Growth kinetics of crumb-like structure formation on SnO nanowires during direct oxidation.

A facile AAO (anodic aluminum oxide) template-assisted vacuum die-casting technique was used to create Sn nanowires and convert them into SnO without degrading the wires nanostructure. As a function of time and temperature, the controlled oxidation on the Sn nanowires of two different spatial configurations (100 and 250 nm in diameter) revealed distinct oxidation mechanisms. The 250-SnO nanowires exhibits a peculiar crumb-like structure formation over the surface due to the higher level of Sn atom dislocation.

Bacteria in cancer therapy: A new generation of weapons.

Tumors are presently a major threat to human life and health. Malignant tumors are conventionally treated through radiotherapy and chemotherapy. However, traditional therapies yield unsatisfactory results due to high toxicity to the normal cells, inability to treat deep tumor tissues, and the possibility of inducing drug resistance in the tumor cells.

Successful repair of a tuberculous bronchial lymphatic fistula with pericardial fat pad patch. A case report.

This study reported a rare case of mediastinal abscess scrofula. The patient was found to have a large left main bronchial orificium fistula (approximately 1.5x1.

Development of genic SSR marker resources from RNA-seq data in Camellia japonica and their application in the genus Camellia.

Camellia is a genus of flowering plants in the family Theaceae, and several species in this genus have economic importance. Although a great deal of molecular makers has been developed for molecular assisted breeding in genus Camellia in the past decade, the number of simple sequence repeats (SSRs) publicly available for plants in this genus is insufficient. In this study, a total of 28,854 potential SSRs were identified with a frequency of 4.

Successful repair of a tuberculous bronchial lymphatic fistula with pericardial fat pad patch. A case report.

This study reported a rare case of mediastinal abscess scrofula. The patient was found to have a large left main bronchial orificium fistula (approximately 1.5x1.

Enhanced Anti-Cancer Effect of Folate-Conjugated Olaparib Nanoparticles Combined with Radiotherapy in Cervical Carcinoma.

Background: Radiotherapy (RT), one of the main treatments for cervical cancer, has tremendous potential for improvement in the efficacy. Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) is a key enzyme in the repair of DNA strand breaks (DSB). Olaparib (Ola) is a PARP inhibitor that is involved in preventing the release of PARP from RT-induced damaged DNA to potentiate the effect of RT.

SMRT sequencing of a full-length transcriptome reveals transcript variants involved in C18 unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis and metabolism pathways at chilling temperature in Pennisetum giganteum.

Background: Pennisetum giganteum, an abundant, fast-growing perennial C grass that belongs to the genus Pennisetum, family Poaceae, has been developed as a source of biomass for mushroom cultivation and production, as a source of forage for cattle and sheep, and as a tool to remedy soil erosion. However, having a chilling-sensitive nature, P. giganteum seedlings need to be protected while overwintering in most temperate climate regions.

The functional role of the EZH2 gene in controlling breast cancer stem cells.

Purpose: Breast cancer is caused by rare populations of self-renewing cancer stem cells that might also play a role in tumor relapse. Genes that regulate cancer stem cells are, therefore, of great interest in controlling cancer. EZH2 gene expression is reported to be elevated during breast cancer progression and it plays a role in expanding breast stem cell populations.

Preparation, characterization, in vitro and in vivo anti-tumor effect of thalidomide nanoparticles on lung cancer.

Introduction: Thalidomide (THA) is an angiogenesis inhibitor and an efficient inhibitor of the tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). However, the clinical application of THA has been limited due to hydrophobicity of the compound.

Materials And Methods: To increase the water solubility of THA and in order to evaluate the anticancer abilities of this material on human lung carcinoma, methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(ε-caprolactone) nanoparticles loaded with THA (THA-NPs) were prepared.

In vitro and in vivo antitumor effect of gefitinib nanoparticles on human lung cancer.

