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This study aimed to investigate the effect of calcifications on shear-wave elastography in evaluating breast lesions. We retrospectively reviewed ultrasound images of 673 breast lesions and compared the elasticity between lesions with and without calcifications in three subgroups: benign lesions, in situ carcinomas and invasive carcinomas. Breast lesions were confirmed histologically (n = 401) or by follow-up images for more than 2 y (n = 272). Calcifications were present in 25.3% (170/673) of the lesions. The Emean values with and without calcifications, respectively, were as follows: 62.8 and 29.8 kPa in benign lesions (p = 0.000), 114.6 and 52.8 kPa in in situ carcinomas (p = 0.037) and 171.9 and 146.4 kPa in invasive carcinomas (p = 0.018). The presence of calcifications significantly increased the Emean of breast lesions. Shear-wave elastography should be carefully interpreted in benign lesions with calcifications and in situ carcinomas without calcifications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highly efficient Ca 14 Zn 6 Al 9.97- Mn 0.03 O 35 (CZAMO) red phosphors with various-sized particles from the nano to the micron size were synthesized using the liquid phase precursor (LPP) method. The particle size of the CZAMO phosphor obtained at 1000 °C is less than 150 nm, but it grew to the micron sizes with the increasing of the firing temperature. The red-emission wavelength range of the CZAMO phosphors is from 650 to 750 nm with the 713-nm emission peak (excited at 450 nm). When the CZAMO phosphor synthesized by LPP method (L-CZAMO) was compared with CZAMO phosphor synthesized by the solid states reaction (SSR) method (S-CZAMO), the photoluminescence (PL) intensity of the L-CZAMO is four times larger (14% higher) than that of the S-CZAMO at 1000 °C (1200 °C). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By co-doping the P 5+ ions into Ba 3 SiO 5 :Eu 2+ , we synthesized new orange persistent phosphor using cellulose assisted liquid phase precursor (LPP) method. The emission spectra showed a typically broad orange emission band centered at 575 nm attributed to the 4f 6 5d 1 → 4f 7 transition of Eu 2+ ions under 400 nm excitation source. The persistent luminescence property of Eu 2+ doped Ba 3 SiO 5 orange phosphor was enhanced by co-doping non-equivalent phosphorus ions into silicon sites. This enhancement can be explained by formation of the trapping center due to the charge compenstation. Consequently, the afterglow decay exhibited an orange emission for more than 5 min after irradiation at under 365 nm for 1 min. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Using a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults, the aims of this study were to examine the impact of early smoking initiation on the development of self-reported smoking-related morbidity and all-cause mortality.Methods: National Health Interview Survey data from 1997 through 2005 were linked to the National Death Index with follow-up to December 31, 2011. Two primary dependent variables were smoking-related morbidity and all-cause mortality; the primary independent variable was age of smoking initiation. The analyses included U.S. population of current and former smokers aged ≥30 years (N=90,278; population estimate, 73.4 million). The analysis relied on fitting logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards models.Results: Among the U.S. population of smokers, 7.3% started smoking before age 13 years, 11.0% at ages 13-14 years, 24.2% at ages 15-16 years, 24.5% at ages 17-18 years, 14.5% at ages 19-20 years, and 18.5% at ages ≥21 years. Early smoking initiation before age 13 years was associated with increased risks for cardiovascular/metabolic (OR=1.67) and pulmonary (OR=1.79) diseases as well as smoking-related cancers (OR=2.1) among current smokers; the risks among former smokers were cardiovascular/metabolic (OR=1.38); pulmonary (OR=1.89); and cancers (OR=1.44). Elevated mortality was also related to early smoking initiation among both current (hazard ratio, 1.18) and former smokers (hazard ratio, 1.19).Conclusions: Early smoking initiation increases risks of experiencing smoking-related morbidities and all-cause mortality. These risks are independent of demographic characteristics, SES, health behaviors, and subsequent smoking intensity. Comprehensive tobacco control programs should be implemented to prevent smoking initiation and promote cessation among youth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors exert a potent anti-hyperglycemic effect and reduce cardiovascular risk in type 2 diabetic patients. Several studies have shown that DPP-4 inhibitors including sitagliptin have beneficial effects in atherosclerosis and cardiac infarction involving reactive oxygen species. Here, we show that gemigliptin can directly attenuate the abnormal proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) via enhanced NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) activity. Gemigliptin