MiR-495-3p facilitates colon cancer cell proliferation via Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway by restraining Wnt inhibitory factor

Purpose: To demonstrate whether miR-495-3p promote the occurrence of colon cancer and development of colon cancer stem cells by inhibiting Wnt inhibitory factor (WIF1).Methods: The level of MiRNA and mRNA in cells were tested by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Cell viability was assessed by 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Cell spheroid formation was measured by colony assay. Expression protein was tested using Western blotting. β-catenin binding ability was detected by chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay. MiRNA target gene was defined by luciferase assay.Results: Compared with normal colon cells and tissue, miR-495-3p is elevated in colon cancer cells and tissues, which regulate proliferation, level of stemness factors SOX-9, Bmil, and OCT-4 in HCT-116 cells, even spheroid formation. Overexpression of miR-495-3p inhibits the expression of WIF1 in HCT-116 cells and promotes colon tumorigenesis by binding with 3’-UTR. MiR-495-3p inhibitor downregulated WIF1-enhanced sphere formation of colon cancer cells.Conclusion: These results indicate that miR-495-3p/WIF1 can modulate the development of colon cancer and is a potential target for prevention and treatment of cancer.Keywords: MiR-495-3p, Wnt inhibitory factor, Colon cancer, Stemness, Tumorigenesi

Enzymatic hydrophobic modification of jute fibers via grafting to reinforce composites

Horseradish peroxidase (HRP)/H2O2 system catalyzes the free-radical polymerization of aromatic compounds such as lignins and gallate esters. In this work, dodecyl gallate (DG) was grafted onto the surfaces of lignin-rich jute fabrics by HRP-mediated oxidative polymerization with an aim to enhance the hydrophobicity of the fibers. The DG-grafted jute fibers and reaction products of their model compounds were characterized by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The results clearly indicated the grafting of DG to the jute fiber by HRP. Furthermore, the hydrophobicity of jute fabrics was determined by measuring the wetting time and static contact angle. Compared to the control sample, the wetting time and static contact angle of the grated fabrics changed from ~1 s to 1 h and from ~0° to 123.68°, respectively. This clearly proved that the hydrophobicity of jute fabrics improved considerably. Conditions of the HRP-catalyzed DG-grafting reactions were optimized in terms of the DG content of modified jute fabrics. Moreover, the results of breaking strength and elongation of DG-grafted jute/ polypropylene (PP) composites demonstrated improved reinforcement of the composite due to enzymatic hydrophobic modification of jute fibers.This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (51173071), the Program for New Century Excellent Talents in University (NCET-12-0883), Program for Changjiang Scholars and Innovative Research Team in University (No. IRT_15R26) the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (JUSRP51312B, JUSRP51505), and the Graduate Student Innovation Plan of Jiangsu Province of China (SJLX_0527)

Fabrication and Adsorption Optimization of Novel Magnetic Core-shell Chitosan/Graphene Oxide/β-cyclodextrin Composite Materials for Bisphenols in Aqueous Solutions

A novel magnetic composite material, Fe3O4@SiO2/chitosan/graphene oxide/β-cyclodextrin (MCGC), was prepared by multi-step methods. Various methods were used to systematically characterize the morphology, composition, structure, and magnetic properties of MCGC. The results obtained show that the composite material has good morphology and crystal structure and can be separated quickly by an external magnetic field. The operation is relatively easy, and the raw materials used to prepare this material are economical, easy to obtain, and environmentally friendly. The performance and adsorption mechanism for using this material as an adsorbent to remove bisphenol A (BPA) and bisphenol F (BPF) from water were studied. The adsorption parameters were optimized. Under optimal conditions, MCGC was found to remove more than 90% of BPA and BPF in a mixed solution (20 mg/L, 50 mL); the adsorption process for BPA and BPF on MCGC was found to follow a Redlich–Peterson isotherm model and Pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The adsorption mechanism for MCGC may involve a combination of various forces. Recycling experiments showed that after five uses, MCGC retained a more than 80% removal effect for BPA and BPF, and through real sample verification, MCGC can be used for wastewater treatment. Therefore, MCGC is economical, environmentally friendly, and easy to separate and collect, and has suitable stability and broad application prospects

