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Gastric cancer, the second most common cause of death worldwide, is characterized by poor prognosis and low responsiveness to chemotherapy. Indeed, multidrug resistance, based mainly on cellular and molecular factors, remains one of the most limiting factors of the current approach to gastric cancer (GC) therapy. We employed a comprehensive gene expression analysis through data mining of publicly available databases to assess the role of the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) in gastric cancer drug efficiency. It has been proposed that gastric cancer cells are less sensitive to these drugs because they develop resistance to these agents through activating alternative signalling pathways responsible for overcoming pharmacological inhibition. Our study evaluated the hypothesis that activating STAT3 signalling in response to cisplatin reduces the reaction to the drug. Consistent with this hypothesis, inhibition of interleukin 6 (IL-6)/STAT3 in combination therapy with cisplatin prevented both STAT3 activation and more lethality than induction by a single agent. The data suggest that the IL-6/STAT3 axis block associated with cisplatin treatment may represent a strategy to overcome resistance.

Introduction: In spite of the substantial advances in clinical practice, Gastric cancer (GC) remains the third leading cause of cancer death worldwide. The incidence of drug resistance remains a hindrance to effective treatment for GC. Although the molecular mechanisms of chemoresistance have broadly studied, the gene regulation and expression mechanisms of miRNA have not entirely understood. Methods: Online databases of PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Embase databases were searched to retrieve relevant publications. The following keywords were used: MicroRNA, Noncoding RNA, miRNA, Gastric cancer, drug resistance, and chemoresistance. Results: miRNAs play a pivotal role in the initiation, progression of tumor and metastasis, as well as in the development of pathways mediating resistance to chemotherapy in GC. Unluckily, to date, there is no consistent, reliable biomarker available to predict the response of chemotherapy before the start of the treatment. Discussion: In this review, we would like to provide an overview of the miRNAs and miRNA facilitated chemoresistance machinery in GC to develop a personalized treatment to overcome GC drug resistance.

Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most widespread causes of cancer-related death worldwide. Recently, emerging implied that gastric cancer stem cells (GCSCs) play an important role in the initiation and progression of GC. This subpopulation comprises cells with several features, such as self-renewal capability, high proliferating rate, and ability to modify their metabolic program, which allow them to resist current anticancer therapies. Metabolic pathway intermediates play a pivotal role in regulating cell differentiation both in tumorigenesis and during normal development. Thus, the dysregulation of both anabolic and catabolic pathways constitutes a significant opportunity to target GCSCs in order to eradicate the tumor progression. In this review, we discuss the current knowledge about metabolic phenotype that supports GCSC proliferation and we overview the compounds that selectively target metabolic intermediates of CSCs that can be used as a strategy in cancer therapy.

The peculiar aspect that emerges from the study of Orchidaceae is the presence of various molecules, which are particularly interesting for pharmaceutical chemistry due to their wide range of biological resources. The aim of our study was to investigate the properties of two dihydrophenanthrenes, isolated, for the first time, from Himantoglossum robertianum (Loisel.) P. Delforge (Orchidaceae) bulbs and roots. Chemical and spectroscopic study of the bulbs and roots of Himantoglossumrobertianum (Loisel.) P. Delforge resulted in the isolation of two known dihydrophenanthrenes—loroglossol and hircinol—never isolated from this plant species. The structures were evaluated based on 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, and two-dimensional spectra, and by comparison with the literature. These two molecules have been tested for their possible antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiproliferative, and proapoptotic activities. In particular, it has been shown that these molecules cause an increase in the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione S-transferase (GST) in polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN); show antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, and have anti-proliferative effects on gastric cancer cell lines, inducing apoptosis effects. Therefore, these two molecules could be considered promising candidates for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical preparations.

Endoparasitoids in the order Hymenoptera are natural enemies of several herbivorous insect pest species. During oviposition they inject a mixture of factors, which include venom, into the host, ensuring the successful parasitism and the development of their progeny. Although these parasitoid factors are known to be responsible for host manipulation, such as immune system suppression, little is known about both identity and function of the majority of their venom components. To identify the major proteins of Toxoneuron nigriceps (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) venom, we used an integrated transcriptomic and proteomic approach. The tandem-mass spectrometric (LC-MS/MS) data combined with T. nigriceps venom gland transcriptome used as a reference database resulted in the identification of a total of thirty one different proteins. While some of the identified proteins have been described in venom from several parasitoids, others were identified for the first time. Among the identified proteins, hydrolases constituted the most abundant family followed by transferases, oxidoreductases, ligases, lyases and isomerases. The hydrolases identified in the T. nigriceps venom glands included proteases, peptidases and glycosidases, reported as common components of venom from several parasitoid species. Taken together, the identified proteins included factors that could potentially inhibit the host immune system, manipulate host physiological processes and host development, as well as provide nutrients to the parasitoid progeny, degrading host tissues by specific hydrolytic enzymes. The venom decoding provides us with information about the identity of candidate venom factors which could contribute to the success of parasitism, together with other maternal and embryonic factors.

