Lung microbiome mediates the progression from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease to lung cancer through inflammation.

Lung microbiome exists in the respiratory tract and parenchymal tissues. It mediates lung injury through a variety of mechanisms, including bacterial disturbance, metabolites, inflammatory response, immune response, and genotoxicity. Accumulating evidences suggest that changes in lung microbiome correlates with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer, and the microbiome promotes the progression from COPD to lung cancer. In this review, we mainly introduce the impairment of the homeostasis of the lung microbiome and its inflammation that leads to COPD and lung cancer, then focus on how the microbiome mediates the progression from COPD to lung cancer through inflammatory response. The review may provide a new theoretical basis for clinical prevention, optimal treatment strategy and design of new drugs for COPD and lung cancer.

Black silicon Schottky photodetector in sub-bandgap near-infrared regime.

Sub-bandgap near-infrared silicon (Si) photodetectors are key elements in integrated Si photonics. We demonstrate such a Si photodetector based on a black Si (b-Si)/Ag nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) Schottky junction. This photodetector synergistically employs the mechanisms of inner photoemission, light-trapping, and surface-plasmon-enhanced absorption to efficiently absorb the sub-bandgap light and generate a photocurrent. The b-Si/Ag-NPs sample was prepared by means of wet chemical etching. Compared to those of a planar-Si/Ag thin-film Schottky photodetector, the responsivities of the b-Si/Ag-NPs photodetector were greatly enhanced, being 0.277 and 0.226 mA/W at a reversely biased voltage of 3 V for 1319- and 1550-nm light, respectively.

[Progress in the molecular genetic mechanism of gonadoblastoma].

Gonadoblastoma (GB), a rare in situ germ cell tumor derived from sex cord and germ cells, is closely associated with gonadal dysgenesis. About 80% of GB individuals exhibit 46, XY female phenotype while the others are 45, XY and 46, XX with disorders of sex development. Moreover, 35% of GB can eventually develop into malignant tumors, such as seminoma and dysgerminoma tumors. The molecular genetic mechanism of GB remains to be fully uncovered due to phenotypic and genetic heterogeneity. Increasing studies show that the formation of GB is closely related to genes regulating sexual differentiation and determination (e.g., SRY, WT1, SOX9, Foxl2, TSPY, etc), and is affected by the interaction of genetic and epigenetic regulation. Here we describe the clinical and pathological features, diagnosis and treatment of GB, and also summarize the molecular genetic and epigenetic mechanisms underlying the gonadal abnormalities that lead to GB. We analyze and construct the common gene regulatory networks related to the development of GB, and describe some obstacles and deficiencies in current studies to provide innovative perspectives on further studying the pathological and molecular mechanisms of GB.

Effects of Multimedia Assisted Song Integrated Teaching on College Students' English Learning Interests and Learning Outcomes.

In the process of globalization, the English language not only represents British and American culture, but it has also gradually become a language used all over the world, and it has become essential for many people to learn it as a second language. Education is the century business of a nation. At the same time, to meet the needs of E generation, I generation, and touch-screen generation students, teachers are increasingly undertaking multimedia-integrated curriculum design and instruction. Teachers are no longer knowledge providers, but they are expected to provide students with a personalized learning model and guide and support them in a timely manner. This study included a sample of business students from Guilin University of technology. A total of 216 students participated in a 16-week (3 h per week, a total of 48 h) course of experimental teaching. The research results showed that 1. multimedia assisted, song integrated English teaching affected learning interest, 2. That multimedia assisted, song integrated English teaching affected learning outcomes, and 3. That learning interest had significantly positive effects on learning outcome. Based on these results, this study contributes to improving college students' English listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills via multimedia teaching, which also facilitated their interest and ability to achieve the learning outcomes.

High-Performance PEO-Based All-Solid-State Battery Achieved by Li-Conducting High Entropy Oxides.

