Effects of estradiol metabolites on cAMP production and degradation.

(Full text is available at http://www.manu.edu.

Molecular beam epitaxial growth and characterization of non-tapered InN nanowires on Si(111).

We have performed a detailed investigation of the molecular beam epitaxial growth and characterization of InN nanowires spontaneously formed on Si(111) substrates under nitrogen rich conditions. By employing an in situ deposited thin (approximately 0.5 nm) In seeding layer prior to growth initiation, we have achieved, for the first time, non-tapered epitaxial InN nanowires, which exhibit record narrow spectral linewidths of 14 and 40 meV at 5 K and 300 K, respectively.

[Expression and clinical significance of nuclear matrix protein 22 and cytokeratin 18 in transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder].

Objective: To evaluate the expression and clinical significance of urinary nuclear matrix protein (NMP22) and cytokeratin 18 (CK18) for transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder.

Methods: Urinary NMP22 and CK18 levels of 293 patients with transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder, 400 patients with non-transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder, and 105 bladder benign disease were analysed by enzyme-linked-immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Results: The levels of urinary NMP22 and CK18 in the patients with transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder (M = 17.

Identification of osteopontin-dependent signaling pathways in a mouse model of human breast cancer.

Background: Osteopontin (OPN) is a secreted phosphoprotein which functions as a cell attachment protein and cytokine that signals through two cell adhesion molecules, alphavbeta3-integrin and CD44, to regulate cancer growth and metastasis. However, the signaling pathways associated with OPN have not been extensively characterized. In an in vivo xenograft model of MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer, we have previously demonstrated that ablation of circulating OPN with an RNA aptamer blocks interaction with its cell surface receptors to significantly inhibit adhesion, migration and invasion in vitro and local progression and distant metastases.

Regulation of renovascular adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

This study tested the hypothesis that regulation of 3',5'-cAMP levels in the kidney vasculature is abnormal in spontaneously hypertensive rats. In isolated, perfused kidneys from adult rats (16 weeks of age), isoproterenol similarly increased renal venous 3',5'-cAMP secretion from kidneys of hypertensive versus normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats. However, a broad-spectrum phosphodiesterase inhibitor (isobutyl-1-methylxanthine) augmented isoproterenol (3 mumol/L)-induced increases in renal venous 3',5'-cAMP secretion more so in kidneys from adult hypertensive versus age-matched normotensive rats (31-fold and 5-fold, respectively; P<0.

[A discussion on the concentration assay for hemihydrate gypsum in plaster of paris bandage-viscose form].

This essay is to present an improvement on the concentration assay for hemihydrate gypsum in plaster of Paris bandage-Viscose form.

p75NTR-dependent modulation of cellular handling of reactive oxygen species.

Our previous studies demonstrated that p75NTR confers protection against oxidative stress-induced apoptosis upon PC12 cells; however, the mechanisms responsible for this effect are not known. The present studies reveal decreased mitochondrion membrane potential and increased generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in p75NTR-deficient PC12 cells as well as diminution of ROS generation after transfection of a full-length p75NTR construct into these cells. They also show that p75NTR deficiency attenuates activation of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase --> phospho-Akt/protein kinase B pathway in PC12 cells by oxidative stress or neurotrophic ligands and inhibition of Akt phosphorylation decreases the glutathione (GSH) content in PC12 cells.

[Testosterone induces different-featured prostate hyperplasia in castrated and uncastrated mice].

Objective: To study the different features of hyperplasia in castrated and uncastrated mice after testosterone (T) treatment.

Methods: Forty-eight BALB/c mice were randomly divided into 6 groups of 8 in each: castrated (A), uncastrated (B) , castrated + low T (C), uncastrated + low T (D), castrated + high T (E), uncastrated + high T (F). Groups C and D were treated with testosterone solution at the dose of 12.

Fed-batch fermentation of Tuber melanosporum for the hyperproduction of mycelia and bioactive Tuber polysaccharides.

For the first time, a fed-batch fermentation process of Tuber melanosporum was developed for the efficient production of bioactive mycelia and Tuber polysaccharides. Each 1.67 g/L of peptone and 8.

Molecular mechanisms of macrolide resistance in clinical isolates of Mycoplasma pneumoniae from China.

Fifty clinical Mycoplasma pneumoniae strains were isolated from 370 children with respiratory tract infections. Four strains were susceptible to macrolides, while the other 46 (92%) were macrolide resistant. The molecular mechanism of resistance was shown to be associated with point mutations in 23S rRNA at positions 2063 and 2064.

Drug-resistant gene based genotyping for Acinetobacter baumannii in tracing epidemiological events and for clinical treatment within nosocomial settings.

Background: Acinetobacter baumannii has emerged as an important pathogen related to serious infections and nosocomial outbreaks around the world. However, of the frequently used methods, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) in Acinetobacter baumannii genotyping lack the direct molecular proof of drug resistance. This study was conducted to establish a typing method based on drug resistant gene identification in contrast to traditional PFGE and AFLP in the period of nosocomial epidemic or outbreak.

Predictors of inpatient outcomes in hospitalized patients after left heart catheterization.

