Characterization of cellulase secretion and Cre1-mediated carbon source repression in the potential lignocellulose-degrading strain Trichoderma asperellum T-1.

Trichoderma asperellum, a traditional bio-control species, was demonstrated to be an excellent candidate for lignocellulose degradation in this work. Comparing to the representatively industrial strain of Trichoderma reeseiQM6a, T. asperellum T-1 showed more robust growth, stronger spore production, faster secretion of lignocellulose-decomposing enzymes and better pH tolerance.

The complete chloroplast genome sequence of Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.).

Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) is a traditional medical plants of Asia. In this study, the complete chloroplast genome of safflower was presented.

The complete chloroplast genome sequence of Perilla frutescens (L.).

Perilla frutescens (L.) is a traditionally medical herb of East Asia. The complete chloroplast genome of P.

Dysregulated CXCR4 expression promotes lymphoma cell survival and independently predicts disease progression in germinal center B-cell-like diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

Abnormal expression of the chemokine receptor CXCR4 plays an essential role in tumor cell dissemination and disease progression. However, the significance of CXCR4 overexpression in de novo diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is unknown. In 743 patients with de novo diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) who received standard Rituximab-CHOP immunochemotherapy, we assessed the expression of CXCR4 and dissected its prognostic significance in various DLBCL subsets.

Biological stimuli-responsive cyclodextrin-based host-guest nanosystems for cancer therapy.

Stimuli-responsive nanosystems are of particular interest in cancer therapy, owing to their impressive capability to enable the on-demand drug release in response to specific biological stimuli in tumor microenvironments (such as pH, redox and enzyme, etc.). Cyclodextrin (CD)-based host-guest interactions provide a flexible and powerful platform for the development of multifunctional nanosystems.

Validation of an Alzheimer's disease assessment battery in Asian participants with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease.

There is a lack of validated tools for assessing Alzheimer's disease (AD) across Asia. This study evaluates the psychometric properties of the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive Subscale (ADAS-Cog), Disability Assessment for Dementia (DAD), and Neuropsychological Test Battery (NTB) in Asian participants. Participants with mild to moderate AD (n=251) and healthy controls (n=51) from Mainland China, Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong, and South Korea completed selected instruments at several time points.

Flow cytometry immunophenotypic analysis of Philadelphia-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms: Correlation with histopathologic features.

Background: Compared with the proven utility of flow cytometry immunophenotyping (FCI) analysis in the workup of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), immunophenotypic alterations in myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) have been less studied and the potential utility of FCI is not defined.

Methods: Bone marrow (BM) samples of 83 Philadelphia-negative MPN patients were assessed by multicolor FCI including 27 with essential thrombocythemia (ET); 17 polycythemia vera (PV); 33 primary myelofibrosis (PMF) and 6 MPN-unclassifiable (MPN-U). The time interval from initial diagnosis of MPN to FCI analysis was 18 months (0-370).

Flow cytometry immunophenotypic analysis of Philadelphia-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms: Correlation with histopathologic features.

Background: Compared with the proven utility of flow cytometry immunophenotyping (FCI) analysis in the workup of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), immunophenotypic alterations in myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) have been less studied and the potential utility of FCI is not defined. Methods: Bone marrow (BM) samples of 83 Philadelphia-negative MPN patients were assessed by multicolor FCI including 27 with essential thrombocythemia (ET); 17 polycythemia vera (PV); 33 primary myelofibrosis (PMF) and 6 MPN-unclassifiable (MPN-U). The time interval from initial diagnosis of MPN to FCI analysis was 18 months (0-370).

Population genetic data of 15 STR loci in Gansu Han population from China.

The genetic polymorphisms of 15 autosomal short tandem repeat (STR) loci included in the AmpFISTR Sinofiler™ kit were evaluated in 547 healthy unrelated Han individuals from Gansu, China. All of the loci reached the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium after the Bonferroni correction (p > 0.0033).

Sweetpotato vines hydrolysate promotes single cell oils production of Trichosporon fermentans in high-density molasses fermentation.

This study investigated the co-fermentation of molasses and sweetpotato vine hydrolysate (SVH) by Trichosporon fermentans. T. fermentans showed low lipid accumulation on pure molasses; however, its lipid content increased by 35% when 10% SVH was added.

Demethylation of neferine in human liver microsomes and formation of quinone methide metabolites mediated by CYP3A4 accentuates its cytotoxicity.

Neferine is a bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid isolated from the seed embryos of Nelumbonucifera Gaertn (Lotus) with various potent pharmacological effects. Recently, neferine has attracted attention for its anti-tumor activities. Our study explored its metabolism and cytotoxicity mechanism.

Regulation of CRADD-caspase 2 cascade by histone deacetylase 1 in gastric cancer.

CRADD, also referred as RAIDD, is an adaptor protein that could interact with both caspase 2 and RIP that can promote apoptosis once activated. HDAC inhibitors are promising anti-cancer agents by inducing apoptosis of various cancer cells. In this study, we found that CRADD was induced by TSA (trichostatin A) to activate caspase 2-dependent apoptosis.

Flow cytometry immunophenotypic findings in chronic myelomonocytic leukemia and its utility in monitoring treatment response.

Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) is a myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative neoplasm, characterized by persistent monocytosis. Due to the lack of unique surface markers expressed by neoplastic monocytes and the frequent CD34-negative blast immunophenotype, the diagnostic value of flow cytometric immunophenotyping (FCI) in CMML is rarely studied. In this study, by using a multicolor FCI assay, we assessed bone marrow (BM) immunophenotypical alterations in 118 CMML patients and follow-up BM samples in 35 of these patients.

Gene therapy for hemophilia B with liver-specific element mediated by Rep-RBE site-specific integration system.

