Selective Photothermal Therapy Based on Lipopolysaccharide Aptamer Functionalized MoS2 Nanosheet-Coated Gold Nanorods for Multidrug-Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infection.

Chronic wounds infected by multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacteria have evolved resistance to traditional antibiotic therapy, posing a threat to global public health in recent years. Herein, a selective therapeutic nanorod (MoS2 -AuNRs-apt) based on molybdenum disulfide (MoS2 ) nanosheets coated gold nanorods (AuNRs) targeting lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is presented. AuNRs have excellent photothermal conversion efficiency in 808 nm laser-guided photothermal therapy (PTT), and the MoS2 nanosheets coating significantly enhances the biocompatibility of AuNRs. Furthermore, the conjugation of the nanorods with aptamer permits active targeting of LPS on the surface of gram-negative bacteria and a specific anti-inflammatory ability in the multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MRPA)-infected wound murine model. It is concluded that the antimicrobial effect of these nanorods is considerably more significant than non-targeted PTT. Moreover, they can precisely overcome MRPA bacteria by physical damage and effectively reduce excess M1 inflammatory macrophages to accelerate the healing of infected wounds. Overall, this molecular therapeutic strategy displays great potential as a prospective antimicrobial treatment for MRPA infections.

High expression of CCDC6 in relation to unfavorable outcome and immune cells infiltration in hepatobiliary carcinoma.

Background: The diagnosis of hepatobiliary carcinoma includes both hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), the first and the second most common hepatobiliary malignancies, respectively. CCDC6 (coiled-coil domain-containing protein 6) is a protein that interacts with apoptosis and DNA damage response elements and is commonly detected in cells. The prognostic and biological roles of CCDC6 in hepatobiliary carcinoma remain unknown. Methods: We used data from UALCAN, GEPIA, TIMER, GeneMANIA, STRING and HPA databases to determine the prognostic values and biological functions of CCDC6 in HCC and CCA. We downloaded the original online data from TCGA and GEO databases and analyzed them with R 3.2.2. We also gathered clinical records from patients with HCC (n = 94) and iCCA (n = 99) in our hospital to explore associations between CCDC6 expression and hepatobiliary carcinoma using immunohistochemistry detection. We used KEGG, GO and GESA analyses to explore relative pathways of CCDC6 in HCC and CCA. In addition, we assessed correlations between CCDC6 expression and tumor-infiltrating immune cells using data from the TIMER and GEPIA databases. Finally, we assessed associations between CCDC6 and marker genes of tumor-infiltrated immune cells in HCC to confirm some of our findings. Results: The mRNA and protein expressions of CCDC6 were noticeably upregulated in HCC and CCA tissues as compared with the expressions in healthy control tissues. The high CCDC6 expression levels were significantly correlated with advanced tumor grades as well as poor prognosis in patients with HCC, but not in patients with CCA. Our functional enrichment analysis revealed that CCDC6 is mainly involved in cell cycle processes, gene transcription, and immune cell-related pathways. Moreover, we found that the CCDC6 levels were positively correlated with the presence of tumor-infiltrating immune cells, including macrophages, CD4+T cells and dendritic cells. Conclusion: CCDC6 expression was increased in hepatobiliary carcinoma tissues. High expressions of CCDC6 were significantly associated with clinical severity variables (especially with advanced cancer stages and pathological tumor grades) and poor prognoses in patients with HCC. CCDC6 upregulation is associated with histone acetylation and immune infiltration in hepatobiliary carcinoma. In addition, CCDC6 has the potential to be used as a predictive biomarker during targeting therapy and immunotherapy.

Y2O3: Eu3+/PMMA hybrid film as a converter for enhanced harvesting of broadband solar-blind UV light.

