Search

ZIP4 is a zinc transporter involved in epithelial cell morphology and migration in various cancers. In the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), epithelial cells transition into mesenchymal cells. The EMT plays a crucial role in invasiveness and metastasis during tumorigenesis. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of ZIP4 in the invasiveness and radiosensitivity of human nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). In this study, results from 99 human patients with NPC showed that ZIP4 expression levels significantly correlated with a higher TN (tumor, lymph node) classification, as well as shorter overall survival (OS), recurrence-free survival (RFS), and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS). Forced overexpression of ZIP4 promoted the migration and invasion of C666-1 cells through regulation of the EMT process. In contrast, ZIP4 silencing by lentivirus-mediated shRNA inhibited the EMT and metastasis of C666-1 cells in vitro and in vivo. Importantly, protein microarray analyses showed that downregulation of ZIP4 in C666-1 cells resulted in the decreased abundance of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) p85 (Tyr607), phosphorylated (p)-Akt (Ser473), phosphorylated (p)-Akt (Thr308), and phosphorylated glycogen synthase kinase 3β (pGSK3β; Ser9). These data suggest that ZIP4 induces the EMT and promotes migration and invasion via the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in NPC. Moreover, ZIP4 silencing significantly enhanced radiation-induced apoptosis and growth inhibition of human C666-1 cells in vitro and enhanced the antitumor activity of ionizing radiation (IR), leading to tumor growth inhibition in vivo. These results demonstrate that ZIP4 is a novel prognostic factor for malignant NPC progression. More importantly, targeting ZIP4, along with radiotherapy, may be an effective new treatment for NPC.

To investigate a novel β-glucosidase from Bifidobacterium breve ATCC 15700 (BbBgl) to produce compound K (CK) via ginsenoside F2 by highly selective and efficient hydrolysis of the C-3 glycoside from ginsenoside Rd, the BbBgl gene was cloned and expressed in E. coli BL21. The recombinant BbBgl was purified by Ni-NTA magnetic beads to obtain an enzyme with specific activity of 37 U/mg protein using pNP-Glc as substrate. The enzyme activity was optimized at pH 5.0, 35°C, 2 or 6 U/ml, and its activity was enhanced by Mn2+ significantly. Under the optimal conditions, the half-life of the BbBgl is 180 h, much longer than the characterized β-glycosidases, and the Km and Vmax values are 2.7 mM and 39.8 µmol/mg/min for ginsenoside Rd. Moreover, the enzyme exhibits strong tolerance against high substrate concentration (up to 40 g/l ginsenoside Rd) with a molar biotransformation rate of 96% within 12 h. The good enzymatic properties and gram-scale conversion capacity of BbBgl provide an attractive method for large-scale production of rare ginsenoside CK using a single enzyme or a combination of enzymes.

The development and applications of ambient ionization and miniature mass spectrometry are current research focus in chemical measurement. The analytical technology based on the combination of ambient ionization and miniature mass spectrometry can bypass chromatographic separation and eliminate or simplify sample pretreatment process. The protocol can reverse the labor-intensive and time-consuming drawbacks of traditional analytical methodologies, and realize rapid, on-site analysis with high sensitivity and high throughput. In this paper, the research progress and applications of ambient ionization and miniature mass spectrometry in the fields of food safety, consumer product safety, public security, life sciences and environmental monitoring, are reviewed, and future trends and prospects are discussed, which may provide technical guidance for the researchers engaged in relevant fields.

