Biocompatible Conductive Polymers with High Conductivity and High Stretchability.

Stretchable electronic materials have drawn strong interest due to their important applications in areas such as bioelectronics, wearable devices, and soft robotics. The stretchable electrode is an integral unit of stretchable systems. Intrinsically conductive polymers such as poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) can have high mechanical flexibility and good biocompatibility.

DO Labeling to Measure Active Biosynthesis of Natural Products in Medicinal Plants.

Plant natural products have served as a prominent source of medicines throughout human history, and are still used today as clinically-approved pharmaceuticals. However, many medicinal plants that produce useful compounds are slow-growing or recalcitrant to cultivation, making it difficult to investigate the underlying genetic/enzymatic machinery responsible for biosynthesis. To better understand the metabolism of bioactive natural products in slow-growing medicinal plants, we used DO labeling and LC-MS-based metabolomics to explore the biosynthesis of medically-relevant alkaloids in three plant species.

Safety and efficacy of ex vivo expanded CD34 stem cells in murine and primate models.

Background: Hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) transplantation has been widely applied to the treatment of malignant blood diseases. However, limited number of functional HSCs hinders successful transplantation. The purpose of our current study is to develop a new and cost-efficient medium formulation that could greatly enhance the expansion of HSCs while retaining their long-term repopulation and hematopoietic properties for effective clinical transplantation.

Mapping theme trends and knowledge structures for human neural stem cells: a quantitative and co-word biclustering analysis for the 2013-2018 period.

Neural stem cells, which are capable of multi-potential differentiation and self-renewal, have recently been shown to have clinical potential for repairing central nervous system tissue damage. However, the theme trends and knowledge structures for human neural stem cells have not yet been studied bibliometrically. In this study, we retrieved 2742 articles from the PubMed database from 2013 to 2018 using "Neural Stem Cells" as the retrieval word.

PES1 is a critical component of telomerase assembly and regulates cellular senescence.

Telomerase defers the onset of telomere shortening and cellular senescence by adding telomeric repeat DNA to chromosome ends, and its activation contributes to carcinogenesis. Telomerase minimally consists of the telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) and the telomerase RNA (TR). However, how telomerase assembles is largely unknown.

MiR-378a-5p acts as a tumor suppressor in renal cell carcinoma and is associated with the good prognosis of patients.

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a common cancer that accounts for about 1.6% of all malignancies. Accumulating evidence has shown that miRNAs may play important roles in the development of cancers and that these same miRNAs may serve as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers.

Associations of high expression of miR-106b-5p detected from FFPE sample with poor prognosis of RCC patients.

Objective: The present study aims to determine the association of microRNA-106b-5p (miR-106b-5p) expression with the clinicopathological features and prognosis of renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

Patents And Methods: The formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded(FFPE) Tumor tissues were collected from 284 RCC patients. The expression of miR-106b-5p was examined by Reverse Transcription Real-time Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR), followed by correlation analysis with clinicopathological features and prognosis.

Identification of miR-29c and its Target FBXO31 as a Key Regulatory Mechanism in Esophageal Cancer Chemoresistance: Functional Validation and Clinical Significance.

Dysregulated microRNA (miRNA) expressions in cancer can contribute to chemoresistance. This study aims to identify miRNAs that are associated with fluorouracil (5-FU) chemoresistance in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). The potential of miR-29c as a novel diagnostic, prognostic and treatment-predictive marker in ESCC, and its mechanisms and therapeutic implication in overcoming 5-FU chemoresistance were explored.

In Situ Hydrothermal Growth of TiO Nanoparticles on a Conductive TiCT MXene Nanosheet: A Synergistically Active Ti-Based Nanohybrid Electrocatalyst for Enhanced N Reduction to NH at Ambient Conditions.

The traditional power-wasting Haber-Bosch process still dominates industrial NH production. Recent years witnessed the rapid development of an electrochemical N reduction reaction (NRR) because of its environmentally benign and sustainable feature. Here, we demonstrate the first utilization of a TiCT MXene nanosheet as both the precursor and conductive substrate toward the in situ hydrothermal growth of TiO nanoparticles.

