Hydrogen sulfide mediates athero-protection against oxidative stress via S-sulfhydration.

S-sulfhydration is a signalling pathway of hydrogen sulfide (H2S), which is suggested as an anti-atherogenic molecule that may protect against atherosclerosis. The identification of S-sulfhydrated proteins by proteomic approach could be a major step towards understanding the mechanisms of H2S in response to atherosclerosis. The present study studied targeted S-sulfhydrated proteins using the modified biotin switch method followed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time of flight tandem mass spectrometry identification.

Anti-atherogenic effect of hydrogen sulfide by over-expression of cystathionine gamma-lyase (CSE) gene.

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is an important gaseous signaling molecule that functions in physiological and pathological conditions, such as atherosclerosis. H2S dilates vessels and therefore has been suggested as an anti-atherogenic molecule. Since cystathionine gamma-lyase (CSE) enzyme is responsible for producing H2S in the cardiovascular system, we hypothesized that up-regulation of CSE expression in vivo with preservation of H2S bioactivity can slow down plaque formation and, can serve as a therapeutic strategy against atherosclerosis.

Establishment of a holistic and scientific protocol for the authentication and quality assurance of edible bird's nest.

Edible bird's nest (EBN) is a prestigious and superior functional food. It is expensive due to its limited supply and enormous demand. Consequently, many fake products are available in the market.

"Stainomics": identification of mitotracker labeled proteins in mammalian cells.

Organelle-specific cell-permeable fluorescent dyes are invaluable tools in cell biology as they reveal intracellular dynamics in living cells. Mitrotracker is a family of dyes that strongly label the mitochondrion, a key organelle associated with many crucial cellular functions. Despite the popularity of these dyes, little is known about the molecular mechanism behind their staining specificity.

Differential actions of chlorhexidine on the cell wall of Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli.

Chlorhexidine is a chlorinated phenolic disinfectant used commonly in mouthwash for its action against bacteria. However, a comparative study of the action of chlorhexidine on the cell morphology of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria is lacking. In this study, the actions of chlorhexidine on the cell morphology were identified with the aids of electron microscopy.

Andrographolide isolated from Andrographis paniculata induces cell cycle arrest and mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis in human leukemic HL-60 cells.

The in vitro cytotoxicities of the ethanol extract of Andrographis paniculata (APE) and its main diterpenoid components were evaluated in various cancer cells. APE was found to be significantly growth inhibitory to human acute myeloid leukemic HL-60 cells with an IC (50) value of 14.01 microg/mL after 24 h of treatment.