Synergetic spin crossover and fluorescence in one-dimensional hybrid complexes.

Hybrid materials integrated with a variety of physical properties, such as spin crossover (SCO) and fluorescence, may show synergetic effects that find applications in many fields. Herein we demonstrate a promising post-synthetic approach to achieve such materials by grafting fluorophores (1-pyrenecarboxaldehyde and Rhodamine B) on one-dimensional SCO Fe(II) structures. The resulting hybrid materials display expected one-step SCO behavior and fluorescent properties, in particular showing a coupling between the transition temperature of SCO and the temperature where the fluorescent intensity reverses. Consequently, synergetic effect between SCO and fluorescence is incorporated into materials despite different fluorophores. This study provides an effective strategy for the design and development of novel magnetic and optical materials.

Interference of replication between hepatitis B and C viruses in patients infected with HIV.

The clinical and cellular interactions between hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) were investigated in patients co-infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). One hundred ninety-nine patients followed for 6 years were evaluated to compare the level of HBV DNA and HCV RNA in patients co-infected with HIV and HBV, and patients co-infected with HIV, HBV, and HCV. A full-length HBV genome and HCV JFH1 RNA were co-transfected into HuH-7.5.1 cells in vitro to examine the impact of co-infection and dependence on the HBV PreC mutant for replication interference. Before 2',3'-dideoxy-3'-thiacytidine (3TC)-based antiretroviral therapy (ART) was initiated, HBV DNA was found in 56/123 (45.4%) patients co-infected with HIV and HBV, and in 19/76 (25.0%) patients co-infected with HIV, HBV, and HCV. After 3TC-based ART was initiated, detectable HBV DNA decreased to 7/76 (9.2%) in patients co-infected with HIV, HBV, and HCV, but HCV RNA increased from 43/76 (56.6%) to 60/76 (78.9%) (P = 0.003). In vitro HBV and HCV co-infection led to decreased replication of both viruses. The primary factors that influenced the decreased replication were the order of the HBV and HCV infection and the HBV PreC mutation.

Mobilization of bone marrow cells by CSF3 protects mice from bleomycin-induced lung injury.

BACKGROUND: Bone marrow-derived cells may play a role in tissue injury and repair. Growth factors facilitate the mobilization of bone marrow-derived cells to the site of injury. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the mobilization of autologous bone marrow-derived cells by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (CSF3) on bleomycin-induced lung injury in mice. METHODS: The bone marrow from male green fluorescent protein transgenic (C57Bl/6J) mice was transplanted into irradiated female C57Bl/6J mice. Bleomycin lung injury was induced in these bone marrow-reconstituted mice and unreconstituted C57Bl/6J mice, and some mice were treated with recombinant CSF3. Lung histology, survival, cytokine expression and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) expression were evaluated to determine the effect of CSF3 after bleomycin-induced lung injury. RESULTS: Histology and flow cytometry analysis showed successful mobilization of bone marrow-derived cells by CSF3 treatment in the recipient lungs. Importantly, CSF3 attenuated bleomycin-induced lung injury and improved survival. Furthermore, CSF3 administration regulated transforming growth factor-ß, interferon-γ, MMP9 and tissue inhibitors of MMP1 expression during bleomycin injury. CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrated that the mobilization of bone marrow-derived cells by CSF3 has a protective effect against bleomycin-induced lung injury and fibrosis.

Diisopropylammonium bromide is a high-temperature molecular ferroelectric crystal.

Molecular ferroelectrics are highly desirable for their easy and environmentally friendly processing, light weight, and mechanical flexibility. We found that diisopropylammonium bromide (DIPAB), a molecular crystal processed from aqueous solution, is a ferroelectric with a spontaneous polarization of 23 microcoulombs per square centimeter [close to that of barium titanate (BTO)], high Curie temperature of 426 kelvin (above that of BTO), large dielectric constant, and low dielectric loss. DIPAB exhibits good piezoelectric response and well-defined ferroelectric domains. These attributes make it a molecular alternative to perovskite ferroelectrics and ferroelectric polymers in sensing, actuation, data storage, electro-optics, and molecular or flexible electronics.

