Activation of lymphangiogenesis by platelet as novel therapeutic approaches for liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension.

This letter comments on the recently published article in the , in which the authors demonstrated a strong link between lymphangiogenesis and the process of platelet adherence, aggregation, and activation by employing a rat model of liver cirrhosis caused by bile duct ligation (BDL). The authors applied both gain and loss of function approach by using platelet-rich plasma and vascular endothelial growth factor 3 receptor inhibitor MAZ-51 to activate and inhibit angiogenetic signaling in BDL rat model, respectively, to verify the crucial function of lymphangiogenesis in the development of liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension (PHT). In clinical practice, platelet transfusion has been applied to improve liver function in patients suffering from chronic liver disease and cirrhosis.

Spectral analyses of Dy/Sr: LaF and Dy/Ca: LaF mixed crystals for laser applications.

Mixed crystals of Dy/Sr: LaF and Dy/Ca: LaF were grown by Bridgman technique and their spectral properties were investigated. Spectra broadening and peak shifts were observed, indicating the co-doping of Sr/Ca brings about a more disordered local symmetry of Dy, which makes both crystals favorable for tunable lasing action. Low-temperature high resolution excitation and emission spectra were carried out for exploring the types of luminescent center of Dy in crystals.

Clinical characteristics and outcomes of hospitalised patients with COVID-19 treated in Hubei (epicentre) and outside Hubei (non-epicentre): a nationwide analysis of China.

Background: During the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), consistent and considerable differences in disease severity and mortality rate of patients treated in Hubei province compared to those in other parts of China have been observed. We sought to compare the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients being treated inside and outside Hubei province, and explore the factors underlying these differences.

Methods: Collaborating with the National Health Commission, we established a retrospective cohort to study hospitalised COVID-19 cases in China.

Comorbidity and its impact on 1590 patients with COVID-19 in China: a nationwide analysis.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak is evolving rapidly worldwide.

Objective: To evaluate the risk of serious adverse outcomes in patients with COVID-19 by stratifying the comorbidity status.

Methods: We analysed data from 1590 laboratory confirmed hospitalised patients from 575 hospitals in 31 provinces/autonomous regions/provincial municipalities across mainland China between 11 December 2019 and 31 January 2020.

Donor/Acceptor Properties of Aromatic Molecules in Complex Metal-Molecule Interfaces.

We present a comparative study, combining density functional theory with scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy, of two aromatic molecules bonded with a variable number of Cu adatom(s) on a Cu(111) surface. The two molecules, 1,3,5-tris(pyridyl)benzene (TPyB) and 1,3,5-tris(4-radical-phenyl)benzene (TPB), possess the same aromatic backbone but bond weakly versus strongly to Cu with different terminal groups, respectively. We find that TPyB and TPB exhibit, respectively, small versus large charge transfers between the surface and the molecule; this contrast results in opposite shifts in the calculated density of states distributions and thus explains the opposite STS peak shifts observed in our experiments.

Composition dependent reactivity of titanium oxide clusters.

Based on first-principles calculations of titanium oxide clusters, TinOm (n = 1-4), we reveal the composition dependent reactivity of titanium oxide clusters. Our interesting results include: (1) the reactivity depends on the ratio of O atoms in the clusters, with smaller O ratios associated with higher reactivity; (2) among the different titanium oxide species investigated, the most stable structures are TinO2n, but their reactivities are relatively lower than the clusters with a smaller O atom ratio; moreover, (3) when the O atom ratio is small, the reactivity required to form the Ti-Ti bond is larger than either the Ti-O or O-O bond between two interacting titanium oxide clusters. These results will be useful for designing efficient titanium oxide catalysts, or photocatalysts, in particular, for energy and environmental applications.

Ultrasensitive nonlinear absorption response of large-size topological insulator and application in low-threshold bulk pulsed lasers.

Dirac-like topological insulators have attracted strong interest in optoelectronic application because of their unusual and startling properties. Here we report for the first time that the pure topological insulator Bi2Te3 exhibited a naturally ultrasensitive nonlinear absorption response to photoexcitation. The Bi2Te3 sheets with lateral size up to a few micrometers showed extremely low saturation absorption intensities of only 1.

