Silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) can enter tumor cells through endocytosis and transfer to mitochondria, then disrupt mitochondrial function, damage deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), and finally lead to cell death and apoptosis. As the Ag-NPs synthesized by Moringa peregrina leaf extract contain biomolecules such as flavonoids and terpenoids, they may suppress cancer by disrupting the flow of autophagy and inhibiting the differentiation of cancer cells, especially in apoptosis-resistant cancer cells. Accordingly, the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazoliumbromid (MTT) assay proved that Ag-NPs could inhibit the OVCAR-3 cell line in a timeand concentration-dependent manner. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) results showed that the ratio of the pro-apoptotic Bak1 gene to the anti-apoptotic Bclx gene increased about 10 times compared to the control. Also, the expression of the caspase-3 gene has increased about 18 times compared to the control. In addition, it was found that Ag-NPs can inhibit the progression of ovarian cancer cell lines and decrease the expression of the AKT1 gene by 0.08. And the more important point was the safety of Ag-NPs, which was checked by the lipid peroxidation method and it was confirmed that the treated hepatocytes did not have any significant difference in the production of malondialdehyde with the control and probably do not cause hepatotoxicity.

Abstract Fresh beef was treated with 3 g/L sodium lactate (Group SL) and the fresh beef without treatment was sampled as negative control (Group C). Based on the comprehensive analyses of pH, color and glycolytic rate, sodium lactate usage exhibited a better pH and color stability, which is conducive to maintaining the meat quality. The Group SL had lower glycogen content and higher lactate content than that of Group C. Meanwhile, the Group SL had significantly higher (p < 0.05) lactate dehydrogenase and hexokinase activity than that of Group C druing chilled storage. Moreover, NADH/NAD+ ratio in Group SL maintained at a stable level with a range from 0.54 to 0.68 during chilled storage. In contrast, Group C showed a high NADH/NAD+ ratio which indicated insufficient reducing activity. These results revealed that the sodium lactate treatment had a positive relationship with glycolytic rate and promoted the increase of glycolysis rate. These results may be partially explained the reason why sodium lactate usage can promote color stability via increase of glycolysis rate.

The goal of this study was to identify potential transcriptomic markers in pediatric septic shock prognosis by an integrative analysis of multiple public microarray datasets. Using the R software and bioconductor packages, we performed a statistical analysis to identify differentially expressed (DE) genes in pediatric septic shock non-survivors, and further performed functional interpretation (enrichment analysis and co-expression network construction) and classification quality evaluation of the DE genes identified. Four microarray datasets (3 training datasets and 1 testing dataset, 252 pediatric patients with septic shock in total) were collected for the integrative analysis. A total of 32 DE genes (18 upregulated genes; 14 downregulated genes) were identified in pediatric septic shock non-survivors. Enrichment analysis revealed that those DE genes were strongly associated with acute inflammatory response to antigenic stimulus, response to yeast, and defense response to bacterium. A support vector machine classifier (non-survivors vs survivors) was also trained based on DE genes. In conclusion, the DE genes identified in this study are suggested as candidate transcriptomic markers for pediatric septic shock prognosis and provide novel insights into the progression of pediatric septic shock.

Acne is a kind of common, chronic skin condition caused by the inflammation of the sebaceous glands in hair follicles. Recent studies have demonstrated that baicalin (BA) possesses potential anti-inflammatory properties. In this study, we evaluated the anti-inflammatory activity of BA in vitro and in vivo. Heat-killed Propionibacterium acnes-induced THP-1 cells and live P. acnes-injected male Sprague Dawley rats were used for establishing the acne model. The rate of ear swelling was calculated, and the severity was determined by hematoxylin and eosin staining. The production of cytokines [interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α)] in the cell supernatant and ear tissue homogenates was measured by ELISA. Protein levels of JNK, ERK, P38, IκBα, P65, Nod-like receptor pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3), pro-caspase-1, and IL-1β in THP-1 cells and ear tissues were detected by western blotting. NLRP3 and IL-1β were detected by immunohistochemistry, and the NLRP3, IL-1β and pro-caspase-1 mRNAs were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The results showed that BA decreased the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, BA down-regulated the phosphorylation of JNK, ERK1/2, and κBα and inhibited the nuclear translocation of p65. Furthermore, BA inhibited the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome, at both the gene and protein levels. Taken together, the results demonstrated that BA might exert its anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting NF-κB/MAPK signaling pathways and consequently suppressing the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome both in vivo and in vitro.

