High glucose increases action potential firing of catecholamine neurons in the nucleus of the solitary tract by increasing spontaneous glutamate inputs.

Glucose is a crucial substrate essential for cell survival and function. Changes in glucose levels impact neuronal activity and glucose deprivation increases feeding. Several brain regions have been shown to respond to glucoprivation, including the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) in the brain stem.

A Retrospective Study of Percutaneous Balloon Kyphoplasty for the Treatment of Symptomatic Schmorl's Nodes: 5-Year Results.

BACKGROUND Despite literature supporting the efficiency of percutaneous balloon kyphoplasty (PKP) in treating osteoporotic and malignant vertebral compression fractures, few reports exist that document its use for treatment of symptomatic Schmorl's nodes (SNs) refractory to conservative treatment. Patients with symptomatic SNs could have pain in the vertebrae similar to an acute vertebral compression fracture. MRI is very helpful in diagnosing symptomatic SNs when x-ray and CT scan are unremarkable.

Investigation of luminescent mechanism: N-rich carbon dots as luminescence centers in fluorescent hydroxyapatite prepared using a typical hydrothermal process.

Defect-related fluorescent HAp materials, which require no toxic metal ions or photobleaching fluorescent organic dyes, are expected to be excellent fluorescent probes in biological fields. However, the luminescent mechanism is poorly understood, making it difficult to adjust their emission performance for better applications in bioimaging. Herein, a novel luminescent mechanism for defect-related HAp fluorescent materials obtained from a typical hydrothermal process was revealed.

Tuberostemonine reverses multidrug resistance in chronic myelogenous leukemia cells K562/ADR.

To investigate the reversal effect of tuberostemonine on MDR in myelogenous leukemia cells K562/ADR. Human myelogenous leukemia cells K562 and their adriamycin-resistance cells K562/ADR were used. The growth curve of cells treated by tuberostemonine and the Non-toxic concentration of tuberostemonine were determined by MTT, Cell apoptosis was determined by MTT and flow cytometry.

Human placenta-derived mesenchymal stem cells loaded on linear ordered collagen scaffold improves functional recovery after completely transected spinal cord injury in canine.

Traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) is a major challenge in the clinic. In this study, we sought to examine the synergistic effects of linear ordered collagen scaffold (LOCS) and human placenta-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hPMSCs) when transplanted into completely transected beagle dogs. After 36 weeks observation, we found that LOCS+hPMSCs implants promoted better hindlimb locomotor recovery than was observed in the non-treatment (control) group and LOCS group.

Spatial-Temporal Imaging of Anisotropic Photocarrier Dynamics in Black Phosphorus.

As an emerging single elemental layered material with a low symmetry in-plane crystal lattice, black phosphorus (BP) has attracted significant research interest owing to its unique electronic and optoelectronic properties, including its widely tunable bandgap, polarization-dependent photoresponse and highly anisotropic in-plane charge transport. Despite extensive study of the steady-state charge transport in BP, there has not been direct characterization and visualization of the hot carriers dynamics in BP immediately after photoexcitation, which is crucial to understanding the performance of BP-based optoelectronic devices. Here we use the newly developed scanning ultrafast electron microscopy (SUEM) to directly visualize the motion of photoexcited hot carriers on the surface of BP in both space and time.

Influence of presence/absence of thyroid gland on the cutoff value for thyroglobulin in lymph-node aspiration to detect metastatic papillary thyroid carcinoma.

Background: Thyroglobulin measurement with fine-needle aspiration (Tg-FNA) is a sensitive method for detecting metastatic papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). However, the diagnostic threshold is not well established and the influence of the thyroid gland on the cutoff value is also controversial. In this study, patients were classified into two groups according to the presence or absence of thyroid tissue, to determine an appropriate cutoff value for clinical practice.

Percutaneous Balloon Kyphoplasty in Treatment of Painful Osteoporotic Occult Vertebral Fracture: A Retrospective Study of 89 Cases.

