Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)represents the primary carcinoma of the liver and the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths.The World Health Organization estimates an increase in cases in the coming years.The ris...Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)represents the primary carcinoma of the liver and the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths.The World Health Organization estimates an increase in cases in the coming years.The risk factors of HCC are multiple,and the incidence in different countries is closely related to the different risk factors to which the population is exposed.The molecular mechanisms that drive HCC tumorigenesis are extremely complex,but understanding this multistep process is essential for the identification of diagnostic,prognostic,and therapeutic markers.The development of multigenic nextgeneration sequencing panels through the parallel analysis of multiple markers can provide a landscape of the genomic status of the tumor.Considering the literature and our preliminary data based on 36 HCCs,the most frequently altered genes in HCCs are TERT,CTNNB1,and TP53.Over the years,many groups have attempted to classify HCCs on a molecular basis,but a univocal classification has never been achieved.Nevertheless,statistically significant correlations have been found in HCCs between the molecular signature and morphologic features,and this leads us to think that it would be desirable to integrate the approach between anatomic pathology and molecular laboratories.展开更多
Genetic alterations in pancreatic tumors can usually be classified in:(1)Mutational activation of oncogenes;(2)Inactivation of tumor suppressor genes;and(3)Inactivation of genome maintenance genes controlling the repa...Genetic alterations in pancreatic tumors can usually be classified in:(1)Mutational activation of oncogenes;(2)Inactivation of tumor suppressor genes;and(3)Inactivation of genome maintenance genes controlling the repair of DNA damage.Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration has improved preoperative diagnosis,but the management of patients with a pancreatic lesion is still challenging.Molecular testing could help mainly in solving these“inconclusive”specimens.The introduction of multi-gene analysis approaches,such as next-generation sequencing,has provided a lot of useful information on the molecular characterization of pancreatic tumors.Different types of pancreatic tumors(e.g.,pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas,intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms,solid pseudopapillary tumors)are characterized by specific molecular alterations.The aim of this review is to summarize the main molecular alterations found in pancreatic tumors.展开更多
Background: Breast cancer is a genetically and clinically heterogeneous disease with multiple subtypes. The classification of these subtypes has evolved over the years. The most common and widely accepted classificati...Background: Breast cancer is a genetically and clinically heterogeneous disease with multiple subtypes. The classification of these subtypes has evolved over the years. The most common and widely accepted classification of breast cancer is from an immunohistochemical perspective, based on the expression of the following hormone receptors: Estrogen Receptor (ER), Progesterone Receptor (PR) and Human Epidermal Growth Factor (HER2). Accordingly, the following four subtypes of breast cancer are widely recognized—Luminal A, Luminal B, HER2 Enriched and Triple Negative. Breast cancer management approaches include surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and targeted hormone therapy necessitated by molecular subtyping. Aims: This study aimed to determine the level of adherence to breast cancer molecular subtyping among women with breast cancer attending tertiary health facilities in Imo State. Methodology: Immunohistochemistry reports of women with breast cancer attending tertiary health facilities in Imo State were retrieved from patient’s case files. Tissue blocks were also retrieved from tissue block archives of both hospitals for women who did not take up immunohistochemistry services after their initial diagnosis and also those whose immunohistochemistry reports were not found in their case files. Results: Among the 121 women that participated in the study, there were in all 74 (61.2%) had molecular subtyping of their tumour blocks. Up to 45 (37.2%) did not go for molecular subtyping of their tumour blocks while 2 (1.7%) were not sure whether they had or not. Conclusion: It, therefore, depicts that the rate of uptake was found as 61.2% among the participants and there is a need to create more awareness of the importance of molecular subtyping, which necessitates the use of targeted hormone therapy.展开更多
A total of 479 bacterial strains were isolated from brine (Bohai, Qinhuangdao City, Hebei Province, China). Bioassay results indicated that 4 strains named Hal, Hal7, Ha38, and Ha384 had herbicidal activity. And str...A total of 479 bacterial strains were isolated from brine (Bohai, Qinhuangdao City, Hebei Province, China). Bioassay results indicated that 4 strains named Hal, Hal7, Ha38, and Ha384 had herbicidal activity. And strain Hal had the highest effective herbicidal activity. As a result, this study aims to JdentJfy strain Hal, characterize its physiological and biological activities, evaluate the herbicidal activity of its metabolites, and develop a 'pesta' formulation and assess its effectiveness on Digitaria sanguinalis. Hal was identified as Serratia marcescens based on 16S rDNA sequencing. This strain has a flagellum, a diameter of 0.5 to 0.8 IJm, and a length of 0.9 to 2.0 IJm. The indole test shows positive results, and the catalase enzyme exhibits strong positive reactions. Results further showed that the inhibitory concentration (IC50) of the crude extracts to D. sanguinalis radicula and coleoptile were 3.332 and 2.828 mg mL-1, respectively. Both the suppression of D. sanguinalis and the cell viability of the Hal formulation in 'pesta' were higher when stored at 4℃ than at (25+2)℃. These results indi- cated that S. marcescens Hal can potentially be used as a biocontrol agent against D. sanguinalis.展开更多
Large amounts ofFlaveria bidentis's root culturing solution were obtained by using DFT (deep flow technique) equipment and these solution which was vacuum concentrated (10, 20 mg mL-~) can have a certain inhibiti...Large amounts ofFlaveria bidentis's root culturing solution were obtained by using DFT (deep flow technique) equipment and these solution which was vacuum concentrated (10, 20 mg mL-~) can have a certain inhibition on Triticum aestivum, Cucumis sativus, Raphanus sativus, Amaranthus retroflexus, Setaria viridis, Chenopodium album, Echinochloa crusgalli and Chloris virgata. This outcome suggested some active compounds in the root exudates ofFIaveria bidentis can inhibit the germination, seedling elongation and root length. The dichloromethane extract of root exudates was identificated by GC-MS, and 29 kinds of compounds, including esters, hydrocarbons, ketones, thiazole, amines, etc. were obtained and the phthalate n-octyl ester, phthalate 2-ethylhexyl ester were proved to be allelochemicals. The culturing solution of root exudates was separated through the resin column and silica gel column and a component inhibiting seedling height, root length and fresh weight of wheat was got. There were 6 kinds of organic compounds in this component including dioctyl phthalate, 1,2-phthalate, mono(2-ethylhexyl) ester by GC-MS.展开更多
CB-4, a bacterial strain with highly effective herbicidal activity, was isolated from infected corn leaves. Through morphology, physiological and biochemical tests, and 16 S ribosomal DNA gene sequencing methods, CB-4...CB-4, a bacterial strain with highly effective herbicidal activity, was isolated from infected corn leaves. Through morphology, physiological and biochemical tests, and 16 S ribosomal DNA gene sequencing methods, CB-4 was identified as Pseudomonas aeruginosa. We conducted activity-evaluation experiments in the laboratory to assess the herbicidal potential of metabolites produced by strain CB-4. Crude extracts of strain CB-4 have high inhibition activity on Digitaria sanguinalis. In general, the root and shoot growth parameters of D. sanguinalis were significantly reduced by metabolites of strain CB-4. The IC50 of the culture filtrate extracts for the radicula and coleoptile of D. sanguinalis were 0.299 and 0.210 mg mL-1, respectively. Component 2 of the herbicidal activity of the crude toxin from strain CB-4 was successfully purified for the first time by using high-speed counter current chromatography with a two-phase solvent system composed of petroleum ether-ethyl acetate-methanol-water(4:5:4:5, v/v) and high-performance liquid chromatography. We concluded that the metabolites of strain CB-4 have the potential to be developed as a microbe-based herbicide.展开更多
