Resting-state fNIRS reveals changes in prefrontal cortex functional connectivity during TENS in patients with chronic pain.

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) has been used to treat chronic pain. However, the potential efficacy and mechanism of the effect of applying TENS for a short time in chronic pain patients remains unclear. To identify the effect of short-term TENS on chronic pain patients and to clarify the mechanism of the effect, we investigated abnormalities of functional connectivity (FC) within the prefrontal cortex (PFC) using resting-state functional near-infrared spectroscopy (rs-fNIRS).

MRI Tomoelastography to Assess the Combined Status of Vessels Encapsulating Tumor Clusters and Microvascular Invasion in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Background: Integrating vessels encapsulating tumor clusters (VETC) and microvascular invasion (MVI) (VM hereafter) is potentially useful in risk stratification of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, noninvasive assessment methods for VM are lacking.

Purpose: To investigate the diagnostic performance of tomoelastography in assessing the VM status in HCC.

Field Detection of Uranyl in Coastal Water of China Using a Portable Device via DNA Photocleavage.

The urgent need for field detection of uranium in seawater is 2-fold: to provide prompt guidance for uranium extraction and to prevent human exposure to nuclear radiation. However, current methods for this purpose are largely hindered by bulky instrumentation, high costs of developed materials, and severe matrix interferences, which limit their further application in the field. Herein, we demonstrated a portable and label-free strategy for the field detection of uranyl in seawater based on the efficient photocleavage of DNA.

Overexpression of MsNIP2 improves salinity tolerance in Medicago sativa.

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) is one of the most widely cultivated forage crops in the world. However, alfalfa yield and quality are adversely affected by salinity stress. Nodulin 26-like intrinsic proteins (NIPs) play essential roles in water and small molecules transport and response to salt stress.

Amide proton transfer (APT) and magnetization transfer (MT) in predicting short-term therapeutic outcome in nasopharyngeal carcinoma after chemoradiotherapy: a feasibility study of three-dimensional chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) MRI.

Background: The three-dimensional chemical exchange saturation transfer (3D CEST) technique is a novel and promising magnetic resonance sequence; however, its application in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) lacks sufficient evaluation. This study aimed to assess the feasibility of the 3D CEST technique in predicting the short-term treatment outcomes for chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in NPC patients.

Methods: Forty NPC patients and fourteen healthy volunteers were enrolled and underwent the pre-treatment 3D CEST magnetic resonance imaging and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI).

STAT3-Mediated Promoter-Enhancer Interaction Up-Regulates Inhibitor of DNA Binding 1 () to Promote Colon Cancer Progression.

Background: High expression of inhibitor of DNA binding 1 () correlates with poor prognosis in colorectal cancer (CRC). Aberrant enhancer activation in regulating transcription is limited.

Methods: Immunohistochemistry (IHC), quantitative RT-PCR (RT-qPCR) and Western blotting (WB) were used to determine the expression of .

A pectin-based photoactivated bactericide nanosystem for achieving an improved utilization rate, photostability and targeted delivery of hematoporphyrin.

Photoactivated pesticides have many advantages, such as high activity, low toxicity, and no drug resistance. However, poor photostability and a low utilization rate limit their practical application. Herein, the photosensitizer hematoporphyrin (HP) was used as a photoactivated pesticide, covalently linked with pectin (PEC) ester bonds, to prepare an amphiphilic polymer pro-bactericide, and subsequently self-assembled in aqueous solutions to obtain an esterase-triggered nanobactericide delivery system.

Comparison of induction chemotherapy combined with concurrent chemoradiotherapy versus concurrent chemoradiotherapy alone in Lymph-Node-Stage III nasopharyngeal carcinoma based on propensity score-matching.

Purpose: To explore the role of induction chemotherapy (IC) followed by concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) versus CCRT alone in patients diagnosed with N3 nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

Patients And Methods: A total of 787 patients with newly diagnosed N3 NPC treated with IC + CCRT or CCRT alone were included. Progression-free survival (PFS) was the primary endpoint.

