Effect of sevoflurane on the ATPase activity of hippocampal neurons in a rat model of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury via the cAMP-PKA signaling pathway.

We aim to investigate the effects of sevoflurane on the ATPase activity of the hippocampal neurons in rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) via the cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and protein kinase A (PKA) signaling pathway. Sixty rats were assigned into the normal, model and sevoflurane groups (n = 20, the latter two groups were established as focal cerebral IRI models). The ATPase activity was detected using an ultramicro Na (+)-K (+)-ATP enzyme kit.

Miscellaneous lanostane triterpenoids with cytotoxicities from fruiting bodies of the basidiomycete Stereum sp.

Ten new highly oxygenated lanostane triterpenoids, stereinones A-J (1-10), were isolated from the fruiting bodies of the basidiomycete Stereum sp. Compounds 3 and 4 are structurally characterized as intact lanostane-type triterpenoids containing unusual 1,2-diketone functionality at C-11 and C-12, while compound 10 is a 24-methylene-lanostane. The structures of these new compounds were established based on detailed 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic analyses, along with quantum chemical NMR calculations.

Metastatic retinoblastoma of the parotid and submandibular glands: a rare case report.

Background: Retinoblastoma is the most common intraocular malignancy occurring in children. It can metastasize to the regional lymph nodes, central nervous system and distant organs usually the bones and bone marrow and very rarely to the soft tissue. Here, we report a case of unilateral retinoblastoma in a 4-year-old girl accompanied by a large metastasis of the parotid and submandibular glands that developed about 6 months previously and gradually increased in size 5 months after enucleation of the left eye.

The effects of chilling-light stress on photosystems I and II in three Paphiopedilum species.

Background: Low temperatures pose a critical limitation to the physiology and survival of chilling-sensitive plants. One example is the genus Paphiopedilum (Orchidaceae), which is mainly native to tropical and subtropical areas from Asia to the Pacific islands. However, little is known about the physiological mechanism(s) underlying its sensitivity to chilling temperature.

Anatomical and diffusional determinants inside leaves explain the difference in photosynthetic capacity between Cypripedium and Paphiopedilum, Orchidaceae.

Comparing with other angiosperms, most members within the family Orchidaceae have lower photosynthetic capacities. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Cypripedium and Paphiopedilum are closely related phylogenetically in Orchidaceae, but their photosynthetic performances are different.

Thoracic gamma irradiation-induced obesity in C57BL/6 female mice.

Purpose: To investigate the late effects of thoracic region irradiation (TRI) on mouse body weight.

Materials And Methods: Female C57BL/6 mice were divided into nonirradiated, 5 Gy total body irradiation, 9 Gy sub-total body irradiation, and 12.5 Gy thoracic region irradiation (TRI) groups.

Replacement of quaternary ammonium headgroups by tri-ornithine in cationic lipids for the improvement of gene delivery in vitro and in vivo.

Headgroups in cationic lipids play very important roles in determining transfection efficiency and toxicity in gene delivery. To better understand the influence of headgroups on gene delivery, a tri-peptide-based lipid was synthesized, wherein the usual quaternary ammonium was replaced by a tri-peptide. Though both the tri-peptide-based lipid (DAO3) and the quaternary ammonium-based lipid (DDCTMA) successfully mediated gene transfection, DAO3 was superior to DDCTMA in both in vitro and in vivo studies.

Effects of microRNA-206 and its target gene IGF-1 on sevoflurane-induced activation of hippocampal astrocytes in aged rats through the PI3K/AKT/CREB signaling pathway.

The study aims to explore the effects of microRNA-206 (miR-206) targeting IGF-1 on the activation of hippocampal astrocytes in aged rats induced by sevoflurane through the PI3K/AKT/CREB signaling pathway. Wistar rats and astrocytes were divided into the normal/blank, sham/negative control (NC), sevoflurane (sevo), miR-206 mimics+sevo, miR-206 inhibitors+sevo, miR-206 NC+sevo, IGF-1 shRNA+sevo, and miR-206 inhibitors+IGF-1 shRNA+sevo groups. The Morris water maze test was exhibited to assess the cognitive functions.

Tradeoff between Stem Hydraulic Efficiency and Mechanical Strength Affects Leaf-Stem Allometry in 28 Tree Species.

