Resonances and antiresonances in heat generation by spin current in a quantum dot.

We study the heat generation in a quantum dot exposed to a rotating magnetic field and coupled to a normal lead. Both electron-phonon interaction and electron-electron interaction are considered in the dot. We show the emergence of resonances and antiresonances in the heat generation, which we attribute to constructive interference and destructive interference between phonon waves emitted from opposite spin channels in the dot.

Implications of Necroptosis for Cardiovascular Diseases.

Necroptosis is a non-apoptotic programmed cell death pathway, which causes necrosis-like morphologic changes and triggers inflammation in the surrounding tissues. Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that necroptosis is involved in a number of pathological processes that lead to cardiovascular diseases. However, the exact molecular pathways linking them remain unknown. Herein, this review summarizes the necroptosis-related pathways involved in the development of various cardiovascular diseases, including atherosclerosis, cardiac ischemia-reperfusion injury, cardiac hypertrophy, dilated cardiomyopathy and myocardial infarction, and may shed light on the diagnosis and treatment of these diseases.

Preparation and characterization of galactosylated glycol chitosan micelles and its potential use for hepatoma-targeting delivery of doxorubicin.

This study aimed to develop novel galactosylated cholesterol modified-glycol chitosan (Gal-CHGC) micelles for targeting delivery of doxorubicin (DOX) in live cancer cells. Three kinds of Gal-CHGC conjugates were synthesized and characterized. The mean particle size and critical aggregation concentration of these polymeric micelles increased with the increase of galactose substitution degree. The DOX-loaded micelles were prepared by an o/w method. The mean diameters of DOX-loaded galactosylated micelles were in the range of 387-497 nm. DOX released from drug-loaded micelles displayed a biphasic way. Cellular uptake studies demonstrated that DOX-loaded galactosylated micelles could enhance the uptake of DOX into HepG2 cells. Moreover, the cytotoxicity of DOX-loaded galactosylated micelles against HepG2 cells significantly improved in contrast with free DOX and DOX-loaded micelles without galactosylation. These results suggested that Gal-CHGC micelles could be a potential carrier for hepatoma-targeting drug delivery.

[A case report of myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative disease unclassifiable with karyotype aberration of trisomy 8 and JAK2 mutation].

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between clinical features of myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative disease, unclassifiable (MDS/MPD-U), karyotype of chromosome and JAK2 mutation in 1 case. The clinical features, karyotype and JAK2 mutation of the patient with MDS/MPD-U were studied by means of bone marrow biopsy, karyotype analysis and ARMS-PCR technique. The results indicated that the typical micromegakaryocytes and thrombocytosis, karyotype aberration of trisomy 8 as well as JAK2 V617F mutation were found in this patient. It is concluded that the patient was diagnosed as MDS/MPD-U with trisomy 8 and JAK2 V617F mutation. The data of this patient will provide evidence for studying correlation of chromosome karyotype aberration with JAK2 V617F mutation and for evaluating prognosis of MDS/MPD-U.

[Effect of bone-marrow mesenchymal stem cells on the immune function of aging rats].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of transplantation of bone-marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) on the immune functions of aging rats. METHODS: Healthy SD rats were randomized into normal control, aging model group and MSCs group. The aging model was established by daily subcutaneous injection of D-galactose for 4 consecutive months. MSCs were isolated from the bone marrow of adult SD rats and injected (3×10(6) MSCs) in rats in the MSCs group via the tail vein once a week for 4 weeks. The spleen index, activity of T lymphocytes and the levels of IL-2 and IL-10 in spleen were measured, and the pathological changes of the spleen were observed after the treatments. RESULTS: MSCs transplantation enhanced the cellular immune function of aging rats manifested by obviously increased spleen index, activity of T lymphocyte and the level of IL-2, and lowered level of IL-10 in the spleen. The rats in the aging model group showed serious spleen injury, which was obviously lessened by MSCs injection. CONCLUSION: MSCs transplantation can improve the cellular immune function of aging rats and ameliorate spleen injury induced by D-galactose.

[Matrine enhances the cytotoxic sensitivity of ABCG2high nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells to natural killer cells by inducing high expression of NKG2D receptor ligands].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the mechanism underlying the effects of matrine in enhancing the cytotoxic sensitivity of CNE2/DDP cells highly expressing ATP-binding cassette superfamily G member 2 (ABCG(2)(High)) to allogenic natural killer (Allo-NK) cells. METHODS: ABCG(2)(High) CNE2/DDP cells and Allo-NK cells were isolated by magnetic activated cell sorting (MACS). Flow cytometry was used to evaluate the purity of the isolated cells and the expression of NKG2D ligands on the target cells before and after incubation with matrine. The cytotoxic sensitivity of the treated and non-treated ABCG(2)(High) CNE2/DDP cells to Allo-NK cells was measured by LDH releasing assay. RESULTS: The expression rate of ABCG2 was (91.40-/+2.32)% in ABCG(2)(High) CNE2/DDP cells. More than 90% of the isolated NK cells were identified to be CD3(-)CD16(+)CD56(+) cells. The expression rates of MICA, MICB, ULBP1, ULBP2, and ULBP3 on the target cells incubated with matrine increased from (2.92-/+0.33)%, (4.27-/+0.33)%, (5.80-/+0.62)%, (11.10-/+3.15)%, and (7.75-/+1.14)% to (11.30-/+0.89)%, (14.29-/+2.61)%, (12.56-/+1.06)%, (43.24-/+4.43)%, and (12.77-/+1.06)%, respectively. At the E: T ratio of 10:1 and 20:1, the cytotoxic sensitivity of ABCG(2)(High) cells to Allo-NK cells increased from (15.32-/+1.34)% and (27.26-/+6.81)% in un-treated cells to (28.53-/+1.37)% and (42.72-/+2.80)% in matrine-treated cells, respectively, showing significant differences in the cytotoxic sensitivity of the target cells in both groups produced by matrine treatment (F=29.05, P=0.000). CONCLUSION: Matrine can up-regulate the expressions of NKG2D ligands (MICA/B and ULBP1-3) in ABCG(2)(High) nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells, which results in increased cytotoxic sensitivity of the cells to Allo-NK cells.