Summary of Outpatient Visits for Characteristic Nursing in Traditional Chinese Medicine.

The aim of this study was to investigate the practical outcomes of traditional Chinese medicine specialty nursing clinics in the clinical setting. Outpatient services have become increasingly popular for seeking medical care. Establishing traditional Chinese medicine specialty nursing clinics can meet the medical needs of the general public, and provide patients with convenient and efficient medical services. This study employed a retrospective cross-sectional observational design to analyze the medical service status of all patients who attended the clinic since its opening. Five qualified traditional Chinese medicine nursing experts identified and implemented 5 categories of traditional Chinese medicine characteristic nursing techniques, including cupping, moxibustion, needle acupuncture, and massage. Nurses and patients evaluated the treatment outcomes for various diseases. Since the establishment of the nursing outpatient department 2 years ago, there have been over 7046 visits, with a satisfaction rate of 97.1%. Currently, 5 nursing experts are nurturing a total of 11 graduate students, conducting 5 free clinics in the nursing outpatient department, and organizing 3 visits by overseas experts. The traditional Chinese medicine specialty nursing outpatient service effectively meets the diverse medical needs of patients, alleviates the outpatient pressure on hospitals, enhances the specialized development of nurses, increases the prominence of traditional Chinese medicine specialty nursing techniques, and promotes traditional Chinese medicine culture.

Prenatal diagnosis of chromosomal aberrations by chromosomal microarray analysis and pregnancy outcomes of fetuses with polyhydramnios.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the prenatal clinical utility of chromosome microarray analysis (CMA) for polyhydramnios and evaluate the short and long-term prognosis of fetuses with polyhydramnios. METHODS: A total of 600 singleton pregnancies with persistent polyhydramnios from 2014 to 2020 were retrospectively enrolled in this study. All cases received amniocentesis and were subjected to CMA results. All cases were categorized into two groups: isolated polyhydramnios and non-isolated polyhydramnios [with soft marker(s) or with sonographic structural anomalies]. All fetuses were followed up from 6 months to five years after amniocentesis to acquire short and long-term prognosis. RESULTS: The detection rates of either aneuploidy or pathogenic copy number variants in fetuses with non-isolated polyhydramnios were significantly higher than those with isolated polyhydramnios (5.0 vs. 1.5%, p = 0.0243; 3.6 vs. 0.8%, p = 0.0288). The detection rate of total chromosomal abnormalities in the structural abnormality group was significantly higher than that in the isolated group (10.0 vs. 2.3%, p = 0.0003). In the CMA-negative cases, the incidence of termination of pregnancy, neonatal and childhood death, and non-neurodevelopmental disorders in fetuses combined with structural anomalies was significantly higher than that in fetuses with isolated polyhydramnios (p < 0.05). We did not observe any difference in the prognosis between the isolated group and the combined group of ultrasound soft markers. In addition, the risk of postnatal neurodevelopmental disorders was also consistent among the three groups (1.6 vs. 1.3 vs. 1.8%). CONCLUSION: For low-risk pregnancies, invasive prenatal diagnosis of isolated polyhydramnios might be unnecessary. CMA should be considered for fetuses with structural anomalies. In CMA-negative cases, the prognosis of fetuses with isolated polyhydramnios was good, and polyhydramnios itself did not increase the risk of postnatal neurological development disorders. The worse prognosis mainly depends on the combination of polyhydramnios with structural abnormalities.

Role of Qufeng Tongqiao Prescription in the protection of cerebral ischemia and associated molecular network mechanism.

