Parasutterella, in association with irritable bowel syndrome and intestinal chronic inflammation.

Background And Aim: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a highly prevalent chronic functional gastrointestinal disorder. Recent studies have showed increasing important role of gut microbiota in the pathophysiological changes of IBS. Our study aims to elaborate the association between intestinal flora with the genesis and the development of IBS.

Molecular mechanisms of suppressor of fused in regulating the hedgehog signalling pathway.

Highly conserved throughout evolution, the hedgehog (Hh) signalling pathway has been demonstrated to be involved in embryonic development, stem cell maintenance and tissue homeostasis in animals ranging from invertebrates to vertebrates. In the human body, a variety of cancer types are associated with the aberrantly activated Hh signalling pathway. Multiple studies have revealed suppressor of fused (Sufu) as a key negative regulator of this signalling pathway.

G3BP1 promotes tumor progression and metastasis through IL-6/G3BP1/STAT3 signaling axis in renal cell carcinomas.

The chronic inflammatory microenvironment within or surrounding the primary renal cell carcinoma (RCC) site promotes oncogenic transformation as well as contributes to the development of metastasis. G3BP stress granule assembly factor 1 (G3BP1) was found to be involved in the regulation of multiple cellular functions. However, its functions in RCC have not been previously explored.

Serum fibrinogen predicts diabetic ESRD in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Aims: Although increased serum fibrinogen level was often observed in patients with diabetic nephropathy (DN), its association with DN severity and progression remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the serum fibrinogen levels and clinicopathological features and renal prognosis in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and DN.

Methods: A total of 174 patients with T2DM and biopsy-proven DN were enrolled.

Thyroid hormones and diabetic nephropathy: An essential relationship to recognize.

Aims: Although abnormal thyroid hormone metabolism is common in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and diabetic nephropathy (DN), the relationship between thyroid hormones and DN is unclear and has been ignored during clinical practice. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between thyroid hormones and clinicopathologic changes in biopsy-proven DN patients.

Methods: Clinical and pathological data for 146 biopsy-proven DN patients were collected.

Affiliate stigma and depression in caregivers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders in China: Effects of self-esteem, shame and family functioning.

The present study aimed to investigate affiliate stigma and depression in caregivers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) in China and to examine the predictive effects of self-esteem, shame proneness and family functioning. Two hundred and sixty-three primary caregivers of children with autism in Mainland China participated in the survey. The results suggested that affiliate stigma in caregivers of children with autism was prevalent and severe; their depressive symptoms were significantly more severe than the national norm of the similar age group.

Diabetic retinopathy may predict the renal outcomes of patients with diabetic nephropathy.

Background: The patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and diabetic retinopathy (DR) are prone to develop diabetic nephropathy (DN). In this study, we aimed to clarify the relationship between DR and the progression of DN in patients with T2DM.

Methods: In the cross-section study, 250 patients with T2DM and biopsy-proven DN were divided into two groups: 130 in the DN without DR group (DN group) and 120 in the DN + DR group.

The relationship between the thickness of glomerular basement membrane and renal outcomes in patients with diabetic nephropathy.

Aims: Glomerular basement membrane (GBM) thickening is considered as one of the earliest detectable pathological features of diabetic nephropathy (DN). However, whether the thickness of GBM will impact the prognosis of DN remains largely unknown. Our aim was to explore the relationship between thickness of GBM and DN progression in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Binding determinants in the interplay between porcine aminopeptidase N and enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli F4 fimbriae.

The binding of F4 enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) and the specific receptor on porcine intestinal epithelial cells is the initial step in F4 ETEC infection. Porcine aminopeptidase N (APN) is a newly discovered receptor for F4 fimbriae that binds directly to FaeG adhesin, which is the major subunit of the F4 fimbriae variants F4ab, F4ac, and F4ad. We used overlapping peptide assays to map the APN-FaeG binding sites, which has facilitated in the identifying the APN-binding amino acids that are located in the same region of FaeG variants, thereby limiting the major binding regions of APN to 13 peptides.

Boronic acid functionalized g-CN nanosheets for ultrasensitive and selective sensing of glycoprotein in the physiological environment.

As important biomarkers, glycoprotein sensing is frequently facilitated by boronic acid binding with its cis-diols. However, boronic acid based sensors suffer from drawbacks of alkali restriction and/or sensitivity limitation. Herein, we report boronic acid decorated g-CN nanosheets (B-g-CN) with a Wulff-type boronic acid feature, which selectively bind glycoprotein under physiological conditions.

Partial rescue of F508del-cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator channel gating with modest improvement of protein processing, but not stability, by a dual-acting small molecule.

