Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been applied in cancer treatment by utilizing reactive oxygen species to kill cancer cells. However, a high concentration of Glutathione (GSH) is present in cancer cells and can consume reactive oxygen species. To address this problem, we report the development of a photosensitizer-MnO2 nanosystem for highly efficient PDT. In our design, MnO2 nanosheets adsorb photosensitizer chlorin e6 (Ce6), protect it from self-destruction upon light irradiation, and efficiently deliver it into cells. The nanosystem also inhibits extracellular singlet oxygen generation by Ce6, leading to fewer side effects. Once endocytosed, the MnO2 nanosheets are reduced by intracellular GSH. As a result, the nanosystem is disintegrated, simultaneously releasing Ce6 and decreasing the level of GSH for highly efficient PDT. Moreover, fluorescence recovery, accompanied by the dissolution of MnO2 nanosheets, can provide a fluorescence signal for monitoring the efficacy of delivery.

This study tested a mobile health (mHealth) intervention program entitled WeTest, delivered via the WeChat mobile app, to promote oral HIVST among MSM in Hefei, China. A total of 100 MSM participants enrolled, completed baseline assessment, were randomly assigned to intervention or control, and completed 6-month follow-up surveys. Intervention participants (n=50) received two oral HIVST kits and access to WeTest, a private WeChat group which provided app-based messages and referrals to health services related to HIV. Control participants (n=50) received two oral HIVST kits only. All participants received instructions to upload photographic results of their oral HIVST, which were sent to the project counselor via a secure WeChat online portal; immediate contact and referrals were made to any participants who tested HIV-positive. In GEE analyses adjusting for time effects and baseline confounders, intervention participants had significantly higher rates of HIV testing (adjusted rate ratio RR = 1.99, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.07–3.84) and, in particular, higher rates of testing via oral HIVST (adjusted RR = 2.17, 95% CI 1.08–4.37) compared with the control group. Significant time effects were also found such that all participants, regardless of group allocation, had significantly higher rates of reporting consistent condom use with main partners (adjusted RR = 18.13, 95% CI 5.19–63.31) and with non-main partners (adjusted RR = 5.33, 95% CI 2.35–12.08). Findings from this study provide evidence for the feasibility, acceptability and preliminary effects of this mHealth approach to promoting oral HIVST among MSM in China.

Photodynamic therapy( PDT) has been applied in cancer treatment by utilizing reactive oxygen species to kill cancer cells.H owever,ahigh concentration of glutathione (GSH) is present in cancer cells and can consume reactive oxygen species.T oa ddress this problem, we report the development of ap hotosensitizer-MnO 2 nanosystem for highly efficient PDT.I no ur design, MnO 2 nanosheets adsorb photosensitizer chlorin e6 (Ce6), protect it from self-destruction upon light irradiation, and efficiently deliver it into cells. The nanosystem also inhibits extracellular singlet oxygen generation by Ce6, leading to fewer side effects.O nce endocytosed, the MnO 2 nanosheets are reduced by intracellular GSH. As ar esult, the nanosystem is disintegrated, simultaneously releasing Ce6 and decreasing the level of GSH for highly efficient PDT.Moreover,fluorescence recovery,accompanied by the dissolution of MnO 2 nanosheets,c an provide af luorescence signal for monitoring the efficacy of delivery.Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is aclinical cancer treatment method which utilizes reactive oxygen species,such as singlet oxygen ( 1 O 2 )generated through the reaction between aphotosensitizer and tissue oxygen under illumination, to kill cancer cells.I nc omparison with traditional cancer therapy methods,s uch as surgery,c hemotherapy,a nd radiotherapy, PDT possesses several unique advantages,including minimal invasion, fewer side effects,n egligible drug resistance,a nd low minimal toxicity. [1][2][3] As ac onsequence,q uite af ew PDT agents (photosensitizers) that possess high 1 O 2 quantum yields with excellent photophysical properties and good biocompatibility have been discovered for cancer treatment. [4][5][6][7][8] In parallel, the search for strategies enabling efficient delivery of photosensitizers into cancer cells is ongoing. One efficient approach employs nanocarriers to deliver cancer treatment agents into cancer cells. [9][10][11][12][13][14][15] In the past two decades,d ifferent nanomaterials,s uch as metallic, carbon, silica, and organic polymer nanomaterials,have been developed for intracellular photosensitizer delivery. [16][17][18][19][20][21][22] Glutathione (GSH) is an important antioxidant and the most abundant low-molecular-weight thiol in vivo,w ith ac oncentration range from 1t o1 5mm.[23] At the same time, however, it has been shown to consume 1 O 2 generated by PDT agents,t hus greatly reducing the efficiencyo fP DT and limiting the clinical applications of current PDT agents. [24][25][26] Therefore,the development of amultifunctional nanosystem which can both enhance the cellular uptake of photosensitizers and decrease the level of GSH in cancer cells in situ is highly desired.MnO 2 nanosheets,w hich are ultrathin semiconductors, have attracted extensive attention in bioanalysis,cell imaging, and drug delivery.[27-31] They exhibit several unique features favorable for the delivery of photosensitizers with enhanced PDT efficiency. First, MnO 2 nanosheets can strongly adsorb small organic molecules,such...

