The calcimimetic R-568 induces apoptotic cell death in prostate cancer cells

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Increased serum level of parathyroid hormone (PTH) was found in metastatic prostate cancers. Calcimimetic R-568 was reported to reduce PTH expression, to suppress cell proliferation and to induce apoptosis in parathyroid cells. In this study, we investigated the effect of R-568 on cellular survival of prostate cancer cells.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Prostate cancer cell lines LNCaP and PC-3 were used in this study. Cellular survival was determined with MTT, trypan blue exclusion and fluorescent Live/Death assays. Western blot assay was utilized to assess apoptotic events induced by R-568 treatment. JC-1 staining was used to evaluate mitochondrial membrane potential.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In cultured prostate cancer LNCaP and PC-3 cells, R-568 treatment significantly reduced cellular survival in a dose- and time-dependent manner. R-568-induced cell death was an apoptotic event, as evidenced by caspase-3 processing and PARP cleavage, as well as JC-1 color change in mitochondria. Knocking down calcium sensing receptor (CaSR) significantly reduced R-568-induced cytotoxicity. Enforced expression of Bcl-xL gene abolished R-568-induced cell death, while loss of Bcl-xL expression led to increased cell death in R-568-treated LNCaP cells,.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Taken together, our data demonstrated that calcimimetic R-568 triggers an intrinsic mitochondria-related apoptotic pathway, which is dependent on the CaSR and is modulated by Bcl-xL anti-apoptotic pathway.</p

Characterization of the complete chloroplast genome of ornamental plant, Bougainvillea peruviana (Nyctaginaceae)

Bougainvillea peruviana is a widely domesticated ornamental plant species. However, studies on B. peruviana are limited. In this study, we reported the complete chloroplast (cp) genome of B. peruviana. The cp genome is 154,465 bp in length, containing a large single-copy (LSC) of 85,563 bp and a small single-copy (SSC) of 18,050 bp, which are separated by a pair of inverted repeats (IRs) of 25,426 bp, each. A total of 132 genes, including 86 protein-coding genes, 38 tRNA genes, and eight rRNA genes, were predicted. The overall GC content for the cp genome is 36.5%. The maximum-likelihood tree constructed based on cp genome sequences showed that B. peruviana is placed under Nyctaginaceae and is diverged before Bougainvillea glabra and Bougainvillea spectabilis under strong bootstrap support

The complete chloroplast genome of a commercially exploited ornamental plant, Bougainvillea glabra (Caryophyllales: Nyctaginaceae)

Bougainvillea glabra is an ornamental plant that is domesticated in many tropical and sub-tropical countries. The focus on its breeding programmes has overshadowed genetic studies of this important species. In this study, we reported on the complete chloroplast (cp) genome of B. glabra. The cp genome is 154,763 bp in size, comprised of a large single copy (LSC) region of 85,921 bp, a small single copy (SSC) region of 18,018 bp, and a pair of inverted repeat (IR) regions of 25,412 bp each. A total of 131 genes were predicted, including 37 tRNA, 8 rRNA, and 86 protein-coding genes. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that B. glabra is placed under Nyctaginaceae and sister to B. spectabilis under a strong bootstrap support

Effect of Chemical Treatment on Rice Straw Fiber Surface and Properties of Straw/Polylactic Acid Composites

In this work, rice straw fibers were modified using NaOH, KBM-403, and tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS), and the changes in the surface groups of the straw fibers before and after the modification were analyzed by infrared testing. Straw/polylactic composite were prepared by hot pressing, and the effects of the modifiers used on the properties of these blends were studied by conducting mechanical and thermal performance tests. The results showed that the tensile strength of the straw fiber composites modified by NaOH and KBM-403 increased by 20% and 21.2%, respectively, compared with that of the unmodified composite, whereas the tensile strength of the TEOS-modified fiber did not increase significantly. The flexural strengths of the composites increased by 10.2%, 11.1%, and 13.2%. The impact strength increased by 38.5%, 7.6%, and 7.6%. The results of thermal analysis show that initial and maximum thermal decomposition temperatures of the composite materials increased, indicating that the modified composite materials had a higher thermal stability. These blends are a kind of potential material for structural applications such as interiors, drywell and partitions for furniture

Drug resistance patterns of Klebsiella pneumonia strains isolated from Shaoxing City, Zhejiang Province in 2019: a multi-centre retrospective study

We retrospectively collected drug susceptibility data of Klebsiella pneumoniae from six tertiary hospitals in Shaoxing City in 2019 and performed a comparative analysis of drug resistance among different hospitals, sexes, ages, and specimens. In total, 1954 strains were identified. The antibiotic resistance rate varied from 4.42% to 36.18%. Most K. pneumoniae were still susceptible to carbapenems and tigecycline, with resistance rates of less than 10%. Drug resistance was relatively mild in Shaoxing Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital and Shaoxing Maternal and Children Health Hospital, but most severe in Affiliated Hospital of Shaoxing University. Specimens were primarily obtained from elderly and male patients, and the resistance rate increased with age. The specimens were mostly collected from the respiratory and urinary tracts. No carbapenem-resistant strains were collected in 112 isolates from patients under 20 years of age. The ratio of carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae isolates was highest in blood-isolated strains (23.86%), and that of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase positive strains was highest in non-blood-sterile body fluids (37.37%). The resistance spectrum of K. pneumoniae varied between hospitals in the same area. Elderly and male patients, non-sterile body fluids, and blood source strains should be seriously considered in empirical treatment. Highlights Prevention and control should be strengthened in hospitals with high rate of drug resistance. Strengthen screening of drug-resistant bacteria in specific populations. Transferred patients should be alerted to the bacterial drug resistance status