SWNTs are a mixture of 1/3 metallic SWNTs (m-SWNTs) and 2/3 semiconducting SWNTs (s-SWNTs). It is desirable to separate the metallic SWNTs from the semi-conducting ones. In this study m-SWNTs was separated by using a poly[(m-phenylenevinylene)-alt-(p-phenylenevinylene)] (PmPV) derivative and used as photo-thermal media instead of SWNTs. The separation effects of m-SWNTs were evaluated by Raman spectra, molecular modeling and TEM images. The effects of m-SWNTs on MCF-7 cell proliferation and apoptosis were evaluated with MTT assay and flow cytometry, respectively. m-SWNTs were separated with high purity. A strong inhibition of MCF-7 cell growth was observed with the m-SWNTs under near-infrared (NIR) light irradiation. Our results will be helpful for the potential applications of m-SWNTs in clinical photothermal cancer therapy.
Apoptosis ; Breast Neoplasms ; pathology ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Light ; MCF-7 Cells ; drug effects ; Models, Molecular ; Nanotubes, Carbon

To study the equipment modular allocation in the emergency medical unit after Beijing emergency public affairs. Using an improved Delphi method, 25 experts from various fields in Beijing were involved into two rounds consultations. The questionnaire of the first round consultation was formed based on analysis of emergency rescue equipment. Based on the result of the first round consultation, the questionnaire of the second round consultation was set up. The two rounds of questionnaires had the responding rates of experts 100% respectively, and the au-thoritative coefficients of the experts were 0.81 and 0.88. An emergency medical rescue equipment solution with three de-grees modular configuration in Beijing was made based on the consultations and experts' advices. The solu-tion develops the emergency medical service ability of mobile medical units and vehicle-mounted mobile hospital. LUO Ying and GAO Hong-wei are the first authors who contributecl equally to the article.

Objective To build the suitable index system of the clinical research program acceptance evaluation.Methods The Delphi method and the weighted average method were adopted to determine the weight of each index.Results Followed by two rounds of Delphi method, twenty five evaluation indices were selected, including three first-class indices, seven second-class indices and fifteen third-class indices, and the weight of each index was calculated.Conclusions The index system,simple and reasonable, reflects the characteristics of clinical applied researches to a certain extent with a certain degree of operability, laid the foundation for the further supporting to carry out scientific research projects.

Objective: To observe the clinical effect of acupoint sticking therapy with Mian Tan Gao (facial paralysis paste) plus electroacupuncture (EA) for treating peripheral facial paralysis and its influence on patients' facial nerve functions, facial disability index and clinical symptoms and signs. Methods: A total of 96 peripheral facial paralysis patients were allocated into an observation group, a medicine group and an EA group by simple randomization, with 32 cases in each group. Patients in the medicine group were treated with oral mecobalamine and prednisone acetate; patients in the EA group were treated with EA on the basis of the medicine treatment; while patients in the observation group were treated with acupoint sticking therapy with Mian Tan Gao (facial paralysis paste) plus EA. After 4-week treatment, the clinical efficacy, the adverse events, and the scores of House-Brackmann (H-B) facial nerve function grading scale, visual analog scale (VAS), clinical symptoms and signs, and facial disability index (FDI) were compared. Results: After 4-week treatment, the total effective rate was 96.9％ in the observation group, higher than 68.7％ in the medicine group and 75.0％ in the EA group (both P<0.05). After 4-week treatment, the scores of H-B grading scale, VAS and clinical symptoms and signs in the three groups dropped significantly compared with those before treatment, and the scores in the observation group were lower than those in the medicine group and EA group (all P<0.05). After 4-week treatment, the facial disability index-physical function (FDIP) in the FDI in the three groups increased significantly, with a higher value in the observation group compared with that in the medicine group and EA group (both P<0.05). The facial disability index-social function (FDIS) in the FDI dropped significantly, with a lower score in the observation group compared with that in the medicine group and EA group (both P<0.05). However, the comparisons of the items above between the medicine group and the EA group showed no statistical significance (all P>0.05). The between-group comparison of the adverse event across the three groups showed no statistical significance (P>0.05). Conclusion: Acupoint sticking therapy with Mian Tan Gao (facial paralysis paste) plus EA can decrease H-B grade, reduce pain severity and improve clinical symptoms and signs as well as the facial disability condition in peripheral facial paralysis patients. This method produced more significant efficacy compared with oral medicine and medicine plus EA.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the morphologic and functional characteristics of the immortalized human liver sinusoidal endothelial cell line (LSEC line).

METHODSImmunofluorescence staining and fluorescence microscopy were used to detect the classic endothelial cell markers in LSEC line, and flow cytometry was used to analyze the purity of the human LSEC line. The morphology (including W-P bodies and surface fenestrations) and phagocytotic capacity of the human LSEC line were observed by transmission and scanning electron microscope. The proliferation curve of the human LSEC line was analyzed by MTT assay. The functional differences between the human LSEC line and human primary LSEC in expression of ELAM-1 and ICAM-1, activities of fibrinolysis (PAI-1, t-PA, u-PA), releasing of IL-6 and IL-8 were compared respectively by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Comparison of the susceptibility to hypoxia-reoxygenation induced apoptosis between the human LSEC line and human primary LSEC were investigated by TUNEL.

