A Novel Mechanochromic and Photochromic Polymer Film: When Rhodamine Joins Polyurethane.

A rhodamine-based molecule, Rh-OH, is synthesized. Rh-OH exhibits a reversible mechanochromic luminescent character but a passivating response to UV light. An elastomeric polymer film based on polyurethane with embedded Rh-OH is prepared via a polycondensation reaction.

[Current Status and Development of Traditional Chemotherapy in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer under the Background of Targeted Therapy].

In recent years, along with rapid development of targeted therapy in non-small cell lung cancer, traditional chemotherapy get less and less attention. Yet it still can not be ignored in the current that how to locate and use traditional chemotherapy so patients could derive maximum benefit. For this purpose, through the literature review and analysis, we point out there are still many traditional chemotherapy irreplaceable places whatever patients' driver gene status.

Transcriptional analysis of immune-related gene expression in p53-deficient mice with increased susceptibility to influenza A virus infection.

Background: p53 is a tumor suppressor that contributes to the host immune response against viral infections in addition to its well-established protective role against cancer development. In response to influenza A virus (IAV) infection, p53 is activated and plays an essential role in inhibiting IAV replication. As a transcription factor, p53 regulates the expression of a range of downstream responsive genes either directly or indirectly in response to viral infection.

Pathological complete response to gefitinib in a 10-year-old boy with EGFR-negative pulmonary mucoepidermoid carcinoma: a case report and literature review.

Background And Aims: Pulmonary Mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) accounts for 0.1-0.2% of all lung cancer.

Mechanically Induced Multicolor Change of Luminescent Materials.

Mechanofluorochromic or piezochromic fluorescence chemistry involves the switching and tuning of the luminescent properties of solid-state materials induced by exogenous forces, such as grinding, shearing, compression, tension, and so forth. Up until now, most reported mechanochromic systems, including liquid crystals, organic molecules, organometallic compounds, polymers, and dye-doped polymers, have displayed reversible two-color changes, which arise from either supramolecular or chemical structure transformations. However, fluorescent materials that undergo mechanically induced multicolor changes remain rare; this Minireview is focused on such materials.

Effectiveness and safety of laparoscopic adrenalectomy of large pheochromocytoma: a prospective, nonrandomized, controlled study.

Background: Laparoscopic adrenalectomy (LA) is normally used to treat small-sized (<6 cm) pheochromocytoma (PCC). This study evaluated the effectiveness and safety of LA for treating large (≥6 cm) PCC.

Methods: Fifty-one patients with resectable, large-sized (≥6 cm) PCC were prospectively enrolled for elective LA (n = 23) or open adrenalectomy (n = 28).

Biocompatibility and osteogenesis of calcium phosphate composite scaffolds containing simvastatin-loaded PLGA microspheres for bone tissue engineering.

By utilizing a modified solid/oil/water (s/o/w) emulsion solvent evaporation technique, calcium phosphate composite scaffolds containing simvastatin-loaded PLGA microspheres (SIM-PLGA-CPC) were prepared in this study. We characterized the morphology, encapsulation efficiency and in vitro drug release of SIM-loaded PLGA microspheres as well as the macrostructure, pore size, porosity and mechanical strength of the scaffolds. Rabbit bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) were seeded onto SIM-PLGA-CPC scaffolds, and the proliferation, morphology, cell cycle and differentiation of BMSCs were investigated using the cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), flow cytometry, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and alizarin red S staining, respectively.

Attenuation of atherosclerotic lesions in diabetic apolipoprotein E-deficient mice using gene silencing of macrophage migration inhibitory factor.

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) involves the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis (AS) and increased plasma MIF levels in diabetes mellitus (DM) patients are associated with AS. Here, we have been suggested that MIF could be a critical contributor for the pathological process of diabetes-associated AS by using adenovirus-mediated RNA interference. First, streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic animal model was constructed in 114 apolipoprotein E-deficient mice (apoE-/- mice) fed on a regular chow diet.

[Thyroid transcription factor-1 level is associated with epidermal growth factor receptor mutation status in patients with advanced lung adenocarcinoma].

Objective: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation status plays an important role in individual treatment of non-small cell lung cancer.However clinical tissue samples for mutation detection are not always available in advanced NSCLC. Thus an alternative method of EGFR mutation detection is required in NSCLC treatment.

Woodchuck hepatitis virus core antigen-based DNA and protein vaccines induce qualitatively different immune responses that affect T cell recall responses and antiviral effects.

T helper type 1 (Th1) immunity was considered to play a dominant role in viral clearance of hepadnaviral infection. However, pre-primed Th2 type responses were able to efficiently control hepadnaviral infection in animal models. We investigated how pre-primed Th1/2 responses control hepadnaviral replication using the newly established mouse models.

Type I interferon-mediated immune response against influenza A virus is attenuated in the absence of p53.

Influenza A virus (IAV) infection induces secretion of type I interferon (IFN) and activation of p53, which play essential roles in the host defense against tumor development and viral infection. In this study, we knocked down p53 expression by RNA interference. The expression levels of IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs) including IFN regulatory factor (IRF) 5, IRF9, ISG15, ISG20, guanylate-binding protein 1, retinoic acid-inducible gene-I and 2'-5'-oligoadenylate synthetase 1 were significantly attenuated in response to IAV infection and IFN-α stimulation in p53-knockdown cells.

Contribution of Toll-like receptors to the control of hepatitis B virus infection by initiating antiviral innate responses and promoting specific adaptive immune responses.

