Guided-mode based arbitrary signal switching through an inverse-designed ultra-compact mode switching device.

The application of the inverse design method and free-form geometrical optimization in photonic devices endows them with highly tunable functionality and an ultra-compact footprint. In this paper, we implemented this platform to silicon photonic guided-mode manipulation and demonstrated a guided mode-based signal switching architecture. The passive signal switching mechanism is utilized so that no power consumption is needed for routing state maintenance. To solve the explosive increasing design cost in such mechanism when the switching scale is expanded, we illustrate that only a small number of mode switching devices need to be designed as the switching basis. In theory, arbitrary signal routing states can be constructed by cascading some selected basis. The required switching devices can be decreased from factorial N to N - 1 for the N channels switching. For proof of concept, we design and experimentally demonstrate the three-mode cases and the cascade method to combine any three mode-based switching devices. Experiments show that the insertion losses of TE0 - TE1 mode switching unit (U1), TE1 - TE2 mode switching units (U2), and TE0 - TE2 mode switching unit (U3) are less than 2.8 dB, 3.1 dB, and 2.3 dB, respectively. The demonstrated architecture has both arbitrary signal switching capability and ultra-compact footprint, which is promising in the application of mode-division multiplexing communication systems.

Integrated metabolomics and transcriptomics analysis reveals new biomarkers and mechanistic insights on atrazine exposures in MCF­7 cells.

Atrazine (ATZ) is a widely used herbicide worldwide and is a long-suspected endocrine-disrupting chemical. However, most endocrine-disrupting toxicity studies on ATZ have been based on animal models and those investigating inner mechanisms have only focused on a few genes. Therefore, the possible link between ATZ and endocrine-disrupting toxicity is still unclear. In this study, multi-omics and molecular biology techniques were used to elucidate the possible molecular mechanisms underlying the effect of ATZ exposure on MCF-7 proliferation at environmentally relevant concentrations. Our study is the first report on ATZ-induced one carbon pool by folate metabolic disorder in MCF-7 cells. A concentration of 1 µM ATZ yielded the highest cell viability and was selected for further mechanistic studies. A total of 34 significantly changed metabolites were identified based on metabolomic analysis, including vitamins, amino acids, fatty acids, and corresponding derivatives. Folate and pyridoxal have potential as biomarkers of ATZ exposure. One carbon pool by folate metabolic pathway was identified based on metabolic pathway analysis of the significantly altered pathways. Moreover, FTCD and MTHFD related to this pathway were further identified based on transcriptomic analysis and protein assays. Folate and different forms of 5,6,7,8-tetrahydrofolate, which participate in purine synthesis and associate with methyl groups (SOPC, arachidonic acid, and L-tryptophan) in one carbon pool by the folate metabolic pathway, potentially promote MCF-7 cell proliferation. These findings on the key metabolites and regulation of the related differentially expressed genes in folate metabolism will shed light on the mechanism of MCF-7 cell proliferation after ATZ exposure. Overall, this study provides new insights into the mechanistic understanding of toxicity caused by endocrine-disrupting chemicals.

Gradient-probability-driven discrete search algorithm for on-chip photonics inverse design.

The inverse-designed photonic device, with the characteristics of high performance and ultra-high compactness, is suitable for on-chip photonics applications. The gradient-based algorithms have high convergence efficiency. However, they depend on the continuous independent variable, so they cannot be directly applied to the pixel-based discrete search methods. In this paper, we propose a gradient-probability-driven discrete search (GPDS) algorithm for photonics inverse design. The algorithm establishes a connection between the gradient and the discrete value set by introducing the method of probability sampling. As an intrinsic discrete search algorithm in which the values of pixels are selected from a finite number of the discrete set, no additional discretization process is needed. Compared with the traditional brute-force search (BFS) method and traditional gradient method, the probability sampling process of our proposed GPDS algorithm can improve device performance efficiently and provide better stability to the initial states. We illustrate several component designs which are commonly used in the silicon photonics platform, and the results show that the algorithm can achieve high-performance structures within fewer iterations and has the ability of multi-objective optimization. With good flexibility and manufacturing-friendly geometry control, the algorithms are potential to be a powerful tool in solving multi-objective problems.

A novel risk-predicted nomogram for sepsis associated-acute kidney injury among critically ill patients.

