Transmission Line Object Detection Method Based on Contextual Information Enhancement and Joint Heterogeneous Representation.

Transmission line inspection plays an important role in maintaining power security. In the object detection of the transmission line, the large-scale gap of the fittings is still a main and negative factor in affecting the detection accuracy. In this study, an optimized method is proposed based on the contextual information enhancement (CIE) and joint heterogeneous representation (JHR). In the high-resolution feature extraction layer of the Swin transformer, the convolution is added in the part of the self-attention calculation, which can enhance the contextual information features and improve the feature extraction ability for small objects. Moreover, in the detection head, the joint heterogeneous representations of different detection methods are combined to enhance the features of classification and localization tasks, which can improve the detection accuracy of small objects. The experimental results show that this optimized method has a good detection performance on the small-sized and obscured objects in the transmission line. The total mAP (mean average precision) of the detected objects by this optimized method is increased by 5.8%, and in particular, the AP of the normal pin is increased by 18.6%. The improvement of the accuracy of the transmission line object detection method lays a foundation for further real-time inspection.

PVformer: Pedestrian and Vehicle Detection Algorithm Based on Swin Transformer in Rainy Scenes.

Pedestrian and vehicle detection plays a key role in the safe driving of autonomous vehicles. Although transformer-based object detection algorithms have made great progress, the accuracy of detection in rainy scenarios is still challenging. Based on the Swin Transformer, this paper proposes an end-to-end pedestrian and vehicle detection algorithm (PVformer) with deraining module, which improves the image quality and detection accuracy in rainy scenes. Based on Transformer blocks, a four-branch feature mapping model was introduced to achieve deraining from a single image, thereby mitigating the influence of rain streak occlusion on the detector performance. According to the trouble of small object detection only by visual transformer, we designed a local enhancement perception block based on CNN and Transformer. In addition, the deraining module and the detection module were combined to train the PVformer model through transfer learning. The experimental results show that the algorithm performed well on rainy days and significantly improved the accuracy of pedestrian and vehicle detection.

Efficacy and safety of laparoscopic splenectomy for hypersplenism secondary to portal hypertension after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic splenectomy (LS) being used after Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) has not been reported. This report aims to explore the feasibility, safety, and potential efficacy of LS after TIPS hypersplenism secondary to portal hypertension (PHT). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed a series of six patients who underwent LS after TIPS for hypersplenism secondary to PHT between 2014 and 2020. The perioperative data and patients' clinical outcomes were recorded. RESULTS: LS was successfully performed in all patients. Hypersplenism was corrected after LS in all six patients. Postoperative prothrombin time, prothrombin activity, international normalized ratio, and total bilirubin showed a trend toward improvement. The preoperative and 1-month postoperative albumin and activated partial thromboplastin levels showed no significant difference. Plasma ammonia level and thromboelastography indicators were ameliorated in two limited recorded patients. No postoperative complications such as subphrenic abscess, portal vein thrombosis, variceal bleeding, hepatic encephalopathy, and liver failure occurred during the 1-month follow-up period. CONCLUSION: LS following TIPS is feasible, safe, and beneficial for patients with hypersplenism secondary to PHT. The following LS not only corrects the hypersplenism, but also has the potential to improve liver function.

Dryland Crop Classification Combining Multitype Features and Multitemporal Quad-Polarimetric RADARSAT-2 Imagery in Hebei Plain, China.

