MicroRNA-382-5p aggravates breast cancer progression by regulating the RERG/Ras/ERK signaling axis.

Aberrant activation of the Ras/ERK pathway mediates breast cancer initiation and aggressiveness. Therefore, it is important to identify miRNAs that modulate the Ras/ERK pathway during breast carcinogenesis and progression. The Ras GTPase superfamily member RERG (Ras-related and estrogen-regulated growth inhibitor) acts as a tumor suppressor to reduce breast cancer cell proliferation and tumor formation and has been suggested to have a regulatory role in the Ras/ERK pathway.

[Prokaryotic expression and antiserum preparation for major antigenic epitope region of major capsid protein of Chinese giant salamander (Andrias davidianus) iridovirus].

Objective To express the fusion protein of major antigenic epitope region of major capsid protein (MCP) of Chinese giant salamander (Andrias davidianus) iridovirus (CGSIV) and prepare the rabbit antiserum. Methods Using the genomic DNA of CGSIV Lueyang strain (CGSIV-LY) as a template, the gene fragment of major antigenic epitope region of MCP was amplified by PCR and cloned into the prokaryotic vector pET-21a(+) to construct the prokaryotic expression recombinant plasmid pET-21a-MCP. The recombinant plasmid was transformed into Escherichia coli BL21(DE3).

Tanshinones and diethyl blechnics with anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer activities from Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (Danshen).

Four novel compounds (1-4) as well as fourteen reported compounds (5-18) were isolated and purified from Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (Danshen). The structures of novel compounds were determined by 1D and 2D NMR, HRESIMS data, etc. The anti-inflammatory properties of all the compounds on RAW264.

Analysis of the Three-Tiered Treatment Model for Emergency Medical Rescue Services After the Lushan Earthquake.

Objective: To explore the 3-tiered treatment model for medical treatment after an earthquake.

Methods: Based on the practices of the national emergency medical rescue services in the Lushan earthquake zone, the 3-tiered treatment classification approach was retrospectively reviewed.

Results: Medical rescue teams assembled and reported quickly to the disaster areas after the earthquake.

Protective Role of Liriodendrin in Sepsis-Induced Acute Lung Injury.

In current study, we investigated the role of liriodendrin, a constituent isolated from Sargentodoxa cuneata (Oliv.) Rehd. Et Wils (Sargentodoxaceae), in cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)-induced acute lung inflammatory response and injury (ALI).

Reduced miR-550a-3p leads to breast cancer initiation, growth, and metastasis by increasing levels of ERK1 and 2.

Hyperactivation of the Ras/ERK pathway contributes to breast cancer initiation and progression, and recent evidence suggests aberrant signaling of miRNAs that regulate the Ras/ERK pathway play important roles during carcinogenesis and cancer progression. In this study, we demonstrate that miR-550a-3p expression is negatively correlated with levels of ERK1 and ERK2, two pivotal effectors in the Ras/ERK pathway. MiR-550a-3p gradually decreased during breast cancer initiation and progression and this reduction was a prognostic indicator of poorer overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) among breast cancer patients.

ARID4B is a good biomarker to predict tumour behaviour and decide WHO grades in gliomas and meningiomas.

Aims: Although ARID4B is known to promote tumour metastasis in breast cancer and inhibit transformation and progression in leukaemia, the possible effect of ARID4B on primary brain tumours (PBTs) is not well characterised. We tested the hypothesis that expression of ARID4B correlates with WHO grade and survival in patients with PBTs.

Methods: Western blot analysis was performed on protein lysates prepared from normal brain tissue and glioma cell lines (U87MG, LN229, GBM8401 and U118MG).

Design of an α-helical antimicrobial peptide with improved cell-selective and potent anti-biofilm activity.

AR-23 is a melittin-related peptide with 23 residues. Like melittin, its high α-helical amphipathic structure results in strong bactericidal activity and cytotoxicity. In this study, a series of AR-23 analogues with low amphipathicity were designed by substitution of Ala1, Ala8 and Ile17 with positively charged residues (Arg or Lys) to study the effect of positively charged residue distribution on the biological viability of the antimicrobial peptide.

Chemical constituents and biological research on plants in the genus Curcuma.

Curcuma, a valuable genus in the family Zingiberaceae, includes approximately 110 species. These plants are native to Southeast Asia and are extensively cultivated in India, China, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Peru, Australia, and the West Indies. The plants have long been used in folk medicine to treat stomach ailments, stimulate digestion, and protect the digestive organs, including the intestines, stomach, and liver.

Formation and Stabilization of Environmentally Persistent Free Radicals Induced by the Interaction of Anthracene with Fe(III)-Modified Clays.

Environmentally persistent free radicals (EPFRs) are occasionally detected in Superfund sites but the formation of EPFRs induced by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is not well understood. In the present work, the formation of EPFRs on anthracene-contaminated clay minerals was quantitatively monitored via electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, and surface/interface-related environmental influential factors were systematically explored. The obtained results suggest that EPFRs are more readily formed on anthracene-contaminated Fe(III)-montmorillonite than in other tested systems.

Bigelovii A Protects against Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Acute Lung Injury by Blocking NF-κB and CCAAT/Enhancer-Binding Protein δ Pathways.

Optimal methods are applied to acute lung injury (ALI) and the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), but the mortality rate is still high. Accordingly, further studies dedicated to identify novel therapeutic approaches to ALI are urgently needed. Bigelovii A is a new natural product and may exhibit anti-inflammatory activity.

Nrf2 Expressions Correlate with WHO Grades in Gliomas and Meningiomas.

