Overexpression of transketolase-like gene 1 is associated with cell proliferation in uterine cervix cancer

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Tumor cells need large energy and nucleic acids to proliferate and grow. For most of their energy needs, cancer cells depend more on glycolysis. For most of their nucleic acids needs, cancer cells depend more on the nonoxidative pathway of the pentose phosphate pathway. Transketolase(TKT) is a crucial enzyme in the nonoxidative pathway of the PPP.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The real-time quantity PCR was used to determine the expression of transketolase gene family in uterine cervix cancer. Transketolase activity of cell was determined by using enzyme-linked method. Cell proliferation was detected by using MTT.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The TKTL1 mRNA was specifically over-expressed in uterine cervix cancer cells(HeLa cell line) compare with normal human endocervical epithelial cells(End1/E6E7 cell line)(P < 0.05), whereas the expression of TKT and transketolase-like gene 2(TKTL2) have no significant differences between the two cell lines(P > 0.05). Moreover, we found that total transketolase activity was significantly reduced, and cell proliferation was remarkably inhibited after anti-TKTL1 siRNA treatment in HeLa cells. The total transketolase activity and cell proliferation have no significant differences after anti-TKTL1 siRNA treatment in End1/E6E7 cells.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These results indicate that TKTL1 plays an important role in total transketolase activity and cells proliferation in uterine cervix cancer.</p

The FEM-Prediction on tensile performance of woven membrane materials under uni and Bi-axial loads

In this study, the mechanical model of the woven PVC-coated membrane materials has been built. By the FEM analysis, it was found out that when tensioned under uni-axial loads, the tensile modulus in the warp and fill direction of woven membrane materials could be predicted nicely, especially after the revision of the properties for the fiber materials. The effect of the tensile moduli of the fiber and the PVC coating materials on the modulus of the woven membrane fabrics has been discussed. It could be consulted that with the proper improvement of the modulus of the fiber materials in the fill direction, the discrepancy between the modulus of woven membrane materials in the warp and fill direction could be reduced to a certain extent. When it comes to the prediction of the modulus of the woven membrane materials under bi-axial loads, large difference could be noticed between the predicted results and the experimental results, especially in warp direction. This was due to the fact that the mechanical analysis model could only show the differences of the geometry configuration between the warp and fill directions. However, the reinforcement of membrane materials in warp direction during weaving and coating processes has been ignored

Effect of Panax notoginsenoside Rg1 on bidirectional regulation of blood glucose level in mice

Panax notoginseng saponin (PNS) is one of the key bioactive components of dry root and rhizome of Panax notoginseng (Burk.), a well known as Tianqi in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Although PNS has been shown to possess various pharmacological activities, such as being antithrombotic, neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory and hypolipidemic, etc.,  its effects on blood glucose levels have not been well documented but for some preliminary reports. It deserves a detailed in vivo investigation in animal model. Thus, to investigate the bi-directional regulation of ginsenoside Rgl (Rg1) on blood glucose in mice, Rg1 with high purity was prepared from panax notoginseng saponins by normal phase silica gel column chromatography and reverse phase C18 preparative chromatography. Normal 4-week-old mice were randomly divided into normal control group, normal control group with Rg1, glucose gavage control group, glucose gavage control group with Rg1, insulin treated control group and overnight fasting control group with or without Rg1 (n = 10). The mice in the control group were intragastrically administered with PBS solution, and the mice in the Rg1 groups were intragastrically administered with Rg1 once a day at the doses of 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 mg/kg for consecutive 7 days. After the last drug, blood glucose (BG) levels were measured at 0.5 (30 min) and 1 h after administration using a simultaneous automatic biochemical analyzer to observe the effect of Rg1 on BG levels. Compared with the model group, Rg1 significantly decreased the BG levels of hyperglycemic mice induced by glucose gavage (P &lt;0.05), significantly increased the BG level of overnight fasted mice (P &lt;0.05), and had no significant effects on the normal group of mice. Panax notoginseng saponin Rgl has a significant bidirectional regulatory effect on glucose levels in mice. When the blood glucose of mice increases, intragastric administration of Rg1 can effectively reduce the blood glucose; conversely, when the blood glucose of mice is low, Rg1 can effectively increase the blood glucose value

Geometry and optics calibration of WFCTA prototype telescopes using star light

The Large High Altitude Air Shower Observatory project is proposed to study high energy gamma ray astronomy ( 40 GeV-1 PeV ) and cosmic ray physics ( 20 TeV-1 EeV ). The wide field of view Cherenkov telescope array, as a component of the LHAASO project, will be used to study energy spectrum and compositions of cosmic ray by measuring the total Cherenkov light generated by air showers and shower maximum depth. Two prototype telescopes have been in operation since 2008. The pointing accuracy of each telescope is crucial to the direction reconstruction of the primary particles. On the other hand the primary energy reconstruction relies on the shape of the Cherenkov image on the camera and the unrecorded photons due to the imperfect connections between photomultiplier tubes. UV bright stars are used as point-like objects to calibrate the pointing and to study the optical properties of the camera, the spot size and the fractions of unrecorded photons in the insensitive areas of the camera.Comment: 5 pages, 6 figures, submitted to Chinese Physics

