Autism spectrum disorder:difficulties in diagnosis and microRNA biomarkers

We performed a PubMed search for microRNAs in autism spectrum disorder that could serve as diagnostic biomarkers in patients and selected 17 articles published from January 2008 to December 2023,of which 4 studies were performed with whole blood,4 with blood plasma,5 with blood serum,1 with serum neural cell adhesion molecule L1-captured extracellular vesicles,1 with blood cells,and 2 with peripheral blood mononuclear cells.Most of the studies involved children and the study cohorts were largely males.Many of the studies had performed microRNA sequencing or quantitative polymerase chain reaction assays to measure microRNA expression.Only five studies had used real-time polymerase chain reaction assay to validate microRNA expression in autism spectrum disorder subjects compared to controls.The microRNAs that were validated in these studies may be considered as potential candidate biomarkers for autism spectrum disorder and include miR-500a-5p,-197-5p,-424-5p,-664a-3p,-365a-3p,-619-5p,-664a-3p,-3135a,-328-3p,and-500a-5p in blood plasma and miR-151a-3p,-181b-5p,-320a,-328,-433,-489,-572,-663a,-101-3p,-106b-5p,-19b-3p,-195-5p,and-130a-3p in blood serum of children,and miR-15b-5p and-6126 in whole blood of adults.Several important limitations were identified in the studies reviewed,and need to be taken into account in future studies.Further studies are warranted with children and adults having different levels of autism spectrum disorder severity and consideration should be given to using animal models of autism spectrum disorder to investigate the effects of suppressing or overexpressing specific microRNAs as a novel therapy.

Radiometric Characteristics of the Landsat Collection 1 Dataset

This study evaluates the long-term radiometric performance of the USGS new released Landsat Collection 1 archive, including the absolute calibration of each Landsat sensor as well as the relative cross-calibration among the four most popular Landsat sensors. A total of 920 Landsat Collection 1 scenes were evaluated against the corresponding Pre-Collection images over a Pseudo-Invariant Site, Railroad Valley Playa Nevada, United States (RVPN). The radiometric performance of the six Landsat solar reflective bands, in terms of both Digital Numbers (DNs) and at-sensor Top of Atmosphere (TOA) reflectance, on the sensor cross-calibration was examined. Results show that absolute radiometric calibration at DNs level was applied to the Landsat-4 and -5 TM (L4 TM and L5 TM) by –1.119% to 0.126%. For L4 TM and L5 TM, the cross-calibration decreased the radiometric measurement level by rescaling at-sensor radiance to DN values. The radiometric changes, –0.77% for L4 TM, 0.95% for L5 TM, –0.26% for L7 ETM+, and –0.01% for L8 OLI, were detected during the cross-calibration stage of converting DNs into TOA reflectance. This study has also indicated that the long-term radiometric performance for the Landsat Collection 1 archive is promising. Supports of these conclusions were demonstrated through the time-series analysis based on the Landsat Collection 1 image stack. Nevertheless, the radiometric changes across the four Landsat sensors raised concerns of the previous Landsat Pre-Collection based results. We suggest that Landsat users should pay attention to differences in results from Pre-Collection and Collection 1 time-series data sets.

The Mathematical and Physical Theory of Rational Human Intelligence: Complete Empirical-Digital Properties;Full Electrochemical-Mechanical Model (Part I: Mathematical Foundations)

The design of this paper is to present the first installment of a complete and final theory of rational human intelligence. The theory is mathematical in the strictest possible sense. The mathematics involved is strictly digital—not quantitative in the manner that what is usually thought of as mathematics is quantitative. It is anticipated at this time that the exclusively digital nature of rational human intelligence exhibits four flavors of digitality, apparently no more, and that each flavor will require a lengthy study in its own right. (For more information,please refer to the PDF.)

