[Clinical characteristics and prognostic factors of breast cancer patients with tumor deposits in the ipsilateral axillary region].

Objective: To investigate the clinicopathologic features and prognostic factors of breast cancer patients with tumor deposits in the ipsilateral axillary region. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinicopathologic data and follow-up results of 155 patients with breast cancer diagnosed for the first time and complicated with tumor deposits in the ipsilateral axillary region in the Department of Thyroid-Breast-Vascular Surgery of Xijing Hospital from January 2008 to September 2018. Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis. Log rank test was used for the univariate analysis of prognostic factors, and Cox regression was used for multivariate analysis. Results: The median disease free survival (DFS), median distant metastasis free survival (DMFS), and median overall survival (OS) of the 155 patients were 52.0 months, 66.6 months, and 102.2 months, respectively. The 5-year and 10-year DFS rates were 45.7% and 23.1%, the 5-year and 10-year DMFS rates were 56.9% and 28.9%, and the 5-year and 10-year OS rates were 79.3% and 46.0%, respectively. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that family tumor history (HR=0.362, 95% CI: 0.140-0.937), clinical T stage (T3: HR=3.508, 95% CI: 1.380-8.918; T4: HR=2.220, 95% CI: 1.076-4.580), estrogen/progesterone receptor status (HR=0.476, 95% CI: 0.261-0.866), number of tumor deposits (HR=1.965, 95% CI:1.104-3.500) and neoadjuvant chemotherapy (HR=1.961, 95% CI: 1.032-3.725) were independent influencing factors for DFS. Molecular subtype [human epidermal growth factor receptor-2(HER-2) positive and hormone receptor negative: HR=7.862, 95% CI: 3.189-19.379], number of tumor deposits (HR=2.155, 95% CI: 1.103-4.212), neoadjuvant chemotherapy (HR=5.002, 95% CI: 2.300-10.880) and radiotherapy (HR=2.316, 95% CI: 1.005-5.341) were independent influencing factors of DMFS. Histological grade (HR=4.362, 95% CI: 1.932-9.849), estrogen/progesterone receptor expression (HR=0.399, 95% CI: 0.168-0.945), HER-2 expression (HR=2.535, 95% CI: 1.114-5.768) and neoadjuvant chemotherapy (HR=4.080, 95% CI: 1.679-9.913) were independent influencing factors of OS. Conclusions: The presence of tumor deposits weakens the influence of axillary lymph node status and distant metastases on the prognosis of breast cancer patients. Therefore, a clinicopathological staging system taking into account tumor deposits should be developed. Since the number of tumor deposits affects the risk of recurrence and metastasis of breast cancer patients, we recommend that the number of tumor deposits should be reported in detail in the pathological report after breast cancer surgery.

[Stratified research on related risk factors of CINâ ¡+ in CINâ patients diagnosed by endocervical curettage under colposcopy].

