Search

Radiation is an integral part of cancer therapy. With the emergence of oncolytic vaccinia virus immunotherapy, it is important to study the combination of radiation and vaccinia virus in cancer therapy. In this study, we investigated the anti-tumor effect of and immune mechanisms underlying the combination of high-dose hypofractionated stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) and oncolytic vaccinia virus in preclinical murine models. The combination enhanced the in vivo anti-tumor effect and increased the numbers of splenic CD4+Ki-67+ helper T lymphocytes and CD8+Ki-67+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Combinational therapy also increased tumor-infiltrating CD3+CD4+ helper T lymphocytes and CD3+CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes, but decreased tumor-infiltrating regulatory T cells. In addition, SBRT combined with oncolytic vaccinia virus enhanced in vitro cell death, partly through necroptosis, and subsequent release of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), and shifted the macrophage M1/M2 ratio. We concluded that SBRT combined with oncolytic vaccinia virus can trigger tumor cell necroptosis and modify macrophages through the release of DAMPs, and then generate potent anti-tumor immunity and effects. Thus, combined therapy is potentially an important strategy for clinical cancer therapy.

Background/Purpose: Oral cancer patients who survive for more than 5 years are supposed to have a reduced local cancer recurrence rate and survive longer. This study evaluated whether oral cancer patients who survived for more than 5 years might have reduced rates of local cancer recurrence, development of the second or third primary oral cancer, or the late regional cervical lymph node metastasis. Methods: This study analyzed the clinical outcomes of 127 oral cancer patients (101 men and 26 women; mean age, 50.8 ± 12.1 years) who survived for more than 5 years after proper treatments of the initial primary oral cancers. Results: The 127 primary oral cancers included 117 squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs), 7 mucoepidermoid carcinomas, and 3 others. Of the 127 oral cancer patients who survived for more than 5 years, 47 survived for 5–9 years, 45 for 10–14 years, 22 for 15–19 years, 10 for 20–24 years, two for 25–29 years, and one for 30 years. Ten patients had local cancer recurrence 5.4 years–13.7 years, 12 patients had a second or a third primary oral cancer 3.6 years–17.2 years, and one mucoepidermoid carcinoma patient had a late regional cervical lymph node metastasis 11.9 years after total excision of the initial primary oral cancers. Conclusion: Oral cancer patients who survive for more than 5 years may still have local cancer recurrence, the second or third primary oral cancer, or the late regional cervical lymph node metastasis but with a reduced rate. Keywords: Oral cancer, Survival, Recurrence, Second primary oral cancer, Third primary oral cancer

As a tumor antigen, mesothelin (MSLN) can be identified in various malignancies. MSLN is potential for antigen-specific cancer vaccines. We generated a novel chimeric DNA vaccine using antigen-specific connective tissue growth factor lined with MSLN (CTGF/MSLN). The anti-tumor effects of the CTGF/MSLN DNA vaccine combined with anti-CD40 Ab and toll-like receptor 3 ligand-poly(I:C) were validated in an MSLN-expressing model. CTGF/MSLN DNA with anti-CD40Ab and poly(I:C) vaccinated mice demonstrated potent anti-tumor effects with longer survival and less tumor volumes. An increase in MSLN-specific CD8+ T cells and anti-MSLN Ab titers was also noted in CTGF/MSLN DNA with anti-CD40Ab and poly(I:C) vaccinated mice. The CTGF/MSLN DNA vaccine combined with immuno-modulator EGCG also generated potent anti-tumor effects. Immuno-modulators could enhance the antigen-specific anti-tumor effects of CTGF/MSLN DNA vaccine through promoting the DC maturation. In addition, MSLN-specific cell-based vaccine with AAV-IL-12 and the CTGF/MSLN DNA vaccine with anti-CD40Ab/polyp(I:C) generated more potent anti-tumor effects than the other combinational regimens. The results indicate that an MSLN-specific DNA vaccine combined with immuno-modulators may be an effective immunotherapeutic strategy to control MSLN-expressing tumors including ovarian and pancreastic cancers, and malignant mesothelioma.

