Intracardiac Injection Mouse Model to Study Cancer Cell Dormancy in Brain Metastasis.

Brain metastasis is a highly complex process, and some cancer cells enter a dormant state after extravasation into the brain. The molecular mechanism of dormancy remains largely unknown and is still under intense investigation. Here, we outline a basic approach to generating and analyzing experimental mouse models to study dormant cancer cells in the brain.

Astrocyte-induced mGluR1 activates human lung cancer brain metastasis via glutamate-dependent stabilization of EGFR.

There are limited methods to stably analyze the interactions between cancer cells and glial cells in vitro, which hinders our molecular understanding. Here, we develop a simple and stable culture method of mouse glial cells, termed mixed-glial culture on/in soft substrate (MGS), which serves well as a platform to study cancer-glia interactions. Using this method, we find that human lung cancer cells become overly dependent on metabotropic glutamate receptor 1 (mGluR1) signaling in the brain microenvironment.

Clopidogrel-induced Eosinophilia with Hypercalcemia.

There are few cases describing the association of eosinophilia with hypercalcemia, and drug-induced eosinophilia with hypercalcemia has not been reported. A 74-year-old man had been diagnosed with asthma 4 months earlier. He was admitted due to eosinophilia with hypercalcemia.

Thin films exhibiting multicolor changes induced by formaldehyde-responsive release of anionic dyes.

A novel methodology for the sensing of formaldehyde that displays a response using distinct and diverse color changes is reported. Through copolymerization of a primary amine monomer with additional co-monomers on a pattern-printed microscope slide, primary amine-containing thin films were obtained. After the absorption of a range of colors of anionic dyes, the thin films were immersed in aqueous formaldehyde solutions.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of vitamin K derivatives as angiogenesis inhibitor.

Ten vitamin K(3) derivatives were synthesized and screened for anti-angiogenic activity. Results indicated that amine derivatives (1a-d) exerted a stronger inhibition effect on angiogenesis compared to alkyl derivatives (2a-d). In addition to being the most potent inhibitor, 1b also suppressed human umbilical vein endothelial cell tube formation and proliferation.