Endoscopic ultrasound-guided versus surgical pancreatic duct drainage after failed endoscopic retrograde pancreatography: a pilot comparative study.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic ultrasound-guided pancreatic duct (PD) drainage (EUS-PDD) is being increasingly performed as an alternative method to surgical drainage to achieve PD decompression after failed endoscopic retrograde pancreatography (ERP). However, no directly study has compared EUS-PDD with surgical PD drainage after failed ERP in patients with chronic pancreatitis. METHODS: Consecutive patients who underwent EUS-PDD or longitudinal pancreaticojejunostomy after failed ERP were retrospectively identified from our endoscopy and medical information systems. The primary end point was the Izbicki pain score. The secondary end points were pain relief at the end of follow-up, procedure outcomes, adverse events, readmission, and reintervention. RESULTS: A total of 21 patients (11 EUS-PDD, 10 surgical drainages) were analyzed. There were no significant differences in mean Izbicki pain score (EUS-PDD, 13.6 ± 10.1 vs. surgical drainage 10.7 ± 7.9, p = 0.483) or complete/partial pain relief (60%/30% vs. 70%/30%, p = 0.752) at the end of follow-up of the two groups. The rates of overall adverse events (27.3% vs. 30.0%, p = 0.893) and readmission (63.6% vs. 40.0%, p = 0.290) were similar in the two treatment groups, while patients in EUS-PDD group required more reinterventions (45.5% vs. 0%, p = 0.039) compared with patients in the surgery group. CONCLUSION: EUS-PDD showed comparable pain relief and safety to surgical PD drainage after failed ERP, with a higher rate of reintervention. The selection of EUS-PDD or surgical drainage may be appropriate based on an individualized strategy.

The various synergistic impacts of precursor emission reduction on PM2.5 and O3 in a typical industrial city with complex distributions of emissions.

The synergistic responses of O3 and PM2.5 to their common precursors remain unclear within industrial cities with complex emissions. In this study, hundreds of scenarios of jointly reduced local NOx and VOCs emissions were designed along with the source apportionment techniques embedded in the Comprehensive Air quality Model with extensions (CAMx) system to explore the locally formed O3 and PM2.5 sensitivities to the reduced emissions of NOx and VOCs. The results indicate that locally formed O3 and PM2.5 are more connected to local emissions, resulting in unique formation sensitivities. Local O3 formation is usually in a transitional regime and transferred to VOC-limited condition under O3-polluted conditions due to high VOC emissions. Locally formed O3 and PM2.5 vary largely in different functional regions due to different emission feature and meteorological condition. When reducing VOCs emissions alone, an increase in PM2.5 formation could be observed due to the increase in the formation of nitrate resulting from reduced competition of NOx in O3 formation. To reduce PM2.5 and O3 concentrations simultaneously, specific ratios of NOx reduction percentage to VOC reduction percentage should be considered to different functional regions under different pollution levels. This research highlights the importance to conduct targeted sensitivity tests for emission reduction in different functional zones with complex emission features for the coordinated control of O3 and PM2.5 pollution in typical industrialized cities.

Genetically proxied therapeutic inhibition of lipid-lowering drug targets and risk of rheumatoid arthritis disease: a Mendelian randomization study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the potential impact of consistent use of similar treatments over a long period; it is essential to investigate the potential correlation between genetic variations that influence the expression or function of pharmacological targets for reducing lipid levels and the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis. METHODS: We used variants in the following genes to conduct Mendelian randomization analyses: HMGCR (encoding the target for statins), PCSK9 (encoding the target for PCSK9 inhibitors, such as evolocumab and alirocumab), and NPC1L1 (encoding the target for ezetimibe). Data from lipid genetics consortia (173,082 sample size) were used to weight variations according to their correlations with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). In two large datasets (total n = 19,562 cases, 501,655 controls). We conducted a meta-analysis of Mendelian randomization estimates, weighted by LDL-C levels, on the regional differences in the risk of rheumatoid arthritis using data from two large databases. RESULTS: We approached SMR and IVW-MR analyses to examine the relationship between target gene expression (including HMGCR, PCSK9, and NPC1L1) and LDL-C levels mediated by these genes with RA. The IVW-MR analysis revealed no significant association between genetically predicted LDL-C concentration and the risk of RA (OR = 0.88, 95% CI = 0.59-1.29; OR = 0.91, 95% CI = 0.67-1.23; OR = 0.81, 95% CI = 0.49-1.36; all p > 0.05). Similarly, our findings from the SMR approach provided no evidence to suggest that gene expression of HMGCR, PCSK9, and NPC1L1 was associated with the risk of RA (OR = 0.91, 95% CI = 0.79-1.05, p = 0.207; OR = 0.96, 95% CI = 0.85-1.09, p = 0.493). CONCLUSIONS: Our results do not provide evidence to support the hypothesis that reducing LDL-C levels with statins, alirocumab, or ezetimibe effectively prevents the risk of developing RA. However, our study provides valuable insights into the assessment of lipid-lowering agents in RA, which can enhance our understanding of the condition and assist in clinical practice by aiding in the determination and monitoring of RA status to clinical response.

