Chirality detection of amino acid enantiomers by organic electrochemical transistor

Zhang, Lijun,Wang, Guiheng,Xiong, Can,Zheng, Lei,He, Jianbo,Ding, Yunsheng,Lu, Hongbo,Zhang, Guobing,Cho, Kilwon,Qiu, Longzhen Elsevier 2018 Biosensors & bioelectronics Vol.105 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>Chiral recognition of α-amino acids is attracting increasing interest due to the importance of α-amino acids in protein metabolism as well as in food products and pharmaceuticals. Organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) with gate electrodes modified with molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) films were fabricated and successfully used as highly selective and sensitive chiral recognition biosensors for <SMALL>D/L</SMALL>-tryptophan (<SMALL>D</SMALL> <SMALL>/</SMALL> <SMALL>L</SMALL>-Trp) and <SMALL>D/L</SMALL>-tyrosine (<SMALL>D</SMALL> <SMALL>/</SMALL> <SMALL>L</SMALL>-Tyr). The MIP films, which can specifically recognize and has an electrocatalytic effect on the oxidation of Trp and Tyr, together with the amplification function of an OECT, provide a highly sensitive and selective OECT biosensor. The sensor showed a linear response range for <SMALL>L</SMALL>-Trp and <SMALL>L</SMALL>-Tyr from 300 nM to 10 μM with a sensitivity of 3.19 and 3.64 μA/μM, respectivity. And the detection limit for <SMALL>L</SMALL>-Trp and <SMALL>L</SMALL>-Tyr is of 2 nM and 30 nM (S/N > 3). The selectivity factors of <SMALL>L</SMALL>-Trp, <SMALL>D</SMALL>-Trp, <SMALL>L</SMALL>-Tyr and <SMALL>D</SMALL>-Tyr to their enantiomers are 11.6, 3.5, 14.5 and 2.6, respectively. This method can pave the way for widespread applications of OECT-based sensors in chiral material identification.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> An novel chiral recognition MIP-OECT sensor was developed. </LI> <LI> The MIP films showed good performance of selective and electro-catalytic oxidation for Trp and Tyr. </LI> <LI> The MIP films together with the amplification function of an OECT afforded a highly sensitive, selective sensor for chirality detection of amino acid enantiomers. </LI> </UL> </P> <P><B>Graphical abstract</B></P> <P>[DISPLAY OMISSION]</P>

Robotics in Cervical Spine Surgery: Feasibility and Safety of Posterior Screw Placement

Lu-Ping Zhou,Zhi-Gang Zhang,Dui Li,Shu Fang,Rui Sheng,Ren-Jie Zhang,Cai-Liang Shen 대한척추신경외과학회 2023 Neurospine Vol.20 No.1

Objective: Robot-assisted (RA) techniques have been widely investigated in thoracolumbar spine surgery. However, the application of RA methods on cervical spine surgery is rare due to the complex morphology of cervical vertebrae and catastrophic complications. Thus, the feasibility and safety of RA cervical screw placement remain controversial. This study aims to evaluate the feasibility and safety of RA screw placement on cervical spine surgery. Methods: A comprehensive search on PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase Database, Web of Science, Chinese National Knowledge Databases, and Wanfang Database was performed to select potential eligible studies. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs), comparative cohort studies, and case series reporting the accuracy of cervical screw placement were included. The Cochrane risk of bias criteria and Newcastle-Ottawa Scale criteria were utilized to rate the risk of bias of the included literatures. The primary outcome was the rate of cervical screw placement accuracy with robotic guidance; subgroup analyses based on the screw type and insertion segments were also performed. Results: One RCT, 3 comparative cohort studies, and 3 case series consisting of 160 patients and 719 cervical screws were included in this meta-analysis. The combined outcomes indicated that the rates of optimal and clinically acceptable cervical screw placement accuracy under robotic guidance were 88.0% (95% confidence interval [CI], 84.1%–91.4%; p = 0.073; I 2 = 47.941%) and 98.4% (95% CI, 96.8%–99.5%; p = 0.167; I2 = 35.954%). The subgroup analyses showed that the rate of optimal pedicle screw placement accuracy was 88.2% (95% CI, 83.1%–92.6%; p = 0.057; I2 = 53.305%); the rates of optimal screw placement accuracy on C1, C2, and subaxial segments were 96.2% (95% CI, 80.5%–100.0%; p = 0.167; I2 = 44.134X%), 89.7% (95% CI, 80.6%–96.6%; p = 0.370; I2 = 0.000X%), and 82.6% (95% CI, 70.9%–91.9%; p = 0.057; I2 = 65.127X%;), respectively. Conclusion: RA techniques were associated with high rates of optimal and clinically acceptable screw positions. RA cervical screw placement is accurate, safe, and feasible in cervical spine surgery with promising clinical potential.

