Pilot Study of CT-Based Radiomics Model for Early Evaluation of Response to Immunotherapy in Patients With Metastatic Melanoma.

Determine the performance of a computed tomography (CT) -based radiomics model in predicting early response to immunotherapy in patients with metastatic melanoma. This retrospective study examined 50 patients with metastatic melanoma who received immunotherapy treatment in our hospital with an anti-programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) agent or an inhibitor of cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4). Thirty-four patients who received an anti-PD-1 agent were in the training sample and 16 patients who received a CTLA-4 inhibitor were in the validation sample.

ISG15 inhibits cancer cell growth and promotes apoptosis.

Cervical cancer is one of the most common causes of cancer-related mortality in women in developing countries. Interferon (IFN)-α has been widely used in the treatment of various types of cancer, including cervical cancer, and IFN-stimulated gene 15 (ISG15), an ubiquitin-like protein, is upregulated by IFN-α treatment. The anti-virus and antitumor effects of ISG15 have been reported; however, its mechanism of action have not yet been fully elucidated.

Theoretical Studies on Palladium-Mediated Enantioselective C-H Iodination.

DFT calculations have been carried out to investigate the reaction mechanism for Pd(II)-mediated enantioselective C-H iodination. Iodination of the aryl ortho C-H bond of benzylamines catalyzed by Pd(II) diacetate complexes in the presence of the L-MPAA ligand experiences three main steps: first, C-H bond activation; second, oxidative addition of iodine on Pd(II) and reductive elimination of iodobenzene; third, catalyst regeneration through ligand exchange. The C-H bond activation is found to be the rate-determining step of the overall iodination due to higher activation energy.

Effects of a Particular Heptapeptide on the IFN-α-Sensitive CML Cells.

Using the phage display biopanning technique, we have previously identified a heptapeptide KLWVIPQ which specifically binds to the surface of the IFN-α-sensitive but not the IFN-α-resistant CML cells. The effects of this heptapeptide on the IFN-α-sensitive CML cells were investigated in the present study. IFN-α-sensitive KT-1/A3 and IFN-α-resistant KT-1/A3R CML cells were transfected by pEGFP-KLWVIPQ expression vector and/or induced by IFN-α.

Ubiquitination involved enzymes and cancer.

Ubiquitination is a post-translational modification process that regulates multiple cell functions. It also plays important roles in the development of cancer. Mechanistically, ubiquitination is a complex process that is comprised of a series of events involving ubiquitin-activating enzymes, ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes and ubiquitin ligases.

Polymorphisms of DNA repair genes XPD, XRCC1, and OGG1, and lung adenocarcinoma susceptibility in Chinese population.

Lung adenocarcinoma (ADC) is one of the major histological types of lung cancer. Genetic polymorphism in DNA repair genes and lung ADC susceptibility is well documented. In this case-control study, the association between the polymorphic sites of DNA repair genes XPD-751, XRCC1-399, and OGG1-326, and lung ADC susceptibility in ethnic Han Chinese population has been investigated.

Differential responses to UVB irradiation in human keratinocytes and epidermoid carcinoma cells.

Objective: To examine UVB-induced responses in normal human keratinocytes (HaCaT) and epidermoid carcinoma cells (A431) at the cellular and molecular level, and investigated the protective effect of salidroside.

Methods: Cells irradiated by UVB at various dosage and their viability was assessed by MTT assays, cell cycle was analysed by flow cytometry. The expression of NF-κB, BCL-2, and CDK6 after 50 J/m(2) UVB irradiation were detected by RT-PCR and western blotting.

[Mechanisms of ultraviolet B irradiation-induced injuries in 16HBE cells].

Objective: To investigate the biological effects of ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation on human bronchial epithelial cells (16HBE cells) and explore the possible mechanism.

Methods: The survival rates of 16HBE cells were detected by MTT assay at 12 h after UVB irradiation at different doses (0, 10, 30, 50, 70, and 100 J/m(2)) or at 50 J/m(2) for different durations (2, 4, 8, 12, and 24 h). The DNA ladder was detected by agarose gel electrophoresis, the cell cycle changes were analyzed by flow cytometry, and the expression of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB)/p65 protein was assayed by Western blotting following the exposures.

