Evolution Under Dietary Restriction Increases Reproduction at the Cost of Decreased Somatic Growth.

Dietary restriction (DR) is cited as the most reliable means of extending life span in a wide range of taxa, yet the evolutionary basis of the DR effect on life span remains unclear. The resource reallocation hypothesis proposes that the longevity-extending response of DR is adaptive and stems from the reallocation of resources from reproduction to somatic maintenance under food-limited conditions. However, if DR continues for multiple generations, such a response becomes maladaptive, and genotypes with higher fecundity should be selectively favored over genotypes with longer longevity.

A Proton Battery Stack Real-Time Monitor with a Flexible Six-in-One Microsensor.

A proton battery is a hybrid battery produced by combining a hydrogen fuel cell and a battery system in an attempt to obtain the advantages of both systems. As the battery life of a single proton battery is not good, the proton battery stack is developed by connecting in parallel, which can greatly improve the battery life of proton batteries. In order to obtain important information about the proton battery stack in real time, a flexible six-in-one microsensor is embedded in the proton battery stack.

Combined Effects of Warming and Imidacloprid on Survival, Reproduction and Population Growth of Brachionus calyciflorus (Rotifera).

Global warming and pesticide contamination are two stressors of high concern, but their combined effects on freshwater biota are controversial. This study investigated the combined effects of warming and imidacloprid (IMI) on survival (measured as life expectancy at hatching), reproduction (net reproductive rate), population growth (intrinsic rate of population increase) and sexual reproduction (proportion of sexual offspring) of Brachionus calyciflorus using a life table experiment. The results showed that compared with controls, treatments with IMI at 50-100 mg/L significantly decreased survival, reproduction and population growth of the rotifers at 20℃.

Real-world utilization of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors with palliative radiotherapy in patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: Programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) blockade plus radiotherapy may be a promising strategy to improve the prognosis of patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the optimum combined scheme, treatment time of radiotherapy, and irradiated lesion have not been fully determined.

Methods: A total of 321 metastatic NSCLC patients treated with immunotherapy were identified.

Recent progress in cadmium fluorescent and colorimetric probes.

Cadmium is a heavy metal which exists widely in industrial and agricultural production and can induce a variety of diseases in organisms. Therefore, its detection is of great significance in the fields of biology, environment and medicine. Fluorescent probe has been a powerful tool for cadmium detection because of its convenience, sensitivity, and bioimaging capability.

Rapid adaptation of Brachionus dorcas (Rotifera) to tetracycline antibiotic stress.

Although natural populations can rapidly adapt to selection pressures, the fitness consequences of selection are controversial. In this study, a selection experiment was conducted with replicate populations of Brachionus dorcas that were exposed to two sublethal concentrations (26.8 and 78.

MicroRNA-193b-3p regulates matrix metalloproteinase 19 expression in interleukin-1β-induced human chondrocytes.

Micro(mi)RNAs are small, non-coding RNA molecules known to play a significant role in osteoarthritis (OA) initiation and development, and similar to matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), they participate in cartilage degeneration and cleave multiple extracellular matrices. The aim of this study was to determine whether the expression of MMP-19 in interleukin (IL)-1β-induced human chondrocytes is directly regulated by miR-193b-3p. Expression levels of miR-193b-3p and MMP-19 in normal and osteoarthritis (OA) human cartilage, and interleukin-1 β (IL-1β)-induced human chondrocytes were determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction.

Better Prognosis of Senile Patients with Intertrochanteric Femoral Fracture by Treatment with Open Reduction Internal Fixation than by Hip Arthroplasty.

Purpose: To compare the postoperative survival and mortality rates in intertrochanteric femoral fracture (IFF) patients who underwent either open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) or hip arthroplasty.

Methods: Clinical data from senior patients who had IFF and underwent ORIF or hip arthroplasty were analyzed retrospectively. Survival curves were compared between groups with Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test.

Fungal Endophytes as a Metabolic Fine-Tuning Regulator for Wine Grape.

Endophytes proved to exert multiple effects on host plants, including growth promotion, stress resistance. However, whether endophytes have a role in metabolites shaping of grape has not been fully understood. Eight endophytic fungal strains which originally isolated from grapevines were re-inoculated to field-grown grapevines in this study, and their effects on both leaves and berries of grapevines at maturity stage were assessed, with special focused on secondary metabolites and antioxidant activities.