Iron deficiency anemia and iron overload conditions affect more than one billion people worldwide.Iron homeostasis involves the regulation of cells that export iron into the plasma and cells that utilize or store iron...Iron deficiency anemia and iron overload conditions affect more than one billion people worldwide.Iron homeostasis involves the regulation of cells that export iron into the plasma and cells that utilize or store iron.The cellular iron balance in humans is primarily mediated by the hepcidin-ferroportin axis.Ferroportin is the sole cellular iron export protein,and its expression is regulated transcriptionally,post-transcriptionally and posttranslationally.Hepcidin,a hormone produced by liver cells,post-translationally regulates ferroportin expression on iron exporting cells by binding with ferroportin and promoting its internalization by endocytosis and subsequent degradation by lysosomes.Dysregulation of iron homeostasis leading to iron deposition in vital organs is the main cause of death in betathalassemia patients.Beta-thalassemia patients show marked hepcidin suppression,ineffective eiythropoiesis,anemia and iron overload.Beta-thalassemia is common in the Mediterranean region,Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent,and the focus of this review is to provide an update on the factors mediating hepcidin related iron dysregulation in beta-thalassemia disease.Understanding this process may pave the way for new treatments to ameliorate iron overloading and improve the long term prognosis of these patients.展开更多
The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), a key signal transduction component in the MAPK cascade pathway, regulates a variety of physiological activities in eukaryotes. However, little is known of the role MAPK ...The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), a key signal transduction component in the MAPK cascade pathway, regulates a variety of physiological activities in eukaryotes. However, little is known of the role MAPK plays in phytopathogenic fungi. In this research, we cloned the MAPK gene STK1 from the northern corn leaf blight pathogen Setosphaeria turcica and found that the gene shared high homology with the high osmolality glycerol (HOG) MAPK gene HOG1 of Saccharomy- ces cerevisiae. In addition, gene knockout technology was employed to investigate the function of STKI. Gene knockout mutants (KOs) were found to have altered hyphae morphology and no conidiogenesis, though they did show similar radial growth rate compared to the wild-type strain (WT). Furthermore, microscope observations indicated that STK1 KOs did not form normal appressoria at 48 h post-inoculation on a hydrophobic surface. STK1 KOs had reduced virulence, a significantly altered Helminthosporium turcicum (HT)-toxin composition, and diminished pathogenicity on the leaves of susceptible inbred corn OH43. Mycelium morphology appeared to be significantly swollen and the radial growth rates of STK1 KOs declined in comparison with WT under high osmotic stress. These results suggested that STK1 affects the hyphae development, conidiogenesis, and pathogenicity of S. turcica by regulating appressorium development and HT-toxin biosynthesis. Moreover, the gene appears to be involved in the hypertonic stress response in S. turcica.展开更多
Setosphaeria turcica,an essential phytopathogenic fungus,is the primary cause of serious yield losses in corn; however,its pathogenic mechanism is poorly understood.We cloned STK2,a newly discovered mitogen-activated ...Setosphaeria turcica,an essential phytopathogenic fungus,is the primary cause of serious yield losses in corn; however,its pathogenic mechanism is poorly understood.We cloned STK2,a newly discovered mitogen-activated protein kinase gene with a deduced amino acid sequence that is 96% identical to MAK2 from Phaeosphaeria nodorum,56% identical to KSS1 and 57% identical to FUS3 from Saccharomyces cerevisiae.To deduce Stk2 function in S.turcica and to identify the genetic relationship between STK2 and KSS1/FUS3 from S.cerevisiae,a restructured vector containing the open reading frame of STK2 was transformed into a fus3/kss1 double deletion mutant of S.cerevisiae.The results show that the STK2 complementary strain clearly formed pseudohyphae and ascospores,and the strain grew on the surface of the medium after rinsing with sterile water and the characteristics of the complementary strain was the same as the wild-type strain.Moreover,STK2 complemented the function of KSS1 in filamentation and invasive growth,as well as the mating behavior of FUS3 in S.cerevisiae,however,its exact functions in S.turcica will be studied in the future research.展开更多
Setosphaeria turcica(syn.Exserohilum turcicum)is the pathogenic fungus of maize(Zea mays)that causes northern leaf blight,which is a major maize disease worldwide.Melanized appressoria are highly specialized infection...Setosphaeria turcica(syn.Exserohilum turcicum)is the pathogenic fungus of maize(Zea mays)that causes northern leaf blight,which is a major maize disease worldwide.Melanized appressoria are highly specialized infection structures formed by germinated conidia of S.turcica that infect maize leaves.The appressorium penetrates the plant cuticle by generating turgor,and glycerol is known to be the main source of the turgor.Here,the infection position penetrated by the appressorium on maize leaves was investigated,most of the germinated conidia entered the leaf interior by directly penetrating the epidermal cells,and the appressorium structure was necessary for the infection,whether it occurred through epidermal cells or stomata.Then,to investigate the effects of key factors in the development of the appressorium,we studied the effects of three inhibitors,including a melanin inhibitor(tricyclazole,TCZ),a DNA replication inhibitor(hydroxyurea,HU),and an autophagy inhibitor(3-methyladenine,3-MA),on appressorium turgor and glycerol content.As results,appressorium turgor pressure and glycerol concentration in the appressorium reached their highest levels at the mature stage of the appressorium under the control and inhibitor treatments.The three inhibitors had the greatest effects on appressorium turgor pressure at this stage.Glycogen and liposomes are the main substances producing glycerol.It was also found inhibitors affected the distribution of glycogen and liposomes,which were detected in the conidia,the germ tube,and the appressorium during appressorium development.This study provides profound insight into the relationship between appressorium turgor pressure and glycerol content,which was affected by the synthesis of melanin,DNA replication,and autophagy in the developing appressorium during a S.turcica infection.展开更多
Objective: To generate insights into the mechanism of NVP induced hepatotoxicity. Methods: Liver(HepG2) cells were cultured with various concentrations of NVP. This cell line was chosen because it has low expression o...Objective: To generate insights into the mechanism of NVP induced hepatotoxicity. Methods: Liver(HepG2) cells were cultured with various concentrations of NVP. This cell line was chosen because it has low expression of cytochrome P450, allowing evaluation of the effects of NVP rather than specific metabolites. Cytotoxicity was determined using a proliferation assay and cell numbers were monitored using trypan blue exclusion assay for long term culture experiments and apoptosis induction was determined by morphological and biochemical investigation. Results: HepG2 cells treated with the highest concentration of NVP tested(819 μM) initially showed a rounded morphology and all cells had died by week three of exposure. Nuclear condensation and fragmentation, increased Annexin V/propidium iodide staining and caspase 9 activation all supported the induction of apoptosis in HepG2 cells in response to NVP treatment. Conclusions: There is a clear induction of apoptosis in response to NVP which suggests that NVP has significant cytotoxicity, over and above any cytotoxicity of metabolites and may contribute directly to patient hepatotoxicity.展开更多
