Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a toxic secondary fungal metabolite that widely takes place in various kinds of foodstuffs and feeds. Human beings and animals are inevitably threatened by OTA as a result. ...Therefore, it is necessary to adopt various measures to detoxify OTA-contaminated foods and feeds. Biological detoxification methods, with better safety, flavor, nutritional quality, organoleptic properties, availability, and cost-effectiveness, are more promising than physical and chemical detoxification methods. The state-of-the-art research advances of OTA biodetoxification by degradation, adsorption, or enzymes are reviewed in the present paper. Researchers have discovered a good deal of microorganisms that could degrade and/or adsorb OTA, including actinobacteria, bacteria, filamentous fungi, and yeast. The degradation of OTA to non-toxic or less toxic OTα via the hydrolysis of the amide bond is the most important OTA biodegradation mechanism. The most important influence factor of OTA adsorption capacity of microorganisms is cell wall components. A large number of microorganisms with good OTA degradation and/or adsorption ability, as well as some OTA degradation enzymes isolated or cloned from microorganisms and animal pancreas, have great application prospects in food and feed industries.
In Alzheimer's disease (AD), neurodegenerative signals such as amyloid-beta (Aβ) and the precursors of neurotrophins, outbalance neurotrophic signals, causing synaptic dysfunction and ...neurodegeneration. The neurotrophin receptor p75 (p75NTR) is a receptor of Aβ and mediates Aβ-induced neurodegenerative signals. The shedding of its ectodomain from the cell surface is physiologically regulated; however, the function of the diffusible p75NTR ectodomain (p75ECD) after shedding remains largely not known. Here, we show that p75ECD levels in cerebrospinal fluid and in the brains of Alzheimer's patients and amyloid-beta precursor protein (APP)/PS1 transgenic mice were significantly reduced, due to inhibition of the sheddase-tumor necrosis factor-alpha-converting enzyme by Aβ. Restoration of p75ECD to the normal level by brain delivery of the gene encoding human p75ECD before or after Aβ deposition in the brain of APP/PS1 mice reversed the behavioral deficits and AD-type pathologies, such as Aβ deposit, apoptotic events, neuroinflammation, Tau phosphorylation and loss of dendritic spine, neuronal structures and synaptic proteins. Furthermore, p75ECD can also reduce amyloidogenesis by suppressing β-secretase expression and activities. Our data demonstrate that p75ECD is a physiologically neuroprotective molecule against Aβ toxicity and would be a novel therapeutic target and biomarker for AD.
MAX2 (for MORE AXILLARY GROWTH2) has been shown to regulate diverse biological processes, including plant architecture, photomorphogenesis, senescence, and karrikin signaling. Although karrikin is a ...smoke-derived abiotic signal, a role for MAX2 in abiotic stress response pathways is least investigated. Here, we show that the max! mutant is strongly hypersensitive to drought stress compared with wild-type Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). Stomatal closure of max! was less sensitive to abscisic acid (ABA) than that of the wild type. Cuticle thickness of max2 was significantly thinner than that of the wild type. Both of these phenotypes of max2 mutant plants correlate with the increased water loss and drought-sensitive phenotype. Quantitative real-time reverse transcriptionpolymerase chain reaction analyses showed that the expression of stress-responsive genes and ABA biosynthesis, catabolism, transport, and signaling genes was impaired in max! compared with wild-type seedlings in response to drought stress. Double mutant analysis of max2 with the ABA-insensitive mutants abi3 and indicated that MAX2 may function upstream of these genes. The expression of ABA-regulated genes was enhanced in imbibed max2 seeds. In addition, max2 mutant seedlings were hypersensitive to ABA and osmotic stress, including NaCl, mannitol, and glucose. Interestingly, ABA, osmotic stress, and drought-sensitive phenotypes were restricted to max2, and the strigolactone biosynthetic pathway mutants max1, max3 and max4 did not display any defects in these responses. Taken together, these results uncover an important role for MAX2 in plant responses to abiotic stress condition.
