Search

Exploring novel regimens is essential to ensure the efficacy of paclitaxel-based chemotherapy in epithelial ovarian cancer. Brucea javanica (L.) Merr., Simaroubaceae, oil emulsion benefits the patients who received sequential chemotherapy, and bruceine D is identified as the major active tetracyclic quassinoid. On this premise, we explored the potential effects and related molecular mechanisms of bruceine D on epithelial ovarian cancer cells. Our study indicated an inhibitory effect of bruceine D treatment in epithelial ovarian cancer cells. Increased cell apoptosis and cancer stem cell elimination were observed with combined treatment of bruceine D and paclitaxel in ovarian cancer cells. Mechanism study indicated that JNK and STAT3 signaling regulation contributed to the synergistic effects of bruceine D in paclitaxel-based chemotherapy. Our study revealed a synergistic effect of bruceine D in paclitaxel-based chemotherapy. Our investigation provided a valuable strategy to enhance the efficiency of chemotherapy in ovarian cancer. Graphical abstract

Age is an important physiological factor that affects the metabolism and immune function of beef cattle. While there have been many studies using the blood transcriptome to study the effects of age on gene expression, few have been reported on beef cattle. To this end, we used the blood transcriptomes of Japanese black cattle at different ages as the study subjects and screened 1055, 345, and 1058 differential expressed genes (DEGs) in the calf vs. adult, adult vs. old, and calf vs. old comparison groups, respectively. The weighted co-expression network consisted of 1731 genes. Finally, blue, brown, and yellow age-specific modules were obtained, in which genes were enriched in signaling pathways related to growth and development and immune metabolic dysfunction, respectively. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis showed gene interactions in each specific module, and 20 of the highest connectivity genes were chosen as potential hub genes. Finally, we identified 495, 244, and 1007 genes by exon-wide selection signature (EWSS) analysis of different comparison groups. Combining the results of hub genes, we found that VWF, PARVB, PRKCA, and TGFB1I1 could be used as candidate genes for growth and development stages of beef cattle. CORO2B and SDK1 could be used as candidate marker genes associated with aging. In conclusion, by comparing the blood transcriptome of calves, adult cattle, and old cattle, the candidate genes related to immunity and metabolism affected by age were identified, and the gene co-expression network of different age stages was constructed. It provides a data basis for exploring the growth, development, and aging of beef cattle.

As a new type of energy conversion device, solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) has attracted much attention in recent years because of its advantages such as high efficiency and unlimited capacity. At present, SOEC mainly has such issues as the element diffusion or delamination at oxygen electrode/electrolyte interface under high oxygen partial pressure, which limits its operation lifetime. In this paper, La1-xCaxFeO3-δ materials without Sr and Co were prepared by glycine-nitrate combustion method as SOEC oxygen electrodes. It is found that La0.6Ca0.4FeO3-δ (LCF64) has excellent electrical conductivity and has a coefficient of thermal expansion matching with SSZ electrolyte. The hydrogen electrode supported single cells with structure of LCF64-GDC (6:4) | GDC | SSZ | NiO-SSZ active layer | NiO-YSZ transition layer | NiO-YSZ supported layer were prepared by tape casting and co-firing method showed good electrochemical performance in SOEC mode. The electrolysis current density is 457.46 mA cm-2 with 60% H2O-H2 atmosphere and 1.3 V applied voltage at 800 °C. During the constant voltage (1.3V) electrolysis process, the SOEC showed an acceptable stable current density of approximate 280 mA cm-2 for more than 60 h.

