Identification of differentially expressed genes in ulcerative colitis and verification in a colitis mouse model by bioinformatics analyses

BACKGROUND Ulcerative colitis(UC)is an inflammatory bowel disease that is difficult to diagnose and treat.To date,the degree of inflammation in patients with UC has mainly been determined by measuring the levels of nonspecific indicators,such as C-reactive protein and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate,but these indicators have an unsatisfactory specificity.In this study,we performed bioinformatics analysis using data from the National Center for Biotechnology Information-Gene Expression Omnibus(NCBI-GEO)databases and verified the selected core genes in a mouse model of dextran sulfate sodium(DSS)-induced colitis.AIM To identify UC-related differentially expressed genes(DEGs)using a bioinformatics analysis and verify them in vivo and to identify novel biomarkers and the underlying mechanisms of UC.METHODS Two microarray datasets from the NCBI-GEO database were used,and DEGs between patients with UC and healthy controls were analyzed using GEO2R and Venn diagrams.We annotated these genes based on their functions and signaling pathways,and then protein-protein interactions(PPIs)were identified using the Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes.The data were further analyzed with Cytoscape software and the Molecular Complex Detection(MCODE)app.The core genes were selected and a Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analysis was performed.Finally,colitis model mice were established by administering DSS,and the top three core genes were verified in colitis mice using real-time polymerase chain reaction(PCR).RESULTS One hundred and seventy-seven DEGs,118 upregulated and 59 downregulated,were initially identified from the GEO2R analysis and predominantly participated in inflammation-related pathways.Seven clusters with close interactions in UC formed:Seventeen core genes were upregulated[C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 13(CXCL13),C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 2(CXCR2),CXCL9,CXCL5,C-C motif chemokine ligand 18,interleukin 1 beta,matrix metallopeptidase 9,CXCL3,formyl peptide receptor 1,complement component 3,CXCL8,CXCL1,CXCL10,CXCL2,CXCL6,CXCL11 and hydroxycarboxylic acid receptor 3]and one was downregulated[neuropeptide Y receptor Y1(NYP1R)]in the top cluster according to the PPI and MCODE analyses.These genes were substantially enriched in the cytokinecytokine receptor interaction and chemokine signaling pathways.The top three core genes(CXCL13,NYP1R,and CXCR2)were selected and verified in a mouse model of colitis using real-time PCR Increased expression was observed compared with the control mice,but only CXCR2 expression was significantly different.CONCLUSION Core DEGs identified in UC are related to inflammation and immunity inflammation,indicating that these reactions are core features of the pathogenesis of UC.CXCR2 may reflect the degree of inflammation in patients with UC.

The efficient utilization of low-grade scheelite with X-ray transmission sorting and mixed collectors

Nowadays,with the depletion of high-grade scheelite resources,the efficient exploitation of complex,low grade with complicated geological structure scheelite ore have to take into account.This work introduces a feasible mineral processing method for the beneficiation of low grade and complex scheelite using the X-ray transmission(XRT) pre-concentration technology and mixed collectors.The results of XRT sorting shown that 94.85% WO_(3) can be recovered with the discarding rate reached40.62%.The closed-circuit flotation of actual ore using mixed collector obtained scheelite concentrate of 61.09% WO_(3) grade with WO_(3) recovery of 89.49%.The combined flowsheet of XRT sorting and mixed collector brought about RMB 4.5 million yuan profit per year for the mine company.

Structure–activity relationship and mechanisms of reagents used in scheelite flotation

Effects of carboxylic acid collector, benzohydroxamic acid (BHA), sodium hexametaphosphate (SHAP), sodium silicate, and oxalic acid on scheelite flotation were studied through flotation tests, quantum chemical calculation, and flotation solution computational chemistry. In terms of the calculation results, the relationship between chemical reactions occurring on the scheelite surface and molecular structures of the reagents were analyzed. The results show that BHA and carboxylic acid collectors interact with scheelite in different forms and the recovery of scheelite using sodium oleate as collector declines successively from SHAP, sodium silicate, to oxalic acid. Moreover, it is found that the performance of depressant in scheelite flotation is directly related to the group electronegativity, indicating that the latter is a dominant factor that determines the former. These findings will be helpful to the academic research communities of scheelite flotation.

Optimization and mechanism of gold-bearing sulfide flotation

In order to overcome the difficulty of extracting gold from gold-bearing sulfide ore by cyanide process flotation was adopted based on mineralogical analysis Mineralogy shows that gold particles are of superfine structure and mainly enclosed by sulfide ores. Primary gold-bearing sulfide ore is fine-grained pyrite and arsenopyrite. The paper describes the effects of ratios and dosage of activators and collectors on the recovery and grade of gold concentrate. A proper flotation flowsheet was then proposed based on experimental condition and closedcircuit test. The gold concentrate with the gold grade of25.14 g ton-1and the recovery of 86.94 % is obtained after one rougher, three cleaners, and four scavengers from fine grinding flotation process. Furthermore, the mechanisms of combined activators and combined collectors were studied by thermodynamic calculation, and structure-activity relationship of flotation reagent was also explained