Lipopolysaccharide activated phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C and induced IL-8 and MCP-1 production in vascular endothelial cells.

Secretion of proinflammatory cytokines by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) activated vascular endothelial cells (VECs) contributes substantially to the pathogenesis of several inflammatory diseases such as atherosclerosis and septic shock. However, the mechanisms involved in this process are not well understood. Here, we investigated the role of phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C (PC-PLC) in LPS-induced IL-8 and MCP-1 production in VECs.

Rapid isolation of single malaria parasite-infected red blood cells by cell sorting.

Malaria research often requires isolation of individually infected red blood cells (RBCs) or of a homogenous parasite population derived from a single parasite (clone). Traditionally, isolation of individual, parasitized RBCs or parasite cloning is achieved by limiting dilution or micromanipulation. This protocol describes a method for more efficient cloning of the malaria parasite; the method uses a cell sorter to rapidly isolate Plasmodium falciparum-infected RBCs singly.

[Effect of intervertebral position on range of motion after artificial lumbar total disc replacement and clinical management].

Objective: To discuss the effect of SB Charité lumbar artificial disc position on intervertebral range of motion (ROM) and clinical management.

Methods: Between 2004 and 2007, 30 discogenic low back pain patients confirmed by discography underwent 1/2-level total disc replacement (TDR) implantation with 32 prostheses. There were 12 males and 18 females with a mean age of 44 years old (range: 28-55).

The MYST family histone acetyltransferase regulates gene expression and cell cycle in malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum.

Histone lysine acetylation, normally associated with euchromatin and active genes, is regulated by different families of histone acetyltransferases (HATs). A single Plasmodium falciparum MYST (PfMYST) HAT was expressed as a long and a short version in intraerythrocytic stages. Whereas the recombinant PfMYST expressed in prokaryotes and insect cells did not show HAT activity, recombinant PfMYST purified from the parasites exhibited a predilection to acetylate histone H4 in vitro at K5, K8, K12 and K16.

In vitro sensitivity of Plasmodium falciparum clinical isolates from the China-Myanmar border area to quinine and association with polymorphism in the Na+/H+ exchanger.

Quinine resistance (QNR) in Plasmodium falciparum has been detected in many regions of the world where malaria is endemic. Genetic polymorphisms in at least four genes are implicated in QN susceptibility, and their significance often depends on the genetic background of the parasites. In this study, we have culture-adapted 60 P.

Development of a BAC vector for integration-independent and tight regulation of transgenes in rodents via the Tet system.

The establishment of functional transgenic mouse lines is often limited by problems caused by integration site effects on the expression construct. Similarly, tetracycline (Tet) controlled transcription units most commonly used for conditional transgene expression in mice are strongly influenced by their genomic surrounding. Using bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) technology in constitutive expression systems, it has been shown that integration site effects resulting in unwanted expression patterns can be largely eliminated.

Quantitative analysis of conditional gene inactivation using rationally designed, tetracycline-controlled miRNAs.

The combination of RNA interference (RNAi) with the tetracycline-controlled transcription activation (tet) system promises to become a powerful method for conditional gene inactivation in cultured cells and in whole organisms. Here, we tested critical sequence elements that originated from miRNA mR-30 for optimal efficiency of RNAi-based gene knockdown in mammalian cells. Rationally designed miRNAs, expressed conditionally via the tet system, led to an efficient knockdown of the expression of both reporter genes and the endogenous mitotic spindle protein TPX2 in HeLa cells.

Chromatin-mediated epigenetic regulation in the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum.

Malaria is a major public health problem in many developing countries, with the malignant tertian parasite Plasmodium falciparum causing the most malaria-associated mortality. Extensive research, especially with the advancement of genomics and transfection tools, has highlighted the fundamental importance of chromatin-mediated gene regulation in the developmental program of this early-branching eukaryote. The Plasmodium parasite genomes reveal the existence of both canonical and variant histones that make up the nucleosomes, as well as a full collection of conserved enzymes for chromatin remodeling and histone posttranslational modifications (PTMs).

