Research progress of proteomics in congenital craniofacial anomalies.

Congenital craniofacial anomalies (CFAs) are among the most common birth defects, significantly affecting the appearance, oral function and mental health of patients. These anomalies are etiologically complex, involving genetics, environmental factors and gene-environment interactions. While genetic studies have identified numerous potential causal genes/risk loci for CFAs, the pathogenic mechanisms still largely remain elusive.

Screening of preoperative obstructive sleep apnea by cardiopulmonary coupling and its risk factors in patients with plans to receive surgery under general anesthesia: a cross-sectional study.

Objective: Preoperative obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is supposed to be the abnormally high occurrence of OSA the night before surgery under general anesthesia. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence preoperative OSA using cardiopulmonary coupling (CPC) and its correlation with imbalance of sympathetic/parasympathetic nervous system.

Methods: A total of 550 patients with plans to receive surgery under general anesthesia were enrolled.

Interleukin-37 relieves PM2.5-triggered lung injury by inhibiting autophagy through the AKT/mTOR signaling pathway in vivo and in vitro.

Autophagy mediates PM2.5-related lung injury (LI) and is tightly linked to inflammation and apoptosis processes. IL-37 has been demonstrated to regulate autophagy.

Fast-Curing Injectable Microporous Hydrogel for Cell Encapsulation.

Injectable hydrogels have previously demonstrated potential as a temporary scaffold for tissue regeneration or as a delivery vehicle for cells, growth factors, or drugs. However, most injectable hydrogel systems lack a microporous structure, preventing host cell migration into the hydrogel interior and limiting spreading and proliferation of encapsulated cells. Herein, an injectable microporous hydrogel assembled from gelatin/gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) composite microgels is described.

Chondrocyte-derived exosomes promote cartilage calcification in temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis.

Backgrounds: Abnormal cartilage calcification is one of the pathological changes of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) osteoarthritis (OA). Recent studies have reported that exosomes can regulate the formation of abnormal calcified nodules in diseases including atherosclerosis and chronic kidney disease. However, the influences of chondrocyte-derived exosomes on abnormal cartilage calcification in TMJ OA are still unclear.

Interleukin-37 inhibits inflammation activation and disease severity of PM2.5-induced airway hyperresponsiveness.

We have shown in the past studies that fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure increases airway hyperresponsiveness and leads to lung inflammation damage. Interleukin (IL)-37 plays a inhibitory role in inflammation activation and maintenance.

Injectable Macroporous Hydrogel Formed by Enzymatic Cross-Linking of Gelatin Microgels.

Injectable hydrogels can be useful tools for facilitating wound healing since they conform to the irregular shapes of wounds, serving as a temporary matrix during the healing process. However, the lack of inherent pore structures of most injectable hydrogels prohibits desired interactions with the cells of the surrounding tissues limiting their clinical efficacy. Here, we introduce a simple, cost-effective and highly biofunctional injectable macroporous hydrogel made of gelatin microgels crosslinked by microbial transglutaminase (mTG).

Matrix Metalloproteinase-Deactivating Contact Lens for Corneal Melting.

Corneal melting is an uncontrolled, excessive degradation of cellular and extracellular components of the cornea. This potential cause of corneal blindness is caused by excessive expression of zinc-dependent matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and has no satisfying cure as of now. Herein, we introduce a novel therapeutic hydrogel which can be made into a contact lens to slow down the progression of corneal melting by deactivating MMPs.

Gelatin Hydrogel Combined with Polydopamine Coating to Enhance Tissue Integration of Medical Implants.

Soft tissue integration of medical implants is important to prevent bacterial infection and implant failure. A bioadhesive that forms firm binding between the implant and the surrounding tissue and facilitates the wound-healing process will be a great tool to establish the desired tissue-implant integration. In this project, we introduce a novel method that can be used to enhance integration between any implant material and any tissue using an enzyme-crosslinked gelatin hydrogel combined with polydopamine (PDA) coating.

