New ultralight automotive door life cycle assessment

The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment - Magna International Inc. (Magna), in cooperation with the United States Department of Energy (U.S. DOE) and partners FCA US LLC (FCA US) and...     

结直肠腺瘤中的微卫星不稳定性类型

应用微切割 聚合酶链反应 单链长度多态性 (PCR SSLP)的方法 ,检测 1 6个微卫星位点在 5 9例 6 2个结直肠腺瘤标本的微卫星不稳定性状态 .结果表明 :腺瘤 1 6个位点的总微卫星不稳定性(microsatelliteinstability ,MSI)发生率为 1 4 4 % ,MSI H所占的比率为 9 7% ;在 1 0例可以同时微切割得到腺瘤和癌变成分的病例中 ,腺瘤和癌变成分在每个微卫星位点的改变情况不完全相同 ,并且当在某一位点同时表现为阳性时 ,部分凝胶电泳的图像相同 ,而部分不同 ;在某些位点表现为癌变成分的异常条带泳动速度更快 ,说明序列比腺瘤中更短 ;MSI H与病人的年龄、性别、腺瘤发生部位和病理学亚型之间未见统计学差异 ,但MSI H组的平均年龄 (5 6 5 0± 1 1 38)低于MSI L组 (6 0 36±1 1 34) ,女性所占比率 (5 6 )明显高于男性 ,6例MSI H中无 1例组织学类型为管状腺瘤 ;各位点在MSI H组的MSI改变率明显高于MSI L组 ,在TGFβRⅡ (A) 1 0 、hMSH6、TCF4、BAT2 6等位点有明显差异 (P <0 0 5 ,其中BAT2 6的P <0 0 1 ) .可以推断 :在结直肠癌发生发展的早期即腺瘤阶段即可表现微卫星不稳定性 ;微卫星不稳定性可以随结直肠肿瘤的发展过程而发展 ,并且特定的微卫星位点的改变可能仅发生于肿瘤进程的特定阶段 ;在结直肠癌     

Enhancement of metabolic rates of yeast flocculent cells through the use of polymeric additives

The influence of several polymeric additives on specific glucose uptake rate of flocs of a S. cerevisiae strain — S. cerevisiae NRRLY 265 was studied. A special continuous membrane microreactor was used to measure glucose uptake on the presence of calcium and of the tested additives — two cationic polymers — bis(polyoxyethylene-bis(amine)) 20,000 and BPA 1,000 and one anionic polymer — Magna Floc LT25.An increase on glucose uptake rate was always observed when comparing with calcium bound flocs. For bis(polyoxyethylene-bis(amine)) 20,000 the increase was only 19% but for BPA 1,000 a value of more than 50% was observed. For Magna Floc LT25 a two fold increase was measured.The determination of floc size and porosity in the presence of the additives indicated that, on the basis of these parameters, it was not possible to explain the observed glucose uptake rates. The floc porosites in additive bound flocs were similar and 10% larger than for calcium bound flocs and glucose uptake rate was larger for the largest flocs — Magna Floc LT25 bound flocs were the largest followed by BPA 1,000, bis(polyoxyethylene-bis(amine)) 20,000 and calcium bound flocs. These values disagree with what should be expected in diffusion controlled processes.The calculation of intercellular floc distance indicated that polymeric additives act on the reduction of diffusional limitations by increasing the available flux area for glucose inside the flocs. By analysing different kinds of packings, it was also observed that the packing arrangement for yeast cells in flocs is close to the cubic packing. The simulation of this arrangement for the obtained floc sizes confirmed that the 10% increase in floc porosity is sufficient to explain the increase in the available flux area.     

