Clinicopathological correlation of skin tumors: A dermatologist's perspective

Namitha Chathra, Ramesh Bhat

Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics 2016 12(3):1124-1126

Background: Tumors of the skin may be encountered by a dermatologist either as presenting complaints or as incidental findings. Certain tumors are easily recognized clinically, while others can only be diagnosed by histopathology. Aims and Objectives: To analyze the pattern of skin tumors through clinical and histopathological correlation and to assess the role of a dermatologist in the treatment of tumors. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis of histopathologically-diagnosed skin tumors seen in dermatology outpatient department from May 2011 to June 2013. Results: Forty cases of skin tumors were histopathologically reported during the period under review. Out of this, nine cases were malignant, the nonmelanoma to melanoma ratio being 8:1. Conclusion: Dermatologists are recommended to monitor closely the changing pigmented or hyperkeratotic lesions and poorly healing ulcers to facilitate early diagnosis and effective management.

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The Unquiet Mind Cancer: The Metaethical Quandary of Therapies

Rohit Manchanda

Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics 2016 12(3):1207-1208



http://ift.tt/2j6lid9

Samarium-153-(4-[((bis (phosphonomethyl)) carbamoyl) methyl]-7,10-bis (carboxymethyl)-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododec-1-yl) acetic acid: A novel agent for bone pain palliation therapy

Hassan Yousefnia, Razieh Enayati, Mohammad Hosntalab, Samaneh Zolghadri, Ali Bahrami-Samani

Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics 2016 12(3):1117-1123

Aim: Various phosphonate ligands labeled with β−-emitting radionuclides have shown good efficacy for bone pain palliation. In this study, a new agent for bone pain palliation has been developed. Materials and Methods: Samarium-153-(4-[((bis(phosphonomethyl))carbamoyl)methyl]-7,10-bis (carboxymethyl)-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododec-1-yl) acetic acid (153Sm-BPAMD) complex was prepared using BPAMD ligand and samarium-153 chloride. The effect of various parameters on the labeling yield of 153Sm-BPAMD including ligand concentration, pH, temperature, and reaction time were studied. Production of 153Sm was performed at a research reactor using 152Sm (n, γ)153Sm nuclear reaction. The radiochemical purity of the radiolabeled complex was checked by instant thin layer chromatography. Stability studies of the complex in the final preparation and the presence of human serum were performed up to 48 h. Partition coefficient and hydroxyapatite (HA) binding of the complex were investigated and biodistribution studies using single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and scarification were performed after injection of the complex to wild-type mice. Results: 153Sm-BPAMD was prepared in a high radiochemical purity >98% and specific activity of 267 GBq/mmol at the optimal conditions. The complex demonstrated significant stability at the room temperature and in human serum at least for 48 h. HA binding assay demonstrated that at the amount of more than 5 mg, approximately, all radiolabeled complex was bind to HA. At the pH 7.4, log Po/w was − 1.86 ± 0.02. Both SPECT and scarification showed major accumulation of the labeled compound in the bone tissue. Conclusions: The results show that 153Sm-BPAMD has interesting characteristics as an agent for bone pain palliation, however, further biological studies in other mammals are still needed.

http://ift.tt/2hUqQtJ

Diagnostic value of core biopsy histology and cytology sampling of mediastinal lymph nodes using 21-gauge EBUS-TBNA needle

Preyas J Vaidya, Avinandan Saha, Arvind H Kate, Kamlesh Pandey, Vinod B Chavhan, Joerg D Leuppi, Prashant N Chhajed

Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics 2016 12(3):1172-1177

Introduction: Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is the initial modality of choice in sampling mediastinal lymphadenopathy. It is possible to obtain both cytological and histological samples using both 21-gauge and 22-gauge EBUS-TBNA needles. The current study was undertaken to compare the diagnostic yield of cytology and histology samples obtained by the same EBUS-TBNA 21-gauge needle. Patients and Methods: One hundred sixty-six consecutive patients who underwent EBUS-TBNA with a 21-gauge EBUS-TBNA needle over a period of 3 years were included in this retrospective analysis. The diagnostic yields of EBUS-TBNA histology (EBUS-TBNA-H) and EBUS-TBNA cytology (EBUS-TBNA-C) specimens were compared using the McNemar test. Results: The overall sensitivity and specificity of EBUS-TBNA were 89% and 100%, respectively. The positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of EBUS-TBNA were 100% and 53%, respectively. The overall sensitivity and specificity of EBUS-TBNA-H were 85% and 100%, respectively. The PPV and NPV of EBUS-TBNA-H were 100% and 43%, respectively. The overall sensitivity and specificity of EBUS-TBNA-C were 65% and 100%, respectively. The PPV and NPV of EBUS-TBNA-C were 100% and 14%, respectively. The diagnostic yield of EBUS-TBNA-H over EBUS-TBNA-C was statistically significant (P < 0.0001). Conclusion: EBUS-TBNA-H with 21-gauge needle significantly improves the diagnostic yield of EBUS-TBNA. EBUS-TBNA-H improves the NPV of EBUS-TBNA. The combination of EBUS-TBNA-H and EBUS-TBNA-C improves the overall diagnostic yield of EBUS-TBNA.

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Combined prednisolone and pirfenidone in bleomycin-induced lung disease

Preyas J Vaidya, HS Sandeepa, Tejinder Singh, SK Susheel Kumar, Rajat Bhargava, Gopal Ramakrishnan, Prashant N Chhajed

Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics 2016 12(3):1198-1202

Bleomycin is a cytostatic drug commonly employed in the treatment of Hodgkin's disease, seminomas, and choriocarcinoma. Bleomycin may induce a chronic pulmonary inflammation that may progress to fibrosis. So far, only corticosteroids have been used in the treatment of bleomycin-induced lung disease with variable results. Pirfenidone is an antifibrotic drug that has been approved for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. We report two cases of bleomycin-induced lung disease treated successfully with pirfenidone and oral corticosteroids.

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Erratum: The postoperative complication for adenocarcinoma of esophagogastric junction

Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics 2016 12(3):1210-1210



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Efficacy of icotinib versus traditional chemotherapy as first-line treatment for preventing brain metastasis from advanced lung adenocarcinoma in patients with epidermal growth factor receptor-sensitive mutation

Xiao Zhao, Guangqin Zhu, Huoming Chen, Ping Yang, Fang Li, Nan Du

Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics 2016 12(3):1127-1131

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the potential use of icotinib as first-line treatment to prevent brain metastasis from advanced lung adenocarcinoma. Materials and Methods: This investigation was designed as a retrospective nonrandomized controlled study. Enrolled patients received either icotinib or traditional chemotherapy as their first-line treatment. The therapeutic efficacy was compared among patients with advanced. (stages IIIB and IV) lung adenocarcinoma with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-sensitive mutation. The primary endpoint was the cumulative incidence of brain metastasis, whereas, the secondary endpoint was overall survival(OS). Death without brain metastasis was considered a competitive risk to calculate the cumulative risk of brain metastasis. Survival analysis was conducted using the Kaplan–Meier method and statistical significance was determined using the log-rank test. Results: The present study included 396 patients with 131 in the icotinib group and 265 in the chemotherapy group. Among those with EGFR-sensitive mutation, the cumulative risk of brain metastasis was lower in the icotinib group than in the chemotherapy group. However, no significant difference in OS was observed between the two groups. Conclusion: Icotinib can effectively reduce the incidence of brain metastasis and therefore improve prognosis in advanced lung adenocarcinoma patients with EGFR.sensitive mutation.

http://ift.tt/2hUGh57

Nanothermia: A heterogenic heating approach

Szasz Oliver, Szasz Andras

Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics 2016 12(3):1132-1137

Aim of Study: The aim of the study is to show the possible differences on the same temperature and treatment time as control parameter of the variety of local hyperthermia techniques, pointing the possible differences in the local and systemic actions. Materials and Methods: Debate about the apparent locality of malignancy and the problems of the local treatment. Results: Consider the physiological feedback mechanisms, the spread of temperature, and the time which has active role in the spreading. Conclusion: Points that the clinical results depend not only on the temperature but also on the technical solution of the heat delivery.

http://ift.tt/2hUB2T5

Big data in radiation oncology

Nagraj Huilgol

Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics 2016 12(3):1107-1108



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Questionnaire survey to assess the pattern and characteristics of cell-phone usage among Indian oncologists

Anusheel Munshi, Debanarayan Dutta, Pramod Tike, Jai Prakash Agarwal

Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics 2016 12(3):1138-1143

Purpose: Obtain baseline data of cell-phone usage in the medical (MO), surgical (SO) and radiation (RO) oncology community practicing in India. Materials and Methods: Indigenously prepared cell-phone usage related questionnaire was used in the present study after approval by the Institutional Ethics/Scientific Committees. The questionnaire had 41 items and was made to assess the cell-phone usage parameters, utility in clinical practice, awareness, and to compare parameters between oncology specialties. Between November 2009 and January 2010, the questionnaire was sent as an E-mail attachment to 200 oncologists in India. Results: In all, 123 responses were received (61% responders); 84 (68.3%) were RO. The median age of responders was 35 years. Overall, 80% felt handicapped without cell-phone. The Mean cell-phone score, an index to assess overall usefulness over a score of 1–10, was 6.46 (median 7, standard deviation 1.709). There was no significant difference between RO, MO and SO in duration of usage (P = 0.235), number of cell-phones (P = 0.496), call duration per day (P = 0.490) and dependence on cell-phone (P = 0.574). Age of starting cell-phone usage was earlier in RO (P = 0.086). Professional usage was significantly more by MO and SO compared to RO (P < 0.001); however, the former were less aware of any potential cell-phone hazards compared to RO (P < 0.007). Conclusion: The results of the first such questionnaire based study have been presented. Most oncologists consider cell-phones a useful tool in patient care. More RO are aware of potential cell-phone hazards compared to non-RO's.

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Polymorphisms of glucose-regulated protein 78 and clinical relevance of neuroblastoma: Risk and prognosis

Jiao Zhang, Jiaxiang Wang, Qiuliang Liu, Jingyao Gao, Qi Wang

Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics 2016 12(3):1178-1183

Background: Neuroblastoma (NB) is the most common extracranial solid tumor in childhood. Glucose/regulated protein 78 (GRP78) is a stress-associated protein. It has been reported that overexpression of GRP78 occurs in various human cancers, and GRP78 polymorphisms have effect on the expression of GRP78 with possible function of predicting clinical outcome. Upregulation of GRP78 has been detected in NB. However, little is known about the relationship of GRP78 polymorphisms and the susceptibility of NB. Aim: To investigate whether GRP78 polymorphisms were associated with the risk and clinical characteristics of NB. Materials and Methods: Two GRP78 polymorphisms rs391957 (C>T) and rs430397 (G>A) were detected in 105 NB cases and 145 healthy controls using the polymerase chain reaction fragment length polymorphism technique. Results: Compared with the CC genotype, carriers of CT and TT genotypes of rs391957 polymorphism had higher risks of NB. In NB cases, the variant T allele was significantly associated with tumor International Neuroblastoma Staging System stage (P = 0.027), but not with MYCN amplification (P = 0.056). Compared with the GG genotype, carriers of GA and AA genotypes of rs430397 polymorphism had higher risks of NB. The rs430397 polymorphism was not associated with the clinicopathological characteristics of NB. Conclusion: These data provide the first evidence that GRP78 rs391957 and rs430397 polymorphisms could serve as the markers to predict the risk and poor prognosis of NB.

