[Effects of ZnO nanoparticles on proliferation and apoptosis of human lung epithelial BEAS-2B cells].

Objective: To investigate the effects of ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) on proliferation and apoptosis of human lung epithelial cells BEAS-2B and its molecular mechanisms.

Methods: BEAS-2B cells were treated with ZnO NPs at concentrations of 3, 6 and 12 μg/ml for 12 h and 24 h, the control group was not treated with ZnO NPs, each with 3 replicate wells. Cell viability was detected by CCK-8 method, and the half lethal concentration (IC) was analyzed.

Solution-Processed Organic Photodetectors with Renewable Materials.

An organic photodetector prepared by a simple solution method based on renewable citrus pectin with an optimized concentration of aluminum nitrate (AlC05) is introduced herein. The effects of different concentrations of aluminum nitrate on the morphology and optical properties were investigated through various characterization methods. An AlC concentration of 0.

[Clinical observation of pre-suture ligation and suture knot positioning in single-operator circumcision with the stapler for children].

Objective: To observe the clinical effects of pre-suture ligation and suture knot positioning in single-operator circumcision with the stapler.

Methods: Totally 120 six to fourteen years old children with phimosis or redundant prepuce were equally and randomly assigned to receive traditional single-operator circumcision with the stapler (group 1), single-operator circumcision with double suture knots for positioning the cutting plane with the stapler (group 2), or pre-suture ligation plus single-operator suture knot positioning circumcision with the stapler (group 3). We recorded and comparatively analyzed the operation time, intraoperative blood loss and hematoma, the number of residual suture knots, the patients' satisfaction with foreskin reservation, sutured frenulum and incision aesthetics, and the rates of surgical conversion, severe postoperative dysuria, severe wound exudation and perioperative anxiety of the parents and surgeon.

Black blooms-induced adaptive responses of sulfate reduction bacteria in a shallow freshwater lake.

Decomposing cyanobacterial bloom-induced black blooms been seen as an issue in the management of freshwater ecosystems, but its effect on sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) in shallow freshwater lakes is not clear. The objective of this study is to present an in-depth investigation of black bloom effects on the activities and composition of SRB, as well as the interactions between SRB and other bacteria. Water and surface sediments samples were collected from a shallow freshwater lake during black and non-black blooms.

Experimental and Theoretical Study of Gamma Radiolysis and Dose Rate Effect of -Cresol Formaldehyde Epoxy Composites.

Gamma radiolysis behaviors and mechanisms of silica-filled -cresol formaldehyde epoxy are studied at 2.20 × 10 to 1.95 × 10 Gy/s.

[Prostatic artery embolization for high-risk patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia: A clinical effect observation].

Objective: To observe the clinical effect of prostatic artery embolization (PAE) in the treatment of high-risk patients with BPH.

Methods: Nine high-risk patients with BPH underwent PAE in the Third Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University from January 2016 to June 2018. We followed up the patients and obtained their IPSS, quality of life score (QOL), postvoid residual urine volume (PVR), maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax), prostate volume (PV), hours of undisturbed sleep (HUS), Self-Rating Anxiety Scale score (SAS) and incidence of postoperative complications before and at 6, 12 and 24 months or longer after surgery, followed by comparative analysis of the parameters.

[Modified urethral reconstruction with lingual mucosa for complicated anterior urethral stricture].

Objective: To investigate the efficiency and complications of modified urethral reconstruction with lingual mucosa in the treatment of complicated anterior urethral stricture (CAUS).

Methods: We retrospectively studied the clinical data on 10 cases of CAUS treated by modified urethral reconstruction with lingual mucosa from December 2017 to June 2019 concerning the age of the patients and the causes, location and length of urethral stricture. We statistically analyzed the pre- and post-operative maximum urine flow rate (Qmax), scores on Mental Status Scale in Non-psychiatric Settings (MSSNS) and quality of life (QOL) scores and observed post-operative complications such as abnormal taste, tongue numbness, urinary tract infection, urethral diverticulum, and urethral stricture.

Gamma Radiation Chemistry of Polydimethylsiloxane Foam in Radiation-Thermal Environments: Experiments and Simulations.

The γ radiolysis behavior of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) in the radiation-thermal environments (dose rate, 0.2 Gy/s) is studied to pinpoint the basic knowledge of the temperature (20-70 °C) effects. The non-monotonous temperature effects on the formation of gas products, paramagnetic species in silica, and cross-linking density are proposed to correlate with the complex chemical reaction mechanisms.

Heparin-binding protein measurement improves the prediction of myocardial injury-related cardiogenic shock.

Background: Heparin-binding protein (HBP), a potent inducer of increased vascular permeability, is a potentially useful biomarker for predicting outcomes in patients with postoperative myocardial injury-related cardiogenic shock (MIRCS). We aimed to evaluate and validate HBP as a prognostic biomarker for postoperative MIRCS.

