TtOmp85, a β-barrel assembly protein, functions by barrel augmentation.

Outer membrane proteins are vital for Gram-negative bacteria and organisms that inherited organelles from them. Proteins from the Omp85/BamA family conduct the insertion of membrane proteins into the outer membrane. We show that an eight-stranded outer membrane β-barrel protein, TtoA, is inserted and folded into liposomes by an Omp85 homologue.

[Application of surface enhanced laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry in the diagnosis of leukemia].

This study was purposed to find new biomarkers and to establish protein finger print model for diagnosis of leukemia. A total of 40 leukemia samples and 37 healthy control samptes were tested by surface enhance laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF- MS). The data of spectra were analyzed by bioinformatics tools like Biomarker Patterns 5.

Genotype and phenotype analysis of patients with sporadic periodic paralysis.

Introduction: Sporadic periodic paralysis (SPP), the second leading cause of hypokalemic periodic paralysis (HPP) in Asia, has a presentation similar to that of familial periodic paralysis (FPP) and is caused by gene mutations in the calcium (Ca(2+)) (CACNA1S) and sodium (Na(+)) (SCN4A) channels of skeletal muscle. The authors determined whether SPP shares similar genotype and phenotype with FPP.

Methods: Sixty SPP patients who did not have a family history of paralysis, abnormal thyroid function tests and other identifiable causes of HPP, and 8 FPP patients were enrolled.

Isovitexin suppresses lipopolysaccharide-mediated inducible nitric oxide synthase through inhibition of NF-kappa B in mouse macrophages.

Isovitexin exhibits potent antioxidant activities. In this study, the activity of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated RAW264.7 macrophages after incubation with isovitexin was investigated.

Effects of a new isoquinolinone derivative on induction of action potential bursts in central snail neuron.

The effects of 7-bromo-1,4-dihydro-2-phenyl-4,4-bis(4-pyridinylmethyl)2H-isoquinolin-3-one dihydrochloride (BDPBI) on induction of action potential bursts were studied pharmacologically on the RP4 central neuron of the giant African snail (Achatina fulica Ferussac). The effects of m-3M3FBS, a phospholipase activator and HTMT, a histamine (H1) receptor agonist, on the neuron were also tested. The RP4 neuron showed spontaneous firing of action potential.

Effects of 2,3-butanedione monoxime on induction of action potential bursts in central snail neurons: direct and indirect modulations of ionic currents.

The effects of 2,3-butanedione monoxime (BDM) on induction of action potential bursts were studied pharmacologically on the RP4 central neuron of giant African snail (Achatina fulica Ferussac). The effect of okadaic acid on the neuron was also tested. The RP4 neuron showed a spontaneous firing of action potential.

A new isoquinolinone derivative with noble vasorelaxation activity.

The pharmacological effects of BDPBI (7-bromo-1,4-dihydro-2-phenyl-4,4-bis(4-pyridinylmethyl)2H-isoquinolin-3-one dihydrochloride) were tested on isolated endothelium-containing or denuded aorta of the guinea pig. BDPBI with the formula C(27)H(24)BrCl(2)N(3)O was synthesized starting with 3-isochromanone. In the endothelium-containing preparations of the aortic rings, phenylephrine (PHE; 10 micromol/l) elicited contracture and acetylcholine (ACh; 10 micromol/l) or BDPBI (0.