Element and mineral characterization of dust emission from the saline land at Songnen Plain, Northeastern China.

Recent observations of Asian dust storms show an eastern expansion of the source area to degraded lands, where dust emissions have been little studied. The dust concentrations over the saline land of the western Songnen Plain (SSL), Northeastern China, are circumstantially higher than those from the northwestern Chinese deserts. These concentrations are sensitive to the surface soil conditions and wind velocity on the ground.

[Curcumine inhibits migration and invasion of hepatic stellate cells by reducing MMP-2 expression and activity].

Objective: To investigate the molecular mechanism of the inhibitory effect of curcumine on the migration and invasion of hepatic stellate cells (HSC).

Methods: Rat hepatic stellate cells were cultured and activated with ConA. Matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) expression and activity was determined by Western blot and gelatin zymography.

Hepatitis C virus infection reduces hepatocellular polarity in a vascular endothelial growth factor-dependent manner.

Background & Aims: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection leads to progressive liver disease, frequently culminating in fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The mechanisms underlying liver injury in chronic hepatitis C are poorly understood. This study evaluated the role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in hepatocyte polarity and HCV infection.

TgICMAP1 is a novel microtubule binding protein in Toxoplasma gondii.

The microtubule cytoskeleton provides essential structural support for all eukaryotic cells and can be assembled into various higher order structures that perform drastically different functions. Understanding how microtubule-containing assemblies are built in a spatially and temporally controlled manner is therefore fundamental to understanding cell physiology. Toxoplasma gondii, a protozoan parasite, contains at least five distinct tubulin-containing structures, the spindle pole, centrioles, cortical microtubules, the conoid, and the intra-conoid microtubules.

Hepatoma cell density promotes claudin-1 and scavenger receptor BI expression and hepatitis C virus internalization.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) entry occurs via a pH- and clathrin-dependent endocytic pathway and requires a number of cellular factors, including CD81, the tight-junction proteins claudin 1 (CLDN1) and occludin, and scavenger receptor class B member I (SR-BI). HCV tropism is restricted to the liver, where hepatocytes are tightly packed. Here, we demonstrate that SR-BI and CLDN1 expression is modulated in confluent human hepatoma cells, with both receptors being enriched at cell-cell junctions.

[Effect of Tongxinluo on endothelial function and hypersensitive C-reactive protein in acute coronary syndrome patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention].

Objective: To determine the effect of Tongxinluo on the endothelial function and hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in acute coronary syndrome patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI).

Methods: Thirty-three patients with unstable angina pectoris and 6 patients with acute myocardial infarction who underwent PCI for stenotic lesions of the coronary artery were enrolled. The patients were randomly assigned to a conventional group (n = 19) which took routine treatment or a tongxinluo group (n = 20) which took Tongxinluo(4 capsules once, 3 times per day) at the base of routine treatment after PCI.

[Changes in proportion of decidua and peripheral blood CD(4)(+)CD(25)(+) regulatory T cells in unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion patients].

Objective: To study the changes in the percentage of CD(4)(+)CD(25)(+) regulatory T (Tr) cells in peripheral blood and deciduas in unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion (URSA) patients, normal non-pregnant and pregnant women respectively.

Methods: The percentage of CD(4)(+)CD(25)(+) Tr cells in deciduas and peripheral blood from 25 URSA patients, 22 normal non-pregnant (NNP) women, and 34 normal early pregnant (NP) women were measured by double-staining followed by flow cytometric analysis.

Results: (1) The percentage of CD(4)(+)CD(25)(bright) T cells in peripheral blood in both URSA and NP [(1.

New oligosaccharides prepared by acid hydrolysis of the polysaccharides from Nerium indicum Mill and their anti-angiogenesis activities.

To discover drug candidates with anti-angiogenesis activity for cancer therapeutics, three galactooligosaccharides (OJ1-OJ3) were prepared by acid hydrolysis of the polysaccharides from Nerium indicum Mill. Their structures were characterized using sugar analysis, methylation analysis, and both 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy, complemented by mass spectrometry. They were hexasaccharide (OJ1), a pentasaccharide (OJ2), and an undecasaccharide (OJ3), which was a new linear galactan.

