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125I seeds can effectively inhibit the growth of a variety of cancer cells. It has been used in the treatment of a variety of cancers, and has achieved certain curative effect. However, to the best of our knowledge, no report has described the effects of 125I seeds on the biological functions of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) and the mechanisms underlying the effects of the seeds on this cancer. In this study, we demonstrated that 125I seeds could inhibit the proliferation, migration and invasion of CCA cells, as well as promoting apoptosis and blocking the cell cycle in these cells. Moreover, 125I seeds inhibited the growth of CCA xenografts and promoted the apoptosis of CCA cells in vivo. Furthermore, transcriptome sequencing showed that 125I seeds could inhibit the growth of CCA by inhibiting the expression of AGR2 and regulating p38 MAPK pathway. Finally, this finding indicated that 125I seeds can inhibit proliferation and promote apoptosis in CCA cells by inhibiting the expression of AGR2 and DUSP1 and increasing the expression of p-p38 MAPK and p-p53. This study provides a new research direction for studies investigating the mechanisms underlying the effects of 125I seeds on CCA.

The immobilization of catalysts hinders the application of nanosized photocatalysts in wastewater treatment. In this study, a simple method for the preparation of flexible composite non-woven catalysts with a good spectral response is presented. Firstly, the porous g-C3N4 nanosheets containing nitrogen defects (DCN) and sodium alginate (SA) were blended to prepare the casting solution and then coated on the surface of polyester and viscose blend non-woven fabric (NW). Finally, the robust three-dimensional composite non-woven catalyst (DCN@SA/NW) was constructed by cross-linking with CaCl2. The as-prepared samples were characterized by different physicochemical techniques including SEM, EDS, FTIR, Raman, XRD, XPS, and TGA. The photocatalytic degradation of dyes and antibiotics and self-cleaning and antibacterial properties of the catalyst were investigated. The optimal DCN@SA/NW formulation was 2.0 wt.% DCN and 2.0 wt.% SA. The DCN@SA/NW composite efficiently degraded rhodamine (RhB) and tetracycline hydrochloride (TC). Moreover, the synthesized non-woven composite catalyst was easily recycled and remained stable, indicating its promising potential in wastewater treatment. The DCN@SA/NW also exhibited outstanding self-cleaning and antibacterial performance. This study provides an interesting idea for the research and development of immobilized photocatalysts and has great potential in future practical photocatalytic applications.

Ferroptosis, distinct from necrosis, autophagy and apoptosis, is a unique form of regulated cell death，and is a potential pathogenic mechanism of neuronal loss and defunction in many neurodegenerative disorders. Recent studies have shown a presence of iron deposition in the central nervous system (CNS) of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). However, whether ferroptosis is involved in the pathogenesis of MS remains unclear. In the present study, we tested certain classical biomarkers of ferroptosis in the spinal cord of mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model of MS, to substantiate the relationship between ferroptosis and oligodendrocyte (OL) loss and demyelination. Our results revealed decreased levels of key molecules in glutathione antioxidant mechanisms, including system xC (xCT) and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) in spinal cord of EAE mice, with evident lipid peroxidation in OLs. Moreover, transferrin receptor and ferritinophagy further catalyzed the generation of lipid reactive oxygen species through the fenton reaction, which induced OL death and demyelination at disease peak of EAE. This phenomenon was largely reversed by administering Fer-1, an inhibitor of ferritin phagocytosis, further validating the key role of ferritin phagocytosis in EAE. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that OL loss and demyelination may be induced in EAE through, at least in part, a mechanism of ferroptosis.

Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2), an oncogene, is a commonly up‐regulated epigenetic factor in human cancer. Hepatocellular carcinoma deletion gene 1 (DLC1) is an antioncogene that is either expressed at low levels or not expressed in many malignant tumours. Curcumin is a promising anticancer drug that has antitumour effects in many tumours, but its mechanism of action is unclear. Our research demonstrated that EZH2 was up‐regulated in breast cancer (BC) tissues and cells, whereas DLC1 was down‐regulated, and the expression of EZH2 and DLC1 was negatively correlated in BC. By analysing the characteristics of clinical cases, we found that positive expression of EZH2 and negative expression of DLC1 may be predictors of poor prognosis in patients with triple‐negative breast cancer (TNBC). Moreover, knockdown of EZH2 expression restored the expression of DLC1 and inhibited the migration, invasion and proliferation, promoted the apoptosis, and blocked the cell cycle of MDA‐MB‐231 cells. Furthermore, we found that curcumin restored the expression of DLC1 by inhibiting EZH2; it also inhibited the migration, invasion and proliferation of MDA‐MB‐231 cells, promoted their apoptosis and blocked the cell cycle. Finally, xenograft tumour models were used to demonstrate that curcumin restored DLC1 expression by inhibiting EZH2 and also inhibited the growth and promoted the apoptosis of TNBC cells. In conclusion, our results suggest that curcumin can inhibit the migration, invasion and proliferation, promote the apoptosis, block the cycle of TNBC cells and restore the expression of DLC1 by inhibiting the expression of EZH2.

