Chemo-mechanical-microstructural coupling in the tarsus exoskeleton of the scorpion Scorpio palmatus.

The multiscale structure of biomaterials enables their exceptional mechanical robustness, yet the impact of each constituent at their relevant length scale remains elusive. We used SAXD analysis to expose the intact chitin-fiber architecture within the exoskeleton on a scorpion's claw, revealing varying orientations, including Bouligand and unidirectional regions different from other arthropod species. We uncovered the contribution of individual components' constituent behavior to its mechanical properties from the micro- to the nanoscale.

Down-regulation of EGFL8 regulates migration, invasion and apoptosis of hepatocellular carcinoma through activating Notch signaling pathway.

Background: Our previous studies have reported the down-regulation of EGFL8 correlates to the development and prognosis of colorectal and gastric cancer. The present study is carried out to explore the expression pattern and role of EGFL8 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods And Materials: EGFL8 expression in 102 cases of HCC tissues matched with adjacent non-tumorous liver tissues, a normal liver cell line and three liver cancer cell lines with different metastatic capacity was detected by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and Western blot.

First Demonstration of Double Dissociation between COMT-Met158 and COMT-Val158 Cognitive Performance When Stressed and When Calmer.

We present here the first evidence of the much-predicted double dissociation between the effect of stress on cognitive skills [executive functions (EFs)] dependent on prefrontal cortex (PFC) by catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) genotype. The COMT gene polymorphism with methionine (Met) at codon 158 results in more dopamine (DA) in PFC and generally better EFs, while with valine (Val) at codon 158 the result is less PFC DA and generally poorer EFs. Many have predicted that mild stress, by raising PFC DA levels should aid EFs of COMT-Vals (bringing their PFC DA levels up, closer to optimal) and impair EFs of COMT-Mets (raising their PFC DA levels past optimal).

Mus81 knockdown sensitizes colon cancer cells to chemotherapeutic drugs by activating CHK1 pathway.

Purpose: The inhibition of Mus81, a critical DNA repair gene, is recently related to the chemosensitivity of several human cancer cells such as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. However, the role of Mus81 knockdown in chemotherapy response of colon cancer cells remains largely unknown.

Methods And Materials: The effects of Mus81 knockdown by lentivirus-mediated short hairpin RNA in sensitivity of HCT116 and LS180 colon cancer cell lines to four therapeutic drugs, including cisplatin (CDDP), were evaluated by MTT assay as well as a mouse model.

STC2 as a novel mediator for Mus81-dependent proliferation and survival in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Methyl methansulfonate and UV sensitive gene clone 81 (Mus81) is a critical DNA repair gene that has been implicated in development of several cancers including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, whether Mus81 can affect proliferation and survival of HCC remains unknown. In the present study, we demonstrated that the knockdown of Mus81 was associated with suppressed proliferation and elevated apoptosis of HCC cells in vitro and in vivo.