Maternal high estradiol exposure alters CDKN1C and IGF2 expression in human placenta

INTRODUCTION

The increased maternal estradiol (E₂) concentrations induced by assisted reproductive technology (ART) result in lower birth weight of offspring, which is associated with increased risk of adult diseases. However, the exact mechanism remains unknown. The present study investigated the effect of high E₂ exposure on the expression of imprinted genes CDKN1C and IGF2 in human placentas and the DNA methylation status of their differential methylation regions (DMRs).

METHODS

The mRNA expression of CDKN1C and IGF2 in human placentas and the human trophoblast cells (HTR8) treated with E₂ were investigated by reverse transcription-real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The DNA methylation of their DMRs were investigated by sodium bisulfite sequencing.

RESULTS

CDKN1C and IGF2 were significantly up-regulated in ART conceived placentas. The mean birth weight of ART singletons was significantly lower than that of naturally conceived (NC) ones, with the increased percentage of small-for-gestational-age (SGA) birth. The DNA methylation was significantly down-regulated in the DMR of CDKN1C (KvDMR1) and up-regulated in the DMR of IGF2 (H19 DMR) in ART placentas. The treatment of E₂ altered the expression of the two genes and the DNA methylation of their DMRs in HTR8 to a similar tendency as in vivo.

DISCUSSION

The maternal high E₂ levels after ART up-regulate the expression of imprinted genes in human placentas through epigenetic modifications, which influences the growth potential of the offspring. Further studies are needed to follow up the growth and development of the ART offspring.

Persistent Expression of VCAM1 in Radial Glial Cells Is Required for the Embryonic Origin of Postnatal Neural Stem Cells

During development, neural stem cells (NSCs) undergo transitions from neuroepithelial cells to radial glial cells (RGCs), and later, a subpopulation of slowly dividing RGCs gives rise to the quiescent adult NSCs that populate the ventricular-subventricular zone (V-SVZ). Here we show that VCAM1, a transmembrane protein previously found in quiescent adult NSCs, is expressed by a subpopulation of embryonic RGCs, in a temporal and region-specific manner. Loss of VCAM1 reduced the number of active embryonic RGCs by stimulating their premature neuronal differentiation while preventing quiescence in the slowly dividing RGCs. This in turn diminished the embryonic origin of postnatal NSCs, resulting in loss of adult NSCs and defective V-SVZ regeneration. VCAM1 affects the NSC fate by signaling through its intracellular domain to regulate β-catenin signaling in a context-dependent manner. Our findings provide new insight on how stem cells in the embryo are preserved to meet the need for growth and regeneration.

Plasmonic reflection color filters with metallic random nanostructures

We develop reflective color filters with randomly distributed nanodisks and nanoholes fabricated with hydrogen silsesquioxane and Ag films on silicon substrate. They exhibit high resolution, angle-independence and easily up-scalable fabrication, which are the most important factors for color filters for industrial applications. We uncover the underlying mechanism after systematically analyzing the localized surface plasmon polariton coupling in the electric-field distribution. The agreement of the experimental results with those from the simulation indicates that tunable colors across the visible spectrum can be obtained by simply varying the diameter of the nanodisks, promoting their applications.

Peripheral Tc17 and Tc17/Interferon-γ Cells are Increased and Associated with Lung Function in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Background:

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by progressive loss of lung function and local and systemic inflammation, in which CD8⁺ T-cells are believed to play a key role. Activated CD8⁺ T-cells differentiate into distinct subpopulations, including interferon-γ (IFN-γ)-producing Tc1 and interleukin (IL)-17-producing Tc17 cells. Recent evidence indicates that Tc17 cells exhibit considerable plasticity and may convert into IL-17/IFN-γ-double producing (Tc17/IFN-γ) cells when driven by inflammatory conditions. The aim of this study was to investigate the Tc17/IFN-γ subpopulation in peripheral blood of patients with COPD and to evaluate their potential roles in this disease.

