Vortex properties of two-dimensional superconducting Pb films

Using low temperature scanning tunnelling microscopy/spectroscopy (STM/STS) we have investigated the vortex behaviours of two-dimensional superconducting Pb films at different thicknesses. STS at the vortex core shows an evolution of electronic states with film thickness. Transition from the clean limit to the dirty limit of superconductivity is identified, which can be ascribed to the decreased electronic mean free path induced by stronger scattering from the disordered interface at smaller thicknesses. A magnetic field dependent vortex core size is observed even for such a low- κ superconductor. The weak pinning induced by surface defects leads to the formation of a distorted hexagonal vortex lattice.

Crystal Structures and Magnetic or Photoluminescent Properties of Copper(II) and Zinc(II)-5-Sulfoisophthalate Coordination Polymers

{[Cu4(µ3-OH)2(SIP)2(imz)2]·(H2O)2}n (1) and {[Zn3(µ2-OH2)2(SIP)2(phen)3(H2O)3]·(H2O)5}n (2) were obtained under hydrothermal conditions (SIP = 5-sulfoisophthalate, imz = imidazole, and phen = 1,10-phenanthroline). Compound 1 features a novel 3D network based on tetranuclear [Cu4(µ3-OH)2] secondary building unit; its topological structure is similar to that of rutile. Compound 2 is a 1D zigzag chain containing dinuclear [Zn2(µ2-OH2)2(phen)2] and mononuclear [Zn(phen)(H2O)] units. Variable-temperature magnetic studies reveal the existence of dominant ferromagnetic interactions within the tetranuclear copper(ii) cluster in compound 1. Further magnetic measurements indicate that compound 1 has the zero-field splitting parameters D = –0.29 cm–1 and E = 0.00052 cm–1, and g = 2.11 based on ST = 2. Compound 2 exhibits a blue fluorescence emission band at 458 nm on excitation at 391 nm, with a lifetime of 5.78 ns.

[The inhibition effect of paclitaxel on the proliferation of human pulmonary fibroblasts]

OBJECTIVE

To observe the influence of paclitaxel on the proliferation of human pulmonary fibroblast (HPF), and therefore to explore the possible effect on granulation tissue formation in-stent restenosis after airway stent.

METHODS

The HPFS were divided into 3 groups: 24 h group, 48 h group and 72 h group, and there were 3 different dosage groups in each time group. MTT assay was used for detecting cell proliferation.

RESULTS

The inhibition ratio of 4.5 microg/ml group, 13.5 microg/ml group and 45 microg/ml group were 43.7%, 58.8% and 68.1% after 24 hours; 75.5%, 77.7%, 91.9% after 48 hours; 95.1%, 97.1%, 97.0% after 72 hours.

CONCLUSIONS

Paclitaxel inhibited the proliferation of HPF, and the inhibition ratio has partly relation with time and dosage.

Early growth of nano-sized calcium phosphate on phosphorylated bacterial cellulose nanofibers

It is believed that studies on the early hydroxyapatite (HAp) deposition on nano-sized substrates may possibly allow us to understand the formation mechanisms of biominerals at the molecular level. In this study, bacterial cellulose (BC) nanofibers were phosphorylated and used as nano-sized templates for early mineralization of calcium phosphate (Ca-P). To initiate mineralization the BC nanofibers were immersed in 1.5 times simulated body fluids (1.5 SBF) at 37 degreees C for varying periods of time. The deposited minerals on the nanofiber surfaces were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). SEM observations confirmed that early growth (at 4 h) of the Ca-P minerals was heterogeneous, which was followed by extensive spread of the minerals on the entire surfaces of the nanofibers. XRD and FTIR analyses indicated that octacalcium phosphate (OCP) was the precursor of HAp formed on BC nanofibers. Furthermore, HAp deposited on BC nanofibers elongated along the c axis. Nucleation and growth of the Ca-P minerals were analyzed in this paper.

