Inhibition of JNK and p38 MAPK-mediated inflammation and apoptosis by ivabradine improves cardiac function in streptozotocin-induced diabetic cardiomyopathy.

Inflammation plays a critical role in the development of diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM), which has been identified as a major predisposing factor for heart failure in diabetic patients. Previous studies indicated that ivabradine (a specific agent for heart rate [HR] reduction) has anti-inflammatory properties, but its role in DCM remains unknown. This study investigated whether ivabradine exerts a therapeutic effect in DCM.

[Application evaluation of failure mode and effect analysis in optimization of vascular recanalization process].

Objective: To investigate the clinical application and effect evaluation of failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA) in the optimization of vascular recanalization in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Methods: A total of 389 STEMI patients admitted to the emergency department of the Fifth Central Hospital in Tianjin from January 2014 to January 2015 were served as the control group, and 398 STEMI patients admitted to the chest pain center of the Fifth Central Hospital in Tianjin from January 2016 to October 2017 were served as the experimental group. In the control group, routine emergency treatment was used.

Self assembly and controlled drug release of a nano-laminated graphite carbon nitride/methotrexate complex.

In this study, g-CN/methotrexate (g-CN/MTX) nanohybrids were obtained via a self assembly method. XRD and TEM demonstrated that bulk g-CN had been stripped into thin nanosheets with size range of 150-250 nm. FTIR investigation indicated that the self assembly of the hybrid was attributed to the hydrogen bond between g-CN nanosheets and MTX molecules.

Anti-glycation, Carbonyl Trapping and Anti-inflammatory Activities of Chrysin Derivatives.

The aim of this study was searching anti-glycation, carbonyl trapping and anti-inflammatory activities of chrysin derivatives. The inhibitory effect of chrysin on advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) was investigated by trapping methylglyoxal (MGO), and MGO-conjugated adducts of chrysin were analyzed using LC-MS/MS. The mono- or di-MGO-conjugated adducts of chrysin were present at 63.

Long-chain fatty acid activates hepatocytes through CD36 mediated oxidative stress.

Background: Accumulating evidence suggests that activated hepatocytes are involved in the deposition of the excess extracellular matrix during liver fibrosis via the epithelial to mesenchymal transition. Lipid accumulation in hepatocytes are implicated in the pathogenesis of chronic liver injury. CD36 is known to mediate long-chain fatty acid (LCFA) uptake and lipid metabolism.

Engineering photoluminescent and magnetic lamellar hydroxyapatite by facile one-step Se/Gd dual-doping.

The design and synthesis of multifunctional hydroxyapatite (HAp) nanoparticles are important in expanding their clinical applications. Herein we report a novel selenium (Se) and gadolinium (Gd) dual-doped lamellar hydroxyapatite (L-HAp-Se-Gd) produced by facile one-step template-assisted synthesis. The results show that the as-prepared L-HAp-Se-Gd nanoparticles exhibit obvious changes in morphology, dimensions, and crystallinity as compared to bare L-HAp.

Relationship between high platelet reactivity on clopidogrel and long-term clinical outcomes after drug-eluting stents implantation (PAINT-DES): a prospective, propensity score-matched cohort study.

Background: The relationship between platelet reactivity and long-term clinical outcomes remains controversial. The present prospective study was designed to explore the association between high platelet reactivity (HPR) on clopidogrel and long-term clinical outcomes following implantation of drug eluting stents (DES).

Methods: A total of 1769 consecutive patients assessed by Aggrestar (PL-11) were enrolled at our center from February 2011 to December 2017.

[An empirical study on the behavior of motor imagery based on mental rotation].

Mental rotation cognitive tasks based on motor imagery (MI) have excellent predictability for individual's motor imagery ability. In order to explore the relationship between motor imagery and behavioral data, in this study, we asked 10 right-handed male subjects to participate in the experiments of mental rotation tasks based on corresponding body parts pictures, and we therefore obtained the behavioral effects according to their reaction time (RT) and accuracy (ACC). Later on, we performed Pearson correlation analysis between the behavioral data and the scores of the Movement Imagery Questionnaire-Revised(MIQ-R).

Terahertz time-domain spectroscopy of chondroitin sulfate.