BACKGROUND: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a prevalent and severe complication of sepsis contributing to high morbidity and mortality among critically ill patients. In this retrospective study, we develop a novel risk-predicted nomogram of sepsis associated-AKI (SA-AKI). METHODS: A total of 2,871 patients from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care III (MIMIC-III) critical care database were randomly assigned to primary (2,012 patients) and validation (859 patients) cohorts. A risk-predicted nomogram for SA-AKI was developed through multivariate logistic regression analysis in the primary cohort while the nomogram was evaluated in the validation cohort. Nomogram discrimination and calibration were assessed using C-index and calibration curves in the primary and external validation cohorts. The clinical utility of the final nomogram was evaluated using decision curve analysis. RESULTS: Risk predictors included in the prediction nomogram included length of stay in intensive care unit (LOS in ICU), baseline serum creatinine (SCr), glucose, anemia, and vasoactive drugs. Nomogram revealed moderate discrimination and calibration in estimating the risk of SA-AKI, with an unadjusted C-index of 0.752, 95 %Cl (0.730-0.774), and a bootstrap-corrected C index of 0.749. Application of the nomogram in the validation cohort provided moderate discrimination (C-index, 0.757 [95 % CI, 0.724-0.790]) and good calibration. Besides, the decision curve analysis (DCA) confirmed the clinical usefulness of the nomogram. CONCLUSIONS: This study developed and validated an AKI risk prediction nomogram applied to critically ill patients with sepsis, which may help identify reasonable risk judgments and treatment strategies to a certain extent. Nevertheless, further verification using external data is essential to enhance its applicability in clinical practice.

Mode-selective modulation by silicon microring resonators and mode multiplexers for on-chip optical interconnect.

Mode-division multiplexing (MDM) for on-chip interconnect, as a degree of freedom to enable further scaling the communication capacity, has attracted wide attention. However, selective loading information to the multimode light carriers of MDM systems is not as simple as the situation in wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM). In this paper, we demonstrate a scalable mode-selective modulation device for on-chip optical interconnect. It consists of two functional blocks. In one block, we use carrier-depletion add-drop silicon microring resonators to implement the simultaneous mode de-multiplexing from the multimode bus waveguide and high-speed modulation function. In the other block, we use asymmetric directional coupler based mode multiplexers to restore the modulated signals from fundamental mode to original mode sequences. By this structure, each mode channel from input port is separated and can be processed individually. In other words, we can selectively modulate arbitrary mode channels as requirement. The structure could be scaled to numerous mode channels. As a proof of concept, we design and fabricate a device with four microring resonators and a four-channel mode multiplexer. The insertion losses for all modes are less than 2.1 dB, and the inter-mode crosstalk is lower than -19.7 dB. 25 Gbps on-off key (OOK) electrical signals are utilized to drive the microring resonators, the optical eye-diagrams derived from every mode channels are clear and open. The preliminary demonstration of the device with a 50 Gbps OOK signals is also investigated. Our approach can provide more manipulation flexibility to the multimode optical interconnect.

The SHH/Gli axis regulates CD90-mediated liver cancer stem cell function by activating the IL6/JAK2 pathway.

The cell surface antigen CD90 has recently been established as a promising marker for liver cancer stem cells. This study aimed to investigate potential implications of SHH/Gli signalling in CD90+ liver cancer stem cells. Correlation of the expression of SHH signalling components and CD90 in liver cancer cells and clinical tissues, as well as in enriched CD90+ liver cancer stem cells and the TCGA database, were analysed by quantitative RT-PCR, Western blotting and flow cytometry. Functional analysis was conducted by siRNA-mediated CD90, Gli1 and Gli3 gene knockdown, SHH treatment and application of the JAK2 inhibitor AZD1480 and IL6 neutralizing antibody in CD90+ liver cancer stem cells, followed by cell proliferation, migration, sphere formation and tumorigenicity assays. CD90 expression exhibited a high positive correlation with Gli1 and Gli3 in multiple liver cancer cell lines and human cancerous liver tissues, both of which showed a significant increase in liver cancer. Analysis of TCGA data revealed an association of CD90, Gli1 and Gli3 with a short overall survival and positive correlation between CD90 expression and Gli3 expression level. The stem cell potentials of CD90+ 97L liver cancer cells were greatly impaired by Gli1/3 knockdown with siRNA but enhanced by SHH treatment. Application of the JAK2 inhibitor AZD1480 and IL6 neutralizing antibody showed the CD90 and SHH/Gli-regulated liver cancer stem cell functions were mediated by the IL6/JAK2/STAT3 pathway. The stem cell properties of CD90+ liver cancer cells are regulated by the downstream SHH/Gli and IL6/JAK2/STAT3 signalling pathways.

