Does swing leg braking matter in long jump take-off? A 3-D kinematic analysis based on elite athletes.

The objective of this study was to explore the braking technical characteristics of the swing leg of elite male athletes in long jump take-off and its dependencies on the extension velocity of the support leg and the balance. Two cameras were used to capture 8 elite male long jump athletes (25.88 ± 3.00 years) under competitive conditions at a National Indoor Athletic Championships Final, a 3-D kinematic analysis method was conducted to analyze the take-off technique of the athletes. The results showed that the rapid braking of the swing leg increased the extension velocity of the support leg. Compared to the swing leg that started braking at the moment of maximum knee flexion of the support leg (SPKnee maximum flexion moment), athletes' performance was greater when swing leg started braking at the moment of maximum ankle flexion of the support leg (SPAnkle maximum flexion moment). Furthermore, the swing leg exhibited an inward movement during its forward swing, and the inward angle was significantly correlated with the balance maintenance (r = - 0.50,P = 0.004). In conclusion, a relatively delayed rapid braking and moderate inward movement of the swing leg during the take-off phase are conducive to achieving a better take-off effect in long jump.

Elevated HMGB1 promotes the malignant progression and contributes to cisplatin resistance of non-small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: HMGB1 (high mobility group box B-1) exhibits crucial role in tumor genesis and development, including lung cancer. Whereas, more HMGB1-related details in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are still largely unclear. METHODS: The HMGB1 and inflammatory factors in malignant (MPE) and non-malignant pleural effusion (BPE) were determined by ELISA. Additionally, qRT-PCR, western blot, or immunohistochemistry were used to determine HMGB1, drug-resistant and apoptotic proteins' expressions in NSCLC A549, A549-DDP cell lines, and xenograft model. Cell viability, migration/ invasion, and apoptosis were analyzed using MTT, Transwell, and flow cytometry assays, respectively. RESULTS: Inflammatory factors and HMGB1 expressions in MPE were significantly higher than BPE of NSCLC. Compared with preoperative and adjacent tissues, significantly higher HMGB1, drug-resistant protein, and anti-apoptotic protein expressions were observed in recurrent tissues. Overexpressed HMGB1 induced NSCLC cells to exhibit stronger aggressive, proliferative, and drug-resistant features. The related abilities were reversed when HMGB1 was interfered. Overexpressed HMGB1 showed a similar co-localization with drug resistant protein P-gp in cytoplasm in xenograft model, while low HMGB1 expression localized in cell nucleus. CONCLUSIONS: HMGB1 overexpression significantly promoted the malignant progression and cisplatin resistance of NSCLC in vitro and in vivo.

Time-sensitive prefrontal involvement in associating confidence with task performance illustrates metacognitive introspection in monkeys.

Metacognition refers to the ability to be aware of one's own cognition. Ample evidence indicates that metacognition in the human primate is highly dissociable from cognition, specialized across domains, and subserved by distinct neural substrates. However, these aspects remain relatively understudied in macaque monkeys. In the present study, we investigated the functionality of macaque metacognition by combining a confidence proxy, hierarchical Bayesian meta-d' computational modelling, and a single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation technique. We found that Brodmann area 46d (BA46d) played a critical role in supporting metacognition independent of task performance; we also found that the critical role of this region in meta-calculation was time-sensitive. Additionally, we report that macaque metacognition is highly domain-specific with respect to memory and perception decisions. These findings carry implications for our understanding of metacognitive introspection within the primate lineage.

BHPF exposure impairs mouse and human decidualization.

