Cellular and molecular biology最新文献

Gastric cancer is a common solid tumor of the digestive system, This research aimed to investigate the relationships among CTHRC1 expression, prognostic values and tumor-infiltrating immune cells (TIICs) in GC patients.The expression of CTHRC1 in gastric cancer patients was analyzed using the GEPIA database and the TCGA database. The relationship between CTHRC1 expression and survival of gastric cancer patients was then explored using the Kaplan-Meier Plotter database and TCGA database.Subsequently, we explored whether there was an associative effect between the expression of CTHRC1 and TIICs in gastric cancer tissues. Then we constructed a prognostic model using immunomodulatory genes related to CTHRC1 and verified the specificity and accuracy of the model.Compared with normal tissues, the expression of CTHRC1 was significantly upregulated in gastric cancer tissues. And the high expression of CTHRC1 was associated with poor prognosis of gastric cancer patients.It is suggested that CTHRC1 is a reliable prognostic indicator for predicting the prognosis of gastric cancer patients.Then we successively used univariate and multivariate COX methods to obtain three high-risk immunomodulatory genes (TGFB2, CXCR4 and NT5E) and one low-risk immunomodulatory gene (TNFRSF18) associated with CTHRC1. These four immunomodulatory genes were used to construct a prognostic model for gastric cancer.Gastric cancer patients with high CTHRC1 expression have a poor prognosis and are associated with immune cell infiltration. Therefore, CTHRC1 can be considered as a potentially reliable prognostic indicator for gastric cancer patients.

Osteomyelitis of the jaw is a significant health burden, often associated with biofilm formation, antimicrobial resistance, and complex bacterial interactions. This study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial efficacy of two probiotic strains, Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 and ATCC PTA 6475, against three key pathogens: Fusobacterium nucleatum, Actinomyces israelii, and Staphylococcus aureus. The focus was on their potential as adjunctive treatments for osteomyelitis of the jaws. This in-vitro study employed tailored standard protocols to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of the probiotic strains against the tested pathogens. Probiotic suspensions were prepared in serial dilutions and bacterial strains were inoculated into brain heart infusion media for exposure. The growth inhibition and eradication were confirmed through subculture techniques and microscopic examination of Gram-stained samples. Both probiotic strains exhibited significant antibacterial activity against Fusobacterium nucleatum and Actinomyces israelii at low concentrations, achieving MIC of 0.625 µl and MBC of 1.25 µl for both pathogens. In contrast, Staphylococcus aureus demonstrated greater resistance, with MIC and MBC recorded at 100 µl and 200 µl, respectively. The differential response underscores the variable susceptibility of bacterial species to probiotics and highlights the potential for selective therapeutic application. Within the scope of this study, two Lactobacillus reuteri strains demonstrated promising antibacterial effects against Fusobacterium nucleatum and Actinomyces israelii, suggesting their potential utility in managing osteomyelitis of the jaws. However, higher concentrations or synergistic approaches may be needed to combat Staphylococcus aureus. Further studies including preclinical and clinical trials are essential to translate these findings into effective therapeutic strategies.

The dental pulp undergoes several histological changes with age. These include a reduction in the number of cells and blood vessels, resulting in a decreased capacity for regeneration and repair. Furthermore, there is an increase in collagen fiber density and the formation of secondary dentin, which reduces the volume of the pulp chamber. This study performed a comparative histological analysis to characterize these age-related changes in dental pulp tissues. A cross-sectional comparative analysis was conducted to examine the histological changes in dental pulp tissue from two distinct age groups. Extracted teeth were thoroughly cleaned and immediately fixed in 10% formalin for preservation. Each sample was then decalcified using 10% formic acid for a duration sufficient to allow sectioning without damaging the tissue. After decalcification, the teeth were embedded in paraffin wax, and serial sections, with a thickness of 4-6 μm, were prepared using a microtome. The sections were then stained with Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) to visualize general tissue structure. The histological analysis demonstrated notable differences in dental pulp tissue between the two age groups. Group A (young) samples showed a high cellularity, with numerous fibroblasts and odontoblasts and a clearly defined odontoblastic layer. However, Group B (elderly) samples exhibited a marked reduction in cellularity, with fewer odontoblasts present and evidence of increased fibroblast degeneration. The histological changes observed in our study underscore the impact of aging on dental pulp tissue.

