The role of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate in cancer initiation and progression: Mechanisms and health implications.

The increasing prevalence of cancer has been linked to various environmental factors associated with modern industrial and societal advancements. Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), a commonly used plasticizer, is one such environmental contaminant with potential carcinogenic effects. While epidemiological studies have suggested a positive association between DEHP exposure and cancer risk, the specific role of DEHP in cancer initiation and progression requires further clarification.

Influenza neuraminidase mutations and resistance to neuraminidase inhibitors.

Mutations in influenza virus neuraminidase (NA) can lead to viral resistance to NA inhibitors (NAIs). To update global influenza NA mutations and resistance to NAIs, we investigated epidemic information from global regions for NAIs-resistant influenza strains and analyzed their NA mutations. Drug-resistant mutations in NA, especially new mutations occurred in 2016-2024, were updated.

Ammonium sulfate denatures transport medium less dependent on guanidinium isothiocyanate and enables SARS-CoV-2 RNA and antigen detection compatibility.

Introduction: Rapid identification of infected individuals through viral RNA or antigen detection followed by effective personal isolation is usually the most effective way to prevent the spread of a newly emerging virus. Large-scale detection involves mass specimen collection and transportation. For biosafety reasons, denaturing viral transport medium has been extensively used during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

Drug Repositioning for Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease.

Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is a highly contagious disease in children caused by a group of enteroviruses. HFMD currently presents a major threat to infants and young children because of a lack of antiviral drugs in clinical practice. Drug repositioning is an attractive drug discovery strategy aimed at identifying and developing new drugs for diseases.

Recent advances in mesoporous silica nanoparticle-based targeted drug-delivery systems for cancer therapy.

Targeted drug-delivery systems are a growing research topic in tumor treatment. In recent years, mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) have been extensively studied and applied in noninvasive and biocompatible drug-delivery systems for tumor therapy due to their outstanding advantages, which include high surface area, large pore volume, tunable pore size, easy surface modification and stable framework. The advances in the application of MSNs for anticancer drug targeting are covered and highlighted in this review, and the challenges and prospects of MSN-based targeted drug-delivery systems are discussed.

In-vitro antiviral activity of doxepin hydrochloride against group B coxsackievirus.

Group B coxsackievirus is an enterovirus that can cause a variety of diseases, including myocarditis, aseptic meningitis, and hand, foot, and mouth disease. Currently, there is no effective antiviral drug against this virus. In this study, we used a cytopathic effect-based viral inhibition assay to screen an FDA-approved drug library and found that doxepin hydrochloride had potential antiviral activity.

Heat Shock Protein A6 Is Especially Involved in Enterovirus 71 Infection.

Hand foot and mouth disease (HFMD) caused by Enterovirus 71 (EV71) infection is still a major infectious disease threatening children's life and health in the absence of effective antiviral drugs due to its high prevalence and neurovirulence. A study of EV71-specific host response might shed some light on the reason behind its unique epidemiologic features and help to find means to conquer EV71 infection. We reported that host heat shock protein A6 (HSPA6) was induced by EV71 infection and involved infection in both Rhabdomyosarcoma (RD) cells and neurogliocytes.

TCDD-induced IL-24 secretion in human chorionic stromal cells inhibits placental trophoblast cell migration and invasion.

Environmental pollutant dioxins are potentially harmful to pregnant women and can lead to severe adverse outcomes in pregnancy, such as spontaneous abortion and stillbirth. However, little is currently known about the underlying toxicological mechanism. Our previous study reported that the IL-24 gene is a dioxin response gene during 2, 3, 7, 8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) treatment.

Techno-functional properties and immunomodulatory potential of exopolysaccharide from Lactiplantibacillus plantarum MM89 isolated from human breast milk.

An exopolysaccharide, designated as MM89-EPS, was isolated from Lactiplantibacillus plantarum MM89. It was comprised of glucose and mannose molecules with an average molecular weight of 138 kDa. FTIR and NMR spectra showed that MM89-EPS had characteristic polysaccharide functional groups.

Therapeutic potential of Moringa oleifera seed polysaccharide embedded silver nanoparticles in wound healing.

Wound healing is a complicated process that influences patient's life quality. Plant-based polysaccharide has recently gained interest in its use in wound dressing materials because of its biological compatibility, natural abundance, and ideal physiochemical properties. The present study reveals the potential of polysaccharide isolated from Moringa oleifera seed (MOS-PS) and its nanocomposite with silver (MOS-PS-AgNPs) as alternative materials for wound dressing.

Immune Checkpoints in Viral Infections.

As evidence has mounted that virus-infected cells, such as cancer cells, negatively regulate the function of T-cells via immune checkpoints, it has become increasingly clear that viral infections similarly exploit immune checkpoints as an immune system escape mechanism. Although immune checkpoint therapy has been successfully used in cancer treatment, numerous studies have suggested that such therapy may also be highly relevant for treating viral infection, especially chronic viral infections. However, it has not yet been applied in this manner.

Anti-inflammatory properties of uvaol on DSS-induced colitis and LPS-stimulated macrophages.

Background: leaves are used as a kind of phytomedicine and the main ingredient in some traditional Chinese medicine products for the relief of colitis. To understand the bioactive constituents of L., we did a phytochemistry study and investigated anti-Inflammatory effects of compounds and explored the underlying mechanisms.

