Enriching adenosine by thymine-rich DNA oligomers.

Adenosine levels are important in various physiological and pathological activities, but detecting them is difficult because of interference from a complex matrix. This study designed a series of DNA oligomers rich in thymine to enrich adenosine. Their binding affinity ( range: 1.

Phylogeography of the endangered "eyed" turtles (genus ) and the discovery of a lineage derived from natural interspecific hybridization.

The herpetofauna of the Indomalayan bioregion of Asia suffers from severe habitat loss, unsustainable harvesting, and lack of research and conservation. Here, we investigated the range-wide phylogeography of the endangered "eyed" turtles (genus , including the Beale's Eyed Turtle and the Four-eyed Turtle ) and discovered a natural interspecific hybrid turtle population in China. Based on phylogeny of the mitochondrial Cytochrome b gene of 101 samples in this study and public data, three major clades and six subclades were identified: (SBE) in eastern-southern China, east in South China (northern east [SQUen] and southern east [SQUes] subclades), and west mainly in Vietnam (northern west [SQUwn], central west [SQUwc], and southern west [SQUws] subclades).

Solution-Phase Synthesis of DNA Amphiphiles for DNA Micellar Assembly.

Hydrophobic moieties of amphiphilic DNAs can help DNAs penetrate cell membranes, but the conjugation of hydrophobic moieties to DNAs in solution phase remains challenging. Herein we report a solution-phase synthesis method to conjugate hydrophobic molecules to DNAs. This method is simple and efficient.

Rapid authenticity testing of artificially bred green turtles () using microsatellite and mitochondrial DNA markers.

Sea turtles are threatened by climate change and human activity, and their global populations continue to decline sharply. The Chinese government encourages artificial breeding of sea turtles to reduce the use of wild populations. However, artificial breeding of sea turtles is still fairly difficult, and some facilities may illegally purchase wild turtle eggs and then sell incubated turtles by marketing them as artificially bred turtles, which adds another threat to an already endangered species.

Characterization and comparison of mitogenomes of three 'eyed' turtles spp.

In this paper, we characterized the mitogenomes of three 'eyed' turtles, the Beal's Eyed turtle (), the Four Eye-spotted turtle (), and the Hainan Four Eye-spotted turtle which was a unique lineage in the four-eyed turtle and considered as an independent species recently. The full lengths of the and mitogenomes are 16,564 bp, and 16,555 bp, respectively, while the length of partial mitochondrial genome of is 16,433 bp without tailed part of D-loop. All the genes exhibit the typical mitochondrial gene arrangement and transcribing directions of turtles.

Discovery of first active breeding den of Chinese mountain cat ( ).

In mid-September 2018, during a field survey in Chiat'ung, Sanjiangyuan (Three-River-Source) Region, Tibetan Plateau, China, we discovered the first active breeding den of the Chinese mountain cat (), inhabited by one adult female and two kittens. Based on fieldwork over the following months, five breeding dens were discovered, and 33 sightings were recorded. In addition, at least five individuals were confirmed to inhabit this overlooked region, and much previously unknown information concerning this cat species and its ecology was revealed for the first time.

Adhesive properties of YapV and paralogous autotransporter proteins of Yersinia pestis.

Yersinia pestis is the causative agent of plague. This bacterium evolved from an ancestral enteroinvasive Yersinia pseudotuberculosis strain by gene loss and acquisition of new genes, allowing it to use fleas as transmission vectors. Infection frequently leads to a rapidly lethal outcome in humans, a variety of rodents, and cats.

Osteogenic differentiation of amniotic epithelial cells: synergism of pulsed electromagnetic field and biochemical stimuli.

Background: Pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) is a non-invasive physical therapy used in the treatment of fracture nonunion or delayed healing. PEMF can facilitate the osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in vitro. Amniotic epithelial cells (AECs) have been proposed as a potential source of stem cells for cell therapy.

Antigen-specific H1N1 influenza antibody responses in acute respiratory tract infections and their relation to influenza infection and disease course.

Background: Early antibody responses to influenza infection are important in both clearance of virus and fighting the disease. Acute influenza antibody titers directed toward H1-antigens and their relation to infection type and patient outcomes have not been well investigated.

Objective: Using hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assays, we aimed to characterize the H1-specific antibody titers in patients with influenza infection or another respiratory infection before and after the H1N1-pandemic influenza outbreak.

[Investigation on disturbing of adipocytic differentiation of rBMSCs by loaded titanium particles].

Our previous investigations demonstrated that varying sizes of loaded titanium particles could inhibit proliferaion, adhension and osteoblastic differentiation of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (rBMSCs). The present study aims to validate the hypothesis that particled-shaped wear debris from prosthetic implants influence the adipocytic differentiation of rBMSCs. The effects of different sizes of loaded titanium particles (6.

Cross reactivity of serum antibody responses elicited by DNA vaccines expressing HA antigens from H1N1 subtype influenza vaccines in the past 30 years.

In the past three decades, ten H1 subtype influenza vaccines have been recommended for global seasonal flu vaccination. Some of them were used only for one year before being replaced by another H1 flu vaccine while others may be used for up to seven years. While the selection of a new seasonal flu vaccine was based on the escape of a new emerging virus that was not effectively protected by the existing flu formulation, there is limited information on the magnitude and breadth of cross reactivity among H1 subtype virus circulation over a long period.

[Static magnetic fields and its biomedical effects].

Nowadays, health care products based on static magnetic fields (SMF) and merchandise of magnetic therapy are popular around the world. But the biomedical effects of SMF to animals or human beings remain a widely concerned controversy. In this paper, the recent researches in China and abroad about the biomedical effects of SMF were reviewed in three levels: the cellular, animal and human levels.

