ABSTRACT
The effective spatial distribution and arrangement of electrochemically active and conductive components within metal oxide nanoparticle (MO NP)-based electrodes significantly impact their energy storage performance. Unfortunately, conventional electrode preparation processes have much difficulty addressing this issue. Herein, this work demonstrates that a unique nanoblending assembly based on favorable and direct interfacial interactions between high-energy MO NPs and interface-modified carbon nanoclusters (CNs) notably enhances the capacities and charge transfer kinetics of binder-free electrodes in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). For this study, carboxylic acid (COOH)-functionalized carbon nanoclusters (CCNs) are consecutively assembled with bulky ligand-stabilized MO NPs through ligand-exchange-induced multidentate binding between the COOH groups of CCNs and the surface of NPs. This nanoblending assembly homogeneously distributes conductive CCNs within densely packed MO NP arrays without insulating organics (i.e., polymeric binders and/or ligands) and prevents the aggregation/segregation of electrode components, thus markedly reducing contact resistance between neighboring NPs. Furthermore, when these CCN-mediated MO NP electrodes are formed on highly porous fibril-type current collectors (FCCs) for LIB electrodes, they deliver outstanding areal performance, which can be further improved through simple multistacking. The findings provide a basis for better understanding the relationship between interfacial interaction/structures and charge transfer processes and for developing high-performance energy storage electrodes.
ABSTRACT
Transforming growth factor ß (TGFß) ligands, including TGFß1, are multifunctional cytokines known as key regulators of cell growth, differentiation and inflammation. Dysregulated TGFß signaling is common in numerous solid tumors, including head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Previously, TGFß ligands were also reported to be associated with an enhancement of stemness in glioma stem-like cells. However, their role in HNSCC cancer stem cells (CSCs) has not been explored. The present study demonstrated that TGFß1 enriches the properties of HNSCC CSCs. TGFß1 promoted sphere formation and increased stemness-associated gene expression (Oct4 and Sox2) of primary HNSCC CSCs. Additionally, the population of aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH)-positive cells was increased subsequent to exogenous treatment of cells with TGFß1. In addition, following stimulation with TGFß1, the cells exhibited more resistance to cisplatin and elevated expression of Twist, Snail and Slug. Mechanistically, TGFß1 acts as an upstream stimulator of Wnt/ß-catenin signaling. Collectively, the present findings provide insights toward the development of TGFß1 signaling inhibition strategies for treating HNSCC CSCs.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcome and predictive factors for salvage surgery of isolated regional recurrences of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted with 55 patients who were treated with surgery-based treatment. RESULTS: The 5-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) rates were 61.8% and 60%, respectively. Extracapsular spread (ECS) was an independent factor associated with worse disease-specific survival. The patients who had advanced N classification, ECS, and in-field recurrence had a significantly worse OS rate, whereas those with an initial DFS time of 6 months or more experienced better outcomes. CONCLUSION: Salvage surgery for isolated regional recurrence resulted in an acceptable oncologic outcome and mortality. Successful surgical salvage is most probable in late recurrence (≥6 months) patients with recurrent N1 stage tumors (no evidence of ECS) outside of the previous treatment field.
Subject(s)
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/pathology , Head and Neck Neoplasms/pathology , Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/mortality , Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/surgery , Postoperative Complications/mortality , Salvage Therapy/methods , Adult , Aged , Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/mortality , Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/therapy , Cohort Studies , Combined Modality Therapy , Disease-Free Survival , Female , Head and Neck Neoplasms/mortality , Head and Neck Neoplasms/therapy , Hospitals, University , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Multivariate Analysis , Neck Dissection/adverse effects , Neck Dissection/methods , Neoplasm Invasiveness/pathology , Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/pathology , Neoplasm Staging , Postoperative Complications/physiopathology , Prognosis , Proportional Hazards Models , Retrospective Studies , Risk Assessment , Survival Analysis , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To compare the velopharyngeal function, swallowing and speech of the conventional and modified radial forearm free flap (RFFF) for soft palate reconstruction. METHODS: Retrospective clinical study. Twenty-eight patients who underwent oropharyngeal reconstruction with RFFF were divided into two groups: 10 patients had conventional folded RFFF and 18 patients underwent modified method. RESULTS: The average speech intelligibility score in modified RFFF group was 8.0+/-2.4, and 6.2+/-2.2 in conventional RFFF group (P<0.05). The nasalance was 27.4+/-7.8% in modified group and 38.6+/-2.7% in conventional group during no nasal passage reading and 43.6+/-7.3% in modified group, 55.2+/-7.6% in conventional group during high nasal passage reading (P<0.05). The subjective swallowing functional score was 2.8 in modified group and 2.1 in conventional group. CONCLUSION: The speech assessment and nasalance demonstrate a more favorable outcome in modified group than conventional group.