Medium composition for effective slow freezing of embryonic cell lines derived from marine medaka (Oryzias dancena)

This study was conducted to identify optimal medium composition for freezing Oryzias dancena embryonic cell lines. Different freezing media consisting of various concentration of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), fetal bovine serum (FBS), and trehalose were prepared and long-term cultured embryonic cell line was frozen in each freezing medium by conventional slow freezing program for 7 days. Through measurement of viability and growth of post-thaw cells frozen in each freezing medium, it was determined that optimal composition of three components was 10 % DMSO, 20 % FBS, and 0.1 M trehalose. The post-thaw cells frozen in optimal freezing medium showed similar morphology and growth rate with non-frozen cells. Next, this condition was applied to two different sets of experiment; (1) freezing of the same cells during expanded period (57 days) and (2) freezing of short-term cultured cells from other batches for 7 days. The viability of post-thaw cells was significantly low and comparable in set 1 and 2, respectively, when compared with the result of long term-cultured cells frozen in optimal freezing medium for 7 days and similar morphology and growth rate with non-frozen counterparts were detected in the post-thaw cells from both sets. In conclusion, this study first reports the optimal medium composition for freezing O. dancena embryonic cells, which can contribute to fish species preservation as well as improvement of cell-based biotechnology by providing stable cell storage.     

Truncated light-harvesting chlorophyll antenna size in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chlorella vulgaris</Emphasis> improves biomass productivity

Microalgae have been proposed as eco-friendly feedstocks for biodiesel production, because they accumulate large amounts of lipids and increase their biomass through photosynthesis. However, the photosynthetic efficiency of microalgae is too low for this strategy to be economically feasible. In an effort to overcome this issue, random mutants with reduced chlorophyll antenna size were generated by ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS)-mediated mutagenesis of Chlorella vulgaris. The antenna size mutant, herein designated E5, exhibited 56.5 and 75.8 % decreases in chlorophyll a and b contents, respectively, with significant reductions in the expression levels of peripheral light-harvesting antenna proteins in photosystem II. The saturated photosynthetic activity and electron transport rate of the E5 mutant were significantly higher and also showed reduced non-photochemical quenching (NPQ), compared to those of the wild type. Consequentially, the E5 mutant cultures achieved 44.5 % improvement in biomass productivity under high light (200 μmol photons m^?2 s^?1). These results suggest that improving the photosynthetic efficiency of microalgae could greatly enhance their biomass production, and such mutant strains can be applicable for large-scale outdoor cultivation which is typically exposed to high light intensity.     

Anticancer activity of paroxetine in human colon cancer cells: Involvement of MET and ERBB3

The concept of drug repositioning has recently received considerable attention in the field of oncology. In the present study, we propose that paroxetine can be used as a potent anticancer drug. Paroxetine, one of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), has been widely prescribed for the treatment of depression and anxiety disorders. Recently, SSRIs have been reported to have anticancer activity in various types of cancer cells; however, the underlying mechanisms of their action are not yet known. In this study, we investigated the potential anticancer effect of paroxetine in human colorectal cancer cells, HCT116 and HT‐29. Treatment with paroxetine reduced cell viability, which was associated with marked increase in apoptosis, in both the cell lines. Also, paroxetine effectively inhibited colony formation and 3D spheroid formation. We speculated that the mode of action of paroxetine might be through the inhibition of two major receptor tyrosine kinases – MET and ERBB3 – leading to the suppression of AKT, ERK and p38 activation and induction of JNK and caspase‐3 pathways. Moreover, in vivo experiments revealed that treatment of athymic nude mice bearing HT‐29 cells with paroxetine remarkably suppressed tumour growth. In conclusion, paroxetine is a potential therapeutic option for patients with colorectal cancer.     

Development of a risk scoring system for patients with papillary thyroid cancer

As the importance of personalized therapeutics in aggressive papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) increases, accurate risk stratification is required. To develop a novel prognostic scoring system for patients with PTC (n = 455), we used mRNA expression and clinical data from The Cancer Genome Atlas. We performed variable selection using Network‐Regularized high‐dimensional Cox‐regression with gene network from pathway databases. The risk score was calculated using a linear combination of regression coefficients and mRNA expressions. The risk score and clinical variables were assessed by several survival analyses. The risk score showed high discriminatory power for the prediction of event‐free survival as well as the presence of metastasis. In multivariate analysis, the risk score and presence of metastasis were significant risk factors among the clinical variables that were examined together. In the current study, we developed a risk scoring system that will help to identify suitable therapeutic options for PTC.     

