Fabrication of highly-conductive porous capacitor electrodes by the insertion of Cu-nanoparticles into N-doped flocculated carbon catalysts.

In carbon-based electric double-layer capacitors (EDLC), an ideal electrode should have convenient mass transport, ensuring rich porosity and rapid electron transfer, guaranteeing the electrode bulk's high conductivity. In this study, ultrafine Cu nanoparticles inserted carbon flocculation is formed on carbon cloth using polydopamine and cupric chloride precursors via pyrolysis and electrochemical oxidation reaction. As a result, the obtained electrode has a large surface area of 55.5 m2g-1 and high conductivity of 48.7 S/mm, which shows excellent charge storage capability with high specific capacitance of 3546 mF cm-2 at a current density of 1 mA cm-2. Moreover, when the as-prepared electrode is used as electrodes in symmetric EDLC, it can provide a high energy density of 23 mWh cm-3 with a power density of 179 mW cm-3, making it as a promising carbon electrode for practical EDLCs.

Distribution of SARS-CoV-2 RNA signal in a home with COVID-19 positive occupants.

Although many COVID-19 patients isolate and recover at home, the dispersal of SARS-CoV-2 onto surfaces and dust within the home environment remains poorly understood. To investigate the distribution and persistence of SARS-CoV-2 in a home with COVID-19 positive occupants, samples were collected from a household with two confirmed COVID-19 cases (one adult and one child). Home surface swab and dust samples were collected two months after symptom onset (and one month after symptom resolution) in the household. The strength of the SARS-CoV-2 molecular signal in fomites varied as a function of sample location, surface material and cleaning practices. Notably, the SARS-CoV-2 RNA signal was detected at several locations throughout the household although cleaning appears to have attenuated the signal on many surfaces. Of the 24 surfaces sampled, 46% were SARS-CoV-2 positive at the time of sampling. The SARS-CoV-2 concentrations in dust recovered from floor and HVAC filter samples ranged from 104 to 105 N2 gene copies/g dust. While detection of viral RNA does not imply infectivity, this study confirms that the SARS-CoV-2 RNA signal can be detected at several locations within a COVID-19 isolation home and can persist after symptoms have resolved. In addition, the concentration of SARS-CoV-2 (normalized per unit mass of dust) recovered in home HVAC filters may prove useful for estimating SARS-CoV-2 airborne levels in homes. In this work, using the quantitative filter forensics methodology, we estimated an average integrated airborne SARS-CoV-2 concentration of 69 ± 43 copies/m3. This approach can be used to help building scientists and engineers develop best practices in homes with COVID-19 positive occupants.

Improved performance of quantitative collagen parameters versus standard histology in longitudinal assessment of nonadvanced liver fibrosis for chronic hepatitis B.

Monitoring longitudinal nonadvanced fibrosis is a more common scenario in management of chronic hepatitis B (CHB), for which, however, current evaluation methods generally lack sufficient performance. We conducted a proof-of-concept study to evaluate the performance of quantitative fibrous collagen parameters (q-FP) in the assessment. Data sets from a prior CHB trial (NCT00962533) with mostly mild-to-moderate fibrosis participants were used for this study. 301 subjects with paired liver biopsies were consecutively included. Of these, 139 subjects were used to establish the test and the rest for internal validation. Fibrosis change between baseline and week 104 of treatment was blindly assessed with q-FP and was compared with Ishak fibrosis staging. There were 70% and 93% subjects with Ishak F0-2 at baseline and week 104, respectively. For the test of the subjects, q-FP and Ishak staging showed no difference in determining the incidence of fibrosis regression (68% vs 67%; difference = 0.7%, P = 1.00). Q-FP demonstrated that the regression was independently associated with the antiviral efficacy endpoint (OR 3.0, 95% CI 1.4-6.5, P = .005), but Ishak failed the detection (OR 0.6, 95% CI 0.3-1.3, P = .24). Moreover, q-FP directly revealed a higher fibrosis-resistance to antiviral treatment in virus genotypes C vs B and in males vs females. These results were confirmed in the validation subjects. Additionally, a functional model built on the test subjects showed an accuracy of 82% in stratifying fibrosis reversibility of the validation subjects. In conclusion, q-FP could have improved efficiency and accuracy in the longitudinal assessment of mild-to-moderate CHB fibrosis, indicating a potential alternative to current evaluation methodologies.

