CaMg₂Al₁₆O₂₇:Mn⁴⁺-based red phosphor: a potential color converter for high-powered warm W-LED.

New non-rare-earth-based oxide red phosphor discovery is of great interest in the field of energy-efficient LED lighting. In this work, a novel blue-light activated CaMg2Al16O27:Mn(4+) (CMA:Mn(4+)) phosphor, showing strong red emission peaked at ∼655 nm under 468 nm excitation, is prepared by a solid-state reaction route. The microstructure and luminescent performance of this red-emitting phosphor are investigated in detail with the aids of X-ray diffraction refinement, diffuse reflection spectra, steady-state photoluminescence spectra and temperature-dependent PL/decay measurements.

Development of a computerized tool for the chinese version of the montreal cognitive assessment for screening mild cognitive impairment.

Background: The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) is used for screening mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and the Beijing version (MoCA-BJ) is widely used in China. We aimed to develop a computerized tool for MoCA-BJ (MoCA-CC).

Methods: MoCA-CC used person-machine interaction instead of patient-to-physician interaction; other aspects such as the scoring system did not differ from the original test.

Phosphor-in-glass for high-powered remote-type white AC-LED.

The high-powered alternating current (AC) light-emitting diode (LED) (AC-LED), featuring low cost, high energy utilization efficiency, and long service life, will become a new economic growth point in the field of semiconductor lighting. However, flicker of AC-LED in the AC cycles is not healthy for human eyes, and therefore need to be restrained. Herein we report an innovation of persistent "phosphor-in-glass" (PiG) for the remote-type AC-LED, whose afterglow can be efficiently activated by the blue light.

[Research on expression and function of phosphorylated DARPP-32 on pentylenetetrazol-induced epilepsy model of rat].

The present study is to explore the change process and distribution of phosphorylated DARPP-32 (p-DARPP-32) in rat brain including cortex, hippocampus and striatum and to further deduce whether p-DARPP-32 was possibly involved in epilepsy induced by repetitive low doses of pentylenetetrazol (PTZ). PTZ-induced epilepsy model in rat was established with 30 male SD rats randomly divided into 6 groups, control group and five trial groups [PTZ 1 h, PTZ 6 h, PTZ 24 h, PTZ 48 h and PTZ 72 h respectively, after onset of status epilepticus (SE)]. Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence double-labeling were used to detect the temporal time change and distribution of p-DARPP-32 expression and to analyze the coexpression of DARPP-32 and p-DARPP-32 in rat brain after the onset of PTZ-induced generalized SE.

Slope stability analysis using limit equilibrium method in nonlinear criterion.

In slope stability analysis, the limit equilibrium method is usually used to calculate the safety factor of slope based on Mohr-Coulomb criterion. However, Mohr-Coulomb criterion is restricted to the description of rock mass. To overcome its shortcomings, this paper combined Hoek-Brown criterion and limit equilibrium method and proposed an equation for calculating the safety factor of slope with limit equilibrium method in Hoek-Brown criterion through equivalent cohesive strength and the friction angle.

SHP-1 is a target of regorafenib in colorectal cancer.

Regorafenib is an inhibitor of multiple protein kinases which exerts antitumor and antimetastatic activities in metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC). SH2 domain-containing phosphatase 1 (SHP-1) is reported to have tumor suppressive potential because it acts as a negative regulator of p-STAT3(Tyr705) signaling. However, little is known about the mechanism regarding regorafenib affects SHP-1 tyrosine phosphatase activity and leads to apoptosis and tumor suppression in CRC.

Three-dimensional osteogenic and chondrogenic systems to model osteochondral physiology and degenerative joint diseases.

Tissue engineered constructs have the potential to function as in vitro pre-clinical models of normal tissue function and disease pathogenesis for drug screening and toxicity assessment. Effective high throughput assays demand minimal systems with clearly defined performance parameters. These systems must accurately model the structure and function of the human organs and their physiological response to different stimuli.

