Insights into the Rearrangement of the Molecular Assembly Structure of 6-Aminonicotinic Acid in Its Hydrated Environment.

Water, as a ubiquitous and essential component of life, is known to have a significant impact on the structure and function of organic molecules. In this study, we investigate the role of water in the phase transition of organic molecular assembly structures by scanning tunneling microscopy at room temperature. The results show that the -O-H···O hydrogen induced by water molecules can lead to a significant structural transition in the molecular assembly, specifically through selective weakening of -C-H···O between 6-aminonicotinic acid and the formation of new -O-H···O bonds between 6-aminonicotinic acid and water molecules. Subsequent thermal treatment of these molecular assembly structures reveals that the formation of -N-H···O hydrogen bonds induced by water molecules has created a different pathway for the phase transition of the molecular assembly structure. This knowledge has important implications for the design of organic molecules with specific nanostructures that can be controlled through hydration.

Transformation of the coordination nanostructures of 4,4',4''-(1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triyl) tribenzoic acid molecules on HOPG triggered by the change in the concentration of metal ions.

The modulation effects of Cu2+/Fe3+ ions on the hydrogen-bonded structure of 4,4',4''-(1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triyl) tribenzoic acid (TATB) on a HOPG surface have been investigated at the liquid-solid interface by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). STM observations directly demonstrated that the self-assembled honeycomb network of TATB has been dramatically transformed after introducing CuCl2/FeCl3 with different concentrations. The metal-organic coordination structures are formed due to the incorporation of the Cu2+/Fe3+ ions. Interestingly, a Cu2+ ion remains coordinated to two COOH groups and only the number of COOH groups involved in coordination doubles when the concentration of Cu2+ ions doubled. A Fe3+ ion changes from coordination to three COOH groups to two COOH groups after increasing the concentration of Fe3+ ions in a mixed solution. Such results suggest that the self-assembled structures of TATB molecules formed by metal-ligand coordination bonds can be effectively adjusted by regulating the concentration of metal ions in a mixed solution, which has rarely been reported before. It explains that the regulatory effect of concentration leads to the diversity of molecular architectures dominated by coordination bonds.

Directing on-surface polymerization via a substrate-directed molecular template.

Using a template to control the on-surface polymerization process is valuable for building functional molecular nanostructures. Here, the role of the symmetric matching between a halogen-ligand component (H2TBrPP) and the substrate for the fabrication of a regular metal-organic structure on Cu(111) and Cu(100) surfaces was studied using scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM). Considering the formation of short-range order polymers on the Au(111) surface via the process of debromination due to the weak directing effect from the substrate to the precursors, a bilayer of ordered assembled structure of H2TBrPP/Au(111) has been fabricated and the molecules in the top layer are guided by the first-layer molecules. Owing to the steering effect of the substrate-directed molecular template, the H2TBrPP components in the top layer were polymerized into ordered molecular chain arrays along the given direction that is determined by the initial close-packed assembled structure of H2TBrPP components during the post-annealing treatment.

[Clinical study on hemangiomas treatment with high-intensity focused ultrasound (60 cases)].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical effect and appropriate power of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) in the treatment of infant hemangioma. METHODS: 80 infants with hemangioma were randomly divided into four groups, 20 cases in each group. All cases in group A, B and C were irradiated on the lesion surface with 3-5 mm/s speed for five continuous come-and-goes using HIFU, with frequency 9 MHz, impulse 1 000 Hz and 10% scanning overlap. The power was respectively 3.5 W in group A, 4.0 W in group B and 4.5 W in group C. One session contained three times of treatment, with one month interval. The cases in group D were only followed up as control group. The therapeutic effect, ulcer and scar in irradiated region in group A, B, C were observed 6 months after the last treatment, which were synchronously compared with those in group D. RESULTS: 6 months after the last treatment, 7, 9, 8 cases were cured and 9, 8, 10 cases were almost cured, and 4, 3, 2 cases got improved in group A, B, C, respectively. The total effective rate was 100% in the three groups. While only 5 cases got improved in group D. The treatment effect in group A, B and C was obviously better than that in group D (P < 0.05), with no significant difference among the three groups statistically (P > 0.05). Ulcer and scar in irradiated skin occurred in 0,4,6,0 cases in group A, B, C and D, respectively. The incidence of ulcer and scar was obviously higher in group B and C than that in group A and D statistically (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: HIFU irradiating is one of effective methods for infant hemangioma treatment. The appropriate power should not be above 3.5 W.

