The microbiome compositional and functional differences between rectal mucosa and feces.

Unlabelled: In recent years, most studies on the gut microbiome have primarily focused on feces samples, leaving the microbial communities in the intestinal mucosa relatively unexplored. To address this gap, our study employed shotgun metagenomics to analyze the microbial compositions in normal rectal mucosa and matched feces from 20 patients with colonic polyps. Our findings revealed a pronounced distinction of the microbial communities between these two sample sets.

Serum Isthmin-1 is negatively correlated with HDL-C in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Background: Isthmin-1 (Ism-1) is a newly identified insulin-like adipokine that increases glucose uptake by adipocytes and inhibits hepatic lipid synthesis. Recent studies have shown that Ism-1 can improve the metabolic disorders associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and improve lipid metabolism. The classic function of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) is to transport cholesterol from extra-hepatic tissues to the liver for metabolism.

Water-Based Black Phosphorus Hybrid Nanosheets as a Moldable Platform for Wound Healing Applications.

Black phosphorus (BP) nanosheets with unique biocompatibility and superior optical performance have attracted enormous attention in material science. However, their instability and poor solution-processability severely limit their clinical applications. In this work, we demonstrate the use of silk fibroin (SF) as an exfoliating agent to produce thin-layer BP nanosheets with long-term stability and facile solution-processability.

A Potent Antitumor Efficacy of Novel Recombinant Type I Interferon.

Antiproliferative, antiviral, and immunomodulatory activities of endogenous type I IFNs (IFN1) prompt the design of recombinant IFN1 for therapeutic purposes. However, most of the designed IFNs exhibited suboptimal therapeutic efficacies against solid tumors. Here, we report evaluation of the and antitumorigenic activities of a novel recombinant IFN termed sIFN-I.

Lithium down-regulates histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1) and induces degradation of mutant huntingtin.

Lithium is an effective mood stabilizer that has been clinically used to treat bipolar disorder for several decades. Recent studies have suggested that lithium possesses robust neuroprotective and anti-tumor properties. Thus far, a large number of lithium targets have been discovered.

Downregulation of aryl hydrocarbon receptor expression decreases gastric cancer cell growth and invasion.

Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor associated with tumor initiation and progression. AhR expression is significantly increased in gastric cancer tissues and gastric cancer cell lines; however, the relationship between AhR and gastric cancer is still unclear. In the present study, we explored the effects of the inhibition of AhR expression by RNA interference on the biological behavior of gastric cancer cells (MKN45 and SGC7901), and elucidated the specific mechanisms of AhR action in the development of gastric cancer.

A facile approach for preparation of molecularly imprinted polymers layer on the surface of carbon nanotubes.

A convenient imprinting method for the preparation of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) layer on the surface of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) is described. In this method, 9-vinylanthracene was introduced to the surface of MWCNTs, forming vinyl group functionalized MWCNTs. Then the grafting copolymerization of methacrylic acid and trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate in the presence of theophylline as template molecular led to the formation of MIPs-MWCNTs composite.

Role of trefoil factor 1 in gastric cancer and relationship between trefoil factor 1 and gastrokine 1.

Trefoil factor 1 (TFF1) is a small cysteine-rich secreted protein which is principally expressed in the superficial cells of gastric mucosa. In gastric cancer, TFF1 is downregulated and plays an important role. Gastrokine 1 (GKN1) is a secreted protein with similar expression and biological functions to TFF1.

Helicobacter pylori infection and administration of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs down-regulate the expression of gastrokine-1 in gastric mucosa.

Background/aims: Gastrokine-1 is a novel protein that plays an important role in the maintenance of the integrity of the gastric mucosa. However, whether Helicobacter pylori infection and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which are known to cause gastric mucosal injuries, affect gastrokine-1 expression in the gastric mucosa is unknown. The aim of the present study was to determine gastric mucosal expression of gastrokine-1 in patients with Helicobacter pylori infection or long-term non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug administration.

Downregulation of gastrokine-1 in gastric cancer tissues and restoration of its expression induced gastric cancer cells to apoptosis.

Background: Gastrokine-1 (GKN1), a secreted protein, is specifically expressed in gastric mucosa to protect and maintain the integrity of gastric epithelium. The present study investigated differential expression of GKN1 in normal, precancerous, and cancerous gastric tissues, and explored the biological functions of GKN1 protein in gastric cancer cells.

Methods: RT-PCR, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry were performed to detect GKN1 expression in normal, precancerous, cancerous gastric tissues and seven gastric cancer cell lines.

A selective aryl hydrocarbon receptor modulator 3,3'-Diindolylmethane inhibits gastric cancer cell growth.

Background: Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor associated with gastric carcinogenesis. 3,3'-Diindolylmethane (DIM) is a relatively non-toxic selective AhR modulator. This study was to detect the effects of DIM on gastric cancer cell growth.

Template synthesized molecularly imprinted polymer nanotube membranes for chemical separations.

In this report, we describe the synthesis of a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) nanotube membrane, using a porous anodic alumina oxide (AAO) membrane by surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The use of a MIP nanotube membrane in chemical separations gives the advantage of high affinity and selectivity. Furthermore, because the molecular imprinting technique can be applied to different kinds of target molecules, ranging from small organic molecules to peptides and proteins, such MIP nanotube membranes will considerably broaden the application of nanotube membranes in chemical separations and sensors.