Restoration of HMGCS2-mediated ketogenesis alleviates tacrolimus-induced hepatic lipid metabolism disorder.

Tacrolimus, one of the macrolide calcineurin inhibitors, is the most frequently used immunosuppressant after transplantation. Long-term administration of tacrolimus leads to dyslipidemia and affects liver lipid metabolism. In this study, we investigated the mode of action and underlying mechanisms of this adverse reaction. Mice were administered tacrolimus (2.5 mg·kg-1·d-1, i.g.) for 10 weeks, then euthanized; the blood samples and liver tissues were collected for analyses. We showed that tacrolimus administration induced significant dyslipidemia and lipid deposition in mouse liver. Dyslipidemia was also observed in heart or kidney transplantation patients treated with tacrolimus. We demonstrated that tacrolimus did not directly induce de novo synthesis of fatty acids, but markedly decreased fatty acid oxidation (FAO) in AML12 cells. Furthermore, we showed that tacrolimus dramatically decreased the expression of HMGCS2, the rate-limiting enzyme of ketogenesis, with decreased ketogenesis in AML12 cells, which was responsible for lipid deposition in normal hepatocytes. Moreover, we revealed that tacrolimus inhibited forkhead box protein O1 (FoxO1) nuclear translocation by promoting FKBP51-FoxO1 complex formation, thus reducing FoxO1 binding to the HMGCS2 promoter and its transcription ability in AML12 cells. The loss of HMGCS2 induced by tacrolimus caused decreased ketogenesis and increased acetyl-CoA accumulation, which promoted mitochondrial protein acetylation, thereby resulting in FAO function inhibition. Liver-specific HMGCS2 overexpression via tail intravenous injection of AAV8-TBG-HMGCS2 construct reversed tacrolimus-induced mitochondrial protein acetylation and FAO inhibition, thus removing the lipid deposition in hepatocytes. Collectively, this study demonstrates a novel mechanism of liver lipid deposition and hyperlipidemia induced by long-term administration of tacrolimus, resulted from the loss of HMGCS2-mediated ketogenesis and subsequent FAO inhibition, providing an alternative target for reversing tacrolimus-induced adverse reaction.

Factors affecting long-term myopic regression after corneal refractive surgery for civilian pilots in southwest China.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to analyze myopic regression after corneal refractive surgery (CRS) in civilian pilots and to explore the factors that may cause long-term myopic regression. METHODS: We included civilian pilots who had undergone CRS to correct their myopia and who had at least 5 years of follow-up. We collected retrospective data and completed eye examinations and a questionnaire to assess their eye habits. RESULTS: A total of 236 eyes were evaluated in this study. 211 eyes had Intrastromal ablations (167 eyes had laser in situ keratomileusis, LASIK, 44 eyes had small incision lenticule extraction, SMILE) and 25 eyes had subepithelial ablations (15 eyes had laser epithelial keratomileusis, LASEK and 10 eyes had photorefractive keratectomy, PRK). The mean preoperative spherical equivalent (SE) was - 2.92 ± 1.11 D (range from - 1.00 to -5.00 D). A total of 56 eyes (23.6%) suffered from myopic regression after CRS. Comparisons of individual and eye characteristics between the regression and non-regression groups revealed statistically significant differences in age, cumulative flight time, postoperative SE (at 6 months and current), uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), accommodative amplitude (AA), positive relative accommodation (PRA), postoperative period, types of CRS and eye habits. Generalized propensity score weighting (GPSW) was used to balance the distribution of covariates among different age levels, types of CRS, cumulative flying time, postoperative period and continuous near-work time. The results of GPS weighted logistic regression demonstrated that the associations between age and myopic regression, types of CRS and myopic regression, continuous near-work time and myopic regression were significant. Cumulative flying time and myopic regression, postoperative period and myopic regression were no significant. Specifically, the odds ratio (OR) for age was 1.151 (P = 0.022), and the OR for type of CRS was 2.769 (P < 0.001). The OR for continuous near-work time was 0.635 with a P value of 0.038. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report to analyze myopic regression after CRS in civilian pilots. Our study found that for each year increase in age, the risk of civilian pilots experiencing myopic regression was increased. Intrastromal ablations had a lower risk of long-term myopia regression than subepithelial ablations. There is a higher risk of myopic progression with continuous near-work time > 45 min and poor accommodative function may be related factors in this specific population.

