Rapid Generation of Recombinant Flaviviruses Using Circular Polymerase Extension Reaction.

The genus is a group of arthropod-borne single-stranded RNA viruses, which includes important human and animal pathogens such as Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), Zika virus (ZIKV), Dengue virus (DENV), yellow fever virus (YFV), West Nile virus (WNV), and Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV). Reverse genetics has been a useful tool for understanding biological properties and the pathogenesis of flaviviruses. However, the conventional construction of full-length infectious clones for flavivirus is time-consuming and difficult due to the toxicity of the flavivirus genome to .

TEM8 functions as a receptor for uPA and mediates uPA-stimulated EGFR phosphorylation.

Background: TEM8 is a cell membrane protein predominantly expressed in tumor endothelium, which serves as a receptor for the protective antigen (PA) of anthrax toxin. However, the physiological ligands for TEM8 remain unknown.

Results: Here we identified uPA as an interacting partner of TEM8.

Diazoxide protects rat vascular endothelial cells against hypoxia and cold-induced damage.

The present study aimed to examine the effects of hypoxia and cold on vascular endothelial cells (VECs), as well as the protective ability of novel VECs-protective drugs against these injuries. A rat model simulating exposure to hypoxia and cold at high altitude environments was established. Based on these animal experiments, rat aortic VECs were established as injury models and exposed to hypoxia and/or adrenaline (ADR) .

Protective effects of choline against hypoxia-induced injuries of vessels and endothelial cells.

The current study aimed to lay a theoretical foundation for further development of choline as an anti-hypoxia damage drug. Wild-type, 3- to 5-month-old male Sprague-Dawley rats, weighing 180-220 g, were used in this study. The rats were randomly divided into a normoxic control group (n=16) and a chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) group (n=16).

Proteomics reveals potential non-neuronal cholinergic receptor-effectors in endothelial cells.

Aim: The non-neuronal acetylcholine system (NNAS) in endothelial cells participates in modulating endothelial function, vascular tone, angiogenesis and inflammation, thus plays a critical role in cardiovascular diseases. In this study, we used a proteomic approach to study potential downstream receptor-effectors of NNAS that were involved in regulating cellular function in endothelial cells.

Methods: Human umbilical vein endothelial cells were incubated in the presence of acetylcholine, oxotremorine, pilocarpine or nicotine at the concentration of 10 μmol/L for 12 h, and the expressed proteins in the cells were separated and identified with two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) and LC-MS.

[Effect of electroacupuncture on cerebral PKC isozyme expression levels in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion rats].

Objective: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) of "Dingzhongxian" (MS 5) and "Dingpangxian" (MS 8) on the expression of cerebral protein kinase C (PKC) isozymes in local cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury (CI/RI) rats so as to explore its underlying mechanism in protecting ischemic brain tissue.

Methods: Seventy-two Wistar rats were randomized into normal control (n = 8), CI/RI model (model, n = 32), and EA (n = 32) groups. The later two groups were further divided into 4, 12, 24 and 72 h subgroups, respectively, with 8 rats in each.

[Observation on therapeutic effect of comprehensive therapy for acute large area cerebral infarction].

Objective: To search for a method for increasing clinical therapeutic effect of acute large area cerebral infarction.

Methods: Ninety-six cases were randomly divided into a comprehensive treatment group and a western medicine group, 48 cases in each group. The western medicine group were treated with routine western methods, dehydration for decreasing intracranial pressure, brain-protection, anti-platelet agglutination, improving circulation and expectant treatment, etc.