At present, the most common materials for solar-blind UV light detectors are wide band-gap semiconductors, which generally have high requirements and complex methods for preparation. Ordinary semiconductor materials such as silicon, TiO2, and Cu2O were industrialized, but they were excluded for direct harvest of solar-blind UV light due to their inability to absorb solar-blind light photons. Here, inorganic-organic hybrid film of Y2O3:Eu3+/PMMA was used as a spectral converter to realize the detection of broadband solar-blind UV light by ordinary semiconductor, converting broadband solar-blind UV luminescence to visible luminescence based on down-conversion process, after which the visible luminescence was detected by the Si photo-resister. The results show that hybrid film based on rare earth luminescence materials is particularly valuable for broadband solar-blind UV detection.

Oriented assembly of CdS nanocrystals via dynamic surface modification-tailored particle interaction.

The controlled assembly of quantum dots (QDs) remains a challenge due to the lack of in-depth understanding of the roles of ligand dynamics. In this study, tripods, particles, nanorods and nanoflowers of CdS with yellow, red and cyan PL emissions, respectively, were achieved through the coarsening of thioglycolic acid (TGA)-capped CdS QDs with a novel hydroxyl-TGA exchange procedure. Dynamic hydroxyl modification-induced aggregation and coalescence can help to describe the defects and the corresponding photoluminescence characteristics of these nanocrystals. A crystal growth model involving assembly and coalescence was developed to describe the crystal growth and the corresponding PL properties, where hydroxyl-motivated hydrogen-bonding interaction was used to explain the oriented assembly of CdS QDs.

[Bencao literature investigation of Polygonum multiflorum (Heshouwu)].

Heshouwu, derived from the root of Polygonum multiflorum (=Fallopia multiflora), is widely used in the Chinese medicine market as a traditional tonic. The emergence of heshouwu material with a human shape reflects a pursuit of its supplementing effects. However, reports of Heshouwu toxicity have repeatedly surfaced in recent years, attracting widespread concern. To clarify the situation surrounding the safety and efficacy of Heshouwu, this research utilizes a systematic review of the text and illustrations in historical bencao (materia medica) literature to investigate the origin, botanical characteristics, actions and processing of Heshouwu, as well as the origin and historical evolution of Baishouwu ("white Heshouwu").

Aggregation-based abrupt crystallization from amorphous Ag2S to Ag2S nanocrystals.

Abrupt crystallization from ∼2-5 nm (amorphous) to ∼12-15 nm (crystalline) was observed in hydrothermal coarsening of Ag2S. The desorption behavior of capping ligands could be associated with the aggregation and fusion of amorphous particles into crystals.

[Preliminary textual research on Zhijintang Sanctum re-revised version of Jinling edition of Ben cao gang mu (Compendium of Materia Medica)].

The Zhijintang Sanctum version of the re-revised edition of Jinling edition of Ben cao gang mu (Compendium of Materia Medica)collected by Zhao Huiyuan of Baihe, Henan Province in 2008 was opted as one of the third batch of the National Directory of Rare Ancient Worksin 2010. On the second cover page (patent page), it is recorded as"Original Jiangxi version". However, it is investigated to find that most of its paper sheets were reprinted after the original Jinling version, only scores of paper sheets were supplemented block-printed, including the additional block-printed second preface and Li Jianyuan's submitted report of the Jiangxi version, the re-revised time of which should be after the Jiangxi edition, or 1603. The exact time can be determined only by checking it carefully against another Jinling re-revised version (the Sheyuantang Sanctum edition).

Schottky or Ohmic metal-semiconductor contact: influence on photocatalytic efficiency of Ag/ZnO and Pt/ZnO model systems.

The relationship between the contact type in metal-semiconductor junctions and their photocatalytic efficiencies is investigated. Two metal-semiconductor junctions, silver on zinc oxide (Ag/ZnO) and platinum on zinc oxide (Pt/ZnO) serve as model system for Ohmic and Schottky metal-semiconductor contact, respectively. Ag/ZnO, with Ohmic contact, exhibits a higher photocatalytic efficiency than Pt/ZnO, with Schottky contact. The direction of electric fields within the semiconductor is found to play a crucial role in the separation of photogenerated charges, and thus strongly influences the photocatalytic efficiency.

[About da tai - abortion in old Chinese folk medicine handwritten manuscripts]. / Uber da tai [see text] - Abtreibung in alten volksmedizinischen Handschriften Chinas.