The accuracy of dryland crop classification using satellite-based synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data is often unsatisfactory owing to the similar dielectric properties that exist between the crops and their surroundings. The main objective of this study was to improve the accuracy of dryland crop (maize and cotton) classification by combining multitype features and multitemporal polarimetric SAR (PolSAR) images in Hebei plain, China. Three quad-polarimetric RADARSAT-2 scenes were acquired between July and September 2018, from which 117 features were extracted using the Cloude-Pottier, Freeman-Durden, Yamaguchi, and multiple-component polarization decomposition methods, together with two polarization matrices (i.e., the coherency matrix and the covariance matrix). Random forest (RF) and support vector machine (SVM) algorithms were used for classification of dryland crops and other land-cover types in this study. The accuracy of dryland crop classification using various single features and their combinations was compared for different imagery acquisition dates, and the performance of the two algorithms was evaluated quantitatively. The importance of all investigated features was assessed using the RF algorithm to optimize the features used and the imagery acquisition date for dryland crop classification. Results showed that the accuracy of dryland crop classification increases with evolution of the phenological period. In comparison with SVM, the RF algorithm showed better performance for dryland crop classification when using full polarimetric RADARSAT-2 data. Dryland crop classification accuracy was not improved substantially when using only backscattering intensity features or polarization decomposition parameters extracted from a single-date image. Satisfactory classification accuracy was achieved using 11 optimized features (derived from the Cloude-Pottier decomposition and the coherency matrix) from 2 RADARSAT-2 images (acquisition dates corresponding to the middle and late stages of dryland crop growth). This study provides an important reference for timely and accurate classification of dryland crop in Hebei plain, China.

Challenges of the establishment of rubber-based agroforestry systems: Decreases in the diversity and abundance of ground arthropods.

The global land area devoted to rubber plantations has now reached 13 million hectares, and the further expansion of these rubber plantations at the expense of tropical forests will have significant adverse effects on the ecological environment. Rubber-based agroforestry systems are considered a preferable approach for ameliorating the ecological environment. Many researchers have focused on the positive effects of rubber-based agroforestry systems on the ecological environment, while ignoring the risks involved in the establishment of rubber-based agroforestry systems. The present study investigated the effects of different-aged rubber-based agroforestry systems on the abundance and diversity of ground arthropods. It has been observed that the abundance and taxon richness of ground arthropods generally showed no difference when comparing young and mature rubber plantations. The rubber-based agroforestry systems significantly decreased the understory vegetation species, along with the abundance and taxon richness of ground arthropods compared to the same aged-rubber monoculture plantations. In addition, the change in the abundance and taxon richness of ground arthropods was greatly affected by the understory vegetation species and soil temperature. The abundance and taxon richness of ground arthropods decreased with the decrease in number of species of understory vegetation. The study results indicate that the establishment of rubber-based agroforestry systems have adversely affected the abundance and richness of ground arthropods to an extant greater than expected. Therefore, single, large rubber-based agroforestry systems are not recommended, and the intercropping of rubber and rubber-based agroforestry systems must be designed to promote the migration of ground arthropods between different systems.

Contrasting ecosystem CO2 fluxes of inland and coastal wetlands: a meta-analysis of eddy covariance data.

Wetlands play an important role in regulating the atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2 ) concentrations and thus affecting the climate. However, there is still lack of quantitative evaluation of such a role across different wetland types, especially at the global scale. Here, we conducted a meta-analysis to compare ecosystem CO2 fluxes among various types of wetlands using a global database compiled from the literature. This database consists of 143 site-years of eddy covariance data from 22 inland wetland and 21 coastal wetland sites across the globe. Coastal wetlands had higher annual gross primary productivity (GPP), ecosystem respiration (Re ), and net ecosystem productivity (NEP) than inland wetlands. On a per unit area basis, coastal wetlands provided large CO2 sinks, while inland wetlands provided small CO2 sinks or were nearly CO2 neutral. The annual CO2 sink strength was 93.15 and 208.37 g C m-2 for inland and coastal wetlands, respectively. Annual CO2 fluxes were mainly regulated by mean annual temperature (MAT) and mean annual precipitation (MAP). For coastal and inland wetlands combined, MAT and MAP explained 71%, 54%, and 57% of the variations in GPP, Re , and NEP, respectively. The CO2 fluxes of wetlands were also related to leaf area index (LAI). The CO2 fluxes also varied with water table depth (WTD), although the effects of WTD were not statistically significant. NEP was jointly determined by GPP and Re for both inland and coastal wetlands. However, the NEP/Re and NEP/GPP ratios exhibited little variability for inland wetlands and decreased for coastal wetlands with increasing latitude. The contrasting of CO2 fluxes between inland and coastal wetlands globally can improve our understanding of the roles of wetlands in the global C cycle. Our results also have implications for informing wetland management and climate change policymaking, for example, the efforts being made by international organizations and enterprises to restore coastal wetlands for enhancing blue carbon sinks.

