Inhibition of the P53/P21 Pathway Attenuates the Effects of Senescent Nucleus Pulposus Cell-Derived Exosomes on the Senescence of Nucleus Pulposus Cells.

Objective: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of senescent nucleus pulposus cell (NPC)-derived exosomes (SNPC-Exo) and the roles of the P53/P21 pathway on the senescence of NPC.

Methods: The senescent phenotypes of NPC were induced by interleukin-1β treatment. SNPC-Exo was extracted from the culture medium of senescent NPC and purified by differential centrifugation.

Defective h-BN sheet embedded atomic metals as highly active and selective electrocatalysts for NH fabrication NO reduction.

NO electrochemical reduction (NOER) is a promising route for the removal of pollutant NO and the production of ammonia. In this work, by means of first-principles computations, we designed a series of single atom catalysts consisting of atomic transition metals anchored onto defective hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) with boron vacancies (TM@h-BN). Among all nine candidates, our results revealed that Cu@h-BN and Ni@h-BN showed excellent NOER performances with relatively low limiting potentials of 0.

Pharmacologically inhibiting phosphoglycerate kinase 1 for glioma with NG52.

Inhibition of glycolysis process has been an attractive approach for cancer treatment due to the evidence that tumor cells are more dependent on glycolysis rather than oxidative phosphorylation pathway. Preliminary evidence shows that inhibition of phosphoglycerate kinase 1 (PGK1) kinase activity would reverse the Warburg effect and make tumor cells lose the metabolic advantage for fueling the proliferation through restoration of the pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) activity and subsequently promotion of pyruvic acid to enter the Krebs cycle in glioma. However, due to the lack of small molecule inhibitors of PGK1 kinase activity to treat glioma, whether PGK1 could be a therapeutic target of glioma has not been pharmacologically verified yet.

Two new diterpenoids with their antiproliferative activities from the supercritical fluid extraction of root.

Supercritical fluid extraction was applied to obtain the lower polarity extracts from roots, and chemical investigation of which led to the isolation and identification of two new diterpenoids, named crassifolius P () and crassifolius Q (). anti-proliferative activities of compounds and on A549, Hep-G2 and Hela tumor cell lines were evaluated. The two new compounds exhibited obvious selectivity to tumor cells with IC values ranging from 20.

Theoretical Insights into the Electron Capture Behavior of H₂SO₄···N₂O Complex: A DFT and Molecular Dynamics Study.

Both sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) play a central role in the atmospheric chemistry in regulating the global environment and climate changes. In this study, the interaction behavior between H₂SO₄ and N₂O before and after electron capture has been explored using the density functional theory (DFT) method as well as molecular dynamics simulation. The intermolecular interactions have been characterized by atoms in molecules (AIM), natural bond orbital (NBO), and reduced density gradient (RDG) analyses, respectively.

Adding nickel formate in alkali lignin to increase contents of alkylphenols and aromatics during fast pyrolysis.

The composition of pyrolysis vapors obtained from alkali lignin pyrolysis with the additive of nickel formate was examined using the pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS). Characterization of bio-chars was performed using X-ray diffraction (XRD). Results showed that the nickel formate significantly increased liquid yield, simplified the types of alkali lignin pyrolysis products and increased individual component contents.

Ischemic preconditioning inhibits over-expression of arginyl-tRNA synthetase gene Rars in ischemia-injured neurons.

The expression changes of Rars gene in ischemia-injured neurons were investigated by detecting its translational product arginyl-tRNA synthetase (ArgRS), and the inhibitory effects of ischemic preconditioning (IPC) on Rars gene were explored. Both IPC model and prolonged ischemia (PI) model were established by using the classic oxygen glucose deprivation (OGD) method. The primary cultured neurons were assigned into the following groups: the experimental group (IPC+PI group), undergoing PI after a short period of IPC; the conditional control group (PI control group), subjected to PI without IPC; blank control group, the normally cultured neurons.

