[Research progress on exosomes and their non-coding RNAs in the diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases].

Neurodegenerative diseases, originating from irreversible progressive loss of neuronal structure or function, are difficult to diagnose and treat. They vary widely in scope and have poor prevention and prognosis. Therefore, research on their early diagnosis is particularly important. Exosomes are small vesicles of cellular origin that contain various bioactive small molecules, such as proteins, RNAs, and DNAs, and play important roles in intercellular communication. Recent studies have shown that exosomes and their non-coding RNAs are key factors in the pathogenesis of various neurodegenerative diseases. Therefore, exosomes and their non-coding RNAs may provide a breakthrough for the early diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases. This review summarizes the biology of exosomes and the current research progress of exosomes and their non-coding RNAs in diagnosing neurodegenerative diseases and further explores the challenges and prospects they face.

Optofluidic system based on electrowetting technology for dynamically tunable spectrum absorber.

An optofluidic system that uses the electrowetting technology to dynamically control the local surface plasmon resonance of the silver nanoparticle is invented. The silver nanoparticle is initially suspended at the interface of the polar liquid and the non-polar liquid. As the interface morphology changes with the applied voltage, the media distribution surrounding particle is changed accordingly, thus realizing the resonance absorption peak's modulation. The investigation result shows that a wide range of the spectral colors from red to blue can be selectively absorbed just by a single device. Specifically, when the radius of the particle is 50 nm, the wavelength of the absorption peak can be dynamically modulated from 460 nm to 607 nm. This proposed method can be used to design and prepare rapidly adjustable optical elements.

Discriminating two races of Liobagrus marginatoides by cytogenetic analysis.

Although two kinds of Liobagrus marginatoides should belong to the same species according to the taxonomy of fish morphology, the results of cytogenetic analysis showed they are two different races.

[Clinical effectiveness of salvianolic acid B and triamcinolone acetonide in treatment of oral submucous fibrosis].

Objective: To evaluate the clinical effectiveness of salvianolic acid B (SA-B) and triamcinolone acetonide (TA) by means of combined intralesional injection in the treatment of oral submucous fibrosis (OSF). Methods: According to clinical findings and symptoms, TA combined with SA-B were consecutively applied intralesionally 1 time weekly for 30 times. Mouth opening degree, color change of the buccal mucosae and numeral increase of the capillary vessels were determined by degree Ⅰ-Ⅳ visual analog scale were evaluated at 12, 24, and 36 months, respectively. Results: One hundred and fourteen subjects fulfilled the study without obvious adverse reactions. After treatment for 1 year, the net gain in mouth opening of the early stage group was (5.5 ± 1.5) mm at 12 months, (8.8 ± 1.6) mm at 24 months and (12.0±1.2) mm at 36 months. The net gain in mouth opening of the middle stage group were (5.3±1.7) mm at 12 months, (10.5±1.5) mm at 24 months and (14.5±2.4) mm at 36 months. The net gain in mouth opening of the advanced stage group were (5.7±1.3) mm at 12 months, (13.7±1.3) mm at 24 months and (15.5±1.5) mm at 36 months. The effective rates of color change of the buccal mucosae and numeral increase of the capillary vessels after treatment for 36 months were 100% in early stage group, 93% (51/55) in middle stage group and 90% (36/40) in advanced stage group. Conclusions: TA and SA-B combined intralesional injection in the treatment of oral submucous fibrosis is effective.

Enhanced field emission from injector-like ZnO nanostructures with minimized screening effect.

Injector-like zinc oxide (ZnO) nanostructures have been synthesized on Si substrate by the vapour phase transport method. Samples with different areal densities were obtained by controlling the temperature. The field emission properties of the injector-like ZnO nanostructures showed a clear dependence on the areal density of the nanostructures, which is due to the screening effect. The samples with a needle length of 850 nm and an areal density of 1 × 10(8) cm(-2) showed the lowest field emission turn-on field of 1.85 V µm(-1) at a current density of 10 µA cm(-2), and the current density reaches 1 mA cm(-2) at an applied field of 4.7 V µm(-1).