Background: Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NFE2L2, also known as Nrf2) is associated with cellular progression and chemotherapeutic resistance in some human cancers. We tested the relationship between Nrf2 expression and survival of patients with primary brain tumors (PBTs).

Methods: In order to realize Nrf2 protein expression in gliomas, Western blot analysis was performed in normal brain tissue and U87MG, LN229, GBM8401 and U118MG glioma cell lines protein lysates.

High-power QCW microsecond-pulse solid-state sodium beacon laser with spiking suppression and D2b re-pumping.

A 65 W quasi-continuous-wave microsecond-pulse solid-state sodium beacon laser tuned to the sodium D2a line has been developed with a linewidth of 0.3 GHz, beam quality of M2=1.38, and pulse width of 120 μs at a repetition rate of 500 Hz by sum-frequency mixing 1319 and 1064 nm diode-pumped Nd:YAG master-oscillator power-amplifier systems.

RV-23, a Melittin-Related Peptide with Cell-Selective Antibacterial Activity and High Hemocompatibility.

RV-23 is a melittin-related antibacterial peptide (MRP) with lower cytotoxicity than either melittin or AR-23, another MRP. The aim of this study was to explore the mechanism of RV- 23's antibacterial selectivity and its hemocompatibility. The results showed that all the peptides exhibited lytic activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, with RV-23 showing the highest potency.

Infectious Disease Information Collection System at the Scene of Disaster Relief Based on a Personal Digital Assistant.

Objective: The objective of this study was to build a database to collect infectious disease information at the scene of a disaster through the use of 128 epidemiological questionnaires and 47 types of options, with rapid acquisition of information regarding infectious disease and rapid questionnaire customization at the scene of disaster relief by use of a personal digital assistant (PDA).

Methods: SQL Server 2005 (Microsoft Corp, Redmond, WA) was used to create the option database for the infectious disease investigation, to develop a client application for the PDA, and to deploy the application on the server side. The users accessed the server for data collection and questionnaire customization with the PDA.

Two different surgery approaches for treatment of thoracolumbar fracture.

Background: To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of pedicle screw fixation for treatment of thoracolumbar fracture via Wiltse paraspinal approach.

Methods: From June 2009 to June 2012, we enrolled into our study 53 cases of thoracolumbar fractures (single segment compressive or burst fractures) without neurologic injury, among whom 28 were treated by mini-open operation via Wiltse approach (group A) and 25 by conventional posterior open surgery (group B). We recorded and compared the intraoperative and postoperative performance between the two groups.

Ethanol-metabolizing activities and isozyme protein contents of alcohol and aldehyde dehydrogenases in human liver: phenotypic traits of the ADH1B*2 and ALDH2*2 variant gene alleles.

Objective: Alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) are principal enzymes responsible for the metabolism of ethanol. East Asian populations are unique in that they carry both a prevalent ADH1B*2 and a dominant-negative ALDH2*2 allele. A systematic investigation of ethanol-metabolizing activities in normal livers correlated with the corresponding functional allelic variations and protein contents of the relevant isozymes in respective enzyme families has been lacking.

[Effects of thyroid autoimmunity on pregnancy outcomes in euthyroid women receiving in vitro fertilization: a meta-analysis].

Objective: To investigate the association of thyroid autoimmunity (TAI) with pregnancy outcomes in euthyroid women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF).

Methods: The meta-analysis was a systematic review of cohort studies published before May 10th, 2014. Data were retrieved from Medline, Embase and Cochrane library, and the keywords were "thyroid autoimmunity" and "pregnancy outcome", with restriction to artificial reproductive technique.

2-Methoxy-6-acetyl-7-methyljuglone (MAM), a natural naphthoquinone, induces NO-dependent apoptosis and necroptosis by H2O2-dependent JNK activation in cancer cells.

Redox signaling plays a fundamental role in maintaining cell physiological activities. A deregulation of this balance through oxidative stress or nitrosative stress has been implicated in cancer. Here, we reported that 2-methoxy-6-acetyl-7-methyl juglone (MAM), a natural naphthoquinone isolated from Polygonum cuspidatum Sieb.

Association of Tartrate-Resistant Acid Phosphatase-Expressed Macrophages and Metastatic Breast Cancer Progression.

Infiltrating neutrophils, lymphocytes, macrophages, and cytokines constitute a state of chronic inflammation within the tumor microenvironment. Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5a (TRACP5a) protein, a novel product of activated macrophage, is postulated to be a biomarker for systemic inflammatory burden in states of chronic inflammation. We aimed to investigate the clinical significance of TRACP5a expression in tumor-infiltrating macrophages and serum TRACP5a in patients with metastatic breast cancer (BC).

7,8-dihydroxycoumarin has a dual mechanism of action in hepatic ischemia reperfusion injury.

The present study was designed to investigate the protective effect of 7,8-dihydroxycoumarin on hepatic ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in the rats. The rats were divided in three groups of 10 each; normal control, untreated and the 7,8-dihydroxycoumarin treatment groups. The rats in the treatment group received 7,8-dihydroxycoumarin at doses of 15 mg/kg body weight 1 h prior to ischemia and then daily for 2 days.

Evaluation of group A1B erythrocytes converted to type as group O: studies of markers of function and compatibility.

Background: Enzymatic conversion of blood group A1B red blood cells (RBC) to group O RBC (ECO) was achieved by combined treatment with α-galactosidase and α-N-acetylgalactosaminidase. The aim of this study was to evaluate the function and safety of these A1B-ECO RBC in vitro.

Materials And Methods: A 20% packed volume of A1B RBC was treated with enzymes in 250 mM glycine buffer, pH 6.