Background And Purpose: Rescue of F508del-cystic fibrosis (CF) transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), the most common CF mutation, requires small molecules that overcome protein processing, stability and channel gating defects. Here, we investigate F508del-CFTR rescue by CFFT-004, a small molecule designed to independently correct protein processing and channel gating defects.

Experimental Approach: Using CFTR-expressing recombinant cells and CF patient-derived bronchial epithelial cells, we studied CFTR expression by Western blotting and channel gating and stability with the patch-clamp and Ussing chamber techniques.

Tumor-penetrating Peptide Conjugated and Doxorubicin Loaded T-T Dual Mode MRI Contrast Agents Nanoparticles for Tumor Theranostics.

The conventional chemotherapeutics could not be traced in vivo and provide timely feedback on the clinical effectiveness of drugs. In this study, a tumor-penetrating peptide RGERPPR (RGE) modified, Gd-DTPA conjugated, and doxorubicin (DOX) loaded FeO@SiO@mSiO nanoparticle drug delivery system (FeO@SiO@mSiO/DOX-(Gd-DTPA)-PEG-RGE NPs) was prepared for tumor theranostics. The FeO@SiO@mSiO/DOX-(Gd-DTPA)-PEG-RGE NPs showed a z-average hydrodynamic diameter of about 90 nm, and a pH-sensitive DOX release profile.

CD4 + T cells promote renal cell carcinoma proliferation via modulating YBX1.

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a common urologic tumor and the third leading cause of death among urological tumors. Recent studies demonstrate that RCC tumors are more heavily infiltrated by lymphocytes than other cancers. However, the exact roles played by CD4 + T cells in RCC proliferation remain unknown.

Proteomic response of the rat liver in differential swimming modes.

Moderate exercise helps improve competition results, providing a balanced muscle tone and biochemical activity, whereas excessive training disrupts the balance between training and recovery, causes harm to the organism, and leads to overtraining syndrome (OTS). To explore the mechanisms of different protein expressions during training and acquisition of immunity, we used proteomic analyses to investigate the differences of liver-protein expressions between 2 swimming modes. Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into control (CT), fatigue training (FT), and exhaustive training (ET) groups, and liver tissues from each group were subjected to 2-dimensional electrophoresis (2DE).

Core-Corona Magnetic Nanospheres Functionalized with Zwitterionic Polymer Ionic Liquid for Highly Selective Isolation of Glycoprotein.

A novel zwitterionic polymer ionic liquid functionalized magnetic nanospheres, shortly as FeO@PCL-PILs, is synthesized by grafting ionic liquid VimCOOHBr onto polymer ε-caprolactone (PCL) modified magnetic nanospheres via esterification and surface-initiated free radical polymerization. This established synthesis strategy offers the obtained magnetic nanospheres with well-defined core-corona structure, compact grafting layer, favorable zwitterionic and negative-charged surface, and high magnetic susceptibility. The as-prepared FeO@PCL-PILs nanospheres exhibit typical "zwitterionic hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (ZIC-HILIC)" behaviors toward protein binding, and selectively adsorption of glycoprotein is achieved.

Atg9 antagonizes TOR signaling to regulate intestinal cell growth and epithelial homeostasis in .

Autophagy is essential for maintaining cellular homeostasis and survival under various stress conditions. Autophagy-related gene 9 (Atg9) encodes a multipass transmembrane protein thought to act as a membrane carrier for forming autophagosomes. However, the molecular regulation and physiological importance of Atg9 in animal development remain largely unclear.

Screening arsenic(III)-binding peptide for colorimetric detection of arsenic(III) based on the peptide induced aggregation of gold nanoparticles.

A suitable As(III)-binding ligand is the key to realize selective and sensitive As(III) sensing. In this study, phage display technique was used for the screening of As(III)-binding peptide. By negative screening against some representative metal cations and positive screening against target As(III), phages that bind to foreign metal cations were eliminated, while those bearing As(III)-binding peptides were kept and enriched.

Women's rights in democratic transitions: A global sequence analysis, 1900-2012.

What determines countries' successful transition to democracy? This article explores the impact of granting civil rights in authoritarian regimes and especially the gendered aspect of this process. It argues that both men's and women's liberal rights are essential conditions for democratisation to take place: providing both women and men rights reduces an inequality that affects half of the population, thus increasing the costs of repression and enabling the formation of women's organising - historically important to spark protests in initial phases of democratisation. This argument is tested empirically using data that cover 173 countries over the years 1900-2012 and contain more nuanced measures than commonly used.

Implication of decreased serum complement 3 in patients with diabetic nephropathy.

