[Effect of electroacupuncture regulating NLRP3/Caspase-1 pathway on pyroptosis of dopaminergic neurons in rats with Parkinson's disease].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on the pyrolysis of dopaminergic neurons in rats with Parkinson's disease (PD), so as to explore its underlying molecular mechanism. METHODS: Male SD rats were randomly divided into the sham operation, model, EA, MCC950 and EA+MCC950 groups, with 12 rats in each group. The PD rat model was established by two-point injection of 6-OHDA. Rats in the MCC950 group were injected with MCC950 at the dose of 10 mg/kg, once a day; for rats of EA group, EA was applied to "Taichong" (LR3) and "Fengfu"(GV16) for 30 min, once a day; rats in the EA+ MCC950 group were given MCC950 injection and EA once a day. All above interventions were performed for 2 weeks. After the intervention, the behavioral changes of rats were observed using rotating induction experiment, rotating rod experiment and open field experiment; the positive expressions of dopaminergic neuronal markers tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and α-Synuclein (α-Syn) in substantia nigra striatum were detected by immunohistochemistry; the damage of dopaminergic neurons in substantia nigra striatum was observed after HE staining; immunopositive coexpression of brain nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3), Caspase-1 and ionized calcium binding adapter1 (Iba-1) were detected by immunofluorescence double staining; the levels of interleukin (IL)-1ß and IL-18 in brain tissues were detected by ELISA; the protein expression levels of NLRP3, Cleaved Caspase-1 and apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD (ASC) in the substantia nigra striatum were detected by Western blot. RESULTS: Compared with the sham operation group, the number of rotations of rotating induction experiment, the residence time in the central area of open field experiment, the positive expression of α-Syn, the positive co-expressions of NLRP3/Iba-1 and Caspase-1/Iba-1, the contents of IL-1ß and IL-18 in brain tissues, and the protein expression levels of NLRP3, ASC and Cleaved Caspase-1 in substantia nigra striatum were significantly increased (P<0.05), while the drop latency of rotating rod experiment, the rearing times and the total distance of open field experiment, and the positive expression of TH in substantia nigra striatum were significantly decreased (P<0.05) in the model group. Compared with the model group, the above mentioned markers were reversed in EA, MCC950 and EA+MCC950 groups (P<0.05), and the improvement of the EA+MCC950 group was more obvious than those of the MCC950 and EA groups. In the model group, the neurons were disorderly arranged, the number of neurons was reduced, the cytoplasm was swollen, and some of them were vacuolar degeneration; while the degree of neuronal arrangement disorder, cytoplasmic swelling and the vacuolar degeneration were reduced in varying degrees in the MCC950, EA and EA+MCC950 groups. CONCLUSION: The ameliorative effect of EA on dopaminergic neuron damage in PD rats may be related to its effects in inhibiting NLRP3/Caspase-1 mediated neuronal pyrosis.

Case report of penile cancer recurrence treated with cetuximab combined with anlotinib.

Penile squamous cell carcinoma with pelvic lymph node metastases/recurrence has a poor prognosis. We reported a case with recurrent pSCC was administered cetuximab and anlotinib after failure of first-line treatment and achieved an effective response. Cetuximab combined with anlotinib may be a new choice for relapsed pSCC.

Long Non-Coding RNAs in Lung Cancer: The Role in Tumor Microenvironment.

The development of various therapeutic interventions, particularly immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy, have effectively induced tumor remission for patients with advanced lung cancer. However, few cancer patients can obtain significant and long-lasting therapeutic effects for the limitation of immunological nonresponse and resistance. For this case, it's urgent to identify new biomarkers and develop therapeutic targets for future immunotherapy. Over the past decades, tumor microenvironment (TME)-related long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have gradually become well known to us. A large number of existing studies have indicated that TME-related lncRNAs are one of the major factors to realize precise diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer. Herein, this paper discusses the roles of lncRNAs in TME, and the potential application of lncRNAs as biomarkers or therapeutic targets for immunotherapy in lung cancer.