Identification of immune responsible fibrinogen beta chain in the liver of large yellow croaker using a modified annealing control primer system

In this article, we used a modified ACP system (mACP) developed in our laboratory to analyze differentially expressed genes in the liver of large yellow croaker, Pseudosciaena crocea (Richardson). By using 20 pairs of mACPs, 7 differentially expressed genes were obtained. One of the genes we identified encodes for a fibrinogen beta chain (FGB). The full-length cDNA of FGB was 1645 bp, including 5 bp of 5' untranslated region (5'-UTR), 1479 bp of open reading frame (ORF), and 161 bp of 3'-UTR. The ORF was capable of encoding 492 amino acids with an estimated molecular mass of 55.6 kDa, giving it a predicted pI of 5.94. The deduced amino acid sequence included an FGB profile (V(238)-Y(488)) and an FGB family signature (WWYNRCHSANPNG). Multiple sequence alignments indicated that the large yellow croaker FGB showed homology with FGB sequences of other species (45-77% identity). Real time PCR analysis demonstrated that the expression of FGB in the liver of large yellow croaker injected with Vibrio parahaemolyticus was significantly (P < 0.05) lower than that of the control group at 8 d, which confirmed the expression patterns of the results of mACP differential display.

Alterations of immune functions induced by 12C6+ ion irradiation in mice

PURPOSE

To estimate the biological risks to the immune system of the type of space radiation, 12C6+, encountered by cosmonauts during long-term travel in space.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The Kun-Ming strain mice were whole-body irradiated by 12C6+ ion with 0, 0.01, 0.05, 0.075, 0.2, 0.3, 0.5, 0.75, 1 or 2 Gy, at a dose rate of 1 Gy/min. At 35 days after irradiation, the thymus and spleen weights were measured, the natural killer (NK) cells activity of spleen was determined by 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)- 2, 5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT), and the interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) levels in serum and thymus were detected with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA).

RESULTS

The results showed that the thymus weight, IFN-gamma levels in serum and the activity of splenic NK-cells had significantly increased at a dose of 0.05 Gy. With further dose increase, the weight of spleen continued to increase but the weight of thymus, IFN-gamma level and NK-cells activity declined.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that the dose of 0.05 Gy irradiation has a stimulatory effect on mouse immunity; this effect declined with increasing dose.

Carcinosarcoma of pancreas with liver metastasis combined with gastrointestinal stromal tumour of the stomach: is there a good prognosis with the complete resection?

We report a carcinosarcoma of the pancreas with liver metastasis combined with gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST) of the stomach in a 72-year-old woman who presented with right upper quadrant pain, nausea and vomiting. A radical resection including pancreaticoduodenectomy, left hepatic lobe resection and local resection of the gastric mass was performed. The tumour in the head of pancreas was found to be grossly yellow-white, and it infiltrated the common bile duct and duodenum; the mass of the liver metastasis is solitary. Pathologic examination showed two components separated from each other: one component was a conventional infiltrating pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, and the other component showed sarcomatous growth pattern composed of pleomorphic spindle cells. The neoplasm of the stomach was confirmed a low malignant potential GIST by histology and immunohistochemistry. The patient was obliged to be in hospital because of abnormal bowel function; moreover, surveillance CT scans performed at 1.5 months post-operatively showed multiple liver metastasis and recurrence in the tail of pancreas. Unfortunately, the patient died of multiple organ failure at 2 months post-operatively. To our knowledge, this is the first experience report about surgical treatment of carcinosarcoma of pancreas with liver metastasis combined with GIST of the stomach. The patient performed a radical surgery for the metastatic carcinosarcoma even if that could be resected completely did not have a good consequence.

Cognitive deficits in multiple system atrophy correlate with frontal atrophy and disease duration

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Dementia remains an exclusion criterion in diagnosing multiple system atrophy (MSA). This study aimed to determine the cognitive changes and brain atrophy patterns in the Parkinsonian (MSA-P) and cerebellar (MSA-C) variants of MSA.

METHODS

Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and neuro-psychological tests were applied to 10 MSA-C and 13 MSA-P patients, and compared to 37 age-matched controls. Correlation analyses were performed between cognitive test results and morphometric data extracted from the VBM data.

