A novel hirudin derivative inhibiting thrombin without bleeding for subcutaneous injection.

Currently, anticoagulants would be used to prevent thrombosis. Thrombin is an effector enzyme for haemostasis and thrombosis. We designed a direct thrombin inhibitor peptide (DTIP) using molecular simulation and homology modelling and demonstrated that the C-terminus of DTIP interacts with exosite I, and N-terminus with the activity site of thrombin, respectively.

Pathfast presepsin assay for early diagnosis of systemic inflammatory response syndrome in patients with nephrolithiasis.

It is relatively difficult to diagnose bacterial sepsis in nephrolithiasis patients. The aim of the study is to evaluate the diagnostic ability of presepsin in the differential diagnosis including SIRS, infection, or sepsis and to compare its diagnostic value with other markers, mainly as CRP, procalcitonin (PCT), and white blood cell (WBC) in patients of nephrolithiasis presenting with SIRS. 39 patients of nephrolithiasis who were diagnosed as SIRS were prospectively investigated.

Retinol dehydrogenase, RDH1l, is essential for the heart development and cardiac performance in zebrafish.

Background: Retinoic acid (RA) is a potent signaling molecule that plays pleiotropic roles in patterning, morphogenesis, and organogenesis during embryonic development. The synthesis from retinol (vitamin A) to retinoic acid requires two sequential oxidative steps. The first step involves the oxidation of retinol to retinal through the action of retinol dehydrogenases.

MicroRNA-200a promotes anoikis resistance and metastasis by targeting YAP1 in human breast cancer.

Purpose: The process of metastases involves the dissociation of cells from the primary tumor, penetration into the basement membrane, invasion, and exiting from the vasculature to seed and colonize distant tissues. miR-200a is involved in this multistep metastatic cascade. This study aimed to test the hypothesis that miR-200a promotes metastasis through increased anoikis resistance in breast cancer.

[Effects of folic acid on the development of heart of zebrafish].

Objective: To construct the folic acid deficient model in zebrafish and observe the abnormal cardiac phenotypes, to find the optimal period for supplementing folic acid that can most effectively prevent the heart malformation induced by folic acid deficiency, and to investigate the possible mechanisms by which folic acid deficiency induces malformations of heart.

Method: The folic acid deficient zebrafish model was constructed by using both the folic acid antagonist methotrexate (MTX) and knocking-down dhfr (dihydrofolate reductase gene). Exogenous tetrahydrofolic acid rescue experiment was performed.

Effect of Tbx1 knock-down on cardiac performance in zebrafish.

Background: Tbx1 is the major candidate gene for DiGeorge syndrome (DGS). Similar to defects observed in DGS patients, the structures disrupted in Tbx1(-/-) animal models are derived from the neural crest cells during development. Although the morphological phenotypes of some Tbx1 knock-down animal models have been well described, analysis of the cardiac performance is limited.

The antithrombotic effect of a novel hirudin derivative after reconstruction of carotid artery in rabbits.

Introduction: Hirudin is a direct thrombin inhibitor that has potential mechanistic advantages over indirect inhibitors. Peptides containing the RGD motif competitively inhibit binding of fibrinogen to glycoprotein IIb/IIIa on platelets, thus inhibiting platelet aggregation. A novel hirudin derivative, recombinant RGD-hirudin (r-RGD-hirudin), was engineered by fusing the tripeptide RGD sequence to the native hirudin.

Microplasmin degrades fibronectin and laminin at vitreoretinal interface and outer retina during enzymatic vitrectomy.

Purpose: To determine whether intravitreal administration of microplasmin (microPlm) will degrade fibronectin (FN) and laminin (LN) in rat retina during microPlm-induced posterior vitreous detachment (PVD).

Methods: Increasing doses of microPlm, from 0.01 U to 0.

Progesterone promotes propagation and viability of mouse embryonic stem cells.

