Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Analysis of the Xyloglucan Endotransglucosylase/Hydrolase Gene Family in Sweet Potato [ (L.) Lam].

The xyloglucan endotransglucosylase/hydrolase (XET/XEH, also named XTH) family is a multigene family, the function of which plays a significant role in cell-wall rebuilding and stress tolerance in plants. However, the specific traits of the gene family members and their expression pattern in different tissues and under stress have not been carried out in sweet potato. Thirty-six XTH genes were identified in all of which had conserved structures (Glyco_hydro_16).

Super-Selective Partial Splenic Embolization for Hereditary Spherocytosis in Children: A Single-Center Retrospective Study.

Background: Hereditary spherocytosis (HS) is the most common hemolytic anemia due to erythrocyte membrane defects. Total splenectomy is the most effective treatment for moderate or severe HS. As a conservative alternative, partial splenic embolization (PSE) can preserve part of the spleen's function, thus reducing the risk of overwhelming post-splenectomy infection (OPSI) or sepsis, especially for pediatric patients.

MicroRNA-223-3p Protect Against Radiation-Induced Cardiac Toxicity by Alleviating Myocardial Oxidative Stress and Programmed Cell Death Targeting the AMPK Pathway.

Radiotherapy improves the survival rate of cancer patients, yet it also involves some inevitable complications. Radiation-induced heart disease (RIHD) is one of the most serious complications, especially the radiotherapy of thoracic tumors, which is characterized by cardiac oxidative stress disorder and programmed cell death. At present, there is no effective treatment strategy for RIHD; in addition, it cannot be reversed when it progresses.

Anatomical Evaluation of Spinal Nerve and Cervical Intervertebral Foramina in Anterior Controllable Antedisplacement and Fusion Surgery: A Cadaveric and Radiologic Study.

Objective: To achieve the anatomical evaluation of spinal nerve and cervical intervertebral foramina in anterior controllable antedisplacement and fusion (ACAF) surgery, a novel surgical technique with the wider decompression, through a cadaveric and radiologic study.

Methods: Radiographic data of consecutive 47 patients (21 by ACAF and 26 by anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion [ACCF]) who have accepted surgery for treatment of cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament(OPLL) and stenosis from March 2017 to March 2018 were retrospectively reviewed and compared between an ACAF group and ACCF group. Three postoperative radiographic parameters were evaluated: the decompression width and the satisfaction rate of decompression at the entrance zone of intervertebral foramina on computed tomography (CT), and the transverse diameter of spinal cord in the decompression levels on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Improvement of Oral Bioavailability and Anti-Tumor Effect of Zingerone Self-Microemulsion Drug Delivery System.

This study sought to prepare a self-microemulsion drug delivery system containing zingerone (Z-SMEDDS) to improve the low oral bioavailability of zingerone and anti-tumor effect. Z-SMEDDS was characterized by particle size, zeta potential and encapsulation efficiency, while its pharmacokinetics and anti-tumor effects were also evaluated. Z-SMEDDS had stable physicochemical properties, including average particle size of 17.

Consensus statement on diagnosis and treatment of cervical ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament from Asia Pacific Spine Society (APSS) 2020.

Purpose: The study aimed to develop an evidence-based expert consensus statement on diagnosis and treatment of cervical ossification posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL).

Method: Delphi method was used to perform such survey, and the panel members from Asia Pacific Spine Society (APSS) 2020 were invited to answer the open-ended questions in rounds 1 and 2. Then the results were summarized and developed into a Likert-style questionnaire for voting in round 3, and the level of agreement was defined as 80%.

Snake-Eye Screwing: A Novel Free-Hand Technique of Pedicle Screw Placement in Cervicothoracic Spine and Preliminary Clinical Results.

Objective: To propose a novel technique of free-hand pedicle screw placement in cervicothoracic spine (snake-eye method) and evaluate the preliminary effects and safety in clinical practice.

Methods: This is a retrospective study and we defined the period of this study as from December 2017 to April 2019 in our institution. Forty patients were included in this study who underwent cervicothoracic internal fixation in our hospital, and all patients undergoing implantation of 200 pedicle screws were divided into two groups.

Enhancement of oral bioavailability and hypoglycemic activity of liquiritin-loaded precursor liposome.

The purpose of this study was to develop a precursor liposome nano-delivery system for liquiritin (LT) to improve its solubility, oral bioavailability, and efficacy. The characterizations of the particle diameter, zeta potential, polydispersity index (PDI), droplet morphology, drug release in vitro, and oral bioavailability of the prepared LT precursor liposomes (LTMs) were carried out. In addition, streptozotocin intraperitoneal injection successfully induced diabetic mouse model, while the LT hypoglycemic effect, oral glucose tolerance, biochemical parameters and pathological sections were studied.

Template-based modeling and ab-initio docking using CoDock in CAPRI.

Integration of template-based modeling, global sampling and precise scoring is crucial for the development of molecular docking programs with improved accuracy. We combined template-based modeling and ab-initio docking protocol as hybrid docking strategy called CoDock for the docking and scoring experiments of the seventh CAPRI edition. For CAPRI rounds 38-45, we obtained acceptable or better models in the top 10 submissions for eight out of the 16 evaluated targets as predictors, nine out of the 16 targets as scorers.

A multivariable model of BRAF and ultrasonographic features for predicting the risk of central lymph node metastasis in cN0 papillary thyroid microcarcinoma.

