[Analysis of clinical characteristics of persistent HBeAg positivity in patients with chronic hepatitis B treated with nucleos(t)ide analogues].

Objective: To explore the clinical characteristics of persistent HBeAg positivity in patients with chronic hepatitis B treated with nucleos(t)ide analogues. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed according to different data types. An independent sample t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, chi-square test, or Fisher's exact probability method were used. Chronic hepatitis B patients followed up for four years were collected from the follow-up case database of the Department of Infectious Diseases of Zhongshan Third Hospital from January 2009 to December 2018 and were divided into two groups, A and B, with 87 and 145 cases respectively, according to the duration of HBeAg-negativity≤ 3 and persistent positivity >3 years. Statistical analysis was conducted on the age, gender, family history, baseline, follow-up visit duration, liver function, and other data among the two patient groups. Results: There were no statistically significant differences in gender, age, family history of liver cirrhosis, family history of liver cancer, liver cirrhosis condition before treatment, fatty liver disease combined condition before treatment, baseline HBsAg, anti-HBc, alanine aminotransferase, albumin, or total bilirubin between the two groups of patients (P > 0.05). HBV DNA and HBeAg were significantly higher in group B than those in group A at baseline, with P≤0.001. Aspartate aminotransferase and γ-glutamyl transferase were significantly higher in group A than those in group B at baseline. The proportion of family history of hepatitis B was significantly higher in group B (69.0%) than that in group A (50.6%) among the two groups of patients, and the difference was statistically significant (P = 0.005). The proportion of mothers with hepatitis B was significantly higher in group B (25.5%) than in group A (11.5%), P = 0.010. During the treatment process, the HBV DNA quantification was significantly higher in group B than that in group A at 0.5 and 1 years (P≤0.002). The proportion of HBV DNA <100IU/ml was also significantly different at six months and one year (χ(2)=30.327, P < 0.001 and χ(2)=11.779, P = 0.001). The HBsAg level was higher in group B than that of group A in the second and fourth years, P < 0.05. During the entire treatment process, the HBeAg level was significantly higher in group B than that in group A (P < 0.001). A total of seven cases developed liver cirrhosis or cancer during follow-up, including three cases in group A and four cases in group B (P > 0.05). Conclusion: HBeAg-positive patients with chronic hepatitis B have persistent HBeAg positivity when treated with long-term nucleos(t)ide analogues. Accordingly, a greater proportion of this kind of patient family and mothers have a remarkable history of hepatitis B and a reduced HBV DNA relapse rate in the early stages (within a year or less).

A case of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in adults in Malaysia.

Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Adults (MIS-A) is a rare but potentially life-threatening complication following SARS-CoV-2 infection. We present a Malaysian case of MISA in a 45 year old gentleman who developed cardiogenic shock following a mild SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Comparing fixed and auto adjusting continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) amongst symptomatic Obstructive Sleep Apnoea patients - A randomised controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) is required for obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). Thisstudy compares the efficacy between Fixed Pressure CPAP (Fixed CPAP) and Auto-adjusting Pressure (APAP) based on Apnoea Hypopnoea Index (AHI), Epworth Sleepiness Score (ESS) among patients with symptomatic OSA and to ascertain their CPAP preference. METHODS: This is a prospective, randomised, crossover, single-blinded study conducted from February 2018 to February 2019 among adult subjects attending respiratory clinic Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (UKMMC). RESULTS: Forty-six subjects were recruited with 27 males (58.7%). The mean age was 54 (+11) year old. The baseline median Body Mass Index (BMI) was 34.2 kg/m2 (Interquartile Range IQR: 30.8 kg/m2 -41.7 kg/m2); baseline median AHI 28.8 /hour (IQR 21.2/hour-54.0/hour); andbaseline median ESS 15 (IQR 13-16). After intervention, the median AHI was 5.0 / hour (IQR 4.2/hour-6.0/hour) at fixed CPAP arm; APAP arm was 5.5/ hour (IQR 4.2/hour-6.3/hour); p<0.01. The median ESS at fixed CPAP arm was 2 (IQR 0-3); APAP arm was 2 (IQR 1-3); p < 0.01. Those who preferred APAP were 22 subjects (47.8%) and had median optimal CPAP pressure 13.0 cmH2O (IQR 12.0 cmH2O -13.5 cmH2O); 24 subjects (52.2%) who preferred Fixed CPAP had median optimal CPAP pressure 8.0 cmH2O (IQR 6.3 cmH2O -8.7 cmH2O); p<0.01. Median baseline BMI was 37.6 kg/m2 (IQR 30.8 kg/m2 -43.0 kg/m2) for those who preferred APAP and 32.3 kg/m2 (IQR 30.8 kg/m2 - 38.4 kg/m2) for subjects preferred Fixed CPAP; p=0.03. DISCUSSION: Fixed CPAP maybe considered as first line therapy for symptomatic moderate and severe OSA with titrated optimal CPAP pressure less than 8 cmH2O and BMI less than 32.3 kg/m2; based on subjects' preference. Baseline AHI and average daily CPAP usage was not statisticallysignificant in affecting patient preference between fixed and auto adjusting CPAP. This is the first study of its kind conducted in Malaysia.

