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The roles of CTAB and Ag+ have been discovered and given us a deeper understanding of the seed-mediated method in the gold nanorods synthesis. Former work used binary surfactants CTAB + NaOL (sodium oleate) to greatly improve the dimensional tunability and monodispersity of gold nanorods. However, they only used a few of the concentration combinations of the binary surfactants, and the influence of NaOL under this method has not been systematically studied. In this work, we carried out systematic experiments under the variation of NaOL and used transmission electron microscopy and UV–vis-near-infrared spectroscopy to monitor the growth process of the gold nanorods. The results showed that the NaOL contributed to the symmetry breaking process. We discovered the ideal ranges of NaOL concentration under different concentrations of CTAB (10–40 mM). Lower concentrations of NaOL produced many impurities, such as Au spheres, while higher concentrations of NaOL led to the decrease of monodispersity of the obtained gold nanorods. A growth model based on the balance of diffusion/reduction of the growth solution has been proposed in order to explain the formation of the gold nanorods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous agents such as near-infrared dyes that are characterized by specialized cancer imaging and cytotoxicity effects have key roles in cancer diagnosis and therapy via molecularly targeting special biological tissues, organelles and processes. In the present study, a novel fluorescent compound was demonstrated to inhibit cancer cell proliferation in a zebrafish model with slight in vivo toxicity. Further studies demonstrated selective staining of cancer cells and even putative cancer stem cells via accumulation of the dye in the mitochondria of cancer cells, compared with normal cells. Moreover, this compound was also used to image cancer cells in vivo using a zebrafish model. The compound displayed no apparent toxicity to the host animal. Overall, the data indicated that this compound was worthy of further evaluation due to its low toxicity and selective cancer cell imaging and killing effects. It could be a useful tool in cancer research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanobarcodes with Morse code patterns are fabricated by a programmed electrochemical deposition process. These bimetallic nanobarcodes are stable and easy to decode using optical or electrical devices. Their discretionally patterned codes offer mass memory capacity for information carriers. They show promising features as probe molecules' carriers in multiplexing bioanalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanocrystalline porous tin dioxide (SnO 2) materials have been obtained employing room temperature ionic liquids (1-hexadecyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide, C 16MimBr) as a template via a green sol−gel method at ambient temperature followed by a suitable thermal treatment. These materials have been thoroughly characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution TEM (HRTEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman spectroscopy, FTIR, and nitrogen adsorption−desorption. A careful tuning of heat-treatment procedures allowed the preparation of SnO 2functional materials with Brunauer−Emmett−Teller surface areas ranging from 38 to 140 m 2g −1, an average pore size between super-micropore (1−2 nm) and mesopore (10 nm) range, and a mean particle size from 3.0 to 10.0 nm. The applications in gas sensors for the nanostructures reveal that the obtained SnO 2materials exhibit highly sensitive, fast-responding, reproducible, and size selective sensing behaviors. The sensor characteristics were discussed in relation to the architectures of the materials, which disclose that the gas-sensor properties are strongly structure-dependent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adsorption behaviors of 1-naphthol, 1-naphthylamine and 1-naphthol/1-naphthylamine mixtures in water over two macroreticular adsorbents were investigated in single or binary batch systems at 293 K, 303 K and 313 K respectively. All the adsorption isotherms in the studied systems can be adequately fitted by Langmuir model. In the case of aminated macroreticular adsorbent NDA103, 1-naphthol is adsorbed to a larger extent than 1-naphthylamine; while, the opposite trend is found for nonpolar macroreticular adsorbent NDA100. It is noteworthy that at higher temperature (303 K and 313 K), the total uptake amounts of 1-naphthol and 1-naphthylamine in all binary-component systems are obvious larger than the pure uptake amounts in single-component systems, which is presumably due to the cooperative effect primarily arisen from the hydrogen-bonding interaction between the loaded 1-naphthol and 1-naphthylamine molecules. The simultaneous adsorption systems were confirmed to be helpful to the selective adsorption towards 1-naphthol according to the larger selective index. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the adsorption behaviors of phenol on polymeric adsorbents (Amberlite XAD4, NDA101, and D301) were investigated in batch system at 293, 303, and 313 K, respectively. As the results shown, the adsorption isotherms of phenol on all adsorbents can be well fitted by Langmuir and Freundlich equations, which indicate a favorable and exothermic process. The adsorption capacity on a newly developed aminated adsorbent, NDA101, on which adsorption could be achieved by both hydrogen bonding interaction and π-π interaction, are higher than that on a weak base adsorbent, D301, on which adsorption could be achieved by hydrogen bonding interaction only, and on a nonpolar adsorbent, XAD4, on which adsorption could be achieved by π-π interaction only. The results of this paper indicate that the synergistic effect of some weak interactions, which occur simultaneously would contribute more to the adsorption than that occur individually. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adsorption behaviors of phenol and aniline on nonpolar macroreticular adsorbents (NDA100 and Amberlite XAD4) were investigated in single or binary batch system at 293K and 313K respectively in this study. The results indicated that the adsorption isotherms of phenol and aniline on both adsorbents in both systems fitted well Langmuir equation, which indicated a favourable and exothermic process. At the lower equilibrium concentrations, the individual amount adsorbed of phenol or aniline or macroreticular adsorbents in single-component systems was higher than those in binary-component systems because of the competition between phenol and aniline towards the adsorption sites. It is noteworthy, on the contrast, that at higher concentrations, the total uptake amounts of phenol and aniline in binary-component systems were obviously larger than that in single-component systems, and a large excess was noted on the adsorbent surface at saturation, which is presumably due to the cooperative effect primarily arisen from the hydrogen bonding or weak acidbase interaction between phenol and aniline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To compare the detection ratio of bacterial colony count in dialysis water, dialysate and raw water with different media and different incubation conditions, searching for suitable methods to detect bacteria from dialysis water. Methods: Between Jan 2012 and Dec 2012, 176 samples of hemodialysis water and dialysate, 88 samples of raw water were collected by hemodialysis unit, Renji hospital. Samples were inoculated in duplicate on spread plates with Blood agar, Reasoner's 2A (R2A), Tryptone glucose extract agar (TGEA) respectively, at different temperature and time. After incubation, the numbers of colonies were quantified. Results: The bacterial colony counts in dialysis water, dialysate and raw water were the lowest in blood agar and the difference had statistical significance when it was compared with that of R2A or TGEA culture media (P < 0.01). The detection rate of dialysis water and dialysate were 61.9% in R2A at 20°C for 168 hours. According to the standard of the association for the advancement of medical instrumentation (AAMI), the detection rate had no difference among these media with different conditions. Combined with medium of R2A and TGEA, the detection rate of bacteria was 77.6% at 20°C for 168 hours and the bacteria detection rate was significantly increased than that in culture R2A or TGEA respectively under the same conditions (77.6% vs. 61.9%, 50.6%, P value was 0.003 and 0.001). Conclusions: The method of R2A or TGEA agar culture can improve the detection rate of bacterial colony count compared with the method of blood agar. The method of R2A combined with TGEA at 20°C for 168 hours can improve the detection rate of bacteria in dialysis water and dialysate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) is an important regulator of immune and inflammatory responses. We hypothesized that nasal allergic inflammation is attenuated by HIF-1α inhibition and strengthened by HIF-1α stabilization. Objective: To elucidate the role of HIF-1α in a murine model of allergic rhinitis (AR). Methods: Mice were pretreated with the HIF-1α inhibitor 2-methoxyestradiol (2ME2) or the HIF-1α inducer cobalt chloride (CoCl2) in an established AR murine model using ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitized BALB/c mice. HIF-1α and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in nasal mucosa was measured and multiple parameters of allergic responses were evaluated. Results: HIF-1α and VEGF levels were locally up-regulated in nasal mucosa during AR. Inflammatory responses to OVA challenge, including nasal symptoms, inflammatory cell infiltration, eosinophil recruitment, up-regulation of T-helper type 2 cytokines in nasal lavage fluid, and serum OVA-specific IgE levels were present in the OVA-challenged mice. 2ME2 effectively inhibited HIF-1α and VEGF expression and attenuated the inflammatory responses. Stabilization of HIF-1α by CoCl2 facilitated nasal allergic inflammation. HIF-1α protein levels in nasal airways correlated with the severity of AR in mice. Conclusions:HIF-1α is intimately involved in the pathogenesis of nasal allergies, and the inhibition of HIF-1aαmay be useful as a novel therapeutic approach for AR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Sclerostin is a soluble regulatory factor of bone formation through inhibiting canonical Wnt signaling pathway. Recent research indicated that sclerostin might be involved in mineral and bone metabolism, however whether sclerostin play any potential role in chronic kidney disease-mineral and bone disorder was still uncertain. This study aimed to explore the relationship between circulating sclerostin levels and mineral disorders, especially secondary hyperparathyroidism in prevalent hemodialysis patients. Methods: 175 prevalent hemodialysis patients were enrolled from April to October in 2014. Clinical and biochemical data were collected. Serum sclerostin levels