Genetic evidence of 'genuine' empty follicle syndrome: a novel effective mutation in the LHCGR gene and review of the literature.

Empty follicle syndrome (EFS) is a reproductive disorder in which no oocytes are retrieved during IVF. The existence of genuine EFS (GEFS) is still controversial, and to date, only one missense mutation of Luteinizing Hormone/Choriogonadotropin Receptor (LHCGR) has been reported to be associated with this disease. Here, we describe a GEFS patient in a non-consanguineous family from China.

Redox-Activatable ATP-Depleting Micelles with Dual Modulation Characteristics for Multidrug-Resistant Cancer Therapy.

A fast adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-depleting micellar system that is activated by intracellular redox for the codelivery of anticancer drug paclitaxel (PTX) and small interference RNA (siRNA) targeting polo-like kinase1 (PLK1) is developed to address the key challenges of multidrug-resistant (MDR) cancer therapy. The ATP-depleting micelle is self-assembled from a redox-responsive amphiphilic polymer (termed as bPEG-SS-P123-PEI (PSPP)) that is composed of biocompatible branched polyethylene glycol (PEG) with 8 arms (bPEG), ATP-depleting Pluronic P123 (P123), and cationic low molecular weight polyethylenimine (PEI) blocks. Upon critical micelle concentration, the PSPP unimer self-assembles into a well-ordered multilayered nanostructure and is able to load PTX and siRNA targeting PLK1.

Modelling heterogeneous interfaces for solar water splitting.

The generation of hydrogen from water and sunlight offers a promising approach for producing scalable and sustainable carbon-free energy. The key of a successful solar-to-fuel technology is the design of efficient, long-lasting and low-cost photoelectrochemical cells, which are responsible for absorbing sunlight and driving water splitting reactions. To this end, a detailed understanding and control of heterogeneous interfaces between photoabsorbers, electrolytes and catalysts present in photoelectrochemical cells is essential.

Sex-specific cardiopulmonary exercise testing indices related to hemodynamics in idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Background: Many studies have highlighted sex preponderance in idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH). It is well established that there are differences in exercise capacities in the two sexes but how much of that difference reflects on disease severity or correlates to markers of severity in the two sexes is still not clear. Right heart catheterization (RHC) and cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) have been widely used for assessing functional capacity, prognosis and treatment response in IPAH.

Clinical and hemodynamic characteristics of pulmonary hypertension associated with interstitial lung disease in China.

Background: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is an important complication of interstitial lung disease (ILD). The aim of the present study was to investigate characteristics and prognosis of ILD associated PH in a predominantly Chinese patient cohort.

Methods: Consecutive patients with ILD associated PH, confirmed by right heart catheterization at shanghai pulmonary hospital were included in the study.

Redox-Activated Light-Up Nanomicelle for Precise Imaging-Guided Cancer Therapy and Real-Time Pharmacokinetic Monitoring.

Simultaneous tumor imaging, therapy, and pharmacokinetic monitoring can offer a safe and effective strategy for cancer therapy. This work describes the design of a fluorescence light-up nanomicelle that can afford precise imaging-guided drug delivery and pharmacokinetic monitoring in a real-time fashion for cancer chemotherapy. The nanomicelle, which contains a boron dipyrromethene based fluorescent probe as the hydrophobic core and a redox-triggered detachable poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) shell, can accumulate at the tumor site via enhanced permeation and retention effect.

The Reaction Mechanism with Free Energy Barriers at Constant Potentials for the Oxygen Evolution Reaction at the IrO(2) (110) Surface.

How to efficiently oxidize HO to O (oxygen evolution reaction, OER) in photoelectrochemical cells (PEC) is a great challenge due to its complex charge transfer process, high overpotential, and corrosion. So far no OER mechanism has been fully explained atomistically with both thermodynamic and kinetics. IrO is the only known OER catalyst with both high catalytic activity and stability in acidic conditions.

Vertical zonation of soil fungal community structure in a Korean pine forest on Changbai Mountain, China.

Changbai Mountain, with intact montane vertical vegetation belts, is located at a sensitive area of global climate change and a central distribution area of Korean pine forest. Broad-leaved Korean pine mixed forest (Pinus koraiensis as an edificator) is the most representative zonal climax vegetation in the humid region of northeastern China; their vertical zonation is the most intact and representative on Changbai Mountain. In this study, we analyzed the composition and diversity of soil fungal communities in the Korean pine forest on Changbai Mountain at elevations ranging from 699 to 1177 m using Illumina High-throughput sequencing.

Fluorescence- and magnetic-activated cell sorting strategies to separate spermatozoa involving plural contributors from biological mixtures for human identification.

No effective method has been developed to distinguish sperm cells originating from different men in multi-suspect sexual assault cases. Here we combined MACS and FACS to isolate single donor sperm cells from forensic mixture samples including female vaginal epithelial cells and sperm cells from multiple contributors. Sperms from vaginal swab were isolated by MACS using FITC-conjugated A kinase anchor protein 3 (AKAP3) antibody; target individual sperm cells involving two or three donors were separated by FACS using FITC-labeled blood group A/B antigen antibody.

CFTR-β-catenin interaction regulates mouse embryonic stem cell differentiation and embryonic development.

Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) is a cAMP-regulated anion channel capable of conducting both Cl and HCO, mutations of which cause cystic fibrosis (CF), a common autosomal recessive disease. Although CF patients are known to have varied degree of developmental problems, the biological role of CFTR in embryonic development remains elusive. Here, we show that CFTR is functionally expressed in mouse ESCs.

Catalpol ameliorates diabetic atherosclerosis in diabetic rabbits.

Catalpol, isolated from the roots of , Chinese foxglove, is an iridoid glycoside with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-hyperglycemic agent. The present study was to investigate the effects of catalpol on diabetic atherosclerosis in alloxan-induced diabetic rabbits. Diabetes was induced in rabbits by a hyperlipidemic diet and intravenous injection of alloxan (100 mg/kg).

Carboxylated graphene oxide functionalized with β-cyclodextrin-Engineering of a novel nanohybrid drug carrier.

In this paper, we selected biocompatible carboxylated graphene oxide (GeneO-COOH) as a base material. The nanohybrid drug carriers composed of GeneO-COOH and cyclodextrin (β-CD), have been successfully synthesized through esterification and self-assembly technique. The nanohybrid drug carriers of GeneO-COO-β-CD were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), fourier infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TG), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and solubility experiments.

Downregulation of RUVBL1 inhibits proliferation of lung adenocarcinoma cells by G1/S phase cell cycle arrest via multiple mechanisms.

Lung cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality and morbidity worldwide, of which non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for 80 %. RUVBL1 is a highly conserved eukaryotic AAA+ adenosine 5'-triphosphatase (ATPase) that has many functions highly relevant to cancer. We therefore attempted to determine the potential role of RUVBL1 in the biogenesis of lung adenocarcinoma and obtained some interesting results.

Probing cell internalisation mechanics with polymer capsules.

We report polymer capsule-based probes for quantifying the pressure exerted by cells during capsule internalisation (P). Poly(methacrylic acid) (PMA) capsules with tuneable mechanical properties were fabricated through layer-by-layer assembly. The P was quantified by correlating the cell-induced deformation with the ex situ osmotically induced deformation of the polymer capsules.

Engineering bioinspired bacteria-adhesive clay nanoparticles with a membrane-disruptive property for the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection.

We present a bioinspired design strategy to engineer bacteria-targeting and membrane-disruptive nanoparticles for the effective antibiotic therapy of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection. Antibacterial nanoparticles were self-assembled from highly exfoliated montmorillonite (eMMT) and cationic linear polyethyleneimine (lPEI) via electrostatic interactions.

Successful live birth in a woman with resistant ovary syndrome following in vitro maturation of oocytes.

Background: Resistant ovary syndrome (ROS) is a rare endocrine disorder characterized with hypergonadotrophic hypogonadism. Infertility is a common complaint of woman presenting with ROS, and little progress has been made in term of reproduction with the patient's own gamete. So far only one case report of live birth has been reported after in vitro maturation (IVM) of oocytes in a patient suffering from ROS in 2013.

Identification of vaginal fluid, saliva, and feces using microbial signatures in a Han Chinese population.

In recent years, forensic scientists have focused on the discrimination of body fluids using microbial signatures. In this study, we performed PCR-based detection of microbial signatures of vaginal fluid, saliva, and feces in a Han Chinese population. We investigated the 16S rRNA genes of Lactobacillus crispatus, Lactobacillus gasseri, Lactobacillus jensenii, Lactobacillus iners, and Atopobium vaginae in vaginal fluid, the 16S rRNA and the glucosyltransferase enzyme genes of Streptococcus salivarius and Streptococcus mutans in saliva, and the 16S rRNA genes of Enterococcus species, the RNA polymerase β-subunit gene of Bacteroides uniformis and Bacteroides vulgatus, and the α-1-6 mannanase gene of Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron in feces.

PTD4-apoptin induces Bcl-2-insensitive apoptosis in human cervical carcinoma in vitro and in vivo.

Worldwide, cervix carcinoma is among the most dangerous cancer types, and novel therapies are under development. Cancer treatments are often hampered because of lack of specificity. The chicken anemia virus-derived apoptin induces apoptosis selectively in tumor cells and leaves normal cells unharmed.

Clinical characteristics of pulmonary hypertension in bronchiectasis.

Pulmonary hypertension (PH), as a complication of bronchiectasis, is associated with increased mortality. However, hemodynamic characteristics and the efficacy of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) therapies in patients with bronchiectasis and PH remain unknown. Patients with bilateral bronchiectasis and concurrent PH were included in the study.

Loss of cohesin complex components STAG2 or STAG3 confers resistance to BRAF inhibition in melanoma.

The protein kinase B-Raf proto-oncogene, serine/threonine kinase (BRAF) is an oncogenic driver and therapeutic target in melanoma. Inhibitors of BRAF (BRAFi) have shown high response rates and extended survival in patients with melanoma who bear tumors that express mutations encoding BRAF proteins mutant at Val600, but a vast majority of these patients develop drug resistance. Here we show that loss of stromal antigen 2 (STAG2) or STAG3, which encode subunits of the cohesin complex, in melanoma cells results in resistance to BRAFi.