Effect of ciprofol on swallowing function in patients undergoing painless gastrointestinal endoscopy.

BACKGROUND: Gastroscopy is one of the most commonly used diagnostic modalities for upper gastrointestinal disorders. This study compared the effect of ciprofol and propofol on swallowing function during painless gastroenteroscopy. METHODS: This was a single-center, placebo-controlled randomized trial. Three hundred sixty-eight patients undergoing painless gastroscopy were included in this study and randomly divided into 2 groups: the propofol group (PRO group, n = 183) and the ciprofol group (CIP group, n = 185). Sufentanil, ciprofol, and propofol are used to anesthetize the patients, and the effects of different solutions on these patients are compared and analyzed. The patient's general condition, vocal cord adduction reflex, dysphagia severity score, penetration and aspiration scale score, vital signs at different times, complications, recovery time (minutes), residence time in the resuscitation room (minutes), and adverse reactions were recorded. RESULTS: During the examination, the incidence of severe swallowing dysfunction in CIP group was lower than that in PRO group (P < .05). The BP in CIP group was higher than that in PRO Group (P < .05). The HR of CIP group was lower than that of PRO Group (P < .05). SpO2 in CIP group was higher than that in PRO Group (P < .05). The recovery time of CIP group was longer than that of PRO Group, and the postanesthesia care unit stay time of PRO group was longer than that of CIP group(P < .05). The incidence of respiratory depression, hypotension and cough in CIP group was lower than that in PRO Group (P < .05). The incidence of injection pain in CIP group was lower than that in PRO Group (P < .05). CONCLUSION: Compared with propofol, ciprofol has less inhibition on swallowing function, less impact on hemodynamics, less respiratory depression, and less injection pain, which is more suitable for painless gastroscopy.

Spatial temporal Fourier single-pixel imaging.

Generally, the imaging quality of Fourier single-pixel imaging (FSI) will severely degrade while achieving high-speed imaging at a low sampling rate (SR). To tackle this problem, a new, to the best of our knowledge, imaging technique is proposed: firstly, the Hessian-based norm constraint is introduced to deal with the staircase effect caused by the low SR and total variation regularization; secondly, based on the local similarity prior of consecutive frames in the time dimension, we designed the temporal local image low-rank constraint for the FSI, and combined the spatiotemporal random sampling method, the redundancy image information of consecutive frames can be utilized sufficiently; finally, by introducing additional variables to decompose the optimization problem into multiple sub-problems and analytically solving each one, a closed-form algorithm is derived for efficient image reconstruction. Experimental results show that the proposed method improves imaging quality significantly compared with state-of-the-art methods.

Bortezomib potentiates antitumor activity of mitoxantrone through dampening Wnt/ß-catenin signal pathway in prostate cancer cells.

BACKGROUND: Bortezomib (BZM), alone or in combination with other chemotherapies, has displayed strong anticancer effects in several cancers. The efficacy of the combination of BZM and mitoxantrone (MTX) in treating prostate cancer remains unknown. METHODS: Anticancer effects of combination of BZM and MTX were determined by apoptosis and proliferation assay in vivo and in vitro. Expression of ß-Catenin and its target genes were characterized by western blot and Real-time PCR. RESULTS: BZM significantly enhanced MTX-induced antiproliferation in vivo and in vitro. Mice administered a combination of BZM and MTX displayed attenuated tumor growth and prolonged survival. BZM significantly attenuated MTX-induced apoptosis. Moreover, the combination of BZM and MTX contributed to inhibition of the Wnt/ß-Catenin signaling pathway compared to monotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that BZM enhances MTX-induced anti-tumor effects by inhibiting the Wnt/ß-Catenin signaling pathway in prostate cancer cells.

