A plasmonic non-stoichiometric WO homojunction with stabilizing surface plasmonic resonance for selective photochromic modulation.

Here, we fabricated an oxygen-deficient WO3-x crystalline/amorphous homojunction with a strong and tunable localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) absorption and realized selective solar modulation over infrared light by controlling the experimental parameters. The homojunction shows good LSPR stability in photochromic cycles, which paves the way to control LSPR applications.

Study on Site of Action of Sinapine Thiocyanate following Acupoint Herbal Patching.

Objective: To investigate the site of action of sinapine thiocyanate (ST), following acupoint herbal patching (AHP).

Methods: Twenty Wistar rats were randomized into five groups (groups A, B, C, D, and E), and all groups received the same AHP . Skin samples were excised at 2 h, 4 h, 6 h, 10 h, and 26 h after AHP administration from group A to group E separately and the concentrations of ST in the skin were determined using a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method.

Plasma from some cancer patients inhibits adenoviral Ad5f35 vector transduction of dendritic cells.

Background: Pooled AB serum is often used as a media supplement for cell culture but it has the potential to transmit infectious diseases. To avoid this risk, we used autologous plasma as a media supplement for manufacturing dendritic cells (DCs) for cancer immunotherapy. We noticed inconsistencies in the DCs and investigated their nature and cause.

Multi-nanolayered VO/Sapphire Thin Film via Spinodal Decomposition.

Coating of VO-based thin film has been extensively studied for fabricating energy-saving smart windows. One of the most efficient ways for fabricating high performance films is to create multi-nanolayered structure. However, it has been highly challenge to make such layers in the VO-based films using conventional methods.

Alzheimer-like brain metabolic and structural features in cholesterol-fed rabbit detected by magnetic resonance imaging.

Background: Hypercholesterolemia is known to increase the risk of AD in later life, the purpose of this study is to illustrate brain metabolic and structural changes in a cholesterol-fed rabbit model of Alzheimer's Disease (AD) by using clinical 3 T Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).

Methods: The Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University approved the study. Totally 16 Japanese White Rabbits (JWR) were randomly divided into 2 groups including normal control group fed with routine diet (group NC) and high cholesterol diet group (group CD) fed a 2% cholesterol diet with 0.

Nano vanadium dioxide films deposited on biomedical titanium: a novel approach for simultaneously enhanced osteogenic and antibacterial effects.

Vanadium is a trace element in the human body, and vanadium compounds have a promising future in biological and medical applications due to their various biological activities and low toxicity. Herein, a novel pure vanadium dioxide (VO) nanofilm was deposited on a substrate of biomedical titanium by magnetron sputtering. The antibacterial effect of VO against the methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was validated in vitro and in vivo.

Royal Jelly Reduces Cholesterol Levels, Ameliorates Aβ Pathology and Enhances Neuronal Metabolic Activities in a Rabbit Model of Alzheimer's Disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia characterized by aggregation of amyloid β (Aβ) and neuronal loss. One of the risk factors for AD is high cholesterol levels, which are known to promote Aβ deposition. Previous studies have shown that royal jelly (RJ), a product of worker bees, has potential neuroprotective effects and can attenuate Aβ toxicity.

Genome-wide organization, evolutionary diversification of the COMMD family genes of amphioxus (Branchiostoma belcheri) with the possible role in innate immunity.

The COMMD (COpper Metabolism gene MURR1 Domain) gene family with ten members participates in various biological processes, such as the regulation of copper and sodium transport, NF-κB activity and cell cycle progression. However, studies on the COMMD gene family in amphioxus (Branchiostoma belcheri) are yet largely unknown. In this study, we have identified and characterized the ten COMMD family members from amphioxus (designated as AmphiCOMMDs).

Metformin Suppresses Tumor Progression by Inactivating Stromal Fibroblasts in Ovarian Cancer.

Ovarian cancer is a devastating disease due to its high incidence of relapse and chemoresistance. The tumor microenvironment, especially the tumor stroma compartment, was proven to contribute tremendously to the unsatisfactory chemotherapeutic efficacy in ovarian cancer. Cytotoxic agents not only effect tumor cells, but also modulate the phenotype and characteristics of the vast stromal cell population, which can in turn alter the tumor cell response to chemointervention.

A novel learning algorithm to predict individual survival after liver transplantation for primary sclerosing cholangitis.

Deciding who should receive a liver transplant (LT) depends on both urgency and utility. Most survival scores are validated through discriminative tests, which compare predicted outcomes between patients. Assessing post-transplant survival utility is not discriminate, but should be "calibrated" to be effective.

Comparison of human bone marrow stromal cells cultured in human platelet growth factors and fetal bovine serum.

Background: Bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) have classically been cultured in media supplemented with fetal bovine serum (FBS). As an alternative to FBS, pooled solvent detergent apheresis platelets, HPGF-C18, was evaluated for BMSC culture.

Methods: A comparison of passage 2 BMSC growth revealed that 10% HPGF-C18 produced similar cell numbers as 20% FBS.

Association of Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms of C-Reactive Protein Gene with Susceptibility to Infantile Sepsis in Southern China.

BACKGROUND C-reactive protein (CRP) is an important biomarker of sepsis. Several single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the CRP gene can determine plasma CRP levels and are risk factors in many diseases, such as cancer, arteritis, and diabetes. However, it is unknown whether polymorphisms in CRP are associated with susceptibility to and outcome of infantile sepsis.