Methods: We performed a case-control study in 792 patients undergoing cardiac surgery from January 1, 2016, to August 1, 2019, including 172 patients with postoperative MIRCS and 620 age- and sex-matched controls.

Facile Synthesis and Microwave-Absorption Properties of Organic-Inorganic CoFe₂O₄/Polyaniline Nanocomposites with Embedded Structure.

Organic-inorganic CoFe₂O₄/polyaniline (CoFe₂O₄/PA) nanocomposites with embedded structures were synthesized by combining the sol-gel auto-combustion process and oxidative polymerization. The phases and morphologies of the prepared samples were identified. The pure CoFe₂O₄ samples exhibited inferior microwave-absorption properties in a frequency range of 2-18 GHz.

Self-cross-linked melamine-formaldehyde-pectin aerogel with excellent water resistance and flame retardancy.

Self-cross-linked aerogel based on pectin and melamine-formaldehyde resin (MF) was fabricated via freeze-drying method using water as solvent, where pectin is structural material meanwhile acting as acid to catalyse the cross-linking of MF. The cross-linking reaction easily occurs without additional additives, which can be significantly accelerated at elevated temperatures, with a critical value of about 55 °C. The obtained aerogel shows network microstructures as observed with SEM.

The effects of imidacloprid combined with endosulfan on IgE-mediated mouse bone marrow-derived mast cell degranulation and anaphylaxis.

Low levels of endosulfan are known to stimulate mast cells to release allergic mediators, while imidacloprid can inhibit IgE-mediated mast cell degranulation. However, little information about the effects of both pesticides together on mast cell degranulation is available. To measure the effects, IgE-activated mouse bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMCs) were treated with imidacloprid and endosulfan, individually, and simultaneously at equi-molar concentrations in tenfold steps ranging from 10 to 10 M, followed by measuring several allergy-related parameters expressed in BMMCs: the mediator production and influx of Ca, the phosphorylation content of NF-κB in the FcεRI signaling pathway.

Biomass-Based Mechanically Strong and Electrically Conductive Polymer Aerogels and Their Application for Supercapacitors.

A novel biomass-based mechanically strong and electrically conductive polymer aerogel was fabricated from aniline and biodegradable pectin. The strong hydrogen bonding interactions between polyaniline (PANI) and pectin resulted in a defined structure and enhanced properties of the aerogel. All the resultant aerogels exhibited self-surppoted 3D nanoporous network structures with high surface areas (207-331m(2)/g) and hierarchical pores.

Excellent Electromagnetic Absorption Capability of Ni/Carbon Based Conductive and Magnetic Foams Synthesized via a Green One Pot Route.

Electromagnetic microwave absorption materials have attracted a great deal of attention. Foams for the low density and tunable porosity are considered as ideal microwave absorbents, while with the requirement of improving their inherent electromagnetic properties. In this manuscript, an innovative, easy, and green method was presented to synthesize an electromagnetic functionalized Ni/carbon foam, in which the formation of Ni nanoparticles and carbon occurred simultaneously from an affordable alginate/Ni(2+) foam precursor.

Dynamic expression of miR-206-3p during mouse skin development is independent of keratinocyte differentiation.

MicroRNA-206 (miR-206), the homolog of which in mice is termed miR-206-3p, is a muscle-specific miRNA known to be important in the development of skeletal muscle, and is involved in smooth muscle innervation of the airway through the post‑transcriptional suppression of brain‑derived neurotrophic factor (Bdnf). miR‑206‑3p is also expressed at significant levels in adult and embryonic skin; however, its functional roles in adult skin and during skin development remain to be fully elucidated. In the present study, the spatiotemporal expression of miR‑206‑3p and its target‑gene, Bdnf, during mouse skin development were investigated.

Effects of Molecular Weight upon Irradiation-Cross-Linked Poly(vinyl alcohol)/Clay Aerogel Properties.

Facile fabrication of mechanically strong poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVOH)/clay aerogel composites through a combination of increasing polymer molecular weights and gamma irradiation-cross-linking is reported herein. The aerogels produced from high polymer molecular weights exhibit significantly increased compressive moduli, similar to the effect of irradiation-induced cross-linking. The required irradiation dose for fabricating strong PVOH composite aerogels with dense microstructure decreased with increasing polymer molecular weight.

Simultaneous detection of IgG and IgM antibodies against a recombinant polyprotein PstS1-LEP for tuberculosis diagnosis.

Background: Commercial serological tests for the diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) show poor sensitivity and specificity, and a new approach to antigen screening is required to improve the accuracy of serodiagnosis.

Methods: Using an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), we evaluated the responses of IgG and IgM antibodies to the recombinant PstS1-LEP protein expressed in Escherichia coli, a polyprotein of PstS1 and line multi-epitopes polypeptide (LEP).

Results: The mixture of anti-human IgG and IgM added to a well [Ig(G + M)], which was different from the combination of IgG and IgM (IgG + IgM), had a stronger immunoreactivity to PstS1-LEP than the single antibody.