The oncogenic roles of GPR176 in ovarian cancer: a molecular target for aggressiveness and gene therapy.

Background: At present, the discovery of new biomarkers is of great significance for the early diagnosis, treatment and prognosis assessment of ovarian cancer. Previous findings indicated that aberrant G-protein-coupled receptor 176 (GPR176) expression might contribute to tumorigenesis and subsequent progression. However, the expression of GPR176 and the molecular mechanisms in ovarian cancer had not been investigated.

Ginseng saponin metabolite 20(S)-protopanaxadiol relieves pulmonary fibrosis by multiple-targets signaling pathways.

Background: Panax ginseng Meyer is a representative Chinese herbal medicine with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. 20(S)-Protopanaxadiol (PPD) has been isolated from ginseng and shown to have promising pharmacological activities. However, effects of PDD on pulmonary fibrosis (PF) have not been reported.

Development and validation of a nomogram for the prediction of brain metastases in small cell lung cancer.

Introduction: The aim was to develop and validate a nomogram for the prediction of brain metastases (BM) in small cell lung cancer (SCLC), to explore the risk factors and assist clinical decision-making.

Methods: We reviewed the clinical data of SCLC patients between 2015 and 2021. Patients between 2015 and 2019 were included to develop, whereas patients between 2020 and 2021 were used for external validation.

Clinicopathological and prognostic significance of SWI/SNF complex subunits in undifferentiated gastric carcinoma.

Background: The switch/sucrose nonfermentable (SWI/SNF) complex is an evolutionarily conserved chromatin remodeling complex that displays dysfunction in many tumors, especially undifferentiated carcinoma. Cancer stem cells (CSC), a special type of undifferentiated cancer cells with stem cell-like properties, play an essential role in tumor cell proliferation, invasion, and metastasis. In undifferentiated gastric carcinomas, the association of SWI/SNF complexes with clinicopathological features, CSC phenotype, and the prognosis is not fully understood.

Identification of potential target genes of breast cancer in response to Chidamide treatment.

Chidamide, a new chemically structured HDACi-like drug, has been shown to inhibit breast cancer, but its specific mechanism has not been fully elucidated. In this paper, we selected ER-positive breast cancer MCF-7 cells and used RNA-seq technique to analyze the gene expression differences of Chidamide-treated breast cancer cells to identify the drug targets of Chidamide's anti-breast cancer effect and to lay the foundation for the development of new drugs for breast cancer treatment. The results showed that the MCF-7 CHID group expressed 320 up-regulated genes and 222 down-regulated genes compared to the control group; Gene Ontology functional enrichment analysis showed that most genes were enriched to biological processes.

Heterophyllin B an Active Cyclopeptide Alleviates Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Colitis by Modulating Gut Microbiota and Repairing Intestinal Mucosal Barrier via AMPK Activation.

Scope: Advances in pathology broaden the perception of the intimate interaction between gut microbiota dysbiosis and the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis (UC), but the potential modulating roles remain to be elucidated.

Methods And Results: DSS-induced colitis is used to investigate the effect of Heterophyllin B (HB), a typical active cyclopeptide extracted from Pseudostellaria heterophylla, on colitis and gut microbiota. Administration of HB substantially mitigates the symptoms of UC as evidenced by increasing body weight and colon length, as well as decreased macrophages infiltration in the colon.

Cordycepin enhances hyperthermia-induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest by modulating the MAPK pathway in human lymphoma U937 cells.

Background: Hyperthermia induces cancer cell death. However, the cytotoxic effect of hyperthermia is not sufficient. Cordycepin can also induce apoptosis in cancer cells and enhance the antitumoral activity of irradiation.

P53 regulates mitochondrial biogenesis via transcriptionally induction of mitochondrial ribosomal protein L12.

The well-documented tumor suppressor p53 is also a major stress response factor for its diverse regulation on cellular energetics. However, the effect of p53 on mitochondrial biogenesis, which plays a predominant role in response to the elevated energy demands, appears to be pleiotropic in various conditions and has not reached agreement. Mitochondrial ribosomal protein L12 (MRPL12), reported as a bi-functional protein for its roles in both mitochondrial ribosomes and transcriptional complexes, is a core regulatory component in mitochondrial biogenesis.

Effects of Long Noncoding RNA AK093407 on the Biological Behavior of Colon Cancer Cells and the Underlying Mechanism.

Introduction: The incidence of colorectal cancer is steadily increasing, and the detection of related molecular targets is critical for its diagnosis and treatment. Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) can play a regulatory role before and after genome transcription, and epigenetic regulation is involved in the process of tumorigenesis and tumor development.

Methods: In this study, qRT-PCR was performed to evaluate the expression of AK093407 in colon cancer and colon para-carcinoma tissues and HCT-15 and HCT-116 cells.

The Oncogenic Effects, Pathways, and Target Molecules of JC Polyoma Virus T Antigen in Cancer Cells.