[Characteristics of Chromophoric Dissolved Organic Matter (CDOM) in Natural Rivers of Western Sichuan Plateau].

The concentration of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in some rivers in the western Sichuan Plateau is extremely high. Due to the unique optical properties of colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM), a thorough understanding of the photodegradation characteristics of CDOM helps in revealing regional DOC dynamics and carbon cycle at the water-land interface in alpine natural waters. Surface water samples were collected from three rivers (the upper reaches of the Minjiang, Zagunao, and Fubian rivers) in the alpine-gorge region, and the Baihe and Heihe rivers in the plateau planation surface distributed among the watersheds in the western Sichuan plateau, southwest China. Ultraviolet-visible spectra(UV-vis) absorbance and excitation emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence spectroscopy with two-dimensional correlation spectrum (2D-COS) and principal component analysis (PCA) were used to characterize the environmental behavior responses to light irradiation. The first-order decay constants and photodegradation rates of the Baihe and Heihe rivers are 0.167 d-1,0.173 d-1 and 64.85%,63.43%, respectively. Due to the low concentration (0.71 m-1) of the Fubian River CDOM, photodegradation behavior is limited. The photodegradation behavior of CDOM in the Zaogunao and Minjiang rivers is relatively complicated. Exposure to sunlight led to decreases in the chromophores and changes in origin of CDOM from the four rivers, except for the Minjiang River. The aromaticity, hydrophobicity, and humification degree of CDOM in the rivers from the plateau planation surface were decreased with increasing exposure time. PARAFAC produced a four-component model:C2[280(<250)/400 nm], C3 (255/440 nm), and C4[270(360)/492 nm] represented terrestrial UVA humic-like fluorophores, and C1 (275/310nm) belonged to a tyrosine-like substance, as humic-like FDOM was found to be more readily photodegraded. 2D-COS indicated that UVA humic-like FDOM showed a higher susceptibility in the rivers from plateau planation surface. The preferential removal of UVA humic-like FDOM (especially at 500 nm emission wavelength), and delayed response of tyrosine-like fluorescence, were revealed from the five rivers upon irradiation. Two factors were identified in the principal component analysis of the Baihe River, explaining 87.28% of these parameters, which comprehensively reflected the effects of the photodegradation process on CDOM characteristics and fluorescent components.

[Seasonal Variations of DOM Spectral Characteristics in the Surface Water of the Upstream Minjiang River].

Alpine wetlands and valleys of northwestern Sichuan are the main catchment areas of Minjiang River, where dissolved organic matter (DOM) in surface waters comes mainly from the natural background environment. Sources and structure parameters of DOM are important for calibrating the flux and pattern of organic carbon exports from plateau wetlands and alpine rivers. In this study, surface water samples along the upstream Minjiang River were collected at the end of dry season (April) and rainy season (October). Excitation emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence spectroscopy coupled with parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) was used to characterize seasonal variations of DOM along Minjiang River. Results showed fluorescence peaks (humic-like peaks A and C, protein-like peaks B and T) were different along the river. Peak A and peak C were more obvious at the end of dry season, while peak B and peak T were more obvious at the end of rainy season. PARAFAC produced a three-component model including two humic-like components[C1 (250-260/380-480 nm) and C2 (300-330/380-480 nm)] and one protein-like component[C3 (270-280/300-350 nm)], accounting relative intensity 48.68%-65.02% for C1, 23.17%-29.83% for C2, and 11.83%-21.53% for C3. Fluorescence components showed variations along the river more prominently in April than October, in which the most significant one was C1. Average fluorescence index (FI) values ranged from 1.4 to 1.9, indicating that DOM consisted of both autochthonous and allochthonous components. Moreover, higher degrees of humification, aromaticity and hydrophobicity were found in April than those in October, suggesting more terrigenous sources at the end of dry season and more biological sources at the end of rainy season. Additionally, chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM)[a(355)] correlated significantly with humic-like substance[Fn(355)], which also indicated that DOM components originated from terrigenous input in the upstream Minjiang River. The results also showed significant positive correlation between C1 and C2 in April, with no significant correlation in October, which further proved that exogenous input and seasonal variations characterized DOM sources in the upstream Minjiang River.

