[Effect of electroacupuncture of "Guanyuan" (CV 4) on Wnt-β-catenin signaling in osteoporosis rats].

Objective: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture of "Guanyuan" (CV 4) on bone miner density, bone biomechanics, serum osteocalcin (BGP) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) contents, and femoral osteoblastic Wnt-β-catenin signaling in postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMOP) rats.

Methods: Forty female SD rats were randomly divided into sham operation (sham), model, EA-CV 4, and EA-non-acupoint (below the costal region) groups (n = 10 in each group). The PMOP model was established by performing an ovariectomy in the rats of the later 3 groups.

Dynamical Evolution of Anisotropic Response in Black Phosphorus under Ultrafast Photoexcitation.

Black phosphorus has recently emerged as a promising material for high-performance electronic and optoelectronic device for its high mobility, tunable mid-infrared bandgap, and anisotropic electronic properties. Dynamical evolution of photoexcited carriers and the induced transient change of electronic properties are critical for materials' high-field performance but remain to be explored for black phosphorus. In this work, we perform angle-resolved transient reflection spectroscopy to study the dynamical evolution of anisotropic properties of black phosphorus under photoexcitation.

Comparison between posterior dynamic stabilization and posterior lumbar interbody fusion in the treatment of degenerative disc disease: a prospective cohort study.

Background: Few studies compared radiographic and clinical outcomes between posterior dynamic stabilization (PDS) and posterior lumbar intervertebral fusion (PLIF) in treating degenerative disc disease (DDD).

Methods: A total of 176 consecutive patients who underwent posterior instrumented spinal surgery for degenerative disc disease between January 2007 and January 2009 were prospectively divided into two groups-PDS and PLIF. All patients included in the analysis were followed up for 3 years.

New endoscopic ultrasound techniques for digestive tract diseases: A comprehensive review.

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is one of the most important modalities for the diagnosis of digestive tract diseases. EUS has been evolving ever since it was introduced. New techniques such as elastography and contrast enhancement have emerged, increasing the accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of EUS for the diagnosis of digestive tract diseases including pancreatic masses and lymphadenopathy.

Human amniotic epithelial cell transplantation for the repair of injured brachial plexus nerve: evaluation of nerve viscoelastic properties.

The transplantation of embryonic stem cells can effectively improve the creeping strength of nerves near an injury site in animals. Amniotic epithelial cells have similar biological properties as embryonic stem cells; therefore, we hypothesized that transplantation of amniotic epithelial cells can repair peripheral nerve injury and recover the creeping strength of the brachial plexus nerve. In the present study, a brachial plexus injury model was established in rabbits using the C6 root avulsion method.

Human bone marrow stromal cell confluence: effects on cell characteristics and methods of assessment.

Background Aims: Ex vivo expansion and serial passage of human bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs, also known as bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells) is required to obtain sufficient quantities for clinical therapy. The BMSC confluence criteria used to determine passage and harvest timing vary widely, and the impact of confluence on BMSC properties remains controversial. The effects of confluence on BMSC properties were studied and confluence-associated markers were identified.

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided deep and large biopsy for diagnosis of gastric infiltrating tumors with negative malignant endoscopy biopsies.

Aim: To assess the diagnostic yield and safety of a deep and large biopsy technique under the guidance of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) for diagnosis of gastric infiltrating tumors with negative malignant endoscopy biopsies.

Methods: From January 2009 to March 2014, 36 patients in whom gastric infiltrating tumors had been diagnosed by EUS received negative results for malignancy after endoscopic biopsies. The deep and large biopsy technique combined bite-on-bite technique with or without endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) to obtain submucosal tissue from lesions.

Succinate dehydrogenase-deficient gastrointestinal stromal tumors.

Most gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are characterized by KIT or platelet-derived growth factor alpha (PDGFRA) activating mutations. However, there are still 10%-15% of GISTs lacking KIT and PDGFRA mutations, called wild-type GISTs (WT GISTs). Among these so-called WT GISTs, a small subset is associated with succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) deficiency, known as SDH-deficient GISTs.

