Time resolved absolute extreme ultraviolet radiation measurement on the ENN XuanLong-50 spherical tokamak.

A plasma radiation measurement system for a wide spectral range, based on compact Absolute eXtreme UltraViolet (AXUV) silicon photodiodes, has been implemented on the newly constructed ENN XuanLong-50 (EXL-50) spherical tokamak. The system consists of two 16-channel AXUV16ELG arrays and one AXUV63HS1 single-cell detector mounted on ceramic sockets. The two arrays, facing toward the EXL-50 slim central post from two locations inside a top and a side ConFlat 400 port, have 32 view chords covering the interested plasma region in a poloidal cross section at toroidal 330°. The single-cell detector, seated on a retractable feedthrough, could be arranged flexibly with the help of an ultra-high vacuum compatible gate valve. The design details together with considerations on the EXL-50 specific engineering realities and physics requirements are described. Preliminary results from the EXL-50 2020 experimental campaign are presented.

[Carcinogenicity study of CD133(+)CD44(+) laryngeal cancer stem cells and identification of related microRNAs].

Objective: To compare the carcinogenic abilities of CD133(+)CD44(+) laryngeal cancer stem cells and general laryngeal cancer stem cells and to identify the mechanism underlying the action of miRNAs. Methods: Solid tumor-derived laryngeal carcinoma stem cells and Hep-2-derived laryngeal carcinoma stem cells were cultured, and CD133(+)CD44(+) laryngeal cancer stem cells were sorted by flow cytometry. Boden chamber invasion assay, cell migration assay and tumor formation assay were then performed to compare the invasion, migration and tumorigenic abilities of CD133(+)CD44(+) laryngeal cancer stem cells and general laryngeal cancer stem cells. And then, miRNAs isolated from two laryngeal cancer stem cells were detected and analysed with miRNA chip. Results: (1)In Boyden chamber invasion assay, the cell invasion rate of CD133(+)CD44(+) laryngeal cancer stem cells was obviously higher (80.2%±2.3% vs. 63.9%±3.2%, t=5.011, P=0.027); (2)CD133(+)CD44(+) laryngeal cancer stem cells also had higher mobility in cell migration assay (82.9%±1.1% vs. 70.9%±0.6%, t=4.514, P=0.031); (3)In tumor formation assay, the tumor formation rate of CD133(+)CD44(+) laryngeal cancer stem cells was also higher (80% vs. 50%). What's more, we identified 15 miRNAs that were significantly upregulated in CD133(+)CD44(+) laryngeal cancer stem cells and 3 miRNAs that were significantly downregulated in CD133(+)CD44(+) laryngeal cancer stem cells, compared with normal laryngeal cancer stem cells. Conclusions: CD133(+)CD44(+) laryngeal cancer stem cells have stronger invasion, migration and tumorigenic abilities compared with normal laryngeal cancer stem cells, and the difference of miRNAs' expression is one of the possible causes.

[Diagnostic value of HBP, PCT combined with APACHE â ¡ score respectively in ventilator-associated pneumonia].

Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic value of the heparin-binding protein (HBP), procalcitonin (PCT) and acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ (APACHE Ⅱ) score in ventilator-associated pneµmonia (VAP). Methods: A total of 160 patients who required tracheotomy or intubation and assisted breathing with invasive mechanical ventilator from the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2015 to January 2017 was included in this prospective study,and divided into VAP group and no-VAP group based on if VAP happened or not; the VAP group was further divided into deterioration group and improvement group based on the curative effect after anti-infective treatment for 1 week. A total of 40 community acquired pneumonia (CAP) patients and 30 healthy volunteers were also included as control groups. The levels of HBP and PCT in blood of the subjects were tested with enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay (ELISA) and chemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA) respectively, APACHE Ⅱ score was utilized to assess the severity of illness. The difference of HBP, PCT levels and APACHE Ⅱ score among the groups were analyzed. Receiver operating characteristic(ROC) curve was utilized to analyze the diagnostic value of HBP, PCT, APACHE Ⅱ score in VAP. Results: A total of 230 subjects participated in this study, including 68 VAP patients, 92 non-VAP patients, 40 CAP patients and 30 healthy volunteers. Before administration of mechanical ventilation, there were no statistically significant differences in HBP, PCT and APACHE Ⅱ score between VAP group and non-VAP group (all P>0.05). The levels of HBP,PCT and APACHE Ⅱ score were (41.4±21.3) µg/L,(0.355±0.254) µg/L,(13.4±2.5) respectively when the VAP was diagnosed,which were higher than those within the first 12 h of mechanical ventilation (7.3±2.7) µg/L, (0.080±0.038) µg/L, (8.4±2.0), all P<0.001). The HBP, PCT and APACHE Ⅱ score had no significant difference between within the first 12 h of mechanical ventilation and after mechanical ventilation in non-VAP group (all P>0.05). The levels of HBP was positively correlated with PCT and APACHE Ⅱ score (r=0.82, 0.68, all P<0.001). In deterioration group,the HBP,PCT and APACHE Ⅱ score after 1 week of anti-infective treatment were higher than those when the VAP was diagnosed (all P<0.001). No matter it is when the VAP was diagnosed or after anti-infective treatment for 1 week,the levels of HBP, PCT and APACHE Ⅱ score in deterioration group were higher than those in the improvement group (all P<0.001). The area under curve (AUC) of HBP+APACHE Ⅱ score, PCT+APACHE Ⅱ score for VAP diagnosis was 0.98, 0.95 respectively. The sensitivity of HBP+APACHE Ⅱ score in the diagnosis of VAP was lower than PCT+APACHE Ⅱ score (94.1% vs 95.6%),and the specificity was higher (92.4% vs 82.6%). Conclusion: The diagnostic value of HBP+APACHE Ⅱ score for early VAP is superior to PCT+APACHE Ⅱ score.

[The levels of neuropeptide S in the brain of asthmatic mice with anxiety and the relationship with the inflammatory mediators].

Objective: To investigate the levels of neuropeptide S in the brain of asthmatic mice with anxiety and the effects of inflammatory mediatores on changes of neuropeptide S in in vitro experiments. Methods: According to the random number table method, 40 BALB/C mice were randomly divided into 4 groups: the control group, the asthma group, the anxiety group and the asthma and anxiety group. The relative expressions of neuropeptide S mRNA in the brain tissue of each group were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction(QRT-PCR). Rat cortex neurons obtained by primary culture were divided into 4 groups: the PBS control group, the interleukin-1 beta group, the interleukin-6 group and the tumor necrosis factor-alpha group. After stimulation with inflammatory cytokines the mRNA expressions of neuropeptide S were measured by QRT-PCR and neuropeptide S levels in the cell culture supernatants were measured by emzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). Results: The relative expressions of neuropeptide S mRNA were decreased in the anxiety group(0.87±0.05) and the asthma and anxiety group(0.79±0.03)compared with the control group(1.00±0.05)and the asthma group(0.96±0.06), most notably in the asthma and anxiety group (all P<0.05). Compared to the PBS control group[(1.00±0.06), (50.6±1. 8)ng/L] and the interleukin-1 beta group[(0.94±0.08), (49.5±1.0)ng/L], the levels of neuropeptide S mRNA and neuropeptide S were decreased in the interleukin-6 group[(0.88±0.07), (45.4±1.2)ng/L] and the tumor necrosis factor-alpha group[(0.86±0.07), (46.0±1.0)ng/L](all P<0.05). There were no significant differences between the interleukin-1 beta group and the PBS control group(all P>0.05). Conclusions: Up-regulated interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in asthma can inhibit the secretion of neuropeptide S in neuronal cells. The decline of brain neuropeptide S, which has anti-anxiety effect, may lead to the occurrence of anxiety, which may be a potential mechanism of comorbidity of asthma and anxiety.

Regulatory effect of iron regulatory protein-2 on iron metabolism in lung cancer.

