Diagnostic value of negative enrichment and immune fluorescence in situ hybridization for intraperitoneal free cancer cells of gastric cancer

Objective:To explore the intraperitoneal free cancer cell(IFCC)detection value of negative enrichment and immune fluorescence in situ hybridization(NEimFISH)on chromosomes(CEN)8/17.Methods:To verify the reliability of NEimFISH,29 gastric cancer tumors,their adjacent tissues and greater omental tissues were tested.Our study then included 105 gastric cancer patients for IFCC.We defined patients as IFCC-positive if a signal was detected,regardless of the detailed cancer cell numbers.A comparison of clinicopathological features was conducted among IFCC groups.We also compared the diagnosis value and peritoneal recurrence predictive value among different detection methods.The comparison of IFCC number was also conducted among different groups.Results:A cutoff of 2.5 positive cells could distinguish all benign tissue samples and 97%of malignant tissue samples in our study.Compared to intestinal gastric cancer,patients with diffuse gastric cancer tended to have more IFCCs(6 vs.4,P=0.002).The IFCC counts were often higher in the lymphovascular invasion positive group than negative group(3 vs.1,P=0.022).All IFCC samples that were considered positive using conventional cytology were also found to be positive using NEimFISH.When compared to conventional cytology and paraffin pathology,NEimFISH had a higher IFCC positive rate(68.9%)and higher one-year peritoneal recurrence predictive value with area under the curve(AUC)of 0.922.Conclusions:Gastric cancer could be effectively diagnosed by NEimFISH.The IFCC number found using NEimFISH on CEN8/17 is closely associated with Lauren type and vascular invasion of cancer.NEimFISH is a reliable detection modality with a higher positive detection rate,higher one-year peritoneal recurrence predictive value and quantitative features for IFCC of gastric cancer.

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SEROSAL TYPES, PATHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND FREE CANCER CELLS IN THE PERITONEAL CAVITY OF GASTRIC CANCER PATIENTS

The relationship between free cancer cells and the pathological characteristics of gastric cancer were studied. Of 100 cases of gastric cancer, free cancer cells in the peritoneal cavity were detected in 32 cases (32%). Free cancer cells were most often found in tendonoid (62.2%) and colour diffused (60.0%) serosal types. When the area of serosal invasion was over 20 cm, the positive free cancer cell rate was 56.6% and only 2.5% if below 20 cm. Free cancer cells were related to the depth of cancer infiltration, often found in the S2 and S3 invasion layers, as well as to the pathological characteristics of gastric cancer. Free cancer cells were often seen in infiltrated type cancer, histologically poorly differentiated or undifferentiated adenocarcinoma. and nest or diffused growth types. In patients without peritoneal metastasis (P0), the positive rate was 26.1%. This study proved that Chen's serosal classification is correct and useful in assessing whether the cancer cells have penetrated through the serosa or not during surgery. Different treatments should be used in the cases with different serosal types. In addition to surgery, destruction of free cancer cells should be considered in tendonoid and colour diffused serosal types, so as to prevent peritoneal metastasis.

Comparison of conventional and inverted structures in fullerene-free organic solar cells

A n-type small molecule DC-IDT2E with 4,4,9,9-tetrakis（4-hexylphenyl）-indaceno[1,2-b：5,6-bt]dithiophene as a central building block, furan as rr-bridges, and 1,1 -dicyanomethylene-3-indanone as end acceptor groups, was synthesized and used as an electron acceptor in solution-processed organic solar cells （OSCs）. DC-IDT2F exhibited good thermal stability, broad and strong absorption in 500-850 rim, a narrow bandgap of 1.54 eV, LUMO of-3.88 eV, HOMO of-5.44 eV and an electron mobility of 6.5 × 10-4 cm2/（V.s）. DC-IDT2F-based OSCs with conventional and inverted structures exhibited power conversion efficiencies of 2.26 and 3.08% respec- tively. The effect of vertical phase separation and morphology of the active layer on the device performance in the two structures was studied.

