Primary leiomyosarcomas of the gastrointestinal tract in the post-gastrointestinal stromal tumor era.

Most mesenchymal neoplasms of the gastrointestinal tract are currently classified as gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST). Gastrointestinal stromal tumors are diagnosed by immunopositivity for CD117, CD34, and DOG1.1, with or without molecular analyses.

[Effect of 18alpha-glycyrrhizic acid and 18beta-glycyrrhizic acid on P-gp function and expression in Caco-2 cells].

Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the modulating effect of glycyrrhizic acid C-18 epimers, 18alpha-glycyrrhizic acid (alpha-GL) and 18beta-glycyrrhizic acid (beta-GL) on both P-glycoprotein (P-gp) activity and expression in Caco-2 cell.

Method: The effects of P-gp activity were analyzed by rhodamine (Rhd 123) accumulation test, and those of P-gp expression were analyzed by flow cytometry and real-time PCR.

Result: At middle and high concentrations (10, 60 micromol x L(-1)), alpha-GL inhibited the function of P-gp and with on dose dependent while beta-GL induced the function of P-gp at three test concentrations with no dose dependent too.

Identification of cis-acting elements and signaling components of high affinity IgE receptor that regulate the expression of cyclooxygenase-2.

Allergic and inflammatory responses are functionally linked through a cascade of signaling events that connect the aggregation of the high affinity IgE receptor (FcεRI) on mast cells and the initiation of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression. In this study, we identified the cis-acting elements in the cox-2 promoter that control the expression of COX-2 in RBL-2H3 mast cells. We also investigated how the inflammatory reaction is controlled by the allergic reaction by determining the signaling components employed by FcεRI in the transcriptional regulation of cox-2.

Intranasal immunization with live attenuated influenza vaccine plus chitosan as an adjuvant protects mice against homologous and heterologous virus challenge.

Our previous studies have proven the adjuvanticity of chitosan in mice when administered with inactivated and subunit influenza vaccine. In this study, we investigated the adjuvant effect of chitosan on the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of a live attenuated influenza vaccine. Mice were inoculated intranasally with live attenuated influenza vaccine plus chitosan and then challenged with a high, lethal dose of homologous or heterologous virus.

Regulation of nuclear TDP-43 by NR2A-containing NMDA receptors and PTEN.

The dysfunction of TAR DNA-binding protein-43 (TDP-43) is implicated in neurodegenerative diseases. However, the function of TDP-43 is not fully elucidated. Here we show that the protein level of endogenous TDP-43 in the nucleus is increased in mouse cortical neurons in the early stages, but return to basal level in the later stages after glutamate accumulation-induced injury.

Primary sources and secondary formation of organic aerosols in Beijing, China.

Ambient aerosol samples were collected at an urban site and an upwind rural site of Beijing during the CAREBEIJING-2008 (Campaigns of Air quality REsearch in BEIJING and surrounding region) summer field campaign. Contributions of primary particles and secondary organic aerosols (SOA) were estimated by chemical mass balance (CMB) modeling and tracer-yield method. The apportioned primary and secondary sources explain 73.

Erythrocytic or serum hydrogen sulfide association with hypertension development in untreated essential hypertension.

Background: Endogenous hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S) plays an important role in hypertension. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of erythrocyte and serum H(2)S in patients with untreated essential hypertension.

Methods: We recruited 62 patients (age 22 - 74 years) with untreated prehypertension or hypertension, and 64 normotensive subjects (age 18 - 64 years).

Modern and fossil contributions to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in PM₂.₅ from North Birmingham, Alabama in the southeastern U.S.

Analyzing the radiocarbon ((14)C) content of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in atmospheric particulate matter can provide estimates on the source contributions from biomass burning versus fossil fuel. The relative importance of these two sources to ambient PAHs varies considerably across regions and even countries, and hence there is a pressing need to apportion these sources. In this study, we advanced the radiocarbon analysis from bulk carbon to compound class specific radiocarbon analysis (CCSRA) to determine Δ(14)C and δ(13)C values of PAHs in PM(2.

Developing chemical signatures of particulate air pollution in the Pearl River Delta region, China.

PM2.5 samples were collected in a regional sampling network with three sites in Hong Kong and four sites in the adjacent inland Pearl River Delta (PRD) or Guangdong Province during four months/seasons from 2002-2003. Trans-boundary transport between Hong Kong and the inland PRD is inevitable under the influence of Asian monsoon.

Intercomparison of thermal-optical methods for the determination of organic and elemental carbon: influences of aerosol composition and implications.

An intercomparison of organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC) measurements was conducted based on ambient aerosol samples collected during four seasons in Beijing, China. Dependence of OC and EC values on the temperature protocol and the charring correction method is presented and influences of aerosol composition are investigated. EC was found to decrease with the peak inert mode temperature (T(peak)) such that EC determined by the IMPROVE (the Interagency Monitoring of Protected Visual Environments)-A protocol (T(peak) was 580 °C) was 2.

β-arrestin2 plays permissive roles in the inhibitory activities of RGS9-2 on G protein-coupled receptors by maintaining RGS9-2 in the open conformation.

Together with G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) kinases (GRKs) and β-arrestins, RGS proteins are the major family of molecules that control the signaling of GPCRs. The expression pattern of one of these RGS family members, RGS9-2, coincides with that of the dopamine D(3) receptor (D(3)R) in the brain, and in vivo studies have shown that RGS9-2 regulates the signaling of D2-like receptors. In this study, β-arrestin2 was found to be required for scaffolding of the intricate interactions among the dishevelled-EGL10-pleckstrin (DEP) domain of RGS9-2, Gβ5, R7-binding protein (R7BP), and D(3)R.

