Ultrasound/microwave-assisted solid-liquid-solid dispersive extraction with high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry for the determination of neonicotinoid insecticides in Dendrobium officinale.

A one-step ultrasound/microwave-assisted solid-liquid-solid dispersive extraction procedure was used for the simultaneous determination of eight neonicotinoids (dinotefuran, nitenpyram, thiamethoxam, clothianidin, imidacloprid, acetamiprid, thiacloprid, imidaclothiz) in dried Dendrobium officinale by liquid chromatography combined with electrospray ionization triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry in multiple reaction monitoring mode. The samples were quickly extracted by acetonitrile and cleaned up by the mixed dispersing sorbents including primary secondary amine, C18 , and carbon-GCB. Parameters that could influence the ultrasound/microwave-assisted extraction efficiency such as microwave irradiation power, ultrasound irradiation power, temperature, and solvent were investigated.

Simultaneous determination of zearalenone and its derivatives in edible vegetable oil by gel permeation chromatography and gas chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry.

A sensitive gas chromatographic-triple quadrupole mass spectrometric (GC-QqQ MS) analytical method, for the determination of zearalenone and its five derivatives in edible vegetable oil, was developed. After the vegetable oil samples were prepared using gel permeation chromatography, the eluent was collected, evaporated and dried with nitrogen gas. The residue was silylated with N,O-bis-trimethylsilyltrifluoroacetamide, containing 1% trimethylchlorosilane.

Arabidopsis ABA receptor RCAR1/PYL9 interacts with an R2R3-type MYB transcription factor, AtMYB44.

Abscisic acid (ABA) signaling plays important roles in plant growth, development and adaptation to various stresses. RCAR1/PYL9 has been known as a cytoplasm and nuclear ABA receptor in Arabidopsis. To obtain further insight into the regulatory mechanism of RCAR1/PYL9, a yeast two-hybrid approach was performed to screen for RCAR1/PYL9-interacting proteins and an R2R3-type MYB transcription factor, AtMYB44, was identified.

Hydrogen sulfide attenuates hypoxia-induced neurotoxicity through inhibiting microglial activation.

Endogenously produced hydrogen sulfide (H2S) may have multiple functions in the brain including potent anti-inflammatory effects. Activated microglia can secrete various pro-inflammatory cytokines and neurotoxic mediators, which may contribute to hypoxic injuries in the developing brain. The aim of this study is to investigate the potential role of H2S in altering hypoxia-induced neurotoxicity via its anti-inflammatory actions as examined in vitro and in vivo models.

[Knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding blood-borne occupational exposure among reproductive health staff in Tianjin].

Objective: To investigate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding blood-borne occupational exposure among reproductive health staff in Tianjin, China.

Methods: By random, stratified, and clustered sampling, 507 reproductive health-related medical workers in Tianjin were selected. A Self-Administered KAP Questionnaire on blood-borne occupational exposure was employed to gauge the general characteristics, awareness of knowledge, attitudes to occupational exposure, implementation of pre-exposure protection, incidence of occupational exposure, and demands for continuing education.

Palmitic acid affects proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells in vitro.

High-lipid diet composed of saturated fatty acids (SFAs) has significant detrimental effects on brain homeostasis, and deleterious effects of SFAs on various cells have been well documented. However, the effects of SFAs on neural stem Cells (NSCs) function have not been fully explored. The aim of this study was to determine whether palmitic acid (PA) affected the proliferation and differentiation of murine-derived NSCs.

Effects of fluoride on bacterial growth and its gene/protein expression.

To determine the effects of fluoride on bacterial growth, as well as upon its gene/protein expression, we grew Escherichia coli expressing GFPuv (E. coli-GFPuv) in Luria Bertani medium at different concentrations of NaF, 0, 0.1 mM, 1 mM, 10 mM and 100 mM.

Hydrogen sulfide promotes proliferation and neuronal differentiation of neural stem cells and protects hypoxia-induced decrease in hippocampal neurogenesis.

Accumulating evidence has suggested that hydrogen sulfide (H2S) acts as a novel neuro-modulator and neuroprotective agent; however, it remains to be investigated whether H2S has a direct effect on neural stem cells (NSCs). In the present study, we examined the effects of H2S donor, sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS) on mouse NSCs and hippocampal neurogenesis. We report here that NaHS promoted proliferation and neuronal differentiation of NSCs.

Resveratrol prevents impaired cognition induced by chronic unpredictable mild stress in rats.

Depression is one of the most common neuropsychiatric disorders and has been associated with impaired cognition, as well as causing neuroendocrine systems and brain proteins alterations. Resveratrol is a natural polyphenol enriched in polygonum cuspidatum and has diverse biological activities, including potent antidepressant-like effects. The aim of this study was to determine whether resveratrol administration influences chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS)-induced cognitive deficits and explores underlying mechanisms.

The suppressive role and aberrent promoter methylation of BTG3 in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: BTG3 (B-cell translocation gene 3) has been identified as a tumor suppressor and hypermethylation contributes to its down-regulation in some tumors, but its role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain unknown. This study aimed to detect the expression and methylation status of BTG3 in HCC cell lines or tissues, and determine its function in HCC progression.

Methodology: The expression of BTG3 was detected in HCC cell lines and HCC tissue by real-time RT-PCR, Western blot or immunohistochemistry.

A novel membrane-bound E3 ubiquitin ligase enhances the thermal resistance in plants.

High temperature stress disturbs cellular homoeostasis and results in a severe retardation in crop growth and development. Thus, it is important to reveal the mechanism of plants coping with heat stress. In this study, a novel gene that we identified from Brassica napus, referred to as BnTR1, was found to play a key role in heat stress response in planta.

IL-6 pathway-driven investigation of response to IL-6 receptor inhibition in rheumatoid arthritis.

Objectives: To determine whether heterogeneity in interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-6 receptor and other components of the IL-6 signalling pathway/network, at the gene, transcript and protein levels, correlate with disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and with clinical response to tocilizumab.

Design: Biomarker samples and clinical data for five phase 3 trials of tocilizumab were analysed using serum (3751 samples), genotype (927 samples) and transcript (217 samples) analyses. Linear regression was then used to assess the association between these markers and either baseline disease activity or treatment response.

Tn and sialyl-Tn antigens, aberrant O-glycomics as human disease markers.

In many different human disorders, the cellular glycome is altered. An interesting but poorly understood alteration occurs in the mucin-type O-glycome, in which there is aberrant expression of the truncated O-glycans Tn (GalNAcα1-Ser/Thr) and its sialylated version sialyl-Tn (STn) (Neu5Acα2,6GalNAcα1-Ser/Thr). Both Tn and STn are tumor-associated carbohydrate antigens and tumor biomarkers, since they are not expressed normally and appear early in tumorigenesis.

FBX8 Acts as an Invasion and Metastasis Suppressor and Correlates with Poor Survival in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Background: F-box only protein 8 (FBX8), a novel component of F-box proteins, is lost in several cancers and has been associated with invasiveness of cancer cells. However, its expression pattern and role in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma remain unclear. This study investigated the prognostic significance of FBX8 in hepatocellular carcinoma samples and analyzed FBX8 function in hepatocellular carcinoma cells by gene manipulation.

Rapid and simultaneous determination of multiple classes of abused drugs and metabolites in human urine by a robust LC-MS/MS method - application to urine drug testing in pain clinics.

A simple LC-MS/MS method was developed and validated for quantitatively analyzing six classes of 26 abused drugs and metabolites in human urine: (1) illicit drugs; (2) opiates; (3) synthetic opioids; (4) sedative; (5) stimulants; and (6) γ-aminobutyric acid analogs. All urine samples were diluted with a mixture of isotope-labeled internal standards, hydrolyzed with β-glucuronidase and directly injected in a gradient chromatographic run. The mobile phase was composed of 0.

Fragmentation of deprotonated diacylhydrazine derivatives in electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry: generation of acid anions via intramolecular rearrangement.

The gas-phase fragmentation pathways of deprotonated diacylhydrazine derivatives (R1(C = O)-N(t-Bu)NH(C = O)R2, Compounds 1-6) were investigated by the combination of electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS) and theoretical calculations. Upon collisional activation, the deprotonated molecular ions [M - H](-) dissociate in two reaction channels, both of which involve intramolecular rearrangement. The main product ion is confirmed to be an anionic acid species, [R1-CO2](-), generated through intramolecular rearrangement of [M - H](-) initiated by the nucleophilic attack of the amide O6 on the carbonyl C2 (Path-1).

Characterization of cancer stem-like cells in the side population cells of human gastric cancer cell line MKN-45.

Objective: Side population (SP) cells may play a crucial role in tumorigenesis and the recurrence of cancer. Many kinds of cell lines and tissues have demonstrated the presence of SP cells, including several gastric cancer cell lines. This study is aimed to identify the cancer stem-like cells in the SP of gastric cancer cell line MKN-45.

Epigenetic silencing of the chaperone Cosmc in human leukocytes expressing tn antigen.

Cosmc is the specific molecular chaperone in the endoplasmic reticulum for T-synthase, a Golgi β3-galactosyltransferase that generates the core 1 O-glycan, Galβ1-3GalNAcα-Ser/Thr, in glycoproteins. Dysfunctional Cosmc results in the formation of inactive T-synthase and consequent expression of the Tn antigen (GalNAcα1-Ser/Thr), which is associated with several human diseases. However, the molecular regulation of expression of Cosmc, which is encoded by a single gene on Xq24, is poorly understood.

Effect of baseline rheumatoid factor and anticitrullinated peptide antibody serotype on rituximab clinical response: a meta-analysis.

Background: Studies examining the relationship between serological status (rheumatoid factor and/or anticitrullinated antibody) and rituximab treatment outcome in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have been hampered by limited numbers of seronegative patients.

Objective: To carry out a meta-analysis of trials from the rituximab RA clinical programme to investigate this relationship further.

Methods: This was a meta-analysis of four placebo-controlled, phase II or III clinical trials.

Attenuation of aortic injury by ursolic acid through RAGE-Nox-NFκB pathway in streptozocin-induced diabetic rats.

Vascular complications are the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in diabetes mellitus (DM). The RAGE (receptor for advanced glycation end products)-NADPH oxidase-NF-κB signal transduction pathway plays an important role in the development of oxidative stress-related vascular complications in DM. Ursolic acid (UA), a pentacyclic triterpenoid derived from plants, has been reported to have multiple pharmacological effects, including a potent antioxidant activity.

Analysis of cases with cesarean scar pregnancy.

Aim: To discuss the early diagnosis and effective treatment strategy of cesarean scar pregnancy (CSP).

Material And Methods:  We reviewed 17 patients in our department diagnosed with CSP between 2005 and 2010, including clinical characteristics, early diagnosis, treatment methods, side-effects and prognosis.

Results: The average duration of gestation at diagnosis was 46 days (range 37-82) and the interval between CSP and last cesarean scar was 6 years (range 2-15).

Copper-catalyzed oxidation of azolines to azoles.

We report herein convenient, aerobic conditions for the oxidation of thiazolines to thiazoles and data regarding the oxidation mechanism. These reactions feature operationally simple and environmentally benign conditions and proceed in good yield to afford the corresponding azoles, thus enabling the inexpensive preparation of valuable molecular building blocks. Incorporation of a novel diimine-ligated copper catalyst, [((Mes)DAB(Me))Cu(II)(OH(2))(3)](2+) [(-)OTf](2), provides increased reaction efficiency in many cases.

Cd14 SNPs regulate the innate immune response.

CD14 is a monocytic differentiation antigen that regulates innate immune responses to pathogens. Here, we show that murine Cd14 SNPs regulate the length of Cd14 mRNA and CD14 protein translation efficiency, and consequently the basal level of soluble CD14 (sCD14) and type I IFN production by murine macrophages. This has substantial downstream consequences for the innate immune response; the level of expression of at least 40 IFN-responsive murine genes was altered by this mechanism.

BnRCH gene inhibits cell growth of Hela cells through increasing the G2 phase of cell cycle.

The ubiquitin-proteasome pathway (UPP) is an important protein degradation system universally existing in eukaryotic organisms from yeast to human. In this system, hundreds of E3 ubiquitin-protein ligases are most important because they provide the substrate specificity and control many cellular processes. UPP has been found to be relevant to cancer development.

Overexpression of RhoGDI2 correlates with tumor progression and poor prognosis in colorectal carcinoma.

Background: RhoGDI2 has been identified as a regulator of tumor metastasis but its role in cancer remains controversial. The aims of this study were to analyze the function of RhoGDI2 in colorectal carcinoma (CRC), and to determine its possible signaling pathway in CRC.

Methods: The expression of RhoGDI2 was detected in CRC cell lines, and 20 matched pairs of fresh CRC tissues, and 120 cases of clinical paraffin-embedded CRC tissues by real-time RT-PCR, Western blot, RT-PCR, or immunohistochemistry.