High-efficiency thermal asymmetric interlaced PCR (hiTAIL-PCR) for determination of a highly degenerated prophage WO genome in a Wolbachia strain infecting a fig wasp species.

Temperate bacteriophage WO is a model system for studying tripartite interactions among viruses, bacteria, and eukaryotes, especially investigations of the genomic stability of obligate intracellular bacteria. Few WO genomes exist because of the difficulty in isolating viral DNA from eukaryotic hosts, and most reports are by-products of Wolbachia sequencing. Only one partial genome of a WO phage has been determined directly from isolated particles.

Antioxidant, anti-adipocyte differentiation, antitumor activity and anthelmintic activities against Anisakis simplex and Hymenolepis nana of yakuchinone A from Alpinia oxyphylla.

Background: Alpinia oxyphylla is a common remedy in traditional Chinese medicine. Yakuchinone A is a major constituent of A. oxyphylla and exhibits anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antibacterial, and gastric protective activities.

O-Benzoyl-naltrexone.

In the title compound, C27H27NO5 (systematic name: 17-cyclopropylmethyl-14-hydroxy-6-oxo-4,5-epoxymorphin-an-6-yl benzoate), which is the benzoate ester of the opioid receptor antagonist naltrexone, the dihedral angle between the two phenyl rings is 77.1 (1)°. In the crystal, a weak aromatic C-H⋯Ocarbox-yl hydrogen bond involving the benzoate groups of adjacent mol-ecules gives rise to a chain extending along the a-axis direction.

Antiproliferative cardiac glycosides from the latex of Antiaris toxicaria.

Phytochemical investigation of the latex of Antiaris toxicaria resulted in the isolation of 15 new [antiarosides J-X (1-15)] and 17 known cardiac glycosides. The effects of the cardiac glycosides on apoptosis and the expression of orphan nuclear receptor Nur77 were examined in human NIH-H460 lung cancer cells. Several of the cardiac glycosides induced apoptosis in lung cancer cells, which was accompanied by induction of Nur77 protein expression.

[The compared study in detecting the recurrence and metastases of breast cancer patients post treatment between (18)F-FDG PET/CT and conventional workup].

Objective: This study is to investigate the clinical role of (18)F-FDG PET/CT in detecting the recurrence and metastases of patients with breast cancer post treatment, compared to the conventional imaging technology, such as CT, MRI, and ultrasound.

Methods: The reports of FDG PET/CT whole body scans and conventional imaging technology, such as CT, MRI, and ultrasound, performed from Jan to Aug 2011 on 70 patients with breast cancer post treatment were retrospectively reviewed.The accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of 2 groups in detecting the recurrence and metastases were calculated and compared.

[Chemical constituents from Elephantopus tomentosus].

Objective: To study the chemical constituents of Elephantopus tomentosus.

Method: The compounds were isolated by repeated HP20 macro porous adsorption resin column combined with Sephadex LH-20, ODS and silica gel chromatographies. The structures were identified on the basis of extensive spectroscopic data analysis and by comparison of their spectral data reported.

[Abnormal expression of APRIL in colorectal cancer cells promotes tumor growth and metastasis].

Objective: To investigate the effects of a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRlL) on colorectal cancer (CRC) cell growth and migration, and to observe the role of APRIL in CRC biological behavior.

Methods: The siRNA plasmid vector targeting APRIL gene (APRIL-siRNA) was transfected into human colorectal cancer SW480 cells and recombinant human APRIL (rhAPRIL) was used to stimulate human colorectal cancer HCT-116 cells. Cell proliferation activity was analyzed using cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), cell cycle was detected by flow cytometry, and the protein expression of cyclin D1, p21 and Bcl-2 was detected by Western blot analysis.

Characterization of Argonaute family members in the silkworm, Bombyx mori.

The Argonaute protein family is a highly conserved group of proteins, which have been implicated in RNA silencing in both plants and animals. Here, four members of the Argonaute family were systemically identified based on the genome sequence of Bombyx mori. Based on their sequence similarity, BmAgo1 and BmAgo2 belong to the Ago subfamily, while BmAgo3 and BmPiwi are in the Piwi subfamily.

Broad-spectrum antiviral activity of chebulagic acid and punicalagin against viruses that use glycosaminoglycans for entry.

Background: We previously identified two hydrolyzable tannins, chebulagic acid (CHLA) and punicalagin (PUG) that blocked herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) entry and spread. These compounds inhibited viral glycoprotein interactions with cell surface glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). Based on this property, we evaluated their antiviral efficacy against several different viruses known to employ GAGs for host cell entry.

[Size distribution of carbonaceous particulate matter in atmosphere of Shanghai, China].

Using STAPLEX pumping system with a six-stage cascade impactor (size range: <0.49 microm, 0.49-0.

[Outcome of microsurgical decompression combined with cervical artificial disc replacement].

Objective: To study the microsurgical decompression combined with cervical artificial disc replacement clinical efficacy for the treatment of cervical spondylosis.

Methods: From January 2006 to November 2011, 21 cases of cervical spondylosis, totally 23 intervertebral spaces, were under the microscope disc decompression and cervical artificial disc replacement. There were 11 male and 10 female patients; aged from 28 to 60 years, with an average of 46.

Improvement in regional CBF by L-serine contributes to its neuroprotective effect in rats after focal cerebral ischemia.

To investigate the mechanisms underlying the neuroprotective effect of L-serine, permanent focal cerebral ischemia was induced by occlusion of the middle cerebral artery while monitoring cerebral blood flow (CBF). Rats were divided into control and L-serine-treated groups after middle cerebral artery occlusion. The neurological deficit score and brain infarct volume were assessed.

Functional -141C Ins/Del polymorphism in the dopamine D2 receptor gene promoter and schizophrenia in a Chinese Han population.

