Lonafarnib Protects Against Muscle Atrophy Induced by Dexamethasone.

Background: Muscle atrophy, including glucocorticoid-induced muscle wasting from treatments such as dexamethasone (DEX), results in significant reductions in muscle mass, strength and function. This study investigates the potential of lonafarnib, a farnesyltransferase inhibitor, to counteract DEX-induced muscle atrophy by targeting key signalling pathways.

Methods: We utilized in vitro models with C2C12 myotubes treated with DEX and in vivo models with Caenorhabditis elegans and DEX-treated Sprague-Dawley rats.

In Vitro and In Silico Analysis of PTP1B Inhibitors from Leaves and Their Effect on Glucose Uptake.

As part of our ongoing research on new anti-diabetic compounds from ethnopharmacologically consumed plants, two previously undescribed lupane-type triterpenoids ( and ) with dicarboxylic groups, an undescribed nor-taraxastane-type triterpenoid (), and 14 known compounds (-) were isolated from the leaves of . Extensive spectroscopic analysis (IR, HRESIMS, 1D, and 2D NMR) was used for structure elucidation, while the known compounds were compared to reference data reported in the scientific literature. All the isolates (-) were evaluated for their inhibitory effects on the protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) enzyme.

Inhibition of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B by serratane triterpenes from Huperzia serrata and their molecular docking study.

During the search for protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) inhibitory compounds from the natural resources, two new serratane triterpenes, 3-O-dihydro-p-coumaroyltohogenol (1) and 21-O-acetyltohogenol (2), along with four known serratane triterpenes (3-6), were isolated from the whole plant of Huperzia serrata. The chemical structures of compounds 1 and 2 were determined by NMR study, HRMS analysis, and chemical modification. All isolates were evaluated for their PTP1B inhibitory activities.

Oxindole and Benzoxazinone Alkaloids from the Seeds of (Avocado) and Their SIRT1 Stimulatory Activity.

Mill. (Lauraceae), commonly known as avocado, is a well-known food because of its nutrition and health benefits. The seeds of avocado are major byproducts, and thus their phytochemicals and bioactivities have been of interest for study.

Linderanidins A-F: Rare oligomeric flavonoids with an unusual C-3-C-4 linkage from the roots of Lindera erythrocarpa and their inhibitory activities on autophagy.

Autophagy is a crucial process for maintaining cellular homeostasis by degrading and recycling unnecessary or damaged cellular components. In the process of exploring autophagy regulators in plants, unique nine oligomeric flavonoids linked by the bonding of C-3 and C-4, consisting of three pairs of biflavonoids, linderanidins A-C [(+)-1/(-)-1, (+)-2/(-)-2, and (+)-3/(-)-3], and three trimeric A-type proanthocyanidins, linderanidins D-F (4-6), were isolated from the roots of Lindera erythrocarpa. The structures and absolute configurations of these compounds were determined using various techniques, such as 1D and 2D NMR, mass spectrometry, X-ray crystallography, and electronic circular dichroism.

GPX8 regulates clear cell renal cell carcinoma tumorigenesis through promoting lipogenesis by NNMT.

Background: Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), with its hallmark phenotype of high cytosolic lipid content, is considered a metabolic cancer. Despite the implication of this lipid-rich phenotype in ccRCC tumorigenesis, the roles and regulators of de novo lipid synthesis (DNL) in ccRCC remain largely unexplained.

Methods: Our bioinformatic screening focused on ccRCC-lipid phenotypes identified glutathione peroxidase 8 (GPX8), as a clinically relevant upstream regulator of DNL.

Chemical Biopsy for GNMT as Noninvasive and Tumorigenesis-Relevant Diagnosis of Liver Cancer.

Early diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is difficult; the lack of convenient biomarker-based diagnostic modalities renders high-risk HCC patients burdened by life-long periodical examinations. Here, a new chemical biopsy approach was developed for noninvasive diagnosis of HCC using urine samples. Bioinformatic screening for tumor suppressors yielded glycine -methyltransferase (GNMT) as a biomarker with clinical relevance to HCC tumorigenesis.

Involvement of cell shape and lipid metabolism in glioblastoma resistance to temozolomide.

Temozolomide (TMZ) has been used as standard-of-care for glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), but the resistance to TMZ develops quickly and frequently. Thus, more studies are needed to elucidate the resistance mechanisms. In the current study, we investigated the relationship among the three important phenotypes, namely TMZ-resistance, cell shape and lipid metabolism, in GBM cells.

Real-Time Monitoring of Host-Gut Microbial Interspecies Interaction in Anticancer Drug Metabolism.

