Human embryonic stem cell (hESC) derived NK cells are a promising source of anti-tumor lymphocytes for off-the-shelf immunotherapeutics. They also provide a genetically tractable platform uniquely suited for study of anti-tumor immunotherapies in pre-clinical models. We have previously demonstrated the potency of hESC-derived NK cells in vivo. We have used ...

Long RNAs often exist as multiple conformers in equilibrium. For the genomes of single-stranded RNA viruses, one of these conformers must include a compacted state allowing the RNA to be confined within the virion. We have used single molecule fluorescence correlation spectroscopy to monitor the conformations of viral genomes and ...

High-molecular-weight comb-shaped cationic copolymers have been of interest and importance as non-viral gene delivery carriers. Poly(DL-aspartamide)-based biomaterials with good degradability and excellent biocompatibility could be used as the potential backbones of gene vectors. In this work, atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) was proposed to prepare the biocleavable and biodegradable comb-shaped ...

ABSTRACT: A 5-1/2-month-old female Holstein-Friesian calf was presented with a history of recurring ruminal tympany and poor development. The absence of lung sounds on the right hemithorax suggested a right-sided intrathoracic pathology. Radiography and computed tomography revealed a large thin-walled cavernous lesion with a gas-fluid interface which almost completely filled ...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: A correlation has been found between periodontal disease (PD) and stroke. This study was conducted to investigate whether dental prophylaxis and periodontal treatment reduce the incidence rate (IR) of ischemic stroke. METHODS: We identified 510 762 PD cases and 208 674 non-PD subjects from January 1, 2000, ...

Taurolithocholate (TLC) acutely inhibits biliary excretion of Mrp2 substrates by inducing Mrp2 retrieval from the canalicular membrane, while cAMP increases plasma membrane MRP2. The effect of TLC may be mediated via protein kinase Cε (PKCε). Myristoylated Alanine-Rich C Kinase Substrate (MARCKS) is a membrane bound F-actin cross linking protein and ...

Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) constitutes a highly prevalent comorbidity in patients with chronic heart failure (HF, approximately 45 %). Both diseases are related in a bidirectional way: Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) can contribute to the development of HF via multiple mechanisms. Apnoea-related acute rise of cardiac afterload as well as manifest ...

ABSTRACT: Bronchial obstruction due to a tumor embolus of the contralateral lung during pneumonectomy is an uncommon and fatal complication. According to previous cases, a bronchial balloon of double-lumen endotracheal tube (DLT) could prevent a dislodged tumor from traveling to the contralateral lung. We experienced a tumor embolism from the ...

PURPOSEMany male survivors of childhood cancer are at risk for azoospermia. Although both the levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and inhibin B are correlated with sperm concentration, their ability to predict azoospermia in survivors of childhood cancer remains uncertain.Patients And methodsSemen analysis was performed and serum levels of FSH and ...

Reduced activity of two genes in combination often has a more detrimental effect than expected. Such epistatic interactions not only occur when genes are mutated but also due to variation in gene expression, including among isogenic individuals in a controlled environment. We hypothesized that these 'epigenetic' epistatic interactions could place ...

The maize (Zea mays) nucleosome remodeling factor complex component101 (nfc101) and nfc102 are putative paralogs encoding WD-repeat proteins with homology to plant and mammalian components of various chromatin modifying complexes. In this study, we generated transgenic lines with simultaneous nfc101 and nfc102 downregulation and analyzed phenotypic alterations, along with effects ...

Our objective was to assess the effects of acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC) with riluzole on disability and mortality of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Definite/probable ALS patients, 40-70 years of age, duration 6-24 months, self-sufficient (i.e. able to swallow, cut food/handle utensils, and walk), and with forced vital capacity (FVC) > 80% entered ...

The estrogenic monomer bisphenol-A (BPA) is an endocrine-disrupting chemical used in the production of epoxy resins, plastic food and beverage containers, leading to ubiquitous human exposure. Environmentally relevant doses of BPA have profound effects on mice endocrine pancreas. It increases pancreatic insulin content and favors postprandial hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance ...

