Evaluation of the inhibitory effects and the mechanism of terpenoids on Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites.

Background: Currently, symptomatic toxoplasmosis is treated with a combination of sulfadiazine and pyrimethamine. However, significant adverse effects and drug resistance have been reported. Terpenoids are widely found in nature, with numerous studies demonstrating that they have effective inhibitory effects on a variety of parasites.

Asymmetric Total Synthesis of Natural Lindenane Sesquiterpenoid Oligomers via a Triene as a Potential Biosynthetic Intermediate.

A previously proposed triene of the lindenane skeleton was synthesized, characterized, and identified as the common intermediate for the non-enzymatic synthesis of natural lindenane oligomers through linear, [4+2]-type and [6+6]-type homo- and hetero- dimerization under simulated physiological conditions. As a result, the following six natural products were successfully synthesized through thermal head-to-head, head-to-tail, and head-to-back binding modes: shizukaols A and J, cycloshizukaol A, chlorahupetone F, chlotrichene B, and trishizukaol A.

Asymmetric Total Synthesis of Shizukaol J, Trichloranoid C and Trishizukaol A.

The asymmetric total synthesis of three lindenane sesquiterpenoid oligomers, shizukaol J, trichloranoid C and trishizukaol A, has been accomplished concisely in 15, 16 and 18 longest linear steps, respectively. The expeditious construction of molecular architectures was facilitated by Nelson's catalytic asymmetric ketene-aldehyde cycloaddition, a sequence of allylic alkylation/reduction/acidic cyclization to forge a lactone, and a double aldol condensation cascade to construct the 5/6 bicyclic system. Diastereoselective nucleophilic substitution promoted by a phase transfer catalyst constructed the C quaternary stereogenic center, thus prompting synthetic efficacy toward shizukaol J.

A unified strategy toward total syntheses of lindenane sesquiterpenoid [4 + 2] dimers.

The dimeric lindenane sesquiterpenoids are mainly isolated from the plants of Chloranthaceae family. Structurally, they have a crowded molecular scaffold decorated with more than 11 stereogenic centers. Here we report divergent syntheses of eight dimeric lindenane sesquiterpenoids, shizukaols A, C, D, I, chlorajaponilide C, multistalide B, sarcandrolide J and sarglabolide I.

[Application of intraoperative MRI combined with neuronavigation in microsurgical resection for insular glioma].

To evaluate the value of intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging (iMRI) combined with neuronavigation for the resection of insular gliomas.
 Methods: From August 2014 to October 2017 in the First Hospital Affiliated to Sun Yat-sen University, clinical data of 41 patients with insular glioma, who underwent the surgery assisted with 3.0T iMRI and neuronavigation, were analyzed retrospectively, and the resection extent, complications and prognosis were evaluated.

Expression and clinical relevance of SPOPL in medulloblastoma.

Medulloblastoma (MB) is a type of malignant brain tumor in children. Although knowledge of MB is increasing and the survival rate of patients with MB has improved in previous years, the long-term treatment-associated complications remain unfavorable. Early diagnosis and treatment is critical for patients with MB, but effective molecular markers for MB remain elusive.

Forkhead Box M1 positively regulates UBE2C and protects glioma cells from autophagic death.

Ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2C (UBE2C) is characterized as a crucial molecule in cancer cell growth that plays an essential role in the development of gliomas, but the detailed mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. In this study, we found that Forkhead box transcription factor M1 (FoxM1) overexpression increased UBE2C expression, whereas FoxM1 suppression inhibited UBE2C expression in glioma cells. In addition, high FoxM1/UBE2C expression was significantly correlated with poor prognosis in glioma.

Metadherin/Astrocyte elevated gene-1 positively regulates the stability and function of forkhead box M1 during tumorigenesis.

Background: Forkhead box M1 (FOXM1) is overexpressed and activates numerous oncoproteins in tumors. However, the mechanism by which the FOXM1 protein aberrantly accumulates in human cancer remains uncertain. This study was designed to clarify the upstream signaling pathway(s) that regulate FOXM1 protein stability and transcriptional activity.

The role of SDF-1/CXCR4 in the vasculogenesis and remodeling of cerebral arteriovenous malformation.

