Coronal Plane Magnetic Resonance Imaging Measurement of Hippocampal Formation Volume of Healthy Chinese Adults.

The aim of this study was to provide hippocampal formation volume data for the clinic and diagnoses of the related diseases for healthy Chinese adult. Three-dimensional fast-spoiled gradient echo magnetic resonance imaging sequence scanning was used in 68 cases of healthy adult brain to gain the image between lateral border of bilateral fourth ventricle and vitreous body. The image then was divided into 10 equal parts in the sagittal plane.

Tc-labeled oligomeric nanoparticles as potential agents for folate receptor-positive tumor targeting.

One type of biocompatible nanoparticles functionalized with folate and Tc was successfully synthesized. Maleimide-folic acid (Mal-FA) was selected to covalently conjugate with -SH of the nanoparticles (NPs) to prepare NPs-FA for targeting. Tc was selected to conjugate with -NH and -SH groups of cysteine residues on the surface of NPs to prepare NPs-FA- Tc for radioactive counting.

NMI and IFP35 serve as proinflammatory DAMPs during cellular infection and injury.

Damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMP) trigger innate immune response and exacerbate inflammation to combat infection and cellular damage. Identifying DAMPs and revealing their functions are thus of crucial importance. Here we report that two molecules, N-myc and STAT interactor (NMI) and interferon-induced protein 35 (IFP35) act as DAMPs and are released by activated macrophages during lipopolysaccharide-induced septic shock or acetaminophen-induced liver injury.

Characteristics of PAHs in farmland soil and rainfall runoff in Tianjin, China.

Rainfall runoff can remove certain amounts of pollutants from contaminated farmland soil and result in a decline in water quality. However, the leaching behaviors of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) with rainfall have been rarely reported due to wide variations in the soil compositions, rainfall conditions, and sources of soil PAHs in complex farmland ecosystems. In this paper, the levels, spatial distributions, and composition profiles of PAHs in 30 farmland soil samples and 49 rainfall-runoff samples from the Tianjin region in 2012 were studied to investigate their leaching behaviors caused by rainfall runoff.

Ratiometric fluorescence imaging of endogenous selenocysteine in cancer cell matrix.

Monitoring intracellular selenocysteine (Sec) is of significant interest for studying Sec metabolism and disease-relevant changes in Sec homeostasis. Herein, we rationally designed an ICT-based ratiometric probe (Rat-Sec) for selectively discriminating endogenous Sec in a live cell matrix. By utilizing an acrylate moiety, Rat-Sec manifested significantly ratiometric and red-shifted (∼117 nm) fluorescence signals within 1 min, and concomitantly demonstrated apparent color alteration from colorless to faint yellow in the presence of Sec.

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate inhibits TLR4 signaling through the 67-kDa laminin receptor and effectively alleviates acute lung injury induced by H9N2 swine influenza virus.

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) was found to inhibit the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) pathway involved in influenza virus pathogenesis. Here, the effect of EGCG on TLR4 in an H9N2 virus-induced acute lung injury mouse model was investigated. BALB/c mice were inoculated intranasally with A/Swine/Hebei/108/2002 (H9N2) virus or noninfectious allantoic fluid, and treated with EGCG and E5564 or normal saline orally for 5 consecutive days.

Regulatory Innate Lymphoid Cells Control Innate Intestinal Inflammation.

An emerging family of innate lymphoid cells (termed ILCs) has an essential role in the initiation and regulation of inflammation. However, it is still unclear how ILCs are regulated in the duration of intestinal inflammation. Here, we identify a regulatory subpopulation of ILCs (called ILCregs) that exists in the gut and harbors a unique gene identity that is distinct from that of ILCs or regulatory T cells (Tregs).

IL-7Rα glutamylation and activation of transcription factor Sall3 promote group 3 ILC development.

Group 3 innate lymphoid cells (ILC3) promote lymphoid organogenesis and potentiate immune responses against bacterial infection. However, how ILC3 cells are developed and maintained is still unclear. Here, we show that carboxypeptidase CCP2 is highly expressed in common helper-like innate lymphoid progenitors, the progenitor of innate lymphoid cells, and CCP2 deficiency increases ILC3 numbers.

Experimental Investigation of the Acoustic Nonlinear Behavior in Granular Polymer Bonded Explosives with Progressive Fatigue Damage.

