ROS-responsive fluorinated polycations as non-viral gene vectors.

Polycation carriers hold great potential in gene therapy. However, they usually suffer from obvious cytotoxicity and unsatisfactory transfection efficiency. In this report, a series of fluorobenzene substituted and thioacetal contained polycations (TAEA-S-xF) were prepared to explore novel alternatives for safe and efficient non-viral polymeric gene vectors.

Post-imparting Brønsted acidity into an amino-functionalized MOF as a bifunctional luminescent turn-ON sensor for the detection of aluminum ions and lysine.

A novel aldehyde- and amino-functionalized luminescent metal-organic framework, Cd-TCHO, was constructed through the solvothermal reaction of 4,4',4''-tricarboxytriphenylamine, 2-amino-3-pyridinecarboxaldehyde and cadmium nitrate and was characterized. Post-synthetically oxidizing the aldehyde groups into carboxylate groups afforded a new complex, Cd-TCOOH, and this successful conversion process was confirmed by FT-IR and H NMR studies. With the Brønsted acidic sites inside the cavities of Cd-TCOOH, it could be used as a luminescent sensor for Al detection with a high selectivity and sensitivity (LOD = 0.

An AIE-Based Probe for Rapid and Ultrasensitive Imaging of Plasma Membranes in Biosystems.

The abnormality of the plasma membrane (PM) is an important biomarker for cell status and many diseases. Hence, visualizing the PM, especially in complex systems, is an emerging field in the life sciences, especially in low-resource settings. Herein, we developed a water-soluble PM-specific probe utilizing electrostatic and hydrophobic interaction strategies with aggregation-induced emission as the signal output.

Outcome of varicocelectomy on different degrees of total motile sperm count: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

It is crucial to identify the subfertile men with varicocele who will benefit the most from varicocelectomy, and the factors which help in predicting the response to varicocelectomy. We aimed to evaluate the impact of varicocelectomy on total motile sperm count (TMSC) and spontaneous pregnancy (SP) rates. A comprehensive literature search was performed using Medline/PubMed and Google Scholar up to December 26, 2018, with no restriction on language and year of publication.

Effects of increased CO and temperature on the physiological characteristics of the golden tide blooming macroalgae Sargassum horneri in the Yellow Sea, China.

The golden tide, caused by the brown algae Sargassum horneri, exerts severe influences on the Pyropia aquaculture of Jiangsu coast, China. To study the outbreak of the golden tide in response to increasing greenhouse gas emissions, S. horneri was cultured under four conditions: ambient condition (10 °C, 400 μatm), elevated temperature condition (14 °C, 400 μatm), elevated CO level (10 °C, 1000 μatm), and potential greenhouse condition (14 °C, 1000 μatm).

Chemical Composition and Antioxidant Properties of Essential Oils from Peppermint, Native Spearmint and Scotch Spearmint.

Natural antioxidants have drawn growing interest for use in animal feed and the food industry. In the current study, essential oils (EOs) obtained from hydrodistillation of three species, including (peppermint), (native spearmint) and (Scotch spearmint), harvested in the Midwest region in the United States, were analyzed for their chemical composition using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and their antioxidant properties were assessed through chemical assays, in vitro cell culture modeling and in (). The activity of ferric iron reduction and free-radical scavenging capacity were assessed through chemical-based assays, including the reducing power assay, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay, and Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity assay (TEAC).

Lung Microbiota and Pulmonary Inflammatory Cytokines Expression Vary in Children With Tracheomalacia and Adenoviral or Pneumonia.

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a worldwide infectious disease caused by bacteria, viruses, or a combination of these infectious agents. is an atypical pneumonia pathogen that causes high morbidity and mortality in children, and adenovirus can lead to severe pneumonia. However, the etiology of different types of pneumonia is still unclear.

Dietary quality and the colonic mucosa-associated gut microbiome in humans.

Background: Despite tremendous interest in modulating the microbiome to improve health, the association between diet and the colonic mucosa-associated gut microbiome in healthy individuals has not been examined.

Objective: To investigate the associations between Healthy Eating Index (HEI)-2005 and the colonic mucosa-associated microbiota.

