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Forkhead box M1 (FoxM1) is an oncogenic transcription factor involved in a wide variety of cellular processes, such as cell cycle progression, proliferation, differentiation, migration, metabolism and DNA damage response. It is overexpressed in many human cancers, especially in breast cancers. Posttranslational modifications are known to play an important role in regulating the expression and transcriptional activity of FoxM1. In this review, we characterize the posttranslational modifications of FoxM1, summarize modifications of FoxM1 by different kinases, explore the relationship between the different sites of modifications and comprehensively describe how posttranslational modifications to regulate the function of FoxM1 by changing protein stability, nucleus localization and transcriptional activity. Additionally, we systematically summarize the roles of FoxM1 in breast cancer occurrence, therapy and drug resistance. The purpose of this paper tries to give a better understanding of the regulatory mechanisms of FoxM1 in cell regulation and highlights potential of a new method for breast cancer therapy by targeting FoxM1.

Hepatic encephalopathy is a neuropsychological syndrome due to biochemical disturbance of brain function in advanced liver disease patients. Diagnosis and treatment of the condition is very demanding and has negative toll on finances with increased healthcare utilization. The pathophysiology is not completely understood; however, there is evidence that ammonia plays an important role in the etiology. Conventional methods of solely relying on blood ammonia level to diagnose hepatic encephalopathy did not help much; likewise, the use of lactulose alone in treating hepatic encephalopathy has also been discouraged. This paper analyzed the current knowledge regarding the mechanism of how ammonia disrupts the normal brain function as well as the use of latest diagnosing tools including those under development to evaluate the neuropsychiatric state of patients and their quality of life. The efficacies of lactulose and rifaximin combination for short-term and long-term treatment in addition to nutritional interventions and other drugs undergoing clinical trials were also reviewed.

To explore the health effects of multi-heavy metal exposure, Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were orally given one dose of heavy metal mixtures (HMMs). The eight most common detectable heavy metals in Ningbo area are zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb) and mercury (Hg). In this study, mixtures of these eight heavy metals were prepared using the compounds zinc sulfate heptahydrate, cupric sulfate, manganese dichloride, potassium dichromate, nickel dichloride, cadmium dichloride, lead acetate, and methyl mercury chloride with ion mass proportions of 1070.0, 312.6, 173.1, 82.6, 30.0, 13.3, 6.6, and 1.0, respectively. The rats were randomly divided into four groups. Beside the control group, each rat received a corresponding dose of HMMs 215, 464 or 1000 mg per kg body weight (bwt), respectively. The rats were observed for 4 weeks. During the last week of observation, the Morris water maze test was used to investigate spatial learning and memory in the treated rats. The rats were exsanguinated under complete chloral hydrate anesthesia and organ coefficients were measured. Biochemical tests of blood and serum samples were carried out. The results showed abnormalities in the hematological system, decreased renal function, hepatic injury and disturbances in the electrolyte balance of the rats treated with a high dose of HMMs. Death of some rats was also observed. This paper analyzed how a one-time high dose oral administration of HMMs induced systemic toxicity.