(4RS)-Methyl 4-cyano-4-cyclo­hexyl-4-phenyl­butano­ate

In the crystal structure of the title compound, C18H23NO2, there are only van der Waals inter­actions present. The cyclo­hexyl ring has a chair conformation. The longer axes of the displacement parameters of the non-H atoms forming the ethyl­methyl­carboxyl­ate skeleton are perpendicular to the plane through the non-H atoms of this skeleton

Histocompatibility and Long-Term Results of the Follicular Unit-Like Wigs after Xenogeneic Hair Transplantation: An Experimental Study in Rabbits

Objective. This study was designed to observe the histocompatibility and long-term results of wigs after xenogeneic hair transplantation and to explore the possibility of industrial products in clinical application. Methods. The human hair and melted medical polypropylene were preceded into the follicular unit-like wigs according to the natural follicular unit by extrusion molding. 12 New Zealand rabbits were used as experimental animals for wigs transplantation. The histocompatibility of polypropylene and human hair was observed by H&E staining and scanning electron microscope. The loss rate of wigs was calculated to evaluate the long-term result after transplantation. Results. Mild infiltration by inflammatory cells around the polypropylene and human hair were seen during the early period after transplantation, accompanied with local epithelial cell proliferation. The inflammatory cells were decreased after 30 days with increased collagen fibers around the polypropylene and human hair. The follicular unit-like wigs maintained a good histocompatibility in one year. The degradation of hair was not significant. The loss rate of wigs was 4.1 ± 4.0% in one year. The appearance of hair was satisfactory. Conclusions. We successfully developed a follicular unit-like wigs, which were made of xenogeneic human hair with medical polypropylene, showing a good histocompatibility, a low loss rate, and satisfactory appearance in a year after transplantation. The follicular unit-like wigs may have prospective industrial products in clinical application

Three-dimensional echo-shifted EPI with simultaneous blip-up and blip-down acquisitions for correcting geometric distortion

Purpose: Echo-planar imaging (EPI) with blip-up/down acquisition (BUDA) can provide high-quality images with minimal distortions by using two readout trains with opposing phase-encoding gradients. Because of the need for two separate acquisitions, BUDA doubles the scan time and degrades the temporal resolution when compared to single-shot EPI, presenting a major challenge for many applications, particularly functional MRI (fMRI). This study aims at overcoming this challenge by developing an echo-shifted EPI BUDA (esEPI-BUDA) technique to acquire both blip-up and blip-down datasets in a single shot. Methods: A three-dimensional (3D) esEPI-BUDA pulse sequence was designed by using an echo-shifting strategy to produce two EPI readout trains. These readout trains produced a pair of k-space datasets whose k-space trajectories were interleaved with opposite phase-encoding gradient directions. The two k-space datasets were separately reconstructed using a 3D SENSE algorithm, from which time-resolved B0-field maps were derived using TOPUP in FSL and then input into a forward model of joint parallel imaging reconstruction to correct for geometric distortion. In addition, Hankel structured low-rank constraint was incorporated into the reconstruction framework to improve image quality by mitigating the phase errors between the two interleaved k-space datasets. Results: The 3D esEPI-BUDA technique was demonstrated in a phantom and an fMRI study on healthy human subjects. Geometric distortions were effectively corrected in both phantom and human brain images. In the fMRI study, the visual activation volumes and their BOLD responses were comparable to those from conventional 3D echo-planar images. Conclusion: The improved imaging efficiency and dynamic distortion correction capability afforded by 3D esEPI-BUDA are expected to benefit many EPI applications.Comment: 8 figures, peer-reviewed journal pape

Multilayer Photonic Crystal for Spectral Narrowing of Emission

Multilayer colloidal crystal has been prepared by the layer-by-layer deposition of silica microspheres on a glass slide. Each layer is a slab consisting of a fcc close-packed colloidal arrays. By properly choosing the sizes of spheres, the whole spectral feature of multilayer colloidal crystal can be tuned. Here, we engineered a multilayer superlattice structure with an effective passband (380 nm) between two stop bands (366 nm and 400 nm). This gives a strong narrowing effect on emission spectrum (378 nm). With the stop bands at the shortwave and longwave edges of emission spectrum, the passband in the central wavelength region can be regarded as a strong decrease of suppression effect and enhancement of a narrow wavelength region of emission. The FWHM values of stop band modified emission spectrum were narrowed from 59 nm to 22 nm. The spectral narrowing modification effect of suitably engineered colloidal crystals shows up their importance in potential application as optical filters and lasing devices

