Novel mutation in the periaxin gene causal to Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 4F.

Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease is the most common hereditary neuropathy. Mutations in the periaxin gene () can cause CMT type 4F, an autosomal recessive neuropathy, which is clinically characterized by slowly progressive distal muscle atrophy and weakness, with pes cavus deformity of the foot, and the absence of deep tendon reflexes. To date, dozens of reports of mutations have been published worldwide, but none have been reported in Chinese patients.

Resistance mechanisms and molecular epidemiology of carbapenem-nonsusceptible in Taiwan, 2012-2015.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the resistance mechanisms and molecular epidemiology of carbapenem-nonsusceptible (CnsEC) in Taiwan.

Patients And Methods: From 2012 to 2015, 237 isolates with minimum inhibitory concentrations of imipenem or meropenem >1 μg/mL were collected in a nationwide surveillance and subjected to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for carbapenemase, AmpC-type β-lactamase, and extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) genes. We evaluated outer membrane proteins (OmpF and OmpC) loss and conducted multilocus sequence typing and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE).

Advances in Sn-Based Catalysts for Electrochemical CO Reduction.

The increasing concentration of CO in the atmosphere has led to the greenhouse effect, which greatly affects the climate and the ecological balance of nature. Therefore, converting CO into renewable fuels via clean and economical chemical processes has become a great concern for scientists. Electrocatalytic CO conversion is a prospective path toward carbon cycling.

EGFR mutant locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer is at increased risk of brain metastasis.

Background And Purpose: Small studies of primarily metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have suggested an association between EGFR mutation (EGFR+) and likelihood of brain metastasis. However, these studies are confounded by follow-up time bias. We performed a competing risk analysis of brain metastasis in a more uniform locally advanced NSCLC (LA-NSCLC) cohort with known tumor genotype.

A High-Rate and Long-Life Aqueous Rechargeable Ammonium Zinc Hybrid Battery.

Unlike traditional metal-ion insertion, the emerging aqueous rechargeable ammonium-ion batteries (ARABs) brings new battery chemistries for future stationary energy storage. However, low energy density and low durability hinder the further development of ARABs because of the lack of suitable and cost-efficient anodes. In this study, an aqueous rechargeable ammonium zinc hybrid battery is fabricated from durable corner-truncated sodium iron hexacyanoferrate nanocubes as the cathode and low-cost zinc as the anode.

Dietary supplementation of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol improves livability in broiler breeder hens.

The study aimed to examine the effects of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25-OH-D3) on reproductive performance and livability in broiler breeder hens. Hens at age of 26 wk were continued on restricted rations (R) or allowed ad libitum feeding (Ad) to 60 wk of age. Ad-feed intake greatly impaired egg production and hens' livability.

Nationwide surveillance of antimicrobial resistance among clinically important Gram-negative bacteria, with an emphasis on carbapenems and colistin: Results from the Surveillance of Multicenter Antimicrobial Resistance in Taiwan (SMART) in 2018.

Multicentre surveillance of antimicrobial susceptibility of clinically important Gram-negative bacteria (GNB) from 16 Taiwanese hospitals was performed. Escherichia coli (n = 398), Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 346), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n = 252) and Acinetobacter baumannii complex (ABC) (n = 188) bloodstream isolates, non-typhoidal Salmonella (n = 230) and Shigella flexneri (n = 18) from various sources were collected. Antimicrobial MICs were determined using broth microdilution.

Effects of Postmastectomy Radiation Therapy on Immediate Tissue Expander and Acellular Dermal Matrix Reconstruction: Results of a Prospective Clinical Trial.

Purpose: Postmastectomy radiation therapy (PMRT) delivered to an immediate reconstruction increases the risk of surgical complications. Although acellular dermal matrix (ADM) has been used with immediate tissue expander (TE) reconstruction to improve cosmetic outcomes and minimize capsular contracture, there is a paucity of data on this approach in the setting of PMRT.

Methods And Materials: Thirty-two patients with stage I to III breast cancer were treated with mastectomy, immediate TE-ADM reconstruction, and PMRT between 2009 and 2012 in a prospective single-arm study.

