Solar-driven evaporation is promising in oily wastewater treatment, in particular for emulsions, but conventional evaporators suffer from pore blocking by residual oil or contamination by volatile ...oil compounds in the condensed water. In the current research, we develop a suspended membrane evaporator integrating solar evaporation with oil-in-water emulsion separation. The heating and evaporating interface is separated from the rejecting interface to avoid oil escape and improve heat management. A temperature gradient forms on the membrane surface that can promote evaporation performance by combining both solar and environmental evaporation. Such an evaporator achieves a maximum evaporation rate of 1.645 kg/(m2·h) as well as an apparent evaporation efficiency of 111.9%. Moreover, the superhydrophilic and superoleophobic membrane shows excellent oil repellence and emulsion rejection, which can achieve an oil removal efficiency above 98.8% in oil-in-water emulsion separation, and high evaporation rate recovery in cycling tests. A scaled-up membrane evaporator array produces ∼8 kg/(m2·d) of clean water from oily wastewater in outdoor experiments, further demonstrating the strong purification performance of this evaporator in oily wastewater treatment.
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The pressing need to address the global water crisis has spurred research efforts toward exploring alternative sources and technologies, and harvesting atmospheric water from the ...humid air emerges as a promising solution. Liquid desiccants, known for their high absorption capacity, have been widely utilized for moisture capture, but their water yield is mainly restricted by sluggish adsorption and desorption dynamics. To address this limitation, we present a facile strategy to promote the absorption/desorption dynamics of moisture by virtue of capillary transport and enlarged interfaces in a photothermal wood enhancer. These enhancers are fabricated via partial delignification of natural balsa woods followed by low-temperature carbonization to endow them with photothermal properties. The moisture absorption rate shows a notable increase of 103% and 84% under the relative humidity (RH) of 60% and 90%, respectively, within the initial two hours by applying the three enhancers. On the other hand, the desorption efficiency is doubled, reaching 80% in two hours under 60 °C with the enhancers. Moreover, the desorption can be driven by solar energy with an evaporation rate of 1.217 kg·m−2·h−1. This work provides a design strategy combining capillary and interfacial effects to enhance moisture harvesting without altering hygroscopic materials.
A novel colorimetric and ratiometric fluorescent probe CHa based on Ag+-induced hydrolysis of hydrazone was designed and synthesized. Upon addition of Ag+ to a solution of CHa, a visible color change ...from yellow to colorless and a fluorescence color change from yellow to blue were observed. The probe displayed a 203-fold enhancement of the fluorescence intensity ratio (I450nm/I520nm) toward Ag+ with outstanding sensitivity, high selectivity and a low detection limit. Furthermore, CHa was successfully applied to the ratiometric imaging of Ag+ in HepG2 and HeLa cells.
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•We developed for the first time a ratiometric fluorescence probe CHa for Ag+ based on a chemical reaction.•CHa displays a 203-fold enhancement of the fluorescence intensity ratio (I450 nm/I520 nm) toward Ag+ with a low detection limit (LOD 61 nM).•The probe CHa did not suffer from significant interference from other competing metal ions such as Hg2+ and Cu2+.•The probe CHa was successfully used to detect Ag+ in HepG2 and HeLa cells.
A novel colorimetric and ratiometric fluorescent probe CHa based on Ag+-induced hydrolysis of hydrazone was designed and synthesized. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time the ratiometric sensing of Ag+ based on a chemical reaction has been accomplished. When Ag+ was added to a solution of CHa, a visible color change from yellow to colorless and a fluorescence color change from yellow to blue were observed. Probe CHa displayed a 203-fold enhancement of the fluorescence intensity ratio (I450nm/I520nm) toward Ag+ with outstanding sensitivity, high selectivity and a low detection limit (LOD 61 nM). Moreover, CHa was successfully applied to the ratiometric imaging of Ag+ in HepG2 and HeLa cells.
Objectives/Hypothesis
The routine practices of examining submucosal lesions are not suitable for deep lesions. Therefore, we evaluated the efficacy of non‐real‐time image‐guided transnasal endoscopic ...fine‐needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) in diagnosing nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) with submucosal lesions.
Study Design
The effectiveness evaluation of diagnostic methods.
Methods
Fifty suspected NPC patients who failed in conventional biopsies were enrolled in this study. The efficacy, maneuverability, and safety of FNAB in diagnosing these intractable cases were evaluated.
Results
The definitive diagnostic results of these 50 patients were NPC (34/50, 68.0%), nasopharyngeal necrosis (1/50, 2.0%), nasopharyngeal mucositis (12/50, 24.0%), and other cancers (3/50, 6.0%), respectively. The results of the diagnostic efficacy of FNAB were sensitivity, 89.2%; specificity, 100.0%; positive predictive value, 100.0%; negative predictive value, 76.5%; and accuracy, 92.0%, respectively. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curves was 0.946 (95% confidence interval = 0.884–1.00, P < .001). No severe complications occurred after FNAB.
Conclusions
FNAB can improve the diagnostic efficiency of NPC occurring in the submucosal space. It can be an additional option for routine nasopharyngeal biopsy and is worthy of clinical application.
Level of Evidence
4 Laryngoscope, 131:1798–1804, 2021
Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were fabricated with biocompatible collagen (Col) and then conjugated with berberine (BB), denoted as Au-Col-BB, to investigate the endocytic mechanisms in Her-2 breast ...cancer cell line and in bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAEC). Owing to the superior biocompatibility, tunable physicochemical properties, and potential functionalization with biomolecules, AuNPs have been well studied as carriers of biomolecules for diseases and cancer therapeutics. Composites of AuNPs with biopolymer, such as fibronectin or Col, have been revealed to increase cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation. BB is a natural compound with impressive health benefits, such as lowering blood sugar and reducing weight. In addition, BB can inhibit cell proliferation by modulating cell cycle progress and autophagy, and induce cell apoptosis in vivo and in vitro. In the current research, BB was conjugated on the Col-AuNP composite (“Au-Col”). The UV-Visible spectroscopy and infrared spectroscopy confirmed the conjugation of BB on Au-Col. The particle size of the Au-Col-BB conjugate was about 227 nm, determined by dynamic light scattering. Furthermore, Au-Col-BB was less cytotoxic to BAEC vs. Her-2 cell line in terms of MTT assay and cell cycle behavior. Au-Col-BB, compared to Au-Col, showed greater cell uptake capacity and potential cellular transportation by BAEC and Her-2 using the fluorescence-conjugated Au-Col-BB. In addition, the clathrin-mediated endocytosis and cell autophagy seemed to be the favorite endocytic mechanism for the internalization of Au-Col-BB by BAEC and Her-2. Au-Col-BB significantly inhibited cell migration in Her-2, but not in BAEC. Moreover, apoptotic cascade proteins, such as Bax and p21, were expressed in Her-2 after the treatment of Au-Col-BB. The tumor suppression was examined in a model of xenograft mice treated with Au-Col-BB nanovehicles. Results demonstrated that the tumor weight was remarkably reduced by the treatment of Au-Col-BB. Altogether, the promising findings of Au-Col-BB nanocarrier on Her-2 breast cancer cell line suggest that Au-Col-BB may be a good candidate of anticancer drug for the treatment of human breast cancer.
A zone plate lens utilizing a refractive instead of diffractive approach is presented for broadband operation. By utilizing transformation optics, we compress the conventional hyperbolic lens into a ...flat one with a few zone plates made of all-dielectric materials. Such a transformed lens maintains the broadband performance of the original lens, thus providing a superior alternative to the diffractive Fresnel element which is inherently narrow band.
Radix Fici Simplicissimae (RFS) is widely studied, and is in demand for its value in medicines and food products, with increased scientific focus on its cultivation and breeding. We used ...ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole-orbitrap mass spectrometry-based metabolomics to elucidate the similarities and differences in phytochemical compositions of wild Radix Fici Simplicissimae (WRFS) and cultivated Radix Fici Simplicissimae (CRFS). Untargeted metabolomic analysis was performed with multivariate statistical analysis and heat maps to identify the differences. Eighty one compounds were identified from WRFS and CRFS samples. Principal component analysis and orthogonal partial least squares discrimination analysis indicated that mass spectrometry could effectively distinguish WRFS from CRFS. Among these, 17 potential biomarkers with high metabolic contents could distinguish between the two varieties, including seven phenylpropanoids, three flavonoids, one flavonol, one alkaloid, one glycoside, and four organic acids. Notably, psoralen, apigenin, and bergapten, essential metabolites that play a substantial pharmacological role in RFS, are upregulated in WRFS. WRFS and CRFS are rich in phytochemicals and are similar in terms of the compounds they contain. These findings highlight the effects of different growth environments and drug varieties on secondary metabolite compositions and provide support for targeted breeding for improved CRFS varieties.
Patients with N2–3 nasopharyngeal carcinoma have a high risk of treatment being unsuccessful despite the current practice of using a concurrent adjuvant cisplatin–fluorouracil regimen. We aimed to ...compare the efficacy and safety of concurrent adjuvant cisplatin–gemcitabine with cisplatin–fluorouracil in N2–3 nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
We conducted an open-label, randomised, controlled, phase 3 trial at four cancer centres in China. Eligible patients were aged 18–65 years with untreated, non-keratinising, stage T1–4 N2–3 M0 nasopharyngeal carcinoma, an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status score of 0–1, and adequate bone marrow, liver, and renal function. Eligible patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive concurrent cisplatin (100 mg/m2 intravenously) on days 1, 22, and 43 of intensity-modulated radiotherapy followed by either gemcitabine (1 g/m2 intravenously on days 1 and 8) and cisplatin (80 mg/m2 intravenously for 4 h on day 1) once every 3 weeks or fluorouracil (4 g/m2 in continuous intravenous infusion for 96 h) and cisplatin (80 mg/m2 intravenously for 4 h on day 1) once every 4 weeks, for three cycles. Randomisation was done using a computer-generated random number code with a block size of six, stratified by treatment centre and nodal category. The primary endpoint was 3-year progression-free survival in the intention-to-treat population (ie, all patients randomly assigned to treatment). Safety was assessed in all participants who received at least one dose of chemoradiotherapy. This study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03321539, and patients are currently under follow-up.
From Oct 30, 2017, to July 9, 2020, 240 patients (median age 44 years IQR 36–52; 175 73% male and 65 27% female) were randomly assigned to the cisplatin–fluorouracil group (n=120) or cisplatin–gemcitabine group (n=120). As of data cutoff (Dec 25, 2022), median follow-up was 40 months (IQR 32–48). 3-year progression-free survival was 83·9% (95% CI 75·9–89·4; 19 disease progressions and 11 deaths) in the cisplatin–gemcitabine group and 71·5% (62·5–78·7; 34 disease progressions and seven deaths) in the cisplatin–fluorouracil group (stratified hazard ratio 0·54 95% CI 0·32–0·93; log rank p=0·023). The most common grade 3 or worse adverse events that occurred during treatment were leukopenia (61 52% of 117 in the cisplatin–gemcitabine group vs 34 29% of 116 in the cisplatin–fluorouracil group; p=0·00039), neutropenia (37 32% vs 19 16%; p=0·010), and mucositis (27 23% vs 32 28%; p=0·43). The most common grade 3 or worse late adverse event (occurring from 3 months after completion of radiotherapy) was auditory or hearing loss (six 5% vs ten 9%). One (1%) patient in the cisplatin–gemcitabine group died due to treatment-related complications (septic shock caused by neutropenic infection). No patients in the cisplatin–fluorouracil group had treatment-related deaths.
Our findings suggest that concurrent adjuvant cisplatin–gemcitabine could be used as an adjuvant therapy in the treatment of patients with N2–3 nasopharyngeal carcinoma, although long-term follow-up is required to confirm the optimal therapeutic ratio.
National Key Research and Development Program of China, National Natural Science Foundation of China, Guangdong Major Project of Basic and Applied Basic Research, Sci-Tech Project Foundation of Guangzhou City, Sun Yat-sen University Clinical Research 5010 Program, Innovative Research Team of High-level Local Universities in Shanghai, Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province for Distinguished Young Scholar, Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province, Postdoctoral Innovative Talent Support Program, Pearl River S&T Nova Program of Guangzhou, Planned Science and Technology Project of Guangdong Province, Key Youth Teacher Cultivating Program of Sun Yat-sen University, the Rural Science and Technology Commissioner Program of Guangdong Province, and Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities.
Reactive oxygen species (ROS)-generating anticancer agents can act through two different mechanisms: (i) elevation of endogenous ROS production in mitochondria, or (ii) formation/delivery of ...exogenous ROS within cells. However, there is a lack of research on the development of ROS-generating nanosystems that combine endogenous and exogenous ROS to enhance oxidative stress-mediated cancer cell death.
A ROS-generating agent based on polymer-modified zinc peroxide nanoparticles (ZnO
NPs) was presented, which simultaneously delivered exogenous H
O
and Zn
capable of amplifying endogenous ROS production for synergistic cancer therapy.
After internalization into tumor cells, ZnO
NPs underwent decomposition in response to mild acidic pH, resulting in controlled release of H
O
and Zn
. Intriguingly, Zn
could increase the production of mitochondrial O
·
and H
O
by inhibiting the electron transport chain, and thus exerted anticancer effect in a synergistic manner with the exogenously released H
O
to promote cancer cell killing. Furthermore, ZnO
NPs were doped with manganese
cation exchange, making them an activatable magnetic resonance imaging contrast agent.
This study establishes a ZnO
-based theranostic nanoplatform which achieves enhanced oxidative damage to cancer cells by a two-pronged approach of combining endogenous and exogenous ROS.
Objective: This study aimed to assess the impact of a health education intervention on health behaviors, self-efficacy, and well-being among college students. Participants: Between March and October ...2016, a total of 532 undergraduates participated. Methods: A theory-based intervention was conducted at Wuhan University, China. Participants were assigned to a control or intervention group (IG). The IG attended a 7-week health education class on knowledge, attitude, and practice of health behaviors. Results: Participants in the IG, compared with those in the control group (CG), reported significantly increased prevalence of high physical activity and regular breakfast, as well as lower screen time, sugar beverage intake, and Internet addiction tendency. Furthermore, intervention students improved in health behavior scores (p = 0.040), compared with the CG, while the changes in subjective well-being and self-efficacy remained similar between the two groups. Conclusions: Health education may promote health behaviors among Chinese college students.
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