Growth and properties of spinel structure Zn1.8Co0.2TiO4 single crystals by the optical floating zone method

The spinel structure Zn_1.8Co_0.2TiO₄ single crystals with 5 mm diameter and 30 mm length were successfully grown by an optical floating zone method. The as-grown crystals were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Some Zn²⁺ ions at tetrahedral and octahedral sites should be replaced by doped transition metal Co²⁺ ions. The temperature-dependent Raman spectra of spinel Zn_1.8Co_0.2TiO₄ crystals were also described. The optical phonon behaviors of Zn_1.8Co_0.2TiO₄ are stable within the temperature range. The magnetic properties of Zn_1.8Co_0.2TiO₄ were investigated by using Physical Property Measurement System.

The spinel structure Zn_1.8Co_0.2TiO₄ single crystals with 5 mm diameter and 30 mm length were successfully grown by an optical floating zone method.     

Simultaneous PET-MRI imaging of cerebral blood flow and glucose metabolism in the symptomatic unilateral internal carotid artery/middle cerebral artery steno-occlusive disease

European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging - Cerebral blood flow (CBF) and glucose metabolism are important and significant factors in ischaemic cerebrovascular disease. The...     

分化型甲状腺癌患者131I治疗后诊断性全身显像周围剂量当量率动态变化的研究

目的 探讨分化型甲状腺癌（DTC）患者131I治疗后6个月行诊断性全身显像（Dx-WBS）期间周围剂量当量率的动态变化。 方法 选取2018年8月至2019年1月于郑州大学第一附属医院核医学科接受131I治疗的DTC患者85例,其中男性18例、女性67例,年龄（43.9±12.0）岁;≥55岁患者18例、<55岁患者67例。所有患者均空腹服用131I 148 MBq（4 mCi）,2 d后行 Dx-WBS。治疗后效果为极好反应者,即131I治疗后刺激状态下甲状腺球蛋白<1 μg/L（甲状腺球蛋白抗体阴性）且影像学检查结果为阴性者（阴性组）48例,生化不全反应、结构不全反应及不确定性反应者（阳性组）37例。所有患者分别于服131I后2、24、48 h时测定距体部1 m处的周围剂量当量率,对3个时间点的1 m处周围剂量当量率进行单因素重复测量方差分析,并采用t检验对不同性别、年龄及治疗效果组之间1 m处周围剂量当量率进行比较。 结果 （1）服131I后2、24、48 h时距患者1 m处周围剂量当量率分别为（6.55±1.42）、（1.92±0.65）、（0.58±0.22） μSv/h,差异有统计学意义（F=807.30,P=0.000）;距离患者1 m处周围剂量当量率随着时间的延长而下降。（2）不同性别组在服131I后 2、4、48 h时 1 m处周围剂量当量率的差异均无统计学意义;年龄≥55岁组在24 h时 1 m处周围剂量当量率高于年龄<55岁组（t=2.29,P=0.02）,2 h和48 h时的差异均无统计学意义;阴性组和阳性组1 m处周围剂量当量率在各时间点的差异均无统计学意义。 结论 DTC患者131I治疗后服诊断剂量131I后 48 h时1 m处周围剂量当量率均小于WS533-2017《临床核医学患者防护要求》规定的1.40 μSv/h,达到国家规定的出门旅行要求,且不会对周围人群产生辐射损害。     

The impacts of resilience on the association between illness uncertainty and sleep quality among Chinese women with systemic lupus erythematosus

Clinical Rheumatology - Our study aimed to investigate the effect of illness uncertainty on sleep quality among SLE women. Meanwhile, the role of resilience was explored in the association of...     

School‐Related Parental Involvement and Adolescent Academic Achievement: The Role of Community Poverty

Although most current studies have established the importance of school‐related parental involvement to adolescents' academic achievement, they are limited in that they do not address macrolevel community influences on such an association. This may be due in part to the lack of community‐level data or the use of inappropriate statistical strategies that cannot account for the influence of factors at the community level. To address this limitation, in this study, the authors examined the influence of community poverty on the association between school‐related parental involvement and adolescents' academic achievement. Using a large, nationally representative sample, results from a multilevel model suggested that, compared to adolescents living in more affluent communities, the positive effect of school‐related parental involvement on adolescents' academic achievement was significantly weaker for adolescents living in poor communities. Such findings suggested the importance of community poverty in influencing the effectiveness of school‐related parental involvement on adolescents' academic achievement.     

