Biomedical potentials of alginate via physical, chemical, and biological modifications.

Alginate is a linear polysaccharide with a modifiable structure and abundant functional groups, offers immense potential for tailoring diverse alginate-based materials to meet the demands of biomedical applications. Given the advancements in modification techniques, it is significant to analyze and summarize the modification of alginate by physical, chemical and biological methods. These approaches provide plentiful information on the preparation, characterization and application of alginate-based materials.

The First Report of Tritrichomonas Foetus and Tetratrichomonas Buttreyi in Raccoon Dogs (Nyctereutes Procyonoides) in China.

Background: In recent years, the trichomonosis in raccoon dogs in China had occurred frequently. Pentatrichomonas hominis had been described in raccoon dogs in China in some previous studies. PURPOSE TO REVEAL: whether raccoon dogs can be infected by other trichomonad species besides P.

Pi-Pa-Run-Fei-Tang alleviates lung injury by modulating IL-6/JAK2/STAT3/IL-17 and PI3K/AKT/NF-κB signaling pathway and balancing Th17 and Treg in murine model of OVA-induced asthma.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Pi-Pa-Run-Fei-Tang (PPRFT) is an empirical TCM prescription for treating asthma. However, the underlying mechanisms of PPRFT in asthma treatment have yet to be elucidated. Recent advances have revealed that some natural components could ameliorate asthma injury by affecting host metabolism.

Sacubitril/valsartan reduces susceptibility to atrial fibrillation by improving atrial remodeling in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Aim: Sacubitril/valsartan (Sac/Val, LCZ696), the world's first angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor (ARNi), has been widely used in the treatment of heart failure. However, the use of Sac/Val in the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF), especially AF with hypertension, has been less reported. We investigated the effect of Sac/Val on atrial remodeling and hypertension-related AF.

Acetyltransferase p300 regulates atrial fibroblast senescence and age-related atrial fibrosis through p53/Smad3 axis.

Atrial fibrosis induced by aging is one of the main causes of atrial fibrillation (AF), but the potential molecular mechanism is not clear. Acetyltransferase p300 participates in the cellular senescence and fibrosis, which might be involved in the age-related atrial fibrosis. Four microarray datasets generated from atrial tissue of AF patients and sinus rhythm (SR) controls were analyzed to find the possible relationship of p300 (EP300) with senescence and fibrosis.

First Detection and Molecular Identification of Entamoeba bovis in Farm-Raised Sika Deer from Anhui Province, China.

Background: Protozoans of Entamoeba spp. are one of the most common enteric parasites that infect humans and diverse animals including deer.

Purpose: However, data regarding the prevalence and species/genotypes of Entamoeba spp.

Molecular prevalence of Tetratrichomonas gallinarum and Trichomonas gallinae in three domestic free-range poultry breeds in Anhui Province, China.

Tetratrichomonas gallinarum and Trichomonas gallinae can colonize the alimentary tract of domestic birds. However, little information is available on the epidemiology of the two trichomonad species in domestic free-range poultry in China. In this study, the occurrence and genetic characteristic of T.

Control of Polaronic Behavior and Carrier Lifetimes via Metal and Anion Alloying in Chalcogenide Perovskites.

Transition-metal perovskite chalcogenides (TMPCs) have emerged as lead-free alternatives to lead-halide perovskites and have been currently of increasing interest for optoelectronic applications because of their suitable band gaps, high carrier mobility, strong light absorption, and high stability. Here, we systematically report a study on the effects of Ti- and Se-alloying strategies on polaron behavior and carrier lifetimes in nonradiative recombination. Although such alloying can effectively tune the band gap of BaZrS, we observe localized small polaron formation upon Ti alloying and large polarons generating in Se alloying.

Piezo1 Participated in Decreased L-Type Calcium Current Induced by High Hydrostatic Pressure . CaM/Src/Pitx2 Activation in Atrial Myocytes.

