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An improved genetic algorithm is proposed to optimize the deep neural network algorithm for visual style conversion in visual media. It consists of two parts: optimizing the deep neural network algorithm design and designing a video style conversion model. The genetic algorithm selection strategy is enhanced to optimize the neural network structure. A non-recursive neural network is used to handle temporal inconsistency in a single frame. Experimental results on the Heart dataset show that the accuracy of the optimized deep neural network algorithm is 0.8913, outperforming other algorithms like the generative adversarial dual neural network (0.8696), ant colony optimization (0.8651), active network (0.8536), genetic algorithm (0.8566), and particle swarm algorithm (0.8558). Moreover, the optimized algorithm achieves high temporal stability and running speed in single and multi-style conversion networks. In conclusion, the proposed strategy using improved genetic algorithms to optimize deep neural network algorithms for visual style conversion offers effective solutions with high application value in terms of accuracy, temporal stability, and running speed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a regularized long wave travelling along an unsmooth boundary is depicted by the fractal calculus, and its fractal variational principle is established via the fractal semi-inverse method, which is very helpful to construct the conservation laws in the fractal space and to study the structure of the analytical solution, and a fractal solitary wave solution is obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to provide a synthetic examination of the determinants of the behavioral intention (BI) of older adults to use technology and to investigate the moderating variables that contribute to heterogeneity in prior literature. This study is developed through meta-analysis involving 35 primary studies over 15 years. Results indicate that perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and social influence are substantially correlated with the BI of older adults to adopt technology. These determinants perform differently when regional disparity is considered, thereby suggesting a cross-cultural study in the future. Moreover, older adults' willingness to use familiar technologies, such as smartphones, is strongest, whereas their acceptance of unfamiliar technologies, such as healthcare systems and devices, is likely affected by the three determinants. The synthesized results may benefit researchers in determining future research directions and decision makers in gerontechnology research and development and marketing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objectives] To investigate the protective effect and mechanism of Ershiwuwei Songshi Pill on acute alcoholic liver injury in rats. [Methods] Sixty male SD rats were randomly divided into normal control group, model group, polyene phosphatidylcholine（82.08 mg/kg） positive control group and Ershiwuwei Songshi Pill high（180 mg/kg）, medium（90 mg/kg） and low（45 mg/kg） dose groups. The rats in each group were given corresponding drugs by intragastric administration for 3 d and fed normally. From the 4 th d, all groups except the normal control group were fed with 15 mL/kg liquor（56% vol） for 7 d after 2 h of administration. After the last modeling, the levels of AST, ALT, TC, TG, SOD, GSH in serum and IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α in liver tissue were measured. The protein expressions of Bax, Bcl-2 and Caspase3 were determined by Western blotting. HE staining was used to observe the pathological changes of liver tissue under light microscope. [Results] Compared with the model group, the body weight and the levels of SOD and GSH in the treatment group were significantly higher than those in the model group; liver index, serum ALT, AST, TC, TG, IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α levels decreased significantly（P<0.01 or P<0.05）; HE staining showed that there was a small amount of collagen proliferation and lymphocyte infiltration in connective tissue around the hepatic portal area in the model group, multiple inflammatory foci could be seen in the lobules, and round fat vacuoles could be seen in the cytoplasm; in each administration group, the pathological condition of the liver was mild. [Conclusions] Ershiwuwei Songshi Pill had a certain protective effect on acute alcoholic liver injury in rats, and its mechanism might be related to reducing enzyme, promoting lipid metabolism and anti-inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objectives] This study aimed to investigate the effects of lignans from seeds of Herpetospermum caudigerum Wall.（SHC） on expression of TGF-β/Smads in liver tissue of hepatic alcohol-injuried rats, and to explore its protective mechanism. [Methods] A total of 60 SD rats were randomly divided into six groups. The rats in all the groups except those in the normal group were given with white spirit by gavage for 8 weeks to establish alcoholic liver injury models. After rat models were established successfully, they were administered intragastrically with 400, 200 and 100 mg/kg of lignans, respectively. The rats in the normal group were administered intragastrically with 50 mg/kg of silymarin. The administration lasted for 8 weeks, once a day. The changes in the general state, liver tissue pathology and collagen deposition of the rats were observed. The expression of TGF-β, TGF-β1 receptor 1（TβR-I）, TGF-β1 receptor 2（TβR-II）, Smad2/p-Smad2 and Smad3/p-Smad3 in the hepatic tissue was detected. [Results] The expression levels of TGF-β1, Smad2, p-Smad2, and p-Smad3 significantly declined, and the expression levels of TβR-I, TβR-II and Smad3 did not change significantly in the liver tissue of rats in the lignans groups and the expression levels of TGF-β, Smad2, and p-Smad3 significantly declined. Meanwhile, the expression levels of TβR-I, TβR-II, p-Smad2 and Smad3 did not change significantly in the silymarin group. [Conclusions] The lignans from SHC have significant intervention effects on alcoholic livery injury. The mechanism may be related to the inhibition of hepatic stellate cell（HSC） activation, TGF-β secretion and p-Smad2, p-Smad3 expression in the signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) is widely linked to lipid and lipoproteinmetabolism, but its effects on coronary artery disease (CAD) are not clearly elucidated. The aim of the present study was to clarify the association between LPL gene polymorphisms and CAD susceptibility. The pooled odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated to estimate the strength of the relationship between LPL gene polymorphisms and CAD risk. Comprehensive electronic databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library, were systematically searched. A total of 45 records containing 80 eligible studies were analyzed. The results indicated an increased risk between the LPL D9N polymorphism and susceptibility to CAD in the dominant genetic model (AA + GA vs. GG: OR = 1.46, 95% CI = 1.14-1.87), whereas