Efficacy of Using Platelet-Rich Plasma in Spinal Fusion Surgery-A Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses-Compliant Meta-Analysis.

Background: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has been frequently used to enhance bone regeneration. A meta-analysis was conducted to systematically assess the fusion rate and pain relief of applying PRP during spinal fusion surgery.

Methods: Studies investigating spinal fusion surgery combined with PRP were retrieved from Medline and the Web of Science in accordance with the inclusion and exclusion criteria.

DNA Methylation Analysis of the NR3C1 Gene in Patients with Schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia is a heterogeneous mental disorder caused by genetic and environmental factors, and epigenetic mechanisms play a vital role in its pathogenesis. Evidence suggests that some psychiatric disorders are linked to methylation of the glucocorticoid receptor gene NR3C1, a key regulator of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. However, the contribution of NR3C1 methylation to schizophrenia has not yet been investigated.

Ulinastatin: A Potential Alternative to Glucocorticoid in the Treatment of Severe Decompression Sickness.

Inflammatory reaction is the crux in various clinical critical diseases including decompression sickness (DCS). Ulinastatin (UTI), a potent anti-inflammatory agent, has been used clinically, including as a substitution for steroids. This study aimed to explore the potential effects of UTI upon DCS in a rabbit model.

Suppression of nbe-miR1919c-5p Expression in Enhances Tobacco Curly Shoot Virus and Its Betasatellite Co-Infection.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are non-coding but functional RNA molecules of 21-25 nucleotides in length. MiRNAs play significant regulatory roles in diverse plant biological processes. In order to decipher the relationship between nbe-miR1919c-5p and the accumulations of tobacco curly shoot virus (TbCSV) and its betasatellite (TbCSB) DNAs, as well as viral symptom development, we investigated the function of nbe-miR1919c-5p during TbCSV and TbCSB co-infection in plants using a PVX-and a TRV-based short tandem target mimic (STTM) technology.

Effects of Kinetic Dielectric Decrement on Ion Diffusion and Capacitance in Electrochemical Systems.

Diffusion of ionic components in electrolytes not only eliminates the gradients of ionic concentrations but also alters the local dielectric environment, and the coupling effect between kinetic dielectric decrement and ionic concentration gradient on the diffusion dynamics is not well understood. Herein, taking the charging process in electrical double layer systems as a case study, we conduct a multiscale investigation of ion diffusions in aqueous electrolytes by combining the dynamic density functional theory and an ion-concentration-dependent dielectric constant model. By properly considering the time evolutions of local dielectric constant coupled with ion density, we report an interesting phenomenon on the suppression of surface charge density that is not captured by conventional models.

Treatment of 5 Critically Ill Patients With COVID-19 With Convalescent Plasma.

Importance: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a pandemic with no specific therapeutic agents and substantial mortality. It is critical to find new treatments.

Objective: To determine whether convalescent plasma transfusion may be beneficial in the treatment of critically ill patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection.

Tobacco curly shoot virus C3 protein enhances viral replication and gene expression in Nicotiana benthamiana plants.

Geminiviruses are single-stranded DNA viruses that cause devastating diseases in many crops worldwide. The replication enhancer proteins (REn), encoded by the C3 (AC3, and AL3) ORFs of geminiviruses, have critical roles in viral DNA accumulation and symptom development in infected plants. In the current study, we have constructed an infectious clone of the Tobacco curly shoot virus (TbCSV) C3 mutant, TbCSV, that contains two start codon mutations that abrogated C3 ORF expression, but did not alter the amino acid sequence of the C2 ORF.

Geniposide alleviates atherosclerosis by regulating macrophage polarization via the FOS/MAPK signaling pathway.

Objective: To assess geniposide's effects in New Zealand rabbits with high-fat diet induced atherosclerosis and to explore the underpinning mechanisms.

Materials And Methods: Aorta histological changes were evaluated by intravenous ultrasound (IVUS) and H&E staining. Lipid accumulation in the aortic was quantified by Oil Red O staining.

Wetting Transition of Ionic Substrate by Modulating Surface Charge Distribution.

Surface wettability regulation plays a crucial role in antifouling and related applications. For regulating surface wettability, one of the effective approaches is to modulate the surface charge distribution. Herein, we report a theoretical study for unraveling the mechanistic relation between surface charge distribution and ionic substrate wettability.

Effects of manganese and zinc on the growth process of and the possible inhibitory mechanisms.

Background: is a fungal soil-borne pathogen that damages various plant species. Mancozeb and Zineb, fungicides containing manganese (Mn) and zinc (Zn) as the main components, are widely used to control the diseases caused by . However, the inhibition mechanism is still unclear.

Enterotype Is Associated with a High Risk in Patients with Diabetes: A Pilot Study.

Background: More and more studies focus on the relationship between the gastrointestinal microbiome and type 2 diabetes, but few of them have actually explored the relationship between enterotypes and type 2 diabetes. We enrolled 134 patients with type 2 diabetes and 37 nondiabetic controls. The anthropometric and clinical indices of each subject were measured.

A new strategy for the preparation of antibody against natural glycoside: With astragaloside IV as an example.

A new strategy for the hapten design of natural glycoside and application for the preparation of antibody is reported in this work. With astragaloside IV (AGS-IV) as an example, C6"-CHOH on a glucosyl group was selectively oxidized by 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl (TEMPO) oxidation to C6"-COOH, which was subsequently condensed with -NH on bovine serum albumin to get artificial antigen. Then, the successful preparation of artificial antigen was verified by TCL, SDS-PAGE, UV, and MALDI-TOF-MS.

Primary rhabdomyosarcoma of tunica vaginalis misdiagnosing as hydrocele: A case report and literature review.

