Matrine induces caspase-independent program cell death in hepatocellular carcinoma through bid-mediated nuclear translocation of apoptosis inducing factor.

Matrine, a clinical drug in China, has been used to treat viral hepatitis, cardiac arrhythmia and skin inflammations. Matrine also exhibits chemotherapeutic potential through its ability to trigger cancer cell death. However, the mechanisms involved are still largely unknown.

[Application of hyper-spectral remote sensing technology in environmental protection].

Hyper-spectral remote sensing (RS) technology has been widely used in environmental protection. The present work introduces its recent application in the RS monitoring of pollution gas, green-house gas, algal bloom, water quality of catch water environment, safety of drinking water sources, biodiversity, vegetation classification, soil pollution, and so on. Finally, issues such as scarce hyper-spectral satellites, the limits of data processing and information extract are related.

[Review of change detection methods using multi-temporal remotely sensed images].

With the development of platforms and sensors, continuous repetition of remote sensing observation of the earth surface has been realized, and a mass of multi-source, multi-scale, multi-resolution remote sensing data has been accumulated. Those images have detailedly recorded the changing process of ground objects on the earth, which makes the long term global change research, such as change detection, based on remote sensing become possible, and greatly push forward the research on image processing and application. Although plenty of successful research has been reported, there are still enormous challenges in multi-temporal imagery change detection.

Spatially varying relationships between land-cover change and driving factors at multiple sampling scales.

Modeling the relationships between environment, human activity, and natural conditions is very important for understanding human-environment interactions. This study aims at examining how these relationships vary over spatial sampling scales and investigating the spatially varying relationships between land-cover changes and driving factors, as well as the variations in the relationships at different sampling scales in the Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Qinghai Province, P.R.

Simultaneous quantification of six constituents in Qing-huo-zhi-mai tablet by high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

A novel sensitive and specific high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method was established for the simultaneous determination of six constituents including geniposide, andrographolide, dehydroandrographolide, ophiopogonin D, methylophiopogonanone A and methylophiopogonanone B in Qing-huo-zhi-mai (QHZM) tablet, a well-known Chinese herbal preparation. The chromatographic separation was performed on a C18 column, and the mobile phase was composed of 0.04% acetic acid and acetonitrile with gradient elution.

The first Chinese case report of hereditary folate malabsorption with a novel mutation on SLC46A1.

Background: Hereditary folate malabsorption is a rare, autosomal recessive disorder of proton-coupled folate transporter deficiency resulting in folate deficiency. Left untreated, the condition can cause severe brain damage and megaloblastic anemia, leading to progressive psychomotor retardation, seizures and other neurological problems. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial.

Matrine inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis via BID-mediated mitochondrial pathway in esophageal cancer cells.

Matrine, as a member of Sophora family, is an alkaloid found in plants, and produces plethora pharmacological effects, including anti-cancer effects. However, the mechanism involved remains largely unknown. This study is conducted to investigate the anti-cancer mechanisms of matrine in human esophageal cancer in vitro and in vivo.

[Clinical, biochemical and genetic analysis of the mitochondrial disorders presenting with cardiac damage].

Objective: Mitochondrial disease is a group of energy metabolic disorders, characterized by involvement of multisystem with high energy requirements. Encephalomyopathies are common clinical findings of the mitochondrial diseases. However, mitochondrial cardiac damage is not rare.

Multi-responses extraction optimization based on response surface methodology combined with polarity switching HPLC-MS/MS for the simultaneous quantitation of 11 compounds in Cortex Fraxini: application to four species of Cortex Fraxini and its 3 confusable species.

A novel polarity switching high performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS/MS) approach combining optimization of extraction condition by response surface methodology (RSM) was developed for the simultaneous quantitative analysis of 11 compounds in Cortex Fraxini, a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine. The ultrasonic extraction conditions of the 11 analytes including sample quantity, methanol concentration and extraction time were simultaneously optimized with a Box-Behnken design (BBD) and Derringer's desirability function. Multiple-reaction monitoring (MRM) scanning was employed for quantification with switching electrospray ion source polarity between positive and negative modes in a single run of 16min.

[Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase deficiency-induced schizophrenia in a school-age boy].

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) deficiency is a rare autosomal recessive disorder. It is known that MTHFR deficiency may result in hyperhomocysteinemia, but MTHFR deficiency-induced schizophrenia has been rarely reported. Here we present the clinical course, biochemical and genetic characteristics of schizophrenia resulted from MTHFR deficiency in a school-age boy.

Ejaculate economics: an experimental test in a moth.

Increasing evidence shows that spermatogenesis is costly. As a consequence, males should optimize the use of their sperm to maximize their reproductive outputs in their lifetime. However, experimental evidence on this prediction is largely lacking.

[Analysis of directional reflectance properties of Lake Taihu using multi-angle measurements].

The optical field above water is not isotropic. It is important to study the directional reflectance properties of the optical field above water, which is useful for building water quality parameters retrieving models by remote sensing. The bidirectional reflectance distribution function above oceanic waters has been well studied.

Simultaneous determination of imperatorin and its metabolite xanthotoxol in rat plasma by using HPLC-ESI-MS coupled with hollow fiber liquid phase microextraction.

The objective of the present study was to develop a new method for the simultaneous quantitation of imperatorin and its metabolite xanthotoxol in rat plasma. The samples were prepared with hollow fiber liquid phase microextraction (HF-LPME). The optimized extraction procedure was acquired by assessing extraction solvent, length of the fiber, agitation rate, extraction temperature and time.

