PET-based bisBODIPY photosensitizers for highly efficient excited triplet state and singlet oxygen generation: tuning photosensitizing ability by dihedral angles.

Herein, four covalent BODIPY heterodimers that differ by dihedral angles were shown to be highly efficient excited triplet state (T) photosensitizers (PSs) for singlet oxygen formation with a quantum yield (Φ) of up to 0.94 as compared to their respective monomers, which had only negligible Φ of ca. 0.

Downregulation of TM7SF4 inhibits cell proliferation and metastasis of A549 cells through regulating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.

Lung cancer is one of the most common types of malignant tumor worldwide. The etiology of lung cancer is complex and, although significant progress has been made in previous investigations, the molecular mechanism responsible for lung cancer remains to be fully elucidated. In the present study, the association between lung cancer and transmembrane 7 superfamily member 4 (TM7SF4) was investigated.

Label-Free Homogeneous Electrochemical Sensing Platform for Protein Kinase Assay Based on Carboxypeptidase Y-Assisted Peptide Cleavage and Vertically Ordered Mesoporous Silica Films.

Presented herein is a simple, robust, and label-free homogeneous electrochemical sensing platform constructed for the detection of protein kinase activity and inhibition by integration of carboxypeptidase Y (CPY)-assisted peptide cleavage reaction and vertically ordered mesoporous silica films (MSFs). In this sensing platform, the substrate peptide composed of kinase-specific recognized sequence and multiple positively charged arginine (R) residues was ingeniously designed. In the presence of protein kinase, the substrate peptide was phosphorylated and then immediately resisted CPY cleavage.

Low-Temperature Soft-Cover Deposition of Uniform Large-Scale Perovskite Films for High-Performance Solar Cells.

Large-scale high-quality perovskite thin films are crucial to produce high-performance perovskite solar cells. However, for perovskite films fabricated by solvent-rich processes, film uniformity can be prevented by convection during thermal evaporation of the solvent. Here, a scalable low-temperature soft-cover deposition (LT-SCD) method is presented, where the thermal convection-induced defects in perovskite films are eliminated through a strategy of surface tension relaxation.

Diffusion engineering of ions and charge carriers for stable efficient perovskite solar cells.

Long-term stability is crucial for the future application of perovskite solar cells, a promising low-cost photovoltaic technology that has rapidly advanced in the recent years. Here, we designed a nanostructured carbon layer to suppress the diffusion of ions/molecules within perovskite solar cells, an important degradation process in the device. Furthermore, this nanocarbon layer benefited the diffusion of electron charge carriers to enable a high-energy conversion efficiency.

Thermally Stable MAPbI Perovskite Solar Cells with Efficiency of 19.19% and Area over 1 cm achieved by Additive Engineering.

Solution-processed perovskite (PSC) solar cells have achieved extremely high power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) over 20%, but practical application of this photovoltaic technology requires further advancements on both long-term stability and large-area device demonstration. Here, an additive-engineering strategy is developed to realize a facile and convenient fabrication method of large-area uniform perovskite films composed of large crystal size and low density of defects. The high crystalline quality of the perovskite is found to simultaneously enhance the PCE and the durability of PSCs.

Elevated serum levels of TNF-α, IL-8, and ECP can be involved in the development and progression of bronchial asthma.

Objective: This study aimed to explore the value of elevated serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-8 (IL-8), and eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) in the diagnosis of bronchial asthma (BA).

Methods: A total of 170 patients with BA (case group, 85 patients in acute attack and 85 patients in clinical remission) and 150 healthy individuals (control group) were enrolled in this study. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were calculated for the contents and diagnostic values of serum TNF-α, IL-8, and ECP in BA.

The control of beads diameter of bead-on-string electrospun nanofibers and the corresponding release behaviors of embedded drugs.

Bead-on-string nanofibers, with appropriate control of the beads diameter, are potential fibrous structures for efficient encapsulation of particle drugs in micron scales and could achieve controlled drug release for tissue engineering applications. In this study, the beads diameter of electrospun bead-on-string nanofibers was controlled by adjusting the concentration of spinning polymer, poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), and the solvent ratio of chloroform to acetone. The images of the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) suggested that bead-on-string nanofibers could be successfully obtained only with a certain range of PLGA solution concentration.

