Pyruvate kinase genes in grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idella: molecular characterization, expression patterns, and effects of dietary carbohydrate levels

To explore features of carbohydrate metabolism and evolution of carbohydrate metabolism-associated genes in herbivorous fishes, the open reading frames (ORF) of PKL, PKMa, and PKMb genes of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) were obtained, encoding 538, 528, and 532 amino acids, respectively. Comparative genomic analysis showed that adjacent PK genes were highly conserved between fish and mammals. Gene expression profiles were quite different between the three PK genes in tissues and at developmental stages. PKL, PKMa, and PKMb had the highest expression levels in the liver, heart, and muscle, respectively. During embryogenesis, high expression levels of PKMa and PKMb were detected in unfertilized and fertilized eggs. Following a non-expression period, PKMa and PKMb exhibited high expressions again after the hatching stage. In contrast, PKL transcripts could not be detected in early developmental stages, and expression levels continued to increase from the hatching stage to 144 h post hatching. After the 8-week feeding trial with 18%, 30%, and 42% dietary carbohydrate levels, the concentrations of glucose and insulin in serum, pyruvate kinase enzymes, and gene expression levels in brain, muscle, and liver tissues all increased with the increase in carbohydrate levels in the diets. Furthermore, high carbohydrate levels (30% and 42% carbohydrate diets) had a greater effect on grass carp growth. This indicated that PKL, PKMa, and PKMb genes were not only very important in catalytic enzymes, which can be up-regulated by high carbohydrate dietary conditions, but also exhibited a complex and detailed division of labor in different tissues and developmental stages.

Drawing High-Definition and Reversible Hydrogel Paintings with Grayscale Exposure

High-definition and arbitrary grayscale hydrogel paintings that can appear reversibly with hydration/dehydration are realized through spatially grayscale exposure. Spatio-temporally grayscale images are used to guide the exposure of a hydrogel processor to dictate the gradient cross-linking density spatially, which thereafter results in the heterogeneity of hydrogels in swelling ratio, mechanical properties, and especially visible light transmittance, leading to swelling-induced patterns by gradient and local visible light scattering difference based on tunable mesh size and microphase separation. The resultant grayscale hydrogel patterns, with visible light transmittance adjustable, are reversible during hydration (in 1-2 s) and dehydration and possess the feature size of 70 μm and more pattern information compared with previous hydrogel patterning. Uniquely, the patterns can be realized not only on the outmost surface of hydrogels as usual but inside. Combining the unique grayscale exposure with three-dimensional printing technology, arbitrary hydrogel patterns that have plenty of details and even vary at different layers are fabricated readily, indicating its broad potential in smart anti-counterfeiting of security field, mechanics, engineering, and many others.

[Clinical characteristics and prognosis between male and female patients with premature coronary artery disease after intervention]

