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Background/Aims: Treatment of breast cancer remains a clinical challenge. This study aims to validate exosomal microRNA-1246 (miR-1246) as a serum biomarker for breast cancer and understand the underlying mechanism in breast cancer progression. Methods: The expression levels of endogenous and exosomal miRNAs were examined by real time PCR, and the expression level of the target protein was detected by western blot. Scanning electron and confocal microscopy were used to characterize exosomes and to study their uptake and transfer. Luciferase reporter plasmids and its mutant were used to confirm direct targeting. Furthermore, the functional significance of exosomal miR-1246 was estimated by invasion assay and cell viability assay. Results: In this study, we demonstrate that exosomes carrying microRNA can be transferred among different cell lines through direct uptake. miR-1246 is highly expressed in metastatic breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells compared to non-metastatic breast cancer cells or non-malignant breast cells. Moreover, miR-1246 can suppress the expression level of its target gene, Cyclin-G2 (CCNG2), indicating its functional significance. Finally, treatment with exosomes derived from MDA-MB-231 cells could enhance the viability, migration and chemotherapy resistance of non-malignant HMLE cells. Conclusions: Together, our results support an important role of exosomes and exosomal miRNAs in regulating breast tumor progression, which highlights their potential for applications in miRNA-based therapeutics.

This study conducts low-vacuum sulfidation to form a sulfidation layer on the serpentinite-derived magnesium iron silicate, thereby enhancing its electrochemical properties. Results show (Mg,Fe)2SiO4 calcined at 900 °C has the best crystallinity, and the cubic FeS2 is synthesized on the surface of the orthorhombic magnesium iron silicate (MFS). Two distinct charge plateaus can be distinguished during the first charge process, and the discharge capacities increased significantly. This study confirms that the surface FeS2 layer provides extra ion pathways, allowing more lithium/magnesium ions to be extracted and inserted in the serpentinite-derived magnesium iron silicate. Accordingly, the serpentinite electrode boasts straightforward exploitation with low-cost advantages and potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, the primary commercial aluminum alloy fillers used are 4043 and 5356. However, when welded with high-strength work pieces like 6061 and 7075 aluminum alloys, the strength of weld beads significantly lags behind that of the original welded material. Both 4043 and 5356 aluminum alloys cannot be strengthened through heat treatment. The strength difference between the weld bead and base material doubles after heat treatment. In this study, an Al-Si-Cu-Mg alloy (SCM) filler modified using a heat-treatable A319 aluminum alloy was employed to investigate the post-welding microstructural and mechanical properties of specimens under room- and high-temperature conditions and after prolonged exposure in a saltwater environment (3.5 wt.% NaCl). The aim was to demonstrate that commercial aluminum alloy fillers could be substituted with a high-silicon aluminum alloy boasting excellent solidification and mechanical properties. The results revealed that, after heat treatment of the weld bead, dendrites were not eliminated, but the tensile strength increased to 310 MPa, closely matching that of commercial 6061 aluminum alloy. The strength of the weld bead remained higher than 250 MPa in high-temperature (240 °C) and saltwater environments. These findings underscore the potential application of this material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extracellular vesicles have emerged as important mediators of intercellular communication and play an active role in cancer, including breast cancer. Despite limited studies, initial observations suggest that these vesicles are important in breast physiology and pathophysiology. We here, in brief, describe their potential use as future biomarkers and therapeutic agents in breast cancer. Extracellular vesicles in blood and breast fluid may have a great potential to detect and predict the presence of breast cancer, and extracellular vesicles modulation may emerge as a therapeutic approach in cancer therapy.

OBJECTIVES: This updated meta-analysis was conducted to assess the association between coffee consumption and breast cancer risk. METHODS: We conducted a systematic search updated July 2012 to identify observational studies providing quantitative estimates for breast cancer risk in relation to coffee consumption. Pooled relative risks (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using a random-effects model, and generalized least square trend estimation was used to assess dose-response relationships. RESULTS: A total of 26 studies (16 cohort and 10 case-control studies) on coffee intake with 49497 breast cancer cases were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled RR showed a borderline significant influence of highest coffee consumption (RR = 0.96; 95% CI 0.93-1.00), low-to moderate coffee consumption (RR = 0.99; 95% CI 0.95-1.04), or an increment of 2 cups/day of coffee consumption (RR = 0.98; 95% CI 0.97-1.00) on the risk of breast cancer. In stratified analysis, a significant inverse association was observed in ER-negative subgroup. However, no significant association was noted in the others. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that increased coffee intake is not associated with a significantly reduced risk of breast cancer, but we observe an inverse association in ER-negative subgroup analysis. More large studies are needed to determine subgroups to obtain more valuable data on coffee drinking and breast cancer risk.

