Search

Long noncoding RNAs and microRNAs (miRNAs) are emerging biomarkers involved in human diseases, and we focused on the roles of long noncoding RNA taurine upregulated gene 1 (TUG1) and miR-30b-3p in the related mechanisms of atherosclerosis-induced myocardial injury. ApoE-deficient mice were fed with high-fat diet to establish atherosclerotic models and then were subjected to either TUG1 downregulation or miR-30b-3p upregulation treatment. The serum myocardial enzymes, inflammatory biomarkers, pathological changes, intramyocardial macrophage infiltration, and apoptosis of cardiomyocytes in atherosclerotic mice were determined. The expression of TUG1, miR-30b-3p, and bromodomain protein 4 (Brd4) in atherosclerotic models was evaluated. Moreover, the correlations of TUG1, miR-30b-3p, and Brd4 were verified. TUG1 and Brd4 were increased while miR-30b-3p was decreased in atherosclerotic mice. The silenced TUG1 or elevated miR-30b-3p attenuated atherosclerosis-induced myocardial injury mainly by reducing serum myocardial enzyme content and inflammatory response, improving pathological changes, and preventing macrophage infiltration and cardiomyocyte apoptosis in atherosclerotic mice. Mechanistically, TUG1 could competitively bind with miR-30b-3p to prevent the degradation of its target gene Brd4. This study reveals that the silencing of TUG1 ameliorates atherosclerosis-induced myocardial injury by upregulating miR-30b-3p and downregulating Brd4, which may provide novel targets for atherosclerosis treatment.

Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) foams are advantageous for their biocompatibility and high cost/performance ratio. However, their processibility and comprehensive properties are difficult to achieve. Her...

Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) samples were successfully foamed using supercritical carbon dioxide as a physical foaming agent. PHBV sheets were first saturated at 175 °C followed by a foaming process at different temperatures (145 to 165 °C) and different CO2 pressures (10 to 29 MPa). It was found that microcellular structures with average cell sizes ranging from 6 to 22 μm and cell densities ranging from 108 to 1.2 × 109 cells/cm3 could be controllably prepared by selecting suitable foaming conditions. To investigate crystallization behavior during the foaming process and explore the corresponding foaming mechanism, differential scanning calorimetry, wide angle X-ray diffraction, and small-angle X-ray scattering characterizations were carried out. Stretching behavior during the cell growth stage may increase the crystal nucleation rate, and the generated crystal nucleus accelerates the crystallization rate as well as thickens PHBV crystal lamellae.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is expressed in articular cartilage and increases in expression levels have been associated with the progression of osteoarthritis (OA). Thalidomide is a drug that has been reported to inhibit angiogenesis and reduce VEGF production by downregulating VEGF expression. The objective of the present study was to determine whether intraperitoneal administration of thalidomide may attenuate early OA development in mice. Male C57BL/6 mice (10‑weeks‑old) were randomly assigned into the destabilization of the medial meniscus (Dmm) with thalidomide treatment (Dmm+Th), Dmm and Sham groups equally. An OA model was induced surgically in Dmm+Th and Dmm groups, and mice of the Dmm+Th group were subsequently treated with an intraperitoneal injection of thalidomide (200 mg/kg/day). At 2 and 4 weeks following surgery, the pathological alterations in cartilage samples were assessed qualitatively by hematoxylin and eosin staining and Safranin O/Fast green staining, and quantitatively by the Osteoarthritis Research Society International scoring system. The mRNA expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase‑13 (MMP‑13) and VEGF were measured by reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The protein expression levels of MMP‑13 and VEGF were detected by immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry, respectively. The production of VEGF in serum was evaluated via an ELISA assay. Pathological scores were significantly higher in the Dmm and the Dmm+Th groups than those in the Sham group; however, the Dmm+Th group exhibited markedly less severe pathological changes compared with the Dmm group. Compared with the Sham group, the mRNA and protein expression levels of VEGF and MMP‑13 in the Dmm and the Dmm+Th groups were significantly increased. The Dmm+Th group exhibited significantly decreased expression levels of VEGF and MMP‑13, as well as significantly decreased serum VEGF concentration compared with the Dmm group. Thus, the results of the present study demonstrated that intraperitoneal administration of thalidomide may alleviate the development of early OA by suppressing VEGF expression in mice and may have potential as a novel therapy for the treatment of OA.