The immuno-inhibitory checkpoint PD-L1, regulated by tumor cells and antigen-presenting cells (APCs), dampened the activation of T cells from the PD-1/PD-L1 axis. PD-L1-expressing APCs rather than tumor cells demonstrated the essential anti-tumor effects of anti-PD-L1 monotherapy in preclinical tumor models. Using the murine tumor model, we investigated whether anti-PD-L1 antibody increased the antigen-specific immune response and anti-tumor effects induced by the antigen-specific protein vaccine, as well as the possible mechanisms regarding activation of APCs. Anti-PD-L1 antibody combined with the PEK protein vaccine generated more potent E7-specific immunity (including the number and cytotoxic activity of E7-specific cytotoxic CD8+ T lymphocytes) and anti-tumor effects than protein vaccine alone. Anti-PD-L1 antibody enhanced the maturation of dendritic cells and the proportion of M1-like macrophages in tumor-draining lymph nodes and tumors in tumor-bearing mice treated with combinatorial therapy. PD-L1 blockade overturned the immunosuppressive status of the tumor microenvironment and then enhanced the E7 tumor-specific antigen-specific immunity and anti-tumor effects generated by an E7-specific protein vaccine through modulation of APCs in an E7-expressing small tumor model. Tumor-specific antigen (like HPV E7 antigen)-specific immunotherapy combined with APC-targeting modality by PD-L1 blockade has a high translational potential in E7-specific cancer therapy.

The life span of dendritic cells (DCs) can become short following induced activation, which is associated with metabolic transition due to the regulation of mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR). The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential of inhibiting mTOR to modulate DC functions for elevating the anti-tumor effects of DNA vaccines. Therefore, the influences of various inhibitors of mTOR (mTORi) on the expressions of DC maturation markers, the abilities of antigen presenting and processing of BMM-derived DCs and the tumor killing effects of E7-specific CD8+ T lymphocytes activated by BMM-derived DCs were in vitro examined. The anti-tumor effects of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF)/E7 DNA vaccine and/or mTORi were also in vivo analyzed. In our study, suppressive effects of mTORi on the DC maturation markers expressed on BMMCs could be reversed. The mTORi-treated mature BMM-derived DCs tended to be non-apoptotic. These mTORi-treated BMM-derived DCs could have better antigen presenting and processing abilities. The E7-specific cytotoxic CD8+ T lymphocytes could have more potent tumoricidal activity following activation of mTORi-treated BMM-derived DCs. For tumor-bearing mice, those treated with CTGF/E7 DNA vaccine and mTORi indeed can have higher percentages of mature DCs in the TME, better disease control and longer survivals. Consequently, application of mTORi can be a pharmacological approach for temporally increasing life span, antigen presenting and antigen processing of DCs to strengthen the therapeutic outcome of cancer immunotherapy.

Aim: To investigate the CDH1, DLEC1 and SFRP5 gene methylation panel for advanced epithelial ovarian carcinoma (EOC). Materials & methods: One hundred and seventy-seven advanced EOC specimens were evaluated by methylation-specific PCR. We also used The Cancer Genome Atlas dataset to evaluate the panel. Results: The presence of two or more methylated genes was significant in recurrence (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.91 [1.33–2.76]; p = 0.002) and death (HR: 1.96 [1.26–3.06]; p = 0.006) in our cohort. In The Cancer Genome Atlas dataset, the presence of two or three methylated genes was significant in death (HR: 1.59 [1.15–2.18]; p = 0.0047) and close to the significance level in recurrence (HR: 1.37 [0.99–1.88]; p = 0.058). Conclusion: The CDH1, DLEC1 and SFRP5 methylation panel is a potential prognostic biomarker for advanced EOC.