Hypertension is a major cardiovascular risk factor for atrial fibrillation (AF) worldwide. However, the role of mechanical stress caused by hypertension on downregulating the L-type calcium current (I), which is vital for AF occurrence, remains unclear. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the role of Piezo1, a mechanically activated ion channel, in the decrease of I in response to high hydrostatic pressure (HHP, one of the principal mechanical stresses) at 40 mmHg, and to elucidate the underlying pathways.

[Effect of oblique needling at Ashi-point on expression of MyoD1/Pax7 in mice with quadriceps femoris injury].

Objective: To observe the effect of oblique needling at Ashi-point on behavior, and cell morphology, myogenic differentiation antigen (MyoD1) and paired box transcription factor Pax7 (Pax7) of quadriceps femoris tissue in quadriceps femoris injured mice.

Methods: A total of 24 C57BL/6 male mice were randomly divided into control, model, shallow insertion and deep insertion groups, with 6 mice in each group. The quadriceps femoris injury model was established by single intramuscular injection of 0.

Capillary electrophoresis-based online immobilized enzyme reactor for beta-glucosidase kinetics assays and inhibitors screening.

A capillary electrophoresis (CE)-based beta-glucosidase (beta-Glu) immobilized enzyme microreactor (IMER) was constructed for enzyme kinetics study and inhibitor screening with the aid of polydopamine coating. The enzyme kinetic and inhibition studies of beta-Glu were comprehensively evaluated using p-nitrophenyl beta-d-glucopyranoside as a model substrate and castanospermine as a model inhibitor. The Michaelis-Menten constant value of the immobilized beta-Glu in the developed IMER was calculated to be 2.

pH-dependent surface electrostatic effects in retention on immobilized artificial membrane chromatography: Determination of the intrinsic phospholipid-water sorption coefficients of diverse analytes.

The passive membrane permeability of drugs may be potentially predicted by phospholipid-water sorption coefficient (K) through immobilized artificial membrane (IAM) chromatography. However, for predominantly ionized compounds, unexpected confounding electrostatic interaction would influence the accurate determination of K, accompanied by the mobile phase with varied pH and ionic strength. In order to measure the intrinsic phospholipid-water sorption coefficient (K) for diverse analytes, a mathematic model by characterizing the confounding electrostatic effects was developed in this study.

Screening and Characterizing Tyrosinase Inhibitors from and by Spectrum-Effect Relationship Analysis and Molecular Docking.

Tyrosinase (TYR) is a rate-limiting enzyme in the synthesis of melanin, while direct TYR inhibitors are a class of important clinical antimelanoma drugs. This study established a spectrum-effect relationship analysis method and high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis method to screen and identify the active ingredients that inhibited TYR in - (Danshen-Honghua, DH) herbal pair. Seventeen potential active compounds (peaks) in the extract of DH herbal pair were predicted, and thirteen of them were tentatively identified by LC-MS analysis.

Evaluation of thrombin inhibitory activity of catechins by online capillary electrophoresis-based immobilized enzyme microreactor and molecular docking.

An online capillary electrophoresis (CE)-based thrombin (THR) immobilized enzyme microreactor (IMER) method was established to screen THR inhibitors in this study. S-2366 was used as chromogenic substrate for determination of THR activity and other kinetic constants. After continuously run for 50 times, the prepared IMER could still remain 89% of the initial immobilized enzyme activity.

Investigation of Interactions between Thrombin and Ten Phenolic Compounds by Affinity Capillary Electrophoresis and Molecular Docking.

Thrombin plays a vital role in blood coagulation, which is a key process involved in thrombosis by promoting platelet aggregation and converting fibrinogen to form the fibrin clot. In the receptor concept, drugs produce their therapeutic effects via interactions with the targets. Therefore, investigation of interaction between thrombin and small molecules is important to find out the potential thrombin inhibitor.

