Alcohol-dysregulated microRNAs in hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma

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The non-coding landscape of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

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Poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid drug delivery systems through transdermal pathway : an overview

In past few decades, scientists have made tremendous advancement in the field of drug delivery systems (DDS), through transdermal pathway, as the skin represents a ready and large surface area for delivering drugs. Efforts are in progress to design efficient transdermal DDS that support sustained drug release at the targeted area for longer duration in the recommended therapeutic window without producing side-effects. Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) is one of the most promising Food and Drug Administration approved synthetic polymers in designing versatile drug delivery carriers for different drug administration routes, including transdermal drug delivery. The present review provides a brief introduction over the transdermal drug delivery and PLGA as a material in context to its role in designing drug delivery vehicles. Attempts are made to compile literatures over PLGA-based drug delivery vehicles, including microneedles, nanoparticles, and nanofibers and their role in transdermal drug delivery of different therapeutic agents. Different nanostructure evaluation techniques with their working principles are briefly explained.RL thanks the funding support from Singapore National Research Foundation under its Translational and Clinical Research Flagship Programme (NMRC/TCR/008-SERI/2013) and administered by the Singapore Ministry of Health’s National Medical Research Council and Co-operative Basic Research Grant from the Singapore National Medical Research Council (Project No. NMRC/CBRG/0048/2013).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Evaluation of HER-2/neu gene amplification and protein expression in non-small cell lung carcinomas

HER-2/neu gene amplification and cell surface overexpression are important factors in breast cancer for prognosis and prediction of sensitivity to anti-HER-2/neu monoclonal antibody therapy. In lung cancer, the clinical significance of HER-2/neu expression is currently under evaluation. We investigated 238 non-small lung carcinomas for HER-2/neu protein overexpression by immunohistochemistry using the HercepTest. We found 2+ or 3+ overexpression in 39 patients (16%), including 35% in adenocarcinomas and 20% in large cell carcinomas, but only 1% of squamous cell carcinomas. Marked (3+) overexpression was uncommon (4%). The association between protein expression and gene copy number per cell, as determined by fluorescence in situ hybridisation assay, was investigated in 51 of these NSCLC tumours. Twenty-seven tumours (53%) were negative by both tests. Marked (3+) protein expression and gene amplification were present in only 4% of samples. In 11 tumours (21%), gene gain was accompanied by chromosomal aneusomy and did not result in high protein levels while in 7 (14%) the score 2+ was associated with maximum number of signals per cell <9. The prognostic implication of HER-2/neu protein expression was studied in 187 surgically resected tumours. No statistical difference in survival was observed comparing patients with positive (2+/3+) and negative tumours (0/1+), although 3+ patients showed a tendency to shorter survival. The therapeutic implications of protein expression and gene amplification in lung cancer need to be examined in prospective clinical trials

Characterization of thermophilic fungi producing extracellular lignocellulolytic enzymes for lignocellulosic hydrolysis under solid-state fermentation

Abstract Background Thermotolerant lignocellulolytic enzymes have become a subject of interest in industrial processes due to their ability to degrade lignocellulosic polysaccharides. Development of cost-effective, large-scale screening for production of desirable enzymes by thermophilic fungi is a challenge. The present investigation focused on isolating, screening, and identifying industrially relevant thermophilic producers of lignocellulolytic enzymes from various locations in the Warangal district, Telangana, India. Results Fifteen thermophilic fungi were isolated from soil on their ability to grow at 50 °C and were screened for their activity of cellulase, hemicellulase, and lignin degradation based on holo zone around colonies. The appearance of the black color zone of diffusion in esculin agar is a positive indication for the β-glucosidases activity test. Out of fifteen isolates, Aspergillus fumigatus JCM 10253 have shown as a potential producer of extracellular enzymes for lignocelluloses degradation showing higher activity for cellulase (EI 1.50) as well as β-glucosidase (4 mg/mL), simultaneously for xylanase (EI 1.18) by plate assay methods. A. fumigatus JCM 10253 was selected for extracellular hydrolytic enzymes production under solid-state fermentation. Maximum CMCase (26.2 IU/mL), FPase (18.2 IU/mL), β-glucosidase (0.87 IU/mL), and xylanase (2.6 IU/mL) activities were obtained after incubation time of 144 h at 50 °C. The thermostability of crude cellulase showed the optimum activity at 60 °C and for FPase, β-glucosidase, and xylanase at 50 °C which recommended that the enzymes have a potentially significant role in the biofuel industries. Conclusion The high titer production of active enzymes that cleave different β-1,4-glycosidic bonds still remains a challenge and is the major bottleneck for the lignocellulosic conversion. In particular, the finding of thermostable enzymes which would allow the development of more robust processes is a major goal in this field

Dinuclear phenoxo-bridged “end-off” complexes containing a piperazine that shows chemical nuclease and cytotoxic activities

<div><p>Three dinuclear cobalt(II), nickel(II), and copper(II) complexes (<b>1–3</b>) of a phenol-based ‘end-off’ compartmental ligand, 2,6-bis[1-(N-ethyl)piperazineiminomethyl]-4-methylphenol (HL), have been synthesized and characterized by spectral analysis. The molecular structure of one of these complexes, 2,6-bis[1-(N-ethyl)piperazineiminomethyl]-4-methylphenolato-diaqua-μ-hydroxo-μ-nitrato-dicobalt(II) nitrate, [Co₂(H₂L)(μ-OH)(μ-NO₃)(H₂O)₂](NO₃)₃] (<b>1</b>), was determined by single crystal X-ray crystallography. The complex exhibits a distorted octahedral geometry around cobalt with a Co–Co distance of 2.9882(8) Å. Electrochemical studies of <b>1–3</b> reveal that the redox processes are due to ligand reactions. The EPR spectrum of <b>3</b> showed a broad signal at <i>g </i>= 2.11 indicating magnetic interaction between the two copper ions. The <i>μ</i>_eff values for <b>1</b> and <b>3</b> are 4.94 and 1.93 BM, respectively, which indicate a spin–spin interaction between the metal ions. Complex <b>3</b> caused a cleavage of circular plasmid pBR322 DNA into nicked circular and linear forms in the presence of a co-reactant. Human epidermoid carcinoma cells, A431, were employed for <i>in vitro</i> cytotoxicity studies of the synthesized complexes. The IC₅₀ value of <b>3</b> is lower than that of the other two complexes. The copper complex (<b>3</b>) exhibited better chemical nuclease and cytotoxic activity than the other two complexes.</p></div