Macrophage-derived SHP-2 inhibits the metastasis of colorectal cancer via Tie2-PI3K signals

This research aimed to explore the influence of Src homology-2 containing protein tyrosine phosphatase(SHP-2)on the functions of tyrosine kinase receptors with immunoglobulin and EGF homology domains 2(Tie2)-expressing monocyte/macrophages(TEMs)and the influence of the angiopoietin(Ang)/Tie2-phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase(PI3K)/protein kinase B(Akt)/mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR)(Ang/Tie2-PI3K/Akt/mTOR)signaling pathway on the tumor microvascular remodeling in an immunosuppressive microenvironment.In vivo,SHP-2-deficient mice were used to construct colorectal cancer(CRC)liver metastasis models.SHP-2-deficient mice had significantly more metastatic cancer and inhibited nodules on the liver surface than wild-type mice,and the high-level expression of p-Tie2 was found in the liver tissue of the macrophages’specific SHP-2-deficient mice(SHP-2MACKO)+planted tumor mice.Compared with the SHP-2 wild type mice(SHP-2WT)+planted tumor group,the SHP-2MAC-KO+planted tumor group experienced increased expression of p-Tie2,p-PI3K,p-Akt,p-mTOR,vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF),cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2),matrix metalloproteinase 2(MMP2),and MMP9 in the liver tissue.TEMs selected by in vitro experiments were co-cultured with remodeling endothelial cells and tumor cells as carriers.It was found that when Angpt1/2 was used for stimulation,the SHP-2MAC-KO+Angpt1/2 group displayed evident increases in the expression of the Ang/Tie2-PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway.The number of cells passing through the lower chamber and the basement membrane and the number of blood vessels formed by cells compared with the SHP-2WT+Angpt1/2 group,while these indexes were subjected to no changes under the simultaneous stimulation of Angpt1/2+Neamine.To sum up,the conditional knockout of SHP-2 can activate the Ang/Tie2-PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway in TEMs,thereby strengthening tumor micro angiogenesis in the microenvironment and facilitating CRC liver metastasis.

Texture analysis on parametric maps derived from dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging in head and neck cancer

AIM: To investigate the merits of texture analysis on parametric maps derived from pharmacokinetic modeling with dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging(DCE-MRI) as imaging biomarkers for the prediction of treatment response in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma(HNSCC). METHODS: In this retrospective study,19 HNSCC patients underwent pre- and intra-treatment DCEMRI scans at a 1.5T MRI scanner. All patients had chemo-radiation treatment. Pharmacokinetic modeling was performed on the acquired DCE-MRI images,generating maps of volume transfer rate(Ktrans) and volume fraction of the extravascular extracellular space(ve). Image texture analysis was then employed on maps of Ktrans and ve,generating two texture measures: Energy(E) and homogeneity.RESULTS: No significant changes were found for the mean and standard deviation for Ktrans and ve between pre- and intra-treatment(P > 0.09). Texture analysis revealed that the imaging biomarker E of ve was significantly higher in intra-treatment scans,relative to pretreatment scans(P < 0.04). CONCLUSION: Chemo-radiation treatment in HNSCC significantly reduces the heterogeneity of tumors.

Investigation of the redox performance of pyrite cinder calcined at different temperature in chemical looping combustion

As an industrial solid waste,pyrite cinder exhibited excellent reactivity and cycle stability in chemical looping combustion.Prior to the experiment,oxygen carriers often experienced a high temperature calcination process to stabilize the physico-chemical properties,which presented significant influence on the redox performance of oxygen carriers.However,the effect of calcination temperature on the cyclic reaction performance of pyrite cinder has not been studied in detail.In this work,the effect of calcination temperature on the redox activity and attrition characteristic of pyrite cinder were studied in a fluidizedbed reactor using CH_(4) as fuel.A series of pyrite cinder samples were prepared by controlling the calcination temperature.The redox activity and attrition rate of the obtained pyrite cinder samples were investigated deeply.The results showed that calcination temperature displayed significant impact on the redox performance of pyrite cinder.Considering CH_(4) conversion(80%–85%)and attrition resistance,the pyrite cinder calcined at 1050℃ presented excellent redox properties.In the whole experiment process,the CO_(2) selectivity of the pyrite cinder samples were not affected by the calcination temperature and were still close to 100%.The results can provide reference for optimizing the calcination temperature of pyrite cinder during chemical looping process.