Cost-Performance Analysis of Perovskite Solar Modules.

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are promising candidates for the next generation of solar cells because they are easy to fabricate and have high power conversion efficiencies. However, there has been no detailed analysis of the cost of PSC modules. We selected two representative examples of PSCs and performed a cost analysis of their productions: one was a moderate-efficiency module produced from cheap materials, and the other was a high-efficiency module produced from expensive materials.

TNFα drives pulmonary arterial hypertension by suppressing the BMP type-II receptor and altering NOTCH signalling.

Heterozygous germ-line mutations in the bone morphogenetic protein type-II receptor (BMPR-II) gene underlie heritable pulmonary arterial hypertension (HPAH). Although inflammation promotes PAH, the mechanisms by which inflammation and BMPR-II dysfunction conspire to cause disease remain unknown. Here we identify that tumour necrosis factor-α (TNFα) selectively reduces BMPR-II transcription and mediates post-translational BMPR-II cleavage via the sheddases, ADAM10 and ADAM17 in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs).

One-step synthesis of photoluminescent carbon dots with excitation-independent emission for selective bioimaging and gene delivery.

Photoluminescent carbon dots (C-dots), as new members of the quantum sized carbon analogues have attracted significant attention due to their unique size, less toxicity, good compatibility and relatively easy surface modification. In this work, we report a simple, low-cost and one-step hydrothermal carbonization approach to synthesize the positively charged C-dots using PEI and FA. From the photoluminescence (PL) measurements, the as-prepared C-dots exhibit good stability and intense PL with the high quantum yield (QY) at Ca.

Association of MBL2 exon1 polymorphisms with high-risk human papillomavirus infection and cervical cancers: a meta-analysis.

Purpose: High-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) infection is the main known cause of cervical cancer. Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) is a recognition molecule that mediates phagocytosis and activates complement.

Methods: We performed a meta-analysis to investigate the association of MBL-2 functional polymorphisms with HPV infection and cervical cancer (CC).

The efficacy and safety of tenofovir alafenamide versus tenofovir disoproxil fumarate in antiretroviral regimens for HIV-1 therapy: Meta-analysis.

Background: To date, a definite conclusion about efficiency and safety of tenofovir alafenamide for patients with HIV-1 is not available. The aim of the study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of TAF versus TDF in antiretroviral regimens for patients with HIV-1.

Methods: PUBMED, MEDLINE, and EMBASE database were searched in March 2016, with no language restriction, for randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

Enhanced Stability of Perovskite Solar Cells through Corrosion-Free Pyridine Derivatives in Hole-Transporting Materials.

The molecular structure of pyridine derivatives is critical to perovskite solar cell performance, especially stability. Most of the pyridine additives easily form complexes with perovskite. A new pyridine additive with a long alkyl chain substituted at its o-position does not corrode perovskite.

Antiviral Therapy in Lamivudine-Resistant Chronic Hepatitis B Patients: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis.

The relative efficacy of different strategies for chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients with lamivudine resistance (LAM-R) has not yet been systematically studied. Clinical trials were searched in PUBMED, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CNKI databases up to February 15, 2016. Nine trials including 764 patients met the entry criteria.

Effectiveness and safety of daclatasvir plus asunaprevir for hepatitis C virus genotype 1b: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background And Aim: Daclatasvir plus asunaprevir (DCV + ASV) has demonstrated potent antiviral activity in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1b infection. A definite conclusion about efficacy and safety of DCV + ASV in patients with HCV genotype 1b is not available. A meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate outcomes of all-oral treatment with DCV + ASV in terms of sustained virological response at 12 (SVR ) and 24 (SVR ) weeks and adverse effects after the end of treatment.

Removal of Ozone by Carbon Nanotubes/Quartz Fiber Film.

