[The Effect of Plasma Spatially Resolved During Diamond Film Deposited with HFCVD].

Optical emission spectroscopy (OES) was used to detect the plasma distribution during the depositing process of diamond films with hot filament chemical vapor deposition (HFCVD) method using acetone as carbon source. The surface and cross section of deposited diamond films were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and their quality was tested with Raman spectroscopy. OES results showed that the intensity of active species near the center is higher than that in marginal area in the case of linear array of hot filament. It is because of the higher temperature and stronger cracking ability near the filament. The variety of the characteristic peak intensity in central region is more gently than that of the plasma ball. Thermal radiation decreased when the distance from the hot filament increases, which results in less CH，CO groups cracked from acetone, lower intensity of Hα，Hß excited by hydrogen and higher concentration of C2 group produced by reaction. SEM and Raman results showed that the quality of deposited diamond films deteriorated when the distance between hot filament and substrate varies from 4.5, 5.5 to 6.5 mm, which matches well with OES results.

[Optical Spectroscopy for High-Pressure Microwave Plasma Chemical Vapor Deposition of Diamond Films].

Polycrystalline diamond growth by microwave plasma chemical vapor deposition (MPCVD) at high-pressure (34.5 kPa) was investigated. The CH4/H2/O2plasma was detected online by optical emission spectroscopy (OES), and the spatial distribution of radicals in the CH4/H2/O2plasma was studied. Raman spectroscopy was employed to analyze the properties of the diamond films deposited in different oxygen volume fraction. The uniformity of diamond films quality was researched. The results indicate that the spectrum intensities of C2, CH and Hα decrease with the oxygen volume fraction increasing. While the intensity ratios of C2, CH to Hα also reduced as a function of increasing oxygen volume fraction. It is shown that the decrease of the absolute concentration of carbon radicals is attributed to the rise volume fraction of oxygen, while the relative concentration of carbon radicals to hydrogen atom is also reducing, which depressing the growth rate but improving the quality of diamond film. Furthermore, the OH radicals, role of etching, its intensities increase with the increase of oxygen volume fraction. Indicated that the improvement of OH concentration is also beneficial to reduce the content of amorphous carbon in diamond films. The spectrum space diagnosis results show that under high deposition pressure the distribution of the radicals in the CH4/H2/O2plasma is inhomogeneous, especially, that of radical C2 gathered in the central region. And causing a rapid increase of non-diamond components in the central area, eventually enable the uneven distribution of diamond films quality.

[Effect of Helium on Diamond Films Deposited Using Microwave PCVD].

Optical emission spectroscopy (OES) was used to in situ diagnose the CH4-H2-He plasma in order to know the effect of helium on the diamond growth by microwave plasma chemical vapor deposition (MPCVD). The spatial distribution of radicals in the plasma as a function of helium addition was studied. The diamond films deposited in different helium volume fraction were investigated using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Raman spectroscopy. The results show that the spectra intensity of radicals of H(α), H(ß), H(γ), CH and C2 increases with the increasing of helium volume fraction, especially, that of radical H(α) has the most improvement. The spectrum space diagnosis results show that the uniformity of C2, CH radicals in the plasma tends to poor due to the helium addition and resulted in a different thickness along the radial direction The measurement of deposition rate shows that the addition of helium is useful for the improvement of the growth rate of diamond films, due to relative concentration of carbon radicals was increased. The deposition rate increases by 24% when the volume fraction of He was increased from 0 vol. % to 4.7 vol.%. The micrographs of SEM reveal that with the increasing of helium volume fraction, the diamond films' crystallite orientation changes from (111) to disorder and a twins growth becomes obvious. The secondary nucleation density during growth increases because the high relatively concentration of C2 radicals under higher helium volume fraction (4.7 vol. %). In addition, the substrate was etched and sputtered by the plasma, which introduced metallic atoms into the plasma during the deposition of diamond films. Eventually, the existing of secondary nucleation and impurity atoms lead to the appearance of twins and results in the compressive dress.

