Inhibition Ability Research Articles

Investigation on special reactivity of sulfite as an electron acceptor for the attenuated Fenton reaction and the abatement mechanism

Sulfur(IV) as a ubiquitous substance in the atmosphere and water bodies can be deliberately involved in different redox reactions based on the known ability to donate electrons, but the inhibition effect on the advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) especially the Fenton reaction, which played a vital role in aerosol aging and pollution treatment, still stayed fuzzy. In this work, it was first found that sulfite had an unexpected reactivity to accept electrons from Fe(II) monitored by the chemiluminescence (CL) method to reduce Fe(II) seriously. Dynamics calculation, UV–vis absorption, HPLC, and CL analysis indicated that sulfite anions can be transferred into SO2·- or dimer S2O42- through reacting with Fe(II). The direct consumption of Fe(II) in Fenton reaction only happened by sulfite among other inorganic anions during degrading different organic pollution, and the produced S2O42- showed an overpowering inhibitory ability on hydroxyl radical especially at pH 5.3, both resulting in a strong inhibition effect on the Fenton reaction. In contrast at pH 3.1, the fast depletion of sulfite by H2O2 and decomposition of S2O42- fell off the inhibition effect. Furthermore, abatement experiments showed that the effect of sulfite could be circumvented by using a non-iron-based oxidation system with other metal ions, additionally clarifying the reaction of Fe(II)-sulfite played the primary role in the inhibition. Significantly, this inhibition effect of sulfite on the Fenton reaction was demonstrated to take place both in the natural wastewater and degrading two acids from biomass burning in the atmosphere, identifying the attenuated Fenton reaction in the presence of sulfur(IV) in the environment.

HSP90/LSD1 dual inhibitors against prostate cancer as well as patient-derived colorectal organoids

The rational installation of pharmacophores targeting HSP90 and LSD1 axes has achieved significant anti-cancer capacity in prostate and colorectal cancer. Among the series of hybrids, inhibitor 6 exhibited remarkable anti-proliferative activity against prostate cancer cell lines PC-3 and DU145, with GI50 values of 0.24 and 0.30 μM, respectively. It demonstrated notable efficacy in combinatorial attack and cell death initiation towards apoptosis. The cell death process was mediated by PARP induction and γH2AX signaling, and was also characterized as caspase-dependent and Bcl-xL/Bax-independent. Notably, no difference in eye size or morphology was observed in the zebrafish treated with compound 6 compared to the reference group (AUY922). The profound treatment response in docetaxel-resistant PC-3 cells highlighted the dual inhibitory ability in improving docetaxel sensitivity. Additionally, at a minimum concentration of 1.25 μM, compound 6 effectively inhibited the growth of patient-derived colorectal cancer (CRC) organoids for up to 10 days in vitro. Together, the designed HSP90/LSD1 inhibitors present a novel route and significant clinical value for anti-cancer drug therapy.

Improved efficacy of linear glutathione-peptide chaperon complexes on melanogenesis inhibition and transdermal delivery

Glutathione (GSH) exhibits considerable potential in the cosmetic industry for reducing intracellular tyrosinase activity and inhibiting melanin synthesis. However, its efficacy is hindered by limited permeability, restricting its ability to reach the basal layer of the skin where melanin production occurs. The transdermal enhancer peptide TD1 has emerged as a promising strategy to facilitate the transdermal transfer of proteins or peptides by creating intercellular gaps in keratinocytes, providing access to the basal layer. The primary objective of this study is to enhance the transdermal absorption capacity of GSH while augmenting its inhibitory effect on melanin. Two coupling structures were designed for investigation: linear (TD1-linker-GSH) and branched (TD1-GSH). The study examined the impact of the peptide skeleton on melanin inhibition ability. Our findings revealed that the linear structure not only inhibited synthetic melanin production in B16F10 cells through a direct pathway but also through a paracrine pathway, demonstrating a significant tyrosinase inhibition of nearly 70 %, attributed to the paracrine effect of human keratinocyte HaCaT. In pigmentation models of guinea pigs and zebrafish, the application of TD1-linker-GSH significantly reduced pigmentation. Notably, electric two-photon microscopy demonstrated that TD1-linker-GSH exhibited significant transdermal ability, penetrating 158.67 ± 9.28 μm into the skin of living guinea pigs. Molecular docking analysis of the binding activity with tyrosinase revealed that both TD1-linker-GSH and TD1-GSH occupy the same active pocket, with TD1-linker-GSH binding more tightly to tyrosinase. These results provide a potential foundation for therapeutic approaches aimed at enriched pigmentation and advance our understanding of the mechanisms underlying melanogenesis inhibition.