Heat transport in active harmonic chains.

We show that a harmonic lattice model with amplifying and attenuating elements, when coupled to two thermal baths, exhibits unique heat transport properties. Some of these novel features include anomalous nonequilibrium steady-state heat currents, negative differential thermal conductance, as well as nonreciprocal heat transport. We find that when these elements are arranged in a PT-symmetric manner, the domain of existence of the nonequilibrium steady state is maximized.

A qualitative study exploring the nurse telephone follow-up of patients returning home with a colostomy.

Aim: The aim of this study was to explore and describe the content of telephone intervention conversations conducted by an enterostomal nurse with patients discharged home with a colostomy.

Background: People discharged home with a new colostomy often encounter stoma-related difficulties. Postdischarge care with telephone follow-up by an enterostomal nurse is a helpful way to provide support for patients and ensure continuity of care.

Synthesis and characterization of a novel polyamidoamine-cyclodextrin crosslinked copolymer.

A novel insoluble crosslinked copolymer containing β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) structural units has been synthesized with polyamidoamine (PAMAM, generation 2) as comonomer. The polymer was characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), elemental analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), pores and surface area analysis, X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), and thermal analysis (thermogravimetric and differential scanning calorimetric measurement, TG/DSC). The results reveal that PAMAM-CD copolymer has been synthesized successfully and two β-CD molecules were cross-linked by one PAMAM (G2.

Characterization and source apportionment of water-soluble organic matter in atmospheric fine particles (PM2.5) with high-resolution aerosol mass spectrometry and GC-MS.

Water-soluble organic matter (WSOM) in fine particles (PM(2.5)) collected at one rural and three urban sites from the Southeastern Aerosol Research and Characterization network were characterized with a High-Resolution Time-of-Flight Aerosol Mass Spectrometer (HR-ToF-AMS). These samples were also analyzed for a suite of molecular markers by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) to assist in the interpretation of WSOM sources.

[Different distribution of NMDA receptor subunits in cortex contributes to selective vulnerability of motor neurons in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis].

Objective: To investigate the relationship between different distribution of NMDA receptor subunits and motor neurons selective vulnerability in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Methods: First we investigated whether administration of THA, a glutamate transport inhibitor, in cultured organotypic brain tissue made different damage of motor cortex and piriform cortex. Then we testified that selective motor cortex injury was related to disparate distribution of NR2A and NR2B by measuring their protein expression with the method of Western blot.

Interferon-gamma, macrophages, and virus spread after HSV-1 injection.

Purpose: After uniocular anterior chamber (AC) injection of HSV-1, the anterior segment of BALB/c mice becomes inflamed and infected; however, virus does not spread from the anterior segment to cause retinitis in the injected eye. The purpose of these studies was to determine whether interferon (IFN-)-γ and Mac-1(+) cells play a role in preventing direct anterior-to-posterior spread of HSV-1 in the injected eye.

Methods: One AC of adult female BALB/c mice was injected with HSV-1 (KOS).

Contribution of primary and secondary sources to organic aerosol and PM2.5 at SEARCH network sites.

Chemical tracer methods for determining contributions to primary organic aerosol (POA) are fairly well established, whereas similar techniques for secondary organic aerosol (SOA), inherently complicated by time-dependent atmospheric processes, are only beginning to be studied. Laboratory chamber experiments provide insights into the precursors of SOA, but field data must be used to test the approaches. This study investigates primary and secondary sources of organic carbon (OC) and determines their mass contribution to particulate matter 2.

Current perspectives on the selective regulation of dopamine D₂ and D₃ receptors.

Among the characterized dopamine receptor subtypes, D₂ receptor (D₂R) and D₃ receptor (D₃R) are the main targets of neuroleptics that are currently in use. In particular, D₃R is closely related to the etiology of schizophrenia and drug addiction. The spatial expression patterns of D₂R and D₃R are distinct in certain areas of the brain.

Cross-protection against influenza virus infection by intranasal administration of M1-based vaccine with chitosan as an adjuvant.

The antigenic variation of influenza virus represents a major health problem, thus continuous efforts have been made to develop broad-spectrum vaccines against influenza virus. Matrix protein 1 (M1) protein is highly conserved in all influenza A strains. In this study, M1 protein was efficiently expressed in Escherichia coli (E.

Protection against multiple influenza A virus subtypes by intranasal administration of recombinant nucleoprotein.

Vaccination is a cost-effective way to control the influenza epidemic. Vaccines based on highly conserved antigens can provide protection against different influenza A strains and subtypes. In this study, the recombinant nucleoprotein (rNP) of the A/PR/8/34 (H1N1) influenza virus strain was effectively expressed using a prokaryotic expression system and then purified with a nickel-charged Sepharose affinity column as a candidate component for an influenza vaccine.

Characterization and quantification of isoprene-derived epoxydiols in ambient aerosol in the southeastern United States.

Isoprene-derived epoxydiols (IEPOX) are identified in ambient aerosol samples for the first time, together with other previously identified isoprene tracers (i.e., 2-methyltetrols, 2-methylglyceric acid, C(5)-alkenetriols, and organosulfate derivatives of 2-methyltetrols).

Cross-protection against influenza virus infection by intranasal administration of M2-based vaccine with chitosan as an adjuvant.

Influenza vaccines based on conserved antigens could provide cross-protection against infections by multiple subtypes of influenza A virus. Influenza matrix protein 2 (M2) is highly conserved in all influenza A strains. In this study, we deleted the transmembrane domain of the M2 of the avian influenza virus (AIV) A/Chicken/Jiangsu/7/2002 (H9N2) strain to create an M2 without a transmembrane domain, named sM2, which was efficiently expressed in Escherichia coli.