Experimental study on the degradation of sandstone-petroglyph carriers in Helankou: Effects of freeze-thaw and wet-dry cycles.

The Helankou petroglyphs offer precious data for understanding the lifeways of ancient pastoralists. However, in Helankou, the combination of unique climate conditions and complex hydrochemical environments has accelerated the weathering of the sandstone-petroglyph carriers, leading to numerous petroglyphs at risk of vanishing. In response, this study employed freeze-thaw and wet-dry cycle experiments to simulate the actual environmental conditions for sandstone.

HRD effects on first-line adjuvant chemotherapy and PARPi maintenance therapy in Chinese ovarian cancer patients.

Homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) testing has been approved by FDA for selecting epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) patients who may benefit from the first-line poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor (PARPi) maintenance therapy. However, the effects of HRD on the clinical outcomes of first-line chemotherapy and first-line PARPi maintenance therapy have not been rigorously evaluated in Chinese EOC patients. Here, we developed an HRD assay and applied it to two large retrospectively collected Chinese EOC patient cohorts.

Isolation and characterization of a lipopeptide-producing Bacillus sp. strain JK08 with antagonistic activity against Vibrio parahaemolyticus.

Aims: The present study aimed to isolate a potential antagonist Bacillus sp. and evaluate its capacity for controlling pathogenic Vibrio parahaemolyticus in aquaculture.

Methods And Results: Strain JK08, which showed inhibitory activity against V.

Protective mechanical ventilation with optimal PEEP during RARP improves oxygenation and pulmonary indexes.

Background: This trial aimed to evaluate the effects of a protective ventilation strategy on oxygenation/pulmonary indexes in patients undergoing robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) in the steep Trendelenburg position.

Methods: In phase 1, the most optimal positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) was determined in 25 patients at 11 cmHO. In phase 2, 64 patients were randomized to the traditional ventilation group with tidal volume (VT) of 9 ml/kg of predicted body weight (PBW) and the protective ventilation group with VT of 7 ml/kg of PBW with optimal PEEP and recruitment maneuvers (RMs).

Dosimetric effects of supine immobilization devices on the skin in intensity-modulated radiation therapy for breast cancer: a retrospective study.

Background: The dose perturbation effect of immobilization devices is often overlooked in intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) for breast cancer (BC). This retrospective study assessed the dosimetric effects of supine immobilization devices on the skin using a commercial treatment planning system.

Methods: Forty women with BC were divided into four groups according to the type of primary surgery: groups A and B included patients with left and right BC, respectively, who received 50 Gy radiotherapy in 25 fractions after radical mastectomy, while groups C and D included patients with left and right BC, respectively, who received breast-conservation surgery (BCS) and 40.

A Novel Nitrite-Base Aerobic Denitrifying Bacterium sp. YT03 and Its Transcriptome Analysis.

Nitrite in a water environment is very harmful to humans and aquatic animals. A novel aerobic denitrifying bacterium able to utilize -N as the only nitrogen source was isolated for the purpose of removing nitrite from water, which was identified as sp. and named as YT03.

Effect of intraoperative lung-protective mechanical ventilation on pulmonary oxygenation function and postoperative pulmonary complications after laparoscopic radical gastrectomy.

This study aimed to observe the effects of lung-protective ventilation (LPV) on oxygenation index (OI) and postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) after laparoscopic radical gastrectomy in middle-aged and elderly patients. A total of 120 patients who were scheduled to undergo laparoscopic radical gastrectomy with an expected time of >3 h were randomly divided into conventional ventilation (CV group) with tidal volume (TV) of 10 mL/kg without positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP), and lung-protective ventilation (PV group) with 7 mL/kg TV and personal level of PEEP with regular recruitment maneuver every 30 min. Measurements of OI, modified clinical pulmonary infection score (mCPIS), and PPCs were assessed during the perioperative period.

IL-33 attenuates mortality by promoting IFN-γ production in sepsis.

Objective And Design: Sepsis remains a major clinical problem with high morbidity and mortality. Interleukin (IL)-33 is a recently described member of the IL-1 family that is widely expressed and functions as a new inflammatory mediator. IL-33 has been reported to protect sepsis, but the underlying mechanisms are not well-elucidated.