Objective: To estimate risks of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) Ⅱ or worse (CINⅡ+) on loop electrosurgical excisional procedure (LEEP) specimens with the diagnosis of endocervical curettage (ECC) CINⅠ compared with biopsy CINⅠ, and also to investigate the hierarchical management scheme of ECC CINⅠ based on the relevant factors of CINⅡ+ risk. Methods: (1) A retrospective computer-based research for subjects enrolled in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Fudan University from Jan. 2013 to Jun. 2021 was performed. The case group comprised women with an ECC CINⅠ (ECC results of CINⅠ with colposcopy-directed biopsy results ≤CINⅠ), and the control group comprised women with a biopsy CINⅠ (colposcopy-directed biopsy results of CINⅠ with negative ECC findings) were divided after LEEP surgery and diagnosis in the next three months. The clinical data of all patients before LEEP were analyzed, and the pathological diagnosis between two groups after LEEP was compared. (2) Variables, including age, cytology, high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV), ECC results, cervical transformation zone (TZ) and colposcopy impression, were included to describe the characteristics and compare the incidence of LEEP CINⅡ+. (3) Univariate analysis and Multivariate logistic regression method were used to analyze the related factors that affect the LEEP CINⅡ+ in CINⅠ patients. Further, the specific risks caused by related factors and conduct a stratified study in LEEP CINⅡ+ were analyzed. Results: (1) Overall, 2 581 women with ECC CINⅠ or biopsy CINⅠ diagnosis who underwent LEEP participated in the study with the mean age (43.6±9.5) years old. Chi square test found that the age and cytology of patients in ECC CINⅠ group were statistically different from those of biopsy CINⅠ group (all P<0.05). There was no significant difference in HR-HPV detection, TZ type and colposcopy impression between the two groups (all P>0.05). ECC CINⅠ comprised 957 women, with LEEP histopathology results revealing 288 (30.1%, 288/957) CINⅡ+, which was significantly higher than that of biopsy CINⅠ which was comprised 1 624 women, with LEEP histopathology results showing 333 (20.5%, 333/1 624) CINⅡ+ (χ2=30.31, P<0.001). (2) Compared by LEEP CINⅡ+ with LEEP ≤CINⅠ group, there were no significant difference in the age, HR-HPV, colposcopy impression (all P>0.05); but there were significantly differences in cytology, ECC CINⅠ, type Ⅲ TZ (all P<0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that atypical squamous epithelial cells (ASC-H; OR=2.77, 95%CI: 2.04-3.77), high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions and worse (HSIL+; OR=2.93, 95%CI: 2.24-3.81), ECC CINⅠ (OR=1.89, 95%CI: 1.56-2.29) and type Ⅲ of TZ (OR=1.76, 95%CI: 1.45-2.11) were independent risk factors for LEEP CINⅡ+ (all P<0.05). (3) When cytology was ≤low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL) and ≥ASC-H, the detection rate of CINⅡ+ in ECC CINⅠ was significantly higher than that of biopsy CINⅠ (all P<0.001). In ECC CINⅠ, the rate of CINⅡ+ with cytology ≤LSIL was significantly lower than that in cytology ≥ASC-H (56.0% vs 25.9%; χ2=49.38, P<0.001). In type Ⅰ/Ⅱ of TZ, the detection rate of CINⅡ+ between ECC CINⅠand biopsy CINⅠ had no significantly different; while in type Ⅲ of TZ, there was significantly different (72.7% vs 46.2%; χ2=4.02, P=0.045). In ECC CINⅠ, type Ⅲof TZ was significantly higher in the rate of CINⅡ+ than that of type Ⅰ/Ⅱ of TZ (72.7% vs 21.7%; χ2=16.38, P<0.001). When cytology ≥ASC-H, type Ⅲ of TZ and colposcopy impression of HSIL were combined, the rate of CINⅡ+ in ECC CINⅠ was 6/6 while 1/3 in biopsy CINⅠ. Conclusions: Cytology ≥ASC-H, ECC CINⅠ and type Ⅲ TZ are the risk factors of LEEP CINⅡ+. However, cytology ≥ASC-H is more valuable in predicting LEEP CINⅡ+ than ECC CINⅠ. For patients with ECC CINⅠ to perform LEEP, it is recommended that cytology ≥ASC-H is taken as the first level stratification, and type Ⅲ TZ is taken as the second level stratification. The colposcopy impression of patients is recommended for a reference parameter.

Mantle Cloaks Based on the Frequency Selective Metasurfaces Designed by Bayesian Optimization.

We propose a full optimization procedure for designing mantle cloaks enclosing arbitrary objects, using sub-wavelength conformal frequency selective surface (FSS). Rely on the scattering cancellation principle of mantle cloak characterized by an average surface reactance, a personal computer can achieve this design procedure. By combing a Bayesian optimization (BO) with an electromagnetic solver, we can automatically find the optimal parameters of a conformal mantle cloak which can nearly cancel the scattering from the enclosed objects. It is shown that the results obtained by our method coincide with those from a rigorous analytical model and the numerical results by full parametric scanning. The proposed methodology opens up a new route for realizing ultra-wideband illusion scattering of electromagnetic wave, which is important for stealth and microwave applications.

Broadband full-color multichannel hologram with geometric metasurface.

