Mechanisms of Hydride Nucleation, Growth, Reorientation, and Embrittlement in Zirconium: A Review.

Zirconium (Zr) hydrides threaten the reliability of fuel assembly and have repeatedly induced failures in cladding tubes and pressure vessels. Thus, they attract a broad range of research interests. For example, delayed hydride cracking induced a severe fracture and failure in a Zircaloy-2 pressure tube in 1983, causing the emergency shutdown of the Pickering nuclear reactor.

Received anti-VEGF therapy in a patient with CRAO sparing the CLRA with subretinal fluid: A case report.

Rationale: Central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) sparing the cilioretinal artery (CLRA) with severe subretinal fluid and non-characteristic cherry-red spot is uncommon. In the present case, the patient received an intravitreal injection of anti- vascular endothelial growth factor, which is very rare.

Patient Concerns: A 59-year-old man underwent vitrectomy of the left eye for diabetic retinopathy and vitreous hemorrhage.

Choroidal metastasis with retinal detachment: A case report.

Rationale: Breast carcinoma is the most common primary source of choroidal metastasis (CM). In the present case, esophageal cancer was the primary tumour, brain metastasis occurred, and CM occurred later in the left eye with 2 retinal detachments, which is very rare.

Patient Concerns: A 62-year-old man complained of a sudden decrease in visual acuity consisting of a small shadow in front of his left eye with a sensation of covered vision after 1 cycle of systemic chemotherapy and radiotherapy for resected esophageal cancer with brain metastasis.

[RhoA/ROCK pathway involved in effects of Sanjiao acupuncture on learning and memory and synaptic plasticity in Alzheimer's disease mice].

Objective: To observe the effect of Sanjiao acupuncture(triple energizer acupuncture)on the small G protein guanosine triphosphate enzyme subfamily protein RhoA/Rho kinase (ROCK) pathway in Alzheimer's disease mice, and explore its effect on learning and memory function and neurosynaptic plasticity.

Methods: Forty SAMP8 senile dementia mice were randomly divided into model, Sanjiao acupuncture (acupuncture), non acupoint acupuncture (non-acupoint) and fasudil groups, with 10 mice in each group, another 10 SAMR normal aging mice were selected as normal aging group. Mice in the acupuncture group were treated with acupuncture intervention on "Danzhong"(CV18), "Zhongwan"(CV13), "Qihai"(BL24) and bilateral "Xuehai"(SP10) and "Zusanli" (ST36).

Correlation Analysis of Refractive and Visual Quality after Wavefront-Optimized Laser In Situ Keratomileusis for 50% and 100% Angle Kappa Compensation.

Purpose: To analyze the distribution of the offset between the pupil center and the coaxially sighted corneal light reflex (), the effects of 50% and 100% angle kappa adjustments on refractive and visual quality in patients with moderate myopia were investigated.

Methods: A randomly selected 254 patients (254 eyes) with moderate myopia who underwent femtosecond laser-combined LASIK were examined. During the operation, the of the patients was recorded by the and y-axis eyeball-tracking adjustment program of the WaveLight Eagle Vision EX500 excimer laser system.

Unsuccessful Host Stinging by Aphelinus asychis (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) Impacts Population Parameters of the Pea Aphid (Hemiptera: Aphididae).

The biocontrol values of natural enemies are strongly correlated to their ability to regulate the density of their host/prey. For parasitoids, apart from parasitism and host feeding, unsuccessful host stinging (i.e.

A near-infrared fluorescent probe for direct and selective detection of cysteine over homocysteine and glutathione.

In this work, we have designed and synthesized the fluorescent probe 1, which showed a highly selective and sensitive response to Cys over Hcy/GSH in the test. Moreover, the color of probe solution has changed dramatically from colorless to pink with the addition of Cys within 10 min. Meanwhile, the fluorescence intensity exhibited perfectly positive correlation with concentration of Cys from 0 to 200 μM, which offered the important condition for quantitative analysis.

[Acupuncture Regulated the Expressions of Hsp84 and Hsp86 and Postponed Brain Aging in SAMP8].

