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Chemosphere 2018 Nov 26;219:510-516. Epub 2018 Nov 26.

State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Key Laboratory of Soil Contamination Bioremediation of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang A & F University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 311300, PR China.

Pot experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of wood biochar (5%), bamboo biochar (5%), rice straw biochar (5%) and Chinese walnut shell biochar (5%) on growth, accumulation of heavy metals in moso bamboo, soil physical properties, and solubility of heavy metals in soil. The results revealed that dry weight of moso bamboo was significantly increased in treatments of wood biochar (5%), rice straw biochar (5%) and Chinese walnut shell biochar (5%) except bamboo biochar (5%). Application of straw biochar (5%) was most effective in enhancing plants biomass, with increase of 157%, 113% and 111% in leaves, roots and stems of moso bamboo. Read More

J Mech Behav Biomed Mater 2018 Dec 4;91:99-108. Epub 2018 Dec 4.

Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA; Institut fuer Struktur- und Funktionskeramik, Montanuniversitaet Leoben, Leoben 8700, Austria. Electronic address:

Micro-surgical instruments are a new application for mesoscale ceramics formed using the lost mold-rapid infiltration forming (LM-RIF) process. Instrument strength and reliability are the foremost concerns for this sensitive application. It is hypothesized that increasing grain size can improve the damage tolerance of the parts associated with the transformation toughening in the 3Y-TZP material, while retaining high strength. Read More

Biomed Pharmacother 2018 Dec 12;110:685-691. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Department of Cardiology, Chongqing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chongqing 400021, PR China. Electronic address:

Objective: Salvanic Acid B (Sal B) was proved to show significant effect against fibrosis and myocardial injury. This study aimed to investigate the protective effects and the mechanisms of Sal B on myocardial fibrosis.

Methods: The mice were randomly assigned to five groups: control group, model group, positive group, low-dose group, high-dose group. Read More

Biomed Pharmacother 2018 Dec 12;110:667-676. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, P.O. Box 35, Al Khod, 123, Oman.

We assessed the effect of treatment with the dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor, sitagliptin, on adenine-induced chronic kidney disease (CKD). Six equal groups of rats were given either normal food or food mixed with adenine (0.25% w/w for five weeks) to induce CKD. Read More

Micron 2018 Nov 23;118:9-21. Epub 2018 Nov 23.

Biomedical Research Institute, National Institute of Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Higashi 1-1-1, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8566, Japan. Electronic address:

Neural networking, including axon targeting and synapse formation, is the basis of various brain functions, including memory and learning. Diabetes-mellitus affects peripheral nerves and is known to cause fatty liver disease. Electron microscopy (EM) provides the resolution required to observe changes in fine subcellular structures caused by such physiological and pathological processes, but samples are observed in vacuum. Read More

Int J Food Microbiol 2018 Dec 7;292:13-20. Epub 2018 Dec 7.

University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), Department of Agrobiotechnology (IFA-Tulln), Center for Analytical Chemistry, Konrad-Lorenz-Str. 20, 3430 Tulln, Austria.

Estimations of consumer exposure to mycotoxins through surveillance of mycotoxins in the food trade are well described, but the exposure due to mouldy food in private homes is not known, and may result from removing visible mould on food and eating the rest. In this study, we followed the growth of Penicillium expansum on the surface of apple jam and Penicillium verrucosum on crème fraiche, as well as production and distribution of fungal metabolites throughout the sample (approx. 6 cm high divided into three equal layers), using a multianalyte method, over time (up to 28 days) and at 4, 8 and 15 °C. Read More

Differentiation 2018 Dec 5;105:14-26. Epub 2018 Dec 5.

Department of Research, IRCCS-ISMETT, Palermo, Italy.

We isolated a population of proliferating cells from cultured human fetal hepatocytes of 16-22 weeks gestational age. The cells shared a similar phenotype to that of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) according to the International Society for Cellular Therapy (ISCT), including plastic adherence, antigen expression profile, and in vitro multilineage differentiation potential. Fetal liver (FL)-MSCs expressed the albumin gene, and harbored a subpopulation of CK18 cells (20-40%), which defined their hepatic origin. Read More

Addict Behav 2018 Dec 7;90:421-427. Epub 2018 Dec 7.