Although BHPF has been widely used in plastic manufacturing as a substitute for BPA, current evidence suggests that BHPF also causes harmful effects on reproduction. However, effects of BHPF on mammalian early pregnancy are still poorly defined. This study aimed to explore the effects of BHPF on early pregnancy, especially decidualization and embryonic development in mice and human beings. The results showed that 50 and 100 mg/kg BHPF exposure reduced birth weight, and implantation site weight on the day 8 of pregnancy in mice. Because BHPF inhibits both embryo development and artificial decidualization in mice, suggesting that the detrimental effects of BHPF should be from its effects on embryo development and decidualization. Under in vitro decidualization, 10 µM BHPF inhibits decidualization and leads to disordered expression of Lamin B1 and collagen in mice. In addition, 10 µM BHPF also inhibits decidualization, and causes disordered expression of both collagen III and Lamin B1 under human in vitro decidualization. However, collagen III supplementation can rescue BHPF inhibition on decidualization. Further, our study demonstrates that BHPF impairs human decidualization through the HB-EGF/EGFR/STAT3/Collagen III pathway. Taken together these data suggest that exposure to BHPF impairs mouse and human decidualization during early pregnancy.

Nucleolar stress regulates stromal-epithelial transition via NPM1 during decidualization.

Embryo implantation and decidualization are crucial steps during early pregnancy. We recently showed that nucleolar stress is involved in embryo implantation. This study was to explore whether nucleolar stress participates in mouse and human decidualization. Our data demonstrated that a low dose of actinomycin D (ActD) could induce nucleolar stress in stroma cells. Nucleolar stress promotes the stromal-epithelial transition during mouse in vitro decidualization through nucleophosmin1 (NPM1). Under nucleolar stress, Wnt family member 4 (Wnt4), a decidualization marker, is significantly increased, but decidua/trophoblast prolactin-related protein (Dtprp/Prl8a2) expression remains unchanged. For translational significance, we also examined the effects of nucleolar stress on human decidualization. Nucleolar stress stimulated by a low dose of ActD enhances human stromal-epithelial transition during human decidualization, but has no effects on the expression of insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 1 (IGFBP1). Our study indicates that nucleolar stress may promote only the mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET), but not for all the molecular changes during decidualization.

Application of uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery without chest tube in enhanced recovery after thoracic surgery / 中国胸心血管外科临床杂志

@#Objective    To investigate the clinical feasibility and safety of uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) without chest tube in enhanced recovery thoracic surgery. Method    The clinical data of patients with pulmonary bulla, pulmonary nodules and mediastinal tumors who underwent uniportal VATS in Department of Thoracic Surgery in the Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University between January 2015 to May 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. A total of 78 patients did not receive closed thoracic drainage tube (a tube-free group), including 30 males and 48 females aged 32.5±8.3 years, 92 patients closed thoracic drainage tube after operation (a control group), including 38 males and 54 females aged 31.4±13.6 years. The surgery-related indicators, postoperative complications and visual analogue score (VAS) were compared between the two groups. Results    The time of early ambulation and hospital stay after operation in the tube-free group (1.0±0.3 d, 3.3±0.7 d) were significantly shorter than those in the control group (1.8±0.6 d, 5.2±0.8 d) (P=0.000, P=0.000). The VAS pain scores on the first, second and third day after operation in the tube-free group (4.5±1.8, 3.6±2.4, 2.5±1.4) were also significantly lower than those in the control group (6.8±2.2, 5.7±2.9, 3.9±1.2) (P=0.000, P=0.000, P=0.000). Operation time and intraoperative blood loss in the tube-free group (55.3±12.2 min, 21.5±5.1 mL) and the control group (57.1±6.5 min, 22.2±3.5 mL) were not statistically different (P=0.220, P=0.146). There was no pulmonary infection in both groups, and the wound healing rate was 100.0%. There was no significant difference in pneumothorax, pleural effusion, arrhythmia and re-insertion of chest drain between the tube-free group (5 patients, 8 patients, 1 patient, 3 patients) and the control group (1 patient, 4 patients, 2 patients, 1 patient, P=0.145, P=0.134, P=0.885, P=0.499). Conclusion    In strictly screened patients undergoing uniportal thoracoscopic surgery, no thoracic closed drainage tube can relieve postoperative pain, promote early ambulation activities and enhanced recovery of patients.

The high concentration of progesterone is harmful for endometrial receptivity and decidualization.

