Abstract To study the effect of Jiawei Huangqi Guizhi Decoction on gastrointestinal hormones and TGF-β3 signal pathways in rats with chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG). The model was created by methylnitrosoguanidine (MNNG) comprehensive method. After successful modeling, it was divided into three groups: model group (MC group), frolic acid group (AC group), modified Huangqi Guizhi Decoction high dose group (HH group), modified Huangqi Guizhi Decoction middle dose group (HM group), and modified Huangqi Guizhi Decoction low dose group (HL group). Gastric pathology was observed by HE staining. The levels of gastrin (GAS) and motilin (MTL) in rat serum were detected by ELISA assay. After HE staining, the histopathological sections were analyzed. Inflammatory factors infiltration and disorder of mucosal epithelial cells were found in the model group, which were improved to some extent after administration. According to the pathological chart analysis and score of rats in each group, compared with the model group, the gastric tissue damage of rats in each administration group has been improved in different degrees, among which the pathological scores of HH and HM groups were lower, and the corresponding damage degree was smaller. According to the test results of ELISA, Jiawei Huangqi Guizhi Decoction could reduce the contents of GAS, TGF-β3, and increase MTL abundance in the serum of rats, thus accelerating the apoptosis of tumor cells and inhibiting cancer. Jiawei Huangqi Guizhi Decoction played a positive role in preventing the occurrence of gastric cancer through reducing the concentrations of GAS and TGF-β3 in serum, and increasing the concentration of MLT in serum. This results provided a new treatment idea for CAG.

Abstract Based on the leakage of the coalbed methane (CBM) drilling engineering practice of Luan mining area in China, the author determines the safe drilling fluid density range for the stable borehole wall based on borehole wall collapse and fracture pressure. Such parameters as the drilling fluid hydraulic parameters (including pump pressure, pump power and displacement, nozzle diameter, bit pressure drop, bit hydraulic horsepower, circulation pressure drop, impact force and jet velocity) and drilling parameters (including weight-on-bit, drilling rotary speed, bit tooth wear) in each borehole section are optimized. Taking the lowest drilling cost as the controlling target, the drilling parameter optimization model is designed and solved by the genetic algorithm. Furthermore, a software named “CBM borehole wall stability parameter design and optimization” characterized by visualization and applicable for drilling formation condition, which can be used to design and optimize the borehole drilling technological parameters, is developed. This program includes such modules as drilling fluid density prediction, drilling technology design, database management, user management and help. The developed software is proven to solve the drilling leakage effectively in the No.67 borehole practice, which can help drilling engineers to optimize CBM drilling technological parameters safely and quickly.

Diphenylacetylene (DPA) is a precursor of stilbene and benzil, and reduction of DPA or its derivatives with metallic reagents is both an old and contemporary topic of research. By means of density function theory (DFT) calculations, a detailed investigation of the mechanism of the hydrogenation of DPA over Pd clusters was carried out at the molecular level. The various species structures in the hydrogenation of DPA over Pd clusters were optimized and analyzed. The calculations indicate that the reactions over different Pd clusters share similar reaction mechanisms, and the entire reaction path could be divided into approximately two stages: stage 1: the hydrogenation of DPA to stilbene by the addition of one hydrogen molecule; and stage 2: the hydrogenation of stilbene to the final product diphenylethane (DPE) with the recovery of the catalyst. The Pd2- and Pd3-catalyzed systems exhibit the smallest rate-determining step (RDS) energy barrier, and these systems might be the most active and effective catalytic species among the Pd clusters. Although the Pd clusters used in the current work are simple systems, these clusters could eventually provide insights into the specific structure of the Pd catalyst, since Pd and/or clusters and/or nanoparticles could be envisioned as active catalysts in experiments.

Lung cancer is the most common malignancy worldwide and is characterized by rapid progression, aggressive behavior, frequent recurrence, and poor prognosis. The TCGA database indicates that chondroitin polymerizing factor (CHPF) is overexpressed in human lung cancer tissues compared with normal tissues and this overexpression corresponds to shorter overall survival in lung cancer patients. In this study, to investigate the function of CHPF in lung cancer, lentiviral vectors expressing CHPF shRNA were stably transduced into A549 and H1299 cells. Compared to shCtrl cells, CHPF knockdown cells had significantly reduced proliferation. Furthermore, the silencing of CHPF in A549 and H1299 cells resulted in apoptotic induction, which led to decreased colony formation. Wound healing and transwell invasion assays revealed that CHPF could positively regulate the migration of lung cancer cells. The tumorigenic role of CHPF was also validated in nude mouse xenograft models. Affymetrix gene chip analysis indicated that CHPF regulated the proliferation and invasion of lung cancer cells through CDH1, RRM2, MKI67, and TNFRSF10B. We thus highlight CHPF as a novel target for lung cancer treatment.