Anesthetic effect of different doses of butorphanol in patients undergoing gastroscopy and colonoscopy.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the anesthetic effect of butorphanol with different doses in patients undergoing gastroscopy and colonoscopy. METHODS: 480 patients undergoing gastroscopy and colonoscopy were recruited and randomly divided into four groups to receive different doses of butorphanol (Group A = 2.5 µg/kg, Group B = 5 µg/kg, Group C = 7.5 µg/kg and Group D = 10 µg/kg). Butorphanol was administered 5 min before propofol infusion. The primary outcome was the incidence of body movement. Secondary outcomes were postoperative recovery time, length of stay in the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU), the total dose of propofol, and the incidence of intraoperative hypoxemia, propofol injection pain, cough, postoperative nausea and vomiting, drowsiness, and dizziness. RESULTS: The incidence of body movement and the dose of propofol in Group C and D were lower than those in Group A and B (P < 0.05). The incidence and intensity of propofol injection pain and the incidence of cough in Group B, C, and D were lower than those in Group A (P < 0.05). The length of stay in PACU and the incidence of postoperative drowsiness and dizziness were higher in Group D than in Group A, B, and C (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Intravenous pre-injection of 7.5 µg/kg butorphanol with propofol can be the optimal dosage for patients undergoing gastroscopy and colonoscopy. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Trial registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR2000031506. Registered 3 April 2020-Retrospectively registered, http://www.medresman.org.cn .

Radical scavenging activities of peptide from Asian clam (Corbicula fluminea) and its protective effects on oxidative damage induced by hydrogen peroxide in HepG2 cells.

The soft part of Asian clam (Corbicula fluminea) was hydrolyzed using trypsin and the hydrolysates were separated by ultrafiltration using the membrane with molecular weight cutoff of 10 and 5 kDa. Three fractions (F10000, F10000-5000, and F5000) were obtained. The F5000 showed the strongest scavenging abilities to DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl), superoxide anion, and hydroxyl radicals, and was further fractionated into four fractions (component I, II, III, and IV) by gel chromatography. The protective effects of these components on oxidative damage induced by hydrogen peroxide (H2 O2 ) in HepG2 cells were evaluated. Meanwhile, component I separated from F5000 had more positive effects on increasing the activity of catalase, decreasing lipid peroxidation, inhibiting H2 O2 -induced apoptosis, and higher yield. The component I was further separated using anion exchange chromatography and reversed phase high-performance liquid chromatography, and the peptide sequence of Lys-Gly-Pro-Ala- Pro-Phe-Tyr-Pro-Leu was identified by mass with molecular weight of 988.3 Da. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Asian clam (C. fluminea) is used for liver protection in traditional Chinese medicine. The present study investigated the radical scavenging activity of the hydrolysates from C. fluminea and the protective effects of the hydrolysate fractions on oxidative damage induced by H2 O2 in HepG2 cells. In addition, a peptide was purified from the hydrolysate and the amino acid sequence of it was identified. Although chemical antioxidant has some side effects on health, the peptide with antioxidant activity obtained from C. fluminea would have more extensive application in food and nutraceutical.

Comparison of Lipids Extracted by Different Methods from Chinese Mitten Crab (Eriocheir sinensis) Hepatopancreas.

The effects of four different extraction methods (Folch, Soxhlet, two-step, and enzyme-assisted aqueous extraction) on the yields, lipid class, fatty acids (FAs) composition, minor components (including carotenoid, cholesterol), and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances values of lipids in the hepatopancreas of Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis) were investigated. The C16:0, C18:1, and C18:2 were identified to be the dominant FAs in crab lipids, and the FAs were present in the form of triglycerides. The Soxhlet and enzyme-assisted extraction were more suitable for crab lipids extraction, showing higher extraction rates and oxidative stability. Especially, the lipid extracted by enzyme-assisted extraction has high carotenoids content. The components of crab lipids extracted by enzyme-assisted aqueous extraction were further identified using untargeted metabolomics methods. The polyunsaturated fatty acid, sterols, amino acids, products of lipid ß-oxidation and ATP degradation, phosphatidyl ethanolamine, and astaxanthin were founded in crab oil. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis) is a popular aquatic food in China. The hepatopancreas is the major lipid storage organ of crab, and the distinctive flavor of crab is mainly from it. To compare the different extraction methods on yield, composition and properties of crab lipids can be helpful for lipids production from crab hepatopancreas. Meanwhile, the crab hepatopancreas lipids are rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids and astaxanthin, and have potential to be as a functional component and a crab flavor additive in food industry.

