Cinepazide maleate promotes recovery from spinal cord injury by inhibiting inflammation and prolonging neuronal survival.

This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects of cinepazide maleate (CM) on spinal cord injury (SCI) in rats, thereby providing an experimental basis for the use of CM as a preventative and therapeutic strategy for SCI. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling staining and western blot analysis were used to assess neural cell apoptosis. enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to analyze the expression of interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in spinal cord tissues and cerebrospinal fluid. CD68 staining and western blot analysis were used to investigate the effect of CM on microglia activation. The effects of CM on motor function and histological damage in rats after SCI were investigated using the Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan (BBB) score, footprint assay, hematoxylin and eosin staining, and NeuN staining. In vitro models of neuronal cell injury and microglial inflammation were developed to investigate the effects of CM on apoptosis and inflammation. Functional tests (BBB score and footprint test) revealed that CM-treated rats had significantly improved motor function. In vivo CM treatment reduced the number of apoptotic cells at the site of injury. Similarly, in vitro CM treatment reduced H2 O2 -induced neuronal apoptosis. In vivo CM treatment reduced the number of CD68-positive microglia and the expression levels of TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-6. Similarly, in vitro CM treatment reduced LPS-induced pro-inflammatory cytokines in microglia. CM promotes the recovery of motor function by inhibiting SCI-induced apoptosis and inflammatory responses and reducing the area of the post-SCI cavity in rats. These findings indicate that CM is a potential drug worthy of translational studies for SCI treatment.

Study on Antidepressant Effect and Mechanism of Crocin Mediated by the mTOR Signaling Pathway.

Crocin is a monomer of Chinese traditional herbs extracted from saffron, relieving depression-like behavior. However, its underlying mechanism of action remains unclear. Herein, we explored whether crocin's antidepressant effect depended on the mammalian target of the rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway. The model of PC12 cells injury was established by corticosterone, the changes in cell survival rate were tested by the CCK-8 method, and the changes in cellular morphology were observed under a fluorescence microscope. The depression model was established by chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS), and its antidepressant effect was estimated by open field test (OFT), forced swimming test (FST), and tail suspension test (TST). Western blot was used to monitor the protein expression. The results showed that crocin could effectively improve cell survival rate and cellular synaptic growth, alleviate the depressive behavior of CUMS mice, and promote the expression of BDNF, P-mTOR, P-ERK, and PSD95. However, when rapamycin was pretreated, the antidepressant effects of crocin were inhibited. In summary, crocin plays a significant antidepressant effect. After pretreatment with rapamycin, the anti-depression effect of crocin was significantly inhibited. It is suggested that the mechanism of the anti-depression effect of crocin may be related to the mTOR signaling pathway.

Elevated preoperative plasma D-dimer dose not adversely affect survival of gastric cancer after gastrectomy with curative intent: A propensity score analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Elevated plasma D-dimer has been reported to be associated with advanced tumor stage and poor survival in several types of malignancies. The purpose of this study was to assess the potential impact of preoperative plasma D-dimer level (PDL) on overall survival (OS) of gastric cancer (GC) patients undergoing curative surgery by applying propensity score analysis. METHODS: A total of 1,025 curatively resected GC patients in Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital were enrolled. Patients were categorized into two groups based on preoperative PDL: the elevated group (EG) and the normal group (NG). To overcome bias due to the different distribution of covariates for the two groups, a one-to-one match was applied using propensity score analysis, after matching, prognostic factors were analyzed. RESULTS: In analysis for the whole study series, patients in the EG were more likely to have a larger proportion of tumor size ≥5 cm (67.5% vs. 55.8%, P=0.006), elder mean age (64.0±10.8 years vs. 60.5±11.6 years, P<0.001) and advanced tumor (T), node (N), and TNM stage. Patients with elevated PDL demonstrated a significantly lower 5-year OS than those with normal PDL (27.0%vs. 42.6%, P<0.001), however, the PDL was not an independent prognostic factor for OS in multivariate analysis [hazard ratio: 1.13, 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 0.92-1.39, P=0.236]. After matching, 163 patients in the EG and 163 patients in the NG had the same characteristics. The 5-year OS rate for patients in the EG was 27.0% compared with 25.8% for those in the NG (P=0.809, log-rank). CONCLUSIONS: The poor prognosis of GC patients with elevated preoperative PDL was due to the advanced tumor stage and elder age rather than the elevated D-dimer itself.

