CD3ε of a pan T cell marker involved in mouse Aspergillus fumigatus keratitis.

AIM: To explore whether CD3ε is involved in the adaptive immunity of Aspergillus fumigatus (A. fumigatus) keratitis in mice and the role of innate and adaptive immunity in it. METHODS: Mice models of A. fumigatus keratitis were established by intra-stromal injection and corneal epithelial scratching. Subconjunctival injections of natamycin, wedelolactone, LOX-1 inhibitor (poly I) or Dectin-1 inhibitor (laminarin) were used to treat mice with A. fumigatus keratitis. Mice were pretreated by intraperitoneal injection of anti-mouse CD3ε. We observed the corneal infection of mice under the slit lamp microscope and made a clinical score. The protein expression of CD3ε and interleukin-10 (IL-10) was determined by Western blotting. RESULTS: With the disease progresses, the degree of corneal opacity and edema augmented. In the intra-stromal injection models, CD3ε protein expression began to increase significantly on the 2nd day. However, in the scraping epithelial method models, CD3ε only began to increase on the 3rd day. After natamycin treatment, the degree of corneal inflammation in mice was significantly attenuated on the 3rd day. After wedelolactone treatment, the severity of keratitis worsened. And the amount of CD3ε protein was also reduced, compared with the control group. By inhibiting LOX-1 and Dectin-1, there was no significant difference in CD3ε production compared with the control group. After inhibiting CD3ε, corneal ulcer area and clinical score increased, and IL-10 expression was downregulated. CONCLUSION: As a pan T cell marker, CD3ε participate in the adaptive immunity of A. fumigatus keratitis in mice. In our mice models, the corneas will enter the adaptive immune stage faster. By regulating IL-10, CD3ε exerts anti-inflammatory and repairs effects in the adaptive immune stage.

Asynchronous propagation of atomic force and excited electronic charge in GaAs under proton irradiation.

The studies for the interaction of energetic particles with matter have greatly contributed to the exploration of material properties under irradiation conditions, such as nuclear safety, medical physics and aerospace applications. In this work, we theoretically simulate the non-adiabatic process for GaAs upon proton irradiation using time-dependent density functional theory, and find that the radial propagation of force on atoms and the excitation of electron in GaAs are non-synchronous process. We calculated the electronic stopping power on proton with the velocity of 0.1-0.6 a.u., agreement with the previous empirical results. After further analyzing the force on atoms and the population of excited electrons, we find that under proton irradiation, the electrons around the host atoms at different distances from the proton trajectories are excited almost simultaneously, especially those regions with relatively high charge density. However, the distant atoms have a significant hysteresis in force, which occurs after the surrounding electrons are excited. In addition, hysteresis in force and electron excitation behavior at different positions are closely related to the velocity of proton. This non-synchronous propagation reveals the microscopic dynamic mechanism of energy deposition into the target material under ion irradiation.

Evaluation of Surfactants on Graphene Dispersion and Thermal Performance for Heat Dissipation Coating.

With the development of thin and high-power electronic devices, heat dissipation has become an important and urgent issue in thermal management. In this study, a water-based epoxy was used as a polymer matrix to prepare heat dissipation coatings utilizing low volatile organic compounds, which were environmentally friendly and had a high heat-dissipating performance. Graphene flakes, multi-walled carbon nanotubes and aluminum oxide particles were used as fillers for preparing the heat dissipation coating. The graphene flakes and multi-walled carbon nanotubes were dispersed in a water-based epoxy by adding sodium dihexyl sulfosuccinate and poly (dimethyldiallylammonium chloride). These two surfactants were combined as a dispersant to improve the dispersibility of the carbon nanomaterials in the water-based epoxy. The synergistic effect of the well-dispersed fillers improved the heat-dissipating performance. The experimental results show that the infrared emissivity of the heat dissipation film was 0.96 after filling 30 wt% aluminum oxide particles, 2 wt% graphene flakes and 2 wt% multi-walled carbon nanotubes into a water-based epoxy. The heat dissipation film reduced the thermal equilibrium temperature of the bare copper panel by 17.8 °C under a heating power of 10 W. The film was applied in a heat dissipation test on a 15 W LED bulb, and the thermal equilibrium temperature was reduced by 21.3 °C. The results demonstrate that the carbon nanomaterial-based heat dissipation coating with a water-based epoxy could significantly reduce the thermal equilibrium temperature, giving a high potential for the application of thermal management.