The role of chitinase-3-like protein 1 (CHI3L1) in ovarian cancer and the possible mechanisms were elucidated. CHI3L1 is a secreted glycoprotein and associated with inflammation, fibrosis, asthma, extracellular tissue remodeling and solid tumors. Our previous study showed CHI3L1 could be a potential prognostic biomarker for epithelial ovarian cancer and could protect cancer cells from apoptosis. Therefore, clinical data and quantitation of CHI3L1 of ovarian cancer patients, tumor spheroid formation, side-population assays, Aldefluor and apoptotic assays, ELISA, RT-PCR, immunoblotting and animal experiments were performed in two ovarian cancer cells lines, OVCAR3 and CA5171, and their CHI3L1-overexpressing and -knockdown transfectants. High expression of CHI3L1 was associated with poor outcome and chemoresistance in ovarian cancer patients. The mRNA expression of CHI3L1 in CA5171 ovarian cancer stem-like cells was 3-fold higher than in CA5171 parental cells. CHI3L1 promoted the properties of ovarian cancer stem-like cells including generating more and larger tumor spheroids and a higher percentage of ALDH+ in tumor cells and promoting resistance to cytotoxic drug-induced apoptosis. CHI3L1 could induce both the Akt (essential) and Erk signaling pathways, and then enhance expression of β-catenin followed by SOX2, and finally promote tumor spheroid formation and other properties of ovarian cancer stem-like cells. OVCAR3 CHI3L1-overexpressing transfectants were more tumorigenic in vivo, whereas CA5171 CHI3L1-knockdown transfectants were not tumorigenic in vivo. CHI3L1 critically enhances the properties of ovarian cancer stem-like cells. CHI3L1 or CHI3L1-regulated signaling pathways and molecules could be potential therapeutic targets in ovarian cancer.

We propose CHI3L1 as a prognostic biomarker for patients with epithelial ovarian carcinoma (EOC) and also suggest possible biological functions of CHI3L1. We measured CHI3L1 expression with quantitative real time-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) in 180 women with EOC and evaluated correlations between CHI3L1 expression, clinicopathological characteristics, and the outcomes of the patients. The expression of CHI3L1 was higher in cancerous tissues than in normal tissues. The expression of CHI3L1 was also higher in patients with a serous histological type, advanced stage, and chemoresistance. Patients with high CHI3L1 expression had a shorter progression-free survival (p < 0.001) and overall survival (p < 0.001). Patients with high CHI3L1 expression also had a high risk of recurrence (p < 0.001) and death (p < 0.001). In vitro studies showed that CHI3L1 up-regulated the expression of anti-apoptotic Mcl-1 protein and hampered paclitaxel-induced apoptosis of ovarian cancer cells. These results suggest that CHI3L1 shows potential as a prognostic biomarker for EOC. CHI3L1 may promote chemoresistance via inhibition of drug-induced apoptosis by up-regulating Mcl-1.

Aside from tumor cells, ovarian cancer-related ascites contains the immune components. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether a combination of clinical and immunological parameters can predict survival in patients with ovarian cancer. Ascites specimens and medical records from 144 ovarian cancer patients at our hospital were used as the derivation group to select target clinical and immunological factors to generate a risk-scoring system to predict patient survival. Eighty-two cases from another hospital were used as the validation group to evaluate this system. The surgical status and expression levels of interleukin 17a (IL17a) and IL21 in ascites were selected for the risk-scoring system in the derivation group. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curves of the overall score for disease-free survival (DFS) of the ovarian cancer patients were 0.84 in the derivation group, 0.85 in the validation group, and 0.84 for all the patients. The AUROC curves of the overall score for overall survival (OS) of cases were 0.78 in the derivation group, 0.76 in the validation group, and 0.76 for all the studied patients. Good correlations between overall risk score and survival of the ovarian cancer patients were demonstrated by sub-grouping all participants into four groups (P for trend

Finite element analysis (FEA) software is utilized to simulate and evaluate a conventional steel resolver and a 3D printed resolver (material: acrylonitrile butadiene styrene). Moreover, the magnetic flux density distribution of the resolvers is presented by the FEA software. The performances of the resolvers are discussed in time domain and frequency domain. Furthermore, a test bench is set up to prove the capabilities of resolver system.