There are some anthraquinones, anthraquinones and flavonones inIsothermal titration calorimeter (ITC) was used to measure the extraction efficiency of different alkaloids. Then, alkaloid determined by ITC was mixed with extracting solution ofThe ITC results proved that the choice of "hook" was particularly important in the process of "fishing". Among the hooks, the fishing efficiency of the isoquinoline alkaloids (Ber) was the highest, reaching 10.3%. Nine ingredients were detected and determined by HPLC-MSBer successfully "fished" the main acidic components, sennoside A/B and sennoside C/D, from

To investigate a novel β-glucosidase from

To explore the feasibility and clinical effect of posterior spinal canal decompression with pedicle screw fixation and reconstruction of anterior and middle vertebral column for thoracolumbar burst fractures complicated with nerve injury.A total of 36 patients with thoracolumbar burst fractures treated from March 2011 to April 2016 were enrolled in the retrospective study. There were 20 males and 16 females, aged from 21 to 52 years old with an average of 37.6 years. All the fractures were located on a single segment, 8 cases of T11₁₁, 10 cases of T₁₂, 12 cases of L₁, 6 cases of L₂. According to thoracolumbar injury classification and severity score(TLICS) system, the score was 7 to 9 points, with an average of 7.4 points. According to the America Spine Injury Association(ASIA) grade, 4 cases were type A, 10 cases were type B, 14 cases were type C, 8 cases were type D. All the patients underwent posterior spinal canal decompression with pedicle screw fixation and reconstruction of anterior and middle vertebral column. The recovery of nerve function was evaluated by ASIA grading. The correction of kyphosis(Cobb angle), the volume change of injuried spinal canal, the change of anterior border height of injury vertebra which can be observed by X-rays;the internal fixation loosening and breakage and all the information of bone fusion were recorded.All the operations were successful, the mean operative time and intraoperative blood loss were(2.8±0.3) h (2.1 to 3.5 h) and (880±120) ml(550 to 1 350 ml), respectively. All the incisions got primary healing. All the patients were followed up for 12 to 28 months with an average of 18.4 months. All the patients obtained satisfactory bone fusion. No pseudoarticulation formation was found, and there was no loosening, breakage of pedicle screws or displacement of titanium mesh. Neurological function was improved in different degree, except in one patient with grade A and another one with grade B. According to the ASIA grade, there were 1 case of type A, 1 case of type B, 7 cases of type C, 10 cases of type D and 17 cases of type E, postoperatively. At 3 days after operative, the anterior border height of injury vertebra, Cobb angle and the volume changes of injury spinal canal were obviously improved(Spinal canal decompression with screw fixation and reconstruction of anterior and middle vertebral column through posterior midline approach is a safe and effective method in the treatment of thoracolumbar burst fractures with nerve injury, it is worthy to be popularized. It can complete the spinal canal decompression of 360 degree, reduction of fractures and reconstruction of vertebral three-column at the same time through a single posterior approach. The advantages includes less trauma, perfect decompression, good stability and etc.

Virtual machining environment in Vericut was proposed with purpose of enhancing process planning practice training for undergraduates. Main issues include construction of virtual manufacturing resource library and virtual machining process execution environment for planned process. Virtual manufacturing resource library is composed of virtual and digital models for diverse kinds of machine tools. Type determination and classification principle of machine tools and virtual equipment modeling method in the proposed environment are studied. Virtual machining for particular process by multi setup and cut stock transfer method are defined. The proposed Virtual machining process execution environment provides effective ways for enrolled undergraduates applying machining knowledge in process planning, gaining experience with advanced machine tools and manufacturing technology in industrial world.

The starch-based foam was preprared by moulding process and studied the effects on the density, mechanical properties, hardness and water absorption capacity of the foams with different polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) contents. The microstructure and crystallization of the foam was observed through the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results showed that the addition of PVA could better improve the material mechanical properties, the elongation at break was increased from 15.72% to 113.86% while the hardness was reduced from 37.3 to 16.7. The density of foam reached to the minimum value of 0.261 g/cm3, attaining to the maximum tensile strength of 1.08 Mpa. SEM and XRD showed that the compatility of starch and PVA was very good and the addition of PVA helped to improve the bubble distribution of foam and inhibit the retrogradation of starch granules.

