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Mouse orthotopic xenograft tumor models are commonly employed in studies investigating the mechanisms underlying the development and progression of tumors and their preclinical treatment. However, the unavailability of mature and visualized orthotopic xenograft models of nasopharyngeal carcinoma limits the development of treatment strategies for this cancer. The aim of this study was to provide a simple and reliable method for building an orthotopic xenograft model of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Human nasopharyngeal carcinoma (C666–1-luc) cells, stably expressing the firefly luciferase gene, were injected subcutaneously into the right axilla of BALB/C nude mice. Four weeks later, the resulting subcutaneous tumors were cut into small blocks and grafted into the nasopharynx of immunodeficient BALB/C nude mice to induce tumor formation. Tumor growth was monitored by bioluminescence imaging and small animal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The expression of histological and immunological antigens associated with orthotopic xenograft nasopharyngeal carcinoma was analyzed by tissue section analysis and immunohistochemistry (IHC). A visualized orthotopic xenograft nasopharyngeal carcinoma model was successfully developed in this study. Luminescence signal detection, micro-MRI, and hematoxylin and eosin staining revealed the successful growth of tumors in the nasopharynx of the nude mice. Moreover, IHC analysis detected cytokeratin (CK), CK5/6, P40, and P63 expression in the orthotopic tumors, consistent with the reported expression of these antigens in human nasopharyngeal tumors. This study established a reproducible, visual, and less lethal orthotopic xenograft model of nasopharyngeal carcinoma, providing a platform for preclinical research.

The traditionally held assumption that photo-dependent processes are the predominant source of H2O2 in natural waters has been recently questioned by an increrasing body of evidence showing the ubiquitiousness of H2O2 in dark water bodies and in groundwater. In this study, we conducted field measurement of H2O2 in an intra-meander hyporheic zone and in surface water at East River, CO. On-site detection using a sensitive chemiluminescence method suggests H2O2 concentrations in groundwater ranging from 6 nM (at the most reduced region) to ~ 80 nM (in a locally oxygen-rich area) along the intra-meander transect with a maxima of 186 nM detected in the surface water in an early afternoon, lagging the maximum solar irradiance by ∼ 1.5 h. Our results suggest that the dark profile of H2O2 in the hyporheic zone is closely correlated to local redox gradients, indicating that interactions between various redox sensitive elements could play an essential role. Due to its transient nature, the widespread presence of H2O2 in the hyporheic zone indicates the existence of a sustained balance between H2O2 production and consumption, which potentially involves a relatively rapid succession of various biogeochemically important processes (such as organic matter turnover, metal cycling and contaminant mobilization). More importantly, this study confirmed the occurrence of reactive oxygen species at a subsurface redox transition zone and further support our understanding of redox boundaries on reactive oxygen species generation and as key locations of biogeochemical activity.

3D printing allows the macroscopic structure of objects to be easily controlled but controlling the nanostructure of 3D printed materials has rarely been reported. Here, the authors report an efficient and versatile process for fabricating 3D printed materials with controlled nano-scale structural features.