Combinations of proteasome inhibitors with obatoclax are effective for small cell lung cancer.

Proteasome inhibitors, bortezomib (BTZ), and carfilzomib (CFZ) are approved drugs for hematological malignancies, but lack anticancer activities against most solid tumors. Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a very aggressive neuroendocrine carcinoma of the lungs demanding effective therapy. In this study we investigated whether BTZ or CFZ combined with obatoclax (OBX), an antagonist for MCL-1 and a pan-BCL family inhibitor, could cause synergistic growth inhibition of SCLC cells. We showed that combined application of BTZ or CFZ with OBX caused synergistic growth inhibition of human SCLC cell lines (H82, H526, DMS79, H196, H1963, and H69) than single agent alone. Both BTZ-OBX and CFZ-OBX combinations displayed marked synergism on inducing apoptosis (~50% increase vs BTZ or CFZ alone). A comprehensive proteomics analysis revealed that BTZ preferentially induced the expression of MCL-1, an antiapoptotic protein, in SCLC cells. Thus, proteasome inhibitor-OBX combinations could specifically induce massive growth inhibition and apoptosis in SCLC cells. Subsequent proteome-wide profiling analysis of activated transcription factors suggested that BTZ- or CFZ-induced MCL-1 upregulation was transcriptionally driven by FOXM1. In nude mice bearing in SCLC H82 xenografts, both BTZ-OBX, and CFZ-OBX combinations exhibited remarkable antitumor activities against SCLC tumors evidenced by significant reduction of tumor size and the proliferation marker Ki-67 signals in tumor tissues as compared with single agent alone. Thus, proteasome inhibitor-OBX combinations are worth immediate assessments for SCLC in clinical settings.

[Expression of Dnajb13 and its involvement in the apoptosis of spermatogenic cells in the testis of the mouse with cryptorchidism].

OBJECTIVE: To study the mRNA and protein expressions of Dnajb13 and its localization in the testis of the mouse with cryptorchidism and its association with the apoptosis of spermatogenic cells. METHODS: The localization of Dnajb13 in the spermatogenic cells of 8-week-old mice was detected by immunohistochemistry. The model of unilateral cryptorchidism was surgically established in the mice and verified by TUNEL, flow cytometry and morphological observation. The apoptosis of the spermatogenic cells was analyzed and the mRNA and protein expressions of Dnajb13 in both cryptorchid and healthy testes were determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), Western blot and immunohistochemistry at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9 and 15 days after modeling. RESULTS: Immunohistochemistry showed that Dnajb13 was localized in the elongated spermatids at steps 9－16 of spermiogenesis in the testis tissue of the healthy mice. TUNEL and flow cytometry manifested that the round spermatids at step 1 and primary spermatocytes in miosis were most sensitive to elevated temperature. After modeling, apoptosis was first observed in the round spermatids at steps 1－8, which were decreased from 17.09% to 6.52% (P < 0.05), then in the spermatids during metamorphosis at steps 9－16, and then in the primary spermatocytes. At 3 days after surgery, the expression of Dnajb13 mRNA in the cryptorchid testis was 1.6 times higher than that in the healthy one (P < 0.05) and decreased at 4 days, 1.2 times that of the normal. The expression of the Dnajb13 protein exhibited no significant change at 1－3 days, but a 0.68-fold reduction at 4 days (P < 0.05) and a 0.4-fold reduction at 9 days. Immunohistochemical staining revealed the expression of the Dnajb13 protein in the apoptotic multinucleated giant cells at 6 days. CONCLUSIONS: Dnajb13 is localized in the spermatids during metamorphosis and in the tails of mature sperm in adult mice, involved in sperm metamorphosis and sperm flagellum formation, and expressed in apoptotic multinucleated giant cells in the cryptorchid testis, which may be associated with the apoptosis of round spermatids at stages Ⅵ－Ⅷ.

Microscopic Analysis of Steel Corrosion Products in Seawater and Sea-Sand Concrete.

