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A new poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) infiltrated zirconia hybrid composite (PZC) has been demonstrated to exhibit improved fracture toughness; however, its machinability remains unknown. The objective of this research is to characterize and correlate the machinability of PZC with its microstructure and mechanical properties. The results suggest that the composite exhibits an excellent machinability that is similar to that of resin composite and better than that of glasses and ceramics. This PZC hybrid composite may enable new opportunities for the use of PZC with the dental CAD/CAM technique.

Molecular genetics now plays a crucial role in diagnosis, the identification of prognostic markers, and monitoring of hematological malignancies. Demonstration of acquired changes such as the JAK2 V617F mutation within myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) has quickly moved from a research setting to the diagnostic laboratory. Microfluidics-based assays can reduce the assay time and sample/reagent consumption and enhance the reaction efficiency; however, no current assay has integrated isothermal amplification for point-of-care MPN JAK2 V617F mutation testing with a microchip. In this report, an integrated microchip that performs the whole human blood genomic DNA extraction, loop-mediated isothermal nucleic acid amplification (LAMP) and visual detection for point-of-care genetic mutation testing is demonstrated. This method was validated on DNA from cell lines as well as on whole blood from patients with MPN. The results were compared with those obtained by unlabeled probe melting curve analysis. This chip enjoys a high accuracy, operability, and cost/time efficiency within 1h. All these benefits provide the chip with a potency toward a point-of-care genetic analysis. All samples identified as positive by unlabeled probe melting curve analysis (n=27) proved positive when tested by microchip assay. None of the 30 negative controls gave false positive results. In addition, a patient with polycythemia vera diagnosed as being JAK2 V617F-negative by unlabeled probe melting curve analysis was found to be positive by the microchip. This microchip would possibly be very attractive in developing a point-of-care platform for quick preliminary diagnosis of MPN or other severe illness in resource-limited settings.

To evaluate the F(-) releasing and recharging properties of six dental restorative materials.Disc specimens 10 mm in diameter and 1 mm in thickness were prepared from 6 different dental restorative materials: Fuji VII [glass ionomer cement (GIC)], Fuji II LC (light-curing, GIC), Beautifil (giomer), Compoglass F (compomer), Charisma (composite) and Experimental I (a fluoride releasing composite), with 10 discs for each material. Specimens were dipped in 5 ml deionized water and F(-) release was detected using a fluoride-specific ion electrode every day from 1-7 days and every three days from 8-28 days. On day 28, specimens were exposed to a fluoride foam for 4 min and then dipped in water, then the F(-) concentration was detected every day for a week. The specimens were exposed to fluoride foam and fluoride release was detected repeatedly for three times.All materials presented the highest F(-) release on the first day after dipping and the F(-) release sharply decreased after 24 h and slowly decreased after 3 days. On the first day, Fuji VII presented the highest F(-) release[(99.68±15.21) µg×cm(-2)×d(-1)], followed by Fuji II LC [(37.12±1.67) µg×cm(-2)×d(-1)], Experimental I [(22.93±1.53) µg×cm(-2)×d(-1)], Compoglass F[(15.28±0.70) µg×cm(-2)×d(-1)], Beautifil[(2.40±0.52) µg×cm(-2)×d(-1)] and Charisma[(0.11±0.02) µg×cm(-2)×d(-1)]. Within 28 days of dipping, both Fuji VII and Fuji II LC released more F(-) than other materials did(P0.05), followed by Compoglass F and Experimental I, and Beautifil and Charisma released the least F(-)(P0.01). After F(-) uptake, all materials released the highest F- on the first day and presented sharply decrease after 24 h and slowly decrease after 2 days. On the first day after F(-) uptake, Fuji VII presented the highest F(-) release (40 µg×cm(-2) ×d(-1)), much more than other materials(P0.01), followed by Fuji II LC(25 µg×cm(-2) ×d(-1)). Beautifil, Compoglass F and Experimental I were close in F(-) release value(15- 20 µg × cm(-2) × d(-1)), and Charisma showed the lowest F(-) release.Two glass ionomers were shown to have highest capacity in F(-) release and uptake, followed by compomer and fluoride releasing composite. Composite demonstrated the lowest F(-) release and uptake and Giomer was comparable to composite in F(-) release and to compomer and fluoride releasing composite in F(-) uptake.