Microfluidic Synthesis of Hybrid Nanoparticles with Controlled Lipid Layers: Understanding Flexibility-Regulated Cell–Nanoparticle Interaction

Zhang, Lu,Feng, Qiang,Wang, Jiuling,Zhang, Shuai,Ding, Baoquan,Wei, Yujie,Dong, Mingdong,Ryu, Ji-Young,Yoon, Tae-Young,Shi, Xinghua,Sun, Jiashu,Jiang, Xingyu American Chemical Society 2015 ACS NANO Vol.9 No.10

<P>The functionalized lipid shell of hybrid nanoparticles plays an important role for improving their biocompatibility and <I>in vivo</I> stability. Yet few efforts have been made to critically examine the shell structure of nanoparticles and its effect on cell–particle interaction. Here we develop a microfluidic chip allowing for the synthesis of structurally well-defined lipid-polymer nanoparticles of the same sizes, but covered with either lipid-monolayer-shell (MPs, monolayer nanoparticles) or lipid-bilayer-shell (BPs, bilayer nanoparticles). Atomic force microscope and atomistic simulations reveal that MPs have a lower flexibility than BPs, resulting in a more efficient cellular uptake and thus anticancer effect than BPs do. This flexibility-regulated cell–particle interaction may have important implications for designing drug nanocarriers.</P><P><B>Graphic Abstract</B> <IMG SRC='http://pubs.acs.org/appl/literatum/publisher/achs/journals/content/ancac3/2015/ancac3.2015.9.issue-10/acsnano.5b05792/production/images/medium/nn-2015-05792e_0007.gif'></P><P><A href='http://pubs.acs.org/doi/suppl/10.1021/nn5b05792'>ACS Electronic Supporting Info</A></P>

Step-up and Step-down Asymmetrical 24-Pulse Autotransformer Rectifier

Lu Zhang,Hong-juan Ge,Fan Jiang,Guang Yang,Yi Lin 전력전자학회 2018 JOURNAL OF POWER ELECTRONICS Vol.18 No.5

The existing 24-pulse autotransformer rectifier unit (ATRU) needs interphase reactors for parallel work of the rectifier bridges, and its output voltage cannot be regulated. Aiming at these problems, a step-up and step-down asymmetrical 24-pulse ATRU is proposed in this paper. The connections and turns ratios among transformer windings are well designed. In addition, a 15-degree phase difference is formed between two of the 24 voltage vectors produced by the transformer, which makes the four rectifier bridge groups produce a 24-pulse DC voltage without interphase reactors. Meanwhile, by adding extended winding to each phase of the transformer, wide-range regulation of the ATRU output voltage can be realized, and the reasonable voltage regulation range is between 0.2 and 1.6. The superposition of the voltage vectors and the principle of the voltage regulation are analyzed in detail. Furthermore, the turns ratio of the windings, winding current, output voltage, and kilovolt-ampere rating are all derived. Finally, the simulations and experiments are carried out, and the correctness of the principle and theoretical analysis of the new 24-pulse ATRU are verified.

