A novel data processing method CyC* for quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction minimizes cumulative error.

Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) is routinely conducted for DNA quantitative analysis using the cycle-threshold (Ct) method, which assumes uniform/optimum template amplification. In practice, amplification efficiencies vary from cycle to cycle in a PCR reaction, and often decline as the amplification proceeds, which results in substantial errors in measurement. This study reveals the cumulative error for quantification of initial template amounts, due to the difference between the assumed perfect amplification efficiency and actual one in each amplification cycle.

Best practices on immunomodulators and biologic agents for ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease in Asia.

The Asia-Pacific Working Group on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) was established in Cebu, Philippines, under the auspices of the Asian Pacific Association of Gastroenterology with the goal of improving IBD care in Asia. This consensus is carried out in collaboration with Asian Organization for Crohn's and Colitis. With biologic agents and biosimilars becoming more established, it is necessary to conduct a review on existing literature and establish a consensus on when and how to introduce biologic agents and biosimilars in the conjunction with conventional treatments for ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD) in Asia.

Clinical analysis of repeat microvascular decompression for recurrent hemifacial spasm.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of repeat microvascular decompression (MVD) for recurrent hemifacial spasm (HFS). The clinical features, surgical findings, outcomes, and complications of 13 patients who underwent MVD with a history of prior MVD in Xuanwu Hospital between January 2010 and May 2017 were analysed retrospectively. All patients were successfully treated for their HFS but experienced recurrent symptoms and received repeat MVD.

Percutaneous Endoscopic C2-C3 Medial Branches Neurotomy for Cervicogenic Headache.

Background: Cervicogenic headache (CEH) is characterized by unilateral posterior head and neck pain originating from cervical structures and may be improved or resolved by successful treatment of the causative cervical disorder or lesion. Cervical medial branch radiofrequency (RF) lesion therapy is effective in some CEH patients with no significant pathologic abnormalities that can be surgically corrected. However, patients with refractory CEH are often encountered clinically.

Best practices on immunomodulators and biologic agents for ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease in Asia.

The Asia-Pacific Working Group on Inflammatory Bowel Disease was established in Cebu, Philippines, under the auspices of the Asia-Pacific Association of Gastroenterology with the goal of improving inflammatory bowel disease care in Asia. This consensus is carried out in collaboration with Asian Organization for Crohn's and Colitis. With biologic agents and biosimilars becoming more established, it is necessary to conduct a review on existing literature and establish a consensus on when and how to introduce biologic agents and biosimilars in conjunction with conventional treatments for ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease in Asia.

Large scale preparation, stress analysis, and storage of headspace volatile condensates from Jasminum sambac flowers.

In this study, a large-scale preparation of jasmine floral volatile condensate (FVC) was conducted using fresh flowers without any extraction solvent involvement. Condensate volatile profiles were compared to those of fresh flowers for their scent characteristics and ability to withstand manufacturing and storage. The FVC possessed a typical jasmine flower scent, a similar odor polygon shape and greatly enhanced odor intensity and character odorants linalool, indole, and methyl anthranilate.

Epidemiology of Extrapulmonary Tuberculosis among Inpatients, China, 2008-2017.

We investigated the epidemiology of extrapulmonary tuberculosis (TB) among patients admitted to Beijing Chest Hospital, Beijing, China, during January 2008-December 2017. Of 19,279 hospitalized TB patients, 33.4% (6,433) had extrapulmonary TB and 66.

Dorsal Root Entry Zone Lesion for Neuropathic Pain Due to Thoracolumbar Spine Fracture: Long-Term Result.

Objective: To retrospectively evaluate long-term efficacy and safety of dorsal root entry zone (DREZ) lesion for treatment of neuropathic pain within the lower extremities and perineal region after thoracolumbar spine fracture.

Methods: Forty-two patients were treated with posterior laminectomy under general anesthesia. The DREZ regions of the spinal cord segments were ablated under a microscope.

Mobile health in the management of type 1 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: As an insulin-dependent disease, type 1 diabetes requires paying close attention to the glycemic control. Studies have shown that mobile health (mHealth) can improve the management of chronic diseases. However, the effectiveness of mHealth in controlling the glycemic control remains uncertain.

Enhanced local cancer therapy using a CA4P and CDDP co-loaded polypeptide gel depot.

Cancer combination therapy based on drug co-delivery systems provides an effective strategy for enhancing treatment efficacy and reducing side effects. In this work, a new strategy through co-delivery of combretastatin A4 disodium phosphate (CA4P) and cisplatin (CDDP) was developed for the local treatment of colon cancer, through an in situ thermo-gelling hydrogel (mPEG-b-PELG). The results indicated that this material possessed concentration-dependent thermogelling properties and tunable in vivo biodegradability.

[Research on the knockout of LMNA gene by CRISPR/Cas9 system in human cell lines].

The LMNA gene encodes the nuclear Lamin A and Lamin C proteins, and is related to nuclear membrane organization, genome stability and cell differentiation. Abnormal expression of LMNA is ubiquitous in human tumors, and its mutation leads to various forms of laminopathies, including Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy (EDMD), dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), and Hutchinson-Gliford progeria syndrome (HGPS). To further determine the functions of the LMNA gene in cellular physiology, the present study used the CRISPR/Cas9 technique to edit the LMNA gene of 293T and HepG2 cells in vitro, which resulted in two stable LMNA gene knockout (LMNA KO) cell lines.

Additional benefits of GeneXpert MTB/RIF assay for the detection of pulmonary tuberculosis patients with prior exposure to fluoroquinolones.

