Structure,optical simulation and thermal stability of the HfB2-based high-temperature solar selective absorbing coatings

Transition metal borides are a kind of potential materials for high-temperature solar thermal applications. In this work, a novel SS/HfB₂/Al₂O₃ tandem absorber was prepared, which exhibited high solar spectrum selectivity (α/ε) of 0.920/0.109. The optical constants of the coating were obtained using spectroscopic ellipsometry, and the dispersion model of the HfB₂ layer was modeled with the Tauc–Lorentz dispersion formula. In addition, the reflectance spectrum simulated by the CODE software corroborated well with the experimental results. The thermal stability test indicated that the HfB₂/Al₂O₃ solar absorber coating was thermally stable in vacuum at 600 °C for 2 h. When extending the annealing time to 100 h, the coating could maintain high spectral selectivity after aging at 500 °C irrespective of whether in air or vacuum. All these results indicate that the coating has good solar selectivity and is a promising candidate for high-temperature solar thermal applications.

Transition metal borides are a kind of potential materials for high-temperature solar thermal applications.     

Ultrasound-mediated delivery of RGD-conjugated nanobubbles loaded with fingolimod and superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles: targeting hepatocellular carcinoma and enhancing magnetic resonance imaging

Nanobubbles (NBs) are considered to be a new generation of ultrasound-responsive nanocarriers that can effectively target tumors, accurately release multi-drugs at desired locations, as well as simultaneously perform diagnosis and treatment. In this study, we designed theranostic NBs (FTY720@SPION/PFP/RGD-NBs) composed of RGD-modified liposomes as the shell, and perflenapent (PFP), superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPION), and fingolimod (2-amino-2[2-(4-octylphenyl)ethyl]-1,3-propanediol, FTY720) encapsulated as the core. The prepared FTY720@SPION/PFP/RGD-NBs were black spheres with a diameter range of 160–220 nm, eligible for enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effects. The calculated average drug loading efficiency (LE) and encapsulation efficiency (EE) of the FTY720@SPION/PFP/RGD-NBs were 9.18 ± 0.61% and 88.26 ± 2.31%, respectively. With the promotion of low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU), the amount and the rate of FTY720 released from the prepared NB complex were enhanced when compared to the samples without LIFU treatment. In vitro magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) trials showed that the prepared FTY720@SPION/PFP/RGD-NBs had a high relaxation rate and MRI T2-weighted imaging (T2WI) scanning sensitivity conditions. The cell viability studies demonstrated that both HepG2 and Huh7 cells co-cultured with FTY720@SPION/PFP/RGD-NB (100 μg mL⁻¹) + LIFU treatment had the lowest survival rate compared with the other groups at 24 h and 48 h, showing that FTY720@SPION/PFP/RGD-NB had the strongest anti-tumor efficiency among the prepared NBs. The cytotoxicity study also demonstrated that the prepared NBs had low toxicity to normal fibroblast 3T3 cells. Cellular uptake studies further indicated that both LIFU treatment and RGD modification could effectively improve the tumor-targeted effects, thereby enhancing the antitumor efficacy. The qRT-PCR results indicated that LIFU-mediated FTY720@SPION/PFP/RGD-NB could significantly cause the activation of Caspase3, Caspase9 and p53 compared to the control group, inducing HepG2 apoptosis. These results together indicated that FTY720@SPION/PFP/RGD-NBs combined with LIFU may serve as a multifunctional drug delivery platform for hepatocellular carcinoma treatment and provide a new strategy for tumor visualization by MRI.

Nanobubbles (NBs) are considered to be a new generation of ultrasound-responsive nanocarriers that can effectively target tumors, accurately release multi-drugs at desired locations, as well as simultaneously perform diagnosis and treatment.     