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Temperature increase induced by modulated electrohyperthermia (oncothermia®) in the anesthetized pig liver

Lajos Balogh, András Polyák, Zita Pöstényi, Veronika Kovács-Haász, Miklós Gyöngy, Julianna Thuróczy

Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics 2016 12(3):1153-1159

Aim of Study: Is to show the intrahepatic temperature development in anesthetized pig. Materials and Methods: Temperature development in the liver of anesthetized pig is measured to study the thermal effects of capacitive coupled energy transfer. The treatment was made by modulated electrohyperthermia (mEHT, trade name: oncothermia ®), controlled by a fluoroptical temperature sensing positioned by the ultrasound-guided process. Various fits of coupling were studied. Results: The intrahepatic temperature at the end of the treatment ranged 40.5–44.8°C, while the skin temperature ranged 36.8–41.8°C depending on the coupling arrangement. Conclusion: mEHT is a feasible method to deliver deep heat to the liver of an anesthetized pig.

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Cellular and spectroscopic characterization of cancer stem cell-like cells derived from A549 lung carcinoma

Murali M. S. Balla, Raghumani S Ningthoujam, Mukesh Kumar, Jayant R Bandekar, Badri N Pandey

Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics 2016 12(3):1144-1152

Background: Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are increasingly being realized to play a significant role in the mechanism of chemo-, radio-resistance, and metastasis of cancer. However, studies for spectral markers of CSCs using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy are limited in the literature. Materials and Methods: In the present study, CSCs obtained from single cell assay of human lung adenocarcinoma (A549) cells were characterized using CD44+/CD24−/low phenotype expression, Hoechst 33342 dye efflux assay, and expression of stemness genes. Spectral changes in cancer cells and clones enriched with CSCs were studied by FT-IR and CD spectroscopy. Results: The changes in FT-IR spectra of clones enriched with CSCs showed the difference in the secondary protein structure as compared to nonstem cancer cells. Moreover, A549 clone cells showed higher C-O band of carbohydrates and deoxyribose ring vibrations of Z-form of DNA. These results were further corroborated with CD spectroscopy that showed increased alpha helix proteins and difference in DNA conformation in clones enriched with CSCs. FT-IR studies also showed higher imidazole-metal interactions in clones enriched with CSCs. These results are in agreement with higher activity of one of the metalloproteins that is, superoxide dismutase in clones enriched with CSCs and their increased radioresistance. Conclusions and General Significance: Overall, these observations provide novel FT-IR and CD spectroscopy signatures in A549 clones enriched with CSCs, which may have implications in the quantifying magnitude of CSCs as prognostic markers in cancer therapy.

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Long-term outcomes of peripheral blood stem cell transplantation for 38 patients with peripheral T-cell lymphoma

Jian Bo, Yu Zhao, Songsong Zhang, Wenrong Hua, Shuhong Wang, Chunji Gao, Quanshun Wang, Honghua Li, Li Yu

Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics 2016 12(3):1189-1197

Objective: In this study, to investigate clinical characteristics, response, outcome, and prognosis of peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) for patients with peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL). Methods: This study retrospectively analyzed the efficacy of PBSCT in 38 patients with PTCL. Kaplan–Meier methods were used in survival analysis, and the Cox regression model was applied in multivariate analysis. There were ten clinical parameters were analyzed. Results: The 2-year overall survival (OS) was 46%, and the 5-year OS was 34% after a median follow-up of 40 months. The patients who received allogeneic PBSCT (allo-PBSCT) had a higher nonrelapse mortality than autologous PBSCT (auto-PBSCT), but they could achieve a longer-term disease-free survival in the former, which OS could achieve 40%. Survival analysis with Kaplan–Meier method showed the pretransplant disease status, B symptoms, serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in early (>275 U/L), Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) score (>1), prognostic index for PTCL score (>2) were all prognostic factors for posttransplant OS. Pretransplant disease status is the only prognostic factor for allo-PBSCT. Conclusion: The key was to reducing transplant-related mortality of allo-PBSCT by reduced-intensity conditioning. Factors such as level of early serum LDH, extranodal involvement, B symptoms, ECOG score, Ann Arbor stage, and pretransplant disease status were all related to the prognosis of patients treated with PBSCT. Allo-PBSCT maybe suggested as the first line therapy for late-stage PTCL patients who could reach treatment remission before transplantation.

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Spectrum of complex chromosomal aberrations in a myelodysplastic syndrome and a brief review

Bani Bandana Ganguly, Tuphan Kanti Dolai, Rajib De, Nitin N Kadam

Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics 2016 12(3):1203-1206

Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is a heterogeneous premalignant condition characterized by cytopenia, ineffective hematopoiesis, dysplastic marrow, and risk of progression to acute myeloid leukemia. Cytogenetic abnormalities, including del(3q/5q/7q/11q/12p/20q), monosomy 5/7, trisomy 8/19, i(17q), and -Y, are the indicators of diagnosis and risk stratification. The present case with bicytopenia detected with highly complex chromosome rearrangements with variability in numerical and structural combinations. Chromosome analysis was carried out following unstimulated marrow culture and G-banding. In addition to known MDS-aberrations, der(9p), der(12) dic(12;?19), +15, −18, and ring and marker chromosomes were recorded having, at least, nine abnormal chromosomes/cell. To our knowledge, this is the first case with all MDS-aberrations in one single individual. The case has been discussed in relevance to current MDS research. In the present case, i(17q)/-17, der(12p), del(5q26), del(7q36), and del(20q11) indicate possible alterations in TP53, ETV6, IDH2, EZH2, and SRSF2 genes, which are responsible for pathomechanism, genetic instability, clonal evolution, and advancement of disease condition.

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Brain metastasis from nonnasopharyngeal head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: A case series and review of literature

Sarbani Ghosh-Laskar, Jai Prakash Agarwal, Prahlad H Yathiraj, Prasad Tanawade, Rajendra Panday, Tejpal Gupta, Ashwini Budrukkar, Vedang Murthy

Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics 2016 12(3):1160-1163

Background: Brain metastasis from primary head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is infrequent and probably under-reported thereby leading to paucity of information. Methods: Archives of two institutes in India were studied from 2005 to 2013 and relevant information regarding patient demographics, treatment details, and follow-up was obtained for patients having brain metastasis (BM) from HNSCC. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 20 (IBM Corporation, NY, USA). Results: Metastasis to the brain was detected in 17 patients with an HNSCC primary. The median age for diagnosis of index primary was 55 years (range (R) - 32–71 years) with 88% (15/17) being male. Oral cavity was the most common site of primary disease with 35% (6/17) followed by larynx (24%), oropharynx (18%), and hypopharynx (18%). The median stage at presentation was IVA (47%) and two (12%) were metastatic to the brain at presentation. Human papillomavirus analysis was not available for any of the patients. Neurological symptoms were complained of in 94% patients. The median BM-free-interval was 15 months (R - 1–67 months, SE ± 5.2). While 88% had multiple brain metastases, 82% also had extracranial metastasis and in 53% of patients, the index primary was not controlled. The median overall survival of all patients after the development of BM was 2 months (R - 0.5–6 months, SE ± 0.4). Conclusion: BM in HNSCC is mostly multiple, associated with extracranial metastasis and can occur in patients without locoregional relapse or residual disease and carries a dismal outcome.

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Polymer-decorated anisotropic silica nanotubes with combined shape and surface properties for guest delivery

Publication date: 27 January 2017
Source:Polymer, Volume 109
Author(s): Guo Liang Li, Jinglei Hu, Hongqiang Wang, Christine Pilz-Allen, Junpeng Wang, Tao Qi, Helmuth Möhwald, Dmitry G. Shchukin
We report on amphiphilic diblock copolymer-decorated anisotropic silica nanotubes with well-defined dual functions of shape and surface properties in one nanocontainer. Amphiphilic poly(lactic acid)-block-poly(ethylene glycol) (PLA-b-PEG) diblock copolymers are covalently grafted to the surface of mesoporous silica nanotubes via silane chemistry and esterification. The released percentage of probe molecules from the resultant silica-g-(PLA-b-PEG) hybrid nanocontainer is around 40% over a release time of 48 h, in contrast to 90% from bare silica nanotubes prior to surface modification. The diblock copolymer-decorated anisotropic nanocontainers with large aspect ratio lead to enhanced viability of NIH 3T3 fibroblast cells. A theoretical model based on the free energy cost for cell membranes to encapsulate nanocontainers is utilized to understand the cytotoxicity. This work demonstrates that the release dynamics of the active molecules and the interaction of hybrid nanocontainers with cell membranes can be regulated by the synergistic effect of nanocontainer shape and surface properties.

Graphical abstract

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Amphiphilic polypeptide-polyoxazoline graft copolymer conjugate with tunable thermoresponsiveness: Synthesis and self-assembly into various micellar structures in aqueous and nonaqueous media

Publication date: 10 February 2017
Source:Polymer, Volume 110
Author(s): Avijit Bose, Somdeb Jana, Anupam Saha, Tarun K. Mandal
A "grafting onto" approach based on two different controlled ring-opening polymerization (ROP) techniques is developed to synthesize polytyrosine-graft-poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) (PTyr-g-PEtOx) copolymer conjugates of varying main backbone and pendent chain lengths. This approach consists of syntheses of propargyl functionalized polytyrosine (PTyr-O-Pr) by ROP of tyrosine N-carboxyanhydride and azide functional poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) (PEtOx-N3) by cationic ROP separately followed by their grafting using CuAAC reaction to afford the final graft copolymer conjugate (GCC). Owing to the presence of pendent hydrophiphilic PEtOx block, PTyr-g-PEtOx GCC exhibits LCST-type reversible phase transition behavior in water, which is tunable with respect to its concentration and the lengths of the main backbone and the pendent block. Again, the amphiphilic PTyr-g-PEtOx GCC molecules undergo self-assembly into spherical unit micelles and their consequent secondary aggregations into compound micelles both in aqueous and non-aqueous media. Upon increasing the solution temperature above LCST, micelles/compound micelles of PTyr-g-PEtOx GCC undergo further aggregation into higher order micellar agglomerates without any disruption of micellar structures as observed from DLS study. A hydrophobic dye (nile red) can easily be encapsulated into the hydrophobic PTyr core of the PTyr-g-PEtOx micelles in water, which remains stable without any release of the dye even when the temperature is increased above the LCST of the GCC.

