A Novel Manner of Anchoring Cobalt Phthalocyanine on Edge-Defected Carbon for Highly Electrocatalytic CO2 Reduction.

Cobalt phthalocyanine anchored on carbon material has attracted an enormous amount of attention due to its superior performance in electrocatalytic CO2 reduction. However, the interaction between cobalt phthalocyanine and the carbon substrate remains problematic, and the role of intrinsic carbon defects is unfortunately ignored in the anchoring of cobalt phthalocyanine on carbon. Herein, new interactions between the bridging N atoms of cobalt phthalocyanine and the edge defects of carbon have been discovered, which result in a novel model of anchoring of cobalt phthalocyanine on ketjen black carbon. Such anchored cobalt phthalocyanine has been found to be responsible for superior catalysis for electrochemical reduction of CO2 to CO with high selectivity and low overpotential.

α-Li2TiO3: a new ultrastable anode material for lithium-ion batteries.

Herein, sol-gel-synthesized α-Li2TiO3 was evaluated as a new promising anode material for lithium-ion batteries. The results show ultrastable release of discharge capacity within the range of 290-350 mA h g-1 in 400 cycles. Decent rate performances were also observed. A capacity of ca. 113 mA h g-1 was retained at a current density of 3 C. A 2 × 2 × 1 supercell of the lowest energy ordering structure was used in density functional theory simulations. The calculations show that in the intercalation process, Li+ preferentially enters the tetrahedral voids, leading to the activation of lithium-ion diffusion on the a-b plane with a minimal energy barrier of 0.06 eV (compared with 0.82 eV for the fully charged state). The activation of cation mobility at Li+ intercalation and insulator-conductor transition both contribute significantly to the ultrastability of the material. However, Li+ propagation along the c-axis is highly limited during the whole intercalation process. The enumeration of all the ordering structures on the tetrahedral sites shows two intermediate phases, α-Li2.25TiO3 and α-Li3.0TiO3, as observed from the formation energy convex hull.

Copper niobate nanowires boosted by a N, S co-doped carbon coating for superior lithium storage.

With the development of electric vehicles, more and more attention has been paid to the kinetic performance of batteries, which is related to rapid charge/discharge and safety issues. To improve this aspect, Cu2Nb34O87 nanowires covered by nitrogen and sulfur co-doped carbon (Cu2Nb34O87/NSC nanowires) are prepared by electrospinning combined with surface coating. As-prepared Cu2Nb34O87/NSC nanowires present a high ion diffusion coefficient and electronic conductivity, showing good a kinetic performance. Specifically, they deliver a splendid capacity of 311.2 mA h g-1 at 1 C and a superior cycling stability with a capacity fading of 0.031% per cycle upon 1000 cycles. At the same time, the electrochemical and structural reversibility is fully discussed and demonstrated by ex situ XRD, ex situ SEM and ex situ XPS based on the redox couples of Cu2+/Cu+, Nb5+/Nb4+, and Nb4+/Nb3+. Contributing to peculiar physico-chemical properties, Cu2Nb34O87/NSC nanowires are expected to be a candidate material for the anode in lithium-ion batteries.

Novel combined shield design for eye and face protection from COVID-19.

The World Health Organization emphasized the importance of goggles and face shields for protection of medical personnel at the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Unsurprisingly, almost all countries suffered from a critical supply shortage of goggles and face shields, as well as many other types of personal protective equipment (PPE), for a long period, owing to the lack of key medical material supplies and the inefficiency of existing fabrication methods arising from the need to avoid crowds during the outbreak of COVID-19. In this paper, we propose a novel combined shield design for eye and face protection that can be rapidly fabricated using three-dimensional printing technology. The designed prototype eye-face shield is accessible to the general public, offering more possibilities for yield improvement in PPE during emergent infectious disease events such as COVID-19.