Objective: To compare the clinical characteristics and long-term prognosis between male and female patients with premature coronary artery disease (PCAD) post coronary intervention, and analyse the risk factors of major adverse cardio-cerebrovascular events (MACCE) and bleeding events. Methods: This was a prospective single-center observational study. From January 2013 to December 2013, 4 744 patients diagnosed as PCAD and treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in Fuwai Hospital were enrolled. The general clinical data, laboratory results and interventional treatment data of all patients were collected, and patients were followed up for 2 years after PCI and the incidence of events including MACCE and bleeding was analyzed. The baseline data and clinical events of PCAD patients of different genders were compared. Survival curves were estimated by Kaplan-Meier method. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression were used to analyze whether gender was an influencing factor of different clinical events of PCAD patients within 2 years after PCI, and other relevant influencing factors of MACCE and bleeding events. Results: Among the 4 744 PCAD patients included, there were 3 390 (71.5%) male aged (47.0±5.4) years old and 1 354 (28.5%) female aged (57.0±5.8) years old. Compared with female patients, male patients had higher body mass index, higher proportion of hyperlipidemia, smoking, myocardial infarction, previous PCI, preoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate, ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, radial artery approach, intravenous ultrasound use and chronic occlusive lesions (all P<0.05). Age, left ventricular ejection fraction, prevalence of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, past stroke history, non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) and the use of calcium channel blockers were lower in male patients than in female patients (all P<0.05). The 2-year follow-up results showed that the incidence of BARC type 1 hemorrhage was significantly higher in female patients than in male patients (6.9%(92/1 343) vs. 3.7%(126/3 378), P<0.001); however, the incidence of MACCE, all-cause death, cardiac death, recurrent myocardial infarction, revascularization (target vessel revascularization and target lesion revascularization), stent thrombosis, stroke and BARC type 2-5 hemorrhage were similar between the two groups (all P>0.05). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that gender was an independent risk factor for BARC type 1 bleeding in PCAD patients (HR=2.180, 95%CI 1.392-3.416, P<0.001), but it was not an independent risk factor for MACCE and BARC type 2-5 bleeding(all P>0.05). Hyperlipidemia, preoperative SYNTAX score, multivessel lesions and NSTE-ACS were the independent risk factors for MACCE in PCAD patients with PCI (the HRs(95%CI) were 1.289(1.052-1.580), 1.030(1.019-1.042), 1.758(1.365-2.264), 1.264(1.040-1.537), respectively); gender (HR=1.579, 95%CI 1.085-2.297, P=0.017), hyperlipidemia (HR=1.305, 95%CI 1.005-1.695, P=0.046), anticoagulant drugs including low molecular weight heparin (HR=1.321, 95%CI 1.002-1.741, P=0.048) or sulfonate(HR=1.659, 95%CI 1.198-2.298, P=0.002) were the independent risk factors for bleeding events. Conclusions: There are differences in clinical and coronary artery lesion characteristics between different genders in patients with PCAD. The incidence of minor bleeding is significantly higher in female PCAD patients than in male PCAD patients. Hyperlipidemia, preoperative SYNTAX score, multivessel lesions and NSTE-ACS are the independent risk factors for MACCE, and gender, hyperlipidemia, anticoagulant drugs including low molecular weight heparin or sulfonate are the independent risk factors for bleeding events in patients with PCAD.

Fractionation of alkali lignin by organic solvents for biodegradable microsphere through self-assembly

Here we report a centrifugation-based fractionation methodology that was integrated with three types of organic solvents to fractionate industrial alkali lignin toward the fabrication of lignin microsphere. The Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) result showed that the chemical structure of lignin was not changed by solvent fractionation. Soluble lignin in each solvent had lower molecular weight, improved polydispersity index (PDI) and less impurities (S, N), while insoluble lignin had a high bio-char yield and can be utilized as potential carbon source for porous carbon nanosphere materials. In addition, well-shaped lignin microsphere with smooth or anisotropic surface can be prepared by selecting proper lignin fraction without any chemical modification. This work thus provides a new strategy for the derivation of lignin as raw materials for value-added products, which paved a new way to develop a green and sustainable bio-refining industry.

Identification of Body Composition, Dietary Patterns and Its Associated Factors in Medical University Students in China

This study aimed to measure the body composition, dietary patterns and its associated factors in medical students. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 695 students studying at Nanjing medical university, China. Data regarding dietary intake factors was collected by a validated food frequency questionnaire. Principle component analysis and multivariate linear regressions were used. Body composition including BMI and visceral fats index of the males were significantly higher (P < .05) than females. While body fats percentage and fats mass index/free fat mass index (FMI/FFMI) ratio of females was significantly higher (P < .05) than males. Three dietary patterns were identified: western dietary pattern, meat pattern, and vegetables and fruits pattern. The western pattern was having an independent negative association (P < .05) with age and financial status, while positive association (P < .05) with sleeping duration and FMI/FFMI ratio. Vegetables and fruits patterns was having positive association with physical exercise and while negative association with FMI/FFMI ratio. Meat pattern was having positive association with educational levels and sleeping duration, while negative association with physical exercise and FMI/FFMI ratio. In conclusion, medical students adopted less healthy dietary patterns as compared to healthy dietary patterns, which were found to be more associated with some adverse dietary and lifestyle behavior outcomes.

