Electron Delocalized Ni Active Sites in Spinel Catalysts Enable Efficient Urea Oxidation.

The urea oxidation reaction (UOR) has attracted much attention as an efficient alternative reaction to oxygen evolution reaction (OER) due to its low required overpotential. Despite significant progress in efficient nickel-based catalysts, the fundamental issues regarding product selectivity control and dissociation mechanism during the UOR process have not been clarified. Here, we report that tuning the electron delocalization strength of Ni sites significantly affects the OH binding sites, altering urea molecule dissociation patterns in alkaline systems.

Discovery of natural anthraquinones as potent inhibitors against pancreatic lipase: structure-activity relationships and inhibitory mechanism.

Obesity is acknowledged as a significant risk factor for various metabolic diseases, and the inhibition of human pancreatic lipase (hPL) can impede lipid digestion and absorption, thereby offering potential benefits for obesity treatment. Anthraquinones is a kind of natural and synthetic compounds with wide application. In this study, the inhibitory effects of 31 anthraquinones on hPL were evaluated.

Construction of Surface Ru─O─Co Units With Optimized Co Spin States for Enhanced Oxygen Reduction and Evolution.

The introduction of noble metal into spinel structure is an effective strategy to develop efficient oxygen evolution/reduction reaction (OER/ORR) catalysts. Herein, surface Co is substituted by Ru in Ru-MnCoO/NCNTs by ion-exchange, where presence of Ru─O─Co unit facilitates electron transfer. This strong electron coupling effect leads downward shift in d-band center and a narrowing of d-p bandgap.

Overexpression of a methyl-CpG-binding protein gene OsMBD707 leads to larger tiller angles and reduced photoperiod sensitivity in rice.

Background: Methyl-CpG-binding domain (MBD) proteins play important roles in epigenetic gene regulation, and have diverse molecular, cellular, and biological functions in plants. MBD proteins have been functionally characterized in various plant species, including Arabidopsis, wheat, maize, and tomato. In rice, 17 sequences were bioinformatically predicted as putative MBD proteins.

Bulked Segregant Analysis Coupled with Whole-Genome Sequencing (BSA-Seq) Mapping Identifies a Novel Haplotype Conferring Basal Resistance to Rice Blast Disease.

Basal or partial resistance has been considered race-non-specific and broad-spectrum. Therefore, the identification of genes or quantitative trait loci (QTLs) conferring basal resistance and germplasm containing them is of significance in breeding crops with durable resistance. In this study, we performed a bulked segregant analysis coupled with whole-genome sequencing (BSA-seq) to identify QTLs controlling basal resistance to blast disease in an F population derived from two rice varieties, 02428 and LiXinGeng (LXG), which differ significantly in basal resistance to rice blast.

Volume Navigation with Fusion of Real-Time Ultrasound and CT Images to Guide Posterolateral Transforaminal Puncture in Percutaneous Endoscopic Lumbar Discectomy.

Background: The use of percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy (PELD) is increasing in the treatment of lumbar disc herniations (LDH). Nerve and vessel injury may happen during the establishment of the transforaminal working channel. Also, there is usually exposure to intraop radiation when the C-arm is used to help establish the location of the transforaminal working channel.

Evaluating the Rotation Correction of the Main Thoracic Curve in Severe Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: Bending and Traction vs. Fulcrum - A Preliminary Report.

BACKGROUND Flexibility evaluation methods were only used to assess the changes of coronal Cobb angle in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). Little attention was attached to the vertebral rotation in these methods. MATERIAL AND METHODS 21 patients with severe adolescent idiopathic scoliosis were enrolled in this study.

Emodin enhances the demethylation by 5-Aza-CdR of pancreatic cancer cell tumor-suppressor genes P16, RASSF1A and ppENK.

5-Aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-Aza-CdR) is currently acknowledged as a demethylation drug, and causes a certain degree of demethylation in a variety of cancer cells, including pancreatic cancer cells. Emodin, a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), is an effective monomer extracted from rhubarb and has been reported to exhibit antitumor activity in different manners in pancreatic cancer. In the present study, we examined whether emodin caused demethylation and increased the demethylation of three tumor-suppressor genes P16, RASSF1A and ppENK with a high degree of methylation in pancreatic cancer when combined with 5-Aza-CdR.

Whole-blood gene expression profiling in ankylosing spondylitis identifies novel candidate genes that may contribute to the inflammatory and tissue-destructive disease aspects.

We performed a comprehensive gene expression analysis to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between AS (ankylosing spondylitis) and health controls. A total of 1454 DEGs were obtained, including 919 up-regulated genes and 535 down-regulated genes. There were 218 interactions and 224 pairs in the conPPI network.

Expression and significance of Kruppel-like factor 6 gene in osteosarcoma.

Purpose: Osteosarcoma is primary malignant tumour of bone. Kruppel-like factor 6 (KLF6) is a tumor suppressor gene frequently inactivated in a number of human cancers and a ubiquitously expressed zinc-finger transcription factor. The present study aimed to first explore the relationship between the expression level of the KLF6 gene in osteosarcoma and the occurrence of bone tumours.

