Objective To study the adsorption capability of corncob for Ni2+ in water. Methods The tests were conducted on the factors including pH value, the initial concentration of Ni2+, adsorption time, temperature and absorbent dosage influencing the adsorption effect, and the adsorption capability of the desorbing corncob for Ni2+ in water compared with the fresh corncob. Results In the condition of 35 ℃, 0.1 g of corncobs, 20 ml of 10 mg/L Ni2+ solution, pH=6 and contact time of 2.5 h, the adsorption capacity of Ni2+ could be up to 1.6 mg/g. The adsorption data fit the Freundlich adsorption isotherm and the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. HCl could be used to desorb corncobs ladening Ni2+, the desorbed corncob had the same adsorption capacity and rate of the desorbing as the fresh corncob. Conclusion The corncob can effectively remove Ni2+ in water, and the desorbed corncob can be reused.

OBJECTIVE:To establish the quality creteria of Dendrobium denneanum cultivated in Sichuan.METHODS: The reference substance had been isolated and identified.HPLC and TLC were applied for determination and identification respectively.RESULTS: The coumarin control had been successfully isolated and the TLC spots were clear.The linear range of coumarin was 0.096～0.480 ?g with an average recovery of 99.1%(RSD=1.44%,n=6).CONCLUSION: The results can overall reflect the internal quality of D.denneanum cultivated in Sichuan and provide basis for quality evaluation and development of D.denneanum from Sichuan.

OBJECTIVE:To study the chemical constitutes of Ligusticum chuanxiong and to establish the method for the content determination of ligustilide. METHODS:The compounds were extracted and percolated by ethanol. Then the samples were separated using silica gel and identified by 1H-NMR,13C-NMR data.HPLC was used to assay the contents of ligustilide. RESULTS:Three compounds were isolated and their structures were identified as Z-ligustilide,Z-6,8',7,3'-diligustilide and Z,Z'-6,6',7,3'a-diligustilide. The contents of ligustilide were no less than 0.70%.CONCLUSION:The separation method can be used to prepare high-purity ligustilide reference substance. And the determination method can be used for quality control of L. chuanxiong.

Objective To study the effects of midkine (MK) gene-targeting small interfering RNA (siRNA)on the invasion of melanoma cells.Methods Three MK gene-targeting siRNAs (S1,S2 and S3)were designed,constructed,and transfected into human A375 melanoma cells.Real-time PCR was performed to measure the expression of MK gene and to screen the siRNA with best efficacy.Then,A375 cells were transfected with the optimal siRNA of various doses (3.125,6.25 and 12.5 nmol/L)followed by additional culture of various durations(24,48,72 hours).Some A375 cells remaining untreated served as the blank control group,and some transfected only with liposomes served as the vector control group.Reverse transcription (RT) -PCR and Western blot were conducted to detect the mRNA and protein expression of MK,respectively,MTT assay to observe the adhesion of A375 cells,and Boyden chamber was used to evaluate cell invasion.Results The expression of MK mRNA was downregulated by all the three siRNAs,especially by the siRNA S3,which was used in the following transfection experiment.Real-time quantitative PCR revealed that the MK mRNA expression was reduced by the siRNA in a dose- (r24hours=-0.906,r4Bhours=-0.922,r72hours=-0.939,all P<0.01)and time-dependent(r3.125nmol/L=-0.889,r625nmol/L=-0.935,r125nmol/L=-0.928,all P<0.01)manner.MTT assay showed that the percentage of adhesing cells was 73.66%±2.25%,49.36%±2.16%and 28.35%±1.68%in A375 cells transfected with the siRNA of 3.125,6.25 and 12.5 nmol/L,respectively.The number of cells migrating across the chamber filter was 23.9±1.6,12.1±1.5,5.6±1.2 among A375 cells transfected with the siRNA of 3.125,6.25 and 12.5 nmol/L,respectively,significantly lower than that in the blank control group(36.8±1.5).The percentage of adhesing cells and number of migrating cells decreased with the dose of siRNA(r=-0.936,-0.915,P<0.01,0.05,respectively).Conclusions MK gene might play an important role in the adhesion and invasion of melanonla cells.To down-regulate the expression of MK gene by siRNA may suppress the adhesion and invasion of melanoma cells.

