Synergistic antitumor effect of resveratrol and sorafenib on hepatocellular carcinoma through PKA/AMPK/eEF2K pathway.

Although sorafenib (Sor) is the only effective drug for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), its therapeutic potential to date is mainly limited to the low tumor response. This study was designed to explore whether resveratrol (Res) could potentiate the anticancerous activity of Sor. We used HepG2 and Huh7 HCC cell lines and BALB/c nude mice for and studies, respectively.

lncRNA MALAT1 regulated ATAD2 to facilitate retinoblastoma progression via miR-655-3p.

Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1) was reported as an oncogene in many tumors including retinoblastoma (RB). This research mainly focused on the functions and mechanism of MALAT1 in RB. MALAT1 was upregulated in RB tissues and cells, and it served as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) and inhibited miRNA-655-3p (miR-655-3p) expression, which eventually regulated the expression of miR-655-3p downstream target ATPase Family AAA Domain Containing 2 (ATAD2).

Calcium mitigates fluoride-induced kallikrein 4 inhibition via PERK/eIF2α/ATF4/CHOP endoplasmic reticulum stress pathway in ameloblast-lineage cells.

Objectives: The present study aimed to investigated the effect and mechanism of Ca treatment on fluoride in ameloblast-lineage cells (ALCs).

Materials And Methods: The effects of fluoride and different Ca levels treatment on the proliferative activity, cell apoptosis, cell cycle, intracellular free Ca, were firstly determined. Kallikrein 4 (KLK4), glucose-responsive protein 78 (GRP78), Protein kinase R -like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK), the α subunit of eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF2α), activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4), CCAAT enhancer-binding protein homologous protein (CHOP), were investigated in ALCs.

Evaluation of Palatal Furcation Groove and Root Canal Anatomy of Maxillary First Premolar: A CBCT and Micro-CT Study.

Objectives: This study is aimed at investigating the root and root canal morphology by cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and palatal furcation groove of the buccal root by microcomputed tomography (micro-CT) of maxillary first premolars in a Chinese subpopulation.

Methods: This study assessed CBCT images of 440 patients aged 14-80 years. Based on Vertucci's classification, the number of roots and the canal configuration were determined.

MLAA-34 knockdown shows enhanced antitumor activity via JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway in acute monocytic leukemia.

MLAA-34 is a novel leukemia-associated gene closely related to the carcinogenesis of acute monocytic leukemia (AML). MLAA-34 over expression has been observed to inhibit apoptosis . JAK2/STAT3 pathway plays an important role in cell proliferation, differentiation and inhibition of apoptosis in number of cancers.

Induction of proliferative and mutagenic activity by benzo(a)pyrene in PC-3 cells via JAK2/STAT3 pathway.

Environmental carcinogen benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) is a representative compound of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). BaP is strongly associated with prostate carcinogenesis. However, the molecular mechanism of BaP in development of prostate carcinoma remains largely unknown.

Effects of applying amoxicillin in juvenile mice on enamel mineralization and the expression of kallikrein‑related peptidase 4 and tight junction proteins in ameloblasts.

Amoxicillin is a common pediatric drug. However, to the best of our knowledge, the role of amoxicillin in enamel hypomineralization has not yet been fully elucidated. The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of amoxicillin on enamel mineralization, the morphology of ameloblasts, as well as the expression of kallikrein‑related peptidase 4 (KLK4), and the tight junction proteins, claudin 1 (CLDN1), claudin 4 (CLDN4) and occludin (OCLN), in ameloblasts of juvenile mice.

Benzo(a)pyrene affects proliferation with reference to metabolic genes and ROS/HIF-1α/HO-1 signaling in A549 and MCF-7 cancer cells.

Benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) is a representative polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) compound, which has been implicated in cancer initiation and promotion. Although BaP is one of the most extensively studied pollutants, the underlying mechanisms through which BaP affects reactive oxygen species (ROS)/hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α)/heme oxygenase 1(HO-1) signaling during lung or breast carcinogenesis are not yet fully understood. In this study, we analyzed the effects of 0 (control), 1, 5, or 25 µM BaP exposure on A549 and MCF-7 cancer cells, by evaluating cell viability, cell cycle, and regulatory protein expression, metabolic gene expression, and ROS/HIF-1α/HO-1 signaling.

