Diagnosis of membranous supravalvular aortic stenosis with severe aortic valve insufficiency.

Although the clinical manifestations of membranous supravalvular aortic stenosis (SVAS) are distinctive, its diagnosis remains challenging. Failure to initiate surgical treatment in a timely manner greatly increases the risk of sudden cardiac death. We report a case of membranous SVAS, detailing the clinical presentation and imaging manifestations.

Multimodal imaging of morning glory syndrome with persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous.

Morning glory syndrome (MGS) and persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous (PHPV) are congenital abnormity, which may be related to the increased incidence of systemic abnormalities and retinal detachment，diagnosed by ultrasound, identified by CT, MRI, and with the confirmation of fundus examination.

The confusing pelvic cystic mass: A case of giant prostatic utricle cyst diagnosed by ultrasound.

The giant prostatic utricle cyst, located behindthe bladder with removable irregular mixed echo, communicating with the urethraat the level of the seminal colliculus, was diagnosed by ultrasound andverified by pathology and surgery.

Efficient polymer-mediated delivery system for thiocyclam: Nanometerization remarkably improves the bioactivity toward green peach aphids.

The unscientific application of synthetic pesticides has brought various negative effects on the environment, hindering the sustainable development of agriculture. Nanoparticles can be applied as carriers to improve pesticide delivery, showing great potential in the development of pesticide formulation in recent years. Herein, a star polymer (SPc) was constructed as an efficient pesticide nanocarrier/adjuvant that could spontaneously assemble with thiocyclam or monosultap into a complex, through hydrophobic association and hydrogen bonding, respectively, with the pesticide-loading contents of 42.

Decreased exosome-delivered miR-486-5p is responsible for the peritoneal metastasis of gastric cancer cells by promoting EMT progress.

Background: The present study aims to investigate the preliminary mechanism underlying the peritoneal metastasis of gastric cancer cells.

Methods: Exosomes from GC9811 cells (Con-Exo) and from GC9811-P cells (PM-Exo) were extracted by ultracentrifugation, which were identified with transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and nanoparticle trafficking analysis, as well as the expression of CD9, CD63, and CD81 detected by Western blot assay. α-SMA expression was determined by immunofluorescence assay and Western blot assay.

Observation of the fine structure of antennal sensilla of the stink bug, Eocanthecona furcellata (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae).

In order to explore the mechanism underlying chemosensation in Eocanthecona furcellata, the external morphology of its antennae and the type, quantity, distribution and ultrastructure of the sensilla were observed on both sexes of adults and 5th-instar nymphs using scanning electron microscopy. The results showed that the antennae of E. furcellata consisted of three parts: scape, pedicel and flagellum.

Hyper- and hypo-connectivity in sensorimotor network of drug-naïve patients with cervical dystonia.

Background: Cervical dystonia (CD) is the most common form of focal dystonia with involuntary movements and postures of the head. The pathogenesis and neural mechanisms underlying CD have not been fully elucidated.

Methods: Twenty-seven newly drug-naïve patients with CD and 21 healthy controls (HCs) were recruited with clinical assessment and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) scanning.

The Key Genes for Perineural Invasion in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Identified With Monte-Carlo Feature Selection Method.

Background: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the most aggressive form of pancreatic cancer. Its 5-year survival rate is only 3-5%. Perineural invasion (PNI) is a process of cancer cells invading the surrounding nerves and perineural spaces.

MiR-139-5p/SLC7A11 inhibits the proliferation, invasion and metastasis of pancreatic carcinoma via PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

Objective: Pancreatic carcinoma (PANC) is one of the important aggressive cancers, with deficiency in effective therapeutics. The study aimed to investigate the effects and molecular mechanism of miR-139-5p/SLC7A11 on the proliferation and metastasis of PANC.

Methods: Bioinformatics was used to analyze the differentially expressed genes in the TCGA database.

Autologous Blood Transfusion and Pringle Maneuver in Laparoscopic Segmental Hepatectomy for Benign Hepatic Neoplasms: A Retrospective Study.

To investigate the effect of autologous blood transfusion (ABT) and Pringle maneuver (PM) on postoperative early liver function and short-term postoperative results following laparoscopic liver resection in patients with benign hepatic neoplasms. We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data for 125 consecutive patients who underwent laparoscopic egmental hepatectomy from January 2015 to May 2018 (68 in the ABT group versus 57 in the PM group). We compared patients' characteristics and intra- and postoperative short-term outcomes between the groups.

Effects of Cu on alkaline phosphatase from Macrobrachium rosenbergii.

To gain insight into the effect of Cu on the activity and structure of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) from Macrobrachium rosenbergii, the enzyme was purified using ammonium sulfate fractionation, Sephacryl S-200, and DEAE anion exchange chromatography. We studied Cu-mediated inhibition and aggregation of ALP, and found that Cu significantly inactivated ALP activity with an IC of 1.47 ± 0.

Proteomic analyses for profiling regulated proteins/enzymes by Fucus vesiculosus fucoidan in B16 melanoma cells: A combination of enzyme kinetics functional study.

Fucoidans are complex sulfated polysaccharides that have a wide range of biological activities. Previously, we reported the various effects of Fucus vesiculosus fucoidan on tyrosinase and B16 melanoma cells. In this study, to identify fucoidan-targeted proteins in B16 melanoma cells, we performed a proteomics study and integrated enzyme kinetics.

Fluoxetine-enhanced autophagy ameliorates early brain injury via inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome activation following subrachnoid hemorrhage in rats.