Decreased gastric body mucosa obestatin expression in abdominal obesity patients with normal body mass index.

The aim of the study was to investigate whether the expression of obestatin in gastric body mucosa in abdominal obesity patients with normal body mass index (BMI) is different compared with healthy controls. Twenty abdominal obesity patients with normal BMI and twenty healthy controls were included in the study. The number of obestatin-positive cells in gastric body mucosa was significantly lower in abdominal obesity patients with normal BMI than that in healthy subjects. There was a positive correlation between the numbers of obestatin-positive cells in the gastric body mucosa and plasma obestatin levels in abdominal obesity subjects and control group.

Endoplasmic Reticulum Membrane Protein Complex Regulates Cancer Stem Cells and is Associated with Sorafenib Resistance in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality, underscoring the need for novel therapeutic targets. This study aimed to elucidate the role of endoplasmic reticulum membrane protein complex subunit 1 (EMC1) in HCC progression and its therapeutic potential. Methods: Publicly available sequencing data and biopsy specimens were analyzed to assess EMC's clinical value and functions in HCC. In vitro experiments validated EMC functions, and multiplex immunofluorescence analysis examined EMC-associated sorafenib resistance mechanisms. EMC1 expression was knocked down in HCC cell lines, followed by cell viability, wound healing, and transwell migration assays. Tumor growth and response to sorafenib treatment were evaluated in mouse models. Metabolomic analysis assessed changes in the TCA cycle. Results: EMC genes were aberrantly expressed in HCC, and high EMC1 expression correlated with poorer survival rates. EMC1 disruption enhanced HCC cells' sensitivity to sorafenib, reducing cell viability, increasing apoptosis, and decreasing tumor size and weight. EMC1 maintained cancer cell stemness and promoted M2 macrophage infiltration. Metabolomic analysis revealed significant changes in the TCA cycle, indicating EMC1's role in HCC metabolic reprogramming. Importantly, EMC1 is highly associated with sorafenib resistance, potentially linked to CTNNB1 mutation or activation. Conclusion: EMC1 plays a critical role in regulating the sorafenib resistance in HCC. Targeting EMC1 may improve HCC treatment efficacy.

[Optical emission spectroscopy of MPCVD plasma].

The plasma of CH4/H2 was diagnosed with optical emission spectroscopy on a high-pressure microwave plasma apparatus at 2.45 GHz. The existing radicals in the plasma and the influence of the methane concentration on radical concentration and distribution were researched. The results indicate that the radicals of CH, Halpha, Hbeta, Hgamma, C2 and little impurity atom Mo exist in the plasma. The intensity of emission spectrum of the radicals increases with the increase in the methane concentration, especially the intensity of C2 has a notable increase. The ratio of the intensity of the CH to Halpha is unchanging with the increase in methane concentration, while that of C2 to Halpha has a marked increase. The uniformity of the space distribution of the radicals becomes worse with the increase in methane concentration.

Plasma obestatin levels in men with chronic atrophic gastritis.

Obestatin is a recently discovered active peptide isolated from the stomach. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the modification of plasma obestatin levels in men with chronic atrophic gastritis. Men older than 65 years undergoing upper gastrointestinal endoscopy were included. All patients with chronic atrophic gastritis underwent multiple biopsies. Fasting plasma obestatin and ghrelin levels were examined in 50 men with chronic atrophic gastritis and 50 healthy men. Plasma obestatin levels were significantly lower in patients with chronic atrophic gastritis than in healthy subjects. Plasma ghrelin levels and ghrelin to obestatin ratio was decreased in men with chronic atrophic gastritis. There was a significant relationship between atrophy and decreased obestatin. A negative correlation was found between circulating obestatin levels and body mass index (BMI) in healthy subjects, but not in patients with chronic atrophic gastritis. The data indicated that chronic atrophic gastritis influenced plasma obestatin levels as well as ghrelin to obestatin ratio in elderly men.

