Homogeneous (Cu, Ni)6Sn5 intermetallic compound joints rapidly formed in asymmetrical Ni/Sn/Cu system using ultrasound-induced transient liquid phase soldering process.

Homogeneous (Cu, Ni)6Sn5 intermetallic compound (IMC) joints were rapidly formed in asymmetrical Ni/Sn/Cu system by an ultrasound-induced transient liquid phase (TLP) soldering process. In the traditional TLP soldering process, the intermetallic joints formed in Ni/Sn/Cu system consisted of major (Cu, Ni)6Sn5 and minor Cu3Sn IMCs, and the grain morphology of (Cu, Ni)6Sn5 IMCs subsequently exhibited fine rounded, needlelike and coarse rounded shapes from the Ni side to the Cu side, which was highly in accordance with the Ni concentration gradient across the joints. However, in the ultrasound-induced TLP soldering process, the intermetallic joints formed in Ni/Sn/Cu system only consisted of the (Cu, Ni)6Sn5 IMCs which exhibited an uniform grain morphology of rounded shape with a remarkably narrowed Ni concentration gradient. The ultrasound-induced homogeneous intermetallic joints exhibited higher shear strength (61.6 MPa) than the traditional heterogeneous intermetallic joints (49.8 MPa).

[Two-stage total hip arthroplasty using an antibiotic-loaded cement spacer for infected internal fixation of hip fractures].

Objective: To evaluate the application and clinical results of two-stage total hip arthroplasty in the treatment of the deep hip infection following the internal fixation of hip fractures. Methods: From May 2007 to November 2014, 21 patients with active hip infection secondary to internal fixation of hip fractures were treated with two-stage total hip arthroplasty using a temporary antibiotic-loaded cement spacers. Of 21 cases, 15 were males and 6 were females, aged from 27 to 64 years (mean, 45); there are 18 cases of femoral neck fractures and 3 cases of intertrochanteric fractures. The serologic examination and X-ray were taken at 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 12 months and annually thereafter post-operatively to evaluate the clinical results and prosthesis status. Harris hip score system was used to evaluate the joint function. Results: All patients were successfully treated with two stage operations under general anesthesia. The operational interval was 12-44 weeks (mean, 21) and 1 spacer breakage. For the arthroplasty, cementless components were used in 20 cases and cemented component was use in 1 case. The patients were followed up 25-102 months ( mean, 55 ) and infections were eradicated in all hips. The Harris hip score was improved from 23.24±11.81 pre-operatively to 90.24±3.92 post-operatively and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). According to this scoring criteria, the excellent and good rate reached up to 95%. At latest fellow-up, the location of prosthesis were well and the function of hip joint was satisfied. All cases had no dislocation, periprosthetic fracture, ectopic ossification or any other complications at the latest fellow-up. Conclusion: By means of an antibiotic-loaded cement spacer, two-stage total hip arthroplasty is an effective salvage procedure eradicating infection and providing functional improvement to the infected internal fixation of hip fractures. The early and mid-term clinical effects are satisfied.

Rapid formation of Ni3Sn4 joints for die attachment of SiC-based high temperature power devices using ultrasound-induced transient liquid phase bonding process.

High melting point Ni3Sn4 joints for the die attachment of SiC-based high temperature power devices was successfully achieved using an ultrasound-induced transient liquid phase (TLP) bonding process within a remarkably short bonding time of 8s. The formed intermetallic joints, which are completely composed of the refined equiaxial Ni3Sn4 grains with the average diameter of 2µm, perform the average shear strength of 26.7MPa. The sonochemical effects of ultrasonic waves dominate the mechanism and kinetics of the rapid formation of Ni3Sn4 joints.

