Separation of Halloysite Nano Tubes (HNTs) by Homogenization of Quartz Contaminated Kaolins.

Natural halloysite kaolin contains a lot of impurities such as quartz phases and varies in morphology and size during their formation in the earth. So to utilize as a new type of natural nano material, removing quartz impurities from kaolin clays without scathe the tube morphologies are necessary. So to remove quartz impurities from kaolin by forming a well deflocculated aqueous slip without fracturing the morphology of tubes, the slip of homogenized halloysite clay was recovered by adding polyvalent metallic cations and anionic polyelectrolyte flocculants simultaneously to selectively flocculate the mixture of quartz and halloysite, whereby the halloysite particles form floes and the tubular halloysite remains in suspensions.

The effects of Curcumin on HCT-116 cells proliferation and apoptosis via the miR-491/PEG10 pathway.

Paternally expressed gene-10 (PEG10) could participate in several carcinomas and might be regulated by miR-491. To now, miR-491 was found to play an important role in the sensitivity and mechanism of drug usage in the treatment of colorectal cancer, and drug resistance is a key factor to affect the disease healing. In this study, miR-491, PEG10, Wnt1, and β-catenin expression levels and their correlation with colorectal cancer were assessed in cancer tissues and adjacent parts.

Microscale tribological behavior and in vitro biocompatibility of graphene nanoplatelet reinforced alumina.

Graphene nanoplatelets were added as reinforcement to alumina ceramics in order to enhance microscale tribological behavior, which would be beneficial for ceramic-on-ceramic hip implant applications. The reduction in microscale wear is critical to hip implant applications where small amounts of wear debris can be detrimental to patients and to implant performance. The addition of the GNPs lead to improvements in fracture toughness and wear (scratch) resistance of 21% and 39%, respectively.

Stercoral colonic diverticulum perforation with jejunal diverticulitis mimicking upper gastrointestinal perforation.

Stercoral perforation of the colon is an unusual pathological condition with fewer than 150 cases reported in the literature to date. We present a case of stercoral colonic perforation mimicking upper gastrointestinal perforation, which was diagnosed by computed tomography preoperatively. However, at laparotomy, stercoral colonic diverticulum perforation with jejunal diverticulitis became the most appropriate diagnosis.

Characterization of hepatitis B virus genotypes/subgenotypes in 1,301 patients with chronic hepatitis B in North China.

Background: There is still a paucity of data on hepatitis B virus (HBV) subgenotype prevalence in North China based on sequencing of large-size samples. In addition, whether HBV genotypes impact drug-resistance-associated and HBV e antigen (HBeAg)-loss-associated mutations in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is still under investigation. This study aimed to disclose clinical prevalence of HBV genotypes/subgenotypes in North China and the clinical implications of HBV genotype classification in respect to HBeAg loss and drug-resistant occurrence.

Sulfated polymannuroguluronate inhibits Tat-induced SLK cell adhesion via a novel binding site, a KKR spatial triad.

Aim: Sulfated polymannuroguluronate (SPMG), a candidate anti-AIDS drug, inhibited HIV replication and interfered with HIV entry into host T lymphocytes. SPMG has high binding affinity for the transactivating factor of the HIV-1 virus (Tat) via its basic domain. However, deletion or substitution of the basic domain affected, but did not completely eliminated Tat-SPMG interactions.

[Experimental study of protective effects of hepatotrophic factors on hepatic functions in rats with portal hypertension after portacaval shunt].

Objective: To investigate the protective effects of hepatotrophic factors (hepatocyte growth-promoting factor and insulin) on hepatic functions and pathology in rats with portal hypertension after portacaval shunt.

Methods: The rats of hepatic cirrhosis with portal hypertension were randomly assigned into 1 control group, 1 model group and 4 treatment groups (NS, HGF, INS, HGF + INS). An end-side portacaval shunt was performed in the treatment group.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma ligands suppress liver carcinogenesis induced by diethylnitrosamine in rats.

Aim: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) is known to regulate growth arrest and terminal differentiation of adipocytes and is used clinically as a new class of antidiabetic drugs. Recently, several studies have reported that treatment of cancer cells with PPARgamma ligands could induce cell differentiation and apoptosis, suggesting a potential application as chemopreventive agents against carcinogenesis. In the present study, 3 different kinds of PPARgamma ligands were subjected to the experiments to confirm their suppressive effects on liver carcinogenesis.