RESULTSThe established human LSEC line maintained a high proliferative ability and has been passaged for more than 80 times in the absence of any growth factors. Immunofluorescence staining showed that the human LSEC line could express classic endothelial cell marks including von Willebrand Factor (vWF), and could take up acetylated low-density lipoproteins (Ac-LDL). The purity of the human LSEC line was confirmed over 95% by flow cytometric analysis. The W-P bodies and the phagocytosis of Dynabeads was demonstrated by transmission electron microscope. And fenestrations could be found cellular surface with scanning electron microscopy. When compared with human primary LSEC, the human LSEC line has an equivalent responsiveness to tumor necrosis factor in up-regulation of ELAM-1 and ICAM-1. The human LSEC line can also release PAI-1, t-PA, u-PA but can not release IL-6 and IL-8 to TNF-alpha. In contrast, human primary LSEC could release IL-6. The human LSEC line showed higher susceptibility to hypoxia-reoxygenation-induced apoptosis, and the percentage of apoptotic cells was as high as (38.4 +/- 6.7)%, while (28.6 +/- 4.5)% and (7.8 +/- 1.2)% respectively in primary LSEC and in human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

CONCLUSIONSThe established human LSEC line maintains the special phenotypes and the major functional characteristics, and especially maintains the high susceptibility to hypoxia-reoxygenation-induced apoptosis. Therefore it is feasible to use this cell line for the study of liver ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Apoptosis ; Cell Line ; Cell Proliferation ; E-Selectin ; metabolism ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Humans ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-6 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-8 ; metabolism ; Liver ; cytology

OBJECTIVETo observe the incidence of double-lumen endobronchial tubes (DLT) malposition caused by body position change or surgical manipulation and its impact on the efficacy of lung separation and ventilation.

METHODSTotally 688 patients undergoing thoracic surgery were enrolled in this study. The patients were intubated with Mallinckrodt DLT following intravenous anesthesia induction. The DLT position was corrected with fiberoptic bronchoscope (FOB), and successful lung separation and satisfactory ventilation were ensured during one-lung ventilation in the supine position. Bronchoscopy was performed immediately and the DLT position was corrected 15 minutes after dependent lung ventilation in the lateral position or in case of ineffective lung separation or SpO(2) declination to below 90%.

RESULTSDLT malposition occurred after lateralization in 112 (16.3%) patients, of whom 12.8% developed hypoxemia and 3.3% encountered air leak. The incidence of left-sided DLT malposition after lateralization was higher than that of right-sided DLT malposition (19.7% vs 12.2%, P<0.01). DLT malposition occurring in 112 patients after lateralization reoccurred in 16 (14.3%) patients during surgery, and the malposition incidence was significantly higher than that of malposition occurring only during surgery (1.2%, P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONMalposition of Mallinckrodt double-lumen tubes for lung separation during thoracic anesthesia occurs in 16.3% patients when shifting to lateral position, may reoccur in 14.3% of the patients despite previous FOB positioning.

Bronchoscopy ; Fiber Optic Technology ; Humans ; Intraoperative Complications ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; adverse effects ; methods ; Respiration, Artificial ; methods ; Thoracic Surgical Procedures ; adverse effects ; methods ; Ventilators, Mechanical

AIM To compare the percutaneous penetration performance of three paeonol gels.METHODS Franz diffusion cell method was applied to investigating the penetration and retention behaviors of eutectic mixturebased nanoemulsion,ordinary nanoemulsion and saturated solution gels onto mouse skins in vitro.The retention and permeation amounts in stratum corneum and hair follicles of volunteers smeared with gels were compared by tape stripping method.RESULTS The accumulative permeation and retention amounts of various gels onto mouse skins in vitro were in sequence of eutectic mixture-based nanoemulsion gel ＞ ordinary nanoemulsion gel ＞ saturated solution gel.The main retention of all the three gels was observed on the volunteers' skin surface,and the permeation amounts of eutectic mixture-based nanoemulsion,ordinary nanoemulsion gels,and their accumulative permeation amounts in stratum corneum and hair follicles were significantly higher than those of saturated solution gel (P ＜0.05).CONCLUSION Nanoemulsion technology can significantly promote the percutaneous penetration performance of paeonol.

