Sleep Homeostasis and General Anesthesia: Are Fruit Flies Well Rested after Emergence from Propofol?

Background: Shared neurophysiologic features between sleep and anesthetic-induced hypnosis indicate a potential overlap in neuronal circuitry underlying both states. Previous studies in rodents indicate that preexisting sleep debt discharges under propofol anesthesia. The authors explored the hypothesis that propofol anesthesia also dispels sleep pressure in the fruit fly.

Advances in applications, metabolism, and biotechnological production of L-xylulose.

L-Xylulose is an intermediate in certain metabolic pathways and is classified as a rare sugar. It shows important physiological effects such as acting as an inhibitor of α-glucosidase and decreasing blood glucose, and it can be employed to produce other significant rare sugars, such as L-ribose and L-xylose which contribute to the production of antiviral drugs. Chemical synthesis of L-xylulose was performed, but it is difficult and low yielding.

Mitochondrial DNA copy number in peripheral blood leukocytes and the aggressiveness of localized prostate cancer.

We investigated whether low mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNAcn) in peripheral blood leukocytes at diagnosis was associated with an increased risk of the aggressive form of the tumor and disease progression among localized prostate cancer (PCa) patients. We recruited 1,751 non-Hispanic white men with previously untreated PCa from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. mtDNAcn was categorized into three groups according to tertiles.

Novel fluorine-containing DAPY derivatives as potent HIV-1 NNRTIs: a patent evaluation of WO2014072419.

Diarylpyrimidine (DAPY) derivatives, one family of HIV non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase (RT) inhibitors (NNRTIs) with superior activities against wild-type (WT) HIV-1 and NNRTI-resistant strains, have attracted much attention in the past decade. A series of DAPY derivatives featuring a fluorine atom on the central ring were reported as novel NNRTIs in the patent WO2014072419. Some compounds exhibited robust potency against both WT and mutant strains, which were approximately equal to or higher than those of the reference drug TMC120.

Cysteine-free non-canonical C-intein for versatile protein C-terminal labeling through trans-splicing.

Site-specific protein labeling are powerful means of protein research and engineering; however, new and improved labeling methods are greatly needed. Split inteins catalyze a protein trans-splicing reaction that can be used for enzymatic and nearly seamless protein labeling. Non-canonical S11 split intein has been used in an earlier method of protein C-terminal labeling; however, its relatively large (~150 aa) N-intein fused to the target protein often hindered protein expression, folding, and solubility.

Ketamine affects in vitro differentiation of monocyte into immature dendritic cells.

Background: Monocytes (MOs) have the unique ability to differentiate into immature dendritic cells (iDCs) (MO→iDC) under the influence of interleukin-4 and granulocyte-monocyte colony-stimulating factor (IL-4&GM-CSF). In this study, the authors investigated the influence of ketamine on the process of MO→iDC.

Methods: iDCs were cultured from MO obtained from 36 subjects in the presence of IL-4 and GM-CSF and ketamine at 100, 10, and 1 μg/ml for 5 days.

Spider wrapping silk fibre architecture arising from its modular soluble protein precursor.

Spiders store spidroins in their silk glands as high concentration aqueous solutions, spinning these dopes into fibres with outstanding mechanical properties. Aciniform (or wrapping) silk is the toughest spider silk and is devoid of the short amino acid sequence motifs characteristic of the other spidroins. Using solution-state NMR spectroscopy, we demonstrate that the 200 amino acid Argiope trifasciata AcSp1 repeat unit contrasts with previously characterized spidroins, adopting a globular 5-helix bundle flanked by intrinsically disordered N- and C-terminal tails.

Diversified Structural Basis of a Conserved Molecular Mechanism for pH-Dependent Dimerization in Spider Silk N-Terminal Domains.

Conversion of spider silk proteins from soluble dope to insoluble fibers involves pH-dependent dimerization of the N-terminal domain (NT). This conversion is tightly regulated to prevent premature precipitation and enable rapid silk formation at the end of the duct. Three glutamic acid residues that mediate this process in the NT from Euprosthenops australis major ampullate spidroin 1 are well conserved among spidroins.