Background: Cerebral arteriovenous malformation (AVM) involves the vasculogenesis of cerebral blood vessels and can cause severe intracranial hemorrhage. Stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) and its receptor, CXCR4, are believed to exert multiple physiological functions including angiogenesis. Thus, we investigated the role of SDF-1/CXCR4 in the vasculogenesis of cerebral AVM.

Inhibition of FOXM1 by thiostrepton sensitizes medulloblastoma to the effects of chemotherapy.

Medulloblastoma (MB) is the most common malignant brain tumor in children and is highly invasive and metastatic. Despite recent advances, most MB patients suffer significant therapy-related morbidity, and the survival rate for patients with metastatic MB remains unsatisfactory. Altered expression of FOXM1 has been detected in many types of cancers, and the inhibition of FOXM1 has been studied as a cancer therapy.

AURKA governs self-renewal capacity in glioma-initiating cells via stabilization/activation of β-catenin/Wnt signaling.

Unlabelled: Glioma-initiating cells (GIC), which are characterized by their self-renewal capacity and tumorigenicity, were recently identified as a highly tumorigenic subpopulation of glioblastoma multiforme and are considered responsible for glioblastoma recurrence and chemo/radiation resistance. Previously, it was revealed that Wnt signaling activation is critical to the self-renewal of GICs. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the high expression of β-catenin, the key transcription factor of the Wnt signaling pathway, remains elusive.

Phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase induces glioma cells proliferation and invasion by stabilizing forkhead box M1.

Phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (PHGDH) is the first enzyme branching from glycolysis in the three-step serine biosynthetic pathway. Recent evidence has shown that PHGDH is amplified in human breast cancer and melanoma and plays a key role in cancer metabolism. However, PHGDH expression in glioma and a potential non-metabolic role in tumorigenesis have not been reported.

FoxM1 inhibition sensitizes resistant glioblastoma cells to temozolomide by downregulating the expression of DNA-repair gene Rad51.

Purpose: Recurrent glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is characterized by resistance to radiotherapy and chemotherapy and a poor clinical prognosis. In this study, we investigated the role of the oncogenic transcription factor FoxM1 in GBM cells' resistance to alkylator temozolomide (TMZ) and its potential molecular mechanism.

Experimental Design: FoxM1 expression levels were measured by immunohistochemical analysis in 38 pairs of primary and recurrent GBM tumor samples.

Susceptible gene single nucleotide polymorphism and hemorrhage risk in patients with brain arteriovenous malformation.

The relationship between single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of interleukin-17 (IL-17A), transforming growth factor β (TGF-β), as well as its receptor (TGFR-β2) and susceptibility to intracerebral hemorrhage in patients with brain arteriovenous malformation (BAVM) was investigated in the present study. A total of 53 patients with BAVM and 120 healthy controls were recruited, all of whom were Han Chinese from South China. There were no statistically significant differences in the IL-17A-197 guanine/adenine (G/A) or TGF-β1-509 cytosine/thymine (C/T) genotypes or gene frequencies between BAVM patients and controls (p>0.

IKBKE is over-expressed in glioma and contributes to resistance of glioma cells to apoptosis via activating NF-κB.

IκB kinase-ε (IKBKE), a member of the IκB kinase (IKK) family, has been identified as an oncogenic protein and found to be up-regulated in breast cancer, ovarian cancer and prostate cancer. Nonetheless, the expression status and functional significance of IKBKE in human glioma remain unexplored. For the first time, we have demonstrated that mRNA and protein levels of IKBKE were robustly up-regulated in glioma cell lines and human primary glioma tissues.

Neuroform stent-assisted coil embolization: a new treatment strategy for complex intracranial aneurysms. Results of medium length follow-up.

Background And Purpose: We present detailed results of using Neuroform stent-assisted coil embolization to treat complex cerebral aneurysms over a three-year period.

Material And Methods: Only patients who underwent Neuroform stent-assisted coil embolization were included in this study. We assessed patients' history, aneurysm morphology, indications for stenting, and technical details of the procedures, as well as complications and the midterm follow-up data.

Carotid cavernous fistulas treated by endovascular covered stent grafts with follow-up results.

Historically, carotid cavernous fistulas (CCFs) are usually treated with detachable balloons and coils. While coronary covered stent grafts have been sporadically used in the intracranial vasculature, only a few such cases have been reported in the literature. We present our experience of seven patients with eight CCFs, treated by the placement of covered stents, and provide their clinical and angiographic follow-up results.

