Targeted Delivery of AR-V7 siRNA with Bivalent PSMA Aptamers Effectively Suppresses the Growth of Enzalutamide-Resistant Prostate Cancer.

Androgen deprivation therapy has been the primary treatment strategy for advanced prostate cancer (PCa). But most patients develop castration resistance over time. For FDA-approved second-generation androgen receptor (AR) antagonists, including enzalutamide (ENZ) and abiraterone (AA), patients who initially respond to them eventually develop resistance.

Two new species of (Diaporthaceae, Diaporthales) associated with leaf spot disease in Hainan Province, China.

Tea-oil tree ( Abel.) is an important edible oil woody plant with a planting area over 3,800,000 hectares in southern China. Species of inhabit a wide range of plant hosts as plant pathogens, endophytes and saprobes.

Diagnostic test accuracy of PCR by saliva specimen for cytomegalovirus infection in newborn: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: This study aimed to assess the diagnostic accuracy of polymerase-chain-reaction by saliva.

Method: We searched Pubmed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library and Web of Science. A case-control or cohort study designed to explore the saliva specimens for diagnosing the cytomegalovirus infection was eligible for this study.

Non-Cationic RGD-Containing Protein Nanocarrier for Tumor-Targeted siRNA Delivery.

Despite the recent successes in siRNA therapeutics, targeted delivery beyond the liver remains the major hurdle for the widespread application of siRNA in vivo. Current cationic liposome or polymer-based delivery agents are restricted to the liver and suffer from off-target effects, poor clearance, low serum stability, and high toxicity. In this study, we genetically engineered a non-cationic non-viral tumor-targeted universal siRNA nanocarrier (MW 26 KDa).

lncRNA SLC16A1-AS1 as a novel prognostic biomarker in non-small cell lung cancer.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have proved to act as crucial biomarkers in tumors. Novel biomarkers in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) need to be investigated badly. To identify the differentially expressed lncRNAs between NSCLC tissue and adjacent tissue, microarray analysis was performed.

LINC00612 enhances the proliferation and invasion ability of bladder cancer cells as ceRNA by sponging miR-590 to elevate expression of PHF14.

Background: Bladder cancer (BC) is a common type of cancer that involves tumors of the urinary system and poses a serious threat to human health. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as crucial biomarkers and regulators in many cancers. Novel lncRNA biomarkers in BC urgently need to be investigated in regard to its function and regulatory mechanisms.

Synergistic Targeting HER2 and EGFR with Bivalent Aptamer-siRNA Chimera Efficiently Inhibits HER2-Positive Tumor Growth.

HER2 overexpression is identified on 20-30% breast cancer and other cancers at different levels. Although HER2 targeted monoclonal antibody combined with chemical drugs has shown improved outcomes in HER2 expressing patients, drug resistance and toxicity have limited their efficacy. To overcome drug resistance, cotargeting  multiple HER receptors was proven to be effective.

[Feeding ecology of Conger myriaster and structure of the food webs in artificial reef zone, Laoshan Bay, China].

Based on cage net and longline fishing surveys in Laoshan Bay, China, from April 2015 to January 2017, a total of 279 Conger myriaster stomach samples were analyzed to study their feeding ecology, including diet composition, feeding type, feeding grade, feeding intensity, trophic niche, and trophic level. The stomach content analysis of nine key fish species (including Sebastes schlegelii, Hexagrammos otakii, Hexagrammos agrammus, Sebastiscus mamoratus, Lateolabrax maculatus, etc.), were conducted to examine the food webs in artificial reef zone.

Targeting EGFR/HER2/HER3 with a Three-in-One Aptamer-siRNA Chimera Confers Superior Activity against HER2 Breast Cancer.

HER family members are interdependent and functionally compensatory. Simultaneously targeting EGFR/HER2/HER3 by antibody combinations has demonstrated superior treatment efficacy over targeting one HER receptor. However, antibody combinations have their limitations, with high immunogenicity and high cost.

Simultaneous targeting of CD44 and EpCAM with a bispecific aptamer effectively inhibits intraperitoneal ovarian cancer growth.

CD44 and EpCAM play crucial roles in intraperitoneal ovarian cancer development. In this study, we developed an RNA-based bispecific CD44-EpCAM aptamer that is capable of blocking CD44 and EpCAM simultaneously by fusing single CD44 and EpCAM aptamers with a double stranded RNA adaptor. With the aid of a panel of ovarian cancer cell lines, we found that bispecific CD44-EpCAM aptamer was much more effective than either single CD44 or EpCAM aptamer in the ability to inhibit cell growth and to induce apoptosis.

Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells ameliorate hyperglycemia through regulating hepatic glucose metabolism in type 2 diabetic rats.

