Preparation and Characterization of Polyvinylalcohol/Polysulfone Composite Membranes for Enhanced CO/N Separation.

The unique properties of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and polysulfone (PSf), such as good membrane-forming ability and adjustable structure, provide a great opportunity for CO-separation membrane development. This work focuses on the fabrication of PVA/PSf composite membranes for CO/N separations. The membranes prepared by coating a 7.

Development of a scalable suspension culture for cardiac differentiation from human pluripotent stem cells.

To meet the need of a large quantity of hPSC-derived cardiomyocytes (CM) for pre-clinical and clinical studies, a robust and scalable differentiation system for CM production is essential. With a human pluripotent stem cells (hPSC) aggregate suspension culture system we established previously, we developed a matrix-free, scalable, and GMP-compliant process for directing hPSC differentiation to CM in suspension culture by modulating Wnt pathways with small molecules. By optimizing critical process parameters including: cell aggregate size, small molecule concentrations, induction timing, and agitation rate, we were able to consistently differentiate hPSCs to >90% CM purity with an average yield of 1.

[Japanese encephalitis virus with genotype I is predominant in Sichuan Province].

Objective: To understand molecular characteristics of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) isolated from the major Japanese encephalitis epidemic areas in Sichuan Province, and to provide the foundation for JEV prevention.

Methods: 13 JEV strains were isolated from mosquitoes in Sichuan during 2007-2010, E genes and preM genes were sequenced and phylogenetic analyses were performed using MEGA5 molecular software.

Results: Phylogenetic analysis indicated that all 13 JEV strains from Sichuan belonged to genotype I, homologies at nucleotide level and deduced amino acid level in PreM gene were 97%-100% and 98.

Effects of palifermin on antitumor activity of chemotherapeutic and biological agents in human head and neck and colorectal carcinoma xenograft models.

Damage to the gastrointestinal mucosa is a common dose-limiting toxicity of several anticancer therapies. Until recently, adequate control of oral mucositis was considered a significant unmet medical need, with most available treatments providing only palliative benefits without protecting the gastrointestinal epithelium from the damaging effects of cancer therapy. In 2005, palifermin [recombinant human keratinocyte growth factor (KGF)] was approved to decrease the incidence and duration of severe oral mucositis in patients with hematologic malignancies receiving myelotoxic therapy requiring hematopoietic stem cell support.

Naphthamides as novel and potent vascular endothelial growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors: design, synthesis, and evaluation.

A series of naphthyl-based compounds were synthesized as potential inhibitors of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptors. Investigations of structure-activity relationships led to the identification of a series of naphthamides that are potent inhibitors of the VEGF receptor tyrosine kinase family. Numerous analogues demonstrated low nanomolar inhibition of VEGF-dependent human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) proliferation, and of these several compounds possessed favorable pharmacokinetic (PK) profiles.

Evaluation of a series of naphthamides as potent, orally active vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 tyrosine kinase inhibitors.

We have previously shown N-arylnaphthamides can be potent inhibitors of vascular endothelial growth factor receptors (VEGFRs). N-Alkyl and N-unsubstituted naphthamides were prepared and found to yield nanomolar inhibitors of VEGFR-2 (KDR) with an improved selectivity profile against a panel of tyrosine and serine/threonine kinases. The inhibitory activity of this series was retained at the cellular level.

Discovery of N-phenyl nicotinamides as potent inhibitors of Kdr.

Inhibition of tumor-induced angiogenesis is a promising strategy in anticancer research. Neovascularization is a process required for both tumor growth and metastasis. Enhanced understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms has led to the discovery of a variety of pharmaceutically attractive targets.

Regression of prostate cancer xenografts by a lentiviral vector specifically expressing diphtheria toxin A.

We have constructed a prostate-specific lentiviral vector based on the promoter of the prostate-specific antigen (PSA). The PSA promoter-based lentiviral vector has been used to deliver the diphtheria toxin A (DTA) gene into prostate cancer cells, and has shown promising tissue-specific eradication of prostate cancer cells in cell culture. To evaluate the efficacy of eradicating human prostate cancer cells in vivo, we used human LNCaP prostate xenografts in nude mice as an animal model and found that with a single injection of the DTA lentiviral vector into LNCaP prostate tumors, approximately 75% of the tumors (from three experiments; conducted 9/11, 11/15 and 3/4) in the animals were completely eradicated.