A promising strontium and cobalt-free ferrite Pr1-xCaxFeO3-δ (PCF, x = 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5) has been synthesized successfully by glycine-nitrate combustion method and used as the air electrode of solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) for steam electrolysis. The crystal structure and electricity conductivity of PCF are investigated in detail. According to the conductivity test, Pr0.6Ca0.4FeO3-δ (PCF64) with higher conductivity is selected as the air electrode to preparing the single cell with structure of PCF64|GDC|SSZ|YSZ-NiO. Under SOFC mode, the maximum power density of the single cell is 462.93 mW cm−2 at 800 °C with hydrogen as fuel. Under SOEC mode, the current density reaches 277.14 mA cm−2 and the corresponding hydrogen production rates is 115.84 mL cm−2 h−1 at 800 °C at 1.3 V. In the 10 h short-term stability test, the cell shows good electrolysis stability.

Maternal parity is an important physiological factor influencing beef cow reproductive performance. However, there are few studies on the influence of different calving periods on early growth and postpartum diseases. Here, we conducted blood transcriptomic analysis on cows of different parities for gene discovery. We used Short Time Series Expression Miner (STEM) analysis to determine gene expression levels in cows of various parities and divided multiple parities into three main periods (nulliparous, primiparous, and multiparous) for subsequent analysis. Furthermore, the top 15,000 genes with the lowest median absolute deviation (MAD) were used to build a co-expression network using weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA), and six independent modules were identified. Combing with Exon Wide Selection Signature (EWSS) and protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis revealed that TPCN2, KIF22, MICAL3, RUNX2, PDE4A, TESK2, GPM6A, POLR1A, and KLHL6 involved in early growth and postpartum diseases. The GO and KEGG enrichment showed that the Parathyroid hormone synthesis, secretion, and action pathway and stem cell differentiation function-related pathways were enriched. Collectively, our study revealed candidate genes and gene networks regulating the early growth and postpartum diseases and provided new insights into the potential mechanism of reproduction advantages of different parity selection.

Xinggao sheep are a breed of Chinese domestic sheep that are adapted to the extremely cold climatic features of the Hinggan League in China. The economically vital reproductive trait of ewes (litter size, LS) and productive traits of lambs (birth weight, BWT; weaning weight, WWT; and average daily gain, ADG) are expressed in females and later in life after most of the selection decisions have been made. This study estimated the genetic parameters for four traits to explore the genetic mechanisms underlying the variation, and we performed genome-wide association study (GWAS) tests on a small sample size to identify novel marker trait associations (MTAs) associated with prolificacy and growth. We detected two suggestive significant single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with LS and eight significant SNPs for BWT, WWT, and ADG. These candidate loci and genes also provide valuable information for further fine-mapping of QTLs and improvement of reproductive and productive traits in sheep.

Information regarding the effect of nanoscale titanium dioxide particles (nTiO2) on the environment under dark conditions is scarce, and the effect of nTiO2 on fungi is largely unknown. Due to its huge size and high sensitivity to external stimuli, the slime mold fungi cell, Physarum polycephalum macroplasmodium, was utilized as a novel subject for the toxicity investigations in the present study, and oxidative stress from nTiO2 on the macroplasmodium was assessed under dark conditions. Short exposure (2–3 h) caused an intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) imbalance, and an anti-oxidative mechanism was activated from intermediate doses of nTiO2 (5–18 mg/mL). At long exposure times (~3 days), relatively low doses of nTiO2 (≤9 mg/mL) stimulated the growth of macroplasmodium and oxidative stress without DNA damage, whereas higher doses of nTiO2 (≥15 mg/mL) led to growth inhibition, significant DNA oxidative damage, and activation of the DNA single-strand repairing system. Although DNA oxidative damage was decreased to the same level as the control group by the supplementation of the anti-oxidant vitamin C, growth of the macroplasmodium failed to be completely restored. We inferred that nTiO2 induced a complicated toxicity effect on P. polycephalum in addition to DNA oxidative damage. Taken as a whole, the present study implied the probability of using P. polycephalum macroplasmodium for toxicity studies at the single-cell level, indicating that nTiO2 could induce oxidative stress or damage in P. polycephalum even under dark conditions and suggesting that the release of nTiO2 could lead to a growth imbalance of slime molds in the environment.