[Acute toxicity of DDT and its effects on life table demography of Moina macrocopa].

The 48 h LC50 of DDT to Moina macrocopa was determined by acute toxicity test, and the effects of different concentrations (1, 8, 16, 24, 32 and 40 microg x L(-1)) of DDT on the life table demography of M. macrocopa was studied by life table demography. The results showed that the 48 h LC50 of DDT to M.

Proportional change of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells after lymphocyte therapy in unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion patients.

Objective: To investigate the proportional changes of CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells in peripheral blood after lymphocyte therapy in unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion (URSA) patients.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting: University Hospital.

[A comparative study on immunocompatibility and histological turnover after fresh or preserved human amniotic membrane xenotransplantation].

Objective: To investigate the immunoreaction, histological reaction and turnover by comparing the xenotransplantation of fresh human amniotic membrane (HAM) with that of preserved HAM, and to analyze the clinical application value of different kinds of HAM preparations.

Methods: Subcutaneous implant models were established in 150 BALB/C mice, which were randomized into 5 groups of 30 mice each, based on different implants: fresh amniotic membrane (FAM), double fresh amniotic membrane (DFAM), glycerin preserved amniotic membrane (GPAM), chorion (positive control) or merely operation (negative control). The tissue samples from grafted area were observed with SABC and HE staining, and the inflammatory cells were calculated with light microscopy.

Organellar dynamics during the cell cycle of Toxoplasma gondii.

The protozoan phylum Apicomplexa encompasses approximately 5000 species of obligate intracellular parasites, including those responsible for malaria and toxoplasmosis. Rather than dividing by binary fission, apicomplexans use a remarkable mechanism for replication, assembling daughters de novo within the cytoplasm. Here, we exploit time-lapse microscopy of fluorescent markers targeted to various subcellular structures in Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites to determine how these unicellular eukaryotes efficiently package a complete set of organelles, maintaining the highly polarized organization necessary for host cell invasion and pathogenesis.

[Efficacy comparison of neoadjuvant radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy for locally advanced rectal cancer].

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of neoadjuvant radiotherapy alone versus chemoradiotherapy in patients with mid-low locally advanced rectal cancer.

Methods: Data of 69 patients with advanced (stage T(3) or T(4)) rectal cancer, undergone neoadjuvant therapy in our hospital from October 1997 to October 2007, were analyzed retrospectively. Forty patients received preoperative radiotherapy (50 Gy in 25 fractions over 5 weeks) alone (RT group), and 29 patients received preoperative radiotherapy concomitant with 5-FU/leucovorin -based preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT group).

CD81 and claudin 1 coreceptor association: role in hepatitis C virus entry.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is an enveloped positive-stranded RNA hepatotropic virus. HCV pseudoparticles infect liver-derived cells, supporting a model in which liver-specific molecules define HCV internalization. Three host cell molecules have been reported to be important entry factors or receptors for HCV internalization: scavenger receptor BI, the tetraspanin CD81, and the tight junction protein claudin-1 (CLDN1).

[The association between polymorphism of the serotonin 2A, 2C receptor genes and obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome in Han population].

Objective: To investigate the association between polymorphisms of the serotonin 2A, 2C receptor genes and obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS), and therefore to explore the genotypes related to OSAHS.

Methods: The T102C and A1438G polymorphisms of the serotonin 2A receptor genes and the G796C polymorphisms of the serotonin 2C receptor genes were identified by polymerase chain reaction-restricted fragment length polymorphism assay in 119 unrelated subjects (including 65 OSAHS patients and 54 normal controls) of "Han" population of China. The genotype distribution and the allele frequencies of the polymorphisms were compared between the OSAHS group and the control group.

Toxoplasma gondii Hsp20 is a stripe-arranged chaperone-like protein associated with the outer leaflet of the inner membrane complex.

