ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: This study aimed to examine the effect of gaze stability exercises on balance, gait ability, and fall efficacy in patients with chronic stroke, as well as to investigate whether any observed effects were maintained 2 weeks later. METHODS: In this experiment, 30 chronic stroke patients were selected. The patients were randomly divided into 3 groups (10 patients in each group). All patients in the 3 groups performed basic neurodevelopmental treatment. Group 1 performed balance exercises accompanied by gaze stability exercises. Group 2 performed gaze stability exercises, and group 3 performed balance exercises. Each exercise program for 40 minutes 3 times a week for 4 weeks. After the intervention period, the patient's balance, gait ability, and fall efficacy were measured again. In order to know whether the training effect is maintained, a 2-week follow-up test was conducted after the training. RESULTS: The results of this study showed that there was a significant improve in balance (overall stability index, limit of stability test, and Berg Balance Scale), gait ability (gait velocity, cadence, step time and step length, Timed Up and Go [TUG] test), and fall efficacy over the different time within the 3 groups. The effect was observed to be maintained in follow-up tests after 2 weeks. In the comparison among 3 groups, the overall stability index, limit of stability test in the balance test and the gait velocity, cadence, step time, step length and Timed Up and Go test in the gait test all showed statistically significant differences, and the other items did not have significant differences. In most of the assessments, group 1 that used balance exercise combined with gaze stability exercise showed a better improvement than the other 2 groups. CONCLUSION: As a result, for stroke patients, gaze stability exercise is an effective arbitration method to improve balance and gait ability and fall efficacy. With balance exercise combined with gaze stability exercise, a greater effect can be seen than with gaze stability exercise or balance exercise alone. Thus, this combination exercise program can be recommended as effective.
Subject(s)
Accidental Falls , Exercise Therapy , Gait , Postural Balance , Stroke Rehabilitation , Stroke , Humans , Postural Balance/physiology , Male , Female , Stroke Rehabilitation/methods , Exercise Therapy/methods , Middle Aged , Accidental Falls/prevention & control , Stroke/physiopathology , Stroke/therapy , Gait/physiology , Aged , Follow-Up Studies , Chronic Disease , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
Reyanning Mixture is one of the superior Chinese patent medicine varieties of "Qin medicine". Based on the idea of quality by design(QbD), the extraction process of the Reyanning Mixture was optimized. The caffeic acid, polydatin, resveratrol, and emodin were used as critical quality attributes(CQAs). The material-liquid ratio, extraction temperature, and extraction time were taken as critical process parameters(CPPs) by the Plackett-Burman test. The mathematical model was established by the star design-effect surface method, and the design space was constructed and verified. The optimal extraction process of the Reyanning Mixture was obtained as follows: material-liquid ratio of 11.84 g·mL~(-1), extraction temperature at 81 â, and two extractions. A partial least-square(PLS) quantitative model for CQAs was established by using near-infrared spectroscopy(NIRS) combined with high-performance liquid chromatography(HPLC) under the optimal extraction process. The results showed that the correlation coefficients of the correction set(R_c) and validation set(R_p) of the quantitative models of four CQAs were more than 0.9. The root mean square error of the correction set(RMSEC) were 0.744, 6.71, 3.95, and 1.53 µg·mL~(-1), respectively, and the root mean square error of the validation set(RMSEP) were 0.709, 5.88, 2.92, and 1.59 µg·mL~(-1), respectively. Therefore, the optimized extraction process of the Reyanning Mixture is reasonable, feasible, stable, and reliable. The NIRS quantitative model has a good prediction, which can be used for the rapid content determination of CQAs during extraction. They can provide an experimental basis for the process research and quality control of Reyanning Mixture.