Gefitinib (GEF) is the first epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-targeting agent launched as an anticancer drug. It is an accepted opinion that modifying GEF strong hydrophobicity and poor bioavailability would not only enhance its antitumor effects, but also reduce its side effects. In this study, GEF-loadedpoly(ε-caprolactone)-poly(ethyleneglycol)-poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCEC) -bearing nanoparticles (GEF-NPs) were prepared by a solid dispersion method and characterized.

RNA-seq based transcriptomic analysis uncovers α-linolenic acid and jasmonic acid biosynthesis pathways respond to cold acclimation in Camellia japonica.

Camellia is a well-known ornamental flower native to Southeast of Asia, including regions such as Japan, Korea and South China. However, most species in the genus Camellia are cold sensitive. To elucidate the cold stress responses in camellia plants, we carried out deep transcriptome sequencing of 'Jiangxue', a cold-tolerant cultivar of Camellia japonica, and approximately 1,006 million clean reads were generated using Illumina sequencing technology.

Fabrication of Polyaniline/Graphene/Polyester Textile Electrode Materials for Flexible Supercapacitors with High Capacitance and Cycling Stability.

Vertical polyaniline (PANI) nanowire arrays on graphene-sheet-coated polyester cloth (RGO/PETC) were fabricated by the in situ chemical polymerization of aniline. The 3D conductive network that was formed by the graphene sheets greatly enhanced the conductivity of PANI/RGO/PETC and improved its mechanical stability. PANI nanowire arrays increased the active surface area of PANI, whilst the hierarchically porous structure of the PANI/RGO/PETC electrode facilitated the diffusion of the electrolyte ions.

Inter-grade and inter-batch variability of sodium alginate used in alginate-based matrix tablets.

The purpose of this study is to characterize the inter-grade and inter-batch variability of sodium alginate used in the formulation of matrix tablets. Four different grades and three batches of one grade of sodium alginate were used to prepare matrix tablets. Swelling, erosion, and drug release tests of sodium alginate matrix tablets were conducted in a USP dissolution apparatus.

Biodegradable and thermosensitive monomethoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(lactic acid) hydrogel as a barrier for prevention of post-operative abdominal adhesion.

Post-operative peritoneal adhesions are serious consequences of abdominal or pelvic surgery and cause severe bowel obstruction, chronic pelvic pain and infertility. In this study, a novel nano-hydrogel system based on a monomethoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(lactic acid) (MPEG-PLA) di-block copolymer was studied for its ability to prevent abdominal adhesion in rats. The MPEG-PLA hydrogel at a concentration of 40% (w/v) was injected and was able to adhere to defect sites at body temperature.

A mononuclear cobalt complex with an organic ligand acting as a precatalyst for efficient visible light-driven water oxidation.

N,N'-Bis(salicylidene)ethylenediaminecobalt(II) (1) has been investigated as a highly efficient water oxidation precatalyst with a TON of 854 at pH = 9.0, using [Ru(bpy)3](ClO4)2 as a photosensitizer and Na2S2O8 as a sacrificial electron acceptor.

An axenic culture system for fruiting body formation by an edible bolete phylogenetically related to culinary-medicinal penny bun mushroom, Boletus edulis Bull.:Fr. strains from China.

The ability of two freshly isolated Boletus stains to fruit under axenic conditions was tested using different solid and liquid nutrient media. One strain (YNCX04) produced numerous primordia from which fruiting bodies, 12 mm and 10 mm in length, with grey, convex pilei, and yellow-white, clavate stipes developed between 15 and 30 d after inoculation of fungal mycelium onto a solid medium consisting of mineral salts, thiamine, glucose, potato, an extract of Cunninghamia lanceolata root, and agar. The other strain (YNB200) produced numerous primordia but no sporophores.

Analysis of composition, molecular weight, and water content variations in sodium alginate using solid-state NMR spectroscopy.

Solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (SSNMR) spectroscopy has become more prevalent in the pharmaceutical industry due to its nondestructive nature and the wealth of information it can provide on a wide variety of solid samples. In this study, SSNMR spectra and relaxation times were used to analyze differences in monomer composition, molecular weight (MW), and water content among various sodium alginate samples. Differences in structure could be determined via spectral deconvolution of SSNMR spectra, and differences in intrinsic viscosity, MW, and water content were found to correlate to SSNMR relaxation times.

