CD-MOF-1 Growth on Polysaccharide Gels through Only C2-OH/C3-OH or C5-O/C6-OH Group Formed Four-Coordinated K Ions for Developing Porous Biogels.

The γ-cyclodextrin (γ-CD) metal-organic frameworks (CD-MOF-1) consist of γ-CD and potassium (K) ions through coordinating an eight-coordinated K ion with two C5-linked oxygen and C6-linked hydroxyl (C5-O/C6-OH) groups in the primary faces of adjacent γ-CD units and two C2- and C3-linked hydroxyl (C2-OH/C3-OH) groups in the secondary faces. Herein, we found polysaccharide gels with only C2-OH/C3-OH or C5-O/C6-OH groups in pyranoid rings can form four-coordinated K ions and then coordinate γ-CD in a KOH solution for CD-MOF-1 growth. Exposure of C2-OH/C3-OH or C5-O/C6-OH groups in polysaccharide gels is important to form active four-coordinated K ions.

Protective Mechanisms of Various Active Substances on Cell DNA Damage and Apoptosis Induced by Deoxynivalenol.

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is a secondary metabolite of fungi that is harmful to humans and animals. This study examined the protective effects of natural substances, including resveratrol, quercetin, vitamin E, vitamin C, and microbe-derived antioxidants (MA), on both human gastric mucosal cells (GES-1) and pig small intestinal epithelial cells (IPEC-1) when induced by DON. Cells were incubated with active substances for 3 h and then exposed to DON for 24 h.

ZBTB20 is essential for cochlear maturation and hearing in mice.

The mammalian cochlear epithelium undergoes substantial remodeling and maturation before the onset of hearing. However, very little is known about the transcriptional network governing cochlear late-stage maturation and particularly the differentiation of its lateral nonsensory region. Here, we establish ZBTB20 as an essential transcription factor required for cochlear terminal differentiation and maturation and hearing.

A Phage Lysin Fused to a Cell-Penetrating Peptide Kills Intracellular Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Keratinocytes and Has Potential as a Treatment for Skin Infections in Mice.

is the main pathogen that causes skin and skin structure infections and is able to survive and persist in keratinocytes of the epidermis. Since the evolution of multidrug-resistant bacteria, the use of phages and their lysins has presented a promising alternative approach to treatment. In this study, a cell wall hydrolase (also called lysin) derived from phage JD007 (JDlys) was identified.

Development of Dual Quantitative Lateral Flow Immunoassay for the Detection of Mycotoxins.

Lateral flow immunoassays have been widely used in recent years for detection of toxins, heavy metals, and biomarkers. To improve the efficiency of individual lateral flow immunoassays, multiplex analytical strips play an important role in the detection of several important analytes. In this chapter, development of a dual lateral flow immunoassay is presented for detection of a variety of low molecular weight molecules.

Screening of single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) aptamers against a zearalenone monoclonal antibody and development of a ssDNA-based enzyme-linked oligonucleotide assay for determination of zearalenone in corn.

A hypotoxic immunosorbent assay for the detection of zearalenone (ZEN) was developed, by identifying a single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) aptamer with high specificity and affinity for a ZEN monoclonal antibody (mAb-ZEN). ssDNA aptamers, which could mimic ZEN epitopes, were identified using the modified systematic evolution of ligands by an exponential enrichment (SELEX) technique. The purified mAb-ZEN was coated on microtiter plates as a target recognized by the random oligonucleotide ssDNA library.

[Math1 gene therapy for kanamycin and furosemide-induced deaf guinea pigs].

Objective: To observe the morphology and function changes of cochlear hair cells before and after math1 gene injection into the cochlea of deaf guinea pigs which were induced by kanamycin and furosemide. To explore the feasibility of Math1 gene for medicine-induced deafness therapy.

Methods: Kanamycin (500 mg/kg) and furosemide (50 mg/kg) were given to the healthy adult guinea pigs intramuscularly and intravenously to establish the deafness model.

Simultaneous quantitative determination of multiple mycotoxins in cereal and feedstuff samples by a suspension array immunoassay.

Mycotoxins produced by different species of fungi may coexist in single cereal and feedstuff samples, which could become highly toxic for humans and animals. In order to quantify four mycotoxins (zearalenone, fumonisin B1, deoxynivalenol, and aflatoxin B1) in cereal and feedstuff samples simultaneously, a new suspension array immunoassay was developed. Antimycotoxin monoclonal antibodies were conjugated to the surface of different encoding microspheres (19#, 37#, 39#, and 49#), and mycotoxin-protein conjugates were then coupled with biotin.

