AIM: To investigate the effect of all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) on arsenic trioxide (As2O3)-induced apoptosis of human hepatoma, breast cancer, and lung cancer cells in an attempt to find a better combination th...AIM: To investigate the effect of all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) on arsenic trioxide (As2O3)-induced apoptosis of human hepatoma, breast cancer, and lung cancer cells in an attempt to find a better combination therapy for solid tumors. METHODS: Human hepatoma cell lines HepG2, Hep3B, human breast cancer cell line MCF-7, and human lung adenocarcinoma cell line AGZY-83-a were treated with As203 together with ATRA. Cell survival fraction was determined by MTT assay, cell viability and apoptosis were measured by annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) and PI staining, and intracellular glutathione (GSH) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activities were determined using commercial kits. RESULTS: Cytotoxicity of ATRA was low. ATRA (0.1, 1, and 10 μmol/L) could synergistically potentiate As2O3 to exert a dose-dependent inhibition of growth and to induce apoptosis in each of the cell lines. HepG2 and Hep3B with low intracellular GSH or GST activities were remarkably sensitive to As2O3 or As2O3+ATRA, while AGZY-83-a with higher GSH or GST activities was less sensitive to As2O3 or As2O3+ATRA. Treatment with 2 μmol/L As2O3 for 72 h significantly decreased intracellular GSH and GST levels in each of the cell lines, and 1 μmol/L ATRA alone reduced minimal intracellular GSH and GST levels. ATRA potentiated the effect of As2O3 on intracellular GSH levels, but intracellular GST levels were not significantly affected by the combination of As2O3 and ATRA for 72 h as compared to As2O3 alone.CONCLUSION: ATRA can strongly potentiate As2O3- induced growth-inhibition and apoptosis in each of the cell lines, and two drugs can produce a significant synergic effect. The sensitivity to As2O3 or As2O3+ATRA is inversely proportional to intracellular GSH or GST levels in each of the cell lines. The GSH redox system may be the possible mechanism by which ATRA synergistically potentiates As203 to exert a dose-dependent inhibition of growth and to induce apoptosis. 2005 The WJG Press and Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.展开更多
The well-known Three Gorges Dam(TGD) within the Yangtze catchment launched its operation in 2003. The effect of the TGD operation on the sediment size on the East China Sea shelf is rarely known. High resolution(0.5 c...The well-known Three Gorges Dam(TGD) within the Yangtze catchment launched its operation in 2003. The effect of the TGD operation on the sediment size on the East China Sea shelf is rarely known. High resolution(0.5 cm sampling) grain size analysis and 137 Cs and 210 Pb dating of the DH8-1 core were conducted with core collected from the distal part of a main sink for the modern Yangtze sediment entering the sea, the Min-Zhe Coastal Mud Deposits(MZCMD) on the inner East China Sea shelf. The 137 Cs dating results show that the core DH8-1 formed during 1946–2012 with a mean deposition rate of 0.65 cm yr^(-1), indicating that the 0.5 cm sampling for grain size analysis in this local area could reflect environmental changes generally on a one-year time scale. The mean grain size of DH8-1 core sediment that deposited after 2003 is significantly larger than that deposited during 1988–2002. After ruling out other possible factors, we infer that the sediment coarsening of DH8-1 core after 2003 is attributed to the TGD operation which causes the erosion of the Yangtze subaqueous delta. Specifically, the TGD operation significantly intensifies the declining trend of the Yangtze sediment loads to the sea despite no decreased water discharge, which results in extensive erosion of the Yangtze subaqueous delta. The relatively coarse sediment of the subaqueous delta is eroded and resuspended by ocean dynamics and then transported by coastal current, finally depositing on the MZCMD area. In addition, the general sediment fining of core DH8-1 that deposited during 1988–2002, comparing with 1946–1987, is mainly caused by dam construction and soil and water conservation within the Yangtze catchment. Our findings are helpful for better understanding the effects of such a huge dam as the TGD on a sediment sink like the MZCMD of such a large river as the Yangtze River.展开更多
This study focuses on dynamic mechanism behind the formation of the freshwater zone around the Meimao Sandbank by use of 3D numerical simulation.The Meimao Sandbank is located along the southern bank of the South Pass...This study focuses on dynamic mechanism behind the formation of the freshwater zone around the Meimao Sandbank by use of 3D numerical simulation.The Meimao Sandbank is located along the southern bank of the South Passage in the Changjiang(Yangtze River) estuary,which is considered as a freshwater resource for Shanghai City.Interaction between runoff and tide is the main mechanism of the freshwater zone formation.However,the freshwater zone often suffers from saltwater intrusion in dry season.Tidal oscillation is stronger during spring tides,able to carry freshwater farther seaward.Therefore,it is more likely to occur during the ebb of a spring tide in dry seasons.In addition,the water zone is sensitive to runoff:when runoff decreases,it disappears,and vice versa.The northerly winds favor the formation of the freshwater zone.展开更多
