Enhanced Microscale Hydrodynamic Near-cloaking using Electro-osmosis

In this paper, we develop a general mathematical framework for enhanced hydrodynamic near-cloaking of electro-osmotic flow for more complex shapes, which is obtained by simultaneously perturbing the inner and outer boundaries of the perfect cloaking structure. We first derive the asymptotic expansions of perturbed fields and obtain a first-order coupled system. We then establish the representation formula of the solution to the first-order coupled system using the layer potential techniques. Based on the asymptotic analysis, the enhanced hydrodynamic near-cloaking conditions are derived for the control region with general cross-sectional shape. The conditions reveal the inner relationship between the shapes of the object and the control region. Especially, for the shape of a deformed annulus or confocal ellipses cylinder, the cloaking conditions and relationship of shapes are quantified more accurately. Our theoretical findings are validated and supplemented by a variety of numerical results. The results in this paper also provide a mathematical foundation for more complex hydrodynamic cloaking

A mathematical theory of microscale hydrodynamic cloaking and shielding by electro-osmosis

In this paper, we develop a general mathematical framework for perfect and approximate hydrodynamic cloaking and shielding of electro-osmotic flow, which is governed by a coupled PDE system via the field-effect electro-osmosis. We first establish the representation formula of the solution of the coupled system using the layer potential techniques. Based on Fourier series, the perfect hydrodynamic cloaking and shielding conditions are derived for the control region with the cross-sectional shape being annulus or confocal ellipses. Then we further propose an optimization scheme for the design of approximate cloaks and shields within general geometries. The well-posedness of the optimization problem is proved. In particular, the condition that can ensure the occurrence of approximate cloaks and shields for general geometries are also established. Our theoretical findings are validated and supplemented by a variety of numerical results. The results in this paper also provide a mathematical foundation for more complex hydrodynamic cloaking and shielding

Therapeutic effects of Saikosapoin D on bleomycininduced pulmonary fibrosis in mice via regulation of IL- 33/ST2 pathway

Purpose: To investigate the therapeutic effects of saikosapoin D (SSD) on bleomycin (BLM)-induced pulmonary fibrosis (PF) in mice and its probable mechanisms.Methods: PF mice were prepared by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of BLM (5 mg/kg). Twenty-four hours later, 72 mice in SSD group were administered SSD (1.8 mg/kg, ip). After 3, 7, 14 and 28 days of injection, the mice were sacrificed. Blood samples and lung tissues were collected from 6 mice in each group. The lung tissues were subjected to histological examination. In addition, expressions of MyD88, TRAF6, IL-33 and ST2 in lung tissue were determined by western blotting assay. Serum levels of hydroxyproline (HYP), interleukin (IL)-4, IL-13 and interferon (IFN)-γ were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Results: Pathological results showed that SSD treatment alleviated alveolitis and lung fibrosis (p < 0.05) in lung tissues of PF mice at 14 and 28 days post-BLM injection. HYP and IL-13 levels of mice in SSD group were significantly lower than that in BLM group at days 14 and 28 post-BLM injection (p < 0.05). Levels of IL-4 and IFN-γ were significantly lower when compared with values in BLM group on day 28 (p < 0.05). Western blotting results revealed that expressions of MyD88, TRAF6, IL-33 and ST2 proteins were significantly decreased by SSD treatment (p < 0.05).Conclusion: SSD exerts therapeutic effects on BLM-induced experimental PF in mice via regulation ofIL-33/ST2 pathway.Keywords: Saikosapoin D, Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, Myeloid differentiation factor, Hydroxyproline, Interleukin, Interferon, IL-33/ST2 pathwa

3-Hy­droxy-1,2-dimeth­oxyxanthone

The title compound (systematic name: 3-hy­droxy-1,2-dimeth­oxy-9H-xanthen-9-one), C15H12O5, was isolated from Polygala arillata. The tricyclic unit is essentially planar (r.m.s. deviation = 0.039 Å). In the crystal, the mol­ecules form stacks along the a axis. Inter­molecular O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds link the mol­ecules into chains parallel to [010]