Pulmonary Mycosis Caused by Aspiration of Polluted Water after Near-Drowning： Case Reports and Literature Review

Pulmonary mycosis can be seen in previously healthy individuals after submersion or near-drowning. We present two cases of the disease confirmed with histological examination in immuno-competent patients after near-drowning incidents. The submersion event in contaminated water likely increases the risk of pulmonary mycosis .Monitoring in the intensive care unit, along with the use of corticosteroids and antibiotics could have rendered our patients more vulnerable to mycosis. The definite diagnosis relies on etiological identification by fungal culture and histopathological evidence, and it may be difficult because of the lack of etiological identification. Therefore, clinical diagnosis relies on the association of a host factor, clinical course, radiological findings and microbiological findings. While optimal treatment remains undefined, the empirical early use of voriconazole has been proposed in cases of suspected scedosporiosis after near-drowning or even prophylactically in all near-drowning patients. Application of broad spectrum antifungal drugs and close monitoring for side effects are the most important contributors to favorable outcome.     

Osteoporosis knowledge,self-efficacy,and health beliefs among Chinese individuals with HIV

Summary

The worldwide uptake of FRAX is described.

Introduction

The aim of this report was to determine the usage of FRAX worldwide over a 1-year period from 1 May 2012.

Methods

The number of FRAX calculations from each country was assessed over a 1-year period and expressed as calculations per million of the population aged 50 years or more. Countries were colour coded according to usage to populate a world map.

Results

Over the index year, there were estimated to be 2,391,639 calculations sourced from 173 counties. Uptake was high in North America, the Antipodes and most countries of Europe; intermediate in Latin America and the Middle East; and very low in Africa and much of South East Asia.

Conclusions

It is expected that the comparative data will encourage the development of new FRAX models and the uptake of FRAX into assessment guidelines.     

Mechanisms of Anti-inflammatory Property of Conserved Dopamine Neurotrophic Factor: Inhibition of JNK Signaling in Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Microglia

Microglia are important resident immune cells in the central nervous system (CNS) and involved in the neuroinflammation caused by CNS disorders, including brain trauma, ischemia, stroke, infections, inflammation, and neurodegenerative diseases. Our study explores the hypothesis that conserved dopamine neurotrophic factor (CDNF), a secretory neurotrophic factor, may provide a novel therapy for associated with neuroinflammation related to the microglia. We observed that CDNF was upregulated in rat primary microglia treated with 1 μg/mL lipopolysaccharide, an inflammatory inducer, for 24 h. Thus, we hypothesize that CDNF may play a role, mediator or inhibitor, in regulating the inflammation in microglial cells induced by LPS. Finally, our data showed that CDNF significantly attenuated the production of proinflammatory cytokines (PGE2 and IL-1β) and remarkably alleviated the cytotoxicity (percentage of lactate dehydrogenase released) in the LPS-induced microglia by suppressing the phosphorylation of JNK, but not the P38 or ERK pathways. These results demonstrate the anti-inflammatory property of CDNF by inhibition of JNK signaling in LPS-induced microglia, suggesting that CDNF may be a potential novel agent for the treatment of neuroinflammation in the CNS disorders.     

Dynamics of ten‐eleven translocation hydroxylase family proteins and 5‐hydroxymethylcytosine in oligodendrocyte differentiation

The ten‐eleven translocation (TET) family of methylcytosine dioxygenases catalyze oxidation of 5‐methylcytosine (5mC) to 5‐hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) and promote DNA demethylation. Despite the abundance of 5hmC and TET proteins in the brain, little is known about their role in oligodendrocytes (OLs). Here, we analyzed TET expression during OL development in vivo and in vitro, and found that three TET family members possess unique subcellular and temporal expression patterns. Furthermore, the level of 5hmC exhibits dynamic changes during OL maturation, which implies that 5hmC modification may play a role in the expression of critical genes necessary for OL maturation. siRNA‐mediated silencing of the TET family proteins in OLs demonstrated that each of the TET proteins is required for OL differentiation. However, based on their unique domain structures, we speculate that the three TET members may function by different mechanisms. In summary, we have established the temporal expression of TET proteins and the dynamic level of 5hmC during OL development and demonstrate that all three TET members are necessary for OL differentiation. GLIA 2014;62:914–926     

Synergistic Inhibition on Acetylcholinesterase by the Combination of Berberine and Palmatine Originally Isolated from Chinese Medicinal Herbs

Alzheimer’s disease is a multi-factorial neurodegenerative disorder devastatingly affecting the aged population worldwide. Previous studies have shown that medicinal herbs used in traditional Chinese medicine might be benefit to Alzheimer’s disease patients. Berberine and palmatine, two isoquinoline alkaloids found in several medicinal herbs, were used for memory enhancement in China. In this study, the inhibitory effects of combined berberine and palmatine on acetylcholinesteras were evaluated using recombinant human acetylcholinesterase. Our results showed that the combination of berberine and palmatine inhibited acetylcholinesterase in a mixed competitive pattern. By the median-effect principle, the calculated combination index of the combination was less than 1, suggesting that berberine and plamatine inhibited acetylcholinesterase synergistically. Furthermore, the drug-reducing index of berberine and palmatine were 2.98 and 2.66, respectively. Taken together, the results showed that the combination of the two alkaloids might potentially be developed as a more effective therapeutic strategy for Alzheimer’s disease patients.