Oligodendrocyte (OL) death and remyelination failure lead to progressive neurological deficits in multiple sclerosis (MS) and its animal model, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Matrine (MAT), a quinolizidine alkaloid component derived from the root of Sophora flavescens, has the capacity to effectively inhibit central nervous system (CNS) inflammation and to promote neuroregeneration. In the present study we explored its regulatory mechanism on the Wnt/β-catenin/TCF7L2 pathway, a negative modulator for myelination, in MOG35--55 peptide-induced EAE. Our results clearly indicate that MAT treatment reduced the activation of Wnt3a and β-catenin in the CNS of EAE mice, accompanied by the activation of GSK3β and decreased expression of cyclin D1 and Axin2, two target genes of the Wnt3a/β-catenin pathway. In addition, MAT increased OL maturation and myelination, as evidenced by the decreased number of NG2

The environmental hazards of antibiotics and the resulting antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) have attracted more and more attention. In this study, an efficient synergistic system constructed by vacancy g-C

In the study, an efficient '1 + 1 2' synergistic coupling system driven by visible light consisting of mesoporous g-C

In present study, an efficient ternary Ag/TiO2/mesoporous g-C3N4 (M-g-C3N4) photocatalyst was successfully synthesized through depositing Ag nanoparticles (NPs) on the surface of TiO2/M-g-C3N4 heterojunction. Ag/TiO2/M-g-C3N4 nanocomposite displayed the highest degradation efficiency for amoxicillin (AMX) compared to TiO2/M-g-C3N4 heterojunction, M-g-C3N4, and bulk-g-C3N4 (B-g-C3N4). The removal efficiency of AMX in real situation, surface water (SW), hospital wastewater (HW), and waste water treatment plant (WWTP) also were studied to illustrate the effectiveness of Ag/TiO2/M-g-C3N4 photocatalysts. The vulnerable atoms in AMX structure were revealed through DFT calculation. Additionally, the dominating active groups produced in time of the photocatalytic procedure were determined on account of free radical trapping experiments and ESR spectra. The mechanism of photocatalytic degradation was proposed and verified. The transfer of the electrons and the inhibition of the recombination of photogenerated electron-holes were enhanced effectively under the synergistic effect of the Ag NPs and TiO2. As a consequence, the catalytic activity of the composite was improved under visible light.

Some studies have shown that the methylation status of the GSTP1 gene promoter is related to the incidence of prostate cancer, but this finding is still controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between glutathione-S-transferase p1 (GSTP1) promoter methylation and the incidence of prostate cancer. The Medline, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane CENTRAL databases were searched from their inception to February 22, 2019. According to the inclusion criteria, studies of the association between the methylation status of the GSTP1 gene promoter and prostate cancer were included. The difference in the incidence of GSTP1 promoter methylation in tissues, blood, or urine between patients with prostate cancer and those without prostate cancer were compared, and the results were expressed as the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). The pooled OR of each study was estimated using a fixed-effects model or a random-effects model to generate forest plots. Ultimately, 15 studies (1540 samples) were included. The estimated effect from our meta-analysis showed that the incidence of GSTP1 promoter methylation was higher in patients with prostate cancer than in those without prostate cancer (OR 18.58, 95% CI 9.60–35.95, P = 0.000). GSTP1 promoter methylation was highly correlated with the incidence of prostate cancer. Methylation of the GSTP1 promoter may increase the risk of prostate cancer. This study may provide a strategic direction for prostate cancer research. Pending validation of these findings, the methylation of the GSTP1 promoter may be a potential biomarker to diagnose prostate cancer.

In this work, a series of mesoporous graphitic carbon nitride (MCN) nanometer materials, loaded onto the reduced graphene oxide aerogel (rGOA) with macroscopic three-dimensional (3D) porous structure, were prepared using reduction self-assembly method. The composite aerogel of MCN/rGOA hybrid (MCN/GO mass ratio of 3:9) showed the highest adsorption rate of 73.7% for removing rhodamine b (RhB) solution of 20 mg L−1, whereas the total effect of adsorption and visible-light catalysis reached 95.2% within 80 min. Meanwhile, the material also showed good stability, and the removal rate was still about 89% after repeating the experiments for five times. The material characterization was carried out using various techniques, which indicated that hybrid aerogels were successfully combined. The specific surface increases from 18 m2/g of MCN to 149 m2/g for MCN/rGOA hybrid. The hybrid aerogel not only has good adsorption effect, but also exhibits adequate photocatalysis. The composite firstly interacts with the RhB through π–π adsorption, and then, the photocatalysis is improved by increasing the electron transfer efficiency and inhibiting the electron–hole recombination for good conductivity. Through scavenger experiments, it is shown that h+ free radicals are the dominant oxidizer during photocatalytic degradation.

