Dysregulation of Fibroblast Growth Factor 10 in the Peripheral Blood of Patients with Schizophrenia.

The fibroblast growth factor (FGF) system has been suggested to be involved in the development of schizophrenia (SCZ). However, the potential roles of all FGFs have not been well studied in the literature. Here, we investigated the concentration of peripheral blood fibroblast 10 (FGF10) in patients with SCZ to determine whether FGF10 could serve as a biomarker for SCZ.

Lithium Deficiencies Engineering in Li-Rich Layered Oxide LiMnNiCoO for High-Stability Cathode.

Li-rich layered oxides have been in focus because of their high specific capacity. However, they usually suffer from poor kinetics, severe voltage decay, and capacity fading. Herein, a long-neglected Li-deficient method is demonstrated to address these problems by simply reducing the lithium content.

Accurately cleavable goat β-lactoglobulin signal peptide efficiently guided translation of a recombinant human plasminogen activator in transgenic rabbit mammary gland.

Poor expression is the key factor hampering the large-scale application of transgenic animal mammary gland bioreactors. A very different approach would be to evaluate the secretion of recombinant proteins into milk in response to a cleavable signal peptide of highly secreted lactoproteins.We previously reported rabbits harboring mammary gland-specific expression vector containing a fusion cDNA (goat β-lactoglobulin (BLG) signal peptide and recombinant human plasminogen activator (rhPA) coding sequences) expressed rhPA in the milk, but we did not realize the signal peptide contributed to the high rhPA concentration and did not mention it at that time.

Cleaving DNA-model phosphodiester with Lewis acid-base catalytic sites in bifunctional Zr-MOFs.

Organophosphates exist in many biomolecules. The design of artificial nucleases for efficient P-O bond cleavage is essential for the fields of genetic engineering and molecular biology. Herein, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with cooperatively isolated multi-catalytic active sites were utilized as heterogeneous catalysts for the hydrolytic cleavage of bis(p-nitrophenyl) phosphate (BNPP).

'Double-muscling' and pelvic tilt phenomena in rabbits with the cystine-knot motif deficiency of myostatin on exon 3.

Gene mutations at different gene sites will produce totally different phenotypes or biological functions in gene-edited animals. An allelic series of mutations in the myostatin () gene can cause the 'double-muscling' phenotype. Although there have been many studies performed on -mutant animals, there have been few studies that have investigated the cystine-knot motif in exon 3 of in rabbits.

Genotyping of Circulating Tumor DNA Reveals the Clinically Actionable Mutation Landscape of Advanced Colorectal Cancer.

Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) enables genomic profiling of colorectal cancer. We investigated therapeutic targets by performing ctDNA panel-captured sequencing of 152 blood samples from advanced stage patients, from which somatic mutations and potentially actionable targets were evaluated. An additional 11 matched tissue samples were retrospectively obtained to verify target validity.

A Guideline for Tailoring Lattice Oxygen Activity in Lithium-Rich Layered Cathodes by Strain.

Lattice oxygen activity plays a dominant role in balancing discharge capacity and performance decay of lithium-rich layered oxide cathodes (LLOs). On the basis of density functional theory (DFT) and tight-binding theory, the activity of lattice oxygen can be improved by tensile strain and suppressed by compressive strain. To verify this conclusion, LLOs with large lattice parameters (L-LLOs) were synthesized taking advantage of the lattice expansion effect in nanomaterials.

Metabolic switching in pluripotent stem cells reorganizes energy metabolism and subcellular organelles.

Metabolic studies of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) have focused on how the cells produce energy through the catabolic pathway. The less-studied anabolic pathway, by which hPSCs expend energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), is not yet fully understood. Compared to fully differentiated somatic cells, hPSCs undergo significant changes not only in their gene expression but also in their production and/or expenditure of ATP.

Generation of hyperlipidemic rabbit models using multiple sgRNAs targeted CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing system.

Objective: To generate novel rabbit models with a large-fragment deletion of either LDL receptor (LDLR) and/or apolipoprotein (apoE) genes for the study of hyperlipidemic and atherosclerosis.

Methods: CRISPR/Cas9 system directed by a multiple sgRNAs system was used in rabbit embryos to edit their LDLR and apoE genes. The LDLR and apoE genes of founder rabbits were sequenced, and their plasma lipids and lipoprotein profiles on a normal chow diet were analyzed, western blotting was also performed to evaluate the expression of apolipoprotein.

Genome-Wide, Integrative Analysis Implicates Exosome-Derived MicroRNA Dysregulation in Schizophrenia.

Genetic variants conferring risk for schizophrenia (SCZ) have been extensively studied, but the role of posttranscriptional mechanisms in SCZ is not well studied. Here we performed the first genome-wide microRNA (miRNA) expression profiling in serum-derived exosome from 49 first-episode, drug-free SCZ patients and 46 controls and identified miRNAs and co-regulated modules that were perturbed in SCZ. Putative targets of these SCZ-affected miRNAs were enriched strongly for genes that have been implicated in protein glycosylation and were also related to neurotransmitter receptor and dendrite (spine) development.

A Multifunctional Peptide-Conjugated AIEgen for Efficient and Sequential Targeted Gene Delivery into the Nucleus.

Gene therapy has immense potential as a therapeutic approach to serious diseases. However, efficient delivery and real-time tracking of gene therapeutic agents have not been solved well for successful gene-based therapeutics. Herein we present a versatile gene-delivery strategy for efficient and visualized delivery of therapeutic genes into the targeted nucleus.

Integrative analysis of cancer driver genes in prostate adenocarcinoma.

Large‑scale genomics studies have identified recurrently mutated genes in the ETS gene family, including fusions and copy number variations (CNVs), which are involved in the development of prostate adenocarcinoma (PRAD). However, the aetiology of PRAD remains to be fully elucidated. In the present study, 333 driver genes were identified using four computational tools: OncodriveFM, OncodriveCLUST, iCAGES and DrGaP.