We address the problem of DOA estimation in positioning of nodes in wireless sensor networks. The Stochastic Maximum Likelihood (SML) algorithm is adopted in this paper. The SML algorithm is well-known for its high resolution of DOA estimation. However, its computational complexity is very high because multidimensional nonlinear optimization problem is usually involved. To reduce the computational complexity of SML estimation, we do the following work. (1) We point out the problems of conventional SML criterion and explain why and how these problems happen. (2) A local AM search method is proposed which could be used to find the local solution near/around the initial value. (3) We propose an algorithm which uses the local AM search method together with the estimation of DML or MUSIC as initial value to find the solution of SML. Simulation results are shown to demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed algorithms. In particular, the algorithm which uses the local AM method and estimation of MUSIC as initial value has much higher resolution and comparable computational complexity to MUSIC.

The microinjection is generally performed on commercial microinjection pump using a nitrogen gas-holder as pressure supply. However, the commercial pump has some problems in picoliter-scale injection due to the instability of pressure source, and the success rate varies significantly across different operators. In this paper, a high-precision, pressure-driven pump for sub-picoliter scale quantitative injection is developed. This new pumping system is capable of generating a wide range of positive and negative pressure with high resolution by connecting a buffer tank to the gas passage structure. It is able to generate pressure between −30 kPa and +150 kPa with a resolution less than 1 Pa. Compared to the commercial pump, the new pumping system has high stability and resolution (less than 1 Pa versus 68.9 Pa). The injection accuracy of the system was further proved by applying it to quantitative injection experiment. The results demonstrate that the injection accuracy of the injection volume is 0.0022 pL.

Microinjection is a promising tool for microdroplet generation, while the microinjection for microdroplets generation still remains a challenging issue due to the Laplace pressure at the micropipette opening. Here, we apply a simple and robust substrate-contacting microinjection method to microdroplet generation, presenting a size-adjustable microdroplets generation method based on a critical injection (CI) model. Firstly, the micropipette is adjusted to a preset injection pressure. Secondly, the micropipette is moved down to contact the substrate, then, the Laplace pressure in the droplet is no longer relevant and the liquid flows out in time. The liquid constantly flows out until the micropipette is lifted, ending the substrate-contacting situation, which results in the recovery of the Laplace pressure at the micropipette opening, and the liquid injection is terminated. We carry out five groups of experiments whereupon 1600 images are captured within each group and the microdroplet radius of each image is detected. Then we determine the relationship among microdroplet radius, radius at the micropipette opening, time, and pressure, and, two more experiments are conducted to verify the relationship. To verify the effectiveness of the substrate-contacting method and the relationship, we conducted two experiments with six desired microdroplet radii are set in each experiment, by adjusting the injection time with a given pressure, and adjusting the injection pressure with a given time. Then, six arrays of microdroplets are obtained in each experiment. The results of the experiments show that the standard errors of the microdroplet radii are less than 2% and the experimental errors fall in the range of ±5%. The average operating speed is 20 microdroplets/min and the minimum radius of the microdroplets is 25 μm. This method has a simple experimental setup that enables easy manipulation and lower cost.

PTS(Partial transmit sequence) is a valid and distortionless technique used to reduce the PAPR(peak-to-average power ratio) in OFDM(orthogonal frequency division multiplexing)system. However, this algorithm has a high computational complexity. In this paper, to balance the performance and the computation complexity, we describe a simplified scheme for finding the best scrambling sequences based on hamming-tabu-search to achieve the reduction of computational complexity. Algorithm analysis and simulation results show that, as compared with PTS method, the proposed scheme could be implemented with lower complexity while at no loss of PAPR performance.

Cooperative downloading is an important measure for increasing the amount of data downloaded to the users of Vehicular Networking (VANET). However, data exchange causes frequent collision among cooperative vehicles and the client. To solve the problem, in this paper, we propose a transmission scheduling method. Firstly, the method builds a k-constraint routing tree according to the amount of linked route, and then schedules the time to transmit for every node in the tree. The goal of the method is to forward data as soon as possible on the premise of collision free. Simulation results indicate the benefits of the proposed scheme in terms of increasing efficiency and reducing delay.