Subject(s)
Drugs, Chinese Herbal , Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry , Drugs, Chinese Herbal/standards , Drugs, Chinese Herbal/analysis , Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid , Quality Control , Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared/methods , Temperature , Glucosides/analysis , Glucosides/chemistry , Caffeic AcidsABSTRACT
Background: Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease with significant morbidity, affecting millions worldwide. The intricacies of immune responses in CD, especially post-treatment, remain a vital area of exploration. While memory T (Tm)-cell subsets play a pivotal role in adaptive immunity, their specific function in patients with CD after treatment is not well-understood. This study aims to investigate the effect and function of Tm-cell subsets in these patients, addressing a crucial knowledge gap in the context of CD therapeutics. Methods: A total of eight patients diagnosed with CD were selected based on predefined inclusion criteria. All patients were treated with either anti-inflammatory agents, immunosuppressive drugs, or a combination of both. For comparison, healthy donors were enrolled based on exclusion of autoimmune or inflammatory diseases. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and lymphocytes were isolated from blood and lymph node tissue respectively. The phenotype and cytokine production of T lymphocytes from both CD patients and healthy donors were analyzed using flow cytometry. Statistical comparisons of the outcomes between CD patients and healthy donors were made using Mann-Whitney test (two-tailed) and Student t-test. Results: Post-treatment CD patients exhibited an altered T cell distribution with a notable increase in CD8+ T cells in PBMCs (P=0.0005), and altered frequencies of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs). Tm cells showed decreased interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) production, with significant alterations in the frequency of IFN-γ-producing CD8+ stem cell-like Tm (Tscm) cells in lesions of the MLNs from patients with CD (CD-M-Lys) compared to healthy MLNs from patients with CD (N-M-Lys) (P=0.0152). Differences in tissue-resident Tm (Trm)-cell subset frequencies were observed between the MLNs and small intestinal mucosa in CD patients. Conclusions: The treatments with anti-inflammatory agents and/or immunosuppressive drugs have a significant effect on the frequency and function of Tm-cell subsets. Clinically, these findings suggest a potential therapeutic avenue in modulating Tm-cell responses, which might be particularly beneficial for conditions where immune response modulation is crucial. Further clinical studies are warranted to explore the full therapeutic implications of these findings.
ABSTRACT
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a malignancy with a high incidence and fatality rate worldwide. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is one of the most important risk factors for its occurrence and development. Early detection of HBV-associated HCC (HBV-HCC) can improve clinical decision-making and patient outcomes. Biomarkers are extremely helpful, not only for early diagnosis, but also for the development of therapeutics. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a subset of non-coding RNAs approximately 22 nucleotides in length, have increasingly attracted scientists' attention due to their potential utility as biomarkers for cancer detection and therapy. HBV profoundly impacts the expression of miRNAs potentially involved in the development of hepatocarcinogenesis. In this review, we summarize the current progress on the role of miRNAs in the diagnosis and treatment of HBV-HCC. From a molecular standpoint, we discuss the mechanism by which HBV regulates miRNAs and investigate the exact effect of miRNAs on the promotion of HCC. In the near future, miRNA-based diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic applications will make their way into the clinical routine.
Subject(s)
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular , Hepatitis B , Liver Neoplasms , MicroRNAs , Humans , MicroRNAs/genetics , Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/diagnosis , Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/genetics , Hepatitis B virus/genetics , Liver Neoplasms/diagnosis , Liver Neoplasms/genetics , Prognosis , Biomarkers , Hepatitis B/complications , Hepatitis B/diagnosisABSTRACT
The effect and mechanism of sodium hexametaphosphate (SHMP) on polyphenol oxidase (PPO) enzymatic browning in yellow alkaline noodles (YAN) were investigated. The browning degree and PPO activity in YAN or PPO solutions decreased with the SHMP concentrations increased. Variations in pH values (pH 7-8.5) adjusted by HCl or acetic acid slightly affected the PPO activity, but SHMP inhibited PPO activity more pronounced. The inhibition of SHMP on PPO activity was irreversible. SHMP formed coordinate covalent bonds with Cu2+ to make PPO inactive. HPLC analysis revealed that SHMP reduced the browning products and led to the color of PPO-catechol systems being lightened. Furthermore, SHMP inhibited browning by hampering the auto-oxidization of intermediate products due to the change in pH value. Besides, the HPLC chromatogram, UV-vis spectrum, and mass spectrometry revealed that SHMP could convert melanin (m/z 248.97, 723.5, and 836.58) to light-colored substances (m/z 137.11).
