Epitaxial growth of ultrathin layers on the surface of sub-10 nm nanoparticles: the case of β-NaGdF:Yb/Er@NaDyF nanoparticles.

Upconversion core-shell nanoparticles have attracted a large amount of attention due to their multifunctionality and specific applications. In this work, based on a NaGdF sub-10 nm ultrasmall nanocore, a series of core-shell upconversion nanoparticles with uniform size doped with Yb, Er and NaDyF shells with different thicknesses were synthesized by a facile sequential growth process. NaDyF coated upconversion luminescent nanoparticles showed an obvious fluorescence quenching under excitation at 980 nm as a result of energy resonance transfer between Yb, Er and Dy.

Sequential growth of CaF:Yb,Er@CaF:Gd nanoparticles for efficient magnetic resonance angiography and tumor diagnosis.

It is a significant challenge to develop nanoscale magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents with high performance of relaxation. In this work, Gd-doped CaF-based core-shell nanoparticles (CaF:Yb,Er@CaF:Gd) of sub-10 nm size were controllably synthesized by a facile sequential growth method. The as-prepared hydrophilic CaF:Yb,Er@CaF:Gd nanoparticles modified using PEG-PAA di-block copolymer benefited from the presence of Gd only in the outer CaF layer of the nanoparticles, which exhibited r as high as 21.

[Effects of phosphorus fertilization on biomass accumulation and phosphorus use efficiency of trellis-cultivated melon].

A field experiment applying six rates of P fertilizer (P2O5, 0, 150, 225, 300, 375 and 450 kg . hm-2, respectively) was conducted to investigate the effects of P fertilization on dry matter accumulation (DMA), P uptake and accumulation (PUA) and P use efficiency (PUE) of trellis-cultivated melon. Results showed that, P application increased DMA and PUA, for 150 and 225 kg P2O5 .

Puerarin decreases apoptosis of retinal pigment epithelial cells in diabetic rats by reducing peroxynitrite level and iNOS expression.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the protective effect of puerarin on retina pigment epithelial (RPE) cells of diabetic rats against apoptosis. One hundred and eight Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: control group, streptozotocin (STZ) group and puerarin group. STZ and puerarin groups received 3 d of STZ injection (45 mg/kg per day, i.

Inducible nitric oxide synthase and Fas/FasL with C3 expression of mouse retinal pigment epithelial cells in response to stimulation by peroxynitrite and antagonism of puerarin.

Background: Retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cell is a monolayer of multifunctional cells between the retina and the choroid. Peroxynitrite (ONOO(-)) is known to induce toxicity on RPE cells. This study aimed to evaluate ONOO(-) induced expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and complement 3 (C3) via Fas/FasL pathway in RPE cells and the values of puerarin as a therapeutic target for inhibiting the apoptosis of RPE cells.

[Protective effects of puerarin on lens epithelial cells in rat diabetic cataract].

Objective: The therapeutic effects of general and local applications of puerarin in the treatment of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced rat diabetic model were compared.

Methods: Experimental research. We equally divided normal Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats into a STZ group, a peritoneal injection group, a peribulbar injection group and a control group.

[Semenogelin and sperm motility inhibition: an update].

Semen liquefaction and sperm capacitation are the key processes for sperm to acquire forward movement ability. In these processes, semenogelin plays a vital role by directly participating in the formation of semen coagulation, collaborating with other protease and metal ions from the male reproductive tract, and then reacting with the surface of sperm cells, finally involved in the regulation of these processes and ensuring sperm's acquisition of forward movement ability.

Control of peroxyntrite-induced production of inducible nitric oxide synthase isoforms and antagonism of cholecystokinin octapeptide -8 in retinal pigment epithelial cells in vivo.

Aim: To explore if peroxyntrite (ONOO(-)) induced iNOS via Fas/Fas/L pathway in diabetic rats and the effection of cholecystokinin octapeptide-8 (CCK-8) as therapeutic agent for decrease diabetic retinopathy.

Methods: Thirty-six rats were taken as control group, seventy two were given (streptozotocin) STZ (45mg/kg) and then divided into ONOO(-) group and CCK-8 group (peritoneal injection CCK-8). STZ-induced diabetic rats were treated with CCK-8 for 60 days.

