Integrin α1 promotes tumorigenicity and progressive capacity of colorectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of death globally. Integrin α1 (ITGA1) belongs to integrin family and involves in regulating cell adhesion, invasion, proliferation and tumorigenicity, its expression is up-regulated in various cancers, including CRC. However, the molecular understanding and clinical relevance of ITGA1 in the development and progression of CRC remain unclear.

Improved Pharmacokinetics of Icariin (ICA) within Formulation of PEG-PLLA/PDLA-PNIPAM Polymeric Micelles.

Icariin (ICA) is a major flavonoid that contains the active compound . However, ICA's pharmacokinetic characteristics remain unsatisfactory due to its low bioavailability, and hence limited drugability. In order to improve its pharmacokinetics and achieve prolonged blood circulation time, a novel polymeric micelle, made of the self-assembled micelle between poly (ethylene glycol)-poly (-lactic acid) (PEG-PLLA) and poly (-lactic acid)-poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PDLA-PNIPAM), was designed to encapsulate ICA.

Progesterone maintains the status of granulosa cells and slows follicle development partly through PGRMC1.

Progesterone receptor membrane component 1 (PGRMC1) mediates antimitotic and antiapoptotic actions of progesterone in granulosa cells, which indicates that PGRMC1 may play a key role in maintaining the status of granulosa cells. The current study investigated the effects of progesterone on intracellular signaling involved in differentiation, follicle development, inflammatory responses, and antioxidation, and determined the role of PGRMC1 in these processes. Our results demonstrated that progesterone slowed follicle development and inhibited p-ERK1/2, p-p38, caspase-3, p-NF-κB, and p-IκB-α signals involved in differentiation, steroidogenesis, and inflammatory responses in granulosa cells.

Progesterone amplifies oxidative stress signal and promotes NO production via H2O2 in mouse kidney arterial endothelial cells.

The role of progesterone on the cardiovascular system is controversial. Our present research is to specify the effect of progesterone on arterial endothelial cells in response to oxidative stress. Our result showed that H2O2 (150 μM and 300 μM) induced cellular antioxidant response.

Preparation and biological evaluation of chitosan-collagen-icariin composite scaffolds for neuronal regeneration.

In this study the chitosan/collagen/icariin composite scaffolds for nerve regeneration were produced by blending and crosslinking chitosan with collagen and icariin. The microstructure of the composite scaffolds was observed by scanning electron microscopy. 3-[4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide and attachment assays were conducted, respectively, to investigate the biocompatibility of the scaffolds.

Mineralization regulation and biological influence of bioactive glass-collagen-phosphatidylserine composite scaffolds.

Biomimetic scaffolds are appealing products for the repair of bone defects using tissue engineering strategies. In the present study, novel biomimetic composite scaffolds, with similar properties to natural bone, were prepared, blended and cross-linked with bioactive glass, type I collagen and phosphatidylserine. When exposed to cell culture solution in the absence of a cellular source, the composite scaffolds form crystals with octahedral structure.

[The research of Valeriana amurensis seed germination characteristics].

Objective: To study the effect of different treatments on the Valeriana amurensis seed germination rate.

Methods: Used different chemical reagents and seed soakings on the routine germination test and the orthogonal test of the Valeriana amurensis seed, calculated the germination rate under different germination condition.

Results: Valeriana amurensis treated with different chemical reagends had different germination rate.

Preparation and investigation of Ulex europaeus agglutinin I-conjugated liposomes as potential oral vaccine carriers.

We prepared and optimized Ulex europaeus agglutinin I (UEAI)-modified Bovine serum albumin (BSA)-encapsulating liposomes (UEAI-LIP) as oral vaccine carriers and examined the feasibility of inducing systemic and mucosal immune responses by oral administration of UEAILIP. The prepared systems were characterized in vitro for their average size, zeta potential, encapsulation efficiency (EE%) and conjugation efficiency (CE%). In vitro release studies indicated that the presence of UEAI around the optimized liposomes was able to prevent a burst release of loaded BSA and provide sustained release of the encapsulated protein.

Subclavian steal syndrome like appearance resulting from a vertebral artery origin stenosis: a case report.

Partial steal has been regarded as a classic ultrasound appearance of subclavian steal syndrome. We report a case with the vertebral artery origin stenosis and intact subclavian artery, which showed the similar partial steal ultrasound features. The following computerized tomography angiography confirmed the stenosis.

Application of Ulex europaeus agglutinin I-modified liposomes for oral vaccine: Ex Vivo bioadhesion and in Vivo immunity.

The conjugation of Ulex europaeus agglutinin I (UEAI) onto surface of liposomes has been demonstrated to effectively improve the intestinal absorption of antigen, subsequently induced strong mucosal and systemic immune responses. In this context, we prepared bovine serum albumin (BSA)-encapsulating UEAI-modified liposomes (UEAI-LIP) and unmodified ones (LIP). The specific bioadhesion on mice gastro-intestinal mucosa was studied ex vivo.

Preparation and characterization of β-elemene-loaded microemulsion.

Intravenously injectable emulsion of β-elemene was studied in detail. Both blank and β-elemene-loaded microemulsions were prepared using a simple water titration method. The pseudoternary phase diagram was constructed for the optimization of microemulsion.

Preparation, optimization and characteristic of huperzine a loaded nanostructured lipid carriers.

The objective of the present work was to study the preparation, optimization and characteristics of Huperzine A (Hup A), an effective Traditional Chinese Medicine treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD), loaded nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC). NLC were successfully prepared by a modified method of melt ultrasonication followed by high pressure homogenization using Cetyl Palmitate (CP) as the solid lipid, Miglyol((R))812 as the liquid lipid, Soybean phosphatidylcholine (Spc) and Solutol HS15 as the emulsifiers. The best formulation was optimized with a three-factor, three-level Box-Behnken design.

Preparation and characterization of nanostructured lipid carriers loaded traditional Chinese medicine, zedoary turmeric oil.

Background: The objective of this work was to study the preparation and characteristics of zedoary turmeric oil (ZTO), a traditional Chinese oily medicine, loaded with nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs).

Method: Aqueous dispersions of NLC were successfully prepared by melt-emulsification technique using Crodamol SS as the solid lipid, Miglyol 812N as the liquid oil, and soybean phosphatidylcholine (SbPC) as the emulsifier. Properties of NLC such as the particle size and its distribution, the transmission electron microscope (TEM), drug entrapment efficiency (EE), and drug release behavior were investigated, respectively.

[Isolation, purification and identification of epithelial cells derived from fetal islet-like cell clusters].

The aim of this article is to provide methods for the isolation and identification of pancreatic stem cells and cell source for research and therapy of diabetes. ICCs were isolated by collagenase IV digesting and then cultured; epithelial cells were purified from monolayer cultured ICCs. The growth curve of the epithelial cells was measured by MTT.