MAPK1 promotes the metastasis and invasion of gastric cancer as a bidirectional transcription factor

Background: The Mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 (MAPK1) has both independent functions of phosphorylating histones as a kinase and directly binding the promoter regions of genes to regulate gene expression as a transcription factor. Previous studies have identified elevated expression of MAPK1 in human gastric cancer, which is associated with its role as a kinase, facilitating the migration and invasion of gastric cancer cells. However, how MAPK1 binds to its target genes as a transcription factor and whether it modulates related gene expressions in gastric cancer remains unclear. Results: Here, we integrated biochemical assays (protein interactions and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP)), cellular analysis assays (cell proliferation and migration), RNA sequencing, ChIP sequencing, and clinical analysis to investigate the potential genomic recognition patterns of MAPK1 in a human gastric adenocarcinoma cell-line (AGS) and to uncover its regulatory effect on gastric cancer progression. We confirmed that MAPK1 promotes AGS cells invasion and migration by regulating the target genes in different directions, up-regulating seven target genes (KRT13, KRT6A, KRT81, MYH15, STARD4, SYTL4, and TMEM267) and down-regulating one gene (FGG). Among them, five genes (FGG, MYH15, STARD4, SYTL4, and TMEM267) were first associated with cancer procession, while the other three (KRT81, KRT6A, and KRT13) have previously been confirmed to be related to cancer metastasis and migration. Conclusion: Our data showed that MAPK1 can bind to the promoter regions of these target genes to control their transcription as a bidirectional transcription factor, promoting AGS cell motility and invasion. Our research has expanded the understanding of the regulatory roles of MAPK1, enriched our knowledge of transcription factors, and provided novel candidates for cancer therapeutics

Mechanism of intercalation and deintercalation of lithium ions in graphene nanosheets

Graphene nanosheets (GNSs) were synthesized by reducing exfoliated graphite oxides. Their structure, surface morphology and lithium storage mechanism were characterized and investigated systematically using X-ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, charge-discharge tests, cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. It was found that the GNSs, which were obtained via chemical synthesis, were primarily less than 10 graphene layers. The GNS electrodes, which were fabricated from the reduced GNSs, exhibited an enhanced reversible lithium storage capacity and good cyclic stability when serving as anodes in lithium-ion batteries. Also, the first-cycle irreversible capacities of the system were relatively high, because of the formation of a solid electrolyte interphase film on the surface of the GNS electrode and the spontaneous stacking of GNSs during the first lithiation. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy results suggest that the solid electrolyte interphase film on the GNS electrode during first lithiation were primarily formed at potentials between 0.95 and 0.7 V. Also, the symmetry factor of the charge transfer was measured to be 0.446.Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities[2010LKHX03, 2010QNB04, 2010QNB05]; China University of Mining Technology[ON090237

Strategies for Promoting Brand Image of Tianmu Lei Bamboo Shoots Based on Industrial Cluster

With the continuous development of agricultural industry cluster, agricultural regional brand plays a significant role in the sustainable development of the region, and it is urgent to build the agricultural cluster brand. Based on the background of industrial cluster, this paper firstly introduced the brand of Tianmu Lei bamboo shoots. Using the method of questionnaire survey, it made SPSS analysis of the acquired data. From the five factors influencing the brand image, namely, brand awareness, brand value, brand association, product attribute awareness, and brand loyalty, and then came up with strategies for improving the brand image of Tianmu Lei bamboo shoots

Monopulse Forward-looking Imaging Based on Doppler Estimation Using Fast Iterative Interpolated Beamforming Algorithm

Distinguishing multiple targets in the same resolution cell is an important and challenging task in the forward-looking imaging process of monopulse radar. Although Doppler processing can improve the recognition performance for multiple targets at high squint angles, the precise estimation of Doppler frequency remains challenging under conditions with unknown target numbers and energy leakage from strong point targets. To address these issues, this paper proposes a Fast Iterative Interpolated Beamforming (FIIB) algorithm with model order estimation and single snapshot processing for monopulse forward-looking imaging, which combines information theory to unbiasedly estimate the number of targets and Doppler frequencies. The simulation results show the superiority of the proposed FIIB algorithm over the Chirp-Z Transform (CZT) algorithm for estimating target numbers and Doppler frequencies within the same resolution cell in the presence of multiple point targets. In addition, the proposed FIIB algorithm can accurately estimate point targets beyond a ±5° azimuth angle in monopulse angle measurement tasks. Real-data experiments also reveal that FIIB-based monopulse forward-looking imaging has high focusing capability and imaging contrast and can effectively suppress background clutter

Giant gastrointestinal stromal tumor with predominantly cystic changes: a case report and literature review

Abstract Background Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) rarely present with predominantly cystic changes. Here, we report a case of giant GIST of the stomach with predominantly cystic changes in a 74-year-old female patient. Case presentation The tumor was 10 cm × 15 cm in size and positive for CD117, H-caldesmon, and DOG-1. Complete surgical resection was performed without regional lymphadenectomy. The patient recovered uneventfully and no recurrence occurred. Conclusions The case illustrates that GIST with cystic changes should be considered in the diagnoses of hepatic and pancreatic lesions. Furthermore, immunohistochemistry with CD117, DOG1, and other molecular markers is critical for diagnosis of GIST of the stomach and facilitates optimization of treatments for GIST

Transitions and Geometric Evolution of Cu309 Nanocluster during Slow Cooling Process