Objective: To examine the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale – Second Edition (Y-BOCS-II). Method: A total of 86 adults with a primary diagnosis of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), ranging in age from 15 to 78 years, participated in the study. Participants were administered the Y-BOCS-II by a trained clinician who also rated overall illness severity on two additional measures. Patients completed the Obsessive Compulsive Inventory-Revised and Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21. Results: Results indicated high internal consistency and fair 1-week test retest reliability. The Y-BOCS-II scales correlated strongly with clinician-rated obsessive-compulsive severity and modestly with self-reported obsessive-compulsive symptom frequency and distress. The relationship between Y-BOCS-II total score and depressive and anxiety symptoms was strong, which may reflect high rates of comorbid conditions in this sample or the linkage between obsessive-compulsive symptom severity and distress. Factor analysis demonstrated a two-factor structure consisting of obsession and compulsion factors, with interference due to obsessions cross-loading. Conclusions: Overall, these results support the use of the Y-BOCS-II among individuals from China. Future study by an independent group is necessary to replicate these findings, as well as investigate interrater reliability and treatment sensitivity.

ABSTRACT Objective: The clinical significance of coexistence of HBsAg/anti-HBs in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients remains controversial. This study was aimed to assess the association of this serological pattern with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with CHB. Methods: In this cross-section study, 206 CHB patients with coexistence of HBsAg/anti-HBs and 206 CHB patients with HBsAg alone were included to evaluate the risk of HCC development by logistic regression analysis. In addition, a retrospective cohort of 260 patients with CHB was recruited to estimate the cumulative incidence of HCC by Kaplan-Meier analysis. Results: The serological pattern of coexistence of HBsAg/anti-HBs, with high levels of ("High") HBsAg/low levels of ("Low") anti-HBs, were considered as independent risk factors for HCC. In particular, patients with "High" HBsAg/"High" anti-HBs [odds ratio (OR), 4.295; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.104-16.699; p = 0.035] and "Low" HBsAg/ "High" anti-HBs (OR, 3.207; 95%CI, 1.299-7.919; p = 0.012) exhibited significantly higher risk for HCC development. However, only "Low" HBsAg /"High" anti-HBs might increase risk of HCC in CHB patients with high HBV load (logrank p < 0.001) in our cohort study. Conclusion: The coexistence of "Low" HBsAg /"High" anti-HBs might increase the risk of HCC development in CHB patients with high HBV load, which reflected that the long-term interaction between immune response and virus might lead to the development of HCC. The identification of the patients with poor prognosis will help clinicians to refine the therapeutic decisions and individualize follow-up strategies.

Pancreaticobiliary maljunction (PBM) is associated with high risk of epithelial atypical growth and malignant transformation of the bile duct or gallbladder. However, overall changes in genetic expression have not been examined in children with PBM. Genome-wide expression was analyzed using peripheral blood samples from 10 children with PBM and 15 pediatric controls. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified using microarray. Bioinformatics analysis was conducted using Gene Ontology and KEGG analyses. The top 5 in the up-regulated genes in PBM were verified with qRT-PCR. Receiver operator characteristic curve analysis was conducted to evaluate the predictive accuracy of selected genes for PBM. The microarray experiments identified a total of 876 DEGs in PBM, among which 530 were up-regulated and the remaining 346 were down-regulated. Verification of the top 5 up-regulated genes (TYMS, MYBPC1, FUT1, XAGE2, and GREB1L) by qRT-PCR confirmed the up-regulation of MYBPC1 and FUT1. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis suggested that FUT1 and MYBPC1 up-regulation could be used to predict PBM, with the area under the curve of 0.873 (95%CI=0.735−1.000) and 0.960 (95%CI=0.891−1.000), respectively. FUT1 and MYBPC1 were up-regulated in children with PBM, and could be used as potential biomarkers for PBM.

