Interparticle Spacing Effect among Quantum Dots with High-Pressure Regulation.

In this paper, we explore whether interparticle spacing affects steady-state and transient-state optical properties by comparing close-packed CdSe/ZnS-quantum dots (QDs) and CdSe/ZnS-QDs dispersed in polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). High-pressure is an effective physical means to adjust the interparticle spacing of QDs, which may artificially expand the application of QDs further. The results under high-pressure indicate that it is the reduced interparticle spacing rather than the enhanced quantum confinement effect with volume compression that has a stronger effect on exciton relaxation of CdSe/ZnS-QDs.

Low serum gastrin associated with ER breast cancer development via inactivation of CCKBR/ERK/P65 signaling.

Background: Gastrin is an important gastrointestinal hormone produced primarily by G-cells in the antrum of the stomach. It normally regulates gastric acid secretion and is implicated in a number of human disease states, but how its function affects breast cancer (BC) development is not documented. The current study investigated the suppressive effects of gastrin on BC and its underlying mechanisms.

Genome-wide identification of chitin-binding proteins and characterization of BmCBP1 in the silkworm, Bombyx mori.

The insect cuticle plays important roles in numerous physiological functions to protect the body from invasion of pathogens, physical injury and dehydration. In this report, we conducted a comprehensive genome-wide search for genes encoding proteins with peritrophin A-type (ChtBD2) chitin-binding domain (CBD) in the silkworm, Bombyx mori. One of these genes, which encodes the cuticle protein BmCBP1, was additionally cloned, and its expression and location during the process of development and molting in B.

Cognitive-enhancing effects of hydrolysate of polygalasaponin in SAMP8 mice.

Objectives: The aim of the study is to evaluate the cognitive-enhancing effects of hydrolysate of polygalasaponin (HPS) on senescence accelerate mouse P8 (SAMP8) mice, an effective Alzheimer's disease (AD) model, and to research the relevant mechanisms.

Methods: The cognitive-enhancing effects of HPS on SAMP8 mice were assessed using Morris water maze (MWM) and step-through passive avoidance tests. Then N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor subunit expression for both the cortex and hippocampus of mice was observed using Western blotting.

Tenuifolin, a secondary saponin from hydrolysates of polygalasaponins, counteracts the neurotoxicity induced by Aβ25-35 peptides in vitro and in vivo.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is associated with damage to hippocampal neurons and declines in cognitive functions. The accumulation of amyloid peptides is regarded as a crucial event in the initiation of AD. The neurotoxicity induced by Aβ25-35 peptides was used to screen for cytoprotective factors in vitro, and the cognitive deficits induced by the injection of Aβ25-35 into the hippocampus were used to evaluate effect on learning and memory.

Neuroprotective effects of forsythiaside on learning and memory deficits in senescence-accelerated mouse prone (SAMP8) mice.

Forsythiaside (3,4-dihydroxy-β-phenethyl-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→6)-4-O-caffeo yl-β-d-glucopyranoside, C29H36O15), which is isolated from air-dried fruits of Forsythia suspensa, has been shown to possess anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory activities. The aim of this study is to investigate the neuroprotective effects of forsythiaside on learning and memory deficits in the senescence-accelerated mouse prone 8 (SAMP8, a model of age-dependent neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease). Forsythiaside (60, 120 and 240mg/kg) was orally administered to aged (8months old) SAMP8 mice for 45days followed by evaluating cognitive impairment (Morris water maze and step-through passive avoidance), inflammation (interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels), oxidative stress (glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) activities; malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) contents) and neurotransmitter such as norepinephrine (NE), dopamine (DA), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), glutamate (GLU) gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and acetyl choline (ACh).

Hierarchical self-assembly of CdTe quantum dots into hyperbranched nanobundles: suppression of biexciton Auger recombination.

In this paper, we report a novel nanobundle structure formed by the hierarchical self-assembly of TGA-capped CdTe quantum dots. HR-TEM confirms the polycrystalline phase of the bundle structure, and that pristine quantum dots are the building units. The steady state absorption and luminescence properties of the pristine quantum dots can be well inherited by the nanobundles.

Cognitive-enhancing effects of polygalasaponin hydrolysate in aβ(25-35)-induced amnesic mice.

Polygalasaponins are the major active constituents of Polygala tenuifolia exhibiting antiamnesic activity, but their applications are limited due to their toxicities. Evidence showed that the toxicities can be attenuated by hydrolysis. Herein, effects of a hydrolysate of polygalasaponins (HPS) on cognitive impairment induced by Aβ(25-35) were assessed by Morris water maze and step-through passive avoidance tests.

[Antiviral effects of an effective section of a prescription of traditional Chinese medicine on influenza virus A in vitro].

Objective: To study the inhibitive effects of an effective section of a prescription of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM-ES) on influenza virus A FM1 strain in vitro.