The genotype-specific defense activation in the roots of perennial tree crops to soilborne necrotrophic pathogens remains largely unknown.A recent phenotyping study indicated that the apple rootstock genotypes B.9 and...The genotype-specific defense activation in the roots of perennial tree crops to soilborne necrotrophic pathogens remains largely unknown.A recent phenotyping study indicated that the apple rootstock genotypes B.9 and G.935 have contrasting resistance responses to infection by Pythium ultimum.In the current study,a comparative transcriptome analysis by Illumina Solexa HiSeq 3000 platform was carried out to identify the global transcriptional regulation networks between the susceptible B.9 and the resistant G.935 to P.ultimum infection.Thirty-six libraries were sequenced to cover three timepoints after pathogen inoculation,with three biological replicates for each sample.The transcriptomes in the roots of the susceptible genotype B.9 were reflected by overrepresented differentially expressed genes(DEGs)with downregulated patterns and systematic suppression of cellular processes at 48 h post inoculation(hpi).In contrast,DEGs with annotated functions,such as kinase receptors,MAPK signaling,JA biosynthesis enzymes,transcription factors,and transporters,were readily induced at 24 hpi and continued upregulation at 48 hpi in G.935 roots.The earlier and stronger defense activation is likely associated with an effective inhibition of necrosis progression in G.935 roots.Lack of effector-triggered immunity or existence of a susceptibility gene could contribute to the severely disturbed transcriptome and susceptibility in B.9 roots.The identified DEGs constitute a valuable resource for hypothesis-driven studies to elucidate the resistance/tolerance mechanisms in apple roots and validating their potential association with resistance traits.展开更多
Huanglongbing (HLB) is the most destructive disease of citrus and is associated with ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’(CLas), a member of the α-proteobacteria. Citrus tristeza virus (CTV) is another pathogen of c...Huanglongbing (HLB) is the most destructive disease of citrus and is associated with ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’(CLas), a member of the α-proteobacteria. Citrus tristeza virus (CTV) is another pathogen of citrus with very great historic as well as current importance. Both CLas and CTV are phloem-restricted pathogens. A severe CTV isolate, CTV-B6, and CLas-B232 induce a group of symptoms of phloem dysfunction that overlap, but the mild isolate CTV-B2 does not cause any loss to commercial trees. Prior inoculation and establishment of CLas-B232 did not affect subsequent establishment of either CTV-B2 or CTV-B6, while super infection by CLas-B232 was reduced by prior establishment of CTV-B2 and to a lesser extent by prior infection with CTV-B6. Trees co-infected with CTV-B6 and CLas-B232 developed more severe symptoms, typical of CTV-B6, than either of the two pathogens co-infected with CTV-B2. In this study, we confirmed that CLas established in the rootlets earlier and with higher concentration than in leaves. The distribution of CLas in the plant infected by CLas-B438 alone and with CTV-B2 fits a previously proposed model but CLas was more sporadically distributed in a plant co-infected by CLas and CTV-B2 than in a plant infected by CLas alone. These biological phenomena are aligned with previously analyzed transcriptome data and the study provides a novel idea that mild CTV strains may provide some protection against CLas by limiting its multiplication and spread. The protective effect may be due to opposite regulation of key host defense pathways in response to CTV-B2 and CLas-B438.展开更多
Objective:To investigate the impact of the endogamous marriage culture on the prevalence of the hemoglobin E(HbE) recessive variant.Methods:The prevalence of the hemoglobin E(HbE)recessive variant was determined by do...Objective:To investigate the impact of the endogamous marriage culture on the prevalence of the hemoglobin E(HbE) recessive variant.Methods:The prevalence of the hemoglobin E(HbE)recessive variant was determined by dot-blot hybridization in 4 endogamous villages(1 Mlabri and 3 Htin ethnic groups) in comparison with 9 other nearby non-endogamous populations.Results:Although the overall HbE prevalence in the population studied(8.44%,33/391)was not significantly different from that of the general southeast Asian population,a high prevalence and individuals with homozygous HbE were observed in two villages,the Mlabri from Wiang Sa district and the Htin from Thung Chang district of Nan province(26.3%and26.9%,respectively).The low HbE allelic frequency noticed in some endogamous populations suggests that not only endogamy but also other evolutionary forces,such as founder effect and HbE/β-thalassemia negative selection may have an effect on the distribution of the HbE trait.Conclusion:Our study strongly documents that cultural impact has to be considered in the extensive prevalence studies for genetic disorders in the ethnic groups of northern Thailand.展开更多
The standard diagnostic modalities for Prostate Cancer (PC) include serum Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) assay, Digital Rectal Examination (DRE), and histological examination of prostate biopsy. They are limited by l...The standard diagnostic modalities for Prostate Cancer (PC) include serum Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) assay, Digital Rectal Examination (DRE), and histological examination of prostate biopsy. They are limited by low predictive potential and inability to predict which patients are at risk of developing metastatic disease. The aim of this study is to investigate the exon 4 of the KLK2 gene of subjects for changes in its nucleotide sequences (SNPs) and determine the correlation of these changes with serum PSA in an Igbo population of Nigeria. One hundred male subjects aged 40 years and above, who gave their consent, were used for the study. Their PSA determinations were done using ELISA technique while genetic studies were carried out using real-time PCR. tPSA, fPSA, and % fPSA of the subjects ranged between 0.8% - 18.30%, 0.10% - 1.60% and 0.0% - 0.7% respectively. Of the 100 subjects, 28 subjects had tPSA levels above 4.0 ng/ml with a mean of 7.10 (±3.30) ng/ml. Those with tPSA less than 4 ng/ml had a mean of 1.87 (±0.85) ng/m. 15 subjects showed SNPs with a mean tPSA of 6.87 (±4.82) ng/ml while the remaining 85 subjects without SNPs had a mean of 1.86 (±0.80) ng/ml. Results from direct DNA sequencing showed 11 SNPs. Ten subjects are curated in SNP database while one is uncurated. The Chi-square test showed significant association (p = 0.00) between tPSA levels and SNPs mutation (X<sup>2</sup> = 17.35, p = 0.00). A Kruskal-Wallis test demonstrated that the positional arrangement of the SNP mutations had no effect on PSA-total or free-values (H (10) = 10.92, p = 0.28;H (10) = 10.07, p = 0.38 respectively). Two SNPs: rs6072 and rs74478031 were associated with elevated PSA levels (p < 0.05). Their presence, therefore, has the potential to serve, in conjunction with raised PSA, as biomarkers of prostate cancer in the study population.展开更多
OBJECTIVE To study the effect of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) on differentiation of rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) cells METHODS RD (human embryonal RMS cell line) cells, cultured in differentiation medium c...OBJECTIVE To study the effect of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) on differentiation of rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) cells METHODS RD (human embryonal RMS cell line) cells, cultured in differentiation medium containing 9-cis retinoic acid (9CRA), were treated with TGF-β1. Proliferation of the cells was examined by the MTT assay. The differentiation specific proteins (sarcomeric actin and MyHC) and myogenic transcription factors (MyoD1 and myogenin) in the RD cells were assessed by immunofluorescence staining. RESULTS Compared to control cells, treatment with lower concentrations of TGF-β1 (0.1 and 0.2 ng/ml) induced an increase in OD values after 4 d (P〈0.01), whereas higher concentrations of TGF-β1 (2 and 5 ng/ml) led to a reduction of cell viability (P〈0.01). After exposure to 9CRA, the viability of the cells decreased significantly (P〈0.01), while sarcomeric actin, MyHC and myogenin were induced. These changes were antagonized by TGF-β1 (0.1 ng/ml). No changes were observed in expression of MyoD1. CONCLUSION The RMS cells, derived from myogenic progenitors are committed to a myogenic fate, but are arrested in the differentiation course by the addition of TGF-β1 which represses some of the myogenic transcription factors.展开更多