Methods:

Peripheral blood samples were collected from 15 never-smokers, 23 smokers with normal lung function, and 25 patients with COPD (Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease 2–4). Proportions of the IL-17/IFN-γ-double expressing subpopulation were assessed using flow cytometry. Plasma concentrations of cytokines favoring Tc17/IFN-γ differentiation were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results:

Patients with COPD had higher proportions of Tc17 cells and Tc17/IFN-γ cells in the peripheral blood than smokers and never-smokers. The plasticity of Tc17 cells was higher than that of Th17 cells. The percentages of Tc17 cells and Tc17/IFN-γ cells showed negative correlations with forced expiratory volume in 1 s % predicted value (r = −0.418, P = 0.03; r = −0.596, P = 0.002, respectively). The plasma concentrations of IL-6, transforming growth factor-β1, and IL-12 were significantly higher in patients with COPD compared with smokers and never-smokers.

Conclusions:

Peripheral Tc17 cells are increased and more likely to convert to Tc17/IFN-γ cells in COPD, suggesting that Tc17 cell plasticity may be involved in persistent inflammation of the disease.

Outbreak of Occupational Brucellosis at a Pharmaceutical Factory in Southeast China

Brucellosis is an occupational disease affecting workers in butcher shops, the milking and dairy product industry, causing more than 500 000 new cases around the world. As a national statutory B infectious disease in China, morbidity of brucellosis is rapidly increasing in recent years. We report an occupational outbreak of brucellosis infection in a pharmaceutical factory. Exposure was a result of manual operation in the process line, close contact with sheep placentas, insufficient disinfection and repeated using of protective suits and infected by aerosol dissemination. Improved preventive methods, appropriate public health measures and spread of health education would be helpful to prevent the occupational outbreak of brucellosis in future.

Expression of RANKL by peripheral neutrophils and its association with bone mineral density in COPD

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Osteoporosis is a major co-morbidity of COPD, but the mechanistic links between diseases of the lung and the bone remain elusive. Human neutrophils express the osteoclast activation factor RANKL (receptor activator of NF-kB ligand) and act directly on osteoclasts to promote bone loss. Given that neutrophils are key effector cells in the pathogenesis of COPD, these same cells, by expressing RANKL, may be involved in osteoporosis of COPD.

METHODS

We enrolled 59 male patients with COPD, 32 smokers with normal lung function and 25 healthy non-smokers of the same gender as controls. The expression of RANKL on peripheral neutrophils was detected by flow cytometry. The plasma concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines were measured by ELISA. We analysed the association of RANKL ⁺ neutrophils with bone mineral density (BMD), lung function and the levels of cytokines.

RESULTS

RANKL ⁺ neutrophils in the blood of COPD patients were increased as compared to smokers and healthy controls, and the percentage of RANKL ⁺ neutrophils was higher in patients with low BMD as compared to those with normal BMD. The percentage of RANKL ⁺ neutrophils showed negative correlations with BMD and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) % predicted. Further analysis showed that activated neutrophils were increased and expressed a higher level of RANKL in COPD patients. Plasma levels of IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-8 were increased in COPD patients and correlated with RANKL expression by neutrophils.

CONCLUSION

Our results show that RANKL-expressing neutrophils are increased in male patients with COPD and associated with BMD and lung function, suggesting that these cells may play a role in osteoclastogenesis in COPD.

Binding of FGF2 to FGFR2 in an autocrine mode in trophectoderm cells is indispensable for mouse blastocyst formation through PKC-p38 pathway

Fibroblast growth factors (FGF1, FGF2 and FGF4) and fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFR1, FGFR2, FGFR3 and FGFR4) have been reported to be expressed in preimplantation embryos and be required for their development. However, the functions of these molecules in trophectoderm cells (TEs) that lead to the formation of the blastocyst as well as the underlying mechanism have not been elucidated. The present study has demonstrated for the first time that endogenous FGF2 secreted by TEs can regulate protein expression and distribution in TEs via the FGFR2-mediated activation of PKC and p38, which are important for the development of expanded blastocysts. This finding provides the first explanation for the long-observed phenomenon that only high concentrations of exogenous FGFs have effects on embryonic development, but in vivo the amount of endogenous FGFs are trace. Besides, the present results suggest that FGF2/FGFR2 may act in an autocrine fashion and activate the downstream PKC/p38 pathway in TEs during expanded blastocyst formation.

