Diagnostic applications and therapeutic option of Cascade CRISPR/Cas in the modulation of miRNA in diverse cancers: promises and obstacles.

The Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)/Cas technology is a molecular tool specific to sequences for engineering genomes. Among diverse clusters of Cas proteins, the class 2/type II CRISPR/Cas9 system, despite several challenges, such as off-target effects, editing efficiency, and efficient delivery, has shown great promise for driver gene mutation discovery, high-throughput gene screening, epigenetic modulation, nucleic acid detection, disease modeling, and more importantly for therapeutic purposes. CRISPR-based clinical and experimental methods have applications across a wide range of areas, especially for cancer research and, possibly, anticancer therapy. On the other hand, given the influential role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in the regulations of cellular division, carcinogenicity, tumorigenesis, migration/invasion, and angiogenesis in diverse normal and pathogenic cellular processes, in different stages of cancer, miRNAs are either oncogenes or tumor suppressors, according to what type of cancer they are involved in. Hence, these noncoding RNA molecules are conceivable biomarkers for diagnosis and therapeutic targets. Moreover, they are suggested to be adequate predictors for cancer prediction. Conclusive evidence proves that CRISPR/Cas system can be applied to target small non-coding RNAs. However, the majority of studies have highlighted the application of the CRISPR/Cas system for targeting protein-coding regions. In this review, we specifically discuss diverse applications of CRISPR-based tools for probing miRNA gene function and miRNA-based therapeutic involvement in different types of cancers.

Expression of DLL3 in small cell lung cancer and its application in targeted therapy / 国际肿瘤学杂志

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) has a poor biological behavior,high probability of recurrence and metastasis,and limited treatment.The Notch signaling pathway is an evolutionarily conserved pathway that regulates the growth of many cell types through local cell-cell interactions.It controls the differentiation,proliferation and survival of cells.As a ligand for the Notch pathway,delta-like protein 3 (DLL3) is highly expressed on the membrane of SCLC cells.DLL3 plays an important role in cancer initiation and epithelial mesenchymal transition,invasion and metastasis of SCLC.Rovalpituzumab tesirine is a conjugate of directed against DLL3,which shows great potential for SCLC therapy.

Construction of a prognostic nomogram model for patients with rhabdomyosarcoma / 中国肿瘤临床

Objective: To construct a nomogram for predicting the 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year survival of patients with rhabdomyosarco-ma. Methods: We retrieved data of patients diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma from The National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epi-demiology, and End Results (SEER) database between 1975 and 2016. After screening, 861 eligible patients were selected. The univari-ate Kaplan-Meier method and multivariate Cox model were used to determine independent prognostic factors, which were then uti-lized to construct a nomogram to predict 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year survival of patients with rhabdomyosarcoma. The resulting nomo-gram was internally verified using the consistency index (C-index) to measure its predictive accuracy. Results: Patient age, tumor histol-ogy, tumor grade, stage of the disease, surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy were independent prognostic factors for patients with rhabdomyosarcoma (P<0.05). Based on these factors, the nomogram was successfully constructed. The C-index value for internal validation of the nomogram was 0.776, and the calibration curves of the model were consistent. Conclusions: The proposed nomo-gram is a reliable tool for accurate prognostic prediction in patients with rhabdomyosarcoma. It could be helpful for clinicians to indi-vidualize diagnosis, assess prognosis, and guide treatment plans for rhabdomyosarcoma patients.

[Research on the dynamics of ion debris from Sn plasma by use of dual laser pulses].

Extreme ultraviolet lithography is one of the most promising technologies on the next generation of high-capacity integrated circuit manufacturing. However, techniques for ion debris mitigation have to be considered in the application of extreme ultraviolet source for lithography. In our paper the dynamics of ion debris from Sn plasma by using dual ns laser pulses were investigated. The results show that debris from plasma greatly depends on the energy of pre-pulse and the delay time between the two laser pulses. The energy of Sn ions debris was efficiently mitigated from 2. 47 to 0. 40 keV in the case of dual laser pulses, up to 6. 1 times lower than that by using single laser pulse. We also found that Sn ions debris can be mitigated at all angles by using the dual laser pulses method.