Anti-diabetic, anti-bacterial and anti-oxidant potential of new biologically active thiazole-derivatives: Experimental and molecular docking studies

In this study, we synthesised and characterised a series of thiazole derivatives (compounds 3a–j) and assessed their potential for anti-diabetic, anti-bacterial and anti-oxidant activities. The anti-diabetic potential of the compounds was assessed by measuring their inhibition of key enzymes involved in blood glucose regulation. Compound 3i demonstrated the highest α-Amylase inhibition activity (IC50 value: 18.68 µg/mL), while compounds 3i and 3c exhibited significant α-Glucosidase inhibition (IC50 values: 20.25 and 22.63 µg/mL respectively), even surpassing the control drug, Acarbose (IC50 value: 33.77 µg/mL). Interestingly, most of the compounds displayed favourable dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP IV) inhibition and DPPH scavenging ability, with compound 3i showing the highest DPP IV inhibition ability (IC50 value: 23.81 µg/mL) and most robust anti-oxidant potential (IC50 value: 2.50 µg/mL). Additionally, anti-bacterial studies against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli revealed compounds 3i and 3c as effective inhibitors of bacterial growth. The MICs (4, 16, 16, and 32 µg/mL) and MBCs (4, 32, 32, and 16 µg/mL) respectively of the compounds supported their potential application in controlling and preventing bacterial growth. These results provide valuable insights into the multifunctional properties of the new thiazole derivatives and their potential in managing diabetes, combating bacterial infections, and serving as anti-oxidants.

Devaluation of Attractive Alternatives: How Those With Poor Inhibitory Ability Preemptively Resist Temptation.

How do people resist in-the-moment temptation if they are poor at inhibiting their impulses? Theory on self-control suggests that people have a toolbox of strategies available to them that may be used preemptively to dampen temptations. Applying this to the goal of relationship maintenance, in two studies, we examined whether people motivated to maintain their romantic relationship but poor at inhibitory control would appraise an attractive alternative (AA) as less appealing prior to a face-to-face interaction. In Study 1 (N = 190), those with high motivation and low inhibitory control (measured with the Stroop) rated the AA as less appealing as compared with singles and those high in motivation and inhibitory control. We replicated the motivation by inhibitory control interaction in Study 2 (N = 219). The AAs paradigm and the Devaluation Effect provide a useful way to explore the toolbox approach to self-control strategies.

Organic acid treatments on citrus insoluble dietary fibers and the corresponding effects on starch in vitro digestion

Three environmentally friendly organic acids, acetic acid, citric acid and oxalic acid, were used to treat citrus insoluble dietary fiber (CIDF) in present study, aiming to explore the changes in structural properties as well as their inhibitory effects on starch digestion. The results showed that organic acid treatment significantly reduced the particle size of all three CIDFs, with rougher and folded surfaces, improved crystallinity and thermal stability. During in vitro digestion, it was found that organic acid treatment could increase the particle size and viscosity of digestion, and also effectively enhance the inhibitory ability of α-glucosidase activity, resulting in a further blockage of starch digestion. The starch digestion in oxalic acid-treated group (with 3 wt% addition) was significantly reduced by 18.72 % compared to blank group and 9.05 % compared to untreated. These findings provide evidence of the potential of organic acid-treated insoluble dietary fiber as a functional food.

