Monolayer Molybdenum Disulfide Nanoribbons with High Optical Anisotropy

Two-dimensional Molybdenum Disulfide (MoS2) has shown promising prospects for the next generation electronics and optoelectronics devices. The monolayer MoS2 can be patterned into quasi-one-dimensional anisotropic MoS2 nanoribbons (MNRs), in which theoretical calculations have predicted novel properties. However, little work has been carried out in the experimental exploration of MNRs with a width of less than 20 nm where the geometrical confinement can lead to interesting phenomenon. Here, we prepared MNRs with width between 5 nm to 15 nm by direct helium ion beam milling. High optical anisotropy of these MNRs is revealed by the systematic study of optical contrast and Raman spectroscopy. The Raman modes in MNRs show strong polarization dependence. Besides that the E' and A'1 peaks are broadened by the phonon-confinement effect, the modes corresponding to singularities of vibrational density of states are activated by edges. The peculiar polarization behavior of Raman modes can be explained by the anisotropy of light absorption in MNRs, which is evidenced by the polarized optical contrast. The study opens the possibility to explore quasione-dimensional materials with high optical anisotropy from isotropic 2D family of transition metal dichalcogenides

Strategies for Annulus Fibrosus Regeneration: From Biological Therapies to Tissue Engineering

Intervertebral disc (IVD) is an avascular tissue which contributes to the weight bearing, motion, and flexibility of spine. However, IVD is susceptible to damage and even failure due to injury, pathology, and aging. Annulus fibrosus (AF), the structural and functional integrity of which is critically essential to confine nucleus pulpous (NP) and maintain physiological intradiscal pressure under mechanical loading, plays a critical role in the biomechanical properties of IVD. AF degeneration commonly results in substantial deterioration of IVD. During this process, the biomechanical properties of AF and the balance between anabolism and catabolism in IVD are progressively disrupted, leading to chronic back pain, and even disability of individuals. Therefore, repairing and regenerating AF are effective treatments to degeneration-associated pains. However, they remain highly challenging due to the complexity of natural AF tissue in the aspects of cell phenotype, biochemical composition, microstructure, and mechanical properties. Tissue engineering (TE), by combining biological science and materials engineering, shed lights on AF regeneration. In this article, we review recent advances in the pro-anabolic approaches in the form of cell delivery, bioactive factors delivery, gene therapy, and TE strategies for achieving AF regeneration

Comparison of demineralized bone matrix and hydroxyapatite as carriers of Escherichia coli recombinant human BMP-2

Background Autograft has been widely used in various orthopedic and dental surgery for its superior osteogenicity, osteoinductivity and osteoconductivity. But the available volume of the autograft is limited and the efficacy of it is highly affected by the condition of the patients. Therefore, growth factors such as Escherichia coli bone morphogenetic protein-2 (ErhBMP-2) has been widely used in some countries and regions with various carriers that could affect the effects of the growth factors. Demineralized bone matrix (DBM) has been widely used as a bone graft substitute and growth factor carrier, but its effect as a carrier of ErhBMP-2 was less investigated. Materials and methods Rat calvaria defect model was used in this study. We implanted ErhBMP-2 with DBM or hydroxyapatite (HA) as a carrier in 8 mm calvaria defect and compared their bone regeneration effect in 4th week and 8th week after implantation with micro-CT and histology. The data was analyzed with one-way ANOVA method with Bonferroni post-hoc analysis. Result The group with DBM as the carrier showed significantly higher bone volume and bone thickness than the groups with HA as the carrier in both weeks. And the histology sections showed less adipose tissue formed in the groups with DBM as the carrier. Conclusion DBM could be a better carrier for ErhBMP-2 than HA.This study was supported by a research grant for animal studies from Daewoong Pharmaceutical (Seoul, Korea) (No. 800–20140080)

Autophagy in Plant Pathogenic Fungi

Autophagy is a ubiquitous and conserved process in eukaryotic cells from yeasts to mammals. It also appears to play vital roles in plant pathogenic fungi, impacting growth, morphology, development, and pathogenicity. In this chapter, we have introduced a new concept to delineate the role of autophagy in homeostasis of plant pathogenic fungi and in their interaction with host cells, in breach of host barrier, and in the mechanisms of plant fungal infection

