Output characteristics of actively Q-switched Ho:LuVO₄ laser at room temperature

A compact continuous wave (CW) and actively Q-switched (AQS) Ho:LuVO4 laser pumped by a 1.94 μm Tm: YAP laser is demonstrated. The performance of the laser was investigated by changing the output coupler. The maximum output power of 4.1 W at 2058.43 nm in CW regime is obtained at the maximum absorbed pump power of 12.3 W. The minimum pulse width of 29.3 ns was obtained at Pulse Repetition Frequency (PRF) of 20 kHz with the same output coupler corresponding to a peak power of 6.9 kW. The maximal output power is 4.1 W with center wavelength of 2058.43 nm at PRF of 40 kHz, corresponding to slope efficiency of 43.0% with respect to absorbed pump power. The M2 factors measured by the traveling knife-edge method are 1.04 in parallel a-axis and 1.08 in parallel c-axis with diffraction limited beam quality.

Salicylic acid alleviates cadmium-induced inhibition of growth and photosynthesis through upregulating antioxidant defense system in two melon cultivars (Cucumis melo L.)

Cadmium (Cd) is a widespread toxic heavy metal that usually causes deleterious effects on plant growth and development. Salicylic acid (SA), a naturally existing phenolic compound, is involved in specific responses to various environmental stresses. To explore the role of SA in the tolerance of melon (Cucumis melo L.) to Cd stress, the influence of SA application on the growth and physiological processes was compared in the two melon cultivars Hamilv (Cd-tolerant) and Xiulv (Cd-sensitive) under Cd stress. Under 400-μM Cd treatment, Hamilv showed a higher biomass accumulation, more chlorophyll (Chl), greater photosynthesis, and less oxidative damage compared to Xiulv. Foliar spraying of 0.1 mM SA dramatically alleviated Cd-induced growth inhibition in the two melon genotypes. Simultaneously, SA pretreatment attenuated the decrease in Chl content, photosynthetic capacity, and PSII photochemistry efficiency in Cd-stressed plants. Furthermore, exogenous SA significantly reduced superoxide anion production and lipid peroxidation, followed by increase in the activities of antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase, guaiacol peroxidase, catalase, and ascorbate peroxidase, and content of soluble protein and free proline in both the genotypes under Cd stress. The effect of SA was more conspicuous in Xiulv than Hamilv, reflected in the biomass, photosynthetic pigments, stomatal conductance, water use efficiency, and antioxidant enzymes. These results suggest that exogenous spray of SA can alleviate the adverse effects of Cd on the growth and photosynthesis of both the melon cultivars, mostly through promoting antioxidant defense capacity. It also indicates that SA-included protection against Cd damage is to a greater extent more pronounced in Cd-sensitive genotype than Cd-tolerant genotype.

[Localization of the assessment of chronic illness care and item evaluation]

OBJECTIVE

To translate the English version of the assessment of chronic illness care (ACIC) to Chinese, to conduct a trial in Hunan province and to develop a Chinese version ACIC.

METHODS

According to the WHO rules, we translated the English version of the ACIC to Chinese and took the culture factor into account. Three hundred and ninety persons, who engaged in the work of chronic disease management in primary medical and health services in Hunan province, were enrolled for this study. One hundred and eighty three valid questionnaires were randomly selected. Six methods including discrete tendency method, good-poor analysis, correlation analysis, stepwise regression analysis, Cronbach's alpha coefficient and factor analysis were used for evaluation the questionnaire items.

RESULTS

The items in Chinese version ACIC showed as follows: 1) good sensitivity. The standard deviation of each item was more than 2 and the P value from the t test between the good and poor group was less than 0.001; 2) good representation. The correlation coefficients range of each item with the total score and each dimension score was 0.588-0.916; 3) high internal consistency. Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the total scale was 0.975, and for each dimension range was 0.854-0.936; 4) independent. Factor loadings were greater than 0.40 entries, and factor loadings ranged from 0.487-0.798; 5) importance. Stepwise regression analysis α(in)=0.01, α(out)=0.05) showed 34 items were kept in the equation.

CONCLUSION

Items of Chinese version ACIC retains ACIC 7 dimensions of 34 items in the original English version, which are sensitivity and typical with the internal consistency, independence and importance.

[The function of the heart changes in implementation of the diving reactions in humans]

The changes of chronotropic function of the heart and of the myocardium in the implementation of the diving response in humans were studied by the electrocardiographic method. The study involved 80 students aged 18-20 years. Diving simulation was performed by immersing the face in cold water during breath-hold exhale. When the water temperature was 12.3 +/- 2.3 degrees C, average duration of apnea was 31 +/- 11 s. The oxygen content in the exhaled air after apnea was 98.8 +/- 8.7 mm Hg, carbon dioxide--49.1 +/- 3.5 mm Hg. It was observed slowing of the heart rate, mainly due to the increasing of diastole in 41 of the 80 surveyed during simulating diving. But it also can be observed symptoms of conduction deterioration: atrioventricular block type I (22% of reactive type and 29% of the highly reactive type subjects), and exceeds standards QTc-interval prolongation (at 7.5% of the subjects). These responses are adaptive in nature and disappear in the recovery process. But the fact abnormalities of conduction in the myocardium must be considered when using the diving reflex in medical practice, as may be due to a predisposition to a certain pathology of the cardiovascular system.

Improvement of l-citrulline production in Corynebacterium glutamicum by ornithine acetyltransferase

In this study, Corynebacterium glutamicum ATCC 13032 was engineered to produce l-citrulline through a metabolic engineering strategy. To prevent the flux away from l-citrulline and to increase the expression levels of genes involved in the citrulline biosynthesis pathway, the argininosuccinate synthase gene (argG) and the repressor gene (argR) were inactivated. The engineered C. glutamicum ATCC 13032 ∆argG ∆argR (CIT 2) produced higher amounts of l-citrulline (5.43 g/L) compared to the wildtype strain (0.15 g/L). To determine new strategies for further enhancement of l-citrulline production, the effect of l-citrulline on ornithine acetyltransferase (EC 2.3.1.35; OATase; ArgJ) was first investigated. Citrulline was determined to inhibit Ornithine acetyltransferase; for 50 % inhibition, citrulline concentration was 30 mM. The argJ gene from C. glutamicum ATCC 13032 was cloned, and the recombinant shuttle plasmid pXMJ19-argJ was constructed and expressed in C. glutamicum ATCC 13032 ∆argG ∆argR (CIT 2). Overexpression of the argJ gene exhibited increased OAT activity and resulted in a positive effect on citrulline production (8.51 g/L). These results indicate that OAT plays a vital role during l-citrulline production in C. glutamicum.

Piperine prevents cholesterol gallstones formation in mice

Biliary cholesterol may contribute to the formation of cholesterol gallstones, and regulation of these levels could be a useful therapeutic strategy for gallstones disease. Piperine (PA) is a potential cholesterol lowering agent. In this study, we assessed the effect and mechanism of PA in preventing cholesterol gallstones formation induced by feeding lithogenic diet containing high cholesterol levels to mice. C57BL/6 inbred mice were fed lithogenic or chow diets for 10 weeks, with or without PA (15, 30 and 60 mg/kg) or ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA, 60 mg/kg) administration. Cholesterol, phospholipids and crystals in bile, the lipid in serum, pathological changes and proteins expression in liver were analyzed. The results showed that PA could decrease the cholesterol potency and crystals in bile, reduce total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG) and increase high-density lipoprotein/low-density lipoprotein (HDL/LDL) levels in serum. Furthermore, PA treatment reduced liver lipid peroxidation and protected hepatobiliary cells from liver injury by decreasing malondialdehyde (MDA) and increasing superoxide dismutase (SOD). In addition, PA inhibited the expression of ATP-binding cassette transporters G5/8 (ABCG5/8) and liver X receptor (LXR) in liver, and reduced cholesterol transport from the hepatocytes to the gallbladder. It may be the mechanism of PA in preventing cholesterol gallstones formation. PA as a potential drug for prevention cholesterol gallstones merits further investigation.

Poultry farms as a source of avian influenza A (H7N9) virus reassortment and human infection

Live poultry markets are a source of human infection with avian influenza A (H7N9) virus. On February 21, 2014, a poultry farmer infected with H7N9 virus was identified in Jilin, China, and H7N9 and H9N2 viruses were isolated from the patient's farm. Reassortment between these subtype viruses generated five genotypes, one of which caused the human infection. The date of H7N9 virus introduction to the farm is estimated to be between August 21, 2013 (95% confidence interval [CI] June 6, 2013-October 6, 2013) and September 25, 2013 (95% CI May 28, 2013-January 4, 2014), suggesting that the most likely source of virus introduction was the first batch of poultry purchased in August 2013. The reassortment event that led to the human virus may have occurred between January 2, 2014 (95% CI November 8, 2013-February 12, 2014) and February 12, 2014 (95% CI January 19, 2014-February 18, 2014). Our findings demonstrate that poultry farms could be a source of reassortment between H7N9 virus and H9N2 virus as well as human infection, which emphasizes the importance to public health of active avian influenza surveillance at poultry farms.

Poultry farms as a source of avian influenza A (H7N9) virus reassortment and human infection

Live poultry markets are a source of human infection with avian influenza A (H7N9) virus. On February 21, 2014, a poultry farmer infected with H7N9 virus was identified in Jilin, China, and H7N9 and H9N2 viruses were isolated from the patient's farm. Reassortment between these subtype viruses generated five genotypes, one of which caused the human infection. The date of H7N9 virus introduction to the farm is estimated to be between August 21, 2013 (95% confidence interval [CI] June 6, 2013-October 6, 2013) and September 25, 2013 (95% CI May 28, 2013-January 4, 2014), suggesting that the most likely source of virus introduction was the first batch of poultry purchased in August 2013. The reassortment event that led to the human virus may have occurred between January 2, 2014 (95% CI November 8, 2013-February 12, 2014) and February 12, 2014 (95% CI January 19, 2014-February 18, 2014). Our findings demonstrate that poultry farms could be a source of reassortment between H7N9 virus and H9N2 virus as well as human infection, which emphasizes the importance to public health of active avian influenza surveillance at poultry farms.

Fabrication of novel wave-transparent HMPBO fibre/BADCy laminated composites

The method of “impregnation–winding–lamination–mould pressing” was performed to fabricate novel wave-transparent high modulus poly(p-phenylene-2,6-benzobisoxazole) fibre/bisphenol A cyanate ester resins (HMPBO fibre/BADCy) laminated composites.

Ligand influence on the electronic spectra of monocationic copper–bipyridine complexes

We present photodissociation spectroscopy and computational analysis of three monocationic Cu–bipyridine complexes with one additional ligand of different interaction strength (N₂, H₂O and Cl) in the visible and UV.

Solid-state graphene formation via a nickel carbide intermediate phase

Direct formation of graphene with a controlled number of graphitic layers on dielectric surfaces is achieved with an in-depth understanding of the solid-state growth mechanism.

Targeting microsomal prostaglandin E2synthase-1 (mPGES-1): the development of inhibitors as an alternative to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)

AA cascade and several key residues in the 3D structure of mPGES-1.

Development and Usability Evaluation of the Mobile Delirium Assessment App Based on Confusion Assessment Method for Intensive Care Unit (CAM-ICU)

Delirium is a common complication among patients in ICU settings. The accuracy of using the assessment tool CAM-ICU to detect delirium is relatively low during routine practice among bedside nurses. The aim of this study is to develop a mobile application (app) to detect delirium in early stage and to test its usability among ICU nurses. The app was developed with Java and installed on a mobile device. A questionnaire was created based on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) measuring their response to the four domains of TAM: perceived usefulness (PU), perceived ease of use (PEOU), attitudes towards usage (ATU) and behavioral intention to use (BIU). One hundred and two ICU nurses completed the survey. The result indicated that the app we developed has easy to use interfaces and is easier to use compared to the regular CAM-ICU.

Sensitization of suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA) on chemoradiation for human cervical cancer cells and its mechanism

PURPOSE

To explore the sensitization of suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA) on chemoradiation for cervical cancer cells and its mechanism.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

After human cervical cancer SiHa cells were treated with SAHA and cisplatin (DDP) of different concentrations, inhibition and apoptosis rates, and cell cycle were detected. SiHa cells underwent radiation of various doses after treated with 20% IC50 of SAHA for 24 hours. The survival fraction of SiHa cells was calculated by colony-forming assay, and related parameters were calculated. mRNA and protein expressions of P21, Bax and Ku70 were detected.

RESULTS

The inhibition rate was higher in SD (SAHA combined with DDP) group than in D (DDP alone) group (p < 0.05). The number of cells in G0/G1 phase was higher, and the number of cells in G2/M+S phase and PI (proliferation index) were lower in S (SAHA), D, and SD groups than in control group, and in SD group than in S and D groups (p < 0.05). The apoptosis rate and the expressions of mRNA and protein of Bax and P21 were higher in SD group than in S or D group (p < 0.05). The cell survival fraction was lower in SAHA combined with radiotherapy group than in radiotherapy alone group (p < 0.05). Do, N, and Dq values were 2.329, 2.761, and 1.721, respectively, in radiotherapy alone group and 1.213, 4.770, and 0.823, respectively, in SAHA combined with radiotherapy group. SER was 1.92. Bax mRNA and protein expressions were higher but Ku70 mRNA and protein expressions were lower in SAHA combined with radiotherapy group than in radiotherapy alone group (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

SAHA promotes SiHa apoptosis in chemotherapy through up-regulation of mRNA and protein of p21 and Bax which leads to cell cycle arrest in G0/G1 phase. Low dose of SAHA promotes SiHa apoptosis and inhibits cell repair in radiotherapy through Bax up-regulation and Ku70 down-regulation.

A new tumor biomarker, serum protein peak at 3,144 m/z, in patients with node-positive breast cancer

Purpose

To explore the association between the 3,144 m/z protein peak and the clinicopathological features and prognosis in breast cancer.

Methods

Using SELDI–TOF MS, we analyzed serum protein peak at 3,144 m/z in 283 patients with node-positive breast cancer, its relationship with clinicopathological features and their prognosis evaluating value of survival.

Results

3,144 m/z positive rate was higher in elderly patients (42.8 % in ≥50-year-old vs. 31.2 % in <50, P = 0.04). However, no correlation was observed between 3,144 m/z and other clinicopathological features (body mass index, menstrual status, family history, TNM, molecular subtypes, vascular invasion, neural invasion, p53 and CA15-3). However, the positive rate of 3,144 m/z was higher than that of CA15-3 (35.5 vs. 11.4 %, McNemar χ² test, p < 0.001). 3,144 m/z-negative patients (n = 177) had a better 3-year overall survival (OS) than 3,144 m/z-positive patients (n = 106) (89.8 vs. 81.2 %, P = 0.045). Younger patients (P = 0.016), postmenopausal status (P = 0.019), small tumor (P < 0.001), less positive nodes (P < 0.001), early stage (P < 0.001), favorable molecular subtype (P = 0.007), normal CA15-3 (P = 0.003) and neoadjuvant chemotherapy (P = 0.001) predicted better survival. Cox analysis showed that T3–4 (95 % CI 1.419–8.057, P = 0.006), lymph node metastasis (95 % CI 1.242–3.632, P = 0.006) and p53 mutation (95 % CI 1.088–6.378, P = 0.032) were independent adverse prognostic factors. But childbirth ≥2 (95 % CI 0.163–0.986, P = 0.046), adjuvant chemotherapy (95 % CI 0.062–0.921, P = 0.038) and adjuvant radiotherapy (95 % CI 0.148–0.928, P = 0.034) were the independent factors in reducing risk of death in breast cancer patients. Combination testing of 3,144 m/z and CA15-3 will improve the prognosis value of 3-year survival (P = 0.011); patients with CA153−/3144− were characterized by the longest survival (89.8 %) and the CA153+/3144+ patients by the shortest.

Conclusions

Serum protein peak at 3,144 m/z is a new biomarker for breast cancer diagnosis and prognosis and showed a higher positive rate than serum CA15-3. Combining 3,144 m/z and CA15-3 testing may improve prognosis of longer survival in breast cancer patients.

Cytotoxicity of gold nanoclusters in human liver cancer cells

In this study, we synthesized water-soluble fluorescent gold nanoclusters (Au NCs) stabilized with dihydrolipoic acid (DHLA). The cytotoxicity of these Au NCs was then assessed in the normal human hepatic cell line (L02) and the human hepatoma cell line (HepG2) at different exposure times. Cell viability was normal in both cell lines at 24 hours and 48 hours; however, the growth of HepG2 cells was significantly inhibited at 72 hours. The change in lactate dehydrogenase level was strongly correlated with cell viability after 72 hours incubation with DHLA–capped Au NCs, and the increase in cellular reactive oxygen species may be related to the decrease in cell viability. Growth inhibition of HepG2 cells was possibly due to difficultly passing the checkpoint between G1 phase and S phase. The anticancer activity of DHLA–capped Au NCs should be considered when used in biomedical imaging and drug delivery.