Understanding the sodium ion transport properties, deintercalation mechanism, and phase evolution of a Na2Mn2Si2O7 cathode by atomistic simulation.

Molecular dynamics (MD) together with the first principles method (DFT) reveal that Na+ is capable of migrating three dimensionally in a Na2Mn2Si2O7 cathode material. Migration along the a-axis and c-axis have the same mechanism, that is, alternating between the Na1 and Na2 route with a similar local environment and distance. Long-distance hopping between two Na2 atoms or between Na1 and Na2 atoms is crucial for continuous migration along the b-axis. Also, the anti-site phenomenon is identified, and it facilitates the migration of the Na ions. Four intermediate phases are determined according to the formation energy curve and, as a result, the voltage profile is predicted accurately. The state of charge (SOC) dependency of the Na+ energy shows that the mobility of Na+ is highly inhibited in the fully discharged state. Upon the deintercalation of sodium ions, Na+ is activated immediately. A maximal DNa+ value of 3.6 × 10-9 cm2 s-1 and a low energy barrier of ca. 0.26 eV at the deintercalation level of x = 0.25 are observed. Because of the scarcity of Na+, DNa+ experiences a sharp decrease at the end of deintercalation. Despite the low level of Na+ mobility in the range of 0.25 < x < 1, Na2Mn2Si2O7 is still a potential cathode material for use in sodium ion batteries (SIBs).

Observation of ZrNb14O37 Nanowires as a Lithium Container via In Situ and Ex Situ Techniques for High-Performance Lithium-Ion Batteries.

Based on the high theoretical capacity and relatively high safety voltage, niobium-based oxides are regarded as promising intercalation-type electrode materials for advanced lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Here, ZrNb14O37 nanowires are fabricated via a facile electrospinning method, presenting a nanoparticle-in-nanowire architecture. As an anode for LIBs, the as-fabricated ZrNb14O37 nanowires maintain a capacity of 244.9 mA h g-1 at 100 mA g-1 and present excellent cycling capability (0.026% of capacity fading per cycle during 1000 cycles) as well as outstanding rate performance. In situ X-ray diffraction measurement is conducted to understand the fundamental reaction mechanism during the lithiation/delithiation process. The ex situ observations, including X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy, are further performed to provide more lines of evidence of the reaction mechanism. Moreover, the excellent electrochemical performance of the full cell constructed using ZrNb14O37 nanowires and LiCoO2 suggests that ZrNb14O37 nanowires are a promising anode material. This work sheds new light on understanding the lithium storage mechanism and may open new opportunities to develop new anode materials for LIBs.

H0.92K0.08TiNbO5 Nanowires Enabling High-Performance Lithium-Ion Uptake.

HTiNbO5 has been widely investigated in many fields because of its distinctive properties such as good redox activity, high photocatalytic activity, and environmental benignancy. Here, this work reports the synthesis of one-dimensional H0.92K0.08TiNbO5 nanowires via simple electrospinning followed by an ion-exchange reaction. The H0.92K0.08TiNbO5 nanowires consist of many small "lumps" with a uniform diameter distribution of around 150 nm. Used as an anode for lithium-ion batteries, H0.92K0.08TiNbO5 nanowires exhibit high capacity, fast electrochemical kinetics, and high performance of lithium-ion uptake. A capacity of 144.1 mA h g-1 can be carried by H0.92K0.08TiNbO5 nanowires at 0.5 C in the initial charge, and even after 150 cycles, the reversible capacity can remain at 123.7 mA h g-1 with an excellent capacity retention of 85.84%. For H0.92K0.08TiNbO5 nanowires, the diffusion coefficient of lithium ions is 1.97 × 10-11 cm2 s-1, which promotes the lithium-ion uptake effectively. The outstanding electrochemical performance is ascribed to its morphology and the formation of a stable phase during cycling. In addition, the in situ X-ray diffraction and ex situ transmission electron microscopy techniques are applied to reveal its lithium storage mechanism, which proves the structure stability and electrochemical reversibility, thus achieving high-performance lithium-ion uptake. All these advantages demonstrate that H0.92K0.08TiNbO5 nanowires can be a possible alternative anode material for rechargeable batteries.