Background: Breast cancer is the leading cause of death from cancer in women worldwide. It can be stratified by histological and immunopathological analysis as well as by molecular subtypes. Socioeconomic and cultural...Background: Breast cancer is the leading cause of death from cancer in women worldwide. It can be stratified by histological and immunopathological analysis as well as by molecular subtypes. Socioeconomic and cultural-mediated factors contribute to breast cancer heterogeneity and overall survivability. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the influence of socioeconomic profile on the uptake of immunohistochemistry (IHC) services among women with breast cancer attending tertiary health facilities in Imo State. Methodology: This descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among women with breast cancer in Imo State. The instrument for data collection used was a structured questionnaire constructed in line with the objectives of the study. A total of 121 respondents were selected randomly from a target study population of 891 using a systematic sampling technique. The software Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21 was used for data analysis. Results: The mean age of the 121 respondents in this study was 45.2 ± 0.7 years. Age and education levels of the respondents were found to significantly influence the utilization of IHC services (P Conclusion: In our study, the consumption of IHC services was influenced significantly by the respondents’ age and level of education. Consequently, public health awareness programmes centred on the importance of IHC services in the management of breast cancer should be encouraged, so as to reach the less educationally endowed and older women in order to save more lives.展开更多
OBJECTIVE To screen specific polypeptide target binding to breast cancer xenografts in vivo from a phage-displayed peptide library in order to provide peptide sequences for breast cancer tumor-targeting diagnosis and ...OBJECTIVE To screen specific polypeptide target binding to breast cancer xenografts in vivo from a phage-displayed peptide library in order to provide peptide sequences for breast cancer tumor-targeting diagnosis and therapy. METHODS A mouse model for carrying breast cancer xenografts was established using Tientsin Albinao Ⅱ mice (TA Ⅱ). A 12-peptide library was biopanned through 4 rounds. Phages were recovered and titrated from tumor xenografts and control tissue (liver). The distribution of phages was detected by immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS Phage homing to breast cancer was enriched through 4 rounds of biopanning, being 14-fold of that recovered from liver tissue. A peptide sequence, ASANPFPTKALL was characterized by randomly picked-up clones which appeared most frequently. Immunohistochemical staining revealed phage localization in cancer xenografts 40 min after injection of the enriched phages. When a specific phage was tested individually, the phage reclaimed from breast cancer xenografts was 14 times as those from control tissues. CONCLUSION Tumor-specific homing peptides may provide an effective tool for breast cancer target therapy. The in vivo phage display selection technique employed in this study was feasible and applicable to screening peptides that home to breast cells.展开更多
Autophagy is a lysosome-mediated degradation process for non-essential or damaged cellular constituents, playing an important homeostatic role in cell survival, differentiation and development to maintain homeostasis....Autophagy is a lysosome-mediated degradation process for non-essential or damaged cellular constituents, playing an important homeostatic role in cell survival, differentiation and development to maintain homeostasis. Autophagy is involved in tumors as well as neurodegenerative, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Recently, active compounds from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) have been found to modulate the levels of autophagy in tumor cells, nerve cells, myocardial cells and endothelial cells. Ischemic stroke is a major cause of neurological disability and places a heavy burden on family and society. Regaining function can significantly reduce dependence and improve the quality of life of stroke survivors. In healthy cells, autophagy plays a key role in adapting to nutritional deprivation and eliminating aggregated proteins, however inappropriate activation of autophagy may lead to cell death in cerebral ischemia. This paper reviews the process and the molecular basis of autophagy, as well as its roles in cerebral ischemia and the roles of TCM in modulating its activity.展开更多
Sugar beet root maggot (SBRM, Tetanops myopaeformis von R6der) is a major but poorly understood insect pest of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.). The molecular mecha- nisms underlying plant defense responses are well ...Sugar beet root maggot (SBRM, Tetanops myopaeformis von R6der) is a major but poorly understood insect pest of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.). The molecular mecha- nisms underlying plant defense responses are well documented, however, little information is available about complementary mechanisms for insect adaptive responses to overcome host resistance. To date, no studies have been published on SBRM gene expression pro- filing. Suppressive subtractive hybridization (SSH) generated more than 300 SBRM ESTs differentially expressed in the interaction of the pest with a moderately resistant (F1016) and a susceptible (F1010) sugar beet line. Blast2GO v. 3.2 search indicated that over 40% of the differentially expressed genes had known functions, primarily driven by fruit fly D. melanogaster genes. Expression patterns of 18 selected EST clones were confirmed by RT-PCR analysis. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis predicted a dominance of metabolic and catalytic genes involved in the interaction of SBRM with its host. SBRM genes function- ing during development, regulation, cellular process, signaling and under stress conditions were annotated. SBRM genes that were common or unique in response to resistant or susceptible interactions with the host were identified and their possible roles in insect responses to the host are discussed.展开更多
文摘Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)represents the primary carcinoma of the liver and the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths.The World Health Organization estimates an increase in cases in the coming years.The risk factors of HCC are multiple,and the incidence in different countries is closely related to the different risk factors to which the population is exposed.The molecular mechanisms that drive HCC tumorigenesis are extremely complex,but understanding this multistep process is essential for the identification of diagnostic,prognostic,and therapeutic markers.The development of multigenic nextgeneration sequencing panels through the parallel analysis of multiple markers can provide a landscape of the genomic status of the tumor.Considering the literature and our preliminary data based on 36 HCCs,the most frequently altered genes in HCCs are TERT,CTNNB1,and TP53.Over the years,many groups have attempted to classify HCCs on a molecular basis,but a univocal classification has never been achieved.Nevertheless,statistically significant correlations have been found in HCCs between the molecular signature and morphologic features,and this leads us to think that it would be desirable to integrate the approach between anatomic pathology and molecular laboratories.