It is well accepted that adaptive immunity plays a key role in the control of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. In contrast, the contribution of innate immunity has only received attention in recent years. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) sense pathogen-associated molecule patterns and activate antiviral mechanisms, including intracellular antiviral pathways and the production of antiviral effector interferons (IFNs) and pro-inflammatory cytokines.

[Over-expression of DLL4/Notch1 ligand inhibits proliferation of K562 cells].

This study was aimed to explore the effect of DLL4/Notch1 ligand on cell growth in leukemia cell line K562 and its relevant mechanism. The pBudCE4.1-DLL4 plasmid was transfected into K562 cells by lipofectamine 2 000, RT-PCR and Western blot were applied to monitor the mRNA and the protein expression of exogenous DLL4 gene, as well as the expression of Notch1-ICD and target gene Hes1.

[Effects of aerobic exercise training on antihypertension and expressions of VEGF, eNOS of skeletal muscle in spontaneous hypertensive rats].

Objective: To investigate effects of exercise training on vascular regulators and discuss its antihypertensive mechanism.

Methods: Rats were divided into three groups (n = 7): spontaneous hypertensive rats control group (SHR-C), training group (SHR-T) and normotensive wistar-kyoto control group (WKY-C). Aerobic exercise consisted of 10 weeks of swimming training for 5 days/week.

Virulent and attenuated strains of duck hepatitis A virus elicit discordant innate immune responses in vivo.

Previous studies of duck hepatitis A virus infection have focused only on the pathogenicity and host response of one strain. Here, we show that the virulent SH strain and the attenuated FC64 strain induced varied pathogenicity, apoptosis and immune responses in the livers of 1-day-old ducklings. SH infection caused apoptosis and visible lesions in the liver; serum aspartate aminotransferase, alanine transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, γ-glutamyltransferase and total bilirubin activities were markedly upregulated; and ducklings died at 36 h post-infection (p.

Molecular characterization of enterohemorrhagic E. coli O157 isolated from animal fecal and food samples in Eastern China.

Objective: To elucidate the extent of food contamination by enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) O157 in Eastern China.

Methods: A total of 1100 food and animal fecal samples were screened for EHEC O157. Then, molecular characterization of each isolate was determined.

Involvement of VKORC1 in the inhibition of calcium oxalate crystal formation in HK-2 cells.

The vitamin K epoxide reductase complex subunit 1 (VKORC1), the rate-limiting enzyme for vitamin K recycling, is significantly down-regulated in the kidneys of urolithiasis patients. This study searched for direct evidence to define the inhibitory activity of VKORC1 against calcium oxalate (CaOx) crystal formation. In the experiment of VKORC1 overexpression, HK-2 cells were transfected with the pFLAG-CMV-7.

Glibenclamide decreases ATP-induced intracellular calcium transient elevation via inhibiting reactive oxygen species and mitochondrial activity in macrophages.

Increasing evidence has revealed that glibenclamide has a wide range of anti-inflammatory effects. However, it is unclear whether glibenclamide can affect the resting and adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-induced intracellular calcium ([Ca(2+)]i) handling in Raw 264.7 macrophages.

Nitazoxanide inhibits the replication of Japanese encephalitis virus in cultured cells and in a mouse model.

Background: Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) has a significant impact on public health. An estimated three billion people in 'at-risk' regions remain unvaccinated and the number of unvaccinated individuals in certain Asian countries is increasing. Consequently, there is an urgent need for the development of novel therapeutic agents against Japanese encephalitis.

Enhancing virus-specific immunity in vivo by combining therapeutic vaccination and PD-L1 blockade in chronic hepadnaviral infection.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) persistence is facilitated by exhaustion of CD8 T cells that express the inhibitory receptor programmed cell death-1 (PD-1). Improvement of the HBV-specific T cell function has been obtained in vitro by inhibiting the PD-1/PD-ligand 1 (PD-L1) interaction. In this study, we examined whether in vivo blockade of the PD-1 pathway enhances virus-specific T cell immunity and leads to the resolution of chronic hepadnaviral infection in the woodchuck model.

Propofol reduces lipopolysaccharide-induced, NADPH oxidase (NOX 2) mediated TNF- α and IL-6 production in macrophages.

During an infection, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulates the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which is mediated, in large part, by nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidases (NOXs); NOX2 is the major NOX isoform found in the macrophage cell membrane. While the immunomodulatory activity of propofol is highly documented, its effect on the LPS-induced NOX2/ROS/NF-κB signaling pathway in macrophages has not been addressed. In present study, we used murine macrophage cell line RAW264.

Characterization of dissolved organic matter in groundwater from the Coastal Dagu River watershed, China using fluorescence excitation-emission matrix spectroscopy.

The fluorescent properties of dissolved organic matter (DOM) from groundwater in the coastal Dagu River watershed, North China were determined using excitation-emission matrix spectroscopy (EEMs) analysis. Surface water DOM samples were also investigated for comparison. Two humic-like components (C1: 250, 355/472 nm; C2: < 240, 325/400 nm) and one protein-like component (C3: <240, 280/340 nm) were identified using parallel factor analysis.

Identification of a novel vga(E) gene variant that confers resistance to pleuromutilins, lincosamides and streptogramin A antibiotics in staphylococci of porcine origin.

Objectives: To investigate the genetic basis of pleuromutilin resistance in coagulase-negative staphylococci of porcine origin that do not carry known pleuromutilin resistance genes and to determine the localization and genetic environment of the identified resistance gene.

Methods: Plasmid DNA of two pleuromutilin-resistant Staphylococcus cohnii and Staphylococcus simulans isolates was transformed into Staphylococcus aureus RN4220. The identified resistance plasmids were sequenced completely.