Pristimerin exhibits anti-cancer activity by inducing ER stress and AKT/GSK3β pathway through increasing intracellular ROS production in human esophageal cancer cells.

Pristimerin (Pris), a bioactive triterpenoid compound extracted from the Celastraceae and Hippocrateaceae families, has been reported to exhibit an anti-cancer property on various cancers. However, the effects of Pris on esophageal cancer are poorly investigated. This current study sought to explore the activity and underlying mechanism of Pris against human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) cells.

Exposure, Retention, Exhalation, Symptoms, and Environmental Accumulation of Chemicals During JUUL Vaping.

Little is known about the chemical exposures that electronic cigarette (EC) users receive and emit during JUUL vaping and if exposures produce symptoms dose dependently. This study examined chemical exposure (dose), retention, symptoms during vaping, and the environmental accumulation of exhaled propylene glycol (PG), glycerol (G), nicotine, and menthol in a cohort of human participants who vaped JUUL "Menthol" ECs. We refer to this environmental accumulation as "EC exhaled aerosol residue" (ECEAR).

[Protective effect of vitamin D in mice with acute liver failure].

To explore the protective effect of vitamin D in acute liver failure through a mouse model. Acute liver failure was induced by combining D-galactosamine (D-GalN) lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to observe the effect of long-term vitamin D deficiency on liver injury and inflammatory signals in a mouse model. Acute liver failure was induced by thioacetamide (TAA) to observe the effect of vitamin D deficiency on the survival rate, and further high-dose of vitamin D supplementation protective effect was determined in a mouse model.

Correlation between biomarkers of exposure, effect and potential harm in the urine of electronic cigarette users.

Objectives: To determine if urinary biomarkers of effect and potential harm are elevated in electronic cigarette users compared with non-smokers and if elevation correlates with increased concentrations of metals in urine.

Study Design And Setting: This was a cross-sectional study of biomarkers of exposure, effect and potential harm in urine from non-smokers (n=20), electronic cigarette users (n=20) and cigarette smokers (n=13). Participant's screening and urine collection were performed at the Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, and biomarker analysis and metal analysis were performed at the University of California, Riverside.

Health Effects Associated With Electronic Cigarette Use: Automated Mining of Online Forums.

Background: Our previous infodemiological study was performed by manually mining health-effect data associated with electronic cigarettes (ECs) from online forums. Manual mining is time consuming and limits the number of posts that can be retrieved.

Objective: Our goal in this study was to automatically extract and analyze a large number (>41,000) of online forum posts related to the health effects associated with EC use between 2008 and 2015.

Identification of Cytotoxic Flavor Chemicals in Top-Selling Electronic Cigarette Refill Fluids.

We identified the most popular electronic cigarette (EC) refill fluids using an Internet survey and local and online sales information, quantified their flavor chemicals, and evaluated cytotoxicities of the fluids and flavor chemicals. "Berries/Fruits/Citrus" was the most popular EC refill fluid flavor category. Twenty popular EC refill fluids were purchased from local shops, and the ingredient flavor chemicals were identified and quantified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

A colorimetric immunosensor based on self-linkable dual-nanozyme for ultrasensitive bladder cancer diagnosis and prognosis monitoring.

We developed self-linkable Prussian blue (PB)-incorporated magnetic graphene oxide (PMGO) as a peroxidase-mimicking nanozyme with high oxidizability to 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB), which generates significant absorption intensity for the colorimetric immunosensing of apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1) in early bladder cancer (BC) diagnosis and prognosis monitoring. The ultrasensitive immunosensor was constructed using an ApoA1 antibody (Ab)-functionalized chip (biochip) and self-linkable peroxidase-mimicking, PB-incorporated magnetic graphene oxide (PMGO). After incubating the sample and capturing ApoA1 proteins captured on the biochip, the PMGO was functionalized with Ab, and then mouse IgG (PMGO-1), rabbit anti-mouse IgG antibody (PMGO-2), and goat anti-rabbit IgG antibody (PMGO-3) were added together.

Fabrication of a Nanogold-Dot Array for Rapid and Sensitive Detection of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Human Serum.

A simple and accurate device for early detection of malignancies is paramount for prompt treatment and prevention of metastases. In this study, we describe a novel fabrication method for producing an ordered nanogold-dot array with strong localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) and narrow bandwidth. The array was used as an optical biosensing chip for the detection of vascular endothelial growth factor 165 (VEGF165) in human serum.