The role of EGFR mutation as a prognostic factor in survival after diagnosis of brain metastasis in non-small cell lung cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Background The brain is a common site for metastasis in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This study was designed to evaluate the relationship between the mutational of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and overall survival (OS) in NSCLC patients with brain metastases. Methods Searches were performed in PubMed, EmBase, and the Cochrane Library to identify studies evaluating the association of EGFR mutation with OS in NSCLC patients through September 2017. Results 4373 NSCLC patients with brain metastases in 18 studies were involved. Mutated EGFR associated with significantly improved OS compared with wild type. Subgroup analyses suggested that this relationship persisted in studies conducted in Eastern, with retrospective design, with sample size ≥500, mean age of patients ≥65.0 years, percentage male < 50.0%, percentage of patients receiving tyrosine kinase inhibitor ≥30.0%. Finally, although significant publication bias was observed using the Egger test, the results were not changed after adjustment using the trim and fill method. Conclusions This meta-analysis suggests that EGFR mutation is an important predictive factor linked to improved OS for NSCLC patients with brain metastases. It can serve as a useful index in the prognostic assessment of NSCLC patients with brain metastases

Prognostic effects of 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels in gastric cancer

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Results from large epidemiologic studies on the association between vitamin D and gastric cancer are controversial. Vitamin D significantly promotes apoptosis in the undifferentiated gastric cancer cell, but the prognostic effects of its levels are unknown.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>197 gastric carcinoma patients who received treatment in the cancer centre of Sun Yat-sen University from January 2002 to January 2006 were involved in the study. The stored blood drawn before any treatment was assayed for 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels. The clinicopathologic data were collected to examine the prognostic effects of vitamin D.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The mean vitamin D levels of the 197 gastric patients was 49.85 ± 23.68 nmol/L, among whom 114(57.9%) were deficient in Vitamin D(< 50 nmol/L), 67(34%) were insufficient (50-75 nmol/L) and 16(8.1%) were sufficient (> 75 nmol/L). Clinical stage (<it>P </it>= 0.004) and lymph node metastasis classification (<it>P </it>= 0.009) were inversely associated with vitamin D levels. The patients with high vitamin D levels group (≥ 50 nmol/L) had a higher overall survival compared with the low vitamin D levels group (< 50 nmol/L)(<it>P </it>= 0.018). Multivariate analysis indicated that vitamin D levels were an independent prognostic factor of gastric cancer (<it>P </it>= 0.019).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Vitamin D deficiency may be associated with poor prognosis in gastric cancer.</p

MRI characterization of inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors in the maxillofacial region

PURPOSEWe aimed to investigate the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) appearance of inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors (IMTs) in the maxillofacial region in order to improve diagnostic quality and resection efficacy.MATERIALS AND METHODSTen cases of pathologically identified IMTs were analyzed by MRI. The MRI features were examined, including tumor location, tumor shape, tumor margins, and involvement of the surrounding tissues.RESULTSOf ten masses investigated in this study, eight masses were irregular neoplasms with unclear margins and two masses, in the parotid gland, were regular neoplasms with clear margins. Precontrast T1-weighted images of all ten masses exhibited isointense signals compared to the adjacent tissue, while contrast-enhanced T1-weighted images showed strong enhancement. Six masses were hypointense and four masses were slightly hyperintense in T2-weighted images. Involvement of the adjacent structures was observed in eight of ten cases. Meanwhile, two patients experienced intracranial involvement.CONCLUSIONIMTs are rare tumors in the maxillofacial region, displaying a number of distinct MRI characteristics. Most importantly, they display low T2 signal intensity and strong enhancement, and they frequently invade surrounding structures. Thus, MRI can improve the accuracy of IMT diagnoses and provide critical information for surgical planning