Appropriate Patient Selection Is Essential for the Success of Primary Closure After Laparoscopic Common Bile Duct Exploration.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic common bile duct exploration (LCBDE) is being increasingly used for management of common bile duct (CBD) stones. Primary CBD closure has been reported to have better short-term outcomes compared to T-tube placement. However, primary CBD closure cannot be performed in all patients. AIM: This study aims to evaluate the short- and long-term outcomes of LCBDE with primary CBD closure in appropriately selected patients and compare them with T-tube drainage. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of patients undergoing LCBDE in our department from June 2011 to October 2014 was performed. Primary closure was performed in 52 patients (group A), and a T-tube was placed in 33 patients (group B). Patient demographics, intraoperative findings, postoperative stay, complications, and long-term follow-up data were recorded and compared. RESULTS: The mean operating time was much longer in group A compared to group B (113.92 vs. 95.92 min, p = 0.032). The overall complication rate (9.6 vs. 6.3%, p = 0.701) and hospital stay (4 vs. 5.11 days, p = 0.088) were similar in both groups. No patient required conversion to the open procedure. Bile leakage was more frequent in group A (5.78 vs. 0%, p = 0.279), but this was not statistically significant. All three patients with bile leakage were treated successfully by conservative measures and gradual drain withdrawal. On long-term follow-up, recurrent stones were detected in two patients in group A. No patient was found to develop CBD stricture. CONCLUSION: LCBDE and primary CBD closure has excellent short- and long-term outcomes when performed in appropriately selected patients.

Fine-grained recognition of bitter gourd maturity based on Improved YOLOv5-seg model.

Bitter gourd, being perishable, requires timely harvesting. Delayed harvesting can result in a substantial reduction in fruit quality. while premature harvesting leads to underdeveloped fruit and decreased yields, the continuous flowering pattern in bitter gourd underscores the significance of accurately assessing fruit growth and ensuring timely harvesting for subsequent fruit setting and development. The current reliance on the experience of production personnel represents a substantial inefficiency. We present an improved real-time instance segmentation model based on YOLOv5-seg. The utilization of dynamic snake convolution enables the extraction of morphological features from the curved and elongated structure of bitter gourd. Diverse branch blocks enhance feature space diversity without inflating model size and inference time, contributing to improved recognition of expansion stages during bitter gourd growth. Additionally, the introduction of Focal-EIOU loss accurately locates the boundary box and mask, addressing sample imbalances in the L2 stage. Experimental results showcase remarkable accuracy rates of 99.3%, 93.8%, and 98.3% for L1, L2, and L3 stages using mAP@0.5. In comparison, our model outperforms other case segmentation models, excelling in both detection accuracy and inference speed. The improved YOLOv5-seg model demonstrates strong performance in fine-grained recognition of bitter gourd during the expansion stage. It efficiently segments bitter gourd in real-time under varying lighting and occlusion conditions, providing crucial maturity information. This model offers reliable insights for agricultural workers, facilitating precise harvesting decisions.

Multi-omics reveals the molecular mechanism of the combined toxic effects of PFOA and 4-HBP exposure in MCF-7 cells and the key player: mTORC1.

With the discovery of evidence that many endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in the environment influence human health, their toxic effects and mechanisms have become a hot topic of research. However, investigations into their endocrine-disrupting toxicity under combined binary exposure, especially the molecular mechanism of combined effects, have rarely been documented. In this study, two typical EDCs, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and 4-hydroxybenzophenone (4-HBP), were selected to examine their combined effects and molecular mechanism on MCF-7 cell proliferation at environmentally relevant exposure concentrations. We have successfully established a model to evaluate the binary combined toxic effects of endocrine disruptors, presenting combined effects in a simple and direct way. Results indicated that the combined effect changed from additive to synergistic from 1.25 × 10-8 M to 4 × 10-7 M. Metabolomics analyses suggested that exposure to PFOA and 4-HBP caused significant alterations in purine metabolism, arginine, and proline metabolism and had superimposed influences on metabolism. Enhanced combined effects were observed in glycine, serine, and threonine metabolic pathways compared to exposure to PFOS and 4-HBP alone. Additionally, the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) are primarily involved in Biological Processes, especially protein targeting the endoplasmic reticulum, and significantly impact the oxidative phosphorylation and thermogenesis-related KEGG pathway. By integrating metabolome and transcriptome analyses, PFOA and 4-HBP regulate purine metabolism, the TCA cycle, and endoplasmic reticulum protein synthesis in MCF-7 cells via mTORC1, which provides genetic material, protein, and energy for cell proliferation. Furthermore, molecular docking confirmed the ability of PFOA and 4-HBP to stably bind the estrogen receptor, indicating that they have different binding pockets. Collectively, these findings will offer new insights into understanding the mechanisms by which EDCs produce combined toxicity.

