Aprotic Lithium-Oxygen Batteries Based on Nonsolid Discharge Products.

Aprotic lithium-oxygen (Li-O2) batteries are considered to be a promising alternative option to lithium-ion batteries for high gravimetric energy storage devices. However, the sluggish electrochemical kinetics, the passivation, and the structural damage to the cathode caused by the solid discharge products have greatly hindered the practical application of Li-O2 batteries. Herein, the nonsolid-state discharge products of the off-stoichiometric Li1-xO2 in the electrolyte solutions are achieved by iridium (Ir) single-atom-based porous organic polymers (termed as Ir/AP-POP) as a homogeneous, soluble electrocatalyst for Li-O2 batteries. In particular, the numerous atomic active sites act as the main nucleation sites of O2-related discharge reactions, which are favorable to interacting with O2-/LiO2 intermediates in the electrolyte solutions, owing to the highly similar lattice-matching effect between the in situ-formed Ir3Li and LiO2, achieving a nonsolid LiO2 as the final discharge product in the electrolyte solutions for Li-O2 batteries. Consequently, the Li-O2 battery with a soluble Ir/AP-POP electrocatalyst exhibits an ultrahigh discharge capacity of 12.8 mAh, an ultralow overpotential of 0.03 V, and a long cyclic life of 700 h with the carbon cloth cathode. The manipulation of nonsolid discharge products in aprotic Li-O2 batteries breaks the traditional growth mode of Li2O2, bringing Li-O2 batteries closer to being a viable technology.

MYCT1 inhibits hematopoiesis in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma by suppressing RUNX1 transcription.

BACKGROUND: The abnormality of chromosomal karyotype is one factor causing poor prognosis of lymphoma. In the analysis of abnormal karyotype of lymphoma patients, three smallest overlap regions were found, in which MYCT1 was located. MYCT1 is the first tumor suppressor gene cloned by our research team, but its studies relating to the occurrence and development of lymphoma have not been reported. METHODS: R banding analyses were employed to screen the abnormality of chromosomal karyotype in clinical specimen and MYCT1 over-expression cell lines. FISH was to monitor MYCT1 copy number aberration. RT-PCR and Western blot were to detect the mRNA and protein levels of the MYCT1 and RUNX1 genes, respectively. The MYCT1 and RUNX1 protein levels in clinical specimen were evaluated by immunohistochemical DAB staining. The interaction between MYCT1 and MAX proteins was identified via Co-IP and IF. The binding of MAX on the promoter of the RUNX1 gene was detected by ChIP and Dual-luciferase reporter assay, respectively. Flow cytometry and CCK-8 assay were to explore the effects of MYCT1 and RUNX1 on the cell cycle and proliferation, respectively. RESULTS: MYCT1 was located in one of three smallest overlap regions of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, it altered chromosomal instability of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma cells. MYCT1 negatively correlated with RUNX1 in lymphoma tissues of the patients. MAX directly promoted the RUNX1 gene transcription by binding to its promoter region. MYCT1 may represses RUNX1 transcription by binding MAX in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma cells. MYCT1 binding to MAX probably suppressed RUNX1 transcription, leading to the inhibition of proliferation and cell cycle of the diffuse large B-cell lymphoma cells. CONCLUSION: This study finds that there is a MYCT1-MAX-RUNX1 signaling pathway in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. And the study provides clues and basis for the in-depth studies of MYCT1 in the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of lymphoma.

Photo-Assisted Li-N2 Batteries with Enhanced Nitrogen Fixation and Energy Conversion.