Cancer Research Advances Regarding the CKLF-like MARVEL Transmembrane Domain Containing Family

Lu, Jia,Wu, Qian-Qian,Zhou, Ya-Bo,Zhang, Kai-Hua,Pang, Bing-Xin,Li, Liang,Sun, Nan,Wang, Heng-Shu,Zhang, Song,Li, Wen-Jian,Zheng, Wei,Liu, Wei Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2016 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.17 No.6

The CKLF-like MARVEL transmembrane domain-containing family (CMTM) is a novel family of genes first reported at international level by Peking University Human Disease Gene Research Center. The gene products act between chemokines and the transmembrane-4 superfamily. Located in several human chromosomes, the CMTMs CKLF and CMTM1 to CMTM8 may be unregulated in tumors and act as potential tumor suppressor genes with important roles in the immune, male reproductive and hematopoietic systems. In-depth studies in recent years established a close relation between CMTMs and tumorigenesis and metastasis. The CMTM family has a significant clinical value in diagnosis and treatment of diseases linked to tumors and the immune system.

Theoretical and experimental investigations of gear transmission with geometric elements constructed tooth pairs having triple contact points

Lu-he Zhang,Shi-xuan Li,Jian Huang,Bingkui Chen 한국정밀공학회 2019 International Journal of Precision Engineering and Vol.20 No.7

A novel gear transmission with geometric elements constructed tooth pairs having triple contact points is proposed in this study. Based on the equidistance enveloping method, the generation principle and method of the tooth surface are presented. Three types of contact pattern of tooth profiles are generated: convex to convex, convex to plane, convex to concave. A calculation example for convex to concave tooth profiles of gears is provided. Performance experiment is carried out based on the developed gear prototype, and a comparison with involute gear drive is also shown. Theoretical and numerical results demonstrate the feasibility and correctness and it lays the foundation for the design of high performance gear transmission.

Taxonomy of fungal complex causing red-skin root of Panax ginseng in China

Lu, Xiao H.,Zhang, Xi M.,Jiao, Xiao L.,Hao, Jianjun J.,Zhang, Xue S.,Luo, Yi,Gao, Wei W. The Korean Society of Ginseng 2020 Journal of Ginseng Research Vol.44 No.3

Background: Red-skin root of Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng) significantly reduces the quality and limits the production of ginseng in China. The disease has long been thought to be a noninfectious physiological disease, except one report that proved it was an infectious disease. However, the causal agents have not been successfully determined. In the present study, we were to reveal the pathogens that cause red-skin disease. Methods: Ginseng roots with red-skin root symptoms were collected from commercial fields in Northeast China. Fungi were isolated from the lesion and identified based on morphological characters along with multilocus sequence analyses on internal transcription spacer, β-tubulin (tub2), histone H3 (his3), and translation elongation factor 1α (tef-1α). Pathogens were confirmed by inoculating the isolates in ginseng roots. Results: A total of 230 isolates were obtained from 209 disease samples. These isolates were classified into 12 species, including Dactylonectria sp., D. hordeicola, Fusarium acuminatum, F. avenaceum, F. solani, F. torulosum, Ilyonectria mors-panacis, I. robusta, Rhexocercosporidium panacis, and three novel species I. changbaiensis, I. communis, and I. qitaiheensis. Among them, I. communis, I. robusta, and F. solani had the highest isolation frequencies, being 36.1%, 20.9%, and 23.9%, respectively. All these species isolated were pathogenic to ginseng roots and caused red-skin root disease under appropriate condition. Conclusion: Fungal complex is the causal agent of red-skin root in P. ginseng.

Proposal of a Pretreatment Nomogram for Predicting Local Recurrence after Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy in T4 Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma: A Retrospective Review of 415 Chinese Patients

Lu-Lu Zhang,Yi-Yang Li,Jiang Hu,Guan-Qun Zhou,Lei Chen,Wen-Fei Li,Ai-Hua Lin,Jun Ma,Zhen-Yu Qi,Ying Sun 대한암학회 2018 Cancer Research and Treatment Vol.50 No.4