Rapid simultaneous quantification of zearalenone and fumonisin B1 in corn and wheat by lateral flow dual immunoassay.

A lateral flow dual immunoassay (LFDIA) was developed for rapid quantitative detection of zearalenone (ZEN) and fumonisin B1 (FB1) in corn and wheat samples on a single test strip. Two test lines and the control line on the nitrocellulose membrane were coated with ZEN and FB1 conjugates and goat anti-mouse IgG, respectively. Colloidal gold nanoparticles were conjugated with monoclonal antibodies against ZEN or FB1.

Novel chemiluminescence immunoassay for the determination of zearalenone in food samples using gold nanoparticles labeled with streptavidin-horseradish peroxidase.

A novel highly sensitive chemiluminescence immunoassay (CLIA) was developed to detect zearalenone in food samples by using both biotinylated zearalenone conjugates and gold (Au) nanoparticles labeled with streptavidin-horseradish peroxidase for signal amplification. Biotinylated zearalenone-ovalbumin conjugates and Au nanoparticles labeled with streptavidin-horseradish peroxidase were synthesized separately. The concentrations of immunoreagents and the reaction times of these immunoreagents were optimized to improve the performances of analytical methods.

Migration and differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells transplanted into mature cochlea of rats with aminoglycoside-induced hearing loss.

Conclusion: Mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) transplanted into the scala tympani are able to migrate in the cochlea of rats deafened with aminoglycoside and partly restore the structure of sensory epithelia of the inner ear.

Objectives: To explore the migration and differentiation of enhanced green fluorescence protein (EGFP)-expressing ESCs by transplanting them into the scala tympani of rats with amikacin sulfate-induced hearing loss.

Methods: Adult Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were deafened with amikacin sulfate.

Regeneration of stereocilia of hair cells by forced Atoh1 expression in the adult mammalian cochlea.

The hallmark of mechanosensory hair cells is the stereocilia, where mechanical stimuli are converted into electrical signals. These delicate stereocilia are susceptible to acoustic trauma and ototoxic drugs. While hair cells in lower vertebrates and the mammalian vestibular system can spontaneously regenerate lost stereocilia, mammalian cochlear hair cells no longer retain this capability.

[Histological changes of peripheral vestibular organs in the inner ears of Smad4 conditional knockout mice].

Objective: To investigate the histological changes in the vestibular endorgans of Smad4 gene conditional knockout mice and to explore the influence of the Smad4 gene on vestibular development.

Methods: Histological changes of periphery vestibular organs in inner ear of Smad4 conditional knockout mice were investigated by frozen sections, immunofluorescence, confocal microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy.

Results: There was no Smad4 expression in the inner ear cartilage capsule of Smad4-/- mice.

Type I hair cell regeneration induced by Math1 gene transfer following neomycin ototoxicity in rat vestibular sensory epithelium.

Conclusion: In the current study, hair cells of vestibular terminal organs in rats were completely eliminated with trans-scala vestibuli injection of neomycin, and then the Math1 gene was transferred. It was shown that type I vestibular hair cells were regenerated and synapses were formed.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to identify the cell type of the regenerated vestibular hair cells and relative innervation and synaptic linkage after hair cells of vestibular terminal organs in rats were completely eliminated.

Effects of DAPT and Atoh1 overexpression on hair cell production and hair bundle orientation in cultured Organ of Corti from neonatal rats.

Background: In mammals, hair cells do not undergo spontaneous regeneration when they are damaged and result in permanent hearing loss. Previous studies in cultured Organ of Corti dissected from neonatal animals have shown that both DAPT (r-secretase inhibitor in the Notch signal pathway) treatment and Atoh1 overexpression can induce supernumerary hair cells. The effects of simultaneous DAPT treatment and Atoh1 over expression in the cells of cultured Organ of Corti from neonatal rats are still obscure.

The differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells into inner ear hair cell-like cells in vitro.

Conclusion: Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have the ability to differentiate into hair cells, and this method of culturing MSCs provides a useful tool for studies on mammalian cochlear hair cell regeneration.

Objective: To investigate a method to induce bone marrow MSCs to differentiate into inner ear hair cells.