[The diagnostic value of telomerase activity in differentiating benign and malignant ascitic fluid].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the changes of telomerase activity in benign and malignant ascites fluid. METHODS: The technique of telomerase TRAP-PCR-ELISA was employed to detect telomerase activity in ascites cells from 60 patients with benign or malignant ascites fluid, the cytological diagnosis and total tumor marks (carcinoembryonic antigen, et al.) were compared. RESULTS: Telomerase activity in malignant ascites fluid was significantly higher than that in benign group. Positive rate of telomerase activity detected in malignant ascites (90%) was remarkably higher than those in benign group (10%); Compared with the cytological diagnosis and total tumor marks (carcinoembryonic antigen, et al.), telomere ferment test had higher sensitivity (90%), specificity (100%) and stability. CONCLUSION: Telomerase activity may be an useful and sensitive mark in differential diagnosis of benign and malignant ascites fluid.

IL-6/STAT3/SOCS3 signaling pathway playing a regulatory role in ulcerative colitis carcinogenesis.

OBJECTIVE: Large-scale clinical studies have shown that ulcerative colities were related with colorectal cancer. In this study, animal model was established by AOM/DSS method to explore the activation of IL-6-STAT3-SOCS3 signaling pathway and the expression of pathway-related proteins in ulcerative colitis carcinogenesis, in order to lay a foundation for exploring the regulation mechanism of IL-6/STAT3/SOCS3 signaling pathway in ulcerative colitis carcinogenesis. METHOD: AOM/DSS modeling method was used to establish animal models of ulcerative colitis carcinogenesis; colonic mucosa specimens were collected at different time points for pathological examination. Immunohistochemical method and western blot were used to detect the expression of IL6, STAT3 and SOCS3 protein in the control group, UC model + empty vector group and UC model + STAT3 knockout group. RESULTS: In UC model + empty vector group, IL6 and STAT3 expression was increased as lesion degree increased (P < 0.05). The expression of SOCS3 was weakened and the degree of activation decreased (P < 0.05). IL6 expression increased in UC model + STAT3 knockout group (P < 0.05) while the expression of SOCS3 decreased; compared with the UC model + empty vector group, there was a significant difference (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The expression and activation of IL6 and STAT3 expression were enhanced in ulcerative colitis carcinogenesis, and their expression increased with the lesion degree increased, reflecting the disease progression to a certain extent. The expression and activation of SOCS3 expression decreased. STAT3 had a certain effect on the expression of SOCS3, playing a certain regulatory role in ulcerative colitis carcinogenesis.

The activation of c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase is required for dihydroartemisinin-induced autophagy in pancreatic cancer cells.

BACKGROUND: c-Jun NH2-terminal kinases (JNKs) are strongly activated by a stressful cellular environment, such as chemotherapy and oxidative stress. Autophagy is a protein-degradation system in which double-membrane vacuoles called autophagosomes are formed. The autophagy-related gene Beclin 1 plays a key role in this process. We previously found that autophagy was induced by dihydroartemisinin (DHA) in pancreatic cancer cells. However, little is known about the complex relationship between ROS, JNK activation, autophagy induction, and Beclin 1 expression. METHODS: Cell viability and CCK-8 assays were carried out to determine the cell proliferation; small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) were used to knockdown c-Jun NH2-terminal kinases (JNK1/2) genes; western blot was performed to detect the protein expression of LC3, JNK, Beclin 1, caspase 3 and ß-actin; production of intracellular ROS was analyzed using FACS flow cytometry; autophagy induction was confirmed by electron microscopy. RESULTS: In the present study, we explored the role of DHA and Beclin 1 expression in autophagy. DHA-treated cells showed autophagy characteristics, and DHA also activated the JNK pathway and up-regulated the expression of Beclin 1. Conversely, blocking JNK signaling inhibited Beclin 1 up-regulation. JNK activation was found to primarily depend on reactive oxygen species (ROS) resulting from the DHA treatment. Moreover, JNK pathway inhibition and Beclin 1 silencing prevented the induction of DHA-induced autophagy. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the induction of autophagy by DHA is required for JNK-mediated Beclin 1 expression.

