR-205 impairs the wound-healing process in human corneal epithelial cells by targeting KIR4.1 (KCNJ10).

Purpose: The aim of the study was to test the hypotheses that injury stimulates the expression of miR-205, which in turn inhibits KCNJ10 channels by targeting its 3' UTR, thereby facilitating the wound-healing process in human corneal epithelial cells (HCECs).

Methods: A stem-loop qRT-PCR was used to examine the miR-205 expression. BrdU cell proliferation assay and wound scratch assay were applied to measure the effect of miR-205 mimic or antagomer in HCECs.

miR-221/222 targets adiponectin receptor 1 to promote the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in breast cancer.

The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a highly conserved physiological program involved in development and tissue repair; however, its aberrant activation has been implicated in accelerating the progression of a variety of cancers. In breast cancer, the microRNAs (miRNAs) miR-221 and miR-222 (miR-221/222) are differentially expressed in the clinically more aggressive basal-like subtype compared to luminal subtype of breast cancer and upregulation of miR-221/222 induces the EMT by targeting the 3' untranslated region (3'UTR) of the GATA family transcriptional repressor TRPS1 (tricho-rhino-phalangeal syndrome type 1). The complete mechanism through which miR-221/222 promotes the EMT, however, is not fully understood.

A novel fast responsive thermo-sensitive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-clay nanocomposites hydrogels modified by nanosized octavinyl polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane.

The preparation of a novel fast response thremosensitive hydrogel was investigated by incorporating nanosized octavinyl polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (OvPOSS) particles into inorganic clay-crosslinked poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPA) nanocomposites hydrogels (NC gels). The resulting hydrogels named as P-NC gels involving both the strategies of NC gels and double network gels (DN gels) were successfully synthesized via a two-step technique. The second PNIPA network crosslinked by OvPOSS were polymerized in the presence of the first clay-PNIPA network.

The relationship between structure and activity of MoO3-CeO2 catalysts for NO removal: influences of acidity and reducibility.

The SCR activities of MoO3-CeO2 catalysts are enhanced by both Lewis and Brønsted acidities provided by surface cerium atoms and amorphous MoO3 structures, respectively, but are suppressed by stable adsorbed nitrate or nitrite species on the defect sites of CeO2.

Identification and analysis of in vivo VEGF downstream markers link VEGF pathway activity with efficacy of anti-VEGF therapies.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to identify conserved pharmacodynamic and potential predictive biomarkers of response to anti-VEGF therapy using gene expression profiling in preclinical tumor models and in patients.

Experimental Design: Surrogate markers of VEGF inhibition [VEGF-dependent genes or VEGF-dependent vasculature (VDV)] were identified by profiling gene expression changes induced in response to VEGF blockade in preclinical tumor models and in human biopsies from patients treated with anti-VEGF monoclonal antibodies. The potential value of VDV genes as candidate predictive biomarkers was tested by correlating high or low VDV gene expression levels in pretreatment clinical samples with the subsequent clinical efficacy of bevacizumab (anti-VEGF)-containing therapy.

WNK4 inhibits Ca(2+)-activated big-conductance potassium channels (BK) via mitogen-activated protein kinase-dependent pathway.

We used the perforated whole-cell recording technique to examine the effect of with-no-lysine kinase 4 (WNK4) on the Ca(2+) activated big-conductance K channels (BK) in HEK293T cells transfected with BK-α subunit (BK-α). Expression of WNK4 inhibited BK channels and decreased the outward K currents. Coexpression of SGK1 abolished the inhibitory effect of WNK4 on BK channels and restored the outward K currents.

[Determination of sulfur dioxide in traditional Chinese medicine by derivative fluorometry].

Objective: To establish a derivative fluorometry method for the determination of sulfur dioxide residues in traditional Chinese medicine.

Method: The optimal derivation condition was established. The fluorescence intensity was detected at excitation wavelength of 321 nm, and emission wavelength of 384 nm.

Bcl-2/Bcl-xL inhibition increases the efficacy of MEK inhibition alone and in combination with PI3 kinase inhibition in lung and pancreatic tumor models.

Although mitogen-activated protein (MAP)-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) kinase (MEK) inhibition is predicted to cause cell death by stabilization of the proapoptotic BH3-only protein BIM, the induction of apoptosis is often modest. To determine if addition of a Bcl-2 family inhibitor could increase the efficacy of a MEK inhibitor, we evaluated a panel of 53 non-small cell lung cancer and pancreatic cancer cell lines with the combination of navitoclax (ABT-263), a Bcl-2/Bcl-xL (BCL2/BCL2L1) antagonist, and a novel MAP kinase (MEK) inhibitor, G-963. The combination is synergistic in the majority of lines, with an enrichment of cell lines harboring KRAS mutations in the high synergy group.

Formula for the average bit error rate of free-space optical systems with dual-branch equal-gain combining over gamma-gamma turbulence channels.

