These results suggest that miR-30a is an important regulator of TM4SF1, VEGF, and E-cadherin for CRC lymph node metastasis, a potential new therapeutic target in CRC.

SUMMARYThe possible occurrence of DIC in active systemic anaphylaxis was investigated in mice. Induction of active systemic anaphylaxis resulted in the development of DIC symptoms such as thrombocytopenia. prolongation of prothrombin time, hypofibrinogaemia, and elevated level of fibrinogen/fibrin degradation products. In addition, in histologica! examinations, massive congestion and cellular infiltration in pulmonary interstitia, and considerable haemorrhage in renal medullae were observed. All these changes were nearly completely prevented by pretreatment with platelet-activating factor (PAF) antagonist (BN 50739). Moreover, the same haematological and morphological changes were produced by a bolus injection of PAF. These data strongly suggest that DIC occurs in active systemic anaphylaxis and PAF plays a pivotal role in the development of Die in anaphylaxis.

Mode I crack resistance behavior of fiber‐reinforced (graphite/epoxy) composites laminated unidirectionally and anti‐symmetrically was studied. Double cantilever beam (DCB) specimens of stacking sequences, [O12//O12] and [(O/90)3s//(90/O)3s] were used where // represents the initial crack location. Resistance curves (R‐curves) were constructed for three initial crack lengths in order to determine the effects of initial crack length on the resistance behavior. The resistance force, GR, for a crack increment was determined from the compliance calibration method. The results show that for the case of [(O/90)3s//(90/O)3s], the initial crack deviated from the midplane and propagated in a zigzag fashion within 13th(90‐deg), while the crack propagated along the midplane for a [O12//O12] case. The results also show that for both cases, GR was affected by the initial crack length before GR was stabilized. However, GR was not affected by initial crack length when GR was stabilized for each case.

We attempted to repair full-thickness defects in the articular cartilage of the trochlear groove of the femur in 30 rabbit knee joints using allogenic cultured chondrocytes embedded in a collagen gel. The repaired tissues were examined at 2, 4, 8, 12 and 24 weeks after operation using histological and histochemical methods. The articular defect filling index measurement was derived from safranin-O stained sections. Apoptotic cellular fractions were derived from analysis of apoptosis in situ using TUNEL staining, and was confirmed using caspase-3 staining along with quantification of the total cellularity. The mean articular defect filling index decreased with time. After 24 weeks it was 0.7 (SD 0.10), which was significantly lower than the measurements obtained earlier (p < 0.01). The highest mean percentage of apoptotic cells were observed at 12 weeks, although the total cellularity decreased with time. Because apoptotic cell death may play a role in delamination after chondrocyte transplantation, anti-apoptotic gene therapy may protect transplanted chondrocytes from apoptosis.

Poly(2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate) (PHEMA)/multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) nanocomposites were prepared by solvent casting using dimethyl formamide (DMF) solvent via sonication process. Effect of addition of MWNTs on the properties of nanocomposites was investigated at different nanofiller contents. Uniform dispersion and distrubution of nanotubes in PHEMA matrix is obtained within the studied composition range. The electrical resistivity, dielectric permittivity and the loss factor of dry PHEMA and PHEMA/MWNT nanocomposites were studied by varying the MWNT concentration in the frequency range of 30 Hz to 1 MHz. The obtained results indicated that the addition MWNTs to PHEMA matrix decreases the electrical resistivity and increases the dielectric constant at low dielectric loss. The thermal properties of the PHEMA/MWNT nanocomposites were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The thermal behavior of these nanocomposites was also compared with PHEMA homopolymer. The glass transition temperature (T g ) of PHEMA homopolymer was found to increase with nanotube concentration. Experimental results also demonstrated that the incorporation of the MWNTs into the PHEMA matrix not only enhanced the mechanical property but also increased and the thermal stability of the PHEMA/MWNT nanocomposites increases with increase in MWNT concentration.