the LPL HindIII polymorphism showed a protective effect against CAD under all tested models (GG + GT vs. TT: OR = 0.85, 95% CI = 0.75-0.97; GG vs. TT + TG: OR = 0.62, 95% CI = 0.47-0.83; G vs. T: OR = 0.81, 95% CI = 0.71-0.92). No significant association was identified for the LPL N291S and PvuII polymorphisms. Stratification analysis by ethnicity suggested a significant correlation between the LPL S447X polymorphism and CAD susceptibility in Caucasians under the dominant and allele genetic models. In summary, our meta-analysis indicated that the LPL D9N polymorphism was associated with an increased risk of CAD, whereas the S447X and HindIII polymorphisms showed protective effects. There was no association observed between the N291S and PvuII polymorphisms and CAD risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ubiquitination-directed proteasomal degradation of synaptic proteins, presumably mediated by lysine 48 (K48) of ubiquitin, is a key mechanism in synapse and neural circuit remodeling. However, more than half of polyubiquitin (polyUb) species in the mammalian brain are estimated to be non-K48; among them, the most abundant is Lys 63 (K63)-linked polyUb chains that do not tag substrates for degradation but rather modify their properties and activity. Virtually nothing is known about the role of these nonproteolytic polyUb chains at the synapse. Here we report that K63-polyUb chains play a significant role in postsynaptic protein scaffolding and synaptic strength and plasticity. We found that the postsynaptic scaffold PSD-95 (postsynaptic density protein 95) undergoes K63 polyubiquitination, which markedly modifies PSD-95's scaffolding potentials, enables its synaptic targeting, and promotes synapse maturation and efficacy. TNF receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6) is identified as a direct E3 ligase for PSD-95, which, together with the E2 complex Ubc13/Uev1a, assembles K63-chains on PSD-95. In contrast, CYLD (cylindromatosis tumor-suppressor protein), a K63-specific deubiquitinase enriched in postsynaptic densities, cleaves K63-chains from PSD-95. We found that neuronal activity exerts potent control of global and synaptic K63-polyUb levels and, through NMDA receptors, drives rapid, CYLD-mediated PSD-95 deubiquitination, mobilizing and depleting PSD-95 from synapses. Silencing CYLD in hippocampal neurons abolishes NMDA-induced chemical long-term depression. Our results unveil a previously unsuspected role for nonproteolytic polyUb chains in the synapse and illustrate a mechanism by which a PSD-associated K63-linkage-specific ubiquitin machinery acts on a major postsynaptic scaffold to regulate synapse organization, function, and plasticity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The focus of the present study was to evaluate transrectal real‑time tissue elastography (RTE)‑targeted two‑core biopsy coupled with peak strain index for the detection of prostate cancer (PCa) and to compare this method with 10‑core systematic biopsy. A total of 141 patients were enrolled for evaluation. The diagnostic value of peak strain index was assessed using a receiver operating characteristic curve. The cancer detection rates of the two approaches and corresponding positive cores and Gleason score were compared. The cancer detection rate per core in the RTE‑targeted biopsy (44%) was higher compared with that in systematic biopsy (30%). The peak strain index value of PCa was higher compared with that of the benign lesion. PCa was detected with the highest sensitivity (87.5%) and specificity (85.5%) using the threshold value of a peak strain index of ≥5.97 with an area under the curve value of 0.95. When the Gleason score was ≥7, RTE‑targeted biopsy coupled with peak strain index detected 95.6% of PCa cases, but 84.4% were detected using systematic biopsy. Peak strain index as a quantitative parameter may improve the differentiation of PCa from benign lesions in the prostate peripheral zone. Transrectal RTE‑targeted biopsy coupled with peak strain index may enhance the detection of clinically significant PCa, particularly when combined with systematic biopsy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low donor content solar cells containing polymeric and non-polymeric donors blended with fullerenes have been reported to give rise to efficient devices. In this letter, we report that a dendrimeric donor can also be used in solution-processed low donor content devices when blended with a fullerene. A third generation dendrimer containing 42 thiophene units (42T) was found to give power conversion efficiencies of up to 3.5% when blended with PC70BM in optimized devices. The best efficiency was measured with 10mole percent (mol. %) of 42T in PC70BM and X-ray reflectometry showed that the blends were uniform. Importantly, while 42T comprised 10 mol. % of the film, it made up 31% of the film by volume. Finally, it was found that solvent annealing was required to achieve the largest open circuit voltage and highest device efficiencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present two D-π-A organiccationic core structures leadingto highly efficient nonlinear optical (NLO) salts (E)-2-(4-(dimethylamino)styryl)-1,1,3-trimethyl-1H-benzo[e]indol-3-ium iodide (P–BI) and (E)-2-(2-(5-(dimethylamino)thiophen-2-yl) vinyl)-1,1,3 -trimethyl-1H-benzo[e]indol-3-ium iodide (S–BI).Single crystals of the above two materials were successfully obtainedby the slow evaporation method. Two different polymorphic crystalsof both P–BI and S–BI were obtained from different polarsolvents. Kurtz powder tests revealed that the maximum second harmonicgeneration (SHG) efficiency of P–BI with monoclinic space group P21is 1.14 times the benchmark DAST(4-N,N-dimethylamino-4,-N,-methylstilbazolium tosylate). Bulk single crystals of P–BIwere obtained with size of up to 17.0 × 6.0 × 2.0 mm3without using seed crystals. This demonstrates that thismaterial exhibits great crystal growth ability along with a high second-orderoptical nonlinearity, making it a very attractive candidate for NLOapplications such as electro-optics and THz-wave generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reliable response to weak biological signals requires that they be amplified with fidelity. In E. coli, the flagellar motors that control swimming can switch direction in response to very small changes in the concentration of the signaling protein CheY-P, but how this works is not well understood. A recently proposed allosteric model based on cooperative conformational spread in a ring of identical protomers seems promising as it is able to qualitatively reproduce switching, locked state behavior and Hill coefficient values measured for the rotary motor. In this paper we undertook a comprehensive simulation study to analyze the behavior of this model in detail and made predictions on three experimentally observable quantities: switch time distribution, locked state interval distribution, Hill coefficient of the switch response. We parameterized the model using experimental measurements, finding excellent agreement with published data on motor behavior. Analysis of the