MiR-425 involves in the development and progression of renal cell carcinoma by inhibiting E2F6.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of miR-425 on the proliferation and apoptosis of clear cell renal carcinoma (ccRCA) cells, and to explore the underlying mechanism. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 80 pairs of human clear cell renal carcinoma (ccRCA) and cancer-adjacent normal tissue samples were collected in this study. Human ccRCA cell line (786-O) and normal human kidney cell line (HK-2) were used in cellular research. The expression level of miR-425 was detected in ccRCA tissues and cells, respectively. Target genes of miR-425 were predicted by bioinformatics and verified by luciferase reporter gene assay. Moreover, the role of miR-425 in regulating E2F6 as well as its effect on the proliferation and apoptosis of ccRCA cells were detected. RESULTS: Quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) results showed that the expression of miR-425 was significantly decreased in ccRCA tissues and cells. The proliferation ability and cell cycle of 786-O cells were significantly inhibited after miR-425 overexpression. The percentage of cells in G0/G1 phase was remarkably increased, while the percentage of cells in S and G2/M phases was significantly decreased. Besides, the number of apoptotic cells was significantly increased in the miR-425 intervention group. On-line target gene prediction software indicated that E2F6 was the potential downstream target gene of miR-425. RT-PCR, Western blotting and luciferase reporter gene assay demonstrated that the expression of E2F6 was negatively regulated by miR-425. In addition, subsequent experiments showed that the up-regulation of E2F6 could suppress the inhibitory effect of miR-425 on the proliferation and apoptosis of ccRCA cells. CONCLUSIONS: Our research demonstrated the inhibitory function of miR-425 in ccRCA. Therefore, the miR-425/E2F6 axis was expected to be one of the targets of ccRCA targeted therapy.

Development of separation techniques for analysis of Nb-94 in radwaste samples.

A chemical separation technique for removing interfering gamma-ray radionuclides by combined precipitation of Nb pentoxide and anion exchange was proposed, thereby allowing detection of trace 94Nb in low-level radwastes. The detection limit for 94Nb was improved by a factor of 10-103, and the scaling factor (94Nb/60Co) of the radwastes was estimated to be less than 10-5. This technique can be used for low-level radwaste classification and power reactor decommissioning.

Decoupling free-carriers contributions from oxygen-vacancy and cation-substitution in extrinsic conducting oxides.

The intrinsic oxygen-vacancies and the extrinsic dopants are two major fundamental free-carrier sources for the extrinsic conducting oxides, such as Sn-doped In(2)O(3). Yet, the individual contributions of the above two free-carrier sources to the total carrier concentrations have never been unraveled. A carrier-concentration separation model is derived in this work, which can define the individual contributions to the total carrier concentration from the intrinsic oxygen-vacancies and the extrinsic dopants, separately. The individual contributions obtained from the present carrier-concentration separation model are verified by the two-state trapping model, photoluminescence, and positron annihilation lifetime (PAL) spectroscopy. In addition, the oxygen-vacancy formation energy of the Sn:In(2)O(3) thin film is determined to be 0.25 eV by PAL spectroscopy.

Bacteriophages are synergistic with bacterial interference for the prevention of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm formation on urinary catheters.

AIMS: We hypothesized that pretreating urinary catheters with benign Escherichia coli HU2117 plus an antipseudomonal bacteriophage (ΦE2005-A) would prevent Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm formation on catheters--a pivotal event in the pathogenesis of catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI). METHODS AND RESULTS: Silicone catheter segments were exposed to one of four pretreatments (sterile media; E. coli alone; phage alone; E. coli plus phage), inoculated with P. aeruginosa and then incubated up to 72 h in human urine before rinsing and sonicating to recover adherent bacteria. Pseudomonas aeruginosa adherence to catheters was almost 4 log(10) units lower when pretreated with E. coli plus phage compared to no pretreatment (P < 0.001) in 24-h experiments and more than 3 log(10) units lower in 72-h experiments (P < 0.05). Neither E. coli nor phage alone generated significant decreases. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of phages with a pre-established biofilm of E. coli HU2117 was synergistic in preventing catheter colonization by P. aeruginosa. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: We describe a synergistic protection against colonization of urinary catheters by a common uropathogen. Escherichia coli-coated catheters are in clinical trials; adding phage may offer additional benefit.

Magnetic field enhanced resonant tunneling in a silicon nanowire single-electron-transistor.

We report fabrication, measurement and simulation of silicon single-electron-transistors made on silicon-on-insulator wafers. At T-2 K, these devices showed clear Coulomb blockade structures. An external perpendicular magnetic field was found to enhance the resonant tunneling peak and was used to predict the presence of two laterally coupled quantum dots in the narrow constriction between the source-drain electrodes. The proposed model and measured experimental data were consistently explained using numerical simulations.

Circadian rhythms and sleep have additive effects on respiration in the rat.