Sunitinib in pretreated advanced non-small-cell lung carcinoma: a primary result from Asian population

Sunitinib is an oral multitargeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor of VEGF receptors and PDGF receptors and is approved for the treatments of advanced renal cell carcinoma and gastrointestinal stromal tumors. However, only few studies were conducted to investigate the effectiveness of the use of sunitinib in NSCLC. This study evaluated the clinical activity and tolerability of sunitinib in previously treated advanced NSCLC in Asian population, which, to our knowledge, has not previously been studied. We conducted an open-label, non-randomized phase II trial for Asian patients with advanced NSCLC. Patients 18 years of age or older had histologically proven stage IIIB or IV NSCLC which had progressed during or after treatment with at least one platinum-based combination chemotherapy regimen were included in this study. In all, 22 patients were enrolled in this study. Two patients achieved a confirmed PR, giving an ORR of 9% (95% CI 0.1–20.9%). An additional 7 patients achieved SD for at least 8 weeks. The median PFS was 11.8 weeks (95% CI 8.2–15.3).The median OS was 23.4 weeks (95% CI 14.7–32.1). Treatments were generally well tolerated. Sunitinib, as a single agent, had a substantial activity for Asian patients who had pretreated advanced NSCLC. The toxicity profile was favorable. However, large population and high-quality prospective clinical trials are needed to be conducted.     

Allergic contact dermatitis in shiitake (Lentinus edodes (Berk) Sing) growers

A 42-year-old female shiitake grower was investigated to clarify the etiology of skin lesions which developed during the planting of shiitake hyphae into bed logs. She complained of repeated eczematous skin lesions during the planting season, from March to July, for 10 years. She handled 7,000 pieces of small conic blocks made of beech, with shiitake hyphae attached to their surface, per day, and 300,000 pieces altogether per season. She was positive on patch testing with extracts of shiitake hyphae. In contrast, female shiitake growers with skin lesions associated with work other than planting, and without skin lesions, were negative on patch testing to the hyphae. Moderate allergenicity was observed to extracts of shiitake hyphae in a guinea pig maximization test. These findings indicated the etiology of skin lesions in shiitake growers to be allergic contact dermatitis induced by shiitake hyphae.     

角膜老年环与血脂及动脉硬化关系的探讨

目的 探讨角膜老年环与血脂及动脉硬化的关系。方法 观察１６７例４０a以上住院高血 压病、冠心病及脑血管病患者，探讨其角膜老年环与年龄、心脑血管病史、脑血流图、眼底及血清胆固醇的关联性。结果 显示老年环随年龄增高、有心脑血管病史而发生率增高，且与脑血流图异常、眼底改变及血清胆固醇增高呈正相关。结论 角膜老年环与血脂及动脉硬化关系密切，对了解和诊断高血压、动脉硬化及心脑血管病有一定临床意义。     

Hepatoprotective activity of the constituents in Swertia pseudochinensis

A new xanthone derivative was isolated together with other 13 known constituents from a Chinese natural medicine, Swertia pseudochinensis HARA. Their structures were determined based on the spectral and chemical evidences. Furthermore, respective hexane, ethyl acetate, 1-BuOH, MeOH and water extracts of S. pseudochinensis, and purified compounds were respectively evaluated for their hepatoprotective activities against hepatocyte injury induced by CCl4. All the extracts and isolated compounds exhibited significant hepatoprotective activities at a dose showing no hepatoxicity.     

哮喘小鼠C7-T5节段脊髓后角Kinesin-1的表达

目的探讨哮喘发病中驱动蛋白-1(Kinesin-1)在哮喘小鼠C7^T5节段脊髓后角内的表达变化。方法 BALB/c小鼠20只,按随机数字表法均分为正常对照组和哮喘组,利用AniRes2005肺功能仪测小鼠气道阻力,免疫荧光方法和Western印迹方法检测各组小鼠C7T5节段脊髓后角内的表达变化。方法 BALB/c小鼠20只,按随机数字表法均分为正常对照组和哮喘组,利用AniRes2005肺功能仪测小鼠气道阻力,免疫荧光方法和Western印迹方法检测各组小鼠C7^T5节段脊髓后角内Kinesin-1的表达变化。结果哮喘组小鼠吸气阻力和呼气阻力明显高于正常组(P<0.01),哮喘模型建立成功。免疫荧光结果显示哮喘组C7T5节段脊髓后角内Kinesin-1的表达变化。结果哮喘组小鼠吸气阻力和呼气阻力明显高于正常组(P<0.01),哮喘模型建立成功。免疫荧光结果显示哮喘组C7^T5节段脊髓后角内Kinesin-1阳性产物的平均光密度值(MOD)显著高于正常对照组(P<0.01),Western印迹方法检测也得到了相同的结果。结论哮喘小鼠C7T5节段脊髓后角内Kinesin-1阳性产物的平均光密度值(MOD)显著高于正常对照组(P<0.01),Western印迹方法检测也得到了相同的结果。结论哮喘小鼠C7^T5节段脊髓后角内Kinesin-1的表达升高。     