Structural control of the dielectric, pyroelectric and ferroelectric properties of poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-trifluoroethylene) thin films.

The effects of solvents and temperature on the crystal formation were investigated for vinylidene fluoride/trifluoroethylene copolymer P(VDF-TrFE). Highly crystalline P(VDF-TrFE) thin films were fabricated by spin-casting using various polar solvents such as diethyl carbonate (DEC), methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). Ferroelectric polarisation reversal of the P(VDF-TrFE) was evidenced by a displacement (D)-electric field (E) hysteresis loop measurement and supported by the presence of pyroelectric activity. The samples which were annealed above 100 °C gave elongated rod-like crystalline structures and the highest crystallinity, Xc of 83% was formed at 120 °C. Consequently, remnant polarisation (85 mC m-2) and the pyroelectric coefficient (30 µC m-2 K-1) were enhanced. Thus, annealing plays a substantial role in controlling the crystalline structure of P(VDF-TrFE) films regardless of the choice of solvent. Although, the crystalline structure control is almost independent of the solvent's polarity, the choice of solvent is essential in preparing a smoother film surface. Molecular dynamics of P(VDF-TrFE) are discussed from the observation of two dielectric relaxation processes, ß and γ related to the segmental micro-Brownian and local modes, respectively. The complete ferroelectric polarization reversal caused a reduction in the dielectric polarization and reduced the lattice spacing of the 110/200 planes.

A short review of undergraduate occupational medicine training.

BACKGROUND: Medical schools worldwide allocate little time and utilize varying formats in the teaching of occupational medicine (OM) to undergraduate medical students. AIMS: To identify undergraduate OM teaching formats and highlight key findings in these different methods. METHODS: A limited literature search conducted on PubMed and Scopus identified relevant articles published in English and between the years 2009 and 2018. Our inclusion criteria were papers containing the key words ('occupational medicine' AND ('medical students' OR 'undergraduate medical')) OR ('occupational medicine' AND ('training' OR 'education' OR 'teaching')) in the title or abstract and those that specifically discussed OM education. RESULTS: The literature search yielded 1479 papers. Seven of them fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were reviewed in full. Formats in OM education of undergraduate medical students include, either singly or in combination, the use of case studies, didactic sessions, workplace visits, text-based readings and pro forma. CONCLUSIONS: OM education has a very small footprint in most undergraduate medical curricula. The studies show that different teaching formats are utilized, often in combination. Case-based discussions and workplace visits are frequently used with good qualitative results. Text-based readings will serve well to build good foundational knowledge, though there is no conclusive evidence that students will perform better.

Small RNA sequencing reveals miRNAs important for hypoxic adaptation in the Tibetan chicken.

