Design and synthesis of novel structures with anti-tumor effects: Targeting telomere G-quadruplex and hTERT.

The telomeric G-quadruplex (G4) along with the telomerase catalytic subunit hTERT are crucial in the extension of telomeres. Tumor cells can establish replicative immortality by activating the telomere-maintenance mechanism (TMM).Small molecule ligands can limit cancer telomere lengthening by by targeting at G4 and hTERT.

NXT629 Ameliorates Cholesterol Gallstones in Mice Model by Improving Lipid Metabolism Disorder and Cholesterol Homeostasis Through Inhibiting the GPAM Pathway.

Background: NXT629, a PPAR-alpha antagonist, exerts widespread effects in many diseases; however, its function and relevant mechanism in cholesterol gallstones (CG) remain largely unknown.

Methods: Male C57BL/6 J mice were fed a regular diet or lithogenic diet (LD), followed by treatment with intraperitoneal injection of NXT629. H&E staining was performed to analyze hepatic pathological changes, and Oil red O staining was conducted to detect lipid accumulation.

miR-9a and miR-10482-5p regulate the expression of chitin synthase and chitinase genes, enhancing lufenuron tolerance in Spodoptera frugiperda.

Spodoptera frugiperda is a significant agricultural pest, severely impacting the yield and quality of grain. Chitin is the momentous component of exoskeletons, which has a significant impact on the growth and development of insects. Our previous study found that exposure to lufenuron can reduce the expression of chitinase gene (SfCHT5) and increase the expression of chitin synthase gene (SfCHSB), two key genes for chitin synthesis in S.

Efficacy and safety of perioperative sintilimab plus platinum-based chemotherapy for potentially resectable stage IIIB non-small cell lung cancer (periSCOPE): an open-label, single-arm, phase II trial.

Background: The absolute overall survival (OS) improvement with preoperative chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy in locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients is controversial and unsatisfactory. We designed this trial to explore the efficacy and safety of perioperative sintilimab plus platinum-based chemotherapy for potentially resectable stage IIIB NSCLC to facilitate further optimization of this therapeutic strategy.

Methods: Patients diagnosed with stage IIIB NSCLC through invasive staging approaches and/or PET/CT scans and evaluated as having a high probability of radical resection of the primary lesion and metastatic lymph nodes with clear pathological margins by a multidisciplinary team were enrolled in this open-label, single-arm, phase II trial at a single centre in China.

Baicalin promotes β-1,3-glucan exposure in and enhances macrophage response.

Among the diverse fungal opportunistic pathogens, garners significant attention due to its wide range of infections and high frequency of occurrence. The emergence of resistance and the limited number of antifungals drives the need to develop novel antifungal drugs. Although the natural product baicalin has been shown to trigger apoptosis in in previous experiments, its influence on cell wall (CW) structure along with immune recognition remains elusive.