文摘Genetic alterations in pancreatic tumors can usually be classified in:(1)Mutational activation of oncogenes;(2)Inactivation of tumor suppressor genes;and(3)Inactivation of genome maintenance genes controlling the repair of DNA damage.Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration has improved preoperative diagnosis,but the management of patients with a pancreatic lesion is still challenging.Molecular testing could help mainly in solving these“inconclusive”specimens.The introduction of multi-gene analysis approaches,such as next-generation sequencing,has provided a lot of useful information on the molecular characterization of pancreatic tumors.Different types of pancreatic tumors(e.g.,pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas,intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms,solid pseudopapillary tumors)are characterized by specific molecular alterations.The aim of this review is to summarize the main molecular alterations found in pancreatic tumors.
文摘Background: Breast cancer is a genetically and clinically heterogeneous disease with multiple subtypes. The classification of these subtypes has evolved over the years. The most common and widely accepted classification of breast cancer is from an immunohistochemical perspective, based on the expression of the following hormone receptors: Estrogen Receptor (ER), Progesterone Receptor (PR) and Human Epidermal Growth Factor (HER2). Accordingly, the following four subtypes of breast cancer are widely recognized—Luminal A, Luminal B, HER2 Enriched and Triple Negative. Breast cancer management approaches include surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and targeted hormone therapy necessitated by molecular subtyping. Aims: This study aimed to determine the level of adherence to breast cancer molecular subtyping among women with breast cancer attending tertiary health facilities in Imo State. Methodology: Immunohistochemistry reports of women with breast cancer attending tertiary health facilities in Imo State were retrieved from patient’s case files. Tissue blocks were also retrieved from tissue block archives of both hospitals for women who did not take up immunohistochemistry services after their initial diagnosis and also those whose immunohistochemistry reports were not found in their case files. Results: Among the 121 women that participated in the study, there were in all 74 (61.2%) had molecular subtyping of their tumour blocks. Up to 45 (37.2%) did not go for molecular subtyping of their tumour blocks while 2 (1.7%) were not sure whether they had or not. Conclusion: It, therefore, depicts that the rate of uptake was found as 61.2% among the participants and there is a need to create more awareness of the importance of molecular subtyping, which necessitates the use of targeted hormone therapy.
基金supported by the grants from the National High Technology Research and Development Program of China (2011AA10A206)the China Agriculture Research System (CARS-02)the Science and Technology Support Program of Hebei, China (12220301D)
文摘A total of 479 bacterial strains were isolated from brine (Bohai, Qinhuangdao City, Hebei Province, China). Bioassay results indicated that 4 strains named Hal, Hal7, Ha38, and Ha384 had herbicidal activity. And strain Hal had the highest effective herbicidal activity. As a result, this study aims to JdentJfy strain Hal, characterize its physiological and biological activities, evaluate the herbicidal activity of its metabolites, and develop a 'pesta' formulation and assess its effectiveness on Digitaria sanguinalis. Hal was identified as Serratia marcescens based on 16S rDNA sequencing. This strain has a flagellum, a diameter of 0.5 to 0.8 IJm, and a length of 0.9 to 2.0 IJm. The indole test shows positive results, and the catalase enzyme exhibits strong positive reactions. Results further showed that the inhibitory concentration (IC50) of the crude extracts to D. sanguinalis radicula and coleoptile were 3.332 and 2.828 mg mL-1, respectively. Both the suppression of D. sanguinalis and the cell viability of the Hal formulation in 'pesta' were higher when stored at 4℃ than at (25+2)℃. These results indi- cated that S. marcescens Hal can potentially be used as a biocontrol agent against D. sanguinalis.
基金supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Hebei Province,China(C2013204115)the Science and Technology Support of Hebei Province,China(C20121124001)
文摘Large amounts ofFlaveria bidentis's root culturing solution were obtained by using DFT (deep flow technique) equipment and these solution which was vacuum concentrated (10, 20 mg mL-~) can have a certain inhibition on Triticum aestivum, Cucumis sativus, Raphanus sativus, Amaranthus retroflexus, Setaria viridis, Chenopodium album, Echinochloa crusgalli and Chloris virgata. This outcome suggested some active compounds in the root exudates ofFIaveria bidentis can inhibit the germination, seedling elongation and root length. The dichloromethane extract of root exudates was identificated by GC-MS, and 29 kinds of compounds, including esters, hydrocarbons, ketones, thiazole, amines, etc. were obtained and the phthalate n-octyl ester, phthalate 2-ethylhexyl ester were proved to be allelochemicals. The culturing solution of root exudates was separated through the resin column and silica gel column and a component inhibiting seedling height, root length and fresh weight of wheat was got. There were 6 kinds of organic compounds in this component including dioctyl phthalate, 1,2-phthalate, mono(2-ethylhexyl) ester by GC-MS.