Cytokines concentrations in aqueous humor of eyes with uveal melanoma.

Uveal melanoma (UM) is the major intraocular malignancy in adults, of which the molecular biology is still unknown. Therefore, this study was designed to determine the aqueous concentrations of angiogenic, inflammatory, and chemotactic cytokines in eyes with UM.Aqueous humor samples were collected from 38 patients with UM and 22 patients undergoing cataract surgery.

Efficiency of bursectomy in patients with resectable gastric cancer: An updated meta-analysis.

Aims: A meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the safety and efficiency of bursectomy for patients with gastric cancer.

Method: A literature search was performed in PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library databases,China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases, China Science and Technology Journal(CSTJ) database and ASCO proceedings for clinical research that compared bursectomy with non-bursectomy published before July 2017. Operative time, blood loss, the number of dissected lymph nodes, complications, mortality, length of hospital stay, recurrence rate, overall survival and recurrence-free survival were compared using weighted mean differences(WMD) and relative risks(RR).

Extracellular vesicles deliver RNA to promote host immunity and bacterial killing.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have been shown to carry microbial components and function in the host defense against infections. In this study, we demonstrate that () RNA is delivered into macrophage-derived EVs through an SecA2-dependent pathway and that EVs released from -infected macrophages stimulate a host RIG-I/MAVS/TBK1/IRF3 RNA sensing pathway, leading to type I interferon production in recipient cells. These EVs also promote, in a RIG-I/MAVS-dependent manner, the maturation of -containing phagosomes through a noncanonical LC3 pathway, leading to increased bacterial killing.

Coordination-induced structural changes of DNA-based optical and electrochemical sensors for metal ions detection.

Metal ions play a critical role in human health and abnormal levels are closely related to various diseases. Therefore, the detection of metal ions with high selectivity, sensitivity and accuracy is particularly important. This article highlights and comments on the coordination-induced structural changes of DNA-based optical, electrochemical and optical-electrochemical-combined sensors for metal ions detection.

Long-range overlapping of Kondo clouds in open triple quantum dots.

We study the phenomena of overlapping of Kondo clouds in an open triple quantum dots (OTQDs) system by using the dissipaton equation of motion (DEOM) theory. Motivated by the long-rang interaction of the TQDs system demonstrated in Cheng et al (2017 Phys. Rev.

Determination of a astragaloside IV derivative LS-102 in plasma by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry in dog plasma and its application in a pharmacokinetic study.

Background: Astragalosidic acid (LS-102) is a new water-soluble derivative of astragaloside IV - a major effective component isolated from the Chinese herb Astragali Radix. Our previous study showed that LS-102 exhibited potent cardiovascular activity.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to investigate the pharmacokinetic properties of LS-102 after single-dose, oral administration in beagle dogs by developing and validating an ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method.

Fluorescein angiography of retinal vascular involution after intravitreal injection of ranibizumab for retinopathy of prematurity.

Aim: To describe the involution patterns of vessel growth of retina through fluorescein angiography (FA) of children, who had been under treatment up to 1y previously intravitreal ranibizumab (IVR) as monotherapy for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).

Methods: This is a retrospective study. The medical information and FA of 17 children (34 eyes) whose area of avascular retina from the ora serrata was more than two disc diameters (DD) were analyzed.

Lactobacillus plantarum USM8613 Aids in Wound Healing and Suppresses Staphylococcus aureus Infection at Wound Sites.

This study aimed to elucidate the targets and mechanisms of anti-staphylococcal effects from bioactive metabolites produced by lactic acid bacteria. We aimed to better understand the safety and efficacy of these bioactive metabolites in in vivo systems, typically at topical sites. The cell-free supernatant and protein-rich fraction from Lactobacillus plantarum USM8613 inhibited staphyloxanthin biosynthesis, reduced (p < 0.

Intraocular schwannoma: A case series of 3 patients.

Schwannoma is a proliferation of neoplastic Schwann cells. Schwannomas comprise 8-10% of all primary intracranial tumors. Primary intraorbital schwannoma arising from the ciliary nerves in the uvea, which accounts for 1-2% of all intracranial tumors, is a rare intraocular neoplasm.

Full-scale practice of domestic wastewater source separation and collection in a semicentralized treatment system: a case study.

Semicentralized supply and treatment systems (SCSTSs), which can realize water, nutrition, and energy recycling via separate water supply and discharge systems, have been developed for fast-growing urban areas. The world's first full-scale SCSTS was implemented in Qingdao in China. Greywater (GW) and blackwater (BW) are collected and treated separately, but the parallel setting of the BW and GW pipelines means that connection mistakes can easily occur.

Elevated leptin levels in temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis promote proinflammatory cytokine IL-6 expression in synovial fibroblasts.

Background: Leptin, through binding to its special receptor (Ob-Rb), has potent effects on immunity and inflammation. This study measured the levels of leptin in the synovial fluid of patients with temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJ-OA) and healthy controls, determined the expression of Ob-Rb and explored the effects and signalling pathways involved in leptin-induced proinflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-6 production in TMJ synovial fibroblasts (TMJ-SFs).

Methods: Synovial fluid samples were obtained from 16 patients with TMJ-OA and seven healthy controls.

Illuminating the genome-wide activity of genome editors for safe and effective therapeutics.

Genome editing holds remarkable promise to transform human medicine as new therapies that can directly address the genetic causes of disease. However, concerns remain about possible undesired biological consequences of genome editors, particularly the introduction of unintended 'off-target' mutations. Here, we discuss both important considerations for therapeutic genome editing and our understanding of the functional impact of undesired off-target mutations.