Creation of lung-targeted dexamethasone immunoliposome and its therapeutic effect on bleomycin-induced lung injury in rats.

OBJECTIVE: Acute lung injury (ALI), is a major cause of morbidity and mortality, which is routinely treated with the administration of systemic glucocorticoids. The current study investigated the distribution and therapeutic effect of a dexamethasone(DXM)-loaded immunoliposome (NLP) functionalized with pulmonary surfactant protein A (SP-A) antibody (SPA-DXM-NLP) in an animal model. METHODS: DXM-NLP was prepared using film dispersion combined with extrusion techniques. SP-A antibody was used as the lung targeting agent. Tissue distribution of SPA-DXM-NLP was investigated in liver, spleen, kidney and lung tissue. The efficacy of SPA-DXM-NLP against lung injury was assessed in a rat model of bleomycin-induced acute lung injury. RESULTS: The SPA-DXM-NLP complex was successfully synthesized and the particles were stable at 4°C. Pulmonary dexamethasone levels were 40 times higher with SPA-DXM-NLP than conventional dexamethasone injection. Administration of SPA-DXM-NLP significantly attenuated lung injury and inflammation, decreased incidence of infection, and increased survival in animal models. CONCLUSIONS: The administration of SPA-DXM-NLP to animal models resulted in increased levels of DXM in the lungs, indicating active targeting. The efficacy against ALI of the immunoliposomes was shown to be superior to conventional dexamethasone administration. These results demonstrate the potential of actively targeted glucocorticoid therapy in the treatment of lung disease in clinical practice.

Fungal granuloma of mediastinal lymph nodes in an immunocompetent host.

This is a case report of mediastinal fungal granuloma in an immunocompetent host. The definite diagnosis was made by pathological biopsy via video-assisted thoracoscopy and silver methenamine staining showed aspergillus hyphae and spores in the epithelioid granuloma. In conclusion, opportunistic pathogenic fungi can cause granulomatous inflammation in mediastinal lymph nodes in an immunocompetent host, as it can do in an immunocompromised host. More attention should be paid on tissue biopsy and pathological examination to ensure a correct diagnosis for these kinds of cases.

[Analysis and recombinant construction of HBV the reverse transcriptase gene with drug-resistant mutations from 40 patients with chronic hepatitis B].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze genetic mutation associated with drug resistance in the reverse transcriptase (RT) domain of HBV from 40 patients with chronic hepatitis B, and to construct mutant RT gene recombinant vectors for drug-resistant phenotypic analysis. METHODS: HBV DNA was extracted from sera of the 40 patients receiving anti-HBV nucleot (5) ide analogue. The complete RT domain-encoding gene was amplified by nested PCR, and then cloned into pGEM-T-easy vector. Three to Five clones were randomly selected for DNA sequencing. Data were analyzed by UNASTAR software. The pTriEx-HBV (C) 1.1 expression vectors were constructed by replacing the 1250-hp Xho I/Nco I fragments containing complete RT domain from individual patients samples. RESULTS: All samples were detected with drug-resistant mutations associated with lamivudine, adefovir, and entacavir singly or in combination. Ninety-six mutant RT genes were cloned into pGEM-T-easy vector, from which 40 major mutant RT genes were replaced into pTriEx-HBV (C) 1.1 expression vectors. The construction was confinned to be successful by verifying mutation existence using DNA sequencing, and detectable HBsAg and HBeAg in the cell supernatant after transfecting recombinant expression vectors into Huh7 cells. CONCLUSION: The analysis of drug-resistant mutation and the construction of mutant-recombinant expression vectors were successfully implemented using the samples frum clinical patients. The work lays a foundation for drug-resistant phenotypic analysis of HBV mutants.