Background: The NLRP3 inflammasome is a multiprotein complex that regulates the innate immune inflammatory response by activating caspase-1 and subsequent IL-1β and IL-18. Fluoxetine has been shown to have the anti-inflammatory properties in many disease models. However, the effects and mechanisms of these effects of fluoxetine in early brain injury after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) have not been defined.

Mdivi-1 ameliorates early brain injury after subarachnoid hemorrhage via the suppression of inflammation-related blood-brain barrier disruption and endoplasmic reticulum stress-based apoptosis.

Aberrant modulation of mitochondrial dynamic network, which shifts the balance of fusion and fission towards fission, is involved in brain damage of various neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease and Alzheimer's disease. A recent research has shown that the inhibition of mitochondrial fission alleviates early brain injury after experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage, however, the underlying molecular mechanisms have remained to be elucidated. This study was undertaken to characterize the effects of the inhibition of dynamin-related protein-1 (Drp1, a dominator of mitochondrial fission) on blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption and neuronal apoptosis following SAH and the potential mechanisms.

Comparison of very-high-frequency ultrasound assessment of radial arterial wall layers after first and repeated transradial coronary procedures.

Background: Transradial coronary procedure (TRP) traumatizes the radial artery (RA), especially resulting in changes to arterial wall morphology. This study explored the significance of the early onset of traumatic effects to wall layers of the RA following the first TRP (FTRP) and repeat TRP (RTRP) using very-high-frequency ultrabiomicroscopy (VHFUBM).

Methods: A total of 1431 patients that received TRP were divided into the FTRP group that comprised 781 patients and the RTRP group that comprised 650 patients depending on the number of procedures.

EFFECT OF FUCOIDAN ON B16 MURINE MELANOMA CELL MELANIN FORMATION AND APOPTOSIS.

Background: Fucoidan is a complex sulfated polysaccharide extracted from brown seaweed and has a wide variety of biological activities. It not only inhibits cancer cell growth but also inhibits tyrosinase in vitro. Therefore, it is of interest to investigate the effect of fucoidan on B16 murine melanoma cells as the findings may provide new insights into the underlying mechanism regarding the inhibition of melanin formation by fucoidan.

Characterization and Potential Antitumor Activity of Polysaccharide from Gracilariopsis lemaneiformis.

Substances with valuable antitumor properties have been identified in many marine algae, including an edible polysaccharide from the marine alga (PGL). We previously reported transcriptome profiling data showing that PGL induced transcriptional alterations generate anti-lung cancer activity. To identify how PGL is detrimental to tumors, we purified PGL to characterize its chemical composition, molecular weight, and sugar and protein content and investigated its antitumor activity.

[Safe wintering and economic and ecological benefit of winter rapeseed in dry and cold areas of northern China].

The purpose of this study was to realize the security of safe wintering of winter rapeseed in dry and cold regions of northern China. Experiments were conducted with 18 winter rapeseed (Brassica campestris) varieties at 57 sites from 2008 to 2013 to statistically analyze the wintering rate variation of different varieties in dry and cold regions of northern China. The results showed that, the wintering rate varied from 70% to 90% during the study period in different regions, which had no significant difference between different years and varieties, and had high stability and remarkable economic benefit.

Different patterns of spontaneous brain activity between tremor-dominant and postural instability/gait difficulty subtypes of Parkinson's disease: a resting-state fMRI study.

Aims: Postural instability/gait difficulty (PIGD) and tremor-dominant (TD) subtypes of Parkinson's disease (PD) show different clinical manifestations; however, their underlying neural substrates remain incompletely understood. This study aimed at investigating the subtype-specific patterns of spontaneous brain activity in PD.

Methods: Thirty-one patients with PD (12 TD/19 PIGD) and 22 healthy gender- and age-matched controls were recruited.

Effect of Monascus aged vinegar on isoflavone conversion in soy germ by soaking treatment.

Soy germ rich in isoflavones has attracted much attention for health-promoting characteristics. An effective approach via Monascus aged vinegar soaking was adopted to enhance the aglycone amount. The profiles and interconversion of soy germ isoflavones via Monascus aged vinegar soaking were investigated, and the distribution in vinegars were also explored.

A folding study of Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) alkaline phosphatase using denaturants.

To gain insight into the structural and folding mechanisms of Antarctic krill alkaline phosphatase (ALP), the enzyme was properly purified by (NH4)2SO4 fractionation and by both Sephadex G-75 and DEAE anion exchange chromatography. The purified enzyme (62.6 kDa; 2.

Purification, characterization, and unfolding studies of arginine kinase from Antarctic krill.

The regulation of enzymatic activity and unfolding studies of arginine kinase (AK) from various invertebrates have been the focus of investigation. To gain insight into the structural and folding mechanisms of AK from Euphausia superba (ESAK), we purified ESAK from muscle properly. The enzyme behaved as a monomeric protein with a molecular mass of about 40kDa and had pH and temperature optima of 8.

Folding studies of arginine kinase from Euphausia superba using denaturants.

Arginine kinase (AK) is a key metabolic enzyme for maintaining energy balance in invertebrates and studies on AK from Euphausia superba might provide important insights into the metabolic enzymes in extreme climatic marine environments. A folding study of the AK from E. superba (ESAK) has not yet been reported.

The effect of validamycin A on tyrosinase: inhibition kinetics and computational simulation.

In this study, we investigated validamycin A as a tyrosinase inhibitor based on its structural properties. We found that the reversible inhibition of tyrosinase by validamycin A occurred in a mixed-type manner with Ki=5.893±0.