Metabolomic profiling of maternal plasma identifies inverse associations of acetate and urea with anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody titers following COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy.

We conducted a comprehensive metabolomic analysis of plasma samples obtained from pregnant women who displayed varying post-vaccination antibody titers after receiving mRNA-1273-SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. The study involved 62 pregnant women, all of whom had been vaccinated after reaching 24 weeks of gestation. To quantify post-vaccination plasma antibody titers, we employed binding antibody units (BAU) in accordance with the World Health Organization International Standard.

Aspartate and Acetate Fuel Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors Beyond the Warburg Effect.

Unlabelled: Metabolic reprogramming is closely linked to the tumorigenesis and drug resistance of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs). Mapping the metabolic orbit of GISTs is a prerequisite if intervention against the metabolic vulnerability of refractory GISTs is desirable.

Methods: A total of 43 patients with treatment-naïve GISTs who had undergone surgical resections were enrolled, on whom a metabolomics profile detected from surgical specimens was constructed based on the H-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) platform.

Glycolytic Plasticity of Metastatic Lung Cancer Captured by Noninvasive F-FDG PET/CT and Serum H-NMR Analysis: An Orthotopic Murine Model Study.

We aim to establish a noninvasive diagnostic platform to capture early phenotypic transformation for metastasis using 18F-FDG PET and 1H-NMR-based serum metabolomics. Mice with implantation of NCI-H460 cells grew only primary lung tumors in the localized group and had both primary and metastatic lung tumors in the metastatic group. The serum metabolites were analyzed using 1H-NMR at the time of PET/CT scan.

Radiation-Induced Metabolic Shifts in the Hepatic Parenchyma: Findings from F-FDG PET Imaging and Tissue NMR Metabolomics in a Mouse Model for Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Purpose: By taking advantage of 18F-FDG PET imaging and tissue nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) metabolomics, we examined the dynamic metabolic alterations induced by liver irradiation in a mouse model for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: After orthotopic implantation with the mouse liver cancer BNL cells in the right hepatic lobe, animals were divided into two experimental groups. The first received irradiation (RT) at 15 Gy, while the second (no-RT) did not.

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Metabolomics Biomarkers for Identifying High Risk Patients with Extranodal Extension in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Extranodal extension (ENE) is an independent adverse prognostic factor in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), and is difficult to identify preoperatively. We aimed to discover biomarkers for high risk patients with ENE. Tandem tissue, plasma, and urine samples of 110 patients with OSCC were investigated through 600-MHz nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) metabolomics analysis.

Metabolomic biomarkers in cervicovaginal fluid for detecting endometrial cancer through nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

Introduction: Endometrial cancer (EC) is one of the most common gynecologic neoplasms in developed countries but lacks screening biomarkers.

Objectives: We aim to identify and validate metabolomic biomarkers in cervicovaginal fluid (CVF) for detecting EC through nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy.

Methods: We screened 100 women with suspicion of EC and benign gynecological conditions, and randomized them into the training and independent testing datasets using a 5:1 study design.

Acute Tumor Transition Angle on Computed Tomography Predicts Chromosomal Instability Status of Primary Gastric Cancer: Radiogenomics Analysis from TCGA and Independent Validation.

Chromosomal instability (CIN) of gastric cancer is correlated with distinct outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the role of computed tomography (CT) imaging traits in predicting the CIN status of gastric cancer. We screened 443 patients in the Cancer Genome Atlas gastric cancer cohort to filter 40 patients with complete CT imaging and genomic data as the training cohort.

Glycerophospholipids pathways and chromosomal instability in gastric cancer: Global lipidomics analysis.

Background: Based on the breakthrough of genomics analysis, The Cancer Genome Atlas Research Group recently proposed an integrative genomic analysis, dividing gastric cancer (GC) into four subtypes, characterized by the chromosomal instability (CIN) status. However, the CIN status of GC is still vaguely characterized and lacking the valuable easy-to-use CIN markers to diagnosis in molecular and histological detection.

Aim: To explore the associations of CIN with downstream lipidomics profiles.

Metabolomic alterations and chromosomal instability status in gastric cancer.

Aim: To explore the correlation of metabolomics profiles of gastric cancer (GC) with its chromosomal instability (CIN) status.

