Protocatechuic acid prevents isoproterenol-induced heart failure in mice by downregulating kynurenine-3-monooxygenase.

Protocatechuic acid (3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid) prevents oxidative stress, inflammation and cardiac hypertrophy. This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects of protocatechuic acid in an isoproterenol-induced heart failure mouse model and to identify the underlying mechanisms. To establish the heart failure model, C57BL/6NTac mice were given high-dose isoproterenol (80 mg/kg body weight) for 14 days.

Isolation and Characterization of the Genes Involved in the Berberine Synthesis Pathway in Asian Blue Cohosh, .

, commonly named Asian blue cohosh, is a perennial herb in the family Berberidaceae. It has traditionally been used for folk medicine in China. We isolated berberine from the leaves, stem, roots, and fruits of , and this is the first report on berberine in this species.

Identifying Terpenoid Biosynthesis Genes in via Full-Length cDNA Sequencing.

The annual herb L. produces anti-inflammatory and biologically active substances such as triterpenoids, tannins, and polyphenols, and it is used in traditional Chinese medicine. Of these bioactive compounds, terpenoids, also called isoprenoids, are major secondary metabolites in .

Identification of essential element determining fruit-specific transcriptional activity in the tomato HISTIDINE DECARBOXYLASE A gene promoter.

In SlHDC-A promoter, SlHDC-A core-ES is an essential region for fruit-specific expression and interacts with GATA, HSF and AP1. Triplication of essential region was proposed as a minimal fruit-specific promoter. In plant biotechnology, fruit-specific promoter is an important tool for the improvement and utilization of tomato fruit.

Optimization of -Mediated Transformation of EL000614, an Endolichenic Fungus Producing Grammicin.

An endolichenic fungus EL000614 produces grammicin, a potent nematicidal pyrone derivative that can serve as a new control option for root-knot nematodes. We optimized an -mediated transformation (ATMT) protocol for to support genetic studies. Transformants were successfully generated after co-cultivation of homogenized young mycelia of with strain AGL-1 carrying a binary vector that contains the bacterial hygromycin B phosphotransferase () gene and the gene in T-DNA.

Draft Genome Sequence of EL000614, a Strain Producing Grammicin, a Potent Nematicidal Compound.

An endolichenic fungus, strain EL000614, showed strong nematicidal effects against plant pathogenic nematode, by producing grammicin. We report genome assembly of EL000614 comprised of 25 scaffolds with a total length of 54.73 Mb, N50 of 4.

Gene Expression and Isoform Identification of PacBio Full-Length cDNA Sequences for Berberine Biosynthesis in .

is a medicinal plant containing berberine, which is a bioactive compound of the benzylisoquinoline alkaloid (BIA) class. BIA is widely used in the food and drug industry for its health benefits. To investigate the berberine biosynthesis pathway, gene expression analysis was performed in leaves, flowers, and fruits at different stages of growth.

Clinical Implications of Geometric and Dosimetric Uncertainties of Inter- and Intra-Fractional Movement during Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy for Breast Cancer Patients.

With the introduction of modern sophisticated radiotherapy (RT) techniques, the significance of accuracy has increased considerably. This study evaluated the necessity of pre-treatment and intra-fractional cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) by analyzing inter- and intra-fractional CBCT images of breast cancer patients receiving RT. From 57 patients, 1206 pre-treatment CBCT and 1067 intra-fractional CBCT images were collected.

Draft Genome Sequence of JS-1345, an Endophytic Fungus Isolated from Stem Tissue of Korean Fir.

The fungus strain JS-1345, isolated from stem tissue of (Korean fir), has shown strong anti-inflammatory activity. Here, we report the genome sequence of JS-1345. The final assembly consisted of 133 scaffolds totaling 38,652,569 bp (G+C content, 44.

Relationship Between Sarcopenia and Prognosis in Patient With Concurrent Chemo-Radiation Therapy for Esophageal Cancer.

Sarcopenia, defined as skeletal muscle loss, has been known as a poor prognosis factor in various malignant diseases The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of sarcopenia on prognosis in patients with esophageal cancer who received concurrent chemo- and radiotherapy (CCRT). We retrospectively collected clinical data of 287 patients with esophageal cancer who were treated by definite CCRT at Gangnam Severance and Severance hospital from August 2005 to December 2014. The cross-sectional area of muscle at the level of the third lumbar vertebra was measured using pre- and post-CCRT computed tomography images.

Clinical application of 3D-printed-step-bolus in post-total-mastectomy electron conformal therapy.

The 3D-printed boluses were used during the radiation therapy of the chest wall in six patients with breast cancer after modified radical mastectomy (MRM). We measured the in-vivo skin doses while both conventional and 3D-printed boluses were placed on the chest wall and compared the mean doses delivered to the ipsilateral lung and the heart. The homogeneity and conformity of the dose distribution in the chest wall for both types of boluses were also evaluated.

Removal of NO(x) at low temperature over mesoporous alpha-Mn2O3 catalyst.

