PDTC Alleviates Depressive Symptoms and Colon Tissue Injury via Inhibiting NO Overproduction in CUMS Rats.

Background: The accumulated evidence demonstrates that stress plays an important role in the pathogenesis of depression that is associated with intestinal dysfunctions. However, the mechanisms remain unresolved.

Methods: A total of 40 male Wistar rats were obtained and randomly divided into four equal-sized group: control, PDTC + chronic and unpredictable mild stress (CUMS), FLX + CUMS, and CUMS.

Preparation of the Yellow-Colored Aluminum Pigments with Double-Layer Structure Using a Crosslinked Copolymeric Dye.

Colorization for fabricating aluminum pigments has broad application prospects in recent years. In this study, yellow-colored aluminum pigments with the double-layer structure Al@SiO₂@PFMV were prepared using a sol-gel method. A crosslinked copolymeric dye (PFMV) was firstly synthesized by radical polymerization using vinyl triethoxysilane (VTES) and a small molecular dye (FGMAC) as monomers.

Characterization of group B Streptococcus isolated from sterile and non-sterile specimens in China.

Group B streptococcus (GBS) is a leading cause of invasive neonatal infections and has increasingly been associated with invasive diseases in non-pregnant adults. We collected 113 GBS isolates recovered from sterile and non-sterile specimens from seven tertiary hospitals in China between October 2014 and September 2016. Medical records were retrospectively reviewed and the sequence types, serotypes, virulence, and antimicrobial resistance profiles of the isolates were characterized and correlated.

Influence of environmental and genotypic factors on biofilm formation by clinical isolates of group B streptococci.

Group B Streptococcus (GBS) colonizes the gastrointestinal and urogenital tracts of approximately 30% of women, and it can cause sepsis and meningitis in neonates. GBS has been shown to form biofilms in vitro, but the effects of environmental and genotypic factors upon GBS biofilm formation are unclear. The aim of the present study was to optimize culture conditions for enhanced GBS biofilm production.

Smoking and alcohol drinking in relation to the risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: A population-based case-control study in China.

Previous results regarding the associations between esophageal squamous-cell carcinoma (ESCC) risk and smoking/alcohol drinking in high-risk areas are inconsistent. We performed a large population-based case-control study from 2010 to 2013 in a high-incidence area of China, and enrolled 1353 ESCC cases and 1961 controls. Data regarding smoking and alcohol drinking were collected via face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire.

Pelvic Floor Reconstruction After Radical Prostatectomy: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Different Surgical Techniques.

Radical prostatectomy (RP) is the gold standard for the treatment of localized PCa. A meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the effect of different techniques of pelvic floor reconstruction on urinary continence. A comprehensive search was made for trials that evaluated the efficacy of pelvic floor reconstruction.

Teeth loss, teeth brushing and esophageal carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Esophageal carcinoma (EC) is a serious malignancy, and its epidemiologic etiology is not fully explained. We performed this review to investigate the association between teeth loss and teeth brushing and the risk of EC. A systematic search was conducted to identify all relevant studies.

Fusobacterium nucleatum subspecies identification by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry.

We explored the use of matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) for identification of Fusobacterium nucleatum subspecies. MALDI-TOF MS spectra of five F. nucleatum subspecies (animalis, fusiforme, nucleatum, polymorphum, and vincentii) were analyzed and divided into four distinct clusters, including subsp.

Association between plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 gene polymorphisms and recurrent pregnancy loss: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Human plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) is closely related to embryonic development and pregnancy success. The association between PAI-1 gene polymorphisms (PAI-1-844G/A and PAI-1-675G/A) and the risk of recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) is controversial. Therefore, we perform this review to clarify the association between PAI-1 gene polymorphisms and RPL risk.

Anti-diabetic medications do not influence risk of lung cancer in patients with diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: Several preclinical and observational studies have shown that anti-diabetic medications (ADMs) may modify the risk of lung cancer. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis evaluating the effect of metformin, sulfonylureas (SUs), thiazolidinediones (TZDs), and insulin on the risk of lung cancer in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM).

Materials And Methods: We conducted a systematic search of Pubmed and Web of Science, up to August 20, 2013.

Evaluation of Alere i Influenza A&B for rapid detection of influenza viruses A and B.

Rapid and accurate diagnosis of influenza is important for infection control, as well as for patient management. Alere i Influenza A&B is an isothermal nucleic acid amplification-based integrated system for detection and differentiation of influenza virus A and influenza virus B. The performance of the Alere i Influenza A&B was screened using frozen nasopharyngeal-swab specimens collected in viral transport medium (VTM) that were originally tested fresh with the FilmArray Respiratory Panel (RP) assay during the 2012-2013 influenza outbreak.

A rapid two-step algorithm detects and identifies clinical macrolide and beta-lactam antibiotic resistance in clinical bacterial isolates.

Purpose: Aiming to identify macrolide and beta-lactam resistance in clinical bacterial isolates rapidly and accurately, a two-step algorithm was developed based on detection of eight antibiotic resistance genes.

Methods: Targeting at genes linked to bacterial macrolide (msrA, ermA, ermB, and ermC) and beta-lactam (blaTEM, blaSHV, blaCTX-M-1, blaCTX-M-9) antibiotic resistances, this method includes a multiplex real-time PCR, a melting temperature profile analysis as well as a liquid bead microarray assay. Liquid bead microarray assay is applied only when indistinguishable Tm profile is observed.