Al–Mg–Sc–Zr alloy fabricated through selective laser melting (SLM) is an additive manufacturing alloy with promising industrial potential. In this study, as-printed specimens were subjected to either single-stage or two-stage heat treatment processes to investigate the effect of temperature from room temperature to high temperature on the specimens' tensile and fatigue properties to establish a reliable reference for aerospace applications. The tensile test results indicated that the heat treatment contributed to determine the properties of the nanoprecipitate Al3(Sc, Zr) with a strengthening phase, improving tensile strength. Moreover, the dynamics strain aging (DSA) effect vanished as temperature increased. It is noteworthy that the nanoprecipitation was distributed at the boundary of the melting pool after single-stage heat treatment with the highest tensile properties in all tests. In addition, the microstructure observed after the two-stage heat treatment indicated a melting pool interface decomposition, and the nanoprecipitation was homogeneously scattered over the Al matrix, increasing strength and further delaying fatigue crack transmission. Those features build a high-fatigue-resistance foundation. TEM analysis also confirmed the promotion of Sc thermal diffusion and an Al3(Sc, Zr) precipitation transformation mechanism under two-stage heat treatment, corresponding to aforementioned inferences. The SLM Al–Mg–Sc–Zr alloy with two-stage heat treatment brings about balance between tensile properties and fatigue resistance, providing new insight into additive manufacturing with Al alloys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractAim:Flt4 plays a key role in promoting tumor metastasis by stimulating solid tumor lymphangiogenesis. In this study, mouse Flt4 (mFlt4) was displayed on T4 phage in order to explore the feasibility of breaking immune tolerance to “self-antigens” and to evaluate the phage's antitumor activity.Methods:A T4 phage nanometer particle expressing mFlt4 on the surface was constructed for evaluation as a recombinant vaccine. The presence of the mFlt4 gene in the T4-mFlt4 recombinant vaccine was verified by PCR and Western blot analysis. The immunotherapeutic potential of T4-mFlt4 was tested in mice injected with Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) cells. Anti-Flt4 antibody producing B cells were detected by ELISPOT. The effects of T4-mFlt4 on lymphatic metastasis and lymphangiogenesis were investigated in a mouse antimetastasis assay and by Flt4 and CD105 immunohistochemistry.Results:The T4-mFlt4 recombinant vaccine demonstrated antitumor activity and elicited autoantibodies against mFlt4. Mice carrying LLC-derived tumors exhibited prolonged survival when given the vaccine compared with control-treated animals. The vaccine also inhibited lymphangiogenesis and tumor metastasis in the mouse models. However, T4-mFlt4 was not observed to inhibit tumor growth.Conclusion:The T4-mFlt4 recombinant vaccine induced protective antitumor immunity and antimetastasis against LLC. Induction of an autoimmune response directed against tumor progression merits further study as a new strategy for immunotherapy in cancer.Acta Pharmacologica Sinica (2009) 30: 637–645; doi: 10.1038/aps.2009.44 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We used selective laser melting (SLM) Inconel 718 (coded AS) to carry out three heat treatment processes: (1) double aging (coded A), (2) solid solution + A (coded SA), (3) homogenization + SA (coded HSA) in order to investigate the effects of microstructure changes and tensile strength enhancement on erosion resistance. The as-SLM IN718 and three heat-treated specimens were subjected to clarify the effects of erosion-induced phase transformation on tensile mechanical properties. All heat-treated specimens showed better erosion resistance than as-SLM IN718 did at all impact angles. The as-SLM IN718 and the three heat-treated specimens produced new γ′ phase or metal-oxide via particle erosion, which increased the surface hardness of the material. The thickness of the erosion affected zone is 200 μm, which is the main cause of tensile embrittlement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]