Clock-Bmal1 mediates MMP9 induction in acrolein-promoted atherosclerosis associated with gut microbiota regulation

Circadian rhythm is believed to play important roles in atherosclerosis. The gut microbiota is found to be closely related to atherogenesis, and shows compositional and functional circadian oscillation. However, it's still unclarified whether circadian clock and intestinal microbiota are involved in the progression of atherosclerosis induced by environmental pollutant acrolein. Herein, patients with atherosclerosis showed higher MMP9, a promising biomarker for atherosclerosis, and lower Bmal1 and Clock expression in the plasma. Interestingly, acrolein exposure contributed to the increased MMP9, decreased Clock and Bmal1, and activated MAPK pathways in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). We found that knockdown of Clock or Bmal1 lead to upregulation of MMP9 in HUVECs, and that Clock and Bmal1 expression was elevated while MAPK pathways were blocked. Atherosclerotic apolipoproteinE-deficient mice consumed a high-fat diet were used and treated with acrolein (3 mg/kg/day) in the drinking water for 12 weeks. Upregulation of MMP9, and downregulation of Clock and Bmal1 were also observed in plasma of the mice. Besides, acrolein feeding altered gut microbiota composition at a phylum level especially for an increased Firmicutes and a decreased Bacteroidetes. Additionally, gut microbiota showed correlation with atherosclerotic plaque, MMP9 and Bmal1 levels. Therefore, our findings indicated that acrolein increased the expression of MMP9 through MAPK regulating circadian clock, which was associated with gut microbiota regulation in atherosclerosis. Circadian rhythms and gut microbiota might be promising targets in the prevention of cardiovascular disease caused by environmental pollutants.

Primary assessment of a T. spiralis putative serine protease for early serological detection of experimental trichinellosis

A putative serine protease of T. spiralis (TsSP) was expressed in Escherichia coli and its potential as a diagnostic antigen was primarily assessed in this study. Anti-Trichinella IgG in serum samples from T. spiralis different animal hosts (mice, rats, pigs and rabbits) were detected on Western blot analysis with rTsSP. Anti-Trichinella antibodies were detected in 100% (30/30) of experimentally infected mice by rTsSP-ELISA. Cross-reactions of rTsSPELISA were not found with sera from mice infected with other parasites (S. erinaceieuropaei, S. japonicum, C. sinensis, A. cantonensis and T. gondii) and sera from normal mice. There was no statistical difference in antibody detection rate among mice infected with the encapsulated Trichinella species (T. spiralis, T. nativa, T. britovi, and T. nelsoni) (P>0.05). The results of rTsSP-ELISA showed that serum specific antibody IgG in mice infected with 100 or 500 T. spiralis muscle larvae (ML) were detectable early at 7-8 dpi, but not detected by ML ES antigen-ELISA prior to 10-12 dpi. Specific anti-Trichinella IgG was detected in 100% (18/18) of infected pigs by rTsSP-ELISA and ES-ELISA, but no specific antibodies was not detected in 20 conventionally raised normal pigs by two antigens. The results showed the rTsSP had the potential for early serodiagnosis of animal Trichinella infection, however it requires to be assayed with early infection sera of swine infected with Trichinella and other parasites.

Seasonal variations of NPAHs and OPAHs in PM2.5 at heavily polluted urban and suburban sites in North China: Concentrations, molecular compositions, cancer risk assessments and sources

