Flow-Diverting Devices versus Coil Embolization for Intracranial Aneurysms: A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-analysis.

Objective: To review the literature on flow-diverting device (FDD) treatments for intracranial aneurysms (IAs) and to compare the safety and efficacy of FDDs with coil embolization treatment (CET) for IAs using a meta-analysis of published studies.

Methods: A systematic electronic search was conducted of PubMed, Springer Link, EBSCO, and the Cochrane Database on all accessible published articles through September 2015. Abstracts, full-text manuscripts, and the reference lists of retrieved articles were analyzed.

Enhanced Electrorheological Performance of Nb-Doped TiO2 Microspheres Based Suspensions and Their Behavior Characteristics in Low-Frequency Dielectric Spectroscopy.

Titanium dioxide and Nb-doped titanium dioxide microspheres with the same size were fabricated by a simple sol-gel method, and the formation mechanism of Nb-doped titanium dioxide microspheres was proposed. Titanium dioxide and Nb-doped titanium dioxide microspheres were adopted as dispersed materials for electrorheological (ER) fluids to investigate the influence of the charge increase introduced by Nb doping on the ER activity. The results showed that Nb doping could effectively enhance the ER performance.

Cationic surface modification of gold nanoparticles for enhanced cellular uptake and X-ray radiation therapy.

A challenge of X-ray radiation therapy is that high dose X-ray can damage normal cells and cause side effects. This paper describes a new nanoparticle-based method to reduce X-ray dose in radiation therapy by internalization of gold nanoparticles that are modified with cationic molecules into cancer cells. A cationic thiol molecule is synthesized and used to modify gold nanoparticles in a one-step reaction.

Organic Phase Change Nanoparticles for in-Product Labeling of Agrochemicals.

There is an urgent need to develop in-product covert barcodes for anti-counterfeiting of agrochemicals. This paper reports a new organic nanoparticle-based in-product barcode system, in which a panel of organic phase change nanoparticles is added as a barcode into in a variety of chemicals (herein agrochemicals). The barcode is readout by detecting melting peaks of organic nanoparticles using differential scanning calorimetry.

Risk factors for relapse of middle-stage squamous cell carcinoma of the submandibular region and floor of mouth: the importance of en bloc resection.

Our aim was to investigate retrospectively the rate of recurrence in the intervening region for middle-stage squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the tongue and identify the factors that predict relapse and prognosis. A total of 204 patients were included, 96 in the en bloc group and 108 in the control group. The groups were comparable.

Efficacy of Flow-Diverting Devices for Cerebral Aneurysms: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background: To evaluate the efficacy of flow-diverting devices (FDDs) used in the treatment for intracranial aneurysms (IAs), we performed a meta-analysis of published literature on FDDs.

Methods: A systematic electronic database search was conducted using MEDLINE, PubMed, Springer, and EBSCO for all accessible articles on FDDs published until December 2014. Abstracts, full-text manuscripts, and the reference lists of retrieved articles were analyzed.

Mandibular lingual release versus mandibular lip-split approach for expanded resection of middle-late tongue cancer: A case-control study.

Objective: The mandibular lingual release (MLR) and mandibular lip-split (MS) approaches are the two common access approaches for resection of malignant tongue tumors. This case-control study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of these two approaches for the expanded resection of middle-late tongue cancer.

Material And Methods: A total of 56 matched patients with resectable middle-late squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue body were consecutively hospitalized for expanded resection using the MLR (n = 26) or MS approach (n = 30) between March 2004 and November 2012.

Multi-stimuli-responsive chiral organogels based on peptide derivatives.

A series of chiral aryl amide compounds bearing peptide pendants have been investigated as low molecular weight gelators. A mechanistic study reveals that complementary hydrogen bonding from peptide pendants is the main driving force for the formation of organogels. This new class of organogels can exhibit multi-stimuli-responsive behavior upon applying (1) thermal, (2) pH, (3) enantiomeric purity, and (4) fluoride anion stimuli.