To explore the of Qufeng Tongqiao Prescription in the treatment of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (CIR) and associated molecular network mechanism. Venny diagram, gene ontology (GO) and kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) analysis, protein-protein interaction (PPI), hub genes mining, molecular docking, combined with animal experiments and Nissl stain were performed to determine the molecular network mechanism of Qufeng Tongqiao Prescription for CIR treatment. Fifty three intersecting genes between Qufeng Tongqiao Prescription and cerebral ischemia reperfusion were acquired from Venny analysis. GO analysis showed that the main biological process (BP) was response to lipopolysaccharide, and the main cell localization (CC) process was membrane raft, while the most important molecular function (MF) process is Cytokine receptor binding. Moreover, AGE-RAGE signaling pathway in diabetic complications is the most important signaling pathway in KEGG pathway. Through molecular docking, it was found that Astragalus membranaceus was docked with MAPK14, IL4, FOS, IL6, and JUN; pueraria membranaceus was directly docked with JUN and IL4; Acorus acorus was linked to JUN and MAPK14; Ganoderma ganoderma and human were involved in JUN docking, and Ligusticum chuanqi and pueraria could not be docked with MAPK14, respectively. The results of animal experiments showed that Qufeng Tongqiao Prescription significantly improved behavioral performance and reduced the number of neuronal deaths in rats subjected to CIR, and molecular mechanisms are associated with FOS, IL-6, IL4, JUN, and MAPK14, of there, IL-6, as a vital candidator, which has been confirmed by immunostaining detection. Together, Qufeng Tongqiao Prescription has positive therapeutic effect on CIR, and the underlying mechanism is involved MAPK14, FOS, IL4, and JUN network, while IL-6 may be as a vital target.

Risk of mother-to-child transmission after amniocentesis in pregnant women with hepatitis B virus: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Amniocentesis is the most widely used invasive prenatal diagnostic sampling technique. However, whether this increases the risk of mother-to-child transmission of infectious diseases remains controversial. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine whether amniocentesis increases the risk of hepatitis B virus infection in infants who received standard prophylaxis, and to assess the related risk factors for mother-to-child transmission in women who underwent amniocentesis during pregnancy. STUDY DESIGN: This retrospective analysis used the clinical data of pregnant women with hepatitis B virus infection at West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University in 2019. After meeting the inclusion criteria, the participants were divided into 2 groups on the basis of whether they had undergone amniocentesis during pregnancy. The infant hepatitis B virus serologic status was followed 1 to 6 months after completion of immunization. The infant testing positive for hepatitis B surface antigen and negative for Hepatitis B surface antibody indicated mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B virus. RESULTS: In total, 1764 pregnant women with hepatitis B virus infection were enrolled. Of these, 846 underwent amniocentesis during pregnancy and 918 did not. All offspring received a standardized immunoprophylaxis schedule. The overall mother-to-child transmission rate for hepatitis B virus was 0.6% (5/846) in the amniocentesis group and 0.4% (4/918) in the control group (P=.745). Subgroup analysis showed that the mother-to-child transmission rate in hepatitis B e antigen-positive women was 1.8% (2/111) in the amniocentesis group and 1.0% (2/209) in the control group (P=.612). In women with high viral load, the mother-to-child transmission rate was 1.3% (1/78) vs 0.9% (1/107) (amniocentesis group vs control group; P=1.000). In the amniocentesis group, 31 amniotic fluid specimens had an abnormal appearance (bloody or brown). Univariate analysis showed that the mother-to-child transmission rates of these mothers were statistically higher than those of mothers with pale yellow or transparent amniotic fluid (2/31 vs 3/815; relative risk, 17.527 [3.037-101.151]; P=.012). CONCLUSION: Amniocentesis did not increase the risk of mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B virus in infants who received a standardized immunoprophylaxis schedule, including those with mothers who were hepatitis B e antigen-positive or had a high viral load. However, the abnormal appearance (bloody or brown) of the amniotic fluid obtained during amniocentesis may indicate increased risk of mother-to-child transmission for hepatitis B virus.