Analytical method for calculating internal stray radiation from an IR spectrometer based on the view factor.

Optomechanical components such as the lens barrels and frames of IR spectrometers produce strong internal stray radiation, which reduces the instrument's SNR and dynamic range. An IR internal stray radiation calculation method based on an analytical model of the view factor is proposed. The mathematical model of the view factor calculation method of typical optomechanical components is established. For any IR optical systems, the internal stray radiation can be quickly and accurately calculated by adjusting the coordinate systems in the calculation method. Based on the proposed method, the internal stray radiation of a double-pass long-wave IR spectrometer was calculated. The calculation results are consistent with the simulation results. The RMS value of the relative error between the calculated value and the simulated value is around 11%. To verify the proposed method, an experiment was conducted to test the internal stray radiation of the long-wave IR spectrometer. The internal stray radiation test results agree with the calculated and simulated results, and the relative error between the test results and the calculation results is within 9%.

Comprehensive design analysis and verification of space-based short-wave infrared coded spectrometer via curved prism dispersion.

The spaceborne dispersive spectrometer is widely used in environmental, resource, and ocean observations. The coded spectrometer has higher energy advantages than the dispersion spectrometer, so it has great application prospects. In the current study, we developed an off-axis short-wave infrared coded optical system (SICOS) based on curved prism dispersion, and we further explored the design and optimization of the SICOS structure. Finite element analyses of a space-based short-wave infrared coded spectrometer based on curved prism dispersion (SSICS-CPD), including static simulation, modal analysis, sinusoidal vibration mechanical analysis, and random vibration mechanical analysis, were carried out. Simulation results showed that the SICOS support structure had excellent mechanical and thermal stability. As off-axis optical systems cannot meet the requirements of optical position accuracy through centering processing, a point source microscope and three-coordinate measuring machines were employed to complete the high-precision and rapid assembly of the SSICS-CPD. In addition, verification tests of surface shape error, stress relief, random vibration, and optical design parameters were carried out to validate the high stability and imaging performance of the SSICS-CPD. Results showed that the average modulation transfer function in the full field was 0.43 at 16.67 lp/mm, the spectral smile was <0.2 pixels, and the spectral keystone was <0.1 pixels. The design, analysis, assembly, and verification of the SSICS-CPD provide a useful reference for the development of other spaceborne prism dispersion spectrometers.

Nanographene with Multiple Embedded Heptagons: Cascade Radical Photocyclization.

Although heptagons are widely found in graphenic materials, the precise synthesis of nanocarbons containing heptagons remains a challenge, especially for the nanocarbons containing multiple-heptagons. Herein, we show that photo-induced radical cyclization (PIRC) can be used to synthesize multi-heptagon-embedded nanocarbons. Notably, a nanographene containing six heptagons (1) was obtained via a six-fold cascade PIRC reaction. The structure of 1 was clearly validated and showed a Monkey-saddle-shaped conformation. Experimental bond analysis and theoretical calculations indicated that the heptagons in 1 were non-aromatic, whereas the peripheral rings were highly aromatic. Compared to planar nanographene with the same number of π electrons, 1 had a similar optical gap due to a compromise between the decreased conjugation in the wrapped structure and enhanced electronic delocalization at the rim. Electrochemical studies showed that 1 had low-lying oxidation potentials, which was attributed to the nitrogen-doping.

Confined Thermolysis for Oriented N-Doped Carbon Supported Pd toward Stable Catalytic and Energy Storage Applications.

Carbon-based nanomaterials have been widely utilized in catalysis and energy-related fields due to their fascinating properties. However, the controllable synthesis of porous carbon with refined morphology is still a formidable challenge due to inevitable aggregation/fusion of resulted carbon particles during the high-temperature synthetic process. Herein, a hierarchically oriented carbon-structured (fiber-like) composite is fabricated by simultaneously taking advantage of a confined pyrolysis strategy and disparate bond environments within metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). In the resultant composite, the oriented carbon provides a fast mass (molecule/ion/electron) transfer efficiency; the doping-N atoms can anchor or act as active sites; the mesoporous SiO2 (mSiO2 ) shell not only effectively prevents the derived carbon or active metal nanoparticles (NPs) from aggregation or leaching, but also acts as a "polysulfide reservoir" in the Li-S batteries to suppress the "shuttle" effect. Benefiting from these advantages, the synthesized composite Pd@NDHPC@mSiO2 (NDHPC means N-doped hierarchically porous carbon) exhibits extremely high catalytic activity and stability toward the one-pot Knoevenagel condensation-hydrogenation reaction. Furthermore, the oriented NDHPC@mSiO2 manifests a boosted capacity and cycling stability in Li-S batteries compared to the counterpart that directly pyrolyzes without silica protection. This report provides an effective strategy of fabricating hierarchically oriented carbon composites for catalysis and energy storage applications.