Efficacy of oral Bifidobacterium bifidum ATCC 29521 on microflora and antioxidant in mice.

This study aimed to examine whether Bifidobacterium bifidum ATCC 29521, a species of colonic microflora in humans, is involved in the intestinal tract of mice. This study was also conducted to determine the antioxidant activity of this species by evaluating different microbial populations and reactive oxygen species isolated from feces and intestinal contents for 28 days of oral administration. Microbial diversities were assessed through bacterial culture techniques, PCR-DGGE, and real-time PCR. This study showed that the intake of B. bifidum ATCC 29521 significantly (p < 0.05) improved the ecosystem of the intestinal tract of BALB/c mice by increasing the amount of probiotics (Lactobacillus intestinalis and Lactobacillus crispatus) and by reducing unwanted bacterial populations (Enterobacter, Escherichia coli). Antioxidative activities of incubated cell-free extracts were evaluated through various assays, including the scavenging ability of DPPH radical (64.5% and 67.54% (p < 0.05), respectively, at 21 days in nutrients and 28 days in MRS broth), superoxide anion, and hydroxyl radical (85% and 61.5% (p < 0.05), respectively, at intestinal contents in nutrients and 21 days in MRS broth). Total reducing power (231.5 µmol/L (p < 0.05), 14 days in MRS broth) and mRNA level of genes related to oxidative stress were also determined. Results indicated that B. bifidum ATCC 29521 elicits a beneficial effect on murine gut microbiota and antioxidant activities compared with the control samples. This species can be considered as a potential bioresource antioxidant to promote health. Bifidobacterium bifidum ATCC 29521 may also be used as a promising material in microbiological and food applications.

Integration of genomic and proteomic data to identify candidate genes in HT-29 cells after incubation with Bifidobacterium bifidum ATCC 29521.

As the predominant group inhabiting the human gastrointestinal tract, bifidobacteria play a vital role in human nutrition, therapeutics, and health by shaping and maintaining the gut ecosystem, reducing blood cholesterol, and promoting the supply of nutrients. The interaction between bacterial cells and human intestinal epithelial cell lines has been studied for decades in an attempt to understand the mechanisms of action. These studies, however, have been limited by lack of genomic and proteomic database to aid in achieving comprehensive understanding of these mechanisms at molecular levels. Microarray data (GSE: 74119) coupled with isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) were performed to detect differentially expressed genes and proteins in HT-29 cells after incubation with Bifidobacterium bifidum. Real-time quantitative PCR, gene ontology, and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analyses were further conducted for mRNA validation, functional annotation, and pathway identification, respectively. According to the results of microarray, 1,717 differentially expressed genes, including 1,693 upregulated and 24 downregulated genes, were selected and classified by the gene ontology database. The iTRAQ analysis identified 43 differentially expressed proteins, where 29 proteins were upregulated and 14 proteins were downregulated. Eighty-two candidate genes showing consistent differences with microarray and iTRAQ were further validated in HT-29 and Caco-2 cells by real-time quantitative PCR. Nine of the top genes showing interesting results with high confidence were further investigated in vivo in mice intestine samples. Integration of genomic and proteomic data provides an approach to identify candidate genes that are more likely to function in ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis, positive regulation of apoptosis, membrane proteins, and transferase catalysis. These findings might contribute to our understanding of molecular mechanisms regulating the interaction between probiotics and intestinal epithelial cell lines.

Medium-chain fatty acid reduces lipid accumulation by regulating expression of lipid-sensing genes in human liver cells with steatosis.