Potential health effects of electronic cigarettes: A systematic review of case reports.

The health risks associated with electronic cigarettes (ECs) are largely unknown. The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate published case reports that deal with health effects attributed to EC use. An Internet search was conducted to identify case reports dealing with the effects of EC use on health.

Non-invasive, neuron-specific gene therapy by focused ultrasound-induced blood-brain barrier opening in Parkinson's disease mouse model.

Focused ultrasound (FUS)-induced with microbubbles (MBs) is a promising technique for noninvasive opening of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) to allow targeted delivery of therapeutic substances into the brain and thus the noninvasive delivery of gene vectors for CNS treatment. We have previously demonstrated that a separated gene-carrying liposome and MBs administration plus FUS exposure can deliver genes into the brain, with the successful expression of the reporter gene and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) gene. In this study, we further modify the delivery system by conjugating gene-carrying liposomes with MBs to improve the GDNF gene-delivery efficiency, and to verify the possibility of using this system to perform treatment in the 1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced animal disease model.

Puffing topography and nicotine intake of electronic cigarette users.

Background: Prior electronic cigarette (EC) topography data are based on two video analyses with limited parameters. Alternate methods for measuring topography are needed to understand EC use and nicotine intake.

Objectives: This study evaluated EC topography with a CReSS Pocket device and quantified nicotine intake.

A sensitive and selective magnetic graphene composite-modified polycrystalline-silicon nanowire field-effect transistor for bladder cancer diagnosis.

In this study, we describe the urinary quantification of apolipoprotein A II protein (APOA2 protein), a biomarker for the diagnosis of bladder cancer, using an n-type polycrystalline silicon nanowire field-effect transistor (poly-SiNW-FET). The modification of poly-SiNW-FET by magnetic graphene with long-chain acid groups (MGLA) synthesized via Friedel-Crafts acylation was compared with that obtained using short-chain acid groups (MGSA). Compared with MGSA, the MGLA showed a higher immobilization degree and bioactivity to the anti-APOA2 antibody (Ab) due to its lower steric hindrance.

Magnetic-composite-modified polycrystalline silicon nanowire field-effect transistor for vascular endothelial growth factor detection and cancer diagnosis.

This study proposes a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) biosensor for diagnosing various stages of cervical carcinoma. In addition, VEGF concentrations at various stages of cancer therapy are determined and compared to data obtained by computed tomography (CT) and cancer antigen 125 (CA-125). The increase in VEGF concentrations during operations offers useful insight into dosage timing during cancer therapy.

Amphiphilic polyesters bearing pendant sugar moieties: synthesis, characterization, and cellular uptake.

Ring-opening polymerization (ROP) and "click" reactions were used to prepare a series of amphiphilic block-graft (PαN₃CL-g-Sugar)-b-PCL polymers. The glycosylated RO-(PαN₃CL-g-Sugar)-b-PCL polymers formed micelles with critical micelle concentrations (CMCs) in the range of 4.9-23.

A colloidal suspension of nanostructured poly(N-butyl benzimidazole)-graphene sheets with high oxidase yield for analytical glucose and choline detections.

A colloidal suspension of nanostructured poly(N-butyl benzimidazole)-graphene sheets (PBBIns-Gs) was used to modify a gold electrode to form a three-dimensional PBBIns-Gs/Au electrode that was sensitive to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in the presence of acetic acid (AcOH). The positively charged nanostructured poly(N-butyl benzimidazole) (PBBIns) separated the graphene sheets (Gs) and kept them suspended in an aqueous solution. Additionally, graphene sheets (Gs) formed "diaphragms" that intercalated Gs, which separated PBBIns to prevent tight packing and enhanced the surface area.

Non-invasive synergistic treatment of brain tumors by targeted chemotherapeutic delivery and amplified focused ultrasound-hyperthermia using magnetic nanographene oxide.

The combination of chemo-thermal therapy is the best strategy to ablate tumors, but how to heat deep tumor tissues effectively without side-damage is a challenge. Here, a systemically delivered nanocarrier is designed with multiple advantages, including superior heat absorption, highly efficient hyperthermia, high drug capacity, specific targeting ability, and molecular imaging, to achieve both high antitumor efficacy and effective amplification of hyperthermia with minimal side effects.

Magnetic gold-nanorod/ PNIPAAmMA nanoparticles for dual magnetic resonance and photoacoustic imaging and targeted photothermal therapy.

