One Possible Mechanism of Pulsed Dye Laser Treatment on Infantile Hemangioma: Induction of Endothelial Apoptosis and Serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) Level Changes

Introduction: Pulsed dye laser (PDL) is an important treatment for superficial infantile hemangioma, but few studies report on its cellular mechanism. The aim of this study was to evaluate alterations of serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) level in infantile hemangioma (IH) patients after laser treatment and effects of PDL irradiation on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in vitro, as well as to explore the biomolecular mechanisms and ultrastructure changes of the PDL effect.Methods: 74 children with infant hemangioma including 45 patients in proliferating phase, 18 patients in involuting phase, 11 patients in involuted phase and 10 healthy children were engaged in this study. The plasma VEGF levels of children were measured with the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). 24 hours after, HUVECs cultured in vitro were irradiated with PDL, cell apoptosis, mRNA levels of VEGF, and changes of ultrastructure were evaluated using flow cytometry, real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and transmission electron microscopy, respectively.Results: The serum VEGF concentrations in children with proliferating hemangiomas were significantly higher than in patients with involuting / involved hemangiomas and healthy patients. After receiving 3 laser treatments, the plasma VEGF levels of IH patients in proliferating hemangiomas decreased significantly. PDL irradiation could down-regulate VEGF mRNA expression of HUVECs, and increase cell apoptosis rate. Conclusion: The present study demonstrates that PDL irradiation imparts apoptosis induction effects on HUVECs in vitro. Furthermore, our results suggest that vascular endothelial growth factor may be of particular importance in pathophysiology and PDL treatment of hemangiomas, also serum VEGF levels may be used as an aid in the follow up of IH. This provides valuable evidence of the PDL effect on infantile hemangioma

The peak in the thermal conductivity of Cu-O superconductors: Electronic or phononic origin?

The thermal conductivity К of hole-doped Cu-O plane high- T c perovskites exhibits a dramatic increase below T c which results in a pronounced peak near T c /2. The origin of this peak was initially thought to arise from an enhancement in the mean-free path of phonons as the charge carriers undergo condensation. Indeed, excellent fits to the data can be obtained with physically reasonable parameters using the conventional theory of lattice conduction in superconductors. In contrast, a recently observed sharp decrease in the quasiparticle scattering rate of YBCO single crystals below T c has motivated proposals for an electronic origin of the thermal conductivity peak. We shall critically examine experimental evidence and highlight relative advantages and shortcomings of the two contrasting interpretations. Furthermore, we shall draw attention to recently available data on the relaxation time of out-of-equilibrium carriers in Cu-O superconductors obtained using pump-probe femtosecond laser studies and what new light they shed on the controversy.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/45122/1/10948_2004_Article_BF00724562.pd

The Optical and Electrical Performance of CuO Synthesized by Anodic Oxidation Based on Copper Foam

Metal oxide semiconductor materials have a wide range of applications in the field of solar energy conversion. In this paper, CuO was prepared directly on copper foam substrate by anodic oxidation. The effects of current density and anodizing temperature on sample preparation and performance were studied. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and X-ray diffractometer (XRD) had been used to determine the morphology and phase structure of the sample, and its optical and electrical properties were discussed through UV-vis spectrophotometer and electrochemical tests. In addition, the influences of experimental conditions such as current density and reaction temperature on the morphology and properties of CuO were systematically discussed. The FESEM images showed that as the anodic oxidation temperature increase, the morphology of the prepared sample changed from nanowires to leaf-like CuO nanosheets. According to the results of XRD, the structure of prepared CuO was monoclinic, and the intensity of diffraction peaks gradually increased as anodizing temperature increased. We found that the optimum current density and anodizing temperature were 20 mA cm−2 and 60 °C, respectively. The results of electrochemical indicated that the CuO electrode based on copper foam (CuO/Cu foam) prepared at the optimum exhibited the highest specific capacitance (0.1039 F cm−2) when the scan rate was 2 mV s−1

Glyco-Nanovesicles with Activatable Near-Infrared Probes for Real-Time Monitoring of Drug Release and Targeted Delivery