Prevalence of BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations in Chinese patients with high-risk breast cancer.

Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide. Here, we report the prevalence of BRCA1/2 mutations in patients with high-risk breast cancer from Inner Mongolia and Jilin, China, which was a part of a nationwide project on the detection of BRCA1/2 mutations in Chinese patients with hereditary breast cancer.

Methods: According to the criteria, index patients from a total of 245 independent families were initially recruited.

Radiofrequency-Sensitive Longitudinal Relaxation Tuning Strategy Enabling the Visualization of Radiofrequency Ablation Intensified by Magnetic Composite.

As a minimally invasive heat source, radiofrequency (RF) ablation still encounters potential damages to the surrounding normal tissues because of heat diffusion, high power, and long time. With a comprehensive understanding of the current state of the art on RF ablation, a magnetic composite using porous hollow iron oxide nanoparticles (HIONs) as carriers to load dl-menthol (DLM) has been engineered. This composite involves two protocols for enhancing RF ablation, that is, HION-mediated magnetothermal conversion in RF field and RF solidoid vaporation (RSV)-augmented inertial cavitation, respectively.

Purification of 3, 4-dihydroxyphenylethyl alcohol glycoside from Sargentodoxa cuneata (Oliv.) Rehd. et Wils. and its protective effects against DSS-induced colitis.

Sargentodoxa cuneata is a tropical plant used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat intestinal inflammation. In this study, 3, 4-dihydroxyphenylethyl alcohol glycoside (DAG) was purified from the stem of S. cuneata using macroporous resins and its bioactivity was also investigated.

Near-Infrared-Induced Cationic Polymerization Initiated by Using Upconverting Nanoparticles and Titanocene.

A new near-infrared (NIR)-sensitized photoinitiating system for free-radical-promoted cationic polymerization of oxirane and vinyl monomers such as cyclohexene oxide, and n-butyl vinyl ether (BVE), and N-vinyl carbazole (NVC) is described. A three-component photoinitiating system consists of upconverting nanoparticles (UCNPs), titanium-complex free radical photoinitiator (Irgacure 784, titanocene), and diphenyl iodonium hexafluorophosphate (Ph I PF ). Upon NIR laser irradiation at 980 nm, the radicals generated from titanocene by the visible light emitted by UCNP abstract hydrogen or add to the monomer, forming electron donor radicals that can be oxidized by iodonium salt to initiate cationic polymerization.

STAT1-mediated inhibition of FOXM1 enhances gemcitabine sensitivity in pancreatic cancer.

Forkhead box protein M1 (FOXM1) was identified as an oncogenic transcription factor and master regulator of tumor progression and metastasis. FOXM1 expression often correlates with poor prognosis and chemotherapy resistance. In the present study, we investigated the association of FOXM1 expression and chemoresistance in pancreatic cancer.

Investigating Dynamic Molecular Events in Melanoma Cell Nucleus During Photodynamic Therapy by SERS.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) involves the uptake of photosensitizers by cancer cells and the irradiation of a light with a specific wavelength to trigger a series of photochemical reactions based on the generation of reactive oxygen, leading to cancer cell death. PDT has been widely used in various fields of biomedicine. However, the molecular events of the cancer cell nucleus during the PDT process are still unclear.

An update on clinical safety of adalimumab in treating psoriasis: A systematic review and meta-analysis based on 20 randomized controlled trials.

Purpose: The current meta-analysis was conducted to better evaluate the role of adalimumab for patients with psoriasis in terms of its safety profile on the basis of eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

Methods: The following electronic databases such as Cochrane, PubMed, and Embase database involving the index words were screened and identified for qualified studies updated to December 2018. Associated publications and sources were hand-searched for more related details.

Enhancement in the photovoltaic performance of planar perovskite solar cells by perovskite cluster engineering using an interfacial energy modifier.

The grain size and quality of hybrid organic-inorganic perovskite (HOIP) films greatly affect the performance of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). However, dripping an anti-solvent during the spin coating process induces rapid nucleation and reduces the grain size. Here, a facile method is developed to engineer clusters in precursor solution and obtain high-quality perovskite films with an enlarged grain size.

