Dynamic flyer in barrel imaging via high intensity short-pulse laser.

The thin flyer is a small-scale flying object, which is well known as the core functional element of the initiator. Understanding how flyers perform has been a long-standing issue in detonator science. However, it remains a significant challenge to explore how the flyer is formed and functions in the barrel of the initiator via tabletop devices. In this study, we present dynamic and unprecedented images of flyer in barrel via high intensity short-pulse laser. Advanced radiography, coupled with a high-intensity picosecond laser X-ray source, has enabled the provision of state-of-the-art radiographs in a single-shot experiment for observing micron-scale flyer formation in a hollow cylinder in nanoseconds. The flyer was clearly visible in the barrel and was accelerated and restricted differently from that without the barrel. This first implementation of a tabletop X-ray source provided a new approach for capturing dynamic photographs of small-scale flying objects, which were previously reported to be accessible only via an X-ray phase-contrast imaging system at the advanced photon source. These efforts have led to a significant improvement of radiographic capability and a greater understanding of the mechanisms of "burst" of exploding foil initiators for this application.

Intracellular Protein Adsorption Behavior and Biological Effects of Polystyrene Nanoplastics in THP-1 Cells.

Micro(nano)plastics (MNPs) are emerging pollutants that can adsorb pollutants in the environment and biological molecules and ultimately affect human health. However, the aspects of adsorption of intracellular proteins onto MNPs and its biological effects in cells have not been investigated to date. The present study revealed that 100 nm polystyrene nanoplastics (NPs) could be internalized by THP-1 cells and specifically adsorbed intracellular proteins. In total, 773 proteins adsorbed onto NPs with high reliability were identified using the proteomics approach and analyzed via bioinformatics to predict the route and distribution of NPs following cellular internalization. The representative proteins identified via the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis were further investigated to characterize protein adsorption onto NPs and its biological effects. The analysis revealed that NPs affect glycolysis through pyruvate kinase M (PKM) adsorption, trigger the unfolded protein response through the adsorption of ribophorin 1 (RPN1) and heat shock 70 protein 8 (HSPA8), and are chiefly internalized into cells through clathrin-mediated endocytosis with concomitant clathrin heavy chain (CLTC) adsorption. Therefore, this work provides new insights and research strategies for the study of the biological effects caused by NPs.

HPV18 E6 inhibits α-ketoglutarate-induced pyroptosis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cells via the P53/MDH1/ROS/GSDMC pathway.

Oncogene E6 plays a critical role in the development and progression of esophageal cancer caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Alpha-ketoglutarate (AKG) is a key metabolite in the tricarboxylic acid cycle and has been widely used as a dietary and anti-ageing supplement. In this study, we found that treating esophageal squamous carcinoma cells with a high dose of AKG can induce cell pyroptosis. Furthermore, our research confirms that HPV18 E6 inhibits AKG-induced pyroptosis of esophageal squamous carcinoma cells by lowering P53 expression. P53 downregulates malate dehydrogenase 1 (MDH1) expression; however, MDH1 downregulates L-2-hydroxyglutarate (L-2HG) expression, which inhibits a rise in reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels-as L-2HG is responsible for excessive ROS. This study reveals the actuating mechanism behind cell pyroptosis of esophageal squamous carcinoma cells induced by high concentrations of AKG, and we posit the molecular pathway via which the HPV E6 oncoprotein inhibits cell pyroptosis.

Transcriptomic analysis of the effects of the HPV18 E6E7 gene on the cell death mode in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is one of the main causes of esophageal carcinoma (ESCA), and its carcinogenic mechanisms in ESCA require further investigation. E6 and E7 are HPV oncogenes, and their genomic integration is a crucial reason for the transformation of host cells into cancer cells. In order to reveal the role of oncogenes E6 and E7 in ESCA cells, the RNA-Seq raw data for HPV18-positive and -negative esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) samples derived from the NCBI BioProject database were analyzed, and the differentially expressed genes were identified. Moreover, differentially expressed genes were enriched significantly in multiple cell death pathways, including apoptosis (cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2A, plakophilin 1 and desmoglein 3), pyroptosis (gasdermin A, gasdermin C, NLR family pyrin domain containing 3, absent in melanoma 2, NLR family pyrin domain containing 1 and Toll like receptor 1) and autophagy (Unc-51 like autophagy activating kinase 1, adrenoceptor beta 2). Consequently, the effects of cisplatin-induced apoptosis and Hank's balanced salt solution-induced autophagy, and α-ketoglutarate-induced pyroptosis in the ESCC-expressing E6 and E7 cells were verified. Therefore, the expression of E6E7 may culminate in the inhibition of multiple cell death modes, which may also be one of the mechanisms of oncogene-induced carcinogenesis.