simulated switching dynamics revealed a mechanism for chemotactic ultrasensitivity, in which cooperativity is indispensable for realizing both coherent switching and effective amplification. These results showed how cells can combine elements of analog and digital control to produce switches that are simultaneously sensitive and reliable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractMaintenance of healthy arteries requires a balance between injuries to the arterial wall and processes of intrinsic arterial repair. Such repair requires the availability of progenitor cells that are local to the wall itself. Progenitor cells from distant reservoirs like the bone marrow may also contribute to repair. Arterial repair seems to degrade over a lifetime, particularly with risk factors such as smoking and diabetes. Hence, a potential preventive/therapeutic strategy for atherosclerosis could be transfusion of competent bone marrow cells (BMCs) to restore effective repair in the face of arterial injury and depleted endogenous repair reservoirs. The challenge with this strategy has been the reliable collection and/or generation of BMCs that support arterial repair. In this study, we describe a set of experiments to elucidate a method of culturing BMCs that robustly retards atherosclerosis development in apolipoprotein E knockout mice. Identifying such a method would represent an important step in developing cell-based treatments for patients with proclivity for developing atherosclerosis. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 16, 85–91. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Irreversible mitochondrial permeability transition and the resultant cytochrome c release signify the commitment of a cell to apoptotic death. However, the role of transient MPT (tMPT) because of flickering opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore remains elusive. Here we show that tMPT and the associated superoxide flashes (i.e. tMPT/superoxide flashes) constitute early mitochondrial signals during oxidative stress-induced apoptosis. Selenite (a ROS-dependent insult) but not staurosporine (a ROS-independent insult) stimulated an early and persistent increase in tMPT/superoxide flash activity prior to mitochondrial fragmentation and a global ROS rise, independently of Bax translocation and cytochrome c release. Selectively targeting tMPT/superoxide flash activity by manipulating cyclophilin D expression or scavenging mitochondrial ROS markedly impacted the progression of selenite-induced apoptosis while exerting little effect on the global ROS response. Furthermore, the tMPT/superoxide flash served as a convergence point for pro- and anti-apoptotic regulation mediated by cyclophilin D and Bcl-2 proteins. These results indicate that tMPT/superoxide flashes act as early mitochondrial signals mediating the apoptotic response during oxidative stress, and provide the first demonstration of highly efficacious local mitochondrial ROS signaling in deciding cell fate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) occurs during cancer cell invasion and malignant metastasis. Features of EMT include spindle-like cell morphology, loss of epithelial cellular markers and gain of mesenchymal phenotype. Activation of the RON receptor tyrosine kinase by macrophage-stimulating protein (MSP) has been implicated in cellular EMT program; however, the major signaling determinant(s) responsible for MSPinduced EMT is unknown. Results: The study presented here demonstrates that RSK2, a downstream signaling protein of the Ras-Erk1/2 pathway, is the principal molecule that links MSP-activated RON signaling to complete EMT. Using MDCK cells expressing RON as a model, a spindle-shape based screen was conducted, which identifies RSK2 among various intracellular proteins as a potential signaling molecule responsible for MSP-induced EMT. MSP stimulation dissociated RSK2 with Erk1/2 and promoted RSK2 nuclear translocation. MSP strongly induced RSK2 phosphorylation in a dose-dependent manner. These effects relied on RON and Erk1/2 phosphorylation, which is significantly potentiated by transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, an EMT-inducing cytokine. Specific RSK inhibitor SL0101 completely prevented MSP-induced RSK phosphorylation, which results in inhibition of MSP-induced spindle-like morphology and suppression of cell migration associated with EMT. In HT-29 cancer cells that barely express RSK2, forced RSK2 expression results in EMT-like phenotype upon MSP stimulation. Moreover, specific siRNA-mediated silencing of RSK2 but not RSK1 in L3.6pl pancreatic cancer cells significantly inhibited MSP-induced EMT-like phenotype and cell migration. Conclusions: MSP-induced RSK2 activation is a critical determinant linking RON signaling to cellular EMT program. Inhibition of RSK2 activity may provide a therapeutic opportunity for blocking RON-mediated cancer cell migration and subsequent invasion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amphetamine can improve cognition in healthy subjects and patients with schizophrenia, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, and other neuropsychiatric diseases; higher doses, however, can impair cognitive function, especially those mediated by the prefrontal cortex. We investigated how amphetamine affects prefrontal cortex long-term potentiation (LTP), a cellular correlate of learning and memory, in normal and hyperdopaminergic mice lacking the dopamine transporter. Acute amphetamine treatment in wild-type mice produced a biphasic dose-response modulation of LTP, with a low dose enhancing LTP and a high dose impairing it. Amphetamine-induced LTP enhancement was prevented by pharmacological blockade of D1- (but not D2-) class dopamine receptors, by blockade of β-adrenergic receptors, or by inhibition of cAMP-PKA signaling. In contrast, amphetamineinduced LTP impairment was prevented by inhibition of postsynaptic protein phosphatase-1, a downstream target of PKA signaling, or by blockade of either D1- or D2-class dopamine, but not noradrenergic, receptors. Thus, amphetamine biphasically modulates LTP via cAMP-PKA signaling orchestrated mainly through dopamine receptors. Unexpectedly, amphetamine restored the loss of LTP in dopamine transporterknockout mice primarily by activation of the noradrenergic system. Our results mirror the biphasic effectiveness of amphetamine in humans and provide new mechanistic insights into its effects on cognition under normal and hyperdopaminergic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