Progesterone is required for the establishment and maintenance of mammalian pregnancy and widely used for conservative treatment of luteal phase deficiency in clinics. However, there are limited solid evidences available for the optimal timing and dose of progesterone therapy, especially for the possible adverse effects on implantation and decidualization when progesterone is administrated empirically. In our study, mouse models were used to examine effects of excess progesterone on embryo implantation and decidualization. Our data indicate that excess progesterone is not only harmful for mouse implantation, but also impairs mouse decidualization. In excess progesterone-treated mice, the impaired LIF/STAT3 pathway and dysregulated endoplasmic reticulum stress may lead to the inhibition of embryo implantation and decidualization. It is possible that the decrease in birth weight of excess progesterone-treated mice is due to a compromised embryo implantation and decidualization. Furthermore, excess progesterone compromises in vitro decidualization of human endometrial stromal cells.

Up-regulated HMGB1 in the pleural effusion of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients reduces the chemosensitivity of NSCLC cells.

BACKGROUND:: Pleural effusion is one of the complications of human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). High mobility group box-1 protein (HMGB1) correlates highly with invasion and metastasis in multiple tumors. The aim of this study was to explore the clinical value of HMGB1 in NSCLC patients, and to investigate the role of HMGB1 in the development of pleural effusion. In addition, we also investigated the regulatory role of HMGB1 in the sensitivity of NSCLC cells to cisplatin. METHODS:: 46 NSCLC malignant pleural effusion (MPE) and 31 benign pleural effusion samples were quantitatively analyzed with Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) for cytokines, such as IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-8 and HMGB1. The HMGB1 expression in NSCLC tissues was examined with RT-qPCR and western blotting methods. Then the influence by HMGB1 on the chemosensitivity of lung cancer A549 cells was examined with MTT assay and colony forming assay for the A549 cells post the treatment with cisplatin or (and) HMGB1. RESULTS:: The results demonstrated that HMGB1 was up-regulated in the pleural effusion of NSCLC patients, along with the up-regulated levels of proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-6 and IL-8. And the up-regulation of HMGB1 was confirmed at both the mRNA and protein levels in the NSCLC tissues. Recombinant HMGB1 reduced the sensitivity of A549 cells to cisplatin in vitro. CONCLUSIONS:: In conclusion, HMGB1 was up-regulated in the pleural effusion and tumor tissues of NSCLC patients. HMGB1 reduced the sensitivity of NSCLC A549 cells to cisplatin in vitro.

Application of spontaneous breathing anesthesia combined with tubeless uniportal thoracoscopy in pulmonary bullae resection: A randomized controlled trial / 中国胸心血管外科临床杂志

@#Objective    To explore the safety and feasibility of spontaneous breathing anesthesia combined with tubeless uniportal thoracoscopy in pulmonary bullae surgery. Methods    Totally 112 patients with pulmonary bullae in the Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University from March 2015 to May 2017 were enrolled. According to the random number chosen by computer, the patients were randomly divided into two groups: a tubeless group (spontaneous breathing anesthesia combined with tubeless uniportal thoracoscopy) and a control group (uniportal thoracoscopy by general anesthesia with tracheal intubation) . There were 49 males and 7 females with an average age of 25.5±6.5 years in the tubeless group, and 50 males and 6 females with an average age of 23.5±4.5 years in the control group. The difference of the lowest intraoperative arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2), SaO2 at postoperative one hour, operation time, postoperative awakening time, hospital stay, hospitalization cost and postoperative pain score were analyzed. Results    There was no significant difference between the two groups in the operation time, the lowest SaO2, SaO2 at one hour after the operation and the partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2). The awakening time and duration of postoperative hospital stay in the tubeless group was shorter than those in the control group (P=0.000). The cost of hospitalization in the tubeless group was less than that in the control group (P=0.000). The discomfort caused by urinary tract and visual analogue score (VAS) in the tubeless group were better than those in the control group. Conclusion    It is safe and feasible to use spontaneous breathing anesthesia combined with tubeless uniportal thoracoscopy in pulmonary  bullae resection.