Recombinant chitinase-3-like protein 1 alleviates learning and memory impairments via M2 microglia polarization in postoperative cognitive dysfunction mice

Postoperative cognitive dysfunction is a seve re complication of the central nervous system that occurs after anesthesia and surgery,and has received attention for its high incidence and effect on the quality of life of patients.To date,there are no viable treatment options for postoperative cognitive dysfunction.The identification of postoperative cognitive dysfunction hub genes could provide new research directions and therapeutic targets for future research.To identify the signaling mechanisms contributing to postoperative cognitive dysfunction,we first conducted Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analyses of the Gene Expression Omnibus GSE95426 dataset,which consists of mRNAs and long non-coding RNAs differentially expressed in mouse hippocampus3 days after tibial fracture.The dataset was enriched in genes associated with the biological process"regulation of immune cells,"of which Chill was identified as a hub gene.Therefore,we investigated the contribution of chitinase-3-like protein 1 protein expression changes to postoperative cognitive dysfunction in the mouse model of tibial fractu re surgery.Mice were intraperitoneally injected with vehicle or recombinant chitinase-3-like protein 124 hours post-surgery,and the injection groups were compared with untreated control mice for learning and memory capacities using the Y-maze and fear conditioning tests.In addition,protein expression levels of proinflammatory factors(interleukin-1βand inducible nitric oxide synthase),M2-type macrophage markers(CD206 and arginase-1),and cognition-related proteins(brain-derived neurotropic factor and phosphorylated NMDA receptor subunit NR2B)were measured in hippocampus by western blotting.Treatment with recombinant chitinase-3-like protein 1 prevented surgery-induced cognitive impairment,downregulated interleukin-1βand nducible nitric oxide synthase expression,and upregulated CD206,arginase-1,pNR2B,and brain-derived neurotropic factor expression compared with vehicle treatment.Intraperitoneal administration of the specific ERK inhibitor PD98059 diminished the effects of recombinant chitinase-3-like protein 1.Collectively,our findings suggest that recombinant chitinase-3-like protein 1 ameliorates surgery-induced cognitive decline by attenuating neuroinflammation via M2 microglial polarization in the hippocampus.Therefore,recombinant chitinase-3-like protein1 may have therapeutic potential fo r postoperative cognitive dysfunction.

Treatment with β-sitosterol ameliorates the effects of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury by suppressing cholesterol overload, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and apoptosis

β-Sitosterol is a type of phytosterol that occurs naturally in plants.Previous studies have shown that it has anti-oxidant,anti-hyperlipidemic,anti-inflammatory,immunomodulatory,and anti-tumor effects,but it is unknown whetherβ-sitosterol treatment reduces the effects of ischemic stroke.Here we found that,in a mouse model of ischemic stroke induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion,β-sitosterol reduced the volume of cerebral infarction and brain edema,reduced neuronal apoptosis in brain tissue,and alleviated neurological dysfunction;moreover,β-sitosterol increased the activity of oxygen-and glucose-deprived cerebral cortex neurons and reduced apoptosis.Further investigation showed that the neuroprotective effects ofβ-sitosterol may be related to inhibition of endoplasmic reticulum stress caused by intracellular cholesterol accumulation after ischemic stroke.In addition,β-sitosterol showed high affinity for NPC1L1,a key transporter of cholesterol,and antagonized its activity.In conclusion,β-sitosterol may help treat ischemic stroke by inhibiting neuronal intracellular cholesterol overload/endoplasmic reticulum stress/apoptosis signaling pathways.

Effects of P301L-TAU on post-translational modifications of microtubules in human iPSC-derived cortical neurons and TAU transgenic mice

TAU is a microtubule-associated protein that promotes microtubule assembly and stability in the axon.TAU is missorted and aggregated in an array of diseases known as tauopathies.Microtubules are essential for neuronal function and regulated via a complex set of post-translational modifications,changes of which affect microtubule stability and dynamics,microtubule interaction with other proteins and cellular structures,and mediate recruitment of microtubule-severing enzymes.As impairment of microtubule dynamics causes neuronal dysfunction,we hypothesize cognitive impairment in human disease to be impacted by impairment of microtubule dynamics.We therefore aimed to study the effects of a disease-causing mutation of TAU(P301L)on the levels and localization of microtubule post-translational modifications indicative of microtubule stability and dynamics,to assess whether P301L-TAU causes stability-changing modifications to microtubules.To investigate TAU localization,phosphorylation,and effects on tubulin post-translational modifications,we expressed wild-type or P301L-TAU in human MAPT-KO induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neurons(i Neurons)and studied TAU in neurons in the hippocampus of mice transgenic for human P301L-TAU(p R5 mice).Human neurons expressing the longest TAU isoform(2N4R)with the P301L mutation showed increased TAU phosphorylation at the AT8,but not the p-Ser-262 epitope,and increased polyglutamylation and acetylation of microtubules compared with endogenous TAU-expressing neurons.P301L-TAU showed pronounced somatodendritic presence,but also successful axonal enrichment and a similar axodendritic distribution comparable to exogenously expressed 2N4R-wildtype-TAU.P301L-TAU-expressing hippocampal neurons in transgenic mice showed prominent missorting and tauopathy-typical AT8-phosphorylation of TAU and increased polyglutamylation,but reduced acetylation,of microtubules compared with non-transgenic littermates.In sum,P301L-TAU results in changes in microtubule PTMs,suggestive of impairment of microtubule stability.This is accompanied by missorting and aggregation of TAU in mice but not in i Neurons.Microtubule PTMs/impairment may be of key importance in tauopathies.