Both audio signals and MEL-frequency cepstral coefficients are encoded in SVAC audio encoder. These two independent processing leads to structural redundancies for the encoder design. This paper proposes an optimization scheme using MEL-frequency cepstral coefficients to realize high-frequency reconstruction and removes Bandwidth Extension module of the original encoder. Simulation results prove that the new encoder has considerable improvement on structure, reconstructed high-frequency precision and coding quality.

This paper addresses the issue of reducing the computational complexity of Stochastic Maximum Likelihood (SML) estimation of Direction-of-Arrival (DOA). The SML algorithm is well-known for its high accuracy of DOA estimation in sensor array signal processing. However, its computational complexity is very high because the estimation of SML criteria is a multi-dimensional non-linear optimization problem. As a result, it is hard to apply the SML algorithm to real systems. The Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm is considered as a rather efficient method for multi-dimensional non-linear optimization problems in DOA estimation. However, the conventional PSO algorithm suffers two defects, namely, too many particles and too many iteration times. Therefore, the computational complexity of SML estimation using conventional PSO algorithm is still a little high. To overcome these two defects and to reduce computational complexity further, this paper proposes a novel modification of the conventional PSO algorithm for SML estimation and we call it Joint-PSO algorithm. The core idea of the modification lies in that it uses the solution of Estimation of Signal Parameters via Rotational Invariance Techniques (ESPRIT) and stochastic Cramer-Rao bound (CRB) to determine a novel initialization space. Since this initialization space is already close to the solution of SML, fewer particles and fewer iteration times are needed. As a result, the computational complexity can be greatly reduced. In simulation, we compare the proposed algorithm with the conventional PSO algorithm, the classic Altering Minimization (AM) algorithm and Genetic algorithm (GA). Simulation results show that our proposed algorithm is one of the most efficient solving algorithms and it shows great potential for the application of SML in real systems.

Cooperative downloading is one of the effective methods to improve the amount of downloaded data in vehicular ad hoc networking (VANET). However, the poor channel quality and short encounter time bring about a high packet loss rate, which decreases transmission efficiency and fails to satisfy the requirement of high quality of service (QoS) for some applications. Digital fountain code (DFC) can be utilized in the field of wireless communication to increase transmission efficiency. For cooperative forwarding, however, processing delay from frequent coding and decoding as well as single feedback mechanism using DFC cannot adapt to the environment of VANET. In this paper, a cooperative downloading method for VANET using concatenated DFC is proposed to solve the problems above. The source vehicle and cooperative vehicles encodes the raw data using hierarchical fountain code before they send to the client directly or indirectly. Although some packets may be lost, the client can recover the raw data, so long as it receives enough encoded packets. The method avoids data retransmission due to packet loss. Furthermore, the concatenated feedback mechanism in the method reduces the transmission delay effectively. Simulation results indicate the benefits of the proposed scheme in terms of increasing amount of downloaded data and data receiving rate.

Network course is a sum of subjects that related to teaching content and activities through network. Student-centered learning is a modern learning methodology comparing to the traditional teacher-centered learning, it is an active learning of students in the state of dominant position. Dental Materials is an important course for dental school students. The course covers typical aspects of dental materials science such as basic science for dental materials and clinical dental materials. According to the basic characteristics of network course and independent learning, we have designed and developed Dental Materials network course based on student-centered learning. The practice shows that the network courses based on student-centered learning has built an open, and real-time space where teachers guide students and students study independently. At the same time, a variety of teaching methods and medium are coexistent and interactive. Dental Materials network course has promoted innovation capacity of students favorably. It’s a good way to improve teaching and learning quality of dental materials.

A multiplex snapback primer system was developed for the simultaneous detection ofJAK2V617F andMPLW515L/K mutations in Philadelphia chromosome- (Ph-) negative myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs). The multiplex system comprises two snapback versus limiting primer sets forJAK2andMPLmutation enrichment and detection, respectively. Linear-After exponential (LATE) PCR strategy was employed for the primer design to maximize the amplification efficiency of the system. Low ionic strength buffer and rapid PCR protocol allowed for selective amplification of the mutant alleles. Amplification products were analyzed by melting curve analysis for mutation identification. The multiplex system archived 0.1% mutation load sensitivity and

This paper proposes an improved AODV protocol with probabilistic forwarding by means of encounter records (ERPP-AODV) in Mobile Ad Hoc Networks (MANETs). With the help of encounter records, the broadcast is mainly restricted in the direction to destination node predicted by searching the node more recently encountered it. The forwarding probability is set dynamically based on the density of the nodes encountered destination. The simulation results show that our proposed protocol reduce the routing overhead and demonstrates good performance in other aspects.

