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By varying the substituents (R(1)) at the indolin-2-one scaffold, a series of indolin-2-one derivatives bearing 4-phenylpiperazine-1-carbothiohydrazide moiety at the C3-position were synthesized and evaluated for their antiproliferative activity against three human cancer cell lines. We further selected the 5-chloroindolin-2-one moiety for the extension to another series of compounds by varying the substituents (R(2)) at the phenyl group connected with the piperazine ring. Among all the compounds synthesized, 6d and 6l were most potent with IC50 values of 3.59 and 5.58μM, respectively against A549 lung cancer cells, while 5f and 6l possessed IC50 values of 3.49 and 4.57μM, respectively against HCT-116 colon cancer cells which were comparable to that of Sunitinib, an indolin-2-one derivative in cancer therapy.

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BDNF-induced local protein synthesis and synaptic plasticity.

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Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is an important regulator of synaptic transmission and long-term potentiation (LTP) in the hippocampus and in other brain regions, playing a role in the formation of certain forms of memory. The effects of BDNF in LTP are mediated by TrkB (tropomyosin-related kinase B) receptors, which are known to be coupled to the activation of the Ras/ERK, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt and phospholipase C-γ (PLC-γ) pathways. The role of BDNF in LTP is best studied in the hippocampus, where the neurotrophin is thought to act at pre- and post-synaptic levels. Recent studies have shown that BDNF regulates the transport of mRNAs along dendrites and their translation at the synapse, by modulating the initiation and elongation phases of protein synthesis, and by acting on specific miRNAs. Furthermore, the effect of BDNF on transcription regulation may further contribute to long-term changes in the synaptic proteome. In this review we discuss the recent progress in understanding the mechanisms contributing to the short- and long-term regulation of the synaptic proteome by BDNF, and the role in synaptic plasticity, which is likely to influence learning and memory formation. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled 'BDNF'.

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Protective effects of naringin against paraquat-induced acute lung injury and pulmonary fibrosis in mice.

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The present study evaluates protective effects of naringin against paraquat (PQ)-induced acute lung injury (ALI) and pulmonary fibrosis in mice. Survival probability against PQ intoxication was tested by a single intraperitoneal injection of PQ. Results showed that survival rates of mice exposed to PQ only (50mg/kg within 7days) were much lower than that in mice daily treatment with NAC or naringin. Moreover, protection against PQ-induced ALI was tested by daily pretreatment mice with saline, NAC or naringin for 3days before PQ (30mg/kg, i.p.). Results showed that increase in leukocytes infiltration and overexpressions of TNF-α and TGF-β1 caused by 8h of PQ exposure were dose-dependently ameliorated by naringin. Furthermore, protection against PQ-induced pulmonary fibrosis was tested by pretreatment mice with PQ (20mg/kg, i.p.), and then daily administration with saline, NAC or naringin for prolonged 21days. Results showed that naringin of 60 and 120mg/kg significantly reduced PQ-induced upregulations of TNF-α, TGF-β1, MMP-9 and TIMP-1, levels of pulmonary malonaldehyde and hydroxyproline, as well as pulmonary fibrosis deposition, while increased activities of SOD, GSH-Px and HO-1. These results indicated that naringin had effective protection against PQ-induced ALI and pulmonary fibrosis.

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Immunotoxicological effects of inorganic arsenic on gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata L.).

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Arsenic (As) has been associated with multitude of animal and human health problems; however, its impact on host immune system has not been extensively investigated. In fish, there are very few works on the potential risks or problems associated to the presence of arsenic. In the present study we have evaluated the effects of exposure (30 days) to sub-lethal concentrations of arsenic (5μM As2O3) in the teleost fish gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata), with special emphasis in the innate immune response. The arsenic concentration was determined using atomic fluorescence spectrometry (AFS) in liver and muscle of exposed fish showing As accumulation in the liver after 30 days of exposure. The hepatosomatic index was increased at significant extent after 10 days but returned to control values after 30 days of exposure. Histological alterations in the liver were observed including hypertrophy, vacuolization and cell-death processes. Focusing on the immunological response, the humoral immune parameters (seric IgM, complement and peroxidase activities) were no affected to a statistically significant extent. Regarding the cellular innate parameters, head-kidney leucocyte peroxidase, respiratory burst and phagocytic activities were significantly increased after 10 days of exposition compared to the control fish. Overall, As-exposure in the seabream affects the immune system. How this might interfere with fish biology, aquaculture management or human consumers warrants further investigations. This paper describes, for the first time, the immunotoxicological effects of arsenic exposure in the gilthead seabream, which is a species with the largest production in Mediterranean aquaculture.

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Evaluation of mechanisms involved in the antinociception of the ethanol extract from the inner bark of Caesalpinia pyramidalis in mice.

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ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Caesalpinia pyramidalis Tul. (Fabaceae) is an endemic tree of the Northeast region of Brazil, mainly in the Caatinga region. More commonly, inner bark or flowers are traditionally used to treat many painful and inflammatory processes. A common use of this plant is made by macerating a handful of its stem bark in a liter of wine or sugarcane brandy. It is drunk against stomachache, dysenteries, and diarrheas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The ethanol extract of Caesalpinia pyramidalis inner bark was used in mice via oral route, at the doses of 10, 30, and 100mg/kg, in behavioral models of nociception and investigates some of the mechanisms underlying this effect. RESULTS: The ethanol extract (30 and 100mg/kg, P<0.001), given orally, produced dose dependent inhibition of acetic acid-induced visceral pain. The ethanol extract also caused significant and dose-dependent inhibition of capsaicin-(100mg/kg, P<0.001) and glutamate-(10, 30, and 100mg/kg, P<0.01) induced pain. The antinociception caused by the ethanol extract (30mg/kg) in the abdominal constriction test was significantly attenuated (P<0.001) by intraperitoneal treatment of mice with l-arginine (600mg/kg). CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, the present results suggest that the ethanol extract of Caesalpinia pyramidalis produced dose-related antinociception in several models of pain through mechanisms that involved both glutamatergic system and/or the l-arginine-nitric oxide pathway, supporting the folkloric usage of the plant to treat various painful processes.

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The PERICLES research program: An integrated approach to characterize the combined effects of mixtures of pesticide residues to which the French population is exposed.

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Due to the broad spectrum of pesticide usages, consumers are exposed to mixtures of residues, which may have combined effects on human health. The PERICLES research program aims to test the potential combined effects of pesticide mixtures, which are likely to occur through dietary exposure. The co-exposure of the French general population to 79 pesticide residues present in the diet was first assessed. A Bayesian non-parametric model was then applied to define the main mixtures to which the French general population is simultaneously and most heavily exposed. Seven mixtures made of two to six pesticides were identified from the exposure assessment. An in vitro approach was used for investigating the toxicological effects of these mixtures and their corresponding individual compounds, using a panel of cellular models, i.e. primary rat and human hepatocytes, liver, intestine, kidney, colon and brain human cell lines. A set of cell functions and corresponding end-points were monitored such as cytotoxicity, real-time cell impedance, genotoxicity, oxidative stress, apoptosis and PXR nuclear receptor transactivation. The mixtures were tested in equimolar concentrations. Among the seven mixtures, two appeared highly cytotoxic, five activated PXR and depending on the assay one or two were genotoxic. In some experiments, the mixture effect was quantitatively different from the effect expected from the addition concept. The PERICLES program shows that, for the most pesticides mixtures to which the French general population is exposed, the toxic effects observed on human cells cannot be easily predicted based on the toxic potential of each compound. Consequently, additional studies should be carried on in order to more accurately define the mixtures of chemicals to which the consumers are exposed, as well as to improve the investigation, prediction and monitoring of their potential human health effects.

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Adult siRNA-induced knockdown of mGlu7 receptors reduces anxiety in the mouse.

