La-Doped Sm2Zr2O7/PU-Coated Leather Composites with Enhanced Mechanical Properties and Highly Efficient Photocatalytic Performance.

Flexible La-doped Sm2Zr2O7/polyurethane (PU) coated leather composites were synthesized using a one-step hydrothermal method, with highly efficient photocatalytic degradation properties by coating the La-doped Sm2Zr2O7/PU emulsion onto the leather and drying it. The phase composition and optical properties of the as-prepared photocatalytic material were systematically characterized. The result revealed that La was doped in Sm2Zr2O7 successfully, and the prepared samples still possessed pyrochlore structure. The absorption edge of the prepared samples exhibited a red-shift with the increase in La doping, indicating that La doping could broaden the absorbance range of the La-doped Sm2Zr2O7 materials. The catalytic performance of La-doped Sm2Zr2O7/PU composite emulsion coating on the photocatalytic performance of leather was studied with Congo red solution as the target pollutant. The results showed that the best photocatalytic property was found in the 5% La-doped Sm2Zr2O7 nanomaterial at a concentration of 3 g/L. The resulting 5% La-doped Sm2Zr2O7 nanomaterial exhibited a high specific surface area of 73.5 m2/g. After 40 min of irradiation by a 450 W xenon lamp, the degradation rate of Congo red reached 93%. Moreover, after surface coating, the La-doped Sm2Zr2O7/PU coated leather composites showed obviously improved mechanical properties, as the tensile strength of La-doped Sm2Zr2O7/PU coated leather composites increased from 6.3 to 8.4 MPa. The as-prepared La-doped Sm2Zr2O7/PU coated leather composites with enhanced mechanical properties and highly efficient photocatalytic performance hold promising applications in the treatment of indoor volatile organic compounds.

Application of Lightweight Structure in Automobile Bumper Beam: A Review.

The bumper beam is an important device to ensure the safety of the car, which can effectively alleviate the force and absorb energy when the car collides. Traditional bumper beams are mostly made of high-strength steel, which has high strength and a low production cost but a heavy weight. With the requirement of being lightweight, high-strength steel is not able to meet the needs of lightweight cars, and composite materials have become the answer to the problem of a light weight in cars due to their excellent performance of being lightweight and high strength. This article introduces the case study on materials of bumper beams and presents the application of traditional materials and composite materials in bumper beams. Then, the fabrications and processes of bumper beams, a performance assessment, experimental tests, and a finite element analysis of the bumper beam are carried out. This paper also represents the study of optimization in automobile bumper beams.

Comparative pulmonary toxicity assessment of tungsten trioxide and tungsten trioxide hydrate nanoparticles.

Tungsten trioxide (WO3)-based nanoparticles (NPs) are gaining popularity because of their exciting potential for photocatalytic applications; however, the toxic potential of WO3-based NPs remains a concern. In this study, we evaluated the toxic risk of WO3 NPs and hydrated WO3 NPs (WO3·H2O NPs) using lung cells and explored the underlying mechanism. WO3 NPs and WO3·H2O NPs significantly decreased the number of viable cells (59.5 %-85.8 % of control) and promoted apoptosis in human alveolar basal epithelial A549 cells after a 24-h exposure. Both WO3 NPs and WO3·H2O NPs reduced the expression of heme oxygenase-1 (0.15-0.33 folds of control) and superoxide dismutase 2 (0.31-0.66 folds of control) and increased reactive oxygen species production (1.4-2.6 folds of control) and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine accumulation (1.22-1.43 folds of control). The results showed that WO3 NPs have higher cytotoxicity and oxidative potential than WO3·H2O NPs. In addition, the WO3 NP cellular uptake rate was significantly higher than the WO3·H2O NPs uptake rate in pulmonary cells. The greater extent of oxidative adverse effects induced by WO3-based NPs appears to be related to the enhanced particle uptake. WO3 NPs and WO3·H2O NPs exposure led to the secretion of inflammatory factor interleukin 6 (1.63-3.42 folds of control). Decreases in serpin family A member 1 gene expression (0.28-0.58 folds of control) and increases in the oxidation of neutrophil elastase inhibitor (1.34-1.62 folds of control) in pulmonary cells also suggest that exposure to WO3 NPs and WO3·H2O NPs raises the risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Taken together, our findings indicate that the toxic risk of WO3 NPs and WO3·H2O NPs must be considered when manufacturing and applying WO3-based NPs.