Accumulation of lipids in the liver can lead to cell dysfunction and steatosis, an important factor in pathogenesis causing non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. The mechanisms related to lipid deposition in the liver, however, remain poorly understood. This study was aimed to investigate the effects of medium-chain fatty acid (MCFA) on the lipolysis and expression of lipid-sensing genes in human liver cells with steatosis. A cellular steatosis model, which is suitable to experimentally investigate the impact of fat accumulation in the liver, was established in human normal liver cells (LO2 cells) with a mixture of free fatty acids (oleate/palmitate, 2:1) at 200 µm for 24 h incubation. MCFA was found to down-regulate expression of liver X receptor-α, sterol regulatory element binding protein-1, acetyl-CoA carboxylase, fatty acid synthase, CD 36 and lipoprotein lipase in this cellular model, and have positive effects on adipose triglyceride lipase and hormone-sensitive lipase. These results suggest that MCFA may reduce lipid accumulation by regulating key lipid-sensing genes in human liver cells with steatosis.

Oral administration of Bifidobacterim bifidum for modulating microflora, acid and bile resistance, and physiological indices in mice.

Bifidobacteria are generally acknowledged as major gut microflora used as probiotics, which promote human health. In this study, the effects of the administration of Bifidobacterim bifidum on modulating gastrointestinal (GI) tract microflora, acid and bile resistance, and physiological indices in BALB/c mice were investigated. Results showed that B. bifidum can significantly improve the ecosystem of the GI tract by increasing the amount of probiotics and reducing the populations of pathogenic bacteria, as measured by plate count and real-time PCR. After exposure to simulated GI tract conditions, the growth of gut microflora in the B. bifidum group was higher than that in the control group when incubated for 12 h in MRS or nutrient broth adjusted to pH 2.0 or 3.0 or in the presence of a concentration of bile salt (0.45% m/v). The blood biochemical index was examined, and the physiological effect of the cell-free extract of gut microflora was evaluated by measuring the activity of various enzymes, including α-glucosidases, esterase, and lactate dehydrogenase. This study suggested that a B. bifidum strain can stabilize blood sugar, lower cholesterol levels in serum, and improve metabolic activity. Moreover, B. bifidum was a promising enhancer of microbial diversity in mouse intestine and played a vital role in human physiological processes, which can benefit the health of a host.

Positive impact of adding No.14v lymph node to D2 dissection on survival for distal gastric cancer patients after surgery with curative intent.

BACKGROUND: D2 lymphadenectomy has been increasingly regarded as standard surgical procedure for advanced gastric cancer (GC), while the necessity of No.14v lymph node (14v) dissection for distal GC is still controversial. METHODS: A total of 920 distal GC patients receiving at least a D2 lymph node dissection in Department of Gastric Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital were enrolled in this study, of whom, 243 patients also had the 14v dissected. Other 677 patients without 14v dissection were used for comparison. RESULTS: Forty-five (18.5%) patients had 14v metastasis. There was no significant difference in 3-year overall survival (OS) rate between patients with and without 14v dissection. Following stratified analysis, in TNM stages I, II, IIIa and IV, 14v dissection did not affect 3-year OS; in contrast, patients with 14v dissection had a significant higher 3-year OS than those without in TNM stages IIIb and IIIc. In multivariate analysis, 14v dissection was found to be an independent prognostic factor for GC patients with TNM stage IIIb/IIIc disease [hazard ratio (HR), 1.568; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.186-2.072; P=0.002]. GC patients with 14v dissection had a significant lower locoregional, especially lymph node, recurrence rate than those without 14v dissection (11.7% vs. 21.1%, P=0.035). CONCLUSIONS: Adding 14v to D2 lymphadenectomy may be associated with improved 3-year OS for distal GC staged TNM IIIb/IIIc.

N stages of the seventh edition of TNM Classification are the most intensive variables for predictions of the overall survival of gastric cancer patients who underwent limited lymphadenectomy.

