2-[Hy­droxy(4-meth­oxy­phen­yl)methyl­idene]indane-1,3-dione

In the title compound, C17H12O4, there is an intra­molecular O—H⋯O hydrogen bond. The dihedral angle between the indane ring system [maximun deviation = 0.023 (2) Å] and the benzene ring is 37.42 (9)°

4-(4-Oxopent-2-en-2-yl­amino)-1,2,4-triazol-1-ium-5-thiol­ate

In the title compound, C8H12N4OS, an intra­molecular N—H⋯O hydrogen bond links the imine N atom to the oxo O atom. In the crystal, mol­ecules are linked by inter­molecular N—H⋯O and N—H⋯S hydrogen bonds, forming a two-dimensional framework

Metastasis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma: What we know and do not know

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) has the highest metastatic rate among head and neck cancers, with its underlying mechanism not yet fully unveiled. High- versus low-metastasis, NPC cell lines have been established. The footpad-popliteal lymph node metastasis model and other in vivo models have been stably used to study NPC metastasis. The histological appearance and the expression of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers might be helpful in selecting high-risk NPC patients for developing post-treatment metastasis. Tested EMT markers and their protein expression levels that correlate with patient disease-free survival in large patient cohorts include E-cadherin, N-cadherin, CD44, Twist, Snail, and Cyclin D1. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection can trigger NPC metastasis from multiple angles via multiple signaling pathways. High endothelial venules are commonly seen in NPC tissues, with their role in NPC metastasis requiring clarification. The molecules that promote and inhibit NPC metastasis are introduced, with a focus on cytokines SPINK6, serglycin, interleukin 8 (IL8), Wnt family member 5A (WNT5A), and chemokine C-C motif ligand 2 (CCL2). Two videos showing NPC cells with and without SPINK6 knocked down are presented. Future directions for studying NPC metastasis are also discussed

Recombination of oxidized samples of DHA and purified sunflower oil reproduces the odor profile of impaired algae oil from Schizochytrium sp. and reveals the odor contribution of fatty acids other than DHA

10 Páginas.-- 1 Tabla.-- 7 FigurasAlgae oil from Schizochytrium sp. is one of the major natural sources of ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), but its applications in foods are limited because of its unpleasant odor. The complex composition of algae oil originates an odor profile that differs from that of its major PUFA, i.e. docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). The aim of this work was to explore the specific role of DHA oxidation in the odor profile of algae oil. According to the fatty acid composition and odor characteristics, oxidized sunflower oil was selected and combined with oxidized DHA to simulate the odor profile of algae oil. The recombination oil showed similar odor characteristics to the algae oil sample indicating that DHA oxidation was key in the formation of the unpleasant odor in algae oil and that oxidation of fatty acids other than DHA also made a contribution. The constructed off-flavor of algae oil was a consequence of a synthetic effect between odorants from oxidized DHA and oxidized oleic, linoleic and linolenic acid. This study provided a reference for the source research of volatile substances producing fishy odor in algae oil.This work was supported by grants from the National Key R&D Program of China (Grant No. 2018YFC0311201 and 2018YFC1406806).Peer reviewe

Concomitant oxidation of fatty acids other than DHA and EPA plays a role in the characteristic off-odor of fish oil

9 Páginas.-- 4 Figuras.-- 2 TablasThe aim of the present research was to explore the development of off-odors in fish oil from the perspective of fatty acid oxidation. It was found that the off-odors elicited by the two major ω-3 PUFAs in fish oil, i.e. DHA and EPA, were different from those by fish oil. Results showed that simultaneous oxidation of fatty acids other than DHA and EPA can be involved. The off-odors of fish oil was successfully simulated by combining oxidized samples of DHA, EPA and sunflower oil. Therefore, oxidation of oleic and linoleic acids also contributed to the off-odors in fish oil. A novel analytical approach that consisted in the combination of gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS) and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) was applied to identify differences in the volatile components between the recombinant oil and the fish oil.This work was supported by grants from the National Key R&D Program of China (Grant Nos. 2018YFC0311201 and 2018YFC1406806). Yunqi Wen thanks the China Scholarship Council (CSC) for funding his PhD scholarship.Peer reviewe