Carbon nitride (CN)/polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) photocatalytic composite membrane (PCM) is considered as a promising candidate to improve the anti-fouling characteristic of conventional PVDF membrane and overcome the difficulty encountered during recovery of powder catalyst simultaneously. However, the effects of differently-modified CN on PCM and its mechanism are still unclear. In this study, bulk-CN (BCN), carbon defects CN (CCN), nitrogen defect CN (DCN), mesoporous CN (MCN), and nitrogen-rich CN (NCN) were incorporated into PVDF by phase inversion method. The influence of changes in the physical and chemical properties of CN, including hydrophilic groups, photocatalytic activity, and particle size, on the permeability, anti-fouling characteristic, and photocatalytic self-cleaning activity of CN/PVDF was systematically analyzed. The mechanism of excellent performance of PCM was revealed by experimental test and theoretical calculation. The flux of PCM was significantly improved by increasing the hydrophilic group on modified CN. However, the differences in particle size and interaction between different types of modified CN and PVDF chains endowed the CN/PVDF with different porosity. DCN/PVDF showed high porosity and hydrophilicity, leading to high water flux and rejection rate of 293.6 L (m2 h)−1 and 90.1%, respectively. Compared to pure PVDF, the flux recovery rate of DCN30/PVDF increased by 27.6%, and the irreversible fouling decreased from 36.9% to 9.2%. The modified CN/PVDF showed excellent photocatalytic activity for the removal of cefotaxime (CFX) and E. coli. Owing to the narrow band gap of DCN, large specific surface area, and low photogenerated carrier recombination rate, the CFX removal rate reached 99% in 2 h, and E. coli inactivation achieved 3.7 log within 4 h via DCN30/PVDF.

Background. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains an important cause of cancer death. The molecular mechanism of hepatocarcinogenesis and prognostic factors of HCC have not been completely uncovered. Methods. In this study, we screened out differentially expressed lncRNAs (DE lncRNAs), miRNAs (DE miRNAs), and mRNAs (DE mRNAs) by comparing the gene expression of HCC and normal tissue in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. DE mRNAs were used to perform Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis. Then, the miRNA and lncRNA/mRNA modules that were most closely related to the survival time of patients with HCC were screened to construct a competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network by weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA). Moreover, univariable Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier curve analyses of DE lncRNAs and DE mRNAs were conducted. Finally, the lasso-penalized Cox regression analysis and nomogram model were used to establish a new risk scoring system and predict the prognosis of patients with liver cancer. The expression of survival-related DE lncRNAs was verified by qRT-PCR. Results. A total of 1896 DEmRNAs, 330 DElncRNAs, and 76 DEmiRNAs were identified in HCC and normal tissue samples. Then, the turquoise miRNA and turquoise lncRNA/mRNA modules that were most closely related to the survival time of patients with HCC were screened to construct a ceRNA network by WGCNA. In this ceRNA network, there were 566 lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory pairs, including 30 upregulated lncRNAs, 16 downregulated miRNAs, and 75 upregulated mRNAs. Moreover, we screened out 19 lncRNAs and 14 hub mRNAs related to prognosis from this ceRNA network by univariable Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier curve analyses. Finally, a new risk scoring system was established by selecting the optimal risk lncRNAs from the 19 prognosis-related lncRNAs through lasso-penalized Cox regression analysis. In addition, we established a nomogram model consisting of independent prognostic factors to predict the survival rate of HCC patients. Finally, the correlation between the risk score and immune cell infiltration and gene set enrichment analysis were determined. Conclusions. In conclusion, the results may provide potential biomarkers or therapeutic targets for HCC and the establishment of the new risk scoring system and nomogram model provides the new perspective for predicting the prognosis of HCC.

PurposeThe paper aims to quantitatively investigate vacant industrial land valuation accuracy in China, given the importance of the industrial market as an underlying pillar to promote urban growth especially in emerging economies.Design/methodology/approachIn China, the government formulates a Land Benchmark Price (LBP) to serve as a price reference point to sell land rights. To gain an in-depth understanding of the valuation practice by LBP, this paper uses correlation analysis to investigate the varying dynamics between the transaction-based prices and LBP appraisal-based estimates. Furthermore, a margin of error examination investigates the distortion in LBP land appraisals, with an amended LBP presented to improve the accuracy of the current LBP method.FindingsDifferent influencing factors are identified to impact the actual market transaction prices and the LBP construction, leading to a large discrepancy in industrial land appraisals. A systematic problem is recognised that the construction of the LBP follows urban bid curve theory, whereas the land transaction prices do not, demonstrating that an urgent LBP update is needed to capture the market dynamics for industrial market.Practical implicationsThe paper sets out discrepancies in valuation accuracy surrounding the application of the LBP valuation approach in China. This has practical implications for valuers in terms of raising their awareness of the deficiencies in the approach and the pitfalls they need to guard against in their appraisals. It also has implications for developers and investors who rely on valuer appraisals to assess the viability of land purchases; hence, they need to express caution in the appraisal advice sought. Finally, the results demonstrate to the standard setters how they need to modify the LBP equations to better capture market dynamics.Originality/valueThe paper examines valuation accuracy in transitional economies, through valuation differentials between appraised price and the transacted price. The value of the work lies in the analysis of the fundamental differentials between market price and appraised value, which is of importance to investors/developers, practicing valuers, as well as government officials responsible for setting the valuation standards.