Semi‐permeable membrane retention of synovial fluid lubricants hyaluronan and proteoglycan 4 for a biomimetic bioreactor

Synovial fluid (SF) contains lubricant macromolecules, hyaluronan (HA), and proteoglycan 4 (PRG4). The synovium not only contributes lubricants to SF through secretion by synoviocyte lining cells, but also concentrates lubricants in SF due to its semi‐permeable nature. A membrane that recapitulates these synovium functions may be useful in a bioreactor system for generating a bioengineered fluid (BF) similar to native SF. The objectives were to analyze expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membranes with pore sizes of 50 nm, 90 nm, 170 nm, and 3 µm in terms of (1) HA and PRG4 secretion rates by adherent synoviocytes, and (2) the extent of HA and PRG4 retention with or without synoviocytes adherent on the membrane. Experiment 1: Synoviocytes were cultured on tissue culture (TC) plastic or membranes ± IL‐1β + TGF‐β1 + TNF‐α, a cytokine combination that stimulates lubricant synthesis. HA and PRG4 secretion rates were assessed by analysis of medium. Experiment 2: Bioreactors were fabricated to provide a BF compartment enclosed by membranes ± adherent synoviocytes, and an external compartment of nutrient fluid (NF). A solution with HA (1 mg/mL, MW ranging from 30 to 4,000 kDa) or PRG4 (50 µg/mL) was added to the BF compartment, and HA and PRG4 loss into the NF compartment after 2, 8, and 24 h was determined. Lubricant loss kinetics were analyzed to estimate membrane permeability. Experiment 1: Cytokine‐regulated HA and PRG4 secretion rates on membranes were comparable to those on TC plastic. Experiment 2: Transport of HA and PRG4 across membranes was lowest with 50 nm membranes and highest with 3 µm membranes, and transport of high MW HA was decreased by adherent synoviocytes (for 50 and 90 nm membranes). The permeability to HA mixtures for 50 nm membranes was ～20 × 10^?8 cm/s (? cells) and ～5 × 10^?8 cm/s (+ cells), for 90 nm membranes was ～35 × 10^?8 cm/s (? cells) and ～19 × 10^?8 cm/s (+ cells), for 170 nm membranes was ～74 × 10^?8 cm/s (± cells), and for 3 µm membranes was ～139 × 10^?8 cm/s (± cells). The permeability of 450 kDa HA was ～40× lower than that of 30 kDa HA for 50 nm membranes, but only ～2.5× lower for 3 µm membranes. The permeability of 4,000 kDa HA was ～250× lower than that of 30 kDa HA for 50 nm membranes, but only ～4× lower for 3 µm membranes. The permeability for PRG4 was ～4 × 10^?8 cm/s for 50 nm membranes, ～48 × 10^?8 cm/s for 90 nm membranes, ～144 × 10^?8 cm/s for 170 nm membranes, and ～336 × 10^?8 cm/s for 3 µm membranes. The associated loss across membranes after 24 h ranged from 3% to 92% for HA, and from 3% to 93% for PRG4. These results suggest that semi‐permeable membranes may be used in a bioreactor system to modulate lubricant retention in a bioengineered SF, and that synoviocytes adherent on the membranes may serve as both a lubricant source and a barrier for lubricant transport. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2010; 106: 149–160. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

A validation study of Fitbit Charge 2™ compared with polysomnography in adults

We evaluated the performance of a consumer multi-sensory wristband (Fitbit Charge 2?), against polysomnography (PSG) in measuring sleep/wake state and sleep stage composition in healthy adults.

In-lab PSG and Fitbit Charge 2? data were obtained from a single overnight recording at the SRI Human Sleep Research Laboratory in 44 adults (19—61 years; 26 women; 25 Caucasian). Participants were screened to be free from mental and medical conditions. Presence of sleep disorders was evaluated with clinical PSG. PSG findings indicated periodic limb movement of sleep (PLMS, > 15/h) in nine participants, who were analyzed separately from the main group (n = 35). PSG and Fitbit Charge 2? sleep data were compared using paired t-tests, Bland–Altman plots, and epoch-by-epoch (EBE) analysis.

