Microstructure and Interfacial Reactions of Resistance Brazed Lap Joints between TC4 Titanium Alloy and 304 Stainless Steel Using Metal Powder Interlayers

In the brazing joint between titanium alloy and stainless steel, a lot of Fe-Ti intermetallic compounds (IMCs) can be easily formed to make joints crack. A lap resistance brazing process with metal powder layers on both sides of the filler metal was used to solve this problem. The microstructure and metallurgical behavior of joints was studied through comparative experiments. The result showed that Nb, V and Cr powders and the solder reacted with the base material to form a new phase, which replaced the Ti-Fe brittle phase in the joint. At the same time, metal powder clusters hindered the diffusion of Ti and Fe elements and improved the distribution of new phases. The established atomic reaction model revealed the metallurgical behavior and formation mechanism of the joints. Therefore, the intervening position of the metal powder layer and the multi-reaction zone structure are the main reasons the shear strength of joints is improved.     

视神经炎的临床特征分析及早期视盘和黄斑的改变

目的　研究视神经炎患者的临床特征及早期视盘和黄斑的改变。方法　回顾性分析山西省眼科医院视神经炎患者67例85眼。分析患者基本情况、眼科检查结果及OCT检查结果。结果　67例85眼中，男24例，女43例；28例（41.8%）发生于冬季；49眼（57.6%）入院时最佳矫正视力小于1.7 logMAR。视神经脊髓炎抗体阳性者出院和入院时的最佳矫正视力均较髓鞘少突胶质糖蛋白抗体阳性者差。患眼较健眼视盘周围神经纤维层增厚，杯盘面积比、杯盘垂直比、杯盘水平比、杯容积减小，盘沿面积、视盘面积增大（均为P=0.000）；与健眼相比，患眼早期上方、下方和平均黄斑区神经节细胞层厚度及黄斑区神经节细胞复合体的局部丢失体积、整体丢失体积均未发生明显改变（均为P＞0.05）。视盘水肿与患眼平均视盘周围神经纤维层厚度存在正相关（r=0.728，P=0.000）。结论　视神经炎多发生于女性，早期视力损害严重，视神经脊髓炎抗体阳性者视力预后差。早期由于视盘水肿，视盘周围神经纤维层增厚，盘沿面积、视盘面积增大；杯容积、杯盘比减小，早期病变未累及黄斑区。     

An update on polymer-lipid hybrid systems for improving oral drug delivery

Introduction: A promising approach that has recently emerged to overcome the complex biobarriers and interrelated challenges associated with oral drug absorption is to combine the benefits of polymeric and lipid-based nanocarriers within one hybrid system. This multifaceted formulation strategy has given rise to a plethora of polymer-lipid hybrid (PLH) systems with varying nanostructures and biological activities, all of which have demonstrated the ability to improve the biopharmaceutical performance of a wide range of challenging therapeutics.

Areas covered: The multitude of polymers that can be combined with lipids to exert a synergistic effect for oral drug delivery have been identified, reviewed and critically evaluated. Specific focus is attributed to preclinical studies performed within the past 5 years that have elucidated the role and mechanism of the polymer phase in altering the oral absorption of encapsulated therapeutics.

Expert opinion: The potential of PLH systems has been clearly identified; however, improved understanding of the structure–activity relationship between PLH systems and oral absorption is fundamental for translating this promising delivery approach into a clinically relevant formulation. Advancing research within this field to identify optimal polymer, lipid combinations and engineering conditions for specific therapeutics are therefore encouraged.     

Cancer stem‐like cells with hybrid epithelial/mesenchymal phenotype leading the collective invasion

Collective invasion of cancer cells is the key process of circulating tumor cell (CTC) cluster formation, and greatly contributes to metastasis. Cancer stem‐like cells (CSC) have a distinct advantage of motility for metastatic dissemination. To verify the role of CSC in the collective invasion, we performed 3D assays to investigate the collective invasion from cancer cell spheroids. The results demonstrated that CSC can significantly promote both collective and single‐cell invasion. Further study showed that CSC prefer to move outside and lead the collective invasion. More interestingly, approximately 60% of the leader CSC in collective invasion co–expressed both epithelial and mesenchymal genes, while only 4% co–expressed in single invasive CSC, indicating that CSC with hybrid epithelial/mesenchymal phenotype play a key role in cancer cell collective invasion.     

Coumarin-containing hybrids and their antibacterial activities

Infections caused by Gram-positive and -negative bacteria are one of the foremost causes of morbidity and mortality globally. Antibiotics are the mainstay of therapy for bacterial infections, but the emergence and wide spread of drug-resistant pathogens have already become a huge issue for public healthcare systems. The coumarin moiety, which is ubiquitous in nature, could bind to the B subunit of DNA gyrase in bacteria and inhibit DNA supercoiling by blocking the ATPase activity; hence, coumarin derivatives possess potential antibacterial activity. Several coumarin-containing hybrids such as coumermycin A1, clorobiocin, and novobiocin have already been used in clinical practice for the treatment of various bacterial infections; thus, it is conceivable that hybridization of the coumarin moiety with other antibacterial pharmacophores may provide opportunities for the development of novel antibiotics. This review outlines the advances in coumarin-containing hybrids with antibacterial potential in the recent 5 years and the structure–activity relationships are also discussed.     

Chalcone hybrids and their antimalarial activity

Malaria, one of the most striking, re-emerging infectious diseases caused by the genus Plasmodium, places a huge burden on global healthcare systems. A major challenge in the control and eradication of malaria is the continuous emergence of increasingly widespread drug-resistant malaria, creating an urgent need to develop novel antimalarial agents. Chalcone derivatives are ubiquitous in nature and have become indispensable units in medicinal chemistry applications due to their diverse biological profiles. Many chalcone derivatives demonstrate potential in vitro and in vivo antimalarial activity, so chalcone could be a useful template for the development of novel antimalarial agents. This review covers the recent development of chalcone hybrids as antimalarial agents. The critical aspects of the design and structure–activity relationship of these compounds are also discussed.