Ketamine modulates disrupted in schizophrenia-1/glycogen synthase kinase-3β interaction.

Introduction: Disrupted in schizophrenia-1 (DISC1) is a scaffolding protein whose mutated form has been linked to schizophrenia, bipolar affective disorders, and recurrent major depression. DISC1 regulates multiple signaling pathways involved in neurite outgrowth and cortical development and binds directly to glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β). Since ketamine activates GSK-3β, we examined the impact of ketamine on DISC1 and GSK-3β expression.

Clinical efficacy of mineralized collagen (MC) versus anorganic bovine bone (Bio-Oss) for immediate implant placement in esthetic area: a single-center retrospective study.

Background: The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of mineralized collagen (MC) versus anorganic bovine bone (Bio-Oss) for immediate implant placement in esthetic area.

Methods: Medical records of Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery of Shandong Provincial Hospital were screened for patients who had been treated with immediate implant implantation in the esthetic area using either MC (Allgens®, Beijing Allgens Medical Science and Technology Co., Ltd.

Efficacy of concentrated growth factors combined with mineralized collagen on quality of life and bone reconstruction of guided bone regeneration.

To evaluate the clinical efficacy of concentrated growth factors (CGFs) combined with mineralized collagen (MC) in guided bone regeneration (GBR). A retrospective study involving 29 patients treated with GBR technique, which was performed either CGF and MC complexes or MC alone. Implants were inserted simultaneously and cone-beam computed tomography was taken immediately, at 3 and 6 months postoperation.

In Situ Caging of Biomolecules in Graphene Hybrids for Light Modulated Bioactivity.

Remote and noninvasive modulation of protein activity is essential for applications in biotechnology and medicine. Optical control has emerged as the most attractive approach owing to its high spatial and temporal resolutions; however, it is challenging to engineer light responsive proteins. In this work, a near-infrared (NIR) light-responsive graphene-silica-trypsin (GST) nanoreactor is developed for modulating the bioactivity of trypsin molecules.

[Review on the Methodology for Optical Parameter Extraction with Terahertz Time-Domain Spectroscopy].

Optical parameters which macroscopically characterize optical properties of materials indirectly reflect microscopic peculiarities of materials. Accurate extractions of optical parameters are significant for the research of microscopic behavior and macroscopic responses of materials. In recent years, as a new spectral analysis method, terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) technology has become a research hotspot.

Dexmedetomidine-Induced Neuroapoptosis Is Dependent on Its Cumulative Dose.

Background: Dexmedetomidine (DEX) has inherent neuroprotective properties that have been attributed to the activation of prosurvival kinases. However, the impact of supraclinical doses of DEX on neuroapoptosis and neuronal viability has not been determined.

Methods: Rat pups and primary neuronal cells were treated with DEX or ketamine (KET) alone or in combination.

[Current Status and Recent Advances in Research and Application of THz Technology in Articular Cartilage Detection].

Osteoarthritis is a common arthritis disease caused by cartilage tissue damage and degeneration, which is one of the large epidemics that affect human health. The early detection of the pathological changes of articular cartilage can greatly improve the cure rate of disease, but the relevant clinical diagnosis technology has not been developed. In recent years, the applications and researches of terahertz technology are increasingly valued and it has drawn great attention in the field of medicine.

Upstream regulators and downstream effectors of NF-κB in Alzheimer's disease.

Since Alzheimer's disease (AD) is becoming the prevalent dementia in the whole world, more underlying mechanisms are emerging. Long time has the transcription factor NF-κB been identified to participate in AD pathogenesis, various studies have focused on the causes and effects of AD that are linked to NF-κB. In this review we discuss diverse environmental stimuli including oxidative stress, neuroinflammation and metabolism, involved signaling pathways such as PI3K/AKT, MAPK and AGE/RAGE/GSK-3 and newly found ncRNAs that mediate neuron toxicity or neuron protection through NF-κB activation and the following response associated with the same factors in AD.

[Terahertz Spectroscopic Study on the Property of Epoxy Resin Adhesive].

Epoxy resin is an important adhesive applied in the manufacturing processes of fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composites. Terahertz (THz) time-domain spectroscopy (TDS) technology is an effective supplementary method for nondestructive evaluation (NDE) of FRP composites. As one of the most important parameters for epoxy resin, different curing temperature can affect the properties of epoxy resin.

[Experimental Study of PMI Foam Composite Properties in Terahertz].

Polymethacrylimide (PMI) foam composite has many excellent properties. Currently, PMI is heat-resistant foam, with the highest strength and stiffness. It is suitable as a high-performance sandwich structure core material.

Hypoxic preconditioning decreases nuclear factor κB activity via Disrupted in Schizophrenia-1.

Nuclear factor κB is a key mediator of inflammation during conditions of hypoxia. Here, we used models of hypoxic pre-conditioning as mechanism to decrease nuclear factor κB activity induced by hypoxia. Our initial studies suggested that Disrupted in Schizophrenia-1 may be induced by hypoxic pre-conditioning and possibly involved in the regulation of nuclear factor κB.

YAP and TAZ Take Center Stage in Cancer.

The Hippo pathway was originally identified and named through screening for mutations in Drosophila, and the core components of the Hippo pathway are highly conserved in mammals. In the Hippo pathway, MST1/2 and LATS1/2 regulate downstream transcription coactivators YAP and TAZ, which mainly interact with TEAD family transcription factors to promote tissue proliferation, self-renewal of normal and cancer stem cells, migration, and carcinogenesis. The Hippo pathway was initially thought to be quite straightforward; however, recent studies have revealed that YAP/TAZ is an integral part and a nexus of a network composed of multiple signaling pathways.

Hypoxia-regulated lncRNAs in cancer.

