Sensitive
and simultaneous detection of multiple cancer-related
biomarkers in serum is essential for diagnosis, therapy, prognosis,
and staging of cancer. Herein, we proposed a magnetically assisted
sandwich-type surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)-based biosensor
for ultrasensitive and multiplex detection of three hepatocellular
carcinoma-related microRNA (miRNA) biomarkers. The biosensor consists
of an SERS tag (probe DNA-conjugated DNA-engineered fractal gold nanoparticles,
F-AuNPs) and a magnetic capture substrate (capture DNA-conjugated
Ag-coated magnetic nanoparticles, AgMNPs). The proposed strategy achieved
simultaneous and sensitive detection of three miRNAs (miRNA-122, miRNA-223,
and miRNA-21), and the limits of detection of the three miRNAs in
human serum are 349 aM for miRNA-122, 374 aM for miRNA-223, and 311
aM for miRNA-21. High selectivity and accuracy of the SERS biosensor
were proved by practical analysis in human serum. Moreover, the biosensor
exhibited good practicability in multiplex detection of three miRNAs
in 92 clinical sera from AFP-negative patients, patients before and
after hepatectomy, recurred and relapse-free patients after hepatectomy,
and hepatocellular carcinoma patients at distinct Barcelona clinic
liver cancer stages. The experiment results demonstrate that our SERS-based
assay is a promising candidate in clinical application and exhibited
potential for the prediction, diagnosis, monitoring, and staging of
cancers.
The interactions between cell-wall polysaccharides and polyphenols in the gastrointestinal tract have attracted extensive attention. We hypothesized that dietary fiber modulates the fermentation patterns of cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (C3G) in a fiber-type-dependent manner. In the present study, the effects of four dietary fibers (fructose-oligosaccharides, pectin, β-glucan and arabinoxylan) on the modulation of C3G fermentation patterns were investigated through in vitro fermentation inoculated with human feces. The changes in gas volume, pH, total carbohydrate content, metabolites of C3G, antioxidant activity, and microbial community distribution during in vitro fermentation were analyzed. After 24 h of fermentation, the gas volume and total carbohydrate contents of the four dietary-fiber-supplemented groups respectively increased and decreased to varying degrees. The results showed that the C3G metabolites after in vitro fermentation mainly included cyanidin, protocatechuic acid, 2,4,6-trihydroxybenzoic acid, and 2,4,6-trihydroxybenzaldehyde. Supplementation of dietary fibers changed the proportions of C3G metabolites depending on the structures. Dietary fibers increased the production of short-chain fatty acids and the relative abundance of gut microbiota Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus, thus potentially maintaining colonic health to a certain extent. In conclusion, the used dietary fibers modulate the fermentation patterns of C3G in a fiber-type-dependent manner.
A better understanding of the underlying mechanisms leading to ectopic pregnancies may contribute to our knowledge of the pathogenesis of tubal disorders and infertility and to the prevention of tubal ectopic pregnancy.
Placental development is important for proper growth and development of the fetus, as well as maternal well-being during pregnancy. Abnormal differentiation of placental epithelial cells, called trophoblast, is at the root of multiple pregnancy complications, including miscarriage, the maternal hypertensive disorder preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction. The ligand-activated nuclear receptor, PPARγ, and nutrient sensor, Sirtuin-1, both play a role in numerous pathways important to cell survival and differentiation, metabolism and inflammation. However, each has also been identified as a key player in trophoblast differentiation and placental development. This review details these studies, and also describes how various stressors, including hypoxia and inflammation, alter the expression or activity of PPARγ and Sirtuin-1, thereby contributing to placenta-based pregnancy complications.
SLIT2/ROBO1 signalling may regulate trophoblast differentiation and invasion causing restricting β-hCG production, shallow trophoblast invasion and inhibiting placental angiogenesis in missed and threatened miscarriage during the first trimester.
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