Here we describe the morphologies of Au nanocrystals self-assembled in fcc 3D superlattices called supracrystals. The average size of the nanocrystals is either 5 or 7 nm with a very small size distribution (<7%). The coating agents used to stabilize the nanocrystals are dodecanethiol (C(12)H(25)-SH), tetradecanethiol (C(14)H(29)-SH), and hexadecanethiol (C(16)H(33)-SH). ...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Poststroke hyperglycemia is associated with resistance to tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) reperfusion, higher risk of intracerebral hemorrhage, and worse neurological outcomes. In this study, we asked whether minocycline combined with intravenous tPA may ameliorate inflammation and brain injury after focal embolic stroke in type 1 diabetic rats. ...

A series of seven [Ir{ArNC(NR(2))NAr}(cod)] complexes (1a-1g; where R = Me or Et; Ar = Ph, 4-MeC(6)H(4), 4-MeOC(6)H(4), 2,6-Me(2)C(6)H(3), or 2,6-(i)Pr(2)C(6)H(3); and cod = 1,5-cyclooctadiene) were synthesized by two different methods from the neutral guanidines, ArN═C(NR(2))NHAr, using either MeLi and [{Ir(cod)}(2)(μ-Cl)(2)] or [{Ir(cod)}(2)(μ-OMe)(2)]. Reaction of 1a-1g with CO produced the ...

The receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) is a pattern-recognition receptor and its engagement by ligands such as high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is implicated in tumor growth and metastasis. Low-molecular weight heparin (LMWH) has an antagonistic effect on the RAGE axis and is also reported to exert ...

A series of P-chirogenic oligomers of the type (-C≡C-aryl-C≡C-PtL(2)-)(n) [L = (R)- and (S)-P(Ph)(iPr)(C(17)H(35)); aryl = 1,4-benzene, 2,1,3-benzothiadiazole] along the corresponding achiral analogues (L = PBu(3)) and model complexes PhC≡CPtL(2)C≡CPh were prepared from the ephedrine strategy and were fully characterized [(1)H, (31)P NMR; IR; small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS); gel permeation ...

Three new lanostanoid triterpenes, 3β,7β,15β-trihydroxy-11,23-dioxo-lanost-8,16-dien-26-oic acid (1), 3β,7β,15β-trihydroxy-11,23-dioxo-lanost-8,16-dien-26-oic acid methyl ester (2), and 3β,15β-dihydroxy-7,11,23-trioxo-lanost-8,16-dien-26-oic acid methyl ester (3) were isolated from the EtOAc extract of the fruiting bodies of Ganoderma tropicum. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy as well as MS. The bioassay ...

ABSTRACT: We demonstrated a flexible resistive random access memory device through a low-temperature atomic layer deposition process. The device is composed of an HfO2/Al2O3-based functional stack on an indium tin oxide-coated polyethylene terephthalate substrate. After the initial reset operation, the device exhibits a typical bipolar, reliable, and reproducible resistive switching ...

In this paper, the microbial transformation of desacetylcinobufagin (1) by Fusarium avenaceum AS 3.4594 was investigated, and four metabolites were isolated and characterized as 3-keton-desacetylcinobufagin (2), 3-epi-desacetylcinobufagin (3), bufadienolide A (4), and 15β,16α-dihydroxyl-17βH-bufalin (5), respectively. Among them, 4 and 5 are new compounds. The cytotoxicities of transformed products (2-5) against ...

Pin1 isomerizes the phosphorylated Ser/Thr-Pro peptide bonds and regulates the functions of its binding proteins by inducing conformational changes. Involvement of Pin1 in the aging process has been suggested based on the phenotype of Pin1-knockout mice and its interaction with lifespan regulator protein, p66 (Shc) . In this study, we ...

The extent to which T cell-mediated immune surveillance is impaired in human cancer remains a question of major importance, given its potential impact on the development of generalized treatments for advanced disease where the highest degree of heterogeneity exists. Here we report the first global analysis of immune dysfunction in ...