[Characteristics of Chromophoric Dissolved Organic Matter (CDOM) in Rivers of Western Sichuan Plateau Based on EEM-PARAFAC Analysis].

Alpine meadows and wetlands of western Sichuan plateau are essential organic carbon pools for Tibetan plateau; thus, a thorough understanding of the characteristics of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and its association with soil carbon storage pool helps to reveal the flux and intensity of DOC export in the area. Surface water samples were collected from three rivers (the upper reaches of Min River, Zagunao River, and Fubian River) in the alpine-gorge region and Bai River in the plateau planation surface distributed among the watersheds in western Sichuan plateau, Southwest China. UV absorbance and EEM fluorescence spectroscopy with parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) was used to characterize chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM). PARAFAC produced a three-component model:C1(260/480) and C2(310/420) represented terrestrial humic-like fluorophores, and C3(280/370) belonged to tyrosine-like substances. The total fluorescence intensity of CDOM in the alpine-gorge region showed fewer changes along the rivers and was lower than that of the Bai River in the hilly plateau. The Bai River had much higher concentrations of humic-like substances (C1,C2) compared to the other three rivers, indicating its terrestrial sources with high humification degree originated from meadows and watersheds along the river. The calculated fluorescence indices (FI, BIX, HIX, ß:α) showed that CDOM in the alpine-gorge region was a mixture with both autochthonous and allochthonous origins with low humification degree, while CDOM in the plateau planation surface had a higher degree of humification and lower extent of degradation. Statistical analysis showed that the C1 and C2 components in four rivers were significantly positively correlated, and C1, C2 and C3 components in Bai River were significantly positively correlated. ß:α and BIX were significantly positively correlated in four rivers, but there was no significant correlation between DOC and CDOM[a(355)].

[Impacts of warming and nitrogen addition on organic fraction release in fresh litter of Larix potaninii in alpine zone of the western Sichuan Province, China]. / å·è¥¿é«˜æµ·æ‹”å¢žæ¸©å’ŒåŠ æ°®å¯¹çº¢æ‰å‡‹è½ç‰©æœ‰æœºç»„åˆ†é‡Šæ”¾çš„å½±å“.

The decomposition dynamics of organic components in fresh litter of Larix potaninii were monitored by in situ litter-bag incubation under four treatments, i.e., field condition (CK), nitrogen addition (AN, 2 g N·m-2), warming by top-open chamber (OTC), nitrogen addition with warming by top-open chamber (OTC+AN), from November to next September. Decomposition of water-soluble sugar, water-soluble phenol and total polyphenol were stimulated significantly under the treatment OTC, AN and OTC+AN during the first four months compared with the CK, but the difference of these components release narrowed with the extension of incubation time. Compared with CK, releases of dichloromethane-extractable fraction, acid soluble carbohydrates, acid soluble lignin, and acid insoluble lignin, were inhibited significantly under OTC, AN, and OTC+AN treatments, and the significance of inhibitory effect under the treatments was: OTC > OTC+AN > AN. Especially, in the treatment of OTC, half-life of dichloromethane-extractable fraction and acid inso-luble lignin in fresh litter were doubled, and that of hot-water soluble component was prolonged by more than 50% compared with CK. Half-life of water-soluble sugar, water-soluble phenol, total polyphenol, acid-soluble carbohydrate and acid-soluble lignin in fresh litter were respectively 182, 159, 127, 154 and 190 d in CK, and these components seem to be easily mineralized organic fraction. Meanwhile, half-life of hot-water soluble components, dichloromethane-extractable fraction, and acid insoluble lignin was 209, 302 and 318 d, respectively, indicating these fractions recalcitrant to decomposing in the fresh litter. Decomposition of all components in L. potaninii litter occurred in cold season from November to next March, which suggested that cold season was the most important period for litter decay in the alpine conifer. Generally it was assumed that microorganisms were inactive and decomposition of organic matters was slow in alpine soil during harsh winter, while the results of fresh litter incubation in situ showed that all components decomposed very fast during the period. Therefore, in alpine treeline, nitrogen deposition and warming would inhibit rather than promote decomposition of fresh litter, which would be conducive to carbon sequestration for the alpine soil ecosystem.

