Whole-lesion histogram analysis of the apparent diffusion coefficient: Evaluation of the correlation with subtypes of mucinous breast carcinoma.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the utility of the whole-lesion histogram apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) for characterizing the heterogeneity of mucinous breast carcinoma (MBC) and to determine which ADC metrics may help to best differentiate subtypes of MBC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study involved 52 MBC patients, including 37 pure MBC (PMBC) and 15 mixed MBC (MMBC). The PMBC patients were subtyped into PMBC-A (20 cases) and PMBC-B (17 cases) groups. All patients underwent preoperative diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) at 1.5T and the whole-lesion ADC assessments were generated. Histogram-derived ADC parameters were compared between PMBC vs. MMBC and PMBC-A vs. PMBC-B, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to determine optimal histogram parameters for differentiating these groups. RESULTS: The PMBC group exhibited significantly higher ADC values for the mean (P = 0.004), 25th (P = 0.004), 50th (P = 0.004), 75th (P = 0.006), and 90th percentiles (P = 0.013) and skewness (P = 0.021) than did the MMBC group. The 25th percentile of ADC values achieved the highest area under the curve (AUC) (0.792), with a cutoff value of 1.345 × 10-3 mm2 /s, in distinguishing PMBC and MMBC. The PMBC-A group showed significantly higher ADC values for the mean (P = 0.049), 25th (P = 0.015), and 50th (P = 0.026) percentiles and skewness (P = 0.004) than did the PMBC-B group. The 25th percentile of the ADC cutoff value (1.476 × 10-3 mm2 /s) demonstrated the best AUC (0.837) among the ADC values for distinguishing PMBC-A and PMBC-B. CONCLUSION: Whole-lesion ADC histogram analysis enables comprehensive evaluation of an MBC in its entirety and differentiating subtypes of MBC. Thus, it may be a helpful and supportive tool for conventional MRI. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4 Technical Efficacy: Stage 2 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2018;47:391-400.

Enhanced Room-Temperature Phosphorescence of Mn-Doped ZnS Quantum Dots Composited with PDDA for Detection of Adriamycin.

In this work, a simple room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP) method was first proposed to detect adriamycin, by using a functional material of Mn doped ZnS quantum dots (Mn-ZnS QDs) composited with poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA). After PDDA was associated to the Mn-ZnS QDs, the RTP intensity was significantly enhanced. As a result, Mn-ZnS QDs/PDDA nanoassemblies greatly improve the adriamycin detection ability of QDs and provide an important method for developing more effective and sensitive adriamycin detection sensor. The method based upon RTP has a linear range from 0.5 to 64.0 µM with a detection limit (3σ/s) for adriamycin of 0.45 µM. The developed method was further successfully applied to detect adriamycin in human serum samples (diluted 50 times) with satisfactory results, and the recovery ranged from 98.3 to 101.3.

Establishment of a Predictive Diagnostic Model for Acute Mycoplasma Pneumoniae Infection in Elderly Patients with Community-acquired Pneumonia.

We established a diagnostic model to predict acute Mycoplasma pneumoniae (M. pneumonia) infection in elderly Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) patients. We divided 456 patients into acute and non-acute M. pneumoniae infection groups. Binary logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to establish a predictive model. The following independent factors were identified: age ⋝ 70 years; serum cTNT level ⋝ 0.05 ng/mL; lobar consolidation; mediastinal lymphadenopathy; and antibody titer in the acute phase ⋝ 1:40. The area under the ROC curve of the model was 0.923 and a score of ⋝ 7 score predicted acute M. pneumoniae infection in elderly patients with CAP. The predictive model developed in this study has high diagnostic accuracy for the identification of elderly acute M. pneumoniae infection.

The Relationship between Interleukin-6 Promotor Polymorphisms and Slow Coronary Flow Phenomenon.