In this paper, the types, formation time, structural morphology, and influence of steel corrosion products in seawater and sea-sand concrete were studied, and the intermediate and final products of steel corrosion under different conditions were determined. The corrosion products of steel in these concrete specimens under two curing methods were studied separately by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Due to the presence of a large amount of chloride ions in the concrete, the rust layer on the surface of a steel bar contained many intermediates, such as lepidocrocite (γ-FeOOH) and aka-ganeite (ß-FeOOH). Under wet/dry cycles, with the addition and loss of moisture in concrete, various corrosion products were also dynamically converted into each other. In the specimens immersed in seawater for a long time, the intermediates of corrosion were lepidocrocite (γ-FeOOH) and aka-ganeite (ß-FeOOH), which were substituted for oxygen as the new depolarizers of cathode reduction reaction, and consumed themselves to ensure smooth corrosion.

[Observation on therapeutic effect of filiform fire needle assisted 308 nm excimer laser on vitiligo of different parts].

OBJECTIVE: To compared the therapeutic effect between filiform fire needle assisted 308 nm excimer laser and simple 308 nm excimer laser on vitiligo of different parts. METHODS: Target lesions of 134 patients were divided into an observation group and a control group according to the principle of self-controlled, 201 pieces in each one. In the observation group, filiform fire needle was performed at target lesions. Then target lesions both of the two groups were irradiated with 308 nm excimer laser at the same time. Once every 2 weeks, totally 10 treatments were required. The effective rate and effective rate, color recovery rate and responding time of different parts in the two groups were evaluated 2 weeks after treatment. RESULTS: The effective rate in the observation group was 82.59% (166/201), which was higher than 68.16% (137/201) in the control group (P<0.01). The effective rate of face-neck, trunk, limbs and hand-foot were 90.32%, 81.63%, 81.48% and 58.62% respectively in the observation group, which were higher than 82.80%, 69.39%, 51.85% and 31.03% in the control group (P<0.01, P<0.05). The color recovery rate of different parts in the observation group was higher than the control group, and the effect was faster in the observation group (P<0.01, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Filiform fire needle as an adjunctive therapy, combined with 308 nm excimer laser are more effective than simple 308 nm excimer laser for vitiligo of different parts. Combination therapy has a shorter responding time, the face-neck has the best effect and hand-foot has poor effect.

[Efficiency and Mechanism of Capping with Purple Parent Rocks to Control Phosphorus Release from Sediments].

In order to study the efficiency and mechanism of capping with purple parent rocks to control phosphorus release from sediments, three kinds of purple parent rocks (Fei-xian-guan Formation, Peng-lai-zhen Formation and Sui-ning Formation) which distribute widely in Chongqing, and two types of rock (limestone and calcite) which have been found to effectively control the release of phosphorus from sediments, were selected as active covering materials to cap the sediments to conduct simulation experiment. The results indicated that: all three kinds of purple parent rocks showed strong inhibition of total phosphorus release from sediments to the overlying water, far better than limestone and calcite (P<0.05), and the highest removal rate of total phosphorus was 94.4% in the disposal of Fei-xian-guan Formation. Those five kinds of covering materials could promote the release and transformation of total phosphorus in sediments, which could significantly promote the in situ conversion of OP to Ca-P, while the three kinds of purple parent rocks were more conducive to convert the released phosphorus into inorganic phosphorus and organic phosphorus. At the same time, those five kinds of covering materials could also change the microbial community structure in sediments and overlying water, and the numbers of bacteria (labeled as PLFA16:0) were significantly negatively correlated with the content of total phosphorus in the overlying water.

[Intracytoplasmic sperm injection does not improve the clinical outcomes of the males with 100% teratozoospermia].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) can improve the clinical outcomes of the male patients with 100% teratozoospermia. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 152 couples undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET), including 75 cycles of IVF and 77 cycles of ICSI. We compared the rates of normal fertilization, high-quality embryos, transferrable embryos, implantation, clinical pregnancy, and abortion between the two groups. RESULTS: In the 100% teratozoospermia patients the number of transferrable embryos was significantly lower in the IVF than in the ICSI group (78.91% vs 84.92%, P < 0.05), while the rates of normal fertilization and implantation were higher in the former than in the latter (60.26% vs 57.87% and 48.00% vs 39.55%, both P > 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in the female age, Gn days, Gn dose, BMI, infertility duration, endometrial thickness, and basal serum FSH and E2. CONCLUSION: ICSI cannot improve the clinical outcomes of the male patients with 100% teratozoospermia.

