Design and synthesis of fluorescence-labeled nucleotide with a cleavable aryl-triazene linker for DNA sequencing by synthesis.

A novel acid-cleavable triazene linker was synthesized and then reacted with modified 2'-deoxyuridine triphosphate (dUTP), followed by Cy3 NHS ester, the final product serves as an excellent reversible terminator for DNA sequencing by synthesis (DNA SBS). The synthesized dye-labeled terminator incorporated into DNA strand faithfully in a DNA-elongation, and the fluorophore incorporated into DNA strands was cleaved completely under weak acidic conditions within short time. Further the first cleaved product can be incorporated with 100% efficiency for the second time.

Temporal control in shell-core structured nanofilm for tracheal cartilage regeneration: synergistic optimization of anti-inflammation and chondrogenesis.

Cartilage tissue engineering offers hope for tracheal cartilage defect repair. Establishing an anti-inflammatory microenvironment stands as a prerequisite for successful tracheal cartilage restoration, especially in immunocompetent animals. Hence, scaffolds inducing an anti-inflammatory response before chondrogenesis are crucial for effectively addressing tracheal cartilage defects.

GIMAP7 inhibits epithelial-mesenchymal transition and glycolysis in lung adenocarcinoma cells via regulating the Smo/AMPK signaling pathway.

Background: GTPase immunity-associated protein 7 (GIMAP7) has been previously recognized as a prognostic marker in pan-cancer. Our objective was to explore the function of GIMAP7 in the progression of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD).

Methods: GIMAP7 was overexpressed by transfection with GIMAP7 plasmid, and knocked down using siRNAs.

Inulin-like polysaccharide ABWW may impede CCl induced hepatic stellate cell activation through mediating the FAK/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in vitro & in vivo.

Studies have shown that terrestrial acidic polysaccharides containing carboxyl groups and seaweed sulfated polysaccharides have strong potential in anti-liver fibrosis. However, there is no investigation on the anti-liver fibrosis of fructan, a ubiquitous natural polysaccharide. The present study aimed to understand the effect of fructan in ameliorating carbon tetrachloride (CCl)-induced liver fibrosis in mice.

Identification of epithelial-mesenchymal transition-related biomarkers in lung adenocarcinoma using bioinformatics and lab experiments.

Background: Lung adenocarcinoma accounts for approximately 40% of lung cancer cases and poses a serious threat to human health. Therefore, there is an urgent need to identify central biomarkers in lung adenocarcinoma.

Methods: We first identified the EMT-associated genes in LUAD based on the TCGA cohort.

Improvement in cardiometabolic risk markers following an oatmeal diet is associated with gut microbiota in mildly hypercholesterolemic individuals.

Cardiovascular diseases have been the leading cause of death worldwide for decades. Some animal studies have indicated that oatmeal could improve gut microbiota and cardiometabolic risk markers. However, vivo evidence remained limited, especially in individuals with mild hypercholesterolemia.

Log odds of positive lymph nodes is a robust predictor of survival and benefits from postoperative radiotherapy in stage IIIA-N2 resected non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: The significance of postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy (PORT) on the survival of resected IIIA-N2 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains controversial. Here, we aimed to determine the predictive value of the three nodal classifications which might aid in PORT decision-making.

Methods: A total of 4797 patients with stage IIIA-N2 resected NSCLC were identified in the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database and were grouped by whether PORT was administered.

Learning curve for uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic anatomical segmentectomy.

Background: Anatomical segmentectomy by uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (U-VATS) is a delicate surgical procedure. Hitherto, only few studies have assessed the learning curves of anatomical segmentectomy by U-VATS, with varying data available. The present study aimed to investigate the learning curve and clinical advantages for U-VATS segmentectomy.

RGD peptide-decorated micelles assembled from polymer-paclitaxel conjugates towards gastric cancer therapy.

Development of polymer-drug conjugate capable of controlled drug release is urgently needed for gastric cancer therapy. Herein, arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD)-decorated polyethylene glycol (PEG)-paclitaxel (PTX) conjugates containing disulfide linkage were synthesized. The amphiphilic PEG-PTX conjugates were found to assemble into micelles (RGD@Micelles), which would be decomposed under the reduction of glutathione (GSH) and finally release PTX in weakly acidic conditions characteristic of intracellular environment.