Comparative Outcomes of Induction Chemotherapy Followed By Definitive Chemoradiotherapy versus Chemoradiotherapy Alone In Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

To compare the clinical outcomes of induction chemotherapy (IC) followed by chemoradiotherapy (CRT) versus chemoradiotherapy alone in patients with locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Between 2002 and 2015, 267 ESCC patients who received definitive CRT with docetaxel and cisplatin were enrolled in this study. Through a matched case-control study, 85 patients receiving IC before CRT were matched 1:1 to patients who received CRT alone, according to age, gender, performance status, tumor location, tumor length, and pretreatment TNM stage.

PD-L1 Expression Is Associated with FOXP3+ Regulatory T-Cell Infiltration of Soft Tissue Sarcoma and Poor Patient Prognosis.

Programmed death ligand-1(PD-L1) functions as a negative mediator of immune response through different pathways in anti-tumor immunity. Recent studies have reported that PD-L1 plays a pivotal role in the function of regulatory T-cells (Tregs). Although increases in FOXP3+ Tregs infiltration and PD-L1 expression have been revealed in several cancers, their correlation with soft tissue sarcoma remains unknown.

Evaluation of interactions between RAW264.7 macrophages and small molecules by capillary electrophoresis.

In this study, the affinity interactions between RAW 264.7 macrophages and three small molecules including naringin, oleuropein and paeoniflorin were evaluated by affinity capillary electrophoresis (ACE), partial filling affinity capillary electrophoresis (PFACE) and frontal analysis capillary electrophoresis (FACE), respectively. The result indicated that ACE (varying concentrations of cell suspension were filled in the capillary as receptor) may not be suitable for the evaluation of interactions between cell and small molecules due to the high viscosity of cell suspension; PFACE can qualitatively evaluate the interaction, but the difference in viscosity between RAW264.

Concurrent cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil versus concurrent cisplatin and docetaxel with radiotherapy for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: a propensity score-matched analysis.

The optimal concurrent chemotherapy regimen with radiotherapy for esophageal cancer is unknown. Here, we compared the survival outcomes and toxicity of definitive chemoradiotherapy with either cisplatin/5-fluorouracil (PF) or docetaxel/cisplatin (DP) in patients with unresectable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). In this study, we identified 317 patients with ESCC who received PF or DP concurrently with definitive radiotherapy.

Insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 is a new predictor of radiosensitivity on esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) plays an essential role in radiosensitivity of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). However, the underlying mechanism is not completely understood. Here, we observed that IGFBP-3 had favorable impact on the tumorigenicity of ESCC cells in nude mice by using an in vivo imaging system (IVIS) to monitor tumor growth treated with ionizing radiation (IR).

Association of insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 with radiotherapy response and prognosis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) is suggested to predict the radiosensitivity and/or prognosis of patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). The present study was designed to investigate the clinical and prognostic effects of IGFBP-3 on ESCC.

Methods: IGFBP-3 was detected by immunohistochemistry in paraffin-embedded tissues from 70 ESCC patients treated with radiotherapy alone and further examined by western blotting analysis in 10 pairs of fresh ESCC tissues and adjacent non-malignant esophageal specimens.

Polymorphisms of insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 as a predictor for risk and patient survival in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Background And Purpose: Genetic single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) play a critical role in the development of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). The aim of this study is to investigate the associations between insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) gene polymorphisms and ESCC patients risk and survival after definitive chemoradiotherapy (CRT).

Materials And Methods: We undertook a case-control study to analyze two IGFBP-3 polymorphisms (rs2854744 A>C and rs2854746 G>C) in an Han Chinese population, by extraction of genomic DNA from the peripheral blood of 110 ESCC patients treated with CRT and 128 control participants, and performed IGFBP-3 genotyping using DNA sequencing.

Concurrent radiotherapy and weekly chemotherapy of 5-fluorouracil and platinum agents for postoperative locoregional recurrence of oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

The most optimal management for postoperative locoregional recurrence of oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma is still controversial. Several studies have reported the feasibility and efficacy of concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT), mostly with three-weekly or four-weekly schedule of chemotherapy. However, treatment compliance was not quite satisfactory, probably due to treatment-related toxicities.