Objective: The association between a putative functional promoter polymorphism, -141C insertion/deletion (Ins/Del), in the dopamine receptor D2 gene (DRD2) and schizophrenia was investigated in a Chinese Han population.

Methods: The polymorphism was studied in unrelated schizophrenia patients and unrelated healthy controls. Linkage relationships were explored in core families of the schizophrenic patients using the transmission disequilibrium test.

PI3K/Akt Pathway Contributes to Neurovascular Unit Protection of Xiao-Xu-Ming Decoction against Focal Cerebral Ischemia and Reperfusion Injury in Rats.

In the present study, we used a focal cerebral ischemia and reperfusion rat model to investigate the protective effects of Xiao-Xu-Ming decoction (XXMD) on neurovascular unit and to examine the role of PI3K (phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase)/Akt pathway in this protection. The cerebral ischemia was induced by 90 min of middle cerebral artery occlusion. Cerebral infarct area was measured by tetrazolium staining, and neurological function was observed at 24 h after reperfusion.

Development and preliminary application of a triplex real-time polymerase chain reaction assay for evaluating predation on three planthoppers in a rice ecosystem.

A multiplex real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was developed to simultaneously detect the DNA of three rice planthoppers, that is, Sogatella furcifera (Horváth) (white-backed planthopper), Nilaparvata lugens (Stål) (brown planthopper) and Laodelphax striatellus (Fallén) (small brown planthopper), in the gut of their predators. The sets of primers and ALLGlo probes were targeted to the regions of internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) genes in nuclear ribosomal DNA (rDNA). The sensitivity, specificity and interference test for the multiplex real-time quantitative PCR assay were analysed.

Xiao-Xu-Ming Decoction Protects against Blood-Brain Barrier Disruption and Neurological Injury Induced by Cerebral Ischemia and Reperfusion in Rats.

Xiao-Xu-Ming decoction (XXMD) is an effective prescription in the treatment of ischemic stroke, but the mechanisms involved are not well known. In the present study, 120 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: sham control (sham), ischemia and reperfusion (IR), and IR plus 15, 30, and 60 g/kg/day XXMD. The stroke model was induced by 90 min of middle cerebral artery occlusion followed by reperfusion.

[Study on pollution characteristics of carbonaceous aerosols in Xi'an City during the spring festival].

The samples of PM2.5 with 8 times periods were collected using Automated Cartridge Collection Unit (ACCU) of Rupprecht& Patashnick (R&P)Corporation, and monitored by R&P1400a instrument of TEOM series online during 2011 Spring Festival in Xi'an city. The organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC), water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC) and water-insoluble organic carbon (WIOC) contents of 3 h integrated PM2.

Local electrical conduction in polycrystalline La-doped BiFeO₃ thin films.

Local electrical conduction behaviors of polycrystalline La-doped BiFeO3 thin films have been investigated by combining conductive atomic force microscopy and piezoelectric force microscopy. Nanoscale current measurements were performed as a function of bias voltage for different crystal grains. Completely distinct conducting processes and resistive switching effects were observed in the grain boundary and grain interior.

A fourfold interpenetrating diamondoid three-dimensional coordination polymer: poly[[[μ2-1,2-bis(pyridin-4-yl)ethene-κ2N:N'](μ2-5-hydroxyisophthalato-κ2O1:O3)zinc(II)] 1,2-bis(pyridin-4-yl)ethene hemisolvate].

In the title compound, {[Zn(C8H4O5)(C12H10N2)]·0.5C12H10N2}n or {[Zn(HO-BDC)(bpe)]·0.5bpe}n [HO-H2BDC is 5-hydroxyisophthalic acid and bpe is 1,2-bis(pyridin-4-yl)ethene], the asymmetric unit contains a Zn(II) atom, one HO-BDC ligand, one coordinated bpe ligand and half a noncoordinating bpe molecule with crystallographic inversion symmetry.

Bcl-2-dependent upregulation of autophagy by sequestosome 1/p62 in vitro.

Aim: To investigate whether sequestosome 1/p62 (p62), a key cargo adaptor protein involved in both the ubiquitin-proteasome system and the autophagy-lysosome system, could directly regulate autophagy in vitro.

Methods: HEK 293 cells or HeLa cells were transfected with p62-expressing plasmids or siRNA targeting p62. The cells or the cell lysates were subsequently subjected to immunofluorescence assay, immunoprecipitation assay, or immunoblot analysis.

Fabrication of magnetic yolk-shell nanocatalysts with spatially resolved functionalities and high activity for nitrobenzene hydrogenation.

In cracking from: Highly engineered bifunctional yolk-shell nanocatalysts with tailored structural configuration, that is, hollow carbon spheres as the matrix, entrapped magnetite nanoparticles in the core, and in situ formed and highly dispersed noble metal nanoparticles within the carbon shells as active catalytic sites, were prepared. These nanocatalysts show high activity, reusability, and good magnetic separation properties.

Brain injury due to anaphylactic shock as a result of formocresol used during root canal treatment.

Aim: Formocresol is still used in many parts of the world despite concerns over its toxicity. A case of a 45-year-old women who experienced brain injury after an analyphlactic reaction to formocresol is presented.

Summary: During routine root canal treatment, the patient experienced nausea and vomiting after formocresol was used as an antibacterial agent in the pulp chamber.

Use of clozapine for the treatment of schizophrenia: findings of the 2006 research on the china psychotropic prescription studies.

Objective: Clozapine is one of the most commonly used antipsychotic drugs in China. To date, few studies have investigated the patterns the prescription of clozapine nationwide. The present study examined these patterns in China in 2006 and identified the demographic and clinical characteristics associated with the use of clozapine.