Nras loss induces metastatic conversion of Rb1-deficient neuroendocrine thyroid tumor

Mutations in the gene encoding the retinoblastoma tumor suppressor predispose humans and mice to tumor development. Here we have assessed the effect of Nras loss on tumor development in Rb1 heterozygous mice. Loss of one or two Nras alleles is shown to significantly reduce the severity of pituitary tumors arising in Rb1(+/-) animals by enhancing their differentiation. By contrast, C-cell thyroid adenomas occurring in Rb1(+/-) mice progress to metastatic medullary carcinomas after loss of Nras. In Rb1(+/-)Nras(+/-) animals, distant medullary thyroid carcinoma metastases are associated with loss of the remaining wild-type Nras allele. Loss of Nras in Rb1-deficient C cells results in elevated Ras homolog family A (RhoA) activity, and this is causally linked to the invasiveness and metastatic behavior of these cells. These findings suggest that the loss of the proto-oncogene Nras in certain cellular contexts can promote malignant tumor progression.     

数学中的探索研究和发现

本书是一本关于数学“解题术”的论著，其目的是引导中学生和大学低年级学生通过解数学题提高思维能力和解题技巧，着重培养他们数学学习中的探索精神，以研究解题规律和发现新的问题和结果。     

活化链烷

链烷是天然烃类(碳氢化合物)组成的一大家族.它们在自然界中储量如此丰富,因而工业界早就对它们产生兴趣并视之为合成许多化合物和燃料的一种可能原料.一些最有名的链烷是石蜡、丙烷和甲烷.地壳中含有丰富的甲烷,其中一部分正被用作天然气燃料.同时工业上也通过复杂而昂贵的高温高压     

防治心脏病的好消息

位于旧金山的加州大学医学院和太平洋长老会医疗中心一位说话温和的年轻研究员迪安·奥尼什医生(Dean Ornish)曾征集过心脏病患者实验一种治疗心脏病的新方法。更新的,不那样激烈的医疗技术也一点没能改变奥尼什的想法。冠状血管成形术中用气胀导管在阻塞的动脉中充气来把血管冲开.“但用同样方法疏通的第三条冠状动脉6个月后又阻塞了.”奥尼什指出。另一种决择,即用降胆固醇药物,虽然对有些病例有效,但是代价昂贵。用这类药物可增加患者的存活机会,但这些药物对有些人可能有副作用. “用这些处置方法,”奥尼什说,“我们经常是解决一些问题又引出另一些问题。我想从心脏病的成因上来解决问题。     

Understanding the importance of selenium and selenoproteins in muscle function

Selenium is an essential trace element. In cattle, selenium deficiency causes dysfunction of various organs, including skeletal and cardiac muscles. In humans as well, lack of selenium is associated with many disorders, but despite accumulation of clinical reports, muscle diseases are not generally considered on the list. The goal of this review is to establish the connection between clinical observations and the most recent advances obtained in selenium biology. Recent results about a possible role of selenium-containing proteins in muscle formation and repair have been collected. Selenoprotein N is the first selenoprotein linked to genetic disorders consisting of different forms of congenital muscular dystrophies. Understanding the muscle disorders associated with selenium deficiency or selenoprotein N dysfunction is an essential step in defining the causes of the disease and obtaining a better comprehension of the mechanisms involved in muscle formation and maintenance. Received 13 July 2005; received after revision 9 September 2005; accepted 4 October 2005     

Biological weapons

Anthrax has been a major cause of death in grazing animals and an occasional cause of death in humans for thousands of years. Since the late 1800s there has been an exceptional international history of anthrax vaccine development. Due to animal vaccinations, the rate of infection has dropped dramatically. Anthrax vaccines have progressed from uncharacterized whole-cell vaccines in 1881, to pXO2-negative spores in the 1930s, to culture filtrates absorbed to aluminum hydroxide in 1970, and likely to recombinant protective antigen in the near future. Each of these refinements has increased safety without significant loss of efficacy. The threat of genetically engineered, antibiotic and vaccine resistant strains of Bacillus anthracis is fueling hypothesis-driven research and global techniques--including genomics, proteomics and transposon site hybridization--to facilitate the discovery of novel vaccine targets. This review highlights historical achievements and new developments in anthrax vaccine research.     

Parity Nonconservation in of Multiply Dielectronic Recombination Charged Ions

A parity nonconserving （PNC） asymmetry in the cross section for dielectronic recombination of polarized electrons on multiply charged ions with Z≥40 is discussed. This effect is strongly enhanced for close doubly-excited states of opposite parity in the intermediate compound ion. Such states are known for He-like ions. However, these levels have large energy and large radiative widths which hampers observation of the PNC asymmetry. We argue that accidentally degenerate states of more complex ions may be more suitable for the coresponding experiment.     

Self-assembling Characteristics of Amphiphilic Star Block Copolymers with a Polyelectrolyte Shell

1 Results Amphiphilic block copolymers are capable of forming supramolecular assemblies resembling those observed in nature,such as spherical micelles,worm micelles,and vesicles.Changing the solvent composition,ionic strength or pH of the polymer solution may induce the self-assembly of block copolymers or trigger the transition between the geometries of noncovalent assemblies.In the current work,we have synthesised starlike amphiphilic block copolymers having hydrophobic poly(methyl methacrylate),PMMA,core,and hydrophilic poly(acrylic acid),PAA,shell.The self-assembling characteristics of these polymers have been investigated in aqueous solutions by light scattering and direct visualisation by cryo-transmission electron microscopy (cryoTEM)[1]. Computer simulations along with the theoretical predictions made for the star-like system based on mean-field theory have been used to support the experimental observations[2]. The association of the starlike macromolecules resembles that of charged biopolymers,such as actin,since a balance between attractive and repulsive forces is required for the formation of cylindrical assemblies and can be manipulated by changing the pH or the ionic strength of the solvent[3].