Pancreatic cancer is one of the most lethal diseases which lack an early diagnostic marker. We investigated whether serum ferritin (SF) reflects risk for pancreatic cancer and potential genes that ...may contribute ferritin and pancreatic cancer risks. We performed a meta-analysis of relevant studies on SF and pancreatic cancer risk by searching articles in PUBMED and EMBASE published up to 1 March 2020. We also collected serum samples from Taipei Medical University Joint Biobank and compared SF levels in 34 healthy controls and 34 pancreatic cancer patients. An Oncomine database was applied as a platform to explore a series of genes that exhibited strong associations between ferritin and pancreatic cancer. Herein, we show that high levels of SF can indicate risk of pancreatic cancer, suggesting SF as the new tumor marker that may be used to help pancreatic cancer diagnosis. We also found that expressions of iron homeostasis genes (MYC, FXN) and ferroptosis genes (ALOX15, CBS, FDFT1, LPCAT3, RPL8, TP53, TTC35) are significantly altered with pancreatic tumor grades, which may contribute to differential expression of ferritin related to pancreatic cancer prognosis.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Blue photoluminescene (PL) from chemically derived graphene oxide has been observed. The PL is attributed to radiative recombination of electron–hole pairs in isolated “molecular” sp2 domains, which ...are present within the carbon–oxygen sp3 matrix in chemically derived graphene oxide. The PL intensity is correlated to the evolution of sp2 domains during reduction.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Angiopoietin‐like protein 1 (ANGPTL1) has been shown to act as a tumor suppressor by inhibiting angiogenesis, cancer invasion, and metastasis. However, little is known about the effects of ANGPTL1 on ...sorafenib resistance and cancer stem cell properties in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the mechanism underlying these effects. Here, we show that ANGPTL1 expression positively correlates with sorafenib sensitivity in HCC cells and human HCC tissues. ANGPTL1 significantly decreases epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT)‐driven sorafenib resistance, cancer stemness, and tumor growth of HCC cells by repressing Slug expression. ANGPTL1 directly interacts with and inactivates MET receptor, which contributes to Slug suppression through inhibition of the extracellular receptor kinase/protein kinase B (ERK/AKT)‐dependent early growth response protein 1 (Egr‐1) pathway. ANGPTL1 expression inversely correlates with Slug expression, poor sorafenib responsiveness, and poor clinical outcomes in HCC patients. Conclusion: ANGPTL1 inhibits sorafenib resistance and cancer stemness in HCC cells by repressing EMT through inhibition of the MET receptor−AKT/ERK−Egr‐1−Slug signaling cascade. ANGPTL1 may serve as a novel MET receptor inhibitor for advanced HCC therapy. (Hepatology 2016;64:1637‐1651)
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Technological implementation of organolead trihalide perovskite (OTP) photovoltaics requires suppression of the surface ionic defects and grain boundaries of OTP films. These surface ionic defects ...have a detrimental effect on the power conversion efficiency (PCE), are notorious for introducing hysteresis into the current density–voltage ( J – V ) characteristics, and decrease the stability of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Here, we report the use of core/shell quantum dots (QDs) as passivation layers on the OTP surfaces to decrease the trap density and, simultaneously, stabilize the OTP chemical structure and extend the charge carrier lifetime. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations indicated that the OTP surface defects and grain boundaries were effectively suppressed by the presence of the CdSe/ZnS QDs. We attribute the lower trap density of the OTP to the Se 2− anions from the CdSe/ZnS passivation layer, inducing van der Waals interactions between the organic and inorganic components of the framework. For PSCs featuring CdSe/ZnS QD passivation, the PCE reached close to 20% with diminishing hysteresis of the J – V characteristics and fill factor (FF) of 81.44%. Moreover, the PSCs incorporating the CdSe/ZnS QD passivation layer exhibited long-term stability, retaining 75 and 80% of their initial performance after 2400 and 720 h, respectively. This facile interfacial strategy appears highly applicable for preparing high-performance durable OTP-based high optoelectronic devices.
