Long-Distance Tracing of the Lymphatic System with a Computed Tomography/Fluorescence Dual-Modality Nanoprobe for Surveying Tumor Lymphatic Metastasis.

Noninvasive visualization of deep tissue lymphatic metastasis is crucial for diagnosing malignant tumors and predicting prognosis. However, the limited diffusivity and specificity of imaging contrast agents that are transported in lymph vessels (LVs), even for those agents delivered by nanocarriers, make long-distance tracing of the lymphatic system in vivo challenging. Here, we develop a computed tomography (CT)/fluorescence dual-modality phospholipid nanoprobe (PL(I/D)NP) with a negative charge and sub-60 nm size.

Relationships of serum placental growth factor and soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 with fetal and uterine artery Doppler indices in pre-eclampsia.

Objective: To compare serum placental growth factor (PlGF) and soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1) concentrations among women with pre-eclampsia and healthy control women and to evaluate the associations of serum PlGF and sFlt-1 with fetal and uterine artery Doppler indices in pre-eclampsia.

Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study of 33 women with pre-eclampsia and 33 normotensive pregnant women attending a university hospital in China between January and November 2014. Serum PlGF and sFlt-1 were assayed by enzyme linked immunosorbent assays.

Establishment and molecular characterization of decitabine-resistant K562 cells.

The clinical activity of decitabine (5-aza-2-deoxycytidine, DAC), a hypomethylating agent, has been demonstrated in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) patients. However, secondary resistance to this agent often occurs during treatment and leads to treatment failure. It is important to clarify the mechanisms underlying the resistance for improving the efficacy.

Wnt/β-catenin links oxidative stress to podocyte injury and proteinuria.

Podocyte injury is the major cause of proteinuria in primary glomerular diseases. Oxidative stress has long been thought to play a role in triggering podocyte damage; however, the underlying mechanism remains poorly understood. Here we show that the Wnt/β-catenin pathway is involved in mediating oxidative stress-induced podocyte dysfunction.

The telomere length of peripheral blood cells is associated with the risk of ischemic stroke in Han population of northern China.

Background: Telomere length is closely related to the onset and prognosis of ischemic stroke. This study was to investigate the relationship between telomere length and the incidence of ischemic stroke in Han population of northern China.

Methods: In the present study, 152 patients with ischemic stroke were selected as the case group, and 152 healthy persons were used as the control group.

[Analysis of clinical phenotypes and CYP21A2 gene variants in 18 patients with 21-hydroxylase deficiency].

Objective: To explore the genotype-phenotype correlation among 18 patients with 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21-OHD).

Methods: PCR-Sanger sequencing was used to analyze the 10 exons and flanking regions of the CYP21A2 gene among the 18 patients and 20 healthy controls.

Results: Seventeen patients had variants of the CYP21A2 gene.

Long-term characterization of activated microglia/macrophages facilitating the development of experimental brain metastasis through intravital microscopic imaging.

Background: Microglia/macrophages (M/Ms) with multiple functions derived from distinct activation states are key surveillants maintaining brain homeostasis. However, their activation status and role during the brain metastasis of malignant tumors have been poorly characterized.

Methods: Heterozygous CX3CR1-GFP transgenic mice were used to visualize the dynamic changes of M/Ms during the development of experimental brain metastasis through long-term intravital imaging equipped with redesigned bilateral cranial windows.

E4F1 silencing inhibits the cell growth through cell-cycle arrest in malignant transformed cells induced by hydroquinone.

Hydroquinone (HQ), one of the most significant metabolic activation products of benzene in an organism, can cause hematological toxicity, such as acute myeloid leukemia. It is a clear carcinogen that can cause changes in the disorder of cell cycle and cell growth. However, its molecular mechanisms remain unclear.

Environmental responsibility for sulfur dioxide emissions and associated biodiversity loss across Chinese provinces.

Recent years have witnessed a growing volume in Chinese interregional trade, along with the increasing disparities in environmental pressures. This has prompted an increased attention on where the responsibilities for environmental impacts should be placed. In this paper, we quantify the environmental responsibility of SO emissions and biodiversity impacts due to terrestrial acidification at the provincial level for the first time.

Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 promotes expression of miR-155 by the up-regulation of methyl-CpG binding domain protein 2 in TK6 cells exposed to hydroquinone.

Hydroquinone (HQ), one of the major metabolites of benzene, can induce aberrant gene expression. MiR-155, a tumor activator, participates in various biological processes, including DNA damage response. However, the molecular mechanism of aberrant miR-155 expression is still not completely elucidated.

MicroRNA-128 knockout inhibits the development of Alzheimer's disease by targeting PPARγ in mouse models.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a great threat for the health and life of elderly people. MicroRNA-128 (miR-128) has been reported to be abnormally expressed in the brain of AD patients and associated with the pathogenesis of AD. Our study aimed to have a deep insight into the roles and molecular basis of miR-128 in the development and progression of AD.

Carotid arterial wall stiffness correlates positively with impedance of the umbilical and uterine arteries in women with preeclampsia.

