Changes in the Non-targeted Metabolomic Profile of Three-year-old Toddlers with Elevated Exposure to Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons.

Objective: To investigate changes in the urinary metabolite profiles of children exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) during critical brain development and explore their potential link with the intestinal microbiota. Methods: Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was used to determine ten hydroxyl metabolites of PAHs (OH-PAHs) in 36-month-old children. Subsequently, 37 children were categorized into low- and high-exposure groups based on the sum of the ten OH-PAHs. Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry was used to identify non-targeted metabolites in the urine samples. Furthermore, fecal flora abundance was assessed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing using Illumina MiSeq. Results: The concentrations of 21 metabolites were significantly higher in the high exposure group than in the low exposure group (variable importance for projection > 1, P < 0.05). Most of these metabolites were positively correlated with the hydroxyl metabolites of naphthalene, fluorine, and phenanthrene ( r = 0.336-0.531). The identified differential metabolites primarily belonged to pathways associated with inflammation or proinflammatory states, including amino acid, lipid, and nucleotide metabolism. Additionally, these distinct metabolites were significantly associated with specific intestinal flora abundances ( r = 0.34-0.55), which were mainly involved in neurodevelopment. Conclusion: Higher PAH exposure in young children affected metabolic homeostasis, particularly that of certain gut microbiota-derived metabolites. Further investigation is needed to explore the potential influence of PAHs on the gut microbiota and their possible association with neurodevelopmental outcomes.

Epigenetic regulation of FOXI2 promotes clear cell renal cell carcinoma progression.

In recent decades, substantial advancements in epigenetics have unveiled a profound understanding of its mechanisms in tumorigenesis and have offered promising strategies for epigenetic therapy in cancer patients. In our study, through bioinformatics analysis, we discovered a significant downregulation and hypermethylation of FOXI2 in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), while the expression in chromophobe cell carcinoma (chRCC) exhibited the opposite trend. Moreover, we established a strong correlation between FOXI2 expression levels and the prognosis of ccRCC. Gene enrichment analysis and cell function experiments unequivocally demonstrate that FOXI2 possesses the capability to induce cell cycle arrest and inhibit cell proliferation. Our research findings demonstrate that the expression of FOXI2 in ccRCC is under the regulation of promoter hypermethylation. Furthermore, in vitro experiments have conclusively shown that the overexpression of FOXI2 induces cell cycle arrest and inhibits cell proliferation.

Circular RNA Expression of Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells Associated with Risk of Acute Exacerbation in Smoking Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Purpose: Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are newly identified endogenous non-coding RNAs that function as crucial gene modulators in the development of several diseases. By assessing the expression levels of circRNAs in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), this study attempted to find new biomarkers for COPD screening. Patients and Methods: We confirmed altered circRNA expression in PBMCs of COPD (n=41) vs controls (n=29). Further analysis focused on the highest and lowest circRNA expression levels. The T-test is used to assess the statistical variances in circRNAs among COPD patients in the smoking and non-smoking cohorts. Additionally, among smokers, the Spearman correlation test assesses the association between circRNAs and clinical indicators. Results: Two circRNAs, hsa_circ_0042590 and hsa_circ_0049875, that were highly upregulated and downregulated in PBMCs from COPD patients were identified and verified. Smokers with COPD had lower hsa_circ_0042590 and higher hsa_circ_0049875, in comparison to non-smokers. There was a significant correlation (r=0.52, P<0.01) between the number of acute exacerbations (AEs) that smokers with COPD experienced in the previous year and the following year (r=0.67, P<0.001). Moreover, hsa_circ_0049875 was connected to the quantity of AEs in the year prior (r=0.68, P<0.0001) as well as the year after (r=0.72, P<0.0001). AUC: 0.79, 95% CI: 0.1210-0.3209, P<0.0001) for hsa_circ_0049875 showed a strong diagnostic value for COPD, according to ROC curve analysis. Hsa_circ_0042590 showed a close second with an AUC of 0.83 and 95% CI: -0.1972--0.0739 (P <0.0001). Conclusion: This research identified a strong correlation between smoking and hsa_circ_0049875 and hsa_circ_0042590 in COPD PBMCs. The number of AEs in the preceding and succeeding years was substantially linked with the existence of hsa_circ_0042590 and hsa_circ_0049875 in COPD patients who smoke. Additionally, according to our research, hsa_circ_0049875 and hsa_circ_0042590 may be valuable biomarkers for COPD diagnosis.