Overexpression of microRNA-30a-5p inhibits liver cancer cell proliferation and induces apoptosis by targeting MTDH/PTEN/AKT pathway.

Increasing results suggest microRNAs (miRNAs) could function important roles in malignant tumor progression. miR-30a-5p is downregulated in variety of cancers and acts as a cancer suppressing gene. The functions and molecular mechanisms of miRNA-30a-5p in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain unclear. In the present study, quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to detect miR-30a-5p expression in 16 pairs of HCC and their adjacent non-cancerous tissues and HCC cell lines. By overexpression of miRNA-30a-5p, CCK-8 and colon formation assay were used to evaluate cell growth and flow cytometry to evaluate cell apoptosis. Western blot was used to test protein expression. And potential mechanisms were analyzed with luciferase activity assay. In vivo HepG2 tumor growth was observed with nude mice. Our results showed that miR-30a-5p expression in HCC tissues was significantly lower compared to adjacent non-cancerous liver tissues, and lower miR-30a-5p expression was also observed in HCC cell lines compared to normal liver cell. Luciferase assay showed that metadherin (MTDH) mRNA was a direct target of miR-30a-5p. A significant reverse correlation between miR-30a-5p and MTDH in liver cancer tissues was observed. miR-30a-5p overexpression in HCC cells significantly inhibited cell proliferation, colon formation, and induced apoptosis while MTDH overexpression reversed growth inhibition and apoptosis induction of miRNA-30a-5p in HCC cells. miRNA-30a-5p upregulated phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) protein expression and thus inhibited AKT activating by targeting MTDH. miRNA-30a-5p also significantly inhibited HepG2 tumor growth in vivo. Our results suggest that underexpression of miR-30a-5p might function as a tumor suppressing miRNA by directly targeting MTDH in HCC and is therefore a potential candidate biomarker for HCC targeting therapy.

High expression of metadherin correlates with malignant pathological features and poor prognostic significance in papillary thyroid carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Metadherin (MTDH) protein, also called astrocyte elevated gene-1 (AEG-1) is over expressed in a variety of malignant tumours, and is closely related to tumour invasion and the poor prognosis. OBJECTIVE: This study tries to explore the clinical pathological significance of MTDH expression in a large cohort of patients with PTC. DESIGN AND PATIENTS: Immunohistochemistry was used to detect MTDH expression in 156 cases of PTC, 6 cases of anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC), 10 cases of multinodular goitre (MNG) and 10 cases of thyroid adenoma tissues who received a thyroid operation between June 2003 and July 2008. MEASUREMENTS: Clinical pathological data of 156 cases of PTC were analysed according to MTDH expression. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to plot survival curves and log-rank test to compare the postoperative survival results. The prognostic meaning of MTDH expression in PTC was evaluated by Cox regression analysis. RESULTS: The positive expression rates of MTDH in PTC and ATC tissues were 37·2% (58/156) and 50% (3/6), respectively, and MTDH positive expression rates were both 10% (1/10) in MNG and thyroid adenoma tissues. High MTDH expression in PTC was associated with larger tumour size (P = 0·030), high rates of lymph node (P = 0·041) and distant metastasis (P = 0·028), but no relation with the patient age, gender, tumour multicenter, extrathyroid invasion and tumour grade. High MTDH expression was associated with recurrence-free survival (RFS) and disease-specific survival rate (DSS) (P = 0·014, P = 0·001, respectively). Cox regression analysis showed that high MTDH expression was independent prognostic indicators for RFS and DSS in patients with PTC (P = 0·023 and P = 0·035, respectively). CONCLUSION: High MTDH expression in PTC might play an important role in tumour growth and metastasis, and targeting MTDH treatment might have potential therapeutic value for patients with PTC.