Objective To observe the correlations between heat shock protein 84 ( Hsp84)/ Hsp86 and brain aging in senescence accelerated mouse prone 8 (SAMP8) and the regulation effects of acupuncture. Methods Ten senescence accelerated mouse resistant 1 (SAMR1) were recruited as a normal control group. Another 30 SAMP8 mice were divided into the blank control group, the acupuncture group, and the non-acupoint group by random digit table, 10 in each group.

Protective effects of BAY 73-6691, a selective inhibitor of phosphodiesterase 9, on amyloid-β peptides-induced oxidative stress in in-vivo and in-vitro models of Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is accompanied by enhanced oxidative stress and excess free radicals. Phosphodiesterase 9 inhibitors (PDE-9Is) showed memory improving effects in many pharmacological deficit models. However, whether BAY 73-6691 (a selective PDE-9I) may attenuate the oxidative stress during the development of AD is still unclear.

[Effect of acupuncture on transmembrane signal pathway in AD mice: an analysis based on lipid-raft proteomics].

Objective: To reveal the transmembrane signal pathway participating in regulating neuron functions of treating Alzheimer's disease (AD) by acupuncture.

Methods: SAMP8 mice was used for AD animal model. The effect of acupuncture method for qi benefiting, blood regulating, health supporting, and root strengthening on the amount and varieties of transmembrane signal proteins from hippocampal lipid rafts in SAMP8 mice was detected using HPLC MS/MS proteomics method.

MicroRNA-146a enhances Helicobacter pylori induced cell apoptosis in human gastric cancer epithelial cells.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection induces apoptosis in gastric epithelial cells, and this occurrence may link to gastric carcinogenesis. However, the regulatory mechanism of H.

Effects of Ganfukang on expression of connective tissue growth factor and focal adhesion kinase/protein kinase B signal pathway in hepatic fibrosis rats.

Objective: To investigate the effect of Ganfukang (GFK) on connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) and focal adhesion kinase (FAK)/protein kinase B (PKB or Akt) signal pathway in a hepatic fibrosis rat model and to explore the underlying therapeutic molecular mechanisms of GFK.

Methods: Fifty SD rats were randomly divided into five groups as follows: the control group, the model group (repeated subcutaneous injection of CCl4), and the three GFK treatment groups (31.25, 312.

[Combination of acupoints based on the theory of qi tonification, blood regulation and strengthening the primary source].

The acupuncture technique of tonifying qi, regulating blood and strengthening the primary source of human life is established on the base of the new pathology of dementia due to dysfunction of sanjiao by Prof. HAN Jing-xian. It is held that Tanzhong (CV 17), Zhongwan (CV 12), Qihai (CV 6), Xuehai (SP 10), Zusanli(ST 36) and Waiguan (TE 5) were the basic points for treatment of dementia.

[Primary preventive effect of metformin upon atherosclerosis in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus].

Objective: To investigate the preventive action of metformin for atherosclerosis (AS) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods: A total of 140 cases with T2DM were assigned to 2 groups taking metformin (n = 75) or not (n = 65). All cases received intensive control of blood glucose, blood pressure and blood lipids for 100 weeks.

Herb medicine Gan-fu-kang attenuates liver injury in a rat fibrotic model.

Aim Of The Study: To verify therapeutic effects of Gan-fu-kang (GFK), a traditional Chinese medicine compound, in a rat model and to investigate the underlying mechanisms.

Materials And Methods: Liver fibrosis was established by 12 weeks of carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)) treatment (0.5mg/kg, twice per week) followed by 8 weeks of "recovery" in rats.

Relation of Cardiotrophin-1 (CT-1) and cardiac transcription factor GATA4 expression in rat's cardiac myocytes hypertrophy and apoptosis.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of GATA4 in hypertrophy and survival functions of CT-1 in the heart, and to apply chemical inhibitor strategies to assess a possible interaction of signaling pathways involved in these processes. Expression of GATA4 was determined at the mRNA expression (polymerase chain reaction, PCR) and protein binding activity (electrophoretic mobility shift assays, EMSAs) levels. Myocardial apoptosis was detected using the in-situ terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) method.

[Changes and significance of peripheral blood platelet count in tumor shrinkage induced by a low dose of CTX in T739 mice].