BACKGROUND: Several lines of evidence suggest that slow coronary flow (SCF) phenomenon seems to be an early form of atherosclerosis and low-grade inflammation plays a role in the development of SCF. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a pleiotropic cytokine, functions as a mediator of inflammatory response, and has both pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory properties. The aim of the present study is to investigate the relationship between IL-6 -634C/G polymorphism and SCF in Han Chinese. METHODS: 250 subjects who underwent coronary angiography and had normal coronary arteries of varying coronary flow rates without any atherosclerotic lesion were enrolled in this study. 41 patients who had thrombolysis in myocardial infarction frame counts (TFC) above the normal cutoffs were considered to have SCF and 209 subjects within normal limits served as normal coronary flow (NCF) group. The PCR-based restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique was used to assess the genotypes. RESULTS: The distribution of the IL-6 -634C/G genotypes (CC, CG, and GG) was 56.94%, 37.80%, and 5.26% in the NCF subjects, and 36.59%, 48.78%, and 14.63% in the SCF group, respectively (p = 0.0173). The frequency of the G allele in the SCF (39.02%) group was significantly higher than that in the NCF (24.16%) group (p = 0.0054). Compared with the CC genotype, the G allele carriers (CG + GG genotypes) had increased risk of SCF in both unadjusted and adjusted analyses. In SCF patients, the average serum IL-6 levels (pg/mL) in CG + GG genotype (4.78 ± 0.42) were statistically higher than in CC genotype (3.93 ± 0.36) (p = 0.0000). CONCLUSIONS: Our data support that IL-6 -634C/G polymorphism is associated with SCF and the G allele has increased risk for SCF in Han Chinese.

[Synthesis and Spectroscopic Study of a Chemosensor for Naked Eye Recognition of Cu2+ and Hg2+].

Compound L, as the procedural sensor for the detection of Cu2+ and Hg2+, was designed and synthesized based on the coumarin-modified rhodamine derivative. The structure of compound L was characterized by NMR, high resolution mass spectrometry and infrared method. Its sensing behavior toward various metal ions was investigated with absorbance methods. The study found that L had good selectivity and sensitivity for Cu2+. When addition of various metal ions (Zn2+, Hg2+, Cu2+, Fe3+, Cd2+, CO2+, Ni2+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Al3+, La3+, K+, Na+, Mn2+, Pb2+ and Ag+), only Cu2+ could induce a visible change of solution from colourless to pink and a new absorption band centered at 534 nm appear, which indicated that compound L could be used for the naked eye detection of Cu2+. From UV titration, the detection limit was about 1.9 X 10(-8) mol x L(-1). Test strips based on L were fabricated, and this test strips could act as a convenient and efficient Cu2+ test kit. The binding ratio of the complex of L-Cu2+ was 1:1 according to the Job's plot and high resolution mass spectrometer (HRMS) experiments. Moreover, Upon addition of 1 equiv. EDTA to the mixture of L and Cu2+ in DMSO solution, colour changed from pink to almost colourless, indicating that the EDTA replaced the receptor L to coordinate with Cu2+. Therefore, L could be classified as a reversible sensor for Cu2+. In addition, when adding Hg2+ to L-Cu2+ complexes, a visible change of solution from pink to colourless was observed, while other metal ions didn't cause this change. Thus, L-Cu2+ complex also could be used for the naked eye recognition of Hg2+, and the detection limit was calculated about 2.9 x 10(-1) mol x L(-1) according to the UV titration. Consequently, this procedural sensor L could be use for the orderly naked eye recognition of Cu2+ and Hg2+.

Association Between Gestational Weight Gain and Delayed Onset of Lactogenesis II: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Gestational weight gain (GWG) may be associated with delayed onset of lactogenesis II (DOL II), but it is still unclear and controversial. Object: The study aims to evaluate the relationship between GWG and DOL II. Methods: A comprehensive search was performed in 10 electronic databases from inception to May 21, 2023, for studies that reported outcomes in breastfeeding. Data were extracted by two independent reviewers. A meta-analysis was conducted to calculate the pooled estimates of association using random-effect models with Review Manager (RevMan) software version 5.4. The primary outcome was the rate of DOL II. Results: In this study, 248,515 women were included in 16 eligible articles. Women with excessive GWG have a higher risk of DOL II (odds ratio [OR] = 1.28; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.15-1.43). Specifically, prepregnancy overweight and obese women with GWG above recommendations (OR = 3.01, 95% CI: 1.38-6.57) and underweight women with excessive GWG before pregnancy have a higher risk of DOL II (OR = 3.32, 95% CI: 1.69-6.53). Nonetheless, there is no distinction between women with inadequate GWG and those with adequate GWG in DOL II(OR = 1.08, 95% CI: 0.88-1.33). In addition, the women whose GWG is above the recommendations also tend to stop exclusive breastfeeding 1 month postpartum (OR = 0.82, 95% CI: 0.80-0.85). Conclusion: Excessive GWG has a negative influence on the timing of the onset of lactogenesis and exclusive breastfeeding within 1 month postpartum.