Expression of Synthetic Phytoene Synthase Gene to Enhance β-Carotene Production in Scenedesmus sp. CPC2.

β-carotene is a valuable pigment abundant in some microalgal species but the low β-carotene productivity of microalgae has become the major obstacles against its commercialization. This work aims to improve the productivity of algae-based β-carotene via genetic engineering approaches. First, a synthetic psy gene construct (891 bp) encoding 297 amino acids is expressed in Scenedesmus sp.

Dynamic covalent linked triblock copolymer micelles for glutathione-mediated intracellular drug delivery.

Redox-responsive linkages dispersed in the backbones of the synthetic polymers, while young in the current spectrum of the biomedical application, are rapidly extending into their niche. In the present work, triblock copolymer PEG-PLA-PEG synthesized and characterized by H -NMR and SEC can self-assemble into redox-responsive micelles in aqueous media with nanosized 33nm and 47nm. And the copolymers PEG-PLA-PEG and PEG-PLA-PEG present lower CMC with 0.

Controllable release of nitric oxide and doxorubicin from engineered nanospheres for synergistic tumor therapy.

Unlabelled: NaYF:Yb,Er upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) capped with long-chain carboxylic acid were synthesized and then conjugated with chitosan (CS) in the aid of N-hydroxysuccinimide. The resultant nanocompound was integrated with doxorubicin (DOX) and Roussin's black salt (RBS), a photosensitive nitric oxide (NO) donor to produce stimuli-responsive UCNPs(DOX)@CS-RBS nanospheres as nanocarriers for controllable drug delivery. On the one hand, the encapsulated UCNPs can efficiently absorb NIR photons and convert them into visible photons to trigger NO release.

Chitosan-based core-shell nanomaterials for pH-triggered release of anticancer drug and near-infrared bioimaging.

As a naturally-abundant biopolymer, chitosan (CS) exhibit pH-sensitive structural transformation within a narrow pH range. Integrating hydrophobic groups to CS molecules gives modified CS polymers with more adjustable pH responsiveness. In this paper, near-infrared (NIR) photoluminescent AgS QDs capped by long-chain carboxylic acid were synthesized and then conjugated with CS via esterification reaction.

Synthesis and evaluations of an acid-cleavable, fluorescently labeled nucleotide as a reversible terminator for DNA sequencing.

An acid-cleavable linker based on a dimethylketal moiety was synthesized and used to connect a nucleotide with a fluorophore to produce a 3'-OH unblocked nucleotide analogue as an excellent reversible terminator for DNA sequencing by synthesis.

Design and synthesis of fluorescence-labeled nucleotide with a cleavable azo linker for DNA sequencing.

A cleavable azo linker was synthesized and reacted with 5-(6)-carboxytetramethyl rhodamine succinimidyl ester, followed by further reactions with di(N-succinimidyl) carbonate and 5-(3-amino-1-propynyl)-2'-deoxyuridine 5'-triphosphate [dUTP(AP3)] to obtain the terminal product dUTP-azo linker-TAMRA as a potential reversible terminator for DNA sequencing by synthesis with no need for 3'-OH blocking.

Facile assembly of oppositely charged silver sulfide nanoparticles into photoluminescent mesoporous nanospheres.

Inorganic mesoporous materials have been attracting increasing attention during the past decade. In the present work, photoluminescent Ag2S nanospheres with mesoporous structures were prepared by assembling Ag2S nanoparticles with opposite charges in aqueous phase. Without structure-directing templates, mesoporous Ag2S with well-ordered face-centered cubic superlattice structures and high specific surface area was obtained.

Redox-responsive micelles self-assembled from dynamic covalent block copolymers for intracellular drug delivery.

Redox-responsive micelles self-assembled from dynamic covalent block copolymers with double disulfide linkage in the backbone have been developed successfully. The amphiphilic block copolymers PEG-PLA associated with complementary H-bonding sequences can self-assemble into spherical micelles in aqueous media with sizes from 34 nm to 107 nm with different molar mass of PEG and PLA. Moreover, in vitro drug release analyses indicate that reductive environment can result in triggered drug release profiles.

A new strategy for synthesizing AgInS₂ quantum dots emitting brightly in near-infrared window for in vivo imaging.

