Hepatitis B virus surface antigen as delivery vector can enhance Chlamydia trachomatis MOMP multi-epitope immune response in mice.

Chlamydia trachomatis is the leading cause of sexually transmitted infections worldwide. There is currently no commercially available vaccine against C. trachomatis.

Combined effects of a high-fat diet and chronic valproic acid treatment on hepatic steatosis and hepatotoxicity in rats.

Aim: To investigate the potential interactive effects of a high-fat diet (HFD) and valproic acid (VPA) on hepatic steatosis and hepatotoxicity in rats.

Methods: Male SD rats were orally administered VPA (100 or 500 mg·kg⁻¹·d⁻¹) combined with HFD or a standard diet for 8 weeks. Blood and liver samples were analyzed to determine lipid levels and hepatic function biomarkers using commercial kit assays.

Ongoing activation of sphingosine 1-phosphate receptors mediates maturation of exosomal multivesicular endosomes.

During late endosome maturation, cargo molecules are sorted into intralumenal vesicles (ILVs) of multivesicular endosomes (MVEs), and are either delivered to lysosomes for degradation or fused with the plasma membranes for exosome release. The mechanism underlying formation of exosomal ILVs and cargo sorting into ILVs destined for exosome release is still unclear. Here we show that inhibitory G protein (Gi)-coupled sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) receptors regulate exosomal MVE maturation.

Using gene expression programming to infer gene regulatory networks from time-series data.

Gene regulatory networks inference is currently a topic under heavy research in the systems biology field. In this paper, gene regulatory networks are inferred via evolutionary model based on time-series microarray data. A non-linear differential equation model is adopted.

[Evaluation of the expression and significance of Claudin-5 and CD99 in solid-pseudopapillary neoplasms and neuroendocrine tumors of pancreas].

Objective: To investigate the expression of endothelium tight junction protein Claudin-5 and intercellular adhesion molecule CD99 in solid-pseudopapillary neoplasms (SPN) and neuroendocrine tumors of pancreas (P-NET), and their significance in the differential diagnoses.

Methods: Immunohistochemical staining of Claudin-5 and CD99 was performed in 37 cases SPN and 21 cases of P-NET.

Results: Membranous Claudin-5 expression was observed in all cases of SPN but was absent in all cases of P-NET.

Dysregulations of UDP-glucuronosyltransferases in rats with valproic acid and high fat diet induced fatty liver.

Both high fat diet (HFD) and valproic acid (VPA) interfere with mitochondrial β-oxidation of fatty acids, which subsequently triggers microvesicular fatty liver and hepatic dysfunction. UDP-glucuronosyltransferases, the major phase II drug metabolism enzymes, play a pivotal role in detoxifying various exogenous and endogenous compounds. This study aimed to investigate the dysregulation patterns of major UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs) induced by VPA and/or HFD.

Anticoccidial effects of a novel triazine nitromezuril in broiler chickens.

The anticoccidial efficacy of 2-(3-methyl-4-(4-nitrophenoxy)phenyl)-1,2,4-triazine-3,5(2H,4H)-dione (nitromezuril, NZL), a novel triazine compound, was evaluated in three different studies under experimental conditions. The anticoccidial efficacy was chiefly evaluated using the anticoccidial index (ACI). The resistance level was determined by calculating ACI, percentage optimum anticoccidial activity (POAA), reduction in lesion scores (RLS) and relative oocyst production (ROP).

Association studies of MMP-9 in Parkinson's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Parkinson's disease (PD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) share several clinical and neuropathologic features, and studies suggest that several gene mutations and polymorphisms are involved in both conditions. Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) is implicated in the pathogenesis of PD and ALS, and the C(-1562)T polymorphism in the MMP-9 gene leads to higher promoter activity. We therefore investigated whether this polymorphism predisposes to both PD and sporadic ALS (sALS).

Water-controlled synthesis and single-crystal structural transformations of a cyanide-bridged W(IV)-Ni(II) molecular wheel complex and 3D networks.