Factors as predictors for thoracic and thoracolumbar/lumbar structural curves in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

Background: Recent studies have demonstrated that the Lenke system is relatively efficient and consistent in classifying scoliosis curves. Basically, fusion should include the main curve and the structural minor curve. The criteria for defining the structural minor curve were established to help guide these decision-making process.

Comparison of the pedicle screws placement between electronic conductivity device and normal pedicle finder in posterior surgery of scoliosis.

Study Design: Prospective randomized clinical trial.

Objective: To compare the accuracy and time using of pedicle screw placement between electronic conductivity device (ECD) and normal pedicle finder (NPF) in posterior surgery of scoliosis, through a randomized clinical trial.

Summary Of Background Data: Pedicle screw insertion for scoliosis correction can be associated with increased pedicle perforations.

Comparison between two pedicle screw augmentation instrumentations in adult degenerative scoliosis with osteoporosis.

Background: The operative treatment of adult degenerative scoliosis combined with osteoporosis increase following the epidemiological development. Studies have confirmed that screws in osteoporotic spines have significant lower-screw strength with more frequent screw movements within the vertebra than normal spines. Screws augmented with polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) or with autogenous bone can offer more powerful corrective force and significant advantages.

[The preliminary study of the efficiency of using cervical vertebral maturation of growth level of female adolescent idiopathic scoliosis].

Objectives: To investigate the reliability of cervical vertebral maturation (CVM) and to verify the possibility in the growth evaluation of female adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients as a helpful supplementary to the Risser sign.

Methods: Coronal and lateral full-length spine X-ray film and left hand-wrist radiographs of 77 female adolescent patients with idiopathic scoliosis were selected from January 2010 to October 2010. The interval period between lateral length of the spine and left hand-wrist radiographs did not exceed 3 months.

Factors affecting curve flexibility in skeletally immature and mature idiopathic scoliosis.

Background: The determination of factors affecting curve flexibility is important in idiopathic scoliosis patients with regard to the Risser sign. The objective of this retrospective study was to identify factors affecting curve flexibility in patients with skeletally immature and mature idiopathic scoliosis.

Methods: The records of all patients with idiopathic scoliosis who received surgical treatment from July 2001 to August 2008 at our hospital were screened.

Using precisely controlled bidirectional orthopedic forces to assess flexibility in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: comparisons between push-traction film, supine side bending, suspension, and fulcrum bending film.

Study Design: A prospective study.

Objective: To validate the effectiveness of push-traction film (PTF) in assessment of curve flexibility in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

Summary Of Background Data: There is no agreement among surgeons about the most advantageous method in flexibility evaluation of scoliosis.

Learning curve of computer-assisted navigation system in spine surgery.

Background: Spine surgery using computer-assisted navigation (CAN) has been proven to result in low screw misplacement rates, low incidence of radiation exposure and excellent operative field viewing versus the conventional intraoperative image intensifier (CIII). However, as we know, few previous studies have described the learning curve of CAN in spine surgery.

Methods: We performed two consecutive case cohort studies on pedicel screw accuracy and operative time of two spine surgeons with different experience backgrounds, A and B, in one institution during the same period.

Preferential expression of chemokine receptor CXCR4 by highly malignant human gliomas and its association with poor patient survival.

Objective: CXCR4 is implicated in the growth, metastasis, and angiogenesis of malignant tumors. We investigated the potential role of CXCR4 in human gliomas.

Methods: The expression of CXCR4 messenger ribonucleic acid and protein by human glioma cell lines was examined by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and immunocytochemistry analysis.

Activation of chemokine receptor CXCR4 in malignant glioma cells promotes the production of vascular endothelial growth factor.

Numerous studies have showed that chemokine receptors, such as CXCR4, contribute to the growth and metastasis of a variety of malignant tumors. In this study, we investigated the role of CXCR4 in the production of angiogenic factor, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), in various human glioma cells from astrocytic origin. The expression of CXCR4 mRNA and protein in three glioma cell lines, U87-MG, SHG-44, and CHG-5, was determined by RT-PCR and immunocytochemistry, respectively.

[Effects of acrylonitrile in drinking water on monoamine neurotransmitters and its metabolites in male rat brains].

Objectives: To elucidate the possible involvement of monoamine neurotransmitters in the development of neurobehavioral damage produced by acrylonitrile in drinking water in male rat brains.

Methods: Totally 30 male SD rats were randomly divided into three groups, the control group (n = 10), low dosage group (n = 10), and high dosage group (n = 10), which were respectively administered 0 mg/L, 50 mg/L, 200 mg/L acrylonitrile (AN) in drinking water. The treatment was lasted for 12 weeks.

[Construction of online medical parasites database].

We aim to construct a online medical parasites database from which information can be retrieved through key words, ASP program and SQL language. The connection between the web pages and the database was established to enable relevant web page searching and parasitological information retrieval on the basis of the database files. A method for online searching through the database is elaborated in this paper by introducing the construction of the medical parasites database.