Enzyme-free ultrasensitive fluorescence detection of epithelial cell adhesion molecules based on a toehold-aided DNA recycling amplification strategy.

Epithelial cell adhesion molecules (EpCAMs) play a significant role in tumorigenesis and tumor development. EpCAMs are considered to be tumor signaling molecules for cancer diagnosis, prognosis and therapy. Herein, an enzyme-free and highly sensitive fluorescent biosensor, with a combined aptamer-based EpCAM recognition and toehold-aided DNA recycling amplification strategy, was developed for sensitive and specific fluorescence detection of EpCAMs.

Author Correction: Concise N-doped Carbon Nanosheets/Vanadium Nitride Nanoparticles Materials via Intercalative Polymerization for Supercapacitors.

A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML and PDF versions of this paper. The error has not been fixed in the paper.

High phase-purity 1T'-MoS- and 1T'-MoSe-layered crystals.

Phase control plays an important role in the precise synthesis of inorganic materials, as the phase structure has a profound influence on properties such as conductivity and chemical stability. Phase-controlled preparation has been challenging for the metallic-phase group-VI transition metal dichalcogenides (the transition metals are Mo and W, and the chalcogens are S, Se and Te), which show better performance in electrocatalysis than their semiconducting counterparts. Here, we report the large-scale preparation of micrometre-sized metallic-phase 1T'-MoX (X = S, Se)-layered bulk crystals in high purity.

Ultrasensitive amperometric aptasensor for the epithelial cell adhesion molecule by using target-driven toehold-mediated DNA recycling amplification.

An amperometric aptasensor is reported for the electrochemical determination of the epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM). It is based on a combination of EpCAM-driven toehold-mediated DNA recycling amplification, the specific recognition of EpCAM aptamer, and its binding to EpCAM. Hairpin probe 1 (Hp1) with a toehold region was modified with a 5'-thiol group (5'-SH) and self-assembled onto the surface of a gold electrode.

A chromium(III) oxide-coated steel wire prepared by arc ion plating for use in solid-phase microextraction of aromatic hydrocarbons.

The authors introduce an arc ion plating method for the deposition of chromium oxide (CrO) on a steel wire substrate, and its use as a coating for solid phase microextraction. The coating has a micro- and nano-scaled structure after annealing at 700 °C. It is found that CrO exhibits a good extraction capability for the aromatic hydrocarbons naphthalene, anthracene, fluorene, fluoranthene, and biphenyl.

Study on the inversion of doped concentration induced by millisecond pulsed laser irradiation silicon-based avalanche photodiode.

In this paper, an experimental study of silicon-based avalanche photodiode (Si-APD) with millisecond pulse laser irradiation was carried out, and the C-V curve of Si-APD was obtained by using a semiconductor analyzer. Based on the single-side abrupt junction character of n+p, combined with the corresponding theoretical derivation, the doping concentration varying with the axial depth of damaged Si-APD was obtained by inverse computation. The lattice dislocation and junction reduction were the fundamental causes of the reduced doping concentration.

Nanocomposites based on hierarchical porous carbon fiber@vanadium nitride nanoparticles as supercapacitor electrodes.

In this study, a hybrid electrode material for supercapacitors based on hierarchical porous carbon fiber@vanadium nitride nanoparticles is fabricated using the method of phase-separation mediated by the PAA-b-PAN-b-PAA tri-block copolymer. In the phase-separation procedure, the ionic block copolymer self-assembled on the surface of carbon nanofibers, and is used to adsorb NHVO. Thermal treatment at controlled temperatures under an NH : N atmosphere led to the formation of vanadium nitride nanoparticles that are distributed uniformly on the nanofiber surface.

Concise N-doped Carbon Nanosheets/Vanadium Nitride Nanoparticles Materials via Intercalative Polymerization for Supercapacitors.

N-doped carbon nanosheets/vanadium nitride nanoparticles (N-CNS/VNNPs) are synthesized via a novel method combining surface-initiated in-situ intercalative polymerization and thermal-treatment process in NH/N atmosphere. The pH value of the synthesis system plays a critical role in constructing the structure and enhancing electrochemical performance for N-CNS/VNNPs, which are characterized by SEM, TEM, XRD, and XPS, and measured by electrochemical station, respectively. The results show that N-CNS/VNNPs materials consist of 2D N-doped carbon nanosheets and 0D VN nanoparticles.

MicroRNA-20a promotes proliferation and invasion by directly targeting early growth response 2 in non-small cell lung carcinoma.

