Design of mmWave Directional Antenna for Enhanced 5G Broadcasting Coverage.

5G mmWave broadcasting is considered to be the main method of future broadcasting. However, the mmWave transmission has a large space loss, especially in tunnels. In order to compensate for the attenuation of the broadcast signal, a directional horn antenna is designed in this paper. Substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) technology, dual-element arrays and extension structures are used to improve the antenna structure and achieve good directional characteristics. The multi-objective genetic algorithm (MOGA) is used to optimize the antenna parameters and improve optimization efficiency. Ultimately, the whole antenna was 28.2 mm in length and 28.6 mm in width, and the FR4 material, with a relative permittivity of 4.4, was used as a dielectric plate. The maximum gain of the antenna is 8.06 dB, and the bandwidth with gain greater than 6.5 dB is nearly 2 GHz. Antenna performance simulation and test results show that the extended semicircular structure is beneficial in enhancing the directional radiation of the antenna. This provides a reference method for directional antennas applied to 5G millimeter wave bands to increase gain and narrow beams.

The utilization pattern of serum tumor markers in lung cancer patients: A population-based retrospective descriptive study.

BACKGROUND: The trends in usage of tumor markers, including CEA, SCC, NSE, Cyfra21-1, and ProGRP, in Chinese lung cancer patients in the real-world setting are not fully investigated. METHODS: A retrospective descriptive study was conducted using the database of Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, China between January 2013 and December 2017, involving patients primarily diagnosed with NSCLC or SCLC. Utilization trends by first discharge year, utilization rates within different durations before and after first discharge date, and combined utilization patterns of multiple tumor markers were analyzed. RESULTS: The utilization of all these tumor markers showed increased from 2013 to 2017. CEA, Cyfra21-1, and NSE were the most frequently detected, which increased slightly from around 50% in 2013 to around 78% in 2017 in NSCLC and from around 70% in 2013 to around 92% in 2017 in SCLC. CEA, Cyfra21-1, and NSE were the most commonly measured within 3 months before first diagnosis with approximately 65% in NSCLC and 80% in SCLC, and ProGRP had the lowest utilization (around 30%). CEA, NSE, and Cyfra21-1 had the highest utilization rates after first diagnosis with both around 80% in NSCLC or SCLC. Combined usage of five tumor markers was ranked the first pattern in combined utilization. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests CEA, Cyfra21-1, and NSE are the most frequently detected before or after first diagnosis of NSCLC or SCLC. However, SCC and ProGRP tests appeared to have relatively low usages. The utilization pattern was consistent with recommendations of guideline, but underutilization still existed.

Rosacea is associated with conjoined interactions between physical barrier of the skin and microorganisms: A pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Rosacea is a common condition characterized by transient or persistent central facial erythema, and often papules and pustules. Currently, the role of bacterium in the development and progression of rosacea remains controversial. This study aimed to investigate the difference in the physiological conditions and microorganisms between the lesional and non-lesional areas of papulopustular rosacea. METHODS: Twenty-five French patients with papulopustular rosacea were enrolled in this pilot study. Each patient was subjected to clinical assessment, and the skin barrier function was tested in lesional and non-lesional areas. In addition, samples from the lesional and non-lesional areas were collected for bacterial culturing. RESULTS: Of all subjects included in the study, a lower skin conductivity was measured in lesional areas than in non-lesional areas (43.5 ± 12.4 vs. 57.2 ± 11.6 U, P < .05), and a higher transepidermal water loss (TEWL) value was found in lesional areas than in non-lesional areas (17.2 ± 5.9 vs. 14.2 ± 4.1 g/(m2  h), P < .05). We found a lower TEWL in lesions in rosacea patients with bacterial dysbiosis than in those with bacterial balance (P < .05). In addition, there were significant differences in the skin conductivity and TEWL between lesional and non-lesional areas in patients with bacterial dysbiosis (P < .001), and no significant differences were seen in patients with bacterial balance (P < .05). CONCLUSION: The results of the present study demonstrate that the physiological features of rosacea are closely associated with the interactions between the host and the microorganisms.

Morphological and molecular characterization of Ceratomyxa batam n. sp. (Myxozoa: Ceratomyxidae) infecting the gallbladder of the cultured Trachinotus ovatus (Perciformes: Carangidae) in Batam Island, Indonesia.