Graphical abstract

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Kinetics of the temperature-induced volume phase transition in poly(2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethyl methacrylate) hydrogels of various topologies

Publication date: 10 February 2017
Source:Polymer, Volume 110
Author(s): Marcin Pastorczak, Lidia Okrasa, Jeong Ae Yoon, Tomasz Kowalewski, Krzysztof Matyjaszewski
Hydrogels based on thermo-responsive 2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethyl methacrylate (pMEO2MA) are regarded as bioinert replacements of poly (N-isopropylacrylamide) in many biomedical applications. Here, we study kinetics of temperature-induced volume phase transitions (VPT) of pMEO2MA-based hydrogels of various network architecture during their water sorption and desorption processes by means of dielectric spectroscopy. Maxwell-Wagner-Sillars (MWS) polarization processes of two distinct origins develop in the course of VPT in the hydrogels. In the hydrogel with bare pMEO2MA network we observe MWS process resulted probably from interfacial polarization on microheterogeneities in the hydrogel and an additional MWS polarization linked to formation of the so-called dense skin-layer. In the hydrogel with its network grafted with dangling chains we observe only the microheterogeneities-related process; the process associated with formation of the skin-layer is not present, possibly due to more effective water diffusion out of the hydrogel. We determine relaxation times related to rearrangements of the polymer networks and to the diffusion of water during the hydrogel VPT in the both directions of the transition.

Graphical abstract

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Dual-layered nanocomposite substrate membrane based on polysulfone/graphene oxide for mitigating internal concentration polarization in forward osmosis

Publication date: 10 February 2017
Source:Polymer, Volume 110
Author(s): Sungil Lim, Myoung Jun Park, Sherub Phuntsho, Leonard D. Tijing, Grace M. Nisola, Wang-Geun Shim, Wook-Jin Chung, Ho Kyong Shon
A novel thin-film composite (TFC) forward osmosis (FO) membrane with dual-layered substrate membrane was fabricated by a double-blade casting technique using different polysulfone (PSf) concentrations for top (15 wt%) and bottom (7 wt%) substrate layers. Graphene oxide (GO) was incorporated in the substrate layer, and the dual casting approach resulted in a membrane support with a highly porous bottom structure and a dense top skin layer on which the polyamide active layer was effectively formed. The dual-layered TFC PSf/GO membrane (TFC-PSfdGO) exhibited high water permeability, and ion selectivity was enhanced by the presence of well dispersed hydrophilic GO in the PSf substrate. The TFC-PSfdGO also exhibited the lowest specific reverse salt flux (Js/Jv = 0.19 g L^-1) and a more favorable structural parameter (S = 130 μm) compared to GO-free membranes. Using deionized water as feed solution and 1 M NaCl as draw solution (DS), TFC-PSfdGO had Jv = 33.8 L m⁻² h⁻¹ and Js = 6.9 g⁻² h⁻¹ under AL-FS mode, and Jv = 61.5 L m⁻²h⁻¹ and Js = 14.0 g⁻² h⁻¹ under AL-DS mode. The potential of TFC-PSfdGO for commercial application was further evaluated by fabricating it with a fabric backing support (denoted as TFC-PSfdGOf). Compared to TFC-PSfdGO, TFC-PSfdGOf exhibited only 14% decline in its water flux. The overall results reveal that, fabrication of TFC substrate membrane via dual-blade casting approach along with GO incorporation produced high-performance TFC FO membranes which likely reduced the internal concentration polarization effects.

Graphical abstract

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Confinement effects on phase separation of a polyelectrolyte solution

Publication date: 10 February 2017
Source:Polymer, Volume 110
Author(s): Jie Fu, Bing Miao, Dadong Yan
Formulating an analytical theory, we study phase separation of a polyelectrolyte solution under poor solvent condition confined in three types of finite geometric spaces: slab, cylinder, and sphere. Divided by a Lifshitz line, bulk polyelectrolyte solution undergoes either micro- or macro-phase separation. Confinement effects for both scenarios are studied. Composition fluctuations inducing phase separation are classified in terms of eigenmodes of the inverse structure factor operator in the corresponding geometric spaces. Tracking each eigenmode, the instability lines under confinement effects are derived in closed forms. For the confined microphase separation, we find a decaying oscillatory dependence of the spinodal point on the confinement size, which represents the commensurability between the finite period of the soft mode and the confining boundary size. For the confined macrophase separation, a typical mean-field finite size scaling of the Ising universality class is observed under the strong screening condition.

Graphical abstract

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Selective distribution and migration of carbon nanotubes enhanced electrical and mechanical performances in polyolefin elastomers

Publication date: 10 February 2017
Source:Polymer, Volume 110
Author(s): Tao Gong, Meng-Qi Liu, Hu Liu, Si-Piao Peng, Ting Li, Rui-Ying Bao, Wei Yang, Bang-Hu Xie, Ming-Bo Yang, Zhanhu Guo
A thermodynamic and kinetic method based on the selective distribution and migration of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in polyoxyethylene (PEO)/ethylene-α-octene random copolymer (ORC) composite system was reported to improve the dispersion of MWCNTs in ORC. Scanning electron micrographs and transmission electron micrographs confirmed that MWCNTs could almost completely migrate from the PEO phase to the ORC phase during melt compounding and lead to tremendously improved dispersion of MWCNTs in ORC, compared with traditional melt compounded ORC/MWCNT composites. Rheological analysis revealed that better MWCNTs network was developed at a lower content of MWCNTs with an improved dispersion of MWCNTs in ORC. The percolation threshold was drastically reduced from 3.82 to 0.35 vol % and the electrical conductivity was tremendously improved. The mechanical properties were also fully enhanced in comparison with traditional melt compounded ORC/MWCNT composites owing to the homogeneous dispersion of MWCNTs. These results manifest that, by proper selection of components with a selective distribution of MWCNTs and controlling the migration process of MWCNTs in the composites, the dispersion of MWCNTs in polymer matrix and resulting performance of the nanocomposites can be greatly improved.

Graphical abstract

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CREB knockdown inhibits growth and induces apoptosis in human pre-B acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells through inhibition of prosurvival signals

Publication date: March 2017
Source:Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, Volume 87
Author(s): Rima Manafi Shabestari, Majid Safa, Fatemeh Alikarami, Mehdi Banan, Ahmad Kazemi
A majority of acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients overexpress CREB in the bone marrow. However, the functional significance of this up-regulation and the detailed molecular mechanism behind the regulatory effect of CREB on the growth of B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL) cells has not been elucidated. We demonstrated here that CREB knockdown induced apoptosis and impaired growth of BCP-ALL NALM-6 cells which was associated with caspase activation. The gene expression levels of prosurvival signals Bcl-2, Mcl-1, Bcl-xL, survivin and XIAP were down-regulated upon CREB suppression. These findings indicate a critical role for CREB in proliferation, survival, and apoptosis of BCP-ALL cells. The data also suggest that CREB could possibly serve as potential therapeutic target in BCP-ALL.



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Spectral characterisation, antiviral activities, in silico ADMET and molecular docking of the compounds isolated from Tectona grandis to chikungunya virus

Publication date: March 2017
Source:Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, Volume 87
Author(s): Sangeetha K., Indu Purushothaman, Rajarajan S.
Chikungunya infection is treated symptomatically with antipyretics and anti-inflammatory drugs without any specific antiviral drug till date. The lack of an approved antiviral drug and the emergence of virulent strains after 2006 epidemics emphasize the need for the development of potential antiviral drugs to Chikungunya virus. Hence, we studied the antiviral activity of the extracts and compounds isolated from Tectona grandis leaves to both the Asian and East central South African strains of Chikungunya virus. Five compounds were isolated from the ethanolic extract of Tectona grandis by bioactivity guided fractionation followed by Spectral Characterisation through GC–MS and NMR spectroscopy and investigated for the antiviral activity. Also in silico ADMET and Molecular Docking of the characterised compounds against the structural and non structural proteins of Chikungunya virus were performed. The characterised compound Benzene-1-carboxylic acid hexadeconate was effective at IC 50 3.036μg/ml (7.5μM) and 76.46μg/ml (189.02μM) to Asian and ECSA strain of CHIKV respectively. The compound showed desirable pharmacokinetic properties and significant molecular interactions with the E1 protein of Chikungunya virus by in silico analysis. Thus Benzene-1-carboxylic acid-2-hexadeconate isolated from Tectona grandis was found to be a promising drug candidate to both the Asian and ECSA strains of Chikungunya virus with high selectivity indices in comparison to the reference RNA antiviral drug Ribavirin.

Graphical abstract

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Effect of the Egyptian propolis on the hepatic antioxidant defense and pro-apoptotic p53 and anti-apoptotic bcl2 expressions in aflatoxin B1 treated male mice

Publication date: March 2017
Source:Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, Volume 87
Author(s): Abeer A. Alm-Eldeen, Mohammed A. Basyony, Nabil K. Elfiky, Mohamed M. Ghalwash
Aflatoxins are potent hepatotoxic due to their role in producing reactive oxygen species and consequently peroxidative damage. Propolis is a honey bee product known for its antioxidant capacity. The aim of this study was to verify the antioxidant effect of the Egyptian propolis extract (EPE) against aflatoxin B1 (AFB1)-induced hepatotoxicity in mice. Forty eight male mice were divided: first, second and third groups were used as control receiving saline, olive oil and EPE respectively, fourth was AFB1 group, fifth and sixth received EPE post or pre AFB1 treatment, respectively. EPE was given as (0.2mg/kg) 3 times a week. AFB1 was given as a single dose (0.25μg/kg). After 2 weeks, the mice were scarified and biochemical, histopathological and immunohistochemical investigations were assessed. EPE has a high content of total phenolics and alkaloids. The inhibitory concentration 50 (IC50) value for DPPH radical scavenging was 1353.8μg/mL. Pretreatment with EPE improved AFB1-induced hepatotoxicity represented in lowering alanine transaminase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, cholesterol, triglycerides, lipid peroxidation and pro-apoptotic p53 expression to 33.48±1.98 IU/ml, 53.00±2.37 IU/ml, 123.50±2.02 IU/ml, 76.50±2.66mg/dl, 54.00±3.03mg/dl, 2.22±0.14 nmol/g and 4.31±2.1 cells/field and raising the reduced glutathione, catalase, superoxide dismutase and anti-apoptotic bcl2 expression to 3.37±1.65 nmol/g, 4.92±0.25 nmol/g, 57±0.91UI/g and 39.7±5.9 cells/field which all had non-significant differences with the control, respectively. In conclusion, EPE can attenuate aflatoxin B1-induced hepatotoxicity in mice.



