Previously known as a first-response protein upon viral infection and other stress signals, double-stranded RNA-dependent protein kinase (PKR, also termed EIF2AK2) has been found to be differentially ...expressed in multiple types of tumor, including hepatocellular carcinoma, suggesting that PKR may be involved in tumor initiation and development. However, whether and how PKR promotes or suppresses the development of hepatocellular carcinoma remains controversial. In the present study, PKR expression was investigated using qPCR and western blot analysis, which revealed that PKR expression was upregulated in liver tumor tissues, when compared to that of adjacent normal tissues, which were obtained from four primary liver cancer patients. Furthermore, in vitro cellular assays revealed that PKR exerts a key role in maintaining the proliferation and migration of HepG2 human hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Mouse models with xenograft transplantations also confirmed a tumorigenic role of PKR in HepG2 cells. Furthermore, a transcription factor, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), was revealed to mediate the tumor-promoting function of PKR in HepG2 cells, as shown by in vitro cellular proliferation and migration assays. In conclusion, the results suggested a tumorigenic role of PKR in liver cancer and a detailed mechanism involving an oncogenic transcription factor, STAT3, is described. Therefore, PKR may present a potential novel therapeutic target for the treatment of liver cancer.
Statistical methods to analyze and predict the related risk factors of nosocomial infection in lung cancer patients are various, but the results are inconsistent. A total of 609 patients with lung ...cancer were enrolled to allow factor comparison using Student's t-test or the Mann-Whitney test or the Chi-square test. Variables that were significantly related to the presence of nosocomial infection were selected as candidates for input into the final ANN model. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) was used to evaluate the performance of the artificial neural network (ANN) model and logistic regression (LR) model. The prevalence of nosocomial infection from lung cancer in this entire study population was 20.1% (165/609), nosocomial infections occurring in sputum specimens (85.5%), followed by blood (6.73%), urine (6.0%) and pleural effusions (1.82%). It was shown that long term hospitalization (≥ 22 days, P= 0.000), poor clinical stage (IIIb and IV stage, P=0.002), older age (≥ 61 year old, P=0.023), and use the hormones were linked to nosocomial infection and the ANN model consisted of these four factors .The artificial neural network model with variables consisting of age, clinical stage, time of hospitalization, and use of hormones should be useful for predicting nosocomial infection in lung cancer cases.
This study was aimed to explore the effect of bortezomib on the apoptosis and expression of the molecular chaperone BiP in human multiple myeloma cell line NCI-H929 (H929). After treatment of H929 ...cells with different concentrations of bortezomib for 24 hours, cell apoptosis was assayed by flow cytometry with Annexin V-FITC/PI staining, and the expression levels of BiP mRNA and protein were detected by RT-PCR and Western blotting analysis. The results showed that bortezomib of different concentrations (20, 40 and 80 nmol/L) induced apoptosis of H929 cells in dose-dependent manner, with apoptotic rates (15.73 +/- 0.67)%, (27.83 +/- 1.26)% and (44.17 +/- 2.25)% respectively, which were significantly higher than that in control (1.21 +/- 0.07%) (p < 0.05). Bortezomib-induced up-regulation of BiP mRNA levels was almost on a parallel with BiP protein when compared with control. Under the similar apoptosis-stimulating conditions with apoptotic rates varying from 40% to 50%, expression levels of BiP mRNA and BiP pro
Nickel iron (oxygen) hydroxide (NiFeOx(OH)y) has been extensively studied as a promising electrocatalyst for oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Reasonable control of the ratio of Ni to Fe can improve ...its catalytic performance but has not yet been effectively achieved. In this work, we designed a magnetic-field-assisted electrodeposition method, which combined the magnetohydrodynamic effect and the corrosion effect of nickel foam substrate in the electrolyte to adjust the mass transfer and surface microenvironment (pH), thereby adjusting the Ni and Fe ratio in a large range. As a result, we use the foamed nickel substrate as the nickel source. As the deposition magnetic field increases, the composition of the catalyst evolves from Ni-doped FeOOH (Ni-FeOOH) to Ni-FeOOH/Ni(OH)2 p-n junction. The introduction of Ni and the p-n junction are beneficial to the electron transfer during the OER process. The sample Ni-FeOOH/Ni(OH)2-500 has an overpotential of only 264 mV at a current density of 20 mA cm−2, which is 34 mV lower than Ni-FeOOH-0.
Thin‐film ferroelectric of HfO2‐based has gained broad interest for non‐volatile memories. The traditional theory with respect to doped hafnium oxide is based on the polycrystalline structure of the ...Pcb21 non‐centrosymmetric orthorhombic phase. While amorphous oxides also show ferroelectricity, which cannot be explained by the traditional theory. Here, ferroelectric‐like behavior is observed in the amorphous oxide‐based TaN/high‐k/Si system. Through strategically modulating the atomic layer of deposition conditions of the high‐k oxides, the evolution from paraelectric to ferroelectric‐like behavior is seen in TaN/Al2O3/Si capacitors. The interface chemistry of these stacks is systematically studied via in situ angle‐resolved X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. A mechanism for the ferroelectric‐like behavior is proposed based on interface ions‐vacancies displacement. This work sheds light on physics in ferroelectric‐like thin film devices.