The objective of this study was to explore the prognostic prediction rationality of the seventh edition N stage for gastric cancer (GC) patients who underwent the limited lymphadenectomy. Clinicopathological data of 769 GC patients who underwent the curative resection between 1997 and 2006 were analyzed for demonstration that the seventh edition N stage had the significant superiorities of prognostic prediction to the patients who underwent the limited lymphadenectomy. Although the extent of lymphadenectomy was associated with the overall survival (OS) of gastric cancer (GC) patients, the N stages of the seventh edition of the TNM Classification were identified as the most intensively independent predictors of GC prognosis. Using stratum analysis, the 5-year survival rate of patients who underwent limited lymphadenectomy was observed to be significantly different from that of patients who underwent extended lymphadenectomy, regardless of the extent of lymph node metastasis. Multinomial logistic regression analysis revealed that combining the extents of lymph node metastasis and lymphadenectomy could improve the prediction accuracy of patient survival status. Case control analysis showed that regardless of the extent of lymphadenectomy, the seventh edition N stages featured significant superiority for OS evaluation of GC patients. The seventh edition N stage had the prediction rationality for the OS of GC patients who underwent the limited lymphadenectomy.

[The impact of preoperative weight loss for gastric cancer patients after gastrectomy].

OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the prognostic influence of preoperative weight loss for gastric cancer. METHODS: A total of 672 gastric cancer patients who underwent gastrectomy between January 2003 and December 2007 were enrolled. The patients were categorized into three groups according to the percentage of weight loss before surgery: no weight loss group (0%), limited group ( < 10%), and severe group ( ≥ 10%). Compared the clinicopathologic characteristics and analyzed the prognostic influence of preoperative weight loss. The survival was analyzed by Kaplan-Meier survival cure and the prognostic factors were analyzed univariately and multivariately by Cox comparative hazard modal. RESULTS: Among the 672 cases gastric cancer, no weight loss group had 275 cases, limited group 294 cases, severe group 103 cases. Tumor size (F = 4.386) , tumor location (χ² = 15.864), depth of invasion (χ² = 22.245) , the number of lymph node metastasis (χ² = 23.803), Surgical approach (χ² = 18.423) , extent of lymphadenectomy (χ² = 8.172) , curability (χ² = 15.650) were discrepant among the three groups (all P < 0.05) . The 5-year survival rate of the patients with severe group was 28.0%, limited group was 37.7%, while the no weight loss group was 40.3% (χ² = 20.148, P < 0.05). Age (95% CI: 0.480 - 0.744, P = 0.000), weight loss before surgery (95% CI: 0.371 - 0.687, P = 0.000), depth invasion (95% CI: 0.289 - 0.564, P = 0.000), lymph node metastasis (95% CI: 0.451 - 0.783, P = 0.000), extent of lymphadenectomy (95% CI: 0.647 - 0.990, P = 0.000), curability (95% CI: 0.291 - 0.486, P = 0.000), postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy (95% CI: 0.511 - 0.846, P = 0.000) were associated with survival of this group. In multivariate analysis, age (HR = 1.618, 95% CI: 1.298 - 2.016, P = 0.000), weight loss before surgery (HR = 1.258, 95%CI: 1.077 - 1.469, P = 0.004), depth of invasion (HR = 1.810, 95% CI: 1.287 - 2.545, P = 0.000), N stage (HR = 1.555, 95% CI: 1.413 - 1.172, P = 0.000) were independent prognostic factors for survival. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with weight loss above 10% have poor prognosis. Weight loss before surgery may be an important independent prognostic factor for gastric cancer.

Hepatocellular carcinoma­cavernous hemangioma collision tumor: A case report.

Collision tumors consisting of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cavernous hemangioma (CH) are rare and the clinicopathological characteristics or cause of the tumors remain unclear. The present study reports the case of a 71-year-old male patient who was admitted to Sunshine Union Hospital (Weifang, China) due to a liver mass found during a routine physical examination. computed tomography scans showed a main lesion of ~4.0×4.2×3.5 cm in segment IV of the patient's liver and a nodule of ~2.4×2.2×1.3 cm in the lower-left part of the lesion, which was clearly demarcated from the main lesion. The capsule of the lesion was found to be intact during the operation performed to remove the tumor. The final patient diagnosis was of a HCC-CH collision tumor based on pathology. The patient underwent follow-up for 6 months after surgery and no recurrence was observed.

Enhancing effluent quality prediction in wastewater treatment plants through the integration of factor analysis and machine learning.