Of 881 Chinese handwritten volumes with medical texts of the 17th through mid-20th century held by Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin and Ethnologisches Museum Berlin-Dahlem, 48 volumes include prescriptions for induced abortion. A comparison shows that these records are significantly different from references to abortion in Chinese printed medical texts of pre-modern times. For example, the percentage of recipes recommended for artificial abortions in handwritten texts is significantly higher than those in printed medical books. Authors of handwritten texts used 25 terms to designate artificial abortion, with the term da tai [see text], lit.: "to strike the fetus", occurring most frequently. Its meaning is well defined, in contrast to other terms used, such as duo tai [see text], lit: "to make a fetus fall", xia tai [see text], lit. "to bring a fetus down", und duan chan [see text], lit., to interrupt birthing", which is mostly used to indicate a temporary or permanent sterilization. Pre-modern Chinese medicine has not generally abstained from inducing abortions; physicians showed a differentiating attitude. While abortions were descibed as "things a [physician with an attitude of] humaneness will not do", in case a pregnancy was seen as too risky for a woman she was offered medication to terminate this pregnancy. The commercial application of abortifacients has been recorded in China since ancient times. A request for such services has continued over time for various reasons, including so-called illegitimate pregnancies, and those by nuns, widows and prostitutes. In general, recipes to induce abortions documented in printed medical literature have mild effects and are to be ingested orally. In comparison, those recommended in handwritten texts are rather toxic. Possibly to minimize the negative side-effects of such medication, practitioners of folk medicine developed mechanical devices to perform "external", i.e., vaginal approaches.

In situ conversion of ZnO microsphere from ZnS complex microstructure and photocatalytic study.

Precursor ZnS complex microstructure, synthesized under concentrated NaOH solution, was annealed at different temperatures to fabricate self-supported ZnO microstructure with large-scale yield. The crystal structure, morphology and chemical compositions of the as-prepared ZnO nanoparticles were examined by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller specific surface area (BET). The experimental results show that the obtained ZnO microsphere keeps an intact self-supported structure even after high temperature annealing and the XRD observation indicates that the crystal lattice becomes more integrated along with the elevation of annealing temperature. We further investigated the photocatalytic property towards eosin B and found that the photocatalytic property seems to be closely related to crystallinity of the lattice. As the crystallinity enhances, the photocatalytic performance of the ZnO self-supported microsphere becomes significantly better. Overall, the investigation indicates that we have prepared a novel kind of self-supported ZnO microsphere photocatalyst with the merit of mass production and high catalytic efficiency.

[The research of revision on herb properties in Shaoxing Ben cao].

Shaoxing Bencao, wrote by WANG Jixian in South Song dynasty (1159), is a classic Chinese medicine book which aims to revise herb properties described in former literature. There are 371 items in the book evaluating herb properties recorded in books about herbs. Keeping those the thought right, correcting those he thought wrong, complementing those missed and selecting better ones from those with disputes. He revised herb properties in 50.9% of all the items. Herb properties were evaluated mainly according to record and clinical practice with emphasis on property-effect (effect and adverse effect) relationship. Logical deduction was also used to deduce herb toxicity and quality according to herb flavor, nature, tastes and their growing environment. The book described in detail the influence of processing on the herb properties and toxicity. The evaluation methods in this book are of reference value for learning about the formation of knowledge of herb properties.

Light-triggered covalent assembly of gold nanoparticles in aqueous solution.

UV light irradiation triggers Au NPs that are respectively functionalized on the surface by o-nitrobenzyl alcohol and benzylamine to proceed with a covalent ligation reaction, which leads to assembling of Au NPs into anisotropic one-dimensional (1D) arrays in aqueous solution via indazolone linkages.

Recycling MgOH2 nanoadsorbent during treating the low concentration of CrVI.