IKKε phosphorylates kindlin-2 to induce invadopodia formation and promote colorectal cancer metastasis.

Invadopodia formation is a key driver of cancer metastasis. The noncanonical IkB-related kinase IKKε has been implicated in cancer metastasis, but its roles in invadopodia formation and colorectal cancer (CRC) metastasis are unclear. : Immunofluorescence, gelatin-degradation assay, wound healing assay and transwell invasion assay were used to determine the influence of IKKε over-expression, knockdown and pharmacological inhibition on invadopodia formation and the migratory and invasive capacity of CRC cells .

Gypenoside L Inhibits Proliferation of Liver and Esophageal Cancer Cells by Inducing Senescence.

Senescence is an irreversible state of cell cycle arrest that can be triggered by multiple stimuli, such as oxygen reactive species and DNA damage. Growing evidence has proven that senescence is a tumor-suppressive approach in cancer treatment. Therefore, developing novel agents that modulate senescence may be an alternative strategy against cancer.

Ursolic Acid Isolated from the Leaves of Loquat ( Eriobotrya japonica) Inhibited Osteoclast Differentiation through Targeting Exportin 5.

One of the conventional strategies for treating osteoporosis is to eliminate the multinucleated osteoclasts that are responsible for bone resorption. Our previous study revealed that ursolic acid, isolated from leaves of loquat that is used as tasty tea in Japan, suppressed osteoclastogenesis. We confirmed that ursolic acid exhibited osteoclast differentiation inhibitory activity with an 50% inhibitory concentration (IC) value of 5.

Changes in content of triterpenoids and polysaccharides in Ganoderma lingzhi at different growth stages.

Ganoderma lingzhi is a traditional medicinal mushroom, and its extract contains many bioactive compounds. Triterpenoids and polysaccharides are the primary bioactive components that contribute to its medicinal properties. In this study, we quantified 18 triterpenoids, total triterpenoid content and total polysaccharide content in the ethanol and water extracts of G.

Rho-kinase inhibitors from adlay seeds.

Rho-kinase enzymes are one of the most important targets recently identified in our bodies. Several lines of evidence indicate that these enzymes are involved in many diseases and cellular disorders. ROCK inhibitors may have clinical applications for cancer, hypertension, glaucoma, etc.

Anti-herpes simplex virus type 1 activity of Houttuynoid A, a flavonoid from Houttuynia cordata Thunb.

Early events in herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infection reactivate latent human immunodeficiency virus, Epstein-Barr virus, and human papillomavirus in the presence of acyclovir (ACV). The common use of nucleoside analog medications, such as ACV and pencyclovir, has resulted in the emergence of drug-resistant HSV-1 strains in clinical therapy. Therefore, new antiherpetics that can inhibit early events in HSV-1 infection should be developed.

Fluorescence assay of dihydroorotate dehydrogenase that may become a cancer biomarker.

We developed an assay method for measuring dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) activity in cultured HeLa cells and fibroblasts, and in stage III stomach cancer and adjacent normal tissues from the same patient. The assay comprised enzymatic reaction of DHODH with a large amount of dihydroorotic acid substrate, followed by fluorescence (FL) detection specific for orotic acid using the 4-trifluoromethyl-benzamidoxime fluorogenic reagent. The DHODH activities in the biologically complex samples were readily measured by the assay method.

Tubulin polymerization-stimulating activity of Ganoderma triterpenoids.

Tubulin polymerization is an important target for anticancer therapies. Even though the potential of Ganoderma triterpenoids against various cancer targets had been well documented, studies on their tubulin polymerization-stimulating activity are scarce. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of Ganoderma triterpenoids on tubulin polymerization.

Partial contribution of Rho-kinase inhibition to the bioactivity of Ganoderma lingzhi and its isolated compounds: insights on discovery of natural Rho-kinase inhibitors.

Recent studies identified Rho-kinase enzymes (ROCK-I and ROCK-II) as important targets that are involved in a variety of diseases. Synthetic Rho-kinase inhibitors have emerged as potential therapeutic agents to treat disorders such as hypertension, stroke, cancer, diabetes, glaucoma, etc. Our study is the first to screen the total ethanol extract of the medicinal mushroom Ganoderma lingzhi with thirty-five compounds for Rho-kinase inhibitory activity.

Biological Activities of Extracts from Different Parts of Cryptomeria japonica.

Cryptomeria japonica is one of the most important forest tree species in Japan. To increase the demand for domestic timber, broad uses related to the functional attributes of C. japonica must be developed.

Improved Biological Activities of Isoepoxypteryxin by Biotransformation.

Isoepoxypteryxin is the major coumarin of a Japanese medicinal plant Angelica shikokiana. This research was designed to study the effect of structural changes through fungal biotransformation on the reported biological activities of isoepoxypteryxin. Among the tested microorganisms, only Cordyceps sinensis had enzymes that could catalyze the ester hydrolysis and the reductive cleavage of the epoxide ring of isoepoxypteryxin, separately, to give two more polar metabolites (+)-cis-khellactone (P1) and a new coumarin derivative (+)-cis-3'-[(2-methyl-3-hydroxybutanoyl)oxy]-4'-acetoxy-3',4'-dihydroseselin (P2), respectively.