Upregulation of miR-183-5p predicts worse survival in patients with renal cell cancer after surgery.

Objective: Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is one of the most common genitourinary cancers, and advanced RCC usually leads to poor prognosis. Therefore, identifying novel biomarkers for predicting the progression and prognosis of RCC is essential. The present study aims to evaluate the clinical value of miR-183-5p in RCC development and prognosis after surgery.

Comparative toxicogenomics of three insensitive munitions constituents 2,4-dinitroanisole, nitroguanidine and nitrotriazolone in the soil nematode Caenorhabditis elegans.

Background: Ecotoxicological studies on the insensitive munitions formulation IMX-101 and its components 2,4-dinitroanisole (DNAN), nitroguanidine (NQ) and nitrotriazolone (NTO) in various organisms showed that DNAN was the main contributor to the overall toxicity of IMX-101 and suggested that the three compounds acted independently. These results motivated this toxicogenomics study to discern toxicological mechanisms for these compounds at the molecular level.

Methods: Here we used the soil nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, a well-characterized genomics model, as the test organism and a species-specific, transcriptome-wide 44 K-oligo probe microarray for gene expression analysis.

Association of MLH1 single nucleotide polymorphisms with clinical outcomes of first-line irinotecan-based chemotherapy in colorectal cancer.

Purpose: Several studies have proved that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of mismatch repair system genes are closely related to the development of colorectal cancer (CRC) by causing microsatellite instability, while effects of the SNPs of MMR system-related genes on the clinical outcomes of cytotoxic chemotherapy are less understood. The aim of this study explored the influence of MLH1 SNPs on clinical outcomes of first-line irinotecan-based chemotherapy in CRC.

Patients And Methods: A total of 125 metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients who received first-line irinotecan-based chemotherapy (none of them combined with bevacizumab or cetuximab) were enrolled in this study.

Economic analysis of acupuncture for migraine prophylaxis.

Background: Acupuncture has become a viable option for migraine prophylaxis in Europe; however, despite its wide use, more data on the short- and long-term cost-effectiveness are needed when considering the perspectives of a paying third-party, the patient, and of society in general. The aim was to evaluate the cost and effectiveness of adjuvant acupuncture to pharmacologic treatment vs pharmacologic treatment alone in migraine patients after a 3-month acupuncture course and a 6-month follow-up from all perspectives.

Methods: The study involved an open-label randomized clinical trial of patients receiving acupuncture (n=42), and a waiting list control group (n=44).

ApoA-1 accelerates regeneration of small-for-size fatty liver graft after transplantation.

Objectives: Apolipoprotein A-1 (ApoA-1) is involved in regulating both lipid and energy metabolism, which may play important roles in liver regeneration, especially for the liver with steatosis. We here intended to investigate the role of ApoA-1 in regeneration of small-for-size fatty liver graft and to explore the underlying mechanism.

Methods: The association of ApoA-1 expression with liver regeneration was studied in rat liver transplantation models using small-for-size normal graft or small-for-size fatty graft.

Paper-Based Sensor Chip for Heavy Metal Ion Detection by SWSV.

Heavy metal ion pollution problems have had a terrible influence on human health and the environment. Therefore, the monitoring of heavy metal ions is of great practical significance. In this paper, an electrochemical three-electrode system was fabricated and integrated on nitrocellulose membrane (NC) by the use of magnetron sputtering technology, which exhibited a uniform arrangement of porous structure without further film modification.

HMGB1 from Lampetra japonica promotes inflammatory activation in supraneural body cells.

High mobility group box protein 1 (HMGB1) acts as a potent proinflammatory cytokine that involves in the pathogenesis of diverse inflammatory and infectious disorders. In previous study, we identified a homolog of HMGB1 in the Lampetra japonica(L-HMGB1), and further revealed that L-HMGB1 was able to induce the production of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in activated human acute monocytic leukemia cells. However, the role of L-HMGB1 played in lamprey was unknown.