[Latest Findings on the Pathogenic Mechanisms of Thoracic Aortic Dissection].

Thoracic aortic dissection (TAD) is a cardiovascular disease entailing a high lethality between 65% and 85%. Surgery-assissed implant/interventional stenting is the prevailing treatment of TAD. However, surgical treatment can cause severe postoperative complications and patients incur a relatively higher risk of postoperative mortality.

Hederagenin ameliorates cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury via inhibiting long non-coding RNA A330074k22Rik/Axin2/β-catenin signalling pathway.

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI), a kidney disease with high morbidity and mortality, is characterized by a dramatic decline in renal function. Hederagenin (HDG), a pentacyclic triterpenoid saponin isolated from astragalus membranaceus, has been shown to have significant anti-inflammatory effects on various diseases. However, the effects of HDG on renal injury and inflammation in AKI has not been elucidated.

Direct Z-scheme 1D/2D WO/ZnInS hybrid photocatalysts with highly-efficient visible-light-driven photodegradation towards tetracycline hydrochloride removal.

There are increasing environmental concerns of serious pollution from emission of antibiotic wastewater. Herein, a series of direct Z-scheme WO/ZnInS (WOZIS) hybrid photocatalysts composed of one-dimensional (1D) WO (WO) nanorods and two-dimensional (2D) ZnInS (ZIS) nanosheets have been designed and constructed for tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH) degradation without presence of solid-state electron mediators. The crystalline phase, chemical composition, morphology, optical properties and photocatalytic activity of the as-prepared samples were characterized by the XRD, XPS, SEM, HRTEM, BET, UV-vis DRS, and PL.

Hierarchical CdInS microspheres wrapped by mesoporous g-CN ultrathin nanosheets with enhanced visible light driven photocatalytic reduction activity.

In this investigation, a series of hierarchical CdInS/g-CN nanocomposites were firstly synthesized by a facile one-pot hydrothermal strategy, wherein the mesoporous g-CN nanosheets were in-situ self-wrapped onto CdInS nanosheets. Systematic characterization by XRD, FT-IR, UV-vis DRS, SEM, TEM, HAAF-STEM, XPS, photoelectrochemical tests were employed to analyze the phase structure, chemical composition, morphology and photocatalytic mechanism. The application, including photo-redox reaction and photocatalytic water splitting, were used to estimate the photocatalytic activity of as-obtained CdInS/g-CN nanocomposites.

Mesoporous transition metal oxides quasi-nanospheres with enhanced electrochemical properties for supercapacitor applications.

In this report, we obtain mesoporous transition metal oxides quasi-nanospheres (includes MnO2, NiO, and Co3O4) by utilizing mesoporous silica nanospheres as a template for high-performance supercapacitor electrodes. All samples have a large specific surface area of approximately 254-325m(2)g(-1) and a relatively narrow pore size distribution in the region of 7nm. Utilization of a nanosized template resulted in a product with a relative uniform morphology and a small particle diameter in the region of 50-100nm.

Preparation of chitosan grafted graphite composite for sensitive detection of dopamine in biological samples.

The accurate detection of dopamine (DA) levels in biological samples such as human serum and urine are essential indicators in medical diagnostics. In this work, we describe the preparation of chitosan (CS) biopolymer grafted graphite (GR) composite for the sensitive and lower potential detection of DA in its sub micromolar levels. The composite modified electrode has been used for the detection of DA in biological samples such as human serum and urine.

Potential signaling pathway involved in sphingosine-1-phosphate-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition in cancer.

The developmental process of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) occurs when epithelial cells acquire invasive mesenchymal cell characteristics, and the activation of this process has been indicated to be involved in tumor progression. EMT could be induced by growth factors, cytokines and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) is a biologically-active lipid that plays an important role in cancer metastasis.

A simple electrochemical platform for detection of nitrobenzene in water samples using an alumina polished glassy carbon electrode.

In this work, we report a selective electrochemical sensing of nitrobenzene (NB) using an alumina (γ-Al2O3) polished glassy carbon electrode (GCE) for the first time. The scanning electron microscopy studies confirm the presence of alumina particles on the GCE surface. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy studies reveal that the utilized alumina is γ-Al2O3.

Novel mesoporous P-doped graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets coupled with ZnIn2S4 nanosheets as efficient visible light driven heterostructures with remarkably enhanced photo-reduction activity.