Lentiviral-Mediated Short Hairpin RNA Knockdown of MTDH Inhibits Cell Growth and Induces Apoptosis by Regulating the PTEN/AKT Pathway in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

The activation of oncogenes and the loss of tumor suppressor genes are believed to play critical roles in the pathogenesis of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Metaherin(MTDH), also called astrocyte elevated gene-1 (AEG-1), is frequently amplified in a variety of cancers, but the roles of MTDH with regard to growth and apoptosis in HCC have not yet been studied. In the present study, we first analyzed the expression of MTDH in HCC samples. We found that MTDH protein levels are higher in most HCC cancerous tissues compared with their matched adjacent non-tumor tissues. Additionally, the MTDH mRNA was also higher inHCC tissues compared to their matched adjacent non-tumor tissues. Knockdown of the endogenous MTDH using small interfering RNA further showed that deficiency of MTDH suppressed cell growth and caused apoptosis in HCC cells. Knockdown MTDH promoted PTEN and p53 expression in HCC cells and inhibited AKT phosphorylation. Knockdown MTDH also inhibited tumor growth in vivo. All these results indicated that MTDH protein levels in most HCC tissues are higher than non-tumor tissues, and knockdown of MTDH inhibited growth and induced apoptosis in HCC cells through the activation of PTEN.Therefore, MTDH might be an effective targeted therapy gene for HCC.

[Effects of hypoxia inducible factor-2α on promoting angiogenesis of residual hepatocellular carcinoma after high-intensity focused ultrasound ablation].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the dynamic features of angiogenesis in residual tumors after high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU),and to determine the temporal effect and mechanism of hypoxia inducible factor-2 alpha (HIF-2a) in the angiogenic process of residual tumors. METHODS: Xenograft tumors of HepG2 cells were generated by subcutaneously inoculating athymic BALB/c nu/nu mice with the hepatoma cells.About 30 days after inoculation,all mice (except in the control group) were treated by HIFU and assigned randomly to the following 7 groups according to various time intervals post-treatment:1st,3rd,5th day and 1st,2nd,3rd,4th week when the residual tumor tissues were obtained from the experimental groups.Protein levels of HIF-2a and vascular growth factor A (VEGF-A) were quantified by immunohistochemistry and western blotting,and mRNA levels were measured by (real-time quantitative) qPCR. Microvascular density (MVD) was calculated by counting the CD31-positive vascular endothelial cells identified by means of an immunohistochemical staining method. RESULTS: Compared with results from the control group,the protein and mRNA levels of HIF-2a expression reached the highest level in the experimental mice at the 2nd week (P=0.000 and P < 0.01 respectively),and were decreased thereafter(3rd week and 4th week, P=0.000 and P < 0.05).VEGF-A expression in the residual tumor tissues group that received HIFU was significantly decreased,compared with the control group,at all time points uPto 1 week (all P=0.000 and P < 0.01),but the levels increased compared to controls in the 2nd through 4th week (all P=0.000, P < 0.05). Similar results were obtained for MVD. CONCLUSION: HIFU treatment can inhibit angiogenesis in residual hepatoma tissues in the short-term (1 to 2 weeks post-treatment) in mice with hepatocellular carcinoma,but can promote angiogenesis overtime (2 to 4 weeks post-treatment); the angiogenic process may involve the HIF-2α/VEGFA pathway.

Response of N, P, and metal ions in deep soil layers to long-term cultivation of rubber and rubber-based agroforestry systems.