Extensive ARMC5 genetic variance in primary bilateral macronodular adrenal hyperplasia that started with exophthalmos: a case report.

Background: Primary bilateral macronodular adrenal hyperplasia is a rare cause of Cushing's syndrome characterized by the presence of bilateral secretory adrenal nodules. Recent studies have shown that primary bilateral macronodular adrenal hyperplasia is caused by combined germline and somatic mutations of the ARMC5 gene. Exophthalmos is an underappreciated sign of Cushing's syndrome.

Scalable Preparation of Photochromic Composite Foils with Excellent Reversibility for Light Printing.

Photochromic inks for repeatable light-printed media have attracted increasing attention owing to the fact that they may be widely applied to reduce the consumption of papers and plastics and conserve the environment. Therefore, it is of practical significance to develop convenient photochromic inks with a low cost and on a large scale. In this study, a simple one-step hydrothermal route was used to prepare tungsten trioxide (WO ) nanoparticles, which were further used to make photochromic inks and transparent photochromic films.

Pathology, proteomics and the pathway to personalised medicine.

As we move from a discovery to a translational phase in proteomics, with a focus on developing validated clinical assays to assist personalized medicine, there is a growing need for strong bidirectional interactions with the clinical pathology community. Thus, while on one hand the proteomics community will provide candidate biomarkers to assist in diagnosis, prognosis, surveillance, identification of individualized patient medication, and development and validation of new assays for diagnostic use, on the other the pathology community will assist with specific tissue identification and selection (e.g.

The Clinical and Experimental Research on the Treatment of Endometriosis with Thiostrepton.

Background/objective: Forkhead Box M1 (FOXM1) is frequently activated in tumors. We studied the expression and the possible mechanism of FOXM1 and evaluated the effects of thiostrepton in an endometriotic rat model.

Methods And Material: This was a randomized study in a rat model of endometriosis.

Combination of 24-Hour and 7-Day Relative Neurological Improvement Strongly Predicts 90-Day Functional Outcome of Endovascular Stroke Therapy.

Background And Purpose: Early judgment of long-term prognosis is the key to making medical decisions in acute anterior circulation large-vessel occlusion stroke (LVOS) after endovascular treatment (EVT). We aimed to investigate the relationship between the combination of 24-hour and 7-day relative neurological improvement (RNI) and 90-day functional outcome.

Methods: We selected the target population from a multicenter ischemic stroke registry.

Endometrial stromal sarcoma in combination with mixed type endometrial carcinomas: A case report and literature review.

Rationale: Endometrial stromal sarcoma (ESS) is rare, representing only approximately 0.2% of all uterine malignancies. Mixed type endometrial carcinomas (MT-ECs) are rare tumors with both type I and II features, and are difficult to diagnose.

Mesenchymal stromal cell plasticity and the tumor microenvironment.

Mesenchymal stem cells or mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are a multipotent, heterogeneous population of cells that play a critical role in wound healing and tissue regeneration. MSCs, found in the tumor microenvironment, support tumor growth through the production of angiogenic factors, growth factors and extracellular matrix proteins. They also have immunomodulatory properties, and since they produce indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and transforming growth factor β (TGF-β), they have been thought to have primarily immunosuppressive effects.

Organic-inorganic hybrid optical foils with strong visible reflection, excellent near infrared-shielding ability and high transparency.

Research on functional flexible films has recently been attracting widespread attention especially with regards to foils, which can be designed artificially on the basis of the practical requirements. In this work, a foil with high visible reflection and a strong near infrared shielding efficiency was prepared by a simple wet chemical method. In the process of making this kind of optical foil, emulsion polymerization was first introduced to synthesize polymer opals, which were further compressed between two pieces of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) foil under polymer melting temperature to obtain a photonic crystal film with a strong reflection in the visible region to block blue rays.

Inhibition of AKT signaling uncouples T cell differentiation from expansion for receptor-engineered adoptive immunotherapy.

Adoptive immunotherapies using T cells genetically redirected with a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) or T cell receptor (TCR) are entering mainstream clinical practice. Despite encouraging results, some patients do not respond to current therapies. In part, this phenomenon has been associated with infusion of reduced numbers of early memory T cells.

Dicer reprograms stromal fibroblasts to a pro-inflammatory and tumor-promoting phenotype in ovarian cancer.

Inflammation and host stromal activation contribute significantly to ovarian cancer (OC) initiation and malignant progression. However, the complex reciprocal interactions between them are largely unknown. Here, we discovered that the tumor suppressor gene Dicer was paradoxically overexpressed in ovarian tumor stroma, and induced fibroblast activation and stromal inflammation.

Reprogramming of stromal fibroblasts by SNAI2 contributes to tumor desmoplasia and ovarian cancer progression.

Background: Molecular profiling in ovarian cancer (OC) revealed that the desmoplasia subtype presented the poorest prognosis, highlighting the contribution of stromal fibroblasts in tumor progression. This study aimed to investigate the molecular characteristics of SNAI2 driving the transcriptional reprogramming of fibroblasts within tumors.

Methods: SNAI2 expression was evaluated in microdissected profiles of various cancers and in various molecular subtypes of OC.

Comparative analyses of industrial-scale human platelet lysate preparations.

Background: Efforts are underway to eliminate fetal bovine serum from mammalian cell cultures for clinical use. An emerging, viable replacement option for fetal bovine serum is human platelet lysate (PL) as either a plasma-based or serum-based product.

Study Design And Methods: Nine industrial-scale, serum-based PL manufacturing runs (i.