BACKGROUND: Second primary malignancies (SPMs) are the leading cause of death in survivors of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Synchronous SPMs are of significant clinical interest because they potentially can be identified by screening procedures at the time of diagnosis of the index cancer. Recently, human papillomavirus (HPV) ...

Abstract Background: A validated method to predict lung deposition for inhaled medication from in vitro data is lacking in spite of many attempts to correlate in vitro and in vivo outcomes. By using an in vivo-like in vitro setup and analyzing inhalers from the same batches, both in vitro and ...

A highly enantioselective catalytic double-Michael addition reaction of substituted benzofuran-2-ones with divinyl ketones promoted by readily accessible tertiary amine-thiourea Cinchona alkaloids has been developed. A number of optically enriched spirocyclic benzofuran-2-ones were prepared in very good yields (up to 99 %), diastereoselectivities (up to 19:1 d.r.), and very good enantioselectivities (up ...

A novel strategy for immobilization of CdTe quantum dots (QDs) onto amino functionalized solid supports was developed. QDs capped with compounds holding an amino group were covalently bonded to the substrate under mild reaction conditions, exhibiting great stability and strong luminescence.

We describe for the fist time the electro-oxidative synthesis and passivating properties of surface films of polyallylamine and co-polymers of allylamine and diallylamine. Cyclic voltammetry and impedance spectra show that the films exhibit high charge transfer resistance and that the addition of diallylamine causes improvements in the compactness and stability ...

Purpose:To assess the prevalence, extent, severity, and risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients suspected of having CAD but with no medically modifiable risk factors.Materials and Methods:Institutional review board approval or waiver of consent was obtained at each center. This study was HIPAA compliant. From an international multicenter cohort ...

With diminishing fossil resources and increasing concerns about environmental issues, searching for alternative fuels has gained interest in recent years. Cellulose, as the most abundant nonfood biomass on earth, is a promising renewable feedstock for production of fuels and chemicals. In principle, the ample hydroxyl groups in the structure of ...

Background The impact of extranodal extension (ENE) of metastatic papillary carcinoma (PTC) on short and long-term clinical outcomes, including biochemical testing, has not been reported. Methods This single-institution National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center cohort study included patients with macroscopic metastases and excluded patients with gross residual disease after surgery, ...

Cadmium (Cd) is known to cause oxidative damage in the testes of rats. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective role of rutin (RUT, 30 mg/kg) and selenium (Se, 0.15 ppm) alone or in combination against Cd (200 ppm)-induced lipid peroxidation, steroidogenesis and changes in antioxidant defence ...

Polarization of early embryos provides a foundation to execute essential patterning and morphogenetic events. In C. elegans, cell contacts polarize early embryos along their radial axis by excluding the cortical polarity protein PAR-6 from sites of cell contact, thereby restricting PAR-6 to contact-free cell surfaces. Radial polarization requires the cortically ...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Guidelines recommend carotid endarterectomy (CEA) within 2 weeks from an ischemic event. However, previous studies have shown that only a minority of patients undergo CEA within this period. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of a multidisciplinary nationwide initiative aimed at reducing time ...

Distance and spins: A new broadband, frequency-selective inversion pulse has been devised for pulsed electron-electron double resonance (PELDOR) spectroscopy, a unique method used to determine distance distributions between two or more paramagnetic centers 2-10 nm apart. The PELDOR modulation depth can be increased by substituting the rectangular pump pulse by ...

The combination of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) II, left ventricular failure with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) therapy, and recurrent left ventricular thrombosis is rare and predicts a poor outcome. In this case, HIT II occurred after an ischemic cardiogenic shock. We initiated ECMO and intra-aortic balloon pump therapy during coronary artery ...

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) accumulate in tumor-bearing hosts and play a major role in tumor-induced immunosuppression, which hampers effective immunotherapeutic approaches. β-Glucans have been reported to function as potent immunomodulators to stimulate innate and adaptive immune responses, which contributes to their anti-tumor property. Here we investigated the effect of particulate ...

