Screening and identifying antioxidants from Oplopanax elatus using 2,2'-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl with off-line two-dimensional HPLC coupled with diode array detection and tandem time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

The root of Oplopanax elatus (Nakai) Nakai has a well-known history of use for the treatment of diseases such as neurasthenia, cardiovascular disorders, and cancer by the native people in northeast China. It is important to screen and identify the bioactive molecules from its root rapidly. Hereby, an off-line two-dimensional high performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detection and tandem time-of-flight mass spectrometry together with 2,2'-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl was established to screen antioxidants from the root of O.

[Pathogen Identification for An Imported Case with African Trypanosomiasis].

Objective: To perform laboratory diagnosis for an imported case of human African trypanosomiasis and identify the pathogen.

Methods: Clinical and epidemiological information was collected. Blood and cerebrospinal fluid samples were collected, stained with Wright-Giemsa, and microscopically examined.

Luteolin exerts pro-apoptotic effect and anti-migration effects on A549 lung adenocarcinoma cells through the activation of MEK/ERK signaling pathway.

An increasing amount of evidence suggests that luteolin, a common dietary flavonoid that is widely distributed in plants and foods, has been shown to be protective against cancer. However, the precise underlying mechanisms of its action against lung cancer are still poorly understood. In the present study, we investigated whether luteolin exhibits the anti-cancer effect in lung cancer through the induction of cell apoptosis and inhibition of cell migration, and whether mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and Akt signaling pathways are required.

Near-Infrared Light-Responsive Hydrogel for Specific Recognition and Photothermal Site-Release of Circulating Tumor Cells.

Isolation of single circulating tumor cells (CTCs) from patients is a very challenging technique that may promote the process of individualized antitumor therapies. However, there exist few systems capable of highly efficient capture and release of single CTCs with high viability for downstream analysis and culture. Herein, we designed a near-infrared (NIR) light-responsive substrate for highly efficient immunocapture and biocompatible site-release of CTCs by a combination of the photothermal effect of gold nanorods (GNRs) and a thermoresponsive hydrogel.

Benign and Malignant Brenner Tumors Show an Absence of TERT Promoter Mutations That Are Commonly Present in Urothelial Carcinoma.

Brenner tumors are uncommon ovarian neoplasms, which have morphologic and immunophenotypical features of transitional cell (urothelial) differentiation. The origin of Brenner tumors is perplexing, but they are believed to arise from transitional cell metaplasia occurring within the ovary and/or fallopian tube, although it is controversial whether this metaplasia is truly along transitional cell lines. Recently, TERT promoter mutations have been identified in urothelial carcinoma (UC) with high frequency (approximately 70%), and the current literature suggests a potential diagnostic and/or prognostic role of these mutations in UC.

Visfatin attenuates the ox-LDL-induced senescence of endothelial progenitor cells by upregulating SIRT1 expression through the PI3K/Akt/ERK pathway.

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) play an important role in aging-associated senescence, thereby potentially contributing to vascular pathologies. Visfatin, identified as a new adipocytokine, is closely associated with the senescence of human cells. However, the effects of visfatin on the oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL)-induced senescence of EPCs has not yet been explored, to the best of our knowledge.

Degradable Zinc-Phosphate-Based Hierarchical Nanosubstrates for Capture and Release of Circulating Tumor Cells.

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) play a significant role in cancer diagnosis and personalized therapy, and it is still a significant challenge to efficiently capture and gently release CTCs from clinical samples for downstream manipulation and molecular analysis. Many CTC devices incorporating various nanostructures have been developed for CTC isolation with sufficient capture efficiency, however, fabricating such nanostructured substrates often requires elaborate design and complicated procedures. Here we fabricate a degradable zinc-phosphate-based hierarchical nanosubstrate (HZnPNS), and we demonstrate its excellent CTC-capture performance along with effective cell-release capability for downstream molecular analysis.