Deep learning magnetic resonance imaging predicts platinum sensitivity in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer.

Objective: The aim of the study is to develop and validate a deep learning model to predict the platinum sensitivity of patients with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) based on contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Methods: In this retrospective study, 93 patients with EOC who received platinum-based chemotherapy (≥4 cycles) and debulking surgery at the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital from January 2011 to January 2020 were enrolled and randomly assigned to the training and validation cohorts (2:1). Two different models were built based on either the primary tumor or whole volume of the abdomen as the volume of interest (VOI) within the same cohorts, and then a pre-trained convolutional neural network Med3D (Resnet 10 version) was transferred to automatically extract 1,024 features from two MRI sequences (CE-T1WI and T2WI) of each patient to predict platinum sensitivity. The performance of the two models was compared. Results: A total of 93 women (mean age, 50.5 years ± 10.5 [standard deviation]) were evaluated (62 in the training cohort and 31 in the validation cohort). The AUCs of the whole abdomen model were 0.97 and 0.98 for the training and validation cohorts, respectively, which was better than the primary tumor model (AUCs of 0.88 and 0.81 in the training and validation cohorts, respectively). In k-fold cross-validation and stratified analysis, the whole abdomen model maintained a stable performance, and the decision function value generated by the model was a prognostic indicator that successfully discriminates high- and low-risk recurrence patients. Conclusion: The non-manually segmented whole-abdomen deep learning model based on MRI exhibited satisfactory predictive performance for platinum sensitivity and may assist gynecologists in making optimal treatment decisions.

Study on the correlation between physical activity level and quality of life 1 year after stroke.

BACKGROUND: This study sought to assess the correlation between the level of physical activity (PA) and quality on life 1 year after stroke. METHODS: The subjects for this study comprised 122 patients who had their first stroke and were admitted to our hospital from June 2019 to December 2020. The self-rating Stroke Impact Scale (SIS) was used to evaluate the impact of stroke on cognition. The SIS uses a total of 59 items across 8 different dimensions (i.e., strength, memory, emotion, communication, activities of daily living, activity ability, hand function, and participation ability) to assess patients' perceptions of the impact of stroke. All data were expressed as mean ± standard deviation, median (quartile), and the number of cases (percentage). The t-test was used to compare differences between groups, and the chi-square test was used to evaluate percentage differences. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze the correlation between the PA level and the scores of different SIS dimensions. RESULTS: The average age of subjects in the active group [61.8 (10.7) years] was significantly lower than that of subjects in the inactive group [69.3 (9.3) years] (P=0.003); however, there was no significant difference in other baseline data. The likelihood of strength recovery, emotional recovery, mobility recovery, participation ability recovery, and stroke recovery was 3.48 [odds ratio (OR) =4.48, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.18-5.76], 1.53 (OR =2.53, 95% CI: 1.92-3.91), 2.32 (OR =3.32, 95% CI: 2.79-5.81), 4.77 (OR =5.77, 95% CI: 3.19-6.92), and 7.57 (OR =8.57, 95% CI: 5.39-9.82) times higher in the active group than the inactive group, respectively (P<0.05 for all). CONCLUSIONS: A significant positive correlation was found between the PA of stroke patients and the recovery of quality of life 1 year after stroke; thus, stroke patients are encouraged to increase their PA.

Homogeneously alloyed nanoparticles of immiscible Ag-Cu with ultrahigh antibacterial activity.