Primary rhabdomyosarcoma of tunica vaginalis is very rare. We report a case of a 15-year-old man presenting as hydrocele. Pre-operatively, no masses were detected by ultrasonography.

Colorimetric determination of the early biomarker hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α) in circulating exosomes by using a gold seed-coated with aptamer-functionalized Au@Au core-shell peroxidase mimic.

An ultra-sensitive method is described here for the determination of HIF-1α (an early biomarker for myocardial infarction) in circulating exosomes in serum. Gold nanospheres were functionalized with a HIF-1α-binding aptamer via sulfydryl chemistry. The apt-AuNP-coated gold seeds were grown by seed-mediated growth, and this significantly increased the peroxidase-mimicking property the nanoparticles.

Free vascularized iliac bone flap based on deep circumflex iliac vessels graft for the treatment of osteonecrosis of femoral head.

Background: To investigate the feasibility and clinical efficacy of free vascularized iliac bone flap based on deep iliac circumflex vessels graft for the treatment of osteonecrosis of femoral head (ONFH) in young adults.

Methods: Eighteen patients (19 hips) undergoing ONFH were included from January 2016 to May 2017. After the debridement of the necrotic bones, the contralateral vascularized iliac bone flap was designed and harvested before grafting, in which the deep circumflex iliac vessels and the transverse branch (or ascending branch) of the lateral circumflex femoral artery and their accompanying veins were anastomosed.

Cucumber mosaic virus 2b proteins inhibit virus-induced aphid resistance in tobacco.

Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), which is vectored by aphids, has a tripartite RNA genome encoding five proteins. In tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum), a subgroup IA CMV strain, Fny-CMV, increases plant susceptibility to aphid infestation but a viral mutant unable to express the 2b protein (Fny-CMV∆2b) induces aphid resistance. We hypothesized that in tobacco, one or more of the four other Fny-CMV gene products (the 1a or 2a replication proteins, the movement protein, or the coat protein) are potential aphid resistance elicitors, whilst the 2b protein counteracts induction of aphid resistance.

The C4 Protein Promotes Disease Symptom Development and Enhances Virus Accumulation in Plants.

The begomovirus C4 protein is required for disease symptom development during virus infection in host plants. It can reprogram the cell cycle process for more efficient virus accumulation. In this study, we showed that the (MaYVV) C4 protein could cause leaf up-ward curling and flower malformation, and increase virus accumulation in plants using PVX-based transient expression technology.

Identification of microRNAs regulated by tobacco curly shoot virus co-infection with its betasatellite in Nicotiana benthamiana.

Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of 21-24 nucleotide endogenous non-coding small RNAs that play important roles in plant development and defense responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. Tobacco curly shoot virus (TbCSV) is a monopartite begomovirus, cause leaf curling and plant stunting symptoms in many Solanaceae plants. The betasatellite of TbCSV (TbCSB) induces more severe symptoms and enhances virus accumulation when co-infect the plants with TbCSV.

Interfacially Polymerized Polyamide Interlayer onto Ozonated Carbon Nanotube Networks for Improved Stability of Sulfur Cathodes.

Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries are considered promising energy-storage devices owing to the high specific capacity and low cost of the S cathode. However, they suffer from capacity decay and poor coulombic efficiency arising from the dissolution of long-chain polysulfides and their shuttling. A facile and scalable method was developed to directly coat a thin (≈57.

Acetylcholinesterase biosensors based on ionic liquid functionalized carbon nanotubes and horseradish peroxidase for monocrotophos determination.

Long-term and excessive use of monocrotophos (MPs) pesticide leads to an accumulation of MPs residues in agricultural products. Electrochemical biosensor technology was developed as a simple and efficient method for detecting MPs. However, commercial acetylcholinesterase (AChE) sensors are not applied in practical MPs detection due to poor stability and reliability.

Assessment of the Hemodynamics of Autogenous Arteriovenous Fistulas With 4D Phase Contrast-Based Flow Quantification MRI in Dialysis Patients.

Background: Regular monitoring of autogenous arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) for hemodialysis patients has importance. Hence, 4D flow MRI may be an alternative for assessing the hemodynamics of AVFs.

Purpose: To compare the hemodynamics of AVFs using Doppler ultrasound (DUS) and 4D-MRI in renal dialysis patients.

Customized reconstruction of complex soft-tissue defect in the hand and forearm with individual design of chain-linked bilateral anterolateral thigh perforator flaps.

Background: Complex soft-tissue defects of upper extremities still have a high rate of amputation, as the reconstruction of complex soft-tissue defects is always difficult even with the largest conventional free flap. The anterolateral thigh perforator (ALTP) flap is one of the most popular procedures used for the coverage of complex soft-tissue defects of extremities. However, problems associated with donor-site morbidity and inability to repair complex soft-tissue defects in a one-stage procedure persist.

Effects of glucagon-like peptide-1 analog liraglutide on the systemic inflammation in high-fat-diet-induced mice.

Objective: Metabolic syndrome is a chronic-metabolic disease caused by a variety of factors, including high peripheral blood insulin levels and insulin resistance. It has been reported that GLP-1 could regulate insulin resistance. It is not known whether and how GLP-1 protects from fat-induced inflammation and immune changes.

Transcription Factor SOX18 Promotes Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma Progression and Alleviates Cabozantinib-Mediated Inhibitory Effects.

The transcription factor SOX18, which was initially discovered as an activator of genetic transcription during embryogenesis, is now implicated in many diseases, including cancer, and is associated with the malignant tumor phenotype, angiogenesis, and lymphangiogenesis. However, the role of SOX18 in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is not well understood. In the current study, SOX18 expression was evaluated in a 250 case-cohort of primary ccRCC tissues that included 103 cases of matched normal kidney tissues and 21 cases of metastatic tissues.