CORROSION INHIBITION OF MILD STEEL BY COUMARATE-BASED IONIC LIQUIDS AND COATINGS.

The use of ionic liquids (ILs) as corrosion inhibitors gainedattention due to their attractive properties such as high inhibition efficiency and ability to absorb onto metal surfaces. In this work, six ILs, based on the coumarate anion combined with different nitrogen cations (triethylammonium, pyrrolidinium and imidazolium with short and long alkyl chain attached to the nitrogen atom)have been synthesized and evaluated as inhibitors for steel. The anticorrosion properties of these ILs in solutionwere investigated electrochemically and the metal surface was analyzed by SEM. Moreover, the IL prepared from the coumarate anion and N-dimethyl-N-tetradecyl ammonium ([DTA]Cou) was incorporated into an UV-coating formulation as an additive and by designing a similar ionic monomer which covalently links to theformulation. Impedance spectroscopy during 11 days of exposure to a solution of NaCl 0,01M, confirmed the high performance of the inhibitor in both solution and whenincorporated into a coating. The synthesized ILs present efficiencies in solution exceeding 70%, in particular the ILs [DTA]Cou and tetradecyl imidazolium coumarate ([C14Im]Cou) showed efficiencies of 88% and 91% respectively. The obtained inhibitors showed interesting anticorrosion behaviors and demonstrated how different cations and an increase in the chain length affect the inhibition properties.

Biosynthesized calcium oxide from calcined conch shells: A potential bactericidal agent against Escherichia coli

The occurrence of ineffective antibiotics and an abundance of waste shell has provided a research opportunity to study calcium compounds through natural recycling, derived from the abundant gleaned species of gastropod conch (Canarium urceus) shells. Particularly, calcium oxide from waste shells were investigated as a value-added application for inhibiting pathogenic Escherichia coli. Hence, this study investigated its bactericidal activity through the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method to measure its growth inhibition ability. Waste conch shells were collected from Maitum, Barangay Dahican, City of Mati, Davao Oriental. Conch shell powder was obtained through calcination in a muffle furnace for two hours at 800°C (CS800) and 900°C (CS900), both at 50% and 75% (w/v) concentrations, for comparison. Among the four tested samples with three replicates each, results indicated that CS800 (50%) exhibited the highest inhibitory effects against E. coli. Findings also revealed that samples at 50% concentration demonstrated higher antibacterial activity than those at 75%. This statistically suggests that concentration level significantly influenced the bactericidal activity, whereas the 100°C difference in calcination temperature did not. The antibacterial activity of calcined conch shells can be attributed to CaO through two mechanisms: primarily, the strong alkalinity of the medium, and secondarily, the generation of Ca2+ and reactive oxygen species (ROS) on the surface of CaO, which cause cell wall rupture. Another possible mechanism is also associated with generating superoxides

Sage (Salvia macrochlamys): LC-HRMS for phytochemical analysis, cytotoxicity, enzyme inhibition, antioxidant activity, molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations

This study primarily aims to evaluate the phenolic content and biological activity of Salvia macrochlamys both in vitro and in silico. The antioxidant activities of Salvia macrochlamys were assessed using various methods. Additionally, cytotoxic effects and the α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) enzyme inhibitory abilities of ethanolic extract of the aerial parts of Salvia macrochlamys (EESM) were evaluated. Then, the molecular docking interactions and molecular dynamic calculations of EESM against α-amylase, α-glycosidase, and AChE enzymes were carried out. High antioxidant activity was determined in both ethanol and water extracts. The IC50 values of EESM against AChE (EC 3.1.1.7), α-glycosidase (E.C.3.2.1.20), and α-amylase (E.C.3.2.1.1) were determined as 1.622 μg/mL, 0.530 μg/mL, and 1.320 μg/mL, respectively. High enzyme-inhibiting properties of EESM were determined in also in silico. Rosmarinic acid was identified as one of the most abundant phenolic compounds in both EESM and water extract of the aerial parts of Salvia macrochlamys (WESM) (3919.65 mg/kg and 10520.77 mg/kg, respectively). Their high level of flavonoids and phenolics, as well as the potent antioxidant and enzyme-inhibitory properties displayed by extracts, may contribute to broadening the use of Salvia macrochlamys in both traditional and modern therapeutic applications.