The growing demand for natural rubber products has driven the expansion of rubber plantations in recent decades. While much attention has been given to studying the long-term effects of rubber and rubber-based agroforestry systems on surface soil properties, there has been a tendency to overlook changes in soil properties in deeper layers. Our study addresses this gap by examining alterations in nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and metal ion levels in deep soil layers resulting from the prolonged cultivation of rubber and rubber-based agroforestry systems. We found notable shifts in soil NH4+ and NO3- concentrations within the 0-30 cm soil layer across different-aged rubber and rubber-based agroforestry systems. Particularly in mature systems, NO3- and available P levels were close to zero below 30 cm soil depth. Introducing Flemingia macrophylla into young rubber plantations increased soil NH4+ and NO3- in the 0-90 cm soil layer and available P in the 0-10 cm soil layer. Over the long term, cultivation of rubber plantations increased the depletion of total P in the 0-50 cm soil layer, available iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) in the 30-90 cm soil layer, available copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) in the 0-90 cm soil layer, accompanied by a decrease in soil pH and increase in exchangeable aluminum (Al) in the 0-90 cm soil layer. Notably, soil exchangeable Al levels exceeding 2.0 cmol kg-1 appeared to induce aluminum toxicity. Furthermore, soil pH below 5.2 triggered a sharp release of exchangeable Al within the 0-90 cm soil layer of rubber plantations, with soil available P nearing zero when exchangeable Al levels assed 7.3 cmol kg-1. Our findings underscore the profound impact of long-term rubber plantation cultivation on surface and deep soil properties. Addressing soil degradation in these deep soil layers poses significant challenges for future soil restoration efforts.

Improved soil moisture, nutrients, and economic benefits using plastic mulchs in balsa-based agroforestry systems.

The manufacture of wind turbine blades generally uses balsa wood as the base materials, and it is crucial to explore new regions for cultivating balsa trees to achieve carbon neutrality in the future. Xishuangbanna may be China's only area with a tropical climate suitable for the large-scale planting of balsa trees. The present study investigated the key soil elements influencing the growth of balsa plantations and the effects of different cultivation practices on soil environments and economic benefits in Xishuangbanna, China. We found that the height of balsa stems after growing 4 years reached 5.8 m; the increment of diameter at breast height (DBH) reached 27.7 cm and volume of balsa stems reached 196.0 m3 ha-1 in Xishuangbanna of China. It is of the utmost importance to improve the contents of soil exchangeable magnesium (Mg) and available phosphorus (P) for the growth of balsa trees, and exchangeable aluminium (Al) inhibited the growth of balsa trees. The practice of plastic film mulching not only improved soil moisture in the 40‒100-cm soil layer in the dry season and in the 0-60-cm soil layer in the rainy season but also enhanced soil nitrate nitrogen when compared with no plastic-mulching practice in balsa plantations. The comprehensive economic benefits of balsa/coriander/ginger/taro plantations were significantly improved by implementing plastic film mulching, as compared to balsa plantations. We conclude that balsa tree can be cultivated in Xishuangbanna, China, and its successful cultivation provides opportunities for China's wind power development.

Changing soil available substrate primarily caused by fertilization management contributed more to soil respiration temperature sensitivity than microbial community thermal adaptation.

Substrate depletion and microbial community thermal adaptation are major mechanisms that regulate the temperature sensitivity (Q10) of soil microbial respiration. Traditionally, the Q10 of soil microbial respiration is measured using laboratory incubation, which has limits in the continuous input of available substrates and the time scale for microbial community thermal adaptation. How the available substrate and the soil microbial community regulate the Q10 of soil microbial respiration under natural warming conditions remains unclear. To fill this gap in knowledge, a long-term field experiment was conducted consisting of two years of soil respiration observations combined with a soil available substrate and microbial community thermal adaptation analysis under seasonal warming conditions. The Q10 of soil respiration was calculated using the square root method, and it was more affected by the available substrate than by microbial community thermal adaptation. Fertilization management has a stronger effect on soil available substrate than temperature. As the temperature increased, NH4-N proved itself to be important for the bacterial community in the process of Q10 regulation, while dissolved organic carbon and nitrogen were key factors for the fungal community. Based on the niche breadth of microbial community composition, the changing Q10 of the soil respiration was not only closely associated with the specialist community, but also the generalist and neutralist communities. Furthermore, bacterial community thermal adaptation primarily occurred through shifts in the abundances of specialists and neutralists, while changes in species richness and species replacement occurred for the fungal generalists and neutralists. This work indicates that changing available nitrogen and DOC primarily caused by fertilization management contributed more in regulating the Q10 of soil microbial respiration than microbial community thermal adaptation, and there are different mechanisms for bacterial and fungal community thermal adaptation under warming.