In the main group, Fitbit Charge 2? showed 0.96 sensitivity (accuracy to detect sleep), 0.61 specificity (accuracy to detect wake), 0.81 accuracy in detecting N1+N2 sleep (“light sleep”), 0.49 accuracy in detecting N3 sleep (“deep sleep”), and 0.74 accuracy in detecting rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep. Fitbit Charge 2? significantly (p < 0.05) overestimated PSG TST by 9 min, N1+N2 sleep by 34 min, and underestimated PSG SOL by 4 min and N3 sleep by 24 min. PSG and Fitbit Charge 2? outcomes did not differ for WASO and time spent in REM sleep. No more than two participants fell outside the Bland–Altman agreement limits for all sleep measures. Fitbit Charge 2? correctly identified 82% of PSG-defined non-REM–REM sleep cycles across the night. Similar outcomes were found for the PLMS group.

Fitbit Charge 2? shows promise in detecting sleep-wake states and sleep stage composition relative to gold standard PSG, particularly in the estimation of REM sleep, but with limitations in N3 detection. Fitbit Charge 2? accuracy and reliability need to be further investigated in different settings (at-home, multiple nights) and in different populations in which sleep composition is known to vary (adolescents, elderly, patients with sleep disorders).     

C-reactive protein and vulnerability to mental stress-induced myocardial ischemia

Myocardial ischemia provoked in the laboratory during mental stress (MSI) in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) predicts subsequent clinical events. The pathophysiology of MSI differs from that of exercise ischemia, and the mechanisms tying MSI to poor prognosis are not known. C-reactive protein (CRP) is a risk marker for cardiovascular events in patients with CAD, but little is known regarding the relationship of CRP to MSI. The purpose of this study was to examine the association of CRP to risk of MSI in CAD patients. Eighty-three patients with stable CAD underwent simultaneous single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging with technetium-99m tetrofosmin myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) and transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), at rest and during MS induced by laboratory mental stress. Serum CRP levels were measured 24 h after MS. MSI was defined by the presence of a new perfusion defect on SPECT and/or new regional wall motion abnormality on TTE during MS. Of the 83 patients, 30 (36%) developed MSI. There was no difference in gender, sex, BMI, histories of diabetes, hypertension, smoking, lipid profile, medications used (including statins, beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, and aspirin), or hemodynamic response during MS between those with and without MSI. In univariate logistic regression analysis, each unit (1 mg/L) increase in CRP level was associated with 20% higher risk of MSI (OR 1.2, 95% CI 1.01-1.39, P=.04). This relationship remained in multivariate models. These data suggest that levels of CRP may be a risk marker for MSI in patients with CAD.     

Treatment with the PARP inhibitor,niraparib, sensitizes colorectal cancer cell lines to irinotecan regardless of MSI/MSS status

Background

Cells with homologous recombination (HR) deficiency, most notably caused by mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes, are sensitive to PARP inhibition. Microsatellite instability (MSI) accounts for 10-15% of colorectal cancer (CRC) and is hypothesized to lead to HR defects due to altered expression of Mre11, a protein required for double strand break (DSB) repair. Indeed, others have reported that PARP inhibition is efficacious in MSI CRC.

Methods

Here we examine the response to niraparib, a potent PARP-1/PARP-2 inhibitor currently under clinical evaluation, in MSI versus microsatellite stable (MSS) CRC cell lines in vitro and in vivo. We compiled a large panel of MSI and MSS CRC cell lines and evaluated the anti-proliferative activity of niraparib. In addition to testing single agent cytotoxic activity of niraparib, we also tested irinotecan (or SN-38, the active metabolite of irinotecan) activity alone and in combination with niraparib in vitro and in vivo.