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Our knowledge regarding the molecular pathophysiology underlying anxiety disorders remains incomplete. Increasing evidence points to a role of glutamate in anxiety. The group III metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGlu4, mGlu6, mGlu7 and mGlu8 receptors) remain the least investigated glutamate receptor subtypes partially due to a delay in the development of specific pharmacological tools. Early work using knockout animals and pharmacological tools aimed at investigating the role of mGlu7 receptor in the pathophysiology of anxiety disorders has yielded exciting yet not always consistent results. To further investigate the role this receptor plays in anxiety-like behaviour, we knocked down mGlu7 receptor mRNA levels in the adult mouse brain using siRNA delivered via an osmotic minipump. This reduced anxiety-like behaviour in the light-dark box coupled with an attenuation of stress-induced hyperthermia (SIH) and a reduction of the acoustic startle response (ASRs) in the fear-potentiated startle paradigm (FPS). These effects on anxiety-like behaviour were independent of any impairment of locomotor activity and surprisingly, no behavioural changes were observed in the forced swim test (FST), which is in contrast to mGlu7 receptor knockout animals. Furthermore, the previously reported epilepsy-prone phenotype seen in mGlu7 receptor knockout animals was not observed following siRNA-induced knockdown of the receptor. These data suggest targeting mGlu7 receptors with selective antagonist drugs may be an effective and safe strategy for the treatment of anxiety disorders.

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Infliximab counteracts tumor necrosis factor-α-enhanced induction of matrix metalloproteinases that degrade claudin and occludin in non-pigmented ciliary epithelium.

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Infliximab, a monoclonal antibody directed against human tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), effectively treats anterior uveitis, which can accompany Behçet's disease. Here, we investigated the underlying mechanism of this action. We examined human, non-pigmented ciliary epithelial cells (HNPCECs), which make up the blood-aqueous barrier (BAB) in the uvea. We measured the expression levels of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of MMPs in the presence or absence of TNF-α using quantitative, real-time polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. The expression of MMP-1, MMP-3, and MMP-9 increased in the presence of TNF-α, and the addition of infliximab reversed the increase. The TNF-α effects were more attenuated when infliximab was added before than when it was added after TNF-α exposure. Gelatin zymography demonstrated that the protease activity of these MMPs was also increased in the presence of TNF-α and attenuated with infliximab. Immunostaining showed that MMP-1, MMP-3, and MMP-9 degraded claudin-1 and occludin in HNPCECs and in non-pigmented ciliary epithelial cells of the swine ciliary body. In a monolayer of HNPCECs, we found that permeability was significantly increased with MMP treatment. Thus, TNF-α increased levels of MMPs in cells that form the BAB, and MMPs degraded components of the tight junctions in the BAB, which increased permeability through the cellular barrier. Furthermore, infliximab effectively attenuated the TNF-α-induced increases in MMP expression in cells that make up the BAB. These findings might suggest a basis for the clinical prevention of anterior uveitis.

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Protective effects of selenium on oxidative damage and oxidative stress related gene expression in rat liver under chronic poisoning of arsenic.

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Arsenic (As) is a toxic metalloid existing widely in the environment, and chronic exposure to it through contaminated drinking water has become a global problem of public health. The present study focused on the protective effects of selenium on oxidative damage of chronic arsenic poisoning in rat liver. Rats were divided into four groups at random and given designed treatments for 20weeks. The oxidative damage of liver tissue was evaluated by lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzymes. Oxidative stress related genes were detected to reflect the liver stress state at the molecular level. Compared to the control and Na2SeO3 groups, the MDA content in liver tissue was decreased and the activities of antioxidant enzymes were increased in the Na2SeO3 intervention group. The mRNA levels of SOD1, CAT, GPx and Txnrd1 were increased significantly (P<0.05) in the combined Na2SeO3+NaAsO2 treatment group. The expressions of HSP70 and HO-1 were significantly (P<0.05) increased in the NaAsO2 group and reduced in the combined treatment group. The results indicate that long-term intake of NaAsO2 causes oxidative damage in the rat liver, and Na2SeO3 protects liver cells by adjusting the expression of oxidative stress related genes to improve the activities of antioxidant enzymes.

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Juniperus oxycedrus L. subsp. oxycedrus and Juniperus oxycedrus L. subsp. macrocarpa (Sibth. & Sm.) Ball. "berries" from Turkey: Comparative evaluation of phenolic profile, antioxidant, cytotoxic and antimicrobial activities.

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This work aimed to evaluate and compare the phenolic profile and some biological properties of the ripe "berries" methanol extracts of Juniperus oxycedrus L. subsp. oxycedrus (Joo) and Juniperus oxycedrus L. subsp. macrocarpa (Sibth. & Sm.) Ball. (Jom) from Turkey. The total phenolic content resulted about 3-fold higher in Jom (17.89±0.23mg GAE/g extract) than in Joo (5.14±0.06mg GAE/g extract). The HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS analysis revealed a similar flavonoid fingerprint in Joo and Jom, whereas a difference in their quantitative content was found (4632μg/g extract and 12,644μg/g extract). In addition, three phenolic acids were detected in Jom only (5765μg/g extract), and protocatechuic acid was the most abundant one. The antioxidant capacity of the extracts was evaluated by different in vitro assays: in the DPPH and in the TBA tests a stronger activity in Jom was highlighted, while Joo exhibited higher reducing power and metal chelating activity. Joo and Jom did not affect HepG2 cell viability and both extracts resulted virtually non-toxic against Artemia salina. The extracts were also studied for their antimicrobial potential, displaying efficacy against Gram-positive bacteria.

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The molecular basis of simple relationships between exposure concentration and toxic effects with time.

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Understanding the toxicity of chemicals to organisms requires considering the molecular mechanisms involved as well as the relationships between exposure concentration and toxic effects with time. Our current knowledge about such relationships is mainly explained from a toxicodynamic and toxicokinetic perspective. This paper re-introduces an old approach that takes into account the biochemical mode of action and their resulting biological effects over time of exposure. Empirical evidence demonstrates that the Druckrey-Küpfmüller toxicity model, which was validated for chemical carcinogens in the early 1960s, is also applicable to a wide range of toxic compounds in ecotoxicology. According to this model, the character of a poison is primarily determined by the reversibility of critical receptor binding. Chemicals showing irreversible or slowly reversible binding to specific receptors will produce cumulative effects with time of exposure, and whenever the effects are also irreversible (e.g. death) they are reinforced over time; these chemical have time-cumulative toxicity. Compounds having non-specific receptor binding, or involving slowly reversible binding to some receptors that do not contribute to toxicity, may also be time-dependent; however, their effects depend primarily on the exposure concentration, with time playing a minor role. Consequently, the mechanism of toxic action has important implications for risk assessment. Traditional risk approaches cannot predict the impacts of toxicants with time-cumulative toxicity in the environment. New assessment procedures are needed to evaluate the risk that the latter chemicals pose on humans and the environment. An example is shown to explain how the risk of time-dependent toxicants is underestimated when using current risk assessment protocols.

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Cognitive effects of variations in pubertal timing: Is puberty a period of brain organization for human sex-typed cognition?

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There is considerable interest in the organizational effects of pubertal sex hormones on human sex-related characteristics. Recent evidence from rodents suggests that there is a decreasing window of sensitivity to sex hormones throughout adolescence. If adolescence also represents a period of brain organization in human beings, then the timing of exposure to sex-typical hormones at puberty should have long-term effects on sex-typed characteristics: individuals with early timing should be more sex-typed than individuals with late timing. We tested this hypothesis in 320 young adults by relating their pubertal timing (retrospective comparison to peers) to cognitive abilities that show sex differences. Results provide partial support for the hypothesis. For men, pubertal timing was inversely related to scores on a test of three-dimensional mental rotations. Effects do not appear to be due to duration of hormone exposure (time since puberty), but other potential influences need further study.

