Beyond mitochondrial transfer, cell fusion rescues metabolic dysfunction and boosts malignancy in adenoid cystic carcinoma.

Cancer cells with mitochondrial dysfunction can be rescued by cells in the tumor microenvironment. Using human adenoid cystic carcinoma cell lines and fibroblasts, we find that mitochondrial transfer occurs not only between human cells but also between human and mouse cells both in vitro and in vivo. Intriguingly, spontaneous cell fusion between cancer cells and fibroblasts could also emerge; specific chromosome loss might be essential for nucleus reorganization and the post-hybrid selection process.

[Prenatal diagnosis and genetic counselling for a pedigree carrying a large fragment deletion of 13q].

Objective: To carry out prenatal diagnosis for a fetus with normal ultrasonographic finding at 20 weeks' gestation but a copy number variant(CNV) of 13q indicated by non-invasive prenatal test (NIPT).

Methods: Karyotyping analysis and chromosomal CNV assay were carried out on the amniotic fluid sample. Parental peripheral blood sample was collected for chromosomal analysis.

Clinical and Genetic Characteristics of 17 α-Hydroxylase/17, 20-Lyase Deficiency: c.985_987delTACinsAA Mutation of CYP17A1 Prevalent in the Chinese Han Population.

Objective: 17 α-hydroxylase/17, 20-lyase deficiency (17-OHD) is a rare recessive hereditary disease that can be attributed to cytochrome P450 17 α-hydroxylase deficiency caused by CYP17A1 gene mutations.

Methods: A large cohort of 10 Chinese Han patients with 17-OHD from 2012 to 2020 were enrolled. The clinical and biochemical features were investigated, and genetic mutations of CYP17A1 were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction-Sanger sequencing.

[Detection of chromosome aneuploidies in spontaneous abortion villus samples by quantitative fluorescence PCR].

Objective: To assess the value of quantitative fluorescence polymerase chain reaction (QF-PCR) for the detection of chromosomal aneuploidies in chorionic villus samples from early abortion.

Methods: One hundred seventy seven specimens were collected. Genomic DNA was extracted, and aneuploidies of 8 chromosomes (13, 15, 16, 18, 21, 22, X and Y) were detected by QF-PCR analysis.

Poly (ethylene glycol) prodrug for anthracyclines via N-Mannich base linker: design, synthesis and biological evaluation.

Poly (ethylene glycol)s (PEGs) are potential drug carriers for improving the therapeutic index of anticancer agents. In this work, a novel methodology for constructing PEG prodrug of anthracycline anticancer drugs was developed based on N-Mannich base of salicylamide and its 2-acyloxymethylated derivative. The resultant conjugates first subjected to in vitro hydrolysis testing, which revealed the release behavior of newly synthesized PEG prodrugs could be adjusted by the status of 2-hydroxy group of salicylamide.

Thermosensitive polymer-conjugated albumin nanospheres as thermal targeting anti-cancer drug carrier.

Thermosensitive Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylamide-co-allylamine) (PNIPAM-AAm-AA)-conjugated albumin nanospheres (PAN) was developed as a new thermal targeting anti-cancer drug carrier by conjugating PNIPAM-AAm-AA on the surface of albumin nanospheres (AN). AN with diameter below 200nm and narrow size distribution was successfully prepared in the first step with desolvation technique. PNIPAM-AAm-AA with different molecular weight (M(w)) was synthesized in the second step by radical polymerization and conjugated onto the surface of AN.