Ozone is recognized as a harmful gaseous pollutant, which can lead to severe human health problems. In this study, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were tested as a new approach for ozone removal. The CNTs/quartz fiber film was fabricated through growth of CNTs upon pure quartz fiber using chemical vapor deposition method.

The oxidative potential of PM2.5 exposures from indoor and outdoor sources in rural China.

Background: Airborne particulate matter (PM) is a widespread environmental exposure and leading health risk factor. The health effects of PM may be mediated by its oxidative potential; however, the combustion and non-combustion sources and components of PM responsible for its oxidative potential are poorly understood, particularly in low- and middle-income rural settings where coal and biomass burning for cooking and heating contribute to PM exposure.

Methods: We measured 24-h personal exposures to fine particulate matter (PM2.

Recurrent Keratocystic Odontogenic Tumor After Effective Decompression.

Keratocystic odontogenic tumor (KCOT) has potential aggressive and infiltrative behavior. Decompression has been widely preferred for large KCOTs due to safety and lower recurrence rates. However, KCOT is still likely to recur even after effective decompression.

Seasonal and Diurnal Air Pollution from Residential Cooking and Space Heating in the Eastern Tibetan Plateau.

Residential combustion of solid fuel is a major source of air pollution. In regions where space heating and cooking occur at the same time and using the same stoves and fuels, evaluating air-pollution patterns for household-energy-use scenarios with and without heating is essential to energy intervention design and estimation of its population health impacts as well as the development of residential emission inventories and air-quality models. We measured continuous and 48 h integrated indoor PM2.

Seasonal variation in outdoor, indoor, and personal air pollution exposures of women using wood stoves in the Tibetan Plateau: Baseline assessment for an energy intervention study.

Cooking and heating with coal and biomass is the main source of household air pollution in China and a leading contributor to disease burden. As part of a baseline assessment for a household energy intervention program, we enrolled 205 adult women cooking with biomass fuels in Sichuan, China and measured their 48-h personal exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and carbon monoxide (CO) in winter and summer.

An excellent navigation system and experience in craniomaxillofacial navigation surgery: a double-center study.

Numerous problems regarding craniomaxillofacial navigation surgery are not well understood. In this study, we performed a double-center clinical study to quantitatively evaluate the characteristics of our navigation system and experience in craniomaxillofacial navigation surgery. Fifty-six patients with craniomaxillofacial disease were included and randomly divided into experimental (using our AccuNavi-A system) and control (using Strker system) groups to compare the surgical effects.

pH- and Temperature-Sensitive Hydrogel Nanoparticles with Dual Photoluminescence for Bioprobes.

This study demonstrates high contrast and sensitivity by designing a dual-emissive hydrogel particle system, whose two emissions respond to pH and temperature strongly and independently. It describes the photoluminescence (PL) response of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM)-based core/shell hydrogel nanoparticles with dual emission, which is obtained by emulsion polymerization with potassium persulfate, consisting of the thermo- and pH-responsive copolymers of PNIPAM and poly(acrylic acid) (PAA). A red-emission rare-earth complex and a blue-emission quaternary ammonium tetraphenylethylene derivative (d-TPE) with similar excitation wavelengths are inserted into the core and shell of the hydrogel nanoparticles, respectively.

Extracellular microRNA-21 and microRNA-26a increase in body fluids from rats with antigen induced pulmonary inflammation and children with recurrent wheezing.

Background: This study aims to find out whether extracellular miRNAs is implicated in recurrent childhood wheezing with asthmatic risk.

Methods: One hundred and forty children of Chinese Han population were recruited for this study. Plasma and intracellular miRNAs from children with recurrent wheezing and rats with antigen induced pulmonary inflammation (AIPI) were detected by using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR.

[Use of extend lateral upper arm free flap for reconstruction of soft tissue defect after resection of oral cancer].

Purpose: To investigate the clinical outcomes of composite lateral arm free flap to reconstruct soft tissue defect after oral cancer ablation.

Methods: Fifteen cases of soft-tissue defects were reconstructed using composite lateral arm free flap from January 2011 to December 2013. Color Doppler ultrasound blood flow detector was used to avoid variation of posterior radial collateral artery (PRCA).