Background Information While enolase is a ubiquitous metalloenzyme involved in the glycolytic pathway, it is also known as a multifunctional protein, since enolases anchored on the outer surface of the plasma membrane are involved in tissue invasion. Results We have identified an extracellular enolase (Ae-ENO) produced by the teratocytes, embryonic cells of the insect parasitoid Aphidius ervi. We demonstrate that Ae-ENO, although lacking a signal peptide, accumulates in cytoplasmic vesicles oriented towards the cell membrane. Ae-ENO binds to and activates a plasminogen-like molecule inducing digestion of the host tissue and thereby ensuring successful parasitism. Conclusions These results support the hypothesis that plasminogen-like proteins exist in invertebrates. Interestingly the activation of a plasminogen-like protein is mediated by a mechanisms involving the surface enolase/fibrinolytic system considered, until now, exclusive of vertebrates, and that instead is conserved across species. Significance To our knowledge, this is the first example of enolase mediated Plg-like binding and activation in insect cells, demonstrating the existence of an ECM degradation process via a Plg-like protein in invertebrates.

JAK2 V617F mutational status is an essential diagnostic index in myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs). Although widely used for detection of JAK2 V617F mutation in peripheral blood (PB), sensitive real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) presents some methodological limitations. Recently, emerging alternative technologies, like digital droplet PCR (ddPCR), have been reported to overcome some of qPCR&rsquo, s technical drawbacks. The purpose of this study was to compare the diagnostic utility of ddPCR to qPCR for JAK2 V617F detection and quantification in samples from MPNs patients. Sensitivity and specificity of qPCR and ddPCR in the detection of the mutation were assessed by using a calibrator panel of mutated DNA on 195 JAK2 positive MPN samples. Based on our results, ddPCR proved to be a suitable, precise, and sensitive method for detection and quantification of the JAK2 V617F mutation.

Leptomastix dactylopii (Howard) is an endoparasitoid wasp, natural enemy of mealybug Planococcus citri (Risso). Despite the acquired knowledge regarding this host-parasitoid interaction, only little information is available on the factors of parasitoid origin able to modulate the mealybug physiology. The major alteration observed in P. citri is a strong reduction in fecundity, which is evident soon after parasitization by L. dactylopii or venom injection in unparasitized hosts indicating that this proteinaceus secretion injected at the oviposition plays a key-role in host regulation. Protein identification of L. dactilopii venom has been limited by the lack of literature sources and public protein databases. Here, we identified two venom proteins by an integrated trascriptomic and proteomic approach. A custom-made transcriptomic database from the L. dactylopii venom glands was created by applying the high-throughput RNA sequencing approach. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2DE) trypsinized protein spots were analyzed by high-resolution mass spectrometry (FTICRMS-12 T). The most abundant peptide ions were fragmented by collision induced dissociation and the obtained sequence tags were subjected to custom-made protein database searching. Two putative arginine kinases (full-length and truncated form) were identified. This is the first case in which both, truncated and full length arginine kinases, are identified in an endoparasitoid non-paralyzing venom.

Graphical abstract, Highlights • The hemocytes of Heliothis virescens larvae produce a protein named P102. • P102 has a endoribonuclease-U (XendoU) domain but lacks essential catalytic residues. • P102 lost its original enzymatic activity to produce functional amyloids. • Amyloids formed by P102 are involved in Lepidopteran immune response. • Lepidoptera P102 orthologs form a XendoU subfamily with similar function., Hemocytes of Heliothis virescens (F.) (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae) larvae produce a protein, P102, with a putative endoribonuclease-U domain. In previous works we have shown that P102 is involved in Lepidopteran immune response by forming amyloid fibrils, which catalyze and localize melanin deposition around non-self intruders during encapsulation, preventing harmful systemic spreading. Here we demonstrate that P102 belongs to a new class of proteins that, at least in Lepidoptera, has a diminished endoribonuclease-U activity probably due to the lack of two out of five catalytically essential residues. We show that the P102 homolog from Trichoplusia ni (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae) displays catalytic site residues identical to P102, a residual endoribonuclease-U activity and the ability to form functional amyloids. On the basis of these results as well as sequence and structural analyses, we hypothesize that all the Lepidoptera endoribonuclease-U orthologs with catalytic site residues identical to P102 form a subfamily with similar function.