RESULTS

In neuro-psychological testing, the 23 MSA patients scored lower in the Stroop interference test and took longer in the trail-making test as compared with the controls, whereas MSA-C performed worse than MSA-P in the memory scores, Stroop test, and time to complete the trail-making test. MSA, as a group, showed atrophy in the cerebellum, insular cortex, fusiform gyrus, inferior orbito-frontal gyrus, superior temporal gyrus, and caudate nucleus. Memory scores correlated well with pre-frontal lobe atrophy but not in the insular area.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, although dementia is not a typical presenting feature of MSA and is regarded as a sub-cortical movement disorder, frontal atrophy, cognitive changes, and dementia are identifiable as MSA progresses.

The recovery of elbow range of motion after treatment of supracondylar and lateral condylar fractures of the distal humerus in children

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the time required for elbow range of motion (ROM) recovery after supracondylar and lateral condylar fractures in children and to analyze the relationship between the ROM recovery and the related factors.

DESIGN

Retrospective study.

SETTING

Tertiary pediatric orthopaedic care unit at a general hospital.

PATIENTS/PARTICIPANTS

Forty-five children with distal humerus supracondylar fractures and 16 children with lateral condylar fractures were followed. Twenty-seven children with distal forearm fractures, which were immobilized with long arm casts, were used as a control group to study elbow flexion-extension recovery after immobilization without elbow fracture.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS

Elbow ROM was measured with a goniometer in a series of follow-up visits after cast removal until 90% ROM of the uninjured side had been reached. Morrey's definition was used to define ROM required for functional activity of daily living.

RESULTS

The supracondylar fracture group took 29.5, 39.0, 6.1, and 11.0 days to achieve 90% ROM in extension, flexion, supination, and pronation directions. The lateral condylar fracture group needed 30.2, 35.6, 2.3, and 8.9 days, respectively, in 4 directions. In the distal forearm fracture group, the elbow total flexion-extension angle required less than 2 weeks to reach a total arc of 135 degrees. The supination range was easier to recover than the pronation motion. The flexion recovered last among 4 directions in supra- and lateral condylar fractures.

CONCLUSIONS

In the uncomplicated distal humerus supracondylar and lateral condylar fractures, it takes 5 weeks to restore original elbow ROM after removal of long arm cast without physical therapy. This information could be applied in the education material to caregivers of children with elbow injuries.

Crumpling under an ambient pressure

A pressure chamber is designed to study the crumpling process under an ambient force. The compression force and its resulting radius for the ball obey a power law with an exponent that is independent of the thickness and initial size of the sheet. However, the exponent is found to be material dependent and less than the universal value, 0.25, claimed by the previous simulations. The power-law behavior disappears at high pressure when the compressibility drops discontinuously, which is suggestive of a locked state.

Tyrosine kinase inhibition in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: molecular basis for antitumor activity and drug resistance of dasatinib

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Although some patients can be cured by current therapies, novel agents are needed to further improve outcomes. We hypothesized that Src tyrosine kinase inhibition by dasatinib may have antilymphoma effects. Here, we demonstrate that dasatinib inhibits cell growth through G(1)-S blockage in five of seven DLBCL cell lines at clinically achievable concentrations. Compared to resting B cells, DLBCL has increased tyrosine phosphorylation activities. As expected, dasatinib inhibits phosphorylation of several Src family kinase members. However, this inhibition occurs in all cell lines regardless of their proliferative response to the drug. In contrast, the activity of two downstream signaling molecules, Syk and phospholipase Cgamma2 (PLCgamma2), are well correlated with cell line sensitivity to dasatinib, suggesting that these molecules are crucial in mediating the proliferation of activated lymphoma cells. Furthermore, dasatinib inhibits B-cell receptor signaling in primary lymphoma cells. Together, our findings not only show dasatinib as a potentially useful therapy for DLBCL but also provide insights into the pathogenesis of the lymphoma. The results further suggest the possibility of using Syk and PLCgamma2 as biomarkers to predict dasatinib therapeutic response in prospective clinical trials.

