Association between polymorphism of TGFA Taq I and cleft Lip and/or palate: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Cleft lip and palate (CL/P) is one of the most common malformations in humans. Transforming growth factor alpha (TGFA) is a well characterized mammalian growth factor which might contribute to the development of CL/P. This meta-analysis aimed to summarize the association between the TGFA Taq I polymorphisms and CL/P. METHODS: We retrieved the relevant articles from PubMed, EMBASE, ISI Web of Science and SCOPUS databases. Studies were selected using specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. The odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated to assess the association between TGFA Taq I polymorphism and CL/P risk. Meta-analyses were performed on the total data set and separately for the major ethnic groups, disease type and source of control. All analyses were performed using the Stata software. RESULTS: Twenty articles were included in the present analysis. There is a significant association between the TGFA Taq I polymorphism and CL/P (C1C2 vs C1C1: OR = 1.67, 95% CI = 1.23-2.25, C2C2 + C1C2 vs C1C1C1: OR = 1.52, 95% CI = 1.15-2.01; C2 vs C1:OR = 1.41, 95% CI = 1.12-1.78). Stratified analyses suggested that the TGFA Taq I polymorphism was significantly associated with CL/P in Caucasians (C1C2 vs C1C1: OR = 1.95, 95% CI = 1.34-2.86; C2C2 + C1C2 vs C1C1: OR = 1.68, 95% CI = 1.18-2.38; C2 vs V1: OR = 1.52, 95% CI = 1.14 -2.02). CONCLUSION: TGFA Taq I polymorphism may be associated with the risk of CL/P

Using the physical decomposition method to study the effects of Arctic factors on wintertime temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere and China

The physical decomposition method separates atmospheric variables into four parts, correlating each with solar radiation, land–sea distribution, and inter-annual and seasonal internal forcing, strengthening the anomaly signal and increasing the correlation between variables. This method was applied to the reanalysis data from the National Centers for Environmental Prediction/National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCEP/NCAR), to study the effects of Arctic factors (Arctic oscillation (AO) and Arctic polar vortex) on wintertime temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere and China. It was found that AO effects on zonal average temperature disturbance could persist for 1 month. In the AO negative phase in wintertime, the temperatures are lower in the mid–high latitudes than in normal years, but higher in low latitudes. When the polar vortex area is bigger, the zonal average temperature is lower at 50°N. Influenced mainly by meridional circulation enhancement, cold air flows from high to low latitudes; thus, the temperatures in Continental Europe and the North American continent exhibit an antiphase seesaw relationship. When the AO is in negative phase and the Arctic polar vortex larger, the temperature is lower in Siberia, but higher in Greenland and the Bering Strait. Influenced by westerly troughs and ridges, the polar air disperses mainly along the tracks of atmospheric activity centers. The AO index can be considered a predictor of wintertime temperature in China. When the AO is in negative phase or the Asian polar vortex is intensified, temperatures in Northeast China and Inner Mongolia are lower, because under the influence of the Siberia High and northeast cold vortex, the cold air flows southwards

Hyperglycemia Alters the Schwann Cell Mitochondrial Proteome and Decreases Coupled Respiration in the Absence of Superoxide Production

Hyperglycemia-induced mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to sensory neuron pathology in diabetic neuropathy. Although Schwann cells (SCs) also undergo substantial degeneration in diabetic neuropathy, the effect of hyperglycemia on SC mitochondrial proteome and mitochondrial function has not been examined. Stable isotope labeling with amino acids in cell culture (SILAC) was used to quantify the temporal effect of hyperglycemia on the mitochondrial proteome of primary SCs isolated from neonatal rats. Of 317 mitochondrial proteins identified, about 78% were quantified and detected at multiple time points. Pathway analysis indicated that proteins associated with mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative phosphorylation, the TCA cycle and detoxification were significantly increased in expression and over-represented. Assessing mitochondrial respiration in intact SCs indicated that hyperglycemia increased the overall rate of oxygen consumption but decreased the efficiency of coupled respiration. Although a glucose-dependent increase in superoxide production occurs in embryonic sensory neurons, hyperglycemia did not induce a substantial change in superoxide levels in SCs. This correlated with a 1.9 fold increase in Mn superoxide dismutase expression which was confirmed by immunoblot and enzymatic activity assays. These data support that hyperglycemia alters mitochondrial respiration and can cause remodeling of the SC mitochondrial proteome independent of significant contributions from glucose-induced superoxide production

Interactions Between Nanoparticles and Dendritic Cells: From the Perspective of Cancer Immunotherapy

Dendritic cells (DCs) are the primary antigen-presenting cells and play key roles in the orchestration of the innate and adaptive immune system. Targeting DCs by nanotechnology stands as a promising strategy for cancer immunotherapy. The physicochemical properties of nanoparticles (NPs) influence their interactions with DCs, thus altering the immune outcome of DCs by changing their functions in the processes of maturation, homing, antigen processing and antigen presentation. In this review, we summarize the recent progress in targeting DCs using NPs as a drug delivery carrier in cancer immunotherapy, the recognition of NPs by DCs, and the ways the physicochemical properties of NPs affect DCs' functions. Finally, the molecular pathways in DCs that are affected by NPs are also discussed

