Search

For the actual low velocity flow ocean condition of tidal station, in order to obtain the clean and sustainable energy more efficiently, a diversion-type tidal current turbine, which can poly water flow under low velocity condition and achieve the function of adaptive convection, was designed. This research created the 3D model of the turbine structure, and conducted mechanical analysis of the structure with finite element analysis software ANSYS to check the reliability of the structure. Finally, the frame of the turbine had been optimized to obtain the optimal size of allowable stress.

Receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE), along with its ligand high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), is believed to play an important role in prostate cancer. The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate the expression of RAGE and HMGB1 and their clinical impact on prostate cancer progression and prognosis. The expression of RAGE and HMGB1 was assessed by immunohistochemistry in cancer lesions from 85 confirmed prostate cancer cases. We determined the potential association between the expression level of these two proteins and the clinicopathological features and overall patient survival. RAGE and HMGB1 were expressed in 78.8% (67/85) and 68.2% (58/85) cases of prostate cancer, respectively, and in the majority (54/85) of cases, these two proteins were co-expressed. There was a strong correlation between RAGE and HMGB1 expressions (P

KRAS mutations have been established as a major predictive biomarker for resistance to the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) with anti-epidermal growth factor receptor monoclonal antibodies (anti-EGFR MoAbs). However, many patients with KRAS wild-type tumors still do not respond to the treatment. We conducted a systematic review with meta-analysis to assess whether BRAF mutations, PIK3CA mutations and PTEN loss can predict the outcomes of patients with KRAS wild-type mCRC treated with anti-EGFR MoAbs. Studies that explored the association of one or more of the three biomarkers with progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and/or objective response rate (ORR) were identified through August 2012. Summary hazard ratios (HRs) and rate differences (RDs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated by using the random-effects model. BRAF mutations, PIK3CA exon 20 mutations and PTEN loss were all associated with shorter PFS (HR = 2.59, 95% CI 1.67-4.03; HR = 2.52, 95% CI 1.33-4.78 and HR = 1.75, 95% CI 1.19-2.56, respectively), shorter OS (HR = 2.74, 95% CI 1.79-4.19; HR = 3.29, 95% CI 1.60-6.75 and HR = 1.85, 95% CI 1.30-2.64, respectively) and lower ORR (RD = -36%, 95% CI -44 to -28%; RD = -38%, 95% CI -51 to -24% and RD = -41%, 95% CI -68 to -14%, respectively). PIK3CA exon 9 mutations were associated with none of the outcomes. Studies with relevant data consistently demonstrated a stronger predictive power of combined multiple biomarkers as compared to one alteration alone. These results suggest that BRAF mutations, PIK3CA exon 20 mutations and PTEN loss are predictive of worseoutcomes in KRAS wild-type mCRC treated with anti-EGFR MoAbs [corrected]. However, the quality of included studies varied, and some of the meta-analyses were limited by significant between-study heterogeneity. In the future, well-designed large randomized controlled trials conducted in KRAS wild-type mCRC patients with subgroup analysis according to BRAF, PIK3CA exon 20 and PTEN status are essential to fully assess the clinical relevance of these biomarkers.

To investigate the effect of anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody on the chemosensitivity of human colon cancer cells and explore the possible molecular mechanism.The inhibitory effect of irinotecan (CPT-11), oxaliplatin (L-OHP) and fluorouracil (5-Fu), used alone or in combination with anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody, on the proliferation of LoVo cells in vitro was assessed by MTT assay. The expressions of PI3K and Akt protein in the treated cells were examined by Western blotting, and their mRNA expressions were detected by RT-PCR.Both h-R3 and C-225 treatments significantly increased the chemosensitivity of LoVo cells to irinotecan and oxaliplatin. 5-Fu and h-R3 coadministered showed a synergistic effect on the cells, but 5-Fu and C-225 had an antagonistic action. Treatment with C-225 or h-R3 resulted in lowered expressions of PI3K and Akt in LoVo cells.Anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody can increase the chemosensitivity of human colon cancer cells to most chemotherapeutic drugs, and such effect might be attributed to the blocking of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway by these antibodies.