Immiscible bimetallic Ag-Cu system has been synthesized by the pulsed plasma in liquid method with a graph of one pulse duration. Herein, by combining X-ray power diffraction, K-edge X-ray absorption near edge structure and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, our results indicate that homogeneously alloyed Ag-Cu nanoparticles (Ag-Cu NAs) have the average diameter about 2.1 nm, composed by 48.5 at% Ag and 51.5 at% Cu with chemical analysis and the estimated lattice parameter was 3.873 Å. The antibacterial property of Ag-Cu NAs was detected against E. coli and S. aureus strains according to the colony formed abilities of bacteria on agar plates covered with the nanoparticles. With very short incubation period, Ag-Cu NAs completely inhibited the E. coli and S. aureus growth at an ultralow concentration. The mechanism of antibacterial property of Ag-Cu NAs was performed by the inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry and the plane wave pseudopotential method implemented in the CASTEP package based on the density functional theory. The Ag+ dissolution is correlated with antibacterial activity for Ag-Cu NAs-assisted antibacterial treatment. These findings obtained revealed that our Ag-Cu NAs could be served as a containing material of numerous bacteria-free products in order to avoid their bacterial contamination.

Consecutive evaluation of graphene oxide and reduced graphene oxide nanoplatelets immunotoxicity on monocytes.

The biocompatibilities of graphene-family nanomaterials (GFNs) should be thoroughly evaluated before their application in drug delivery and anticancer therapy. The present study aimed to consecutively assess the immunotoxicity of graphene oxide nanoplatelets (GONPs) and reduced GONPs (rGONPs) on THP-1 cells, a human acute monocytic leukemia cell line. GONPs induced the expression of antioxidative enzymes and inflammatory factors, whereas rGONPs had substantially higher cellular uptake rate, higher levels of NF-κB expression. These distinct toxic mechanisms were observed because the two nanomaterials differ in their oxidation state, which imparts different affinities for the cell membrane. Because GONPs have a higher cell membrane affinity and higher impact on membrane proteins compared with rGONPs, macrophages (THP-1a) derived from GONPs treated THP-1cells showed a severer effect on phagocytosis. By consecutive evaluation the effects of GONPs and rGONPs on THP-1 and THP-1a, we demonstrated that their surface oxidation states may cause GFNs to behave differently and cause different immunotoxic effects.

Improved Anticancer Photothermal Therapy Using the Bystander Effect Enhanced by Antiarrhythmic Peptide Conjugated Dopamine-Modified Reduced Graphene Oxide Nanocomposite.

Despite tremendous efforts toward developing novel near-infrared (NIR)-absorbing nanomaterials, improvement in therapeutic efficiency remains a formidable challenge in photothermal cancer therapy. This study aims to synthesize a specific peptide conjugated polydopamine-modified reduced graphene oxide (pDA/rGO) nanocomposite that promotes the bystander effect to facilitate cancer treatment using NIR-activated photothermal therapy. To prepare a nanoplatform capable of promoting the bystander effect in cancer cells, we immobilized antiarrhythmic peptide 10 (AAP10) on the surface of dopamine-modified rGO (AAP10-pDA/rGO). Our AAP10-pDA/rGO could promote the bystander effect by increasing the expression of connexin 43 protein in MCF-7 breast-cancer cells. Because of its tremendous ability to absorb NIR absorption, AAP10-pDA/rGO offers a high photothermal effect under NIR irradiation. This leads to a massive death of MCF-7 cells via the bystander effect. Using tumor-bearing mice as the model, it is found that NIR radiation effectively ablates breast tumor in the presence of AAP10-pDA/rGO and inhibits tumor growth by ≈100%. Therefore, this research integrates the bystander and photothermal effects into a single nanoplatform in order to facilitate an efficient photothermal therapy. Furthermore, our AAP10-pDA/rGO, which exhibits both hyperthermia and the bystander effect, can prevent breast-cancer recurrence and, therefore, has great potential for future clinical and research applications.

Photothermal therapeutic response of cancer cells to aptamer-gold nanoparticle-hybridized graphene oxide under NIR illumination.