Abstract Background: Gastric cancer is a common malignant tumor with high morbidity and mortality worldwide, which seriously affects human health. Gramicidin is a short peptide antibiotic which could be used for treating infection induced by bacteria or fungi. However, the anti-cancer effect of gramicidin on gastric cancer cells and its underlying mechanism remains largely unknown. Results: Gastric cancer cells SGC-7901, BGC-823 and normal gastric mucosal cells GES-1 were treated with different concentrations of gramicidin respectively. The results of CCK-8 experiment revealed cellular toxicity of gramicidin to cancer cells while cell colony formation assay showed that gramicidin significantly inhibited the proliferation of gastric cancer cells, but had little effect on normal gastric mucosal cells. In addition, the wound healing assay showed that gramicidin inhibited the migration of SGC-7901 cell. Meanwhile, apoptosis and cell cycle analysis revealed that gramicidin induced cell apoptosis with G2/M cell cycle inhibition. Furthermore, western blot analysis demonstrated that gramicidin down-regulated the expression of cyclinD1 and Bcl-2 as well as the FoxO1 phosphorylation. Conclusions: The current study illustrated the anti-tumor activity of gramicidin on gastric cancer cells, providing a possibility for gramicidin to be applied in clinical practice for the treatment of gastric cancer.

Abstract Cordyceps militaris 202 is a potential fungus for biotransformation zein, due to its various proteases, high tolerance and viability in nature. In this article, single factor experiment and response surface methodology were applied to optimize the liquid fermentation conditions and improve the ability of biotransformation zein. The optimized fermentation conditions were as follows: inoculum concentration of 19%, volume of liquor of 130 mL/500 mL and pH of 4.7. Under this condition, the degree of hydrolysis (DH) was 27.31%. The zein hydrolysates from fungi fermentation maintained a high thermal stability. Compared to the original zein, the zein hydrolysates were found to have high solubility, which most likely results in improved foaming and emulsifying properties. Overall, this research demonstrates that hydrolysis of zein by C. militaris 202 is a potential method for improving the functional properties of zein, and the zein hydrolysates can be used as functional ingredients with an increased antioxidant effect in both food and non-food applications.

Abstract Wide compatibility and erect panicles are important traits for heterosis and ideal plant type breeding in rice and accordingly are targets for rice yield improvement. In this study, a multiplex PCR system based on functional markers was developed to simultaneously identify genotypes of the wide compatibility allele S5-n and the erect panicle allele dep1. Forty-nine rice varieties in the Huang-Huai-Hai region of China were identified using this system. Thirty-three varieties contained the erect panicle allele dep1 and two varieties contained the wide compatibility allele S5-n. The frequency of dep1 was obviously higher than that of S5-n. The multiplex PCR method was also tested using an F2 segregating population and was found to be simple, efficient, and reliable. It will be useful in marker-assisted selection based on the wide compatibility allele S5-n and erect panicle allele dep1 to breed super rice varieties using indica and japonica heterosis.

Abstract Possibility of a water-transportation mode to experience numerous accidental loads is predicted limitless and always demand sustainable analysis. Impact phenomenon raises as main reason of environmental damage, for instance, grounding contributes in form of short-time impact and produces massive damage on the bottom structure of a marine vessels, e.g. ship. In this work, a series of numerical experiment is conducted with considering contribution of several parameters, namely impact location and seabed topology on the bottom structure of a tanker ship. The initial stage is conducted to obtain validation of the numerical method and configuration using impact test to ensure reliability of the present methodology which considers the finite element approach. In the second stage, proposed scenarios are calculated and overall evaluation of the damage extent is performed to observe resistance and behaviour of the bottom structure. Structural condition after grounding, rupture energy and crushing force are presented to observe history of grounding process. Contribution of the numerical parameter in form of meshing size is presented to provide adequate consideration in both of physical and numerical parameters. Finally, tendency of the target structure is summarized to provide prediction of further behaviour during the bottom structure experiences grounding with various scenarios. An alternative solution in respecting time cost is proposed and can be considered for other impact simulation and analysis.

