No abstract

Background-Mutations in the alpha catalytic subunit of phosphoinositol-3-kinase (PIK3CA) occur in ~30% of ER positive breast cancers. We therefore sought to determine the impact of PIK3CA mutation on response to neoadjuvant endocrine therapy.

A typical thin and fully flexible hybrid electrode was developed by integrating the encapsulation of silver nanowires (AgNWs) network between a monolayer graphene and polymer film as a sandwich structure. Compared with the reported flexible electrodes based on PET or PEN substrate, this unique electrode exhibits the superior optoelectronic characteristics (sheet resistance of 8.06 Ω/□ at 88.3% light transmittance). Meanwhile, the specific up-to-bottom fabrication process could achieve the superflat surface (RMS = 2.58 nm), superthin thickness (∼8 μm thickness), high mechanical robustness, and lightweight. In addition, the strong corrosion resistance and stability for the hybrid electrode were proved. With these advantages, we employ this electrode to fabricate the simple flexible organic light-emitting device (OLED) and perovskite solar cell device (PSC), which exhibit the considerable performance (best PCE of OLED = 2.11 cd/A; best PCE of PSC = 10.419%). All the characteristics of the unique hybrid electrode demonstrate its potential as a high-performance transparent electrode candidate for flexible optoelectronics.

No abstract

Analysis of genomic DNA derived from cells and fresh or fixed tissues often requires whole genome amplification prior to microarray screening. Technical hurdles to this process are the introduction of amplification bias and/or the inhibitory effects of formalin fixation on DNA amplification. Here we demonstrate a balanced-PCR procedure that allows unbiased amplification of genomic DNA from fresh or modestly degraded paraffin-embedded DNA samples. Following digestion and ligation of a target and a control genome with distinct linkers, the two are mixed and amplified in a single PCR, thereby avoiding biases associated with PCR saturation and impurities. We demonstrate genome-wide retention of allelic differences following balanced-PCR amplification of DNA from breast cancer and normal human cells and genomic profiling by array-CGH (cDNA arrays, 100 kb resolution) and by real-time PCR (single gene resolution). Comparison of balanced-PCR with multiple displacement amplification (MDA) demonstrates equivalent performance between the two when intact genomic DNA is used. When DNA from paraffin-embedded samples is used, balanced PCR overcomes problems associated with modest DNA degradation and produces unbiased amplification whereas MDA does not. Balanced-PCR allows amplification and recovery of modestly degraded genomic DNA for subsequent retrospective analysis of human tumors with known outcomes.

In this 2D NiCo-MOF/rGO hybrid, the MOF nanosheets provide abundant active sites while the conductive rGO provide rapid electron transport.

Free radical-mediated damage to vascular cells may be involved in the pathogenesis of diabetic vasculopathy. The aim of this study was to compare the extent of glucose-induced oxidative stress in both vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and pericytes and the effect on antioxidant enzyme gene expression and activities. Porcine aortic VSMC and retinal pericytes were cultured in either 5 or 25 mmol/l glucose for 10 days. Intracellular malondialdehyde (MDA) was measured as a marker of peroxidative damage, and mRNA expression of CuZn-SOD, MnSOD, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) were measured by Northern analysis. Glutathione (GSH) was also measured. There was a significant increase in MDA in VSMCs in 25 mmol/l glucose (1.34 +/- 0.11 vs. 1.88 +/- 0.24 nmol/mg protein, 5 vs. 25 mmol/l D-glucose, mean +/- SE, n = 15, P < 0.01), but not in pericytes (0.38 +/- 0.05 vs. 0.37 +/- 0.05 nmol/mg protein, n = 11). There was a significant decrease in GSH in both cell types (VSMC, 1.40 +/- 0.13 vs. 0.69 +/- 0.12 nmol/mg protein, n = 15, P < 0.001; pericytes, 1.97 +/- 0.17 vs. 0.94 +/- 0.16 nmol/mg protein, n = 11, P < 0.001). mRNA expression of CuZnSOD and MnSOD was increased only in VSMCs (by 58.5 +/- 8.1 and 41.0 +/- 6.9%, respectively, n = 8, P < 0.01). CuZnSOD protein was increased by approximately 120% (P < 0.00001). None of the antioxidant enzyme activities was altered between 5 and 25 mmol/l glucose in either cell type. Both MnSOD activities and GSH concentrations were higher in pericytes compared with VSMC under basal (5 mmol/l) conditions (P < 0.05 and P < 0.02, respectively). These results demonstrate glucose-induced reduction of GSH in both cells, but only in VSMC is there evidence of oxidant damage in the form of lipid peroxidation, implying significant differences in intracellular responses to glucose between contractile cells in the macro- and microvasculature.

Three-dimensional (3D) core/shell structure of nickel cobalt sulfide is nano-engineered by using series of hydrothermal steps on a CVD grown graphene for supercapacitor application. This core/shell is composited of NiCo2S4 nanotube (NCS) as core and CoxNi(3−x)S2 (CNS) nanosheets as a shell. The as-synthesized composite exhibits excellent electrochemical properties by using the advantage of NCS nanontube core as superhighway for electron and ion transport, and CNS nanosheets shell as high active area pseudocapacitive material. The 3D graphene layer serves as excellent surface area to support 3D NCS/CNS; moreover, it provides excellent electrical conductivity between nickel foam current collector and the 3D NCS/NCS composite. Using these hybrid advantages the as-synthesized graphene/NCS/CNS composite electrode exhibits high areal capacitance of 15.6 F/cm2 at current density of 10 mA/cm2; excellent cycling stability of 93% after 5000 of cycles and excellent rate capability of 74.36% as current increase from 10 to 100 mA/cm2. Moreover, a prototype of asymmetric device fabricated using graphene/NCS/CNS as positive electrode and RGO as negative electrode exhibits high energy density of 23.9 Wh/kg and power density of 2460.6 W/kg at high operating current of 100 mA. Such high performance electrode material may get great application in future energy storage device.