Angular-Shaped Boron Nitride Nanosheets with a High Aspect Ratio to Improve the Out-of-Plane Thermal Conductivity of Polyimide Composite Films.

Polyimide/boron nitride nanosheet (PI/BNNS) composite films have potential applications in the field of electrical devices due to the superior thermal conductivity and outstanding insulating properties of the boron nitride nanosheet. In this study, the boron nitride nanosheet (BNNS-t) was prepared by the template method using sodium chloride as the template, and B2O3 and flowing ammonia as the boron and nitrogen sources, respectively. Then, the PI/BNNS-t composite films were investigated with different loading of BNNS-t as thermally conductive fillers. The results show that BNNS-t has a high aspect ratio and a uniform lateral dimension, with a large dimension and a thin thickness, and there are a few nanosheets with angular shapes in the as-obtained BNNS-t. The synergistic effect of the above characteristics for BNNS-t is beneficial to constructing the three-dimensional heat conduction network of the PI/BNNS-t composite films, which can significantly improve the out-of-plane thermal conduction properties. And then, the out-of-plane thermal conductivity of the PI/BNNS-t composite film achieves 0.67 W m-1 K-1 at 40% loading, which is nearly 3.5 times that of the PI film.

Increased NOX1 and DUOX2 expression in the colonic mucosa of patients with chronic functional constipation.

To determine whether oxidative stress and inflammation are associated with constipation by examining the expression of the main producers of reactive oxygen species, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidases, and pro-inflammatory cytokines in the colon of patients with chronic functional constipation. The colonic biopsies were collected from 32 patients with chronic functional constipation and 30 healthy subjects who underwent colonoscopy. Colonic mucosal histology was observed. Interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-6, IL-8 messenger RNA (mRNA), and 4 members of NADPH oxidase (NOX1, NOX2, DUOX2, and NOX4) protein and mRNA were assessed by immunohistochemistry, western blotting, and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. The tissues from both patients and healthy subjects showed normal histological structure without increase of inflammatory cells. NOX1 protein and mRNA levels were significantly increased compared to controls (P < .05). DUOX2 protein, but not mRNA, was increased by 2-fold compared to controls (P < .05). The levels of NOX2 and NOX4 protein and mRNA demonstrated no significant difference between patients and control subjects. The levels of IL-1ß and IL-6 mRNA were significantly higher in constipation patients (P < .05), while IL-8 mRNA level was no different between the 2 groups. NADPH oxidase and pro-inflammatory cytokine might be involved in the pathogeneses of chronic functional constipation.

Synchronous multiple primary lung cancers with shared EGFR mutation but differential imaging findings and pathological subtypes: A case report.

Lung cancer is a leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide. As the incidence of lung cancer increases in recent years, the number of patients diagnosed with synchronous multiple primary lung cancers (SMPLC) is also rising. SMPLC diagnosis is often made based on the clinical course, imaging findings, and histologic and molecular features. Standard lobectomy is the main therapeutic modality for SMPLC. Because maximum retention of lung function is essential, sublobectomy is also a commonly used surgical strategy when appropriate. The question is how to optimize the sequence of lobectomy and sublobectomy for patients with SMPLC. Thoracoscope lobectomy for the primary lesion plus sublobectomy for the secondary lesions is the most commonly used approach. Here we present a case of SMPLC with sublobectomy followed by lobectomy.

Direct Nitridation Synthesis of Quasi-Spherical ß-Si3N4 Powders with CaF2 Additive.

In this work, the quasi-spherical ß-Si3N4 powders were synthesized via an efficient direct nitridation strategy with CaF2 as the catalytic material under NH3 atmosphere. The effect of CaF2 on phase composition and crystalline morphology was studied. CaF2 additive can accelerate the nitridation of silicon powders, and the particles of nitridation products tend to have an equiaxed structure with the CaF2 additive increasing. When 4 wt% CaF2 additive or more was added, submicron ß-Si3N4 particles with quasi-spherical morphology and eminent crystal integrity were obtained. In contrast, irregular α-Si3N4 particles appear as the main phase with less than 4 wt% CaF2 additive. The growth mechanism of Si3N4 particles was also discussed. CaxSiyOz liquid phase is crucial in the nitridation of silicon powders with CaF2 additive.

Congenital bronchoesophageal fistula in an adult: a case report.

Bronchoesophageal fistulas are usually diagnosed in the neonatal period. As such, the condition is rare in adults. We present a case of a congenital bronchoesophageal fistula in a 62-year-old man with the complaint of severe bouts of cough and choking after swallowing liquid. His workup included a barium esophagogram that revealed a fistula between the esophagus and a right lower lobe bronchus. The diagnosis should be considered in certain individuals with suggestive symptomatology and unexplained respiratory pathology. The fistula was divided and resected, The patient had an uneventful recovery.

[Construction of antisense Slp2 gene and its effects on growth and proliferation of lung cancer cell lines].

BACKGROUND: Slp2 gene is one of the differential expression genes in lung cancer tissues and normal controls, the aim of this study is to observe the effects of antisense Slp2 gene on growth and proliferation in lung cancer cell lines. METHODS: Total RNAs were extracted from 4 lung cancer cell lines (A549, GLC-82, NCI-H446, NCI-H460), Slp2 gene expressions were detected at mRNA level by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR); antisense Slp2 gene plasmid was constructed and transfected into GLC-82, NCI-H446 and NCI-H460 cells with lipofectinmin. The expressions of Slp2 gene were analyzed by RT-PCR in these cells before and after transfection; Flow cytometry, MTT assay and soft agar culture were used to investigate the effects of antisense Slp2 gene transfection on DNA content changes in cell cycle, proliferation and colony formation ability of these cells. RESULTS: Slp2 gene was positive expressed in A549, GLC-82, NCI-H446 and NCI-H460 cell lines. The proliferation of GLC-82, NCI-H446 and NCI-H460 cells were inhibited by antisense Slp2 gene conspicuously. The flow cytometry experiments showed accumulation of transfected cells in G2-phase, for one time concomitant appearance of apoptotic cells of sub-G1 (hypodiploid) DNA content was observed in transfected NCI-H446 cell. Dramatic inhibition of colony formation in soft agar was observed in those transfected lung cancer cell lines. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that Slp2 gene might be a key gene in lung cancer cell growth and proliferation.