Objective To study the effects of Forkhead box protein M1 (FoxM1) down regulation by small interfering RNA(siRNA) on chemosensitivity and mechanism of human pancreatic cancer cell and its mechanism.Methods Three FoxM1 siRNAs were designed and constructed.All cancer cells were divided into different groups,after transfected with FoxM1 siRNA for different time,the cultured cells were harvested to carry on the next tests.Expression of FoxM1 were determined by red-time PCR and Western blot,and prolifearion and chemosensitivity were evaluated by MTT assay,and the phosphorylation of Akt protein was examined by Western blot.Results FoxM1 siRNA could down-regulate the FoxM1 expression in a dose-and time-dependent manner.The MTF results showed that the inhibit rates was 17.78％,17.56％,35.39％,52.81％,70.98％ indifferentgroups [Con-A + Gemcitabine,Con-B + Gemcitabine,siRNA (3.125nM) + Gemcitabine,siRNA (6.25nM) + Gemcitabine and siRNA(12.5nM) + Gemcitabine,respectively.The phosphorylation of Akt protein was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner.Conclusions FoxM1 siRNA could sensitize human pancreaticr cancer cells chemotherapy sensitivity,it is the one of the important mechanisms through down-regulate Akt phosphorylated levels,but the molecular mechanism need to be explored further.

Objective To investigate the effects of miR-10a expression on migration and invasion of human pancreatic cancer cells AsPC-1.Methods Small interfering RNA targeting at miR-10a (miR-10a-siRNA) was constructed,then it was transfected into pancreatic cancer AsPC-1 cells,and nonsense siRNA (Nc-siRNA) group and blank control group was established.Real time PCR assay was used to detect the expression of miR-10a in the 3 groups,and wound healing assay and Transwell assay were used to determine the migration and invasion abilities of cancer cells.The amount of matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13) in supernatant of cancer cell culture of each group was examined by ELISA assay.Results The miR-10a levels in control group,NC-siRNA group and miR-10a-siRNA group were 1.05 ±0.08,1.03 ±0.06,0.02 ±0.01 ; and the number of transmembrane cell were (150 ± 2.6),(145 ± 2.2),(62 ± 1.8),the levels of MMP-13 in the supernatant were (108.5 ± 2.8),(107.8 ± 2.5),(35.8 ± 1.5) pg/ml.The values were significantly lower in miR-10a-siRNA group than those in control group and NC-siRNA group (P ＜ 0.01).The distance of cultured clone in miR-10a treated cancer cells (736± 18 μm) was significantly longer than those in the controls (385 ±5 μm) and NC-siRNA group (395± 13 μm,P＜0.01).Conclusions Down-regulation of miR-10a by siRNA may inhibit migration and invasion of pancreatic cancer AsPC-1 cells,and the downregulated expression of MMP-13 may be one of the important mechanisms.

S100A9,a calcium-binding protein,participates in the inflammatory process and development of various tumors,thus attracting much attention in the field of cancer biology.This study aimed to investigate the regulatory mechanism of S100A9 and its function involvement in APL.We used real-time quantitative PCR to determine whether PML/RARα affects the expression of S100A9 in NB4 and PR9 cells upon ATRA treatment.ChiP-based PCR and dual-luciferase reporter assay system were used to detect how PML/RARα and PU.1 regulate S100A9 promoter activity.CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry were employed to observe the viability and apoptosis of NB4 cells when S100A9 was overexpressed.Results showed that S100A9 was an ATRA-responsive gene,and PML/RARα was necessary for the ATRA-induced expression of S100A9 in APL cells.In addition,PU.1 could bind to the promoter of S100A9,especially when treated with ATRA in NB4 cells,and promote its activity.More importantly,overexpression of S100A9 induced the apoptosis of NB4 cells and inhibited cell growth.Collectively,our data indicated that PML/RARα and PU.1 were necessary for the ATRA-induced expression of S100A9 in APL cells.Furthermore,S100A9 promoted apoptosis in APL cells and affected cell growth.

Objective To analyze the differential gene expression between thymic carcinoids and normal thymic tissues and to study thepathogenesisofectopicACTH syndrome caused by thymic carcinoids. Methods Using gene chip technique, the gene differential expression of 2 tissues were observed following RNA labeled with different fluorescences (Cy3 and Cy5) hybridized to gene chip. Results Among 4224 genes on gene chip, 394 were up regulated more than 2 folds in thymic carcinoid tissues, 23 of which were associated with cell mitosis; 51 genes were upregulated more than 5 folds, 1 of which (PAK3) was associated with cell mitosis. Conclusion A group of differentially expressed genes were observed between the thymic carcinoids and normal thymic tissues.These overexpressed and cell mitosis-associated genes probably play a role in the pathogenesis of thymic carcinoid tumors.