A multi-interpenetrating network (IPN) hydrogel with gelatin and silk fibroin.

A mechanically strong composite hydrogel was produced based on an interpenetrating network (IPN) between gelatin and silk fibroin. When two layers of the IPN were created, the resulting hydrogel exhibited much improved mechanical properties. This hydrogel is biodegradable and non-cytotoxic and allows for cell adhesion and proliferation on the surface.

Development of a novel near-infrared fluorescent theranostic combretastain A-4 analogue, YK-5-252, to target triple negative breast cancer.

The treatment of triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a significant challenge to cancer research. The lack of hormone receptors limits the treatment options available to patients with this diagnosis, forcing them to endure prolonged radiation and chemotherapy. Anti-angiogenesis is a chemotherapeutic strategy that targets the vasculature of tumors.

Disruption of STAT3-DNMT1 interaction by SH-I-14 induces re-expression of tumor suppressor genes and inhibits growth of triple-negative breast tumor.

Epigenetic regulation of gene expression is an emerging target to treat several human diseases including cancers. In cancers, expressions of many tumor suppressor genes are suppressed by hyper-methylation in their regulatory regions. Herein, we describe a novel carbazole SH-I-14 that decreased the level of the acetyl-STAT3 at the K685 residue.

Total Synthesis of 7-Hydroxymurrayazolinine, Murrayamine D, and Mahanine via m-Nitro Group Activated Pyran Annulation.

The facile total synthesis of the natural product (±)-mahanine was obtained in eight steps with an overall 52% yield from readily accessible known nitrophenol derivative 6. After a one-step, acid-catalyzed annulation, two additional natural products were formed including 7-hydroxymurrayazolinine, representing its first reported total synthesis. In the whole process, the introduction of the m-nitro group significantly enhanced the key pyran annulation reaction through inductive effects.

Novel carbazole inhibits phospho-STAT3 through induction of protein-tyrosine phosphatase PTPN6.

The aberrant activation of STAT3 occurs in many human cancers and promotes tumor progression. Phosphorylation of a tyrosine at amino acid Y705 is essential for the function of STAT3. Synthesized carbazole derived with fluorophore compound 12 was discovered to target STAT3 phosphorylation.

Synthesis and pharmacological characterization of new neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor ligands derived from Sazetidine-A.

The enantiomers of two analogs of Sazetidine-A as well as several other novel biosteric analogues were synthesized. Their binding affinities at three major nAChRs subtypes and selectivity profiles were determined. Though many (S)-enantiomers of Sazetidine-A analogs have high binding affinities and good subtype selectivities, it is not a general rule that (S)-enantiomers are better than their (R) counterparts.

Determination of glycation sites by tandem mass spectrometry in a synthetic lactose-bovine serum albumin conjugate, a vaccine model prepared by dialkyl squarate chemistry.

Rationale: Neoglycoconjugate vaccines synthesized by the squaric acid spacer method allow single point attachment of the carbohydrate antigen to the protein carrier. However, the localization of the carbohydrate antigen sites of conjugation on the protein carrier has been an elusive task difficult to achieve.

Method: Covalent attachment of the lactose antigen to the bovine serum albumin (BSA) was prepared by the squaric acid method using a hapten:BSA ratio of 20:1.

Determination of the glycation sites of Bacillus anthracis neoglycoconjugate vaccine by MALDI-TOF/TOF-CID-MS/MS and LC-ESI-QqTOF-tandem mass spectrometry.

We present herein an efficient mass spectrometric method for the localization of the glycation sites of a model neoglycoconjugate vaccine formed by a construct of the tetrasaccharide side chain of the Bacillus anthracis exosporium and the protein carrier bovine serum albumin. The glycoconjugate was digested with both trypsin and GluC V8 endoproteinases, and the digests were then analyzed by MALDI-TOF/TOF-CID-MS/MS and nano-LC-ESI-QqTOF-CID-MS/MS. The sequences of the unknown peptides analyzed by MALDI-TOF/TOF-CID-MS/MS, following digestion with the GluC V8 endoproteinase, allowed us to recognize three glycopeptides whose glycation occupancies were, respectively, on Lys 235, Lys 420, and Lys 498.

