Engineering n-p junction for photo-electrochemical hydrogen production.

The generation of hydrogen from water and sunlight offers a promising approach for producing scalable and sustainable carbon free fuels. One of the challenges of solar-to-fuel technology is the design of efficient, long-lasting and low-cost photocathodes, which are responsible for absorbing sunlight and driving catalytic hydrogen evolution. We report on the protection of a Cu/Cu2O/CuO photoelectrode against photocorrosion by a 200-300 nm-thick BaTiO3 perovskite layer, deposited using the sol-gel method. This photoelectrode mediates H2 production with a current density of ∼3.1 mA cm-2 at 0 V versus RHE under 3 Sun irradiation and in a pH = 6 aqueous electrolyte. While the unprotected Cu/Cu2O/CuO photoelectrodes show a rapid decay of activity, the BaTiO3-protected photoelectrodes exhibit ∼10% current decay over 20 min.

Excess Integrins Cause Lung Entrapment of Mesenchymal Stem Cells.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are largely entrapped in the lungs after intravenous delivery. The underlying mechanisms have been poorly understood. Flow cytometry and Western blot analysis showed that the expression levels of many integrins such as ß1, α5, and αVß3 in MSCs increased markedly upon cultured expansion in 2D monolayers, whose ligands fibronectin and vitronectin were detected on the surface of vascular endothelial cells in the lungs by immunostaining and flow cytometry. Blockade of integrin ß1, integrin α5, or integrins αVß3 with functional blocking antibodies significantly decreased the amount of MSCs entrapped in the lungs following intravenous infusion as determined by real-time PCR and histological analysis; meanwhile, corresponding increases in the levels of circulating MSCs in the blood and MSCs homed to the ischemic myocardium and inflamed ear were found. Intriguingly, a short period of 3D spheroid culture of MSCs, which had been expanded for several passages in monolayers, substantially reduced the expression levels of many integrins and the number of MSCs entrapped in the lungs. Our results indicate that the excess expression and activation of integrins is a significant cause of lung entrapment of MSCs.

Source-based morphometry reveals distinct patterns of aberrant brain volume in delusional infestation.

Little is known about the neural correlates of delusional infestation (DI), the delusional belief to be infested with pathogens. So far, evidence comes mainly from case reports and case series. We investigated brain morphology in 16 DI patients and 16 healthy controls using structural magnetic resonance imaging and a multivariate data analysis technique, i.e. source-based morphometry (SBM). In addition, we explored differences in brain structure in patient subgroups based on disease aetiology. SBM revealed two patterns exhibiting significantly (p<0.05, Bonferroni-corrected) lower grey and higher white matter volume in DI patients compared to controls. Lower grey matter volume was found in medial prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, medial temporal lobe structures (parahippocampus and hippocampus), sensorimotor cortices, bilateral insula and thalamus and inferior parietal regions. Higher white matter volume was found in medial and middle frontal and temporal cortices, left insula and lentiform nucleus. Grey matter volume was abnormal in both "psychiatric" (primary DI and DI associated with an affective disorder) and "organic" DI (DI due to a medical condition). In contrast, aberrant white matter volume was only confirmed for the "organic" DI patient subgroup. These results suggest prefrontal, temporal, parietal, insular, thalamic and striatal dysfunction underlying DI. Moreover, the data suggest that aetiologically distinct presentations of DI share similar patterns of abnormal grey matter volume, whereas aberrant white matter volume appears to be restricted to organic cases.

Complex three-dimensional high aspect ratio microfluidic network manufactured in combined PerMX dry-resist and SU-8 technology.

In this paper we present a new fabrication method that combines for the first time popular SU-8 technology and PerMX dry-photoresist lamination for the manufacturing of high aspect ratio three-dimensional multi-level microfluidic networks. The potential of this approach, which further benefits from wafer-level manufacturing and accurate alignment of fluidic levels, is demonstrated by a highly integrated three-level microfluidic chip. The hereby achieved network complexity, including 24 fluidic vias and 16 crossing points of three individual microchannels on less than 13 mm(2) chip area, is unique for SU-8 based fluidic networks. We further report on excellent process compatibility between SU-8 and PerMX dry-photoresist which results in high interlayer adhesion strength. The tight pressure sealing of a fluidic channel (0.5 MPa for 1 h) is demonstrated for 150 µm narrow SU-8/PerMX bonding interfaces.

Increased intragastric pressure gradients are involved in the occurrence of acid reflux in gastroesophageal reflux disease.