Femtosecond vibrational spectroscopy was used to measure the vibrational population relaxation time (T1) of different anions bound to ferric myoglobin (Mb) and hemoglobin (Hb) in D2O at 293 K. The T1 values of the anti-symmetric stretching (ν1) mode of NCS in the NCS − bound to Mb (MbNCS) and Hb (HbNCS) in D2O are 7.2 ± 0.2 and 6.6 ± 0.2 ps, respectively, which are smaller than that of free NCS − in D2O (18.3 ps). The T1 values of the ν1 mode of NCO in the NCO − bound to Mb (MbNCO) and Hb (HbNCO) in D2O are 2.4 ± 0.2 and 2.6 ± 0.2 ps, respectively, which are larger than that of free NCO− in D2O (1.9 ± 0.2 ps). The smaller T1 values of the ν1 mode of the heme-bound NCS suggest that intramolecular vibrational relaxation (VR) is the dominant relaxation pathway for the excess vibrational energy. On the other hand, the longer T1 values of the ν1 mode of the heme-bound NCO suggest that intermolecular VR is the dominant relaxation pathway for the excess vibrational energy in the ν1 mode of NCO − in D2O, and that intramolecular VR becomes more important in the vibrational energy dissipation of the ν1 mode of NCO in Mb NCO and HbNCO.

The ovarian cancer-associated ascites is an ideal material for evaluating the interaction between the host immune system and cancer cells in the tumor micro-environment. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the selected target cytokine expression levels in ascites could serve as an immune biomarker for predicting outcomes in ovarian cancer.Eighty-eight specimens of ovarian cancer-associated ascites were evaluated to select the target cytokine by a cytokine profiling kit. The 144 total samples were subsequently analyzed for this target cytokine. The correlation between the target cytokine and clinical characteristics was analyzed.Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) was identified as the target cytokine. Higher levels of IFN-γ in the ascites of the tumor micro-environment were associated with advanced disease (p=0.012), higher tumor histological grading (p=0.004), and sub-optimal surgical status (p=0.040). By multivariate analysis, the adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) were 2.74 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.85-4.05, p0.001) for disease-free survival (DFS) and 1.72 (95% CI 1.01-2.93, p=0.048) for overall survival (OS) for a 10-fold increase in IFN-γ concentration in the ascites. An inverse dose-response relationship between IFN-γ level and survival was also noted (Ptrend0.001 for DFS and Ptrend0.042 for OS).Patients with ovarian cancer and higher IFN-γ expression levels in cancer-associated ascites will have shorter DFS and OS. IFN-γ levels in the ascites may be a prognostic marker and a potential reference for immunotherapy targeting IFN-γ.

The alpha‐folate receptor (α‐FR) is highly‐expressed in various non‐mucinous tumors of epithelial origin, including ovarian carcinoma. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between alpha‐folate receptor (α‐FR) and the clinico‐pathologic features and outcomes of serous ovarian carcinoma patients and the possible mechanism of α‐FR to chemo‐resistance. Therefore, semi‐quantitative reverse‐transcription polymerase chain reactions for α‐FR expression were performed in the 91 specimens of serous ovarian carcinomas. The expression of α‐FR in each ovarian cancer tissue specimen was defined as the ratio of density of α‐FR to density of glyceraldehyde‐3‐phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH). In vitro apoptotic experiments were tested in the original OVCAR‐3 tumor cells and various OVCAR‐3 α‐FR‐transfectants. Patients with an increased α‐FR expression level had poorer responses to chemotherapy (per α‐FR expression level increase: odds ratio (OR): 8.97 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.40–57.36), p = 0.021). An increased α‐FR expression level was an independently poor prognostic factor for disease free interval (DFI) (per α‐FR expression level increase: hazard ratio (HR): 2.45 (95% CI: 1.16–5.18), p = 0.02) and had a negative impact on overall survival (OS) of these serous ovarian cancer patients (per α‐FR expression level increase: HR: 3.6 (95% CI: 0.93–13.29), p = 0.03) by multivariate analyses. α‐FR inhibited cytotoxic drug‐induced apoptosis in our in vitro apoptotic assays. α‐FR could induce chemo‐resistance via regulating the expression of apoptosis‐related molecules, Bcl‐2 and Bax. Therefore, α‐FR can be a potential biomarker for the prediction of chemotherapeutic responses and clinical prognosis. It also could be the target of ovarian cancer treatment.

