Highly sensitive temperature and refractive index sensor based on no-core fiber cascaded with a balloon-shaped bent single-mode fiber.

A highly sensitive temperature and refractive index (RI) sensor based on no-core fiber (NCF) cascaded with a balloon-shaped bent single-mode fiber (BSBSF) is proposed and demonstrated. The NCF can excite higher-order modes which will be concentrated and transmitted into the BSBSF due to the characteristic of self-imaging effect. The BSBSF has an excellent temperature performance due to the high thermo-optical coefficient and thermal expansion coefficient of the polymer coating.

A mid-infrared focusing grating coupler with a single circular arc element based on germanium on silicon.

A mid-infrared (MIR) focusing grating coupler (FGC) with a single circular arc element (CAE) in the front of the gratings based on a germanium-on-silicon (Ge-on-Si) platform is designed and demonstrated. It can be used equivalently to a traditional FGC with all-focusing gratings. By optimizing the structural parameters of the CAE, the combination of a tapered linear grating and the CAE can improve the coupling efficiency to 8.

Multi-modal fMRI and TMS follow-up study of motor cortical stroke caused by hyaluronic acid filler: A case report.

Background: Blindness and stroke resulting from hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers are not frequently reported complications. Reports on stroke recovery after HA injection are limited. In the current study, the recovery process, task-based functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), and neurophysiological changes of a patient with monocular blindness and ipsilateral motor cortical stroke after forehead injection of HA are explored.

Tunable Dual-Wavelength with Twin-Pulse Dissipative Solitons in All-Normal Dispersion Yb-Doped Fiber Laser.

A tunable dual-wavelength with two separated twin-pulse dissipative solitons (DSs) of Yb-doped mode-locked fiber laser in the all-normal-dispersion (ANDi) regime is firstly reported and demonstrated in this paper. A Sagnac loop is used as an all-fiber format spectral filter in the laser cavity, and stable twin-pulse DSs with different wavelength mode-locked lasers are achieved by the nonlinear polarization evolution (NPE) effect. By adjusting the polarization state of the Sagnac loop, the spectral ranges of the dual-wavelength can be tuned from 1031.

Associations between Upper Extremity Motor Function and Aphasia after Stroke: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study.

Methods: Patients with stroke were compared and correlated from overall and three periods (1-3 months, 4-6 months, and >6 months). Fugl-Meyer assessment for the upper extremity (FMA-UE) and action research and arm test (ARAT) were used to compare the UE motor status between patients with PSA and without PSA through a cross-sectional study among 435 patients. Then, the correlations between the evaluation scale scores of UE motor status and language function of patients with PSA were analyzed in various dimensions, and the language subfunction most closely related to UE motor function was analyzed by multiple linear regression analysis.

Anti-CD40 monoclonal antibody ameliorates experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis in mice.

Objective: To investigate the effects of CD40 on ocular inflammation in experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis (EAU) in B10.RIII mice.

Animals Studied: EAU-susceptible B10.

Comparative Pharmacokinetic Study of Hesperetin after Oral Administration in Normal and Hyperuricemia Rats by UPLC-MS/MS.

Background: Hesperetin has antihyperuricemia activity, and the pharmacokinetic profiles of hesperetin may be altered by hyperuricemia. This study aimed to develop a highly sensitive and specific method for the determination of hesperetin in normal and hyperuricemia rats, and to compare pharmacokinetic profiles of hesperetin after oral administration between normal and hyperuricemia rats.

Methods: Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into one normal group (group A) and four hyperuricemia groups (group B, C, D, and E).

MiR-126-5p promotes contractile switching of aortic smooth muscle cells by targeting VEPH1 and alleviates Ang II-induced abdominal aortic aneurysm in mice.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a potential lethal disease that is defined by an irreversible dilatation (>50%) of the aorta. During AAA expansion, the aortic wall is often remodeled, which is featured by extracellular matrix (ECM) degeneration, medial and adventitial inflammation, depletion and phenotypic switching of vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs). Recent studies have suggested microRNAs as vital regulators for vascular SMC function.

Recombinant Human Elafin Ameliorates Chronic Hyperoxia-Induced Lung Injury by Inhibiting Nuclear Factor-Kappa B Signaling in Neonatal Mice.

