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Myocardial fibrosis (MF) is involved in hypertension, myocardial infarction and heart failure. It has been reported that circular RNA (circRNA) is a key regulatory factor of MF progression. In this study, we revealed that circ_0002295 and CXCR2 were elevated, and miR‐1287 was reduced in MF patients. Knockdown of circ_0002295 effectively suppressed the proliferation, migration and MF progression. Circ_0002295 was the molecular sponge of miR‐12878, and miR‐1287 inhibitor reversed the biological functions of circ_0002295 on the myocardial fibrosis. CXCR2 was a target gene of miR‐1287, and CXCR2 silencing relieved the impacts of miR‐1287 inhibitor on cardiac myofibroblasts. Circ_0002295 promoted MF progression by regulating the miR‐1287/CXCR2 axis, providing a possible circRNA‐targeted therapy for MF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Temozolomide (TMZ) can cross the blood‐brain barrier (BBB) and deliver methyl groups to the purine (guanine) bases of DNA, leading to mispairing during DNA replication and subsequent cell death. However, increased expression of the repair enzyme methyl guanine methyltransferase (MGMT), which removes methyl groups from purine bases, counteracts methylation by TMZ. We evaluated the anticancer potential of thymoquinone (TQ), a hydrophobic flavonoid that inhibits resistance and induces apoptosis in various cancer cells, both in vitro and in vivo. In vitro experiments showed that compared with the Hs683 and M059J cell lines, U251 cells were more sensitive to TMZ. Compared to U251 cells, U251R cells, a TMZ drug‐resistant strain established in this study, are characterized by increased expression of phosphorylated extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (p‐ERK) and MGMT. TQ treatments induced apoptosis in all cell lines. The p38 mitogen‐activated protein kinase signal pathway was mainly activated in U251 and U251R cells; however, p‐ERK and MGMT upregulation could not suppress TQ effects. Furthermore, si‐p38 pretreatment of U251R cells in TQ treatments inhibited cell apoptosis. We speculate that TQ contributed to the phosphorylation and activation of p38, but not of ERK‐induced apoptosis (irrespective of TMZ resistance). In vivo, U251R‐derived tumors subcutaneously inoculated in nude mice exhibited significant tumor volume reduction after TQ or TQ + TMZ cotreatments. High‐performance liquid chromatography assay confirmed the presence of TQ in murine brain tissues. Our findings demonstrate that TQ can effectively cross the BBB and function alone or in combination with TMZ to treat glioblastoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although enormous achievements have been made in targeted molecular therapies against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the treatments can only prolong the life of patients with extrahepatic metastases. We evaluated thymoquinone (TQ), a compound from Nigella sativa Linn., for its anti‐cancer effect on SK‐Hep1 cells and HCC‐xenograft nude mice. TQ effectively triggered cell death and activated p38 and extracellular signal‐regulated kinases (Erk) pathways up to 24 h after treatment in cells. TQ‐induced cell death was reversed by p38 inhibitor; however, it was enhanced by si‐Erk. The caspase3 activation and TUNEL assay revealed a stronger toxic effect upon co‐treatment with TQ and si‐Erk. Our study suggested that phosphorylation of p38 in SK‐Hep1 cells constituted the major factor leading to cell apoptosis, whereas phosphorylation of Erk led to drug resistance. Furthermore, TQ therapeutic effect was improved upon Erk inhibition in HCC‐xenograft nude mice. TQ could present excellent anti‐HCC potential under suitable p‐Erk inhibiting conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Multiple system atrophy, a sporadic neurodegenerative disease, is characterized by the presence of high numbers of glial cytoplasmic inclusions mainly formed by α-synuclein protein, which is encoded by the SNCA gene. To date, however, few studies have investigated the plasma α-synuclein levels in patients with multiple system atrophy. We studied plasma α-synuclein concentrations by using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 74 patients with multiple system atrophy and 90 healthy controls. The plasma α-synuclein levels were significantly elevated in patients who had multiple system atrophy compared with the control group ( P = 0.000). In a subgroup of 48 patients who had probable multiple system atrophy, there was a weakly negative correlation between plasma α-synuclein levels and subscores on Unified Multiple System Atrophy Rating Scale item VI (rs = −0.307; P = 0.034). Plasma α-synuclein levels were elevated in patients with multiple system atrophy, and these levels may be decreased with the development of disease. © 2013 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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In the title polymer, {[Ag(C(14)H(10)N(4)O)(2)]PF(6)}(n), each Ag(I) ion is coordinated by two N atoms from two pyridyl rings of independent N'-(4-cyano-benzyl-idene)nicotinohydrazide ligands, and one N atom from one carbonitrile group of a symmetry-related ligand in a distorted T-shaped geometry. The ligands exhibit two modes of coordination. One acts as a bridge connecting Ag atoms to form one-dimensional chains along [01]. The other acts as a terminal monodentate ligand, coordinating to Ag through its pyridyl N atom. Two neighbouring anti-parallel chains in the crystal are connected through N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds. Other adjacent chains are packed via Ag⋯O inter-actions, with Ag⋯O separations of 2.876 (2) Å. In addition, PF(6) (-) counter-anions inter-act with the hydrazone groups through N-H⋯F hydrogen bonds. The PF(6) (-) anion is disordered over two sites, with occupancies of 0.773 (8) and 0.227 (8).

In the title complex, [Co(NCS)(2)(C(16)H(16)N(2)O(2))], the Co(II) ion is coordinated by two N atoms from one 2,9-dieth-oxy-1,10-phenanthroline ligand and two N atoms from two different thio-cyanate ligands in a distorted tetra-hedral environment. The Co-N bonds involving the thio-cyanate ligands are significantly shorter than the other two Co-N bonds. The atoms of one of the eth-oxy groups are essentially coplanar with the phenanthroline ring [N=C-O-C = 178.8 (4)°], while the other eth-oxy group is slightly twisted from the phenanthroline ring plane [N=C-O-C = 167.2 (4)°]. In the crystal structure, there is a weak π-π stacking inter-action between two symmetry-related phenanthroline rings with a centroid-centroid distance of 3.706 (4) Å.