Thalidomide Reduces Activation of Murine Pancreatic Stellate Cells by Inhibiting the TGF-β/Smad Pathway.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects and mechanism of thalidomide on pancreatic stellate cell (PSC) activation in mice and to find the optimal timing of thalidomide administration.

Methods: PSCs, isolated from mouse pancreas tissue, were divided into five groups with specific treatments: (A) control PSCs (PSC), (B) PSCs induced by TGF-β1 (PSC+TGF-β1), (C) PSCs induced by TGF-β1 followed by thalidomide (PSC+TGF-β1+Thalidomide), (D) PSCs receiving TGF-β1 and thalidomide simultaneously (PSC+(TGF-β1+Thalidomide)), and (E) PSCs treated with thalidomide only (PSC+Thalidomide). We measured the effects of thalidomide on PSC activation by detecting the expression of α-SMA, collagen type I, and the TGF-β/Smad pathway through quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot analysis.

The utility of DNA barcodes to confirm the identification of palm collections in botanical gardens.

The palm family (Arecaceae) is of high ecological and economic value, yet identification in the family remains a challenge for both taxonomists and horticulturalists. The family consists of approximately 2600 species across 181 genera and DNA barcoding may be a useful tool for species identification within the group. However, there have been few systematic evaluations of DNA barcodes for the palm family.

Elimination of typical polycyclic musks in a full-scale membrane bioreactor combined with anaerobic-anoxic-oxic process in municipal wastewater treatment plant.

The objective of this study was to investigate the removal of 11 synthetic polycyclic musks in a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Jilin, China, by using a membrane bioreactor combined with anaerobic-anoxic-oxic process. The analysis of synthetic polycyclic musks was conducted with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry after solid-phase extraction. The removal efficiency of 11 synthetic polycyclic musks ranged from 65.

[Inhibitory Effects of Sphingosine-1-phosphate Receptor-2 on Vascular Permeability in Mice].

Objectives: To determine the effect of sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 2 (S1PR2) on vascular permeability in mice.

Methods: Acute lung injury models of mice were constructed with intra-tracheal administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and compared with the controls with intra-tracheal administration of saline. The effect of S1PR2 on vascular permeability was observed by detecting leakage of Evans blue into lung tissues, pulmonary vascular leakage of fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-dextran, and the wet/dry mass ratio of lungs.

[Resection of tumors involving the cranio-naso-orbital area via fronto-orbito-ethmoidal approach].

Objective: To introduce a better surgical approach for the resection of tumors involving the anterior and middle skull base and the fronto-orbito-ethmoidal area.

Methods: A "T" form incision was made in the fronto-orbito-ethmoidal region and along the nasal pyramid down. Parts of ethmoid sinus, lamina papyracea, fronto-orbito bone and behind wall of frontal sinus were resected in order to expose the tumors in the anterior skull base and the fronto-orbito-ethmoidal region.