Fenretinide targets the side population in myeloma cell line NCI-H929 and potentiates the efficacy of antimyeloma with bortezomib and dexamethasone regimen.

Side population (SP) cells, a subset of enriched tumor initiating cells, have been demonstrated to have stem cell-like properties in multiple myeloma (MM) by us as well as other previous studies. A lack of agents targeting tumor initiating cells, however, represents a challenge in the treatment of MM. Previously, fenretinide, a well-tolerated vitamin A derivative, has been shown to exert effect on leukemic stem cells, but its actions against myeloma stem-like cells are still unknown.

The Small GTPase MoSec4 Is Involved in Vegetative Development and Pathogenicity by Regulating the Extracellular Protein Secretion in .

The Rab GTPase proteins play important roles in the membrane trafficking, and consequently protein secretion and development of eukaryotic organisms. However, little is known about the function of Rab GTPases in . To further explore the function of Rab GTPases, we deleted the ortholog of the yeast Sec4p protein in , namely .

Music and Video Gaming during Breaks: Influence on Habitual versus Goal-Directed Decision Making.

Different systems for habitual versus goal-directed control are thought to underlie human decision-making. Working memory is known to shape these decision-making systems and their interplay, and is known to support goal-directed decision making even under stress. Here, we investigated if and how decision systems are differentially influenced by breaks filled with diverse everyday life activities known to modulate working memory performance.

The emergence and evolution of school psychology literature: A scientometric analysis from 1907 through 2014.

The objective of this current study is to identify the growth and development of scholarly literature that specifically references the term 'school psychology' in the Science Citation Index from 1907 through 2014. Documents from Web of Science were accessed and analyzed through the use of scientometric analyses, including HistCite and Pajek software, resulting in the identification of 4,806 scholars who contributed 3,260 articles in 311 journals. Whereas the database included journals from around the world, most articles were published by authors in the United States and in 20 journals, including the Journal of School Psychology, Psychology in the Schools, School Psychology Review, School Psychology International, and School Psychology Quarterly.

Identification of New Small Molecules as Apoptosis Inhibitors in Vascular Endothelial Cells.

Vascular endothelial cell (VEC) apoptosis is involved in the development of atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular diseases. We previously found that ethyl 1-(2-hydroxy-3-aroxypropyl)-3-aryl-1H-pyrazole -5-carboxylate derivatives (3a-o) play important roles in cell fate control. In this study, among the 15 compounds, we further screened 2 compounds, 3d and 3k, that suppressed VEC apoptosis induced by deprivation of serum and fibroblast growth factor 2.

Differential effects of wakeful rest, music and video game playing on working memory performance in the n-back task.

The interruption of learning processes by breaks filled with diverse activities is common in everyday life. We investigated the effects of active computer gaming and passive relaxation (rest and music) breaks on working memory performance. Young adults were exposed to breaks involving (i) eyes-open resting, (ii) listening to music and (iii) playing the video game "Angry Birds" before performing the n-back working memory task.

Differential Effects of Music and Video Gaming During Breaks on Auditory and Visual Learning.

The interruption of learning processes by breaks filled with diverse activities is common in everyday life. This study investigated the effects of active computer gaming and passive relaxation (rest and music) breaks on auditory versus visual memory performance. Young adults were exposed to breaks involving (a) open eyes resting, (b) listening to music, and (c) playing a video game, immediately after memorizing auditory versus visual stimuli.

Suppressed expression of miR-378 targeting gzmb in NK cells is required to control dengue virus infection.

Dengue virus (DENV) remains a major public health threat because no vaccine or drugs are available for the prevention and treatment of DENV infection, and the immunopathogenesis mechanisms of DENV infection are not fully understood. Cytotoxic molecules, such as granzyme B (GrzB), may be necessary to control viral infections. However, the exact role of GrzB during DENV infection and the mechanisms regulating GrzB expression during DENV infection are not clear.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) regulation by hypoxia inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF1A) starts and peaks during endometrial breakdown, not repair, in a mouse menstrual-like model.

Study Question: How is vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression regulated by hypoxia inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF1A) during menstruation?

