Cannabinoid receptors promote chronic intermittent hypoxia-induced breast cancer metastasis via IGF-1R/AKT/GSK-3ß.

The progression of breast cancer is closely related to obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS). Low concentrations of cannabinoids promote tumor proliferation. However, the role of cannabinoid receptors (CBs) in chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH)-induced breast cancer has not been reported. The migration and invasion of breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7 and T47D) were measured by scratch assay and transwell assay. Gene and protein expressions were analyzed by qPCR and western blotting. Tumor xenograft mice model were established to evaluate the function of CBs. We observed that chronic hypoxia (CH) and CIH increased CBs expression and promoted migration and invasion in breast cancer. Mice grafted with MCF-7 exhibited obvious tumor growth, angiogenesis, and lung metastasis in CIH compared with CH and control. In addition, CIH induced CBs expression, which subsequently activated insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R)/AKT/glycogen synthase kinase-3ß (GSK-3ß) axis. Knockdown of CBs alleviated CIH-induced migration and invasion of breast cancer in vitro. Furthermore, CIH exaggerated the malignancy of breast cancer and silencing of CBs suppressed tumor growth and metastasis in vivo. Our study contributed to understanding the role of CIH in breast cancer development modulation.

Lead sorption performance on active silica derived from fly ash.

The object of this study was to estimate the sorption property of active silica derived from fly ash after separation of silica and aluminum. The specific surface area of active silica enlarged to 115 m(2)/g was compared with the original fly ash (4 m(2)/g). Field emission scanning electron microscopy displayed the active silica, which looked like a honeycomb or curly layer with many lamellae that formed many mesopores. The uptake kinetics indicated that the residual concentration of Pb(2+) in the aqueous solution decreased rapidly from the initial 1.25 mg/L to less than 10 µg/L within 45 min. The removal efficiency of Pb(2+) on active silica was pH dependent. The increase in pH value promoted Pb(2+) removal because the negative surface provided more electrostatic attraction sites. A stepwise non-linear isotherm was obtained because the lamellae of active silica provided a heterogeneous surface with various kinds of active sites. The maximum sorption amount of Pb on active silica was more than 90 mg/g, which was better than some pristine-activated carbon.

Recent progress on RE2O3-Mo/W emission materials.

RE2O3-Mo/W cathodes were prepared by powder metallurgy method. La2O3-Y2O3-Mo cermet cathodes prepared by traditional sintering method and spark plasma sintering (SPS) exhibit different secondary emission properties. The La2O3-Y2O3-Mo cermet cathode prepared by SPS method has smaller grain size and exhibits better secondary emission performance. Monte carlo calculation results indicate that the secondary electron emission way of the cathode correlates with the grain size. Decreasing the grain size can decrease the positive charging effect of RE2O3 and thus is favorable for the escaping of secondary electrons to vacuum. The Scandia doped tungsten matrix dispenser cathode with a sub-micrometer microstructure of matrix with uniformly distributed nanometer-particles of Scandia has good thermionic emission property. Over 100 A/cm2 full space charge limited current density can be obtained at 950Cb. The cathode surface is covered by a Ba-Sc-O active surface layer with nano-particles distributing mainly on growth steps of W grains, leads to the conspicuous emission property of the cathode.