Establishment of Cell Free Conversion System With Biotin-labelled Recombinant PrP^(sen) Expressed in E.coli

Objective To report a protocol using biotin-labelled PrP protein in cell free conversion assay instead of isotope. Methods A hamster PrP protein （HaPrP） was expressed in E. coli and purified with HIS-tag affinity chromatograph. After being labelled with biotin, HaPrP was mixed with PrP^sen preparation from scrapie strain 263K. Results Protease-resistant bands were detected after four-day incubation. Conclusion The new conversion model provides a reliable, easily handling, and environment-friendly method for studies of prion and transmissible spongiform encephalopathies.

Effects of Chuanxiongqin hydrochloride on increasing the fluidity of brain cell membrane and scavenging free radicals in model rats with ischemia/reperfusion injury

BACKGROUND: The fluidity of cell membrane can be affected by various factors. Many experiments have confirmed that the ischemia/reperfusion of organic tissue can increase the contents of free radicals, which lead to high rigidity and low fluidity of cell membrane, and the conditions can be changed by Chuanxiongqin. OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect and mechanism of Chuanxiongqin hydrochloride on the fluidity of brain cell membrane in rat models of ischemia/reperfusion. DESIGN: A completely randomized controlled animal trial. SETTINGS: Institute of Brain Sciences; Department of Physiology, Medical College, Datong University. MATERIALS: Twenty male grade Ⅰ Wistar rats of 170-220 g were randomly divided into model group (n =10) and control group (n =10). Chuanxiongqin hydrochloride (molecular mass was 172.2) was purchased from the National Institute for the Control of Pharmaceutical and Biological Products (batch number: 0817-9803); Spin labelers: 5-doxyl-stearlic acid methylester (5DS), 16-doxyl-stearlic acid methylester (16DS), xanthine, xanthine oxidase (XOD) and 5,5-dimeth-1-pyrroline- N-oxide (DMPO) from Sigma Company; Bruker ESP 300 electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectrometer by Bruker Company (Germany). METHODS: The experiments were carried out in the State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University from June 2001 to July 2002. In the model group, rats were made into models of cerebral ischemia by 30-minute ligation and 2-hour reperfusion of common carotid arteries; The rats in the control group were not made into models. The order parameter (S) and rotational correlation time (τc) were detected with the ESR spectrometer by means of spin labeling. The greater the S and τc, the smaller the fluidity. Meanwhile, the clearance rate of free radicals was detected with ESR spin trapping. The measurement data were compared using the t test. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The S, τc and clearance rates of O2 · and OH· free radicals were compared between the model group and control group. RESULTS: The S and τc in the model group [0.738 4±0.003 5; (8.472±0.027)×10-10 s/circle] were obviously different from those in the control group [0.683 9±0.008 3; (7.945±0.082)×10-10 s/circle, t =5.731, 5.918, P < 0.05], which suggested that ischemia/reperfusion injury decreased the fluidity of brain cell membrane. After adding Chuanxiongqin hydrochloride, there were no obvious differences between the model group [0.688 5±0.030 5; (7.886±0.341)×10-10 s/circle] and control group (P > 0.05), indicating that Chuanxiongqin hydrochloride could recover the fluidity of brain cell membrane after ischemia/reperfusion injury close to the level in the normal control group. Chuanxiongqin hydrochloride could directly scavenge the O2 · and OH· free radicals, and the maximal clearance rates were 83.92% and 44.99% respectively. CONCLUSION: Chuanxiongqin hydrochloride increases the fluidity of membrane of ischemia-injured brain cell by scavenging both O2 ·and OH· free radicals.

Emerging role of non-invasive and liquid biopsy biomarkers in pancreatic cancer

A global increase in the incidence of pancreatic cancer(PanCa)presents a major concern and health burden.The traditional tissue-based diagnostic techniques provided a major way forward for molecular diagnostics;however,they face limitations based on diagnosis-associated difficulties and concerns surrounding tissue availability in the clinical setting.Late disease development with asymptomatic behavior is a drawback in the case of existing diagnostic procedures.The capability of cell free markers in discriminating PanCa from autoimmune pancreatitis and chronic pancreatitis along with other precancerous lesions can be a boon to clinicians.Early-stage diagnosis of PanCa can be achieved only if these biomarkers specifically discriminate the non-carcinogenic disease stage from malignancy with respect to tumor stages.In this review,we comprehensively described the non-invasive disease detection approaches and why these approaches are gaining popularity for their early-stage diagnostic capability and associated clinical feasibility.

