Phenotype and expression profile analysis of Staphylococcus aureus biofilms and planktonic cells in response to licochalcone A.

Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most important pathogens in humans and animals. The formation of biofilm by S. aureus is considered an important mechanism of antimicrobial resistance.

Association mapping for partial resistance to Phytophthora sojae in soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.).

Association mapping is a powerful high-resolution mapping tool for complex traits. The objective of this study was to identify QTLs for partial resistance to Phytophthora sojae. In this study, we evaluated a total of 214 soybean accessions by the hypocotyl inoculation method, and 175 were susceptible.

Metabonomic study of chronic heart failure and effects of Chinese herbal decoction in rats.

Shenfu decoction (SFD) is a well-known important traditional Chinese medicine prescription that has been used to treat chronic heart failure (CHF) for many years in China. However, its holistic therapeutic effects and mechanism are not yet well understood. Here, a UPLC/TOF-MS-based metabonomic study was conducted to explore potential biomarkers to increase the understanding of CHF and to assess the integral efficacy of SFD for CHF in rats.

[The relationship between NLRP3 inflammsomes expression and liver damage after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in mice model].

Objective: To explore the function of nucleotide-binding domain (NOD)-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammsomes in liver damage after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT).

Methods: The study presented a murine (BALB/c-based) model of allo-HSCT. Chimera rate was measured by flow cytometry.

The metabolism of salidroside to its aglycone p-tyrosol in rats following the administration of salidroside.

Salidroside is one of the major phenolic glycosides in Rhodiola, which has been reported to possess various biological activities. In the present study the in vivo deglycosylation metabolism of salidroside was investigated and its aglycone p-tyrosol but not the original salidroside was identified as the main form in rat tissues following the administration of salidroside. After the i.

Synthesis of polyethylenimine (PEI) functionalized silver nanoparticles by a hydrothermal method and their antibacterial activity study.

In this study, we report a facile, one-step hydrothermal method to synthesize PEI-functionalized Ag nanoparticles in which no extra reducing agent is needed and PEI serves as a reducing agent and a stabilizing agent. The obtained Ag colloids have been characterized by TEM, UV absorption spectra and laser particle size analyzer. We found that the size of Ag nanoparticles can be tuned through the alteration of the temperature and growth mode.

Genome-wide transcription analyses in Mycobacterium tuberculosis treated with lupulone.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis), the causative agent of tuberculosis, still causes higher mortality than any other bacterial pathogen until now. With the emergence and spread of multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR-TB) strains, it becomes more important to search for alternative targets to develop new antimycobacterial drugs.

The PHLDB1 rs498872 (11q23.3) polymorphism and glioma risk: A meta-analysis.

The association between the rs498872 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and glioma risk has been studied, but these studies have yielded conflicting results. In order to explore this association, we performed a meta-analysis. A comprehensive literature search was performed using PubMed and EMBASE database, with the last search up to August 23, 2013.

Effects of ulinastatin administered at different time points on the pathological morphologies of the lung tissues of rats with hyperthermia.

Hyperthermia not only directly induces cell injury of body tissues, but also causes the body to release large amounts of inflammatory mediators and cells with extensive biological activities to induce a systemic inflammatory response and immune dysfunction. Thus, hyperthermia causes systemic inflammatory response syndrome, aggravating injuries to various organs. This study aimed to observe the effects of ulinastatin (UTI) administered at different time points on the cellular morphologies of the lung tissues of rats with systemic hyperthermia.

PA-1, a novel synthesized pyrrolizidine alkaloid, inhibits the growth of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus by damaging the cell membrane.

In the present study, antimicrobial activity and mode of a novel synthesized pyrrolizidine alkaloid (PA-1) were investigated. PA-1 exhibited predominantly strong antibacterial activity toward six bacteria tested with minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranging from 0.0039 to 0.

GmSGT1 is differently required for soybean Rps genes-mediated and basal resistance to Phytophthora sojae.

Using RNAi approach, we demonstrate that GmSGT1 is an essential component in soybean against Phytophthora sojae, but not required for Rps 2 or Rps 3a-mediated resistance. Utilization of disease resistance in soybean is a major approach to combat root and stem rot disease, which is caused by Phytophthora sojae and poses a growing threat to soybean safety production. The SGT1 protein is essential for disease resistance in many plant species.

Computational identification of novel microRNAs and targets in Glycine max.

Plant miRNAs, the endogenous non-coding small RNAs of about 20-24 nucleotides, play important roles in multiple biological processes by acting as negative regulators of their targeted mRNAs. Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.

Vitrification of in vitro matured oocytes: effects on meiotic spindle configuration and mitochondrial function.

Background: In the assisted reproductive technique, cryopreserving in vitro-matured oocytes is a new strategy to extend the pool of total oocytes. However, oocyte cryopreservation technique is still unsatisfied. So the assessment of cyro-damage on meiotic spindle and mitochondrial function is necessary to evaluate and refine the current protocols.

Carboxy-directed asymmetric hydrogenation of α-alkyl-α-aryl terminal olefins: highly enantioselective and chemoselective access to a chiral benzylmethyl center.

A carboxy-directed asymmetric hydrogenation of α-alkyl-α-aryl terminal olefins was developed by using a chiral spiro iridium catalyst, providing a highly efficient approach to the compounds with a chiral benzylmethyl center. The carboxy-directed hydrogenation prohibited the isomerization of the terminal olefins, and realized the chemoselective hydrogenation of various dienes. The concise enantioselective syntheses of (S)-curcudiol and (S)-curcumene were achieved by using this catalytic asymmetric hydrogenation as a key step.

Prolonged antibacterial effect of silver nanocomposites with different structures.

This study describes the synthesis of silver nanocomposites (Ag NCs), with different structures, decorated with silica nanoparticles (SiO2 NPs) and their antibacterial activity was evaluated. The core-shell microspheres were fabricated by the deposition of polydopamine (PDA) formed by the spontaneous oxidative polymerization of dopamine. Simultaneously, Ag(+) ions were reduced to nanosilver and subsequently deposited on the surface of the SiO2/PDA spheres to form SiO2/PDA/Ag NPs.

Effect of mouse oocyte vitrification on mitochondrial membrane potential and distribution.

The effects of mouse oocyte vitrification on mitochondrial membrane potential and distribution were explored in this study. The collected mouse oocytes were randomly divided into vitrification and control groups. Ethylene glycol (EG) and dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO) were used as cryoprotectants in the vitrification group.

An LC-MS/MS method for the determination of salidroside and its metabolite p-tyrosol in rat liver tissues.

Context: Salidroside and its metabolite p-tyrosol are two major phenols in the genus Rhodiola L. (Crassulaceae). They have been confirmed to possess various pharmacological properties and are used for the prophylaxis and therapeutics of many diseases.

Optimization and evaluation of magnetic bead separation combined with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectroscopy (MALDI-TOF MS) for proteins profiling of peritoneal dialysis effluent.

Peritoneal dialysis effluent (PDE) potentially carries an archive of peptides relevant to pathological processes in abdominal and surrounding tissues. Magnetic beads and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry is one such approach that offers a unique tool for profiling of peptides, but this approach has not been used in the PDE analysis. In this study, we developed a strategy for screening PDE proteins <15 kDa and applied this technique to identify potential biomarkers for peritonitis.

Genetic analysis and fine mapping of RpsJS, a novel resistance gene to Phytophthora sojae in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr].

We finely map a novel resistance gene ( RpsJS ) to Phytophthora sojae in soybean. RpsJS was mapped in 138.9 kb region, including three NBS-LRR type predicted genes, on chromosome 18.

In-vitro Antimycoplasmal Activity of Triclosan in Combination with Fluoroquinolones against Five mycoplasma Species.

Mycoplasmosis caused by mycoplasma has immensely reduced the performance of commercial animal husbandry, along with prevalence and increase of drug resistance in mycoplasma, thus new agents and therapies are urgently needed. Triclosan is a broad spectrum antimicrobial agent with a favorable safety profile. In the present study, we tested the antimycoplasmal activity of triclosan alone, as well as the in-vitro interaction of triclosan and the fluoroquinolones, gatifloxacin (GAT), moxifloxacin (MXF), levofloxacin (LVX), sparfloxacin (SPX), ciprofloxacin (CIP), enrofloxacin (EFX), and norfloxacin (NOR), against five mycoplasma species.

Metabolomic analysis of the polyphenols in germinating mung beans (Vigna radiata) seeds and sprouts.

Background: The mung bean (Vigna radiata) is a key food crop in much of Asia and contains plentiful biological activities to prevent human disease. Mung bean sprouts have more plentiful metabolites and activities after germination.

Results: The metabolite profile of polyphenols in the germination process was described using the methods of ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with time-of-flight mass spectrometry and partial least squares discriminant analysis.

Quantitative LC-MS/MS analysis of seven ginsenosides and three aconitum alkaloids in Shen-Fu decoction.

Background: Shen-Fu decoction is a traditional Chinese medicine prescription with a 3:2 ratio of Radix Ginseng and Fuzi (Radix Aconiti lateralis praeparata). Ginsenosides and alkaloids are considered to be the main active components of Shen-Fu decoction. However, no analytical methods have been used to quantitatively analyse both components in Shen-Fu decoction simultaneously.

Development and validation of an LC-ESI/MS/MS method with precolumn derivatization for the determination of betulin in rat plasma.

Neutral pentacyclic triterpenes with only one or two hydroxyl groups, such as betulin, are not easily ionized by electrospray ionization (ESI). However, because betulin is reactive and neutral, derivatization may improve ionization efficiency. In the present study, the potency of different derivatization reagents was evaluated and p-toluenesulfonyl isocyanate (PTSI) was proven to be the optimal.

[The spinous process tenderness syndrome--a new naming of a series of common symptoms].

The rheumatoid activity on any part of the spine may affect the surrounding nerves, causing a series of symptoms at the related region of the innervations. By pressing corresponding parts on spinous processes of patient spine, tenderness of various degrees occurs. We named this kind of symptoms as "the spinous process tenderness syndrome".