6-Fluoro-1H-indole-3-carb­oxy­lic acid

In the title compound, C9H6FNO2, all the non-H atoms are approximately coplanar, the carb­oxy O atoms deviating by 0.0809 and −0.1279 Å from the indole plane. In the crystal, O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds link the mol­ecules into dimers which are linked via N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds and π–π inter­actions [centroid–centroid distance = 3.680 (2) Å

Combined diagnostic potential of multi-slice spiral CT and serum CRP levels in children with Mycoplasma pneumonia after azithromycin treatment

Purpose: To investigate the combined diagnostic value of multi-slice spiral computerized tomography (MSCT) and serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in children with mycoplasma pneumonia (MPP) after azithromycin treatment.Methods: Clinical data for 60 children with MPP who were treated in The First People's Hospital of Chenzhou, Chenzhou from February 2019 to February 2020, were retrospectively analyzed. All children were treated with azithromycin. Serum CRP levels were measured using immunoturbidimetric endpoint assay, while MSCT examination was done before and after treatment. This was a self-control clinical study in which the 60 patients served as their own controls. Thus, results obtained before treatment (control group, CG) were compared with those obtained after treatment (study group, EG). Within the same period, 60 healthy subjects were selected as the healthy group (HG), and were subjected to MSCT examination and serum CRP assay. The diagnostic results of CT were analyzed, and the responsiveness, selectivity, and positive and negative predictive values of the combination of MSCT and serum CRP levels were calculated.Results: Pre-treatment serum CRP level was higher in CG than in EG and HG, and CRP level was higher in EG than in HG (p < 0.001). The MSCT imaging features of EG were significantly different from those of CG (p < 0.05). The probabilities of bronchial wall thickening, hilar and mediastinal lymphadenopathy and pleural effusion were significantly higher in CG than in EG (p < 0.05). The responsiveness, selectivity, and positive and negative predictive values of combination of MSCT and serum CRP in MPP children after azithromycin treatment were 70.0, 66.7, 67.7 and 69.0 %, respectively.Conclusion: The combination of MSCT examination and serum CRP levels resulted in high diagnostic efficiency, and it may be useful for monitoring MPP in children after azithromycin treatment. Therefore, the combined procedure may reduce the burden on families of MPP children by enhancing efficiency of diagnosis of the disease

Icariin stimulates differentiation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) through activation of cAMP/PKA/CREB

Icariin, a prenylated flavonol glycoside isolated from Epimedium, has been considered as a potential alternative therapy for osteoporosis. The present study aimed to clarify the detailed molecular mechanisms of action of icariin on osteoblast function, using bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM‑MSCs). BM-MSCs were first stimulated by icariin. Then, gene and protein expression of cAMP/ PKA/CREB signaling molecules were analyzed by RT-PCR and western blotting (WB), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was analyzed in cell lysates by ELISA. MTT assays indicated that icariin did not have significant effects on cell viability up to 1 μM. Icariin showed a dose-dependent effect on the alkaline phosphatase activity of BM-MSCs. WB analysis showed that icariin treatment of BM-MSCs significantly enhanced the protein expression of protein kinase A (PKA) and cAMP-responsive element binding protein (CREB), while RT-PCR results showed that icariin dose-dependently increased the mRNA levels of PKA and CREB. Icariin induced BM-MSC differentiation by BMP2, Smad1, and Runx2. RT‑PCR and WB results indicated that icariin significantly increased the expression of BMP2, Smad1, and Runx2 in BM‑MSCs. These results suggest that icariin is an agonist of the cAMP/PKA/CREB pathway in BM-MSC differentiation, raising the possibility that it could be used in the treatment of osteoporosis

Numerical study on the coupled vibration characteristics of dual-rotors system with little rotation speed difference

In view of statically indeterminate structures of the decanter centrifuge, an iteration calculation model of nonlinear bearing stiffness is built innovatively. Based on gear meshing stiffness, material and lubricant film damping, coupled dual-rotors vibration model of screw-differential mechanism-bowl is constructed using solid elements. Applying ANSYS modal analysis, critical speeds along with vibration modes of dual-rotors and single-rotor are simulated, and the impacts of the differential mechanism and single-rotor modal on dual-rotors modal are obtained. Built on the harmonic response analysis, the results indicate that the system responses differently for the different rotors by manipulating the dynamic responses of the centrifuge under single rotor unbalance excitation. On the basis of transient structural analysis, beat vibration characteristics of dual-rotors system with little rotation speed difference are obtained, and a conclusion of the system responses separately for the unbalance mass of different rotors at a low rotating speed is acquired. The models and methods adopted in simulation are proved to be reasonable and feasible by experiment. The results have certain significance for the design and the dynamic balancing technique of the decanter centrifuge

miR-638 is a new biomarker for outcome prediction of non-small cell lung cancer patients receiving chemotherapy.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a class of small non-coding RNAs, mediate gene expression by either cleaving target mRNAs or inhibiting their translation. They have key roles in the tumorigenesis of several cancers, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical significance of miR-638 in the evaluation of NSCLC patient prognosis in response to chemotherapy. First, we detected miR-638 expression levels in vitro in the culture supernatants of the NSCLC cell line SPC-A1 treated with cisplatin, as well as the apoptosis rates of SPC-A1. Second, serum miR-638 expression levels were detected in vivo by using nude mice xenograft models bearing SPC-A1 with and without cisplatin treatment. In the clinic, the serum miR-638 levels of 200 cases of NSCLC patients before and after chemotherapy were determined by quantitative real-time PCR, and the associations of clinicopathological features with miR-638 expression patterns after chemotherapy were analyzed. Our data helped in demonstrating that cisplatin induced apoptosis of the SPC-A1 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner accompanied by increased miR-638 expression levels in the culture supernatants. In vivo data further revealed that cisplatin induced miR-638 upregulation in the serum derived from mice xenograft models, and in NSCLC patient sera, miR-638 expression patterns after chemotherapy significantly correlated with lymph node metastasis. Moreover, survival analyses revealed that patients who had increased miR-638 levels after chemotherapy showed significantly longer survival time than those who had decreased miR-638 levels. Our findings suggest that serum miR-638 levels are associated with the survival of NSCLC patients and may be considered a potential independent predictor for NSCLC prognosis