Objective: Low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) remains a clinically important cholesterol target in primary prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The present study aimed to assess the practical differences among three equations utilized for the estimation of LDL-C: the Friedewald, the Martin/Hopkins, and the NIH equation 2. Methods: Blood lipid measurements from 4,556 noninstitutionalized participants, aged 12 to 80, were obtained from the 2017-2020 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey study. We 1) assessed the differences between three calculated LDL-C estimates, 2) examined the correlations between LDL-C estimates using correlation coefficients and regression, and 3) investigated the degree of agreement in classifying individuals into the LDL-C category using weighted Kappa and percentage of agreement. Results: The differences in LDL-C estimates between equations varied by sex and triglyceride levels (p<0.001). Overall, the mean of absolute differences between Friedewald and Martin/ Hopkins was 3.17 mg/dL (median=2.0, 95% confidence interval [CI] [3.07–3.27]). The mean of absolute differences between Friedewald and NIH Equation 2 was 2.08 mg/dL (median=2.0, 95% CI [2.03–2.14]). Friedewald correlated highly with Martin/Hopkins (r=0.991, rho=0.989) and NIH Equation 2 (r=0.998, rho=0.997). Cohen’s weighted Kappa=0.92 between Friedewald and Martin/Hopkins, and 0.95 between Friedewald and NIH equation 2. The percentage of agreement in classifying individuals into the same LDL-C category was 93.0% between Friedewald and Martin/Hopkins, and 95.4% between Friedewald and NIH equation 2. Conclusion Understanding the practical differences in LDL-C calculations can be helpful in facilitating decision-making during a paradigm shift.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the high expression of HPV16L2N120E7E6 fusion protein by prokaryotic expression system, and evaluate its immunogenicity and antitumor efficacy in vaccinated mice.

METHODSThe HPV16L2N120E7E6 fusion gene, its codons were optimized to increase the expression of the protein, was constructed by overlap extension PCR and inserted into prokaryotic expression vector pET9a. Then the fusion protein was expressed by inducing with IPTG in E. coli strain BL21 (DE3) harboring with plasmid pETL2N120E7E6, and further detected by SDS-PAGE and Western-blot. Finally, the humoral and cellular immune responses were measured by ELISA and ELISPOT, respectively, in vaccinated mice with the purified HPV16L2N120E7E6 fusion protein, and the antitumor efficacy was assessed in mice using the TC-1 tumor challenge model.

RESULTSThe codon-optimized HPV16L2N120E7E6 fusion gene was highly expressed in E. coli strain BL21 (DE3) harboring with plasmid pETL2N120E7E6, and the amount of fusion protein was nearly 48.6% of the total bacterial protein. The purified fusion protein could induce high titer of specific antibody against L2, E7 and E6 in vaccinated mice. When accompanied with the adjuvant CpG, the fusion protein was able to elicit strong and moderate cellular immune responses in vaccinated mice against peptide HPV16E7(49-57) and peptide pools of HPV16E6, respectively. Furthermore, the tumor therapeutic experiment showed that HPV16L2N120E7E6 + CpG could prevent the tumor formation in 80.0% (8/10) vaccinated mice.

CONCLUSIONSThe data of this study suggest that HPV16L2N120E7E6 fusion protein could be a promising candidate vaccine for treatment of chronic HPV16 infection and post-operative adjuvant therapy for cervical cancer.

Adjuvants, Immunologic ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Cancer Vaccines ; immunology ; therapeutic use ; Capsid Proteins ; genetics ; immunology ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Codon ; Escherichia coli ; immunology ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Immunization ; methods ; Immunotherapy ; methods ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Oligodeoxyribonucleotides ; immunology ; Oncogene Proteins, Viral ; genetics ; immunology ; metabolism ; Papillomavirus E7 Proteins ; genetics ; immunology ; metabolism ; Papillomavirus Vaccines ; immunology ; therapeutic use ; Plasmids ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; genetics ; immunology ; metabolism ; Repressor Proteins ; genetics ; immunology ; metabolism

Objective To detect the expression of DJ-1 in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) and to study the relationship between DJ-1 expression and clinical indexes of LSCC. Methods The expressions of DJ-1 protein in 71 LSCC samples and 9 cases control samples from laryngeal mucosa tissues of non-LSCC patients were detected using streptavidin peroxidase immunohistochemistry stainin and the relationships between DJ-1 protein expression and clinicopathologic characteristics were analyzed. Results ( 1 ) The positive expression rate of DJ-1 protein in LSCC was 85.9% (61/71), which was significantly higher than the rate (55.5% ,5/9) in control laryngeal mucosa tissues (P<0.05). (2) DJ-1 expression was related to tumor recurrence (P <0. 05) ,but not to sex,age,primary cancer position,T stage, clinical stage, lymph node metastasis and tumor differentiation. Tumor recurrence rate (53. 3% ) in the patients with higher expression of DJ-1 protein was higher than the rate ( 26. 8% ) in the patients with lower expression of DJ-1 protein ( X2 = 5. 164, P < 0. 05 ). (3 ) With Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox regression analysis,the cumulative 5-year survival rates were correlated with DJ-1 expression levels in laryngeal cancer tissues or cervical lymph node metastasis (all P < 0. 05 ), but not to sex, age, primary cancer position, T stage, clinical stage and tumor differentiation. Conclusions The expression of DJ-1 protein in LSCC is higher than that in control laryngeal mucous tissues. Overexpression of DJ-1 is associated with poor overall survival in ISCC patients.