Adenovirus-mediated delivery of CALR and MAGE-A3 inhibits invasion and angiogenesis of glioblastoma cell line U87

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The management of patients with glioblastoma multiforme is difficult. Poor results have led to a search for novel therapeutic approaches. Gene therapy that could be both anti-invasive and antiangiogenic would be ideal. In this study, we constructed the recombinant adenoviral vector Ad-CALR/MAGE-A3 and evaluated its antitumor effects on glioblastoma in vitro and in vivo.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In this study, CALR and MAGE-A3 genes were delivered to the glioblastoma cell line U87, using adenovirus (Ad-CALR/MAGE-A3). U87 glioblastoma cells were transfected with Ad-green fluorescent protein to identify the multiplicity of infection. The expressions of CALR and MAGE-A3 were detected by PCR and Western blot. Cell proliferation was measured by MTT assay. Cell apoptosis was assessed by Annexin-V FITC/PI double staining flow cytometry. The invasive potential of U87 cells was determined by Matrigel invasion assay. Tube formation assay was used to detect the effects on angiogenesis of human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Protein expressions of PI3K/AKT, Erk1/2 and MMP-2/-9 in transfected cells were detected by Western blot. In vivo, the effects of Ad-CALR/MAGE-A3 on tumor growth and angiogenesis of U87 glioblastoma xenografts in nude mice were investigated.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The expressions of CALR and MAGE-A3 in U87 cells resulted in the suppression of cell proliferation and invasion properties, and induced cell apoptosis. The Erk MAPK, PI3K/AKT pathways and expressions of MMP-2/-9 were inhibited in Ad-CALR/MAGE-A3-transfected cells. Outcomes of the tube formation assay confirmed the antiangiogenic effect of CALR. Moreover, in the in vivo model of glioblastoma, intratumoral injection of Ad-CALR/MAGE-A3 suppressed tumor growth and angiogenesis.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Although Ad-CALR/MAGE-A3 and Ad-CALR demonstrated antiangiogenic effects on U87 cells, the repression of invasion was significant only in Ad-CALR/MAGE-A3-treated cells. To our knowledge, this is the first description of a role for combined CALR and MAGE-A3 in the anti-invasion and antiangiogenesis of U87.</p

Observation of Majorana fermions with spin selective Andreev reflection in the vortex of topological superconductor

Majorana fermion (MF) whose antiparticle is itself has been predicted in condensed matter systems. Signatures of the MFs have been reported as zero energy modes in various systems. More definitive evidences are highly desired to verify the existence of the MF. Very recently, theory has predicted MFs to induce spin selective Andreev reflection (SSAR), a novel magnetic property which can be used to detect the MFs. Here we report the first observation of the SSAR from MFs inside vortices in Bi2Te3/NbSe2 hetero-structure, in which topological superconductivity was previously established. By using spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy (STM/STS), we show that the zero-bias peak of the tunneling differential conductance at the vortex center is substantially higher when the tip polarization and the external magnetic field are parallel than anti-parallel to each other. Such strong spin dependence of the tunneling is absent away from the vortex center, or in a conventional superconductor. The observed spin dependent tunneling effect is a direct evidence for the SSAR from MFs, fully consistent with theoretical analyses. Our work provides definitive evidences of MFs and will stimulate the MFs research on their novel physical properties, hence a step towards their statistics and application in quantum computing.Comment: 4 figures 15 page