A rock-salt-structured Li-conducting high entropy oxide was prepared and utilized as an active filler in a polyethylene oxide (PEO)-based solid-state composite electrolyte. X-ray diffraction and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy were adopted to analyze the crystal structure of the high entropy oxide containing 20% of Li ions (HL20). The HL20 was crystallized in the Fm3̅m space group with Li+ ions located at the center of the MO6 octahedra. The ionic conductivity of the composite membrane at 30 °C reaches 3.44 × 10-5 S cm-1. The inflection point of activation energy of the membrane with HL20 decreases by 5 °C compared with that of the pure PEO membrane. In the galvanostatic plating/stripping test, the Li||Li symmetric batteries could be cycled at a current density of 200 µA cm-2 for over 1200 h with an overpotential of 140 mV. The Li||LiFePO4 full battery could be charged/discharged at 0.5 C for 100 circles with a high capacity retention rate of 91%. Excellent rate performance is also achieved at lower temperatures and higher rates, showing the superiority of HL20 as an active filler. This work sheds light on the development of high entropy oxide as a new type of fast ionic conductor, promoting the practical application of all-solid-state batteries at a lower temperature.

Engineering CpG-ASO-Pt-Loaded Macrophages (CAP@M) for Synergistic Chemo-/Gene-/Immuno-Therapy.

Adoptive cell therapy by natural cells for drug delivery has achieved encouraging progress in cancer treatment over small-molecule drugs. Macrophages have a great potential in antitumor drug delivery due to their innate capability of sensing chemotactic cues and homing toward tumors. However, major challenge in current macrophage-based cell therapy is loading macrophages with adequate amounts of therapeutic, while allowing them to play a role in immunity without compromising cell functions. Herein, a potent strategy to construct a macrophage-mediated drug delivery platform loaded with a nanosphere (CpG-ASO-Pt) (CAP) composed of functional nucleic acid therapeutic (CpG-ASO) and chemotherapeutic drug cisplatin (Pt) is demonstrated. These CAP nanosphere loaded macrophages (CAP@M) are employed not only as carriers to deliver this nanosphere toward the tumor sites, but also simultaneously to guide the differentiation and maintain immunostimulatory effects. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments indicate that CAP@M is a promising nanomedicine by macrophage-mediated nanospheres delivery and synergistically immunostimulatory activities. Taken together, this study provides a new strategy to construct a macrophage-based drug delivery system for synergistic chemo-/gene-/immuno-therapy.

Similarity and difference of pathogenesis among lung cancer subtypes suggested by expression profile data.

Lung cancer is difficult to diagnose, has a high mortality rate and a high recurrence rate. By grouping and analyzing the gene expression in lung cancer samples, we selected the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in total lung cancers or each subgroup, and then searched for the similarities and differences among these. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment were performed, in addition to predictable cell proliferation or immune-related pathways, 'hemostasis', 'coagulation' and 'viral myocarditis' were also enriched in common DEGs, while specific functions or pathways were enriched in different subgroups. This may have implications for the treatment of total lung cancer or different subtypes. Through bioinformatics analysis, hub genes were obtained from total lung cancer and each subgroup respectively. Survival analysis of common hub genes led us to find that ZWINT, A2M, POLR2H and KIF11 are associated with unclassified lung cancer survival. For the construction of miRNA regulatory network, miR-16-5p was related to all of these four genes, and its expression is significantly different between lung cancers and normal samples. Combined with the hub genes of each subtype, it may have the ability of early screening and typing.

Designed DNA nanostructure grafted with erlotinib for non-small-cell lung cancer therapy.