Gastric cancer (GC) remains one of the major causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide. As for other types of cancers, several limitations to the success of current therapeutic GC treatments may be due to cancer drug resistance that leads to tumor recurrence and metastasis. Increasing evidence suggests that cancer stem cells (CSCs) are among the major causative factors of cancer treatment failure. The research of molecular CSC mechanisms and the regulation of their properties have been intensively studied. To date, molecular gastric cancer stem cell (GCSC) characterization remains largely incomplete. Among the GCSC-targeting approaches to overcome tumor progression, recent studies have focused their attention on microRNA (miRNA). The miRNAs are short non-coding RNAs which play an important role in the regulation of numerous cellular processes through the modulation of their target gene expression. In this review, we summarize and discuss recent findings on the role of miRNAs in GCSC regulation. In addition, we perform a meta-analysis aimed to identify novel miRNAs involved in GCSC homeostasis.

Background. Tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) is implicated in the pathogenesis of ANCA-associated systemic vasculitis (AASV). There is a need for more effective and safer induction therapies for AASV Uncontrolled studies have pointed to the efficacy of TNFα blockade with infliximab in the induction of remission in systemic vasculitides. We have hypothesized that adjunctive treatment with the humanized anti-TNFα monoclonal antibody, adalimumab, will permit more rapid remission and reduced prednisolone exposure in AASV Methods. This Phase II, open-label, prospective study enrolled 14 patients with acute flares of AASV either as first manifestation of disease or relapse. The Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score (BVAS) was used to assess the activity of the disease and the response to treatment. Adalimumab (40 mg s.c.) was given every 2 weeks for 3 months, in combination with intravenous cyclophosphamide and a reducing course of prednisolone. Primary endpoints were: (i) induction of remission within the first 14 weeks (BVAS = 0); (ii) time taken to achieve remission; (iii) safety and tolerability. Results. Mean age was 58 years and eight patients were male; all had kidney involvement. Eleven (78.5%) achieved remission within 14 weeks (mean, 12 weeks). BVAS decreased from 11.9 (mean; 95% CI, 9.3-14.4) at baseline to 2.0 (mean; 95% CI, 0―4.4) at Week 14 (P < 0.01). Prednisolone dose (in milligrammes per day) decreased from 37.1 (mean; 95% CI, 28.8-45.3) at entry to 8.1 (mean; 95% CI, 5.1-11.1) at Week 14 (P < 0.01). Estimated glomerular filtration rate (in millilitres per minute per 1.73 m 2 ) increased from 17.1 (mean; 95% CI, 8.9-25.2) at entry to 30.1 (mean; 95% CI, 18―42.2) at 12 weeks (P < 0.01). One patient died and three infections occurred. Conclusions. The addition of adalimumab to prednisolone and cyclophosphamide for the treatment of severe AASV was associated with response rates and adverse events similar to standard therapy alone but with a reduced prednisolone exposure. Further study is required to demonstrate whether the addition of adalimumab improves the speed of remission, the degree of renal recovery and safety.

Background and objectives: Intrapatient variability of hemoglobin (Hb) is a newly proposed determinant of adverse outcome in chronic kidney disease (CKD). We evaluated whether intensity of epoetin therapy affects Hb variability and renal survival in nondialysis CKD. Design, setting, participants, & measurements: We calculated the individual therapeutic index (TI) for epoetin (EPO; difference between rates of visits that required EPO dosage change and those with effective EPO change) from 1198 visits during the first year of EPO in 137 patients. Renal death was registered in the subsequent 18.1 mo. Analysis was made by TI tertile (lower, middle, and higher; i.e., from more to less intensive therapy). Results: Main features and visit number were similar in tertiles. Lower Hb response to first EPO dosage was an independent predictor of higher TI (P 0.002). The area under the curve for Hb (11.56 0.87, 11.46 1.20, and 10.95 1.48 g/dl per yr; P 0.040) decreased from lower to higher tertile. Hb variability increased in parallel, as shown by the reduction of time with Hb at target (time in target, from 9.2 2.0 to 3.0 2.2 mo; P < 0.0001) and the wider values of within-patient Hb standard deviation (from 0.70 to 0.96; P 0.005) and Hb fluctuations across target (P < 0.0001). In Cox analyses (hazard ratio [95% confidence interval]), risk for renal death was increased in the middle and higher tertiles (2.79 [1.36 to 5.73] and 2.94 [1.40 to 6.20]) and reduced by longer time in target (0.90 [0.83 to 0.98]). Conclusions: Lack of adjustment of EPO worsens Hb variability in CKD. Hb variability may be associated with renal survival, but further studies are needed to explore the association versus causal relationship.

