Brevetoxin Aptamer Selection and Biolayer Interferometry Biosensor Application.

Brevetoxins (PbTxs) are very potent marine neurotoxins that can cause an illness clinically described as neurologic shellfish poisoning (NSP). These toxins are cyclic polyether in chemistry and have increased their geographical distribution in the past 2 decades. However, the ethical problems as well as technical difficulties associated with currently employed analysis methods for marine toxins have spurred the quest for suitable alternatives to be applied in a regulatory monitoring regime.

Abnormal Interhemispheric Functional Connectivity in Acute Pericoronitis: A Resting-State MRI Study.

Objective: Acute pericoronitis (AP) is a prevalent cause of odontogenic toothache which can significantly impact brain function. Previous research has predominantly concentrated on localized brain activity. However, the synergistic changes between brain hemispheres induced by toothache and resulting abnormal functional connectivity across the brain have not been comprehensively studied.

Activation of Piezo1 increases the sensitivity of breast cancer to hyperthermia therapy.

Photothermal therapy (PTT) of nanomaterials is an emerging novel therapeutic strategy for breast cancer. However, there exists an urgent need for appropriate strategies to enhance the antitumor efficacy of PTT and minimize damage to surrounding normal tissues. Piezo1 might be a promising novel photothermal therapeutic target for breast cancer.

Cytosporin Derivatives from Arctic-Derived Fungus sp. D-1 via the OSMAC Approach.

A chemical investigation of the Arctic-derived fungus sp. D-1 based on the OSMAC (one strain many compounds) approach resulted in the isolation of five cytosporin polyketides (compounds - and -) from rice medium and eight cytosporins (compounds and -) from solid defined medium. The structures of the seven new compounds, eutypelleudesmane A (), cytosporin Y (), cytosporin Z (), cytosporin Y (), cytosporin Y (), cytosporin Y (), and cytosporin E (), were elucidated by analyzing their detailed spectroscopic data.

Genomic insights into 29R-4-F02: unraveling adaptive mechanisms in subseafloor coal-bearing sediment environments.

Introduction: is an important filamentous fungus that inhabits diverse environments. However, investigations on the biology and genetics of in subseafloor sediments remain limited.

Methods: Here, we performed sequencing and assembly of the 29R-4-F02 genome, an isolate obtained from approximately 2.

Computational Dissection of the Role of Trp305 in the Regulation of the Death-Associated Protein Kinase-Calmodulin Interaction.

Death-associated protein kinase 1 (DAPK1), as a calcium/calmodulin (CaM) regulated serine/threonine kinase, functions in apoptotic and autophagy pathways and represents an interesting drug target for inflammatory bowel disease and Alzheimer's disease. The crystal structure of the DAPK1 catalytic domain and the autoregulatory domain (ARD) in complex with CaM provides an understanding of CaM-dependent regulation of DAPK1 activity. However, the molecular basis of how distinct Trp305 (W305Y and W305D) mutations in the ARD modulate different DAPK1 activities remains unknown.

Bioactive Scalarane-Type Sesterterpenoids from Marine Sources.

Scalarane-type sesterterpenoids have received considerable attention in the scientific literature due to their diverse carbon skeletons and various biological activities and pharmacological properties. Among all these derivatives are commonly isolated from marine sponges and are occasionally derived from shell-less mollusks, such as nudibranchs. This review comprehensively discusses the marine-derived natural sources that give rise to these scalarane-type sesterterpenoids, providing the names, their chemical structures, biological properties, with emphasis on anticancer activity and literature references related to these metabolites.

Glucose Starvation-Induced Rapid Death of Nrf1-Deficient, but Not Nrf2-Deficient, Hepatoma Cells Results from Its Fatal Defects in the Redox Metabolism Reprogramming.

Metabolic reprogramming exists in a variety of cancer cells, with the most relevance to glucose as a source of energy and carbon for survival and proliferation. Of note, Nrf1 was shown to be essential for regulating glycolysis pathway, but it is unknown whether it plays a role in cancer metabolic reprogramming, particularly in response to glucose starvation. Herein, we discover that hepatoma cells are sensitive to rapid death induced by glucose deprivation, such cell death appears to be rescued by interference, but HepG2 (wild-type, ) or cells are roughly unaffected by glucose starvation.

Circulating guanylyl cyclase C (GCC) mRNA is a reliable metastatic predictor and prognostic index of colorectal cancer.

Background: Currently, few specific biomarkers or standard cutoff values are available for circulating tumor cells (CTCs) detection and survival prediction in patients with early stage colorectal cancer (CRC). Guanylyl cyclase C (GCC) presents as a specific expression in intestinal tumor cells and during their metastases, indicating its potential application as a metastatic predictor of CRC.

Methods: The circulating GCC mRNA of 160 colorectal cancer patients at stage I-III was detected via quantitative real-time (qRT)-PCR in our study, and the correlation of GCC mRNA level with tumor metastasis and long-term survival was explored.

Unification of Opposites between Two Antioxidant Transcription Factors Nrf1 and Nrf2 in Mediating Distinct Cellular Responses to the Endoplasmic Reticulum Stressor Tunicamycin.

The water-soluble Nrf2 (nuclear factor, erythroid 2-like 2, also called Nfe2l2) is accepted as a master regulator of antioxidant responses to cellular stress, and it was also identified as a direct target of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-anchored PERK (protein kinase RNA-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase). However, the membrane-bound Nrf1 (nuclear factor, erythroid 2-like 1, also called Nfe2l1) response to ER stress remains elusive. Herein, we report a unity of opposites between these two antioxidant transcription factors, Nrf1 and Nrf2, in coordinating distinct cellular responses to the ER stressor tunicamycin (TU).