This retrospective cohort study is to investigate the association between herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections and dementia, and the effects of anti-herpetic medications on the risk involved, using ...Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD). We enrolled a total of 33,448 subjects, and identified 8362 with newly diagnosed HSV infections and 25,086 randomly selected sex- and age-matched controls without HSV infections in a ratio of 1:3, selected from January 1, to December 31, 2000. A multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to evaluate the risk of developing dementia in the HSV cohort. This analysis revealed an adjusted hazard ratio of 2.564 (95% CI: 2.351-2.795,
P
< 0.001) for the development of dementia in the HSV-infected cohort relative to the non-HSV cohort. Thus, patients with HSV infections may have a 2.56-fold increased risk of developing dementia. A risk reduction of dementia development in patients affected by HSV infections was found upon treatment with anti-herpetic medications (adjusted HR = 0.092 95% CI 0.079-0.108,
P
< 0.001). The usage of anti-herpetic medications in the treatment of HSV infections was associated with a decreased risk of dementia. These findings could be a signal to clinicians caring for patients with HSV infections. Further research is, therefore, necessary to explore the underlying mechanism(s) of these associations.
Abstract
Because oxygen molecules in the ground state favor a triplet spin configuration, spin‐polarized electrons at electrocatalysts may promote the generation of parallel spin‐aligned oxygen ...atoms, enhancing oxygen evolution reaction (OER) kinetics. In this study, a significant enhancement of OER performance is demonstrated by controlling the spin‐exchange interaction and spin‐selected electron transfer of 2D Co
x
Fe
1−
x
PS
3
(
x
= 0–0.45) van der Waals (vdW) single crystals through Co doping. The pristine FePS
3
exhibits antiferromagnetic orbital ordering, while the Co‐doped FePS
3
exhibits the emergence of interatomic ferromagnetism due to doping‐mediated magnetic exchange interactions. The coupling between Fe and Co ions in the Co‐doped FePS
3
crystal allows the formation of efficient spin‐selective electron transfer channels compared to the pristine FePS
3
. The correlation of spin‐exchange interactions and spin‐selected electron transfers of 2D Co‐doped FePS
3
crystals with a superior OER performance is further revealed by superconducting quantum interference device magnetometer, in situ X‐ray absorption near edge spectra and density functional theory simulations. The result suggests that manipulating the spin‐exchange interactions of 2D vdW crystals to enhance the spin‐selected electron transfer efficiencies through doping is an effective strategy to boost their OER catalytic performances.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most lethal cancers worldwide. Long-term survival is not achieved in metastatic CRC despite the current multidisciplinary therapies. Bromelain, a compound ...extracted from the pineapple plant, has multiple functions and anticancer properties. Previously, bromelain has been chromatographically separated into four fractions. Fraction 3 (F3) exhibits the highest proteolytic activity. The anticancer effects of F3 bromelain in CRC cells is unknown.
In vitro cytotoxicity was verified through a sulforhodamine B assay. Apoptosis in CRC cells induced by unfractionated or F3 bromelain was examined using Annexin V-FITC/PI staining and Western blot analysis. ROS status, autophagy and lysosome formation were determined by specific detection kit.
The cytotoxicity of F3 bromelain in CRC cells was found to be comparable to that of unfractionated bromelain. F3 bromelain induces caspase-dependent apoptosis in CRC cells. Treatment with unfractionated or F3 bromelain increased superoxide and oxidative stress levels and autophagy and lysosome formation. ATG5/12 and beclin-1 were upregulated, and the conversion of LC3B-I to LC3B-II was increased significantly by treatment with F3 bromelain. Treated CQ, autophagy inhibitor, with unfractionated or F3 bromelain enhances the cytotoxic effects. Finally, the combination of unfractionated and F3 bromelain with a routine chemotherapeutic agent (5-fluourouracil, irinotecan, or oxaliplatin) resulted in synergistically higher cytotoxic potency in CRC cells.