According to MW-class wind turbine blades loading system requirements, the load requirement of traction apparatus under the different operating conditions were discussed. At the same time, the variable traction feature of traction apparatus was analyzed. A multi-node hydraulic loading system based on CAN bus was designed in this paper. In order to improve the precision of traction and the following performance of loading system, opting for the “V-F” control mode, we proposed the variable proportional separate integral control algorithm with amplitude limit to enhance the system's adaptive capacity. Experiments show that this program has a good coordination feature in the variable traction control, and fully meets the requirements of blade loading test.

Extending mechatronic engineering education curriculum to the freshman and sophomore undergraduates is a new trend in China. Here extending our engineering education curriculum for mechatronics currently facing junior and senior to sophomore is considered in Education Innovation Foundation of Harbin Engineering University of China. Key issues and current philosophies executing by other universities for mechatronics practical training curriculum to freshman and sophomore are analyzed. Based on current teaching content of the curriculum, enhanced teaching strategies are proposed in order to accommodate sophomore of our university. Concrete content includes introducing multi domain modeling technique for plant modeling, GUI design facilitating modeling simulation and control implementation, and flexible and extendable model library development. The proposed approaches can facilitate extending our curriculum to the whole level of undergraduates in our university.

An aluminum layer can be gotten on the worn-out work piece surface through ultrasonic-aided hot-dip and converted into alumina layer having wear-resistance performance though micro arc oxidation which can realize remanufacturing. The key technology of hot-dip aluminizing phase in above remanufacturing process is controlling the plating coat thickness. The influences of withdrawing speed, hot-dip temperature and hot-dip time on the plating coat thickness are analyzed in this paper.

This paper presents a method of extracting and compressing required data from the DCM file for medical image geometric modeling. According to the characteristics of DICOM data, combining the idea of run-length coding with block coding, the rapid data compression and storage in RAM was realized finally. Compared with other coding methods, the encoding approach for DICOM data in this paper, not only saves the memory space and improves transmission efficiency, but also can read the required a single pixel, or part of pixel data from the compressed data conveniently.

Some improvements were put forward to modify the medical image reconstruction method based on MC algorithm. Computing redundancy, bad expansibility and “scalelike effect” lie in standard MC algorithm now. To solve the repeating calculation redundant problem, a suitable data structure was applied to seek cubes; by making segmentation result as the input of MC algorithm, the author eliminated the limitation of expansibility; by smoothing the normal vector of isosurfaces, this paper improved the image displaying effect. Finally, a special storage data structure was designed to save the non-manifold triangle model obtained from MC algorithm. The modification mentioned above has been realized in 3D reconstructing software-MedLG which was developed by authors’ institute and applied successfully in customized prostheses designing already. Moreover, The reconstructed model can also be used in biomechanics researching.

Fifteen non-aminoazo, dyes were oxidized when catalyzed by horseradish peroxidase (HRP) in the presence of H2O2. Aromaticdiazonium ions, the ultimate carcinogen, were detected in the reaction with all of azo compounds as the substrates for HRP. The rates of oxidative cleavage fairly depended on pH. Relative enzymatic activities were compared among 15 non-aminoazo, dyes, and the structural requirements of the substrates for HRP were discussed in detail.

TPS10127Background: We given nutrition support treatment according to the changes by nutrition status in head and neck cancer patients at the process of definitive concurrent chemoradiotherapy(CCRT...

The immobilized supramolecular inclusion complex of FeTPPS4 and β-CD polymer was applied as a mimesis of peroxidase, and its molecular recognition for twenty substrates was studied. As the space structure;CD interior cavities, high selectivity was obtained by immobilized mimetic enzyme. p-Chlorophenic acid was identified as an optimal substrate in the system tested.