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The impact of different extracellular matrices on melatonin effect in proliferation and stemness properties of ovarian cancer cells

Publication date: March 2017
Source:Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, Volume 87
Author(s): Maryam Akbarzadeh, Reza Rahbarghazi, Elahe Nabat, Ali Akbar Movassaghpour, Daruish Shanehbandi, Behnaz Faramarzian Azimi Maragheh, Danial Matluobi, Balal Barazvan, Masoume Kazemi, Nasser Samadi, Mohammad Nouri
AimEndogenous melatonin has numerous physiological roles on modulating the function of different organs. Recent studies revealed oncostatic and protective effects of this molecule on tumor development. In this study, we examined the impact of melatonin and key underlying mechanisms on stemness, morphology, invasiveness and viability of SKOV3 ovarian cancer cells in different types of extracellular matrix.MethodsCell viability was evaluated by MTT Assay. Colony-forming assay was performed by seeding 4×10³ cells on different matrices in six well-plate. The percentage of cancer stem like cells was determined by flow cytometric assay after applying antibodies against stemness markers, CD133 and CD44. Different types of extracellular matrix including fibronectin, gelatin, collagen and matrigel were applied to incubate the cells in the presence of melatonin. Downstream gene expressions including VEGF and E-cadherin were determined by Real-time PCR.ResultsMelatonin (0.1mM) decreased the percentage of viable cells up to 61.79±8.2% (p<0.05). Colony formation assay revealed the significant impact of melatonin in inhibition of colony formation in these cells. The maximum effect was shown in the cells incubated with melatonin on gelatin (p<0.05). Identification of stemness markers showed that applying matrigel caused significant increase in the percentage of cancer stem like cells compared to other types of extracellular matrix (p<0.05). However melatonin slightly diminished the number of stem cell like cells in all incubated matrices. Our results from gene expression assays revealed that melatonin induced a marked increase in E-cadherin along with decrease in VEGF expression levels (p<0.05).ConclusionOur results suggest that interaction between ovarian cancer cells and neighboring matrices determines the subsequent anti invasive activities of melatonin.



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Contemporary imaging of incidentally discovered adrenal masses

Publication date: March 2017
Source:Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, Volume 87
Author(s): Daniel J. Wale, Ka Kit Wong, Benjamin L. Viglianti, Domenico Rubello, Milton D. Gross
Adrenal lesions are routinely encountered incidentally in clinical practice. Although most of these lesions are benign, malignancy needs to be excluded. Therefore, the initial clinical workup is to exclude aggressive characteristics suggesting malignancy and to identify characteristics predictive of the most common benign lesion, an adrenal adenoma. Predicting a benign adenoma using a variety of imaging modalities has been widely studied using unenhanced computed tomography (CT), contrast enhanced CT, and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. This review article describes the currently used imaging protocols and clinical interpretation criteria of common adrenal lesions. An adenoma can be predicted if a homogenous soft tissue adrenal mass demonstrates low attenuation (upper threshold value of 10 Hounsfield Units) on unenhanced CT, demonstrates an absolute enhancement washout of ≥ 60% and/or relative enhancement washout of ≥ 40% on adrenal washout contrast enhanced CT, or demonstrates signal loss in opposed-phased MR imaging. If an adrenal adenoma cannot be predicted based upon these criteria, the lesion should be evaluated for other imaging characteristics that suggest a specific pathology, such as an adrenal cyst or myelolipoma. Although nonspecific and with limitations, 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/CT has a potential role for differentiating benign from malignant lesions based upon the amount of radiopharmaceutical uptake with malignant lesions generally having greater uptake. If clinical and/or hormonal screening suggests a pheochromocytoma, consideration can be given to 18F-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) or 123I-metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) in addition to CT and MR. Finally, this review proposes a diagnostic work-up strategy for routine use in clinical practice.



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Synthesis and in vitro photodynamic therapy of chlorin derivative 131-ortho-trifluoromethyl-phenylhydrazone modified pyropheophorbide-a

Publication date: March 2017
Source:Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, Volume 87
Author(s): Jianjun Cheng, Wenting Li, Guanghui Tan, Zhiqiang Wang, Shuying Li, Yingxue Jin
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is entering the mainstream of the cancer treatments recently. Pyropheophorbide-a (Pa), as a degradation product of chlorophyll-a, has been shown to be a potent photosensitizer in photodynamic therapy. In this paper, we investigated the in vitro photodynamic therapy of 13¹-ortho-trifluoromethyl-phenylhydrazone modified pyropheophorbide-a (PHPa) against human HeLa cervical cancer cell line, together with ultraviolet-visible spectra, fluorescence emission spectra, stability in various solvents, and single oxygen quantum yield. The results indicated that PHPa not only showed a greater molar extinction coefficient reached 4.55×10⁴ Lmol⁻¹cm⁻¹, the long absorption wavelength (681nm) as we expected that makes it potential in deep tumor treatment, but also showed better stability in near neutral phosphate buffers (pH 7.4) and culture medium, as well as higher single oxygen quantum yield (ФD=40.5%) in DMF solutions. Moreover, cell experiments suggested that PHPa could be uptaken by HeLa cells successfully, and has low dark toxicity without irradiation, but remarkable photo-cytotoxicity (IC50, 1.92±0.59μM) that the inhibition rate of HeLa cells could increase up 91.4% at 30μM of PHPa after irradiation. In addition, morphological changes of HeLa cells further demonstrated that PHPa can induce damage and apoptotic cell death. Furthermore, the mechanism of photochemical processes was investigated by using specific quenching agent sodium azide (SA) and D-mannitol (DM), respectively, which showed the formation of singlet oxygen (Type II reaction mechanism) may play a predominant role, Type I and Type II photodynamic reactions could occur simultaneously in this PHPa mediated PDT process.

Graphical abstract

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Tinospora cordifolia extract attenuates cadmium-induced biochemical and histological alterations in the heart of male Wistar rats

Publication date: March 2017
Source:Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, Volume 87
Author(s): Lohanathan Bharathi Priya, Rathinasamy Baskaran, Pitchai Elangovan, Velumani Dhivya, Chih-Yang Huang, Viswanadha Vijaya Padma
Persistence of cadmium (Cd) in the environment causes serious ecological problems. Tinospora cordifolia is a medicinal herb used in Ayurveda for treating various metabolic disorders and toxic conditions. The present study investigates the protective effect of T. cordifolia stem methanolic extract (TCME) on a heavy metal, Cd-induced cardiotoxicity in male Wistar rats. Male albino Wistar rats were divided into four groups (n=6). The animals after treatment for 28days with Cd and TCME were analysed for biochemical and histological changes in the serum and heart tissues. Cd induced lipid peroxidation and protein carbonylation was significantly reduced by TCME. TCME also reduced the histological alterations induced by Cd treatment in the heart tissues with diminished loss of myocardial fibers. Administration of TCME effectively prevented the altered levels of serum marker enzymes (creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase), antioxidants, such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione-S-transferase, and glycoproteins contents such as hexose, hexoseamine, fucose, and sialic acid by Cd intoxication. TCME also offered protection against the change in levels of Na⁺K⁺ATPase, Mg²⁺ATPase and Ca²⁺ATPase activities against Cd toxicity. The study suggests TCME as a potent cardioprotective agent against Cd induced toxicity.



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The properties of red seaweed (Kappaphycus alvarezii) and its effect on mammary carcinogenesis

Publication date: March 2017
Source:Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, Volume 87
Author(s): Vi-Sion Chang, Patrick N. Okechukwu, Swee-Sen Teo
The edible red seaweed (Kappaphycus alvarezii) is one of the algae species which was found to be rich in nutrients and nutraceutical. Hence, K. alvarezii may have the ability to suppress cancer through its antiproliferative properties. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential compounds of K. alvarezii, cytotoxicity properties of K. alvarezii extract on breast cancer cell line (MCF-7), investigated toxicity effect of high dosage K. alvarezii extract in rats and determined the effect of K. alvarezii on 7, 12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) mammary carcinogenesis in rats. The method of LCMS/MS and MTT assay were used. For animal study, sub-chronic toxicity method was used, the rats were supplemented with 2000mg/kg body weight daily of K. alvarezii crude extracts by oral gavage. For the anticancer effect of K. alvarezii crude extracts, this study consisted of three groups of the experimental, untreated and normal group of rats. The experimental and untreated groups of rats were induced with mammary tumour with DMBA. The experimental group of rats was given with K. alvarezii crude extracts orally. The results were being used to compare with the untreated group of rats and normal group of rats. All the rats were fed with standard diet and water ad libitum. Mortality, behavior changes and tumour sizes were observed specifically. The differences between the three groups of rats were evaluated by using the ANOVA test. By using LCMS/MS method, six unknown compounds were analysed. K. alvarezii crude extract reduced the cell viability of MCF-7 from 84.91% to 0.81% and the IC50 value is 4.1±0.69mg/mL. For sub-chronic and heavy metal toxicity studies, no significant difference was found in haematological and biochemical values of the control group and experimental group. The growth rate of tumours in the untreated group of rats was found significantly higher than the experimental group of rats. Besides that, the white blood cells level in untreated group was found significantly higher than the experimental group and the normal group. In conclusion, K. alvarezii extract might able to slow down the growth rate of the tumour cells, therefore, identification of an active compound of inhibition growth rate of the tumour cells can be positively carried out in the future.



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Dimorphic placental stress: A repercussion of interaction between endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and fetal sex

Publication date: Available online 4 January 2017
Source:Medical Hypotheses
Author(s): Surbhi Sood, Sudhanshu Shekhar, Winkins Santosh
Placental homeostasis is critical for fetal development as it determines the health of mother and fetus during pregnancy and in later life. Interestingly even the fetus, in a sexually dimorphic manner, influences the pedantic growth and development of placenta. Although placenta is thought to act as a protective barrier against chemical exposures, certain endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) that are circulating in mother's blood tend to cross placenta. These EDCs have been reported to cause changes in expression levels of certain genes, immunogenic factors and non-coding RNAs such as micro RNA (miRNA) and long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) leading to placental stress. We hypothesize that these changes in placenta occur in a sexually dimorphic manner as a result of interaction between EDC exposure and fetal sex. Therefore, we propose that the ability of placenta to respond and buffer EDC exposure depends on fetal sex and, hence the EDC associated disease susceptibility of one sex differs from the other.



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Breaking from tradition: establishing more realistic sediment quality guidelines

Abstract

Sediment quality guidelines vary wildly across nations. The approaches to derive these guidelines range from crude percentile rankings of total concentrations of single chemicals to theoretical approaches that are driven by biological available effect levels. This results in a range of orders of magnitude for "safe" or threshold levels by chemical. Even the more scientifically advanced approaches using theoretical approaches are problematic in that they do not consider chemical mixtures, alternate routes of exposure, and other ligands that limit bioavailability. In the end, all that matters is that desirable resident biota are protected and with no significant ecological impacts. Complicating this determination is the role of habitat, flow, sedimentation, and nutrients—all of which are common in human-dominated waterways. A possible effective way forward is to consider the common, relevant stressors that may influence biotic communities associated with sediments. This approach would consider relevant sensitive species in terms of their ecological context and dominant exposure pathway (considering habitat, overlying water, sediment, periphyton, and hyporheos). In addition, the sum of water column (and pore water) and sediment probable effect concentration vs probable no effect concentrations ratios would be summed and considered for mixtures. Since this non-scientific mixture effect assessment may be overly conservative, in situ caged toxicity tests with benthic and water column organisms exposed to sediments, pore waters, and overlying water would be conducted for field validations along with comparisons of indigenous biota to BioCriteria.

http://ift.tt/2hUoZ89

Trend of childhood blood lead levels in cities of China in recent 10 years

Abstract

The adverse effects of lead on human especially childhood have been well established. Largely due to the phase out of lead in gasoline, blood lead levels (BLLs) had declined substantially all over the world including China. In 2004, 2007, 2010, and 2013, we conducted a continuous project including 47,346 children aged 0–6 years old from 11 cities all over China to show how the decline happened and to explore what to do next to improve the BLLs of children of China. Our data shown the BLLs of Chinese children decreased from 46.38, 43.58, 38.95 to 37.17 μg/L, but the decline was not enough. These decline was mainly because of the number decrease of children with high BLLs. Integrated strategy should be used to promote the BLLs of Chinese children, like striving to improve the environment, setting new cutoff for high BLLs, and establishing routine blood lead screening.

http://ift.tt/2iCoWi8

Catalytic reduction of 2-nitroaniline: a review

Abstract

2-nitroaniline (2-NA) is highly toxic and environmental contaminant. It is reduced to less toxic and environmental benign product o-phenylenediamine by using different reducing agents like sodium borohydride, potassium borohydride, or hydrazine hydrate in the presence of various catalytic systems. These catalytic systems have various advantages and drawbacks. Silica-supported gold nanoparticles are frequently reported catalyst for the reduction of 2-nitroaniline in aqueous medium. In this review article, different catalytic systems reported for reduction of o-nitroaniline under various reaction conditions have been discussed. The critical review of the recent research progress for development of novel catalysts used for the reduction of 2-nitroaniline has been provided here.