Nano-polycrystalline vanadium oxide thin films prepared by pulsed laser deposition

Nano-polycrystalline vanadium oxide thin films have been successfully produced by pulsed laser deposition on Si(100) substrates using a pure vanadium target in an oxygen atmosphere. The vanadium oxide thin film is amorphous when deposited at relatively low substrate temperature (500 degrees C) and enhancing substrate temperature (600-800 degrees C) appears to be efficient in crystallizing VOx thin films. Nano-polycrystalline V3O7 thin film has been achieved when deposited at oxygen pressure of 8 Pa and substrate temperature of 600 degrees C. Nano-polycrystalline VO2 thin films with a preferred (011) orientation have been obtained when deposited at oxygen pressure of 0.8 Pa and substrate temperatures of 600-800 degrees C. The vanadium oxide thin films deposited at high oxygen pressure (8 Pa) reveal a mix-valence of V5+ and V4+, while the VOx thin films deposited at low oxygen pressure (0.8 Pa) display a valence of V4+. The nano-polycrystalline vanadium oxide thin films prepared by pulsed laser deposition have smooth surface with high qualities of mean crystallite size ranging from 30 to 230 nm and Ra ranging from 1.5 to 22.2 nm. Relative low substrate temperature and oxygen pressure are benifit to aquire nano-polycrystalline VOx thin films with small grain size and low surface roughness.

A comparison of the effect of total intravenous anaesthesia with propofol and remifentanil and inhalational anaesthesia with isoflurane on the release of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in patients undergoing open cholecystectomy

The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of two anaesthetic techniques (total intravenous technique vs. inhalational technique) on changes in pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine levels during open cholecystectomy. Forty ASA PS I-II patients undergoing open cholecystectomy were randomly assigned to two groups. Group R received total intravenous anaesthesia with propofol and remifentanil and group F received balanced inhalational anaesthesia with isoflurane. The plasma levels of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin IL-6 and interleukin IL-10 were measured during and after surgery. The pro-inflammatory cytokine levels (TNF-alpha and IL-6) and the anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-10) showed a significant increase in their concentrations compared with pre-induction levels in both groups (P < 0.05). By the end of anaesthesia and surgery, TNF-alpha and IL-6 were significantly lower in group R than in group F (P < 0.05). At the end of anaesthesia and 12 hours postoperatively, IL-10 levels in group R were higher than in group F (P < 0.05). These findings suggest that total intravenous anaesthesia using propofol and remifentanil suppresses the inflammatory response caused by surgery to a greater extent than a balanced inhalation technique using isoflurane.

[Recent advances in the study of pin1 and its inhibitors]

Pin1 is a phosphorylation-dependent peptidyl-prolyl cis/trans isomerase, which specifically catalyzes the amide bond isomerization of phosphoserine-proline or phosphothreonine-proline in mitotic phosphoproteins. Pin1 induces the conformational changes to control the function of phosphoproteins. Depletion of Pinl on various human cancer cell lines cause mitotic arrest and apoptosis. Pin1 is an attracting therapeutic target for anticancer and its inhibitors might be potential anticancer drug. In this review, Pin1 inhibitors and the catalytic mechanism, the biological function of Pin1 and its role in oncogenesis are summarized.

High frequency of level II-V lymph node involvement in RET/PTC positive papillary thyroid carcinoma

AIMS

To investigate the frequency and clinical significance of RET rearrangement in Chinese patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and discuss the role of RET rearrangement in therapeutic decision-making after the performance of level VI lymph node dissection and the 2002 AJCC staging system.

METHODS

RET/PTC-1 and RET/PTC-3 were detected in 126 PTCs using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and direct sequencing.

RESULTS

RET rearrangement was detected in 18 cases of PTC. The patient group aged < 20 years had the highest frequency (3/6) of RET rearrangement among the age groups (< 20 years, 20-40 years and > or = 40 years; P=0.03). RET/PTC-1 positive patients were more likely to suffer from Hashimoto's thyroiditis simultaneously (P=0.02) while RET/PTC-3 positive patients had a higher frequency of extrathyroidal extension (P<0.01) and advanced T classification (P<0.01). RET rearrangement (OR=8.70, 95% CI 1.69-44.81), male (OR=3.88, 95% CI 1.41-10.69), age (OR=0.96, 95% CI 0.93-0.99), multifocality (OR=3.54, 95% CI 1.33-9.41) and advanced T classification (OR=7.32, 95% CI 2.91-18.40) were all identified as risk factors of level II-V lymph node involvement in the multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

The frequency of RET rearrangement in Chinese patients is low and age related. RET/PTC-1 and RET/PTC-3 are associated with different clinical pathological characteristics but not with lymph node involvement. The RET/PTC positive patients should receive more attention to lateral neck in the management of PTC.

catena-Poly[[[pentaaquathulium(III)]-mu-5-sulfonatobenzene-1,3-dicarboxylato] 4,4'-bipyridyl 1.5-solvate hemihydrate]

The crystal structure of the title compound, {[Tm(C(8)H(3)O(7)S)(H(2)O)(5)] x 1.5C(10)H(8)N(2) x 0.5H(2)O}(n), is built up from two [Tm(SIP)(H(2)O)(5)] molecules (SIP(3-) is 5-sulfonatobenzene-1,3-dicarboxylate), three 4,4'-bipyridyl (bpy) molecules and one solvent water molecule. One of the bpy molecules and the solvent water molecule are located on an inversion centre and a twofold rotation axis, respectively. The Tm(III) ion coordination is composed of four carboxylate O atoms from two trianionic SIP(3-) ligands and five coordinated water molecules. The Tm(3+) ions are linked by the SIP(3-) ligands to form a one-dimensional zigzag chain propagating along the c axis. The chains are linked by interchain O-H...O hydrogen bonds to generate a two-dimensional layered structure. The bpy molecules are not involved in coordination but are linked by O-H...N hydrogen bonds to form two-dimensional layers. The two-dimensional layers are further bridged by the bpy molecules as pillars and the solvent water molecules through hydrogen bonds, giving a three-dimensional supramolecular structure. pi-pi stacking interactions between the parallel aromatic rings, arranged in an offset fashion with a face-to-face distance of 3.566 (1) Angstrom, are observed in the crystal packing.

Strengthening tight junctions of retinal microvascular endothelial cells by pericytes under normoxia and hypoxia involving angiopoietin-1 signal way

PURPOSE

To determine the effects of pericytes and angiopoietin-1 on the expression of occludin and zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) in retinal endothelial cells (ECs) under both normoxic and hypoxic conditions.

METHODS

Rat primary retinal microvascular ECs were cultured under normoxia or hypoxia in either absence or presence of pericytes conditioned medium (PCM). PCM was pretreated with or without angiopoietin-1 neutralizing antibody. Immuofluorescent staining, Western blot and RT-PCR were used to detect the alterations of occludin and ZO-1 expression.

RESULTS

Under normoxia, PCM strengthened occludin and ZO-1 immunofluorescent staining at cytomembrane as well as increased their expression at both protein and mRNA level. When pretreated with angiopoietin-1 neutralizing antibody, occludin upregulation induced by PCM was significantly blocked at protein level (62%) and mRNA level (34%). Under hypoxia, the continuity of occludin and ZO-1 staining at cell boundaries was disrupted consistent with a decrease of their protein level by 31 and 27%, respectively. Also occludin and ZO-1 mRNA level decreased by 46 and 57%, respectively. PCM was observed to partially increase expression of occludin at protein and mRNA level. Angiopoietin-1 antibody slightly inhibited (16%) PCM induced occludin mRNA increase under hypoxia.

CONCLUSION

Pericytes improved the integrity of endothelial barrier through inducing occludin and ZO-1 expression at protein and mRNA level under normoxia. Under hypoxia, pericytes could partially reverse occludin decrease. These protecting effects of pericytes on endothelial barrier were at least in part mediated by angiopoietin-1.