Results

In contrast to earlier reports, MSI CRC cell lines were not more sensitive to niraparib than MSS CRC cell lines¸ suggesting that the MSI phenotype does not sensitize CRC cell lines to PARP inhibition. Moreover, even the most sensitive MSI cell lines had niraparib EC50s greater than 10 fold higher than BRCA-deficient cell lines. However, MSI lines were more sensitive to SN-38 than MSS lines, consistent with previous findings. We have also demonstrated that combination of niraparib and irinotecan was more efficacious than either agent alone in both MSI and MSS cell lines both in vitro and in vivo, and that niraparib potentiates the effect of irinotecan regardless of MSI status.

Conclusions

Our results support the clinical evaluation of this combination in all CRC patients, regardless of MSI status.     

Properties of lipid bilayer membranes made from lipids containing phytanic acid

Besides the preparation of phytanic acid (3,7,11,15-tetramethylhexadecylic acid) according to the Dumas-Stass reaction, the synthesis of four different lipids containing phytanic acid residues is described. Diphytanoyl phophatidylcholine was systhesized beginning from glycerylphosphorylcholine, whereas the other lipids, diphytanoyl phosphatidylethanolamine, diphytanoyl phosphatidylserine and monophytanoyl glyceride were prepared by total synthesis.Some properties of lipid bilayer membranes made from the lipids containing phytanic acid were investigated. The specific capacity of these membranes was measured. Its value of approximately 400 nF cm^?2 was found to be similar to the value of membranes from lipids with unbranched fatty acid residues. Charge pulse experiments were performed using dipicrylamine as a molecular probe of membrane structure. The results were discussed on the basis of a higher viscosity of the membranes from lipids containing phytanic acid residues compared with unbranched fatty acid residues.     

Genetic variability of proteins from mitochondria and mitochondrial fractions of mouse organs

Proteins of whole mitochondria from mouse liver and brain and proteins of liver mitochondrial fractions (plasma and rough membrane fraction) were separated by two-dimensional electrophoresis. Protein patterns of two inbred strains of mouse, C57BL/6J and DBA/2J, and of F₁ mice of these two strains were studied. The protein patterns obtained from the different mitochondrial materials were analyzed with regard to their protein composition and the genetic variability of proteins (qualitative and quantitative protein variants). Included in this analysis are data previously obtained from the cytosols and plasma membranes of the same organs and mouse strains. The results showed the following. (1) Mitochondria and organelle-free cell components (cytosol and plasma membranes) have only a few percent of their proteins in common, while two organs, liver and brain, reveal up to approximately 50% organ-nonspecific proteins. The frequency of proteins common to solubilized and structure-bound proteins ranges below 20%. (2) Genetic variability in protein amount occurs much more frequently than genetic variability in protein structure. Liver proteins reveal more genetic variants than brain proteins. Proteins solubilized in the cell show more genetic variation than structure-bound proteins. Furthermore, the results show that with regard to the composition and the genetic variability of proteins, liver and brain differ more in their mitochondria than in their cytosol and plasma membranes.This work was supported by grants from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft awarded to Sonderforschungsbereich 29.     

Improved Detection of Microsatellite Instability in Early Colorectal Lesions

Microsatellite instability (MSI) occurs in over 90% of Lynch syndrome cancers and is considered a hallmark of the disease. MSI is an early event in colon tumor development, but screening polyps for MSI remains controversial because of reduced sensitivity compared to more advanced neoplasms. To increase sensitivity, we investigated the use of a novel type of marker consisting of long mononucleotide repeat (LMR) tracts. Adenomas from 160 patients, ranging in age from 29–55 years old, were screened for MSI using the new markers and compared with current marker panels and immunohistochemistry standards. Overall, 15 tumors were scored as MSI-High using the LMRs compared to 9 for the NCI panel and 8 for the MSI Analysis System (Promega). This difference represents at least a 1.7-fold increase in detection of MSI-High lesions over currently available markers. Moreover, the number of MSI-positive markers per sample and the size of allelic changes were significantly greater with the LMRs (p = 0.001), which increased confidence in MSI classification. The overall sensitivity and specificity of the LMR panel for detection of mismatch repair deficient lesions were 100% and 96%, respectively. In comparison, the sensitivity and specificity of the MSI Analysis System were 67% and 100%; and for the NCI panel, 75% and 97%. The difference in sensitivity between the LMR panel and the other panels was statistically significant (p<0.001). The increased sensitivity for detection of MSI-High phenotype in early colorectal lesions with the new LMR markers indicates that MSI screening for the early detection of Lynch syndrome might be feasible.     