Summary Answer: After progesterone (P4) withdrawal, HIF1A was activated and it directly up-regulated VEGF mRNA expression and this regulation was the highest during endometrium breakdown in the mouse menstrual-like model.

What Is Known Already: VEGF, an important angiogenic factor, is known to be essential for endometrial repair, particularly in angiogenesis and re-epithelialization. However, its upstream regulation has not been fully clarified.

MicroRNA-451 regulates stemness of side population cells via PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway in multiple myeloma.

Side population (SP) cells are an enriched source of cancer-initiating cells with stemness characteristics, generated by increased ABC transporter activity, which has served as a unique hallmark for multiple myeloma (MM) stem cell studies. Here we isolated and identified MM SP cells via Hoechst 33342 staining. Furthermore, we demonstrate that SP cells possess abnormal cell cycle, clonogenicity, and high drug efflux characteristics-all of which are features commonly seen in stem cells.

ROS are critical for endometrial breakdown via NF-κB-COX-2 signaling in a female mouse menstrual-like model.

Progesterone withdrawal triggers endometrial breakdown and shedding during menstruation. Menstruation results from inflammatory responses; however, the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in menstruation remains unclear. In this study, we explored the role of ROS in endometrial breakdown and shedding.

Electrolyte-induced reorganization of SDS self-assembly on graphene: a molecular simulation study.

A molecular dynamics simulation was conducted to study the structure and morphology of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) surfactants adsorbed on a nanoscale graphene nanostructure in the presence of an electrolyte. The self-assembly structure can be reorganized by the electrolyte-induced effect. An increase in the ionic strength of the added electrolyte can enhance the stretching of adsorbed surfactants toward the bulk aqueous phase and make headgroups assemble densely, leading to a more compact structure of the SDS/graphene composite.

The prognostic value of CXCR4 in ovarian cancer: a meta-analysis.

Objective: Recent reports have shown that C-X-C chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) is expressed in ovarian cancer and plays an important role in metastasis. However, the prognostic value of CXCR4 in ovarian cancer remains controversial and has not been emphasized. The aim of this study is to evaluate the prognostic significance of CXCR4 in ovarian cancer by performing a meta-analysis.

Novel pyrazoline-based selective fluorescent sensor for Hg2+.

This paper presents the preparation of a pyrazoline compound and the properties of its UV-Vis absorption and fluorescence emission. Moreover, this compound can be used to determine Hg(2+) ion with selectivity and sensitivity in the EtOH:H2O =9:1 (v/v) solution. This sensor forms a 1:1 complex with Hg(2+) and shows a fluorescent enhancement with good tolerance of other metal ions.

High aldehyde dehydrogenase activity identifies cancer stem cells in human cervical cancer.

High aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity characterizes a subpopulation of cells with cancer stem cell (CSC) properties in several malignancies. To clarify whether ALDH can be used as a marker of cervical cancer stem cells (CCSCs), ALDH high and ALDH low cells were sorted from 4 cervical cancer cell lines and 5 primary tumor xenografts and examined for CSC characteristics. Here, we demonstrate that cervical cancer cells with high ALDH activity fulfill the functional criteria for CSCs: (1) ALDH high cells, unlike ALDH low cells, are highly tumorigenic in vivo; (2) ALDH high cells can give rise to both ALDH high and ALDH low cells in vitro and in vivo, thereby establishing a cellular hierarchy; and (3) ALDH high cells have enhanced self-renewal and differentiation potentials.

Prognostic value of cancer stem cell marker aldehyde dehydrogenase in ovarian cancer: a meta-analysis.

Objective: Aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) has recently been reported as a marker of cancer stem-like cells in ovarian cancer. However, the prognostic role of ALDH in ovarian cancer still remains controversial. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the association between the expression of ALDH and the outcome of ovarian cancer patients by performing a meta-analysis.

Expression of estrogen receptor α and β in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Estrogen receptors (ERs) are frequently expressed in human tumor tissues. There have been several studies concerning ER expression in esophageal cancers, yet the results are inconsistent, and the prognostic value of the receptors remains unclear. In the present study, we investigated the expression of ER protein and its correlation with clinical features of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) patients.