[Effect of Different Purple Parent Rock on Removal Rates of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Organics in Landscape Water].

In order to understand the impacts of physicochemical properties of purple parent rock on the removal rates of nitrogen, phosphorus and organics in landscape water systems, four types of purple parent rocks including Peng-lai-zhen Formation (S1) , Sha-xi-miao Formation (S2) , Fei-xian-guan Formation (S3) and Sui-ning Formation (S4) , which distribute widely in Chongqing, were selected and autoclaved, and added to unsterile landscape water collected from Chong-de Lake in Southwest University, and the landscape water only was used as control. And several indicators such as total nitrogen and phosphorus and so on of every disposal were investigated periodically. The results indicated that: (1) The highest removal rates of total nitrogen, total phosphorus and Ammonia nitrogen were observed in Sl, which were 45.1%, 62.3% and 90%, respectively; the highest removal rate of COD was 94.5% in S4; the ammonia nitrogen content in the purple parent rocks was not obviously changed before and after the experiments, which indicated that the adsorption of ammonia nitrogen on purple parent rock surface was not the main reason for the decrease of ammonia nitrogen in water. (2) Arsenate had inhibitory effect on the sulfate-reducing bacteria, while copper and magnesium had promoting effect on gram-negative bacteria. (3) The microbial diversity was positively correlated to total nitrogen in water. (4) Based on the PCA analyses of microbial community structure and environmental factors, the mineral elements released from parent rock affected the structure and composition of microbial community in the test water, and then influenced the removal rates of nitrogen, phosphorus and organics in water systems.

[Influence factors on the cryosurvival rate of post-thaw spermatozoa from sperm donors].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of seasons, blood types and semen parameters on the cryosurvival rate of frozen-thawed spermatozoa from sperm donors. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the influence of seasons, blood types, abstinence period, semen volume, sperm morphology, and pre-freeze sperm motility and concentration on the cryosurvival rate of frozen-thawed sperm in 4 088 semen samples from Shaanxi Human Sperm Bank. RESULTS: The cryosurvival rate of the post-thaw sperm was correlated negatively with the progressive motility of the pre-freeze sperm (r = -0.262, P < 0.01), but positively with pre-freeze sperm concentration (r = 0.247, P < 0.01), and it was significantly higher in the 6-day abstinence group ([70.2 +/- 5.4]%) than in the other abstinence groups (P < 0.01), so was it in the normal sperm morphology rate > 20% group ([71.4 +/- 5.1]%) than in the others (P < 0.01). The survival rate of the post-thaw sperm was not correlated with seasons, blood types, and semen volume (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Sperm motility, concentration and morphology and the abstinence period of sperm donors may be valuable predictors of the cryosurvival rate of post-thaw sperm, but no correlation was found between the survival rate and seasons, blood types and semen volume.

Efficacy of swim-up versus density gradient centrifugation in improving sperm deformity rate and DNA fragmentation index in semen samples from teratozoospermic patients.

PURPOSE: To compare the efficacy of swim-up and DGC in improving sperm deformity and DNA fragmentation and to determine which method is better in teratozoospermic patients requiring artificial reproduction. METHODS: The present study compared the effects of swim-up and density gradient centrifugation (DGC), the two most commonly used semen preparation methods, on sperm deformity rate and DNA fragmentation index (DFI) in semen samples from teratozoospermic patients. RESULTS: The results demonstrated that both swim-up and DGC yielded a significantly lower sperm deformity rate and DFI in comparison to unprocessed whole semen, with DGC having more favorable results. Sperm deformity rate in unprocessed whole semen samples was significantly lower in the 20-29 age group than in the 40-49 age group, but no significant difference was observed in DFI between different age groups. There was no significant correlation between sperm deformity rate and DFI. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that enrichment of sperm with normal morphology and intact DNA in teratozoospermic patients could be achieved by both DGC and swim-up procedures, and that DGC is a better method.