Hexavalent chromium induced metabolic reprogramming, carcinogenesis and tumor progression through PDK1 upregulation.

Lung cancer is the leading factor of cancer-related death in the worldwide. Hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] is a potential carcinogen for inducing lung cancers. To understand new mechanism of Cr(VI)-induced tumorigenesis and cancer development, we identified that PDK1 expression levels were greatly increased in chromium-transformed cells (Cr-T) compared to the parental BEAS-2B (B2B) cells by proteomic profiling and Western blotting; PDK1 levels were also induced in lung cancer cell lines and in lung samples of mice exposed to Cr(VI).

PagNAC2a promotes phloem fiber development by regulating PagATL2 in poplar.

Phloem fiber is a key component of phloem tissue and is involved in supporting its structural integrity. NAC domain transcription factors are master switches that regulate secondary cell wall (SCW) biosynthesis in xylem fibers, but the mechanism by which NACs regulate phloem fiber development remains unexplored. Here, a NAC2-like gene in poplar, PagNAC2a, was shown to be involved in phloem fiber differentiation.

PagKNAT2/6b promotes shoot branching by attenuating auxin-strigolactone signalling in poplar.

Shoot branching from axillary bud (AB) directly determines plant architecture. However, the mechanism through which AB remains dormant or emerges to form branches as plants grow remains largely unknown. Here, the auxin-strigolactone (IAA-SL) pathway was first shown to regulate shoot branching in poplar, and we found that PagKNAT2/6b could modulate this pathway.

Minisci-Type Dehydrogenative Coupling of N-Heteroaromatic Rings with Inert C(sp)-H Enabled by a Visible-Light-Catalyzed Intermolecular Hydrogen Atom Transfer Process.

The Minisci-type dehydrogenative coupling of N-heteroaromatic rings with inert C-H or Si-H partners via visible-light-catalyzed hydrogen atom transfer has been reported. This methodology allows the coupling reactions to be carried out in water as a solvent under air atmospheric conditions with visible-light illumination. A wide range of inert C-H and Si-H partners could be directly coupled with various N-aromatic heterocycles to deliver products in good to excellent yields.

Elevated NOX4 promotes tumorigenesis and acquired EGFR-TKIs resistance via enhancing IL-8/PD-L1 signaling in NSCLC.

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have been widely used for human non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treatment. However, acquired resistance to EGFR-TKIs is the major barrier of treatment success, and new resistance mechanism remains to be elucidated. In this study, we found that elevated NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4) expression was associated with acquired EGFR-TKIs resistance.

The novel HLA-C*15:02:58 allele, identified by Sanger dideoxy nucleotide sequencing in a Chinese individual.

HLA-C*15:02:58 differs from HLA-C*15:02:01:01 by one nucleotide in exon 1.

Camrelizumab in different PD-L1 expression cohorts of pre-treated advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer: a phase II study.

Background: This phase II study evaluated camrelizumab in different PD-L1 expression cohorts of patients with previously treated advanced/metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC; NCT03085069, registered March 21, 2017).

Methods: Patients who progressed during/after chemotherapy were enrolled and divided into four cohorts based on PD-L1 tumor proportion score (TPS). Patients with EGFR/ALK alterations and PD-L1 TPS ≥ 50% were also eligible.

[Retracted] Bergamottin isolated from exerts and antitumor activity in lung adenocarcinoma through the induction of apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, mitochondrial membrane potential loss and inhibition of cell migration and invasion.

Following the publication of the above paper, a concerned reader drew to the Editor's attention that a number of figures (specifically, Figs. 6, 8, 9, 10 and 12) contained apparent anomalies, including repeated patternings of data within the same figure panels. After having conducted an independent investigation in the Editorial Office, the Editor of has determined that this paper should be retracted from the Journal on account of a lack of confidence concerning the originality and the authenticity of the data.

HB-EGF Activates the EGFR/HIF-1α Pathway to Induce Proliferation of Arsenic-Transformed Cells and Tumor Growth.

Arsenic was recently identified as a pollutant that is a major cause of lung cancer. Since heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor (HB-EGF) was reported to be a promising therapeutic target for lung cancer, we investigated the role and mechanism of HB-EGF during arsenic-induced carcinogenesis and development of lung cancer. HB-EGF expression were upregulated in As-T cells, lung cancer cell lines, and in most lung cancer tissue samples; and HB-EGF activated the EGFR/p-ERK/HIF-1α pathway and induced VEGF by regulating HIF-1α transcription.

Effectiveness of platelet rich plasma in burn wound healing: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: To evaluate the efficacy of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in the treatment of burn wounds.

Methods: A comprehensive literature survey was conducted in electronic medical journal databases to identify studies that examined the effect of PRP treatment to burn wounds and meta-analyses of mean differences (MD) standardized MD, or odds ratios were performed.

Results: The percentage of graft take was not significantly different between PRP-treated and control wound areas.

Correlation between pre-treatment serum carcinoembryonic antigen levels and genotypes in a large population of Chinese people with advanced lung adenocarcinoma.

Background: A positive correlation between serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations has been reported in lung adenocarcinoma patients.

Aim: To investigate retrospectively whether serum CEA levels are also associated with genotypes in a large population of advanced lung adenocarcinoma.

Methods: A large cohort of 701 patients with advanced lung adenocarcinoma was studied retrospectively.