Chemotherapy for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treatment has been employed over the past 20 years. However, poor water-solubility, low bioavailability and less drug accumulation of chemotherapeutic drugs restrict its antitumor activities in clinic. DNA nanostructures are proposed as drug carriers due to their intrinsic biocompatibility and programmability. In this work, we demonstrate a novel DNA nanocarrier grafted with erlotinib as an effective drug delivery system (DDS) for anti-cancer treatment. Specifically, erlotinib (Er), a hydrophobic small molecule drug targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), is covalently conjugated with azide (N3) modified DNA strands and subsequently self-assembled on spatially programmable erlotinib-grafted 6 × 6 × 64 nt DNA nanostructures. Thus, Er was successfully grafted on DNA carriers and transformed into a hydrophilic formulation. The antitumor efficacy was evaluated both in vitro and in vivo, and enhanced cytotoxicity toward A549 cells and the marked inhibition of tumor growth for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were observed.

Colorectal Cancer Genetic Heterogeneity Delineated by Multi-Region Sequencing.

Intratumor heterogeneity (ITH) leads to an underestimation of the mutational landscape portrayed by a single needle biopsy and consequently affects treatment precision. The extent of colorectal cancer (CRC) genetic ITH is not well understood in Chinese patients. Thus, we conducted deep sequencing by using the OncoGxOne™ Plus panel, targeting 333 cancer-specific genes in multi-region biopsies of primary and liver metastatic tumors from three Chinese CRC patients. We determined that the extent of ITH varied among the three cases. On average, 65% of all the mutations detected were common within individual tumors. KMT2C aberrations and the NCOR1 mutation were the only ubiquitous events. Subsequent phylogenetic analysis showed that the tumors evolved in a branched manner. Comparison of the primary and metastatic tumors revealed that PPP2R1A (E370X), SETD2 (I1608V), SMAD4 (G382T), and AR splicing site mutations may be specific to liver metastatic cancer. These mutations might contribute to the initiation and progression of distant metastasis. Collectively, our analysis identified a substantial level of genetic ITH in CRC, which should be considered for personalized therapeutic strategies.

Nanoscale Nitrogen Doping in Silicon by Self-Assembled Monolayers.

This Report presents a nitrogen-doping method by chemically forming self-assembled monolayers on silicon. Van der Pauw technique, secondary-ion mass spectroscopy and low temperature Hall effect measurements are employed to characterize the nitrogen dopants. The experimental data show that the diffusion coefficient of nitrogen dopants is 3.66 × 10(-15) cm(2) s(-1), 2 orders magnitude lower than that of phosphorus dopants in silicon. It is found that less than 1% of nitrogen dopants exhibit electrical activity. The analysis of Hall effect data at low temperatures indicates that the donor energy level for nitrogen dopants is located at 189 meV below the conduction band, consistent with the literature value.

Microwave-assisted synthesis of water-dispersed CdTe/CdSe core/shell type II quantum dots.

A facile synthesis of mercaptanacid-capped CdTe/CdSe (core/shell) type II quantum dots in aqueous solution by means of a microwave-assisted approach is reported. The results of X-ray diffraction and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy revealed that the as-prepared CdTe/CdSe quantum dots had a core/shell structure with high crystallinity. The core/shell quantum dots exhibit tunable fluorescence emissions by controlling the thickness of the CdSe shell. The photoluminescent properties were dramatically improved through UV-illuminated treatment, and the time-resolved fluorescence spectra showed that there is a gradual increase of decay lifetime with the thickness of CdSe shell.

Single-crystal nanorings formed by epitaxial self-coiling of polar nanobelts.

Freestanding single-crystal complete nanorings of zinc oxide were formed via a spontaneous self-coiling process during the growth of polar nanobelts. The nanoring appeared to be initiated by circular folding of a nanobelt, caused by long-range electrostatic interaction. Coaxial and uniradial loop-by-loop winding of the nanobelt formed a complete ring. Short-range chemical bonding among the loops resulted in a single-crystal structure. The self-coiling is likely to be driven by minimizing the energy contributed by polar charges, surface area, and elastic deformation. Zinc oxide nanorings formed by self-coiling of nanobelts may be useful for investigating polar surface-induced growth processes, fundamental physics phenomena, and nanoscale devices.