Iron metabolism plays an important role in the pathogenesis of lung cancer. This study aimed to investigate the effect of gene silencing of iron regulatory protein-2 (IRP2) on mRNA and protein expression of transferrin (Tf), transferrin receptor (TfR), and ferritin (Fn) in A549 lung cancer cells. A549 cells were cultured and divided into a liposome control group, a liposome + oligonucleotide (SCODN) control group, and a Lipofectamine + antisense oligonucleotide (ASODN) group. RT-PCR and Western blotting were used to detect mRNA and protein expression of Tf, TfR, and Fn. We found no significant change in Tf mRNA expression among the 3 groups (P = 0.078). TfR and Fn mRNA expressions in the ASODN group notably decreased compared to the liposome and SCODN groups (P < 0.01). IRP2 and TfR protein expressions in the ASODN group were significantly lower than in the liposome or SCODN groups (P < 0.05), whereas no significant change in Tf protein expression was observed between the 3 groups (P = 0.088). Fn protein expression in the ASODN group was significantly higher than in the liposome or SCODN group (P < 0.05). IRP2 can regulate the expression of TfR and Fn by changing its own protein expression and thereby regulate iron metabolism.

Recurrent splice-site mutation in MBTPS2 underlying IFAP syndrome with Olmsted syndrome-like features in a Chinese patient.

Mutations in MBTPS2 have been reported to cause a broad phenotypic spectrum of X-linked genodermatoses, including IFAP (ichthyosis follicularis; atrichia and photophobia) syndrome (OMIM 308205) with or without BRESHECK (brain anomalies, retardation of mentality and growth, ectodermal dysplasia, skeletal malformations, Hirschsprung disease, ear deformity and deafness, eye hypoplasia, cleft palate, cryptorchidism, and kidney dysplasia/hypoplasia) syndrome, keratosis follicularis spinulosa decalvans (KFSD; OMIM 308800) and an X-linked form of Olmsted syndrome. We report a recurrent intronic mutation in MBTPS2 (c.671-9T>G) in a Chinese patient with the typical triad of IFAP syndrome (i.e. ichthyosis, atrichia and photophobia), along with pachyonychia, palmoplantar and periorificial keratoderma, which were reminiscent of Olmsted syndrome. Interestingly, this mutation was previously reported in two cases of IFAP without keratoderma, which suggests clinical heterogeneicity of the same mutation in MBTPS2. The concomitance of Olmsted syndrome-like features in this patient with IFAP may challenge the existence of the X-linked form of Olmsted syndrome as an independent condition.

Effect of St. John's wort supplementation on the pharmacokinetics of bupropion in healthy male Chinese volunteers.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of continuous St. John's wort administration on single-dose pharmacokinetics of bupropion, a substrate of cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2B6, in healthy Chinese volunteers. Eighteen unrelated healthy male subjects participated in this study. The single-dose pharmacokinetics of bupropion and hydroxybupropion were determined before (control) and after a long-term period of St. John's wort intake (325 mg, three times a day for 14 days). Plasma concentrations of bupropion and hydroxybupropion were determined before and at 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 24, 36, 48, 60 and 72 h after dosing. St. John's wort treatment decreased the area under the concentration versus time curve extrapolated to infinity of bupropion in healthy volunteers from 1.4 microg.h ml(-1) (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.2-1.6 microg.h ml(-1)) after bupropion alone to 1.2 microg.h ml(-1) (95% CI = 1.1-1.3 microg.h ml(-1)) during St. John's wort treatment. St. John's wort treatment increased the oral clearance of bupropion from 108.3 l h(-1) (95% CI = 95.4-123.0 l h(-1)) to 130.0 l h(-1) (95% CI = 118.4-142.7 l h(-1)). No change in the time to peak concentration (t(max)) and the blood elimination half-life (t(1/2)) of bupropion was observed between the control and St. John's wort-treated phases. However, the half-life of hydroxybupropion between two phases had a significant difference by a Student's t test after logarithmic transformation. St. John's wort treatment decreased the half-life of hydroxybupropion from 26.7 h (95% CI = 23.8-29.9 h) to 24.4 h (95% CI = 21.9-27.3 h). St. John's wort decreased, to a statistically significant extent, the plasma concentrations of bupropion, probably mainly by increasing the clearance of bupropion.