Due to the abilities of manipulating the wavefront of light with well-controlled amplitude, and phase and polarization, optical metasurfaces are very suitable for optical holography, enabling applications with multiple functionalities and high data capacity. Here, we demonstrate encoding two- and three-dimensional full-color holographic images by an ultrathin metasurface hologram whose unit cells are subwavelength nanoslits with spatially varying orientations. We further show that it is possible to achieve full-color holographic multiplexing with such kind of geometric metasurfaces, realized by a synthetic spectrum holographic algorithm. Our results provide an efficient way to design multi-color optical display elements that are ready for fabrication.

Spirometra erinaceieuropaei severely infect frogs and snakes from food markets in Guangdong, China: implications a highly risk for zoonotic sparganosis.

Sparganosis is a parasitic disease caused by plerocercoid larvae of the genus Spirometra. In China, the main source of sparganosis is from Guangdong, 16.1% of the country's human sparganosis cases occur in this province. Frequent international trade of amphibians and reptiles in Guangdong may introduce new species of Spirometra into the local market. In this study, a large-scale, high-intensity sampling survey was conducted to find out the causative species and epidemic situation of Sparganosis in Guangdong. The prevalence of sparganum infection in five species of frogs (Boulengerana guentheri, Fejervarya multistriata, Hoplobatrachus chinensis, Pelophylax nigromaculatus and Quasipaa spinosa) and nine species of snakes (Elaphe carinata, Lycodon rufozonatum, Hypsiscopus plumbea, Ptyas dhumnades, P. korros, P. mucosa, Naja atra, Sinonatrix annularis and Xenochrophis piscator) was investigated in Guangdong, Southern China from May 2014 to August 2015. The results showed that 9.8% (50/511) of the frogs and 40.8% (141/ 346) of snakes were found to be infected by plerocercoids (spargana). To identify the species of the collected spargana, a partial sequence of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit1 gene (cox1) was amplified and sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis identified all the spargana specimens as Spirometra erinaceieuropaei. Our study indicated that S. erinaceieuropaei, a highly pathogenic parasite, is the only causative agent of sparganosis in Guangdong, China. This study suggests that the large numbers of frogs and snakes in food markets in Guangdong may impact public health in China by transmitting S. erinaceieuropaei sparganum. Additional steps should be considered by the governments and public health agencies to prevent the risk of food-associated Spirometra infections in humans in China.

Association of miR-196a2, miR-27a, and miR-499 polymorphisms with isolated congenital heart disease in a Chinese population.

We hypothesized that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in certain microRNAs contribute to congenital heart disease (CHD) phenotypes. Five hundred and seventy-three subjects were enrolled in this study. DNA extracted from peripheral blood cells was used for SNP genotyping of miR-196a2 (rs11614913), miR-27a (rs11671784, rs895819), and miR-499 (rs3746444). Allele and genotype association analyses were performed to evaluate the correlation between certain microRNA SNPs and three phenotypes of isolated CHD: atrial septal defect (ASD), ventricular septal defect (VSD), and patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). All the participants carried a homozygous CC variant of miR-27a (rs11671784). The homozygous CC variant of miR-196a2 (rs11614913, T>C) was negatively associated with ASD compared with the wild-type TT variant (OR = 0.379, 95%CI = 0.209-0.686, P = 0.001). The miR-196a2 C allele was negatively associated with ASD compared with the T allele (OR = 0.646, 95%CI = 0.491-0.849, P = 0.002). The statistically significant results were further confirmed by dominant and recessive model assays. SNPs of miR-27a (rs895819, T>C) and miR-499 (rs3746444, A>G) showed diverse association with ASD, VSD, or PDA, but the differences were not statistically significant. The rs11614913 (T>C) SNP of miR-196a2 is associated with ASD, and the homozygous CC variant and the C allele are protective factors associated with ASD. The homozygous CC variant and the C allele of the rs11614913 (T>C) SNP of miR-196a2 are associated with a significantly reduced risk of ASD.