Root Canal Anatomy of Maxillary First Premolar by Microscopic Computed Tomography in a Chinese Adolescent Subpopulation.

Objectives: To investigate the root morphology and root canal anatomy of maxillary first premolar using microscopic computed tomography (micro-CT).

Methods: 324 maxillary first premolars were collected and scanned. The root and canal diameter, canal wall thickness, root taper, and cross-sectional shapes were determined in the single root with 1 canal (SR1C), single root with 2 canals (SR2C), and 2 roots with 2 canals (2R2C) by micro-CT.

Calcium promotes differentiation in ameloblast-like LS8 cells by downregulation of phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase /protein kinase B pathway.

Objectives: To investigate the effect and mechanism of calcium on LS8 cell differentiation, especially on phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K) /protein kinase B(AKT) pathway.

Materials And Methods: Ameloblast-like LS8 cell line was used and additional 0-3.5 mmol/L calcium chloride was treated for 24 h, 48 h.

β-Cryptoxanthin induced anti-proliferation and apoptosis by G0/G1 arrest and AMPK signal inactivation in gastric cancer.

β-Cryptoxanthin has been associated with reduced-risk of some cancers. However, the mechanisms of β-cryptoxanthin still remain unclearly understood in gastric cancer (GC). In this study, we examined the effect of β-cryptoxanthin on AMPK signal in human gastric cancer cells.

Acute benzo[a]pyrene treatment causes different antioxidant response and DNA damage in liver, lung, brain, stomach and kidney.

Acute effects of oxidative damage induced by benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) on various organs are still not clear. In this study, we investigated oxidative stress and DNA damage in liver, lung, stomach, brain and kidney of ICR male mice induced by acute B[a]P treatment. B[a]P treatment led to a significant decrease at the different doses in body weight.

A Facile Strategy to Prepare Zr-Modified Bi₂WO with Enhanced Visible-Light Photocatalytic Activities.

A series of Zr4+-modified Bi2WO6 photocatalysts were synthesized using a hydrothermal method employing Bi(NO3)3·5H2O, Na2WO4·2H2O and Zr(NO3)4 as precursors. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), UV-vis absorption spectroscopy (UV-vis) and photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL). The investigations indicated that the flower-like Bi2WO6 3D structures were constructed from a large number of 2D layers of interconnected nanoplates.

New Application of pH-Mediated Acid Stacking Technique for Amphoteric Compounds in Capillary Electrophoresis: Example Assay of Blood Glutathiones.

Both reduced and oxidized forms of glutathiones were firstly stacked and detected using pH-mediated acid stacking method, in which glutathiones were stacked as cations and separated as anions. Factors, such as injection time, sweeping time, buffer pH, concentration of sodium chloride in sample matrix, that influenced stacking and separation were systematically studied and optimized. Under the optimum condition, the enhancement factors of ~20 times for both reduced and oxidized forms of glutathiones could be easily obtained within 20 min with satisfied sensitivities (limit of detections were 0.

Depletion of mitochondrial enzyme system in liver, lung, brain, stomach and kidney induced by benzo(a)pyrene.

Mitochondrial dysfunction has recently received considerable attention as it plays an important role in adult human pathology caused by various drugs, endogenous agents and environmental agents. Benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), is a ubiquitous environmental contaminant mainly derived from anthropogenic activity during incomplete combustion of organic materials from various sources. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) on mitochondrial enzymes in the multiple organs including liver, lung, brain, stomach and kidney.

Disturbance of Bcl-2, Bax, Caspase-3, Ki-67 and C-myc expression in acute and subchronic exposure to benzo(a)pyrene in cervix.

Epidemiological studies have demonstrated that cigarette smoking is an important cofactor or an independent risk factor for the development of cervical cancer. Benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) is one of the most potent tobacco smoke carcinogens in tobacco smoke. BaP induced DNA damage and over expression in p53 cervical tissue of mice as demonstrated in our previous study.

Synergistic increase of oxidative stress and tumor markers in PAH-exposed workers.