Effect of supports on the redox performance of pyrite cinder in chemical looping combustion

Chemical looping combustion(CLC)is a clean and efficient flame-free combustion technology,which combust the fuels by lattice oxygen from a solid oxygen carrier with inherent CO_(2)capture.The development of oxygen carriers with low cost and high redox performance is crucial to the whole efficiency of CLC process.As the solid by-product from the sulfuric acid production,pyrite cinder presented excellent redox performance as an oxygen carrier in CLC process.The main components in pyrite cinder are Fe_(2)O_(3),CaSO_(4),Al_(2)O_(3)and SiO_(2)in which Fe_(2)O_(3)is the active component to provide lattice oxygen.In order to systematic investigate the functions of supports(CaSO_4,Al_(2)O_(3)and SiO_(2))in pyrite cinder,three oxygen carriers(Fe_(2)O_(3)-CaSO_(4),Fe_(2)O_(3)-Al_(2)O_(3)and Fe_(2)O_(3)-SiO_(2))were prepared and evaluated in this study.The results showed that Fe_(2)O_(3)-CaSO_(4) displayed high redox activity and cycling stability in the multiple redox cycles.However,both Fe_(2)O_(3)-Al_(2)O_(3)and Fe_(2)O_(3)-SiO_(2)experienced serious deactivation during redox reactions.It indicated that the inert Fe-Si solid solution(Fe_(2)SiO_(4))was formed in the spent Fe_(2)O_(3)-SiO_(2)sample,which decreased the oxygen carrying capacity of this sample.The XPS results showed that the oxygen species on the surface of Fe_(2)O_(3)-CaSO_(4) could be fully recovered after the 20 redox cycles.It can be concluded that CaSO_(4) is the key to the high redox activity and cycling stability of pyrite cinder.

Analysis on the Breeding and Major Traits of Wide-adaptability Indica CMS Line Yungu 3A

Breeding sterile lines is the key to the development of hybrid rice with wide adaptability. However, at present, few wide-adaptability sterile lines have been applied in production practice. In this study, Yungu 3A, a new WA-type Indica CMS line with good grain quality, was developed by hybridization between Yunfeng 66A with wide adaptability as female parent and F1 plants of Yunfeng 66B/D62B as male parent and continuous backcrossing. According to the results, the finally obtained lndica CMS line Yungu 3A has good plant type and leaf shape, strong tillering ability, excellent flowering habit, stable and complete male sterility with the sterile plant rate and pollen sterility rate of 100%, strong combining ability, high outcrossing rate, low sensitivity to light and temperature, and strong disease resistance, which was approved by Yunnan Provincial Crop Variety Appraisal Committee in 2013. Yungu 3A is conducive to the development of new hybrid rice combinations with good quality and wide adaptability, exhibiting a promising prospect of application.

Investigation and Analysis of Harmful Organisms Intercepted from Imported Seeds and Seedlings during 2011-2014

In this study,records published by General Administration of Quality Supervision,Inspection and Quarantine of China and related literature on harmful organisms intercepted from imported seeds and seedlings during 2011-2014 were investigated and analyzed.The results showed that the species and amount of harmful organisms intercepted from imported seeds and seedlings increased gradually during 2011-2014,which posed a realistic or potential threat to agriculture production in China.Based on the present situation,corresponding suggestions and countermeasures were proposed：1 strengthening the study on rapid detection technology of harmful organisms;2 improving the ability of animal and plant quarantine in China.

Cooperation-based sperm clusters mediate sperm oviduct entry and fertilization

Dear Editor,Sperm cooperation has been observed in multiple species(Pizzari and Foster,2008),yet its existenee and benefit for reproductive success in mammals remains underexplored.Here,combining tissue-clearing with deep three-dimensional(3D)imagi ng,we dem on strate that postcopulatory mouse sperm congregate into unidirectional sperm cooperative clusters at the utero-tubal junction(UTJ),a key physical barrier for passage into the oviduct.