[Comparative analysis of the ankle joints in juvenile male soccer players with imaging].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the characteristics of children male soccer players' ankle imaging features. METHODS: From October 2015 to February 2016, a total of 32 male children players of two soccer clubs in Guangzhou were enrolled in this study.The ages of all cases were from 10 to 14 years, average age was (11.3±0.9) years.A total of 15 male children in region ordinary primary and secondary school students were set as control group, ages were from 10 to 14 years, average age was (12.1±1.2) years. All objects' ankle were examined by X-ray for positive and lateral positions; routine CT scanning and then on the workstation restructuring for axial, coronal and sagittal slices; and examined by MR. MR scan was with special surface coil for ankle joint for horizontal axis T2WI; coronal T1WI; coronary proton density weighted imaging (PWI); sagittal T2WI with fat suppression; sagittal PWI with isotropic and fat suppression sequence of fast field echo. The ankle bone morphological structures were observed on X-ray; the ankle bone mineral density, cortical bone thickness and sesamoid bone quantity was being observed and measured on CT; and the tenosynovitis, Achilles tendinitis, synovitis, and cancellous bone edema signal were observed on MR. RESULTS: For study group, a total of 32 cases and 64 ankles joints were completed by X-ray, CT and MR examination.A total of 15 cases and 30 ankles joints were completed by X-ray in control group, 26 ankle joints were completed by CT scan and 22 ankle joints were completed by MR examination.X-ray examination showed there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in ankle bone structure.CT showed that navicular bone CT value was (296±82) HU in research group and navicular bone CT value was (266±107) HU in control group, the difference was statistically significant (P=0.03). MR showed the incidence of diseases in research group that the tendon sheath peripheral inflammation was 92.2% (59/64), Achilles tendon lesions was 18.8%(12/64), edema of cancellous bone was 73.4% (47/64) , lateral malleous ligaments injuried was 43.8%(28/64), synovitis or effusion in posterior ankle was 87.5% (56/64). The incidence of diseases in control group was that tendon sheath peripheral inflammation was 31.8%(7/22), Achilles tendon lesions was 0/22, edema of cancellous bone was 0/22, lateral malleous ligaments injuried was 0/22, synovitis or effusion in posterior ankle was 54.5% (12/22). There was statistically significant difference between these two groups (all P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Compared with the control group, children's male soccer players ankle bone structure, bone cortex thickness and bone mineral density there were no obvious difference. In the tenosynovitis, Achilles tendinitis, synovitis, bone marrow edema, lateral malleous ligaments injuried were significantly higher than the control group.

SNP in Differentially Methylated Region Upstream of H19 Gene in Guangdong Han Population.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the single nucleotide polymorphism （SNP） and haplotypes in differentially methylated region （DMR） upstream of H19 gene in Guangdong Han population. METHODS: The PIA typing and restriction enzyme McrBC and HpaⅡ were used to digest the genomic DNA and obtain the individual uniparental DNA template strand. The data of uniparental SNP alleles, genotypes and haplotypes in DMR upstream of H19 gene were obtained by sequencing. RESULTS: A total of 13 SNPs （rs10840167, rs2525883, rs12417375, rs4930101, rs2525882, rs2735970, rs2735971, rs11042170, rs2735972, rs10732516, rs2071094, rs2107425, and rs4930098） and one mutation locus （g7351c） were found. All loci followed the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium （P>0.05） by statistical analysis. Except for rs12417375 （DP=0.279） locus, the DP of remaining 12 SNPs were 0.446-0.614, and the g7351c mutation locus （DP=0.013） was the particular loci of the Southern Chinese Han population. Eight haplotypes （designated as haplotype 1-8） were detected, in which 3 haplotypes had not yet been reported and the DP, PIC, PE and H were 0.891, 0.714, 0.524 and 0.758, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Obtained by PIA typing, the SNP in DMR upstream of H19 gene and its haplotypes genetic marker system have a high determination power and show a good practical value in forensic identification.

Multiple fano resonances in spatially compact and spectrally efficient spoof surface plasmon resonators with composite textures.