Spatially Ordered Arrangement of Multifunctional Sites at Molecule Level in a Single Catalyst for Tandem Synthesis of Cyclic Carbonates.

With fossil energy resources increasingly drying up and gradually causing serious environmental impacts, pursuing a tandem and green synthetic route for a complex and high-value-added compound by using low-cost raw materials has attracted considerable attention. In this regard, the selective and efficient conversion of light olefins with CO2 into high-value-added organic cyclic carbonates (OCCs) is of great significance owing to their high atom economy and absence of the isolation of intermediates. To fulfill this expectation, a multifunctional catalytic system with controllable spatial arrangement of varied catalytic sites and stable texture, in particular, within a single catalyst, is generally needed. Here, by using a stepwise electrostatic interaction strategy, imidazolium-based ILs and Au nanoparticles (NPs) were stepwise immobilized into a sulfonic group grafted MOF to construct a multifunctional single catalyst with a highly ordered arrangement of catalytic sites. The Au NPs and imidazolium cation are separately responsible for the selective epoxidation and cycloaddition reaction. The mesoporous cage within the MOF enriches the substrate molecules and provides a confined catalytic room for the tandem catalysis. More importantly, the highly ordered arrangement of the varied active sites and strong electrostatic attraction interaction result in the intimate contact and effective mass transfer between the catalytic sites, which allow for the highly efficient (>74% yield) and stable (repeatedly usage for at least 8 times) catalytic transformation. The stepwise electrostatic interaction strategy herein provides an absolutely new approach in fabricating the controllable multifunctional catalysts, especially for tandem catalysis.

Inhibition of orf virus replication in goat skin fibroblast cells by the HSPA1B protein, as demonstrated by iTRAQ-based quantitative proteome analysis.

Orf virus (ORFV) infects sheep and goat tissues, resulting in severe proliferative lesions. To analyze cellular protein expression in ORFV-infected goat skin fibroblast (GSF) cells, we used two-dimensional liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry coupled with isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ). The proteomics approach was used along with quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) to detect differentially expressed proteins in ORFV-infected GSF cells and mock-infected GSF cells. A total of 282 differentially expressed proteins were identified. It was found that 222 host proteins were upregulated and 60 were downregulated following viral infection. We confirmed that these proteins were differentially expressed and found that heat shock 70-kDa protein 1B (HSPA1B) was differentially expressed and localized in the cytoplasm. It was also noted that HSPA1B caused inhibition of viral proliferation, in the middle and late stages of viral infection. The differentially expressed proteins were associated with the biological processes of viral binding, cell structure, signal transduction, cell adhesion, and cell proliferation.

Tetra-benzothiadiazole-based [12]Cycloparaphenylene with Bright Emission and Its Supramolecular Assembly.

The radial conjugated π-system of cycloparaphenylenes (CPPs) makes them intriguing fluorophores and unique supramolecular hosts. However, the bright photoluminescence (PL) of CPPs was limited to the blue light and the supramolecular assembly behavior of large CPPs was rarely investigated. Here we present the synthesis of tetra-benzothiadiazole-based [12]cycloparaphenylene (TB[12]CPP), which exhibits a lime to orange PL with an excellent quantum yield up to 82 % in solution. The PL quantum yield of TB[12]CPP can be further improved to 98 % in polymer matrix. Benefiting from its enlarged size, TB[12]CPP can accommodate a fullerene derivative or concave-convex complexes of fullerene and buckybowl through the combined π-π and C-H⋅⋅⋅π interactions. The latter demonstrates the first case of a ternary supramolecule of CPPs.

High-precision magnesium isotope analysis of geological and environmental reference materials by multiple-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.