基金supported by grants from the National High Technology Research and Development Program of China (2011AA10A206)the Science and Technology Support Program of Hebei, China (20121124001)
文摘CB-4, a bacterial strain with highly effective herbicidal activity, was isolated from infected corn leaves. Through morphology, physiological and biochemical tests, and 16 S ribosomal DNA gene sequencing methods, CB-4 was identified as Pseudomonas aeruginosa. We conducted activity-evaluation experiments in the laboratory to assess the herbicidal potential of metabolites produced by strain CB-4. Crude extracts of strain CB-4 have high inhibition activity on Digitaria sanguinalis. In general, the root and shoot growth parameters of D. sanguinalis were significantly reduced by metabolites of strain CB-4. The IC50 of the culture filtrate extracts for the radicula and coleoptile of D. sanguinalis were 0.299 and 0.210 mg mL-1, respectively. Component 2 of the herbicidal activity of the crude toxin from strain CB-4 was successfully purified for the first time by using high-speed counter current chromatography with a two-phase solvent system composed of petroleum ether-ethyl acetate-methanol-water(4:5:4:5, v/v) and high-performance liquid chromatography. We concluded that the metabolites of strain CB-4 have the potential to be developed as a microbe-based herbicide.
基金supported by the Thailand Research Fund(BRG5780004, IRG5780009 and IRN58W0002)by a Research Chair Grant from the National Science and Technology Development Agency(NSTDA)supported by a Thai Royal Golden Jubilee Ph.D.Research Scholarship(PHD/0101/2553)
文摘Iron deficiency anemia and iron overload conditions affect more than one billion people worldwide.Iron homeostasis involves the regulation of cells that export iron into the plasma and cells that utilize or store iron.The cellular iron balance in humans is primarily mediated by the hepcidin-ferroportin axis.Ferroportin is the sole cellular iron export protein,and its expression is regulated transcriptionally,post-transcriptionally and posttranslationally.Hepcidin,a hormone produced by liver cells,post-translationally regulates ferroportin expression on iron exporting cells by binding with ferroportin and promoting its internalization by endocytosis and subsequent degradation by lysosomes.Dysregulation of iron homeostasis leading to iron deposition in vital organs is the main cause of death in betathalassemia patients.Beta-thalassemia patients show marked hepcidin suppression,ineffective eiythropoiesis,anemia and iron overload.Beta-thalassemia is common in the Mediterranean region,Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent,and the focus of this review is to provide an update on the factors mediating hepcidin related iron dysregulation in beta-thalassemia disease.Understanding this process may pave the way for new treatments to ameliorate iron overloading and improve the long term prognosis of these patients.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31171805 and 31371897)
文摘The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), a key signal transduction component in the MAPK cascade pathway, regulates a variety of physiological activities in eukaryotes. However, little is known of the role MAPK plays in phytopathogenic fungi. In this research, we cloned the MAPK gene STK1 from the northern corn leaf blight pathogen Setosphaeria turcica and found that the gene shared high homology with the high osmolality glycerol (HOG) MAPK gene HOG1 of Saccharomy- ces cerevisiae. In addition, gene knockout technology was employed to investigate the function of STKI. Gene knockout mutants (KOs) were found to have altered hyphae morphology and no conidiogenesis, though they did show similar radial growth rate compared to the wild-type strain (WT). Furthermore, microscope observations indicated that STK1 KOs did not form normal appressoria at 48 h post-inoculation on a hydrophobic surface. STK1 KOs had reduced virulence, a significantly altered Helminthosporium turcicum (HT)-toxin composition, and diminished pathogenicity on the leaves of susceptible inbred corn OH43. Mycelium morphology appeared to be significantly swollen and the radial growth rates of STK1 KOs declined in comparison with WT under high osmotic stress. These results suggested that STK1 affects the hyphae development, conidiogenesis, and pathogenicity of S. turcica by regulating appressorium development and HT-toxin biosynthesis. Moreover, the gene appears to be involved in the hypertonic stress response in S. turcica.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(30471126 and 31171805)
文摘Setosphaeria turcica,an essential phytopathogenic fungus,is the primary cause of serious yield losses in corn; however,its pathogenic mechanism is poorly understood.We cloned STK2,a newly discovered mitogen-activated protein kinase gene with a deduced amino acid sequence that is 96% identical to MAK2 from Phaeosphaeria nodorum,56% identical to KSS1 and 57% identical to FUS3 from Saccharomyces cerevisiae.To deduce Stk2 function in S.turcica and to identify the genetic relationship between STK2 and KSS1/FUS3 from S.cerevisiae,a restructured vector containing the open reading frame of STK2 was transformed into a fus3/kss1 double deletion mutant of S.cerevisiae.The results show that the STK2 complementary strain clearly formed pseudohyphae and ascospores,and the strain grew on the surface of the medium after rinsing with sterile water and the characteristics of the complementary strain was the same as the wild-type strain.Moreover,STK2 complemented the function of KSS1 in filamentation and invasive growth,as well as the mating behavior of FUS3 in S.cerevisiae,however,its exact functions in S.turcica will be studied in the future research.
基金supported by the grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32072370 and 31901827)the China Agriculture Research System of MOF and MARA(CARS-02-25)+1 种基金the Natural Science Foundation of Hebei Province,China(C2020204039 and C2018204059)the Projects of Overseas Foundation,Hebei Province,China(C20190508)。
文摘Setosphaeria turcica(syn.Exserohilum turcicum)is the pathogenic fungus of maize(Zea mays)that causes northern leaf blight,which is a major maize disease worldwide.Melanized appressoria are highly specialized infection structures formed by germinated conidia of S.turcica that infect maize leaves.The appressorium penetrates the plant cuticle by generating turgor,and glycerol is known to be the main source of the turgor.Here,the infection position penetrated by the appressorium on maize leaves was investigated,most of the germinated conidia entered the leaf interior by directly penetrating the epidermal cells,and the appressorium structure was necessary for the infection,whether it occurred through epidermal cells or stomata.Then,to investigate the effects of key factors in the development of the appressorium,we studied the effects of three inhibitors,including a melanin inhibitor(tricyclazole,TCZ),a DNA replication inhibitor(hydroxyurea,HU),and an autophagy inhibitor(3-methyladenine,3-MA),on appressorium turgor and glycerol content.As results,appressorium turgor pressure and glycerol concentration in the appressorium reached their highest levels at the mature stage of the appressorium under the control and inhibitor treatments.The three inhibitors had the greatest effects on appressorium turgor pressure at this stage.Glycogen and liposomes are the main substances producing glycerol.It was also found inhibitors affected the distribution of glycogen and liposomes,which were detected in the conidia,the germ tube,and the appressorium during appressorium development.This study provides profound insight into the relationship between appressorium turgor pressure and glycerol content,which was affected by the synthesis of melanin,DNA replication,and autophagy in the developing appressorium during a S.turcica infection.
