[Effect of microRNA-106b on the invasion and proliferation of trophoblasts through targeting MMP-2]

Objective: To investigate the expression of microRNA-106b (miR-106b) in the placentas of patients with pre-eclampsia and its relationship with matrix metallopeptidase (MMP) -2, and its effect on the invasion and proliferation of trophoblasts. Methods: (1) Placental tissues were collected from patients with mild pre-eclampsia (mPE, n=30), severe pre-eclampsia (sPE, n=30) and normal pregnant women (n=40). Human choriocarcinoma cell lines JAR and JEG3 were assigned to the miR-106b mimics group, the mimics negative control group, the miR-106b inhibitor group and the inhibitor negative control group, respectively. (2) The target gene of miR-106b(such as MMP-2) was predicted by bioinformatics. Dual-luciferase reporting system was used to verify the regulation of miR-106b on the expression of MMP-2. (3) The expressions of miR-106b and MMP-2 were measured by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and western blot. (4) Cell proliferation was determined by MTT assay. (5) Invasive activities in each group were assessed by cell transwell invasion assays. Results: (1) Predicting result of bioinformatics indicated that MMP-2 was one of the target genes of miR-106b. Dual-luciferase activity assay demonstrated that MMP-2 was the direct target of miR-106b (P<0.01) .(2) The results of qRT-PCR.①The expression of miR-106b in the placentas of mPE, sPE, normal pregnant women were 2.89±0.04, 1.96±0.03, 1.01±0.03, respectively (P<0.05). And the expression of MMP-2 mRNA in the placentas of mPE, sPE, normal pregnant women were 1.87±0.05, 0.69±0.03, 2.78±0.03, respectively (P<0.05). ②The expression of miR-106b in the JAR cell line in the miR-106b mimics group, the mimics negative control group, the miR-106b inhibitor group and the inhibitor negative control group were 2.39±0.03, 1.03±0.04, 0.73±0.03, 1.11±0.04, respectively (P<0.05). And its expression in the JEG3 cell line were 2.17±0.04, 1.18±0.04, 0.61±0.03 and 1.22±0.03, respectively (P<0.05). ③The expression of MMP-2 mRNA in the JAR cell line in the miR-106b mimics group, the mimics negative control group, the miR-106b inhibitor group and the inhibitor negative control group were 0.45±0.15, 1.02±0.03, 2.28±0.03, 1.11±0.03, respectively (P<0.05). And its expression in the JEG3 cell line were 0.58±0.03, 1.25±0.15, 2.25±0.03, 1.21±0.03, respectively (P<0.05). (3) The results of western blot. ①The expression of MMP-2 protein in the placentas of mPE, sPE, normal pregnant women were 1.63±0.04, 0.55±0.03, 2.82±0.03, respectively (P<0.05). ②The expression of MMP-2 protein in the JAR cell line in the miR-106b mimics group, the mimics negative control group, the miR-106b inhibitor group and the inhibitor negative control group were 0.41±0.03, 0.97±0.03, 2.25±0.03, 1.01±0.03, respectively (P<0.05). And its expression in the JEG3 cell line were 0.53±0.03, 1.20±0.03, 2.31±0.04, 1.19±0.03, respectively (P<0.05). (4) miR-106b could inhibit the proliferation of JAR and JEG3 cells, cell proliferation rates in the miR-106b mimics group were lower than that in the mimics negative control group (P<0.05). And cell proliferation rate in the miR-106b inhibitor group was higher than the inhibitor negative control group (P<0.05). (5) The numbers of JAR cell that passed the membrane in the miR-106b mimics group, the mimics negative control group. The miR-106b inhibitor group and the inhibitor negative control group were 61±15, 79±13, 134±13, 80±12, respectively(P<0.05). And the numbers of JEG3 cell that passed were 57±12, 71±15, 128±15, 70±14, respectively (P<0.05). Conclusion: The miR-106b could inhibit the invasion and proliferation of JAR and JEG3 cells through targeting MMP-2, and have a relationship with the pathogenesis of pre-eclampsia.

[Clinical presentation of Kleine-Levin syndrome]

Objective: To analyze the clinical features of Kleine-Levin syndrome (KLS) patients. Methods: Clinical data of 44 patients with KLS of the Sleep Center of Peking University People's Hospital from January 2002 to July 2013 were systematically reviewed. The predisposing factors and clinical presentations were summarized, and compared with the data from a Western KLS study with a large subjects number. Nocturnal polysomnography (PSG) and multiple sleep latency test (MSLT) were conducted during relapse and remission period, respectively. HLA-DQB1*0602 gene were screened and analyzed. Results: Among the 44 patients, 28(63.6%) were men and 16(36.4%) were women, with a mean age of (18.3±8.9) years old. Most patients developed the symptoms during adolescence. Infection or fever was the most common trigger for episode. The main clinical presentations were 44(100.0%) hypersomnia, 31(70.5%) forgetfulness, 26(59.1%) decreased appetites, 24(54.5%) juvenile behavior, 18(40.9%) depression, etc. Compared with the Western study, it showed that our patients had decreased instead of increased appetite. The PSG testing did not have remarkable findings. MSLT showed mean sleep latency was significantly shorter during relapse than during remission [(10.4±5.4) vs (15.3±3.4) min, P=0.009]. HLA-DQB1*0602 was positive in 12 of 40(30.0%) patients, which was similar to the data in the Chinese population. Conclusions: KLS has various clinical characteristics. The presentation of appetite may be different between Chinese and western KLS patients.

Identification of 19 loci for reproductive traits in a local Chinese chicken by genome-wide study

Reproductive traits have long been studied and have an important influence on chicken breeding. To identify quantitative trait loci affecting reproductive traits, a genome-wide analysis of a Chinese chicken breed was performed to analyze age at first egg body weight at first egg, first egg weight, egg weight at the age of 300 days, egg weight at the age of 462 days, egg number at the age of 300 days, egg number between the ages of 300 and 462 days and egg number at the age of 462 days. Nineteen SNPs related to reproductive traits were presented (P < 1.80E-6). Nine of the 19 SNPs had a significant effect on BWF, six SNPs were significantly associated with egg weight, and four SNPs were significantly associated with egg number. These SNPs were located near to or in 17 genes including FAM184B, HTT, KCNH7, CDC42BPA, KCNIP4, GJA5, CBFB, and GPC6. The present results may be beneficial for reproductive research and may be used in marker-assisted selection in future studies. These results could potentially benefit further breeding programs, especially in Jinghai Yellow Chicken.