Prenatal diagnosis with chromosome microarray analysis and pregnancy outcomes of fetuses with umbilical cord cysts.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prenatal diagnostic value of chromosome microarray analysis (CMA) in fetuses with isolated or non-isolated umbilical cord cysts (UCCs) of various locations and numbers. METHODS: Between November 2015 and November 2021, 45 pregnant women carrying fetuses with UCCs underwent amniocentesis and CMA. Fetal prognoses were followed from 6 months to 5 years. RESULTS: Five cases (11.1%, 5/45) of chromosomal aberrations were detected. No significant difference in total chromosome abnormalities was found between fetuses with isolated and non-isolated UCCs (13.3% [2/15] vs 10% [3/30]; p > .999). No common autosomal aneuploidies were found in fetuses with isolated UCCs. At follow-up, among 45 fetuses, there were 11 (24.4%) pregnancy terminations, 26 (57.8%) live healthy births, 4 (8.9%) postnatal UCC-related surgeries, and 4 (8.9%) live births of fetuses with other diseases. The frequency of postnatal surgeries of the infants with UCCs located adjacent to the anterior abdominal wall was higher than those located adjacent to the fetal surface of the placenta (30.8% [4/13] vs 0% [0/22]; p = .014). All 26 live healthy neonates and 4 neonates that underwent postnatal surgery had an overall good prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: For fetuses with isolated or non-isolated UCC, CMA could be a choice for parents after providing detailed information. Even when surgery was required, pregnancy outcomes and short- and long-term prognoses for fetuses with UCCs were favorable.

Multidisciplinary evaluation of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria on soil microbiome and strawberry quality.

The natural soil environment is considered one of the most diverse habitats containing numerous bacteria, fungi, and larger organisms such as nematodes, insects, or rodents. Rhizosphere bacteria play vital roles in plant nutrition and the growth promotion of their host plant. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of three plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, and Pseudomonas monteilii for their potential role as a biofertilizer. The effect of the PGPR was examined at a commercial strawberry farm in Dayton, Oregon. The PGPR were applied to the soil of the strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa cultivar Hood) plants in two different concentrations of PGPR, T1 (0.24% PGPR) and T2 (0.48% PGPR), and C (no PGPR). A total of 450 samples from August 2020 to May 2021 were collected, and microbiome sequencing based on the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene was conducted. The strawberry quality was measured by sensory evaluation, total acidity (TA), total soluble solids (TSS), color (lightness and chroma), and volatile compounds. Application of the PGPR significantly increased the populations of Bacillus and Pseudomonas and promoted the growth of nitrogen-fixing bacteria. The TSS and color evaluation showed that the PGPR presumptively behaved as a ripening enhancer. The PGPR contributed to the production of fruit-related volatile compounds, while the sensory evaluation did not show significant differences among the three groups. The major finding of this study suggests that the consortium of the three PGPR have a potential role as a biofertilizer by supporting the growth of other microorganisms (nitrogen-fixing bacteria) as part of a synergetic effect and strawberry quality such as sweetness and volatile compounds.

Effect of baotaiyin on IL-23 /Th17 immune inflammatory axis in mouse model of spontaneous abortion. / ä¸­è¯ä¿èƒŽé¥®å¯¹è‡ªç„¶æµäº§å°é¼ æ¨¡åž‹IL-23/Th17å ç–«ç‚Žç—‡è½´çš„å½±å“.

OBJECTIVES: The mechanism for traditional Chinese medicine in treating of recurrent spontaneous abortion is not clear. This study aims to explore the mechanism of baotaiyin in the treatment of recurrent abortion by regulating the immune inflammatory axis of interleukin (IL)-23/helper T cell (Th)17. METHODS: Spontaneous abortion model mice were randomly divided into a model group, 3 dose (low, medium, and high) groups of baotaiyin, with 10 mice in each group. After 14 days of medication, the levels of IL-17, IL-23, IL-10, and TGF-ß in serum were detected with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The proportion of Th17 and regulatory T cells (Treg) cells in spleen lymphocytes was tested with flow cytometry. The expressions of (retinoid-related orphan receptor γt, ROR-γt) and forkhead box P3 (FOXP3) mRNA in decidua tissues was detected with RT-PCR. Embryo absorption rate was counted. RESULTS: Compared with the model group, the absorption rate of embryo and Th17/Treg cell ratio in baotaiyin medium- and high-dose groups were decreased significantly (all P<0.05); the levels of IL-17 and IL-23 in serum were decreased (both P<0.05), while the levels of TGF-ß and IL-10 in baotaiyin medium- and high-dose groups were increased (P<0.05, P<0.01, respectively); the expression of ROR-γt mRNA was decreased and the expression of FOXP3 mRNA was increased (all P<0.01) in decidua tissues of baotaiyin medium- and high-dose groups. CONCLUSIONS: Baotaiyin inhibits the positive feedback cycle of IL-23/Th17 immune inflammatory axis, which regulates Th17/Treg cell balance, mediates the maternal and fetal immune tolerance, and prevents the recurrent abortion.