A mimetic peptide of α2,6-sialyllactose promotes neuritogenesis

Oxidative stress contributes to the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases.With the aim to find reagents that reduce oxidative stress,a phage display library was screened for peptides mimicking a2,6-sialyllactose(6'-SL),which is known to beneficially influence neural functions.Using Sambucus nigra lectin,which specifically binds to 6'-SL,we screened a phage display library and found a peptide comprising identical sequences of 12 amino acids.Mimetic peptide,reverse peptide and scrambled peptide were tested for inhibition of 6'-SL binding to the lectin.Indeed,lectin binding to 6'-SL was inhibited by the most frequently identified mimetic peptide,but not by the reverse or scrambled peptides,showing that this peptide mimics 6'-SL.Functionally,mimetic peptide,but not the reverse or scrambled peptides,increased viability and expression of neural cell adhesion molecule L1 in SK-N-SH human neuroblastoma cells,and promoted survival and neurite outgrowth of cultured mouse cerebellar granule neurons challenged by H_20_2-induced oxidative stress.The combined results indicate that the 6'-SL mimetic peptide promotes neuronal survival and neuritogenesis,thus raising hopes for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.This study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of Shantou University Medical College,China(approval No.SUMC 2014-004)on February 20,2014.

Relief of osteoarthritis with a herbal-amino acid supplement: A randomized double-blind placebo controlled trial

A redox active medicinal plant and L-leucine mixture (HLM) was investigated in subjects with established osteoarthritis of the knee in a multi-center, rando- m-ized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial. A total of 96 subjects with osteoarthritis were enrolled and randomized to either placebo (n = 38) or HLM treatment group (n = 38). The HLM group re- ceived a combination of Uncaria tomentosa (300 mg), Boswellia serrata (200 mg), Lepidium meyenii (1000 mg) and L-Leucine (700 mg) given as 3 capsules once a day. The placebo group received matching capsules with carboxymethylcellulose. The treatment period was 8 weeks, with assessments made at days 7, 14, 28 and 56. The primary outcome was reduction in total WOMAC score. VAS pain, tolerability, investigator assessments, use of rescue medication (acetominophen), and safety assessments of vital signs and laboratory assessments were included. Subject randomization was effective for age, gender and disease severity. In the placebo group 32/38 subjects completed the trial and for HLM 35/38. WOMAC scores (pain, stiffness, physical performance and total) steadily declined over the course of the 8 week study in both groups, but the magnitude was significantly greater for HLM (P < 0.05). Total WOMAC was reduced 46.5% for HLM and 25.4 % for placebo. VAS pain was reduced 21.8% in the placebo group (p < 0.002) but the changes were significantly greater (37.8% p < 0.03) with HLM treatment. Investigator’s global assessment rating of good-excellent was 24/35 (69%) for HLM and 14/32 (44%) for placebo (P = 0.05). Rescue medication consumption and tolerability were comparable for HLM and placebo. No safety issues were evident with either group. As expected a placebo effect was observed, nevertheless HLM was clearly more effective in relieving the symptoms of osteoarthritis. This HLM represents a safe and effective new approach to the management of osteoarthritis symptoms.

