N-nitrosodimethylamine exposure to zebrafish embryos/larvae causes cardiac and spinal developmental toxicity.

N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), one of the new nitrogen-containing disinfection by-products, is potentially cytotoxic, genotoxic, and carcinogenic. Its potential toxicological effects have attracted a wide range of attention, but the mechanism is still not sufficiently understood. To better understand the toxicological mechanisms of NDMA, zebrafish embryos were exposed to NDMA from 3 h post-fertilization (hpf) to 120hpf.

strongly influenced soil microbial community and environmental effect along an altitudinal gradient in central Qilian Mountains in western China.

The Qilian Mountains (QLMs) form an important ecological security barrier in western China and a priority area for biodiversity conservation. is a widespread species in the mid-high altitudes of the QLMs and has continuously migrated to higher altitudes in recent years. Understanding the effects of on microbial community characteristics is important for exploring future changes in soil biogeochemical processes in the QLMs.

Tumor-derived proliferative CTCs and CTC clusters predict aggressiveness and early recurrence in hepatocellular carcinoma patients.

Background: Circulating tumor cells (CTCs), an indispensable liquid biopsy classifier, can provide extra information for the diagnosis and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: We systematically analyzed the peripheral blood of preoperative HCC patients (n = 270) for CTC number, Ki67 index reflecting the proliferative CTC percentage (PCP), and CTC clusters correlated with the characteristics of malignant HCC tumors.

Results: Driver gene mutations were found with high levels of consistency between CTCs and primary tumors (n = 73).

Establishing a deeper understanding of the osteogenic differentiation of monolayer cultured human pluripotent stem cells using novel and detailed analyses.

Background: Derivation of osteoblast-like cells from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) is a popular topic in bone tissue engineering. Although many improvements have been achieved, the low induction efficiency because of spontaneous differentiation hampers their applications. To solve this problem, a detailed understanding of the osteogenic differentiation process of hPSCs is urgently needed.

Telomere Maintenance Associated Mutations in the Genetic Landscape of Gynecological Mucosal Melanoma.

Purpose: Gynecological melanomas (GMs) are rare tumors with a poor prognosis. Here, we performed exome sequencing to generate the mutational landscape of GMs.

Methods: Next-generation sequencing was carried out on mucosal melanoma samples ( = 35) obtained from gynecological sites.

Methylation silencing of TGF-β receptor type II is involved in malignant transformation of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Although massive studies have been conducted to investigate the mechanisms of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) carcinogenesis, the understanding of molecular alterations during the malignant transformation of epithelial dysplasia is still lacking, especially regarding epigenetic changes.

Results: To better characterize the methylation changes during the malignant transformation of epithelial dysplasia, a whole-genome bisulfite sequencing analysis was performed on a series of tumor, dysplastic, and non-neoplastic epithelial tissue samples from esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) patients. Promoter hypermethylation in TGF-β receptor type II (TGFBR2), an important mediator of TGF-β signaling, was identified.

Toxic effects of Fe ion radiation on the zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryonic development.

All living organisms and ecosystems are permanently exposed to ionizing radiation. Of all the types of ionizing radiation, heavy ions such as Fe have the potential to cause the most severe biological effects. We therefore examined the effects and potential mechanisms of iron ion irradiation on the induction of developmental toxicity and apoptosis in zebrafish embryos.

Effects of Ru(CO)3Cl-glycinate on the developmental toxicities induced by X-ray and carbon-ion irradiation in zebrafish embryos.

The inhibitory effects of carbon monoxide (CO), generated by Ru(CO)Cl-glycinate [CO-releasing molecule (CORM-3)], on developmental toxicity in zebrafish embryos induced by ionizing radiation with different linear energy transfer (LET) were studied. Zebrafish embryos at 5h post-fertilization were irradiated with X-ray (low-LET) and carbon-ion (high-LET) with or without pretreatment of CORM-3 1h before irradiation. CORM-3 pre-treatment showed a significant inhibitory effect on X-ray irradiation-induced developmental toxicity, but had little effect on carbon-ion irradiation-induced developmental toxicity.