Super-Enhancer Driven LIF/LIFR-STAT3-SOX2 Regulatory Feedback Loop Promotes Cancer Stemness in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Super-enhancers (SEs) have been recognized as key epigenetic regulators underlying cancer stemness and malignant traits by aberrant transcriptional control and promising therapeutic targets against human cancers. However, the SE landscape and their roles during head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) development especially in cancer stem cells (CSCs) maintenance remain underexplored yet. Here, we identify leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF)-SE as a representative oncogenic SE to activate LIF transcription in HNSCC.

GPS-SUMO 2.0: an updated online service for the prediction of SUMOylation sites and SUMO-interacting motifs.

Small ubiquitin-like modifiers (SUMOs) are tiny but important protein regulators involved in orchestrating a broad spectrum of biological processes, either by covalently modifying protein substrates or by noncovalently interacting with other proteins. Here, we report an updated server, GPS-SUMO 2.0, for the prediction of SUMOylation sites and SUMO-interacting motifs (SIMs).

Large-language models facilitate discovery of the molecular signatures regulating sleep and activity.

Sleep, locomotor and social activities are essential animal behaviors, but their reciprocal relationships and underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, we elicit information from a cutting-edge large-language model (LLM), generative pre-trained transformer (GPT) 3.5, which interprets 10.

GPS 6.0: an updated server for prediction of kinase-specific phosphorylation sites in proteins.

Protein phosphorylation, catalyzed by protein kinases (PKs), is one of the most important post-translational modifications (PTMs), and involved in regulating almost all of biological processes. Here, we report an updated server, Group-based Prediction System (GPS) 6.0, for prediction of PK-specific phosphorylation sites (p-sites) in eukaryotes.

Boosting Ring Strain and Lewis Acidity of Borirane: Synthesis, Reactivity and Density Functional Theory Studies of an Uncoordinated Arylborirane Fused to o-Carborane.

Among the parent borirane, benzoborirene and ortho-dicarbadodecaborane-fused borirane, the latter possesses the highest ring strain and the highest Lewis acidity according to our density functional theory (DFT) studies. The synthesis of this class of compounds is thus considerably challenging. The existing examples require either a strong π-donating group or an extra ligand for B-coordination, which nevertheless suppresses or completely turns off the Lewis acidity.

HemI 2.0: an online service for heatmap illustration.

Recent high-throughput omics techniques have produced a large amount of biological data. Visualization of big omics data is essential to answer a wide range of biological problems. As a concise but comprehensive strategy, a heatmap can analyze and visualize high-dimensional and heterogeneous biomolecular expression data in an attractive artwork.

Synthesis of Iminoboryl -Carboranes by Lewis Base Promoted Aminoborirane-to-Iminoborane Isomerization.

The iminoboryl -carboranes (MeSi)-Cb-B≡N-R (Cb = BCH, , R = SiMe; , R = Bu) have been successfully synthesized by tetrahydrofuran (THF)-promoted isomerization from the corresponding -carborane-fused aminoboriranes Cb{BN(SiMe)R} (). The synthetic protocol of the previously reported borirane was optimized. The borirane Cb{BN(SiMe)Bu} () and the iminoboranes and were fully characterized by NMR, IR, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses.

Dynamic Experimental Study on the Paraffin Deposition Prevention Performance of Tungsten Alloy Coating Pipe in Simulating Vertical Wellbore.

In this study, a self-designed apparatus was used to provide a quantitative evaluation of the wax prevention effect of tungsten alloy-coated tubing compared with ordinary tubing in oil production. The paraffin deposition of both pipes at different temperatures and different flow rates was studied. The efficiency of paraffin deposition prevention of the tungsten alloy coating pipe was analyzed.

[Immature dendritic cells phagocytosing human spleen cells treated by PUVA present the characteristics of regulatory dendritic cells].