Chondroitin sulfate (CS), derived from cartilage tissues, is an important type of biomacromolecule. In this paper, the terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) was investigated as a potential method for content detection of CS. With the increase of the CS content, the THz absorption coefficients of the CS/polyethylene mixed samples linearly increase.

Morphology Determines Conductivity and Seebeck Coefficient in Conjugated Polymer Blends.

The impact of nanoscale morphology on conductivity and Seebeck coefficient in p-type doped all-polymer blend systems is investigated. For a strongly phase separated system (P3HT:PTB7), we achieve a Seebeck coefficient that peaks at S ∼ 1100 μV/K with conductivity σ ∼ 3 × 10 S/cm for 90% PTB7. In marked contrast, for well-mixed systems (P3HT:PTB7 with 5% diiodooctane (DIO), P3HT:PCPDTBT), we find an almost constant S ∼ 140 μV/K and σ ∼ 1 S/cm despite the energy levels being (virtually) identical in both cases.

An affinity-based method for studying herb-drug interactions for direct identification of cytochrome P450 1A2, 3A4, and 2C9 specific ligands from herbal extracts using ultrafiltration-high performance liquid chromatography.

A novel strategy for affinity-based ultrafiltration-high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was developed for the direct identification of cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1A2, 3A4, and 2C9 specific ligands from Danshen extracts, in which human liver microsome (HLM) was used as the source of CYP enzymes. The Danshen extract was incubated without HLM, with HLM, or with HLM where the active site of the target enzyme was blocked with a specific competitive probe before ultrafiltration to isolate ligand-enzyme complexes from unbound compounds. Subsequently, HPLC analysis was performed on the released ligands from the complexes.

Investigation on converting 1-butene and ethylene into propene metathesis reaction over W-based catalysts.

Supported W catalysts were extensively investigated for the conversion of 1-butene and ethylene into propene by metathesis reaction. The performance of catalysts was compared by using unsupported WO, pure SBA-15, supported W/SBA-15 with different W loadings, varied calcination temperatures, and by changing the pretreatment gas atmosphere. The above catalytic results could be employed to deduce the reaction mechanism combined with characterization techniques such as BET, XRD, UV-vis DRS, Raman, pyridine-IR, XPS, and H-TPR.

Magnetic Lamellar Nano-Hydroxyapatite as a Vector for Gene Transfection in Three-Dimensional Cell Culture.

Compared to two-dimensional (2D) conditions, investigation on gene transfection in three-dimensional (3D) conditions is much less extensive. In this work, lamellar nano-hydroxyapatite (L-HAp) with and without magnetism were used as the vectors and gene transfection in 2D and 3D cell culture was carried out and compared. We found that the transfection efficiency in 3D conditions was much higher than 2D cell culture.

Resolvin D2 protects against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats.

Cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury is a critical factor leading to a poor prognosis for ischemic stroke patients. ω-3 fatty acid supplements taken as part of a daily diet have been shown to improve the prognosis of patients with ischemic stroke. In this study, we aimed to investigate the potential effects of resolvin D2 (RvD2), a derivative of ω-3 fatty acids, and its possible advantage on cerebral I/R injury in rats.

Synergism of prenylflavonoids from Morus alba root bark against clinical MRSA isolates.

Background: Clinical methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a thorny problem in current anti-infective therapeutics and a challenge of new drug development. Plant prenylflavonoids possess anti-MRSA activity, but few of the prenylflavonoids have been reported the synergistic anti-MRSA effect when they are used in combination with conventional antibacterial agents.

Purpose: This study deals with anti-MRSA activity of four prenylflavonoids from the root bark of Morus alba and their synergism with 11 conventional antibacterial agents.

On monospecific genera in prokaryotic taxonomy.

A monospecific genus contains a single species ever since it was proposed. Though formally more than half of the known prokaryotic genera are monospecific, we pick up those which actually raise taxonomic problems by violating monophyly of the taxon within which it resides. Taking monophyly as a guiding principle, our arguments are based on simultaneous support from 16S rRNA sequence analysis and whole-genome phylogeny of prokaryotes, as provided by the LVTree Viewer and CVTree Web Server, respectively.

Downregulation of microRNA-125a is involved in intervertebral disc degeneration by targeting pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 antagonist killer 1.

Objectives: To investigate the role of the microRNA-125a (miR-125a) and BAK1 in intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD).