One cyanide-bridged W(IV)-Ni(II) wheel-like complex and two three-dimensional (3D) networks can be directly synthesized based on K4[W(CN)8] and [Ni(L)](ClO4)2 precursors by controlling the quantity of water in organic solvent. The water-controlled single-crystal structural transformations among these complexes are described.

Abnormal hypermethylation of promoter region downregulates chemokine CXC ligand 14 expression in gastric cancer.

CXCL14, a new member of the CXC subfamily of chemokines, is differentially expressed in several types of tumors. The expression of CXCL14 and its clinical significance in gastric cancer are unclear to date. In this study, the expression of CXCL14 was detected by quantitative PCR and immunohistochemistry assay.

[Expressions of Sonic hedgehog and matrix metalloproteinase 2 in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and the clinicopathological implications].

Objective: To investigate the expressions of Sonic hedgehog (Shh) and matrix metalloproteinases 2 (MMP2) in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and their association with the clinicopathological features.

Methods: Immunohistochemistry was employed to examine the expressions of Shh and MMP2 in 48 specimens of ESCC and 44 specimens of adjacent tissues.

Results: The positivity rate of Shh expression in ESCC (75%) was significantly higher than that in the adjacent tissues (20.

Novel immunodominant epitopes derived from MAGE-A3 and its significance in serological diagnosis of gastric cancer.

Purpose: To evaluate the significance of MAGE-A3 novel immunodominant epitopes in serological diagnosis of gastric cancer.

Methods: B cell, CTL, and Th epitopes of MAGE-A3 were analyzed using computer-assisted techniques. Three possible immunodominant epitope peptides located at 5aa-23aa (QRSQHCKPEEGLEARGEAL), 112aa-131aa (KVAELVHFLLLKYRAREPVT), and 232aa-246aa (EGREDSILGDPKKLL) with potential B cell-dominant epitope, high-score HLA-A2 and A24 restriction CTL epitope, and HLA-DRB restriction Th epitope were selected.

Revisiting the concept of 'style match'.

Background: Intellectual style, an encompassing term for such constructs as learning style, teaching style, teaching approach, and thinking style, refers to one's preferred way of processing information. For the past several decades, whether or not there is a need for a match between teachers' teaching styles and students' learning styles has been the focal point for debate among researchers, educators, and the general public.

Aims: The preliminary objective of this research was to investigate the psychometric properties of the Preferred Teaching Approach Inventory (PTAI).

Immunogenicity of a multiepitope plasmid DNA encoding T and B lymphocyte epitopes from latent membrane protein 2 (LMP2) of Epstein-Barr virus as a vaccine in mice.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a human oncogenic herpesvirus associating with several malignant diseases. Latent membrane protein 2 (LMP2) of EBV is considered to be an ideal candidate for immunotherapy or prophylactic EBV vaccine. We designed a LMP2 multiepitope containing T and B-cell epitope-rich peptides and constructed a recombinant plasmid containing mammalian codonoptimization EBV LMP2 multiepitope (pcDNA3.

Nuclear translocation and accumulation of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase involved in diclazuril-induced apoptosis in Eimeria tenella (E. tenella).

In mammalian cells, GAPDH (glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase) has recently been shown to be implicated in numerous apoptotic paradigms, especially in neuronal apoptosis, and has been demonstrated to play a vital role in some neurodegenerative disorders. However, this phenomenon has not been reported in protists. In the present study, we report for the first time that such a mechanism is involved in diclazuril-induced apoptosis in Eimeria tenella (E.

Investigating the concordance of Gene Ontology terms reveals the intra- and inter-platform reproducibility of enrichment analysis.

Background: Reliability and Reproducibility of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) are essential for the biological interpretation of microarray data. The microarray quality control (MAQC) project launched by US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) elucidated that the lists of DEGs generated by intra- and inter-platform comparisons can reach a high level of concordance, which mainly depended on the statistical criteria used for ranking and selecting DEGs. Generally, it will produce reproducible lists of DEGs when combining fold change ranking with a non-stringent p-value cutoff.