The efficacy and safety of SGLT2 inhibitors for adjunctive treatment of type 1 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis

To assess the efficacy and safety of the SGLT-2 inhibitors as adjunct therapy to insulin in T1DM, clinical trials indexed in PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMbase from inception through April 5, 2016. A meta-analysis was conducted on trials of SGLT-2 inhibitors in patients with T1DM on insulin therapy using RevMan 5.3 software. Of the 371 articles identified, ten met eligibility criteria. Seven clinical trials including four randomized controlled trials and 581 patients were included. Compared with the control group, SGLT-2 inhibitors group had significantly reduced fasting plasma glucose by 0.69 mmol/L [1.32; 0.07], glycosylated hemoglobin A1C by 0.37% [0.54; 0.20], body weight by 2.54 kg [3.48; 1.60] and total daily insulin dose by 6.22 IU [8.04; 4.40]. The total incidence of adverse events (AEs), hypoglycemia, and genital and urinary infections were also similar to placebo, while an increased incidence of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) (n = 16) was seen in SGLT-2 inhibitors group. The present study demonstrates that SGLT-2 inhibitors are effective as adjunct therapy to insulin in T1DM, heralding improved glycemic control, reduced body weight and total daily insulin dose without an increase in total AEs, hypoglycemia, or genital and urinary infections. However, the risk of DKA should be carefully monitored in future clinical trials.

[Prognostic value of JAK2, MPL and CALR mutations in Chinese patients with primary myelofibrosis]

目的

评价JAK2、MPL和CALR基因突变在中国原发性骨髓纤维化（PMF）患者中的预后意义。

方法

回顾性分析402例PMF患者的临床资料及JAK2、MPL和CALR基因突变，应用Kaplan-Meier、Log-rank和Cox回归模型进行相关预后因素分析。

结果

402例PMF患者中男209例，女193例，中位年龄55(15~89）岁。JAKV617F基因突变189例（47.0%），MPLW515基因突变13例（3.2%），CALR基因突变81例（20.1%）[1型突变30例（37.0%），2型突变48例（59.3%），少见型突变3例（3.7%）]，119例（29.6%）未检测到JAK2、MPL和CALR基因突变。单因素分析显示，2型CALR突变或未检测到JAK2、MPL和CALR基因突变的患者中位生存期（74个月）短于检测到JAK2、MPL或1型及少见型CALR基因突变的患者（168个月）[HR=2.990（95% CI 1.935~4.619），P <0.001]。因此，将基因突变类型分为预后不良组（2型CALR突变和未检测到JAK2、MPL和CALR基因突变）和预后良好组（JAKV617F、MPLW515、1型及少见型CALR基因突变）。经多因素分析提出了中国PMF患者的动态国际预后积分系统（DIPSS-Chinese）分子预后积分系统，各参数赋值如下：DIPSS-Chinese低危组0分，中危组1分，高危组2分，2型CALR突变或未检测到JAK2、MPL和CALR基因突变积1分。402例患者中，低危组（0分）132例（32.8%），中危-1组（1分）143例（35.6%），中危-2组（2分）106例（26.4%），高危组（3分）21例（5.2%）。低危组中位生存时间未达到，中危-1组为156(95% CI 117~194）个月，中危-2组为60(95% CI 28~91）个月，高危组为22（95% CI 10~33）个月，总生存差异具有统计学意义（P<0.001）。DIPSS-Chinese分子预后积分系统较DIPSS-Chinese有更准确的预测能力（−2 log似然比分别为855.6和869.7，P=0.005）。

结论

在中国PMF患者中，2型CALR突变和未检测到JAK2、MPL和CALR突变是独立的不良预后因素，DIPSS-Chinese分子预后积分系统有更好的预测价值。

[Laboratory diagnosis of chronic granulomatous disease]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the methods of flow cytometric-dihydrorhodamine 123 (DHR) analysis, gp91 protein detection, gene mutation analysis for the precise diagnosis of chronic granulomatous disease (CGD).

METHOD

Clinical and laboratory data of patients with CGD confirmed by gene mutation analysis from 2008 to 2015 in Children's Hospital of Fudan University were retrospectively reviewed.The results of respiratory burst, gp91 protein level, and gene mutations were analyzed.The relationships among these three methods were explored.

RESULT

A total of 138 patients of CGD with confirmed gene mutation were included in this study, of them, 123 cases(89.1%) had CYBB gene mutation, 4 cases(2.9%) had CYBA mutation, 5 cases(3.6%) had NCF1 mutation and 6 cases(4.4%) had NCF2 mutation.The range of stimulatory index (SI) was 0.8-60.5, the 25 th, 50 th, 75th percent was 1.7, 2.7, 4.7; 112 cases had the results of gp91, of them, 100 with gp91(0,) 2 with gp91(-), and 10 with gp91(+) . Six mutations, which were not reported before, were c. 76-77delTT, c. 343-344delCA, c. 481A>T, c. 1152G>C, c. 1613G>A for CYBB gene, and c. 137T>G for NCF2 gene. Among CGD patients with CYBB mutation, SI of patients with gp91(+) was higher than patients with gp91(0) 14.6 vs. 2.5(t=44.21, P=0.004). Patients of NCF1 mutation had higher SI than patients with CYBB mutation, 17.7 vs. 2.5 (t=60.8, P=0.003).

CONCLUSION

Flow cytometric-DHR analysis and gp91 protein detection are important diagnostic methods for CGD, they could help the precise diagnosis of CGD.Different mutation types, different mutation genes could have impact on the results of respiratory burst and gp91 level.The application of diagnostic technology from function, protein to gene analysis could help precise diagnosis of CGD.