The objective of this study was to synthesize a nanocomposite, aptamer-gold nanoparticle-hybridized graphene oxide (Apt-AuNP-GO), to facilitate targeted treatment of tumor cells by near-infrared (NIR) light-activatable photothermal therapy. We also investigated whether Apt-AuNP-GO with NIR illumination modulates heat shock proteins (HSPs) expression leading to therapeutic response in human breast cancer cells. These findings can provide strategies for improving the photothermal therapy efficacy of cancer. The self-assembled Apt-AuNP-GO nanocomposite could selectively target MUC1-positive human breast cancer cells (MCF-7) due to the specific interaction between the MUC1-binding-aptamer and the MUC1 (type I transmembrane mucin glycoprotein) on cell membrane. In addition, Apt-AuNP-GO has a high light-to-heat conversion capability for photoabsorption of NIR light, and it is able to exert therapeutic effects on MCF-7 cells at an ultralow concentration without inducing adverse effects in healthy cells. The Apt-AuNP-GO nanocomposites combine the advantages of GOs, AuNPs, and Apts, possess specific targeting capability, excellent biocompatibility, and tumor cell destruction ability, suggesting great potential for application in the photothermal therapy of breast cancer. Under NIR illumination, Apt-AuNP-GO induced transient increase in HSP70 expression, which decreased thereafter. This phenomenon may cause irreversible damage to Apt-AuNP-GO-treated MCF-7 cell under NIR illumination. We also demonstrated that the combination therapy of heat and HSP70 inhibitor could synergistically generate marked tumoricidal effects against breast cancer. These results suggest that the degree and duration of HSP70 protein expression are correlated with therapeutic effects against breast cancer for Apt-AuNP-GO-assisted photothermal therapy. We believe that such a nanocomposite can be readily extended to the construction of HSP70 inhibitors-loaded Apt-AuNP-GO, which could deliver both heat and HSP70 inhibitors to tumorigenic regions for the chemo-photothermal therapy.

[Cilostazol inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis in rat vascular smooth muscle cells through Rb-p53-p21 pathways].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects and related mechanisms of cilostazol on rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs)proliferation. METHODS: VSMCs were treated with DMEM (control) and various doses of cilostazol (1.0×10(-7), 2.5×10(-7), 5.0×10(-7), 7.5×10(-7) and 1.0×10(-6) mol/L) for 13 d (cell counting) or 72 h. Proliferation of VSMCs was investigated by cell-counting, MTT and flow cytometry analysis. Cell apoptosis was determined by TUNEL staining. mRNA and protein expressions of cell cycle regulatory proteins, such as Rb, p53 and p21 were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot, respectively. RESULTS: Cilostazol inhibited VSMCs proliferation and induced VSMCs arrest at G1 phase in a dose-dependent manner. High dose of cilostazol (7.5×10(-7) and 1.0×10(-6) mol/L) induced VSMCs apoptosis. p53 mRNA expression in 2.5×10(-7) mol/L to 7.5×10(-7) mol/L groups as well as 1.0×10(-6) mol/L group (3.22 ± 0.45 vs. 1.75 ± 0.32) and p53 protein expression in 7.5×10(-7) mol/L group and 1.0×10(-6) mol/L group (0.53 ± 0.11 vs. 0.18 ± 0.06) were significantly upregulated after 72 h culture (all P < 0.05 vs. control). Low dose of cilostazol (1.0×10(-7), 2.5×10(-7) and 5.0×10(-7) mol/L) significantly upregulated p21 mRNA expression compared to control group (1.86 ± 0.19, 2.20 ± 0.24 and 2.10 ± 0.18 vs. 1.210 ± 0.18, all P < 0.05). Similarly, Rb mRNA expression was significantly upregulated in 1.0×10(-7), 2.5×10(-7) and 5.0×10(-7) mol/L groups (0.89 ± 0.07 vs. 0.38 ± 0.04)compared with control group (all P < 0.05). However, high dose cilostazol (7.5×10(-7) and 1.0×10(-6) mol/L) significantly downregulated p21 mRNA expression (0.81 ± 0.09 vs. 1.21 ± 0.18, 0.36 ± 0.10 vs. 1.21 ± 0.18, all P < 0.05 vs. control) and Rb mRNA expression (0.12 ± 0.02 and 0.11 ± 0.02 vs. 0.38 ± 0.04, all P < 0.05 vs. control). p21 and Rb protein expressions also upregulated at low concentrations of cilostazol and downregulated at high concentrations of cilostazol. CONCLUSION: Cilostazol could inhibit the proliferation of rat VSMCs through modulating Rb-p53-p21 pathway and induce VSMCs apoptosis through upregulating p53.

Synthesis of novel CoCx@C nanoparticles.