Li-N2 batteries have received widespread attention for their potential to integrate N2 fixation, energy storage, and conversion. However, because of the low activity and poor stability of cathode catalysts, the electrochemical performance of Li-N2 batteries is suboptimal, and their electrochemical reversibility has rarely been proven. In this study, a novel bifunctional photo-assisted Li-N2 battery system was established by employing a plasmonic Au nanoparticles (NPs)-modified defective carbon nitride (Au-Nv -C3 N4 ) photocathode. The Au-Nv -C3 N4 exhibits strong light-harvesting, N2 adsorption, and N2 activation abilities, and the photogenerated electrons and hot electrons are remarkably beneficial for accelerating the discharge and charge reaction kinetics. These advantages enable the photo-assisted Li-N2 battery to achieve a low overpotential of 1.32 V, which is the lowest overpotential reported to date, as well as superior rate capability and prolonged cycle stability (≈500 h). Remarkably, a combination of theoretical and experimental results demonstrates the high reversibility of the photo-assisted Li-N2 battery. The proposed novel strategy for developing efficient cathode catalysts and fabricating photo-assisted battery systems breaks through the overpotential bottleneck of Li-N2 batteries, providing important insights into the mechanism underlying N2 fixation and storage.

Polyoxometalate Li3 PW12 O40 and Li3 PMo12 O40 Electrolytes for High-energy All-solid-state Lithium Batteries.

Solid-state lithium (Li) batteries promise both high energy density and safety while existing solid-state electrolytes (SSEs) fail to satisfy the rigorous requirements of battery operations. Herein, novel polyoxometalate SSEs, Li3 PW12 O40 and Li3 PMo12 O40 , are synthesized, which exhibit excellent interfacial compatibility with electrodes and chemical stability, overcoming the limitations of conventional SSEs. A high ionic conductivity of 0.89 mS cm-1 and a low activation energy of 0.23 eV are obtained due to the optimized three-dimensional Li+ migration network of Li3 PW12 O40 . Li3 PW12 O40 exhibits a wide window of electrochemical stability that can both accommodate the Li anode and high-voltage cathodes. As a result, all-solid-state Li metal batteries fabricated with Li/Li3 PW12 O40 /LiNi0.5 Co0.2 Mn0.3 O2 display a stable cycling up to 100 cycles with a cutoff voltage of 4.35 V and an areal capacity of more than 4 mAh cm-2 , as well as a cost-competitive SSEs price of $5.68 kg-1 . Moreover, Li3 PMo12 O40 homologous to Li3 PW12 O40 was obtained via isomorphous substitution, which formed a low-resistance interface with Li3 PW12 O40 . Applications of Li3 PW12 O40 and Li3 PMo12 O40 in Li-air batteries further demonstrate that long cycle life (650 cycles) can be achieved. This strategy provides a facile, low-cost strategy to construct efficient and scalable solid polyoxometalate electrolytes for high-energy solid-state Li metal batteries.

Metal-Organic Framework-Based Mixed Conductors Achieve Highly Stable Photo-assisted Solid-State Lithium-Oxygen Batteries.

The demand for high-energy sustainable rechargeable batteries has motivated the development of lithium-oxygen (Li-O2) batteries. However, the inherent safety issues of liquid electrolytes and the sluggish reaction kinetics of existing cathodes remain fundamental challenges. Herein, we demonstrate a promising photo-assisted solid-state Li-O2 battery based on metal-organic framework-derived mixed ionic/electronic conductors, which simultaneously serve as the solid-state electrolytes (SSEs) and the cathode. The mixed conductors could effectively harvest ultraviolet-visible light to generate numerous photoelectrons and holes, which is favorable to participate in the electrochemical reaction, contributing to greatly improved reaction kinetics. According to the study on conduction behavior, we discover that the mixed conductors as SSEs possess outstanding Li+ conductivity (1.52 × 10-4 S cm-1 at 25 °C) and superior chemical/electrochemical stability (especially toward H2O, O2-, etc.). Application of mixed ionic electronic conductors in photo-assisted solid-state Li-O2 batteries further reveals that a high energy efficiency (94.2%) and a long life (320 cycles) can be achieved with a simultaneous design of SSEs and cathodes. The achievements present the widespread universality in accelerating the development of safe and high-performance solid-state batteries.

Polymers with Intrinsic Microporosity as Solid Ion Conductors for Solid-State Lithium Batteries.