Current treatments for esophageal cancer (EC) rely on tumor eradication by surgery or chemoradiotherapy. However, such treatments do not account for the assessment and adjustment of the immune status of the patients. Regulatory B cells (Bregs) have been confirmed as a negative regulatory subtype in B‑cell populations. However, to the best of our knowledge, there have been no direct studies on Bregs in patients with EC. The present study enrolled sixty patients with EC and sixty healthy donors to detect the presence of Bregs in peripheral blood and to determine their clinical significance. The percentage of peripheral Bregs was measured using flow cytometry with fluorescence‑labeled antibodies against cluster of differentiation (CD) 5, CD19, interleukin (IL)‑10, forkhead box protein 3 (Foxp3) and transforming growth factor‑β1 (TGF‑β1) prior to and following radical surgery. The level of circulating Bregs in patients with EC was observed to be significantly higher than that in the healthy donors. However, this level was observed to decrease following surgery. The percentage of circulating TGF‑β‑producing Bregs and Foxp3‑expressing Bregs in patients with EC also decreased following surgery. By contrast, the percentage of peripheral IL‑10‑producing Bregs (B10s) significantly increased in patients with advanced EC following surgery. These findings suggest that Bregs have a negative immunoregulatory role in the development and progression of EC. Furthermore, postoperative combination therapies against Bregs, particularly B10s, may improve the outcome of patients with EC following resection.

In order to establish a path from source to destination with less routing cost, we propose a directional probabilistic algorithm to broadcast RREQ packets toward the destination. Without any positioning system, the algorithm uses encounter records to predict the direction to destination and sets different forwarding probability for different intermediate nodes. The simulation results show that our algorithm saves 70% routing cost compared to flooding and 20% compared to pure probabilistic algorithm. Furthermore, the new algorithm also shows good performance in other aspects.

Taurine, which is found at high concentration in the heart, exerts several protective actions on myocardium. Physically, the high level of taurine in heart is maintained by a taurine transporter (TauT), the expression of which is suppressed under ischemic insult. Although taurine supplementation upregulates TauT expression, elevates the intracellular taurine content and ameliorates the ischemic injury of cardiomyocytes (CMs), little is known about the regulatory mechanisms of taurine governing TauT expression under ischemia. In this study, we describe the TonE (tonicity-responsive element)/TonEBP (TonE-binding protein) pathway involved in the taurine-regulated TauT expression in ischemic CMs. Taurine inhibited the ubiquitin-dependent proteasomal degradation of TonEBP, promoted the translocation of TonEBP into the nucleus, enhanced TauT promoter activity and finally upregulated TauT expression in CMs. In addition, we observed that TonEBP had an anti-apoptotic and anti-oxidative role in CMs under ischemia. Moreover, the protective effects of taurine on myocardial ischemia were TonEBP dependent. Collectively, our findings suggest that TonEBP is a core molecule in the protective mechanism of taurine in CMs under ischemic insult.

Objective To investigate the inductive potential of scaffold material combing with transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), and to induce odontoblast differentiation and dentin formation from dental pulp cells both in vitro and in vivo. Methods Primarily cultured dental pulp cells were used for MTT, ALP activity assay and Alizarin red staining in the presence of TGF-β1. Pelleted cells were put on the filters combining with or not with TGF-β1 and cultured in vitro or in vivo. The in vitro and in vivo cell response and tissue formation were analysed with Haematoxylin–Eosin (HE), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and immunohistochemical staining. Results TGF-β1 increased the mineralization and ALP activity of dental pulp cells as revealed by Alizarin red staining and ALP activity assay. After in vitro culture for 7 days, cells polarized in the TGF-β1 group and expressed dentin sialoprotein (DSP), osteopotin (OPN) and type I collagen (Col I). After in vivo transplantation for 7 days, columnar odontoblast formed on the surface of filter in experimental group, and tubular dentin expressing DSP formed after 3 months transplantation. Conclusion It was concluded that TGF-β1 combining with transfilter could induce odontoblast differentiation and dentin formation. Our results implied that suitable substrate for the progenitors of odontoblast to anchor on and inductive signals to initiate the differentiation of odontoblast should be taken into consideration when designing scaffold material for inducing dentin tissue engineering.

