Two type II IFN members, IFN-γ and IFN-γ related (rel), regulate differentially IRF1 and IRF11 in zebrafish.

Two members of type II IFNs have been identified in fish, i.e. an IFN-γ gene as in other vertebrates and a unique IFN-γ related (IFN-γ rel) gene being solely present in fish.

Dosimetric benefits of intensity-modulated radiotherapy and volumetric-modulated arc therapy in the treatment of postoperative cervical cancer patients.

As the advantage of using complex volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) in the treatment of gynecologic cancer has not yet been fully determined, the purpose of this study was to investigate the dosimetric advantages of VMAT by comparing directly with whole pelvic conformal radiotherapy (CRT) and intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) in the treatment of 15 postoperative cervical cancer patients. Four-field CRT, seven-field IMRT, and two-arc VMAT plans were generated for each patient with identical objective functions to achieve clinically acceptable dose distribution. Target coverage and OAR sparing differences were investigated through dose-volume histogram (DVH) analysis.

Loss of DDRGK1 modulates SOX9 ubiquitination in spondyloepimetaphyseal dysplasia.

Shohat-type spondyloepimetaphyseal dysplasia (SEMD) is a skeletal dysplasia that affects cartilage development. Similar skeletal disorders, such as spondyloepiphyseal dysplasias, are linked to mutations in type II collagen (COL2A1), but the causative gene in SEMD is not known. Here, we have performed whole-exome sequencing to identify a recurrent homozygous c.

Two-Dimensional Materials for Halide Perovskite-Based Optoelectronic Devices.

Halide perovskites have high light absorption coefficients, long charge carrier diffusion lengths, intense photoluminescence, and slow rates of non-radiative charge recombination. Thus, they are attractive photoactive materials for developing high-performance optoelectronic devices. These devices are also cheap and easy to be fabricated.

Inhibition of Cronobacter sakazakii Virulence Factors by Citral.

Cronobacter sakazakii is a foodborne pathogen associated with fatal forms of necrotizing enterocolitis, meningitis and sepsis in neonates and infants. The aim of this study was to determine whether citral, a major component of lemongrass oil, could suppress putative virulence factors of C. sakazakii that contribute to infection.

Repeatable deep-tissue activation of persistent luminescent nanoparticles by soft X-ray for high sensitivity long-term in vivo bioimaging.

Persistent luminescent nanoparticles (PLNPs) have emerged as important nanomaterials for biological imaging as a result of complete avoidance of tissue auto-fluorescence. However, the imaging sensitivity and long-term in vivo imaging are still limited due to the persistent luminescence that is rapidly decayed in vivo after an ex vivo excitation. To address this limitation, in vivo activation of PLNPs is highly desired.

Synthesis, molecular docking and α-glucosidase inhibition of 2-((5,6-diphenyl-1,2,4-triazin-3-yl)thio)-N-arylacetamides.

A novel series of 2-((5,6-diphenyl-1,2,4-triazin-3-yl)thio)-N-arylacetamides 5a-5q have been synthesized and evaluated for their α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. All newly synthesized compounds exhibited potent α-glucosidase inhibitory activity in the range of IC=12.46±0.

Direction Dependence of Adhesion Force for Droplets on Rough Substrates.

Determination of solid surface free energy is still an open problem. At present, there are two leading theories on how to determine the adhesion of droplets on rough substrates: one theory stresses that the droplet adhesion force lies in the areas of contact and interaction energy between liquid and solid molecules, whereas the other holds that the length of the edge of drops is essential. In this work, we unify the two theories through lattice Boltzmann simulations and demonstrate that the adhesion force could depend on either the contact area or the contact line, depending on the direction of the adhesion force measured, that is, by vertically separating the two materials or laterally sliding the droplet on the substrate.

Translating clinical trials into clinical practice: a survey assessing the potential impact of the Pediatric Heart Network Infant Single Ventricle Trial.

Background: A few studies have evaluated the impact of clinical trial results on practice in paediatric cardiology. The Infant Single Ventricle (ISV) Trial results published in 2010 did not support routine use of the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor enalapril in infants with single-ventricle physiology. We sought to assess the influence of these findings on clinical practice.

The neonatal levels of TSB, NSE and CK-BB in autism spectrum disorder from Southern China.

Unlabelled: Background" Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a serious neurodevelopmental disorder that impairs a child's ability to communicate with others. It also includes restricted repetitive behaviors, interests and activities. Symptoms manifest before the age of 3.

Retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I)-like receptors (RLRs) in fish: current knowledge and future perspectives.

Retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I) -like receptors (RLRs) are found conservatively present in teleost fish. All three members, RIG-I, MDA5 and LGP2, together with the downstream molecules such as MITA, TRAF3 and TBK1, have been identified in a range of fish species. However, it is unexpected that RIG-I has not been reported in fish of Acanthopterygii, and it would be important to clarify the presence and role of the RIG-I gene in a broad range of taxa in Teleostei.

MDM2 mediates fibroblast activation and renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis via a p53-independent pathway.

It is well recognized that murine double minute gene 2 (MDM2) plays a critical role in cell proliferation and inflammatory processes during tumorigenesis. It is also reported that MDM2 is expressed in glomeruli and involved in podocyte injury. However, whether MDM2 is implicated in renal fibrosis remains unclear.

Cathelicidin-WA Improves Intestinal Epithelial Barrier Function and Enhances Host Defense against Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 Infection.

Impaired epithelial barrier function disrupts immune homeostasis and increases inflammation in intestines, leading to many intestinal diseases. Cathelicidin peptides suppress intestinal inflammation and improve intestinal epithelial barrier function independently of their antimicrobial activity. In this study, we investigated the effects of Cathelicidin-WA (CWA) on intestinal epithelial barrier function, as well as the underlying mechanism, by using enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC)-infected mice and intestinal epithelial cells.