JC polyoma virus (JCPyV) is a ubiquitous polyoma virus that infects the individual to cause progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy and malignancies. Here, we found that T-antigen knockdown suppressed proliferation, glycolysis, mitochondrial respiration, migration, and invasion, and induced apoptosis and G arrest. The reverse was true for T-antigen overexpression, with overexpression of Akt, survivin, retinoblastoma protein, β-catenin, β-transducin repeat-containing protein (TRCP), and inhibitor of growth (ING)1, and the underexpression of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), phosphorylated (p)-mTOR, p-p38, Cyclin D1, p21, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), ING2, and ING4 in hepatocellular and pancreatic cancer cells and tissues.

The clinicopathological and prognostic significances of LATS1 expression in breast cancer.

Aim: Large tumor suppressor gene 1 (LATS1) belongs to the PKA/PKG/PKC serine/threonine kinase subfamily of the Hippo signaling pathway and inactivates nuclear co-activators YAP1 and WWTR1 by phosphorylation. This study aimed to discern the clinicopathological and prognostic significances of LATS1 expression in breast cancer.

Methods: We examined LATS1 expression in breast carcinogenesis and compared it with clinicopathological parameters and survival information of breast cancer patients using immunohistochemistry, western blotting, RT-PCR, and bioinformatics analysis.

Study on the autophagy-related mechanism of puerarin in improving the cognitive impairment induced by alcohol in female mice.

Primary Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effects of low-, medium-, and high-dose puerarin on cognitive impairment induced by 50% alcohol in mice and revealed the role of autophagy-related signaling pathways (mTOR and JNK pathways) in this process.

Research Design: The alcohol-induced brain injury model was treated with different concentrations of puerarin. The cognitive function of mice was evaluated by the behavioral test, and the changes of target proteins in hippocampus of each experimental group were detected.

The Oncogenic Roles of JC Virus T Antigen in Breast Carcinogenesis.

JC virus (JCV) infects 80-90% of the population and results in progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy upon immunodeficiency. The study aimed to pathologically clarify the oncogenic roles of T antigen in human breast cancers. Breast cancer, dysplasia, and normal tissues were examined for of JCV by nested and real-time PCR.

Jiuzhuan Huangjing Pills relieve mitochondrial dysfunction and attenuate high-fat diet-induced metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease.

Background: Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a common global chronic liver disease. Jiuzhuan Huangjing Pills (JHP) have been used for the treatment of human disease for over a thousand years, but their efficacy and underlying mechanism(s) of action against MAFLD are unknown. We investigated the alleviating effects of JHP on high-fat diet (HFD)-induced MAFLD.

Ins and outs of cadmium-induced carcinogenesis: Mechanism and prevention.

Cadmium (Cd) is a heavy metal and a highly toxic pollutant that is released into the environment as a byproduct of most modern factories and industries. Cd enters our body in significant quantities from contaminated water, cigarette smoke, or food product to many detrimental health hazards. Based on causal association all the Cd-related or derived compounds have been classified as carcinogens.

Comparative study on protective effect of different selenium sources against cadmium-induced nephrotoxicity via regulating the transcriptions of selenoproteome.

Cadmium (Cd) is a ubiquitous environmental pollutant, which mainly input to the aquatic environment through discharge of industrial and agricultural waste, can be a threat to human and animal health. Selenium (Se) possesses a beneficial role in protecting animals and ameliorating the toxic effects of Cd. However, the comparative antagonistic effects of different Se sources such as inorganic, organic Se and nano-form Se on Cd toxicity are still under-investigated.

SARS-CoV-2 Infection-Induced Promoter Hypomethylation as an Epigenetic Modulator of Heat Shock Protein A1L (HSPA1L) Gene.

Numerous researches have focused on the genetic variations affecting SARS-CoV-2 infection, whereas the epigenetic effects are inadequately described. In this report, for the first time, we have identified potential candidate genes that might be regulated SARS-CoV-2 induced DNA methylation changes in COVID-19 infection. At first, transcriptomic data of COVID-19 lung autopsies were used to identify the top differentially expressed genes containing CpG Islands in their promoter region.

Melatonin sensitises shikonin-induced cancer cell death mediated by oxidative stress via inhibition of the SIRT3/SOD2-AKT pathway.

Recent research suggests that melatonin (Mel), an endogenous hormone and natural supplement, possesses anti-proliferative effects and can sensitise cells to anti-cancer therapies. Although shikonin (SHK) also possesses potential anti-cancer properties, the poor solubility and severe systemic toxicity of this compound hinders its clinical usage. In this study, we combined Mel and SHK, a potentially promising chemotherapeutic drug combination, with the aim of reducing the toxicity of SHK and enhancing the overall anti-cancer effects.

PD-L1 and PD-L2 expression in the tumor microenvironment including peritumoral tissue in primary central nervous system lymphoma.

Background: The prevalence of programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) and PD-L2 expression on tumor cells and tumor-infiltrating immune cells in primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) remains unclear. In the present study, we analyzed needle biopsy and craniotomy specimens of patients with PCNSL to compare the PD-L1 and PD-L2 levels in the tumor and surrounding (peritumoral) tissue. We also assessed the correlation between biological factors and the prognostic significance of PD-L1 and PD-L2 expression.