Intertrochanteric fracture：design and biomechanical evaluation of triangle truss locking plate / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND:The design of proximal femoral locking compression plate existed defects. Therefore, our team designed triangle truss locking plate with hyper-short arm according to proximal femoral locking compression plate (patent No. 201220051751.2). OBJECTIVE:To design and make triangle truss locking plate and evaluate its biomechanical properties. METHODS:Triangle truss locking plate with hyper-short arm was designed based on the support of two proximal screws of proximal femoral locking compression plate. Five pairs of fresh adult femur specimens were prepared, and the model of A3.1 (AO classification) reverse intertrochanteric fracture was established. Experimental group (right side) was fixed with triangle truss locking plate. Control group (left side) was fixed with proximal femoral locking compression plate. Stress distribution of the screws of proximal end of the plate, stress distribution of the fracture ends, the opening angle of fracture, and maximum load were detected. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1) Stress distribution of the four screws of the proximal femoral locking compression plate was average in the experimental group, and the stress distribution of the two screws of triangle truss locking plate was close. Stress distribution of the four screws was not average in the control group. The proximal screw bearing stress was bigger in the control group than in the experimental group (P < 0.05). (2) Open angle under different loads were significantly smaler in the experimental group than in the control group (P < 0.05). (3) Maximum load was higher in the experimental group than in the control group (P < 0.05). Moreover, the position of damage was different between the two groups. The fixation in the experimental group was reasonable. These findings suggest that various biomechanic properties of the triangle truss locking plate with hyper-short arm were better than that of proximal femoral locking compression plate. Its fixation was reliable. Triangle truss locking plate could effectively reduce or avoid breakage of the plate and screw or coxa vara.

[The LIBS experiment condition optimization of alloy steel].

Laser induced plasma spectroscopy of alloy steel was produced by Nd : YAG pulsed laser at 1 064 nm, and the spectral signal was detected by high resolution and width controlled ICCD. Several Fe atomic spectral lines such as 404.581, 414.387, 427.176 and 438.355 nm were chosen for analysis, and the effects of different experimental parameters on LIBS spectral signal intensity were investigated. It is shown that the experimental parameters such as pulse energy, laser focus location and laser delay time have great influence on the LIBS signal. LIBS signals with high spectral intensity and signal-background ratio (SBR) as well as the optimum experiment conditions were obtained by optimizing these experiment parameters so as to make composition analysis of the alloy steel.

PCF-based cavity enhanced spectroscopic sensors for simultaneous multicomponent trace gas analysis.

A multiwavelength, multicomponent CRDS gas sensor operating on the basis of a compact photonic crystal fibre supercontinuum light source has been constructed. It features a simple design encompassing one radiation source, one cavity and one detection unit (a spectrograph with a fitted ICCD camera) that are common for all wavelengths. Multicomponent detection capability of the device is demonstrated by simultaneous measurements of the absorption spectra of molecular oxygen (spin-forbidden b-X branch) and water vapor (polyads 4v, 4v + δ) in ambient atmospheric air. Issues related to multimodal cavity excitation, as well as to obtaining the best signal-to-noise ratio are discussed together with methods for their practical resolution based on operating the cavity in a "quasi continuum" mode and setting long camera gate widths, respectively. A comprehensive review of multiwavelength CRDS techniques is also given.

Revival of femtosecond laser plasma filaments in air by a nanosecond laser.

Short lived plasma channels generated through filamentation of femtosecond laser pulses in air can be revived after several milliseconds by a delayed nanosecond pulse. Electrons initially ionized from oxygen molecules and subsequently captured by neutral oxygen molecules provide the long-lived reservoir of low affinity allowing this process. A Bessel-like nanosecond-duration laser beam can easily detach these weakly bound electrons and multiply them in an avalanche process. We have experimentally demonstrated such revivals over a channel length of 50 cm by focusing the nanosecond laser with an axicon.

Triggering and guiding HV discharge in air by filamentation of single and dual fs pulses.

