Gastrodin inhibits prostate cancer proliferation by targeting canonical Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway.

Prostate cancer is an epithelial malignant tumor occurring in the prostate and is the most common malignant tumor in the male genitourinary system. In recent years, the incidence of prostate cancer in China has shown a trend of sudden increase. The search for new and effective drugs to treat prostate cancer is therefore extremely important.The canonical Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway has been shown to be involved in the regulation of tumor proliferation, migration and differentiation. Activation of the canonical Wnt/ß-Catenin signaling pathway in the prostate has oncogenic effects. Drugs targeting the canonical Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway have great potential in the treatment of prostate cancer. In this study, we found that Gastrodin could significantly inhibit the proliferation of prostate cancer cell line PC3 and DU145. Oral administration Gastrodin could significantly inhibit the tumor growth of PC3 cells subcutaneously injected. Gastrodin has an inhibitory effect on canonical Wnt/ß-Catenin signaling pathway in Prostate cancer, and this inhibitory effect can be abolished by Wnt/ß-Catenin agonist LiCl. These findings raise the possibility that Gastrodin can be used in the treatment of Prostate cancer by targeting canonical Wnt/ß-Catenin signaling pathway.

Complete genome analysis of type strain of a novel bacterial family Temperatibacteraceae fam. nov., isolated from surface seawater.

Novel bacterial resources are valuable for studying bacterial taxonomy, bacterial evolution, and genome mining of novel antibiotics, antitumor agents, and immune modulators. In this study, we de novo sequenced the type strain of a novel bacterial family, Temperatibacteraceae fam. Nov., belonging to class Alphaproteobacteria of phylum Pseudomonadota. The type strain, Temperatibacter marinus NBRC 110045T, is mesophilic and was isolated from surface seawater around Muroto city of Japan at a depth of 0.5 m. Here, the sequenced complete genome of strain NBRC 110045T is composed of a circular chromosome of 3,184,799 bp with a mean G + C content of 43.71%. Genome analysis was applied to reveal the genetic basis of its cellular activities. Cellular regulation and signaling was analyzed to infer the regulatory mechanism of its limited growth temperature range. Genomic features of the novel family Temperatibacteraceae may expand our knowledge on environmental adaptation, genetic evolution and natural product discovery of marine bacteria.

Orientin regulates the proliferation and migration of hepatocellular carcinoma cells.

Orientin is a flavone isolated from medicinal plants used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) that suppresses the growth of cancer cells in vitro. The effects of orientin in hepatoma carcinoma cells remain unknown. The aim of this paper is to investigate the effects of orientin on the viability, proliferation, and migration of hepatocellular carcinoma cells in vitro. In this study, we found that orientin could inhibit the proliferation, migration, and the activation of NF-κB signaling pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma cells. An activator of NF-κB signaling pathway, PMA, could abolish the inhibitory effect of orientin on NF-κB signaling pathway and proliferation and migration of Huh7 cells. These findings raise the possibility that orientin can be used in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Genomic insights into secondary metabolites of pharmaceutical utility for Hyphococcus flavus MCCC 1K03223T, isolated from bathypelagic seawater.

During an attempt to screen secondary metabolites of pharmaceutical utility, we sequenced the complete genome of type strain of a novel marine bacterial genus, named genus Hyphococcus. The type strain, Hyphococcus flavus MCCC 1K03223T, was isolated from bathypelagic seawater of South China Sea at a depth of 2500 m. The complete genome of strain MCCC 1K03223T is composed of a circular chromosome of 3,472,649 bp with a mean G + C content of 54.8%. Functional genomic analysis showed that this genome encodes five biosynthetic gene clusters, which were annotated to synthesize medicinally important secondary metabolites. Secondary metabolites annotated include ectoine which acts cytoprotection, ravidomycin which is an antitumor antibiotic and three other different metabolites of terpene type. The secondary metabolic potentials of H. flavus revealed in this study provide more evidences on mining bioactive substances from marine bathypelagic microorganisms.

MRI/PAI Dual-modal Imaging-guided Precise Tracking of Bone Marrow-derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Labeled with Nanoparticles for Treating Liver Cirrhosis.