Valtrate is the main drug quality control for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of Valerian medicines in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia 2010. However, valtrate is unstable under some conditions. We, for the first t...Valtrate is the main drug quality control for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of Valerian medicines in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia 2010. However, valtrate is unstable under some conditions. We, for the first time, systemically evaluated the stability of two bath reference standards (RS) by high performance liquid chromatography coupled with a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer (HPLC-MS/MS). The forced degradations of valtrate were performed to evaluate its optimal storage, transportation and experiment conditions according to ICH guideline. The developed HPLC method was validated to determine the degradation products. Valtrate RS was sensitive to alkaline and thermal conditions, but it was relatively stable under acidic, oxidation and photolysis conditions. A total of nine degradation components were identified under alkaline hydrolysis (N1-N4) and thermal degradation (B1-B5). The information obtained in this work would be valuable to minimize the decomposition of valtrate during the processes of preparation, storage, distribution and utilization. It was highly suggested to store valtrate with a single dose packing in brown closed ampoule at -20℃. Under the above-mentioned storage condition, valtrate could be stable for up to 3 years.展开更多
Light absorber is critical to the further applications of thin film solar cells. Here, we report a facile solution-processed method with an annealing temperature below250°C to fabricate Ag8 SnS6(ATS) light absorb...Light absorber is critical to the further applications of thin film solar cells. Here, we report a facile solution-processed method with an annealing temperature below250°C to fabricate Ag8 SnS6(ATS) light absorber for thin film solar cells. After optimization, the ATS-based thin film solar cells exhibited a reproducible power conversion efficiency(PCE) of about 0.25% and an outstanding long-term stability with 90% of the initial PCE retained after a more than 1,000 h degradation test. This research revealed the potential application of ATS as an earth-abundant, low toxic and chemically stable light absorber in thin film solar cells.展开更多
基金Supported by the Key Scientific and Technological Projects of Heilongjiang Province during the 10~(th) Five-Year Plan Period, No. GB05C401-10
文摘AIM: To investigate the effect of all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) on arsenic trioxide (As2O3)-induced apoptosis of human hepatoma, breast cancer, and lung cancer cells in an attempt to find a better combination therapy for solid tumors. METHODS: Human hepatoma cell lines HepG2, Hep3B, human breast cancer cell line MCF-7, and human lung adenocarcinoma cell line AGZY-83-a were treated with As203 together with ATRA. Cell survival fraction was determined by MTT assay, cell viability and apoptosis were measured by annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) and PI staining, and intracellular glutathione (GSH) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activities were determined using commercial kits. RESULTS: Cytotoxicity of ATRA was low. ATRA (0.1, 1, and 10 μmol/L) could synergistically potentiate As2O3 to exert a dose-dependent inhibition of growth and to induce apoptosis in each of the cell lines. HepG2 and Hep3B with low intracellular GSH or GST activities were remarkably sensitive to As2O3 or As2O3+ATRA, while AGZY-83-a with higher GSH or GST activities was less sensitive to As2O3 or As2O3+ATRA. Treatment with 2 μmol/L As2O3 for 72 h significantly decreased intracellular GSH and GST levels in each of the cell lines, and 1 μmol/L ATRA alone reduced minimal intracellular GSH and GST levels. ATRA potentiated the effect of As2O3 on intracellular GSH levels, but intracellular GST levels were not significantly affected by the combination of As2O3 and ATRA for 72 h as compared to As2O3 alone.CONCLUSION: ATRA can strongly potentiate As2O3- induced growth-inhibition and apoptosis in each of the cell lines, and two drugs can produce a significant synergic effect. The sensitivity to As2O3 or As2O3+ATRA is inversely proportional to intracellular GSH or GST levels in each of the cell lines. The GSH redox system may be the possible mechanism by which ATRA synergistically potentiates As203 to exert a dose-dependent inhibition of growth and to induce apoptosis. 2005 The WJG Press and Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China for its financial support (Nos. 41376052, 41030856, 40906024)
文摘The well-known Three Gorges Dam(TGD) within the Yangtze catchment launched its operation in 2003. The effect of the TGD operation on the sediment size on the East China Sea shelf is rarely known. High resolution(0.5 cm sampling) grain size analysis and 137 Cs and 210 Pb dating of the DH8-1 core were conducted with core collected from the distal part of a main sink for the modern Yangtze sediment entering the sea, the Min-Zhe Coastal Mud Deposits(MZCMD) on the inner East China Sea shelf. The 137 Cs dating results show that the core DH8-1 formed during 1946–2012 with a mean deposition rate of 0.65 cm yr^(-1), indicating that the 0.5 cm sampling for grain size analysis in this local area could reflect environmental changes generally on a one-year time scale. The mean grain size of DH8-1 core sediment that deposited after 2003 is significantly larger than that deposited during 1988–2002. After ruling out other possible factors, we infer that the sediment coarsening of DH8-1 core after 2003 is attributed to the TGD operation which causes the erosion of the Yangtze subaqueous delta. Specifically, the TGD operation significantly intensifies the declining trend of the Yangtze sediment loads to the sea despite no decreased water discharge, which results in extensive erosion of the Yangtze subaqueous delta. The relatively coarse sediment of the subaqueous delta is eroded and resuspended by ocean dynamics and then transported by coastal current, finally depositing on the MZCMD area. In addition, the general sediment fining of core DH8-1 that deposited during 1988–2002, comparing with 1946–1987, is mainly caused by dam construction and soil and water conservation within the Yangtze catchment. Our findings are helpful for better understanding the effects of such a huge dam as the TGD on a sediment sink like the MZCMD of such a large river as the Yangtze River.
基金Supported by the Funds for Creative Research Groups of China (No. 40721004)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 40976056)National Major Science and Technology Project of Water Pollution Control and Countermeasures (No. 2008ZX07421-001)
文摘This study focuses on dynamic mechanism behind the formation of the freshwater zone around the Meimao Sandbank by use of 3D numerical simulation.The Meimao Sandbank is located along the southern bank of the South Passage in the Changjiang(Yangtze River) estuary,which is considered as a freshwater resource for Shanghai City.Interaction between runoff and tide is the main mechanism of the freshwater zone formation.However,the freshwater zone often suffers from saltwater intrusion in dry season.Tidal oscillation is stronger during spring tides,able to carry freshwater farther seaward.Therefore,it is more likely to occur during the ebb of a spring tide in dry seasons.In addition,the water zone is sensitive to runoff:when runoff decreases,it disappears,and vice versa.The northerly winds favor the formation of the freshwater zone.
基金Special Funds of the National Natural Science Foundation of China on"Major New Drugs Innovation and Development"(Grant No.2014ZX09304307-002)
文摘Valtrate is the main drug quality control for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of Valerian medicines in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia 2010. However, valtrate is unstable under some conditions. We, for the first time, systemically evaluated the stability of two bath reference standards (RS) by high performance liquid chromatography coupled with a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer (HPLC-MS/MS). The forced degradations of valtrate were performed to evaluate its optimal storage, transportation and experiment conditions according to ICH guideline. The developed HPLC method was validated to determine the degradation products. Valtrate RS was sensitive to alkaline and thermal conditions, but it was relatively stable under acidic, oxidation and photolysis conditions. A total of nine degradation components were identified under alkaline hydrolysis (N1-N4) and thermal degradation (B1-B5). The information obtained in this work would be valuable to minimize the decomposition of valtrate during the processes of preparation, storage, distribution and utilization. It was highly suggested to store valtrate with a single dose packing in brown closed ampoule at -20℃. Under the above-mentioned storage condition, valtrate could be stable for up to 3 years.
基金financially supported by the National High Technology Research and Development Program of China(2015AA050602)the Project of Science and Technology Service(STS)Network Initiative,Chinese Academy of Sciences(KFJ-SW-STS-152)
文摘Light absorber is critical to the further applications of thin film solar cells. Here, we report a facile solution-processed method with an annealing temperature below250°C to fabricate Ag8 SnS6(ATS) light absorber for thin film solar cells. After optimization, the ATS-based thin film solar cells exhibited a reproducible power conversion efficiency(PCE) of about 0.25% and an outstanding long-term stability with 90% of the initial PCE retained after a more than 1,000 h degradation test. This research revealed the potential application of ATS as an earth-abundant, low toxic and chemically stable light absorber in thin film solar cells.