Sol-Gel Synthesis and in Situ X-ray Diffraction Study of Li3Nd3W2O12 as a Lithium Container.

In this work, garnet-framework Li3Nd3W2O12 as a novel insertion-type anode material has been prepared via a facile sol-gel method and examined as a lithium container for lithium ion batteries (LIBs). Li3Nd3W2O12 shows a charge capacity of 225 mA h g-1 at 50 mA g-1, and with the current density increasing up to 500 mA g-1, the charge capacity can still be maintained at 186 mA h g-1. After cycling at 500 mA g-1 for 500 cycles, Li3Nd3W2O12 retains about 85% of its first charge capacity changed from 190.2 to 161 mA h g-1. Furthermore, in situ X-ray diffraction technique is adopted for the understanding of the insertion/extraction mechanism of Li3Nd3W2O12. The full-cell configuration LiFePO4/Li3Nd3W2O12 is also assembled to evaluate the potential of Li3Nd3W2O12 for practical application. These results show that Li3Nd3W2O12 is such a promising anode material for LIBs with excellent electrochemical performance and stable structure.

Electrokinetic Analysis of Energy Harvest from Natural Salt Gradients in Nanochannels.

The Gibbs free energy released during the mixing of river and sea water has been illustrated as a promising source of clean and renewable energy. Reverse electrodialysis (RED) is one major strategy to gain electrical power from this natural salinity, and recently by utilizing nanochannels a novel mode of this approach has shown improved power density and energy converting efficiency. In this work, we carry out an electrokinetic analysis of the work extracted from RED in the nanochannels. First, we outline the exclusion potential effect induced by the inhomogeneous distribution of extra-counterions along the channel axis. This effect is unique in nanochannel RED and how to optimize it for energy harvesting is the central topic of this work. We then discuss two important indexes of performance, which are the output power density and the energy converting efficiency, and their dependence on the nanochannel parameters such as channel material and geometry. In order to yield maximized output electrical power, we propose a device design by stepwise usage of the saline bias, and the lengths of the nanochannels are optimized to achieve the best trade-off between the input thermal power and the energy converting efficiency.

High-Rate Long-Life Pored Nanoribbon VNb9O25 Built by Interconnected Ultrafine Nanoparticles as Anode for Lithium-Ion Batteries.

VNb9O25 is a novel lithium storage material, which has not been systematically investigated so far. Via electrospinning technology, VNb9O25 samples with two different morphologies, pored nanoribbon and rodlike nanoparticles, are prepared in relatively low temperature and time-saving calcination conditions. It is found that the formation process of different morphologies depends on the control of self-aggregation of the precursor by using different sample collectors. Compared with rodlike VNb9O25 (RL-VNb9O25), pored nanoribbon VNb9O25 (PR-VNb9O25) can deliver a higher specific capacity, lower capacity loss, and better cyclability. Even cycled at 1000 mA g-1, the reversible capacity of 132.3 mAh g-1 is maintained by PR-VNb9O25 after 500 cycles, whereas RL-VNb9O25 only exhibits a capacity of 102.7 mAh g-1. The enhancement should be attributed to the pored nanoribbon structure with large specific surface area and shorter pathway for lithium ions transport. Furthermore, the lithium ions insertion/extraction process is verified from refinement results of in situ X-ray diffraction data, which is associated with a lithium occupation process in type III and VI cavities through tunnels I, II, and III. In addition, high structural stability and electrochemical reversibility are also demonstrated. All of these advantages suggest that PR-VNb9O25 is a promising anode material for lithium-ion batteries.

Relationship between cognitive emotion regulation, social support, resilience and acute stress responses in Chinese soldiers: Exploring multiple mediation model.