Solid-state electrolytes (SSEs) with high ionic conductivity and superior stability are considered to be a key technology for the safe operation of solid-state lithium batteries. However, current SSEs are incapable of meeting the requirements for practical solid-state lithium batteries. Here we report a general strategy for achieving high-performance SSEs by engineering polymers of intrinsic microporosity (PIMs). Taking advantage of the interconnected ion pathways generated from the ionizable groups, high ionic conductivity (1.06×10-3  S cm-1 at 25 °C) is achieved for the PIMs-based SSEs. The mechanically strong (50.0 MPa) and non-flammable SSEs combine the two superiorities of outstanding Li+ conductivity and electrochemical stability, which can restrain the dendrite growth and prevent Li symmetric batteries from short-circuiting even after more than 2200 h cycling. Benefiting from the rational design of SSEs, PIMs-based SSEs Li-metal batteries can achieve good cycling performance and superior feasibility in a series of withstand abuse tests including bending, cutting, and penetration. Moreover, the PIMs-based SSEs endow high specific capacity (11307 mAh g-1 ) and long-term discharge/charge stability (247 cycles) for solid-state Li-O2 batteries. The PIMs-based SSEs present a powerful strategy for enabling safe operation of high-energy solid-state batteries.

Intrinsic Stress-strain in Barium Titanate Piezocatalysts Enabling Lithium-Oxygen Batteries with Low Overpotential and Long Life.

Rechargeable lithium-oxygen (Li-O2 ) batteries with high theoretical energy density are considered as promising candidates for portable electronic devices and electric vehicles, whereas their commercial application is hindered due to poor cyclic stability caused by the sluggish kinetics and cathode passivation. Herein, the intrinsic stress originated from the growth and decomposition of the discharge product (lithium peroxide, Li2 O2 ) is employed as a microscopic pressure resource to induce the built-in electric field, further improving the reaction kinetics and interfacial Lithium ion (Li+ ) transport during cycling. Piezopotential caused by the intrinsic stress-strain of solid Li2 O2 is capable of providing the driving force for the separation and transport of carriers, enhancing the Li+ transfer, and thus improving the redox reaction kinetics of Li-O2 batteries. Combined with a variety of in situ characterizations, the catalytic mechanism of barium titanate (BTO), a typical piezoelectric material, was systematically investigated, and the effect of stress-strain transformation on the electrochemical reaction kinetics and Li+ interface transport for the Li-O2 batteries is clearly established. The findings provide deep insight into the surface coupling strategy between intrinsic stress and electric fields to regulate the electrochemical reaction kinetics behavior and enhance the interfacial Li+ transport for battery system.

Na3Ti3O3(SeO3)4F: A Phase-Matchable Nonlinear-Optical Crystal with Enlarged Second-Harmonic-Generation Intensity and Band Gap.

A new phase-matchable nonlinear-optical material, Na3Ti3O3(SeO3)4F, has been achieved by a facile hydrothermal reaction. The anionic skeleton displays a honeycombed 3D structure with Ti6Se6 12-member polyhedral ring tunnels along the c axis. Na3Ti3O3(SeO3)4F presents a strong second-harmonic-generation (SHG) response of about 6 × KDP, which is twice that of its isostructural Ag compound. Interestingly, the band gap of Na3Ti3O3(SeO3)4F is also broader than that of the isomorph. Also, the powder laser-induced damage threshold of Na3Ti3O3(SeO3)4F is even 5.5 times larger than that of Ag3Ti3O3(SeO3)4F. Theoretical calculations revealed that the fully filled Ag 4d and empty Ag 5s states have made the difference in the band gap and SHG response of the two isostructural compounds. Our work has provided a practical way of improving the SHG efficiency and band gap simultaneously, which is usually considered to be a pair of negatively correlated parameters.

A Renewable Light-Promoted Flexible Li-CO2 Battery with Ultrahigh Energy Efficiency of 97.9.