1. We tested two hypotheses: that respiration and metabolism are subject to circadian modulation in wakefulness, non-rapid-eye-movement (NREM) sleep and rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep; and that the effects of sleep on breathing vary as a function of time of day. 2. Electroencephalogram (EEG), neck electromyogram (EMG) and abdominal body temperature (T(b)) were measured by telemetry in six male Sprague-Dawley rats. The EEG and EMG were used to identify sleep-wake states. Ventilation (V(I)) and metabolic rate (V(CO2)) were measured by plethysmography. Recordings were made over 24 h (12:12 h light:dark) when rats were in established states of wakefulness, NREM sleep and REM sleep. 3. Statistically significant circadian rhythms were observed in V(I) and V(CO2) in each of the wakefulness, NREM sleep and REM sleep states. Amplitudes and phases of the circadian rhythms were similar across sleep-wake states. 4. The circadian rhythm in V(I) was mediated by a circadian rhythm in respiratory frequency (f(R)). Tidal volume (V(T)) was unaffected by time of day in all three sleep-wake states. 5. The 24 h mean V(I) was significantly greater during wakefulness (363.5 +/- 18.5 ml min(-1)) than during NREM sleep (284.8 +/- 11.1 ml min(-1)) and REM sleep (276.1 +/- 13.9 ml min(-1)). V(CO2) and V(T) each significantly decreased from wakefulness to NREM sleep to REM sleep. f(R) was significantly lower in NREM sleep than in wakefulness and REM sleep. 6. These data confirm that ventilation and metabolism exhibit circadian rhythms during wakefulness, and NREM and REM sleep, and refute the hypothesis that state-related effects on breathing vary as a function of time of day. We conclude that the effects of circadian rhythms and sleep-wake state on respiration and metabolic rate are additive in the rat.

Selected Contribution: Regulation of sleep-wake states in response to intermittent hypoxic stimuli applied only in sleep.

Recurrent sleep-related hypoxia occurs in common disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The marked changes in sleep after treatment suggest that stimuli associated with OSA (e.g., intermittent hypoxia) may significantly modulate sleep regulation. However, no studies have investigated the independent effects of intermittent sleep-related hypoxia on sleep regulation and recovery sleep after removal of intermittent hypoxia. Ten rats were implanted with telemetry units to record the electroencephalogram (EEG), neck electromyogram, and body temperature. After >7 days recovery, a computer algorithm detected sleep-wake states and triggered hypoxic stimuli (10% O2) or room air stimuli only during sleep for a 3-h period. Sleep-wake states were also recorded for a 3-h recovery period after the stimuli. Each rat received an average of 69.0 +/- 6.9 hypoxic stimuli during sleep. The non-rapid eye movement (non-REM) and rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep episodes averaged 50.1 +/- 3.2 and 58.9 +/- 6.6 s, respectively, with the hypoxic stimuli, with 32.3 +/- 3.2 and 58.6 +/- 4.8 s of these periods being spent in hypoxia. Compared with results for room air controls, hypoxic stimuli led to increased wakefulness (P < 0.005), nonsignificant changes in non-REM sleep, and reduced REM sleep (P < 0.001). With hypoxic stimuli, wakefulness episodes were longer and more frequent, non-REM periods were shorter and more frequent, and REM episodes were shorter and less frequent (P < 0.015). Hypoxic stimuli also increased faster frequencies in the EEG (P < 0.005). These effects of hypoxic stimuli were reversed on return to room air. There was a rebound increase in REM sleep, increased slower non-REM EEG frequencies, and decreased wakefulness (P < 0.001). The results show that sleep-specific hypoxia leads to significant modulation of sleep-wake regulation both during and after application of the intermittent hypoxic stimuli. This study is the first to determine the independent effects of sleep-related hypoxia on sleep regulation that approximates OSA before and after treatment.

Ischemic bowel secondary to angiocentric T-cell lymphoma of intestine: a case report.

A case of intestinal angiocentric T-cell lymphoma is reported, occurring in a 72-year-old female who had suffered from poor appetite, body weight loss and abdominal pain for two months. Plain abdominal film revealed ileus, and she received laparotomy under the impression of ischemic bowel. Surprisingly, pathologic examination disclosed an angiocentric T-cell lymphoma of jejunum complicated with focal intestinal necrosis. This case emphasizes the angiocentric and angioinvasive character of some T-cell lymphomas. Angiocentric T-cell lymphoma must be considered as a possible cause of ischemic bowel.

Intestinal malrotation and gastric perforation in a newborn with tetralogy of Fallot: report of one case.

Gastric perforation with gastrointestinal anomaly is rare in newborns. A case of Tetralogy of Fallot with both malrotation and gastric perforation is reported. Before operation, malrotation was diagnosed from the x-ray films. Laparotomy disclosed a linear perforation on the posterior wall of the gastric body. Mechanical obstruction might have played a role in this case.

Jejunal atresia with "apple peel" deformity: report of one case.

A case of jejunal atresia with "apple peel" deformity is presented. A 27-year-old woman, gravida 3, para 2, suffered from premature labor pain and vaginal bleeding at 32 weeks of gestation. Prenatal ultrasound examination revealed presence of three areas of cystic dilatation in the fetal abdomen and marked polyhydramnios, indicating a high bowel obstruction. A female baby was delivered by Cesarean section with Apgar scores of 7 and 8 at one and five minutes, respectively. Physical examination showed abdominal distention. Nasogastric tube aspiration got more than 50 ml of blood-tinged fluid. Roentgenography demonstrated a high jejunal obstruction as well as a normally rotated colon. Laparotomy disclosed proximal jejunal atresia with typical "apple peel" appearance of the distal small bowel. An end-to-end anastomosis was performed smoothly after resection of both the proximal and distal small bowels. A reduction tapering antimesenteric jejunoplasty was also done. Partial parenteral nutrition had been administered for 10 days followed by enteric feeding. The postoperative course was uneventful. Her chromosomal analysis revealed a normal karyotype of 46,XX.