Nach Is a Novel Subgroup at an Early Evolutionary Stage of the CNC-bZIP Subfamily Transcription Factors from the Marine Bacteria to Humans.

Normal growth and development, as well as adaptive responses to various intracellular and environmental stresses, are tightly controlled by transcriptional networks. The evolutionarily conserved genomic sequences across species highlights the architecture of such certain regulatory elements. Among them, one of the most conserved transcription factors is the basic-region leucine zipper (bZIP) family.

Bioactive metabolites from the Arctic fungus sp. B-13.

Two new cyclohexanone derivatives, nectriatones A-B (-), and one new natural product, nectriatone C (), together with three known phenolic sesquiterpene derivatives (-), were isolated from the culture of sp. B-13 obtained from high-latitude soil of the Arctic. The structures of all compounds were unambiguously elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis, as well as by comparison with the literature.

Smad3 mutant mice develop colon cancer with overexpression of COX-2.

Colon cancer is the second most common cause of cancer-associated mortality in human populations. The aim of the present study was to identify the role of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in Smad3 mutant mice, which are known to develop colon cancer. Homozygous Smad3 (-/-) mutant mice were generated from inbred and hybrid Smad3 mouse strains by intercrossing the appropriate heterozygotes.

Expression of guanylyl cyclase C in tissue samples and the circulation of rectal cancer patients.

Guanylyl cyclase C (GCC) is a transmembrane surface receptor restricted to intestinal epithelial cells, from the duodenum to the rectum. We compared GCC expression in tumors and normal rectal tissues, and investigated the relation between GCC expression and metastasis and long-term survival of rectal cancer patients. Based on the UICC classification, 42 rectal cancer patients in this study were classified as stage I, 48 patients as stage II, and 90 patients as stage III.

MiR-126 regulates proliferation and invasion in the bladder cancer BLS cell line by targeting the PIK3R2-mediated PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

Objective: To assess whether microRNA-126 (miR-126) targets phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase regulatory subunit beta (PIK3R2) and to determine the potential roles of miR-126 in regulating proliferation and invasion via the PIK3R2-mediated phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K)-protein kinase B (Akt) signaling pathway in the human bladder BLS cell line.

Materials And Methods: A recombinant lentivirus (Lv) vector expressing miR-216 (Lv-miR-126) was successfully constructed, and Lv-miR-126 and Lv vector were transfected into the BLS cell line. A direct regulatory relationship between miR-126 and the PIK3R2 gene was demonstrated by luciferase reporter assays.

Interleukin-11-induced capillary leak syndrome companied with abdominal chylous leakage in primary sigmoid carcinoma patients with thrombocytopenia.

Capillary leak syndrome (CLS) is a rare condition characterized by generalized edema and hypotension. Interleukin-11 (IL-11) is a therapeutic agent for the treatment of thrombocytopenia. The relationship between IL-11 and CLS has rarely been reported, especially in patients with colorectal cancer.

Establishment and value assessment of efficacy prediction model about transurethral prostatectomy.

Objectives: To establish and to evaluate discriminant models to predict the outcomes of transurethral prostatectomy.

Methods: Clinical data of patients treated with transurethral prostatectomy between January and December 2013 were collected, including medical history, symptoms, biochemical tests, ultrasonography and urodynamics. Surgical efficacy was evaluated at 6-month follow up.

Prospective phase II trial of nimotuzumab in combination with radiotherapy and concurrent capecitabine in locally advanced rectal cancer.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of adding concurrent nimotuzumab to preoperative radiotherapy with concurrent capecitabine in locally advanced rectal cancer.

Methods And Materials: Patients with rectal cancer (clinical stage T3/4 or N+) were scheduled to receive weekly nimotuzumab (400 mg; days -6, 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29). Capecitabine (825 mg/m(2)) was delivered orally twice daily for the duration of radiotherapy.

Astragalus polysaccharides suppress ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 expression in TNF-α-treated human vascular endothelial cells by blocking NF-κB activation.

Aim: To investigate the effects Astragalus polysaccharides (APS) on tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α-induced inflammatory reactions in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms.

Methods: HUVECs were treated with TNF-α for 24 h. The amounts of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) were determined with Western blotting.

[Detection of guanylate cyclase C mRNA and cytokeratin 20 mRNA in peripheral blood and analysis of prognosis in early to moderate colorectal cancer patients].

Objective: To investigate the associations of guanylate cyclase C (GC-C) mRNA and cytokeratin 20 (CK20) mRNA with metastasis and prognosis in early to moderate colorectal cancer patients.

Methods: GC-C mRNA and CK 20 mRNA in peripheral blood of 74 colorectal cancer patients without distant metastasis were detected by fluorescent quantitative PCR (FQ-PCR). Based on their clinicopathological and postoperative follow-up data, the relationship and clinical significance of these data with metastasis hazards and prognosis factors were analyzed.

[Detection and clinical significance of apoptosis related protein in local advanced rectal cancer patients with preoperative neoadjuvant therapy].

Objective: To discuss the mechanism of rectal cancer apoptosis induced by preoperative chemoradiotherapy and evaluate its effect by detection of apoptosis related proteins in locally advanced colorectal cancer patients who had received preoperative chemoradiation.

Methods: To detect Bcl-XL and Bax expression in rectal cancer before and after chemoradiotherapy by EnVision method, combined with patients clinical and pathological index, statistically analysis and evaluation their relationship and clinical significance.

Results: Patients with or without tumor shrinkage after preoperative chemoradiotherapy was 13 cases and 21 cases.