Leaf-stem allometry is an important spectrum that linked to biomass allocation and life history strategy in plants, although the determinants and evolutionary significance of leaf-stem allometry remain poorly understood. Leaf and stem architectures - including stem area/mass, petiole area/mass, lamina area/mass, leaf number, specific leaf area (LA), and mass-based leafing intensity (LI) - were measured on the current-year branches for 28 species growing in a common garden in SW China. The leaf anatomical traits, stem wood density (WD), and stem anatomical and mechanical properties of these species were also measured.

[China Hainan Centenarian Cohort Study: study design and preliminary results].

To investigate the health status, functional ability, mental psychology, health care and other longevity-related characteristics of individuals aged ≥100 years as well as risk factors in Hainan province, China. China Hainan Centenarian Cohort Study (CHCCS) is a community-based, prospective cohort study to establish multi-dimensional database consisting of questionnaire findings, anthropometric parameters and biological specimens as well as imaging features. With the household registration information provided by the Department of Civil Affairs of Hainan province, a baseline survey was conducted in centenarians in 18 counties in Hainan with the oldest old in 5 counties as controls between 2014 and 2017.

[Quality of case report of Japanese Encephalitis after the establishment of surveillance on acute meningitis and encephalitis syndrome in Baoji].

To evaluate the quality of Japanese Encephalitis (JE) case reports based on the establishment of surveillance on acute meningitis and encephalitis syndrome (AMES) in Baoji. A surveillance network on AMES cases was set up in Baoji city of Shaanxi province between July 2013 and December 2016. All the cases met the surveillance definition of AMES cases were conducted a questionnaire, collected serum and/or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimens to test JE immunoglobulin M antibodies by using enzyme-linkedimmunosorbent assay methods.

Comparative physiological and proteomic analyses reveal different adaptive strategies by Cymbidium sinense and C. tracyanum to drought.

A terrestrial orchid, Cymbidium sinense appears to utilizes "remedy strategy", while an epiphytic orchid, C. tracyanum , employs a "precaution strategy" to drought stress based on morphological, physiological and proteomic analysis. Drought condition influences plant growth and productivity.

Bioactive polyketides and 8,14-seco-ergosterol from fruiting bodies of the ascomycete Daldinia childiae.

Seven previously undescribed polyketides, namely childinins A-G, and one previously undescribed 8,14-seco-ergosterol, namely childinasterone A, were obtained from the fruiting bodies of Daldinia childiae. Their structures and absolute configurations were established via extensive spectroscopic analyses, single-crystal X-ray diffraction, and TDDFT/ECD calculations. Childinins A represents the first example of natural product possessing a previously undescribed 6H-naphtho[2,1-c]chromen-6-one scaffold.

Accumulation of methylglyoxal increases the advanced glycation end-product levels in DRG and contributes to lumbar disk herniation-induced persistent pain.

Lumbar disk herniation (LDH) with discogenic low back pain and sciatica is a common and complicated musculoskeletal disorder. The underlying mechanisms are poorly understood, and there are no effective therapies for LDH-induced pain. In the present study, we found that the patients who suffered from LDH-induced pain had elevated plasma methylglyoxal (MG) levels.

Adaptive Estimation of Multiple Fading Factors for GPS/INS Integrated Navigation Systems.

The Kalman filter has been widely applied in the field of dynamic navigation and positioning. However, its performance will be degraded in the presence of significant model errors and uncertain interferences. In the literature, the fading filter was proposed to control the influences of the model errors, and the H-infinity filter can be adopted to address the uncertainties by minimizing the estimation error in the worst case.

New Acetylenic Acids and Derivatives from the Edible Mushroom Craterellus lutescens (Cantharellaceae).

Thirteen new acetylenic acids and their derivatives, craterellynes G-Q (1, 2, 4-10, 12, 13), 9-epi-craterellyne H (3), and 14-O-ethyl-craterellyne O (11), were isolated from the fruiting bodies of edible mushrooms Craterellus lutescens. The structures of these compounds were identified by various spectroscopic and chemical means. The stereoconfigurations of 1-13 were elucidated by the combination of acetonide formation, J-based configuration analysis, and modified Mosher's method.