Research Progress on the Species and Diversity of Ants and Their Three Tropisms.

Ants are one of the largest insect groups, with the most species and individuals in the world, and they have an important ecological function. Ants are not only an important part of the food chains but are also one of the main decomposers on the Earth; they can also improve soil fertility, etc. However, some species of ants are harmful to human beings, which leads to people's panic or worry about coming into contact with these insects during their daily home life or in their tourism or leisure activities. The presence of ants in indoor living facilities and in outdoor green spaces, parks, gardens, and tourist attractions seriously interferes with the leisure life and entertainment activities of all people (especially children). How can we control ants in these environments? Do we kill them by spraying insecticides, or do we adopt green prevention and control technology for the ecological management of ants? This topic is related to healthy life for the public and the protection of the ecological environment. In this paper, the species and diversity of ants are introduced, and research progress regarding ant tropism is introduced according to the three aspects of phototaxis, chromotaxis, and chemotaxis (i.e., "3-tropisms"). The research on repellent substances from plants and insects and the related ant attractants are also summarized, analyzed, and discussed, in order to help the research and application of green prevention and control technology for ant diversity protection and conservation.

Cascade Amplification of Pyroptosis and Apoptosis for Cancer Therapy through a Black Phosphorous-Doped Thermosensitive Hydrogel.

Cell pyroptosis has a reciprocal relationship with various cancer treatment modalities such as chemotherapy. However, the tumor microenvironment, characterized by hypoxia, substantially restricts the development and application of tumor therapies that integrate cell pyroptosis. Therefore, the cascade amplification of oxidative stress by interfering with redox homeostasis in tumors may be a promising approach. In this study, black phosphorus (BP) nanosheets and a glutathione peroxidase 4 inhibitor (RSL3) were coloaded into a thermosensitive PDLLA-PEG-PDLLA (PLEL) hydrogel (RSL3/BP@PLEL). Owing to the photothermal property of BP nanosheets, the RSL3/BP@PLEL hydrogel may trigger the release of loaded drugs in a more controllable and on-demand manner. Investigation of the antitumor effect in a mouse liver tumor model demonstrated that local injection of the hydrogel formulation in combination with near infrared laser irradiation could efficiently suppress tumor growth by interfering with the redox balance in tumors. Mechanistic study indicated that the combined treatment of photothermal therapy and glutathione depletion based on this hydrogel efficiently induced cell pyroptosis through both caspase-1/GSDMD and caspase-3/GSDME pathways, thereby triggering the repolarization of tumor-associated macrophages from M2 to M1. Overall, we developed a biocompatible and biodegradable hydrogel formulation for application in combination cancer treatment, providing a new platform for enhancing the efficacy of cancer therapy by amplifying cell pyroptosis and apoptosis.

Comprehensive Analysis of RAPGEF2 for Predicting Prognosis and Immunotherapy Response in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the sixth most common tumor worldwide. Additionally, deletion of RAPGEF2 plays a critical role in CNV and related to tumor immune microenvironment, whereas the prognostic potential of RAPGEF2 in HCC patient needs to be explored. Methods: We looked for prognostic potential genes in HCC using a variety of R programs. Then, using the LASSO Cox regression, we thoroughly evaluated and integrated the RAPGEF2-related genes from TCGA database. Meanwhile, utilizing TCGA and ICGA databases, the link between RAPGEF2 and immunotherapy response in HCC was studied. In vivo, the effect of RAPGEF2 on tumor development and the capacity of natural killer (NK) cells to recruit were confirmed. To ascertain the connection between RAPGEF2-related genes and the prognosis of HCC, a prognostic model was created and validated. Result: We demonstrated RAPGEF2 has a differential expression, and patients with deletion of RAPGEF2 gene get shorter survival in HCC. Additionally, the tissues without RAPGEF2 have a weaker ability to recruit the NK cells and response to immunotherapy. After that, we scoured the database for eight RAPGEF2-related genes linked with a better prognosis in HCC patients. Additionally, silencing RAPGEF2 accelerated tumor development in the HCC mouse model and decreased CD56+ NK cell recruitment in HCC tissues. TCGA database was used to classify patients into low- and high-risk categories based on the expression of related genes. Patients in the low-risk group had a significantly greater overall survival than those in the high-risk group (P < 0.001). Meanwhile, the low-risk group demonstrated connections with the NK cell and immunotherapy response. Finally, the prognostic nomogram showed a high sensitivity and specificity for predicting the survival of HCC patients at 1, 2, and 3 years. Conclusion: The prognostic model based on RAPGEF2 and RAPGEF2-related genes showed an excellent predictive performance in terms of prognosis and immunotherapy response in HCC, therefore establishing a unique prognostic model for clinical assessment of HCC patients.