Effect of electroacupuncture on the cervicospinal P2X7 receptor/fractalkine/CX3CR1 signaling pathway in a rat neck-incision pain model

Increasing evidence supports that acupuncture intervention is an effective approach for intraoperative and postoperative pain. Neuron-microglia crosstalk, mediated by the purinergic P2X7 receptor (R)/fractalkine/CX3CR1 cascade in the spinal cord dorsal horn, plays a pivotal role in pain processing. However, its involvement in the analgesic effect of electroacupuncture (EA) remains unclear. In this study, a rat neck-incision pain model was established by making a longitudinal incision along the midline of the neck and subsequent repeated mechanical stimulation. EA stimulation was applied to bilateral LI18, LI4-PC6, or ST36-GB34. The thermal pain threshold, cervicospinal ATP concentration, expression levels of purinergic P2XR and P2YR subunits mRNAs, and fractalkine, CX3CR1 and p38 MAPK proteins, were detected separately. The neck incision induced strong thermal hyperalgesia and upregulation of spinal ATP within 48 h. No significant change was found in thermal hyperalgesia after a single session of EA intervention. However, a single session of EA dramatically enhanced the neck incision-induced upregulation of ATP and upregulated the expression of P2X7R, which was reversed by two sessions of EA. Two sessions of EA at bilateral LI18 or LI4-PC6 attenuated hyperalgesia significantly, accompanied with downregulation of P2X7R/fractalkine/ CX3CR1 signaling after three sessions of EA. EA stimulation of LI18 or LI4-PC6 alleviates thermal hyperalgesia in neck-incision pain rats, which may be associated with its effects in regulating the neck incision-induced increase of ATP and P2X7R and subsequently suppressing fractalkine/CX3CR1 signaling in the cervical spinal cord.

Effect of miR-29c and miR-129-5p on epithelial-mesenchymal transition in experimental biliary atresia mouse models

Biliary atresia (BA) is a destructive bile duct disease occurring in newborn children within a few weeks after birth. In this study, the effect of miR-29c and miR-129-5p on epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in experimental BA was explored by constructing BA mouse models via Rhesus rotavirus vaccine infection. miR-29c and miR-129-5p expression was analyzed by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. EMT was established by induction with transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1. miR-29c and miR-129-5p were overexpressed and inhibited, respectively, by Lipofectamine transfection. EMT-related protein (formin-like 2, FMNL2; E-cadherin; vimentin; and cytokeratin-19, CK-19) expression was analyzed by western blot and immunofluorescent assay. The results indicated that miR-29c and miR-129-5p were downregulated and upregulated in BA mice. TGF-β1 induction caused a time-dependent decrease and increase in miR-29c and miR-129-5p, respectively. Additionally, TGF-β1 induced an increase in FMNL2 and vimentin expression and a decrease in E-cadherin and CK-19 expression (P < 0.05). Overexpression or suppression of miRNA-29c or miR-129-5p, respectively, induced the inhibition of FMNL2 and vimentin, and promotion of E-cadherin and CK-19 expression, in the test groups compared to the non-intervention group (P < 0.05). However, the FMNL2, vimentin, E-cadherin, and CK- 19 expression did not differ between the control and non-intervention groups (P > 0.05). Thus, miR-29c upregulation or miR-129-5p downregulation effectively prevented EMT in BA by regulating the expression of EMT pathway-related proteins. Therefore, miR-29c and miR-129-5p could be utilized as therapeutic targets for BA in the future.

[Value of prostate volume, PSAD and F/T in the detection of prostate cancer in males with PSA 4-10 μg/L]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the association of prostate volume, PSAD and F/T with prostate cancer detection rate in males with a total PSA of 4-10 μg/L.

METHODS

Clinical data of 196 patients who underwent prostate biopsy from November 2006 to September 2010 and with a PSA of 4-10 μg/L were retrospectively analyzed. The association of detection rate of prostate cancer with prostate volume, prostate specific antigen density PSAD) and free PSA/total PSA ratio (F/T) was analyzed by Spearman coefficient, receiver operating characteristic curve and logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

The prostate volume, PSAD and F/T had a significant association with detection rate of prostate cancer (P<0.05 for all). The odd ratio was 0.96, 1.91 and 0.02, respectively. The area under curve (AUR) was 0.31, 0.66 and 0.63, respectively. The cancer detection rate was decreased along with the increase of prostate volume. When PSAD 0.15 ng·ml(-1)·ml(-1) was used as the cut-off value, the sensitivity, specificity, positive prediction rate and negative prediction rate was 72.3%, 51.1%, 42.3% and 21.2%, respectively. When the patients were divided by prostate volume into <19.9, 20-39.9, 40-59.9, 60-79.9 and >80 ml subgroups, the cancer detection rate of each subgroup was 50.0%, 45.6%, 30.8%, 15.4% and 5.6%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

In patients with a total PSA of 4-10 μg/L, the prostate cancer detection rate has a significant association with prostate volume, PSAD and F/T.

[A review on the epidemiologic features of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome]

Severe fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging hemorrhagic fever disease in the rural areas of east-central China, which is caused by SFTSV-a newly discovered bunyavirus. SFTSV is most likely transmitted by tick bites but can also be transmitted within human beings. The onset of SFTS is sudden and with rapid progress, with main clinical manifestations as fever, thrombocytopenia, leucopenia and gastrointestinal and hepatorenal dysfunctions. Some patients may die from multiple organ failure, and the case fatality rate is approximately 10%. In this paper, we use the method of literature review to summarize the recent research progress of SFTS which includes the epidemic distribution characteristics, medium of transmission, host animals, transmission routes and susceptibility in the general population.

Systematic review with network meta-analysis: comparative effectiveness and safety of strategies for preventing NSAID-associated gastrointestinal toxicity

BACKGROUND

Many strategies are used to prevent nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)-associated gastrointestinal toxicity, but the comparative effectiveness remains unclear.

AIM

To evaluate the comparative effectiveness of clinical strategies for preventing gastrointestinal toxicity induced by NSAIDs.

METHODS

MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library (from their inception to May 2015) were searched for randomised controlled trials comparing the risk of gastrointestinal adverse events in patients taking nonselective NSAIDs, selective cyclooxygenase(COX)-2 inhibitors or nonselective NSAIDs/COX-2 inhibitors plus gastroprotective agents [proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), histamine-2 receptor antagonists, misoprostol]. Both pairwise meta-analysis and Bayesian network meta-analysis were performed.

RESULTS

Analyses were based on 82 trials including 125 053 participants. Network meta-analysis demonstrated that selective COX-2 inhibitors + PPIs [Risk ratio (RR), 95% Credible Interval (CrI): ulcer complications 0.07, 0.02-0.18], selective COX-2 inhibitors (RR, 95% CrI: ulcer complications 0.25, 0.15- 0.38; symptomatic ulcer 0.12, 0.04-0.30), nonselective NSAIDs + PPIs (RR, 95% CrI: ulcer complications 0.28, 0.18-0.41; symptomatic ulcer 0.11, 0.04-0.23), nonselective NSAIDs + misoprostol (RR, 95% CrI: ulcer complications 0.47, 0.24-0.81; symptomatic ulcer 0.41, 0.13-1.00) were associated with significantly lower risk of clinical gastrointestinal events compared with nonselective NSAIDs. For all effectiveness endpoints, selective COX-2 inhibitors + PPIs was associated with the lowest absolute event probability and the highest rank, followed by selective COX-2 inhibitors and thirdly by nonselective NSAIDs + PPIs.