The Anti-Inflammatory Effects and Mechanism of the Submerged Culture of Ophiocordyceps sinensis and Its Possible Active Compounds.

The pharmacological effects of the fruiting body of Ophiocordyceps sinensis (O. sinensis) such as antioxidant, anti-virus, and immunomodulatory activities have already been described, whereas the anti-inflammatory effects and active components of the submerged culture of O. sinesis (SCOS) still need to be further verified. This study aimed to investigate the active compounds in the fermented liquid (FLOS), hot water (WEOS), and 50-95% (EEOS-50, EEOS-95) ethanol extracts of SCOS and their anti-inflammatory effects and potential mechanisms in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated microglial BV2 cells. The results demonstrated that all of the SCOS extracts could inhibit NO production in BV2 cells. EEOS-95 exhibited the strongest inhibitory effects (71% inhibitory ability at 500 µg/mL), and its ergosterol, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), total phenolic, and total flavonoid contents were significantly higher than those of the other extracts (18.60, 18.60, 2.28, and 2.14 mg/g, p < 0.05, respectively). EEOS-95 also has a strong inhibitory ability against IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α with an IC50 of 617, 277, and 507 µg/mL, respectively, which is higher than that of 1 mM melatonin. The anti-inflammatory mechanism of EEOS-95 seems to be associated with the up-regulation of PPAR-γ/Nrf-2/HO-1 antioxidant-related expression and the down-regulation of NF-κB/COX-2/iNOS pro-inflammatory expression signaling. In summary, we demonstrated that EEOS-95 exhibits neuroinflammation-mediated neurodegenerative disorder activities in LPS-induced inflammation in brain microglial cells.

A Series of Novel 1-H-isoindole-1,3(2H)-dione Derivatives as Acetylcholinesterase and Butyrylcholinesterase Inhibitors: In Silico, Synthesis and In Vitro Studies.

The derivatives of isoindoline-1,3-dione are interesting due to their biological activities, such as anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects. Several series have been designed and evaluated for Alzheimer's therapy candidates. They showed promising activity. In this work, six new derivatives were first tested in in silico studies for their inhibitory ability against acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) enzymes. Molecular docking and molecular dynamic simulation were applied. Next, these compounds were synthesized and characterized by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, FT-IR, and ESI-MS techniques. For all imides, the inhibitory activity against AChE and BuChE was tested using Ellaman's method. IC50 values were determined. The best results were obtained for the derivative I, with a phenyl substituent at position 4 of piperazine, IC50 = 1.12 μM (AChE) and for the derivative III, with a diphenylmethyl moiety, with IC50 = 21.24 μM (BuChE). The compounds tested in this work provide a solid basis for further structural modifications, leading to the effective design of potential inhibitors of both cholinesterases.

The potential inhibition effect of ellagic acid on liver cells in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) is the most common kind of liver cancer, which has a relatively high fatality rate. The main cause of this type of cancer is liver inflammation, which leads to disorder in the tumor microenvironment. There are some current treatments, including liver transplants, radiofrequency, microwave ablation, and transarterial chemoembolization. However, the treatments still have limited disadvantages, which cannot be ignored. Recently, a traditional Chinese medicine - Chebulae Fructus, has been proven to have an inhibition ability on HCC cells. One of the main constituents, ellipticine, is found to have therapeutic targets that can treat HCC: PTGS2, CYP1A2, CCNB1, and RASGRF1. Moreover, the essay also mentioned that another type of constituent ellagic acid could also have an inhibition effect on tumor progression by binding to Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 6 (CDK6). This study will further investigate the HCC inhibition effect of ellagic acid by providing an overview of the predicted results of the experiment. It will also provide the possible research direction of ellagic acid HCC treatment.