[Primary clinical application of high-intensity focused ultrasound on infant hemangiomas].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effectiveness and appropriate energy parameters of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) in treating infant hemangiomas. METHODS: Between January 2009 and September 2010, 60 infants with hemangioma were treated. There were 23 boys and 37 girls, aged from 3 to 30 months with an average of 10 months. These hemangiomas were located at head and face (24 cases), trunk (15 cases), limb (16 cases), buttocks (2 cases), perineum (1 case), and multiple lesions (cervix, abdomen, and upper limbs, 2 cases). The size of hemangiomas ranged from 0.8 cm x 0.6 cm to 6.0 cm x 5.0 cm. The 60 infants were randomly divided into 3 groups: groups A, B, and C (n = 20) based on different ultrasound energies used in treatment. The lesion surface was irradiated with 3-5 mm/second for 5 continuously by ultrasonic therapeutic apparatus at a frequency of 9 MHz, impulse of 1 000, and 10% of scanning overlap; the powers of 3.5, 4.0, and 4.5 W were used in groups A, B, and C, respectively, 3 times as a course of treatment with 1 month interval. The effect and ulcer and scar risk in irradiation region were observed after 6 months of treatment. RESULTS: All cases were treated for one course. After 6 months of treatment, no significant difference in the effect was found among 3 groups based on hemangioma treatment judging criterion (P > 0.05). Neither ulcer nor scar occurred in group A; ulcer occurred in 4 cases (20%) of group B with superficial scars, and in 7 cases (35%) of group C with obvious scars. The rates of ulcer and scar in groups B and C were significantly higher than that in group A (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: HIFU irradiating is one of effective methods for treating infant hemangioma, but the appropriate energy was below 3.5 W.

[Clinical analysis of 55 cases of hemangioma in superficial body treated with copper needles].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical effect of retained copper needles well as neoplasm ligation, retained copper needles associated with Pingyangmycin injection and inserted copper needles followed by DC in treating hemangioma so as to treat hemangioma with copper needles. METHODS: From January 1999 to January 2006, 55 cases of hemangioma in superficial body were treated with copper needles, including 28 males and 27 females and aging 3-50 years(median 19 years). There were 42 cases of cavernous hemangiomas, 4 cases of racemose hemangiomas and 9 cases of multiplicative hemangiomas. The size ranged from 6 cm x 4 cm to 40 cm x 25 cm. Retaining copper needles were used in 29 cases, retaining copper needles with ligating neoplasm in 21 cases, retaining copper needles associated with Pingyangmycin injection in 3 cases and inserting copper needles followed by DC in 2 cases. RESULTS: Fifty cases were treated with copper needles only once and 5 cases twice. All cases were followed up for three to eighteen months. According to Wang Yongjie's criterion, 15 (27.3%) cases were cured, 38 (69.1%) improved, and 2 (3.6%) failed to respond; the response rate was 96.4% (53). CONCLUSION: Copper needle is effective for treating hemangioma in superficial body. Retaining copper needles with ligation neoplasm or with Pingyangmycin injection can achieve better effect.

Experimental and clinical research on treatment of vascular malformations with retained copper needles.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate a simple, safe, and effective surgical approach to treat vascular malformations (VM). METHODS: Tissues of vein, heart, liver, and kidney were obtained and pathologically observed from 30 rabbits whose central veins of the ears were retained with copper needles, and the concentration of Cu in serum was measured. In the clinical research, 3 methods were employed to treat 89 patients with VM: (1) retaining copper needles alone; (2) ligaturing lesions and retaining copper needles; (3) retaining copper needles charged with direct current (DC). RESULTS: After the treatment of retaining copper needles, thrombus, fibrosis, and necrosis of the malformed vein walls gradually increased. The effective rate was 95.5%. CONCLUSION: Treatment with copper needles retained in malformed blood vessels leads to denaturalization, fibrosis, and disappearance of the blood vessel structure, and thus it is an effective way to treat VM.

[Clinical analysis of cleft lip and palate repair at the same time on 468 infants].

OBJECTIVE: To study the feasibility, merit and shortcoming of simultaneously repairing cleft lip and palate during the infancy. METHODS: 468 infants with cleft lip and palate repaired simultaneously in our department from 1995 to 2004 were reviewed retrospectively, as well as the cases repaired three years before were followed up and evaluated in pronunciation. RESULTS: 468 infants with cleft lip and palate were effectively treated simultaneously, associated with 173 had complications and 1 died after operation. 94 cases appeared dyspnea (20.1%), 74 cases had ruptured incision in palate including 63 cases in uvula, 2 cases infected in clip incision, 1 case got paralytic brain for lack of oxygen during the anesthesia, 2 cases ran malignant high fever including 1 dying of it, 1 case bled excessively after iodoform gauze pulled out. Among the 168 cases followed up relative to 278 who had treated three years before, 115 cases got clear pronunciation, 48 cases were next and 5 cases' pronunciation were unclear. CONCLUSIONS: Repairing cleft lip and palate simultaneously during the infancy has high rates of dyspnea and ruptured incision in uvula, though which contributes to clear pronunciation and has other merits, and perfect anesthesia is important to success in operation.