The current study aimed to explore the association of cognitive emotion regulation, social support, resilience and acute stress responses in Chinese soldiers and to understand the multiple mediation effects of social support and resilience on the relationship between cognitive emotion regulation and acute stress responses. A total of 1477 male soldiers completed mental scales, including the cognitive emotion regulation questionnaire-Chinese version, the perceived social support scale, the Chinese version of the Connor-Davidson resilience scale, and the military acute stress scale. As hypothesized, physiological responses, psychological responses, and acute stress were associated with negative-focused cognitive emotion regulation, and negatively associated with positive-focused cognitive emotion regulation, social supports and resilience. Besides, positive-focused cognitive emotion regulation, social support, and resilience were significantly associated with one another, and negative-focused cognitive emotion regulation was negatively associated with social support. Regression analysis and bootstrap analysis showed that social support and resilience had partly mediating effects on negative strategies and acute stress, and fully mediating effects on positive strategies and acute stress. These results thus indicate that military acute stress is significantly associated with cognitive emotion regulation, social support, and resilience, and that social support and resilience have multiple mediation effects on the relationship between cognitive emotion regulation and acute stress responses.

[miR-124 regulates radiosensitivity of colorectal cancer cells by targeting PRRX1].

OBJECTIVE: To detect the expression of miR-124 in colorectal carcinoma (CRC) cells and tissue specimens and analyze its association with the radiosensitivity of the cells. METHODS: The expression of miR-124 in CRC cell lines and tissues were detected using qRT-PCR. The effect of miR-124 in modulating cell radiosensitivity was assessed in CRC cells with miRNA-124 overexpression and miRNA-124 knockdown, and bioinformatics prediction and dual luciferase reporter system were employed to identify the direct target of miR-124. RESULTS: s miR-124 expression was down-regulated in CRC cell lines and tissues. CRC cells over-expressing miR-124 showed an obviously enhanced radiosensitivity, whereas miR-124 knockdown resulted in a reduced radiosensitivity of the cells. Bioinformatics prediction and dual luciferase reporter system verified PRRX1 as a direct target of miR-124, which regulated the radiosensitivity of CRC cells by directly inhibiting PRRX1. CONCLUSION: miR-124 can enhance the radiosensitivity of CRC cells by directly targeting PRRX1, which provides a target for improving the therapeutic effect of radiotherapy of CRC.

Effect of Sodium-Site Doping on Enhancing the Lithium Storage Performance of Sodium Lithium Titanate.

Via Li(+), Cu(2+), Y(3+), Ce(4+), and Nb(5+) dopings, a series of Na-site-substituted Na1.9M0.1Li2Ti6O14 are prepared and evaluated as lithium storage host materials. Structural and electrochemical analyses suggest that Na-site substitution by high-valent metal ions can effectively enhance the ionic and electronic conductivities of Na2Li2Ti6O14. As a result, Cu(2+)-, Y(3+)-, Ce(4+)-, and Nb(5+)-doped samples reveal better electrochemical performance than bare Na2Li2Ti6O14, especially for Na1.9Nb0.1Li2Ti6O14, which can deliver the highest reversible charge capacity of 259.4 mAh g(-1) at 100 mA g(-1) among all samples. Even when cycled at higher rates, Na1.9Nb0.1Li2Ti6O14 still can maintain excellent lithium storage capability with the reversible charge capacities of 242.9 mAh g(-1) at 700 mA g(-1), 216.4 mAh g(-1) at 900 mA g(-1), and 190.5 mAh g(-1) at 1100 mA g(-1). In addition, ex situ and in situ observations demonstrate that the zero-strain characteristic should also be responsible for the outstanding lithium storage capability of Na1.9Nb0.1Li2Ti6O14. All of this evidence indicates that Na1.9Nb0.1Li2Ti6O14 is a high-performance anode material for rechargeable lithium ion batteries.