After conventional oil recovery operations, more than half of the crude oil still remains in a form, which is difficult to extract. Therefore, exploring and developing new enhanced oil recovery (EOR) technologies have always been priority research in oilfield development. Microbial enhanced oil recovery (MEOR) is a promising tertiary oil recovery technology that has received widespread attention from the global oil industry in recent years due to its environmental friendliness, simplicity of operation, and cost-effectiveness. This review presents the: principle, characteristics, classification, recent development, and applications of MEOR technology. Based on hundreds of field trials conducted worldwide, the microbial strains, nutrient systems, and actual effects used in these technologies are summarized, with an emphasis on the achievements made in the development and application of MEOR in China in recent years. These technical classifications involve: microbial huff and puff recovery (MHPR), microbial flooding recovery (MFR), microbial selective plugging recovery (MSPR), and microbial wax removal and control (MWRC). Most of them have achieved good results, with a success rate of approximately 80%. These successful cases have accumulated into rich experiential indications for the popularization and application of MEOR technology, but there are still important yet uncertain factors that hinder the industrialization of this technology. Finally, based on the extensive research and development of MEOR by the authors, especially in both laboratory and industrial large scales, the main challenges and future perspectives of the industrial application for MEOR are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To analyze the effects of ghrelin on the pyroptosis pathway and the expression of inflammatory factors in septic lung injury, and explore its protective mechanism. Methods A total of 180 healthy male C57 BL/6 mice were divided into sham operation group (sham, n=24), cecal ligation and puncture group (CLP, n=78) and ghrelin group (n=78). The ghrelin group was intraperitoneally given ghrelin 12 nmol/kg at 3 h and 20 h after CLP surgery, while the other groups were given the same amount of normal saline. The 120-hour survival rate of each group was observed, and the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung tissues of mice in 6, 12 and 24 h after CLP group, ghrelin group and in 24 h for sham groups were collected respectively, and the total protein concentration and total cell number in BALF were detected. The expression of ghrelin as well as inflammatory cytokines such as IL-10, IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-18 was tested by ELISA. Moreover, the expression of gasdermin D (GSDMD) was determined by immunofluorescence staining, and the levels of pyroptosis signal pathway proteins including NOD-like receptor protein (NLRP3), ASC, Caspase-1 and GSDMD were detected by qPCR and Western blotting. Results As compared with sham group, the mortality, pathological changes of lung tissue and levels of inflammatory factors (IL-10, IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-18) in CLP group were significantly increased (P < 0.05); the level of ghrelin in the lung tissue was dropped, while those of NLRP3, ASC, Caspase-1 and GSDMD rose in the CLP group (P < 0.05). After administration of exogenous ghrelin, the death rate of septic lung injury mice was declined, the pathological damage of lung tissue was alleviated, and the expression levels of inflammatory cytokines and NLRP3, ASC, Caspase-1 and GSDMD were all decreased (P < 0.05). Conclusion Ghrelin improves the survival rate of septic lung injury mice and reduces the pathological changes of lung tissue, which may play a protective role by inhibiting the pathway of pyroptosis and alleviating inflammation.

The commonly held assumption that photodependent processes dominate H2O2 production in natural waters has been recently questioned. Here, we present evidence for the unrecognized and light-independent generation of H2O2 in groundwater of an alluvial aquifer adjacent to the Colorado River near Rifle, CO. In situ detection using a sensitive chemiluminescent method suggests H2O2 concentrations ranging from lower than the detection limit (

During vascular remodeling after intimal injury, circulating platelets are activated by exposed collagen and release platelet-derived microvesicles (PMVs), which may contribute to the injury-induced apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). However, the mechanisms in this process are still unclear. Using a rat balloon injury model, platelet adhesion at the injured site was detected, and promoted medial VSMC apoptosis was revealed with dT-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) in vivo. VSMC apoptosis was promoted by coincubation with PMVs in vitro. Transcriptomics analysis indicated the abound expression of the microRNA-30 (miR-30) family in platelets, and the expression of the miR-30 family in platelets and PMVs was confirmed with qPCR. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) software identified transcription factor 2 (RUNX2) as a pivotal molecule linking miR-30 and cellular apoptosis. In vitro, PMVs delivered miR-30e, an important member of the miR-30 family, into VSMCs and increased cell apoptosis. A dual-luciferase assay was adopted to verify the interaction of miR-30e with RUNX2, and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) proved the cytoplasmic localization of miR-30e in VSMCs. The apoptotic effect on VSMCs was further confirmed by using miR-30e mimics and RUNX2 siRNA. Furthermore, RUNX2 siRNA altered the expression of its downstream genes, Tnfrsf11b, Smad6 and Mmp13, which may participate in apoptosis, as suggested by IPA. Our results indicated that PMVs play important roles in the interactions between circulating elements and VSMCs by delivering miR-30e to VSMCs and then promoting apoptosis. PMVs and potential intercellular messages may be novel therapeutic targets for preventing pathological vascular remodeling after intimal injury.

Despite the biogeochemical significance of the interactions between natural organic matter (NOM) and iron species, considerable uncertainty still remains as to the exact processes contributing to the rates and extents of complexation and redox reactions between these important and complex environmental components. Investigations on the reactivity of low-molecular-weight quinones, which are believed to be key redox active compounds within NOM, toward iron species, could provide considerable insight into the kinetics and mechanisms of reactions involving NOM and iron. In this study, the oxidation of 2-methoxyhydroquinone (MH2Q) by ferric iron (Fe(III)) under dark conditions in the absence and presence of oxygen was investigated within a pH range of 4-6. Although Fe(III) was capable of stoichiometrically oxidizing MH2Q under anaerobic conditions, catalytic oxidation of MH2Q was observed in the presence of O2 due to further cycling between oxygen, semiquinone radicals, and iron species. A detailed kinetic model was developed to describe the predominant mechanisms, which indicated that both the undissociated and monodissociated anions of MH2Q were kinetically active species toward Fe(III) reduction, with the monodissociated anion being the key species accounting for the pH dependence of the oxidation. The generated radical intermediates, namely semiquinone and superoxide, are of great importance in reaction-chain propagation. The kinetic model may provide critical insight into the underlying mechanisms of the thermodynamic and kinetic characteristics of metal-organic interactions and assist in understanding and predicting the factors controlling iron and organic matter transformation and bioavailability in aquatic systems.

