Iristectorigenin B isolated from Belamcanda chinensis is a liver X receptor modulator that increases ABCA1 and ABCG1 expression in macrophage RAW 264.7 cells.

A novel liver X receptor (LXR) modulator, iristectorigenin B isolated from Belamcanda chinensis, stimulated the transcriptional activity of both LXR-α and LXR-β. In macrophages, iristectorigenin B suppressed cholesterol accumulation in a dose-dependent manner and induced the transcriptional activation of LXR-α/-β-responsive genes, ATP-binding cassette transporters A1 and G1. It did not induce hepatic lipid accumulation nor the expression of the lipogenesis genes sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c, fatty acid synthase, and stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1.

Cutaneous reactions to novel therapeutics.

In the last 2 decades the introduction new biologic agents such as tumor necrosis factor alpha inhibitors has resulted in potent disease modifying effects in a variety of immune-mediated diseases. In addition, there were major advancements in cancer treatment due to chemotherapeutic agents including granulocyte macrophage-colony-stimulating factor, interferon, epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors, and kinase inhibitors for the treatment of hematologic malignancies as well as solid tumors. However, a variety of toxicities including cutaneous reactions is seen in association with these agents.

Hepatic lipid accumulation alters global histone h3 lysine 9 and 4 trimethylation in the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha network.

Recent data suggest that the etiology of several metabolic diseases is closely associated with transcriptome alteration by aberrant histone methylation. We performed DNA microarray and ChIP-on-chip analyses to examine transcriptome profiling and trimethylation alterations to identify the genomic signature of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the most common form of chronic liver disease. Transcriptome analysis showed that steatotic livers in high-fat diet-fed apolipoprotein E2 mice significantly altered the expression of approximately 70% of total genes compared with normal diet-fed control livers, suggesting that hepatic lipid accumulation induces dramatic alterations in gene expression in vivo.

Unusually high-performing organic field-effect transistors based on π-extended semiconducting porphyrins.

Highly conjugated porphyrin derivatives, H(2) TP and ZnTP, are synthesized. J-aggregations of the H-aggregated dimeric porphyrin pairs are clearly observed by their single crystal structures that facilitate slip-stacked charge transport phenomenon. In particular, their SC-FETs show the highest field-effect mobilities of 0.

Prevalence and correlates of alcohol use disorders during antiretroviral treatment in injection-driven HIV epidemics in Vietnam.

Background: Alcohol use disorders (AUD) negatively affects adherence to and outcomes of antiretroviral treatment (ART) for HIV/AIDS patients. This study determined the prevalence of AUD and identified correlates of alcohol consumption and drinking problems during ART in large injection-driven HIV epidemics in Vietnam.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 1016 patients (36.

Microcystic adnexal carcinoma versus desmoplastic trichoepithelioma: a comparative study.

The histologic distinction between microcystic adnexal carcinoma (MAC) and desmoplastic trichoepithelioma (dTE) can be challenging in the setting of a superficial biopsy. However, accurate diagnosis has treatment implication because the standard of care for MAC is wide local excision but more conservative care for dTE. We reviewed the histologic features of 30 MAC and 39 dTE cases and performed cytokeratin (CK) 17, CK19, and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) immunostains on 20 MACs and 18 dTEs.

Taurine is a liver X receptor-α ligand and activates transcription of key genes in the reverse cholesterol transport without inducing hepatic lipogenesis.

Scope: Taurine, which is abundant in seafood, has antiatherogenic activities in both animals and humans; however, its molecular target has been elusive. We examined whether taurine could activate liver X receptor-α (LXR-α), a critical transcription factor in the regulation of reverse cholesterol transport in macrophages.

Methods And Results: Taurine bound directly to LXR-α in a reporter gene assay, time-resolved fluorescence resonance energy transfer analysis, and limited protease digestion experiment.

The natural carotenoid astaxanthin, a PPAR-α agonist and PPAR-γ antagonist, reduces hepatic lipid accumulation by rewiring the transcriptome in lipid-loaded hepatocytes.

Scope: A natural carotenoid abundant in seafood, astaxanthin (AX), has hypolipidemic activity, but its underlying mechanisms of action and protein targets are unknown. We investigated the molecular mechanism of action of AX in hepatic hyperlipidemia by measuring peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR) activity.

Methods And Results: We examined the binding of AX to PPAR subtypes and its effects on hepatic lipid metabolism.

Phosphorylation of the transcriptional regulator MYB44 by mitogen activated protein kinase regulates Arabidopsis seed germination.

The phytohormones abscisic acid (ABA) and gibberellic acid (GA) have antagonistic roles in the control of seed germination and seedling development. We report here that the transcriptional regulator MYB44 has a role in the control of seed germination in Arabidopsis thaliana. High levels of the MYB44 transcript are found in dry seeds but the transcript levels decrease during germination.