Aims The standardized extract from the leaves of Ginkgo biloba (EGb761) is applied as a phyto-pharmacon in therapy of diverse cardiovascular disorders. However, the effects of EGb761 on bone-marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) transplanted into the ischemic myocardium currently remain uncertain. In this study, the dosage-effects of EGb761 on BMSC survival in vitro and in vivo were investigated. Main methods The ischemic microenvironment of rat BMSCs was simulated by hypoxia/serum deprivation (SD) and the rat myocardial infarction model was established. The rat BMSCs were cultured under hypoxia/SD or transplanted into the animal ischemic heart. The BMSC apoptosis was determined by FACS and TUNEL assay. Each apoptotic signal molecule's activity was assayed by immunoblot. Key findings EGb761 showed a biphasic effect on the hypoxia/SD-induced BMSC apoptosis. Low concentration of EGb761 (10–100 μg/ml) aggravated hypoxia/SD-induced apoptosis via Akt inactivation and an enhancement of caspase-9 and caspase-3 expressions, whereas high concentration of EGb761 (500–2000 μg/ml) significantly prevented hypoxia/SD-induced BMSC apoptosis via the activated Akt and the inactivated caspase-9 and caspase-3. The animal study also indicated that the apoptotic index (AI) in the high concentration of EGb761 group was significantly lower than the low concentration of EGb761 group. Significance The biphasic effect of EGb761 is closely related to the PI3K-Akt and caspase-9 signaling pathways. The therapeutic concentration of EGb761 may be one of the vital factors determining the specific action of EGb761 on cell apoptosis. It is of significant clinical implication to investigate the mechanisms of the biphasic effect of EGb761.

To observe the heterotopic osteogenesis of the autogenous marrow stromal cells (MSCs) on the ceramic bovine bone (CBB)/hydrogel scaffold (HG) and the effects of the recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) and the transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) on osteogenesis.The autogenous marrow stromal cells were cultured by the mineralized condition medium (10% FBS, dexamethasone 10 nmol, L-vitamin C 50 mg/L, beta-sodium glycerophosphate DMEM culture medium 10 mmol). At 5 days, the MSCs differentiation was observed by Type I collagen, the Mend calcium-cobalt staining, and the Von-Kossa staining. The cell suspension of 5 x 10(6)/ml was obtained. There were three groups: Group A: added in rhBMP-2 (10 microg)-TGF-beta (0.05 microg); Group B: added in TGF-beta (0.05 microg); and Group C (the control group): without the growth factor. Then, the MSCs loading on CBB/HG were embedded in the autogenous subcutaneous area at 4 and 8 weeks, and the osteogenesis was observed by the HE staining and the modified Mallory's trichrome staining, with an image analysis. Type I collagen and the bone morphogenetic synthesis were examined by the immunohistochemistry stains.Most MSCs induced by the mineralized condition medium at 5 days became smaller and polygon-shaped, and the cytodendrite became shorter. The MSCs were observed by the Mend calcium-cobalt staining. Some brown and black grains were found in the cytochylema. The MSCs were positive for the Type I collagen immunohistochemistry stains. At 20 days, the mineralized nubs were found by the Von Kossas stains. At 4 weeks, some strips of the new bone were observed by the HE staining and the modified Mallory's trichrome staining in all the groups. The bone matrix area was significantly larger in Group A than in Group B(P0.01). The average gray degrees of Type I collagen were lower in Groups A and B than in Group C. However, there was no significant difference in the bone morphogenesis among the three groups. At 8 weeks, there were significantly more snatch strips and macula mature bone formation in Groups A and B than in Group C. The Type I collagen and the bone morphogenesis were not significantly different among the three groups.The autogenous marrow stromal cells on the ceramic bovine bone /hydrogel scaffold can promote the heterotopic osteogenesis, and the combined use of rhBMP-2 and TGF-beta is better than the only use of rhBMP-2 or TGF-beta in promoting osteogenesis.