Differential expression profiles of microRNAs in NIH3T3 cells in response to UVB irradiation.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are known as a kind of small, noncoding RNA, which play an important role in mediating many biological processes such as development, cell proliferation and differentiation in plants and animals. Here we report the differential expression profiles of miRNAs and characterized putative target genes in NIH3T3 cells at a series of different time points after UVB irradiation (compared with no UVB irradiation). The relative expression of mature miRNA genes was determined by miRNA microarray technique and the results were confirmed by real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR).

[Effects of radiation injury on peripheral blood and liver NO concentration in mice].

Objective: To study the effect of radiation injury on nitric oxide (NO) concentration in mouse peripheral blood and liver.

Methods: NIH mice were subjected to gamma-ray exposure at 9.0 Gy and transferred immediately in room temperature condition.

[Roles of p38 and ERK signaling pathway in cell apoptosis induced by UVB irradiation].

Objective: To explore the involvement of p38 and ERK signal transduction pathways in UVB-induced cell apoptosis.

Methods: HaCat cells were exposed to UVB irradiation for 1, 3, 5, 10, and 15 min, respectively, after which the cell survival was assessed using MTT assay, and the cell apoptosis observed under fluorescent microscope with Hoechst staining. Western blotting was used to examine the possible signal transduction pathway involved in the cell apoptosis following the exposures.

Downregulation of HBx mRNA in HepG2.2.15 cells by small interfering RNA.

Objective: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is one of the most prevalent viral infectious diseases in humans. And it is still a challenge for the development of an effective therapy for HBV infection. Recently, the progress in RNA interference (RNAi) has shed some light on the inhibition of HBV expression and replication by RNAi specific for the various genes of the HBV genome.

Cloning and functional study of a novel aromatic-ring-hydroxylating dioxygenase gene.

The aromatic-ring-hydroxylating dioxygenase is a key enzyme that initiates the biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in bacteria. In the present study, a novel dioxygenase sequence was cloned from Terrabacter sp. FLO using a genome walking method.

[Positron emission tomography with L-[S-methyl-11C]-methioine and its biodistribution].

Objective: To study the biodistribution of L-[S-methyl-(11)C]-methioine ((11)C-MET) and explore its clinical application in positron emission tomography (PET) for brain tumor detection.

Methods: Twenty-four Wistar rats and divided into 6 equal groups and injected with (11)C-MET through the tail vein and killed by decollation at 5, 10, 20, 30 and 40 min after injection, respectively. The liver, brain, blood, heart, lung, kidney, and spleen were harvested to measure the radioactivity and calculate the biodistribution of (11)C-MET.

[Specific small interfering RNAs inhibit replication of hepatitis B virus].

Objective: To obtain specific small interfering RNAs (siRNA) for hepatitis B virus (HBV) and evaluate their interfering effect.

Methods: Three siRNAs were transfected into HepG2.2.

[Effect of hot and humid environment on bone marrow and spleen of mice exposed to gamma irradiation].

Objective: To study the effect of hot and humid environment (HHE) on the bone marrow and spleen in mouse exposed to gamma irradiation.

Methods: After exposure to gamma irradiation at the dosage of 6.5 Gy, the mice were subjected to treatment in HHE for 1 h or at room temperature (RT) respectively.

Survival of mice with gamma-ray irradiation in hot and humid environments.

Objective: To study the survival of the mice with gamma-ray irradiation in hot and humid environments (HHE) and determine the median lethal dose in 30 days (LD50/30).

Methods: One hundred mice were randomly divided into 2 groups (n=50 each) to receive gamma-ray irradiation at the dosage of either 7 or 9 Gy, and were then immediately transferred to the chambers simulating HHE for treatment for 30, 60, 90 or 120 min respectively, leaving one group at room temperature (n=10 in each group). The death rates of the mice within 30 days were observed.