Background and Aims: Stem cell transplantation is a potential treatment option for liver cirrhosis (LC). Accurately and noninvasively monitoring the distribution, migration, and prognosis of transplanted stem cells using imaging methods is important for in-depth study of the treatment mechanisms. Our study aimed to develop Au-Fe3O4 silica nanoparticles (NPs) as tracking nanoplatforms for dual-modal stem cell imaging. Methods: Au-Fe3O4 silica NPs were synthesized by seed-mediated growth method and co-precipitation. The efficiency and cytotoxicity of the NPs-labeled bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) were evaluated by Cell Counting Kit-8 assays, ICP-MS, phenotypic characterization, and histological staining. The biodistribution of labeled BM-MSCs injected through different routes (the hepatic artery or tail vein) into rats with LC was detected by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), photoacoustic imaging (PAI), and Prussian blue staining. Results: Synthesized Au-Fe3O4 silica NPs consisted of a core (star-shaped Au NPs) and an outside silica layer doped with Fe3O4 NPs. After 24 h coincubation with 2.0 OD concentration of NPs, the viability of BM-MSCs was 77.91%±5.86% and the uptake of Au and Fe were (22.65±1.82) µg/mL and (234.03±11.47) µg/mL, respectively. The surface markers of labeled BM-MSCs unchanged significantly. Labeled BM-MSCs have osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation potential. Post injection in vivo, rat livers were hypointense on MRI and hyperintense on PAI. Prussian blue staining showed that more labeled BM-MSCs accumulated in the liver of the hepatic artery group. The severity of LC of the rats in the hepatic artery group was significantly alleviated. Conclusions: Au-Fe3O4 silica NPs were suitable MRI/PAI dual-modal imaging nanoplatforms for stem cell tracking in regenerative medicine. Transhepatic arterial infusion of BM-MSCs was the optimal route for the treatment of LC.

Chemically Stable Guanidinium Covalent Organic Framework for the Efficient Capture of Low-Concentration Iodine at High Temperatures.

The capture of radioactive I2 vapor from nuclear waste under industrial operating conditions remains a challenging task, as the practical industrial conditions of high temperature (≥150 °C) and low I2 concentration (∼150 ppmv) are unfavorable for I2 adsorption. We report a novel guanidinium-based covalent organic framework (COF), termed TGDM, which can efficiently capture I2 under industrial operating conditions. At 150 °C and 150 ppmv I2, TGDM exhibits an I2 uptake of ∼30 wt %, which is significantly higher than that of the industrial silver-based adsorbents such as Ag@MOR (17 wt %) currently used in the nuclear fuel reprocessing industry. Characterization and theoretical calculations indicate that among the multiple types of adsorption sites in TGDM, only ionic sites can bond to I2 through strong Coulomb interactions under harsh conditions. The abundant ionic groups of TGDM account for its superior I2 capture performance compared to various benchmark adsorbents. In addition, TGDM exhibits exceptionally high chemical and thermal stabilities that fully meet the requirements of practical radioactive I2 capture (high-temperature, humid, and acidic environment) and differentiate it from other ionic COFs. Furthermore, TGDM has excellent recyclability and low cost, which are unavailable for the current industrial silver-based adsorbents. These advantages make TGDM a promising candidate for capturing I2 vapor during nuclear fuel reprocessing. This strategy of incorporating chemically stable ionic guanidine moieties in COF would stimulate the development of new adsorbents for I2 capture and related applications.

Nocardiosis with diffuse involvement of the pleura: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Nocardiosis is an uncommon infection that usually occurs in immunocompromised patients, and the pulmonary system is the most common site. We report an uncommon case of nocardiosis with diffuse involvement of the pleura, which presented as multiple localized nodular or hillock lesions on computed tomography (CT) with local chest wall infiltration. CASE SUMMARY: A 54-year-old woman was referred to our hospital due to cough and fever for 20 d. She had a history of nephrotic syndrome for 7 mo and was given prednisone (60 mg/d) 6 mo previously. The hormone was then gradually reduced to the current dose of 25 mg/d. Chest CT showed many nodular or hillock lesions in the right pleura, mediastinum, and interlobar fissure areas. On the lower layer, one lesion infiltrated the chest wall. She was treated with piperacillin sodium and sulbactam sodium, but the therapeutic effect was not good. In this regard, ultrasound-guided local infiltration anesthesia was further conducted for perihepatic hydrops drainage to improve diagnostic accuracy. Puncture fluid culture isolated Nocardia species, confirming the diagnosis of nocardiosis. Subtype Nocardia farcinica was identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Antibiotic treatment was switched to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole and imipenem. After 8 d of treatment, the patient was discharged from the hospital with improved condition, and she has been recurrence-free for 2 years. CONCLUSION: This report illustrates that nocardiosis should be suspected when clinicians encounter patients who are immunocompromised and have diffuse involvement of the pleura.

Self-Interpenetrated Water-Stable Microporous Metal-Organic Framework toward Storage and Purification of Light Hydrocarbons.

Storage and purification of light hydrocarbons are very meaningful for their high-purity requirements and safety utilization in the fields of industry and clean energy. It is a simple and effective way to achieve this goal utilizing the physical adsorption properties of stable porous metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). In this work, a stable self-interpenetrated three-dimensional MOF with a new 3,4-connected topology, {[Zn2(tpda)2(4,4'-bpy)]·4DMF}n (NKM-101; H2tpda = 4,4'-[4-(4H-1,2,4-triazol-4-yl)phenyl]dibenzoic acid, 4,4'-bpy = 4,4'-bipyridine, and DMF = N,N-dimethylformamide), has been successfully constructed based on a triazole-carboxyl ligand. The dense functional active sites existing on the inner walls of one-dimensional channels of NKM-101 are beneficial to enhancement of the binding affinities between the framework and specific molecules (CO2, C2-C4). Therefore, the selective adsorption and separation performance of the material on CO2/CH4 and C2-C4/CH4 are effectively improved. In addition, NKM-101 also exhibits excellent water stability, making it possible to be a practical material for the storage and purification of light hydrocarbons.