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New anticancer active and selective phenylene-bisbenzothiazoles: Synthesis, antiproliferative evaluation and DNA binding.

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Novel amidino-derivatives of phenylene-bisbenzothiazoles were synthesized and tested for their antiproliferative activity against several human cancer cell lines, as well as DNA-binding properties. The synthetic approach used for preparation of isomeric amidino substituted-phenylene-bis-benzothyazoles 3a-3f was achieved by condensation reaction of isophthaloyl dichloride 1a and terephthaloyl dichloride 1b or with phthalic acid 1c with 5-amidinium-2-aminobenzothiolate 2a and 5-(imidazolinium-2-yl)-2-aminobenzothiolate 2b in good yields. The targeted compounds were converted in the desired water soluble dihydrochloride salts by reaction of appropriate free base with concd HCl in ethanol or acetic acid. All tested compounds (3a-3f) showed antiproliferative effects on tumour cells in a concentration-dependant manner. The strongest activity and cytotoxicity was observed for diimidazolinyl substituted phenylene-bisbenzothiazole compound 3b. These effects were shown to be related to DNA-binding properties, topoisomerase I and II poisoning effects and apoptosis induction. The highest tested selectivity towards tumour cells was observed for the imidazolyl substituted phenylene-benzothiazole 3d that showed no cytotoxic effects on normal fibroblasts making it an excellent candidate for further chemical optimization and preclinical evaluation.

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A Bioluminescent Assay System for Whole-Cell Determination of Hormones.

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A bioluminescent-assay system was fabricated for an efficient determination of bioactive small molecules in physiological samples. The following three components were newly created for this assay system: (i) a single-chain probe exerting a 7.2-times stronger optical intensity than conventional ones, (ii) a high throughput assay device uniquely designed for the assay system with ca. one-fourth smaller standard deviation (SD) to samples than without the device, (iii) a buffer cocktail optimized for the assay system. The advantages of the assay system were evaluated by determining (i) the stress hormone levels in human saliva and (ii) multicolor imaging of genomic and nongenomic effects of woman sex hormones. This study guides on how to fabricate an efficient assay system for bioactive small molecules with convenience and high precision.

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Large networks of vertical multi-layer graphenes with morphology-tunable magnetoresistance.

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We report on the comparative study of magnetotransport properties of large-area vertical few-layer graphene networks with different morphologies, measured in a strong (up to 10 T) magnetic field over a wide temperature range. The petal-like and tree-like graphene networks grown by a plasma enhanced CVD process on a thin (500 nm) silicon oxide layer supported by a silicon wafer demonstrate a significant difference in the resistance-magnetic field dependencies at temperatures ranging from 2 to 200 K. This behaviour is explained in terms of the effect of electron scattering at ultra-long reactive edges and ultra-dense boundaries of the graphene nanowalls. Our results pave a way towards three-dimensional vertical graphene-based magnetoelectronic nanodevices with morphology-tuneable anisotropic magnetic properties.

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The structure of the biliverdin cofactor in the Pfr state of bathy and prototypical phytochromes.

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The structures of the chromophore binding pockets in the Pfr states of various bathy and prototypical biliverdin-binding phytochromes were analysed by using a combined spectroscopic-theoretical approach. For the Pfr state of the bathy phytochrome from Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PaBphP) the very good agreement between calculated Raman spectra of the tetrapyrrole cofactor, obtained by quantum-mechanical / molecular-mechanical hybrid methods, and the experimental resonance Raman (RR) spectra confirms important conclusions derived from the previous crystallographic analyses, particularly the ZZEssa configuration of the chromophore and its attachment to the thiol side chain of Cys12 via the exocyclic vinyl group of ring A. The match between the RR spectra of the Pfr states of PaBphP and the bathy phytochrome Agp2 from Agrobacterium tumefaciens indicates very similar structures of the chromophore binding pockets. The homogeneous chromophore conformation in bathy phytochromes is in sharp contrast to the Pfr states of prototypical phytochromes as demonstrated by comparative RR spectroscopic analyses. The Pfr states of prototypical phytochromes, thoroughly studied for Agp1 (A. tumefaciens), display conformational equilibria between two sub-states differing with respect to the CD methine bridge torsional angle and the AB methine bridge geometry. These differences may mainly root in the interactions of the cofactor with the highly conserved Asp194 (PaBphP) that occur via its carboxylate function in bathy phytochromes. The weaker interactions via the carbonyl function in prototypical phytochromes may lead to a higher structural flexibility of the chromophore binding pocket that opens the reaction channel for the thermal (ZZE → ZZZ) Pfr-to-Pr back-conversion.

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Genetic Information and the Prediction of Incident Type 2 Diabetes in a High-Risk Multi-Ethnic Population: The EpiDREAM Genetic Study.

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OBJECTIVESTo determine if 16 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) in Europeans are also associated with T2DM in South Asians and Latinos, and if they can add to the prediction of incident T2DM in a high-risk population.RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODSIn the EpiDREAM prospective cohort study, physical measures, questionnaires, and blood samples were collected from 25,063 individuals at risk for dysglycemia. Sixteen SNPs that have been robustly associated with T2DM in Europeans were genotyped. Among 15,466 European, South Asian, and Latino subjects, we examined the association of these 16 SNPs alone and combined in a gene score with incident cases of T2DM (n = 1,016) that developed during 3.3 years of follow-up.RESULTSNine of the 16 SNPs were significantly associated with T2DM, and their direction of effect was consistent across the three ethnic groups. The gene score was significantly higher among subjects who developed incident T2DM (cases vs. noncases: 16.47 [2.50] vs. 15.99 [2.56]; P = 0.00001). The gene score remained an independent predictor of incident T2DM with an odds ratio of 1.08 (95% CI, 1.05-1.11) per additional risk allele after adjustment for T2DM risk factors. The gene score in those with no family history of T2DM was 16.02, whereas it was 16.19 in those with one parent with T2DM and it was 16.32 in those with two parents with T2DM (P trend = 0.0004). The C statistic of T2DM risk factors was 0.708 (0.691-0.725) and increased only marginally to 0.714 (0.698-0.731) with the addition of the gene score (P for C statistic change = 0.0052).CONCLUSIONT2DM genetic associations are generally consistent across ethnic groups, and a gene score only adds marginal information to clinical factors for T2DM prediction.

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Strain-induced Dirac cone-like electronic structures and semiconductor-semimetal transition in graphdiyne.

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By means of first-principles calculations combined with the tight-binding approximation, the strain-induced semiconductor-semimetal transition in graphdiyne is discovered. It is shown that the band gap of graphdiyne increases from 0.47 eV to 1.39 eV with increasing the biaxial tensile strain, while the band gap decreases from 0.47 eV to nearly zero with increasing the uniaxial tensile strain, and Dirac cone-like electronic structures are observed. The uniaxial strain-induced changes of the electronic structures of graphdiyne come from the breaking of geometrical symmetry that lifts the degeneracy of energy bands. The properties of graphdiyne under strains are found to differ remarkably from that of graphene.

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The nascent polypeptide-associated complex is a key regulator of proteostasis.

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The adaptation of protein synthesis to environmental and physiological challenges is essential for cell viability. Here, we show that translation is tightly linked to the protein-folding environment of the cell through the functional properties of the ribosome bound chaperone NAC (nascent polypeptide-associated complex). Under non-stress conditions, NAC associates with ribosomes to promote translation and protein folding. When proteostasis is imbalanced, NAC relocalizes from a ribosome-associated state to protein aggregates in its role as a chaperone. This results in a functional depletion of NAC from the ribosome that diminishes translational capacity and the flux of nascent proteins. Depletion of NAC from polysomes and re-localisation to protein aggregates is observed during ageing, in response to heat shock and upon expression of the highly aggregation-prone polyglutamine-expansion proteins and Aβ-peptide. These results demonstrate that NAC has a central role as a proteostasis sensor to provide the cell with a regulatory feedback mechanism in which translational activity is also controlled by the folding state of the cellular proteome and the cellular response to stress.