Objective To investigate the effect of psoralen combined with A-band ultraviolet (PUVA)-treated human spleen lymphocytes on the phenotype and function of immature dendritic cells (imDCs). Methods Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated and induced to produce DCs by interleukin-4 (IL-4) and recombinant human granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (rhGM-CSF). On the sixth day, the imDCs were obtained and stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

[Immature dendritic cells phagocytosing apoptotic human spleen cells treated with PUVA inhibits the maturation induced by LPS].

Objective To investigate whether lipopolysaccharide (LPS) can induce the maturation of immature dendritic cells (imDCs) which phagocytose apoptotic spleen lymphocytes. Methods Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were induced to produce DCs by interleukin 4 (IL-4) and recombinant human granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (rhGM-CSF). Human spleen cells (hSPs) were isolated and treated with psoralen combined with ultraviolet A(PUVA) to obtain apoptotic PUVA-hSPs.

[Triplet anti-tumor therapy based on thymosin α-1 attenuates incidence of hepatoma and serum alpha-fetoprotein level in rat hepatoma model].

Objective: To explore the impact of triple anti-tumor therapy based on thymosin α1 (Tα1) combined with Huaier granule(HG) and sirolimus on the level of serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in rat models of liver cancer.

Methods: Ninety Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into triple anti-tumor therapy group, Tα1 group, HG group, sirolimus group, positive control and blank control groups, with 15 rats in each group. Except the blank control group, the rats in the other groups were induced using diethylnitrosamine (DEN) to establish liver cancer models.

[Frequency analyses of human cytomegalovirus specific CD8(+) T cell in kidney transplantation].

Objective: To establish a new detection method for cytomegalovirus (CMV) specific cytotoxic CD8(+)T cells and examine its proportion and significance in peripheral blood from kidney transplant recipients.

Methods: A total of 30 recipients of kidney transplantation from January 2009 to December 2010 for the first time were enrolled. And 10 healthy volunteers were selected as health control group.

[Expression of T lymphocyte cytokines in peripheral blood of renal transplant recipients].

Objective: To evaluate the clinical values of T-lymphocyte cytokines in renal transplant acute rejection.

Methods: A total of 31 recipients with renal transplantation and 15 healthy volunteers from January 2010 to January 2012 were enrolled and divided into acute rejection group (n = 11) and stable renal allograft function group (n = 20) according to the inclusion criteria. Peripheral blood was collected from the patients before transplantation, 1, 7, 14, 28 day after transplantation and acute rejection onset.

[The modified extracorporeal photochemotherapy promotes apoptosis of spleen lymphocytes].

Objective: To explore the efficacy of the modified extracorporeal photochemotherapy (ECP) in improving the apoptotic rate of lymphocytes in vitro.

Methods: The spleens which were obtained from liver transplantation donor under aseptic condition were used as experimental materials. Splenic lymphocytes (SPs) suspensions were prepared by modified and traditional ECP method, respectively.

HLA-G expression in the peripheral blood of live kidney transplant recipients.

Background: The human leukocyte antigen-G (HLA-G) has been considered to be an important tolerogeneic molecule playing an essential role in maternal-fetal tolerance, upregulated in the context of transplantation, malignancy, and inflammation, and has been correlated with various clinical outcomes. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical relevance of the expression of membrane HLA-G (mHLA-G), intracellular HLA-G (iHLA-G), and soluble HLA-G (sHLA-G) in the peripheral blood of live kidney transplant recipients.

Methods: We compared the expression of the three HLA-G isoforms in three groups, healthy donors (n=20), recipients with acute rejection (n=19), and functioning transplants (n=30).

Uptake of donor lymphocytes treated with 8-methoxypsoralen and ultraviolet A light by recipient dendritic cells induces CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells and down-regulates cardiac allograft rejection.

Extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) is an effective immunomodulatory therapy and has been demonstrated to be beneficial for graft-vs-host disease and solid-organ allograft rejection. ECP involves reinfusion of a patient's autologous peripheral blood leukocytes treated ex vivo with 8-methoxypsoralen and UVA light radiation (PUVA). Previous studies focused only on ECP treatment of recipient immune cells.

Assessment of validity of INR system for patients with liver disease associated with viral hepatitis.

International Normalized Ratio (INR), which standardizes prothrombin time (PT) during oral anticoagulation, has been extended to standardize PT in liver diseases and is included in all prognostic models of survival, the classification of CHILD-Pugh or Meld. However, the mechanisms of PT prolongation in liver diseases differ from those involved in oral anticoagulation. Our aim was to assess the validity of the INR system for patients with liver disease associated with viral hepatitis.

Comparison of modes of prothrombin time reporting in patients with advanced liver disease associated with viral hepatitis.

Background: Prothrombin time is widely utilized for evaluation of liver disease severity. However, its standardization of modes of reporting is not established for universal purpose. Variability in thromboplastin reagents leads to large intralaboratory and interlaboratory differences in PT results.

Development of an antisense RNA delivery system using conjugates of the MS2 bacteriophage capsids and HIV-1 TAT cell-penetrating peptide.

RNA-based therapeutic strategies are used widely due to their highly specific mode of action. However, the major obstacle in any RNA-based therapy is cellular delivery and stability in the cells. The self-assembly of the MS2 bacteriophage capsids has been used to develop virus-like particles (VLPs) for drug delivery.

Construction of armored RNA containing long-size chimeric RNA by increasing the number and affinity of the pac site in exogenous rna and sequence coding coat protein of the MS2 bacteriophage.

Objectives: To construct a one-plasmid expression system of the armored RNA containing long chimeric RNA by increasing the number and affinity of the pac site.

Methods: The plasmid pET-MS2-pac was constructed with one C-variant pac site, and then the plasmid pM-CR-2C containing 1,891-bp chimeric sequences and two C-variant pac sites was produced. Meanwhile, three plasmids (pM-CR-C, pM-CR-2W and pM-CR-W) were obtained as parallel controls with a different number and affinity of the pac site.

RNase-resistant virus-like particles containing long chimeric RNA sequences produced by two-plasmid coexpression system.

RNase-resistant, noninfectious virus-like particles containing exogenous RNA sequences (armored RNA) are good candidates as RNA controls and standards in RNA virus detection. However, the length of RNA packaged in the virus-like particles with high efficiency is usually less than 500 bases. In this study, we describe a method for producing armored L-RNA.

[A discussion of standardization for prothrombin time in patients with advanced liver diseases].

Objective: To determine which expression mode of prothrombin time (PT) might achieve PT standardization in patients with advanced liver diseases.

Methods: PT was measured with six thromboplastins with different ISI values in 16 severe chronic hepatitis patients, 50 decompensated liver cirrhosis patients and 30 patients on oral anticoagulation therapy. The results were expressed in PT (second), PTA (%), PTR and INR.

[The relationship between hemostatic changes in liver cirrhosis patients with different degrees of liver lesions in reference to Child-Pugh scores].

Objective: To investigate the relationship between hemostatic changes in liver cirrhosis patients with different degrees of their liver lesions.

Methods: Forty-three patients (35 men, 8 women; age: 25 to 71 yr) with liver cirrhosis were divided into three subgroups (A, B, and C) on the basis of Child-Pugh classification. Among the patients, 13 were classified as Child-Pugh class A, 15 were class B, 15 were class C.

[The relationship among the counts of platelet, thrombopoietin and spleen index in patients with liver cirrhosis].

Objective: To determine the reason of thrombocytopenia in patients with liver cirrhosis, we studied the relationship among platelet counts, serum thrombopoietin (TPO) level and spleen index.

Methods: Serum TPO, platelet counts and spleen index were measured in 71 cirrhotic patients. TPO was measured with ELISA method, spleen index were measured on ultrasonography by the same doctor.