ABSTRACT Background: The rate of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) among the total of S. aureus isolates decreased to 35.3% in 2017 in China. It is unclear whether the molecular characteristics of S. aureus isolates have changed as the rate decreased. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the molecular characteristics and virulence genes profile of S. aureus isolates causing bloodstream infection and analyze the correlation between the prevalence rates of the common sequence types and MRSA. Methods: A total of 112 S. aureus strains from eight hospitals of four cities, including 32 MRSA isolates, were identified and evaluated through multilocus sequence typing, spa typing, and determination of virulence genes. Results: Twenty-five STs were identified, of which ST5 (21.4%) was the most prevalent, whereas the prevalence of ST239 correlated with the rate of MRSA among all S. aureus isolates. Forty-six spa types were identified, of which t2460 (14.3%) was the most common. clfa, hla, seb, fnbA and hlb were the prevailing virulence genes. 81.3% MRSA and 45.0% methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) isolates harbored six or more tested virulence genes. ST5-t2460, seldom noted in bloodborne S. aureus isolates in China, was the most common clone. The prevalence of harboring six or more virulence genes in ST5-t2460 and ST188-t189 were 93.8% and 8.3%, respectively. Conclusion: ST5-t2460 was the most common clone in S. aureus causing bloodstream infection followed by ST188-t189, which had never been noted in China before. Moreover, ST5-t2460 harbored more virulence genes than ST188-t189, and the prevalence of ST239 clone decreased with the proportion of MRSA among all S. aureus isolates.

Abstract: Activated sludge and biofilm from a Sequencing Biofilm Batch Reactor (SBBR) were studied to analyze their different roles in autotrophic nitrogen removal process. Results showed that under aerobic conditions, the ammonia oxidation rate of activated sludge was 100% and the maximum rate was 0.23 mgN mgVSS−1 d−1 during a 48 h test cycle. Under the same conditions, the ammonia oxidation rate of the biofilm was 72% and the maximum rate was 0.08 mgN mgVSS−1 d−1. The population of AOB (ammonium oxidizing bacteria) in activated sludge was 1.88×1011 cells/g, 10 times that in biofilm. The TN (total nitrogen) removal rate of activated sludge and biofilm under anaerobic conditions were 37% and 83%, respectively. The rate of anaerobic ammonium oxidation by activated sludge was 0.09 mgN mgVSS−1 d−1 and that of biofilm was 0.22 mgN mgVSS−1 d−1. ANAMMOX (anaerobic ammonium oxidizing bacteria) were the dominant bacteria in terms of cell number in this system, with 2.66×1012 cells/g in biofilm—2.6 times more than in activated sludge. TN was removed mainly by anaerobic ammonium oxidation.

Resumen: Se estudió el lodo activado y la biopelícula de un reactor biológico secuencial por lotes (SBBR) para analizar sus diferentes papeles en el proceso de remoción autotrófica de nitrógeno. Los resultados muestran que bajo condiciones aerobias, la velocidad de oxidación del amoníaco del lodo activado fue del 100% y la velocidad máxima fue de 0.23 mgN mgVSS−1 d−1 durante un ciclo de pruebas de 48 horas. Bajo las mismas condiciones, la velocidad de oxidación del amoníaco de la biopelícula fue de 72% y la velocidad máxima fue de 0.08 mgN mgVSS−1 d−1. La población de BOA (bacterias oxidantes del amonio) en el lodo activado fue de 1.88×1011 células/g, diez veces más que en la biopelícula. La tasa de remoción del NT (nitrógeno total) del lodo activado y de la biopelícula bajo condiciones anaerobias fue del 37 y 83%, respectivamente. La velocidad de oxidación anaerobia del amonio por el lodo activado fue de 0.09 mgN mgVSS−1 d−1 y la de la biopelícula fue de 0.22 mgN mgVSS−1 d−1. Las bacterias anaerobias oxidantes de amonio (ANAMMOX) fueron las bacterias dominantes en términos del número de células en este sistema, con 2.66×1012 células/g en la biopelícula — 2.6 veces más que en el lodo activado. El NT fue removido principalmente mediante la oxidación anaerobia del amonio.

