Carbon-Dot-Enhanced Graphene Field-Effect Transistors for Ultrasensitive Detection of Exosomes.

Graphene field-effect transistors (GFETs) are suitable building blocks for high-performance electrical biosensors, because graphene inherently exhibits a strong response to charged biomolecules on its surface. However, achieving ultralow limit-of-detection (LoD) is limited by sensor response time and screening effect. Herein, we demonstrate that the detection limit of GFET biosensors can be improved significantly by decorating the uncovered graphene sensor area with carbon dots (CDs).

miR‑155‑5p downregulation inhibits epithelial‑to‑mesenchymal transition by targeting SIRT1 in human nasal epithelial cells.

Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in nasal epithelial cells is involved with tissue remodeling of nasal polyps. The present study investigated the molecular mechanisms through which miR‑155‑5p regulated EMT in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). Patients were divided into the following groups: CRSsNP, CRS without nasal polyposis group, CRSwNP, CRS with nasal polyposis and controls.

lncRNA DGCR5 inhibits the proliferation of colorectal cancer cells by downregulating miR-21.

Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) DiGeorge syndrome critical region gene 5 (DGCR5) serves roles as a tumor suppressor or oncogene in different types of cancer. The current study aimed to explore the role of DGCR5 in colorectal cancer (CRC). It was revealed that the expression of DGCR5 was downregulated, while microRNA (miR)-21 was upregulated in CRC.

Boosting the Oxygen Reduction Electrocatalytic Performance of Nonprecious Metal Nanocarbons via Triple Boundary Engineering Using Protic Ionic Liquids.

The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in aqueous media plays a critical role in sustainable and clean energy technologies such as polymer electrolyte membrane and alkaline fuel cells. In this work, we present a new concept to improve the ORR performance by engineering the interface reaction at the electrocatalyst/electrolyte/oxygen triple-phase boundary using a protic and hydrophobic ionic liquid and demonstrate the wide and general applicability of this concept to several Pt-free catalysts. Two catalysts, Fe-N codoped and metal-free N-doped carbon electrocatalysts, are used as a proof of concept.

Engineering the Interface of Carbon Electrocatalysts at the Triple Point for Enhanced Oxygen Reduction Reaction.

The aqueous oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) has recently received increased attention due to its critical role in clean and sustainable energy-generation technologies, such as proton exchange membranes (PEM) fuel cells, alkaline fuel cells and Zn-air batteries. The sluggish kinetics associated with ORR result from multistep electron-transfer process. The slow kinetics are partially related to the O adsorption process onto the catalyst, which happens at the triple-phase boundary (TPB) of the electrocatalyst-electrolyte-oxygen interface.

S, N-Co-Doped Graphene-Nickel Cobalt Sulfide Aerogel: Improved Energy Storage and Electrocatalytic Performance.

Metal sulfides are commonly used in energy storage and electrocatalysts due to their redox centers and active sites. Most literature reports show that their performance decreases significantly caused by oxidation in alkaline electrolyte during electrochemical testing. Herein, S and N co-doped graphene-based nickel cobalt sulfide aerogels are synthesized for use as rechargeable alkaline battery electrodes and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalysts.

Decreased expression of BATF2 is significantly associated with poor prognosis in oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma.

BATF2, also called SARI, is associated with several cancer types, and loss of BATF2 expression is frequently detected in aggressive and metastatic cancers. The expression of BATF2 was previously shown to slow the growth rate of malignant tumor cells injected into athymic nude mice, and decreased expression of BATF2 has been correlated to poor prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma. However, the functional role of BATF2 in oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (OTSCC) remains unknown.

Investigation of the effective action distance between hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells and human adipose-derived stem cells during their in vitro co-culture.

The in vitro suitable action distance between umbilical cord blood-derived hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells and its feeder cell, human adipose-derived stem cells, during their co-culture, was investigated through a novel transwell co-culture protocol, in which the distance between the two culture chambers where each cell type is growing can be adjusted from 10 to 450 μm. The total cell number was determined with a hemacytometer, and the cell morphology was observed under an inverted microscope each day. After 7 days of co-culture, the fold-expansion, surface antigen expression of CD34(+) and CFU-GM assay of the hematopoietic mononuclear cells (MNCs) were analyzed.

Preparation, fabrication and biocompatibility of novel injectable temperature-sensitive chitosan/glycerophosphate/collagen hydrogels.

This paper introduces a novel type of injectable temperature-sensitive chitosan/glycerophosphate/collagen (C/GP/Co) hydrogel that possesses great biocompatibility for the culture of adipose tissue-derived stem cells. The C/GP/Co hydrogel is prepared by mixing 2.2% (v/v) chitosan with 50% (w/w) β-glycerophosphate at different proportions and afterwards adding 2 mg/ml of collagen.

[Transporter associated with antigen processing 1 637A/G gene polymorphisms and susceptibility to nasopharyngeal carcinoma in Han population in Yunnan Province, China].

Objective: To study the relationship between 637A/G gene polymorphisms of the transporter associated with antigen processing 1 gene and nasopharyngeal carcinomas (NPC) and to find out the susceptible genes of NPC in Han population in Yunnan Province, China.

Methods: Two hundred and thirty-three cases with NPC and 296 cases matched cancer-free controls were genotyped for the TAP1 637A/G polymorphism by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Epstein-Barr virus infection was detected by PCR.