Microdevice integrating innate and adaptive immune responses associated with antigen presentation by dendritic cells.

Dendritic cells are the principal antigen presenting cells that are responsible for acquiring and transporting antigen from the peripheral tissue to the secondary lymphoid tissue. There they present it to T cells which ultimately initiate an antigen specific immune response. , the migration of dendritic cells (DCs) and T cell activation are intimately linked.

The application of hyaluronic acid-derivatized carbon nanotubes in hematoporphyrin monomethyl ether-based photodynamic therapy for in vivo and in vitro cancer treatment.

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have shown great potential in both photothermal therapy and drug delivery. In this study, a CNT derivative, hyaluronic acid-derivatized CNTs (HA-CNTs) with high aqueous solubility, neutral pH, and tumor-targeting activity, were synthesized and characterized, and then a new photodynamic therapy agent, hematoporphyrin monomethyl ether (HMME), was adsorbed onto the functionalized CNTs to develop HMME-HA-CNTs. Tumor growth inhibition was investigated both in vivo and in vitro by a combination of photothermal therapy and photodynamic therapy using HMME-HA-CNTs.

NIR-/pH-Responsive drug delivery of functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes for potential application in cancer chemo-photothermal therapy.

Purpose: To establish a NIR (near infrared)-/pH-responsive and sustained-release tumor-targeting drug delivery system (SWNT-PEI/DOX/NGR).

Methods: Functionalized SWNTs with polymerised polymeric poly(ethylene imine) was linked NGR (Asn-Gly-Arg) tumor-targeting peptide by DSPE-PEG2000-Maleimide via the maleimide group and sulfhydryl group of cysteine, in the end, doxorubicin (DOX) was attached to SWNT-PEI to obtain a SWNT-PEI/DOX/NGR delivery system.

Results: The SWNT-PEI/DOX/NGR delivery system has significantly sustained-release effect and the slow release of DOX in normal tissues contribute to reduced systemic toxicity, while under 808 nm NIR laser irradiation or under lower pH environment the release of DOX can be accelerated.

Spread of oqxAB in Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium predominantly by IncHI2 plasmids.

Objectives: To investigate the prevalence and genetic environment of the multiresistance gene oqxAB in Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium isolated from food-producing animals.

Methods: In this study, 63 Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium isolates were analysed for the presence of plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance determinants and mutations in the quinolone resistance-determining region by molecular methods (PCR/sequencing). The oqxAB-positive isolates were typed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE).

Novel synthetic acridine derivatives as potent DNA-binding and apoptosis-inducing antitumor agents.

Acridine derivatives have been explored as DNA-binding anticancer agents. Some derivatives show undesired pharmacokinetic properties and new derivatives need to be explored. In this work, a series of novel acridine analogues were synthesized by modifying previously unexplored linkers between the acridine and benzene groups and their antiproliferative activity and the DNA-binding ability were evaluated.

Improved xylose fermentation of Kluyveromyces marxianus at elevated temperature through construction of a xylose isomerase pathway.

To improve the xylose fermentation ability of Kluyveromyces marxianus, a xylose assimilation pathway through xylose isomerase was constructed. The genes encoding xylose reductase (KmXyl1) and xylitol dehydrogenase (KmXyl2) were disrupted in K. marxianus YHJ010 and the resultant strain was named YRL002.

Photodynamic therapy of a 2-methoxyestradiol tumor-targeting drug delivery system mediated by Asn-Gly-Arg in breast cancer.

Fullerene (C60) has shown great potential in drug delivery. In this study we exploited modified fullerene (diadduct malonic acid-fullerene-Asn-Gly-Arg peptide [DMA-C60-NGR]) as an antitumor drug carrier in order to build a new tumor-targeting drug delivery system. We also investigated the synergistic enhancement of cancer therapy using photodynamic therapy (PDT) induced by DMA-C60-NGR and 2-methoxyestradiol (2ME).

Improving ethanol and xylitol fermentation at elevated temperature through substitution of xylose reductase in Kluyveromyces marxianus.

Thermo-tolerant yeast Kluyveromyces marxianus is able to utilize a wide range of substrates, including xylose; however, the xylose fermentation ability is weak because of the redox imbalance under oxygen-limited conditions. Alleviating the intracellular redox imbalance through engineering the coenzyme specificity of NADPH-preferring xylose reductase (XR) and improving the expression of XR should promote xylose consumption and fermentation. In this study, the native xylose reductase gene (Kmxyl1) of the K.

Effects of baicalin on airway remodeling in asthmatic mice.

Airway remodeling is an important characteristic of asthma, linking inflammation with airway hyperresponsiveness. Baicalin, a major active component, was isolated from Radix Scutellariae. Many studies show that baicalin has anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and anti-allergic effects.

Development of ceftriaxone resistance affects the virulence properties of Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium strains.

Development of antibiotic resistance may alter the virulence properties of bacterial organisms. In this study, nine clinical ceftriaxone-susceptible Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium strains were subjected to stepwise selection with increasing concentrations of ceftriaxone in culture media. Mutations in virulence-associated genes and antibiotic efflux genes were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA sequencing.

Two-in-one strategy for effective enrichment of phosphopeptides using magnetic mesoporous γ-Fe₂O₃ nanocrystal clusters.

Designed with a two-in-one strategy, the magnetic mesoporous γ-Fe(2)O(3) nanocrystal clusters (m-γ-Fe(2)O(3)) have been successfully prepared for integrating the functions of effective enrichment and quick separation of phosphopeptides into a single architecture. First, the mesoporous Fe(3)O(4) nanocrystal clusters (mFe(3)O(4)) were synthesized by solvothermal reaction and then were subjected to calcination in air to form m-γ-Fe(2)O(3). The obtained m-γ-Fe(2)O(3) have spherical morphology with uniform particle size of about 200 nm and mesoporous structure with the pore diameter of about 9.