N,N′-Bisoctylperylene diimides (PDIs) have been functionalized in the 1,7-position with terthiophenes of varying architecture giving three new donor−acceptor (D−A) compounds of the same molecular weight. Different conjugation lengths, arrangements, and connections of the thiophene units within themselves and toward the PDI core have strong effects on the optical, electronic, and photochemical properties of the D−A compounds. Like jigsaw pieces joined together to give different pictures, the terthiophenes are linked to PDIs to achieve different colors. These insights into tuning color and energy levels can open new possibilities for tailoring chromophores to their desired applications, e.g., organic photovoltaics or organic field effect transistors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three new coordination polymers ([Mn3(dctrz)2(H2O)8]n(1), [Co(Hdctrz)(H2O)3]n(2) and [Cd(Hdctrz)(H2O)2]n(3), H3dctrz, 1-H-1,2,4-triazole-3,5-dicarboxylic acid) based on the self-assembly of Mn2+, Co2+and Cd2+ions with H3dctrz have been synthesized and characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Variable temperature magnetic studies are investigated for complexes 1and 2. Complex 1is assembled into a one-dimensional molecular chain viatrinuclear units formed from two dctrz anion bridges and eight coordination waters. In 2, the central Co2+cations with six-coordinated octahedron geometry are bridged by Hdctrz anions to form one-dimensional zigzag chain structures. Complex 3displays a 2D rhombus grid-like architecture with a (4, 4) topology, achieved through Hdctrz anion bridges. Both complexes 1and 2exhibit S= 5/2 (Mn2+) and S= 3/2 (Co2+) spin Heisenberg chains with alternating and regular magnetic sequences. Variable temperature (1.8–300 K) magnetic studies indicate weak antiferromagnetic coupling between the metal centres in complexes 1and 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The solid state organization of molecules is an important factor in determining the performance of organic electronic devices. In bulk heterojunction (BHJ) solar cells, the arrangement of electron donor and acceptor materials into distinct crystalline phases of ideal size and distribution can lead to better power conversion efficiencies. The use of fluorenyl hexa-peri-hexabenzocoronene (FHBC) 2in this study has highlighted the importance of molecular organization to device performance. FHBC compounds 6, 8, and 10, functionalized with a series of thiophene dendrons, were synthesized using Suzuki−Miyaura coupling in high yields. In UV−vis and 1H NMR spectroscopic studies, all FHBC derivatives showed self-association in solution. Hexagonal packing of columnar structures was observed for solid state samples of FHBC 2and 8in two-dimensional wide-angle X-ray scattering experiments. In thin film X-ray experiments, ordered structures were observed in blends of FHBC 2and fullerene acceptor materials indicating that there is phase separation between the donor and acceptor materials and that the self-organization of the FHBC material is unaffected. While the large thiophene dendritic substituent attached to compound 10broadened its UV−vis absorption profile, the solid state morphology is altered by the bulky thiophene dendrons. These molecular structure variations are reflected in the performance characteristics of BHJ solar cell devices fabricated using these FHBC compounds as electron donor materials. Power conversion efficiency of 2.5% was achieved for a device containing compound 10with [6,6]-phenyl-C71-butyric acid methyl ester (PC71BM) as the acceptor material. This compares favorably with devices fabricated with pure dendritic thiophene materials and illustrates the positive effect of molecular self-organization on device performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Activation of the RON receptor tyrosine kinase, a member of the c-MET family, regulates tumorigenic phenotypes. The RON extracellular domains are critical in regulating these activities. The objective of this study was to determine the role of the first IPT domain in regulating RON-mediated tumorigenic activities and the underlying mechanisms. Results: Two RON variants, RON160 and RONE5/6in with deletion and insertion in the first IPT domain, respectively, were molecularly cloned. RON160 was a splicing variant generated by deletion of 109 amino acids encoded by exons 5 and 6. In contrast, RONE5/6in was derived from a transcript with an insertion of 20 amino acids between exons 5 and 6. Both RON160 and RONE5/6in were proteolytically matured into two-chain receptor and expressed on the cell surface. RON160 was constitutively active with tyrosine phosphorylation. However, activation of RONE5/6in required ligand stimulation. Deletion resulted in the resistance of RON160 to proteolytic digestion by cell associated trypsin-like enzymes. RON160 also resisted anti-RON antibody-induced receptor internalization. These features contributed to sustained intracellular signaling cascades. On the other hand, RONE5/6in was highly susceptible to protease digestion, which led to formation of a truncated variant known as RONp110. RONE5/6in also underwent rapid internalization upon anti-RON antibody treatment, which led to signaling attenuation. Although ligand-induced activation of RONE5/6in partially caused epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), it was RON160 that showed cell-transforming activities in cell focus formation and anchorage-independent growth. RON160- mediated EMT is also associated with increased motile/invasive activity. Conclusions: Alterations in the first IPT domain in extracellular region differentially regulate RON mediated tumorigenic activities. Deletion of the first IPT results in formation of oncogenic variant RON160. Enhanced degradation and internalization with attenuated signaling cascades could be the mechanisms underlying nontumorigenic features of RONE5/6in. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is the major AIDS-associated malignancy. It is characterized by the proliferation of spindle cells, inflammatory infiltrate, and aberrant angiogenesis caused by Kaposi's sarcoma herpesvirus (KSHV) infection. Small GTPase Rac1, an inflammatory signaling mediator triggering reactive oxygen species (ROS) production by NADPH-oxidases, is implicated in carcinogenesis and tumor angiogenesis. Here, weshow that expression of a constitutively active Rac1 (RacCA) driven by the a-smooth muscle actin promoter in transgenic mice is sufficient to cause KS-like tumors through mechanisms involving ROS-driven proliferation, up-regulation of AKT signaling, and hypoxia-inducible factor 1-α-related angiogenesis. RacCA-induced tumors expressed KS phenotypic markers; displayed remarkable transcriptome overlap with KS lesions; and were, like KS, associated with male gender. The ROS scavenging agent N-acetyl-cysteine inhibited angiogenesis and completely abrogated transgenic RacCA tumor formation, indicating a causal role of ROS in tumongenesis. Consistent with a pathogenic role in KS, immunohistochemical analysis revealed that Rac1 is overexpressed in KSHV+ spindle cells of AIDS-KS biopsies. Our results demonstrate the direct oncogenicity of Rac1 and ROS and their contribution to a KS-like malignant phenotype, further underscoring the carcinogenic potential of oxidative stress in the context of chronic infection and inflammation. They define the RacCA transgenic mouse as a model suitable for studying the role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis and therapy of KS, with relevance to other inflammation-related malignancies. Our findings suggest host and viral genes triggering Rac1 or ROS production as key determinants of KS onset and potential KS