Effect of Solution and Aging Temperatures on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of 10Cr13Co13Mo5Ni3W1VE(S280) Steel.

The article investigated the effects of solution and ging temperatures on microstructure and mechanical properties of ultra-high strength stainless steel 10Cr13Co13Mo5Ni3W1VE(S280). Higher solution temperatures can improve impact toughness because of the quantity reduction of submicron-sized particles which act as microporous nucleation sites. S280 has the best mechanical properties at 1080 °C solution temperature. After quenching, the steel is completely martensite with almost no retained austenite. Aging at 560 °C results in peak strength due to the precipitation of fine carbides coherent zones. The loss of precipitates/matrix coherency and precipitates coarsening cause a decrease in strength at higher aging temperatures. Good strength and toughness obtained at 540 °C aging temperature are attributed to fine and dispersed strengthening phases such as Cr2C and Fe2Mo, and the recovery of austenite in high-density dislocation martensite matrix. The details of electron microscopy research, strengthening and toughening mechanisms are discussed.

The Interdiffusion Behavior of NiCoCrAlYHf Coating Deposited by Arc Ion Plating on Carburized Ni-Based Single Crystal Superalloy.

In the present study, arc ion plating (AIP) was used to prepare a NiCoCrAlYHf coating (HY5 coating) on a carburized third-generation single-crystal superalloy DD10. The interdiffusion behavior of the carburized superalloy with an HY5 coating was investigated for a 1000 h oxidation time at 1100 °C. Carburization enhanced the interfacial bonding force and improved the microstructure of the NiCoCrAlYHf coating. An interdiffusion zone (IDZ) formed after a 300 h oxidation time, and the formation of a carburized layer effectively suppressed an inward diffusion of cobalt, aluminium, and chromium to the DD10 superalloy as well as an outward diffusion of nickel and refractory elements for instance rhenium and tungsten to the HY5 coating that occurred in static air at 1100 °C. The roles of the carburized layer in affecting thermal cyclic oxidation and element interdiffusion were studied. Subsequently, a modified form of the Boltzmann-Matano analysis was used to present the interdiffusion coefficients of aluminium.

CD90 promotes cell migration, viability and sphere­forming ability of hepatocellular carcinoma cells.

Cluster of differentiation (CD)90 (Thy­1) was proposed as a marker for the liver cancer stem cells that are responsible for tumorigenic activity, however its involvement in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unknown. The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of CD90 on the biological functions of HCC and to investigate the associated circular RNA (circRNA) involved in this process. The analysis of the in vitro data demonstrated that CD90+ cells isolated from SK­Hep­1 cells exhibited increased viability, migration and invasive abilities compared with CD90­ cells. In addition, circRNA expression profiles in CD90+ and CD90­ cells were screened using a microarray assay and hsa_circ_0067531 and hsa_circ_0057096 were identified to be expressed at significantly different levels. It was additionally demonstrated that the expression of hsa_circ_0067531 in HCC tissues was significantly decreased compared with normal adjacent tissues. Overall, the results of the present study suggested that CD90 may be used as a potential biomarker for HCC. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that hsa_circ_0067531 may affect the biological functions of CD90+ HCC cells and may be a promising candidate to aid in the diagnosis and therapy of HCC.

miR-922 regulates CYLD expression and promotes the cell proliferation of human hepatocellular carcinoma.

Evidence reveals that microRNAs (miRNAs) play essential roles in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tumorigenesis. In the present study, we identified an essential role for miR-922 in the development of HCC. We found that miR-922 was significantly upregulated in HCC cells and clinical tissues. Gain and loss of function studies indicated that miR-922 significantly promoted HCC cell proliferation. We subsequently identified that cylindromatosis (CYLD) was a target gene of miR-922. Moreover, miR-922 decreased CYLD expression, subsequently upregulating the expression of c-Myc and cyclin D1, while downregulating p-Rb expression. Furthermore, knockdown of CYLD expression by siRNA partially counteracted the tumor suppressive effect of the inhibitor of miR­922, miR­922-in. Taken together, our findings indicate that miR-922 plays a key role in the promotion of HCC cell proliferation, and strongly suggest that exogenous miR-922 may have therapeutic value for treating HCC.