Does concomitant acromioplasty facilitate arthroscopic repair of full-thickness rotator cuff tears? A meta-analysis with trial sequential analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Purpose: To conduct a meta-analysis with randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published in full text to determine the benefits of concomitant acromioplasty in repairing full-thickness rotator cuff tears.

Methods: Literature search was performed in PubMed, Embase and the Cochrane Library from databases inception through February 2016 to identify RCTs evaluating the efficacy of performing a concomitant acromioplasty. Statistical heterogeneity among studies was quantitatively evaluated by I-squared index (I(2)) and trial sequential analysis (TSA) was applied to control random errors.

[Vacuum sealing drainage combined with discontinuous windowing technique for repairing large area exposed wound of Achilles tendon].

Objective: To explore clinical effect of vacuum sealing drainage (VSD) combined with discontinuous windowing technique for repairing large area exposed wounds of Achilles tendon.

Methods: From July 2009 to May 2014, 11 patients with large exposed wounds of Achilles tendon were treated, including 5 males and 6 females with an average age of 43 years old (aged from 7 to 65 years old). Among them, 4 cases were skin necrosis caused by heavy objects abrasion and contusion; 3 cases were caused by distal tibiofibula fractures; 3 cases were caused by bicycle-spoke injuries; 1 case was caused by diabetes.

V1 neurons respond to luminance changes faster than contrast changes.

Luminance and contrast are two major attributes of objects in the visual scene. Luminance and contrast information received by visual neurons are often updated simultaneously. We examined the temporal response properties of neurons in the primary visual cortex (V1) to stimuli whose luminance and contrast were simultaneously changed by 50 Hz.

Is patellar denervation necessary in total knee arthroplasty without patellar resurfacing?

Purpose: To conduct a meta-analysis with randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published in full text to determine the effectiveness of patellar denervation (PD) in primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

Methods: Literature search was performed in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and Cochrane Library for information from the earliest date of data collection to February 2015. RCTs comparing the benefits and risks of PD with those of no patellar denervation (NPD) in primary TKAs were included.

[Evaluation on effect of treatment and assistance to advanced schistosomiasis patients in Qianjiang City].

Objective: To evaluate the implementation and effect of the program of treatment and assistance to advanced schistosomiasis patients in Qianjiang City.

Methods: The data about the program from 2004 to 2012 were collected and analyzed, and the analysis of cost-effectiveness was performed. Meanwhile, 160 patients were sampled and surveyed about the recovery of their health.

Exercise-mode-related changes in task-switching performance in the elderly.

The objective of the current study was to explore the relationships between exercise modes and executive functions in the elderly. Twenty-one elderly individuals in the open-skill group, 22 in the closed-skill group, and 21 in the sedentary-behavior (control) group were recruited in the current study, and performed a task-switching paradigm during which the switches occurred unpredictably and infrequently, while the behavioral and electrophysiological performances were assessed simultaneously. The results indicated that although there were no group differences in accuracy rates, the two exercise groups exhibited shorter reaction times (RTs), and larger P2 and P3 amplitudes across all conditions compared to the control group.

Quality improvement of pyrolysis oil from waste rubber by adding sawdust.

This work was aimed at improving the pyrolysis oil quality of waste rubber by adding larch sawdust. Using a 1 kg/h stainless pyrolysis reactor, the contents of sawdust in rubber were gradually increased from 0%, 50%, 100% and 200% (wt%) during the pyrolysis process. Using a thermo-gravimetric (TG) analyzer coupled with Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis of evolving products (TG-FTIR), the weight loss characteristics of the heat under different mixtures of sawdust/rubber were observed.

[TG-fTIR study of the thermal-conversion properties of holo-cellulose derived from woody biomass].

Thermal-conversion properties of cellulose, hemi-cellulose and holo-cellulose derived from woody biomass were studied using TG-FTIR, and also compared to those of avicel cellulose and xylan. 3-D diffusion model was applied to calculate the kinetic parameters of thermal-conversion reaction of biomass materials, such as the activation energy, pre-exponential factors, etc, which showed good regression results. With the analysis of three-dimensional IR spectra of gas products, featured peaks of HzO, CO, CO2, CH4, and oxygenates were obviously observed where showing up with the maximum weight-loss rate in DTG curves.

