Dynamic Modification of Palladium Catalysts with Chain Alkylamines for the Selective Hydrogenation of Alkynes.

Selective hydrogenation of alkynes plays a pivotal role in the field of chemical production but still suffers from restrained catalytic activity and low alkene selectivity. Herein, a dynamic modification strategy was utilized by preferentially attaching diethylenetriamine (DETA) to the surface of the support to modify the Pd catalyst. The DETA-modified Pd catalyst demonstrates unprecedented reactivity (14,412 h) and selectivity as high as 94% for the semihydrogenation of 2-methyl-3-butyn-2-ol at 35 °C, presenting a 36-fold higher reactivity than the Lindlar catalyst.

The Function and Prognostic Value of RNA-Binding Proteins in Colorectal Adenocarcinoma Were Analyzed Based on Bioinformatics of Smart Medical Big Data.

Colon cancer is the third most frequent cancer in the world and is mainly adenocarcinoma in terms of pathological type. It has been confirmed that the dysregulation of RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) significantly participates in the occurrence and development of numerous malignant tumors. Therefore, we analyzed the RBPs associated with colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) to assess their possible biological effects and prognostic value.

Enhanced HSC-like cell generation from mouse pluripotent stem cells in a 3D induction system cocultured with stromal cells.

Background: Decades of efforts have attempted to differentiate the pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) into truly functional hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), yet the problems of low differentiation efficiency in vitro and poor hematopoiesis reconstitution in vivo still exist, mainly attributing to the lack of solid, reproduced, or pursued differentiation system.

Methods: In this study, we established an in vitro differentiation system yielding in vivo hematopoietic reconstitution hematopoietic cells from mouse PSCs through a 3D induction system followed by coculture with OP9 stromal cells. The in vivo hematopoietic reconstitution potential of c-kit cells derived from the mouse PSCs was evaluated via m-NSG transplantation assay.

Function-Oriented Graphene Quantum Dots Probe for Single Cell Sorting of Active Microorganisms in Environmental Samples.

Functional microorganisms play a vital role in removing environmental pollutants because of their diverse metabolic capability. Herein, a function-oriented fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based graphene quantum dots (GQDs-M) probe was developed for the specific identification and accurate sorting of azo-degrading functional bacteria in the original location of environmental samples for large-scale culturing. First, nitrogen-doped GQDs (GQDs-N) were synthesized using a bottom-up strategy.

Generation of a FTO gene knockout human embryonic stem cell line using CRISPR/Cas9 editing.

Fat mass and obesity-associated protein (FTO) is the first protein found to have the activity of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) demethylation. It has been reported that FTO was involved in different physiological and pathological processes, including stem cell differentiation, sex determination, tumorigenesis, and progression. To further understand the exact role of FTO in these processes, we generated a FTO knockout human embryonic stem cell (hESC) line by CRISPR/Cas9 mediated gene editing method.

Generation of an ELTD1 knockout human embryonic stem cell line by the iCRISPR/Cas9 system.

Human ELTD1 (Epidermal growth factor, latrophilin and seven-transmembrane domain-containing 1), an orphan G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) belonging to the adhesion GPCR family, has been reported as a novel regulator of angiogenesis and a potential anti-cancer therapeutic target. However, little is known about the function of ELTD1, especially its undiscovered ligands. In this experiment, an ELTD1 homozygous knockout human embryonic stem cell line, FAHZUe001-A, was generated by the iCRISPR/Cas9 system to achieve a deeper understanding of ELTD1.

Toxicity of Tetrabromobisphenol A and Its Derivative in the Mouse Liver Following Oral Exposure at Environmentally Relevant Levels.

As typical brominated flame retardants (BFRs), tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) and its derivative TBBPA-bis(2,3-dibromopropyl ether) (TBBPA-BDBPE) are ubiquitous in various environmental compartments. However, the potential health risk posed by these compounds, especially at environmentally relevant levels, remains unclear. In this study, using adult male mice, we investigated the toxicity of orally administered TBBPA and TBBPA-BDBPE at an environmentally relevant dose (57 nmol/kg body weight).