BACKGROUND The definition of a vertebral fracture is usually based on the presence of a deformation of the vertebral body and this can be misleading in the presence of a fracture without radiologic collapse with the definition of occult osteoporotic vertebral fractures (OOVFs). STIR sequence of MRI images showing hyperintensity signal was the most confirmative screening examination used to determine the presence of painful OOVFs. To date, clinical management of OOVFs has been rarely discussed.

Genetic tracing of hepatocytes in liver homeostasis, injury, and regeneration.

The liver possesses a remarkable capacity to regenerate after damage. There is a heated debate on the origin of new hepatocytes after injuries in adult liver. Hepatic stem/progenitor cells have been proposed to produce functional hepatocytes after injury.

Cloning and characterization of squalene synthase and cycloartenol synthase from .

Mogrosides and steroid saponins are tetracyclic triterpenoids found in . Squalene synthase (SQS) and cycloartenol synthase (CAS) are key enzymes in triterpenoid and steroid biosynthesis. In this study, full-length cDNAs of and were cloned by a rapid amplification of cDNA-ends with polymerase chain reaction (RACE-PCR) approach.

Systematic identification of flavonols, flavonol glycosides, triterpene and siraitic acid glycosides from Siraitia grosvenorii using high-performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry combined with a screening strategy.

The fruits of Siraitia grosvenorii are considered to be health-promoting because of the diversity of their bioactive ingredients. In the present study, a screening method, using high-performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HPLC-Q-TOF-MS) combined with a screening strategy, has been established. The technology was used to systematically screening the targeted metabolites, primarily from the complex matrix of S.

Cellular internalization of rod-like nano hydroxyapatite particles and their size and dose-dependent effects on pre-osteoblasts.

Nano hydroxyapatite particles (n-HA) have been reported to promote osteogenic activities of bone-related cells, while inhibiting tumor cell growth, and the biological effects of n-HA are related with the particle size, dose, culture time and cell type. In this work, we prepared n-HA with a strictly controlled rod-like shape and adjustable sizes without any surface chemical contaminations. Using the prepared n-HA, we investigated the size and dose effect of the nano particles on pre-osteoblasts for up to 7 days.

Silencing miR-106b accelerates osteogenesis of mesenchymal stem cells and rescues against glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis by targeting BMP2.

Osteoporosis is a serious health problem worldwide. MicroRNA is a post-transcriptional regulator of gene expression by either promoting mRNA degradation or interfering with mRNA translation of specific target genes. It plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of osteoporosis.

PPy@MIL-100 Nanoparticles as a pH- and Near-IR-Irradiation-Responsive Drug Carrier for Simultaneous Photothermal Therapy and Chemotherapy of Cancer Cells.

A medical nanoplatform with small size, low cost, biocompatibility, good biodegradability, and, in particular, multifunctionality has attracted much attention in the exploration of novel therapeutic methodologies. As an emerging material of self-assembled porous structure, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have high expectations because of their special properties compared to traditional porous materials. Therefore, integration of MOFs and functional materials is leading to the creation of new multifunctional composites/hybrids.

Dimericbiscognienyne A: A Meroterpenoid Dimer from Biscogniauxia sp. with New Skeleton and Its Activity.

Dimericbiscognienyne A (1), an unusual diisoprenyl-cyclohexene-type meroterpenoid dimer, was isolated from Biscogniauxia sp. together with three new monomeric diisoprenyl-cyclohexene-type meroterpenoids (2-4) and one new isoprenyl-benzoic acid-type meroterpenoid (5). All structures were determined by extensive NMR spectroscopic methods, quantum chemical calculations, chemical derivatization, and X-ray crystallography.

Mfsd2a+ hepatocytes repopulate the liver during injury and regeneration.

Hepatocytes are functionally heterogeneous and are divided into two distinct populations based on their metabolic zonation: the periportal and pericentral hepatocytes. During liver injury and regeneration, the cellular dynamics of these two distinct populations remain largely elusive. Here we show that major facilitator super family domain containing 2a (Mfsd2a), previously known to maintain blood-brain barrier function, is a periportal zonation marker.