Survival after alcohol septal ablation versus conservative therapy in obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Background: The impact of alcohol septal ablation (ASA) on the survival of patients with drug-refractory obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) remains unresolved. The aim of this study was to compare survival after ASA vs. conservative therapy. Methods: We studied a consecutive cohort of 274 patients with severe drug-refractory obstructive HCM, 229 in ASA group and 45 in conservative group. The primary endpoint was a composite of all-cause mortality and aborted cardiac arrest. Results: With a median follow-up of 4.3 years, primary endpoint occurred in 13 (5.7%) patients in the ASA group, and 8 (17.8%) patients in the conservative group. The 5- and 10-year survival free from primary endpoint of the ASA group (94.5% and 93.0%, respectively) was significantly better than that of the conservative group (78.3% and 72.2%, respectively, log-rank p = 0.009). Independent determinants of primary endpoint were ASA therapy (hazard ratio [HR] 0.22; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.08–0.60; p = 0.003) and maximal septal thickness (HR 1.14; 95% CI 1.03–1.27; p = 0.011). Conclusions: In patients with severe drug-refractory obstructive HCM, survival after ASA is favorable and better than that of conservative therapy. ASA seems to improve survival

Modulation of epithelial sodium channel in human alveolar epithelial cells by lipoxin A4 through AhR-cAMP-dependent pathway

Purpose: To investigate the effect of lipoxin A4 (LXA4) on the expressions of protein and mRNA of alveolar epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) in normal and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated A549 cells.Methods: A549 cell-lines were randomized into 11 groups (N = 8) and treated. EnaC level was evaluated by Western blot. Total RNA was extracted and reverse-transcribed and then levels of ENaC mRNA, cGMP and cAMP in the cells were determined.Results: LXA4 (10-7mol/L) increased the expressions of α-subunit of ENaC relative to LPS group. In addition, LXA4 significantly up-regulated the expression of mRNAs of α, β and γ subunits of ENaC (p < 0.01). The level of cAMP was increased in LXA4 group, but significantly reduced in LPS group relative to control group (p < 0.05). However, treatment with LXA4 annulled the increased cAMP concentration, compared with LPS group (p < 0.05)Conclusion: These results show that LXA4 influences ENaC up-regulation in normal and LPS stimulated A549 alveolar epithelial cells.Keywords: Acute lung injury, Alveolar epithelial sodium channel, Lipoxin A4, AhR, cAMP, cGM

Genetic Variations in Plasma Circulating DNA of HBV-Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients Predict Recurrence after Liver Transplantation

BACKGROUND: Recurrence prediction of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients undergoing liver transplantation (LT) present a great challenge because of a lack of biomarkers. Genetic variations play an important role in tumor development and metastasis. METHODS: Oligonucleotide microarrays were used to evaluate the genetic characteristics of tumor DNA in 30 HBV-related HCC patients who were underwent LT. Recurrence-related single-nucleotide polymorphism were selected, and their prognostic value was assessed and validated in two independent cohorts of HCC patients (N = 102 and N = 77), using pretransplant plasma circulating DNA. Prognostic significance was assessed by Kaplan-Meier survival estimates and log-rank tests. Multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate prognosis-related factors. RESULTS: rs894151 and rs12438080 were significantly associated with recurrence (P = .003 and P = .004, respectively). Multivariate analyses demonstrated that the co-index of the 2 SNPs was an independent prognostic factor for recurrence (P = .040). Similar results were obtained in the third cohort (N = 77). Furthermore, for HCC patients (all the 3 cohorts) exceeding Milan criteria, the co-index was a prognostic factor for recurrence and survival (P<.001 and P = .002, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated first that genetic variations of rs894151 and rs12438080 in pretransplant plasma circulating DNA are promising prognostic markers for tumor recurrence in HCC patients undergoing LT and identify a subgroup of patients who, despite having HCC exceeding Milan criteria, have a low risk of post-transplant recurrence