Cloning of Plasmodium falciparum by single-cell sorting.

Malaria parasite cloning is traditionally carried out mainly by using the limiting dilution method, which is laborious, imprecise, and unable to distinguish multiply-infected RBCs. In this study, we used a parasite engineered to express green fluorescent protein (GFP) to evaluate a single-cell sorting method for rapidly cloning Plasmodium falciparum. By dividing a two-dimensional scattergram from a cell sorter into 17 gates, we determined the parameters for isolating singly-infected erythrocytes and sorted them into individual cultures.

The Puf-family RNA-binding protein PfPuf2 regulates sexual development and sex differentiation in the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum.

Translation regulation plays an important role during gametocytogenesis in the malaria parasite, a process that is obligatory for the transmission of the parasite through mosquito vectors. In this study we determined the function of PfPuf2, a member of the Puf family of translational repressors, in gametocytogenesis of Plasmodium falciparum. Tagging of the endogenous PfPuf2 protein with green fluorescent protein showed that PfPuf2 was expressed in both male and female gametocytes, and the protein was localized in the cytoplasm of the parasite.

One-stage combined posterior and anterior approaches for excising thoracolumbar and lumbar tumors: surgical and oncological outcomes.

Study Design: Retrospective clinical and radiologic evaluation.

Objective: To investigate the feasibility of a 1-stage combined posterior and anterior approaches for excising thoracolumbar and lumbar tumors with the patient lying in the lateral position.

Summary Of Background Data: Traditional anteroposterior approaches for total spondylectomy require a 2-stage operation or changing the patient's position, with secondary sterilization in the one stage.

[Mini-invasive extraperitoneal approach for anterior lumbar surgery].

Objective: To study a mini-invasive extraperitoneal approach to lumbar spine and discuss its exposure technique, complications and management.

Method: Anterior lumbar surgery was performed in 52 patients via the mini-invasive anterior extraperitoneal approach. Diagnoses included lumbar degenerative instability (n=23), discogenic lumbar pain (n=25), lumbosacral congenital deformity (n=2) and revision after posterior laminectomy & discectomy (n=2).

Characterization of the promoter of phosphate transporter TaPHT1.2 differentially expressed in wheat varieties.

TaPHT1.2 is a functional, root predominantly expressed and low phosphate (Pi) inducible high-affinity Pi transporter in wheat, which is more abundant in the roots of P-efficient wheat genotypes (e.g.

Expression of CD226 antagonizes apoptotic cell death in murine thymocytes.

CD226 is known to be expressed on many types of peripheral lymphoid cells and involved in T cell differentiation, activation, and cytotoxicity. In this study, we report that CD226 is also expressed on mouse thymocytes at varying developmental stages, and its expression is associated with resistance of thymocytes to apoptosis. The levels of CD226 expression appeared to be closely coupled with thymocyte development, in that it was preferentially expressed on CD4(+)CD8(-) and CD4(-)CD8(+) thymocytes at all stages during mouse development, and was markedly increased on the cells in neonatal mice.

Characterization of PRMT1 from Plasmodium falciparum.

Arginine methylation is a post-translational modification that affects many cellular processes in eukaryotes. The malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum encodes three conserved PRMTs (protein arginine N-methyltransferases). We have determined that PfPRMT1 (P.

Analysis of the relationship between morphology of intervertebral disc and some correlated factors following discography in patients with chronic low back pain.

Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic effectiveness of discography in discogenic low back pain (LBP).

Methods: Ninety-six cases of chronic LBP with or without referred thigh pain were enrolled in this study. All these cases received CT scan following discography once conservative treatment for at least 6 months had failed.

Simultaneous combined anterior and posterior surgery for severe thoracolumbar fracture dislocations.

Objective: To analyze the clinical results of simultaneously combined anterior and posterior surgery for severe thoracolumbar fracture dislocations, and to clarify the surgical indications for these high-energy injuries.