Hepatocarcinoma cell-derived hepatoma-derived growth factor (HDGF) induces regulatory T cells.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: It is suggested that regulatory immune cells play a critical role in cancer cell growth by facilitating cancer cells to escape from the immune surveillance. The generation of the immune regulatory cells in cancer has not been fully understood yet. This study aims to investigate the role of the hepatoma-derived growth factor (HDGF) in the generation of regulatory T cells (Treg). METHODS: CCL-9.1 cells (A mouse hepatoma cell line), were cultured. The expression of HDGF in CCL-9.1 cells was assessed by quantitative RT-PCR and Western blotting. The generation of Foxp3(+) T cells was assessed by cell culture and flow cytometry. The immune suppressor function of the Foxp3(+) T cells on CD8(+) T cell activities was assessed by the carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl ester (CFSE)-dilution assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: The results showed that exposure to PolyIC markedly increased the expression of HDGF in CCL-9.1 cells. Coculture of CCL-9.1 cells and CD4(+) CD25(-) T cells in the presence of PolyIC generated the Forkhead box protein (Foxp)3(+) T cells. The exposure to HDGF increased the expression of Foxp3 and decreased the expression of GATA3 in CD4(+) T cells. After activation, the Foxp3(+) T cells suppressed the CD8(+) T cell proliferation and the release of the cytotoxic cytokines. CONCLUSIONS: Liver cancer cell-derived HDGF can induce Foxp3(+) T cells; the latter has the immune suppressor functions on CD8(+) T cell activities.

Comparison of LiVPO4F to Li4Ti5O12 as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries.

In this paper, we reported on a comparison of LiVPO4F to Li4Ti5O12 as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries. Combined with powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, galvanostatic discharge/charge tests and in situ X-ray diffraction technologies, we explore and compare the insertion/extraction mechanisms of LiVPO4F based on the V3+/V2+/V+ redox couples and Li4Ti5O12 based on the Ti4+/Ti3+ redox couple cycled in 1.0-3.0 V and 0.0-3.0 V. The electrochemical results indicate that both LiVPO4F and Li4Ti5O12 are solid electrolyte interphase free materials in 1.0-3.0 V. The insertion/extraction mechanisms of LiVPO4F and Li4Ti5O12 are similar with each other in 1.0-3.0 V as proved by in situ X-ray diffraction. It also demonstrates that both samples possess stable structure in 0.0-3.0 V. Additionally, the electrochemical performance tests of LiVPO4F and Li4Ti5O12 indicate that both samples cycled in 0.0-3.0 V exhibit much higher capacities than those cycled in 1.0-3.0 V but display worse cycle performance. The rate performance of Li4Ti5O12 far exceeds that of LiVPO4F in the same electrochemical potential window. In particular, the capacity retention of Li4Ti5O12 cycled in 1.0-3.0 V is as high as 98.2% after 20 cycles. By contrast, Li4Ti5O12 is expected to be a candidate anode material considering its high working potential, structural zero-strain property, and excellent cycle stability and rate performance.

[Chinese herbal medicine for patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer disease based on syndrome differentiation: a randomized controlled trial].