Clinical and mutational spectra of 23 Chinese patients with glutaric aciduria type 1.

Objective: Glutaric aciduria type 1 (GA1) is a rare neurometabolic disorder caused by glutaryl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency due to GCDH gene mutations. In this study, the clinical presentation and molecular aspects of 23 Chinese patients (11 males and 12 females) were investigated.

Methods: All patients were diagnosed by elevated urinary glutaric acid and GCDH gene analysis.

Changes in the expression of miR-381 and miR-495 are inversely associated with the expression of the MDR1 gene and development of multi-drug resistance.

Multidrug resistance (MDR) frequently develops in cancer patients exposed to chemotherapeutic agents and is usually brought about by over-expression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) which acts as a drug efflux pump to reduce the intracellular concentration of the drug(s). Thus, inhibiting P-gp expression might assist in overcoming MDR in cancer chemotherapy. MiRNAome profiling using next-generation sequencing identified differentially expressed microRNAs (miRs) between parental K562 cells and MDR K562 cells (K562/ADM) induced by adriamycin treatment.

Tunable phase-shifted fiber Bragg grating based on femtosecond laser fabricated in-grating bubble.

We present a type of phase-shifted fiber Bragg gratings based on an in-grating bubble fabricated by femtosecond (fs) laser ablation together with a fusion-splicing technique. A microchannel vertically crossing the bubble is drilled by fs laser to allow liquid to flow in or out. By filling different refractive index (RI) liquid into the bubble, the phase-shift peak is found to experience a linear red shift with the increase of RI, while little contribution to the change of phase shift comes from the temperature and axial strain.

Exploration of genome-wide circulating microRNA in hepatocellular carcinoma: MiR-483-5p as a potential biomarker.

Background: MicroRNAs (miRNA) are abundant in the circulation and play a central role in diverse biologic processes; they may be useful for early diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Methods: We conducted a two-phase, case-control study (20 pairs for the discovery set and 49 pairs for the validation set) to test the hypothesis that genome-wide dysregulation of circulating miRNAs differentiates hepatocellular carcinoma cases from controls. Taqman low-density arrays were used to examine genome-wide miRNA expression for the discovery set, and quantitative real-time PCR was used to validate candidate miRNAs for both discovery and validation sets.

[Preparation and in vitro permeation of tetramethylpyrazine hydrochloride transdermal gel].

The purpose of this study was to prepare tetramethylpyrazine hydrochloride transdermal gel and to study its permeation ability in vitro. The skin permeation ability was evaluated by Valian-Chien permeation cells with isolated rat skin. The concentration of tetramethylpyrazine in samples was determined by HPLC.

DNA double-strand break repair genotype and phenotype and breast cancer risk within sisters from the New York site of the Breast Cancer Family Registry (BCFR).

Purpose: We previously observed that poor DNA repair phenotype is associated with increased breast cancer (BC) risk within families. Here, we examined whether genetic variation in double-strand break repair (DSBR) genes is associated with BC risk and if genotypes are related to phenotype in unaffected women.

Methods: Using data from the New York site of the Breast Cancer Family Registry, we investigated 25 single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) involved in DSBR using biospecimens from 337 BC cases and 410 unaffected sister controls.

[HEXB gene study and prenatal diagnosis for a family affected by infantile Sandhoff disease].

Objective: To investigate the phenotype and genotype of a Chinese boy and his family affected by infantile Sandhoff disease.

Methods: The proband, a boy, was the first child born to a non-consanguineous couple. He showed startle reaction after birth and progressive psychomotor regression from the age of 8 months.

Differentiation of genuine Inula britannica L. and substitute specimens based on the determination of 15 components using LC-MS/MS and principal components analysis.

The aim of this study was to investigate the chemical differences between genuine Inula britannica L. (I. britannica) and substitute specimens.

Microdialysis sampling for investigations of tetramethylpyrazine following transdermal and intraperitoneal administration.

The pharmacokinetic behaviors of tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) were investigated in rat plasma and microdialysates of various sites such as brain, blood and skin after tetramethylpyrazine hydrochloride (TMPH) transdermal or intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration.

Genetic and biochemical findings in Chinese children with Leigh syndrome.

This study investigated the genetic and enzymological features of Leigh syndrome due to respiratory chain complex deficiency in Chinese patients. The clinical features of 75 patients were recorded. Mitochondrial respiratory chain enzyme activities were determined via spectrophotometry.

Application of the COOP/WONCA charts to aged patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a comparison between Japanese and Chinese populations.

Background: The prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is similar in Japan and China and is increasing due to high rates of smoking in these countries. Reducing COPD is an important public health issue. The goals of this study were to verify the reliability and validity of the Japanese version of the COOP/WONCA charts, a tool for measuring health status, and to examine the qualitative differences in health status between Japanese and Chinese patients with COPD and between these patients and healthy subjects.

BmCREC is an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) resident protein and required for ER/Golgi morphology.

Silkworm posterior silkgland is a model for studying intracellular trafficking. Here, using this model, we identify several potential cargo proteins of BmKinesin-1 and focus on one candidate, BmCREC. BmCREC (also known as Bombyx mori DNA supercoiling factor, BmSCF) was previously proposed to supercoil DNA in the nucleus.