Human-Induced Neural and Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy Combined with a Curcumin Nanoconjugate as a Spinal Cord Injury Treatment

We currently lack effective treatments for the devastating loss of neural function associated with spinal cord injury (SCI). In this study, we evaluated a combination therapy comprising human neural stem cells derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC-NSC), human mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), and a pH-responsive polyacetal–curcumin nanoconjugate (PA-C) that allows the sustained release of curcumin. In vitro analysis demonstrated that PA-C treatment protected iPSC-NSC from oxidative damage in vitro, while MSC co-culture prevented lipopolysaccharide-induced activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) in iPSC-NSC. Then, we evaluated the combination of PA-C delivery into the intrathecal space in a rat model of contusive SCI with stem cell transplantation. While we failed to observe significant improvements in locomotor function (BBB scale) in treated animals, histological analysis revealed that PA-C-treated or PA-C and iPSC-NSC + MSC-treated animals displayed significantly smaller scars, while PA-C and iPSC-NSC + MSC treatment induced the preservation of β-III Tubulin-positive axons. iPSC-NSC + MSC transplantation fostered the preservation of motoneurons and myelinated tracts, while PA-C treatment polarized microglia into an anti-inflammatory phenotype. Overall, the combination of stem cell transplantation and PA-C treatment confers higher neuroprotective effects compared to individual treatments.     

Embryonic Trophectoderm Secretomics Reveals Chemotactic Migration and Intercellular Communication of Endometrial and Circulating MSCs in Embryonic Implantation

Embryonic implantation is a key step in the establishment of pregnancy. In the present work, we have carried out an in-depth proteomic analysis of the secretome (extracellular vesicles and soluble proteins) of two bovine blastocysts embryonic trophectoderm primary cultures (BBT), confirming different epithelial–mesenchymal transition stages in these cells. BBT-secretomes contain early pregnancy-related proteins and angiogenic proteins both as cargo in EVs and the soluble fraction. We have demonstrated the functional transfer of protein-containing secretome between embryonic trophectoderm and maternal MSC in vitro using two BBT primary cultures eight endometrial MSC (eMSC) and five peripheral blood MSC (pbMSC) lines. We observed that eMSC and pbMSC chemotax to both the soluble fraction and EVs of the BBT secretome. In addition, in a complementary direction, we found that the pattern of expression of implantation proteins in BBT-EVs changes depending on: (i) their epithelial–mesenchymal phenotype; (ii) as a result of the uptake of eMSC- or pbMSC-EV previously stimulated or not with embryonic signals (IFN-τ); (iii) because of the stimulation with the endometrial cytokines present in the uterine fluid in the peri-implantation period.     

Dissipative Particle Dynamics Simulation: A Review on Investigating Mesoscale Properties of Polymer Systems

Polymer systems have typical multiscale characteristics, both in space and time. The mesoscopic properties of polymers are difficult to describe through traditional experimental approaches. Dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) is a simulation method used for solving mesoscale problems of complex fluids and soft matter. The mesoscopic properties of polymer systems, such as conformation, dynamics, and transport properties, have been studied extensively using DPD. This paper briefly summarizes the application of DPD to research involving microchannel flow, electrospinning, free-radical polymerization, polymer self-assembly processes, polymer electrolyte fuel cells, and biomedical materials. The main features and possible development avenues of DPD are described as well.     

How Cancer Cells Invade Bladder Epithelium and Form Tumors: The Mouse Bladder Tumor Model as a Model of Tumor Recurrence in Patients

Non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer is the most common form of bladder cancer. The main problem in managing bladder tumors is the high recurrence after the transurethral resection of bladder tumors (TURBT). Our study aimed to examine the fate of intravesically applied cancer cells as the implantation of cancer cells after TURBT is thought to be a cause of tumor recurrence. We established an orthotopic mouse bladder tumor model with MB49-GFP cancer cells and traced them during the first three days to define their location and contacts with normal urothelial cells. Data were obtained by Western blot, immunolabeling, and light and electron microscopy. We showed that within the first two hours, applied cancer cells adhered to the traumatized epithelium by cell projections containing α3β1 integrin on their tips. Cancer cells then migrated through the epithelium and on day 3, they reached the basal lamina or even penetrated it. In established bladder tumors, E-cadherin and desmoplakin 1/2 were shown as feasible immunohistochemical markers of tumor margins based on the immunolabeling of various junctional proteins. Altogether, these results for the first time illustrate cancer cell implantation in vivo mimicking cellular events of tumor recurrence in bladder cancer patients.     

Estimation in Random Coefficient Autoregressive Models

Abstract. We propose the quasi‐maximum likelihood method to estimate the parameters of an RCA(1) process, i.e. a random coefficient autoregressive time series of order 1. The strong consistency and the asymptotic normality of the estimators are derived under optimal conditions.     