Investigations about how to recycle the deactivated nanomaterials are well-needed. This work was designed to explore the recycling strategy of Mg(OH)(2) nanoadsorbent during treating low concentration of Cr(VI) solution as an example. It was demonstrated that a reversible route between Cr-adsorbed nano-Mg(OH)(2) and Cr-desorbed bulk-MgCO(3) · 3H(2)O can be established by using CO(2) as a phase transformation medium. In each adsorption-desorption cycle, Cr(VI) solution with initial concentration of 10 mg · L(-1) could be enriched over 40 times. An aggregation-induced rapid phase transformation mechanism from nano-Mg(OH)(2) to bulk-MgCO(3) · 3H(2)O was discovered, which was one of the critical factors to ensure the disposing efficiency of this environmental-friendly Cr(VI) disposal system. A pilot-scale experiment was conducted with this strategy to deal with 50 L Cr(VI)-containing simulated industrial wastewater. The enrichment of Cr(VI) and the recycle of nano-Mg(OH)(2) can be successfully achieved simultaneously.

Bioremediation of Cr(VI) and immobilization as Cr(III) by Ochrobactrum anthropi.

Bioremediation of Cr(VI) through reduction relies on the notion that the produced Cr(III) may be precipitated or efficiently immobilized. However, recent reports suggest that soluble organo-Cr(III) complexes are present in various chromate-reducing bacterial systems. This work was designed to explore the factors that affect the immobilization of Cr(III) in the Ochrobactrum anthropi system. X-ray absorption fine structure analysis on the cell debris clearly verified that coordination of Cr(III) occurs on the surfaces via the chelating coordination with carboxyl- and amido-functional groups. However, competitive coordination experiments of Cr(III) revealed that the small molecules such as amino acids and their derivatives or multicarboxyl compounds hold stronger coordination ability with Cr(III) than with cell debris. We speculate that it is the preferential coordination of Cr(III) to the soluble organic molecules in the bacterial culture medium that inhibits effective immobilization of Cr(III) on the cells. On the basis of this understanding, a strategy with two-step control of the medium was proposed, and this achieved successful immobilization of Cr(VI) as Cr(III) by O. anthropi and Planococcus citreus in 5-50 L pilot-scale experiments.

Correlation between the photoluminescence and oriented attachment growth mechanism of CdS quantum dots.

Water-soluble mercaptoacetic acid-coated 3.1 nm CdS quantum dots (QDs) with two concentrations were selected for studying the correlation between the photoluminescence and the crystal growth mechanism. By achieving the classic Ostwald ripening mechanism and oriented attachment (OA) growth mechanism, we have shown that the evolution of the emission spectra were obviously different. The change in both the surface and internal defects during OA crystal growth were responsible for the specific variation of the photoluminescence of CdS QDs. Strategies for obtaining QDs with different luminescent properties are suggested.

LSPR sensing of molecular biothiols based on noncoupled gold nanorods.

Au NRs protected with mPEG-SH molecules (mPEG-Au NRs) were demonstrated to be a promising platform for LSPR-based sensing of molecular biothiols in aqueous solution. Surface mPEG-SH molecules endow Au NRs with great stability and biocompatibility and no nonspecific adsorption of biomacromolecules. The LSPR band of mPEG-Au NRs displays a stability and linear response in the spectral shift with respect to a change in their surrounding refractive index with a sensitivity of 252 nm/RIU. The loose structure of mPEG-SH around the Au NRs offers free sites, thereby allowing molecular biothiols to bind onto the surfaces of Au NRs. The LSPR response and the sensitivity of Au NRs to biothiols such as GSH, Cys, Hcy, TGA, GSSG, and BSA were then studied.

Effect of surface etching on the efficiency of ZnO-based dye-sensitized solar cells.