Spoof surface plasmons derive their properties from structure resonance rather than from electronic resonance, enabling an extremely high degree of freedom for tuning and modulating different resonances. Here, a composite resonator based on multiscale textured metal surface of different grooves is presented, and spoof localized surface plasmons (LSPs) are shown to emerge and interact coherently. Each band of the spoof LSPs resembles those generated by the homogenously textured surface with the corresponding groove. By adjusting the geometry and filling medium of each substructure in the composite system, we find that the multipole resonant modes sustained by one substructure can couple with those in the other, giving rise to multi-band Fano resonances. Such multiple-Fano resonance structures are spatially more compact while spectrally more comprehensive than usual spoof structures. They can be used for unique resonant devices such as microwave antennas and metasurfaces.

Plasmonic TM-like cavity modes and the hybridization in multilayer metal-dielectric nanoantenna.

Plasmonic hybridized transverse magnetic like (TM-like) cavity modes in multi-layered metal-dielectric circular nanoantenna are systematically studied. The main purpose is to explore the symmetry features of the vertical modal profile and its impact on the in-plane interference of gap plasmonic waves that are responsible to the resonant mode. It is found that only vertically in-phase modes are excitable when illuminated by a plane wave under normal incidence and more could be selectively excited using a dipole source, within the wavelength range from 430 nm-1250 nm. More specifically, the excitation of localized cavity modes is shown to be highly sensitive to the dipole position which determines symmetry matching and the degree of field overlap between the dipole source and the cavity mode pattern. Furthermore, we show that the resonance frequencies can be approximately predicted by the dispersion relations of plasmonic wave in the corresponding two-dimensional multilayered structure. Our results would be helpful for the design of photonic nanoantennas with alternative metal and dielectric medium.

Antiboding and bonding lasing modes with low gain threshold in nonlocal metallic nanoshell.

Based on a full-wave nonlocal Mie theory, we establish the spaser generation condition for compact plasmonic nanolasers in the long-wavelength limit for dielectric-metal core-shell nanoparticles. We found that there exist two lasing states arising from the hybridized antibonding and bonding modes for this coated nanolaser. By varying the surrounding medium and the gain materials, we can achieve low gain threshold for each mode with flexible radii ratios on the purpose of realistic easy fabrication. Numerical results show that nonlocal effects have different influences on the required gain threshold and gain refractive index of these two lasing modes, which may be of great importance in the design of such kind of ultrasmall nanoparticle lasers.

Effect of Jianpi Bushen prescription on the expression of SHP-1 and apoptosis-related genes in chemically damaged model mice.

We investigated the effect of Jianpi Bushen prescription (JBP) on the expression of the SHP-1 and apoptosis-related genes in chemically damaged model mice and a compound e-jiao slurry (EJS) group (positive control). Kunming mice received an abdominal injection of 100 mg/kg cyclophosphamide once a day for 3 consecutive days to induce chemical damage. The mice underwent lavage at a suspension of 0.1 g/kg low-dose JBP (100%), high-dose JBP (200%), and 0.2 mL/10 g EJS twice a day for 9 days. mRNA and protein expression of SHP-1 in bone marrow mononuclear cells was detected using real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot; mRNA expression of B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) and Bcl-2-associated X (Bax) protein was detected by in situ hybridization. Expression of SHP-1 and Bax mRNA was significantly upregulated in the model group compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Expression in the low-dose JBP, high-dose JBP, and EJS groups was significantly downregulated compared with the model group (P < 0.05). The low-dose JBP group exhibited much lower SHP-1 and Bax mRNA expression levels. Compared with controls, Bcl-2 mRNA expression was significantly reduced in the model group (P < 0.05). Expression in the low-dose JBP, high-dose JBP, and EJS groups significantly increased compared with the model group (P < 0.05). The low-dose JBP group showed much higher Bcl-2 mRNA expression. Therefore, JBP regulates the expression of the SHP- 1, Bax, and Bcl-2 genes in chemically damaged mice.

Effect of the Jianpi Bushen Prescription on the expression of SHP-1, Wnt3a, and AP-1 proteins in chemically damaged mice.