RATIONALE: High-precision magnesium (Mg) isotopic analysis for geological and environmental reference materials is a prerequisite to ensure data quality before using Mg isotopes to trace geochemical and environmental processes. However, the Mg-isotopic ratios of many commonly used reference materials, especially sediments, have rarely been reported. Furthermore, published values for some commonly used reference materials exhibit a significant inconsistency across laboratories and thus need more data comparison. METHODS: We developed different Mg purification schemes for silicate rocks, high-Ca carbonates and carbonatites, and high-Mn samples because of their significantly different matrices. We then used synthetic solutions to evaluate potential effects on measurement using multiple-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS). The accuracy and precision of our procedures were assessed by measurement on both synthetic solutions and well-studied geostandards. RESULTS: The three different schemes for routine, high-Ca, and high-Mn samples can remove matrices efficiently with nearly 100% Mg yield. However, the presence of acid molarity and concentration mismatch, matrix elements, and fluctuations in room temperature can significantly affect the precision and accuracy of Mg isotope analysis, and must be avoided. The Mg isotopic ratios of reference materials obtained in this study are identical to the previously published values within ±0.06‰, verifying that our procedures are robust. CONCLUSIONS: This study presented a thorough set of tests for high precision and accuracy of Mg isotope measurements using MC-ICP-MS, which demonstrate reproducibility and accuracy better than 0.05‰ for δ25 Mg values and 0.06‰ for δ26 Mg values. We reported high-quality Mg isotopic data for 16 geological and environmental reference materials to aid the inter-laboratory calibration of Mg isotope measurements in the future.

Endothelial pyroptosis underlies systemic inflammatory response following radiofrequency ablation of hepatic hemangiomas.

This study investigated the relationship between endothelial pyroptosis and the occurrence of systemic inflammatory response (SIR) after radiofrequency (RF) ablation of hepatic hemangiomas. Thirty-two patients with hepatic hemangiomas were treated with RF ablation and blood samples of the patients were collected at different time points. Immunohistochemistry staining was performed to evaluate the expression of caspase-1, gasdermin D (GSDMD), IL-1ß and IL-18 in hepatic hemangioma and subablated hemangioma tissue. In vitro experiments, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were treated with sub-ablative hyperthermia with or without the addition of caspase-1 inhibitor, Ac-YVAD-CMK in the medium. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), IL-18, IL-1ß, caspase-1 and GSDMD were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, real-time PCR and Western blot methods. An elevation of general SIR parameters (CRP and WBC), pyroptosis-related inflammatory cytokines (IL-1ß and IL-18) and LDH were observed 1-day post-RF ablation and their peak values were significantly correlated with ablated volume (p < .001) and ablation time (p < .001). Moreover, levels of pyroptosis-related inflammatory cytokines correlated well with general SIR parameters, respectively (p < .001). Immunohistochemical analysis showed the increased expression of caspase-1, GSDMD, IL-18 and IL-1ß in the endothelial cells of subablated hemangioma. In vitro experiments showed that subablative hyperthermia induced the caspase-1-associated endothelial pyroptosis and Ac-YVAD-CMK attenuated pyroptosis. In conclusion, SIR in patients treated by RF ablation for hepatic hemangiomas was significantly associated with the ablated volume and ablation time and endothelial pyroptosis may involve in the occurrence of SIR following RF ablation of hepatic hemangiomas.

