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Large Transient-Thermal-Shock Resistant Nanochannel Tungsten Films.
BACKGROUND & AIMS For patients with liver disease from hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection complicated by end-stage renal disease (ESRD), it is important to assess liver fibrosis before kidney transplantation. We evaluated the accuracy of non-invasive tests to identify advanced hepatic fibrosis in patients with HCV and ESRD. METHODS In a retrospective study, we collected data on ratio of aspartate aminotransferasealanine aminotransferase (ASTALT), AST platelet ratio index (APRI), FIB-4 score, fibrosis index score, and King's score from 139 patients with ESRD and HCV infection (mean age, 52.8 y; 76.3% male; 86.4% African American; 45.3% with increased level of ALT). Results were compared with findings from histologic analyses of biopsies (reference standard). The primary outcome was detection of advanced fibrosis, defined as either bridging fibrosis or cirrhosis. Area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curves were constructed and optimal cut-off values were determined for each test. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and diagnostic accuracy were calculated. We repeated the analysis with stratification for normal levels of ALT (≤ 35 U/L for men and ≤ 25 u/L for women) and increased levels of ALT. RESULTS FIB-4 scores identified patients with advanced fibrosis with an AUROC of 0.71 (95% CI, 0.61-0.80), the King's score with an AUROC of 0.69 (95% CI, 0.58-0.80), and the APRI with and AUROC of 0.68 (95% CI, 0.59-0.79). PD-1/PD-L1 Inhibitor 3 solubility dmso The accuracy of these tests increased when they were used to analyze patients with increased levels of ALT. All tests produced inaccurate results when they were used to assess patients with normal levels of AST and ALT. CONCLUSIONS In patients with ESRD and HCV infection, FIB-4 scores, King's scores, and the APRI identify those with advanced fibrosis with AUROC values ranging from 0.68-0.71. Accuracy increased modestly when patients with increased levels of ALT were tested, but the tests produced inaccurate results for patients with a normal level of ALT. Among many dermal armors, fish scales have become a source of inspiration in the pursuit of "next-generation" structural materials. Although fish scales function in a hydrated environment, the role of water and intermolecular hydrogen bonding to their unique structural behavior has not been elucidated. Water molecules reside within and adjacent to the interpeptide locations of the collagen fibrils of the elasmodine and provide lubrication to the protein molecules during deformation. We evaluated the contributions of this lubrication and the intermolecular bonding to the mechanical behavior of elasmodine scales from the Black Carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus). Scales were exposed to polar solvents, followed by axial loading to failure and the deformation mechanisms were characterized via optical mechanics. Displacement of intermolecular water molecules by liquid polar solvents caused significant (p ≤ 0.05) increases in stiffness, strength and toughness of the scales. Removal of this lubrication decreased the capacd toughness due to an increase in resistance to fibril rotations and sliding as imparted by molecular friction. We show that intermolecular lubrication is a key component of the "protecto-flexibility" of natural armors and it is an essential element of biomimetic approaches to develop flexible armor systems. Globally, chronic wounds impose a notable burden to patients and healthcare systems. Such skin wounds are readily subjected to bacteria that provoke inflammation and hence challenge the healing process. Furthermore, bacteria induce infection impeding re-epithelialization and collagen synthesis. With an estimated global market of $20.4 billion by 2021, appropriate wound dressing materials e.g. those composed of biopolymers originating from nature, are capable of alleviating the infection incidence and of accelerating the healing process. Particularly, biopolymeric nanofibrous dressings are biocompatible and mostly biodegradable and biomimic the extracellular matrix structure. Such nanofibrous dressings provide a high surface area and the ability to deliver antibiotics and antibacterial agents locally into the wound milieu to control infection. In this regard, with the dangerous evolution of antibiotic resistant bacteria, antibiotic delivery systems are being gradually replaced with antibacterial biohybrid nano Also, given the expanding concern regarding antibiotic resistant bacteria, such biohybrid nanofibrous wound dressings can outperform classical drug delivery systems. Here, an updated overview of the most recent (since 2015) developments of antibacterial biopolymeric nanofibrous wound dressings is presented. In this review, while discussing about the antibacterial efficiency of such systems, the prospects and challenges are highlighted to draw a roadmap for further progresses in this area. Temporal control of drug dosing is indispensable for a successful combination therapy that utilizes cisplatin (CDDP) and irinotecan (IRN), with clinical evidence supporting a higher response rate when CDDP was administered prior to IRN. Herein, a peptide-based nanocomposite hydrogel (CDDP/Pept-AlgNP/IRN) was designed for differential release of CDDP and IRN to maximize synergism of two drugs. First, a double-crosslinking strategy was exploited for structural reinforcement of hydrogel, with integration of coordination interactions between CDDP and hydrogelator (Pept) as well as electrostatic interactions between Pept and alginate nanoparticles (AlgNP/IRN), that afforded nanocomposite hydrogel with 42-fold increase in storage modulus comparing to peptide gel alone. Next, the nanocomposite hydrogel with excellent injectability served as a depot for controlled release of dual drugs, and guaranteed a fast release of CDDP prior to a tunable release of IRN that is dependent on fraction ratios of AlgNP in the composiThen we utilized the hydrogel for differential release of CDDP and IRN to achieve better synergistic efficacy of drugs in inhibiting the growth of cancer cell A549 and better anticancer efficacies than single drug formulations or solution mixtures of dual drugs in an A549-xenografted mouse model. We believe that the strategy of packing individual drugs in distinct co-assembling structures promises a paradigm shift for regulating temporal control of drug dosing in combination therapy.
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