A correlation analysis between tumor imaging changes and p-AKT and HSP70 expression in tumor cells after osteosarcoma chemotherapy.

This study sought to investigate osteosarcoma property changes after neoadjuvant chemotherapy and to analyze any correlation between changes with phospho-AKT (p-AKT) and heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) expression in osteosarcoma cells. Thirty patients with osteosarcoma treated at Liaocheng People's Hospital between January and October, 2016 were given an imaging examination before and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy to examine osteosarcoma tumor properties, with images scored. Immunohistochemistry was used to determine p-AKT and HSP70 expression levels, as well as tumor cell necrosis rate (TCNR), in specimens obtained before and after chemotherapy.

Regulation of M1‑type and M2‑type macrophage polarization in RAW264.7 cells by Galectin‑9.

Generally considered as a potent pro‑inflammatory signal, β‑galactosidelectin suppresses T cell receptor activation, can both promote and inhibit integrin‑mediated adhesion and is required in nuclear pre‑mRNA splicing. Galectin‑9 (Gal‑9), a member of β‑galactoside lectin, is involved many processes of T cell‑mediated diseases (such as autoimmune diseases and asthma) and immunomodulation of macrophages. Macrophages are involved in the occurrence of inflammation, development and digestion and other stages.

IL-33 Attenuates Sepsis by Inhibiting IL-17 Receptor Signaling through Upregulation of SOCS3.

Background/aims: Sepsis is a systemic inflammatory response during infection. There are limited therapeutic options for sepsis patients. Interleukin (IL)-33 has been reported recently with a beneficial effect in mouse sepsis.

The Role of IL-33 on LPS-Induced Acute Lung Injury in Mice.

The objective of the study is to investigate the role and specific molecular mechanism of interleukin-33 (IL-33) acted on acute lung injury (ALI) induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). C57BL/6 mice intratracheally instilled LPS to induce ALI model. The mice were randomly divided into three groups: the sham operation group (Sham), ALI group (ALI), and pretreatment with IL-33 of ALI group (IL-33).

Norcantharidin inhibits Wnt signal pathway via promoter demethylation of WIF-1 in human non-small cell lung cancer.

Wingless-type (Wnt) family of secreted glycoproteins is a group of signal molecules implicated in oncogenesis. Abnormal activation of Wnt signal pathway is associated with a variety of human cancers, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Wnt antagonists, such as the secreted frizzled-related protein (SFRP) family, Wnt inhibitory factor-1 (WIF-1) and cerberus, inhibit Wnt signal pathway by directly binding to Wnt molecules.

Snail contributes to the maintenance of stem cell-like phenotype cells in human pancreatic cancer.

Snail, a potent repressor of E-cadherin expression, plays a key role in epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in epithelial cancer. Recently, EMT and stemness programs are found linked together. In the current study, the expression of Snail and its contribution to cancer stem cell (CSC) marker expression, invasiveness, self-renewal, clonogenicity, and tumorigenicity of pancreatic cancer cells were studied.

Hydroxyethyl starch 130/0.4 exerts its anti-inflammatory effect in endotoxemic rats by inhibiting the TLR4/NF-kappaB signaling pathway.

Previous studies demonstrated that hydroxyethyl starch (HES) down-regulates the inflammatory response, but the mechanism is controversial. The present study measured the effects of HES130/0.4 on plasma proinflammatory cytokines levels and the Toll-like receptor-4 (TLR4)/nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) signaling pathway in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated rats.

Stapler vs suture closure of pancreatic remnant after distal pancreatectomy: a meta-analysis.

Background: Suture closure and stapler closure of the pancreatic remnant after distal pancreatectomy are the techniques used most often. The ideal choice remains a matter of debate.

Methods: Five bibliographic databases covering 1970 to July 2009 were searched.

Hydroxyethyl starch 130/0.4 inhibits production of plasma proinflammatory cytokines and attenuates nuclear factor-kappaB activation and Toll-like receptors expression in monocytes during sepsis.