Glutenin macfopolymef (GMP), an important component of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), consists of high weight (HMW-GS) and low-molecular-weight (LMW-GS) gutenin subunits. In wheat, the subunit composition and GMP characteristics are important factors affecting processing quality. The objective of this study was to characterize the effects of soil water status, cultivar and grain position in wheat spike, on GMP particles distribution. Wheat cultivars Jinan 17, Yannong 24 and Lumai 21 with different end-use quality were used in 2009-2011 growing season, and two water regimes (irrigated and rainfed): two irrigations (750 m³ ha-1 each at jointing and booting stage) for irrigated, and none for rainfed. The experimental design was a complete randomized block with three replicates; data were analyzed whith ANOVA and Tukey test (p ≤ 0.05) for treatment means, using SPSS. All determinations were replicated three times. Plot dimension was 3 mx3 m. At maturity, the heads flowering on the same date were sampled and detached as basal and distal grains according to the position on spikelets. GMP particles distribution and HMW-GS content were affected (p ≤ 0.05) by soil water, genotype and grain position. Basal grains on middle spikelets showed higher (p ≤ 0.05) HMW-GS and GMP content than those in distal grains at maturity. The volume and surface area percentage of >100 µm GMP particles in basal grains were higher (p ≤ 0.05) than that in distal grains, but those of <12 µm particles in basal grains were lower than that in distal grains. Compared with irrigation, percent volume and surface area of >100 µm GMP particles in basal and distal grains were significantly increased (p ≤ 0.05), and content of HMW-GS and GMP were also increased in rainfed condition. As a result, basal and distal grains have different quality characteristics and application. A promising breeding strategy would be to improve grain yield and quality by increasing average grain weight rather than grain number within a spikelet. When managing for wheat production, the water factor was the most important manipulation to regulate the yield and quality.

El macropolímero de glutenina (GMP), un componente importante del trigo (Triticum aestivum L.), se compone de sublimidades de glutenina con peso molecular alto (HMW-GS) y bajo (LMW-GS). En el trigo, la composición de subunidades y características de GMP son factores importantes que afectan la calidad del procesamiento. El objetivo de este estudio fue caracterizar los efectos del estado hídrico del suelo, los cultivares y la posición del grano en la espiga de trigo sobre la distribución de las partículas GMP. Los cultivares de trigo Jinan 17, Yannong 24 y Lumai 21, con diferente calidad en el uso final, fueron utilizados en la temporada de crecimiento 2009-2011 y se aplicaron dos regímenes hídricos (riego y temporal): dos riegos (750 m³ ha-1 cada uno en la etapa de elongación del tallo y formación de la espiga) para los de riego, y ninguno para los de temporal. El diseño experimental fue bloques completos al azar con tres repeticiones y los datos se analizaron con ANDEVA y la prueba de Tukey (p ≤ 0.05), para comparar de las medias de los tratamientos, usando SPSS. Todas las determinaciones se repitieron tres veces. La dimensión de la parcela fue de 3 mx3 m. En la madurez, las espigas floreciendo en la misma fecha se muestrearon y separaron como granos basales y distales según la posición en las espiguillas. La distribución de las partículas GMP y el contenido de HMW-GS fueron afectados (p ≤ 0.05) por el agua del suelo, el genotipo y la posición del grano. Los granos basales en las espiguillas de la parte media tenían más (p ≤ 0.05) HMW-GS y GMP que los distales en madurez. El volumen y porcentaje del área superficial de las partículas GMP >100 µm en granos basales fueron mayores (p ≤ 0.05) que en los distales, pero los de partículas de <12 µm en los granos basales eran menores que en los distales. En comparación con el riego, el porcentaje de volumen y área superficial de partículas GMP > 100 µm en los granos basales y distales aumentaron significativamente (p<0.05), y los contenidos de HMW-GS y GMP también aumentaron en condiciones de temporal. Como resultado, los granos basales y distales tienen características diferentes de calidad y aplicación. Una estrategia de mejora genética prometedora sería mejorar el rendimiento del grano y su calidad aumentando el peso medio del grano en lugar del número de granos dentro de una espiguilla. En la producción de trigo, el manejo del factor agua fue el más importante para regular el rendimiento y la calidad.

