Caspase/AIF/apoptosis pathway: a new target of puerarin for diabetes mellitus therapy.

Pancreatic β cell damage is one of the crucial factors responsible for the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Previous studies have suggested that puerarin (PR) could regulate the activities of the mitochondrial respiratory chain complex in diabetic nephropathy (DN); however, whether PR can inhibit pancreatic β-cell apoptosis in T2DM remains to be elucidated. In the present study, T2DM mice induced by high-fat diet and streptozotocin (STZ) injection were used as a working model to investigate the mechanism of PR on pancreatic β cell apoptosis.

Sulfated glycosaminoglycans and low-density lipoprotein receptor contribute to Clostridium difficile toxin A entry into cells.

Clostridium difficile toxin A (TcdA) is a major exotoxin contributing to disruption of the colonic epithelium during C. difficile infection. TcdA contains a carbohydrate-binding combined repetitive oligopeptides (CROPs) domain that mediates its attachment to cell surfaces, but recent data suggest the existence of CROPs-independent receptors.

Cx32 mediates norepinephrine-promoted EGFR-TKI resistance in a gap junction-independent manner in non-small-cell lung cancer.

The second-generation EGFR-TKI Afatinib is an irreversible ErbB family blocker used to treat patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Unfortunately, resistance to this drug develops over time, and patients are always under great psychological pressure. A previous study showed that chronic stress hormones participate in EGFR-TKI resistance via β -AR signaling via an IL-6 dependent mechanism.

Development of a red absorbing Se-rhodamine photosensitizer and its application for bio-orthogonally activatable photodynamic therapy.

A π-extended red absorbing Se-rhodamine (Se-NR) was synthesised and characterized. By masking the amine of Se-NR as an azide, we successfully constructed a bio-orthogonally activatable photosensitizer (Se-NR-Az). Se-NR-Az was not photocytotoxic, but when activated by the Staudinger reaction, photocytotoxicity was restored.

Experimental study on radon exhalation behavior of heap leaching uranium ore column with dilute sulfuric acid.

In order to study the radon release behavior when heap leaching uranium ores with dilute sulfuric acid, unleached uranium ores from a uranium mine in southern China were selected as test samples. Adopting parameters from leaching processes commonly used in uranium mines, a laboratory experiment was carried out for 21 days with a one-dimensional acid heap leaching experimental column. The surface radon exhalation rate of uranium ore column was determined by static accumulation method while spraying with deionized water and dilute sulfuric acid.

Fine road dust contamination in a mining area presents a likely air pollution hotspot and threat to human health.

The road dust found in mining areas is composed of dust from multiple sources, including wind transported mineral dust from mines and tailings as well as uncovered trucks leakage. Collectively, these are then distributed via wind and traffic activity, becoming an important source of particulate matter (PM) and subsequently inhaled by pedestrians. A common practice in previous road dust risk assessments has regarded them as soil, which likely led to a significant underestimation of the actual inhaled amount.

Pattern of cell-to-cell transfer of microRNA by gap junction and its effect on the proliferation of glioma cells.

MicroRNA is expected to be a novel therapeutic tool for tumors. Gap junctions facilitate the transfer of microRNA, which exerts biological effects on tumor cells. However, the length of microRNA that can pass through certain gap junctions composed of specific connexin remains unknown.

Combining multiple methods for provenance discrimination based on rare earth element geochemistry in lake sediment.

Geochemical properties of rare earth elements (REEs) have the potential to represent the provenance and depositional history of surface sediment in aquatic environments. In this study, both surface and core sediment samples were collected from Dongting Lake to investigate the distribution characteristics and source of REEs by combining the methodologies of geostatistics, positive matrix factorization (PMF) model, discriminant function (DF), and provenance index (PI) based on REEs geochemical parameters. The results indicated that the total REEs content in sediment samples ranged from 129.

Carbon sources mediate microbial pentachlorophenol dechlorination in soils.