RAD50/MRE11/NBS1 proteins in relation to tumour development and prognosis in patients with microsatellite stable colorectal cancer

RAD50/MRE11/NBS1 complex is essential for DNA double-strand break repair and for maintaining genomic integrity. In this study, we immunohistochemically examined MRE11, NBS1 and RAD50 expression in primary CRCs (n=208), the corresponding distant (n=41) and adjacent normal mucosa (n=130), and lymph node metastases (n=26), and investigated their clinicopathological significance in colorectal cancers (CRCs). We found that the intensity and percentage of MRE11 and NBS1 in primary CRCs were positively correlated with each other and with RAD50 (P<0.0001). Strong expression of MRE11, NBS1 or combined RAD50/MRE11/NBS1 was related to MSS, positive hMLH1 expression, earlier tumour stage (TNM stage I and II) and favourable survival (P<0.05). A high percentage of MRE11 expression was associated with less local recurrence and high apoptotic activity (P<0.05). In MSS CRCs, the expression of MRE11 and NBS1 was stronger than that in normal mucosa (P<0.05), and strong expression of NBS1 in primary tumour was related to favourable survival of patients in TNM stage I and II (univariate analysis: P=0.03; multivariate analysis: P=0.07). In MSI CRCs, neither MRE11 nor NBS1 expression showed differences among normal mucosa, primary tumour and metastasis, or among clinicopathological variables. In conclusion, RAD50/MRE11/NBS1 proteins interacted with each other, which had different clinicopathological significance in MSS and MSI CRCs, and further, each component of the complex might have additional roles. NBS1 might be a prognostic factor for patients with MSS tumour in TNM stage I and II.     

Sponge-associated marine bacteria as indicators of heavy metal pollution

Sponges invariably filter a large volume of seawater and potentially accumulate heavy metals and other contaminants from the environment. Sponges, being sessile marine invertebrates and modular in body organization, can live many years in the same location and therefore have the capability to accumulate anthropogenic pollutants such as metals over a long period. Almost all marine sponges harbor large number of microorganisms within their tissues where they reside in the extra- and intra-cellular spaces. Bacteria in seawater have already been established as biological indicators of contamination. The present study was intended to find out the heavy metal resistance pattern of sponge-associated bacteria so as to develop suitable biological indicators. The bacteria associated with a marine sponge Fasciospongia cavernosa were evaluated as potential indicator organisms. The associated bacteria including Streptomyces sp. (MSI01), Salinobacter sp. (MSI06), Roseobacter sp. (MSI09), Pseudomonas sp. (MSI016), Vibrio sp. (MSI23), Micromonospora sp. (MSI28), Saccharomonospora sp. (MSI36) and Alteromonas sp. (MSI42) showed resistance against tested heavy metals. Based on the present findings, Cd and Hg emerged as the highly resistant heavy metal pollutants in the Gulf of Mannar biosphere reserve. Plasmids in varied numbers and molecular weights were found in all the isolates. Particularly the isolates MSI01 and MSI36 harbored as many as three plasmids each. The results envisaged that the plasmids might have carried the resistance factor. No correlation was observed in number of plasmids and level of resistance. The literature evidenced that the sponge-associated bacteria were seldom exploited for pollution monitoring though they have been extensively used for bioprospecting. In this background, the present findings come up with a new insight into the development of indicator models.     