Stem cell-based microphysiological osteochondral system to model tissue response to interleukin-1β.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic degenerative disease of the articular joint that involves both bone and cartilage degenerative changes. An engineered osteochondral tissue within physiological conditions will be of significant utility in understanding the pathogenesis of OA and testing the efficacy of potential disease-modifying OA drugs (DMOADs). In this study, a multichamber bioreactor was fabricated and fitted into a microfluidic base.

Cartilage tissue engineering application of injectable gelatin hydrogel with in situ visible-light-activated gelation capability in both air and aqueous solution.

Chondroprogenitor cells encapsulated in a chondrogenically supportive, three-dimensional hydrogel scaffold represents a promising, regenerative approach to articular cartilage repair. In this study, we have developed an injectable, biodegradable methacrylated gelatin (mGL)-based hydrogel capable of rapid gelation via visible light (VL)-activated crosslinking in air or aqueous solution. The mild photocrosslinking conditions permitted the incorporation of cells during the gelation process.

Three-dimensional osteochondral microtissue to model pathogenesis of osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis (OA), the most prevalent form of arthritis, affects up to 15% of the adult population and is principally characterized by degeneration of the articular cartilage component of the joint, often with accompanying subchondral bone lesions. Understanding the mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of OA is important for the rational development of disease-modifying OA drugs. While most studies on OA have focused on the investigation of either the cartilage or the bone component of the articular joint, the osteochondral complex represents a more physiologically relevant target because the disease ultimately is a disorder of osteochondral integrity and function.

[Treatment of senile osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures with percutaneous kyphoplasty under local anesthesia].

Objective: To evaluate the clinical outcomes of percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) in treating senile osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures under local anesthesia.

Methods: From May 2007 to May 2010,129 patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures were treated with PKP under local anesthesia. There were 47 males and 82 females, ranging in age from 61 to 92 years old,with an average of 73.

Efficacy, safety, and tolerability of telcagepant in the treatment of acute migraine: a meta-analysis.

Although triptans are widely used for treating acute migraine, they are contraindicated or not effective in a large proportion of patients. Hence, alternative treatments are needed. Calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor antagonists, such as telcagepant, have been under investigation as a treatment for acute migraine.

Related genes and potential biomarkers for early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease: a preliminary study based on DNA microarray.

Aim: The aim of this study is to extend our understanding of the molecular mechanism of Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Methods: We downloaded the gene expression profile GSE18309 from Gene Expression Omnibus database, which includes 3 genechips from patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), 3 genechips from patients with AD, and 3 genechips from normal controls (NC). Linear Models for Microarray Data package was used to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in MCI versus NC group and AD versus NC group.

Microarray analysis of transcriptome of medulla identifies potential biomarkers for Parkinson's disease.

To complement the molecular pathways contributing to Parkinson's disease (PD) and identify potential biomarkers, gene expression profiles of two regions of the medulla were compared between PD patients and control. GSE19587 containing two groups of gene expression profiles [6 dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus (DMNV) samples from PD patients and 5 from controls, 6 inferior olivary nucleus (ION) samples from PD patients and 5 from controls] was downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus. As a result, a total of 1569 and 1647 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were, respectively, screened in DMNV and ION with limma package of R.

Enhancement of tenogenic differentiation of human adipose stem cells by tendon-derived extracellular matrix.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have gained increasing research interest for their potential in improving healing and regeneration of injured tendon tissues. Developing functional three-dimensional (3D) scaffolds to promote MSC proliferation and differentiation is a critical requirement in tendon tissue engineering. Tendon extracellular matrix has been shown to maintain the tenogenic potential of tendon stem cells and stimulate tenogenesis of human adipose stem cells (hASCs) in 2D culture.

Functional graphene oxide as a plasmid-based Stat3 siRNA carrier inhibits mouse malignant melanoma growth in vivo.