Bioinformatics Analysis and Verification of Metabolic Abnormalities in Esophageal Squamous Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Although esophageal carcinoma (EC) is one of the most common cancers in the world, details of its pathogenesis remain unclear. Metabolic reprogramming is a main feature of EC. Mitochondrial dysfunction, especially the decrease in mitochondrial complex I (MTCI), plays an important role in the occurrence and development of EC. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to analyze and validate the metabolic abnormalities and the role of MTCI in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. METHODS: In this work, we collected transcriptomic data from 160 esophageal squamous carcinoma samples and 11 normal tissue samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). The OmicsBean and GEPIA2 were used to conduct an analysis of differential gene expression and survival in clinical samples. Rotenone was used to inhibit the MTCI activity. Subsequently, we detected lactate production, glucose uptake, and ATP production. RESULTS: A total of 1710 genes were identified as being significantly differentially expressed. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis suggested that these differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were significantly enriched in various pathways related to carcinoma tumorigenesis and progression. Moreover, we further identified abnormalities in metabolic pathways, in particular, the significantly low expression of multiple subunits of MTCI genes (ND1, ND2, ND3, ND4, ND4L, ND5, and ND6). Rotenone was used to inhibit the MTCI activity of EC109 cells, and it was found that the decrease in MTCI activity promoted HIF1A expression, glucose consumption, lactate production, ATP production, and cell migration. CONCLUSION: Our results indicated the occurrence of abnormal metabolism involving decreased mitochondrial complex I activity and increased glycolysis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), which might be related to its development and degree of malignancy.

Transcriptomic Analysis of THP-1 Cells Exposed by Monosodium Urate Reveals Key Genes Involved in Gout.

BACKGROUND: Gout is a common inflammatory arthritis, which is mainly caused by the deposition of monosodium urate (MSU) in tissues. Transcriptomics was used to explore the pathogenesis and treatment of gout in our work. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to analyze and validate potential therapeutic targets and biomarkers in THP-1 cells that were exposed to MSU. METHODS: THP-1 cells were exposed to MSU. The inflammatory effect was characterized, and RNA-Seq analysis was then carried out. The differential genes obtained by RNA-Seq were analyzed with gene expression omnibus (GEO) series 160170 (GSE160170) gout-related clinical samples in the GEO database and gout-related genes in the GeneCards database. From the three analysis approaches, the genes with significant differences were verified by the differential genes' transcription levels. The interaction relationship of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) was proposed by ceRNA network analysis. RESULTS: MSU significantly promoted the release of IL-1ß and IL-18 in THP-1 cells, which aggravated their inflammatory effect. Through RNA-Seq, 698 differential genes were obtained, including 606 differential mRNA and 92 differential `LncRNA. Cross-analysis of the RNA-Seq differential genes, the GSE160170 differential genes, and the gout-related genes in GeneCards revealed a total of 17 genes coexisting in the tripartite data. Furthermore, seven differential genes-C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 8 (CXCL8), C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 2 (CXCL2), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), C-C motif chemokine ligand 3 (CCL3), suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3), oncostatin M (OSM), and MIR22 host gene (MIR22HG)-were verified as key genes that analyzed the weight of genes in pathways, the enrichment of inflammationrelated pathways, and protein-protein interaction (PPI)nodes combined with the expression of genes in RNA-Seq and GSE160170. It is suggested that MIR22HG may regulate OSM and SOCS3 through microRNA 4271 (miR-4271), OSM, and SOCS3m; CCL3 through microRNA 149-3p (miR-149-3p); and CXCL2 through microRNA 4652-3p (miR-4652-3p). CONCLUSION: The potential of CXCL8, CXCL2, TNF, CCL3, SOCS3, and OSM as gout biomarkers and MIR22HG as a therapeutic target for gout are proposed, which provide new insights into the mechanisms of gout biomarkers and therapeutic methods.

