New considerations on the phylogeny of Sessilida (Protista: Ciliophora: Peritrichia) based on multiple-gene information, with emphasis on colonial taxa.

The subclass Peritrichia, containing two orders Sessilida and Mobilida, is a major group of ciliates with worldwide distribution and high species diversity. Several studies have investigated the phylogeny of peritrichs; however, the evolutionary relationships and classification of some families and genera within the Sessilida remain unclear. In the present study, we isolated and identified 22 peritrich populations representing four families and six genera and obtained 64 rDNA sequences to perform phylogenetic analyses and assess their systematic relationships.

Application of Multiparameter Quantitative Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Evaluation of Graves' Ophthalmopathy.

Background: Assessment of the activity of Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO) is difficult. Existing methods need improvement.

Purpose: Investigate the application of multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in GO.

Improving the uptake of PAHs by the ornamental plant Sedum spectabile using nano-SiO and nano-CeO.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) pollution is a global ecological soil problem. Screening and establishing an efficient phytoremediation system would be beneficial for alleviating this problem. The ornamental plant Sedum spectabile was selected as the remediation plant to study the removal efficiencies of PAHs after adding different concentrations of nano-SiO, nano-CeO, and traditional Na-montmorillonite (Na-MMT).

Cellular vimentin promotes the nuclear transport of the HBoV1 structural protein VP1u.

Human bocavirus 1 (HBoV1) is an important pathogen causing lower respiratory tract infection. The VP1 unique region (VP1u), consisting of 129 amino acids at the N-terminus of the HBoV1 structural protein VP1, is an important component of virus infection. Bioinformatics analysis predicted that HBoV1 VP1u exhibits two bipartite nuclear localization signals (NLS) and contains four basic regions (BRs).

Recombinant Family 1 Carbohydrate-Binding Modules Derived From Fungal Cellulase Enhance Enzymatic Degradation of Lignocellulose as Novel Effective Accessory Protein.

Fungal cellulases usually contain a family 1 carbohydrate-binding module (CBM1), and its role was considered to recognize the substrate specifically. This study testified that the CBM1s derived from cellobiohydrolase I of , and could be used as an effective accessory protein in cellulase cocktails to enhance the saccharification of lignocellulose, and its enhancement effect was significantly superior to some reported accessory proteins, such as bovine serum albumin (BSA). The promoting effects of the CBM1s were related to not only the CBM1 sources and protein dosages, but also the substrate characteristics and solid consistency during enzymatic hydrolysis.

Pretreatment Affects Profits From Xylanase During Enzymatic Saccharification of Corn Stover Through Changing the Interaction Between Lignin and Xylanase Protein.

Effective pretreatment is vital to improve the biomass conversion efficiency, which often requires the addition of xylanase as an accessory enzyme to enhance enzymatic saccharification of corn stover. In this study, we investigated the effect of two sophisticated pretreatment methods including ammonium sulfite (AS) and steam explosion (SE) on the xylanase profits involved in enzymatic hydrolysis of corn stover. We further explored the interactions between lignin and xylanase Xyn10A protein.

Application of comprehensive u nit-based safety program model in the inter-hospital transfer of patients with critical diseases: a retrospective controlled study.

Background: To explore the effect of applying a comprehensive unit-based safety program (CUSP) in the intrahospital transfer of patients with critical diseases.

Methods: A total of 426 critically ill patients in the first affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University from August 2018 to February 2019 were divided into two groups according to the time of admission. Overall, 202 patients in the control group were treated with the routine transfer method, and 224 patients in the observational group were treated with the transfer method based on the CUSP model.

SPTBN1 Prevents Primary Osteoporosis by Modulating Osteoblasts Proliferation and Differentiation and Blood Vessels Formation in Bone.

Osteoporosis is a common systemic skeletal disorder that leads to increased bone fragility and increased risk of fracture. Although βII-Spectrin (SPTBN1) has been reported to be involved in the development of various human cancers, the function and underlying molecular mechanisms of SPTBN1 in primary osteoporosis remain unclear. In this study, we first established a primary osteoporosis mouse model of senile osteoporosis and postmenopausal osteoporosis.

A simple and green synthesis of carbon quantum dots from coke for white light-emitting devices.

Coke is a by-product of coal. This paper reports a simple and green chemical oxidation method for carbon quantum dots (CQDs) from coke for use in novel applications. The CQDs emit blue fluorescence and have a fluorescence quantum yield of 9.

[Establishment of stable cell line expressing human bocavirus type 1 non-structural protein NS1 and its trans-transcriptional activation].

Human bocavirus 1 (HBoV1) non-structural protein NS1 is a multifunctional protein important for virus replication and induction of apoptosis in host cell. To better understand the function of the NS1 protein, it is urgent to address reducing the toxicity of NS1 to host cells. In the present study, we established a stable cell line that regulates expression of NS1 of HBoV1.

Nonstructural Protein NP1 of Human Bocavirus 1 suppresses the growth of A549 cell by promoting autophagy.

Human bocavirus 1 (HBoV1) refers to a human parvovirus causing acute respiratory tract infection in children. Bocaviruses encode an NP1 protein, which has 47% amino acid homology with NP1 of Minute Virus of Canines (MVC) and Bovine Parvovirus (BPV), but not with any protein of other parvoviruses. NP1 was found to induce apoptosis in Hela cells, which does not depend on viral replication and other protein expression.