Synthesis of the conjugation ready, downstream disaccharide fragment of the O-PS of Vibrio cholerae O:139.

The linker-equipped disaccharide, 8-amino-3,6-dioxaoctyl 2,6-dideoxy-2-acetamido-3-O-β-D-galactopyranosyluronate-β-D-glucopyranoside (10), was synthesized in eight steps from acetobromogalactose and ethyl 4,6-O-benzylidene-2-deoxy-2-trichloroacetamido-1-thio-β-D-glucopyranoside. The hydroxyl group present at C-4(II) in the last intermediate, 8-azido-3,6-dioxaoctyl 4-O-benzyl-6-bromo-2,6-dideoxy-2-trichloroacetamido-3-O-(benzyl 2,3-di-O-benzyl-β-D-galactopyranosyluronate)-β-D-glucopyranoside (9), is positioned to allow further build-up of the molecule and, eventually, construction of the complete hexasaccharide. Global deprotection (9→10) was done in one step by catalytic hydrogenolysis over palladium-on-charcoal.

Enhanced stereoselectivity of alpha-mannosylation under thermodynamic control using trichloroacetimidates.

O-Specific polysaccharides of Vibrio cholerae O1, serotypes Inaba and Ogawa, consist of alpha-(1-->2)-linked N-(3-deoxy-L-glycero-tetronyl)perosamine (4-amino-4,6-dideoxy-D-mannose). The blockwise synthesis of larger fragments of such O-PSs involves oligosaccharide glycosyl donors that contain a nonparticipating 2-O-glycosyl group at the position vicinal to the anomeric center where the new glycosidic linkage is formed. Such glycosyl donors may bear at C-4 either a latent acylamino (e.

[Effect of icogenin on and its mechanism in anti-metastasis of pancreatic cancer BxPC3 cells].

This study is to investigate the effect of Icogenin on and its mechanism in anti-metastasis of pancreatic cancer BxPC3 cells in vitro. Using transwell assay, the effects of Icogenin on the invasion of BxPC3 cells were measured. The abilities of cell motility and adhesion in BxPC3 cells were detected by MTT assay and wound healing assay, respectively.

Preparation of glycoconjugates by dialkyl squarate chemistry revisited.

The methyl 6-hydroxyhexanoyl glycoside of lactose was treated with each of 1,2-diaminoethane or hydrazine hydrate, and the corresponding amino amide 4 and acyl hydrazide 13, were treated with each of squaric acid dimethyl, diethyl, dibutyl, and didecyl esters. The monoesters were conjugated to bovine serum albumin (BSA) at different concentrations of hapten using 0.05 and 0.

Synthesis and antitumor activity of icogenin and its analogue.

Natural saponin icogenin, namely 25(S)-22-O-methyl-furost-5-en-3beta,26-dio-3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->3)]-beta-D-glucopyranoside, and one of its analogues, 25(S)-22-O-methyl-furost-5-en-3beta,26-dio-3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->3)]-alpha-D-glucopyranoside, were first synthesized via line strategy and convergent approach, respectively. It was observed that icogenin and its analogue show potent antitumor activity in vitro.

The synthesis of gracillin and dioscin: two typical representatives of spirostanol glycosides.

Two representative spirostanol saponins that have the typical structure for the sugar moiety, diosgenyl alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->3)]-beta-D-glucopyranoside (gracillin) and diosgenyl alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-[alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->4)]-beta-D-glucopyranoside (dioscin), were easily synthesized by a general approach. A procedure using guanidine for the selective deblocking of acetyl while retaining benzoyl protecting groups is described.