LINC00958 promotes proliferation, migration, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition of oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma cells.

Oesophageal cancer is one of the deadliest cancers in the world. Oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is the most prevalent histological type of oesophageal cancer. Oesophageal cancer has a poor prognosis because of its invasiveness. Thus, it is especially important to seek effective treatment methods. Research indicates that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play a significant role in the occurrence and development of oesophageal cancer. The aim of this study was to describe the role of LINC00958 in ESCC. Bioinformatics and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) methods were utilized to predict and verify the expression of LINC00958 in ESCC. Related functional experiments, including cell proliferation, migration and invasion, were performed. In addition, a western blot and a dual luciferase reporter gene experiment were used to study the detailed carcinogenic mechanism of LINC00958. The results indicated there was a high expression of LINC00958 in ESCC, which promoted proliferation, migration, invasion and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) of ESCC cells, and this effect may be via regulating miR-510-5p.

A transcriptomic analysis of malignant transformation of human embryonic esophageal epithelial cells by HPV18 E6E7.

BACKGROUND: Esophageal cancer is one of the most common malignant tumours in humans. A series of esophageal cancer cell lines are accompanied by human papilloma virus (HPV) infection, but the mechanism behind HPV in cancer malignancy is not clear. METHODS: This research was conducted in different generations of HPV E6E7 gene-induced human foetal esophageal epithelial immortalised cells (Shantou Human Embryonic Esophageal Epithelial cell line; SHEE); the RNA sequencing transcriptomic analysis was performed to explore the mechanism of HPV infection in these cell lines. RESULTS: The results showed that there are 9,990 differential genes in late-stage cells compared with HPV18 E6E7-infected early foetal esophageal epithelial immortalised cells. Among these, 4,882 genes are upregulated, and 5,108 genes are downregulated. We used bioinformatics to analyze the expression and function of aberrantly expressed lncRNA, miRNA, mRNA and construct the competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network and protein protein interaction (PPI) network. CONCLUSIONS: we predicted TP53TG1 promotes to malignant transformation of SHEEs by acting as a ceRNA to competitively bind to miR-6835 and regulate IGF2 expression. We also predicted IL6 serve as prognostic biomarkers and therapy target. With these results maybe provides new insights into the mechanisms of HPV carcinogenesis in esophageal cancer.

Improving the Energy Conversion Efficiency of a Laser-Driven Flyer by an In Situ-Fabricated Nano-absorption Layer.

Three kinds of Al flyer plates with different nanostructured absorption layers were in situ prepared by a direct laser writing technology to improve the energy conversion efficiency in a laser-driven flyer assembly. Microstructures, light absorption, and flyer velocity in the acceleration chamber were investigated. The reflectance for the flyers at 1064-nm wavelength can be reduced from 81.3 to 9.8% by the nanostructured absorption layer. The terminal velocity of a 50-µm-thick Al flyer irradiated by a 60-mJ laser pulse is 831 m/s, while the velocity of the flyer with an in situ-fabricated nano-absorption layer reaches up to 1113 m/s at the same condition. Resultantly, the energy conversion efficiency of the flyer with a nanostructure absorption layer can reach as high as 1.99 times that of the Al flyer. Therefore, the nanostructured absorption layer in situ prepared on the surface of a flyer provides a new method to significantly improve the energy conversion efficiency of a laser-driven flyer.