Materials And Methods: Degenerative lumbar nucleus pulposus (NP) tissues were obtained from 193 patients who underwent resection, and normal controls consisted of normal NP tissues from 32 patients with traumatic lumbar fracture in our hospital. All patients were graded according to the Pfirrmann criteria.

Deanxit relieves symptoms in a patient with jackhammer esophagus: A case report.

Jackhammer (hypercontractile) esophagus presents with dysphagia and chest pain. Current treatments are limited. We describe a 60-year-old man who presented with dysphagia, chest pain and heartburn for a period of 1 year.

Upgraded flowing liquid lithium limiter for improving Li coverage uniformity and erosion resistance in EAST device.

We report on design and technology improvements for a flowing liquid lithium (FLiLi) limiter inserted into auxiliary heated discharges in the experimental advanced superconducting tokamak device. In order to enhance Li coverage uniformity and erosion resistance, a new liquid Li distributor with homogenous channels was implemented. In addition, two independent electromagnetic pumps and a new horizontal capillary structure contributed to an improvement in the observed Li flow uniformity (from 30% in the previous FLiLi design to >80% in this FLiLi design).

The Role of Angiogenesis in Coronary Artery Disease: A Double-Edged Sword: Intraplaque Angiogenesis in Physiopathology and Therapeutic Angiogenesis for Treatment.

Angiogenesis is described as a sprouting and growth process of new blood vessels from pre-existing vasculature. The relationship between angiogenesis and coronary artery disease (CAD) is double-sided. On one hand, angiogenesis within plaques is responsible for facilitating the growth and vulnerability of plaques by causing intraplaque hemorrhage and inflammatory cell influx, and overabundance of erythrocytes and inflammatory cells within a plaque probably causes plaque rupture, further leading to acute coronary syndrome.

Polysaccharide metallohydrogel obtained from Salecan and trivalent chromium: Synthesis and characterization.

Here, a new kind of Salecan derived polysaccharide metallohydrogel was reported. Successful fabrication of Salecan metallohydrogel was verified by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, and rheological measurements. Scanning electron microscope investigations have been conducted to elucidate the morphology of Salecan/Cr gel (SCgel).

Therapeutic effect of percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy on lumbar disc herniation and its effect on oxidative stress in patients with lumbar disc herniation.

This study investigated the therapeutic effect of percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy on lumbar disc herniation, and explored its effect on oxidative stress in patients with lumbar disc herniation. One hundred and ten patients with lumbar disc herniation were selected in The Affiliated People's Hospital of Shanxi Medical University from May 2015 to May 2016. Patients were divided into control group (n=50) and observation group (n=60) according to different surgical methods.

Screening In Vitro Targets Related to Diabetes in Herbal Extracts from Peru: Identification of Active Compounds in Hypericum laricifolium Juss. by Offline High-Performance Liquid Chromatography.

This study investigates in vitro targets related to diabetes in 30 herbal extracts from Peru, for the first time, using α-glucosidase, aldose reductase (AR) inhibitory assays and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) scavenging assays. Among the 30 herbal extracts, Juss. (HL) was the herb which showed more than 50% inhibition in all assays, presenting 97.

A Pneumatic Tactile Sensor for Co-Operative Robots.

Tactile sensors of comprehensive functions are urgently needed for the advanced robot to co-exist and co-operate with human beings. Pneumatic tactile sensors based on air bladder possess some noticeable advantages for human-robot interaction application. In this paper, we construct a pneumatic tactile sensor and apply it on the fingertip of robot hand to realize the sensing of force, vibration and slippage via the change of the pressure of the air bladder, and we utilize the sensor to perceive the object's features such as softness and roughness.

Use of erlotinib and thalidomide in advanced NSCLC patients with acquired resistance to erlotinib: A pilot study.

Evidences suggested that combined blockade of the VEGF and EGFR pathways can improve the treatment efficacy of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In our previously clinical practice, we observed that thalidomide, a potent VEGF inhibitor, can significantly decrease the tumor size of one EGFR-TKI resistance patient with lung cancer cachexia. In this pilot study, we tried to assess the efficacy and toxicity of the combination therapy of erlotinib and thalidomide in advanced NSCLC patients with acquired resistance to erlotinib.