The impact of impurity ions on a pedestal has been investigated in the HL-2A Tokamak, at the Southwestern Institute of Physics, Chengdu, China. Experimental results have clearly shown that during the ...H-mode phase, an electromagnetic turbulence was excited in the edge plasma region, where the impurity ions exhibited a peaked profile. It has been found that double impurity critical gradients are responsible for triggering the turbulence. Strong stiffness of the impurity profile has been observed during cyclic transitions between the I-phase and H-mode regime. The results suggest that the underlying physics of the self-regulated edge impurity profile offers the possibility for an active control of the pedestal dynamics via pedestal turbulence.
Background
Trastuzumab (H) with chemotherapy benefits patients with HER2+ breast cancer (BC); however, we lack head-to-head pairwise assessment of survival or cardiotoxicity for specific ...combinations. We sought to identify optimal combinations.
Methods
We searched PubMed, updated October 2017, using keywords “Breast Neoplasms/drug therapy,” “Trastuzumab,” and “Clinical Trial” and searched Cochrane Library. Our search included randomized trials of adjuvant H plus chemotherapy for early-stage HER2+ BC, and excluding trials of neoadjuvant therapy or without data to obtain hazard ratios (HRs) for outcomes. Following PRISMA guidelines, one investigator did initial search; two others independently confirmed and extracted information; and consensus with another investigator resolved disagreements. Before gathering data, we set outcomes of overall survival (OS), event-free survival (EFS), and severe cardiac adverse events (SCAEs). Analyzing 6 trials and 13,621 patients, we made direct and indirect comparisons using network meta-analysis on HR for OS or EFS and on odds ratio (OR) for SCAE; ranked therapy was done based on outcomes using
p
scores.
Results
Compared with anthracycline-cyclophosphamide with taxane (ACT), ACT with concurrent H (ACT+H) showed best OS (HR 0.63, 95% confidence interval CI 0.55, 0.72), followed by taxane and carboplatin (TC) with concurrent H (TC+H) (HR 0.77, 95% CI 0.59, 1) and ACT with sequential H (ACT-H) (HR 0.85, 95% CI 0.68, 1.05). Pairwise comparisons showed statistically significant OS benefit for ACT+H over others; similar results for EFS. TC+H showed statistically significant lower SCAE risk compared to ACT+H (OR 0.13, 95% CI 0.03, 0.61).
Conclusions
Concurrent H with ACT or TC showed most clinical benefit for early-stage HER2+ BC; TC+H had lowest cardiotoxicity.
Ti–3.5Al–5Mo–6V–3Cr–2Sn–0.5Fe is a high-strength β titanium alloy that shows excellent tensile properties. This paper presents the effect of hot rolling and heat treatment on the microstructure and ...tensile properties of this alloy. Microstructure observation shows that the α+β rolled alloy leads to smaller β grain size than the β rolled alloy in all heat treatment conditions. Solution treatment of the alloy in the α+β field can also lead to smaller β grain than solution in the β field. Tensile results indicated that the strength of the alloy was improved greatly by aging heat treatment, which was attributed to the secondary α phase. The 790°C rolled alloy can obtain an ultimate strength of 1744MPa by solution at 800°C plus aging at 440°C. The strength decreases and ductility increases with the increase of aging temperature. Moreover, the ductility of the alloy is significantly determined by the rolling and solution procedure. Rolling and solution treated at the α+β field results in better ductility than rolling and solution at the β field. Therefore, to obtain the high ductility, the α+β rolling and α+β solution should be chosen as long as possible before aging heat treatment.
TRPS-1 is a new GATA transcription factor that is differentially expressed in breast cancer (BC) where it been found recently to regulate epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT).
We carried out a ...quantitative immunohistochemistry (qIHC) analysis of TRPS-1 expression in 341 primary-stage I–III BC samples in relation to patient clinical characteristics as well as its prognostic value, especially in an estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) subgroup.