Turmeric-Black Cumin Essential Oils and Their Capacity to Attenuate Free Radicals, Protein Denaturation, and Cancer Proliferation.

Turmeric rhizomes (Curcuma longa) and black cumin seeds (Nigella sativa) are polyherbal ingredients used for the management of cancer and other chronic inflammatory diseases in Nigerian ethnomedicine. Previous studies have shown the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer activities of the individual plant extracts. However, the two spices have not been biologically potentiated in their combined form. Therefore, this study obtained essential oils (EOs) from the combined spices and evaluated their inhibitory effects on free radicals, protein denaturation, and cancer proliferation. The EOs were extracted by hydro-distillation (HD) and characterized by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In vitro antioxidant assessment was conducted based on DPPH, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), nitric oxide (NO), and ferric ion (Fe3+) radical scavenging assays. The cytotoxicity of the oil against non-tumorigenic (HEK293) and cancerous (HepG2 and HeLa) cell lines was determined following the MTT cell viability assay. An in silico molecular docking analysis of the oil constituents was also performed. Six batches of EOs I-VI were afforded, comprising twenty-two major constituents, with aromatic Ar-turmerone being the most prominent compound. There was a marked improvement in the bioactivity of the oils upon repeated HD and as a combination. The batch VI oil exhibited the best activity, with a cytotoxicity (CC50) of 10.16 ± 1.69 µg/100 µL against the HepG2 cell line, which was comparable to 5-fluorouracil (standard, CC50 = 8.59 ± 1.33 µg/100 µL). In silico molecular docking suggested δ-curcumene, Ar-curcumene, Ar-turmerol, and Ar-turmerone among the promising compounds based on their high binding energy scores with NOX2, NF-κB, and mdm2 proteins. In conclusion, the oils from the turmeric-black cumin combined possess a considerable inhibition ability against free radicals, protein denaturation, and cancer proliferation. This study's findings further underscore the effectiveness of turmeric-black cumin as a polyherbal medicinal ingredient.

Synthesis and antitumor activity of new flavonoid hybrid peptidomimetics

To discover new antitumor drugs based on the structure of natural products, two series of d-2-Phenylglycine/D-Leucine hybridized isoflavone derivatives were synthesized, and their anti-proliferation activities against human cancer cells were evaluated in vitro. Most target compounds exhibit potent anti-proliferative activity against HeLa cells, among which the inhibitory ability of compound 8 s is close to the positive control. Compound 8 s showed significant broad-spectrum inhibitory activity against cancer cells (HeLa, MCF-7, MDA-MB231, and H460 cells) with IC50 values of 1.94±0.26 µM, 4.75±0.38 µM, 8.56±0.19 µM, and 4.36±0.11 µM, respectively. Furthermore, compound 8 s was discovered to have certain inhibitory effects on HeLa cell proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, and migration. Molecular docking experiments and in vitro enzyme inhibition assays revealed that 8 s binds to APN and inhibits its enzyme activity, which is likely a key factor contributing to its antitumor effects. Altogether, this study proposes compound 8 s as a new lead with great promise for further antitumor research.