Mutation at Intronic Repeats of the Ataxia-Telangiectasia Mutated (ATM) Gene and ATM Protein Loss in Primary Gastric Cancer with Microsatellite Instability

Ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM) is a Ser/Thr protein kinase that plays a critical role in DNA damage-induced signaling and initiation of cell cycle checkpoint signaling in response to DNA-damaging agents such as ionizing radiation. We have previously reported the ATM protein loss by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in 16% of human gastric cancer (GC) tissue. We hypothesized that ATM gene intron mutations targeted by microsatellite instability (MSI) cause ATM protein loss in a subset of GC. We studied mononucleotide mutations at the intron of ATM gene, ATM IHC and MSI in GC. Ten human gastric cancer cell lines were studied for the ATM gene mutation at introns, RT-PCR, direct sequencing, and immunohistochemistry. GC tissues of 839 patients were analyzed for MSI and ATM IHC. Among them, 604 cases were analyzed for the ATM mutations at introns preceding exon 6, exon 10 and exon 20. Two human GC cell lines (SNU-1 and -638) showed ATM intron mutations, deletion in RT-PCR and direct sequencing, and ATM protein loss by IHC. The frequencies of ATM mutation, MSI, and ATM protein loss were 12.9% (78/604), 9.2% (81/882) and 15.2% (134/839), respectively. Analysis of associations among MSI, ATM gene mutation, and ATM protein loss revealed highly co-existing ATM gene alterations and MSI. ATM intron mutation and ATM protein loss were detected in 69.3% (52/75) and 53.3% (40/75) of MSI positive GC. MSI positivity and ATM protein loss were present in 68.4% (52/76) and 48.7% (37/76) of GC with ATM intron mutation. ATM mutation and ATM protein loss had characteristics of old age, distal location of tumor, large tumor size, and histologic intestinal type. Our study might be interpreted as that ATM gene mutation at intron might be targeted by MSI and lead to ATM protein loss in a selected group of GC.     

MSl3, a multicopy suppressor of mutants hyperactivated in the RAS-CAMP pathway,encodes a novel HSP70 protein of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The MSI3 gene was isolated as a multicopy suppressor of the heat shock-sensitive phenotype of the iral mutation, which causes hyperactivation of the RAS-cAMP pathway. Overexpression of MSI3 also suppresses the heat shock-sensitive phenotype of the bcyl mutant. Determination of the DNA sequence of MSI3 revealed that MSI3 can encode a 77.4 kDa protein related to the HSP70 family. The amino acid sequence of Msi3p is about 30% identical to that of the Ssalp of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This contrasts with the finding that members of the HSP70 family generally show at least 50% amino acid identity. The consensus nucleotide sequence of the heat shock element (HSE) was found in the upstream region of MSI3. Moreover, the steady-state levels of the MSI3 mRNA and protein were increased upon heat shock. These results indicate that the MSI3 gene encodes a novel HSP70-like heat shock protein. Disruption of the MSI3 gene was associated with a temperature sensitive growth phenotype but unexpectedly, thermotolerance was enhanced in the disruptant.     

Arabidopsis MSI1 is a component of the MEA/FIE Polycomb group complex and required for seed development

Seed development in angiosperms initiates after double fertilization, leading to the formation of a diploid embryo and a triploid endosperm. The active repression of precocious initiation of certain aspects of seed development in the absence of fertilization requires the Polycomb group proteins MEDEA (MEA), FERTILIZATION-INDEPENDENT ENDOSPERM (FIE) and FERTILIZATION-INDEPENDENT SEED2. Here we show that the Arabidopsis WD-40 domain protein MSI1 is present together with MEA and FIE in a 600 kDa complex and interacts directly with FIE. Mutant plants heterozygous for msi1 show a seed abortion ratio of 50% with seeds aborting when the mutant allele is maternally inherited, irrespective of a paternal wild-type or mutant MSI1 allele. Further more, msi1 mutant gametophytes initiate endosperm development in the absence of fertilization at a high penetrance. After pollination, only the egg cell becomes fertilized, the central cell starts dividing prior to fertilization, resulting in the formation of seeds containing embryos surrounded by diploid endosperm. Our results establish that MSI1 has an essential function in the correct initiation and progression of seed development.     

