Effects of lignans extracted from Eucommia ulmoides and aldose reductase inhibitor epalrestat on hypertensive vascular remodeling.

Aim Of The Study: To investigate the effects of lignans extracted from Eucommia ulmoides and epalrestat on vascular remodeling in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Materials And Methods: Ten-week-old male spontaneously hypertensive rats were randomly divided into 3 groups (12 rats each group), and treated orally with 100 mg/kg/d of captopril (an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor), 100 mg/kg/d of epalrestat (an aldose reductase inhibitor) and 300 mg/kg/d of lignans by gavage daily for 16 weeks, respectively. Sex-, age-, and number-matched spontaneously hypertensive rats and normotensive Wistar Kyoto rats, were treated with distilled water (vehicle) as controls.

L-FABP T94A decreased fatty acid uptake and altered hepatic triglyceride and cholesterol accumulation in Chang liver cells stably transfected with L-FABP.

Liver fatty acid-binding protein (L-FABP, FABP1) is a highly conserved key factor in lipid metabolism. This study was undertaken to verify whether the T94A mutation in the L-FABP gene affects fatty acid uptake and intracellular esterification into specific lipid pools. Candidate SNPs were recreated using site-directed mutagenesis and tested for physical function in stably transfected Chang liver cell lines.

Inhibitory effects of glutathione on dengue virus production.

Reduced glutathione (GSH) is the most powerful intracellular antioxidant and also involved in viral infections. The pathogenesis of dengue virus (DV) infection has not been completely clarified. This study investigated the relationship between DV serotype 2 (DV2) infections and host intracellular GSH content.

The choC gene encoding a putative phospholipid methyltransferase is essential for growth and development in Aspergillus nidulans.

Phosphatidylcholines (PCs) are a class of major cell membrane phospholipids that participate in many physiological processes. Three genes, choA, choB and choC, have been proposed to function in the endogenous biosynthesis of PC in Aspergillus nidulans. In this study, we characterize the choC gene encoding a putative highly conserved phospholipid methyltransferase.

DIGA--a database of improved gene annotation for phytopathogens.

Background: Bacterial plant pathogens are very harmful to their host plants, which can cause devastating agricultural losses in the world. With the development of microbial genome sequencing, many strains of phytopathogens have been sequenced. However, some misannotations exist in these phytopathogen genomes.

Co-expression of Japanese encephalitis virus prM-E-NS1 antigen with granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor enhances humoral and anti-virus immunity after DNA vaccination.

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is an agent of Japanese encephalitis, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is an attractive DNA vaccine adjuvant for its antigen presentation. In the present study, we have constructed DNA vaccines that carried JEV prM-E-NS1 genes with or without the GM-CSF gene. Immunization with the bicistronic plasmid pCAG-JEGM that co-expresses GM-CSF and viral prM-E-NS1, resulted in the highest IgG response and sufficient protection against virus-challenged BALB/c mice.

Expression of genes encoding multi-transmembrane proteins in specific primate taste cell populations.

Background: Using fungiform (FG) and circumvallate (CV) taste buds isolated by laser capture microdissection and analyzed using gene arrays, we previously constructed a comprehensive database of gene expression in primates, which revealed over 2,300 taste bud-associated genes. Bioinformatics analyses identified hundreds of genes predicted to encode multi-transmembrane domain proteins with no previous association with taste function. A first step in elucidating the roles these gene products play in gustation is to identify the specific taste cell types in which they are expressed.

[Effect of thalidomide combined with dexamethasone on multiple myeloma KM3 cells].

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of thalidomide (THD) combined with dexamethasone (Dx) on multiple myeloma KM3 cells and its mechanism. The effect of the different concentrations and treatment time of THD or THD + Dx on KM3 cells was assayed by cytotoxicity test (MTT method), the inhibitory ratio of THD or THD + Dx on the KM3 cell growth was detected for choosing the best intervention condition. The expression levels of IL-6, TNF-alpha, VEGF, ES, survivin in supernatant of cells treated with best intervention condition were measured by indirect ELISA.

Myosin Vc, a member of the actin motor family associated with Rab8, is involved in the release of DV2 from HepG2 cells.

Objective: The pathogenesis of the dengue virus (DV) infection has not been well defined. We have reported that actin and Rab8 are involved in DV2 infection. Myosin Vc (Myo5c) is a novel member of the class V myosins and regulates the actin-mediated membrane trafficking associated with Rab8.

Genome-wide analysis of gene expression in primate taste buds reveals links to diverse processes.

Efforts to unravel the mechanisms underlying taste sensation (gustation) have largely focused on rodents. Here we present the first comprehensive characterization of gene expression in primate taste buds. Our findings reveal unique new insights into the biology of taste buds.

[Preliminary clinical study of Descemet's stripping with endothelial keratoplasty for bullous keratopathy].

Objective: To investigate the indications, surgical procedure, clinical efficacy, and the prevention and management of complications of Descemet's stripping with endothelial keratoplasty (DSEK) for bullous keratopathy.

Methods: In the nonrandomized retrospective consecutive case series, 8 patients (8 eyes) with bullous keratopathy at Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center between September 2006 and October 2007 underwent DSEK surgery. During the surgical procedure, the Descemet's membrane and abnormal endothelial layer were stripped from the central recipient posterior surface with 7.

Application of antibodies against nonstructural protein 2B of dengue serotype 2 virus induced by DNA immunisation or recombinant protein NS 2B immunisation in BALB/c mice.