Directly converting and storing abundant solar energy in next-generation energy storage devices is of central importance to build a sustainable society. Herein, a new prototype of a light-promoted rechargeable and flexible Li-CO2 battery with a TiO2 /carbon cloth (CC) cathode is reported for the direct utilization of solar energy to promote the kinetics of the carbon dioxide reduction reaction and carbon dioxide evolution reaction (CO2 ER). Under illumination, photoelectrons are generated in the conduction band of TiO2 /CC, followed by the enhancing diffusion of electrons and lithium ions during the discharge process. The photoelectrons on the cathode surface can regulate the morphology of the discharge product Li2 CO3 , contributing to boosting the kinetics of the subsequent CO2 ER process. In the reverse charge process, photogenerated holes can favor the decomposition of Li2 CO3 , leading to a negative charge potential of 2.88 V without increased polarization over ≈60 h of cycling. Owing to an ultralow overpotential of 0.06 V between the discharge and charge process, an ultrahigh energy efficiency of 97.9% is attained under illumination. The introduction of a light-promoted flexible Li-CO2 battery can pave the way toward developing the use of solar energy to address the charging overpotential of conventional Li-CO2 batteries.

Ikarugamycin inhibits pancreatic cancer cell glycolysis by targeting hexokinase 2.

Mangrove-derived actinobacteria strains are well-known for producing novel secondary metabolites. The polycyclic tetramate macrolactam (PTM), ikarugamycin (IKA) isolated from Streptomyces xiamenensis 318, exhibits antiproliferative activities against pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) in vitro. However, the protein target for bioactive IKA is unclear. In this study, whole transcriptome-based profiling revealed that the glycolysis pathway is significantly affected by IKA. Metabolomic studies demonstrated that IKA treatment induces a significant drop in glucose-6-phosphate and a slight increase in intracellular glucose level. Analysis of glucose consumption, lactate production, and the extracellular acidification rate confirmed the inhibitory role of IKA on the glycolytic flux in PDAC cells. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) experiments and docking studies identified the key enzyme of glycolysis, hexokinase 2 (HK2), as a molecular target of IKA. Moreover, IKA reduced tumor size without overt cytotoxicity in mice with PDAC xenografts and increased chemotherapy response to gemcitabine in PDAC cells in vitro. Taken together, IKA can block glycolysis in pancreatic cancer by targeting HK2, which may be a potential drug candidate for PDAC treatment.

Interlaboratory analysis of teicoplanin plasma concentration assays among Chinese laboratories.

WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE: Teicoplanin is widely used for the treatment of infections caused by drug-resistant Gram-positive bacteria. Since there is a good correlation between trough levels and clinical outcome, therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) is recommended to achieve better clinical curative effects. However, TDM of teicoplanin is not routine in China. So, a programme was initiated in 2017, including both HPLC method establishment and interlaboratory quality assessment, for the measurement of teicoplanin. METHODS: A main centre and a quality control centre were set up in the study. An HPLC-based method of teicoplanin determination in plasma was developed by the main centre. Analysis was performed using a Waters Symmetry C18 column (250 mm × 4.6 mm, 5 µm). The mobile phase was NaH2 PO4 (0.01 mol/L) and acetonitrile (75:25 v/v; pH 3.3), with a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min and a detection wavelength of 215 nm. Piperacillin sodium was selected as an internal standard (IS). Twenty-six additional TDM centres were then recruited to adopt this method. Then, all the centres were asked to take part in a quality control assessment evaluated by the quality control centre. RESULTS: For all TDM centres, linearity of teicoplanin concentration ranges was between 3.125 and 100 µg/mL. Intraday and interday accuracies ranged from 87.1% to 118.4%. Intraday and interday precision ranged from 0.3% to 13.8%. Therapeutic drug monitoring centres all passed inter-room quality assessment. All samples tested met the acceptance criteria. Then, 542 samples were collected. Patients with sub-optimal (≤10 mg/L) plasma teicoplanin concentrations constituted 42% of the total study population. WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSIONS: For the first time, a simple, rapid and accurate HPLC method for determining teicoplanin levels was successfully applied to therapeutic drug monitoring in clinical practice for twenty-seven TDM centres in China. The results demonstrated excellent interlaboratory agreement for teicoplanin testing and provide support for clinical laboratory quality management and results inter-accreditation.

