Oxygen Vacancy-Mediated CuWO4/CuBi2O4 Samples with Efficient Charge Transfer for Enhanced Catalytic Activity toward Photodegradation of Pharmacologically Active Compounds.

Photocatalytic degradation is a promising method for controlling the increasing contamination of the water environment due to pharmacologically active compounds (PHACs). Herein, oxygen vacancy (OV)-modulated Z-scheme CuWO4/CuBi2O4 hybrid systems were fabricated via thermal treatment by loading of CuWO4 nanoparticles with OVs on CuBi2O4 surfaces. The synthesized CuWO4/CuBi2O4 hybrid samples exhibited an enhanced photodegradation ability to remove PHACs under visible-light irradiation. More importantly, an optimized sample (10 wt % CuWO4/CuBi2O4) exhibited superior catalytic activity and excellent recycling stability for PHAC photodegradation. In addition, possible degradation paths for PHAC removal over the CuWO4/CuBi2O4 hybrid systems were proposed. The enhanced photocatalytic performance could be attributed to the efficient separation and transfer of photoformed charge pairs via the Z-scheme mechanism. This Z-scheme mechanism was systematically analyzed using trapping experiments of active species, ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy, electron spin resonance, and the photodepositions of noble metals. The findings of this study can pave the way for developing highly efficient Z-scheme photocatalytic systems for PHAC photodegradation.

Zinc-Air Battery-Based Self-Powered Sensor with High Output Power for Ultrasensitive MicroRNA let-7a Detection in Cancer Cells.

Self-powered sensors do not require a power supply and are easy to miniaturize, which have potential for constructing wearable, portable, and real-time detection devices. However, it is challenging for the detection of low abundant targets due to the low output power density of fuel cells and much interference of complex biological environment. Herein, a new kind of photocatalytic zinc-air battery-based self-powered electrochemical sensor (ZAB-SPES) was constructed for the detection of microRNA let-7a (miRNA let-7a) by combining magnetic nanobeads (MBs) with a metal-organic framework loaded with glucose oxidase (MOFs@GOX). Poly(1,4-di(2-thienyl))benzene (PDTB) was used as the photocathode material, and the proposed ZAB-SPES had a high power density of 22.8 µW/cm2, which was 2-3-fold of commonly used photofuel cells. MBs can capture and separate miRNA from complex samples quickly with a high separation efficiency of 99% within 60 s. The competitive reaction of oxygen reduction reaction between PDTB and MOFs@GOX would change the output power density of the ZAB-SPES. Based on the relationship between output power density and target concentration, the ZAB-SPES realized ultrasensitive detection of miRNA let-7a with a detection limit down to 1.38 fM. Furthermore, the successful detection of miRNA let-7a in A549 cancer cells indicated the great prospects of ZAB-SPES in clinical analysis and early diagnosis of cancers.

A comparative study on the effects of MRI- and CT-guided interventional therapies on uterine fibroids.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of MRI- and CT-guided interventional therapies on uterine fibroids. METHODS: A total of 280 patients with uterine fibroids who were treated in our hospital from August 2008 to February 2014 were selected and divided into a treatment group and a control group by random draw (n=140). The control group and the treatment group were subjected to CT- and MRI-guided interventional therapies for uterine artery embolization. RESULTS: After three months of treatment, 94.3% and 92.9% of heavy menstrual bleeding and pelvic pressure of the treatment group were relieved respectively, which were similar to those of the control group (92.9% and 92.1% respectively) (P>0.05). The two groups had similar uterine and fibroid sizes before treatment, which were all significantly decreased after treatment (P<0.05) when the treatment group had significantly smaller uteri and fibroids than the control group did (P<0.05). The serum follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, estradiol levels, arterial resistive indices and endometrial thicknesses of the two groups were similar before treatment, which were significantly increased after treatment (P<0.05). Meanwhile, the values of the two groups became significantly different (P<0.05). The treatment group was also significantly less prone to complications such as fever, vaginal bleeding and hematuria than the control group after treatment (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Interventional therapy, especially that guided by MRI, can be performed accurately and safely by mildly affecting the ovary and by promoting the recovery of uterine artery blood flow and endometrial thickness.

Ni-CoSe2 heterojunction coated by N-doped carbon for modified separators of high-performance Li-sulfur batteries.

Functional separators modified by transition metal compounds have been proven to be effective in suppressing the shuttle effect of polysulfides and accelerating sluggish electrode dynamics in lithium-sulfur batteries (LSBs). However, the behaviors of heterojunctions composed of transition metals and their compounds in LSBs are still rarely studied. Herein, we report a novel Ni-CoSe2 heterostructure coated with nitrogen-doped carbon. Compared to homogeneous cobalt diselenide, it exhibits much stronger adsorption and catalytic conversion abilities towards polysulfides. With the modified separators, the lithium-sulfur batteries exhibit significantly improved capacity retention and reduced polarization during cycling.

Facile synthesis of Si/Ge/graphite@C composite with improved tap density and electrochemical performance.

Nanoengineering is one of the most effective methods to promote the lithium storage performance of silicon material, which suffers from huge volume changes and poor reaction kinetics during cycling. However, the commercial application of nanostructured silicon is hindered by its high manufacturing cost and low tap density. Herein, a Si/Ge/graphite@C composite was successfully synthesized by ball-milling with subsequent calcination. By introducing Ge, graphite and an amorphous carbon coating, both tap density and electrochemical performance are improved significantly. Benefiting from the synergetic effects of the above components, the Si/Ge/graphite@C composite delivers a reversibility capacity of 474 mA h g-1 at 0.2 A g-1 and stable capacity retention.