Objective:To perform a prospective cohort study to identify individual susceptibility of glucocorticoid (GC) -associated osteonecrosis of the femoral head (GA-ONFH) and their clinical and genetic risk factors. Methods:The present prospective cohort study enrolled patients who received their first GC therapy between July 2015 and January 2018 at Zhongshan Hospital. All patients did not receive any GC treatment before enrollment. Further, they planned to start GC treatment with the dose (equivalent prednisone) of ≥30 mg/d, lasted ≥3 weeks, or pulse dose ≥200 mg/d, lasted ≥3 d. Blood samples were collected before GC treatment to evaluate bone metabolism and its released factors. Hip MRI was performed at the 1st, 3rd, 6th, 12th and 24th month to diagnose GA-ONFH. All patients were followed-up for ≥2 years. The endpoint was regarded as diagnosis of GA-ONFH or completion of 2 years follow-up. Lasso regression was performed to determine which clinical features were associated with GA-ONFH. A nested case-control sub-cohort (A, n=12) was established prospectively based on the main cohort by 1∶1 matching. Whole exome sequencing was performed to screen differential and functional candidate single nucleotide polymorphisms and insertion-deletions (SNP/InDels). Another sub-cohort (B, n=50) was constructed retrospectively in patients with GA-ONFH and non-ONFH patients received standard high dose GC treatment for more than two years. The candidate SNP/InDels were verified by Sanger sequencing based on the patients from sub-cohort B. Results:A total of 96 patients were enrolled of which 88 of them (32 males and 56 females, mean age 42.30 years) completed follow-up. Eight cases (9.1%) were diagnosed with GA-ONFH. The median time from the start of GC therapy to the diagnosis of ONFH was 53.00(34.00,13.50) days. The baseline characteristics, such as age, sex and body mass index, indicated no significant difference between the ONFH group and the non-ONFH group. The cumulative GC dose of the ONFH patients in the first month was higher than that of non-ONFH [32.74(29.55, 47.05) mg/kg vs. 24.00(21.10, 29.45) mg/kg, Z=-2.410, P=0.016]. However, there was no significant difference of patients who underwent pulse therapy (37.5% vs. 10.0%, adjusted χ 2=2.829, P=0.093). The ratio of serum apolipoprotein B/apolipoprotein A1 (ApoB/ApoA1) in patients with ONFH was higher than that in non-ONFH group before GC use [0.95(0.80, 1.50) vs. 0.70(0.60, 0.80), Z=-2.875, P=0.000]. Due to the multicollinearity, Lasso regression model was performed to reduce overfitting. All variables were included in the model. The results suggested that higher ApoB/ApoA1 ratio, lower serum β-c-terminal telopeptide (β-CTX) and higher cumulative GC dose in the first month were the top three risk factors of GA-ONFH. This model had an accuracy of 0.982 in internal validation. Seven differential candidate SNP/InDels were found by whole exome sequencing of sub-cohort A. We further verified these SNP/InDels in sub-cohort B. The patients with COLEC12 mutation (rs2305027, G1816A) were at risk of GA-ONFH ( OR=6.00, 95% CI: 1.17, 30.73). Conclusion:Higher first-month GC dose, lower serum β-CTX level before treatment, higher ApoB/ApoA1 ratio and COLEC12 mutation (rs2305027, G1816A) could increase the risk of GA-ONFH.

Bromodomain-containing 4 (BRD4) has been considered as an important requirement for disease maintenance and an attractive therapeutic target for cancer therapy. This protein can be targeted by JQ1, a selective small-molecule inhibitor. However, few studies have investigated whether BRD4 influenced acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), and whether BRD4 had interaction with promyelocytic leukemia-retinoic acid receptor α (PML/RARα) fusion protein to some extent. Results from cell viability assay, cell cycle analysis, and Annexin-V/PI analysis indicated that JQ1 inhibited the growth of NB4 cells, an APL-derived cell line, and induced NB4 cell cycle arrest at G1 and apoptosis. Then, we used co-immunoprecipitation (co-IP) assay and immunoblot to demonstrate the endogenous interaction of BRD4 and PML/RARα in NB4 cells. Moreover, downregulation of PML/RARα at the mRNA and protein levels was observed upon JQ1 treatment. Furthermore, results from the RT-qPCR, ChIP-qPCR, and re-ChIP-qPCR assays showed that BRD4 and PML/RARα co-existed on the same regulatory regions of their target genes. Hence, we showed a new discovery of the interaction of BRD4 and PML/RARα, as well as the decline of PML/RARα expression, under JQ1 treatment.
Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Azepines ; pharmacology ; Cell Differentiation ; Down-Regulation ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; drug effects ; Humans ; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute ; drug therapy ; genetics ; Nuclear Proteins ; genetics ; Promyelocytic Leukemia Protein ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Retinoic Acid Receptor alpha ; genetics ; Transcription Factors ; genetics ; Triazoles ; pharmacology ; Tumor Cells, Cultured