Purpose: This study aimed to determine whether the stiffness of the arterial walls of women with preeclampsia (PE) differs from that of healthy controls and to evaluate its association with fetal and uterine artery Doppler variables and perinatal outcomes in PE.

Methods: We enrolled 30 women with PE and 30 normotensive pregnant women. Carotid artery stiffness and Doppler variables of the uterine, umbilical, and fetal middle cerebral arteries and the ductus venosus were measured in both groups.

Chinese clinical practice guidelines for acute infectious diarrhea in children.

Background: The guidelines addressed the evidence-based indications for the management of children with acute infectious diarrhea in Chinese pediatric population.

Data Sources: The experts group of evidence development put forward clinical problems, collects evidence, forms preliminary recommendations, and then uses open-ended discussions to form recommendations. The literature review was done for developing this guideline in databases including PubMed, Cochrane, EMBASE, China Biomedical Database, and Chinese Journal Full-text Database up to June 2013.

Anatomy Revisited: Hemodialysis Catheter Malposition into the Chest.

In most situations, central catheters are implanted in the right jugular vein as initial access for hemodialysis. However, after repeated punctures, the proximal vessels become stenosed and thrombosed and misplacement is likely to occur. Correct catheter position in the vein can be easily ascertained with X-ray or cross-sectional CT imaging.

Association of Dose and Frequency on the Survival of Patients on Maintenance of Hemodialysis in China: A Kaplan-Meier and Cox-Proportional Hazard Model Analysis.

BACKGROUND Dialysis frequency and dose are controversial prognostic factors of hemodialysis morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to find out the effect of frequency and dosage of dialysis on mortality and survival in a group of Chinese hemodialysis patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS In total, 183 patients seen from February 2008 to January 2018, who were on maintenance hemodialysis for at least 3 months, were included in the study cohort.

Tracing the emerging genotypes of human respiratory syncytial virus in Beijing by evolution analysis of the attachment glycoprotein (G) gene.

Background: Emerging human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) genotypes, such as ON1 and BA9, are becoming the dominant genotypes prevailing worldwide. Objective To trace the emerging HRSV genotypes in Beijing.

Methods: HRSV-positive specimens as determined by direct immunofluorescence, collected from children diagnosed with bronchiolitis from July 2006 to June 2016, were typed by real-time PCR, then genotyped by phylogenetic analyses of the full attachment glycoprotein (G) gene.

Engineering a vitamin B high-throughput screening system by riboswitch sensor in Sinorhizobium meliloti.

Background: As a very important coenzyme in the cell metabolism, Vitamin B (cobalamin, VB) has been widely used in food and medicine fields. The complete biosynthesis of VB requires approximately 30 genes, but overexpression of these genes did not result in expected increase of VB production. High-yield VB-producing strains are usually obtained by mutagenesis treatments, thus developing an efficient screening approach is urgently needed.

Analysis of whole genome-wide methylation and gene expression profiles in visceral omental adipose tissue of pregnancies with gestational diabetes mellitus.

Background: DNA methylation is the most extensively studied epigenetic modification which had been suspected to be involved in the progress of gestational diabetes mellitus（GDM）. It is vital to investigate the expression profile and methylation profile in the GDM adipose tissue samples to learn more about the relationship between the two profiles.

Methods: Illumina Human Methylation 450 k DNA Analysis Beadchip and whole Human Gene Expression Array were selected to screen for methylation and gene expression in the omental visceral adipose tissue of pregnant women.

overexpression promotes leukemogenesis and predicts unfavorable prognosis in acute myeloid leukemia.

Background: The long non-coding RNA plays a crucial role in solid tumor initiation and progression. However, the potential role of and its clinical significance in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) remain largely elusive.

Methods: expression was detected by qPCR, and clinical significance in AML patients was further analyzed.

Biotoxin Tropolone Contamination Associated with Nationwide Occurrence of Pathogen Burkholderia plantarii in Agricultural Environments in China.

Tropolone, a biotoxin produced by the agricultural pathogen Burkholderia plantarii, exerts cytotoxicity toward a wide array of biota. However, due to the lack of quantitative and qualitative approach, both B. plantarii occurrence and tropolone contamination in agricultural environments remain poorly understood.

Hepatitis E virus infection in HIV-infected patients: A large cohort study in Yunnan province, China.

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection in immunocompromised patients often results in distinct outcome, compared to the infection in general population. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence, potential risk factors, and clinical features of HEV infection among HIV patients treated with antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Yunnan province, China. A total of 770 HIV-infected patients between May 2015 and February 2016 were enrolled in Yunnan, China.

Nurr1 promotes neurogenesis of dopaminergic neuron and represses inflammatory factors in the transwell coculture system of neural stem cells and microglia.

Introduction: Neural stem cells (NSCs) are the most promising cells for cell replacement therapy for Parkinson's disease (PD). However, a majority of the transplanted NSCs differentiated into glial cells, thereby limiting the clinical application. Previous studies indicated that chronic neuroinflammation plays a vital role in the degeneration of midbrain DA (mDA) neurons, which suggested the developing potential of therapies for PD by targeting the inflammatory processes.