A sensitive and stable electrochemical sensor based on polyaniline/graphene-ferrocenecarboxylic acid (PANI/GR-FCA) composite film modified glass carbon electrode for determination of nitrite was presented and its morphology and structure were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD). Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) techniques were used to investigate the electrochemical behavior of the nitrite oxidation, which exhibited an enhanced voltammetric response at the modified electrode. In the optimal condition, the oxidation of nitrite in Britton-Robinson buffer solution (BR) of pH 4.0 had the higher peak current than the bare electrode. A linear calibration curve over the concentration range 0.4-300 µmol L-1 of nitrite were obtained with a linear regression equation I (µA) = 0.1589 + 0.0020C (µmol L-1) (R = 0.9991, n = 13) and the detection limit was down to 0.02 mmol L-1 (S/N = 3). The recoveries of all determinations ranged between 96-102%. At the same time, the modified electrode showed a good long-term stability and reproducibility for determination of nitrite, as well as high selectivity.

Background The Tibetan pig is a pig breed with excellent grazing characteristics indigenous to the Qinghai-Tibet plateau in China. Under conditions of barn feeding, 90% of its diet consists of forage grass, which helps meet its nutritional needs. The present study aimed to isolate and identify a cellulolytic bacterium from the Tibetan pig's intestine and investigate cellulase production by this bacterium. The study purpose is to provide a basic theory for the research and development of herbivore characteristics and to identify a source of probiotics from the Tibetan pig. Results A cellulolytic bacterium was isolated from a Tibetan pig's intestine and identified based on morphological, physiological, and biochemical characteristics as well as 16S rRNA analysis; it was designated Bacillus subtilis BY-2. Examination of its growth characteristics showed that its growth curve entered the logarithmic phase after 8-12 h and the stable growth phase being between 20 and 40 h. The best carbon source for fermentation was 1% corn flour, while 2% peptone and yeast powder compound were the best nitrogen sources. The initial pH during fermentation was 5.5, with 4% inoculum, resulting in a high and stable amount of enzyme in 24-48 h. Conclusions The isolated BY-2 strain rapidly grew and produced cellulase. We believe that BY-2 cellulase can help overcome the shortage of endogenous animal cellulase, improve the utilization rate of roughage, and provide strain sources for research on porcine probiotics.

Dois novos complexos de cobre(II), [Cu4Cl6O(C6H11 N3)4] e [CuBr2(C6H11N3)4], foram sintetizados e caracterizados por difratometria de raios X de monocristal, espectroscopia de absorção no infravermelho e análise elementar. Os compostos apresentaram voltamogramas cíclicos similares e boas atividades eletrocatalíticas com relação à redução de peróxido de hidrogênio e ácido tricloroacético. Os limites de detecção, a faixa linear de calibração e as sensibilidades dos eletrodos são, respectivamente, 0,01 μmol L-1, 0,02 a 0,20 μmol L-1 e 98,80 μA μmol L-1 para o peróxido de hidrogênio e 0,01 μmol L-1, 0,02 a 0.20 μmol L-1 e 80,05 μA μmol L-1 para o ácido tricloroacético.

Two new copper(II) complexes, [Cu4Cl6O(C6H11 N3)4] (1) and [CuBr2(C6H11N3)4] (2), were synthesized and characterized by single crystal X-ray diffractometry, IR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. They were used as bulk modifiers for the fabrication of two carbon paste electrodes (Cu-CPE): 1-CPE and 2-CPE. They had similar electrochemical behaviors characterized by cyclic voltammetry and good electrocatalytic activities toward the reduction of hydrogen peroxide and trichloroacetic acid. The detection limits, linear calibration ranges and sensitivities were respectively 0.01 μmol L-1, 0.02 to 0.20 μmol L-1 and 98.80 μA μmol L-1 for hydrogen peroxide detection, and 0.01 μmol L-1, 0.02 to 0.20 μmol L-1 and 80.05 μA μmol L-1 for trichloroacetic acid detection.