The prognostic value of pretreatment tumor apparent diffusion coefficient values in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Diffusion-weighted MR imaging (DWI) has increasingly contributed to the management of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients. The objective of this paper was to explore the prognostic significance of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values in 93 NPC patients. METHODS: This retrospective study included 93 newly diagnosed NPC patients. Pretreatment ADC values were determined and compared with patients' age, gender, alcohol intake, smoking, tumor volume, pathological type, tumor stage, and nodal stage. Using the Kaplan-Meier method, overall survival (OS), local relapse-free survival (LRFS), and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) were calculated and the values compared between the low and high ADC groups. Multivariate analysis of ADC values and other 9 clinical parameters was performed using a Cox proportional hazards model to test the independent significance for OS, LRFS and DMFS. RESULTS: The mean ADC value for the initial nasopharyngeal tumors was 0.72 × 10-3 mm2/s (range: 0.48-0.97 × 10-3 mm2/s). There was no significant difference between pretreatment ADCs and patient' gender, age, smoking, alcohol intake, or tumor stage. A significant difference in the ADCs for different N stages (P = 0.022) and correlation with initial tumor volume (r = -0.26, P = 0.012) were observed. In comparison, the ADC value for undifferentiated carcinoma was lower than that for other 3 pathological types. With a median follow-up period of 50 months, the 3-year and 5-year OS rates were 88.2% and 83.3%, respectively, 3-year and 5-year LRFS rates were 93.5% and 93.3%, respectively, and 3-year and 5-year DMFS rates were 83.9% and 83.3%, respectively. Patients with tumor ADC values ≥0.72 × 10-3 mm2/s exhibited longer OS and LRFS periods compared with tumor ADC values <0.72 × 10-3 mm2/s, with P values 0.036 and 0.018, respectively. In addition, patients with deaths or recurrences or distant metastasis had significant lower ADC values than those without disease failures. According to a multivariate analysis using the Cox proportional hazard test, ADC values showed a significant correlation with OS (P = 0.0004), LRFS (P = 0.0009), and DMFS (P < 0.0001), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Pretreatment tumor ADC values supposed to be a noninvasive important prognostic parameter for NPC.

Anabaena cell ageing monitored with confocal fluorescence spectroscopy.

Cyanobacteria use a sophisticated system of pigments to collect light energy across the visible spectrum for photosynthesis. The pigments are assembled in structures called phycobilisomes, composed of phycoerythrocyanin, phycocyanin and allophycocyanin, which absorb energy and transfer it to chlorophyll in photosystem II reaction centres. All of the components of this system are fluorescent, allowing sensitive measurements of energy transfer using single cell confocal fluorescence microscopy. The native pigments can be interrogated without the use of reporters. Here, we use confocal fluorescence microscopy to monitor changes in the efficiency of energy transfer as single cells age, between the time they are born at cell division until they are ready to divide again. Alteration of fluorescence was demonstrated to change with the age of the cyanobacterial cell.

YC-1 enhances the anti-tumor activity of sorafenib through inhibition of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) in hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Traditional systemic chemotherapy does not provide survival benefits in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Molecular targeted therapy shows promise for HCC treatment, however, the duration of effectiveness for targeted therapies is finite and combination therapies offer the potential for improved effectiveness. METHODS: Sorafenib, a multikinase inhibitor, and YC-1, a soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) activator, were tested in HCC by proliferation assay, cell cycle analysis and western blot in vitro and orthotopic and ectopic HCC models in vivo. RESULTS: In vitro, combination of sorafenib and YC-1 synergistically inhibited proliferation and colony formation of HepG2, BEL-7402 and HCCLM3 cells. The combination also induced S cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, as observed by activated PARP and caspase 8. Sorafenib and YC-1 respectively suppressed the expression of phosphorylated STAT3 (p-STAT3) (Y705) in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Combination of sorafenib and YC-1 significantly inhibited the expression of p-STAT3 (Y705) (S727), p-ERK1/2, cyclin D1 and survivin and SHP-1 activity compared with sorafenib or YC-1 used alone in all tested HCC cell lines. In vivo, sorafenib-YC-1 combination significantly suppressed the growth of HepG2 tumor xenografts with decreased cell proliferation and increased apoptosis observed by PCNA and PARP. Similar results were also confirmed in a HCCLM3 orthotopic model. There was a reduction in CD31-positive blood vessels and reduced VEGF expression, which suggested a combinational effect of sorafenib and YC-1 on angiogenesis. The reduced expression of p-STAT3, cyclin D1 and survivin was also observed with the combination of sorafenib and YC-1. CONCLUSIONS: Our data show that sorafenib-YC-1 combination is a novel potent therapeutic agent that can target the STAT3 signaling pathway to inhibit HCC tumor growth.

Radiofrequency ablation in the treatment of large hepatic hemangiomas: a comparison of multitined and internally cooled electrodes.