Emulsifiable oil-formulated Beauveria bassiana competes with imidacloprid for seasonal control of cereal aphids in Zhejiang, China.

BACKGROUND: Alternatives to neonicotinoids against cereal aphids are needed to mitigate aphid resistance and non-target effects. The emulsifiable oil formulations of two Beauveria bassiana strains, namely Bb registered as a mycoinsecticide and TBb overexpressing an endogenous virulence factor, were tested for seasonal control of cereal aphids at the elongating (April 7) to milk ripening (May 12) stages of winter wheat crop in Yuhang, Zhejiang. Each of three field trials consisted of blank control and the treatments (three randomized 100-m2 plots per capita) of each fungal strain sprayed biweekly at rates of 1.0 × 1013 and 1.5 × 1013 conidia ha-1 and 10% imidacloprid WP sprayed biweekly at a label rate. RESULTS: Tiller infestation percentage and aphid density in the 5-week field trials after the first spray were reduced to 18.7-22.4% and 9.1-12.4 aphids per tiller in the fungal treatments, and 12.8-25.3% and 2.8-20.9 aphids per tiller in the chemical treatment, contrasting with 49.2-60.3% and 37.1-108.5 aphids per tiller in the control. Percent control efficacies (±SD) computed with weekly aphid densities over the period averaged 84.0 ± 1.6 and 85.3 ± 1.8 versus 78.0 ± 4.0 and 79.9 ± 3.2 in the high-rate versus low-rate treatments of Bb and TBb, respectively, and 84.5 ± 7.8 in the chemical treatment. Imidacloprid showed faster kill action but more variable efficacy than the fungal treatments throughout the trials. CONCLUSION: Either Bb or TBb formulation competes with imidacloprid in reducing percent infestation and aphid density. The overall efficacy was significantly higher in the treatments of TBb than of Bb. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

MED12 variants associated with X-linked recessive partial epilepsy without intellectual disability.

OBJECTIVES: The MED12 gene encodes mediator complex subunit 12, which is a component of the mediator complex involved in the transcriptional regulation of nearly all RNA polymerase II-dependent genes. MED12 variants have previously been associated with developmental disorders with or without nonspecific intellectual disability. This study aims to explore the association between MED12 variants and epilepsy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Trios-based whole-exome sequencing was performed in a cohort of 349 unrelated cases with partial (focal) epilepsy without acquired causes. The genotype-phenotype correlations of MED12 variants were analyzed. RESULTS: Five hemizygous missense MED12 variants, including c.958A>G/p.Ile320Val, c.1757G>A/p.Ser586Asn, c.2138C>T/p.Pro713Leu, c.3379T>C/p.Ser1127Pro, and c.4219A>C/p.Met1407Leu were identified in five unrelated males with partial epilepsy. All patients showed infrequent focal seizures and achieved seizure free without developmental abnormalities or intellectual disability. All the hemizygous variants were inherited from asymptomatic mothers (consistent with the X-linked recessive inheritance pattern) and were absent in the general population. The two variants with damaging hydrogen bonds were associated with early-onset seizures. Further genotype-phenotype analysis revealed that congenital anomaly disorder (Hardikar syndrome) was associated with (de novo) destructive variants in an X-linked dominant inheritance pattern, whereas epilepsy was associated with missense variants in an X-linked recessive inheritance pattern. Phenotypic features of intellectual disability appeared as the intermediate phenotype in terms of both genotype and inheritance. Epilepsy-related variants were located at the MED12-LCEWAV domain and the regions between MED12-LCEWAV and MED12-POL. CONCLUSION: MED12 is a potentially causative gene for X-linked recessive partial epilepsy without developmental or intellectual abnormalities. The genotype-phenotype correlation of MED12 variants explains the phenotypic variations and can help the genetic diagnosis.

Impact of preoperative [18F]FDG PET/CT vs. contrast-enhanced CT in the staging and survival of patients with clinical stage I and II non-small cell lung cancer: a 10-year follow-up study.