In this paper, a neural network and two-dimensional (2D) wavelet transform are applied to recognize partial discharge (PD) patterns on current transformers (CTs). To avoid the discrepancy between simulated results and real experimental data, we adopted seven cast-resin CTs that were purposely fabricated with various insulation defects as the PD patterns collected samples to actually emulate the various defects incurred often during their production. All measurements are taken in a shielded lab; the commercial TE571 PD detector is adopted to measure PD patterns to ensure the reliability of the PD signals. Next, we extract the patterns' features via a 2D wavelet transform and use the features as the training set of a backpropagation neural network (BNN) to construct the recognition system for CTs' PD patterns. Finally, we add random noises to the measured PD signals to emulate the field diagnosis under a high-noise environment. The study results indicate that, under a simulated noise magnitude of 30 pC, the recognition rate of the proposed system still can reach around 80%, signifying a great potential in applying the proposed recognition system in field measurements in the future. © 2011 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Morphine has been widely used for pain management. Other than analgesia, it has effects on vascular endothelial cells, including angiogenesis and apoptosis. An in vitro model of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) was made to investigate the effects and comprehensive mechanisms of morphine on vascular endothelial cells. Morphine enhanced apoptosis of HUVECs, increased intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), and reduced mitochondrial membrane potentials (MMPs). It also induced the release of NO and activated NF-κB in HUVECs. Naloxone, the opioid receptor antagonist, could reverse cell apoptosis and ROS generation, NO production, and MMP loss. Expression levels of Bak and Bax, and the activation of caspases 3 and 7 in HUVECs significantly increased when treated with morphine. Inhibition of NO production by NO synthase inhibitor reduced morphine-induced apoptosis. Morphine could induce apoptosis of HUVECs through both the NO and ROS pathways. Thus, inhibiting NO or ROS may be a potential target in blocking morphine-induced apoptosis of endothelial cells.

The cybersecurity consortium, which was established by DOE/NNSA’s Minority Serving Institutions Partnerships Program (MSIPP), allows students from any of the partner schools (13 HBCUs, two national laboratories, and a public school district) to have all consortia options available to them, to create career paths and to open doors to DOE sites and facilities to student members of the consortium. As a part of this year consortium activities, Sandia National Laboratories and the University of Virgin Islands conducted a week long cyber workshop that consisted of three courses; Digital Forensics and Malware Analysis, Python Programming, and ThunderBird Cup. These courses are designed to enhance cyber defense skills and promote learning within STEM related fields.

This study compares a 3D printed resolver with a conventional resolver. The advantages of the 3D printed resolver are cheap, easy manufacture and modification. The equivalent circuit, transfer function, and Bode diagram of the resolver are presented and discussed. Furthermore, a digital signal processor (DSP)-based resolver-to-digital conversion system for 3D printed resolver and conventional resolver is built to validate the performances of the proposed scheme.

Regulation of leaf condensed tannins (CT) and salicylate-derived phenolic glycosides (PG) in fast- and slow-growing cottonwood backcrosses was analyzed by metabolic profiling and cDNA microarray hybridization. Seven hybrid lines of Populus fremontii L. and P. angustifolia James exhibiting growth/CT-PG phenotypes ranging from fast/low (Lines 18 and 1979) to slow/high (Lines 1012 and RL2) and intermediate (Lines NUL, 3200 and RM5) were investigated. Methanol-extractable leaf metabolites were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and the results evaluated by principal component analysis. The hybrid lines formed separate clusters based on their primary metabolite profiles, with cluster arrangement also reflecting differences in CT-PG phenotype. Nitrogen (N) supply was manipulated to alter CT-PG partitioning and to obtain molecular insights into how primary metabolism interfaces with CT-PG accumulation. Three backcross lines (RM5, 1012, 18) exhibiting differential CT-PG responses to a 10-day hydroponic N-deprivation treatment were chosen for metabolite and gene expression analyses. The fast- growing Line 18 showed a minimal CT-PG response to N deprivation, and a reduction in photosynthetic gene expression. Line 1012 exhibited a strong phenylpropanoid response to N deprivation, including a doubling in phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) gene expression, and a shift from CT accumulation in the absence of stress toward PG accumulation under N-deprivation conditions. Amino acid concentrations were depressed in Lines 18 and 1012, as was expression of nitrate-sensitive genes coding for transketolase (TK), and malate dehydrogenase (MDH). Genes associated with protein synthesis and fate were down-regulated in Line 1012 but not in Line 18. Line RM5 exhibited a comparatively large increase in CT in response to N deprivation, but did not sustain decreases in amino acid concentrations, or changes in PAL, TK or MDH gene expression. Molecular characterization of the variable CT-PG responses shows promise for the identification and future testing of candidate genes for CT-PG trait selection or manipulation.

