CDK11 plays a critical role in the tumorigenicity of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cells and is a potential drug target.

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a serious malignancy with limited options for targeted therapy. The exploration of novel targeted therapies for combating ESCC is urgently needed. Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) play important roles in the progression of cancers; however, the function of CDK11 (cyclin-dependent kinase 11) in ESCC is still unknown.

Association between serum cholesterol levels and Alzheimer's disease in China: a case-control study.

To examine the association between blood cholesterol concentrations and Alzheimer's disease (AD) in the Chinese elderly. A case-control study was implemented between November 2011 and November 2017. Elderly patients aged ≥ 55 years with (n = 117) and without AD (control participants; n = 117) were recruited from the Neurology Central Hospital of Tianjin, China.

Salivary protease spectrum biomarkers of oral cancer.

Proteases are important molecules that are involved in many physiological and pathological processes of the human body, such as growth, apoptosis and metastasis cancer cells. They are potential targets in cancer diagnosis and biotherapy. In this study, we analyzed the salivary protease spectrum of patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), oral benign masses and chronic periodontitis, as well as that of health, using human protease array kits, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, western blot and immunofluorescence.

Hot Deformation Behavior of Homogenized Mg-13.5Gd-3.2Y-2.3Zn-0.5Zr Alloy via Hot Compression Tests.

Mg-Gd-Y-Zn-Zr Mg alloys show excellent performance in high-end manufacturing due to its strength, hardness and corrosion resistance. However, the hot deformation and dynamic recrystallization (DRX) behaviors of Mg-13.5Gd-3.

Effect of Isothermal Repetitive Upsetting Extrusion on the Microstructure of Mg-12.0Gd-4.5Y-2.0Zn-0.4Zr Alloy.

Repetitive upsetting extrusion (RUE) was applied to the as-homogenized Mg-12.0Gd-4.5Y-2Zn-0.

Ratiometric fluorescence detection of Cu based on carbon dots/bovine serum albumin-Au nanoclusters.

A ratiometric fluorescence sensor for Cu detection was developed by employing carbon dots (CDs) as the reference fluorophore, and bovine serum albumin (BSA)-Au nanoclusters (AuNCs) both as specific recognition element and as response signal. The CDs were prepared by heating an acetic acid solution of chitosan at 180°C. The proposed nanoprobe was prepared by simply mixing the CDs and BSA-AuNCs.

Luminescent SiO@Tb/guanosine 5'-monophosphate core-shell nanoscale coordination polymers for superoxide anion detection.

It is of great significance for superoxide anion (O) detection due to its important role in regulation of biological function. The nanoscale coordination polymers (NCPs) core-shell nanostructures have attracted increasing interests for their nanosized-dependent properties. In this study, SiO@Tb/guanosine 5'-monophosphate (GMP) NCPs with core-shell nanostructures was designed for O detection.

A Novel Mechanism of Doxorubicin Resistance and Tumorigenesis Mediated by MicroRNA-501-5p-Suppressed BLID.

Doxorubicin is a widely used anthracycline-based anti-tumor agent for both solid and liquid tumors. Mounting evidence has demonstrated that microRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in chemoresistance and tumorigenesis. However, the roles of microRNA-501-5p (miR-501) in doxorubicin resistance and gastric cancer cell proliferation and invasion are still not fully understood.

Propofol Promotes Activity and Tumor-Killing Ability of Natural Killer Cells in Peripheral Blood of Patients with Colon Cancer.

BACKGROUND We investigated the effect of propofol on activities and tumor-killing ability of natural killer (NK) cells in patients with colon cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS Twenty colon cancer patients and 20 healthy subjects were included. Peripheral blood (5 ml) was collected from all patients and healthy subjects.

PAX2 may induce ADAM10 expression in renal tubular epithelial cells and contribute to epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition.

Purpose: We sought to investigate the role of PAX2 in renal epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), examining the influence of PAX2 on ADAM10 expression during renal EMT and ADAM10 expression in fibrotic kidneys.

Methods: A rat renal tubular epithelial cell line, NRK52E, was transfected with lentivirus carrying PAX2, and E-cadherin and α-SMA expressions were measured. The influence of PAX2 on ADAM10 promoter activity was evaluated using chromatin immunoprecipitation (CHIP) and dual-luciferase reporter assay.

The Research of Acellular Pancreatic Bioscaffold as a Natural 3-Dimensional Platform In Vitro.

Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate the biochemical and functional properties of a rat acellular pancreatic bioscaffolds (APBs).

Methods: Fresh pancreata from 10 rats were soaked and perfused through portal veins using Easy-Load Digital Drive peristaltic pumps. The histological structure, extracellular matrix composition, and the DNA content of the APBs were evaluated.

Classification of Tumor Epithelium and Stroma by Exploiting Image Features Learned by Deep Convolutional Neural Networks.

The tumor-stroma ratio (TSR) reflected on hematoxylin and eosin (H&E)-stained histological images is a potential prognostic factor for survival. Automatic image processing techniques that allow for high-throughput and precise discrimination of tumor epithelium and stroma are required to elevate the prognostic significance of the TSR. As a variant of deep learning techniques, transfer learning leverages nature-images features learned by deep convolutional neural networks (CNNs) to relieve the requirement of deep CNNs for immense sample size when handling biomedical classification problems.

