Active biological molecules present a powerful, yet largely untapped, opportunity to impart autonomous regulation to materials. Because these systems can function robustly to regulate when and where chemical reactions occur, they have the ability to bring complex, life-like behavior to synthetic materials. Here, we achieve this design feat by using functionalized circadian clock proteins, KaiB and KaiC, to engineer time-dependent crosslinking of colloids.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackgrounds And Aims: Prostate cancer is the most common malignant cancer among men and is the second deadliest cancer in men after lung cancer. Understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in development and progression of prostate cancer is essential to improve both diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in this regard. In addition, using novel gene therapy-based methods for treatment of cancers has gotten increasing attention during the recent years.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) is emerging as a new generation of metabolites related to the activation of inflammatory reactions in the macrophages during atherosclerosis. Stress-activation of cell surface toll-like receptors (TLRs) as well as nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidases (NOX) is also assumed to be involved in TMAO-induced inflammatory reaction in the macrophages. To elucidate the possible contribution of TLRs and NOX to the mentioned signaling pathway, we aimed to simultaneously evaluate the expression level of TLR2, TLR6, and NOX2 in TMAO-treated macrophages.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Mouse embryo culture condition is an essential part of transgenic, reproductive and developmental biology laboratories. Mouse embryonic culture media may have a high risk of serum contamination with pathogens.
Objective: To investigate the effect of sericin as an embryo culture medium supplement on in vitro maturation (IVM), in vitro fertilization (IVF), and development of the preimplantation embryo in mice.
The non-classical human leukocyte antigens (HLA)-G could be generally considered as a potent tolerogenic molecule, which modulates immune responses. HLA-G due to the immunosuppressive properties may play an important role in the pathogenesis of infections related to the liver. HLA-G may display two distinct activities in the pathological conditions so that it could be protective in the autoimmune and inflammatory diseases or could be suppressive of the immune system in the infections or cancers.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFActin and microtubule filaments, with their auxiliary proteins, enable the cytoskeleton to carry out vital processes in the cell by tuning the organizational and mechanical properties of the network. Despite their critical importance and interactions in cells, we are only beginning to uncover information about the composite network. The challenge is due to the high complexity of combining actin, microtubules, and their hundreds of known associated proteins.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe cytoskeleton is able to precisely tune its structure and mechanics through interactions between semiflexible actin filaments, rigid microtubules and a suite of crosslinker proteins. However, the role that each of these components, as well as the interactions between them, plays in the dynamics of the composite cytoskeleton remains an open question. Here, we use optical tweezers microrheology and fluorescence confocal microscopy to reveal the surprising ways in which actin crosslinking tunes the viscoelasticity and mobility of actin-microtubule composites from steady-state to the highly nonlinear regime.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe cytoskeleton precisely tunes its mechanics by altering interactions between semiflexible actin filaments, rigid microtubules, and crosslinking proteins. We use optical tweezers microrheology and confocal microscopy to characterize how varying crosslinking motifs impact the mesoscale mechanics and mobility of actin-microtubule composites. We show that, upon subtle changes in crosslinking patterns, composites can exhibit two distinct classes of force response - primarily elastic versus more viscous.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Shoulder Elbow Surg
March 2018
Background: The nonunion of a distal humeral fracture is a challenging complication. Our aim was to assess the results of the application of pedicled bone flap to treat this problem.
Methods: There were 6 men and 3 women with delayed union or nonunion of the distal humerus treated by 10 procedures of rigid fixation plus radial bone forearm or posterior interosseous bone flaps.
Background: Treatment of forearm fracture nonunion is challenging. Several surgical techniques for the treatment of forearm nonunion have been reported.
Objectives: The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the effects of the radial forearm bone graft technique in cases with forearm nonunion.
Flavonoids are potentially immunomodulatory factors and it may be inferred that these phytochemicals contribute to immunomodulatory properties of the Allium family. In the present study, we investigated the potential mechanism underlying the immunomodulatory effect of shallot and its ethyl acetate (EA) fraction as flavonoid-rich sources. Ex vivo, effects of a hydroalcoholic extract of shallot, its fractions and quercetin on lymphocyte viability were evaluated.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Reconstructions of forearm fracture nonunions are frequently complex. A few studies that help guide the treatment of forearm nonunion have been reported. We offer a novel surgical technique to treat nonunion of the forearm using a regional vascularized bone graft.
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