Highly Deformable High-Performance Paper-Based Perovskite Photodetector with Improved Stability.

Paper-based photodetectors have attracted extensive research interest owing to their environmentally friendly and highly deformable properties. Although perovskite crystals with outstanding optoelectronic properties have proved to be one of the most promising candidates for photodetectors, the development of paper-based photodetectors is hindered by the moisture absorptivity of paper and the instability of perovskite crystals in a humid atmosphere. In this study, we demonstrate a highly deformable and high-performance paper-based perovskite photodetector. The photodetector maintains its excellent performance even after exposure to a relative humidity of 60% for 120 h.

CD47 Overexpression Is Associated with Epstein-Barr Virus Infection and Poor Prognosis in Patients with Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma.

PURPOSE: Little is known about the clinical significance of CD47 expression and its association with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). The aim of this study was to clarify the prognostic value and role of CD47 in EBV-associated NPC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-six cases of non-metastatic NPC were retrospectively reviewed. Tissues were collected for immunohistochemical staining of CD47 and the EBV-encoded oncoprotein latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1). Western blotting and quantitative real-time PCR were performed to determine the CD47 and LMP1 levels in common human NPC cell lines. Additionally, CD47 and LMP1 expression in a constructed EBV-positive human NPC cell (CNE-2-EBV+) and a stable cell line transfected with LMP1 plasmid (CNE-2-LMP1) was assessed. Next, we used Western blotting to assess the decrease in CD47 expression on CNE-2-LMP1 cells after transfecting them with small interfering RNA (siRNA)-targeting LMP1. RESULTS: In NPC patients, CD47 overexpression was significantly associated with disease recurrence (P=0.010), leading to poorer disease-free survival (DFS; P=0.002) and overall survival (P=0.021). Multivariate Cox proportional hazards models demonstrated that CD47 (HR=5.452, P=0.016) was an independent prognostic factor of DFS. Moreover, CD47 expression was associated with plasma EBV-DNA copy number and LMP1 tissue expression. Among the human NPC cell lines, CD47 and LMP1 expression was notably higher in the EBV-positive C666-1 cell line than in the EBV-negative cell lines. Furthermore, EBV infection upregulated CD47 expression via LMP1-mediated pathways in human NPC cells. CONCLUSION: This study indicated that CD47 is related to EBV infection in NPC patients, and it is a feasible biomarker.

Phase II Study of a Bi-Weekly Chemotherapy Regimen of Combined Liposomal Paclitaxel and Nedaplatin for the Treatment of Advanced Squamous Cell Lung Cancer.

The platinum-based, two-drug, 3-week regimen is currently the main first-line chemotherapy program for the treatment of advanced squamous cell lung cancer. The aim of this phase II clinical study was to evaluate the efficacy and adverse events of the bi-weekly program of liposomal paclitaxel combined with nedaplatin as a first-line treatment for advanced squamous cell lung cancer. A total of 52 cases of advanced squamous cell lung cancer were included in this phase II clinical trial. Patients received intravenous infusion of liposomal paclitaxel (100 mg/m2) and nedaplatin (50 mg/m2) on days 1 and 15 of a 4-week cycle. Each patient received two to six cycles of chemotherapy, consistent with the regimen of combined liposomal paclitaxel and nedaplatin. The total effective rate of this chemotherapy program was 37.5%. The median progression-free survival time was 8.5 months (95% confidence interval: 7.8-9.2). The median survival time was 16 months (95% confidence interval: 14.1-17.9). The main adverse event was myelosuppression. Grade 3 leukopenia was noted in seven patients (13.5%), and no grade 4 leukopenia was observed. Grade 3 anemia was noted in four patients (7.7%), and no grade 4 anemia was observed. In addition, no grade 2 or higher thrombocytopenia and no grade 3 or 4 non-bone marrow toxicity was detected. The bi-weekly program of liposomal paclitaxel combined with nedaplatin is effective for the treatment of advanced squamous cell lung cancer, with high safety and few adverse events. However, additional studies are warranted to confirm these results. The trial was registered under the number ChiCTR-OIN-17011423.

