Investigating the mechanisms of peritoneal metastasis in gastric adenocarcinoma using a novel ex vivo peritoneal explant model.

Gastric adenocarcinoma, commonly known as stomach cancer, has a predilection for metastasis to the peritoneum, which portends limited survival. The peritoneal metastatic cascade remains poorly understood, and existing models fail to recapitulate key elements of the interaction between cancer cells and the peritoneal layer. To explore the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms of peritoneal metastasis, we developed an ex vivo human peritoneal explant model. Fresh peritoneal tissue samples were suspended, mesothelial layer down but without direct contact, above a monolayer of red-fluorescent dye stained AGS human gastric adenocarcinoma cells for 24 h, then washed thoroughly. Implantation of AGS cells within the explanted peritoneum and invasion beyond the mesothelial layer were examined serially using real-time confocal fluorescence microscopy. Histoarchitecture of the explanted peritoneum was preserved over 5 days ex vivo. Both implantation and invasion were suppressed by restoration of functional E-cadherin through stable transfection of AGS cells, demonstrating sensitivity of the model to molecular manipulation. Thus, our ex vivo human peritoneal explant model permits meaningful investigation of the pathways and mechanism that contribute to peritoneal metastasis. The model will facilitate screening of new therapies that target peritoneal dissemination of gastric, ovarian and colorectal cancer.

[Enhancement of Anaerobic Methane Production by Removal of Organic-bonding Metals from Sewage Sludge].

To improve anaerobic digestion biogas yield, the removal of organic-bonding metals by EDTA pretreatment was investigated to strengthen the anaerobic biogas effect. The results showed that after EDTA pretreatment (experimental group), the organic-bonding metals were reduced from (5.09±0.57)% to (1.37±0.20)% (calculated with TS) and dissolved organic matter increased significantly (SCOD improved 627%), suggesting that this method could remove a large amount of organic-bonding metals and enhance the dissolution of organic sludge. According to the results for the apparent activation energy (AAE) of sludge organic matter dissolution, the AAE of the experiment group was 36% lower than the control group, showing that pretreatment could effectively reduce the reaction energy barrier for organic matter dissolution. In a test of anaerobic acid production lasting 16 days, the VFAs of the experiment group were higher than the control group, with the largest upgrade of 42%. In the anaerobic methane production test (BMP) that lasted for 22 days, compared with control group, the accumulated biogas production of the experiment group increased by 48%. Through further research on the dynamics of methane production, the rate-limiting step in the experiment group was methanogenesis, while that of the control group was hydrolysis, indicating that removal of organic-bonding metals by EDTA pretreatment could effectively accelerate the hydrolysis rate.

Gamma Oscillation Dysfunction in mPFC Leads to Social Deficits in Neuroligin 3 R451C Knockin Mice.

Neuroligins (NLs) are critical for synapse formation and function. NL3 R451C is an autism-associated mutation. NL3 R451C knockin (KI) mice exhibit autistic behavioral abnormalities, including social novelty deficits. However, neither the brain regions involved in social novelty nor the underlying mechanisms are clearly understood. Here, we found decreased excitability of fast-spiking interneurons and dysfunction of gamma oscillation in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), which contributed to the social novelty deficit in the KI mice. Neuronal firing rates and phase-coding abnormalities were also detected in the KI mice during social interactions. Interestingly, optogenetic stimulation of parvalbumin interneurons in the mPFC at 40 Hz nested at 8 Hz positively modulated the social behaviors of mice and rescued the social novelty deficit in the KI mice. Our findings suggest that gamma oscillation dysfunction in the mPFC leads to social deficits in autism, and manipulating mPFC PV interneurons may reverse the deficits in adulthood.

[Progress in researches on the mechanism of varicocele-induced male infertility].

Varicocele is one of the most common diseases in the male reproductive system. More and more attention has been drawn to the influence of varicocele on male reproduction recently. Although many experiments and achievements have been made, the mechanism of infertility in varicocele patients has not yet been fully understood. The development of the disease might be related to many factors such as microcirculation of the testis, vasoactive substance, reactive oxygen species, nitric oxide, hypoxia, immunology and apoptosis. Mostly these changes are not confined to one testis. Thus, it is of great significance to investigate the mechanism of male infertility induced by varicocele. This article updates the studies on the mechanism of infertility in varicocele males.