Aim: To establish a mouse model for BTT739 tumor-bearing mice cured by a low dose of cyclophosphamide (CTX). And then to observe the dynamic changes and significance of peripheral blood counts especially blood platelet count during tumor shrinkage induced by a low dose of CTX in T739 mice.

Methods: Mouse bladder carcinoma tissues were inoculated subcutaneously into T739 mice.

Effects of traditional chinese medicine on endotoxin and its receptors in rats with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.

Aims: The aim of this research is to study the effects of traditional Chinese medicine on endotoxin and its receptors in rats with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).

Methods: Fifty-six SD rats were divided into seven groups. All the animals were fed high fatty diet for 12 weeks.

[Study of the immunological mechanism of anti-tumor effects of 5-FU by establishing EL4 tumor-bearing mouse models].

Aim: To investigate the immunological mechanism of anti-tumor effect of 5-FU by establishing lymphoma EL4 tumor-bearing mouse models in wild type C57BL/6 mice and nude C57BL/6 mice, respectively.

Methods: The mouse lymphoma EL4 cells were inoculated subcutaneously into wild type C57BL/6 mice (immune-competent mice). Twelve days later, 5-FU of different doses was administered intraperitoneally to treat these wild type C57BL/6 tumor-bearing mice.

[Relationship between sensitivity of tumor cells to chemotherapeutic agent in vivo and in vitro: experiment with mouse lymphoma cells].

Objective: To study the relationship of the sensitivity of tumor cells to chemotherapeutic agent between in vivo and in vitro.

Methods: Mouse lymphoma cells of the line E14 were cultured and melphalan resistant EL4 cell line (EL4/melphalan) was established by culturing EL4 cells with continuous low-concentration and intermittent gradually-increasing-concentration of melphalan in vitro. MTT assay was used to evaluate the drug sensitivity and the resistance index of the EL4/melphalan cells to melphalan was calculated.

[Relationship between TNFalpha and tumor rejection induced by a single dose of melphalan in C57BL/6 mice].

Aim: To investigate the relationship between TNFalpha and tumor rejection induced by a single dose of melphalan in C57BL/6 mice.

Methods: Different gene type mice (TNFR1(+/+), TNFR1(+/-) and TNFR1(-/-)) with the same genetic background of C57BL/6 were used in this experiment. Murine lymphoma EL4 cells were inoculated subcutaneously into the different gene type mice simultaneously.

Effect of Chinese traditional compound, Gan-fu-kang, on CCl(4)-induced liver fibrosis in rats and its probable molecular mechanisms.

Aim: To explore the antifibrotic effect of traditional Chinese medicine compound Gan-fu-kang (GFK) on CCl(4)-induced liver fibrosis in rats and its probable mechanisms.

Methods: The effects of GFK on CCl(4)-induced liver fibrosis were tested in rats. The liver histopathology was examined by light microscope, polaring microscope and electron microscope.

[Effect of cardiotrophin-1 on cardiac transcription factor GATA4 expression in rat cardiomyocytes].

Objective: To investigate the effect of cardiotrophin-1 (CT-1) on the GATA4 expression and related signaling pathways (JAK-STAT3, ERK1/2 and PI3-K) in rat cardiomyocytes.

Methods: Using semi-quantitative RT-PCR and EMSA, we measured the dose and time dependent effects of CT-1 on GATA4 mRNA and binding activity in cultured rat cardiomyocytes. Parthenolide (a STAT inhibitor), U-0126 (an ERK inhibitor) and LY-294002 (a PI3-K inhibitor) alone or in combination were added to the culture medium to assess the role of above signaling pathways in CT-1 mediated effects.

[Relationship between anti-tumor effects of melphalan and IFN-gamma].

Aim: To investigate the relationship between IFN-gamma and anti-tumor effects of melphalan in vivo.

Methods: Different gene-type mice (IFN-gamma(+/+), IFN-gamma(+/-) and IFN-gamma(-/-)), which had the same genetic background of C57BL/6, were used in this experiment. Murine lymphoma EL4 cells were inoculated subcutaneously into different gene-type mice simultaneously.