1. The Tibetan chicken, which is an indigenous breed living on the Tibetan Plateau, exhibits hypoxic adaptations to its high-altitude environment. However, the molecular mechanism behind this hypoxic adaptation is still unclear. This study aimed to investigate differentially expressed miRNAs involved in hypoxic adaptation through high-throughput RNA sequencing. 2. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to verify the differentially expressed miRNAs and their target genes in chicken embryonic heart tissues and fibroblasts. Luciferase reporter assays were performed to confirm the relationship between miRNAs and target genes. 3. The study identified 37 differentially expressed miRNAs in Tibetan chicken embryonic heart tissues, including 20 up- and 17 down-regulated miRNAs, compared to those found in lowland chickens. Differentially expressed miRNAs were mainly involved in biological processes, such as cell cycle arrest, toll-like receptor signalling pathways, and I-kappa B kinase/NF-kappa B signalling. The data showed that gga-miR-34 c-5p was significantly upregulated in Tibetan chicken tissues and hypoxic fibroblasts, while EHHADH, a target gene of gga-miR-34 c-5p, was downregulated. Moreover, gga-miR-34 c-5p dramatically decreased the luciferase activity of the wild EHHADH, whereas no effect on the mutational EHHADH was found. 4. This study identified miRNA expression profiles in the Tibetan chicken and suggested that miR-34 c-5p acts as a novel miRNA associated with hypoxic adaptation. This facilitates the understanding of molecular mechanisms that underlie long-term exposure to hypoxia.

Cannabis use and risk of schizophrenia: a Mendelian randomization study.

Cannabis use is observationally associated with an increased risk of schizophrenia, but whether the relationship is causal is not known. Using a genetic approach, we took 10 independent genetic variants previously identified to associate with cannabis use in 32 330 individuals to determine the nature of the association between cannabis use and risk of schizophrenia. Genetic variants were employed as instruments to recapitulate a randomized controlled trial involving two groups (cannabis users vs nonusers) to estimate the causal effect of cannabis use on risk of schizophrenia in 34 241 cases and 45 604 controls from predominantly European descent. Genetically-derived estimates were compared with a meta-analysis of observational studies reporting ever use of cannabis and risk of schizophrenia or related disorders. Based on the genetic approach, use of cannabis was associated with increased risk of schizophrenia (odds ratio (OR) of schizophrenia for users vs nonusers of cannabis: 1.37; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.09-1.67; P-value=0.007). The corresponding estimate from observational analysis was 1.43 (95% CI, 1.19-1.67; P-value for heterogeneity =0.76). The genetic markers did not show evidence of pleiotropic effects and accounting for tobacco exposure did not alter the association (OR of schizophrenia for users vs nonusers of cannabis, adjusted for ever vs never smoker: 1.41; 95% CI, 1.09-1.83). This adds to the substantial evidence base that has previously identified cannabis use to associate with increased risk of schizophrenia, by suggesting that the relationship is causal. Such robust evidence may inform public health messages about cannabis use, especially regarding its potential mental health consequences.

[Clinical features of renal cell carcinoma associated with Xp11.2 translocation/TFE3 gene fusions-single-center study].

Objective: To analyze the clinical characteristics, treatment methods and prognosis of renal cell carcinoma associated with Xp11.2 translocation/TFE3 gene fusions (Xp11.2 tRCC). Methods: From January 2007 to February 2018, 48 patients were diagnosed with Xp11.2 tRCC at Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital. The epidemiological features, treatment methods and long-term follow-up results were retrospectively reviewed. Results: Of the 48 patients, 20 cases were female and 28 cases were male, aged from 2 to 72 years. Gross hematuria and flank pain were the most frequent symptoms, which occurred on 14 cases and 8 cases respectively. The mean tumor size of 48 cases was (5.3±2.5)cm. Among the 34 cases who were classified as stageⅠ/Ⅱ, 14 cases received laparoscopic nephron-sparing surgery(NSS)and 20 cases received radical nephrectomy(RN). The other 14 cases who were classified as stage Ⅲ/Ⅳ received RN but one case received target therapy. On univariate analysis, tumor diameter, adjuvant treatment, AJCC stage, lymph node metastasis and vein tumor thrombosis showed association with progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) (P<0.05). Multivariate analysis indicated that AJCC stage (P=0.023, 95% CI: 0.048-0.081)and vein tumor thrombosis (P=0.046, 95% CI: 1.004-1.590)were independent prognostic factors of PFS. Conclusions: Xp11.2 tRCC mainly occurs in females. RN was the major method for Xp11.2 tRCC. However, NSS can also receive satisficed results for stage T1a case. High AJCC stage and the occurrence of vein tumor thrombosis indicated poor prognosis.

