MOF-derived LDH modified flame-retardant polyurethane sponge for high-performance oil-water separation: Interface engineering design based on bioinspiration.

Frequent petrochemical spill accidents and secondary fire hazards have threatened the ecological environment and environmental safety. The traditional purification technology has the problems of high energy consumption and secondary pollution, which also brings new challenges to spill disposal. Herein, we demonstrate a biomimetic structure-based flame-retardant polyurethane (PU) sponge (FPUF@MOF-LDH@HDTMS) for continuous oil-water separation. Inspired by desert beetle and lotus leaf, the biomimetic micro-nano composite structure was constructed by in-situ growth of metal-organic framework-derived layered double hydroxide (MOF-LDH) on the surface of the PU sponge. After grafting MOF-LDH with hexadecyltrimethoxysilane, FPUF@MOF-LDH@HDTMS showed excellent superhydrophobic/superoleophilic performance (water contact angle=153° and oil contact angle=0°). FPUF@MOF-LDH@HDTMS can easily and quickly adsorb oily liquids suspended/settled in the water thanks to the unique bionic structure. FPUF@MOF-LDH@HDTMS has excellent oil/organic solvents absorption capacity; even after 20 cycles of use still maintains high adsorption capacity. More importantly, the continuous oil-water separation through FPUF@MOF-LDH@HTMS has achieved a separation efficiency of up to 99.1%. In addition, the bionic superhydrophobic sponge has excellent flame retardancy, which reduces the possibility of secondary fire caused by PU sponges. Thus, the biomimetic micro-nano composite structure provides a new design strategy for the more high-performance oil-water separation sponges.

Photoinduced Copper-Catalyzed Site-Selective C(sp2)-C(sp) Cross-Coupling via Aryl Sulfonium Salts.

The classical Sonogashira reaction of aryl electrophiles in the presence of Pd catalysts has been well established as a potent method for arylalkyne synthesis. However, the site-selective C(sp2)-C(sp) cross-coupling strategy using a non-noble-metal catalyst is rare. An efficient alternative approach for the synthesis of arylalkynes via a Cu-catalyzed Sonogashira-type reaction promoted by visible light is described. This method enables site-selective alkynylation from aryl sulfonium salts derived from diverse arenes to a set of arylalkynes with high selectivity and high functional-group compatibility. Moreover, rapid alkynylation of drug molecules is demonstrated.

[The Maintenance and Common Troubleshooting of GE MINItrace Qilin Medical Cyclotron].

This study analyzes the maintenance and common faults of GE MINItrace Qilin medical cyclotron, and studies three kinds of the machine's faults.

Prevalence and distribution of HPV types in genital warts in Xi'an, China: a prospective study.

OBJECTIVES: To characterise the prevalence and distribution of human papillomavirus (HPV) types in genital warts in Xi'an, China. METHODS: This prospective study was conducted in Shaanxi Provincial Institute for Skin Disease and STD Control (SPISSC) between September 2014 and April 2017. Genital wart samples were obtained from 879 patients, including 512 men and 367 women. HPV genotyping was performed by using an automatic nucleic acid hybridisation system. RESULTS: Of the 879 patients with genital warts, the detectable rates of low-risk, high-risk and total HPV types were 45.4%, 34.5% and 57.8%, respectively. The detectable rate of low-risk HPV types (45.4%) was significantly higher than that of high-risk HPV types (34.5%) (χ2=21.85, p<0.01). The detectable rate of low-risk HPV types of men (52.3%) was significantly higher than that of women (35.7%) (χ2=23.90, p<0.01). The detectable rates of one HPV type infection and two and three or more HPV type coinfections were 26.1%, 17.5% and 14.2%, respectively. HPV6 (24.9%), HPV11 (17.9%), HPV52 (9.9%) and HPV16 (7.3%) were the four most common HPV types. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that low-risk HPV types are major pathogens of genital warts, but high-risk HPV type infections and multiple HPV type coinfections are also common in genital warts. HPV6, 11, 52 and 16 are the four most common HPV types in genital wart in Xi'an, China.

siRNAs target sites selection of ezrin and the influence of RNA interference on ezrin expression and biological characters of osteosarcoma cells.

Ezrin, one of the ezrin/radixin/moesin (ERM) protein family which act as membrane organizers and linkers between plasma membrane and cytoskeleton, has attracted much attention as a crucial factor for tumor metastasis. Overexpression of ezrin has been correlated with the metastatic potential of several cancers especially for osteosarcoma. Short interfering RNA (siRNA) downregulate gene expression through an enzyme-mediated process named RNA interference (RNAi). RNAi has rapidly come to be recognized as a powerful tool for the study of gene function and a potential target therapy. In the present study, the human osteosarcoma cell line MG63 was cultured. Three siRNAs targeting ezrin mRNA were designed by the multiple computational methods and then were sythesized. These siRNAs were transfected into osteosarcoma cells. Then the expression of ezrin mRNA and protein in osteosarcoma cells was detected. The cellular proliferation and apoptosis was evaluated. C726­U730, C1653­A1661 and G1749­A1771 were selected to be the suitable target sites through the multiple computational methods because of their ideal secondary structures and hybridization thermodynamics. siRNAs against G1749­A1771 downregulated the expression level of ezrin mRNA and protein, inhibit the cellular proliferation and promoted the cellular apoptosis effectively. There is a significant correlation between the multiple computational methods and the efficacy of the corresponding siRNAs. siRNAs targeting ezrin may have therapeutic potential as inhibitors of osteosarcoma metastasis.