Electro-optical detection based on large Kerr effect in polymer-stabilized liquid crystals.

In this Letter, polymer-stabilized liquid crystals with experimentally observed large electro-optic effect are introduced to the electro-optical detection to improve the voltage sensitivity. The Kerr constant of materials prepared in this study reached as high as 7.2×10(-9) m/V(2), increasing by 1000 times the sensitivity of the conventional electro-optical materials. The noncontact detection configuration, using a laser beam as a probe, enables quick two-dimensional scanning measurements.

Ultrahigh sensitivity electric field detection with a liquid electro-optical film.

In this Letter, an electro-optical probe configuration with polar molecule liquids as the sensing film is proposed to improve the voltage sensitivity. This method exhibited increases in intrinsic sensitivities better than 0.1 mV/√Hz, 2 orders of magnitude larger than the normal method using a GaAs probe in the same measurement system. Based on the mechanism of orientation polarization, the electro-optic coefficient was measured to be 250 pm/V by the Teng-Man method at a modulation field of 100 Hz. This technology will be promising in applications of low-frequency field detection.

Optical probing of electric fields with an electro-acoustic effect toward integrated circuit diagnosis.

Electro-optic probing of electric fields has been considered as a promising approach for integrated circuit diagnosis. However, the method is subject to relatively weak voltage sensitivity. In this Letter, we solve the problems with electro-acoustic effect. In contrast to the general electro-optic effect, the light phase modulation induced by the acoustic effect is 2 orders of magnitude stronger at its resonant frequency, as we observed in a GaAs thin film probe. Furthermore, this what we believe to be a novel method shows a highly reproducible linearity between the detected signals and the input voltages, which facilitates the voltage calibration.

[Study on chronical hepatitis B with treatment of integrative traditional Chinese and Western medicine].

OBJECTIVE: To study curative effect of chronical hepatitis B with treatment of integrative traditional Chinese and western medicine. METHOD: 115 cases of HBeAg and/or HBVDNA positive chronical hepatitis B were randomly divided into two groups in control. The first group treated by traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)-Fufang Huangqi granule and the second treated by intergrative traditional Chinese and western medicine (ICWM)-Fufang Huangqi granule and lamivudine for at least 24 weeks. RESULT: The positive rate of HBVDNA at 12, 24 weeks, and the positive rate of HBeAg at 24 weeks in TCM are markedly lower than those of before treatment (P < 0.01). The positive rate of HBeAg and the positive rate of HBVDNA in ICWM are markedly lower than those of before treatment both at 12, 24 weeks (P < 0.01). The average values of HBVDNA are markly lower than before treatment in two groups at both 12,24 weeks (P < 0.01). At 12 weeks, the negative-turning rate of HBVDNA in the ICWM group is 79.17%, which shows significant difference in comparision with 40.00% in the TCM group (P < 0.01). The negative-turning rate of HBeAg in the ICWM group is 26.92%, which shows no significant difference in comparision with 32. 08% in the TCM group. At 24 weeks, the negative-turning rate of HBVDNA in the ICWM group is 85.71%, which shows significant difference in comparision with 50.00% in the TCM group (P < 0.01). The negative-turning rate of HBeAg in the ICWM group is 36.36%, which shows no significant difference in comparision with 28.57% in the TCM group. At 12 weeks,the total effective rate of the ICWM group is 96. 43%, which shows significant difference in comparision with 71.26% in the TCM group (P<0.01). At 24 weeks, the total effective rate of the ICWM group is 88. 00%, which shows significant difference in comparision with 67.61 % in the TCM group (P < 0.01). The average values of ALT and AST are markly improved than those of before treatment in two groups (P < 0.01). The average values of ALB is markly higher than before in TCM groups after 24 weeks treatment (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Fufang Huangqi granule integrated with lamivudine possesses a better effect for counteracting the hepatitis B virus and improving the liver functioin than only itself.

Plastic membrane electrodes responsive to beta-blocker drugs.

The construction and performance characteristics of ion-selective PVC membrane electrodes for metoprolol, propranolol and timolol are described. The electrodes, based on ion-pair complexes with dinonylnaphthalenesulphonate or with tetra(2-chlorophenyl)borate show near-Nernstian responses down to 10(-5)M drug concentration. Their selectivity relative to various inorganic and organic cations is reported. Direct potentiometry is used to determine beta-blocker drugs both in aqueous solutions and pharmaceutical preparations, with good results.