Precisely predicting the concentration of nitrogen-based pollutants from the wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) remains a challenging yet crucial task for optimizing operational adjustments in WWTPs. In this study, an integrated approach using factor analysis (FA) and machine learning (ML) models was employed to accurately predict effluent total nitrogen (Ntoteff) and nitrate nitrogen (NO3-Neff) concentrations of the WWTP. The input values for the ML models were honed through FA to optimize factors, thereby significantly enhancing the ML prediction accuracy. The prediction model achieved a highest coefficient of determination (R2) of 97.43 % (Ntoteff) and 99.38 % (NO3-Neff), demonstrating satisfactory generalization ability for predictions up to three days ahead (R2 >80 %). Moreover, the interpretability analysis identified that the denitrification factor, the pollutant load factor, and the meteorological factor were significant. The model framework proposed in this study provides a valuable reference for optimizing the operation and management of wastewater treatment.

Comparative proteomics analysis of Shiraia bambusicola revealed a variety of regulatory systems on conidiospore formation.

Shiraia bambusicola is a typical parasitic medicinal fungus of the family Shiraiaceae. The fruiting bodies of S. bambusicola cannot be cultivated artificially, and active substances can be effectively produced via fermentation. The mechanism of conidia production is a research hotspot in the industrial utilization and growth development of S. bambusicola. This study is the first to systematically study the proteomics of conidiospore formation from S. bambusicola. Near-spherical conidia were observed and identified by internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence detection. A total of 2,840 proteins were identified and 1,976 proteins were quantified in the mycelia and conidia of S. bambusicola. Compared with mycelia, 445 proteins were differentially expressed in the conidia of S. bambusicola, with 165 proteins being upregulated and 280 proteins being downregulated. The Gene Ontology (GO) annotation results of differential proteomics showed that the biological process of S. bambusicola sporulation is complex. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) metabolic pathway analysis showed that the differential proteins were mainly involved in starch and sucrose metabolism, biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, microbial metabolism in diverse environments, and other processes. Our in-depth speculative analysis showed that proteins related to carbohydrate metabolism were differentially expressed in conidiospore formation of S. bambusicola, suggesting the involvement of saccharides. Conidiation may increase the synthesis and release of ethanol and polysaccharide proteins such as glycoside hydrolase (GH), suppress host immunity, and facilitate S. bambusicola to infect and colonize of the host. In-depth analysis of differential proteomes will help reveal the molecular mechanism underlying the conidiospore formation of S. bambusicola, which has strong theoretical and practical significance.

PD-1 inhibitor combined with Docetaxel exerts synergistic anti-prostate cancer effect in mice by down-regulating the expression of PI3K/AKT/NFKB-P65/PD-L1 signaling pathway.

BACKGROUND: Docetaxel is a yew compound antitumor agent with accurate antitumor efficacy, but its application is limited due to the high and serious adverse effects, and finding effective combination therapy options is a viable strategy. Immune checkpoint inhibitors have become hotspots in enhancing anti-tumor immunity by blocking immune checkpoint signaling pathways, but their response rate to monotherapy use is not high and the efficacy is minimal. OBJECTIVE: To explore the anti-tumor effects and mechanisms of the combination of PD-1 inhibitors and Docetaxel through in vivo experiments and develop a feasible combination treatment for the therapy of prostate cancer. METHODS: Tumor-bearing mice were subcutaneously injected with 0.1 ml RM-1 cells. Treatment were taken when the tumor growed up to 3 mm, after which the tumor and spleen were removed to test the antitumor effect with Flow cytometric (FACS) analysis, Immunohistochemistry, Western Blot. RESULTS: In this experiment, we found that PD-1 inhibitors combined with Docetaxel had a synergistic effect on mouse prostate cancer, inhibited the growth of prostate cancer, improved survival and reduced adverse reactions, increased spleen and tumor infiltrative CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, especially in group combination with low-dose Docetaxel, and were related to the PI3K/AKT/NFKB-P65/PD-L1 signaling pathway. CONCLUSION: Our study confirms that PD-1 inhibitors in combination with Docetaxel are a viable combination strategy and provide a safe and effective combination option for the clinical treatment of prostate cancer.