CONCLUSION

The combination of selective COX-2 inhibitors plus PPIs provides the best gastrointestinal protection, followed by selective COX-2 inhibitors, and thirdly by nonselective NSAIDs plus PPIs.

Differential regulation of the expression of aquaporins 3 and 9 by Auphen and dbcAMP in the SMMC-7721 hepatocellular carcinoma cell line

Aquaglycero-aquaporins (agAQPs) are the structural foundation of rapid water transport and they appear to participate in cancer proliferation and malignancy. AQP3 expression is increased and AQP9 expression is decreased in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) compared to normal liver, which suggests their possible use as targets for cancer treatment. AQP-based modifiers, such as Auphen and dibutyryladenosine 3', 5'-cyclic monophosphate (dbcAMP), might be used to treat several diseases and as chemical tools for assessing the functions of AQPs in biological systems. We investigated the effects of both Auphen on AQP3 and dbcAMP on AQP9 in SMMC-7721 cells. We used western blotting, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and immunohistochemistry to evaluate changes in AQP3 and AQP9 expression in SMMC-7721 cells after culturing with Auphen and dbcAMP, respectively. We also determined the proliferation of SMMC-7721 cells. We found that compared to HL-7702 (L02) liver cells, Auphen increased AQP3 expression in tumor cells, whereas dbcAMP decreased expression of AQP9 in these cells. Also, high concentrations of Auphen and dbcAMP inhibited proliferation of SMMC-7721 cells in vitro. Auphen and dbcAMP may inhibit HCC development and could be considered targets for HCC diagnosis and therapy.

Growth and acid production of Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus ATCC 11842 in the fermentation of algal carcass

Algal carcass is a low-value byproduct of algae after its conversion to biodiesel. Dried algal carcass is rich in protein, carbohydrate, and multiple amino acids, and it is typically well suited for growth and acid production of lactic acid bacteria. In this study, Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus ATCC 11842 was used to ferment different algal carcass media (ACM), including 2% ACM, 2% ACM with 1.9% glucose (ACM-G), and 2% ACM with 1.9% glucose and 2g/L amino acid mixture (ACM-GA). Concentrations of organic acids (lactic acid and acetic acid), acetyl-CoA, and ATP were analyzed by HPLC, and activities of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), acetokinase (ACK), pyruvate kinase (PK), and phosphofructokinase (PFK) were determined by using a chemical approach. The growth of L. bulgaricus cells in ACM-GA was close to that in the control medium (de Man, Rogosa, and Sharpe). Lactic acid and acetic acid contents were greatly reduced when L. bulgaricus cells were grown in ACM compared with the control medium. Acetyl-CoA content varied with organic acid content and was increased in cells grown in different ACM compared with the control medium. The ATP content of L. bulgaricus cells in ACM was reduced compared with that of cells grown in the control medium. Activities of PFK and ACK of L. bulgaricus cells grown in ACM were higher and those of PK and LDH were lower compared with the control. Thus, ACM rich in nutrients may serve as an excellent substrate for growth by lactic acid bacteria, and addition of appropriate amounts of glucose and amino acids can improve growth and acid production.

[Homoharringtonine in newly diagnosed acute promyelocytic leukemia treatment: a prospective, randomized controlled trial]

OBJECTIVE

To compare the efficacy and toxicities of combining homoharringtonine (HHT)±daunorubicin (DNR) with all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) based therapy and DNR plus ATRA based therapy in newly diagnosed low/intermediate risk acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL).

METHODS

A total of 96 newly diagnosed patients with APL were randomized to HHT group, DNR group and HHT+ DNR group prospectively. The complete remission (CR) rate, the overall survival (OS) and event-free survival (EFS) of three groups were analyzed.

RESULTS

There were 31 patients in HHT group, 33 patients in DNR group and 32 patients in HHT+ DNR group. The baseline characteristics of three groups were similar. No patient died during induction therapy. The morphologic CR rate was 100.0%. The median time to peak WBC counts in HHT+DNR group (4 days, range: 1-23 days) was significantly shorter than that in HHT group (9 days, range: 1-27 days) (P=0.008) and DNR group (7 days, range: 1-27 days) (P=0.240). There was no difference among three groups about the incidence of differentiation syndrome, the median interval to achieve CR, peak WBC counts and transfusions (P >0.05). All patients achieved complete molecular remission (CMR) during consolidation therapy. The interval to achieve CMR was no significantly difference among three groups (P >0.05). The 3-year OS rates for HHT group, DNR group and HHT+DNR group were 95.0%, 100.0% and 91.0%, respectively (P=0.595). The 3-year EFS rates for three groups were 93.0%, 90.0% and 85.0% (P=0.382). No difference was found in the incidence of adverse events among three groups (P >0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Similar to DNR plus ATRA based therapy, HHT plus ATRA based induction and consolidation therapy should be one of highly-efficient treatment options for newly diagnosed APL. Clinical trial registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR-TRC-12002628.

Theoretical and experimental studies for high-repetition-rate disordered crystal lasers with harmonic self-mode locking

A harmonically self-mode-locked Nd:Sr3Y2/(BO3)4 disordered crystal laser with subpicosecond pulse duration is demonstrated. We exploit the damped harmonic oscillator model to numerically verify that the mode spacing of the laser cavity can be modified to be the harmonics of the free spectral range of the Fabry-Perot cavity when the optical length of the laser cavity is close to a commensurate ratio of the optical length of the Fabry-Perot cavity. In experiment, the Fabry-Perot cavity can be formed by the pump facet of the disordered crystal and the front mirror. A 110 GHz single-pulse harmonically mode-locked pulse train with pulse duration of 857 fs is experimentally achieved under optical lengths of 27.19 and 4.08 mm for the laser cavity and Fabry-Perot cavity respectively, corresponding to a fractional number of 20/3. A maximum output power of 162 mW is obtained at an incident pump power of 3.1 W.

Spectral properties and highly efficient continuous-wave laser operation in Nd-doped Sr(1-x)Y(x)F(2+x) crystals

Spectral properties of Nd:Sr(1-x)Y(x)F(2+x) crystals were investigated. Compared with Nd:SrF2, the spectral parameters of Nd:Sr(1-x)Y(x)F(2+x) (x=0.05,0.1) were altered in a large scale. LD-pumped true CW laser has been demonstrated in the crystals. The slope efficiency up to 43.5% in 0.43% Nd:Sr0.95Y0.05F2.05 was achieved. The system is a promising candidate for highly efficient lasers.