Effective combined therapy for pulmonary epithelioid hemangioendothelioma: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (P-EHE) is a rare disease. Thus far, consensus on a standard treatment for P-EHE has not been established given its low incidence worldwide. Apatinib combined with chemotherapy with doxorubicin/cyclophosphamide has been used as an effective combination treatment for human malignancies. However, the efficacy of this combination has not been reported in P-EHE cases. CASE SUMMARY: We present the case of a 64-year-old woman with chest tightness, cough, and chest pain. Computed tomography showed multiple unresectable pulmonary nodules. She had been misdiagnosed with lung carcinoma and underwent gefitinib treatment at a hospital. Subsequently, the patient underwent a cardiothoracic surgery for further disease investigation. CD31, CD34, and Vimentin expression were detected in the resected nodule specimens by immunohistochemical analyses, and pathological analyses confirmed the diagnosis of P-EHE. Following this, four cycles of apatinib combined with chemotherapy with doxorubicin/cyclophosphamide were initiated. The patient demonstrated stabilization of multiple bilateral nodules and showed a dramatic improvement in the clinical presentation after combination treatment. The patient could not tolerate the side effects of chemotherapy. Therefore, she then continued apatinib monotherapy, which is ongoing to date. The patient was stable at the last follow-up after 24 mo. CONCLUSION: Apatinib combined with chemotherapy with doxorubicin/cyclophosphamide may be an effective therapeutic option for P-EHE treatment.

Hydrophilic and Antibacterial Modification of Poly(lactic acid) Films by γ-ray Irradiation.

To improve the hydrophilicity and imparting antibacterial properties to poly(lactic acid), poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) and silver particles (AgNPs) were simultaneously introduced onto the surface of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) films by γ-ray irradiation. The morphology and structure of the modified films were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM)/energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectrometry and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The interaction between PAA and AgNPs was investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), confirming the coordination between AgNPs and the oxygen atom on the carboxylic group of PAA. The contact-angle (CA) measurements and antibacterial tests showed that the modified PLA films with a low silver content (PLA-g-PAA-Ag) exhibited excellent hydrophilicity as well as antibacterial activity compared with the neat PLA film.

Genistein Protects H9c2 Cardiomyocytes against Chemical Hypoxia-Induced Injury via Inhibition of Apoptosis.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Hypoxia can induce cell injury in cardiomyocytes and further lead to cardiovascular diseases. Genistein (Gen), the predominant isoflavone found in soy products, has shown protective effects on cardiovascular system. The aim of the present study was to investigate the cardioprotective effect of Gen against chemical hypoxia-induced injury. METHODS: Cobalt chloride (CoCl2) was administrated to trigger chemical hypoxia in H9c2 cardiomyocytes. Cell proliferation was detected by using MTT assay. The expression level of hypoxia-related proteins (hypoxia-inducible factor [HIF]-1α and Notch-1) and apoptosis-related proteins (B cell lymphoma [Bcl]-2, Bax, and caspase-3) were evaluated by Western blot analysis. RESULTS: In response to hypoxia, cell viability was reduced dramatically, whereas the expression of HIF-1α was upregulated. Hypoxia also induced cardiomyocytes apoptosis by reducing the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax and increasing expression of caspase-3. Interestingly, Gen attenuated CoCl2-induced cell death and suppressed HIF-1α expression, as well as upregulated the expression of Notch-1. Furthermore, Gen could antagonize CoCl2-induced apoptosis through upregulating Bcl-2/Bax ratio and inhibiting caspase-3 expression. CONCLUSIONS: Gen prevents chemical hypoxia-induced cell apoptosis through inhibition of the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway, exerting protective effects on H9c2 cardiomyocytes.

