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The G protein α-subunit, GPA1, is an integral component of several signaling pathways in plants, including response to abiotic stress. However, the molecular mechanism behind these processes remains largely unknown in the cucumber plant (Cucumis sativus L.). In order to further understand the role of CsGPA1 in cucumber under drought stress, changes in plant growth, physiological parameters, and gene expression of CsAQPs were all measured under water stress induced by polyethylene glycol (PEG) using wild type (WT) and CsGPA1-interference (RNAi) cucumber seedlings. Our results demonstrated that the RNAi plants had lower drought tolerance, displaying seriously withered leaves, lower relative growth rate, lower root-shoot ratio, and lower root activity under drought stress compared to WT plants. Physiological studies indicated that the suppression of CsGPA1 weakened drought stress tolerance due to higher water loss rate in the leaves, higher levels of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), increased malondialdehyde (MDA) content, lower free proline content, lower soluble sugar content, lower soluble protein content, and decreased antioxidant enzyme activities. qRT-PCR analysis demonstrated that the interference of CsGPA1 up-regulated the expression of most AQP genes (except for CsPIP2;3 in leaves) and down-regulated the expression of CsPIP1;2, CsPIP1;4, CsPIP2;1, and CsPIP2;4 in roots under drought stress when compared to WT plants. Our results demonstrated that CsGPA1 could function as a positive regulator in drought stress response by decreasing the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), improving permeable potentials, and reducing water loss in cucumber plants.

Some chemotherapy drugs have immunomodulatory effects on specific tumors. The potential of vincristine (VCR) in the R-CHOP regimen to act as both a chemotherapeutic and an immunomodulatory agent via PD-L1 in tumor cells remains unclear. In vitro screening VCR showed that the IC50 value of VCR in the DLBCL cell lines was approximately 2 nM. Western blotting and q-PCR were used to detect the expression of PD-L1. The effect of VCR combined with PD-L1 mAb was tested in a co-culture system of LY-OCI-3 cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells and in DLBCL xenograft mouse model. Flow cytometry was used to determine the proportion of T lymphocyte subsets. The effect of the STAT3 inhibitor nifuroxazide on VCR-induced PD-L1 expression was tested in LY-OCI-3 and SU-DHL-4 cells. VCR upregulated PD-L1 protein and mRNA expression in various DLBCL cell lines. PD-L1 Ab combined with VCR significantly increased the proportion of CD8 + Granzyme B + , INF-γ + or TNF-α + CD3 + T cells. VCR + PD-L1 Ab inhibited tumor growth more effectively than VCR monotherapy, whereas PD-L1 Ab alone had no significant effect. Survival time did not differ significantly between the PD-L1 Ab group and the control group, whereas it was significantly longer in the VCR monotherapy and combination groups which showed more longer survival compared with the former. Nifuroxazide downregulated p-STAT3 and PD-L1 protein levels. VCR upregulated PD-L1 expression in DLBCL cells partially by promoting the p-STAT3; VCR combined with PD-L1 Ab activated effector T cells and increased the antitumor immune response in vitro and in vivo.

Background Glioma is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths. This study aimed to investigate the function and mechanism of long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) LINC00173 in the regulation of glioma progression. Methods LINC00173 expression was measured using qRT-PCR. Survival rate was analyzed through Kaplan-Meier method. CCK8, colony formation and EdU assays were performed to measure cell proliferation while transwell was used to determine cell migration and invasion. Luciferase reporter assay was conducted to test RNA interaction. Results LINC00173 expression was elevated in glioma tissues and cells. LINC00173 high expression predicted poor prognosis. Loss of LINC00173 inhibited proliferation, migration and invasion. LINC00173 interacted with miR-765 to enhance NUTF2 expression. MiR-765 expression was negatively correlated with LINC00173 and NUTF2 in glioma tissues. NUTF2 level was increased in glioma tissues. NUTF2 overexpression rescued the potential of proliferation, migration and invasion in LINC00173-silenced cells. Conclusion Our research demonstrated that LINC00173 promotes glioma progression through targeting miR-765/NUTF2 axis.

In this study, bioinformatics tools were used to identify key genes to study the molecular mechanism of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) development and to explore the correlation of these key genes with the recurrence and metastasis of NPC. The GSE61218 microarray dataset obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus Database (GEO) was used. The limma R package was used to screen differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between NPC and normal nasopharyngeal (NP) tissues. KEGG functional enrichment was performed on these selected DEGs. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks were constructed using Cytoscape software to identify key node proteins. The NPC-metastasis microarray dataset GSE103611 was obtained from GEO to analyze the expression of DEGs in NPC metastasis. A total of 239 DEGs were identified. DEGs were mainly enriched in oocyte maturation-related pathways, cytokine-related pathways, cell cycle-related pathways, cancer-related pathways, and homologous recombination-related pathways. In addition, the top 10 nodes with the higher degree in the DEG PPI network were as follows: CDK1, CCNB2, BUB1, CCNA2, AURKB, BUB1B, MAD2L1, NDC80, BIRC5, and CENPF. The results indicated that DEGs may be involved in the pathogenesis of NPC by regulating cell cycle and mitosis, which can be used as molecular biomarkers for the diagnosis of NPC. In addition, we identified 87 DEGs with FC > 2 and P < 0.01 from the metastasis spectrum of NPC. The intersection gene between DEGs of NPC and normal NP tissue samples and those of the metastatic spectrum of NPC was identified to be VRK2. The expression of VRK2 in NPC samples was significantly higher than that in normal NP tissue, and similarly, VRK2 expression was significantly upregulated in metastatic samples compared with nonmetastatic samples ( P < 0.05 ). Therefore, VRK2 may be a biomarker for predicting the metastasis of NPC patients after treatment.

Background Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) play important roles in solid tumor progression. Little is known about the function and the prognostic value of distinct FGFs in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Methods We used dataset from Beat AML to screen the FGFs family in AML by log-rank test. Subsequently, we identified the biological functions and the crucial signaling pathways associated with these screened FGFs using gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). In addition, IC50 from 122 small-molecule inhibitors was used to explore the relationship between these signaling pathways and targets of sensitive inhibitors. Results Among the FGFs family, over expressions of FGF10/FGF17 were found to be significantly associated with poor prognosis. FGF10 over expression was related to FLT3 and NPM1 mutations, and FGF17 over expression was linked to MUC12 and ZRSR2 mutations. Some cancer-related pathways such as PI3K-Akt, MAPK were significantly enriched by GSEA, and these pathways were concordant with sensitive inhibitors targeted pathways. Conclusion Our results indicated that FGF10 and FGF17 could be prognostic biomarkers for survivals of AML patients, and potential therapeutic targets for small-molecule inhibitors.