Prophylactic central lymph node dissection (CLND) in papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) patients without clinical evidence of central lymph node metastasis (CLNM) remains controversial. The purpose of our study is to identify preoperative predictive factors for finding CLNM in Chinese PTMC patients, which may allow tailored CLND. We retrospectively reviewed 182 consecutive Chinese PMTC patients with negative central lymph nodes who underwent total thyroidectomy plus central neck dissection from October 2015 to December 2017.

Risk assessment of vertebral artery injury in anterior controllable antedisplacement and fusion (ACAF) surgery: a cadaveric and radiologic study.

Purpose: We have introduced a novel surgery technique named anterior controllable antedisplacement and fusion (ACAF) for the treatment of ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament. As reported, the satisfactory postoperative outcome can be attributed to the larger decompression width. However, it may associate with high prevalence of vertebral artery injury (VAI) theoretically.

Exosomes derived from liver cancer cells reprogram biological behaviors of LO2 cells by transferring Linc-ROR.

Objective: Exosomes have been described as a messenger between cells' communication and contain various information (lipids, proteins, mRNAs, microRNAs, LncRNAs). It has been proved that Linc-ROR was enriched in exosomes released by HepG2 cells. Our aim was to investigate whether exosomes released by HepG2 cells could affect the biological behaviors of LO2 cells and whether Linc-ROR played an important role in this process.

[6]-Shogaol/β-CDs inclusion complex: preparation, characterisation, pharmacokinetics, and intestinal perfusion study.

The aim was to improve the absorption and bioavailability of [6]-shogaol with β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) prior to and evaluation. [6]-Shogaol/β-CDs inclusion complexes (6-S-β-CDs) were developed using saturated aqueous solution method and characterised with appropriate techniques. The absorption and bioavailability potential of [6]-shogaol was evaluated via pharmacokinetics and intestinal perfusion.

Virtual Screening Based on Ensemble Docking Targeting Wild-Type p53 for Anticancer Drug Discovery.

The tumor-suppressor function of p53 makes it an attractive drug target. Efforts were mostly put on stabilization of the functional p53 or reactivation of mutated p53. Previous studies have shown that small molecules targeting Loop1/Sheet3 (L1/S3) can reactivate the R175H-p53 and stabilize p53 in vitro.

Immune checkpoint modulators in cancer immunotherapy: Recent advances and combination rationales.

As a new hallmark of cancer, immune surveillance evading plays a critical role in carcinogenesis. Through modulating the immune checkpoints, immune cells in tumor microenvironment can be harnessed to battle cancer cells. In recent years, the administration of anti-CTLA or/and anti-PD-1/L1 antibody has exhibited unexpected antitumor effect in multiple types of cancer, motivating the researchers to find more potential immune checkpoints as clinical targets.

[Application of affinity chromatography and its mathematical model in study of active components of traditional Chinese medicine].

Affinity chromatography is characterized by its high specificity,high recovery rate and sensitivity,and it has been widely used in the selection of active ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine,separation and enrichment of low molecular weight sugars and protein peptides,research on mechanism of action and discovery of targets.This paper reviewed the application of affinity chromatography and its adsorption isotherm model,kinetic model and adsorption thermodynamic mechanism in the field of traditional Chinese medicine.This summarizes and provides thinking for comprehensive applications of affinity chromatography theory in the field of active ingredient screening,purification and medicine interaction.

Theory of Bowstring Disease: Diagnosis and Treatment Bowstring Disease.

Bowstring disease (BSD) is a new classification of spine disease caused by axial stretched lesion on nerve roots and the spinal cord, which is differentiated from disc herniation and canal stenosis in that it is caused by nerve compression lesions. BSD could be caused by mismatched growth rates between the spine and nerve roots (the juvenile type), or by imbalanced degenerative rates between the spine column and nerve roots (degenerative type). Here, we propose that there are several self-adjust mechanisms to relieve axial nerve tension: (i) nerve growth; (ii) posture adjustment and low back pain; (iii) autogenous degeneration of intervertebral disc; and (iv) idiopathic and degenerative scoliosis.

Preparation and evaluation of isoliquiritigenin-loaded F127/P123 polymeric micelles.

Isoliquiritigenin (ISL) possesses a variety of pharmacological activities amid poor solubility in water which has restricted its clinical application. In this study, isoliquiritigenin-loaded F127/P123 polymeric micelles (ISL-FPM) were successfully prepared and evaluated and . The particle size, polydispersity index, and zeta potential of the selected formulation were 20.

Computer-assisted virtual operation planning in anterior controllable anterior-displacement and fusion surgery for ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament based on actual computed tomography data.

Objectives: To investigate the effect of computer-assisted virtual operation planning (CAVOP) on anterior controllable anterior-displacement and fusion (ACAF) surgery for ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL).

Patients And Methods: A total of 25 patients with OPLL were enrolled in the study from September 2017 to December 2017. Preoperative Computed tomography (CT) scanning data were input into Mimics software to reconstruct three-dimensional (3D) models of actual cervical OPLL.

ACVR1-knockout promotes osteogenic differentiation by activating the Wnt signaling pathway in mice.

Osteogenic differentiation refers to the process of bone formation and remodeling, which is controlled by complex molecular mechanisms. Activin A receptor type I (ACVR1) is reported to be associated with osteogenic differentiation. However, the underlying molecular mechanism remains elusive.

T cell dysfunction in chronic hepatitis B infection and liver cancer: evidence from transcriptome analysis.

Background: T cell dysfunction occurs in many diseases, especially in chronic virus infection and cancers. However, up to now, little is known on the distinctions in T cell exhaustion between cancer and chronic virus infection. The objective of this study is to explore the transcriptional similarities and differences in exhausted CD8 +T cell between chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).