Nanomaterial-based barcodes.

Two-dimensional (2D) barcodes ubiquitously used to label, track and authenticate objects face increasing challenges of being damaged, altered and falsified. The past effort in nanomaterials has paved the way for controlled synthesis of nanomaterials with desired size, shape and function. Due to their extremely small sizes, these nanomaterials are promising as next generation barcodes that can be added into or mixed with objects of interest without being noticed.

Nodal Yield: Is it a Prognostic Factor for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma?

Purpose: The prognostic value of lymph node yield (LNY) in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remains controversial. The aim of this study was to explore whether LNY influences locoregional recurrence risk and prognosis in patients with HNSCC.

Patients And Methods: This retrospective cohort study reviewed the records of 1,546 eligible patients with HNSCC who were treated at Beijing Stomatological Hospital, Capital Medical University, from July 1989 to October 2012.

The differential effects of a selective kappa-opioid receptor agonist, U50488, in guinea pig heart tissues.

The differential effects of a selective kappa- (κ-) opioid receptor agonist, U50488, were elucidated by monitoring the contraction of isolated guinea pig atrial and ventricular muscles. In electrically driven left atria, U50488 in nanomolar concentration range decreased the contractile force. Norbinaltorphimine (norBNI), a selective κ-receptor antagonist, and pertussis toxin (PTX) abolished the negative inotropic effect of U50488.

Enhanced radiation therapy with multilayer microdisks containing radiosensitizing gold nanoparticles.

A challenge of X-ray radiation therapy is that high dose X-rays at therapeutic conditions damage normal cells. This paper describes the use of gold nanoparticle-loaded multilayer microdisks to enhance X-ray radiation therapy, where each microdisk contains over 10(5) radiosensitizing nanoparticles. The microdisks are attached on cell membranes through electrostatic interaction.

Preventing bacterial growth on implanted device with an interfacial metallic film and penetrating X-rays.

Device-related infections have been a big problem for a long time. This paper describes a new method to inhibit bacterial growth on implanted device with tissue-penetrating X-ray radiation, where a thin metallic film deposited on the device is used as a radio-sensitizing film for bacterial inhibition. At a given dose of X-ray, the bacterial viability decreases as the thickness of metal film (bismuth) increases.

Electronic and optical properties of quaternary alloy GaAsBiN lattice-matched to GaAs.

Employing first-principles combined with hybrid functional calculations, the electronic and optical properties of GaAs alloyed with isovalent impurities Bi and N are investigated. As GaAsBiN alloy is a quaternary alloy, the band gap and the lattice constant of the alloy can be individually tuned. Both impurities are important to the valence band and conduction band of the alloy, with the band gap of the alloy being dramatically reduced by Bi 6p states and N localized 2s states.

Analysis of Current Status and Strategies of Retinopathy of Prematurity Screening during 6 Years in Local Regions of China: Implication and Caution.

Purpose. To understand the current status of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) screening in a province of North China. Methods.

Reducing X-Ray Induced Oxidative Damages in Fibroblasts with Graphene Oxide.

A major issue of X-ray radiation therapy is that normal cells can be damaged, limiting the amount of X-rays that can be safely delivered to a tumor. This paper describes a new method based on graphene oxide (GO) to protect normal cells from oxidative damage by removing free radicals generated by X-ray radiation using grapheme oxide (GO). A variety of techniques such as cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, oxidative assay, apoptosis, γ-H2AX expression, and micro-nucleus assay have been used to assess the protective effect of GO in cultured fibroblast cells.

Use of submandibular gland flap for repairing defects after tumor resection in the infratemporal region.

Objective: To investigate the application of submandibular gland flap with facial artery and vein pedicle, for repairing defects following tumor resection in the infratemporal region.

