Acoustic manipulation dynamics of levitated particle with screw-shaped reflecting surface.

Existing single-axis acoustic levitation devices with an axisymmetric reflector can manipulate particles in a variety of ways. However, the mechanism by which particles are suspended in a single-axis acoustic levitator with a non-axisymmetric reflector remains poorly understood. This work addresses this issue by proposing a novel single-axis ultrasonic levitator design that includes a flat plane emitter and a screw-plane reflector. The node positions of the standing wave formed in this levitator were predicted by calculating the Gor'kov potential according to a numerical model. The analysis results demonstrate that the nodes were distributed off-axis and their positions varied in a spiral manner when changing the distance between the emitter and reflector. Corresponding experiments based on the proposed design were also conducted, and the results indicated that the distance changes between the emitter and reflector could induce some spiral trajectories of a polyethylene-foam particle placed in the ultrasonic field. Moreover, the trajectory of the suspended particle was found to distribute along a conical surface centered on the central axis of this device. This work provides a new approach for ultrasonic particle manipulation by changing the geometry of the reflector.

Circular RNA circ-SMAD7 promoted ovarian cancer cell proliferation and metastasis by suppressing KLF6.

Since this article has been suspected of research misconduct and the corresponding authors did not respond to our request to prove originality of data and figures, "Circular RNA circ-SMAD7 promoted ovarian cancer cell proliferation and metastasis by suppressing KLF6, by Y. Zhao, X.-P. Qin, Y.-P. Lang, D. Kou, Z.-W. Shao, published in Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2019; 23 (13): 5603-5610-DOI: 10.26355/eurrev_201907_18294-PMID: 31298312" has been withdrawn. The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause. https://www.europeanreview.org/article/18294.

Circular RNA circ-SMAD7 promoted ovarian cancer cell proliferation and metastasis by suppressing KLF6.

OBJECTIVE: Recently, the roles of circular RNAs (circRNAs) in tumor progression have attracted much attention. Currently, circ-SMAD7 has been identified as an oncogene in cancers. The aim of this study was to investigate the function of circ-SMAD7 in the progression of ovarian cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Circ-SMAD7 expression in both ovarian cancer cells and tissue samples was detected by quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Circ-SMAD7 shRNA was constructed and transfected into the ovarian cancer cells. To identify the function of circ-SMAD7 in ovarian cancer, cell proliferation assay, colony formation assay, transwell assay, and Matrigel assay were conducted, respectively. In addition, qRT-PCR and Western blot assays were performed to elucidate the underlying mechanism and, then, it was analyzed. RESULTS: Circ-SMAD7 expression was remarkably higher in ovarian cancer tissue samples than in corresponding normal tissues. The proliferation of the ovarian cancer cells was significantly inhibited after circ-SMAD7 downregulation. Meanwhile, the migration and invasion of ovarian cancer cells were significantly inhibited after circ-SMAD7 downregulation in vitro. Both the mRNA and the protein expressions of the Krüppel-like factor 6 (KLF6) were remarkably promoted after circ-SMAD7 was knocked down in ovarian cancer cells. Furthermore, the KLF6 expression level was negatively correlated with circ-SMAD7 expression level in ovarian cancer samples. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that circ-SMAD7 promotes the progression of ovarian cancer and enhances cell metastasis and proliferation via suppressing KLF6. In addition, circ-SMAD7 may be a novel therapeutic strategy in ovarian cancer.

[Bcl-2 associated athanogene 3 affects the epithelial-mesenchymal transition in human cervical cancer].