Depth of tumor invasion and tumor-occupied portions of stomach are predictive factors of intra-abdominal metastasis

Objective： Diagnostic laparoscopy is recommended for the pretherapeutic staging of gastric cancer to detect any unexpected or unconfirmed intra-abdominal metastasis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role and indications of diagnostic laparoscopy in the detection of intra-abdominal metastasis. Methods： Standard diagnostic laparoscopy with peritoneal cytology examination was performed prospectively on patients who were clinically diagnosed with primary local advanced gastric cancer （CT≥2M0）. We calculated the rate of intra-abdominal metastases identified by diagnostic laparoscopy, and examined the relationship between peritoneal dissemination （P） and cytology results （CY）. Split-sample method was applied to find clinical risk factors for intra-abdominal metastasis. Multivariate logistic regression analysis and receiver-operator characteristic （ROC） analysis were performed in training set to find out risk factors ofintra-abdominal metastasis, and then validate it in testing set. Results： Out of 249 cM0 patients, 51 （20.5%） patients with intra-abdominal metastasis were identified by diagnostic laparoscopy, including 20 （8.0%） P1CY1, 17 （6.8%） POCY1 and 14 （5.6%） P1CY0 patients. In the training set, multivariate logistic regression analysis and ROC analysis showed that the depth of tumor invasion on computer tomography （CT） scan ≥21 mm and tumor-occupied 〉2 portions of stomach are predictive factors of metastasis. In the testing set, when diagnostic laparoscopy was performed on patients who had one or two of these risk factors, the sensitivity and positive predictive value for detecting intra-abdominal metastasis were 90.0% and 32.1%, respectively. Conclusions： According to our results, depth of tumor invasion and tumor-occupied portions of stomach are predictive factors ofintra-abdominal metastasis.

Arsenic exposure and glutamate-induced gliotransmitter release from astrocytes

The present study used cultures of primary astrocytes, isolated from neonatal rats, to verify the hypothesis that arsenite-induced neurotoxicity can influence neuronal function by altering glutamate-induced gliotransmitter release. Primary astrocytes were exposed to 0, 2.5, 5, 10, 20 or 30 μM arsenite for 24 hours. Cell viability and morphological observations revealed that 5 μM arsenic exposure could induce cytotoxicity. Cells were then cultured in the presence of 0, 2.5, 5, or 10 μM arsenite for 24 hours and stimulated with 25 μM glutamate for 10 minutes. Results showed that [Ca2＋]i in astrocytes exposed to 5 and 10 μM arsenite was significantly increased and levels of D-serine, γ-aminobutyric acid and glycine in cultures exposed to 2.5-10 μM arsenite were also increased. However, glutamate levels in the media were significantly increased only after treatment with 10 μM arsenite. In conclusion, our findings suggest that arsenic exposure may affect glutamate-induced gliotransmitter release from astrocytes and further disturb neuronal function.

Potential utility of liquid biopsies in the management of patients with biliary tract cancers:A review

Biliary tract cancer,comprising gallbladder cancer,cholangiocarcinoma and ampullary cancer,represents a more uncommon entity outside high-endemic areas,though global incidence is rising.The majority of patients present at a late stage,and 5-year survival remains poor.Advanced stage disease is incurable,and though palliative chemotherapy has been shown to improve survival,further diagnostic and therapeutic options are required in order to improve patient outcomes.Although certain subtypes of biliary tract cancer are relatively rich in targetable mutations,attaining tumour tissue for histological diagnosis and treatment monitoring is challenging due to locoregional anatomical constraints and patient fitness.Liquid biopsies offer a safe and convenient alternative to invasive procedures and have great potential as diagnostic,predictive and prognostic biomarkers.In this review,the current standard of care for patients with biliary tract cancer,future treatment horizons and the possible utility of liquid biopsies within a variety of contexts will be discussed.Circulating tumour DNA,circulating microRNA and circulating tumour cells are discussed with an overview of their potential applications in management of biliary tract cancer.A summary is also provided of currently recruiting clinical trials incorporating liquid biopsies within biliary tract cancer research.