Genetic characterization of Toxoplasma gondii from Qinghai vole, Plateau pika and Tibetan ground-tit on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China

Background The distribution of genetic diversity of Toxoplasma gondii in wildlife is of interest to understand the transmission of this parasite in the environment. Limited information on T. gondii genotypes has been reported in wildlife in China. The objective of this study was to carry out the genetic characterization of T. gondii isolates from wild animals on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Methods Using PCR and multilocous polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technology, we detected genetic diversity of T. gondii isolates from Qinghai vole, Plateau pika and Tibetan ground-tit in these regions. Results In total, 183 brain tissues of different wild animals, including 48 Qinghai vole (Microtus fuscus), 101 Plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae) and 34 Tibetan ground-tit (Pseudopodoces humilis), were tested for T. gondii infection. 11 of these were found to be positive for the T. gondii B1 gene by PCR amplification. These positive DNA samples were typed at 10 genetic markers, including 9 nuclear loci (SAG1, 5’-and 3’-SAG2, alternative SAG2, BTUB, GRA6, L358, PK1, c22-8, c29-2), and an apicoplast locus Apico. Six were successfully genotyped at eight or more genetic loci, and were grouped to three distinct genotypes. Four samples belonged to ToxoDB Genotype #10 and the other two samples were identified as two new genotypes (http://toxodb.org/toxo/ webcite). Conclusions To our knowledge, this is the first report of genetic typing of T. gondii isolates in wildlife on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China. The results show that there is a potential risk for the transmission of this parasite through the wildlife in this region. doi:10.1186/1756-3305-6-29

Genetic characterization of Toxoplasma gondii from Qinghai vole, Plateau pika and Tibetan ground-tit on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China

Background The distribution of genetic diversity of Toxoplasma gondii in wildlife is of interest to understand the transmission of this parasite in the environment. Limited information on T. gondii genotypes has been reported in wildlife in China. The objective of this study was to carry out the genetic characterization of T. gondii isolates from wild animals on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Methods Using PCR and multilocous polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technology, we detected genetic diversity of T. gondii isolates from Qinghai vole, Plateau pika and Tibetan ground-tit in these regions. Results In total, 183 brain tissues of different wild animals, including 48 Qinghai vole (Microtus fuscus), 101 Plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae) and 34 Tibetan ground-tit (Pseudopodoces humilis), were tested for T. gondii infection. 11 of these were found to be positive for the T. gondii B1 gene by PCR amplification. These positive DNA samples were typed at 10 genetic markers, including 9 nuclear loci (SAG1, 5’-and 3’-SAG2, alternative SAG2, BTUB, GRA6, L358, PK1, c22-8, c29-2), and an apicoplast locus Apico. Six were successfully genotyped at eight or more genetic loci, and were grouped to three distinct genotypes. Four samples belonged to ToxoDB Genotype #10 and the other two samples were identified as two new genotypes (http://toxodb.org/toxo/ webcite). Conclusions To our knowledge, this is the first report of genetic typing of T. gondii isolates in wildlife on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China. The results show that there is a potential risk for the transmission of this parasite through the wildlife in this region. doi:10.1186/1756-3305-6-29

Genetic characterization of Toxoplasma gondii from Qinghai vole, Plateau pika and Tibetan ground-tit on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China

Background The distribution of genetic diversity of Toxoplasma gondii in wildlife is of interest to understand the transmission of this parasite in the environment. Limited information on T. gondii genotypes has been reported in wildlife in China. The objective of this study was to carry out the genetic characterization of T. gondii isolates from wild animals on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Methods Using PCR and multilocous polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technology, we detected genetic diversity of T. gondii isolates from Qinghai vole, Plateau pika and Tibetan ground-tit in these regions. Results In total, 183 brain tissues of different wild animals, including 48 Qinghai vole (Microtus fuscus), 101 Plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae) and 34 Tibetan ground-tit (Pseudopodoces humilis), were tested for T. gondii infection. 11 of these were found to be positive for the T. gondii B1 gene by PCR amplification. These positive DNA samples were typed at 10 genetic markers, including 9 nuclear loci (SAG1, 5’-and 3’-SAG2, alternative SAG2, BTUB, GRA6, L358, PK1, c22-8, c29-2), and an apicoplast locus Apico. Six were successfully genotyped at eight or more genetic loci, and were grouped to three distinct genotypes. Four samples belonged to ToxoDB Genotype #10 and the other two samples were identified as two new genotypes (http://toxodb.org/toxo/ webcite). Conclusions To our knowledge, this is the first report of genetic typing of T. gondii isolates in wildlife on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China. The results show that there is a potential risk for the transmission of this parasite through the wildlife in this region. doi:10.1186/1756-3305-6-29