Correction to: SKIP controls flowering time via the alternative splicing of SEF pre-mRNA in Arabidopsis.

Upon publication of the original article [1], the authors noticed that they omitted Additional file 16: Table S10 from the Additional file list. Additional file 16: Table S10 can be found attached to this Correction and the caption of this Additional file can be found below.

Light/Electricity Energy Conversion and Storage for a Hierarchical Porous In2 S3 @CNT/SS Cathode towards a Flexible Li-CO2 Battery.

A photoinduced flexible Li-CO2 battery with well-designed, hierarchical porous, and free-standing In2 S3 @CNT/SS (ICS) as a bifunctional photoelectrode to accelerate both the CO2 reduction and evolution reactions (CDRR and CDER) is presented. The photoinduced Li-CO2 battery achieved a record-high discharge voltage of 3.14 V, surpassing the thermodynamic limit of 2.80 V, and an ultra-low charge voltage of 3.20 V, achieving a round trip efficiency of 98.1 %, which is the highest value ever reported (<80 %) so far. These excellent properties can be ascribed to the hierarchical porous and free-standing structure of ICS, as well as the key role of photogenerated electrons and holes during discharging and charging processes. A mechanism is proposed for pre-activating CO2 by reducing In3+ to In+ under light illumination. The mechanism of the bifunctional light-assisted process provides insight into photoinduced Li-CO2 batteries and contributes to resolving the major setbacks of the system.

Partial Stapled Hemorrhoidopexy Versus Circumferential Stapled Hemorrhoidopexy for Grade III to IV Prolapsing Hemorrhoids: A Randomized, Noninferiority Trial.

BACKGROUND: Long-term outcomes and efficacy of partial stapled hemorrhoidopexy are not known. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare the long-term clinical efficacy and safety of partial stapled hemorrhoidopexy with circumferential stapled hemorrhoidopexy. DESIGN: This was a parallel group, randomized, noninferiority clinical trial. SETTINGS: The study was conducted at a single academic center. PATIENTS: Patients with grade III/IV hemorrhoids between August 2011 and November 2013 were included. INTERVENTIONS: Three hundred patients were randomly assigned to undergo either partial stapled hemorrhoidopexy (group 1, n = 150) or circumferential stapled hemorrhoidopexy (group 2, n = 150). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was the rate of recurrent prolapse at a median follow-up period of 5 years with a predefined noninferiority margin of 3.75%. Secondary outcomes included incidence and severity of postoperative pain, fecal urgency, anal continence, and the frequency of specific complications, including anorectal stenosis and rectovaginal fistula. RESULTS: The visual analog scores in group 1 were less than those in group 2 (p < 0.001). Fewer patients in group 1 experienced postoperative urgency compared with those in group 2 (p = 0.001). Anal continence significantly worsened after both procedures, but the difference between preoperative and postoperative continence scores was higher for group 2 than for group 1. Postoperative rectal stenosis did not develop in patients in group 1, although it occurred in 8 patients (5%) in group 2 (p = 0.004). The 5-year cumulative recurrence rate between group 1 (9% (95% CI, 4%-13%)) and group 2 (12% (95% CI, 7%-17%)) did not differ significantly (p = 0.137), and the difference was within the noninferiority margin (absolute difference, -3.33% (95% CI, -10.00% to 3.55%)). LIMITATIONS: The study was limited because it was a single-center trial. CONCLUSIONS: Partial stapled hemorrhoidopexy is noninferior to circumferential stapled hemorrhoidopexy for patients with grade III to IV hemorrhoids at a median follow-up period of 5 years. However, partial stapled hemorrhoidopexy was associated with reduced postoperative pain and urgency, better postoperative anal continence, and minimal risk of rectal stenosis. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/A790.Trial registration (chictr.org) identifier is chiCTR-trc-11001506.