自热制氢反应器研究进展

介绍了同心圆式反应器、板式反应器、壁反应器、微通道反应器在自热重整反应制氢中的特点。同心圆式反应器的传热是控制步骤,为强化传热而开发了空间形状不同和流体经过反应器不同腔体的先后顺序不同的反应器;板式反应器易于组装、拆卸和放大,而且热效率也比较高,是目前十分活跃的研究领域,重点在于操作参数和设计的优化及其高效壁载制氢催化剂的研制;壁反应器的反应表面和换热表面不分离,具有较高的热量耦合效果;微通道反应器具有优越的传热性能,但对加工和流体的性质有比较苛刻的要求。另外,不同燃料制氢机理的研究及其过程参数的稳态、瞬态模拟,为反应器的设计提供了理论依据。而制氢过程并行单元的研究为系统的集成奠定了基础。最后,指出开发板式壁反应器以及开展其在CO变换、净化方面的研究有较好的发展前景。     

红细胞瞬间磁化试剂的制备与应用

目的研制用于ABO、RHD血型检测试剂的红细胞瞬间磁化试剂。方法采用共沉淀法制备磁性粒子,并检测其主要成分及粒径大小,用此磁性粒子制备红细胞瞬间磁化试剂,并分别进行各项检测。结果磁性粒子的主要成分为四氧化三铁,粒径100nm左右。该试剂的外观及特异性均合格,磁响应时间不超过30s,重复性较好,敏感性为98.20%,与试管法检测结果比较,差异无显著意义。结论红细胞瞬间磁化试剂可用于红细胞系统的血型检测。     

The role of the WO x ad-component to Pt and PtRu catalysts in the electrochemical CH3OH oxidation reaction

High surface area carbon-supported platinum-based catalysts, Pt/C, PtWO _x /C, PtRu/C and PtRuWO _x /C, were prepared via a chemical reduction route using single metal precursor salts. The catalyst particles were found to be in the nanoscale range, and the addition of Ru clearly decreased the particle size. The Ru was found to be partially incorporated into the face centered cubic lattice of Pt and to form a single Ru catalyst component. X-ray diffraction and X-ray photon spectroscopy did not provide evidence for electronic interactions between WO _x and Pt as well as WO _x and Ru. However, the addition of tungsten to the PtRuWO _x /C catalyst resulted in a high degree of catalyst particle agglomeration. Both Ru containing catalysts showed significantly higher activities for the CH₃OH oxidation reaction in terms of Pt + Ru mass as well as electroactive Pt + Ru surface area than the Pt/C and PtWO _x /C catalysts. The addition of tungsten appeared to mainly result in some ‘physical’ modification of the catalytically active Pt and Ru surface components such as differences in electroactive surface area rather than promotion of the CH₃OH oxidation reaction via a true catalytic mechanism.     

流感疫苗诱导Hela细胞凋亡与免疫调节效应

目的观察流感疫苗诱导Hela细胞凋亡与免疫调节效应。方法将流感疫苗作用于Hela细胞,采用MTT比色法和流式细胞仪检测疫苗对Hela细胞增殖、凋亡和细胞周期的影响;同时用MTT法检测疫苗对小鼠脾细胞增殖的影响;采用结晶紫、中性红染色及MTT法,分别检测脾细胞诱导上清中IFN-γ、IL-2和TNF-α的分泌情况。结果一定浓度流感疫苗能够抑制Hela细胞增殖,促进细胞凋亡,凋亡率可达58·37%;还可促进小鼠脾细胞增殖及Th1型细胞分泌IFN-γ。结论流感疫苗能够抑制Hela细胞增殖,此作用可能是通过诱导Hela细胞凋亡、调节免疫细胞增殖及IFN-γ的分泌而实现的。     

树突细胞算法在线分析组件的研究

原始树突状细胞算法（DCA）的离线分析过程,将会导致时间差异,从而产生假警报,增加了虚警率,也会导致攻击的成功发生,这对一个人侵检测系统来说是致命的。因此,文中的目的就是在不影响检测精度的前提下提高检测速度。于是文中提出了分片思想的在线分析组件与DCA相集成的方法,即根据抗原采样数量或者时间将一系列已处理的信息分割成为更小的部分,使得每个分片独立地进行实时的、周期性的分析,这样在每个分片内的入侵攻击就能及时地被识别出来。文中给出了DCA在线分析模块的伪代码描述,并且将其应用于SYN端口扫描的检测实验中。结果表明,DCA在线分析模块在不影响检测精度的前提下有效地提高了检测速度。