BACKGROUND: Alzheimer disease (AD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disease that is characterized by its gradual progression. At present, the cause and mechanism of AD are yet unclear, and there is no effective therapy for treating it. With development of global aging, the prevalence rate of AD is increasing. The life quality of elderly people is affected severely by AD that is ultimately life-threatening. Recently, study on treating AD with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has deepened. OBJECTIVE: To explore the therapeutic effects of a syndrome differentiation-based TCM regime in treating patients with mild to moderate AD for improving cognition, and to evaluate the changes in brain function of AD patients observed by resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) technique. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS AND INTERVENTIONS: Adopting the internationally recognized criteria developed by National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Diseases and Stroke/Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association, the clinical trial was conducted on 131 patients with mild to moderate AD from 5 communities and 7 social welfare institutions. Participants were accepted after informed consent was received, and laboratory tests and a head imaging study were conducted. The patients were randomly divided into Chinese medicine group (CMG) (66 cases) or Western medicine group (WMG) (65 cases). Patients in the CMG were treated monthly with Chinese medicine according to syndrome differentiation. Patients in the WMG were treated with donepezil at a dose of 5 mg once daily. The therapeutic course lasted 48 weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The scores of Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Fuld Object-Memory Evaluation (FOM), Block Design (BD) and Digit Span (DS) were used to evaluate the cognitive function; resting-state fMRI was used for observing brain function. The questionnaires and fMRI were performed before and after treatments. RESULTS: The cognitive functions of the patients in the CMG and WMG were improved after treatment. MMSE score was improved significantly in both groups (P<0.05 or P<0.001). After 48 weeks of treatment, 70.91% patients in the CMG had an improved MMSE score and 20% got worse, however, 55.77% patients in the WMG were improved in MMSE score and 34.62% got worse. Scores of FOM denominator and BD increased significantly in both groups; scores of FOM numerator and DS were also increased in the CMG (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The results of fMRI suggested that both Chinese medicine and donepezil treatment improved the connectivity between posterior cingulated gyrus and specific areas in the brain. The influence range of Chinese medicine primarily impacted on the left parietal lobe, being less than the influence range of donepezil, which primarily affected both sides of frontal lobes. CONCLUSION: TCM treatment based on syndrome differentiation is effective in improving cognitive function of patients with mild to moderate AD and increasing the brain function by increasing connectivity between posterior cingulated gyrus and specific areas in the brain.

[Clinical study on effect of Shenyin Oral Liquid in treating mild cognitive impairment].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the therapeutic effect of Shenyin Oral Liquid (SOL) in relieving mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and decreasing the Alzheimer's disease (AD) transformation rate. METHODS: One hundred and seventeen MCI patients were randomly assigned to the Chinese medicine group (42 cases), the vitamin E group (38 cases) and the placebo group (37 cases). The treatment course was 12 months and a 6-month follow-up was conducted after ending the treatment course. RESULTS: After treatment, the scores of clock drawing test (CDT), nonsensical figure recognition and mini-mental state examination (MMSE) raised significantly in the Chinese medicine group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), the activity of acetylcholine esterase in erythrocytic membrane was lower in the Chinese medicine group than that in the placebo group and the Vitamin E group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Six months after the treatment, there were 2 and 5 cases in the placebo group and the vitamin E group which were diagnosed as AD, respectively, and none in the Chinese medicine group. CONCLUSION: SOL has an effect similar to cholinesterase inhibitor, it could improve cognitive function in MCI patients and reduce the AD transformation rate in them.

[Effects of TX0201 abstracted from heart-regulating formula on spatial learning and regulation of Bax mRNA, Bcl-2 mRNA level in brain of rat with Alzheimer's disease].

OBJECTIVE: To research the mechanism of TX0201 abstracted from heart-regulating formula in the treatment of rat with Alzheimer's disease (AD). METHOD: The rat models of AD were induced by A beta(1-40) injected into the bilateral amygdale. All rats were divided into five groups at random, namely control group, model group, heart-regulating formula group, TX0201 group and aricept group. The rats were intragastrically treated with different solution respectively for 20 days. The effect of TX0201 on spatial learning and memory ability of these rat models was investigated with the method of Morris water maze. By using the method of RT-PCR, the expression of apoptosis associated genes (such as Bcl-2 and Bax) in cerebral cortex and hippocampus of rats were examined. RESULT: Heart-regulating formula, TX0201 and aricept could significantly improve the spatial learning and memory ability of rats. Heart-regulating formula could comprehensively redress the abnormal expression of Bax mRNA and Bcl-2 mRNA in cerebral cortex and hippocampus. TX0201 could rectify the abnormal expression of Bax mRNA in cerebral cortex and hippocampus. Aricept could regulate the abnormal expression of Bax mRNA in cerebral cortex. CONCLUSION: TX0201 could ameliorate the learning and memory ability of these model rats by alleviating neuron apoptosis by means of regulating the abnormal expression of Bax mRNA in brain.

