GRK6 palmitoylation dictates triple-negative breast cancer metastasis via recruiting the β-Arrestin 2/MAPKs/NF-κB signaling axis.

Background: Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) belongs to the worst prognosis of breast cancer subtype probably because of distant metastasis to other organs, e.g. lungs.

Triptolide exposure triggers ovarian inflammation by activating cGAS-STING pathway and decrease oocyte quality in mouse.

Triptolide (TPL), a prominent bioactive constituent derived from the Chinese herb Tripterygium wilfordii, exhibits diverse pharmacological effects such as anti-tumor and anti-immune properties. Despite its extensive clinical application for the treatment of arthritis and immune disorders, TPL has been associated with multiorgan toxicity, including adverse effects on the female reproductive system. However, the precise mechanisms underlying TPL-induced ovarian damage remain poorly understood.

Acrolein exposure affects ovarian function by interfering with glycolysis and mitochondrial energy metabolism in mouse.

Acrolein is a widespread contaminant found in both diet and environment, entering the human body through food, alcohol, smoking, and exposure to fuel combustion fumes. While prior studies have highlighted acrolein's harmful impact on oocyte quality and early embryonic development in vitro, the specific mechanisms by which acrolein affects the female reproductive system in vivo remain poorly understood. This study first confirmed that in vitro acrolein exposure disrupts spindle morphology and chromosome alignment during the mid-MI stage of oocyte development, thus hindering oocyte maturation.

Accumulated inflammation and fibrosis participate in atrazine induced ovary toxicity in mice.

Atrazine is a widely used herbicide in agricultural production. Previous studies have shown that atrazine affects hormone secretion and oocyte maturation in female reproduction. However, the specific mechanism by which atrazine affects ovarian function remains unclear.

Spironolactone alleviates myocardial fibrosis via inhibition of Ets-1 in mice with experimental autoimmune myocarditis.

Spironolactone improves cardiac structure, function and prognosis in patients with heart failure and delays the progression of cardiac fibrosis. However, the exact underlying mechanism of this process remains to be elucidated. The present study therefore aimed to explore the protective effect and underlying mechanism of the aldosterone receptor antagonist, spironolactone, on myocardial fibrosis in mice with experimental autoimmune myocarditis (EAM).

Lactotransferrin Downregulation Serves as a Potential Predictor for the Therapeutic Effectiveness of mTOR Inhibitors in the Metastatic Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma without Mutation.

Approximately 30% of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) patients develop metastatic spread at the first diagnosis. Therefore, identifying a useful biomarker to predict ccRCC metastasis or therapeutic effectiveness in ccRCC patients is urgently needed. Previously, we demonstrated that lactotransferrin (LTF) downregulation enhanced the metastatic potential of ccRCC.

Subjective and objective cognitive functioning among patients with breast cancer: effects of chemotherapy and mood symptoms.

Background: Previous findings regarding declines in cognitive functioning among patients with breast cancer (BC) before and after chemotherapy have been inconsistent. The present study explored the effect of BC and cancer-related chemotherapies on cognitive functioning.

Methods: A cross-sectional design was adopted to compare BC patients before their chemotherapy treatment, BC patients 3 ~ 9 months after the completion of chemotherapy, and noncancer controls.

Differential associations of proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines with depression severity from noncancer status to breast cancer course and subsequent chemotherapy.

Background: In this study, we examined the differential associations of various proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines with depression severity from the development of breast cancer to subsequent chemotherapy treatment.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of 116 women: 29 controls without cancer, 55 patients with breast cancer who were not receiving chemotherapy, and 32 patients with breast cancer who were receiving chemotherapy. Blood samples were assayed to evaluate serum levels of the following cytokines: interferon-γ, interleukin (IL)-12 (p70), IL-1β, IL-2, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, IL-13, IL-6, and IL-17A.

Afamin expression in breast cancer.

Background: Breast cancer is a collection of molecularly and clinically distinct neoplastic disease. Recent research has shown the information regarding gene expression in breast cancer could be beneficial in the designing of an optimal treatment plan and may also provide with prognostic information. The creation of tissue microarrays (TMA) allows for the rapid immunohistochemical analysis of thousands of tissue samples in parallel with minimal damage to the original blocks.

Performance evaluation of treating oil-containing restaurant wastewater in microbial fuel cell using graphene/polyaniline modified titanium oxide anode.