Arsenic trioxide induces apoptosis of human gastrointestinal cancer cells.

AIM: To investigate the changes in apoptosis in gastrointestinal cancer cells from patients with gastrointestinal cancers treated with arsenic trioxide (As2O3); and to study the possible molecular mechanisms of such changes by detecting the expression levels of p53 and Bcl-2. METHODS: Twenty patients with gastrointestinal adenocarcinoma based on endoscopic and biopsy findings (ten patients with gastric cancer and ten patients with colorectal cancer) who received treatment in our hospital between August 2007 and December 2008 were included in this study. None of the patients had received anti-tumour agents prior to As2O3 treatment. As2O3 was administered intravenously at a dose of 0.01 g/d diluted with 5% glucose in normal saline for 2-3 h for 3 consecutive days before surgery. Morphological changes associated with apoptosis of gastrointestinal cancer cells were observed by light microscopy. Changes in the apoptotic index induced by As2O3 were investigated using the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labelling method. Expression levels of p53 and Bcl-2 proteins in gastrointestinal cancer tissues were determined by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The apoptotic index of human gastrointestinal cancer cells was higher in cells from patients treated with As2O3 than in those not treated (P < 0.05). p53 protein expression in gastrointestinal tissues was unchanged by As2O3 (P > 0.05). However, Bcl-2 protein expression in gastrointestinal tissues was down-regulated by As2O3 (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that As2O3 treatment in patients with gastrointestinal cancers can induce apoptosis in gastrointestinal cancer cells and down-regulate Bcl-2 protein expression.

Expression and clinical significance of miRNA-34a in colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate differences of miRNA-34a expression in benign and malignant colorectal lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Samples of cancer, paraneoplastic tissues and polyps were selected and total RNA was extracted by conventional methods for real-time PCR to detect the miRNA- 34a expression. In addition, the LOVO colorectal cancer cell line was cultured, treated with the demethylating agent 5-azacytidine and screened for differentially expressed miRNA-34a. RESULTS: After the drug treatment, the miRNA-34a expression of colorectal cancer cell line LOVO was increased and real-time PCR showed that levels of expression in both cell line and colorectal cancer tissues were low, as compared to paraneoplastic tissue (p<0.05). Polyps tissues had significantly higher expression than paraneoplastic and colorectal cancer samples (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: miRNA-34a-5p may play a role as a tumor suppressor gene in colorectal cancer, with involvement of DNA methylation.

[Effect of promoter polymorphism of organic cation transporter OCTN1/2 on the susceptibility to Crohns disease: a Meta-analysis].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the associations between polymorphisms of organic cation transporter OCTN1/2 (organic cation transporter 1/2) and the susceptibility of Crohn's disease (CD) through a meta-analysis. METHODS: Databases of PubMed, EMBASE, MedLine, and CNKI (Chinese), Wanfang (Chinese) were searched for published case control studies on the association between polymorphisms of OCTN1/2 gene and the susceptibility of CD which were published before September 2012. The meta-analysis was applied with Review Manager 4.2 software and Stata 10.0 software. RESULTS: Nineteen eligible studies, including 14 from Europeans, 3 from Asians, 1 from Oceania, and 1 from the US were included in the meta-analysis. In total, significant associations were found between OCTN1/2 polymorphisms and the susceptibility of CD for all genetic models. In subgroup analyses, significant associations were found in the European population for OCTN1/2. Associations were not significant in the non-European population for OCTN1 (TT vs. CT: OR = 1.25, 95%CI: 0.75 - 1.98, P = 0.34; TT vs. CC + CT: OR = 1.48, 95%CI: 0.95 - 2.29, P = 0.08) and for OCTN2 (CC vs. GC: OR = 1.03, 95%CI: 0.68 - 1.56, P = 0.89; CC vs. GG + GC: OR = 1.23, 95%CI: 0.83 - 1.82, P = 0.31). However, there were significant associations found between OCTN1/2 (TT vs. CC, TT + CT vs. CC, CC vs. GG, CC + GC vs. GG) polymorphisms and the susceptibility of CD found in the non-European population. CONCLUSION: Results from this meta-analysis suggested that OCTN1/2 polymorphisms were associated with the susceptibility of CD in the European population. Associations between OCTN1/2 polymorphisms and the susceptibility of CD in the non-European population required searching for large samples to confirm the findings.