OBJECTIVE: Radiofrequency (RF) ablation is an accepted nonsurgical treatment of hepatic hemangiomas, but with an appreciable complication rate. Our study aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of RF ablation, administered with either multitined expandable electrodes or with internally cooled cluster electrodes, in the treatment of large (≥10 cm diameter) hepatic hemangiomas. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed our sequential experience of treating 43 large hepatic hemangiomas in 42 patients with RF ablation/multitined expandable electrodes or with RF ablation/internally cooled electrodes. Twenty-two hemangiomas in 21 patients were treated with expandable electrode (multitined electrode group), and 21 hemangiomas in 21 patients were treated with internally cooled cluster electrode (internally cooled electrode group). RESULTS: Among the 43 large hepatic hemangiomas, 27 subcapsular lesions were treated by a laparoscopic approach, and 16 lesions located in liver parenchyma were treated by a computed tomography-guided percutaneous approach. In the multitined electrode group, RF ablation treatment was performed in all 21 patients in 1 session. In the internally cooled electrode group, 18 patients were treated by RF ablation in 1 session, and 3 patients, with ≥14.0-cm single hemangioma, were treated with RF ablation in 2 sessions. Complete ablation was achieved in 81.8% (18/22) and 90.5% (19/21) in the multitined electrode group and the internally cooled electrode group, respectively (P>0.05). Ablation time for single hemangioma was shorter with the internally cooled electrode than with the multitined electrode (P<0.05). There were 79 complications related to ablation (2 major and 77 minor) in 31 patients. All 21 patients in the multitined electrode group experienced complications, compared with 10 of 21 patients (47.6%) in the internally cooled electrode group (P<0.05). Both of the 2 major complications occurred in the multitined electrode group. All the complications were treated successfully with conservative measures. CONCLUSIONS: RF ablation is a safe and effective treatment for large hepatic hemangiomas. Use of the internally cooled cluster electrodes and a more defensive treatment algorithm can reduce the complications.

The Sakaguchi reaction product quenches phycobilisome fluorescence, allowing determination of the arginine concentration in cells of Anabaena strain PCC 7120.

The filamentous cyanobacterium Anabaena fixes nitrogen in specialized cells called heterocysts. The immediate product of fixation, ammonia, is known to be assimilated by addition to glutamate to make glutamine. How fixed nitrogen is transported along the filament to the 10 to 20 vegetative cells that separate heterocysts is unknown. N-fixing heterocysts accumulate an insoluble polymer containing aspartate and arginine at the cell poles. Lockau's group has proposed that the polymer is degraded at the poles to provide a mobile carrier, arginine, to the vegetative cells (R. Richter, M. Hejazi, R. Kraft, K. Ziegler, and W. Lockau, Eur. J. Biochem. 263:163-169, 1999). We wished to use the Sakaguchi reaction for arginine to determine the relative cellular concentration of arginine along the filament. At present, the methods for measuring absorption of the Sakaguchi reaction product at 520 nm are insufficiently sensitive for that purpose. However, that product quenches the fluorescence of phycobiliproteins, which we have adapted to a determination of arginine. Our results are consistent with the proposal that arginine is a principal nitrogen carrier from heterocysts to vegetative cells in Anabaena.

Fluorescence spectroscopy study of heterocyst differentiation in Anabaena PCC 7120 filaments.

Filamentous Anabaena PCC 7120 differentiates nitrogen-fixing specialized cells called heterocysts at regular intervals following removal of combined nitrogen from the medium. Phycobiliproteins are degraded during differentiation. Heterocyst differentiation was followed at the single cell level by using confocal fluorescence microscopy. The presence of an enhanced fluorescence emission peak from allophycocyanin (APC) indicates that the degradation of the phycobilisomes during nitrogen deprivation possibly initiates at the linker between APC and photosystem II in a bottom-to-top disassembly model. Furthermore, the fluorescence emission peak around 650 nm provides an advantageous marker to identify early candidates for differentiation.

Insufficient radiofrequency ablation promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition of hepatocellular carcinoma cells through Akt and ERK signaling pathways.