Effect of adrenalectomy on rat epididymidis

AIM: To investigate the effect of adrenalectomy (ADX) on the epididymidis of Sprague-Dawley rats. METHODS: The histological, biochemical (cholesterol protein, zinc, copper, alkaline and acid phosphatase aryl sulphatase, lactic dehydrogenase and leucine amino peptidase) and hormonal (FSH, LH and testosterone) changes of caput and cauda epididymis in ADX rats were observed. RESULTS: Organ wet weight, histological studies and morphometric measurements indicated a cellular degeneration in caput and cauda epididymis of ADX rats. Serum testosterone level was significantly lower in ADX than in sham-operated rats, while the serum FSH and LH were below the detection limit of 1 mIU/mL. The enzymatic activity was higher in ADX than in sham-operated rats. Epididymal zinc level increased whereas copper level decreased in ADX rats compared to the sham-operated. CONCLUSION: Adrenalectomy leads to degeneration of caput and cauda epididymidis epithelial cells as a result of decreased supply of testosterone.

Heidegger’s Metaphysics,a Theory of Human Perception:Neuroscience Anticipated,Thesis of Violent Man,Doctrine of the Logos

In this essay,our goal is to discover science in Martin Heidegger’s Introduction to Metaphysics,lecture notes for his 1935 summer semester course,because,after all,his subject is metaphysica generalis,or ontology,and this could be construed as a theory of the human brain.Here,by means of verbatim quotes from his text,we attempt to show that indeed these lectures can be viewed as suggestion for an objective scientific theory of human perception,the human capacity for deciphering phenomena,i.e.hermeneutics in its broadest sense.His added notes from the 1953 edition,all of which are comments,not corrections,imply that he never abandoned these thoughts on metaphysics,despite all of his utterances about a need to overcome it,and their popular interpretations to that effect.In his presentation,he further develops the colorful and intuitive style,an hermeneutic language,that he had created in his earlier work Being and Time.The logical functions of Dasein’s anatomical brain are performed by the logos machine,formerly the human soul,using top-down processing based on a global context,the noumenal cosmos which humans maintain internally.Heidegger’s 1942/43 winter semester lectures Parmenides extend in unbroken fashion his 1935 work,proving that he never abandoned,as is widely claimed,his metaphysical avenue of thought.

Can a Subcapital Osteotomy Fixed with an Intramedullary Locking Plate Correct all Possible Deformities of a Mild to Moderate Hallux Valgus?

Background: There are at least 5 very popular methods described for the correction of mild to moderate hallux valgus deformities. Despite of reported and self experienced good results in favorable fitting preoperative anatomical conditions of some of these methods;it seems that no one is really satisfying under “difficult” or non favorable preoperative anatomic conditions. How could an optimum operation method for a satisfying correction of a mild to moderate hallux valgus look like? The well known criteria for an optimally satisfying method to achieve full normalization of important forefoot parameters under all conditions should be a lateralization, plantarization and derotation of the Ist metatarsal head and also a normalization of the distal metatarsal articular angle (DMAA) in combination with a soft tissue correction. Methods: In order to achieve this outcome without the disadvantages of shortening or the need for unloading, we developed a new operation technique and new fixation devices. We performed a simple transverse lazy-L subcapital osteotomy and after an additional soft tissue release the Ist metatarsal head was restored to its preplaned optimum position in terms of narrowing the IM angle, plantarization, correction of the hallux valgus angle, derotation of a pronation l malrotation and improvement of the DMAA. Fixation was achieved with an intramedullary angel-stable transfixed 30 mm titanium plate. The rigidity of the implant rendered interfragmental compression or solid bone contact unnecessary. The goal was only an optimal correction. All patients were allowed to ambulate with full weightbearing immediately after the operation. Results: We retrospectively reviewed 346 patients (433 feet) who underwent subcapital osteotomy between May 2007 and December 2011;308 were women and 38 men;their mean age was 65 years. The follow-up investigation was performed on average after 6.5 years (78 months);range 5.5 to 10 years (66 to 120 months). The AOFAS Score improved from 61.18 to 96.82 (t = 55.13, p ° to 4.21° (t = 89.70, p ° to 7.75° (t = 51.68, p ° to 6.61° (t = 29.34, p < 0.001). Minimal shortening of the first metatarsal (0.33 mm) and no recurrence of the deformity was observed. Conclusion: A new access to hallux valgus surgery is presented. Our results show that interfragmental compression between the osteotomy partners or good interfragmental contact is not necessary when a rigid intramedullary fixation device is used. The goal of this approach to hallux valgus surgery was to achieve excellent correction and a very rigid intramedullary angle-stable locked implant. The procedure yielded excellent results and was associated with no recurrence of hallux valgus.

