The Transcription Factor VvbHLH053 Regulates the Expression of Copper Homeostasis-Associated Genes and and Confers Root Development in Grapevine.

Chlormequat chloride (CCC) has been demonstrated to inhibit plant growth and strengthen seedlings. The present study demonstrated that the root growth of grapevine seedlings was significantly enhanced by the application of CCC treatment. Nevertheless, the precise mechanism by which CCC regulates plant root growth remains to be elucidated.

Transcription Factor VlbZIP14 Inhibits Postharvest Grape Berry Abscission by Directly Activating and Promoting Lignin Biosynthesis.

Sulfur dioxide (SO) is the most effective preservative for table grapes as it reduces the respiratory intensity of berries and inhibits mold growth. However, excessive SO causes berry abscission during storage, resulting in an economic loss postharvest. In this study, grapes were exogenously treated with SO, SO + 1.

Cobalt Phosphide-Supported Single-Atom Pt Catalysts for Efficient and Stable Hydrogen Generation from Ammonia Borane Hydrolysis.

Ammonia borane (AB) has emerged as a promising chemical hydrogen storage material. The development of efficient, stable, and cost-effective catalysts for AB hydrolysis is the key to achieving hydrogen energy economy. Here, cobalt phosphide (CoP) is used to anchor single-atom Pt species, acting as robust catalysts for hydrogen generation from AB hydrolysis.

Artificial intelligence for diagnosis and prognosis prediction of natural killer/T cell lymphoma using magnetic resonance imaging.

Accurate diagnosis and prognosis prediction are conducive to early intervention and improvement of medical care for natural killer/T cell lymphoma (NKTCL). Artificial intelligence (AI)-based systems are developed based on nasopharynx magnetic resonance imaging. The diagnostic systems achieve areas under the curve of 0.

Transcription factor VviWOX13C regulates fruit set by directly activating VviEXPA37/38/39 in grape (Vitis vinifera L).

VviWOX13C plays a key regulatory role in the expansin during fruit set. Expansins as a type of non-enzymatic cell wall proteins, are responsible for the loosening and extension in cell walls leading to the enlargement of the plant cells. However, the current studies are still lacking in expansin genes associated with promoting fruit set.

Retrospective Analysis of Carotid Body Tumor Surgical Management: Roles of Preoperative Image Investigation and Preoperative Embolization.

Background: Carotid body tumors (CBT) surgery is a challenging procedure, and the role of embolization (EMB) in CBT surgery has remained unclear. This study is performed to analyze the management of CBTs, particularly the use of preoperative EMB and image features in minimizing surgical complications.

Methods: A total of 200 CBTs were identified among 184 medical records involving CBT surgery.

Two-dimensional nanomaterials: synthesis and applications in photothermal catalysis.

Photothermal catalysis, as one of the emerging technologies with synergistic effects of photochemistry and thermochemistry, is highly attractive in the fields of environment and energy. Two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials have received extensive attention toward photothermal catalysis because of their ultrathin layer structures, superior physical and optical properties, and high surface areas. These merits are beneficial for shortening the transfer distance of charge carriers, improving the efficiency of solar to thermal, and providing a great opportunity for the development of photothermal chemistry.

Single-Mode-Tuned Tricolor Emissions of Upconversion/Afterglow Hybrids for Anticounterfeiting Applications.

This work presents a highly secure anticounterfeiting strategy based on upconversion/afterglow hybrids with tricolor emissions tuned by a single 975 nm laser. The hybrids are composed of NaYF:Yb/Tm and NaYF:Yb/Er microrods and CaS:Eu afterglow phosphors. Under 975 nm excitation, the hybrids exhibit multicolor emissions from green to white by adjusting laser power and then emit red afterglow light when the 975 nm laser is off.

A Novel Predictive Nomogram including Serum Lipoprotein a Level for Nonsentinel Lymph Node Metastases in Chinese Breast Cancer Patients with Positive Sentinel Lymph Node Metastases.

Background: We developed a new nomogram combining serum biomarkers with clinicopathological features to improve the accuracy of prediction of nonsentinel lymph node (SLN) metastases in Chinese breast cancer patients.

Methods: We enrolled 209 patients with breast cancer who underwent SLN biopsy and axillary lymph node dissection. We evaluated the relationships between non-SLN metastases and clinicopathologic features, as well as preoperative routine tests of blood indexes, tumor markers, and serum lipids, including lipoprotein a (Lp(a)).

Experimental Investigation on the Pore-Scale Mechanism of Improved Sweep Efficiency by Low-Salinity Water Flooding Using a Reservoir-on-a-Chip.

Low-salinity water flooding, known as an environmentally friendly and efficient oil recovery technology, has attracted the attention of several researchers all over the world. However, its field application is suffering restrictions because of the ambiguous mechanisms of the oil recovery by controlling the salinity. In this study, a water flooding microfluidic experiment was conducted to investigate the pore-scale mechanism of enhanced sweep efficiency by low-salinity water flooding.

Surgery in initially metastatic breast cancer: prognosis is associated with patient characteristics and timing of surgery.

Purpose: The role of surgery in patients with initially metastatic breast cancer (IMBC) is unclear. The purpose of this study was to determine if surgery improves the prognosis of patients with IMBC.

Methods: Data of patients with IMBC at the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University from 2000 to 2014 were retrospectively analyzed.

A Pilot Study of Protein Microarray for Simultaneous Analysis of 274 Cytokines Between Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm and Normal Aorta.