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) remains an attractive alternative for controlling locally advanced cervical cancer. However, approximately 15–34% of women do not respond to induction therapy. To develop a risk stratification tool, 56 patients with stage IB‐IIB cervical cancer are included in 2 research centers from the discovery cohort. Patient‐specific somatic mutations led to NACT non‐responsiveness are identified by whole‐exome sequencing. Next, CRISPR/Cas9‐based library screenings are performed based on these genes to confirm their biological contribution to drug resistance. A 15‐gene classifier is developed by generalized linear regression analysis combined with the logistic regression model. In an independent validation cohort of 102 patients, the classifier showed good predictive ability with an area under the curve of 0.80 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.69–0.91). Furthermore, the 15‐gene classifier is significantly associated with patient responsiveness to NACT in both univariate (odds ratio, 10.8; 95% CI, 3.55–32.86; p = 2.8 × 10−5) and multivariate analysis (odds ratio, 17.34; 95% CI, 4.04–74.40; p = 1.23 × 10−4) in the validation set. In conclusion, the 15‐gene classifier can accurately predict the clinical response to NACT before treatment, representing a promising approach for guiding the selection of appropriate treatment strategies for locally advanced cervical cancer., In a multicenter study of 158 patients with stage IB‐IIB cervical cancer, a 15‐core‐gene classifier is developed by integrated analysis of whole‐exome sequencing and CRISPR library screening. By predicting cervical cancer patients who would benefit from neoadjuvant chemotherapy, the classifier has the potential to guide the proper selection of treatment modalities, implicating a significant advance toward individualizing therapy.

Paclitaxel is recommended as a first-line chemotherapeutic agent against, ovarian cancer, however, the development of chemoresistance is a major obstacle in patients with aggressive ovarian cancer and results in recurrence after conventional therapy. The key molecule or mechanism associated with paclitaxel resistance in ovarian cancer still remains unclear. Cathepsin L (CTSL) is overexpressed in various cancers, however, the association between CTSL expression and paclitaxel resistance remains unclear. In the present study, we investigated the role of CTSL in paclitaxel-resistant SKOV3/TAX cells by CTSL silencing. Expression of CTSL was examined by immunohistochemistry and qRT-PCR in 58 clinical samples, and in SKOV3 cells and SKOV3/TAX cells. Effects of CTSL knockdown on ovarian cancer cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion were also studied. The IHC and real-time PCR results showed that the difference of CTSL expression between ovarian cancer and the adjacent non-tumourous ovarian tissues was statistically significant. Western blot analysis showed that the CTSL was overexpressed in SKOV3/TAX cells and weakly detectable in paclitaxel-sensitive SKOV3 cells. Knocking-down of CTSL in ovarian cancer cells could decrease cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, and potentiate apoptosis induced by paclitaxel, suggesting CTSL may contribute to Paclitaxel resistance in ovarian cancer.

Currently, lipogenic and adipokine gene expression patterns in different fat depots during long-term feed restriction in growing lambs are poorly understood. This study aimed to determine the effects of long-term nutritional deficiency on lipogenic and adipokine gene expression in subcutaneous and visceral fat depots in lambs. Twenty male lambs (4 months old; 21.81±0.75 kg body weight) were randomly assigned to either control or feed-restricted groups. After 60 days of maintenance-level feed restriction, femoral, omental, mesenteric, epicardial, and perirenal fat were collected. Gene expressions were estimated by quantitative real-time PCR, and plasma parameters were also determined. The results showed that feed restriction increased the plasma concentration of NEFA ( P P P P P P P P

A novel rhodamine and 8-hydroxyquinoline-based derivative was synthesized, which is shown to act as a colorimetric chemosensor for Fe(3+) in aqueous solution with high selectivity over various environmentally and biologically relevant metal ions and anions with a distinct color change from colorless to pink in very fast response time (

