Age-, season- and gender-specific reference intervals of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 for healthy children (0 ~ 18 years old) in Nanning area of China.

Establishing specific reference intervals (RIs) of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 [25(OH)D] for children is essential for improving the accuracy of diagnosis and prognosis monitoring of diseases such as rickets and growth retardation. The study including 6,627 healthy children was conducted to establish specific RIs of 25(OH)D for children in Nanning area of China. The results showed that there were statistically significant differences among age, season, and gender of serum 25(OH)D levels, and the age-specific RIs of serum 25(OH)D were 20.3 ~ 53.6 ng/mL for 0 ~ ≤ 1 year and 18.9 ~ 49.6 ng/mL for 2 ~ ≤ 3 years. The age-, season-specific RIs of serum 25(OH)D for 4 ~ ≤ 6 years in spring-summer and autumn-winter were 15.8 ~ 42.6 ng/mL and 15.2 ~ 37.7 ng/mL, respectively. The age-, gender-specific RIs of serum 25(OH)D for 7 ~ ≤ 18 years for males and females were 12.1 ~ 36.1 ng/mL and 10.8 ~ 35.3 ng/mL, respectively. This study successfully established the RIs of serum 25(OH)D, which may help to improve disease diagnosis and monitoring for children in the Nanning area of China.

Octadecaneuropeptide Ameliorates Cognitive Impairments Through Inhibiting Oxidative Stress in Alzheimer's Disease Models.

BACKGROUND: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by amyloid-ß peptide (Aß) deposition. Aß accumulation induces oxidative stress, leading to mitochondrial dysfunction, apoptosis, and so forth. Octadecaneuropeptide (ODN), a diazepam-binding inhibitor (DBI)-derived peptide, has been reported to have antioxidant properties. However, it is unclear whether ODN has neuroprotective effects in AD. OBJECTIVE: To profile the potential effects of ODN on AD. METHODS: We established a mouse model of AD via microinjection of Aß in the lateral ventricle. Utilizing a combination of western blotting assays, electrophysiological recordings, and behavioral tests, we investigated the neuroprotective effects of ODN on AD. RESULTS: DBI expression was decreased in AD model mice and cells. Meanwhile, ODN decreased Aß generation by downregulating amyloidogenic AßPP processing in HEK-293 cells stably expressing human Swedish mutant APP695 and BACE1 (2EB2). Moreover, ODN could inhibit Aß-induced oxidative stress in primary cultured cells and mice, as reflected by a dramatic increase in antioxidants and a decrease in pro-oxidants. We also found that ODN could reduce oxidative stress-induced apoptosis by restoring mitochondrial membrane potential, intracellular Ca2+ and cleaved caspase-3 levels in Aß-treated primary cultured cells and mice. More importantly, intracerebroventricular injection of ODN attenuated cognitive impairments as well as long-term potentiation in Aß-treated mice. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that ODN may exert a potent neuroprotective effect against Aß-induced neurotoxicity and memory decline via its antioxidant effects, indicating that ODN may be a potential therapeutic agent for AD.

Li1.2Ni0.13Co0.13Mn0.54O2 with Controllable Morphology and Size for High Performance Lithium-Ion Batteries.

The controllable morphology and size Li-rich Mn-based layered oxide Li1.2Ni0.13Co0.13Mn0.54O2 with micro/nano structure is successfully prepared through a simple coprecipitation route followed by subsequent annealing treatment process. By rationally regulating and controlling the volume ratio of ethylene glycol (EG) in hydroalcoholic solution, the morphology and size of the final products can be reasonably designed and tailored from rod-like to olive-like, and further evolved into shuttle-like with the assistance of surfactant. Further, the structures and electrochemical properties of the Li-rich layered oxide with various morphology and size are systematically investigated. The galvanostatic testing demonstrates that the electrochemical performances of lithium ion batteries (LIBs) are highly dependent on the morphology and size of Li1.2Ni0.13Co0.13Mn0.54O2 cathode materials. In particular, the olive-like morphology cathode material with suitable size exhibits much better electrochemical performances compared with the other two cathode materials in terms of initial reversible capacity (297.0 mAh g-1) and cycle performance (95.4% capacity retention after 100 cycles at 0.5 C), as well as rate capacity (142.8 mAh g-1 at 10 C). The excellent electrochemical performances of the as-prepared materials could be related to the synergistic effect of well-regulated morphology and appropriate size as well as their micro/nano structure.