Ultrafast Flame-Induced Pyrolysis of Poly(dimethylsiloxane) Foam Materials toward Exceptional Superhydrophobic Surfaces and Reliable Mechanical Robustness.

Superhydrophobic surfaces are imperative in flexible polymer foams for diverse applications; however, traditional surface coatings on soft skeletons are often fragile and can hardly endure severe deformation, making them unstable and highly susceptible to cyclic loadings. Therefore, it remains a great challenge to balance their mutual exclusiveness of mechanical robustness and surface water repellency on flexible substrates. Herein, we describe how robust superhydrophobic surfaces on soft poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) foams can be achieved using an extremely simple, ultrafast, and environmentally friendly flame scanning strategy. The ultrafast flame treatment (1-3 s) of PDMS foams produces microwavy and nanosilica rough structures bonded on the soft skeletons, forming robust superhydrophobic surfaces (i.e., water contact angles (WCAs) > 155° and water sliding angles (WSAs) < 5°). The rough surface can be effectively tailored by simply altering the flame scanning speed (2.5-15.0 cm/s) to adjust the thermal pyrolysis of the PDMS molecules. The optimized surfaces display reliable mechanical robustness and excellent water repellency even after 100 cycles of compression of 60% strain, stretching of 100% strain, and bending of 90° and hostile environmental conditions (including acid/salt/alkali conditions, high/low temperatures, UV aging, and harsh cyclic abrasion). Moreover, such flame-induced superhydrophobic surfaces are easily peeled off from ice and can be healable even after severe abrasion cycles. Clearly, the flame scanning strategy provides a facile and versatile approach for fabricating mechanically robust and surface superhydrophobic PDMS foam materials for applications in complex conditions.

Recombinant ciliary neurotrophic factor promotes nerve regeneration and induces gene expression in silicon tube-bridged transected sciatic nerves in adult rats.

Sciatic nerves in adult male rats were transected and reunited via a silicone chamber. This was followed by a focal injection of recombinant ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF). To evaluate the effect of this therapeutic approach and to explore its possible mechanisms, nerve regeneration was traced by horseradish peroxidase retrograde labeling. Functional recovery was evaluated by functional assessment of the hind feet and the expression of a number of proteins was detected using immunohistochemistry. The results showed that a single administration of CNTF could promote regeneration of motor axons, with improved functional recovery in adult rats. Growth associated protein (GAP)-43, S100, CD68 and major histocompatibility complex class II immunoreactivity in the regenerative and distal nerves suggested that CNTF could promote axon regeneration, Schwann cell migration, monocyte infiltration and activation. CNTF might also indirectly promote axonal regeneration by further activating the JAK-STAT3 pathway and subsequently upregulating phosphotyrosine, GAP-43 and S100 expression to enhance proliferation, growth and migration of Schwann cells. CNTF has suggested important targets for pharmacological intervention in peripheral nerve disease and injury.

[A dynamic model describing lymphatic circulation].

Based on the morphology and function of lymphatic vessel, and on the achievements of researches in the regulatory mechanism of lymphatic circulation, we fully considered the dynamic interaction of blood, interstitial fluid and lymph fluid; then we imitated and used Sungawa's method of analyzing the heart output, and finally set up a dynamic model for describing lymphatic circulation. Comparison of our calculating results with the data from Ikomi's experiment showed that they were identical, thus indicating that our model is of value in explaining the dynamic mechanism of lymphatic circulation. In this paper is especially calculated the relationship between lymph flow and massage frequency, which is useful for analyzing the effect of massage on the lymph flow rate with respect to this model.

[A dynamics model describing edema and its physiological analysis].

Edema is a common pathological symptom, but its development mechanism is unknown. Based on the bearings of pressure upon interstitium structure and substantial exchange between plasma and interstitial fluid, a dymamics model describing the development of edema was set up. The model's theoretical results showed that the variations of interstitium pressure and structure due to imbalance of substantial exchange may lead to the development of edema, which is in accordance with recent clinical researches. Discussions on the dynamic mechanism of the development of edema proposed that the best way to prevent edema is instituting treatment before the interstitial structure being destroyed.

[Changes of compliance in tensional anastomotic arteries].

The data of arterial pressure and diameter were measured in vivo before and after normal anastomosis and tensional anastomosis in canine femoral arteries at different time intervals. The arterial compliance was calculated, and the exponential form C = bemPa was employed to fit the compliance (C)- average pressure (Pa) curve. The relationship between compliance and average pressure was determined. The results showed that the compliance of arteries decreased after anastomosis, and the compliance of arteries after tensional anastomosis was lower than that of normal anastomosis at different time intervals. It was decreased most markedly at 14 days after tensional anastomosis. This indicated that the distensibility of tensional anastomotic artery was decreased more markedly than that of normal anastomotic artery. The function of artery was evidently affected by tensional anastomosis.

Observation and measurements of long thoracic nerve: a cadaver study and clinical consideration.

Long thoracic nerve (LTN) is an important nerve originating from cervical nerve roots. It varies a lot in origins and branches, which lead to several clinical problems, such as diagnosis, prophylaxis and treatment of LTN injury. LTN was dissected in 38 cadavers in the present study. Origin, level of union, branches, sites where nerve entered the muscle, length of nerve trunk and branches as well as transverse diameter were documented. Different derivations of LTN were observed, and C4-7, C5-7, C5 and C7, C5-7, C5-8, C6 and C7, and branch from C6 was the most important components of LTN. After evolution, LTN trunk was composed by superior and inferior trunks at scalenus muscle or the three superior slips level. Branches of LTN traveled on the surface of the six superior slips of anterior serratus muscle and then penetrated through the inferior slips without correlation between different branches. Mean length of trunk of LTN is 111.73 (30.08) mm, axis of cross section was 2.27x0.96 mm at the union level and 1.91 x 0.68 mm at the end branch. Each slip was innervated by 1-4 branches of LTN. The observation and measurement data described in our study presented some variations and could provide clinicians with important information on diagnosis, prophylaxis and treatment of LTN injury and pursuing more suitable muscle flaps for reconstruction operation.