Analysis of the characteristics and evolution modes of PM2.5 pollution episodes in Beijing, China during 2013.

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) has been recognized as a serious hazard linked to deleterious health effects. In this study, all PM2.

Cytidine Deaminase Axis Modulated by miR-484 Differentially Regulates Cell Proliferation and Chemoresistance in Breast Cancer.

There has been little study of how the evolution of chemoresistance in cancer affects other aspects of disease pathogenesis. Here, we show that an important chemoresistance axis driven by cytidine deaminase (CDA) also acts to suppress cell-cycle progression by regulating cyclin E-CDK2 signaling. We found that CDA was regulated by miR-484 in a gemcitabine-resistant model of breast cancer.

Focal adhesion kinase regulates the phosphorylation protein tyrosine phosphatase-α at Tyr789 in breast cancer cells.

Protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP)‑α regulates the phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK), which is important in cellular signal transduction and integration of proteins. It has been demonstrated that a FAK‑Del33 mutation (deletion of exon 33; KF437463) in breast cancer tissues regulates cell migration through FAK/Src signaling activation. However, the detailed pathway for Src activation with FAK‑Del33 remains to be elucidated.

Spectroscopic study on the interaction of Aβ42 with di(picolyl)amine derivatives and the toxicity to SH-S5Y5 cells.

In order to confirm the neurotoxicity of bifunctional chelators containing hydrophobic groups and metal chelating moiety, the interaction of di(picolyl)amine (dpa) derivatives toward Aβ42 peptide was investigated. Fluorescence titration reveals that a hydrophobic chelator (such as BODIPY) shows high binding affinity to amyloid Aβ42. Circular dichroism (CD) spectra confirm that the hydrophobic bifunctional chelator can decrease α-helix fraction and increase the β-sheet fraction of amyloid Aβ42.

Ooplast transfer of triploid pronucleus zygote improve reconstructed human-goat embryonic development.

Poor development of the interspecies somatic cell nuclear transfer (iSCNT) embryos was due to nuclear-mitochondrial incompatibility. In humans, it has been known that ooplast transfer (OT) could support normal fertilization, the development of embryos and prevents the transmission of mtDNA disease. To investigate whether OT could support development of the iSCNT embryos, the ooplast of Triploid Pronucleus (3PN) zygote which would be discarded in IVF lab was transferred into the enucleated goat oocytes to construct humanized iSCNT embryos in our study.

A recessive variant of XRCC4 predisposes to non- BRCA1/2 breast cancer in chinese women and impairs the DNA damage response via dysregulated nuclear localization.

XRCC4 plays a crucial role in the non-homologous end joining pathway that maintains genome stability. In this two-stage case-control study with 1,764 non-BRCA1/2 breast cancer patients and 1,623 cancer-free controls, we investigated the contribution of genetic variants of XRCC4 to breast cancer susceptibility in Chinese women. We identified a recessive missense variant, rs3734091 (c.

New insights into FAK phosphorylation based on a FAT domain-defective mutation.

Mounting evidence suggests that the FAK N-terminal (FERM) domain controls FAK phosphorylation and function; however, little is known regarding the role of the C terminal (FAT) domain in FAK regulation. We identified a patient-derived FAK mutant, in which a 27-amino acid segment was deleted from the C-terminal FAT domain (named FAK-Del33). When FAK-Del33 was overexpressed in specific tumor cell lines, Y397 phosphorylation increased compared with that observed in cells expressing FAK-WT.

ID2 predicts poor prognosis in breast cancer, especially in triple-negative breast cancer, and inhibits E-cadherin expression.

Background: Inhibitors of DNA-binding (ID) proteins are known as important modulators in the regulation of cell proliferation and differentiation. This study sought to investigate the prognostic value of ID proteins in breast cancer.

Methods: The prognostic role of ID proteins in human breast cancer was investigated in 250 breast cancers, via tissue microarrays.

An aberrant spliced transcript of focal adhesion kinase is exclusively expressed in human breast cancer.

Purpose: To clarify the roles of a new aberrantly spliced transcript of FAK that lacks exon 26 (denoted -26-exon FAK) in human breast cancers.

Methods: Transcripts of FAK expressed in 102 human breast tumor tissues and 52 corresponding normal tissues were analyzed by RT-PCR and DNA sequencing, as well as agarose gel electrophoresis. The cDNA of -26-exon FAK was cloned and expressed in MCF-10A cells, and then the kinase activity, cellular localization and migration capability of FAK were examined by western blotting, immunofluorescent staining and migration assays, respectively.

Particulate matter pollution and population exposure assessment over mainland China in 2010 with remote sensing.

The public is increasingly concerned about particulate matter pollution caused by respirable suspended particles (PM10) and fine particles (PM2.5). In this paper, PM10 and PM2.

Spatiotemporal distribution and short-term trends of particulate matter concentration over China, 2006-2010.

Air quality problems caused by atmospheric particulate have drawn broad public concern in the global scope. In the paper, the spatiotemporal distributions of fine particle (PM2.5) and inhalable particle (PM10) concentrations estimated with the artificial neural network (ANN) over China during 2006 to 2010 have been discussed.

Elevated expression of Girdin in the nucleus indicates worse prognosis for patients with estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer.

