A platform for capture and release of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) is demonstrated by utilizing aptamer grafted silicon nanowires. Here, single‐stranded DNA‐aptamers are generated via the Cell‐SELEX process to serve as capture agents, allowing specific capture and release of non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) CTCs from whole‐blood samples with minimum contamination and negligible disruption to CTC viability and functions.

Nucleation and growth of hydrogen nanobubbles are key initial steps in electrochemical water splitting. These processes remain largely unexplored due to a lack of proper tools to probe the nanobubble's interfacial structure with sufficient spatial and temporal resolution. We report the use of superresolution microscopy to image transient formation and growth of single hydrogen nanobubbles at the electrode/solution interface during electrocatalytic water splitting. We found hydrogen nanobubbles can be generated even at very early stages in water electrolysis, i.e., ∼500 mV before reaching its thermodynamic reduction potential. The ability to image single nanobubbles on an electrode enabled us to observe in real time the process of hydrogen spillover from ultrathin gold nanocatalysts supported on indium-tin oxide.

4-(Methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL) and its glucuronides (sum of which is denoted as total NNAL) are metabolites of 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK). NNK and NNAL can induce lung cancer in laboratory animals but human data are limited. The association between prediagnostic levels of urinary total NNAL and risk of lung cancer development was evaluated in two prospective cohorts of Chinese cigarette smokers. We conducted a nested case-control study involving 246 cases of incident lung cancer and 245 cohort controls who were individually matched to the index cases by age, gender, neighborhood of residence at cohort enrollment, and date of urine collection. Urinary levels of total NNAL were significantly associated with risk of lung cancer in a dose-dependent manner. Relative to the lowest tertile, risks associated with the second and third tertiles of total NNAL were 1.43 [95% confidence interval (95% CI), 0.86-2.37] and 2.11 (95% CI, 1.25-3.54), respectively (P for trend = 0.005) after adjustment for self-reported smoking history and urinary total cotinine. Smokers in the highest tertiles of urinary total NNAL and total cotinine exhibited a 8.5-fold (95% CI, 3.7-19.5) increased risk for lung cancer relative to smokers with comparable smoking history but possessing the lowest tertiles of urinary total NNAL and total cotinine. Findings of the present study directly link NNK exposure to lung cancer development in humans. [Cancer Res 2009;69(7):2990-5]

Extensive efforts have been devoted to the construction of functional supramolecular nanosystems for applications in catalysis, energy conversion, sensing and biomedicine. The applications of supramolecular nanosystems such as liposomes, micelles, inorganic nanoparticles, carbon materials for cancer diagnostics and therapeutics have been reviewed by other groups. Here, we will focus on the recent momentous advances in the implementation of typical supramolecular hosts (i.e., cyclodextrins, calixarenes, cucurbiturils and metallo-hosts) and their nanosystems in cancer diagnostics and therapeutics. We discuss the evolutive process of supramolecular nanosystems from the structural control and characterization to their diagnostic and therapeutic function exploitation and even the future potentials for clinical translation.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common, painful disease. Currently OA is incurable, and its etiology largely unknown, partly due to limited understanding of OA as a whole-joint disease. Here we report that two homologous microRNAs, miR-204 and miR-211 , maintain joint homeostasis to suppress OA pathogenesis. Specific knockout of miR-204/-211 in mesenchymal progenitor cells (MPCs) results in Runx2 accumulation in multi-type joint cells, causing whole-joint degeneration. Specifically, miR-204/-211 loss-of-function induces matrix-degrading proteases in articular chondrocytes and synoviocytes, stimulating articular cartilage destruction. Moreover, miR-204 / -211 ablation enhances NGF expression in a Runx2-dependent manner, and thus hyper-activates Akt signaling and MPC proliferation, underlying multiplex non-cartilaginous OA conditions including synovial hyperplasia, osteophyte outgrowth and subchondral sclerosis. Importantly, miR-204 /- 211 -deficiency-induced OA is largely rescued by Runx2 insufficiency, confirming the miR-204 /- 211- Runx2 axis. Further, intraarticular administration of miR-204 -expressing adeno-associated virus significantly decelerates OA progression. Collectively, miR-204 / -211 are essential in maintaining healthy homeostasis of mesenchymal joint cells to counteract OA pathogenesis.

No abstract

Prospective data on environmental exposures, especially with respect to alcohol, tobacco and diet, in relation to the risk of esophageal cancer in high risk populations are sparse. We analyzed data from a population-based cohort of 18 244 middle-aged and older men in Shanghai to identify risk factors for esophageal cancer in this high-risk population. The cohort was followed through 2006 and 101 incident esophageal cancer cases were identified. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) for associations between exposures and esophageal cancer risk. With adjustment for tobacco use and other potential confounders, regular drinkers versus nondrinkers of alcoholic beverages had a 2-fold risk of developing esophageal cancer (HR = 2.02, 95% CI = 1.31-3.12). With adjustment for alcohol and other potential confounders, long-term smokers (40+ years) versus nonsmokers of cigarettes showed a 2-fold risk of developing esophageal cancer (HR=2.06, 95% CI=1.11-3.82). Increased consumption of fruits (including oranges/tangerines), seafood and milk were found to be protective against the development of esophageal cancer; HRs were decreased by 40%-60% for high versus low consumers after adjustment for cigarette smoking, alcohol drinking and other confounders.

The electrochemical interface is an ultrathin interfacial region between the electrode surface and the electrolyte solution and is often characterized by numerous dynamic processes, such as solvation and desolvation, heterogeneous electron transfer, molecular adsorption and desorption, diffusion, and surface rearrangement. Many of these processes are driven and modulated by the presence of a large interfacial potential gradient. The study and better understanding of the electrochemical interface is important for designing better electrochemical systems where their applications may include batteries, fuel cells, electrocatalytic water splitting, corrosion protection, and electroplating. This, however, has proved to be a challenging analytical task due to the ultracompact and dynamic evolving nature of the electrochemical interface. Here, we describe the use of an electrochemical nanocell to image the dynamic collision and oxidation process of single silver nanoparticles at the surface of a platinum nanoelectrode. A nanocell is prepared by depositing a platinum nanoparticle at the tip of a quartz nanopipette forming a bipolar nanoelectrode. The compact size of the nanocell confines the motion of the silver nanoparticle in a 1-D space. The highly dynamic process of nanoparticle collision and oxidation is imaged by single-particle fluorescence microscopy. Our results demonstrate that silver nanoparticle collision and oxidation is highly dynamic and likely controlled by a strong electrostatic effect at the electrode/solution interface. We believe that the use of a platinum nanocell and single molecule/nanoparticle fluorescence microscopy can be extended to other systems to yield highly dynamic information about the electrochemical interface.