Study on development of forensic blood substitute: Focusing on bloodstain pattern analysis.

Bloodstain pattern analysis, one of the areas of forensic science, is performed to analyze the physical characteristics of bloodstains, including their size, shape, and distribution, to reconstruct a crime scene. A bloodstain pattern analyst should obtain through experiments and education the capabilities to both understand the generation mechanisms of bloodstains and identify the characteristics of the bloodstains. Experiments and education about bloodstain pattern analysis are carried out by using human blood taken from subjects, animal blood (porcine or bovine) supplied from butcheries, and blood substitute products developed in other countries.

Application of 3D Laser Scanner to Forensic Engineering.

In the case of building collapses and overturned structures, a three-dimensional (3D) collapse or overturn model is required to reconstruct the accident. As construction sites become increasingly complex and large, 3D laser scanning is sometimes the best tool to accurately document and store the site conditions. This case report presents one case of a structure collapse and one case of an overturned crane reconstructed by a 3D laser scanner.

Kojic Acid Peptide: A New Compound with Anti-Tyrosinase Potential.

Background: Kojic acid was used for decades in the cosmetic industry as an antimelanogenic agent. However, there are two major drawbacks of Kojic acid, one is cytotoxicity and second are instability on storage. These limitations led the scientist to synthesize the active Kojic acid peptides.

Actionable gene expression-based patient stratification for molecular targeted therapy in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: The effectiveness of molecular targeted agents is modest in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Efficacy of molecular targeted therapies has been better in cancer patients with high expression of actionable molecules defined as cognate target molecules. However, patient stratification based on the actionable molecules dictating the effectiveness of targeted drugs has remained understudied in HCC.

Methanol extract of Evodia lepta displays Syk/Src-targeted anti-inflammatory activity.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Evodia lepta (Spreng.) Merr., in the Rutaceae family, is a medicinal plant traditionally used to treat inflammatory symptoms such as in meningitis and hepatitis.

Isolation and characterization of self-fertile suppressors from the sterile nsdD deletion mutant of Aspergillus nidulans.

To identify downstream and/or interactive factors of the nsdD gene, which encodes a positive regulator of sexual development of Aspergillus nidulans, suppressor mutants displaying a self-fertile phenotype were isolated from a sterile nsdD deletion mutant. At least five different loci (sndA-E) were identified and genetically analyzed. In the nsdD (+) background, most of the suppressors showed a marked increment of sexual development, even under the stress conditions that normally inhibited sexual development.

Protein-bound polysaccharide from Phellinus linteus inhibits tumor growth, invasion, and angiogenesis and alters Wnt/β-catenin in SW480 human colon cancer cells.

Background: Polysaccharides extracted from the Phellinus linteus (PL) mushroom are known to possess anti-tumor effects. However, the molecular mechanisms responsible for the anti-tumor properties of PL remain to be explored. Experiments were carried out to unravel the anticancer effects of PL.

Anti-inflammatory activity of constituents from Glechoma hederacea var. longituba.

Rosmarinic acid, its analogues, and a phenolic compound were obtained from G. hederacea var. longituba.

New sesquiterpene lactones from Glechoma hederacea L. and their cytotoxic effects on human cancer cell lines.

Three new sesquiterpene lactones, 1 α,10 β-epoxy-4-hydroxy-glechoma-5-en-olide (1), 1 β,10 α-epoxy-4,8-dihydroxy-glechoma-5-en-olide (2), and 1 β,10 α;4 α,5 β-diepoxy-8-methoxy-glechoman-8 α,12-olide (3), were isolated from the whole plant of Glechoma hederacea, together with four known sesquiterpene lactones. The structures of the three new sesquiterpene lactones were determined by spectroscopic evidence. Cytotoxic effects of the isolated compounds were examined against MDA-MB-231 (breast), HCT116 (colon), SW620 (colon), and DU145 (prostate) human cancer cell lines.

Vitexin, orientin and other flavonoids from Spirodela polyrhiza inhibit adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells.

To investigate the adipogenesis inhibitory effect on lipid accumulation, 3T3-L1 cells were treated with fractions and isolated flavonoids of Spirodela polyrhiza. An ethanol extract of S. polyrhiza was fractionated into three fractions.

Lanostane triterpenes from Ganoderma lucidum suppress the adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells through down-regulation of SREBP-1c.

Several lanostane triterpenes [butyl ganoderate A (1), butyl ganoderate B (2), butyl lucidenate N (3), and butyl lucidenate A (4)] bearing a butyl ester side chain from the fruiting bodies of Ganoderma lucidum exhibited considerable inhibitory effects on adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells. The inhibitory mechanism of 1 and 3 on adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells was investigated; we found that the mRNA and protein expression levels of SREBP-1c were reduced by treatment with 1 and 3 versus the untreated control. Furthermore, compounds 1 and 3 suppressed the mRNA expression levels of FAS and ACC.

Lanostane triterpenes from the fruiting bodies of Ganoderma lucidum and their inhibitory effects on adipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1 Cells.

Four new lanostane triterpenes, butyl ganoderate A (1), butyl ganoderate B (2), butyl lucidenate N (3), and butyl lucidenate A (4), were isolated from the fruiting bodies of Ganoderma lucidum together with 14 known compounds (5-18). The structures of the new triterpenes were established by extensive spectroscopic studies and chemical evidence. In addition, the inhibitory effect of isolated compounds on adipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1 cells was examined.

The antimicrobial activity of compounds from the leaf and stem of Vitis amurensis against two oral pathogens.

Nine compounds isolated from the leaf and stem of Vitis amurensis Rupr. (Vitaceae) were evaluated for their antimicrobial activity against two oral pathogens, Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sanguis, which are associated with caries and periodontal disease, respectively. The results of several antimicrobial tests, including MIC, MBC, and TBAI, showed that three compounds inhibited the growth of the test bacteria at concentrations ranging from 12.

Extracts of Magnoliae flos inhibit inducible nitric oxide synthase via ERK in human respiratory epithelial cells.

Nitric oxide (NO) is a marker of pulmonary inflammation. In asthma, the levels of exhaled NO are elevated and the source of this increased NO is inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) within airway epithelial cells. Epimagnolin and fargesin are compounds isolated from the ethanol extract of Magnoliae flos, the seed of the Magnolia plant and are used to treat nasal congestion, headache and sinusitis in Asian countries.