MicroRNA-138 Regulates Spinal Cord Development by Activating the Shh in Fetal Rats.

Introduction: Dysregulation of spinal cord development can lead to serious neuronal damage and dysfunction, causing significant health problems in newborns. MiRNA-138 appears to be crucial for proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis of cells. However, the regulation of miRNA-138 and downstream molecules in embryonic spinal cord development remain elusive.

Dual functional amphiphilic sugar-coated AIE-active fluorescent organic nanoparticles for the monitoring and inhibition of insulin amyloid fibrillation based on carbohydrate-protein interactions.

Amyloid-related diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, are all considered to be related to the deposition of amyloid fibrils in the body. Insulin is a protein hormone that easily undergoes aggregation and fibrillation to form more toxic amyloid-like fibrils. So far, it is still challenging to develop a new protocol to study the detection and inhibition of amyloid fibrillation.

Simultaneous determination of forsythin and its major metabolites in human plasma via liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

Forsythiae suspensa is widely used in China as a traditional Chinese medicine. Forsythin is extracted from Forsythiae Fructus and has undergone phase II clinical trials as an antipyretic drug in China. The main metabolites of forsythin in human plasma are aglycone sulfate (KD-2-SOH) and aglycone glucuronide (KD-2-Glc).

Sulfation predominates the pharmacokinetics, metabolism, and excretion of forsythin in humans: major enzymes and transporters identified.

Forsythin extracted from Forsythiae Fructus is widely used to treat fever caused by the common cold or influenza in China, Japan and Korea. The present study aimed to analyze the pharmacokinetics, metabolism and excretion routes of forsythin in humans and determine the major enzymes and transporters involved in these processes. After a single oral administration, forsythin underwent extensive metabolism via hydrolysis and further sulfation.

Water-soluble Glucosamine-coated AIE-Active Fluorescent Organic Nanoparticles: Design, Synthesis and Assembly for Specific Detection of Heparin Based on Carbohydrate-Carbohydrate Interactions.

Two water-soluble carbohydrate-coated AIE-activate fluorescent organic nanoparticles TPE3G and TPE4G were designed and synthesized for the detection of heparin. Different from the reported strategy, we not only utilized the general detection mechanism of electrostatic interactions, but also introduced the concept of carbohydrate-carbohydrate interactions (CCIs) to enrich the detection mechanism of heparin. TPE3G can serve as an efficient "turn-on" probe with higher selectivity towards heparin than TPE4G.

Aggregation-Induced-Emission Materials with Different Electric Charges as an Artificial Tongue: Design, Construction, and Assembly with Various Pathogenic Bacteria for Effective Bacterial Imaging and Discrimination.

Imaging-based total bacterial count and type identification of bacteria play crucial roles in clinical diagnostics, public health, biological and medical science, and environmental protection. Herein, we designed and synthesized a series of tetraphenylethenes (TPEs) functionalized with one or two aldehyde, carboxylic acid, and quaternary ammonium groups, which were successfully used as fluorescent materials for rapid and efficient staining of eight kinds of representative bacterial species, including pathogenic bacteria Vibrio cholera, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Listeria monocytogenes and potential bioterrorism agent Yersinia pestis. By comparing the fluorescence intensity changes of the aggregation-induced-emission (AIE) materials before and after bacteria incubation, the sensing mechanisms (electrostatic versus hydrophobic interactions) were simply discussed.

Upregulation of miR-98 Inhibits Apoptosis in Cartilage Cells in Osteoarthritis.

Objective: We aimed to investigate the effects of microRNA-98 (miR-98) on apoptosis in cartilage cells of osteoarthritis (OA) patients.

Methods: Knee cartilage tissue samples were collected from 31 OA patients, 21 autopsies, and 26 amputation patients due to trauma. The clinicopathological data were recorded.

A dialdehyde-diboronate-functionalized AIE luminogen: design, synthesis and application in the detection of hydrogen peroxide.

A dialdehyde-diboronate-functionalized tetraphenylethene (TPE-DABF) was reported as a H2O2-specific AIE luminogen. TPE-DABF, bearing multiple reductive units (aldehyde, boronate and fructose) in one molecule, afforded an excellent H2O2 selectivity over other ROS in biological buffer, and can be used for sensitive detection of glucose under neutral conditions.

Synthesis, biological evaluation and molecular docking of novel 5-phenyl-1H-pyrazol derivatives as potential BRAF(V600E) inhibitors.

The RAF-MEK-ERK cascade appears to be intimately involved in the regulation of cell cycle progression and apoptosis. The BRAF(V600E) mutant results in constitutive activation of the ERK pathway, which can lead to cellular growth dysregulation. A series of 5-phenyl-1H-pyrazol derivatives (3a-5e) have been designed and synthesized, and their biological activities were evaluated as potential BRAF(V600E) inhibitors.

Synthesis, biological evaluation and 3D-QSAR studies of novel 4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazole niacinamide derivatives as BRAF inhibitors.

A series of novel 4,5-dihydropyrazole derivatives containing niacinamide moiety as potential V600E mutant BRAF kinase (BRAF(V600E)) inhibitors were designed and synthesized. Results of the bioassays against BRAF(V600E) and WM266.4 human melanoma cell line showed several compounds to be endowed potent activities with IC(50) and GI(50) value in low micromolar range, among which compound 27e, (5-(4-Chlorophenyl)-3-(4-methoxyphenyl)-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)6-methylpyridin-3-yl methanone (IC(50)=0.

Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of novel (E)-α-benzylsulfonyl chalcone derivatives as potential BRAF inhibitors.

Activating mutations in the BRAF serine/threonine kinase are found in more than 70% of human melanomas, >90% of which are BRAF(V600E). It provides new therapeutic opportunities in malignant melanoma. In silico and in vitro screening of our compound collection has identified Hit 2 as BRAF(V600E) inhibitor.

3,5-Dibromo-4-oxo-2,2,6,6-tetra-methyl-piperidin-1-yl oxide.

In the title compound, C(9)H(14)Br(2)NO(2), the substituted ring exhibits a chair conformation. A crystallographic mirror plane, passing through the N atom, the O atoms and the C atom in the 4-position, bis-ects the mol-ecule.

Genistein and its synthetic analogs as anticancer agents.

Genistein, one of the predominant isoflavones derived from soybeans, has been shown beneficial effects in cancer prevention and treatment. There is an accumulating body of experimental evidences suggesting that genistein affects cancer progression by increasing apoptosis, inducing cell cycle arrest,modulating intracellular signaling pathways, and inhibiting invasion and metastasis of cancer cells. During last decade, many researchers have conducted extensive studies by synthesizing amounts of structurally-modified derivatives based on the isoflavone skeleton of genistein to enhance its anticancer activity, some analogs of which possess more potent activities of the prevention and/or treatment of various cancers.

[Effectiveness of an immunization campaign with group A and C meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine in controlling an outbreak of group C meningococcal disease].

Objective: To assess the safety, immunogenicity and efficacy of group A and C meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine (A/C MPV) in response to an outbreak of group C meningococcal disease.

Methods: A vaccination campaign with A/C MPV was prompted 6 weeks after the use of group A MPV in Laibin city, Guangxi, where an outbreak of group C meningococcal meningitis occurred in 2002. Vaccinees were observed for local and systemic reactions after the vaccination and followed up for the meningococcal disease for 5 years.

[Application of cluster randomization method on typhoid Vi vaccine trails].

Objective: To describe the design and application of cluster randomized controlled method on typhoid Vi vaccine trial, and to assess the effect of implementation.

Methods: Simple size calculation of cluster-randomized trial was used to determine the sample size of the two groups and a vaccination campaign was conducted. The study group was given typhoid Vi vaccine and the control group was given meningococcal A vaccine.

A mass vaccination campaign targeting adults and children to prevent typhoid fever in Hechi; expanding the use of Vi polysaccharide vaccine in southeast China: a cluster-randomized trial.

Background: One of the goals of this study was to learn the coverage, safety and logistics of a mass vaccination campaign against typhoid fever in children and adults using locally produced typhoid Vi polysaccharide (PS) and group A meningococcal PS vaccines in southern China.

Methods: The vaccination campaign targeted 118,588 persons in Hechi, Guangxi Province, aged between 5 to 60 years, in 2003. The study area was divided into 107 geographic clusters, which were randomly allocated to receive one of the single-dose parenteral vaccines.

[Epidemiologic surveillance for bacterial meningitis in 140 000 children under 5 years of age in Nanning district, Guangxi province].

Objective: To characterize the incidence, epidemiologic features, etiologic agents and sequelae of bacterial meningitis in children under 5 years of age in Nanning, Guangxi.

Methods: A population-based surveillance was conducted to evaluate children with signs and symptoms of meningitis. All hospitals, township health centers and village clinics in the surveillance area were structured to participate in the case referral and evaluation.