Methods: In this cross-sectional observational study, we analyzed bacterial community composition and structure using 16S rRNA gene (V4 region) sequencing of 97 colonic mucosal biopsies obtained endoscopically from different colon segments of 34 polyp-free participants.

Sequential Recovery of Heavy and Noble Metals by Mussel-Inspired Polydopamine-Polyethyleneimine Conjugated Polyurethane Composite Bearing Dithiocarbamate Moieties.

Dithiocarbamate-grafted polyurethane (PU) composites were synthesized by anchoring dithiocarbamate (DTC) as a chelating agent to the polyethyleneimine-polydopamine (PE-DA)-functionalized graphene-based PU matrix (PE-DA@GB@PU), as a new adsorbent material for the recovery of Cu, Pb, and Cd from industrial effluents. After leaching with acidic media to recover Cu, Pb, and Cd, dithiocarbamate-grafted PE-DA@GB@PU (DTC-g-PE-DA@GB@PU) was decomposed and PE-DA@GP was regenerated. The latter was used to recover Pd, Pt, and Au from the copper leaching residue and anode slime.

Essential thrombocytosis with recurrent spontaneous abortion in the mid trimester: A case report.

Rationale: Essential thrombocytosis (ET) is a myeloproliferative neoplasm characterized by clonal proliferation of the megakaryocytic lineage within the bone marrow and phenotypically by an elevated platelet count in peripheral blood. Common vascular complications include thrombosis, microvascular disturbances, and hemorrhage. ET with recurrent spontaneous abortion as the primary symptom is rare.

Structural basis for histone H3K4me3 recognition by the N-terminal domain of the PHD finger protein Spp1.

Spp1, a plant homeodomain (PHD) finger containing protein, is a critical subunit of the histone H3K4 methyltransferase complex of proteins associated with Set1 (COMPASS). The chromatin binding affinity of the PHD finger of Spp1 has been proposed to modulate COMPASS activity. During meiosis, Spp1 plays another role in promoting programmed double-strand break (DSB) formation by binding H3K4me3 via its PHD finger and interacting with a DSB protein, Mer2.

Theoretical Insight into the Mechanism and Origin of Divergent Reactivity in the Synthesis of Benzo-Heterocycles from -Alkynylbenzamides Catalyzed by Gold and Platinum Complexes.

This work presents a DFT study on the mechanism and origin of catalyst-controlled divergent reactivity in the synthesis of benzo-heterocycles from -alkynylbenzamides by Au(I)/Pt(IV) catalysis. The results indicate that the transformations proceed via a nucleophilic cyclization process. In the Au(I) catalysis, the preferred -attack mode mainly originates from the symmetry match in the dominant bond-forming interaction between the lone-pair orbital of carbonyl-O and the in-plane alkyne π* orbital, and the electronic property of the ligand controls the -5--/-6-- selectivity.

Small intestinal transcriptome analysis revealed changes of genes involved in nutrition metabolism and immune responses in growth retardation piglets1.

Postnatal growth retardation (PGR) is common in piglets. Abnormal development in small intestine was casually implicated in impaired growth, but the exact mechanism is still implausible. The present study unveiled transcriptome profile of jejunal mucosa, the major site of nutrient absorption, in PGR and healthy piglets using RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq).

Trackable Water-Soluble Prodrug Micelles Capable of Rapid Mitochondrial-Targeting and Alkaline pH-Responsive Drug Release for Highly Improved Anticancer Efficacy.

A trackable water-soluble prodrug conjugate possessing high contents of chlorambucil () and triphenylphosphonium cation () was designed and developed after TPP modification on the "branch" of amphipathic prodrugs based on convenient synthesis of heterobifunctional clickable poly(ethylene glycol) (). The aqueous self-assembly of fluorescent polymeric micelles along precise composition can be easily prepared after directly dissolved () in aqueous solution, and exhibit superior cytotoxicity to cancer cells along with highly improved selectivity and sensitivity because of their rapid mitochondrial-targeting and alkaline pH-responsive drug release capabilities. Notably, efficient codelivery of doxorubicin () for synergistic targeted drug delivery and cancer therapy was achieved.