Polarization-independent plasmonic subtractive color filtering in ultrathin Ag nanodisks with high transmission

We demonstrate a TE/TM polarization-independent plasmonic subtractive color filtering scheme employing ultrathin two-dimensional Ag nanodisks. These TE/TM polarization-independent subtractive color filters exhibit small feature sizes (below 200 nm) and high transmission up to 70% in the visible spectral region, superior to previously reported plasmonic color filters. Simulated optical transmission spectra and colors are in good agreement with experimental results. The color-filtering behaviors strongly depend on thickness and period of nanodisks. Underlying mechanisms are also discussed in detail.

Interaction Between Gastric Carcinoma Cells and Neural Cells Promotes Perineural Invasion by a Pathway Involving VCAM1

BACKGROUND

Perineural invasion (PNI) is one of the important routes for local spread of gastric carcinoma associated with poor prognosis. However, the exact cellular characteristics and molecular mechanisms of PNI are still unclear.

AIM

To identify the interaction between gastric carcinoma cells and neural cells, and whether vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM1) is involved in this process.

METHODS

We adopted in vitro cell coculture assays to investigate the cellular and molecular interaction between gastric cancer cells and neural cells.

RESULTS

We find upregulation of VCAM1 in clinical gastric cancer tissue samples. In in vitro tumor-neural cell coculture system, gastric cancer cells with high level of VCAM1 promote proliferation of neural progenitor cells and induce the process outgrowth and branching of neural cells. Reciprocally, neural cells enhance neurotropic migration and mobility of tumor cells. Repressing VCAM1 function through VCAM1 blocking antibody can attenuate these effects.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study indicates that VCAM1 is significantly involved in tumor invasion via mediating nerve-tumor interaction, which is a mutually beneficial process. It is possible that interaction between neural cells and tumor cells might contribute to PNI of gastric carcinoma. Inhibiting the activity of VCAM1 could be a potential strategy targeting PNI in gastric carcinoma therapy.

Effect of relative nanohole position on colour purity of ultrathin plasmonic subtractive colour filters

Plasmonic subtractive color filters through patterning periodic nanostructures on ultrathin Ag films deposited on a glass substrate, exhibiting good durability, simple fabrication, and flexible color tunability, have attracted considerable attention due to their tremendous potential applications. While previous studies have mainly focused on their extraordinary physical mechanisms, color purity, which is another key parameter for high quality imaging applications, has been much less investigated. In this work, we demonstrate that the relative position of nanoholes patterned on ultrathin Ag films can largely affect the color purity of plasmonic subtractive color filters. The calculated results agree reasonably well with the experimental data, revealing that the purity of subtractive colors can be improved by changing the nanohole arrays from square lattice to triangular lattice without reducing transmission at visible frequencies. In addition, underlying mechanisms are clarified by systematically analyzing the dominant valley in transmission spectra.

Construction of a natural phage antibody library of human anaplastic thyroid carcinoma