The measurement of acoustic nonlinear response is known as a promising technique to characterize material micro-damages. In this paper, nonlinear ultrasonic approach is used to characterize the evolution of fatigue induced micro-cracks in polymer bonded explosives. The variations of acoustic nonlinearity with respect to fatigue cycles in the specimens are obtained in this investigation.

Rapid Identification of Meat Species by the Internal Extractive Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry of Hemoglobin Selectively Captured on Functionalized Graphene Oxide.

Hemoglobin (Hb) present in the blood and meat juice samples was selectively adsorbed by graphene oxide (GO) particles functionalized with amylopectin (AP) and was sensitively detected by direct internal extractive electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (iEESI-MS) analysis for the identification of meat type. Various samples including the whole blood samples of chicken, duck, sheep, mouse, pigeon, turtledove, and meat juice mixtures were successfully identified based on the difference in molecular composition of Hb reflected in MS. The adulteration of sheep blood with only 2% chicken blood could be detected, which demonstrated the high chemical specificity of the approach.

Folic Acid-Targeted Etoposide Cubosomes for Theranostic Application of Cancer Cell Imaging and Therapy.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to develop a novel Poloxamer-based drug delivery system featuring a tumor-targeting folate moiety, which was expected to provide better targeting properties and therapeutic effects compared with the traditional cubosomes (Cubs). MATERIAL AND METHODS Both folate-modified Cubs containing etoposide (ETP-Cubs-FA) and normal cubic nanoparticles loaded with etoposide (ETP-Cubs) were prepared through the fragmentation of bulk gels under the homogenization condition of 1500 bar, and a mean particle size of around 180 nm was obtained with a narrow size distribution. The cubosomes were further characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Polarized light microscopy (PLM).

An electrochemical bisphenol A sensor based on one step electrochemical reduction of cuprous oxide wrapped graphene oxide nanoparticles modified electrode.

Bisphenol A (BPA), as an important industrial material, has been widespread concerned in recent years as its endocrine disrupting effect. This study reported a novel bisphenol A sensor via a facile one step electrochemical reduction of graphene oxide (rGO) and cuprous oxide (CuO) nanocomposite modified glassy carbon electrodes. The characterization of the fabricated sensor was performed by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray spectroscopy.

Long noncoding RNA lncKdm2b is required for ILC3 maintenance by initiation of Zfp292 expression.

Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) communicate with other hematopoietic and nonhematopoietic cells to regulate immunity, inflammation and tissue homeostasis. How ILC lineages develop and are maintained remains largely unknown. In this study we observed that a divergent long noncoding RNA (lncRNA), lncKdm2b, was expressed at high levels in intestinal group 3 ILCs (ILC3s).

MiR-144 affects fatty acid composition by regulating ELOVL6 expression in duck hepatocytes.

Lipid metabolism in duck is very important for both raisers and people's health. In our previous studies, we have detected that miR-144 is related to duck lipid metabolism and validated one of its target genes, elongation of very long chain fatty acids protein 6 (ELOVL6). In the present study, we isolated, cultured, and identified duck hepatocytes, and transfected with miR-144 mimics/inhibitor to mediate the miR-144 level.

Dendrobium alkaloids prevent Aβ-induced neuronal and synaptic loss via promoting neurotrophic factors expression in mice.

Background: Neuronal and synaptic loss is the most important risk factor for cognitive impairment. Inhibiting neuronal apoptosis and preventing synaptic loss are promising therapeutic approaches for Alzheimer's disease (AD). In this study, we investigate the protective effects of Dendrobium alkaloids (DNLA), a Chinese medicinal herb extract, on β-amyloid peptide segment 25-35 (Aβ)-induced neuron and synaptic loss in mice.

LncBRM initiates YAP1 signalling activation to drive self-renewal of liver cancer stem cells.

Liver cancer stem cells (CSCs) may contribute to the high rate of recurrence and heterogeneity of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the biology of hepatic CSCs remains largely undefined. Through analysis of transcriptome microarray data, we identify a long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) called lncBRM, which is highly expressed in liver CSCs and HCC tumours.

Tumor-suppressive function of long noncoding RNA MALAT1 in glioma cells by suppressing miR-155 expression and activating FBXW7 function.