Nanomedicine can provide a multi-functional platform for image-guided diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Although gold nanorods (GNRs) have been developed for photoacoustic (PA) imaging and near infra-red (NIR) photothermal applications, their efficiency has remained limited by low thermal stability. Here we present the synthesis, characterization, and functional evaluation of non-cytotoxic magnetic polymer-modified gold nanorods (MPGNRs), designed to act as dual magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and PA imaging contrast agents.

Health-related effects reported by electronic cigarette users in online forums.

Background: The health effects caused by electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use are not well understood.

Objective: Our purpose was to document the positive and negative short-term health effects produced by e-cigarette use through an analysis of original posts from three online e-cigarettes forums.

Methods: Data were collected into Microsoft Access databases and analyzed using Cytoscape association graphics, frequency distributions, and interactomes to determine the number and type of health effects reported, the organ systems affected the frequency of specific effects, and systems interactions.

High-κ GdTixOy sensing membrane-based electrolyte-insulator-semiconductor with magnetic nanoparticles as enzyme carriers for protein contamination-free glucose biosensing.

This paper reports an electrolyte-insulator-semiconductor (EIS) device featuring a novel high-κ GdTixOy sensing membrane for high-performance pH sensing and glucose biosensing. The effect of the annealing temperature (700, 800, or 900°C) on the sensing properties of the GdTixOy membranes was investigated. The GdTixOy EIS device annealed at 900°C exhibited the greatest pH sensing performance, including the highest sensitivity (62.

Preparation of highly conjugated water-dispersible graphene-butyric acid for the enhancement of electron transfer within polyamic acid-benzoxazole: potential applications in electrochemical sensing.

To break through the long time and complex procedures for the preparation of highly conjugated reduced graphene oxide (r-GO) in developing electrochemical sensor, a time-saving and simple method is investigated in this study. One novel step of the exfoliated accompanying carboxylated graphene sheet from pristine is achieved via Friedel-Crafts acylation. By electrophilic aromatic substitution, the succinic anhydride ring is opened and attaches covalently to the graphene sheet (Gs) to form exfoliated graphene with grafted 1-one-butyric acid (Gs-BA).

Bioconjugation of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator to magnetic nanocarriers for targeted thrombolysis.

Low-toxicity magnetic nanocarriers (MNCs) composed of a shell of poly [aniline-co-N-(1-one-butyric acid) aniline] over a Fe(3)O(4) magnetic nanoparticle core were developed to carry recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) in MNC-rtPA for targeted thrombolysis. With an average diameter of 14.8 nm, the MNCs exerted superparamagnetic properties.

Reusable sensor based on high magnetization carboxyl-modified graphene oxide with intrinsic hydrogen peroxide catalytic activity for hydrogen peroxide and glucose detection.

We propose a new strategy to improve the enzyme stability, construction and sensitivity of a multifunctional sensor. An exfoliated graphene oxide sheet with carboxyl-long-chains (GO-CLC) was prepared in one step from primitive graphite via Friedel-Crafts acylation. Magnetic nanoparticles, glucose oxidase (GOD) and poly[aniline-co-N-(1-one-butyric acid) aniline] (SPAnH) were then incorporated to form an electrochemical film (SPAnH-HMGO-CLC-GOD) for the detection of hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) and glucose.

Neuronavigation-guided focused ultrasound-induced blood-brain barrier opening: a preliminary study in swine.

Background And Purpose: FUS-induced BBB opening is a promising technique for noninvasive and local delivery of drugs into the brain. Here we propose the novel use of a neuronavigation system to guide the FUS-induced BBB opening procedure and investigate its feasibility in vivo in large animals.

Materials And Methods: We developed an interface between the neuronavigator and FUS to allow guidance of the focal energy produced by the FUS transducer.

Paramagnetic perfluorocarbon-filled albumin-(Gd-DTPA) microbubbles for the induction of focused-ultrasound-induced blood-brain barrier opening and concurrent MR and ultrasound imaging.

This paper presents new albumin-shelled Gd-DTPA microbubbles (MBs) that can concurrently serve as a dual-modality contrast agent for ultrasound (US) imaging and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging to assist blood-brain barrier (BBB) opening and detect intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) during focused ultrasound brain drug delivery. Perfluorocarbon-filled albumin-(Gd-DTPA) MBs were prepared with a mean diameter of 2320 nm and concentration of 2.903×10(9) MBs ml(-1) using albumin-(Gd-DTPA) and by sonication with perfluorocarbon (C(3)F(8)) gas.