Mutations in JAK2, MPL and CALR are highly relevant to the Philadelphia chromosome (Ph)-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs). We performed high resolution melting analysis and Sanger sequencing together with T-A cloning to elucidate the unique mutation profile of these genes, in Chinese patients with MPNs. Peripheral blood DNA samples were obtained from 80 patients with polycythemia vera (PV), 80 patients with essential thrombocytosis (ET) and 50 patients with primary myelofibrosis (PMF). Ten PV patients were identified with diverse JAK2 exon 12 mutations. Five novel JAK2 Exon 12 mutation patterns (M532V/E543G, N533D, M535I/H538Y/K549I, E543G and D544N) were described. JAK2 V617F was detected in 140 samples (66 PV, 45 ET and 29 PMF). JAK2 Exon 12 mutations were prevalent (13%) and variable in the Chinese patients. Compared with PV patients with JAK2 V617F mutations, PV patients with JAK2 exon 12 mutations had an earlier median onset of disease (P = 0.0013). MPL W515L/K mutations were discerned in 4 ET and 3 PMF patients. Two kinds of CALR mutation, c. 1179_1230del and c. 1234_1235insTTGTC were detected in 20 ET and 16 PMF patients. A novel CALR mutation pattern (c. 1173_1223del/c. 1179_1230del) was identified in 2 PMF samples. In addition, 17 scattered point mutations in CALR c.1153 to c.1255 were also detected in 13 cases with CALR frame-shifting variations and 2 cases without CALR frame-shifting variations. Female patients showed a predisposition to CALR mutations (P = 0.0035). Chinese Ph-negative MPN patients have a unique mutation landscape in the common molecular markers of MPN diagnosis. Validation of the molecular diagnostic pipeline should be emphasized since there is a considerable ethnical diversity in the molecular profiles of Ph-negative MPNs.

Background EphA5 is a member of the Eph/ephrin family and plays a critical role in the regulation of carcinogenesis. A significant reduction of EphA5 transcripts in high-grade prostate cancer tissue was shown using a transcriptomic analysis, compared to the low-grade prostate cancer tissue. As less is known about the mechanism of EphA5 downregulation and the function of EphA5, here we investigated the expression and an epigenetic change of EphA5 in prostate cancer and determined if these findings were correlated with clinicopathologic characteristics of prostate cancer. Methods Seven prostate cell lines (RWPE-1, LNCap, LNCap-LN3, CWR22rv-1, PC-3, PC-3M-LN4, and DU145), thirty-nine BPH, twenty-two primary prostate carcinomas, twenty-three paired noncancerous and cancerous prostate tissues were examined via qRT-PCR, methylation-specific PCR, bisulfite sequencing, immunohistochemistry and western blotting. The role of EphA5 in prostate cancer cell migration and invasion was examined by wound healing and transwell assay. Results Downregulation or loss of EphA5 mRNA or protein expression was detected in 28 of 45 (62.2%) prostate carcinomas, 2 of 39 (5.1%) hyperplasias, and all 6 prostate cancer cell lines. Methylation of the EphA5 promoter region was present in 32 of 45 (71.1%) carcinoma samples, 3 of 39 (7.7%) hyperplasias, and the 6 prostate cancer cell lines. Among 23 paired prostate carcinoma tissues, 16 tumor samples exhibited the hypermethylation of EphA5, and 15 of these 16 specimens (93.8%) shown the downregulation of EphA5 expression than that of their respectively matched noncancerous samples. Immunostaining analysis demonstrated that the EphA5 protein was absent or down-regulated in 10 of 13 (76.9%) available carcinoma samples, and 8 of these 10 samples (80.0%) exhibited hypermethylation. The frequency of EphA5 methylation was higher in cancer patients with an elevated Gleason score or T3-T4 staging. Following the treatment of 6 prostate cancer cell lines with 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine, the levels of EphA5 mRNA were significantly increased. Prostate cancer cells invasion and migration were significantly suppressed by ectopic expression of EphA5 in vitro. Conclusion Our study provides evidence that EphA5 is a potential target for epigenetic silencing in primary prostate cancer and is a potentially valuable prognosis predictor and thereapeutic marker for prostate cancer. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12885-015-1025-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.