Various changes in cryopreserved acellular nerve allografts at -80°C.

The experimental design evaluated histological, mechanical, and biological properties of allogeneic decellularized nerves after cryopreservation in a multi-angle, multi-directional manner to provide evidence for long-term preservation. Acellular nerve allografts from human and rats were cryopreserved in a cryoprotectant (10% fetal bovine serum, 10% dimethyl sulfoxide, and 5% sucrose in RPMI1640 medium) at -80°C for 1 year, followed by thawing at 40°C or 37°C for 8 minutes. The breaking force of acellular nerve allografts was measured using a tensile test. Cell survival was determined using L-929 cell suspensions. Acellular nerve allografts were transplanted into a rat model with loss of a 15-mm segment of the left sciatic nerve. Immunohistochemistry staining was used to measure neurofilament 200 expression. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was utilized to detect relative muscle area in gastrocnemius muscle. Electron microscopy was applied to observe changes in allograft ultrastructure. There was no obvious change in morphological appearance or ultrastructure, breaking force, or cytotoxicity of human acellular nerve allografts after cryopreservation at -80°C. Moreover, there was no remarkable change in neurofilament 200 expression, myelin sheath thickness, or muscle atrophy when fresh or cryopreserved rat acellular nerve allografts were applied to repair nerve injury in rats. These results suggest that cryopreservation can greatly extend the storage duration of acellular nerve tissue allografts without concomitant alteration of the physiochemical and biological properties of the engineered tissue to be used for transplantation.

Improvement and Evaluation of Rat Model of Diarrhea-predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome Induced by Chronic Restrain Stress / 广州中医药大学学报

Objective To modify the rat model of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome(IBS-D) induced by chronic restrain stress,and to evaluate the modified model. Methods Thirty specific-pathogen free Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into control group,one-hour model group and 2-hour model group, 10 rats in each group and half being male. One-hour model group and 2-hour model group were given restrain stress one, 2 hour (s)per day respectively, and the treatment lasted 14 days. On day 7, 14, 21, 28 after modeling,the number of feces grains within 4 hours,area of the excrement and body mass were monitored. On modeling day 28 , abdominal withdrawal reflex (AWR) scores for visceral sensitivity were calculated , the pathological features of gastric antrum, duodenal, ileac, colonic tissues were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining, and the expression level of 5-hydroxytryptamine-3A receptor (5-HT3AR) in rat colon tissue was detected by real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(qPCR). Results Compared with control group,the number of feces grains in one-hour model group showed no obvious changes on day 7, 14, 21, 28, but the area of the excrement was obviously increased and body mass was decreased on day 14 (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01);in 2-hour model group,the number of feces grains and area of the excrement were increased on day 21,28, and body mass was decreased obviously on day 7,14,21,28 (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). One-hour model group and 2-hour model group had higher AWR scores than the control group (P < 0.05),but the difference between the two model groups was insignificant(P > 0.05). The optical microscopy results showed that no various changes in gastric, duodenal, ileac, colonic tissues in the two model groups as compared with those in the control group. QPCR results showed that the expression level of 5-HT3AR in rat colonic tissues of the two model groups was higher than that of the control group (P < 0.05), but the expression level of 5-HT3AR in rat colonic tissues of model was not significantly different from that of the control group(P > 0.05). Conclusion IBS-D model can be successfully established with chronic restrain stress for 2 hours per day and lasting for 14 days. Excrement area and AWR scores can be used as the objective indexes for the evaluation of IBS-D model.

