The negative feedback loop FAM129A/CXCL14 aggravates the progression of esophageal cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the molecular mechanisms of FAM129A in regulating the progression of esophageal cancer and its prognosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: FAM129A levels in esophageal cancer tissues and paracancerous ones were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Its influences on clinical features and prognosis in esophageal cancer patients were analyzed. Changes in proliferation and apoptosis in esophageal cancer cells after knockdown of FAM129A were examined by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), 5-Ethynyl-2'- deoxyuridine (EdU) assay and flow cytometry, respectively. The feedback loop FAM129A/CXCL14 was finally assessed. RESULTS: FAM129A was upregulated in esophageal cancer tissues. High level of FAM129A predicted advanced tumor staging, large tumor size and poor prognosis in esophageal cancer patients. Knockdown of FAM129A inhibited proliferative ability and induced apoptosis in OE19 and OE33 cells. In addition, knockdown of FAM129A upregulated protein level of CXCL14 in esophageal cancer cells. CXCL14 was downregulated in esophageal cancer tissues and negatively correlated to FAM129A level. The negative feedback loop FAM129A/CXCL14 was responsible for aggravating the malignant phenotypes of esophageal cancer cells. CONCLUSIONS: FAM129A is upregulated in esophageal cancer samples, and it is linked to tumor staging, tumor size and poor prognosis. FAM129A aggravates the progression of esophageal cancer by negatively regulating CXCL14 level.

[Clinical study of peripheral vascular intervention via radial artery].

Objective: To discuss the safety and feasibility of transradial access (TRA) in performing peripheral arterial intervention. Methods: The clinical data of the patients underwent peripheral vascular intervention via TRA in our hospital from September 2017 to March 2019 were reviewed. The success rate of radial artery puncture and subsequent operation after puncture, and related postoperative complications within 30 days were analyzed. Results: The clinical data of 112 peripheral arterial intervention procedures via TRA performed on 106 patients were reviewed, including transcatheter arterial chemoembolization in 83 cases, bronchial arterial infusion in 4 cases, pelvic tumor embolization in 11 cases and 14 other cases. The success rate of all interventional punctures was 97.3% (109/112), the operative success rate of interventional procedures was 98.2% (107/109). The TRA operation was failed in 5 patients, who were then converted to receive the femoral artery puncture and complete successfully. The severe complication of the operation was aortic dissection (2 cases). Minor complications included 2 cases of radial artery occlusion, radial artery spasm, arm pain and puncture point hematoma for each case. The severe complication and the minor complication rates were 1.8% (2/112) and 4.5% (5/112), respectively. Sixteen emergency operations were performed successfully, and no complication occurred. Conclusion: The TRA is a clinically safe and feasible approach for peripheral arterial interventional procedure.

Seebeck rectification enabled by intrinsic thermoelectrical coupling in magnetic tunneling junctions.

An intrinsic thermoelectric coupling effect in the linear response regime of magnetic tunneling junctions (MTJ) is reported. In the dc response, it leads to a nonlinear correction to Ohm's law. Dynamically, it enables a novel Seebeck rectification and second harmonic generation, which apply for a broad frequency range and can be magnetically controlled. A phenomenological model on the footing of the Onsager reciprocal relation and the principle of energy conservation explains very well the experimental results obtained from both dc and frequency-dependent transport measurements performed up to GHz frequencies. Our work refines previous understanding of magnetotransport and microwave rectification in MTJs. It forms a new foundation for utilizing spin caloritronics in high-frequency applications.

Development in vitro and mitochondrial fate of interspecies cloned embryos.

Although the technique of interspecies somatic cell nuclear transfer can be used to increase the population size of endangered mammals, the mitochondrial heteroplasmy in cloned embryos and animals makes this idea doubtful. In present study, goat-sheep cloned embryos were constructed by fusing goat foetal fibroblasts (GFFs) into sheep oocytes and then cultured in vitro to investigate the capability of sheep oocyte dedifferentiating GFF nucleus. Moreover, at each stage of 1- (immediately after fused), 2-, 4-, 8-, 16-cell, morula and blastocyst, the copy number of mtDNA from GFF and sheep oocyte was examined using real-time PCR. The results showed that: 7.4% of the fused cloned embryos can develop to the blastocyst stage; in the process of one cell to the morula stage, the copy number of two kinds of mtDNA was stable relatively; however, in the process of morula to the blastocyst stage, the decreasing in the copy number of GFF-derived mtDNA, while the increasing in sheep oocyte-derived, resulted in their ratio of decreasing sharply from 2.0 +/- 1.0% to 0.012 +/- 0.004%. This study demonstrates that: (i) the goat-sheep cloned embryos have the ability to develop to blastocyst in vitro; (ii) from the morula stage to the blastocyst stage of goat-sheep cloned embryos, goat derived mitochondria can be gradually replaced with those from sheep oocyte.