To explore the role of sorafenib in reversing multidrug resistance (MDR) in hepatoma BEL-7402/FU cells and its possible mechanisms.MTT colorimetric assay was used to obtain the dose-response curve of sorafenib in BEL-7402/FU cells, and flow cytometry performed to assess the effect of sorafenib on Rho123 concentration in the cells. The optimal dose of sorafenib for cell treatment was determined according to the results of MTT assay and flow cytometry. MTT assay was employed to evaluate the effect of sorfenib on the cytotoxicity of the antitumor drugs, flow cytometry performed to determine the expression of cell membrane transport protein (P-gp), and RT-PCR used to detect mdr1 gene expression in the cells treated with sorafenib at the optimal dose.Sorafenib at the concentration of 4 micromol/L, efficiently reversed the MDR of the cells with minimal side effects. At the concentration of 4 micromol/L, sorafenib partially reversed the drug resistance of BEL-7402/FU cells to ADM, 5-FU, GEM and DDP, with reversal indexes of 2.98, 7.16, 1.99 and 10.08, respectively. Treatment of the cells with 4 micromol/L, sorafenib also partially down-regulated P-gp expression in BEL-7402/FU cells, and caused a reduction of mdr1 gene expression by 27.3% in comparison with the control cells.Sorafenib can reverse MDR in human hepatoma cells probably in association with down-regulation of mdr1 gene expression and increased accumulation of the chemotherapeutic agents in the cells.

To investigate the reversion of multidrug resistance of drug-resistant hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell line BEL-7402/FU by sorafenib and the possible mechanisms.Flow cytometry was applied to detect the expression of rhodamine 123 (Rho123), immunohistochemistry was applied to observe the expression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) on the cell membrane, the fluorescence quantitative PCR assay was applied to determine the changes of the multidrug-resistant gene mdr1 mRNA level and the Western blot assay was applied to test the changes of the expression level of the mdr1 gene product P-gp.After 4 micromol/L treatment by sorafenib, Rho123 accumulation was increased by BEL-7402/FU and exocytosis was slowed down, which evidently reduced the expression of cell surface P-gp; the mdr1 mRNA level was reduced by 35.4% compared to its level prior to drug administration; the expression level of the mdr1 gene product P-gp was significantly suppressed, 14.3% fewer than that of BEL-7402/FU cells.Sorafenib can inhibit the expression of the mdr1 gene product P-gp and increase the intracellular concentration of chemotherapeutic drugs, so as to reverse the multidrug resistance of HCC cells.

To explore the effects of bevacizumab with or without cisplatin (DDP) on the growth of lung adenocarcinoma A549/DDP cell xenografts in mice.Human lung cancer A549/DDP cells was subcutaneously transplanted in to 25 nude mice, which were randomly divided into control group (group A), bevacizumab group (group B), DDP group (group C), combined treatment group (group D) and half-dose combined treatment group (group E). After corresponding treatments for 4 consecutive weeks, the tumor inhibition rate was evaluated, tumor microvessel density (MVD) measured with immunohistochemistry, and the mRNA expression of apoptosis-associated gene (bcl-2) and multidrug resistance genes (LRP and GST-pi) assessed by RT-PCR.The tumor growth inhibition rates in groups B, D, and E with bevacizumab treatment were 20.96%, 51.67% and 50.95%, respectively, and the two combined treatment groups showed better effects. MVD in these 3 groups were 18.6-/+1.14, 13.6-/+1.14, and 14.4-/+0.55, respectively, and no significant difference was found in MVD between DDP group and the control group. Compared with the control group, the 3 bevacizumab-treated groups showed decreased expression of bcl-2 genes in A549/DDP tumors at a comparable amplitude, and LRP and GST-pi mRNA expression showed no significant differences between the 5 groups.Bevacizumab has synergetic inhibitory effect with conventional chemotherapy against lung adenocarcinoma A549/DDP cell xenografts in mice by inhibiting angiogenesis of the tumor, and may enhance the sensitivity of A549/DDP cells to DDP by inducing cell apoptosis.