Response of the Chinese soft-shelled turtle to acute heat stress: Insights from the systematic antioxidant defense

Understanding the responses of animals to acute heat stress can help to reveal and predict the effect of more frequent extreme hot weather episodes on animal populations and ecosystems in the content of global climate change. Antioxidant defenses can help to protect animals against oxidative stress caused by intense temperature variation. In the present study, systematic antioxidant responses to acute heat stress (?15°C and maintained for 12 h) and subsequent recovery were assessed by evaluating gene transcript levels and relative enzyme activities in tissues of Pelodiscus sinensis, a subtropical freshwater turtle. Targets included nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2, the upstream transcription factor), antioxidant enzymes, and the glutathione (GSH) and ascorbic acid (AA) systems. Results showed three main patterns of expression change among antioxidant genes: (1) gene expression of Mn-superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD), glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPx 4), and catalase (CAT) increased in response to heat stress or recovery in the liver; (2) transcripts of most genes did not change in brain, liver, and kidney of P. sinensis; and (3) expression of several GST isoforms were affected by heat stress or recovery in brain and kidney. However, relative enzyme activities involved in antioxidant defense were little affected by acute heat stress and recovery, indicating a relatively conservative antioxidant response in P. sinensis. Furthermore, results for malondialdehyde (MDA) levels indicated that acute heat stress and recovery did not cause a net increase in oxidative damage in turtle tissues and, in particular, MDA levels in spleen decreased along with increased splenic ascorbic acid concentration. Overall, the present study revealed a conservative antioxidant response in P. sinensis, which may be indicative of a high basal stress tolerance and relate with adaptation to climate change in freshwater turtles

Low temperature preparation of dense and highly conductive NASICON electrolyte by solid-state reactive sintering

Funding Information: This work was funded by the Natural Science Foundation of Tianjin ( 18JCQNJC02800 ). Publisher Copyright: © 2021 Elsevier B.V.NASICON-type solid-state electrolyte is characterized by high electrical conductivity but its application in all-solid-state battery is limited by the high sintering temperature and poor interface contact with the electrodes. Here, solid-state reactive sintering, without intermediate calcination and ball-milling steps and no sintering additive, is proposed to prepare dense and highly conductive NASICON at lower temperatures. The samples sintered at 950 and 1000 °C achieve relative density of ~90% and high ion conductivity of 8.43 × 10−4 and 1.48 × 10−3 S cm−1 at room temperature, respectively. The reasonable interface contact between sodium metal and 950 °C-sintered electrolyte affords the symmetric sodium battery to cycle stably at 0.05 mA cm−2 for ~1000 h and full battery at 0.1C (0.02 mA cm−2) at room temperature. This work provides a new strategy to prepare NASICON solid-state electrolyte, which can be extended to prepare other solid-state electrolytes and thus promote the development of all-solid-state battery.Peer reviewe

Molecular engineering the naphthalimide compounds as High-Capacity anolyte for nonaqueous redox flow batteries

Funding Information: The work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (21636007). Publisher Copyright: © 2022 Elsevier B.V.Nonaqueous redox flow batteries (NARFBs) hold great promise to offer high energy density due to the broader electrochemical window. However, the achieved energy density is relatively low due to the poor stability and low solubility of redox active materials. Herein, we demonstrate that N-substituted naphthalimides can be employed as stable anolyte material for NARFBs. N-(naphthalimidoethyl)-N,N-dimethyl-N-ethylammonium bis(trifluoromethane-sulfonyl)imide (NI-TFSI) was designed via an ionic modification strategy, resulting in enhanced solubility from 0.31 M to 1.22 M. The NARFB based on NI-TFSI exhibits stable cycling with 90.3% discharge capacity retention over 100 cycles and high-rate capability with the average discharge capacity of 1.27 Ah L-1 even at 120 mA cm−2. Benefiting from the high solubility of the redox active materials, capacity of 16.3 Ah L-1 and energy density of 35.6 Wh L−1 can be achieved at 1.0 M, which represent the benchmark of high-energy–density NARFBs.Peer reviewe

Coupling Tetraalkylammonium and Ethylene Glycol Ether Side Chain To Enable Highly Soluble Anthraquinone-Based Ionic Species for Nonaqueous Redox Flow Battery

Funding Information: The work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (21636007). Publisher Copyright: © 2022 American Chemical Society.Nonaqueous redox flow batteries (NARFBs) have promise for large-scale energy storage with high energy density. Developing advanced active materials is of paramount importance to achieve high stability and energy density. Herein, we adopt the molecular engineering strategy by coupling tetraalkylammonium and an ethylene glycol ether side chain to design anthraquinone-based ionic active species. By adjusting the length of the ethylene glycol ether chain, an ionic active species 2-((9,10-dioxo-9,10-dihydroanthracen-1-yl)amino)-N-(2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethyl)-(N,N-dimethylethan-1-aminium)-bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (AQEG2TFSI) with high solubility and stability is obtained. Paired with a FcNTFSI cathode, the full battery provides an impressive cycling performance with discharge capacity retentions of 99.96% and 99.74% per cycle over 100 cycles with 0.1 and 0.4 M AQEG2TFSI, respectively.Peer reviewe