Certain DNA and RNA sequences can form (G)quadruplexes, which can affect promoter activity, genetic instability, RNA splicing and neurite mRNA localization. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) were recently shown to be caused by expansion of a (GGGGCC)n/(GGCCCC)n repeat in the C9ORF72 gene. Mutant r(GGGGCC)n containing transcripts aggregate ...

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Several peripheral proteins that might be useful for detecting the presence of ectopic pregnancy (EP) have been evaluated, but none have been proven entirely useful in the clinic. We investigated the presence and the possible changes in circulating molecules that distinguish between normal intrauterine pregnancy (IUP) and tubal ...

BACKGROUND:Recent studies have shown that an early start of open kinetic chain (OKC) exercises for quadriceps strengthening in a full range of motion (ROM) could increase anterior knee laxity after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction with flexor tendons. However, there are no clinical trials that evaluated outcomes of OKC exercises ...

The development of classification nano-structure-activity Relationships (nano-SARs) of nanoparticle (NP) bioactivity is presented with the aim of demonstrating the integration of multiparametric toxicity/bioactivity assays to arrive at statistically meaningful class definitions (i.e., bioactivity/inactivity endpoints), as well as the implications of nano-SAR applicability domains and decision boundaries. Nano-SARs are constructed based ...

Gastrointestinal mechanisms involved in the suppression of appetite are compromised in obesity. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is released in response to nutrients, suppresses food intake, and has been shown to play a role in regulation of energy balance. It is not known whether obese-prone (OP) rats exhibit dysfunctional GLP-1 signaling that ...

In order to identify which T-cell subset that in particular were activated in the asthmatic bronchia, we developed a triple colour immunohistofluoresence labelling technique on cryosection to discriminate activated CD4+CD25+ T cells, (effector T cells) from Foxp3+ regulatory T-cells (Treg). Additional coexpression of activation and proliferation markers were also examined ...

Perinatal insults program sex differences in blood pressure, with males more susceptible than females. Aging may augment developmental programming of chronic disease, but the mechanisms involved are not clear. We previously reported that female growth-restricted offspring are normotensive after puberty. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that age increases susceptibility to ...

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) patients have an excess mortality proportion in long-term outcome studies because of the high rate of cerebrovascular and cardiovascular deaths. The aim of the present study was to assess the excess long-term mortality among patients with unruptured aneurysms with no previous SAH and to ...

The biocompatibility/inflammation profile of B2A-coated ceramic granules was evaluated using a panel of standard biocompatibility protocols (International Organization for Standardization-10993) including skin irritation and delayed-type hypersensitivity (Kligman maximization test), as well as acute, subacute, and chronic toxicity. Additionally, the potential of B2A-coated granules to elicit inflammatory reactions was also assessed ...

This paper describes how a multistage analysis strategy for a clinical trial can assess a sequence of hypotheses that pertain to successively more stringent criteria for excess risk exclusion or superiority for a primary endpoint with a low event rate. The criteria for assessment can correspond to excess risk of ...

It's easy to C: The reaction of [Re(CO)(2) (CS)(η-C(5) H(5) )] with [Re(CO)(2) (thf)(η-C(5) H(5) )] affords the disulfur complex [Re(CO)(2) (η(2) -S(2) )(η-C(5) H(5) )] and the remarkably simple μ-carbido complex [(μ-C){Re(CO)(2) (η-C(5) H(5) )}(2) ], which has been structurally characterized and computationally investigated (see picture; black C, white ...

Dissymmetric π-conjugated monomers and oligomers incorporating 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) units and bearing terpyridine end groups were synthesized in good yields through Vilsmeyer-Haak formylation followed by a reaction with 2-acetylpyridine in basic media or, for the longest oligomers, direct C-H bond arylation. They have a low HOMO-LUMO gap and are easily oxidized ...

Extracellular matrix (ECM) composition, organization, and compliance provide both architectural and chemical cues that modulate tissue homeostasis. ECM produced by stromal fibroblasts plays a key role in breast cancer invasion and metastasis, which are also stimulated by intratumoral hypoxia. Here we demonstrate that hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) is a critical ...