Feifei Liang,1 Rensheng Wang,1 Qinghua Du,2 Shangyong Zhu3 1Department of Radiation Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Radiation Oncology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Ultrasound, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Shangyong ZhuDepartment of Ultrasound, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, No. 6 Shuangyong Road, Nanning, Guangxi, 530021, People’s Republic of ChinaEmail zhushangyong2021@163.comBackground: Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) program plays a critical role in cancer. Thus, we attempted to generate a risk score system according to the expression pattern of different EMT hallmark genes in head and neck squamous-cell carcinoma (HNSC).Methods: Differentially expressed EMT hallmark genes were screened to generate a risk score (RS) on TCGA HNSC dataset. The relative prognostic value of the RS compared to clinicopathological characteristics was explored using multivariable Cox analysis. Functional enrichment analysis was performed to reveal the biological characteristics. An external dataset was applied to validate the prognostic value of the RS.Results: Nine genes constituted the EMT hallmark gene-based RS, which is significantly associated with poor prognosis and could successfully divide patients with HNSC into high- and low-risk groups. The RS was also an independent prognostic indicator compared to routine clinical factors.Conclusion: We proposed and validated a nine-EMT hallmark gene-based risk score system in HNSC.Keywords: head and neck squamous-cell carcinoma, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, EMT, risk score system, angiogenesis

We report a simple method for the preparation of 3D structure sea urchins Ni-Co layered double hydroxide (NiCo-LDH) with one-step hydrothermal self-assembly. The obtained NiCo-LDH has large specific surface area, porous structure and large interlayer spacing, which causes excellent electrochemical performance. The specific capacitance of the NiCo-LDH electrode, can reach 808.4 C g−1 at the current density of 1 A g−1. Moreover, asymmetric supercapacitors fabricate dusing the negative carbon as positive electrode and NiCo-LDH as activated electrode displays a high energy density of 41.46 Wh/kg at a 212.68 W/kg power density at 1 A g−1.

OBJECTIVE To study indicators predicting the safety of hysteroscopic management for cesarean scar pregnancy (CSP) patients. METHODS This was a retrospective study, starting from June 1, 2020. The study included 141 CSP patients who underwent hysteroscopic surgery and met the requirements of gestational age ≤12 weeks, stable vital signs, and preoperative magnetic resonance imaging. Patients were divided into control group and testing group according to surgical outcomes. Preoperative indicators were compared between the two groups, including a novel indicator, cesarean section diverticulum (CSD) area. RESULTS Univariate analysis identified five statistically significant (P

Quantum dots of I–III–VI ternary compounds exhibit unusual photophysical properties and technological utility, which attract attention and have been intensely investigated. CuInSe2 quantum dots are an environmentally friendly composition, a direct transition, and an adjustable bandgap. Here, we discuss the influence of the Cu/In molar ratio of CuInSe2 quantum dots on Cu-related defects and photo-physical properties, and CuInSe2 quantum dots are synthesized by a green, safe, and low-temperature method in triethylene glycol. The proportion of the +1 and +2 oxidation states of Cu in the quantum dots will change with the Cu/In molar atomic ratio. The +1-oxidation state of Cu will prolong the carrier recombination lifetime and provide favorable conditions for the transfer and collection of carriers. By adjusting for different defect types, we can better apply CISe quantum dots in devices and other fields.

Some chemotherapy drugs have immunomodulatory effects on specific tumors. The potential of vincristine (VCR) in the R-CHOP regimen to act as both a chemotherapeutic and an immunomodulatory agent via PD-L1 in tumor cells remains unclear.In vitro screening VCR showed that the IC50 value of VCR in the DLBCL cell lines was approximately 2 nM. Western blotting and q-PCR were used to detect the expression of PD-L1. The effect of VCR combined with PD-L1 mAb was tested in a co-culture system of LY-OCI-3 cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells and in DLBCL xenograft mouse model. Flow cytometry was used to determine the proportion of T lymphocyte subsets. The effect of the STAT3 inhibitor nifuroxazide on VCR-induced PD-L1 expression was tested in LY-OCI-3 and SU-DHL-4 cells.VCR upregulated PD-L1 protein and mRNA expression in various DLBCL cell lines. PD-L1 Ab combined with VCR significantly increased the proportion of CD8 + Granzyme B + , INF-γ + or TNF-α + CD3 + T cells. VCR + PD-L1 Ab inhibited tumor growth more effectively than VCR monotherapy, whereas PD-L1 Ab alone had no significant effect. Survival time did not differ significantly between the PD-L1 Ab group and the control group, whereas it was significantly longer in the VCR monotherapy and combination groups which showed more longer survival compared with the former. Nifuroxazide downregulated p-STAT3 and PD-L1 protein levels.VCR upregulated PD-L1 expression in DLBCL cells partially by promoting the p-STAT3; VCR combined with PD-L1 Ab activated effector T cells and increased the antitumor immune response in vitro and in vivo.

Aim There is currently no universally accepted method for typing of cesarean scar pregnancy (CSP) to guide the choice of treatment approach. We introduce a new method for typing CSP and investigate its clinical significance. Method Clinical data of 198 patients with CSP were collected and analyzed. The patients were divided into three types according to the size of their cesarean scar diverticula (CSD), measured by magnetic resonance imaging: type I (size of CSD ≤40 mm), type II (40 mm 70 mm). Results With increase in the type level, the risk of adverse events increased significantly (χ2 = 36.345, P = 0.000). There was a significant difference in the choice of the treatment approaches in various types of the patients (χ2 = 27.106, P = 0.000). With increase in the type level, the invasiveness level of the treatment approach increased significantly (R = 0.405, P = 0.000). Further analysis found two other factors that influenced treatment choice. Conclusion Our study, for the first time, demonstrates the value of size of CSD in typing of CSP and, thereby supplements the CSP typing system with a novel quantitative indicator. This typing method is of significance for evaluation of risk of CSP and guiding the choice of treatment approach. This typing method, combined with the two features of cesarean scar thickness and lesions protruding outside the uterine contour, will improve the risk assessment of CSP and the rationale of treatment plan formulation for this condition.

