The C-Circle Biomarker Is Secreted by Alternative-Lengthening-of-Telomeres Positive Cancer Cells inside Exosomes and Provides a Blood-Based Diagnostic for ALT Activity.

C-Circles, self-primed telomeric C-strand templates for rolling circle amplification, are the only known alternative-lengthening-of-telomeres (ALT)-specific molecule. However, little is known about the biology of C-Circles and if they may be clinically useful. Here we show that C-Circles are secreted by ALT+ cancer cells inside exosomes, and that a blood-based C-Circle Assay (CCA) can provide an accurate diagnostic for ALT activity.

3'-hydroxy-4'-methoxy-β-methyl-β-nitrostyrene inhibits tumorigenesis in colorectal cancer cells through ROS-mediated DNA damage and mitochondrial dysfunction.

The β-nitrostyrene family has been shown to suppress cell proliferation and induce apoptosis in types of various cancers. However, the mechanisms underlying the anticancer effects of β-nitrostyrenes in colorectal cancer remain poorly understood. In this study, we synthesized a β-nitrostyrene derivative, CYT-Rx20 (3'-hydroxy-4'-methoxy-β-methyl-β-nitrostyrene), and investigated its anticancer activities in human colorectal cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo.

Extracellular Visfatin-Promoted Malignant Behavior in Breast Cancer Is Mediated Through c-Abl and STAT3 Activation.

Purpose: Visfatin is an adipocytokine involved in cellular metabolism, inflammation, and cancer. This study investigated the roles of extracellular visfatin in breast cancer, and explored underlying mechanisms in clinical and experimental settings.

Experimental Design: Associations of serum visfatin with clinicopathologic characteristics and patient survival were assessed with Cox regression models and Kaplan-Meier analyses.

Estimation of salt intake by 24-hour urinary sodium excretion: a cross-sectional study in Yantai, China.

Background: High levels of dietary sodium are associated with raised blood pressure and adverse cardiovascular health. To determine baseline salt intake, we investigated the average dietary salt intake from 24-hour urinary sodium excretion with a small sample of Yantai adults in the Shandong province of China.

Methods: One hundred ninety one adults aged 18-69 years were randomly selected from the Yantai adult population.

Different metal-ion-induced dimeric self-assembling cavities based on thiacalix[4]benzocrown-4 isomers.

To construct the self-assembly of metal-ion-induced well-ordered architectures based on calixcrowns, isomeric thiacalix[4]benzocrowns-4 1 and 2 with rigid and small crown units were employed as the new scaffolds. They all show remarkable selectivity for Ag(+) and their complexation ability towards Ag(+) results in two novel dimeric aggregates of calixcrowns, which were first evidenced by ESI-MS, (1)H and DOSY-NMR spectra. Ultimately, X-ray diffraction experiments confirmed unambiguously the existence of the two metal-ion-induced dimers in lower rim/lower rim mode, and showed that dimerization of calixcrown 1 or 2 in the presence of Ag(+) could form dimeric supramolecular cavity with a small inner room.

A novel indole-3-carbinol derivative inhibits the growth of human oral squamous cell carcinoma in vitro.

Indole-3-carbinol (I3C), a naturally occurring phytochemical found in cruciferous vegetables, has received much attention due to its translational potential in cancer prevention and therapy. In this study, we investigated the antitumor effects of OSU-A9, a structurally optimized I3C derivative, in a panel of oral squamous cell carcinoma cell lines, SCC4, SCC15, and SCC2095. The antiproliferative effect of OSU-A9 was approximately two-orders-of-magnitude higher than that of I3C.

Self-assembly of amphiphilic calix[6]crowns: from vesicles to nanotubes.

Upon an increase of the medium polarity, the morphology of the aggregates of calix[6]crowns TAC evolves from vesicles to the coexistence of vesicles and nanotubles, and finally to nanotubes only. Meanwhile, nanohybrids were constructed by the incorporation of caesium ions into the TAC nanotubles.

p-tert-Butylcalix[4]arene-1,3-bis(allyloxyethoxy)ether coated capillaries for open-tubular electrochromatography.

The preparation and characterization of p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene-1,3-bis(allyloxyethoxy)ether (CA[4]-BAE) chemically coated capillaries via a free-radical reaction with vinyltriethoxysilane (VTES) that was attached onto the inner wall previously were carried out. IR spectra and decreased electroosmotic flow (EOF) suggested that the capillary was successfully coated with CA[4]-BAE. A slight slope of EOF versus pH at 5 < pH < 9 would help to make the separation reproducible.

Novel fiber coated with amide bridged-calix[4]arene used for solid-phase microextraction of aliphatic amines.

Solid-phase microextraction (SPME) using a novel fiber coated with 25,27-dihydroxy-26, 28-oxy(2',7'-dioxo-3',6'-diazaoctyl)oxy-p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene/hydroxy-terminated silicone oil has been introduced as a rapid and sensitive pretreatment technique coupled to gas chromatography-flame ionization detection (GC-FID) for the detection of aliphatic amines without derivatization. Due to the introduction of the polar amide bridge in calix[4]arene, the new fiber shows good selectivity and sensitivity to the polar aliphatic amines in addition to its high thermal stability (380 degrees C), solvent stability and good reproducibility between fibers. The extraction temperature, extraction time, pH, and ionic strength of the matrix sample were modified to allow for maximum sorption of the analytes onto the fiber.

Open-tubular capillary electrochromatography using capillary columns chemically bonded with the new host molecules calix[6]crown, calix[6]arene.

Two host molecules, p-tert-butylcalix[6]-1,4-crown-4 and p-tert-butylcalix[6]arene were prepared and attached onto the inner surfaces of capillaries for open-tubular electrochromatography with the aid of gamma-glycidoxypropyl-trimethoxysilane (KH-560) as bridging agent. The successful bonding was confirmed by infrared (IR) results and greatly decreased electroosmotic flow (EOF). Parameters affecting separation, such as buffer pH and organic modifier were studied.