It has been known that estrogen-17beta stimulates proliferation of mouse embryonic stem (mES) cells. To explore the function of another steroid hormone progesterone, we used MTT method and BrdU incorporation assay to obtain growth curves, clone forming assay to detect the propagation and viability of individual mES cells, Western blot to test the expression of ES cell marker gene Oct-4, fluorescence activated cell sorter (FACS) to test cell cycle, and real-time PCR to detect the expressions of cyclins, cyclin-dependent kinases and proto-oncogenes. The results showed that progesterone promoted proliferation of mES cells.

A novel hirudin derivative characterized with anti-platelet aggregations and thrombin inhibition.

Background: Hirudin is an anti-coagulative product of the salivary glands of the medicinal leech Hirudo medicinalis. It is a powerful and specific thrombin inhibitor. Peptides containing the RGD motif competitively inhibit the binding of fibrinogen to GP IIb/IIIa on the platelets, thus inhibiting platelet aggregation.

[Influence of CRX gene on development of photoreceptors in zebrafish].

Objective: To study the development and opsin expression of zebrafish photoreceptors after CRX gene knock-down.

Methods: It was a experimental study. CRX-MOs was microinjected into the zygote of zebrafish.

Rehmannia inhibits adipocyte differentiation and adipogenesis.

Rehmannia glutinosa, a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), has been used to increase physical strength. Here, we report that Rehmannia glutinosa extract (RE) inhibits adipocyte differentiation and adipogenesis. RE impairs differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes in a dose-dependent manner.

Disruption of tissue-type plasminogen activator gene in mice aggravated liver fibrosis.

Background And Aim: Tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) is one of the major components in the matrix proteolytic network whose role in the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis remains unknown. The aim of this study is to investigate the role of tPA in carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4))-induced liver fibrosis.

Methods: Wild-type and tPA knockout mice (8 mice per group) were injected interperitoneumly with 25% CCl(4) 2 ml/kg twice per week as CCl(4) administration groups and olive oil 2 ml/kg as controls.

[Effect of external retinoic acid on Tbx1 gene during zebrafish embryogenesis].

Objective: DiGeorge/del22q11 syndrome is one of the most common genetic causes of outflow tract and aortic arch defects in human. DiGeorge/del22q11 is thought to involve an embryonic defect restricted to the pharyngeal arches and the corresponding pharyngeal pouches. Previous studies have evidenced that retinoic acid (RA) signaling is definitely indispensable for the development of the pharyngeal arches.

Effect of dihydrofolate reductase gene knock-down on the expression of heart and neural crest derivatives expressed transcript 2 in zebrafish cardiac development.

Background: Folic acid is very important for embryonic development and dihydrofolate reductase is one of the key enzymes in the process of folic acid performing its biological function. Therefore, the dysfunction of dihydrofolate reductase can inhibit the function of folic acid and finally cause the developmental malformations. In this study, we observed the abnormal cardiac phenotypes in dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) gene knock-down zebrafish embryos, investigated the effect of DHFR on the expression of heart and neural crest derivatives expressed transcript 2 (HAND2) and explored the possible mechanism of DHFR knock-down inducing zebrafish cardiac malformations.

A novel anti-tissue factor monoclonal antibody with anticoagulant potency derived from synthesized multiple antigenic peptide through blocking FX combination with TF.

Tissue factor (TF) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of various thrombotic disorders. Monoclonal antibodies (mAb) that specifically target TF may have potential as antithrombotic therapy. We designed a unique TF peptide (TFP) that was specific for the binding site to factor X (FX).

[Folic acid antagonist methotrexate causes the development malformation of heart and down-regulates the BMP2b and HAS2 expressions in zebrafish].

Objective: To study the effect of methotrexate (MTX), a folic acid antagonist which can lead to folic acid deficient, on the cardiac development and on the expressions of BMP2b and HAS2 in zebrafish.

Methods: The zebrafish embryos at 6-48 hrs post fertilization (hpf) were treated with various concentrations of MTX (0.5 x 10(-3), 1.

