Photon Upconversion at Organic-Inorganic Interfaces.

Photon upconversion is a process that combines low-energy photons to form useful high-energy photons. There are potential applications in photovoltaics, photocatalysis, biological imaging, etc. Semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) are promising for the absorption of these low-energy photons due to the high extinction coefficient of QDs, especially in the near infrared (NIR). This allows the intriguing use of diffuse light sources such as solar irradiation. In this review, we describe the development of this organic-QD upconversion platform based on triplet-triplet annihilation, focusing on the dark exciton in QDs with triplet character. Then we introduce the underlying energy transfer steps, starting from QD triplet photosensitization, triplet exciton transport, triplet-triplet annihilation, and ending with the upconverted emission. Design principles to improve the total upconversion efficiency are presented. We end with limitations in current reports and proposed future directions. This review provides a guide for designing efficient organic-QD upconversion platforms for future applications, including overcoming the Shockley-Queisser limit for more efficient solar energy conversion, NIR-based phototherapy, and diagnostics in vivo.

Comparing the Efficacy of Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery and Open Thoracotomy in Sleeve Lobectomy for the Treatment of Central-Type Non-small Cell Lung Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Objective: Central-type Non-small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) treatment involves different surgical techniques, including Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS) and Open Thoracotomy Sleeve Lobectomy. However, there remains a lack of consensus on the most effective treatment modality. Methods: This study strictly adhered to PRISMA guidelines. Four electronic databases were searched without time or language limitation, and studies comparing VATS and Open Thoracotomy in patients with central-type NSCLC undergoing sleeve lobectomy were included. Primary outcomes were perioperative outcomes (blood loss, operation time, intraoperative lymph node dissection count, postoperative hospital stay, and complication rates), 3-year Progression-Free Survival (PFS) rate, and Overall Survival (OS) rate. Results: The meta-analysis included six studies with 569 patients. VATS was associated with longer operation time [SMD = 0.75, 95% CI (0.29, 1.21)], less intraoperative blood loss [SMD = -0.23; 95% CI (-0.44, -0.01)], and shorter hospital stay [SMD = -0.53; 95% CI (-0.73, -0.34)]. There were no significant differences in the number of lymph nodes dissected, postoperative complications, and 3-year PFS and OS rates between the two groups. Conclusions: VATS sleeve lobectomy for central-type NSCLC results in less surgical trauma and quicker postoperative recovery without adversely impacting tumor prognosis compared to open thoracotomy sleeve lobectomy. Despite a longer operation time, VATS could be considered an alternative to open thoracotomy sleeve lobectomy. VATS sleeve lobectomy is a safe and effective alternative to open thoracotomy in treating central-type NSCLC, as it results in less surgical trauma and quicker postoperative recovery without impacting tumor prognosis negatively. More well-designed randomized controlled trials are required to verify these findings.

Isolation, identification and characterization of a novel antimicrobial peptide from Moringa oleifera seeds based on affinity adsorption.

This study aimed to characterize a novel antimicrobial peptide (AMP) obtained from Moringa oleifera seed protein hydrolysates. Cell membrane chromatography and live bacteria adsorption were combined into a single step to efficiently isolate the active fraction of the AMP. Five peptides were identified by LC-MS/MS, among which the MCNDCGA peptide (termed MOp3) showed the greatest inhibitory effect against Staphylococcus aureus [minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC): 2 mg/mL]. MOp3 was identified as a hydrophobic anionic AMP rich in ß-sheet structures with negligible hemolytic activity at 2.0 × MIC. MOp3 had good tolerance to salt solutions at 5 % and pH range 6.0-8.0, but was sensitive to high temperatures (>100 °C) and acid protease. Microscopic observation further revealed that MOp3 induced irreversible damage onto the cell membrane of S. aureus and interacted with dihydrofolate reductase and DNA gyrase by hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interaction. These findings highlight the potential application of a new antimicrobial agent against S. aureus in the food industry.

