Surgical management for non-functional pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms with synchronous liver metastasis: A consensus from the Chinese Study Group for Neuroendocrine Tumors (CSNET).

Pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (p-NENs) are slowly growing tumors with frequent liver metastasis. There is a variety of approaches to treat non-functional p-NENs with synchronous liver metastasis (LM) which complicates the determination of optimal treatment. Based on updated literature review, we discussed the treatment strategy determinants for p-NEN with LM.

Effect of abemaciclib (LY2835219) on enhancement of chemotherapeutic agents in ABCB1 and ABCG2 overexpressing cells in vitro and in vivo.

Multidrug resistance (MDR) is the major obstacle of the success in cancer chemotherapy. The overexpression of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, particularly ABCB1 and ABCG2, play a significant role in mediating MDR by pumping anticancer drugs out of cancer cells. Abemaciclib (LY2835219) is an orally bioavailable CDK4/6 inhibitor under phase III clinical trials.

Alkaline Response of a Halotolerant Alkaliphilic Halomonas Strain and Functional Diversity of Its Na+(K+)/H+ Antiporters.

Halomonas sp. Y2 is a halotolerant alkaliphilic strain from Na-rich pulp mill wastewater with high alkalinity (pH >11.0).

Efficient secretory expression of recombinant proteins in Escherichia coli with a novel actinomycete signal peptide.

In well-established heterologous hosts, such as Escherichia coli, recombinant proteins are usually intracellular and frequently found as inclusion bodies-especially proteins possessing high rare codon content. In this study, successful secretory expression of three hydrolases, in a constructed inducible or constitutive system, was achieved by fusion with a novel signal peptide (Kp-SP) from an actinomycete. The signal peptide efficiently enabled extracellular protein secretion and also contributed to the active expression of the intracellular recombinant proteins.

IL-1β maintains the redox balance by regulating glutaredoxin 1 expression during oral carcinogenesis.

Background: Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) is a pleiotropic cancer-inflammation-linked cytokine which has been reported upregulated in many cancers. In our previous study, IL-1β was found to be one of the key node genes during oral malignant transformation, and glutaredoxin 1 (Grx1) was identified as one of the downstream genes of IL-1β in tumor microenvironment. Grx1 is ubiquitous oxidoreductase which is necessary for scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the intracellular redox balance maintenance.

Thrombospondin-4 Promotes Neuronal Differentiation of NG2 Cells via the ERK/MAPK Pathway.

NG2-expressing neural progenitors can produce neurons in the central nervous system, providing a potential cell resource of therapy for neurological disorders. However, the mechanism underlying neuronal differentiation of NG2 cells remains largely unknown. In this report, we found that a thrombospondin (TSP) family member, TSP4, is involved in the neuronal differentiation of NG2 cells.

Total Synthesis of the Diterpenoid (+)-Harringtonolide.

Described herein is the first asymmetric total synthesis of (+)-harringtonolide, a natural diterpenoid with an unusual tropone imbedded in a cagelike framework. The key transformations include an intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction and a rhodium-complex-catalyzed intramolecular [3+2] cycloaddition to install the tetracyclic core as well as a highly efficient tropone formation.

Streptozotocin Induces Mild Cognitive Impairment at Appropriate Doses in Mice as Determined by Long-Term Potentiation and the Morris Water Maze.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease, and effective therapeutic drugs in the clinic are still lacking. Ideally, AD progression could be stopped at an early stage, such as at the mild cognitive impairment (MCI) stage. MCI refers to the clinical condition between normal aging and dementia.

Renal denervation, adjusted drugs, or combined therapy for resistant hypertension: A meta-regression.

The objective of this study is to systematically evaluate the efficacy of renal denervation (RD), adjusted drugs, or combined therapy for resistant hypertension (RH) through a systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled studies.Publications were comprehensively searched. Studies that investigated the effects of RD and/or adjusted drugs in lowering blood pressure (BP) were included.

Foxp3 overexpression in tumor cells predicts poor survival in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Forkhead Box P3 (Foxp3) is a regulatory T cells marker, and its expression correlates with prognosis in a number of malignancies. The aim of this study is to determine the relationship of Foxp3 expression with clinicopathological parameters and prognosis in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).

Methods: Foxp3 expression was examined using immunohistochemistry (IHC) in paraffin-embedded tissue samples from 273 OSCC patients.

Gate-Tunable Landau Level Filling and Spectroscopy in Coupled Massive and Massless Electron Systems.

We report transport studies on coupled massive and massless electron systems, realized using twisted monolayer-graphene-natural bilayer-graphene stacks. We incorporate the layers in a dual-gated transistor geometry enabling independently tuning their charge density and the perpendicular electric field. In a perpendicular magnetic field, we observe a distinct pattern of gate-tunable Landau level crossings.

Expression and functional analysis of two NhaD type antiporters from the halotolerant and alkaliphilic Halomonas sp. Y2.

Na(+)/H(+) antiporters play important roles in ion and pH homeostasis. In this study, two NhaD homologues that effectively catalyze Na(+)/H(+) antiporter were identified from Halomonas sp. Y2, a halotolerant and alkaliphilic strain isolated from sodium enriched black liquor.