Leptomastix dactylopii (Howard) is an endoparasitoid wasp, natural enemy of mealybug Planococcus citri (Risso). Despite the acquired knowledge regarding this host-parasitoid interaction, only little information is available on the factors of parasitoid origin able to modulate the mealybug physiology. The major alteration observed in P. citri is a strong reduction in fecundity, which is evident soon after parasitization by L. dactylopii or venom injection in unparasitized hosts indicating that this proteinaceus secretion injected at the oviposition plays a key-role in host regulation. Protein identification of L. dactilopii venom has been limited by the lack of literature sources and public protein databases. Here, we identified two venom proteins by an integrated trascriptomic and proteomic approach. A custom-made transcriptomic database from the L. dactylopii venom glands was created by applying the high-throughput RNA sequencing approach. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2DE) trypsinized protein spots were analyzed by high-resolution mass spectrometry (FTICRMS-12 T). The most abundant peptide ions were fragmented by collision induced dissociation and the obtained sequence tags were subjected to custom-made protein database searching. Two putative arginine kinases (full-length and truncated form) were identified. This is the first case in which both, truncated and full length arginine kinases, are identified in an endoparasitoid non-paralyzing venom.

Objective. Rituximab is effective induction therapy in refractory or relapsing antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody–associated vasculitis (AAV). However, further relapse is common, and maintenance strategies are required. The aim of this study was to reduce relapse rates using a fixed-interval rituximab re-treatment protocol. Methods. Retrospective, standardized collection of data from sequential patients receiving rituximab for refractory or relapsing AAV at a single center was studied. Group A patients (n 28) received rituximab induction therapy (4 infusions of 375 mg/m 2 or 2 infusions 1 gm) and further rituximab at the time of subsequent relapse. Group B patients (n 45) received routine rituximab re-treatment for 2 years: 2 doses of 1 gm each for remission induction, then 1 gm every 6 months (total of 6 gm). Group C patients (n 19) comprised patients in group A who subsequently relapsed and began routine re-treatment for 2 years. Results. Response (complete/partial remission) occurred in 26 of the 28 patients (93%) in group A, 43 of the 45 patients (96%) in group B, and 18 of the 19 patients (95%) in group C. At 2 years, relapses had occurred in 19 of 26 patients (73%) in group A, 5 of 43 (12%) in group B (P < 0.001), and 2 of 18 (11%) in group C (P < 0.001). At the last followup (median of 44 months), relapses had occurred in 85% of those in group A (22 of 26), 26% of those in group B (11 of 43; P < 0.001), and 56% of those in group C (10 of 18; P 0.001). Glucocorticoid dosages were decreased and immunosuppression therapy was withdrawn in the majority of patients. Routine rituximab re-treatment was well tolerated, and no new safety issues were identified. Conclusion. Two-year, fixed-interval rituximab re-treatment was associated with a reduction in relapse rates during the re-treatment period and a more prolonged period of remission during subsequent followup. In the absence of biomarkers that accurately predict relapse, routine rituximab re-treatment may be an effective strategy for remission maintenance in patients with refractory and relapsing AAV.

One of the major alterations observed in mealybug Planococcus citri parasitized by Leptomastix dactylopii is a strong reduction of laid eggs, which is evident soon after parasitization. Venom injection in unparasitized hosts determines a drastic reduction of fecundity indicating that this female secretion injected at the oviposition plays a key-role in host regulation. In order to assess the impact of parasitism and venom injection on host reproductive tissues, ovaries were dissected at different time intervals after these treatments and observed by light and transmission electron microscopy. The developing eggs showed clear symptoms of degeneration, already half an hour after parasitization or venom injection. Heat and protease treatments of venom nearly suppressed its effects on host reproduction, indicating that proteins are likely responsible for the observed alterations. The electrophoretic profile of venom proteins covers a wide range of molecular masses between 15 to 200 kDa but five major bands having a molecular mass of about 27, 30, 40, 90 and 120 kDa respectively were more evident. Moreover, to establish any parasitoid preference in host selection, among the adult female mealybugs at different stages of maturation and a possible relation with fecundity reduction in the host, the parasitoid behavior was observed.