The human metastasis associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1) is a long non-coding RNA associated with metastasis, and is a favorable prognostic factor for lung cancer. Recent studies have shown that MALAT1 plays an important role in many malignancies. However, little is known about the role of MALAT1 in glioma.

Dimalononitrile-containing probe based on aggregation-enhanced emission features for the multi-mode fluorescence detection of volatile amines.

A novel multi-mode probe consisting of a hexaphenyl-1,3-butadiene derivative, 2,2'-((((1Z,3Z)-1,2,3,4-tetraphenylbuta-1,3-diene-1,4-diyl)bis(4,1-phenylene))bis(methanylylidene))dimalononitrile (ZZ-HPB-CN), with typical aggregation-enhanced emission (AEE) features was easily prepared for the highly sensitive and rapid detection of amine vapors. The ZZ-HPB-CN sensor, which was prepared by simply depositing ZZ-HPB-CN on filter paper, could detect low concentration vapors of volatile amines using fluorescence, ultraviolet and naked-eye detection. The limit of detection of the sensor was as low as 1 ppb for the fluorescence detection.

Dynamic comparison on the usage of probiotics in organic wastewater treatment under aerobic conditions in a diurnal environment.

Unlabelled: This study aims at evaluating and comparing pollution removal in wastewater treatment via the use of probiotics alone or in combination under aerobic conditions in diurnal cycles. Herein, 650 mL of organic wastewater was stored in 1-L conical flasks and then randomly divided into three treatment groups, each experiment was repeated three times. Group A was supplemented with 2% (v/v) photosynthetic bacteria (PSB; Rhodopseudomonas palustris) alone; group B was supplemented with 2% (v/v) B.

[Out-of-Band Radiation and Spatio-Temporal Characterization of Gd Target Laser Plasma Sources].

In this paper, an Nd∶YAG laser with 10ns pulse width and output wavelength of 1 064 nm was employed to ablate Gd metal target and Gd-doped glass target for plasma generation. The out-of-band (OOB) radiation of extreme ultraviolet sources with the two target configurations was comparatively studied. It has been found that the continuous radiation emitted by the plasma is the main component of the out-of-band radiation.

Long-Term Moderate Oxidative Stress Decreased Ovarian Reproductive Function by Reducing Follicle Quality and Progesterone Production.

Ovarian aging is a long-term and complex process associated with a decrease in follicular quantity and quality. The damaging effects of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in ovarian aging and ovarian aging-associated disorders have received relatively little attention. Thus, we assessed if the oxidative stress induced by long-term (defined by the Environmental Protection Agency as at least 30 days in duration) moderate ozone inhalation reduced ovarian reserves, decreased ovarian function and induced ovarian aging-associated disorders.

Effects of dietary fats on egg quality and lipid parameters in serum and yolks of Shan Partridge Duck.

The effects of different dietary fats with variable levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) on egg quality of Shan Partridge Duck, serum, and yolk lipid parameters were examined in this study. A flock of 585 optimal produced ducks were selected and diets enriched with 0.5%, 1%, or 2% fish oil (F)/flaxseed oil (FL)/rapeseed oil (R)/tallow (T) plus basal diet were supplied through a 28-d period.

[Efficacy differences between different position in patients treated with electroacupuncture for lumbar herniated disc].

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy differences between modified lateral position and prone position in patients treated with electroacupuncture (EA) for lumbar herniated disc (LHD).

Methods: Seventy-six patients with LHD were randomly divided into a lateral position group and a prone position group, 38 cases in each one. The acupoint selection and treatment method were identical in the two groups except the position.

Analysis of miRNAs and their target genes associated with lipid metabolism in duck liver.

Fat character is an important index in duck culture that linked to local flavor, feed cost and fat intake for costumers. Since the regulation networks in duck lipid metabolism had not been reported very clearly, we aimed to explore the potential miRNA-mRNA pairs and their regulatory roles in duck lipid metabolism. Here, Cherry-Valley ducks were selected and treated with/without 5% oil added in feed for 2 weeks, and then fat content determination was performed on.

Abnormal mRNA splicing but normal auditory brainstem response (ABR) in mice with the prestin (SLC26A5) IVS2-2A>G mutation.

Prestin is critical to OHC somatic motility and hearing sensitivity in mammals. Several mutations of the human SLC26A5 gene have been associated with deafness. However, whether the IVS2-2A>G mutation in the human SLC26A5 gene causes deafness remains controversial.