Antibiotic resistance monitoring in Vibrio spp. isolated from rearing environment and intestines of abalone Haliotis diversicolor

546 Vibrio isolates from rearing seawater (292 strains) and intestines of abalone (254 strains) were tested to ten antibiotics using Kirby-Bauer diffusion method. Resistant rates of abalone-derived Vibrio isolates to chloramphenicol (C), enrofloxacin (ENX) and norfloxacin (NOR) were <28%, whereas those from seawater showed large fluctuations in resistance to each of the tested antibiotics. Many strains showed higher resistant rates (>40%) to kanamycin (KNA), furazolidone (F), tetracycline (TE), gentamicin (GM) and rifampin (RA). 332 isolates from seawater (n=258) and abalone (n=74) were resistant to more than three antibiotics. Peaked resistant rates of seawater-derived isolates to multiple antibiotics were overlapped in May and August. Statistical analysis showed that pH had an important effect on resistant rates of abalone-derived Vibrio isolates to RA, NOR, and ENX. Salinity and dissolved oxygen were negatively correlated with resistant rates of seawater-derived Vibrio isolates to KNA, RA, and PG.

Association between the -607 C > A polymorphism in interleukin-18 gene promoter with gastrointestinal cancer risk: a meta-analysis

The interleukin-18 (IL-18) gene -607 C/A polymorphism has been reported to be associated with gastrointestinal cancer, but there are conflicting results from previous studies on said topic. Therefore, the aim of this meta-analysis is to derive a more precise estimation of the association between the -607 C/A polymorphism in the IL-18 gene and gastrointestinal cancer risk. Literature searches of PubMed, Google Scholar, and Web of Science databases were carried out in 2015. Five studies were assessed with a total of 1618 cases and 1155 healthy controls. When results from all eligible studies were pooled into the meta-analysis, we found significant association between the IL-18 gene -607 C/A polymorphism and gastrointestinal cancer risk (CC vs AA: OR = 0.93, 95%CI = 0.72- 1.20; CC vs CA: OR = 0.76, 95%CI = 0.62-0.92; dominant model: OR = 1.25, 95%CI = 1.03-1.50; recessive model: OR = 1.09, 95%CI = 0.87-1.37). In the subgroup analysis, significant associations between the -607 C/A polymorphism and gastrointestinal cancer risk were found in esophageal cancer. However, this polymorphism did not appear to have any influence on gastric cancer and colorectal cancer susceptibility. In conclusion, this meta-analysis suggests that the -607 C/A polymorphism in the IL-18 gene may be associated with susceptibility to esophageal cancer. Further studies with large sample sizes are needed to confirm these conclusions.

Association between a functional single nucleotide polymorphism in the brain-derived neurotrophic factor gene and risk of child asthma

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) promotes synaptic remodeling and modulates the function of other neurotransmitters. Allergic inflammation triggers neuronal dysfunction and structural changes in the airways. Genetic polymorphisms in functional regions of the BDNF gene have a plausible role in modulating the risk of child asthma (CA). This study examined the potential association between CA and three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in BDNF (rs2030323, rs6265, and rs16917204 in the promoter, exon 4, and 3'-untranslated regions, respectively). The study was conducted in 350 children with asthma and 356 healthy controls. The genotype and allele frequencies and difference between groups were analyzed using HaploView 4.0 and SPSS 20.0 software platforms. The analysis revealed a strong association between the rs6265 genotype distribution and CA. The frequency of the G allele was significantly higher in CA patients than in healthy controls (P = 0.0007, odds ratio = 1.323, 95% confidence interval = 1.073-1.632). Strong linkage disequilibrium was observed between rs16917204 and rs6265. A significantly higher number of G-G haplotypes were observed in CA patients than in controls (P = 0.024 after Bonferroni correction), while the G-A haplotypes were more significant in controls (P = 0.013 after Bonferroni correction). This suggested that BDNF gene polymorphisms confer susceptibility to CA, and also support the notion that BDNF dysfunction is involved in the pathophysiological process of CA.

Single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with growth traits in Jinghai yellow chickens

Body weight is one of the most important economic traits in the poultry industry. In the present study, a custom SNP Beadchip was used to analyze the association between those 15 SNPs and 12 growth traits of Jinghai yellow chickens, and other important genetic parameters were also calculated and analyzed. The results indicated that nine of the 15 SNPs were associated with growth traits in Jinghai yellow chickens (P < 0.05), and the identified SNPs were also in linkage disequilibrium. Five of the nine identified SNPs were mainly associated with all of the growth traits, which indicated that those five SNPs might have significant influence on Jinghai yellow chicken growth traits. Polymorphism information content (PIC) analyses indicated that five of the nine SNPs exhibited moderate polymorphism (0.25 < PIC < 0.5), which reflected intermediate genetic diversity. Six candidate genes surrounding the significant SNPs were obtained and subjected to Gene Ontology annotation analyses and pathway analyses. The functions of six important candidate genes (SETDB2, ATP7B, INTS6, KPNA3, DLEU7, and FOXO1A) were discussed. The present study provided basic data for marker-assisted selection in Jinghai yellow chickens.

Genome-wide association study of growth traits in the Jinghai Yellow chicken

Growth is one of the most economically important traits in the poultry industry. In this study, we identified single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and candidate genes associated with growth traits of the Jinghai Yellow chicken. Genome-wide association studies were conducted using the Illumina 60 K SNP Chicken array to genotype 400 Jinghai Yellow chickens. For each bird, the body weights at hatching and at 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 14, and 16 weeks were recorded. The SNPs that were significantly associated with the growth traits were identified using the general linear regression model. The results revealed a total of 18 SNPs that reached Bonferroni genome-wide significance (P < 1.80E-6). Three proximal genes (BTRC, NLK, and NF1) were found to participate in the Wnt-signaling pathway and mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway. Haplotype analysis identified 19 significant haplotypes and identified a region 152.4-156.3M on GGA1 affecting 3 growth traits (BW4, BW14, and BW16). These results may help identify the exact locations of body weight quantitative trait loci on a genome level and indicate variants that can be used for subsequent investigations for Jinghai Yellow chicken.