EFFECTS OF DAURISOLINE ON CYTOSOLIC FREE CALCIUMIN FETAL RAT CEREBRAL CELLS

Cytosolic free Ca([Ca]i)was measured in dissociated cerebral cells isolated from fetal rats with the fluorescent indicater fura-2. Increase in[Ca]i occurred rapidly following explsure of the cells to 50 mmol/L KCI,10mol/L Bayk 8644 or 200μmol/L glutamate（Glu）.[Ca]i elevated by

ATP Evokes Calcium Transients in Single Pulmonary Artery Endothelial Cell in

Effects of ATF on cytosclic free calcium ([Ca2+]i) in single porcine pulmonary artery endothelia cell were studied.Using a dual-wavelength excitation on microflurometry.it was found that ATP evoked a rapid transient in[Ca2+]i which was then followed by a maintained elevation of[Ca2+]i.The removal of extracellular Ca2+ abolished the maintained plateform, but exerted no obvious effect on the initial-transient.These results suggest that ATP stimulates both calcium release from intracellular calcium pool(s)and calcium influx across the Plasma membrane from extracellular space.

The use of cell free DNA in the diagnosis of HCC

Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is one of the most common malignant tumors worldwide and is associated with high mortality.The currently used methods for diagnosing HCC,including imaging modalities and liver biopsy,detect tumors at a relatively advanced stage or are invasive.Non-invasive biomarkers are urgently needed to facilitate screening and early diagnosis of HCC,as well as treatment monitoring and detection of tumor recurrence.Liquid biopsy,the analysis of blood or other body fluids to obtain genetic and epigenetic information,has historically been applied to other types of cancer including breast and prostate cancer.Over the past few decades,liquid biopsy analysis has shed significant insights on genetic and epigenetic aberrations in HCC detectable in peripheral blood.Aberrations in nucleic acids found circulating freely in body fluids or contained within extracellular vesicles such as exosomes or microvesicles show potential clinical utility as non-invasive biomarkers.In this review,we present available literature on cell-free nucleic acids in the diagnosis of HCC.

Simplified methodology for a modular and genetically expanded protein synthesis in cell-free systems

Genetic code expansion,which enables the site-specific incorporation of unnatural amino acids into proteins,has emerged as a new and powerful tool for protein engineering.Currently,it is mainly utilized inside living cells for a myriad of applications.However,the utilization of this technology in a cell-free,reconstituted platform has several advantages over living systems.The typical limitations to the employment of these systems are the laborious and complex nature of its preparation and utilization.Herein,we describe a simplified method for the preparation of this system from Escherichia coli cells,which is specifically adapted for the expression of the components needed for cell-free genetic code expansion.Besides,we propose and demonstrate a modular approach to its utilization.By this approach,it is possible to prepare and store different extracts,harboring various translational components,and mix and match them as needed for more than four years retaining its high efficiency.We demonstrate this with the simultaneous incorporation of two different unnatural amino acids into a reporter protein.Finally,we demonstrate the advantage of cell-free systems over living cells for the incorporation ofδ-thio-boc-lysine into ubiquitin by using the methanosarcina mazei wild-type pyrrolysyl tRNACUA and tRNA-synthetase pair,which could not be achieved in a living cell.

A dual V_t disturb-free subthreshold SRAM with write-assist and read isolation

This paper presents a new dual V_t 8 T SRAM cell having single bit-line read and write, in addition to Write Assist and Read Isolation（WARI）. Also a faster write back scheme is proposed for the half selected cells. A high V_t device is used for interrupting the supply to one of the inverters for weakening the feedback loop for assisted write. The proposed cell provides an improved read static noise margin（RSNM） due to the bit-line isolation during the read. Static noise margins for data read（RSNM）, write（WSNM）, read delay, write delay, data retention voltage（DRV）, leakage and average powers have been calculated. The proposed cell was found to operate properly at a supply voltage as small as 0.41 V. A new write back scheme has been suggested for half-selected cells,which uses a single NMOS access device and provides reduced delay, pulse timing hardware requirements and power consumption. The proposed new WARI 8 T cell shows better performance in terms of easier write, improved read noise margin, reduced leakage power, and less delay as compared to the existing schemes that have been available so far. It was also observed that with proper adjustment of the cell ratio the supply voltage can further be reduced to 0.2 V.