A High-Performance N2-Selective MXene Membrane with Double Selectivity Mechanism for N2/CH4 Separation.

Membrane-based separation process for unconventional natural gas purification (mainly N2/CH4 separation) has attracted more attention due to its considerable economic benefits. However, the majority of separation membranes at this stage, particularly N2-selective membranes, achieve the desired separation target by mainly relying on the diffusivity-selectivity mechanism. To overcome the limitation of a single mechanism, 2D lamellar MXene membranes with a double selectivity mechanism are prepared to enhance N2 permeance and N2/CH4 selectivity via introducing unsaturated metal sites into MXene, which can form specific interactions with N2 molecules and enhance N2 permeation. The resulting membranes exhibit an inspiring N2/CH4 separation performance with an N2 permeance of 344 GPU and N2/CH4 selectivity of 13.76. The collaboration of the double selectivity mechanism provides a new idea for the development of a novel N2-selective membrane for N2 removal and CH4 purification, which further broadens the application prospects of membrane separation technology in the field of unconventional natural gas purification.

Carbon nanomaterials treated by combination of oxidation and flash for highly efficient solar water evaporation.

The high-efficiency solar evaporation is a potential technique to desalinate hypersaline wastewater and seawater to alleviate the global fresh water shortage. Photo-thermal agent and solar evaporator with low-cost raw materials, high photo-thermal conversion efficiency and simple-fast preparation methods is crucial to realize the industrial application of solar evaporation. Herein, carbon nanomaterial with higher light absorption and photo-thermal conversion efficiency than that of carbon black was obtained by combination treatment of carbon black with oxidation and flash illumination. In order to characterize the evaporation performance of the devices, a floating evaporator was fabricated with the carbon nanomaterial on the top of polyethylene foam wrapped with non-woven fabrics. The evaporation rate and photo-thermal conversion efficiency of evaporators were affected significantly by environmental temperature and humidity. At the environmental temperature of 19.5 °C, the evaporator fabricated with the combined treated carbon nanomaterial as photo-thermal agents presents a stable evaporation rate at 1.27 kg m-2 h-1 and solar evaporation efficiency at 78.7% under 1 kW m-2 simulated sun illumination, which are higher than those of evaporator with carbon black (1.13 kg m-2 h-1 and 68.1%). The distilled water obtained from the solar evaporator met the standards of drinkable water. Overall, the experimental result demonstrates a great promise application of treated carbon nanomaterial as a photo-thermal agent in the field of seawater desalination and solar-energy collector.

Study on the Anti-inflammatory Activity and Mechanism of Different Components from Codonopsis Radix Polysaccharides / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE：To screen the components with better anti-inflammatory effect from Codonopsis Radix polysaccharide and explore the anti-inflammatory mechanism. METHODS ：Using Codonopsis Radix as sample ，the crude polysaccharide （CP） was obtained by water extraction and alcohol precipitation. After CP was separated and purified by Fast Flow DEAE Sepharose ， SephadexG-150 gel column and so on ，the components CP 1-2-1 and CP 3-1-1 were obtained and then characterized. The survival rate of RAW 264.7 cell was determined by MTT method after cultured with CP ，CP1-2-1 and CP 3-1-1（0.01，0.1，1，10，100 μg/mL）for 24 and 48 h respectively. The cells were divided into blank group （blank culture medium ），model group （1 μg/mL LPS）and low-，medium- and high-concentration groups of 3 kinds of Codonopsis Radix polysaccharide （1 μg/mL LPS+25，50， 100 μg/mL CP，CP1-2-1，CP3-1-1 solution）. After cultured for 24 h，NO content in cell culture solution ，mRNA expressions of TLR4，IL-6，NF-κB and TNF-α in cells were determined. RESULTS：The sugar content of CP reached （92.20±0.73）％. CP 1-2-1 was a single neutral polysaccharide composed of fructose with a relative molecular weight of 25.8 kDa. CP 3-1-1 was an acidic heteropolysaccharide composed of arabinose ，rhamnose，galactose and galacturonic acid and so on ，with a relative molecular weight of 49.5 kDa. Cell survival rates were higher than 99％，after cultured with 3 kinds of polysaccharide for 24 and 48 h. Compared with blank group ，NO content in cell culture solution and mRNA expressions of TLR 4，IL-6，NF-κB and TNF-α in cells were increased significantly in model group （P＜0.05 or P＜ . Compared with model group ， NO content in cell 2016CFB412） culture solution of each administration group was significantly reduced，mRNA expressions of TLR 4，NF-κB，TNF-α，IL-6 in cells in 50，100 μg/mL CP group were significantly decreased ong1991@163.com （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）；mRNA expressi ons of TLR 4，NF-κB in cells in 25 µg/mL CP 1-2-1 group and mRNA expressions of TLR 4，NF-κB，TNF-α，IL-6 in cells in 50，100 µg/mL CP 1-2-1 group were significantly decreased （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）；mRNA expressionsof IL- 6 in cells in 25 µg/mL CP 3-1-1 group，mRNA expressions of NF-κB，TNF-α，IL-6 in cells in 50 µg/mL CP 3-1-1 group and mRNA expressions of TLR 4，NF-κB，TNF-α，IL-6 in cells in 100 µg/mL CP 3-1-1 group were significantly decreased （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. CONCLUSIONS ：CP，CP 1-2-1 and CP 3-1-1 all have certain anti-inflammatory activities. The mechanism may be related to inhibiting the generation and releasing of inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α，IL-6 by inhibiting the activation of TLR 4/NF-κB pathway.