Sodic alkaline stress mitigation by exogenous melatonin in tomato needs nitric oxide as a downstream signal.

The present study was designed to determine the interactive effect of exogenous melatonin and nitric oxide (NO) on sodic alkaline stress mitigation in tomato seedlings. It was observed that exogenous melatonin treatment elevated NO levels in alkaline-stressed tomato roots. However, exogenous NO had little effects on melatonin levels. Importantly, melatonin-induced NO generation was accompanied by increased tolerance to alkaline stress. Chemical scavenging of NO reduced melatonin-induced alkaline stress tolerance and defense genes' expression. However, inhibition of melatonin biosynthesis had a little effect on NO-induced alkaline stress tolerance. These results strongly suggest that NO, acting as a downstream signal, is involved in the melatonin-induced tomato tolerance to alkaline stress. This process creates a new signaling pathway for improving stress tolerance in plant.

Clinical applications of the indirect immunofluorescence assay for detection of anticell membrane-associated DNA antibodies in juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus.

BACKGROUND: Juvenile-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (JSLE) has a higher mortality risk compared to adult-onset SLE. We compared the diagnostic value of anti-cmDNA antibodies with that of antinucleosome antibodies (AnuA), anti-Sm antibodies, and anti-dsDNA antibodies and human B lymphocyte Raji cells with that of human promyelocytic leukemia HL60 cells as substrates in an indirect immunofluorescence assay to detect anti-cmDNA antibodies in JSLE patients. METHODS: We recruited 92 JSLE patients and 71 patients with other juvenile-onset rheumatic diseases. Anti-cmDNA antibodies and antinuclear antibodies (ANA) were detected in patient sera using indirect immunofluorescence assays. Anti-dsDNA antibodies were detected by combining ELISA and indirect immunofluorescence. Anti-Sm antibodies were detected by double immunodiffusion assay and immunoblotting, while AnuA were detected by ELISA. RESULTS: The JSLE group had a significantly higher percentage of patients positive for anti-cmDNA compared to patients with other rheumatoid diseases. Using one antibody for diagnosis, anti-cm DNA antibodies had the highest accuracy at 84.0%; using two antibodies, the combination of anti-cm DNA and anti-dsDNA antibodies had 90.8% accuracy. Raji cells used as substrate demonstrated a stronger intensity of fluorescent patterns compared to HL60 cells. CONCLUSION: The high sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of detection of anti-cmDNA antibodies make it a valuable diagnostic tool for JSLE.

Role of ERCC1 variants in response to chemotherapy and clinical outcome of advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Excision repair cross-complementation group 1 (ERCC1) and xeroderma pigmentosum-F (XPF) in the nucleotide excision repair pathway have been effectively repairing DNA damage induced by chemotherapeutic agents. We conducted a cohort study to assess the associations of ERCC1 and XPF polymorphisms with response to platinum-based chemotherapy and clinical outcome of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). One hundred eighty-seven NSCLC cases treated with platinum-based chemotherapy were prospectively analyzed. The predictive value of four SNPs in ERCC1 and two SNPs in XPF in patient's response and survival related to platinum-based chemotherapy were analyzed using χ(2) tests, Kaplan-Meier method, log-rank test, and Cox proportional hazards regression. The overall chemotherapy response rate for treatment was 51.18%. One hundred eighty-seven patients were followed up, and the median survival time is 17.6 months (ranged from 1 to 50 months). A total of 106 patients (56.68%) died from NSCLC during the follow-up period. Carriers of the rs3212986 AA and A allele had a borderline significantly lower response rate to the chemotherapy. In the Cox proportional hazards model, patients carrying the ERCC1 rs3212986 AA genotype were significantly associated with increased risk of death from NSCLC when compared with those with CC genotype as a reference variable. This study reported that variants in ERCC1 can be used as a prognostic maker to platinum-based chemotherapy in NSCLC patients.