Search

Designing thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) with varied thicknesses on surface of a turbine vane has practical significance. The present study focused on reducing the residual stress levels through optimally designing the interface morphology in TBC at the junction between zones with different coating thicknesses. The two-dimensional FEM was employed to estimate the interface stress level. The combined influences of the internal interface morphology parameters and the external geometrical parameters of TBCs on the interface stress behaviors were discussed deeply. The TBC with unchanged thickness was chosen as the reference. The comparisons revealed that the maximum increment in harmful tensile stress level due to the variation of thickness can reach 60%. Relative to the other phases, the interface morphology featuring zero phase can acquire a higher harmful stress level and larger high-stress region. The proposed interface with nonuniform morphologies can reduce the harmful stress by about 60%. The criteria in the amplitude variations and the location of each period with the external geometrical parameters were acquired. The thickened thermally grown oxide can reduce properly the benefits of the modifications of interface morphology on the reduction of stress; however, the maximum decrement can be controlled below 15%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An ortho-selective CF bond borylation between N-heterocycle-substituted polyfluoroarenes and Bpin-Bpin with simple and commercially available [Rh(cod)2]BF4 as a catalyst is now reported. The reaction proceeds under mild reaction conditions with high efficiency and broad substrate scope, even toward monofluoroarene, thus providing a facile access to a wide range of borylated fluoroarenes that are useful for photoelectronic materials. Preliminary mechanistic studies reveal that a RhIII/V catalytic cycle via a key intermediate rhodium(III) hydride complex [(H)RhIIILn(Bpin)] may be involved in the reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An ortho-selective CF bond borylation between N-heterocycle-substituted polyfluoroarenes and Bpin-Bpin with simple and commercially available [Rh(cod)2]BF4 as a catalyst is now reported. The reaction proceeds under mild reaction conditions with high efficiency and broad substrate scope, even toward monofluoroarene, thus providing a facile access to a wide range of borylated fluoroarenes that are useful for photoelectronic materials. Preliminary mechanistic studies reveal that a RhIII/V catalytic cycle via a key intermediate rhodium(III) hydride complex [(H)RhIIILn(Bpin)] may be involved in the reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transition-metal-catalyzed difluoroalkylation of aromatics remains challenging despite the importance of difluoroalkylated arenes in medicinal chemistry. Herein, the first successful example of nickel-catalyzed difluoroalkylation of aryl boronic acids is described. The reaction allows access to a variety of functionalized difluoromethyl bromides and chlorides, and paves the way to highly cost-efficient synthesis of a wide range of difluoroalkylated arenes. The notable features of this protocol are its high generality, excellent functional-group compatibility, low-cost nickel-catalyst, and practicality for gram-scale production, thus providing a facile method for applications in drug discovery and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transition-metal-catalyzed difluoroalkylation of aromatics remains challenging despite the importance of difluoroalkylated arenes in medicinal chemistry. Herein, the first successful example of nickel-catalyzed difluoroalkylation of aryl boronic acids is described. The reaction allows access to a variety of functionalized difluoromethyl bromides and chlorides, and paves the way to highly cost-efficient synthesis of a wide range of difluoroalkylated arenes. The notable features of this protocol are its high generality, excellent functional-group compatibility, low-cost nickel-catalyst, and practicality for gram-scale production, thus providing a facile method for applications in drug discovery and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The operationally simple and mild method allows for the ortho-selective borylation of a wide range of pyridine substituted polyfluoroarenes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein tumor thrombus remains extremely poor. This pilot study aimed to evaluate the technical feasibility, effectiveness and safety of transcatheter chemoembolization for tumors in the liver parenchyma plus intra-arterial ethanol embolization for portal vein tumor thrombus.Methods: A pilot study was carried out on 31 patients in the treatment group (transcatheter chemoembolization plus intra-arterial ethanol embolization) and 57 patients in the control group (transcatheter chemoembolization alone). Enhanced computed tomography/magnetic resonance images were repeated 4 weeks after the procedure to assess the response. Overall survival and complications were assessed until the patient died or was lost to follow-up.Results: Median survival was 10.5 months in the treatment group (2.4 ± 1.7 courses) and 3.9 months in the control group (1.9 ± 1 courses) (P = 0.001). Patients in the treatment group had better overall survival (at 3, 6 and 12 months, respectively), compared to patients in the control