Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is highly malignant and metastatic. Currently, there is no effective chemotherapy for patients with advanced HCC leading to an urgent need to seek for novel therapeutic ...options. We aimed to investigate the effect of a garlic derivative, S-allylcysteine (SAC), on the proliferation and metastasis of HCC.
A series of in vitro experiments including MTT, colony-forming, wound-healing, invasion, apoptosis and cell cycle assays were performed to examine the anti-proliferative and anti-metastatic effects of SAC on a metastatic HCC cell line MHCC97L. The therapeutic values of SAC single and combined with cisplatin treatments were examined in an in vivo orthotopic xenograft liver tumor model. The result showed that the proliferation rate and colony-forming abilities of MHCC97L cells were suppressed by SAC together with significant suppression of the expressions of proliferation markers, Ki-67 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). Moreover, SAC hindered the migration and invasion of MHCC97L cells corresponding with up-regulation of E-cadherin and down-regulation of VEGF. Furthermore, SAC significantly induced apoptosis and necrosis of MHCC97L cells through suppressing Bcl-xL and Bcl-2 as well as activating caspase-3 and caspase-9. In addition, SAC could significantly induce the S phase arrest of MHCC97L cells together with down-regulation of cdc25c, cdc2 and cyclin B1. In vivo xenograft liver tumor model demonstrated that SAC single or combined with cisplatin treatment inhibited the progression and metastasis of HCC tumor.
Our data demonstrate the anti-proliferative and anti-metastatic effects of SAC on HCC cells and suggest that SAC may be a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of HCC patients.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
To improve indoor air quality and to protect public health, Taiwan has enacted the “Indoor Air Quality Act (IAQ Act)” in 2012. For the general public, the indoor air quality in hair salons is ...important because it is a popular location that people will often visit for hair treatments. However, only a few exposure assessments regarding air pollutants have previously been performed in hair salons. To assess the air quality of hairdressing environments in Taipei, ten hairdressing salons were included for a walk‐through survey in this study. In addition, the airborne concentrations of formaldehyde, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), CO2, and phthalate esters were also determined in 5 salons. Charcoal, XAD‐2, and OVS‐Tenax tubes were used for the air sampling, while the samples were analyzed with gas chromatography/mass spectrometer. It was found that the products used in hair salons contained various chemicals. In fact, from the walk‐through survey, a total of 387 different ingredients were found on 129 hair product labels. The hair salons were not well ventilated, with CO2 levels of 600 to 3576 ppm. The formaldehyde concentrations determined in this study ranged from 12.40 to 1.04 × 103 μg m−3, and the maximum level was above the permissible exposure limit (PEL) of US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (US OSHA). Additionally, 83% of the samples were with levels higher than the standard regulated by Taiwan's IAQ Act. The concentrations of VOCs and phthalate esters were below the occupational exposure limits (OELs), but higher than what was found in general residential environments. The hair products were considered as the major source of air pollutants because significantly higher concentrations were found around the working areas. The number of perming treatments, the number of workers, and the frequency of using formaldehyde releasing products, were found to be associated with the levels of formaldehyde. This study indicates that efforts are needed to improve the indoor air quality in hairdressing salons in Taipei.
Controlling the interaction between localized optical and mechanical excitations has recently become possible following advances in micro- and nanofabrication techniques. So far, most experimental ...studies of optomechanics have focused on measurement and control of the mechanical subsystem through its interaction with optics, and have led to the experimental demonstration of dynamical back-action cooling and optical rigidity of the mechanical system. Conversely, the optical response of these systems is also modified in the presence of mechanical interactions, leading to effects such as electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) and parametric normal-mode splitting. In atomic systems, studies of slow and stopped light (applicable to modern optical networks and future quantum networks) have thrust EIT to the forefront of experimental study during the past two decades. Here we demonstrate EIT and tunable optical delays in a nanoscale optomechanical crystal, using the optomechanical nonlinearity to control the velocity of light by way of engineered photon-phonon interactions. Our device is fabricated by simply etching holes into a thin film of silicon. At low temperature (8.7 kelvin), we report an optically tunable delay of 50 nanoseconds with near-unity optical transparency, and superluminal light with a 1.4 microsecond signal advance. These results, while indicating significant progress towards an integrated quantum optomechanical memory, are also relevant to classical signal processing applications. Measurements at room temperature in the analogous regime of electromagnetically induced absorption show the utility of these chip-scale optomechanical systems for optical buffering, amplification, and filtering of microwave-over-optical signals.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
The COVID-19 pandemic has imposed a heavy burden on health care systems and governments. Health literacy (HL) and eHealth literacy (as measured by the eHealth Literacy Scale eHEALS) are recognized as ...strategic public health elements but they have been underestimated during the pandemic. HL, eHEALS score, practices, lifestyles, and the health status of health care workers (HCWs) play crucial roles in containing the COVID-19 pandemic.