Subject(s)
Food , Phosphates , Catechol Oxidase/chemistryABSTRACT
This study examined the effects of gaze fixation and different kinds of smooth-pursuit eye movements on the trunk and lower extremity muscle activities and center of pressure. METHODS: Twenty-four subjects were selected for the study. The activity of trunk and lower limb muscles (tibialis anterior, lateral gastrocnemius, medial gastrocnemius, vastus midialis obliques, vastus lateralis, biceps femoris, rectus abdominis, and erector spinae) and the COP (center of pressure) (surface area ellipse, length, and average speed) were measured to observe the effects of gaze fixation and different kinds of smooth-pursuit eye movements on the center of pressure and muscle activities during one leg standing. Before the experiment, a Gaze point GP3 HD Eye Tracker (Gazept, Vancouver, BC, Canada) was used to train eye movement so that the subjects would be familiar with smooth eye movement. Repeated each exercise 3 times at random. In order to avoid the sequence deviation caused by fatigue, the movement sequence is randomly selected. RESULT: The center of pressure and muscle activities were increased significantly when the smooth-pursuit eye movement with one leg standing compared with gaze fixation with one leg standing. In smooth-pursuit eye movements, the changes in the center of pressure and muscle activities were increased significantly with eye and head movement. When the head and eyes moved in opposite directions, the center of pressure and muscle activities were increased more than with any other exercises. CONCLUSION: Smooth-pursuit eye movement with one leg movement affects balance. In particular, in the smooth-pursuit eye movement with one leg standing, there were higher requirements for balance when the eyes and head move in the opposite direction. Therefore, this movement can be recommended to people who need to enhance their balance ability.
ABSTRACT
Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a group of metabolic diseases characterized by hyperglycemia, which can induce the development of atherosclerosis (AS). Calcification of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) exerts an important role in the process of AS. In this study, the effects of liraglutide (LIRA) on VSMC under high-glucose condition and its mechanism were explored. Method: After VSMC was treated by high glucose with or without LIRA in vitro, the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity was measured by the detection kit, osteogenic marker protein expression was detected by Western blotting, and calcification was determined by alizarin red staining. Subsequently, the DM rat model was established and the ALP activity, calcification, and osteogenic marker proteins were determined in vivo. Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining and hematoxylin-eosin staining were performed on the thoracic aorta of DM rats. Result: The positive rate of SMα-actin expression in the DM + AS group was significantly lower than that in control rats, but LIRA administration increased the positive rate in the model. The expression of Cbfα-1 and OPN in the DM + AS group was significantly higher than that in the control group, while it was decreased after treatment of LIRA. The ALP activity and calcium content were increased in DM + AS rats, and the treatment of LIRA decreased the phenotypes in the rats, so as to delay the progression of AS in DM rats. Meanwhile, LIRA inhibited the ALP activity, upregulated SM-α expression, and downregulated expression of OPN and Cbfα-1 in VSMC under high-glucose (HG) conditions. Mechanically, HG-enhanced ALP activity, AKT, and ERK phosphorylation were inhibited by LIRA, PI3K antagonist LY294002, or ERK1/2 antagonist PD98059, in which cotreatment of LIRA with LY294002 and PD98059 could further enhance the effect of LIRA on VSMC, and GLP-1R antagonists reversed the phenotypes in the model. LIRA blocked the osteogenic transformation of VSMC through PI3K and ERK1/2 signaling pathways, which can be reversed by GLP-1R antagonists. Conclusion: LIRA inhibited the abnormalities in VSMC calcification mediated by the GLP-1R, which was related to PI3K/Akt and ERK1/2 MAPK pathways. Therefore, the prospect and significance of LIRA in the treatment of DM complicated with AS were clarified.
