Two Debaryomyces hansenii strains as starter cultures for improving the nutritional and sensory quality of dry-cured pork belly.

Dry-cured meat products are gaining attention owing to their distinctive sensory characteristics and health benefits. In this study, two Debaryomyces hansenii strains were investigated for their potential as starter cultures for dry-cured pork belly products. After preliminary screening, these D.

Establishment of the glioma polyploid giant cancer cell model by a modified PHA-DMSO-PEG fusion method following dual drug-fluorescence screening in vitro.

Background: In glioma, cell fusion and the number of the polyploid giant cancer cells (PGCC) were found to be augmented with tumor grades (WHO Ⅰ-Ⅳ) and closely related to poor prognosis. However, the pathological and molecular characteristics of glioma PGCCs remain unclear due to the lack of cell model in vitro and in vivo.

New Method: Here, we reported a novel approach to obtain the glioma PGCCs by the PHA-DMSO-PEG fusion method following dual drug-fluorescence screening in vitro.

Isolation and identification of putative precursors of the volatile sulfur compounds and their inhibition methods in heat-sterilized melon juices.

Volatile sulfur compounds, such as dimethyl sulfide, dimethyl disulfide and dimethyl trisulfide, cause the off-flavor in heat-sterilized juices and limit the commercial production of juices. In this study, we investigated the precursors for these volatile sulfur compounds and analyzed the potential inhibition methods. Upon separation of melon juice components using resin column, the dimethyl sulfide precursor was present in the acidic fraction whereas the dimethyl trisulfide precursor was present in neutral and acidic fractions.

The enhanced efficacy of herpes simplex virus by lentivirus mediated VP22 and cytosine deaminase gene therapy against glioma.

Despite the comprehensive treatment of surgery following by concurrent radiochemotherapy, the prognosis of malignant glioma remains unsatisfactory with an awful median survival time of only 12-18 months. This might be improved by the development of oncolytic herpes simplex virus. However, the biggest challenge of recombinant herpes simplex virus (rHSV) lies in their limited therapeutic efficiency in clinical trials.

Overexpression of STAT1 suppresses angiogenesis under hypoxia by regulating VEGF‑A in human glioma cells.

Hypoxia is common in Glioblastoma (GBM). By regulating the 'hypoxia signaling cascade', hypoxia affects several processes including cell proliferation, invasion, and angiogenesis. Some studies have revealed that signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT), including STAT1, is abnormal under hypoxia in several cancers.

Ran binding protein 9 (RanBPM) binds IFN-λR1 in the IFN-λ signaling pathway.

Like the type I interferons (IFNs), the recently discovered cytokine IFN-λ displays antiviral, antiproliferative, and proapoptotic activities, mediated by a heterodimeric IFN-λ receptor complex composed of a unique IFN-λR1 chain and the IL-10R2 chain. However, the molecular mechanism of the IFN-λ-regulated pathway remains unclear. In this study, we newly identified RAN-binding protein M (RanBPM) as a binding partner of IFN-λR1.

Knockdown of P4HA1 inhibits neovascularization via targeting glioma stem cell-endothelial cell transdifferentiation and disrupting vascular basement membrane.

Emerging evidence has demonstrated transdifferentiation process of glioma stem cells (GSCs) into endothelial cells (ECs) in glioma neovascularization. Herein, we focused on screening for genes that were differentially expressed in the transdifferentiation process using microarray analysis. Bioinformatics analysis revealed differential expression of the prolyl 4-hydroxylase subunit alpha-1 (P4HA1) gene.

Ferritin heavy chain as a molecular imaging reporter gene in glioma xenografts.

Purpose: The development of glioma therapy in clinical practice (e.g., gene therapy) calls for efficiently visualizing and tracking glioma cells in vivo.

Inhibition of fatty acid synthase suppresses neovascularization via regulating the expression of VEGF-A in glioma.

Purpose: Fatty acids (FAs) are essential for membrane lipids biosynthesis and energy consumption in cancer cells. De novo FAs synthesis is catalyzed by fatty acid synthase (FASN), which is overexpressed and correlates with histological grade in glioma. Herein, we focused on the role of FASN in glioma neovascularization.

Identification of the metastasis potential and its associated genes in melanoma multinucleated giant cells using the PHA-ECM830 fusion method.

Malignant melanoma causes skin cancer with high rates of mortality. Multinucleated giant cells (MGCs) are frequently observed in tumor pathological analysis, especially in metastasized sites, and are related to poor prognosis. However, the role of MGCs in melanoma development and metastasis is currently unknown.

