Diagnosis and Vulnerability Risk Assessment of Atherosclerotic Plaques Using an Amino Acid-Assembled Near-Infrared Ratiometric Nanoprobe.

To reduce the risk of atherosclerotic disease, it is necessary to not only diagnose the presence of atherosclerotic plaques but also assess the vulnerability risk of plaques. Accurate detection of the reactive oxygen species (ROS) level at plaque sites represents a reliable way to assess the plaque vulnerability. Herein, through a simple one-pot reaction, two near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent dyes, one is ROS responsive and the other is inert to ROS, are coassembled in an amphiphilic amino acid-assembled nanoparticle.

Allosteric Activator-Regulated CRISPR/Cas12a System Enables Biosensing and Imaging of Intracellular Endogenous and Exogenous Targets.

Sensors designed based on the -cleavage activity of CRISPR/Cas12a systems have opened up a new era in the field of biosensing. The current design of CRISPR/Cas12-based sensors in the "on-off-on" mode mainly focuses on programming the activator strand (AS) to indirectly switch the -cleavage activity of Cas12a in response to target information. However, this design usually requires the help of additional auxiliary probes to keep the activator strand in an initially "blocked" state.

Low-Background CRISPR/Cas12a Sensors for Versatile Live-Cell Biosensing.

The -cleavage activity of CRISPR/Cas12a has been widely used in biosensing. However, many CRISPR/Cas12a-based biosensors, especially those that work in "on-off-on" mode, usually suffer from high background and thus impossible intracellular application. Herein, this problem is efficiently overcome by elaborately designing the activator strand (AS) of CRISPR/Cas12a using the "RESET" effect found by our group.

Identification of Specific -Methyladenosine RNA Demethylase FTO Inhibitors by Single-Quantum-Dot-Based FRET Nanosensors.

The fat mass and obesity-associated enzyme (FTO) can catalyze the demethylation of -methyladenosine (mA) residues in mRNA, regulates the cellular level of mA modification, and plays a critical role in human obesity and cancers. Herein, we develop a single-quantum-dot (QD)-based fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) sensor for the identification of specific FTO demethylase inhibitors. The FTO-mediated demethylation of mA can induce the cleavage of demethylated DNA to generate the biotinylated DNA fragments, which may function as capture probes to assemble the Cy5-labeled reporter probes onto the QD surface, enabling the occurrence of FRET between the QD and Cy5.

Correction: Development of a bidirectional isothermal amplification strategy for the sensitive detection of transcription factors in cancer cells.

Correction for 'Development of a bidirectional isothermal amplification strategy for the sensitive detection of transcription factors in cancer cells' by Yan Zhang et al., Chem. Commun.

Development of a bidirectional isothermal amplification strategy for the sensitive detection of transcription factors in cancer cells.

We developed a new strategy to sensitively detect transcription factors (TFs) based on the integration of a bidirectional isothermal exponential amplification reaction (EXPAR) with endonuclease IV (endo IV)-assisted cycle digestion of signal probes. This assay exhibits ultrahigh sensitivity with a detection limit of 1.29 × 10 M, and it can measure endogenous NF-κB p50 in HeLa cell extracts.

Label-free and high-throughput bioluminescence detection of uracil-DNA glycosylase in cancer cells through tricyclic cascade signal amplification.

We develop a label-free and high-throughput bioluminescence method for the sensitive detection of uracil DNA glycosylase (UDG) through enzyme-mediated tricyclic cascade signal amplification. This method exhibits high sensitivity with a detection limit as low as 0.00031 U mL-1, and it can be further applied for the measurement of enzyme kinetic parameters and the screening of UDG inhibitors as well as cancer cell analysis.

[Effects of aldosterone on osteoblast proliferation, differentiation and osteogenic gene expressions in vitro].

Objective: To study the effect of aldosterone on cell proliferation, alkaline phosphatase (AKP) activity and osteogenic gene expression in rat osteoblasts and explore the mechanisms.