Purpose Local relapse-free survival (LRFS) differs widely among patients with T4 category nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). We aimed to build a nomogram incorporating clinicopathological information to predict LRFS in T4 NPC after definitive intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). Materials and Methods Retrospective study of 415 Chinese patients with non-metastatic T4 NPC treated with definitive IMRT with or without chemotherapy at our cancer center between October 2009 and September 2013. The nomogram for LRFS at 3 and 5 years was generated based on multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression, and validated using bootstrap resampling, assessing discriminative performance using the concordance index (C-index) and determining calibration ability via calibration curves. Results Five-year LRFS was 88.8%. We identified and incorporated four independent prognostic factors for LRFS: ethmoid sinus invasion, primary gross tumor volume, age, and pretreatment body mass index. The C-index of the nomogram for local recurrence was 0.732 (95% confidence interval, 0.726 to 0.738), indicating excellent predictive accuracy. The calibration curve revealed excellent agreement between nomogram-predicted and observed LRFS probabilities. Risk subgroups based on total point score cutoff values enabled effective discrimination of LRFS. Conclusion This pretreatment nomogram enables clinicians to accurately predict LRFS in T4 NPC after definitive IMRT, and could help to facilitate personalized patient counselling and treatment strategies.

Weight Loss Correlates with Macrophage Inhibitory Cytokine-1 Expression and Might Influence Outcome in Patients with Advanced Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Lu, Zhi-Hao,Yang, Li,Yu, Jing-Wei,Lu, Ming,Li, Jian,Zhou, Jun,Wang, Xi-Cheng,Gong, Ji-Fang,Gao, Jing,Zhang, Xiao-Tian,Li, Jie,Li, Yan,Shen, Lin Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.15

Background: Weight loss during chemotherapy has not been exclusively investigated. Macrophage inhibitory cytokine-1 (MIC-1) might play a role in its etiology. Here, we investigated the prognostic value of weight loss before chemotherapy and its relationship with MIC-1 concentration and its occurrence during chemotherapy in patients with advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Materials and Methods: We analyzed 157 inoperable locally advanced or metastatic ESCC patients receiving first-line chemotherapy. Serum MIC-1 concentrations were assessed before chemotherapy. Patients were assigned into two groups according to their weight loss before or during chemotherapy:>5% weight loss group and ${\leq}5%$ weight loss group. Results: Patients with weight loss>5% before chemotherapy had shorter progression-free survival period (5.8 months vs. 8.7 months; p=0.027) and overall survival (10.8 months vs. 20.0 months; p=0.010). Patients with weight loss >5% during chemotherapy tended to have shorter progression-free survival (6.0 months vs. 8.1 months; p=0.062) and overall survival (8.6 months vs. 18.0 months; p=0.022), and if weight loss was reversed during chemotherapy, survival rates improved. Furthermore, serum MIC-1 concentration was closely related to weight loss before chemotherapy (p=0.001) Conclusions: Weight loss both before and during chemotherapy predicted poor outcome in advanced ESCC patients, and MIC-1 might be involved in the development of weight loss in such patients.

Preparation of Isocyanate Terminated Polysiloxane and Its Application in Crease Resistant Finishing of Silk Fabric

Lu Zhang,Li Tian,Minghua Wu 한국섬유공학회 2020 Fibers and polymers Vol.21 No.2

In order to improve the crease resistant property of silk fabric and reduce the tensile strength damage of finished silk fabric, the isocyanate terminated polysiloxane (ITPSI) was prepared with hydrogen terminated polysiloxane (HTPSI) and methylallyl alcohol as raw materials, diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) as functional modifier, and it was used as crease resistant finishing agent for silk fabric. The effect factors of crease resistant properties of finished silk fabric were studied and the crease resistant properties of finished silk fabric were evaluated. The results showed that when the molar mass of HTPSI was 1914 g/mol, the finished silk fabric obtained the best crease resistant property. The optimal conditions of the finishing process was that the dosage of ITPSI crease resistant finishing agent was 60 g/l, the baking temperature was 150 oC, and the baking time was 3 min. Under these finishing conditions, the dry/wet crease recovery angles (DCRA/WCRA) of finished silk fabric were 302.6 o and 229 o, respectively, both the crease resistant property and the washability were good. There is no apparent effects on tensile strength and whitenesss of finished silk fabric by this treatment. Compared with epoxy modified polysiloxane (EMPSI) crease resistant finishing agent on the market, the silk fabric finished by ITPSI crease resistant finishing agent had better crease resistant effect and less tensile strength damage.