Mutant Kras co-opts a proto-oncogenic enhancer network in inflammation-induced metaplastic progenitor cells to initiate pancreatic cancer.

Kras-activating mutations display the highest incidence in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Pancreatic inflammation accelerates mutant Kras-driven tumorigenesis in mice, suggesting high selectivity in the cells that oncogenic Kras transforms, although the mechanisms dictating this specificity are poorly understood. Here we show that pancreatic inflammation is coupled to the emergence of a transient progenitor cell population that is readily transformed in the presence of mutant KrasG12D.

iProEP: A Computational Predictor for Predicting Promoter.

Promoter is a fundamental DNA element located around the transcription start site (TSS) and could regulate gene transcription. Promoter recognition is of great significance in determining transcription units, studying gene structure, analyzing gene regulation mechanisms, and annotating gene functional information. Many models have already been proposed to predict promoters.

iLoc-lncRNA: predict the subcellular location of lncRNAs by incorporating octamer composition into general PseKNC.

Motivation: Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a class of RNA molecules with more than 200 nucleotides. They have important functions in cell development and metabolism, such as genetic markers, genome rearrangements, chromatin modifications, cell cycle regulation, transcription and translation. Their functions are generally closely related to their localization in the cell.

Neurocan, an extracellular chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan, stimulates neuroblastoma cells to promote malignant phenotypes.

Neurocan (NCAN), a secreted chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan, is one of the major inhibitory molecules for axon regeneration in nervous injury. However, its role in cancer is not clear. Here we observed that high NCAN expression was closely associated with the unfavorable outcome of neuroblastoma (NB).

IonchanPred 2.0: A Tool to Predict Ion Channels and Their Types.

Ion channels (IC) are ion-permeable protein pores located in the lipid membranes of all cells. Different ion channels have unique functions in different biological processes. Due to the rapid development of high-throughput mass spectrometry, proteomic data are rapidly accumulating and provide us an opportunity to systematically investigate and predict ion channels and their types.

Recent Advances in Conotoxin Classification by Using Machine Learning Methods.

Conotoxins are disulfide-rich small peptides, which are invaluable peptides that target ion channel and neuronal receptors. Conotoxins have been demonstrated as potent pharmaceuticals in the treatment of a series of diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and epilepsy. In addition, conotoxins are also ideal molecular templates for the development of new drug lead compounds and play important roles in neurobiological research as well.

Pro54DB: a database for experimentally verified sigma-54 promoters.

Summary: In prokaryotes, the σ54 promoters are unique regulatory elements and have attracted much attention because they are in charge of the transcription of carbon and nitrogen-related genes and participate in numerous ancillary processes and environmental responses. All findings on σ54 promoters are favorable for a better understanding of their regulatory mechanisms in gene transcription and an accurate discovery of genes missed by the wet experimental evidences. In order to provide an up-to-date, interactive and extensible database for σ54 promoter, a free and easy accessed database called Pro54DB (σ54 promoter database) was built to collect information of σ54 promoter.

MicroRNA-9 inhibits high glucose-induced proliferation, differentiation and collagen accumulation of cardiac fibroblasts by down-regulation of TGFBR2.

To investigate the effects of miR-9 on high glucose (HG)-induced cardiac fibrosis in human cardiac fibroblasts (HCFs), and to establish the mechanism underlying these effects. HCFs were transfected with miR-9 inhibitor or mimic, and then treated with normal or HG. Cell viability and proliferation were detected by using the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and Brdu-ELISA assay.

Prediction of cell-penetrating peptides with feature selection techniques.

Cell-penetrating peptides are a group of peptides which can transport different types of cargo molecules such as drugs across plasma membrane and have been applied in the treatment of various diseases. Thus, the accurate prediction of cell-penetrating peptides with bioinformatics methods will accelerate the development of drug delivery systems. The study aims to develop a powerful model to accurately identify cell-penetrating peptides.

Natural protein sequences are more intrinsically disordered than random sequences.

Most natural protein sequences have resulted from millions or even billions of years of evolution. How they differ from random sequences is not fully understood. Previous computational and experimental studies of random proteins generated from noncoding regions yielded inclusive results due to species-dependent codon biases and GC contents.

Primo Vascular System: An Endothelial-to-Mesenchymal Potential Transitional Tissue Involved in Gastric Cancer Metastasis.

Gastric cancer is the fourth commonest cancer in the world and the second leading cause of cancer-related death. Investigation of gastric cancer metastasis is one of the hottest and major focuses in cancer research. Growing evidence manifested that primo vascular system (PVS) is a new kind of circulatory system beyond vascular and lymphatic system.

Effects of rhBNP on myocardial fibrosis after myocardial infarction in rats.

Purpose: We aimed to observe the effects and mechanism of rhBNP treatment on myocardial fibrosis (MF) after myocardial infarction (MI).

Methods: SPF rats were separated into 3 groups: normal, MI (ligation of left coronary artery), and MI + rhBNP (recombinant human brain natriuretic peptide). Rats in MI + rhBNP group were given 30 μg/kg for 2 days before modeling and for 4 weeks after modeling.

Glatiramer acetate (GA) prevents TNF-α-induced monocyte adhesion to primary endothelial cells through interfering with the NF-κB pathway.

Pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) is considered to be the major one contributing to the process of development of endothelial dysfunction. Exposure to TNF-α induces the expression of a number of proinflammatory chemokines, such as monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), and adhesion molecules, including vascular adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and E-selectin, which mediate the interaction of invading monocytes with vascular endothelial cells. Glatiramer acetate (GA) is a licensed clinical drug for treating patients suffering from multiple sclerosis (MS).