A clinicopathological study of resected non-small cell lung cancers 2 cm or less in diameter: a prognostic assessment

The detection and diagnosis of small-sized (2 cm or less) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has increased with the development of computed tomography (CT). Over 80% of 5-year survival rate has been reported in surgically treated peripheral lung cancer. There are systematic mediastinal and hilar lymph node involvement pleural invasion and intrapulmonary metastasis even with tumor diameter less than 2 cm. The appropriate surgical procedure for such kinds of lung cancer is lobectomy with mediastinal lymph node dissection. To evaluate the prognostic factors and establish the optimal surgical strategy, we analyzed the clinicopathologic features and survival benefit in different tumor size of peripheral small-sized NSCLC. Among the resected lung cancer cases between January 1999 and July 2001, 185 patients were retrospectively analyzed in surgical methods, lymph node involvement, CT scan findings and survival rates. Survival was analyzed by Kaplan–Meier method and log-rank test. Lymph node involvement was recognized in 26(14.05%) patients. There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of lymph node involvement between tumors 1.6–2.0 cm (17.82%) in diameter than in those 1.0–1.5 cm (11.94%). There was no lymph node metastasis in tumors less than 1.0 cm in diameter. The 5-year survival rates with or without lymph node involvement were 89.98 and 46.15%, respectively, showing significant difference (P = 0.000). The overall 5-year survival rate was 83.78%. The 5-year survival rate in tumors 1.6–2.0 cm, 1.0–1.5 cm and less than 1.0 cm in diameter was 80.20, 85.07 and 100%, respectively, and showing significant difference(P = 0.035). The 5-year survival rate of 19 patients showing ground-glass opacity (GGO) on CT scan was 94.74% without any metastasis and recurrence after operation. There are systematic mediastinal and hilar lymph node involvement even with tumor diameter less than 2 cm. The results of the present study suggested that systematic lymph node dissection is necessary even for cases with tumor diameter less than 2 cm. However, if the tumor is within 1.0 cm in diameter with obvious GGO showing on chest CT scan, these are good candidates for partial resection without mediastinal lymph node dissection.     

雌二醇对系统性红斑狼疮小鼠模型肾组织芳香酶表达的影响

目的：研究雌二醇对系统性红斑狼疮（ Systemic lupus erythematosus, SLE）小鼠模型肾组织芳香酶表达的影响。方法：BALB／c小鼠卵巢切除后采用ConA活化的同系脾细胞诱导SLE，同时给予不同剂量苯甲酸雌二醇，并设立对照组。于4、6、8和10周用ELISA法检测外周血和肾组织雌二醇（Estradiol，E2）水平，RT-PCR检测肾组织芳香酶mRNA的表达。结果：SLE模型小鼠外周血和肾组织E2水平随着外源性给予苯甲酸雌二醇剂量的加大而升高，与未进行SLE模型诱导的小鼠相比较，SLE模型鼠外周血和肾组织E2水平升高（P〈0．05）；正常BALB／c小鼠肾组织芳香酶mRNA低表达；随着SLE炎症的诱导及E2水平的升高，肾组织芳香酶mRNA的表达增加。结论：E2通过促进SLE小鼠模型肾组织芳香酶mRNA的表达影响SLE发生发展。