Inhibition of JMJD6 expression reduces the proliferation, migration and invasion of neuroglioma stem cells.

Neuroglioma is the most common form of human primary malignant brain tumor, more and more studies recently showed only a small subpopulation of glioma cells which called glioma stem cells have true tumorigenic potential. Meanwhile, it was reported the overexpression of JMJD6 protein is closely involvement with the occurrence and development of multiple tumors, and JMJD6 is required for the differentiation of multiple organ, tissues and cells during embryogenesis. However, the influence of JMJD6 overexpression on neuroglioma development is unclear now. Hence, to explore the effects of JMJD6 expression on neuroglioma, we firstly isolated glioma stem cells by using CD133 MicroBead Kit, and identified via neurosphere-forming assay and Immunofluorescence staining. At the same time, we investigated the effects and mechanism of JMJD6 on the proliferation, migration and invasion of glioma stem cells through MTT, transwell assays and the Cignal finder cancer 10-pathway reporter array. The results demonstrated that the glioma neurosphere cells positively expressed stem cell marker SOX2, neuroectodermal stem cell marker Nestin, and also expressed astrocytes marker GFAP and neurons marker ß-tubulin III fter FBS-induced differentiation for a week, which proved the glioma neurosphere cells have the self-renewal and multipotential differentiation capacity. Moreover, shRNA lentiviral vector mediated knockdown of JMJD6 in glioma stem cells led to decreased proliferation, migration and invasion, the underlying molecular mechanism is related to the weaken of Wnt signaling pathway and strengthen of p53 signaling pathway.

Molecular dynamics of anhydrous glycolipid self-assembly in lamellar and hexagonal phases.

The molecular dynamics of a synthetic branched chain glycolipid, 2-decyl-tetradecyl-ß-d-maltoside (C14-10G2), in the dry assemblage of smectic and columnar liquid crystal phases has been studied by dielectric spectroscopy as a function of frequency and temperature during the cooling process. Strong relaxation modes were observed corresponding to the tilted smectic and columnar phases, respectively. At low frequency (∼900 Hz to 1 kHz) in the smectic phase, Process I* was observed due to the tilted sugar bilayer structure. The process continued in the columnar phase (Process I) with an abrupt dynamic change due to phase transition in the frequency range of ∼1.3 kHz to 22 kHz. An additional process (Process II) was observed in the columnar phase with a broader relaxation in the frequency range of ∼10 Hz to 1 kHz. A bias field dependence study was performed in the columnar phase and we found that the relaxation strength rapidly decreased with increased applied dc bias field. This relaxation originates from a collective motion of polar groups within the columns. The results of dielectric spectroscopy were supported by a molecular dynamics simulation study to identify the origin of the relaxation processes, which could be related to the chirality and hydrogen bonds of the sugar lipid.

Association between IL18-607C/A and -137G/C polymorphisms and susceptibility to non-small cell lung cancer in a Chinese population.

