Up-regulation of Slc39A2(Zip2) mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with pulmonary tuberculosis.

Zinc is the most common trace mineral after iron in the human body. In organisms, zinc transporters help zinc influx and efflux from cells. A previous study has reported that Zip2 was up-regulated over 27-fold in human monocytic THP-1 cells, when intracellular zinc was depleted by TPEN.

Expression and cell distribution of myeloid differentiation primary response protein 88 in the cerebral cortex following experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage in rats: a pilot study.

Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) which is mostly caused by aneurysm rupture causes a lot of death every year. Convincing evidence can be made that inflammation contributes to the poor outcome caused by SAH. Toll like receptors (TLRs), nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB), Interleukin 1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) are involved in the damaging inflammation process after SAH.

Expression of intestinal CD40 after experimental traumatic brain injury in rats.

Background: Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) has been shown to be activated in the intestine after traumatic brain injury (TBI), and results in gastrointestinal mucosal injury. In addition, CD40 has a major role in the activation of NF-κB and is up-regulated in inflammatory bowel disease. However, we found no study in the literature investigating the intestinal expression of CD40 after TBI.

Study on a biomimetic enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method for rapid determination of trace acrylamide in French fries and cracker samples.

Background: Acrylamide has attracted worldwide concern due to its neurotoxicity, genotoxicity, reproductive-development toxicity. It is necessary to develop an accurate and reliable analytical method to prevent the harm on the human health.

Results: In this study, a sensitive and fast analytical method of direct competitive biomimetic enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (BELISA) was developed using a hydrophilic imprinted membrane as biomimetic antibody.

Expression of dendritic cell lysosome-associated membrane protein and dendritic cell-specific intercellular adhesion molecule-3 grabbing nonintegrin in condyloma acuminatum lesions.

Objective: Retrospective, observational study to explore the role of dendritic cells (DCs) in condyloma acuminatum lesions (genital warts) and their relationship with duration of the disease.

Methods: Condyloma acuminatum lesion samples were collected from male patients with the condition and compared with normal foreskin samples from male volunteers. Cellular locations of dendritic cell lysosome-associated membrane protein (DC-LAMP) and dendritic cell-specific intercellular adhesion molecule-3 grabbing nonintegrin (DC-SIGN) were detected using immunohistochemistry.

Downregulation of pigment epithelium-derived factor in condyloma acuminatum.

Objectives: To investigate pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) mRNA and protein levels in condyloma acuminatum, and their relationship with angiogenesis and keratinocyte proliferation.

Methods: Lesions from male patients with condyloma acuminatum and skin from healthy male (control) subjects were collected. Levels of PEDF protein and its corresponding mRNA (SERPINF1) were determined via Western blotting and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, respectively.

Rydberg polaritons in a cavity: a superradiant solid.

We study an optical cavity coupled to a lattice of Rydberg atoms, which can be represented by a generalized Dicke model. We show that the competition between the atom-atom interaction and atom-light coupling induces a rich phase diagram. A novel superradiant solid (SRS) phase is found, where both the superradiance and crystalline orders coexist.

Broadband high-absorbance coating for terahertz radiometry.

We report a simple, broadband and high-absorbance coating for terahertz radiometry. The spectral properties of this coating in THz region were characterized with a home-made terahertz time-domain spectrometer. The measured spectral reflectance is less than 0.

Inhibitory effect of 4,4'-dihydroxy-α-truxillic acid derivatives on NO production in lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages and exploration of structure-activity relationships.

The inhibitory activity of 4,4'-dihydroxy-α-truxillic acid and its derivatives (5-1a-5-35a) on nitric oxide (NO) release was evaluated in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. Compounds 5-3a, 5-4a, 5-5a, 5-10a, 5-24a, 5-26a and 5-30a exhibited significant inhibitory effects on NO production, with IC50 values of 19.

Distinct roles of different fragments of PDCD4 in regulating the metastatic behavior of B16 melanoma cells.