Antiangiogenic therapy using endostatin increases the number of ALDH+ lung cancer stem cells by generating intratumor hypoxia.

Antiangiogenic therapy is becoming a promising option for cancer treatment. However, many investigations have recently indicated that these therapies may have limited efficacy, and the cancers in most patients eventually develop resistance to these therapies. There is considerable recently acquired evidence for an association of such resistance with cancer stem-like cells (CSLCs). Here, we used xenograft tumor murine models to further suggest that antiangiogenic agents actually increase the invasive and metastatic properties of lung cancer cells. In our experiments with murine lung cancer xenografts, we found that the antiangiogenic agent endostatin increased the population of ALDH+ cells, and did so by generating intratumoral hypoxia in the xenografts. We further showed endostatin to cause an increase in the CSLC population by accelerating the generation of tumor hypoxia and by recruiting TAMs, MDSCs and Treg cells, which are inflammatory and immunosuppressive cells and which can secrete cytokines and growth factors such as IL-6, EGF, and TGF-ß into the tumor microenvironment. All these factors are related with increased CSLC population in tumors. These results imply that improving the clinical efficacy of antiangiogenic treatments will require the concurrent use of CSLC-targeting agents.

Sini powder () decoction alleviates mood disorder of insomnia by regulating cation-chloride cotransporters in hippocampus.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the mechanism of Sini Powder () decoction (SND) in the treatment of insomnia. METHODS: The rats were randomly divided into four groups: control, model, SND-treated, and Estazolamtreated groups (n=15 in each group). Sleep deprivation (SD) rat model was established using the modifified multiple platform method for 14 h per day for 14 days, and the behavior of the rats were observed. Na-K-Cl-cotransporter (NKCC1) and K+/Cl- cotransporter (KCC2) in the hippocampus were tested by immunohistochemistry, real-time polymerase chain reaction, and western blot. RESULTS: SD rats displayed anxiety-like behavior, which was alleviated by SND. The protein expressions of NKCC1 and KCC2 in the hippocampus were signifificantly decreased in SD rats compared with those in control rats (P<0.05); these proteins were signifificantly increased by SND (P<0.05). The mRNA expression of KCC2 was signifificantly decreased in SD rats (0.62±0.35 vs. 2.29±0.56; P=0.044), while SND showed a tendency to increase the mRNA of KCC2 in SD rats (P>0.05). By contrast, the mRNA expression of NKCC1 was signifificantly increased in the hippocampus of SD rats (6.58±1.54 vs. 2.82±0.32; P=0.011), while SND decreased the mRNA expression of NKCC1 (6.58±1.54 vs. 2.79±0.81; P=0.016). CONCLUSIONS: Chinese medicine SND could alleviate mood disorder of SD rats by regulating cation-chloride cotransporters, such as NKCC1 and KCC2. These fifindings would have major implications in the mechanism of SND to relieve insomnia.

Anti-tumor effects of penfluridol through dysregulation of cholesterol homeostasis.

