Charge transfer enhanced magnetic correlations in type-II multiferroic Co3TeO6.

Magnetic structure of the Co ions in monoclinic Co3TeO6 in the antiferroelectric state at 16 K has been determined by neutron powder together with single-crystal diffractions. The indices of the magnetic reflections that appear at the incommensurate positions were determined by diffractions from a single crystal, which allow to uniquely identify the magnetic modulation vector. There are two crystallographically distinct Co layers. Magnetic incommensurability appears in the Co spins in the layers comprising zig-zag chains, with a magnetic modulation vector of (0.357, 0.103, 0.121) at 3 K but changes to (0.4439, 0, 0.137) at 16 K, while the Co ions in the honeycomb webs form a collinear antiferromagnetic structure. Thermal reduction rate of the Co moments in the honeycomb webs was found to be much smaller than those in the zigzag chains. Shifting of large amounts of electronic charge into the Co─O bonds in the honeycomb webs on warming is used to understand the behavior.

Enhanced lattice perfection by low temperature thermal annealing in photoelectric (CH3NH3)PbBr3.

The coupling between the organic CH3NH3+ cations and inorganic perovskite PbBr3- framework in a large single crystal of (CH3NH3)PbBr3 weighting 13 g was studied using neutron diffraction and inelastic neutron scattering. Two lattice incommensurate (ICM) phases were found, one at higher temperatures, marked ICMHT, which appeared between 147 and 135 K. The second one, marked ICMLT, developed below 143 K and remained at 75 K. The transition from the ICMLT to ICMHT phase upon warming gave rise to extremely large lattice shrinking, followed by extremely large lattice expansion of the tetragonal basal plane of the PbBr3 lattice. There was a progressive decrease in the width of the Bragg peaks from the PbBr3 lattice upon warming, which can be described using a critical exponent for each type of Bragg peak to show complete ordering of the atoms into a (CH3NH3)PbBr3 lattice at 194 K. (CH3NH3)PbBr3 exhibits six definitive acoustic-like phonon branches at 75 K. The six branches renormalizes into two at 200 K, with the frequencies of both the transverse and longitudinal modes greatly enhanced. The asymmetric structure of the CH3NH3 ions helps to understand the observed behaviors.

The role of lactate deshydrogenase levels on non-small cell lung cancer prognosis: a meta-analysis.

The role of serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) on the clinical outcomes of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine-kinase inhibitors (TKIs) treatment remained to be elucidated. Therefore, we did this meta-analysis. We searched databases including PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library till to June, 2017. The relationships between the LDH levels and overall survival (OS) and progression free survival (PFS) were assessed by calculating hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The association between the LDH levels and disease control rate (DCR) was calculated by odds ratio (OR) and 95% CI. Seven studies were included in the meta-analysis. As for DCR, the result from this meta-analysis was not positive (OR=0.71; 95% CI 0.21 - 2.37; P=0.57). As for PFS, the result of the meta-analysis indicated that elevated LDH was significantly associated with shorter PFS (HR=1.88; 95%CI, 1.37-2.59). When studies were stratified by ethnicity, significant association was also observed in Asian group (HR=2.36; 95%CI, 1.57-3.55). As for OS, patients with high levels of LDH showed significantly shorter OS (HR=2.44; 95%CI, 1.84-3.23). In the subgroup by race, significant associations were found in Asian group (HR=2.62; 95%CI, 1.61-4.26) and Caucasian population (HR=2.36; 95%CI, 1.66-3.34). In conclusion, this meta-analysis suggested that elevated LDH level was associated with the poor PFS and OS of NSCLC patients receiving EGFR-TKIs treatment.