Development and impact of arrhythmias after the Norwood procedure: A report from the Pediatric Heart Network.

Objectives: The study objective was to determine the predictors of new-onset arrhythmia among infants with single-ventricle anomalies during the post-Norwood hospitalization and the association of those arrhythmias with postoperative outcomes (ventilator time and length of stay) and interstage mortality.

Methods: After excluding patients with preoperative arrhythmias, we used data from the Pediatric Heart Network Single Ventricle Reconstruction Trial to identify risk factors for tachyarrhythmias (atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, supraventricular tachycardia, junctional ectopic tachycardia, and ventricular tachycardia) and atrioventricular block (second or third degree) among 544 eligible patients. We then determined the association of arrhythmia with outcomes during the post-Norwood hospitalization and interstage period, adjusting for identified risk factors and previously published factors.

Molecular cloning and expression analysis of a fish specific interferon regulatory factor, IRF11, in orange spotted grouper, Epinephelus coioides.

Interferon regulatory factors (IRFs) are transcription mediators which play vital roles in multiple biological processes, such as antiviral defense, immune response, cell growth regulation and apoptosis. A fish specific IRF, termed IRF11, has been identified in previous study through searching fish genome databases. Herein, a transcript of IRF11, EcIRF11 was cloned from orange-spotted grouper, Epinephelus coioides.

Gadolinium oxysulfide-coated gold nanorods with improved stability and dual-modal magnetic resonance/photoacoustic imaging contrast enhancement for cancer theranostics.

Gold nanorods (GNRs) are emerging as a promising nanoplatform for cancer theranostics because of their unique optical properties. However, they still suffer from many limitations, such as high cytotoxicity, low thermodynamic and biological stability, and a tedious process for integrating other imaging modalities, for further practical biomedical applications. In this work, a strategy by one-step coating of GdOS around GNRs is reported to address these limitations of GNRs.

Role of zebrafish NLRC5 in antiviral response and transcriptional regulation of MHC related genes.

Intracellular NOD-like receptors (NLRs) are emerging as critical regulators of innate and adaptive immune responses. Although the NLR family member NLRC5 is functionally defined, the role of NLRC5 in regulating innate immune signaling has been controversial in mammals, and is poorly understood in teleost fish. In the present study, we report the functional characterization of zebrafish NLRC5.

Activation of FXR protects against renal fibrosis via suppressing Smad3 expression.

Renal fibrosis is the common pathway of most chronic kidney disease progression to end-stage renal failure. The nuclear receptor FXR (farnesoid X receptor), a multiple functional transcription factor, plays an important role in protecting against fibrosis. The TGFβ-Smad signaling has a central role in kidney fibrosis.

Molecular weight kinetics and chain scission models for dextran polymers during ultrasonic degradation.

Ultrasonic degradation of six dextran samples with different initial molecular weights (IMW) has been performed to investigate the degradation behavior and chain scission mechanism of dextrans. The weight-average molecular weight (Mw) and polydispersity index (D value) were monitored by High Performance Gel Permeation Chromatography (HPGPC). Results showed that Mw and D value decreased with increasing ultrasonic time, resulting in a more homologous dextran solution with lower molecular weight.

Organic Dye-Sensitized CHNHPbI Hybrid Flexible Photodetector with Bulk Heterojunction Architectures.

A flexible photodetector based on the bulk heterojunction of an organometallic halide perovskites CHNHPbI and an organic dye Rhodamine B (RhB) has been fabricated via a solution casting process. It showed a high responsivity (R = 43.6 mA/W) to visible lights, short response time (t ≈ 60 ms, t ≈ 40 ms), high on-off ratio (I/I ≈ 287) and satisfactory stability because of its Schottky barrier structure and the dye enhanced light absorption.

Intronless and intron-containing type I IFN genes coexist in amphibian Xenopus tropicalis: Insights into the origin and evolution of type I IFNs in vertebrates.

Type I IFNs are considered to be the core IFN species in vertebrates because of their predominant antiviral effects. But, a puzzling question remains to be answered, as to how intronless type I IFN genes in amniotes might have evolved from intron-containing type I IFN genes in fish and amphibians. In this study, intronless and intron-containing type I IFNs were found in the amphibian model, Xenopus tropicalis, with a total of sixteen and five genes, respectively.

MAD2B promotes tubular epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis via Skp2.

Unlabelled: The mitotic arrest deficient protein MAD2B is a well-defined anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C) inhibitor and a small subunit of DNA polymerase zeta. It is critical for mitotic control and DNA repair. However, the pathological role of MAD2B in kidney diseases has not been fully elucidated.

Specific enrichment combined with highly efficient solid-phase tagging for the sensitive detection of heparin based on boronic acid-functionalized mesoporous silica nanospheres.

A combined specific enrichment and highly efficient solid-phase tagging approach is presented for heparin detection using boronic acid-functionalized mesoporous silica nanospheres as extraction sorbents and nanoscale reactors. It exhibits a faster reaction time (only 6 min), higher tagging-product purity and lower applicable sample concentration compared with liquid-phase tagging.

Assessment of Diastolic Function in Single-Ventricle Patients After the Fontan Procedure.

Background: Patients with functional single ventricles after the Fontan procedure have abnormal cardiac mechanics. The aims of this study were to determine factors that influence diastolic function and to describe associations of diastolic function with current clinical status.

Methods: Echocardiograms were obtained as part of the Pediatric Heart Network Fontan Cross-Sectional Study.