A novel lumazine synthase molecule from Brucella significantly promotes the immune-stimulation effects of antigenic protein

Brucella, an intracellular parasite that infects some livestock and humans, can damage or destroy the reproductive system of livestock. The syndrome is referred to as brucellosis and often occurs in pastoral areas; it is contagious from livestock to humans. In this study, the intact Brucella suis outer membrane protein 31 (omp31) gene was cloned, recombinantly expressed, and examined as a subunit vaccine candidate. The intact Brucella lumazine synthase (bls) gene was cloned and recombinantly expressed to study polymerization function in vitro. Non-reducing gel electrophoresis showed that rBs-BLS existed in different forms in vitro, including as a dimer and a pentamer. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay result showed that rOmp31 protein could induce production of an antibody in rabbits. However, the rOmp31-BLS fusion protein could elicit a much higher antibody titer in rabbits; this construct involved fusion of the Omp31 molecule with the BLS molecule. Our results indicate that Omp31 is involved in immune stimulation, while BLS has a polymerizing function based on rOmp31-BLS fusion protein immunogenicity. These data suggest that Omp31 is an ideal subunit vaccine candidate and that the BLS molecule is a favorable transport vector for antigenic proteins.

Genome-wide association study on reproductive traits in Jinghai Yellow Chicken

To identify molecular markers and candidate genes associated with reproductive traits, a genome-wide analysis was performed in Jinghai Yellow Chickens to analyze body weight at first oviposition (BWF), age at first oviposition (AFE), weight of the egg at first oviposition (FEW), egg weight at the age of 300 days (EW300), number of eggs produced by 300 days of age (EN300), egg hatchability (HA) and multiple selection index for egg production (MSI). The results showed that seven single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were associated with reproductive traits (P<1.80E-6, Bonferroni correction). The P-values of the seven SNPs were 5.62E-10, 3.45E-08, 9.76E-07, 8.90E-07, 1.12E-06, 1.42E-07 and 1.48E-07, respectively. These SNPs were located in close proximity to or within the sequence of the five candidate genes, including FAM184B, TTL, RGS1, FBLN5 and PCNX. An additional 46 SNPs that could be associated with reproductive traits were identified (P<3.59E-5, Bonferroni correction). Identification of the candidate genes as well as genome-wide SNPs that may be associated with reproductive traits will greatly advance the understanding of the genetic basis and molecular mechanisms underlying reproductive traits and may have practical significance in breeding programs for the improvements of reproductive traits in the Jinghai Yellow Chicken.

Genome-wide association study of growth traits in Jinghai Yellow chicken hens using SLAF-seq technology

In this study, we performed a new genome-wide association study using SLAF-seq technology. A total of 19 single nucleotide polymorphism effects involving nine different SNP markers reached 5% Bonferroni-corrected genome-wide significance. In addition, a 5-Mb region spanning 72.9-77.9 Mb on GGA4, exhibiting many significant SNP effects, was identified. The LDB2 gene in this region had a very strong association with body weight. Another SNP on GGA1, located in the INTS6 gene, had the strongest association with late body weight (weeks 10-16). Some of the SNPs that reached suggestive significance level overlapped with previously reported quantitative trait locus regions.

Genome-wide association study of meat quality traits in chicken

Meat quality traits are very important in the poultry industry. To identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and candidate genes affecting meat quality traits, a genome-wide association study was performed using the Illumina chicken 60K SNP beadchip in Jinghai yellow chicken. Four meat quality traits were measured. Two SNPs reached 5% Bonferroni genome-wide significance (P < 1.8E-6) and 7 SNPs reached "suggestive" genome-wide significance (P < 3.59E-6) with meat quality. These SNPs were located nearby or in 7 candidate genes, including CBLN2, HPGDS, SETD2, and ANKRD46, among others. A total of 5650 haplotpyes were established and only 1 was found to be associated with fat content in leg muscle. These results indicate that the 9 SNPs and 7 genes are important candidate markers and may influence meat quality traits in chicken.

Adjuvant chemotherapy may improve survival of patients with luminal A breast cancer and positive lymph nodes

The study examined the clinicopathological characteristics and treatment options in patients with luminal A breast cancer. This retrospective cohort included 1580 patients with luminal A breast cancer treated between January 2005 and June 2007. Patients were divided into four subgroups according to lymph node status. Prognostic factors and 5-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) of patients were analyzed. The median duration of follow-up was 67 months. Multivariate Cox-regression analysis revealed that patients in the LN2 and LN3 subgroups had a higher risk of recurrence and death than patients in the LN0 subgroup (LN2: HR = 2.2 for DFS and HR = 2.1 for OS; LN3: HR = 4.7 for DFS and HR = 4.7 for OS). In the LN2 subgroup, there was a trend towards reduced risk of recurrence and death for patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy plus endocrine therapy, although this difference did not reach statistical significance. In the LN0 and LN1 subgroups, there was a trend towards an increased risk of death in patients receiving chemotherapy. Although lymph node status remains one of the most important independent prognostic predictors for luminal A breast cancer, in patients with 0-3 positive lymph nodes endocrine therapy can be considered sufficient. However, patients with ≥4 positive lymph nodes, and especially in those with ≥ 10, should receive chemotherapy.

Analysis of meat flavor compounds in pedigree and two-strain Yangzhou geese

In this study, we evaluated the meat flavor compounds of Yangzhou geese, including one group of pedigree strain (AA group) and 4 groups of 2-strain crossbreds (KA, KB, CA, and SA). Each group consisted of 100 geese comprised of 5 replicates of 10 males and 10 females each. Inosine 5'-monophosphate (IMP), amino acid (AA), and fatty acid (FA) levels in breast and thigh muscle were determined. Results showed that AA group had the highest levels of total amino acid (TAA) and dissolved free amino acids (DFAA) in breast muscle and of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in thigh muscle (P<0.05). In SA group, the levels of C17:1, C22:0, C22:1, C20:4, and C24:1 in breast muscle were significantly higher in SA than in other groups (P<0.05). KB group had the lowest glycine levels in breast muscle (P<0.05) while MUFA levels were significantly higher in KB than in other groups (P<0.05). In KA, the levels of C18:3 in breast muscle in were higher than in CA and KB (P<0.05). CA had relevant higher IMPc levels in breast muscle than SA (P<0.05) and other groups (P>0.05); however, no significant differences were obtained in thigh muscle (P>0.05). In conclusion, Yangzhou AA goose has high levels of meat flavor compounds than its crossbreeds. Future efforts should focus on assessing meat flavor through measurement of sensory characteristics of Yangzhou geese.