Bioinspired Carbon/SnO2 Composite Anodes Prepared from a Photonic Hierarchical Structure for Lithium Batteries.

A carbon/SnO2 composite (C-SnO2) with hierarchical photonic structure was fabricated from the templates of butterfly wings. We have investigated for the first time its application as the anode material for lithium-ion batteries. It was demonstrated to have high reversible capacities, good cycling stability, and excellent high-rate discharge performance, as shown by a capacitance of ∼572 mAh g(-1) after 100 cycles, 4.

Segmental expression and C-terminal labeling of protein ERp44 through protein trans-splicing.

Endoplasmic reticulum resident protein 44 (ERp44) is a member of the protein disulfide isomerase family and functions in oxidative protein folding in the endoplasmic reticulum. A structurally flexible C-terminal tail (C-tail) of ERp44 plays critical roles in dynamically regulating ERp44's function in protein folding quality control. The structure-function dynamics of ERp44's C-tail may be studied further using fluorescence and other techniques, if methods are found to label the C-tail site-specifically with a fluorescent group or segmentally with other desired labels.

Alternative splicing of the androgen receptor in polycystic ovary syndrome.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common female endocrine disorders and a leading cause of female subfertility. The mechanism underlying the pathophysiology of PCOS remains to be illustrated. Here, we identify two alternative splice variants (ASVs) of the androgen receptor (AR), insertion and deletion isoforms, in granulosa cells (GCs) in ∼62% of patients with PCOS.

The incidence of pulmonary embolism in patients with combined lower extremity deep venous thrombosis and iliac vein compression syndrome.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the risk of symptomatic pulmonary embolism (PE) in patients with combined lower extremity deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and iliac vein compression syndrome (IVCS).

Methods: Between January 2011 and February 2014, 399 patients diagnosed with combined lower extremity DVT and IVCS at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University were included in this retrospective study. The odds of symptomatic PE versus combined lower extremity DVT and IVCS were assessed using logistic regression models.

A Fe/Fe3O4/N-carbon composite with hierarchical porous structure and in situ formed N-doped graphene-like layers for high-performance lithium ion batteries.

A Fe/Fe3O4/N-carbon composite consisting of a porous carbon matrix containing a highly conductive N-doped graphene-like network and Fe/Fe3O4 nanoparticles was prepared. The porous carbon has a hierarchical structure which is inherited from rice husk and the N-doped graphene-like network formed in situ. When used as an anode material for lithium batteries, the composite delivered a reversible capacity of approximately 610 mA h g(-1) at a current density of 200 mA g(-1) even after 100 cycles, due to the synergism between the unique hierarchical porous structures, highly electrically conductive N-doped graphene-like networks and nanosized particles of Fe/Fe3O4.

Successive and cyclic oral contraceptive pill pretreatment improves IVF/ICSI outcomes of PCOS patients and ameliorates hyperandrogenism and antral follicle excess.

Objectives: To evaluate different oral contraceptive pill (OCP) pretreatment associated differential in-vitro fertilization (IVF)/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) outcomes of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients and explore enhanced hormonal balance induced by the pretreatment.

Methods: This retrospective study included 500 PCOS women and 565 normal ovulating counterparts undergoing IVF/ICSI. The PCOS patients were divided into three groups based on the OCP pretreatment regimens: non-OCP (without OCP pretreatment), unsuccessive OCP (the period of successive pretreatment ≤2 months) and successive OCP (the period of successive pretreatment ≥3 months) groups.

Prognostic significance of pretreatment serum levels of albumin, LDH and total bilirubin in patients with non-metastatic breast cancer.

Liver function tests (LFTs) have been reported as independent predictors of non-liver disease-related morbidity and mortality in general population and cancer patients. In this study, we evaluated the relationship between pretreatment serum LFTs and overall survival (OS) in non-metastatic Caucasian breast cancer patients. Seven LFTs, including albumin, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), total bilirubin and total protein, were measured in pretreatment serum from 2425 female Caucasian patients with newly diagnosed, histologically confirmed non-metastatic invasive breast cancer.