Background: A Phase II, randomized, prospective, multicentric trial (NCT02237924) was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Endostar plus radiotherapy in patients with low-risk local advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Methods: From 09/2014 to 08/2016, patients with low-risk local advanced NPC were randomly treated with Endostar plus radiotherapy (ERT group, n=60) and concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT group, n=60). Primary endpoint was the 5-year overall survival (OS) rate. The secondary endpoints were 3-year progression free survival (PFS) rate, OS rate, loco-regional recurrence free survival (LRRFS) rates and distance metastasis free survival (DMFS) rates. Findings: After a median follow-up of 47 months, 3-year OS rates were 93.2% and 79.3%, 3-year PFS rates were 89.8% and 70.6%, 3-year DMFS rates were 93.2% and 80.7%, in two groups, respectively (P 0.05). Moreover, the incidences of complications were significantly lower in ERT group. For short-term curative effects, CR rates were 70.0% and 60.0% for primary tumor, 73.3%and 65.0% for cervical lymph nodes, in two groups, respectively (P 0.05). Interpretation: OS, PFS, and DMFS rates can be improved, adverse events be reduced, with better tolerability, by Endostar plus radiotherapy, when compared to concurrent chemoradiotherapy for local advanced low-risk NPC. Trial Registration: (NCT02237924). Funding Statement: This work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81760542), the Projects for Research and Development of Medical and Health Appropriate Technology of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (No. S2018087), the Key Research and Development Program of Guangxi (No. Guike AB18281003), Guangxi Medical University Training Program for Distinguished Young Scholars, and Medical Excellence Award Funded by the Creative Research Development Grant from the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, “139” Program for high-level medical talents in Guangxi, Innovation Team of the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University. Guangxi Science and Technology Program Project (GK AD17129013), Simcere. Declaration of Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests. Ethics Approval Statement: This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Guangxi Medical University. All procedures performed in the study involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments. Written informed consent was obtained from the patient and his/her immediate families.

HOX gene dysregulation is a common feature of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The molecular mechanisms underlying aberrant HOX gene expression and associated AML pathogenesis remain unclear. The nuclear protein CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF), when bound to insulator sequences, constrains temporal HOX gene-expression patterns within confined chromatin domains for normal development. Here, we used targeted pooled CRISPR-Cas9-knockout library screening to interrogate the function of CTCF boundaries in the HOX gene loci. We discovered that the CTCF binding site located between HOXA7 and HOXA9 genes (CBS7/9) is critical for establishing and maintaining aberrant HOXA9-HOXA13 gene expression in AML. Disruption of the CBS7/9 boundary resulted in spreading of repressive H3K27me3 into the posterior active HOXA chromatin domain that subsequently impaired enhancer/promoter chromatin accessibility and disrupted ectopic long-range interactions among the posterior HOXA genes. Consistent with the role of the CBS7/9 boundary in HOXA locus chromatin organization, attenuation of the CBS7/9 boundary function reduced posterior HOXA gene expression and altered myeloid-specific transcriptome profiles important for pathogenesis of myeloid malignancies. Furthermore, heterozygous deletion of the CBS7/9 chromatin boundary in the HOXA locus reduced human leukemic blast burden and enhanced survival of transplanted AML cell xenograft and patient-derived xenograft mouse models. Thus, the CTCF boundary constrains the normal gene-expression program, as well as plays a role in maintaining the oncogenic transcription program for leukemic transformation. The CTCF boundaries may serve as novel therapeutic targets for the treatment of myeloid malignancies.

Background: LiNi1/3Mn1/3Co1/3O2 derived from the solid-state method suffers from the problem of significant irreversible charge-discharge behavior. To improve the electrochemical performance of LiNi1/3Mn1/3Co1/3O2, there are several important factors, such as starting raw materials, precursor, preparation method and conditions. In this work, the layered LiNi1/3Mn1/3 Co1/3O2 material was prepared by solid-state reaction. By varying the temperature and duration of synthesis thermal treatment, the greater crystallinity and well-ordered layered LiNi1/3Mn1/3Co1/3O2 cathode material has been successfully synthesized. The structural properties, morphology and electrochemical properties of LiNi1/3Mn1/3Co1/3O2 powders have been investigated in detail. Methods: LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2 cathode material was synthesized via a high-temperature solid-state method. Stoichiometric amounts of Ni(CH3COO)2•4H2O, Co(CH3COO)2•4H2O, Mn(CH3COO)2• 4H2O, and Li2CO3 as raw materials were homogenized mixed in a ball mill for 8 h at 240 rpm. By varying the temperature and duration of synthesis thermal treatment, LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2 cathode materials with different electrochemistry performance were achieved. (a) The effect of the temperature of synthesis thermal treatment on electrochemistry performance of LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2 was explored by calcining the above mixed powder at 800°C, 850°C, 900°C, 950°C, and 1000°C for 12 h in air at a rate of 5°C min-1. Then the target product was prepared at last. The obtained compound was named as N-800, N-850, N-900, N-950 and N-1000, respectively. (b) In order to explore the effect of the duration of synthesis thermal treatment on electrochemistry performance of LiNi1/3 Co1/3Mn1/3O2 cathode material, the above mixed raw materials were calcined at 900°C for 4 h, 8 h, 12 h, 16 h and 20 h in air at a rate of 5°C min-1. The obtained compound was named as N-4, N-8, N- 12, N-16 and N-20, respectively. The N-900 and N-12 are the same sample. Results: The cathode material sintered at 900°C for 12 h revealed the best electrochemical performance, with high-capacity and recyclability compared with other materials. Its initial discharge capacity attains 182.4 mAh g-1 at 0.2 C in the voltage range of 2.5-4.6 V, which can be attributed to its greater crystallinity and well-ordered layered structure. Compared with other studies on lithium-ion batteries given in literature, this work provides a sample, optimal and mild synthetic conditions to synthesize the cathode materials with great electrochemistry performance. Conclusion: A greater crystallinity and well-ordered layered LiNi1/3Mn1/3Co1/3O2 powders had been successfully synthesized by mixing raw materials under various temperatures and duration of synthesis thermal treatment. The XRD results indicated the I(003)/I(104) values of N-900 (N-12) is 1.591 larger than 1.2, which illustrates no undesirable cation mixing to be occurred. In this work, from the results of electrochemical property experiments, it can be indicated that the optimal synthesized conditions are 900°C for 12 h. When the calcination temperature is too low and the calcined time is too short, the material is poorly crystalline and has a poor layer structure. When the calcination temperature is too high and the calcined time is too long, lithium salt is evaporated completely during the calcination process resulting in a poor electrochemistry performance.