In this letter, the photovoltaic characteristics of InGaN/AlGaN superlattice solar cells with In=21% and 40% in InGaN multiple quantum wells, and Al=14% and 20% in AlGaN barriers are investigated. The results obtained numerically show that an increment of 18.2% in short-circuit current density is achieved by introducing p-type doped (holenconcentration = 3×1017 cm-3) Al0.2Ga0.8N barriers in In0.4Ga0.6N superlattice solar cell when compared with undoped Al0.14Ga0.86N barriers. This improvement is mainly attributed to the increased electric field in the main absorption region, which is beneficial for the holes in the valence band to move towards the p-region. The capability of carrier transport is efficiently improved, thus increasing the carrier-collection efficiency and the conversion efficiency.

Linum flavum hairy roots were initiated from leaf discs using Agrobacterium rhizogenes strains LBA9402 and TR105 though two other strains, 15834 and A4, were relatively ineffective for induction. Significant variation in coniferin accumulation was observed between hairy root lines originating from different L. flavum seedlings and/or A. rhizogenes strains. Coniferin reached 58 mg g−1 dry wt by culturing the roots in Linsmaier and Skoog (LS) medium with 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and naphthaleneacetic acid as growth regulators.

The influence of spontaneous and strain-induced piezoelectric polarizations on the photovoltaic characteristics of an Al0.14Ga0.86N/In0.21Ga0.79N superlattice (SL) solar cell is numerically investigated. The simulation results show that, compared with the conventional p-i-n structure, the Al0.14Ga0.86N/In0.21Ga0.79N SL solar cell has better photovoltaic characteristics and is less sensitive to the effect of internal polarization. Therefore, the use of an SL structure in the III-nitride solar cells is advantageous if both the polarization effect and the crystal quality are of major concern.

BACKGROUND: The regulatory T cells (Tregs) can actively suppress the immune responses. However, literature about detailed changes of host effective and suppressive immunities before and after depletion of Tregs in ovarian carcinomas, is rare. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ovarian cancer patients and the ascitogenic animal model were employed. Immunologic profiles with flow cytometric analyses, immunohistochemistric staining, RT-PCR, ELISA, and ELISPOT assays were performed. In vivo depletion of Treg cells with the mAb PC61was also performed in the animal model. RESULTS: The cytokines, including IL-4 (p=0.017) and TNF-α (p=0.046), significantly decreased while others such as TGF-β (p=0.013), IL-6 (p=0.016), and IL-10 (p=0.018) were elevated in ascites of ovarian cancer patients, when the disease progressed to advanced stages. The ratio of CD8(+) T cell/Treg cell in ascites was also lower in advanced diseases than in early diseases (advanced 7.37 ± 0.64 vs. early 14.25 ± 3.11, p=0.037). The kinetic low-dose CD25 Ab depletion group had significantly lower intra-peritoneal tumor weight (0.20 ± 0.03 g) than the sequential high-dose (0.69 ± 0.06 g) and sequential low-dose (0.67 ± 0.07 g) CD25 Ab deletion groups (p=0.001) after 49 days of tumor challenge in the animal. The kinetic low-dose CD25 Ab depletion group generated the highest number of IFN-γ-secreting, mesothelin-specific T lymphocytes compared to the other groups (p

