Exploring key genes associated with neutrophil function and neutrophil extracellular traps in heart failure: a comprehensive analysis of single-cell and bulk sequencing data.

Heart failure (HF) is a complex and heterogeneous manifestation of multiple cardiovascular diseases that usually occurs in the advanced stages of disease progression. The role of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) in the pathogenesis of HF remains to be explored. Bioinformatics analysis was employed to investigate general and single-cell transcriptome sequencing data downloaded from the GEO datasets.

A new anthraquinone and a new naphthoquinone from the whole plant of Spermacoce latifolia.

A phytochemical study on the whole plant of Spermacoce latifolia led to the isolation of a new anthraquinone, 1,2,6-trihydroxy-5-methoxy-9,10-anthraquinone (1), and a new naphthoquinone, (2R)-6-hydroxy-7-methoxy-dehydroiso-α-lapachone (2), together with three known anthraquinones (3-5). Their structures were established on the basis of detailed spectroscopic analysis, including one- and two-dimensional NMR, ESI-MS, and HR-ESI-MS techniques. All the compounds were isolated from S.

Evaluation of the immunogenicity of a single chain chimeric peptide composed of hCGβ and oLHα for inhibition of the growth of hCGβ-expressing cancer cells.

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a membrane-associated protein highly expressed in several types of human cancer cells. The expression in the cancer cells indicates that hCG may be a potential target molecule for cancer immunotherapy. The objective of this study was to develop a novel immunogenic molecule, which can efficiently induce the neutralizing antibody against hCG and which is also suitable for mass production.

Technical standards of a foldable capsular vitreous body in terms of mechanical, optical, and biocompatible properties.

We previously proposed a new strategy to fabricate a novel foldable capsular vitreous body (FCVB) as a vitreous substitute and found that the FCVB was a very good replacement for closely mimicking the morphology and restoring the physiologic function of the rabbit vitreous body. The aim of this article was to assess the mechanical, optical, and biocompatible properties of a FCVB made from liquid silicone rubber. The mechanical properties show that the shore hardness is 37.

A single intrauterine injection of the serine protease inhibitor 4-(2-aminoethyl)benzenesulfonyl fluoride hydrochloride reversibly inhibits embryo implantation in mice.

Background: The study was conducted to investigate the inhibitory effect of 4-(2-aminoethyl)benzenesulfonyl fluoride hydrochloride (AEBSF) on embryo implantation in mice with a view to identifying whether it might be a suitable agent for postcoital contraception.

Study Design: The anti-implantation efficacy of AEBSF was determined by counting the number of visible implanted embryos on Day 8 of pregnancy following a single intrauterine injection of AEBSF at doses of 30, 300 and 3000 microg per mouse uterine horn on Day 3 of pregnancy. The reversibility of the inhibitory effect of AEBSF on implantation was further evaluated by observing the outcome of a subsequent pregnancy without AEBSF treatment.

Structure prediction and activity analysis of human heme oxygenase-1 and its mutant.

Aim: To predict wild human heme oxygenase-1 (whHO-1) and hHO-1 His25Ala mutant (delta hHO-1) structures, to clone and express them and analyze their activities.

Methods: Swiss-PdbViewer and Antheprot 5.0 were used for the prediction of structure diversity and physical-chemical changes between wild and mutant hHO-1.

Effect of chronic treatment of ohmefentanyl stereoisomers on cyclic AMP formation in Sf9 insect cells expressing human mu-opioid receptors.

The binding affinity of ohmefentanyl stereoisomers for mu-opioid receptors and the effect of chronic ohmefentanyl stereoisomers pretreatments on intracellular cAMP formation were investigated in Sf9 insect cells expressing human mu-opioid receptors (Sf9-mu cells). Competitive assay of [3H]ohmefentanyl binding revealed that these isomers had high affinity for micro-opioid receptors in Sf9-mu cells. Isomer F9204 had the highest affinity for mu-opioid receptors with the Ki value of 1.

Binding affinity to and dependence on some opioids in Sf9 insect cells expressing human mu-opioid receptor.

Aim: To investigate the receptor binding affinity and naloxone-precipitated cAMP overshoot of dihydroetorphine, fentanyl, heroin, and pethidine in Sf9 insect cells expressing human mu-opioid receptor (Sf9-mu cells).

Methods: Competitive binding assay of [3H]ohmefentanyl was used to reveal the affinity for mu-opioid receptor in Sf9-mu cells. [3H]cAMP RIA was used to determine cAMP level.

[Cloning, expression, and antibody production of mouse ISP2].

A cDNA encoding mouse implantation serine proteinase 2 ISP2 was amplified from total cDNAs of mouse uterus implantation sites on D4.5 of pregnancy by PCR, and sequenced GenBank accession No. A442918 .

Expression of dopamine D1 receptor in Sf9 insect cells and agonism of l-12-chloroscoulerine on recombinant D1 receptor.

Aim: To express dopamine D1 receptor in baculovirus-Sf9 cell system, and to investigate the effects of l-12-chloroscoulerine (l-CSL) on the recombinant D1 receptor (D1R).

Methods: The recombinant baculovirus, Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus bearing D1R (AcNPV- D1R) was generated, and then was used to produce recombinant D1R in Sf9 insect cells. Expression of D1R in Sf9 cells was monitored by [3H]SCH23390 binding assay.

Analysis of heme oxygenase isomers in rat.

Aim: To purify and identify heme oxygenase (HO) isomers which exist in rat liver, spleen and brain treated with hematin and phenylhydrazine and in untreated rat liver and to investigate the characteristics of HO isomers, to isolate and confirm the rat HO-1 cDNA that actually encodes HO-1 by expressing cDNA in monkey kidney cells (COS-1 cells), to prepare the rat heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) mutant and to detect inhibition of HO-1 mutated enzyme.

Methods: First, rat liver, spleen and brain microsomal fractions were purified by DEAE-Sephacel and hydroxylapatite. The characteristics including activity, immunity and inducibility of two isomers (HO-1 and HO-2), and their apparent molecular weight were measured by detecting enzymatic activities, SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and Western blotting analysis, respectively.

Human &mgr; Opioid Receptor Expressed in Sf9 Insect Cells was Functionally Coupled to Endogenous G Protein.

Human &mgr; opioid receptor(H&mgr;OR) with a tag of six consecutive histidines at its carboxyl terminus overexpressed in recombinant baculovirus infected Sf9 insect cells was demonstrated to be functionally coupled to endogenous G proteins. Na(+) and GTP could reduce the affinity binding of etorphine and Ohmefentanyl(Ohm) to H&mgr;OR overexpressed in Sf9. The binding of (35)S GTPgammaS to Sf9 cell membranes containing H&mgr;OR was stimulated by DAGO and Ohm.

Cloning, Expression and Antibody Production of the Disintegrin Domain of Human Fertilin beta.

A cDNA for the disintegrin domain (hf279) was isolated by PCR from human testis cDNAs. DNA sequencing indicated that hf279 cDNA encoded 93 amino acid residues, and it was identical with the reported sequence of fertilin beta. An expression plasmid, pGEX hf279, was constructed by inserting hf279 cDNA into plasmid pGEX-4T-2 containing gst gene.