[Self-assembled film of gold nanoparticles at a air/water interface used as a SERS substrate to detect melamine].

Self-assembled monolayer film of gold nanoparticles (55 nm) was formed at air-water interface by the driving force of wettability-shift of gold nanoparticles from hydrophilic property to hydrophobic property when encapsulated with 1-dodecanethiol. SEM image shows that the structure of the surface is nearly monolayer with closed arrays of uniform particle size when the film is transferred onto Si wafer. The substrate can be used for SERS substrate to realize semiquantitative analysis of melamine and the detection limit can reach l x 10(-9) g x L(-1). This SERS substrate is of wide application, not only for melamine but also for nonpolar molecule such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

Minimally invasive Nuss technique allows for repair of recurrent pectus excavatum following the Ravitch procedure: report of 12 cases.

This work aimed to determine the efficacy of recurrent pectus excavatum repair using a minimally invasive Nuss procedure. We performed a secondary repair in 12 patients with recurrent pectus excavatum by using the minimally invasive Nuss procedure. Prior repairs had been performed using the Ravitch procedure in all cases. The values obtained in preoperative pulmonary function tests were less than 80% of the normal values. The median duration of surgery was slightly longer than that of the primary surgeries. The procedural complications included hemothorax (16.7%) and pleural effusion (25.0%). None of the patients developed a pneumothorax, pericarditis, pneumonia, wound infection, or immune rejection. There were no deaths or cardiac perforations. Exercise tolerance increased in 7 of the 12 cases. We achieved excellent results from surgical correction using the Nuss procedure in these 12 patients who showed recurrent pectus excavatum after failed repair surgery using the Ravitch procedure.

Clinical significance of detecting survivin-expressing circulating cancer cells in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

We previously demonstrated that the detection of circulating cancer cells (CCC) expressing survivin mRNA could provide valuable information for predicting metastasis and recurrence in breast cancer. The objective of this study was to investigate the significance of detecting survivin-expressing CCC on the clinical outcomes of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Peripheral blood samples collected from 143 NSCLC patients and 177 healthy volunteers were quantitatively evaluated using a technique developed in our laboratory that detected reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) products based on a hybridisation-enzyme linked immunosorbant essay (ELISA), which we called RT-PCR ELISA. The presence of survivin-expressing CCC was detected in 63 cancer patients (44.1%) and was significantly associated with pathological T classification, nodal status, and disease stages (all P<0.001). During a follow-up period of 36 months, patients who had positive survivin expressions at the time of the initial assay test had a higher relapse rate and shorter survival time when compared to those who had negative survivin expressions (all P<0.001). Through multivariate analysis, the detection of survivin-expressing CCC was found to be an independent predictor for cancer recurrence (HR=43.5; 95% CI=2.67-70.9; P=0.008) and survival (HR=1.35; 95% CI=1.02-4.31; P=0.049). Thus, detection of survivin-expressing CCC could be used in the prediction of disease recurrence as well as in the prognosis of NSCLC.

Detection of survivin-expressing circulating cancer cells (CCCs) in peripheral blood of patients with gastric and colorectal cancer reveals high risks of relapse.

BACKGROUND: We previously demonstrated that the detection of circulating cancer cells (CCCs) expressing survivin mRNA could provide valuable information for predicting metastasis and recurrence in breast cancer. The objective of this study was to investigate whether or not the detection of survivin expression in the peripheral blood could also have significant effects on the clinical outcomes of patients with gastric and colorectal cancer. METHODS: Survivin-expressing CCCs in peripheral blood samples obtained from 55 gastric cancer patients, 86 colorectal cancer patients, and 87 healthy volunteers were quantitatively examined by using a RT-PCR ELISA. Its clinical significance was statistically evaluated. RESULTS: The CCCs in the peripheral blood samples were detected in 45.4% and 44.0% of gastric and colorectal cancer patients, respectively. The presence of survivin-expressing CCCs was found to be significantly associated with the degree of tumor penetration, nodal status, and disease stages for both types of cancers. During a follow-up period of 36 months, patients who had a positive detection at the time of the initial assay test had a higher relapse rate than those who had a negative detection. As well, survivin-expressing CCCs were statistically shown to be a significant and independent predictor for cancer recurrence. The detection of survivin-expressing CCCs was also demonstrated to be more accurate in terms of predicting recurrence than traditional detection methods such as plasma carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) measurements. CONCLUSION: The detection of CCCs expressing survivin mRNA could be used to accurately identify gastric and colorectal cancer patients with high risks of relapse.