[Change of prognosis and pathogens in adult patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia during different periods].

Objective: To compare the change of prognosis and pathogens of adult patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) requiring admission to Respiratory Intensive Care Unit (RICU) during different period, and estimate the risk factors of severe CAP. Methods: The clinical data of 186 patients with severe CAP admission to RICU was collected and assessed the trend in outcomes of these patients during three time periods: Period Ⅰ (January 1 2000 to October 31 2006), Period Ⅱ (November 1 2006 to December 31 2010), and Period Ⅲ (January 1 2011 to December 31 2015), analyzed the risk factors by Cox Proportional Hazards regression, and compared the pathogens detection. Results: The total mortality was 34.9%(65/186)during 16 years, three periods was 41.4%, 35.3% and 27.7% respectively.After adjustment for other variables, the mortality was significant higher for patients admitted during Period Ⅰ than that of Period Ⅲ (HR: 1.900; 95.0%CI 1.053-3.429, P=0.033), and no significant difference for Period Ⅰ compared with Period Ⅱ (HR: 1.394; 95.0%CI 0.774-2.514, P=0.269), Period Ⅱ compared with Period Ⅲ(HR: 1.379; 95.0%CI 0.800-2.375, P=0.248). Cox regression analysis showed the predicting risk factors for prognosis including BUN≥7.14 mmol/L, acute heart failure, acute renal failure, multilobar infiltrates and septic infectious shock ( P<0.05). Multi-variate Cox regression analysis showed that multilobar infiltrates(HR=3.951, 95.0%CI 2.252-6.929, P=0.001) and septic infectious shock(HR=2.044, 95.0%CI 1.131-3.692, P=0.018) were the independent risk factors for prognosis.104 (55.9%) were detected pathogens in 186 patients.The common pathogens were Staphylococcus aureus (18 isolated strains), Legionella pneumophila (16 isolated strains), Streptococcus pneumonia (13 isolated strains). There was no significant difference between bacterial isolation except virus detection(P=0.033). Conclusion: There has been an improvement in the prognosis of severe CAP.Multilobar infiltrates and septic infectious shock were the independent risk factors for prognosis.Pathogens had changed in SCAP over time, and the detection rate of virus increased gradually.

Oral steroid treatment for idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the efficacy of long-term oral steroids in idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSHL), and to explore potential prognosis factors, the relationship of hearing recovery outcome, and the recovery time-course in ISSHL. METHODS: In this retrospective study, we analyzed 215 cases diagnosed with idiopathic unilateral sudden deafness between January 2003 and December 2012 at a regional hospital in southern Taiwan. All of them received oral steroid therapy and were followed for at least 3 months. RESULTS: Young age, the presence of no other disease (diabetes, hypertension, or cardiovascular disease), treatment within 7 days of the onset of ISSHL, mild hearing loss, and audiograms with ascending curves had a statistically significant better hearing recovery. The average pure-tone audiometry (PTA) was 67.8±23.9 dB initially, and was improved between one month (51.6±28.7 dB) and 2 months post treatment (49.7±28.6 dB). The average last-visit PTA was 49.9±29.2 dB. CONCLUSION: Approximately one third of patients had full recovery in hearing, one third had partial recovery, and approximately one third did not recover from hearing loss. In addition, the hearing level remained relatively stable following 2 months of treatment. More than 2 months of oral steroid therapy for ISSHL is not recommended because no additional benefits were evidenced.

Is fetal macrosomia related to blood pressure among adolescents? A birth cohort study in China.