Highlights d Rocaglates produce distinct inhibitory effects on translation initiation d Rocaglates interfere with eIF4F release from the cap structure d Rocaglates exert a bystander effect on translation initiation by sequestering eIF4F

Highlights d A screen of >200 rocaglates for stimulation of eIF4A1:RNA clamping was prosecuted d eIF4A1 and eIF4A2 are similarly affected by all active rocaglates d Amidino-rocaglates were identified as a novel potent class of translation inhibitors d A novel lead compound, CMLD012612, was identified and characterized

ABSTRACT. Bi2Se3, one of the most widely studied topological insulators (TIs), is naturally electron-doped due to n-type native defects. However, many years of efforts to achieve p-type Bi2Se3 thin films have failed so far. Here, we provide a solution to this long-standing problem, showing that the main culprit has been the high density of interfacial defects. By suppressing these defects through an interfacial engineering scheme, we have successfully implemented p-type Bi2Se3 thin films down to the thinnest topological regime. On this platform, we present the first tunable quantum Hall effect (QHE) study in Bi2Se3 thin films, and reveal not only significantly asymmetric QHE signatures across the Dirac point but also the presence of competing anomalous states near the zeroth Landau level. The availability of doping tunable Bi2Se3 thin films will now make it possible to implement various topological quantum devices, previously inaccessible.KEYWORDS. Topological insulator, Bi2Se3, Doping, Interface, Quantum Hall effect 3 Hole (p) doping has been challenging in Bi2Se3 1-3 , one of the most widely studied topological insulators (TIs) [4][5][6][7][8][9][10] . Unlike conventional semiconductor materials, the problem is complicated due to the presence of both surface and bulk states in topological insulators: we have to consider the doping problem of the surface and the bulk states separately. Both the surface and bulk states of Bi2Se3 have a strong tendency toward n-type due to its native n-type defects such as selenium vacancies [1][2][3][11][12][13][14][15][16][17] . In bulk crystals compensation dopants such as Ca and Mn can be used to convert the dominant carrier type from n-to p-type [18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25] . However, such a compensation doping scheme has not been successful in thin films of Bi2Se3. More specifically, we have tried various potential p-type dopants such as Zn, Mg, Ca, Sr, and Ba as compensation dopants, but none of them have so far led to p-type Bi2Se3 thin films; no p-type Bi2Se3 thin films have been demonstrated in the literature either. Only when they were quite thick (~200 nm), we were able to achieve p-type Bi2Se3 films through a complex process 8 . This difficulty in achieving p-type Bi2Se3 thin films has been puzzling, considering the very existence of p-type Bi2Se3 bulk crystals 19,20 . It may be suspected that this discrepancy in doping efficiency between thin films and bulk crystals could be due to the different growth conditions of the two systems, such as growth temperatures, considering that films are, in general, grown at much lower temperatures than bulk crystals. However, it should be noted that even p-type Bi2Se3 bulk crystals tend to become n-type when the crystals are made into thin flakes through, say, the Scotch tape method 26 . Bi2Se3 flakes can remain p-type only if they are relatively thick (> ~150 nm) 24 . All these observations provide evidence that whether they are thin films or bulk crystals, thickness critically affects the doping efficiency of the Bi2Se3 syst...

BackgroundHIV self-testing (HIVST) has demonstrated potential to expand HIV testing among key populations, including men who have sex with men (MSM) in China who have low testing rates. However, due to the autonomous nature of self-testing, people who undergo HIVST may lack access to relevant information and counseling support typically provided by in-person HIV testing counselors. WeChat, a popular smartphone application in China, offers a potential source of mobile health (mHealth) information and support for individuals using HIVST. This paper aimed to explore the opinions of MSM in China about the feasibility and potential concerns of using WeChat to support HIVST and reduce risk for HIV infection.MethodsWe conducted in-depth interviews with 36 MSM about their mobile smartphone usage and the use of WeChat for helping MSM self-administer HIVST kits in Hefei, China. Each interview was digitally recorded and transcribed. Transcripts were analyzed used content analysis method according to Elo and Kyngas.ResultsMSM described their use of WeChat and expressed cautious endorsement about using this platform to promote HIVST and disseminate HIV-related information. They described their preferences about the implementation features of an mHealth intervention to promote HIVST, including the delivery source of intervention messages, as well as message timing, frequency, form, tone, and content. Participants also described privacy-related concerns about receiving messages via WeChat and offered potential solutions.ConclusionsFindings from this study show the potential utility of WeChat app-based messaging for engaging MSM in HIV self-testing and prevention. Future research is needed to integrate the concerns expressed in this analysis and evaluate a WeChat-based intervention to promote oral HIV self-testing, risk reduction, and health promotion among MSM in China.

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