[Rapid detection of -infected snails with recombinase-aided isothermal amplification assay].

Objective: To develop a florescent recombinase-aided amplification (RAA) assay for rapid detection of -infected snails and explore the optimal method for treatment of snail samples.

Methods: Snail samples were divided into 3 groups, and each group consisted of 7 subgroups. There were 50 uninfected snails mixed with 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 10 infected snails in the 6 subgroups, respectively, and the remaining subgroup contained 100 uninfected snails mixed with 1 infected snails.

GSH/pH dual-responsive biodegradable camptothecin polymeric prodrugs combined with doxorubicin for synergistic anticancer efficiency.

Dual stimuli-responsive camptothecin polymeric prodrugs (CPT Prodrugs) with grafted structures were designed via chemoenzymatic methods and combined with doxorubicin (DOX) for synergistic drug delivery to improve anticancer efficiency. The CPT Prodrugs loaded DOX with a high efficiency through the cooperative contribution of several interaction forces. The produced amphiphilic polymeric prodrugs loaded with DOX, referred to as DOX@CPT Prodrugs, formed homogeneous spherical micelles of appropriate sizes (sub-50 nm).

Retrospective study of the interlaminar approach for percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy with the guidance of pre-operative magnetic resonance neurography.

Background: To measure the direct effects of pre-operative magnetic resonance neurography (MRN), and analyze the procedure and clinical outcomes of the percutaneous endoscopic interlaminar discectomy, in order to demonstrate the feasibility and safety of the interlaminar approach.

Methods: In this study, 127 patients who underwent percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy (PELD) and were followed up by more than 12 months, were retrospectively evaluated. The pre-operative demographic data were collected.

Dietary Factors in Prevention of Pediatric Escherichia coli Infection: A Model Using Domestic Piglets.

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) is the major etiological agent causing acute watery diarrhea that is most frequently seen in young children in lower-income countries. The duration of diarrheal symptom may be shortened by antibiotic treatment, but ETEC is relative refractory to common antibiotics. Burgeoning evidence suggests bioactive components that naturally occur in human milk (e.

Sample Digestion and Combined Preconcentration Methods for the Determination of Ultra-Low Gold Levels in Rocks.

The gold abundance in basic rocks, which normally varies between 0.5 and 5 ppb, has served as a very important indicator in many geoscience studies, including those focused on the planetary differentiation, redistribution of elements during the crustal process, and ore genesis. However, because gold is a monoisotopic element that exhibits a nugget effect, it is very difficult to quantify its ultra-low levels in rocks, which significantly limits our understanding of the origin of gold and its circulation between the Earth crust, mantle, and core.

Complex Structure of Arginine Rhamnosyltransferase EarP with Its Acceptor Elongation Factor P.

A bacterial inverting glycosyltransferase EarP transfers rhamnose from dTDP-β-l-rhamnose (TDP-Rha) to Arg32 of translation elongation factor P (EF-P) to activate its function. We report here the structural and biochemical characterization of EarP. In contrast to recently reported EarP, EarP exhibits differential conformational changes upon TDP-Rha and EF-P binding.

Ultrasensitive On-Site Detection of Biological Active Ricin in Complex Food Matrices Based on Immunomagnetic Enrichment and Fluorescence Switch-On Nanoprobe.

Ricin is a highly toxic protein largely existing in castor beans, which could be used as a warfare agent due to its unique properties. As a deadenylase, inactivation of ricin means a loss of its toxic threat. Therefore, developing simple, accurate, and sensitive on-site detection of biologically active ricin in wide types of complex matrices is most valuable.

Radical-mediated C-S bond cleavage in C2 sulfonate degradation by anaerobic bacteria.

Bacterial degradation of organosulfonates plays an important role in sulfur recycling, and has been extensively studied. However, this process in anaerobic bacteria especially gut bacteria is little known despite of its potential significant impact on human health with the production of toxic HS. Here, we describe the structural and biochemical characterization of an oxygen-sensitive enzyme that catalyzes the radical-mediated C-S bond cleavage of isethionate to form sulfite and acetaldehyde.