In this Letter we propose a closed-form expression for the average bit error rate of intensity modulation/direct detection free-space optical systems employing dual-branch equal-gain combining and operating over turbulence channels. To offer a realistic error performance of the considered system we assume that both branches undergo independent but not necessarily identically distributed gamma-gamma fading. Our newly developed formula is obtained in terms of the bivariate H-Fox function, which can be readily evaluated based on its two-fold Mellin-Barnes representation.

Deletion of leucine zipper tumor suppressor 2 (Lzts2) increases susceptibility to tumor development.

Using an Lzts2 knock-out mouse model, we characterized the biological role of Lzts2 in tumorigenesis. Both heterozygous and homozygous deletion of the Lzts2-targeted allele in mice shows an increased incidence in spontaneous tumor development, although Lzts2 homozygous knock-out mice show significantly higher incidences than heterozygous mice. Treatment of Lzts2-deficient mice with a carcinogen, N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl) nitrosamine, increases the susceptibility to N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl) nitrosamine-induced bladder carcinoma development.

Average BER of free-space optical systems in turbulent atmosphere with exponentiated Weibull distribution.

A computationally efficient expression is presented for evaluating the average bit error rate (BER) of an intensity-modulation and direct-detection free-space optical system with on-off keying signaling technique operating in turbulent atmosphere described by the exponentiated Weibull distribution. The presented numerical results show the effects of aperture averaging on the average BER under weak and moderate turbulence conditions, and are confirmed by Monte Carlo simulations.

Carbon monoxide stimulates Ca2+ -dependent big-conductance K channels in the cortical collecting duct.

We used the patch-clamp technique to examine the role of carbon monoxide (CO) in regulating Ca(2+)-activated big-conductance K (BK) channels in the principal cell of the cortical collecting duct (CCD). Application of CORM3 or CORM2, a CO donor, activated BK channels in the CCD, whereas adding inactivated CORM2/3 had no effect. Superfusion of the CCD with CO-bubbled bath solution also activated the BK channels in the cell-attached patches.

Delirium assessment using Confusion Assessment Method for the Intensive Care Unit in Chinese critically ill patients.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to provide a method for delirium evaluation in simplified Chinese for patients speaking this language via validation of a translation of the Confusion Assessment Method for the Intensive Care Unit (CAM-ICU).

Materials And Methods: Two phases were conducted including initial reliability testing (phase I) of the Attention Screening Exam (ASE) followed by reliability and validity testing of the CAM-ICU (phase II). To analyze the reliability of the ASE, each patient was assessed sequentially by ASE Visual and ASE Auditory.

Design strategies for development of SCR catalyst: improvement of alkali poisoning resistance and novel regeneration method.

Based on the ideas of the additives modification and regeneration method update, two different strategies were designed to deal with the traditional SCR catalyst poisoned by alkali metals. First, ceria doping on the V(2)O(5)-WO(3)/TiO(2) catalyst could promote the SCR performance even reducing the V loading, which resulted in the enhancement of the catalyst's alkali poisoning resistance. Then, a novel method, electrophoresis treatment, was employed to regenerate the alkali poisoned V(2)O(5)-WO(3)/TiO(2) catalyst.

Bcl-2, Bcl-x(L), and Bcl-w are not equivalent targets of ABT-737 and navitoclax (ABT-263) in lymphoid and leukemic cells.

The BH3-mimetic ABT-737 and an orally bioavailable compound of the same class, navitoclax (ABT-263), have shown promising antitumor efficacy in preclinical and early clinical studies. Although both drugs avidly bind Bcl-2, Bcl-x(L), and Bcl-w in vitro, we find that Bcl-2 is the critical target in vivo, suggesting that patients with tumors overexpressing Bcl-2 will probably benefit. In human non-Hodgkin lymphomas, high expression of Bcl-2 but not Bcl-x(L) predicted sensitivity to ABT-263.

Protein phosphatase 1 modulates the inhibitory effect of With-no-Lysine kinase 4 on ROMK channels.

With-no-Lysine kinase 4 (WNK4) inhibited ROMK (Kir1.1) channels and the inhibitory effect of WNK4 was abolished by serum-glucocorticoid-induced kinase 1 (SGK1) but restored by c-Src. The aim of the present study is to explore the mechanism by which Src-family tyrosine kinase (SFK) modulates the effect of SGK1 on WNK4 and to test the role of SFK-WNK4-SGK1 interaction in regulating ROMK channels in the kidney.

Inner- and outer-scale effects on the scintillation index of an optical wave propagating through moderate-to-strong non-Kolmogorov turbulence.

By use of the generalized von Kármán spectrum model that features both inner scale and outer scale parameters for non-Kolmogorov turbulence and the extended Rytov method that incorporates a modified amplitude spatial-frequency filter function under strong-fluctuation conditions, theoretical expressions are developed for the scintillation index of a horizontally propagating plane wave and spherical wave that are valid under moderate-to-strong irradiance fluctuations. Numerical results show that the obtained expressions also compare well with previous results in weak-fluctuation regimes. Based on these general models, the impacts of finite inner and outer scales on the scintillation index of an optical wave are examined under various non-Kolmogorov fluctuation conditions.