Research Institute on Addictions, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, United States. Electronic address:

Associations between anxiety, depression and adolescent Internet addiction have been well documented in the literature; however, few published studies have examined these relationships considering the developmental trajectory courses of adolescent Internet addiction as well as the individual differences over time. Using a sample of 1545 Chinese adolescents and 3 waves of data over six months, we examined the longitudinal associations between anxiety and depression and Internet addiction, considering sex and obesity. We used latent growth curve modeling (LGCM) to examine the overall conditions of Internet addiction, and latent class growth modeling (LCGM) to determine adolescent developmental membership for Internet addiction. Read More

Eur J Med Chem 2018 Dec 7;163:500-511. Epub 2018 Dec 7.

School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, PR China. Electronic address:

Three series of new homoserine lactone analogs were efficiently synthesized starting from methionine and further evaluated for their antiproliferative activity against different cancer cell lines. Among these compounds, some of the chalcone containing compounds 6a-n showed acceptable antiproliferative activity against prostate cancer cells DU145 and PC-3 with the IC values less than 10 μM. Compounds 6c, 6e and 6h inhibited growth of DU145 and PC-3 cells at low micromolar levels with the IC values ranging from 3. Read More

Plant Physiol Biochem 2018 Dec 7;135:167-173. Epub 2018 Dec 7.

Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Stress, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, 250014, China. Electronic address:

Chilling stress is a critical environmental factor that limits plant growth, yield and distribution. Maize (Zea mays L.) is an important food and forage crop, and industrial raw material, in China. Read More

Plant Physiol Biochem 2018 Dec 10;135:160-166. Epub 2018 Dec 10.

Department of Horticultural Sciences and Center for Coffee Research & Education, Texas A&M University, TAMU 2133, College Station, TX, 77843, USA.

A greenhouse study comparing the physiological responses and uptake of coffee (Coffea arabica L.) plants to foliar applications of zinc sulfate (ZnSO) and zinc nano-fertilizer (ZnO NPs) was conducted with the aim to understand their effects on plant physiology. One-year old coffee plants were grown in greenhouse conditions and treated with two foliar applications of 10 mg/L of Zn as either zinc sulfate monohydrate (ZnSO ‧ HO) or zinc oxide nanoparticle (ZnO NPs 20% w/t) and compared to untreated control plants over the course of 45 days. Read More

Biosens Bioelectron 2018 Dec 7;126:734-742. Epub 2018 Dec 7.

College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450000, PR China. Electronic address:

A porphyrin-based covalent organic framework (denoted as p-COF) was synthesized by a simple oil-bath method and exploited as a novel sensing layer for immobilizing epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-targeting aptamer strands to detect trace EGFR and living michigan cancer foundation-7 (MCF-7) cells for the first time. p-COF presented a nanosheet-like structure, large cavities, rich nitrogen-bearing groups, high electrochemical activity, excellent bioaffinity, low toxicity, and good stability in aqueous solution; the microstructural features of this material enabled strong immobilization of the aptamer strands. Interactions between the aptamer strands and EGFR significantly changed the electrochemical signals of the modified electrode due to the formation of an aptamer-EGFR complex. Read More

Eur J Pharm Sci 2018 Dec 12. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center and Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu 610041, PR China. Electronic address:

Tannic acid, a hydrolysable tannin, exists commonly in food plants. Tannic acid has already been shown various anticancer mechanisms such as inhibiting the proliferation, inducing a higher apoptotic rate and slowing down the metastasis of different cancers. Moreover, tannic acid was reported to reduce the side effects caused by chemotherapeutics on patients. Read More

Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Biol Lipids 2018 Dec 12. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Key Laboratory of Aquatic Nutrition and Feed Science of Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, No. 1 Weigang Road, Nanjing 210095, People's Republic of China. Electronic address:

This study was conducted to understand the effect of high-fat diet challenge on lipid transport and endoplasmic reticulum stress in blunt snout bream. Ninety fish (average weight: 41.84 ± 0. Read More