A new strategy for fabricating water-dispersible AgInS2 quantum dots (QDs) with bright near-infrared (NIR) emission is demonstrated. A type of multidentate polymer (MDP) was synthesized and utilized as a compact capping ligand for the AgInS2 QDs. Using silver nitrate, indium acetate and sulfur-hydrazine hydrate complex as the precursors, MDP-capping AgInS2 QDs were synthesized in aqueous solution at room temperature.

Design and synthesis of new acid cleavable linkers for DNA sequencing by synthesis.

A new kind of acid sensitive tetrahydrofuranyl (THF) linker was synthesized and then reacted with 5-(6)-carboxytetramethylrhodaminesuccinimidyl ester (5(6)-TAMRA, SE), followed by di(N-succinimidyl) carbonate (DSC) and modified 2'-deoxyuridine triphosphate (dUTP); the final product, as a reversible terminator for DNA sequencing by synthesis (DNA SBS), was given obtained and confirmed by 1H-NMR, 31P-NMR, and HRMS with purity of up to 99%. The synthesized dye-labeled terminator incorporated into DNA strand successfully, and the fluorophore was cleaved completely under acidic conditions. The preliminary results encourage us to explore more acid-sensitive linkers for DNA SBS to increase the cleavage efficiency under weakly acidic conditions.

Oral absorbable fat-soluble vitamin formulation in pediatric patients with cholestasis.

Objective: Fat-soluble vitamin (FSV) deficiencies are common complications in pediatric patients with chronic cholestasis. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the status of FSV deficiencies in patients under present practice and to test the effect of an oral, absorbable, fat-soluble vitamin formulation (OAFSV) in these patients.

Methods: We recruited a total of 23 pediatric patients receiving conventional FSV supplementation in a single medical center, with diagnosis of biliary atresia (10), progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (9), Alagille syndrome (2), and other conditions (2).

Synthesis and 188Re radiolabelling of dendrimer polyamide amine (PAMAM) folic acid conjugate.

Folic acid receptors (FR) are usually over expressed in many cancer cells and are considered as potential targeted therapy agent. Generation of five polyamido amine (PAMAM) dendrimer folic acid conjugate was synthesised and radiolabelled with (188)Re, furthermore the in vitro/in vivo stability was evaluated accordingly. The labelling yield of the conjugate G5-FA-DTPA-(188)Re was 67.

Increased expression of CD55 correlates with tumor progression and poor prognosis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Purpose: To analyze the expression of complement delay-accelerating factor (CD55) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma and its correlation with clinicopathologic features, including survival rate.

Methods: Eighty-two nasopharyngeal carcinoma tissues were evaluated for CD55 expression using immunohistochemistry. The association between CD55 expression and various clinicopathological characteristics including overall survival was analyzed.

Characteristics and incidences of pediatric Crohn's disease in the decades before and after 2000.

Objective: The increasing incidence of pediatric Crohn's disease (CD) is well known in Western countries in the last two decades. This study was conducted to delineate the trends of incidence during this period and clinical patterns of pediatric CD in Taiwan.

Methods: All children admitted to National Taiwan University Hospital between 1990 and 2009 who met the Porto Criteria for CD were included.

Radiosynthesis, biodistribution and micro-SPECT imaging study of dendrimer-avidin conjugate.

Partially acetylated generation five polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimer (G5-Ac) was reacted with biotin and 2-(p-isothiocyanatobenzyl)-6-methyl-diethylenetria minepentaacetic acid (1B4M-DTPA), respectively to form the complex Bt-G5-Ac-1B4M which was further conjugated with avidin to give the conjugate Av-G5-Ac-1B4M. Then both of the conjugates were radiolabeled with technetium-99m ((99m)Tc), respectively. Their in vitro cellular uptake study shows that the conjugate of Av-G5-Ac-1B4M-(99m)Tc exhibits much higher cellular uptake in HeLa cells than that of Bt-G5-Ac-1B4M-(99m)Tc.

[Tragus cartilage tympanoplasty for treatment of adhesive otitis media].

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of cartilage tympanoplasty in the treatment of adhesive otitis media.

Methods: From June to October, 2008, 18 patients with adhesive otitis media (18 ears) were treated with tragus cartilage tympanoplasty. The air-bone gap changes and the self-perceived symptomatic improvement were evaluated at 1 month and 1 year after the operation.