Integral equation method for the electromagnetic wave propagation in stratified anisotropic dielectric-magnetic materials

We investigate the propagation of electromagnetic waves in stratified anisotropic dielectric-magnetic materials using the integral equation method (IEM). Based on the superposition principle, we use Hertz vector formulations of radiated fields to study the interaction of wave with matter. We derive in a new way the dispersion relation, Snell's law and reflection/transmission coefficients by self-consistent analyses. Moreover, we find two new forms of the generalized extinction theorem. Applying the IEM, we investigate the wave propagation through a slab and disclose the underlying physics which are further verified by numerical simulations. The results lead to a unified framework of the IEM for the propagation of wave incident either from a medium or vacuum in stratified dielectric-magnetic materials.Comment: 14pages, 3figure

Neuroprotection of Catalpol for Experimental Acute Focal Ischemic Stroke: Preclinical Evidence and Possible Mechanisms of Antioxidation, Anti-Inflammation, and Antiapoptosis

Neuroprotection is defined as using a therapy that affects the brain tissue in the still-viable ischemic penumbra to salvage or delay the infarction. Catalpol, the main active principle of the root of Radix Rehmanniae, was reported to have pleiotropic neuroprotective effects in neurodegenerative diseases including ischemic stroke. Here, we evaluated the neuroprotective effects of catalpol in experimental acute ischemic stroke. Studies on catalpol in animal models of acute ischemic stroke were identified from 6 databases. Twenty-five studies involving 805 animals were included. Twelve comparisons showed significant effects of catalpol on decreasing infarct size according to 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining compared with the control (P<0.05). One study reported significant effect of catalpol on reducing infarct size according to magnetic resonance imaging scan compared with the control (P<0.05). Meta-analysis of these studies indicated that catalpol significantly improved the neurological function score according to Zea Longa score, Bederson score, balance beam-walking test, adhesive removal test, bar-grasping score, and corner test compared with the control (P<0.05). In conclusion, catalpol exerted neuroprotective effects for experimental acute focal ischemic stroke, largely through reducing oxidative reactions, inhibiting apoptosis, and repressing inflammatory reactions and autophagy. However, these apparently positive findings should be interpreted with caution because of the methodological flaws

Comparison between internal limiting membrane covering and internal limiting membrane peeling for giant macular hole

AIM: To investigate the effects of par plana vitrectomy(PPV)+ inner limiting membrane(ILM)flat covering + vitreous cavity disinfected air filling and PPV + ILM stripping + vitreous cavity disinfected air filling on giant idiopathic macular hole(IMH)and high myopia macular hole(MH). METHODS: The clinical data of giant IMH 40 eyes and giant high myopia MH 40 eyes were compared. Twenty patients with giant IMH underwent traditional ILM removal(Group A1), the remaining 20 underwent ILM flat transplantation(Group A2); 20 underwent traditional ILM removal(Group B1)for giant high myopic MH, and the remaining 20 underwent ILM flat transplantation(Group B2). The closure rate of MH and the improvement of best corrected visual acuity(BCVA)before and after operation were compared and analyzed. RESULTS: There were significant differences in BCVA before and after operation in Group A(F=96.193, PF=4.971, P=0.03), and the interaction between different time points and groups after operation(F=18.772, PPt-test results between the two groups at different time showed that there was no difference in preoperative vision between A1 and A2(P>0.05). There were significant differences in preoperative visual acuity between the two groups at 1, 3 and 6mo after operation(PF=136.150, PF=5.179, P=0.029), and the interaction between different time points and groups after BCVA(F=7.079, P=0.001). The results showed that there were significant differences of the two groups between any two time point(Pt-test between the two groups at different time showed that there was no difference in preoperative visual acuity between B1 and B2(P>0.05), but there was significant difference in 1, 3 and 6mo after operation(PP=0.053). The closure rate of Group B1 was 70%, attached rate was 30%, closure rate of Group B2 was 90%, attached rate was 10%. There was no significant difference in closure rate between Group B1 and Group B2(P=0.118). There was significant difference in closure rate between retinal initial membrane stripping group and plaster group(75% vs 95%, χ2=4.057, PCONCLUSION: For giant IMH and giant high myopia MH, there was significant difference in closure rate and BCVA improvement between ILM stripping group and covering group, on which the former is better

Targeting PML-RARα and Oncogenic Signaling Pathways by Chinese Herbal Mixture Tien-Hsien Liquid in Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia NB4 Cells

Tien-Hsien Liquid (THL) is a Chinese herbal mixture that has been used worldwide as complementary treatment for cancer patients in the past decade. Recently, THL has been shown to induce apoptosis in various types of solid tumor cells in vitro. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms have not yet been well elucidated. In this study, we explored the effects of THL on acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) NB4 cells, which could be effectively treated by some traditional Chinese remedies containing arsenic trioxide. The results showed THL could induce G2/M arrest and apoptosis in NB4 cells. Accordingly, the decrease of cyclin A and B1 were observed in THL-treated cells. The THL-induced apoptosis was accompanied with caspase-3 activation and decrease of PML-RARα fusion protein. Moreover, DNA methyltransferase 1 and oncogenic signaling pathways such as Akt/mTOR, Stat3 and ERK were also down-regulated by THL. By using ethyl acetate extraction and silica gel chromatography, an active fraction of THL named as EAS5 was isolated. At about 0.5–1% of the dose of THL, EAS5 appeared to have most of THL-induced multiple molecular targeting effects in NB4 cells. Based on the findings of these multi-targeting effects, THL might be regarding as a complementary and alternative therapeutic agent for refractory APL

