Gate-tunable transport in van der Waals topological insulator Bi4Br4nanobelts.

Bi4Br4is a quasi-one-dimensional van der Waals topological insulator with novel electronic properties. Several efforts have been devoted to the understanding of its bulk form, yet it remains a challenge to explore the transport properties in low-dimensional structures due to the difficulty of device fabrication. Here we report for the first time a gate-tunable transport in exfoliated Bi4Br4nanobelts. Notable two-frequency Shubnikov-de Haas oscillations oscillations are discovered at low temperatures, with the low- and high-frequency parts coming from the three-dimensional bulk state and the two-dimensional surface state, respectively. In addition, ambipolar field effect is realized with a longitudinal resistance peak and a sign reverse in the Hall coefficient. Our successful measurements of quantum oscillations and realization of gate-tunable transport lay a foundation for further investigation of novel topological properties and room-temperature quantum spin Hall states in Bi4Br4.

[Zhishen Tiaosui acupuncture on the unilateral spatial neglect after stroke: a randomized controlled trial].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical curative effect of Zhishen Tiaosui acupuncture on unilateral spatial neglect (USN) after stroke. METHODS: Sixty-four patients with left hemiplegia after the first stroke and diagnosed with unilateral spatial neglect after stroke in the right hemisphere were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 32 cases in each group. In the control group, conventional acupuncture was used at Jianyu (LI 15), Quchi (LI 11), Shousanli (LI 10), Waiguan (TE 5), Hegu (LI 4), Huantiao (GB 30), Yanglingquan (GB 34), Zusanli (ST 36) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) on the affected side. In the observation group, Zhishen Tiaosui acupuncture was applied at Baihui (GV 20), Fengfu (GV 16), Fengchi (GB 20), Xuanzhong (GB 39) and Niesanzhen. The treatment was given once a day, 5 times as one course for 4 courses in both groups. The cancellation test, digit cancellation test, bisection line test, clock drawing test, and copying drawing test were used to assess the degree of unilateral spatial neglect, and the Fugl-Meyer motor function scores and the modified Barthel index (MBI) scores were compared before and after treatment in the two groups. RESULTS: After treatment, the scores of cancellation test, digit cancellation test, bisection line test, clock drawing test and copying drawing test were significantly lower than those before treatment in the two groups (all P<0.05), and the scores of the above unilateral spatial neglect after treatment in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (all P<0.01). After treatment, the scores of Fugl-Meyer motor function and MBI in the two groups were significantly higher than before treatment (all P<0.05), and the difference of MBI scores before and after treatment in the observation group was higher than that in the control group (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Zhishen Tiaosui acupuncture can improve the cognition of unilateral spatial neglect in stroke patients with unilateral spatial neglect, improve the degree of bilateral spatial neglect and the motor function of hemiplegic limbs, and positively promote the improvement of cognitive impairment and self-care ability in daily life.

Toxicity and oxidative stress induced by T-2 toxin in cultured mouse Leydig cells.

To explore the toxic mechanism of T-2 toxin on Leydig cells of mice, we would investigate the toxicity and oxidative stress induced by T-2 toxin in the cells. Leydig cells were isolated and cultured with control or T-2 toxin (10-7 M, 10-8 M, or 10-9 M) for 24 h, then cells and supernatants were harvested to examine cell viability, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and catalase (CAT) activities, expression of messenger RNA (mRNA) related to oxidative stress, malondialdehyde (MDA) content and DNA damage. The cell viability was evaluated in mouse Leydig cells by MTT assay, MDA content and SOD, GSH-Px and CAT activities were measured by routine kits, expression of mRNA related to oxidative stress were examined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and DNA damage was investigated by comet assay. Leydig cells treated with T-2 toxin showed significant reductions in cell viability, SOD, GSH-Px and CAT activities, and expression of mRNA related to oxidative stress, and remarkable increases in MDA content and levels of DNA damage. This study proves that T-2 toxin is toxic to Leydig cells of mice. Furthermore, oxidative stress plays an important role in the above-mentioned negative effects of T-2 toxin.

[Observation on the effect of the catgut implantation treatment for obesity hypertriglyceridemia].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the difference in effectiveness between the catgut implantation and Fenofibrate for obesity hypertriglyceridemia. METHODS: Seventy-four patients were randomized divided into a catgut implantation group (36 cases) and a medicine group (38 cases). The catgut implantation treatment was applied at the acupoint of Zusanli (ST 36), Fenglong (ST 40), Zhongwan (CV 12), Liangmen (ST 21), Tianshu (ST 25), Quchi (LI 11), Fujie (SP 14), Shangjuxu (ST 37) in catgut implantation group. The treatment of Fenofibrate was used in medicine group. Both treatments last for eight weeks. The level of triglyceride (TG) and the weight were examined in both groups before and after receiving the treatments. RESULTS: The change value of TG was(1.12 +/- 0.65) mmol/L in catgut implantation group, (1.18 +/- 0.62) mmol/L in medicine group,there was no significant difference between two groups. The weight was (73.1 +/- 6.6) kg in catgut implantation group which was significantly lower than (76.2 +/- 8.6) kg in medicine group (P < 0.01) after treatment. CONCLUSION: The effectiveness is comparable in improving the level of hypertriglyceridemia between two groups. The catgut implantation treatment has apparent effect in weight loss; and it is a sound treatment for obesity hypertriglyceridemia.