Biomarkers and potential pathogenesis of colorectal cancer-related ischemic stroke

AIM To investigate the specific biomarkers and potential pathogenesis of colorectal cancer-related ischemic stroke(CRCIS).METHODS A retrospective study was conducted on CRCIS patients(colorectal cancer patients with ischemic stroke without conventional stroke risk factors) registered at seven centers between January 2007 and December 2017. Clinical data and laboratory and imaging findings were compared with age-and sex-matched patients with colorectal cancer(CRC) without ischemic stroke that were admitted to the same hospital during the same period. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to analyze the independent risk factors for CRCIS. A receiver operator characteristic curve was configured to calculate the optimal cut-off value of the products of the independent risk factors for CRCIS. RESULTS A total of 114 CRCIS patients and 114 CRC patients were included. Multiple lesions in multiple vascular territories were common in CRCIS patients(71, 62.28%). The levels of plasma D-dimer, carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA), cancer antigen 125, and neutrophil count were significantly higher in CRCIS patients than in CRC patients. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that plasma D-dimer levels [odds ratio(OR) = 1.002, 95% confidence interval(CI): 1.001-1.003, P < 0.001], CEA levels(OR = 1.011, 95%CI: 1.006-1.015, P < 0.001), and neutrophil count levels(OR = 1.626, 95%CI: 1.268-2.087, P < 0.001) were independent risk factors for CRCIS. In addition, receiver operator characteristic curve revealed that the area under curve for the products of plasma D-dimer, CEA, and neutrophil count was 0.889 ± 0.022(95%CI: 0.847-0.932, P < 0.001), and the optimal cut-off value for the product was 252.06, which was called the CRCIS Index, with a sensitivity of 86.0% and specificity of 79.8%.CONCLUSION Hypercoagulability induced by elevated CEA and neutrophils may be an important cause of CRCIS. The CRCIS index, which serves as a biomarker of CRCIS, needs further study.

Structurally Diverse Sesquiterpenoids with Anti-neuroinflammatory Activity from the Endolichenic Fungus Cryptomarasmius aucubae

Two new sterpurane sesquiterpenoids named sterpurol D(1)and sterpurol E(2),and one skeletally new sesquiterpene,cryptomaraone(3),bearing a 5,6-fused bicyclic ring system,along with five known ones,sterpurol A(4),sterpurol B(5),paneolilludinic Acid(6),murolane-2α,9β-diol-3-ene(7)and(-)-10,11-dihydroxyfarnesol(8)were isolated from an endolichenic fungus Cryptomarasmius aucubae.The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by analysis of NMR spectroscopic spectra and HRESIMS data.The absolute configurations of 1 and 2 were established by spectroscopic data analysis and comparison of specific optical rotation,as well as the biosynthetic consideration.Additionally,compounds 1,2,4-6,and 8 showed significant nitric oxide(NO)production inhibition in Lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced BV-2 microglial cells with the IC50 values ranging from 9.06 to 14.81μM.

A new partnership for an impactful future

Starting from this issue(January,2016),SCIENCE CHINA Life Sciences(SCLS)and The Chinese Biological Investigators Society(CBIS)will embark on a partnership with the goal of making SCLS a highly impactful journal in advancing research in life sciences.

MD simulation of high-resolution X-ray structures reveals post-translational modification dependent conformational changes in HSF-DNA interaction

Dear Editor, Heat shock factors （HSFs） constitute a transcription factor family playing regulatory roles in maintaining cellular protein homeostasis or mediating cell differentiation and develop- ment （Akerfelt et al., 2010, Bjork and Sistonen 2010, Westerheide et al., 2012）. Some human diseases such as cancer and neurodegeneration are often linked with mal- function of HSFs （Dai et al., 2007, Neef et al., 2011, Scherz- Shouval et al., 2014）. The human HSF family consists four members： HSF1-4, which exhibit tissue-specific expression profiles and possess unique but overlapping functions. HSF1 is the major regulator of the heat shock response.