Emulsification-Induced Homohelicity in Racemic Helical Polymer for Preparing Optically Active Helical Polymer Nanoparticles

Optically active nano- and microparticles have constituted a significant category of advanced functional materials. However, constructing optically active particles derived from synthetic helical polymers still remains as a big challenge. In the present study, it is attempted to induce a racemic helical polymer (containing right- and left-handed helices in equal amount) to prefer one predominant helicity in aqueous media by using emulsifier in the presence of chiral additive (emulsification process). Excitingly, the emulsification process promotes the racemic helical polymer to unify the helicity and directly provides optically active nanoparticles constructed by chirally helical polymer. A possible mechanism is proposed to explain the emulsification-induced homohelicity effect. The present study establishes a novel strategy for preparing chirally helical polymer-derived optically active nanoparticles based on racemic helical polymers.

Emulsification-induced homohelicity strategy is established for the first time for preparing optically active helical polymer nanoparticles by starting from racemic helical polymers. Compared with chiral induction in solution process, this strategy is more advantageous by directly constructing optically active polymer particles. Based on the versatile strategy, more novel chiral polymer materials can be expected.

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Hydrogel with Aligned and Tunable Pore Via “Hot Ice” Template Applies as Bioscaffold

An aligned hydrogel with tunable macropore size via hot ice template is described, which exhibits a high porosity, large pore size, easily modified surface, high survival rate as well as a linear arrangement of NIH3T3 cells.

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Journal of Genetics and Genomics in Transition

Publication date: 20 January 2016
Source:Journal of Genetics and Genomics, Volume 43, Issue 1
Author(s): Yongbiao Xue




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BI-RADS Density Classification From Areometric and Volumetric Automatic Breast Density Measurements

Publication date: Available online 1 February 2016
Source:Academic Radiology
Author(s): Bjørn Helge Østerås, Anne Catrine T. Martinsen, Siri Helene B. Brandal, Khalida Nasreen Chaudhry, Ellen Eben, Unni Haakenaasen, Ragnhild Sørum Falk, Per Skaane
Rationale and ObjectivesThe aim of our study was to classify breast density using areometric and volumetric automatic measurements to best match Breast Imaging-Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) density scores, and determine which technique best agrees with BI-RADS. Second, this study aimed to provide a set of threshold values for areometric and volumetric density to estimate BI-RADS categories.Materials and MethodsWe randomly selected 537 full-field digital mammography examinations from a population-based screening program. Five radiologists assessed breast density using BI-RADS with all views available. A commercial program calculated areometric and volumetric breast density automatically. We compared automatically calculated density to all BI-RADS density thresholds using area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, and used Youden's index to estimate thresholds in automatic densities, with matching sensitivity and specificity. The 95% confidence intervals were estimated by bootstrapping.ResultsAreometric density correlated well with volumetric density (r² = 0.76, excluding outliers, n = 2). For the BI-RADS threshold between II and III, areometric and volumetric assessment showed about equal area under the curve (0.94 vs. 0.93). For the threshold between I and II, areometric assessment was better than volumetric assessment (0.91 vs. 0.86). For the threshold between III and IV, volumetric assessment was better than areometric assessment (0.97 vs. 0.92).ConclusionsVolumetric assessment is equal to or better than areometric assessment for the most clinically relevant thresholds (ie, between scattered fibroglandular and heterogeneously dense, and between heterogeneously dense and extremely dense breasts). Thresholds found in this study can be applied in daily practice to automatic measurements of density to estimate BI-RADS classification.



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The E. coli Acetylome: Form and Function

Castaño-Cerezo et al. (2014) conducted a proteomic evaluation of the Escherichia coli acetylome under four different growth conditions.1 As a post-translational modification (PTM), acetylation of lysine residues contributes to regulation of cellular activity with activation or inactivation of key proteins such as enzymes and other signaling molecules. By modifying nutrition and growth conditions in vitro, the Read the rest of this article

The post The E. coli Acetylome: Form and Function appeared first on Accelerating Science.

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Efficacy and Safety of Novel Agent-Based Therapies for Multiple Myeloma: A Meta-Analysis

This study aimed at comparing bortezomib, thalidomide, and lenalidomide in patients with multiple myeloma (MM) for safety and efficacy using meta-analysis. This meta-analysis identified 17 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) including 6742 patients. These RCTs were separated according to the different agent-based regimens and to autologous stem-cell transplantation (ASCT). Complete response (CR), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and adverse events (AE) were combined. The total weighted risk ratio (RR) of CR was 3.29 [95% confidence interval (95% CI): 2.22–4.88] () for the novel agent-based regimens. These novel agent-based regimens showed greater benefit in terms of PFS of all subgroups irrespective of whether the patient received ASCT or not. The hazard ratio (HR) for PFS was 0.64 [95% CI: 0.60–0.69] (). Improvements of OS could be found only in the bortezomib- and thalidomide-based regimens without ASCT. The pooled HRs were 0.74 [95% CI: 0.65–0.86] () and 0.80 [95% CI: 0.70–0.90] (), respectively. Several AEs were shown more frequently in the novel agent-based regimens compared with controls such as hematologic events (neutropenia, anemia, and thrombocytopenia), gastrointestinal infection, peripheral neuropathy, thrombosis, and embolism events. In conclusion, in spite of the AEs, novel agent-based regimens are safe and effective for the treatment of MM.

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Higher Fitness Linked to Reduced Risk of Death after First Heart Attack

Researchers at Johns Hopkins and the Henry Ford Health System report evidence that higher levels of physical fitness may not only reduce risk of heart attacks and death from all causes, but also possibly improve the chances of survival after a first attack.

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