Subject(s)
Atherosclerosis , Calcinosis , Diabetes Mellitus , Animals , Atherosclerosis/drug therapy , Calcinosis/metabolism , Cells, Cultured , Diabetes Mellitus/metabolism , Glucose/metabolism , Humans , Liraglutide/metabolism , Liraglutide/pharmacology , Liraglutide/therapeutic use , Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/metabolism , Myocytes, Smooth Muscle/metabolism , Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/metabolism , Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism , RatsABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: Patients with psychiatric disorders have an increased risk of cardiovascular pathologies. A bidirectional feedback model between the brain and heart exists widely in both psychotic and nonpsychotic disorders. The aim of this study was to compare heart rate variability (HRV) and pulse wave velocity (PWV) functions between patients with psychotic and nonpsychotic disorders and to investigate whether subgroups defined by HRV and PWV features improve the transdiagnostic psychopathology of psychiatric classification. METHODS: In total, 3448 consecutive patients who visited psychiatric or psychological health services with psychotic (N = 1839) and nonpsychotic disorders (N = 1609) and were drug-free for at least 2 weeks were selected. HRV and PWV indicators were measured via finger photoplethysmography during a 5-minute period of rest. Canonical variates were generated through HRV and PWV indicators by canonical correlation analysis (CCA). RESULTS: All HRV indicators but none of the PWV indicators were significantly reduced in the psychotic group relative to those in the nonpsychotic group. After adjusting for age, gender, and body mass index, many indices of HRV were significantly reduced in the psychotic group compared with those in the nonpsychotic group. CCA analysis revealed 2 subgroups defined by distinct and relatively homogeneous patterns along HRV and PWV dimensions and comprising 19.0% (subgroup 1, n = 655) and 80.9% (subgroup 2, n = 2781) of the sample, each with distinctive features of HRV and PWV functions. CONCLUSIONS: HRV functions are significantly impaired among psychiatric patients, especially in those with psychosis. Our results highlight important subgroups of psychiatric patients that have distinct features of HRV and PWV which transcend current diagnostic boundaries.
Subject(s)
Autonomic Nervous System/physiopathology , Cardiovascular Diseases/physiopathology , Mental Disorders/physiopathology , Psychotic Disorders/physiopathology , Pulse Wave Analysis , Adult , Cardiovascular Diseases/epidemiology , Comorbidity , Female , Heart Rate/physiology , Humans , Male , Mental Disorders/epidemiology , Middle Aged , Plethysmography , Psychotic Disorders/epidemiologyABSTRACT
An integrated aptamer macroarray functionalized with reduced graphene oxide (rGO) to specifically capture and sensitively detect cancer cells is reported. The capture for cancer cells is based on effective recognition of the modified rGO surface through the aptamer against epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM). The rough structure of rGO enhances morphologic interactions between rGO film interface and the cancer cells, while super-hydrophilicity of modified rGO hinders nonspecific cell capture. The synergistic interactions offer the aptamer macroarray high efficiency of cancer cell capture. By means of a turn-on fluorescence strategy based on the conformation change of the aptamer induced by the target recognition, the enriched cancer cells can be directly read out at excitation/emission wavelengths of 550/680 nm without washing, separation, and dying steps. The working range is 1 × 102 to 2 × 104 cells per mL with a detection limit of 22 cells per mL. The results indicate that the aptamer macroarray has a considerable foreground for early diagnosis, therapy, and monitoring of cancer. Graphical abstract.
Subject(s)
Aptamers, Nucleotide/chemistry , Cell Separation/methods , Graphite/chemistry , Neoplastic Cells, Circulating , Base Sequence , Cell Line, Tumor , Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule/chemistry , Fluorescence , Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer , Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells , Humans , Immobilized Nucleic Acids/chemistry , Limit of Detection , Pyrenes/chemistryABSTRACT
The capacity to diagnose cancer with the existing endogenous biomarkers remains limited because biomarkers usually act at the tumor site and are thus challenging to be detected directly from body fluids with high sensitivity and specificity, especially in the early stage of tumorigenesis. Here, we demonstrate an exogenous tumor-penetrating nanomarker composed of fluorescent nanoparticles conjugated with specific fluorescein-labeled peptides. The injectable nanomarkers perform four functions: they penetrate the tumor, target sites of cancer, cleave specific peptides by on-target protease, and drop off the labeled peptide into host urine for fluorescent detection. Sensitive in vivo tracking and monitoring of the cyclic process of the nanomarker was also accomplished. The nanomarker can noninvasively diagnose and monitor tumors with a volume of about 17 mm3 without invasive core biopsies. Enhanced capacity of early point-of-care detection for cancer is accomplished by receptor-dependent specificity of the signal generation in the urine compared with clinically used blood biomarkers.