Expression and clinical value of programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) in diffuse large B cell lymphoma: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: The programmed cell death-1 (PD-1)/programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) pathway inhibits the activation of T cells and plays a crucial role in the negative regulation of cellular and humoral immune responses. Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common lymphoid malignancy in adults. In the present study, we aimed to detect the expression of PD-L1 in DLBCL and to analyze its relationship with prognosis. METHODS: We reviewed medical records of 204 newly diagnosed DLBCL patients in Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center between October 2005 and August 2012. The expression of PD-L1 in tumor tissues from these 204 patients was detected using immunohistochemical (IHC) assay. The expression of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK), CD5, CD30, and C-Myc in tumor specimens from 109 patients was detected using IHC, and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-encoded RNAs (EBERs) were detected using fluorescence in situ hybridization. The Spearman method was used for correlation analysis. The Kaplan-Meier method with log-rank test was used for univariate analysis. Cox proportional hazards model was used for multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Of the 204 patients, 100 (49.0%) were PD-L1-positive in tumor cells and 44 (21.6%) were PD-L1-positive in tumor microenvironment. PD-L1 expression in tumor cells and tumor microenvironment were more common in the non-germinal center B-cell-like (GCB) subtype than in the GCB subtype (P = 0.02 and P = 0.04). Patients with PD-L1 expression in tumor microenvironment were more likely to be resistant to first-line chemotherapy when compared with the patients without PD-L1 expression in tumor microenvironment (P = 0.03). PD-L1 expression in tumor microenvironment was negatively correlated with C-Myc expression (r = - 0.20, P = 0.04). No correlations were detected between PD-L1 expression and the expression of ALK, CD5, and CD30 as well as EBERs. The 5-year overall survival (OS) rates were 50.0% and 67.3% in patients with and without PD-L1 expression in tumor cells (P = 0.02). PD-L1 expression in tumor cells was an independent risk predictor for OS (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: PD-L1 expression is more common in the non-GCB subtype than in the GCB subtype. PD-L1 expression in tumor microenvironment has a negative correlation with C-Myc. PD-L1 positivity predicts short survival in DLBCL patients. For patients with PD-L1 expression, more strategy such as anti-PD-L1 antibody treatment should be recommended.

Analysis of EPA and DHA in the viscera of marine fish using gas chromatography.

The viscera of 10 kinds of marine fishes were collected for fish oil extraction and detection of DHA and EPA, two most important polyunsaturated fatty acids. The fish oil extraction ratio for the evaluated fishes varied from 0.95% to 10.18% (wt%). Pseudosciaena crocea presented the highest fish oil yield, followed by Mustelus manazo, Hippoglossus and Sciaenopsocellatus. A gas chromatography method was then established for analysis of EPA/DHA. The EPA concentration (in methyl ester form) in the fish oil varied from 1.39 to 10.65(mg/g). Epinephelus awoara presented the highest EPA concentration (p<0.05), followed by Epinephelussp, Sciaenopsocellatus and Hippoglossus. The DHA concentration (in methyl ester form) in the fish oil varied from 0.58 to 37.02 (mg/g). Epinephelus awoara presented the highest DHA concentration (p<0.05), followed by Sciaenopsocellatus, Pseudosciaena crocea and Hippoglossus. No strict positive correlation between the EPA/DHA concentration and the sea depth where the fish live was observed. The fishes living in middle depth presented highest EPA/DHA concentration.

Molecular characterization and functional analysis of three pathogenesis-related cytochrome P450 genes from Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (Tylenchida: Aphelenchoidoidea).

Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, the causal agent of pine wilt disease, causes huge economic losses in pine forests. The high expression of cytochrome P450 genes in B. xylophilus during infection in P. thunbergii indicated that these genes had a certain relationship with the pathogenic process of B. xylophilus. Thus, we attempted to identify the molecular characterization and functions of cytochrome P450 genes in B. xylophilus. In this study, full-length cDNA of three cytochrome P450 genes, BxCYP33C9, BxCYP33C4 and BxCYP33D3 were first cloned from B. xylophilus using 3' and 5' RACE PCR amplification. Sequence analysis showed that all of them contained a highly-conserved cytochrome P450 domain. The characteristics of the three putative proteins were analyzed with bioinformatic methods. RNA interference (RNAi) was used to assess the functions of BxCYP33C9, BxCYP33C4 and BxCYP33D3. The results revealed that these cytochrome P450 genes were likely to be associated with the vitality, dispersal ability, reproduction, pathogenicity and pesticide metabolism of B. xylophilus. This discovery confirmed the molecular characterization and functions of three cytochrome P450 genes from B. xylophilus and provided fundamental information in elucidating the molecular interaction mechanism between B. xylophilus and its host plant.