dramatically prevented ligation injury-induced neointimal hyperplasia in mouse carotid arteries. Likewise, the proliferation of primary VSMCs was significantly attenuated by gemigliptin in a dose-dependent manner consistent with a decrease in phospho-Rb, resulting in G1 cell cycle arrest. We found that gemigliptin enhanced Nrf2 activity not only by mRNA expression, but also by increasing Keap1 proteosomal degradation by p62, leading to the induction of Nrf2 target genes such as HO-1 and NQO1. The anti-proliferative role of gemigliptin disappeared with DPP-4 siRNA knockdown, indicating that the endogenous DPP-4 in VSMCs contributed to the effect of gemigliptin. In addition, gemigliptin diminished TNF-α-mediated cell adhesion molecules such as MCP-1 and VCAM-1 and reduced MMP2 activity in VSMCs. Taken together, our data indicate that gemigliptin exerts a preventative effect on the proliferation and migration of VSMCs via Nrf2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Today, inkjet printing techniques has many merits such as high printing yield and mask-free process for the various field. As one of the candidate ink materials, the perovskite is appropriate for inkjet printing due to the colloidal state and excellent optoelectronic properties such as high photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) and narrow full width at half maximum (FWHM). Those characteristics are an advantage to fabricating ink and realize wide color-gamut in the small area with micro-patterning. However, perovskite application in inkjet printing with various color has limitations due to the low drying stability of mixed halide perovskite. Herein, we report on improving the drying stability of red perovskite by inducing aggregation during the drying process. Silane ligand has applied to induce the aggregation, and we confirmed that the thin coating layer has formed on the perovskite surface. The synthesized red-perovskite using silane ligands is well dispersed in the solvent as a colloidal state. And it maintained the emission intensity over 50% after drying. As-prepared perovskite ink has successfully printed on the ethyl cellulose film with 338 dpi with maintaining transparency of the film. These results are beneficial not only display applications but also security applications such as double anti-counterfeiting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • We successfully synthesized the efficient and stable green-emitting CsPbBr 3 perovskite nanocrystals. • CsPbBr 3 perovskite of using the multi-lamellar microcapsule enhances the PLQY to 40%. • The encapsulated perovskite NC composite material represents a next generation candidate luminescence material. Abstract Fully inorganic lead halide perovskite materials have attracted tremendous attention because of their practical applications in optoelectronic devices, such as light emitting diodes. In this work, we report the first development of highly efficient, stable and green-emitting CsPbBr 3 perovskite NCs with a PE microcapsule. The CsPbBr 3 perovskite NCs were perfectly incorporated inside the PE microcapsule with a multi-lamellar structure, which shows better luminescence characteristics such as a high PLQY and thermal stability Furthermore, our results revealed the high luminous performance with a white conversion efficacy of 62.4 lm W−1, EQE of 31.8%, CRI of 37.01, and CCT of 6028 K on blue emitting InGaN LED chip. We suggest that our material will be one of the next generation candidate luminescence materials for application in optoelectronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, natural killer (NK)-based immunotherapy has attracted attention as a next-generation cell-based cancer treatment strategy due to its mild side effects and excellent therapeutic efficacy. Here, we describe multifunctional nanoparticles (MF-NPs) capable of genetically manipulating NK cells and tracking them in vivo through non-invasive magnetic resonance (MR) and fluorescence optical imaging. The MF-NPs were synthesized with a core-shell structure by conjugation of a cationic polymer labeled with a near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent molecule, with the aid of a polydopamine (PDA) coating layer. When administered to NKs, the MF-NPs exhibited excellent cytocompatibility, efficiently delivered genetic materials into the immune cells, and induced target protein expression. In particular, the MF-NPs could induce the expression of EGFR targeting chimeric antigen receptors (EGFR-CARs) on the NK cell surface, which improved the cells' anti-cancer cytotoxic effect both in vitro and in vivo. Finally, when NK cells labeled with MF-NPs were injected into live mice, MF-NP–labeled NK cells could be successfully imaged using fluorescence and MR imaging devices. Our findings indicate that MF-NPs have great potential for application of NK cells, as well as other types of cell therapies involving genetic engineering and in vivo monitoring of cell trafficking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]