Theoretical STM images of alkaline-earth metal adsorbed Si(1 1 1)3 × 2 surfaces

We have performed total-energy calculations to study theoretical scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) images of the Si(1 1 1)3 × 2 surfaces induced by the adsorption of alkaline-earth metals (AEMs). Previously, in a series of works on Ba/Si(1 1 1) system, we have found that the observed Si(1 1 1)3 × 1-Ba LEED phase indeed has a 3 × 2 periodicity with a Ba coverage of 1/6 ML and the HCC substrate structure. Based on results of the Ba case, we proposed that the HCC structure is also adopted for other AEM atoms, which was confirmed by our recent work. In this paper, we mainly report the STM simulations for different AEM systems to compare with existing experimental data. We discuss the difference in the detailed STM images for different AEM adsorbates. Especially, the difference in filled-state images between Mg and other AEM atoms is attributed to the strong Mg-Si interaction.     

Identifying critical states of hepatocellular carcinoma based on landscape dynamic network biomarkers

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the major histological form of primary liver cancer. It has usually reached the disease state once the patient is diagnosed since there are no specific symptoms in the early stages of HCC. This fact increases the difficulty of curing HCC. Recently, quantities of evidence have shown that many mathematical methods (such as dynamic network biomarkers, DNB) can be used to detect critical states or tipping points of complex diseases. However, it is difficult to apply the DNB theory to the clinic since multiple samples are generally unavailable for individual patient. This paper constructs a novel method based on landscape dynamic network biomarkers (L-DNB), which aims to detect early warning signals from cirrhosis state to very advanced HCC state in individual patient. The selected dataset contains multiple samples for each HCC state. A score that indicates the disease characteristics is calculated for each sample by RNA-seq data, and several scores constitute a distribution in the same state. Quantifying the statistical characteristics of these distributions and determining that low-grade dysplastic and high-grade dysplastic are the critical states of HCC. These results can provide scientific advice for early warning indicators and optimal treatment time for HCC.     

Metformin targets liver tumor-initiating cells through the PI3K/Akt/mTOR survival pathway

Liver tumor-initiating cells （T-ICs） are thought to be inherently resistant to the cytotoxic effects of chemo- therapy, and can self-renewal and maintain tumor-initiating potential. Therefore, effective anticancer research strategies should target the unique properties of T-ICs. In this study, we found that metformin, a first-line drug of choice for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, inhibited liver T-ICs both in vivo and in vitro. Metformin inhibited the formation of hepato- spheres and epithelial-specific antigen-positive （ESA, CD133＋） cell colonies by hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC） cell lines. Metformin also downregulated the expression of several T-IC-related genes which are involved in the signal- ing pathways, governing the self-renewal, proliferation and differentiation of T-ICs. Furthermore, the targeting of liver T-ICs by metformin was PI-3-kinase-Akt-mTOR （PI3K/Akt/ mTOR）-pathway dependent. The PI3K/Akt/mTOR inhibitorLY294002 and rapamycin abolished the inhibitory effect of metformin on CD133＋ cells, and the PI3K/Akt/mTOR stimulator EGF promoted the inhibitory effect of mefformin on CD 133＋ cells. Metformin also dramatically decreased the tumor volume and number of CD133 expressing tumor cells in a xenograft mouse model. Mefformin exerted a synergistic effect with cisplatin to target both T-ICs and non-T-ICs, and resulted in the smallest tumor volume and lowest number of CD133 expressing tumor cells. This study indicates that the antidiabetic drug metformin could potentially be used in combination therapy with chemotherapeutic agents to improve the treatment of liver cancer.     

Integrated System Pharmacology Approaches to Elucidate Multi-Target Mechanism of Solanum surattense against Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant liver tumors with high mortality. Chronic hepatitis B and C viruses, aflatoxins, and alcohol are among the most common causes of hepatocellular carcinoma. The limited reported data and multiple spectra of pathophysiological mechanisms of HCC make it a challenging task and a serious economic burden in health care management. Solanum surattense (S. surattense) is the herbal plant used in many regions of Asia to treat many disorders including various types of cancer. Previous in vitro studies revealed the medicinal importance of S. surattense against hepatocellular carcinoma. However, the exact molecular mechanism of S. surattense against HCC still remains unclear. In vitro and in silico experiments were performed to find the molecular mechanism of S. surattense against HCC. In this study, the network pharmacology approach was used, through which multi-targeted mechanisms of S. surattense were explored against HCC. Active ingredients and potential targets of S. surattense found in HCC were figured out. Furthermore, the molecular docking technique was employed for the validation of the successful activity of bioactive constituents against potential genes of HCC. The present study investigated the active “constituent–target–pathway” networks and determined the tumor necrosis factor (TNF), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), Bcl-2-like protein 1(BCL2L1), estrogen receptor (ER), GTPase HRas, hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF1-α), Harvey Rat sarcoma virus, also known as transforming protein p21 (HRAS), and AKT Serine/Threonine Kinase 1 (AKT1), and found that the genes were influenced by active ingredients of S. surattense. In vitro analysis was also performed to check the anti-cancerous activity of S. surattense on human liver cells. The result showed that S. surattense appeared to act on HCC via modulating different molecular functions, many biological processes, and potential targets implicated in 11 different pathways. Furthermore, molecular docking was employed to validate the successful activity of the active compounds against potential targets. The results showed that quercetin was successfully docked to inhibit the potential targets of HCC. This study indicates that active constituents of S. surattense and their therapeutic targets are responsible for their pharmacological activities and possible molecular mechanisms for treating HCC. Lastly, it is concluded that active compounds of S. surattense act on potential genes along with their influencing pathways to give a network analysis in system pharmacology, which has a vital role in the development and utilization of drugs. The current study lays a framework for further experimental research and widens the clinical usage of S. surattense.     

