Opportunities and challenges of targeting c-Met in the treatment of digestive tumors.

At present, a large number of studies have demonstrated that c-Met generally exerts a crucial function of promoting tumor cells proliferation and differentiation in digestive system tumors. c-Met also mediates tumor progression and drug resistance by signaling interactions with other oncogenic molecules and then activating downstream pathways. Therefore, c-Met is a promising target for the treatment of digestive system tumors. Many anti-tumor therapies targeting c-Met (tyrosine kinase inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies, and adoptive immunotherapy) have been developed in treating digestive system tumors. Some drugs have been successfully applied to clinic, but most of them are defective due to their efficacy and complications. In order to promote the clinical application of targeting c-Met drugs in digestive system tumors, it is necessary to further explore the mechanism of c-Met action in digestive system tumors and optimize the anti-tumor treatment of targeting c-Met drugs. Through reading a large number of literatures, the author systematically reviewed the biological functions and molecular mechanisms of c-Met associated with tumor and summarized the current status of targeting c-Met in the treatment of digestive system tumors so as to provide new ideas for the treatment of digestive system tumors.

CAR-T Cells in the Treatment of Urologic Neoplasms: Present and Future.

In recent years, with the breakthrough of CAR-T cells in the treatment of hematological tumors, they are increasingly being used to treat solid tumors, including urologic neoplasms. There are many relatively specific targets for urologic neoplasms, especially prostate cancer. Besides, urologic neoplasms tend to progress more slowly than tumors in other organs of the body, providing ample time for CAR-T cell application. Therefore, CAR-T cells technology has inherent advantages in urologic neoplasms. CAR-T cells in the treatment of urologic neoplasms have been extensively studied and preliminary achievements have been made. However, no breakthrough has been made due to the problems of targeting extra-tumor cytotoxicity and poor anti-tumor activity. we systematacially summarized the research actuality of CAR-T cells in urologic neoplasms, discussed the potential value and difficulties of the research. The application of CAR-T cells in the treatment of urologic neoplasms requires improvement of function through screening for better targets, modification of CAR structures, or in combination with other antitumor approaches.

[Protective effects of snake venom antimicrobial peptide OH-CATH on E. coli induced rabbit urinary tract infection models].

To investigate the potential protective effects of the snake venom antimicrobial peptide OH-CATH, we used a series of rabbit urinary tract infection models successfully induced by cephalosporin-resistant E.coli and E. coli ATCC 25922. The experimental models were administered saline, snake venom antimicrobial peptide OH-CATH, Cefoperazone and Sulbactam through the urethra. Urine was collected on days 1, 5, 10 and 14 after model establishment and urine culture was done to check the infection in each experimental animals. On day 14, all the animals were sacrificed and the bladder tissue specimens were taken for observation by H-E staining light microscope and transmission electron microscope. We found that the snake venom antimicrobial peptide OH-CATH reduced bacterial count in urine culture in both cephalosporin-resistant E. coli and the E. coli ATCC 25922 infected animals, while Cefoperazone and Sulbactam were only able to reduce the positive rate induced by the E. coli ATCC 25922 but had no obvious effects on animal model induced by cephalosporin-resistant E. coli strains (P<0.05). We also found less necrosis, degeneration and inflammatory cell infiltration in bladder tissue in OH-CATH groups as compared with the other experimental groups. The snake venom antimicrobial peptide OH-CATH had stable antibacterial activity against cephalosporin-resistant E. coli and E. coli ATCC 25922 and exhibited protective effects on both the cephalosporin-resistant E. coli and E. coli ATCC 25922 rabbit urinary tract infection models, suggesting that the molecule may have potential clinical applications in treating urinary tract infections.

[Construction of tissue engineering bone with bone marrow stromal cell sheets].

OBJECTIVE: To construct tissue engineering bone with bone marrow stromal cell (BMSC) sheets of dogs. METHODS: BMSC were derived from dog bone marrow and cell sheets were prepared with temperature-responsive dishes after the cells were induced by osteogenesis. Allogeneic dogs decalcification bone matrixes (DBM) were prepared. Sixteen dogs were divided into 4 groups. The MSC cell sheets-rhBMP-2-BMSC-DBM were implanted under the left latissimus dorsi myofascial as the experimental side; while the rhBMP-2-BMSC-DBM were implanted in the right side as the control. Ectopic bone formation in vivo was evaluated by histological examination 4, 8, 12, 16 weeks after operation. RESULTS: The osteogenesis in the experimental group was better than that in the control group. New bone area in the experimental side was larger than that in the control group, and the difference was significant (P < 0.05). After 16 weeks, lamellar bone was connected into a film in the experimental group. Haversian system and red bone marrow could be seen. CONCLUSIONS: BMSC cell sheets could promote the bone formation of functional tissue-engineered bone.

Developing VUV spectroscopy for protein folding and material luminescence on beamline 4B8 at the Beijing Synchrotron Radiation Facility.

The new 4B8 beamline provides UV-VUV light in the wavelength range from 360 to 120 nm. It uniquely enables two kinds of spectroscopy measurements: synchrotron radiation circular dichroism spectroscopy and VUV excited fluorescence spectroscopy. The former is mainly used in protein secondary structure studies, and the latter in VUV excited luminescent materials research. Remote access to fluorescence measurement has been realised and users can collect data online. Besides steady-state measurements, fluorescence lifetime measurements have been established using the time domain method, while a laser-induced temperature jump is under development for protein folding dynamics using circular dichroism as a probe.