PEI-derivatized fullerene drug delivery using folate as a homing device targeting to tumor.

Fullerene (C60) has shown great potential in drug delivery. In this study, firstly, amine-functionalized C60 (C60-NH(2)) was achieved by introducing ethylenediamine onto the surface of C60, and then PEI-derivatized C60 (C60-PEI) was performed via a cationic polymerization of aziridine on the surface of C60-NH(2); FT-IR and TGA results verified the structure of water-soluble C60-PEI. C60-PEI was encapsulated with folic acid (FA) through an amide linker, and then docetaxel (DTX) was conjugated to C60-PEI-FA and obtained a drug delivery system, C60-PEI-FA/DTX.

Synergistic anticancer effect of RNAi and photothermal therapy mediated by functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes.

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) are special nano-materials which exhibit interesting physical and chemical properties, presenting new opportunities for biomedical research and applications. In this study, we have successfully adopted a novel strategy to chemically functionalize SWNTs with polyethylenimine (PEI) through purification, oxidation, amination and polymerization, which were then bound by DSPE-PEG2000-Maleimide for further conjugation with the tumor targeting NGR (Cys-Asn-Gly-Arg-Cys-) peptide via the maleimide group and sulfhydryl group of cysteine, and finally hTERT siRNA was loaded to obtain a novel tumor targeting siRNA delivery system, designated as SWNT-PEI/siRNA/NGR. The results showed that SWNT-PEI/siRNA/NGR could efficiently cross cell membrane, induced more severe apoptosis and stronger suppression in proliferation of PC-3 cells in vitro.

Detection of mutations in the gyrA and parC genes in Escherichia coli isolates carrying plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance genes from diseased food-producing animals.

In this study, the prevalence of plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR) was investigated in 495 Escherichia coli isolates from diseased food-producing animals in Guangdong province, China. The quinolone resistance-determining regions (QRDRs) of the gyrA and parC genes were analysed for mutations in 55 isolates harbouring only oqxAB and all isolates harbouring other PMQR genes. Overall, 282 (57.

Antimicrobial resistance, serotypes, and virulence factors of Streptococcus suis isolates from diseased pigs.

Streptococcus suis isolates from diseased pigs were examined for susceptibility to nine antimicrobials, possession of virulence-associated factors (VFs), and distribution of serotypes. The association between antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and serotypes as well as VFs was subsequently assessed. Among the isolates investigated, serotype 2 (66.

Tailor-made magnetic Fe3O4@mTiO2 microspheres with a tunable mesoporous anatase shell for highly selective and effective enrichment of phosphopeptides.

Selective enrichment of phosphoproteins or phosphopeptides from complex mixtures is essential for MS-based phosphoproteomics, but still remains a challenge. In this article, we described an unprecedented approach to synthesize magnetic mesoporous Fe(3)O(4)@mTiO(2) microspheres with a well-defined core/shell structure, a pure and highly crystalline TiO(2) layer, high specific surface area (167.1 m(2)/g), large pore volume (0.

Baicalin is anti-inflammatory in cigarette smoke-induced inflammatory models in vivo and in vitro: A possible role for HDAC2 activity.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by airway obstruction and progressive lung inflammation, which is insensitive to corticosteroids therapies. In this study, we investigated the mechanism underlying the attenuation of cigarette smoke (CS)-induced respiratory inflammation by baicalin, a flavonoid compound isolated from the root of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, in vivo and in vitro. In vivo, mice were exposed to smoke of 15 cigarettes for 1 h/day, 6 days/week for 3 months and dosed with baicalin (25, 50 and 100mg/kg) or dexamethasone (1mg/kg).

Perspectives on Non-Animal Alternatives for Assessing Sensitization Potential in Allergic Contact Dermatitis.

Skin sensitization remains a major environmental and occupational health hazard. Animal models have been used as the gold standard method of choice for estimating chemical sensitization potential. However, a growing international drive and consensus for minimizing animal usage have prompted the development of methods to assess chemical sensitivity.

Identification of a xylitol dehydrogenase gene from Kluyveromyces marxianus NBRC1777.

Xylitol dehydrogenase (XDH) (EC 1.1.1.

The soybean peptide aglycin regulates glucose homeostasis in type 2 diabetic mice via IR/IRS1 pathway.

It has been previously reported that aglycin, a natural bioactive peptide isolated from soybean, is stable in digestive enzymes and has an antidiabetic potential. With a view to explore the pharmacological activity of aglycin in vivo, studies have been conducted to examine its therapeutic effect in diabetic mice, in which it was administered intragastrically as an oral agent. Diabetes was induced in BALB/c mice fed with a high-fat diet and a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin.

[Progress of erythropoientin in neonatal-related diseases].

Erythropoientin (Epo), a glycoprotein hormone, plays an important role in erythropoiesis and neuroprotection. Recently,Epo is also considered to have protective effects against hyperoxic lung injury, retinopathy of prematurity and neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis. Recombinant human erythropietin (rhEpo) as Epo gene cloning drug has been widely used in neonatal clinical practice.

Antilithic effects of extracts from Urtica dentata hand on calcium oxalate urinary stones in rats.

This study examined the potential antilithic effects of a traditional Chinese medicine Urtica dentata Hand (UDH) in experimental rats and screened the optimal extract of UDH as a possible therapeutic agent for kidney stones. The rat model of urinary calcium oxalate stones was induced by intragastric (i.g.

Therapeutic effects of total coumarins from Urtica dentata Hand on collagen-induced arthritis in Balb/c mice.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Urtica dentata Hand (UDH), the root of Laportea bulbifera (Sieb. et. Zucc.