A new coelozoic myxozoan species, Ceratomyxa batam n. sp., was identified in cultured carangid fish, Trachinotus ovatus (Perciformes: Carangidae), in waters off Batam Island of Indonesia. The bi- and trivalved spores were observed in the gallbladder of T. ovatus. Mature bivalved spores of C. batam n. sp. were transversely elongated and narrowly crescent in shape, 3.8 ± 0.36 (2.7-4.6) µm long and 19.2 ± 1.75 (16.2-22.0) µm thick. Two sub-spherical polar capsules were 2.3 ± 0.18 (2.0-2.8) µm long and 2.6 ± 0.16 (2.3-2.9) µm wide. Prevalence was 72.2% in 72 examined T. ovatus according to evaluations dating from November 2016. The maximum likelihood phylogenetic tree based on small subunit rDNA sequence showed similarity with Ceratomyxa robertsthomsoni and Ceratomyxa thalassomae found in Australia. This is the first report of Ceratomyxa species identified in a seawater fish at Batam Island, Indonesia.

Cleanser use could decrease numbers of Demodex Folliculorum in mild to moderate acne patients.

Objective: This study was to verify if the skin cleanser could help decrease the infection ratio of Demodex Folliculorum in acne patients. Methods: 132 participants with mild to moderate vulgaris acne participated in this monocentric, prospective, double-blind study. Dermatologists grading and Standardized Skin Surface Biopsy were performed in baseline and after using cleanser only 7 d later. Results: There was no significant difference between the 2 times for each type of acne, but the number of Demodex Folliculorum was significantly decreased compared with baseline. There was no relationship between the number of Demodex Folliculorum and the total number of acne lesions. Limitations: Short follow-up time in 7 d. Conclusion: Using the cleanser could decrease the average number of Demodex Folliculorum in only 7 d in mild to moderate acne patients. There is no relationship between Demodex and acne lesions number.

Evaluation of the severity and triggering factors of sensitive scalp in Chinese females.

BACKGROUND: Sensitive scalp which has been recently proposed and assessed by several questionnaires is one of the most cosmetic concerns in sensitive skin syndrome by consumers. OBJECTIVE: This study is to investigate the prevalence and factors related to the scalp sensitivity in China. METHODS: Two well-known questionnaires including four-grade self-assessment and 3S, and a new questionnaire we proposed (10Q), were used to evaluate the severity and symptoms of sensitive scalp. RESULTS: The proportions of sensitive scalp according to self-assessment and 3S were 35.77% and 57.45%, respectively. Distributions of severity and tendency of proportion along ages were significantly different between the two methods. The 10Q questionnaire which we designed could discriminate different grade of severity of sensitive scalp with superior reliability. Moreover, triggering factors which have significant impacts on the symptoms of sensitive scalp were elucidated by logistic regression analysis, including air dryness, exercises, humidity, heat, and sun. CONCLUSION: Questionnaires with more dimensions and details such as 10Q and 3S should be used for the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment monitoring on sensitive scalp in Chinese female.

Structural optimization and biological evaluation of 1,5-disubstituted pyrazole-3-carboxamines as potent inhibitors of human 5-lipoxygenase.

Human 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) is a well-validated drug target and its inhibitors are potential drugs for treating leukotriene-related disorders. Our previous work on structural optimization of the hit compound 2 from our in-house collection identified two lead compounds, 3a and 3b, exhibiting a potent inhibitory profile against 5-LOX with IC50 values less than 1 µmol/L in cell-based assays. Here, we further optimized these compounds to prepare a class of novel pyrazole derivatives by opening the fused-ring system. Several new compounds exhibited more potent inhibitory activity than the lead compounds against 5-LOX. In particular, compound 4e not only suppressed lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation in brain inflammatory cells and protected neurons from oxidative toxicity, but also significantly decreased infarct damage in a mouse model of cerebral ischemia. Molecular docking analysis further confirmed the consistency of our theoretical results and experimental data. In conclusion, the excellent in vitro and in vivo inhibitory activities of these compounds against 5-LOX suggested that these novel chemical structures have a promising therapeutic potential to treat leukotriene-related disorders.

