Exposure of Human Gastric Cells to Oxidized Lipids Stimulates Pathways of Amino Acid Biosynthesis on a Genomic and Metabolomic Level.

The Western diet is characterized by a high consumption of heat-treated fats and oils. During deep-frying processes, vegetable oils are subjected to high temperatures which result in the formation of lipid peroxidation products. Dietary intake of oxidized vegetable oils has been associated with various biological effects, whereas knowledge about the effects of structurally-characterized lipid peroxidation products and their possible absorption into the body is scarce.

Regioisomeric distribution of 9- and 13-hydroperoxy linoleic acid in vegetable oils during storage and heating.

Background: The oxidative deterioration of vegetable oils is commonly measured by the peroxide value, thereby not considering the contribution of individual lipid hydroperoxide isomers, which might have different bioactive effects. Thus, the formation of 9- and 13-hydroperoxy octadecadienoic acid (9-HpODE and 13- HpODE), was quantified after short-term heating and conditions representative of long-term domestic storage in samples of linoleic acid, canola, sunflower and soybean oil, by means of stable isotope dilution analysis-liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy.

Results: Although heating of pure linoleic acid at 180 °C for 30 min led to an almost complete loss of 9-HpODE and 13-HpODE, heating of canola, sunflower and soybean oil resulted in the formation of 5.

Novel PSCA targeting scFv-fusion proteins for diagnosis and immunotherapy of prostate cancer.

Purpose: Despite great progress in the diagnosis and treatment of localized prostate cancer (PCa), there remains a need for new diagnostic markers that can accurately distinguish indolent and aggressive variants. One promising approach is the antibody-based targeting of prostate stem cell antigen (PSCA), which is frequently overexpressed in PCa. Here, we show the construction of a molecular imaging probe comprising a humanized scFv fragment recognizing PSCA genetically fused to an engineered version of the human DNA repair enzyme O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase (AGT), the SNAP-tag, enabling specific covalent coupling to various fluorophores for diagnosis of PCa.

Fine Tuning Antibody Conjugation Methods using SNAP-tag Technology.

Background: Targeted imaging and therapy (theranostics) is a promising approach for the simultaneous improvement of cancer diagnosis, prognosis and management. Therapeutic and imaging reagents are coupled to tumor-targeting molecules such as antibodies, providing a basis for truly personalized medicine. However, the development of antibody-drug conjugates with acceptable pharmaceutical properties is a complex process and several parameters must be optimized, such as the controlled conjugation method and the drug-to-antibody ratio.

Erythropoietin mimetic compound AGEM400(HES) binds to the same receptor as erythropoietin but displays a different spectrum of activities.

EPO mimetic peptides (EMPs) have a completely different structure than erythropoietin (EPO) or new generation recombinant erythropoiesis stimulating agents (ESAs) like Darbepoietin alfa (Aranesp) and continuous erythropoiesis stimulating agent (CERA). This study intended to compare the effects of a novel compound called AGEM400(HES), consisting of a dimeric EMP conjugated to hydroxyethyl starch (HES), to those of recombinant EPO. AGEM400(HES) efficiently stimulated erythropoiesis in vitro and efficiently stimulated survival of EPO-dependent cell line UT7/EPO.

Prevention--a cost-effective way to fight the non-communicable disease epidemic: an academic perspective of the United Nations High-level NCD Meeting.

The United Nations General Assembly has convened a Summit on non-communicable diseases (NCDs), an historic moment in the global combat of these disorders. Lifestyles in increasingly urban and globalised environments have led to a steep surge in NCD incidence in low and middle income countries, where two thirds of all NCD deaths occur (most importantly from cancer, cardiovascular and respiratory disease as well as diabetes). Treatment of NCDs is usually long term and expensive, thus threatening patients' and nations' budgets and putting them at high risk for poverty.