To investigate the structure and function of nonstructural (NS) protein 2B of the dengue serotype 2 virus (DV2) during infection, polyclonal antibodies (Abs) against DV2 NS2B were prepared by immunisation with NS2B protein or by DNA immunisation. The full-length NS2B gene was cloned and inserted into the prokaryotic expression vector pQE31, resulting in a vector, named pQE-NS2B, or into the eukaryotic expression vector pCAGGS-P7, resulting in the vector pCAG-NS2B. The pQE-NS2B vector was transfected into Escherichia coli JM109, and recombinant NS2B protein was obtained by Ni(2+)-NTA agarose affinity chromatography.

Entry of dengue virus serotype 2 into ECV304 cells depends on clathrin-dependent endocytosis, but not on caveolae-dependent endocytosis.

Caveolae- and clathrin-mediated endocytosis are major internalization pathways used by several pathogens; however, their distinctive roles in dengue virus (DV) entry have not been addressed. In this study, we compared the involvement of caveolae- and clathrin-mediated endocytosis in the infectious entry of DV serotype 2 (DV2) into human endothelial-like ECV304 cells. Confocal microscopy study on DV2-infected cells showed that viral antigens were co-localized with clathrin heavy chains, epidermal growth factor pathway substrate clone 15 (Eps15), and adaptin-alpha, but not with caveolin-1.

Voltage-gated sodium channels in taste bud cells.

Background: Taste bud cells transmit information regarding the contents of food from taste receptors embedded in apical microvilli to gustatory nerve fibers innervating basolateral membranes. In particular, taste cells depolarize, activate voltage-gated sodium channels, and fire action potentials in response to tastants. Initial cell depolarization is attributable to sodium influx through TRPM5 in sweet, bitter, and umami cells and an undetermined cation influx through an ion channel in sour cells expressing PKD2L1, a candidate sour taste receptor.

Seoul virus and hantavirus disease, Shenyang, People's Republic of China.

An outbreak of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) occurred among students in Shenyang Pharmaceutical University in 2006. We conducted a study to characterize etiologic agents of the outbreaks and clarify the origin of hantaviruses causing infections in humans and laboratory animals. Immunoglobulin (Ig) M or IgG antibodies against Seoul virus (SEOV) were detected in the serum samples of all 8 patients.

Passive protection assay of monoclonal antibodies against dengue virus in suckling mice.

Dengue fever and dengue hemorrhagic fever/dengue shock syndrome are highly infectious diseases caused by dengue virus (DV). Specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against DV are vital for diagnosis, pathological studies, and passive immune therapy. In this study, purified DV serotype 2 (DV2) was used as antigen and BALB/c mice were immunized to induce specific antibodies.

[The molecular epidemiologic investigation of hantavirus carried by rodent hosts in Wenzhou, Zhejiang province].

Objective: To study the epidemiological features of hantavirus in rodents in Wenzhou, Zhejiang province.

Methods: Rodents were captured in Wenzhou, where hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) had been endemic. Hantavirus antigens in the rat lungs were detected by immunofluorescence assay (IFA).

Deep lamellar endothelial keratoplasty for iridocorneal endothelial syndrome in phakic eyes.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and postoperative complications of deep lamellar endothelial keratoplasty (DLEK) for treating iridocorneal endothelial (ICE) syndrome in phakic eyes.

Methods: Retrospective noncomparative interventional case series. Seven consecutive patients (7 eyes) having ICE syndrome with clear or mildly opaque lens were treated using DLEK and were followed up for 9 to 20 months.

Gene Expression Analysis of Four Radiation-resistant Bacteria.

To investigate the general radiation-resistant mechanisms of bacteria, bioinformatic method was employed to predict highly expressed genes for four radiation-resistant bacteria, i.e. Deinococcus geothermalis (D.

[Deep lamellar endothelial keratoplasty for bullous keratopathy].

Objective: To investigate the efficacy, postoperative complications and management of deep lamellar endothelial keratoplasty (DLEK) in complex cases of severe bullous keratopathy.

Methods: In the nonrandomized retrospective consecutive case series, fifteen cases (15 eyes) of severe and complex bullous keratopathy at Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center underwent DLEK in combination with other intraocular surgeries between October 2005 and March 2006. DLEK was combined with vitrectomy and ciliary sulcus sutured intraocular lens implantation in two patients, with vitrectomy and intraocular lens extraction in two patients and with vitrectomy and intraocular lens exchange in one patient Four patients with aphakic eyes underwent subsequent ciliary sulcus sutured intraocular lens implantation within 4 to 6 months after the DLEK donor tissue had been placed.

Specific IgG antibodies in sera in patients with penicillin allergy.

The role of IgG antibodies in inducing or modifying allergic reaction has not been sufficiently clarified. The objective of this investigation is to elucidate the relationship between IgG antibodies and penicillin allergy, between IgG and IgE antibodies in allergic patients. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Radioallergosorbent test were used to examine eight kinds of specific IgG and IgE antibodies, including major antigenic determinants: benzylpenicilloyl (BPO), ampicilloyl (APO), amoxicilloyl (AXO) and phenoxomethylpenicilloyl (PVO), and minor antigenic determinants: benzylpenicillanyl (BPA), ampicillanyl (APA), amoxicillanyl (AXA) and phenoxomethylpenicillany (PVA), in the sera of 249 patients with penicillin allergy.