were measured by ELISA. Secondary hyperparathyroidism was determined as serum iPTH level above nine times upper normal limit. Results: The median serum sclerostin level was 160.50 pmol/L (interquartile range 100.67-256.39 pmol/L) in prevalent hemodialysis patients. Univariate correlation showed serum sclerostin levels positively correlated with age, BMI, serum calcium, 25(OH)VitD levels, and negatively with spKt/V and iPTH levels. Serum sclerostin levels were significantly lower in patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism. Forward logistic regression analysis showed that age (OR = 0.937, 95% CI = 0.900-0.977, p = 0.002), dialysis vintage (OR = 1.011, 95% CI = 1.002-1.019, p = 0.015), AKP (OR = 1.023, 95% CI = 1.012-1.035, p < 0.001), serum phosphate levels (OR = 3.118, 95% CI = 1.028-9.460, p = 0.045), serum calcium (OR = 13.421, 95% CI = 1.245-144.727, p = 0.032), lgSclerostin levels (OR = 0.077, 95% CI = 0.011-0.560, p = 0.011) were the independent risk factors for the presence of secondary hyperparathyroidism in prevalent hemodialysis patients. Conclusions: Decreased level of serum sclerostin was an independent risk factor for secondary hyperparathyroidism in prevalent hemodialysis patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectixe: To retrospectively determine the clinical features of foreign bodies (FBs) in the airways of adults and the use of flexible bronchoscopy in diagnosis and therapy of FBs. Material and Method: Eighty-seven patients with FBs in the airways were diagnosed in the Central Hospital of Wuhan between September 2002 and August 2014. We performed flexible bronchoscopic examinations under local anesthesia or intravenous general anesthesia for all patients to confirm the diagnosis, then removed the FBs using different apparatuses, such as foreign body forceps, baskets, and cryo-needles. Results: The clinical symptoms of FBs in the airways included cough, fever, dyspnea, chest pain, and hemoptysis. We observed that organic bones were the most common FBs (59.77%), and the right inferior lobe bronchus was the most common site of impaction (59.77%). Most operations were performed under anesthesia, and the success rate of one-off removal was up to 90.80%. All patients recovered quickly after the procedure without complications. Conclusion: Flexible bronchoscopy is an important diagnostic and therapeutic method for FBs in the airways of adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-risk human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are causative agents of anogenital cancers and a fraction of head and neck cancers. The mechanisms involved in the progression of HPV neoplasias to cancers remain largely unknown. Here, we report that O-linked GlcNAcylation (O-GlcNAc) and O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) were markedly increased in HPV-caused cervical neoplasms relative to normal cervix, whereas O-GlcNAcase (OGA) levels were not altered. Transduction of HPV16 oncogene E6 or E6/E7 into mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) up-regulated OGT mRNA and protein, elevated the level of O-GlcNAc, and promoted cell proliferation while reducing cellular senescence. Conversely, in HPV-18-transformed HeLa cervical carcinoma cells, inhibition of O-GlcNAc with a low concentration of a chemical inhibitor impaired the transformed phenotypes in vitro. We showed that E6 elevated c-MYC via increased protein stability attributable to O-GlcNAcylation on Thr58. Reduction of HPV-mediated cell viability by a high concentration of O-GlcNAc inhibitor was partially rescued by elevated c-MYC. Finally, knockdown of OGT or O-GlcNAc inhibition in HeLa cells or in TC-1 cells, a mouse cell line transformed by HPV16 E6/E7 and activated K-RAS, reduced c-MYC and suppressed tumorigenesis and metastasis. Thus, we have uncovered a mechanism for HPV oncoprotein-mediated transformation. These findings may eventually aid in the development of effective therapeutics for HPV-associated malignancies by targeting aberrant O-GlcNAc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of polyether membrane dialyser (PES18HDF) in hemodiafiltration. Methods: Maintenance hemodialysis patients were randomized to two groups: polyether membrane dialyser (PES18HDF) and polysulfone membrane dialyser (Diacap® αPolysulfone+HiFlo). The safety and efficacy indicators were observed. Results: 76 patients were enrolled in the trial. There were 38 cases in each group. ß2-MG in experimental group decreased 79.67 ± 3.39%, which was significantly higher than that of the control group of 75.52 ± 5.43% (p = 0.0003). Urea clearance rate was 241.56 ± 24.25 ml/min, significantly higher than that in the control group for 222.36 ± 30.18 ml/min (p = 0.0042). Creatinine clearance rate of the two groups was 163.87 ± 29.84 and 154.84 ± 32.34 ml/min, with no significant difference (p = 0.2221). The ultrafiltration coefficient of the experimental group was 35.80 ± 8.38 ml/mm Hg/h, which was significantly higher than that of the control group for 31.55 ± 7.45 ml/mm Hg/h (p = 0.0248). Adverse events occurred 5 times in the experimental (occurrence rate 13.16%), and once in the control group (occurrence rate 2.63%). But there was no significant difference between the two groups (p = 0.2). Conclusion: Polyether membrane used in this research was confirmed to have better urea and ß2-MG removal with good safety. The long-term clinical consequences of better uremic toxin removal should be prospectively assessed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]