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Racial/ethnic differences in electronic cigarette knowledge, social norms, and risk perceptions among current and former smokers

Publication date: April 2017
Source:Addictive Behaviors, Volume 67
Author(s): Monica Webb Hooper, Stephanie K. Kolar
Psychosocial factors that may affect electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) initiation or maintenance among racial/ethnic minorities are not well-understood. This study examined racial/ethnic differences in e-cigarette knowledge, risk perceptions, and social norms among current and former smokers. Individuals with a tobacco smoking history and an awareness of e-cigarettes (N=285) were recruited from the community from June to August 2014. Telephone-administered surveys assessed demographics, smoking status, and e-cigarette knowledge, risk perceptions, and normative beliefs. Analyses of covariance and multinomial logistic regression tested associations by race/ethnicity. Controlling for sociodemographics and smoking status, White participants scored significantly higher on e-cigarette knowledge, compared to both Hispanics and African Americans/Blacks. Knowledge was lower among African Americans/Blacks compared to Hispanics. Compared to both Whites and Hispanics, African American/Black participants held lower perceptions regarding e-cigarette health risks and were less likely to view e-cigarettes as addictive. Normative beliefs did not differ by race/ethnicity. In conclusion, e-cigarette knowledge, health risk perceptions, and perceived addictiveness differed by race/ethnicity. The variation in e-cigarette knowledge and beliefs among smokers and former smokers has implications for use, and potentially, dual use. Understanding these relationships in unrepresented populations can inform future research and practice.



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Assessment of pain in adolescents: Influence of gender, smoking status and tobacco abstinence

Publication date: April 2017
Source:Addictive Behaviors, Volume 67
Author(s): Kara S. Bagot, Ran Wu, Dana Cavallo, Suchitra Krishnan-Sarin
PurposeWe examined sex differences between smokers and nonsmokers in pain threshold, tolerance, and intensity and the effect of pain on cardiovascular measures, withdrawal, and craving during acute smoking abstinence.MethodsNinety-six (53 smokers, 43 nonsmokers) adolescents completed the Cold Pressor Task (CPT) to assess pain responses after minimal (1h) and 42-hour smoking deprivation. Vital signs and craving were assessed before and after CPT completion.ResultsSmokers, compared to nonsmokers, had significantly lower pain tolerance (p<0.01) and pain threshold (p<0.001). Female smokers had significantly lower pain tolerance prior to, and following, 42-hour deprivation compared to male smokers (p's<0.01), male nonsmokers (p's<0.01), and female nonsmokers (p's<0.001), while male smokers demonstrated significantly decreased pain tolerance following 42-hour deprivation (p<0.05). Additionally, during minimal deprivation, at time of hand removal, female smokers had higher pain intensity compared to female nonsmokers (p<0.05) and male smokers (p<0.01). Withdrawal was not significantly correlated with any CPT measures or subjective pain during or following minimal deprivation or acute abstinence. Craving was associated with pain 15s after hand submersion (p=0.007) at 42-hour deprivation.ConclusionsSmokers had a lower pain threshold than non-smokers, with female smokers demonstrating lower pain tolerance during minimal deprivation than all comparison groups, and, continuing to have diminished pain tolerance compared to female nonsmokers following 42h of abstinence. Male smokers demonstrated tobacco-deprivation-induced reductions in pain tolerance. Further study of pain-related factors that may contribute to relapse and maintenance of smoking behaviors, and mechanisms of these relationships among adolescent smokers is warranted.



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On the investigation of self-healing behavior of bitumen and its influencing factors

Publication date: 5 March 2017
Source:Materials & Design, Volume 117
Author(s): Quan Lv, Weidong Huang, Xingyi Zhu, Feipeng Xiao
Bitumen, which combines individual aggregate particles, is crucial in the self-healing of asphalt materials. However, the underlying mechanism and influencing factors of self-healing remain ambiguous. In this study, the effects of different factors were investigated using a multi-failure-healing cycle test based on the Binder Bond Strength (BBS) test. Then, Computed Tomography scan (CT-scan) test was performed to visually confirm the results of the BBS test. Results indicate that bond strength recovery displays various patterns over time under different conditions. What is unexpected is that the water exerts multiple effects on the healing potential of bitumen, although it negatively influences the healing capability of this material over time. In addition, the healing capability of bitumen continuously increases with healing temperature. The result of CT-scan test further confirms this phenomenon and indicates that healing temperature is more important than healing time. As for the aging process, it elicits different effects on the base bitumen and modified binder. Both the BBS test and CT-scan test show the negative effect of Styrene–Butadiene–Styrene (SBS) modifier on the healing potential of the base bitumen. Moreover, CT-scanned images reveal that three healing stages can be suggested to interpret the healing behavior: gathering, moving, and rounding.

Graphical abstract

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Design and modeling of auxetic and hybrid honeycomb structures for in-plane property enhancement

Publication date: 5 March 2017
Source:Materials & Design, Volume 117
Author(s): Aniket Ingrole, Ayou Hao, Richard Liang
Honeycomb structures have been used extensively in lightweight sandwich structure and impact energy absorption applications. Recently the research has been carried out on auxetic honeycombs that have negative Poisson's ratio (NPR). Auxetic structures are attractive for various engineering applications because of their unique mechanical properties, volume change control and excellent impact energy absorption performance. In this study, novel design and performance improvement of new auxetic-strut structures were presented. A comparative study of in-plane uniaxial compression loading behavior of regular honeycomb, re-entrant auxetic honeycomb, locally reinforced auxetic-strut structure and a hybrid structure of combining regular honeycomb and auxetic-strut structure was conducted on 3D printed samples. The deformation and failure modes of the different cells were studied and their performance was also discussed. The new auxetic-strut structure showed better mechanical properties than the honeycomb and auxetic structure. For example, the compressive strength of the auxetic-strut design is ~300% more than that of honeycomb structure and ~65% more than that of auxetic structure. With lower values of the Poisson's ratio, the new design can absorb more energy when compared to the other structures. Hybrid structure of auxetic-strut and honeycomb cells allows us tailor the deformation paths to provide desired failure modes.

Graphical abstract

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Multi-objective optimization of tungsten CMP slurry for advanced semiconductor manufacturing using a response surface methodology

Publication date: 5 March 2017
Source:Materials & Design, Volume 117
Author(s): Jihoon Seo, Joo Hyun Kim, Myoungjae Lee, Keungtae You, Jinok Moon, Dong-Hee Lee, Ungyu Paik
In this study, a response surface methodology (RSM) coupled with a face center cube design (FCD) was used to optimize the three principal components (i.e., Fe(NO3)3, H2O2, and SiO2 abrasives) in polishing slurries for a W barrier chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) process. The experimental ranges of the three components were 10–50ppm of Fe(NO3)3, 0.3–0.9wt% of H2O2, and 1–5wt% of SiO2 abrasives. Based on the experimental data from the FCD, the second-order models for the material removal rate (MRR) of the W and Oxide films were fitted; these were determined to be statistically valid and reliable. We have achieved the optimal conditions for the three components where the MRR is maximized and the selectivity between the W and Oxide MRRs is ~1. The predicted MRR and selectivity at the optimal conditions were well correlated with the results of a confirmation run, which was conducted by using the W barrier CMP process with W-patterned wafers. In addition, we employed a particular RSM called dual-response optimization in order to investigate the tradeoff between the MRR and selectivity. Based on the tradeoff information, process engineers can conduct the optimization of the three components more flexibly.

Graphical abstract

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Hybrid-fiber reinforced engineered cementitious composite under tensile and impact loading

Publication date: 5 March 2017
Source:Materials & Design, Volume 117
Author(s): M.A.E.M. Ali, A.M. Soliman, M.L. Nehdi
The behavior under impact loading of an innovative hybrid fiber-reinforced engineered cementitious composite incorporating short randomly dispersed shape memory alloy (HECC-SMAF) and PVA fibers was explored using a drop weight impact test. Test specimens were also heat-treated to investigate possible pre-stressing effects of SMA fibers on the impact resistance of the ECC. Uniaxial tensile testing on ECC coupon specimens was also conducted. A two-parameter Weibull distribution was used to analyze variations in experimental results in terms of reliability function. Results indicate that SMA fibers significantly enhanced the tensile and impact performance of the ECC. Adding fibers beyond a certain dosage led to fiber clustering, thus, no further gain in tensile and impact performance was measured. The impact resistance of HECC-SMAF specimens was further improved after exposure to heat treatment. This highlights the significant contribution imparted by the local pre-stressing effect of SMA fibers to the impact resistance of the composite. The Weibull distribution was adequate to predict the impact failure strength of ECC, allowing to avert additional costly experiments. This research underscores the potential to engineer new cementitious composites with superior tensile properties and impact resistance for the protection of critical infrastructure in the event of explosive or impact loading.

Graphical abstract

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Overall improvement in dielectric and mechanical properties of porous graphene fluoroxide/polyimide nanocomposite films via bubble-stretching approach

Publication date: 5 March 2017
Source:Materials & Design, Volume 117
Author(s): Zhigeng Chen, Shumei Liu, Shijing Yan, Xia Shu, Yanchao Yuan, Haohao Huang, Jianqing Zhao
Low dielectric constant is desired for polyimide to be used in microelectronic industry. In the present study, a series of porous graphene fluoroxide/polyimide (GFO/pPI) nanocomposite films with improved dielectric and mechanical properties were fabricated. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) was introduced into the system to play the roles of an intercalator in exfoliation of graphite fluoroxide and a blowing agent in preparation of porous structure. The in-situ bubble-stretching, resulting from PEG decomposition during the thermal imidization, not only hindered the agglomeration of GFO nanosheets, but also generated micro-pores in PI matrix. Both the porous structure and the GFO nanosheets significantly decreased the dielectric constant of composite films, and the load transfer between GFO and PI matrix efficiently improved the mechanical properties of composite films. A very low dielectric constant of 2.29 as well as high tensile modulus of 4.43GPa and tensile strength of 159MPa was obtained for the composite film with the GFO loading of only 0.30wt%. In addition, the glass transition temperature of GFO/pPI films was increased from 355°C to 388°C, and the coefficient of linear thermal expansion of GFO/pPI films was decreased from 48.7ppm/K to 24.9ppm/K.

