Phase-change composite filled natural nanotubes in hydrogel promote wound healing under photothermally triggered drug release.

It is of great importance to treat a bacterial-infected wound by a smart dressing capable of delivering antibiotics in a smart manner without causing drug resistance. The construction of smart release nanocontainers responsive to near-infrared (NIR) laser irradiation in an on-demand and stepwise way is a promising strategy for avoiding the emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria. Here, we develop a hydrogel composite made of alginate and nanotubes with an efficient NIR-triggered release of rifampicin and outstanding antibacterial ability.

Antibiotic residue and toxicity assessment of wastewater during the pharmaceutical production processes.

Various pollutants are released during pharmaceutical production processes, which is of great concern. Most studies have focused on the terminal treatment results of mixed pharmaceutical wastewater, and further research on wastewater from the production processes is required. This study investigated the wastewater quality indicators, residual antibiotics, and biological toxicity of the wastewater during the production process in a large pharmaceutical producing factory in Northern China.

Differential expression of B-type natriuretic peptide between left and right ventricles, with particular regard to sudden cardiac death.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the differential expression of B‑type natriuretic peptide (BNP) between the left and right ventricle (RV) in sudden cardiac death (SCD). A total of 26 forensic autopsy cases of sudden death (survival time <30 min, postmortem interval <48 h or frozen within 6 h following death) in the present institute were examined. The cases consisted of acute ischemic heart disease (AIHD, n=15) with/without apparent myocardial necrosis as a sign of infarction (acute myocardial infarction, n=6; ischemic heart disease, IHD, n=9), and arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC/D, n=5), in addition to traffic accidents and high falls without any pre existing heart disease as control (C, total n=6).

Micropatterning of the Ferroelectric Phase in a Poly(vinylidene difluoride) Film by Plasmonic Heating with Gold Nanocages.

Polymer thin films with patterned ferroelectric domains are attractive for a broad range of applications, including the fabrication of tactile sensors, infrared detectors, and non-volatile memories. Herein, we report the use of gold nanocages (AuNCs) as plasmonic nanostructures to induce a ferroelectric-paraelectric phase transition in a poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) thin film by leveraging its photothermal effect. This technique allows us to generate patterned domains of ferroelectric PVDF within just a few seconds.

Immune and anti-oxidant functions of ethanol extracts of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi in mice bearing U14 cervical cancers.

Background: The objective was to study the effect of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi ethanol extracts (SBGE) on immune and anti-oxidant function in U14 tumor-bearing mice.

Materials And Methods: U14 tumor-bearing mice were randomly divided into eight groups: a control group, a cyclophosphamide (CTX) group, three dose groups of SBGEI (high, medium, low), and three dose groups of SBGEII (high, medium, low). After two weeks, the thymus and spleen weight indices of mice bearing U14 cervical cancer were calculated.