Identification of a circRNA-mediated comprehensive ceRNA network in spinal cord injury pathogenesis.

RNAs are closely associated with human diseases; however, immune-related genes (IRGs) and their potential regulatory networks in relation to spinal cord injury (SCI) are still poorly understood. Here, we investigated the key IRGs as well as the competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) mechanisms that are associated with SCI pathogenesis based on microarray datasets and the use of a rat SCI model. Specifically, four independent SCI microarray datasets from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database were analyzed and, thereafter, differentially expressed IRGs were annotated via Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses.

Characteristics and source apportionment of particulate carbon in precipitation based on dual-carbon isotopes (C and C) in Xi'an, China.

Wet deposition is a dominant removal pathway of carbonaceous particles from the atmosphere, but few studies have assessed the particulate carbon in precipitation in Chinese cities. To assess the characteristics and sources of particulate carbon, we measured the concentrations, fluxes, stable carbon isotopes, and radiocarbon of particulate carbon, and some cations concentrations in precipitation in Xi'an, China, in 2019. In contrast to rainfall samples, particulate carbon in snowfall samples in Xi'an showed extremely high concentrations and wet deposition fluxes.

The facile formation of hierarchical mesoporous silica nanocarriers for tumor-selective multimodal theranostics.

The combination of therapeutic and diagnostic functions in a single platform has aroused great interest due to the more optimal synergistic effects that can be obtained as compared to any single theranostic approach alone. However, current nanotheranostics are normally formed via complicated construction steps involving the pre-synthesis of each component and further conjugation via chemical bonds, which may cause low integration efficiency and limit production and applications. Herein, a tumor-targeting and tumor-responsive all-in-one nanoplatform based on mesoporous silica nanocarriers (MSNs) was fabricated via a facile approach utilizing efficient and nondestructive physical interactions for long-wavelength fluorescence imaging-guided synergistic chemo-catalytic-photothermal tumor therapy.

The impact of COVID-19 lockdown on atmospheric CO in Xi'an, China.

Lockdown measures to control the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) sharply limited energy consumption and carbon emissions. The lockdown effect on carbon emissions has been studied by many researchers using statistical approaches. However, the lockdown effect on atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO) on an urban scale remains unclear.

Fossil fuel CO traced by radiocarbon in fifteen Chinese cities.

China is an important fossil fuel CO (CO) emitter and the international community is thus concerned with quantifying reductions in Chinese carbon emissions in the recent past. Compared to traditional statistical method, radiocarbon (C) offers a different approach to quantify atmospheric CO derived from fossil fuel emissions. Here, we carry out a multi-year (2011-2016) CO tracing by C in Xi'an, and a three-year (2014-2016) CO tracing in 15 Chinese cities.

Determining diurnal fossil fuel CO and biological CO by ΔCO observation on certain summer and winter days at Chinese background sites.

Diurnal atmospheric ΔCO was measured on two consecutive days in summer and winter, 2016 at Shangdianzi, Lin'an and Luhuitou regional background sites, and at Waliguan global background site in China. The objectives of this study were to determine diurnal fossil fuel CO (CO) and biological CO (CO) concentrations and to ascertain the factors influencing them. Evident CO inputs (0-33.

Can Posterior Ligament Structure Be Functionally Healed After Anterior Reduction and Fusion Surgery in Patients with Traumatic Subaxial Cervical Fracture-Dislocations?

Background: Selection of approach for subaxial cervical fracture-dislocation (SCFD) is controversial. The questions of whether a posterior ligamentous structure (PLS) can be functionally healed in patients with SCFD and how long this healing process takes are critical in these patients.

Methods: This study retrospectively enrolled 394 patients with SCFD who underwent anterior decompression, reduction, and fusion between January 2002 and December 2017.

Two-Dimensional Ultrasound and Shear Wave Elastography in Infants With Late-Referral Congenital Muscular Torticollis.

Objectives: To investigate the feasibility of using 2-dimensional ultrasound (US) and shear wave elastography (SWE) to evaluate infants with late-referral congenital muscular torticollis (CMT).

Methods: A total of 46 infants with late-referral CMT were enrolled and divided into 4 groups according to the degree of the passive range of motion (PROM) deficit in neck rotation. We introduced 6 metrics to represent the US features of the sternocleidomastoid muscle detected by 2-dimensional US and SWE studies.

Gaussian Weighted Projection for Visualization of Cardiac Calcification.

At our institution, we are using dual-energy digital radiography (DEDR) as a cost-effective screening tool for the detection of cardiac calcification. We are evaluating DEDR using CT as the gold standard. We are developing image projection methods for the generation of digitally reconstructed radiography (DRR) from CT image volumes.

Automatic Intensity-based 3D-to-2D Registration of CT Volume and Dual-energy Digital Radiography for the Detection of Cardiac Calcification.

We are investigating three-dimensional (3D) to two-dimensional (2D) registration methods for computed tomography (CT) and dual-energy digital radiography (DR) for the detection of coronary artery calcification. CT is an established tool for the diagnosis of coronary artery diseases (CADs). Dual-energy digital radiography could be a cost-effective alternative for screening coronary artery calcification.