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Inverse opal zirconia is useful in many ways because of their ability to combine several chemical and physical properties. In this research, polystyrene template was fabricated by self-assembly method and inverse opal zirconia was prepared by colloidal crystal-templating method. The process of preparation of inverse opal zirconia as well as effects on morphology and phase of as-prepared inverse opal zirconia were studied. The results showed precursor ratio of zirconium acetate and methanol, mass ratio of polystyrene templates and precursor and dipping times had remarkable influence on morphology of inverse opal zirconia. When the precursor ratio was 1:1; the mass ratio was 1:15 and dipped once, much better morphology of inverse opal zirconia was obtained. The mass ratio, sintering temperature and holding time had significant effect on crystallization of zirconia. Pure phase zirconia could be obtained when sintered at 600 oC, holding time was 2h and the mass ratio was 1:1. A distinguished single stop band in the visible region of the spectrum and unique structural color were observed in inverse opal zirconia, which will make this material promising candidate for novel pigment.

Using Bi(NO3)3·5H2O and Si(OC2H5)4 as the starting materials, citric acid and polyethylene glycol (PEG)-6000 as the complexing agents, pure Bi2SiO5 powders with good photocatalytic activity were first prepared at low temperature via Pechini sol–gel method. The effect of calcination temperature on the preparation of pure phase as well as the photocatalytic properties was investigated. The thermal analysis and X-ray diffraction results showed that the crystallization temperature of Bi2SiO5 is about 400 °C and pure sample can be obtained at 550 °C. The infrared spectra indicated the pure Bi2SiO5 samples have an Aurivillius-like structure. Furthermore, the as-prepared Bi2SiO5 exhibited efficient photocatalytic activity in the decomposition of Rhodamine B due to a synergistic effect of adsorption and photocatalysis.

Enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma (EATL) is a rare gastrointestinal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, originating from intraepithelial T-lymphocyte, which is specifically associated with celiac disease. EATL most commonly presents in the sixth and seventh decades of life. We report a unique case of type I EATL in the colon with liver metastasis, which was presented with nonspecific radiological findings and at a very young age (29 years old) compared with previously published data. We suggest that EATL should be regarded as part of differential diagnosis in any patient presenting with abdominal pain, diarrhea, weight loss, and malabsorption because delay in treatment can result in an irreversible clinical outcome.

In breast cancer, metastasis is the main reason for patient mortality. In the present study, we used breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells and a mouse xenograft model to demonstrate the effect of emodin on the migration, invasion and metastasis of human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells and the related mechanisms. In vitro, wound healing and Transwell assays showed that emodin dose-dependently inhibited the migration and invasion of MDA-MB-231 cells. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) showed that emodin decreased the secretion of MMP-2 and MMP-9. Western blot analysis showed that emodin downregulated the expression levels of MMP-2, MMP-9, uPA and uPAR as well as p38 inhibitor SB203580 and ERK inhibitor PD980559, even though TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 were not obviously changed in the MDA-MB-231 cells. Furthermore, emodin inhibited the activity of p38 and ERK1/2 in the MDA-MB-231 cells. In vivo, emodin inhibited lung metastasis in mice bearing the breast cancer MDA-MB-231 xenografts with no obvious changes in body weight, liver and kidney functions. These results indicated that emodin inhibited the lung metastasis of human breast cancer in a mouse xenograft model, and inhibited the invasion of MDA-MB-231 cells associated with the downregulation of MMP-2, MMP-9, uPA and uPAR expression as well as decreased activity of p38 and ERK.

Breast cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women. Owing to high efficiency and low toxic effects, further exploration of natural compounds from Chinese herbal medicine may be an efficient approach for breast cancer drug discovery. In this study, we investigated the effects of evodiamine on the growth and metastasis of MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. In vitro, evodiamine inhibited cell migration and invasion abilities through downregulation of MMP-9, urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and uPAR expression. Evodiamine-induced G0/G1 arrest and apoptosis were associated with a decrease in Bcl-2, cyclin D1 and cyclin-dependent kinase 6 (CDK6) expression and an increase in Bax and p27Kip1 expression. Moreover, evodiamine regulated p-ERK and p-p38 MAPK expression. Evodiamine-induced apoptosis was enhanced by its combination with the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) inhibitor PD98059 or the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) inhibitor SB203580. Evodiamine-inhibited metastasis was partly blocked by combination with PD98059 or SB203580. In vivo, the administration of evodiamine (10 mg/kg) significantly reduced tumor growth and pulmonary metastasis. These results demonstrate that evodiamine possesses antitumor activities via inhibition of cell migration and invasion, arrest of the cell cycle and induction of cell apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 cells.