The non-target organism Caenorhabditis elegans withstands the impact of sulfamethoxazole.

The widespread usage of antibiotics in agriculture leads to releases into the environment, but there is insufficient knowledge of the side-effects on non-target organisms. Therefore, we investigated the effects of the sulfonamide-antibiotic sulfamethoxazole (SMX) on Caenorhabditis elegans at phenotypic, biochemical and molecular biological levels. Multiple endpoints, including life history traits, thermal stress resistance and lipid peroxidation, as well as gene expression profiles, were determined after exposure of the nematodes to SMX.

De novo transcriptome of Brassica juncea seed coat and identification of genes for the biosynthesis of flavonoids.

Brassica juncea, a worldwide cultivated crop plant, produces seeds of different colors. Seed pigmentation is due to the deposition in endothelial cells of proanthocyanidins (PAs), end products from a branch of flavonoid biosynthetic pathway. To elucidate the gene regulatory network of seed pigmentation in B.

Soluble expression of recombinant human SMP30 for detecting serum SMP30 antibody levels in hepatocellular carcinoma patients.

Senescence marker protein 30 (SMP30), a hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) associated antigen, was earlier shown by our research group to be highly expressed in HCC paracancerous tissues, but have low levels in HCC tissues. In order to detect anti-SMP30 antibody in serum of HCC patients, we established pET30a-SMP30 and pColdIII-SMP30 expression systems in Escherichia coli. However, the expression product was mainly in the form of inclusion bodies.

Genes encoding FAD-binding proteins in Volvariella volvacea exhibit differential expression in homokaryons and heterokaryons.

Flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD)-binding proteins play a vital role in energy transfer and utilization during fungal growth and mycelia aggregation. We sequenced the genome of Volvariella volvacea, an economically important edible fungus, and discovered 41 genes encoding FAD-binding proteins. Gene expression profiles revealed that the expression levels of four distinctly differentially expressed genes in heterokaryotic strain H1521 were higher than in homokaryotic strains PYd15 and PYd21 combined.

Molecular and pathogenic characterization of new Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae strains from the coastline region of Fangchenggang city in China.

Virulence assays and DNA polymorphism analyses were used to characterize 33 Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) strains collected from the coastline region of Fangchenggang city in China. Two new pathogenic races (FXP1 and FXP2), were determined by leaf-clipping inoculation of 12 near-isogenic International Rice-Bacterial Blight (IRBB) rice lines, each containing a single resistance gene.

[Expression of EGF and SP domain proteins of MASP-2 and preparation of their polyclonal antibodies].

Aim: To clone and prokaryotically express the EGF and SP domain proteins of human mannan-binding lectin associated serine protease-2 (MASP-2), and prepare their polyclonal antibodies and analyze their immunogenicity.

Methods: The cDNA of human MASP-2 was transcripted reversely from total RNA extracted from human fetal liver tissue, and then EGF and SP domain genes of MASP-2 were amplified from the cDNA by PCR. The EGF and SP fragment domain genes were cloned into pGEX-6P-2 expression vector and induced by IPTG to express GST fusion protein.

Development of a variable number of tandem repeats typing scheme for the bacterial rice pathogen Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzicola.

Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzicola is an important bacterial pathogen responsible for outbreaks of bacterial leaf streak (BLS) on rice, mostly occurring in Asia and parts of Africa. To better monitor epidemics and assess population structures, efficient tools that allow the precise identification and diagnosis of pathogenic populations are needed.

Bortezomib-based treatment for relapsed and refractory angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma: Case report and literature review.

Angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL) is a distinct peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) subtype, accounting for 15-20% of PTCL and 2% of all non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), with a poor prognosis. In the present study, we describe a 76-year-old patient with AITL who failed to respond to conventional chemotherapy but responded to bortezomib-based treatment and demonstrated persistent clinical improvement at the 18-month follow-up. These data suggest that bortezomib-based treatment may be a reliable, safe and effective alternative for treating relapsed/refractory AITL.