OBJECTIVES: To elucidate the impact of [18F]FDG positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) vs. CT workup on staging and prognostic evaluation of clinical stage (c) I-II NSCLC. METHODS: We retrospectively identified 659 cI-II NSCLC who underwent CT (267 patients) or preoperative CT followed by PET/CT (392 patients), followed by curative-intended complete resection in our hospital from January 2008 to December 2013. Differences were assessed between preoperative and postoperative stage. Five-year disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier approach and compared with log-rank test. Impact of preoperative PET/CT on survival was assessed by Cox regression analysis. RESULTS: The study included 659 patients [mean age, 59.5 years ± 10.8 (standard deviation); 379 men]. The PET/CT group was superior over CT group in DFS [12.6 vs. 6.9 years, HR 0.67 (95% CI 0.53-0.84), p < 0.001] and OS [13.9 vs. 10.5 years, HR 0.64 (95% CI 0.50-0.81), p < 0.001]. In CT group, more patients thought to have cN0 migrated to pN1/2 disease as compared with PET/CT group [26.4% (66/250) vs. 19.2% (67/349), p < 0.001], resulting in more stage cI cases being upstaged to pII-IV [24.7% (49/198) vs. 16.1% (47/292), p = 0.02], yet this was not found in cII NSCLC [27.5% (19/69) vs. 27.0% (27/100), p = 0.94]. Cox regression analysis identified preoperative PET/CT as an independent prognostic factor of OS and DFS (p = 0.002, HR = 0.69, 95% CI 0.54-0.88; p = 0.004, HR = 0.72, 95% CI 0.58-0.90). CONCLUSION: Addition of preoperative [18F]FDG PET/CT was associated with superior DFS and OS in resectable cI-II NSCLC, which may result from accurate staging and stage-appropriate therapy.

[Y chromosome microdeletions, chromosome karyotypes and reproductive hormones in patients with azoospermia and severe oligozoospermia].

OBJECTIVE: To study the correlation of azoospermia and severe oligozoospermia with Y chromosome microdeletions, chromosome karyotype and reproductive hormones in male infertility patients. METHODS: We collected semen samples from 63 patients with azoospermia, 49 with severe oligozoospermia and 60 men with normal semen parameters, and determined the incidence of Y chromosome microdeletions, chromosome karyotypes and the levels of reproductive hormones. RESULTS: The incidence rate of Y chromosome microdeletions was 11.11% in the azoospermia and 8.16% in the severe oligozoospermia patients, as compared with 0 in the normal controls (P<0.05). The rate of chromosome abnormalities was 9.52% in the azoospermia group, with statistically significant differences from the severe oligozoospermia and normal control men (both 0) (P<0.05). The levels of FSH and LH were significantly higher in the azoospermia ([20.41 +/- 19.34] IU/L and [11.44 +/- 9.48] IU/L) and the severe oligozoospermia patients ([8.88 +/- 7.04] IU/L and [6.78 +/- 3.85] IU/L) than in the normal males ([3.88 +/- 2.21] IU/L and [4.63 +/- 1.51] IU/L) (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Examinations of genetics and reproductive hormones are necessary for infertile males with azoospermia and severe oligozoospermia, which may contribute to early diagnosis and treatment.

A nitrogen-doped carbon nanotube confined CuCo nanoalloy catalyzing one-pot conversion of levulinic acid to 1,4-pentanediol.

Nitrogen-doped carbon nanotube confined CuCo nanoalloy catalysts are fabricated by using ZIF-67 as a sacrificial template for the one-pot selective hydrogenation of levulinic acid (LA) to 1,4-pentanediol (1,4-PDO). The optimal catalyst achieves a high 1,4-PDO yield of 87.8% at full LA conversion. It also exhibits good recycling stability and can be reused at least 5 times.

Selective conversion of carbon dioxide into heavy olefins over Ga modified delafossite-CuFeO2.

Ga-modified CuFeO2 used as an efficient catalyst for CO2 hydrogenation to heavy olefins (C=5+) can achieve a high heavy olefin selectivity of 53.5%, which lies at a high level among reported catalysts, at a single pass CO2 conversion of 41.5%. It also displays an excellent long-term stability over 100 h, exhibiting its promising potential for industrial applications.