In this report, we rationally designed and fabricated P-C3N4/ZnIn2S4 nanocomposites by in situ immobilizing ZnIn2S4 nanosheets onto the surface of mesoporous P-doped graphite carbon nitrogen (P-C3N4) nanosheets in a mixed solvothermal environment; their application to the photoreduction of 4-nitroaniline was used to estimate the photocatalytic performance. Different to the template route, here the mesoporous P-C3N4 nanosheets were prepared with a template-free strategy. The as-fabricated P-C3N4/ZnIn2S4 nanocomposites were systematically characterized by analyzing the phase structure, chemical components, electronic and optical properties and separation of charge carrier pairs.

Potential microRNA biomarkers for acute ischemic stroke.

Acute ischemic stroke is a significant cause of high morbidity and mortality in the aging population globally. However, current therapeutic strategies for acute ischemic stroke are limited. Atherosclerotic plaque is considered an independent risk factor for acute ischemic stroke.

Sphingosine 1-phosphate induced synthesis of glycocalyx on endothelial cells.

Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) protects glycocalyx against shedding, playing important roles in endothelial functions. We previously found that glycocalyx on endothelial cells (ECs) was shed after plasma protein depletion. In the present study, we investigated the role of S1P on the recovery of glycocalyx, and tested whether it is mediated by phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway.

Numerical simulation of the effect of permeability on the hydrodynamics in a parallel-plate coculture flow chamber.

To study the effect of the porous membrane permeability on the hydrodynamics in a parallel-plate coculture flow chamber (PPcFC), we demonstrated the permeability of the porous membrane as a function of some parameters, such as porosity, membrane thickness, pore size and shape of the membrane. The effect of permeability on the flow in the PPcFC was analysed using the commercial software - Fluent. Results showed that the permeability was directly proportional to the thickness, the porosity and the pore size of the membrane, and inversely proportional to the surface shape factor.

Roles of mechanical force and CXCR1/CXCR2 in shear-stress-induced endothelial cell migration.

We previously demonstrated that CXCR1 and CXCR2 are novel mechanosensors mediating laminar shear-stress-induced endothelial cell (EC) migration (Zeng et al. in Cytokine 53:42-51, 2011). In the present study, an analytical model was proposed to further analyze the underlying mechanisms, assuming the mechanical force (MF) and mechanosensor-mediated biochemical reactions induce cell migration together.

Interleukin-8 induces the endothelial cell migration through the activation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase-Rac1/RhoA pathway.

Endothelial cell migration is essential for tumor angiogenesis, and interleukin-8 (IL-8) has been shown to play an important role in tumor growth, angiogenesis, and metastasis. This study aimed to investigate the molecular mechanism of IL-8 induced endothelial cell migration. Our results indicated that IL-8 induced a rapid rearrangement of the actin cytoskeleton in EA.

CXCR1 and CXCR2 are novel mechano-sensors mediating laminar shear stress-induced endothelial cell migration.

The migration of endothelial cells (ECs) plays critical roles in vascular physiology and pathology. The receptors CXCR1 and CXCR2, known as G protein-coupled receptors which are essential for migratory response of ECs toward the shear stress-dependent CXCL8 (interleukin-8), are potential mechano-sensors for mechanotransduction of the hemodynamic forces. In present study, the mRNA and protein expression of CXCR1 and CXCR2 in EA.

[Study of photocatalytic activity, characterization and preparation of supersuspended nano-TiO2 (II) photocatalytic activity].

The photocatalytic activity of nano-TiO2 prepared by pyrolysis method and then by cooling-treatment in silicon oil and in air respectively was studied with methyl-orange solution as model waste water. The results show that the photocatalytic activity of both products is obvious with no great difference. However, the nano-TiO2 powder modified with silicone oil can degrade harmful components more effectively on the surface of waste water with sunlight and other extra light.

[Study of photocatalytic activity, characterization and preparation of supersuspended nano-TiO2. II. Study of photocatalytic activity].

From the change in the absorption of methyl-orange solution at 470 nm, the photocatalytic activity of nano-TiO2 prepared by pyrolysis method, and then by cooling treatment in silicon oil and in air respectively, was studied with methyl-orange solution as model waste water under irradiation by UV-lamp. Their photocatalytic mechanisms, the percentage of degradation in 35 min and the kinetic reactive process were also analyzed. The results show that the photocatalytic activity of both products is obvious with little difference.

Effects of steady shear flow on the deformation of leukocyte adhered to vascular endothelial surface.

Objective: To investigate the effects of steady shear flow on the deformation properties of an adherent leukocyte and its nucleus.

Method: A compound drop model was developed to simulate the leukocyte adhered to the inner surface of a blood vessel, and a two dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) was conducted to solve the model equations.

Result: The results show: 1) The Reynolds number of the external shear flow plays a crucial role in leukocyte deformation.