This study investigated the impact of long-term, low-dose occupational exposure to X-rays on thyroid function and hematological parameters in radiology staff. A cross-sectional analysis was conducted on 136 radiology and radiation-related employees. Thyroid status, assessed via ultrasonography and serum T3, T4, and TSH measurements, was compared with complete blood counts (CBC). While no significant gender-based differences in thyroid hormones or structure were observed, TSH levels correlated significantly with occupational group (P=0.016), and T3 levels correlated with working hours (P=0.03). Radiologists exhibited higher RDW-CV compared to radiographers and other staff (P=0.009). Significant gender differences were noted in lymphocyte counts, hemoglobin, red blood cells, and hematocrit. In males, WBC and MCHC fluctuated significantly with increased working hours. These findings suggest that chronic, low-dose X-ray exposure may influence thyroid hormone regulation and hematopoiesis in radiology professionals. Further research is warranted to elucidate the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms and to refine radiation safety protocols.

This study investigates the impact of urea adulteration in raw milk on milk quality, safety, and renal tissue integrity, addressing a significant public health concern, particularly in low-to-middle-income countries where over 76.6% of milk samples have compromised quality and 77.89% are adulterated. Raw milk samples were analyzed for quality parameters, adulterants, and the presence of synthetic by-products using FTIR. In vivo studies in mice were conducted to assess the histopathological effects of urea-adulterated milk on renal and liver tissues. Results revealed that urea adulteration leads to significant alterations in milk composition, including changes in fat content from 5.73% to 0.6% in boiled milk, solids-not-fat from 9.11% to 12.84%, protein from 3.61% to 5.28%, and lactose content from 3.81% to 5.57%, alongside the formation of synthetic compounds such as lactose monohydrate and polyvinyl stearate. Histological examination of mice kidneys exposed to urea-adulterated milk demonstrated morphological, inflammatory, degenerative, congestive, and necrotic changes. This study highlights the cellular-level damage induced by urea adulteration, emphasizing its potential to induce neoplastic changes in renal tissues and underscoring the need for stringent monitoring of milk quality to safeguard public health.

The pulmonary parenchyma is the primary site of metastasis for giant cell tumor (GCT) of bone, a benign yet aggressive musculoskeletal tumor. Current treatments, including surgery and antibody therapy, are only partially effective and often lead to significant side effects. This study aimed to evaluate the apoptotic activity of quercetin, a naturally occurring flavonoid with anticancer properties, on metastatic GCT lung cells (TIB-223). The immunophenotype of the TIB-223 cell line was characterized using flow cytometry, revealing positivity for CD166 and CD47 markers and negativity for CD34, CD73, CD117, CD45, and fibroblast markers. The IC50 of quercetin was determined at 91.1 µM through MTT assays, demonstrating its cytotoxic effect in a dose-dependent manner. Apoptosis was confirmed via flow cytometry and Western blotting, showing increased caspase-3 expression after 24 hours of treatment. These findings indicate that quercetin induces apoptosis in metastatic GCT cells and could serve as a basis for developing phytopharmaceutical therapies targeting this pathology.

In Iraq, breast cancer is the most prevalent malignancy among women, prompting increased research in the last decade. This retrospective study aimed to determine the role of human papillomavirus (HPV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) in breast tumors. The study included 140 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded breast tissue samples from 100 patients with breast tumors and 20 normal breast tissue samples as controls. Patients ranged in age from 16 to 72 years. In situ hybridization was performed on samples collected from hospitals and private laboratories in Kirkuk and Tikrit between January 15 and December 15, 2022. CMV was detected in 25% (25/100) of breast cancer tissues, while HPV was found in 45% (45/100), compared to the control group, which tested negative for both viruses. Among HPV-positive cases, HPV genotype 31 was the most prevalent (58.33%), followed by HPV16 and HPV18 (20.8% each). These findings suggest that HPV, particularly genotype 31, and CMV may play a role in breast cancer development in the Iraqi population.

Monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) is a serine hydrolase that degrades the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoylglycerol and other monoacylglycerols in the brain and peripheral tissues. Elevated MAGL levels in invasive malignancies promote tumor growth by releasing free fatty acids, making MAGL inhibition a potential strategy for treating cancer. In this study, a virtual screening workflow began with Pharmit web server, where a pharmacophore was generated based on the X-ray crystal structure of MAGL complexed with its inhibitor, (2-cyclohexyl-1,3-benzoxazol-6-yl){3-[4-(pyrimidin-2-yl)piperazin-1-yl]azetidin-1-yl}methanone. A total of 5.241 million molecules from the MolPort database were screened, utilizing its diverse and purchasable chemical space to enhance the likelihood of identifying novel MAGL inhibitors and facilitating experimental validation. After applying filters based on Lipinski's and Veber's rules, a maximum energy cutoff of -7.0 kcal/mol, and an RMSD of 2Å, 4027 hits were obtained. The compounds were then docked using Vina-GPU, and the top five hits, along with the co-crystal inhibitor, were further analyzed through DFT computations and molecular dynamics simulations. MMGBSA computations identified MolPort-007-806-063 as the most potent compound, with a binding energy of -59.9±0.23 kcal/mol. In comparison, the co-crystal inhibitor exhibited a binding energy of -56.26±0.22 kcal/mol, while the other compounds showed energies of -54.57±0.26 kcal/mol, -53.57±0.24 kcal/mol, -41.13±0.33 kcal/mol, and -36.23±0.36 kcal/mol. These compounds are promising MAGL inhibitor candidates for experimental validation through enzyme inhibition assays, cell-based activity assays, and crystallographic studies to confirm their predicted binding modes and potency.

The experiment was carried out to investigate the carbohydrate content as represented by glucose, fructose and sucrose, total soluble solids, carotenoid, flavonoid, antioxidant, phenolic content, pH, and minerals as micro-macro nutrient content in grapes, rambutan, and pineapple.  A total of 50 fruits were collected for rambutan, five fruits from pineapple, and five bunches were collected for grapes in Experiment 1: Glucose content was higher in rambutan and pineapple than in grapes. The higher fructose content was found in rambutan than in grapes and pineapple. The highest sucrose was observed in rambutan. The highest total soluble solid (TSS) content was found in rambutan. Vitamin C and fiber content exhibited the highest value in pineapple. However, carotenoid was higher in grapes and pineapple than in rambutan. The maximum flavonoid was found in rambutan. In addition, total antioxidant and phenolic content were higher in pineapple and rambutan than in grapes. Potassium content was higher in grapes and pineapple compared to the rambutan, whereas phosphorus content was the highest in pineapple, and calcium content was the highest in rambutan. Mn, Fe, and Zn were found in higher amounts in rambutan than in pineapple and grapes. In Experiment 2: glucose, sucrose, and vitamin C decreased while fructose, TSS, pH, and biomass increased. In addition, moisture decreased with the increase of total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in grapes, rambutan and pineapple. Carotenoid content was highest in grapes, flavonoid was highest in rambutan and total phenol was highest in pineapple. Therefore, it can be concluded that grapes showed better mineral content, rambutan exhibited the highest sugar and flavonoid content, and pineapple showed the highest bioactive compounds.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a significant hospital-acquired pathogen, particularly concerning in burn patients due to its multidrug resistance. This study aimed to assess the antibiotic sensitivity profile and identify the presence of erm genes (ermA, ermB, and ermC) associated with erythromycin resistance in MRSA isolates from burn patients. A total of 80 S. aureus isolates were collected from burn cases, with initial diagnoses performed using conventional culture and microscopic methods. MRSA isolates were confirmed using chromogenic agar media, and antibiotic susceptibility was determined via the disc diffusion method. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was employed to detect the erm genes responsible for macrolide resistance. Among 80 samples, 40 were identified as S. aureus, of which 18 were confirmed as MRSA. PCR analysis revealed the prevalence of ermA, ermB, and ermC genes at rates of 12%, 33%, and 11%, respectively. All MRSA isolates exhibited multidrug resistance to antibiotics, highlighting the challenge of treating infections in burn patients. This study underscores the critical need for molecular characterization of MRSA strains to inform effective therapeutic strategies and control their spread in burn wards.