Comparing endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided fine needle aspiration (FNA) versus fine needle biopsy (FNB) in the diagnosis of solid lesions: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Linear endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) allows the visualization, identification, and characterization of the extent of lesions of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and adjacent structures. EUS-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) facilitates a more accurate diagnosis of mediastinal, intra-abdominal, and pancreatic lesions through the collection of the cytological material under direct visualization. Recent reports suggest that histological samples can be obtained by EUS-FNA with a reverse, bevel-tipped needle (the ProCore needle) to collect the core samples (fine needle biopsy, FNB), thereby adding a new dimension to the diagnostic usefulness of this technique.

Overexpression of miR-155 promotes the proliferation and invasion of oral squamous carcinoma cells by regulating BCL6/cyclin D2.

Although microRNA-155 (miR-155) is known to play an important role in many cancers, its expression and function in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) was not fully understood. Thus, in the present study, we investigated the expression of miR-155 and also the role this miR plays in OSCC. We used the OSCC cell line (CAL27) and paired tumor and non-tumor tissue samples from patients with OSCC in order to detect the expression of miR-155.

Elevated autocrine chemokine ligand 18 expression promotes oral cancer cell growth and invasion via Akt activation.

Chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 18 (CCL18) has been implicated in the pathogenesis and progression of various cancers; however, in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), the role of CCL18 is unknown. In this study, we found that CCL18 was overexpressed in primary OSCC tissues and was associated with an advanced clinical stage. CCL18 was found in both the cytoplasm and cell membrane of OSCC cells and was predominantly produced by cancer epithelial cells, as opposed to tumor-infiltrating macrophages.

The Notch pathway promotes the cancer stem cell characteristics of CD90+ cells in hepatocellular carcinoma.

CD90 has been identified as a marker for liver cancer stem cells (CSCs) that are responsible for tumorigenic activity, but it is not known how CD90+ cells contribute to tumor initiation and progression. Our data demonstrated that high expression of CD90 in Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) tissues correlated with venous filtration in HCC patients. CD90+ cells isolated from HCC cell lines exhibited increased tumorigenicity, chemoresistance, tumor invasion and metastasis.

Modulation of IL-1β reprogrammes the tumor microenvironment to interrupt oral carcinogenesis.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) development is a multistage process includes the normal, dysplasia and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) stages. Recently, increasing evidence has suggested that the tumor microenvironment (TME) is an integral part of malignant transformation. Exploring certain key node genes in TME for future intervention in dysplasia to interrupt oral carcinogenesis was the primary goal of this research.

[Efficacy and safety of Saw Palmetto Extract Capsules in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia].

Objective: To assess the efficacy and safety of Saw Palmetto Extract Capsules in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

Methods: We conducted a multi-centered open clinical study on 165 BPH patients treated with Saw Palmetto Extract Capsules at a dose of 160 mg qd for 12 weeks. At the baseline and after 6 and 12 weeks of medication, we compared the International Prostate Symptom Scores (IPSS), prostate volume, postvoid residual urine volume, urinary flow rate, quality of life scores (QOL), and adverse events between the two groups of patients.

Notch and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway play important roles in activating liver cancer stem cells.

Human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is driven and maintained by liver cancer stem cells (LCSCs) that display stem cell properties. These LCSCs are promoted by the intersecting of Notch and Wnt/β-Catenin signaling pathways. In this study, we demonstrate that LCSCs with markers CD90, CD24, CD13, and CD133 possess stem properties of self-renewal and tumorigenicity in NOD/SCID mice.

Synthesis of Polysubstituted Pyridines via a One-Pot Metal-Free Strategy.

An efficient strategy for the one-pot synthesis of polysubstituted pyridines via a cascade reaction from aldehydes, phosphorus ylides, and propargyl azide is reported. The reaction sequence involves a Wittig reaction, a Staudinger reaction, an aza-Wittig reaction, a 6π-3-azatriene electrocyclization, and a 1,3-H shift. This protocol provides quick access to the polysubstituted pyridines from readily available substrates in good to excellent yields.

A One-Pot Synthesis of Dibenzofurans from 6-Diazo-2-cyclohexenones.

A novel and efficient protocol for the rapid construction of dibenzofuran motifs from 6-diazo-2-cyclohexenone and ortho-haloiodobenzene has been developed. The process involves one-pot Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling/aromatization and Cu-catalyzed Ullmann coupling.

The first prognostic model for stroke and death in patients with systolic heart failure.

Background: Patients with systolic heart failure (HF) are at increased risk of both ischemic stroke and death. Currently, no risk scores are available to identify HF patients at high risk of stroke or death. The Warfarin vs.

[Enantioseparation of 3α-acyloxy-6β-acetoxyltropane compounds with Chiralpak AD and Chiralcel OD-H chiral stationary phases].

Six 3α-acyloxy-6β-acetoxyltropane compounds were enantioseparated by high performance liquid chromatography with amylose-based chiral stationary phase Chiralpak AD and cellulose-based chiral stationary phase Chiralcel OD-H in the normal phase mode, using various mixtures of n-hexane-isopropanol as mobile phases. The enantiomers 6 were completely separated on a Chiralpak AD column. While the enantiomers 1, 4 and 3 got complete, baseline and basic separation respectively on a Chiralcel OD-H column.

Meta-Analysis of Medium and Long-Term Efficacy of Loading Statins After Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the medium- and long-term efficacy of loading statins after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) by comparing using a loading dose of statins or a regular dose of statins in patients undergoing CABG.

Methods: We conducted a literature search of numerous databases for randomized controlled trials on the efficacy of a loading dose of statins in patients undergoing CABG. The quality of included studies was evaluated according to the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.