In this study, experiments were performed using network analysis to investigate the effects of different carbon sources, including blank, citrate, glucose and lactate, on indigenous bacterial communities and on the pentachlorophenol (PCP) dechlorination in two soils. Kinetics results demonstrate that PCP dechlorination is significantly enhanced by adding citrate/lactate, but to a lesser extent by adding glucose. High-throughput sequencing results revealed that Firmicutes and Proteobacteria were the dominant groups in these four different treatments during the PCP dechlorination, whereas random forest analysis indicated that the orders Clostridiales, Haloplasmatales, Bacillales, Pseudomonadales and Gaiellales were the critical bacterial orders in modules that were significantly correlated with PCP dechlorination.

Cx32 exerts anti-apoptotic and pro-tumor effects via the epidermal growth factor receptor pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Abnormal expression or distribution of connexin 32 (Cx32) is associated with hepatocarcinogenesis, but the role of Cx32 and the underlying mechanisms are still unclear.

Methods: The expression level of Cx32 in 96 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) specimens was determined using western blotting and immunohistochemistry. The correlation between Cx32 expression and clinicopathological parameters was analyzed.

Shifting of phytoplankton assemblages in a regulated Chinese river basin after streamflow and water quality changes.

Phytoplankton is critical to river ecosystems. These organisms are sensitive to streamflow and water quality changes and, therefore, used to determine stability of river ecosystems, especially in regulated rivers. However, exactly how such disturbances alter spatial distribution of phytoplankton remains unclear, particularly during different seasons.

Metals in surface specific urban runoff in Beijing.

Metals are among the most toxic pollutants in urban stormwater. To investigate the concentration of dissolved and particulate fractions, the temporal variation during rain events, the effect of wash-off surface, and to assess the pollution status of metals in urban runoff, a total of 155 samples were collected mainly from trafficked areas, roofs and parking lots in Beijing from March to November 2015. Most of the metals were found mainly in the particulate fraction (68-96%) from trafficked surfaces, while for roof runoff Cd, Fe, Mn and Zn were found more equally in dissolved and particulate fractions.

Down-Regulation of Nfatc1 Suppresses Proliferation, Migration, Invasion, and Warburg Effect in Prostate Cancer Cells.

BACKGROUND Prostate cancer (PCa), accounting for 28% of all male cancer cases, is the second leading cause of cancer-related death among men. NFATc1, belonging to the NFAT family, is overexpressed in PCa and is correlated with the risk of recurrence after radical prostatectomy. MATERIAL AND METHODS In the present study, the expression of NFATc, c-myc, and PKM2 in PCa cells was regulated by lentiviruses and then detected by real-time PCR and Western blot analysis.

MnO nanosheets as the biomimetic oxidase for rapid and sensitive oxalate detection combining with bionic E-eye.

Urolithiasis commonly occurs in kidney and ureteral, and may cause local organ/tissue damage, even kidney failure. The incidence of this disease is increasing worldwide, in which calcium oxalate is the major composition forming the urinary calculus. Therefore, to monitor this disease for the prevention and treatment, measuring the oxalate in the urine is of great significance.

Geostatistical analyses and co-occurrence correlations of heavy metals distribution with various types of land use within a watershed in eastern QingHai-Tibet Plateau, China.

Due to increasing anthropogenic disturbance, various pollutants have been frequently detected in QingHai-Tibet Plateau, where the environment is extremely fragile and sensitive to human activities. In this study, 51 sampling sites with different land covers were selected in a sub-basin in the Huangshui watershed in eastern QingHai-Tibet Plateau. A total of 102 soil samples were collected at surface (0-20 cm) and subsurface (20-40 cm) depths for studying on heavy metal pollution in this region.

The gap junction inhibitor INI-0602 attenuates mechanical allodynia and depression-like behaviors induced by spared nerve injury in rats.

Gap junctions (GJs) are novel molecular targets for pain therapeutics due to their pain-promoting function. INI-0602, a new GJ inhibitor, exerts a neuroprotective role, while its role in neuropathic pain is unclear. The objective was to investigate the analgesic role and mechanisms of INI-0602 in neuropathic pain induced by spared nerve injury (SNI), and whether INI-0602 attenuated pain-induced depression-like behaviors.

Tailoring pore structures with optimal mesopores to remarkably promote DNA adsorption guiding the growth of active Mn(PO) toward sensitive superoxide biomimetic enzyme sensors.