Higher TRPS-1 expression was significantly associated with a number of clinical and pathological characteristics as well as with improved overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). Among stage I/II ER+ BC patients who received endocrine therapy alone, those with high TRPS-1 expression had significantly longer OS and DFS. There was also a strong association between TRPS-1 levels and the EMT marker E-cadherin in the ER+ invasive ductal carcinoma cases. Analysis of gene expression data on a panel of BC lines found that TRPS-1 expression was low or absent in BC lines having enriched mesenchymal features.
Our data indicated that TRPS-1 is an independent prognostic marker in early-stage BC and a new EMT marker that can distinguish patients with ER+ BC who will respond longer to adjuvant endocrine therapy.
Boron carbon nitride (BCN) thin films were deposited on Si (100) substrates by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) under various nitrogen pressures (pN2) changing from 2.5 to 5.0Pa. The influences of pN2 ...on the deposition rate, bonding structure and hardness of the films were studied, so as to explore the possibility of improving their mechanical properties by controlling bonding structure. The deposition rate was found to be increased with increasing pN2, while the hardness of the films fluctuated in the scope of 14.8 to 25.2GPa. The bonding structure identified by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy indicated the coexistence of B–N, B–C, and N–C bonds in the films, suggesting the formation of a ternary B–C–N hybridization. The variation of hardness as a function of pN2 was in accordance with the evolution of C–B and sp3 N–C bonds whereas contrary to that of sp2 h-B–N bond. The hardness reached the maximum value of 25.2GPa at pN2=3.5Pa, where the BCN films possessed the highest intensity of C–B and sp3 N–C bonds and the lowest fraction of sp2 h-B–N bond.
•We explored the possibility of improving the mechanical properties by controlling the bonding structure.•The bonding structure and mechanical properties are changed with increasing nitrogen pressure.•The change of hardness is in accordance with B–C and sp3 N–C bonds, but contrary to that of sp2 h-B–N bond.
Data from the HIV/AIDS surveillance sentinel sites was used to identify the recent HIV-1 infections and to estimate the HIV-1 incidence and epidemic trends among intravenous drug users (IDU), MSM, ...female sex workers and men attending the sexually transmitted disease clinics in Sichuan province.
Specimens collected from IDUs, MSM, female sex workers and men attending the sexually transmitted disease clinics sentinel sites were confirmed as HIV-1 positive and tested with BED-CEIA. Annual HIV-1 prevalence and incidence rates were calculated and the incidence was adjusted by McNermar method.
A total number of 194 223 serum specimens were collected and HIV antibody tested, with 5 297 HIV-1 positive. 4 640 of the positives underwent BED-CEIA, with 749 identified as recent infections. During 2011-2015, HIV-1 incidence rates of the four types of population appeared as 5.16% (95%
: 4.65-5.66), 0.22% (95%
:0.16-0.28), 0.57%(95%
: 0.45-0.69), 7.53% (95%
: 6.06-9.01) and 0.44% (95%
: 0.36-0.53) respectively. Significant
To explore the MRI manifestation of encephalopathy of prematurity (EOP), so as to find an access to the early prevention, early diagnosis, effective treatment and prognosis.
A total of 2 718 ...premature infants were collected, MRI and clinical data were analyzed who were admitted to NICU of Children's Hospital of Fudan University between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2014. The manifestation and lesions distribution in MRI were analyzed.
All the 2 718 preterm infants underwent MRI. 58.8% (1 599/2 718) of which had normal MRI apperance, whereas 24.9% (678/2 718) showed manifestations of EOP.78.8% (534/678) EOP were non-cystic EOP. 21.2% (144/678) EOP were cystic EOP. Periventricular and cerebral lobe white matter were primary distributions of these lesions. Cystic lesions were primarily distributed in the body of periventricular whiter matter (49.3%). However, more non-cystic EOP were found in cerebral parietal lobe whiter matter (25.1%). Non-cystic EOP were also distributed in the body of periventricular whit
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