Regenerative Potential Nanomedicine of Adipocyte Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes in Senescent Skin Tissue.

Introduction: Skin is the first-line barrier defense against infection, irradiation, and toxins, but is prone to natural aging (intrinsic aging) and environmental factors (extrinsic aging). Hence, there is an increasing urgency to explore an effective treatment for aging skin. This study was focused on testing the potential of utilizing adipocyte stem cell derived exosomal as nanomedicine to regenerate the dermal layer and counteract signs of skin aging.

Circulating Tumor DNA-Guided De-Escalation Targeted Therapy for Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Nonrandomized Controlled Trial.

Importance: Uninterrupted targeted therapy until disease progression or intolerable toxic effects is currently the routine therapy for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) involving driver gene variations. However, drug resistance is inevitable.

Objective: To assess the clinical feasibility of adaptive de-escalation tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) treatment guided by circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) for achieving complete remission after local consolidative therapy (LCT) in patients with advanced NSCLC.

First-line pyrotinib in advanced HER2-mutant non-small-cell lung cancer: a patient-centric phase 2 trial.

To explore targeted treatment options in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with rare genetic mutations in the context of a patient-centric clinical trial, we initiated, in parallel, a phase 2 adaptive umbrella trial consisting of a criteria-fulfilled (CF) cohort and a compassionate use (CU) cohort under expanded eligibility criteria, and a prospective real-world study (RWS). Here, we present efficacy and safety data from 48 patients with treatment-naive, advanced HER2-mutant NSCLC treated with the pan-HER receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor pyrotinib (CF and CU cohorts) or physician's therapy of choice (RWS cohort). In the phase 2 trial CF cohort (n = 28), the primary endpoint was reached with an objective response rate of 35.

Copper-catalyzed asymmetric C(sp)-H arylation for the synthesis of P- and axially chiral phosphorus compounds.

Transition metal-catalyzed C-H bond functionalization is an important method in organic synthesis, but the development of methods that are lower cost and have a less environmental impact is desirable. Here, a Cu-catalyzed asymmetric C(sp)-H arylation is reported. With diaryliodonium salts as arylating reagents, a range of ortho-arylated P-chiral phosphonic diamides were obtained in moderate to excellent yields with high enantioselectivities (up to 92% ee).

Clinical utility of cerebrospinal fluid-derived circular RNAs in lung adenocarcinoma patients with brain metastases.

Background: Free circular RNAs(circRNAs) escaping from primary lesion of cancer to brain are strictly regulated by blood-brain barrier and therefore cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) circRNAs have potential advantage in exploring biomarkers and mechanism of brain metastasis in lung cancer.

Methods: We collected paired cerebrospinal fluid, plasma and tumor tissues from 21 lung adenocarcinoma (ADC) patients with brain metastases (BM) and performed RNA sequencing.

Results: Compared to tumor tissue and plasma, circRNAs in CSF were characterized by lower number of spieces but higher abundance.

MET amplification identified by next-generation sequencing and its clinical relevance for MET inhibitors.

Background: MET amplification plays an important role in the development of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) either de novo or in resistance to epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine-kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI) settings. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) is the standard method for MET amplification. With more and more discoveries of oncogenic driver genes, next-generation sequencing (NGS) plays a significant role in precision oncology.

Skip participates in formation and lipid metabolism of beige adipose and might mediate the effects of SIRT1 activator BTM-0512 on beige remodeling.

Dissipating energy by activating thermogenic adipose to combating obesity attracts many interests. Ski-interacting protein (Skip) has been known to play an important role in cell proliferation and differentiation, but whether it participates in energy metabolism is not known. Our previous study revealed that BTM-0512 could induce beige adipose formation, accompanying with up-regulation of Skip, but the role of Skip in metabolism was unknown.

[Characterization and Size Distribution of Carbonaceous Aerosols at Mountain Dinghu].

To understand the characterization and sources of carbonaceous aerosols at Mountain Dinghu, organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC) in size-resolved aerosol samples were measured at a regional background site in South China using a DRI Model 2001A analyzer. The average mass concentrations of organic carbon (OC) are (5.6±2.

Alpha-glucosidase inhibitor 1-Deoxynojirimycin promotes beige remodeling of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes via activating AMPK.

Obesity is a serious health challenge in the world, and searching effective drugs to cure obesity is of great importance. 1-Deoxynojirimycin (DNJ) is extracted from mulberry leaves and acts as an α-glucosidase inhibitor to lower blood glucose. Recent studies demonstrated that it also has anti-obesity effect, but the mechanisms remain unknown.

Effect of scrotal heating on sperm quality, seminal biochemical substances, and reproductive hormones in human fertile men.

At present, male contraceptive methods are only vasectomy and condoms, so it is necessary to research on male contraceptive techniques. The aim of this study is to observe the effects of scrotal heating (SH) on semen parameters, seminal l-carnitine (LC), epidermal growth factor (EGF), macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), reproductive hormones and sperm chromosome numbers of adult healthy men, and to provide the experimental data for male contraception. The scrotums of 30 healthy male volunteers were exposed to the condition of 40 to 43°C SH belt warming 40 minutes each day for successive 2 days per week.

Soluble c-Met Levels Correlated With Tissue c-Met Protein Expression in Patients With Advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer.

Background: Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and fluorescent in situ hybridization are reliable methods for identifying c-Met protein expression or c-Met gene amplification. However, each technique requires a high-quality tissue sample, which might not be available. The aim of the present study was to investigate the correlation between the soluble c-Met level and tissue c-Met protein expression and the relationship between these markers and patient prognosis.