In this study, we investigated oxidative stress and tumor marker levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in 136 coke oven workers and in 60 control subjects, and evaluated the correlation between oxidative stress and tumor marker levels. Questionnaires on basic demographic information were also administered. Significant differences in employment time and percentages of alcohol drinkers were observed between the control and exposed groups.

Stacking and analysis of melamine in milk products with acetonitrile-salt stacking technique in capillary electrophoresis.

Melamine was measured in real milk products with capillary electrophoresis (CE) based on acetonitrile-salt stacking (ASS) method. Real milk samples were deproteinized with acetonitrile at a final concentration of 60% (v/v) and then injected hydrodynamically at 50 mBar for 40.0 s.

Lymphocyte oxidative stress/genotoxic effects are related to serum IgG and IgA levels in coke oven workers.

We investigated oxidative stress/genotoxic effects levels, immunoglobulin levels, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) levels exposed in 126 coke oven workers and in 78 control subjects, and evaluated the association between oxidative stress/genotoxic effects levels and immunoglobulin levels. Significant differences were observed in biomarkers, including 1-hydroxypyrene levels, employment time, percentages of alcohol drinkers, MDA, 8-OHdG levels, CTL levels and CTM, MN, CA frequency, and IgG, IgA levels between the control and exposed groups. Slightly higher 1-OHP levels in smoking users were observed.

Therapeutic effects of PADRE-BAFF autovaccine on rat adjuvant arthritis.

B cell activating factor (BAFF) is a cytokine of tumor necrosis factor family mainly produced by monocytes and dendritic cells. BAFF can regulate the proliferation, differentiation, and survival of B lymphocytes by binding with BAFF-R on B cell membrane. Accumulating evidences showed that BAFF played crucial roles and was overexpressed in various autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematous (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Impact of AhR, CYP1A1 and GSTM1 genetic polymorphisms on TP53 R273G mutations in individuals exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

This study was to undertaken to investigate the impacts of AhR, CYP1A1, GSTM1 genetic polymorphisms on the R273G mutation in exon 8 of the tumor suppressor p53 gene (TP53) among polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) exposed to coke-oven workers. One hundred thirteen workers exposed to PAH and 82 control workers were recruited. We genotyped for polymorphisms in the AhR, CYP1A1, GSTM1, and TP53 R273G mutation in blood by PCR methods, and determined the levels of 1-hydroxypyrene as PAH exposure marker in urine using the high pressure liquid chromatography assay.

Stable plastid transformation for high-level recombinant protein expression: promises and challenges.

Plants are a promising expression system for the production of recombinant proteins. However, low protein productivity remains a major obstacle that limits extensive commercialization of whole plant and plant cell bioproduction platform. Plastid genetic engineering offers several advantages, including high levels of transgenic expression, transgenic containment via maternal inheritance, and multigene expression in a single transformation event.

Cardioprotective effect of total paeony glycosides against isoprenaline-induced myocardial ischemia in rats.

Paeoniae radix is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb for treating some diseases; important components are total paeony glycosides (TPGs), an approved drug by the State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA) for the therapy of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We firstly reported myocardial benefits of TPGs previously, and the present study is to further investigate the underlying mechanisms for preventing oxidative damage in cardiomyopathy. We measured the capacity of TPGs to scavenge free radicals in vitro.

Changes of sodium iodide symporter regulated by IGF-I and TGF-β1 in mammary gland cells from lactating mice at different iodine levels.

The sodium/iodide symporter (SLC5A5, also known as NIS) is a transmembrane glycoprotein. Physiologically, iodide transportation in the mammary gland occurs during late pregnancy and lactation. To identify factors that may regulate this process at different iodine levels, we have studied the expression of NIS gene and protein in cultured mammary gland explants from lactating mice by real-time quantitative PCR and In-Cell Western methods.

A common carcinogen benzo[a]pyrene causes p53 overexpression in mouse cervix via DNA damage.

Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) is cytotoxic and/or genotoxic to lung, stomach and skin tissue in the body. However, the effect of BaP on cervical tissue remains unclear. The present study detected DNA damage and the expression of the p53 gene in BaP-induced cervical tissue in female mice.