Methods: Rat bone marrow MSCs were isolated from healthy rats and cultured in vitro.

Math1 gene transfer based on the delivery system of quaternized chitosan/Na-carboxymethyl-beta-cyclodextrin nanoparticles.

Mammalian cochlear hair cells don't regenerate naturally after injury, which usually leave permanent hearing loss. Math1 gene is a positive regulator of hair cell differentiation during cochlear development and was proved to be very critical in hair cell regeneration in deaf animals. Generating new cochlear hair cells by forced Math1 expression may be a cure for hearing loss.

The role of Smad4 in vestibular development in mice.

The regulation of the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signal transduction pathway is important in the development of the inner ear and vestibular system. We reported previously that small mothers against decapentaplegic homolog-4 (Smad4) is required for inner ear cochlear development and normal auditory function in mammals; however, the distribution and functional mechanisms of Smad4 at various stages of vestibular development remained unclear. To investigate the relationship between the Smad4 gene and vestibular organ development, we measured changes in the expression of BMP4 and Smad4 during vestibular development in C57BL/6 mice.

Death mode-dependent reduction in succinate dehydrogenase activity in hair cells of aging rat cochleae.

Background: Our previous studies have shown that both apoptosis and necrosis are involved in hair cell (HC) pathogenesis in aging cochleae. To better understand the biological mechanisms responsible for the regulation of HC death, we examined the activity of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), a mitochondrial bioenergetic enzyme, in the HCs of aging cochleae.

Methods: The auditory brainstem response thresholds elicited by tone bursts at 4, 10 and 20 kHz were measured in both young (2-3 months) and aging (22-23 months) Wistar rats.

Chondrocyte-specific Smad4 gene conditional knockout results in hearing loss and inner ear malformation in mice.

Smad4 is the central intracellular mediator of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) signaling, which plays crucial roles in tissue regeneration, cell differentiation, embryonic development, and regulation of the immune system. Conventional Smad4 gene knockout results in embryonic lethality, precluding its use in studies of the role of Smad4 in inner ear development. We used chondrocyte-specific Smad4 knockout mice (Smad4Co/Co) to investigate the function of Smad4 in inner ear development.

Smad5 haploinsufficiency leads to hair cell and hearing loss.

The Smads are a group of related intracellular proteins critical for transmitting the signals to the nucleus from the transforming growth factor-beta superfamily at the cell surface. Knockout of the Smad5 is embryonic lethal. However, the Smad5 knockout of single allele (+/-) could survive.

[Electron microscopic observation of vocal fold polyps].

Objective: The purpose of this study was to observe the ultrastructure of the fibroblasts, collagen and elastic fibers in vocal fold polyps.

Methods: Ten vocal fold polyps and 3 normal vocal fold specimens obtained from total laryngectomy were studied by means of transmission electron microscope and scanning electron microscope.

Results: The result showed that in vocal fold polyps, the quantity of fibroblasts increased and there were abundant organelles, suggesting that the fibroblast were in the status of activation.

[Relevance between clinical behavior and bionomical findings of acoustic neuromas].

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between labeling index (LI) Ki-67, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) with the clinical behavior of acoustic neuroma.

Methods: Expression of Ki-67, PCNA and TGF-beta1 was detected by immunohistochemistry in 53 specimens of acoustic neuromas. The relationship among tumor proliferation, histological representation, size of tumor, clinical proliferation index of tumor and tumor proliferation activity were analyzed.

[In vitro culture of greater epithelial ridge cells from rat cochleae].

Objective: To establish in vitro culture systems of greater epithelial ridge (GER) cells from rat cochlear and to investigate the characterization, growth pattern and ultrastructure of GER cells.

Methods: Using a combinatorial approach of enzymatic digestion and mechanical separation to allow isolation and culture of GER cells from P1 rat cochleae. The dissociated GER cells were cultured in serum-free or 10% fetal bovine serum DMEM respectively.

[Ultrastructural localization of aquaporin 1 in endolymphatic sac of the mouse].

Objective: To study the ultrastructural localization of aquaporin 1 (AQP1) in the endolymphatic sac (ES) of the mouse inner ear and explore the function of the AQP1 in ES.

Methods: The cellular localization of AQP1 in ES of the mouse inner ear was investigated by immunocytochemistry. The ultrastructural localization of AQP1 in the mouse inner ear was performed by immunogold electron microscopy which is characterized as cryoprotection and high sensitivity.