MicroRNA-20a (miR-20a) serves a notable role in tumor development and progression; it functions differently in different types of malignant tumor, and its role and mechanism in non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) remains unclear. In the present study, the effects of miR-20a on the proliferation and invasion of NSCLC cells and the underlying mechanisms behind this were investigated. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction revealed that the expression level of miR-20a was higher in human NSCLC than in normal tissues.

Interfacial Interactions in van der Waals Heterostructures of MoS and Graphene.

Interfacial coupling between neighboring layers of van der Waals heterostructures (vdWHs), formed by vertically stacking more than two types of two-dimensional materials (2DMs), greatly affects their physical properties and device performance. Although high-resolution cross-sectional scanning tunneling electron microscopy can directly image the atomically sharp interfaces in the vdWHs, the interfacial coupling and lattice dynamics of vdWHs formed by two different types of 2DMs, such as semimetal and semiconductor, are not clear so far. Here, we report the ultralow-frequency Raman spectroscopy investigation on interfacial couplings in the vdWHs formed by graphene and MoS flakes.

Characterization of Anti-bacterial Compounds from the Seed Coat of Chinese Windmill Palm Tree ().

The increasing of multidrug resistance in bacterial associated infections has impaired the current antimicrobial therapy and it forces the search for other alternatives. In this study, we aimed to find the antibacterial activity of seed coat of against a panel of clinically important bacterial species. Ethanolic extracts of target tissues were fractionated through macro porous resin by column chromatography, using ethanol as an organic solvent with a concentration gradient of 0-100%, each along with 20% concentration increment.

CRISPR-Cas9-based treatment of myocilin-associated glaucoma.

Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is a leading cause of irreversible vision loss worldwide, with elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) a major risk factor. Myocilin () dominant gain-of-function mutations have been reported in ∼4% of POAG cases. mutations result in protein misfolding, leading to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in the trabecular meshwork (TM), the tissue that regulates IOP.

Size effect on oral absorption in polymer-functionalized mesoporous carbon nanoparticles.

In this manuscript, the effect of the particle size of polymer-functionalized mesoporous carbon (MPP) nanoparticles on enhancing oral absorption of a water-insoluble drug is first investigated. The insoluble drug, fenofibrate (Fen), was selected as the model drug loaded in the MPP nanoparticles. MPP nanoparticles with different particle sizes were designed for improving the oral bioavailability of drugs, in which the branched polyethyleneimine (PEI) and polyacrylic acid (PAA) were modified on the surfaces of mesoporous carbon nanoparticles (MCNs) with amide bonds.

Whole exome sequencing identifies FBN1 mutations in two patients with early‑onset type B aortic dissection.

The etiology of thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection (TAAD) is complex and heterogeneous. Emerging evidence has demonstrated that genetic causes may be a consideration in early‑onset TAAD. Owing to overlapping clinical phenotypes and the genetic heterogeneity of TAAD, it is challenging for clinicians to make a molecular diagnosis of TAAD, particularly in those who present with non‑specific syndromic features.

Proteasome Inhibitor YSY01A Abrogates Constitutive STAT3 Signaling via Down-regulation of Gp130 and JAK2 in Human A549 Lung Cancer Cells.

Proteasome inhibition interfering with many cell signaling pathways has been extensively explored as a therapeutic strategy for cancers. Proteasome inhibitor YSY01A is a novel agent that has shown remarkable anti-tumor effects; however, its mechanisms of action are not fully understood. Here we report that YSY01A is capable of suppressing cancer cell survival by induction of apoptosis.

Treatment of serious complications following endovascular aortic repair for type B thoracic aortic dissection.

Objective This study aimed to describe treatment of serious complications after primary thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) in type B aortic dissection. Methods From June 2008 to March 2016, serious complications occurred in 58 patients without Marfan syndrome who received TEVAR for type B aortic dissection. Results Complications included endoleak, distal true lumen collapse, retrograde dissection, stroke, stent-graft (SG) migration and mistaken deployment, lower limb ischaemia, and SG fracture.

A comparison between sphere and rod nanoparticles regarding their in vivo biological behavior and pharmacokinetics.

In recent years, spherical nanoparticles has been studied extensively on biomedical applications including bioimaging and biosensing, diagnostics and theranostics, but the effect of the shape of nanoparticles has received little attention. In the present study, we designed three different shaped fluorescent mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs), long rod nanoparticles (NLR), short rod nanoparticles (NSR), and spherical nanoparticles (NS) to systematically examine their behavior in vivo after oral administration. The results of the ex vivo optical imaging study in mice indicated that rod nanoparticles had a longer residence time in the gastrointestinal compared with spherical nanoparticles.