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Antifungal Azoles: Structural Insights into Undesired Tight Binding to Cholesterol-Metabolizing CYP46A1.

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Although there are currently three generations of antifungal azoles on the market, even the third generation agents show undesired interactions with human cytochrome P450 enzymes. CYP46A1 is a cholesterol-metabolizing P450 in the brain tightly binding a number of structurally distinct azoles. Previously, we determined the crystal structures of CYP46A1 in complex with voriconazole and clotrimazole, and in the present work we co-crystallized the P450 with posaconazole at 2.5 Å resolution. This long antifungal drug coordinates the P450 heme iron with the nitrogen atom of its terminal azole ring and adopts a linear configuration occupying the whole length of the substrate access channel and extending beyond the protein surface. Numerous drug-protein interactions determine the submicromolar Kd of posaconazole for CYP46A1. We compared the crystal structure of posaconazole-bound CYP46A1 with those of the P450 in complex with other drugs including the antifungal voriconazole and clotrimazole. We also analyzed the accommodation of posaconazole in the active site of the target enzymes, CYPs 51, from several pathogenic species. These and the solution studies with different marketed azoles, collectively, allowed us to identify the determinants of tight azole binding to CYP46A1 and generate an overall picture of azole binding to this important P450. The data obtained suggest that development of CYP51-specific antifungal agents will continue to be a challenge. Therefore, structural understanding of the azole binding not only to CYPs 51 from the pathogenic species but also to different human P450s is required to deal efficiently with this challenge.

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Pharmacological activation of kappa opioid receptors: aversive effects in adolescent and adult male rats.

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RATIONALE: The dynorphin (DYN)/kappa opioid receptor (KOR) system is involved in the dysphoric properties of drugs of abuse. Given that adolescents show reduced sensitivity to aversive effects of many drugs, alterations in the DYN/KOR system may contribute to the prevalence of drug use during adolescence. OBJECTIVES: The present study was designed to assess dysphoric properties of a selective kappa agonist, U62,066, in adolescent and adult rats using both conditioned taste aversion (CTA) and conditioned place aversion (CPA) paradigms. METHODS: For CTA, water-restricted rats were administered U62,066 following 30 min access to a saccharin solution, with subsequent saccharin consumption used to index aversion. For CPA, animals were allowed access to both compartments of a two-compartment chamber for a 15-min pre- and post-conditioning test. For conditioning, subjects were administered U62,066 prior to confinement to one side of the chamber and saline prior to confinement to the other side for a total of four pairings. RESULTS: Overall, adolescents displayed reduced sensitivity to the kappa agonist relative to adults. Adults demonstrated taste aversions to the 0.2 and 0.3 mg/kg doses of U62,066, whereas adolescents did not display aversions to any tested doses. Adults demonstrated a place aversion to the 0.1 and 0.2 mg/kg dose of U62,066 when paired with the preferred side of the conditioning chamber. Adolescents did not display aversions to any of the doses tested. CONCLUSIONS: Reduced sensitivity to DYN/KOR system activation during adolescence may be a contributing factor to the age-typical insensitivity to aversive properties of drugs commonly abused by adolescents.

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Automatic approach bias towards smoking cues is present in smokers but not in ex-smokers.

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RATIONALE: Drug-addicted individuals show automatic approach tendencies towards drug-related cues, i.e., an approach bias (ApB). Nevertheless, little is known about ApB in tobacco smokers and about the presence of ApB after smoking abstinence. OBJECTIVES: We investigated ApB to smoking cues in heavy tobacco smokers versus never-smokers and studied its relation to smoking characteristics and craving. Second, we compared ApBs of heavy smokers with biases of abstinent heavy smokers. METHOD: A group of current heavy smokers (n = 24), ex-smokers who were abstinent for at least 5 years (n = 20), and never-smokers (n = 20) took part in the experiment. An indirect smoking approach avoidance task was performed, in which participants were required to respond to pictures of smoking and neutral cues by pulling (approach) or pushing (avoid) on a joystick, according to the content-irrelevant format of the picture (landscape or portrait). Craving scores were examined using the Questionnaire of Smoking Urges. RESULTS: Heavy smokers showed an ApB for smoking cues compared to ex-smokers and never-smokers, which correlated positively to craving scores. There were no group differences in ApB scores for ex-smokers and never-smokers. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that ApBs for smoking cues are present in heavy smokers and decrease after long-term successful smoking cessation.

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Methylphenidate reduces functional connectivity of nucleus accumbens in brain reward circuit.

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Release of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) is essential for acute drug reward. The present study was designed to trace the reinforcing effect of dopamine release by measuring the functional connectivity (FC) between the NAcc and brain regions involved in a limbic cortical-subcortical circuit during a dopaminergic challenge. Twenty healthy volunteers received single doses of methylphenidate (40 mg) and placebo on separate test days according to a double-blind, cross-over study design. Resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was measured between 1.5 and 2 h postdosing. FC between regions of interest (ROI) in the NAcc, the medial dorsal nucleus (MDN) of the thalamus and remote areas within the limbic circuit was explored. Methylphenidate significantly reduced FC between the NAcc and the basal ganglia (i.e., subthalamic nucleus and ventral pallidum (VP)), relative to placebo. Methylphenidate also decreased FC between the NAcc and the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) as well as the temporal cortex. Methylphenidate did not affect FC between MDN and the limbic circuit. It is concluded that methylphenidate directly affects the limbic reward circuit. Drug-induced changes in FC of the NAcc may serve as a useful marker of drug activity in in the brain reward circuit.

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Balancing power density based quantum yield characterization of upconverting nanoparticles for arbitrary excitation intensities.

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Upconverting nanoparticles (UCNPs) have recently shown great potential as contrast agents in biological applications. In developing different UCNPs, the characterization of their quantum yield (QY) is a crucial issue, as the typically drastic decrease in QY for low excitation power densities can either impose a severe limitation or provide an opportunity in many applications. The power density dependence of the QY is governed by the competition between the energy transfer upconversion (ETU) rate and the linear decay rate in the depopulation of the intermediate state of the involved activator in the upconversion process. Here we show that the QYs of Yb(3+) sensitized two-photon upconversion emissions can be well characterized by the balancing power density, at which the ETU rate and the linear decay rate have equal contributions, and its corresponding QY. The results in this paper provide a method to fully describe the QY of upconverting nanoparticles for arbitrary excitation power densities, and is a fast and simple approach for assessing the applicability of UCNPs from the perspective of energy conversion.

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Sparstolonin B suppresses lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation in human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

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Sparstolonin B (SsnB) is an isocoumarin compound isolated from the tubers of both Sparganium stoloniferum and Scirpus yagara. We previously demonstrated that SsnB blocked the Toll-like receptor (TLR) 2- and TLR4-triggered inflammatory signaling in macrophages by inhibiting the recruitment of MyD88 to the TIR domains of TLR2 and TLR4. The present study was designed to examine the effects of SsnB on vascular inflammatory responses in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) challenged by lipopolysaccharide (LPS, a TLR4 ligand). We found that SsnB dose-dependently attenuated the LPS-induced expression of interleukin (IL)-1β and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 both at the transcription and translation levels in HUVEC. LPS-induced endothelial cell adhesion molecules, intercellular adhesion molecular-1 and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 expressions were also reduced by treatment with SsnB. In addition, co-incubation with SsnB attenuated THP-1 monocyte adhesion to LPS-activated HUVECs. Furthermore, SsnB efficiently suppressed LPS-induced phosphorylation of extracellular -signal-regulated kinase (Erk1/2) and Akt in HUVECs. These findings show that SsnB can suppress endothelial cell inflammation, suggesting that SsnB might be suitable for development as a therapeutic agent for inflammatory cardiovascular disease.

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Cytochrome p450-mediated changes in oxycodone pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics and their clinical implications.