17q21 locus rs7216389 polymorphism and childhood asthma risk: a meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Recently, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) indicated that rs7216389 polymorphism on chromosome 17q21 was associated with paediatric asthma risk. However, the results remained controversial. Therefore, a meta-analysis was performed. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: A comprehensive literature retrieve was performed on PubMed, Embase and Science Direct databases up to Feb 20, 2016. The strength of association between 17q21 locus rs7216389 polymorphism and pediatric asthma risk was assessed by computing odds ratio (OR) with its corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI). EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: A total of 10 studies with 7797 cases and 38757 controls were included. A statistically significant association of rs7216389 polymorphism and pediatric asthma risk was found (OR=1.41, 95%CI=1.34-1.49, P<0.00001). Furthermore, both Caucasians (OR=1.41, 95%CI=1.33-1.49, P<0.00001) and Asians (OR=1.43, 95%CI=1.25-1.63, P<0.00001) with rs7216389 polymorphism showed significant association, respectively. A significantly increased susceptibility was identified in atopic asthma (OR=1.45, 95%CI=1.22-1.72, P<0.00001). In the stratification analysis by study design, both case-control studies (OR=1.40, 95%CI=1.33-1.48, P<0.00001) and cohort studies (OR=2.05, 95%CI=1.32-3.17, P=0.001) showed significant association, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, this meta-analysis suggests that 17q21 locus rs7216389 polymorphism was significantly associated with paediatric asthma risk.

Asthma and the risk of lung cancer: a meta-analysis.

Some studies found that there was a significant association between asthma and the risk of lung cancer. However, the results are inconclusive. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis. We searched the electronic databases for all relevant articles. Odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to calculate the strength of the association between asthma and lung cancer risk. Asthma was significantly associated with the increased risk of lung cancer (OR = 1.44; 95% CI 1.31-1.59; P < 0.00001; I2 = 83%). Additionally, asthma patients without smoking also had the increased lung cancer risk. In the subgroup analysis of race and gender, Caucasians, Asians, male, and female patients with asthma showed the increased risk of lung cancer. However, asthma was not significantly associated with lung adenocarcinoma risk. In the stratified analysis by asthma definition, significant associations were found between asthma and lung cancer in self-reported subgroup, questionnaire subgroup, and register databases subgroup. However, no significant association was observed in physician-diagnosed asthma subgroup. In conclusion, this meta-analysis suggested that asthma might be significantly associated with lung cancer risk.

[Application of separating brachial plexus block combined with preoperative analgesia by patient controlled intravenous analgesia in tendon repair].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the separating brachial plexus block combined with preoperative analgesia by patient controlled analgesia (PCA) can be applied in tendon repair and postoperative active or passive functional exercise. METHODS: Two hundred and ten cases with tendon injury were randomly divided into 3 groups and all of the patients were administered Bupivacaine (0.25%), Papaverine (0.0625 mg/ml), and Dexamethasone (0.25 mg/ml) in separating brachial plexus block through axillary approach. Group A was control group, and preoperative analgesia was not applied. Preoperative analgesia was applied in group B and C. Tramadol and Ondansetron were administered in group B, Midazolam was administered besides Tramadol and Ondansetron in group C. The injection volume in the PCIA pump was increased to 100 ml by mixing physiologic saline. The pump was started after separating brachial plexus block in velocity of 2 ml/h, and its maintenance time was 48 h. The effect of separating brachial plexus block at 1, 2, 3, 6 and 12 h after finishing brachial plexus block was compared. The VAS, Ramesay assessment scoring were recorded at 0, 12, 24 and 48 h after starting pump. RESULTS: In each group, the effect of motor block became greater in the ascending order from 1, 2 to 3 h after finishing brachial plexus block, and less in the descending order from 3, 6 to 12 h after finishing brachial plexus block. Only at 6 and 12 h after finishing brachial plexus block, the effect of motor block of group B and group C was significantly less than that of group A (P < 0.05, < 0.01), the effect of motor block of group C was less than that of group B (P > 0.05). The effect of sensory block in the patients of all 3 groups was satisfactory. The VAS, Ramesay assessment scoring, effect of analgesia and sedation at 24 and 48 h after starting pump became greater in the ascending order from group A to group C, in which group B and group C were significantly greater than group A (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The separating brachial plexus block combined with preoperative analgesia by 2 kinds of PCIA dispensation can be both applied in tendon repair, but the separating effect of brachial plexus block of group B was superior to the group C.