The impact of development on the ecological environment is a matter of concern, especially in the ecologically fragile agro-pastoral ecotone. The agro-pastoral ecotone of northern Shaanxi (ANS) is a representative region of the agro-pastoral ecotone in northern China. The agricultural use of sand land (AUSL) is an effective way to respond to the development needs of this region. The AUSL will certainly have an impact on water yield services in the ANS, where water resources are already scarce. In this study, the Integration Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs Tool (InVEST) model was used to simulate the water yield of the ANS under different intensity scenarios of AUSL. The results showed that AUSL reduces the regional water yield, but the impact is limited. At the maximum scale of development, the total regional water yield decreased by 1.35% compared to the base year of 2020. In terms of distribution pattern, water yield decreased the most in Yuyang District and the least in Fugu County due to the uneven distribution of sand land. At the land use and land cover (LULC) scale, the AUSL has a diminishing effect on the water yield of both cultivated land and sand land due to the more intense evapotranspiration from cropland. This study can provide data and decision support for the ANS region for building the resource-economical and environment-friendly society.

Rosaceae comprises numerous types of economically important fruits, ornamentals, and timber. The lack of plastome characteristics has blocked our understanding of the evolution of plastome and plastid genes of Rosaceae crops. Using comparative genomics and phylogenomics, we analyzed 121 Rosaceae plastomes of 54 taxa from 13 genera, predominantly including Cerasus (true cherry) and its relatives. To our knowledge, we generated the first comprehensive map of genomic variation across Rosaceae plastomes. Contraction/expansion of inverted repeat regions and sequence losses of the two single-copy regions underlie large genomic variations in size among Rosaceae plastomes. Plastid protein-coding genes were characterized with a high proportion (over 50%) of synonymous variants and insertion-deletions with multiple triplets. Five photosynthesis-related genes were specially selected in perennial woody trees. Comparative genomic analyses implied divergent evolutionary patterns between pomaceous and drupaceous trees. Across all examined plastomes, unique and divergent evolution was detected in Cerasus plastomes. Phylogenomic analyses and molecular dating highlighted the relatively distant phylogenetic relationship between Cerasus and relatives (Microcerasus, Amygdalus, Prunus, and Armeniaca), which strongly supported treating the monophyletic true cherry group as a separate genus excluding dwarf cherry. High genetic differentiation and distinct phylogenetic relationships implied independent origins and domestication between fruiting cherries, particularly between Prunus pseudocerasus (Cerasus pseudocerasus) and P. avium (C. avium). Well-resolved maternal phylogeny suggested that cultivated P. pseudocerasus originated from Longmenshan Fault zone, the eastern edge of Himalaya-Hengduan Mountains, where it was subjected to frequent genomic introgression between its presumed wild ancestors and relatives.

AimsChaperonin-containing TCP1 subunit (CCT) 6A is an oncogenic 6th subunit of the CCT family. Nevertheless, not much is documented regarding its function in colorectal cancer (COAD). This investigation seeks to explore the role of CCT6A in the prognosis of COAD.Main MethodsSequencing data from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and Cancer Genome Atlas database (TCGA) were employed to analyze the expression of CCT6A and its involvement in various regulatory networks behind COAD. Oncomine and Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) analyzed Levels of expression and survival rates, while GEPIA was used to uncover further the functional networks that involved CCT6A. Database for Annotation, Visualization, and Integrated Discovery (DAVID) tools were used to interpret Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways. Evaluation of the expression levels of CCT6A in COAD samples was also verified via immunohistochemistry.Key FindingsWe found that the expression of CCT6A is up-regulated in COAD. CCT6A correlated with poor prognosis and decreased immune infiltrates such as CD4+ T cells, B cells, and dendritic cells. CCT6A is increased in COAD patients. CCT6A is associated with several gene networks related to the DDX family and mismatch repair pathways.SignificanceOur data showed that data mining was able to uncover data regarding levels of CCT6A and its involvement in genetic regulating pathways in COAD.