[The significance of combined therapy of arsenic trioxide and all-trans retinoic acid in treating acute promyelocytic leukemia].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the significance of combined therapy of arsenic trioxide (As2O3) and all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). METHODS: Retrospective study of 80 APL patients was performed and the complete remission (CR), the recovery time of peripheral hemoglobin and platelet, the early mortality, and the adverse reaction rates were analyzed between the ATRA group and the ATRA combined As2O3 group (combined group). RESULTS: CR rate of the combined group and the ATRA group was 91.7% and 87.5% respectively, which showed no significant difference; time of reaching CR, hemoglobin recovery, and platelet recovery for the combined group were 28.0 +/- 7.8 days, 22.36 +/- 8.72 days and 19.38 +/- 9.52 days respectively, while those were 47.7 +/- 10.9 days, 28.40 +/- 8.95 days and 28.03 +/- 7.29 days for the ATRA group, which suggested a significantly shorter period of the combined group of achieving recovery. With 7.1% compared to 13.2%, the early mortality of the combined group seemed lower than that of the ATRA group but with no significance observed (P>0.05). The adverse reaction rates of the two groups also lacked any significant difference (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Compared with using ATRA alone, the combined therapy of AS2O3 and ATRA was dominant in achieving CR and recovery for APL. Besides, the combined therapy carries the promise of reducing the early mortality with no aggravation of the adverse reaction.

[Physiological responses of Salix rehderiana and Populus cathayana grafted seedlings to nitrogen deficiency]. / å·æ»‡æŸ³ä¸Žé’æ¨å±žé—´å«æŽ¥å¹¼è‹—å¯¹æ°®ç´ ç¼ºä¹çš„ç”Ÿç†å“åº”.

Morphological and physiological responses of Salix plants are different from Populus to nitrogen (N) deficiency. In this study, grafting technology was used in S. rehderiana and P. cathayana to investigate the graft compatibility of Salix and Populus, and whether grafting could improve the resistance to N deficiency in Salicaceae plants. The survival rate, growth, biomass accumulation and allocation, gas exchange parameters and non-structural carbohydrates (NSCs) were measured to evaluate the resistance to N deficiency among different grafting combinations. The results showed that the graft compatibility between S. rehderiana and P. cathayana was quite high. The survival rate was 74% and 96% in S/P (S. rehderiana was used as scions and P. cathayana as rootstocks) and P/S (P. cathayana was used as scions and S. rehderiana as rootstocks) combinations, respectively. N deficiency reduced the survival rate in all grafting combinations, which were 53.3% and 86.7% in S/P and P/S, respectively. The survival rate of S/P was lower than that of the other grafting combinations. Under control and N-deficient conditions, the height, basal diameter, biomass and net photosynthetic rate (Pn) of P/P and P/S combinations were higher than those of S/S and S/P combinations. N deficiency significantly reduced growth rate, biomass accumulation and Pn in all grafting combinations. The rate between root biomass and aboveground biomass of S. rehderiana rootstock combinations (S/S and P/S) was significantly higher than those of P. catha-yana rootstock combinations (P/P and S/P) under both control and N-deficient conditions. It indicated that more photosynthates might be allocated to belowground in S. rehderiana, while to aboveground in P. cathayana. The NSCs in roots of all grafting combinations were more sensitive to N deficiency than in stems and leaves. Except for the S/P combination, the starch, fructose, sucrose and total soluble sugar concentrations were significantly increased in roots in P/P, S/S and P/S combinations. Additionally, under N-deficient condition, the NSCs contents were significantly higher in P/P and P/S combinations than in S/S and S/P combinations.

Establishing a Mathematical Equations and Improving the Production of L-tert-Leucine by Uniform Design and Regression Analysis.

L-tert-Leucine (L-Tle) and its derivatives are extensively used as crucial building blocks for chiral auxiliaries, pharmaceutically active ingredients, and ligands. Combining with formate dehydrogenase (FDH) for regenerating the expensive coenzyme NADH, leucine dehydrogenase (LeuDH) is continually used for synthesizing L-Tle from α-keto acid. A multilevel factorial experimental design was executed for research of this system. In this work, an efficient optimization method for improving the productivity of L-Tle was developed. And the mathematical model between different fermentation conditions and L-Tle yield was also determined in the form of the equation by using uniform design and regression analysis. The multivariate regression equation was conveniently implemented in water, with a space time yield of 505.9 g L-1 day-1 and an enantiomeric excess value of >99 %. These results demonstrated that this method might become an ideal protocol for industrial production of chiral compounds and unnatural amino acids such as chiral drug intermediates.