Dynamic behavior and microstructural evolution of TiAl alloys tailored via phase and grain size

As a kind of promising aerospace material, TiAl alloys need to withstand extreme conditions such as high-rate impact loads and high temperatures. The mechanism on the failure and fracture of TiAl alloys under extreme conditions is related with the microstructure, including phase and grain size. In the present research, two kinds of TiAl alloys tailored with different microstructures, near lamellar (NL) and near gamma (NG), were fabricated by thermo-mechanical treatment. Microstructural characterization was analyzed by XRD and EBSD. The dynamic behavior of the TiAl alloys under different temperatures ranging from 293 K–873 K was investigated by a split Hopkinson pressure bar. The strain rate sensitivity and temperature sensitivity was analyzed. The microstructural evolution was concerned to understand the failure mechanism of the two kinds of the TiAl alloys. The NG-TiAl had the homogeneous deformation with synergy effect between homogeneous equiaxed grain and lamellar structure, and no failure occurred in NG-TiAl. However, the NL-TiAl showed heterogeneous deformation with both “orange peel effect” and cracks, which was attributed to large equiaxed grain and brittle γ-lamellae with similar orientation. Further, the cracks were easily nucleated and propagated from the interface between γ-lamellae structures, especially in the γ-lamellae structures parallel with the loading direction. Finally, the modified Johnson–Cook constitutive model was proposed to describe the deformation behavior, in which both strain rate hardening and temperature softening terms were expressed as a function of strain and strain rate

In-Situ Synchrotron HEXRD Study on the Micro-Stress Evolution Behavior of a Superalloy during Room-Temperature Compression

The residual stress generated during heat treatment of nickel-base superalloys will affect their service performance and introduce primary cracks. In a component with high residual stress, a tiny amount of plastic deformation at room temperature can release the stress to a certain extent. However, the stress-releasing mechanism is still unclear. In the present study, the micro-mechanical behavior of the FGH96 nickel-base superalloy during room temperature compression was studied using in situ synchrotron radiation high-energy X-ray diffraction. The in situ evolution of the lattice strain was observed during deformation. The stress distribution mechanism of grains and phases with different orientations was clarified. The results show that at the elastic deformation stage, the (200) lattice plane of γ′ phase bears more stress after the stress reaches 900 MPa. When the stress exceeds 1160 MPa, the load is redistributed to the grains with their crystal directions aligned with the loading direction. After yielding, the γ′ phase still bears the main stress

Effects of curcumin on growth of human cervical cancer xenograft in nude mice and underlying mechanism

Abstract The present study investigated the effects of curcumin (Cur) on growth of human cervical cancer xenograft in nude mice and underlying mechanism. The nude mice modeled with human cervical cancer HeLa cell xenograft were treated with normal saline (control), 3 mg/kg Cisplatin, 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg Cur, respectively. The animal body weight and growth of tumor were measured. The expressions of Bax, Bcl-2, p53, p21, HIF-1α, VEGF and MIF protein in tumor tissue were determined. Results showed that, after treatment for 20 days, the tumor mass and tumor volume in 100 and 200 mg/kg Cur group were significantly lower than control group (P < 0.05). The expressions of Bax, p53 and p21 protein in tumor tissue in 200 mg/kg Cur group were significantly higher than control group (P < 0.05), and the expressions of Bcl-2, HIF-1α, VEGF and MIF protein in tumor tissue in 200 mg/kg Cur group were significantly lower than control group (P < 0.05). Cur can inhibit the growth of HeLa cell xenograft in nude mice. The possible mechanism may be related to its up-regulation of Bax, p53 and p21 protein expression in tumor tissue, and down-regulation of Bcl-2, HIF-1α, VEGF and MIF protein expression

HRP-mediated polyacrylamide graft modification of raw jute fabric

The horseradish peroxidase (HRP)/hydrogen peroxide system can catalyze the free-radical polymerization of aromatic compounds such as lignins. In this study, to improve the hydrophilicity of lignin-rich jute fabrics, acrylamide (AM) was grafted onto their surface by HRP-mediated oxidative polymerization. The resulting AM-lignin graft polymer in jute fibers, from which the lignin was removed by extracting with dioxane, was characterized by gel permeation chromatography, elemental analysis, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectromrtry, nuclear magnetic resonance, scanning electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The results show that AM was grafted to the jute fiber by HRP. Furthermore, the hydrophilicity of the fabrics was determined in terms of wetting time, balance moisture regain, and static contact angle. Compared to the control sample, the wetting time, balance moisture regain, and static contact angle of the grated fabrics varied from 11.62 min to 7.45 min, from 9.78% to 10.40%, and from 122.30° to 92.84°, respectively, indicating that the hydrophilicity of the raw jute fabric improved. The modification conditions of the HRP-catalyzed AM-grafting reaction were optimized in terms of the nitrogen content of the jute fabrics.This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (51173071), the Program for New Century Excellent Talents in University (NCET-12-0883), the Program for Changjiang Scholars and Innovative Research Team in University (IRT1135), the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (JUSRP51312B) and the Graduate Student Innovation Plan of Jiangsu Province of China (SJLX_0527)

The Association between NOS3 Gene Polymorphisms and Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy Susceptibility and Symptoms in Chinese Han Population

Endothelial NOS (NOS3) has a potential role in the prevention of neuronal injury in hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). Thus, we aimed to explore the association between NOS3 gene polymorphisms and HIE susceptibility and symptoms in a Chinese Han population. Three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the NOS3 gene, rs1800783, rs1800779, and rs2070744, were detected in 226 children with HIE and 212 healthy children in a Chinese Han population. Apgar scores and magnetic resonance image scans were used to estimate the symptoms and brain damage. The association analyses were conducted by using SNPStats and SPSS 18.0 software. The genotype and allele distributions of rs1800779 and rs1799983 displayed no significant differences between the patients and the controls, while the rs2070744 allele distribution was significantly different (corrected P=0.009). For clinical characteristics, the rs2070744 genotype distribution was significantly different in patients with different Apgar scores (≤5, TT/TC/CC = 6/7/5; 6~7, TT/TC/CC = 17/0/0; 8~9, TT/TC/CC = 6/2/0; 10, TT/TC/CC = 7/1/0; corrected P=0.006) in the 1001 to 1449 g birth weight subgroup. The haplotype test did not show any associations with the risk and clinical characteristics of HIE. The results suggest that NOS3 gene SNP rs2070744 was significantly associated with HIE susceptibility and symptom expression in Chinese Han population

Enhancement of Interface between Lignocellulosic Fibers and Polypropylene Matrix via the Structure Alteration of Lignin at Elevated Temperatures

This paper investigated the feasibility of enhancing the interface between lignocellulosic fibers and a polypropylene matrix via structure alteration of lignin at elevated temperatures. Alkali treatment can remove gum substances from lignocellulose fibers effectively at elevated temperatures but easily causes damages to fiber strength. In previous studies on directional delignification of lignocellulosic fibers, loss of fiber strength is avoided but condensation and degradation of lignin are accelerated. So far, few reports have been available on the effect of lignin structures on the interface between fibers and a matrix. In this study, jute fibers with different lignin structures are produced at 100 and 130 &deg;C for reinforcing a polypropylene matrix. The interface between the fibers and matrix is analyzed. The result shows that decrease in aliphatic hydroxyl concentration by 9.5% at 130 &deg;C from 3 to 5 h contributes to a 14.2% decrease in the surface energy of jute fibers. Meanwhile, the polydispersity index of lignin decreases from 1.21 to 1.15. Centralized distribution of lignin molecule-weight and reduction in fiber surface energy improves the interface between the fibers and matrix, which manifests as a 30.8% increase in the impact strength of the composites. Similar improvement is not observed in the composites reinforced with jute fibers at 100 &deg;C, due to the absence of lignin-structure changes. This paper provides a new strategy to improve the interface between lignocellulose fibers and a hydrophobic matrix