In this paper, Bismuth silicate (Bi4Si3O12, BSO) powders were prepared by reaction in molten salts (NaCl and KCl) using Bi2O3 and SiO2 powders as raw materials. The effects of salt contents and excessive contents of Bi2O3 and SiO2 were characterized by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The properties of Bi4Si3O12 powders were analyzed via fluorescence spectroscopy. Forming mechanism of platelets was discussed. The experimental results suggest that Bi4Si3O12 powders are produced at 780 °C for 4 h with 40 wt% salts and 5 wt% excessive content of Bi2O3. The peaks of excitation spectrum and emission spectrum for BSO powders are separately located at 266 and 457.6 nm. Compared with crystal materials, the excitation spectrum and emission spectrum of Bi4Si3O12 powders indicate blue shift. Interface reacting mechanism can be used to explain the coarsening process of bismuth silicate platelets produced in molten salt synthesis. In addition, dissolution–precipitation mechanism also plays an important role in the synthesis of bismuth silicate platelets.

Activated pores in the glass-alumina composite during isothermal sintering at 710?C by colloidal processing were extracted by the threshold conversion of the micrograph obtained with a field emission scanning microscope. The relative ratio of the activated pores in the final stage of sintering to that in the initial stage of sintering was calculated. The kinetics equation of the evolution of the activated pores during isothermal sintering was established. The pores evolution confirms the viscous flow of the glass matrix, indicating the validity of the predominant liquid-phase sintering of the composite.

In order to improve the bending strength of mullite ceramic thin tiles, SiO2-ZnO-Na2O-Y2O3 glass was prepared on the surface of the tiles. The influences of the thermal properties and thermal expansion coefficient of the glass and the sintering temperature on the structure and the property of the composites were investigated by differential thermal analysis (DTA), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Raman and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The bending strength of the composites was measured with an universal testing machine. Results show that the crystallization temperature of the SiO2-ZnO-Na2O-Y2O3 glass is higher than that of SiO2-ZnO-Na2O glass. The corresponding crystallites show more complex structure for the SiO2-ZnO-Na2O-Y2O3 glass. The thermal expansion coefficients of both glasses are lower than the mullite ceramic tiles. The bending strength of the composites after sintering at 1150°C was obviously improved by 10.7% to 106.2 MPa, compared with the mullite ceramic tiles.

The Bi2O3-SiO2 (BS) glass-ceramics were prepared by melt-quench technique, and the crystallization kinetics and phase transformation behavior were investigated in accordance with Kissinger and Johson-Mehl-Avrami equation, DSC, XRD and SEM. The results show that in the heat treatment process (or termed as re-crystallizing process) Bi2SiO5 and Bi4Si3O12 crystals were found consequently. Respectively, the crystallization activation energies of the two crystals are Ep1=14.8kJ/mol and Ep2=34.1kJ/mol. And the average crystallization index of n1=1.73 and n2=1.38 suggested volume nucleation, one-dimensional growth and surface nucleation, one-dimensional growth from surface to the inside respectively. The meta-stable needle-like Bi2SiO5 crystals are easily to be transformed into stable prismatic Bi4Si3O12 crystals. By quenching the melt and hold in 850?C for 1h, the homogenous single Bi4Si3O12 crystals were found in the polycrystalline phase of the BS glassceramics system.