Cytokines play an important role in the pathogenesis of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). We evaluated the cytokine expression profile of large AAA walls using a 274-cytokine protein array. We hypothesized that AAAs are characterized by an inflammatory, chemotactic cytokine profile.

PDE5 Overexpression in Well-Differentiated Thyroid Carcinomas Is Associated with Lymph Node Metastasis.

Overexpression of PDE5 is observed in certain human cancers, but PDE5 expression in well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma (WDTC) is unknown. We therefore examined PDE5 expression and its relationship with the clinicopathological features of WDTC. Real-time qPCR and Western blotting were performed to analyze the expression of PDE5 mRNA and protein in paired WDTC tumor and adjacent nontumor tissues.

Role of Brf1 interaction with ERα, and significance of its overexpression, in human breast cancer.

TFIIB-related factor 1 (Brf1) modulates the transcription of RNA Pol III genes (polymerase-dependent genes). Upregulation of Pol III genes enhances tRNA and 5S RNA production and increases the translational capacity of cells to promote cell transformation and tumor development. However, the significance of Brf1 overexpression in human breast cancer (HBC) remains to be investigated.

The value of endografts in the surgical management of arterial lesions secondary to Behçet disease.

Background: This study summarizes our experience in the surgical management of arterial lesions secondary to Behçet disease (BD) and assesses the value of endografts.

Methods: Data from BD patients with arterial lesions managed surgically in our center from January 1998 to December 2015 were studied retrospectively. Surgical procedures, graft selection, graft-related complications, and retreatments were analyzed.

[Hybrid treatment of aortic arch disease with ascending aorta to carotid artery revascularization and subsequent endovascular repair].

Objective: To summarize the experience of treating aortic arch disease with ascending aorta to carotid artery revascularization and subsequent endovascular repair.

Methods: From January 2002 to June 2013, 10 high risk patients with aortic arch disease were treated with ascending aorta to carotid artery revascularization with subsequent endovascular repair in the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University. There were 9 male and 1 female patients with a mean age of (54 ± 14) years (ranging from 34 to 71 years).

MCP-1 stimulates MMP-9 expression via ERK 1/2 and p38 MAPK signaling pathways in human aortic smooth muscle cells.

Objective: We investigated the molecular mechanism underlying the role of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in the formation and development of human abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA).

Methods: We examined protein expression profiles using a protein array and found that MCP-1 was the most highly expressed protein in AAA tissues compared with normal aortas. To investigate the potential mechanism of MCP-1 involvement in the pathogenesis of AAA, we treated human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMCs) with human recombinant MCP-1.

[Endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm: a clinical report of 81 cases].

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), and to compare the prognosis between patients of different ages.

Methods: The hospitalization and follow-up data of 81 AAA patients treated by EVAR from May 2005 to May 2011 were retrospectively analyzed. All the patients were divided into advanced age group (age ≥ 75 years, 24 cases) and relatively young group (age < 75 years, 57 cases).

Clinical analysis of vascular anomalies: a hospital-based retrospective study of 592 patients in southeast China.

Background: Vascular anomalies are common and multidisciplinary involved diseases. The greatest impediment to their treatment in the past was their confusing terminology and clinical heterogeneities. This hospital-based retrospective study assessed some clinical characteristics, diagnosis, therapies and outcomes of patients with vascular anomalies in southeast China.

Somatic mutations in exon 17 of the TEK gene in vascular tumors and vascular malformations.

Objective: As a common disease, the molecular etiology of noninherited vascular anomalies is still poorly understood. Recently, somatic mutations in exon 17 of the endothelial cell tyrosine kinase receptor Tie-2 (encoded by TEK) were identified in 49.1% of patients with common sporadic venous malformation, a subtype of vascular anomalies.

Preoperative angiography and transarterial embolization in the management of carotid body tumor: a single-center, 10-year experience.

Background: Sixty percent of paragangliomas are located unilaterally at the carotid bifurcation. These are referred to as carotid body tumors (CBTs).

Objective: To present our 10-year experience in the management of patients with CBTs, and to evaluate the efficacy of angiography and preoperative embolization technique in this retrospective study.

Tolerable hemodynamic changes after femoral artery ligation for the treatment of infected femoral artery pseudoaneurysm.

Background: We analyzed the hemodynamic changes induced by femoral artery ligation with concomitant thrombectomy in intravenous drug abusers with infected femoral artery pseudoaneurysm (IFAP) and their clinical significance.

Methods: Between January 2000 and November 2007, a total of 55 patients presented to our clinic with IFAP. Among these patients, 54 were treated by femoral artery ligation with concomitant thrombectomy.

[Experience of surgical treatment of carotid body tumor after preoperative embolization of feeding vessels].

Objective: To evaluate the effect of preoperative embolization of the feeding vessels of carotid body tumor in the treatment thereof.

Methods: 33 patients with carotid body tumors not less than 3 cm in diameter were examined by color Doppler ultrasound. Polyvinyl alcohol particle 250-1000 microm in diameter were suspended in meglumine diatrizoate or Ultravist and then injected via microcatheter into the feeding vessels until detainment or reflux was seen.

Endovascular treatment of arch and proximal thoracic aortic lesions.

Objective: To analyze at one institution the endovascular treatment for aortic arch and proximal thoracic aortic lesions, categorize open arch reconstruction, and make preliminary recommendations based on pathology (dissection vs aneurysm), and anatomical extent of disease.

Methods: A retrospective review of aortic arch and descending thoracic aortic lesions managed with endovascular treatment between June 2002 and June 2007.

Results: Thirty-four patients received endovascular repair for aortic dissection (n = 28) and aneurysm (n = 6).