A chemometric study on the identification of 5-methylfurfural and 2-acetylfuran as particular volatile compounds of oxidized fish oil based on SHS-GC-IMS

4 Figuras.-- 2 TablasFish oil develops particular off-odors, mainly fishy odor, from the oxidation of its characteristic fatty acids, docosahexaenoic (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic (EPA). Anchovy oil (AO) was taken as representative of fish oils. This was compared to three vegetable oils with different fatty acid compositions, i.e. camellia, sunflower and linseed oil, and differential volatile compounds were identified by static-headspace gas-chromatography ion-mobility-spectrometry (SHS-GC-IMS) and orthogonal partial-least-squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) during oxidation at 60 °C. Three groups of differential volatile compounds detected at higher concentrations in the AO were screened out and two compounds, identified as 5-methylfurfural and 2-acetylfuran, were characteristic to the AO and not found in the vegetable oils. They were formed from both EPA and DHA, only present in the AO, and their formation mechanisms were proposed. The contents of 5-methylfurfural and 2-acetylfuran increased linearly with the oxidation time and consequently they could be used as oxidative markers of fish oils.This work was supported by grants from the National Key R&D Program of China (Grant Nos. 2018YFC0311201 and 2018YFC1406806). Yunqi Wen thanks the China Scholarship Council (CSC) for funding his Ph.D. scholarship.Peer reviewe

ACE2 in tumor cells and tumor vasculature: Negligible intercellular transfer from cancer cells into endothelial cells

Cancer patients are more susceptible to severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is the functional host receptor for SARS-CoV-2 entering into human cells. Bioinformatics’ analyses have revealed that ACE2 is upregulated in some cancer cells. In the present study, we evaluated ACE2 protein expression levels in several common malignancies compared to non-cancerous normal tissues. ACE2 expression was elevated in colorectal adenocarcinoma, pancreatic adenocarcinoma, gastric adenocarcinoma, and papillary renal cell carcinoma cancer. Yet, it was suppressed in chromophobe renal cell carcinoma, testicular germ cell tumors, and papillary thyroid carcinoma. Two tumor tissue microarrays were used to evaluate the prognostic value of ACE2 expression in patients with gastric adenocarcinoma, and colorectal adenocarcinoma without COVID-19. No significant survival benefit was found for patients with overexpression of ACE2 in the tumor. In the tumor vasculature, ACE2 expression was observed in only 54% of the tumor micro-vessels. Using an in vitro co-culture of endothelial cells and tumor cells overexpressing fusion protein ACE2-red fluorescent protein, we did not observe any clear and convincing intercellular transfer of ACE2 from cancer cells into endothelial cells. In summary, alteration of ACE2 expression was found in common malignancies, but there is no evidence of intercellular transfer of ACE2 from cancer cells to endothelial cells

GTPase regulator associated with the focal adhesion kinase (GRAF) transcript was down-regulated in patients with myeloid malignancies

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>GTPase regulator associated with the focal adhesion kinase (<it>GRAF</it>), a putative tumor suppressor gene, is found inactivated in hematopoietic malignancies by either genetic or epigenetic abnormalities. However, the expression level of <it>GRAF </it>gene has not yet been studied in leukemia. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression level of <it>GRAF </it>gene in those patients with myeloid malignancies including acute myeloid leukemia (AML), myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and chronic myeloid leukemia (CML).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The expression levels of <it>GRAF </it>transcript were determined in 94 patients using real-time quantitative PCR (RQ-PCR). Clinical and laboratory data of these patients were collected and analyzed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The significantly decreased level of <it>GRAF </it>transcript was observed in three myeloid malignancies compared to controls. Within AML, there was no difference in the level of <it>GRAF </it>transcript among different FAB subtypes (<it>P </it>> 0.05). Difference was not observed in the amount of <it>GRAF </it>mRNA between CML at chronic phase and controls. As CML progressed, <it>GRAF </it>transcript significantly decreased. In MDS, three cases with 5q deletion had lower <it>GRAF </it>transcript than four without 5q deletion (median 0.76 vs 2.99) (<it>P </it>> 0.05).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>our results demonstrate that the <it>GRAF </it>transcript is decreased in myeloid malignancies.</p