Birth weight (BW) has effects on blood pressure (BP). In order to explore the effects of macrosomia on BP in childhood and in adolescence, a longitudinal cohort study was conducted in Wuxi, China. Subjects with BW ≥4000 g, born in 1993-1995, were the exposed group; the unexposed comparisons were matched by year of birth and sex of infant, with BW of 2500-4000 g. Follow-ups in 2005-6 and 2011-12 were conducted, and height, weight and BP were measured by trained doctors. Multi-mixed models in SAS were used to control for repeated measures to explore the effects of fetal macrosomia on BP. At the inception of the cohort, 1595 pairs of participants were recruited. At the end, 1112 in the exposed group and 1126 in the unexposed group finished both follow-ups. Among adolescents, mean (s.d.) of systolic BP (SBP) was 110.83 (9.43) mm Hg, which was statistically significantly higher than that in the unexposed group (mean ± s.d.: 109.33 ± 9.26) mm Hg (P=0.0002). After adjusting the repeated measures and birth year, sex, mother's occupation and delivery age, adding weight during pregnancy, hypertension during delivery, gestational age and parity, being a picky eater in childhood, the macrosomia group had higher SBP than the normal BW group; the parameter estimate value was 1.03 (s.e.=0.30). When BMI in childhood and BMI in adolescence were added in the multi-model, the estimated ß was 0.71 (s.e.=0.29). No statistically significant effect of macrosomia was found on diastolic BP among adolescents in the multianalysis.

Knockdown of RhoGDIα induces apoptosis and increases lung cancer cell chemosensitivity to paclitaxel.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of RhoGDIα knockdown on apoptosis and the chemosensitivity of lung cancer cells to paclitaxel. The signaling proteins involved were also assessed. RhoGDIα expression was assessed by RT-PCR, Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Apoptosis was determined by flow cytometric assessment, and cell viability was measured with the MTT assay. Phosphorylation levels of signaling proteins, ERK, JNK, Akt, Bad and IκBα were tested by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Positivity for RhoGDIα in lung cancer tissues was significantly higher than in paracancerous tissues. Downregulation of RhoGDIα was associated with significantly increased apoptosis and repressed cell viability. This effect could be due to the consequent upregulation of p-JNK, as well as decreased levels of p-ERK, p-Bad and p-IκBα. Knockdown of RhoGDIα strengthened the effect on apoptosis and inhibition of cell viability induced by paclitaxel treatment. This chemosensitization effect could be a result of the intensification of pro-apoptotic JNK activation, and repression of anti-apoptotic p-ERK, p-Bad and p-IκBα expression stimulated by paclitaxel. In summary, our study indicated that RhoGDIα could be a promising therapeutic target, and the combination of RhoGDIα siRNA and paclitaxel might be a valuable potential therapy for lung cancer treatment.

Vitamin D status and its relationship with bone mineral density and parathyroid hormone in Southeast Asian adults with low bone density.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the vitamin D sufficiency status and the relationships among serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels, intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) levels, and bone mineral density (BMD) in patients attending an osteoporosis clinic in Singapore. METHODS: In total, 193 adults with or without prevalent fragility fractures and with low BMD at the femoral neck, total hip, or lumbar spine underwent assessment. Multivariate regression models were used to investigate the relationships among serum 25(OH)D, iPTH, and BMD. RESULTS: The mean values (standard deviation) for age of the patients and serum 25(OH)D level were 61 (14) years and 26.05 (7.97) ng/mL, respectively. In 72% of patients, serum 25(OH)D levels were below 30 ng/mL. There was no association between 25(OH)D levels and BMD at the femoral neck, total hip, or lumbar spine (P = .568, .461, and .312, respectively). Serum iPTH levels were negatively associated with BMD at the total hip (P = .035) and the lumbar spine (P = .019). At levels <30 ng/mL, 25(OH)D was negatively associated with iPTH (P = .036). CONCLUSION: Among this Southeast Asian population of patients with low BMD, no direct relationship between serum 25(OH)D levels and BMD was observed. A negative correlation existed, however, between iPTH and 25(OH)D at serum 25(OH)D concentrations <30 ng/mL, and serum iPTH levels showed a significant negative association with BMD at the total hip and lumbar spine. These significant negative associations between iPTH levels and BMD at the total hip and lumbar spine underscore the critical role of this hormone in bone metabolism and health.