Sphingosine kinase 1 mediates neuroinflammation following cerebral ischemia.

Sphingosine kinases (Sphks) are the rate-limiting kinases in the generation of sphingosine-1-phosphate, which is a well-established intracellular pro-survival lipid mediator. Sphk2 has been reported to be protective following experimental stroke. We investigated the role of Sphk1 in cerebral ischemia using a mouse middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model and an in vitro glucose-oxygen deprivation (OGD) model. Sphk expression and activity were assessed in the ischemic brain with quantitative PCR (qPCR), Western blot, immunohistochemistry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Pharmacological and gene knockdown approaches were utilized to investigate the effects of Sphk1 on stroke outcomes. The expression of Sphk1 but not that of Sphk2 was rapidly induced in the cortical penumbra over 96h after MCAO, and the microglia were one of the major cellular sources of Sphk1 induction. Consistently, Sphk activity was enhanced in the cortical penumbra. In contrast to the protective role of Sphk2, pharmacological inhibition and cortical knockdown of Sphk1 reduced infarction at 24 and 96h after reperfusion. Additionally, the Sphk1 inhibitor improved the neurological deficits at 96h after reperfusion. Mechanistically, Sphk1 inhibition and knockdown significantly attenuated MCAO-induced expression of inflammatory mediators in the cortical penumbra. Moreover, using a conditioned medium transfer approach, we demonstrated that OGD-treated neurons induced the expression of Sphk1 and pro-inflammatory mediators in primary microglia, and the microglial induction of pro-inflammatory mediators by ischemic neurons was blunted by Sphk1 inhibition. Taken together, our results indicate that Sphk1 plays an essential role in mediating post-stroke neuroinflammation.

CaMKKß-dependent activation of AMP-activated protein kinase is critical to suppressive effects of hydrogen sulfide on neuroinflammation.

AIMS: The manner in which hydrogen sulfide (H2S) suppresses neuroinflammation is poorly understood. We investigated whether H2S polarized microglia to an anti-inflammatory (M2) phenotype by activating AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). RESULTS: Three structurally unrelated H2S donors (5-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3H-1,2-dithiocyclopentene-3-thione [ADT-OH], (p-methoxyphenyl) morpholino-phosphinodithioic acid [GYY4137], and sodium hydrosulfide [NaHS]) enhanced AMPK activation in BV2 microglial cells in the presence and absence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The overexpression of the H2S synthase cystathionine ß-synthase (CBS) in BV2 cells enhanced endogenous H2S production and AMPK activation regardless of LPS stimulation. On LPS stimulation, overexpression of both ADT-OH and CBS promoted M2 polarization of BV2 cells, as evidenced by suppressed M1 and elevated M2 signature gene expression. The promoting effects of ADT-OH on M2 polarization were attenuated by an AMPK inhibitor or AMPK knockdown. Liver kinase B1 (LKB1) and calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase ß (CaMKKß) are upstream kinases that activate AMPK. ADT-OH activated AMPK in Hela cells lacking LKB1. In contrast, both the CaMKKß inhibitor and siRNA abolished ADT-OH activation of AMPK in LPS-stimulated BV2 cells. Moreover, the CaMKKß inhibitor and siRNA blunted ADT-OH suppression on M1 gene expression and enhancement of M2 gene expression in LPS-stimulated BV2 cells. Moreover, ADT-OH promoted M2 polarization of primary microglia in an AMPK activation- and CaMKKß-dependent manner. Finally, in an LPS-induced in vivo neuroinflammation model, both ADT-OH and NaHS enhanced AMPK activation in the brain area where microglia were over-activated on LPS stimulation. Furthermore, ADT-OH suppressed M1 and promoted M2 gene expression in this in vivo model. INNOVATION AND CONCLUSION: CaMKKß-dependent AMPK activation is an unrecognized mechanism underlying H2S suppression on neuroinflammation.

New tetra(organotin)-decorated boat-like polyoxometalate.

The reaction of Cl(3)Sn(CH(2))(2)COOCH(3), [H(2)P(2)W(12)O(48)](12-) and WO(4)(2-) in acetate buffer solution led to the hydrolysis of estertin into a carboxyethyltin group and the assembly of a new tetra(organotin)-decorated boat-like polyoxometalate.