Aims: The serum complement 3 (C3) level was reduced in many patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and diabetic nephropathy (DN). However, the clinical implications of such change are still less understood. This study was aimed to explore the association between C3 level and the baseline clinicopathological characteristics and the prognosis of T2DM patients with DN.

Comprehensive risk assessment and source identification of selected heavy metals (Cu, Cd, Pb, Zn, Hg, As) in tidal saltmarsh sediments of Shuangtai Estuary, China.

Heavy metals do not degrade and can remain in the environment for a long time. In this study, we analyzed the effects of Cu, Cd, Pb, Zn, Hg, and As, on environmental quality, pollutant enrichment, ecological hazard, and source identification of elements in sediments using data collected from samples taken from Shuangtai tidal wetland. The comprehensive pollution indices were used to assess environmental quality; fuzzy similarity analysis and geoaccumulation index were used to analyze pollution accumulation; correlation matrix, principal component analysis, and clustering analysis were used to analyze pollution source; environmental risk index and ecological risk index were used to assess ecological risk.

Self-Assembled Tumor-Penetrating Peptide-Modified Poly(l-γ-glutamylglutamine)-Paclitaxel Nanoparticles Based on Hydrophobic Interaction for the Treatment of Glioblastoma.

To enhance the tumor-penetrating ability and targeting therapeutic effect of polymer-drug conjugates (PDCs), tumor-penetrating peptide RGERPPR (RGE) modified and PEGylated poly(l-γ-glutamylglutamine)-paclitaxel (PGG-PTX) nanoparticles (RGE-PEG/PGG-PTX NPs) were prepared by using a so-called "modular" design strategy. In brief, a RGERPPR-conjugated targeting material, DSPE-PEG-RGERPPR, was first synthesized and assembled with PGG-PTX into RGE-PEG/PGG-PTX NPs based on the hydrophobic interaction between the groups of 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (DSPE) and PTX. The NPs exhibited a uniform spherical morphology with particle size of around 90 nm, as shown by the dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy results.

Rhythmic chaos: irregularities of computer ECG diagnosis.

Diagnostic errors can occur when physicians rely solely on computer electrocardiogram interpretation. Cardiologists often receive referrals for computer misdiagnoses of atrial fibrillation. Patients may have been inappropriately anticoagulated for pseudo atrial fibrillation.

MicroRNA-326-3p ameliorates high glucose and ox-LDL-IC- induced fibrotic injury in renal mesangial cells by targeting FcγRIII.

Aim: The aim of the present study was to identify the regulatory relationship between miR-326-3p and FcγRIII, and to explore the involvement of miR-326-3p/FcγRIII/TGF-β/Smad signalling pathway in fibrotic injury, which was induced by the high glucose (HG) and oxidized low density lipoprotein immune complex (ox-LDL-IC) in mouse glomerular mesangial cells (GMCs).

Methods: Dual-luciferase reporter system and real time PCR (RT-PCR) were used to identify FcγRIII as a target gene of miR-326-3p. Lentiviral transduction was used to construct different expression of miR-326-3p in GMCs, which were divided into three groups: miR-326-3p mimics group (miR-326-3p group), miR-326-3p inhibitor group (miR-326-3p-inhibit group) and scramble control group (control group).

Synthesis and biological evaluation of an anticancer drug delivery system: Poly(l-γ-glutamyl-l-carbocisteine)-paclitaxel nanoconjugate.

This study is intended to develop and evaluate a novel, highly water-soluble polymer drug conjugate poly(l-γ-glutamyl-l-carbocisteine)-paclitaxel (PGSC-PTX) which can trigger drug release in tumor acidic microenvironment and improve the therapeutic index of paclitaxel (PTX). PGSC-PTX is formed by introducing an additional carbocisteine into each glutamic side chain of poly(l-glutamic acid)-paclitaxel (PGA-PTX) conjugate. PGSC-PTX self-assembles into nanoparticles, whose size remains in the range of 15-20nm.

Erythrocyte Membrane-Wrapped pH Sensitive Polymeric Nanoparticles for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Therapy.

The application of nano drug delivery systems (NDDSs) may enhance the effectiveness of chemotherapeutic drugs in vivo. However, the short blood circulation time and poor drug release profile in vivo are still two problems with them. Herein, by using red blood cell membrane (RBCm) wrapping and pH sensitive technology, we prepared RBCm wrapped pH sensitive poly(l-γ-glutamylcarbocistein)-paclitaxel (PGSC-PTX) nanoparticles (PGSC-PTX@RBCm NPs), to prolong the circulation time in blood and release PTX timely and adequately in acidic tumor environment.