A novel MKK gene (EcMKK6) in Epinephelus coioides: Identification, characterization and its response to Vibrio alginolyticus and SGIV infection.

Mitogen-activated protein kinase 6 (MKK6) is one of the major important central regulatory proteins response to environmental and physiological stimuli. In this study, a novel MKK6, EcMKK6, was isolated from Epinephelus coioides, an economically important cultured fish in China and Southeast Asian counties. The open reading frame (ORF) of EcMKK6 is 1077 bp encoding 358 amino acids. EcMKK6 contains a serine/threonine protein kinase (S_TKc) domain, a tyrosine kinase catalytic domain, a conserved dual phosphorylation site in the SVAKT motif and a conserved DVD domain. By in situ hybridization (ISH) with Digoxigenin-labeled probe, EcMKK6 mainly located at the cytoplasm of cells, and a little appears in the nucleus. EcMKK6 mRNA can be detected in all eleven tissues examined, but the expression level is different in these tissues. After challenge with Vibrio alginolyticus and Singapore grouper iridovirus (SGIV), the transcription level of EcMKK6 was apparently up-regulated in the tissues examined. The data demonstrated that the sequence and the characters of EcMKK6 were conserved, EcMKK6 showed tissue-specific expression profiles in healthy grouper, and the expression was significantly varied after pathogen infection, indicating that EcMKK6 may play important roles in E. coioides during pathogen-caused inflammation.

Transgenic Cotton Plants Expressing the HaHR3 Gene Conferred Enhanced Resistance to Helicoverpa armigera and Improved Cotton Yield.

RNA interference (RNAi) has been developed as an efficient technology. RNAi insect-resistant transgenic plants expressing double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) that is ingested into insects to silence target genes can affect the viability of these pests or even lead to their death. HaHR3, a molt-regulating transcription factor gene, was previously selected as a target expressed in bacteria and tobacco plants to control Helicoverpa armigera by RNAi technology. In this work, we selected the dsRNA-HaHR3 fragment to silence HaHR3 in cotton bollworm for plant mediated-RNAi research. A total of 19 transgenic cotton lines expressing HaHR3 were successfully cultivated, and seven generated lines were used to perform feeding bioassays. Transgenic cotton plants expressing dsHaHR3 were shown to induce high larval mortality and deformities of pupation and adult eclosion when used to feed the newly hatched larvae, and 3rd and 5th instar larvae of H. armigera. Moreover, HaHR3 transgenic cotton also demonstrated an improved cotton yield when compared with controls.

Enhanced disease resistance and drought tolerance in transgenic rice plants overexpressing protein elicitors from Magnaporthe oryzae.

Exogenous application of the protein elicitors MoHrip1 and MoHrip2, which were isolated from the pathogenic fungus Magnaporthe oryzae (M. oryzae), was previously shown to induce a hypersensitive response in tobacco and to enhance resistance to rice blast. In this work, we successfully transformed rice with the mohrip1 and mohrip2 genes separately. The MoHrip1 and MoHrip2 transgenic rice plants displayed higher resistance to rice blast and stronger tolerance to drought stress than wild-type (WT) rice and the vector-control pCXUN rice. The expression of salicylic acid (SA)- and abscisic acid (ABA)-related genes was also increased, suggesting that these two elicitors may trigger SA signaling to protect the rice from damage during pathogen infection and regulate the ABA content to increase drought tolerance in transgenic rice. Trypan blue staining indicated that expressing MoHrip1 and MoHrip2 in rice plants inhibited hyphal growth of the rice blast fungus. Relative water content (RWC), water usage efficiency (WUE) and water loss rate (WLR) were measured to confirm the high capacity for water retention in transgenic rice. The MoHrip1 and MoHrip2 transgenic rice also exhibited enhanced agronomic traits such as increased plant height and tiller number.

MicroRNA-129-5p inhibits 3T3-L1 preadipocyte proliferation by targeting G3BP1.