Salvage radiation therapy for localized recurrent ovarian cancer.

Introduction: To evaluate clinical outcomes for patients with localized recurrent ovarian cancer treated with salvage radiotherapy.

Methods: In a retrospective single institutional analysis, we identified 40 patients who received salvage radiotherapy for localized ovarian cancer recurrence from January 1995 to June 2011. Recurrent disease was categorized as: pelvic peritoneal (45%, 18), extraperitoneal/nodal (35%, 14), or vaginal (20%, eight).

CoS /C hierarchical hollow nanocages from a metal-organic framework as a positive electrode with enhancing performance for aqueous supercapacitors.

Benefiting from abundant redox chemistry and high electrochemical properties, metal sulfides have been broadly employed as electrode materials in supercapacitor systems. However, the predominant limitation in their performance, which arises from indifferent electron and ion dynamics for transportation and a rapid slash in capacitance, is of particular concern. Herein, we portray the cobalt sulfides/carbon (CoS /C) hierarchical hollow nanocages using ZIF-67 nanocrystals coated with carbon from resorcinol-formaldehyde (ZIF-67@RF) as a self-sacrificial template.

Transcriptomic and proteomic effects of (-)-epigallocatechin 3-O-(3-O-methyl) gallate (EGCG3"Me) treatment on ethanol-stressed Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae (S. cerevisiae) is the main fermentation strain in brewing industry. However, the accumulation of ethanol during the fermentation inhibits the growth of S.

Amide Proton Transfer MRI Signal as a Surrogate Biomarker of Ischemic Stroke Recovery in Patients With Supportive Treatment.

Amide proton transfer (APT) MR imaging has shown great potential in the evaluation of stroke severity because of its sensitivity to acid environments. However, this promising MRI technique has not been used to assess treatment efficacy with regard to stroke recovery. To assess the therapeutic effect of supportive treatment in ischemic stroke patients using the pH-sensitive APT MRI technique.

Activation of mTORC1 in subchondral bone preosteoblasts promotes osteoarthritis by stimulating bone sclerosis and secretion of CXCL12.

Increasing evidences show that aberrant subchondral bone remodeling plays an important role in the development of osteoarthritis (OA). However, how subchondral bone formation is activated and the mechanism by which increased subchondral bone turnover promotes cartilage degeneration during OA remains unclear. Here, we show that the mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) pathway is activated in subchondral bone preosteoblasts (Osterix+) from OA patients and mice.

Phase II Trial of Eribulin in Patients With Metastatic Hormone Refractory Prostate Cancer: A Trial of the ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group (E5805).

Background: Eribulin mesylate, a synthetic analog of halichondrin B, is a novel tubulin-binding agent that inhibits cancer cell proliferation at low-nanomolar levels.

Methods: In a multicenter ECOG trial, patients with progressive metastatic CRPC, ECOG 0-2 were treated with eribulin 1.4 mg/m as an IV bolus over 5 minutes on days 1 and 8 of a 21-day cycle.

Antitumor Responses in the Absence of Toxicity in Solid Tumors by Targeting B7-H3 via Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cells.

The high expression across multiple tumor types and restricted expression in normal tissues make B7-H3 an attractive target for immunotherapy. We generated chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells targeting B7-H3 (B7-H3.CAR-Ts) and found that B7-H3.

Tunable Valley Polarized Plasmon-Exciton Polaritons in Two-Dimensional Semiconductors.

Monolayers of transition-metal dicalcogenides have emerged as two-dimensional semiconductors with direct bandgaps at degenerate but inequivalent electronic "valleys", supporting distinct excitons that can be selectively excited by polarized light. These valley-addressable excitons, when strongly coupled with optical resonances, lead to the formation of half-light half-matter quasiparticles, known as polaritons. Here we report self-assembled plasmonic crystals that support tungsten disulfide monolayers, in which the strong coupling of semiconductor excitons and plasmon lattice modes results in a Rabi splitting of ∼160 meV in transmission spectra as well as valley-polarized photoluminescence at room temperature.

A metagenomic analysis of the modulatory effect of Cyclocarya paliurus flavonoids on the intestinal microbiome in a high-fat diet-induced obesity mouse model.