CoC(x) nanoparticles encapsulated in carbon shells were synthesized using a pulsed plasma in liquid ethanol. This is the first time that monolithic cubic phase cobalt carbide nanoparticles have been obtained. X-ray diffraction refinement of the nanoparticles showed that the lattice parameter of prepared cubic phase cobalt carbide is larger than that of CoC(x) (44-0962) and cubic phase Co (15-0806 and 01-1259). The x-ray absorption fine structure spectra near the Co K-edge of the synthesized sample indicated differences from commercial metallic cobalt and cobalt oxide samples. High resolution transmission electron microscopy revealed that a thin carbon coating covered the surface of the nanoparticles. These carbon layers might isolate core CoC(x) material from the outside environment, and allow functionalization by carboxyl groups for the further purpose of targeted drug delivery. The obtained CoC(x)@C particles, with a crystallite size of about 10 nm confirmed by the electron microscope, aggregate into 20-40 nm secondary particles in distilled water as shown by dynamic light scattering, and possess high saturation magnetization of about 120 emu g(-1). The sodium 3'-[1-(phenylaminocarbonyl)-3,4-tetrazolium]-bis(4-methoxy-6-nitro)benzene sulfonic acid hydrate assay and defragmentation of deoxyribonucleic acid on MCF-7 cells after incubation with particles indicate relatively low cytotoxicity of CoC(x)@C nanoparticles, compared with micro-sized and nano-sized metallic cobalt particles and commonly used iron oxides. For the small sized CoC(x)@C particles, the release of cobalt ions was checked by a chelation method with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid solution to be at a very low level compared with other reference materials.

Wurtzite-type ZnS nanoparticles by pulsed electric discharge.

The synthesis of wurtzite-type ZnS nanoparticles by an electric discharge submerged in molten sulfur is reported. Using a pulsed plasma between two zinc electrodes of diameter 5 mm in molten sulfur, we have synthesized high-temperature phase (wurtzite-type) ZnS nanocrystals with an average size of about 20 nm. The refined lattice parameters of the synthesized wurtzite-type ZnS nanoparticles were found to be larger than those of the reported ZnS (JCPDS card no 36-1450). Synthesis of ZnMgS (solid solution of ZnS and MgS) was achieved by using ZnMg alloys as both cathode and anode electrodes. UV-visible absorption spectroscopy analysis showed that the absorption peak of the as-prepared ZnS sample (319 nm) displays a blue-shift compared to the bulk ZnS (335 nm). Photoluminescence spectra of the samples revealed peaks at 340, 397, 423, 455 and 471 nm, which were related to excitonic emission and stoichiometric defects.

[Effect of percutaneous coronary intervention timing and cilostazol use on left ventricular remodeling in patients with non-ST elevation myocardial infarction].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the dynamic changes of plasma matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and investigate the effect of early or delayed percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in the presence or absence cilostazol on left ventricle (LV) remodeling in patients with non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). METHODS: One hundred and sixty-four patients undergoing PCI with NSTEMI were randomized to early PCI (PCI within 24 h) group or delayed PCI group (PCI after 36 h), and patients in both group were further assigned to cilostazol or no cilostazol group. Plasma MMP-2 and MMP-9 concentrations were measured at 2, 4 days and 2 and 4 weeks after PCI. Left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV), left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricle posterior wall (LVPW) and interventricular septum (IVS) were measured by echocardiography at baseline and 1 year after PCI. RESULTS: MMP-2 concentration at 2 weeks after PCI is higher than that at 2, 4 days and 4 weeks after PCI. MMP-9 concentration at 4 days is higher than that at 2 days, 2 weeks and 4 weeks after PCI. MMP-2 and MMP-9 were significantly lower in cilostazol group compared with that in non-cilostazol group at 4 days, 2 weeks and 4 weeks after NSTEMI (all P < 0.05). Changes of LVEDV and LVEF were significantly less in cilostazol group and early PCI group than that in no cilostazol group and delay PCI group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01) at 1 year after NSTEMI. CONCLUSIONS: Early PCI and Cilostazol use are associated with less LV remodeling in patients with NSTEMI. Cilostazol attenuated LV remodeling possibly by reducing concentration of MMP-2 and MMP-9 after PCI.