Methods: Thirty-four patients with severe thoracolumbar fracture dislocations were managed with simultaneously combined anterior and posterior surgery. The injured segments included the following: T11 (2 patients), T12 (5), L1 (1), L2 (8), L3 (5), L4 (2) and L4 and L5 (1).

[Progress of anterior lumbar interbody fusion in clinical application].

Anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) has become a standard technique for interbody fusion since it was reported by O'Brien in 1983. Now it is used to treat many degenerative disease,such as lumbar discogenic pain, lumbar instability, lumbar spondylolisthesis and so on. In recent years, ALIF has developed greatly in clinical application.

Hemorrhagic activity of the vascular apoptosis-inducing proteins VAP1 and VAP2 from Crotalus atrox.

Vascular apoptosis-inducing proteins (VAPs) from hemorrhagic snake venom are apoptosis-inducing toxins that target vascular endothelial cells. We now show that VAP1 and VAP2 from Crotalus atrox have hemorrhagic activity in mouse skin following intradermal injection. Following intravenous injection, VAP2 induced hemorrhage in the lung, intestine and kidney.

Reproduction and fertility in wild-type and transgenic mice after orthotopic transplantation of cryopreserved ovaries from 10-d-old mice.

Ovary cryopreservation and subsequent transplantation can enable researchers to preserve valuable transgenic animal strains. Some studies have indicated, however, that this process may impair ovary viability and recipient fertility. The authors investigated the effects of ovary vitrification followed by orthotopic transplantation in five strains of mice.

Quantitative image quality evaluation of MR images using perceptual difference models.

The authors are using a perceptual difference model (Case-PDM) to quantitatively evaluate image quality of the thousands of test images which can be created when optimizing fast magnetic resonance (MR) imaging strategies and reconstruction techniques. In this validation study, they compared human evaluation of MR images from multiple organs and from multiple image reconstruction algorithms to Case-PDM and similar models. The authors found that Case-PDM compared very favorably to human observers in double-stimulus continuous-quality scale and functional measurement theory studies over a large range of image quality.

[Instant and fatigue stability analysis of anterior lumbar interbody fusion with stand-alone cage].

Objective: To investigate the spinal segment instant and fatigue stability of anterior lumbar interbody fusion with stand-alone cage.

Methods: The vertebrae L4 and S1 of 6 human lumbar specimens (L3 - S1) were embedded with dental base acrylic resin powder and fixed on mechanical machine, and the L4/L5 and L5/S1 disk spaces were left active. The 6 specimens underwent mechanical test as control group first, and then used as experimental group with a cage implanted in L5/S1.

Plasmodium falciparum: development of a transgenic line for screening antimalarials using firefly luciferase as the reporter.

High-throughput screening (HTS) of small-molecule libraries against pharmacological targets is a key strategy of contemporary drug discovery. This study reports a simple, robust, and cell-based luminescent method for assaying antimalarial drugs. Using transfection technology, we generated a stable Plasmodium falciparum line with high levels of firefly luciferase expression.

Histone acetyltransferase inhibitor anacardic acid causes changes in global gene expression during in vitro Plasmodium falciparum development.

To better understand the role of histone lysine acetylation in transcription in Plasmodium falciparum, we sought to attenuate histone acetyltransferase (HAT) activity using anacardic acid (AA). We showed that AA reversibly and noncompetitively inhibited the HAT activity of recombinant PfGCN5. To a lesser extent, AA inhibited the PfGCN5 activity in parasite nuclear extracts but did not affect histone deacetylase activity.

Histone lysine methyltransferases and demethylases in Plasmodium falciparum.

Dynamic histone lysine methylation, regulated by methyltransferases and demethylases, plays fundamental roles in chromatin structure and gene expression in a wide range of eukaryotic organisms. A large number of SET-domain-containing proteins make up the histone lysine methyltransferase (HKMT) family, which catalyses the methylation of different lysine residues with relatively high substrate specificities. Another large family of Jumonji C (JmjC)-domain-containing histone lysine demethylases (JHDMs) reverses histone lysine methylation with both lysine site and methyl-state specificities.