Distribution of metastases after radiotherapy in relation to radiation exposure fields: evaluation by F-FDG PET/CT.

To evaluate the distribution of metastases after radiotherapy using F-Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (F-FDG PET/CT). 67 patients with 501 new metastases revealed by 18F-FDG PET/CT after radiotherapy were included in this retrospective study. The metastases were divided into radiation area (RA) and non-radiation area (NRA), based on their locations inside or outside the radiation exposure field.

Biotransformation of mogrosides from Siraitia grosvenorii by Ganoderma lucidum mycelium and the purification of mogroside III E by macroporous resins.

Mogrosides are the major triterpenoidal saponins found in swingle, the fruit of Siraitia grosvenorii, which have recently been widely used throughout the world as natural food sweeteners. Among this class of compounds, mogroside III E (MG III E) exhibits the most intense sweetness, and it was also found to effectively regulate blood glucose levels. However, the relative abundance of naturally occurring MG III E is low compared to other mogrosides.

4-Hydroxybenzoic acid serves as an endogenous ring precursor for antroquinonol biosynthesis in Antrodia cinnamomea.

Antrodia cinnamomea, an endemic fungus species of Taiwan, has long been used as a luxurious dietary supplement to enhance liver functions and as a remedy for various cancers. Antroquinonol (AQ), identified from the mycelium of A. cinnamomea, is currently in phase II clinical trials in the USA and Taiwan for the treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer.

Risk of developing obstructive sleep apnea among women with polycystic ovarian syndrome: a nationwide longitudinal follow-up study.

Background: Previous cross-sectional studies have suggested a comorbid relationship between polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). However, the temporal association between these two distinct diseases has not yet been investigated.

Methods: Using the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database, 4595 women with PCOS and 4595 (1:1) age-/sex-matched controls were enrolled into the present study between 1998 and 2009, and followed to the end of 2011.

Biosynthesis of Antroquinonol and 4-Acetylantroquinonol B via a Polyketide Pathway Using Orsellinic Acid as a Ring Precursor in Antrodia cinnamomea.

Antroquinonol (AQ) and 4-acetylantroquinonol B (4-AAQB), isolated from the mycelium of Antrodia cinnamomea, have a similar chemical backbone to coenzyme Q (CoQ). Based on the postulation that biosynthesis of both AQ and 4-AAQB in A. cinnamomea starts from the polyketide pathway, we cultivated this fungus in a culture medium containing [U-C]oleic acid, and then we analyzed the crude extracts of the mycelium using UHPLC-MS.

Hyperproduction of β-Glucanase Exg1 Promotes the Bioconversion of Mogrosides in Saccharomyces cerevisiae Mutants Defective in Mannoprotein Deposition.

Bacteria and fungi can secrete extracellular enzymes to convert macromolecules into smaller units. Hyperproduction of extracellular enzymes is often associated with alterations in cell wall structure in fungi. Recently, we identified that Saccharomyces cerevisiae kre6Δ mutants can efficiently convert mogroside V into mogroside III E, which has antidiabetic properties.

7.0 T high-resolution 1H-MR spectroscopy of metabolic changes induced by chronic codeine phosphate in rat hippocampus.

Codeine phosphate is used widely to treat cough and pain. It is actually a sedative, but is known to cause codeine dependence. The exact mechanisms of codeine dependence are not fully understood, but are generally believed to be related to drug-induced neuroadaptation.

Structural properties of Al-rich AlInN grown on c-plane GaN substrate by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition.

The attractive prospect for AlInN/GaN-based devices for high electron mobility transistors with advanced structure relies on high-quality AlInN epilayer. In this work, we demonstrate the growth of high-quality Al-rich AlInN films deposited on c-plane GaN substrate by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and scanning transmission electron microscopy show that the films lattice-matched with GaN can have a very smooth surface with good crystallinity and uniform distribution of Al and In in AlInN.

Defects in semipolar (1122) ZnO grown on (112) LaAlO3/(La,Sr)(Al,Ta)O3 substrate by pulsed laser deposition.

The microstructure of semipolar [Formula: see text] ZnO deposited on (112) LaAlO3/(La,Sr)(Al,Ta)O3 was investigated by transmission electron microscopy. The ZnO shows an in-plane epitaxial relationship of [Formula: see text] with oxygen-face sense polarity. The misfit strain along [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] is relieved through the formation of misfit dislocations with the Burgers vectors [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], respectively.

Targeting the PI3K-Akt pathway in kidney cancer.

Kidney cancer, or renal cell carcinoma, is a relatively rare malignancy but is metastatic at diagnosis in a third of patients; metastatic disease has a dismal prognosis. Conventional chemotherapy has been woefully inadequate, thus novel targets for 'designer' therapies are being actively evaluated. The PI3K-Akt signaling cascade, owing to its dual role in both survival and mitogenic signaling, is in theory an ideal therapeutic target for this disease, but may also represent its fatal flaw.

Attenuation of PTEN increases p21 stability and cytosolic localization in kidney cancer cells: a potential mechanism of apoptosis resistance.

Background: The PTEN (Phosphatase and Tensin homolog deleted on chromosome Ten) tumor suppressor gene is frequently mutated or deleted in a wide variety of solid tumors, and these cancers are generally more aggressive and difficult to treat than those possessing wild type PTEN. While PTEN lies upstream of the phosphoinositide-3 kinase signaling pathway, the mechanisms that mediate its effects on tumor survival remain incompletely understood. Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is associated with frequent treatment failures (approximately 90% in metastatic cases), and these tumors frequently contain PTEN abnormalities.

p21 is a prognostic marker for renal cell carcinoma: implications for novel therapeutic approaches.

Purpose: Kidney cancer, although relatively rare compared to other malignancies, is the most lethal of the common urological malignancies. Current treatments are inadequate as evidenced by a poor 5-year survival of patients with metastatic disease. Since there exists a significant disparity in the survival of patients with localized vs metastatic disease, efforts are under way to identify molecular markers of progression as well as targets for novel therapeutic approaches.

Pathway analysis of kidney cancer using proteomics and metabolic profiling.

Background: Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the sixth leading cause of cancer death and is responsible for 11,000 deaths per year in the US. Approximately one-third of patients present with disease which is already metastatic and for which there is currently no adequate treatment, and no biofluid screening tests exist for RCC. In this study, we have undertaken a comprehensive proteomic analysis and subsequently a pathway and network approach to identify biological processes involved in clear cell RCC (ccRCC).

Bioactive compounds in legumes and their germinated products.

Nineteen domestic legume varieties, including 6 soybeans, 7 black soybeans, 4 azuki beans, and 2 mung beans, were evaluated for contents of dietary fiber, total phenolics, and flavonoids. Nine varieties of legumes (black soybean TN6, TN3, BM, and WY; soybean KS1, KS2, and KS8; azuki bean AKS5 and AKS6) were good sources of bioactive compounds and were selected for germination tests. After short- and long-term germinations, the bioactive compounds were determined and compared with compositions of isoflavones in soybeans.