液态UF树脂/木质单元复合板坯的常温导热系数

为了研究人造板板坯的导热性能,采用准稳态平板法,测试了木材纤维和稻草刨花两种板坯在载胶状态下(UF树脂施加量为10%,以绝干纤维或刨花为基础)的导热系数,研究了试验板坯目标密度(0.6、0.7、0.8和0.9 g/cm3)和含水率(木材纤维:10%、15%、20%、25%和30%;稻草碎料:10%、15%和20%)对板坯导热系数的影响。结果表明:在试验目标密度和含水率条件下,木材纤维板和稻草刨花板板坯的导热系数分别为0.231 5～0.523 6 W/(m.K)和0.260 4～0.344 6 W/(m.K);板坯导热系数随密度增大和含水率提高而递增,含水率对木材纤维板板坯导热性能的影响比对稻草板板坯的显著;在板坯含水率低于20%时,稻草板板坯的导热性能普遍优于木材纤维板板坯。     

HBx介导的促肝癌作用

乙型肝炎病毒（Hepatitis B virus,HBV）感染是诱发原发性肝癌的主要原因之一.HBV存在4个相互重叠的开放读码框：S,C,P和X区.其中X基因表达的蛋白HBx被认为是诱导肝癌发生的一种多功能致癌蛋白,它可以作用于众多信号通路及细胞因子从而诱发肝癌.本文根据最新的研究,选择其中p53和NF-κB两条信号通路及HBx与表观遗传修饰的相关性进行了探讨,目的在于部分揭示HBV感染诱发肝癌的发病机理.     

佛甲草中细胞毒活性成分的研究

采用中压柱色谱和制备高效液相色谱法对中国传统民族药佛甲草(Sedum lineare Thunb)的甲醇提取物化学成分进行分离,从中分离得到6个化合物.首次对化合物山奈酚7-O-6″-O-丙二酸单酰-D-吡喃葡萄糖苷(1)的波谱数据进行了归属,用MTT法测试6个单体成分对人肝癌细胞株HepG2和Hep3B的抑制作用.结果显示6个化合物均对HepG2和Hep3B细胞表现出抗肿瘤活性,并且IC50值在22.6～91.5 μg/mL之间,在浓度大于100 μg/mL时也没有表现出对人正常肝细胞L－02的抑制作用.相比于黄酮类化合物1、2,苯丙酸类化合物3～6(IC50＝22.6～44.3 μg/mL)对HepG2和Hep3B细胞表现出更强的抑制作用.其中,顺式苯丙酸类化合物5对HepG2和Hep3B细胞的抑制作用最明显.其IC50值范围在22.6～28.2 μg/mL,能明显抑制人肝癌细胞的增殖,诱导其凋亡.     

Investigation on the viscoelasticity of synchronous hepatocellular carcinoma cells

Having made use of the micropipette aspiration technique, we here investigated the viscoelastic properties of hepatocellular carcinoma (HTC) cells from the view of cell cycle. The synchronous G₁ and S phase cells were achieved through thymine-2-desoryriboside and colchicine sequential blockage method and double thymine-2-desoryriboside blockage method, respectively. The synchronization results detected with flow cytometer showed that it could meet the requirements of the experiments nicely. Experimental results were analyzed with a standard linear solid viscoelastic model, in which an elastic element, K₁, is in parallel with a Maxwell element composed of another elastic element, K₂, in series with a viscous element, μ. The results indicated that high K₁, K₂ values and low μ value was the general characteristics of the cells; G₁ phase cells had higher K₁ values and low μ value than S phase cells, which endowed G₁ phase cells with higher elasticity and faster passive deformability than S phase cells. The results maybe also reflected the difference of cytoskeleton between G₁ and S phase cells, and suggested that G₁ phase cells were more suitable for surviving and metastasis in blood circulation than S phase cells.     

肝癌患者血液基因组中SFRP1、SFRP2基因甲基化分析

利用MSP技术检测肝癌患者和健康人血液基因组中SFRP1及SFRP2的甲基化情况,分析肿瘤相关基因SFRP1、SFRP2基因甲基化与肝癌的相关性。实验结果表明,SFRP2基因甲基化与肝癌相关,SFRP1基因甲基化与肝癌无相关性。     

A theoretical study of the acetylide anion, HCC−

The results of various ab initio calculations are reported for the electronic ground state of the acetylide anion. An “Eyring's lake” in the T-shaped configuration is identified with six different methods (SCF, MP2, CCSD, CCSD-T, CCSD(T), and CEPA–1). The equilibrium bond lengths of HCC⁻ are estimated to be r _e (CH)=1.0689(3) ? and R _e (CC)=1.2464(2) ?, and the ground-state rotational constant is predicted to be B ₀=41636(20)MHz. The large permanent dipole moment of μ₀=−3.093D should facilitate detection of the anion by microwave spectroscopy. The band centers are predicted to be 3211.3cm⁻¹(ν₁), 511.1cm⁻¹(ν₂), and 1805.0cm⁻¹(ν₃). A large transition dipole moment of 0.477 D is calculated for the ν₂ band. Rovibrational levels of HCC⁻ up to approximately 20 000 cm⁻¹ above equilibrium are calculated with DVR-DGB and FBR methods on the basis of a previous CEPA–1 potential energy surface. Different energy patterns are found and discussed, for which anharmonic and Coriolis resonances are shown to play an important role. Received: 27 July 1998 Accepted: 12 August 1998 / Published online: 19 October 1998