The Heptazine-Based Materials through Intrinsically Modification for the Cycloaddition of CO2 and Bisepoxides.

For the efficient utilization of CO2 into valuable product, the attractive carbon nitride catalysts have been widely studied. In this work, heptazine-related materials with varying degree of polymerization were designed by an intrinsically modification strategy and employed in the cycloaddition of CO2 with the bisepoxide 1, 4-butanediol diglycidyl ether (BDODGE). We initially figured out that the sample prepared at 450 °C contained more melem hydrate, exhibiting the best performance. The epoxides conversion and corresponding cyclic carbonates selectivity could achieve 93.1 % and 99.3 % at 140 °C for 20 h without any cocatalyst and solvent, respectively. Results of the catalytic tests suggested that the high catalytic activity was dependent on big size porous structure and the synergetic effect of active amino groups and -OH groups. The role of water in maintaining the specific structure and providing active site has been proved. Moreover, the CN-450-W catalyst exhibited outstanding recycling stability. And finally, a plausible reaction mechanism was proposed.

Dysfunction of CD27+IgD+ B cells correlates with aggravated systemic lupus erythematosus.

OBJECTIVE: The apoptotic signaling pathway is obviously disordered in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Natural IgM (nIgM) is important in clearing apoptotic cells and preventing them from triggering deleterious autoimmunity. B-1 and innate-like B (ILBs) cells are the main nIgM producers. Human CD27+IgD+ B cells (un-switched memory B cells) are considered ILBs. However, their functional properties in SLE remain undefined. METHODS: Peripheral blood sample of 50 SLE patients and 50 healthy controls were collected, and twelve SLE patients were assessed in a follow-up study. The amount of CD27+IgD+ B cell in each population was analyzed by flow cytometry. The IgM and IL-10 levels of CD27+IgD+ B cell were assessed by ELISPOT and qRT-PCR, respectively. SPSS 17.0 (SPSS, USA) was employed for data analysis. P < 0.05 indicated statistical significance. RESULT: The amounts of CD27+IgD+ B cell were significantly decreased in SLE patients than healthy control (P < 0.01). CD27+IgD+ B cell amounts were positively correlated with WBC (r = 0.337, P = 0.017), platelet count (r = 0.396, P = 0.004), and serum C3 levels (r = 0.415, P = 0.003) and negatively correlated with serum creatinine levels (r = - 0.285, P = 0.045), SLEDAI(r = - 0.724, P = 0.000), and anti-dsDNA(r = - 0.477, P = 0.000). The IgM and IL-10 levels of CD27+IgD+ B in active SLE were decreased than healthy control (P < 0.001). Moreover, CD27+IgD+ B cells are increased in SLE cases after treatment than before treatment (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The amounts of CD27+IgD+ B cell were significantly decreased in SLE patients compared with the healthy population, and CD27+IgD+ B cell was verified to be correlated with clinical and immunological features in SLE patients. CD27+IgD+ B cells had impaired function associated with IgM and IL-10 production in active SLE. Moreover, the amounts of CD27+IgD+ B cells were recovered to the normal level in SLE cases with treatment-related disease remission. Key Points • CD27+IgD+ B cell amounts are significantly decreased in SLE patients than healthy control. • CD27+IgD+ B cells are functionally impaired in producing natural antibody-like IgM and IL-10 in SLE patients. • CD27+IgD+ B cell amounts are correlated with clinical and immunological features in SLE.

Duplication of 19q (13.2-13.31) associated with comitant esotropia: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Comitant esotropia is the most common form of strabismus. It is caused by heterogeneous environmental and genetic risk factors. The pure duplication of the long arm of chromosome 19 is a rare abnormality. Only 8 patients with partial trisomy of the long arm of chromosome 19q have been reported to date. Here, we describe a girl with pure duplication of 19q, who was diagnosed with congenital esotropia, microcephaly, and gallbladder agenesis. CASE SUMMARY: The patient was diagnosed with esotropia when she was 1-year-old. The Krimsky method showed +50 prism diopters in the primary gaze position. No additional abnormal findings were observed following slit lamp and fundus examination, but the features of the full-field electroretinogram showed a decreased amplitude and increased implicit times. Magnetic resonance imaging showed ventriculomegaly with thinning of the corpus callosum and splenium in her brain. A 4.42 Mb mosaic duplication within 19q13.2-q13.31 region (chr19:39,343,725 to 43,762,586) was detected by microarray comparative genomic hybridization. CONCLUSION: Strabismus is reported in many live borns with pure duplication of 19q. This important clinical characteristic indicates that the candidate genes fundamental for this phenotype may be narrowed to genes within the 19q13.3-q13.31 region. There were two candidate genes observed that may contribute to the comitant esotropia phenotype, namely XRCC1 (19:43,543,311) and SMG9 (19:43,727,991).