Kinetics of cytochrome P450 enzymes for metabolism of sodium tanshinone IIA sulfonate in vitro.

Background: Sodium tanshinone IIA sulfonate (STS) is a water-soluble derivative of tanshinone IIA for treating cardiovascular disorders. The roles of cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYPs) in the metabolism of STS have remained unclear. This study aims to screen the main CYPs for metabolism of STS and study their interactions in vitro.

Photocatalysis-Induced Renewable Field-Effect Transistor for Protein Detection.

The field-effect transistor (FET) biosensor has attracted extensive attentions, due to its unique features in detecting various biomolecules with high sensitivity and selectivity. However, currently used FET biosensors obtaining from expensive and elaborate micro/nanofabrication are always disposable because the analyte cannot be efficiently removed after detection. In this work, we established a photocatalysis-induced renewable graphene-FET (G-FET) biosensor for protein detection, by layer-to-layer assembling reduced graphene oxide (RGO) and RGO-encapsulated TiO2 composites to form a sandwiching RGO@TiO2 structure on a prefabricated FET sensor surface.

Assessing next-generation sequencing and 4 bioinformatics tools for detection of Enterovirus D68 and other respiratory viruses in clinical samples.

We used 4 different bioinformatics algorithms to evaluate the application of a metagenomic shot-gun sequencing method in detection of Enterovirus D68 and other respiratory viruses in clinical specimens. Our data supported that next-generation sequencing, combined with improved bioinformatics tools, is practically feasible and useful for clinical diagnosis of viral infections.

Stretchable Electrochemical Sensor for Real-Time Monitoring of Cells and Tissues.

Stretchable electrochemical sensors are conceivably a powerful technique that provides important chemical information to unravel elastic and curvilinear living body. However, no breakthrough was made in stretchable electrochemical device for biological detection. Herein, we synthesized Au nanotubes (NTs) with large aspect ratio to construct an effective stretchable electrochemical sensor.

Photochemical Synthesis of Shape-Controlled Nanostructured Gold on Zinc Oxide Nanorods as Photocatalytically Renewable Sensors.

Biosensors always suffer from passivation that prevents their reutilization. To address this issue, photocatalytically renewable sensors composed of semiconductor photocatalysts and sensing materials have emerged recently. In this work, we developed a robust and versatile method to construct different kinds of renewable biosensors consisting of ZnO nanorods and nanostructured Au.

Screening of Drug Metabolizing Enzymes for the Ginsenoside Compound K In Vitro: An Efficient Anti-Cancer Substance Originating from Panax Ginseng.

Ginsenoside compound K (CK), a rare ginsenoside originating from Panax Ginseng, has been found to possess unique pharmacological activities specifically as anti-cancers. However, the role of cytochrome P450s (CYPs) in the metabolism of CK is unclear. In this study, we screened the CYPs for the metabolism of CK in vitro using human liver microsomes (HLMs) or human recombinant CYPs.

Photocatalytically Renewable Micro-electrochemical Sensor for Real-Time Monitoring of Cells.

Electrode fouling and passivation is a substantial and inevitable limitation in electrochemical biosensing, and it is a great challenge to efficiently remove the contaminant without changing the surface structure and electrochemical performance. Herein, we propose a versatile and efficient strategy based on photocatalytic cleaning to construct renewable electrochemical sensors for cell analysis. This kind of sensor was fabricated by controllable assembly of reduced graphene oxide (RGO) and TiO2 to form a sandwiching RGO@TiO2 structure, followed by deposition of Au nanoparticles (NPs) onto the RGO shell.

Determination of DNA and RNA Methylation in Circulating Tumor Cells by Mass Spectrometry.

DNA methylation (5-methylcytosine, 5-mC) is the best characterized epigenetic mark that has regulatory roles in diverse biological processes. Recent investigation of RNA modifications also raises the possible functions of RNA adenine and cytosine methylations on gene regulation in the form of "RNA epigenetics." Previous studies demonstrated global DNA hypomethylation in tumor tissues compared to healthy controls.