The study aimed to investigate whether recombinant human elafin can prevent hyperoxia-induced pulmonary inflammation in newborn mice, and to explore the mechanism underlying the inhibitory effects of elafin on nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway. Neonatal C57BL/6J mice were exposed to 85% O for 1, 3, 7, 14, or 21 days. Then, elafin was administered daily for 20 days through intraperitoneal injection.

CircPRKCI relieves lipopolysaccharide-induced HK2 cell injury by upregulating the expression of miR-545 target gene ZEB2.

The aim of this study was to investigate the possible influences of circPRKCI abnormal expression on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced HK2 cell injury and its mechanism. The circPRKCI level was identified in serum samples from patients with urosepsis and healthy subjects, as well as LPS-treated HK2 cells by qRT-PCR. Cell viability, apoptosis, expression of proteins associated with apoptosis, and expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in LPS-treated HK2 cells were measured.

The Prognostic Role of Expression of Nectin-4 in Esophageal Cancer.

BACKGROUND Nectin-4 is overexpressed in several human malignant tumors. This study aimed to investigate the expression of Nectin-4 in esophageal cancer tissues compared with adjacent normal esophageal tissue and its association with clinicopathological parameters and prognosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS Nectin-4 expression in esophageal cancer tissues was compared with adjacent normal esophageal tissue from 94 patients using immunohistochemistry, Western blot, and quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR).

Comparative Pharmacokinetic Study of Mangiferin in Normal and Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Rats after Oral and Intravenous Administration by UPLC-MS/MS.

Backgrounds: Diabetes mellitus (DM)-induced morphological and/or functional complications may alter the pharmacokinetic profiles of mangiferin. This study aims to compare pharmacokinetic profiles of mangiferin in normal and alloxan-induced diabetic rats after oral and intravenous administration.

Methods: Mangiferin was administered orally (10 mg/kg) and intravenously (2 mg/kg) to normal and alloxan-induced diabetic Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats (n = 8).

Cav-1 promotes atherosclerosis by activating JNK-associated signaling.

The objective of the study is to calculate the role and underlying the molecular mechanisms of caveolin-1 (Cav-1) in atherosclerosis (AS). Cav-1 was mainly expressed in the endothelial cells of atherosclerotic lesions in both human patients and apolipoprotein E deficient (ApoE) mice. Cav-1 deficiency (Cav-1) attenuated high-fat diet (HFD)-induced atherosclerotic lesions in ApoE mice, supported by the reduced aortic plaques.

Transforming growth factor β1 promotes migration and invasion in HepG2 cells: Epithelial‑to‑mesenchymal transition via JAK/STAT3 signaling.

Transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1) is a cytokine with multiple functions. TGFβ1 significantly induces migration and invasion of liver cancer cells. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this effect remain unclear.

An updated comparison of high- and low-viscosity cement vertebroplasty in the treatment of osteoporotic thoracolumbar vertebral compression fractures: A retrospective cohort study.

Objective: This study mainly aimed to evaluate complications of cement leakage for osteoporotic thoracolumbar vertebral compression fractures by PVP using HVC, and access the clinical efficacy.

Methods: Between May 2013 and June 2015, 66 patients with osteoporotic thoracolumbar vertebral compression fractures, who underwent PVP (36 HVC and 30 LVC) in our hospital, were enrolled. Cement leakage, Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), refracture of the cemented vertebrae, and adjacent vertebral fractures were evaluated.

Allicin induces the upregulation of ABCA1 expression via PPARγ/LXRα signaling in THP-1 macrophage-derived foam cells.

Allicin is considered anti-atherosclerotic due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, which makes it an important drug for the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis. However, the effects of allicin on foam cells are unclear. Thus, in this study, we examined the effects of allicin on lipid accumulation via peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ)/liver X receptor α (LXRα) in THP‑1 macrophage-derived foam cells.

Expression of mmu-miR-96 in the endometrium during early pregnancy and its regulatory effects on stromal cell apoptosis via Bcl2.

Decidualization of endometrial stromal cells is an important feature of implantation and pregnancy. The molecular mechanism underlying decidualization remains unclear, particularly regarding the microRNA (miRNA/miR) regulation of this process. The present study revealed the temporal and spatial distribution of mmu‑miR‑96 in the mouse uterus during early pregnancy by reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction and in situ hybridization.