MSl3, a multicopy suppressor of mutants hyperactivated in the RAS-CAMP pathway, encodes a novel HSP70 protein of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The MSI3 gene was isolated as a multicopy suppressor of the heat shock-sensitive phenotype of the iral mutation, which causes hyperactivation of the RAS-cAMP pathway. Overexpression of MSI3 also suppresses the heat shock-sensitive phenotype of the bcyl mutant. Determination of the DNA sequence of MSI3 revealed that MSI3 can encode a 77.4 kDa protein related to the HSP70 family. The amino acid sequence of Msi3p is about 30% identical to that of the Ssalp of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This contrasts with the finding that members of the HSP70 family generally show at least 50% amino acid identity. The consensus nucleotide sequence of the heat shock element (HSE) was found in the upstream region of MSI3. Moreover, the steady-state levels of the MSI3 mRNA and protein were increased upon heat shock. These results indicate that the MSI3 gene encodes a novel HSP70-like heat shock protein. Disruption of the MSI3 gene was associated with a temperature sensitive growth phenotype but unexpectedly, thermotolerance was enhanced in the disruptant.     

Optimization of Whole-Body Zebrafish Sectioning Methods for Mass Spectrometry Imaging

Mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) methods and protocols have become widely adapted to a variety of tissues and species. However, the MSI literature contains minimal information on whole-body cryosection preparation for the zebrafish (ZF; Danio rerio), a model organism routinely used in developmental, toxicity, and carcinogenicity studies. The optimal medium for embedding and cryosectioning a whole organism or soft-tissue specimen for histological examination is a synthetic polymer mixture that is incompatible with MSI as a result of ion suppression. We describe the optimal methods and results for embedding and cryosectioning whole-body ZF for MALDI-MSI. We evaluated 13 distinct embedding media formulations and found a supportive hydrogel with the consistency of cartilage to be the optimal embedding medium. The hydrogel medium does not interfere with MSI data collection, aids in tissue stability, is readily available for purchase, and is easy to prepare and handle during cryosectioning. Additionally, we decreased the matrix cluster interference commonly caused by α-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid by adding ammonium phosphate to the solvent spray solution. The optimized methods developed in our laboratory produced high-quality cryosections, as well as high-quality mass spectral images of sectioned ZF.     

蕉肥间作下微喷灌对蕉园土壤水氮动态及香蕉产量的影响

为研究香蕉—粮肥兼用绿豆间作模式(简称蕉肥间作)下微喷灌对蕉园土壤水氮动态及香蕉产量的影响,试验设置4种不同灌溉定额处理:MSI2(900 m~3·hm~(-2))、MSI3(1 350 m~3·hm~(-2))、MSI4(1 800 m~3·hm~(-2))、MSI5(2 250 m~3·hm~(-2)),以不灌溉和清耕栽培为对照。结果表明:蕉肥间作下绿豆生长期间各灌溉处理土壤棵间蒸发量均呈不同程度的下降,香蕉清耕栽培MSI0土壤棵间蒸发量呈上升趋势。随着灌水量的增加,香蕉棵间蒸发量逐渐增高,MSI5棵间累积蒸发量最高达385.6 mm,分别比MSI2、MSI3、MSI4高12.2%、7.6%、4.9%,导致灌溉水利用效率降低。微喷灌处理提高表层土壤含水量,MSI2、MSI3、MSI4和MSI5处理0～30 cm土层含水量显著高于MSI0和MSI1,在30 cm以下,土壤含水量开始递减。微喷灌还可改善土壤耕层结构,提高土壤有效氮含量。以MSI2处理土壤三相比(2∶1∶1)较为理想,MSI3处理表土层有效氮含量最高。MSI4处理产量高达48 218 kg·hm~(-2),MSI3处理蕉果含糖量高达25.67%。因此,蕉肥间作下通过微喷灌方式,适量灌溉有利于提高香蕉产量和改善品质。     

