Adaptive Changes Allow Targeting of Ferroptosis for Glioma Treatment.

Ferroptosis is a type of regulated cell death that plays an essential role in various brain diseases, including cranial trauma, neuronal diseases, and brain tumors. It has been reported that cancer cells rely on their robust antioxidant capacity to escape ferroptosis. Therefore, ferroptosis exploitation could be an effective strategy to prevent tumor proliferation and invasion. Glioma is a common malignant craniocerebral tumor exhibiting complicated drug resistance and survival mechanisms, resulting in a high mortality rate and short survival time. Recent studies have determined that metabolic alterations in glioma offer exploitable therapeutic targets. These metabolic alterations allow targeted therapy to achieve some initial efficacy but have failed to inhibit glioma growth, invasion, and drug resistance effectively. It has been proposed that the reason for the high malignancy and drug resistance observed with glioma is that these tumors can effectively evade ferroptosis. Ferroptosis-inducing drugs were found to exert a positive effect by targeting this particular characteristic of glioma cells. Moreover, gliomas develop enhanced drug resistance through anti-ferroptosis mechanisms. In this study, we provided an overview of the mechanisms by which glioma aggressiveness and drug resistance are mediated by the evasion of ferroptosis. This information might provide new targets for glioma therapy as well as new insights and ideas for future research.

From heart failure and kidney dysfunction to cardiorenal syndrome: TMAO may be a bridge.

The study of trimethylamine oxide (TMAO), a metabolite of gut microbiota, and heart failure and chronic kidney disease has made preliminary achievements and been summarized by many researchers, but its research in the field of cardiorenal syndrome is just beginning. TMAO is derived from the trimethylamine (TMA) that is produced by the gut microbiota after consumption of carnitine and choline and is then transformed by flavin-containing monooxygenase (FMO) in the liver. Numerous research results have shown that TMAO not only participates in the pathophysiological progression of heart and renal diseases but also significantly affects outcomes in chronic heart failure (CHF) and chronic kidney disease (CKD), besides influencing the general health of populations. Elevated circulating TMAO levels are associated with adverse cardiovascular events such as HF, myocardial infarction, and stroke, patients with CKD have a poor prognosis as well. However, no study has confirmed an association between TMAO and cardiorenal syndrome (CRS). As a syndrome in which heart and kidney diseases intersect, CRS is often overlooked by clinicians. Here, we summarize the research on TMAO in HF and kidney disease and review the existing biomarkers of CRS. At the same time, we introduced the relationship between exercise and gut microbiota, and appropriately explored the possible mechanisms by which exercise affects gut microbiota. Finally, we discuss whether TMAO can serve as a biomarker of CRS, with the aim of providing new strategies for the detection, prognostic, and treatment evaluation of CRS.

TiO2 derived by titanate route from electrospun nanostructures for high-performance dye-sensitized solar cells.

We report the use of highly porous, dense, and anisotropic TiO(2) derived from electrospun TiO(2)-SiO(2) nanostructures through titanate route in dye-sensitized solar cells. The titanate-derived TiO(2) of high surface areas exhibited superior photovoltaic parameters (efficiency > 7%) in comparison to the respective electrospun TiO(2) nanomaterials and commercially available P-25.

Suppressing TRAP1 sensitizes glioblastoma multiforme cells to temozolomide.

Glioma is a common malignant tumor of the central nervous system, accounting for ~50% of intracranial tumors. The current standard therapy for glioma is surgical resection followed by postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy and temozolomide (TMZ) chemotherapy. However, resistance to TMZ is one of the factors affecting prognosis. It has been reported that TNF receptor-associated protein 1 (TRAP1) is overexpressed in numerous types of tumor and that interfering with its function may abrogate chemotherapy resistance. TRAP1 inhibitor Gamitrinib triphenylphosphonium (G-TPP) and shRNA were used in the present study to suppress the function of this molecule in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) cell lines. MTT assay was performed to evaluate the combined effect of G-TPP and TMZ treatment. To investigate the underlying mechanism responsible for this combined effect, the mitochondrial unfolded protein response (mtUPR), mitophagy, mitochondrial fusion and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were quantified using western blotting and immunofluorescence techniques. TMZ treatment induced apoptosis in GBM cells by activating the p53 pathway, whilst simultaneously downregulating mitophagy and enhancing mitochondrial fusion. The latter may occur in order to compensate for the defect caused by downregulated mitophagy. Suppressing the function of TRAP1 disturbed this compensatory mechanism by inducing mtUPR, which resulted in a burst of ROS formation and sensitized the GBM cells to the effects of TMZ treatment. Thus, suppressing the function of TRAP1 sensitized GBM cells to TMZ lysis by inducing mtUPR and the subsequent ROS burst. TRAP1 is therefore considered to be a promising target for GBM therapy.

PINK1: The guard of mitochondria.

PTEN-induced putative kinase 1 (PINK1) performs many important functions in cells and has been highlighted for its role in early-onset Parkinson's disease. In recent years, an increasing number of studies have revealed the involvement of PINK1 in regulation of a variety of cell physiological and pathophysiological processes, of which regulation of mitochondrial function remains the most prominent. As the "energy factory" of cells, mitochondria provide energy support for various cellular activities. Changes in mitochondrial function often have a fundamental and global impact on cellular activities. Moreover, mitochondrial dysfunction has been implicated in many diseases, especially those related to aging. Thus, a comprehensive study of PINK1 will help us better understand the various cell physiological and pathophysiological processes in which PINK1 is involved, including a variety of mitochondria-related diseases such as Parkinson's disease. This article will review the structural characteristics and expression regulation of PINK1, as well as its unique role in mitochondrial quality control (MQC) systems.

