Natural positive selection and north-south genetic diversity in East Asia.

Recent reports have identified a north-south cline in genetic variation in East and South-East Asia, but these studies have not formally explored the basis of these clinical differences. Understanding the origins of these variations may provide valuable insights in tracking down the functional variants in genomic regions identified by genetic association studies. Here we investigate the genetic basis of these differences with genome-wide data from the HapMap, the Human Genome Diversity Project and the Singapore Genome Variation Project.

Carbon nanotubes enhance cytotoxicity mediated by human lymphocytes in vitro.

With the expansion of the potential applications of carbon nanotubes (CNT) in biomedical fields, the toxicity and biocompatibility of CNT have become issues of growing concern. Since the immune system often mediates tissue damage during pathogenesis, it is important to explore whether CNT can trigger cytotoxicity through affecting the immune functions. In the current study, we evaluated the influence of CNT on the cytotoxicity mediated by human lymphocytes in vitro.

Direct alkylation of indoles and amines by tert-enamides: facile access to pharmaceutically active 2-oxo-1-pyrrolidine analogues.

Direct alkylation of indoles and amines by tertiary enamides for the synthesis of pharmaceutically active 2-oxo-1-pyrrolidine analogues was described. With only a 0.5 mol% catalyst loading, molecular iodine was demonstrated to be efficiently enough to promote the reaction under neat condition.

[Effects of co-exposure to paraquat and maneb on system of substantial nigra and striatum in rats].

Objective: To investigate the effects of exposure of paraquat and maneb on the behavior, the morphology and electrical activity of the Substantia nigra and striatum, and to discuss the relationship between this two pesticides and Parkinson's disease.

Methods: 37 rats were divided randomly into 3 groups: control group (n = 11), paraquat (10 mg/kg) group (n = 13) and combinative group of paraquat (10 mg/kg) and maneb (30 mg/kg) (n = 13), and were exposed twice a week for 6 weeks by intraperitoneal injection. The behavior of animals in the declined-plane, the vertical-grid and the open-field test were observed.

Foxo1 mediates insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1)/insulin regulation of osteocalcin expression by antagonizing Runx2 in osteoblasts.

In this study, we determined the molecular mechanisms whereby forkhead transcription factor Foxo1, a key downstream signaling molecule of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1)/insulin actions, regulates Runx2 activity and expression of the mouse osteocalcin gene 2 (Bglap2) in osteoblasts in vitro. We showed that Foxo1 inhibited Runx2-dependent transcriptional activity and osteocalcin mRNA expression and Bglap2 promoter activity in MC-4 preosteoblasts. Co-immunoprecipitation assay showed that Foxo1 physically interacted with Runx2 via its C-terminal region in osteoblasts or when co-expressed in COS-7 cells.

[Comparison of six molecular methods for differentiation of Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis and cremoris].

Objective: To compare six molecular methods for differentiation of Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis and cremoris.

Methods: Six molecular methods, such as 16S rRNA gene analysis, 16S-23S rRNA Intergenic spacer region polymorphism, Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (DGGE), Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD), Repetitive Extragenic Palindromic-PCR and Restricted Fragment Length Polymorphisms were used to differentiate the reference strains.

A comparative study of paliperidone palmitate and risperidone long-acting injectable therapy in schizophrenia.

This open-label, rater-blinded, parallel-group study was designed to evaluate noninferiority of paliperidone palmitate (PP), a once-monthly injectable atypical antipsychotic, to once-biweekly risperidone long-acting injectable (RIS-LAI) in adult Chinese patients with acute schizophrenia. Eligible Chinese adults (N=452) with schizophrenia were randomized (1:1) to either PP (N=229; deltoid injections on day 1 [150 mg eq.] and day 8 [100 mg eq.

Fine mapping of candidate regions for bipolar disorder provides strong evidence for susceptibility loci on chromosomes 7q.

Genomewide scans of bipolar disorder (BP) have not produced consistent linkage findings. Follow-up studies using enlarged samples and enhanced marker density can bolster or refute claims of linkage and pave the way to gene discovery. We conducted linkage and association analyses, using a ~3-cM density map of 10 candidate regions, in a large BP pedigree sample (865 individuals from 56 pedigrees).

Food intake and interdigestive gastrointestinal motility in ghrelin receptor mutant rats.

Background: Ghrelin is the endogenous ligand for the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHSR). Ghrelin regulates feeding activity and interdigestive contractions of the stomach in rodents. To investigate the role of endogenous ghrelin in the digestive system, we have developed GHSR-mutant rats, named FHH-Ghsr(m1Mcwi), using the Fawn-Hooded Hypertensive (FHH) parental strain.

Delay in feedback repression by cryptochrome 1 is required for circadian clock function.

Direct evidence for the requirement of delay in feedback repression in the mammalian circadian clock has been elusive. Cryptochrome 1 (Cry1), an essential clock component, displays evening-time expression and serves as a strong repressor at morning-time elements (E box/E' box). In this study, we reveal that a combination of day-time elements (D box) within the Cry1-proximal promoter and night-time elements (RREs) within its intronic enhancer gives rise to evening-time expression.

Validated HPLC method for the quantitative determination of CoQ(10) in dog plasma and its application to a pharmacokinetic study.

Coenzyme Q(10) (CoQ(10) ) is a naturally occurring compound located in all membranes throughout the cell. A rapid and sensitive HPLC method was developed to determine the concentration of CoQ(10) in dog plasma using a surrogate matrix. Chromatographic separation was carried out on a Diamonsil C(18) column with the UV detector set at 275 nm.

Carbon nanotubes induce secondary structure changes of bovine albumin in aqueous phase.

Interaction of nanomaterials to protein molecules is one of the most important issues to deeply understand the influences of the nanomaterials upon physiological processes and protein functions. So far most of investigations focused on the protein molecules adsorbed on the nanomaterials surface, less is known about those in the aqueous phase (not absorbed). In this work, luminescent spectroscopy analysis, circular dichroism measurement, atomic force microscopy, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry, isoelectric focusing and sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis were used to investigate the influence of oxidized water-soluble multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CNT) dispersing in aqueous solution upon the structures of bovine serum albumin (BSA) through co-incubation.

Immune responses of BALB/c mice to subcutaneously injected multi-walled carbon nanotubes.

Carbon nanotubes have been shown to have the ability to transport therapeutic and detective reagents into cells. However, the rapid advances in new carbon nanotube-based materials and technologies have raised concerns about their safety. Such concerns require a fundamental understanding of the toxicological properties of carbon nanotubes.

Paramagnetic nanofibrous composite films enhance the osteogenic responses of pre-osteoblast cells.

In this work, a paramagnetic nanofibrous composite film was fabricated with poly lactide, hydroxyapatite and γ-Fe(2)0(3) nanoparticles using the electrospinning technique. The composite film significantly enhanced the proliferation, differentiation and ECM secretion of the osteoblast cells under a static magnetic field, which offers promising application potentials in bone tissue engineering and bone regeneration therapy.

Transplantation of neuronal cells induced from human mesenchymal stem cells improves neurological functions after stroke without cell fusion.

The options for treating stroke are limited, but stem cells hold promise as a therapy because of their multipotency. Neuronal cells derived from mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) were reported to have more therapeutic effect than MSCs. For elucidating the therapeutic mechanism of neuronal cells, here we generated a model of focal cerebral infarction by performing left common carotid artery occlusion in adult gerbils.

MAPK phosphatase-3 promotes hepatic gluconeogenesis through dephosphorylation of forkhead box O1 in mice.

Insulin resistance results in dysregulated hepatic gluconeogenesis that contributes to obesity-related hyperglycemia and progression of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Recent studies show that MAPK phosphatase-3 (MKP-3) promotes gluconeogenic gene transcription in hepatoma cells, but little is known about the physiological role of MKP-3 in vivo. Here, we have shown that expression of MKP-3 is markedly increased in the liver of diet-induced obese mice.

FFA-induced adipocyte inflammation and insulin resistance: involvement of ER stress and IKKβ pathways.

Free-fatty acids (FFAs) are well-characterized factor for causing production of inflammatory factors and insulin resistance in adipocytes. Using cultured adipocytes, we demonstrate that FFAs can activate endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress pathway by examination of ER stress sensor activation and marker gene expression. Chemical chaperone tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) can reduce FFA-induced adipocyte inflammation and improve insulin signaling whereas overexpression of spliced X-box protein 1 (XBP-1s) only attenuates FFA-induced inflammation.

Axial-shear strain imaging for differentiating benign and malignant breast masses.

Axial strain imaging has been utilized for the characterization of breast masses for over a decade; however, another important feature namely the shear strain distribution around breast masses has only recently been used. In this article, we examine the feasibility of utilizing in vivo axial-shear strain imaging for differentiating benign from malignant breast masses. Radio-frequency data was acquired using a VFX 13-5 linear array transducer on 41 patients using a Siemens SONOLINE Antares real-time clinical scanner at the University of Wisconsin Breast Cancer Center.

Evaluation of the efficacy and safety of paliperidone extended-release in the treatment of acute mania: a randomized, double-blind, dose-response study.

Background: Atypical antipsychotics are effective in the treatment of bipolar I disorder. In this 3-week double-blind study, the efficacy and safety of paliperidone extended-release (ER) tablets were assessed in patients with acute mania.

Methods: Patients experiencing a manic or mixed episode (Young Mania Rating Scale [YMRS] total score ≥20), were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 fixed doses of once-daily paliperidone ER (3, 6, or 12-mg), or placebo (1:1:1:1 ratio).

Electrospun aligned nanofibrous composite of MWCNT/polyurethane to enhance vascular endothelium cells proliferation and function.

Aligned or random nanofibrous meshes of multiwalled carbon nanotubes/polyurethane composite (MWCNT/PU) were fabricated by electrospinning and characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The regulatory effects of nanofibrous structure and MWCNT on the growth and anticoagulant function of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were investigated by examining proliferation, type IV collagen secretion, tissue factor and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) release, and cytoskeleton arrangement, as well as via pull-down analysis. We show that aligned nanofibrous structure and MWCNT can function as extracellular signals to stimulate cell growth, proliferation, and extracellular collagen secretion, in addition to preserving anticoagulant function.

Breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) and sulfotransferases contribute significantly to the disposition of genistein in mouse intestine.

The low bioavailability of genistein has impeded its development into a therapeutic agent. Our earlier studies indicate that glucuronidation is one of the major barriers to genistein oral bioavailability. This study will determine how sulfotransferases and efflux transporters affect its intestinal disposition.

Pterosins from Pteris multifida.

A new C(14) pterosin sesquiterpenoid, named (2R)-pterosin P (1), and a new natural product, named dehydropterosin B (3), were isolated from the aerial parts of Pteris multifida Poir., along with nine known compounds (2, 4-11). By chiral HPLC, compounds 1 and 2 were isolated as a pair of enantiomeric pterosin sesquiterpenoids.

Alzheimer disease pathology in cognitively healthy elderly: a genome-wide study.

Many elderly individuals remain dementia-free throughout their life. However, some of these individuals exhibit Alzheimer disease neuropathology on autopsy, evidenced by neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) in AD-specific brain regions. We conducted a genome-wide association study to identify genetic mechanisms that distinguish non-demented elderly with a heavy NFT burden from those with a low NFT burden.

Efficacy and safety of paliperidone palmitate in adult patients with acutely symptomatic schizophrenia: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-response study.

This 13-week, double-blind study evaluated the efficacy and safety of the atypical antipsychotic paliperidone palmitate (recently approved in the United States) versus placebo administered as monthly gluteal injections (after two initial doses given 1 week apart) in acutely symptomatic patients with schizophrenia. Patients (N=388) were randomly assigned (1 : 1 : 1 : 1) to paliperidone palmitate 50, 100, or 150 mg eq. or placebo.