A highly cross-linked three-dimensional (3D) hierarchical porous NiCo2O4 nanosheet@MnO2 nanosheet arrays (NNAs) on Ni foam is fabricated by a facile and stepwise hydrothermal approach. The NiCo2O4@MnO2 hybrid electrode demonstrates excellent electrochemical properties with high area capacitance of 5.3 F cm-2 at 1 mA cm−2, tremendous rate performance (68.9% with current density increased to 20 mA cm−2), and outstanding cycling stability (90.1% capacitance retention over 5000 cycles at 20 mA cm−2). The intriguing performance is related to unique cross-linked porous heterostructure with open geometry that provides large surface areas and superb channels for the electrolyte penetration and ion diffusion. Besides, by analyzing non-faradaic capacitive current upon repeated potential cycling, this honor attributes to not only sufficient Faraday reactions, but also a worthy electrochemical double-layer capacitance (EDLC) contribution with an electrochemical surface area (ESA) value of 616 mF cm−2 (220 F g−1 with a mass loading of 2.8 mg cm−2), which approximates to that of porous carbon.

It is highly desirable to improve the high voltage stabilities of cathode materials for Li-ion battery materials since it can deliver a higher reversible capacity at high cutoff voltage. Herein, we propose a novel facile strategy to generate La2O3-modified LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2 with superior electrochemical performance in the voltage range of 2.5–4.5 V via a solid-state method. It can be observed that La2O3-modified LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2 can greatly enhance the electrochemical performance due to the synergistic effect of ion doping and surface-modifying. La ions doping can alleviate the Li+/Ni2+ mixing, and substantially enhance the structure stability of LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2 during charge/discharge cycles at high cutoff voltage. LaNi0.4Co0.6O3/LaMnO3.26 spreading on the surface layer is very useful in improving the diffusion of Li+ and inhibiting the particles from reacting with the electrolyte, enhancing the high voltage stabilities of the interface between electrode and electrolyte. The capacity retention of 0.7% (molar fraction) La2O3-modified LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2 is 79.0% after 300 cycles compared to 61.7% for bare LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2. And its discharge capacity at 10 C is 141.7 mAh g−1 in the voltage range of 2.5–4.5 V, which is higher than those of other samples. This work not only offers a facile novel strategy to achieve superior electrochemical performances of cathode materials but also presents some new insights into the stabilization mechanism of modified cathode materials during charge/discharge cycles or long-term storage at high cutoff voltage.

A novel 3 dimensional (3D) heterostructure that is composed of exfoliated Ni-Al layered double hydroxide nanosheet and reduced graphene oxide (Ni-Al LDH/rGO) is synthesized by adopting a simple and feasible solution-phase technique. The unique hierarchical heterostructure has a stable layered structure, more active sites and fast electron transport channels, which play an important role for improving the cycle stability and rate capacity performance. The prepared Ni-Al LDH/rGO electrode exhibits excellent performance with a capacitance of 629.8 C g−1 at 1 A g−1, and a high specific capacitance of 471.6 C g−1 even at a high current density of 20 A g−1. The asymmetric supercapacitor (ASC) fabricated by using the Ni-Al LDH/rGO as the positive electrode and using active carbon (AC) as the negative electrode, which exhibits a high energy density of 58.6 Wh kg−1 at the power density of 359 W kg−1 and remains good cycle stability. The superior electrochemical properties are due to the 3D heterostructure, where the large specific surface area of rGO nanosheets serve as a conductive 2D backbone successfully offset structure limitation by the potential synergistic effect. The exfoliated ultrathin Ni-Al LDH nanosheets with only a few atomic layers in this architecture are expected to provide large reactive active sites for fast charge transfer. Therefore, the unique 3D heterostructure is favorable for stabilizing crystal structure and enhancing capability and cycling stability for pseudocapacitors during the charge−discharge process.

Rituximab resistance has become increasingly common in patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL). However, the mechanisms involved remain unclear. In this study, we aimed to examine the effect of rituximab on interleukin (IL)-17A and to investigate the role of IL-17A in rituximab resistance and its prognostic value in patients with DLBCL. Our retrospective analysis revealed that rituximab increased IL-6 expression levels in patients with DLBCL, and the increased IL-6 levels in turn induced the differentiation of Th17 and IL-17+Foxp3+ Treg cells, which secreted IL-17A both in vivo and in vitro. We then examined the effects of IL-17A on the apoptosis and proliferation of, and p53 expression in DLBCL cells, and found that IL-17A prevented rituximab-induced apoptosis and promoted the proliferation of DLBCL cells by suppressing p53 expression in vitro. The survival data of 73 patients with DLBCL suggested that high peripheral blood levels of IL-17A predicted an unfavorable survival. On the whole, our data indicate that rituximab promotes Th17 and IL-17+Foxp3+ Treg cells to secrete IL-17A, which in turn promotes rituximab resistance, partially by suppressing p53 expression and inhibiting rituximab-induced DLBCL cell apoptosis. IL-17A may thus prove to be a useful prognostic marker in patients with DLBCL.

The synthesis of nickel cobalt sulfide is well-established because of its good electrical conductivity and great structural flexibility with low cost. It is extremely challenging to fabricate a unique structure with high tap density to improve its volumetric energy density and practical application. Here, we report a simple one-step hydrothermal method to synthesize micron-sized Ni–Co mixed sulfide solid spheres (1–2 μm in diameter). Because of the high tap density of more than 1.0 g cm–3 and the unique structure, the Ni–Co mixed sulfides demonstrate exceptional energy-storage performance. When acting as an electrode material for supercapacitors, these Ni–Co solid spheres can deliver a specific capacitance of 1492 F g–1 at a current density of 1.0 A g–1, and a retention of 76% at 10 A g–1 after 10 000 cycles. An asymmetric supercapacitor based on these solid spheres exhibits a high energy density of 48.4 W h kg–1 at a power density of 371.2 W kg–1 with excellent long-term cycling performance (91% retentio...