Prognostic significance of integrin-linked kinase1 overexpression in astrocytoma.

Integrin-linked kinase 1 (ILK1), a member of the serine/threonine kinases, has been demonstrated to be associated with numerous biological and pathological processes. However, the clinical and functional significance of ILK1 expression has not been characterized previously in human astrocytoma. In this study, we found that ILK1 was overexpressed, at both mRNA and protein levels, in astrocytoma cell lines as compared with normal human astrocytes.

[Therapeutic effect of embolization of brain arteriovenous malformation with non-adhesive liquid embolic agent].

Objective: To observe the clinical and pathological characteristics of brain arteriovenous malformations (BAVM) embolized with the non-adhesive aqueous embolic agent Onyx and evaluate its application in comprehensive treatment of BAVM.

Methods: Thirty-four patients underwent BAVM embolization using Onyx, and their clinical manifestations, architecture of the malformed vessels, emblization procedure, and complications associated with the procedures were recorded. The resected tissues after embolization with Onyx were observed with electron microscope, and the prognosis of the patients was estimated with modified Rankin Score (mRS).

[Study on inhibitory effect of arsenic trioxide on growth of rat C6 glioma cells].

Objective: To explore the inhibitory effect of arsenic trioxide (A(s2)O3) on the growth of rat C6 glioma cells (C6 cells) as well as finding out the feasibility of using As2O3 as chemotherapy of gliomas.

Method: C6 cells were treated by different dose of As2O3 (1, 2, 4, 6 and 8 micromol L(-1)). MTT assay and staining for PCNA were used for cell proliferation.

Clinical significance of sphingosine kinase-1 expression in human astrocytomas progression and overall patient survival.

Purpose: To characterize the expression of sphingosine kinase-1 (SPHK1) in human astrocytomas and to investigate the association between SPHK1 expression and progression of astrocytomas.

Experimental Design: The expression of SPHK1 in normal human astrocytes, astrocytoma cell lines, and four pairs of matched astrocytoma tissues and their adjacent normal brain tissues were detected by quantitative reverse transcription-PCR and Western blot. In addition, SPHK1 protein expression was examined in 243 cases of histologically characterized astrocytomas by immunohistochemistry.

Combined covered stent and onyx treatment for complex dural arteriovenous fistula involving the clivus and cavernous sinus.

Background: Complex DAVFs involving both the clivus and cavernous sinus are rare, especially when associated with brainstem compression from a large varix. In this report, we describe the use of a covered stent in combination with a liquid embolic agent to cure a complex clival-cavernous DAVF.

Methods: A 46-year-old man presented with 6 months of dizziness, dysphagia, and progressive dysarthria.

Therapeutic embolization of meningiomas with Onyx for delayed surgical resection.

Background: Liquid embolic agents can achieve penetration of capillaries in tumors and thus may be even more effective at creating tumor necrosis than small particles. This study assesses the safety and efficacy of preoperative embolization of meningiomas with Onyx liquid embolic agent (Micro Therapeutics, Inc, Irvine, Calif) for delayed surgical resection.

Methods: Three cases of hypervascular intracranial meningiomas were treated by preoperative embolization with Onyx embolic agent using superselective catheterization of the feeding arteries from the ECA and the reflux-hold-reinjection technique.

An in vitro culturing model for rabbit dural cells.

The objectives of this study were (a) to construct an in vitro model of rabbit dural healing, (b) to test the influence of collagen, laminin, and poly-L-lysine on the migration and proliferation of dural cells, and (c) to study the healing mechanism of duraplasty. Rabbit dural pieces (1.5 cm x 1.

Experimental study of Eudragit mixture as a new nonadhesive liquid embolic material.

Objective: To assess the embolic effects and biocompatibility of Eudragit mixture, a new liquid embolic agent.

Methods: In vitro, the viscosity and precipitation time of Eudragit mixtures at several concentrations were measured to study the best proportion of components of the mixture. In vivo, a branch of the right external carotid artery was embolized with Eudragit mixture in 12 rabbits, and with n-butyl cyanoacrylate in another 12 rabbits for a comparative study of the general, angiographic and histopathologic changes between the two groups.