BACKGROUND: Psychiatric patients appear to be at lower risk of cancer. Some antipsychotic drugs might have inhibitory effects on tumor growth, including penfluridol, a strong agent. To test this, we conducted a study to determine whether penfluridol exerts cytotoxic effects on tumor cells and, if so, to explore its anti-tumor mechanisms. METHODS: Growth inhibition of mouse cancer cell lines by penfluridol was determined using the 3- (4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Cytotoxic activity was determined by clonogenic cell survival and trypan blue assays. Animal tumor models of these cancer cells were established and to evaluate penfluridol for its anti-tumor efficacy in vivo. Unesterified cholesterol in cancer cells was examined by filipin staining. Serum total cholesterol and tumor total cholesterol were detected using the cholesterol oxidase/p- aminophenazone (CHOD-PAP) method. RESULTS: Penfluridol inhibited the proliferation of B16 melanoma (B16/ F10), LL/2 lung carcinoma (LL/2), CT26 colon carcinoma (CT26) and 4T1 breast cancer (4T1) cells in vitro. In vivo penfluridol was particularly effective at inhibiting LL/2 lung tumor growth, and obviously prolonged the survival time of mice bearing LL/2 lung tumors implanted subcutaneously. Accumulated unesterified cholesterol was found in all of the cancer cells treated with penfluridol, and this effect was most evident in LL/2, 4T1 and CT26 cells. No significant difference in serum cholesterol levels was found between the normal saline-treated mice and the penfluridol-treated mice. However, a dose-dependent decrease of total cholesterol in tumor tissues was observed in penfluridol-treated mice, which was most evident in B16/F10-, LL/2-, and 4T1-tumor-bearing mice. CONCLUSION: Our results suggested that penfluridol is not only cytotoxic to cancer cells in vitro but can also inhibit tumor growth in vivo. Dysregulation of cholesterol homeostasis by penfluridol may be involved in its anti-tumor mechanisms.

[Effects of adrenergic beta-1 antagonists on hemodynamics of severe septic patients].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of adrenergic beta-1 antagonists on hemodynamics of severe septic patients. METHODS: A total of 16 severe septic patients underwent mechanical ventilation from June 2012 to December 2012 at Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University. There were 14 males and 2 females with a mean age of (58 ± 6) years (range: 48 - 67 years). Among them, there were multiple trauma (n = 4), acute severe pancreatitis (n = 6) and recent tumorectomy for gastrointestinal cancer (n = 6). The adrenergic beta-1 antagonist esmolol was injected through central venous catheter to reduce heart rate by 20% from baseline. Various indices (heart rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, cardiac output, cardiac index, central venous pressure, pulmonary artery wedge pressure, pulmonary vascular resistance index, systemic vascular resistance index and stroke volume index) were monitored by a multifunctional and hemodynamic monitor connected to pulmonary artery catheter. And other indices of arterial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2), lactate (Lac) concentration, superior vena cava oxygen saturation (ScvO2), superior vena cava carbon dioxide pressure (PcvO2) and central venous-to-arterial carbon dioxide tension difference (Pcv-aCO2) were measured by a blood-gas-analyzer before 10 minutes and after 3 hours of dosing. RESULTS: Heart rate and cardiac index decreased significantly at 3 hours post-dosing compared with that at pre-dosing ((91 ± 13) vs (114 ± 15) beats per minute, (3.4 ± 0.7) vs (4.2 ± 0.8) L×min(-1)×m(-2), P < 0.05), but systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, central venous pressure, pulmonary wedge pressure, pulmonary vascular resistance index, systemic vascular resistance index and stroke index showed no significant changes ((100 ± 13) vs (108 ± 14) mm Hg (1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa), (62 ± 7) vs (64 ± 6) mm Hg, (11.8 ± 2.5) vs (12.1 ± 2.4) mm Hg, (13 ± 5) vs (14 ± 4) mm Hg, (201 ± 72) vs (179 ± 95) dyn×s/(cm(5)×m(2)), (1360 ± 520) vs (1366 ± 538) dyn×s/(cm(5)×m(2)), (40 ± 9) vs (38 ± 6) ml/(beat×m(2)), all P > 0.05). ScvO2, Lac and Pcv-aCO2 also showed no significant change ((72.8 ± 5.3)% vs (70.1 ± 4.0)%, (2.11 ± 0.13) vs (2.31 ± 0.23) mmol/L, (3.9 ± 1.0) vs (4.5 ± 0.8) mm Hg, all P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Adrenergic beta-1 antagonist may reduce cardiac output in proportion to the percentage decreases in heart rate in severe septic patients without adverse effects upon cardiac function and systemic perfusion.

