Hu Dong

Electromagnetic interaction between local surface plasmon polaritons and an atmospheric surface wave plasma jet

We analyze the electromagnetic interaction between local surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) and an atmospheric surface wave plasma jet (ASWPJ) in combination with our designed discharge device. Before discharge, the excitation of the SPPs and the spatial distribution of the enhanced electric field are analyzed. During discharge, the critical breakdown electric field of the gases at atmospheric gas pressure and the surface wave of the SPPs converted into electron plasma waves at resonant points are studied. After discharge, the ionization development process of the ASWPJ is simulated using a two-dimensional fluid model. Our results suggest that the local enhanced electric field of SPPs is merely the precondition of gas breakdown, and the key mechanism in maintaining the discharge development of a low-power ASWPJ is the wave-mode conversion of the local enhanced electric field at the resonant point.

Establishment of rat model of silicotuberculosis and its pathological characteristic

Abstract Objective: To establish different stages of silicosis rat model complicated with tuberculosis infection, and compare the pathological characteristics and analyze the impact of silicosis on tuberculosis infection. Methods: SD rats were subjected to intratracheal administration of silica with non-exposure method at the 1st, 30th, or 60th day. At the 50th day, the rats were injected with the suspension of H37Rv (a virulent standard strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis) via tail-vein. After 40 days post-infection, rats were sacrificed, the lung tissues were isolated, and paraffin was embedded and sectioned. The sections were treated using HE staining for structure observation, acid fast stain of Ziehl–Neelsen for bacterial detection, and Warthin–Starry silver staining for displaying the distribution of dust particles. The bacterial load was quantified by colony counting. Results: Primary to tertiary silicosis could be discovered at the 30th, 60th, and 90th day of post-infection. The rats could be infected by injection of M. tuberculosis via tail vein, with tuberculosis load and the degree of lung tissue lesions positively correlated with silicosis. Conclusion: The rat model of silicotuberculosis was established successfully, which facilitated understanding the ‘cross-talk’ of silicosis and tuberculosis during the process they drive each other.

Dependence of artesunate on long noncoding RNA-RP11 to inhibit epithelial-mesenchymal transition of hepatocellular carcinoma: JING et al.

As a first line medicine for malaria treatment, artesunate (ART) also shows antitumor potential. However, little is known about the effect of ART on the cancer cell epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT). In this study, we found that ART inhibited cell growth in SK‐HEP1 and SM7721 hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines. A microarray was used to identify differentially expressed protein‐coding RNAs (pcRNA) and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNA) between SK‐HEP1 cells with and without ART treatment. A differentially expressed lncRNA—RP11, the most related to the EMT of liver cancer cells—RP11 was identified by abioinformatics method Overexpressing and silencing assays were used to verify the role of RP11 in cancer cell EMT. The levels of RP11‐ and EMT‐related genes in liver cancer samples from 75 patients were detected by using qualitative polymerase chain reaction or immunohistochemistry. We identified 1334 pcRNAs and 1670 lncRNA with differential expression induced by ART. ART inhibits EMT, proliferation, migration, invasion, and adhesion of liver cancer cells. RP11 depresses the inhibitory effect of ART on cancer cell EMT. The level of RP11 is associated with cancer cell EMT and metastasis and survival rate of the patient. These data suggest that RP11‐linking ART and cancer cell EMT are important for ART‐inhibited metastasis of liver cancer.

Enhanced anti-tuberculosis immunity by a TAT-Ag85B protein vaccine in a murine tuberculosis model

Background: The development of more effective anti-tuberculosis vaccines would contribute to the control of the global problem of infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB). Recently, increasing evidences showed that HIV-Tat protein transduction domain is implicated in promotion of vaccines by inducing cellular immuno-response. However, it is rare known about the role of TAT in vaccines against MTB. Methods: In this study, we expressed recombinant protein-fused Ag85B with TAT (TAT-Ag85B) which was used as a vaccine to inoculate mice infected with MTB. Results: As s result, both IgG2a in serum and IFN-γ or TNFα produced by spleen cells were all increased significantly in the mice inoculated by TAT-Ag85B. Furthermore, consistently, TAT-Ag85B inoculation significantly reduced MTB loads both in lung and spleen. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that a novel protein vaccine of TAT-Ag85B enhances immune response both in humoral and cellular immunity, and contributes to protective efficacy against MTB.