J Gynecol Obstet Hum Reprod 2018 Dec 12. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical Faculty, Akdeniz University, 07070, Antalya, Turkey. Electronic address:

Objective: The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway has newly been recommended to be a nutrient sensor in the placenta. It is speculated that mTORC1 may be activated in diabetes, associated with increased placental nutrient availability. Thus, we aimed to investigate the mTOR signaling pathway both in diabetic and non-diabetic placenta and searched for the alterations of angiogenic factors VEGF, VEGFR1 and VEGFR2. Read More

Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2018 Dec 12. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Division of Cell Biology, Histology and Embryology, Gottfried Schatz Research Center, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria. Electronic address:

Although massive efforts have been undertaken to elucidate the etiology of the pregnancy syndrome preeclampsia, its developmental origin remains a mystery. Most efforts of the last decade have focused on biomarkers to predict and/or diagnose preeclampsia, including the anti-angiogenic factor sFlt-1 (soluble fms-like tyrosin kinase-1), the angiogenic factor PGF (placental growth factor) and PP13 (placental protein 13). The origins of these marker proteins are still under debate, and so far their actions have only been describe separate from each other. Read More

Gene 2018 Dec 12. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Wenzhou Medical University School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou 325000, China. Electronic address:

Wnt signaling pathway plays a major role in the progression of colorectal cancer (CRC). Small molecules which can cut off this signal transduction can be promising anti-cancer drugs for CRC therapy. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the mechanisms of FH535, an inhibitor of the Wnt signaling pathway, on inhibiting proliferation and migration of colorectal cancer cells DLD-1 and SW620. Read More

Eur J Pharm Biopharm 2018 Dec 12. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

nstitute of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Tainan, Taiwan. Electronic address:

Thrombomodulin (TM) is a type-I transmembrane glycoprotein expressed on the surfaces of endothelial cells and epidermal keratinocytes. It is known to regulate blood coagulation, inflammation, and cell-cell adhesion. A recombinant TM, which contains an epidermal growth factor - like domain and serine/threonine-riches domain, has been demonstrated to stimulate cell proliferation and migration of keratinocytes and wound healing. Read More

J Microbiol Methods 2018 Dec 12. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, 2066 Seoburo, Jangan-gu, Suwon, Gyeonggido 16419, Republic of Korea. Electronic address:

The biosynthesis of nanomaterials is a huge and intensifying field of research due to their application in various areas, in particular the biomedical and pharmaceutical fields. In this review, we focused on the biosynthesis of both metallic and semiconductor nanomaterials and their application in biomedicine and pharmaceutics. In order to meet an exponentially increasing need for nanostructured materials, the biological route for the synthesis of nanomaterials will have to be explored, offering advantages over chemical and physical methods as a simpler, more cost effective, and environmentally friendly method, and for which there is no need to use high pressure and temperatures or toxic chemicals. Read More

Neurosci Lett 2018 Dec 12. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Applied Biophotonics Research Center, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address:

The production of dopaminergic (DA) neurons from stem cells holds a great promise for future clinical treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's disease (PD). Olfactory ecto-mesenchymal stem cells (OE-MSCs) derived from the adult human olfactory mucosa can be easily isolated and expanded in culture while maintaining their immense plasticity. In addition to reduced ethical concerns, OE-MSCs could be transplanted across allogeneic barriers, making them desirable stem cells for clinical applications. Read More

J Dent 2018 Dec 12. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Department of Advanced Oral Sciences and Therapeutics, University of Maryland School of Dentistry, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; Center for Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA. Electronic address:

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to: (1) develop a novel multifunctional composite with nanoparticles of silver (NAg), 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC), dimethylaminohexadecyl methacrylate (DMAHDM) and nanoparticles of amorphous calcium phosphate (NACP); and (2) investigate biofilm-inhibition via the multifunctional nanocomposite against three species of periodontal pathogens for the first time.