[Detonation temperature measurement of epoxypropane using instantaneous spectrum method].

After solving the problems of synchronization of the measuring system and the avoidance of false trigger signal, the instantaneous emission spectrum of epoxypropane with an exposure time of 2 micros and a resolution of 0.2 nm was acquired from a side window of a shock tube at the very moment when the epoxypropane transformed from deflagration to detonation. The measuring system consists of an advanced intensified charge-coupled-device spectroscopic detector, a digital delay generator DG535, an explosion shock tube and optical fibers. The DDT process was monitored by pressure transducers. After correcting the intensity of the spectrum obtained, the background curve of the heat radiation intensity of the detonation was given immediately. The detonation temperature of 2 416 K for epoxypropane was derived from fitting the curve with Planck blackbody formula by least squares principle. The detonation temperature of epoxypropane can provide an experimental datum for analyzing the microscopic mechanism of DDT process.

[Using instantaneous spectra to determine dominant species in the DDT process of epoxypropane].

After solving problems of weak light detection, the calibration of the spectral sensitivity of the measuring system, and the synchronization of the measuring system, instantaneous emission spectra of epoxypropane in the process of deflagration to detonation transition (DDT) with the exposure time of 2-8 micros and the resolution of 0. 2 nm were acquired from six different side windows of an explosion shock tube. Using the corrected spectral data, curves of the optical radiant intensity of main reaction products versus the DDT distance from the ignition point were obtained. These curves provided information about the evolution of the reaction and the products during the DDT process. Results indicate that the chemical reaction rate of the gaseous fuel and the corresponding concentrations of intermediate products increased gradually at the deflagration stage, but at the moment of deflagration to detonation transition, the reaction rate increased rapidly and the concentrations! of products increased sharply. Among these main products, concentration increments of molecule CO, and radicals CHO and OH were greater than other products, which means that CO, CHO and OH are the dominant species that affect the DDT process greatly.

[Study of adenovirus-mediated vascular endothelial growth factor 165 gene transfer into bone marrow stromal cells and its expressive product promoting proliferation of endothelial cells].

OBJECTIVE: To study transcription, expression, and bioactivity of expressive protein of vascular endothelial growth factor 165 (VEGF(165)) gene, after bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) were transferred by VEGF(165) gene mediated by adenovirus vector ex vivo. METHODS: BMSCs were Isolated and cultured by gradient centrifugation method. The cells cultured are transferred by recombinant adenovirus vector that carry VEGF(165) gene. Transcription and expression of VEGF(165) gene in BMSCs and secretion of VEGF protein in culture medium were measured by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), Western blot and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) methods. The activity of VEGF protein in culture media was detected by proliferation effects on vascular endothelial cells. RESULTS: When Ad. VEGF(165) transferred into BMSCs, there was an effective transcription and expression. The expressed product in the media of transferred cells had highly biological activity on proliferation of rat aortic vascular endothelial cells (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Adenovirus vector can be transferred into BMSCs efficiently and safely. Adenovirus mediated VEGF(165) gene transferred into BMSCs could express VEGF protein with highly biological activity, which provided foundation on BMSCs based gene therapy for ischemic disease.

[Determination of reaction products of epoxypropane in the process of deflagration to detonation transition by emission spectroscopy].

After solving problems of the synchronization of the measuring system, the detection of weak light, and the avoidance of false trigger signal, the instantaneous emission spectra of epoxypropane in the process of deflagration to detonation transition (DDT) with the exposure time of 1-16 micros and the resolution of 0.2 nm were measured. The spectra were acquired from side windows of an explosion shock tube 0.1 m in inner diameter and 4.0 m in length. The measuring system is made up of an intensified spectroscopic detector ICCD, a SpectraPro-275 spectrograph, and a digital delay generator DG535. By analyzing the spectra obtained, the reaction products OH, CH, C2, C3, CO, CO2, CHO and CH2O were identified according to their characteristic electronic and vibrational bands, which indicates that these molecules and radicals were produced during the DDT process of epoxypropane. The determination of reaction products can provide experimental basis for analyzing and understanding the microscopic mechanism of DDT process.