The upregulated expression of OX40/OX40L and their promotion of T cells proliferation in the murine model of asthma.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the expression of OX40/OX40 ligand (OX40L) was upregulated in a murine model of asthma and their significance in the pathogenesis of asthma. METHODS: After an ovalbumin-sensitized/challenged murine model of asthma was established, the expressions of OX40, OX40L in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) cell pellets were measured. Then T cell proliferation was analyzed by cell counting kit-8 (CCK8), and the protein levels of OX40 and OX40L in the lungs were determined by immunohistochemistry. The concentrations of IL-4 and IFN-γ in BALF and T cell culture supernatant were evaluated by ELISA. RESULTS: The percentages of CD4(+)OX40(+), CD19(+)OX40L(+), F4/80(+)OX40L(+) in PBMCs and BALF cell pellets were higher in asthma group than in control group (all P<0.01). The proliferation capacity of T cells in asthma group was higher than that in control group (P<0.05). In asthma group, stimulation of OX40 by anti-OX40 mAb obviously promoted T cell proliferation and secretion of IL-4 and IFN-γ. Immunohistochemistry assay showed that OX40 and OX40L protein levels were higher in asthma group than those in control group (all P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The expressions of OX40 and OX40L were upregulated in the murine asthmatic model. The upregulation of OX40/OX40L signals could induce the proliferation and cytokines secretion of T cells in asthmatic mice, indicating that OX40/OX40L signal was involved in the pathogenesis of asthma.

[Research advance of large conductance Ca(2+)-activated K+ channels in cardiovascular system].

The large conductance Ca(2+)-activated potassium channels (BK(Ca) channels), an important class of ion channels in cell membrane, are widely expressed in each part of the body including cardiovascular system, and play an important role in regulating cardiovascular activity. This review introduces the recent progress on the structural features, function, and modulation of BK(Ca) channels in cardiovascular system briefly.

Neonate-to-adult transition of snake venomics in the short-tailed pit viper, Gloydius brevicaudus.

Snake venoms undergo ontogenetic shifts in biochemical and pharmacological activities. This may be related to variation in venom components associated with the ontogenetic shift in diet. We used the short-tailed pit viper Gloydius brevicaudus that displays ontogenetic shifts in diet to examine whether the species displays a neonate-to-adult transition of snake venomics. Venoms from neonates and adults were pooled separately and then analyzed by 2-DE, MALDI-TOF-MS/MS and iTRAQ technologies. The 2-DE profiles showed that the main components in both types of venoms were acidic proteins, and that neonates and adults differed in snake venomics. The proteins with molecular masses/pI of ~12-39kDa/4.0-4.6, ~36-57kDa/5.6-7.0 and ~65-92kDa/4.5-5.8 were more abundant in the neonate venom, while the proteins with molecular masses/pI of ~12-19kDa/4.6-6.4, ~23-30kDa/5.4-6.3 and ~35-62kDa/4.6-5.4 were more abundant in the adult venom. The iTRAQ analysis showed quantitative changes in various toxin families, including mainly metalloproteinases, serine proteinases, phospholipase A2s and C-type lectins. The N-deglycosylation analysis demonstrated that glycosylation was an important post-translational modification of snake venom. Our results show a neonate-to-adult transition of snake venomics in G. brevicaudus. Such a transition might be driven by the divergence in dietary habits between neonates and adults. BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE: This study is first to demonstrate a neonate-to-adult transition of snake venomics in G. brevicaudus, and the results will be helpful in predicting and treating clinical pathologic symptoms caused by the snake at different developmental stages.

N-(2-Chloro-acet-yl)glycine.

The title compound, C4H6ClNO3, crystallizes with two independent mol-ecules (A and B) in the asymmetric unit. In each mol-ecule, there are N-H⋯O and N-H⋯Cl hydrogen bonds. Both mol-ecules are relatively planar, with the mean plane of the acetamide [N-C(=O)C] group being inclined to the mean plane of the acetate group [C-C(=O)O] by 9.23 (13)° in mol-ecule A and 6.23 (12)° in mol-ecule B. In the crystal, adjacent mol-ecules are linked by O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds and weak C-H⋯O contacts forming -A-A-A- and -B-B-B- parallel chains propagating along the a-axis direction.

SOX40L: an important inflammatory mediator in adult bronchial asthma.