Low irradiance background limited type-II superlattice MWIR M-barrier imager.

We report a type-II superlattice mid-wave infrared 320×256 imager at 81 K with the M-barrier design that achieved background limited performance (BLIP) and ∼99% operability. The 280 K blackbody's photon irradiance was limited by an aperture and a band-pass filter from 3.6 μm to 3.

Catalposide is a natural agonistic ligand of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha (PPARα) is a nuclear receptor that regulates the expression of genes related to cellular lipid uptake and oxidation. Thus, PPARα agonists may be important in the treatment of hypertriglyceridemia and hepatic steatosis. In this study, we demonstrated that catalposide is a novel natural PPARα agonist, identified from reporter gene assay-based activity screening with approximately 900 natural plant and seaweed extracts.

Phosphorylation by AtMPK6 is required for the biological function of AtMYB41 in Arabidopsis.

Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MPKs) are involved in a number of signaling pathways that control plant development and stress tolerance via the phosphorylation of target molecules. However, so far only a limited number of target molecules have been identified. Here, we provide evidence that MYB41 represents a new target of MPK6.

Histologically challenging melanocytic tumors referred to a tertiary care pigmented lesion clinic.

Background: The histopathologic diagnosis of some melanocytic tumors is extraordinarily difficult. With this in mind, melanocytic tumors from patients referred to the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Pigmented Lesion Clinic (PLC) are routinely reviewed in the MGH Dermatopathology Unit.

Objective: We sought to determine the frequency of diagnostically challenging cases from patients treated at the MGH PLC, as measured by a change in the diagnosis upon review of the referral materials.

DNA resection at chromosome breaks promotes genome stability by constraining non-allelic homologous recombination.

DNA double-strand breaks impact genome stability by triggering many of the large-scale genome rearrangements associated with evolution and cancer. One of the first steps in repairing this damage is 5'→3' resection beginning at the break site. Recently, tools have become available to study the consequences of not extensively resecting double-strand breaks.

Necrotizing Sweet syndrome: a new variant of neutrophilic dermatosis mimicking necrotizing fasciitis.

Background: We report a series of patients initially given the diagnosis of necrotizing fasciitis whose course progressed despite surgical debridement, antibiotic therapy, or both, but who responded rapidly to systemic corticosteroids.

Objective: We sought to evaluate the clinical data, histopathologic and microbiology information, and treatment course of this unusual entity.

Methods: This was a descriptive study/case series.

Acute effect of high-dose isoflavones from Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi on lipid and bone metabolism in ovariectomized mice.

We investigated the acute metabolic effects of isoflavones from Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi (IPL) in ovariectomized (OVX) mice. After 4 weeks of IPL feeding at 500 mg/day/kg body weight (OVX500), plasma 17β-estradiol concentrations were significantly higher (+25%, p < 0.

An immunohistochemical comparison of cytokeratin 7, cytokeratin 15, cytokeratin 19, CAM 5.2, carcinoembryonic antigen, and nestin in differentiating porocarcinoma from squamous cell carcinoma.

The distinction of porocarcinoma from squamous cell carcinoma is clinically relevant but can often be a diagnostic dilemma. Current markers reported to be helpful in diagnosing porocarcinoma include carcinoembryonic antigen and cytokeratin 7; however, their expression has been demonstrated in 30% to 80% and 13% to 22% of squamous cell carcinoma cases, respectively. In this study, we assessed immunohistochemical expression of cytokeratin 7, cytokeratin 15, cytokeratin 19, CAM 5.

Melissa officinalis essential oil reduces plasma triglycerides in human apolipoprotein E2 transgenic mice by inhibiting sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c-dependent fatty acid synthesis.

We investigated the hypolipidemic effects of Melissa officinalis essential oil (MOEO) in human APOE2 transgenic mice and lipid-loaded HepG2 cells. Plasma TG concentrations were significantly less in APOE2 mice orally administered MOEO (12.5 μg/d) for 2 wk than in the vehicle-treated group.

Activation of PI3K signaling in Merkel cell carcinoma.

Purpose: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an aggressive cutaneous neuroendocrine tumor, often metastatic at presentation, for which current chemotherapeutic regimens are largely ineffective. As its pathogenesis is still unknown, we hypothesized that deregulation of signaling pathways commonly activated in cancer may contribute to MCC tumorigenesis and may provide insights into targeted therapy approaches for this malignancy.

Experimental Design: We retrospectively profiled 60 primary MCC samples using a SNaPshot-based tumor genotyping assay to screen for common mutations in 13 cancer genes.