Int J Med Sci
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Pancreatic cancer (PC) is a challenging and heterogeneous disease with a high mortality rate. Despite advancements in treatment, the prognosis for PC patients remains poor, with a high chance of disease recurrence. Biomarkers are crucial for diagnosing cancer, predicting patient prognosis and selecting treatments. ⋯ Furthermore, the infiltration of various immune cells, including B cells, neutrophils, CD8+ T cells, dendritic cells, and macrophages, was positively correlated with KDM1A, KDM5A, and KDM5B expression. Moreover, MetaCore pathway analysis revealed interesting connections between KDM1A and the cell cycle and proliferation, between KDM5A and DNA damage and double-strand break repair through homologous recombination, and between KDM5B and WNT/β-catenin signaling. These findings suggest that KDM1A, KDM5A and KDM5B may serve as promising biomarkers and therapeutic targets for PC, a disease of high importance due to its aggressive nature and urgent need for novel biomarkers to improve diagnosis and treatment.
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Background: Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer among women globally and poses the leading health threat to women worldwide, with persistently high incidence rates. Mitophagy is a selective autophagy process that specifically targets mitochondria within the cell, maintaining cellular energy balance and metabolic health by identifying and degrading damaged mitochondria. Although there is an understanding of the relationship between mitophagy and cancer, the specific mechanisms remain unclear due to the complexity and diversity of mitophagy, suggesting that it could be an effective and more targeted therapeutic approach for BC. ⋯ To enhance clinical applicability, age and staging were incorporated into the risk score, and a more comprehensive nomogram was constructed to predict OS. This nomogram was validated and showed good predictive performance, with area under the curve (AUC) values for 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year OS of 0.895, 0.765, and 0.728, respectively. Conclusion: Our findings underscore the profound impact of prognostic genes on the immune response and prognostic outcomes in BC, indicating that they can provide new avenues for personalized BC treatment and potentially improve clinical outcomes.
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Zuojin Pill (ZJP) is a traditional herbal preparation used to treat various gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms by evaluating the effects of ZJP on the pacemaker activity of isolated interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) and on in vivo GI motility in mice. We isolated ICCs from mouse small intestine and measured pacemaker potentials by whole-cell patch clamping as well as intracellular calcium signaling by microfluorometry. ⋯ Furthermore, ZJP reversed the reduction of ITR caused by loperamide (Imodium) and normalized the ITR abnormality of two etiologically distinct GI motility disorder (GMD) mouse models. Finally, ZJP increased serum concentrations of the pro-peristalsis factors motilin and substance P. Our results suggest that ZJP depolarizes ICCs via 5-HT4 or muscarinic M3 receptor activation and G-protein dependent calcium-, PLC-, inositol triphosphate-, and MAPK signaling pathways (but not PKC-dependent pathways), leading to enhanced GI motility.
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In the realm of this study, obtaining a comprehensive understanding of ischemic brain injury and its molecular foundations is of paramount importance. Our study delved into single-cell data analysis, with a specific focus on sub-celltypes and differentially expressed genes in the aftermath of ischemic injury. Notably, we observed a significant enrichment of the "ATP METABOLIC PROCESS" and "ATP HYDROLYSIS ACTIVITY" pathways, featuring pivotal genes such as Pbx3, Dguok, and Kif21b. ⋯ These findings provide valuable insights into the intricate molecular responses and regulatory mechanisms that govern brain injury. The shared differentially expressed genes among sub-celltypes emphasize their significance in orchestrating responses post-ischemic injury. Our research, viewed from the perspective of a medical researcher, contributes to the evolving understanding of the molecular landscape underlying ischemic brain injury, potentially paving the way for targeted therapeutic strategies and improved patient outcomes.
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Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), which are capable of differentiating into osteoblasts, are used in effective regenerative therapies. MSCs must be prompted to differentiate into osteoblasts for MSC transplantation to be effective. In this study, osteoblast differentiation markers involved in bone formation were evaluated to investigate the stress resistance of bone marrow-derived rat MSCs to dexamethasone and hypoxia and their ability to differentiate into osteoblasts. ⋯ MSCs preconditioned with dexamethasone or hypoxia and then allowed to differentiate into osteoblasts under similar conditions differentiated comparably to control MSCs. MSCs that developed resistance to dexamethasone or hypoxia differentiated more quickly into osteoblasts than those that did not. The findings suggest that increasing the resistance of MSCs to stress by preconditioning them via dexamethasone or hypoxia exposure could result in more rapid differentiation into osteoblasts following transplantation.