A robust channel-calibration algorithm for multi-channel in azimuth HRWS SAR imaging based on local maximum-likelihood weighted minimum entropy.

High-resolution and wide-swath (HRWS) synthetic aperture radar (SAR) is an essential tool for modern remote sensing. To effectively deal with the contradiction problem between high-resolution and low pulse repetition frequency and obtain an HRWS SAR image, a multi-channel in azimuth SAR system has been adopted in the literature. However, the performance of the Doppler ambiguity suppression via digital beam forming processing suffers the losses from the channel mismatch. In this paper, a robust channel-calibration algorithm based on weighted minimum entropy is proposed for the multi-channel in azimuth HRWS SAR imaging. The proposed algorithm is implemented by a two-step process. 1) The timing uncertainty in each channel and most of the range-invariant channel mismatches in amplitude and phase have been corrected in the pre-processing of the coarse-compensation. 2) After the pre-processing, there is only residual range-dependent channel mismatch in phase. Then, the retrieval of the range-dependent channel mismatch in phase is achieved by a local maximum-likelihood weighted minimum entropy algorithm. The simulated multi-channel in azimuth HRWS SAR data experiment is adopted to evaluate the performance of the proposed algorithm. Then, some real measured airborne multi-channel in azimuth HRWS Scan-SAR data is used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.

Polarization of tumor-associated macrophage is associated with tumor vascular normalization by endostatin.

BACKGROUND: Vascular normalization is an emerging concept in cancer treatment, but its precise mechanisms are not completely understood. The polarization of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) is important in tumor angiogenesis and metastasis. However, little is known about the effect of anti-angiogenic agents on the polarization of tumor-associated macrophages. Therefore, we explore the changes of TAMs polarization in the development of tumor vascular normalization induced by endostatin. METHODS: A murine xenograft model of lung cancer was treated with endostatin for 10 days. The morphology and function of tumor vasculature was examined using various techniques. Flow cytometry was carried out to assess the TAMs, and immunofluorescence was used to examine Tie-2-expressing monocytes (TEMs) in tumors. Levels of the histidine-rich glycoprotein (HRG) in tumors were measured by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. RESULTS: Tumor vessels became more normal and mature on day six in the endostatin-treated mice. During vascular normalization, the number of M2-like TAMs and TEMs in the tumors was significantly reduced, whereas the number of M1-like TAMs showed an increase on day six after endostatin treatment, although the latter was not statistically significant. The HRG in the tumors accumulated at an early stage after endostatin administration. CONCLUSIONS: The polarization of TAMs is associated with tumor vascular normalization induced by endostatin. These observations may be useful in the exploration of new strategies for anti-angiogenic treatment.

Tumor refractoriness to endostatin anti-angiogenesis is associated with the recruitment of CD11b+Gr1+ myeloid cells and inflammatory cytokines.