Hydrated Intercalation for High‐Performance Aqueous Zinc Ion Batteries

Aqueous zinc ion batteries (AZIBs) are steadily gaining attention based on their attractive merits regarding cost and safety. However, there are many obstacles to overcome, especially in terms of finding suitable cathode materials and elucidating their reaction mechanisms. Here, a mixed‐valence vanadium oxide, V₆O₁₃, that functions as a stable cathode material in mildly acidic aqueous electrolytes is reported. Paired with a zinc metal anode, this material exhibits performance metrics of 360 mAh g^?1 at 0.2 A g^?1, 92% capacity retention after 2000 cycles, and 145 mAh g^?1 at a current density of 24.0 A g^?1. A combination of experiments and density functional theory calculations suggests that hydrated intercalation, where water molecules are cointercalated with Zn ions upon discharge, accounts for the aforementioned electrochemical performance. This intercalation mechanism facilitates Zn ion diffusion throughout the host lattice and electrode–electrolyte interface via electrostatic shielding and concurrent structural stabilization. Through a correlation of experimental data and theoretical calculations, the promise of utilizing hydrated intercalation as a means to achieve high‐performance AZIBs is demonstrated.     

Photoluminescence imaging of europium (III)‐doped γ‐Al2O3 nanofiber structures

Aluminium oxide (Al₂O₃) has widely been used for catalysts, insulators, and composite materials for diverse applications. Herein, we demonstrated if γ‐Al₂O₃ was useful as a luminescence support material for europium (Eu) (III) activator ion. The hydrothermal method and post‐thermal treatment at 800°C were employed to synthesize Eu(III)‐doped γ‐Al₂O₃ nanofibre structures. Luminescence characteristics of Eu(III) ions in Al₂O₃ matrix were fully understood by taking 2D and 3D‐photoluminescence imaging profiles. Various sharp emissions between 580 to 720 nm were assigned to the ⁵D₀→⁷F_J (J = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4) transitions of Eu(III) activators. On the basis of X‐ray diffraction crystallography, Auger elemental mapping and the asymmetry ratio, Eu(III) ions were found to be well doped into the γ‐Al₂O₃ matrix at a low (1 mol%) doping level. A broad emission at 460 nm was substantially increased upon higher (2 mol%) Eu(III) doping due to defect creation. The first 3D photoluminescence imaging profiles highlight detailed understanding of emission characteristics of Eu(III) ions in Al oxide‐based phosphor materials and their potential applications.     

Effect of temperature on reproduction and parasitism of the egg parasitoid,Anastatus orientalis (Hymenoptera: Eupelmidae)

Anastatus orientalis is a solitary endoparasitoid of Lycorma delicatula (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae) eggs. We investigated the development, longevity, fecundity, and sex ratio of A. orientalis on different temperatures to establish the optimal temperature condition for laboratory mass rearing. There were significant differences in its development and longevity between 15 °C and the rest of temperature conditions (20, 25, and 30 °C), among which were no significant differences. The average number of eggs laid by A. orientalis was higher at 20 and 25 °C, but there was no statistically significant difference in its fecundity between the two temperatures. More females emerged at 15 and 20 °C than higher temperatures.Parasitisms of A. orientalis varied with host egg ages and densities. Even in 14 day old eggs of L. delicatula, parasitoids successfully emerged from 92.3% of the parasitized eggs. On the other hand, parasitism was lowest (13.8%) on just before hatching eggs. Parasitism was negatively dependent on host density.Oviposition behavior for A. orientalis primarily occurred at 1400–1600 h, not at 2400–0800 h. The majority of this parasitoid's emergence occurred at 0800–1000 h, largely before noon. These results may be useful for controlling the adequate time for supplying host eggs and release density of this parasitoid as well as for potentially predicting the accurate time for securing parasitoid adults in laboratory mass rearing of A. orientalis.     

Structural hybridization of pyrrolidine-based T-type calcium channel inhibitors and exploration of their analgesic effects in a neuropathic pain model

Highly effective and safe drugs for the treatment of neuropathic pain are urgently required and it was shown that blocking T-type calcium channels can be a promising strategy for drug development for neuropathic pain. We have developed pyrrolidine-based T-type calcium channel inhibitors by structural hybridization and subsequent assessment of in vitro activities against Ca_v3.1 and Ca_v3.2 channels. Profiling of in vitro ADME properties of compounds was also carried out. The representative compound 17h showed comparable in vivo efficacy to gabapentin in the SNL model, which indicates T-type calcium channel inhibitors can be developed as effective therapeutics for neuropathic pain.