To establish a nude mouse model of malignant ascites with human ovarian carcinoma cell line OVCAR3 which highly expresses VEGF and evaluate the therapeutic of Avastin combined with cisplan.Forty-eight nude mice with malignant ascites resulting from intraperitoneal transplantation of human ovarian carcinoma cell line OVCAR3 were treated with intraperitoneal injection of Avastin, cisplan, their combination, and PBS, respectively, to observe the effect on ascites development, VEGF content in the ascites, peritoneal permeability, development of new vessels and number of tumor cells in the ascites.Avastin obviously inhibited ascites accumulation and peritoneal capillary permeability, reduced VEGF protein level and microvascular density in the tumor tissues and the number of red cells and tumor cells in the malignant ascites, and prolonged the survival of the mice. The combination of Avastin and cisplan further enhanced the therapeutic efficacy of Avastin.The bio-chemotherapeutic strategy with Avastin combined with cisplan can be a promising method for treatment of malignant ascites.

To optimize the adsorption condition of cation-exchange chromatographic media Streamline SP for separation and purification of anti-HBsAg Fab fragment from E. coli.The adsorption of the target protein for separation and purification by the cation-exchange chromatographic media Streamline SP was tested using test tube method in balanced buffer solution with different pH values and ion concentrations. The adsorption effect was then verified by cation-exchange chromatography using 1-ml Streamline SP prepacked column and 28-ml Streamline SP self-assembly column.According to the experiment results of test tube method, the loading buffer with pH of 4.4 and ionic concentration of 100 to 600 mmol/L could achieve optimal target protein adsorption effect by cation-exchange chromatographic media Streamline SP, as verified by cation-exchange chromatography with 1-ml SP prepacked column and 28-ml Streamline SP self-assembly column.The optimal condition of cation-exchange chromatography selected by test tube method can be applied for separation and purification of anti-HBsAg Fab fragment from E. coli.

To define the conditions for large-scale production of genetically engineered E.coli bearing humanized anti-HBsAg Fab.Characteristic growth and expression of the engineered E.coli were observed during fermentation in the shaking flask to define the optimal culture conditions to achieve the highest production levels. On the basis of the observation results, the E.coli was cultured in a fermentor using the fed-batch method to determine the optimal production techniques.Observation of the bacterium in the shaking flask showed initiation of the induction procedure in the mid-log growth phase at 25 degrees Celsius; with 0.2% arabinose resulted in the highest production of anti-HBsAg Fab. The D(600) value of the culture reached 55.2, equivalent to 110 g/L wet weight of the bacterium, using the DO-stat fed-batch method. The resultant Fab showed well-preserved biological activity.Reliable techniques for rapid and massive production of the Fab have been developed.

The behavior of Schottky contacts in AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) is investigated by temperature-dependent current—voltage (T—I—V) measurements from 300 K to 473 K. The ideality factor and barrier height determined based on the thermionic emission (TE) theory are found to be strong functions of temperature, while present a great deviation from the theoretical value, which can be expounded by the barrier height inhomogeneities. In order to determine the forward current transport mechanisms, the experimental data are analyzed using numerical fitting method, considering the temperature-dependent series resistance. It is observed that the current flow at room temperature can be attributed to the tunneling mechanism, while thermionic emission current gains a growing proportion with an increase in temperature. Finally, the effective barrier height is derived based on the extracted thermionic emission component, and an evaluation of the density of dislocations is made from the I—V characteristics, giving a value of 1.49 × 107 cm−2.