Methods: Osteoblasts isolated from the skull of neonatal SD rats by enzyme digestion were cultured and treated with different concentrations of aldosterone. The cell proliferation and AKP activity were evaluated using CCK-8 assay kit and AKP assay kit, respectively.

[Optimize aqueous extract protocol for Yugubao formula by orthogonal experiment design].

To determine the optimum aqueous extract protocol for Yugubao traditional Chinese medicines formula by using orthogonal experiment design. Through serum pharmacology research, L9(34) orthogonal design with single factor investigation was used to optimize the aqueous extract protocol for Yugubao formula. The effect of water extraction on activity of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in osteoblast was referred as the evaluation index for investigating four factors: water consumption (A), heating time (B), soaking time (C), and number of decocting (D), analyzing the optimum extraction conditions, and verifying the effectiveness of this process.

Ferulic acid induces proliferation and differentiation of rat osteoblasts in vitro through cGMP/PKGII/ENaC signaling.

Ferulic acid (FA) is an active component of the traditional Chinese herb Angelica sinensis. Numerous health benefits have been attributed to FA, but few studies have investigated the effects of FA on osteoblasts (Obs). Our work studied the effects of FA on proliferation, differentiation, and mineralization of rat calvarial Obs and examined the signaling pathways involved.

[Role of epithelial sodium channel in rat osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption].

Objective: To explore the role of epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) in regulating the functional activity of osteoclasts.

Methods: Multinucleated osteoclasts were obtained by inducing the differentiation of rat bone marrow cells with macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) and RANKL. The osteoclasts were exposed to different concentrations of the ENaC inhibitor amiloride, and the expression of ENaC on osteoclasts was examined using immunofluorescence technique.

[Effects of drug serum of plantaginis semen on bone formation function of rat osteoblast in vitro].

Objective: To study the influence of Plantaginis Semen on cell proliferation, differentiation and function of rat osteoblasts, and investigate the regulation effects of rat osteoblast epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) on bone formation.

Methods: The animal serum was prepared by serum pharmacology means. The cells were got by separating and inducing the SD neonatal rat's skull bone.

[Study on extraction process for the icariin of hugu capsule with ultrasonic technology].

Objective: To study the best ultrasonic technology of the extraction of icariin of Hugu capsule.

Methods: Used the content of icariin as index, orthogonal experiment was carried out to investigate 4 influential factors as follows: the ultrasonic power (A), the ultrasonic frequency (B), the material fluid ratio (C), the time (D).

Results: The best extraction conditions were as follows: the ultrasonic power was 120 W, the ultrasonic frequency was 28 KHz, solid-liquid ratio of 1 : 35, the extraction time was 10 min.

[Effects and mechanism of drug serum of prepared radix polygoni multiflori on rat osteoblast in vitro].

Objective: To study the effect of drug serum of prepared Radix Polygoni Multiflori on rat osteoblast (Ob) and its mechanism.

Methods: The animal serum was prepared by serum pharmacology means. The cells were getting by separating and inducing the SD neonatal rat skull bone.

[Community structure and biological integrity of periphyton in Hunhe River water system of Liaoning Province, Northeast China].

Taking the Hunhe River water system in Liaoning Province of Northeast China as a case, this paper investigated the community structure of periphyton and the physical and chemical characteristics of water environment at 62 sampling sites, and, by using the biological integrity index of periphyton (P-IBI) and the habitat environment quality index (QHEI), a health assessment on the aquatic ecosystem of the water system was conducted. There was a great spatial heterogeneity in the periphyton community structure, and the sampling sites could be divided into 4 groups, with significant differences in the community structure, species richness, density, and Shannon diversity index among the groups. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) showed that ammonia nitrogen (NH4(+)-N) and dissolved phosphorus (PO4(3-)-P) were the main water environment factors driving the formation of the periphyton community structure in the water system.

[Effects of sodium on rat osteoblast and the role of epithelial sodium channel].

Objective: To study the effects of sodium on rat osteoblast function and explore the role of epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) in such effects.