16 nitrated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (NPAHs) and 5 oxygenated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (OPAHs) in PM_2.5 at two locations in Northern China were analyzed by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). Sampling was conducted at an urban site in Shandong University in Jinan (SDU) and a suburban site in Qixingtai in Jinan (QXT) in March, June, September and December in 2016. Overall, the concentrations of NPAHs and OPAHs were higher at SDU (1.88 and 9.49 ng/m³, respectively) than QXT (1.57 and 6.90 ng/m³, respectively), and the NPAHs and OPAHs concentrations were significantly higher during the winter than the other seasons at both sites. The incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) values were lower than 10^-6 for all sites, seasons and age groups (ranging between 1.85E-08 and 2.56E-07), so there was no risk of carcinogenesis due to exposure to these pollutants. Total cancer risk at SDU was higher than QXT and NPAHs have the highest carcinogenic risk for adults aged from 30 to 70 years. The positive matrix factorization (PMF) results revealed that coal/biomass combustion, diesel vehicle emissions, gasoline vehicle emissions and secondary formation were the main sources of NPAHs and OPAHs at SDU and QXT. Coal/biomass combustion contributed more in spring, autumn and winter; diesel vehicle emission contributed the most in summer; secondary formation made greatest contributions in winter; the contributions of gasoline vehicle emission were similar in summer, autumn and winter. Diagnostic ratios clearly demonstrated that secondary formation is more active in winter than in other seasons, and the reactions of PAHs and OH radical were the dominant secondary formation pathway at both SDU and QXT. In addition, the potential source contribution function (PSCF) identified that the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, Shandong province, Bohai Sea, Yellow Sea, Anhui province and Henan province were the main source regions of NPAHs and OPAHs in Jinan.

HtrA1 upregulates the expression of ADAMTS-5 in HNPCs via the ERK/NF-κB/JNK signaling pathway

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is a form of chronic inflammation and is one of the most common disorders reported to be involved in low back pain (LBP). The pathophysiology of degeneration is not completely understood, but the consensus is that the degradation of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins in the disc is the leading factor contributing to IDD. High temperature requirement A1 (HtrA1) is serine protease that has been shown to be increased in degenerated intervertebral discs as a result of an increase in the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), but no study has focused on the effect of HtrA1 on a disintegrin-like and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs (ADAMTSs). In the present study, we successfully isolated human nucleus pulposus cells (HNPCs) from IDD patients who were our research subjects to elaborate on the potential role of HtrA1 in the pathogenesis of IDD. We confirmed that HtrA1 has the potential to induce the expression of ADAMTS-5 in a dose-dependent manner. Consistently, this was mediated by the ERK, NF-κB and JNK pathways. By using inhibitors of these pathways, the increase in ADAMTS-5 could be reduced. Our findings indicated that HtrA1 can induce the expression of ADAMTS-5 in HNPCs via the ERK/NF-κB/JNK signaling pathway, and our study also elucidated the involved induction mechanisms in HNPCs, which may provide new insights for the treatment of IDD.

[Effect of ABO blood groups on long-term outcome of stable coronary artery disease after percutaneous coronary intervention]

Objective: To evaluate the effect of ABO blood groups on long-term outcome of stable coronary artery disease (CAD) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods: A total of 4 272 patients with stable coronary artery disease and received PCI were consecutively enrolled from January to December 2013 and followed up for 2 years. Patients were divided into O group and non-O group according to their ABO groups. Multivariable COX regression was used to evaluated the relationship between ABO blood groups and prognosis of CAD. The endpoints included all-cause death, cardiac death, myocardial infarction(MI), revascularization, and stroke. Results: There were 1 302 patients in O group and 2 970 patients in non-O group. ABO blood group was not associated with age, sex and blood pressure (P>0.05). The comorbidity rate of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, smoking, family history, previous MI, previous cerebrovascular disease, previous PCI and left ventricular ejection fraction were similar between the two groups (P>0.05). Total cholesterol, low density lipid cholesterol level were significantly higher in non-O group compared with O group [(4.2±1.1)mmol/L vs (4.1±1.1)mmol/L, P=0.027; (2.5±0.9)mmol/L vs (2.4±0.9) mmol/L, P=0.025], while high density lipid cholesterol level was significantly lower[(1.04±0.26) mmol/L vs (1.06±0.28) mmol/L, P=0.035]. As to angiographic results, non-O blood group was not related to the severity of coronary atherosclerosis assessed by SYNTAX score(P=0.277). More cardiac death occurred in non-O group compared with that in O group [21 (0.7%) vs 2(0.1%)] during 2-year follow-up. After adjusted for confounding factors, multivariable COX regression revealed that non-O blood type was not associated with increased cardiac death [HR (95%CI)=7.30(0.97-55.09), P=0.054]. Conclusion: Non-O blood group is associated with 2-year cardiac death in patients with stable coronary artery disease who received PCI, but it is not an independent risk factor for cardiac death.