Analysis of apoptosis induced by perfluorooctane sulfonates (PFOS) in mouse Leydig cells in vitro.

To explore the possible mechanism of perfluorooctane sulfonates (PFOS's) reproductive toxicity, mouse Leydig cells cultured in vitro were exposed to a serial concentration of PFOS for four more days of culture. Apoptosis during the process was checked. After 24 h, apoptosis occurred to all of the groups ≥ 50 µg/mL PFOS. After 72 h, 37.5 µg/mL dose also showed apoptosis, and the most apoptosis signals, averagely 18 per well, were observed in 62.5 µg/mL dose group. An increase in ROS (p < 0.05) and a decrease of mitochondrial membrane potential (p < 0.01) was confirmed in those groups with ≥ 12.5 µg/mL dose. ROS levels peaked in 50 µg/mL and 62.5 µg/mL groups, nearly two-folds higher than control. PFOS was also observed to down-regulate the protein expression of Bcl-2 and to up-regulate that of Bax. The apoptosis induced by PFOS in mouse Leydig cells was shown to be related to mitochondrially mediated pathways and to involve oxidative stress.

[Correlation between aquatic plant diversity and water environment in the typical sites of Hangzhou section of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal].

Community characteristics of aquatic plant are important indicators for water quality. In order to understand the distribution characteristics of aquatic plants in aquatic ecosystem of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal ( Hangzhou section) , and to analyze the relationship between water quality and plant community, an investigation of the aquatic plants in five typical sites was made in this study. Species composition, biological diversity, quantity distribution and dominant species of aquatic plants in five sites were studied for ecological changes. Physicochemical factors such as temperature, pH value, transparency, dissolved oxygen and main elements of living were also analyzed. Based on the results, the distribution of phytoplankton diversity and environment factor correlations by multivariate statistical analysis were discussed. The trophic levels of these sites were assessed by using related biological standards. Results indicated that the diversity of aquatic plant mainly depends on the diversity of phytoplankton in the typical sites of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal. We observed and identified 35 genus algae, including advantage community of Hyalodiscus Ehrenberg and Melosira Agardh, which belonged to Bacillariophyta. According to the impact on the phytoplankton diversity and distribution, factors such as dissolved oxygen, transparency, water temperature, etc. had an obvious influence on the distribution of phytoplankton in the existing 6 environmental factors, while the influence of pH value was the highest. In terms of water quality eutrophication, site Tangxi Bridge and Maiyu Bridge showed a relatively lighter pollution, while site Yiqiao Bridge, Gujia Bridge and Gongchen Bridge showed a higher pollution, and the pollution of site Yiqiao Bridge was the most serious.

Effects of subchronic samarium exposure on the histopathological structure and apoptosis regulation in mouse testis.

To evaluate the reproductive toxicity of samarium, a widely used rare earth element, male ICR mice were orally exposed to samarium nitrate for 90 days for lesion evaluation in the testis. Decreased organ coefficients, disorganized seminiferous tubules, and decreased spermatogenic cells and sperm of the testis were observed extensively in the treated groups, indicating that the testis is a target organ of samarium. Electron microscopy confirmed that the lesions inside the spermatogenic cells and sperm mainly included mitochondrial swelling, mitochondrial vacuolization, fuzzy nuclear membranes, and marginated chromatin. Increased spermatogenic cell apoptosis rate in the testis was confirmed with a TUNEL assay. And expression up-regulation of p53 and Bax, and down-regulation of Bcl-2 were observed (p<0.05), indicating the apoptosis is related to p53 mediated pathway.