Charge transfer regulates electrocatalytic CO2 reduction on one-dimensional carbon nanotube/boron nitride nanotube heterostructures

Driving the electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO2RR) to generate high-value chemicals is one of the effective solutions to promote carbon–neutral cycles. Herein, we use a heterostructure strategy to enhance the catalytic performance of single-atom catalysts (SACs) for CO2RR. A series of catalysts formed by doping some transition metal atoms (TM = Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu) into heterostructures which include the single-wall carbon nanotube in boron nitride nanotube (CNT@BNNT) and the hybridization of carbon nanotube and boron nitride nanotube (CNT/BNNT) are respectively named as TM-CNT@BNNT and TM-CNT/BNNT, and their catalytic activity of CO2RR is systematically studied using density functional theory methods. After forming a heterostructure, the number of charges transferred from the metal center to the substrate and the d-band center will change, which will, to some extent, regulate the catalytic activity of the catalyst. Due to the effective activation of CO2 and significant inhibition ability of competitive hydrogen evolution reaction, nine catalysts are considered effective candidates for CO2RR. Finally, seven catalysts with high CO2RR activity are selected by calculating the Gibbs free energy. The moderate linear relations between charge transfer and adsorption energy of CO2/free energy change of reaction intermediates/limiting potential indicate that charge transfer can regulate activity to a certain extent. The improvement of CO2RR activity comes from the smaller charge transfer in the metal center, which is more likely to result in moderate binding strength between the catalyst and the key intermediate (*OH) to generate high catalytic performance.

A behavioral and eye movement study on inhibitory processing of action memory

Recent evidence highlights the critical role of effective interference inhibition for optimal memory performance, yet its function in action memory remains relatively underexplored. The current study investigated inhibitory processes in action memory during encoding and storage stages. In Experiment 1, 100 participants were divided into high and low cognitive inhibition groups using the Stroop color naming task. They performed either a subject-performed task (SPT) or a verbal task (VT) under varying semantic interference levels to assess the interaction between individual inhibitory abilities and the inhibition processing of action memory during encoding. Results indicated no significant difference in inhibition effects (IF) between high and low inhibition groups in SPT under high semantic interference, while in VT, those with high cognitive inhibition demonstrated significantly greater IF than those with low. Experiment 2, involving 57 participants, employed a point detection task and eye-tracking to explore attentional inhibition mechanisms during action memory storage. Behavioral results showed greater IF for SPT than VT under semantic interference. Eye-tracking revealed higher initial fixation rates and shorter durations for SPT subjects during the early processing stage, and significantly fewer and shorter fixations in the later stage compared to VT subjects. These findings imply stronger inhibitory processing in SPT during both encoding and storage stages under semantic interference, with attentional inhibition of action memories occurring predominantly in the later stage.

Inhibitory mechanism of xanthine oxidase by 6-, 8- and 10-gingerol: Enzyme kinetics, multi-spectroscopy and molecular simulations

In this study, the inhibitory activity and mechanism of three gingerols (6-, 8- and 10-gingerol) on xanthine oxidase (XOD), a key enzyme responsible for the formation of uric acid, were evaluated. The three gingerols reversibly inhibited XOD activity in a mixed manner with IC50 values of (13.16 ± 0.41), (10.18 ± 0.22) and (6.88 ± 0.11) μM, respectively. 10-gingerol exhibited stronger inhibitory ability, which might contribute to its superior antioxidant properties, higher binding affinity and more significant conformational changes for XOD compared to other gingerols. Fluorescence quenching and molecular docking results indicated that gingerols acted in the vicinity of the flavin adenine dinucleotide in XOD, interacting with the surrounding key amino acid residues through hydrogen bonding and van der Waals forces, thereby preventing substrate entry and the release of catalytic products. Molecular dynamics simulations showed that the addition of gingerol decreased the stability and increased the structural density of XOD. These findings could provide valuable data for the application of gingerols in new XOD inhibitors and hypouricemic functional foods.