Objective: To investigate the expression of Bcl-2 associated athanogene 3 (BAG3) in cervical cancer tissues and cells and its role in epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) of cervical cancer. Methods: (1) Cervical cancer samples were collected from September 2015 to March 2017 in the Qilu Hospital of Shandong University and Shangdong Provincial Hospital. While, 50 normal tissues were collected from August 2015 to March 2017 in the Dezhou Municiple Hospital, which were obtained from patients with uterine myoma underwent hysterectomy and patients with cervical biopsy. Reverse transcription (RT)-PCR and western blot were used to detect the expression of BAG3 mRNA and protein, and their clinical significances were analyzed. (2) The expression of BAG3 mRNA and protein was detected using RT-PCR and western blot method in HeLa and SiHa cell lines and normal cervical epithelial cells. The experiment was divided into two groups, BAG3 small interfering RNA transfected group (si-BAG3) and the control group transfected with small interfering RNA (siRNA). Cell counting kit 8 (CCK-8) analysis was used to detect cell proliferation of two groups. Wound-healing and transwell assay were used to detect the migration and invasion ability of HeLa and SiHa cells. The xenograft model of cervical cancer in nude mice was used to observe the effect of BAG3 on tumor xenografts and the tumor-related biomarkers were tested by western blot. Results: (1) The expression levels of BAG3 mRNA and protein in cervical carcinoma tissues were 1.20±0.15 and 1.10±0.16, which were significantly higher than that in normal cervical tissue, 0.23±0.04 and 0.29±0.03 (both P<0.01). The results showed that the expression levels of BAG3 mRNA and protein were significantly correlated with cervical carcinoma staging and lymph node metastasis (P<0.05).However, its expression was not correlated with the patient's age, pathological grade, and diameter of tumor (all P>0.05). (2) Compared with normal cervical epithelial cells, the expression of BAG3 mRNA and protein levels in HeLa and SiHa cells were significantly increased (P<0.01), the expression levels of BAG3 mRNA and protein in HeLa and SiHa cells transfected with si-BAG3 were significantly lower than that in control group (all P<0.01). After post-transfected 72 hours, A value of HeLa and SiHa with transfection were significantly lower than those in control group [(0.88±0.08) vs (1.22±0.13), (0.92±0.09) vs (1.35±0.12); both P<0.01]. After post-transfected 24 hours, the migration level of HeLa and SiHa cells with transfection were significantly lower than those in the control group [(20.1±2.1)% vs (58.6±5.6)%, and (21.1±2.1)% vs (61.7±5.4)%; both P<0.01]. The transmembrane cell number in HeLa and SiHa cells with transfection were 76±11 and 71±8, which were significantly less than those in control group (131±12 and 129±14; both P<0.01). After the inoculation into nude mice, tumor formation time of HeLa and SiHa cells with transfection were (9.5±0.5) and (10.5±1.3) days, respectively, which were significantly longer than those in control group [(4.5±0.5) and (5.2±1.1) days; both P<0.05]. Compared with those in the control group, the expression level of Slug, N-cadherin and matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) protein in HeLa and SiHa cells with transfected in tumor tissues were significantly decreased (all P<0.01), while the expression level of E-cadherin protein was significantly increased (P<0.01). Conclusion: BAG3 could be involved in the proliferation, migration and invasion of cervical cancer cells by affecting cervical cancer EMT, and BAG3 may be an effective target for the treatment of cervical cancer.

Depinning phase transition in the two-dimensional clock model with quenched randomness.

With Monte Carlo simulations, we systematically investigate the depinning phase transition in the two-dimensional driven random-field clock model. Based on the short-time dynamic approach, we determine the transition field and critical exponents. The results show that the critical exponents vary with the form of the random-field distribution and the strength of the random fields, and the roughening dynamics of the domain interface belongs to the new subclass with ζ≠ζ(loc)≠ζ(s) and ζ(loc)≠1. More importantly, we find that the transition field and critical exponents change with the initial orientations of the magnetization of the two ordered domains.

High-power polycrystalline Er:YAG ceramic laser at 1617 nm.

We report on the efficient operation of a high-power erbium-doped polycrystalline Er:YAG ceramic laser at 1617 nm resonantly pumped by a high-power 1532 nm Er,Yb fiber laser. Lasing characteristics of Er:YAG ceramics with different Er3+ concentrations are evaluated and compared. With an output coupler of 15% transmission and 0.5 at. % Er3+-doped YAG ceramic as the gain media, the laser generates 14 W of output power at 1617 nm for 28.8 W of incident pump power at 1532 nm, corresponding to a slope efficiency with respect to incident pump power of 51.7%.

Effect of the gene dosage of CgammaP2C19 on diazepam metabolism in Chinese subjects.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the gene dosage of CYP2C19 affects the metabolism of diazepam and desmethyldiazepam in healthy Chinese subjects. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Eighteen unrelated adult men were recruited for the study from a total of 101 healthy Chinese volunteers who had been screened for CYP2C19 phenotype and genotype. All subjects received a single oral dose (5 mg) of diazepam, and the pharmacokinetics of diazepam and desmethyldiazepam were compared in six ml homozygotes (ml/ml), six ml heterozygotes (wt/ml), and six wild-type homozygotes (wt/wt). RESULTS: The plasma elimination half-life values of diazepam (84.0 +/- 13.7 hours) and desmethyldiazepam (176.0 +/- 28.9 hours) in subjects of ml/ml were significantly longer than those (62.9 +/- 9.8 hours for diazepam; 132.1 +/- 24.9 hours for desmethyldiazepam; both P < .01) in subjects of wt/ml or those (20.0 +/- 10.8 hours for diazepam; 99.2.+/- 21.7 hours for desmethyldiazepam; both P < .01) in subjects of wt/wt. A significant difference in the corresponding half-life values existed between the wt/ml and wt/wt subjects (P < .01). As expected, the slowest mean clearance of diazepam was observed in the ml/ml subjects (2.8 +/- 0.9 mL/min) and the fastest in the wt/wt subjects (19.5 +/- 9.8 mL/min), with the wt/ml heterozygotes having an intermediate value (7.2 +/- 2.6 mL/min). CONCLUSION: The presence of a single-nucleotide polymorphism (G681A) of the CYP2C19 gene cosegregates with the impaired metabolism of diazepam and desmethyldiazepam among Chinese subjects in a gene-dosage effect manner.