Lung cancer is one of the main causes of cancer-related mortality in males and females worldwide. A pleiotropic effect has been observed in the interleukin 18 gene (IL18); its effects include the activation of natural killer cell cytotoxicity and the promotion of the Th1 immune response through the alteration of the expression of interferon-γ and TNF-α in humans. IL18 is therefore involved in the elimination of tumor cells in the human body. We recruited 357 patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and 414 controls to evaluate the correlation between two genetic variations (IL18-607C/A and IL18-137G/C) and the pathogenesis of NSCLC. We used polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism to genotype IL18-607C/A and IL18-137G/C. Statistical analysis revealed that individuals harboring the AA genotype of IL18-607C/A had an increased risk of NSCLC compared to those harboring the CC genotype (OR = 2.20, 95%CI = 1.30-3.74). Individuals expressing the A allele of IL18-607C/A had an elevated risk of developing NSCLC compared to those expressing the C allele (OR = 1.31, 95%CI = 1.06-1.62). In summary, our analysis shows that the IL18-607C/A genetic variation is related to the risk of NSCLC, whereas the IL18-137G/C variation is not. Therefore, the IL18-607C/A variation is related to the pathogenesis of NSCLC in the Chinese population studied.

PI3K-Akt-mTOR signal inhibition affects expression of genes related to endoplasmic reticulum stress.

PI3K-Akt-mTOR signaling pathway is associated with endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. However, it is not clear how this signaling pathway affects the ER stress. The present study aimed to determine whether the PI3K-Akt-mTOR signaling pathway regulates tunicamycin (TM)-induced increases in mRNA levels of genes involved in the ER stress, to help elucidate the mechanism by which this pathway affects the ER stress in primary goose hepatocytes. Primary hepatocytes were isolated from geese and cultured in vitro. After 12 h in a serum-free medium, the hepatocytes were incubated for 24 h in a medium with either no addition (control) or with supplementation of TM or TM together with PI3K-Akt-mTOR signaling pathway inhibitors (LY294002, rapamycin, NVP-BEZ235). Thereafter, the expression levels of genes involved in the ER stress (BIP, EIF2a, ATF6, and XBP1) were assessed. The results indicated that the mRNA level of BIP was up-regulated in 0.2, 2, and 20 µM TM treatment group (P < 0.05), whereas the mRNA levels of EIF2a, ATF6, and XBP1 were up-regulated in the 2 µM TM treatment group (P < 0.05). However, the TM mediated induction of mRNA levels of genes involved in the ER stress (BIP, EIF2a, ATF6, and XBP1) was down-regulated after the treatment with PI3K-Akt-mTOR pathway inhibitors (LY294002, NVP-BEZ235, and rapamycin). Therefore, our results strongly suggest that the PI3K-Akt-mTOR signaling pathway might be involved in the down-regulation of the TM-induced ER stress in primary goose hepatocytes.

Molecular cloning, characterisation and functional analysis of the duck Forkhead box O3 (FOXO3) gene.

1. The Forkhead box O3 (FOXO3) transcription factor is a crucial regulator of cell fate that controls proliferation, apoptosis and differentiation. However, the role of FOXO3 regulation in duck myoblasts is not fully understood. 2. The aim of this study was to clone and determine the complete coding sequence (CDS) of the duck FOXO3 gene and to assess its function in myoblasts. 3. Primers specific for the predicted duck FOXO3 gene were designed using the public mallard duck reference sequence in GenBank. The CDS was cloned by RT-PCR and double digested to generate the expression vector pEGFP-N1-FOXO3. 4. Sequence analysis showed that the full-length FOXO3 CDS is 1467 bp, encoding 488 amino acids and is highly conserved across many bird species. Amino acid sequence analysis revealed a DNA-binding domain (aa 1-77). 5. Myoblast transfection with pEGFP-N1-FOXO3 showed that FOXO3 mRNA expression at 24 h was elevated in pEGFP-N1-FOXO3-transfected myoblasts compared to pEGFP-N1-transfected cells or controls. MRF4, MyoD, MyoG, Myf5 and PAX7 mRNA expression in the pEGFP-N1-FOXO3 group was lowest. However, myostatin (MSTN) and PAX3 mRNA expression did not differ. 6. These results suggest that FOXO3 plays a critical role in the proliferation and differentiation of duck myoblasts.

[Safety and efficacy of partial nephrectomy for solitary kidney tumor].

