Periodic external driving of transmission-delay-coupled phase oscillator system: Switching between different twisted states.

We consider the effects of an external periodic forcing on a spatially extended system that consists of identical phase oscillators coupled with transmission delays on a ring. Analyzing the continuum limit N→∞ of the model system along the Ott-Antonsen invariant manifold, we obtain the stability diagram for two regimes, called the forced and drifting entrainments. The former exhibits a spatially homogeneous solution trying to lock onto the drive, of which the stability boundary is rigorously determined.

SIRT3 participates in glucose metabolism interruption and apoptosis induced by BH3 mimetic S1 in ovarian cancer cells.

The Bcl-2 antiapoptotic proteins are important cancer therapy targets; however, their role in cancer cell metabolism remains unclear. We found that the BH3-only protein mimetic S1, a novel pan Bcl-2 inhibitor, simultaneously interrupted glucose metabolism and induced apoptosis in human SKOV3 ovarian cancer cells, which was related to the activation of SIRT3, a stress-responsive deacetylase. S1 interrupted the cellular glucose metabolism mainly through causing damage to mitochondrial respiration and inhibiting glycolysis.

Suppression of chloride channel 3 expression facilitates sensitivity of human glioma U251 cells to cisplatin through concomitant inhibition of Akt and autophagy.

Cisplatin resistance is a difficult problem in clinical chemotherapy, and the mechanisms involved in cisplatin resistance require further study. In this study, we investigated the role of chloride channel-3 (ClC-3) in cisplatin resistance. Autophagy was demonstrated by accumulation of LC3-II, beclin 1 and Atg12-Atg5.

Inhibition of autophagy enhances cisplatin cytotoxicity through endoplasmic reticulum stress in human cervical cancer cells.

The function of autophagy in cisplatin-treated cancer cells is not fully understood. Cisplatin treatment induced degradation of ubiquitinated proteins by autophagy, which reduced apoptosis induced by endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and downregulated the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis. Inhibition of autophagy using 3-methyladenine (3-MA) or chloroquine (CQ) increased the levels of intracellular misfolded proteins, which enhanced cellular apoptosis.

5-Nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino) benzoic acid induced drug resistance to cisplatin in human erythroleukemia cell lines.

Mechanisms of cisplatin resistance in cancer cells are not fully understood. Here, we showed a critical role for the chloride channel-3 (ClC-3) in cisplatin resistance in human erythroleukemia K562 and RK562 cells. We found that a chloride channel blocker 5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino) benzoic acid (NPPB) could protect cells from cisplatin-induced apoptosis.

[Significance and expression of FKHR and AKT after subarachnoid hemorrhage in rat brain cortex].

Objective: To study the significance and expression of FKHR and AKT after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) in rat brain cortex.

Methods: Twenty-four rats were randomly divided into three groups: sham, SAH and SAH plus nimodipine (n=8 each). A reliable SAH model was established by double injections of blood into cistern magna in Wistar rats.

The effects of dexamethasone on rat brain cortical nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) in endotoxic shock.

To explore the molecular mechanism of brain tissue injury induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), we studied the effects of endotoxic shock on rat brain cortex NF-kappaB and the effects of dexamethasone on these changes. Rats were randomly divided into LPS, LPS + dexamethasone, and control groups. The DNA-binding activity of NF-kappaB was observed using electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA).

Effects of ghrelin on the proliferation and secretion of splenic T lymphocytes in mice.

Ghrelin, a novel gut--brain peptide predominantly produced by the stomach, displays strong growth hormone (GH)-releasing activity mediated by the hypothalamus-pituitary GH secretagogue receptor (GHS-R). Recently, the ghrelin receptor has also been detected in peripheral systems including immune tissues, suggesting that ghrelin may play an important role in the regulation of immune function. In this paper, we assessed the presence and function of the ghrelin receptor in murine splenic T cells.