chemopreventive or therapeutic targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An exact quantization rule for the bound states of the one-dimensional Schrödinger equation is presented and is generalized to the three-dimensional Schrödinger equation with a spherically symmetric potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A kind of explicit square-conserving scheme is proposed for the Landau-Lifshitz equation with Gilbert component. The basic idea was to semidiscrete the Landau-Lifshitz equation into the ordinary differential equations. Then the Lie group method and the Runge-Kutta (RK) method were applied to the ordinary differential equations. The square conserving property and the accuracy of the two methods were compared. Numerical experiment results show the Lie group method has the good accuracy and the square conserving property than the RK method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By the method of generalized spherical harmonic polynomials, the Schrödinger equation for a four-body system in D-dimensional space is reduced to the generalized radial equations where only six internal variables are involved. The problem on separating the rotational degrees of freedom from the internal ones for a quantum N-body system in D dimensions is generally discussed. © 2003 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Real-word data on long-acting luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonists in Chinese patients with prostate cancer are limited. This study aimed to determine the real-world effectiveness and safety of the LHRH agonist, goserelin, particularly the long-acting 10.8-mg depot formulation, and the follow-up patterns among Chinese prostate cancer patients. Methods: This was a multicenter, prospective, observational study in hormone treatment-naïve patients with localized or locally advanced prostate cancer who were prescribed goserelin 10.8-mg depot every 12 weeks or 3.6-mg depot every 4 weeks with or without an anti-androgen. The patients had follow-up evaluations for 26 weeks. The primary outcome was the effectiveness of goserelin in reducing serum testosterone and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels. The secondary outcomes included testosterone and PSA levels, attainment of chemical castration (serum testosterone <50 ng/dL), and goserelin safety. The exploratory outcome was the monitoring pattern for serum testosterone and PSA. All analyses were descriptive. Results: Between September 2017 and December 2019, a total of 294 eligible patients received = 1 dose of goserelin; 287 patients (97.6%) were treated with goserelin 10.8-mg depot. At week 24 ± 2, the changes from baseline [standard deviation (95% confidence interval)] in serum testosterone (n = 99) and PSA (n = 131) were -401.0 ng/dL [308.4 ng/dL (-462.5, -339.5 ng/dL)] and -35.4 ng/mL [104.4 ng/mL (-53.5, -17.4 ng/mL)], respectively. Of 112 evaluable patients, 100 (90.2%) achieved a serum testosterone level < 50 ng/dL. Treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) and severe TEAEs occurred in 37.1% and 10.2% of patients, respectively. The mean testing frequency (standard deviation) was 1.6 (1.5) for testosterone and 2.2 (1.6) for PSA. Conclusions: Goserelin 10.8-mg depot effectively achieved and maintained castration and was well-tolerated in Chinese patients with localized and locally advanced prostate cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In our previous study, target drug delivery and treatment of malignant tumors have been achieved by using platelets as carriers loading nano-chemotherapeutic agents (ND-DOX). However, drug release from ND-DOX-loaded platelets is dependent on negative platelet activation by tumor cells, whose activation is not significant enough for the resulting drug release to take an effective anti-tumor effect. Exploring strategies to proactively manipulate the controlled release of drug-laden platelets is imperative. The present study innovatively revealed that photodynamic action can activate platelets in a spatiotemporally controlled manner. Consequently, based on the previous study, platelets were used to load iron oxide-polyglycerol-doxorubicin-chlorin e6 composites (IO-PGDOX-Ce6), wherein the laser-triggered drug release ability and anti-tumor capability were demonstrated. The findings suggested that IO-PG-DOX-Ce6 could be stably loaded by platelets in high volume without any decrease in viability. Importantly and interestingly, drug-loaded platelets were significantly activated by laser irradiation, characterized by intracellular ROS accumulation and up-regulation of CD62p. Additionally, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and hydrated particle size results also showed a significant aggregation response of laser irradiated-drug-loaded platelets. Further transmission electron microscopy (TEM) measurements indicated that the activated platelets released extracellularly their cargo drug after laser exposure, which could be taken up by co-cultured tumor cells. Finally, the co-culture model of drug-loaded platelets and tumor cells proved that laser-triggered delivery system of platelets could effectively damage the DNA and promote apoptosis of tumor cells. Overall, the present study discovers a drug-loaded platelets delivery using photodynamic effect, enabling laser-controlled intelligent drug delivery and anti-tumor therapy, which provides a novel and feasible approach for clinical application of cytopharmaceuticals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(C6H8MgNNaO7)n, orthorhombic, P212121 (No. 19), a = 7.9547(8) Å, b = 9.7491(10) Å, c = 12.2115(13) Å, V = 947.02(17) ų, Z = 4, Rgt(F) = 0.0462, wRref(F²) = 0.0772, T = 296(2) K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Serving as the power plant and signaling hub of a cell, mitochondria contain their own genome which encodes proteins essential for energy metabolism and forms DNA–protein assemblies called nucleoids. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) exists in multiple copies within each cell ranging from hundreds to tens of thousands. Maintaining mtDNA homeostasis is vital for healthy cells, and its dysregulation causes multiple human diseases. However, the players involved in regulating mtDNA maintenance are largely unknown though the core components of its replication machinery have been characterized. Here, we identify C17orf80, a functionally uncharacterized protein, as a critical player in maintaining mtDNA homeostasis. C17orf80 primarily localizes to mitochondrial nucleoid foci and exhibits robust double-stranded DNA binding activity throughout the mitochondrial genome, thus constituting a bona fide new mitochondrial nucleoid protein. It controls mtDNA levels by promoting mtDNA replication and plays important roles in mitochondrial metabolism and cell proliferation. Our findings provide a potential target for therapeutics of human diseases associated with defective mtDNA control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The improved element-free Galerkin (IEFG) method of elasticity is used to solve the topology optimization problems. In this method, the improved moving least-squares approximation is used to form the shape function. In a topology optimization process, the entire structure volume is considered as the constraint. From the solid isotropic microstructures with penalization, we select relative node density as a design variable. Then we choose the minimization of compliance to be an objective function, and compute its sensitivity with the adjoint method. The IEFG method in this paper can overcome the disadvantages of the singular matrices that sometimes appear in conventional element-free Galerkin (EFG) method. The central processing unit (CPU) time of each example is given to show that the IEFG method is more efficient than the EFG method under the same precision, and the advantage that the IEFG method does not form singular matrices is also shown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In terms of the Thomas–Fermi method, we solve the ground state energy of the N-body 1D harmonically trapped spin-1/2 fermion gas with the attractive δ-function interaction in the limit . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the infinitely deep square-well potential in quantum mechanics. Algebraic interpretation of infinitely deep square-well potential; Utilization of the factorization method in quantum system; Development of creation and annihilation operators from eigenfunctions.

Seven tripodal imidazole-based metal coordination polymers, [Zn3(L¹)2(tib)2]n·(H2O)4n (1), [Cd3(L²)(tib)2]n·(H2O)n (3), [Cd3(L²)2(tib)2]n·(H2O)6n (4), [Zn3(L³)2(tib)2]n·(H2O)4.5n (5), [Zn2(HL3)2(tib)2]n·(H2O)n (6), and [Cd3(L³)2(tib)2(H2O)2]n·(H2O)4n (7), with different structures have been designed and prepared based on the hydrothermal reaction between Zn(OAc)2·2H2O or Cd(OAc)2·2H2O and tib ligands in the presence of three asymmetric semi-rigid V-shaped tricarboxylate ligands, H3L1-3, where tib, H3L¹, H3L², and H3L³ ligands represent 1,3,5-tris(1-imidazolyl)benzene, 3-(2-carboxyphenoxy)phthalic acid, 4-(2-carboxyphenoxy)phthalic acid, and 3-(4-carboxyphenoxy)phthalic acid, respectively. All of these compounds, sharing three-dimensional (3D) networks, have been clearly identified by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Among complexes 1-7 (except 6), the common 3D skeletons are composed of tib N-donor ligands bridging two-dimensional (2D) sheets made of L1-3 ligands and metal ions. Compound 6 also exhibits a 3D network constructed from partly deprotonated L³ ligands attached to right- and left-helices made of tib ligands and Zn ions. In these compounds, the diversity of the tib ligand-based metal building units is tuned by the molecular conformation of the tricarboxylates and the coordination geometry of the metal ion. In addition, the thermal stability and emission spectroscopy for the series of seven complexes have also been investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the technology scales down to 90 nm and below, static random access memory (SRAM) standby leakage power is becoming one of the most critical concerns for low power applications. In this article, we review three major leakage current components of SRAM cells and also discuss some of the leakage current reduction techniques including body biasing, source biasing, dynamic VDD, negative wordline, and bitline floating schemes. All of them are achieved by controlling different terminal voltages of the SRAM cell in standby mode. On the other hand, performance loss occurs simultaneously with leakage saving. To validate the effectiveness of low power techniques, the leakage current, static noise margin, and read current of SRAM cells, based on the UMC 55 nm CMOS process with leakage current reduction techniques has been simulated. The results indicate that by using the dynamic VDD and source biasing schemes, greater leakage suppressing capability, although with a higher performance loss, can be obtained. Therefore, the SRAM cell optimization scheme must consider the trade-off between power consumption and speed performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Overexpression of the RON receptor tyrosine kinase contributes to epithelial cell transformation, malignant progression, and acquired drug resistance. RON also has been considered as a potential target for therapeutic intervention. This study determines biochemical features and inhibitory activity of a mouse monoclonal antibody (mAb) Zt/f2 in experimental cancer therapy. Results: Zt/f2 is a mouse IgG2a mAb that is highly specific and sensitive to human RON and its oncogenic variants such as RON160 (ED50 = 2.3 nmol/L). Receptor binding studies revealed that Zt/f2 interacts with an epitope(s) located in a 49 amino acid sequence coded by exon 11 in the RON β-chain extracellular sequences. This sequence is critical in regulating RON maturation and phosphorylation. Zt/f2 did not compete with ligand macrophagestimulating protein for binding to RON; however, its engagement effectively induced RON internalization, which diminishes RON expression and impairs downstream signaling activation. These biochemical features provide the cellular basis for the use of Zt/f2 to inhibit tumor growth in animal model. Repeated administration of Zt/f2 as a single agent into Balb/c mice results in partial inhibition of tumor growth caused by transformed NIH-3T3 cells expressing oncogenic RON160. Colon cancer HT-29 cell-mediated tumor growth in athymic nude mice also was attenuated following Zt/f2 treatment. In both cases, ~50% inhibition of tumor growth as measured by tumor volume was achieved. Moreover, Zt/f2 in combination with 5-fluorouracil showed an enhanced inhibition effect of ~80% on HT-29 cell-mediated tumor growth in vivo. Conclusions: Zt/f2 is a potential therapeutic mAb capable of inhibiting RON-mediated oncogenesis by colon cancer cells in animal models. The inhibitory effect of Zt/f2 in vivo in combination with chemoagent 5-fluorouracil could represent a novel strategy for future colon cancer therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports on the evaluation of a wearable computer system designed for use in a critical environment, namely the intensive care unit of a hospital. The nature of the application raised ethical issues for testing in a clinical environment and standard evaluation techniques could not easily be applied. The system was therefore evaluated by clinicians in a multi-tasking environment with a simulated set of patient scenarios. Measures of suitability and wearability were applied. The results were encouraging and the system was deemed suitable for further evaluation in the clinical setting, subject to ethical approval. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), if not all, have been shown to have tumoricidal action, but their exact mechanism(s) of action is not clear. In the present study, we observed that n-6 PUFA linoleic acid (LA) inhibited tumor cell growth at high concentrations (above 300 μM); while low concentrations (100-200 μM) promoted proliferation. Analysis of cell mitochondrial membrane potential, reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation, malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity suggested that anti-cancer action of LA is due to enhanced ROS generation and decreased cell anti-oxidant capacity that resulted in mitochondrial damage. Of the three cell lines tested, semi-differentiated colorectal cancer cells RKO were most sensitive to the cytotoxic action of LA, followed by undifferentiated colorectal cancer cell line (LOVO) while the normal human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were the most resistant (the degree of sensitivity to LA is as follows: RKO > LOVO > HUVEC). LA induced cell death was primed by mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. Pre-incubation of cancer cells with 100 μM LA for 24 hr enhanced sensitivity of differentiated and semi-differentiated cells to the subsequent exposure to LA. The relative resistance of LOVO cells to the cytotoxic action of LA is due to a reduction in the activation of caspase-3. Thus, LA induced cancer cell apoptosis by enhancing cellular oxidant status and inducing mitochondrial dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthesis of a new series of conjugated dendrimers based on an electron-accepting core is introduced. The compounds showed broad absorption bands over 300−700 nm and have reduced HOMO−LUMO gaps of 1.7−1.9 eV. Incorporation of these compounds in bulk heterojunction solar cells as electron-donating material along with PC61BM as electron acceptor gave power conversion efficiencies of up to 1.3% for the second-generation dendrimer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ability to do spectroscopy with a small number of entangled photons is an important development in the area of materials and sensing. This report investigates the effects of increasing thiophene dendrimer generation on the cross-section for both entangled (σE) and random (δE) two-photon absorption cross-sections. Nonlinear optical properties of dendrimers are an interesting area of study because of potential applications in optical signal processing and remote sensing, and the use of a nonlinear optical material as a sensor for entangled photons offers great possibilities for applications in quantum lithography. Entangled two-photon absorption (ETPA) experiments and two-photon excited fluorescence (TPEF) experiments vary by at least 10 orders of magnitude in the photon flux used to probe the material. ETPA cross-sections from liquid samples as well as those of thin-film samples are investigated. An increase in σE and δR with increasing dendrimer generation is observed, suggesting that the thiophene groups within the dendrimer nonlinearly absorb in a cooperative manner, which is further evidenced in the variation of cross-section per thiophene group. The nonlinear spectroscopic features obtained by the TPEF measurements were also obtained by the ETPA experiments, despite the fact that 10 orders of magnitude fewer photons are used in the latter technique. All dendrimer generations investigated in this work are found to have great potential for applications in quantum optical devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The solutions of the Klein–Gordon equation with a Coulomb potential in D dimensions are obtained exactly, and the energy levels E(n,l,D) are analytically presented. The dependence of the energy difference ΔE(n,l,D) for D and D-1 on the dimension D is demonstrated as three different kinds of rules. The dependence of the energy E(n,l,D) on the dimension D is also analyzed. It is shown that the energy E(n,l,D) (l≠0) is almost independent of the quantum number l, while E(n,0,D) first decreases and then increases as the dimension D increases. There is no bound state of the S-wave for D=2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents q-deformed Chern characters for quantum groups SU[sub q](N). Transformation of the conjugate representation into the standard form; Study on the generalized q-deformed Killing form; Mth q-deformed Chern class P[sub m] for the quantum groups SU[sub q](N).

Polyaniline-coated multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) conductive polymer precursors (MWCNTs@PANI) were prepared by an in situ microemulsion oxidation polymerization of aniline in the case of MWCNTs, and then hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene polyurethane conductive polymer nanocomposites based on MWCNTs@PANI (MWCNTs@PANI/HTPB PUs) were prepared through an in situ stepwise polymerization of HTPB and diisocyanates. The chemical structure was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman, x-ray diffraction, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. The morphologies and dispersion behavior were examined by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and UV–vis transmittance. The MWCNTs@PANI/HTPB PUs nanocomposites were fabricated into film sensors for detection of volatile organic compound vapors, and displayed an evident response to trichloromethane vapor (CHCl3). The effect of MWCNTs on the conductivity and the responsivity to trichloromethane of conductive polymer nanocomposite films were studied, finding that the conductive composite films have fast and strong response, good repeatability and recoverability, and long-term stability. Consequently, they can be potentially applied for supervision and detection of interior and outdoor environmental gases or vapors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A rapid and credible analytical method was developed using online UPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS/MS to identify chemical constituents in Polygoni cuspidati foliumand its preparation. By accurate mass measurements within 6.5ppm error for [M-H]- ion in routine analysis, 26 chemical constituents, including tannin, derivatives of phenylpropionic acid, stilbene, flavonoid, anthraquinone, torachryson and its derivatives, were identified or tentatively characterized. Among them, five constituents (compounds 19-23) were firstly reported in Polygoni cuspidati folium, other 17 constituents were coexisting in both Polygoni cuspidati folium and its preparation. Fragmentation behaviors of different categories of constituents were also investigated to confirm the results. This established UPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS/MS method, with reliance and efficiency for the identification the major constituents, would be the basis for quality control of Polygoni cuspidati folium and its preparation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) maintain a quiescent state during homeostasis, but with acute infection, they exit the quiescent state to increase the output of immune cells, the so-called "emergency hematopoiesis." However, HSCs' response to severe infection during septic shock and the pathological impact remain poorly elucidated. Here, we report that the histone demethylase KDM1A/LSD1, serving as a critical regulator of mammalian hematopoiesis, is a negative regulator of the response to inflammation in HSCs during endotoxic shock typically observed during acute bacterial or viral infection. Inflammation-induced LSD1 deficiency results in an acute expansion of a pathological population of hyperproliferative and hyperinflammatory