High expression of NOTCH2 in gastric adenocarcinoma: A novel early diagnostic target.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: NOTCH2 is overexpressed in gastric cancer (GC), and its enhanced activity is significantly correlated with worse tumor characteristics. We aim to analyze the clinicopathologic correlation between NOTCH2 and the molecular typing of GC by immunohistochemistry and by transcriptional sequencing. METHODS: In this immunohistochemical study, we detected NOTCH2, EBER, P53, HER2, MLH1, MSH2, PMS2, and MSH6 and evaluated the association of NOTCH2 with clinical and histopathological features in a large single-institutional series of gastric adenocarcinomas (n = 488). The correlation was also investigated between immunohistochemical results and survival outcomes. RESULTS: High NOTCH2 expression (2+/3+) was found in 139/488 (27.5%) samples analyzed. NOTCH2 expression was correlated with early stage T1 (P < 0.0001), GC in the fundus (P = 0.0364), and positive P53 status (P = 0.0019). We did not find an association between NOTCH2 and HER2, microsatellite instability, EBER, and overall survival. Through RNA sequencing, it was revealed that NOTCH2 plays an important biological function in the pathogenesis and development of GC. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggested that NOTCH2 may be a potential diagnostic target for GC due to the fact that its high expression is closely associated with the early stages of cancer.

Dual-wavelength Nd:YAG laser operation at 1319 and 1338 nm by direct pumping at 885 nm.

This paper presents a continuous wave and a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser pumped by diode laser at 885 nm. The maximum output power of the CW laser is 8.28 W with an absorbed slope efficiency of 35.01%. The Q-switching is achieved using a V³âº:YAG crystal as the saturable absorber. The maximum output power of the passively Q-switched laser is 3.55 W with an absorbed pumping power of 28.65 W operated with a dual wavelength at 1319 and 1338 nm. The shortest pulse widths of the Q-switched laser are 20.20 and 20.86 ns, with a maximum repetition rate of 64.10 kHz.

Q-switched 935 nm Nd:CNGG laser.

A laser diode pumped Q-switched 935 nm Nd-doped Ca(3)(NbGa)(2-x)Ga(3)O(12) (Nd:CNGG) laser using a Cr,Nd:YAG crystal as a saturable absorber is demonstrated for the first time to our knowledge. An average output power of 74 mW for 935 nmQ-switched pulses and a repetition rate of 3.788 kHz are obtained. The pulse width is measured to be 26-33 ns under different pump powers. Some theoretical calculations are made to discuss the selective excitation of Nd(3+) ion in the Nd:CNGG crystal.

[Application of wavelet transform to the infrared diffusion reflectance spectrum of rocks].

The infrared diffuse reflectance spectra of hydrocarbon source rocks with different particle sizes were measured. The result indicated that the absorbency of the raw spectrum decreased with the reduction of particle size, but the relationship turned to be reverse after we pretreated the original spectra by using wavelet transform to eliminate the background and calibrate the baseline drift, both of which were caused by scattering. The reversed relations showed that the spectral lines were influenced deeply by the scattering of the samples. So the particle size of the samples to be measured and the particle size of the model samples must be consistent to reduce the error. The low frequency part of the spectrum filtrated by wavelet transform corresponds to the scattering, and the authors used it to set up a model at the latent absorbance wave number (near 2 820 cm(-1)) to forecast the particle size. By comparing this model with the other model based on the original spectrum the authors found that the pertinence of the anterior model is higher than the latter one and the value reaches 0.999 7. So the authors can accurately forecast and control the distribution of the particle size by this model, which can be used to improve the accuracy in the quantitative analysis of the infrared reflectance spectrum. Also the study validated that both scattering and absorption coefficients are inversely correlated with the particle size.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of novel tanshinone IIA derivatives for treating pain.

Due to ineffectiveness and side effects of existing analgesics, chronic pain has become one of the most complex and difficult problems in the clinic. Monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) is an essential hydrolase in the endocannabinoid system and has been identified as a potential target for the treatment of pain. In the present study, we designed and synthesized twelve tanshinone IIA analogs and screened their activity against MAGL. Selected compounds were tested for analgesic activity in vivo, with the acetic acid writhing test model. Among the test compounds, compound III-3 (IC50 120 nmol·L-1) showed significant activity against MAGL and ameliorated the clinical progression in the mouse pain model. Additionally, compound III-3, substitution with N-methyl-2-morpholinoacetamide, demonstrated improved solubility relative to tanshinone IIA.

[Surface-enhanced Raman spectra of oxidation damnification of fetal bovine serum by ozone].

Fetal bovine serum was treated by ozone for 1 hour and 3 hours before getting its surface-enhanced Raman spectra from 200 to 1 800 cm(-1). Treated with ozone for 1 hour, it shows a significant decrease in band intensity. Treated with ozone for 3 hours, the band intensity has a further decrease but not so obviously, which means that oxidation of ozone is short lived. Treated with ozone, the orderly conformations of main chains in protein such as alpha-helix, beta-sheet and beta-corner are damaged seriously. Aromatic side chains and C-S of Cys and Met also are damnified greatly. All this means that strong oxidation of ozone results in denaturation, conformational changes and even degradation in protein.

[The orthogonal polynomial regression method of multi-wavelength radiation thermometry].

For the problem of multi-wavelength radiation thermometry, the traditional data processing methods are the least squares techniques, the multiple linear regression fitting, and the stepwise regression fitting. There are some shortages in these methods, resulting in a certain error between the fitting result and the true temperature of the object surface. A new data processing method of multi-wavelength radiation thermometry--the orthogonal polynomial regression method was brought forward in this article on the base of variable emissivity. The mathematic principle of orthogonal polynomial regression method was expounded and according to the surface emissivities of tungsten, the true temperature of tungsten surface was simulated by the stepwise regression method and the orthogonal polynomial regression method. By comparing the fitting results, the authors found that the orthogonal polynomial regression method has the merit of simple principle and small operation, and the relative error between the fitting result and the surface true temperature is smaller. So the authors can draw the conclusion that using the orthogonal polynomial regression method to process the data of the multi-wavelength radiation thermometry, the fitting result has smaller error, it can fit the true temperature of object faster, and the result is more accurate than the traditional data processing methods.

Continuous wave 935 nm Nd:CNGG laser at watt-level power.

An efficient continuous wave (CW) laser-diode-pumped Nd-doped Ca(3)(NbGa)(2-x)Ga(3)O(12) (CNGG) laser operating at 935 nm is demonstrated by using a simple linear cavity for the first time to our knowledge. Output power up to 1.12 W is obtained, corresponding to a slope efficiency of 7.1% and an optical-to-optical efficiency of 5.7%. The laser operates with the fundamental transverse mode when the output power is as high as 800 mW. This laser provides a potential light source for differential absorption lidar in water vapor detection.