A randomized trial evaluating efficacy of overminus lenses combined with prism in the children with intermittent exotropia.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the efficacy of overminus lenses combined with prism spectacles in children of 3 to 6 years of age with intermittent exotropia (IXT). METHODS: Sixty patients with IXT were randomly assigned to the treatment and observation groups. Each group included 30 IXT children aged 3 to 6 years. The treatment group was prescribed overminus lenses of - 2.50 D incorporated with the 2 PD base-in prisms on each side. Ocular alignment, the status of binocular vision, as well as the refraction changes were carried out and followed at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months. A revised form of the Newcastle Control Score (NCS) was used to evaluate the patients' ability to control their IXT. RESULTS: After 12 months, the mean refractive error was 1.42 ± 1.25 D, and 1.43 ± 1.12 D for the observation and the treatment group, respectively (95% CI: - 0.61 to 0.62)); the mean exotropia control score was 5.72 ± 1.28 and 1.75 ± 1.18 in the observation and the treatment group, respectively (95% CI: - 4.63 to - 3.33); the mean near stereoacuity was 2.16 ± 0.42 log arcsec and 1.91 ± 0.26 log arcsec in the observation and the treatment group, respectively (95% CI: - 0.44 to - 0.06). CONCLUSIONS: In our randomized clinical trial, overminus spectacles with prism significantly improved the control of IXT and stereopsis, by reducing the angle of strabismus in children with IXT. This treatment does not appear to cause myopia, at least in the manner used this series. A further randomized trial is warranted to assess the effect of overminus spectacles with prism after the treatment has been discontinued. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study adheres to CONSORT 2010 guidelines. Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR1900025243 . Registered 17 August 2019.

LncRNA SNHG4 promotes the increased growth of endometrial tissue outside the uterine cavity via regulating c-Met mediated by miR-148a-3p.

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) modulate endometriosis. The current study investigated the mechanisms and effects of SNHG4 on endometriosis. The qRT-PCR was conducted to examine the miR-148a-3p and SNHG4 expressions in endometriosis tissues. The 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine incorporation assay and 3-(4, 5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2, 5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide assay were used to measure the rate of cell proliferation. The association between miR-148a-3p, SNHG4 and c-Met was confirmed via bioinformatical approach and luciferase reporter gene assay. Also, the function of SNHG4 on the growth of endometriotic lesions was investigated in vivo. The SNHG4 expression was considerably upregulated in endometriosis tissues, whereas the level of miR-148a-3p expression was reduced. In addition, SNHG4 can be considered as ceRNAs that bind miR-148a-3p and rise the proliferation activity of HESCs by downregulating miR-148a-3p. Furthermore, silencing SNHG4 could downregulate the c-Met level by enhancing miR-148a-3p expression, and finally inhibiting endometriosis development in vivo. LncRNA SNHG4 promotes the increased growth of endometrial tissue outside the uterine cavity via regulating c-Met mediated by miR-148a-3p, which may be used as diagnostic biomarker as well as molecular target in the treatment of endometriosis.

[Protective effects of melatonin on cultural human retinal pigment epithelial cells against oxidative damage in vitro].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the protective effects of melatonin on the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) against oxidative damage induced by hydrogen dioxide (H2O2) and its mechanism. METHODS: The RPE cells were seeded and divided into normal control group, oxidative damage group and the treatment group (treated with melatonin at the concentration of 1 x 10(-7) mol/L, 1 x 10(-6) mol/L, 1 x 10(-5) mol/L and 1 x 10(-4) mol/L). The model of oxidative damage on the RPE cells was established by culturing the RPE cells with H2O2 at the concentration of 600 micromol/L for 1 hour in vitro. The cell viability of RPE cells was detected by the methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) method. The degree of oxidative damage was evaluated by detecting the superoxide dismutase (SOD) and maleic dialdehyde (MDA). Apoptosis was detected qualitatively using the DNA Ladders electrophoretic method, and quantitatively using the Annexin V-FITC/PI double staining flow cytometry. RESULTS: Compared with normal control group, the oxidative damage group had low cell viability, low SOD and high MDA contents, and high apoptosis rate (t = 2.25, 39.50, 68.42; P < 0.05). Compared with oxidative damage group, the treatment group had high cell viability, high SOD and low MDA contents, and low apoptosis rate (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Melatonin has a protective effect on the RPE against oxidative damage induced by H2O2. The mechanism may involve in reinforcing the cell viability, strengthening the activity of antioxidase, and reducing the apoptosis.