The development of cost-effective and high-efficiency electrocatalysts for both the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) still remains highly challenging. Exposing as many active sites as possible is the key method to improve activity of HER and OER performance. In this communication, we demonstrate a novel 3D hierarchical network NiCo 2 S 4 nanoflake grown on Ni foam (NiCo 2 S 4 -NF) as a highly efficient and stable electrochemical catalyst. The NiCo 2 S 4 -NF exhibits overpotentials as low as 289 and 409 mV at 100 mA cm −2 , superior long-term durability during a 20 h measurement, and a low Tafel slope of 89 and 91 mV dec −1 for HER and OER in 1.0 M NaOH solution. The outstanding performance is owe to the inherent activity of ultrathin NiCo 2 S 4 nanoflakes and the special structure of NiCo 2 S 4 -NF that can provide a huge number of exposed active sites, accelerate the transfer of electrons, and facilitate the diffusion of electrolyte simultaneously.

It remains an important project for the development of water splitting electrolyze to design and synthesis of more efficient non-noble metal catalyst. In this work, a structured Ni–MoS 2 composite coating has been synthesized under supergravity fields with nickel sulphamate bath containing suspended MoS 2 submicro-flakes. X-ray diffraction patterns indicate that the MoS 2 submicro-flakes have been successfully incorporated into the Ni matrix. Additionally, SEM shows that the prepared Ni–MoS 2 composite coatings display finer grain size than the pure Ni coatings, which can increase the electrochemistry surface area and the active site of hydrogen evolution reaction. Therefore, due to the synergistic effect of molybdenum disulfide and nickel, the Ni–MoS 2 composite coatings are directly used as binder-free electrode, which exhibits outstanding electrocatalytic activity for HER in 1.0 M NaOH solution at room temperature. The Ni–MoS 2 composite coatings demonstrated an outstanding performance toward the electrocatalytic hydrogen production with low overpotential (100 mA cm −2 at η = 207 mV), a Tafel slope as small as 65 mV dec −1 , and stable cycling performance (1200 cycles). The preeminent HER performance of this catalyst suggests that it may hold great promise for practical applications.

At present, a lot of attention has been paid to the reasonable design and synthesis of materials with core shell structure for high-performance supercapacitors. Herein, the Co3O4@MnO2 core shell arrays on nickel foam are successfully synthesized via a facile and effective hydrothermal method followed with annealing process. The sample was characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. Electrochemical performance of the Co3O4@MnO2 material was studied using cyclic voltammetry, charge/discharge cycling, and electrochemical impedance measurements in 6 mol L−1 KOH aqueous electrolyte. The results indicated that the Co3O4@MnO2 material presented excellent electrochemical performance in terms of specific capacitance, cyclic stability, and charge/discharge stability.

6050 Background: A Phase II, randomized, prospective, multicentric trial was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Endostar plus radiotherapy in patients with low-risk local advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). This study reported the preliminary results of NCT02237924. Methods: From 09/2014 to 08/2016, patients with low-risk local advanced NPC were randomly treated with Endostar plus radiotherapy (ERT group, n=60) and concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT group, n=60). Primary endpoint was the 5-year overall survival (OS) rate. The secondary endpoints were 3-year OS rate, progression free survival (PFS) rate, loco-regional recurrence free survival (LRRFS) rate and distance metastasis free survival (DMFS) rate. Results: After a median follow-up of 47 months, 3-year OS rate were 93.2% and 79.3% (p=0.032), 3-year PFS rate were 89.8% and 70.6% (p=0.011), 3-year DMFS rate were 93.2% and 80.7%, in two groups, respectively (P=0.042). 3-year LRRFS rate were 96.6% and 92.0% in two groups, respectively (but P=0.565). For short-term curative effects, CR rate were 71.2% and 60.0% for primary tumor, 74.6％and 63.3％for cervical lymph nodes, in two groups, respectively (P < 0.05). Moreover, the incidences of adverse events were significantly lower in ERT group compared with in CCRT group. The grade 3/4 Hyponatraemia (0 [0%] vs 3 [5%], p=0·04), the grade 1/2 vomiting (10 [16.7%] vs 52 [86.7%], p=0.000), dry mouth (45 [75.0%] vs 56 [93.3%], p=0.012), leukopenia (22 [36.7%] vs 42 [70.0%], p=0.000) and weight loss (30 [50.0%] vs 45 [75.0%], p=0.005). No patients died of treatment-related causes. Conclusions: OS, PFS, and DMFS rates can be improved, adverse events be reduced, with better tolerability, by Endostar plus radiotherapy, when compared to concurrent chemoradiotherapy for local advanced low-risk NPC. Clinical trial information: NCT02237924. [Table: see text]

Background: For more than a decade, Sca-1 + cells within the mouse heart have been widely recognized as a stem cell population with multipotency that can give rise to cardiomyocytes, endothelial cells, and smooth muscle cells in vitro and after cardiac grafting. However, the developmental origin and authentic nature of these cells remain elusive. Methods: Here, we used a series of high-fidelity genetic mouse models to characterize the identity and regenerative potential of cardiac resident Sca-1 + cells. Results: With these novel genetic tools, we found that Sca-1 does not label cardiac precursor cells during early embryonic heart formation. Postnatal cardiac resident Sca-1 + cells are in fact a pure endothelial cell population. They retain endothelial properties and exhibit minimal cardiomyogenic potential during development, normal aging and upon ischemic injury. Conclusions: Our study provides definitive insights into the nature of cardiac resident Sca-1 + cells. The observations challenge the current dogma that cardiac resident Sca-1 + cells are intrinsic stem cells for myocardial development, renewal, and repair, and suggest that the mechanisms of transplanted Sca-1 + cells in heart repair need to be reassessed.

Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) continues to play an important role in clinical investigations. Laboratories may create their own cutoff, a percentage of positive nuclei to determine whether a specimen is positive or negative, to eliminate false positives that are created by signal overlap in most cases. In some cases, it is difficult to determine the cutoff value because of differences in both the area of nuclei and the number of signals. To address these problems, we established two mathematical models using probability theory. To verify these two models, normal disomy cells from healthy individuals were used to simulate cells with different numbers of signals by hybridization with different probes. We used an X/Y probe to obtain the average distance between two signals and the probability of signal overlap in different nuclei area. Frequencies of all signal patterns were scored and compared with theoretical frequencies, and models were assessed using a goodness of fit test. We used five BCR/ABL1-positive samples, 20 BCR/ABL1-negative samples and two samples with ambiguous results to verify the cutoff calibrated by these two models. The models were in agreement with experimental results. The dynamic cutoff can classify cases in routine analysis correctly, and it can also correct for influences from nuclei area and the number of signals in some ambiguous cases. The probability models can be used to assess the effect of signal overlap and calibrate the cutoff.

Background The influence of different non-myeloablative conditioning regimens on clinical outcome remains undefined. Material/Methods We retrospectively analyzed the hematopoietic reconstitution, graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), and quality of life (QOL) in 56 patients with hematologic malignancies who underwent non-myeloablative stem cell transplantation (NST) with a conditioning regimen based on anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG), followed by donor lymphocyte infusion (n=24), or Fludarabine (FLU) (n=32). Hematopoietic stem cells were derived from low-resolution HLA-matched identical sibling donors. Results The blood type transformation and platelet reconstitution presented significantly earlier in the FLU group than the ATG group (P0.05). Conclusions The FLU-based conditioning regimen improved hematopoietic reconstitution and decreased extensive cGVHD, but there was no difference in 3-year DFS or OS between the 2 groups.

Lithium cathode materials have been considered as promising candidates for energy storage applications because of their high power/energy densities, low cost, and low toxicity. However, the Li/Ni cation mixing limits their application as practical electrode materials. The cation mixing of lithium transition-metal oxides, which was first considered only as the origin of performance degeneration, has recently been reconsidered as a way to stabilize the structure of active materials. Here we find that as the duration of the post-synthesis thermal treatment (at 500 °C) of LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2 (NCM) was increased, the Li/Ni molar ratio in the final product was found to decrease, and this was attributed to the reduction in nickel occupying lithium sites; the cation mixing subtly changed; and those subtle variations remarkably influence their cycling performance. The cathode material with appropriate cation mixing exhibits a much slower voltage decay and capacity fade during long-term cycling. Combining X-ray diffraction, Rietveld analysis, the Fourier transform infrared technique, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, and electrochemical measurements, we demonstrate that an optimal degree of Ni2+ occupancy in the lithium layer enhances the electrochemical performance of layered NMC materials and that this occurs through a “pillaring” effect. The results provide new insights into “cation mixing” as a new concept for material design utilization of layered cathodes for lithium-ion batteries, thereby promoting their further application in lithium-ion batteries with new functions and properties.

Materials with a layered structure have attracted tremendous attention because of their unique properties. The ultrathin nanosheet structure can result in extremely rapid intercalation/de-intercalation of Na ions in the charge–discharge progress. Herein, we report a manganese oxide with pre-intercalated K and Na ions and having flower-like ultrathin layered structure, which was synthesized by a facile but efficient hydrothermal method under mild condition. The pre-intercalation of Na and K ions facilitates the access of electrolyte ions and shortens the ion diffusion pathways. The layered manganese oxide shows ultrahigh specific capacity when it is used as cathode material for sodium-ion batteries. It also exhibits excellent stability and reversibility. It was found that the amount of intercalated Na ions is approximately 71% of the total charge. The prominent electrochemical performance of the manganese oxide demonstrates the importance of design and synthesis of pre-intercalated ultrathin layered materials.

To explore the effect of false positive signals during detection of BCR/ABL fusion gene by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), and develop a method for calibration.Normal specimens were mixed with BCR/ABL positive specimens in which presented signal pattern of 1-red-2-green-1-fusion (1R2G1F) using dual color dual fusion (DCDF) probes and 1-red-1-green-1-fusion (1R1G1F) using extra signal (ES) probes in different proportions. Mixed samples were detected using DCDF and ES probes. Results of DCDF probes, ES probe before calibration, ES probes after calibration and theoretical results were compared by binomial distribution in different proportions.The rate of false positive signals has risen with increase of negative rate. A significant difference was found between theoretical proportion and results without calibration in negative level, 5%, 10% and 25% positive level (P0.05). There was no significant difference between theoretical proportion and results without calibration in 50% and 90% positive level (P0.05). Also there was no significant difference between theoretical proportion and calibrated results (P0.05).Calibration of FISH result can delimitate the effect of false positives, and can provide more reliable results in cases with low level positive rates.

Two novel α-Keggin anion-based coordination polymers with argentophilic {Ag3}3+/{Ag4}4+ clusters, [{Ag3(bpy)4}{PMo12O40}]·2H2O (1), [{Ag(bpy)}2{Ag4(bpy)6}{PMo11VO40}][{Ag(bpy)}2{PMo11VO40}] (2), have been hydrothemally synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The crystal data for these are the following: C40H36Ag3Mo12N8O42P (1), triclinic P1, a = 10.5245(19) A, b = 12.058(2) A, c = 13.530(2) A, α = 87.015(2)°, β = 72.146(2)°, γ = 86.563(2)°, Z = 1; C100H80Ag8Mo22N20O80P2V2 (2), triclinic P1, a = 13.3603(15) A, b = 16.3035(18) A, c = 16.7523(19) A, α = 89.896(2)°, β = 84.000(2)°, γ = 88.066(2)°, Z = 1. Polymer 1 consists of an infinite zigzag one-dimensional (1D) chain constructed from [Ag3(bpy)4]3+ clusters and [PMo12O40]3− anions. Polymer 2 consists of isolated bisupporting [{Ag(bpy)}2{PMo11VO40}]2− anions and infinite 1D cationic chains [{Ag(bpy)}2{Ag4(bpy)6}{PMo11VO40}]2+ constructed from [{Ag(bpy)}2{PMo11V...