A glyco-nanovesicle (Lac-SS-DCM) is self-assembled by a rationally designed amphiphilic lactose derivative (<b>1</b>), which features a surface lactose corona, a disulfide linkage, and an activatable DCM near-infrared (NIR) probe moiety. Taking advantage of the disulfide linkage, Lac-SS-DCM can be triggered to disassemble by glutathione (GSH) and simultaneously activate the dormant NIR, which allows for a drug-loaded vesicle capable of both therapies in cancer cells where a higher GSH concentration exists and real-time monitoring of drug release. Furthermore, Lac-SS-DCM demonstrates excellent HepG2 target ability as well as higher anticancer efficacy and reduced side effects compared to those of free DOX through lactose-mediated endocytosis resulting from the surface lactose corona, which acts as a multivalent galectin-targeting ligand. As a multifunctional drug delivery compound with perfect synchronization of targeting, imaging, monitoring, and controllable drug release, we believe this activatable glyco-nanovesicle, readily modulated for imaging of different tumors by incorporation of unique targeting entities on the vesicle surface, would be of broad interest for cancer diagnosis and therapy

Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis on the Association between IL-1B Polymorphisms and Cancer Risk

<div><p>Background</p><p>Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), a pro-inflammatory cytokine, is emerging as a key mediator of carcinogenesis that characterizes host-environment interactions. Epidemiological studies investigating the association between two polymorphisms of IL-1B (−511C/T and +3954C/T) and cancer susceptibility have shown conflicting results. The aim of this study is to derive a more precise estimation of the relationship.</p><p>Methods</p><p>Related studies were identified through a systematic literature search of PubMed and Web of Science from their inception to September 15, 2012. Summary odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the IL-1B −511C/T and +3954C/T polymorphisms and cancer risk were calculated. Heterogeneity among studies and publication bias were also tested.</p><p>Results</p><p>The meta-analysis included 91 case-control studies in 85 publications, 81 studies for the −511C/T (19547 cases and 23935 controls) and 26 studies for the +3954C/T polymorphisms (8083 cases and 9183). The pooled results indicated that IL-1B +3954C/T (dominant model: OR = 1.15, 95% CI: 1.01–1.30) was significantly associated with increased overall cancer risk, especially among hospital-based case-control studies (dominant model: OR = 1.30, 95% CI: 1.02–1.66). As for −511C/T, we observed an inverse relationship in cervical cancer (dominant model: OR = 1.74, 95% CI: 1.35–2.23) and hepatocellular carcinoma (dominant model: OR = 0.68, 95% CI: 0.47–0.99). Moreover, −511C/T was associated with risk of specific subtypes of gastric carcinoma.</p><p>Conclusion</p><p>This meta-analysis suggested that both the IL-1B –511C/T and +3954C/T polymorphisms might modulate cancer susceptibility. Further well-designed studies based on larger sample sizes should be performed to confirm the findings.</p></div

Laser frequency stabilization based on a universal sub-Doppler NICE-OHMS instrumentation for the potential application in atmospheric lidar

Lidar is an effective tool for high-altitude atmospheric measurement in which a weak absorption line for the target gas is selected to ensure a large optical depth. The laser frequency stabilization to the line center is required, and a sub-Doppler (sD) spectroscopy of the target line is preferred as a frequency reference. In this paper, a novel universal sD noise-immune cavity-enhanced optical heterodyne molecular spectroscopy (NICE-OHMS) instrumentation based on a fiber-coupled optical single-sideband electro-optic modulator (f-SSM) for the potential application in atmospheric lidar for different target gases with different types of lasers is reported. The f-SSM can replace all frequency actuators in the system, so as to eliminate the individual design of feedback servos that often are tailored for each laser. The universality of the instrumentation was demonstrated by the alternative use of either an Er-doped fiber laser or a whispering-gallery mode laser. Then the instruments based on both lasers were used to produce the sD signals of acetylene, which worked as a frequency reference to stabilize the laser. By performing the lockings, relative frequency stabilizations of 8.3 x 10(-13) and 7.5 x 10(-13) at an integration time of 240 s were demonstrated