Various metalloporphyrins have been used as a catalyst instead of the peroxidase for the determination of hydrogen peroxide by formation of a dye from N,N-diethylaniline (DBA) and 4-aminoantipyrine. The difference of relative catalytic activity was investigated between enzyme and enzyme mimetics. FeT(4-TAP)P [5, 10, 15, 20-tetrakis (4-trimethyl-ammoniumphenyl)-21H, 23H-porphine] was shown as the best enzyme mimetic for horseradish peroxidase (HRP) among metalloporphyrins tested. 0 to 7.0 × 10−5 mol/L hydrogen peroxide was determined with good accuracy and reproducibility, and giving recovery of 99.7–100.7%. DEA was certified as a sensitive color reagent in enzyme mimetic assay of hydrogen peroxide, with the apparent molar absorptivity for hydrogen peroxide was 1.37 × 104 L/mol·cm.

A novel method was developed for the spectrophotometric determinations of ascorbic acid, norepinephrine, epinephrine, dopamine and levodopa. It is based on interference with peroxidase activity, which caused a decrease of the rate of the coupling reaction of p-chlorophenol with 4-aminoantipyrine. The mechanism of interference was studied in a preliminary way, and optimal experimental conditions for the determinations were established. Analysis of commercial pharmaceutical formulations showed excellent correlation with the nominal values given by the manufacturers and with the results of the official methods for the same samples.

Three types of bacteria were immobilized by the calcium alginate gel occlusion method, and a microbial rod using the immobilized microbial membrane was prepared for the determination of glucose. The hydrogen peroxide produced from glucose by microbial enzyme action at pH 7.2 was measured by use of oxidative coupling of 4-chlorophenol and 4-aminoantipyrine catalyzed by mimetic peroxidase (manganese[5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-sulphophenyl)-21H,23H-porphine]). The method was simple, reliable and inexpensive since expensive and unstable isolated enzymes were replaced by the microbial enzyme and the mimetic enzyme. The linear response range is 4–40 μg ml−1. The relative standard deviation at 40 μg ml−1 (n = 9) was 1.78. Glucose in serum can be determined with recoveries of 97–104%. There was no interference by other biological substances in serum. The rod was used daily over a period of two months.

Mn-T(4-TAP)P [Manganese-5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-trimethylammoniumphenyl)-21H,23H-porphine] has been synthesized and used to mimic the active group of horseradish peroxidase. The catalytic behavior of the mimetic enzyme with ascorbic acid as its substrate has been studied, and accurate determination of 0.1–10.0 μg/ml ascorbic acid achieved. The method is simple, rapid and highly selective. No interference by other biological substances contained in body fluids was found. The effectiveness of this mimetic enzyme was compared with four other mimics (Mo-TPPS 4 , and its Fe and Mn analogs, Cu-TC(4-TAP)P and horseradish peroxidase itself) and found to be the most effective mimic.

To systematically summarize the evidence on the effectiveness of measures regarding tobacco control in China. Papers on several databases published between 1990 and 2009 were systematically searched. Methods in American Guide to Community Preventive Services were used to evaluate the quality and strength of evidence on the effectiveness of tobacco control programs. Overall, 282 studies were included in this paper, but only 75 (26.41%) studies had acceptable execution quality. Items as pharmaceutical therapy and behavior intervention in the smoking population that would show sufficient evidence on the effectiveness of the programs. In general population, multi-component intervention programs appeared to be effective. However, the effectiveness regarding items as clinical consultation, therapy with traditional Chinese medicine, education programs alone, non-smoking related laws and regulations etc. were of insufficient evidence. The overall execution quality of intervention studies on tobacco control in China was considered to be poor and few of them would show the evidence on the effectiveness of the programs. Only few studies on non-smoking related laws and regulations touched upon the positive effectiveness on this issue. We suggested that the execution and evaluation on non-smoking related laws and regulations be strengthened.

As per China's ratification of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), it should have implemented effective packaging and labelling measures prior to 9 January 2009 and enacted a comprehensive ban on all tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship prior to 9 January 2011. In addition, universal protection against secondhand tobacco smoke should have been implemented before 9 January 2011 by ensuring that all indoor workplaces, all indoor public places, all public transportation and possibly other (outdoor or quasi-outdoor) public places are free of secondhand smoke. The authors conducted a review of various sources of information to determine the current status of FCTC implementation in mainland China. Even though China has made considerable efforts to implement the FCTC, there is still a significant gap between the current state of affairs in China and the requirements of the FCTC. The Chinese tobacco monopoly under which commercial and other vested interests of the tobacco industry are jeopardizing tobacco control efforts is thought to be the most crucial obstacle to the effective implementation of the FCTC across the country.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) (noncoding RNAs of 20-25 nucleotides) play important roles in the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression in various eukaryotes and prokaryotes. Piwi-interacting RNAs function by combining with PIWI proteins to regulate protein synthesis and to stabilize mRNA, the chromatin framework, and genome structure. This study investigates the role of miRNAs in regeneration. A scrDNA library was constructed, and 17 noncoding RNAs from Eisenia fetida (an optimal model for the study of earthworm regeneration) were cloned and characterized. In addition, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was performed to analyze the expression of four small RNAs during different developmental stages. The expression levels of these RNAs in regenerating tissue were higher than in normal tissue, and the expression patterns of these small RNAs were unique during development.

PEDF (pigment epithelium-derived factor) promotes the differentiation and survival of neuronal cells, and expands the adult neuronal stem cell niche. In the prostate PEDF is suppressed by androgen with unclear physiological consequences. We report that PEDF induced the neuroendocrine differentiation of prostate cancer cells, which was accompanied by neurite outgrowth and chromogranin A expression.We performed neuroendocrine differentiation assay, Western blot analysis, immunostaining and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction in the human prostate cancer cell lines LNCaP, PC-3 and DU145, and the prostate epithelial strain RWPE-1 (ATCC).Ectopic and endogenous PEDF caused neuroendocrine differentiation of prostate cancer cells, as manifested by neurite-like outgrowths and chromogranin A expression. The transdifferentiated cells expressed axonal and dendritic markers, as ascertained by immunoblotting for specific markers. Neuroendocrine cells formed multiple synaptophysin positive protrusions resembling dendritic spines and vesicles containing serotonin, pointing to possible synapse formation. The known transdifferentiating agent interleukin-6 induced PEDF secretion. Moreover, PEDF neutralizing antibodies abolished the transdifferentiation of interleukin-6 treated cells, suggesting an autocrine loop. Neurogenic events were independent of cyclic adenosine monophosphate. Instead, PEDF activated in this order RhoA, nuclear factor kappaB and Stat3. Inhibitors of the Rho, nuclear factor kappaB and STAT pathways abolished differentiation and synapse formation. Additionally, nuclear factor kappaB activation caused interleukin-6 expression.We discovered that nuclear factor kappaB controls the formation of neuronal communications in the prostate due to PEDF. We defined a feed-forward loop, in which nuclear factor kappaB induction elicits Stat3 activation and pro-differentiating interleukin-6 expression causes the further expansion of neuroendocrine communications. Our findings point to the role of nuclear factor kappaB and PEDF in coordinated prostate development.

Progressively increasing sucrose concentration of culture medium could increase desiccation tolerance of wampee [Clausena lansium (Lour.) Skeels] axes. The changes in water state and soluble proteins of axes during acquirement of desiccation tolerance were measured by differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and SDS-PAGE. The results showed that the cooling and heating thermograms of sucrose-precultured axes were similar to those of the control; but there was a stepwise change in the heating thermograms of sucrose-precultured axes, implying that vitrification might occur in axes. Unfreezable water amounts of wampee axes were measured, the results showed that amounts of unfreezable water of sucrose-precultured axes and control were 25.4% and 25.9% (by the linear regression equation method), or 24.3% and 23.7% (by the heat of ice fusion method) respectively, which were not significantly different. The soluble protein content of sucrose-precultured axes was 68% higher than the control, and SDS-PAGE showed that a 20-kD protein markedly increased in content.