Quality and Cost in Community Health Centers.

Background: Quantifying health care quality has long presented a challenge to identifying the relationship between provider level quality and cost. However, growing focus on quality improvement has led to greater interest in organizational performance, prompting payers to collect various indicators of quality that can be combined at the provider level.

Objective: To explore the relationship between quality and average cost of medical visits provided in US Community Health Centers (CHCs) using composite measures of quality.

Prognostic Role of Blood Markers in Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma Patients Treated With High-Dose Methotrexate-Based Therapy.

Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is a rare type of extra-nodal non-Hodgkin lymphoma, but the prognostic value of blood parameters indicating systemic inflammation and nutritional status remains unknown. We aim to explore the prognostic role of blood parameters in PCNSL. All PCNSL patients diagnosed at West China Hospital between February 2011 and February 2020 were retrospectively screened.

Mitochondrial analysis of oribatid mites provides insights into their atypical tRNA annotation, genome rearrangement and evolution.

Background: The mitochondrial (mt) genomes of Sarcoptiformes mites typically contain 37 genes. Although the loss of genes is rare in Sarcoptiformes mite mitogenomes, two of the six previously reported oribatid mites (Acariforms: Sarcoptiformes) are reported to have lost parts of their tRNA genes. To confirm whether the tRNA genes were indeed lost and whether the loss is universal, we re-annotated the available oribatid mite sequences and sequenced the mitogenome of Oribatula sakamorii.

Swerchirin exerts anticancer activity on SKOV3 human ovartian cancer cells via induction of mitochondrial apoptosis, G2/M cell cycle arrest and inhibition of Raf/MEK/ERK cascade.

Retraction of: 'Swerchirin exerts anticancer activity on SKOV3 human ovarian cancer cells via induction of mitochondrial apoptosis, G2/M cell cycle arrest and inhibition of Raf/MEK/ERK cascade', by Lan Luo, Haibo Zhao, Qian Luo, JBUON 2018;23(1):111-116; PMID:29552769. Following the publication of the above article, readers drew to our attention that part of the data was unreliable. The authors were requested to provide the raw data to prove the originality, but were unable to do so.

Decreased Microstructural Integrity of the Central Somatosensory Tracts in Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy.

Context: Although diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is predominantly considered a disorder of the peripheral nerves, some evidence for central nervous system involvement has recently emerged. However, whether or to what extent the microstructure of central somatosensory tracts may be injured remains unknown.

Objective: This work aimed to detect the microstructure of central somatosensory tracts in type 2 diabetic patients and to correlate it with the severity of DPN.

CERT reduces C16 ceramide, amyloid-β levels, and inflammation in a model of Alzheimer's disease.

Background: Dysregulation of ceramide and sphingomyelin levels have been suggested to contribute to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Ceramide transfer proteins (CERTs) are ceramide carriers which are crucial for ceramide and sphingomyelin balance in cells. Extracellular forms of CERTs co-localize with amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques in AD brains.

The silent occurrence of cerebral small vessel disease in nonelderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Background: The prevalence of cerebral small vessel disease (SVD) increases in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM), exacerbating cognitive decline. However, the prevalence and the severity of SVD in dementia-free nonelderly T2DM patients were largely unknown. Our primary aim is to investigate SVD in such patients, with a specific focus on the correlation between SVD and diabetic peripheral sensorimotor polyneuropathy (DSP).

Transcriptional E2F1/2/3/6 as potential prognostic biomarkers in cutaneous melanoma.

Although the abnormal expression of members of the E2F family has been reported to participate in carcinogenesis in many human types of cancer, the bioinformatics role of the E2F family in melanoma is unknown. This research was designed to detect the expression, methylation, prognostic value and potential effects of the E2F family in melanoma. We investigated E2F family mRNA expression from the Oncomine and GEPIA databases and their methylation status in the MethHC database.