Subject(s)
Nanoparticles , Neoplasms , Biomarkers , Diagnostic Imaging , Humans , Neoplasms/diagnosis , PeptidesABSTRACT
The application and understanding of dendritic cell (DC) based immune cancer therapy are largely hindered by insufficient or improper presentation of antigens and the inability to track the homing of reprogrammed DCs to draining lymph nodes in real-time. To tackle these challenges, multi-functional and hierarchically structured silica nanospheres are rationally designed and fabricated, which encapsulate quantum dots to permit near infrared deep tissue imaging and are loaded with carcinoembryonic antigen messenger RNA (CEAmRNA) to enable stable and abundant antigen expression in DCs. After being injected into animals and inducing an antigen-specific immune response, the homing process of reprogrammed labelled DCs from peripheral tissues to draining lymph nodes can be simultaneously and precisely tracked. Significant inhibition of tumor growth is achieved via strong antigen-specific immune responses including induced DC maturation, enhanced T cell proliferation and cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL)-mediated responses. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrate the high effectiveness of this new strategy of imaging-guided cancer immunotherapy by using reprogrammed DCs as immunotherapeutic and tracking agents.
Subject(s)
Carcinoembryonic Antigen/genetics , Dendritic Cells/metabolism , Immunotherapy , Melanoma, Experimental/therapy , Nanospheres/administration & dosage , RNA, Messenger/administration & dosage , Silicon Dioxide/administration & dosage , Animals , Melanoma, Experimental/diagnostic imaging , Melanoma, Experimental/metabolism , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Optical ImagingABSTRACT
On the basis of the autologous tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) or genetically modified TILs for adoptive cell therapy have received more attention. Programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) expression on the T cells exert complex response during the tumor immune response. But the composition and function of PD-1T-cell subsets in TILs from human lung cancer still limited. In blood and TILs from human lung cancer patients, we confirmed that PD-1 is expressed in higher levels in CD4T-cell subsets than in CD8T-cell subsets. To further analyze the function of PD-1T cells in TILs, we observed the cytokine production in different T-cell subsets. We found that higher interferon-γ and granzyme B production in CD4/CD8PD-1T-cell subsets in TILs than in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs); except for PD-1Tscm, higher tumor necrosis factor-α production was observed in PD-1T-cell subsets in TILs than in PBMCs; the expression level of interleukin-17 were lower in PD-1T cells in TILs than in PBMCs; and perforin expression was significantly reduced in CD4PD-1T cells subsets in TILs compared with peripheral blood. Clarify elucidating the composition and function of PD-1T-cell subsets in TILs will have great value in clinical application for evaluating the sensitivity to PD-1 blockade and selecting the promising candidate T-cell subsets in TILs for combination immunotherapy in human lung cancer.
Subject(s)
Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/immunology , Lung Neoplasms/immunology , Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating/immunology , Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor/immunology , T-Lymphocyte Subsets/immunology , Adult , Aged , Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/pathology , Female , Humans , Lung Neoplasms/pathology , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
An immunoassay is described for either colorimetric and fluorometric determination of the cancer biomarker α-fetoprotein (AFP). It is making use of ZnS nanospheres modified with CdTe quantum dots (QDs). These display strong fluorescence due to the enrichment of the QDs onto the porous ZnS nanospheres. In this assay, the release of millions of zinc(II) ions can be triggered to form a purple complex (with an absorption maximum at 571 nm) on addition of the reagent 2-(5-nitro-2-pyridylazo)-5-(N-propyl-N-sulfopropylamino) phenol. This results in a sensitive colorimetric immunoassay which can also be used as a visual test. It represents an enzyme-free alternative to the commonly used ELISAs. It also can be evaluated by fluorometry (with excitation/emission maxima at 400/645 nm). The detection limits are 10 pg·mL-1 for fluorometry and 7 pg·mL-1 for colorimetry. This sensitivity is better by one order of magnitude than that of the commercial ELISA. The dual detection feature provides good complementarity and reduces the risk of false-positive or false-negative results. Graphical abstract Schematic presentation of colorimetric and fluorescent dual-channel detection for α-fetoprotein. ZnS-CdTe hierarchical porous nanospheres are used as labels for signal amplification.