Evaluation of Sulfur-Based Biostimulants for the Germination of Sclerotium cepivorum Sclerotia and Their Interaction with Soil.

White rot is an economically significant disease of Allium crops. The pathogen Sclerotium cepivorum produces long-lived sclerotia that germinate in response to sulfur-containing compounds released from Allium roots. Diallyl disulfide (DADS) was the primary organic sulfur compound detected in the rhizosphere soil of two garlic cultivars, "California Early and Late", growing in greenhouse conditions. DADS, dimethyl trisulfide (DMTS), dimethyl disulfide (DMDS), isopropyl disulfide (IPDS), dipropyl disulfide (DPDS), diethyl disulfide (DEDS), together with garlic oil, garlic juice, garlic powder, raw onion pieces, cabbage pieces, and Chinese cabbage pieces were investigated for their activities toward germinating dormant sclerotia. Results showed that DADS and other volatile sulfur compounds could stimulate sclerotial germination, and a dose-response was observed. In addition, garlic juice, powder, raw onion, and the two cabbages could stimulate sclerotial germination. Furthermore, the laboratory soil incubation experiments demonstrated the strong interaction of organic sulfur compounds with soil.

Prenatal diagnosis with chromosome microarray and pregnancy outcomes of fetuses with biliary tract system abnormalities.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the prenatal diagnostic value of chromosome microarray analysis (CMA) in fetuses presenting with ultrasound-based biliary tract system (BTS) anomalies. METHODS: Amniocentesis was performed and CMA was applied in 271 pregnant women carrying fetuses with BTS abnormalities between April 2015 and December 2020. Pregnancy outcomes and fetal prognosis were followed from 1 to 6 years. RESULTS: Sixteen cases (5.9%, 16/271) of chromosomal anomalies were detected. The detection rate of chromosomal abnormalities was significantly higher for fetuses with nonisolated BTS anomalies than for those with isolated BTS anomalies (9.0% vs. 0%, p = 0.0017). Follow-up results were obtained from 267 fetuses, including 25 cases of termination of pregnancy (9.4%), 237 live births (88.8%), and 5 (1.9%) neonatal demises. The incidence of congenital biliary atresia in the small gallbladder and nonvisualized gallbladder groups was 3.0% (1/33) and 9.5% (7/74), respectively; however, none was detected on postnatal ultrasound reexamination in the gallbladder enlargement or the other BTS groups. CONCLUSIONS: An isolated BTS abnormality is not an indication for invasive prenatal chromosomal analysis. When combined with other ultrasonographic abnormalities, prenatal CMA should be provided. When a small or nonvisualized gallbladder is found prenatally, ultrasonography is limited in the differential diagnosis of congenital biliary atresia.

Composition of Pinot Noir Wine from Grapevine Red Blotch Disease-Infected Vines Managed with Exogenous Abscisic Acid Applications.