Graphical abstract

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Numerical and physical simulation of rapid microstructural evolution of gas atomised Ni superalloy powders

Publication date: 5 March 2017
Source:Materials & Design, Volume 117
Author(s): Liang Zheng, T.L. Lee, Na Liu, Zhou Li, Guoqing Zhang, J. Mi, P.S. Grant
The rapid microstructural evolution of gas atomised Ni superalloy powder compacts over timescales of a few seconds was studied using a Gleeble 3500 thermomechanical simulator, finite element based numerical model and electron microscopy. The study found that the microstructural changes were governed by the characteristic temperatures of the alloy. At a temperature below the γ' solvus, the powders maintained dendritic structures. Above the γ' solvus temperature but in the solid-state, rapid grain spheroidisation and coarsening occurred, although the fine-scale microstructures were largely retained. Once the incipient melting temperature of the alloy was exceeded, microstructural change was rapid, and when the temperature was increased into the solid+liquid state, the powder compact partially melted and then re-solidified with no trace of the original structures, despite the fast timescales. The study reveals the relationship between short, severe thermal excursions and microstructural evolution in powder processed components, and gives guidance on the upper limit of temperature and time for powder-based processes if desirable fine-scale features of powders are to be preserved.

Graphical abstract

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Effect of cenosphere particle size and relative density on the compressive deformation behavior of aluminum-cenosphere hybrid foam

Publication date: 5 March 2017
Source:Materials & Design, Volume 117
Author(s): Shyam Birla, D.P. Mondal, S. Das, Anup Khare, Jai Prakash Singh
AlSi12Cu1Mg1-cenosphere hybrid foams (HFs) of varying relative densities were made through stir casting technique using CaH2 as a foaming agent. Cenospheres of different size ranges were used as a thickening agent, as well as to create micropores in the cell wall. The foaming temperature was varied to vary the relative density, which has not been studied earlier. The combine effect of cenosphere size and relative density on the compressive deformation behavior of HFs was investigated. The plastic collapse stress, plateau stress, and energy absorption of hybrid foam increase with decrease in cenosphere size and increase in relative density. On the other hand, the densification strain is almost invariant to the cenosphere size. All the above responses are correlated with relative density and materials parameters of HFs. This study demonstrates that cenosphere a thermal power plant waste can be used to get good quality of hybrid foam.

Graphical abstract

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Template-directed flower-like lactose with micro-meso-macroporous structure

Publication date: 5 March 2017
Source:Materials & Design, Volume 117
Author(s): Songwen Tan, Amirali Ebrahimi, Timothy Langrish
The fabrication of porous materials with multiple physical, chemical and biological properties has been an emerging topic in recent years. In this work, we propose a method using a spray drying and templating technique to fabricate a micro-meso-macroporous lactose material with a flower-like shape. The flower-like lactose has a large surface area of 25m²/g and a high pore volume of 0.31cm³/g. BJH analysis from the N2 adsorption isotherm shows significant pore distributions with peaks at 1.4, 2.2, 6.5 and 17.5nm (diameter). The mechanism of pore-structure formation has been probed by two analysis techniques, including confocal Raman microscopy (CRM) and focused ion beam (FIB) etching. As the porous flower-like lactose is a food-grade material, this work may offer new applications in food and pharmaceutical fields where the micropores and macropores are both beneficial.

Graphical abstract

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Thermophysical properties of Ni-containing single-phase concentrated solid solution alloys

Publication date: 5 March 2017
Source:Materials & Design, Volume 117
Author(s): K. Jin, S. Mu, K. An, W.D. Porter, G.D. Samolyuk, G.M. Stocks, H. Bei
Temperature dependent thermophysical properties, including specific heat capacity, lattice thermal expansion, thermal diffusivity and conductivity, have been systematically studied in Ni and eight Ni-containing single-phase face-centered-cubic concentrated solid solution alloys, at elevated temperatures up to 1273K. The alloys have similar specific heat values of 0.4–0.5J·g⁻¹·K⁻¹ at room temperature, but their temperature dependence varies greatly due to Curie and K-state transitions. The lattice, electronic, and magnetic contributions to the specific heat have been separated based on first-principles methods in NiCo, NiFe, Ni-20Cr and NiCoFeCr. The alloys have similar thermal expansion behavior, with the exception that NiFe and NiCoFe have much lower thermal expansion coefficient in their ferromagnetic state due to magnetostriction effects. Calculations based on the quasi-harmonic approximation accurately predict the temperature dependent lattice parameter of NiCo and NiFe with <0.2% error, but underestimated that of Ni-20Cr by 1%, compared to the values determined from neutron diffraction. All the alloys containing Cr have very similar thermal conductivity, which is much lower than that of Ni and the alloys without Cr, due to the large magnetic disorder.

Graphical abstract

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CoCrFeNi(W1−xMox) high-entropy alloy coatings with excellent mechanical properties and corrosion resistance prepared by mechanical alloying and hot pressing sintering

Publication date: 5 March 2017
Source:Materials & Design, Volume 117
Author(s): Caiyun Shang, Eugen Axinte, Jun Sun, Xuting Li, Peng Li, Jianwei Du, Pengchao Qiao, Yan Wang
The CoCrFeNiW and CoCrFeNiW0.5Mo0.5 high-entropy alloy coatings (HEACs) have been prepared by mechanical alloying and vacuum hot pressing sintering (VHPS) technique on Q235 steel substrate. The microstructures, microhardness, wear resistance and corrosion resistance of HEACs were studied in detail. The final milling products for as-milled CoCrFeNi(W1−xMox) (x=0, 0.5) coating powders are the mixture of body-centered cubic (BCC) and face-centered cubic (FCC) solid solution phases, while order FCC phase exists for CoCrFeNiW. VHPS-ed CoCrFeNiW and CoCrFeNiW0.5Mo0.5 HEACs are 600 and 650μm in thickness respectively, and bear a good metallurgical bonding to the substrate. Both HEACs comprise two FCC phases with a small amount of δ-NiW and σ-CoCr phases. The average microhardness values of CoCrFeNiW and CoCrFeNiW0.5Mo0.5 HEACs reach 669 and 600HV respectively, which far exceed the substrate (160HV). And both coatings exhibit superior wear resistance than substrate under the same wear conditions. The corrosion resistance in 3.5% NaCl solution of the coatings is improved compared with substrate. Especially, Mo addition remarkably enhances corrosion resistance as reflected by the lowest corrosion current density and more positive corrosion potential as well as a reduction in average corrosion rate.

Graphical abstract

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Analysis of the two-point discrimination test in daily routine practice

Abstract

Background

Finger nerve lesions lead to a sensory deficit with para-anesthesia or anesthesia and impair hand functions. In daily clinical practice, the diagnosis of an injured finger nerve can be challenging. This study aims at evaluating if the two-point discrimination (2PD) test is a good predictor of nerve lesions to indicate operative treatments in hand trauma patients.

Methods

Based on the record of patients with an acute hand and finger injury, it was evaluated whether a pathological 2PD test in the clinical examination corresponds to the intraoperative findings of a severed nerve. From 2008 and 2014, patients with isolated finger nerve lesions were included, while patients with concomitant bone or tendon injuries were excluded.

Results

As many as 113 patients with a total of 131 nerve injuries of the hand and fingers were suitable for this study. The statistical analysis revealed a sensitivity of 98% among them for the 2PD test. Further, a positive predictive value of 96% was demonstrated.

Conclusions

The results of our study showed that the 2PD test is a valuable examination to diagnose nerve injuries of fingers in hand trauma patients. It is a simple, reliable, and available examination tool and therefore can be suggested in daily clinical practice.

Level of Evidence: Level III, diagnostic study.

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Effect of Er:Yag laser on dentin demineralization around restorations

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of cavity preparation with Er:YAG laser on dentin adjacent to restorations submitted to cariogenic challenge in situ, by subsuperficial microhardness analysis. Bovine incisors were sectioned, flattened, and polished, resulting in 40 dentin slabs. The slabs were randomly assigned to four groups (n = 10), according to the cavity preparation method: I—high-speed handpiece (control); II—Er:YAG laser (160 mJ; 3 Hz); III—Er:YAG laser (260 mJ; 3 Hz); IV—Er:YAG laser (300 mJ; 3Hz). Cavities were restored with composite resin, and the specimens were fixed in intra-oral appliances, which were worn by 10 volunteers for 14 days for simulating cariogenic challenge in situ. During the experimental period, 20% sucrose solution was dripped over each specimen 6 times a day. Samples were removed, sectioned, and examined for subsuperficial Knoop microhardness at 100, 200, and 300 μm from the restoration and at 30 μm from dentin surface. Split-plot analysis of variance showed no significant difference among the cavity preparation techniques (p = 0.1129), among distances (p = 0.9030), as well as no difference in the interaction between the main factors (p = 0.7338). It was concluded that the cavity preparation with Er:YAG laser did not influence on dentin microhardness submitted to cariogenic challenge in situ.

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Effectiveness of low-level laser therapy on pain intensity, pressure pain threshold, and SF-MPQ indexes of women with myofascial pain

Abstract

Women with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) frequently report pain areas in body regions. This process is associated with central sensitization phenomena, present in chronic pain. The low-level laser therapy (LLLT) has been reported as a therapeutic option for the painful TMD treatment. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of LLLT on pain intensity (visual analogue scale, VAS), pain sensitivity in orofacial and corporal points (pressure pain threshold, PPT), and on Short Form-McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ) indexes of women with myofascial pain (subtype of muscle TMD). Ninety-one women (18–60 years) were included in the study, among which 61 were diagnosed with myofascial pain (Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorder—Ia and Ib) and were divided into laser (n = 31) and placebo group (n = 30), and 30 were controls. The LLLT was applied at pre-established points, twice a week, eight sessions (780 nm; masseter and anterior temporal = 5 J/cm², 20 mW, 10 s; TMJ area = 7.5 J/cm², 30 mW, 10 s). Pain intensity, pain sensitivity, and the SF-MPQ indexes were measured at the baseline, during laser sessions, and 30 days after treatment. For intra-group comparisons, the Friedman test was performed, and for inter-group, the Mann-Whitney test. Increased pain sensitivity was found in women with myofascial pain when compared to controls (p < 0.05). There was a reduction in pain intensity for both groups after LLLT. The LLLT did not change the PPT for any group (p > 0.05). Active laser and placebo reduced the indexes of sensory, total pain, and VAS, maintaining the results after 30 days; there was a reduction in the affective pain rating index for both groups, with no maintenance after 30 days for placebo, and the present pain intensity decreased in the laser group and did not change in the placebo after LLLT. In conclusion, the LLLT active or placebo are effective in reducing the overall subjective perception of myofascial pain (VAS and SF-MPQ indexes); however, they have no effectiveness in reducing the pain sensitivity in orofacial and corporal points (PPT increase).