ABSTRACT
The canonical Wnt-ß-catenin signaling pathway arrests the differentiation of T cells and plays an important role in phenotypic maintenance of naive T cells and stem cell-like memory T cells in human peripheral blood, but its effect on tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) from non-small cell lung cancer is little known. In this study, we showed that glycogen synthase kinase-3ß inhibitor TWS119 has different effects on CD4 and CD8 T cells in TILs. TWS119 preserved the expansion of naive T cell and CD8 stem cell-like memory T cells, and induced CD8 effector T-cell proliferation in TILs. To further determine whether TWS119 impaired the effector function of TILs, TILs were stimulated with polyclonal stimulation, IL-2 and IFN-γ production were detected. Our data showed that TWS119 does not affect the production of IFN-γ in TILs compared with the control group; whereas TWS119 inhibited IFN-γ secretion of T cells from healthy donor. IL-2 production in CD4 central memory T cells and CD4 effector memory T cells from TILs was significantly increased with the TWS119 treatment; TWS119 also promoted the secretion of IL-2 in all cell subsets of CD8 TILs. These findings reveal that TWS119 has a distinct effect on the proliferation and cytokine production of TILs, and provide new insights into the clinical application of TILs with TWS119 treatment for the adoptive immunotherapy.
Subject(s)
CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/physiology , Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/metabolism , Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta/metabolism , Immunotherapy, Adoptive/methods , Lung Neoplasms/metabolism , Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating/physiology , Pyrimidines/pharmacology , Pyrroles/pharmacology , Adult , Aged , CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/transplantation , Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/immunology , Cell Differentiation , Cell Proliferation , Cytokines/metabolism , Female , Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta/antagonists & inhibitors , Humans , Immunologic Memory , Lung Neoplasms/immunology , Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating/transplantation , Male , Middle Aged , Wnt Signaling PathwayABSTRACT
The currently utilized ligand fishing for bioactive molecular screening from complex matrixes cannot perform imaging screening. Here, we developed a new solid-phase ligand fishing coupled with an in situ imaging protocol for the specific enrichment and identification of heat shock protein 90 (Hsp 90) inhibitors from Tripterygium wilfordii, utilizing a multiple-layer and microkernel-based mesoporous nanostructure composed of a protective silica coating CdTe quantum dot (QD) core and a mesoporous silica shell, i.e., microkernel-based mesoporous (SiO2-CdTe-SiO2)@SiO2 fluorescent nanoparticles (MMFNPs) as extracting carries and fluorescent probes. The prepared MMFNPs showed a highly uniform spherical morphology, retention of fluorescence emission, and great chemical stability. The fished ligands by Hsp 90α-MMFNPs were evaluated via the preliminary bioactivity based on real-time cellular morphology imaging by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and then identified by mass spectrometry (MS). Celastrol was successfully isolated as an Hsp 90 inhibitor, and two other specific components screened by Hsp 90α-MMFNPs, i.e., demecolcine and wilforine, were preliminarily identified as potential Hsp 90 inhibitors through the verification of strong affinity to Hsp 90 and antitumor bioactivity. The approach based on the MMFNPs provides a strong platform for imaging screening and discovery of plant-derived biologically active molecules with high efficiency and selectivity.