Bone morphogenetic protein-2 acts upstream of myocyte-specific enhancer factor 2a to control embryonic cardiac contractility.

Objective: Cardiac contractility is regulated tightly as an extrinsic and intrinsic homeostatic mechanism to the heart. The molecular basis of the intrinsic system is largely unknown. Here, we test the hypothesis that bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) mediates embryonic cardiac contractility upstream of myocyte-specific enhancer factor 2A (MEF2A).

[Cloning, expression and biological characterization of hTFPI-2 gene].

Objective: To clone the human tissue factor pathway inhibitor-2 (hTFPI-2) gene and express it by using prokaryotic expression system.

Methods: The hTFPI-2 coding region was obtained by RT-PCR from human placenta total RNA. The coding fragment was then inserted into prokaryotic expression vector pET19b and expressed in E.

[FTIR characterization of the secondary structure of a staphylokinase variant (K35R) encapsulated within PLGA microspheres].

The secondary structure of a staphylokinase variant (K35R, DGR) encapsulated in poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microspheres was quantitatively examined by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Resolution enhancement technique and Fourier deconvolution were combined with band with curve-fitting procedures to quantitate the spectral information from the amide I bands. Nine component bands were found under the broad, nearly featureless amide I bands and assigned to alpha-helix, beta-sheet, turn and irregular (random) structures.

Lactacystin inhibits 3T3-L1 adipocyte differentiation through induction of CHOP-10 expression.

Hormonal induction triggers a cascade leading to the expression of CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein(C/EBP)alpha and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) gamma, C/EBPalpha, and PPARgamma turns on series of adipocyte genes that give rise to the adipocyte phenotype. Previous findings indicate that C/EBPbeta, a transcriptional activator of the C/EBPalpha and PPARgamma genes, is rapidly expressed after induction, but lacks DNA-binding activity and therefore cannot activate transcription of the C/EBPalpha and PPARgamma genes early in the differentiation program. Acquisition of DNA-binding activity of C/EBPbeta occurs when CHOP-10, a dominant-negative form of C/EBP family members, is down-regulated and becomes hyperphosphorylated as preadipocytes traverse the G1-S checkpoint of mitotic clonal expansion.

Design of a novel plasminogen activator based on the structure of hirudin.

Using a phage library, seven peptide sequences with high affinity to human microplasminogen were obtained. Caseinolytic assay indicated that only the synthesized peptide P07 had slight fibrinolytic activity. To enhance its plasminogen activation ability, peptide P07 was fused into loop 32-35 of hirudin.

Identification of a peroxisome proliferator responsive element (PPRE)-like cis-element in mouse plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 gene promoter.

PAI-1 is expressed and secreted by adipose tissue which may mediate the pathogenesis of obesity-associated cardiovascular complications. Evidence is presented in this report that PAI-1 is not expressed by preadipocyte, but significantly induced during 3T3-L1 adipocyte differentiation and the PAI-1 expression correlates with the induction of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma). A peroxisome proliferator responsive element (PPRE)-like cis-element (-206TCCCCCATGCCCT-194) is identified in the mouse PAI-1 gene promoter by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) combined with transient transfection experiments; the PPRE-like cis-element forms a specific DNA-protein complex only with adipocyte nuclear extracts, not with preadipocyte nuclear extracts; the DNA-protein complex can be totally competed away by non-labeled consensus PPRE, and can be supershifted with PPARgamma antibody.

Preparation and characterization of PLGA microspheres containing a staphylokinase variant (K35R).

Aim: To produce poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microspheres, containing a staphylokinase variant (K35R, DGR) with reduced immunogenecity and antiplatelet aggregation activities, which allowed the preservation of protein stability during both particle processing and drug release.

Methods: DGR-loaded microspheres were fabricated using a double emulsion-solvent evaporation technique. The effects of preparative parameters, such as stirring rate, polymer concentration, and the excipients of both internal and external aqueous phase (W2), on DGR encapsulation efficiency and microsphere characteristics were investigated.