Identification of the proliferative effect of Smad2 and 3 in the TGF β2/Smad signaling pathway using RNA interference in a glioma cell line.

Gliomas are the most frequently occurring primary tumor in the brain. The most malignant form of glioma, glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), is characterized by rapid and invasive growth and is restricted to the central nervous system (CNS). The transforming growth factor β2 (TGFβ2)/small mothers against decapentaplegic (Smad) signaling pathway is important, not only in GBM cell metabolism and invasion, but also in GBM cell proliferation.

Lung metastasis of pancreatic carcinoma is regulated by TGFβ signaling.

The molecular regulation of the lung metastasis of pancreatic carcinoma (PCC) is not completely understood. Here, we show that the levels of phosphorylated SMAD3, ZEB1, ZEB2, Snail1, and Snail2 were significantly higher in PCC with lung metastasis than in PCC without lung metastasis. Overexpression of TGFβ1 enhanced the invasiveness of PCC cells, while inhibition of TGFβ1 decreased the invasiveness of PCC cells, which appeared to be conducted by activated TGFβ receptor signaling-induced upregulation of ZEB1, ZEB2, Snail1, and Snail2, suggesting a process of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT).

Enhanced antitumor efficacy of an oncolytic herpes simplex virus expressing an endostatin-angiostatin fusion gene in human glioblastoma stem cell xenografts.

Viruses have demonstrated strong potential for the therapeutic targeting of glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs). In this study, the use of a herpes simplex virus carrying endostatin-angiostatin (VAE) as a novel therapeutic targeting strategy for glioblastoma-derived cancer stem cells was investigated. We isolated six stable GSC-enriched cultures from 36 human glioblastoma specimens and selected one of the stable GSCs lines for establishing GSC-carrying orthotopic nude mouse models.

The methylation status of the platelet-derived growth factor-B gene promoter and its regulation of cellular proliferation following folate treatment in human glioma cells.

Platelet-derived growth factor-B (PDGF-B) is a growth factor that regulates cell migration, proliferation, and differentiation, and is involved in several physical and pathological processes. The overexpression of PDGF-B in glioma surgical samples revealed its effect on tumorigenesis. In this study, we determined that the expression of PDGF-B in 54 glioma samples varied among different grades and was correlated with the cell proliferation marker, Ki-67.

[Fusion of melanoma cells using a modified phytohaemagglutinin-ECM830 fusion method].

Objective: To study melanoma cell fusion and find a highly efficient fusion method for tumor cells.

Methods: Melanoma cells were labeled with green fluorescent protein and red fluorescent protein, respectively, and fused by a modified phytohaemagglutinin (PHA)-ECM830 fusion method. Melanoma fusion cells were selected by the fluorescence activated cell sorting.

Collision tumors of the sella: coexistence of pituitary adenoma and craniopharyngioma in the sellar region.

Collision tumors of the sellar region are relatively uncommon and consist mainly of more than one type of pituitary adenoma or a cyst or cystic tumor. The association of a pituitary adenoma and a craniopharyngioma is particularly rare. This study describes a rare occurrence in which a pituitary adenoma and a craniopharyngioma coexisted in the sellar region.

Fusion between tumor cells enhances melanoma metastatic potential.

Purpose: Malignant melanoma, characterized by early distant metastasis to the lungs and brain, is a leading cause of mortality related to skin cancer. Cell fusion and the subsequent aneuploidy, commonly observed in melanoma, are associated with poor prognosis. However, the pathological consequences of cell fusion in melanoma remain unknown.

Avian influenza A virus H5N1 causes autophagy-mediated cell death through suppression of mTOR signaling.

Of the few avian influenza viruses that have crossed the species barrier to infect humans, the highly pathogenic influenza A (H5N1) strain has claimed the lives of more than half of the infected patients. With largely unknown mechanism of lung injury by H5N1 infection, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is the major cause of death among the victims. Here we present the fact that H5N1 caused autophagic cell death through suppression of mTOR signaling.

Efficacy of combined inhibition of mTOR and ERK/MAPK pathways in treating a tuberous sclerosis complex cell model.

Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is an autosomal dominant tumor syndrome which afflicts multiple organs and for which there is no cure, such that TSC patients may develop severe mental retardation and succumb to renal or respiratory failure. TSC derives from inactivating mutations of either the TSC1 or TSC2 tumor suppressor gene, and the resulting inactivation of the TSC1/TSC2 protein complex causes hyperactivation of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), leading to uncontrolled cell growth and proliferation. Recent clinical trials of targeted suppression of mTOR have yielded only modest success in TSC patients.