Subject(s)
Cadmium Compounds/chemistry , Fluorescent Dyes/chemistry , Nanoparticles/chemistry , Optical Imaging , Silicon Dioxide/chemistry , Tellurium/chemistry , Tripterygium/chemistry , Cadmium Compounds/chemical synthesis , Cadmium Compounds/pharmacology , Cell Survival/drug effects , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Fluorescent Dyes/chemical synthesis , Fluorescent Dyes/pharmacology , HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors , HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins/metabolism , Humans , MCF-7 Cells , Particle Size , Porosity , Silicon Dioxide/chemical synthesis , Silicon Dioxide/pharmacology , Structure-Activity Relationship , Surface Properties , Tellurium/pharmacologyABSTRACT
Pain sensitization after partial infraorbital nerve transection (p-IONX) in mice not only presents in orofacial region, but also spreads to distant body parts. The roles of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) in orofacial pain and the spreading process are still unclear. Here, we found that mice with deficient TLR4 because of Tr4 gene point mutation (C3H/HeJ) or spontaneous deletion (C57BL/10ScNJ) developed tactile allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia in the vibrissal pad in a parallel way to their respective wild types (C3HeB/FeJ or C57BL/6J) after p-IONX. However, allodynia in the hind paw was absent in mice with TLR4 deficiency. Pharmacological antagonism of TLR4 with LPS-RS, administered either intracisternally or intrathecally, abrogated allodynia in the hind paw without affecting the hypersensitivity in the vibrissal pad and hyperalgesia in the hind paw. Although TNF-α expression was upregulated in both the medulla and lumbar cord, the expression of TLR4 downstream molecule MyD88 increased only in the lumbar cord after p-IONX in wild types. By contrast, hind paw hypersensitivity after partial sciatic nerve ligation was significantly attenuated by TLR4 deletion. The hypersensitivity, which did not spread to the vibrissal pad, was accompanied with upregulation of MyD88 in the lumbar cord rather than in the medulla. These results suggest that TLR4 participates in the spread of allodynia component of orofacial pain to distant body sites, but not trigeminal neuropathic pain or the spread of its hyperalgesia component. This study suggests that TLR4 may serve as a potential target for the management of widespread allodynia associated with orofacial pain.
Subject(s)
Hyperalgesia/etiology , Pain Threshold/physiology , Toll-Like Receptor 4/deficiency , Trigeminal Neuralgia/complications , Analysis of Variance , Animals , Female , Hyperalgesia/drug therapy , Ligation/adverse effects , Lipopolysaccharides/pharmacology , Male , Mice , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Mice, Transgenic , Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88/metabolism , Pain Measurement , Point Mutation/genetics , Sciatic Nerve/injuries , Sciatic Neuropathy/physiopathology , Time Factors , Toll-Like Receptor 4/antagonists & inhibitors , Toll-Like Receptor 4/genetics , Trigeminal Neuralgia/etiologyABSTRACT
Plants are known for their capacity to regenerate the whole body through de novo formation of apical meristems from a mass of proliferating cells named callus. Exogenous cytokinin and auxin determine cell fate for the establishment of the stem cell niche, which is the vital step of shoot regeneration, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we show that type-B ARABIDOPSIS RESPONSE REGULATORs (ARRs), critical components of cytokinin signaling, activate the transcription of WUSCHEL (WUS), which encodes a key regulator for maintaining stem cells. In parallel, type-B ARRs inhibit auxin accumulation by repressing the expression of YUCCAs, which encode a key enzyme for auxin biosynthesis, indirectly promoting WUS induction. Both pathways are essential for de novo regeneration of the shoot stem cell niche. In addition, the dual regulation of type-B ARRs on WUS transcription is required for the maintenance of the shoot apical meristem in planta. Thus, our results reveal a long-standing missing link between cytokinin signaling and WUS regulator, and the findings provide critical information for understanding cell fate specification.