Clinical application of a novel stent-assisted in situ intestinal bypass in preventing postoperative anastomotic leakage for low-mid rectal cancer: A retrospective study.

This study aimed to investigate the safety and feasibility of a novel stent-assisted in situ intestinal bypass for low-mid rectal cancer patients. Patients who were diagnosed with rectal cancer and received laparoscopic low anterior rectal resection plus a novel stent-assisted in situ intestinal bypass were respectively included from March 2022 to June 2022. Biofragmentable intestinal stent with a protective sleeve was placed in the proximal colon before anastomosis, and feces could be discharged through the protective sleeve without touching the anastomosis, which achieved an in situ bypass of feces. Perioperative characteristics and short-term outcomes were collected. Rectal imaging was performed each week after surgery for the first 3 weeks to surveil the stent and feces delivery. Follow-ups were conducted for more than 3 months. Thirty patients who successfully received surgery were included in this study. There were 18 (60.0%) males and 12 (40.0%) females. As for perioperative characteristics, operation time was 213.8 ± 43.0 minutes, blood loss was 53.3 ± 24.6 mL, time to first flatus via protective sleeve after surgery was 3.2 ± 1.1 days, postoperative hospital stay was 11.8 ± 1.6 days, and time to discharge stent was 22.4 ± 3.2 days. As for short-term outcomes, 6 patients suffered from pneumonia, urinary tract infection or incision infection. During the follow-up, there was no anastomotic leakage or mortality. This novel stent-assisted in situ intestinal bypass is safe and feasible, it might be an applicable way to prevent postoperative anastomotic leakage for patients with low-mid rectal cancer.

Carnobacterium maltaromaticum boosts intestinal vitamin D production to suppress colorectal cancer in female mice.

Carnobacterium maltaromaticum was found to be specifically depleted in female patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). Administration of C. maltaromaticum reduces intestinal tumor formation in two murine CRC models in a female-specific manner. Estrogen increases the attachment and colonization of C. maltaromaticum via increasing the colonic expression of SLC3A2 that binds to DD-CPase of this bacterium. Metabolomic and transcriptomic profiling unveils the increased gut abundance of vitamin D-related metabolites and the mucosal activation of vitamin D receptor (VDR) signaling in C. maltaromaticum-gavaged mice in a gut microbiome- and VDR-dependent manner. In vitro fermentation system confirms the metabolic cross-feeding of C. maltaromaticum with Faecalibacterium prausnitzii to convert C. maltaromaticum-produced 7-dehydrocholesterol into vitamin D for activating the host VDR signaling. Overall, C. maltaromaticum colonizes the gut in an estrogen-dependent manner and acts along with other microbes to augment the intestinal vitamin D production to activate the host VDR for suppressing CRC.

High-intensity focused ultrasound combined with herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene-loaded ultrasound-targeted microbubbles improved the survival of rabbits with VX2 liver tumor.

