CDK5 promotes apoptosis and attenuates chemoresistance in gastric cancer via E2F1 signaling.

BACKGROUND: Chemoresistance is a major clinical challenge that leads to tumor metastasis and poor clinical outcome. The mechanisms underlying gastric cancer resistance to chemotherapy are still unclear. METHODS: We conducted bioinformatics analyses of publicly available patient datasets to establish an apoptotic phenotype and determine the key pathways and clinical significance. In vitro cell models, in vivo mouse models, and numerous molecular assays, including western blotting, qRT-PCR, immunohistochemical staining, and coimmunoprecipitation assays were used to clarify the role of factors related to apoptosis in gastric cancer in this study. Differences between datasets were analyzed using the Student's t-test and two-way ANOVA; survival rates were estimated based on Kaplan-Meier analysis; and univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate prognostic factors. RESULTS: Bulk transcriptomic analysis of gastric cancer samples established an apoptotic phenotype. Proapoptotic tumors were enriched for DNA repair and immune inflammatory signaling and associated with improved prognosis and chemotherapeutic benefits. Functionally, cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (CDK5) promoted apoptosis of gastric cancer cells and sensitized cells and mice to oxaliplatin. Mechanistically, we demonstrate that CDK5 stabilizes DP1 through direct binding to DP1 and subsequent activation of E2F1 signaling. Clinicopathological analysis indicated that CDK5 depletion correlated with poor prognosis and chemoresistance in human gastric tumors. CONCLUSION: Our findings reveal that CDK5 promotes cell apoptosis by stabilizing DP1 and activating E2F1 signaling, suggesting its potential role in the prognosis and therapeutic decisions for patients with gastric cancer.

Aerodynamics of two parallel bristled wings in low Reynolds number flow.

Most of the smallest flying insects use bristled wings. It was observed that during the second half of their upstroke, the left and right wings become parallel and close to each other at the back, and move upward at zero angle of attack. In this period, the wings may produce drag (negative vertical force) and side forces which tend to push two wings apart. Here we study the aerodynamic forces and flows of two simplified bristled wings experiencing such a motion, compared with the case of membrane wings (flat-plate wings), to see if there is any advantage in using the bristled wings. The method of computational fluid dynamics is used in the study. The results are as follows. In the motion of two bristled wings, the drag acting on each wing is 40% smaller than the case of a single bristled wing conducting the same motion, and only a very small side force is produced. But in the case of the flat-plate wings, although there is similar drag reduction, the side force on each wing is larger than that of the bristled wing by an order of magnitude (the underlying physical reason is discussed in the paper). Thus, if the smallest insects use membrane wings, their flight muscles need to overcome large side forces in order to maintain the intended motion for less negative lift, whereas using bristled wings do not have this problem. Therefore, the adoption of bristled wings can be beneficial during upward movement of the wings near the end of the upstroke, which may be one reason why most of the smallest insects adopt them.

Quantum-Memory-Enhanced Preparation of Nonlocal Graph States.

Graph states are an important class of multipartite entangled states. Previous experimental generation of graph states and in particular the Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger (GHZ) states in linear optics quantum information schemes is subjected to an exponential decay in efficiency versus the system size, which limits its large-scale applications in quantum networks. Here, we demonstrate an efficient scheme to prepare graph states with only a polynomial overhead using long-lived atomic quantum memories. We generate atom-photon entangled states in two atomic ensembles asynchronously, retrieve the stored atomic excitations only when both sides succeed, and further project them into a four-photon GHZ state. We measure the fidelity of this GHZ state and further demonstrate its applications in the violation of Bell-type inequalities and in quantum cryptography. Our work demonstrates the prospect of efficient generation of multipartite entangled states in large-scale distributed systems with applications in quantum information processing and metrology.

Visible light photocatalytic properties of one-step SnO2-templated grown SnO2/SnS2heterostructure and SnS2nanoflakes.

The nanoflakes of SnS2/SnO2heterostructure and SnS2were synthesized by a one-step SnO2-templated chemical vapor deposition method. The metal oxide-assisted growth mechanism of SnS2/SnO2heterostructure and SnS2nanoflakes were realized through investigating serial microstructures of products with varied growth time. Furthermore, the photocatalytic activity for MB dyes degradation of varied growth time products was used to explore the effect of product microstructure under the visible light irradiation. The SnO2/SnS2heterostructure and the oxide vacancies of nanoflakes demonstrated an improved visible light photocatalytic performance for MB degradation, which was around twice of the pure SnS2nanoflakes and better than P25. The results of different scavengers on the degradation efficiency for MB indicate the·O2-, and ·OH are the main active species in the photodegradation reaction. The one-step growth mechanism of SnS2/SnO2could prove a facile process to grow metal oxide-metal sulfide heterostructure.

Intraocular gas associated pressure-induced interface keratopathy 8 years after laser in situ keratomileusis.

The authors report a clinically distinctive form of elevated intraocular pressure-induced interface keratopathy that occurred after a pars plana vitrectomy with intraocular gas tamponade for a macular hole in the right eye in a 35-year-old woman who had laser in situ keratomileusis in both eyes 8 years previously. The intraocular pressure was increased to 37 mm Hg after surgery. Diffuse lamellar keratitis-like interface infiltration was found with concurrent elevated intraocular pressure. The interface infiltration did not respond to steroids but resolved after the intraocular pressure was controlled. This case suggests that interface keratopathy is associated with increased intraocular pressure. Assessment of intraocular pressure is essential in patients presenting with interface keratopathy, especially in those who have undergone posterior segment operations with gas tamponade.

Quantitative optical coherence tomography findings in a 4-year-old boy with typical morning glory disk anomaly.

Morning glory disk anomaly (MGDA) is a congenital malformation of the optic disk that is usually unilateral. It has characteristic fundus findings, including enlarged optic disk opening and funnel-shaped excavation of the peripapillary fundus. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) with micrometer resolution and cross-sectional imaging capabilities can provide detailed information about the structure of the living eye. Some reports have used OCT to demonstrate the structure of the disk in older patients with MGDA but, to our knowledge, no quantitative OCT report concerning a child with MGDA has been published previously.