INTRODUCTION: The role of soluble OX40 ligand (sOX40L) in adult bronchial asthma is unclear. This study aims to determine the serum concentrations of sOX40L in adult patients with bronchial asthma, and discussed its relationship with pulmonary function. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We measured the pulmonary function using the spirometer and detected the serum concentrations of sOX40L by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 19 healthy persons in the control group, 58 acute asthmatic adult patients who were grouped according to their disease severity: 18 mild grade, 24 moderate grade, 16 severe grade, and 24 persons in a stable asthmatic group. RESULTS: The serum concentrations of sOX40L in asthmatic adult patients (6.80 ± 4.95 ng/L) were distinctly higher than those in the control group (3.98 ± 2.83 ng/L, P <0.05), and they were negatively correlated with pulmonary function indexes (FEV1%, FVC%, FEV1/FVC) (r = -0.754, P <0.01, r = -0.557, P <0.01, r = -0.457, P <0.01, respectively). Moreover, the serum concentrations of sOX40L showed obvious differences among control, mild, moderate, and severe groups (3.98 ± 2.83, 4.87 ± 1.89, 6.97 ± 5.91, 8.71 ± 5.18 ng/L, respectively; P <0.01). The concentrations of sOX40L decreased to the same extent as the control group after therapeutic treatments were provided to the asthmatic adult patients. CONCLUSION: The concentrations of sOX40L were found to be high in adult asthmatic patients and were associated with the severity of the disease. Therefore, sOX40L could be a potential inflammatory mediator in the pathogenesis of asthma.

Effects of suxiao jiuxin pill (see test) on oxidative stress and inflammatory response in rats with experimental atherosclerosis.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the preventive role of Suxiao Jiuxin Pill (see text) on atherosclerosis (AS) and to probe into the mechanism in the atherosclerosis rat model. METHODS: The AS rat model was established by a high fat diet and a large dose of calcium (vitamin D3, 0.6 million U/kg, i.p, once). Sixty healthy male adult Sprague-Dawlay (SD) rats were randomly divided into 6 groups, a normal control group (N), a model group (M), a SX low dose group (SXL), a SX middle dose group (SXM), a SX high dose group (SXH), and an atorvastatin group (ATO) (n = 10 in each group). The rats in the treatment groups were given with the specific drugs from the first day by oral administration, and the normal control group and the model group were given with normal saline for 12 weeks. Afterwards, the content of malondialdehyde (MDA), the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the content of oxidized low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) in the serum were detected. In addition, the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) and nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-kappaB) proteins were tested by Western-blot method. RESULTS: The serum ox-LDL and MDA level significantly decreased, SOD activity increased in the SX middle, high dose groups and the atorvastatin group compared to the model group (all P < 0.05). While the expression of PPARgamma and NF-kappab proteins significantly decreased in the SX low, middle, high dose groups and the atorvastatin group compared to the model group (all P < 0.01), with the best effect in the SX high dose group .These results indicate that SX could elevate the activity of serum SOD, decrease serum level of MDA and ox-LDL, and reduce the expression of PPARgamma and NF-kappaB proteins. CONCLUSION: SX plays an important role in anti-inflammation and inhibition of oxidative stress, which possibly are the mechanism of its preventing and treating atherosclerosis.

Within-clutch variation in venoms from hatchlings of Deinagkistrodon acutus (Viperidae).

We used 17 hatchling five-paced pit-vipers snakes (Deinagkistrodon acutus) to study within-clutch variation in snake venoms. We measured venom yield and total protein content, and examined the correlations between venom yield and hatchling size [snout-vent length (SVL) and body mass]. We also analyzed the electrophoretic profiles and enzymatic activities of venoms from hatchlings. Lyophilized venom mass was not correlated with SVL, nor with body mass. Liquid venom mass and total protein content were not correlated with body mass, but were positively correlated with SVL. Venom composition, as shown in SDS-PAGE chromatograms did vary among individuals but there were biochemical differences in activity which had to be due to subtle venom composition differences between the sexes. Female hatchlings showed higher esterolytic and fibrinogenolytic activities but lower proteolytic, collagenolytic, phosphomonoesterase and fibrinolytic activities than male hatchlings. We did not find sexual differences in 5' nucleotidase, phospholipase A(2) and hyaluronidase activities, and l-amino acid oxidase activities in either female or male hatchlings. Within-clutch variation in venoms from D. acutus hatchlings should be attributed to the individual-based differences in presence or absence, and the relative amount of the protein components, and might have a genetic basis.