Mitomycin C (MMC), a chemotherapeutic agent in breast cancer treatments, inhibits tumor growth through DNA cross-linking and breaking, but it has severe side effects. Here we examined whether and how curcumin reduced the side effects of MMC. We found that combination treatment with MMC and curcumin reduced tumor weight by 70% and 36% compared with saline and curcumin-treated groups, respectively. The combination treatment reduced weight loss and improved kidney function and bone marrow suppression compared with MMC treatment alone. Moreover, the combination treatment inhibited glucose regulatory protein (GRP58)-mediated DNA cross-linking. The combination treatment inhibited GRP58 through the ERK/p38 MAPK pathway. In conclusion, the current study provided evidence that MMC and curcumin combination treatment reduced MMC side effects by inhibiting GRP58-mediated DNA cross-linking through the ERK/p38 MAPK pathway.

In the present study, diffusion bonding of a γ-TiAl alloy to a Ti–6Al–4V alloy at the different temperatures ranging from 1073 to 1173 K under an applied stress of 100 MPa for 2 h was investigated. The observation of the microstructure revealed that sound joints between the γ-TiAl Alloy and the Ti-alloy without any pores or cracks could be achieved through diffusion bonding at temperatures over 1073 K under the applied stress of 100 MPa for 2 h. The bond was composed of two zones, and its width increases with the increase of the bonding temperature. The EDS chemical composition profiles indicated that there is a diffusion flux of Al-atoms from γ-TiAl alloy towards the Ti-alloy and of Ti-atoms in the opposite direction. The microhardness of the diffusion bond was in the range of 310–450 HV, and increased monotonously from the side near the γ-TiAl alloy to the side near the Ti-alloy. In this bonding process, the diffusion flux of Ti atoms in interface is mainly controlled by grain boundary diffusion.

The sintering mechanism of glass-alumina functionally graded materials (G-A FGMs) at 710?C prepared by a novel rapid prototyping manufacturing (RP&M) technology was studied. An integrated kinetics equation was established for the initial 20 minutes. Linear shrinkage is due to the integrated working of both viscous flow of the glass particles and gravitation of the effective activated alumina grain boundaries towards the equilibrium state. The driving force for gravitation of the activated alumina grain boundaries originates from the coactions of passive flow of the alumina particles during viscous flow of the glass particles and the compressive stress formed during cooling. In the middle 10 minutes, the sintering process follows the solution-precipitation mechanism. Confirmed by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and the line scanning Energy Dispersive Spectrum (EDS), a layer of Si-Al eutectic of about 1.04?m on the alumina surface is formed. Then the alkali and alkali earth ions in the glass phase diffuse through this layer and precipitate on the surface. Additionally, the dissolved Al ions can easily transport through the eutectic layer and precipitate in the glass matrix due to the effect of Si in the glass matrix.

Chinese chive (A. tuberosum Rottler ex Spr.) is one of the most widely cultivated Allium species in China. However, minimal transcriptomic and genomic data are available to reveal its evolution and genetic diversity. In this study, de novo transcriptome sequencing was performed to produce large transcript sequences using an Illumina HiSeq 2000 instrument. We produced 51,968,882 high-quality clean reads and assembled them into 150,154 contigs. A total of 60,031 unigenes with an average length of 631 bp were identified. Of these, 36,523 unigenes were homologous to existing database sequences, 35,648 unigenes were annotated in the NCBI non-redundant (Nr) sequence database, and 23,509 unigenes were annotated in the Swiss-Prot database. A total of 26,798 unigenes were assigned to 57 Gene Ontology (GO) terms, and 13,378 unigenes were assigned to Cluster of Orthologous Group categories. Using the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway database, we mapped 21,361 unigenes onto 128 pathways. Furthermore, 2,125 sequences containing simple sequence repeats (SSRs) were identified. This new dataset provides the most comprehensive resource currently available for gene expression, gene discovery, and future genomic research on Chinese chive. The sequence resources developed in this study can be used to develop molecular markers that will facilitate further genetic research on Chinese chive and related species.

To determine the correlation between the working environment and the health status of employees in solar greenhouse, 1171 employees were surveyed. The results show the 'Greenhouse diseases' are affected by many factors. Among general uncomforts, the morbidity of the bone and joint damage is the highest and closely related to labor time and age. Planting summer squash and wax gourd more easily cause skin pruritus. Asthma-related cough, eye disease, and skin pruritus are significantly correlated with the cultivation of wax gourd. The application of inorganic fertilizer and fertigation dramatically induce the bone and joint damage. The smell of covering film greatly influence skin pruritus. Personal protection is badly scanty and normative occupational health and safety need to be completed.