Graphene oxide (GO) has attracted intensive interest in the biomedical field in recent years. We investigate whether the use of functional graphene oxide as an efficient delivery system for delivering specific molecular antitumor therapeutics in vivo could achieve a more excellent antitumor effect. Constitutive activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (Stat3) promotes survival in a wide spectrum of human cancers.

Sustained efficacy of adefovir add-on therapy in chronic hepatitis B patient with a poor virological response to peginterferon alfa.

Background: Currently, there is no consensus on the recommendation of peginterferon alfa (pegIFNα) to chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients with poor viral response (EVR). This study aimed to assess the sustained curative efficacy of adefovir (ADV) add-on therapy in optimizing pegIFNα monotherapy.

Methods: A total of 85 hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive CHB patients with poor virological response at month 6 after starting pegIFNα-2a were enrolled, and received either pegIFNα-2a continuing monotherapy (group A, n = 51) or add-on therapy with ADV (group B, n = 34).

Application of visible light-based projection stereolithography for live cell-scaffold fabrication with designed architecture.

One-step scaffold fabrication with live cell incorporation is a highly desirable technology for tissue engineering and regeneration. Projection stereolithography (PSL) represents a promising method owing to its fine resolution, high fabrication speed and computer-aided design (CAD) capabilities. However, the majority of current protocols utilize water-insoluble photoinitiators that are incompatible with live cell-fabrication, and ultraviolet (UV) light that is damaging to the cellular DNA.

[Clinicopathological features and prognosis of colorectal cancer patients with preoperative cancer-related anemia].

Objective: To analyze the clinicopathological features and prognosis of colorectal cancer patients with preoperative cancer-related anemia.

Methods: Clinical data of 354 patients with colorectal cancer in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical College from January 2003 to July 2009 were analyzed retrospectively. Those with hemoglobin(Hb)<120 g/L before surgery were defined as cancer-related anemia.

Influence of decellularized matrix derived from human mesenchymal stem cells on their proliferation, migration and multi-lineage differentiation potential.

Developing biomaterials to promote stem cell proliferation and differentiation is a critical requirement in tissue engineering and regeneration. Extracellular matrix (ECM) derived from mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) has recently been shown to be able to maintain the differentiation potential of MSCs during culture expansion and to restore the activities of aging MSCs, suggesting that MSC ECM (MECM) may be a suitable culture substrate to enhance the bioactivity of biomaterial scaffolds for MSCs. This investigation aims to characterize the biological nature and specificity of the influence of the MECM on MSCs.

Predator stress-induced persistent emotional arousal is associated with alterations of plasma corticosterone and hippocampal steroid receptors in rat.

To investigate the long-term effects of psychological stress on emotionality, the emotional arousal of rats in 4 months after predator stress was assessed in both an open field environment and elevated plus maze. We also assessed the levels of plasma corticosterone (CORT) by radioimmunoassay, the distributions of brain glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) by immunohistochemistry, and the expressions of GR and MR by Western blot. The results showed that intense predator stress, which was adjusted to ensure consistent stressor intensity using rat tonic immobility behavior, successfully induced lasting decreased locomotor activity and habituation to novel environments, suppressed exploratory behavior, and increased anxiety-like behavior.

Association between HFE polymorphisms and susceptibility to Alzheimer's disease: a meta-analysis of 22 studies including 4,365 cases and 8,652 controls.

Whether the variations in the hemochromatosis (HFE) gene increase Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk is still undetermined. We performed a meta-analysis in order to systematically summarize the possible association. Studies were identified by searching PUBMED, Web of Science and EMBASE databases complemented with screening the references of the retrieved studies.

Enhanced mid-infrared emissions of Er3+ at 2.7 μm via Nd3+ sensitization in chalcohalide glass.

Nd(3+) sensitized Er(3+):(4)I(13/2) mid-IR emissions around 2.7 μm were investigated in the transparent Ga(2)S(3)-GeS(2)-CsCl chalcohalide glasses for the first time. Remarkably, it is found that Nd(3+) greatly enhances Er(3+) 2.