RANK Deficiency Ameliorates Podocyte Injury by Suppressing Calcium/Calcineurin/ NFATc1 Signaling.

Background/aims: Podocyte injury and loss contribute to proteinuria, glomerulosclerosis and eventually kidney failure. Receptor activator of NF-κB (RANK) belongs to the TNF receptor superfamily, which plays a key role in the pathogenesis of podocyte injury. However, the mechanism underlying the effect of RANK in podocyte injury remains unclear.

Prediction of chemotherapy response in ovarian cancer patients using a new clustered quantitative image marker.

This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of integrating image features computed from both spatial and frequency domain to better describe the tumor heterogeneity for precise prediction of tumor response to postsurgical chemotherapy in patients with advanced-stage ovarian cancer. A computer-aided scheme was applied to first compute 133 features from five categories namely, shape and density, fast Fourier transform, discrete cosine transform (DCT), wavelet, and gray level difference method. An optimal feature cluster was then determined by the scheme using the particle swarm optimization algorithm aiming to achieve an enhanced discrimination power that was unattainable with the single features.

Horizontal transfer of exosomal CXCR4 promotes murine hepatocarcinoma cell migration, invasion and lymphangiogenesis.

Exosomes have been demonstrated as an important factor to influence cancer invasion and metastasis. Previous studies have shown that CXC chemokine recepter-4 (CXCR4) and stromal cell-derived factor-1α (SDF-1α) mediates matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) secretions to facilitate lymph node metastasis of hepatocarcinoma cells. In this study, we demonstrated that exosomes containing elevated CXCR4 from high lymph node metastatic mouse hepatocarcinoma Hca-F cells were able to promote the migration and invasion of a paired syngeneic Hca-P cells that have low metastatic potential.

Protein kinase D1 regulates hypoxic metabolism through HIF-1α and glycolytic enzymes incancer cells.

Protein kinase D1 (PKD1), one of the protein kinase D (PKD) family members, plays a prominent role in multiple bio-behaviors of cancer cells. Low pH and hypoxia are unique characteristics of the tumor microenvironment. The aim of this study was to investigate the role and mechanism of PKD1 in regulating metabolism in the human tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) cell line SCC25 under a hypoxic condition, as well as growth and apoptosis.

Hexahydrobenzophenanthridine alkaloids from Corydalis bungeana Turcz. and their anti-inflammatory activity.

As part of a bioprospecting program aimed at the discovery of anti-inflammatory agents from the Corydalis bungeana Turcz. (C. bungeana), five new hexahydrobenzophenanthridine alkaloids, corycaline A-E (1-5), along with four known alkaloids, were isolated from the whole plant of C.

The "Motor" in Implicit Motor Sequence Learning: A Foot-stepping Serial Reaction Time Task.

This protocol describes a modified serial reaction time (SRT) task used to study implicit motor sequence learning. Unlike the classic SRT task that involves finger-pressing movements while sitting, the modified SRT task requires participants to step with both feet while maintaining a standing posture. This stepping task necessitates whole body actions that impose postural challenges.

Novel mutations of and identified in two families with cystic renal disease.

: To report newly identified mutations in two families in China with cystic renal disease. : Two fetuses were found by prenatal ultrasound to have symmetrically enlarged kidneys with increased echogenicity and cystic changes. We isolated fetal and parental genomic DNAs from umbilical cord blood and circulating leukocytes, performed next generation sequencing for mutations, followed by Sanger sequencing for confirmation.

Multifunctional Roles of the Ventral Stream in Language Models: Advanced Segmental Quantification in Post-Stroke Aphasic Patients.

In the dual-route language model, the dorsal pathway is known for sound-to-motor mapping, but the role of the ventral stream is controversial. With the goal of enhancing our understanding of language models, this study investigated the diffusion characteristics of candidate tracts in aphasic patients. We evaluated 14 subacute aphasic patients post-stroke and 11 healthy controls with language assessment and diffusion magnetic resonance imaging.

Next generation sequencing based pathogen analysis in a patient with neurocysticercosis: a case report.

Background: Accurate and early diagnosis of neurocysticercosis (NCC) remains a challenge due to the heterogeneity of its clinical, immunological and imaging characteristics. The presence of cysticercus DNA in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of NCC patients has been previously detected via conventional PCR assays. To the best of our knowledge, the use of CSF Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) based pathogen analysis in patients with NCC infection has never been reported.

HMGN2: An Antitumor Effector Molecule of γδT Cells.

γδT cells function in the regulation of T-cell activation in cancer and have been identified as a novel target for cancer immunotherapy. Activated γδT cells release a series of cytotoxic molecules-including granulysin, perforin, Fas/Fas ligand (Fas-L), and granzymes A and B-to kill target cells. Our previous research has shown that high mobility group nucleosomal-binding domain 2 (HMGN2), which is expressed at a high level in activated CD8T cells, is an antitumor effector molecule of CD8T cells.