Intramedullary nailing for fibrous dysplasia of lower limbs.

Fibrous dysplasia (FD) of the bone is rare and self-limiting. However, lesion expansion may occur, causing pain, deformity and pathological fracture, in which case surgery is occasionally required. Indicators of FD have not been previously described, although there are several surgical procedures reported (curettage, curettage and graft, and internal fixation). In this study we discuss whether intramedullary nailing of these lesions could result in more favorable outcomes in correcting deformities, including the prevention of secondary fractures and maintenance of the bone, compared to other internal fixation methods. A total of 39 patients with FD of the bone treated with intramedullary nailing were retrospectively analyzed. The surgical procedures involved curettage, grafting and intramedullary nailing. No infection, thromboembolism or other notable complications occurred. The patients resumed full activities of daily living. At the last follow-up, 33 patients presented no pain and seven patients had occasional mild pain. The clinical score according to the modified criteria of Guille improved from an average of 4.4 points prior to surgery to an average of 8 points following surgery. The neck shaft angle of the femur improved from an average of 90˚ prior to surgery to 125˚ following surgery. Intramedullary nailing may be used to correct deformity and prevent pain and refracture in FD of the bone of the lower limbs with large lesions, pathological fracture or deformities. All patients were allowed full athletic recovery following surgery.

Eosinophilic granuloma of bilateral humerus with unusual diagnostic process.

A 15-year-old boy presented with a right shoulder pain and the inability to use his right upper limb after carrying a heavy object. Physical examination and local imaging revealed a benign tumor or tumor-like lesion in the upper ends of both humeri and a pathologic fracture in the right humerus. An initial biopsy was reported as fibroblastic osteosarcoma. But the CT-guided biopsy was diagnosed as eosinophilic granuloma (EG). Bone curretage and grafting confirmed diagnosis of EG. This case illustrates the importance of combining a clinical impression with imaging and pathology in bone and soft tissue tumors.

Quercetin induces apoptosis in the methotrexate-resistant osteosarcoma cell line U2-OS/MTX300 via mitochondrial dysfunction and dephosphorylation of Akt.

Quercetin is the most abundant polyphenolic flavonoid found in plants. Several studies suggest that it has potent anticancer effects. The present study examines the apoptosis-inducing activity and the underlying mechanism of action of quercetin in a methotrexate (MTX)-resistant osteosarcoma model. Our results showed that quercetin inhibited cell viability in a dose-dependent manner and there was no cross-resistance between MTX and quercetin in U2-OS/MTX300 cells. The induction of apoptosis was observed by flow cyto-metry and fluorescence staining experiments. Quercetin-induced apoptosis was accompanied by a significant reduction of mitochondrial membrane potential, release of mitochondrial cytochrome c to the cytosol, activation of caspase-3, down-regulation of Bcl-2, p-Bad and up-regulation of Bax. A remarkable dephospho-rylation of Akt was also detected after quercetin treatment. Furthermore, transduction with constitutively active Akt protected against the quercetin-induced dephosphorylation of Akt and Bad as well as poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase (PARP) degradation, while combined treatment with quercetin and LY294002 enhanced the dephosphorylation of Akt, Bad and PARP cleavage in U2-OS/MTX300 cells. Taken together, our results demonstrate that quercetin-induced apoptosis in the MTX-resistant osteosarcoma cells U2-OS/MTX300 was mediated via mitochondrial dysfunction and dephosphorylation of Akt.

Ezrin mRNA target site selection for DNAzymes using secondary structure and hybridization thermodynamics.

Ezrin, a membrane organizer and linker between plasma membrane and cytoskeleton, is well documented to play an important role in the metastatic capacity of cancer cells especially for osteosarcoma cells. It has provided an ideal target for cancer gene therapy. RNA-cleaving 10-23 DNAzymes, consisting of a 15-nucleotide catalytical domain flanked by two target-specific complementary arms, can cleave the target mRNA at purine-pyrimidine dinucleotide effectively. In the present study, we designed and screened the target sites for 10-23 DNAzymes against ezrin mRNA by using multiple computational methods with combination of secondary structural and hybridization thermodynamic parameters. Then, we testified the activities of the DNAzymes directed against these selected target sites in vitro. Our results show that AU1751 is the most effective target site of ezrin mRNA for DNAzymes because of its ideal secondary structure and hybridization thermodynamics. So, there is a significant correlation between the multiple computational methods and the efficacy of the corresponding DNAzymes. These provide a rational, efficient way for DNAzymes selection.

Analysis on value of household contact survey in case detection of leprosy at a low endemic situation in China.

BACKGROUND: Leprosy is at a low endemic situation in China, the value of house contact survey in case detection of leprosy becoming a dispute. AIMS: To evaluate the value of household contact survey in the case detection of leprosy at a low endemic situation in China. METHODS: A study was carried out using a designed questionnaire in a retrospective method to analyze the value of household contact survey in case detection in Southwest and East China. RESULTS: A total of 2135 index leprosy patients were collected from January 1, 1996 to December 31, 2005 in six provinces of China. The number of index patients accounted for 22.0 and 14.1% of newly registered patients in the Southwest and East of China, respectively. The household contact survey (36.1%) and the skin clinic (62.0%) ranked first in methods of case detection in Southwest and East China, respectively. Within 5 years after primary leprosy patients were detected, 24.8 and 16.1% of the index patients in Southwest China and East China had been detected, respectively. CONCLUSION: The authors conclude that at the time of a low leprosy endemic situation, the household contact survey is still a useful method for case detection in China.