The aim of this study is to evaluate the psychometric properties of the eHEALS and examine associations of HL and eHEALS scores with adherence to infection prevention and control (IPC) procedures, lifestyle changes, and suspected COVID-19 symptoms among HCWs during lockdown.
We conducted an online survey of 5209 HCWs from 15 hospitals and health centers across Vietnam from April 6 to April 19, 2020. Participants answered questions related to sociodemographics, HL, eHEALS, adherence to IPC procedures, behavior changes in eating, smoking, drinking, and physical activity, and suspected COVID-19 symptoms. Principal component analysis, correlation analysis, and bivariate and multivariate linear and logistic regression models were used to validate the eHEALS and examine associations.
The eHEALS had a satisfactory construct validity with 8 items highly loaded on one component, with factor loadings ranked from 0.78 to 0.92 explaining 76.34% of variance; satisfactory criterion validity as correlated with HL (ρ=0.42); satisfactory convergent validity with high item-scale correlations (ρ=0.80-0.84); and high internal consistency (Cronbach α=.95). HL and eHEALS scores were significantly higher in men (unstandardized coefficient B=1.01, 95% CI 0.57-1.45, P<.001; B=0.72, 95% CI 0.43-1.00, P<.001), those with a better ability to pay for medication (B=1.65, 95% CI 1.25-2.05, P<.001; B=0.60, 95% CI 0.34-0.86, P<.001), doctors (B=1.29, 95% CI 0.73-1.84, P<.001; B 0.56, 95% CI 0.20-0.93, P=.003), and those with epidemic containment experience (B=1.96, 95% CI 1.56-2.37, P<.001; B=0.64, 95% CI 0.38-0.91, P<.001), as compared to their counterparts, respectively. HCWs with higher HL or eHEALS scores had better adherence to IPC procedures (B=0.13, 95% CI 0.10-0.15, P<.001; B=0.22, 95% CI 0.19-0.26, P<.001), had a higher likelihood of healthy eating (odds ratio OR 1.04, 95% CI 1.01-1.06, P=.001; OR 1.04, 95% CI 1.02-1.07, P=.002), were more physically active (OR 1.03, 95% CI 1.02-1.03, P<.001; OR 1.04, 95% CI 1.03-1.05, P<.001), and had a lower likelihood of suspected COVID-19 symptoms (OR 0.97, 95% CI 0.96-0.98, P<.001; OR 0.96, 95% CI 0.95-0.98, P<.001), respectively.
The eHEALS is a valid and reliable survey tool. Gender, ability to pay for medication, profession, and epidemic containment experience were independent predictors of HL and eHEALS scores. HCWs with higher HL or eHEALS scores had better adherence to IPC procedures, healthier lifestyles, and a lower likelihood of suspected COVID-19 symptoms. Efforts to improve HCWs' HL and eHEALS scores can help to contain the COVID-19 pandemic and minimize its consequences.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Background & Aims The roles of alternatively activated (M2) macrophages on pro-tumour phenotypes have been well documented in many cancers except hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Considering their ...close relationship with chronic tissue injuries as well as enhanced tumour invasiveness and growth, we aimed to investigate the direct effects of M2 macrophages on HCC. Methods M2 macrophages in 95 HCC clinical specimens were quantified using immunohistochemistry and quantitative PCR. The pro-tumour functions and the underlying molecular mechanisms of M2 macrophages in HCC were investigated in vivo and in an in vitro co-culture system. Results In the clinical study, high M2-specific CD163 (hazard ratio = 2.693; p = 0.043) and scavenger receptor A (hazard ratio = 3.563; p = 0.044) levels indicated poor prognosis and correlated with increased tumour nodules and venous infiltration in HCC patients. In an orthotopic model, the liver tumour volume was increased 3.26-fold (1.27 cm3 ± 0.36) after M2 macrophage injection compared with the control (0.39 cm3 ± 0.05) ( p = 0.032). An increased rate of lung metastasis was also found in the treatment group. In vitro , co-cultivation with M2 macrophages elevated the number of HCC cells (MHCC97L) and migration events by 1.3-fold and 3.2-fold, respectively ( p <0.05). Strongly induced by MHCC97L, M2 macrophage-derived CCL22 was proven to enhance tumour migration capacities and correlate with venous infiltration in HCC patients. Increased epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) via Snail activation in MHCC97L was found to be promoted by M2 macrophages and CCL22. Conclusions M2 macrophages contribute to poor prognosis in HCC and promote tumour invasiveness through CCL22-induced EMT.
Central venous catheters (CVCs) are frequently used for monitoring haemodynamic status and rapidly delivering fluid therapy during the peri- and postoperative periods. Indwelling CVCs are typically ...used 7–14 days postoperatively for additional monitoring and treatment, but patients may develop asymptomatic catheter-related thrombosis, leading to life-threatening pulmonary embolism and death. Early detection helps to avoid such complications.