Determination of Mo in Radioactive Samples of Sulfuric Acid Media from Nuclear Facilities.

Mo is an important radionuclide in view of radioactive waste repository because of its long half-life and high mobility in the environment. Mo decays by electron capture without any measurable gamma ray emission. The concentration of Mo in most of the radioactive waste is many orders of magnitude lower than the major activation product radionuclides, which makes the accurate determination of Mo a big challenge.

Analyses on Flavonoids and Transcriptome Reveals Key Gene for Proanthocyanidins Regulation in .

(sainfoin) is one of the most high-quality legume forages, which is rich in proanthocyanidins that is beneficial for the health and production of animals. In this study, proanthocyanidins and total flavonoids in leaves of 46 different sainfoin germplasm resources were evaluated, and it showed that soluble proanthocyanidin contents varied greatly in these sainfoin germplasm resources, but total flavonoids did not show significant difference. Transcriptome sequencing with high and low proanthocyanidins sainfoin resulted in the identification of totally 52,926 unigenes in sainfoin, and they were classed into different GOC categories.

Identification and Characterization of Salt- and Drought-Responsive Family Genes in L.

Aquaporins (AQP) are distributed ubiquitously in plants, and they play important roles in multiple aspects of plant growth and development, as well as in plant resistance to various environmental stresses. In this study, 43 genes were identified in the forage crop All the MsAQP proteins were clustered into four subfamilies based on sequence similarity and phylogenetic relationship, including 17 TIPs, 14 NIPs, 9 PIPs and 3 SIPs. Analyses of gene structure and conserved domains indicated that the majority of the deduced MsAQP proteins contained the signature transmembrane domains and the NPA motifs.

Radiation‑induced dysfunction of energy metabolism in the heart results in the fibrosis of cardiac tissues.

Thoracic radiotherapy increases the risk of radiation‑induced heart damage (RIHD); however, the molecular mechanisms underlying these changes are not fully understood. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of radiation on the mouse heart using high‑throughput proteomics. Male C57BL/6J mice were used to establish a model of RIHD by exposing the entire heart to 16 Gy high‑energy X‑rays, and cardiac injuries were verified using a cardiac echocardiogram, as well as by measuring serum brain natriuretic peptide levels and conducting H&E and Masson staining 5 months after irradiation.

The complete chloroplast genome of (M. Bieb.) P. Beauv.

is a perennial forage widely cultivated in China, and it belongs to the Gramineous family. In this study, we assembled the complete chloroplast genome of . The whole chloroplast genome of is 135,041 bp in length, comprising a pair of inverted repeat (IR) regions (20,821 bp) that are separated by a large single copy (LSC) region (80,632 bp) and a small single copy (SSC) region (12,767 bp).

Pilot-Scale Airlift Bioreactor with Function-Enhanced Microbes for the Reduction of Refinery Excess Sludge.

A pilot-scale airlift bioreactor (ALBR) system was built and operated continuously for refinery excess sludge (RES) reduction. Combined ALBR and function-enhanced microbes (composed of photosynthetic bacteria and yeast) were integrated into the system. The pilot-scale ALBR was operated for 62 days, and the start-up time was 7 d.

MnFeO micromotors enhanced field digestion and solid phase extraction for on-site determination of arsenic in rice and water.

Despite the increased interest and great progress obtained on arsenic test, it is still a challenge to accomplish the on-site determination of arsenic in rice due to the expensive instrumentation and harsh digestion process. In this work, MnFeO micromotors were found to retain high catalytic activity to simultaneously produce large amounts of hydroxyl radicals and O bubbles in the presence of HO. Interestingly, the generated bubbles autonomously propel the micromotors and prevent them from depositing, thus keeping their high catalytic activity.

Roles of maltodextrin and inulin as matrix formers on particle performance of inhalable drug nanocrystal-embedded microparticles.

The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of inulin (IL) and maltodextrin (MD) as matrix formers on the physical properties of drug nanocrystal-embedded microparticles (NEM) during spray-drying and storage. The redispersibility, aerodynamic performance and phase behaviour of NEM/MD and NEM/IL stored at different water activity (a) values were evaluated. NEM with 2 g/g (relative to the weight of drug) of IL and MD exhibited the excellent performance after spray-drying.