Development of Thrombus Aspiration Catheter / 中国医疗器械杂志

Coronary disease is one of the highest mortality diseases in the world,and interventional therapy has been the best treatment choice for its low risks,high efficiency,less wound and rapid recovery after the operation.Thrombus aspiration catheter is one of the most important equipment in the interventional therapy instrument of coronary disease.This paper is based on the demand of clinical and market,designed and manufactured aspirated catheter for the treatment of coronary thrombosis.Through the performance comparison of the material,confirmed the main material quality of thrombus aspiration catheter and its organization.We also made the appraisement for the function of the material and the main performance of the thrombus aspiration catheter.The experiment turned out that our catheter performance is stable and also with highly reliable,which is absolutely fit for the using requirements of the clinical.

Anatomical observation of the 'holy plane' for total mesorectal excision / 中华胃肠外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To provide anatomic evidence for identification of "holy plane" between fascia propria and its adjacent fascia in total mesorectal excision.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 26 pelvic specimens of adult male preserved in 10% formalin solution were used in this study. Twenty pelvis were employed for topographic anatomy, six for sectional anatomy.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Rectovesical septum was formed by the ventral part of the fascia propria and Denonvilliers' fascia, with no blood vessel and nerve coursed between two layers. Dorsal part of the fascia propria parallelled with the presacral fascia, with no blood vessel and nerve coursed between two layers in 80% of the pelvis. However, anatomic variations was encountered occasionally--with muscle-like tissue or fusion of presacral fascia interposed between them for 20%. The lateral space of rectum was between lateral part of the fascia propria and parietal fascia which witnessed pelvic nerve plexus and lateral ligament of the rectum traveling. Pelvic nerve plexus was categorized as two types according the relation between fascia propria and nerve plexus: fusion type accounting for 85% and rarefaction type for 15%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>'holy plane' is sandwiched between the fascia propria and its adjacent fascia--ventrally Denonvilliers fascia, dorsally presacral fascia and laterally parietal fascia.</p>

Association of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α expression with microlymphatic vessel density and lymph node micrometastasis in rectal cancer / 中华胃肠外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the association of the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) with microlymphatic vessel density(MLVD) and lymph node micro-metastasis in rectal cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The experimental group consisted of 40 middle-low rectal cancer specimens pathologically confirmed at the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University between 2000 and 2003. Forty samples of normal tissues taken from the corresponding area around the cancer were used as the control group. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect HIF-1α expression and MLVD in both the tumor tissues and the adjacent normal tissues. Lymph node micrometastasis was ascertained using immunohistochemical staining with CK20.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In rectal cancer tissues, the HIF-1α expression was 77 386±14 911 and MLVD was 7.3±0.7, significantly higher than those in normal adjacent tissues(33 092±5877 and 0.3±0.2, both P<0.01). The HIF-1α expression was positively correlated with MLVD in rectal cancer(r=0.781, P<0.01). Thirty-one patients had no lymph nodes metastasis and 10 had micrometastasis. The HIF-1α expression and MLVD in specimens with lymph node micrometastasis was significantly higher than that in those without lymph node micrometastasis(P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>HIF-1α and MLVD play important roles in the development of rectal cancer,which may promote lymphatic micrometastasis in rectal cancer.</p>