Progress in imaging agents of cell apoptosis.

The methods of imaging in vivo can depict biological processes at the molecular level. Cell apoptotic imaging belongs to be one of these novel imaging methods. The detection and quantification of apoptosis in vivo are of significant clinical value for diagnosis and assessment of therapeutic efficacy. Here, we focus on discussing the development of apoptosis imaging agents and in vivo studies that have emerged so far, along with their possible applications in nuclear medicine.

Bystander effects induced by continuous low-dose-rate 125I seeds potentiate the killing action of irradiation on human lung cancer cells in vitro.

PURPOSE: To investigate bystander effects of low-dose-rate (LDR) (125)I seed irradiation on human lung cancer cells in vitro. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A549 and NCI-H446 cell lines of differing radiosensitivity were directly exposed to LDR (125)I seeds irradiation for 2 or 4 Gy and then cocultured with nonirradiated cells for 24 hours. Induction of micronucleus (MN), gammaH2AX foci, and apoptosis were assayed. RESULTS: After 2 and 4 Gy irradiation, micronucleus formation rate (MFR) and apoptotic rate of A549 and NCI-H446 cells were increased, and the MFR and apoptotic rate of NCI-H446 cells was 2.1-2.8 times higher than that of A549 cells. After coculturing nonirradiated bystander cells with (125)I seed irradiated cells for 24 hours, MFR and the mean number of gammaH2AX foci/cells of bystander A549 and NCI-H446 cells were similar and significantly higher than those of control (p <0.05), although they did not increase with irradiation dose. However, the proportion of bystander NCI-H446 cells with MN numbers >/=3 and gammaH2AX foci numbers 15-19 and 20-24 was higher than that of bystander A549 cells. In addition, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) treatment could completely suppress the bystander MN of NCI-H446 cells, but it suppressed only partly the bystander MN of A549 cells, indicating that reactive oxygen species are involved in the bystander response to NCI-H446 cells, but other signaling factors may contribute to the bystander response of A549 cells. CONCLUSIONS: Continuous LDR irradiation of (125)I seeds could induce bystander effects, which potentiate the killing action on tumor cells and compensate for the influence of nonuniform distribution of radiation dosage on therapeutic outcomes.

The opportunistic pathogen Toxoplasma gondii deploys a diverse legion of invasion and survival proteins.

Host cell invasion is an essential step during infection by Toxoplasma gondii, an intracellular protozoan that causes the severe opportunistic disease toxoplasmosis in humans. Recent evidence strongly suggests that proteins discharged from Toxoplasma apical secretory organelles (micronemes, dense granules, and rhoptries) play key roles in host cell invasion and survival during infection. However, to date, only a limited number of secretory proteins have been discovered, and the full spectrum of effector molecules involved in parasite invasion and survival remains unknown. To address these issues, we analyzed a large cohort of freely released Toxoplasma secretory proteins by using two complementary methodologies, two-dimensional electrophoresis/mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (MudPIT, shotgun proteomics). Visualization of Toxoplasma secretory products by two-dimensional electrophoresis revealed approximately 100 spots, most of which were successfully identified by protein microsequencing or matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-mass spectrometry analysis. Many proteins were present in multiple species suggesting they are subjected to substantial post-translational modification. Shotgun proteomic analysis of the secretory fraction revealed several additional products, including novel putative adhesive proteins, proteases, and hypothetical secretory proteins similar to products expressed by other related parasites including Plasmodium, the etiologic agent of malaria. A subset of novel proteins were re-expressed as fusions to yellow fluorescent protein, and this initial screen revealed shared and distinct localizations within secretory compartments of T. gondii tachyzoites. These findings provided a uniquely broad view of Toxoplasma secretory proteins that participate in parasite survival and pathogenesis during infection.

