Naturally split intein Npu DnaE mediated rapid generation of bispecific IgG antibodies.

High product purity, preserving natural IgG architecture, and excellent production efficiency are highly desirable in bispecific antibody manufacturing. We have reported a platform called Bispecific Antibody by Protein Trans-Splicing (BAPTS) to synthesize BsAbs with natural human IgG structure and no chain mispairing. In the method, two antibody fragments carrying different target-specificities are separately expressed in mammalian cells and subsequently fused to form BsAbs by utilizing the trans-splicing property of the split intein Npu DnaE.

A single-optical kernel for a phosphor-screen-based geometric QA system (RavenQA) as a tool for patient-specific IMRT/VMAT QA.

It has been proven that portal dosimetry can be derived from a mirror-based fluorescent EPID system by applying multiple kernels that are position dependent. The purpose of this study is to show that patient-specific IMRT/VMAT verification with a single kernel which is acquired from a series of output measurements of a few field sizes is feasible using a commercially available phosphor-screen-based geometric QA system. The optical scatter component in the RavenQA (LAP GmbH Laser Applications; Lüneberg, Germany) is corrected by deconvolution with a two-dimensional (2D) spatially invariant single optical scatter kernel (OSK).

Straw biochar increases the abundance of inorganic phosphate solubilizing bacterial community for better rape (Brassica napus) growth and phosphate uptake.

The direct application of inorganic-phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (iPSBs) for improving the efficiency of phosphorus (P) use leads to a low rate of bacterial survival. Biochar is a good inoculum carrier for microbial survival, and diverse feedstocks can have different effects. We generated an iPSB community using seven selected iPSB strains with various phylogenic taxonomies and P-solubilizing abilities.

Dose Prediction Model for Duodenum Sparing With a Biodegradable Hydrogel Spacer for Pancreatic Cancer Radiation Therapy.

Purpose: We previously have shown the feasibility of duodenum sparing using a biodegradable hydrogel spacer in pancreatic cancer radiation therapy. In this study, we propose an overlap volume histogram (OVH) prediction model to select patients who might benefit from hydrogel placement and to predict the hydrogel spacing required to achieve clinical constraints.

Methods And Materials: OVH metrics for the duodenum were collected from the stereotactic body radiation therapy plans of 232 patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer (33 Gy in 5 fractions).

Inhibition of BMI1, a Therapeutic Approach in Endometrial Cancer.

With rising incidence rates, endometrial cancer is one of the most common gynecologic malignancies in the United States. Although surgery provides significant survival benefit to early-stage patients, those with advanced or recurrent metastatic disease have a dismal prognosis. Limited treatment options include chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Improved multipoint statistics method for reconstructing three-dimensional porous media from a two-dimensional image via porosity matching.

Reconstructing a three-dimensional (3D) structure from a single two-dimensional training image (TI) is a challenging issue. Multiple-point statistics (MPS) is an effective method to solve this problem. However, in the traditional MPS method, errors occur while statistical features of reconstruction, such as porosity, connectivity, and structural properties, deviate from those of TI.

Folate Ligand Orientation Optimized during Cell Membrane Mimetic Micelle Formation for Enhanced Tumor Cell Targeting.

Nanocarriers with strong tumor cell targeting ability have been expected to overcome limitations of cancer chemotherapy. Herein, cell membrane mimetic micelles were prepared from a random copolymer (PMNCF) containing cell membrane phosphorylcholine zwitterion, cholesterol, and tumor cell targeting folic acid (FA) at the side chain ends. Surface orientation of the FA ligand was optimized during PMNCF micelle preparation by controlling solvent solubility for FA.

Circular RNA HIPK3 promotes gallbladder cancer cell growth by sponging microRNA-124.

Recent studies have implied that circHIPK3, an abundant circular RNA (circRNA), participates in tumorigenesis and cancer progression. Its expression and potential functions in human gallbladder cancer were examined in this study. We show that circHIPK3 is upregulated in human gallbladder cancer cells.

Draft Genome Sequence of Rhodococcus opacus Strain 04-OD7, Which Can Mobilize Phosphate.

strain 04-OD7 (=CCTCC AB 2017148) is a Gram-positive bacterium showing inorganic phosphate solubilization capacity for the first time in the genus We present here the draft genome description of 04-OD7 along with multiple phosphorus (P) mobilization-related genes, supporting its inorganic phosphate solubilization.

MIIP gene expression is associated with radiosensitivity in human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells.

The present study aims to investigate the radiosensitization effect of the migration and invasion inhibitory protein (MIIP) gene on nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cells. The MIIP gene was transfected into NPC 5-8F and CNE2 cells. The level of MIIP was analyzed by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis and western blot.

Effect of long non-coding RNA H19 on oxidative stress and chemotherapy resistance of CD133+ cancer stem cells via the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma.

We explored the ability of a long non-coding RNA H19, to influence oxidative stress (OS) and chemotherapy resistance of CD133 + cancer stem cells via the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway in HCC. HCC tissues with corresponding adjacent normal tissues were collected. CD133 + HuH7 cells were sorted and assigned into five groups.

Demonstration of Safety and Feasibility of Hydrogel Marking of the Pancreas-Duodenum Interface for Image Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT) in a Porcine Model: Implications in IGRT for Pancreatic Cancer Patients.

Purpose: To test the feasibility and safety of injecting a high-contrast hydrogel marker at the head of the pancreas (HOP) and duodenum interface and assesses the marker visibility on cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) to localize this important boundary during image guided radiation therapy in a porcine model.