Clinical and laboratory factors predicting inpatient outcomes, specifically in-hospital mortality and length of stay (LOS), have not been defined for hospitalized patients specifically referred for left heart catheterization and coronary angiography (LHC). The objective of the study was to determine these outcomes and their predictors in hospitalized patients after LHC. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to identify risk factors for in-hospital mortality and Cox proportional hazards models were used to identify factors determining LOS in 9,420 consecutive patients hospitalized for LHC.

[Emergence of 16S rRNA methylase gene rmtB in Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates from the inpatients in Zhejiang Province, China].

Objective: To investigate the presence and genetic background of 16S rRNA methylase gene and Aminoglycoside modifying enzymes (AMEs) genes in Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from the People's Liberation Army 98th Hospital, Huzhou district, Zhejiang province, China.

Methods: 25 strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae were isolated from the inpatients between September, 2005 and April, 2006. 6 kinds of 16S rRNA methylase gene (including armA, rmtA, rmtB, rmtC, rmtD and npmA), 6 kinds of AMEs genes [including aac (3)-I, aac (3)-II, aac (6')-I, aac (6')-II, ant (3")-I and ant (2")-I], intI1, intI2, intI3, mercuric reductase gene merA (merA gene were the collective genetic markers of transposons of Tn21 and Tn501) and tnpA (tnpA gene were the collective genetic markers of transposons of Tn1, Tn2,Tn3 and Tn1000) were analyzed by PCR and verificated by DNA sequencing.

[Survey on human rabies cases and its viral molecular biological features in Baoshan city, Yunnan province].

Objective: To understand the epidemiological features of two rabies cases in Baoshan city year 2006 and 2007 and to analyze its source of infection.

Methods: Questionnaires were used to do the epidemiological survey on each of the rabies cases. Brain tissue samples of rabies patients were collect to detect the rabies virus by direct immunofluorescence assay (DFA) and RT-PCR assay.

[Human chorionic gonadotrophin regulates epidermal growth factor in the phallus of hypospadias mice].

Objective: To investigate the etiopathogenesis of congenital hypospadias and the regulating effect of exogenous human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) on the epidermal growth factor (EGF) in the phallus of hypospadiac mice.

Methods: Mouse models of congenital hypospadias were established. Fifty healthy male mice randomly selected as normal controls received intraperitoneal injection of normal saline, and another 50 with hypospadias were equally divided into an experimental control group, intraperitoneally injected with 1 ml normal saline, and 4 hCG dose groups treated by hCG intraperitoneal injection at 50 IU, 100 IU, 150 IU and 200 IU respectively for 7 consecutive days.

PTD-mediated loading of tumor-seeking lymphocytes with prodrug-activating enzymes.

Using the approach of peptide transduction domain (PTD)-mediated loading of interleukin-2(IL-2)-activated natural killer (A-NK) cells, tumor-seeking lymphocytes, with prodrug-activating enzymes, we primarily aim to generate a cytotoxic drug selectively within tumors and minimize damage to normal tissues. A-NK cells are able to accumulate selectively at tumor sites. While these cells by themselves possess significant antitumor effect in vivo, we suggest that they can also serve as Trojan horses, by bringing anticancer agents, such as prodrug-activating enzymes, selectively to tumors.

[Application of nested PCR and sequencing technique to detect point mutations of the 23S rRNA gene of Mycoplasma pneumoniae].

Objective: To establish a quick method to detect drug resistance of Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) and study the condition of drug resistance in MP infection.

Methods: MP 23S rRNA target gene in throat swab specimens from 200 patients with suspected MP infection was detected by using nested PCR and DNA sequencing. The result of 23S rRNA gene detection was confirmed by MP isolation and drug susceptibility test in vitro for reliability.

Novel biotransformation process of podophyllotoxin to produce podophyllic acid and picropodophyllotoxin by Pseudomonas aeruginosa CCTCC AB93066, part II: process optimization.

This work optimized the novel biotransformation process of podophyllotoxin to produce podophyllic acid by Pseudomonas aeruginosa CCTCC AB93066. Firstly, the biotransformation process was significantly affected by medium composition. 5 g/l of yeast extract and 5 g/l of peptone were favorable for podophyllic acid production (i.

Identification and quantification of 2',3'-cAMP release by the kidney.

We recently developed a sensitive assay for 3',5'-cAMP using high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Using this assay, we investigated the release of 3',5'-cAMP from isolated, perfused rat kidneys. To our surprise, we observed a dominant chromatographic peak that was because of an endogenous substance that had the same parent ion as 3',5'-cAMP and that fragmented to the same daughter ion (adenine) as 3',5'-cAMP.

EF1A1-actin interactions alter mRNA stability to determine differential osteopontin expression in HepG2 and Hep3B cells.

Cancer progression depends on an accumulation of metastasis-supporting physiological changes which are regulated by cell signaling molecules. One such molecule, osteopontin (OPN), is a secreted phosphoprotein which mediates increased cellular migratory and invasive behavior, increased metastasis, protection from apoptosis, promotion of colony formation and 3D growth ability, induction of tumor-associated inflammatory cells, and induction of expression of angiogenic factors. Studies show that OPN expression is controlled by complex regulatory pathways at the transcriptional level in several cancers, but the molecular mechanisms which determine expression of OPN in HCC are largely unknown.