The triggering and guiding of the stationary high voltage (HV) discharges at 5-40 kV are demonstrated by using plasma filaments generated by single and dual femtosecond(fs) laser pulses in air. A significant reduction of the breakdown voltage threshold due to the pre-ionization of the air gap by laser pulse filamentaion was observed. The amount of free electrons of filaments generated by different pulse configurations was compared by sonography method. The lifetime of filaments is measured by using time-resolved fluorescence spectrum, and the lifetime of filaments generated by dual fs laser pulses was doubled due to the re-ionization by the succeeding pulse. The triggering ability of dual fs laser pulses was demonstrated to be enhanced due to the longer lifetime of filaments.

Optimization of multiple filamentation of femtosecond laser pulses in air using a pinhole.

The robustness and prolongation of multiple filamentation (MF) for femtosecond laser propagation in air are investigated experimentally and numerically. It is shown that the number, pattern, propagation distance, and spatial stability of MF can be controlled by a variable-aperture on-axis pinhole. The random MF pattern can be optimized to a deterministic pattern. In our numerical simulations, we configured double filaments to principlly simulate the experimental MF interactions. It is experimentally and numerically demonstrated that the pinhole can reduce the modulational instability of MF and is favorable for a more stable MF evolution.

Spatial evolution of multiple filaments in air induced by femtosecond laser pulses.

The spatial evolution of plasma filaments in air induced by femtosecond laser pulses is investigated experimentally. Several major filaments and small scaled additional filaments are detected in the plasma channel. The complicated interaction process of filaments as splitting, fusion and spreading is observed. The major filaments propagate stably, and the small scaled additional filaments can be attracted to the major filaments and merged with them. The major filaments are formed due to the perturbation of initial beam profile and the small scaled filaments are mainly caused by the transverse modulational instability.

Paper airplane propelled by laser plasma channels generated by femtosecond laser pulses in air.

A long plasma channel, formed due to the dynamic balance between the nonlinear self-focusing and the plasma defocusing in the propagation of intense femtosecond laser pulses in air, is demonstrated to be able to continuously propel a paper airplane without complicated focusing optics. The maximum coupling coefficient generated by the plasma channel is found to be more than 8.5 dyne/W. In the plasma channel, the detonation wave generation with the air ionization is found to be the propulsive source.

[Expression of PN3 and NaN in trigeminal ganglion during occlusal trauma in rat].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate changes of two sodium channels, PN(3) and NaN, during orofacial pain by occlusal trauma in rat. METHODS: Expressions of PN(3) mRNA and NaN mRNA in trigeminal ganglion were tested during various periods of persistent occlusal trauma with reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: In groups, including control, occlusal trauma groups, PN(3) mRNA and NaN mRNA were all expressed in trigeminal ganglion neurons. In the control group, there were similar density values bilaterally. In the occlusal trauma group, the density values in gel electrophoresis of PN(3) mRNA and NaN mRNA on the intervention side were slightly greater than those on the control side. CONCLUSIONS: The stimulation of occlusal trauma upregulates expressions of PN(3) mRNA and NaN mRNA, which suggests the signal occurring and conduction of chronic pain by occlusal trauma have the same molecular mechanism of sodium channel as inflammatory pain.

[A study of calcitonin gene-related peptide-immunoreactive nerve fibers of rat molar pulp during traumatic occlusion and after removal].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of traumatic occlusion on CGRP-immunoreactive (CGRP-IR) nerve fibres in rat molar pulp and observe the recovery of CGRP-IR nerve fibres after removal of traumatic occlusion. METHODS: To observe immunohistochemically the change of CGRP-IR nerve fibres in molar pulp during traumatic occlusion and after removal. RESULTS: The increase of number, density and morphology of CGRP-IR nerve fibres in traumatic occlusion group was more than in control group, however, the changes of CGRP-IR nerve fibres in removal of traumatic occlusion group were less than in control group. CONCLUSIONS: The changes of CGRP-IR nerve fibres in number, morphology, and density are induced by traumatic occlusion in rat molar pulp, however, the nerve fibres recover to normal by removal of traumatic occlusion.