OPTIMAL ERROR ESTIMATE IN L~∞(J;L^2(Ω)) NORM OF FEM FOR A MODEL FOR COMPRESSIBLE MISCIBLE DISPLACEMENT IN POROUS MEDIA

We’ll study the FEM for a model for compressible miscible displacement in porous media which includes molecular diffusion and mechanical dispersion in one-dimensional space.A class of vertices-edges-elements interpolation operator ink is introduced.With the help of ink(not elliptic projection),the optimal error estimate in L∞(J;L2(Ω)) norm of FEM is proved.

Combining ability of Egyptian cotton(Gossypium barbadense L.)reveals genetic potential for improved yield and fiber quality

Background As the most widely cultivated fiber crop,cotton production depends on hybridization to unlock the yield potential of current varieties.A deep understanding of genetic dissection is crucial for the cultivation of enhanced hybrid plants with desired traits,such as high yield and fine fiber quality.In this study,the general combining ability(GCA)and specific combining ability(SCA)of yield and fiber quality of nine cotton parents(six lines and three testers)and eighteen F1 crosses produced using a line×tester mating design were analyzed.Results The results revealed significant effects of genotypes,parents,crosses,and interactions between parents and crosses for most of the studied traits.Moreover,the effects of both additive and non-additive gene actions played a notably significant role in the inheritance of most of the yield and fiber quality attributes.The F1 hybrids of(Giza 90×Aust)×Giza 86,Uzbekistan 1×Giza 97,and Giza 96×Giza 97 demonstrated superior performance due to their favorable integration of high yield attributes and premium fiber quality characteristics.Path analysis revealed that lint yield has the highest positive direct effect on seed cotton yield,while lint percentage showed the highest negative direct effect on seed cotton yield.Principal component analysis identified specific parents and hybrids associated with higher cotton yield,fiber quality,and other agronomic traits.Conclusion This study provides insights into identifying potential single-and three-way cross hybrids with superior cotton yield and fiber quality characteristics,laying a foundation for future research on improving fiber quality in cotton.

缺血性脑卒中铁死亡特征基因NFE2L2的鉴定与验证

背景:铁死亡与缺血性脑卒中的发病密切相关,靶向铁死亡是一种治疗缺血性脑卒中有前景的方案,但具体调控靶点尚不明确。目的:通过生物信息学和机器学习方法筛选缺血性脑卒中铁死亡相关特征基因,并通过细胞实验进行验证,探讨铁死亡在缺血性脑卒中的作用。方法:基于GEO数据库和FerrDb数据库选取符合条件的缺血性脑卒中相关数据集和铁死亡表达数据集,通过t检验筛选铁死亡相关差异基因。对铁死亡相关差异基因进行GO功能富集分析与KEGG信号通路富集分析。通过PPI网络分析和机器学习筛选缺血性脑卒中铁死亡的特征基因,利用ROC分析和GSEA分析探究特征基因的准确性和生物功能。然后进行细胞实验,将HT22细胞分为对照组与缺血性脑卒中组,对照组不作任何干预,缺血性脑卒中组加入0.1 mol/L的H_(2)O_(2)干预24 h诱导细胞氧化应激和铁死亡,通过实时荧光定量RT-PCR和Western Blot验证铁死亡的发生和特征基因表达。结果与结论:(1)共获取45个铁死亡相关差异基因,GO和KEGG富集分析发现差异基因与氧化应激、自噬、铁死亡、脂肪细胞因子信号通路和线粒体代谢密切相关。(2)通过PPI网络中的MCODE插件和cytoHubba插件与机器学习中的LASSO算法和SVM-RFE算法共鉴定出1个铁死亡特征基因核因子E2相关因子2(nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2,NFE2L2)。(3)对NFE2L2进行ROC曲线分析,发现在训练集和验证集中构建的诊断预测模型具有良好的准确性与特异性;对NFE2L2进行GSEA分析,发现特征基因通过免疫、炎症反应、氨基酸代谢及神经因子调控等方面参与缺血性脑卒中发病机制的调控。(4)细胞实验的RT-PCR和Western Blot分析表明,与对照组对比,缺血性脑卒中组中的酰基辅酶A合成酶长链家族成员4 mRNA和蛋白表达水平显著增高(P<0.05),谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶4 mRNA和蛋白表达水平显著降低(P<0.05);与对照组对比,缺血性脑卒中组中特征基因NFE2L2 mRNA和蛋白表达水平显著增高(P<0.05)。(5)上述结果证实,缺血性脑卒中与铁死亡密切相关,靶向特征基因NFE2L2可以为研究和治疗缺血性脑卒中提供一定的思路与方向。