Down-regulated microRNA-375 expression as a predictive biomarker in non-small cell lung cancer brain metastasis and its prognostic significance.

Brain metastases (BM) are common among patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and have been associated with significant morbidity and limited survival. Early and sensitive detection of BM is essential for improving prognosis. Recently, microRNA-375(miR-375) which is specifically expressed in the brain has been found significantly dysregulated in many human cancers.

Geraniin suppresses ovarian cancer growth through inhibition of NF-κB activation and downregulation of Mcl-1 expression.

This study investigated the anticancer effects of geraniin on ovarian cancer cells and the signaling pathways involved. Ovarian cancer cells were treated with different concentrations of geraniin for 48 h and examined for viability, apoptosis, mitochondrial membrane depolarization, and gene expression. Xenograft tumor studies were performed to determine the anticancer activity of geraniin in vivo.

Bergamottin isolated from Citrus bergamia exerts in vitro and in vivo antitumor activity in lung adenocarcinoma through the induction of apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, mitochondrial membrane potential loss and inhibition of cell migration and invasion.

The objective of the present study was to investigate the in vitro and in vivo anticancer properties of bergamottin, a natural furanocoumarin, against human non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) A549 cells. We also studied its effect on cell proliferation, cell cycle arrest, cell invasion, cell migration as well as cell apoptosis. Antiproliferative activity of bergamottin was estimated by the MTT assay.

miRNA-149* promotes cell proliferation and suppresses apoptosis by mediating JunB in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

MicroRNA-149* (miRNA-149*) functions as an oncogenic regulator in human melanoma. However, the effect of miRNA-149* on T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is unclear. Here we aimed to analyze the effects of miRNA-149* on in vitro T-ALL cells and to uncover the target for miRNA-149* in these cells.

New isocoumarins from a cold-adapted fungal strain mucor sp. and their developmental toxicity to zebrafish embryos.

Three new isocoumarin derivatives, mucorisocoumarins A-C (1-3, resp.), together with seven known compounds, 4-10, were isolated from the cold-adapted fungal strain Mucor sp. (No.

Genotype-phenotype correlation in Chinese patients with pulmonary mixed type adenocarcinoma: Relationship between histologic subtypes, TITF-1/SP-A expressions and EGFR mutations.

This study aimed to explore the association between adenocarcinoma-related morphological and molecular characteristics and EGFR mutations in Chinese lung adenocarcinomas. A total of 139 consecutively resected pulmonary adenocarcinoma patients were screened for EGFR mutations by the amplification refractory mutation system assay. For the resected specimens, histologic subtypes were sub-classified using either the 2004 WHO classification or the 2011 IASLC/ATS/ERS classification.

Thermo- and mechanical-grinding-triggered color and luminescence switches of the diimine-platinum(II) complex with 4-bromo-2,2'-bipyridine.

The square-planar diimine-platinum(II) complex, Pt(4-Brbpy)(C≡CC6H5)2 (1) (4-Brbpy = 4-bromo-2,2'-bipyridine), was prepared and characterized. Solid-state 1 exhibits reversible thermo- and mechanical-grinding-triggered color and luminescence changes. When crystalline 1·2(CH2Cl2) or 1·2(CHCl3) are heated or ground, the original bright yellow-green emission centered at 525 (549, sh) nm changed to 637 and 690 nm, corresponding to thermo- and mechanochromic response shifts of approximately 88-112 nm and 141-165 nm, respectively.

A new sensor for detection of CH3CN and ClCH2CN vapors based on vapoluminescent platinum(II) complex.

The planar platinum(II) complex [Pt(Me3SiC≡CbpyC≡CSiMe3)(C≡CC6H4Et-4)2] (1) with 5,5-bis(trimethylsilylethynyl)-2,2'-bipyridine was prepared and characterized. Solid-state 1 exhibits unusual, selective and reversible luminescence vapochromism to CH3CN and ClCH2CN vapors, which is useful for the detection of these hazardous vapors. A vapochromic cycle was monitored by dynamic variations in emission spectra and X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns.

Positive association between miR-499A>G and hepatocellular carcinoma risk in a Chinese population.

A case-control study of the association of miR-499A>G rs3746444 with risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)was conducted. Patients with HCC and healthy control subjects were recruited for genotyping of miR- 499A>G using duplex polymerase-chain-reaction with confronting-two-pair primer(PCR-RFLP) analysis. The MiR-499 GG genotype was associated with a decreased risk of HCC as compared with the miR-499 AA genotype (adjusted OR=0.

[Application of zebrafish models in drug screening].

Due to its small size, fast external development, transparent embryos, and amenability to genetic analysis, zebrafish has become an ideal vertebrate animal model. In addition to studies in genetics and developmental biology, zebrafish has also been widely used in human disease modeling and drug screening. As a small whole-organism model, zebrafish can be used to comprehensively test and evaluate the activity and side effect of a compound at the same time, fulfilling high content screening.

RUNX3 directly interacts with intracellular domain of Notch1 and suppresses Notch signaling in hepatocellular carcinoma cells.

RUNX3 takes a strong suppressive effect in many tumors including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). HES-1, a downstream target of Notch signaling, is shown to be decreased in human HCC cell line SMMC7721 with RUNX3 gene transfection. Since Notch signaling is oncogenic in HCC, RUNX3 might exert its inhibitory effect in HCC partly through the suppression on Notch signaling.