A new crown ether-POM (POM = polyoxometalate) adduct with the molecular formula [(C14- H20O5)4(H3O)3]PMo12O40 ・ 0.5CH3CN (1) was isolated from the mixed solvent of acetonitrile and methanol. The adduct is constructed from Keggin [PMo12O40]3− anions and [(C14H20O5)- (H3O+)] and [(C14H20O5)2(H3O+)] cations via electrostatic and hydrogen bonding interactions. The supramolecular interactions combine the crown ether with oxonium ions. In the [(C14H20O5)- (H3O+)] moieties, the oxonium ions reside out of the planes defined by the oxygen atoms of the crown ether. The [(C14H20O5)2(H3O+)] moieties exhibit a sandwich structure. There exist hydrogen bonds between the oxonium ions of the [(C14H20O5)(H3O)]+ cations and the acetonitrile molecules and the terminal and bridging oxygen atoms of the [PMo12O40]3− anions. The adduct has been used as a bulk-modifier to fabricate a chemically modified carbon paste electrode (MCPE), which displays well-defined cyclic voltammograms with three reversible two-electron redox couples in acidic aqueous solution, and electrocatalytic activities towards the reduction of H2O2 and NO2−.

A new coordination polymer based on octamolybdate anions and copper(II)-mebpa complex fragments, namely, [{Cu(mebpa)}2β-Mo8O26] (1), where mebpa is bis(2-pyridylmethyl)methylamine, has been synthesized under the hydrothermal reaction and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, IR, thermogravimetric analysis and cyclic voltammetry. 1 is formed from β-[Mo8O26]4− anions with {Cu(mebpa)}2+ fragments covalently attached via terminal oxygen atoms into a ribbon-like chain. The β-[Mo8O26]4− anions act as sexadentate ligands and the CuII ions adopt the common Jahn-Teller distorted “4+2” coordination. Owing to the weak C-H···O hydrogen bonding interactions, two crystallographically independent {CuN3O3} octahedra are located in the A and B layers respectively. The chemically modified carbon paste electrode (MCPE) displays well-defined cyclic voltammograms with three two-electron reversible redox couples in acidic aqueous solution and electrocatalytic activities toward the reduction of nitrite.

6063 Background: A prospective, randomized, and multicentric phase II study was performed to evaluate the short-term efficacy and safety of Endostar plus intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) versus concurrent chemoradiotherapy(CCRT) in locally advanced low-risk nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC). Methods: From September 2014 to August 2016, 120 patients with low-risk NPC at stages III-IVa from 9 centers were randomly divided into experimental group (Endostar plus radiotherapy (ERT); n = 60) and control group (CCRT; n = 60). ERT patients were given Endostar (7.5 mg/m2/day) by continuous intravenous infusion (CIV) from 5 days before radiotherapy for consecutive 10 days for 2 cycles with an interval of 14 days. Then, ERT patients received 2 cycles of 10 days of maintenance treatment with Endostar after radiotherapy. The CCRT patients were given cisplatin (100 mg/m2) on days 1, 22, and 43 for 3 cycles. Immediate and 3-month efficacy and adverse effects were evaluated between the two groups. ClinicalTrials registration number was NCT02237924. Results: All patients were eligible for toxicity and response analysis. Regarding immediate efficacy, the complete response(CR) rates were 45.0% for ERT arm and 33.3% for CCRT arm in nasopharynx (P = 0.190), and 43.3% for ERT arm and 36.7% for CCRT arm in regional nodes (P = 0.456). Three months after RT, the CR rates were 71.2% for ERT arm and 60.0% for CCRT arm in nasopharynx (P = 0.151), and 74.6% for ERT arm and 63.3% for CCRT arm in regional nodes (P = 0.172). The rate and severity of leukopenia, hemoglobin reduction and thrombocytopenia in ERT arm were significantly lower than CCRT arm (P < 0.01). The occurrence rates of Xerostomia, oral mucositis, nausea / vomiting, constipation and weight loss in ERT arm were significantly lower than those in CCRT arm (P < 0.01). Conclusions: The present study demonstrates that ERT has similar short-term efficacy on locally advanced low-risk NPC compared with CCRT, but the acute adverse effects of ERT are fewer, and the compliance and tolerability of patients are better. Clinical trial information: NCT02237924.

p53 is a well-known tumor suppressor. However, the regulatory mechanism(s) for p53 expression in B lymphoma cells, and the possible role of p53 in the development of the radioresistance in tumor cells are largely unknown. A human B lymphoma cell line, Karpas1106 (k1106), was used as a model of radioresistance. Apoptosis of k1106 cells was determined using flow cytometry. Expression of p53 was assessed using real time RT-PCR and western blotting. The results showed that irradiation at 8 Gy induced apoptosis in up to 40% of k1106 cells. At the same time, the irradiation markedly increased IL-6 production of the k1106 cells. When k1106 cells were cocultured with regulatory T cells (Tregs) and irradiated, the rate of apoptotic k1106 cells was significantly reduced, indicating an acquired resistance to irradiation. IL-6 derived from the irradiation-treated k1106 cells induced IL-17 expression in Tregs. The IL-17(+)Foxp3(+) T cells suppressed p53 expression in k1106 cells. Collectively, irradiated k1106 cells induce the expression of IL-17 in Tregs, which interferes with the expression of p53 protein in k1106 cells and thereby represses irradiation-triggered apoptosis in k1106 cells.

Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) continues to play an important role in clinical investigations. Laboratories may create their own cutoff, a percentage of positive nuclei to determine whether a specimen is positive or negative, to eliminate false positives that are created by signal overlap in most cases. In some cases, it is difficult to determine the cutoff value because of differences in both the area of nuclei and the number of signals. To address these problems, we established two mathematical models using probability theory. To verify these two models, normal disomy cells from healthy individuals were used to simulate cells with different numbers of signals by hybridization with different probes. We used an X/Y probe to obtain the average distance between two signals and the probability of signal overlap in different nuclei area. Frequencies of all signal patterns were scored and compared with theoretical frequencies, and models were assessed using a goodness of fit test. We used five BCR/ABL1-positive samples, 20 BCR/ABL1-negative samples and two samples with ambiguous results to verify the cutoff calibrated by these two models. The models were in agreement with experimental results. The dynamic cutoff can classify cases in routine analysis correctly, and it can also correct for influences from nuclei area and the number of signals in some ambiguous cases. The probability models can be used to assess the effect of signal overlap and calibrate the cutoff.