Overexpression of ERBB3 promotes proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma

The purpose of this study is to investigate the role of ERBB3 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). We investigated the expression level of ERBB3 in NPC by immunohistochemistry and western blot. CCK-8, cell cycle analysis, transwell assay and wound healing assay were used to detect the effect of ERBB3 on the proliferation and migration of NPC cells. HUVECs were used to study the effects of ERBB3 on angiogenesis in NPC. Our results showed that the expression level of ERBB3 in NPC was much higher than that in normal controls. ERBB3 promoted the proliferation and migration of NPC cells, while suppression of ERBB3 reduced angiogenesis. These results indicated that overexpression of ERBB3 promotes tumorigenesis and angiogenesis in NPC, which may provide an effective target in gene therapy for NPC.

Identification of tRNA-Derived Fragments Expression Profile in Breast Cancer Tissues

Background:

In recent years, tRFs(transfer RNA-Derived Fragments) and transfer RNADerived Stress-induced RNAs (or tRNA halves) have been shown to have vital roles in cancer biology.We aimed to reveal the expression profile of tRNA-derived fragments in breast cancer tissues in the study, and to explore their potential as biomarkers of breast cancer.

Methods:

We characterized the tRNA-derived fragments expression profile from 6 paired clinical breast cancer tissues and adjacent normal samples. Then we selected 6 significantly expressed tRNAderived fragments and screened the genes for validation by using Quantitative Real-time PCR. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes biological pathway were finally analyzed.

Results:

We found 30 differentially expressed tRNA-derived fragments across our dataset, out of which 17 were up-regulated, and 13 were down-regulated. Compared with 16 clinical breast cancer tissues and adjacent normal tissues by qPCR, the results demonstrated that tRF-32-Q99P9P9NH57SJ(FC = -2.6476, p = 0.0189), tRF-17-79MP9PP (FC = -4.8984, p = 0.0276) and tRF-32-XSXMSL73VL4YK (FC = 6.5781, p = 0.0226) were significantly expressed in breast cancer tissues(p < 0.001). tRF-32-XSXMSL73VL4YK was significantly up-regulated, and tRF-32-Q99P9P9NH57SJ and tRF-17-79MP9PP were significantly down-regulated in which the expressionpatterns were similar to the sequencing results. The top ten significant results of GO and KEGG pathways enrichment analysis were presented.

Conclusion:

Our studies have demonstrated that there were significantly expressed tRNA-derived fragments in breast cancer tissues. They are hopefully to become biomarkers and would be valuable researches in this area.

Strong and selective isotope effect in the vacuum ultraviolet photodissociation branching ratios of carbon monoxide

Rare isotope (¹³C, ¹⁷O and ¹⁸O) substitutions can substantially change absorption line positions, oscillator strengths and photodissociation rates of carbon monoxide (CO) in the vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) region, which has been well accounted for in recent photochemical models for understanding the large isotopic fractionation effects that are apparent in carbon and oxygen in the solar system and molecular clouds. Here, we demonstrate a strong isotope effect associated with the VUV photodissociation of CO by measuring the branching ratios of ¹²C¹⁶O and ¹³C¹⁶O in the Rydberg 4p(2), 5p(0) and 5s(0) complex region. The measurements show that the quantum yields of electronically excited C atoms in the photodissociation of ¹³C¹⁶O are dramatically different from those of ¹²C¹⁶O, revealing strong isotope effect. This isotope effect strongly depends on specific quantum states of CO being excited, which implies that such effect must be considered in the photochemical models on a state by state basis.

Rotational dependence of the branching ratios and fragment angular distributions for the photodissociation of 12C16O in the Rydberg 4p(2) and 5p(0) complex region (92.84-93.37 nm)

¹²C¹⁶O shows complicated absorption structures in the wavelength range of 92.84-93.37 nm caused by the mutual interactions among the Rydberg 4p(2) and 5p(0) complexes, and several diffuse valence states. Here, we systematically measured the branching ratios and fragment angular distributions for the photodissociation of ¹²C¹⁶O in the wavelength range using our mini-time-slice velocity-map imaging (mini-TSVMI) setup and a tunable vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) laser radiation source generated by the two-photon resonance-enhanced four-wave mixing scheme. Various patterns of rotational dependence for the photodissociation branching ratios have been observed for different vibronic states, and they are found to be consistent with previous spectroscopic investigations, revealing the complicated coupling schemes and predissociation dynamics in this region. Irregular angular distributions of the photofragments have been observed, especially in the Rydberg 5p(0) complex region. This has been attributed to the simultaneous excitation of multiple states with different symmetries in this region. The newly observed underlying continuum in the Rydberg 5p(0) complex region has been directly detected in the present study, and it is found to be of ¹Σ⁺ symmetry and dissociates predominantly into the C(³P) + O(³P) channel. This study generally confirms the results of previous spectroscopic studies from a different perspective, and adds new knowledge for understanding the complicated predissociation dynamics of ¹²C¹⁶O in the titled wavelength range.

PM2.5-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and nitrated PAHs (NPAHs) in rural and suburban areas in Shandong and Henan Provinces during the 2016 Chinese New Year's holiday

Eighteen polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and fourteen nitrated PAHs (NPAHs) in PM_2.5 samples were collected during the 2016 Chinese New Year's holiday (CNY) at one suburban and three rural sites in Shandong and Henan Provinces. The PAH and NPAH concentrations were highest at the suburban site. The rural PAH concentrations in Qingzhou (QZ), Heze (HZ), and Liaocheng (LC) were higher than those measured at many other urban sites, indicating that PAHs pollution was notably higher in the suburban and rural sites during this festive period. Elevated PAH concentrations were observed during fireworks periods, but fireworks burning was not a significant or direct PAHs or NPAHs source based on molecular profiles and diagnostic ratios. The measured PAHs and NPAHs at the sampling sites mainly originated from coal and biomass burning. The increased concentrations during CNY's Eve may be related to behavioural changes during the period. Secondary formation of NPAHs mainly occurred via OH radical chemistry at all four sites. Fireworks burning did not increase secondary formation of NPAHs. ∑BaP_eq concentrations exhibited strong correlations with PAHs concentrations, and the highest and lowest concentrations were observed in QZ and Xiping (XP), respectively. The incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) was calculated to be between 10^-6 and 10^-4 for 1-70 years old persons, with the highest risks observed in the adult (30-70 years) and the toddler (1-6 years) groups.

Effects of Periploca forrestii Schltr on wound healing by Src meditated Mek/Erk and PI3K/Akt signals

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Periploca forrestii Schltr. (PF) is a traditional folk medicine in China that has been used widely for treating rheumatoid arthritis and traumatic injuries for a long history. Previously, we have roughly demonstrated that the ethanol extract of PF possessed in vitro wound healing potential, and more in depth research deserves to be conducted.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The present study is aiming to fully evaluate the wound healing activity of PF in vitro and in vivo, clarify the mechanism of actions and the primary constituents responsible for wound healing.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The total extract of Periploca forrestii Schltr. (EPF) and its fraction (65% ethanol fraction, EPFE65) were obtained and evaluated on in vitro wound healing properties using mouse dermal fibroblasts (L929). Cell proliferation was tested by MTT and EdU assay, confirmed by cell cycle analysis, cell migration was evaluated by scratch and transwell assay and collagen production was also determined. Then EPFE65 was tested on in vivo wound healing activity using the excision rat models. The wounded skin of rats was topically applied with 0.1% EPFE65 once daily for 6 days with hydrogel as the carrier and the recombinant bovine basic fibroblast growth factor hydrogel (rbFGF) as positive control. Histopathology of the wounded skin on day 6 and day 12 was studied via hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining. The expression of phosphorylation of Src, Akt and Erk1/2 was determined after the treatment with EPFE65 by western blot. In order to figure out whether the activation of Src, Akt and Erk1/2 was directly in conjunction with wound healing process promoted by EPFE65, cell proliferation and migration were tested in the presence of three inhibitors of Src, Akt and Erk1/2. Finally, the chemical composition of the effective fraction EPFE65 was analyzed by HPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS.

RESULTS

In vitro experiments suggested that EPFE65 was comparable to EPF that had potent effect on promoting L929 fibroblasts proliferation, migration and increasing collagen production. 0.1% EPFE65 hydrogel also exhibited significant effect on promoting wound healing in rats. The wound closure was significantly faster in EPFE65 and positive rbFGF group than that in negative control group since the third day post wounding (p < 0.05). Specifically, on day10-12, the wounds in EPFE65 and rbFGF group were almost healed as the wound areas diminished into 13.3-5.3% and 7.7-4.0%, while the wound in control group was still apparent with 36.8-22.1% wound area. HE staining demonstrated that EPFE65 and rbFGF group could advance re-epithelialization in the early days and promote the transition of granulation tissue into complete dermis tissue with more skin appendages resembling those of normal skin in the last days. Western blot results suggested that the active fraction EPFE65 could increase the phosphorylation of Src, Akt and Erk1/2 in both dose-dependent and time-dependent manner, whereas Akt and Erk1/2 phosphorylation caused by EPFE65 could be abolished by Src inhibition. Inhibition experiments confirmed that the activation of Src, Akt and Erk1/2 were involved in cell proliferation and migration. All of these demonstrated that EPFE65 promoted wound healing at least in part via Src mediated Mek/Erk and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways. Analysis of chemical composition of EPFE65 revealed that cardiac glycosides were major components in EPFE65, among which periplocin showed effectiveness on promoting fibroblasts proliferation indicating that cardiac glycosides in EPFE65 maybe the active compounds responsible for wound healing.

CONCLUSION

The present study confirmed that EPFE65, ethanol extract of Periploca forrestii Schltr. could accelerate wound healing in vitro and in vivo through Src meditated Mek/Erk and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways.

Potential biodegradation of phenanthrene by isolated halotolerant bacterial strains from petroleum oil polluted soil in Yellow River Delta

The Yellow River Delta (YRD), being close to Shengli Oilfield, is at high risk for petroleum oil pollution. The aim of this study was to isolate halotolerant phenanthrene (PHE) degrading bacteria for dealing with this contaminates in salinity environment. Two bacterial strains assigned as FM6-1 and FM8-1 were successfully screened from oil contaminated soil in the YRD. Morphological and molecular analysis suggested that strains FM6-1 and FM8-1 were belonging to Delftia sp. and Achromobacter sp., respectively. Bacterial growth of both strains was not dependent on NaCl, however, grew well under extensive NaCl concentration. The optimum NaCl concentration for bacterial production of strain FM8-1 was 4% (m/v), whereas for strain FM6-1, growth was not affected within 2.5% NaCl. Both strains could use the tested aromatic hydrocarbons (naphthalene, phenanthrene, fluoranthene and pyrene) and aliphatic hydrocarbons (C12, C16, C20 and C32) as sole carbon source. The optimized biodegradation conditions for strain FM6-1 were pH 7, 28 °C and 2% NaCl, for strain FM8-1 were pH 8, 28 °C and 2.5% NaCl. The highest biodegradation rate of strains FM6-1 and FM8-1 was found at 150 mg/L PHE and 200 mg/L, respectively. In addition, strainsFM8-1 showed a superior biodegradation ability to strain FM6-1 at each optimized condition. The PHE biodegradation process by both strains well fitted to first-order kinetic models and the k₁ values were calculated to be 0.1974 and 0.1070 per day. Strain FM6-1 metabolized PHE via a "phthalic acid" route, while strain FM8-1 metabolized PHE through the "naphthalene" route. This project not only obtained two halotolerant petroleum hydrocarbon degraders but also provided a promising remediation approach for solving oil pollutants in salinity environments.

Clinical significance of epithelial-mesenchymal transition-related molecules in lung adenocarcinoma

Background

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (emt) refers to the biologic process in which epithelial cells are transformed into interstitial phenotypes by specific pathways. This transition plays an important biologic role in the process by which epithelium-derived malignant tumour cells acquire the ability to migrate and invade. We explored the relationship between emt-associated molecules and patient-related clinical factors to determine whether any clinical characteristics could be used as biomarkers for emt-related protein alterations in lung cancer-especially lung adenocarcinoma.

Methods

Tumour specimens were collected from 80 patients with lung adenocarcinoma who underwent surgery or lung biopsy, with 4 patients being evaluated a 2nd time after re-biopsy. Expression of emt-related proteins, including E-cadherin and vimentin, was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. We analyzed the relationship between clinicopathologic characteristics and expression level of the emt markers.

Results

Positive expression of E-cadherin was observed in 63 patients (79%), and vimentin, in 46 patients (57.5%). No significant relationships between E-cadherin or vimentin expression and smoking history, sex, age, driving gene mutations, or cell differentiation were identified. A significant correlation was observed between vimentin expression and pathologic stage. Of the 4 patients who were evaluated a 2nd time after re-biopsy, 3 showed the same emt-related protein expression status as in the first analysis. In the remaining patient, E-cadherin had changed completely.

Conclusions

Clinicopathologic factors in cancer patients did not help to diagnose emt status in lung adenocarcinoma; however, TNM stage might be associated with vimentin expression.

Periplocin promotes wound healing through the activation of Src/ERK and PI3K/Akt pathways mediated by Na/K-ATPase

BACKGROUND

Periploca forrestii(PF) is mainly utilized for treatment of arthritis and traumatic injury historically. We had previously demonstrated that a fraction rich in cardiotonic steroids isolated from PF had the potential to facilitate wound healing. However, the exact material basis and mechanism of action responsible for wound healing is still unclear. Periplocin(PP) is the highest level of cardiotonic steroid included in PF. The present study aims to evaluate the efficacy of periplocin on wound healing systematically in vitro and in vivo.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The L929 proliferation was determined by both MTT and EdU assay. Cell migration was tested by both scratch and transwell assay. The total amount of soluble collagen was assessed using a Sircol Collagen Assay Kit. The wound healing activity was evaluated in vivo using the excision rat models. Histopathology of the wounded skin on day 9 was studied via hematoxylin and eosin staining (HE) for general morphological observations and masson's trichrome staining for collagen deposition, respectively. The alteration in Src/ERK and PI3K/Akt pathways mediated by Na/K-ATPase was determined by western blot after the treatment with periplocin. The interaction between Na/K-ATPase and Src was tested by immunoprecipitation and immunostaining analysis.

RESULTS

The results revealed that periplocin could significantly boost proliferation, migration and stimulate collagen production in fibroblast L929 cells, which is dependent on activation of Src/ERK and PI3K/Akt pathways mediated by Na/K-ATPase, and thus promoting wound healing. Indeed, inhibition of Na/K-ATPase/Src complex receptor by Src specific inhibitor or knocking down the Na/K-ATPase expression would abolish the subsequent activation of Src/ERK and PI3K/Akt pathways and attenuate periplocin-induced beneficial effects on wound healing. Additionally, the wound healing activity is also confirmed in a rat excisional wound model as evidenced by increased rate of wound closure, reepithelization, formation of granulation tissue and collagen accumulation.

CONCLUSIONS

Collectively, we lay the rationale for traditional usage for traumatic injury, suggesting that periplocin and periploca forrestii is a promising candidate for management of chronic wounds.