Unfractionated and F3 bromelain inhibits CRC cell proliferation in vitro, and the cytotoxic effects of unfractionated bromelain are equivalent to F3 bromelain. F3 bromelain may be a potential and potent drug for clinical use due to its anticancer efficacy and high synergistic cytotoxicity when combined with a routine chemotherapeutic agent for CRC.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
The notorious growth of lithium (Li) dendrites and the instability of the solid electrolyte interface (SEI) during cycling make Li metal anodes unsuitable for use in commercial Li‐ion batteries. ...Herein, the use of simple sugar coating (α‐d‐glucose) is demonstrated on top of Li metal to halt the growth of Li dendrites and stabilize the SEI. The α‐d‐glucose layer possesses high surface and adhesive energies toward Li, which promote the homogenous stripping and plating of Li ions on top of the Li metal. Density functional theory reveals that Li‐ion diffusion within the α‐d‐glucose layer is governed by hopping around the bare sides of the O atoms and along the apparent passages formed by the glucose molecules. Stable cycling performance is achieved when combining α‐d‐glucose–coated Li (G|Li) anodes with sulfur‐ and LiFePO4‐based cathodes in both LiTFSI (ether) and LiPF6 (carbonate) electrolyte systems. A G|Li–based symmetrical cell operates at a current density of 1 mA cm−2 and areal capacity of 1 mAh cm−2 displays a stable overpotential profile for over 9 months (7000 h) of continuous charge/discharge cycling.
Inhibition of lithium dendrites is achieved by a simple strategy of coating an α‐d‐glucose layer on top of lithium metal. The α‐d‐glucose possessing high surface and adhesive energy with lithium can promote uniform deposition and stripping of Li‐ions and significantly enhance the cycle life of symmetrical and full cells in both ether and carbonate‐based electrolyte systems.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Pioglitazone is an insulin resistance inhibitor widely used as monotherapy or combined with metformin or insulin in treating type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This study further investigated the ...relationship between pioglitazone use and the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease (AD) in patients newly diagnosed with T2DM, and examined the potential impact of insulin use on this association. Data were extracted from the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) of Taiwan. Our data exhibited that the risk of developing AD in the pioglitazone group was 1.584-fold (aHR = 1.584, 95% CI 1.203-1.967, p < 0.05) higher than that in the non-pioglitazone controls. Compared to patients without both insulin and pioglitazone, higher cumulative risk of developing AD was found in patients receiving both insulin and pioglitazone (aHR = 2.004, 95% CI = 1.702-2.498), pioglitazone alone (aHR = 1.596, 95% CI = 1.398-1.803), and insulin alone (aHR = 1.365, 95% CI = 1.125-1.572), respectively (all p < 0.05). A similar observation also found in the evaluation the use of diabetic drugs with a cumulative defined daily dose (cDDD). No interaction between pioglitazone and major risk factors (comorbidities) of AD was observed. In conclusion, alternative drug therapies may be an effective strategy for reducing risk of developing AD in T2DM patients.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with bile duct invasion is a rare and notorious subtype of HCC. This study included patients that had unresectable HCC with bile duct invasion and proton beam therapy ...between November 2015 and February 2021. Twenty patients fit the inclusion criteria. The median tumor size was 6.3 cm. Nine patients (45.0%) had major vascular invasions. All included patients received the radiation dose of 72.6 gray relative biological effectiveness due to the proximity of porta hepatis and tumor. The median follow-up time was 19.9 months. The median overall survival was 19.9 months among deceased patients. The 1-year cumulative local recurrence rates were 5.3%, with only two patients developing in-field failure. The 1-year and 2-year overall survival rates were 79.4% and 53.3%. The 1-year progression-free survival was 58.9%. Four patients developed radiation-induced liver disease. The 1-year cholangitis-free survival was 55.0%. Skin toxicity was the most common acute toxicity and rarely severe. Eight patients developed ≤ grade 3 gastrointestinal ulcers. Proton beam therapy offers desirable survival outcomes for unresectable HCC patients with bile duct invasion. Optimal local tumor control could also be obtained within acceptable toxicities.
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