Infusion of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) has been identified in the rapid alleviation in hyperglycemia of diabetic individuals, but the mechanism involved has not been adequately explained by these cells' potential role in modulating system insulin sensitivity and islet regeneration. In this study, we demonstrated adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs) produced significantly lower blood glucose via promoting hepatic glycogen synthesis and inhibiting hepatic glucose production within 24 h after infusion in T2DM rats. In vitro, HepG2 cells treated with palmitate (PA) were used as a model of hepatic glucose metabolism disorder to confirm that ASCs stimulates the phosphorylation of hepatic AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) to restores hepatic glucose metabolism in type 2 diabetes.

A novel missense mutation of NDP in a Chinese family with X-linked familial exudative vitreoretinopathy.

Familial exudative vitreoretinopathy (FEVR) is a hereditary ocular disorder characterized by a failure of peripheral retinal vascularization. In this report, we describe a novel missense mutation of the Norrie disease gene (NDP) in a Chinese family with X-linked FEVR. Ophthalmologic evaluation was performed on four male patients and seven unaffected individuals after informed consent was obtained.

Co-targeting EGFR and survivin with a bivalent aptamer-dual siRNA chimera effectively suppresses prostate cancer.

Current targeted therapies using small kinase inhibitors and antibodies have limited efficacy in treating prostate cancer (PCa), a leading cause of cancer death in American men. We have developed a novel strategy by engineering an RNA-based aptamer-siRNA chimera, in which a bivalent aptamer specifically binds prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) via an antibody-like structure to promote siRNA internalization in PCa cells, and two siRNAs specific to EGFR and survivin are fused between two aptamers. The chimera is able to inhibit EGFR and survivin simultaneously and induce apoptosis effectively in vitro and in vivo.

Diversity and distribution of fungal communities in the marine sediments of Kongsfjorden, Svalbard (High Arctic).

This study assessed the diversity and distribution of fungal communities in eight marine sediments of Kongsfjorden (Svalbard, High Arctic) using 454 pyrosequencing with fungal-specific primers targeting the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the ribosomal rRNA gene. Sedimentary fungal communities showed high diversity with 42,219 reads belonging to 113 operational taxonomic units (OTUs). Of these OTUs, 62 belonged to the Ascomycota, 26 to Basidiomycota, 2 to Chytridiomycota, 1 to Zygomycota, 1 to Glomeromycota, and 21 to unknown fungi.

TCF4 gene polymorphism is associated with cognition in patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls.

Background: Cognitive deficits have been identified as an important core feature of schizophrenia. Single nucleotide polymorphisms in the transcription factor 4 (TCF4) gene have been reported to be involved in the susceptibility to schizophrenia and be significantly related to cognitive deficits of schizophrenia and controls. This study examines whether the TCF4 rs2958182 polymorphism influences cognitive functions in chronic schizophrenia and controls.

Phosphate-modified carbon nanotubes in the oxidative dehydrogenation of isopentanes.

Ketonic/quinonic C=O groups on the surface of a carbon matrix are capable of abstracting hydrogen in C=H bonds from hydrocarbons and enable them to selectively convert into corresponding unsaturated hydrocarbons; this process is the oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) reaction. However, a variety of inevitable defects or graphene edges and other oxygen-containing groups on the carbon matrix are detrimental to the selective production of alkenes due to their high activity towards overoxidation. Herein, we show that phosphate can not only impede the total oxidation but also cover the selective C=O groups, hence allowing its use as a modulator to defects and oxygen-containing functional groups on the multiwalled carbon nanotubes, regulating the distribution of active sites and related catalytic targets.

Solid-phase bioconjugation of heterobifunctional adaptors for versatile assembly of bispecific targeting ligands.

High-throughput generation of bispecific molecules promises to expedite the discovery of new molecular therapeutics and guide engineering of novel multifunctional constructs. However, high synthesis complexity and cost have hampered the discovery of bispecific molecules in drug development and biomedical research. Herein we describe a simple solid-phase bioconjugation procedure for preparation of Protein A(G,L)-PEG-Streptavidin heterobifunctional adaptors (with 1:1:1 stoichiometry), which enable self-assembly of unmodified antibodies and biotinylated molecules into bispecific targeting ligands in a versatile mix-and-use manner.

A universal protein tag for delivery of SiRNA-aptamer chimeras.

siRNA-aptamer chimeras have emerged as one of the most promising approaches for targeted delivery of siRNA due to the modularity of their diblock RNA structure, relatively lower cost over other targeted delivery approaches, and, most importantly, the outstanding potential for clinical translation. However, additional challenges must be addressed for efficient RNA interference (RNAi), in particular, endosomal escape. Currently, vast majority of siRNA delivery vehicles are based on cationic materials, which form complexes with negatively charged siRNA.