Insulin-like growth factor-1 fused with thrombopoietin mimetic peptide effectively increase platelets count in vivo.

OBJECTIVE: To design the expression of fusion proteins containing one or 2 thrombopoietin mimetic peptide (TMP). METHODS: This study was conducted at Harbin Pharmaceutical Group Research and Development Center, Harbin, China from June 2009 to January 2010. We designed the protein that was fused to the C-terminus of insulin-like growth factors (IGF-1) by a flexible peptide linker by Dami cell proliferation assay, colony-forming assay, and analysis of platelet in mice to prove our hypothesis. The total number of mice used was 48 in all 4 groups. RESULTS: The fusion proteins were produced in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) at up to 26% of the total cell proteins. Subsequent biological activity assays showed that the fusion proteins exhibited higher potency than recombinant human thrombopoietin (TPO). Our results showed that the fusion proteins IGF-1-TMP exhibited higher biological activities than TMP in Dami cell proliferation, human cord blood cell colony-forming assays, and in experiments on acute myeloid radiation sickness mice, which can effectively increase the number of platelets. CONCLUSION: Experiments in mice and biology activity assay, which can effectively increase the number of platelets, indicated that it has a potential role in pharmaceutical applications for the treatment of thrombocytopenia.

[Effects of 1-bromopropane exposure on cognitive function in rats].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of 1-bromopropane (1-BP) on the functions of learning-memory and the central cholinergic system in rats. METHODS: Forty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: low 1-BP group (200 mg/kg), middle 1-BP group (400 mg/kg), high 1-BP group (800 mg/kg) and control group, and the exposure time was 7 days. The Morris water maze (MWM) test was applied to evaluate the learning-memory function in rats. After the MWM test, the rats were sacrificed, the cerebral cortex and hippocampus were quickly dissected and homogenized in ice bath. The activity of acetylcholine esterase (AChE) and choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) in supernatant of homogenate were detected. RESULTS: The latency and swim path-length of rats in middle and high 1-BP groups prolonged significantly in place navigation test and the efficiency of searching strategy obviously decreased, as compared with control group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). In spatial probe test, the number of crossing platform in three 1-BP groups decreased significantly, as compared with control group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The cortical AChE activity of rats in middle and high 1-BP groups was significantly higher than that of control and low 1-BP group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The AChE activity in rat hippocampus of high 1-BP group obviously increased, as compared with control group as compared with control group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference of cortical ChAT activity between three 1-BP groups and control group (P > 0.05). In the hippocampus, there was no difference of ChAT activity among the groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: 1-BP exposure could significantly influence the learning-memory function in rats due to the increase of AChE activity.

[Investigation on degradation of polypropylene/stabilizers composites irradiated by gamma rays].

The degradation behavior of polypropylene and polypropylene/stabilizer composites, caused by gamma radiation, was studied in the present work The stabilizers used were hindered phenol antioxidant and hindered amine light stabilizer. FTIR spectroscopy and DSC analysis were used to determine the structural variation induced by gamma radiation. It can be seen that the evolution of PP and composites PP/stabilizers on gamma irradiation is an increase in absorbance in the hydroxyl and carbonyl absorption regions. Carbonyl index calculated from FTIR spectra was used to characterize the rate of degradation. When the irradiation dose was small (<50 kGy), the degradation of pure polypropylene and polypropylene/stabilizers composites was not obvious; while the irradiation dose increased (> or =50 kGy), the carbonyl indexes of all the samples increased obviously, and the degradation degree of polypropylene/stabilizer composites was bigger than pure polypropylene. This result might be partially attributed to the molecular chain scission of hindered phenol and hindered amine under larger irradiation dose. The chain scission of stabilizers forms hydroperoxides and peroxide radicals, catalyzing the degradation of polypropylene. As the irradiation dose was small (<50 kGy), the crystallization temperatures of pure polypropylene and polypropylene/stabilizer composites all showed no remarkable changes; as the irradiation dose exceeded 50 kGy, the crystallization temperatures of pure polypropylene and polypropylene/stabilizer composites all decreased obviously. Correspondingly, the melting peaks of both pure polypropylene and polypropylene/stabilizer composites moved to lower temperature and split into two peaks with increasing the irradiation dose. The decrease of crystallization and melting temperatures might be attributed to the destruction of chemical structure and stereo-regularity of the molecular chain, due to the increasing of carbonyl and hydroxyl groups brought by the oxidation of polypropylene molecular chain. At the same irradiation dose (> or = 50 kGy), the crystallization and melting temperatures of polypropylene/stabilizer composites were lower than that of pure polypropylene. It indicates that the stabilizers accelerate the degradation of polypropylene. The results were accordant with the IR results.