A porous g-C

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains an important cause of cancer death. The molecular mechanism of hepatocarcinogenesis and prognostic factors of HCC have not been completely uncovered. Methods: In this study, we screened out differentially expressed lncRNAs (DE lncRNAs), miRNAs (DE miRNAs), and mRNAs (DE mRNAs) by comparing the gene expression of HCC and normal tissue in the The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. DE mRNAs were used to perform gene ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis. Then, the miRNA and lncRNA/mRNA modules that were most closely related to the survival time of patients with HCC were screened to construct a competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network by weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA). Moreover, univariable Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier curve analyses of DE lncRNAs and DE mRNAs were conducted. Finally, the lasso‐penalized Cox regression analysis and nomogram model were used to establish new risk scoring system and predict the prognosis of patients with liver cancer. Results: A total of 1896 DEmRNAs, 330 DElncRNAs, and 76 DEmiRNAs were identified in HCC and normal tissue samples. Then, the turquoise miRNA and turquoise lncRNA/mRNA modules that were most closely related to the survival time of patients with HCC were screened to construct a ceRNA network by WGCNA. In this ceRNA network, there were 566 lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory pairs, including 30 upregulated lncRNAs, 16 downregulated miRNAs and 75 upregulated mRNAs. Moreover, we screened out 19 lncRNAs and 14 hub mRNAs related to prognosis from this ceRNA network by univariable Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier curve analyses. Finally, a new risk scoring system was established by selecting the optimal risk lncRNAs from the 19 prognosis-related lncRNAs through lasso‐penalized Cox regression analysis. In addition, we established a nomogram model consisting of independent prognostic factors to predict the survival rate of HCC patients. Conclusions: In conclusion, the results may provide potential biomarkers or therapeutic targets for HCC, and the establishment of new risk scoring system and nomogram model provide the new perspective for predicting the prognosis of HCC.

Background/Aims: Retinoic acid receptor beta (RAR beta) is a retinoic acid receptor gene that has been shown to play key roles during multiple cancer processes, including cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration and invasion. Numerous studies have found that methylation of the RAR beta promoter contributed to the occurrence and development of malignant tumors. However, the connection between RAR beta promoter methylation and prostate cancer (PCa) remains unknown. This meta-analysis evaluated the clinical significance of RAR beta promoter methylation in PCa. Materials and Methods: We searched all published records relevant to RAR beta and PCa in a series of databases, including PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, ISI Web of Science and CNKI. The rates of RAR beta promoter methylation in the PCa and control groups (including benign prostatic hyperplasia and normal prostate tissues) were summarized. In addition, we evaluated the source region of available samples and the methods used to detect methylation. To compare the incidence and variation in RAR beta promoter methylation in PCa and non-PCa tissues, the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated accordingly. All the data were analyzed with the statistical software STATA 12.0. Results: Based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 15 articles assessing 1,339 samples were further analyzed. These data showed that the RAR beta promoter methylation rates in PCa tissues were significantly higher than the rates in the non-PCa group (OR=21.65, 95% CI: 9.27-50.57). Subgroup analysis according to the source region of samples showed that heterogeneity in Asia was small (I2=0.0%, P=0.430). Additional subgroup analysis based on the method used to detect RAR beta promoter methylation showed that the heterogeneity detected by MSP (methylation-specific PCR) was relatively small (I2=11.3%, P=0.343). Conclusion: Although studies reported different rates for RAR beta promoter methylation in PCa tissues, the total analysis demonstrated that RAR beta promoter methylation may be correlated with PCa carcinogenesis and that the RAR beta gene is particularly susceptible. Additional studies with sufficient data are essential to further evaluate the clinical features and prognostic utility of RAR beta promoter methylation in PCa.

The preliminary studies have shown that Dendrobium officinale possessed therapeutic effects on hypertension and atherosclerosis. Studies also reported that Dendrobium officinale polysaccharides showed antioxidant capabilities. However, little is known about its effects on myocardial cells under oxidative stress. The present study was designed to study the protective effect of Dendrobium officinale polysaccharides against H2O2-induced oxidative stress in H9c2 cells. MTT assay was carried out to determine the cell viability of H9c2 cells when pretreated with Dendrobium officinale polysaccharides. Fluorescent microscopy measurements were performed for evaluating the apoptosis in H9c2 cells. Furthermore, effects of Dendrobium officinale polysaccharides on the activities of antioxidative indicators (malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase), reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) levels were analyzed. Dendrobium officinale polysaccharides attenuated H2O2-induced cell death, as determined by the MTT assay. Dendrobium officinale polysaccharides decreased malondialdehyde levels, increased superoxide dismutase activities, and inhibited the generation of intracellular ROS. Moreover, pretreatment with Dendrobium officinale polysaccharides also inhibited apoptosis and increased the MMP levels in H9c2 cells. These results suggested the protective effects of Dendrobium officinale polysaccharides against H2O2-induced injury in H9c2 cells. The results also indicated the anti-oxidative capability of Dendrobium officinale polysaccharides.

