Trimethylamine N-oxide promotes the proliferation and migration of hepatocellular carcinoma cell through the MAPK pathway.

Trimethylamine-n-oxide (TMAO) is a metabolite of intestinal flora following the consumption of phosphatidylcholine-rich foods. Clinical cohort studies have shown that plasma TMAO may be a risk factor for cancer development, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but fundamental research data supporting this hypothesis are lacking. In this study, HCC cells were treated with TMAO in vivo and in vitro to evaluate the effect on some indicators related to the malignancy degree of HCC, and the relevant molecular mechanisms were explored.

Mesoporous silica particles are phagocytosed by microglia and induce a mild inflammatory response .

Mesoporous silica particles (MSPs) are broadly used drug delivery carriers. In this study, the authors analyzed the responses to MSPs of astrocytes and microglia, the two main cellular players in neuroinflammation. Primary murine cortical mixed glial cultures were treated with rhodamine B-labeled MSPs.

HIV-1 Tat Protein-Mediated Inflammatory Response Inhibits the Erythroid Hematopoietic Support Function of Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells.

Although combination antiretroviral therapy is widely used to treat HIV-1 infection, anemia affects the health and quality of life in a large number of these patients. The proliferation and differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs), as important support cells in the hematopoietic microenvironment, can be affected by HIV-1 Tat protein. In this study, we explored the mechanism underlying the effect of Tat protein on the hematopoietic support function of BMSCs in erythroid commitment.

Palmitate impairs the autophagic flux to induce p62-dependent apoptosis through the upregulation of CYLD in NRCMs.

The most abundant saturated free fatty acid such as palmitate (PA), can accumulate in cardiomyocytes and induce lipotoxicity. CYLD is a known regulator in the development of cardiovascular disease and an important mediator of apoptosis. The role of CYLD in PA-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis is not completely known.

Empty mesoporous silica particles significantly delay disease progression and extend survival in a mouse model of ALS.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating incurable neurological disorder characterized by motor neuron (MN) death and muscle dysfunction leading to mean survival time after diagnosis of only 2-5 years. A potential ALS treatment is to delay the loss of MNs and disease progression by the delivery of trophic factors. Previously, we demonstrated that implanted mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSPs) loaded with trophic factor peptide mimetics support survival and induce differentiation of co-implanted embryonic stem cell (ESC)-derived MNs.

HIV-1 Tat protein inhibits the hematopoietic support function of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells.

Most HIV-1-infected patients experience hematopoiesis suppression complications. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) are involved in regulation of hematopoietic homeostasis, so we investigated the role of Tat, a protein released by infected cells in bone marrow and impacted differentiation potential of mesenchymal stem cells, in the BMSC hematopoietic support function. BMSCs were treated with HIV-1 Tat protein (BMSC), transfected with HIV-1 Tat mRNA (BMSC) or treated with solvent (PBS) (BMSC) for 20 days.

Potential use of transrenal DNA for non-invasive monitoring and prognosis of colorectal cancer.

Anti-EGFR mAb are recommended treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Accurate mutation profiling and disease monitoring are challenging. The current study investigates the potential use of transrenal DNA as a biomarker for disease management.

Creativity as a Key Driver for Designing Context Sensitive Health Informatics.

In order to face the increasing challenges of complexity and uncertainty in practice of health care, this paper aims to discuss how creativity can contribute to design new technologies in health informatics systems. It will firstly introduce the background highlighting creativity as a missing element in recent studies on context sensitive health informatics. Secondly, the concept of creativity and its relationship with activities of technology design will be discussed from a socio-culture perspective.

A Combinatorial Approach to Induce Sensory Axon Regeneration into the Dorsal Root Avulsed Spinal Cord.

Spinal root injuries result in newly formed glial scar formation, which prevents regeneration of sensory axons causing permanent sensory loss. Previous studies showed that delivery of trophic factors or implantation of human neural progenitor cells supports sensory axon regeneration and partly restores sensory functions. In this study, we elucidate mechanisms underlying stem cell-mediated ingrowth of sensory axons after dorsal root avulsion (DRA).

