Fluoride ions detection in aqueous media by unprecedented ring opening of fluorescein dye: A novel multimodal sensor for fluoride ions and its utilization in live cell imaging.

Imidazole functionalized on fluorescein dye was developed as an efficient probe for naked eye and fluorescence determination of fluoride ions. The probe is dramatic color change and very exciting fluorescence turn-on response with the addition fluoride ions. Moreover, fluoride ions triggering leads to the fissure of the spirolactam ring that causes drastic color makes feasible for the naked eye detection of fluoride ions. The mode of binding of fluoride with the probe was proved by 1H NMR titration experiments and the observed photophysical changes were rationalized by use of DFT calculations. This sensor was more applied to detect fluoride ions in real samples and imaging of fluoride ions through fluorescence imaging in living cells.

Elevated growth differentiation factor 15 expression predicts poor prognosis in epithelial ovarian cancer patients.

The purpose of this study was to determine the expression of growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) and explore its clinical significance in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) patients. The expression of GDF15 in EOC tissues and serum samples was evaluated using immunohistochemistry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. The association of GDF15 expression with clinicopathologic parameters was analyzed. Survival time was assessed using the Kaplan-Meier technique and Cox regression model. Both in EOC tissues and serum, high GDF15 levels were obviously related with advanced International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage, lymph node metastasis, ascites, and chemoresistance. Kaplan-Meier analysis indicated that EOC patients with high GDF15 expression showed poorer progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that GDF15 expression was an independent predictor of PFS in EOC patients. Our study shows that elevated GDF15 expression was associated with poor prognosis in EOC patients. We suggest that GDF15 is a novel biomarker for the early detection of EOC, prediction of the response to chemotherapy, and screening for recurrence in EOC patients.

AK000953 silencing can enhance the killing effect of danazol on uterine fibroids.

PURPOSE: Our aim was to study the role of AK000953 silencing for the killing effect of danazol on uterine fibroids. METHODS: Quantitative PCR was applied to identify differential expression of AK000953 in uterine fibroid tissue and normal uterine tissue. Then we isolated and cultured uterine fibroid cells, designed the siRNA of AK000953 to silence its expression in uterine fibroid cells, and detected the treatment effect of danazol and AK000953 siRNA on cell proliferation, cell apoptosis, and cell invasion. Finally, guinea pig model of uterine fibroids was constructed to verify the effect of AK000953 silencing on uterine fibroid treatment with danazol in vivo. RESULTS: Quantitative PCR showed that the AK000953 gene was highly expressed in uterine fibroid tissue compared with normal uterine tissue (2.1 ± 0.15 vs. 0.8 ± 0.05, p < 0.01). After AK000953 silencing in uterine fibroid cells, we discovered that the inhibition rate in danazol-siRNA group was 56 ± 5 %, the cell apoptosis rate of danazol-siRNA group was 43 ± 2.3 %, and the invasion rate of uterine fibroid cells was 12 ± 1 %, which all showed significant differences with the control group or danazol group. Guinea pig model confirmed that the treatment of danazol and AK000953 siRNA effectively inhibited the development of fibroids in vivo. CONCLUSION: AK000953 silencing could effectively enhance the killing effect of danazol on uterine fibroid cells.