Cardiomyocytes apoptosis can lead to heart failure. Conventional and alternative drugs, such as Chinese herbal remedies, have been developed to target cardiomyoblast cells apoptosis. In this study, we investigated the effects of ginsenoside Rb1 (Rb1), an active compound, which is isolated from Notoginseng and Ginseng on isoproterenol-(ISO-) induced apoptosis in rat cardiomyocytes and its mechanismin vivoandin vitro. Rb1 reduced the ISO-induced apoptosis in rat cardiomyocytes and H9c2 cells. The effect of Rb1 was significantly suppressed by H89 (inhibitor for PKA), but not by C-1 (inhibitor for PKC). Based on in-cell blot analysis, the ISO-induced PKA and PKC expressions were decreased by Rb1, which was inhibited by H89, but not by C-1. The expressions of caspase-3 and caspase-9 were decreased after treatment with both ISO and Rb1, but with no change for caspase-8. Our results indicated that Rb1 reducing ISO-induced rat cardiomyocytes apoptosis may be involved in PKA and caspase-9 pathways.

Spinach (Spinacia oleracea L. cv. Sunlight) seedlings grown under the NFT system were administered 6 or 12 me·liter-1 K from the onset of the experiment to which nitrate-free solution was added 6 days prior to harvest (Experiment 1) or K solutions were added with the nitrate-free solution simultaneously 6 days before harvest (Experiment 2). At harvest the leaf nitrate, ascorbic acid, potassium concentrations, and the residual mineral concentration in the hydroponic solution were determined. No significant reduction in the yield was observed in Exp. 1 in which plants grown in the NFT system were administered 12 me·liter-1 K from the onset of the trial and supplemented with nitrate-N free solution 6 days before harvest. The leaf-nitrate content decreased significantly in plants adiministered 6 and 12 me·liter-1 K with nitrate-free solution 6 days before harvest. The residual nitrate-N in the nutrient solution decreased by approximately 32% at 12 me·liter-1 K as compared to plants exposed to 6 me·liter-1 K in the supplemental nutrient solution. In Experiment 2, in which plants were supplied with low nitrate concentration and 6 or 12 me·liter-1 K in the same hydroponic solution 6 days before harvest, an economically satisfactory yield was obtained. The leaf-nitrate content decreased significantly by lowering nitrate-N concentration, but no significant difference in the leaf-nitrate content was noted between the N-free and N-plus treatments whether the K concentration was 6 or 12 me·liter-1. However, the nitrate-N level in the nutrient solution decreased by 24% at 12 me·liter-1 as compared with that of the 6 me·liter-1 K in the supplemental solution.

The effect of NO3-N in the additional nutrient solution 6 to 18 days before harvest on the growth, yield, and NO3 content in spinach (Spinacia oleracea L. cv. 'Sunlight') plants was studied.There was no significant difference in top fresh weight and yield between the plants exposed to 6 and 8 me•liter-1 NO3-N for 14 days before iarvest. The NO3 content in plants grown in 6 me•liter-1 NO3-N solution in this period decreased to the critical amount of European standard of 3000ppm NO3 in the autumn crop, whereas residual concentration of NO3-N in the nutrient solution decreased to 24.8ppm and 33.4ppm at 6 and 8 me•liter-1, respectively.Economically satisfactory growth and yield were obtained in the plants grown with 3/4 strength of Enshi-shoho nutrient solution until the appropriate plant size was attained and then they were transferred to a NO3-N-free solution 6 days prior to harvest- ing. The NO3 content in those plants decreased to 700ppm in FW basis, whereas re- sidual concentration of NO3-N in the solution decreased significantly by lengthening the NO3-N starvation period.