Methods: The multifunctional nanocomposite was fabricated by incorporating NAg, MPC, DMAHDM and NACP into the resin consisting of pyromellitic glycerol dimethacrylate (PMDGDM) and ethoxylated bisphenol A dimethacrylate (EBPADMA). Three species (Porphyromonas gingivalis, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans and Fusobacterium nucleatum) were tested for metabolic activity (MTT), live/dead staining, polysaccharide production and colony-forming units (CFU) of biofilms grown on resins. Read More

Int J Biol Macromol 2018 Dec 12. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

National Wolfberry Engineering Research Center, Yinchuan 750002, People's Republic of China. Electronic address:

In the present study, the digestion under simulated saliva, gastric and small intestinal conditions and in vitro fermentation by human gut microbiota of Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBPS) were investigated. As a result, LBPS contained carbohydrates, uronic acids, protein and polyphenols of 60.96 ± 5. Read More

Int J Biol Macromol 2018 Dec 12. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Department of Biotechnology, Science Block, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, J&K 190006, India. Electronic address:

The cap dependent translation initiation is a tightly controlled process of cooperative ternary complex formation by 4E-BP1, eIF4E and the 5' cap of eukaryotic mRNA in response to environmental cues like glucose, nutrients and growth factor levels. Based on the well-described effects of mTORC1/rapamycin complex on 4E-BP1 phosphorylation/s, it is generally accepted that rapamycin is a global inhibitor of cap-dependent translation. We have previously shown that 4E-BP1 resistance to rapamycin was overcome by the stoichiometric abundance of S6K1. Read More

Biosystems 2018 Dec 12. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Institute of Mathematics and Physics, UTP University of Science and Technology, Al. Prof. S. Kaliskiego 7, 85-796 Bydgoszcz, Poland. Electronic address:

Gallstone disease and in particular its cholesterol type is one of the most common diseases of the digestive system. More than 10% of the population is affected by this disease and in the case of Native Indians of Peru and Chile this rate reaches as much as 100%. While the disease is well-researched from a medical point of view, the two-step mechanism of formation of gallstones is not well studied. Read More

Front Neuroendocrinol 2018 Dec 12. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

MTA-ELTE Laboratory of Molecular and Systems Neurobiology, Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, Hungarian Academy of Sciences and Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary; Laboratory of Neuromorphology, Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary; Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary. Electronic address:

Our knowledge on the bioavailability and actions of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) has markedly expanded in recent years as novel mechanisms were discovered on IGF binding proteins (IGFBPs) and their ability to release IGF-1. The new discoveries allowed a better understanding of the endogenous physiological actions of IGF-1 and also its applicability in therapeutics. The focus of the present review is to summarize novel findings on the neuronal, neuroendocrine and neuroplastic actions of IGF-1 in the adult brain. Read More

Am J Ophthalmol 2018 Dec 12. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Department of Ophthalmology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Restoration of Damaged Ocular Nerve, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, 100191, China. Electronic address:

Purpose: To enhance the understanding of dry eye (DE) in diabetes by evaluating the ocular surface characteristics and the levels of tear inflammatory cytokines.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Methods: Subjects were divided into four groups: 32 patients in diabetes with DE group; 24 patients in diabetes without DE group; 28 patients in non-diabetes with DE group and 29 volunteers in normal group. Read More

Ann Thorac Surg 2018 Dec 12. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Department of Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL; Division of Cardiovascular-Thoracic Surgery, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL. Electronic address:

Background: The pedicled greater omentum has been shown to offer benefit in ischemic heart disease for both animal models and human patients. The impact of cardio-omentopexy in a pressure overload model of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is unknown.

Methods: LVH was created in rats by banding the ascending aorta after right thoracotomy (n=23). Read More

Arch Biochem Biophys 2018 Dec 12. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Laboratório de Biotecnologia Marinha - BioMar-Lab, Departamento de Engenharia de Pesca, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Campus do Pici s/n, bloco 871, 60440-970, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil. Electronic address:

A new mucin-binding lectin (AFL) was isolated from the marine sponge Aplysina fulva. AFL was purified by affinity chromatography on Sepharose™ matrix. Its hemagglutinating activity was independent of divalent ions, and it was weakly inhibited by simple sugars. Read More

Head Neck 2018 Dec 15. Epub 2018 Dec 15.