MicroRNAs have been regarded to play a crucial role in the proliferation of different cell types including preadipocytes. In our study, we observed that miR-129-5p was down-regulated during 3T3-L1 preadipocyte proliferation, while the expression of G3BP1 showed a contrary tendency. 5-Ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) incorporation assay and flow cytometry showed that overexpression of miR-129-5p could bring about a reduction in S-phase cells and G2-phase arrest. Additional study indicated that miR-129-5p impaired cell cycle-related genes in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Importantly, it showed that miR-129-5p directly targeted the 3'UTR of G3BP1 and the expression of G3BP1 was inhibited by miR-129-5p mimic. Moreover, miR-129-5p mimic activated the p38 signaling pathway through up-regulating p38 and the phosphorylation level of p38. In a word, results in our study revealed that miR-129-5p suppressed preadipocyte proliferation via targeting G3BP1 and activating the p38 signaling pathway.

Transcriptional Profiling of Rice Treated with MoHrip1 Reveal the Function of Protein Elicitor in Enhancement of Disease Resistance and Plant Growth.

MoHrip1 is a protein elicitor isolated from Magnaporthe oryzae and was found to induce blast-resistance in rice. To investigate the comprehensive functions of MoHrip1, next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based digital gene expression (DGE) profiling was performed to collect the transcriptional data of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) induced by MoHrip1. A total of 308 genes were identified with differential expression, and 80 genes were predicted to be induced specifically by MoHrip1. Among these 308 genes, a series of genes associated with the salicylic acid (SA) pathway, phytoalexin, transcription factors, and pathogen-related proteins were identified. Both the SA signaling pathway and the gibberellin (GA) pathway were activated, while the jasmonic acid (JA) signaling pathway was repressed. The contents of endogenous SA and GA and the morphological characteristics of the rice after treatment were measured to provide evidence supporting the predictions made based on the DGE data. The 80 genes mentioned above might be candidate genes for studying interactions with MoHrip1. The transcriptional data provided global effect information in rice induced by MoHrip1, and all the results demonstrated that MoHrip1 could induce pathogen resistance and promote plant growth by regulating the contents of SA and GA directly or indirectly.

Characterization, Stability, and In Vitro Release Evaluation of Carboxymethyl Chitosan Coated Liposomes Containing Fish Oil.

UNLABELLED: Fish oil was extracted and refined from Nile tilapia viscera. Uncoated liposomes (un-L) and carboxymethylchitosan (CMCS)-coated liposomes (CM-L) containing fish oil were prepared, and their characteristics, stability, and release in vitro were studied. The CMCS coating increased the mean diameter of liposomes but there was no effect on entrapment efficiency. The surface structure and characteristics of liposomes were determined. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy showed that the hydrogen bonding formed between the CMCS and the carbonyl region of the liposomes' bilayer. The transition temperature of CM-L was higher than un-L. The stabilities of un-L and CM-L stored at 4 °C were better than 25 °C. Moreover, the CM-L was significantly more stable than un-L when stored at 25 °C. The release behaviors of un-L and CM-L were governed by 2 distinct stages and the first-order model was the most suitable model for the whole release procedure. The diffusion and erosion may be the main release mechanisms for the full controlled release of fish oil from the liposomes. This study can provide theories and practice information for further applications of fish oil from tilapia viscera. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Fish oil is a rich source of unsaturated fatty acids which has several health benefits. Undesirable oxidation of fish oil compromised its health benefits and also affects the sensory quality of food products containing fish oil. The CMCS-coated liposomes containing fish oil increased the stability and solubility of fish oil in food system. It can be used in various food matrices as a functional component especially in aqueous food system.

Characterization of polycaprolactone/collagen fibrous scaffolds by electrospinning and their bioactivity.

Fibrous scaffolds for tissue engineering were fabricated using collagen extracted from Nile tilapia skin and polycaprolactone (PCL) by electrospinning. The scaffolds were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), ATR-Fourier transform infrared, X-ray diffraction, and differential scanning calorimetry. Diameters of PCL/collagen fibrous scaffolds (PCFSs) decreased from 987 ± 274 to 689 ± 299 nm with an increase in collagen content, crystallinity was low, and crystal size was small. All of the characteristic bands of PCL and collagen could be observed in PCFSs. Furthermore, PCFSs had a higher dehydration temperature (50-60°C) than native collagen (32.5°C). The ultimate tensile strength of PCFSs increased with an increase in collagen content. Circular dichroism and a degradation assay in vitro indicated that PCFSs had good stability and a low degradation rate. Cellular behavior on PCFSs was investigated by a MTT assay, SEM, and laser scanning confocal microscopy. The results indicated that the PCFSs could provide a suitable environment for the growth and viability of L929 fibroblasts, maintain good cell adhesion, and retain good biocompatibility. It implied the possibility of using PCFSs as a promising candidate for tissue engineering.