[Resonance scattering detection of trace Hg2+ using herring sperm DNA modified nanogold].

In pH 7.0 tris-HCl buffer solutions and in the presence of 0.017 mol x L(-1) NaCl, herring sperm DNA was combined with gold nanoparticles in size of 10 nm to form stable complex, and the NaCl did not cause the aggregation of the gold nanoparticles.

A topological transformation in evolutionary tree search methods based on maximum likelihood combining p-ECR and neighbor joining.

Background: Inference of evolutionary trees using the maximum likelihood principle is NP-hard. Therefore, all practical methods rely on heuristics. The topological transformations often used in heuristics are Nearest Neighbor Interchange (NNI), Subtree Prune and Regraft (SPR) and Tree Bisection and Reconnection (TBR).

[Study on the growth and spectral characteristics of LiNbO3:Cr:ZnO crystal].

The LiNbO3:Cr:ZnO crystals with the size up to phi20 mm x 50 mm were grown by the Czochralski technique. The absorption spectrum shows that there are two strong absorption wideband peaks and one weak absorption peak of to Cr3+ ion in the crystal. The peak values of the two strong absorption wideband peaks are 480 and 660 nm, which correspond to 4A2-->4 T1 and 4A2-->4 T2 transitions, respectively.

[Crystal growth and spectroscopy of Er/Yb:KGW crystal].

The Er3 /Yb3+:KGW crystal with the dimensions of 30 mm x 25 mm x 15 mm was grown from K2W2O7 solvent by modified Czochralski method. The absorption spectrum was measured at room temperature and its absorption peaks were assigned. The emission spectrum was obtained under the excitation of 980 nm.

[Study on the growth and spectral characteristics of Cr3+: Al2 (WO4)3 crystal].

Cr3+:Al2(WO4)3 Crystal was grown from the Na2WO4 solvent system by using the TSSG method. The absorption spectrum shows that there are two strong absorption wideband peaks and one we ak absorption peak belonging to Cr3+ ion in the crystal. The peak values of two strong absorption wideband peaks are at 422 and 595 nm, respectively.

[Study on the potentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells involved in sebaceous duct formation].

Objective: To investigate the feasibility of differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into skin appandence.

Methods: Porcine MSCs were isolated from porcine marrow and grown in vitro. After labeling with BrdU, MSCs were engrafted to porcine skin.

[Isolation and culture of multipotent mesenchymal stem cells from porcine bone marrow].

Objective: To establish a method for the isolation of porcine mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from bone marrow and to demonstrate their differentiation ex vivo into various mesenchymal tissue cells.

Methods: MSCs were isolated from bone marrow and purified by centrifuge and in vitro. The proliferation and growth characteristics were observed in primary and passage culture.

[The up-conversion of frequency in Yb3+ :KGd(WO4)2 material].

By using the method of solid phase synthesis, a series of samples of KYbxGd(1 - x) (WO4)2 with different Yb3+ mole fraction of x = 0.03, 0.08, 0.

[Redistribution of epidermal stem cells in wound edge in the process of re-epithelialization].

Objective: To study the redistribution of epidermal stem cells in regenerating wound tissues, and to elucidate the role of epidermal stem cells during wound repair.

Methods: 80 circular full-thickness wounds were produced on both sides of the back in 20 male Wistar rats (4 wounds in each animal). Then the 80 wounds were randomly divided into 2 groups: group A (treated with sulfadiazine silver- sulfadiazine zinc cream, n = 40) and group B (without any treatment, n = 40).

[An experimental study on the differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells into vascular endothelial cells].

Objective: To investigate the feasibility of differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into vascular endothelial cells and the mechanism of its involvement in wound healing.

Methods: Porcine MSCs were harvested from porcine marrow, and they were isolated and purified by density gradient centrifugation. After being cultured and amplified in vitro, the MSCs were labelled with BrdU (5-bromodeoxy-uridine).