Artesunate Suppresses the Growth of Prostatic Cancer Cells through Inhibiting Androgen Receptor.

Prostatic cancer (PCa) is a leading cause of cancer related death in males and is often regarded as a kind of androgen-sensitive cancer. Artesunate (ART), a semi-synthetic derivative of the Chinese herb Artemisia annua, is such an anti-cancer agent. However, the effects and mechanism of ART on PCa cells remains unclear.

CT-guided selective percutaneous radiofrequency thermocoagulation via the foramen rotundum for isolated maxillary nerve idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia.

OBJECTIVE Although CT-guided selective percutaneous radiofrequency thermocoagulation (PRFT) via the foramen rotundum (FR) has been used in the clinic as a novel successful treatment for isolated, second division (maxillary nerve [V2]), idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia (ITN), there is only very limited related literature published to date. This report aims to provide more detail for physicians about this technique. METHODS Between March 2013 and April 2014, 20 patients with isolated V2 ITN refractory to or intolerant of drug treatment were treated by CT-guided selective PRFT via the FR at the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University.

Release of hydrogen sulfide during microwave pyrolysis of sewage sludge: Effect of operating parameters and mechanism.

The effects of sludge characteristics, pyrolysis temperature, heating rate and catalysts on the release of HS and mechanism of HS formation during sludge pyrolysis were investigated in a microwave heating reactor (MHR). The evolution of sulfur-containing compounds in the pyrolysis chars obtained at temperature range of 400-800°C was characterized by XPS. For a given temperature, the maximum concentration of HS appeared at moisture content of 80%.

Interferon-α-induced CD100 on naïve CD8 T cells enhances antiviral responses to hepatitis C infection through CD72 signal transduction.

Objectives We investigated the effects of CD100 on naïve CD8 T cells during hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection after interferon-α (IFN-α) therapy to clarify the mechanism underlying the effect of IFN-α in enhancing the antiviral response. Methods The CD100 molecules on subsets of CD8 T cells were analysed with flow cytometry. The effects of CD100-overexpressing naïve CD8 T cells were determined with ELISAs and an MTT cytotoxicity assay.

Treatment and Management of Osteoporotic Fractures: A Nation-wide Survey of 484 Senior Orthopaedists in China.

Objective: To investigate the treatment given to osteoporotic fracture patients by orthopaedists at major hospitals in China.

Methods: A 25-item quantitative questionnaire survey, categorized into five domains, including primary purpose of osteoporosis treatment, anti-osteoporosis therapy, calcium and vitamin D supplement, monitoring of osteoporosis, and knowledge of osteoporosis treatment, was designed to elicit information on orthopaedists' views on the treatment of osteoporotic fracture. A pre-survey test was conducted with a sample of 40 orthopaedic specialists to confirm the reliability and validity of the questionnaire.

Sulfur Transformation during Microwave and Conventional Pyrolysis of Sewage Sludge.

The sulfur distributions and evolution of sulfur-containing compounds in the char, tar and gas fractions were investigated during the microwave and conventional pyrolysis of sewage sludge. Increased accumulation of sulfur in the char and less production of HS were obtained from microwave pyrolysis at higher temperatures (500-800 °C). Three similar conversion pathways were identified for the formation of HS during microwave and conventional pyrolysis.

Ginsenoside Rg1-induced antidepressant effects involve the protection of astrocyte gap junctions within the prefrontal cortex.

Ginsenoside Rg1 (Rg1) exhibits antidepressant-like activity by increasing neurogenesis and dendritic spine density without discernible side effects. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying Rg1 antidepressant activity remain poorly understood. As the dysfunction of gap junctions between astrocytes in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) is implicated in major depression disorder, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Rg1 on astrocyte gap junctions in the PFC.

Early Stage Functions of Mitochondrial Autophagy and Oxidative Stress in Acetaminophen-Induced Liver Injury.

Mitochondria go through frequent cycles of fusion and fission, a process required for mitochondrial quality control by eliminating ROS-damaged mitochondria through mitochondrial autophagy. Acetaminophen (APAP) overdose can cause liver injury in animals and human beings by inducing mitochondrial damage, which need to be further evaluated. The aim of the current study is to assess the changes between oxidative damage mitophagy in vivo and in vitro, which mimics APAP-induced liver injury (AILI) in humans.

Improvement of an integrated system of membrane bioreactor and worm reactor by phosphorus removal using additional post-chemical treatment.

A membrane bioreactor (MBR) coupled with a worm reactor (SSBWR) was designed as SSBWR-MBR for sewage treatment and excess sludge reduction. However, total phosphorus (TP) release caused by worm predation in the SSBWR could increase the effluent TP concentration in the SSBWR-MBR. To decrease the amount of TP excreted, chemical treatment reactor was connected after the SSBWR-MBR to remove the excess phosphorus (P).

Association between oxytocin and receptor genetic polymorphisms and aggression in a northern Chinese Han population with alcohol dependence.

Objective: Alcohol dependence (AD) is a common chronic brain disorder precipitated by complex interactions between biological, genetic, and environmental risk factors. Aggression often occurs in the context of AD. Previous studies have shown that Oxytocin (OXT) and OXT receptor (OXTR) are involved in the regulation of aggression.

Effect of aeration rate on performance and stability of algal-bacterial symbiosis system to treat domestic wastewater in sequencing batch reactors.

This study investigated aeration rate (0, 0.2, 0.4 and 1.

Association between rs17095355 polymorphism on 10q24 and susceptibility to biliary atresia: a meta-analysis.

Objective: Recent studies have identified 10q24-rs17095355 as a susceptibility locus for biliary atresia (BA). To more precisely estimate the association between the rs17095355 polymorphism and BA risk, a meta-analysis was performed.

Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted to examine all the eligible studies by electronic databases including Elsevier Science Direct, Pubmed, Google Scholar, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and Chinese Biomedical Literature (CBM) up to December 2015.

Autophagic flux regulates microglial phenotype according to the time of oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion.

Microglial phenotype alternation is a potential novel pathogenic mechanism for cerebral ischemia. Cerebral ischemia induced autophagy aggravates inflammation and neural injury. However, the effect of autophagy in the modulation of microglial phenotype is still unknown.

Correction: Investigating Clinical Failure of Bone Grafting through a Window at the Femoral Head Neck Junction Surgery for the Treatment of Osteonecrosis of the Femoral Head.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

[EFFECTIVENESS OF BONE GRAFTING THROUGH WINDOWING AT FEMORAL HEAD-NECK JUNCTION FOR TREATMENT OF OSTEONECROSIS WITH SEGMENTAL COLLAPSE OF FEMORAL HEAD].

Objective: To analyze the effectiveness of bone grafting through windowing at the femoral head-neck junction for the treatment of osteonecrosis with the segmental collapse of the femoral head.

Methods: The clinical data were retrospectively analyzed from 106 patients (131 hips) with osteonecrosis with the segmental collapse of the femoral head who underwent bone grafting through windowing at the femoral head-neck junction between March 2011 and December 2013. There were 78 males and 28 females, with an average age of 31.

Heavy metal contamination status and source apportionment in sediments of Songhua River Harbin region, Northeast China.

The Songhua River represents one of the seven major river systems in China. It flows through Harbin city with 66 km long, locating in the northern China with a longer winter time. This paper aimed to study concentration distributions, stability, risk assessment, and source apportionment of heavy metals including chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), arsenic (As), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and nickel (Ni) in 11 selected sections of the Songhua River Harbin region.

Anion recognition by oligo-(thio)urea-based receptors.

Oligo-(thio)ureas have proven to be a promising class of receptors that are widely applied in anion recognition. This article aims to present some recent progress in the construction of oligoureas and their anion coordination (recognition) chemistry. Typical examples of metal-coordination assisted and covalently connected oligo-(thio)urea receptors are summarized, with focus on geometry characteristics required for achieving complementary binding of a target anion.

Correlations of Cerebrospinal Fluid/Plasma Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 Ratio with Metabolic Parameters in Chinese Individuals of Normal Weight.

Background: Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is an important metabolic regulator that has multiple beneficial effects on glucose homeostasis and lipid metabolism. Although circulating levels of FGF21 are mainly derived from liver, FGF21 is also found in other tissues and fluids including the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationships of CSF and/or plasma FGF21 levels with metabolic parameters in a normal-weight Chinese population.

Investigating Clinical Failure of Bone Grafting through a Window at the Femoral Head Neck Junction Surgery for the Treatment of Osteonecrosis of the Femoral Head.

Aims: This study aimed to analyze the clinical factors related to the failure of bone grafting through a window at the femoral head-neck junction.

Methods: In total, 119 patients (158 hips) underwent bone grafting for treatment of avascular necrosis of the femoral head. The patients were classified by their ARCO staging and CJFH classification.

[The effect of zinc on inflammatory reaction in rats with focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion].

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of N,N-diethyldithiocarbamate (DEDTC) on the changes of inflammatory cytokines after focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats and to explore the potential mechanism. Two hundred Sprague Dawley male rats were randomly divided into sham group, middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) group and DEDTC (Zn chelator) treated group. MCAO model was established by the suture method.

Claulansine F promoted the neuronal differentiation of neural stem and progenitor cells through Akt/GSK-3β/β-catenin pathway.

The persistence of neurogenesis raises the idea that neurons produced by the resident or transplanted neural stem cells could replace the neurons lost from brain injury or neurodegenerative disease. Therefore, compounds or methods for promoting neuronal differentiation become the focus of neurodegenerative disease therapy research. Claulansine F (Clau F), a newly discovered carbazole alkaloid, has been showed to induce neuritogenesis in PC12 cells.

Helicobacter pylori Infection Synergistic with IL-1β Gene Polymorphisms Potentially Contributes to the Carcinogenesis of Gastric Cancer.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is the most common chronic bacterial infection in the world and the etiological agent for most gastric cancer (GC). Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) is a potent proinflammatory cytokine, and its deregulation is closely associated with the tumorigenesis of several cancers.

Does mineralocorticoid receptor play a vital role in the development of depressive disorder?

Depression is a leading cause of disability worldwide. However, the biological and molecular mechanisms underlying this disease remain unclear. Stress, a disposing factor in the development of depression, leads to hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activation and glucocorticoids release.

Distribution and risk assessment of heavy metals in sewage sludge after ozonation.

In this paper, transformation of chemical forms of heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Ni, Pb, Cr, Cd, Mn, and Mg) in sewage sludge (SS) during ozonation was investigated. Meanwhile, the risk of heavy metals to environment in ozonated sludge (OS) and SS was estimated according to risk assessment code (RAC). The residual rates of heavy metals were over 72.

Cerebrospinal fluid oxytocin correlated with peripheral ALT and AST in Chinese female subjects.

Objective: Oxytocin (OT) is primarily synthesized in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus and supraoptic nucleus of the hypothalamus in the central nervous system and exhibits a wide spectrum of central and peripheral activities. OT is involved in lipid metabolism and glucose homeostasis and plays a protective role against liver damage.

Methods: In this study, we investigated whether CSF OT levels correlates with peripheral glucose, lipid profiles, and/or liver enzymes in Chinese subjects.