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In recent years the use of the opioid oxycodone has increased markedly and replacing morphine as the first-line choice of opioid in several countries. There are formulations for oral immediate, oral extended release and intravenous use. The bioavailability is higher than for morphine and less variable. Oxycodone is primarily metabolized in the liver by the cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes with CYP3A as the major metabolic pathway and CYP2D6 as the minor metabolic pathway to noroxycodone, oxymorphone and noroxymorphone. Oxycodone exerts its analgesic effect via the µ-opioid receptor. The metabolism of CYP2D6 substrates varies to a large degree between individuals as a result of allele functionality. Poor metabolizers (PM) have two non-functional alleles, extensive metabolizers (EM) are homozygous with two functional alleles or heterozygous with one functional allele and ultrarapid metabolizers (UM) have more than two functional alleles. There are pronounced interethnic differences in the allele distribution. On the basis of studies performed thus far, oxycodone concentrations in comparison with EM are similar in PM and reduced in UM. The pharmacokinetics in UM are insufficiently investigated. Simultaneous inhibition of both CYP3A and CYP2D6 results in increased oxycodone concentrations and such a combination should be avoided. A similar effect is to be expected with use of a CYP3A inhibitor in CYP2D6 PM. Concomitant use of enzyme inducers such as rifampicin, St John's wort and carbamazepine should be avoided because of the risk of subtherapeutic concentrations of oxycodone. When the dosage of morphine may result in unpredictable bioavailability, like in patients with severe hepatic cirrhosis, oxycodone might be beneficial because it has higher and less variability in bioavailability between patients than morphine.

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Using multiple targeted therapies in oncology: considerations for use, and progress to date in breast cancer.

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There has been significant progress in our basic understanding of drugs and targets in the management of breast cancer. Recent breast cancer clinical trials have examined whether combinations of drugs targeting transmembrane receptors or their downstream effectors involved in cell signal transduction can increase response rates and overcome acquired and/or de novo drug resistance compared to a single targeted agent with or without systemic chemotherapy. We reviewed published clinical trials and conference proceedings examining combinations of targeted therapies across different breast cancer subtypes. Improvements in pathological complete response (pCR) rates and progression free survival (PFS) in preoperatively treated and metastatic human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer, respectively, have been observed with combinations of anti-HER2 therapies given concomitantly. Promising results were also observed in estrogen receptor (ER)-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer using a mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitor with tamoxifen or an aromatase inhibitor (AI) in the preoperative setting and for patients with metastatic breast cancer that had previously progressed on endocrine therapy alone. A recent phase II trial reported a statistically significant improvement in PFS with the addition of an oral inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 to letrozole compared to letrozole alone (26.1 versus 7.5 months). A phase III study is planned for early 2013. On the basis of preclinical data, clinical trials have examined combinations of hormonal agents such as fulvestrant with an AI. However, the results are conflicting. Early data indicated that poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors exploiting the concept of synthetic lethality would offer improved outcomes for patients with ER-negative, progesterone receptor (PR)-negative, HER2-negative breast cancer often referred to as triple negative breast cancer (TNBC); however, data in the phase III setting failed to confirm these findings but this may be because the drug was not a true PARP inhibitor. Chemotherapy continues to be the mainstay of treatment for TNBC until specific drugs and their associated targets are identified. As advances in medical technologies continue to identify multiple molecularly distinct breast cancer subgroups that are predicted to respond to combinations of targeted agents new challenges have arisen. In particular, how do we evaluate the safety and efficacy of these new drug combinations in relatively small subgroups of patients? Novel clinical trial designs will be required and increasingly regulatory agencies will require companion diagnostic tests that can identify the subgroups likely to respond to these therapies. The US Food and Drug Administration is assessing the role of pCR in breast cancer studies as a surrogate endpoint to predict clinical benefit in the accelerated drug approval process.

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Hedgehog Signaling Pathway and Cancer Therapeutics: Progress to Date.

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The Hedgehog (Hh) pathway is a developmental signaling pathway involved in numerous developmental processes, including determination of cell fate, patterning, proliferation, survival, and differentiation. While this pathway is silenced in most adult tissues, aberrant activation of it has been documented in a variety of malignancies. In cancers such as basal cell carcinoma (BCC), ligand-independent mechanisms lead to constitutive Hh pathway activation through mutations in components of the pathway, including patched-1 (PTCH1) or smoothened (SMO). On the contrary, numerous other solid and hematologic tumors have been shown to harbor ligand-dependent activation of the Hh pathway by autocrine or paracrine mechanisms. Given that aberrant Hh pathway signaling has been seen in a number of malignancies, this pathway has been an attractive target for drug development. While the best-characterized approach is to target the SMO receptor, other rational approaches for inhibiting the Hh pathway include inhibiting downstream components or directly binding Hh ligands. In January of 2012, vismodegib, a SMO antagonist, became the first agent to target the Hh pathway to receive approval by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) after this agent showed remarkable activity in phase I and II trials for the treatment of BCC. Despite promising preclinical studies with Hh pathway inhibitors in other malignancies that have suggested a potential role for these agents, attempts to translate this potential to clinical benefit has been disappointing. Future efforts will require further careful interpretation and analysis to determine the potential determinants and predictors of efficacy. Currently, several phase I and II trials evaluating Hh inhibitors in a variety of tumor settings are underway.

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Morphological Change and Mobility Enhancement in PEDOT:PSS by Adding Co-solvents.

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Adding ethylene glycol (EG) to poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) solution improves the crystallinity of the PEDOT and the ordering of the PEDOT nanocrystals in solid films. The carrier-mobility enhancement is confirmed by using ion-gel transistors combined with in situ UV-vis-NIR spectroscopy.

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A Generic Micropatterning Platform to Direct Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells from Different Origins Towards Myogenic Differentiation.

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Human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from various origins show varied differentiation capability. Recent work shows that cell shape manipulation via micropatterning can modulate the differentiation of bone-marrow-derived MSCs. Herein, the effect of micropatterning on the myogenesis of MSCs isolated from three different sources (bone marrow, fetal tissue, and adipose) is reported. All the well-aligned cells, regardless of source, predominantly commit to myogenic lineage, as shown by the significant upregulation of myogenic gene markers and positive myosin heavy chain staining. It is demonstrated that our novel micropattern can be used as a generic platform for inducing myogenesis of MSCs from different sources and may also have the potential to be extended to induce other lineage commitment.

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3D Graphene Foams Cross-linked with Pre-encapsulated Fe3 O4 Nanospheres for Enhanced Lithium Storage.

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Electrostatic assembly between Fe3 O4 nanospheres and graphene oxide, and subsequent hydrothermal assembly with additional graphene sheets, leads to Fe3 O4 nanospheres encapsulated in the graphene shells and interconnected by the graphene networks. Such 3D Fe3 O4 /graphene foams exhibit enhanced lithium storage with excellent cycling performance and rate capability.

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Morphometric and Functional Changes of Salivary Gland Dysfunction after Radioiodine Ablation in a Murine Model.

