A Novel Laser Angle Selection System for Computed Tomography-Guided Percutaneous Transthoracic Needle Biopsies.

To evaluate a novel laser angle selection system (LASS) for improving the efficiency of a computed tomography (CT)-guided percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy (PTNB). Thirty-eight patients referred for CT-guided PTNB were randomly separated into a LASS-assisted puncture group (18 patients) or conventional freehand control group (20 patients). The puncture time, number of control CT scans, and patients' radiation dose were compared for each group.

Brain structural alterations detected by an automatic quantified tool as an indicator for MCI diagnosing in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients: A magnetic resonance imaging study.

Background And Objectives: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is an important risk factors for mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI) is an effective and widely used method to investigate brain pathomorphological injury in neural diseases. In present study, we aimed to determine the brain regional alterations that correlated to the incidence of MCI in T2DM patients.

DIAPH1 Promotes Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Progression Through Cell Cycle Regulation.

The diaphanous related formin 1 (DIAPH1) protein is involved in the regulation of dynamic cytoskeleton reorganization, which is closely related to mitosis and the cell cycle. Cell cycle disorders are generally regarded as important underlying causes of many cancers. In the current study, we have revealed that DIAPH1 expression is an independent prognostic factor for overall survival in patients with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) and that DIAPH1 promotes colony formation, cell proliferation, and G1/S progression in LSCC cells.

Preparation and characterization of wheat straw biochar loaded with aluminium/lanthanum hydroxides: a novel adsorbent for removing fluoride from drinking water.

In this work a novel adsorbent of aluminium/lanthanum loaded wheat straw biochar (Al-La-WSB), was prepared by using a facile approach and used for fluoride removal. The Al-La-WSB and its pristine wheat straw biochar (WSB) were characterized by scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) methods. Batch adsorption experiments were carried out to investigate adsorbent performance, the highest removal rate was observed at pH 9, contact time of 7 h and Al-La-WSB dose of 1 g L.

Crystalline phase regulation of anatase-rutile TiO for the enhancement of photocatalytic activity.

Biphasic TiO with adjustable crystalline phases was prepared by the hydrothermal-calcination method assisted by nitric acid (HNO) and hydrogen peroxide (HO), using potassium titanate oxalate (KTiO(CO)) as the titanium source. The influences of HO volume on anatase and rutile contents and photocatalytic activity of biphasic TiO were investigated and the photocatalytic mechanism was explored. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-vis DRS) and specific surface area (BET) were employed to characterize crystal structure, physical morphology, absorbable light, chemical composition, specific surface area and pore size distribution.

Positive regulation of the CREB phosphorylation via JNK-dependent pathway prevents antimony-induced neuronal apoptosis in PC12 cell and mice brain.

Antimony (Sb) is a potentially toxic chemical element abundantly found in the environment. We previously reported that Sb promoted neuronal deathvia reactive oxygen species-dependent autophagy. Here, we assessed the role of cyclic adenosine monophosphate response element-binding protein (CREB) in Sb-induced neuronal damage.

Akt inhibition-dependent downregulation of the Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling pathway contributes to antimony-induced neurotoxicity.

Antimony (Sb), as a newly identified nerve poison, can lead to neuronal apoptosis. However, its neurotoxicological mechanisms remain largely unclear. Here, we evaluated the role and regulation of Wnt/β-catenin pathway in Sb-mediated neurotoxicity.

p62/SQSTM1 accumulation due to degradation inhibition and transcriptional activation plays a critical role in silica nanoparticle-induced airway inflammation via NF-κB activation.

Background: Most nanoparticles (NPs) reportedly block autophagic flux, thereby upregulating p62/SQSTM1 through degradation inhibition. p62 also acts as a multifunctional scaffold protein with multiple domains, and is involved in various cellular processes. However, the autophagy substrate-independent role of p62 and its regulation at the transcriptional level upon NPs exposure remain unclear.

Dysfunction of pulmonary epithelial tight junction induced by silicon dioxide nanoparticles via the ROS/ERK pathway and protein degradation.

Silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) are one of the most widely used types of nanoparticles across many industrial sectors, and are known to be present in the air year-round. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the potential adverse effects of SiNP exposure on pulmonary epithelial tight junctions, which serve as a critical barrier between the respiratory system and the circulatory system. In vivo studies confirmed that SiNPs decreased the protein expression levels of zonula occludens 1 (ZO-1), zonula occludens 2 (ZO-2), and occludin in the lungs of C57BL/6 mice.

Antimony, a novel nerve poison, triggers neuronal autophagic death via reactive oxygen species-mediated inhibition of the protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin pathway.

Antimony (Sb), a naturally occurring metal present in air and drinking water, has been found in the human brain, and there is evidence of its toxic effects on neurobehavioral perturbations, suggesting that Sb is a potential nerve poison. Here, we provide the first study on the molecular mechanism underlying Sb-associated neurotoxicity. Mice exposed to antimony potassium tartrate hydrate showed significantly increased neuronal apoptosis.

JNK activation-mediated nuclear SIRT1 protein suppression contributes to silica nanoparticle-induced pulmonary damage via p53 acetylation and cytoplasmic localisation.

The molecular mechanism by which silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) cause cellular apoptosis in the respiratory system is unclear. Silent mating type information regulation 2 homolog 1 (SIRT1), an NAD+-dependent deacetylase, mediates the pulmonary damage associated with several environmental stimuli. However, the SIRT1 response to SiNP exposure and its role in SiNP-triggered pulmonary toxicity remains unknown.

PKA- and Ca-dependent p38 MAPK/CREB activation protects against manganese-mediated neuronal apoptosis.

Although manganese (Mn) is an essential trace element, its excessive consumption may lead to neuronal death and neurodegenerative disorders. Human cells launch adaptive responses to attenuate Mn-induced neurotoxicity. However, the regulation of the responsive proteins and their function during Mn-stimulated neurotoxicity remain largely unknown.