High-reliability infrared broadband thin-film polarizing beam splitter with ZnSe compensation layers.

Thin-film polarizing beam splitters (PBSs) fulfill a pivotal role in laser beam splitting, modulation, shaping and isolation. In this study, a high-reliability infrared broadband thin-film PBS was developed. To correct for tensile stress in Ge/YbF3 multilayer coatings, ZnSe compensation layers were incorporated in the multilayer design. The effects of different symmetrical periods on the spectral properties of the infrared PBS were systematically discussed. The infrared PBS operated at 45° and in the long-wave infrared (LWIR) band. Using the percent of optical extrema monitoring (POEM) strategy combined with the high-temperature optical constants (HTOC) of Ge film, the infrared PBS was precisely fabricated on ZnSe substrates. Subsequently, the spectral performance and film reliability of the infrared PBS were carefully characterized. Specifically, the transmittance of p-polarization surpassed 96%, while the extinction ratio exceeded 100:1 within the 10.6 ± 0.15 µm band. The infrared PBS demonstrated commendable environmental reliability, in addition to exhibiting excellent spectral characteristics.

Nobiletin sensitizes colorectal cancer cells to oxaliplatin by PI3K/Akt/MTOR pathway.

Oxaliplatin is one of the most common chemotherapy drugs for colorectal cancer (CRC), but its application is greatly limited owing to the drug resistance. Nobiletin is a natural flavonoid isolated from citrus peel and has many biological functions, including anti-inflammatory, antitumor and neuroprotective activities. However, little is known about the effect of nobiletin on the anti-tumor activities of other chemotherapy drugs. In this study, we examined the effect of nobiletin on the efficacy of oxaliplatin in treatment of CRC by using two CRC cell lines. In vitro experiments indicated that nobiletin enhanced the inhibitory effect of oxaliplatin on the proliferation of CRC cells. Meanwhile, nobiletin promoted oxaliplatin-induced apoptosis of CRC cells, as demonstrated by the increased expression of pro-apoptotic proteins (Bax and cleaved-caspse3) and the down-regulation of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2. Mechanically, nobiletin sensitized CRC to oxaliplatin chemotherapy by down-regulating the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway. Taken together, our study has demonstrated that nobiletin could enhance the sensitivity of CRC to oxaliplatin chemotherapy, and provided a molecular basis for nobiletin's potential applications in the chemosensitization of CRC.

Genome-wide characterization of the seasonal H3N2 virus in Shanghai reveals natural temperature-sensitive strains conferred by the I668V mutation in the PA subunit.

Seasonal H3N2 influenza viruses are recognized as major epidemic viruses, exhibiting complex seasonal patterns in regions with temperate climates. To investigate the influence of viral evolution and mutations on the seasonality of influenza, we performed a genome-wide analysis of samples collected from 62 influenza A/H3N2-infected patients in Shanghai during 2016-2017. Phylogenetic analysis of all eight segments of the influenza A virus revealed that there were two epidemic influenza virus strains circulating in the 2016-2017 winter season (2016-2017win) and 2017 summer season (2017sum). Replication of the two epidemic viral strains at different temperatures (33, 35, 37, and 39 °C) was measured, and the correlation of the mutations in the two epidemic viral strains with temperature sensitivity and viral replication was analyzed. Analysis of the replication kinetics showed that replication of the 2016-2017win strains was significantly restricted at 39 °C compared with that of the 2017sum strains. A polymerase activity assay and mutational analysis demonstrated that the PA I668V mutation of the 2016-2017win viruses suppressed polymerase activity in vitro at high temperatures. Taken together, these data suggest that the I668V mutation in the PA subunit of the 2016-2017win strains may confer temperature sensitivity and attenuate viral replication and polymerase activity; meanwhile, the 2017sum strains maintained virulence at high temperatures. These findings highlight the importance of certain mutations in viral adaptation and persistence in subsequent seasons.

Association of genetic variation in IL28B with hepatitis C treatment-induced viral clearance in the Chinese Han population.

BACKGROUND: Genome-wide association studies have recently shown that the rs12979860 polymorphism in IL28B is associated with the response to chronic hepatitis C treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate whether rs12979860 could be used as a predictive marker for end-of-treatment response (ETR) or sustained virological response (SVR) in the Chinese Han population. METHODS: The rs12979860 genotype was detected in 259 individuals infected with HCV by DNA sequencing. Among them, 120 patients were administered complete pegylated interferon-α and ribavirin combination therapy and 92 patients were followed for 24 weeks after the cessation of treatment and were divided into different groups according to outcomes of treatment. RESULTS: The rs12979860 genotype CC was the primary genotype (87.64%, 227/259) and genotype TT was found in only one individual within this cohort. The patients with the rs12979860 genotype CC had higher rates of ETR (P=0.0044) and SVR (P=0.0046) than the patients with N-CC (CT or TT). In multivariate analyses, the rs12979860 genotype CC was associated with a substantial difference in rates of achieving ETR (odds ratio [OR] 8.983, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.173-37.145; P=0.0024) and SVR (OR 24.298, 95% CI 2.27-259.90; P=0.0083). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated for the first time that the rs12979860 variation in IL28B could be a predictor of ETR and SVR in Chinese Han patients infected with HCV. The high frequency of the rs12979860 genotype CC might explain why the SVR rate is higher than that of the average global population.