Cholesterol regulates micro-opioid receptor-induced beta-arrestin 2 translocation to membrane lipid rafts.

μ-Opioid receptor (OPRM1) is mainly localized in lipid raft microdomains but internalizes through clathrin-dependent pathways. Our previous studies demonstrated that disruption of lipid rafts by cholesterol-depletion reagent blocked the agonist-induced internalization of OPRM1 and G protein-dependent signaling. The present study demonstrated that reduction of cholesterol level decreased and culturing cells in excess cholesterol increased the agonist-induced internalization and desensitization of OPRM1, respectively.

Hes1/Hes5 gene inhibits differentiation via down-regulating Hash1 and promotes proliferation in cervical carcinoma cells.

Introduction: Hairy and enhancer of split 1 (Hes1) and Hes5 are target genes for the mammalian Notch pathway, which are highly expressed in epithelia in the process of embryogenesis or in neural stem cells, inhibit cell differentiation via the Notch-Hes-Hash signaling, and promote the survival of stem cells. Either Hes1 or Hes5 overactivation is likely to affect cell differentiation, thereby resulting in carcinogenesis.

Methods: We transfected the diced small interference RNA into SiHa cells and detected cell differentiation and proliferation by immunocytochemistry, Western blot, and methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium assay.

[Glycometabolism of patients with depression at first episode].

Objective: To investigate glycometabolism of patients with depression at first episode.

Methods: Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed in 100 patients with depression at first episode and 50 healthy subjects; the levels of fast blood plasma insulin were also measured.

Result: There were no statistically significant differences in fast blood plasma insulin levels and postprandial blood glucose levels at 0 h, 1 h and 3 h (P>0.

[Chest radiographic findings in children with 2009 influenza A (H1N1) virus infection].

Objective: To evaluate chest radiographic findings of children with 2009 influenza (H1N1) virus infection.

Method: Data of 235 patients who had microbiologically confirmed H1N1 infection and available chest radiograph obtained between May 1(st) 2009 and Jan. 31(st) 2010 were retrospectively analyzed.

Two unusual cases of intractable hyperthyroidism responsive to octreotide: Munchausen syndrome or not?

Background: The effective treatment for patients with resistant hyperthyroidism is difficult.

Methods: In this case report with 4-year follow-up data, we present 2 unusual cases of hyperthyroidism that were unresponsive to almost all antithyroid treatments including total thyroidectomy, but both were controlled with octreotide.

Results: Cases 1 and 2 were both middle-aged women.

[Effects of fertilization level on diurnal variation of gas exchange of young Eucalyptus grandis leaf].

Different levels (0, 90, 180, and 270 g per tree) of compound fertilizer containing 15% N, 15% P2O5, and 15% K2O were applied to young Eucalyptus grandis to study the diurnal variations of its leaf stomatal conductance (Gs), intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci), net photosynthesis rate (Pn), transpiration rate (Tr), water use efficiency (WUE), and vapor pressure deficit on leaf surface (Vpdl) as well as the variation of leaf chlorophyll content, aimed to approach the relationships of E. grandis photosynthesis with fertilization and environmental factors. In all treatments, the diurnal variation of Pn presented a single-peak curve, with the peak at 14:00 and not showing midday depression.

Proteomic identification of OsCYP2, a rice cyclophilin that confers salt tolerance in rice (Oryza sativa L.) seedlings when overexpressed.

Background: High Salinity is a major environmental stress influencing growth and development of rice. Comparative proteomic analysis of hybrid rice shoot proteins from Shanyou 10 seedlings, a salt-tolerant hybrid variety, and Liangyoupeijiu seedlings, a salt-sensitive hybrid variety, was performed to identify new components involved in salt-stress signaling.

Results: Phenotypic analysis of one protein that was upregulated during salt-induced stress, cyclophilin 2 (OsCYP2), indicated that OsCYP2 transgenic rice seedlings had better tolerance to salt stress than did wild-type seedlings.

Application of metal-clad antiresonant reflecting hollow waveguides to tunable terahertz notch filter.

A novel tunable terahertz notch filter is demonstrated using antiresonant reflecting hollow waveguides with movable metal layers outside dielectric claddings. Based on the Fabry-Pérot resonance of the dielectric cladding, multiple deep notches are observed in a broad THz transmission spectrum. Continuous shift of notch frequencies is for the first time experimentally observed by lateral translation of metal layers from dielectric claddings.

Positive regulation of hepatic miR-122 expression by HNF4α.

Background & Aims: miR-122 is the most abundant microRNA in the liver and regulates metabolic pathways including cholesterol biosynthesis, fatty acid synthesis, and oxidation. However, little is known about mechanisms that regulate the expression of miR-122 in the liver. The aim of this study was to identify key transcriptional regulators for miR-122 expression through intensively studying its primary transcript and promoter region.

Membrane penetrating peptides greatly enhance baculovirus transduction efficiency into mammalian cells.

The baculovirus group of insect viruses is widely used for foreign gene introduction into mammalian cells for gene expression and protein production; however, the efficiency of baculovirus entry into mammalian cells is in general still low. In this study, two recombinant baculoviruses were engineered and their ability to improve viral entry was examined: (1) cytoplasmic transduction peptide (CTP) was fused with baculovirus envelope protein, GP64, to produce a cytoplasmic membrane penetrating baculovirus (vE-CTP); and (2) the protein transduction domain (PTD) of HIV TAT protein was fused with the baculovirus capsid protein VP39 to form a nuclear membrane penetrating baculovirus (vE-PTD). Transduction experiments showed that both viruses had better transduction efficiency than vE, a control virus that only expresses EGFP in mammalian cells.

Cell proliferation in the absence of E2F1-3.

E2F transcription factors regulate the progression of the cell cycle by repression or transactivation of genes that encode cyclins, cyclin dependent kinases, checkpoint regulators, and replication proteins. Although some E2F functions are independent of the Retinoblastoma tumor suppressor (Rb) and related family members, p107 and p130, much of E2F-mediated repression of S phase entry is dependent upon Rb. We previously showed in cultured mouse embryonic fibroblasts that concomitant loss of three E2F activators with overlapping functions (E2F1, E2F2, and E2F3) triggered the p53-p21(Cip1) response and caused cell cycle arrest.

Modulatory effect of anisodamine on airway hyper-reactivity and eosinophilic inflammation in a murine model of allergic asthma.

Anisodamine, a peripheral muscarinic receptor antagonist, is a naturally occurring atropine derivative that has been isolated, synthesized and characterized by scientists in China. In the present investigation, we evaluated the modulatory effects of anisodamine on airway hyper-reactivity and inflammation in a murine model of allergic asthma. Asthma model was induced successfully by ovalbumin.

Ligand-controlled synthesis of vanadium(I) β-diketiminates and their catalysis in cyclotrimerization of alkynes.

Three dimeric vanadium(I) β-diketiminates [V{μ-(η(6)-ArN)C(Me)CHC(Me)C(N-Ar)}](2) (Ar = 2,6-Me(2)C(6)H(3) (2), 2,6-Et(2)C(6)H(3) (3), 9-anthracenyl (4)) were prepared and isolated upon reduction of their corresponding dichloro precursors VCl(2)(Nacnac). Compounds 2-4 all show a structure with each vanadium atom being η(2) bonded to the β-diketiminate framework and η(6) bonded to a flanking ring of a β-diketiminato ligand, attached to the other vanadium centre within the dimer. No metal-metal bonding interactions are observed in these dimers due to long vanadium-vanadium separations.

π-π Interaction among violanthrone molecules: observation, enhancement, and resulting charge transport properties.

To investigate the relationship between π-π stacking and charge transport property of organic semiconductors, a highly soluble violanthrone derivative, 16,17-bis(2-ethylhexyloxy)anthra[9,1,2-cde-]benzo[rst]pentaphene-5,10-dione (3), is designed and synthesized. The π-π stacking behavior and the aggregation of compound 3 in both solution and thin film were studied in detail by (1)H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) absorption, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). When (1)H NMR spectroscopy and theoretical modeling results were combined, the arrangements of compound 3 molecules in the aggregates are demonstrated, where the dipole moments of the two adjacent molecules are nearly reversed to achieve efficient intermolecular π-π overlapping.

Dichloroacetate shifts the metabolism from glycolysis to glucose oxidation and exhibits synergistic growth inhibition with cisplatin in HeLa cells.

The unique bioenergetic feature of cancer, aerobic glycolysis or the Warburg effect, is an attractive therapeutic target for cancer therapy. Reversing the glycolytic phenotype may trigger apoptosis in tumor cells. Recently, dichloroacetate (DCA) was proven to produce significant cytotoxic effects in certain tumor cells through this distinct mechanism.

[Association between myocardial calpain activation and apoptosis in lipopolysaccharide-induced septic mouse model].

Objective: in septic mice, myocardial calpain was activated and induced caspase-3 activation, the association between calpain activation and apoptosis was explored in this experiment.

Methods: in in vivo model, adult C57 mice were injected with lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 4 mg/kg, i.p.

[Analysis of clinical manifestations of 159 hospitalized children infected with 2009 novel influenza A (H1N1) virus].

Objective: To analyze the clinical characteristics of hospitalized pediatric patients infected with 2009 H1N1 influenza.

Methods: Totally 159 children (83 male and 76 female) with influenza A (H1N1) confirmed by the real-time reverse-transcriptase-polymerase-chain-reaction assay were admitted to a special ward of Capital Institute of Pediatrics from November 2009 to January 2010. Clinical manifestations, laboratory and therapy data from the hospitalized children were collected by designed case report form and analyzed.

[Clinical report of the modified Piver class III hysterectomy on invasive cervical cancer].

Objective: To explore the surgical extent and to improve the surgical techniques of the Piver class III hysterectomy on invasive cervical cancer, so as to reduce the urinary tract complications, shorten the surgical duration, decrease the hemorrhage and blood transfusion.

Methods: The study group, 196 cases with stages Ib and IIa carcinoma of the cervix underwent the modified Piver class III hysterectomy from June 2000 to May 2005. The control group, 176 cases of the same stages underwent the Piver class III hysterectomy between June 1994 and May 1999.

[The analysis on the misdiagnosis of solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura].

Objective: To report the characteristics of solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura (SFTP), and to analyze the factors associated with the misdiagnosis of this disease.

Methods: A retrospective review of the clinical records of 21 cases of SFTP in our hospital from June 2000 to September 2008 was conducted. The follow-up data were also reviewed.

Subwavelength film sensing based on terahertz anti-resonant reflecting hollow waveguides.

A simple dielectric hollow-tube has been experimentally demonstrated at terahertz range for bio-molecular layer sensing based on the anti-resonant reflecting wave-guidance mechanism. We experimentally study the dependence of thin-film detection sensitivity on the optical geometrical parameters of tubes, different thicknesses and tube wall refractive indices, and on different resonant frequencies. A polypropylene hollow-tube with optimized sensitivity of 0.

Expression of octamer-4 in serous and mucinous ovarian carcinoma.

Background: Octamer-4 (Oct4) is a well known regulator of self-renewal in embryonic stem cells; it has been detected in several human cancers and may play a critical role in carcinogenesis.

Aims: To assess the expression of Oct4 in epithelial ovarian tumours.

Methods: Expression of Oct4 was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in 460 cases of various epithelial ovarian lesions as well as 35 cases of normal fallopian tube epithelium.

Curculigoside attenuates human umbilical vein endothelial cell injury induced by H2O2.

Aim Of The Study: Vessel endothelium injury caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS) including H(2)O(2) plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disorders. Therefore, agents or antioxidants that can inhibit production of ROS has highly clinical values in cardiovascular therapy. Curculigoside is the major bioactive compounds present in Curculigo orchioides, and possess potent antioxidant properties against oxidative stress insults through undefined mechanism(s).