Expression and prognostic value of glutamate dehydrogenase in extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma patients.

Glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) produces a precursor to glutathione, an important molecule in maintaining cellular redox balance and the cancerous characteristics of tumor cells through intracellular signaling pathways. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms linking glutamate dehydrogenase and extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma have not been elucidated yet. Herein, we examined GDH expression levels and evaluated its potential correlations with prognosis. Meanwhile, the therapeutic value of GDH targeting the Smad pathways in extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma was explored. Immunohistochemical studies revealed that GDH expression level was correlated to CD34 expression, cellular differentiation, the presence or absence of capsular and vascular invasion, lymph node metastasis, neural invasion and patient age. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and COX proportional hazards models demonstrated that the prognosis was closely associated with GDH expression, CD34 positivity, nerve infiltration and cell differentiation. GDH silencing significantly reduced the proliferation, migratory potential and invasive capability. We also demonstrated that GDH promoted cell proliferation and metastasis potentially through Smad-mediated induction of TGF-ß signaling pathway. Therefore, GDH may be an important prognostic indicator and may provide a new target for novel treatments of extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

Silencing MRP1-4 genes by RNA interference enhances sensitivity of human hepatoma cells to chemotherapy.

AIM: Besides surgical treatment, systematic chemotherapy plays a crucial role in HCC treatment, especially for patients with advanced HCC. However, none of the single-drug-treatment strategies have shown significant survival benefit due to a high incidence rate of chemoresistance. This study was designed to observe the effect of small interfering of RNA (SiRNA) targeting multidrug resistance-related protein 1-4 (MRP1, MRP2, MRP3, and MRP4) in modulating drug resistance of HepG2/ADM and SMMC7721/ADM cells. METHODS: HepG2/Adriamycin (ADM) and SMMC7721/ADM cell lines were developed by exposing parental cells to stepwise increasing concentrations of ADM. MTT assay was used to determine drug sensitivity and half inhibitory concentration (IC50) of drugs was calculated. Flow cytometry was employed to analyze cell cycle distribution. MRP1-4 mRNA expression levels were measured by quantitative real-time PCR (QRT-PCR). Expression of proteins was analyzed by Western blot. The growth curve was draw and the cell apoptosis was also observed. Animal experiment was used to compare the cell growth. RESULTS: MTT assay showed that the values of IC50 and RI of HepG2/ADM and SMMC7721/ADM decreased after siRNA treatment in HepG2/ADM cells and SMMC7721/ADM cells. QRT-PCR analysis demonstrated the MRP1-4 mRNA expression decreased significantly in HepG2/ADM cells and SMMC7721/ADM cells after siRNA transfection. In addition, compared with parental cells, MRP1-4 protein expressions apparently decreased in SMMC7721/ADM and HepG2/ADM cells. Flow cytometry showed significantly elevated apoptosis rate following MRP1-4 siRNA transfection. Animal experiment suggested that silencing MRP1-4 gene in vivo inhibited tumor growth. CONCLUSION: Inhibition of MRP1-4 by small interfering RNA enhanced and selectively restored sensitivity of hepatoma cells to drugs. MRP1-4 siRNA might represent a new therapeutic option for HCC.

Paraneoplastic pemphigus associated with follicular dendritic cell sarcoma: report of a case and review of literature.

Follicular dendritic cell sarcoma (FDCS) is a rare tumor associated with paraneoplastic pemphigus. It is Blame drenchs auxiliary cell tumor which is derived from the peripheral lymphoid tissues. Throughout the world, several patients of paraneoplastic pemphigus associated follicular dendritic cell sarcoma were reported in the literature, but mostly originated from the neck lymph nodes, and extranodal origin of follicular dendritic sarcoma was rarely reported. Also, so far we have found that the malignant degree of all patients diagnosed with malignant tumors have been reported were low and after combined treatment of surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, most of the prognosis was good. However, here we present a patient of paraneoplastic pemphigus associated with follicular dendritic cell sarcoma origined from outside of the lymph nodes and had high tumor malignant degree for its unclear cell boundaries, obvious atypia and mitoses and the patient's state became progressively deteriorate after operation.