[CCR1 expression on immune cells in orbital tissue of patients with thyroid associated ophthalmopathy].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of CC chemokine receptor 1(CCR1) on the immune cells in orbital tissue of patients with thyroid associated ophthalmopathy(TAO). METHODS: The tissue samples of orbital tissue were collected from 25 cases of TAO patient and 10 normal control subjects, and the expression of CCR1 in the immune cells was studied by SP immunohistochemistry. The correlation between CCR1 and clinical activity scores (GAS) was analyzed. RESULTS: The expression of CCR1 on immune cells was positive, in orbital tissue of patients with TAO, and the positive rate was 84%, while it was negative or low positive in normal control subjects. The difference between them was significant (P < 0.05). In addition, the expression of CCR1 on the immune cells of orbital tissue with TAO had significant correlation with CAS (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The expression of chemokine receptor CCR1 on the immune cells in orbital tissue of TAO patients is higher than that of normal subjects. CCR1 may play a role in the pathogenesis of TAO.

[Expression of CCR1 in the orbital fibroblasts with thyroid associated ophthalmopathy].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of chemokine receptor (CCR1) in the orbital fibroblasts (OFs) with thyroid associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) and to explore the pathogenesis of TAO. METHODS: By immunohistochemistry, the expression of CCR1 was studied in 25 cases of TAO patients and 10 normal control subjects and the correlation between CCR1 and GAS was analysed. RESULTS: The expression of CCR1 in the OFs with TAO was positive, but it was negative or weak positive in normal control subjects. The difference between them was significant (P < 0.05). And the expression of CCR1 in the OFs with TAO had no significant correlation with GAS (r = 0. 048, P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The expression of chemokine receptor CCR1 is higher on OFs of TAO patients than that of normal subjects. CCR1 maybe play a role in pathogenesis of TAO.

[An outbreak of mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia in a kindergarten].

OBJECTIVE: To study the epidemiological and clinical features of the mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP) that occurred in a single class of a kindergarten in Beijing in July 2006. METHODS: The environment and the attendance record of the kindergarten from the beginning of August 2005 to the end of July 2006 were investigated, and the sick status of the children absent for illness were interviewed by face to face or telephone through their parents. The disease data of the in-patient children with MPP were collected through questionnaires and analyzed. Serological screening for MP was performed with the Serodia Myco II gelatin particle agglutination test (Fujirebio, Japan). RESULTS: In mid-July 2006, in a day-care kindergarten with 3 grade classes, 3 out of 25 six-year-old children in the top class were hospitalized within 4 days and diagnosed as MPP. A total of 8 children had the symptoms of fever and cough during late May and mid-July in 2006, 5 children conduct chest radiographs and all had pneumonia, all these five children showed antibody positive for MP, 3 of them showed a more than 4-fold increase in antibody titer to MP in serum. There were no pneumoniae cases in the other two classes during the same period, and no pneumoniae cases happened among the teachers in the top class and the parents of the 5 pneumoniae children. All the children were moved to this classroom temporarily with limited ventilation and sunshine in March 2006. After improvement of the ventilation in the classroom, no additional pneumoniae cases occurred in the top class till the early September 2006. The 5 MPP children showed neither sneeze and nasal obstruction, nor skin rash, earache and any other extrapulmonary complication, and their peripheral white blood cell count was in the normal range (3.9 - 7.7) x 10(9). CONCLUSION: The MPP outbreak in a kindergarten was caused by poor ventilation of the temporary classroom. MP infection in children is liable to cause pneumonia.

Direct Production of 2,5-Dimethylfuran with High Yield from Fructose over a Carbon-Based Solid Acid-Coated CuCo Bimetallic Catalyst.

A carbon-based solid acid, which functionalized with p-toluenesulfonic acid (TsOH), an encapsulated non-noble CuCo multifunctional heterogeneous catalyst was for the first time developed and used to catalyze the one-pot direct conversion of fructose into 2,5-dimethylfuran (2,5-DMF) without purification of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) from the reaction solutions. Fructose was first transformed into intermediate 5-HMF over the outer shell carbon-based solid acid sites via dehydration, and subsequently 5-HMF was further converted to produce 2,5-DMF over the non-noble metal active sites in the core. As high as 71.1 mol % yield of 2,5-DMF was achieved in tetrahydrofuran at 220 °C and 3 MPa H2 for 10 h, which is higher than the yield reported for the direct conversion of fructose to 2,5-DMF. Besides, the carbon-based solid acid-coated CuCo catalyst could be reused up to five times.

Can whole-tumor apparent diffusion coefficient histogram analysis be helpful to evaluate breast phyllode tumor grades?