In this study, we report on an insight into the influential factors of the conversion efficiency of ZnO-based dye-sensitized solar cells. With ZnO nanoflowers as the photoelectric anode and dye N719 as the sensitizer, we found with the addition of N719 that the surfaces of ZnO nanoflowers were slightly etched at the beginning and gradually destroyed with time. On the basis of these observations, a series of experiments were further carried out to distinguish the influence of dye-induced aggregation from that of dye-induced etching on the solar-to-electric conversion efficiency. SEM observation reveals that there were no obvious dye/Zn(2+) aggregations on any of the samples. XRD results indicate that there was no new phase formed during the dye-sensitizing process. I-V measurements reveal clearly that the efficiency of ZnO-based DSSCs was inversely proportional to the etching level of ZnO surfaces. We concluded that the dye-induced etching of the ZnO anode may be an assignable cause that results in the low efficiency of ZnO-based DSSCs. The etching of ZnO may lead to low surface absorption efficiency of the dye, low electron mobility, and a high surface recombination ratio of photocarriers. Therefore, we suggest that special attention should be paid to protecting the surface structure of the ZnO anode during the dye-sensitizing process.

Elevation of circulating big endothelin-1: an independent prognostic factor for tumor recurrence and survival in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Endothelin(ET) axis plays a key role in many tumor progression and metastasis via various mechanisms such as angiogenesis, mediating extracellular matrix degradation and inhibition of apoptosis. However, there is limited information regarding the clinical significance of plasma big ET-1 levels in esophageal cancer patients. Circulating plasma big ET-1 levels were measured in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC) to evaluate the value of ET-1 as a biomarker for predicting tumor recurrence and patients survival. METHODS: Preoperative plasma big ET-1 concentrations were measured by an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) in 108 ESCC patients before surgery, and then again at 1,2,3,10 and 30 days after curative radical resection for ESCC. The association between preoperative plasma big ET-1 levels and clinicopathological features, tumor recurrence and patient survival, and their changes following surgery were evaluated. RESULTS: The preoperative plasma big ET-1 levels in ESCC patients were significantly higher than those in controls. And there was a significant association between plasma big ET-1 levels and disease stage, as well as invasion depth of the tumor and lymph node status. Furthermore, plasma big ET-1 levels decreased significantly after radical resection of the primary tumor and patients with postoperative recurrence had significantly higher plasma big ET-1 levels than that of patients without recurrence. Finally, the survival rate of patients with higher plasma big ET-1 concentrations (>4.3 pg/ml) was significantly lower than that of patients with lower level (< or = 4.3 pg/ml). Multivariate regression analysis showed that plasma big ET-1 level is an independent prognostic factor for survival in patients with ESCC. CONCLUSION: Plasma big ET-1 level in ESCC patients may reflect malignancy and predict tumor recurrence and patient survival. Therefore, the preoperative plasma big ET-1 levels may be a clinically useful biomarker for choice of multimodality therapy in ESCC patients.

Microscopic investigations of the Cr(VI) uptake mechanism of living Ochrobactrum anthropi.

A basic understanding related to the immobilization of chromium by bacteria is essential for chromate pollutant remediation in the environment. In this work, we studied the Cr(VI) uptake mechanism of living Ochrobactrum anthropi and the influence of a bacterial culture medium on the Cr-immobilization process. It was found that the Cr-immobilization ratio of bacteria in Tris-HCl buffer is higher than in LB medium. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) analysis revealed that the chromium accumulated on bacteria were mostly in Cr(III) states. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) observations showed that noticeable Cr(III) precipitates were accumulated on bacterial surfaces. AFM roughness analysis revealed that the surface roughness of bacteria increased greatly when the bacteria-Cr(VI) interaction was in Tris-HCl buffer rather than in LB solution. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) thin section analysis coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy showed that Cr(III) is also distributed in bacterial inner portions. A chromium-immobilization mechanism considering the participation of both bacterial inner portions and bacterial surfaces of living Ochrobactrum anthropi was proposed, whereas the bacterial surface was the dominant part of the immobilization of Cr(III). This work also proved that the control of Cr immobilization by living Ochrobactrum anthropi could be achieved via adjusting the bacterial culture medium.

Molecule-scale controlled-release system based on light-responsive silica nanoparticles.

We report a molecule-scale controlled-release system based on silica nanoparticles bearing a photoactive o-nitrobenzyl bromide linkage, which allows cage and release of drug or biologically active molecules by light.