The objective of this study was to identify and construct a human natural phage single-chain antibody (scFv) library of human anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) using phage display technology. Total RNA was extracted from lymphatic tissue near an ATC and used to amplify variable heavy chain (VH) and variable light chain (VL) fragments with added linker sequences using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). After purification, the VH and VL amplicons were used to produce scFv fragments with added SfiI and NotI restriction enzyme recognition sites using splicing-overlap-extension PCR. Following digestion, the scFv gene was cloned in the pCANTAB-5E plasmid, and the recombinant phagemids were transformed into the susceptible Escherichia coli TG1 strain. After infection by the helper phage M13K07, a human ATC phage antibody library was successfully constructed. Clear 28 S and 18 S bands could be seen in the total RNA from the library, and the sizes of the VH, VL, and scFv genes contained therein were approximately 370, 350, and 750 bp, respectively. In addition, the conversion efficiency as measured by the pUC19 standard plasmid was 10(8) CFU/μg, and the positive insert ratio was 86.4% (19/22). These results demonstrated the successful construction of a human ATC scFv antibody gene library, and might provide the experimental basis for the further screening and identification of a phage single-chain antibody with ATC cell-specificity.

Diffuse interstitial and multiple cavitary lung lesions due to Talaromyces marneffei infection in a non-HIV patient

A 57-year-old man presented with unproductive cough and dyspnea for 6 months in Fujian Province, China. His misuse of a large amount of steroids (accumulated dose equivalent to 3530 mg prednisolone) resulted in Talaromyces marneffei infection. Chest computed tomographic scan revealed diffuse interstitial and multiple cavitary lung lesions. Treatment with amphotericin B combined with itraconazole resulted in total recovery, with marked regression of lung lesions.

Endostar combined with irinotecan/calcium folinate/5-fluorouracil (FOLFIRI) for treating advanced colorectal cancer: A clinical study

PURPOSE

The current study aimed to evaluate the short-term efficacy and safety of endostar plus irinotecan/calcium folinate/5-fluorouracil (FOLFIRI) in treatment of advanced colorectal cancer (CRC).

METHODS

Forty patients with advanced CRC were enrolled in this study and randomly assigned to two groups. The control group (n = 18) and tested group (n = 22) were received FOLFIRI alone and FOLFIRI plus endostar, respectively. The end points were overall response rate, progression-free survival (PFS) and toxicity.

RESULTS

A total of 38 patients (17 in control group and 21 in tested group) completed two cycles of treatment and were deemed assessable for response. Patients treated with FOLFIRI plus endostar experienced a obviously higher overall response rate (42.9%) compared with patients who received FOLFIRI alone (29.4%) and a statistically significant improvement in median PFS (14.5 vs. 11.0  months). The toxicity of FOLFIRI/endostar was comparative to that of FOLFIRI with regard to gastrointestinal reactions, haematologic toxicity, peripheral neuropathy and cholinergic syndrome. Cardiovascular adverse reactions including electrocardiogram abnormality and hypertension, which might be ascribed to endostar treatment, were reversible and manageable.

CONCLUSION

The addition of endostar to FOLFIRI resulted in a higher overall response rate and longer PFS and did not increase unacceptable adverse responses in patients with advanced CRC. Future randomised controlled clinical trials with a larger group of patients are warranted to further investigate the value of FOLFIRI plus endostar in CRC treatment.

Wrist Rehabilitation Assisted by an Electromyography-Driven Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation Robot After Stroke

BACKGROUND

Augmented physical training with assistance from robot and neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) may introduce intensive motor improvement in chronic stroke.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the rehabilitation effectiveness achieved by NMES robot-assisted wrist training and that by robot-assisted training.

METHODS

This study was a single-blinded randomized controlled trial with a 3-month follow-up. Twenty-six hemiplegic subjects with chronic stroke were randomly assigned to receive 20-session wrist training with an electromyography (EMG)-driven NMES robot (NMES robot group, n = 11) and with an EMG-driven robot (robot group, n = 15), completed within 7 consecutive weeks. Clinical scores, Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA), Modified Ashworth Score (MAS), and Action Research Arm Test (ARAT) were used to evaluate the training effects before and after the training, as well as 3 months later. An EMG parameter, muscle co-contraction index, was also applied to investigate the session-by-session variation in muscular coordination patterns during the training.