Hypoxic regions are common in solid tumors and have an impact on tumor progression and on the therapeutic response. However, the underlying mechanism for hypoxic tumor microenvironment has not been entirely elucidated. Recently, long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are being increasingly recognized to contribute to carcinogenesis through diverse mechanisms.

A novel function for fibroblast growth factor 21: stimulation of NADPH oxidase-dependent ROS generation.

Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF-21) is a major paracrine and endocrine regulator of metabolic homeostasis. Here we demonstrate that FGF-21 is also a potent mediator of innate immunity. Double-staining flow cytometry identified neutrophils and monocytes as the main sources of FGF-21 among circulating leukocytes.

Genetically engineered Newcastle disease virus expressing interleukin-2 and TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand for cancer therapy.

Recombinant Newcastle disease virus (rNDV) have shown oncolytic therapeutic efficacy in preclinical studies and are currently in clinical trials. In this study, we have evaluated the possibility to enhance the cancer therapeutic potential of NDV by means of inserting both interleukin-2 (IL-2) and tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) delivered by rNDV. We demonstrated that rNDV expressing TRAIL (rNDV-TRAIL) or both human IL-2 and TRAIL (rNDV-IL-2-TRAIL) significantly enhanced inherent anti-neoplastic of rNDV by inducing apoptosis.

[Therapeutic efficacy of three bispecific antibodies on rheumatoid arthritis mice models].

In order to obtain the lead compound for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), in this study, therapeutic efficacy of three bispecific antibodies (BsAB-1, BsAB-2 and BsAB-3) against both hIL-1beta and hIL-17 were compared on CIA model mice. First, by ELISA method we compared the binding capacity of the three bispecific antibodies to the two antigens. The results showed that all three antibodies could simultaneously bind both antigens, among these antibodies, BsAB-1 was superior over BsAB-2 and BsAB-3.

β-Ionone arrests cell cycle of gastric carcinoma cancer cells by a MAPK pathway.

β-Ionone is an end ring analog of β-carotenoid which has been shown to possess potent anti-proliferative activity both in vitro and in vivo. To investigate the possible inhibitory effects of β-ionone, we studied cell growth characteristics, DNA synthesis, cell cycle progression, as well as mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) pathways in the human gastric adenocarcinoma cancer cell line (SGC-7901). Our results show that cell growth and DNA synthesis were inhibited, and the cell cycle was arrested at the G0/G1 phase in a dose-dependent manner in cells treated with β-ionone (25, 50, 100 and 200 μmol/L) for 24 h.

Apoptosis initiation of β-ionone in SGC-7901 gastric carcinoma cancer cells via a PI3K-AKT pathway.

β-ionone has been shown to hold potent anti-proliferative and apoptosis induction properties in vitro and in vivo. To investigate the effects of β-ionone on apoptosis initiation and its possible mechanisms of action, we qualified cell apoptosis, proteins related to apoptosis and a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-AKT pathway in human gastric adenocarcinoma cancer SGC-7901 cells. The results demonstrated that β-ionone-induced apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner in SGC-7901 cells treated with β-ionone (25, 50, 100 and 200 μmol/L) for 24 h.

Noxious stimulation attenuates ketamine-induced neuroapoptosis in the developing rat brain.

Background: Ketamine induces neuroapoptosis in neonatal rodents. However, these experimental paradigms were performed without concurrent noxious stimulation, a condition that does not reflect the interaction of anesthesia and surgical stimulation. Noxious stimulation with and without concurrent analgesic drugs has been shown to have divergent patterns of neuronal activation and cell death.

A meta-analysis of primary dacryocystorhinostomy with and without silicone intubation.

Objective: To examine possible differences in success rates of primary dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) with and without silicone intubation, and to find out whether the use of silicone tubes is beneficial.

Design: A literature search was conducted in the PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Controlled Trials Register to identify potentially relevant controlled trials.

Methods: Language was restricted to English.

[Medpor plus titanic mesh implant in the repair of orbital blowout fractures].

Objective: To study the efficacy of porous polyethylene (Medpor) plus titanic mesh sheets in the repair of orbital blowout fractures.

Methods: A total of 20 patients underwent open surgical reduction with the combined usage of Medpor and titanic mesh. And they were followed up for average period of 14.

Ketamine activates cell cycle signaling and apoptosis in the neonatal rat brain.

Background: Prolonged exposure to ketamine results in accelerated neurodegeneration and neurocognitive deficits in the neonatal rats. Experimental models of neurodegeneration have implicated reentry of postmitotic neurons into the cell cycle, leading to cell death. The authors hypothesize that the ketamine-induced neuroapoptosis is partially due to aberrant cycle cell reentry.

Effects of beta-ionone on mammary carcinogenesis and antioxidant status in rats treated with DMBA.

Recent chemopreventive studies from our group showed that dietary beta -ionone inhibited 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA)-induced mammary carcinogenesis by the inhibition of cell proliferation and apoptosis initiation. In this study, we examined the chemopreventive effects of varied doses of dietary beta -ionone on the development and growth of DMBA-induced rat mammary tumors as well as plasma antioxidant status. beta -ionone treatment groups were given 9, 18, and 36 mmol/kg in the AIN76A diet starting 2 wk prior to DMBA administration and continuing for the 24 wk.

Genotoxicity of water from the Songhua River, China, in 1994-1995 and 2002-2003: Potential risks for human health.

A previous study showed that the cancer mortalities are higher for residents who lived nearby the Songhua River heavily polluted by organic contamination. It is important to determine its risk of carcinogenic potential. Short-term genotoxic bio-assays using Salmonella, Sister Chromatid Exchange (SCE), and Micronuclei (MN) assays were employed to examine the genotoxic activity of ether extracts of water samples taken from the Songhua River.