Low-temperature selective catalytic reduction was carried out over various kinds of manganese oxide (MnOx) catalysts. Mesoporous alpha-Mn2O3, commercial bulk Mn2O3, and Mn/SBA-15 were used as the catalyst. The NOx removal performances of the catalysts were compared.

In situ catalytic pyrolysis of miscanthus over modified SBA-15 catalysts using Py-GC/MS.

Various SBA-15-based catalysts, Si-SBA-15, Pt/Si-SBA-15, Al-SBA-15, and Pt/Al-SBA-15, were applied to the catalytic pyrolysis of miscanthus. Pt nanoparticles with three different sizes, 1.7 nm, 2.

Tumor-stromal interactions with direct cell contacts enhance motility of non-small cell lung cancer cells through the hedgehog signaling pathway.

The metastatic potential of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has been shown to be associated with interactions with the tumor microenvironment, which primarily comprises of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). Heterotypic cell-cell interactions occur via released signaling molecules and direct physical contact. To investigate the differential contribution of direct cell-cell contact and paracrine signaling factors to NSCLC metastasis, we performed two types of co-cultures: direct co-cultures of the NSCLC cell line H358 with primary cultures of CAFs from patients with resected NSCLC; and indirect co-cultures across a separable membrane.

Human lung cancer-associated fibroblasts enhance motility of non-small cell lung cancer cells in co-culture.

The metastatic potential of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells has been shown to be associated with the tumor microenvironment. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are a major component of the tumor microenvironment, regulating tumor cell function by secreting growth factors, chemokines, and extracellular matrix (ECM). In this study, we examined the role of CAFs in the tumor progression of NSCLC.

Efficient access to highly pure β-amyloid peptide by optimized solid-phase synthesis.

Feasible and reproducible synthesis of full-length Aβ peptides has been one of the major challenges in Alzheimer's disease research. By using dimethyl sulfoxide as an anti-aggregation solvent and as an agent to promote double-coupling of two phenylalanine that frequently experience residual deletion, we developed a reliable manual Fmoc solid phase peptide synthesis procedure to produce biologically active Aβ in large quantities at relatively high purity. The amyloidogenic activity of the synthesized Aβ was confirmed via thioflavin T assay, transmission electron microscopic analysis and electrophoresis.

Catalytic pyrolysis of waste rice husk over mesoporous materials.

Catalytic fast pyrolysis of waste rice husk was carried out using pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry [Py-GC/MS]. Meso-MFI zeolite [Meso-MFI] was used as the catalyst. In addition, a 0.

Pre-engraftment graft-versus-host disease after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation for acute leukemia.

Objectives: Acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) usually occurs with neutrophil engraftment following allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT), but it can also occur before engraftment. We intended to analyze the effects of timing of acute GVHD on leukemia relapse and mortality.

Methods: The outcomes of pre- and postengraftment GVHD were investigated in 384 patients who underwent allogeneic HCT for acute leukemia.

Gonadotropin regulation of genes differentially expressed in response to PKCzeta inhibitor during ovulation in the rat.

Aims: The aim of the present study was to characterize genes regulated by protein kinase C PKCzeta inhibitor in the preovulatory granulosa cells following LH stimulation in the rat ovary.

Main Methods: Annealing control primer (ACP)-based polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method was used to identify differentially expressed genes in granulosa cells of preovulatory follicles cultured in the presence of luteinizing hormone (LH) and myristoylated PKCzeta pseudosubstrate peptide or a similarly sized control peptide.

Key Findings: Among the 16 genes identified, five (testin, glypican-4, retrovirus SC1, aminolevulinic acid synthase 1 and serum-inducible kinase) experienced rapid and transient stimulation of gene expression upon exposure to human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in the ovary of immature rats primed with pregnant mare's serum gonadotropin (PMSG).

Activation of protein kinase Czeta mediates luteinizing hormone- or forskolin-induced NGFI-B expression in preovulatory granulosa cells of rat ovary.

We have previously demonstrated that luteinizing hormone (LH) induces a rapid and transient expression of NGFI-B in the ovary. In this report, we investigated the signaling pathway for LH- and forskolin-induced NGFI-B expression in cultured rat granulosa cells of preovulatory follicles. LH- or forskolin-induced NGFI-B expression was suppressed by high dose of protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor RO 31-8220 (10 microM), but not by low doses RO 31-8220 (0.

Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) mediate SIN-1/ glucose deprivation-induced death in rat primary astrocytes.

Peroxynitrite is a potent neurotoxic molecule produced from a reaction between NO and superoxide and induces NO-mediated inflammation under neuropathological conditions. Previously, we reported that glucose deprivation induced ATP depletion and cell death in immunostimulated astrocytes, which was mainly due to peroxynitrite. In this study, the role of MAPKs (ERK1/2, p38MAPK, and JNK1SAPK) signal pathway in the SIN-1/glucose deprivation-induced death of astrocytes was examined.