Methods: The proliferation and differentiation of rat osteoblasts were evaluated following treatment with 1×10(-4) mol/L to 1 mol/L Na(+). The mRNA expressions of the osteogenic genes and ENaC-α gene in the treated cells were assessed using RT-PCR.

8-pCPT-cGMP stimulates alphabetagamma-ENaC activity in oocytes as an external ligand requiring specific nucleotide moieties.

Epithelial sodium channels (ENaC) are regulated by protein kinase A, in addition to a broad spectrum of other protein kinases. It is not clear whether cGMP/PKG signaling might regulate ENaC activity. We examined the responses of alphabetagamma-ENaC channels expressed in Xenopus oocytes to 8-(4-chlorophenylthio)-cGMP (8-pCPT-cGMP), a cell-permeable cGMP analog.

[Effect of Rosiglitazone on the proliferation and the production of transforming growth factor-beta 1 in cultured human Tenon' s capsule fibroblasts].

Objective: To investigate the effect of Rosiglitazone on the proliferation and the production of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) in cultured humans Tenon's capsule fibroblasts (HTFs).

Methods: It was a experimental study. HTFs were cultured and subcultured in vitro.

Effects of stanozolol on bone mineral density and bone biomechanical properties of osteoporotic rats.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of stanozolol on the bone mineral density (BMD) and bone biomechanical properties of rats with glucocorticoid (GC)-induced osteoporosis (OP).

Methods: Twenty-eight male Sprague-Dawley rats of 3-month old were randomly divided into Group A (the basal control group), Group B (the age-matched control group), Group C (GC-induced OP group) and Group D (stanozolol-administrated group), 7 in each group. The rats in Group A were killed when experiment commenced, and those in Group B were given normal saline ig.

[Combination of ginsenosides with low dose estrogen showed synergetic effect on ovariectomy induced osteopenia in rats].

Aim: To determine whether low dose of estrogen in combination with ginsenosides can completely prevent bone loss in ovariectomized rats.

Methods: Four-month-old ovariectomized rats were treated either with 100 and 300 mg.kg-1 of ginsenosides or 30 and 100 micrograms.

[Piperazinyl estrone prevents bone loss in ovariectomized rats].

Aim: To determine the effect of piperazinyl estrone, a new estrogen derivative, on bone turnover, bone mass and uteri in ovariectomized rats.

Methods: Female Sprague-Dawley rats were ovariectomized (OVX) or sham operated (sham) at the age of 3 months and treated with estrone (E) at 0.75 mg.

Effects of low doses of hydrochloride tetracycline on bone metabolism and uterus in ovariectomized rats.

Aim: To study the effects of low doses of hydrochloride tetracycline (Tc) on bone metabolism and uterus in the ovariectomized (Ova) rats.

Methods: Forty 3-month-old rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: sham group, Ova group, Tc1 group (1.2 mg/kg/d), Tc2 group (4.

Effects of prednisone on bone mineral density and biomechanical characteristics of the femora and lumbar vertebras in rats.

Objective: To explore effects of prednisone on the bone mineral density (BMD) and biomechanics of the femora and lumbar vertebras in rats.

Methods: Twenty one 3-month-old male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 226+/-12 g were randomly divided into basal control, age-matched and hormone groups. The rats in basal control group were killed at the beginning of the experiment without any treatment, and those in age-matched group were given oral normal saline (5 ml x kg(-1) x d(-1)) while the rats in hormone group received oral prednisone acetate (4.

Effect of intermittent injection of recombinant human parathyroid hormone on bone histomorphometry of ovariectomized rats.

Aim: To observe the effect of intermittent parathyroid hormone (PTH) administration on bone histomorphology of relatively old ovariectomized rats.

Methods: The 6-month-old female SD rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: (1) sham-operated for baseline (ShamB, n=5), (2)ovariectomized for baseline (OVXB, n=6), (3) Sham-operated for end point (ShamE, n=6), (4) ovariectomized for end point (OVXE, n=6), (5) ovariectomized for PTH treatment (OVXEP, n=6). ShamB and OVXB rats were sacrificed 3 months after operation, ShamE, OVXE and OVXEP rats were sacrificed 4.