Department of Comprehensive Cancer Care, Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute, Brno, Czech Republic.

Background: Progress in radiation treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) deserves the studies focused on molecular predictors that would help to enhance individually tailored treatment.

Methods: p16/epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)/cluster of differentiation-44 (CD44) was immunohistochemically analyzed in 165 HNSCC patients.

Results: In the entire group and the p16 negative cohort, better 3-year overall survival and locoregional control correlated with p16 positivity, CD44, and EGFR negativity were observed. Read More

J Appl Microbiol 2018 Dec 15. Epub 2018 Dec 15.

Jimei University, Xiamen, 361021, China.

Aims: The aim of this study was to determine the intestinal microflora of Anguilla marmorata at different growth rates and to identify potential probiotic/pernicious bacteria.

Methods And Results: Bacterial communities from 8 different fish intestinal sites (including the intestinal contents and the intestinal mucosa) from three fish groups (3 fast-, 2 medium-, and 3 stunted-growth samples), 2 water samples, and 1 diet sample were characterized by Illumina next-generation sequencing. The data revealed that the predominant genera (relative abundance of bacteria genera >1%) in the intestine of fast- and medium-growth groups were Cetobacterium, Edwardsiella, Clostridium, Lactococcus, Bacteroides, Plesiomonas, and Akkermansia. Read More

Chemphyschem 2018 Dec 15. Epub 2018 Dec 15.

South China University of Technology, Department of Physics, 381 Wushan Rd., 510640, Guangzhou, CHINA.

Long term stability remains one of the main challenges for the commercialization of rapidly developing hybrid organic-inorganic perovskite solar cells. Herein, we investigate the electronic and optical properties of a recently reported a much better stability hybrid halide perovskite (CH2)2NH2PbI3 (AZPbI3) than popular halide perovskits CH3NH3PbI3 and HC(NH2)2PbI3, using the density functional theory (DFT). We find that AZPbI3 possesses a band gap of 1. Read More

Head Neck 2018 Dec 15. Epub 2018 Dec 15.

Laboratory of Radiobiology and Experimental Radiation Oncology, Hubertus Wald Tumorzentrum-University Cancer Center Hamburg, Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany.

Background: The multi-kinase inhibitor sorafenib displays antitumoral effects in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC); however, the targeted kinases are unknown. Here we aimed to identify those kinases to determine the mechanism of sorafenib-mediated effects and establish candidate biomarkers for patient stratification.

Methods: The effects of sorafenib and MET inhibitors crizotinib and SU11274 were analyzed using a slide-based antibody array, Western blotting, proliferation, and survival assays. Read More

FEBS J 2018 Dec 15. Epub 2018 Dec 15.

Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Catania School of Medicine, Catania, Italy.

Tumor Necrosis Factor Related Apoptosis Inducing Ligand (TRAIL), a cytokine belonging to the TNF superfamily, is regarded as a mediator of neurotoxicity. The constitutively expressed ion exchanger NCX3 has been shown to protect neurons from injury. Its expression is induced by Nerve growth factor (NGF) through activation of its tyrosine kinase receptor trkA. Read More

Plant J 2018 Dec 15. Epub 2018 Dec 15.

Key Laboratory of Potato Biology and Biotechnology, Ministry of Agriculture and Countryside, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, China.

The transition to tuberization contributes greatly to the adaptability of potato to a wide range of environments. Phytochromes are important light receptors for the growth and development of plants, but the detailed functions of Phytochromes remain unclear in potato. In this study, we first confirmed that phytochrome F (StPHYF) played essential roles in photoperiodic tuberization in potato. Read More

J Sci Food Agric 2018 Dec 15. Epub 2018 Dec 15.

School of Food & Biological Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212003, China.

Background: To evaluate the feasibility of high-temperature solid-state fermentation using soybean meal (SBM) during the non-sterile process, Bacillus stearothermophilus was employed to assess the nutritional quality and bioactivity of SBM after fermentation.