基金supported by The National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT)Office of the Higher Education Commission and Chiang Mai University under the National Research Universities Initiative
文摘Objective: To generate insights into the mechanism of NVP induced hepatotoxicity. Methods: Liver(HepG2) cells were cultured with various concentrations of NVP. This cell line was chosen because it has low expression of cytochrome P450, allowing evaluation of the effects of NVP rather than specific metabolites. Cytotoxicity was determined using a proliferation assay and cell numbers were monitored using trypan blue exclusion assay for long term culture experiments and apoptosis induction was determined by morphological and biochemical investigation. Results: HepG2 cells treated with the highest concentration of NVP tested(819 μM) initially showed a rounded morphology and all cells had died by week three of exposure. Nuclear condensation and fragmentation, increased Annexin V/propidium iodide staining and caspase 9 activation all supported the induction of apoptosis in HepG2 cells in response to NVP treatment. Conclusions: There is a clear induction of apoptosis in response to NVP which suggests that NVP has significant cytotoxicity, over and above any cytotoxicity of metabolites and may contribute directly to patient hepatotoxicity.
基金supported by USDA ARS base fund and the research fund from Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission.
文摘The genotype-specific defense activation in the roots of perennial tree crops to soilborne necrotrophic pathogens remains largely unknown.A recent phenotyping study indicated that the apple rootstock genotypes B.9 and G.935 have contrasting resistance responses to infection by Pythium ultimum.In the current study,a comparative transcriptome analysis by Illumina Solexa HiSeq 3000 platform was carried out to identify the global transcriptional regulation networks between the susceptible B.9 and the resistant G.935 to P.ultimum infection.Thirty-six libraries were sequenced to cover three timepoints after pathogen inoculation,with three biological replicates for each sample.The transcriptomes in the roots of the susceptible genotype B.9 were reflected by overrepresented differentially expressed genes(DEGs)with downregulated patterns and systematic suppression of cellular processes at 48 h post inoculation(hpi).In contrast,DEGs with annotated functions,such as kinase receptors,MAPK signaling,JA biosynthesis enzymes,transcription factors,and transporters,were readily induced at 24 hpi and continued upregulation at 48 hpi in G.935 roots.The earlier and stronger defense activation is likely associated with an effective inhibition of necrosis progression in G.935 roots.Lack of effector-triggered immunity or existence of a susceptibility gene could contribute to the severely disturbed transcriptome and susceptibility in B.9 roots.The identified DEGs constitute a valuable resource for hypothesis-driven studies to elucidate the resistance/tolerance mechanisms in apple roots and validating their potential association with resistance traits.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31671992)the National Key R&D Program of China (2018YFD0201500)+2 种基金the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities of China (XDJK2018C032)the China Postdoctoral Fund (2018M633307)supported by the Agricultural Research Serves, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA ARS)
文摘Huanglongbing (HLB) is the most destructive disease of citrus and is associated with ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’(CLas), a member of the α-proteobacteria. Citrus tristeza virus (CTV) is another pathogen of citrus with very great historic as well as current importance. Both CLas and CTV are phloem-restricted pathogens. A severe CTV isolate, CTV-B6, and CLas-B232 induce a group of symptoms of phloem dysfunction that overlap, but the mild isolate CTV-B2 does not cause any loss to commercial trees. Prior inoculation and establishment of CLas-B232 did not affect subsequent establishment of either CTV-B2 or CTV-B6, while super infection by CLas-B232 was reduced by prior establishment of CTV-B2 and to a lesser extent by prior infection with CTV-B6. Trees co-infected with CTV-B6 and CLas-B232 developed more severe symptoms, typical of CTV-B6, than either of the two pathogens co-infected with CTV-B2. In this study, we confirmed that CLas established in the rootlets earlier and with higher concentration than in leaves. The distribution of CLas in the plant infected by CLas-B438 alone and with CTV-B2 fits a previously proposed model but CLas was more sporadically distributed in a plant co-infected by CLas and CTV-B2 than in a plant infected by CLas alone. These biological phenomena are aligned with previously analyzed transcriptome data and the study provides a novel idea that mild CTV strains may provide some protection against CLas by limiting its multiplication and spread. The protective effect may be due to opposite regulation of key host defense pathways in response to CTV-B2 and CLas-B438.
基金supported by CMU Short Term Research Fellowships in Overseasfunded by a Junior Researcher Fellowship 2013,Faculty of Science,Chiang Mai University, Thailand
文摘Objective:To investigate the impact of the endogamous marriage culture on the prevalence of the hemoglobin E(HbE) recessive variant.Methods:The prevalence of the hemoglobin E(HbE)recessive variant was determined by dot-blot hybridization in 4 endogamous villages(1 Mlabri and 3 Htin ethnic groups) in comparison with 9 other nearby non-endogamous populations.Results:Although the overall HbE prevalence in the population studied(8.44%,33/391)was not significantly different from that of the general southeast Asian population,a high prevalence and individuals with homozygous HbE were observed in two villages,the Mlabri from Wiang Sa district and the Htin from Thung Chang district of Nan province(26.3%and26.9%,respectively).The low HbE allelic frequency noticed in some endogamous populations suggests that not only endogamy but also other evolutionary forces,such as founder effect and HbE/β-thalassemia negative selection may have an effect on the distribution of the HbE trait.Conclusion:Our study strongly documents that cultural impact has to be considered in the extensive prevalence studies for genetic disorders in the ethnic groups of northern Thailand.
文摘The standard diagnostic modalities for Prostate Cancer (PC) include serum Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) assay, Digital Rectal Examination (DRE), and histological examination of prostate biopsy. They are limited by low predictive potential and inability to predict which patients are at risk of developing metastatic disease. The aim of this study is to investigate the exon 4 of the KLK2 gene of subjects for changes in its nucleotide sequences (SNPs) and determine the correlation of these changes with serum PSA in an Igbo population of Nigeria. One hundred male subjects aged 40 years and above, who gave their consent, were used for the study. Their PSA determinations were done using ELISA technique while genetic studies were carried out using real-time PCR. tPSA, fPSA, and % fPSA of the subjects ranged between 0.8% - 18.30%, 0.10% - 1.60% and 0.0% - 0.7% respectively. Of the 100 subjects, 28 subjects had tPSA levels above 4.0 ng/ml with a mean of 7.10 (±3.30) ng/ml. Those with tPSA less than 4 ng/ml had a mean of 1.87 (±0.85) ng/m. 15 subjects showed SNPs with a mean tPSA of 6.87 (±4.82) ng/ml while the remaining 85 subjects without SNPs had a mean of 1.86 (±0.80) ng/ml. Results from direct DNA sequencing showed 11 SNPs. Ten subjects are curated in SNP database while one is uncurated. The Chi-square test showed significant association (p = 0.00) between tPSA levels and SNPs mutation (X<sup>2</sup> = 17.35, p = 0.00). A Kruskal-Wallis test demonstrated that the positional arrangement of the SNP mutations had no effect on PSA-total or free-values (H (10) = 10.92, p = 0.28;H (10) = 10.07, p = 0.38 respectively). Two SNPs: rs6072 and rs74478031 were associated with elevated PSA levels (p < 0.05). Their presence, therefore, has the potential to serve, in conjunction with raised PSA, as biomarkers of prostate cancer in the study population.