Decreased gastric body mucosa obestatin expression in overweight and obese patients.

Obestatin is a recently discovered gastrointestinal hormone. It might play a role in the pathophysiology of obesity. We tried to investigate the expression of obestatin in gastric body mucosa in overweight (BMI>or=24 kg/m(2))/obese (BMI>or=28 kg/m(2)) patients. Thirty overweight/obese patients and 20 healthy controls were included in the study. Biopsy specimens of gastric mucosa were obtained from the middle body of the greater curvature. Obestatin expression in gastric mucosa was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Fasting plasma obestatin levels were measured by radioimmunoassay. The number of obestatin-positive cells in gastric body mucosa was significantly lower in overweight and obese patients than that in healthy subjects. The plasma concentrations of obestatin were also decreased in overweight and obese patients. There was a positive correlation between the numbers of obestatin-positive cells in the gastric body mucosa and circulating obestatin levels. The results indicate that overweight and obese subjects have a reduction in the number of obestatin-positive cells in gastric body mucosa.

Cloning, prokaryotic expression, and bioactivity of the calmodulin gene of Magnaporthe grisea.

The cDNA encoding the calmodulin (CaM) protein was isolated from the mycelia of Magnaporthe grisea PO-041 strain by reverse transcriptase (RT)-PCR and named MgCaM. High similarities in sequence to other reported CaMs suggested that CaM is highly conserved. The MgCaM gene was expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 using a pET32a(+) plasmid. MgCaM with or without a Trx tag exhibited a Ca(2+)-dependent electrophoretic migration shift, suggesting that the activity of MgCaM depends on the presence of Ca(2+). Western blot analysis showed that Trx-MgCaM possessed specific immunoreactivities and could be specifically recognized by an anti-AtCaM2-Ig polyclonal antibody raised against AtCaM2 of Arabidopsis. Immunocytolocalization of MgCaM indicated that the number of gold particles was the most in germ tubes, next to conidia, followed by appressoria and the mycelia from liquid media, and the least in the aerial hypha from solid media. Also, in the germ tube, mycelium from liquid media and appressorium, the density of gold particles in the cell wall was markedly higher than that in the cytoplasm. In conidia, the number of MgCaM particles in the cytoplasm was obviously higher than that in the cell wall. However, in the aerial hypha, MgCaM only distributed at the cytoplasm and no gold particle was detected in the cell wall.

Circulating ghrelin/obestatin ratio in subjects with Helicobacter pylori infection.

OBJECTIVE: Ghrelin is a peptide hormone involved in human energy homeostasis. Obestatin is a recently discovered active peptide derived from preproghrelin. It seemed that obestatin was a physiologic opponent of ghrelin. Helicobacter pylori infection may be associated with appetite and nutrition. We compared the plasma ghrelin/obestatin ratio in H. pylori-positive and -negative groups. METHODS: People undergoing an annual health checkup were included. Helicobacter pylori status was based on serologic and carbon-13 urea breath findings. Fifty adults with H. pylori infection and 50 adults matched by age and body mass index without H. pylori infection were enrolled in this study. Plasma ghrelin and obestatin levels were measured by radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: Ghrelin concentrations and ghrelin/obestatin ratios were lower in the H. pylori-positive group than in the H. pylori-negative group. There was no significant difference in circulating obestatin between those with and without H. pylori infection. In all subjects, the ghrelin/obestatin ratio was negatively correlated with body mass index, the homeostasis model of assessment for insulin resistance, and serum levels of triacylglycerol. There was a positive correlation between circulating obestatin and ghrelin levels. CONCLUSION: Helicobacter pylori infection was associated with a reduction in the circulating ghrelin/obestatin ratio in Chinese adults.