BACKGROUND: To explore the anti-tumor effect of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) combined with herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSV-TK) gene-loaded ultrasound-targeted microbubbles on VX2 rabbit liver tumors. METHODS: Seventy-five New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into five groups after the models of VX2 rabbit liver tumors were established: (a) HIFU group; (b) HIFU and HSV-TK group (HIFU + HSV-TK); (c) HIFU, HSV-TK and ultrasound group (HIFU + HSV-TK + US); (d) HIFU, HSV-TK gene-loaded microbubbles and ultrasound group (HIFU + HSV-TK-MBs + US); and (e) HSV-TK gene-loaded microbubbles and ultrasound group (HSV-TK-MBs + US). After 2 weeks of VX2 liver tumor implantation, rabbits in groups (a), (b), (c) and (d) received HIFU to establish rabbit models of residual tumor by ablating 80% of the tumor volume. After HIFU ablation, rabbits in different groups received MBs wrapped around HSV-TK or HSV-TK solution via marginal ear veins and/or local ultrasonic irradiation to the tumor. Six rabbits in each group were sacrificed 48 h after the corresponding treatment, and tumors were extracted for in vitro experiments. Thymidine kinase mRNA was detected by the real-time polymerase chain reaction. The green fluorescent protein expression in liver tumor was detected by western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Tumor cell apoptosis was detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling. The growth curves of VX2 liver tumors and survival curves of rabbits were compared. RESULTS: Forty-eight hours after treatment, TK mRNA and protein were the highest in the HIFU + HSV-TK + US + MBs group and the HSV-TK + US + MBs group (p < 0.05). At 48 h after treatment, the apoptotic index of tumor cells in HIFU + HSV-TK-MBs + US group was the highest (p < 0.05). Compared to other groups, HIFU combined with MBs wrapped HSV-TK suicide gene significantly inhibited tumor growth in vivo (p < 0.05) and prolonged the survival time of animals (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: HIFU combined with HSV-TK gene-loaded ultrasound-targeted MBs significantly inhibited the growth of VX2 rabbit liver tumors in vivo and prolonged the survival time of the animals, providing a novel gene delivery method and a novel strategy for liver tumor treatment.

NBD peptides protect against ischemia reperfusion after orthotopic liver transplantation in rats.

BACKGROUND: NBD (NEMO binding domain) peptides could selectively inhibit the inflammation induced NF-κB activity, while sparing the protective functions of basal NF-κB activity. The aim of this study was to determine whether NBD peptides inhibited the transcriptional activity of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) during liver transplant ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI), without affecting its basal function. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were performed orthotropic liver transplantation according to the Kamada technique. Donors were given NBD peptides (8 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) 2 h before surgery (n = 24) and the controls were treated with the same volume of physiologic saline (n = 24). An additional 16 animals in normal condition (did not undergo any surgery) were also divided into two groups and given the same treatment as above to assess the effect of NBD peptides on basal function. We analyzed levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), IKK (IκB kinase) complex phosphorylation, IκBα degradation, NF-κB transcriptional activity, apoptosis, and performed a morphologic study of liver tissues at 3, 6, and 24 h after portal vein reperfusion and in normal condition (n = 8). RESULTS: Pretreatment with NBD peptides significantly improved liver function, attenuating liver parenchymal cell damage, apoptosis by down-regulating TNF-α level, inhibiting IKK complex phosphorylation, IκBα degradation, and NF-κB transcriptional activity, but had no effect in normal condition. CONCLUSION: NBD peptides attenuated hepatic IRI by preventing NF-κB activation, without affecting basal NF-κB activity.

[Effects of soybean isoflavones on RAGE mediated signal transduction in the hippocampus of rats with Alzheimer's disease].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of soybean isoflavones on receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGEs) mediated signal transduction in the hippocampus of rats with Alzheimer's disease (AD). METHODS: AD rat model was established by bilateral hippocampus injection of amyloid beta25-35 (Abeta25-35). Sixty rats were equally randomized into 5 groups, i.e., the model group, the high dose soybean isoflavones group (at the daily dose of 30 mg/kg), the low dose soybean isoflavones group (at the daily dose of 10 mg/kg), the estrogen group (at the daily dose of 0.4 mg/kg), and the sham-operation control group. Three days after modeling 2 mL soybean isoflavones or estrogen was respectively administrated to rats in the high dose soybean isoflavones group, the low dose soybean isoflavones group, and the estrogen group by gastrogavage. Equal volume of 0.5% CMC-Na was administered to rats in the model group and the sham-operation group. The treatment lasted for 21 days. The contents of RAGE and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the hippocampus were measured by ELISA. The activity of cysteine-containing aspartate-specific protease-3 (Caspase-3) was measured by spectrophotometry. The expressions of phosphorylation extracellular signal-regulated kinase1/2 (P-ERK1/2) in the hippocampus were measured by immunohistochemical assay. RESULTS: Compared with the model group, soybean isoflavones could significantly decrease the contents of RAGE and IL-6, the activity of Caspase-3, and the phosphorylation level of ERK1/2 in the hippocampus of AD model rats (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Soybean isoflavones could down-regulate RAGE mediated inflammatory signal transduction in the hippocampus of AD rats, attenuate the inflammatory reactions, reduce the neurotoxicity of Abeta, and resist the apoptosis of hippocampal neurons.