Relevance of rheological properties of sodium alginate in solution to calcium alginate gel properties.

The purpose of this study is to determine whether sodium alginate solutions' rheological parameters are meaningful relative to sodium alginate's use in the formulation of calcium alginate gels. Calcium alginate gels were prepared from six different grades of sodium alginate (FMC Biopolymer), one of which was available in ten batches. Cylindrical gel samples were prepared from each of the gels and subjected to compression to fracture on an Instron Universal Testing Machine, equipped with a 1-kN load cell, at a cross-head speed of 120 mm/min.

Preparation and properties of nano-hydroxyapatite/PCL-PEG-PCL composite membranes for tissue engineering applications.

Nano-hydroxyapatite (n-HA)/poly(ε-caprolactone)-poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL-PEG-PCL, PCEC) composite membranes were prepared by solvent casting and evaporation method. The structure and properties of the membranes were investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), water contact angle measurements, in vitro hydrolytic degradation, mechanical test, and cell culture. The effect of n-HA content on physical-chemical properties of the n-HA/PCEC composite membranes was studied.

Rheological evaluation of inter-grade and inter-batch variability of sodium alginate.

Polymeric excipients are often the least well-characterized components of pharmaceutical formulations. The aim of this study was to facilitate the QbD approach to pharmaceutical manufacturing by evaluating the inter-grade and inter-batch variability of pharmaceutical-grade polymeric excipients. Sodium alginate, a widely used polymeric excipient, was selected for evaluation using appropriate rheological methods and test conditions.

Inter- and intra-manufacturer variability in pharmaceutical grades and lots of xanthan gum.

A pharmaceutical formulation typically contains one or more excipients in addition to the active pharmaceutical ingredient(s). Though excipients have been considered inert components of a formulation, variability in their properties has been shown to affect the performance of drug dosage forms and delivery systems. This study investigates the inter- and intra-manufacturer variability among different NF grades and lots of xanthan gum made by two manufacturers.

Preparation and characterization of a porous scaffold based on poly(D,L-lactide) and N-hydroxyapatite by phase separation.

In this study, a series of porous scaffolds were prepared from poly(D,L-lactide) (PLA) and nanohydroxyapatite (HA) using the phase separation method. HA/PLA composite membranes and PLA membranes with a microporous structure (pore size around 10-20 μm) were observed by scanning electron microscopy and these micropores were well distributed throughout the PLA membranes. The surface morphology of HA/PLA composite membranes was significantly improved compared to pure PLA membrane.

Evaluation of intestinal absorption of ginsenoside Rg1 incorporated in microemulison using parallel artificial membrane permeability assay.

In the present study, ginsenoside Rg(1) (Rg(1)), a naturally occurring drug which is hardly absorbed in gastrointestinal (GI) tract due to its high hydrophilicity and low membrane permeability, was incorporated in different compositions of water-in-oil microemulsions (MEs). And parallel artificial membrane permeability assay (PAMPA) that have been mainly utilized for the evaluation of in vitro permeability of early drug candidates was introduced in present study, as well as rat in vivo pharmacokinetics and in vitro permeability measurements, to investigate the effect of w/o ME on Rg(1) absorption. Correlation between various models as mentioned above was further performed to estimate the feasibility of PAMPA in the application of pharmaceutical preparation studies.

Acute toxicity evaluation of biodegradable in situ gel-forming controlled drug delivery system based on thermosensitive PEG-PCL-PEG hydrogel.

In this work, a biodegradable poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(epsilon-caprolactone)-poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG-PCL-PEG, PECE) triblock copolymer was successfully synthesized. The aqueous solution of such PECE copolymer displayed special sol-gel-sol transition as temperature increase, which is a flowing sol at low-temperature and turns into a nonflowing gel at body temperature. The cytotoxicity of PECE copolymer was evaluated by cell viability assay using HEK 293 cells.