RESULTS

The improvement in FMA (shoulder/elbow, wrist/hand) obtained in the NMES robot group was more significant than the robot group (P < .05). Significant improvement in ARAT was achieved in the NMES robot group (P < .05) but absent in the robot group. NMES robot-assisted training showed better performance in releasing muscle co-contraction than the robot-assisted across the training sessions (P < .05).

CONCLUSIONS

The NMES robot-assisted wrist training was more effective than the pure robot. The additional NMES application in the treatment could bring more improvements in the distal motor functions and faster rehabilitation progress.

Thermal preparation of lysozyme-imprinted microspheres by using ionic liquid as a stabilizer

Thermal preparation of lysozyme-imprinted microspheres was firstly investigated by using biocompatible ionic liquid (IL) as a thermal stabilizer. The imprinted microspheres made with IL could obtain the good recognition ability to template protein, whereas the imprinted polymer synthesized in the absence of it had a similar adsorption capacity to the non-imprinted one. Furthermore, the preparation conditions of imprinted polymers (MIPs) including the content of IL, temperature of polymerization, and types of functional monomers and crosslinkers were systematically analyzed via circular dichroism spectrum and activity assay. The results illustrated that using hydroxyethyl acrylate as the functional monomer, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as the crosslinker, 5 % IL as the stabilizer, and 75 °C as the reaction temperature could retain the structure of template protein as much as possible. The obtained MIPs showed excellent recognition ability to the template protein with the separation factor and selectivity factor value of 4.30 and 2.21, respectively. Consequently, it is an effective way to accurately imprint and separate template protein by cooperatively using circular dichroism spectroscopy and activity assay during the preparation of protein MIPs. The method of utilizing IL to stabilizing protein at high temperature would offer a good opportunity for various technologies to improve the development of macromolecules imprinting.

High maternal serum estradiol environment in the first trimester is associated with the increased risk of small-for-gestational-age birth

CONTEXT

There are increasing concerns that a disrupted endocrine environment may disturb the growth of the fetus. Assisted reproductive technology (ART) situates gamete/embryo in a supraphysiological estradiol (E2) environment and, thus, provides an ideal model to investigate this problem.

OBJECTIVE

Our objective was to investigate whether the maternal high-E2 environment in the first trimester increases the risks of low birth weight (LBW) and small-for-gestational-age (SGA) birth.

METHODS

In total, 8869 singletons born after fresh embryo transfer (ET) (n = 2610), frozen ET (n = 1039), and natural conception (NC) (n = 5220) and their mothers were included. Birth weight, LBW, SGA, and maternal serum E2 levels were investigated.

RESULTS

The mean serum E2 levels of women undergoing fresh ET at 4 and 8 weeks of gestation were significantly higher than those of the women undergoing frozen ET and the women with NC (P < .01). Serum E2 levels of women undergoing fresh ET at 4 and 8 weeks of gestation were positively correlated to those on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) administration (r = 0.5 and r = 0.4, respectively; P < 0.01). The birth weight after fresh ET was significantly lower than that after frozen ET and NC (P < 0.01), with increased incidence of LBW and SGA (P < .05). Furthermore, in the fresh ET group, singletons of mothers with high E2 levels (≥10460 pmol/L on the day of hCG administration) had higher risks of LBW (P < .01) and SGA (P < .01) than those with low E2 levels, and maternal serum E2 level on the day of hCG administration negatively correlated with the birth weight (P < .01).

CONCLUSIONS

The maternal high-E2 environment in the first trimester is correlated with increased risks of LBW and SGA. Evaluation of serum E2 before ET should be adopted to reduce the possibility of high E2 exposure to gamete/embryo.

The effects of post-stroke upper-limb training with an electromyography (EMG)-driven hand robot

Loss of hand function and finger dexterity are main disabilities in the upper limb after stroke. An electromyography (EMG)-driven hand robot had been developed for post-stroke rehabilitation training. The effectiveness of the hand robot assisted whole upper limb training was investigated on persons with chronic stroke (n=10) in this work. All subjects attended a 20-session training (3-5times/week) by using the hand robot to practice object grasp/release and arm transportation tasks. Significant motor improvements were observed in the Fugl-Meyer hand/wrist and shoulder/elbow scores (p<0.05), and also in the Action Research Arm Test and Wolf Motor Function Test (p<0.05). Significant reduction in spasticity of the fingers as was measured by the Modified Ashworth Score (p<0.05). The training improved the muscle co-ordination between the antagonist muscle pair (flexor digitorum (FD) and extensor digitorum (ED)), associated with a significant reduction in the ED EMG level (p<0.05) and a significant decrease of ED and FD co-contraction during the training (p<0.05); the excessive muscle activities in the biceps brachii were also reduced significantly after the training (p<0.05).

Note: investigation on the influences of gripping methods on elastic modulus by a miniature tensile device and in situ verification

In this paper, by gripping the specimen on various positions, including the gripping section, stress concentration transition section, and gauge length section, theoretical analysis on the influences of gripping methods on tensile elastic modulus calculation was investigated with a group of equations. Then, an image-based displacement measurement system was implemented, and the experimental verification via in situ tensile testing was carried out to verify the feasibility of the theoretical analysis by a miniature tensile device integrated with a metallographic microscope. The stress-strain curves of 2026 aluminum alloy were also obtained by gripping the specimens on various positions to illustrate the influences of gripping methods. The influence of gripping methods on elongation measurement was also investigated. This paper showed a modular calculation method of elastic modulus for the tensile testing of typical plate specimens.

Aquaporin-1 plays a crucial role in estrogen-induced tubulogenesis of vascular endothelial cells

CONTEXT

Aquaporin-1 (AQP1) has been proposed as a mediator of estrogen-induced angiogenesis in human breast cancer and endometrial cancer. Elucidation of the molecular mechanisms governing AQP1-mediated, estrogen-induced angiogenesis may contribute to an improved understanding of tumor development.

OBJECTIVE

Our objective was to identify the estrogen-response element (ERE) in the promoter of the Aqp1 gene and investigate the effects and mechanisms of AQP1 on estrogen-induced tubulogenesis of vascular endothelial cells.

SETTING

The study was conducted in a university hospital in eastern China.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Immunohistological, real-time PCR and Western blot analyses were used to determine the expression AQP1 mRNA and protein in vascular endothelial cells. Chromatin immunoprecipitation analyses and luciferase reporter assays identified ERE-like motif in the promoter of the Aqp1 gene.

RESULTS

Expression of AQP1 in blood vessels of human breast and endometrial carcinoma tissues were significantly higher than controls. Estradiol (E2) dose-dependently increased the expression levels of AQP1 mRNA and protein in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). A functional ERE-like motif was identified in the promoter of the Aqp1 gene. AQP1 colocalized with ezrin, a component of the ezrin/radixin/moesin protein complex, and, ezrin colocalized with filamentous actin in HUVECs. Knockdown of AQP1 or ezrin with specific small interfering RNA significantly attenuated the formation of transcytoplasmic filamentous actin stress fibers induced by E2 and inhibited E2-enhanced cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and tubule formation of HUVECs.

CONCLUSIONS

Estrogen induces AQP1 expression by activating ERE in the promoter of the Aqp1 gene, resulting in tubulogenesis of vascular endothelial cells. These results provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms underpinning the angiogenic effects of estrogen.

Coordinated upper limb training assisted with an electromyography (EMG)-driven hand robot after stroke

An electromyography (EMG)-driven hand robot had been developed for post-stroke rehabilitation training. The effectiveness of the hand robot assisted whole upper limb training on muscular coordination was investigated on persons with chronic stroke (n=10) in this work. All subjects attended a 20-session training (3-5 times/week) by using the hand robot to practice object grasp/release and arm transportation tasks. Improvements were found in the muscle co-ordination between the antagonist muscle pair (flexor digitorum and extensor digitorum) as measured by muscle co-contractions in EMG signals; and also in the reduction of excessive muscle activities in the biceps brachii. Reduced spasticity in the fingers was also observed as measured by the Modified Ashworth Score.

[The cytotoxicity of indirubin derivative PHII-7 against human breast cancer MCF-7 cells and its mechanisms]

OBJECTIVE

To observe the cytotoxicity of indirubin derivative PHII-7 against human breast cancer MCF-7 cells and to study its primary mechanisms.

METHODS

The proliferation of MCF-7 cells was detected using MTT colorimetry. Annexin V/PI double staining was applied to detect the apoptosis rate of MCF-7 cells. The distribution of cell cycles was detected using PI staining and flow cytometry (FCM). The levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in MCF-7 cells were detected by DCFH-DA staining. The mRNA and protein levels of c-fos were detected using RT-PCR and Westem blot analysis.

RESULTS

PHII-7 at different concentrations inhibited the proliferation of MCF-7 cells in a concentration-dependent manner, with the inhibitory rate ranging from 43.13% to 90.90% (P < 0.05). The inhibition was strengthened along with increased concentrations. PHII-7 at different concentrations could induce the apoptosis of MCF-7 cells. The early apoptosis rate was 1.43% +/- 0.02%, 9.14% +/- 0.36%, and 45.79% +/- 8.46%, respectively with the action of 1.25, 2.50, and 5.00 micromol/L PHII-7, respectively, showing dose-dependent manner. FCM analysis found that the proportion of MCF-7 cells in the G0/G1 phase and the S phase decreased after treatment with PHII-7, and the ratio of MCF-7 cells in the G2/M phase obviously increased (P < 0.01). The intra-cellular ROS level was significantly elevated 2 h after pretreatment with PHII-7. The levels of the protooncogene c-fos mRNA and protein were down-regulated in a dose-dependent manner after action of PHII-7.

CONCLUSIONS

PHII-7 exerted obvious in vitro cytotoxic effects on MCF-7 cells. Its mechanisms might be associated with arresting the cell cycle, regulating the redox equilibrium, and down-regulating the expression of the protooncogene.

Post-stroke wrist rehabilitation assisted with an intention-driven functional electrical stimulation (FES)-robot system

In this work, a novel FES-robot system was developed for wrist rehabilitation training after stroke. The FES-robot system could be continuously controlled by electromyography (EMG) from the residual wrist muscles to facilitate wrist flexion and extension tracking tasks on a horizontal plane by providing assistance from both FES and robot parts. The system performance with five different assistive combinations from the FES and robot parts was evaluated by subjects with chronic stroke (n=5). The results suggested that the assistance from the robot part mainly improved the movement accuracy in the tracking tasks; and the assistance from the FES part mainly suppressed the excessive muscular activities from the elbow joint. The best combination was when the assistances from FES and robot was 1:1, and the results showed better wrist tracking performance with less muscle co-contraction from the elbow joint.

An EMG-driven exoskeleton hand robotic training device on chronic stroke subjects: task training system for stroke rehabilitation

An exoskeleton hand robotic training device is specially designed for persons after stroke to provide training on their impaired hand by using an exoskeleton robotic hand which is actively driven by their own muscle signals. It detects the stroke person's intention using his/her surface electromyography (EMG) signals from the hemiplegic side and assists in hand opening or hand closing functional tasks. The robotic system is made up of an embedded controller and a robotic hand module which can be adjusted to fit for different finger length. Eight chronic stroke subjects had been recruited to evaluate the effects of this device. The preliminary results showed significant improvement in hand functions (ARAT) and upper limb functions (FMA) after 20 sessions of robot-assisted hand functions task training. With the use of this light and portable robotic device, stroke patients can now practice more easily for the opening and closing of their hands at their own will, and handle functional daily living tasks at ease. A video is included together with this paper to give a demonstration of the hand robotic system on chronic stroke subjects and it will be presented in the conference.