Background Information: Toxoplasma gondii is among the most successful parasites, with nearly half of the human population chronically infected. T. gondii has five sHsps [small Hsps (heat-shock proteins)] located in different subcellular compartments.

Organizational changes of the daughter basal complex during the parasite replication of Toxoplasma gondii.

The apicomplexans are a large group of parasitic protozoa, many of which are important human and animal pathogens, including Plasmodium falciparum and Toxoplasma gondii. These parasites cause disease only when they replicate, and their replication is critically dependent on the proper assembly of the parasite cytoskeletons during cell division. In addition to their importance in pathogenesis, the apicomplexan parasite cytoskeletons are spectacular structures.

Hepatitis C virus receptor expression in normal and diseased liver tissue.

Unlabelled: The principal site of hepatitis C virus (HCV) replication is the liver. HCV pseudoparticles infect human liver derived cell lines and this suggests that liver-specific receptors contribute to defining HCV hepatotropism. At least three host cell molecules have been reported to be important for HCV entry: the tetraspanin CD81, scavenger receptor class B member I (SR-BI), and the tight junction (TJ) protein Claudin 1 (CLDN1).

Effect of cell polarization on hepatitis C virus entry.

The primary reservoir for hepatitis C virus (HCV) replication in vivo is believed to be hepatocytes within the liver. Three host cell molecules have been reported to be important entry factors for receptors for HCV: the tetraspanin CD81, scavenger receptor BI (SR-BI), and the tight-junction (TJ) protein claudin 1 (CLDN1). The recent discovery of a TJ protein as a critical coreceptor highlighted the importance of studying the effect(s) of TJ formation and cell polarization on HCV entry.

Hepatitis C virus cell-cell transmission in hepatoma cells in the presence of neutralizing antibodies.

Unlabelled: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection of Huh-7.5 hepatoma cells results in focal areas of infection where transmission is potentiated by cell-cell contact. To define route(s) of transmission, HCV was allowed to infect hepatoma cells in the presence or absence of antibodies that neutralize cell-free virus infectivity.

[Study on allergenicity of fresh HAM for type I hypersensitivity].

To investigate whether human amniotic membrane (HAM) preparations have the possibility to type I hypersensitivity and its allergenicity. In systemic active allergic test model, 30 guinea pigs were equally divided into three groups. Each 10 guinea pigs were immunized with fresh HAM homogenate, albumen solution (positive control) and PBS (negative control).

Differential transmission of actin motion within focal adhesions.

Cell migration requires the transmission of motion generated in the actin cytoskeleton to the extracellular environment through a complex assembly of proteins in focal adhesions. We developed correlational fluorescent speckle microscopy to measure the coupling of focal-adhesion proteins to actin filaments. Different classes of focal-adhesion structural and regulatory molecules exhibited varying degrees of correlated motions with actin filaments, indicating hierarchical transmission of actin motion through focal adhesions.

Identification of PhIL1, a novel cytoskeletal protein of the Toxoplasma gondii pellicle, through photosensitized labeling with 5-[125I]iodonaphthalene-1-azide.

The pellicle of the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii is a unique triple bilayer structure, consisting of the plasma membrane and two tightly apposed membranes of the underlying inner membrane complex. Integral membrane proteins of the pellicle are likely to play critical roles in host cell recognition, attachment, and invasion, but few such proteins have been identified. This is in large part because the parasite surface is dominated by a family of abundant and highly immunogenic glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored proteins, which has made the identification of non-GPI-linked proteins difficult.

Cytoskeletal components of an invasion machine--the apical complex of Toxoplasma gondii.

The apical complex of Toxoplasma gondii is widely believed to serve essential functions in both invasion of its host cells (including human cells), and in replication of the parasite. The understanding of apical complex function, the basis for its novel structure, and the mechanism for its motility are greatly impeded by lack of knowledge of its molecular composition. We have partially purified the conoid/apical complex, identified approximately 200 proteins that represent 70% of its cytoskeletal protein components, characterized seven novel proteins, and determined the sequence of recruitment of five of these proteins into the cytoskeleton during cell division.