Chemically defined and growth factor-free system for highly efficient endoderm induction of human pluripotent stem cells.

Definitive endoderm (DE) derived from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) holds great promise for cell-based therapies and drug discovery. However, current DE differentiation methods required undefined components and/or expensive recombinant proteins, limiting their scalable manufacture and clinical use. Homogeneous DE differentiation in defined and recombinant protein-free conditions remains a major challenge.

Maleimide-Functionalized Liposomes for Tumor Targeting via Binding of Endogenous Albumin.

Albumin, the most abundant protein in plasma, has been widely used in drug delivery studies. Here, we developed maleimide-functionalized liposomes (Mal-Lip) that can bind to endogenous albumin to improve the tumor targeting efficiency of liposomes. Transmission electron microscopy and gel electrophoresis studies showed that albumin can bind to Mal-Lip due to the chemical coupling of the albumin thiol groups with the maleimide group.

The protein corona and its effects on nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems.

In most cases, once nanoparticles (NPs) enter the blood, their surface is covered by biological molecules, especially proteins, forming a so-called protein corona (PC). As a result, what the cells of the body "see" is not the NPs as formulated by the chemists, but the PC. In this way, the PC can influence the effects of the NPs and even mask the desired effects of the NP components.

miR-596 suppresses the expression of Survivin and enhances the sensitivity of osteosarcoma cells to the molecular targeting agent anlotinib.

Background: Osteosarcoma (OSA), the most common primary bone malignancy, is characterized by a wide spectrum of complicated pathologies and frequent distal metastasis and causes death in adolescents and young adults worldwide. Antitumor drug treatment strategies include various cytotoxic chemotherapy drugs, while molecular targeted therapy for OSA is currently less used. The present work revealed the role played by the miR-596/Survivin axis in affecting the sensitivity of OSA cells to anlotinib, a novel molecular targeting agent.

Differential proteomic analysis to identify proteins associated with beak deformity in chickens.

The beak is the dominant avian facial feature, and beak deformity occurs in 0.5 to 2.5% of some indigenous chicken breeds, resulting in difficulties when eating, drinking, and performing natural behaviors.

Nature differences of humic acids fractions induced by extracted sequence as explanatory factors for binding characteristics of heavy metals.

The composition and structure of Humic acid (HA) is so heterogeneous that it brings significant barriers to investigate the interaction between HA and heavy metal ions. The isolation of HA with relatively homogeneity is a key to reveal the binding mechanisms between HA and heavy metals. In this work, ten HA fractions (HAs) were obtained by sequential alkali extraction procedure and nature differences of the extracted HAs were considered as explanatory factors for binding characteristics of Cu, Pb and Cd.

Digital Anatomical Measurement for Anterolateral Fixation of Middle and Lower Thoracic Vertebrae.

Unlabelled: BACKGROUND The key to its successful application is to determine the best entry point for the vertebral screw(s). This study aimed to provide a reference for clinical anterolateral fixation through digital measurement of computed tomography (CT) data to identify relevant anatomical positions in the middle and lower thoracic vertebrae (T4-T12) of 30 adults. MATERIAL AND METHODS We performed digital measurement of anatomical positions in the middle and lower thoracic vertebrae (T4-T12) of 30 adults.

Experimental Application of Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells for the Repair of Intervertebral Disc Annulus Fibrosus.

BACKGROUND This study provides experimental results on the applicability of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) for the repair of intervertebral disc annulus fibrosus in rabbits. MATERIAL AND METHODS Thirty healthy rabbits were randomized into an observation group (n=15) and a control group (n=15). Both groups underwent degeneration of intervertebral disc annulus fibrosus.

Binding characteristics of Cu to natural humic acid fractions sequentially extracted from the lake sediments.

Humic acids (HAs) determine the distribution, toxicity, bioavailability, and ultimate fate of heavy metals in the environment. In this work, ten HA fractions (F1-F10) were used as adsorbent, which were sequentially extracted from natural sediments of Lake Wuliangsuhai, to investigate the binding characteristics of Cu to HA. On the basis of the characterization results, differences were found between the ten extracted HA fractions responding to their elemental compositions and acidic functional groups.

[Effects of Fulvic Acid on Absorption and Form Distribution of Heavy Metals on Sediments].

Based on the extracted fulvic acid (FA) from Lake Wuliangsuhai sediments by sequential alkali extraction, this work studied the effects of FA on the adsorption and fraction distribution of heavy metals (HM) on sediments using original sediments and sediments treated with 30% H₂O₂ as adsorbents. The results showed both organic matter and FA had effects on the HM adsorption onto sediments; The treatments of FA-free conditions and the sediments treated by H₂O₂ showed relatively strong influence on Cu²⁺ adsorption, which decreased the Cu²⁺ adsorption by 17.85%.

[Isolation of sperm cells from rice pollen tubes].

Isolation of sperm cells from higher plants is a basis for studying the mechanism of double fertilization. In this study, the isolation of rice sperm cells from pollen tube was conducted. When fresh pollen grains from nearly blooming flowers were put into a medium containing 20% sucrose, 10% polyethylene glycol 4500 (PEG 4500), 0.