Novel rhodamine and quinoline-functionalized nano film was prepared by copolymerization and electrospinning. Propenyl monomer of rhodamine and quinoline was synthesized and then copolymerized with methyl methacrylate via solution polymerization. This prepared copolymer was electrospun into nano film, as a solid-state sensor, which exhibits highly selective recognition of Fe3+ ions over various environmentally and biologically relevant metal ions and anions with a distinct color change from colorless to pink in very fast response time (

A 8-hydroxyquinoline-based derivative was designed and synthesized, which is shown to act as a highly sensitive fluorescent probe for formaldehyde in aqueous solution. Based on the photo induced electron transfer (PET) process, addition of formaldehyde greatly enhanced the fluorescence of the probe. Formaldehyde can be detected quantitatively in the concentration range from 900 nM to 1.3 × 10 −4 M and the detection limit on fluorescence response of the probe can be as low as 900 nM. The proposed method was successfully employed for preliminary application in several commercially available foods. Moreover, it has been successfully blended with a host polymer polyvinyl alcohol and the polymer containing the probe has been made in nanofiber form via electrospinning. The fluorescence of the nanofibers could also be enhanced after they were immersed into water solution of formaldehyde.

Hongying Sui, Caixia Shi, Zhipeng Yan, Hucheng LiDepartment of Gynecological Oncology, Hunan Cancer Hospital, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha City, People’s Republic of ChinaBackground: Ovarian cancer is the leading cause of death in women with gynecological malignancy worldwide. Despite multiple new approaches to treatment, relapse remains almost inevitable in patients with advanced disease. The poor outcome of advanced ovarian cancer treated with conventional therapy stimulated the search for new strategies to improve therapeutic efficacy. Although epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors have known activity in advanced ovarian cancer, the effect of combined therapy against EGFR and PARP in this population has not been reported. In the current study, we investigated the mechanisms of erlotinib used alone or in combination with olaparib (AZD2281), a potent inhibitor of PARP, in an EGFR-overexpressing ovarian tumor xenograft model.Methods: A2780 (EGFR-overexpressing, BRCA1/2 wild-type) cells were subcutaneously injected into nude mice, which were then randomly assigned to treatment with vehicle, erlotinib, AZD2281, or erlotinib + AZD2281, for up to 3 weeks. All mice were then sacrificed and tumor tissues were subjected to Western blot analysis and monodansylcadervarine staining (for analysis of autophagy).Results: Erlotinib could slightly inhibit growth of A2780 tumor xenografts, and AZD2281 alone had similar effects on tumor growth. However, the combination treatment had a markedly enhanced antitumor effect. Western blot analysis revealed that treatment with erlotinib could significantly reduce the phosphorylation level of ERK1/2 and AKT in A2780 tumor tissue. Of interest, monodansylcadervarine staining showed that the autophagic effects were substantially enhanced when the agents were combined, which may be due to downregulation of apoptosis.Conclusion: These results suggest that combination of a selective EGFR inhibitor and a PARP inhibitor is effective in ovarian cancer A2780 xenografts, and depends on enhanced autophagy.Keywords: erlotinib, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase, PARP, olaparib, tyrosine kinase inhibitor, ovarian cancer, autophagy, apoptosis

A dual-model fluorescent probe for formaldehyde has been developed. With excitation at 365 and 400 nm respectively and upon addition of formaldehyde, the fluorescent probe displays off-on fluorescence responses at 415 and 505 nm. Formaldehyde can be detected quantitatively in the concentration range from 0 to 2.7 × 10 −2 M and the detection limit on fluorescence response of the probe can be as low as 6 μM. The proposed method was successfully employed for preliminary application in several commercially available foods.