A Simple Scoring Model for Prediction of Rupture Risk of Anterior Communicating Artery Aneurysms

Background: The rupture risk of anterior communicating artery aneurysms (ACoAAs) has been known to be higher than that of aneurysms at other locations. Thus, the aim of this study is to investigate the clinical and morphological characteristics associated with risk factors for the rupture of ACoAAs.Methods: In total, 361 consecutive patients with 361 ACoAAs between August 2011 and December 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients and ACoAAs were divided into ruptured and unruptured groups. In addition to clinical characteristics, ACoAA characteristics were evaluated by CT angiography (CTA). A multiple logistic regression analysis was used to identify the independent risk factors associated with ACoAA rupture. The assignment score of these variables depends on the β coefficient. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to calculate the optimal thresholds.Results: The multiple logistic regression model revealed that A1 dominance [odds ratio (OR) 3.034], an irregular shape (OR 3.358), and an aspect ratio ≥1.19 (AR; OR 3.163) increased the risk of rupture, while cerebral atherosclerosis (OR 0.080), and mean diameters ≥2.48 mm (OR 0.474) were negatively correlated with ACoAA rupture. Incorporating these five factors, the ROC analysis revealed that the threshold value of the multifactors was one, the sensitivity was 88.3%, and the specificity was 66.0%.Conclusions: The scoring model is a simple method that is based on A1 dominance, irregular shape, aspect ratio, cerebral atherosclerosis, and mean diameters from CTA and is of great value in the prediction of the rupture risk of ACoAAs

Curcumin Suppresses Metastasis via Sp-1, FAK Inhibition, and E-Cadherin Upregulation in Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a serious public health problem that results due to changes of diet and various environmental stress factors in the world. Curcumin is a traditional medicine used for treatment of a wide variety of tumors. However, antimetastasis mechanism of curcumin on CRC has not yet been completely investigated. Here, we explored the underlying molecular mechanisms of curcumin on metastasis of CRC cells in vitro and in vivo. Curcumin significantly inhibits cell migration, invasion, and colony formation in vitro and reduces tumor growth and liver metastasis in vivo. We found that curcumin suppresses Sp-1 transcriptional activity and Sp-1 regulated genes including ADEM10, calmodulin, EPHB2, HDAC4, and SEPP1 in CRC cells. Curcumin inhibits focal adhesion kinase (FAK) phosphorylation and enhances the expressions of several extracellular matrix components which play a critical role in invasion and metastasis. Curcumin reduces CD24 expression in a dose-dependent manner in CRC cells. Moreover, E-cadherin expression is upregulated by curcumin and serves as an inhibitor of EMT. These results suggest that curcumin executes its antimetastasis function through downregulation of Sp-1, FAK, and CD24 and by promoting E-cadherin expression in CRC cells

Serum cytokine change profile associated with HBsAg loss during combination therapy with PEG-IFN-α in NAs-suppressed chronic hepatitis B patients

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to explore the profile of cytokine changes during the combination therapy with pegylated interferon alpha (PEG-IFN-α) and its relationship with HBsAg loss in nucleos(t)ide analogs (NAs)-suppressed chronic hepatitis B patients.MethodsSeventy-six patients with chronic hepatitis B with HBsAg less than 1,500 IU/ml and HBV DNA negative after receiving ≥ 1-year NAs therapy were enrolled. Eighteen patients continued to take NAs monotherapy (the NAs group), and 58 patients received combination therapy with NAs and PEG-IFN-α (the Add-on group). The levels of IFNG, IL1B, IL1RN, IL2, IL4, IL6, IL10, IL12A, IL17A, CCL2, CCL3, CCL5, CXCL8, CXCL10, TNF, and CSF2 in peripheral blood during treatment were detected.ResultsAt week 48, 0.00% (0/18) in the NAs group and 25.86% (15/58) in the Add-on group achieved HBsAg loss. During 48 weeks of combined treatment, there was a transitory increase in the levels of ALT, IL1RN, IL2, and CCL2. Compared to the NAs group, CXCL8 and CXCL10 in the Add-on group remain higher after rising, yet CCL3 showed a continuously increasing trend. Mild and early increases in IL1B, CCL3, IL17A, IL2, IL4, IL6, and CXCL8 were associated with HBsAg loss or decrease &gt;1 log, while sustained high levels of CCL5 and CXCL10 were associated with poor responses to Add-on therapy at week 48.ConclusionsThe serum cytokine change profile is closely related to the response to the combination therapy with PEG-IFN-α and NAs, and may help to reveal the mechanism of functional cure and discover new immunological predictors and new therapeutic targets