Biphasic influence of dexamethasone exposure on embryonic vertebrate skeleton development.

Dexamethasone (Dex) has anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties against many conditions. There is a potential teratogenic risk, however, for pregnant women receiving Dex treatment. It has been claimed that Dex exposure during pregnancy could affect osteogenesis in the developing embryo, which still remains highly controversial. In this study, we employed chick embryos to investigate the effects of Dex exposure on skeletal development using combined in vivo and in vitro approach. First, we demonstrated that Dex (10(-8)-10(-6)µmol/egg) exposure resulted in a shortening of the developing long bones of chick embryos, and it accelerated the deposition of calcium salts. Secondly, histological analysis of chick embryo phalanxes exhibited Dex exposure inhibited the proliferation of chondrocytes, increased apoptosis of chondrocytes and osteocytes, and led to atypical arranged hypertrophic chondrocytes. The expression of genes related to skeletogenesis was also analyzed by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. The expression of ALP, Col1a2 and Col2a1 was decreased in the Dex treated phalanxes. A detectable increase was observed in Runx-2 and Mmp-13 expression. We next examined how Dex affected the different stages of skeletogenesis in vitro. Utilizing limb bud mesenchyme micromass cultures, we determined that Dex exposure exerted no effect on apoptosis but impaired chondrogenic cell proliferation. Interestingly, low dose of Dex moderately prompted nodule formation as revealed by alcian blue staining, but higher doses of Dex significantly inhibited similar chondrogenic differentiation. Dex exposure did not induce apoptosis when the chondrogenic precursors were still at the mesenchymal stage, however, cell viability was suppressed when the mesenchyme differentiated into chondrocytes. Alizarin red staining revealed that the capacity to form mineralized bone nodules was correspondingly enhanced as Dex concentrations increased. The mRNA level of Sox-9 was slightly increased in mesenchymal cell mass treated by low concentration of Dex. Mmp-13 expression was obviously up-regulated by Dex in both mesenchymal cells and primary chondrocyte cultures. And Col10a1 expression was also increased by Dex exposure in chondrocyte. In summary, we have revealed that different concentrations of Dex exposure during early gestation could exert a biphasic effect on vertebrate skeletal development.

ACE inhibitory peptides derived from aquatic protein.

Among bioactive peptides derived from aquatic protein, those with ACE inhibitory activity are receiving special attention. This paper presented an overview of ACE inhibitory peptides derived from aquatic proteins, and the peptide sources were listed. The structure-activity relationship and mechanism of action of ACE inhibitory peptides were also discussed. Finally, the antihypertensive effects of ACE inhibitory peptides derived from marine protein, including short-term and long-term influence, were also discussed.

Functional characterization of human PFTK1 as a cyclin-dependent kinase.

Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) are crucial regulators of the eukaryotic cell cycle whose activities are controlled by associated cyclins. PFTK1 shares limited homology to CDKs, but its ability to associate with any cyclins and its biological functions remain largely unknown. Here, we report the functional characterization of human PFTK1 as a CDK. PFTK1 specifically interacted with cyclin D3 (CCND3) and formed a ternary complex with the cell cycle inhibitor p21(Cip1) in mammalian cells. We demonstrated that the kinase activity of PFTK1 depended on CCND3 and was negatively regulated by p21(Cip1). Moreover, we identified the tumor suppressor Rb as a potential downstream substrate for the PFTK1/CCND3 complex. Importantly, knocking down PFTK1 expression by using siRNA caused cell cycle arrest at G(1), whereas ectopic expression of PFTK1 promoted cell proliferation. Taken together, our data strongly suggest that PFTK1 acts as a CDK that regulates cell cycle progression and cell proliferation.

TRB3 interacts with CtIP and is overexpressed in certain cancers.

TRB3, a human homolog of Drosophila Tribbles, has been recently shown as a critical negative regulator of Akt and S6 kinase activation in a number of cellular processes. Here we found that TRB3 interacted with an important cell cycle regulator CtIP (CtBP-interacting protein) and the interaction involved the C-terminus of both proteins. Interestingly, TRB3 and CtIP co-localized to the nucleus in HeLa cells and exhibited a unique dot-like pattern. Finally, we demonstrated that TRB3 was overexpressed in multiple tumor tissues. Since CtIP plays important roles in cell cycle checkpoint control and it has been implicated in tumorigenesis, our data suggest that TRB3 may be involved in these biological processes through interacting with CtIP.