Fabrication of amine functionalized CdSe@SiO2 nanoparticles as fluorescence nanosensor for highly selective and sensitive detection of picric acid.

In this work, amino functionalized CdSe-silica core-shell nanoparticles (NH2-CdSe@SiO2 NPs) were constructed as probe to detect picric acid (PA). The CdSe QDs were embedded in SiO2 nanoparticles and modified with amino groups on the surface. The nitro explosives are electron deficient in nature, which will have stronger affinity for amines and resulted in fluorescence quenching of quantum dots. It was proved that this strategy is selective, easy and sensitive enough for sensing PA with a detection limit of 0.5 × 10-7 M.

Matrine reduces the proliferation of A549 cells via the p53/p21/PCNA/eIF4E signaling pathway.

The aim of the present study was to investigate how matrine affects the proliferation of A549 human lung adenocarcinoma cells via the p53/p21/proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA)/eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) signaling pathway. The effect of different concentrations of matrine on the proliferation of A549 cells was investigated using a 3­(4,5­dimethylthiazol­2­yl)­2,5­diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The migration of A549 cells following exposure to varied concentrations of matrine was detected using a Transwell cell migration assay. The effect of 240 mg/l matrine on the apoptotic rate of A549 cells was determined using flow cytometry. The change in the mRNA and protein expression levels of p53, p21, PCNA and eIF4E following exposure to matrine were detected using reverse transcription­quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting, respectively. The increase of matrine from 60­240 mg/l led to reduced cell migration and inhibition of A549 cell proliferation. The apoptotic rate of A549 cells when treated with 240 mg/l matrine was significantly different when compared with the untreated control. The mRNA expression levels of p53 and p21 in the group treated with 240 mg/l matrine were significantly higher compared with the control group. The mRNA expression levels of PCNA and eIF4E were significantly lower in the 240 mg/l matrine­treated group compared with the control. The protein expression levels of p53 and p21 were significantly higher in the 240 mg/l matrine group compared with the control group. Treatment with 240 mg/l matrine reduced the protein expression levels of PCNA and eIF4E. Matrine also reduced the migration ability of A549 cells and inhibited their proliferation, which may be associated with the overexpression of p53 and p21, and the reduction of PCNA and eIF4E expression levels.

Identification of a retinoic acid-inducible gene I from Japanese eel (Anguilla japonica) and expression analysis in vivo and in vitro.

RIG-I (retinoic acid inducible gene-I) is one of the key cytosolic pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) for the recognition of cytosolic viral nucleic acids and the production of type I interferons (IFNs). The full-length cDNA sequence of RIG-I (AjRIG-I) in Japanese eel (Anguilla japonica) was identified and characterized in this article. The full-length cDNA of AjRIG-I was 3468 bp, including a 5'-untranslated region (UTR) of 52 bp, a 3'-UTR of 617 bp and an open reading frame (ORF) of 2799 bp encoding a polypeptide of 933 amino acid residues with a calculated molecular mass of 106.2 kDa. NCBI CDD analysis showed that the AjRIG-I protein had the typical conserved domains, including two adjacent caspase activation and recruitment domains (CARDs), a DEXDc domain, a HELICc domain and a C-terminal regulatory domain (RD). Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis revealed a broad expression for AjRIG-I in a wide range of tissues, with the predominant expression in liver, followed by the gills, spleen, kidney, intestine, skin, and the very low expression in muscle and heart. The AjRIG-I expressions in liver, spleen and kidney were significantly induced following injection with LPS, the viral mimic poly I:C, and Aeromonas hydrophila infection. In vitro, the AjRIG-I transcripts of Japanese eel liver cells were significantly enhanced by poly I:C and PGN stimulation, down-regulated with CpG-DNA treatment whereas no change of the expression level was found post LPS challenge. These results collectively suggested AjRIG-I transcripts expression possibly play an important role in fish defense against viral and bacterial infection.

Clinical and radiographic observations from four patients with primary hepatic lymphoma.