// Xue-Liang Zhou 1,* , Wen-Hua Xue 2,* , Xian-Fei Ding 3 , Li-Feng Li 1 , Meng-Meng Dou 4 , Wei-Jie Zhang 1 , Zhuan Lv 1 , Zhi-Rui Fan 1 , Jie Zhao 2 and Liu-Xing Wang 1 1 De­partment of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China 2 Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China 3 Department of General ICU, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China 4 Department of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China * These authors have contributed equally to this work Correspondence to: Liu-Xing Wang, email: // Jie Zhao, email: // Keywords : gastric cancer, metformin, type 2 diabetes mellitus, risk, meta-analysis Received : December 01, 2016 Accepted : March 13, 2017 Published : April 08, 2017 Abstract Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between metformin therapy and the incidence of gastric cancer (GC) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods: We systemically searched the following databases for studies published between the databases’ dates of inception and Nov. 2016: PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, the Web of Science, and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI). Hazard ratios ( HR )and corresponding 95% confidence intervals ( CIs ) for the association between metformin therapy and the incidence of GC in patients with T2DM were the outcome measures assessed in this study. STATA 12.0 (Stata Corporation, College Station, Texas, USA) was used to conduct the statistical analysis. Results: A total of seven cohort studies including 591,077 patients met all the criteria for inclusion in the analysis. Our data showed that metformin therapy was associated with a significantly lower incidence of GC in patients with T2DM than other types of therapy ( HR =0.763, 95% CI : 0.642~0.905). Subgroup analysis showed that patients living in Taiwan benefitted more from metformin therapy than patients living in any other region, as metformin significantly decreased the risk of GC in patients living in Taiwan but did not significantly decrease the risk of GC in patients living in other regions ( HR =0.514, 95% CI: 0.384-0.688). The results of the present analysis support the idea that metformin facilitates reductions in the risk of T2DM-related GC. Conclusions: The risk of GC among patients with T2DM is lower in patients receiving metformin therapy than in patients not receiving metformin therapy.

Recently, numerous genome wide association studies (GWAS) and other case-control association studies examining the relationship between interleukin-7 receptor α chain (IL7RA) gene rs3194051, rs987107, rs11567686, and rs11567685 variants and multiple sclerosis (MS) risk have been conducted, but the conclusions have been inconsistent. The main objective of this meta-analysis was to more precisely explore the association of these four IL7RA variants with MS development. Twenty-seven eligible studies involving 9734 cases and 10436 controls were included in the present meta-analysis. Power calculation, publication bias, sensitivity analysis and cumulative meta-analysis were performed to derive a reliable conclusion. Our study indicated three IL7RA loci were significantly associated with increasing MS risk (rs3194051: recessive model: OR = 1.22, 95% CI 1.08–1.38; rs987107: recessive model: OR = 1.44, 95% CI 1.22–1.69; and rs11567686: dominant model: OR = 1.18, 95% CI 1.01–1.37). Additionally, IL7RA rs11567685 variants might not be related to MS development. In all, IL7RA locus polymorphisms could play an important role in the predisposition to MS, which could contribute to a better understanding the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis.

Background/Aims: In contrast to men, women have experienced a rapid increase in lung cancer mortality. Numerous studies have found that the sex differences in lung cancer are due to reproductive hormones. Experiments in female mice with and without ovariectomy were performed to explore the possible mechanism by which sex hormones (and their receptors) influence lung cancer. Methods: Twenty-four female C57BL/6 mice aged 56-62 days were randomly divided into the ovariectomized group and the control group. In the ovariectomized group, the bilateral ovaries were removed via the dorsal approach, while the control group underwent a sham operation with bilateral ovarian fat resection at the same sites. After 3 weeks of recovery, Lewis lung cancer cells were transplanted into these mice by subcutaneous inoculation of a tumour cell suspension to establish the ovariectomized lung cancer model. Beginning on the 6th day after subcutaneous inoculation, mouse weight and transplanted tumour volume were measured every 3 days. After 3 weeks, all the mice were killed by cervical dislocation, and we measured the tumour weight. Mouse serum and tumour tissues were removed. Then, the serum levels of E2 (oestradiol) and T (testosterone) were detected by ELISA; the protein expression levels of AR (androgen receptor), ERα (oestrogen receptor α) and ERβ (oestrogen receptor β) were detected by Western Blot and IHC (immunohistochemistry); and the mRNA expression levels of AR, ERα and ERβ were detected by qRT-PCR (quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction) in the ovariectomized and control groups. Results: Compared with the control group, both mouse weight and transplanted tumour volume increased rapidly in the ovariectomized group, and the transplanted tumour weight was significantly heavier in the ovariectomized group (1.83±0.40 and 3.13±0.43, P

With the development of science and technology, scanning electron microscope - energy dispersed spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) with its advantages of convenience, easy operation and high reliability become the most widely used instrument in micro-beam analysis field. EDS sometimes is considered as a semi-quantitative or even qualitative instrument compared with WDS and other chemical methods in element type and composition analysis. However, SEM-EDS can provide accurate results if parameters are set properly. This paper discusses how to improve the accuracy of EDS quantitative analysis by changing SEM and EDS working conditions.