The first clinical results of "wide-focus and low-pressure" ESWL.

A clinical study of the concept "wide-focus and low-pressure" extracorporal shock-wave lithotripsy (ESWL) was performed in a scientific cooperation between the Physical Institute of the University of Stuttgart and the Xixin Medical Instruments Co. Ltd. in Wuxian-Suzhou, China. In this cooperation, self-focusing electromagnetic shock-wave generator systems from the University of Stuttgart were integrated into Xixin lithotripters and installed in seven hospitals in China. A total of 297 detailed patient protocols revealed an average of 1532 shock pulses for successful treatment with no necessity for pain medication and auxiliary measures, and a stone-free rate of 86% after a follow-up of 3 months. These results are discussed in terms of the wide-focus low-pressure conditions and the mechanism of binary fragmentation by squeezing.

Sodium butyrate induces growth arrest and senescence-like phenotypes in gynecologic cancer cells.

We demonstrated here the growth-suppressing effects of sodium butyrate (NaB) on human endometrial and ovarian cancer cells. The arrest of cells at the G1 checkpoint accounted for this effect. NaB-mediated p21 might arrest endometrial and ovarian cancer cells at the G0/G1 phase by eliciting pRb unphosphorylation. To demonstrate the role of pRb regulation by p21, we measured the sensitivity to NaB of cervical cancer cells in which pRb had been inactivated by HPV E7. The cervical cancer cells displayed a sensitivity in NaB-mediated G2/M arrest in addition to their sensitivity in G0/G1 arrest. Arrest at G0/G1 and G2/M accompanied induction of senescence-like phenotypes (SLPs). Most importantly, the effect of NaB on senescence induction was not coupled with the predominance of hypophosphorylated pRb forms in the cervical cancer cells. This suggested that NaB had the potential to elicit SLPs through p21-mediated withdrawal from cell cycle progression. The consequences of p21 induction were manifold. The effects of NaB on gynecologic cancer cell growth indicated its potential use in cancer treatment. NaB was effective even in the cancer cells with mutant p53 and/or Rb genes by eliciting cell senescence.

[Pulmonary damage caused by right side infective endocarditis in intravenous drug users].

OBJECTIVE: To highlight the understanding of pulmonary damage caused by right side infective endocarditis (RIE). METHODS: 28 intravenous drug users with pulmonary damage caused by RIE from 1994 to 2000 were reviewed with chest roentgenogram, chest B-ultrasound, blood gas analysis and sputum cultures. RESULTS: 100% (28/28) cases with RIE showed pulmonary damage, in which cough 100% (28/28), expectoration 71% (20/28), breathlessness 64% (18/28), pleuritic chest pain 57% (16/28), hemoptysis 36% (10/28) rales were present in 20 cases (71%) (20/28). By chest X-rays 82% (23/28) patients showed pulmonary infiltrative lesion, 21% (6/28) showed multiple thin wall cystic lesion. manifestations for pulmonary embolism were shown in 6 cases (21%). Pleural effusion was confirmed by chest B-ultrasound in 6 cases (21%). Respiratory failure present in 4 cases (4/28). Positive rate of sputum cultures was 54% (15/28). The prognosis for twenty-three patients (82%) when treated with the regimen of 4 to 6 weeks of parenteral antibiotics was good, Five patients (18%) underwent surgery, and two of them died. CONCLUSION: The pulmonary damage by RIE should be paid more attention to for avoiding misdiagnosis.

[Transbronchial needle aspiration in routine bronchoscope practice].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the yield of transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) in a clinical routine bronscopy practice after training under the guide by CT scanning. METHODS: Using Wang TBNA System and CT scanning methods to define the site in airway for puncturing the enlarged mediastinal lymphnode. The positive rate of TBNA was 64%, almost equal to the positive rate (61%) of the method by operating directly under CT scanning. TBNA was performed on 100 consecutive patients with 152 enlarged mediastinal nodes undergoing diagnostic fiberoptic bronchoscopy. RESULT: The positive rate (64%) was equal to the positive rate (61%) under the CT guide. CONCLUSIONS: CT guiding TBNA is very useful for training doctors to learn the TBNA technique, and TBNA can be done very well and play an important role in routine bronchoscope practice.

