Assessing the Genetic Causal Effects Between Blood Metabolites and Spinal Pain: A Bidirectional Two-Sample Mendelian Randomization Study.

Background: Previous metabolomics studies have indicated a close association between blood metabolites and pain. However, the causal relationship between blood metabolites and spinal pain (SP) remains unclear. This study employs a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to evaluate the causal relationship between 452 blood metabolites and SP.

Effects of insulin-like peptide 7 in Bemisia tabaci MED on tomato chlorosis virus transmission.

Background: Tomato chlorosis virus (ToCV) is a semi-persistent plant virus that is primarily transmitted by the whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae). It causes a serious disease that lowers tomato yield. Insulin-like peptide (ILP), an insulin homolog, regulates trehalose metabolism in a variety of insects.

RNA-Seq Identification of Cd Responsive Transporters Provides Insights into the Association of Oxidation Resistance and Cd Accumulation in L.

Greenhouse vegetable production (GVP) has grown rapidly and has become a major force for cucumber production in China. In highly intensive GVP systems, excessive fertilization results in soil acidification, increasing Cd accumulation and oxidative stress damage in vegetables as well as increasing health risk of vegetable consumers. Therefore, enhancing antioxidant capacity and activating the expression level of Cd transporter genes seem to be feasible solutions to promote plant resistance to Cd stress and to reduce accumulated Cd concentration.

Efficient markerless gene deletions in Pseudomonas protegens Pf-5 using a upp-based counterselective system.

Objectives: Developing a counterselective system for efficient markerless gene deletions in biocontrol strain P. protegens Pf-5.

Results: We successfully implemented a markerless deletion of upp in Pf-5 to obtain the 5-FU resistant strain Pf5139.

Postnatal Expression Patterns of Estrogen Receptor Subtypes and Choline Acetyltransferase in Different Regions of the Papez Circuit.

The Papez circuit is crucial for several brain functions, including long-term memory and emotion. Estradiol modulates cognitive functions based on the expression pattern of its receptor subtypes including estrogen receptor (ER) α, β, and G protein-coupled receptor 30 (GPR30). Similarly, the activity in the cholinergic system correlates with several brain functions, such as learning and memory.

Genistein inhibits Aβ -induced SH-SY5Y cell damage by modulating the expression of apoptosis-related proteins and Ca influx through ionotropic glutamate receptors.

In this study, we investigated the protective effects of genistein against SH-SY5Y cell damage induced by β-amyloid 25-35 peptide (Aβ ) and the underlying mechanisms. Aβ-induced neuronal death, apoptosis, glutamate receptor subunit expression, Ca ion concentration, amino acid transmitter concentration, and apoptosis-related factor expression were evaluated to determine the effects of genistein on Aβ-induced neuronal death and apoptosis. The results showed that genistein increased the survival of SH-SY5Y cells and decreased the level of apoptosis induced by Aβ .

Tyrosine hydroxylase gene expression is facilitated by alcohol followed by the degradation of the protein by ubiquitin proteasome system.

Objectives: Alcohol intake induces brief periods of euphoria; however, its continuous consumption can lead the development of alcohol tolerance. The euphoria, an intense feeling of wellbeing, is deeply associated with dopamine. Dopamine biosynthesis is strictly regulated by tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), a rate-limiting enzyme of dopamine.

Zn reduction induces neuronal death with changes in voltage-gated potassium and sodium channel currents.

In the present study, cultured rat primary neurons were exposed to a medium containing N,N,N',N'-tetrakis(2-pyridylmethyl)ethylenediamine (TPEN), a specific cell membrane-permeant Zn chelator, to establish a model of free Zn deficiency in neurons. The effects of TPEN-mediated free Zn ion reduction on neuronal viability and on the performance of voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSCs) and potassium channels (Kvs) were assessed. Free Zn deficiency 1) markedly reduced the neuronal survival rate, 2) reduced the peak amplitude of I, 3) shifted the I activation curve towards depolarization, 4) modulated the sensitivity of sodium channel voltage-dependent inactivation to a depolarization voltage, and 5) increased the time course of recovery from sodium channel inactivation.

An in situ crosslinked compression coat comprised of pectin and calcium chloride for colon-specific delivery of indomethacin.

The use of pectin for colon-specific drug delivery has been extensively investigated; however, when used alone, pectin is often compromised due to its high solubility. This study explored the feasibility of using an in situ compression-coated crosslinking system, composed of pectin and calcium chloride, for colon-specific drug delivery. A pectin/calcium chloride (P/Ca) coating was compressed onto a core tablet.

Single- and multiple-dose pharmacokinetics of a novel tetramethylpyrazine reservoir-type transdermal patch versus tetramethylpyrazine phosphate oral tablets in healthy normal volunteers, and in vitro/in vivo correlation.

A novel reservoir-type transdermal system of 2,3,5,6-tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) was developed containing eucalyptus oil as a penetration enhancer. The single and multiple-dose pharmacokinetic profiles of TMP administrated by TMP transdermal patch were characterized in healthy volunteers using an in vivo, randomized, open-label, two-way crossover design. 2,3,5,6-Tetramethylpyrazine phosphate (TMPP) oral tablets were chosen as reference.

Development of a reservoir-type transdermal delivery system containing eucalyptus oil for tetramethylpyrazine.

The purpose of this study was to formulate a reservoir-type transdermal delivery system (TDS) for 2,3,5,6-tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) to enable the delivery of a sufficient dose through human skin to achieve an effective therapeutic plasma concentration. To improve the penetration of TMP in the reservoir-type TDS, several chemical penetration enhancers were investigated using in vitro rat dorsal skin permeation studies. Eucalyptus oil was found to enhance the permeation of TMP to the greatest extent, with the optimal concentration being 5% and the flux being 542.

Electronic healthcare: issues and challenges.

The shift in the nation's attention, resources and interest toward internet-related healthcare activities, often called 'e-health', is dramatic and a most significant development in the healthcare environment. E-health, while exciting and promising, also presents new challenges, particularly in regard to acceptable standards, choice of technologies, overcoming traditional jurisdictional boundaries, up-front investment and privacy and confidentiality. This paper presents e-health architecture and various issues and challenges that need to be resolved before e-health becomes commonplace.

Guar gum/ethylcellulose coated pellets for colon-specific drug delivery.

The aim of this work was to investigate guar gum/ethylcellulose mix coated pellets for potential colon-specific drug delivery. The coated pellets, containing 5-fluorouracil as a model drug, were prepared in a fluidized bed coater by spraying the aqueous/ethanol dispersion mixture of guar gum and ethylcellulose. The lag time of drug release and release rate were adjustable by changing the ratio of guar gum to ethylcellulose and coat weight gain.

In vitro evaluation and pharmacokinetics in dogs of guar gum and Eudragit FS30D-coated colon-targeted pellets of indomethacin.

A pH- and enzyme-dependent colon-targeted multi-unit delivery system of indomethacin was developed by coating guar gum and Eudragit FS30D sequentially onto drug-loaded pellets in a fluidized bed coater. In vitro studies showed that smaller coating weight gain of guar gum resulted in reduced release lag time t10 (10% release time), but favored degradation by enzymes (galactomannanase). A cumulative weight gain (CWG) of 44% provided sufficient enzymatic sensitivity and protection of the core.

[Determination of ligustrazine in human plasma by high performance liquid chromatography with solid-phase extraction].

A high performance liquid chromatographic method was developed for the determination of ligustrazine in human plasma. The chromatographic separation was performed on a Luna C18 column (150 mm x 4.6 mm i.

A pharmacokinetic study of intramuscular administration of bulleyaconitine A in healthy volunteers.

The pharmacokinetics of bulleyaconitine A (BLA) after a single dose of 0.2 mg intramuscular injection was evaluated in healthy volunteers. Physical exam, vital signs, clinical laboratory tests and electrocardiogram measurements were monitored to assess the safety and tolerance of the drug.

Determination of bulleyaconitine A in human plasma by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry.

A sensitive and specific high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (MS-MS) was developed for the determination of bulleyaconitine A (BLA) in human plasma. BLA and internal standard (I.S.

In vitro permeation of tetramethylpyrazine across porcine buccal mucosa.

Aim: To examine the in-vitro transport route of tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) across porcine buccal mucosa and to investigate the effects of drug concentration, pH in donor chamber, and 1-octanol/buffer partition coefficient on transbuccal permeation.

Methods: In-vitro permeation of TMP through porcine buccal mucosa was studied by using in-line flow through diffusion cells at 37 . The permeability of TMP was evaluated at different donor pH and drug concentration.