Direct hydrothermal synthesis of amine-functionalized cubic hematite (C-Fe2O3) and sonochemical deposition of nanosized Au for its application as a visible-light photocatalyst.

Cubic-shaped hematite (C-Fe2O3) functionalized with amine groups was directly prepared via one-pot hydrothermal reaction of Fe3+ with 1,12-diaminododecane (DA-12) in aqueous solution (50% ethanol). Herein, DA-12 (as a Lewis acid) promoted the aggregation of α-FeOOH nanorods with Lewis base sites, leading to the rapid recrystallization and conversion into uniform C-Fe2O3. C-Fe2O3 was subsequently deposited with nanosized Au via sonochemical reduction of 1.0 wt% HAuCl4 (0.1-0.8 mL), hereafter referred to as Au-deposited C-Fe2O3 (C-Fe2O3@Au). X-ray diffraction patterns of C-Fe2O3@Au confirmed the hexagonal crystalline phases of hematite and crystalline Au (111) and showed a weak broad band attributed to the amorphous carbon of DA-12. C-Fe2O3@Au was tested as a visible-light photocatalyst towards the degradation of methylene blue (MB) dye. C-Fe2O3@Au (0.1-0.4 mL of 1.0 wt% HAuCl4) exhibited 6-8 times higher photocatalytic activity than the Au-free counterpart (C-Fe2O3). The enhanced photocatalysis was mainly attributed to the improved separation efficiency of photo-excited charge carriers, i.e., the facilitated transport of electrons from the conduction band to the lower lying Fermi level of Au. However, the photocatalytic activity of C-Fe2O3@Au (0.8 mL of 1.0 wt% HAuCl4) was decreased probably due to the reduction of active sites for MB adsorption by the high coverage of the Au layer. The combined hydrothermal and sonochemical methods provided the direct synthetic route to cubic-shaped hematite decorated with nanosized Au and surface amine functionality as a promising visible-light photocatalyst.

Expression of cyclooxygenase-2 in eutopic endometrium and ovarian endometriotic tissue in women with severe endometriosis.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the level and pattern of cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2) expression in endometriosis and to investigate the correlation between the expression of Cox-2 and several clinicosurgical parameters. METHODS: Twenty-six patients with endometriosis and 21 patients with other benign gynecological conditions were enrolled. The eutopic endometrium was sampled by pipelle, and fragments of ovarian endometrioma and non-endometriotic ovarian cysts were sampled during surgery. Total RNA isolation and semiquantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction was performed. RESULTS: The expression of Cox-2 mRNA (mean +/- SEM) in eutopic endometrium and ovarian endometriotic tissue significantly increased in patients with endometriosis compared with the controls. The expression of Cox-2 increased significantly in the proliferative phase in eutopic endometrium and in the secretory phase in ovarian endometriotic tissue of patients with endometriosis compared with the controls. Cox-2 mRNA expression in the endometrium and ovarian lesions significantly correlated with serum CA-125 and the diameter of the endometrioma. CONCLUSIONS: Cox-2 expression increased in the eutopic endometrium and ovarian endometriotic tissue of the patients with endometriosis. These findings indicate that Cox-2 may be involved in the pathogenesis and progression of endometriosis.

The significance of bladder trabeculation in the female lower urinary system: an objective evaluation by urodynamic studies.

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between bladder trabeculation, urinary function, and the stage of pelvic organ prolapse (POP). The medical records of 104 patients with POP who underwent cystoscopies and urodynamic studies were reviewed retrospectively. Age, incidence of detrusor instability, stage and site of POP, and the parameters of urodynamic studies of patients with and without bladder trabeculation were compared. The difference in the incidence of bladder trabeculation was estimated between patients with and without a suspected bladder outlet obstruction. There were significant differences in the patients' age, stage of POP, and maximal voiding velocity. Patients with a suspected bladder outlet obstruction had a significantly higher incidence of bladder trabeculation. In addition, patients with advanced stages of POP were also found to have a higher incidence of bladder trabeculation.