L形冷弯薄壁型钢组合钢管混凝土柱轴压性能

为解决异形钢管混凝土柱阴角对其承载力的影响,提出了用1个冷弯薄壁方钢管和2个U形钢管焊接成L形钢管,内填充混凝土形成L形冷弯薄壁型钢组合钢管混凝土柱形式。设计了5组共10根试件的轴压试验,并开展了有限元参数分析,研究了钢管厚度、U形管外伸长度和钢材强度等参数对构件承载力和延性等力学性能的影响。结果表明:该类试件的主要破坏形态为中上部局部鼓曲破坏,适量增大U形管外伸长度可以提高承载力,但增大到一定程度之后易发生弯扭破坏;承载力和延性随着钢管厚度和钢材强度增大而增加;混凝土强度对构件的初始刚度和峰值荷载的影响都很小,但对曲线下降段的影响较大;试件端部和中部截面阴角处的混凝土应力值比各边中部更大,说明采用U形钢管与方钢管组合的方式改善了阴角处钢管对混凝土约束普遍较弱的问题。基于“统一理论”,给出了两种承载力建议计算公式,与试验结果吻合较好,两种计算方法在0.44~1.94的约束效应系数范围内具有良好的适用性。

Genome-wide association with transcriptomics reveals a shade-tolerance gene network in soybean

Shade tolerance is essential for soybeans in inter/relay cropping systems.A genome-wide association study(GWAS)integrated with transcriptome sequencing was performed to identify genes and construct a genetic network governing the trait in a set of recombinant inbred lines derived from two soybean parents with contrasting shade tolerance.An improved GWAS procedure,restricted two-stage multi-locus genome-wide association study based on gene/allele sequence markers(GASM-RTM-GWAS),identified 140 genes and their alleles associated with shade-tolerance index(STI),146 with relative pith cell length(RCL),and nine with both.Annotation of these genes by biological categories allowed the construction of a protein–protein interaction network by 187 genes,of which half were differentially expressed under shading and non-shading conditions as well as at different growth stages.From the identified genes,three ones jointly identified for both traits by both GWAS and transcriptome and two genes with maximum links were chosen as beginners for entrance into the network.Altogether,both STI and RCL gene systems worked for shade-tolerance with genes interacted each other,this confirmed that shadetolerance is regulated by more than single group of interacted genes,involving multiple biological functions as a gene network.

The Role of Jasmonates as Antibulbing Substances in the Bulb Formation of Onion

Onion plants form spherical bulbs under long-day conditions.Substances regulating bulb formation remain unknown.In the course of chemical studies on the bulb formation,α-linolenic acid was isolated from onion extracts as an antibulbing substance,the amount of which was synchronized with the bulb formation.Since allene oxide synthase inhibitor canceled the antibulbing activity ofα-linolenic acid,it was disclosed that jasmonic acid concerns this regulation.Structure-activity-relationship study revealed that its(3R,7S)stereochemistry is necessary for showing its antibulbing activity.It is concluded that(3R,7S)-jasmonate derived fromα-linolenic acid actually participates in the regulation of bulb formation.

Effect of a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester on invasion of human colorectal cancer cell line SL-174T

