A planar dielectrophoresis-based chip for high-throughput cell pairing.

This paper reports the design and fabrication of a planar chip for high-throughput cell trapping and pairing (more than 2400 single cell-cell pairs in a microwell array) in a 1 × 1.5 cm area by positive dielectrophoresis (p-DEP) within only several minutes. The p-DEP was generated by applying an alternating current signal on a novel two-pair interdigitated array (TPIDA) electrode.

Flexible Microsphere-Embedded Film for Microsphere-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy.

Dielectric microspheres with extraordinary microscale optical properties, such as photonic nanojets, optical whispering-gallery modes (WGMs), and directional antennas, have drawn interest in many research fields. Microsphere-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (MERS) is an alternative approach for enhanced Raman detection by dielectric microstructures. Unfortunately, fabrication of microsphere monolayer arrays is the major challenge of MERS for practical applications on various specimen surfaces.

Dicer suppresses cytoskeleton remodeling and tumorigenesis of colorectal epithelium by miR-324-5p mediated suppression of HMGXB3 and WASF-2.

Emerging evidence indicates that microRNAs, a class of small and well-conserved noncoding RNAs, participate in many physiological and pathological processes. RNase III endonuclease DICER is one of the key enzymes for microRNA biogenesis. Here, we found that DICER was downregulated in tumor samples of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients at both mRNA and protein levels.

High-Rate Long-Life Pored Nanoribbon VNbO Built by Interconnected Ultrafine Nanoparticles as Anode for Lithium-Ion Batteries.

VNbO is a novel lithium storage material, which has not been systematically investigated so far. Via electrospinning technology, VNbO samples with two different morphologies, pored nanoribbon and rodlike nanoparticles, are prepared in relatively low temperature and time-saving calcination conditions. It is found that the formation process of different morphologies depends on the control of self-aggregation of the precursor by using different sample collectors.

The Prevalence and Replication Capacity of a Tibetan Dominant HBV Strain, C/D Recombinant.

This study aimed to estimate the distribution of hepatitis B virus (HBV) C/D recombinant in Han and Tibet patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and then learn such strain's replication capacity in vivo. A total of 331 serum samples were collected from Han outpatients from Sichuan Province and Tibetan outpatients from Tibet. Viral genotypes in these samples were identified.

Invasive intramedullary melanotic schwannoma: case report and review of the literature.

Purpose: Melanotic schwannoma (MS) is rare, accounting for less than 1% of primary peripheral nerve sheath tumors, and most often occurs in the paraspinal nerve roots. Intramedullary MS is exceedingly rare, and to the best of our knowledge, only nine cases have been reported in literature.

Methods And Results: We present a 47-year-old male, who underwent excision of thoracic intraspinal space-occupying lesion 6 years ago, as the 10th known case to date of intradural intramedullary MS that had a more invasive growth pattern than those reported before, and we review the diagnosis, clinicopathologic features, treatment and prognosis of intramedullary MS.

Overexpression of miR-24 Is Involved in the Formation of Hypocoagulation State after Severe Trauma by Inhibiting the Synthesis of Coagulation Factor X.

Background: Dysregulation of microRNAs may contribute to the progression of trauma-induced coagulopathy (TIC). We aimed to explore the biological function that miRNA-24-3p (miR-24) might have in coagulation factor deficiency after major trauma and TIC.

Methods: 15 healthy volunteers and 36 severe trauma patients (Injury Severity Score ≥ 16 were enrolled.

Newcastle Disease Virus Establishes Persistent Infection in Tumor Cells : Contribution of the Cleavage Site of Fusion Protein and Second Sialic Acid Binding Site of Hemagglutinin-Neuraminidase.

Newcastle disease virus (NDV) is an oncolytic virus being developed for the treatment of cancer. Following infection of a human ovarian cancer cell line (OVCAR3) with a recombinant low-pathogenic NDV, persistent infection was established in a subset of tumor cells. Persistently infected (PI) cells exhibited resistance to superinfection with NDV and established an antiviral state, as demonstrated by upregulation of interferon and interferon-induced genes such as myxoma resistance gene 1 (Mx1) and retinoic acid-inducing gene-I (RIG-I).

Ideal T1 laminar screw fixation based on computed tomography morphometry.

Background: The application of laminar screws is an alternative fixation for the first thoracic vertebra (T1). This paper is to determine the anatomical characteristics for adequate laminar screw fixation, and present a modified method of sagittal reconstruction of T1 to provide more accurate measurements.

Methods: Computed tomography (CT) images of 62 patients (32 males, 30 females) were used for the analysis.

Primary Spinal Cord Glioblastoma Multiforme: A Retrospective Study of Patients at a Single Institution.

Background And Objective: Primary spinal cord (PSC) glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is extremely rare and accounts for only 1.5% of all spinal cord tumors. Therefore, its treatment is still ill defined.

[Expression levels of ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase-L1 and serum glial fibrillary acidic protein and its clinical significance in patients with acute cerebral infarction].

To determine expression levels of ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase-L1 (UCH-L1) and serum glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in patients with acute cerebral infarction and their clinical significance.
 Methods: A total of 80 patients with acute cerebral infarction in Chongqing Cancer Hospital from January 2014 to February 2016 were enrolled as an observation group. Another 80 healthy people served as a control group.

Rapid access to cyclopentadiene derivatives through gold-catalyzed cycloisomerization of ynamides with cyclopropenes by preferential activation of alkenes over alkynes.

In this communication, gold-catalyzed intermolecular cycloisomerization of cyclopropenes and ynamides is investigated. The current transformation displayed an activation priority of double bonds over triple bonds by the cationic gold catalyst, giving the corresponding cyclopentadienes in good to excellent yields. Additionally, this protocol can be expanded to a one-pot two-step procedure for the synthesis of substituted cyclopentanones.