Peroxynitrite-induced expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and activated apoptosis via nuclear factor-kappa B pathway in retinal pigment epithelial cells and antagonism of cholecystokinin octapeptide-8 in vitro.

Aim: To explore that if peroxynitrite induced the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS)via nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) pathway in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells and the antagonism of cholecystokinin octapeptide-8 (Melatonin, CCK-8) in vitro.

Methods: RPE cells were obtained from eyes of C57BL/6 mouse and divided into control, peroxynitrite and CCK-8 groups. Control group was treated with saline, peroxynitrite group was treated with peroxynitrite, and CCK-8 group was treated with CCK-8 after added with peroxynitrite.

Toxicity of endogenous peroxynitrite and effects of puerarin on transplanted retinal pigment epithelial sheets in the subretinal space in mice.

Aim: To evaluate the toxicity of endogeneous peroxynitrite on transplanted retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) sheets and the effect of puerarin on their survival in the C57BL/6 mice after RPE sheets have been transplanted into SD rats' subretinal space .

Methods: C57BL/6 mice eyes were used to culture RPE cells. Ninety-six SD rats were involved in the experiment.

Antagonistic effects of ultra-low-molecular-weight heparin on Aβ25-35-induced apoptosis in cultured rat cortical neurons.

Low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) and ultra-low-molecular-weight heparin (ULMWH) are heparin's derivatives, having various pharmacological effects. The present study aims to investigate the effect of ULMWH on amyloid β peptide (Aβ25-35)-induced neurotoxicity in cultured rat cortical neurons, and LMWH was employed as a positive control agent. The neurons were incubated with Aβ25-35 (35μM), Aβ25-35 plus ULMWH (2, 10, 50 μg/ml) or LMWH (10 μg/ml) for 24h.

Effect of puerarin on retinal pigment epithelial cells apoptosis induced partly by peroxynitrite via Fas/FasL pathway.

Aim: To evaluate the peroxynitrite (ONOO(-)) of puerarin on retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells apoptosis induced partly by peroxynitrite via Fas/FasL.

Methods: RPE cells from C57BL/6 mice eyes were cultured. Diabetes was induced in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats by streptozotocin (STZ) intraperitoneal injection.

[The effect of puerarin on prevention of oxidative damage of cultured lens capsule epithelial cells].

Objective: To investigate the peroxynitrite damage to the lens epithelial cells (LEC) and the prevention of this damage by puerarin in vitro.

Methods: This paper was experimental study. Rabbit LEC were isolated and cultured and the third or forth passage LEC were used in this experiment The experiment groups included: (1) CONTROL GROUP: Heat-pathogen free saline (NS) 200 microl was added to the medium; (2) ONOO- group: ONOO- 200 microl was added to obtain the terminal concentration at 0.

Puerarin decreases lens epithelium cell apoptosis induced partly by peroxynitrite in diabetic rats.

The present study was designed to observe if puerarin decreases lens epithelium cell (LEC) apoptosis induced partly by peroxynitrite (ONOO(-)). One hundred and eight rats were randomly divided into control group (n=36), streptozotocin (STZ) group (n=36) and STZ + puerarin group (n=36). The rats in the control group intraperitoneally (i.

The antagonism of cholecystokinin octapeptide-8 to the peroxynitrite oxidation on a diabetic cataractal rat model.

Background: Cataracts is considered be formed because of an abnormal glucose metabolic pathway or oxidative stress. We explored the damaging role of ONOO- and antagonism of cholecystokinin octapeptide-8 (CCK-8) in diabetic cataractal rat lenses.

Methods: A diabetic cataractal animal model was established by peritoneal injection of streptozotocine (STZ).

[Peroxynitrite-induced formation of diabetic cataract and its prevention by puerarin in rat].

Objective: To investigate the effect of peroxynitrite on the formation of diabetic cataract and its reversal by puerarin. in rat.

Methods: Normal Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were equally divided into control group, streptozotocin group (STZ) and treatment group.