Synthesis of 5-(carboranylalkylmercapto)-2'-deoxyuridines and 3-(carboranylalkyl)thymidines and their evaluation as substrates for human thymidine kinases 1 and 2.

Derivatives of thymidine containing o-carboranylalkyl groups at the N-3 position and derivatives of 2'-deoxyuridine containing o-carboranylalkylmercapto groups at the C-5 position were synthesized. The alkyl spacers consist of 4-8 methylene units. The synthesis of the former compounds required 3-4 reaction steps in up to 75% overall yield and that of the latter 9-10 reaction steps with significantly lower overall yield. Derivatives of thymidine substituted with carboranylalkyl substituents at the N-3 position and short spacers were phosphorylated by both recombinant and purified cytosolic thymidine kinase (TK1) to a relatively high degree. None of the tested 2'-deoxyuridine derivatives possessing carboranyl substituents at the C-5 position were phosphorylated by either recombinant or purified TK1. The amounts of phosphorylation product detected for some of the C-5-substituted nucleosides with recombinant mitochondrial thymidine kinase (TK2) were low but significant and decreased with increasing lengths of the alkyl spacer. The data obtained in this study do not seem to support the tether concept applied in the synthesis of the new C-5- and N-3-substituted carboranyl nucleosides intended to reduce possible steric interference in the binding of carboranyl nucleosides with deoxynucleoside kinases. Instead, it appeared that a closer proximity of the bulky carborane moiety to the nucleoside scaffold resulted in better substrate characteristics.

CT scan directed transbronchial needle aspiration biopsy for mediastinal nodes.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to determine whether transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) biopsy under CT guidance can increase its diagnostic yield so that this technique can be used for staging of lung cancer at our institution. STUDY DESIGN: After an initial unacceptable low yield of TBNA on the first 10 patients (20% positive), we switched the biopsy procedure from the bronchoscopy suite to the CT room. After each passage of the needle to the mediastinum lymph node, CT scan was performed to locate the tip of the needle. If the initial attempt was not successful, TBNA was repeated at the same setting until CT documented that the tip of the needle was exactly inside the lymph node. RESULT: A total of 49 patients with 69 mediastinum adenopathies were enrolled in this study. There were 31 patients with malignant mediastinal adenopathy proven by TBNA (60% sensitivity). Fifteen patients showed normal results of needle aspiration despite the presence of primary lung cancer. Three patients showed mediastinal abscesses. CONCLUSION: Despite numerous successful reports in the literature, the general application of the TBNA procedure appears to be limited because of its low sensitivity, although this could be due to numerous factors. However, using CT guidance to be sure that the tip of the needle is exactly inside the node can increase its sensitivity markedly. It may also increase the specificity of normal results of TBNA biopsy.

[Strain of screening high toxin--producing from Corynebacterium diphtheria PW8-weissensee].

Corynebacterium diphtheria PW8-weissensee was grown on different media for screening high toxin produce. Through six times of screening (selecting butyrous brilliant smooth small colonies and testing their toxin production capacity) from original strain producing toxin 160 Lf/ml, a high toxin--producing descendand culture was obtained, which produced 79% more toxin than the original strain did.

[Transbronchial needle aspiration under CT guide for enlarged mediastinal lymph node biopsy].

To ascertain the nature of enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) was performed under CT guide through bronchoscopy. Forty-five enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes from 33 lung cancer patients were biopsied. The results indicated that 25 enlarged lymph nodes from 20 patients were due to cancer metastasis while 15 enlarged lymph nodes from 8 cases were due to inflammation, and those from the remaining 5 cases were normal. Therefore, about 33.3% of the enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes in lung cancer patients result from noncancerous inflammatory changes. TBNA under CT guide has the advantage of accurate localization, is easy to perform and safe.