[Effect of autophagy inhibitor combined with EGFR inhibitor on triple-negative breast cancer MDA-MB-468 and MDA-MB-231 cells].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of combined administration of autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine/bafilomycin A1 and EGFR inhibitor gefitinib on triple-negative breast cancer MDA-MB-468, MDA-MB-231 cells and estrogen receptor-positive MCF-7 cells. METHODS: All the cells were treated with 3-methyladenine/bafilomycin A1 and/or gefitinib. The effect of autophagy inhibitor and gefitinib on the cell growth was evaluated by MTT assay. Cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. Western blot analysis was used to determine the alteration of autophagy-related protein (such as LC3) and apoptosis-related proteins (such as caspase-3 and caspase-9). RESULTS: MTT assay showed that the IC50 in the GE+ 3-MA and GE+ BAF groups were (4.1±0.2) µmol/L and (3.8±0.3) µmol/L, significantly lower than that of the gefitinib alone group [(7.0±0.2) µmol/L] in MDA-MB-468 cells (P<0.05). Similarly, the IC50 in the GE+ 3-MA and GE+ BAF groups were (9.7±0.1) µmol/L and (7.7±0.2) µmol/L, significantly lower than that of the gefitinib alone group [(14.7±0.1) µmol/L]in MDA-MB231 cells (P<0.05). The flow cytometry assay revealed that the apoptosis rates of MDA-MB-468 cells in GE, GE+ 3-MA and GE+ BAF groups were (12.43±3.18)%, (23.37±2.71)% and (18.71±2.81)%, respectively. The apoptosis rates of MDA-MB-231 cells of the GE, GE+ 3-MA and GE+ BAF groups were (12.15±1.82)%, (16.94±2.19)% and (33.83±5.92) %, significantly higher than that of the gefitinib alone group (All P<0.05). The apoptosis rates of the MCF-7 cells were not changed significantly among the three groups (P>0.05). Western blot data showed that the expression levels of LC3 and p-Akt were decreased in the combined groups than that of the gefitinib alone group, while the p-PTEN, caspase-3 and caspase-9 were increased. CONCLUSIONS: Autophagy inhibitor may enhance the sensitivity to gefitinib in MDA-MB-468 and MDA-MB-231 cells by activation of the PTEN/P13K/Akt pathway. Apoptosis in MDA-MB-468 and MDA-MB-231 cells might be enhanced by the combination treatment through caspase cascade.

Cloning expression, monoclonal antibody preparation and serologic study of mammaglobin in breast cancer.

UNLABELLED: Mammaglobin may be a potential serum biomarker for the differential diagnosis of breast cancer. 260 serum samples were collected from 127 untreated breast cancer patients and 133 healthy volunteers to analyze the sera expression of mammaglobin and its implications for both. The expression vector of pGEX-4T-2-Mammaglobin and pBVIL1-Mammaglobin were constructed and transformed into E.coli.HB101 for expression. The mice were immunized with the purified recombinant protein to prepare monoclonal antibody and to detect by ELISA the serum of normal people and breast cancer patients. Recombinant mammaglobin antigen was effectively expressed in E.coli. Two hybridoma cell lines were obtained after the mice were immunized by pGEX-4T-2-mammaglobin. 133 cases of normal serum and 127 cases of breast cancer serum were analyzed by ELISA. The sera expression level of mammaglobin in breast cancer group (average OD value 0.645±0.223) was significantly (p KEYWORDS: mammaglobin; cloning expression; monoclonal antibody; serologic study; breast cancer.

Unique occurrence of the 1CF11 carbohydrate epitope in primate saliva.

We examined a large number of individual human and animal saliva samples for the reactivity with ICF11, a mouse monoclonal antibody previously produced for the characterization of human milk mucin and apparently recognizing a certain carbohydrate antigenic structure shared by various human glycoproteins in secretions. The results obtained here confirm the unique occurrence of ICF11 epitope in each and every saliva sample from humans and Old world monkeys as well, though a vast variety was observed among individual saliva samples in the immunological reactivity with ICF11.

A high-Mr glycoprotein fraction from cow's milk potent in inhibiting replication of human rotavirus in vitro.

Rotavirus is the major cause of infectious diarrhea in infants and young children all over the world. We have found that a high-M(r) glycoprotein fraction from cow's milk is potent in inhibiting replication of human rotaviruses in vitro. Since the activity seems to be unique and specific, this fraction may be useful as a novel agent for treatment or prevention of rotavirus diarrhea.

Thioredoxin fusion/HIV-1 protease coexpression system for production of soluble human IL6 in E. coli cytoplasm.

In this paper, thioredoxin (TRX) fusion expression system has been modified to produce soluble human IL6 (hIL6) without TRX moiety in E. coli cytoplasm. A novel TRX gene fusion vector was developed that contained at the 3'-end of TRX gene a short DNA sequences encoding a linker peptide '-GSGSGVSQNYPIVQHHHHHH-', serving not only as a specific HIV-1 protease site but also providing six contiguous histidine (His) residues to foreign proteins. The cDNA for hIL6 was cloned into this vector resulting in plasmid pTRX@HISIL6. The cDNA for the HIV-1 protease has been cloned into another compatible plasmid pHMM2, resulting in plasmid pHMM2-PR. Both plasmids were transformed into E. coli strain GI724, and when induced for expression of both proteins, the correct processing of TRX@HISIL6 was obtained, producing hIL6 with His6-tag at the N terminus named HISIL6. A fraction of HISIL6 was found in soluble form and could be purified to homogeneity by Ni-NTA Superflow and ion-exchange chromatography. The biological activity of purified HISIL6 was measured by MTT method in an IL-6-dependent cell line 7TD1 to be 2.1 x 10(8) unit/mg.