Tricyclic Neovibsanin Scaffold Inhibits Glioma by Targeting Glioma-Initiating Cells

Purpose: To investigate the effect of tricyclic neovibsanin scaffold (TCNS) on cell viability, colony formation capacity and induction of apoptosis in glioma cells.Methods: 3-(4, 5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl) 2, 5-diphe¬nyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was used to analyze the effect of TCNS on cell proliferation. Light microscopic examination of giemsa solution stained cells was used to calculate the number of colonies with > 50 cells. Flow cytometry using a flow cytometer, while apoptosis detection kit were used to analyze induction of apoptosis.Results: TCNS treatment significantly inhibited the viability of U138 NS and U138 AC cells in a concentration-dependent manner (p < 0.05). TCNS caused 86 % reduction in the capacity of U138 NS cells to form colonies and led to significant induction of apoptosis. The activation of caspase 3 and expression of Bax was increased significantly (p < 0.05). Moreover, TCNS treatment increased the median survival time of mice bearing glioma to 34 days compared to 22 days in untreated mice.Conclusion: Thus, TCNS treatment significantly inhibits the viability of glioma cells and colony formation, but induces apoptosis and increases the median survival of mice. Hence, TCNS may be of therapeutic value for the treatment of glioma.Keywords: Glioma, Tricyclic neovibsanin scaffold, Survival time, Colony formation, Apoptosi

Spin-resolved imaging of atomic-scale helimagnetism in monolayer NiI2

Identifying intrinsic noncollinear magnetic order in monolayer van der Waals (vdW) crystals is highly desirable for understanding the delicate magnetic interactions at reduced spatial constraints and miniaturized spintronic applications, but remains elusive in experiments. Here, we achieved spin-resolved imaging of helimagnetism at atomic scale in monolayer NiI2 crystals, that were grown on graphene-covered SiC(0001) substrate, using spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscopy. Our experiments identify the existence of a spin spiral state with canted plane in monolayer NiI2. The spin modulation Q vector of the spin spiral is determined as (0.2203, 0, 0), which is different from its bulk value or its in-plane projection, but agrees well with our first principles calculations. The spin spiral surprisingly indicates collective spin switching behavior under magnetic field, whose origin is ascribed to the incommensurability between the spin spiral and the crystal lattice. Our work unambiguously identifies the helimagnetic state in monolayer NiI2, paving the way for illuminating its expected type-II multiferroic order and developing spintronic devices based on vdW magnets.Comment: 22 pages, 4 figure

Thermal Stability and Rheological Properties of Polyethylene (PE)/Polyvinylchloride (PVC)/Wood Composites

This paper investigated the thermorheological properties, thermal properties and flame retardant properties of wood-plastic composites (WPCs). With the addition of wood flour (WF), the rheological behavior became complexity. The critical frequency of shear-thinning phenomenon of the melt viscosity was shifted toward lower value. The temperature dependence of elastic modulus, loss modulus became more serious with the addition of WF. The Cole-Cole plot indicated the existence of complex multi-phase structure in the WPC melt. The CONE calorimetry results showed that ammonium polyphosphate (APP) had good flame retardancy through promoting the formation of the intumescent carbon layer. The present study will supply good insight into the optimization of WPC formulation

Dual Fire Retardant Action: The Combined Gas and Condensed Phase Effects of Azo-Modified NiZnAl Layered Double Hydroxide on Intumescent Polypropylene

Ternary nickel-substituted layered double hydroxide (C-LDH) was synthesized. It was intercalated with azobenzene-4,4'-dicarboxylic acid, using an ion exchange method to obtain organically modified NiZnAl-LDH (O-LDH). Both LDHs were melt-blended into polypropylene (PP) with intumescent fire retardant (IFR). The structure, morphology, thermal stability and combustible properties of intercalated LDH and its hybrid composite have been comprehensively characterized. SEM and EDX mapping show O-LDH exhibits better dispersion than ZnNiAl-CO3 LDH (C-LDH). Cone calorimetry shows the addition of IFR and LDH significantly reduced smoke and heat release rate. The composite with 1 wt% O-LDH, which showed dual gas phase and condensed phase fire retardant action, exhibited the lowest flammability with an LOI value of 29.3 % and achieved a UL-94 V-0 rating. In addition, incorporation of LDH improved the mechanical properties compared to PP/IFR composites. UV absorption showed that O-LDH could significantly improve the ultraviolet stability of PP composites

Almost sure consensus for multi-agent systems with two level switching

In most literatures on the consensus of multi-agent systems (MASs), the agents considered are time-invariant. However in many cases, for example in airplane formation, the agents have switching dynamics and the connections between them are also changing. This is called two-level switching in this paper. We study almost sure (AS) consensus for a class of two-level switching systems. At the low level of agent dynamics, switching is determin- istic and controllable. The upper level topology switching is random and follows a Markov chain. The transition probability of the Markov chain is not fixed, but varies when low level dynamics changes. For this class of MASs, a sufficient condition for AS consensus is developed in this paper

Post-treatment with the GLP-1 analogue liraglutide alleviate chronic inflammation and mitochondrial stress induced by Status epilepticus

Glucagon-like peptide-1(GLP-1) is a growth factor that has neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory properties. The protease resistant GLP-1 analogue liraglutide has been shown to be neuroprotective in previous studies in animal models of Alzheimer’s disease or Parkinson’s disease. Status epilepticus (SE) is a complex disorder, involving many underlying pathological processes, including excitotoxic and chronic inflammatory events. The present pilot study aims to investigate whether liraglutide alleviates the chronic inflammation response and mitochondrial stress induced by SE in the lithium-pilocarpine animal model. We found that treatment with 25nmol/kg. i.p. once-daily after the induction of SE for 7 days reduced chronic inflammation as shown by reduced numbers of activated microglia and astrocytes, and reduced levels of TNF-α and IL-1ß in the hippocampus. The mitochondrial stress marker BAX was reduced and the survival factor Bcl-2 was enhanced by liraglutide. Blood glucose levels were not affected by liraglutide. We show for the first time that liraglutide can reduce the chronic inflammation and mitochondrial stress induced by SE, and the results suggest that GLP-1 receptor agonists such as liraglutide have restorative and protective effects in the brain after SE and could serve as a potential treatment

Identification of Gene Expression Changes Associated With Uterine Receptivity in Mice

The mouse is a widely used animal model for studying human reproduction. Although global gene expression changes associated with human uterine receptivity have been determined by independent groups, the same studies in the mouse are scarce. The extent of similarities/differences between mice and humans on uterine receptivity at the molecular level remains to be determined. In the present study, we analyzed global gene expression changes in receptive uterus on day 4 of pregnancy compared to non-receptive uterus on day 3 of pregnancy in mice. A total of 541 differentially expressed genes were identified, of which 316 genes were up-regulated and 225 genes were down-regulated in receptive uterus compared to non-receptive uterus. Gene ontology and gene network analysis highlighted the activation of inflammatory response in the receptive uterus. By analyzing the promoter sequences of differentially expressed genes, we identified 12 causal transcription factors. Through connectivity map (CMap) analysis, we revealed several compounds with potential anti-receptivity activity. Finally, we performed a cross-species comparison against human uterine receptivity from a published dataset. Our study provides a valuable resource for understanding the molecular mechanism underlying uterine receptivity in mice

Structure characteristics and valence state study for La 1−x K x TiO 3 synthesized under high-pressure and high-temperature

Abstract By using a high-pressure and high-temperature method, perovskite oxides of the type La 1−x K x TiO 3 (x = 0.30, 0.35, 0.40, 0.45, 0.50) with mixed valence state were synthesized. This new synthesis route has several advantages. XRD analysis shows a cubic cell for the samples. XPS of the surface and EPR measurements indicate that the Ti ions have a mixed valence of 3+ and 4+ and that A-cation vacancies exist in the samples. As x increases, the amount of Ti 3+ ions and A-cation vacancies decreases. The valence state of the Ti ions can be altered by changing both pressure and temperature

Epidemiological characteristics, clinical presentations, and prognoses of pediatric brain tumors: Experiences of national center for children’s health

BackgroundWe aimed to describe the epidemiological characteristics, clinical presentations, and prognoses in a national health center for children.MethodsFrom January 2015 to December 2020, 484 patients aged 0-16 years, who were diagnosed with brain tumors and received neurosurgery treatment, were enrolled in the study. Pathology was based on the World Health Organization 2021 nervous system tumor classification, and tumor behaviors were classified according to the International Classification of Diseases for Oncology, third edition.ResultsAmong the 484 patients with brain tumors, the median age at diagnosis was 4.62 [2.19, 8.17] years (benign tumors 4.07 [1.64, 7.13] vs. malignant tumors 5.36 [2.78, 8.84], p=0.008). The overall male-to-female ratio was 1.33:1(benign 1.09:1 vs. malignant 1.62:1, p=0.029). Nausea, vomiting, and headache were the most frequent initial symptoms. The three most frequent tumor types were embryonal tumors (ET, 22.8%), circumscribed astrocytic gliomas (20.0%), and pediatric-type diffuse gliomas (11.0%). The most common tumor locations were the cerebellum and fourth ventricle (38.67%), the sellar region (22.9%) and ventricles (10.6%). Males took up a higher proportion than females in choroid plexus tumors (63.6%), ET (61.1%), ependymal tumors (68.6%), and germ cell tumors (GCTs, 78.1%). Patients were followed for 1 to 82 months. The overall 5-year survival rate was 77.5%, with survival rates of 91.0% for benign tumors and 64.6% for malignant tumors.ConclusionBrain tumors presented particularly sex-, age-, and regional-dependent epidemiological characteristics. Our results were consistent with previous reports and might reflect the real epidemiological status in China

C-Terminal Region of EBNA-2 Determines the Superior Transforming Ability of Type 1 Epstein-Barr Virus by Enhanced Gene Regulation of LMP-1 and CXCR7

Type 1 Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) strains immortalize B lymphocytes in vitro much more efficiently than type 2 EBV, a difference previously mapped to the EBNA-2 locus. Here we demonstrate that the greater transforming activity of type 1 EBV correlates with a stronger and more rapid induction of the viral oncogene LMP-1 and the cell gene CXCR7 (which are both required for proliferation of EBV-LCLs) during infection of primary B cells with recombinant viruses. Surprisingly, although the major sequence differences between type 1 and type 2 EBNA-2 lie in N-terminal parts of the protein, the superior ability of type 1 EBNA-2 to induce proliferation of EBV-infected lymphoblasts is mostly determined by the C-terminus of EBNA-2. Substitution of the C-terminus of type 1 EBNA-2 into the type 2 protein is sufficient to confer a type 1 growth phenotype and type 1 expression levels of LMP-1 and CXCR7 in an EREB2.5 cell growth assay. Within this region, the RG, CR7 and TAD domains are the minimum type 1 sequences required. Sequencing the C-terminus of EBNA-2 from additional EBV isolates showed high sequence identity within type 1 isolates or within type 2 isolates, indicating that the functional differences mapped are typical of EBV type sequences. The results indicate that the C-terminus of EBNA-2 accounts for the greater ability of type 1 EBV to promote B cell proliferation, through mechanisms that include higher induction of genes (LMP-1 and CXCR7) required for proliferation and survival of EBV-LCLs