This study investigated the effect of the Jianpi Bushen Prescription (JBP) on the expression of 3 major proteins in chemically damaged model mice. The 3 proteins were the Wnt3a, the SHP-1, and the transcription factors (NF-E2, c-jun, and c-fos) of the AP-1 protein family. Kunming mice were randomly divided into chemically damaged group (N=48), which received an abdominal injection of (100 mg/kg) cyclophosphamide once a day for 3 consecutive days, and control group (N=12), which received the same amount of saline. Then, the chemically damaged mice were randomly divided into chemically damaged model group (N=12), which received 0.2 mL/10 g of saline twice a day for 9 days, positive control group (N=12), which received 0.2 mL/10 g of the e-jiao slurry (EJS) compound twice a day for 9 days, low dose JBP group (N=12), which received 0.1 g/kg suspension JBP (100% concentration) twice a day for 9 days and high dose JBP group (N=12), which received 0.1 g/kg suspension JBP (200% concentration) twice a day for 9 days. The bilateral femur and tibia bone marrow were collected from the mice in all groups. The protein expression of the specified proteins and transcription factors in the bone marrow mononuclear cells were detected by Western blot analysis. The results showed that the protein expression of Wnt3a was significantly downregulated in the chemically damaged model group compared to the control group (P<0.05). The low dose JBP, high dose JBP, and e-jiao slurry treatments significantly upregulated the protein expression of Wnt3a compared to the chemically damaged model group (P<0.05), with the low dose JBP producing the best results. Compared to the control group, the protein expressions of SHP-1, c-fos, c-jun, and NF-E2 were significantly higher in the chemically damaged model group (all P<0.05). The protein expressions of SHP-1, c-fos, c-jun, and NF-E2 were significantly lower in the chemically damaged model+the low dose JBP, chemically damaged model+high dose JBP, or chemically damaged model+EJS group compared to chemically damaged model (all P<0.05), with the low dose JBP producing the best results. These results indicate that JBP regulates the expressions of SHP-1, Wnt3a, and AP-1 proteins in chemically damaged mice.

Effect of the Jianpi Bushen Prescription on expressions of the Wnt3a and Cyclin D1 genes in radiation-damaged mice.

The effects of the traditional Chinese drug Jianpi Bushen Prescription (JBP) were investigated on expressions of Wnt3a and Cyclin D1 genes in radiation-damaged mice. The radiation damage model was induced in Kumming mice by single total body irradiation treatment for 9 days. Mice were divided into the radiation group, low-dose (100%) JBP group, high-dose (200%) JBP group, or batyl alcohol group (positive control), which were administered twice a day for 9 days. mRNA and protein expressions of Wnt3a were detected in bone marrow mononuclear cells by real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot, whereas Cyclin D1 mRNA was detected by in situ hybridization. Wnt3a expressions were significantly downregulated in the radiation damage model group compared with all other groups (P < 0.05). The positive cell rate of Cyclin D1 mRNA expression and the number of granulocyte macrophage colonies were significantly decreased in the radiation damage model group relative to all other groups (P < 0.05). Furthermore, mRNA and protein expressions of Wnt3a, the positive cell rate of Cyclin D1 mRNA expression in bone marrow cells, and the number of granulocyte macrophage colonies were all significantly higher in the low-dose JBP group than in the high-dose JBP group (P < 0.05). In summary, JBP plays a protective role on radiation-induced bone marrow through the activation of the Wnt3a signaling pathway, and promotes the transcription and expression of Cyclin D1.

Reversal of optical binding force by Fano resonance in plasmonic nanorod heterodimer.

We present calculations of the optical force on heterodimer of two gold nanorods aligned head-to-tail, under plane wave illumination that is polarized along the dimer axis. It is found that near the dipole-quadrupole Fano resonance, the optical binding force between the nanorods reverses, indicating an attractive to repulsive transition. This is in contrast to homodimer which in similar configuration shows no negative binding force. Moreover, the force spectrum features asymmetric line shape and shifts accordingly when the Fano resonance is tuned by varying the nanorods length or their gap. We show that the force reversal is associated with the strong phase variation between the hybridized dipole and quadrupole modes near the Fano dip. The numerical results may be demonstrated by a near-field optical tweezer and shall be useful for studying "optical matters" in plasmonics.

