YWHAH activates the HMGA1/PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway by positively regulating Fra-1 to affect the proliferation of gastric cancer cells

Fos-related antigen 1 (Fra-1) is a nuclear transcription factor that regulates cell growth, differentiation, and apoptosis. It is involved in the proliferation, invasion, apoptosis and epithelial mesenchymal transformation of malignant tumor cells. Fra-1 is highly expressed in gastric cancer (GC), affects the cycle distribution and apoptosis of GC cells, and participates in GC occurrence and development. However, the detailed mechanism of Fra-1 in GC is unclear, such as the identification of Fra-1-interacting proteins and their role in GC pathogenesis. In this study, we identified tyrosine 3-monooxygenase/tryptophan 5-monooxygenase activation protein eta (YWHAH) as a Fra-1-interacting protein in GC cells using co-immunoprecipitation combined with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Experiments showed that YWHAH positively regulated Fra-1 mRNA and protein expression, and affected GC cell proliferation. Whole proteome analysis showed that Fra-1 affected the activity of the high mobility group AT-hook 1 (HMGA1)/phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT)/mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway in GC cells. Western blotting and flow cytometry confirmed that YWHAH activated HMGA1/PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway by positively regulating Fra-1 to affect GC cell proliferation. These results will help to discover new molecular targets for the early diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis prediction of GC.

Dynamic changes and functions of macrophages and M1/M2 subpopulations during ulcerative colitis-associated carcinogenesis in an AOM/DSS mouse model

The high risk of developing colorectal carcinoma (CRC), from ulcerative colitis (UC), is well known. Macrophages are widely distributed immune cells that have an indispensable role in UC, as well as in CRC. However, little is currently known about the dynamic changes that occur in macrophage and M1/M2 macrophage subpopulations, during UC‑associated carcinogenesis. The aim of the present study was to investigate the alteration of colorectal macrophages and M1/M2 macrophage subpopulations during UC‑associated carcinogenesis. Both expression level alterations and functional changes were determined during UC‑associated carcinogenesis in an azoxymethane/dextran sodium sulfate‑induced chemically colitis‑associated carcinoma mouse model of Crj:CD‑1 (ICR) mice. Notable evidence from immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry, cytokine detection, and gene expression analyses demonstrated that M2 macrophages have a critical role in CRC initiation, promotion, and metastasis. M2 macrophages are associated with unbalanced pro‑inflammatory and anti‑inflammatory axes and aberrant enhancement of migration/invasion‑associated factors. Functional changes, similar to M2 polarized macrophages, were shown to occur in the M1 macrophages, without phenotypical changes, during the development of carcinoma and metastasis. The results of the present study suggest that M2 macrophages have a pro‑tumor role during UC‑associated carcinogenesis. Furthermore, similar functional changes occurred in the M1 macrophages, without polarization alterations, during carcinogenesis and metastasis.

NUMERICAL ANALYSIS OF AN AXIAL BLOOD PUMP WITH DIFFERENT IMPELLER BLADE HEIGHTS

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations of the flow in an axial blood pump with different blade heights (BH150, BH200 and BH250) were performed in the present study. The flow in the pump was assumed as steady and turbulent, and blood was treated as incompressible and Newtonian fluid. The flow rate increased with the rise in blade heights. At the impeller rotating speed of 20,000 rpm and a pressure of 100 mm Hg, the pump produces a flow rate up to 5 L/min in BH200 and BH250 models. The reverse flow and vortices have been identified in the BH150 and BH200 models in the outlet regions, but not for BH250 model. The high shear stress of the flow in the pump mainly occurred at the blade tips. The BH200 model achieved an expected flow rate up to 5 L/min with 90% of the shear stresses less than 500 Pa and the exposure time less than 22 ms, which has the acceptable shear stress level in the literature.

BUILDING INNOVATION CAPABILITIES: AN INQUIRY INTO THE DYNAMIC GROWTH PROCESS OF UNIVERSITY SPIN-OUTS IN CHINA

This research aims to develop a conceptual framework in order to inquire into the dynamic growth process of university spin-outs (hereafter referred to as USOs) in China, attempting to understand the configuration of capabilities that are necessary for dynamic growth. Based on the extant literature and empirical cases, the study attempts to address the following question: How do USOs in China build and configure the innovation capabilities to cope with the dynamic growth? This paper aims to contribute to the existing literature by providing a theoretical discussion on the USOs' dynamic entrepreneurial process, by investigating the interconnections between innovation problem-solving and the required configuration of innovation capabilities in four growth phases. Further, it takes particular interest in the integrative capabilities and their impact on the USOs' entrepreneurial innovation process, in terms of knowledge integration, alliance, venture finance and venture governance. To date, studies have investigated the dynamic development process of USOs in China and have recognized the heterogeneity of USOs. Yet studies of capabilities that are required for rapid growth remain sparse. Addressing this research gap will be of great interest to entrepreneurs, policy-makers and venture investors.