Epithelial-mesenchymal transitioned circulating tumor cells capture for detecting tumor progression.

Purpose: This study aimed to detect cell-surface vimentin (CSV) on the surface of epithelial-mesenchymal transitioned (EMT) circulating tumor cells (CTC) from blood of patients with epithelial cancers.

Experimental Design: In this study, 101 patients undergoing postsurgery adjuvant chemotherapy for metastatic colon cancer were recruited. EMT CTCs were detected from blood of patients using the 84-1 monoclonal antibody against CSV as a marker.

α2-Adrenergic stimulation of the ventrolateral preoptic nucleus destabilizes the anesthetic state.

The sleep-promoting ventrolateral preoptic nucleus (VLPO) shares reciprocal inhibitory inputs with wake-active neuronal nuclei, including the locus ceruleus. Electrophysiologically, sleep-promoting neurons in the VLPO are directly depolarized by the general anesthetic isoflurane and hyperpolarized by norepinephrine, a wake-promoting neurotransmitter. However, the integration of these competing influences on the VLPO, a sleep- and anesthetic-active structure, has yet to be evaluated in either brain slices in vitro or the intact organism.

[Effect of salt on minor ampullate silk spidroin modules].

To study the effect of physiological conditions on spidroins, we analyzed NTR1SR2CT module secondary structure, aggregation and silk-formation influenced by different salts (in different concentration intervals). According to the full-length Araneus ventricosus MiSp sequence, NTR1SR2CT module was constructed and expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3), and the recombinant proteins were purified by denaturation method mediated by 8 mol/L urea. Random coil and helix are the main secondary structures of NTR1SR2CT and could be induced into beta-sheet by drying natively and lyophilization, where methanol can be used as a promoter.

The miaoyao fanggan sachets regulate humoral immunity and cellular immunity in mice.

Background: Although some studies in the southeast part of Guizhou Province have suggested that Miaoyao Fanggan sachets (MFS) prevent influenza, little is known about its influence on immune systems. Influenza virus mainly infects immune-compromised individuals. The effects of MFS have mainly been recognized in clinical practice.

Design, Synthesis, and Anti-HIV Evaluation of Novel Triazine Derivatives Targeting the Entrance Channel of the NNRTI Binding Pocket.

A novel series of triazine derivatives targeting the entrance channel of the HIV-1 non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor binding pocket (NNIBP) were designed and synthesized on the basis of our previous work. The results of a cell-based antiviral screening assay indicated that most compounds showed good-to-moderate activity against wild-type HIV-1 with EC50 values within the concentration range of 0.0078-0.

Lignin-based microporous materials as selective adsorbents for carbon dioxide separation.

Suitable solid adsorbents are demanded for carbon capture and storage (CCS) processes. In this work, a novel microporous polymer is developed by hypercrosslinking of organosolv lignin, which is a renewable resource. Reaction with formaldehyde dimethyl acetal (FDA) via Friedel-Crafts reaction gives microporous networks, with moderate capacity of carbon dioxide but excellent selectivity towards CO2 /N2 mixture as predicted on the basis of ideal adsorption-solution theory (IAST).

Circulating tumor cell enumeration with a combination of epithelial cell adhesion molecule- and cell-surface vimentin-based methods for monitoring breast cancer therapeutic response.

Background: Detection, isolation, and enumeration of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) from cancer patients has become an important modality in clinical management of patients with breast cancer. Although CellSearch, an epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM)-based method that is used to isolate epithelial CTCs, has gained prominence, its inability to detect mesenchymal CTCs from breast cancer patients raises concerns regarding its utility in clinical management.

Methods: To address this gap in technology, we recently discovered the utility of cell-surface vimentin (CSV) as a marker for detecting mesenchymal CTCs from sarcoma tumors.

Laboratory approaches for the diagnosis and assessment of hypercalcemia.

Calcium, the fifth most common element in the body, plays major physiological functions. Measurement of blood calcium is one of the most commonly ordered laboratory tests in assessments of calcium homeostasis and disease diagnosis. Hypercalcemia is an increased level of calcium in the blood.