FoxL2 combined with Cyp19a1a regulate the spawning upstream migration in Coilia nasus.

FoxL2 is a member of the forkhead/HNF-3-related family of transcription factors which provides tissue specific gene regulation. It is known to regulate ovarian aromatase, which plays a crucial role in ovarian development and mature. To understand the role of FoxL2/ovarian aromatase encoded gene Cyp19a1a during ovarian development and recrudescence, we identified cDNA characteristics of FoxL2 and Cyp19a1a, analyzed its temporal expression both at transcript and protein levels in the anadromous fish, Coilia nasus.

Molecular cloning and characteristics of DnaJa1and DnaJb1 in Coilia nasus: possible function involved in oogenesis during spawning migration.

Background: Coilia nasus oogenesis/spawning migration is a well-defined synchronous arrangement process. DnaJs are indispensable molecular chaperones for oogenesis process. However, how DnaJs involved the anadromous spawning migration mechanism is outstanding and plausible.

Systemic inflammatory response syndrome in Sepsis-3: a retrospective study.

Background: In the new Sepsis-3 definition, sepsis is defined as "life-threatening organ dysfunction due to a dysregulated host response to infection." We tested the predictive validity of the systematic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) criteria in patients in the Sepsis-3 cohort.

Methods: Among 1243 electronic health records from 1 January to 31 December 2015 at Sichuan University West China Hospital, we identified patients with sepsis and septic shock according to the Sepsis-3 definition and divided them into 2 subsets: SIRS-positive and SIRS-negative.

Dual monoclonal antibody-based sandwich ELISA for detection of in vitro packaged Ebola virus.

Background: Rapid transmission and high mortality of Ebola virus disease (EVD) highlight a urgent need of large scale, convenient and effective measure for Ebola virus screening. Application of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are crucial for establishment of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with high sensitivity and specificity.

Methods: The traditional cell fusion technique was used to generate a panel of hybridomas.

Binding and hydrolysis properties of engineered cellobiohydrolases and endoglucanases.

Because cellulase was the main enzyme used in bioconversion of lignocellulose, it was a valid way to reduce the hydrolysis cost by increasing the adsorption and hydrolysis efficiency of cellulase. In this study, modified cellobiohydrolases (CBHs) and endoglucanases (EGs) were constructed. Two engineered cellulases CBH-TrCBM and EG-TrCBM well-performed during hydrolysis.

The adsorption properties of endoglucanase to lignin and their impact on hydrolysis.

Nonproductive adsorption of cellulase to lignin dramatically influenced the hydrolysis efficiency of lignocellulose. By comparing the adsorption behaviors of CBH and EG, we found that the adsorption of EG to lignin showed lower adsorption velocity and capacity versus CBH. During the adsorption of EG to lignin, carbohydrate binding domain (CBM) and catalytic domain (CD) both played an important role by a two-step adsorption process, in which CD slowly bond on lignin and developed stronger interaction with lignin.

Gastrointestinal safety of etoricoxib in osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis: A meta-analysis.

Objective: To ascertain if etoricoxib increases the risk of gastrointestinal adverse events (GAEs) compared with placebo, diclofenac, and naproxen in the treatment of patients with osteoarthritis (OA) or rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: Studies were searched in MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials from inception to August 2017. Randomized Clinical Trials (RCTs) that compared etoricoxib with placebo and other active drug for patients with OA or RA and reported data on gastrointestinal safety (which is of interest to patients and clinicians) were included.

Hyperechogenicity of the Substantia Nigra in Parkinson's Disease: Insights from Two Brothers with Markedly Different Disease Durations.

We present clinical features and substantia nigra morphology for two brothers with Parkinson's disease (PD) aged 60 and 59 years. The brothers were diagnosed at 41 and 50 years of age, respectively. Both patients exhibited an abnormally large area of substantia nigra echogenicity bilaterally when viewed with transcranial ultrasound.

Photoluminescent carbon quantum dots as a directly film-forming phosphor towards white LEDs.

Photoluminescent organosilane-functionalized carbon quantum dots (CQDs), 3.0-3.5 nm in diameter, were synthesized via a facile hydrothermal method using citric acid monohydrate as a precursor and N-(3-(trimethoxysilyl) propyl) ethylenediamine as a coordinating and passivation agent.

Fluorescent probes for "off-on" highly sensitive detection of Hg²⁺ and L-cysteine based on nitrogen-doped carbon dots.

Fluorescent nitrogen-doped carbon dots (NCDs) were synthesized by a facile, and low-cost one-step hydrothermal strategy using citric acid as carbon source and ammonia solution as nitrogen source for the first time. The obtained NCDs show stable blue fluorescence with a high quantum yield of 35.4%, along with the fluorescence lifetime of ca.

Transcription Factor Sp1 Promotes the Expression of Porcine ROCK1 Gene.

Rho-associated, coiled-coil containing protein kinase 1 (ROCK1) gene plays a crucial role in maintaining genomic stability, tumorigenesis and myogenesis. However, little is known about the regulatory elements governing the transcription of porcine ROCK1 gene. In the current study, the transcription start site (TSS) was identified by 5'-RACE, and was found to differ from the predicted one.