Cuticular Hydrocarbons of Six Geographic Populations of in Northeastern China: Similarities and Evolutionary Hints.

The Asian larch bark beetle, Motschulsky, is a severe pest of various species in its natural range. This study reports the degree of similarity among cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) profiles of six populations of in northeastern China. Thirty individual or isomeric mixtures of hydrocarbons were identified by solid-phase microextraction (SPME) coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS).

Dibutyl phthalate released by solitary female locusts mediates sexual communication at low density.

Sex pheromones play a crucial role in mate location and reproductive success. Insects face challenges in finding mates in low-density environments. The population dynamics of locusts vary greatly, ranging from solitary individuals to high-density swarms, leading to multiple-trait divergence between solitary and gregarious phases.

Aggregation pheromone 4-vinylanisole promotes the synchrony of sexual maturation in female locusts.

Reproductive synchrony generally occurs in various group-living animals. However, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unexplored. The migratory locust, , a worldwide agricultural pest species, displays synchronous maturation and oviposition when forms huge swarm.

Hydrogen-oxygen therapy alleviates clinical symptoms in twelve patients hospitalized with COVID-19: A retrospective study of medical records.

A global public health crisis caused by the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) leads to considerable morbidity and mortality, which bring great challenge to respiratory medicine. Hydrogen-oxygen therapy contributes to treat severe respiratory diseases and improve lung functions, yet there is no information to support the clinical use of this therapy in the COVID-19 pneumonia.A retrospective study of medical records was carried out in Shishou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Hubei, China.

4-Vinylanisole is an aggregation pheromone in locusts.

Locust plagues threaten agricultural and environmental safety throughout the world. Aggregation pheromones have a crucial role in the transition of locusts from a solitary form to the devastating gregarious form and the formation of large-scale swarms. However, none of the candidate compounds reported meet all the criteria for a locust aggregation pheromone.

CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing induces exon skipping by complete or stochastic altering splicing in the migratory locust.

Background: The CRISPR/Cas9 system has been widely used to generate gene knockout/knockin models by inducing frameshift mutants in cell lines and organisms. Several recent studies have reported that such mutants can lead to in-frame exon skipping in cell lines. However, there was little research about post-transcriptional effect of CRISPR-mediated gene editing in vivo.

Understanding the use of NIV in ALS: results of an international ALS specialist survey.

Objective: To identify common practices of noninvasive ventilation (NIV) use among ALS specialists and how they follow respiratory status in their patients.

Methods: A 25-item questionnaire on NIV indications/initiation was sent via SurveyMonkey® to ALS specialists identified through membership in NEALS (114 sites in the US) and ENCALS (39 sites in Europe). Descriptive statistics and Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test for general association were performed.

Microfluidic "Pouch" Chips for Immunoassays and Nucleic Acid Amplification Tests.

Microfluidic cassettes ("chips") for processing and analysis of clinical specimens and other sample types facilitate point-of-care (POC) immunoassays and nucleic acid based amplification tests. These single-use test chips can be self-contained and made amenable to autonomous operation-reducing or eliminating supporting instrumentation-by incorporating laminated, pliable "pouch" and membrane structures for fluid storage, pumping, mixing, and flow control. Materials and methods for integrating flexible pouch compartments and diaphragm valves into hard plastic (e.

CRISPR/Cas9 in locusts: Successful establishment of an olfactory deficiency line by targeting the mutagenesis of an odorant receptor co-receptor (Orco).

Locusts are important agricultural pests worldwide and regarded as study models for entomology. However, the absence of targeted gene manipulation systems for locusts has restricted their applications for research. Herein, we report the successful use of the CRISPR/Cas9 system to induce a targeted heritable mutagenesis of the migratory locust, Locusta migratoria.

Population divergence of aggregation pheromone responses in Ips subelongatus in northeastern China.

The Asian larch bark beetle, Ips subelongatus, is considered to be the major pest of larch within its natural range. We investigated the electrophysiological and behavioral characteristics as well as mitochondrial DNA cytochrome oxidase subunit I sequences of I. subelongatus from 13 geographic populations throughout northeastern China in order to explore population divergence of aggregation pheromone responses and the extent of potential genetic divergence.

Analysis of early hypertension and clinical outcome with bevacizumab: results from seven phase III studies.