Melanoma is an aggressive cutaneous malignancy. In this study, we demonstrated that the levels of the programmed cell death 4 (PDCD4) protein and mRNA were lower in tumor tissues compared with normal tissues. In order to further investigate the effects of PDCD4 and its fragments in B16 melanoma cells, we established B16 clones with expression of different PDCD4 fragments.

Effect of concurrent joule heat and charge trapping on RESET for NbAlO fabricated by atomic layer deposition.

The RESET process of NbAlO-based resistive switching memory devices fabricated by atomic layer deposition is investigated at low temperatures from 80 to 200 K. We observed that the conduction mechanism of high resistance state changed from hopping conduction to Frenkel-Poole conduction with elevated temperature. It is found that the conductive filament rupture in RRAM RESET process can be attributed not only to the Joule heat generated by internal current flow through a filament but also to the charge trap/detrapping effect.

Self-assembled monolayers of pyridylthio-functionalized carbon nanotubes used as a support to immobilize cytochrome c.

Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of pyridylthio-functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (pythio-MWNTs) have been constructed on the gold substrate surface, which were used as a support to immobilize cytochrome c (Cyt c). The assembly processes of the SAMs and adsorption of Cyt c were monitored by using quartz crystal microbalance (QCM). Based on the frequency change of the QCM resonator, the surface coverage for the SAMs of pythio-MWNTs was estimated to be about 5.

A comparison of Q-switched 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser and intense pulsed light in the nonablative rejuvenation on rat model.

Background And Objective: A variety of laser and IPL treatments with continued progress have been applied for nonablative skin rejuvenation; however, the complete understanding of working mechanisms and clinical appliance strategy is not clear.

Materials And Methods: The rats were divided into three groups and irradiated with Q-switched 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser and IPL. Image analysis, chemical colorimetry method, and real-time PCR (RT-PCR) were used to detect the dermal thickness, hydroxyproline, and the expression of III procollagen mRNA, respectively, at sequential time points following irradiation.

Mutations in the profilin 1 gene are not common in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis of Chinese origin.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease primarily involving the corticospinal tract, brainstem, and anterior cells of the spinal cord. Mutations in the profilin 1 gene (PFN1) were recently described in ALS families. To investigate the spectrum and frequency of PFN1 mutations further, we sequenced all 3 exons of the PFN1 gene in 20 familial ALS index cases, 324 sporadic ALS patients, and 355 healthy control subjects.

Neurotransmitter substance P mediates pancreatic cancer perineural invasion via NK-1R in cancer cells.

Pancreatic cancer significantly affects the quality of life due to the severe abdominal pain. However, the underlying mechanism is not clear. This study aimed to determine the relationship between Substance P (SP) and pancreatic cancer perineural invasion (PNI) as well as the mechanism of SP mediating pancreatic cancer PNI, which causes pain in patients with pancreatic cancer.

Analysis of national and single-center incidence and survival after liver transplantation for hepatoblastoma: new trends and future opportunities.

Background: Liver transplantation (LTx) for hepatoblastoma appears to be increasing. Favorable tumor histology is increasingly linked to survival after surgical resection and could also determine posttransplantation outcomes.

Methods: To evaluate national trends in tumor and LTx incidence as the basis for observations at some LTx centers, and determinants of survival after LTx for hepatoblastoma, we queried the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) registry representing 9.

Immunotherapy using slow-cycling tumor cells prolonged overall survival of tumor-bearing mice.

Background: Despite considerable progress in the development of anticancer therapies, there is still a high mortality rate caused by cancer relapse and metastasis. Dormant or slow-cycling residual tumor cells are thought to be a source of tumor relapse and metastasis, and are therefore an obstacle to therapy. In this study, we assessed the drug resistance of tumor cells in mice, and investigated whether vaccination could promote survival.

Mucosal plasma cell barrier disruption during intestine transplant rejection.

Background: Intestinal allograft mucosa undergoes repopulation with host immunocytes. However, critical changes within key immunocyte subsets are not known.

Methods: To explain acute cellular rejection after intestine transplantation (ITx) on the basis of altered mucosal immunocytes, rejecting and rejection-free ITx allografts (n=17) were compared with genome-wide expression arrays.