Effects of berberine on intracellular free calcium in smooth muscle cells of Guinea pig colon.

AIM: To investigate the effects and mechanism of berberine (Ber) on the intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) in the smooth muscle cells of guinea pig colon. METHODS: The changes of [Ca(2+)](i) were assayed by the biwavelength spectrophotometry with Fura 2-AM in the cell suspension of the smooth muscle cells, which were freshly isolated from guinea pig colon. RESULTS: In the resting state, [Ca(2+)](i) in the HEPES-Ringer solution (CaCl(2) 1.5 mmol.l(-1)) was (108 +/- 9.4) nmol.l(-1) (n = 7). Ber had no significant effects on the resting [Ca(2+)](i), but markedly inhibited the increase in [Ca(2+)](i )induced by 60 mmol.l(-1) KCl in a concentration-dependent manner. The value of IC(50 )was 34.09 micromol.l(-1). 30 and 100 micromol.l(-1) Ber also inhibited the elevation of [Ca(2+)](i) evoked by 10 micromol.l(-1) Ach in a dose-dependent fashion in the presence or absence of extracellular Ca(2+). In addition, Ber inhibited the elevation of [Ca(2+)](i) stimulated by cyclopiazonic acid (CPA) in a dose-dependent manner. This effect was more potent in the HEPES-Ringer solution (IC(50) = 37.79 micromol.l(-1)) than Ca(2+)-free medium (IC(50) = 49.70 micromol.l(-1)). CONCLUSIONS: Ber possessed an inhibitory effect on the influx of extracellular Ca(2+) and Ca(2+)-release from intracellular stores in the smooth muscle cells of colon. That is to say Ber may be a blocker of Ca(2+) channels.

[Effects of berberine on intracellular calcium concentration in smooth muscle cells of guinea pig colon].

The purpose of the present investigation is to study how berberine (Ber) affect the intracellular free calcium concentration ( Ca(2+) (i)) of the smooth muscle cells of guinea pig colon by means of biwavelength spectrophotometry with Fura 2 AM in a cell suspension specimen. In the resting state, Ca(2+) (i) in HEPES Ringer solution (CaCl2 1.5 mmol/L) was 108 9.4 nmol/L (n=7), which was not significantly affected by Ber. On the other hand, Ber inhibited the increased Ca(2+) (i) induced by 60 mmol/L KCl in a dose dependent manner, with a value of IC(50) being 34.09 micromol/L. 30, 100 micromol/L Ber also inhibited 10 micromol/L ACh evoked Ca(2+) (i) elevation in a dose dependent manner either in the presence or absence of extracellular Ca(2+). In addition, Ber inhibited cyclopiazonic acid (CPA) stimulated Ca(2+) (i) elevation dose dependently. This effect was more potent in HEPES Ringer solution (IC(50)=37.79 micromol/L) than in Ca(2+) free medium (IC(50)=49.70 micromol/L). The above results suggest that Ber exerts an inhibitory effect on the extracellular Ca(2+) influx and the Ca(2+) release from intracellular stores.

Evaluation of medical cost lost due to smoking in Chinese cities.

Smoking induces substantial diseases on both individual and the whole society. To identify the true smoking-attributable economic loss, we introduce medical cost accounting as a means to calculate disease-specific medical cost, including inpatient and outpatient cost of those diseases caused by smoking. Medical cost is defined as health resource consumption in terms of money. Cost is allocated to department and services according to coefficient of benefit and operation time. The study in 1988 indicates that total smoking-attributable medical cost is 2.32 billion RMB Yuan in China, 1.70 billion RMB Yuan for outpatient, 0.62 billion RMB Yuan for inpatient. If indirect cost is included, the cost will be greater. Chronic obstructive emphysema has the highest proportion (55.41%) in smoking attributable medical cost.

[Isolation and fermentation conditions of polyvinyl alcohol-degrading enzyme producing strain].

A bacterium D8 strain which high efficiently degrading PVA was isolated from waste water of factory. The strain possesses the abilities of completely degrading 0.5 per cent of PVA (500, 1700) included in the culture medium for four days. It was identified Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes. Fermentation conditions of the strain have been investigated. The suitable medium consisted of PVA 1.5% (NH4)2SO40.1%, K2HPO4 0.24%, KH2PO4 0.04%, MgSO4.7H2O 0.035%, NaCl 0.01%, FeSO4 0.001%, yeast extract 0.15%, pH 7.5. The optimal condition for enzyme production are as follows: 250 ml shake filled with 30 ml medium, 30 degrees C, 160n/min incubation period 72 h. Under such conditions enzyme activity is highest.