Background: Hydroxyethyl starch (HES) is one of the most frequently used plasma substitutes, and could modulate inflammatory response in sepsis. Our aim of this study was to investigate the mechanism of the effect of HES 130/0.4 by studying plasma levels of inflammatory cytokines, nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) activation, and Toll-like receptors (TLRs) expression in peripheral monocytes during polymicrobial sepsis.

Correlations of the stability, static dipole polarizabilities, and electronic properties of yttrium clusters.

Static dipole polarizabilities for the ground-state geometries of yttrium clusters (Yn, n < or = 15) are investigated by using the numerically finite field method in the framework of density functional theory. The structural size dependence of electronic properties, such as the highest occupied molecular orbital-lowest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO-LUMO) gap, ionization energy, electron affinity, chemical hardness and softness, etc., has been determined for yttrium clusters.

(9S,13R,14R)-7,8-Didehydro-3,4,7-trimeth-oxy-17-methyl-morphinan-6-one.

The title compound, C(20)H(25)NO(4), was synthesized by a Mitsunobu reaction of sinomenine [(9S,13R,14R)-7,8-didehydro-4-hydroxy-3,7-dimethoxy-17-methylmorphinan-6-one] with methanol. The chiral centers were unchanged during the reaction. Intra-molecular C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds result in the formation of six-membered rings.

Ghrelin improves delayed gastrointestinal transit in alloxan-induced diabetic mice.

Aim: To investigate the effects of ghrelin on delayed gastrointestinal transit in alloxan-induced diabetic mice.

Methods: A diabetic mouse model was established by intraperitoneal injection with alloxan. Mice were randomized into two main groups: normal mice group and diabetic mice group treated with ghrelin at doses of 0, 20, 50, 100 and 200 mug/kg ip.

Ultrastructural changes, nuclear factor-kappaB activation, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha expression in brain after acute normovolemic hemodilution and controlled hypotension in rats.

Aim: To examine brain damage following different degrees of acute normovolemic hemodilution combined with controlled hypotension (ANH-CH) by neuronal morphological analysis and investigate the expression of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) activity and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in the rat.

Methods: Forty rats were randomly assigned to receive a sham operation or ANH-CH (with hematocrit 30%, 25%, 20%, and 15%). ANH was performed after baseline physiological parameters had been monitored for 20 minutes.

1-(1,3-Benzodioxol-5-yl)butan-1-one.

In the mol-ecule of the title compound, C(11)H(12)O(3), the dioxole ring adopts an envelope conformation. In the crystal structure, weak inter-molecular C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds link the mol-ecules into chains.

Hydroxyethyl starch exhibits antiinflammatory effects in the intestines of endotoxemic rats.

We performed the present in vivo study to investigate the effect of hydroxyethyl starch (HES) on intestinal production of inflammatory mediators and activation of transcription factors during endotoxemia. Rats with endotoxemia induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (5 mg/kg, IV) were treated with HES (16 mL/kg, IV) or saline (64 mL/kg, IV). At 2, 3, or 6 h after the LPS challenge, the rat ileal tissues were collected.

Pentoxifylline decreases up-regulated nuclear factor kappa B activation and cytokine production in the rat retina following transient ischemia.

Aim: To investigate whether pentoxifylline (PTX) could influence the increased cytokine gene expression in the retina flowing transient ischemia, and if so, whether it acts through the modulation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) activation.

Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three equal groups: control group, saline-treated group, and PTX-treated group. Increased intraocular pressure was applied for 90 min to induce retinal ischemia, and reperfusion was established by lowering the bottle to eye level.

Betamethasone affects cerebral expressions of NF-kappaB and cytokines that correlate with pain behavior in a rat model of neuropathy.

The objective of this study was to investigate whether corticosteroids modulate neuropathic pain by altering cerebral expression of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) and specific cytokines. The effects of topical betamethasone on neuropathic pain and cerebral expression of NF-kappaB and cytokines were studied in a rat model of L5 spinal nerve transaction. Behavioral testing was undertaken on days 1, 3, 7, 14, and 21 post-operation using the von Frey and Hargreaves tests.