Covalently Connected Polymer-Protein Nanostructures Fabricated by a Reactive Self-Assembly Approach.

The synthesis of polymer-protein nanostructures opens up a new avenue for the development of new biomaterials. In this research, covalently connected polymer-protein nanostructures were fabricated through a reactive self-assembly approach. Poly(tert-butyl methacrylate-co-pyridyl disulfide methacrylamide) (PtBMA-co-PPDSMA) was synthesized by reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization.

Protein Nanogels with Temperature-Induced Reversible Structures and Redox Responsiveness.

There are many natural examples of smart structures that are able to change conformations and functionalities responding to the external stimuli. The responsiveness is directly related to their unique structures. In the design of new materials, it is crucial to endow these materials with the capabilities to change structures and functionalities under the external stimuli.

Comparison of unilateral versus bilateral percutaneous kyphoplasty for the treatment of patients with osteoporosis vertebral compression fracture (OVCF): a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: To compare the short- and long-term clinical outcomes, operation times, restoration rate, dosage of polymethylmeth-acrylate (PMMA) injected, complications and X-rays exposure frequency between unilateral and bilateral kyphoplasty approaches for the treatment of OVCF.

Study Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods: Randomized or non-randomized controlled trials published up to April 2015 that compared the unilateral and bilateral PKP for the treatment of OVCF were acquired by a comprehensive search in the Cochrane Controlled Trial Register, PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, OVID.

Anterior corpectomy versus posterior laminoplasty for the treatment of multilevel cervical myelopathy: A meta-analysis.

Purpose: To compare the effectiveness between anterior corpectomy (CORP) and posterior laminoplasty (LAMP) for the treatment of multilevel cervical myelopathy.

Study Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, PubMed, OVID, Web of Science and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases for all relevant articles that compared the two operations for the treatment of multilevel cervical myelopathy.

Head-to-Head Linkage Containing Bithiophene-Based Polymeric Semiconductors for Highly Efficient Polymer Solar Cells.

Narrow bandgap (1.37-1.46 eV) polymers incorporating a head-to-head linkage containing 3-alkoxy-3'-alkyl-2,2'-bithiophene are synthesized.

Pancreatic carcinoma masked as fever of unknown origin: A case report and comprehensive review of literature.

Background: Pancreatic carcinoma is a highly lethal malignancy. Common presenting features of pancreatic cancer include anorexia, asthenia, weight loss, pain, and obstructive jaundice. Nevertheless, fever as a symptom, or even primary manifestation of pancreatic cancer is rather rare.

High-Performance Anode Material Sr2FeMo0.65Ni0.35O6-δ with In Situ Exsolved Nanoparticle Catalyst.

A metallic nanoparticle-decorated ceramic anode was prepared by in situ reduction of the perovskite Sr2FeMo0.65Ni0.35O6-δ (SFMNi) in H2 at 850 °C.

CD55 is a key complement regulatory protein that counteracts complement-mediated inactivation of Newcastle Disease Virus.

Newcastle disease virus (NDV) is being developed as an oncolytic virus for virotherapy. In this study we analysed the regulation of complement-mediated inactivation of a recombinant NDV in different host cells. NDV grown in human cells was less sensitive to complement-mediated virus inactivation than NDV grown in embryonated chicken eggs.

Short hairpin rna targeting insulin-like growth fator binding protein-3 restores the bioavailability of insulin-like growth factor-1 in diabetic rats.

Purpose: To investigate whether intracavernosal injection of short hairpin RNA for IGFBP-3 could improve erectile function in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Materials And Methods: After 12 weeks of IGFBP-3 short hairpin RNA injection treatment, intracavernous pressure responses to electrical stimulation of cavernous nerves were evaluated. The expression of IGFBP-3 and IGF-1 at mRNA and protein levels were detected by quantitative real-time PCR analysis and Western blot, respectively.

Genetic Modification of Oncolytic Newcastle Disease Virus for Cancer Therapy.

Unlabelled: Clinical development of a mesogenic strain of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) as an oncolytic agent for cancer therapy has been hampered by its select agent status due to its pathogenicity in avian species. Using reverse genetics, we have generated a lead candidate oncolytic NDV based on the mesogenic NDV-73T strain that is no longer classified as a select agent for clinical development. This recombinant NDV has a modification at the fusion protein (F) cleavage site to reduce the efficiency of F protein cleavage and an insertion of a 198-nucleotide sequence into the HN-L intergenic region, resulting in reduced viral gene expression and replication in avian cells but not in mammalian cells.

Facile synthesis of substituted 3-aminofurans through a tandem reaction of N-sulfonyl-1,2,3-triazoles with propargyl alcohols.

A relay catalysis strategy for substituted 3-aminofurans synthesis has been developed. This transformation involves a tandem reaction sequence through aza-vinyl-rhodium(ii) carbene O-H bond insertion, thermal propargyl-Claisen rearrangement and gold(i)-catalyzed intramolecular cyclization. More importantly, the current strategy employs simple feedstocks as starting materials, providing substituted 3-aminofurans in a highly efficient manner.

Role of hypoxia-induced VEGF in blood-spinal cord barrier disruption in chronic spinal cord injury.

Chronic spinal cord lesions (CSCL) which result in irreversible neurologic deficits remain one of the most devastating clinical problems. Its pathophysiological mechanism has not been fully clarified. As a crucial factor in the outcomes following traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI), the blood-spinal cord barrier (BSCB) disruption is considered as an important pathogenic factor contributing to the neurologic impairment in SCI.