K6PC-5, a novel sphingosine kinase 1 (SphK1) activator, alleviates dexamethasone-induced damages to osteoblasts through activating SphK1-Akt signaling.

Long-term glucocorticoid usage is a common cause of non-traumatic femoral head osteonecrosis. Glucocorticoids (i.e.

Calcitriol plays a protective role in diabetic nephropathy through anti-inflammatory effects.

Aims: To ascertain the protective role of calcitriol in the development of diabetic nephropathy and unravel the mechanism of the protective effects.

Methods: In this prospective study, 69 patients were screened for type 1 diabetes, and 31 patients with type 1 diabetes were enrolled. Among these 31 patients, 24 patients had insufficient or deficient levels of serum vitamin D and 21 patients complied with calcitriol and were followed up.

A high-performance supercapacitor of vertically-oriented few-layered graphene with high-density defects.

Pristine graphene with a 3D structure is desired for use in graphene-based supercapacitors, yet the very poor wettability of such graphene in water has limited its practical application. Here we report a way to simultaneously realize the 3D structure and good wettability in vertically-oriented few-layered graphene (VFG) grown by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition. Based on scanning and transmission electron microscopic, Raman spectroscopic, contact angle (CA) and electrochemical analyses, a mechanism to explain the improved performance of VFG-based supercapacitors by defect-stimulated increases in wettability is proposed.

A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial of Malignant Gastric Outlet Obstruction: Tailored Partially Covered Stents (Placed Fluoroscopically) versus Standard Uncovered Stents (Placed Endoscopically).

The aim of our study is to compare the efficacy and safety of "outlet-shape" tailored stents with standard stents for the management of distal gastric cancer causing gastric outlet obstructions (GOOs) with varying gastric cavity shapes and sizes. To determine the shape and size of the GOOs, stomach opacifications were performed using contrast media before stenting. Two basic shapes of the residual cavity of the proximal GOO were observed: cup shaped or approximately cup shaped and funnel shaped or approximately funnel shaped.

Enhanced photoreversible color switching of redox dyes catalyzed by barium-doped TiO2 nanocrystals.

Colloidal barium-doped TiO2 nanocrystals have been developed that enable the highly reversible light-responsive color switching of redox dyes with excellent cycling performance and high switching rates. Oxygen vacancies resulting from the Ba doping serve as effective sacrificial electron donors (SEDs) to scavenge the holes photogenerated in TiO2 nanocrystals under UV irradiation and subsequently promote the reduction of methylene blue to its colorless leuco form. Effective color switching can therefore be realized without relying on external SEDs, thus greatly increasing the number of switching cycles.

[Temporal fluctuation and genetic characterization of echovirus 11 isolates upon surveillance of environmental sewage in Shandong Province, China].

We wished to analyze the genetic characterization of echovirus 11 (Echo11) from samples of environmental sewage in Shandong Province (China). The VP1 coding region was typed as the strains were amplified. Phylogenetic analyses on the VP1 sequences from these isolates, strains isolated from AFP cases in the period 1994-2010 and others published in GenBank were conducted.

Evidence for the contribution of NOS1 gene polymorphism (rs3782206) to prefrontal function in schizophrenia patients and healthy controls.

Nitric oxide (NO), a gaseous neurotransmitter, has been implicated in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. Accordingly, several polymorphisms of the gene that codes for the main NO-producing enzyme, the nitric oxide synthase 1 (NOS1), have been found to convey a risk for schizophrenia. This study examined the role of NOS1 gene polymorphisms in cognitive functions and related neural mechanism.

Perinatal hepatitis B prevention program in Shandong Province, China. Evaluation and progress.