Background: Girdin was identified as a novel Akt substrate that contributes to a positive feedback loop between Girdin and Akt. Although several recent studies have demonstrated that Girdin is involved in tumor metastasis, the clinical implications of Girdin in breast cancer remain unclear.

Methods: To retrospectively evaluate the prognostic value of Girdin in breast cancer, we performed an immunohistochemistry screening for Girdin using tissue microarrays constructed from 250 patients who were histologically confirmed as having invasive ductal breast carcinoma at the Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center.

A potential role of myeloid DAP12-associating lectin (MDL)-1 in the regulation of inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis patients.

The pathogenic roles of myeloid DAP12-associating lectin-1(MDL-1) and DAP12 in human rheumatoid arthritis (RA) remain unknown. Frequencies of MDL-1-expressing monocytes in 22 active RA patients, 16 inactive RA patients, 12 osteoarthritis (OA) patients and 10 healthy controls (HC) were determined by flow-cytometry analysis. The mRNA expression levels of MDL-1 and DAP12 on PBMCs were evaluated by quantitative PCR, and their protein expression levels in the synovium were examined by immunohistochemistry.

Effect of Ca(2+) on the activity and structure of α-glucosidase: inhibition kinetics and molecular dynamics simulations.

Understanding the mechanism of inhibition of α-glucosidase (EC 3.2.1.

[Value of nuchal translucency thickening in the fetal chromosome abnormality screening].

Objective: To investigate the value of nuchal translucency(NT) thickening in the fetal chromosome abnormality screening.

Methods: The 14 881 pregnant women received NT measurement in 11-13(+)6 weeks at Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital from January 2010 to August 2012. The 118 fetuses whose NT ≥ 2.

Morphologic characteristics of the posterior malleolus fragment: a 3-D computer tomography based study.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate the morphological characteristics of the posterior malleolus fragment (PMF) based on 3-D computed tomography scans, and evaluated the variability in different types of injuries (ankle fracture, spiral tibial shaft fracture and pilon fracture).

Methods: A retrospective analysis of 3-D computed tomography data of PMF from June 2011 to February 2012 was conducted in a level 1 trauma centre. The cross angle (α), fragment length ratio (FLR), fragment area ratio (FAR), sagittal angle (θ), and fragment height (FH) were measured as morphologic assessments in the Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS).

Somatic mutational analysis of FAK in breast cancer: a novel gain-of-function mutation due to deletion of exon 33.

Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) regulates cell adhesion, migration, proliferation, and survival. We identified a novel splicing mutant, FAK-Del33 (exon 33 deletion, KF437463), in both breast and thyroid cancers through colony sequencing. Considering the low proportion of mutant transcripts in samples, this mutation was detected by TaqMan-MGB probes based qPCR.

Advanced oxidation protein products induce inflammatory response in fibroblast-like synoviocytes through NADPH oxidase -dependent activation of NF-κB.

Background: Advanced oxidation protein products (AOPPs), a marker of oxidative stress, are prevalent in many kinds of disorders. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), mainly resulting from the dysfunction of fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs), is related to oxidative stress. Although the increased levels of AOPPs in RA patients were reported, the effect of AOPPs on FLSs function still remains unclear.

Generation of patient-specific induced neuronal cells using a direct reprogramming strategy.

Direct reprogramming of human fibroblasts into functional neurons in vitro by defined factors provides an invaluable resource for regenerative medicine. However, clinical applications must consider the risk of immune rejection, thus patient-specific induced neuronal cells (iNCs) may serve as an ideal source for autologous cell replacement. In this study, we report a robust process for functional neuronal cells from the patients' scalp by lentiviral gene delivery of Ascl1, Myt1l, and Sox2.

Androgen inhibits abdominal fat accumulation and negatively regulates the PCK1 gene in male chickens.

Capons are male chickens whose testes have been surgically incised. Capons show a significant increase in fat accumulation compared to intact male chickens. However, while caponization leads to a significant reduction in androgen levels in roosters, little is known about the molecular mechanisms through which androgen status affects lipogenesis in avian species.

Proteomic analysis of two metabolic proteins with potential to translocate to plasma membrane associated with tumor metastasis development and drug targets.

Metastasis is the main cause for death of breast cancer patients. However, the underlying mechanism is still poorly understood. Plasma membrane (PM) proteins play a key role in various biological processes, especially for cell migration.

Morphological characteristics of split-depression fractures of the lateral tibial plateau (Schatzker type II): a computer-tomography-based study.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to evaluate the morphological characteristics of lateral tibial plateau split-depression fractures (Schatzker type II).

Methods: A retrospective analysis of radiographic and computed tomographic (CT) data of lateral tibial plateau split-depression fractures from January 2009 to December 2010 was conducted in a level 1 trauma centre. The discontinuity arc, angle of depression centre (ADC), anterior-posterior position of articular depression centre (APDC), surface area percentage (SAP), sagittal angulation and depression depth were measured on CT images using the Picture Archiving and Communication System.

Identification of MXRA5 as a novel biomarker in colorectal cancer.

In our previous study, significantly high expression levels of matrix-remodeling associated 5 (MXRA5) were identified in fresh-cultured colorectal cancer (CRC) tissues compared with their normal adjacent mucosa by differential secretome analysis. Whether MXRA5 is a potential serum biomarker of CRC has not been evaluated. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between MXRA5 expression and clinicopathological characteristics of CRC patients.