Results: The fermented SBM (FSBM) without autoclaving showed significant improvements in nutritional quality and bioactivity. The contents of peptides and, crude and soluble proteins increased by 131. Read More

New Phytol 2018 Dec 15. Epub 2018 Dec 15.

Pacific Southwest Research Station, USDA Forest Service, Davis, CA, 95618.

Secondary growth from a vascular cambium, present today only in seed plants and isoetalean lycophytes, has a 400-million-year evolutionary history that involves considerably broader taxonomic diversity, most of it hidden in the fossil record. Approaching vascular cambial growth as a complex developmental process, we review data from living plants and fossils that reveal diverse modes of secondary growth. These are consistent with a modular nature of secondary growth, when considered as a tracheophyte-wide structural feature. Read More

J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl) 2018 Dec 14. Epub 2018 Dec 14.

School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland.

A 2 × 2 factorial experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of feeding a wheat-based diet of two different hectolitre weights (66 vs. 74 kg/hl), achieved through different agronomical conditions, with or without the supplementation of a β-glucanase and β-xylanase enzyme mix on young pigs. The parameter categories which were assessed included growth performance, coefficient of apparent total tract digestibility (CATTD), faecal consistency, faecal microbial populations and faecal volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations. Read More

J Cell Biochem 2018 Dec 14. Epub 2018 Dec 14.

Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.

Osteosarcoma (OS) is the primary malignant bone tumor with a peak incidence in children and adolescents. However, the little molecular mechanism of pathogenesis has been known and it is urgent to develop new therapeutical strategies to improve outcomes for patients. CDDO-NFM (N-formylmorpholine substituent of CDDO) is a newly synthesized triterpenoid, which is a derivative of oleanolic acid. Read More

J Cutan Pathol 2018 Dec 14. Epub 2018 Dec 14.

Department of Dermatology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA.

Background: BRAF inhibition has improved overall survival in patients with BRAF mutant melanoma but this is associated with a range of known and predictable cutaneous side effects, including squamous cell carcinomas associated with RAS mutations.

Methods: We identified three severely dysplastic nevi, one atypical intraepidermal melanocytic proliferation, and four melanoma in situ lesions, newly arising in four patients undergoing treatment with vemurafenib. To characterize mutations in these atypical melanocytic lesions, we used a custom iPlex panel detecting 74 mutations in 13 genes known to play a role in melanoma pathogenesis. Read More

J Cell Biochem 2018 Dec 14. Epub 2018 Dec 14.

Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China.

Abnormal proliferation and migration of airway smooth muscle cells (ASMCs) have been found to be important for the airway remodeling during the pathogenesis of asthma. Salidroside a bioactive glucoside that exerts antitumor activity via inhibiting the cell proliferation and migration of cancer cells. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the effects of salidroside on the proliferation and migration of ASMCs. Read More

Physiol Plant 2018 Dec 15. Epub 2018 Dec 15.

UNESP-Universidade Estadual Paulista, Faculdade de Ciências Agrarias e Veterinárias -FCAV, Departamento de Biologia Aplicada a Agropecuária (DBAA), 14884-900 Jaboticabal São Paulo, Brazil.

Agricultural activities are affected by many biotic and abiotic stresses associated with global climate change. Predicting the response of plants to abiotic stress under future climate scenarios requires an understanding of plant biochemical performance in simulated stress conditions. In this study the antioxidant response of Panicum maximum Jacq. Read More

Am J Bot 2018 Dec 14. Epub 2018 Dec 14.

Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Benátská 2, CZ-128 01, Prague, Czech Republic.

Premise Of The Study: Genome duplication is associated with multiple changes at different levels, including interactions with pollinators and herbivores. Yet little is known whether polyploidy may also shape belowground interactions.

Methods: To elucidate potential ploidy-specific interactions with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), we compared mycorrhizal colonization and assembly of AMF communities in roots of diploid and tetraploid Centaurea stoebe s. Read More

Front Med 2018 Dec 14;12(6):726-734. Epub 2018 Dec 14.

State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China.