myeloid progenitors, resulting in a septic shock phenotype and acute death. Unexpectedly, in vivo administration of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to wild-type mice results in acute suppression of LSD1 in HSCs with a septic shock phenotype that resembles that observed following induced deletion of LSD1. The suppression of LSD1 in HSCs is caused, at least in large part, by a cohort of inflammation-induced microRNAs. Significantly, reconstitution of mice with bone marrow progenitor cells expressing inhibitors of these inflammation-induced microRNAs blocked the suppression of LSD1 in vivo following acute LPS administration and prevented mortality from endotoxic shock. Our results indicate that LSD1 activators or miRNA antagonists could serve as a therapeutic approach for life-threatening septic shock characterized by dysfunction of HSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An effect of thyroid hormone (TH) on erythropoiesis has been known for more than a century but the molecular mechanism(s) by which TH affects red cell formation is still elusive. Here we demonstrate an essential role of TH during terminal human erythroid cell differentiation; specific depletion of TH from the culture medium completely blocked terminal erythroid differentiation and enucleation. Treatment with TRβ agonists stimulated premature erythroblast differentiation in vivo and alleviated anemic symptoms in a chronic anemia mouse model by regulating erythroid gene expression. To identify factors that cooperate with TRβ during human erythroid terminal differentiation, we conducted RNA-seq in human reticulocytes and identified nuclear receptor coactivator 4 (NCOA4) as a critical regulator of terminal differentiation. Furthermore, Ncoa4-/- mice are anemic in perinatal periods and fail to respond to TH by enhanced erythropoiesis. Genome-wide analysis suggests that TH promotes NCOA4 recruitment to chromatin regions that are in proximity to Pol II and are highly associated with transcripts abundant during terminal differentiation. Collectively, our results reveal the molecular mechanism by which TH functions during red blood cell formation, results that are potentially useful to treat certain anemias. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mussel-inspired polydopamine (PDA) coatings have been broadly exploited for constructing functional membrane surfaces. One-step codeposition of PDA with antifouling polymers, especially zwitterionic polymers, has been regarded as a promising strategy for fabricating antifouling membrane surfaces. However, one challenge is that the codeposition is usually a slow process over 10 h or even several days. Herein, we report that CuSO4/H2O2 is able to notably accelerate the codeposition process of PDA with poly(sulfobetaine methacrylate) (PSBMA). In our case, PSBMA is facilely anchored to the polypropylene microporous membrane (PPMM) surfaces within 1 h with the assistance of PDA because of its strong interfacial adhesion. The PDA/PSBMA-coated PPMMs show excellent surface hydrophilicity, high water permeation flux (7506 ± 528 L/m²·h at 0.1 MPa), and an outstanding antifouling property. Moreover, the antifouling property is maintained after the membranes are treated with acid and alkali solutions as well as organic solvents. To recap, it provides a facile, universal, and time-saving strategy for exploiting high-efficiency and durable antifouling membrane surfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mitochondrial dysfunction underlies many prevalent diseases including heart disease arising from acute ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Here, we demonstrate that mitophagy, which selectively removes damaged or unwanted mitochondria, regulated mitochondrial quality and quantity in vivo. Hypoxia induced extensive mitochondrial degradation in a FUNDC1-dependent manner in platelets, and this was blocked by in vivo administration of a cell-penetrating peptide encompassing the LIR motif of FUNDC1 only in wild-type mice. Genetic ablation of Fundc1 impaired mitochondrial quality and increased mitochondrial mass in platelets and rendered the platelets insensitive to hypoxia and the peptide. Moreover, hypoxic mitophagy in platelets protected the heart from worsening of I/R injury. This represents a new mechanism of the hypoxic preconditioning effect which reduces I/R injury. Our results demonstrate a critical role of mitophagy in mitochondrial quality control and platelet activation, and suggest that manipulation of mitophagy by hypoxia or pharmacological approaches may be a novel strategy for cardioprotection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Doxorubicin (DOX) is one of the most effective chemotherapeutic drugs. However, its clinical use has been hampered due to the development of cardiotoxicity. Vitexin, which is the active ingredient of hawthorn leaf extract, has various biological activities, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions. The present study aimed to investigate whether vitexin was able to protect against DOX-induced acute cardiotoxicity in model rats and the mechanisms of this protective effect were assessed. Adult Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned into the control (saline only), model (DOX only) and vitexin-treated (DOX plus vitexin) groups. Rats in the model and vitexin-treated groups were injected with DOX (2 mg/kg; i.p.) once a week for 4 weeks. Rats in the vitexin-treated group were administered 30 mg/kg oral vitexin once daily at doses for 4 weeks. The levels of lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase isoenzyme-MB, malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, catalase and myeloperoxidase were assessed using assay kits. The levels of inflammatory mediators, including tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, nuclear factor (NF)-κB, and caspase-3, were assayed by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. Western blot analysis was performed to assess the protein expression levels of p-FOXO3a. Vitexin pretreatment significantly protected against DOX-induced myocardial damage, which was characterized by increased serum creatine kinase isoenzyme-MB and lactate dehydrogenase. Vitexin significantly ameliorated oxidative stress injury evoked by DOX, demonstrated by the inhibition of lipid peroxidation and the elevation of antioxidant enzyme activities. Furthermore, DOX provoked inflammatory responses by increasing the expression levels of IL-1β, IL-6, NF-κB and tumor necrosis factor-α, whereas vitexin pretreatment significantly inhibited these inflammatory responses. Notably, DOX induced apoptotic tissue damage by increasing caspase-3 activity, whereas vitexin administration was able to decrease caspase-3 activity. In addition, vitexin induced elevated FOXO3a protein expression levels in the vitexin-treated group. In conclusion, the findings of the present study suggested that vitexin possesses cardioprotective action against DOX-induced cardiotoxicity by suppressing oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptotic signals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]