[Comparison of the prognosis of intertrochanteric fracture with different surgical methods in elderly: a retrospective survival analysis].

Objective: To determine the difference of post-operative mortality between ORIF (open reduction internal fixation) and hip replacement for the treatment of intertrochanteric fracture in elderly by using survival analysis.

Methods: The clinical data of 110 patients above 60 years old who underwent surgical treatment (ORIF or hip replacement) for the intertrochanteric fracture between April 2003 and May 2013 were retrospectively analyzed. Among the patients, 83 cases were treated with ORIF (ORIF group), there were 32 males and 51 females, aged from 61.

Pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic study of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin combination (CCOP) chemotherapy in patients with peripheral T-cell lymphomas.

Aim: To investigate the pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic parameters of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) combined with cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisolone in patients with peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCL).

Methods: Seven chemonaive patients and four patients with relapsed peripheral T-cell lymphomas were treated with a CCOP regimen consisting of an intravenous administration of cyclophosphamide (750 mg/m(2)), vincristine (1.4 mg/m(2)), and PLD (30 mg/m(2)) on d 1, as well as an oral administration of prednisolone (60 mg/m(2)) on d 1-5.

[Efficacy of salvage chemotherapy in the advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients who failed the treatment of chemotherapy and EGFR-TKI].

Objective: Epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI) such as gefitinib and erlotinib are used as standard 2(nd)/3(rd) line therapy in previously treated advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the optimal treatment for patients who experienced disease progression after chemotherapy and EGFR-TKI is unclear. The aim of this study was to explore the efficacy and safety of a salvage chemotherapy in advanced NSCLC patients who failed the previous treatment of platinum-based chemotherapy and EGFR-TKI.

Phase II trial of gemcitabine plus cisplatin in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Aim: To investigate the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of gemcitabine (dFdC) administered on d 1 and 5 plus cisplatin administered on d 1 in chemonaive patients with stage IIIB or IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods: In each combination cycle, gemcitabine was administered at a dose of 1250 mg/m(2) as a 30 min intravenous (iv) infusion on d 1 and 5 followed by cisplatin at a dose of 75 mg/m(2) as a 3 h iv infusion on d 1 every 3 weeks. There was an interval of 1 h between the two infusions.

[Efficacy of GDP regimen (gemcitabine, dexamethasone, and cisplatin) on relapsed or refractory aggressive non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma: a report of 24 cases].

Background & Objective: The prognosis of relapsed or refractory aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) after front-line therapy remains poor. The development of more effective and less toxic salvage regimens remains a major challenge. Gemcitabine is effective in treating lymphoma and, when combined with cisplatin, is effective for some solid tumors.

Upregulated expression of toll-like receptor 4 in monocytes correlates with severity of acute cerebral infarction.

In the present study, we observed the expression of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and its downstream signal pathway in peripheral blood monocytes (PBMs) from patients with acute cerebral infarct (ACI). The expression of TLR4 and MyD88 by PBMs was determined by flow cytometry and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, and nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) activity was detected by electrophoretic mobility shift assay. Ischemia/reperfusion injury-induced cerebral edema, infarction area, and neurologic impairment scores were determined in MyD88 gene knockout mice.

[MINE regimen for patients with relapsed or chemo-resistant invasive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma].

Background & Objective: Treatment of relapsed or refractory non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) remains problematic with no standard salvage chemotherapy regimen. This study was to evaluate the efficacy of MINE (mitoxantrone, mesna/ifosfamide and etoposide) regimen on relapsed or refractory NHL, and observe its toxicity.

Methods: Records of 38 patients with relapsed or refractory invasive NHL, treated with MINE regimen from Jan.

[Teniposide and cisplatin compared with etoposide and cisplatin for treatment of small cell lung cancer].

Background & Objective: EP regimen[etoposide (VP-16) + cisplatin (DDP)] is a standard regimen for treatment of small cell lung cancer (SCLC), but the cure rate is still low. Teniposide (VM-26) is highly active single agent for SCLC as VP-16, and penetratable through blood-brain barrier. This clinical trial was designed to compare the efficacy and toxicity of teniposide plus cisplatin (VM-26 + DDP) regimen and EP regimen in treatment of SCLC, and the possible role of VM-26 on prevention of brain metastasis of SCLC.