Coronary flow reserve in the remote myocardium predicts left ventricular remodeling following acute myocardial infarction.

Purpose: Coronary flow reserve (CFR) in the non-infarcted myocardium is often impaired following acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, the clinical significance of CFR in the non-infarcted myocardium is not fully understood. The objective of the present study was to assess whether a relationship exists between CFR and left ventricular remodeling following AMI.

LINE-1 hypomethylation is associated with the risk of coronary heart disease in Chinese population.

Background: Global methylation level in blood leukocyte DNA has been associated with the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD), with inconsistent results in various populations. Similar data are lacking in Chinese population where different genetic, lifestyle and environmental factors may affect DNA methylation and its risk relationship with CHD.

Objectives: To examine whether global methylation is associated with the risk of CHD in Chinese population.

Interaction network analysis revealed biomarkers in myocardial infarction.

Myocardial infarction (MI) is a serious heart disease. The cardiac cells of patients with MI will die due to lack of blood for a long time. In this study, we aimed to find new targets for MI diagnosis and therapy.

Primo vascular system accompanying a blood vessel from tumor tissue and a method to distinguish it from the blood or the lymph system.

A primo vessel was observed in the abdominal cavity in the lung cancer mouse model, and its function as an extra metastatic path was observed. In this work, we found a primo vessel accompanying a blood vessel emanating from a tumor in the skin. We also presented simple and efficient criteria to distinguish a primo vessel from a blood or a lymph vessel and from a nerve.

Discovery of endothelium and mesenchymal properties of primo vessels in the mesentery.

Recent evidences demonstrated that endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) has a crucial role in cancer and is recognized as a unique source of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). Primo vascular system (PVS) is a new circulatory system which may play an important role in cancer metastasis and regeneration. In the current study, we applied previously established time-saving method to identify primo vessels and further investigated the immunocytochemical properties of primo vessels.

Estimating the density of fluorescent nanoparticles in the primo vessels in the fourth ventricle and the spinal cord of a rat.

The primo vascular system is a novel circulatory system forming a network throughout an animal's body. Primo vessels were recently observed in the fourth ventricle of the brain and in the spinal cord of a rat by using fluorescent nanoparticles. In order to quantify the nanoparticles in the primo vessels, we measured the florescence of the nanoparticles and calibrated the measurements by using a reference suspension.

Putative primo-vascular system in mesentery of rats.

Primo-vessels have been observed in the rat abdominal cavity as floating thread like structures on and not adhering to fascia-wrapped internal organs. To date their presence, locations, and lengths have been irregular and unpredictable, and their identification not regularly repeatable, thus they have remained a nagging enigma in primo-vascular system research for several years. In this work, locations were found where primo-vessels were regularly present and observed repeatedly.

Fluorescent nanoparticles for observing primo vascular system along sciatic nerve.

The primo vascular system was found in the epineurium along the rat sciatic nerve following subcutaneous injection of fluorescent nanoparticles at the Zusanli acupoint (ST-36). Nanoparticles were injected into the primo-vessel near ST-36 and flowed along the sciatic nerve. Fluorescence revealed a structure in the epineurium that was hardly detectable.

Effect of parenteral and early intrajejunal nutrition on pancreatic digestive enzyme synthesis, storage and discharge in dog models of acute pancreatitis.

Aim: To study the effect of early intrajejunal nutrition on enzyme-protein synthesis and secretion during acute pancreatitis.

Methods: Fifteen dogs were randomly divided into parenteral nutrition (n = 7) and early intrajejunal nutrition groups (n = 8). An acute pancreatitis model was induced by injecting 5% sodium taurocholate and trypsin into the pancreas via the pancreatic duct.

Effect of parenteral and enteral nutrition combined with octreotide on pancreatic exocrine secretion of patients with pancreatic fistula.

Aim: To evaluate the effect of parenteral and enteral nutrition combined with octreotide on pancreatic exocrine secretion of the patients with pancreatic fistula.

Methods: Pancreatic juice, drained directly from the pancreatic fistula, was collected, and the volume, protein, amylase, HCO(3)(-), K(+), Na(+) and Cl(-) were determined on d 1, 4 and 7 before and after 7-d treatment with octreotide, respectively.

Results: No differences in exocrine pancreatic secretion were observed during the enteral and parenteral nutrition period (t = 2.

Early intrajejunal nutrition: bacterial translocation and gut barrier function of severe acute pancreatitis in dogs.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of early intrajejunal nutrition in attenuating bacterial and/or endotoxin translocation and improving gut barrier function of severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) in dogs.

Methods: 15 dogs were divided into parenteral nutrition (PN) group (7 dogs) and early intrajejunal nutrition (EIN) group (8). EIN was delivered nutrients via a needle jejunostomy catheter feeding at 48 h after operation.

Parenteral versus early intrajejunal nutrition: effect on pancreatitic natural course, entero-hormones release and its efficacy on dogs with acute pancreatitis.

Aim: To evaluate the effect of early intrajejunal nutrition (EIN) on the natural course, entero-hormone secretion and its efficacy on dogs with acute pancreatitis.

Methods: An acute pancreatitis model was induced by injecting 1 ml/kg of combined solution (2.5% sodium taurocholate and 8,000-10,000 BAEE units trypsin/ml) into the pancreas via pancreatic duct.