Combining angioplasty with percutaneous microwave ablation for treating primary Budd-Chiari syndrome associated with hepatocellular carcinoma in two patients: A case report.

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty using balloon catheters for Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have become increasingly accepted as alternative therapeutic modalities. However, few studies have investigated the clinical efficacy of combining percutaneous microwave ablation with angioplasty for patients with BCS complicated by HCC. In the present study, a safe and effective method for treating BCS associated with HCC is presented.

Combined use of hydration and alprostadil for preventing contrast-induced nephropathy following percutaneous coronary intervention in elderly patients.

Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) is a complex syndrome of acute kidney injury that follows exposure to intravascular contrast media. Although a series of preventive measures have been developed, CIN remains a major challenge encountered in elderly patients by interventional cardiologists. No data are currently available concerning the potential effects of the combined use of hydration and alprostadil in the prevention of CIN following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in elderly patients.

Puerarin stimulates proliferation and differentiation and protects against cell death in human osteoblastic MG-63 cells via ER-dependent MEK/ERK and PI3K/Akt activation.

Puerarin, the main isoflavone glycoside found in the Chinese herb radix of Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi, has received increasing attention because of its possible role in the prevention of osteoporosis. Previously, we showed that puerarin could inhibit the bone absorption of osteoclasts and promote long bone growth in fetal mouse in vitro.

[Analysis of pyrolysis process and gas evolution rule of larch wood by TG-FTIR].

The weight-loss character and gas evolution rule of larch wood at different heating rates were investigated by TG-FTIR (thermogravimetric analyzer coupled to a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer), and the results were compared with those of larch wood model-component mixture. The main weight-loss area of larch wood was wider than larch wood model-component mixture, and the residual char yield of larch wood (18.97%) was lower than larch wood model-component mixture (29.

[Longitudinal observation on schistosomiasis control effect of human-cattle synchronous chemotherapy].

The annual reports of human-cattle synchronous chemotherapy from 1992 to 2008 were collected and analyzed, and its effect on schistosomiasis control was evaluated. The results showed that human and cattle infection rates decreased by 72.37% (chi2 = 9.

[Interventional treatment of idiopathic long-segment occlusion of infrahepatic inferior vena cava complicated with thrombosis].

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of interventional treatment of idiopathic long-segment occlusion of infrahepatic inferior vena cava (IVC) complicated with thrombosis.

Methods: Fourteen patients with idiopathic long-segment occlusion of infrahepatic IVC complicated with thrombosis underwent endovascular recanalization. All procedures were performed under local anesthesia via internal jugular vein in combination with a unilateral femoral approach.

2-Hydroxydiplopterol, a new cytotoxic pentacyclic triterpenoid from the halotolerant fungus Aspergillus variecolor B-17.

A new hopane type pentacyclic triterpenoid, 2-hydroxydiplopterol (1) has been isolated from the metabolites produced by the halotolerant fungal strain Aspergillus variecolor B-17. The structure of 1 was determined by spectroscopic methods and single crystal X-Ray diffraction analysis. 2-Hydroxydiplopterol (1) exhibited cytotoxicity against K562 cells with an IC50 value of 22 microM.

A UB3LYP and UMP2 theoretical investigation on unusual cation-pi interaction between the triplet state HB=BH (3 Sigma g-) and H+, Li +, Na +, Be 2+ or Mg 2+.

The nature of the unusual cation-pi interactions between cations (H(+), Li(+), Na(+), Be(2+) and Mg(2+)) and the electron-deficient B=B bond of the triplet state HB=BH (3 Sigma g-) was investigated using UMP2(full) and UB3LYP methods at 6-311++G(2df,2p) and aug-cc-pVTZ levels, accompanied by a comparison with 1:1 and 2:1 sigma-binding complexes between BH and the cations. The binding energies follow the order HB=BH..