Information regarding the effect of nanoscale titanium dioxide particles (nTiO

Based on Rhodamine B, two Al 3þ /Cu 2þ -selective chemosensors were synthesized, which display a high selectivity for Al 3þ and Cu 2þ among environmentally and biologically relevant metal ions. A 1,8Naphthyridine modified rhodamine derivative can detect Al 3þ in ethanol with offeon fluorescence behavior, and detect Cu 2þ in aqueous solution with colorimetric method. The 8-Hydroxyquinoline-based rhodamine sensor can detect Al 3þ in ethanol with both offeon fluorescence and colorimetric methods. The detection mechanism involves a ring-opening process as a consequence of metal complex formation. Job’s plots and a time-of-flight mass spectral study indicated that each chemosensor chelated Al 3þ /Cu 2þ with 1:1 stoichiometry. The binding of the chemosensors and Al 3þ /Cu 2þ is chemically reversible by the addition of F � /EDTA solution, respectively.

A novel rhodamine and 8-hydroxyquinoline-based derivative was synthesized, which is shown to act as a colorimetric chemosensor for Fe(3+) in aqueous solution with high selectivity over various environmentally and biologically relevant metal ions and anions with a distinct color change from colorless to pink in very fast response time (1 min). Fe(3+) can be detected quantitatively in the concentration range from 6.7 to 16 μM and the detection limit (LOD) on UV-vis response of the sensor can be as low as 15 nM. The 'in situ' prepared Fe(3+) complex (1⋅Fe) showed high selectivity toward PPi against many common anions, and sensitivity (the LOD can be as low as 71 nM). In addition, both the chemosensor and the 'in situ' prepared Fe(3+) complex are reusable for the detection of Fe(3+) and PPi respectively.

m Abstract. Using commercial software CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) analysis of fluid to simulate the H-Boat. Based on the numerical methods, use the VOF (volume of fluid) method to simulate the free surface, and use RNG (Renormalization-group) k-e model to close RANS (Reynolds Average Navier-Stokes) equations to get solving. Obtained the ship resistance and waveform graphs of different speeds, compare the drag coefficient obtained by numerical simulation and drag coefficients obtained by the empirical formula, verify the effectiveness of FLUENT fluid analysis in simulation of ship resistance.

A pebbling move on a graphGconsists of taking two pebbles off one vertex and placing one pebble on an adjacent vertex. The pebbling number of a connected graphG, denoted byf(G), is the leastnsuch that any distribution ofnpebbles onGallows one pebble to be moved to any specified but arbitrary vertex by a sequence of pebbling moves. This paper determines the pebbling numbers and the 2-pebbling property of the middle graph of fan graphs.

Sanshuibaihu decoction (SSBH) is an anti-arthritic Chinese herbal formula which has been used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) for many years. We herein aimed to confirm its anti-arthritic effect and explore the potential mechanism of action on collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in rats. CIA was induced by immunizing 50 female Wistar rats with bovine type II collagen. 13 days following the immunization rats with CIA were treated with SSBH (50mg/kg), leflunomide (LEF) (10mg/kg) and physiological saline for 30 days, and rats without CIA were left untreated. After the treatment, paw edema was obviously improved in SSBH-treated rats, with the significant difference of arthritis score (F=6.032, P=0.006) observed between the three treated groups. In pathological observation, SSBH-treated rats showed a significant improvement of inflammatory infiltration, synovial hyperplasia, cartilage and bone destruction and joint fusion. After the treatment of SSBH, radiological score of knee (t=11.504, P=0.000) and ankle joints (t=9.250, P=0.000) was decreased significantly. In situ hybridization on joint tissue section indicated only slight synovial hyperblastosis and expression of NF-kappaB in SSBH-treated rats. Image analysis indicated a significant difference of means of integrated optical density (MIOD) (F=3.956, P=0.040) and means of stained area (MSA) (F=3.867, P=0.032) of NF-kappaB between the three treated groups. MIOD and MSA of SSBH-treated group were significantly lower vs control. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) showed a significant difference (F=10.167, P=0.000) of the amount of p-p38 MAPKalpha in the three treated groups. The detected amount of p-p38 MAPKalpha in SSBH-treated group was significantly lower vs control. These results show SSBH has an inhibiting effect on CIA, which may be associated with NF-kappaB and p38 MAPKalpha.