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Optimizing the phosphorus use in cotton by using CSM-CROPGRO-cotton model for semi-arid climate of Vehari-Punjab, Pakistan

Abstract

Crop nutrient management is an essential component of any cropping system. With increasing concerns over environmental protection, improvement in fertilizer use efficiencies has become a prime goal in global agriculture system. Phosphorus (P) is one of the most important nutrients, and strategies are required to optimize its use in important arable crops like cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) that has great significance. Sustainable P use in crop production could significantly avoid environmental hazards resulting from over-P fertilization. Crop growth modeling has emerged as an effective tool to assess and predict the optimal nutrient requirements for different crops. In present study, Decision Support System for Agro-technology Transfer (DSSAT) sub-model CSM-CROPGRO-Cotton-P was evaluated to estimate the observed and simulated P use in two cotton cultivars grown at three P application rates under the semi-arid climate of southern Punjab, Pakistan. The results revealed that both the cultivars performed best at medium rate of P application (57 kg ha⁻¹) in terms of days to anthesis, days to maturity, seed cotton yield, total dry matter production, and harvest index during 2013 and 2014. Cultivar FH-142 performed better than MNH-886 in terms of different yield components. There was a good agreement between observed and simulated days to anthesis (0 to 1 day), days to maturity (0 to 2 days), seed cotton yield, total dry matter, and harvest index with an error of −4.4 to 15%, 12–7.5%, and 13–9.5% in MNH-886 and for FH-142, 4–16%, 19–11%, and 16–8.3% for growing years 2013 and 2014, respectively. CROPGRO-Cotton-P would be a useful tool to forecast cotton yield under different levels of P in cotton production system of the semi-arid climate of Southern Punjab.

http://ift.tt/2j618jq

Effects of supersaturation control strategies on hydroxyapatite (HAP) crystallization for phosphorus recovery from wastewater

Abstract

The HAP crystallization for phosphorus removal from wastewater contributes to an environmental friendly production due to the fact that it helps reduce or eliminate the water eutrophication as well as increases the recovery of mineral resources. However, the generated microcrystalline with poor settleability in high levels of supersaturation solution has a negative effect on the phosphorus recovery efficiency. To overcome the drawback, multiple reagent feed ports (four feed ports) and different recirculation ratio (1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0) were investigated to control the levels of supersaturation in an air-agitated reactor with calcite as seeds. Results showed that the approach of multiple reagent feed ports could improve the conversion ratio of orthophosphate, but it had a limited effect (∼3% improvement) on phosphorus recovery efficiency (deposition on the seeds). With the increase of the recirculation ratio, the recovery efficiency was increased gradually and reached an optimal value of 85.63% under the recirculation ratio of 2.5 and four feed ports. This is because the adopted strategies could reduce the level of supersaturation by diluting the concentration of the reagents and inhibit large numbers of microcrystalline coinstantaneous occurrence. Meanwhile, the crystallized products were detected and analyzed by scanning electron micrograph (SEM) with energy-dispersive spectrometry (EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), which were proved to be HAP with a high purity. Collectively, these results demonstrated that supersaturation control using conventional approaches had a limited improvement on the phosphorus recovery efficiency in the form of HAP, and the new control strategies for supersaturation dispersion should be developed in the further study.

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Assessment of arsenic trioxide in the heart of Gallus gallus : alterations of oxidative damage parameters, inflammatory cytokines, and cardiac enzymes

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the effects of arsenic trioxide (As₂O₃) in the chicken heart, and 72 1-day-old male Hy-line chickens were fed either a commercial diet (C group) or an arsenic supplement diet containing 7.5 mg/kg (L group), 15 mg/kg (M group), or 30 mg/kg (H group) As₂O₃ for 90 days. The results showed that exposure to As₂O₃ merely lowered (P < 0.05) the activities of catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in M and H groups at 90 days, significantly downregulated the inhibition ability of hydroxyl radicals (OH·), and upregulated (P < 0.05) the contents of malondialdehyde (MDA) in As₂O₃ exposure groups at 30, 60, and 90 days. Meanwhile, the messenger RNA levels of inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and prostaglandin E synthase (PTGEs)) significantly increased (P < 0.05) in As₂O₃ exposure groups at 30, 60, and 90 days, and histological and ultrastructural damage was observed in As₂O₃ exposure groups. Additionally, As₂O₃-induced cardiac enzyme (aspartate transaminase (AST), creatine kinase (CK), creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and α-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (α-HBDH)) levels increased (P < 0.05) at 90 days. These findings suggested that As₂O₃ exposure led to oxidative stress, inflammatory response, and histological and ultrastructural damage and altered the levels of cardiac enzymes in chicken heart tissues. This result may be helpful for further studies on the toxicological mechanisms of As₂O₃ in the chicken heart.

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Green chemical synthesis of gold nanoparticles by using Penicillium aculeatum and their scolicidal activity against hydatid cyst protoscolices of Echinococcus granulosus

Abstract

Hydatid disease is a helminth infection with various clinical complications caused by the larval stage of the dog tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus. The scolicidal agents have been broadly applied for inactivation of the fertile cysts up to now, but these scolicidal agents have several side effects on patients. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the scolicidal activity of green synthesized gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) utilizing mycelia-free culture filtrate of Penicillium aculeatum against hydatid cyst protoscolices of E. granulosus. The size and morphology of AuNPs were affirmed by UV–visible spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and dynamic light scattering (DLS) analysis. The Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) analysis of AuNPs showed the presence of possible functional groups responsible for the bioreduction and capping. The AuNPs were formed relatively uniform with spherical shape and superior monodispersity with the average diameter of 60 nm. Consequently, various concentrations (0.05, 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3 mg/mL) of green synthesized AuNPs and different exposure times (10, 30, 60, and 120 min) were used against hydatid cyst protoscolices. Statistically, the difference between the scolicidal effects of AuNPs were seen extremely significant for all four concentrations and at various exposure times in comparison to the control group (P < 0.0001). The most mean protoscolex elimination ratio was 94% (0.3 mg/mL AuNPs and 120-min exposure time). The current investigation indicated that applying biogenic AuNPs may be considered as a potential scolicidal agent for cystic hydatid disease. However, further studies are required to evaluate the efficacy of AuNPs in vivo.

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microRNA-761 induces aggressive phenotypes in triple-negative breast cancer cells by repressing TRIM29 expression

Abstract

Purpose

Despite advances that have been made in systemic chemotherapy, the prognosis of advanced triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients is still poor. The identification of key factors governing TNBC development is considered imperative for the development of novel effective therapeutic approaches. Previously, it has been reported that microRNA (miR)-761 may act as either a tumor suppressor or as an oncogene in different types of cancer. Here, we aimed at assessing the biological role of this miRNA in TNBC.

Methods

First, we measured the expression of miR-761 in primary breast cancer tissues and breast cancer-derived cell lines using qRT-PCR. Subsequently, over-expression and silencing experiments were performed to determine the role of miR-761 in TNBC cell proliferation, colony formation, migration and invasion in vitro. The in vivo role of miR-761 in TNBC growth and metastasis was determined in mouse models. Bioinformatics analyses, dual-luciferase reporter assays, Western blot analyses and rescue experiments were performed to identify miR-761 target gene(s).

Results

We found that miR-761 was up-regulated in primary breast cancer tissues and its derived cell lines and, particularly, in TNBC tissues and cell lines. We also found that exogenous miR-761 over-expression augmented in vitro TNBC cell proliferation, colony formation, migration and invasion, whereas miR-761 down-regulation impaired these features. In vivo, we found that miR-761 over-expression facilitated TNBC growth and lung metastasis. Mechanistically, miR-761 was found to negatively regulate the expression of tripartite motif-containing 29 (TRIM29) in TNBC cells by binding to the 3′-untranslated region of its mRNA. In conformity with these results, a significant negative correlation between miR-761 expression and TRIM29 protein expression was noted in primary TNBC tissues (r = −0.452, p = 0.0126). We also found that exogenous TRIM29 over-expression reversed the proliferative and invasive capacities of TNBC cells.

Conclusions

Our data indicate that miR-761 acts as an oncogene in TNBC. This mode of action can, at least partially, be ascribed to the down-regulation of its target TRIM29. We suggest that miR-761 may serve as a promising therapeutic target for TNBC.

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Flowable composites for restoration of non-carious cervical lesions: Three-year results

Publication date: Available online 3 January 2017
Source:Dental Materials
Author(s): Sabine May, Fabian Cieplik, Karl-Anton Hiller, Wolfgang Buchalla, Marianne Federlin, Gottfried Schmalz
ObjectivesTo evaluate the clinical performance of two flowable composites for restoring Class-V non-carious cervical lesions (NCCLs), one with novel (ND; N'Durance^® Dimer Flow, Septodont) and one with modified conventional matrix composition (FS; Filtek™ Supreme XTE Flow, 3M-ESPE). The null hypothesis was that both flowable composites perform equally regarding clinical quality and survival.Methods50 patients received one ND and one FS restoration of NCCLs in premolars using Clearfil Protect Bond (Kuraray) as an adhesive. Restorations were evaluated by two examiners at baseline (BL), 18 and 36 months employing FDI criteria. Non-parametric statistical analyses and χ² tests were applied (α=0.05).Results48 patients with both restorations under risk participated in the 36-mo recall. One patient terminated participation after the 18-mo recall. One ND restoration failed at the 18-mo recall (fracture). One FS restoration failed during clinical examination at the 36-mo recall (debonding). 95.8% of restorations each were rated clinically acceptable at 36-mo. No significant differences for all selected FDI criteria were recorded between ND and FS at each examination time point except for the criteria surface staining at 36-mo and marginal staining at 18-mo and 36-mo, where FS showed significantly better results. For each material, no significant differences over time were detected, except for loss of surface lustre for FS (BL to 18 months).SignificanceWithin the limitations of the study, the null hypothesis that materials perform equally could not be rejected. Both flowable composites performed equally regarding survival and similarly regarding clinical performance.