Insight into the potentiality of nano zero-valent iron on enhancing the nitrite accumulation and phosphorus removal performance of endogenous partial denitrification systems.

Endogenous partial denitrification (EPD) has drawn a lot of interest due to its abundant nitrite (NO2--N) accumulation capacity. However, the poor phosphate (PO43--P) removal rate of EPD restricts its promotion and application. In this study, the potentiality of various nano zero-valent iron (nZVI) concentrations (0, 20, 40, and 80 mg/L) on NO2--N accumulation and PO43--P removal in EPD systems had been investigated. Results showed that nZVI improved NO2--N accumulation and PO43--P removal, with the greatest nitrate-to-nitrite transformation ratio (NTR) and PO43--P removal rate of 97.74 % and 64.76 % respectively at the optimum nZVI level (80 mg/L). Microbial community analysis also proved that nZVI had a remarkable influence on the microbial community of EPD. Candidatus_Competibacter was contribute to NO2--N accumulation which was enriched from 24.74 % to 40.02 %. The enrichment of Thauera, Rhodobacteraceae, Pseudomonas were contributed to PO43--P removal. The chemistry of nZVI not only compensated for the deficiency of biological PO43--P removal, but also enhanced NO2--N enrichment. Therefore, nZVI had the huge potentiality to improve the operational performance of the EPD system.

Revealing splenectomy-driven microRNA hsa-7b-5p's role in pancreatic cancer progression.

Splenectomy often accompanies distal pancreatectomy for pancreatic cancer. However, debates persist on splenic function loss impact. Prior studies in mice revealed splenectomy promotes pancreatic cancer growth by altering CD4/Foxp3 and CD8/Foxp3 ratios. The effect on other immune cells remains unclear. Clinical observations indicate splenectomy induces immunosuppression, heightening recurrence and metastasis risk. Here, we established an orthotopic pancreatic cancer model with splenectomy and observed a significant increase in tumor burden. Flow cytometry revealed elevated MDSCs, CD8+PD-1high+ T cells, and reduced CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, and natural killer cells in tumors. Bulk sequencing identified increased MicroRNA (miRNA) hsa-7b-5p post-splenectomy, correlating with staging and immunosuppression. Similar results were obtained in vivo by constructing a KPC-miRNA hsa-7b-5p-sh cell line. These findings suggest that splenectomy enhances the expression of miRNA hsa-7b-5p, inhibits the tumor immune microenvironment, and promotes pancreatic cancer growth.

Lymph node metastasis is mediated by suppressor of cytokine signaling-3 in gastric cancer.

Suppressor of cytokine signaling-3 (SOCS-3), a multifunctional cytokine, is able to inhibit cell growth and migration by blocking the Janus kinase signal transducers and activators of transcription signaling (JAK/STAT) activation in oncogenesis. Although the STAT-3 expression was associated with lymph node metastasis from gastric cancer (GC), the implication of SOCS-3 expression in GC is not clearly elucidated. In this study, SOCS-3, STAT-3, and pSTAT-3 were evaluated in GC tissues and adjacent non-tumor tissues of 107 patients who underwent curative surgery by immunohistochemistry. Further, SOCS-3 and STAT-3 mRNA levels were also detected simultaneously. In addition, survival analysis was performed between clinicopathologic variables and prognosis of GC patients. Finally, correlative analysis was adopted for demonstration the best predicator of the survival independent factor. From the results, we demonstrated that only the lymph node metastasis was the independent predictor of the overall survival (OS) of GC patients, although SOCS-3, STAT-3, and other variables were significantly relative to OS. With multivariate logistical regression analysis, SOCS-3, STAT-3, and the status of extragastric nodal metastasis were identified to be the independent factors of the lymph node metastasis from GC. Ultimately, the SOCS-3 was the best predicator of lymph node metastasis from GC identified with the nominal regression analysis. Therefore, SOCS-3 should be considered as a potential indicator for prediction the lymph node metastasis from GC.