The great challenge in preparing a biomimetic enzyme sensor is to have sensitivity and selectivity equal to or better than its corresponding biological sensor. Porous electrodes possess a large surface area and are often used to greatly improve the sensor sensitivity. However, how to tailor the pore structure, especially the pore size distribution to further improve the sensitivity and selectivity of a biomimetic sensor, has not been investigated yet.

Cx32 mediates cisplatin resistance in human ovarian cancer cells by affecting drug efflux transporter expression and activating the EGFR‑Akt pathway.

Our previous study demonstrated that connexin 32 (Cx32) was upregulated and redistributed to the cytoplasm in A2780 human ovarian cancer cells with acquired resistance to cisplatin; this increased Cx32 feedback promoted cisplatin resistance. To further investigate the mechanism underlying Cx32‑mediated cisplatin resistance, alterations in drug transporters, the DNA repair system and the anti‑apoptotic signalling pathway were investigated by overexpressing or knocking down Cx32 in parental cells (A2780); cisplatin‑resistant human ovarian cancer cells (A2780/CDDP) were also acquired. Upregulation of efflux transporters [multi‑drug resistance protein 2 (MRP‑2), ATPase copper transporting α (ATP7A) and ATPase copper transporting β] and downregulation of the influx transporter copper uptake protein 1 mediated cisplatin resistance in A2780/CDDP cells.

Possibility of the existence of the rogue wave and the super rogue wave in granular matter.

By using the traditional perturbation technique, a focusing nonlinear Schrödinger equation (NLSE) for the one-dimensional bead chain with the initial prestress is first obtained. The Peregrine soliton, called the rogue wave in the present paper, and the super rogue wave are investigated both numerically and analytically. It is noted that both the rogue wave and the super rogue wave do exist in the one-dimensional bead chain.

Leaf Petroleum Ether Extract Inhibits Lipogenesis by Activating the AMPK Signaling Pathway.

In recent years, obesity has become a key factor affecting human health. Lam. is a perennial tropical deciduous tree, which is widely used in human medicine due to its nutritional and unique medicinal value.

Rapid Microbial Identification and Antibiotic Resistance Detection by Mass Spectrometric Analysis of Membrane Lipids.

Infectious diseases have a substantial global health impact. Clinicians need rapid and accurate diagnoses of infections to direct patient treatment and improve antibiotic stewardship. Current technologies employed in routine diagnostics are based on bacterial culture followed by morphological trait differentiation and biochemical testing, which can be time-consuming and labor-intensive.

Investigation of the dynamic changes in the chemical constituents of Chinese "Laba" garlic during traditional processing.

"Laba" garlic is a famous traditional garlic product, particularly popular with the people in Northern China. The processing time plays an important role on the chemical constituents of "Laba" garlic. Here, we investigated the composition of "Laba" garlic during traditional processing using a non-targeted metabolomics approach.

Berberine reversed the epithelial-mesenchymal transition of normal colonic epithelial cells induced by SW480 cells through regulating the important components in the TGF-β pathway.

Stroma-tumor interactions within microenvironment play a crucial role in tumor development and growth. Cellular transdifferentiation in the stroma is a prerequisite for tumor formation. Targeting the interactions maybe a promising anticancer strategy.

FAM46B inhibits cell proliferation and cell cycle progression in prostate cancer through ubiquitination of β-catenin.

FAM46B is a member of the family with sequence similarity 46. Little is known about the expression and functional role(s) of FAM46B in prostate cancer (PC). In this study, the expression of FAM46B expression in The Cancer Genome Atlas, GSE55945, and an independent hospital database was measured by bioinformatics and real-time PCR analysis.

RIP1 and RIP3 contribute to Tributyltin-induced toxicity in vitro and in vivo.

Tributyltin (TBT), a widely distributed environmental pollutant, is toxic to animals and human beings. Although its toxicity, especially the immunosuppressive effect, has been reported a lot, the underlying molecular mechanisms are still unclear. In this study, we investigated the mechanisms of TBT-induced cytotoxicity both in vitro and in vivo.