Contribution of serum IL-4 and IgE to the early prediction of allergic reactions induced by chlorogenic acid.

Chlorogenic acid (CA) is one of the active ingredients in some Chinese herbal injections, which may cause allergic reactions in clinic therapy. However, the criterion of test for allergen had not been employed in current Pharmacopeia of United States, European Pharmacopeia, Japanese Pharmacopeia and British Pharmacopeia. In order to find a new way to predict allergic reactions induced by CA earlier, the guinea pigs were sensitized successively by injecting CA intravenously once a day for three times, the results were compared that of Chinese Pharmacopeia by injecting CA intraperitoneally once every other day for three times, serum IL-4 and total IgE were detected by method of enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) before guinea pigs were challenged once by injecting the same drug intravenously.

Meta-analysis of the efficacy and safety of the application of adjuvant material in the repair of anterior vaginal wall prolapsed.

Introduction: This study is a meta-analysis of the efficacy and safety of the application of adjuvant material in the repair of anterior vaginal wall prolapse and a sub-category analysis of the use of nonabsorbable synthetic mesh, biological graft and absorbable synthetic mesh.

Method: Pubmed, Embase and Ovid databases were searched for published randomized controlled trials from 1980 to February 2012 on the treatment of anterior vaginal wall prolapse with adjuvant materials. A comprehensive meta-analysis applying Revman5.

[Ultramicrostructural study of pathological changes of capillary vessels in pulp tissues of diabetes mellitus patients].

Purpose: To investigate the relationship between diabetes mellitus and pulposis and the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus pulposis, via comparing the pulp tissue conditions and ultramicrostructures of capillary vessels in pulp tissues of diabetes mellitus patients and normal control.

Methods: Pulp tissues were obtained from clinically extracted human third molars with impaction (control group, 30 cases) and intact third molars with impaction (non-insulin dependent diabetes patients) whilst without pulposis symptom (diabetic group, 30 cases). The pathological changes of two groups' pulp tissues were evaluated under light microscope and electron microscopy.

Contribution of serum IL-4 and IgE to the early prediction of horse serum allergies in guinea pigs.

Background: Horse serum (HS) was a strong allergen for xenogeneic animals. However, the methods of test for allergen didn't authorized in Pharmacopeia of the United States, European Pharmacopeia, Japanese Pharmacopeia and British Pharmacopeia. Thus, new methods of test for allergen are required to control drug allergy.

hMSCs possess the potential to differentiate into DP cells in vivo and in vitro.

DP (dermal papilla) is a mesenchyme-derived structure situated at the base of the HF (hair follicle) that plays an important role in embryonic hair morphogenesis and maintenance of the hair growth cycle. hMSCs (human mesenchymal stem cells) have gained widespread attention in the field of tissue engineering, but not much is known about the differentiation of hMSCs into DP cells. hMSCs involved in HF formation were examined in our previous study.

De novo FUS gene mutations are associated with juvenile-onset sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in China.

Juvenile amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rare form of motor neuron disease and occurs before 25 years of age. Only very few sporadic cases of juvenile-onset ALS have been reported. Rare SOD1 mutations and several FUS mutations have been identified in juvenile-onset ALS patients.

Leukemia inhibitory factor receptor α-chain: a potential method for acute promyeloid leukemia therapy.

Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) affects multiple types of leukemia cells in vitro through its functional receptor LIFR, which comprises a complex of the LIFR α-chain (LIFRα) and gp130. Researchers have recently observed that the C-terminus of the LIFRα cytoplasmic domain contains as many conserved YXXQ motifs as gp130 (C-terminal triple YXXQ motifs, LIFRα-CT3), whose free structure has been shown to be capable of activating STAT3 phosphorylation in the cytoplasm and consequently activating STAT3-related downstream molecules in the nucleus. This process can induce pathological acute myeloid leukemia (AML) or acute promyeloid leukemia (APL) cells to differentiate into mature granulocytes, simulating the LIF-related differential cascade.