[The measurement and analysis of visible-absorption spectrum and fluorescence spectrum of lycopene].

Using ICCD spectral detection system, the absorbency of lycopene-carbon bisulfide solution with different concentration was measured, and the result shows that in a specified range the absorption rule of lycopene solution agrees with Lambert-Beer Law. Absorption spectral wavelength shifts were measured respectively when lycopene was dissolved in acetone, normal hexane, petroleum ether, benzene, ethyl acetate, and carbon bisulfide, and comparing to acetone, different red-shift appeared when lycopene was dissolved in benzene, ethyl acetate, and carbon bisulfide when water was added in lycopene-acetone solution, t he absorbency of lycopene dropped, the fine structure of absorption spectrum became indistinct, and a new absorption peak appeared in UV. The reason for these phenomena is that the solvent molecule had different effect on lycopene molecule when lycopene was dissolved in different solvent. Using fluorecence spectrophotometer, fluorescence spectra of lycopene in different concentrations were collected, and the results show that the fluorescence spectra of lycopene were mainly in 500-680 nm. When concentration was lower than 50 microg x mL(-1), the fluorescence intensity linearly increased with increasing concentration, and when concentration was higher than 60 microg x mL(-1), the fluorescence intensity dropped because of the interaction between lycopene molecules.

miR-106a promotes growth and metastasis of non-small cell lung cancer by targeting PTEN.

MicroRNAs are a class of small non-coding RNAs that play essential roles in cancer development and progression. Recent studies suggested that abnormal expression of miRNAs occurs frequently in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tissues compared to adjacent normal tissues. In this study, we investigated the expression and the biological roles of miR-106a in non-small cell lung cancer. Our results showed that miR-106a was up-regulated in NSCLC tissues and cell lines. Inhibition of miR-106a in NSCLC cells substantially inhibited cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) was identified as a direct target of miR-106a, and over-expression of miR-106a suppressed PTEN by direct binding to its 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR). Furthermore, the presence of miR-106a was inversely correlated with PTEN in NSCLC tissues. Overall, this study suggested that miR-106a inhibited the growth and metastasis of NSCLC cells by decreasing PTEN expression. These data provide novel insights with potential therapeutic applications for the treatment of NSCLC.

[Instantaneous emission spectra of epoxypropane in the process of deflagration to detonation transition].

Using an intensified CCD spectroscopic detector (Princeton Instruments, ICCD PI-Max 1024 RB) which can be gated in as little as 5 ns, the synchronization of the measuring system was controlled by a digital delay generator (Stanford Research Systems, DG535), the DG535 was triggered externally by a lab-made electrical pulse generator which transformed the optical trigger signal to an electrical signal, and the light signal from the end window of an explosion shock tube was delivered by an 1 mm in diameter plastic optical fiber to the entrance slit of the spectrometer (grating of 150 g x mm(-1) , central wavelength of 550 nm). The spectrum measurement of the epoxypropane in the process of deflagration to detonation transition (DDT) was then made. The instantaneous emission spectra of epoxypropane at different time of the DDT process with an exposure time of several microseconds were acquired. Results show that at the beginning of the DDT process, the emitted light was very weak and the line spectra of atoms were observed mainly; in the middle process of the DDT, the emitted light became strong and the spectra observed consisted of line spectra of atoms, band spectra of molecules plus continuous spectrum of the thermal radiation; when the detonation was formed, the emitted light got very strong, and the spectra acquired consisted of both line spectra of atoms and band spectra of molecules superimposed on the strong continuum of the thermal radiation.

Cyclooxygenase-2 inhibition as a strategy for treating gastric adenocarcinoma.