Post-exposure prophylaxis with hepatitis B vaccine (HepB) alone is highly effective in preventing perinatal hepatitis B virus (HBV) transmission and the World Health Organization recommends administering HepB to all infants within 24 h after delivery. Maternal screening for HBsAg and administration of hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG) in addition to HepB for infants born to HBsAg-positive pregnant women can increase the effectiveness of post-exposure prophylaxis for perinatal HBV transmission. In Shangdong Province, China which has a high prevalence of chronic HBV infection, HepB birth dose and HBIG were integrated into the routine childhood immunization program in 2002 and July 2011 respectively.

Molecular characterization of enteroviruses including a new type EV-C99 isolated from Xinjiang students in Shandong, China in 2011.

The last case of infection with wild-type poliovirus indigenous to China was reported in 1994. In 2011, a poliomyelitis outbreak caused by imported wide-type poliovirus occurred in Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region. Here, we report the results of enterovirus (EV) isolation from Xinjiang students that returned to school in Shandong after summer vacation during this outbreak.

Superlattice valley engineering for designer topological insulators.

A topological insulator is a novel state of quantum matter, characterized by symmetry-protected Dirac interfacial states within its bulk gap. Tremendous effort has been invested into the search for topological insulators. To date, the discovery of topological insulators has been largely limited to natural crystalline solids.

Effects of climate change on phenological trends and seed cotton yields in oasis of arid regions.

Understanding the effects of climatic change on phenological phases of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) in oasis of arid regions may help optimize management schemes to increase productivity. This study assessed the impacts of climatic changes on the phenological phases and productivity of spring cotton.

Rabeprazole exhibits antiproliferative effects on human gastric cancer cell lines.

Intracellular proton extrusion in gastric cancer cells has been reported to promote cancer cell survival under acidic conditions via hydrogen/potassium adenosine triphosphatase (H/K-ATPase). Rabeprazole is a frequently used second-generation proton pump inhibitor (PPI) that irreversibly inactivates gastric H/K-ATPase. Therefore, we hypothesized that rabeprazole could reduce the viability of gastric cancer cells.

Non-polio enteroviruses from acute flaccid paralysis surveillance in Shandong Province, China, 1988-2013.

Enteroviruses (EVs) are important human pathogens associated with various clinical syndromes. This study represents an overview of non-polio enteroviruses (NPEVs) isolated from acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) surveillance in Shandong Province, China from 1988 to 2013. Altogether 792 and 170 NPEV isolates were isolated from stool specimens of 9263 AFP cases and 1059 contacts, respectively.

[Effects of electroacupuncture stimulation at "Guanyuan" (CV 4) on serum insulin-like growth factor-1 content and bone biomechanics in ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis rats].

Objective: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on serum insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) content and bone biomechanics in osteoporosis rats so as to explore its mechanism underlying improvement of postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMOP).

Methods: Forty female SD rats (4.5 months old) were randomly divided into sham-operation (sham), model, medication and EA groups (10 rats/group).

Insult of gastroesophageal reflux on airway: clinical significance of pharyngeal nozzle.

At the very time of global paying the highest attention to the worst insults of smoking as well as haze on the airway, everybody knows both are exogenous and noticeable. However, people mostly, including many medical personnel, do not know how badly the gastroesophageal reflux (GER) insults on our own airway. Symptoms of GER are commonly seen as heartburn and regurgitation, which can be mostly tolerated.

Synthesis and characterization of dendritic star-shaped zwitterionic polymers as novel anticancer drug delivery carriers.

In this work, a novel dendritic star-shaped zwitterionic polymer, polyamidoamine-graft-poly[3-dimethyl (methacryloyloxyethyl) ammonium propanesulfonate] (PAMAM-g-PDMAPS), was synthesized. PAMAM dendrimers (generation 2, G2) were firstly prepared and then converted into the PAMAM-Br macroinitiator with 2-bromoisobutyryl bromide for ATRP. Finally, ATRP of zwitterionic DMAPS was carried out to obtain the dendritic star-shaped polymers PAMAM-g-PDMAPS with different PDMAPS chain lengths.