The coexistence of MET over-expression and an EGFR T790M mutation is related to acquired resistance to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors in advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

MET overexpression and the EGFR T790M mutation are both associated with acquired resistance (AR) to epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We characterized the frequency, underlying molecular mechanisms, and subsequent treatment for AR in MET overexpressing NSCLC patients with or without the T790M mutation. The study participants were 207 patients with advanced NSCLC and AR to EGFR-TKIs.

The Unique Characteristics of MET Exon 14 Mutation in Chinese Patients with NSCLC.

Introduction: Predictive biomarkers of mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition factor (MET)-targeted therapy remain elusive. Since the discovery of the MNNG HOS Transforming gene (MET) exon 14 mutation, it has been found to have the best potential to become one precise biomarker for MET-targeted therapy. Here, we present the unique characteristics of MET exon 14 mutations in Chinese patients with NSCLC.

Optimization of Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction of Natural Antioxidants from the Osmanthus fragrans Flower.

An ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) method was developed to extract natural antioxidants from the Osmanthus fragrans flower. The effect of UAE on antioxidant activity of the extract from the Osmanthus fragrans flower was studied using a Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) assay. Optimization conditions were firstly determined using a single-factor experiment, and response surface methodology was then used to evaluate interaction of several experimental parameters.

Optimization of Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction of Natural Antioxidants from the Flower of Jatropha integerrima by Response Surface Methodology.

An ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) method was developed for the efficient extraction of natural antioxidants from the flowers of Jatropha integerrima. Four independent variables, including ethanol concentration, solvent/material ratio, ultrasound irradiation time and temperature were studied by single factor experiments. Then, the central composite rotatable design and response surface methodology were employed to investigate the effect of three key parameters (ethanol concentration, solvent/material ratio, and ultrasound irradiation time) on the antioxidant activities of the flower extracts.

Antioxidant Phytochemicals for the Prevention and Treatment of Chronic Diseases.

Overproduction of oxidants (reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen species) in the human body is responsible for the pathogenesis of some diseases. The scavenging of these oxidants is thought to be an effective measure to depress the level of oxidative stress of organisms. It has been reported that intake of vegetables and fruits is inversely associated with the risk of many chronic diseases, and antioxidant phytochemicals in vegetables and fruits are considered to be responsible for these health benefits.

Resources and biological activities of natural polyphenols.

The oxidative stress imposed by reactive oxygen species (ROS) plays an important role in many chronic and degenerative diseases. As an important category of phytochemicals, phenolic compounds universally exist in plants, and have been considered to have high antioxidant ability and free radical scavenging capacity, with the mechanism of inhibiting the enzymes responsible for ROS production and reducing highly oxidized ROS. Therefore, phenolic compounds have attracted increasing attention as potential agents for preventing and treating many oxidative stress-related diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, ageing, diabetes mellitus and neurodegenerative diseases.

Directed evolution and structural prediction of cellobiohydrolase II from the thermophilic fungus Chaetomium thermophilum.

Cellulases can be engineered with enhanced properties for broad use in scientific and industrial applications. In this study, the wild-type cbh2 gene of the thermophilic fungus Chaetomium thermophilum encoding cellobiohydrolase II (CBHII) was mutagenized through in vitro directed evolution. The resulting Pichia pastoris yeast library was screened, and two transformants were selected for enhanced CBHII activities that were not attributed to increased gene copy numbers.

Cellulases from thermophilic fungi: recent insights and biotechnological potential.

Thermophilic fungal cellulases are promising enzymes in protein engineering efforts aimed at optimizing industrial processes, such as biomass degradation and biofuel production. The cloning and expression in recent years of new cellulase genes from thermophilic fungi have led to a better understanding of cellulose degradation in these species. Moreover, crystal structures of thermophilic fungal cellulases are now available, providing insights into their function and stability.

Cloning, expression, and characterization of serine protease from thermophilic fungus Thermoascus aurantiacus var. levisporus.

The serine protease gene from a thermophilic fungus Thermoascus aurantiacus var. levisporus, was cloned, sequenced, and expressed in Pichia pastoris and the recombinant protein was characterized. The full-length cDNA of 2,592 bp contains an ORF of 1,482 bp encoding 494 amino acids.

Expression of a novel thermostable Cu, Zn-superoxide dismutase from Chaetomium thermophilum in Pichia pastoris and its antioxidant properties.

A new superoxide dismutase (SOD) gene from the thermophilic fungus Chaetomium thermophilum (Ctsod) was cloned and expressed in Pichia pastoris and its gene product was characterized. The specific activity of the purified CtSOD was 2,170 U/mg protein. The enzyme was inactivated by KCN and H(2)O(2) but not by NaN(3), confirming that it belonged to the type of Cu, ZnSOD.

Two novel thermostable chitinase genes from thermophilic fungi: cloning, expression and characterization.

Two chitinase genes, Tachit1 from Thermoascus aurantiacus var. levisporus and Ctchit1 from Chaetomium thermophilum were isolated. Tachit1 and Ctchit1 encode putative single-domain proteins (TaCHIT1 and CtCHIT1) of 399 and 402 amino acid residues, respectively.

Purification and characterization of two thermostable proteases from the thermophilic fungus Chaetomium thermophilum.

Thermostable protease is very effective to improve the industrial processes in many fields. Two thermostable extracellular proteases from the culture supernatant of the thermophilic fungus Chaetomium thermophilum were purified to homogeneity by fractional ammonium sulfate precipitation, ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-Sepharose, and PhenylSepharose hydrophobic interaction chromatography. By SDS-PAGE, the molecular mass of the two purified enzymes was estimated to be 33 kDa and 63 kDa, respectively.