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Background: Ablation of the thyroid tissue using radioiodine (RI) after the surgical removal of well-differentiated thyroid cancer (WDTC) can induce radiation-related salivary gland (SG) dysfunction. However, in vivo changes of SGs following RI administration in appropriate animal models are not well described in the literature. This study was undertaken to document morphometric and functional changes during the 12 months following RI administration in a murine model of RI-induced SG dysfunction. Methods: Female C57BL/6, 4-week-old mice (n=60) were divided into a RI-treated group (n=30) that received RI orally (0.01 mCi/g body weight) or an unexposed control group (n=30). Mice in both groups were divided into five subgroups (n=6 per subgroup) and sacrificed at 1, 2, 3, 6, and 12 months post-RI administration. Salivary flow rates (SFR) and salivary lag times were measured at 1, 2, 3, 6, and 12 months after RI administration. Morphological and histological examinations and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assays were performed. In addition, changes in salivary 99m Tc pertechnetate uptake and excretion were observed by single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). Results: In RI-treated mice, the SGs were significantly lighter compared to unexposed controls at all study time points. Lag times to salivation in the RI-treated group were greater than in the unexposed controls, but mean SFR were lower. Histologic examinations of SGs in the RI-group showed pale cytoplasm, atypical ductal configuration, septal widening, cytoplasmic vacuolization with pleomorphism, lymphocyte infiltration, and increased fibrosis. Furthermore, more apoptotic cells were observed in acini and ducts in the RI group. In addition, patterns of 99m Tc pertechnetate uptake and excretion in the RI-group were quite different from those observed in controls at 1 and 12 months post-RI. Conclusion: Various histological alterations were observed in mice exposed to radioiodine, that is, an increase in apoptotic acini and ductal cells and functional SG deterioration. The murine model of RI-induced SG dysfunction used in the present study appears to be applicable to preclinical research on RI -induced sialadenitis in patients with WDTC.

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Recommendations for the Use of Prolonged-Release Fampridine in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

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Prolonged-release fampridine (fampridine PR) is a potassium channel blocker that improves conductivity of signal on demyelinated axons in central nervous system. Fampridine PR has been approved to improve speed of walking in patients with multiple sclerosis. This statement provides a brief summary of data on fampridine PR and recommendations on practical use of the medication in clinical practice, prediction, and evaluation of response to treatment and patient management.

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Synaptotagmin 1 is required for vesicular Ca(2+) /H(+) -antiport activity.

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A low-affinity Ca(2+) /H(+) -antiport was described in the membrane of mammalian brain synaptic vesicles. Electrophysiological studies showed that this antiport contributes to the extreme brevity of excitation-release coupling in rapid synapses. Synaptotagmin-1, a vesicular protein interacting with membranes upon low-affinity Ca(2+) -binding, plays a major role in excitation-release coupling, by synchronizing calcium entry with fast neurotransmitter release. Here, we report that synaptotagmin-1 is necessary for expression of the vesicular Ca(2+) /H(+) -antiport. We measured Ca(2+) /H(+) -antiport activity in vesicles and granules of pheochromocytoma PC12 cells by three methods: (1) Ca(2+) -induced dissipation of the vesicular H(+) -gradient; (2) bafilomycin-sensitive calcium accumulation and (3) pH-jump-induced calcium accumulation. The results were congruent and highly significant: Ca(2+) /H(+) -antiport activity is detectable only in acidic organelles expressing functional synaptotagmin-1. In contrast, synaptotagmin-1-deficient cells - and cells where transgenically encoded synaptotagmin-1 was acutely photo-inactivated - were devoid of any Ca(2+) /H(+) -antiport activity. Therefore, in addition to its previously described functions, synaptotagmin-1 is involved in a rapid vesicular Ca(2+) sequestration through a Ca(2+) /H(+) antiport. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

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Cell-Cycle Changes and Oxidative Stress Response to Magnetite in A549 Human Lung Cells.

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In a recent study, magnetite was investigated for its potential to induce toxic effects and influence signaling pathways. It was clearly demonstrated that ROS formation leads to mitochondrial damage and genotoxic effects in A549 cells. On the basis of these findings, we wanted to elucidate the origin of magnetite-mediated ROS formation and its influence on the cell cycle of A549 and H1299 human lung epithelial cells. Concentration- and size-dependent superoxide formation, measured by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), was observed. Furthermore, we could show that the GSH level decreased significantly after exposure to magnetite particles, while catalase (CAT) activity was increased. These effects were also dependent on particle size, albeit less pronounced than those observed with EPR. We were able to show that incubation of A549 cells prior to particle treatment with diphenyleneiodonium (DPI), a NADPH-oxidase (NOX) inhibitor, leads to decreased ROS formation, but this effect was not observed for the NOX inhibitor apocynin. Soluble iron does not contribute considerably to ROS production. Analysis of cell-cycle distribution revealed a pronounced sub-G1 peak, which cannot be linked to increased cell death. Western blot analysis did not show activation of p53 but upregulation of p21 in A549. Here, we were unexpectedly able to demonstrate that exposure to magnetite leads to p21-mediated G1-like arrest. This has been reported previously only for low concentrations of microtubule stabilization drugs. Importantly, the arrested sub-G1 cells were viable and showed no caspase 3/7 activation.

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Antimicrobial and demelanizing activity of Ganoderma lucidum extract, p-hydroxybenzoic and cinnamic acids and their synthetic acetylated glucuronide methyl esters.

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Mushroom extracts or isolated compounds may be useful in the search of new potent antimicrobial agents. Herein, it is described the synthesis of protected (acetylated) glucuronide derivatives of p-hydroxybenzoic and cinnamic acids, two compounds identified in the medicinal mushroom Ganoderma lucidum. Their antimicrobial and demelanizing activities were evaluated and compared to the parent acids and G. lucidum extract. p-Hydroxybenzoic and cinnamic acids, as also their protected glucuronide derivatives revealed high antimicrobial (antibacterial and antifungal) activity, even better than the one showed by commercial standards. Despite the variation in the order of parent acids and the protected glucuronide derivatives, their antimicrobial activity was always higher than the one revealed by the extract. Nevertheless, the extract was the only one with demelanizing activity against Aspergillus niger. The acetylated glucuronide derivatives could be deprotected to obtain glucuronide metabolites, which circulate in the human organism as products of the metabolism of the parent compounds.

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Synthesis and antiprogestational properties of novel 17-fluorinated steroids.

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Progesterone receptor (PR) plays a key role in reproductive functions, and compounds that inhibit progesterone action (antiprogestins) have potential use in the treatment of estrogen- and progesterone-dependent diseases, including uterine leiomyomas and breast cancer. In the present study, we chemically synthesized novel 17-fluorinated steroids and evaluated the cytotoxicity profiles of these compounds in T47D breast cancer cells compared to the activity of known antiprogestins, including ZK230 211, RU-486, CDB2914, CDB4124 and ORG33628. We analyzed in vitro receptor-binding assays and PR-transactivation assays to establish the antiprogestational activity of these molecules. The representative antiprogestin EC304 was found to inhibit in vitro tumorigenicity in a dose-dependent fashion in T47D cells by a colony formation assay at 1 and 10nM concentrations. The potent in vivo antiprogestational activity of EC304 was also demonstrated in an antinidation assay for the interruption of early pregnancy in rats. The strong antiprogestational activity and absence of antiglucocorticoid activity in EC compounds may demonstrate their utility in the treatment of leiomyoma, endometriosis and breast cancer.

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Renal accumulation and effects of intraperitoneal injection of extracted microcystins in omnivorous crucian carp (Carassius auratus).

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An acute toxicological experiment was designed to characterize the sequence of renal ultrastructural changes with accumulated MCs in crucian carp injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) with extracted microcystins (mainly MC-RR and -LR) at two doses, 50 and 200 μg MC-LReq. kg(-1) body weight. Quantitative and qualitative determinations of MCs in the kidney were conducted by HPLC and LC-MS, respectively. MC-RR content in kidney of crucian carp showed a time dose-dependent increase within 48 h post-injection, followed by a sharp decline afterward, while no MC-LR in kidney was detectable throughout the experiment. Ultrastructural changes in the kidney of crucian carp progressed with increasing accumulated MCs and exposure times within 48 h post-injection, whereas renal ultrastructural recovery of crucian carp in the 50 μg MC-LReq. kg(-1) dose group was evident at 168 h post-injection. Our ultrastructural observation suggests that the membranous structure is the main action site of MCs in the kidney, among which mitochondria damage in the tubules is clearly an early, and presumably a critically important effect of MCs. The increases in blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine (CR) in both dose groups further revealed severe impairment occurred in the kidney of crucian carp.