Targeted Photodynamic Therapy with a Folate/Sensitizer Assembly Produced from Mesoporous Silica.

A mesoporous silica material prepared by using folic acid (FA) as a template enables the effective encapsulation of meso-tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl)porphyrin (TCPP) in its interior. Combination of steady-state and time-resolved absorption and emission spectroscopy demonstrate that FA and TCPP are released from the silica material to the aqueous phase in the form of a non-covalent assembly. This assembly does not form by simple mixing of the two components in the absence of silica, suggesting the key role of the material in the assembling process.

High Power Distance Enhances Employees' Preference for Likable Managers: A Resource Dependency Perspective.

Is a manager's likability important from an employee's perspective? Research results in this field are scant and inconsistent. The current study explored employees' response to managers' likability and the moderating effect of power distance at both the cultural and individual levels. In study 1, following the countercultural priming experimental paradigm proposed by Van den Bos et al.

Significance of the quantitative measurement of the chr16: 51320015 integration site in hepatocytes of patients with chronic hepatitis B.

The present study reported the presence of a hepatitis B virus (HBV) major integration site (MIS) chr16: 51320015 and discussed the significance of quantitative measurement of this site. A total of 30 hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) positive (+) and 30 HBeAg negative (‑) patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) were enrolled in the present study, and the levels of intrahepatic (IH) covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA), serum HBV DNA and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) were detected. Conventional reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT‑qPCR) and Sanger sequencing were designed to verify the chr16: 51320015 integration site, and the copy numbers of this site were measured using molecular clone and SYBR Green I RT‑qPCR.

In vitro generation of motor neuron precursors from mouse embryonic stem cells using mesoporous nanoparticles.

Aim: Stem cell-derived motor neurons (MNs) are utilized to develop replacement strategies for spinal cord disorders. Differentiation of embryonic stem cells into MN precursors involves factors and their repeated administration. We investigated if delivery of factors loaded into mesoporous nanoparticles could be effective for stem cell differentiation in vitro.

Morphological properties of nanoporous folic acid materials and in vitro assessment of their biocompatibility.

Background: Mesoporous silica-based particles are of potential interest for the development of novel therapeutic targeted delivery vehicles. Their ability to load and release large quantities of active pharmaceutical products with varying properties, combining controlled and targeted release functions make them unique amongst nanotechnology-based carrier systems.

Materials & Methods: In this study, nanoporous folic acid-templated materials (NFM-1) were prepared and the synthetic strategies for the control of textural and morphology properties of NFM-1 are described.

Bicontinuous cubic mesoporous materials with biphasic structures.

The replication of amphiphilic systems within an inorganic silica matrix allows the study of the fundamental properties of mesostructural changes, that is, kinetic and structural parameters. Herein we report a detailed study of the transition between cubic bicontinuous mesostructure with space groups Ia ̅3d and Pn ̅3m symmetry, which are associated with the minimal G and D surfaces, respectively. The transition may be induced through micellar swelling of the anionic amphiphilic surfactant N-lauroyl alanine by trimethylbenzene.

Release of folic acid in mesoporous NFM-1 silica.

Mesoporous NFM-1 silica with folic acid as template was prepared taking advantage of the supramolecular self-assembly of pterin groups and their abilities to form hexagonal liquid crystal phases. NFM-1 materials with the varied morphologies such as fiber, chiral twisting long-rod, gyroid, and amorphous particles were prepared by varying the amount of the co-structure directing agent, stirring speed and changing pH value of the synthesis. The release kinetics of NFM-1 samples with different morphologies were studied in phosphate buffer with pH = 7.

[Developmental changes of acetabular cartilage complex: an experimental study of a straight-leg swaddle model of newborn rats].

Objective: By establishing a model of straight-leg swaddle of newborn rats and observing the experimental animals'hips morphologically and pathologically, this study explored the changes of gross appearance of the acetabulum and the maturity of cartilage cells in the different regions of acetabular cartilage complex.

Methods: The legs and hips were fixed by adhesive tape for 10 days in the position of hip extension and adduction in 31 newborn Wistar rats (experimental group). The other 31 newborn rats without legs and hips treatment were used as the control group.