Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy mimicking diabetic neuropathy in a young female with type 2 diabetes mellitus

The presentations of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) overlap with those of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). We described a young girl with CIDP underlying type 2 diabetes mellitus, presenting with progressive numbness and limb weakness, who was initially misdiagnosed to have DPN. Finally immunosuppressive therapy got good response.     

聚乙二醇干扰素α-2a联合阿德福韦酯对HBeAg阳性慢性乙型肝炎的治疗

目的:分析聚乙二醇干扰素-2a(peginterferon-2a,Peg-IFN-2a)治疗HBeAg阳性慢性乙型肝炎应答不佳者联合阿德福韦酯(adefovirdipivoxil,ADV)治疗48 wk的疗效、安全性,并评价48 wk疗效预测指标.方法:140例患者初始均接受Peg-IFN-2a每周1次皮下注射单药治疗,根据24 wk时HBVDNA水平进行分组.A组90例患者治疗24 wk时HBV DNA≥2.0×103IU/mL且HBV DNA下降≥2 log10 IU/mL,其中A1组45例患者加用ADV治疗至48 wk,A2组45例患者继续Peg-IFN-2a单药治疗至48 wk;B组50例患者治疗24 wk时HBV DNA<2.0×103IU/mL,继续Peg-IFN-2a治疗至48 wk.比较各组基线及治疗中HBV DNA、HBsAg、HBeAg及ALT水平.结果:治疗36、48 wk时HBV DNA转阴率B组>A1组>A2组(P<0.01).治疗36 wk时HBV DNA下降值B组>A1组>A2组(P<0.01).48 wk时HBV DNA下降值A1组>A2组(P<0.01),A1、B组之间差异无统计学意义.治疗24-48 wk期间,A1组HBeAg血清转换率升高幅度>A2组和B组(P<0.01).治疗48 wk时HBsAg下降A1组4例、A2组1例、B组2例.治疗36、48 wk时A1与A2、B组ALT复常率差异无统计学意义.A1组治疗48 wk时HBV DNA阴转与治疗36 wk HBVDNA下降值有关.治疗36 wk时HBV DNA较基线下降值对48 wk时HBV DNA阴转的阳性预测值为90.5%,较24 wk时下降值对48 wk时HBV DNA阴转的阳性预测值为95.7%.结论:Peg-IFN-2a治疗HBeAg阳性慢性乙型肝炎应答不佳者联合ADV治疗提高病毒应答、HBeAg血清转换率,其中治疗36 wk时HBV DNA下降值可预测48 wk疗效.     

Effects of immunomodulators on liquefaction and ulceration in the rabbit skin model of tuberculosis

To better control tuberculosis (TB) epidemics in developing countries a real need exists to study the liquefaction and cavity formation that occur in pulmonary TB lesions. This report is the first to evaluate the effects of immunomodulators on these two processes in a rabbit skin model. The effects of recombinant human interferon-γ (rIFN-γ), recombinant human interleukin-2 (rIL-2), dexamethasone and cyclophosphamide (CTX) were evaluated in TB lesions produced by intradermal injection of 5 × 10(6) viable BCG bacilli. Recombinant IL-2 and rIFN-γ accelerated the liquefaction and healing of the lesions, and reduced the bacterial load. In contrast, dexamethasone inhibited the liquefaction of the lesions, and increased the bacterial load. The effect of CTX was similar to dexamethasone but not as pronounced. Serum levels of IL-2 were higher during the liquefaction and healing phases in the rIL-2 and rIFN-γ groups. Therefore, immunomodulators affect both the development of TB lesions and the survival of the mycobacteria within them. This study suggests that the rabbit skin model can be a valuable method to select therapeutic agents that could inhibit liquefaction and cavity formation in pulmonary tuberculosis.     

12/15-脂加氧酶与糖尿病微血管并发症

最近研究发现,12/15-脂加氧酶的过表达或激活可能促进了糖尿病肾病和神经病变的进展.该酶可催化花生四烯酸产生12-羟基二十碳四烯酸和15-羟基二十碳四烯酸,从而影响细胞结构、代谢和信号转导.研究发现12/15-脂加氧酶及其代谢产物可直接诱导或间接调节细胞因子导致细胞肥大、增殖和细胞外基质堆积,参与糖尿病肾病的发生.此外,该酶的过表达和激活与外周神经系统的氧化-硝化应激相关,可能参与糖尿病神经病变的发生.因此,12/15-脂加氧酶抑制剂或包含抑制剂的联合治疗可能为糖尿病微血管并发症的治疗提供新的研究方向.     