Objective: To explore the safety and clinical efficacy of partial nephrectomy for solitary kidney tumor. Methods: Twenty patients with a functional or anatomic solitary kidney who underwent nephron-sparing surgery for one or more renal masses were retrospectively analyzed. There were 15 male and 5 female patients with mean age of 63 years.Patients were divided into open partial nephrectomy(OPN) group and laparoscopic partial nephrectomy(LPN) group, the two groups were followed up.Demographic and clinical characteristics were analyzed using student t-test for continuous variables, and the χ2 test for categorical variables. Results: There were 21 tumors whose maximum diameter were 1.5 to 6.0 cm, the mean size was (3.7±1.3)cm, mean operative time was (205.3±81.8)minutes, and median estimated blood loss was 385.6 ml.Five cases accepted blood transfusion intro-operation, 1 case appeared leakage of urine post-operation, none had obvious fever.Eighteen cases were clear cell carcinoma, 2 cases were chromophobe renal carcinoma, 1 case was papillary renal cell carcinoma.Seventeen cases were T1aNxM0, 3 cases were T1bNxM0, 1 case was T3NxM0.One case lost to follow up, the others had completed a mean follow-up of 21.5 months (ranging from 1 to 53 months). One case recurred, no one had metastasis, all patients were alive.The hemoglobin ((114.9±19.6)g/L) and estimated glomerular filtration rate(eGFR) ((46.5±18.2) ml/min) of postoperative day were lesser than pre-operation ((130.7±18.8)g/L, (58.0±16.4) ml/min), while the serum creatinine was higher ((123.8±39.8) µmol/L vs.(90.9±33.2) µmol/L). Three months after operation, hemoglobin, serum creatinine and eGFR had no difference with pre-operative.Compared with OPN group, LPN group gain less blood loss (306 ml vs.510 ml)(t=-2.38, P=0.03), had shorter length of stays (15 d vs.21 d)(t=-3.34, P=0.04), had longer time of renal artery clamping (25.8 min vs.16.5 min)(t=2.60, P=0.02). Conclusions: Partial nephrectomy is secure and effective selection for solitary kidney tumor.The LPN has less trauma, gain less blood loss, recover faster and has shorter length of stays than the OPN, which needs shorter ischaemic time.

Association between FTO polymorphism in exon 3 with carcass and meat quality traits in crossbred ducks.

The fat mass and obesity-associated gene (FTO) is an excellent candidate gene that affects energy metabolism. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in FTO are associated with carcass and meat quality traits in pigs, cattle, and rabbits. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between novel SNPs in the FTO coding region and carcass and meat quality traits in 95 crossbred ducks, using DNA sequencing. We found two transitions G/A (SNP 387 and 473) within exon 3. SNP 387 was a synonymous mutation, whereas SNP 473 was a missense mutation. Association analysis suggested that SNP g.387G>A was significantly associated with all of the carcass traits measured, the intramuscular fat content (IMF), cooking yield (CY), pH values 45 min after slaughter (pH45m), drip losses from the breast muscle, and the leg muscle (P < 0.05). For SNP g.473G>A, the genotype AA exhibited greater leg muscle weight than the genotypes GG or AG (P < 0.05). The D value suggested that the two SNPs exhibited strong linkage disequilibrium. Three haplotypes (G1G2, G1A2, and A1A2) were significantly associated with IMF, CY, the a* value, and all of the carcass traits measured (P < 0.05). The results suggest that FTO is a candidate locus that affects carcass and meat quality traits in ducks.

Phase sensitive molecular dynamics of self-assembly glycolipid thin films: a dielectric spectroscopy investigation.