Angiosarcoma of the lung: 2 cases report and literature reviewed.

Angiosarcoma is a kind of malignant tumors derived from vascular endothelial cell. Its incidence rate is very low. Pulmonary angiosarcomas are usually secondary tumors, and primary cases are less than 20 so far. Here we presented two cases of angiosarcoma involved the lung, and we only confirmed case 2 as a primary pulmonary angiosarcoma. The clinical characteristics, diagnosis, treatment options and prognosis of pulmonary angiosarcoma were reviewed in this article too.

[Mechanical periodontal treatment combined with tetracycline for aggressive periodontitis].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of mechanical periodontal treatment combined with tetracycline on periodontal attachment, distances of cementum-enamel junction (CEJ) to the bone defect bottom and to the alveolar crest, and avidity of serum IgG against Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in patients with aggressive periodontitis. METHODS: Twenty-six patients with aggressive periodontitis were divided equally into two groups to receive mechanical periodontal treatment combined with tetracycline or exclusive mechanical periodontal treatment, with another 20 periodontally healthy subjects serving as the control group. In the two patient groups, routine clinical examination of the subjects was performed to record periodontal attachment level and distances of CEJ to the bottom of the bone defects and to the alveolar crest before and 3 and 6 months after the treatment. The avidity of serum IgG against Pg LPS was measured by ELISA with thiocyanate elution before and after periodontal treatment. RESULTS: Compared with patients with exclusive mechanical periodontal treatment, patients with combined treatments showed significant improvement in periodontal attachment level and the distance of CEJ to the bone defect bottom after the treatment (P<0.01 and P<0.05, respectively) with also significantly reduced avidity of serum IgG against Pg LPS (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Mechanical periodontal treatment combined with tetracycline produces favorable effects in patients with aggressive periodontitis.

Cell adhesion to ephrinb2 is induced by EphB4 independently of its kinase activity.

Cell to cell interaction in bone marrow is crucial for differentiation of hematopoietic cells. We have shown that EphB4 receptor is expressed in erythroid progenitor and its activation accelerates erythroid differentiation. To elucidate the role of EphB4 activation in erythropoiesis, we analyzed effects of EphB4 on cell adhesive pathways. Cell adhesion with the extension of filopodial pseudopod was observed by EphB4 activation. EphB4 activation also enhanced an effect of fibronectin-mediated adhesive pathway along with formation of the c-Cbl/CrkL complex. The tyrosine kinase activity of EphB4 was dispensable for those phenomena. These results suggest that activation of EphB4 participates in adhesive but not repulsive signals independently of its tyrosine kinase activity in hematopoietic cells.

[Investigation of PP/PE blend with FTIR mapping].

The polypropylene/polyethylene (PP/PE) blends with different weight ratio were studied by FTIR spectroscopy. The characteristic absorption bands of PP and PE in different blends were compared. It was found that the ratio of the characteristic absorption peak areas of PP to those of PE is correlated with the weight ratio of PP to PE in the blends. Based on the above results, FTIR mapping technique was applied to characterize the samples prepared by embedding PP fiber into molten PE film, and the distribution of PP and PE in the blends can be obtained from the ratio of the characteristic peak areas of PP to PE. Good agreements have been observed between the IR mapping image and the image obtained using polarized optical microscope. These results indicated that FTIR mapping technique is an effective tool to investigate the phase separation behavior of polymer blends based on the ratio of the characteristic peak areas of different polymers.