Study on redispersibility of drug nanocrystals particles during storage: Novel understanding based on water adsorption and glass transition of amorphous matrix formers.

The objective of this study was to understand the influence of the water adsorption and glass transition of matrix formers on redispersibility in water of drug nanocrystals-aggregated particles(NAP) during storage, and the critical storage strategy for NAP powders were determined based on the Guggenheim-Anderson-de Boer (GAB) and the Gordon-Taylor models. Apigenin was used as model drug. Six kinds of matrix formers sucrose(SU), lactose(LA), trehalose(TR), inulin(IN), maltodextrin(MA) and PVPK30(PV) were used to prepare apigenin nanocrystals-aggregated particles (AN-NAPs).

Redispersible Pickering emulsion powder stabilized by nanocrystalline cellulose combining with cellulosic derivatives.

The objective of this study is to use cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) combining with carboxymethyl cellulose sodium (CMC-Na) and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) as stabilizer to prepare novel redispersible camellia oil Pickering emulsions powder (CO-PEP). Cellulose nanocrystals modified with carboxymethyl cellulose sodium (CNCC) was prepared by homogenization technology. CNCC seemed to be rod-like particles with mean particle size of 124.

Novel redispersible nanosuspensions stabilized by co-processed nanocrystalline cellulose-sodium carboxymethyl starch for enhancing dissolution and oral bioavailability of baicalin.

Background: To improve the dissolution and bioavailability of poorly soluble drugs, novel nanosuspensions using co-processed nanocrystalline cellulose-sodium carboxymethyl starch (NCCS) as a synergetic stabilizer were first designed.

Methods: Co-processed NCCS was prepared by means of homogenization. Poorly soluble baicalin (BCA) was used as a model drug.

Novel breviscapine nanocrystals modified by panax notoginseng saponins for enhancing bioavailability and synergistic anti-platelet aggregation effect.

Breviscapine (BVP) is a flavonoid compound with strong neuroprotective and anti-platelet aggregation effect. The objective of this study is to design novel BVP nanocrystals modified by natural panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) for enhancing dissolution and anti-platelet aggregation effect of BVP. BVP nanocrystals modified by PNS (BVP-NC/PNS) were firstly prepared by coupling homogenization technology and freeze-drying technology, and BVP nanocrystals modified by RH40 (BVP-NC/RH40) as reference for comparison.

Cd(II) enhanced fluorescence and Zn(II) quenched fluorescence with phenylenevinylene terpyridine: A theoretical investigation.

Phenylenevinylene terpyridine (mepvpt) shows chelation enhanced fluorescence (CHEF) with Cd(II) and chelation quenched fluorescence (CHQF) with Zn(II), respectively. To understand the behaviors, we studied their intrinsic optical properties using DFT/TDDFT methods. The results show that fluorescence quantum yields (FQY) of mepvpt, mepvpt-Cd and mepvpt-Zn are low due to high ISC rates from higher excited states rather than the S excited state.

Hyaluronic acid based nanocrystals hydrogels for enhanced topical delivery of drug: A case study.

The objective of this study is to use a carbohydrate polymer hyaluronic acid (HLA) as matrix to design novel transdermal nanogel loading poorly soluble drug nanocrystals. Baicalin nanocrystals (BCA-NC) were prepared by coupling homogenization technology and spray-drying technology. The morphology, the rheological behavior and transdermal permeation studies of HLA based BCA-NC-gel were evaluated.

Stability of dissolved percarbonate and its implications for groundwater remediation.

Efforts to improve the understanding of oxidant stability are of great practical significance to the design of an in-situ chemical oxidation (ISCO) system for soil and groundwater remediation. In this study, the stability of an emerging ISCO oxidant sodium percarbonate (SPC) was investigated. Although the dry solid form of SPC is relatively stable, dissolved SPC decomposes much faster than HO.