Antiserum YJC 13-31 against the rat ghrelin conjugated to bovine serum albumin (BSA) was produced in the rabbit and a double antibody radioimmunoassay (RIA) for ghrelin has been developed. Characterization results of this antiserum revealed no cross-reaction with human growth hormone and somatostatin. Weak cross-reactions with insulin (0.1%), rat growth hormone (0.1%) and glucagon (0.3%) were observed, which scarcely interfered the assay system. The sensitivity of this RIA was 5 pg per assay tube. With the rat serum samples, the within-assay precision was 7.1% and the between-assay precision was 12.3%. The RIA was also available to detect the ghrelin in rat tissue extracts with good parallelism to the rat ghrelin standard. In application, the serum ghrelin and corticosterone levels in weaned rats were measured by RIA. Gavage of saline was sufficient to raise serum ghrelin from 2.6 +/- 0.18 to 6.7 +/- 0.7 ng/ml (P < 0.01). Gavage with nonylphenol (NP) suppressed the elevation of serum ghrelin levels in a dose-dependent manner. Besides, gavages of saline elevated the serum levels of corticosterone from 108.8 +/- 13.5 to 188.7 +/- 23.5 ng/ml (P < 0.01) but the elevation effects of corticosterone from gavages were overcome by NP in the low dose of 50 mg/kg. It can be speculated that ingestion of NP is harmful to young animals during growth and environmental adaptation.

Ovarian cancer has one of the highest mortalities in malignancies in women, but little is known of its tumour progression properties and there is still no effective molecule that can monitor its growth or therapeutic responses. MSLN (mesothelin), a secreted protein that is overexpressed in ovarian cancer tissues with a poor clinical outcome, has been previously identified to activate PI3K (phosphoinositide 3-kinase)/Akt signalling and inhibit paclitaxel-induced apoptosis. The present study investigates the correlation between MSLN and MMP (matrix metalloproteinase)-7 in the progression of ovarian cancer, and the mechanism of MSLN in enhancing ovarian cancer invasion. The expression of MSLN correlated well with MMP-7 expression in human ovarian cancer tissues. Overexpressing MSLN or ovarian cancer cells treated with MSLN showed enhanced migration and invasion of cancer cells through the induction of MMP-7. MSLN regulated the expression of MMP-7 through the ERK (extracellular-signal-regulated kinase) 1/2, Akt and JNK (c-Jun N-terminal kinase) pathways. The expression of MMP-7 and the migrating ability of MSLN-treated ovarian cancer cells were suppressed by ERK1/2- or JNK-specific inhibitors, or a decoy AP-1 (activator protein 1) oligonucleotide in in vitro experiments, whereas in vivo animal experiments also demonstrated that mice treated with MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase)/ERK- or JNK-specific inhibitors could decrease intratumour MMP-7 expression, delay tumour growth and extend the survival of the mice. In conclusion, MSLN enhances ovarian cancer invasion by MMP-7 expression through the MAPK/ERK and JNK signal transduction pathways. Blocking the MSLN-related pathway could be a potential strategy for inhibiting the growth of ovarian cancer.

The impact of the polarization compensation InGaN interlayer between the heterolayers of Ga-face GaN/InGaN p-i-n solar cells is investigated numerically. Because of the enhancement of carrier collection efficiency, the conversion efficiency is improved markedly, which can be ascribed to both the reduction of the polarization-induced electric field in the InGaN absorption layer and the mitigation of potential barriers at heterojunctions. This beneficial effect is more remarkable in situations with higher polarization, such as devices with a lower degree of relaxation or devices with a higher indium composition in the InGaN absorption layer.

Linum flavum hairy roots were initiated from leaf discs using Agrobacterium rhizogenes strains LBA9402 and TR105 though two other strains, 15834 and A4, were relatively ineffective for induction. Significant variation in coniferin accumulation was observed between hairy root lines originating from different L. flavum seedlings and/or A. rhizogenes strains. Coniferin reached 58 mg g-1 dry wt by culturing the roots in Linsmaier and Skoog (LS) medium with 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and naphthaleneacetic acid as growth regulators.