Efficacy of progesterone on threatened miscarriage: Difference in drug types.

AIM: To investigate whether treatment with progesterone would decrease the incidence of miscarriage in women who faced threatened miscarriage. METHODS: Randomized controlled trials (RCT) were identified by searching PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library and Web of Science. Trials were included if they compared progesterone with placebo, no treatment or any other treatment given in an effort to treat threatened miscarriage. Pregnant prophylaxis drugs were not included without strict progesterone type, language and progesterone management. The primary outcome was the incidence of miscarriage. The summary measures were reported as relative risk (RR) with 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: Eight RCT including 845 women who faced threatened miscarriage were analyzed. Pooled data from the eight trials showed that women with threatened miscarriage who were randomized to the progesterone group had a lower risk of threatened miscarriage (RR = 0.64, 95% CI 0.48-0.85). Dydrogesterone was shown to have a lower risk of miscarriage (RR = 0.49, 95% CI 0.33-0.75) than natural progesterone (RR = 0.69, 95% CI 0.40-1.19). Oral management was demonstrated to have a lower risk of miscarriage (RR = 0.55, 95% CI 0.38-0.79) compared with vaginal administration (RR = 0.58, 95% CI 0.28-1.21). CONCLUSION: Our findings show that progesterone agents are effective in reducing the incidence of miscarriage in threatened miscarriage. Dydrogesterone, but not natural progesterone, was associated with a lower risk of miscarriage. Given the limitations of the studies included in our meta-analysis, it is difficult to recommend route and dose of progesterone therapy. Further head-to-head trials of gestational weeks and long-time follow-up are required.

SKIP controls flowering time via the alternative splicing of SEF pre-mRNA in Arabidopsis.

BACKGROUND: Similar to other eukaryotes, splicing is emerging as an important process affecting development and stress tolerance in plants. Ski-interacting protein (SKIP), a splicing factor, is essential for circadian clock function and abiotic stress tolerance; however, the mechanisms whereby it regulates flowering time are unknown. RESULTS: In this study, we found that SKIP is required for the splicing of serrated leaves and early flowering (SEF) pre-messenger RNA (mRNA), which encodes a component of the ATP-dependent SWR1 chromatin remodeling complex (SWR1-C). Defects in the splicing of SEF pre-mRNA reduced H2A.Z enrichment at FLC, MAF4, and MAF5, suppressed the expression of these genes, and produced an early flowering phenotype in skip-1 plants. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that SKIP regulates SWR1-C function via alternative splicing to control the floral transition in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Transarterial chemoembolization plus iodine-125 implantation for hepatocellular carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common malignancy in liver. Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is recommended as an effective treatment in advanced HCC patients. Recent studies showed iodine-125 seed (a low-energy radionuclide) can provide long-term local control and increase survival for HCC patients. The aim of the study was to evaluate the outcome of TACE plus iodine-125 seed in comparison with TACE alone for HCC. METHODS: A comprehensive search of studies among PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews was conducted with published date from the earliest to January 10th, 2018. No language restrictions were applied, while only prospective randomized controlled trials (RCTs) or non-randomized controlled trials (non-RCTs) were eligible for a full-text review. The primary outcome was overall survival (OS), response rate (the rate of partial atrophy or complete clearance of the tumor lesion) and adverse events (AEs). The odds ratios (ORs) were combined using either fixed-effects model or random-effects model. All statistical analyses were performed using the Stata 12.0 software. RESULTS: 9 studies were included, involving 894 patients. Among them, 473 patients received combined therapy of TACE plus iodine-125 implantation, compared with 421 patients with TACE alone. Patients receiving combined therapy of TACE plus iodine-125 showed significantly improvement in 1-year OS (OR = 4.47, 95% confidence intervals (CI): 2.97-6.73; P < 0.001), 2-year OS (OR = 4.72, 95% CI: 2.63-8.47; P < 0.001). No significant publication bias was observed in any of the measured outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Based on these findings, TACE plus iodine-125 implantation achieves better clinical efficacy compared with TACE alone in the treatment of HCC.