In present study, an efficient ternary Ag/TiO

Abnormalities in tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle function were related to a variety of pathological processes. Fumarate hydratase (FH) is a required enzyme in the TCA cycle. To explore the general influence of FH knockout, we isolated FH+/- rat and normal rat lung fibroblasts and cultured these cells in vitro. The isolated fibroblasts with the current method were rather homogeneous and were confirmed spindle in morphology, positive for vimentin and negative for α-SMA (α-smooth muscle actin). Sequencing of the PCR (polymerase chain reaction) products flanking the FH gene mutation verified the FH+/- status, and the FH gene and protein expression were confirmed to be reduced in the FH+/- cells. No sign of ageing for the FH+/- cells after 61 passages was observed, but the controls died out at this stage. Flow cytometry revealed increased S-phase and decreased G1/G0 proportions with significantly less early apoptosis in FH+/- cells compared to that in control cells. At the same time, increased glucose consumption, intracellular fumarate production and extracellular lactate secretion were verified in the FH+/- cells. Correspondingly, FH+/- cells showed a lower basal oxygen consumption rate (OCR) but a higher level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Single cell cloning and cell line establishment were successfully performed with the FH+/- cells at the 84th passage. All the above results indicate an important role for FH+/- in the longevity or immortality of the FH+/- cells, in which increased p53 and TERT (telomerase reverse transcriptase) protein expression, decreased p21 and p16 protein expression and negative SA-β-Gal (senescence-associated beta-galactosidase) were verified along with metabolic reprogramming.

Dendrobium officinale Kimura et Migo (Dendrobium catenatum Lindley), a prized traditional Chinese Medicine, has been used in China and Southeast Asian countries for centuries. The present study was aimed to investigate the effects and the possible mechanisms of the Dendrobium officinale extracts (DOE) on diabetic cardiomyopathy in mice. The diabetic model was induced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin at the dose of 50mg/kg body weight for 5 consecutive days. After 8 weeks treatment of DOE, mice were sacrificed, blood sample and heart tissues were collected. Our results showed that Streptozotocin-induced diabetic model was effectively achieved and serum CK and LDH levels were significantly increased in mice with diabetic cardiomyopathy. Pretreatment with DOE decreased the heart-to-body weight ratio (HW/BW) and showed an evident hypoglycemic effect. DOE pretreatment significantly decreased CK, LDH, TC and TG levels, limited the production of MDA and increased the activities of T-SOD. The histological analysis of Oil red O staining and Sirius red staining showed an obvious amelioration of cardiac injury, inhibition of cardiac lipid accumulation and deposition of collagen when pretreatment with DOE. In addition, Western blot detection and analysis showed that DOE down-regulated the expression of TGF-β, collegan-1, fibronectin, NF-κB, TNF-α and IL-1β. In conclusion, our study suggested that DOE possesses the cardioprotective potential against diabetic cardiomyopathy, which may be due to the inhibition of oxidative stress, cardiac lipid accumulation, pro-inflammatory cytokines and cardiac fibrosis.

Choline acetyltransferase (CHAT) rs3810950 and rs2177369 polymorphisms have been implicated in susceptibility to Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Due to the inconsistent results from previous studies, a meta-analysis was performed to estimate the association between these polymorphisms and AD risk more precisely. Pooled results of our meta-analysis indicated CHAT rs2177369 polymorphism was correlated with decreasing AD risk in one of five genetic models (dominant: OR = 0.77, 95% CI: 0.62–0.96), while rs3810950 mutant was associated with AD development in three models (allelic: OR = 1.18, 95% CI: 1.01–1.37, homozygous: OR = 1.63, 95% CI: 1.09–2.42, and recessive: OR = 1.65, 95% CI: 1.20–2.26). In subgroup analysis by ethnicity, the association between CHAT rs3810950 polymorphism and AD risk was just found in the recessive model (OR = 1.47, 95% CI: 1.05–2.07) among Caucasians, while four genetic models (allelic: OR = 1.23, 95% CI: 1.01–1.48; homozygous: OR = 2.24, 95% CI: 1.48–3.39; dominant: OR = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.06–1.40; and recessive: OR = 2.18, 95% CI: 1.45–3.29) assumed this association in Asians. In conclusion, our meta-analysis indicated CHAT rs2177369 polymorphism might play a protective role in AD, while rs3810950 variant was a risk factor for AD but its single heterozygous mutations might not influence susceptibility to AD.