中国人结肠癌nm23H1基因遗传不稳定性的研究

Techniques such as DNA extraction from paraffin-embedded tissues, polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP), ordinary silver stain, Envision immunohistochemistry and Leica-Qwin computer imaging techniques were used to study microsatellite instability (MSI) and loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of locus D17S396 at the 17th chromosome of Chinese patients and their influence on the expression of gene nm23H1, and to clarify the relationship between the genetic instability of gene nm23H1 and the development of colon cancer, which may provide experimental basis for clinical treatment. In our experiments, the frequency of MSI, LOH and nm23H1 protein reacted positive of 30 cases of colon cancer were 26.67%, 20.00% and 53.33% respectively. In tumor node metastasis (TNM) staging, the positive frequency of MSI (43.75%) and nm23H1 protein (81.25%) in stage I + II were more than those (MSI 7.14%, p < 0.05 and nm23H1 21.43%, p < 0.01) in stage III + IV, while the frequency of LOH (35.71%), which had a rising trend along with the Duke's staging increasing, was higher than that of LOH (6.25%, p < 0.05) in stage I + II. The positive frequency of nm23H1 protein in the group of tubular adenocarcinoma (60.00%) was distinctively higher than that in the group of mucoid adenocarcinoma (20.00%, p < 0.01), showing a rising trend along with the increase of the differentiation degree of tubular adenocarcinoma. Furthermore, the positive frequency of nm23H1 protein in MSI positive group was also higher than MSI negative group (p < 0.05). And there was no difference in nm23H1 protein expression analyzed by computer imaging techniques. The results of experiments indicated that both MSI and LOH controlled the development of sporadic colon cancer independently in different paths. LOH occurred mostly in the late period of sporadic colon cancer and endowed with it a high aggressive and poor prognosis. In contrast, MSI was an early period molecule marker of sporadic colon cancer. Increasing the amount of nm23H1 protein expression could effectively restrain colon cancer metastasis and improved prognosis of sporadic colon cancer patients.     

RNA-binding protein Musashi1 modulates glioma cell growth through the post-transcriptional regulation of Notch and PI3 kinase/Akt signaling pathways

Musashi1 (MSI1) is an RNA-binding protein that plays critical roles in nervous-system development and stem-cell self-renewal. Here, we examined its role in the progression of glioma. Short hairpin RNA (shRNA)-based MSI1-knock down (KD) in glioblastoma and medulloblastoma cells resulted in a significantly lower number of self renewing colony on day 30 (a 65% reduction), compared with non-silencing shRNA-treated control cells, indicative of an inhibitory effect of MSI1-KD on tumor cell growth and survival. Immunocytochemical staining of the MSI1-KD glioblastoma cells indicated that they ectopically expressed metaphase markers. In addition, a 2.2-fold increase in the number of MSI1-KD cells in the G2/M phase was observed. Thus, MSI1-KD caused the prolongation of mitosis and reduced the cell survival, although the expression of activated Caspase-3 was unaltered. We further showed that MSI1-KD glioblastoma cells xenografted into the brains of NOD/SCID mice formed tumors that were 96.6% smaller, as measured by a bioluminescence imaging system (BLI), than non-KD cells, and the host survival was longer (49.3±6.1 days vs. 33.6±3.6 days; P<0.01). These findings and other cell biological analyses suggested that the reduction of MSI1 in glioma cells prolonged the cell cycle by inducing the accumulation of Cyclin B1. Furthermore, MSI1-KD reduced the activities of the Notch and PI(3) kinase-Akt signaling pathways, through the up-regulation of Numb and PTEN, respectively. Exposure of glioma cells to chemical inhibitors of these pathways reduced the number of spheres and living cells, as did MSI1-KD. These results suggest that MSI1 increases the growth and/or survival of certain types of glioma cells by promoting the activation of both Notch and PI(3) kinase/Akt signaling.