Patients And Methods: Fifteen patients, including eight males and seven females ranging in age from 21 to 73 years, underwent surgical resection of tumors in the infratemporal region. Tumors were exposed using the submandibular incision approach and completely resected after pulling and rotating the mandible laterally.

MIB-producing cyanobacteria (Planktothrix sp.) in a drinking water reservoir: distribution and odor producing potential.

The production of odorant 2-methylisoborneol (MIB) in water bodies by Planktothrix sp. have not been understood very well. Through a four-year investigation in Miyun Reservoir, a huge mesotrophic drinking water reservoir known to have the MIB episodes, we found that the Planktothrix sp.

Study on the interaction characteristics of cefamandole with bovine serum albumin by spectroscopic technique.

The interaction of cefamandole with bovine serum albumin (BSA) was studied by fluorescence quenching in combination with UV-Vis spectroscopic method under near physiological conditions. The fluorescence quenching rate constants and binding constants for BSA-cefamandole system were determined at different temperatures. The fluorescence quenching of BSA by cefamandole is due to static quenching and energy transfer.

Assessing ecotourism from a multi-stakeholder perspective: Xingkai Lake National Nature Reserve, China.

Ecotourism development is closely associated with the sustainability of protected natural areas. When facilitated by appropriate management, ecotourism can contribute to conservation and development, as well as the well-being of local communities. As such, ecotourism has been proposed and practiced in different forms in many places, including China.

MiR-451 is decreased in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and regulates autophagy by targeting TSC1.

The molecular mechanisms that drive the development of cardiac hypertrophy in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) remain elusive. Accumulated evidence suggests that microRNAs are essential regulators of cardiac remodelling. We have been suggested that microRNAs could play a role in the process of HCM.

Cancer risk assessment on trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids in drinking water of China using disability-adjusted life years.

The cancer risks from exposure to trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs) through multiple pathways were assessed based on the result of a water quality survey in 35 major cities of China. To express the risks in disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), the excess cancer incidence estimates were combined with a two-stage disease model for calculation. The median total cancer risk of THMs and HAAs was calculated as 7.

Multiple linear regression model for bromate formation based on the survey data of source waters from geographically different regions across China.

A total of 86 source water samples from 38 cities across major watersheds of China were collected for a bromide (Br(-)) survey, and the bromate (BrO3 (-)) formation potentials (BFPs) of 41 samples with Br(-) concentration >20 μg L(-1) were evaluated using a batch ozonation reactor. Statistical analyses indicated that higher alkalinity, hardness, and pH of water samples could lead to higher BFPs, with alkalinity as the most important factor. Based on the survey data, a multiple linear regression (MLR) model including three parameters (alkalinity, ozone dose, and total organic carbon (TOC)) was established with a relatively good prediction performance (model selection criterion = 2.

Spatial and temporal variations of two cyanobacteria in the mesotrophic Miyun reservoir, China.

Spatial variations in phytoplankton community within a large mesotrophic reservoir (Miyun reservoir, North China) were investigated in relation to variations in physico-chemical properties, nutrient concentrations, temperature and light conditions over a 5 month period in 2009. The dynamics of phytoplankton community was represented by the dominance of cyanobacteria through summer and fall, following with a short-term dominance of chlorophyta in late fall, and a relatively high abundance of diatom in October; on the other hand, maximum phytoplankton biomass was recorded in the north shallow region of Miyun reservoir with a higher nutrients level. Particular attention was paid to the impacts of environmental conditions on the growth of two cyanobacteria genera, the toxin-producing Microcystis and the taste & odor-producing Oscillatoria.

Enhanced radiation therapy with internalized polyelectrolyte modified nanoparticles.

A challenge of X-ray radiation therapy is that high dose X-ray under therapeutic conditions damages normal cells. This paper describes a nanoparticle-based method to enhance X-ray radiation therapy by delivering radio-sensitizing gold nanoparticles into cancer cells. The nanoparticles have been modified with cationic polyelectrolytes to allow internalization.