Subject(s)
Arabidopsis Proteins/metabolism , Arabidopsis/metabolism , Stem Cell Niche/physiology , Arabidopsis/genetics , Arabidopsis Proteins/genetics , Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/genetics , Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/physiology , Homeodomain Proteins/genetics , Homeodomain Proteins/metabolism , Oxygenases/genetics , Oxygenases/metabolism , Signal Transduction/genetics , Signal Transduction/physiology , Stem Cell Niche/genetics , Transcription Factors/genetics , Transcription Factors/metabolismABSTRACT
The half-spin Kagomé antiferromagnet is one of the most promising candidates for the realization of a quantum spin liquid state because of its inherent frustration and quantum fluctuations. The search for candidates for quantum spin liquids with novel spin topologies is still a challenge. Herein, we report a new diluted Kagomé lattice in Cu7(TeO3)2(SO4)2(OH)6, showing a 9/16-depleted triangle lattice, where the corner-sharing triangle units [Cu5(OH)6O8] are separated by CuO2(OH)2. Magnetic measurements show that the title compound does not exhibit long-range antiferromagnetic order down to 2 K, suggesting strong spin frustration with f > 19.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: The aim of our research was to investigate the potential role of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in diabetic retinopathy (DR). Measurement of serum circulating levels of BDNF and analysis of polymorphism of BDNF gene (Val66Met) were applied and compared with diabetic patients without DR. METHODS: From February 2014 and March 2015, all eligible patients with Type 2 diabetic mellitus at our hospital were consecutively recruited (N = 404). Their serum BDNF levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. BDNF val66met polymorphism genotyping was conducted according to the laboratory's standard protocol. At baseline, demographic and clinical data were taken. The relationship of BDNF with DR was investigated with the use of logistic regression models. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to test the overall accuracy of BDNF and other markers. RESULTS: Diabetic patients with DR and vision-threatening DR had significantly lower BDNF levels on admission (P < 0.0001 both). The BDNF genotyping results showed that there was no difference between the diabetic patients with DR and those without DR. Multivariate logistic regression analysis adjusted for common risk factors showed that serum BDNF levels were independent risk factors for DR (odds ratio = 0.86; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.80-0.92; P < 0.0001) and vision-threatening DR (odds ratio = 0.79; 95% CI: 0.75-0.85; P < 0.0001). Brain-derived neurotrophic factor improved the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the diabetes duration for DR from 0.69 (95% CI: 0.60-0.76) to 0.85 (95% CI: 0.79-0.90; P < 0.01) and for vision-threatening DR from 0.77 (95% CI: 0.67-0.87) to 0.86 (95% CI: 0.80-0.92; P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrated that, rather than Val66Met polymorphism, decreased serum levels of BDNF were associated with DR and vision-threatening DR in Chinese Type 2 diabetic patients, suggesting a possible role of BDNF in the pathogenesis of DR complications.
Subject(s)
Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor/blood , Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor/genetics , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/complications , Diabetic Retinopathy/blood , Diabetic Retinopathy/genetics , Polymorphism, Genetic , Adult , Aged , Area Under Curve , Asian People/genetics , Cohort Studies , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/blood , Female , Genetic Predisposition to Disease , Genotype , Humans , Logistic Models , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
Adoptive cell therapy using autologous tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) or genetically modified lymphocytes from TILs is a new effective approach, but the application of TIL immunotherapy is still limited in many solid tumors. Knowledge of the classification and function of TILs is important to develop personalized immunotherapy with TILs in non-small lung cancer (NSCLC). In this study, we show the characteristics of T-cell subsets in TILs isolated from NSCLC. CD3 CD8 CD45RA T cells outnumbered CD3 CD4 CD45RA T cells in CD45RA TILs, but it was the opposite in CD45RO TILs. Effector memory CD4 T cells predominated in CD4 TILs; about 10% of the stem cell-like memory T cells (Tscm) were detected in TILs. To further analyze their functions, we stimulated TILs from NSCLC patients by mitogens to examine cytokine production. Our data demonstrated that naive-phenotype T cells in TILs secret IFN-γ in abundance; TNF-α-producing T cells were significantly increased in TILs; there were more IL-17-expressing CD4 Tscm cells than other subtypes of CD4T cells in TILs. Our findings indicate that the CD4/CD8 naive-phenotype T cells and Tscm cells in TILs from lung cancer exhibit distinct composition and strong cytokine production. Attributes of Tscm cells from a naive-like T-cell population in TILs are the promising cell type for adoptive cell therapy in human lung cancer.