Inhibition of Hydrogen Peroxide-Induced Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells Aging by Allicin Depends on Sirtuin1 Activation.

BACKGROUND The abnormal activity of Sirtuin 1 (Sirt1) is closely related to the aging of vascular endothelial cells. As a bioactive molecule, allicin has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and lipid-regulating mechanisms. However, few reports about the relationship of allicin and Sirt1 have been published.

Long-term fructose consumption prolongs hepatic stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 activity independent of upstream regulation in rats.

Dietary fructose is considered a risk factor for metabolic disorders, such as fatty liver disease. However, the mechanism underlying the effects of fructose is not well characterized. We investigated the hepatic expression of key regulatory genes related to lipid metabolism following fructose feeding under well-defined conditions.

Clinical and Pathologic Features of a Suspected Selenium Deficiency in Captive Plains Zebras.

Previous studies have shown that selenium (Se) deficiency is associated with nutritional myopathy, known as white muscle disease (WMD), in horses. However, correlations between Se deficiency and clinical findings, such as hematologic biochemical values and pathological features, have not been evaluated in captive plains zebras. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the clinical and pathologic features that may be caused by a Se deficiency in the captive plains zebra.

Genetic Variation in the REL Gene Increases Risk of Behcet's Disease in a Chinese Han Population but That of PRKCQ Does Not.

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and candidate gene studies have identified the REL and PRKCQ genes as risk loci for various autoimmune diseases. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the association of the REL and PRKCQ genes with Behcet's disease (BD) in a Chinese Han population. A case-control study was conducted on three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), rs13031237, rs702873, and rs842647 of the REL gene and three SNPs (rs4750316, rs11258747, and rs947474) of the PRKCQ gene using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) in a total of 623 BD patients and 1,074 healthy controls.

Association of Genetic Polymorphisms on Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and its Receptor Genes with Susceptibility to Coronary Heart Disease.

Background: Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a cardiovascular disease characterized by high morbidity and mortality. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptor, named kinase insert domain-containing receptor (KDR, or VEGFR2), which are involved with angiogenesis and vascular repair, could partly contribute to the development of CHD. The aim of this study, therefore, was to investigate the potential correlations between genetic polymorphisms on VEGF and KDR and susceptibility to CHD, and the integrative role of SNPs combined on susceptibility to CHD were also studied.

Mitigation of Insulin Resistance by Mangiferin in a Rat Model of Fructose-Induced Metabolic Syndrome Is Associated with Modulation of CD36 Redistribution in the Skeletal Muscle.

Mangiferin is one of the prominent active components responsible for the antidiabetic property of many traditional herbs, but its underlying mechanisms of action remain unclear. CD36 in skeletal muscle is known to contribute to the etiology of insulin resistance by facilitating fatty acid uptake. This study investigated the effect of mangiferin on insulin resistance.

Curcumin enhanced cholesterol efflux by upregulating ABCA1 expression through AMPK-SIRT1-LXRα signaling in THP-1 macrophage-derived foam cells.

Curcumin, a traditional Chinese derivative from the rhizomes of Curcuma longa, is beneficial to health by modulating lipid metabolism and suppressing atherogenesis. A key part of atherosclerosis is the failure of macrophages to restore their cellular cholesterol homeostasis and the formation of foam cells. In this study, results showed that curcumin dramatically increased the expression of ATP-binding cassette transporter 1 (ABCA1), promoted cholesterol efflux from THP-1 macrophage-derived foam cells, and reduced cellular cholesterol levels.

Treatment of rats with Jiangzhi Capsule improves liquid fructose-induced fatty liver: modulation of hepatic expression of SREBP-1c and DGAT-2.

Background: Jiangzhi Capsule is an Australian listed patented traditional Chinese medicine and has been used for management of lipid abnormalities over the past 10 years. To obtain a better understanding regarding Jiangzhi Capsule, the present study investigated the effects and underlying mechanisms of Jiangzhi Capsule on chronic fructose overconsumption-induced lipid abnormalities.

Methods: Male rats were treated with liquid fructose in their drinking water over 14 weeks.