Added assessment of middle cerebral artery and atrial fibrillation to FLAIR vascular hyperintensity-DWI mismatch would improve the outcome prediction of acute infarction in patients with acute internal carotid artery occlusion.

Background And Aims: Whether fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) vascular hyperintensities (FVH)-DWI mismatch could predict the outcome or not remains in debate. The aim of this study was to identify if FVH combined with the other markers improved favorable outcome prediction of acute infarctions in patients with unilateral acute internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusion.

Methods: Consecutive 68 adult acute middle cerebral artery (MCA) territory infarction patients caused by acute ICA occlusion, including favorable (n = 38, mRS ≤ 2) and unfavorable (n = 30, mRS > 2) groups, were enrolled in this retrospective analysis.

Quality of vitrified porcine immature oocytes is improved by coculture with fresh oocytes during in vitro maturation.

It is essential to enhance the in vitro maturation (IVM) condition for immature oocytes after cryopreservation, particularly if limited numbers of oocytes collected from specific donors. The objective of this study was to determine if quality of vitrified porcine immature oocytes was enhanced by coculturing with fresh oocytes during IVM. To distinguish fresh versus vitrified oocytes, we used two types of coculture systems: (a) transwell two-chamber coculture; (b) labeling and tracing fresh oocytes with CellTracker™ Green CMFDA during conventional culture.

Tatarinan T, an α-asarone-derived lignin, attenuates osteoclastogenesis induced by RANKL via the inhibition of NFATc1/c-Fos expression.

We have previously reported that the lignin-like compounds, Tatarinan O (TO) and Tatarinan N (TN), extracted from the roots of Acorus tatarinowii Schott, inhibit receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclastogenesis. In the present study, the potential function of the α-asarone-derived lignins, Tatarinan T (TT) and Tatarinan A (TA), to regulate RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis was investigated, and it was found that only early treatment with TT may inhibit RANKL-triggered formation of osteoclasts and resorption. The results revealed repressed expression levels of several osteoclast marker genes, including ATPase H -transporting V0 subunit d2 (Atp6v0d2), αvβ3 integrin, and osteoclast-associated receptor (OSCAR), following TT treatment during osteoclastogenesis.

Combination of three-dimensional arterial spin labeling and stretched-exponential model in grading of gliomas.

To evaluate the diagnostic value of combining 3D arterial spin labeling (ASL) and stretched-exponential diffusion model in grading of gliomas.A total of 72 patients with histo-pathology proved gliomas (34 low-grade, 38 high-grade) were included in this study. 3D ASL and multi-b diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) images were retrospectively analyzed.

Transcriptome analysis of porcine immature oocytes and surrounding cumulus cells after vitrification and in vitro maturation.

Cryopreservation impairs oocyte quality, which may be associated with abnormal gene expression. Currently, alteration of mRNA levels in vitrified porcine oocytes has not been well characterized. The aim of this study was to analyze transcriptome profiles with RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) in porcine immature oocytes and their surrounding cumulus cells (CCs) after vitrification and in vitro maturation (IVM).

Strategy for hypertrophic scar therapy: Improved delivery of triamcinolone acetonide using mechanically robust tip-concentrated dissolving microneedle array.

A hypertrophic scar (HS) is a cutaneous condition characterized by deposits of excessive amounts of collagen that produces a raised scar, causing physical, psychological, and cosmetic problems for the patient. The therapeutic efficacy of conventional transdermal drug delivery systems is often limited because the HS tissue is more compact than normal skin. At present, intralesional multi-injection of triamcinolone acetonide (TA) using a syringe is one of the most commonly used treatments for HS.

Domain Progressive 3D Residual Convolution Network to Improve Low-Dose CT Imaging.

The wide applications of X-ray computed tomography (CT) bring low-dose CT (LDCT) into a clinical prerequisite, but reducing the radiation exposure in CT often leads to significantly increased noise and artifacts, which might lower the judgment accuracy of radiologists. In this paper, we put forward a domain progressive 3D residual convolution network (DP-ResNet) for the LDCT imaging procedure that contains three stages: sinogram domain network (SD-net), filtered back projection (FBP), and image domain network (ID-net). Though both are based on the residual network structure, the SD-net and ID-net provide complementary effect on improving the final LDCT quality.