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Cephalic phase insulin secretion is KATP channel-independent.

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Glucose-induced insulin secretion from pancreatic ß-cells depends critically on activity of ATP-sensitive K+ channels (KATP channel). We previously generated mice lacking Kir6.2, the pore subunit of the ß-cell KATP channel (Kir6.2-/-), that show almost no insulin secretion in response to glucose in vitro. In the present study, we compared insulin secretion by voluntary feeding (self-motivated, oral nutrient ingestion) and by forced feeding (intra-gastric nutrient injection via gavage) in wild-type (Kir6.2+/+) and Kir6.2-/- mice. Under ad libitum feeding or during voluntary feeding of standard chow, blood glucose levels and plasma insulin levels were similar in Kir6.2+/+ and Kir6.2-/- mice. By voluntary feeding of carbohydrate alone, insulin secretion was induced significantly in Kir6.2-/- mice, but was markedly attenuated compared to that in Kir6.2+/+ mice. On forced feeding of standard chow or carbohydrate alone, the insulin secretory response was markedly impaired or completely absent in Kir6.2-/- mice. Pre-treatment of a muscarine receptor antagonist, atropine methyl nitrate, which does not cross the blood-brain barrier, almost completely blocked insulin secretion induced by voluntary feeding of standard chow or carbohydrate in Kir6.2-/- mice. Substantial glucose-induced insulin secretion was induced in pancreas perfusion study of Kir6.2-/- mice only in the presence of carbamylcholine. These results suggest that a KATP channel-independent mechanism mediated by the vagal nerve plays a critical role in insulin secretion in response to nutrients in vivo.

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MAPKAPK2/3 Regulate SERCA2a Expression and Fiber Type Composition to Modulate Skeletal Muscle and Cardiomyocyte Function.

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The MAPK-activated protein kinases 2 and 3 (MAPKAPK2/3, MK2/3) represent protein kinases downstream of the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). Using MK2/3 double knockout mice (MK2/3(-/-)), we analyzed the role of MK2/3 in cross-striated muscle by transcriptome and proteome analyses, and by histology. We demonstrated enhanced expression of the slow oxidative skeletal muscle myofiber gene program, including the PPARγ coactivator 1α (PGC-1α). Using reporter gene and electrophoretic gel mobility shift assays we demonstrated that MK2 catalytic activity directly regulated the promoters of the fast fiber-specific myosin heavy chain IId/x and the slow fiber-specific sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase (SERCA) 2 gene. Elevated SERCA2a gene expression caused by a decreased transcription factor Egr-1 to Sp1 ratio was associated with accelerated relaxation and enhanced contractility in MK2/3(-/-) cardiomyocytes, concomitant with improved force parameters in MK2/3(-/-) soleus muscle. These results link MK2/3 to the regulation of calcium dynamics and identify enzymatic activity of MK2/3 as a critical factor for modulating cross-striated muscle function by generating a unique muscle phenotype exhibiting both, reduced fatigability and enhanced force in MK2/3(-/-) mice. Hence, the p38-MK2/3 axis may represent a novel target for the design of therapeutic strategies for diseases related to fiber type changes or impaired SERCA2 function.

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Association of PON1 genotype and haplotype with susceptibility to coronary artery disease and clinical outcomes in dual antiplatelet-treated Han Chinese patients.

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PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of PON1 genetic variants with the susceptibility to coronary artery disease (CAD) and with the clinical endpoints in aspirin and clopidogrel (dual antiplatelet therapy)-treated Han Chinese patients with CAD after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: A total of 538 Han Chinese patients undergoing PCI and receiving dual-antiplatelet therapy were sequentially recruited to the study and followed for up to 1 year. Healthy controls (n = 539) were enrolled during the same period. All study participants were genotyped for five genetic variants in PON1 and the cytochrome P450 2C19*2 mutation (CYP2C19*2). The effect of genetic variants on disease risk and clinical outcome of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) within 1 year or bleeding within 6 months was assessed. RESULTS: CYP2C19*2 was associated with a higher risk of MACE (adjusted P = 0.0098), but a lower risk of bleeding events (adjusted P = 0.0016). The PON1 Q192R polymorphism was significantly associated with a lower risk of bleeding events [odds ratio (OR) 0.61, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.43-0.87, adjusted P = 0.0066). The haplotype bearing the PON1 -126C allele was associated with a higher risk to CAD (OR 1.48, 95% CI 1.04-2.09, P = 0.029) and a higher risk of bleeding events (OR 1.68, 95% CI 1.10-2.56, P = 0.017) compared to the most frequent haplotype. The transcription activity of haplotype p-162A-126C-108C in the PON1 promoter was 2.6-fold higher than that of the most frequent haplotype (p-162G-126G-108T). CONCLUSIONS: Based on these results, we suggest that the haplotype-bearing PON1 -126C allele contributes to the disease risk and the risk of bleeding events in dual antiplatelet-treated CAD patients after PCI.

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Structural transitions in mixed ternary noble gas clusters.

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The properties of noble gas systems can be greatly extended by heterogeneous mixtures of elements. The geometrical structures and energies of mixed Ar-Kr-Xe clusters were investigated using ternary Lennard-Jones (TLJ) potential. For the Ar19Kr n Xe19, Ar19Kr19Xe n , and Ar n Kr19Xe19 (n = 0-17) clusters investigated, the results show that only two minimum energy configurations exist, i.e., polytetrahedron and six-fold pancake. The inner core of all these clusters is composed mainly of Ar atoms, and Kr and Xe atoms are distributed on the surface with well mixed pattern for polytetrahedral and segregate pattern for six-fold pancake configurations. The relative stability property of Ar-Kr-Xe clusters with a certain composition is discussed. Moreover, the role of heterogeneity on the strain was investigated, and reduced strain energies in Ar-Kr-Xe clusters were studied to find possible ways of reducing strain. The results showed that the strain energies were affected mainly by Ar-Ar, Ar-Kr, and Xe-Xe bonds.

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Blood-brain barrier structure and function and the challenges for CNS drug delivery.

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The neurons of the central nervous system (CNS) require precise control of their bathing microenvironment for optimal function, and an important element in this control is the blood-brain barrier (BBB). The BBB is formed by the endothelial cells lining the brain microvessels, under the inductive influence of neighbouring cell types within the 'neurovascular unit' (NVU) including astrocytes and pericytes. The endothelium forms the major interface between the blood and the CNS, and by a combination of low passive permeability and presence of specific transport systems, enzymes and receptors regulates molecular and cellular traffic across the barrier layer. A number of methods and models are available for examining BBB permeation in vivo and in vitro, and can give valuable information on the mechanisms by which therapeutic agents and constructs permeate, ways to optimize permeation, and implications for drug discovery, delivery and toxicity. For treating lysosomal storage diseases (LSDs), models can be included that mimic aspects of the disease, including genetically-modified animals, and in vitro models can be used to examine the effects of cells of the NVU on the BBB under pathological conditions. For testing CNS drug delivery, several in vitro models now provide reliable prediction of penetration of drugs including large molecules and artificial constructs with promising potential in treating LSDs. For many of these diseases it is still not clear how best to deliver appropriate drugs to the CNS, and a concerted approach using a variety of models and methods can give critical insights and indicate practical solutions.

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Region-specific regulation of 5-HT1B receptors in the rat brain by chronic venlafaxine treatment.