Cloning and expression of from .

CYP450 plays an essential role in the development and growth of the fruits of . However, little is known about the gene in . Here, based on transcriptome data, a full-length cDNA sequence of was cloned by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and rapid-amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) strategies.

A novel inactivated enterovirus 71 vaccine can elicit cross-protective immunity against coxsackievirus A16 in mice.

Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is a highly contagious disease that mainly affects infants and children. Enterovirus 71 (EV71) and coxsackievirus A16 (CA16) are the major pathogens of HFMD. Two EV71 vaccines were recently licensed in China and the administration of the EV71 vaccines is believed to significantly reduce the number of HFMD-related severe or fatal cases.

Brief Report: Evaluation of an Intelligent Learning Environment for Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Researchers are increasingly attempting to develop and apply innovative technological platforms for early detection and intervention of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This pilot study designed and evaluated a novel technologically-mediated intelligent learning environment with relevance to early social orienting skills. The environment was endowed with the capacity to administer social orienting cues and adaptively respond to autonomous real-time measurement of performance (i.

Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) response to crude oil exposure in the polychaete Perinereis aibuhitensis.

Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) cDNAs from the polychaete Perinereis aibuhitensis were cloned and characterized in order to investigate the relationship between crude oil exposure and stress response in this worm. The full length of PaSOD was 870 bp and PaCAT was 1967 bp encoding 150 and 506 amino acids, respectively. Gene expression and enzyme activity of Cu/Zn SOD and CAT in response to crude oil contaminated soil (500, 1500, and 3000 mg/kg) were measured.

Efficacy and safety of Sancai powder in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a randomized controlled trial.

Objective: To assess the efficacy and safety of Sancai powder in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) inadequately controlled with single oral metformin in a randomized controlled trial (RCT).

Methods: A total of 132 patients with T2DM were enrolled in the study, who only took metformin (500-1000 mg/day) for at least three months and with inadequate glycemic control (7.0% ≤ hemoglobin A1c ≤ 9.

Event-triggered reliable H filter design for networked systems with multiple sensor distortions: A probabilistic partition approach.

In this paper, the problem of event-triggered reliable H filtering for networked systems with multiple sensor distortions is investigated. The interval of sensor distortion in each channel is partitioned several segments. By introducing a set of rand variables, the model of multiple sensor distortions with their information of probability distribution in each segment is established, which is more general than the one in open results.

A neonatal mouse model for the evaluation of antibodies and vaccines against coxsackievirus A6.

Coxsackievirus A6 (CA6) can induce atypical hand, foot, and mouth disease, which is characterized by severe rash, onychomadesis and a higher rate of infection in adults. Increasing epidemiological data indicated that outbreaks of CA6-associated hand, foot, and mouth disease have markedly increased worldwide in recent years. However, the current body of knowledge on the infection, pathogenic mechanism, and immunogenicity of CA6 is still very limited.

[Responses of dry matter, nitrogen accumulation and distribution and nitrogen utilization of pepper to new-type fertilizers in Guizhou yellow soil.].

In order to explore the pepper yield responses to new-type fertilizers in yellow soil in Guizhou Province, a pot experiment, with the variety of "Bola 5", was conducted to estimate the effects of four new-type fertilizers, including water retaining fertilizer (BSX), stable slow release fertilizer (WDX), coated slow release fertilizer (BMX) and long-lasting nitrogen fertilizer (CXDF), on the accumulation and distribution of dry matter and nitrogen (N) uptake and N use efficiency. The results showed that the application of new-type fertilizers could significantly influence the accumulation and distribution of dry matter and shoot N uptake. Compared with dry matter accumulation, the start time and the end time of N accumulation during fast-growing period were advanced by 17-26 d and 28-45 d, respectively, and the duration of N accumulation in fast-growing period was shorter by 7-23 d, which indicated that the occurrence time of N accumulation was prior to the accumulation of dry matter.