group (90.3% vs. 59.6%, 64.5% vs. 29.8%, and 41.9% vs. 10.6%; p = 0.001). Furthermore, the rate of portal vein tumor thrombus regression was higher in the treatment group (93.1%) than in the control group (32.1%) (P < 0.001).Conclusions: Based on the results of this study, transcatheter chemoembolization combined with intra-arterial ethanol embolization may be more effective than transcatheter chemoembolization alone for treating hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein tumor thrombus. Intra-arterial ethanol embolization for treating portal vein tumor thrombus is safe, feasible and prolongs overall survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first successful examples of Ni-catalyzed difluoroalkylation of aryl boronic acids with difluoroalkyl bromides and chlorides is developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Propagation and localization of light in one-dimensional nonlinear photonic crystals (1D-NPhCs) are analyzed in this paper, which consist of alternating layers with varying dielectric constants. The nonlinear dielectric layers are composed of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)/graphene oxide (GO), which act as a defect and are embedded between two types of linear dielectric layers, enabling manipulation of their optical susceptibility. The definitions, classifications, and the optimal structure are provided, as well as formulas for transmittance and reflectance with the transmission matrix method (TMM). The defect layer of PVDF/GO enhances the localization capability of the electric field of light, while the stacking orders and symmetry determine transmission or reflectance at the specified wavelength or frequency. The translational symmetric structure, particularly those with single and double layers of PVDF/GO, exhibit high transmittance (0.99 and 0.62, respectively). In contrast, mirror symmetric and other asymmetric structures have broad bandgaps, with the maximum bandwidth reaching 87.5 THz. The 1D-NPhCs with PVDF/GO could provide a potential solution for improving optical filtering and limiting devices in the future. • Utilizing the TMM and FEM to provide definitions, classifications, and the optimal structure of 1D-NPhCs. • The defect layer with PVDF/RGO enhances the localization capability of the electric field of light. • The translational symmetric and mirror symmetric structures can create an F-P resonator and a Bragg mirror, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare disease, and involvement of the atlas is extremely uncommon. Biopsy of atlas lesions is difficult and risky. In this case report, we describe the performance of percutaneous computed tomography-guided biopsy of an atlantal LCH in a patient with no complication. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Aerobic glycolysis, a metabolic hallmark of cancer, is associated with radioresistance in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Pyruvate kinase M2 isoform (PKM2), a key regulator of glycolysis, is expressed exclusively in cancers. However, the impact of PKM2 silencing on the radiosensitivity of NSCLC has not been explored. Here, we show a plasmid of shRNA-PKM2 for expressing a short hairpin RNA targeting PKM2 (pshRNA-PKM2) and demonstrate that treatment with pshRNA-PKM2 effectively inhibits PKM2 expression in NSCLC cell lines and xenografts. Silencing of PKM2 expression enhanced ionizing radiation (IR)-induced apoptosis and autophagy in vitro and in vivo , accompanied by inhibiting AKT and PDK1 phosphorylation, but enhanced ERK and GSK3β phosphorylation. These results demonstrated that knockdown of PKM2 expression enhances the radiosensitivity of NSCLC cell lines and xenografts as well as may aid in the design of new therapies for the treatment of NSCLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • The failure effect of dynamic source is more sensitive to source location. • The dynamic disturbance is deeply influenced by source location. • Burst effect of dynamic source can also be reduced duo to rock intensity weakening. • The occurrence of rock burst also depends on static stress field around the coal face. Abstract Rock burst, a serious seismic hazard in underground coal mining, is usually induced by the coupling effect of static stress and mining-induced dynamic loading. This paper chosen an underground longwall face (LW10302) in Baodian Coal Mine as the numerical simulation model, selecting measured tremor wave which located about 150 m above the goafing of LW10301 as dynamic source, and the failure effect of dynamic loading on coal seam entry and its influential factors can be simulated systematically by FLAC3D. By changing source energy, source location, coal-rock property, the simulation results show that failure effect of dynamic source is more sensitive to source location, followed closely by source energy, and then the rock property. That is, dynamic disturbance is deeply influenced by source location, which is decreased in exponential attenuation with the increasing of transmission distance, while it also increases largely with the source energy increasing. Meanwhile, Burst effect of dynamic source can also be reduced duo to rock integrity reduction and intensity weakening, which the corresponding dynamic loading can be decreased to even less than 40%, but the influence degree may be reduced in the condition of shorter transmission distance. Moreover, the occurrence of rock burst also depends on static stress field around the coal face. Thus, the corresponding measures should be carried out simultaneously to reduce the disturbance effect of dynamic source and static stress concentration. The conclusions can provide theoretical reference to rock burst controlling in underground mining. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In mammals, right open reading frame kinases (RIOKs) are initially reported to participate in cancer cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration and invasion, and recently they have been related to host immune response. Little is known about the homologs of RIOKs in fish. In the current study, we cloned three homologous genes of RIOK family in yellow catfish (Pelteobagrus fulvidraco), termed Pfriok1, Pfriok2 and Pfriok3. Pfriok1, Pfriok2 and Pfriok3 were constitutively expressed at relatively high levels in yellow catfish tissues, and their mRNA levels were not changed under viral infection. Individual overexpression of PfRIOK1, PfRIOK2 and PfRIOK3 attenuated fish interferon (IFN) response, thereby promoting viral replication in fish cells. Mechanistically, yellow catfish RIOK proteins downregulated fish IFN response through attenuating TBK1 protein levels in cytoplasm. Our findings suggest that yellow catfish RIOK1, RIOK2 and RIOK3 are involved in downregulating fish IFN antiviral response. • Pfriok1 , Pfriok2 and Pfriok3 are constitutively expressed in yellow catfish. • Overexpression of PfRIOK1, PfRIOK2 and PfRIOK3 promotes viral replication by downregulating IFN production. • PfRIOK1, PfRIOK2 and PfRIOK3 downregulates IFN-mediated antiviral response by attenuating TBK1 protein level in cytoplasm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recently studies have demonstrated that the long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) metastasis associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1) may participate in the development and progression of lung cancer. In this study, we hypothesized that genetic variant of this lncRNA may affect the prognosis of lung cancer patients.Methods: We conducted a follow-up study for 538 patients with non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC), including 140 early-staged (stage I and II) and 398 advanced staged (stage III and IV) patients. The genetic variant rs3200401 in MALAT1 was then genotyped among this population by using TaqMan assay. The association of this variant with overall survival of these patients was further analyzed.Results: It was shown that among the advanced lung adenoma patients, subjects carrying rs3200401 CT and CT + TT genotypes had significantly longer median survival time (MST = 29.9, 28.9 vs. 19.3 month, Long-rank P = 0.019 and 0.024, respectively) and decreased death risks [crude HR (95% CI) = 0.65 (0.43-0.98) and 0.64 (0.44-0.95), P = 0.040 and 0.025, respectively], when compared to subjects wtih the MALAT1 rs3200401 CC genotype. However, the beneficial effect of rs3200401 was not seen among early NSCLC and advanced lung squamous cell carcinoma patients. We further tested the TCGA data, and found that a higher expression of MALAT1 was associated with metastatic of advanced lung adenocarcinoma but not with lung squamous cell carcinoma.Conclusions: The rs3200401 T allele located on the lncRNA MALAT1 was associated with a better survival for advanced lung adenocarcinoma patients, which may offer a novel prognostic biomarker for this patient subgroup. However, these results need to be validated in larger populations of lung cancer and the biological function of this variant still warrants further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies have related the membrane-associated RING–CH–type finger (MARCH) family proteins to host innate immune response. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) MARCH8 is reported to target SVCV glycoprotein for degradation; however, little is known about whether fish MARCH8 is involved in innate interferon (IFN) response. In this study, zebrafish march8 was significantly induced by SVCV infection. Overexpression of MARCH8 diminished fish IFN-mediated antiviral response, thus promoting the replication of SVCV and GCRV in fish cells. Mechanistically, MARCH8 interacts with and degrades MITA and TBK1 proteins to inhibit IFN response. Moreover, MARCH8 has an E3 ligase activity and enhances MITA and TBK1 polyubiquitination. Our findings reveal a mechanism whereby zebrafish MARCH8 downregulates fish IFN response and facilitates viral replication by targeting MITA and TBK1 for protein degradation. • Zebrafish march8 was a virus-inducible gene. • Overexpression of zebrafish MARCH8 promoted viral infection by downregulating fish IFN response. • MARCH8 decreased fish IFN response by interacting and facilitating protein degradation of MITA and TBK1. • MARCH8 promoted the polyubiquitination of MITA and TBK1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) is postulated to enhance the recruitment of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into the tumor microenvironment, which promote tumor recurrence. The aim of this study is to determine the molecular mechanisms behind SBRT stimulating MSC migration and differentiation.Methods: In vitro, mediated factors and migrated MSCs (post-SBRT) were generated. In vivo, bone-marrow derived MSCs were identified and harvested from green