Salusin- β

The pathophysiological mechanisms for vascular lesions in diabetes mellitus (DM) are complex, among which endothelial dysfunction plays a vital role. Therapeutic target against endothelial injury may provide critical venues for treatment of diabetic vascular diseases. We recently identified that salusin-β contributed to high glucose-induced endothelial cell apoptosis. However, the roles of salusin-β in DM-induced endothelial dysfunction remain largely elusive. Male C57BL/6J mice were used to induce type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) model. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were cultured in high glucose/high fat (HG/HF) medium. We demonstrated increased expression of salusin-β in diabetic aortic tissues and high-glucose/high-fat- (HG/HF-) incubated HUVECs. Disruption of salusin-β by shRNA abrogated the reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, inflammation, and nitrotyrosine content of HUVECs cultured in HG/HF medium. The HG/HF-mediated decrease in peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) expression was restored by salusin-β shRNA, and PPARγ inhibitor T0070907 abolished the protective actions of salusin-β shRNA on endothelial injury in HG/HF-treated HUVECs. Salusin-β silencing obviously improved endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation, oxidative stress, inflammatory response, and nitrative stress in diabetic aorta. Taken together, our results highlighted the essential role of salusin-β in pathological endothelial dysfunction, and salusin-β may be a promising target in treatment of vascular complications of DM

Ischemic postconditioning attenuates liver warm ischemia-reperfusion injury through Akt-eNOS-NO-HIF pathway

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Ischemic postconditioning (IPO) has been demonstrated to attenuate ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in the heart and brain, its roles to liver remain to be defined. The study was undertaken to determine if IPO would attenuate liver warm I/R injury and its protective mechanism.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Mice were divided into sham, I/R, IPO+I/R (occlusing the porta hepatis for 60 min, then treated for three cycles of 10 sec brief reperfusion consecutively, followed by a persistent reperfusion); L-NAME+ sham (L-NAME, 16 mg/kg, i.v., 5 min before repefusion); L-NAME+I/R; and L-NAME+ IPO. Blood flow of caudate and left lobe of the liver was blocked. Functional and morphologic changes of livers were evaluated. Contents of nitric oxide, eNOS and iNOS in serum were assayed. Concentration of eNOS, iNOS, malondialdehyde (MDA) and activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in hepatic tissue were also measured. Expressions of Akt, p-Akt and HIF-1α protein were determined by western blot. Expressions of TNF-α and ICAM-1 were measured by immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>IPO attenuated the dramatically functional and morphological injuries. The levels of ALT was significantly reduced in IPO+I/R group (p < 0.05). Contents of nitric oxide and eNOS in serum were increased in the IPO+I/R group (p < 0.05). IPO also up-regulated the concentration of eNOS, activity of SOD in hepatic tissue (p < 0.05), while reduced the concentration of MDA (p < 0.05). Moreover, protein expressions of HIF-1α and p-Akt were markedly enhanced in IPO+I/R group. Protein and mRNA expression of TNF-α and ICAM-1 were markedly suppressed by IPO (p < 0.05). These protective effects of IPO could be abolished by L-NAME.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>We found that IPO increased the content of NO and attenuated the overproduction of ROS and I/R-induced inflammation. Increased NO contents may contribute to increasing HIF-1α level, and HIF-1α and NO would simultaneously protect liver from I/R injury. These findings suggested IPO may have the therapeutic potential through Akt-eNOS-NO-HIF pathway for the better management of liver I/R injury.</p

Evaluation of a novel saliva-based epidermal growth factor receptor mutation detection for lung cancer: A pilot study.

BackgroundThis article describes a pilot study evaluating a novel liquid biopsy system for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. The electric field-induced release and measurement (EFIRM) method utilizes an electrochemical biosensor for detecting oncogenic mutations in biofluids.MethodsSaliva and plasma of 17 patients were collected from three cancer centers prior to and after surgical resection. The EFIRM method was then applied to the collected samples to assay for exon 19 deletion and p.L858 mutations. EFIRM results were compared with cobas results of exon 19 deletion and p.L858 mutation detection in cancer tissues.ResultsThe EFIRM method was found to detect exon 19 deletion with an area under the curve (AUC) of 1.0 in both saliva and plasma samples in lung cancer patients. For L858R mutation detection, the AUC of saliva was 1.0, while the AUC of plasma was 0.98. Strong correlations were also found between presurgery and post-surgery samples for both saliva (0.86 for exon 19 and 0.98 for L858R) and plasma (0.73 for exon 19 and 0.94 for L858R).ConclusionOur study demonstrates the feasibility of utilizing EFIRM to rapidly, non-invasively, and conveniently detect epidermal growth factor receptor mutations in the saliva of patients with NSCLC, with results corresponding perfectly with the results of cobas tissue genotyping