Cordyceps militaris polysaccharides can improve the immune efficacy of Newcastle disease vaccine in chicken.

Cordyceps militaris polysaccharide (CMP) was prepared by water decoction and ethanol precipitation. The fractional CMP40 and CMP50 were extracted from the CMP solution by stepwise precipitation with ethanol at 40% and 50% of working concentration, respectively. The immune-enhancing activities of two polysaccharides were researched.

Identification and tissue distribution of odorant binding protein genes in the beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua.

Odorant binding proteins (OBPs) contribute to the remarkable sensitivity of the insect's olfactory system and play an important role in insect chemical communication. In this study, we identified 11 putative cDNAs encoding OBPs (namely SexiOBP1-11) from the antennal full length cDNA library of the beet armyworm Spodoptera exigua (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and examined their expression profiles in different adult body tissues (antennae, heads, thoraxes, abdomens, legs and wings) by real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR). All SexiOBPs had the characteristic typical features of the OBP family, with the exception of SexiOBP11, which lacked the predicted signal peptide sequence at the N-terminus.

Tracing antibacterial compounds from Acalypha australis Linn. by spectrum-effect relationships and semi-preparative HPLC.

Several Acalypha australis Linn. species are used in traditional medicine in Southeast Asia. In this work, the ultra-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry fingerprints and the antibacterial activities of A.

Deletion of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 leader peptidase LepB1 affects photosynthetic complexes and respiration.

The cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 possesses two leader peptidases, LepB1 (Sll0716) and LepB2 (Slr1377), responsible for the processing of signal peptide-containing proteins. Deletion of the gene for LepB1 results in an inability to grow photoautotrophically and an extreme light sensitivity.

[The study of regional specification for the medical equipment acceptance].

Standardization of medical equipment acceptance regional specification is elaborated., by virtue of regional resources to further improve the acceptance level, to strengthen the quality management of medical devices is strengthened through the improvement of acceptance level with regional shared resources.

Intron definition and a branch site adenosine at nt 385 control RNA splicing of HPV16 E6*I and E7 expression.

HPV16 E6 and E7, two viral oncogenes, are expressed from a single bicistronic pre-mRNA. In this report, we provide the evidence that the bicistronic pre-mRNA intron 1 contains three 5' splice sites (5' ss) and three 3' splice sites (3' ss) normally used in HPV16(+) cervical cancer and its derived cell lines. The choice of two novel alternative 5' ss (nt 221 5' ss and nt 191 5' ss) produces two novel isoforms of E6E7 mRNAs (E6*V and E6*VI).

Characterization of miRNAs in response to short-term waterlogging in three inbred lines of Zea mays.

Waterlogging of plants leads to low oxygen levels (hypoxia) in the roots and causes a metabolic switch from aerobic respiration to anaerobic fermentation that results in rapid changes in gene transcription and protein synthesis. Our research seeks to characterize the microRNA-mediated gene regulatory networks associated with short-term waterlogging. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that regulate many genes involved in growth, development and various biotic and abiotic stress responses.

Increase of stress resistance in Lactococcus lactis via a novel food-grade vector expressing a shsp gene from Streptococcus thermophilus.

The effects of the expression of a small heat shock protein (shsp) gene from Streptococcus thermophilus on stress resistance in Lactococcus lactis under different environmental stresses were investigated in this study. pMG36e-shsp, an expression vector, was first constructed by inserting a shsp open reading frame (ORF) cloned from S. thermophilus strain St-QC into pMG36e.

Influence of UDP-glucuronosyltransferase polymorphisms on valproic acid pharmacokinetics in Chinese epilepsy patients.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the genetic polymorphisms of UGT1A3, UGT1A6, and UGT2B7 in Chinese epilepsy patients and their potential influence on the pharmacokinetics of valproic acid (VPA).

Methods: The genetic architectures of UGT1A3, UGT1A6, and UGT2B7 in 242 epilepsy patients were detected by DNA sequencing and PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Steady-state plasma concentrations of VPA in 225 patients who had received VPA (approx.