Millmerranones G, a meroterpene isolated from a mangrove-derived fungus sp. GXIMD 03004.

One new meroterpene derivative, millmerranones G (), and three known analogues (-) were identified from the mangrove-derived fungus sp. GXIMD 03004, which was isolated from the leaves of mangrove L. collected from Beibu Gulf in China.

Protective effect of histatin 1 against ultraviolet-induced damage to human corneal epithelial cells.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of histatin 1 (Hst1) in human corneal epithelial cells (HCECs) exposed to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Prior to UV irradiation for various durations, HCECs were pre-treated with different concentrations of Hst1 and the effect on cell apoptosis and cell viability were examined by flow cytometry, alamarBlue and MTT assays to determine the optimal concentration of Hst1 and UV dose. Cells were then subjected to quantitative PCR, ELISA and western blot analysis to determine the expression of cell damage-associated genes.

Huangzhi Oral Liquid Prevents Arrhythmias by Upregulating Caspase-3 and Apoptosis Network Proteins in Myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in Rats.

To study the effect of Huangzhi oral liquid (HZOL) on I/R after 2 h and 4 h and determine its regulatory function on caspase-3 and protein networks. 70 SD male rats were randomly divided into seven groups and established myocardial I/R injury model by ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery. Myocardial infarction model was defined by TTC staining and color of the heart.

[Clinical analysis of 15 pediatric patients with tuberous sclerosis complex complicated by cardiac rhabdomyomas].

Objective: To investigate the clinical features in children with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC)-associated cardiac rhabdomyomas (CRM).

Methods: The clinical data of 15 children with TSC complicated by CRM were collected. The clinical features of the patients were analyzed, and TSC gene mutations were detected.

Arabidopsis RopGEF4 and RopGEF10 are important for FERONIA-mediated developmental but not environmental regulation of root hair growth.

We investigated a genetic pathway in root hair development in Arabidopsis thaliana, involving the receptor-like kinase FERONIA (FER), two guanine nucleotide exchange factors for ROPs (RopGEF4 and RopGEF10), and the small GTPase Rho of plants (ROPs). Loss- and gain-of-function analyses demonstrated distinct roles of RopGEF4 and RopGEF10 such that RopGEF4 is only important for root hair elongation, while RopGEF10 mainly contributes to root hair initiation. Domain dissection by truncation and domain-swapping experiments indicated that their functional distinctions were mainly contributed by the noncatalytic domains.

HAPLESS13, the Arabidopsis μ1 adaptin, is essential for protein sorting at the trans-Golgi network/early endosome.

In plant cells, secretory and endocytic routes intersect at the trans-Golgi network (TGN)/early endosome (EE), where cargos are further sorted correctly and in a timely manner. Cargo sorting is essential for plant survival and therefore necessitates complex molecular machinery. Adaptor proteins (APs) play key roles in this process by recruiting coat proteins and selecting cargos for different vesicle carriers.

Arabidopsis COBRA-LIKE 10, a GPI-anchored protein, mediates directional growth of pollen tubes.

Successful reproduction of flowering plants requires constant communication between female tissues and growing pollen tubes. Female cells secrete molecules and peptides as nutrients or guidance cues for fast and directional tube growth, which is executed by dynamic changes of intracellular activities within pollen tubes. Compared with the extensive interest in female cues and intracellular activities of pollen tubes, how female cues are sensed and interpreted intracellularly in pollen is poorly understood.

Anti-inflammatory role of IL-17 in experimental autoimmune uveitis.

Previous studies have shown that IL-17 is a strong proinflammatory cytokine and that IL-17-producing autoreactive T cells play a major role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. In a previous study, we showed that injection of experimental autoimmune uveitis-susceptible mice with anti-IL-17 Abs blocked subsequent disease development. To determine whether administration of IL-17 to experimental autoimmune uveitis-susceptible Lewis rats and B10RIII mice injected with disease-inducing peptides enhanced disease susceptibility, we injected the recipient animals with various doses of human rIL-17 (hIL-17).

[Relationship between interleukin-6 gene-572C/G polymorphism and chronic periodontitis].

Objective: To investigate the relationship between interleukin-6 (IL-6) gene -572C/G polymorphism and the risk of chronic periodontitis disease.

Methods: IL-6-572C/G genotype polymorphism was examined in 93 patients with chronic periodontitis and 96 control subjects by PCR restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method.

Results: IL-6-572GG genotype and G allele were more frequent in chronic periodontitis patients than that in control subjects (P<0.

Degradation of MTBE and TBA by a new isolate from MTBE-contaminated soil.

Methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), a gasoline additive, possesses serious problems to the environmental health. In the present study, a bacterial culture named A-3 which could effectively degrade MTBE was isolated from the MTBE contaminated soil. The isolate was identified as Chryseobacterium sp.

Characterization and distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon in sediments of Haihe River, Tianjin, China.

In this study sediment samples were collected from 13 sites of Haihe River in Tianjin City, China, sixteen of priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) listed in USEPA were analyzed by means of GC-MS. The total concentrations of PAH ranged from 774.81 to 255371.

Laboratory column study for remediation of MTBE-contaminated groundwater using a biological two-layer permeable barrier.

In this study, an in situ biological two-layer permeable reactive barrier system consisting of an oxygen-releasing material layer followed by a biodegradation layer was designed to evaluate the remediation effectiveness of MTBE-contaminated groundwater. The first layer containing calcium peroxide (CaO(2)) and other inorganic salts is to provide oxygen and nutrients for the immobilized microbes in the second layer in order to keep them in aerobic condition and maintain their normal metabolism. Furthermore, inorganic salts such as potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KH(2)PO(4)) and ammonium sulphate ((NH(4))(2)SO(4)) can also decrease the high pH caused by the alkali salt degraded from CaO(2).

Groundwater remediation engineering sparging using acetylene--study on the flow distribution of air.

Air sparging (AS) is an emerging method to remove VOCs from saturated soils and groundwater. Air sparging performance highly depends on the air distribution resulting in the aquifer. In order to study gas flow characterization, a two-dimensional experimental chamber was designed and installed.