Synthesis and In Vitro Anti-Influenza Virus Evaluation of Novel Sialic Acid (C-5 and C-9)-Pentacyclic Triterpene Derivatives.

The emergence of drug resistant variants of the influenza virus has led to a great need to identify novel and effective antiviral agents. In our previous study, a series of sialic acid (C-2 and C-4)-pentacyclic triterpene conjugates have been synthesized, and a five-fold more potent antiviral activity was observed when sialic acid was conjugated with pentacyclic triterpene via C-4 than C-2. It was here that we further reported the synthesis and anti-influenza activity of novel sialic acid (C-5 and C-9)-pentacyclic triterpene conjugates.

Low expression of nm23-H1 associates with poor survival of nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients: A prisma-compliant meta-analysis.

Background: Developing a new reliable prognostic marker to predict the prognosis and supply better and more suitable therapy for patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is urgent. Therefore, we performed this systematic review of the literature with meta-analysis to clarify and explore the associate expression of nm23-H1 with prognosis of NPC patients.

Methods: Literature research in Cochrane Library, PubMed, and EMBASE was performed up to July 2016.

A novel molybdenum disulfide nanosheet self-assembled flower-like monolithic sorbent for solid-phase extraction with high efficiency and long service life.

A novel material consisting of molybdenum disulfide (MoS) nanosheet that self-assemble into flower-like microspheres which aggregate to form a monolithic matrix with a micro or nano-scaled mesopore structure was successfully synthesized and used as an efficient sorbent for solid-phase extraction (SPE) due to its large specific adsorption area and good stability. The extraction properties of the as-prepared sorbent were evaluated by high-performance liquid chromatography with variable wavelength detection (HPLC-VWD) by analyzing four flavonoids (apigenin, quercetin, luteolin, and kaempferol). Under optimal conditions, the LODs and LOQs were found to be in the ranges of 0.

Optical thickness identification of transition metal dichalcogenide nanosheets on transparent substrates.

Transparent and flexible devices based on two-dimensional (2D) materials hold great potential for many electronic/optoelectronic applications. The direct and fast thickness identification of 2D materials on transparent substrates is therefore an essential step in such applications, but remains challenging. Here, we present a simple, rapid and reliable optical method to identify the thickness of 2D nanosheets on transparent substrates, such as polydimethylsiloxane, glass, and coverslip.

Crystal Structure of the Minimal Cas9 from Campylobacter jejuni Reveals the Molecular Diversity in the CRISPR-Cas9 Systems.

The RNA-guided endonuclease Cas9 generates a double-strand break at DNA target sites complementary to the guide RNA and has been harnessed for the development of a variety of new technologies, such as genome editing. Here, we report the crystal structures of Campylobacter jejuni Cas9 (CjCas9), one of the smallest Cas9 orthologs, in complex with an sgRNA and its target DNA. The structures provided insights into a minimal Cas9 scaffold and revealed the remarkable mechanistic diversity of the CRISPR-Cas9 systems.

Novel Hybrid Nanoparticles of Vanadium Nitride/Porous Carbon as an Anode Material for Symmetrical Supercapacitor.

Abstract: Hybrid materials of vanadium nitride and porous carbon nanoparticles (VN/PCNPs) were fabricated by a facile pyrolysis process of vanadium pentoxide (VO) xerogel and melamine at relatively low temperature of 800 °C for supercapacitor application. The effects of the feed ratio of VO to melamine (), and nitrogen flow rate on the microstructure and electrochemical performance were also investigated. It was found that the size of the as-synthesized nanoparticles is about 20 nm.

Identification of a missense mutation of COL3A1 in a Chinese family with atypical Ehlers-Danlos syndrome using targeted next-generation sequencing.

Aortopathy represents an important cause of mortality in industrialized countries, with a number of genes identified as predispose factors. It can be difficult to identify the genetic lesions underlying this disorder, particularly when the phenotype is atypical. The present study performed targeted next‑generation sequencing of 428 genes associated with cardiovascular diseases in a family with aortopathy, the proband of which presented with abdominal aortic aneurysm rupture only, with tissue fragility noted in surgery.

Comparison of Foam Sclerotherapy Alone or Combined With Stripping of the Great Saphenous Vein for Treating Varicose Veins.

Background: Varicose veins (VVs) have a substantial impact on patients' quality of life.

Objective: The study aimed to retrospectively compare the short-term clinical outcomes of 2 treatment methods for VVs, namely high ligation and stripping (HL/S) of the great saphenous vein combined with foam sclerotherapy (FS), and FS alone.

Materials And Methods: Totally, 180 patients with VVs were included and treated with FS alone or HL/S+FS.