Mesoporous graphitic carbon nitride (MCN) photocatalyst was blended in polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membrane through immersion-precipitation phase transformation. Various techniques were adopted to characterize the structure and morphology of MCN-PVDF hybrid membrane, which indicated that MCN was successfully integrated in PVDF. The MCN80-PVDF membrane exhibited enhanced hydrophilicity and antifouling properties. As the amount of MCN addition increased, the contact angle of membranes decreased from 68.33° to 57.12°, whereas the flux recovery rate increased by 28% as compared to the pristine PVDF. Meanwhile, MCN-PVDF membrane possessed photocatalytic, self-cleaning and antimicrobial activities. The MCN80-PVDF membrane was used to degrade cefotaxime (CFX) under sunlight irradiation. After five cycles of experiments, the degradation rate of CFX remained 97.4%. Additionally, MCN80-PVDF membrane achieved 3 log of E. coli inactivation under visible light irradiation for 4 h. The photogenerated h+ and reactive oxidative species were the primary reason for organics’ degradation and bacterial inactivation. In summary, the prepared hybrid MCN80-PVDF membrane with sunlight irradiation exhibited great potential for the treatment of real wastewater.

Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) possesses promising photocatalytic abilities due to its graphene-phase framework, distinct electronic structure, and optical performance. Nevertheless, the low visible light absorption capacity, rapid photoexcited electron-hole pairs recombination and transient electron lifetime have limited its extensive applications. In this study, nitrogen-rich triazole ring was introduced into conventional g-C3N4 structure to yield N-rich g-C3N4 (g-C3N4-N). Compared to traditional g-C3N4, the photocatalytic degradation efficiency of g-C3N4-N towards cefotaxime (CFX) was improved by 3-fold. Meanwhile, the mineralization rate rose to 51.3% with respect to 29.2%. The photocatalytic mechanism was then analyzed by various techniques, such as XPS, elemental analysis, FT-IR, and DFT calculations. The data revealed that introduction of triazole ring with mild electrophilicity on LUMO shifted the electron from melem to triazole ring. The change in electron structure shortened the bandgap of the catalyst and produced midgap state, thereby increasing the visible light absorption region of the catalyst. The PL, photocurrent density and EIS analyses suggested that midgap state could temporarily capture electrons and promote the separation of photoexcited electron-holes. In sum, the proposed novel one-step synthetic route of modified g-C3N4 material looks promising for future environmental remediation applications.

A porous g-C3N4 nanosheet containing nitrogen defects (D-g-C3N4) was synthesized by using a one-step polymerization process in an atmosphere produced via the decomposition of ammonium persulfate. The photocatalytic removal rate of D3-g-C3N4 for meropenem (MER) is 7.45-fold higher than the one of a conventional g-C3N4 sample. The sample mineralization increases from 27% to 52% when the defects are generated. The position of the N defects was inferred via XPS, element analysis and ESR. The introduction of the N2C defects leads to the formation of a midgap state that suppresses the photoexcited carrier recombination. In addition, several environmental factors were simulated during the MER degradation including the initial concentration of MER, of humic acid (HA), and of the common anions and cations. The analysis of the Fukui function combined with LC-Q-TOF-MS predicted the probable degradation path of MER. Its main channel includes the breaking of the β-lactam ring and of the C–S bond, and the shedding of the carboxyl group and the amino group. Moreover, the toxicity of the intermediates was acquired via USEPA.

Background The methylation status of the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) promoter has been shown to be associated with the occurrence of gastric cancer, but this finding remains controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between methylation of the APC gene promoter and gastric cancer. Methods We searched the Web of Science, EMBASE, Medline, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) databases from the date of creation until August 1, 2019. According to the inclusion criteria, the relationship between the methylation status of the APC gene promoter and gastric cancer was investigated. The incidence of APC promoter methylation in the tissues or blood of patients with and without gastric cancer was compared. The results are expressed as the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). The pooled OR of each study was estimated using a fixed effects model or a random effects model to generate forest plots. We further validated the results using the MethHC database. Results Eight studies (985 samples) were included. Our meta-analysis showed that the incidence of APC promoter methylation in patients with gastric cancer was higher than that of patients without gastric cancer (OR = 3.86, 95% CI 1.71-8.74, P = .001). Methylation of the APC promoter is associated with the incidence of gastric cancer, and it increases the risk of gastric cancer. Conclusion This study provides a new strategic direction for research on gastric cancer. Methylation of the APC promoter may be a potential biomarker for the diagnosis of gastric cancer, but the results of this work require further confirmation.

