Phospho-selective mechanisms of arrestin conformations and functions revealed by unnatural amino acid incorporation and (19)F-NMR.

Specific arrestin conformations are coupled to distinct downstream effectors, which underlie the functions of many G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Here, using unnatural amino acid incorporation and fluorine-19 nuclear magnetic resonance ((19)F-NMR) spectroscopy, we demonstrate that distinct receptor phospho-barcodes are translated to specific β-arrestin-1 conformations and direct selective signalling. With its phosphate-binding concave surface, β-arrestin-1 'reads' the message in the receptor phospho-C-tails and distinct phospho-interaction patterns are revealed by (19)F-NMR.

Structural and spectropscopic studies of a three-dimensional hydrogen-bonded copper(II) complex: aqua[bis(pyridin-2-ylcarbonyl)amidato]cyanidocopper(II).

The preparation and X-ray and spectroscopic studies of the title copper(II) complex, [Cu(C12H8N3O2)(CN)(H2O)], are reported. The Cu(II) cation is five-coordinated, forming a distorted square-planar pyramid with an Addison τ parameter of 0.14.

Cadmium is a potent inhibitor of PPM phosphatases and targets the M1 binding site.

The heavy metal cadmium is a non-degradable pollutant. By screening the effects of a panel of metal ions on the phosphatase activity, we unexpectedly identified cadmium as a potent inhibitor of PPM1A and PPM1G. In contrast, low micromolar concentrations of cadmium did not inhibit PP1 or tyrosine phosphatases.

[Percutaneous intradiscal oxygen-ozone injection for lumbar disc herniation: no need of perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis].

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility of no antibiotic administration to prevent infection during the perioperative period of percutaneous intradiscal ozone-injection for treatment of lumbar disc herniation.

Methods: Seventy-two patients with lumbar disc herniation but normal body temperature as well as normal results of three routine tests (blood, urine, stool) and C-reactive protein (CRP) level were randomly divided into two groups. The patients in prophylaxis group were given cephalothin V(2.

[Necessity of prophylactic antibiotics in patients with primary liver cancer undergoing transcatheter arterial chemoembolization: a prospective study].

Objective: To investigate the necessity of prophylactic administration of antibiotic in patients with primary liver cancer undergoing transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE).

Methods: Sixty patients without preoperative infection were randomized into two groups to receive a single dose of cefazolin (PA group) prior to TACE or no prophylactic antibiotics (NONE group). The incidence of postoperative infection was compared.

[Clinical application of 16-slice spiral CT coronary angiography].

Objective: To assess the clinical value of multislice spiral CT coronary angiography (MSCTCA).

Methods: Totally 79 patients were examined with MSCTCA and the CT images were reconstructed by several methods to analyze the factors crucial for the image quality, the ability of MSCT displaying the coronary artery vessels, along with the nature and calcification degrees of the plaques. The presence as well as the degree of vascular stenosis, visualization of the bypass graft, implanted stents and patency of the vessels were evaluated.

[18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose uptake in hepatocellular carcinoma on positron emission tomography correlates with alpha-fetoprotein].

Objective: To investigate whether (18)F-fluorodexyglucose (FDG) uptake in the primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) correlates with serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP).

Methods: Forty-five patients with histologically confirmed HCC underwent whole-body (18)F-FDG PET examination. Standardized uptake value (SUV) and tumor-to-nontumor ratio of the SUV (SUVratio) were calculated, and the relationship between serum AFP and glucose metabolism in HCC was analyzed.

Value of angiography in the diagnosis of patients with small kidney.

Objective: To explore the diagnostic value of angiography in small kidney patients.

Methods: Angiographies were performed in 32 patients with small kidney of unknown etiology or with suspected renal arterial stenosis (RAS).

Results: Twelve cases of renal atrophy due to RAS were diagnosed by angiography, which demonstrated renal artery stenoses or occlusions.

[Comparison of digital radiography and conventional X-ray in the diagnosis of solitary pulmonary nodule with receiver operating characteristic analysis].

Objective: To compare digital radiographs with conventional radiographs in the detection of solitary pulmonary nodules.

Methods: Thirty patients with solitary pulmonary nodule and 30 cases without pulmonary nodules were enrolled in the study. The existence of solitary pulmonary nodule was confirmed by chest computed tomography (CT) as well as biopsy.