[A new lignan from rhizome of Stellera chamaejasme].

To investigate the chemical compounds from the rhizome of Stellera chamaejasme, nine lignans, including stellerachamin A (1), 8-hydroxypluviatolide (2), wikstromol (3), pinoresinol (4), matairesinol (5), dextrobursehernin (6), hinokinin(7), (-)-glaberide I (8) and （-） medioresinol (9) were isolated by various chromatographic methods. Their structures were extensively determined on basis of MS and NMR spectroscopic data analysis. Among them, compound 1 was a new lignan, and compounds 2 and 7 were isolated from Thymelaeaceae for the first time.

Expression of the miR-148/152 Family in Acute Myeloid Leukemia and its Clinical Significance.

BACKGROUND MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play an important role in the development and progression of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The miR-148/152 family has been reported to be express differently in various kinds of tumors. We investigated the expression level of the miR-148/152 family in AML patients and their clinical significance. MATERIAL AND METHODS Expression levels of the miR-148/152 family in 80 patients with newly diagnosed AML and 20 healthy participants were analyzed by qRT-PCR. We also evaluated the relationship between the expression levels of the miR-148/152 family and clinicopathological features of AML patients. RESULTS Compared with healthy controls, we found a significant lower expression of downregulated miR-148/152 in AML patients (p<0.0001). The expression of miR148/152 family was associated with various AML clinicopathological risk parameters including FAB classifications, cytogenetics, and gene mutations. The number of patients with high expression levels of miR-148a/b was significantly increased in the low-risk group and significantly decreased in the high-risk group. (p=0.025, p=0.000, respectively). Patients with higher expression of miR-148b showed a higher complete remission (CR) rate (p=0.043). Importantly, higher expression of miR-148a/b was correlated with lower relapse rate (p=0.035, p=0.027, respectively) and showed a longer relapse-free survival (RFS) (p=0.0321, p=0.002, respectively). In the subgroup analysis, RFS was significantly affected by the expression of miR-148a/b in patients the high and the intermediate-risk groups (p=0.0499, p=0.0114, respectively). CONCLUSIONS The expression levels of the miR-148/152 family were lower in patients with AML compared to healthy controls, and were associated with various AML clinicopathological parameters and therapeutic effect. The miR-148/152 family may prove to be a new biomarker for AML.

Intestinal Absorption of Triterpenoids and Flavonoids from Glycyrrhizae radix et rhizoma in the Human Caco-2 Monolayer Cell Model.

Glycyrrhizae radix et rhizoma has been used as a traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of various diseases. Triterpenoids and flavonoids from the plant have many beneficial effects and their chemical structures are modified in the gastrointestinal tract after oral administration. However, absorption of these triterpenoids and flavonoids still needs to be defined. Here, the uptake and transepithelial transport of the selected major triterpenoids, glycyrrhizin (1), glycyrrhetic acid-3-O-mono-ß-d-glucuronide (2), and glycyrrhetinic acid (3); and the selected major flavonoids, licochalcone A (4), licochalcone B (5), licochalcone C (6), echinatin (7), isoliquiritin apioside (8), liquiritigenin (9), liquiritin apioside (10) isolated from Glycyrrhizae radix et rhizoma, were investigated in the human intestinal epithelium-like Caco-2 cell monolayer model. Compounds 3, 5-7, and 9 were designated as well-absorbed compounds, 2 and 4 were designated as moderately absorbed ones, and 1, 8, and 10 were assigned for the poorly absorbed ones. The absorption mechanism of well and moderately absorbed compound was mainly passive diffusion to pass through the human intestinal Caco-2 cell monolayer. These findings provided useful information for predicting their oral bioavailability and the clinical application.