To study the correlation between obesity and hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP), leptin, and insulin sensitive index (ISI) in children.The subjects included 69 obese volunteers and 30 age and gender-matched normal volunteers who were recruited from 13702 children aged 2 to 18 years in Xiangtan City by sampling survey. The body mass index (BMI), hsCRP, leptin, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), and fasting insulin (INS) were tested, and then the ISI was calculated. The results between the obese and normal children were compared. The correlation between the parameters was evaluated.The values of hsCRP, leptin and INS in obese children were significantly higher than those in the normal controls (P0.01), but the ISI in obese children was significantly lower than that in normal controls (P0.01). The BMI was significantly positively correlated with the values of hsCRP, leptin and INS (r=0.225, P0.05; r=0.776, P0.01; r=0.568, P0.01), but was significantly negatively correlated with the ISI (r=-0.889, P0.01). There was a positive correlation between the value of hsCRP and the values of FPG and INS (r=0.429, P0.01; r=0.206, P0.05), and there was a negative correlation between the value of hsCRP and the ISI (r=-0.889, P0.01). The value of leptin significantly positively correlated with the values of INS and BMI, and significantly negatively correlated with the ISI.Insulin resistance and leptin resistance exist in obese children. The inflammatory factors such as CRP and leptin may be involved in the pathogenesis of obesity.

The desiccation tolerance of wampee [Clausena lansium (Lour.) Skeels] axes was significantly increased when they were pre-cultured with woody plant medium with progressively increasing sucrose contents (27% --50% --60%). Most of the plumular axes could survive a moisture content as low as 18.8% and could regenerate plantlets. Results of electron microscopy showed that when the moisture content of the plumular axes of the control was brought down to 36.3%, the plasmolemma and vacuole disappeared, and the chloroplasts and mitochondria collapsed. Plate I-1-4) While plumular axes had been pre-cultured by progressive raising of sucrose concentration of culture medium and then desiccated to a moisture content of 35.8%, plasmolysis occurred in most of the cells, with dense cytoplasm and big starch grains in the chloroplast (Plate I-6-8, Plate II-9). Furthermore, after they were desiccated to a moisture content of 18.8%, severe plasmolysis was observed, most of the chloroplasts and mitochondria were partly injured (Plate II-10). The desiccative injury in cells of the plumular axes desiccated to a moisture content of 18.8% could be repaired after 4 d of rehydration (Plate II-11-16).

Ovarian metastasis from differentiated thyroid carcinoma is very exceptional. In this study, we describe a case of a 42-year-old woman with an 131I-uptake lesion in the left pelvic cavity from papillary thyroid carcinoma incidentally found by 131I-SPECT/CT, which was concealed by the iliac

Aromatic azo compounds were efficiently cleaved by the horseradish peroxidase (HRP) into aromicdiazonium ions, during which an intense special absorption of the substrate disappeared completely. This furnished a sensitive spectrophotometric detection of 0.025–6.0 nm peroxidase. Kinetic characteristics of enzyme reaction were investigated with 14 different chemical structures of aromatic azo compounds as the substrates for HRP. Then the structure requirements for substrates were elucidated. PH dependence of enzymatic catalysis was studied with pKa′of 6.54 and 8.40 for Eriochrome black T, and 3.22 and 3.83 for Nitrosulfophenol S as the substrate of HRP, respectively.

A new hydrogen donor for peroxidase, Eriochrome black T, was reported for the first time. Steady-state catalytic velocity depends upon enzyme and substrate concentrations, and a Michaelis-Menten K(m) value of 1.72x10(-5) mol l(-1) and a V(max) value of 4.43x10(-3) s(-1) were measured at pH 8.6. Trace amount of hydrogen peroxide (2x10(-7)-1.0x10(-5) mol l(-1)) was determined in aqueous solution by using the cleavage of Eriochrome black T catalyzed by peroxidase. The method is simple and practical, with high sensitivity and enzymatic activity.