文摘OBJECTIVE To study the effect of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) on differentiation of rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) cells METHODS RD (human embryonal RMS cell line) cells, cultured in differentiation medium containing 9-cis retinoic acid (9CRA), were treated with TGF-β1. Proliferation of the cells was examined by the MTT assay. The differentiation specific proteins (sarcomeric actin and MyHC) and myogenic transcription factors (MyoD1 and myogenin) in the RD cells were assessed by immunofluorescence staining. RESULTS Compared to control cells, treatment with lower concentrations of TGF-β1 (0.1 and 0.2 ng/ml) induced an increase in OD values after 4 d (P〈0.01), whereas higher concentrations of TGF-β1 (2 and 5 ng/ml) led to a reduction of cell viability (P〈0.01). After exposure to 9CRA, the viability of the cells decreased significantly (P〈0.01), while sarcomeric actin, MyHC and myogenin were induced. These changes were antagonized by TGF-β1 (0.1 ng/ml). No changes were observed in expression of MyoD1. CONCLUSION The RMS cells, derived from myogenic progenitors are committed to a myogenic fate, but are arrested in the differentiation course by the addition of TGF-β1 which represses some of the myogenic transcription factors.
文摘Background: Breast cancer is the leading cause of death from cancer in women worldwide. It can be stratified by histological and immunopathological analysis as well as by molecular subtypes. Socioeconomic and cultural-mediated factors contribute to breast cancer heterogeneity and overall survivability. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the influence of socioeconomic profile on the uptake of immunohistochemistry (IHC) services among women with breast cancer attending tertiary health facilities in Imo State. Methodology: This descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among women with breast cancer in Imo State. The instrument for data collection used was a structured questionnaire constructed in line with the objectives of the study. A total of 121 respondents were selected randomly from a target study population of 891 using a systematic sampling technique. The software Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21 was used for data analysis. Results: The mean age of the 121 respondents in this study was 45.2 ± 0.7 years. Age and education levels of the respondents were found to significantly influence the utilization of IHC services (P Conclusion: In our study, the consumption of IHC services was influenced significantly by the respondents’ age and level of education. Consequently, public health awareness programmes centred on the importance of IHC services in the management of breast cancer should be encouraged, so as to reach the less educationally endowed and older women in order to save more lives.
基金This work was supported by a grant from the Hi-Tech Research and Development Program of China(863)(No.2006AA02Z19C)
文摘OBJECTIVE To screen specific polypeptide target binding to breast cancer xenografts in vivo from a phage-displayed peptide library in order to provide peptide sequences for breast cancer tumor-targeting diagnosis and therapy. METHODS A mouse model for carrying breast cancer xenografts was established using Tientsin Albinao Ⅱ mice (TA Ⅱ). A 12-peptide library was biopanned through 4 rounds. Phages were recovered and titrated from tumor xenografts and control tissue (liver). The distribution of phages was detected by immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS Phage homing to breast cancer was enriched through 4 rounds of biopanning, being 14-fold of that recovered from liver tissue. A peptide sequence, ASANPFPTKALL was characterized by randomly picked-up clones which appeared most frequently. Immunohistochemical staining revealed phage localization in cancer xenografts 40 min after injection of the enriched phages. When a specific phage was tested individually, the phage reclaimed from breast cancer xenografts was 14 times as those from control tissues. CONCLUSION Tumor-specific homing peptides may provide an effective tool for breast cancer target therapy. The in vivo phage display selection technique employed in this study was feasible and applicable to screening peptides that home to breast cells.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81102557)the Aid Project for Innovation Platform Open Fund of Hunan Province University (No. 14K068)+4 种基金the Key Project of Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Hunan Province (No. 201301, No. 201508)General Project of Science and Technology Department of Hunan Province (No. 2014SK3001)the Ministry of Education Key Laboratory Open Fund Established by the Province and the Ministry (No. ZYNK201405)the Aid Program for Science and Technology Innovative Research Team in Higher Educational Institutions of Hunan Provincethe Hunan Province Natural Science Innovation Group
文摘Autophagy is a lysosome-mediated degradation process for non-essential or damaged cellular constituents, playing an important homeostatic role in cell survival, differentiation and development to maintain homeostasis. Autophagy is involved in tumors as well as neurodegenerative, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Recently, active compounds from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) have been found to modulate the levels of autophagy in tumor cells, nerve cells, myocardial cells and endothelial cells. Ischemic stroke is a major cause of neurological disability and places a heavy burden on family and society. Regaining function can significantly reduce dependence and improve the quality of life of stroke survivors. In healthy cells, autophagy plays a key role in adapting to nutritional deprivation and eliminating aggregated proteins, however inappropriate activation of autophagy may lead to cell death in cerebral ischemia. This paper reviews the process and the molecular basis of autophagy, as well as its roles in cerebral ischemia and the roles of TCM in modulating its activity.
文摘Sugar beet root maggot (SBRM, Tetanops myopaeformis von R6der) is a major but poorly understood insect pest of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.). The molecular mecha- nisms underlying plant defense responses are well documented, however, little information is available about complementary mechanisms for insect adaptive responses to overcome host resistance. To date, no studies have been published on SBRM gene expression pro- filing. Suppressive subtractive hybridization (SSH) generated more than 300 SBRM ESTs differentially expressed in the interaction of the pest with a moderately resistant (F1016) and a susceptible (F1010) sugar beet line. Blast2GO v. 3.2 search indicated that over 40% of the differentially expressed genes had known functions, primarily driven by fruit fly D. melanogaster genes. Expression patterns of 18 selected EST clones were confirmed by RT-PCR analysis. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis predicted a dominance of metabolic and catalytic genes involved in the interaction of SBRM with its host. SBRM genes function- ing during development, regulation, cellular process, signaling and under stress conditions were annotated. SBRM genes that were common or unique in response to resistant or susceptible interactions with the host were identified and their possible roles in insect responses to the host are discussed.