Strain-induced structural phase transition,electric polarization and unusual electric properties in photovoltaic materials CsMI3 (M = Pb,Sn)

The structural phase transition, ferroelectric polarization, and electric properties have been investigated for photovoltaic films CsMI₃ (M = Pb, Sn) epitaxially grown along (001) direction based on the density functional theory. The calculated results indicate that the phase diagrams of two epitaxial CsPbI₃ and CsSnI₃ films are almost identical, except critical transition strains varying slightly. The epitaxial tensile strains induce two ferroelectric phases Pmc2₁, and Pmn2₁, while the compressive strains drive two paraelectric phases P2₁2₁2₁, P2₁2₁2. The larger compressive strain enhances the ferroelectric instability in these two films, eventually rendering them another ferroelectric state Pc. Whether CsPbI₃ or CsSnI₃, the total polarization of Pmn2₁ phase comes from the main contribution of B-position cations (Pb or Sn), whereas, for Pmc2₁ phase, the main contributor is the I ion. Moreover, the epitaxial strain effects on antiferrodistortive vector, polarization and band gap of CsMI₃ (M = Pb, Sn) are further discussed. Unusual electronic properties under epitaxial strains are also revealed and interpreted.

The structural phase transition, ferroelectric polarization, and electric properties have been investigated for photovoltaic films CsMI₃ (M = Pb, Sn) epitaxially grown along (001) direction based on the density functional theory.     

Effects of the novel catalyst Ni–S2O82−–K2O/TiO2 on efficient lignin depolymerization

To improve the utilization of lignin, much effort has been devoted to lignin depolymerization with the aim to decrease waste and enhance profitability. Here, a dual property (acid and base) catalyst, namely S₂O₈²⁻–K₂O/TiO₂, was carefully researched. Upon loading S₂O₈²⁻ and K₂O onto TiO₂, acid and base sites emerged, and S₂O₈²⁻ and K₂O mutually enhanced the acid and base strengths of the catalyst enormously; this indeed facilitated lignin depolymerization. Under appropriate conditions, the yields of liquid product, petroleum ether soluble (PE-soluble) product and total monomer products were 83.76%, 50.4% and 28.96%, respectively. The constituents of the PE-soluble fraction, which are mainly monomers and dimers, can be used as liquid fuels or additives. In addition, after the catalyst was modified by Ni, better results were obtained. Surprisingly, it was found that the Ni enhanced not only the hydrogenation capacity but also the acidity. The highest high heating value (HHV) of the liquid product (33.6 MJ kg⁻¹) was obtained, and the yield of PE-soluble product increased from 50.4 to 56.4%. The product can be utilized as a fuel additive or be converted to bio-fuel. This catalysis system has significant potential in the conversion of lignin to bio-fuel.

To improve the utilization of lignin, much effort has been devoted to lignin depolymerization with the aim to decrease waste and enhance profitability.     

Dual-gate low-voltage transparent electric-double-layer thin-film transistors with a top gate for threshold voltage modulation

Dual gate (DG) low-voltage transparent electric-double-layer (EDL) thin-film transistors (TFTs) with microporous-SiO₂ for both top and bottom dielectrics have been fabricated, both dielectrics were deposited by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) at room temperature. The threshold voltage of such devices can be modulated from −0.13 to 0.5 V by the top gate (TG), which switches the device from depletion-mode to enhancement-mode. High performance with a current on/off ratio (∼2.1 × 10⁶), subthreshold swing (76 mV per decade), operating voltage (1.0 V), and field-effect mobility (∼2.6 cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹) are obtained. Such DG TFTs are promising for ion-sensitive field-effect transistors sensor applications with low-power consumptions.

Dual gate (DG) low-voltage transparent electric-double-layer (EDL) thin-film transistors (TFTs) with microporous-SiO₂ for both top and bottom dielectrics have been fabricated, both dielectrics were deposited by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD).