Bi2MoO6 with a tunable morphology was synthesized by a facile hydrothermal route using different surfactants, including nanosheet-assembled microspheres, smooth microspheres, nanoparticle aggregates ...and nanoparticles. The morphology, crystal structure and photocatalytic activity of as-obtained Bi2MoO6 were characterized by scanning electron microscopes (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) and UV–Vis spectrophotometer. Bi2MoO6 flower-like microspheres using cetyl-trimethyl-ammonium bromide (BET) as the surfactant exhibited much better photocatalytic activity than Bi2MoO6 with the other morphologies, with a degradation efficiency of 98.4%. It can be summarized that the photocatalytic activity of Bi2MoO6 samples depends on their morphology and composition.
Objectives To investigate whether androgen receptor (AR) could serve as a potential molecular target for the treatment of bladder cancer. Methods Cell proliferation, apoptosis, and migration capacity ...were determined in human transitional carcinoma cell lines T24 and 253-J treated with small interfering RNA directed against AR, and expression levels of growth- and metastasis-related genes were assessed using quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Tumor cell growth and apoptosis were also evaluated in vivo in T24 tumor-bearing nude mice receiving electroporation-assisted administration of anti-AR small interfering RNA. Results AR expression knockdown produced increased apoptosis, decreased proliferation, and migration of bladder cancer cells. Cyclin D1, Bcl-xL , and matrix metallopeptidase-9 gene expression were also reduced with AR knockdown, which might have contributed to the altered biological behavior of cancer cells. In vivo experiments showed that silencing AR expression, by interference aided by electroporation, significantly suppressed AR-positive bladder tumor growth with decreased cell proliferation and increased apoptotic rates. Conclusions Downregulation of AR expression inhibits bladder cancer cell growth in vitro and in vivo, implying that its use might be a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of bladder cancer.
This paper presents a 3D seismic-based case study from the deep-water Niger Delta Basin to investigate sedimentary–tectonic interaction on growth sequence architecture within the thrust-related ...intraslope or piggyback basins. Gravitational contraction in the lower continental slope had yielded a series of thrust faults and associated folds in the study area, which formed several piggyback basins. These basins were filled by a suite of growth sequences with varying stratigraphic architecture. Analysis of the 3D seismic data recognized three primary seismic facies types respectively as: convergent, draping and chaotic, which contain seven subtypes. These facies types are combined to form different filling successions for convergent or chaotic growth sequences. The convergent growth sequences mainly occur in the deep section of basin fills during strong gravitational deformation, and always began with convergent-baselapping strata succeeded by convergent-thinning strata, representing pond-to-bypass transition in the ponded-basin accommodation space. The chaotic growth sequences mainly occur in the shallow section of basin fills in response to weak gravitational deformation, and usually began with debris-flow deposits succeeded by channel-levee complexes, reflecting dominant erosion-bypass processes in the slope accommodation space. A dynamic fill-and-spill model considering relationship between episodic sedimentation rate and structural growth rate is proposed to explain the formative mechanisms of growth strata units and associated successions. Interaction between glaciation or deglaciation and sea-level change and gravitational deformation history are suggested to be the factor which resulted in the complex stratal stacking patterns, including progradational or retrogradational stacking patterns within convergent growth sequences, and progradational stacking patterns within chaotic growth sequences.
Purpose
Urolithiasis is a rare complication of renal transplantation, and there is limited evidence to guide treatment. Management of stones in the transplanted kidney can be challenging. We present ...our experience in treating upper urinary tract (UUT) allograft lithiasis using minimally invasive procedures, with the aim of demonstrating their efficacy and safety in renal transplant recipients.
Methods
The records of 1615 patients undergoing kidney transplantation and follow-up in our center between August 2000 and July 2014 were reviewed. The mode of presentation, donor type, onset time, immunosuppression protocol, stone character, therapeutic intervention and outcomes of those with UUT allograft lithiasis were recorded. Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (SWL), flexible ureteroscopy (F-URS) and percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) were used in the management of these calculi. Stone composition was analyzed after the procedure.
Results
Nineteen renal transplant recipients (1.2 %, nine males and ten females) were found to have UUT allograft calculi. Of these, five underwent SWL (26.3 %), four had F-URS combined with lithotomy forceps extraction or holmium laser disruption (21.1 %), six had PNCL (31.6 %), one submitted to F-URS after two failed sessions of SWL (5.3 %), one combined PCNL and F-URS (5.3 %), and two spontaneously of stones (10.5 %). All patients were rendered stone-free with a combination of treatments, and none required a blood transfusion.
Conclusions
The incidence of calculi in the transplanted kidney is low. Minimally invasive procedures are safe and effective means of removing allograft calculi.
Seafloor topography plays an important role in the evolution of submarine lobes. However, it is still not so clear how the shape of slope affects the three-dimensional (3-D) architecture of submarine ...lobes. In this study, we analyze the effect of topography factors on different hierarchical lobe architectures that formed during Pliocene to Quaternary in the Rovuma Basin offshore East Africa. We characterize the shape, size and growth pattern of different hierarchical lobe architectures using 3-D seismic data. We find that the relief of the topographic slope determines the location of preferential deposition of lobe complexes and single lobes. When the topography is irregular and presents topographic lows, lobe complexes first infill these depressions. Single lobes are deposited preferentially at positions with higher longitudinal (i.e. across-slope) slope gradients. As the longitudinal slope becomes higher, the aspect ratio of the single lobes increases. Lateral (i.e. along-slope) topography does not seem to have a strong influence on the shape of single lobe, but it seems to affect the overlap of single lobes. When the lateral slope gradient is relatively high, the single lobes tend to have a larger overlap surface. Furthermore, as the average of lateral slope and longitudinal slope gets greater, the width/thickness ratio of the single lobe is smaller, i.e. sediments tend to accumulate vertically. The results demonstrate that the shape of slopes more comprehensively influences the 3-D architecture of lobes in natural deep-sea systems than previously other lobe deposits and analogue experiments, which helps us better understand the development and evolution of the distal parts of turbidite systems.
Alkali stress is a significant challenge across the globe which is posing serious threat to crop production and food security. This study was carried out to study the effect of different levels of ...alkali stress on growth and physiological traits of Leymus chinensis . The study was comprised of different levels of alkali stress; control (CK; 0 mmol·L -1 ), 25 and 50 mmol·L -1 . The results showed that imposition of 50 mmol·L -1 alkali stress substantially reduced the photosynthetic capacity, relative water contents and accumulation of carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) in plant parts. Further, 50 mmol·L -1 alkali stress also reduced the above and below ground biomass, and severely inhibited the root growth. Moreover, increase in concentration of alkali stress inhibited clone components, tillering, tillering bud, and internode bud of Leymus chinensis . In conclusion the increasing concentration of alkali stress can reduce the growth and biomass production and nutrient accumulation of Leymus chinensis .
Twelve quarters of six lactating cows were inoculated with Mycoplasma leachii strain GN407 through intramammary ductal infusion; another 12 quarters were inoculated with heat-inactivated M. leachii ...culture medium as negative controls. Multidisciplinary procedures, including clinical assessment, etiology assessment, pathology and immunohistochemistry (IHC), were used to elucidate the pathogenicity of M. leachii in bovine mastitis. From post-inoculation days (PIDs) 3 to 9, 12 inoculated quarters developed mild to severe clinical mastitis and mammary tissue histopathological changes, including inflammatory cell infiltration and architectural destruction of mammary gland ducts. The M. leachii antigen was also detected by IHC in the mammary gland epithelial cells of the inoculated quarters as a weak signal on PID 6 and as a strong signal on PID 9. The control quarters also developed mild mastitis and histopathological changes on PID 9, and M. leachii was also detected by IHC. Throughout the experimental period, the quarters of the negative control cow were clinically and pathologically normal, and the M. leachii antigen was not detected. In conclusion, direct histological and immunohistochemical evidence confirmed that M. leachii causes clinical bovine mastitis through histopathological lesions induced by invasion of the pathogen into mammary gland cells and through inflammatory cell infiltration.
Transition-metal chalcogenide compounds with facile preparation and multifunctional elements act as ideal photothermal agents for cancer theranostics. This work synthesizes Cu
7.2
S
4
/5MoS
2
...composite nanoflowers and investigates the crystal growth mechanism to optimize the synthesis strategy and obtain excellent photothermal therapy agents. Cu
7.2
S
4
/5MoS
2
exhibits a high photothermal conversion efficiency of 58.7% and acts as a theranostic nanoplatform and demonstrated an effective photothermal–chemodynamic–photodynamic synergetic therapeutic effect in both
in vitro
and
in vivo
tests. Moreover, Cu
7.2
S
4
/5MoS
2
shows strong photoacoustic signal amplitudes and computed tomographic contrast enhancement
in vivo
. These results suggest a potential application of Cu
7.2
S
4
/5MoS
2
composite nanoflowers as photo/H
2
O
2
-responsive therapeutic agents against tumors.
To evaluate the safety and efficacy of intravitreal conbercept (IVC) injections as pretreatment for pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) in severe proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR).
This was a ...retrospective chart review of all patients who underwent PPV for PDR from January 2014 to October 2016. Patients who underwent IVC injection before PPV were assigned to the IVC group; the others were assigned to the control group. The IVC was performed 3-7d before surgery in the IVC group. All the eyes in the two groups were operated by the same doctor to complete the vitrectomy. Intraoperative complications and the changes in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) before and after surgery were compared between the two groups.
A total of 68 eyes of 63 patients (22 eyes in the IVC group and 46 eyes in the control group) were examined. The risk of intraoperative bleeding was lower in the IVC group (2/22) than in the control group (25/46,
=0.000). Furthermore, the use of endodiathermy was significantly lower in the IVC group (1/22) than in the control group (12/46,
=0.047). The surgical time in the IVC group (112.64±34.52min) was significantly shorter than in the control group (132.85±40.04min,
<0.05). Compared to the BCVA before surgery, the mean BCVA was significantly improved after surgery for both groups (
<0.05).
PPV is an effective treatment and can improve vision in patients with PDR. Preoperative intravitreal injection of conbercept could reduce the chances of intraoperative bleeding and the use of endodiathermy and shorten the operative time, which are beneficial in the management of PDR.
As a central hub in cognitive and emotional brain circuits, the striatum is considered likely to be integrally involved in the psychopathology of bipolar disorder (BD). However, it remains unclear ...how alterations in striatal function contribute to distinct symptomatology of BD during different mood states.
Behavioral assessment (i.e., emotional symptoms and cognitive performance) and neuroimaging data were collected from 125 participants comprising 31 (hypo)manic, 31 depressive, and 31 euthymic patients with BD, and 32 healthy control participants. We compared the functional connectivity (FC) of striatal subregions across BD mood states with healthy control participants and then used a multivariate data-driven approach to explore dimensional associations between striatal connectivity and behavioral performance. Finally, we compared the FC and behavioral composite scores, which reflect the individual weighted representation of the associations, among different mood states.
Patients in all mood states exhibited increased FC between the bilateral ventral rostral putamen and ventrolateral thalamus. Bipolar (hypo)mania uniquely exhibited increased ventral rostral putamen connectivity and superior ventral striatum connectivity. One latent component was identified, whereby increased FCs of striatal subregions were associated with distinct psychopathological symptomatology (more manic symptoms, elevated positive mood, less depressive symptoms, and worse cognitive performance). Patients with bipolar (hypo)mania had the highest FC and behavioral composite scores while bipolar patients with depression had the lowest scores.
Our data demonstrated both trait features of BD and state features specific to bipolar (hypo)mania. The findings underscored the fundamental role of the striatum in the pathophysiological processes underlying specific symptomatology across all mood states.
PDF