This prospective observational study investigated the risk factors associated with catheter-related right internal jugular vein thrombosis in patients undergoing chest surgery. The study enrolled 24 patients who were scheduled to receive chest surgeries during which catheters were needed. To detect thrombus formation, Doppler ultrasound examinations from the thyroid cartilage level to the supraclavicular region were used after CVC placement and on each of the following days until the catheter was removed.
No thrombosis was found in patients before surgery, but it appeared in 75% (18/24) after surgery. The risks of thrombosis increased with a longer duration of anaesthesia, greater amounts of bleeding, and use of postoperative ventilator support.
Earlier catheter removal may reduce the risk of catheter-related thrombosis and avoid possibly fatal complications after catheter-related thrombosis.
This paper copes with the statistical dynamic behaviors of nonlinear vibration of the single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) under longitudinal magnetic field by considering the effects of the ...geometric nonlinearity and nonlinear damping. Both the Young's modulus of elasticity and mass density of the SWCNTs are considered as stochastic with respect to the position to actually characterize the random material properties of the SWCNTs. Based on the theory of nonlocal elasticity, the small scale effects of the nonlinear vibration of the SWCNTs are investigated. By using the Hamilton's principle, the nonlinear governing equations of the single-walled carbon nanotubes subjected to longitudinal magnetic field are derived. The Monte Carlo Simulation, Galerkin's method and the multiple scale method are adopted to solve the nonlinear governing equation and to calculate the statistical response of the SWCNTs. Some statistical dynamic responses of the SWCNTs such as the mean values and standard deviations of the midpoint deflections are computed, the effects of the small scale coefficients, magnetic field, nonlinear damping and the elastic stiffness of matrix on the statistical dynamic responses of the SWCNTs are investigated and discussed.
•Statistical nonlinear responses of SWCNTs with random material properties are obtained.•Effects of magnetic field on statistical dynamic responses of SWCNTs are studied.•Effects of nonlinear damping on statistical dynamic response of SWCNTs are studied.•Effects of small scale coefficients on statistical response of SWCNTs are studied.•Effects of elastic stiffness on statistical response of SWCNTs are studied.
Based on the theories of thermal elasticity mechanics and nonlocal elasticity, an elastic Bernoulli–Euler beam model is developed for thermal–mechanical vibration and buckling instability of a ...single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) conveying fluid and resting on an elastic medium. The finite element method is adopted to obtain the numerical solutions to the model. The effects of temperature change, nonlocal parameter and elastic medium constant on the vibration frequency and buckling instability of SWCNT conveying fluid are investigated. It can be concluded that at low or room temperature, the fundamental natural frequency and critical flow velocity for the SWCNT increase as the temperature change increases, on the other hand, while at high temperature the fundamental natural frequency and critical flow velocity decrease as the temperature change increases. The fundamental natural frequency for the SWCNT decreases as the nonlocal parameter increases, both the fundamental natural frequency and critical flow velocity increase as elastic medium constant increases.
Multiple roles of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and their consequences for health and disease are emerging throughout biological sciences. This development has led researchers unfamiliar with the ...complexities of ROS and their reactions to employ commercial kits and probes to measure ROS and oxidative damage inappropriately, treating ROS (a generic abbreviation) as if it were a discrete molecular entity. Unfortunately, the application and interpretation of these measurements are fraught with challenges and limitations. This can lead to misleading claims entering the literature and impeding progress, despite a well-established body of knowledge on how best to assess individual ROS, their reactions, role as signalling molecules and the oxidative damage that they can cause. In this consensus statement we illuminate problems that can arise with many commonly used approaches for measurement of ROS and oxidative damage, and propose guidelines for best practice. We hope that these strategies will be useful to those who find their research requiring assessment of ROS, oxidative damage and redox signalling in cells and in vivo.
► Nonlocal frequency is less than local frequency due to the effect of small length scale. ► Increasing nonlocal scale coefficient tends to decrease the frequency of nanorods. ► Nonlocal effects ...decrease with the increase of nanorods length. ► Nonlocal effects are more pronounced for higher modes and stiffer structure.
An elastic rod model is developed to study the small scale effect on axial vibration of non-uniform and non-homogeneous nanorods by using the theory of nonlocal elasticity. The differential quadrature method is adopted to obtain the numerical solutions to the proposed model. Based on the present study, it can be concluded that the nonlocal frequency is less than the local (classical) frequency due to the effect of small length scale. Besides, increasing the nonlocal scale coefficient tends to decrease the frequency of the non-uniform and non-homogeneous nanorods. Furthermore, the nonlocal effects decrease with the increase of the non-uniform and non-homogeneous nanorods length and eventually disappear when the length exceeds a certain value. Besides, it is noticed that the nonlocal effects are more pronounced for higher modes and stiffer structure. Moreover, it can be concluded that the relative difference in frequency ratio between non-uniform and non-homogeneous nanorods and uniform nanorods converges to zero as the nanorod length increases, and the relative difference is more pronounced for clamped–clamped boundary condition than clamped–free one.
PDF
