Synthesis of a Thin-Layer MnO₂ Nanosheet-Coated Fe₃O₄ Nanocomposite as a Magnetically Separable Photocatalyst

A facile hydrothermal method combined with a mild ultrasonic means has been developed for the fabrication of a magnetically recyclable thin-layer MnO₂ nanosheet-coated Fe₃O₄ nanocomposite. The photocatalytic studies suggest that the MnO₂/Fe₃O₄ nanocomposite shows excellent photocatalytic efficiency and stability simultaneously for the degradation of methylene blue under UV–vis light irradiation. Moreover, its good acid resistance and stable recyclability are very important for its future practical application as a photocatalyst. Magnetic measurements verify that the MnO₂/Fe₃O₄ nanocomposite possesses a ferromagnetic nature, which can be effectively separated for reuse by simply applying an external magnetic field after the photocatalytic reaction. This novel composite material may have potential applications in water treatment, degradation of dye pollutants, and environmental cleaning

Number of ears (presented in percentage) that had detectable DPOAEs at different frequencies from different age groups.

<p>From the centenarian group, 136 ears were measured. The numbers above the red bars indicate the number of ears that had detectable DPOAEs.</p

Representative tympanogram obtained from subjects from three different age groups.

<p><b>A</b>: 20–25 years old. <b>B</b>: 60–65 years old. <b>C</b>: ≥100 years old.</p

Associations of Polymorphisms in DNA Repair Genes and MDR1 Gene with Chemotherapy Response and Survival of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

<div><p>Objectives</p><p>We aimed to determine the associations of genetic polymorphisms of excision repair cross-complementation group 1 (<i>ERCC1</i>) rs11615, xeroderma pigmentosum group D (<i>XPD</i>/<i>ERCC2)</i> rs13181, X-ray repair cross complementing group 1 (<i>XRCC1</i>) rs25487, <i>XRCC3</i> rs1799794, and breast cancer susceptibility gene 1 (<i>BRCA1</i>) rs1799966 from the DNA repair pathway and multiple drug resistance 1 (<i>MDR1/ABCB1</i>) rs1045642 with response to chemotherapy and survival of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in a Chinese population.</p><p>Materials and Methods</p><p>A total of 352 NSCLC patients were enrolled to evaluate the associations of the six SNPs with response to chemotherapy and overall survival. Logistic regressions were applied to test the associations of genetic polymorphisms with response to chemotherapy in 161 advanced NSCLC patients. Overall survival was analyzed in 161 advanced and 156 early stage NSCLC patients using the Kaplan-Meier method with log-rank test, respectively. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards model was performed to determine the factors independently associated with NSCLC prognosis.</p><p>Results</p><p><i>BRCA1</i> rs1799966 minor allele C (TC+CC <i>vs.</i> TT, OR = 0.402, 95%CI = 0.204−0.794, p = 0.008) and <i>MDR1/ABCB1</i> rs1045642 minor allele A (GA +AA <i>vs.</i> GG, OR = 0.478, 95%CI = 0.244−0.934, p = 0.030) were associated with a better response to chemotherapy in advanced NSCLC patients. Survival analyses indicated that <i>BRCA1</i> rs1799966 TC+CC genotypes were associated with a decreased risk of death (HR = 0.617, 95% CI = 0.402−0.948, p = 0.028) in advanced NSCLC patients, and the association was still significant after the adjustment for covariates. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that <i>ERCC1</i> rs11615 AA genotype (<i>P</i> = 0.020) and smoking (p = 0.037) were associated with increased risks of death in early stage NSCLC patients after surgery.</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>Polymorphisms of genes in DNA repair pathway and <i>MDR1</i> could contribute to chemotherapy response and survival of patients with NSCLC.</p></div

Lifestyle factors and health condition of the centenarian participants.

<p>A: Percentage of centenarian subjects who had some of the risk factors for age-related hearing loss. Smoking was defined as consumption of at least half a pack of cigarettes a day for more than a year within the past 10 years. Drinking was defined as consumption of more than 50 ml wine or alcohol on the daily basis for more than a year within the past 10 years. COPD: Chronic obstructive airways disease (diagnosed by a physician). B: Distribution of centenarian subjects (presented as percentage) with different blood pressure and glucose levels. Glucose level presented was based on blood collected 2 to 3 hours after meal. The numbers indicated inside the plots are the percentage.</p

Parameters obtained from tympanometry.

<p><b>A</b>: Ratio (presented in percentage) of 5 different types (A, As, Ad, B, C) of tympanogram at different age groups. <b>B</b>: Peak compliance (mean ± SD) for the three groups are: 0.31±0.30 (≥100 years old), 0.58±0.44 (60–65 years old), and 0.67±0.41 (20–25 years old) mmho, respectively. Peak compliance of the centenarian group is significantly less than the other two groups. <b>C</b>: Middle ear pressure (mean ± SD) for the three groups are: −33.2±54 (≥100 years old), −8.2±24 (60–65 years old), and −5.5±15 (20–25 years old) daPa, respectively.</p

Degree of hearing loss at different frequencies and age groups.

<p><b>A</b>: Number of ears (presented in percentage) that had hearing loss at different frequencies from two different age groups. <b>B</b>: Percentage of different grades of hearing loss in two different age groups. Hearing loss grade was based on the WHO criterions.</p

Subgroup analysis results of overall survival in advanced NSCLC patients according to <i>BRCA1</i> rs1799966 genotypes (TT <i>vs.</i> TC+CC).

<p>(A) Squamous cell carcinoma group, (B) ever smokers group, (C) ECOG performance status  = 1 group, (D) stage III group. Number in parenthesis, number of deaths/number of cases.</p

Subgroup analysis results of overall survival in early stage NSCLC patients according to <i>ERCC1</i> genotypes (GG+GA vs. AA).

<p>(A) Squamous cell carcinoma group, (B) ever smokers group, (C) ECOG performance status  = 1 group, (D) never receiving radiation therapy group. Number in parenthesis, number of deaths/number of cases.</p

Comparison of hearing thresholds between men and women at different frequencies.

<p>Means ± SD are presented. Comparison was made between two genders at each frequencies and no statistical significance in threshold was found at any frequencies (p>0.5).</p