CD206 modulates the role of M2 macrophages in the origin of metastatic tumors.

Tumor metastasis is a key factor affecting the life of patients with malignant tumors. For the past hundred years, scientists have focused on how to kill cancer cells and inhibit their metastasis in vivo, but few breakthroughs have been made. Here we hypothesized a novel mode for cancer metastasis. We show that the phagocytosis of apoptotic tumor cells by macrophages leads to their polarization into the M2 phenotype, and that the expression of stem cell related as well as drug resistance related genes was induced. Therefore, it appears that M2 macrophages have "defected" and have been transformed into the initial "metastatic cancer cells", and thus are the source, at least in part, of the distal tissue tumor metastasis. This assumption is supported by the presence of fused cells with characteristics of both macrophage and tumor cell observed in the peripheral blood and ascites of patients with ovarian cancer. By eliminating the expression of CD206 in M2 macrophages using siRNA, we show that the growth and metastasis of tumors was suppressed using both in vitro cell line and with experimental in vivo mouse models. In summary, we show that M2 macrophages in the blood circulation underwent a "change of loyalty" to become "cancer cells" that transformed into distal tissue metastasis, which could be suppressed by the knockdown of CD206 expression.

[Assessing the Environmental and Health Co-benefits of Accelerated Energy Transition and Industrial Restructuring: A Case Study of the BTHS Region].

The Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei-Shandong Region (BTHS Region) is a crucial area for China to achieve synergy between pollution reduction and carbon emissions reduction. The demand for coordinated emissions reduction through source control measures such as energy transition and industrial restructuring are becoming increasingly necessary owing to the limited emissions reductions potential of end-of-pipe control measures. An assessment of the emissions reductions potential through strengthening the end-of-pipe control in the BTHS Region, as well as the environmental and health co-benefits from accelerated energy transition and industrial restructuring, was conducted using scenario simulation analysis based on the REACH model. The results showed that the rapid implementation of the best available end-of-pipe control technologies in the BTHS Region would result in 3.3 µg·m-3 reduction in PM2.5 concentration in 2035, but this would not be sufficient to achieve the PM2.5 concentration control targets. Accelerating the energy transition and the industrial restructuring are necessary for the BTHS Region to achieve air quality standards, which would reduce the PM2.5 concentrations by 6.3 µg·m-3 in 2035. The environmental and health co-benefits brought by the accelerated transition could partially or entirely offset the additional socio-economic cost (compared to that of the current policy efforts) of approximately 0.9%-2.5% of the total regional GDP in achieving the PM2.5 concentration control target paid by the four provinces.

Theoretical investigation of the safety of nitroguanidine-based PBXs containing the nonpolar desensitizing agent polytetrafluoroethylene.

In order to elucidate why the inclusion of a nonpolar desensitizing agent in polymer-bonded explosives (PBXs) affects their sensitivity and safety, the intermolecular interactions between nitroguanidine (NQ: a high-energy-density compound used as a propellant and in explosive charges) and F2C=CF2 were investigated theoretically at the B3LYP/6-311++G(2df,2p) and M06-2X/6-311++G(2df,2p) levels of theory, focusing especially on the influence of intermolecular interactions on the strength of the trigger bond in NQ. The binding energies and mechanical properties of various ß-NQ/polytetrafluoroethylene PBXs were also studied via molecular dynamics simulation. The results indicated that the weak intermolecular interactions between NQ and F2C=CF2 have almost no effect on the strength of the trigger bond or the energy barrier to the intramolecular hydrogen-transfer isomerization of NQ, as also confirmed by an AIM (atoms in molecules) analysis. However, the mechanical properties of the ß-NQ/polytetrafluoroethylene PBXs were found to be significantly different from those of pure ß-NQ: the PBXs showed reduced rigidity and brittleness, greater elasticity and plasticity, and-in particular-better ductility. Thus, ß-NQ-based PBXs with polytetrafluoroethylene are predicted to be less sensitive to external mechanical stimuli, leading to reduced explosive sensitivity and increased safety. Only mechanical properties influence the safety of nitroguanidine-based PBXs.

GSTM1 null genotype and gastric cancer risk in the Chinese population: an updated meta-analysis and review.

Although a number of studies have been conducted on the association between the GSTM1 null genotype and gastric cancer in People's Republic of China, this association remains elusive and controversial. To clarify the effects of the GSTM1 null genotype on the risk of gastric cancer, an updated meta-analysis was performed in the Chinese population. Related studies were identified from PubMed, Springer Link, Ovid, Chinese Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Chinese Biology Medicine (CBM) up to November 5, 2014. A total of 25 studies including 3,491 cases and 5,921 controls were included in this meta-analysis. Overall, a significant association (odds ratio [OR] =1.47, 95% CI: 1.28-1.69) was found between the null GSTM1 and gastric cancer risk when all studies in Chinese population were pooled into the meta-analysis. In subgroup analyses stratified by quality score, geographic area, and source of controls, the same results were observed. Additionally, a significant association was found both in smokers and non-smokers. This meta-analysis showed that the null GSTM1 may be a potential biomarker for gastric cancer risk in Chinese, and further studies with gene-gene and gene-environment interactions are required for definite conclusions.

Mindfulness-based stress reduction for chronic insomnia in adults older than 75 years: a randomized, controlled, single-blind clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) for chronic insomnia and combined depressive or anxiety symptoms of older adults aged 75 years and over. DESIGN: A randomized, controlled, single-blind clinical trial. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Participants included 60 adults aged 75 years and over with chronic insomnia. Participants were randomly assigned to the eight-week MBSR group or the wait-list control group. Assessments using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Self-rating Anxiety Sale (SAS), and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) were taken at baseline and post-treatment. For each outcome measure, a repeated measures analysis of variance was used to detect changes across assessments. RESULTS: There was a significant time × group interaction for the PSQI global score (P = .006); the MBSR group had a decrease in the PSQI global score (Cohen׳s d = 1.12), while the control group did not (Cohen׳s d = -0.06). Among the PSQI components, there was a significant time × group interaction for daytime dysfunction (P = .048); Cohen׳s d of the MBSR group was 0.76, while Cohen׳s d of control group was -0.04. There was no significant time × group interaction for the SAS score (P = .116), while for the GDS there was a significant time × group interaction (P = .039); the Cohen׳s d value for the MBSR group was 1.20, and it was 0.12 for the control group. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that the MBSR program could be a beneficial treatment for chronic insomnia in adults aged 75 years and older.