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) has been proven to play critical roles in inflammation as well as in cancer. Some studies have shown that the anti-inflammatory, immunosuppressive and anti-arthritic effects of celecoxib are mainly attributed to the inhibition of COX-2 expression. The present study aimed to investigate the function of COX-2 in human gastric adenocarcinoma (GAC). Forty-five cases of human GAC tissues and corresponding adjacent non-cancerous tissues (ANCTs) were collected. The expression of COX-2 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) was assessed using immunohistochemical assay through a tissue microarray procedure. GAC cells (SGC-7901 and MKN-45) in vitro were treated with COX-2 siRNA or different concentrations of celecoxib to observe their effects on cell proliferation, invasion and the underlying molecular mechanisms. As a consequence, the expression of COX-2 and PCNA was found in cancer tissues with a higher strong reactivity rate, compared with the ANCTs (80.0 vs. 53.3%, P=0.011; 68.9 vs. 48.9%, P=0.047), and COX-2 was positively associated with lymph node metastasis of GAC patients (P=0.011). Targeted knockdown of COX-2 inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion of GAC cells with decreased expression of PCNA. COX-2 inhibitor celecoxib also suppressed the proliferative activities of GAC cells with decreased expression of COX-2 and PCNA. In addition, the tumor volume in the MKN-45 subcutaneous tumor model treated with siCOX-2 was significantly smaller than that of the negative control (NC) group (P<0.01). Taken together, our findings offer a strong preclinical rationale to target COX-2 signaling as a therapeutic strategy to improve the treatment of gastric adenocarcinoma.

LncRNA HMlincRNA717 is down-regulated in non-small cell lung cancer and associated with poor prognosis.

INTRODUCTION: Long non coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged recently as major players in tumor biology and may be used for cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and potential therapeutic targets. The lncRNA HMlincRNA717, a newly identified lncRNA, was demonstrated to be down-regulated in gastric cancer. However, little is known about its role in non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: Expression of lncRNA HMlincRNA717 in tumor and their matched non-tumor tissues was determined by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) in NSCLC patients. Then, we analyzed the potential relationship between lncRNA HMlincRNA717 expression levels in tumor tissues and clinicopathological features of NSCLC, and clinical outcome. RESULTS: lncRNA HMlincRNA717 expression level was significantly decreased in NSCLC tissues in comparison to adjacent non-tumor tissues. It was also proved that HMlincRNA717 expression was to be associated with NSCLC histological grade, and lymph node metastasis. In addition, survival analysis proved that down-regulated HMlincRNA717 expression was associated with poor overall survival of NSCLC patients. Multivariate survival analysis also proved that HMlincRNA717 was an independent prognostic factor for NSCLC patients. CONCLUSIONS: The present study showed the down-regulation of HMlincRNA717 and its association with tumor progression in human NSCLC. It also provided that HMlincRNA717 expression was an independent prognostic factor for patients with NSCLC, which might be a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for NSCLC.

Arecoline suppresses HaCaT cell proliferation through cell cycle regulatory molecules.

Betel nut chewing is the most common cause of oral submucous fibrosis (OSF). Arecoline is the main component of the betel nut, and is associated with the occurrence and development of OSF through cytotoxicity, genotoxicity and DNA damage. Similar types of stimuli elicit differential responses in different cells. In the present study, we investigated the effects of arecoline on the HaCaT epithelial and Hel fibroblast cell lines. The data showed that arecoline affected HaCaT cell morphology. MTT assay revealed that arecoline suppressed HaCaT cell proliferation. Furthermore, we found that arecoline induced the cell cycle arrest of HaCaT cells. In comparison with the untreated control cells, following treatment with ≥75 µg/ml arecoline an increased percentage of HaCaT cells remained at the G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle, accompanied by a reduced percentage of cells in the S phase. However, arecoline treatment did not significantly alter Hel cell cycle distribution. In the HaCaT epithelial cells, arecoline downregulated expression of the G1/S phase regulatory proteins cyclin D1, CDK4, CDK2, E2F1 as determined by reverse transcription-PCR analysis and western blotting. In summary, arecoline inhibits HaCaT epithelial cell proliferation and survival, in a dose-dependent manner, and cell cycle arrest in the G1/S phase, while this is not obvious in the Hel fibroblast cells. Potentially, our findings may aid in the prevention of arecoline-associated human OSF.