Bifidobacteria Expressing Tumstatin Protein for Antitumor Therapy in Tumor-Bearing Mice

Tumstatin (Tum) is a powerful angiostatin that inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis of tumorous vascular endothelial cells. A nonpathogenic and anaerobic bacterium, Bifidobacterium longum (BL), selectively localizes to and proliferates in the hypoxia location within solid tumor. The aims of this study were to develop a novel delivery system for Tum using engineered Bifidobacterium and to investigate the inhibitory effect of Tum on tumor in mice. A vector that enabled the expression of Tum under the control of the pBBADs promoter of BL was constructed and transformed into BL NCC2705 by electroporation. The mouse colon carcinoma cells CT26 (1 × 10(7)/mL) were subcutaneously inserted in the left armpit of BALB/c mice. The tumor-bearing mice were treated with Tum-transformed BL, and green fluorescent protein (GFP)-transformed BL was used as a negative control. The microvessel density (MVD) in the transplanted tumor was determined, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated 2'-deoxyuridine 5'-triphosphate nick end labeling was used to detect apoptosis of vascular endothelial cells in transplanted tumor. The in vitro expression of Tum was examined in BL after l-arabinose induction. Bifidobacterium longum with pBBAD-Tum (BL-Tum) showed significant antitumor effect in tumor-bearing mice. The weight, volume, growth, and MVD, as well as the percentage of apoptotic vascular endothelial cells of transplanted tumors in the tumor-bearing mice treated with Tum-transformed BL were all significantly lower than those in the GFP negative control group. Intragastric administration, injection in tumor and vena caudalis injection of Tum-transformed BL exerted marked antitumor effects in tumor-bearing mice. This is the first demonstration of the utilization of Tum-transformed BL as a specific gene delivery system for treating tumor.

Molecular cloning and characterization, and prokaryotic expression of the GnRH1 gene obtained from Jinghai yellow chicken

The gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) plays an important role in the control of reproductive functions. Recent studies have reported the occurrence of GnRH molecular variants in numerous species. In this study, the GnRH1 gene from Jinghai yellow chicken was cloned by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and transformed into BL21 (DE3) competent cells. The GnRH1 gene and amino acid sequences were subjected to bioinformatic analyses. The GnRH1 gene nucleotide sequence was discovered to be 352 bp long, containing a coding, promoter, and section of the 3'-regions. The GnRH1 gene shared 93, 81, 54, 58, 61, 76, 76, 59, 76, and 66% sequence identity with Meleagris gallopavo, Columba livia, Homo sapiens, Bos taurus, swines, Capra hircus, Ovis aries, Pantholops hodgsonii, Equus caballus, and Rattus norvegicus, respectively. The GnRH1 gene showed conserved domains. The GnRH1 protein was a secreted protein comprising 92 amino acids, with a molecular weight of 10205.6 Da and a theoretical pI of 5.67. Most of the amino acid residues were observed to be hydrophilic, indicating water solubility. The predicted secondary structures of proteins included α-helices (h; 23.08%), β-extensions (e; 10.92%), and random coils (c; 66.0%). The successful construction of prokaryotic expression vector pET32a-GnRH1 was confirmed by restriction and sequence analysis. SDS-PAGE analysis showed the successful expression of recombinant plasmid in Escherichia coli BL21 (molecular weight = 25-28 kDa). Larger quantities of protein were expressed in supernatant, indicating greater expression in soluble form. Western blot analysis confirmed the expression of the target protein.

Visible and near-infrared imaging spectrometer and its preliminary results from the Chang'E 3 project

In order to conduct lunar surface mineral composition studies and content analysis, the Visible and Near-infrared Imaging Spectrometer (VNIS), one of the scientific payloads of the Chang'E 3 Yutu rover, has been developed to detect lunar surface objects and to obtain their reflectance spectra and geometric images. This is achieved with a 45° visual angle and at a height of 0.69 m. VNIS is equipped with a lunar surface calibration function, and the spectral range is 0.45-2.40 μm with a spectral resolution of 2-12 nm. It is capable of synchronously acquiring the full spectrum of lunar surface objects and in situ calibration. Here, we describe the VNIS and explain the preliminary results of the lunar surface exploration and calibration, which provides valuable information for scientific data processing and applications.

Neurorestorative effect of urinary bladder matrix-mediated neural stem cell transplantation following traumatic brain injury in rats

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of cell death and disability among young adults and lacks a successful therapeutic strategy. The multiphasic injuries of TBI severely limit the success of conventional pharmacological approaches. Recent successes with transplantation of stem cells in bioactive scaffolds in other injury paradigms provide new hope for the treatment of TBI. In this study, we transplanted neural stem cells (0.5x10(5) cells/µl) cultured in a bioactive scaffold derived from porcine urinary bladder matrix (UBM; 4 injection sites, 2.5µl each) into the rat brain following controlled cortical impact (CCI, velocity, 4.0 m/sec; duration, 0.5 sec; depth, 3.2mm). We evaluated the effectiveness of this strategy to combat the loss of motor, memory and cognitive faculties. Before transplantation, compatibility experiments showed that UBM was able to support extended proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells. Together with its reported anti-inflammatory properties and rapid degradation characteristics in vivo, UBM emerged to be an ideal scaffold. The transplants reduced neuron/tissue loss and white matter injury, and also significantly ameliorated motor, memory, and cognitive impairments. Furthermore, exposure to UBM alone was sufficient to decrease the loss of sensorimotor skills from TBI (examined 3-28 days post-CCI). However, only UBMs that contained proliferating neural stem cells helped attenuate memory and cognitive impairments (examined 26-28 days post-CCI). In summary, these results demonstrate the therapeutic efficacy of stem cells in bioactive scaffolds against TBI and show promise for translation into future clinical use.