β-Lactam antibiotics are generally used for disease prevention in humans and animals. The antibiotics, which have been excreted into the surrounding environment, have caused serious concerns. In this study, mesoporous carbon nitride (MCN) was synthesized using a template-free method. The photocatalytic degradation of the two typical β-lactam antibiotics, amoxicillin (AMX) and cefotaxime (CFX), was performed using MCN. Considering the complexity of the actual environment, four factors that may influence the photocatalytic degradation of AMX and CFX were studied, containing the initial antibiotics concentration, catalyst dosage, pH and humic acid (HA). The possible mechanism of photocatalysis was presented using ESR spectroscopy and free radical trapping experiments. Furthermore, rational photocatalytic degradation pathways were proposed through the combination of LC-Q-TOF-MS/MS and density functional theory (DFT). Toxicity Estimation Software Tool (TEST) was used to predicate the toxicity of the byproducts. This study identified the catalytic activity difference between AMX and CFX firstly and elucidated their degradation mechanisms. The new findings are very meaningful for optimizing the conditions of photocatalytic degradation of β-lactam antibiotics. In addition, the results of wastewater test and stability experiments indicated that MCN has excellent performance. Therefore, MCN is a promising treatment material for the elimination of the antibiotic activity and mineralization of antibiotics under visible light.

Background/Aims: BushenShugan Formula (BSF) is a traditional Chinese medicine that has therapeutic effects on middle- and late-stage lung adenocarcinoma in clinical application. It was reported that Bushen Chinese medicine suppressed the onset of pre-metastatic niches in a murine model of spontaneous lung metastasis. However, the mechanisms of BSF on human lung adenocarcinoma remain unknown. Methods: Cell proliferation was determined by CCK8 and colony formation. Cell apoptosis and cell cycle were detected by flow cytometry. Cancer stem cells properties were examined by spheroid body formation. The migration and invasion abilities were analyzed by wound healing assay and transwell invasion assay. The mRNA expressions were determined by qRT-PCR. Western blotting analysis showed the protein levels. Results: BSF was shown to inhibit the proliferation of A549 cells in time- and concentration-dependent manners. Colony formation assays also indicated the antiproliferative effect of BSF against A549 cells. Cellular mechanistic studies demonstrated that BSF arrested the cell cycle in G2/M phase and induced apoptosis. Importantly, BSF could inhibit the epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT) of A549 cells through PI3K/AKT/NF-κB pathway. Conclusions: BSF effectively inhibited tumour growth, suggesting that it is a promising anticancer treatment for further clinical development.

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease that gradually induces cognitive deficits in the elderly and working memory impairment is typically observed in AD. Amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) is a causative factor for the cognitive impairments in AD. Gamma oscillations have been recognized to play important roles in various cognitive functions including working memory. Previous study reported that Aβ induces gamma oscillation dysfunction in working memory. Objective: Although repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) represents a technique for noninvasive stimulation to induce cortical activity and excitability changes and has been accepted for increasing brain excitability and regulating cognitive behavior, the question whether rTMS can reserve the Aβ-induced gamma oscillation dysfunction during working memory remains unclear. The present study aims to investigate the effect of rTMS to the Aβ-induced gamma oscillation dysfunction during working memory. Method: The present study investigates the rTMS-modulated gamma oscillation in Aβ1-42-induced memory deficit. Adult SD rats were divided into four groups: Aβ, Con, Aβ+rTMS and Con+rTMS. 16-channel local field potentials (LFPs) were recorded from rat medial prefrontal cortex while the rats performed a Y-maze working memory task. Gamma oscillation among LFPs was measured by coherence. Results: The results show that rTMS improved the behavior performance and enhanced gamma oscillation for the Aβ-injected subjects. Conclusion: These results indicate that rTMS may reserve the Aβ-induced dysfunction in gamma oscillation during working memory and thus result in potential benefits for working memory.

The preliminary studies have shown that Dendrobium officinale possessed therapeutic effects on hypertension and atherosclerosis. Studies also reported that Dendrobium officinale polysaccharides showed antioxidant capabilities. However, little is known about its effects on myocardial cells under oxidative stress. The present study was designed to study the protective effect of Dendrobium officinale polysaccharides against H

China used to have a planned economy where the land resources were administratively allocated by the government. To promote the economy and attract international investment, the Land Use Rights (LURs) reform in 1978 separated the rights to use land from the land ownership and enabled land transactions in an open market. The Central Government decided to form a Land Benchmark Price (LBP) to serve as a price reference point for land sales in the late 1980s with the LBP used in land valuation. The appraisal regulation in China stipulates that ‘at least two approaches are required to appraise the value of the same subject’ (MLR, 1999), hence the comparison method and the LBP method have become the two most popular valuation approaches to the LURs assessment of land with no construction.The aim of this paper is to investigate the relationship between the benchmark price and transaction price in Beijing from 2009 to 2015. Two steps will be taken to achieve the analysis. Firstly, an investigation of the magnitude of the spatial-temporal autocorrelation of the land transaction price and the factors affecting spatial-temporal autocorrelation of the land transaction price. Secondly, the incorporation of time variables (t i – t benchmark update month) is designed to test whether the update frequency of benchmark price influences the land transaction price and if so, how frequently does the LBP need to be updated. The data is sourced from the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Land and Resources, the National Bureau of Statistics and the China Urban Land Price Dynamic Monitor which are all government-based websites that provide land and economic related information to the public.