Cancer metastasis is refractory to most forms of chemotherapy. Conventional and alternative drugs, such as Chinese herbal remedies, have been developed to target metastatic cancer cells. In this study, we investigated the effects of PC-SPESII, an herbal formulation, on the migration, invasion, and metastasis of an experimental human breast cancer cell linein vivoandin vitro. PC-SPESII suppressed pulmonary metastasis and tumor growth of MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer xenografts without affecting body weight, liver function, and kidney function. PC-SPESII also inhibited MDA-MB-231 cell migration and invasionin vitroin a dose-dependent manner. Based on ELISA analysis, secretion of MMP-2 and MMP-9, proteins associated with extracellular matrix degradation, was reduced in response to PC-SPESII treatment. Western blot analysis of whole-cell extracts revealed that the levels of proteolytic proteins associated with matrix and base membrane degradation (MMP-2, MMP-9, and uPA) were decreased and the levels of their endogenous inhibitors (TIMP1 and TIMP2) were increased. Moreover, the p38MAPK and SAPK/JNK signaling pathway, which stimulates proteolytic enzymes and matrix degradation, was inhibited by PC-PSESII. Remarkably, cotreatment with PC-PSESII and p38MAPK or SAPK/JNK inhibitors magnified the antimetastatic phenotype. Our results indicate that PC-PSESII impairs human breast cancer metastasis by regulating proteolytic enzymes and matrix dynamics through the p38MAPK and SAPK/JNK pathway.

Aim: To investigate the efficacy of mitomycin C (MMC) in combination with curcumin in suppressing human breast cancer in vitro and in vivo . Methods: Human breast cancer MCF-7 cells were used. Cell viability was measured using MTT assay. The cell cycle phase was detected with flow cytometric analysis. Cell cycle-associated proteins were examined using Western blot analysis. MCF-7 breast cancer xenografts were established to monitor tumor growth and cell cycle-associated protein expression. Results: Curcumin inhibited MCF-7 breast cancer cell viability in a concentration-dependent manner (IC50 value=40 μmol/L). Similarly, MMC inhibited the cell viability with an IC50 value of 5 μmol/L. Combined treatment of MMC and curcumin showed a synergistic antiproliferative effect. In the presence of curcumin (40 μmol/L), the IC50 value of MMC was reduced to 5 μmol/L. In MCF-7 xenografts, combined administration of curcumin (100 mg/kg) and MMC (1-2 mg/kg) for 4 weeks produced significantly greater inhibition on tumor growth than either treatment alone. The combined treatment resulted in significantly greater G1 arrest than MMC or curcumin alone. Moreover, the cell cycle arrest was associated with inhibition of cyclin D1, cyclin E, cyclin A, cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) and CDK4, along with the induction of the cell cycle inhibitor p21 and p27 both in MCF-7 cells and in MCF-7 xenografts. These proteins were regulated through p38 MAPK pathway. Conclusion: The results suggest that the combination of MMC and curcumin inhibits MCF-7 cell proliferation and cell cycle progression in vitro and in vivo via the p38 MAPK pathway.

To examine whether the cell growth inhibitory effect of the combination of baicalin and baicalein is related to apoptosis. Moreover, to determine whether the expression of some apoptosis-related proteins is regulated by the ERK/p38 MAPK pathway.Cell viability was measured using a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Apoptosis was detected by acridine orange (AO) staining, DNA ladder assay and flow cytometric analysis. Apoptosis-related proteins were observed using Western blot analysis.Compared with baicalin or baicalein alone, the combination treatment of baicalin (50 micromol/L) and baicalein (25 micromol/L) had an anti-proliferative effect in a time-dependent manner. Isobologram analysis demonstrated that the combination treatment had a synergistic effect. Moreover, apoptosis in MCF-7 cells was increased by 12% and 20% with the combination treatment at 24 h and 48 h, respectively. With the combination treatment in MCF-7 cells, cleaved caspase-3 and caspase-9 were observed, and the level of bcl-2 expression was decreased approximately 20% and 40% at 24 h and 48 h, respectively. The expression of bax and p53 were increased about 25% and 15% at 48 h, respectively. Moreover, the activation of caspase-3, -9 and the regulation of bcl-2, bax and p53 were related to ERK /p38 MAPK activation.In this study, apoptosis was enhanced by the combination treatment of baicalin and baicalein, which activated caspases-3 and caspase-9, downregulated the level of bcl-2 and upregulated the level of bax or p53 via the ERK/p38 MAPK pathway.