Better effect of intrapleural perfusion with hyperthermic chemotherapy by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for malignant pleural effusion treatment compared to normothermic chemoperfusion of the pleural cavity.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of intrapleural perfusion with hyperthermic chemotherapy (IPHC) in treating malignant pleural effusion (MPE) compared to normothermic chemoperfusion of the pleural cavity (NCPC), and to investigate the better treatment to control MPE. METHODS: Malignant pleural effusion patients were enrolled in the study and treated with NCPC or IPHC under video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). The chest drainage duration, clinical characteristics, and recurrence time of pleural effusion of patients were collected for statistical analysis. The chi-squared test and the Fisher's exact test were applied to compare the distribution differences in categorical variables. Progression-free survival (PFS) was estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method and was compared by the log-rank test. The survival analysis was performed using the Cox proportional hazards method. RESULTS: A total of 37 MPE patients were enrolled in this study. Twenty-seven patients received NCPC and 10 patients received IPHC under VATS. Significant differences were found in pathological types (p = 0.011), chest drainage duration (p = 0.005), and remission rate (p = 0.009) between two different treatment groups. The chest drainage duration of IPHC under VATS was shorter than the NCPC group (t = 2.969, p = 0.005). The remission rate of MPE in IPHC group was better than the NCPC one (OR = 0.031, 95% CI: 0.002-0.507, p = 0.015). The result of the Kaplan-Meier method showed that IPHC group could significantly prolong the PFS of patients with MPE compared to NCPC group (log-rank p = 0.002). Univariate cox regression analysis showed that patients with MPE in the IPHC group presented significant longer PFS than the NCPC group (HR = 0.264, 95% CI: 0.098-0.713, p = 0.009). Multivariate cox regression analysis further verified this conclusion (HR = 0.268, 95% CI: 0.096-0.753, p = 0.012). CONCLUSION: Compared to the NCPC, the IPHC under VATS presents a better control effect on MPE, shorter tube placement time, and longer complete remission time. For this reason, we recommend IPHC under VATS as the first-line treatment for patients with MPE those who can tolerate minimally invasive surgery.

Theacrine alleviates chronic inflammation by enhancing TGF-ß-mediated shifts via TGF-ß/SMAD pathway in Freund's incomplete adjuvant-induced rats.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic and systemic autoimmune disease, which affects approximately 1% of the adult population worldwide. The present study investigated the therapeutic effect of theacrine (TC) on arthritis and its mechanisms in Freund's incomplete adjuvant (FIA)-induced SD rats. Rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: i) healthy control; ii) model; iii) positive control with methotrexate (MTX); iv) treatment with 12.5 mg/kg TC; and v) treatment with 25.0 mg/kg TC. The apparent scores, including changes in body weights, degree of paw swelling and arthritis indicators, were analyzed to evaluate the anti-chronic inflammatory effect of TC. The levels of interleukin (IL)-6 and transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß) in serum were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The protein and RNA expression levels of the critical factors in rats were measured to elucidate the mechanisms responsible for chronic inflammation and to verify molecular indexes of chronic inflammatory conditions. TC notably suppressed the severity of FIA-induced rat by attenuating the apparent scores, animal weight and inflammatory indexes in the 25 mg/kg TC group compared with the FIA rat model. Furthermore, TC significantly decreased the levels of IL-6 and increased the levels of TGF-ß. Histopathological examinations indicated that TC rescued the synovial hyperplasia and inflammatory cell infiltration in joint tissues. In addition, TC enhanced TGF-ß-mediated shifts in inflammatory marker expression in joint tissue. Overall, the present study demonstrated that TC exerted a superior anti-arthritic effect via the suppression of IL-6 and the activation of TGF-ß by the TGF-ß/SMAD pathway.

[Preliminary study on cardiac allograft rejection in mice by Extractum trametes robiniophila murr].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of Extractum trametes robiniophila murr on cardiac allograft rejection in mice. METHODS: All abdominal heterotopic heart transplantation models were divided into three groups as follows: (A) Extractum trametes robiniophila murr group. (B) Rejection group. (C) Isograft group. In each group, mean survival times (MST) of transplanted hearts and their pathologic histological changes at postoperative fifth day were observed. With fluoroimmunoassay, granzyme B and CD8(+) expressions were examined. RESULTS: The MST of heart allografts in group A were (6.38 +/- 0.69) d, significantly shorter than that of group B [(8.31 +/- 0.59) d] (P < 0.01). In group A, acute rejection was present in advance; transplanted hearts were seriously damaged into acute rejection pathological grade 3, and CD8(+) T lymphocytes infiltrated diffusely and the expression of granzyme B increased significantly as compared with other groups. CONCLUSIONS: Exclusive application of Extractum trametes robiniophila murr can promote the acute rejection of graft in early phase of postoperation, and the mechanism may be the promoted proliferation and infiltration of CD8(+) T lymphocytes and the increased expression of granzyme B.