The mating-type locus b of the sugarcane smut Sporisorium scitamineum is essential for mating, filamentous growth and pathogenicity.

Sporisorium scitamineum is the causal agent of sugarcane smut, which is one of the most serious constraints to global sugarcane production. S. scitamineum and Ustilago maydis are two closely related smut fungi, that are predicted to harbor similar sexual mating processes/system.

Photoresponsive immunomagnetic nanocarrier for capture and release of rare circulating tumor cells.

Isolation, release and culture of rare circulating tumor cells (CTCs) may, if implemented, promote the progress of individualized anti-tumor therapies. To realize the release of CTCs without disruption of their viability for further culture and analysis, we designed an effective photocontrolled CTC capture/release system by combination of photochemistry and immunomagnetic separation. 7-Aminocoumarin was synthesized as the phototrigger to bridge the connection between the anti-EpCAM antibody and the magnetic beads.

Whole-Genome Sequence Analysis Reveals the Enterovirus D68 Isolates during the United States 2014 Outbreak Mainly Belong to a Novel Clade.

In the late summer and the fall of 2014, the United States experienced an unprecedented outbreak of enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) infections. During the outbreak, we collected nasopharyngeal swab specimens from patients in the Lower Hudson Valley of New York. Here, we conduct a retrospective study on the genomic diversity of EV-D68 strains.

Effectively promoting wound healing with cellulose/gelatin sponges constructed directly from a cellulose solution.

Wound dressing is of critical importance for wound repair, and the traditional cotton gauze derived from cellulose has commonly been used in clinical practice for a long time. However, cotton gauze does not possess active healing ability. To search for new wound dressings, in this work, a cellulose sponge was fabricated directly from a cellulose solution in a NaOH/urea aqueous system with cooling, and then cellulose/gelatin composite sponges were constructed successfully via a green and cost-effective pathway.

Portable SERS-enabled micropipettes for microarea sampling and reliably quantitative detection of surface organic residues.

We report the first microsampling device for reliably quantitative, label-free and separation-free detection of multicomponents of surface organic residues (SORs) by means of a quality controllable surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)-enabled micropipette. The micropipette is comprised of a drawn glass capillary with a tiny orifice (∼50 μm) at the distal tip, where the specially designed nanorattles (NRs) are compactly coated on the inner wall surface. SERS signals of 4-mercapto benzoic acid (MBA) anchored inside the internal gap of NRs could be used to evaluate and control the quality of micropipettes and, therefore, allow us to overcome the limitations of a reliably quantitative SERS assay using traditional substrates without an internal standard.

The microRNA-1246 promotes metastasis in non-small cell lung cancer by targeting cytoplasmic polyadenylation element-binding protein 4.

Background: The microRNAs present a class of non-coding RNAs which are usually implicated in tumor biology. Recent report has unraveled that a novel member of microRNA family called miR-1246. However, the functional role and molecular mechanisms of miR-1246 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is still elusive.

The microRNA-325 inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma progression by targeting high mobility group box 1.

Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) can serve as tumor suppressors and might provide an efficient strategy for annihilating tumor cells. Nevertheless, the potential role of miR-325 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is still unknown.

Methods: Using RT-PCR, immunoblots invasion assays and bioinformatics strategies, we investigated the potential role of miR-325 in HCC.

Eucommia ulmoides Oliv. (Du-Zhong) Lignans Inhibit Angiotensin II-Stimulated Proliferation by Affecting P21, P27, and Bax Expression in Rat Mesangial Cells.

Cortex Eucommiae (Du-zhong) is the dried bark of the Eucommia ulmoides Oliv. The natural products identified from Du-zhong include lignans, iridoids, flavonoids, polysaccharides, terpenes, and proteins, Liu et al. (2012).