PURPOSE: To investigate whether whole-tumor apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) histogram analysis could be helpful to evaluate breast phyllode tumor (PT) grades. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This institutional review board-approved retrospective study included 56 PTs (23 benign lesions, 22 borderline lesions, and 11 malignant lesions) from August 2011 to November 2017. MRI was performed using a 1.5 T MR system equipped with a 4-channel SENSE breast coil. All cases were divided into two groups, benign PT (BPT) and borderline or malignant PT (BMPT). The conventional MR parameters included age, longest diameter, shape, margin, internal enhancement characteristics, cystic component of the tumor, wall of the cystic component, peritumoral edema on T2-weighted imaging (T2WI), T1-weighted imaging (T1WI) and T2WI signal intensity, time-signal intensity curve (TIC) patterns and early-stage enhancement ratio (EER). The ADC values were determined in three different types of regions of interest (ROIs), including a circular ROI (ROI-c), single-slice ROI (ROI-s), and whole-tumor ROI (ROI-w). All ADC values were measured twice by Observer A and B (with a 2-week interval). The Ki-67 index was determined, and cases were classified into a "negative group" (Ki-67<14%) and a "positive group" (Ki-67≥14%). SPSS Statistics V21.0 was used for the statistical analyses. RESULTS: Our study included 23 cases of BPT and 33 cases of BMPT (including 22 borderline PTs and 11 malignant PTs). Only 23 patients in BMPT group had Ki-67 results, and 17 of these were positive. Regarding conventional MR features, significant differences were observed in the margin (P = 0.011), cystic component (P<0.001), peritumoral edema on T2WI (P<0.001), and cystic wall (P = 0.011) of the PT between the BPT and BMPT groups. Regarding the ADC value, good intraobserver agreement for ROI-c, ROI-s and ROI-w measurements was obtained. For the three different ROIs, the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) values were 0.905 for ROI-c (P > 0.05), 0.965 (P > 0.05) for ROI-s and 0.994 (P > 0.05) for ROI-w. ADC parameter indicated that the figure of ROI-s tended to be higher than the ROI-c and ROI-w, while the ROI-c and ROI-w values were similar. However, no significant difference was found in ADC values between the BPT and BMPT groups for ROI-c, ROI-s and mean ROI-w values and the 10th, 25th, 50th and 75th ROI-w. The areas under the ROC curves for the mean ROI-w and the 10th, 25th, 50th and 75th ROI-w were 0.568, 0.613, 0.567, 0.544, and 0.540, respectively. CONCLUSION: Based on the results obtained in our study, the whole-tumor ADC histogram could not improve differentiation of the breast PT grade, while conventional MR images could provide more meaningful information, so morphological characteristics may be valuable than ADC value, and ADC could be used as a supplemental method to differentiate PT grades.

In situ source-template-interface reaction route to hollow ZrO(2) microspheres with mesoporous shells.

Hollow ZrO(2) microspheres with mesoporous shells have been synthesized by a novel hydrothermal reaction of zirconium oxychloride in the presence of urea, hydrochloric acid, and ethanol. The morphology and shell thickness of the hollow microspheres can be controlled by varying synthesis conditions. After calcination at high temperature, the morphologies of the hollow microspheres are essentially preserved. Pt catalyst supported on the hollow calcined ZrO(2) microspheres exhibits more excellent catalytic performance in CO oxidation than those on ZrO(2) powders derived from conventional precipitation methods.

dl-3n-butylphthalide prevents stroke via improvement of cerebral microvessels in RHRSP.

The purpose of the study is to establish a model of cold-induced stroke in hypertensive rats, and to study the preventive effect of dl-3n-butylphthalide ( NBP ) on stroke. Stroke-prone renovascular hypertension(RHRSP) was created in Sprague-Dawley rats. The animals were assigned randomly to NBP, aspirin treated and vehicle control group, with administration of the medications for 7 days, and then subjected to cold treatment in an environmentally controlled chamber for 3 days to induce the occurrence of stroke. The incidence of stroke, the volume of the brain lesion, patency of the microvessels by FITC-dextran perfusion and the number of microvessels by immunohisochemical detection of vwF were investigated. Cold induced different types of stroke in RHRSP. The incidence of ischemic stroke and the volume of the infarct were decreased, and the perfused microvessels were increased with NBP pretreatment. Our data suggest that NBP prevents cold-induced ischemic stroke via improvement of cerebral microvessels.