Most studies conducted nowadays to boost electrode performance in microbial fuel cell (MFC) have focused on carbonaceous materials. The titanium suboxides (TiO, TS) are able to provide a new alternative for achieving better performance in MFC and have been tested and demonstrated in this study. The TiO electrode with high electrochemical activity was modified by graphene/polyaniline by the constant potential method.

Design, synthesis and structure-activity relationship evaluation of novel LpxC inhibitors as Gram-negative antibacterial agents.

LpxC inhibitors are new-type antibacterial agents developed in the last twenty years, mainly against Gram-negative bacteria infections. To develop novel LpxC inhibitors with good antibacterial activities and biological metabolism, we summarized the basic skeleton of reported LpxC inhibitors, designed and synthesized several series of compounds and tested their antibacterial activities against Escherichial coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in vitro. Structure-activity relationships have been discussed in this article.

Ulinastatin attenuates diabetes-induced cardiac dysfunction by the inhibition of inflammation and apoptosis.

Ulinastatin exhibits anti-inflammatory activity and protects the heart from ischemia/reperfusion injury. However, whether ulinastatin has a protective effect in diabetic cardiomyopathy is yet to be elucidated. The aim of the present study was to investigate the protective effects of ulinastatin against diabetic cardiomyopathy and its underlying mechanisms.

[Effect of Different Iron Minerals on Bioaccessibility of Soil Arsenic Using Methods].

To explore the effects of different iron minerals on soil arsenic bioaccessibility, ferrihydrite, goethite and hematite were used in PBET, SBRC and IVG in-vitro experiments in this study. The relationship between arsenic bioavailability in gastric, small intestinal phases and arsenic speciation was also studied. The results showed that when 1% ferrihydrite was added, arsenic bioavailability in gastric phase was 2.

Elevated temperature altered photosynthetic products in wheat seedlings and organic compounds and biological activity in rhizopshere soil under cadmium stress.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of slightly elevated atmospheric temperature in the spring on photosynthetic products in wheat seedlings and on organic compounds and biological activity in rhizosphere soil under cadmium (Cd) stress. Elevated temperature was associated with increased soluble sugars, reducing sugars, starch, and total sugars, and with decreased amino acids in wheat seedlings under Cd stress. Elevated temperature improved total soluble sugars, free amino acids, soluble phenolic acids, and organic acids in rhizosphere soil under Cd stress.

HMGB1 mediates hyperglycaemia-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis via ERK/Ets-1 signalling pathway.

Apoptosis is a key event involved in diabetic cardiomyopathy. The expression of high mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1) is up-regulated in diabetic mice. However, the molecular mechanism of high glucose (HG)-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis remains obscure.

Arginase I enhances atherosclerotic plaque stabilization by inhibiting inflammation and promoting smooth muscle cell proliferation.

Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Arginase I (ArgI) on plaque stabilization in unruptured atherosclerotic plaque and explore its mechanism.

Methods And Results: The atherosclerotic plaque model was established in New Zealand rabbits by balloon injury of abdominal arteries and a high cholesterol (1%) diet. Arginase I overexpression reduced the content of macrophages and lipids and increased that of smooth muscle cells and collagen in the atherosclerotic plaque, thus contributing to decreased plaque vulnerability.

Serum amyloid A stimulates lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 expression in vitro and in vivo.

Objectives: Although lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) has been regarded as a biomarker and a causative agent for acute coronary events recently, the mechanism of the regulation of Lp-PLA2 has not been fully elucidated yet. This study was aimed to investigate the influence of serum amyloid A (SAA) on the expression of Lp-PLA2 in THP-1 cells and ApoE-deficient (ApoE(-/-)) mice.

Methods: THP-1 cells were stimulated by SAA and the mRNA and protein expression of Lp-PLA2 was detected.

Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 inhibition protects against low shear stress induced inflammation.

Background: Atherosclerosis begins as local inflammation of vessels at sites of disturbed flow, where low shear stress (LSS) leads to mechanical irritation and plaque development and progression. Nuclear enzyme poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP-1) is associated with the inflammation response during atherosclerosis. We investigated the role and underlying mechanism of PARP-1 in LSS-induced inflammation in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs).

A safe and efficient method for intra-operative digital photography using a waterproof case.

Background: Intra-operative photography provides valuable information for photo-documentation. In order to improve quality of photographs and avoid additional contamination, we applied a sterilised waterproof case to adapt a digital camera that allowed the operating surgeon himself to obtain his own ideal images. A prospective study was designed to investigate the efficacy and safety of this technique.