Effect of Knockout Serum Replacement During Postwarming Recovery Culture on the Development and Quality of Vitrified Parthenogenetic Porcine Blastocysts.

The postwarming recovery culture, as one of the steps in cryopreservation process, is directly correlated with the survival and quality of embryos. Generally, recovery medium includes undefined serum or serum components that may cause the instability of results and other problems. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of knockout serum replacement (KSR) as a substitute for serum during recovery culture on the development and quality of vitrified parthenogenetic porcine blastocysts.

Biochar Immobilizes and Degrades 2,4,6-Trichlorophenol in Soils.

Soil contamination by chlorophenol compounds, such as 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (2,4,6-TCP), is of great concern because they are environmentally persistent, are difficult to degrade, and can lead to cancer. Thus, means of degrading these compounds in situ are desperately needed. Biochar was investigated as a material to sequester, reduce downward transport, and aid in soil 2,4,6-TCP degradation.

Fenofibrate Solid Dispersion Processed by Hot-Melt Extrusion: Elevated Bioavailability and Its Cell Transport Mechanism.

Background: Fenofibrate (FNB) is an effective drug for the treatment of hypertriglyceridemia, hypercholesterolemia as well as mixed hyperlipidemia. However, due to its poor aqueous solubility, FNB has the problem of poor oral absorption followed by low bioavailability.

Objective: The aim of this research was to construct FNB amorphous solid dispersion employing PVP VA64 as the carrier by hot-melt extrusion method, in order to improve the oral bioavailability.

Novel Inhalable Ciprofloxacin Dry Powders for Bronchiectasis Therapy: Mannitol-Silk Fibroin Binary Microparticles with High-Payload and Improved Aerosolized Properties.

Non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis (NCFB) is a chronic respiratory disease associated with the high morbidity and mortality. Long-term intermittent therapy by inhalable antibiotics has recently emerged as an effective approach for NCFB treatment. However, the effective delivery of antibiotics to the lung requires administering a high dose to the site of infection.

In situ gelation of rhEGF-containing liquid crystalline precursor with good cargo stability and system mechanical properties: a novel delivery system for chronic wounds treatment.

The objective of this study was to develop a novel delivery system for recombinant human epidermal growth factor (rhEGF) for chronic wound treatment. Such a delivery system should be of good cargo stability and system mechanical properties in order to guarantee a satisfactory wound-healing effect. rhEGF-containing lyotropic liquid crystalline precursors (rhEGF-LLCPs) with in situ gelation capability were considered as a promising candidate to achieve this aim.

Dioscin Inhibits Virulence Factors of .

infections present a heavy burden upon public health, with only a few drugs available, while biofilms formed by worsen this situation. Dioscin has antitumor, anti-inflammatory, and hepatoprotective effects, and this study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dioscin on the biofilm formation and development, as well as other virulence factors of such as morphological transition, adhesion, and extracellular secreted phospholipase. Our results showed dioscin inhibits these virulence factors and has low cytotoxicity against mammalian cells.

The practical self-targeted oncolytic adenoviral nanosphere based on immuno-obstruction method via polyprotein surface precipitation technique enhances transfection efficiency for virotherapy.

Recent developments in tumour treatment had focused on virotherapies that were currently revolutionising new innovated treatment pathways. This study focused on the fabrication of oncolytic adenoviral vector (Ad) nanosphere that self-targeted at lung tumour cells (A549), utilising the immune response for upper respiratory tract infection, caused by the Ad infection. This system was dependent upon T-cell immune response, surface charge and blood metabolism.

Spermatozoa Cryopreservation: State of Art and Future in Small Ruminants.

The cryotolerance of farm animal spermatozoa varies according to their specific features, such as size, shape, and lipid composition. Thus, it is impossible to develop a standardized freezing procedure for different kinds of livestock species. The establishment of an efficient semen cryopreservation procedure will facilitate long-term conservation of small ruminant genetic resources and extension of artificial insemination in daily production.