Floral Mass per Area and Water Maintenance Traits Are Correlated with Floral Longevity in (Orchidaceae).

Floral longevity (FL) determines the balance between pollination success and flower maintenance. While a longer floral duration enhances the ability of plants to attract pollinators, it can be detrimental if it negatively affects overall plant fitness. Longer-lived leaves display a positive correlation with their dry mass per unit area, which influences leaf construction costs and physiological functions.

Superoxide generated in the chloroplast stroma causes photoinhibition of photosystem I in the shade-establishing tree species Psychotria henryi.

Our previous studies indicated that high light induced significant photoinhibition of photosystem I (PSI) in the shade-establishing tree species Psychotria henryi. However, the underlying mechanism has not been fully clarified. In the present study, in order to investigate the mechanism of PSI photoinhibition in P.

Triptolide mitigates radiation-induced pneumonitis via inhibition of alveolar macrophages and related inflammatory molecules.

Ionizing radiation-induced pulmonary injury is a major limitation of radiotherapy for thoracic tumors. We have demonstrated that triptolide (TPL) could alleviate IR-induced pneumonia and pulmonary fibrosis. In this study, we explored the underlying mechanism by which TPL mitigates the effects of radiotoxicity.

Three new species of Calocybe (Agaricales, Basidiomycota) from northeastern China are supported by morphological and molecular data.

Three new species, Calocybe aurantiaca, C. convexa, and C. decolorata, are described based on collections made in Shenyang City, Liaoning Province, China.

Perceptions of Chinese Biomedical Researchers Towards Academic Misconduct: A Comparison Between 2015 and 2010.

Publications by Chinese researchers in scientific journals have dramatically increased over the past decade; however, academic misconduct also becomes more prevalent in the country. The aim of this prospective study was to understand the perceptions of Chinese biomedical researchers towards academic misconduct and the trend from 2010 to 2015. A questionnaire comprising 10 questions was designed and then validated by ten biomedical researchers in China.

Clinical efficacy and safety of limited internal fixation combined with external fixation for Pilon fracture: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: To compare the clinical efficacy and complications of limited internal fixation combined with external fixation (LIFEF) and open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) in the treatment of Pilon fracture.

Methods: We searched databases including Pubmed, Embase, Web of science, Cochrane Library and China Biology Medicine disc for the studies comparing clinical efficacy and complications of LIFEF and ORIF in the treatment of Pilon fracture. The clinical efficacy was evaluated by the rate of nonunion, malunion/delayed union and the excellent/good rate assessed by Mazur ankle score.

The clinicopathological parameters and prognostic significance of HER2 expression in gastric cancer patients: a meta-analysis of literature.

Background: Human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2) is regarded as an important and promising target in the treatment of HER2-positive breast cancers. However, the correlation of clinicopathological characteristics and prognostic significance of HER2 overexpression in gastric cancer patients remains unclear. Our aim was to clarify this issue.

Selective and Sensitive Detection of Silver(I) Ion Based on Tetracationic Complex and TGA/GSH Co-capped Quantum Dots as an Effective Fluorescent Sensing Platform.

CdTe quantum dots capped with glutathione (GSH) and thioglycolic acid (TGA) were synthesized and the interaction between QDs and tetracationic Fe complex was investigated. Based on the specific interaction between Ag and cytosine bases (C), we designed a label-free DNA sensor for the detection of Ag in aqueous solution. Furthermore, tetracationic Fe complex with a higher positive charge is demonstrated to improve the sensitivity of the sensor.

Divergent Hydraulic Safety Strategies in Three Co-occurring Anacardiaceae Tree Species in a Chinese Savanna.

Vulnerability segmentation, the condition under which plant leaves are more vulnerable to drought-induced cavitation than stems, may act as a "safety valve" to protect stems from hydraulic failure. Evergreen, winter-deciduous, and drought-deciduous tree species co-occur in tropical savannas, but there have been no direct studies on the role of vulnerability segmentation and stomatal regulation in maintaining hydraulic safety in trees with these three leaf phenologies. To this end, we selected three Anacardiaceae tree species co-occurring in a Chinese savanna, evergreen , drought-deciduous , and winter-deciduous , to study inter-species differentiation in leaf and stem hydraulic safety.