[Glottic measurement and vocal evaluation after three surgical techniques in the treatment of bilateral vocal cord paralysis].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate postoperative glottic area and vocal quality of three various surgical techniques for treating bilateral vocal cord paralysis, including laser arytenoidectomy (Group A, 24 cases), reinnervation of the posterior cricoarytenoid muscle by phrenic nerve (Group B, 9 cases) and arytenoidectomy accompanying lateral cordopexy by extralaryngeal approach (Woodman's procedure, Group C, 13 cases). METHODS: 46 cases suffered from bilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve injury were included in our study. The pre-postoperative glottic measurement and vocal acoustic parameters were analyzed. RESULTS: The decannulated cases in group A and group B and group C were 22, 8, 13 respectively. The post-operative mean maximal glottic area was (47.2 +/- 7.4) mm2, (78.3 +/- 16.0) mm2, (48.1 +/- 6.5) mm2 respectively. Group B cases glottic area was larger than that of group A and group C (t value were 4.46 and 3.85, P value were 0.000 and 0.001). No significant difference was found between group A and group C (t = 1.68, P = 0.101). After surgery, in group A, 17 cases voice quality was the same compared with that of before surgery, and 7 cases voice quality had become worse; In group B, the voice quality had become better in 5 cases, completely recovered in 1 case, and had not change in 3 cases; In group C, the voice quality had become deteriorated in 10 cases and no change in 3 cases. And in group B, ipsilateral diaphragm paralysis in 9 cases after surgery, whose vital capacity and forced vital capacity had decreased to 72%-84%, 76%-84% of that before the surgery respectively; and the diaphragm mobility had recovered by 35%-76% respectively, while vital capacity and forced vital capacity had become 93%-97%, 91%-98% of that before the surgery. In Group B, all cases' pulmonary function was normal half a year postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: Reinnervation of the posterior cricoarytenoid muscle by phrenic nerve seems to be best procedure with better post-operative voice and larger glottic area. Although the sufficient airway for decannulation can be acquired in Group A and Group C, but most of patients in Group A had pre-operative vocal level and badly abnormal in Group C.

[Effect of TX0201 on expression of the apoptosis signal transduction molecule caspase-3 and apoptosis associated genes bcl-2 and bax mRNA in brain tissue of rat analogue model of Alzheimer's disease].

OBJECTIVE: To study the mechanism of TX0201, an effective fraction extracted from Tiaoxin recipe in regulating apoptosis associated genes in brain tissue of rat analogue model of Alzheimer's disease (AD) induced by beta-amyloid protein 25-35 (Abeta 25-35). METHODS: The model of AD was induced by bilateral amygdala injection of Abeta 25-35 to study the spatial memory capacity using Morris water maze test, and by means of RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry assay, the expressions of beta-amyloid precursor protein (APP), apoptosis correlative genes (bcl-2, bax), and apoptosis signal transduction molecule (Caspase-3) in the brain, and the effect of TX0201 on expressions of these genes were examined. RESULTS: In AD model group, the spatial capacity was damaged significantly. Caspase-3 and the expression of APP mRNA and bax/bcl-2 mRNA were increased in the cortex and hippocampus; TX0201 ameliorated all the pathologic changes mentioned above. CONCLUSION: TX0201 could improve the oriented learning and memory capacity in AD rats by decreasing bax/bcl-2 and down-regulating Caspase-3 to reduce neurocyte apoptosis, suggesting that effective regulation of neuron apoptosis associated genes may be one of the mechanisms of TX0201.