Effects of Wet Oxidation Process on Biochar Surface in Acid and Alkaline Soil Environments.

Biochar has been studied for remediation of heavy metal-contaminated soils by many researchers. When in external conditions, biochar in soils ages, which can transform its structural properties and adsorption capacity. This study was conducted with two oxidation processes, HNO₃/H₂SO₄ and NaOH/H₂O₂, to simulate the effects of biochar in acid and alkaline soil conditions.

Fimbriae and related receptors for Salmonella Enteritidis.

Infection with Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) is one of the main causes for food- and water-borne diseases, and is a major concern to public health for both humans and animals worldwide. Some fimbrial antigens expressed by SE strains have been described and characterized, containing SEF14, SEF17, SEF21, long polar fimbriae and plasmid-encoded fimbriae, they play a role in bacterial survival in the host or external environment. However, their functions remain to be well elucidated, with the initial attachment and binding for fimbriae-mediated SE infections only minimally understood.

A novel scalable fabrication process for the production of dissolving microneedle arrays.

Microneedle arrays have emerged as an alternative method for transdermal drug delivery. Although micromolding using a centrifugation method is widely used to prepare microneedles in laboratory, few researchers were focused on manufacturing processes capable of facile scale-up. A novel female mold was initially designed in this study, namely double-penetration female mold (DPFM) with the pinpoints covered by waterproof breather membrane which was beneficial to reduce the influence of gas resistance and solution viscosity.

Ewing's Sarcoma/Peripheral Primitive Neuroectodermal Tumors in Bronchus.

Ewing sarcoma/peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumors (ES/pPNET), a member of the Ewing sarcoma family of tumors, is a malignant soft tissue tumor with small undifferentiated neuroectodermal cells. Primary trachea-bronchial ES/pPNET is very rare. The most common pulmonary ES is due to a metastasis.

Effects of Metabolites Derived From Gut Microbiota and Hosts on Pathogens.

Intestinal metabolites participate in various physiological processes, including energy metabolism, cell-to-cell communication, and host immunity. These metabolites mainly originate from gut microbiota and hosts. Although many host metabolites are dominant in intestines, such as free fatty acids, amino acids and vitamins, the metabolites derived from gut microbiota are also essential for intestinal homeostasis.

The different roles of hcp and hcp of the type VI secretion system in Escherichia coli strain CE129.

Type VI secretion system (T6SS) is a secretory system found in Gram-negative bacteria. One of the main structures for T6SS is Hcp (hemolysin co-regulation protein) pipeline. To investigate the role of Hcp major sub-unit genes hcp and hcp , we deleted hcp and hcp genes for constructing the in-frame gene deletion mutants.

Turn bane into a boon: Application of invasive plant species to remedy soil cadmium contamination.

Cadmium (Cd) is one of the mostly hazardous soil pollutants and has threatened human health by accumulating in grains of crops. Phytoremediation is a promising technique to remedy soil Cd contamination, but reported Cd hyperaccumulators remain limited. In this study, we explored potential applicability of three invasive plant species (Chromolaena odorata, Bidens pilosa and Praxelis clematidea) to remove soil Cd using greenhouse experiment.

Colorimetric Determination of Hypochlorite Based on the Oxidative Leaching of Gold Nanorods.

Hypochlorite plays a critical role in killing microorganisms in the water. However, it can also cause cardiovascular diseases, neuron degeneration, and cancer to humans. Although traditional methods feature excellent sensitivity and reliability in detecting hypochlorite, the expensive instruments and strict determination conditions have limited their application in environmental analysis to some extent.

Comparative studies on amphotericin B nanosuspensions prepared by a high pressure homogenization method and an antisolvent precipitation method.

Amphotericin B (AmB) is a widely used polyene antifungal agent; however, its poor solubility limits its clinical application. In this study, AmB nanosuspensions were prepared by a high pressure homogenization method (AmB-HPH) and an antisolvent precipitation method (AmB-AP) to improve the drug solubility. To reveal the distinct influences of these two different preparation methods, systematic comparisons of particle size, crystalline state, wettability, in vitro dissolution and in vivo pharmacokinetics on the properties of AmB-HPH and AmB-AP were performed.