A platform for in-situ multi-probe electronic measurements and modification of nanodevices inside a transmission electron microscope

We developed a new platform that enables in-situ four-probe electronic measurements, in-situ three-probe field-effect measurements, nanomanipulation, and in-situ modification of nanodevices inside a transmission electron microscope (TEM). The platform includes a specially designed chip-holder and a silicon (Si) chip with suspended metal electrodes. The chip-holder can hold one Si chip with a size up to 3 mm × 3 mm and provides four electrical connections that can be connected to the micrometer-sized electrodes on the Si chip by wire-bonding. The other side of the electrical connections on the chip-holder is connected to the electronic instruments outside the TEM through a commercial Nanofactory SPM-TEM holder. The Si chip with suspended metal electrodes on one of its edges was fabricated by lithography and wet etching. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs), InAs nanowires, and tungsten disulfide nanowires were placed to stride over and connect to the suspended electrodes on the Si chip by nanomanipulations inside a scanning electron microscope (SEM). By using the platform, I-V curves of an individual single-walled CNT connecting to four electrodes were in-situ measured between any two of the four suspended electrodes, and a high-resolution TEM image of the same CNT was obtained. Furthermore, four-terminal I-V measurement on an InAs nanowire was achieved on this platform, and with a movable probe used as a gate electrode, field-effect measurement on the same InAs nanowire device was accomplished in SEM. In addition, by using the movable probe on the SPM-TEM holder, we could further in-situ modify nanomaterial and nanodevices. The present work demonstrates a method that allows a direct correlation between the atomic-level structure and the electronic property of nanomaterials or nanodevices whose structure can be further modified in-situ.

High efficiency chlorine removal from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pyrolysis with a gas-liquid fluidized bed reactor

In this research a gas-liquid fluidized bed reactor was developed for removing chlorine (Cl) from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) to favor its pyrolysis treatment. In order to efficiently remove Cl within a limited time before extensive generation of hydrocarbon products, the gas-liquid fluidized bed reactor was running at 280-320 °C, where hot N2 was used as fluidizing gas to fluidize the molten polymer, letting the molten polymer contact well with N2 to release Cl in form of HCl. Experimental results showed that dechlorination efficiency is mainly temperature dependent and 300 °C is a proper reaction temperature for efficient dechlorination within a limited time duration and for prevention of extensive pyrolysis; under this temperature 99.5% of Cl removal efficiency can be obtained within reaction time around 1 min after melting is completed as the flow rate of N2 gas was set around 0.47-0.85 Nm(3) kg(-1) for the molten PVC. Larger N2 flow rate and additives in PVC would enhance HCl release but did not change the final dechlorination efficiency; and excessive N2 flow rate should be avoided for prevention of polymer entrainment. HCl is emitted from PVC granules or scraps at the mean time they started to melt and the melting stage should be taken into consideration when design the gas-liquid fluidized bed reactor for dechlorination.

Molecular genetic diversity and maternal origin of Chinese black-bone chicken breeds

Chinese black-bone chickens are valued for the medicinal properties of their meat in traditional Chinese medicine. We investigated the genetic diversity and systematic evolution of Chinese black-bone chicken breeds. We sequenced the DNA of 520 bp of the mitochondrial cyt b gene of nine Chinese black-bone chicken breeds, including Silky chicken, Jinhu black-bone chicken, Jiangshan black-bone chicken, Yugan black-bone chicken, Wumeng black-bone chicken, Muchuan black-bone chicken, Xingwen black-bone chicken, Dehua black-bone chicken, and Yanjin black-bone chicken. We found 13 haplotypes. Haplotype and nucleotide diversity of the nine black-bone chicken breeds ranged from 0 to 0.78571 and 0.00081 to 0.00399, respectively. Genetic diversity was the richest in Jinhu black-bone chickens and the lowest in Yanjin black-bone chickens. Analysis of phylogenetic trees for all birds constructed based on hyplotypes indicated that the maternal origin of black-bone chickens is predominantly from three subspecies of red jungle fowl. These results provide basic data useful for protection of black-bone chickens and help determine the origin of domestic chickens.

Inhibition of MEK sensitizes gastric cancer cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis

Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), which has long been believed to be highly selective in inducing apoptosis in cancer cells, has turned out to be a molecule that induces a far more diverse range of effects. The aim of this study was to investigate whether or not ERK1/2 pathway is involved in antitumor effects of TRAIL on gastric cancer cells. In addition to activate the extrinsic and intrinsic apoptotic pathway, TRAIL also triggered the activation of ERK1/2. Inhibition of ERK1/2 signaling by MEK inhibitor U0126 promoted cell death via increased activation of caspases, drop in mitochondrial membrane potential and downregulation of XIAP, cIAP2 and Mcl-1. These results indicate that TRAIL-induced rapid activation of ERK1/2 may be a survival mechanism to struggle against TRAIL assault at the early stage, and inhibition of ERK1/2 signaling can sensitize gastric cancer cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis.

Expanding the genetic code for site-specific labelling of tobacco mosaic virus coat protein and building biotin-functionalized virus-like particles

A method for site-specific and high yield modification of tobacco mosaic virus coat protein (TMVCP) utilizing a genetic code expanding technology and copper free cycloaddition reaction has been established, and biotin-functionalized virus-like particles were built by the self-assembly of the protein monomers.

Induction of apoptosis in human cervical carcinoma Hela cells with active components of Menispermum dauricum

Menispermum dauricum DC possesses a wide range of pharmacological effects. In this study, the mechanism of apoptosis induced by active components of M. dauricum was investigated in the human cervical carcinoma HeLa cell line. HeLa cells were treated with different M. dauricum concentrations over different time periods. The proliferation-inhibitory rate and cytotoxic effect of HeLa cells were measured by using the methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay, and the apoptotic rate was detected by flow cytometry. Expressions of caspase-9, caspase-8, caspase-3, Bcl-2, and Fas proteins, in the apoptotic pathway, and the expression of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) were detected by SP immunocytochemistry. The MTT assay showed that active components of M. dauricum could significantly inhibit the growth of HeLa cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner (P<0.01). The Sub-Gl peak was found by flow cytometry, and the maximal apoptosis rate was 24.93%. Immunocytochemistry showed that after treatment with M. dauricum, the expressions of caspase-8, caspase-9, caspase-3, Fas protein, and NF-κB all increased, and the expression of the Bcl-2 protein decreased, with significant differences relative to the control group (P<0.01). Apoptosis in HeLa cells could be induced by active components of M. dauricum through the NF-κB signal transduction pathway and the caspase pathway, which was related to the downregulation of Bcl-2 expression and the upregulation of Fas expression.

Nanostructured conducting polymers and their biomedical applications

Much attention has been paid to nanostructured conducting polymers due to their unique properties, which arise from their nanoscale size, such as their large surface area, high electrical conductivity, electrochemical stability and quantum effects. This article reviews three methods to synthesize nanostructured conducting polymers and their applications in the biomedical field, focusing specifically on neural probes, biosensors, artificial muscles or actuators and controlled drug release. Challenges and future directions of these nanostructured conducting polymer are also discussed.