High Expression of SOX2 and OCT4 Indicates Radiation Resistance and an Independent Negative Prognosis in Cervical Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Radiotherapy (RT) as a preoperative or postoperative adjuvant or primary treatment is the most common management modality for locally advanced cervical cancer. Radioresistance of tumor cells remains a major therapeutic problem. Consequently, we aimed to explore if the stem cell biomarkers SOX2 and OCT4 protein could be used to predict radioresistance in patients with locally advanced cervical squamous cell carcinoma (LACSCC). These 132 patients were divided into two groups (radiation-resistant and radiation-sensitive groups) according to progress-free survival (PFS). Using pretreatment paraffin-embedded tissues, we evaluated SOX2 and OCT4 expression using immunohistochemical staining. The percentage of overexpression of SOX2 and OCT4 in the radiation-resistant group was much higher than that in the radiation-sensitive group (p<0.001 and p <0.001, respectively). The patients with high expression of SOX2 and OCT4 showed a shorter PFS than those with low expression. Our study suggests that the expression of SOX2 and OCT4 in tumor cells indicates resistance to radiotherapy and that these two factors were important predictors of poor survival in patients with LACSCC (hazard ratio [95% CI], 2.294 [1.013, 5.195] and 2.300 [1.050, 5.037], respectively; p=0.046 and p=0.037, respectively).     

In vitro Cell Culture Model for Toxic Inhaled Chemical Testing

Cell cultures are indispensable to develop and study efficacy of therapeutic agents, prior to their use in animal models. We have the unique ability to model well differentiated human airway epithelium and heart muscle cells. This could be an invaluable tool to study the deleterious effects of toxic inhaled chemicals, such as chlorine, that can normally interact with the cell surfaces, and form various byproducts upon reacting with water, and limiting their effects in submerged cultures. Our model using well differentiated human airway epithelial cell cultures at air-liqiuid interface circumvents this limitation as well as provides an opportunity to evaluate critical mechanisms of toxicity of potential poisonous inhaled chemicals. We describe enhanced loss of membrane integrity, caspase release and death upon toxic inhaled chemical such as chlorine exposure. In this article, we propose methods to model chlorine exposure in mammalian heart and airway epithelial cells in culture and simple tests to evaluate its effect on these cell types.     

Radiobiological effects and medical applications of non-ionizing radiation

Radiation is used in medicine to diagnose and treat diseases but it can also cause harm to the body by burning or mutation. This depends on whether the radiation is ionizing or nonionizing. Despite its vast applications in surgery, dermatology and cosmetics, little is taught and thus known about non-ionizing radiation.This review article discusses the fundamentals of non-ionizing electromagnetic radiations. The main aim is to extensively explain the different types of non-ionizing radiation. This will equip students and medical personnel with knowledge on different medical applications and expose them to a variety of specializations in medicine that utilize non-ionizing radiation. The article discusses the physics, hazard, means of protection and medical application of each type of radiation: ultraviolet radiation, light (both visible light and LASER), infrared radiation, microwaves and extremely low frequency radiation separately. It presents these terms in a simple manner that avoids rigors mathematics and physics, which makes them comprehensible for medical students.The development of new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches could also lead to increased hazards to the body unless they are treated with precaution. If not adequately monitored, a significant health risk may be posed to potentially exposed employees. Hence proper dosage should be used for non-ionizing radiation. This is only possible through understanding of the risks/benefits of these radiations by studying the physics and radiobiological effects of each individual radiation.     

Bimodal activity of diurnal flower visitation at high elevation

Successful pollination in animal‐pollinated plants depends on the temporal overlap between flower presentation and pollinator foraging activity. Variation in the temporal dimension of plant–pollinator networks has been investigated intensely across flowering seasons. However, over the course of a day, the dynamics of plant–pollinator interactions may vary strongly due environmental fluctuations. It is usually assumed there is a unimodal, diurnal, activity pattern, while alternative multimodal types of activity patterns are often neglected and deserve greater investigation. Here, we quantified the daily activity pattern of flower visitors in two different habitats contrasting high elevation meadows versus forests in Southwest China to investigate the role of abiotic conditions in the temporal dynamics of plant–pollinator interactions. We examined diurnal activity patterns for the entire pollinator community. Pollinator groups may differ in their ability to adapt to habitats and abiotic conditions, which might be displayed in their patterns of activity. We hypothesized that (a) pollinator communities show multimodal activity patterns, (b) patterns differ between pollinator groups and habitat types, and (c) abiotic conditions explain observed activity patterns. In total, we collected 4,988 flower visitors belonging to six functional groups. There was a bimodal activity pattern when looking at the entire pollinator community and in five out of six flower visitor groups (exempting solitary bees) regardless of habitat types. Bumblebees, honeybees, dipterans, lepidopterans, and other insects showed activity peaks in the morning and afternoon, whereas solitary bees were most active at midday. Activity of all six pollinator groups increased as solar radiation increased and then decreased after reaching a certain threshold. Our findings suggest that in habitats at higher elevations, a bimodal activity pattern of flower visitation is commonly employed across most pollinator groups that are diurnal foragers. This pattern may be caused by insects avoiding overheating due to elevated temperatures when exposed to high solar radiation at midday.     