Efficient sunlight promoted nitrogen fixation from air under room temperature and ambient pressure via Ti/Mo composites

Photocatalytic nitrogen fixation is an important pathway for carbon neutralization and sustainable development. Inspired by nitrogenase, the participation of molybdenum can effectively activate nitrogen. A novel Ti/Mo composites photocatalyst is designed by sintering the molybdenum acetylacetonate precursor with TiO$_{2}$. The special carbon-coated hexagonal photocatalyst is obtained which photocatalytic nitrogen fixation performance is enhanced 16 times compared to pure TiO$_{2}$ at room temperature and ambient pressure. The abundant surface defects in this composite were confirmed to be the key factor for nitrogen fixation. The $^{15}$N$_{2}$ isotope labeling experiment was used to demonstrate the feasibility of nitrogen to ammonia conversion. Also, modelling on the interactions between light and the synthesized photocatalyst particle was examined for the light absorption. The optimum nitrogen fixation conditions have been examined, and the nitrogen fixation performance can reach up to 432 ${\mu}$g$\cdot$g$_{\text{cat}}^{-1}\cdot$h$^{-1}$. Numerical simulations via the field-only surface integral method were also carried out to study the interactions between light and the photocatalytic particles to further confirm that it can be a useful material for photocatalyst. This newly developed Ti/Mo composites provide a simple and effective strategy for photocatalytic nitrogen fixation from air directly under ambient conditions

In situ epicatechin-loaded hydrogel implants for local drug delivery to spinal column for effective management of post-traumatic spinal injuries

Purpose: To prepare hydrogels loaded with epicatechin, a strong antioxidant,  anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective tea flavonoid, and characterise them in situ as a vehicle for prolonged and safer drug delivery in patients with post-traumatic spinal cord injury.Methods: Five in situ gel formulations were prepared using chitosan and evaluated in terms of their visual appearance, clarity, pH, viscosity, and in vitro drug release. In vivo anti-inflammatory activity was determined and compared with 2 % piroxicam gel as standard. Motor function activity in a rat model of spinal injury was examined comparatively with i.v. methylprednisolone as standard.Results: The N-methyl pyrrolidone solution (containing 1 % w/w epicatechin with 2 to 10 % w/w chitosan) of the in situ gel formulation had a uniform pH in the range of 4.01 ± 0.12 to 4.27 ± 0.02. High and uniform drug loading, ranging from 94.48 ± 1.28 to 98.08 ± 1.24 %, and good in vitro drug release (79.48 ± 2.84 to 96.48 ± 1.02 % after 7 days) were achieved. The in situ gel prepared from 1 % epicatechin and 2 % chitosan (E5) showed the greatest in vivo anti-inflammatory activity  (60.58 % inhibition of paw oedema in standard carrageenan-induced hind rat paw oedema model, compared with 48.08 % for the standard). The gels showed  significant therapeutic effectiveness against post-traumainduced spinal injury in rats. E5 elicited maximum motor activity (horizontal bar test) in the spinal injuryrat model; the rats that received E5 treatment produced an activity score of 3.62 ± 0.02 at the end of 7 days, compared with 5.0 ± 0.20 following treatment with the standard.Conclusion: In situ epicatechin-loaded gel exhibits significant neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects, and therefore can potentially be used for prolonged and safe drug delivery in patients with traumatic spinal cord injury.Keywords: Epicatechin, In situ gel, Chitosan, Spinal injury, Post-traumatic, Motor activity, Antiinflammator

Efficient photocatalytic nitrogen fixation from air under sunlight via iron-doped WO3_3

Photocatalytic nitrogen fixation from air directly under sunlight can contribute significantly to carbon neutralization. It is an ideal pathway to replace the industrial Haber Bosch process in future. A Fe-doped layered WO$_3$ photocatalyst containing oxygen vacancies was developed which can fix nitrogen from air directly under sunlight at atmospheric pressure. The iron doping enhances the transport efficiency of photogenerated electrons. The photocatalytic efficiency is around 4 times higher than that of pure WO$_3$. The optimum nitrogen fixation conditions were examined by orthogonal experiments and its nitrogen fixation performance could reach up to 477 $\mu \text{g} \cdot \text{g}_{\text{cat}}^{-1} \cdot \text{h}^{-1}$ under sunlight. In addition, the process of nitrogen fixation was detected by situ infrared, which confirmed the reliability of nitrogen fixation. Also, modelling on the interactions between light and the photocatalyst was carried out to study the distribution of surface charge and validate the light absorption of the photocatalyst. This work provides a simple and cheap strategy for photocatalytic nitrogen fixation from air under mild conditions