Glycolipid, found commonly in membranes, is also a liquid crystal material which can self-assemble without the presence of a solvent. Here, the dielectric and conductivity properties of three synthetic glycolipid thin films in different thermotropic liquid crystal phases were investigated over a frequency and temperature range of (10(-2)-10(6) Hz) and (303-463 K), respectively. The observed relaxation processes distinguish between the different phases (smectic A, columnar/hexagonal, and bicontinuous cubic Q) and the glycolipid molecular structures. Large dielectric responses were observed in the columnar and bicontinuous cubic phases of the longer branched alkyl chain glycolipids. Glycolipids with the shortest branched alkyl chain experience the most restricted self-assembly dynamic process over the broad temperature range studied compared to the longer ones. A high frequency dielectric absorption (Process I) was observed in all samples. This is related to the dynamics of the hydrogen bond network from the sugar group. An additional low-frequency mechanism (Process II) with a large dielectric strength was observed due to the internal dynamics of the self-assembly organization. Phase sensitive domain heterogeneity in the bicontinuous cubic phase was related to the diffusion of charge carriers. The microscopic features of charge hopping were modelled using the random walk scheme, and two charge carrier hopping lengths were estimated for two glycolipid systems. For Process I, the hopping length is comparable to the hydrogen bond and is related to the dynamics of the hydrogen bond network. Additionally, that for Process II is comparable to the bilayer spacing, hence confirming that this low-frequency mechanism is associated with the internal dynamics within the phase.

Significance of the expression of integrin ß1, VEGF and MVD in hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

This study aimed to determine the expression of integrin ß1 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and microvascular density (MVD) by CD105 staining in hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma to determine their association with clinicopathologic characteristics, and to determine their role and the effects of their interactions in the development and progression of hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas. The expression of integrin ß1 and VEGF and MVD in hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas and normal hypopharyngeal tissues were evaluated using immunohistochemistry. The Image-Pro Plus software was used to determine the mean optical density of the immunohistochemical images. Integrin ß1 expression was significantly higher in hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma tissues (78.00%) than in normal hypopharyngeal tissues (35.00%; P = 0.001) and significantly differed across pathologic grades and different T stages, and regarding the presence of cervical lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05). VEGF expression was significantly higher in hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma tissues (74.00%) than in normal hypopharyngeal tissues (30.00%; P = 0.002), VEGF overexpression differed significantly across different pathologic grades and different T stages, and regarding the presence of cervical lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05). The MVD count was significantly higher in hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma tissues (37.10 ± 5.95) than in normal hypopharyngeal tissues (8.70 ± 3.34; P = 0.000). MVD differed significantly across different pathologic grades and different T stages, and regarding the presence of cervical lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05). The expression of integrin ß1 and VEGF and the MVD count exhibited no significant differences in terms of age, gender, history of smoking, and clinical stages (P > 0.05). VEGF expression was positively associated with the MVD count of hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (r = 0.582, P = 0.000); however, integrin ß1 was not associated with VEGF or MVD (P > 0.05). Integrin ß1 and VEGF are overexpressed and MVD increased in hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas. VEGF is positively correlated with MVD.

Hot plate annealing at a low temperature of a thin ferroelectric P(VDF-TrFE) film with an improved crystalline structure for sensors and actuators.

Ferroelectric poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene) (P(VDF-TrFE)) copolymer 70/30 thin films are prepared by spin coating. The crystalline structure of these films is investigated by varying the annealing temperature from the ferroelectric phase to the paraelectric phase. A hot plate was used to produce a direct and an efficient annealing effect on the thin film. The dielectric, ferroelectric and pyroelectric properties of the P(VDF-TrFE) thin films are measured as a function of different annealing temperatures (80 to 140 °C). It was found that an annealing temperature of 100 °C (slightly above the Curie temperature, Tc) has induced a highly crystalline ß phase with a rod-like crystal structure, as examined by X-ray. Such a crystal structure yields a high remanent polarization, Pr = 94 mC/m2, and pyroelectric constant, p = 24 µC/m2K. A higher annealing temperature exhibits an elongated needle-like crystal domain, resulting in a decrease in the crystalline structure and the functional electrical properties. This study revealed that highly crystalline P(VDF-TrFE) thin films could be induced at 100 °C by annealing the thin film with a simple and cheap method.