MutL Significantly Regulates the Formation of Biofilms in Bacillus amyloliquefaciens YT1

The purpose of this study is to discover and excavate more key factors and signaling pathways that regulate the formation intensity of biofilms and to fully reveal the possible models affecting biofilm formation. By using gene homologous recombination and bioinformatics technology, a MutL protein-directed deletion mutant strain was successfully constructed. The growth status of the mutant strain was observed, and it was confirmed that, except for the change in cell morphology, there were no significant differences in growth and reproduction between the mutant strain and the wild-type strain. By using the induced biofilm formation technique, the significant decrease in biofilm formation in the MutL mutant strain was successfully verified. The plate confrontation test confirmed that the inhibitory ability of the mutant strain against rice blast fungus was not significantly different from that of the WT strain. The colonization ability of the mutant strain on rice stems was tested, and it was confirmed that the colonization ability of the mutant strain was significantly lower than that of the WT strain. In terms of the prevention and control effect of rice blast disease, the mutant strain showed a significant decrease. By using transcriptomic big data, the gene and pathway expression differences between the mutant strain and the WT strain during biofilm formation were analyzed. The analysis revealed no significant correlation with the previously reported spo0A and tapA-sipW-tasA pathways. The key factor capB of the polyglutamic acid signaling pathway, which affects the formation of the biological model, was found to have a significant decrease in expression. A mechanical hypothesis was proposed: MutL may participate in regulating the formation intensity of Bacillus biofilms by regulating the formation of glutamic acid to polyglutamic acid.

The 3,3'-dimethoxy-4,4'-dihydroxy-stilbene Triazole (STT) Inhibits Liver Cancer Cell Growth by Targeting Akt/mTOR Pathway.

The present study was aimed to investigate the proliferation inhibitory ability of 3,3'-dimethoxy-4,4'-dihydroxy-stilbene triazole (STT) on SNU449 and Huh7 cells. Moreover, the mechanism associated with the suppression of liver cancer cell proliferation by STT was also studied. The results revealed that STT suppresses proliferation of SNU449 and Huh7 cells to 28 and 21%, respectively treatment with 20 µM. The clonogenic survival of SNU449 and Huh7 cells was also significantly reduced after incubation with STT compared to the control cultures. In comparison to the control, STT treatment significantly decreased the invasive potential of SNU449 cells. Treatment with STT led to a prominent suppression in p62 and increase in LC3B protein expression in SNU449 cells compared to the control cells. The STT treatment dramatically decreased p-Akt and p-mTOR protein expression in SNU449 cells. Docking study revealed that STT interacts via traditional hydrogen bonding with the glutamine, phenylalanine, leucine, serine, arginine, aspartic acid, and lysine residues of Akt protein. In summary, the current study demonstrates that STT effectively suppresses the viability of SNU449 and Huh7 liver cancer cells. Moreover, STT treatment of the liver cancer cells also significantly reduces the clonogenic survival and invasive potential of SNU449 cells. Treatment of liver cancer cells with STT increases the expression of autophagic, targets anti-autophagic protein expression and down-regulates Akt/mTOR pathway to inhibit cancer growth and proliferation. Thus, STT exhibits prominent anticancer effect and needs to be investigated further as a potential candidate for the treatment of liver cancer.

Inhibitory control ability moderates the relationship between internet addiction and inattention in ADHD in a community sample

Internet addiction (IA) has been related to psychiatric problems such as ADHD. However, it is not known exactly how this relationship operates, although most research shows that both people with ADHD and IA have inhibitory control (IC) deficit. This study aimed to investigate whether IC mediates or moderates the relationship. 76 non-clinically diagnosed participants were recruited. They performed the Stroop task and completed the Young's Internet Addiction Test, Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale Symptom Checklist and a Demographic Information Form. Consistent with previous research, the results show that while total ADHD/inattention was correlated with IA, hyperactivity/impulsivity was not. In contrast with some previous research, Stroop task performance (measured via reaction times and pupil dilation) did not differ between low and high IA groups, nor low and high inattention groups. Despite neither inattention nor IA between associated with IC impairments, the relationship between inattention and IA was shown to be moderated by Stroop task performance in that the relationship was present mainly in those who experience high and moderate IC deficits. This finding could have implications for both ADHD and IA at higher levels of severity and could help guide prevention and treatment options in those most vulnerable to IA.