Methods: The experiments were performed by microcytopathic-inhibiting-assay, Neutral Red stain and inhibiting plaque-forming units (PFU) test on MDCK cell strain. By means of observing the cytopathic effects (CPE), measuring the absorbance [D(lambda)] and counting the PFU, according to Reed-Muench assay, the TCM-ES's effective dosage of 50 percentage (EC50) and treatment index (TI) to FM1 were calculated.

Studies on rice seed quality through analysis of a large-scale T-DNA insertion population.

A rice (Oryza sativa) T-DNA insertion population, which included more than 63 000 independent transgenic lines and 8 840 identified flanking sequence tags (FSTs) that were mapped onto the rice genome, was developed to systemically study the rice seed quality control. Genome-wide analysis of the FST distribution showed that T-DNA insertions were positively correlated with expressed genes, but negatively with transposable elements and small RNAs. In addition, the recovered T-DNAs were preferentially located at the untranslated region of the expressed genes.

Effect of lumiracoxib on proliferation and apoptosis of human nonsmall cell lung cancer cells in vitro.

Background: Lumiracoxib is a highly selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor with antiinflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic activities comparable with class specific drugs, but with much improved gastrointestinal safety. No studies have examined lumiracoxib for antitumorigenic activity on human nonsmall cell lung cancer cell lines in vitro or its possible molecular mechanisms.

Methods: The antiproliferative effect of lumiracoxib alone or combined with docetaxol on A549 and NCI-H460 lines was assessed by 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay.

Anti-tumor effects of paeonol in a HepA-hepatoma bearing mouse model via induction of tumor cell apoptosis and stimulation of IL-2 and TNF-alpha production.

Paeonol, a phenolic component from the root bark of Paeonia moutan, is traditionally used as a Chinese herbal medicine to activate the blood flow and remove blood stasis. Evidence shows that paeonol have anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic effects; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanisms by which paeonol exerts the anti-tumor effects by using a murine model of hepatoma established by in vivo injection of mouse HepA-hepatoma cells.

Synergistic effect of combining paeonol and cisplatin on apoptotic induction of human hepatoma cell lines.

Aim: To investigate whether paeonol (Pae) has synergistic effects with cisplatin (CDDP) on the growth-inhibition and apoptosis-induction of human hepatoma cell lines HepG2 and SMMC-7721.

Methods: The cytotoxic effect of drugs was measured by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide assay. The coefficient of drug interaction was used to analyze the nature of drug interactions.

Antiproliferation and apoptosis induction of paeonol in HepG2 cells.

Aim: To investigate the antiproliferative effect of paeonol (Pae) used alone or in combination with chemotherapeutic agents [cisplatin (CDDP), doxorubicin (DOX) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)] on human hepatoma cell line HepG2 and the possible mechanisms.

Methods: The cytotoxic effect of drugs on HepG2 cells was measured by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Morphologic changes were observed by acridine orange (AO) fluorescence staining.

Genetic distance of SARS coronavirus from the recent natural case.

Phylogenetic analysis of SARS coronavirus isolates based on the spike gene and protein sequence using Neighbor-Joining, maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference methods indicated that a recent human SARS-CoV isolate was closer to some human SARS-CoV isolates from earlier epidemic phase than to the SARS-CoV-like viruses isolated from wild animals during previous epidemic phase. A reasonable judgment based on phylogenetic relationship and sequence variations it is likely that the recent human SARS-CoV isolate is closer to an unknown SARS-CoV predecessor.

A brassinolide-suppressed rice MADS-box transcription factor, OsMDP1, has a negative regulatory role in BR signaling.

The MADS-box transcription factor-encoding genes are expressed mainly during plant reproductive development, where they play important roles in controlling floral organ initiation and identity. Few previous reports have investigated the functions of MADS-box transcription factors expressed in vegetative tissues. Here we describe the functional characterization of a rice AG-like MADS-box protein, OsMDP1 (Oryza sativa MADS-domain-containing protein 1).

[Analysis of relationship between semen quality and sperm acrosin activity].

Objective: To analyze the activity of human sperm acrosin and semen parameters in male infertile patients and discuss the effect of sperm acrosin activity on semen quality.

Methods: Activity of human sperm acrosin, PMN-elastase, fructose, alpha-glucosidase, zinc, acid phosphatase levels and HOST of 214 male infertile patients were detected. Semen analysis was performed using WLJY-9000 WeiLi colorful semen quality analyzer.

OsPIPK 1, a rice phosphatidylinositol monophosphate kinase, regulates rice heading by modifying the expression of floral induction genes.

A rice gene, OsPIPK 1, encoding a 792-aa putative phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 5-kinase (PIPK), was identified and characterized. Comparison between the cDNA and genomic sequences revealed the presence of 10 exons (39-1050 bp) and 9 introns (88-745 bp) in OsPIPK 1 gene. The deduced amino acid sequence of OsPIPK1 contains a lipid kinase domain that is highly homologous to those of previously isolated PIPKs, and structural analysis revealed the intriguing presence of multiple MORN motifs at the N-terminus.