Grapevine red blotch disease (GRBD) has negative effects on grape development and impacts berry ripening. Abscisic acid (ABA) is a plant growth regulator involved in the initiation of berry ripening. Exogenous abscisic acid application was compared to an unsprayed control on GRBD-positive Pinot noir vines during two vintages, and the total monomeric anthocyanin, total phenolics, phenolic composition, and volatile profile were measured in wines. In addition, untargeted metabolites were profiled using high-resolution LC-MS/MS. Results showed that the wine composition varied by vintage year and was not consistent with ABA application. Wines from the ABA treatment had a lower total anthocyanin and total phenolic content in one year. The untargeted high-resolution LC-MS/MS analysis showed a higher abundance of phenolic compounds in ABA wines in 2019, but lower in 2018. The wine volatile compounds of ABA treatments varied by vintage. There were higher levels of free ß-damascenone, ß-ionone, nerol, and several fermentation-derived esters, acids, and alcohols in ABA wines, but these were not observed in 2019. Lower 3-isobutyl-2-methoxypyrazine (IBMP) was also observed in wines with ABA treatment in 2019. The results demonstrated that ABA application to the fruit zones did not consistently mitigate the adverse impacts of GRBD on Pinot noir wines.

An integration method to predict the impact of urban land use change on green space connectivity under different development scenarios using a case study of Nanjing, China.

Urbanization leads to land use change and fragmentation of green patches, affecting natural habitats and their connectivity. Scientific prediction and analysis of the impact of future land use change on green space connectivity are an effective tool for planning and evaluating urban sustainable development, especially for ecological protection in rapidly developing areas. In this study, an integrated method is proposed that uses the CA-Markov method and combines a morphological spatial pattern analysis (MSPA) with a graph theory analysis to jointly evaluate the impact of land use change on the habitat connectivity index under different urban development scenarios from two aspects of structural and functional connectivity. Using China's rapidly developing Nanjing as the study area, the land use changes under four scenarios in 2030 are forecast, and the connectivity index is analyzed. The results showed that only under the ecological land protection scenario will forest and grassland increase, but the strong barrier effect is still brought about by urban expansion from the analysis of the structural connectivity. At the level of functional connectivity, we identified the important connecting patches and future change trends of species with different diffusion distances. In addition, we identified the key connecting patches (i.e., stepping stones) and changes and suggested giving priority to the protection of these patches. This method can be applied to other rapidly developing cities, and the conclusions can be used as a spatial explicit tool for urban green space and land use planning.

In vivo and in vitro aroma release in surimi gel with different cross-linking degrees by proton transfer reaction-mass spectrometry.

Transglutaminase-induced cross-linking has been suggested as a strategy to govern surimi gels' texture. To achieve the aroma regulation of surimi gels by cross-links, surimi gels were treated with microbial transglutaminase to get different cross-linking degrees, and in vivo and in vitro aroma releases were investigated by a proton transfer reaction-mass spectrometry (PTR-MS). Seventeen compounds in surimi gels were detected by PTR-MS. The in vitro release curves of odorants were fitted by a pseudo-first-order kinetics model. As the cross-links increased, most aroma compounds' released concentrations and release rates decreased first, and then increased significantly (P < 0.05) when the cross-linking degree exceed around 35.4%, negatively related to the springiness and the gel strength of surimi gels. However, the in vivo aroma release results showed that the harder surimi gel released fewer aroma compounds. In conclusion, texture affected by cross-links could be a strategy to control the aroma release of surimi gels.

Smoked-Derived Volatile Phenol Analysis in Wine by Stir Bar Sorptive Extraction-Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry.

Smoke-derived taint has become a significant concern for the U.S. wine industry, particularly on the west coast, and climate change is anticipated to aggravate it. High volatile phenols such as guaiacol, 4-methylguaiacol, 4-ethylguaiacol, 4-ethylphenol, and o-, p-, m-cresols have been suggested to be related to smoke-exposed grape and wine. This paper describes an analytical approach based on ethylene glycol/polydimethylsiloxane (EG/PDMS)-stir bar sorptive extraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (SBSE-GC-MS) to quantify or estimate the concentrations of some smoke-related volatile phenols in wines. Correlation coefficients with R2 ≥ 0.990 were obtained. This method can quantify most smoked-related volatile phenols down to 0.5 µg/L in wine in selective ion monitoring mode. Recovery for the targeted volatile phenols ranged from 72.2% to 142.4% in the smoke-tainted wine matrix, except for 4-vinylguaiacol. The standard deviations of the volatile phenols were from 0 to 23% in smoke-tainted wine. The approach provides another tool to evaluate wine smoke exposure and potential smoke taint.