This review article deals with some recent investigations in China in coupling boundary elements (BEs) with finite elements (FEs) during the last decade. Two types of combination schemes are used for coupling the BEs with FEs are discussed. One is merging of FE to BE for the sake of high local stress or stress intensity factor computations. The other is coupling BE to FE for fitting BEs with infinite boundary requirements to the case of some complex local FEs computations. Fluid-solid interaction, and the impact response problem are examined by FE-BE coupling methods. The domain decomposition method of alternative FE and natural BE over unbounded domain, variational principles and transient problems in coupling FE-BE are also discussed. Several application examples in engineering practice solved by the combination of FE-BE are given. The results show that the combination of the two methods should be one of the feasible engineering design approaches to the structural analysis of complex structures or machinery. This review article contains 70 references.

In this paper, a flexible strategy for numerical path integration is proposed using the J integral as an example to describe the algorithm that can be extended to the evaluation of other J -like integrals without difficulty. A program called PathInt is developed to run in expert mode or automatic mode. When in expert mode, the program may be controlled in a more detailed way to meet the needs of proficient researchers. When in automatic mode, the program can determine several parameters automatically according to the default settings. A numerical example of a typical elastic fracture problem demonstrates the effectiveness of the algorithm. The applicability of several finite element meshes with or without special crack-tip elements is also investigated. It is found that eight-node collapsed elements are of great potential usefulness since the results from the meshes employing them at the crack tip are satisfactory in both elastic and plastic problems.

Regional nodal metastasis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma plays an important role in the definition of radiotherapy area and clinical stage. It is also one of the main factors influencing prognosis. This study was designed to explore the pattern of metastatic lymph nodes for patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma, which might provide a basis for clinical treatment and research.From Jan. 2009 to Jul. 2011, 1 298 histologically diagnosed nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients had routine MRI scan before radiotherapy in The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University. Diagnostic radiologists and radiation oncologists together assessed the nodal distribution according to the guideline CT-based delineation of lymph node levels. Then,Chi-square test was used to analyze the correlations between T stage and nodal metastasis rate and between nodal diameter and nodal extracapsular invasion.Of 1298 patients, 1067 (82.2%) had nodal involvement. The distributions were as: 20 in level I b,604 in level II a,883 in level II b,330 in level III, 78 in level IV, 162 in level Va,49 in level Vb,967 in retropharynx. Leap metastasis rate was 0.69%. In these patients, a total of 2464 positive nodes,including 1589 (64.52%) extra capsular spread nodes, were detected. The rate of nodal extracapsular invasion was higher when the axial diameter increased. No significant correlation was found between T stage and nodal involvement.The level II and retropharyngeal node are the most frequently involved regions. They have similar metastatic rate and are both the first echo node to metastases of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Level I metastasis is very low. There is a positive correlation between the proportion of extracapsular spread of metastatic lymph nodes and the axial diameter of lymph nodes. The cervical node involvement of nasopharyngeal carcinoma spread orderly down the neck, and the incidence of skip metastasis is rare. There is no significant difference between T stage and nodal involvement.

Gastrodin (Gas) and puerarin (Pur) are bioactive substances derived from traditional Chinese medicine Gastrodia elata and Radix Puerariae, respectively, which were often used together in Chinese clinical prescriptions. Their injections were used in combined way for treatment of some cardiocerebrovascular diseases in clinic, especially for vertigo due to vertebrobasilar ischemia. In this paper, interaction of gastrodin and puerarin in rat plasma pharmacokinetics via intragastic (i.g.)/intravenous (i.v.) administration was investigated. A reliable HPLC method was developed for simultaneous determination of Gas and Pur in rat plasma with a linear range of 0.101-101 μg/mL for Gas and 0.0500-5.98 μg/mL for Pur (r(2)>0.993). The LLOQ, LOD of Gas and Pur were determined to be 0.101, 0.0486 μg/mL, and 0.05, 0.0245 μg/mL, respectively. The intra-day and inter-day precision were all less than 12.0%, whilst the accuracy were all within 96.4±6.00%. The proposed method has been successfully applied to the pharmacokinetic study of the analytes in rats after i.g./i.v. administration of Gas and Pur alone or combined with each other (i.g.: 40 mg/kg Gas, 400 mg/kg Pur; i.v.: 20 mg/kg Gas, 20 mg/kg Pur). Blood samples were collected from retinal vein plexus of rats at predetermined time points and plasma containing the internal standard tyrosol (IS) were precipitated by methanol and chromatography was carried out on a C(18) column with a gradient mobile phase of ACN-H(2)O with 0.05% phosphoric acid as a modifier. The pharmacokinetic profiles of combined administration were found to be distinct from those of given alone. The C(max), T(max), T(1/2), MRT of Gas administrated alone or combined with Pur via i.g. were 21.7 μg/mL, 0.250 h, 2.81 h, 0.830 h and 18.4 μg/mL, 0.550 h, 0.970 h, 1.37 h, respectively, of Pur administrated alone or combined with Gas via i.g. were 0.490 μg/mL, 1.95 h, 1.33 h, 2.10 h and 2.01 μg/mL, 0.570 h, 4.00 h, 5.10 h, respectively. The relative oral bioavailability of Pur in combined administration was 10.7 times as much as that of single administration, whilst 1.52 folds in Gas. These results indicate that co-administration of Gas and Pur is a promising combination to gain higher bioavailability and it is suggested that doctors pay more attention to the dosages of the two when simultaneously using both of them.

In this paper, a short historical review of the BEM research in China is given first. The investigation on the BEM in China was started in 1978 at the Tsinghua University, based on the pioneering work published by Frank Rizzo [F. J. Rizzo, An integral equation approach to boundary value problems of classical elastostatics, Quart. Appl. Math., 25, 83-95 (1967)] and others. During the last 25 years, we have organized six national conferences on BEM, two international conferences and eight China-Japan/Japan-China symposia on BEM. The BEM investigations in the authors’ group at Tsinghua are briefly introduced next. Some representative investigations by other groups in Mainland China are also introduced. The related papers and other publications are listed in the References.