OBJETIVO: Um método simples para reduzir a lesão de isquemia/reperfusão que pode acompanhar a cirurgia cardíaca teria grande valor clínico. O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar o efeito da perfusão hiperosmótica na isquemia/reperfusão em corações isolados de ratos perfundidos. MÉTODOS: Quarenta ratos machos Sprague-Dawley foram divididos aleatoriamente e tiveram os seus corações isolados perfundidos com tampão osmótico normal ou tampão hiperosmótico com a adição de glucose. Os corações foram então submetidos a 30 minutos de isquemia, seguida de 30 min de reperfusão. O fluxo coronariano, tempo de parada isquêmica, arritmia de reperfusão e da função ventricular foram registrados. Vazamento creatinofosfoquinase na artéria coronária, o miocárdio e atividade de superóxido dismutase e catalase foram também examinados. RESULTADOS: Crações de ratos com perfusão hiperosmótica apresentaram maior fluxo coronariano, tempo prolongado de parada isquêmica (10,60 vs. 5,63 min, P<0,005), menor pontuação de reperfusão arritmica (3,2 vs. 5,3, P<0,001), melhor função ventricular e menos vazamento de creatina fosfoquinase (340,1 vs. 861,9, P<0,001) do que controles normais osmóticos. Teor de catalase e atividade do miocárdio também tiveram aumento significativo (1435 vs. 917 peso U/g de peso fresco, P<0,001) em corações perfundidos com solução hiperosmótica em comparação com os controles normais osmóticos. CONCLUSÃO: O pré-tratamento com perfusão hiperosmótica em corações de ratos normais, o que é atribuído, em parte, ao aumento da atividade antioxidante, pode oferecer efeitos benéficos de isquemia e reperfusão induzida por lesão, aumentando o fluxo coronário e diminuindo a arritmia de reperfusão.

OBJECTIVE: A simple method to reduce the ischemia/reperfusion injury that can accompany cardiac surgery would have great clinical value. This study was to investigate the effect of hyperosmotic perfusion on ischemia/reperfusion injury in isolated perfused rat hearts. METHOD: Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided either to have their isolated hearts perfused with normal osmotic buffer or buffer made hyperosmotic by addition of glucose. Hearts were then subjected to 30 min ischemia followed by 30 min reperfusion. Coronary flow, time to ischemic arrest, reperfusion arrhythmia, and ventricular function were recorded. Creatine phosphokinase leakage into the coronary artery, and myocardial content and activity of superoxide dismutase and catalase were also examined. RESULTS: Rat hearts with hyperosmotic perfusion showed higher coronary flow, a prolonged time to ischemic arrest (10.60 vs. 5.63 min, P<0.005), a lower reperfusion arrthythmia score (3.2 vs. 5.3, P<0.001), better ventricular function, and less creatine phosphokinase leakage (340.1 vs. 861.9, P<0.001) than normal osmotic controls. Myocardial catalase content and activity were increased significantly (1435 vs. 917 U/g wet weight, P<0.001) in hearts perfused with hyperosmotic solution in comparison to the normal osmotic controls. CONCLUSION: Pretreatment with hyperosmotic perfusion in normal rat hearts, which is attributed partly to the increased antioxidative activity, could provide beneficial effects from ischemia and reperfusion-induced injury by increasing coronary flow, and decreasing reperfusion arrhythmia.

The attenuated Salmonella typhimurium χ4550 strain was used to harbour a reconstructed bicistronic DNA vaccine against porcine rotavirus, which carried the rotavirus nonstructural protein 4 (NSP4) and VP7 genes simultaneously. Using a balanced lethal system, the kanamycin resistance gene of expressing eukaryotic plasmids pVAX1 and pVAXD were replaced by the aspartate β-semialdehyde dehydrogenase (asd) gene. The NSP4 cleavage product (259-525) of rotavirus OSU strain and VP7 full-length genes were amplified by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and then inserted into the eukaryotic single-expression plasmid, pVAX1-asd, and the eukaryotic dual-expression plasmid, pVAXD-asd, respectively. The recombinant plasmids pVAX1-asd-NSP4, pVAX1-asd-VP7 and pVAXD-asd-NSP4-VP7 were transformed into the attenuated S. typhimurium χ4550 strain by electrotransformation. An indirect immunofluorescence assay of the expressed COS-7 cell suggested that the recombinant S. typhimurium χ4550 strain was constructed successfully. The recombinant S. typhimurium χ4550 strain was orally administered to BALB/c mice. The group immunised with dual-expression plasmids produced a significantly higher level of serum Immunoglobulin G (IgG) and intestinal Immunoglobulin A (IgA) than the group immunised with single-expression plasmids. These results indicated that eukaryotic bicistronic plasmid DNA vaccines could be successfully constructed to enhance humoural, mucosal and cellular immune response against rotavirus infection.