Amorphous materials can also show ferroelectricity. However, the mechanism of this behavior is still not clear. The evolution from paraelectric to ferroelectric‐like behavior is observed in the TaN/high‐k/Si system via strategically modulated atomic layer deposition conditions. Based on in situ angle‐resolved X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and electrical characterization, a mechanism for the ferroelectric‐like behavior is proposed based on interface ions‐vacancies displacement.
BACKGROUND:Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)is one of the most frequent causes of liver diseases,with markedly increased prevalence.However,its mechanisms are not clear.The present study was ...undertaken to illustrate the role of caveolin-1(cav1)and the scavenger receptor class B type 1(SR-B1)in NAFLD.METHODS:Adult male C57BL/6 mice were fed with a normal diet or high fat and cholesterol(HFC)diet for 14 weeks.The mice were sacrificed to collect plasma and harvest the liver;their plasma lipid concentration was measured.Hepatic cav1and SR-B1 mRNA and protein expression were determined by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(qPCR)and Western blotting,respectively.In order to study cav1 and SR-B1distribution and change in hepatocytes,immunohistochemical analysis was performed.RESULTS:HFC diet increased plasma lipids,induced NAFLD and increased the liver/body weight ratio.Compared to the control mice(n=6),the mRNA and protein levels of cav1 and SR-B1 in liver tissue of the NAFLD mice(n=12)increased significantly(cav1 mRNA:1.536±0.226 vs 0.980±0.272,P<0.05;protein:0.643±0.240 vs 0.100±0.130,P<0.01;SR-B1 mRNA:1.377±0.125 vs 0.956±0.151,P<0.01;protein:2.156±0.507vs 0.211±0.211,P<0.01).Furthermore,both cav1 and SR-B1immunoreactivity increased and their distribution was also changed,mainly in the plasma membrane of hepatocytes,cytoplasm and membrane of lipid droplets and around.CONCLUSION:NAFLD is associated with increased concentration of plasma lipids and upregulation of hepatic cav1 and SR-B1 gene and protein expressions,which indicate that cav1 and SR-B1 might play crucial roles in the pathogenesis of NAFLD.
Male germ-line stem cells (mGSCs) have the capability of self-renewal and latent capability of differentiation. mGSCs is the unique diploid immortal cell which can transfer genetic information to ...filial generation. The combination of transgenic technology and mGSCs heterotransplanting will supply new opportunities and paths to cloning animal, transgenic animal and gene therapy of some human hereditary disease. We studied the isolation and cultivation of mGSCs that were isolated and purified from 5-6 month old bovine fetal testis, new born bovine testis by adopting mixed enzymes digestion and different attaching velocities methods. The results showed that Sertoli cells were indispensable to mGSC's proliferation and differentiation in vitro. The Sertoli cells in logarithmic phase have a significant effect on mGSC's attaching, proliferation and differentiation. Co-culture with Sertoli cells, mGSCs differentiated to long sperm after 16 days. A preliminary system for mGSC's inducing differentiation was established
To investigate the inhibitory effect of Hirsutella sinensis (HS) on epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of renal tubular epithelial cells induced by aristolochic acid (AA) and its possible ...mechanism. 18 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly and equally divided into the following 3 groups: AA group, AA+HS group and control group. Urinary protein excretion and creatinine clearance (CCr) were measured. All rats were sacrificed at the end of 12th week. The pathological examination of renal tissue was performed and the mRNA and protein expression of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1), alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA), cytokeratin-18 and Snail in renal cortex were determined by real time quantitative PCR and immunohistochemical staining respectively. In addition, human renal proximal tubule epithelial cells line (HKC) was divided into the following 4 groups: AA group, AA+HS group, HS control group and control group. The above mRNA and protein expression in HKC was determined by real time quantitative PCR and Western blot respectively. (1) CCr was significantly decreased, and the urinary protein excretion and relative area of renal interstitial fibrosis were significantly increased in the rats of AA and AA+HS group compared to those in control group (P0.05 or P0.01); all the above abnormalities significantly lightened in the rats of AA+HS group compared to those in AA group (P0.05). (2) The mRNA and protein expression of TGF-beta1, alpha-SMA and Snail was significantly up-regulated and the expression of cytokeratin-18 was significantly down-regulated in the rat renal cortex as well as in the cultured HKC cells in AA and AA+HS groups compared to those in control group (P0.05 or P0.01); all the above abnormalities significantly alleviated in AA+HS group compared to those in AA group (P0.05 or P0.01). (3) Knockdown endogenous Snail expression by siRNA could ameliorate AA-induced EMT of HKC cells, while overexpression of Snail by plasmid transfection diminished the antagonistic effect of HS on AA-induced EMT. These results suggest Snail might be a potential target of HS effect. HS is able to antagonize, to some extent, tubular EMT and renal interstitial fibrosis caused by AA, which might be related to its inhibitory effects on the TGF-beta1 and Snail expression.
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Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
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