Background: Hypertension is associated with antivascular endothelial growth factor treatment, but the clinical implications of hypertension are uncertain. To assess the prognostic and predictive value of bevacizumab-related hypertension, a comprehensive analysis of whether hypertension and efficacy outcomes are associated was conducted on seven company-sponsored placebo-controlled phase III studies of bevacizumab.

Methods: Patient-specific data were available from 6,486 patients with metastatic colorectal, breast, non-small cell lung, pancreatic, and renal cell cancers.

Predictive impact of circulating vascular endothelial growth factor in four phase III trials evaluating bevacizumab.

Purpose: We evaluated the prognostic and predictive use of circulating VEGF-A levels in phase III trials of bevacizumab in colorectal cancer, lung cancer, and renal cell carcinoma.

Methods: Baseline plasma samples from 1,816 patients were analyzed for VEGF-A using an ELISA, which recognizes the major isoforms with equivalent sensitivity. HR and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for study end points were estimated using Cox regression analysis.

Risk factors for No. 12p and No. 12b lymph node metastases in advanced gastric cancer in China.

Background: The risk factors for No. 12p and No. 12b lymph node (LN) metastases in advanced gastric cancer (GC) remain controversial.

Clinical anatomy related to the hepatic veins for right lobe living donor liver transplantation.

The complexity of liver reconstruction has limited partial right lobe living donor liver transplantation. It is largely due to the difficulty of dealing with the middle hepatic vein. We sought to define the anatomic features of hepatic veins.

Primary small cell carcinoma of the lesser omentum.

Although pulmonary small cell carcinoma (SCC) is seen frequently, SCC that originates from the extrapulmonary organs is extremely rare. We herein report a case of a SCC located in the lesser omentum. A 61-year-old male was admitted to our department due to intermittent epigastralgia for 2 months.

A Portable Analyzer for Pouch-Actuated, Immunoassay Cassettes.

A portable, small footprint, light, general purpose analyzer (processor) to control the flow in immunoassay cassettes and to facilitate the detection of test results is described. The durable analyzer accepts disposable cassettes that contain pouches and reaction chambers for various unit operations such as hydration of dry reagents, stirring, and incubation. The analyzer includes individually controlled, linear actuators to compress the pouches in the cassette, which facilitates the pumping and mixing of sample and reagents, and to close diaphragm-based valves for flow control.

Vascular exclusion by preserving tumor-contralateral branch of hepatic artery in hepatectomy in treatment liver cancer with cirrhosis.

Background/aims: To investigate the effectiveness and safety of vascular exclusion by preserving tumor-contralateral branch of hepatic artery in hepatectomy in treatment liver cancer with cirrhosis.

Methodology: The clinical data of 10 cases treated with hepatectomy for liver cancer were analyzed retrospectively. Vascular exclusion by preserving tumor-contralateral branch of hepatic artery was applied to control bleeding.

A portable, integrated analyzer for microfluidic - based molecular analysis.

A portable, fully automated analyzer that provides actuation and flow control to a disposable, self-contained, microfluidic cassette ("chip") for point-of-care, molecular testing is described. The analyzer provides mechanical actuation to compress pouches that pump liquids in the cassette, to open and close diaphragm valves for flow control, and to induce vibrations that enhance stirring. The analyzer also provides thermal actuation for the temperature cycling needed for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of nucleic acids and for various drying processes.

Impact of exploratory biomarkers on the treatment effect of bevacizumab in metastatic breast cancer.

Purpose: The addition of bevacizumab to cytotoxic chemotherapy has demonstrated a progression-free survival (PFS) benefit in the first-line and second-line treatment of advanced or metastatic breast cancer (MBC). However, the addition of bevacizumab to capecitabine in heavily pretreated MBC patients did not show a PFS benefit (AVF2119g phase III trial). The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of novel putative biomarkers as predictors of benefit from bevacizumab in retrospective subset analyses of the AVF2119g trial.

A large volume, portable, real-time PCR reactor.

A point-of-care, diagnostic system incorporating a portable thermal cycler and a compact fluorescent detector for real-time, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on disposable, plastic microfluidic reactors with relatively large reaction volume (ranging from 10 µL to 100 µL) is described. To maintain temperature uniformity and a relatively fast temperature ramping rate, the system utilizes double-sided heater that features a master, thermoelectric element and a thermal waveguide connected to a second thermoelectric element. The waveguide has an aperture for optical coupling between a miniature, fluorescent reader and the PCR reaction chamber.