The Role of microRNAs in Development of Colitis-Associated Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most deadly cancer worldwide, and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is one of the critical factors in CRC carcinogenesis. IBD is responsible for an unphysiological and sustained chronic inflammation environment favoring the transformation. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) belong to a class of highly conserved short single-stranded segments (18–25 nucleotides) non-coding RNA and have been extensively discussed in both CRC and IBD. However, the role of miRNAs in the development of colitis-associated CRC (CAC) is less clear. The aim of this review is to summarize the major upregulated (miR-18a, miR-19a, miR-21, miR-31, miR-155 and miR-214) and downregulated (miR-124, miR-193a-3p and miR-139-5p) miRNAs in CAC, and their roles in genes’ expression modulation in chronic colonic-inflammation-induced carcinogenesis, including programmed cell-death pathways. These miRNAs dysregulation could be applied for early CAC diagnosis, to predict therapy efficacy and for precision treatment.     

Tunable colors and conductivity by electroless growth of Cu/Cu2O particles on sol-gel modified cellulose

Nano Research - Development of colored surfaces by formation of nano-structured aggregates is a widely used strategy in nature to color lightweight structures (e.g. butterflies) without the use of...     

Advanced Surface of Fibrous Activated Carbon Immobilized with FeO/TiO2 for Photocatalytic Evolution of Hydrogen under Visible Light

FeO-doped TiO₂ nanoparticle photocatalysts were immobilized onto the surface of fibrous activated carbon (ACF) via a sol-gel process. As an adsorbent and photocatalyst, FeO-TiO₂ on immobilized ACFs (FeO-TiO₂/ACF) greatly improved the photocatalysis rate of hydrogen production as compared with pure TiO₂ and ACF-TiO₂ under UV irradiation and visible light. The addition of ACFs surface significantly reduced the photogenerated pairs of electrons-hole recombination, thereby promoting the photocatalysis action of doped photo-metal oxides of FeO-TiO₂. Co-doping of FeO onto the lattice of the TiO₂ approach can improve the absorption activity of visible light through photo-metal oxide of TiO₂ and further enhance hydrogen production under visible light. The photocatalytic fabrics (FeO-TiO₂/ACF) were effortlessly split out from the experimental solution for re-utilization and exhibited high stability even after five complete regeneration cycles.     

Cerebrovascular effects of analgosedation

The in vitro drug sensitivity of three dihydrofolate reductase inhibitors (pyrimethamine, cycloguanil, trimethoprim) was determined against 29 strains and isolates of Plasmodium falciparum by an isotopic semi-microtest. Trimethoprim is less active than pyrimethamine or cycloguanil and its activity is correlated with that of two other inhibitors, suggesting cross-resistance in vitro among the dihydrofolate reductase inhibitors.     

Phase behavior of ternary blends containing dimethylpolycarbonate,tetramethylpolycarbonate and poly[styrene‐co‐(methyl methacrylate)] copolymers (or polystyrene)

The miscibility and phase behavior of ternary blends containing dimethylpolycarbonate (DMPC), tetramethylpolycarbonate (TMPC) and poly[styrene‐co‐(methyl methacrylate)] copolymer (SMMA) have been explored. Ternary blends containing polystyrene (PS) instead of SMMA were also examined. Blends of DMPC with SMMA copolymers (or PS) did not form miscible blends regardless of methyl methacrylate (MMA) content in copolymers. However, DMPC blends with SMMA (or PS) blends become miscible by adding TMPC. The miscible region of ternary blends is compared with the previously determined miscibility region of binary blends having the same chemical components and compositions. The region where the ternary blends are miscible is much narrower than that of binary blends. Based on lattice fluid theory, the observed phase behavior of ternary blends was analyzed. Even though the term representing the Gibbs free energy change of mixing for certain ternary blends had a negative value, blends were immiscible. It was revealed that a negative value of the Gibbs free energy change of mixing was not a sufficient condition for miscible ternary blends because of the asymmetry in the binary interactions involved in ternary blends. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Study of a BGO calorimeter using electron and hadron beams from 1 to 50 GeV

A calorimeter of 25 bismuth germanate (BGO) crystals equipped with silicon photodiode readout has been tested at the CERN SPS in the energy range 1–50 GeV. The response for electrons has been shown to be linear in this energy range and the rms resolution obtained ( ) is approximately 1%, for E > 4 GeV. The electron/pion separation was found to be better than 1:500 in the energy range 1–20 GeV. Data on lateral and longitudinal shower development were compared with the results of a Monte Carlo simulation using the SLAC-EGS program and found to be in good agreement.     

Phacoemulsification with a bevel-down phaco tip: phaco-drill

We present a technique for in situ lens nucleus emulsification using low phaco power and high vacuum, a continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis, and hydrodelineation. Emulsification is done with the phaco tip slanted down 30 or 45 degrees. Cutting and aspiration do not cause an undesirable energy loss. This technique can be combined with the nuclear chopping or divide and conquer methods because of its ability to drill and hold the nucleus. Posterior capsular rupture is prevented because the separated epinucleus acts as a barrier between the nucleus and the cortex. The low power used minimizes the energy transfer to the corneal endothelium. This technique is particularly useful in eyes with brunescent cataract.     

Rapid identification of protein phosphatase 1-binding proteins by mixed peptide sequencing and data base searching. Characterization of a novel holoenzymic form of protein phosphatase 1

Microcystin-affinity chromatography was used to purify 15 protein phosphatase 1 (PP1)-binding proteins from the myofibrillar fraction of rabbit skeletal muscle. To reduce the time and amount of material required to identify these proteins, proteome analysis by mixed peptide sequencing was developed. Proteins are resolved by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, electroblotted to polyvinylidene fluoride membrane, and stained. Bands are sliced from the membrane, cleaved briefly with CnBr, and applied without further purification to an automated Edman sequencer. The mixed peptide sequences generated are sorted and matched against the GenBank using two new programs, FASTF and TFASTF. This technology offers a simple alternative to mass spectrometry for the subpicomolar identification of proteins in polyacrylamide gels. Using this technology, all 15 proteins recovered in PP-1C affinity chromatography were sequenced. One of the proteins, PP-1bp55, was homologous to human myosin phosphatase, MYPT2. A second, PP-1bp80, identified in the EST data bases, contained a putative PP-1C binding site and a nucleotide binding motif. Further affinity purification over ATP-Sepharose isolated PP-1bp80 in a quaternary complex with PP-1C and two other proteins, PP-1bp29 and human p20. Recombinant PP-1bp80 also bound PP-1C and suppressed its activity toward a variety of substrates, suggesting that the protein is a novel regulatory subunit of PP-1.