Gut microbiome can affect drug metabolism considerably, leading to modified drug response. However, quantitative estimation of host vs. microbial contributions in a living host-gut microbiome system has been challenging.

Sesquiterpene lactone and its unique proaporphine hybrids from Magnolia grandiflora L. and their anti-inflammatory activity.

Two undescribed sesquiterpene lactone-proaporphine hybrid skeletons, two undescribed sesquiterpenes, and four known compounds were isolated from the aerial part of Magnolia grandiflora L. The structures of isolated compounds were unambiguously determined based on the interpretation of a combination of NMR spectroscopy, HRESIMS, DP4+ probability calculation of carbon data, X-ray crystallographic analyses, and ECD calculation. The isolated compounds were investigated for their anti-inflammatory activity against nitric oxide production and the protein expression of COX-2 in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.

A Serum Marker for Early Pancreatic Cancer With a Possible Link to Diabetes.

Background: Pancreatic cancer (PC) has a grim prognosis, and an early diagnostic biomarker has been highly desired. The molecular link between diabetes and PC has not been well established.

Methods: Bioinformatics screening was performed for a serum PC marker.

Benzimidazole Derivatives as Novel Zika Virus Inhibitors.

We have synthesized 50 benzimidazole (BMZ) derivatives with 1,2-phenylenediamines and aromatic aldehydes under mild oxidation conditions by using inexpensive, nontoxic inorganic salt sodium metabisulfite in a one-pot condensation reaction and screened their ability to interfere with Zika virus (ZIKV) infection utilizing a cell-based phenotypic assay. Seven BMZs inhibited an African ZIKV strain with a selectivity index (SI=CC /EC ) of 9-37. Structure-activity relationship analysis demonstrated that substitution at the C-2, N-1, and C-5 positions of the BMZ ring were important for anti-ZIKV activity.

A new hopane derivative from the lichen .

Chemical investigation of the lichen led to isolate nine compounds including a new hopane derivative, 1-acetoxy-21-hopane-3,22-diol () together with six phenolic compounds naming divaricatinic acid (), methyl divaricatinate (), methyl--orcinolcarboxylate (), methyl haematommate (), divarinol (), ramalinic acid A (), and two xanthones namely lichenxanthone (), 4,5-dichlorolichenxanthone (). Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic data in combination with published literature. Except compound , all compounds were isolated from this species for the first time.

Papillary thyroid carcinoma with tall cell features is as aggressive as tall cell variant: a meta-analysis.

There are still ongoing debates as to which cut-off percentage of tall cell (TC) should be used to define tall cell variant (TCV) papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). In this meta-analysis, we aimed to investigate the clinicopathological significance of PTC with tall cell features (PTC-TCF, PTC with 10-50% of TCs) in comparison with classical PTC and TCVPTC (PTC with more than 50% of TCs) to clarify the controversial issue. Four electronic databases including PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and Virtual Health Library were accessed to search for relevant articles.

Association of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency and malaria: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency overlaps with malaria endemicity although it predisposes carriers to hemolysis. This fact supports the protection hypothesis against malaria. The aim of this systematic review is to assess the presence and the extent of protective association between G6PD deficiency and malaria.

Case Report: Postpartum hemorrhage associated with Dengue with warning signs in a term pregnancy and delivery.

Background: Dengue infection during peripartum period, although rare in endemic regions, has challenged clinicians regarding its management, especially if a parturient woman experiences postpartum hemorrhage due to a classical risk factor of maternal bleeding.

Case: A full-term pregnant Vietnamese woman was diagnosed with polyhydramnios and Dengue with warning signs (DWS). She was administered platelet transfusion prior to delivery and then gave birth to a healthy newborn.

Research trends in evidence-based medicine: a joinpoint regression analysis of more than 50 years of publication data.

Background: Evidence-based medicine (EBM) has developed as the dominant paradigm of assessment of evidence that is used in clinical practice. Since its development, EBM has been applied to integrate the best available research into diagnosis and treatment with the purpose of improving patient care. In the EBM era, a hierarchy of evidence has been proposed, including various types of research methods, such as meta-analysis (MA), systematic review (SRV), randomized controlled trial (RCT), case report (CR), practice guideline (PGL), and so on.

Scientific Productivity on Research in Ethical Issues over the Past Half Century: A JoinPoint Regression Analysis.

Background: Ethics is one of the main pillars in the development of science. We performed a JoinPoint regression analysis to analyze the trends of ethical issue research over the past half century. The question is whether ethical issues are neglected despite their importance in modern research.