OBJECTIVE: Increased pressure gradients across the esophagogastric junction (DeltaEGJp) play a role in gastroesophageal flow during TLESR. The aim of this study was to further explore DeltaEGJp in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and controls. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty GERD patients were studied along with 20 control subjects. High resolution manometry and pH recording were performed 1 h before and 2 h after a liquid meal (500 ml/300 kcal). DeltaEGJp was calculated at the start of a TLESR and at 180, 60, and 10 s before TLESR. RESULTS: DeltaEGJp at the start of a TLESR and at 180, 60, and 10 s before TLESR was markedly increased in GERD patients compared with that in control subjects (9.9 mmHg and 7.5 mmHg, respectively; p<0.05). Whilst intragastric pressure gradients in GERD patients were increased compared with those in controls (4.6 mmHg and 2.5 mmHg, respectively; p<0.01), intraesophageal pressure gradients were similar in both groups. Furthermore, in controls, first- and second-hour postprandial intragastric pressures were decreased compared with in fasting periods (1.9 +/- 0.4 mmHg and 2.1 +/- 0.4 mmHg versus 3.5 +/- 0.4 mmHg; p<0.05), while this was not observed in GERD patients. CONCLUSIONS: In GERD patients, DeltaEGJp is greater than that in controls both before and during TLESR. This phenomenon is caused by increased intragastric pressure and might contribute to increased rates of acid reflux during TLESR in GERD patients.

The first Belgian hand transplantation--37 month term results.

The first Belgian hand transplant was a 22 year-old man with a traumatic amputation of his dominant hand at the junction of the middle and distal thirds of the forearm. The donor and recipient had three HLA mismatches. The cross-match was negative. The total ischaemic time was slightly over 6 hours. Immunosuppression included antithymocyte globulins at induction and tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil and prednisolone as induction and maintenance therapy. There has been no episode of rejection. The only significant complications, except for transient hyperglycaemia, were psychological. At 37 months post-transplantation, the patient has fully incorporated his transplant into his self-image and is back at work. He has good sensibility (two-point discrimination of 6mm at the thumb and index finger pulps), acceptable wrist and finger motion with functioning intrinsic muscles. According to Chen's criteria, the result is good to excellent.

Effect of O-4-ethoxyl-butyl-berbamine in combination with pegylated liposomal doxorubicin on advanced hepatoma in mice.

AIM: To study the synergistic effects of calmodulin (CaM) antagonist O-4-ethoxyl-butyl-berbamine (EBB) and pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) on hepatoma-22 (H(22)) in vivo. METHODS: Hepatoma model was established in 50 Balb/c mice by inoculating H(22) cells (2.5 x 10(6)) subcutaneously into the right backs of the mice. These mice were divided into 5 groups, and treated with saline only, PLD only, doxorubicin (Dox) only, PLD plus EBB and Dox plus EBB, respectively. In the treatment groups, mice were given 5 intravenous of PLD or Dox on days 0, 3, 6, 9 and 12. The first dosage of PLD or Dox was 4.5 mg/kg, the other 4 injections was 1 mg/kg. EBB (5 mg/kg) was coadministered with PLD or Dox in the corresponding groups. The effect of drugs on the life spans of hepatoma-bearing mice and tumor response to the drugs were recorded. Dox levels in the hepatoma cells were measured by a fluorescence assay. Light microscopy was performed to determine the histopathological changes in the major organs of these tumor-bearing mice. The MTT method was used to analyze the effect of Dox or PLD alone, Dox in combination with EBB, or PLD in combination with EBB on the growth of H(22) cells in an in vitro experiment. RESULTS: EBB (5 mg/kg) significantly augmented the antitumor activity of Dox or PLD, remarkably prolonged the median survival time. The median survival time was 18.2 d for control group, but 89.2 d for PLD+EBB group and 70.1 d for Dox+EBB group, respectively. However, Dox alone did not show any remarkable antitumor activity, and the median survival time was just 29.7 d. Addition of EBB to Dox or PLD significantly increased the level of Dox in H(22) cells in vivo. Moreover, EBB diminished liver toxicity of Dox and PLD. In vitro, EBB reduced the IC50 value of Dox or PLD on H(22) cells from 0.050+/-0.006 mg/L and 0.054+/-0.004 mg/L to 0.012+/-0.002 mg/L and 0.013+/-0.002 mg/L, respectively (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: EBB and liposomization could improve the therapeutic efficacy of Dox in liver cancer, while decreasing its liver toxicity.