The apxIC genes of the Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serovar 5 (SC-1), encoding the ApxI-activating proteins, was deleted by a method involving sucrose counter-selection. In this study, a mutant strain of A. pleuropneumoniae (SC-1) was constructed and named AapxIC/ ompP2. The mutant strain contained foreign DNA in the deletion site of ompP2 gene of Haemophilus parasuis. It showed no haemolytic activity and lower virulence of cytotoxicity in mice compared with the parent strain, and its safety and immunogenicity were also evaluated in mice. The LD50 data shown that the mutant strain was attenuated 30-fold, compared with the parent strain (LD50 of the mutant strain and parent strain in mice were determined to be 1.0 x 10(7) CFU and 3.5 x 10(5) CFU respectively). The mutant strain that was attenuated could secrete inactivated ApxIA RTX toxins with complete antigenicity and could be used as a candidate live vaccine strain against infections of A. pleuropneumoniae and H. parasuis.

Nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes (CNx)/carbon nanotube intramolecular junctions were prepared by a simple continuous chemical vapour deposition (CVD) method at 650 °C. The catalyst was obtained by calcination of a layered double hydroxide precursor containing Fe and Mg. By switching between hexane and ethylenediamine repeatedly in the CVD process, multiple intramolecular junctions composed of CNx with a bamboo-like structure and empty hollow carbon nanotubes were observed, and such different structures at both sides of the junctions indicated some interesting properties and offered potential applications for future nanodevices.

Nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes (CNx) were synthesized by the catalytic chemical vapour deposition of ethylenediamine with layered double hydroxides (LDHs) containing iron, cobalt or nickel as catalyst precursors at 650 °C. The catalytically active metal particles were obtained by calcination of LDHs followed by reduction. X-ray diffraction was used to characterize the structures of the precursors and their calcined products. Transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy were used to characterize the grown CNx. The results show that the CNx grown with Mg2 Fe-LDH as catalyst precursor have abamboo-like morphology and large diameter, while hollow tubes are obtained with CoMgAl- and NiMgAl-LDH as catalyst precursors. The CNx grown with CoMgAl-LDH have the highest N-doped content and the CNx grown with NiMgAl-LDH have the highest degree of graphitization among these three products.

Apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) is a mitochondrial flavoprotein that mediates both NADH-oxidizing and caspase-independent apoptosis. Further, the proapoptotic activity of AIF is located in the C-terminus of AIF, although the precise minimum sequence responsible for apoptosis induction remains to be investigated. In the present study, we generated two truncated AIFs, AIFΔ1-480-FLAG, which is a FLAG-tagged C-terminal peptide comprising amino acids from 481 to 613, and AIF360-480 containing amino acids from 360 to 480 of AIF. We used confocal microscopy to demonstrate that both the truncated proteins are expressed and located in the cytoplasm of transfected cells. AIFΔ1-480 but not AIF360-480 induces apoptosis in transfected cells. We also found that the expression of AIFΔ1-480 could initiate the release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria. The suppression of caspase-9 via siRNA blocked the proapoptotic activity of AIFΔ1-480. Therefore, AIFΔ 1-480 is sufficient for inducing caspase-9-dependent apoptotic signaling, probably by promoting the release of cytochrome c. At last, we generated a chimeric immuno-AIFΔ 1-480 protein, which comprised an HER2 antibody, a Pseudomonas exotoxin A translocation domain and AIFΔ 1-480. Human Jurkat cells transfected with the immuno-AIFΔl-480 gene could express and secrete the chimeric protein, which selectively recognize and kill HER2-overexpressing tumor cells. Our study demonstrates the feasibility of the immuno-AIFΔl-480 gene as a novel approach to treating HER2-overexpressing cancers.