Enhancing the sensitivity of ovarian cancer cells to olaparib via microRNA-20b-mediated cyclin D1 targeting.

We previously reported that cyclin D1 silencing interferes with RAD51 accumulation and increases the sensitivity of BRCA1 wild-type ovarian cancer cells to olaparib. However, the mechanisms associated with cyclin D1 overexpression in ovarian cancer are not fully understood. TargetScan predicted the potential binding sites for microRNA-20b (miR-20b) and the 3'-untranslated region of cyclin D1 mRNA; thus, we used luciferase reporter assay to verify those binding sites. The Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test were used to examine the relationship between miR-20b and progression-free survival of ovarian cancer patients in The Cancer Genome Atlas (n = 367) dataset. In vitro experiments were performed to evaluate the effects of miR-20b on cyclin D1 expression, cell cycle and response to olaparib. A peritoneal cavity metastasis model of ovarian cancer was established to determine the effect of miR-20b on the sensitivity of olaparib. Immunohistochemistry was performed to evaluate molecular mechanisms. In this work, we demonstrated that miR-20b down-regulates cyclin D1, increases the sensitivity of ovarian cancer cells to olaparib, reduces the expression of RAD51, and induces cell cycle arrest in G0/G1 phase. Ovarian cancer patients with higher expression of miR-20b had significantly longer progression-free survival. These results indicate that miR-20b may be a potential clinical indicator for the sensitivity of ovarian cancer to olaparib and the survival of ovarian cancer patients. Our findings suggest that miR-20b may have therapeutic value in combination with olaparib treatment for ovarian cancer.

Characterization of Aroma-Active Compounds in Northern Highbush Blueberries "Bluecrop" (Vaccinium corymbosum "Bluecrop") and "Elliott" (Vaccinium corymbosum "Elliott") by Gas Chromatography-Olfactometry Dilution Analysis and Odor Activity Value.

Aroma-active compounds in northern highbush blueberries "Bluecrop" (Vaccinium corymbosum "Bluecrop") and "Elliott" (Vaccinium corymbosum "Elliott") were isolated using solvent extraction followed by solvent-assisted flavor evaporation. The aroma-active compounds were compared by aroma extract dilution analysis (AEDA) on a polar and a chiral column and odor activity values (OAVs). The results showed that both cultivars had similar aroma-active compounds, but the flavor dilution (FD) factors and OAV values varied, responsible for the subtle aroma differences. AEDA (FD ≥ 64) suggested that the important aroma-active compounds in both cultivars could be ethyl 2-methylbutanoate, ethyl 3-methylbutanoate, (Z)-3-hexenal, 1-octen-3-one, (Z)-3-hexen-1-ol, methional, linalool, (E,Z)-2,6-nonadienal, 2-methylbutanoic acid, α-terpineol, (E,E)-2,4-nonadienal, ß-damascenone, geraniol, geranyl acetone, o-cresol, eugenol, and vanillin. Different isomers can have different sensory thresholds and attributes. Enantiomer analysis revealed that although S-(+)-linalool was dominant in blueberry, R-(-)-linalool had a higher FD value and OAVs than that of the (S)-isomer. The S-(-)-α-terpineol was slightly elevated than R-(+)-α-terpineol in both cultivars.

Comparative Characterization of Aroma Compounds in Silver Carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix), Pacific Whiting (Merluccius productus), and Alaska Pollock (Theragra chalcogramma) Surimi by Aroma Extract Dilution Analysis, Odor Activity Value, and Aroma Recombination Studies.