Misdiagnosis Analysis of Cervical Minimal Deviation Adenocarcinoma: a Report of Three Rare Cases and Literature Review.

Cervical minimal deviation adenocarcinoma (MDA) is a rare variant of cervical adenocarcinoma that is difficult to diagnose due to the deep location, endogenous growth pattern, deceptively benign appearance of tumor cells, and lack of connection to human papillomavirus (HPV). Cytological evaluation and biopsies offer suboptimal detection and transvaginal sonography or Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) only reveal multiple lesions that mimic multiple benign nabothian cysts. Besides, standard screening, diagnostic tools, and treatments are not established. Thus, MDA tends to be misdiagnosed with other gynecological diseases. In this study, we examine three cases with extensive abdominal metastasis and adhesions, which are not initially associated clinically with HPV and cervical malignancies. All cases were misdiagnosed as nabothian cysts, endometrial adenocarcinoma or ovarian cancer, though finally diagnosed as MDA by postoperative pathology. Delay in diagnosis and treatment can result in irreversible outcomes. Misdiagnoses are analyzed and suggestions for improving early detection are discussed with a brief review of the literature.

Maghemite nanoparticles on electrospun CNFs template as prospective lithium-ion battery anode.

In this work, maghemite (γ-Fe2O3) nanoparticles were uniformly coated on carbon nanofibers (CNFs) by a hybrid synthesis procedure combining an electrospinning technique and hydrothermal method. Polyacrylonitrile nanofibers fabricated by the electrospinning technique serve as a robust support for iron oxide precursors during the hydrothermal process and successfully limit the aggregation of nanoparticles at the following carbonization step. The best materials were optimized under a carbonization condition of 600 °C for 12 h. X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy studies confirm the formation of a maghemite structure standing on the surface of CNFs. The average size of γ-Fe2O3 nanoparticles is below 100 nm, whereas CNFs are ∼150 nm in diameter. In comparison with aggregated bare iron oxide nanoparticles, the as-prepared carbon-maghemite nanofibers exhibit a higher surface area and greatly improved electrochemical performance (>830 mAh g(-1) at 50 mA g(-1) for 40 cycles and high rate capacity up to 5 A g(-1) in the voltage range of 0.005-3 V vs Li). The greatly enhanced electrochemical performance is attributed to the unique one-dimensional nanostructure and the limited aggregation of nanoparticles.

Facile fabrication of TiO2-graphene composite with enhanced photovoltaic and photocatalytic properties by electrospinning.

We report the fabrication of one-dimensional TiO(2)-graphene nanocomposite by a facile and one-step method of electrospinning. The unique nanostructured composite showed a significant enhancement in the photovoltaic and photocatalytic properties in comparison to TiO(2) as demonstrated in dye-sensitized solar cells and photodegradation of methyl orange.

Mesoporous SnO2 agglomerates with hierarchical structures as an efficient dual-functional material for dye-sensitized solar cells.

Mesoporous SnO(2) agglomerates with hierarchical structures and a high surface area were fabricated through a molten salt method. The SnO(2) demonstrated high photoelectric conversion efficiencies of 3.05% and 6.23% (with TiCl(4) treatment) in dye-sensitized solar cells, which are attributed to its dual functionality of providing high dye-loading and efficient light scattering.

Facile solution deposition of ZnIn2S4 nanosheet films on FTO substrates for photoelectric application.

In this paper, ZnIn(2)S(4) perpendicular nanosheet films have been directly deposited on FTO substrates by a facile hydrothermal method and investigated as the electrode materials for solar cells. The crystal structure, morphology, and optical properties of the obtained ZnIn(2)S(4) films were characterized by measurements such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), energy dispersive spectrum (EDS), X-ray photoelectron spectrum (XPS) and UV-vis spectra. The results revealed a uniform perpendicular ZnIn(2)S(4) film with thickness of 4 µm and with an average nanosheet thickness of about 30 nm on FTO substrate, along with the band gap of 2.35 eV. The reaction conditions influencing the formation of ZnIn(2)S(4) films, such as the substrate treatment and reaction time were investigated. A possible mechanism for the formation of ZnIn(2)S(4) films on FTO substrates under hydrothermal conditions has been proposed. Furthermore, after heat treatment, the ZnIn(2)S(4) film electrode exhibited a photoelectrical conversion efficiency of 0.23% in FTO/ZnIn(2)S(4)/polysulfide/Au liquid-junction solar cell under AM 1.5 (100 mW cm(-2)).

Rice grain-shaped TiO2 mesostructures by electrospinning for dye-sensitized solar cells.

Nanofibers, produced by electrospinning a solution containing titanium tetra(IV) isopropoxide, polyvinyl acetate and acetic acid in N,N-dimethyl acetamide, upon sintering at 500 °C produce rice grain-shaped TiO(2) mesostructures. Each rice grain-shaped TiO(2) has a mixed crystal structure and high porosity and the mesostructures are found to have applications in dye-sensitized solar cells.