Bipolar optical forces on dielectric and metallic nanoparticles by evanescent wave.

We numerically show that both repulsive and attractive (bipolar) optical forces can be exerted on a dielectric or metallic cylindrical nanoparticle by a totally internal refracted wave. This requires that the particles possesses either a whispering gallery (WG) resonance or a localized surface plasmon (LSP) resonance. We further explore the force spectrum that is governed by competition between the separation-dependent resonant Q factor and the coupling strength of the nanoparticle to the evanescent wave. In spite of a much smaller Q of the LSP as compare to the WG resonances, the metallic particle gains much stronger trapping force.

Unique histological features of the left atrial posterior wall.

The left atrial posterior wall (LAPW) plays a critical role in atrial fibrillation, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. In the present study, we sought to characterize the histological features of the LAPW. Different atrial regions were dissected from hearts of normal Sprague-Dawley rats and humans. Haematoxylin/eosin and van Gieson staining were used to analyse atrial cardiomyocyte arrangement and collagen distribution, respectively. Intercellular junctions were evaluated by transmission electron microscopy. In contrast with other atrial regions, the LAPW exhibited more disorganized cardiomyocytes, larger intercellular spaces and variable myocardial fibre arrangement. The proportion of collagen was significantly higher in the LAPW than in other atrial regions. Interestingly, desmosomes were sparse along with intercellular gaps in the LAPW. In summary, distinct disarrangement of cardiomyocytes and an abundance of collagen exist in the LAPW. The sparsity of desmosomes in the LAPW may be related to the heterogeneous distribution and separation of atrial myocytes.

Dynamic polarizability of rotating particles in electrorheological fluids.

A rotating particle in electrorheological (ER) fluid leads to a displacement of its polarization charges on the surface which relax toward the external applied field E0, resulting in a steady-state polarization at an angle with respect to E0. This dynamic effect has shown to affect the ER fluid properties dramatically. In this paper, we develop a dynamic effective medium theory (EMT) for a system containing rotating particles of finite volume fraction. This is a generalization of established EMT to account for the interactions between many rotating particles. While the theory is valid for three dimensions, the results in a special two-dimensional configuration show that the system exhibits an off-diagonal polarization response in addition to a diagonal polarization response, which resembles the classic Hall effect. The diagonal response monotonically decreases with increasing rotational speed, whereas the off-diagonal response exhibits a maximum at a reduced rotational angular velocity omega0, compared to the case of isolated rotating particles. This implies a way of measurement on the interacting relaxation time. The dependencies of the diagonal and off-diagonal responses on various factors, such as omega0, the volume fraction, and the dielectric contrast, are discussed.

Correlating gene expression with chemical scaffolds of cytotoxic agents: ellipticines as substrates and inhibitors of MDR1.

To facilitate a systematic study of chemoresistance across diverse classes of anticancer drug candidates, we performed correlation analyses between cytotoxic drug potency and gene expression in 60 tumor cell lines (NCI-60; NCI-National Cancer Institute). Ellipticine analogs displayed a range of correlation coefficients (r) with MDR1 (ABCB1, encoding multidrug resistance (MDR) protein MDR1 or P-glycoprotein). To determine MDR1 interactions of five ellipticines with diverse MDR1-r values, we employed MDR1-transport and cytotoxicity assays, using MDR1 inhibitors and siRNA-mediated MDR1 downregulation, in MDR1-overexpressing cells. Ellipticines with negative correlations-indicative of MDR1-mediated resistance-were shown to be MDR1 substrates, whereas those with neutral or positive correlations served as MDR1 inhibitors, which escape MDR1-mediated chemoresistance. Correlation with additional genes in the NCI-60 confirmed topoisomerases as ellipticine targets, but suggested distinct mechanisms of action and chemoresistance among them, providing a guide for selecting optimal drug candidates.