AIMS AND BACKGROUND: A major challenge in developing antiangiogenic therapies is tumor intrinsic refractoriness and the emergence of treatment-induced resistance. Recently, such resistance is considered to be associated with inflammatory changes in the tumor microenvironment. However, no information has been acquired about the effect of endostatin on tumor microenvironment in this field. We established two tumor models refractory to endostatin treatment and sought to determine the role of inflammatory changes in the development of tumor refractoriness to antiangiogenic therapy. METHODS: Three xenograft tumor murine models were treated with low-dose endostatin or high-dose endostatin for 10 days. The effect of endostatin on tumor growth was observed, and tumors refractory to endostatin treatment were defined. Flow cytometry were carried out to assess the presence of CD11b+Gr1+ myeloid cells in the peripheral blood and in the tumor. Inflammatory cytokine levels in peripheral blood were measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The expression of NF-κB, versican and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α in the tumor was evaluated using immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: LLC and B16F1 tumors were defined as animal models of refractoriness to endostatin treatment. CD11b+Gr1+ myeloid cells were inherently recruited into the peripheral blood and the tumor microenvironment in the LLC tumor-bearing mice, and levels of serum G-CSF and TNF-α were increased along with the progression of tumor growth. In the B16F1 tumor-bearing mice, CD11b+Gr1+ myeloid cells were acquiredly recruited by endostatin into the peripheral blood and the tumor microenvironment. Additionally, high levels of G-CSF and TNF-α in serum and high expression of NF-κB, versican and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α in tumor tissue were found in B16F1 tumor-bearing mice after endostatin administration. CONCLUSIONS: A tumor can grow inherently or acquiredly with refractoriness to endostatin treatment in vivo. Recruitment of CD11b+Gr1+ myeloid cells and inflammatory cytokines may play an important role in the development of tumor refractoriness to endostatin anti-angiogenesis.

Alicyclobacillus ferrooxydans sp. nov., a ferrous-oxidizing bacterium from solfataric soil.

A novel mesophilic and acidophilic Gram-positive bacterium, designated strain TC-34(T), was isolated from solfataric soil. Strain TC-34(T) grew aerobically at 17-40 degrees C and pH 2.0-6.0, and optimally at 28 degrees C and pH 3.0. Analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain TC-34(T) was phylogenetically related to members of the genus Alicyclobacillus, with the highest similarity (94.8 %) to Alicyclobacillus pomorum. Strain TC-34(T) showed a range of phenotypic characteristics that differentiated it from recognized Alicyclobacillus species, including growth temperature, assimilation of carbon sources and production of acids from a range of compounds. Strain TC-34(T) was able to oxidize ferrous iron and its growth was correlated with the oxidation of Fe(2+) in culture medium. omega-Alicyclic fatty acids were not detected. On the basis of these results, it was concluded that strain TC-34(T) represents a novel species of the genus Alicyclobacillus, for which the name Alicyclobacillus ferrooxydans (type strain TC-34(T)=JCM 15090(T)=CGMCC 1.6357(T)) is proposed.

[Isolation and characterization of Acidiphilium strain teng-A and its metabolism of fe (III) during pure- and mixed cultivation].

An acidophilic, aerobic and chemoheterotrophic bacterial strain Teng-A was isolated from acidic environmental samples collected at sulfidic hot springs of Tengchong County, Yunnan Province, China. Cells of strain Teng-A was rod-shaped (0.6-0.8 microm x 1.0 - 1.5 microm), Gram-negative, motile with flagella. Strain Teng-A grew well at temperature of 29-33 degrees C and at pH of 3.0-4.0. It used a wide variety of organic compounds for growth, but did not use ferrous iron, elemental sulfur, thiosulfate and tetrathionate as the sole energy source. Its G + C content was determined to be 69.6 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence demonstrated that it was closely related to species of Acidiphilium. Under anoxic conditions, the strain Teng-A reduced Fe(III) to Fe(II) with glucose or hy drogen as electron donor (reduction rate is 11.56 mg/L day and 15.34 mg/L x day, respectively). Metabolisms/Oxidation of ferrous iron by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans LJ-1 and Leptospirilum ferriphilum LJ-2, in the presence and absence of strain Teng-A were studied. When incubated with strain Teng-A, the oxidation rates of Fe(II) was slightly decreased at the first 3 days (0.44 g/L x day and 0.4 g/L x day respectively) compared to pure culture of At ferrooxidans and L. ferriphilum, but all Fe(II) was completely oxidized after 5 days. It was found that the morphologies of precipitates of Fe (III) produced during pure and mixed cultivation were different. The potential application of Acidiphilium in bioleaching and its potential role during formation of precipitated ores were discussed.