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RATIONALE: Venlafaxine is a non-selective serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor antidepressant drug for which clinical studies have suggested a high level efficacy and a possible early action onset compared to the classical antidepressants. Its therapeutic effects might be due, at least in part, to adaptive changes in serotonergic neurotransmission, through the activation of the different 5-HT receptor subtypes. 5-HT1B receptors are located in the axon terminals of both serotonergic and non-serotonergic neurons, where they act as inhibitory autoreceptors or heteroreceptors, respectively. However, the information about the involvement of this subtype in the mechanism of action of antidepressants is limited and quite controversial. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of venlafaxine (10 mg kg(-1) day(-1), p.o.) after 21 days of treatment on the density of 5-HT1B receptors and their functionality in rat brain. METHODS: Effects of chronic venlafaxine were evaluated at different levels of 5-HT1B receptor by using receptor autoradiography, [(35)S]GTPγS binding, and the regulation of body temperature induced by selective 5-HT1B agonist. RESULTS: Our results show that venlafaxine induced an increase in sensitivity of 5-HT1B receptors in hypothalamus both at G-protein level and the control of core temperature without affecting the receptor density. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that adaptive changes on 5-HT1B receptors induced by chronic administration of venlafaxine exhibit regional differences suggesting that the hypothalamus might be an important site of drug action.

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Design, synthesis and spectroscopic characterisation of a focused library based on the polyandrocarpamine natural product scaffold.

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A focused library based on the marine natural products polyandrocarpamines A (1) and B (2) has been designed and synthesised using parallel solution-phase chemistry. In silico physicochemical property calculations were performed on synthetic candidates in order to optimise the library for drug discovery and chemical biology. A library of ten 2-aminoimidazolone products (3-12) was prepared by coupling glycocyamidine and a variety of aldehydes using a one-step stereoselective aldol condensation reaction under microwave conditions. All analogues were characterised by NMR, UV, IR and MS. The library was evaluated for cytotoxicity towards the prostate cancer cell lines, LNCaP, PC-3 and 22Rv1. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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Suppression of Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transitioning (EMT) Enhances Ex Vivo Reprogramming of Human Exocrine Pancreatic Tissue towards Functional Insulin Producing β-Like Cells.

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Due to the lack of tissue available for islet transplantation, new sources of β-cells have been sought for the treatment of type 1 diabetes. The aim of this study was to determine whether the human exocrid fraction from the islet isolation procedure could be reprogrammed to provide additional islet tissue for transplantation. The exocrine enriched cells rapidly dedifferentiated in culture and grew as a mesenchymal monolayer. Genetic lineage tracing confirmed that these mesenchymal cells arose in part through a process of epithelial to mesenchymal transitioning (EMT). A protocol was developed whereby transduction of these mesenchymal cells with adenoviruses containing Pdx1, Ngn3, MafA and Pax4 generated a population of cells that were enriched in glucagon-secreting α-like cells. Transdifferentiation or reprogramming towards insulin secreting β-cells was enhanced, however, when using unpassaged cells in combination with inhibition of EMT by inclusion of ROCK and TGF-β1 inhibitors. Resultant cells were able to secrete insulin in response to glucose and on transplantation, to normalise blood glucose levels in streptozotocin diabetic NOD/Scid mice. In conclusion, reprogramming of human exocrine enriched tissue can best be achieved using fresh material under conditions whereby EMT is inhibited. .rather than allowing the culture to expand as a mesenchymal monolayer.

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Factors Associated With Microalbuminuria in 7,549 Children and Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes in the T1D Exchange Clinic Registry.

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OBJECTIVETo examine factors associated with clinical microalbuminuria (MA) diagnosis in children and adolescents in the T1D Exchange clinic registry.RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODST1D Exchange participants <20 years of age with type 1 diabetes ≥1 year and urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) measured within the prior 2 years were included in the analysis. MA diagnosis required all of the following: 1) a clinical diagnosis of sustained MA or macroalbuminuria, 2) confirmation of MA diagnosis by either the most recent ACR being ≥30 mg/g or current treatment with an ACE inhibitor (ACEI) or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB), and 3) no known cause for nephropathy other than diabetes. Logistic regression was used to assess factors associated with MA.RESULTSMA was present in 329 of 7,549 (4.4%) participants, with a higher frequency associated with longer diabetes duration, higher mean glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level, older age, female sex, higher diastolic blood pressure (BP), and lower BMI (P ≤ 0.01 for each in multivariate analysis). Older age was most strongly associated with MA among participants with HbA1c ≥9.5% (≥80 mmol/mol). MA was uncommon (<2%) among participants with HbA1c <7.5% (<58 mmol/mol). Of those with MA, only 36% were receiving ACEI/ARB treatment.CONCLUSIONSOur results emphasize the importance of good glycemic and BP control, particularly as diabetes duration increases, in order to reduce the risk of nephropathy. Since age and diabetes duration are important nonmodifiable factors associated with MA, the importance of routine screening is underscored to ensure early diagnosis and timely treatment of MA.

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Patent indicators: a window to pharmaceutical market success.

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Pharmaceutical success in the market is the best reward for pharmaceutical investors undergoing the lengthy, costly and risky process of pharmaceutical Research and Development (R&D). Drugs with high market revenues trigger fierce competition between pharmaceutical enterprises, as is demonstrated by the increasing Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) cases focusing on seizing the best-selling products. On the other hand, patents, as the best shield for innovative drugs against generic drugs, become a powerful weapon for pharmaceutical enterprises to win the substantial returns generated by market exclusivity. Patents seem to be directly responsible for the commercial success of new medicines. In this context, it is of great significance to find out the empirical associations between pharmaceutical commercial success and patents. By comprehensively analysing 127 drugs marketed in the USA and their 621 American patents, this article identifies the evidence to link various patent indicators with pharmaceutical sales in actual market.

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Diversity in Structural Consequences of MexZ Mutations in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

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Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with cystic fibrosis. The high level of intrinsic and acquired antibiotic resistance of P. aeruginosa is attributable to the low permeability of its outer membrane in combination with the expression of several multidrug resistance efflux systems. MexZ, the negative regulator of the MexXY efflux pump, is found to be the most frequently mutated gene in P. aeruginosa isolated from cystic fibrosis patient lungs, confirming its importance in multidrug resistance. Structural consequences of four MexZ mutations, including L25P, G46V, P151L, and S202F, have been explored based on the known structure of MexZ using both molecular modeling and molecular dynamics methods. According to obtained results, G46V mutation, which completely abolishes the ability of MexZ binding to DNA, occurs in a specific evolutionary conserved region of MexZ. In addition, the most fluctuation values occur in DNA-binding domain and Helix4. The obtained results explore details of diversity in structural consequences of MexZ mutations in P. aeruginosa.

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Profiling 976 ToxCast chemicals across 331 enzymatic and receptor signaling assays.

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Understanding potential health risks is a significant challenge due to large numbers of diverse chemicals with poorly characterized exposures and mechanisms of toxicities. The present study analyzes 976 chemicals (including failed pharmaceuticals, alternative plasticizers, food additives, and pesticides) in Phase I and II of the U.S. EPA's ToxCast™ project across 331 cell-free enzymatic and ligand-binding high-throughput screening (HTS) assays. Half-maximal activity concentrations (AC50) were identified for 729 chemicals in 256 assays (7,135 chemical-assay pairs). Some of the most commonly affected assays were CYPs (CYP2C9, CYP2C19), transporters (mitochondrial TSPO, norepinephrine, dopaminergic), and GPCRs (aminergic). Heavy metals, surfactants, and dithiocarbamate fungicides showed promiscuous, but distinctly different patterns of activity whereas many of the pharma compounds showed promiscuous activity across GPCRs. Literature analysis confirmed >50% of the activities for the most potent chemical-assay pairs (56), but also revealed 10 missed interactions. Twenty-two chemicals with known estrogenic activity were correctly identified for the majority (77%), missing only the weaker interactions. In many cases, novel findings for previously unreported chemical-target combinations clustered with known chemical-target interactions. Results from this large inventory of chemical-biological interactions can inform read-across methods as well as to link potential targets to molecular initiating events in adverse outcome pathways for diverse toxicities. This abstract does not necessarily reflect U.S. EPA policy.

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Ultrasensitive Polarized Up-Conversion of Tm(3+)-Yb(3+) Doped β-NaYF4 Single Nanorod.

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