Highly-efficient and selective adsorption of anionic dyes onto hollow polymer microcapsules having a high surface-density of amino groups: Isotherms, kinetics, thermodynamics and mechanism.

Organic dye pollution in the water environment is a problem of global concern. Adsorption is demonstrated as a promising technology to remove organic dyes from wastewater, in which the development of highly-efficient adsorbents is still the challenging task. Herein, we reported the facile fabrication of polyamine-based cyclophosphazene hybrid (PCP-NH2) hollow microcapsules with cross-linked structure, generated by one-step precipitation polymerization between hexachlorocyclotriphosphazene and branched polyethyleneimine, and subsequent acetone treatment. Their morphology, composition and structure were confirmed by SEM, TEM, FTIR, TGA, and XPS. The endowment of hollow PCP-NH2 microcapsules as potential adsorbents were thoroughly evaluated using eight organic dyes with different surface charges. The adsorption action of hollow PCP-NH2 microcapsules highly depends on the surfaces charges, exhibiting highly-efficient and selective adsorption behavior towards anionic dyes. Especially, The adsorption capacity of the hollow PCP-NH2 microcapsules towards anionic dyes of EY, ACBK, MO and EB reaches up to 1196.36, 1190.65, 1142.77 and 1040.92 mg/g at 25 °C, respectively. The adsorption kinetics shows a better fit to pseudo second-order kinetic model, compared to pseudo-first-order kinetic and Weber's intraparticle diffusion models. The adsorption equilibrium data followed the Langmuir isotherm well. The adsorption thermodynamic experiments demonstrated that adsorption was a physisorption process with endothermic and spontaneous characteristic.

IGF-1 and VEGF can be used as prognostic indicators for patients with uterine fibroids treated with uterine artery embolization.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) levels and the prognosis of patients with uterine fibroids following uterine artery embolization (UAE) treatment. A total of 70 patients with uterine fibroids and 20 healthy controls were enrolled in this study between 2012 and 2014. The serum levels of IGF-1 and VEGF were measured using ELISA. Multiple-factor analysis was performed to assess the association between serum levels of IGF-1/VEGF and certain clinical characteristics, including size, location, number of uterine fibroids and adenomyosis. Progression-free survival curves were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method. The serum levels of IGF-1 and VEGF in patients with uterine fibroids prior to UAE treatment were significantly higher than those in controls (P<0.05). At 1 week after UAE treatment, the serum levels of IGF-1 and VEGF were significantly lower compared with those prior to UAE treatment. The serum levels of IGF-1 and VEGF at 1 or 3 months after UAE treatment were significantly higher than those at 1 week after UAE treatment. The serum levels of IGF-1 and VEGF were significantly correlated with the clinical characteristics of uterine fibroids (P<0.05). Lower levels of IGF-1 and VEGF in the serum following UAE treatment were associated with an enhanced progression-free survival of patients. In conclusion, the levels of IGF-1 and VEGF in the serum following UAE treatment can be used as indicators of prognosis in patients with uterine fibroids.

Effects of ß-like cell autotransplantation through hepatic arterial intervention on diabetic dogs.

Exogenous insulin and EGFP genes were transduced into bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells of beagle dogs using the retroviral vector pMSCV to prepare ß-like cells. These cells were autotransplanted into the liver of diabetic dogs through hepatic arterial intervention, and physiological indices before and after transplantation were monitored. Autotransplantation of ß-like cells significantly improved blood sugar, insulin levels, and body mass of diabetic dogs (P < 0.01) continuously for over 80 weeks. Since the liver function remained normal and no tumors formed, this method was determined to be reliable and safe. Intrahepatic autotransplantation of ß-like cells had long-term, reliable, and safe therapeutic effects on diabetic dogs.

Levels of serum superoxide dismutase and high sensitive C-reactive protein in type 2 diabetic patients with lower extremity vascular disease are enhanced by interventional treatment.

OBJECTIVES: This study is to determine the levels of serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) and high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in type 2 diabetic patients with lower extremity vascular disease before and after interventional treatment. METHODS: A total of 65 patients were enrolled in this study, including 35 mails and 30 females. Another 65 healthy individuals were used as control, including 41 males and 24 females. Lesions and degrees of stenosis were determined by computed tomography angiography. Contralateral iliac artery and proximal femoral artery occlusion were treated by retrograde femoral artery puncture. The levels of serum SOD and hs-CRP were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Correlation was analyzed by Pearson's test. Progression-free survival curve was analyzed by Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: The levels of serum SOD at 20 min, 24 hr, 7 d, and 14 d after surgery were significantly decreased compared with those before surgery (P < 0.05). The levels of serum hs-CRP at 20 min and 24 hr after surgery were increased compared with those before surgery (P < 0.05). The level of serum hs-CRP at 14 d after surgery was significantly lower than that before surgery (P < 0.05). The correlation between SOD and hs-CRP was positive before surgery (r = 0.03, P < 0.001), but negative at 24 hr after surgery (r = -0.008, P < 0.001). The levels of serum SOD were significantly lower than median value (P < 0.05), while the Levels of serum hs-CRP were significantly higher than median value (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The levels of serum SOD and hs-CRP were significantly different before and after interventional treatment. The levels of serum SOD and hs-CRP can be used as indicators for the efficacy and prognosis of interventional treatment on type 2 diabetic patients with lower extremity vascular disease.