AIML To investigate the effect and mechanism of action of the nitric oxide synthase （NOS） inhibitor NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester （L-NAME） on invasion and metastasis of human colorectal cancer cell line SL-174T. METHODS： Human colorectal cancer cel4 line SL-174T was cultured and treated separately with four different dosages of L-NAME for 72 h, Nitric oxide （NO） production was measured with Griess reagent, The effect of L-NAME on invasion and migration of SL-174T cells were evaluated by using Transwell chambers attached with polycarbonate filters and reconstituted basement membrane （Matrigel）, RT-PCR was performed to determine the mRNA levels of matrix metalloproteinase-2 （MMP-2） and tissue inhibitor metalloproteinase-2 （TIMP-2）,RESULTS： L-NAME could significantly inhibit NO production of SL-174T in a dose-dependent manner. After being treated for 72 h with 0.2, 0.4, 0.8, and 1.0 mmol/L L- NAME, respectively, the ability of the L-NAME treated SL- 174T cells to invade the reconstituted basement membrane decreased significantly （t = 8.056, P〈0.05; t= 14.467, P〈0.01; t= 27.785, P〈0.01; and t= 29.405, P〈0.01, respectively） and the inhibition rates were 10.29%, 19.62%, 34.08%, and 42.23%, respectively. Moreover, L-NAME could inhibit migration of SL-174T cells, and the inhibition rates were 20.76%, 24.95%, 39.43%, and 46. 85% for L-NAME at 0.2, 0.4, 0.8, and 1.0 mmol/L, respectively （t = 15.116, P〈0.01）. In addition, after treatment with L-NAME, expression of MMP-2 mRNA was significantly decreased （t = 71.238, P〈0.01） and that of TIMP-2 mRNA was markedly increased （t = -13.020, P〈0.01）. CONCLUSION： L-NAME exerts anti-invasive and anti- metastatic effects on SL-174T cell line via downregulating MNP-2 mRNA expression and upregulating TIMP-2 mRNA expression.

Blood Compatibility of Amphiphilic Poly(N-α-acrylamide-L-lysine-<i>b</i>-dimethylsiloxane) Block Copolymers

Amphiphilic block copolymers poly(LysAA-b-DMS) consisting of a hydrophilic poly(N-α-acrylamide-L-lysine) [poly(LysAA)] segment with different molecular weights and a hydrophobic polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) segment were prepared as follows. The precursor copolymer poly(Boc-LysAA-OtBu-b-PDMS) was obtained from radical polymerization of N-α-acrylamide-N-ε-tert-butoxycarbonyl-L-lysine-tert-butylester (Boc-LysAA-OtBu) initiated with 4,4’-azobis(polydimethylsiloxane 4-cyanopentanoate) (azo-PDMS) with the molecular weight of PDMS Mw = 4.3 × 103 in the presence of 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME) as a chain-transfer agent. Removal of the protecting groups of the precursor copolymer was carried out in 80% trifluoroacetic acid aqueous solution to give poly(LysAA-b-DMS)-1-3. The weight average molecular weight of poly(LysAA-b-DMS)-1-3 was Mw = 1.02 × 104 – 2.52 × 104. From the 1H-NMR and fluorescence spectra measurements, poly(LysAA-b-DMS)-1-3 was determined to self-organize and form core-shell micelles in water. The critical micelle concentration (CMC) increased to 1000 - 4000 mg·L–1 with increasing molar ratio of the poly(LysAA) segment from 0.42 to 0.65. From morphological analysis with a scanning probe microscope (SPM), poly(LysAA-b-DMS) has microphase-separated structures made up of hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions with the domain size ranging from several tens to several hundreds of nanometers. Inhibition of thrombin activity of poly(LysAA-b-DMS) was evaluated from the Michaelis constant (KM) and catalytic activity (kcat) for the enzymatic reaction of thrombin and synthetic substrate S-2238 in the presence of poly(LysAA-b-DMS). The KM and kcat were 0.10 - 0.11 mM and 4.04 × 105 – 4.26 × 105 min–1, respectively. Fibrinolytic activity was also verified from the transformation of plasminogen to plasmin by tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) using synthetic substrate S-2251 in the presence of poly(LysAA-b-DMS). The KM and kcat were 0.07 mM and 5.73 × 106 –5.95 × 106 min–1, respectively.

Effects of rotation and gravity on an electro-magneto-thermoelastic medium with diffusion and voids by using the Lord-Shulman and dual-phase-lag models

The effects of rotation and gravity on an electro-magneto-thermoelastic medium with diffusion and voids in a generalized thermoplastic half-space are studied by using the Lord-Shulman (L-S) model and the dual-phase-lag (DPL) model. The analytical solutions for the displacements, stresses, temperature, diffusion concentration, and volume fraction field with different values of the magnetic field, the rotation, the gravity, and the initial stress are obtained and portrayed graphically. The results indicate that the effects of gravity, rotation, voids, diffusion, initial stress, and electromagnetic field are very pronounced on the physical properties of the material.