One promising strategy towards the realization of synergistic enhanced strength and toughness of polymers is combining the functionalized fillers with them to produce composites, which facilitates to improve the compatibility, interfacial bonding and load transfer between filler and the matrix. In this study, the reinforced tensile and impact properties of polydicyclopentadiene (PDCPD) composites are acquired via addition of ethyl,vinyl-functionalized silica (E,V–SiO2) with reasonably small particle size of 500 nm and uniform size distribution. It is interestingly noted that the tensile ductility of E,V–SiO2/PDCPD composites is dramatically improved by 862% through incorporation of 0.2 wt% E,V–SiO2. More significantly, the maximum tensile strength and impact toughness are enhanced by 22% and 99% via addition of E,V–SiO2. Excellent dispersion of E,V–SiO2 in the matrix, efficacious load transfer from PDCPD to E,V–SiO2 and covalent bonding between vinyl groups and DCPD are responsible for the remarkable enhancements of yield strength, tensile ductility and impact toughness.

To determine the effect of tanshinone II A on the transmembrance action potential of three layers of myocardial cells in LQT2 rabbit models.Whole-cell patch clamp technique was used to record the action potential duration 90 (APD90) and the transmural dispersion of repolarization (TDR) of the epicardium, mid-myocardium and endocardium in the LQT2 rabbits.Of the three layers of myocardial cells, the mid-myocardium had the longest APD90 and the epicardium had the shortest APD90. The APD90 of all three layers of myocardial cells were shortened with infusion of 10 mg/mL tanshinone II A. Their TDR values also reduced by the infusion.Tanshinone II A shortens APD90 and reduces TDR values.

To investigate the effect of 5-FU (5-fluorouracil) on enriching cancer stem cells of HCC cell line BEL-7402 and the biological characteristics of enriched cells.The enriching concentration of 5-FU was determined by CCK-8 (cell counting kit-8). Flow Cytometry was used to determine the changes in cell cycle and positive expression ratio of surface marker CD56, CD54, EpCAM and CD133. The self-renewal and differentiation of positive cells were tested by colony formation assay, and were compared with the control group.Enriching concentration of 5-FU was determined as 10 μg/ml with 48 h incubation. After enrichment, G0/G1 phase cells increased from 57.50 %+/-0.98% to 68.70%+/-3.41% (P0.05). Whereas S phase cells decreased from 40.26%+/-4.12% to 31.80%+/-4.15% (P0.01); G2/M phase cells disappeared in experimental group, and was 5.80%+/-1.87% in control group (P0.01). The proportion of the cell cycle changed with significant statistical differences. Meanwhile, positive rate of cell surface makers CD56, CD54, EpCAM and CD133 increased from 0.57%+/-0.12%, 8.10%+/-6.79%, 0.3%+/-0.01% and 3.20%+/-0.99% to 4.13%+/-0.06%, 50.08%+/-1.69%, 0.55%+/-0.07% and 10.51%+/-1.13%, respectively. The difference was significant (P0.05). The colony forming ratio of CD56, CD54, EpCAM and CD133 negative cells and positive cells were 2.11%+/-0.21%, 3.32%+/-0.31%; 0.86%+/-0.101%, 2.40%+/-0.52 %; 7.19%+/-0.56%, 7.73%+/-0.71%; 2.70%+/-0.26%, 5.75%+/-0.81%, respectively, and significant differences were found between (P0.05).5-fluorouracil enriched the cancer stem cell population in HCC cell line BEL-7402. CD56 and CD54 can be used as important surface markers in research of liver cancer stem cells.