The aim of the present study was to delineate the radiographic and clinical features of primary hepatic lymphoma (PHL). Four histopathologically confirmed cases of PHL were analyzed with respect to the radiological, clinical and pathological characteristics. The main clinical manifestations included upper right quadrant pain and lymphoma-associated B symptoms, such as fever, night sweating and weight loss. All the patients had elevated serum levels of lactate dehydrogenase. Furthermore, all the patients underwent plain and enhanced computed tomography examinations, which identified low-density lesions without marked enhancement. Solitary masses were observed in two cases, while multiple focal lesions were noted in one case and diffuse multi-speckled nodules were observed in one case. Two patients underwent abdominal magnetic resonance imaging, which revealed lesions that were hyperintense on T1-weighted imaging (WI) scans and hypointense on T2WI scans, and exhibited slight to moderate enhancement with a dynamic contrast-enhanced protocol. In one case, vessels were visible within the lesion. Therefore, the present study concluded that PHL is a rare condition that exhibits non-specific clinical and radiological features. A combination of imaging results and clinical manifestations can be used to facilitate a diagnosis of PHL.

Significance of increased CIMT with coexisting carotid plaques in cerebral white matter lesions in elders.

It is very common that increased carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) and carotid plaque coexist in a single subject in elderly patients with white matter lesions (WMLs). In this study we investigated whether the coexistence of increased CIMT and carotid plaque is more strongly associated with the presence and extent of WMLs than either alone. All patients were classified into 1 of the following 4 groups: without either increased CIMT (I) or carotid plaque (P): I(-)P(-); with only increased CIMT: I(+)P(-); with only carotid plaque: I(-)P(+); and with both increased CIMT and carotid plaque: I(+)P(+). The presence and severity of periventricular WMLs (PWMLs) and deep WMLs (DWMLs) were assessed and the prevalence of MRI findings by the Cochran-Armitage trend test was calculated. The characteristics of subjects showed that the percentages of patients with increased CIMT and carotid plaque in the DWMLs group and the PWMLs group were significantly higher than those without WMLs group. Both DWMLs and PWMLs were strongly associated with age, carotid plaque and CIMT. Furthermore, the Cochran-Armitage trend test indicated that the prevalence of MRI findings of PWMLs and DWMLs increased in the order of I(-)P(-)< I(+)P(-)< I(-)P(+)< I(+)P(+) (P<0.0001). For the patients with DWMLs, the grades of both I(+)P(-) and I(+)P(+) were increased significantly compared to I(-)P(-) (P<0.0025, P<0.05, respectively) without such a difference found in patients with PWMLs. Our results suggested that the coexistence of increased CIMT and carotid plaque is most closely associated with WMLs, and that increased CIMT is associated with the severity of DWMLs, whereas carotid plaque is related to the presence of WMLs.

Primary spinal chondrosarcoma: radiological manifestations with histopathological correlation in eight patients and literature review.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to delineate radiological-pathological correlation in primary vertebral chondrosarcoma. METHODS: Eight histopathologically confirmed cases were analyzed for pathological and radiological characteristics. RESULTS: Magnetic resonance images of three conventional and one clear cell cases showed lobulated or irregular masses with line or septa enhancement. Two conventional lesions showed signal intensity of high water content on T2-weighted images, in which aneurismal bone cysts were confirmed. The myxoid lesion showed a relatively diffuse signal and enhancement. Marked masses were found in the two mesenchymal patients, either dumbbell-like or round-like. CONCLUSION: Primary spinal chondrosarcomas have certain radiological findings that may correlate to the pathological subtypes.

Primary retroperitoneal malignant melanoma: A case report.

Primary malignant melanoma occurring at an extra cutaneous site is rare. A case of primary malignant melanoma located in the retroperitoneum of an 18-year-old female is presented in this study. Histopathological examination of the tissue biopsies at laparotomy with immunohistochemical stains confirmed a diagnosis of malignant melanoma. Further extensive clinical and radiological investigations proved the retroperitoneum to be the primary site.