Relationship between concentration difference of different density lipoproteins and shear stress in atherosclerosis.

Previous research has observed concentration polarization in LDL and HDL in the arterial system. However, there is no report that links this concentration polarization to the development of vascular atherosclerosis (AS). Therefore, the purpose of this study is to establish the relationship between concentration difference of LDL and HDL and shear stress using a carotid bifurcation vascular model.

[Influence of titanium particles loading on releases of cytokines of osteoblasts].

Aseptic loosening is mainly mediated by bone resorption cytokines in the surrounding area of orthopaedic implants. Our previous investigation demonstrtated that different-sized titanium particles loading can inbibit the osteoblastic differentiation and mineraliztion. In order to investigate the hypothesis that particulate wear debris derived from prosthetic biomaterials affects the release of bone resorption related cytokines, we studied the influence of different-sized titanium particles loading on the osteoblastic cytokines by assaying the secretion of IL-6, IL-10 with use of ABC-quantitative sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and on the expression of osteoclast differentiation factors (ODF) by RT-PCR.

AP-1 and NF-κB transcriptionally regulate interleukin-8 in EA.Hy926 cells under shear stress.

Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases remain the leading cause of death in the world. AS (atherosclerosis) is not only an inflammatory disease in which chemokines play the main role but also a disorder that is related to blood SS (shear stress). We have investigated the action of IL-8 (interleukin-8) mRNA expression in human endothelial cells line-EA.

[Stimulative and regulative functions of osteoblasts loaded under the titanium particles on osteoclasts].

Our previous studies on the function of the osteoblasts (OBs) have shown that worn titanium particles decrease osteoblast function and promot secretion of bone resorption cytokines of OBs surrounding the synovium-like interface membrane of loosening implants. The current study was aimed to test the hypothesis that osteoclasts (OCs) bone absorption function is induced by conditioned media (CM) prepared from OBs loaded in the presence or absence of titanium particles (with three mean diameters 6.9 microm, 2.

[Potential of cell transplantation as an alternative to liver transplantation].

Human hepatocyte transplantation to treat liver-based metabolic deficiencies and acute liver failure has shown promising early improvement in liver function; however, long-term success has not been achieved. Stem cell transplantation to restore liver function as an alternative to whole liver transplantation has not been successful in humans. As alternative sources of cells for human hepatocyte transplantation, stem cells are under investigation.

[Effects of M-CSF concentration, RANKL concentration and M-CSF preinduction on osteoclastogenesis].

This study was directed to the effects of macrophage-colony stimulating factors (M-CSF) concentration, recerptor activator of nuclear factor kappaB ligand (RANKL) concentration and M-CSF preinduction on osteoclastogenesis and the related resorption function. Bone marrow mononuclear cells were isolated and were divided into 4 groups. Group A underwent osteoclastogenic induction with the use of 30 ng/ml M-CSF and 50 ng/ml RANKL, while Group B received 50 ng/ml M-CSF and 100 ng/ml RANKL treatment.

[Construction and selection of effective mouse Smad6 recombinant lenti-virus interference vectors].

This experiment was designed to construct mouse Smad6 recombinant RNA interference vectors and determine their interference effects on bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). Three recombinant Smad6 RNA interference vectors were constructed by molecular clone techniques with a lenti-virus vector expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP), and the correctness of recombinant vectors was verified by DNA sequencing. Mouse BMSCs were used for transfection experiments and BMP-2 was in use for osteogenic induction of MSCs.

CXCR1 and CXCR2 are novel mechano-sensors mediating laminar shear stress-induced endothelial cell migration.

The migration of endothelial cells (ECs) plays critical roles in vascular physiology and pathology. The receptors CXCR1 and CXCR2, known as G protein-coupled receptors which are essential for migratory response of ECs toward the shear stress-dependent CXCL8 (interleukin-8), are potential mechano-sensors for mechanotransduction of the hemodynamic forces. In present study, the mRNA and protein expression of CXCR1 and CXCR2 in EA.

Significant evidence of association between polymorphisms in ZNF533, environmental factors, and nonsyndromic orofacial clefts in the Western Han Chinese population.

The etiology of nonsyndromic orofacial clefts (NSOC) has been considered "complex" or "multifactorial." Etiologic heterogeneity induces disparities in the results among different populations. The zinc finger protein 533 (ZNF533) and several environmental factors have been revealed to be associated with NSOC in several populations.

Biosafety level 2 model of pneumonic plague and protection studies with F1 and Psa.

Attenuated Yersinia pestis pgm strains, such as KIM5, lack the siderophore yersiniabactin. Strain KIM5 does not induce significant pneumonia when delivered intranasally. In this study, mice were found to develop pneumonia after intranasal challenge with strain KIM5 when they were injected intraperitoneally with iron dextran, though not with iron sulfate.

A comparative study of fluctuating asymmetry in Chinese families with nonsyndromic cleft palate.

Objective: To compare the asymmetry displayed by Chinese patients with nonsyndromic cleft palate (NSCP), their unaffected parents, and a control population.

Method: With rigorous inclusion criteria, a total number of 675 individuals with NSCP, 675 parental pairs of these patients, and 650 control individuals were involved in this case-control study. Size-adjusted fluctuating asymmetry (FA) scores were calculated by data on 10 variables.

[1H-NMR-based metabonomics analysis of plasma from osteoporotic rats induced by ovariectomy].

Objective: To investigate the application of metabonomics in research of osteoporosis, through detecting change of the endogenous metabolites in plasma from osteoporotic rats by ovariectomy.

Methods: Six old-months female SD rats were randomly divided into sham and OVX group. Fifth month after ovariectomy, plasma were collected from both groups, respectively.