[Application of standardized uptake value for FDG PET-CT in predicting radiation pneumonitis].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the correlation of radiation pneumonitis (RP) with standardized uptake value (SUV) for fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography and computed tomography (PET-CT) in lung cancer patients treated with radiation therapy. METHODS: Fourty patients with unresectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) received FDG PET-CT before and after radiotherapy. The average SUV of the lung tissue irradiated with a dose of < or = 5 Gy, 5.1 approximately 15 Gy, 15.1 approximately 35 Gy, 35.1 approximately 60 Gy, >60 Gy were measured. The correlation between SUV and RP was analyzed by comparing the SUV in the patients with RP and without. The SUV ratio of the irradiated lung tissue to that of the non-irradiated lung tissue (L/B) was also calculated. RESULTS: Of the 40 patients, 8 developed RP, including 6 cases of grade 2 and 2 cases of grade 3. The SUV of irradiated lung tissues with a dose of 35.1 approximately 60 Gy was significantly correlated with RP. When SUV > or =1, the RP incidence rate was 41.7% versus 20.0% in the whole group, with a statistically significant difference. (chi2 = 3.96, P < 0.05). The sensitivity and specificity of SUV in predicting RP was 62.5% and 78.1%, respectively. When the value of L/B > or = 2.5, the RP incidence rate was 40.7% in this group versus 20.0% in the whole group, with a statistical significance (chi(2) = 4.92, P < 0.05). If taking L/B > or = 2.5 as a threshold value, the sensitivity and specificity in predicting RP was 72.7% and 90.9%, respectively. No statistically significant difference was found in predicting radiation pneumonitis between SUV > or =1 and L/B > or = 2.5 (chi2 = 0.002, P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The standardized uptake value (SUV) and the SUV ratio of the irradiated lung tissue to that of the non-irradiated lung tissue (L/B) for FDG PET-CT are positively correlated with radiation pneumonitis, and clinicians may use it to predict the occurrence of radiation pneumonitis.

Correlation of vascular endothelial growth factor D, microlymphatic density and microvessel density with development and metastasis of rectal cancer / 中华胃肠外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the correlation of vascular endothelial growth factor D (VEGF-D) expression, microlymphatic density (MLD) and microvessel density (MVD) levels with the development and metastasis of rectal cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eighty specimens from resected middle-lower rectal cancer diagnosed by pathology were examined by immunohistochemistry for VEGF-D,MLD and MVD. Simultaneously, 40 biopsy specimens from rectal polyps and 80 specimens from normal rectal tissue were examined as controls. Correlation between the expression of above three factors and the tumor size, gross morphology, histological type, metastasis, differentiation grade, infiltration depth, Dukes stage, lymph node metastasis and long-distance metastasis before operation were investigated with Spearman method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) Positive expression rate of VEGF-D was 55 % (44/80) in rectal cancer, and zero in rectal polyps and normal rectal tissues. The expression of VEGF-D in rectal cancer was significantly higher than that in rectal polyps and normal rectal tissues(P<0.05). MLD was significantly higher in rectal cancer (2.80+/-1.31) than that in rectal polyps (0.50+/-0.72) and normal rectal tissues(0.25+/-0.44)(P<0.05).Meanwhile MVD was significantly higher in rectal cancer (80.10+/-23.18) than that in rectal polyps (27.00+/-11.01) and normal rectal tissues (10.45+/-5.34) (P<0.05). (2) VEGF-D, MLD and MVD were positively correlated with lymph node metastasis and long-distance metastasis before operation (P<0.05). (3) VEGF-D was positively correlated with MLD (P<0.05) and MLD was positively correlated with MVD as well(P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Lymphangiogenesis exists in rectal cancer tissues. VEGF-D and MLD can be used as good predictors of lymphangiogenesis and they are the important factors affecting biological behavior of rectal cancer. Lymphangiogenesis and angiogenesis may have a cooperative function in the development of rectal cancer.</p>

[Diffraction enhanced imaging of condylar cartilage of osteoarthritic rats].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the images of early lesions of condylar cartilage of osteoarthritic rats in synchrotron radiation diffraction enhanced imaging (DEI). METHODS: The animal model of temporomandibular joint osteoarthrosis was established in rat following the method of partial resection of the joint disc. The changes of osteoarthritic condylar cartilage in different pathological stages were observed by DEI and compared with those in situ histopathological sections. RESULTS: With DEI, straight and orbicular lines were detected in condylar cartilage 45 to 60 days after discs resection. The lines were confirmed by histopathology to be collagen degradation and tiny fissure formation inside the cartilage. CONCLUSIONS: DEI is capable of imaging the early stages of pathological changes of excised condylar cartilage such as collagen degradation and tiny fissure formation, and this technique is of potential value to clinical application.