Expression of Rac1, HIF-1α, and VEGF in gastric carcinoma: correlation with angiogenesis and prognosis.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1 (Rac1), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), as well as their correlation with angiogenesis and prognosis in gastric carcinoma. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The expression of Rac1, HIF-1α, VEGF, and CD34 (described in terms of microvessel density, MVD) was determined by immunohistochemical staining of tissues from 60 radically resected gastric cancer specimens. RESULTS: The proportion of specimens expressing Rac1, HIF-1α, and VEGF was 37/60 (61.7%), 35/60 (58.3%), and 40/60 (66.7%), respectively. The levels of Rac1, HIF-1α, and VEGF expression were significantly correlated with Lauren's classification, lymph node metastasis, and pathologic staging (p < 0.05). There were positive correlations between MVD and the expression of Rac1, HIF-1α, and VEGF. The mean survival time and 5-year survival rate in cases with positive Rac1, HIF-1α, and VEGF expression and MVD ≥ 26.3 were significantly shorter than those with negative Rac1, HIF-1α, and VEGF expression and MVD < 26.3. CONCLUSION: Rac1, HIF-1α, and VEGF play an important role in tumor invasion and metastasis, especially in tumor angiogenesis. Thus, testing the expression of Rac1, HIF-1α, and VEGF may be a useful index for treatment and prognosis.

Preparation of fast-swelling porous superabsorbent hydrogels with high saline water absorbency under pressure by foaming and post surface crosslinking.

Superabsorbent hydrogels have wide applications in many fields because of their unique water absorbing performance. In spite of decades of research about superabsorbent hydrogels, high water absorbency under pressure and fast-swelling are still challenging and highly desired for their applications in hygienic products and others. Here, we report preparation of fast-swelling porous starch-g-poly(acrylic acid)/poly(vinyl alcohol) superabsorbent hydrogels with high saline water absorbency under pressure by foaming and post surface crosslinking. 2,2'-Azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AIBA) was used as a new porogen instead of conventional porogens like NaHCO3. Post surface crosslinking of the hydrogel was achieved using glycerol via the esterification reaction. AIBA is a better porogen than NaHCO3 regarding porosity and swelling performance of the hydrogels, and its content has great influences on structure and swelling performance of the hydrogels including water absorbency and swelling rate. Also, the surface crosslinking using glycerol can significantly enhance the saline water absorbency under pressure (2 kPa) but at the sacrifice of the swelling rate. Consequently, the hydrogels show high water absorbencies for deionized water (560 g/g), 0.9 wt% NaCl solution (58 g/g), 0.9 wt% NaCl solution under 2 kPa pressure (28 g/g) and fast-swelling (31 s to achieve a highly swelling state).

Bonding Properties between Fly Ash/Slag-Based Engineering Geopolymer Composites and Concrete.

Concrete infrastructure repair remains a formidable challenge. The application of engineering geopolymer composites (EGCs) as a repair material in the field of rapid structural repair can ensure the safety of structural facilities and prolong their service life. However, the interfacial bonding performance of existing concrete with EGCs is still unclear. The purpose of this paper is to explore a kind of EGC with good mechanical properties, and to evaluate the bonding performance of EGCs with existing concrete using a tensile bonding test and single shear bonding test. At the same time, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were adopted to study the microstructure. The results showed that the bond strength increased with the increase in interface roughness. For polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-fiber-reinforced EGCs, the bond strength increased with the increase in FA content (0-40%). However, with the change of FA content (20-60%), the bond strength of polyethylene (PE) fiber-reinforced EGCs have little change. The bond strength of PVA-fiber-reinforced EGCs increased with the increase in water-binder ratio (0.30-0.34), while that of PE-fiber-reinforced EGCs decreased. The bond-slip model of EGCs with existing concrete was established based on the test results. XRD studies showed that when the FA content was 20-40%, the content of C-S-H gels was high and the reaction was sufficient. SEM studies showed that when the FA content was 20%, the PE fiber-matrix bonding was weakened to a certain extent, so the ductility of EGC was improved. Besides, with the increase in the water-binder ratio (0.30-0.34), the reaction products of the PE-fiber-reinforced EGC matrix gradually decreased.