Methods And Materials: This was a 2-stage study. The feasibility/visibility stage evaluated the ability to place the hydrogel using endoscopic ultrasound guidance on 8 swine (4 euthanized at post-injection day 8, 4 euthanized at post-injection day 22) and assessed the quality of visibility of the marked location on CBCT in the longer-surviving group.

β-aminoisobutyric acid accelerates the proliferation and differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells via moderate activation of ROS signaling.

Backgroud: Osteoporosis is one of the bone-metabolic diseases associated with decreased bone renewal and bone mineral density. β-aminoisobutyric acid (BAIBA), a natural thymine catabolite, can reduce inflammation in skeletal muscle and alleviate hepatic endoplasmic reticulum stress. However, the roles of BAIBA in osteoblast proliferation and differentiation remain largely unknown.

PKM2 Is Required to Activate Myeloid Dendritic Cells from Patients with Severe Aplastic Anemia.

Severe aplastic anemia (SAA) is an autoimmune disease in which bone marrow failure is mediated by activated myeloid dendritic cells (mDCs) and T lymphocytes. Recent research has identified a strong immunomodulatory effect of pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) on dendritic cells in immune-mediated diseases. In this study, we aimed to explore the role of PKM2 in the activation of mDCs in SAA.

MiR-152 functioning as a tumor suppressor that interacts with DNMT1 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Background: In recent years, miR-152 has been dysregulated in a variety of tumors and used as a tumor suppressor. Nevertheless, its role in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) remains unidentified.

Materials And Methods: Real-time quantitative PCR (polymerase chain reaction) was performed to analyze the expression of miR-152 in NPC cell lines.

ZIP4 Promotes Pancreatic Cancer Progression by Repressing ZO-1 and Claudin-1 through a ZEB1-Dependent Transcriptional Mechanism.

ZIP4 is overexpressed in human pancreatic cancer and promotes tumor growth. However, little is known about the role of ZIP4 in advanced stages of this dismal neoplasm. Our goal is to study the underlying mechanism and define a novel signaling pathway controlled by ZIP4-modulating pancreatic tumor metastasis.

Improving cancer care for American Indians with cervical cancer in the Indian Health Service (IHS) system - Navigation may not be enough.

Objectives: Patient navigation programs have been shown to positively impact cancer outcomes for minority populations. Little is known regarding the effects of these programs on American Indian (AI) populations. The purpose of this study is to characterize the impact of a patient navigation program on AI cervical cancer patients at a tertiary care center.

Identification and characterization of inorganic-phosphate-solubilizing bacteria from agricultural fields with a rapid isolation method.

The ability to solubilize fixed inorganic phosphorus (P) for plant growth is important for increasing crop yield. More P can be released by inoculating soil with inorganic-phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (iPSBs). We used 96-well microplates instead of traditional 200-mm petri dishes to rapidly screen iPSB strains for their solubilizing ability.

Structure-based discovery of mPGES-1 inhibitors suitable for preclinical testing in wild-type mice as a new generation of anti-inflammatory drugs.

Human mPGES-1 is recognized as a promising target for next generation of anti-inflammatory drugs without the side effects of currently available anti-inflammatory drugs, and various inhibitors have been reported in the literature. However, none of the reported potent inhibitors of human mPGES-1 has shown to be also a potent inhibitor of mouse or rat mPGES-1, which prevents using the well-established mouse/rat models of inflammation-related diseases for preclinical studies. Hence, despite of extensive efforts to design and discover various human mPGES-1 inhibitors, the promise of mPGES-1 as a target for the next generation of anti-inflammatory drugs has never been demonstrated in any wild-type mouse/rat model using an mPGES-1 inhibitor.

Characterization of Liver- and Cancer-type-Organic Anion Transporting Polypeptide (OATP) 1B3 Messenger RNA Expression in Normal and Cancerous Human Tissues.

Background: Membrane transport protein organic anion transporting polypeptide (OATP) 1B3 mediates the cellular uptake of many clinically important drugs including anti-cancer drugs (e.g., paclitaxel).

Regulation of Organic Anion Transporting Polypeptides (OATP) 1B1- and OATP1B3-Mediated Transport: An Updated Review in the Context of OATP-Mediated Drug-Drug Interactions.

Organic anion transporting polypeptides (OATP) 1B1 and OATP1B3 are important hepatic transporters that mediate the uptake of many clinically important drugs, including statins from the blood into the liver. Reduced transport function of OATP1B1 and OATP1B3 can lead to clinically relevant drug-drug interactions (DDIs). Considering the importance of OATP1B1 and OATP1B3 in hepatic drug disposition, substantial efforts have been given on evaluating OATP1B1/1B3-mediated DDIs in order to avoid unwanted adverse effects of drugs that are OATP substrates due to their altered pharmacokinetics.

Raf1 is a prognostic factor for progression in patients with non‑small cell lung cancer after radiotherapy.

Raf-1 proto-oncogene, serine/threonine kinase (Raf1) acts as a part of the RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK signaling pathway and regulates cell migration, apoptosis and differentiation. However, few studies are available on the expression and clinical significance of Raf1 in non‑small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This study investigated the clinical value and prognostic significance of Raf1 in NSCLC patients, following radiotherapy.

The HNF1α-regulated lncRNA HNF1A-AS1 reverses the malignancy of hepatocellular carcinoma by enhancing the phosphatase activity of SHP-1.

Background: Our previous study has demonstrated that hepatocyte nuclear factor 1α (HNF1α) exerts potent therapeutic effects on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the molecular mechanisms by which HNF1α reverses HCC malignancy need to be further elucidated.

Methods: lncRNA microarray was performed to identify the long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) regulated by HNF1α.