Methods: Nineteen GC patients were classified as CIN and non-CIN type by The Cancer Genome Atlas Research Group system, based on 409 oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes sequenced. The aqueous metabolites of the GC tumor and its surrounding adjacent healthy tissues were identified through liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Early Imaging Biomarker of Myocardial Glucose Adaptations in High-Fat-Diet-Induced Insulin Resistance Model by Using F-FDG PET and [U-C]glucose Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Tracer.

Background: High-fat diet (HFD) induces systemic insulin resistance leading to myocardial dysfunction. We aim to characterize the early adaptations of myocardial glucose utility to HFD-induced insulin resistance.

Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned into two groups, fed a regular chow diet or HFD ad libitum for 10 weeks.

Early Response Monitoring Following Radiation Therapy by Using [F]FDG and [C]Acetate PET in Prostate Cancer Xenograft Model with Metabolomics Corroboration.

We aim to characterize the metabolic changes associated with early response to radiation therapy in a prostate cancer mouse model by 2-deoxy-2-[F]fluoro-d-glucose ([F]FDG) and [C]acetate ([C]ACT) positron emission tomography, with nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) metabolomics corroboration. [F]FDG and [C]ACT PET were performed before and following irradiation (RT, 15Gy) for transgenic adenocarcinoma of mouse prostate xenografts. The underlying metabolomics alterations of tumor tissues were analyzed by using ex vivo NMR.

Virtual optical biopsy of human adipocytes with third harmonic generation microscopy.

Using the sectioning capability of third harmonic generation (THG) microscopy, we assessed the morphologic features of human adipocytes directly without fixation and labeling. At the plane of the largest cross-sectional area, both area-equivalent circular diameters (AECD) and perimeters of adipocytes were measured, and their statistical distributions were examined. We found, in patients with no cardiovascular risk factors, the average AECD of epicardial adipocytes were 70-90 μm with 11-17 μm standard deviations.

In vivo metabolic imaging of insulin with multiphoton fluorescence of human insulin-Au nanodots.

Functional human insulin-Au nanodots (NDs) are synthesized for the in vivo imaging of insulin metabolism. Benefiting from its efficient red to near infrared fluorescence, deep tissue subcellular uptake of insulin-Au NDs can be clearly resolved through a least-invasive harmonic generation and two-photon fluorescence (TPF) microscope. In vivo investigations on mice ear and ex vivo assays on human fat tissues conclude that cells with rich insulin receptors have higher uptake of administrated insulin.

Imaging granularity of leukocytes with third harmonic generation microscopy.

Using third harmonic generation (THG) microscopy, we demonstrate that granularity differences of leukocytes can be revealed without a label. Excited by a 1230 nm femtosecond laser, THG signals were generated at a significantly higher level in neutrophils than other mononuclear cells, whereas signals in agranular lymphocytes were one order of magnitude smaller. Interestingly, the characteristic THG features can also be observed in vivo to track the newly recruited leukocytes following lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge.

Modular organization of SARS coronavirus nucleocapsid protein.

The SARS-CoV nucleocapsid (N) protein is a major antigen in severe acute respiratory syndrome. It binds to the viral RNA genome and forms the ribonucleoprotein core. The SARS-CoV N protein has also been suggested to be involved in other important functions in the viral life cycle.

The dimer interface of the SARS coronavirus nucleocapsid protein adapts a porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome virus-like structure.

We have employed NMR to investigate the structure of SARS coronavirus nucleocapsid protein dimer. We found that the secondary structure of the dimerization domain consists of five alpha helices and a beta-hairpin. The dimer interface consists of a continuous four-stranded beta-sheet superposed by two long alpha helices, reminiscent of that found in the nucleocapsid protein of porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome virus.

Effect of N-terminal and Met23 mutations on the structure and dynamics of onconase.

Onconase (rONC), otherwise known as ranpirnase or P-30 protein, which was initially purified from extracts of Rana pipiens oocytes and early embryos, exhibits anticancer activity both in vitro and in vivo and is in phase III clinical trials for tumor therapy. We have determined the solution NMR structure of a recombinant onconase with Met(-1), Gln1, and Leu23 residues (M-1, Q1, M23L)rONC. The 20 best solution structures had a backbone root mean square deviation of 0.