STING Induces Liver Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury by Promoting Calcium-Dependent Caspase 1-GSDMD Processing in Macrophages.

Objectives: Although a recent study reported that stimulator of interferon genes (STING) in macrophages has an important regulatory effect on liver ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI), the underlying mechanism of STING-dependent innate immune activation in liver macrophages (Kupffer cells, KCs) remains unclear. Here, we investigated the effect of STING on liver macrophage pyroptosis and the associated regulatory mechanism of liver IRI. Methods: Clodronate liposomes were used to block liver macrophages. AAV-STING-RNAi-F4/80-EGFP, an adenoassociated virus (AAV), was transfected into the portal vein of mice in vivo, and the liver IRI model was established 14 days later. In vitro, liver macrophages were treated with STING-specific siRNA, and a hypoxia-reoxygenation (H/R) model was established. The level of STING was detected via Western blotting (WB), RT-PCR, and immunostaining. Liver tissue and blood samples were collected. Pathological changes in liver tissue were detected by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. Macrophage pyroptosis was detected by WB, confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The calcium concentration was measured by immunofluorescence and analyzed with a fluorescence microplate reader. Results: The expression of STING increased with liver IRI but decreased significantly after the clodronate liposome blockade of liver macrophages. After knockdown of STING, the activation of caspase 1-GSDMD in macrophages and liver IRI was alleviated. More interestingly, hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) increased the calcium concentration in liver macrophages, but the calcium concentration was decreased after STING knockdown. Furthermore, after the inhibition of calcium in H/R-induced liver macrophages by BAPTA-AM, pyroptosis was significantly reduced, but the expression of STING was not significantlydecreased. Conclusions: Knockdown of STING reduces calcium-dependent macrophage caspase 1-GSDMD-mediated liver IRI, representing a potential therapeutic approach in the clinic.

[Expressions and significance of COX-2 and P-gp in human hepatocellular carcinoma tissues].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of the COX-2 gene on the oncogenesis and development of the hepatocellular carcinoma and the influence of COX-2 gene on the expression of P-gp protein. METHOD: Fifty-two pieces of the hepatocellular carcinoma samples and 20 cases of normal liver samples were collected from the patients operated from October 2003 to June 2005. RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry staining were employed to detect the COX-2 mRNA as well as P-gp protein in the normal liver tissues and the carcinoma tissues. Meanwhile, the expression of the mdr 1 mRNA in the carcinoma tissues was also determined and the correlation between the expressions of the COX-2 and P-gp was investigated. RESULTS: No expression of the COX-2 in the normal liver tissue was detected. The positive expression of COX-2 in the low and middle differentiated carcinoma was elevated significantly as compared with that in the high differentiated carcinoma tissue (x2 = 6.80, P less than 0.01). The positive expression of the COX-2 in the HBSAg (+) carcinoma tissue was significantly higher as compared with that in the HBSAg (-) carcinoma (x2 = 4.70, P less than 0.05), and the carcinoma in combination with cirrhosis also showed significantly higher in expression of COX-2 than the carcinoma without cirrhosis (x2 = 7.51, P less than 0.01). The mdr1 mRNA was found both expressed in the normal and carcinoma tissues. The expression of COX-2 mRNA was found in the carcinoma, but not found in the normal tissues. The COX-2 mRNA and mdr1 mRNA was found both expressed in the normal and carcinoma tissues. The correlation coefficient between COX-2 and mdr1 mRNA was 0.563 ( P less than 0.01). CONCLUSION: The results indicated that Cox-2 gene might involved in the multidrug resistance of the hepatocellular carcinoma mediated by P-gp.