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Editorial Board

Publication date: 30 January 2017
Source:Journal of Proteomics, Volume 152





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Corrigendum to “Introduction to the HUPO 2015 Special Issue” [J. Proteomics (2016) 1–2]

Publication date: 30 January 2017
Source:Journal of Proteomics, Volume 152
Author(s): Christoph H. Borchers, Pierre Thibault




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Catecholamines profiles at diagnosis: Increased diagnostic sensitivity and correlation with biological and clinical features in neuroblastoma patients

Publication date: February 2017
Source:European Journal of Cancer, Volume 72
Author(s): Iedan R.N. Verly, André B.P. van Kuilenburg, Nico G.G.M. Abeling, Susan M.I. Goorden, Marta Fiocco, Frédéric M. Vaz, Max M. van Noesel, C. Michel Zwaan, GertJan L. Kaspers, Johannes H.M. Merks, Huib N. Caron, Godelieve A.M. Tytgat
IntroductionNeuroblastoma (NBL) accounts for 10% of the paediatric malignancies and is responsible for 15% of the paediatric cancer-related deaths. Vanillylmandelic acid (VMA) and homovanillic acid (HVA) are most commonly analysed in urine of NBL patients. However, their diagnostic sensitivity is suboptimal (82%). Therefore, we performed in-depth analysis of the diagnostic sensitivity of a panel of urinary catecholamine metabolites.Patients and methodsRetrospective study of a panel of 8 urinary catecholamine metabolites (VMA, HVA, 3-methoxytyramine [3MT], dopamine, epinephrine, metanephrine, norepinephrine and normetanephrine [NMN]) from 301 NBL patients at diagnosis. Special attention was given to subgroups, metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) non-avid tumours and VMA/HVA negative patients.ResultsElevated catecholamine metabolites, especially 3MT, correlated with nine out of 12 NBL characteristics such as stage, age, MYCN amplification, loss of heterozygosity for 1p and bone-marrow invasion. The combination of the classical markers VMA and HVA had a diagnostic sensitivity of 84%. NMN was the most sensitive single diagnostic metabolite with overall sensitivity of 89%. When all 8 metabolites were combined, a diagnostic sensitivity of 95% was achieved. Among the VMA and HVA negative patients, were also 29% with stage 4 disease, which usually had elevation of other catecholamine metabolites (93%). Diagnostic sensitivity for patients with MIBG non-avid tumour was improved from 33% (VMA and/or HVA) to 89% by measuring the panel.ConclusionsOur study demonstrates that analysis of a urinary catecholamine metabolite panel, comprising 8 metabolites, ensures the highest sensitivity to diagnose NBL patients.



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Round or 'shaped' breast implants? Even plastic surgeons can't tell the difference

Looking at before-and-after photos, plastic surgeons and nurses can't tell whether breast augmentation surgery was done using conventional round implants or newer anatomically shaped implants...

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Is patient satisfaction relevant? Plastic surgeons call for better rating tools

Patient satisfaction has become an important quality measure in the US healthcare system.

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Molecular explorations of substituted 2-(4-phenylquinolin-2-yl) phenols as phosphoinositide 3-kinase inhibitors and anticancer agents

Abstract

Purpose

Substituted 2-(4-phenylquinolin-2-yl) phenols (PQPDs) emerged as the inhibitors of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and anticancer agents.

Method

PI3K inhibition was assessed by competitive ELISA. Anticancer activity was evaluated against breast cancer (MCF-7), skin cancer (G-361), and colon cancer (HCT 116) cell lines.

Results

In PI3 Kinase assay, PQPDs 4c, 4d, and 4k were inactive with IC₅₀ >5 µM. IC₅₀ for 4a, 4b, 4f–h, and 4j was ≥0.05 µM. Rest PQPDs IC₅₀ was <1.0 µM. Anticancer activity found selective toward breast cancer (MCF-7); 4a, 4b, and 4j were showed excellent inhibitory (73.95, 68.36, and 70.06%) and IC₅₀ 1.16 µM (4a), 2.07 µM (4b), 1.021 µM (4f) and 1.981 µM (4j) while the standard (Doxorubicin) found with IC₅₀ 1.812 µM (72% inhibition). PQPDs were docked into the active site of PI3 Kinase p110α (PDB ID: 2RD0). Docking results suggested the hydrophobic interactions in PI3K binding pocket conquered affinity of the most favorable binding ligands [4a, 4b: inhibitory constant (ki) = 53.33, 41.23 pM].

Conclusion

PI3K assay and cancer cell line experimental results ensured that the inhibitory and anticancer activity potentials of PQPDs are more selective toward breast cancer treatments. PQPDs 4a, 4b, 4f, 4g, and 4j were displayed potent PI3 Kinase and anticancer activities. SAR studies demonstrated PQPDs as the PI3K precise inhibitors with the impending to treat various cancers.

Graphical Abstract

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Giant prolactinomas: Multi-modal approach to achieve tumor control

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Nest site preferences of the Woodlark (Lullula arborea) and its association with artificial nest predation

Publication date: January 2017
Source:Acta Oecologica, Volume 78
Author(s): Roman Buehler, Laura Bosco, Raphaël Arlettaz, Alain Jacot
The Woodlark is an insectivorous bird, which is listed as a priority species in Switzerland. In Valais, a stronghold of this species in the country, the birds breed in intensively managed vineyards and show a preference for parcels with ground vegetation during territory establishment. As a ground-breeder, the species is highly vulnerable to nest predation by avian and mammal predators. The aims of our study were firstly to investigate nest site preferences of the woodlark within vineyards and secondly to compare the predation risk of artificial nests dependent of ground vegetation structure. Our results point out that the Woodlark prefers patches of tall and dense ground cover within vegetated vineyard parcels and avoids parcels that have been treated with herbicides. In a follow-up experiment we conducted a study comparing the predation rate of artificial nests between bare parcels (<20% vegetated area) and vegetated parcels (>40% vegetated area). Artificial nests equipped with one quail egg were distributed pairwise between two adjacent parcels that fulfilled the upper criteria and were monitored by trail cameras during 10–12 days. Predation rate was generally low (4 predation events) and only occurred in bare parcels. These data indicate that conspicuousness of avian nests may be decreased in vegetated parcels and that the amount of vegetation can lower the predation risk on ground breeding birds - another indication for the importance of ground vegetation for a successful conservation of the endangered Woodlark in Swiss vineyards.



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Nest-niche differentiation in two sympatric columbid species from a Mediterranean Tetraclinis woodland: Considerations for forest management

Publication date: January 2017
Source:Acta Oecologica, Volume 78
Author(s): Saâd Hanane, Mohamed Yassin
Studies of niche partitioning among Columbid species have mainly addressed food habits and foraging activities, while partitioning in relation to nest-niche differentiation has been little studied. Here we investigate whether two sympatric columbid species—Woodpigeon (Columba palumbus) and Turtle dove (Streptopelia turtur)—occupy similar niches. A total of 74 nests were monitored: 37 nests for each species. The study, conducted in June 2016, attempted to determine the factors that may play a role in nest-niche differentiation among the two sympatric columbid species in a Moroccan Thuya (Tetraclinis articulata) forest. We used Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) to test the relevance of nest placement, proximity of food resources, forest edge and human presence variables in the nest distribution of the two species. The results show substantial niche segregation in the T. articulata nest-trees selected by Woodpigeons and Turtle doves, with selection depending primarily on the tree size and nest height. Observed nest-niche partitioning may diminish the potential for competition between these species and enhance opportunities for their coexistence. Management policies and practices aimed at ensuring the presence of mixed-sized class of Thuya trees must be prioritized. We recommend additional studies designed to: (1) reproduce the same experimental approach on other Mediterranean Thuya forests to improve our understanding of the effects of different levels of anthropogenic disturbance on the breeding behaviour of these two game species; (2) better understand the spatio-temporal dynamics of Woodpigeon and Turtle dove coexistence in the region; and (3) better identify the spatio-temporal extent of the effect of forest management on Woodpigeon and Turtle dove site occupancy.



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The importance of traditional orchards for breeding birds: The preliminary study on Central European example

Publication date: January 2017
Source:Acta Oecologica, Volume 78
Author(s): Łukasz Kajtoch
Orchards are parts of agriculture and apart from their economic role they may preserve biodiversity in highly transformed farmlands. An increasing intensity of orchards management is known to be threat for some species, especially pollinators and birds. On the other hand, the biodiversity of abandoned orchards was hardly investigated. Here, I present a survey of orchards in Poland to estimate how bird's diversities differ in response to the intensity of orchards management. In 2014, 66 orchards of three types – abandoned, extensively and intensively managed – were investigated. Bird species' richness and abundance were found to be highest in abandoned orchards but overall bird diversity and species composition in abandoned did not differ from these found in extensively managed orchards. In abandoned and extensively managed orchards, hollow-dwellers and insectivores (with some rare old-forest associated species) dominated, whereas in intensively managed orchards the most diverse were ground-dwellers. Among the several selected environmental features, the highest impact on bird diversity was related to the tree diversity, abundance of older trees, presence of multilayer understory and heterogeneous surrounding. The preliminary study point that traditional orchards could play a important role for wood-dwelling species in agriculture and because of that the removal or replacement of all traditional orchards by intensively managed orchards should be avoided and needs of orchard protection should be implemented into Agri-Environmental Schemes/High Nature Value farming systems and possibly also into habitat directive of EU. Unfortunately, the number of abandoned and extensively managed orchards is declining from agricultural landscapes, and traditional orchards are replaced by conventional fruit plantations.



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Bloodborne pathogen exposures: Difference in reporting rates and individual predictors among health care personnel

Publication date: Available online 4 January 2017
Source:American Journal of Infection Control
Author(s): Cynthia Bush, Kendra Schmid, Mark E. Rupp, Shinobu Watanabe-Galloway, Barbara Wolford, Uriel Sandkovsky
BackgroundEmployees in health care settings are at varying risk for bloodborne pathogen (BBP) exposures. We compared differences in reporting rates of BBP exposures among health care personnel during 2 different time periods, assessing job category, years of experience, and sex as potential predictors for exposure.MethodsA retrospective review of the employee health department BBP database at 2 time periods (September 1, 2012-April 30, 2013, and September 1, 2013-April 30, 2014) in which 2 different reporting protocols (call center vs pager) was used. A survey was administered to assess reported and unreported exposures within a 12-month period.ResultsBBP exposures were highest among residents and lowest among students. Physicians' reporting rate doubled when the call center was no longer used (relative risk, 2.40; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04-5.52). Percutaneous injuries were the most common (78.3%), and most occurred in the operating room or postanesthesia unit (30.8%) and patient rooms (28.9%). Of 1,105 survey respondents, 103 (9.3%) recalled some type of exposure, but only 80 (77.7%) reported these exposures. When accounting for years of experience and sex, job category was significantly associated with injury or exposure within the previous 12 months (P < .001). Risk of exposure among residents was 3 times higher (odds ratio, 3.10; 95 CI, 1.60-6.00) than nurses.ConclusionsRisk and reporting behaviors of BBP exposures vary widely across different providers. Training and education to prevent BBP exposures may need to be tailored toward different provider types.



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Wound and soft tissue infections of Serratia marcescens in patients receiving wound care: A health care–associated outbreak

Publication date: Available online 4 January 2017
Source:American Journal of Infection Control
Author(s): Ebru Us, Huseyin H. Kutlu, Alper Tekeli, Duygu Ocal, Sevilay Cirpan, Kemal O. Memikoglu
We described a health care–associated Serratia marcescens outbreak of wound and soft tissue infection lasting approximately 11 months at Ankara University Ibni Sina Hospital. After identification of S marcescens strains from the clinical and environmental samples, and their susceptibility testing to antimicrobial agents, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was performed to detect molecular epidemiologic relationships among these isolates. The strains which were isolated from the saline bottles used for wound cleansing in the wound care unit were found to be 100% interrelated by PFGE to the strains from the samples of the outbreak patients. Reuse of the emptied bottles has no longer been allowed since the outbreak occurred. Besides, more efficient and frequent infection control training for hospital staff has been conducted.



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