fluorescent protein (GFP)-expressing transgenic male mice and transplanted into sub-lethally irradiated recipient female mice to establish a model of bone marrow transplantation. Lewis lung carcinoma and malignant melanoma-bearing recipient mice were treated with SBRT, 14 Gy/1 fraction. The migration and differentiation potential of MSCs were characterized.Results: SBRT increased the release of stromal cell derived factor-1α (SDF-1α) and platelet-derived growth factor-B (PDGF-B) by tumor cells; these ligands bound to chemokine (C-X-C motif) receptor 4 (CXCR4) and platelet-derived growth factor receptor-β (PDGFR-β), respectively, on circulating bone marrow-derived MSCs, resulting in engraftment of the MSCs into the tumor parenchyma. The newly-homed MSCs differentiated into pericytes, which induced the tumor vasculogenesis, and promoted tumor regrowth. Targeted therapies, AMD3100 and imatinib abrogated MSC homing, vasculogenesis, and tumor regrowth.Conclusion: Bone-marrow derived MSCs migrate to the tumor parenchyma and differentiate into pericytes, inducing tumor vasculogenesis after SBRT, and promoting tumor recurrence. MSC migration and maturation may be abrogated with AMD3100 and imatinib. This novel treatment strategy warrants clinical investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We report the case of an 80-year-old male with relapsed EGFR exon 19 deletion lung adenocarcinoma treated with EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), but with poor response and rapid increase of serum neuron specific enolase (NSE). Repeat biopsy identified pathological transformation to small cell lung cancers (SCLC) retaining the same EGFR mutation. This case highlights routine serological testing of NSE may benefit for the lung adenocarcinoma patients resistant to TKIs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Purpose: This study aimed to examine the effect of the novel recombinant human endostatin (rh-Endo) protein on tumor vasculature, and to explore and evaluate the optimal scheduling of rh-Endo and radiotherapy (RT). Methods: Tumor-perfusion parameters and hypoxia were monitored after rh-Endo treatment in 10 non-small cell lung-cancer (NSCLC) patients. Eight-week female C57BL/6J mice were randomized to receive rh-Endo or control (saline) once daily for 12days when Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) reached approximately 100–150mm3. On planned days, tumors were measured for cell apoptosis, microvessel density, pericytes, blood-vessel morphology, and tumor hypoxia. The tumor response under different combinations of rh-Endo and RT schedules was evaluated. Results: Tumor hypoxia was significantly reduced 5days after rh-Endo in NSCLC patients, and a similar result was found in the LLC mouse model. The anti-tumor effect was markedly enhanced when RT was administered within the remodeling period compared to any other treatment schedule. rh-Endo treatment remodeled the tumor vasculature after 5days by reducing microvessel density and increasing pericytic coverage of the vessel endothelium. Conclusion: This study demonstrated decreased hypoxia in animals and patients upon rh-Endo treatment, which also enhanced the radioresponse within the vasculature-remodeling period. The optimal clinical combination of rh-Endo and RT warrants further investigation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The presented method is applicable to a broad scope of organoboronic and bromo difluoro allyl compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Honokiol is a major bioactive compound extracted from Magnolia. The present study was designed to determine whether liposomal honokiol has the antitumor activity against human lung cancer as well as potentiates the antitumor activity of cisplatin in A549 lung cancer xenograft model, if so, to examine the possible mechanism in the phenomenon.Methods: human A549 lung cancer-bearing nude mice were treated with liposomal honokiol, liposomal honokiol plus DDP or with control groups. Apoptotic cells and vessels were evaluated by fluorescent in situ TUNEL assay and by immunohistochemistry with an antibody reactive to CD31 respectively.Results: The present study showed that liposomal honokiol alone resulted in effective suppression of the tumor growth, and that the combined treatment with honokiol plus DDP had the enhanced inhibition of the tumor growth and resulted in a significant increase in life span. The more apparent apoptotic cells in the tumors treated with honokiol plus DDP was found in fluorescent in situ TUNEL assay, compared with the treatment with control groups. In addition, the combination of honokiol and DDP apparently reduced the number of vessels by immunolabeling of CD31 in the tissue sections, compared with control groups.Conclusion: In summary, our data suggest that honokiol alone had the antitumor activity against human lung cancer in A549 lung cancer xenograft model, and that the combination of honokiol with DDP can enhance the antitumor activity, and that the enhanced antitumor efficacy in vivo may in part result from the increased induction of the apoptosis and the enhanced inhibition of angiogenesis in the combined treatment. The present findings may be of importance to the further exploration of the potential application of the honokiol alone or the combined approach in the treatment of lung carcinoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]