模拟UV-B辐射增强条件下灯盏花居群的生理差异及其遗传背景

在温室条件下,研究了模拟UV-B辐射（280～320 nm）增强对6个灯盏花居群的类黄酮、丙二醛(MDA)含量和抗氧化酶活性的影响及其种内差异,并利用ISSR分子标记技术对灯盏花居群进行遗传背景分析.结果表明：在UV-B辐射增强条件下,灯盏花D01、D53、D63和D65居群在成苗期、盛花期和成熟期的类黄酮含量均显著增加,成苗期与盛花期MDA含量显著降低;而D47和D48居群3个生育期的MDA含量和盛花期类黄酮含量均显著增加,成熟期显著降低.D01居群3个生育期的POD、APX活性,成苗期、盛花期CAT活性与盛花期SOD活性均显著升高;D47居群3个生育期的SOD、CAT和APX活性,成熟期POD活性显著下降;D48居群3个生育期的POD、APX活性,成苗期、成熟期的SOD活性均显著下降;D53居群成苗期和盛花期SOD、APX活性,盛花期CAT活性显著增加;D63居群3个生育期的SOD、POD和APX活性均显著上升;D65居群除成熟期的CAT和APX活性没有显著变化外,3个生育期的4种抗氧化酶活性均显著上升.灯盏花居群对UV B辐射增强的响应有明显的种内差异,D01、D53、D63和D65为UV耐性居群,而D47和D48居群的UV敏感性较高.灯盏花居群不同生育期对UV-B辐射的响应为盛花期>成苗期>成熟期.居群间的遗传多样性差异明显,在遗传距离为0.11的水平上,可将D01、D53、D63和D65居群归为一类,D47和D48居群为另一类,这与根据生理响应指数判断的UV耐性与敏感居群的结果基本一致.     

不同工艺阶段味精废水对作物种子发芽和根伸长的毒性效应

为了对味精废水的污染进行全面的评价,针对不同工艺阶段排放的味精废水,采用小麦、白菜和西红柿等作物种子,以污水为环境介质,进行了种子发芽和根伸长的污染暴露实验,并结合污染现场,进行了相应的定量分析.结果表明,在高浓度原味精废母液中, 小麦种子的发芽抑制率和根伸长的抑制率与废水的浓度呈显著正相关.味精废水对3种作物种子的发芽和根伸长的毒性强弱顺序为：西红柿＞白菜＞小麦西红柿对味精废水毒性响应最为敏感,可以认为是一种较为理想的生物毒性指示作物.味精生产不同工艺阶段所排放的污水对这3种作物种子的发芽半抑制浓度(IC₅₀)为22.0～32432 mg·L^-1,对根伸长的半抑制浓度(IC₅₀)为17.3～3320 mg·L^-1.     

A Conceptual Framework for the Interpretation of Biological Markers for Environmental Exposure Assessment

Human exposure to environmental contaminants occurs via air, water, soil, dust, food, and other environmental media. Given this multitude of sources, environmental exposure assessment is moving away from single route exposure assessment to more integrated measures of exposure. Biological markers are frequently advocated as appropriate exposure assessment tools since they provide a measure of internal dose integrated over all routes of exposure. However, contributing sources may be difficult to identify through use of biological markers, and thus, have had limited utility in the regulatory community. To explore the different perspectives on the use and application of biological markers for exposure assessors, epidemiologists, and regulatory personnel, we have developed a biological marker conceptual framework. This framework is developed as a paradigm for the interpretation of biological markers for environmental exposure assessment linking the exposure assessment and the health effects assessment perspectives regarding biological markers. Further, it incorporates issues of source-specific exposures, aggregate exposure assessment, route-specific contributions, and biological variation in response to exposure. This structure provides an approach to explore the current constraints in using biological markers to evaluate source-specific exposures. This framework is discussed in the context of currently available biological markers for lead, carbon monoxide, and toluene. Biological markers represent a complex tool to assess human exposures to environmental contaminants; the biological marker framework presents a structure for their interpretation recognizing that many of the determinants of exposure, bioavailablity, and toxicokinetics are still being evaluated. The conceptual framework presented here provides another tool for the researcher in assessing the utility of biological markers in exposure assessment and epidemiology.     

The current status of the adaptive response to ionizing radiation in mammalian cells

The results of numerous studies indicate that cells can become refractory to the detrimental effect of ionizing radiation when previously exposed to a low, “adapting dose”;. This phenomenon has been termed an “adaptive response”; to ionizing radiation. It has been postulated that the induced radioresistance is due to the induction of DNA repair systems which efficiently protect the adapted cells from the effects of a subsequent, high “challenging dose”;. However, a direct proof of this hypothesis is still lacking. The analyzed endpoints include chromosomal aberrations, survival, mutations, genetic instability and DNA damage repair measured by the comet assay. Frequently contradictory results were published by different authors. For example some authors observed a reduced frequency of apoptosis in adapted cells, whereas others reported the opposite. The source of variablity of the adaptive response in human lymphocytes remains unresolved. While there is no doubt that an adapting dose can trigger some protecting mechanisms within the cell it appears that there is no single, universal mechanism of the adaptive response that is valid for all cell types and irradiation conditions.