Aroma compounds in three surimi samples, made from freshwater silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) and saltwater Pacific whiting (Merluccius productus) and Alaska pollock (Theragra chalcogramma), were characterized by aroma extract dilution analysis, odor activity value, and odor recombination study. Results demonstrated that the most potent aroma-active compounds in the surimi were hexanal, (Z)-4-heptenal, (Z)-4-decenal, (E,Z)-2,6-nonadienal, (E,E)-2,4-nonadienal, (E,Z)-2,4-decadienal, (E,E)-2,4-decadienal, (E,E,Z)-2,4,6-nonatrienal, (E,Z,Z)-2,4,7-tridecatrienal, and (E)-4,5-epoxy-(E)-2-decenal, contributing fishy, green, oily, or metallic odors. The other aroma contributors in surimi were 1-octen-3-one, 1-octen-3-ol, dimethyl disulfide, dimethyl trisulfide, and methional. 2-Acetyl-1-pyrroline, giving a typical popcorn note, could also be an important aroma contributor as a result of the high flavor dilution factor. Pacific whiting and Alaska pollock surimi samples both had higher levels of dimethyl trisulfide and methional, whereas the silver carp surimi sample had more (E,Z)-2,4-decadienal. In general, the silver carp surimi sample had more aldehydes contributing stronger "river water, fishy" and "grassy, green" aromas. In contrast, saltwater surimi showed stronger "sea breeze-like" and "sulfur-like" odors.

Targeted activation of Stat3 in combination with paclitaxel results in increased apoptosis in epithelial ovarian cancer cells and a reduced tumour burden.

OBJECTIVES: Stat3 is persistently activated in ovarian cancer cells, with a crucial role in tumour onset and progression. In this study, we examined the anti-tumour effect of a small-molecule inhibitor napabucasin (BBI608) on epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) in vitro and in vivo, and investigated the underlying molecular mechanism of this drug in combination with paclitaxel. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 156 ovarian cancer patient samples were analysed to determine the correlation between pStat3 expression in tumour cells and the prognosis of EOC patients. The anti-tumour effect of BBI608 and/or paclitaxel on ovarian cancer in vitro was evaluated by CCK-8, flow cytometry, Western blot and transwell assays. An in vivo intraperitoneal model was performed to confirm the effect of BBI608 on pStat3-mediated peritoneal metastasis when combined with paclitaxel. RESULTS: Patients with high expression of pStat3 had poorer overall survival and progression-free survival than those with low pStat3 expression. The synergy of BBI608 in combination with paclitaxel exerted dramatic growth inhibition and induced apoptosis in EOC cell lines. In vivo, the combination of two drugs significantly decreased intraperitoneal tumour burden and ascites volume, prolonged survival of tumour-bearing mice compared with each monotherapy; these results were associated with downregulation of phospho-Stat3 and activation of apoptosis pathway. CONCLUSIONS: Targeting the activation of Stat3 may be a potential therapeutic approach for EOC by acting synergistically with paclitaxel.

Jumonji domain-containing 6 (JMJD6) identified as a potential therapeutic target in ovarian cancer.

Jumonji domain-containing 6 (JMJD6) is a candidate gene associated with tumorigenesis, and JMJD6 overexpression predicts poor differentiation and unfavorable survival in some cancers. However, there are no studies reporting the expression of JMJD6 in ovarian cancer, and no JMJD6 inhibitors have been developed and applied to targeted cancer therapy research. In the present study, we found that the high expression of JMJD6 in ovarian cancer was correlated with poor prognosis in ovarian cancer. A potential inhibitor (SKLB325) was designed based on the crystal structure of the jmjC domain of JMJD6. This molecule significantly suppressed proliferation and induced apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner in SKOV3 cell lines as detected by CCK-8 cell proliferation assays and flow cytometry. A Matrigel endothelial tube formation assay showed that SKLB325 inhibited capillary tube organization and migration in HUVECs in vitro. We also observed that JMJD6 colocalized with p53 protein in the nucleus, with mRNA and protein expression of p53 as well as its downstream effectors significantly increasing both in vitro and in intraperitoneal tumor tissues treated with SKLB325. In addition, SKLB325 significantly reduced the intraperitoneal tumor weight and markedly prolonged the survival of tumor-bearing mice. Taken together, our findings suggest that JMJD6 may be a marker of poor prognosis in ovarian cancer and that SKLB325 may be a potential candidate drug for the treatment of ovarian cancer.