Nanostructure of Functional Larotaxel Liposomes Decorated with Guanine-Rich Quadruplex Nucleotide-Lipid Derivative for Treatment of Resistant Breast Cancer.

Breast cancer is the most common malignant disease in women all over the world and its chemotherapy outcome is restricted by multidrug resistance. Here, a nanostructure by functional larotaxel liposomes decorated with guanine-rich quadruplex nucleotide-lipid derivative for treatment of resistant breast cancer is developed. The studies are performed on the resistant breast cancer cells and the cancer-bearing mice.

Carbon dots derived from kanamycin sulfate with antibacterial activity and selectivity for Cr detection.

Among antibacterial nanomaterials, carbon dots (CDs) have attracted much attention because of their unique physical and chemical properties and good biosafety. In this study, kanamycin sulfate (Kan), a broad-spectrum antibiotic, was used to synthesize novel carbon dots (CDs-Kan) by a one-step hydrothermal method. CDs-Kan showed good inhibitory effects on Gram-negative Escherichia coli and Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus.

Developmental Toxicity of Few-Layered Black Phosphorus toward Zebrafish.

Black phosphorus (BP) has extensive applications in various fields. The release of BP into aquatic ecosystems and the potential toxic effects on aquatic organisms are becoming major concerns. Here, we investigated the developmental toxicity of few-layered BP toward the zebrafish.

Single-Cell Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals BCMA CAR-T Cell Dynamics in a Patient with Refractory Primary Plasma Cell Leukemia.

Chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR-T) therapy has revolutionized the clinical treatment of hematological malignancies due to the prominent anti-tumor effects. B cell maturation antigen (BCMA) CAR-T cells have demonstrated promising effects in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. However, the dynamics of CAR-T cell proliferation and cytotoxicity in clinical patients remains unexplored.

Independent freestanding emergency departments and implications for the rural emergency physician workforce in Texas.

Objective: Independent freestanding emergency departments (IFEDs) have proliferated over the last decade, largely in Texas. We examined the IFED physician workforce composition and changes in emergency physician workforce supply across states and in rural Texas over the period of IFED proliferation following a 2009 legislation allowing the licensing of these sites.

Data Sources: IFED websites, Texas Medical Board lookup tool, National Plan & Provider Enumeration System (NPPES), Provider Enrollment and Chain/Ownership System (PECOS), Medicare Physician Shared Patient Patterns, CareSet DocGraph Hop Teaming, Healthcare Provider Database.

Does Community College Attendance Affect Matriculation to a Physician Assistant Program? A Pathway to Increase Diversity in the Health Professions.

Purpose: To explore whether community college (CC) applicants were a significant contributor to the diversity of matriculants to physician assistant (PA) programs and whether CC applicants were less likely to matriculate to PA programs than non-CC applicants.

Method: The authors used national data from the 2016-2017 application cycle. They categorized applicants to PA programs into 5 pathways: HS-CC (applicant attended CC while in high school), first-CC (applicant attended CC before a 4-year university), 4Y-CC (applicant attended CC while at a 4-year university), post-CC (applicant attended CC after graduating from a 4-year university), and no-CC (applicant never attended CC).

Novel fluorescent nitrogen-doped carbon dots derived from Panax notoginseng for bioimaging and high selectivity detection of Cr.

Carbon dots (CDs) and photoluminescent carbon dots (Pn-CDs) are promising nanomaterials due to their bioimaging applications and have attracted considerable attention because of their excellent stability, good biocompatibility, and low biotoxicity. Here, the Pn-CDs and highly fluorescent nitrogen-doped CDs (Pn N-CDs) derived from Panax notoginseng were successfully synthesized by a simple hydrothermal method. Pn N-CDs exhibit optical properties and stability superior to those of Pn-CDs and can be better used as fluorescent dyes and probes in biological imaging.