Publications

Abstract Human mitochondria can be genetically distinct within the same individual, a phenomenon known as heteroplasmy. In cancer, this phenomenon seems exacerbated, and most mitochondrial mutations seem to be heteroplasmic. How this genetic variation is arranged within and among normal and tumor cells is not well understood. To address this question, here we sequenced single-cell mitochondrial genomes from multiple normal and tumoral locations in four colorectal cancer patients. Our results suggest that single cells, both normal and tumoral, can carry various mitochondrial haplotypes. Remarkably, this intra-cell heteroplasmy can arise before tumor development and be maintained afterward in specific tumoral cell subpopulations. At least in the colorectal patients studied here, the somatic mutations in the single-cells do not seem to have a prominent role in tumorigenesis.

We developed a seed-mediated approach for the selective growth of Au-on-Pd 6 tetrahedral nanoparticles giving rise to Pd−Au heteropentamers. The size of the Au domains in the 7 heterostructures could be finely tuned from 4 to 8 nm. High-resolution transmission electron 8 microscopy characterization demonstrated that the heteromers are single crystalline indicating an 9 epitaxial growth of Au on Pd. The modification of screen-printed carbon electrodes with Pd−Au 10 heteromers shows an improved electrocatalytic activity.

Dietary flavonoids, which occur in many plant foods, are considered as the most active constituents among the plant-derived ones in vitro and in vivo. To date, many studies have addressed the anti-inflammatory activity of flavonoids. However, their considerable structural diversity and in vivo bioavailability make them able to modulate different signaling pathways. The present review attempted to summarize and highlight a broad range of inflammation-associated signaling pathways modulated by flavonoids. Finally, based on the current scientist's literature, structure-activity relationships were concluded. Dietary flavonoids have the ability to attenuate inflammation by targeting different intracellular signaling pathways triggered by NF-κB, AP-1, PPAR, Nrf2, and MAPKs. Identification of the main structural features required for the modulation of these inflammation-related pathways (hydroxylation pattern, C2=C3 double bond) have an important role to play in the development of new anti-inflammatory drugs.

Piceatannol is a stilbenoid, which has shown bioactivities in various cell culture models. However, its stability in cell culture medium is not clear. Here, UPLC-MS/MS was applied in situ to analyze the degradation products of piceatannol in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium (DMEM) and cell culture to investigate the compound's stability in DMEM. During the incubation with cell culture medium (at 4 and 37 °C), several piceatannol derivatives, such as an oxidation product ( m/z 243.06), a reduction product ( m/z 247.09), dimers ( m/z 485.12 and 487.14) and trimers ( m/z 727.18) were detected, which demonstrated the instability of piceatannol in cell culture conditions. To confirm if the new products during the incubation were generated due to the instability of piceatannol, ascorbic acid was added. The presence of ascorbic acid could significantly slow the degradation rate of piceatannol and the generation of piceatannol derivatives, which proved that the new products were generated by the degradation of piceatannol and indicated that the instability of piceatannol might be related to its antioxidant activity.

Abstract Single-cell whole-genome sequencing of 335 cells from seven colorectal cancers, coupled with Bayesian phylodynamic modeling, revealed tumors often originate decades before diagnosis, remain indolent, and expand rapidly within two years. Strong spatial structuring with minimal interregional mixing was observed, while substitution rates varied widely and were decoupled from growth. Our findings highlight extended evolutionary stasis and sudden expansion, informing strategies for early detection and intervention.

Abstract Controversy exists as toward the association of excessive fruits intake and certain disease risks. Longan is an edible fruit rich in high levels of fructose, glucose and sucrose. Herein, the effect of longan fruit on the development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) was investigated. Longan extracts at the doses of 4.0 g/kg, 8.0, and 16.0 g/kg were orally administered for 4 weeks to healthy C57BL/6J mice or to C57BL/6J mice fed with a HFD diet. In mice fed with a normal diet, repeated longan intake for 4 weeks at excess doses (8 or 16 g/kg), but not the normal dose (4 g/kg), promoted inflammation and gut dysbiosis‐like status and reduced short‐chain fatty acids (SCFAs) production. In high‐fat diet (HFD)‐fed mice, longan intake at 4 g/kg hardly influenced the NAFLD development. In contrast, excess longan intake (8 or 16 g/kg) promoted NAFLD pathogenesis, including increased abnormality in hepatic indices, elevated inflammation, and gut permeability associated with more severe liver steatosis and fibrosis. Moreover, the exacerbated pathogenic markers were positively correlated with increased blood sugar, aggravated HFD‐associated microbial dysbiosis. Effects mediated by excess longan intake resembled that of equivalent free sugars supplementation, suggesting that high level of free sugars in fruits contributed to the promotion of NAFLD development as demonstrated in case of excessive longan intake.

A novel hydrophobic colorimetric film was developed using ethyl cellulose (EC), castor oil (CO) and purple potato anthocyanin (AN) for pork freshness monitoring. The films with CO concentrations of 0% (control), 0.25%, 0.5%, 1% and 2% were developed and expressed as F0, F0.25, F0.5, F1 and F2. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images showed that the five films had dense surface and porous internal structures. The F0.5 film exhibited the highest tensile strength (TS) value, optimal color stability, ability to prevent the leaching of AN. The limit of detection (LOD) value of the F0.5 film to ammonia gas was 1.04 μM. The color of F0.5 film turned from red to green along with the spoilage of pork. As a result, the film was expected to be a good colorimetric indicator of pork freshness for intelligent packaging.