Adeno-associated virus (AAV) is a nonpathogenic virus capable of targeting human chromosome 19 for integration at AAVS1 site, and a 16 bp Rep binding element (RBE) sequence of AAV was sufficient for mediating this specific integration in the presence of AAV regulation proteins (Rep). Previously, we cotransduced 2 plasmids, pRBE-CMV-hFIX and pRC, into the AAVS1 transgenic mice by hydrodynamic injection, and a long-term expression of human coagulation Factor IX (hFIX) was observed. The corresponding AAVS1 locus site-specific integrations were verified by nested polymerase chain reaction.

Break CDK2/Cyclin E1 interface allosterically with small peptides.

Most inhibitors of Cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) target its ATP-binding pocket. It is difficult, however, to use this pocket to design very specific inhibitors because this catalytic pocket is highly conserved in the protein family of CDKs. Here we report some short peptides targeting a noncatalytic pocket near the interface of the CDK2/Cyclin complex.

Effects of laparoscopic versus minilaparotomic myomectomy on uterine leiomyoma: a meta-analysis.

A meta-analysis was conducted to assess the effects of laparoscopic versus minilaparotomic myomectomy on uterine leiomyoma in premenopausal women. We performed a computerized search of MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane Library from 1996 to 2104. From 711 studies, a total of 4 studies met our inclusion criteria, and a meta-analytic technique was used to study the 4 randomized controlled trials involving 577 women with symptomatic uterine leiomyoma.

Engineering Aspergillus oryzae A-4 through the chromosomal insertion of foreign cellulase expression cassette to improve conversion of cellulosic biomass into lipids.

A genetic modification scheme was designed for Aspergillus oryzae A-4, a natural cellulosic lipids producer, to enhance its lipid production from biomass by putting the spotlight on improving cellulase secretion. Four cellulase genes were separately expressed in A-4 under the control of hlyA promoter, with the help of the successful development of a chromosomal genetic manipulation system. Comparison of cellulase activities of PCR-positive transformants showed that these transformants integrated with celA gene and with celC gene had significantly (p<0.

Cardiac tissue slice transplantation as a model to assess tissue-engineered graft thickness, survival, and function.

Background: Cell therapies offer the potential to improve cardiac function after myocardial infarction. Although injection of single-cell suspensions has proven safe, cell retention and survival rates are low. Tissue-engineered grafts allow cell delivery with minimal initial cell loss and mechanical support to the heart.

Let-7d suppresses growth, metastasis, and tumor macrophage infiltration in renal cell carcinoma by targeting COL3A1 and CCL7.

Background: MicroRNAs are endogenous small noncoding RNAs that are functionally involved in numerous critical cellular processes including tumorigenesis. Data mining using a microRNA array database suggested that let-7d microRNA may be associated with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) malignant progression. Here, we performed further analyses to determine whether let-7d is functionally linked to RCC malignancy.

Asymmetric epoxidation of unsaturated ketones catalyzed by heterobimetallic rare earth-lithium complexes bearing phenoxy-functionalized chiral diphenylprolinolate ligand.

Four novel heterobimetallic complexes [REL2]{[(THF)3Li]2(μ-Cl)} stabilized by chiral phenoxy-functionalized prolinolate (RE = Yb (1), Y (2), Sm (3), Nd (4), H2L = (S)-2,4-di-tert-butyl-6-[[2-(hydroxydiphenylmethyl)pyrrolidin-1-yl]methyl]phenol have been synthesized and characterized. These readily available complexes are highly active in catalyzing the epoxidation of α,β-unsaturated ketones, while the enantioselectivity varies according to the ionic radii of the rare earth center. A series of chalcone derivatives were converted to chiral epoxides in 80 → 99% ee at 0 °C using TBHP as the oxidant in the presence of 10 mol % of 1.

Fluorescent Probes for Subcellular Localization during Osteclast Formation.

Labeling of a small bioactive molecule with fluorescent probe has been becoming an essential tool in cell biology to reveal the subcellular distribution and the location of a molecular target. QOA-8a is a novel molecule with potent antiosteoporotic effect in vivo. To investigate the molecular mechanism of QOA-8a, novel fluorescence-tagged chemical probes as bioactive as their parent molecule were designed and synthesized.

[Incidence and clinicopathological characteristics of incidental prostatic adenocarcinoma in radical cystoprostatectomy specimens].

Objective: To analyze the incidence and clinicopathological features of incidental prostate cancer (IPCa) in specimens from radical cystoprostatectomy (RCP) for bladder cancer.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the histopathological features of 865 male patients who underwent an RCP between January 2005 and March 2014. No patients had preoperative clinical or biological suspicion of prostate cancer (PCa).

Discovery of highly potent TNFα inhibitors using virtual screen.

Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) is a validated therapeutic target for various autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis and asthma. All TNFα inhibitors currently on the market are biologics, making the development of small molecule alternatives in urgent need. However, only a few successful cases of direct TNFα antagonization in vitro have been reported.

New tumor suppressor CXXC finger protein 4 inactivates mitogen activated protein kinase signaling.

As a well-characterized master player in epigenetic regulatory network, EZH2 is widely implicated in the development of many malignancies. We previously found that EZH2 promoted Wnt/β-catenin activation through downregulation of CXXC4 expression. In this report, we demonstrated that CXXC4 inhibited MAPK signaling through binding to ERK-1/2 and abrogating the interaction of ERK 1/2 with MEK1/2.

YY1-MIR372-SQSTM1 regulatory axis in autophagy.

Autophagy is a self-proteolytic process that degrades intracellular material to enable cellular survival under unfavorable conditions. However, how autophagy is activated in human carcinogenesis remains largely unknown. Herein we report an epigenetic regulation of autophagy in human cancer cells.