Clinical significance of EPHX2 deregulation in prostate cancer.

The arachidonic acid (AA) metabolic pathway participates in various physiological processes as well as in the development of malignancies. We analyzed genomic alterations in AA metabolic enzymes in the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) prostate cancer (PCa) dataset and found that the gene encoding soluble epoxide hydrolase (EPHX2) is frequently deleted in PCa. EPHX2 mRNA and protein expression in PCa was examined in multiple datasets by differential gene expression analysis and in a tissue microarray by immunohistochemistry. The expression data were analyzed in conjunction with clinicopathological variables. Both the mRNA and protein expression levels of EPHX2 were significantly decreased in tumors compared with normal prostate tissues and were inversely correlated with the Gleason grade and disease-free survival time. Furthermore, EPHX2 mRNA expression was significantly decreased in metastatic and recurrent PCa compared with localized and primary PCa, respectively. In addition, EPHX2 protein expression correlated negatively with Ki67 expression. In conclusion, EPHX2 deregulation is significantly correlated with the clinical characteristics of PCa progression and may serve as a prognostic marker for PCa.

The TGF-ß/Smad Pathway Inhibitor SB431542 Enhances The Antitumor Effect Of Radiofrequency Ablation On Bladder Cancer Cells.

BACKGROUND: Despite progress achieved in bladder cancer (BC) treatment, the prognosis of patients with advanced BC (ie, metastasized from the bladder to other organs) is poor. Although mortality in cases of low-grade BC is rare, the treatment, such as a radical cystectomy, often has a serious impact on the quality of life. Thus, research is needed to identify more effective treatment strategies and this work is aiming to examine the potential application of combination of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and SB435142, a inhibitor of transforming growth factor ß (TGFß)/Smad pathway. METHODS: BC cells were transplanted into nude mice (thymusdeficiency Bal B/c) to form subcutaneous tumors. The mice with subcutaneous tumors were then treated with RFA and oral administration of SB431542, an inhibitor of TGFß/Smad signaling pathway. The antitumor effect of RFA was measured by tumor proliferation curves and micro-positron emission computed tomography (micro-PET). The effect of SB431542 on epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) related regulators in subcutaneous tumor tissues formed by BC cells were examined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) experiments. RESULTS: The SB431542 treatment enhanced the antitumor effect of RFA on subcutaneous growth of BCs. SB431542 also decreased EMT-related regulators in subcutaneous tumor tissues formed by BC cells in nude mice. CONCLUSION: SB431542 enhances the effect of RFA on BC.

[Time-resolved photoluminescence of stimulated emission from ZnO nanoparticles].

The detailed room-temperature stimulated emission including its optical characteristics from nanosized ZnO particles prepared by homogenous precipitation method was investigated by time-resolved spectroscopy both from the frequency domain and time domain. As the excitation power was increased, sharp lasing peaks with the full width at half maximum less than 0.5 nm, similar to the FP lasing mode resonator mode, emerged rapidly from the emission spectra. Additionally, a narrow emission line intensity increased rapidly with increasing the excitation intensity, which was due to an exciton-exciton collision recombination, and the threshold excitation intensity was 7.2 GW x cm(-2). Upon higher excitation power, the lasing mechanism switched to electron-hole plasma (EHP). The EHP emission in the case of a higher excitation intensity appeared at a lower energy side of the E-E emission and replaced completely the E-E emission at the higher intensity. The EHP emission was red-shifted when further increasing the excitation intensity, compared to the E-E emissions. It was demonstrated that the red-shift of the EHP peak was attributed to the relevant band gap renormalization effect in the electron-hole plasma regime. At the same time, the emission lifetime was drastically reduced. Time-resolved spectrum of P band suggested a Gaussian-like decay time with only a few tens of picoseconds, compared to 2 ps, which is the limit of streak camera time resolution. The dynamic processes of lasing behavior and characteristics of the lasing emission in ZnO nanoparticles could be valuable and provide the information on crystal quality, exciton and lasing action in ZnO.

[Surface emission characteristics of ZnO nanoparticles].

The size-dependence of photoluminescence (PL) of ZnO nanoparticles with diameter from 17 to 300 nm was demonstrated by time resolved laser spectroscopy. Broad PL spectra were obtained and found to consist of three Gaussian components. The authors found that the PL peak position and relative amplitude depend on the size of nanoparticles for the Gaussian PL band inside the energy band-gap. The Gaussian band Xc3 is believed to be associated with the transitions between surface states. It is well known that as the dimensions of a semiconductor are reduced to the nanometer scale, one of the key features is the large surface-to-volume ratio. The larger surface-to-volume ratio in nanostructures means the larger bulk density of dangling bonds. The existence of dangling bond in a crystal surface is likely to change a state localized by splitting the state out of the border of the energy gap. The Gaussian peak Xc3 lying inside the band gap of ZnO indicates the existence of such initial states in the forbidden bulk band gap. Furthermore, we found that with the decrease in particle size, the Gaussian curve Xc3 shifts to the lower energy. With the particle size increaseing, the comparative amplitude of PL band Xc3 descends rapidly and so does the corresponding relative PL intensity. The sensitive correlation between the particle size and the optical properties of the below gap broadband shows a key role of the surface states recombination in PL of nanosized particles. Furthermore, our exploration indicates that the surface states recombination plays a dominant role in PL of nanostructures with particle sizes down to a certain degree.

[Photoluminescence of one dimension ZnO single crystal columns array excited by different space variation direction].

Highly-oriented single crystal ZnO columns array was prepared by a simple two-step evaporation oxidation method. And the photoluminescence properties of different direction excitation were investigated. Upon different direction excitation, the emission spectra were greatly different. Besides the relative intensity of different emission peak of PL changed; some new emission peaks werealso detected at high excitation power. This showed that the energy absorption, transmission and emission in one dimension ZnO column array were directional. The up-conversion polarized photoluminescence spectra were also found, and the intensities of 400 nm emission peak were affected by the laser polarization orientation. These results showed that the intensity and shape of PL were related with the direction and polarization of the excitation laser. The results also give some important references for subminiature one dimension line array optoelectric device.

Optical properties of nanocrystalline Y2O3:Eu depending on its odd structure.

The structure of nanocrystalline Y2O3:Eu prepared by a combustion reaction was analyzed by XRD and high-resolution electron microscopy. Compared with a large-scale particles, 5-nm Y2O3:Eu particles presented as distorted crystallite and rough surfaces. Luminescent and absorption properties of nano-Y2O3:Eu showed remarkably particle size effects. At Y2O3:Eu particle sizes smaller than 10 nm some new results were observed: (a) a red shift of the charge-transfer-state absorption; (b) new emission bands of Eu3+ in the 5D0 --> 7F2 region; (c) luminescent decay of energy level 5D0 of Eu3+ turning to a two-step exponential; and (d) a pronounced increase in quenching concentration and much lower phonon density compared with those of the bulk material. All these phenomena can be attributed to the effect of the softened lattice and surface state of the nanomaterial. The latter was confirmed by stronger excitation by the host absorption after the surface modification.