BACKGROUND: Residual tumor progression after insufficient radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has been recently reported. However, whether epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), which is a key process that drives cancer metastasis, is involved in the tumor progression after insufficient RFA is not well understood. METHODS: Human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines SMMC7721 and Huh7 were used. Insufficient RFA was simulated using a water bath (47°C 5 min, 10 min, 15 min, 20 min and 25 min gradually). MTT assay was used to evaluate the proliferation of HCC cells in vitro. Migration and invasion of HCC cells were determined by transwell assay. The molecular changes in HCC cells after insufficient RFA were evaluated by western blot. LY294002 and PD98059 were used to treat HCC cells. An ectopic nude mice model and a tail vein metastatic assay were used to evaluate the growth and metastatic potential of SMMC7721 cells in vivo after insufficient RFA. RESULTS: SMMC7721 and Huh7 cells after insufficient RFA (named as SMMC7721-H and Huh7-H respectively) exhibited enhanced proliferation, migration and invasion (6.4% and 23.6%, 33.2% and 66.1%, and 44.1% and 57.4% increase respectively) in vitro. Molecular changes of EMT were observed in SMMC7721-H and Huh7-H cells. LY294002 and PD98059 inhibited the EMT of SMMC7721-H and Huh7-H cells. SMMC7721-H cells also exhibited larger tumor size (1440.8±250.3 mm3 versus 1048.56±227.6 mm3) and more lung metastasis (97.4% increase) than SMMC7721 cells in vivo. Higher expression of PCNA, N-cadherin and MMP-2 and MMP-9, was also observed in SMMC7721-H tumors. CONCLUSIONS: Insufficient RFA could directly promote the invasiveness and metastasis of HCC cells. Insufficient RFA may promote the EMT of HCC cells through Akt and ERK signaling pathways.

Analysis of spatial variation of street landscape greening and influencing factors: an example from Fuzhou city, China.

Urban street greening is an important part of urban green infrastructure, and Green View Index (GVI) is widely used to assess urban street quality and ecosystem service value as an important indicator to quantify the perception of green street landscape from a pedestrian perspective. However, the distribution of street greenery is imbalanced. Therefore, to explore the differences in street greening levels within urban cities, we crawled streetscape data using the Internet to assess the spatial distribution patterns of urban street GVI using deep learning and spatial autocorrelation, and combined 11 surrounding environmental features with multi-source geographic data to further analyze the key factors influencing the spatial variation of block GVI using ordinary least squares, geographically weighted regression (GWR) models, and multi-scale geographically weighted regression (MGWR) models. The results show that the mean value of GVI in Fuzhou city is low (23.08%), with large differences among neighborhoods and a significant spatial autocorrelation. Among the regression models, MGWR has the best fit with an R2 of 0.702, where the variables of NDVI, house price, accessibility of water bodies and parks, and the proportion of built-up land have a greater impact on GVI, and the factors do not have the same spatial effect size. The results can provide a scientific basis for promoting green visual equity in different blocks.

Thermal ablation of hepatic hemangioma: A multi-center experience with long-term outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Thermal ablation, currently used extensively for liver tumors, also has been applied. successfully to hepatic hemangioma; however, it is still considered experimental because previous studies have comprised small sample sizes with short follow-up periods. PURPOSE: We aimed to investigate the effectiveness, safety, and long-term outcomes of thermal ablation for hepatic hemangioma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From October 2011 to February 2021, the data of 357 patients with 378 hepatic hemangiomas treated by thermal ablation at six hospitals were analyzed in this retrospective study. The technical success, safety, and long-term follow-up results were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 252 patients (mean age, 49.2 ± 10.5 years) with 273 subcapsular hemangiomas underwent laparoscopic thermal ablation, whereas 105 patients with 105 hemangiomas located in the liver parenchyma underwent CT-guided percutaneous ablation. Of the 378 hepatic hemangiomas (5.0-21.2 cm), 369 lesions were subjected to one session of ablation, while 9 lesions were subjected to two sessions of ablation. Technical success was achieved in 100.0% of cases. Complete ablation was achieved in 361 of 378 hemangiomas (95.5%), while 17 hemangiomas (4.5%) were incompletely ablated, showing subtle enhancement at the peripheral rim. The major complication rate was 2.0% (7/357). The median follow-up period was 67 months (range, 12-124 months). Of the 224 patients with hemangioma-related symptoms, 216 demonstrated complete disappearance of symptoms (96.4%), while 8 were ameliorated (3.6%). Ablated lesion shrinkage was progressive, and 11.4% of hemangiomas almost completely disappeared over time (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: With a reasonable ablation strategy and comprehensive treatment measurements, thermal ablation could be a safe, feasible, and effective treatment option for hepatic hemangioma.