Background: We performed a prospective study to investigate the association between pre-diagnosis exposure to fluoroquinolone (FQ) and laboratory testing results among tuberculosis (TB) patients.

Patients And Methods: Each TB-suspected patient provided sputum specimen for mycobacteria growth indicator tube (MGIT) culture and GeneXpert among pulmonary TB patients. Confirmed TB patients and clinically diagnosed TB patients were further enrolled in the final analysis.

Rapid Synthesis of γ-Arylated Carbonyls Enabled by the Merge of Copper- and Photocatalytic Radical Relay Alkylarylation of Alkenes.

The development of mild and practical methods for the γ-arylation of carbonyl compounds is an ongoing challenge in organic synthesis. The first formal γ-arylation of carbonyl compounds via radical relay cross-coupling of α-bromocarbonyl precursors with boronic acids in the presence of alkenes is reported. This directing-group-free protocol allows for the rapid and straightforward access to a wide range of γ-arylated esters, ketones, and amides under ambient conditions with excellent functional group tolerance.

Interleaving programming in pallidal deep brain stimulation improves outcomes in a patient with Meige syndrome.

We present the effectiveness of interleaving programming in pallidal deep brain stimulation in a patient with Meige syndrome. This patient's symptoms were initially inadequately relieved by conventional programming methods. Then, we switched to the interleaving programming strategy, which produced an individual electrical density and improved her symptoms significantly.

Epidemiology of pulmonary disease due to nontuberculous mycobacteria in Southern China, 2013-2016.

Background: Pulmonary nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) disease is of increasing public health concern in China. Information is limited regarding risk factors associated with this disease in China. The objective of this study was to describe the epidemiology of pulmonary disease due to NTM in Southern China.

[Occurrence, degradation and potential ecological risks of triclosan in environment.].

Triclosan (TCS) is widely used in many kinds of personal care products due to its good antibacterial properties. However, TCS can enter environment in many ways through the consumption of those personal care products, and result in a series of environmental problem. TCS and its metabolites have their own characteristics such as environmental persistence, bioaccumulation and ecological toxicity, which may bring some potential risks to the ecosystem and human health.

The association of serum neuron-specific enolase with other disease markers in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A case-control study.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between serum neuron-specific enolase (sNSE) levels and gender, age, body mass index (BMI) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Methods: This case-control study was carried out among 182 participants in Jiangxi Provincial chest hospital, Nanchang, China, in 2017. One hundred and two patients diagnosed with COPD based on the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) grading classification and 80 Non-COPD participants were recruited.

Application of Virtual Screening to the Identification of New LpxC Inhibitor Chemotypes, Oxazolidinone and Isoxazoline.

This report summarizes the identification and synthesis of novel LpxC inhibitors aided by computational methods that leveraged numerous crystal structures. This effort led to the identification of oxazolidinone and isoxazoline inhibitors with potent in vitro activity against P. aeruginosa and other Gram-negative bacteria.

Nerve root entrapment with pseudomeningocele after percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy: A case report.

Pseudomeningocele is a relatively uncommon postoperative complication of spine surgery. Although the condition tends to be asymptomatic and self-limiting, it may cause radicular pain and neurological defect due to herniation of the nerve root or the spinal cord. Its pathophysiology remains unclear.

Dihydromyricetin from ampelopsis grossedentata protects against vascular neointimal formation via induction of TR3.

Vine tea has been used as a medicinal herb in traditional Chinese medicine for hundreds of years. As the most abundant ingredient in vine tea, Dihydromyricetin (DHM) has been reported to exert anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-cardiovascular disease. However, the role of DHM in injury-induced neointimal formation remains poorly characterized.

Dynamic metabolic response of Aspergillus niger to glucose perturbation: evidence of regulatory mechanism for reduced glucoamylase production.

Environmental gradient is an important common issue during scale-up process for protein production. To address the dynamic regulatory mechanism of Aspergillus niger being exposed to inhomogeneous glucose concentrations, glucose perturbation were experimented on the steady state of A. niger chemostat culture, and dynamic profiles of the intracellular metabolites in central carbon metabolism were tracked in a time scale of seconds.

Influence of media supplements on inhibition of oxidative browning and bacterial endophytes of var. .

Explant oxidative browning and necrosis of var. is a severe problem in tissue culture, often associated with the exuded phenolic compounds and microbial contamination from the explants. In this study, 2-aminoindane-2-phosphonic acid (AIP), an inhibitor of the polyphenol production-required enzyme phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), and different antibiotics were tested to control tea explant necrosis and browning.

A Novel Mutation of SLC19A2 in a Chinese Zhuang Ethnic Family with Thiamine-Responsive Megaloblastic Anemia.

Background/aims: Thiamine-responsive megaloblastic anemia syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive disorder resulting from mutations in SLC19A2, and is mainly characterized by megaloblastic anemia, diabetes, and progressive sensorineural hearing loss.

Methods: We study a Chinese Zhuang ethnicity family with thiamine-responsive megaloblastic anemia. The proband of the study presented with anemia and diabetes, similar to his late brother, as well as visual impairment.

Self-reported hypertension in Northern China: a cross-sectional study of a risk prediction model and age trends.

Background: Hypertension is a major risk factor for the global burden of disease, particularly in countries that are not economically developed. This study aimed to evaluate risk factors associated with self-reported hypertension among residents of Inner Mongolia using a cross-sectional study and to explore trends in the rate of self-reported hypertension.

Methods: Multi-stage stratified cluster sampling was used to survey 13,554 participants aged more than 15 years residing in Inner Mongolia for the 2013 Fifth Health Service Survey.