Aldehyde Dehydrogenase 1 and Raf Kinase Inhibitor Protein Expression Defines the Proliferative Nature of Cervical Cancer Stem Cells

Purpose: To determine the differences in response following the use of aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1) and Raf kinase inhibitor protein (RKIP) as cervical cancer stem cell markers.Methods: To evaluate the cancer stem cell markers, a mouse model with low and high grade cervical cancer was developed and studied by histological examination. Immunohistochemical and Western blotting techniques were employed to study the expression profiles of ALDH1 and RKIP. The specificity of Sox2 that determines cancer stem cells served as control to validate ALDH1 and RKIP expressions.Results: Histological data helped to differentiate low from high grade cervical cancer. The results from immunohistochemistry show increased pattern of Sox2 expression as tumour progresses. Similarly, ALDH1, a protein that positively regulates stem cells shows mild expression in low grade cervical tumour, but positive signals are more amplified in an aggressive stage of tumour condition when compared with Sox2. The expression study with RKIP, a protein that negatively regulates stem cells, interestingly defines the higher expression in low grade cervical cancer to regulate the tumour, but shows little or no very mild expression in the aggressive stage of tumour. All the data obtained show a statistically significant value of p < 0.05. The results with Immunohistochemistry were further validated using the western blotting analysis and it also confirms the similar results.Conclusion: ALDH1 and RKIP marker in association correlation with Sox2 aids in defining the proliferative ability of cervical cancer stem cells and also to validate them in initial and advanced stages of cervical cancer.Keywords: Cervical cancer, ALDH1, BALB/c-nu/nu, HeLa cells, RKIP, Sox

Poly[diaqua­bis(μ2-azido-κ2 N 1:N 1)bis­(μ3-1-oxoisonicotinato-κ3 O:O′:O′′)dicadmium(II)]

In the title compound, [Cd2(C6H4NO3)2(N3)2(H2O)2]n, one CdII atom is located on an inversion center and is coordinated by four O atoms from four bridging 1-oxoisonicotinate ligands and two N atoms of two bridging azide ligands in a slightly distorted octa­hedral geometry. The other CdII atom, also lying on an inversion center, is coordinated by four O atoms from two bridging 1-oxoisonicotinate ligands and two water mol­ecules and two N atoms of two bridging azide ligands in a slightly distorted octa­hedral geometry. The Cd atoms are connected via the 1-oxoisonicotinate and azide ligands into a two-dimensional coordination network. The crystal structure involves O—H⋯N and O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds

Visual Reconstruction and Feature Analysis of the Three-Dimensional Surface of Earthworm

This paper demonstrates a method for visual reconstruction and feature analysis of the three-dimensional surface of earthworm in CATIA (Computer Aided Three Dimensional Interactive Application) and IDL (Interactive Data Language). The earthworm, with a relatively simple surface morphology and good capability in reducing soil adhesion and resistance, was selected to study the feasible methods in the visual reconstruction and feature analysis of the three-dimensional surface of living things. The digital measurements of surfaces of the earthworm were carried out using a three-dimensional laser scanner. Point clouds, the scanning digital data of the surface of the earthworm, were processed by screening unwanted data, reconstructing surface and analysing feature in CATIA. In order to get more detail information about the point clouds, IDL, which integrates a powerful, array-oriented language with numerous mathematical analysis and graphical display techniques, was adopted for the visual reconstruction and feature analysis of three- dimensional surface of the earthworm. Importing of point clouds and reconstruction of the surface of earthworm were conducted in CATIA. Analysis feature of the scanning data and reconstructing surface were carried out in IDL, which provides a high level of flexibility to access, analyse and visualize the data using different methods. Polynomial regression equation of the surface of earthworm in the longitudinal plane was derived. In addition, point clouds were more easily displayed and analysed by resizing, rotating and zooming in IDL. Methods and results presented in this paper prove to be potentially useful for analyzing the feature of biological prototype, optimizing the mathematical model and affording deformable physical model to bionic engineering, those works would have great implications to the research of biological coupling theory and technological creation in bionic engineering. Keywords: Visual Reconstruction; Feature Analysis; Three-Dimensional Surface; Earthworm; CATIA; ID

Analysis of survival factors after hepatic resection for colorectal cancer liver metastases: Does the R1 margin matter?

IntroductionThe effect of liver margin on colorectal cancer liver metastases (CRLM) after hepatectomy has been controversial. In this study, we conducted a postoperative follow-up study of 205 patients with CRLM to clarify whether a positive margin is significant and to define the risk factors affecting CRLM survival.MethodsThe data of 205 patients with CRLM who underwent surgical treatment at the Third Hospital of Peking University in the Department of General Surgery from January 2009 to December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. The general data, surgical data and postoperative follow-up of the patients were statistically analyzed.ResultsThere were 130 cases (63.4%) of R0 resection and 75 cases (36.6%) of R1 resection. There were 136 males and 69 females, age 61 ± 11 years, and body mass index (BMI 24.5 ± 3.3 kg/m2). The overall survival rates at 1, 3, and 5 years for the entire cohort were 93.4%, 68.4%, and 45.5% in the R0 resection group vs. 93.2%, 53.7%, and 42% in the R1 resection group, respectively, which were not statistically significant (P = 0.520). The 1-, 3-, and 5-year disease-free survival rates of 63.2%, 33.3%, and 29.7% were significantly better in the R0 resection group than in the R1 resection group of 47.9%, 22.7%, and 17.7% (P = 0.016), respectively. After multivariable analysis, carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) > 39 U/ml (HR = 2.29, 95% CI: 1.39–3.79, P = 0.001), primary tumor perineural invasion (HR = 1.78, 95% CI: 1.01–3.13, P = 0.047), and BMI > 24 kg/m2 (HR = 1.75, 95% CI: 1.05–2.93, P = 0.033) were independently associated with poorer overall patient survival. The number of liver metastases >2 (HR = 1.65, 95% CI: 1.10–2.47, P = 0.016), the maximum diameter of metastases ≥50 mm (HR = 1.67, 95% CI: 1.06–2.64, P = 0.026), and vascular invasion of the primary tumor (HR = 1.65, 95% CI: 1.03–2.64, P = 0.038) were also independently associated with poorer disease-free survival.ConclusionIn patients undergoing hepatectomy for CRLM, the negative effect of the R1 margin should be downplayed, and although the disease-free survival of the R1 margin is shorter than that of the R0 margin, it has no impact on overall survival. To improve overall survival, extra attention should be given to the factors of preoperative BMI, preoperative CA19-9, and the presence of perineural invasion of the primary tumor

Atomically-precise lanthanide-iron-oxo clusters featuring the ε-Keggin ion.

Atomically precise molecular metal-oxo clusters provide ideal models to understand metal oxide surfaces, self-assembly, and form-function relationships. Devising strategies for synthesis and isolation of these molecular forms remains a challenge. Here, we report the synthesis of four Ln-Fe oxo clusters that feature the ε -{Fe 13 } Keggin cluster in its core. The {Fe 13 } metal-oxo cluster motif is the building block of two important iron oxyhydroxyide phases in nature and technology, ferrihydrite (as the δ -isomer) and magnetite (the ε -isomer). The reported ε -{Fe 13 } Keggin isomer as an isolated molecule provides opportunity to study the formation of ferrihydrite and magnetite from this building unit. The next metal layer surrounding the ε -{Fe 13 } core within these clusters exhibit a similar arrangement as the magnetite lattice, and Fe and Ln can occupy the same positions. This provides opportunity to construct a family of compounds and optimize magnetic exchange in these molecules via composition tuning. Small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HRESI-MS) show these clusters are stable upon dissolution in both water and organic solvents, as a first step to perform further chemistry towards building magnetic arrays or invetigating ferrihydrite and magnetite assembly from pre-nucleation clusters

cDNA Cloning, Overexpression, Purification and Pharmacologic Evaluation for Anticancer Activity of Ribosomal Protein L23A Gene (RPL23A) from the Giant Panda

RPL23A gene encodes a ribosomal protein that is a component of the 60S subunit. The protein belongs to the L23P family of ribosomal proteins, which is located in the cytoplasm. The purpose of this paper was to explore the structure and anti-cancer function of ribosomal protein L23A (RPL23A) gene of the Giant Panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca). The cDNA of RPL23A was cloned successfully from the Giant Panda using RT-PCR technology. We constructed a recombinant expression vector containing RPL23A cDNA and over-expressed it in Escherichia coli using pET28a plasmids. The expression product obtained was purified by using Ni chelating affinity chromatography. Recombinant protein of RPL23A obtained from the experiment acted on Hep-2 cells and human HepG-2 cells, then the growth inhibitory effect of these cells was observed by MTT (3-[4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl]-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide) assay. The result indicated that the length of the fragment cloned is 506 bp, and it contains an open-reading frame (ORF) of 471 bp encoding 156 amino acids. Primary structure analysis revealed that the molecular weight of the putative RPL23A protein is 17.719 kDa with a theoretical pI 11.16. The molecular weight of the recombinant protein RPL23A is 21.265 kDa with a theoretical pI 10.57. The RPL23A gene can be really expressed in E. coli and the RPL23A protein, fusioned with the N-terminally His-tagged protein, gave rise to the accumulation of an expected 22 KDa polypeptide. The data showed that the recombinant protein RPL23A had a time- and dose-dependency on the cell growth inhibition rate. The data also indicated that the effect at low concentrations was better than at high concentrations on Hep-2 cells, and that the concentration of 0.185 μg/mL had the best rate of growth inhibition of 36.31%. All results of the experiment revealed that the recombinant protein RPL23A exhibited anti-cancer function on the Hep-2 cells. The study provides a scientific basis and aids orientation for the research and development of cancer protein drugs as well as possible anti-cancer mechanisms. Further research is on going to determine the bioactive principle(s) of recombinant protein RPL23A responsible for its anticancer activity

A simulation study on the measurement of D0-D0bar mixing parameter y at BES-III

We established a method on measuring the \dzdzb mixing parameter $y$ for BESIII experiment at the BEPCII $e^+e^-$ collider. In this method, the doubly tagged $\psi(3770) \to D^0 \overline{D^0}$ events, with one $D$ decays to CP-eigenstates and the other $D$ decays semileptonically, are used to reconstruct the signals. Since this analysis requires good $e/\pi$ separation, a likelihood approach, which combines the $dE/dx$, time of flight and the electromagnetic shower detectors information, is used for particle identification. We estimate the sensitivity of the measurement of $y$ to be 0.007 based on a $20fb^{-1}$ fully simulated MC sample.Comment: 6 pages, 7 figure

Diabetes and Pre-Diabetes as Determined by Glycated Haemoglobin A1c and Glucose Levels in a Developing Southern Chinese Population

BACKGROUND: The American Diabetes Association and World Health Organization have recently adopted the HbA1c measurement as one method of diagnostic criteria for diabetes. The change in diagnostic criteria has important implications for diabetes treatment and prevention. We therefore investigate diabetes using HbA1c and glucose criteria together, and assess the prevalent trend in a developing southern Chinese population with 85 million residents. METHODS: A stratified multistage random sampling method was applied and a representative sample of 3590 residents 18 years of age or above was obtained in 2010. Each participant received a full medical check-up, including measurement of fasting plasma glucose, 2-hour post-load plasma glucose, and HbA1c. Information on history of diagnosis and treatment of diabetes was collected. The prevalence of diabetes obtained from the present survey was compared with the data from the survey in 2002. RESULTS: The prevalence of diabetes based on both glucose and HbA1c measurements was 21.7% (95% CI: 17.4%-26.1%) in 2010, which suggests that more than 1 in 5 adult residents were suffering from diabetes in this developing population. Only 12.9% (95% CI: 8.3%-17.6%) of diabetic residents were aware of their condition. The prevalence of pre-diabetes was 66.3% (95% CI: 62.7%-69.8%). The prevalence of diabetes and pre-diabetes which met all the three diagnostic thresholds (fast plasma glucose, 2 hour post-load plasma glucose, and HbA1c) was 3.1% and 5.2%, respectively. Diabetes and pre-diabetes as determined by HbA1c measurement had higher vascular risk than those determined by glucose levels. The prevalence of diabetes increased from 2.9% (95% CI: 2.0%-3.7%) in 2002 to 13.8% (95% CI: 10.2%-17.3%) in 2010 based on the same glucose criteria. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that the diabetes epidemic is accelerating in China. The awareness of diabetes is extremely low. The glucose test and HbA1c measurement should be used together to increase detection of diabetes and pre-diabetes