Since the nucleation and growth of clusters is usually a non-equilibrium condensation process, a distribution of structural isomers for a given cluster size may be encountered even under the same conditions. In this work, molecular dynamics simulations are performed on sets of molten clusters of Cu309 to study their structures at low temperatures while controlling the cooling rate. Several different final structures including perfect icosahedra (ICO), imperfect Mark’ decahedra (MDEC) and imperfect FCC truncated octahedra (TOCT) are obtained even at the same cooling rate. It is calculated that the most favorable structure is icosahedra, which becomes more and more favorable as the cooling rate is slowed. To better understand the process of crystallization, several techniques, including potential-temperature curves, common neighbor analysis (CNA) and radial distribution function (RDF), are used to analyze and study the structural transition. Results show that different structures are obtained under identical conditions due to the stochastic nature of nucleation and relatively small energy difference between isomers. The process of geometrical evolution for icosahedra is given by comparing and analyzing the time evolution of the root-mean-square deviation (RMSD) of atoms located in every shell

An in vitro and in vivo evaluation of a reporter gene/probe system hERL/(18)F-FES.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the feasibility of a reporter gene/probe system, namely the human estrogen receptor ligand binding domain (hERL)/16α-[(18)F] fluoro-17β-estradiol ((18)F-FES), for monitoring gene and cell therapy. METHODS: The recombinant adenovirus vector Ad5-hERL-IRES-VEGF (Ad-EIV), carrying a reporter gene (hERL) and a therapeutic gene (vascular endothelial growth factor, VEGF165) through an internal ribosome entry site (IRES), was constructed. After transfection of Ad-EIV into bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (Ad-EIV-MSCs), hERL and VEGF165 mRNA and protein expressions were identified using Real-Time qRT-PCR and immunofluorescence. The uptake of (18)F-FES was measured in both Ad-EIV-MSCs and nontransfected MSCs after different incubation time. Micro-PET/CT images were obtained at 1 day after injection of Ad-EIV-MSCs into the left foreleg of the rat. The right foreleg was injected with nontransfected MSCs, which served as self-control. RESULTS: After transfection with Ad-EIV, the mRNA and protein expression of hERL and VEGF165 were successfully detected in MSCs, and correlated well with each other (R(2) = 0.9840, P<0.05). This indicated the reporter gene could reflect the therapeutic gene indirectly. Ad-EIV-MSCs uptake of (18)F-FES increased with incubation time with a peak value of 9.13%±0.33% at 150 min, which was significantly higher than that of the control group. A far higher level of radioactivity could be seen in the left foreleg on the micro-PET/CT image than in the opposite foreleg. CONCLUSION: These preliminary in vitro and in vivo studies confirmed that hERL/(18)F-FES might be used as a novel reporter gene/probe system for monitoring gene and cell therapy. This imaging platform may have broad applications for basic research and clinical studies

The production of self-assembled Fe2O3-graphene hybrid materials by a hydrothermal process for improved Li-cycling

An easy and effective strategy is developed to produce alpha-Fe2O3 nanoparticles (NPs) anchored on conducting graphene sheets by a hydrothermal reaction, without any reducing agents. Scanning electron microscopy shows that the alpha-Fe2O3 NPs are 70-85 nm in size and homogeneously anchored on the graphene sheets. As high-performance anodes for lithium-ion batteries, the obtained material exhibits an excellent reversible capacity of similar to 1050 mAh g(-1) based on the total mass. Its cycling performance and rate capability are drastically improved, exhibiting a high charge capacity of 1000 +/- 50 mAh g(-1) with no noticeable capacity fading up to 100 cycles in the voltage range 0.1-3.0V at 50 mA g(-1). These results highlight the importance of the anchoring of NPs on graphene sheets for maximum use of electrochemically active Fe2O3 NPs and graphene for energy storage applications. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Major State Basic Research Development Program of China [2009CB220102]; Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities [2010LKHX03, 2010QNB04, 2010QNB05

Prognostic Value of Volume-Based Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Patients after Comprehensive Therapy

Objective. We assessed the prognostic value of standardized uptake value (SUV) and volume-based methods including whole-body metabolic tumor volume (WBMTV) and whole-body total lesion glycolysis (WBTLG) using 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) after therapy. Methods. A total of 221 posttherapy NPC cases were enrolled, all of whom had undergone PET/CT scanning and follow-up in this retrospective study. The diagnostic results of PET/CT were analyzed and compared with histopathological diagnosis or clinical follow-up. Receiver operator characteristic curves, the Kaplan-Meier method, and the log-rank test were used to assess the optimal cutoff values for WBMTV and WBTLG to identify independent predictors of survival. Results. The detection rates of the threshold SUV were 2.5, 20%, and 40%, and SUV background methods were 65.6% (378/576), 80.2% (462/576), 71.5% (412/576), and 90.4% (521/576), respectively (P<0.005). Patients with a WBMTV < 8.10 and/or a WBTLG < 35.58 had significantly better 5-year overall survival than those above the cutoffs (90.7% versus 51.2%, P<0.001; 91.7% versus 50.4%, P<0.001), respectively. Multivariate Cox regression modeling showed both WBTLG (RR, 1.002; P=0.004) and age (RR, 1.046; P=0.006) could be used to predict overall survival. WBTLG (RR, 1.003; P<0.001) may have predictive relevance in estimating disease-free survival. Conclusions. SUV volume-based threshold background methodology had a significantly higher detection rate for metastatic lesions. WBTLG could be used as an independent prognostic indicator for posttherapy NPC