Bromodomain-containing 4 (BRD4) has been considered as an important requirement for disease maintenance and an attractive therapeutic target for cancer therapy. This protein can be targeted by JQ1, a selective small-molecule inhibitor. However, few studies have investigated whether BRD4 influenced acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), and whether BRD4 had interaction with promyelocytic leukemia-retinoic acid receptor α (PML/RARα) fusion protein to some extent. Read More

Neurotox Res 2018 Dec 15. Epub 2018 Dec 15.

Department of Laboratory Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chonbuk National University, 79 Gobongro, Iksan, 54596, Republic of Korea.

Prion protein peptide (PrP) has been associated with neurotoxicity in brain cells and progression of prion diseases due to spongiform degeneration and accumulation of the infectious scrapie prion protein (PrP). Autophagy has been shown to provide protective functions for neurodegenerative diseases, including prion disease. Thymosin beta 4 (Tβ) plays a key role in the nervous system, providing a neuronal growth effect that includes motility, neurite outgrowth, and proliferation. Read More

Bull Math Biol 2018 Dec 14. Epub 2018 Dec 14.

Department of Mathematics, University of California, Riverside, USA.

One of the central problems in animal and plant developmental biology is deciphering how chemical and mechanical signals interact within a tissue to produce organs of defined size, shape, and function. Cell walls in plants impose a unique constraint on cell expansion since cells are under turgor pressure and do not move relative to one another. Cell wall extensibility and constantly changing distribution of stress on the wall are mechanical properties that vary between individual cells and contribute to rates of expansion and orientation of cell division. Read More

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2018 Dec 14. Epub 2018 Dec 14.

Laboratory of Metabolomics and Isotope Analyses, Global Change Research Institute, Czech Academy of Sciences, Bělidla 986/4a, 603 00, Brno, Czech Republic.

Early stages of ontogenesis determining subsequent growth, development, and productivity of crops can be affected by wastewater and sludge contaminated with pharmaceuticals. Diclofenac (DCF) and paracetamol (PCT; both 0.0001 to 10 mg/L) did not affect seed germination and primary root length of onion, lettuce, pea, and tomato. Read More

Planta 2018 Dec 14. Epub 2018 Dec 14.

Zhengzhou Research Base, State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, Henan, People's Republic of China.

Main Conclusion: Cotton GaTOP6B is involved in cellular endoreduplication and a positive response to drought stress via promoting plant leaf and root growth. Drought is deemed as one of adverse conditions that could cause substantial reductions in crop yields worldwide. Since cotton exhibits a moderate-tolerant phenotype under water-deficit conditions, the plant could therefore be used to characterize potential new genes regulating drought tolerance in crop plants. Read More

Planta 2018 Dec 14. Epub 2018 Dec 14.

Faculty of Science, University of Technology, Sydney, NSW, 2007, Australia.

Main Conclusion: In hybrids of Arabidopsis, cotyledons influence the amount and proportion of hybrid vigor in total plant growth. We found Arabidopsis cotyledons are essential for plant growth and in some hybrids for hybrid vigor. In hybrids between C24 and Landsberg erecta (Ler), biomass vigor (heterosis) occurs in the first few days after sowing (DAS), with hybrid cotyledons being larger than those of their parents. Read More

Parasitol Res 2018 Dec 15. Epub 2018 Dec 15.

Departamento de Biología Celular, Cinvestav-IPN, Av. IPN 2508, Col. San Pedro Zacatenco, 07360, Ciudad de México, Mexico.

Transcription factor IID (TFIID) is a cornerstone in the transcription initiation in eukaryotes. It is composed of TBP and approximately 14 different subunits named TBP-associated factors (TAFs). TFIID has a key role in transcription of many genes involved in cell proliferation, cell growth, cell cycle, cell cycle checkpoint, and various other processes as well. Read More

Pediatr Nephrol 2018 Dec 14. Epub 2018 Dec 14.

Division of Pediatrics, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oviedo, CP 33006, Oviedo, Asturias, Spain.

Growth retardation is a major feature of chronic kidney disease (CKD) of onset in infants or children and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Several factors have been shown to play a causal role in the growth impairment of CKD. All these factors interfere with growth by disturbing the normal physiology of the growth plate of long bones. Read More