Background: As a result of a low bioavailability, the majority of Cyclocarya paliurus flavonoids (CPF) remain in the large intestine where they accumulate to exert a modulatory effect on the intestinal micro-ecology. Therefore, the present study investigated the modulatory effect of CPF on intestinal microbiota.

Results: CPF dramatically ameliorated the obesity-induced gut dysbiosis.

Fabricating an Aqueous Symmetric Supercapacitor with a Stable High Working Voltage of 2 V by Using an Alkaline-Acidic Electrolyte.

Aqueous symmetric carbon-based supercapacitors (CSCs) are always the research focus for energy storage devices because of the virtue of low cost, inherent safety, and encouraging electrochemical stability. As is well-known, so far most aqueous symmetric CSCs are subjected to low energy densities. Here, a symmetric supercapacitor comprising electrodes from biomass-derived activated carbon and alkaline-acidic electrolyte is reported.

Eradication of Neuroblastoma by T Cells Redirected with an Optimized GD2-Specific Chimeric Antigen Receptor and Interleukin-15.

Purpose: A delay in encountering the cognate antigen while in the circulation, and the suboptimal costimulation received at the tumor site are key reasons for the limited activity of chimeric antigen receptor-redirected T cells (CAR-T) in solid tumors. We have explored the benefits of incorporating the IL15 cytokine within the CAR cassette to provide both a survival signal before antigen encounter, and an additional cytokine signaling at the tumor site using a neuroblastoma tumor model.

Experimental Design: We optimized the construct for the CAR specific for the NB-antigen GD2 without (GD2.

A Remote -Regulatory Region Is Required for Expression in the Pericycle to Initiate Nodule Primordium Formation in .

The legume-rhizobium symbiosis results in nitrogen-fixing root nodules, and their formation involves both intracellular infection initiated in the epidermis and nodule organogenesis initiated in inner root cell layers. () is a nodule-specific transcription factor essential for both processes. These NIN-regulated processes occur at different times and locations in the root, demonstrating a complex pattern of spatiotemporal regulation.

Urban Metabolic Analysis of a Food-Water-Energy System for Sustainable Resources Management.

Urban metabolism analyzes the supply and consumption of nutrition, material, energy, and other resources within cities. Food, water, and energy are critical resources for the human society and have complicated cooperative/competitive influences on each other. The management of interactive resources is essential for supply chain analysis.

A transcriptome analysis of the ameliorate effect of Cyclocarya paliurus triterpenoids on ethanol stress in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae (S. cerevisiae) plays a critical role in ethanol fermentation. However, during the fermentation, yeast cells are exposed to the accumulation of ethanol, which significantly affect the cell growth and the target product yield.

Promoting Li-O Batteries With Redox Mediators.

Li-O batteries have a high theoretical specific energy, 3500 Wh kg ; however, its practical capacity is far below this value and limited by the passivation with the insulating discharge product Li O . The nonconductive nature of Li O also impedes the charging process, leading to a low coulombic efficiency and high overpotential on charge even at a moderate rate. To address these challenges, redox mediators could be used both during discharge and charge to transfer electrons between O /electrode surface or Li O /electrode surface to overcome the passivation of Li O , which would facilitate the discharge and charge process.

A new species of the lichenised genus (Baeomycetaceae, Baeomycetales) from Tengger Desert of China.

The monotypic lichenised genus (Baeomycetaceae, Baeomycetales), with its single species , is distributed in the arid areas of the Northern Hemisphere, including China. In this paper, we introduce another species new to science, . The new species is characterised by a densely pruinose upper surface, abundantly thick and strong rhizines and terricolous habitat.

Outcomes by , , and Genotype After Combined Modality Therapy for Locally Advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer.

Purpose: In 699 patients with locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with radiation therapy as part of combined modality therapy, we compared outcomes among genotyped and ungenotyped patients and by tumor genotype status (, , and ).

Patients And Methods: Genotyping was performed in 250 patients: (19%), (32%), + (9%), and wild type (WT; 40%). Outcomes were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression.