Protein Kinase C Controls the Excitability of Cortical Pyramidal Neurons by Regulating Kv2.2 Channel Activity.

The family of voltage-gated potassium Kv2 channels consists of the Kv2.1 and Kv2.2 subtypes.

Neuritin promotes neurite and spine growth in rat cerebellar granule cells via L-type calcium channel-mediated calcium influx.

Unlabelled: Neuritin is a neurotrophic factor that is activated by neural activity and neurotrophins. Its major function is to promote neurite growth and branching; however, the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. To address this issue, this study investigated the effects of neuritin on neurite and spine growth and intracellular Ca concentration in rat cerebellar granule neurons (CGNs).

Functions and the related signaling pathways of the neurotrophic factor neuritin.

Neuritin is a member of the neurotrophic factor family, which is activated by neural activity and neurotrophins, and promotes neurite growth and branching. It has shown to play an important role in neuronal plasticity and regeneration. It is also involved in other biological processes such as angiogenesis, tumorigenesis and immunomodulation.

Neuritin Enhances Synaptic Transmission in Medial Prefrontal Cortex in Mice by Increasing CaV3.3 Surface Expression.

Neuritin is a neurotrophic factor involved in neural development and synaptic plasticity. However, its role in modulating synaptic transmission remains unclear. Here, we investigated the effects of neuritin on miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSCs) and glutamate release in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) in mice.

Effect of 1.8 GHz radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation on novel object associative recognition memory in mice.

Mounting evidence suggests that exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation (RF-EMR) can influence learning and memory in rodents. In this study, we examined the effects of single exposure to 1.8 GHz RF-EMR for 30 min on subsequent recognition memory in mice, using the novel object recognition task (NORT).

Growth differentiation factor-15 promotes glutamate release in medial prefrontal cortex of mice through upregulation of T-type calcium channels.

Growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) has been implicated in ischemic brain injury and synapse development, but its involvement in modulating neuronal excitability and synaptic transmission remain poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the effects of GDF-15 on non-evoked miniature excitatory post-synaptic currents (mEPSCs) and neurotransmitter release in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) in mice. Incubation of mPFC slices with GDF-15 for 60 min significantly increased the frequency of mEPSCs without effect on their amplitude.

GDF-15 enhances intracellular Ca2+ by increasing Cav1.3 expression in rat cerebellar granule neurons.

GDF-15 (growth/differentiation factor 15) is a novel member of the TGF (transforming growth factor)-β superfamily that has critical roles in the central and peripheral nervous systems. We reported previously that GDF-15 increased delayed rectifier outward K(+) currents and Kv2.1 α subunit expression through TβRII (TGF-β receptor II) to activate Src kinase and Akt/mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) signalling in rat CGNs (cerebellar granule neurons).

Neuritin reverses deficits in murine novel object associative recognition memory caused by exposure to extremely low-frequency (50 Hz) electromagnetic fields.

Animal studies have shown that electromagnetic field exposure may interfere with the activity of brain cells, thereby generating behavioral and cognitive disturbances. However, the underlying mechanisms and possible preventions are still unknown. In this study, we used a mouse model to examine the effects of exposure to extremely low-frequency (50 Hz) electromagnetic fields (ELF MFs) on a recognition memory task and morphological changes of hippocampal neurons.

[Methodology research and preliminary assessment of Mycobacterium tuberculosis detection by immunomagnetic beads combined with functionalized fluorescent quantum dots].

Objective: To establish a detection method for Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) by immunomagnetic beads combined with functionalized fluorescent quantum dots technology, and to investigate the optimal test condition and the diagnostic value of this method.

Methods: MTB standard strain H37Rv was used as detection object. Nanobeads and quantum dots were prepared by using wet chemical method, and conjugated separately with MTB binding peptide H8 to obtain immunomagnetic beads and functionalized fluorescent quantum dots, which could react with H37Rv simultaneously and form a ternary complex structure.

[Cross-resistance between rifampin and rifabutin in multidrug resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex strains].

Objective: To study the cross-resistance between rifampin and rifabutin in multidrug resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex strains, and therefore to provide laboratory data for using rifabutin in the treatment of multidrug resistant tuberculosis.

Methods: The MIC(90) of rifabutin and rifampin against 99 multidrug resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis clinical strains were determined by microplate assays. Statistical analysis was performed by using the χ(2) test and the t test.

[In vitro activities of clofazimine against different drug-resistant types of Mycobacterium tuberculosis].

Objective: To study the in vitro antituberculous activities of clofazimine (CLF) to different drug-resistant types of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Methods: The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of CLF and isoniazid (INH), rifampicin (RFP), ofloxacin (OFLX), amikacin (AK), and capreomycin (CPM) against sensitive, single-drug resistant (SDR), poly-drug resistant (PDR), multi-drug resistant (MDR), and extensive-drug resistant (XDR) Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains isolated clinically were determined by microplate assays.

Results: The MICs of CLF for sensitive, SDR, PDR, MDR and XDR strains of clinically isolated Mycobacterium tuberculosis were 0.

[Screening of the binding peptides of Mycobacterium tuberculosis H(37)Rv].

Objective: To screen the Mycobacterium tuberculosis H(37)Rv binding peptide using phage-displayed random peptide libraries, and to analyze the binding capacity of the peptide with Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Methods: Inactive Mycobacterium tuberculosis H(37)Rv was used for screening of the binding peptide from the Ph.D.

[Evaluation of microscopic observation drug susceptibility for drug susceptibility testing of mycobacterium tuberculosis in smear-positive sputum].

Objective: To evaluate microscopic observation drug susceptibility (MODS) for mycobacterium tuberculosis drug susceptibility in smear-positive sputum.

Methods: Drug susceptibility of mycobacterium tuberculosis in 275 smear-positive sputum samples collected from TB patients were detected directly by MODS. The susceptibility of seven antimicrobials including streptomycin, isoniazid, rifampicin, ethambutol, levofloxacin, amikacin and capromycin were detected MODS.

[Fast identification of mycobacteria in microtiter liquid culture].

Objective: This research was to establish a method for fast identification of mycobacteria in microtiter liquid culture and to evaluate its clinical value.

Methods: 2-thiophenecarboxylic acid hydrazide (TCH) and paranitrobenzoic acid (PNB) at different concentrations were added into liquid culture in 96-well plate. Different mycobacterium standard strains were incubated in liquid culture with PNB and TCH for 7 to 10 days.

[The effects of gene mutation related to drug resistance and drug efflux pump in extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis clinical isolates].

Objective: To explore the effects of 2 major drug-resistant mechanisms in clinically isolated strains of extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-MTB).

Methods: Genomic DNA of 10 XDR-MTB strains isolated from Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital were extracted. The main gene mutations related to drug resistance and 15 SNPs unique to XDR-MTB clinical isolate KZN605 reported by the Broad Institute in USA were detected by sequencing.

[Selecting and affinity analysis of DNA aptamers to MPT64 protein from Mycobacterium tuberculosis].

Objective: To obtain DNA oligonucleotide aptamers which can specifically bind to MPT64 protein from Mycobacterium tuberculosis by SELEX technology.

Methods: An in vitro synthesized 78 per random DNA library was subjected to 12 rounds of selection by SELEX (Systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment) method against MPT64 protein. Binding of the aptamers to the protein was examined by biotin-streptavidin-horseradish peroxidase system.

[Evaluation of pyrosequencing for the detection of rpoB gene mutation in Mycobacterium tuberculosis].

Objective: To detect the mutations of rpoB gene in Mycobacterium tuberculosis by pyrosequencing and to evaluate the values on detection of rifampin resistance in clinical isolates.

Methods: Using the new technology of pyrosequencing, the mutations in the rifampin resistance determining region (RRDR) of rpoB gene were analyzed. The results were compared with those obtained from methods of the absolute concentration and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC).