Pharmacological characterization of EN-9, a novel chimeric peptide of endomorphin-2 and neuropeptide FF that produces potent antinociceptive activity and limited tolerance.

Mounting evidences indicate the functional interactions between neuropeptide FF (NPFF) and opioids, including the endogenous opioids. In the present work, EN-9, a chimeric peptide containing the functional domains of the endogenous opioid endomorphin-2 (EM-2) and NPFF, was synthesized and pharmacologically characterized. In vitro cAMP assay demonstrated that EN-9 was a multifunctional agonist of κ-opioid, NPFF1 and NPFF2 receptors.

Automatic screening of cervical cells using block image processing.

Background: Cervical cancer is the second leading cause of female-specific cancer-related deaths after breast cancer, especially in developing countries. However, the incidence of the disease may be significantly decreased if the patient is diagnosed in the pre-cancerous lesion stage or earlier. In recent years, computer-based algorithms are widely used in cervical cancer screening.

Tunable nanogap devices for ultra-sensitive electrochemical impedance biosensing.

A wealth of research has been available discussing nanogap devices for detecting very small quantities of biomolecules by observing their electrical behavior generally performed in dry conditions. We report that a gold nanogapped electrode with tunable gap length for ultra-sensitive detection of streptavidin based on electrochemical impedance technique. The gold nanogap is fabricated using simple monolayer film deposition and in-situ growth of gold nanoparticles in a traditional interdigitated array (IDA) microelectrode.

The anti-membranous glomerulonephritic activity of purified polysaccharides from Irpex lacteus Fr.

The present study aims to identify the major active component from mutant Irpex lacteus, which protects against cationic bovine serum albumin (C-BSA)-induced membranous glomerulonephropathy (MGN). The candidate component ILN3A (MW: 2264 kDa) was purified from mutant Irpex lacteus water extract. The backbone of ILN3A comprises (1→2) and (1→4) linkages, and (1)H NMR spectrum suggests the existence of α- and β-glycosidic anomeric carbon.

Not only serotonergic system, but also dopaminergic system involved in albiflorin against chronic unpredictable mild stress-induced depression-like behavior in rats.

Albiflorin (AF), separated from the root of Paeonia lactiflora Pall, possesses neuro-protective and anti-inflammatory activities. Based on previous results, our present research aims to investigate the antidepressant-like activity of AF in chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS)-induced rat model of depression. Eight weeks of CUMS process successfully established depression-like rat model, as evidenced by the enhanced immobility time in forced swimming test and the reduced sucrose preference, which were reversed to near normal by AF (20 mg/kg and 40 mg/kg) and fluoxetine (3 mg/kg; positive drug) treated.

Studies on the Antifatigue Activities of Cordyceps militaris Fruit Body Extract in Mouse Model.

Cordyceps militaris has been used extensively as a crude drug and a folk tonic food in East Asia due to its various pharmacological activities. Our study aims to investigate the effect of Cordyceps militaris fruit body extract (CM) on antifatigue in mouse model. Two week CM administration significantly delayed fatigue phenomenon which is confirmed via rotating rod test, forced swimming test and forced running test.

Design, synthesis, and anticancer evaluation of long-chain alkoxylated mono-carbonyl analogues of curcumin.

Curcumin is a nontoxic phenolic compound that modulates the activity of several cellular targets that have been linked with cancers and other chronic diseases. However, the efficacy of curcumin in the clinic has been limited by its poor bioavailability and rapid metabolism in vivo. We have previously reported the design and discovery of series of 5-carbon linker-containing mono-carbonyl analogues of curcumin (MACs) as anti-cancer agents.

Pd nanoparticles encapsulated in magnetic carbon nanocages: an efficient nanoenzyme for the selective detection and multicolor imaging of cancer cells.

Rapid and simple molecular recognition based techniques for the identification of the subtypes of cancer cells are essential in molecular medicine. However, improving the sensitivity and accuracy of the early diagnosis of this disease remains a major challenge. Herein, we develop a novel approach for the in situ growth of palladium nanoparticles in magnetic carbon nanocages (PdNPs/MCNCs).

Acute and subchronic toxicity studies on safety assessment of Paecilomyces tenuipes N45 extracts.

Paecilomyces tenuipes, one of the commonly used Chinese medicinal fungus, has received much attention over the world, which possesses various active compounds and biological activities. However, little toxicological information is available. Therefore, the present study evaluated the potential toxicity of aqueous and ethanol extracts of Paecilomyces tenuipes N45 via acute and subchronic administration in mouse and rat, respectively.

Multiatlas whole heart segmentation of CT data using conditional entropy for atlas ranking and selection.

Purpose: Cardiac computed tomography (CT) is widely used in clinical diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases. Whole heart segmentation (WHS) plays a vital role in developing new clinical applications of cardiac CT. However, the shape and appearance of the heart can vary greatly across different scans, making the automatic segmentation particularly challenging.

A flexible trilinear decomposition algorithm for three-way calibration based on the trilinear component model and a theoretical extension of the algorithm to the multilinear component model.

There is a great deal of interest in decompositions of multilinear component models in the field of multi-way calibration, especially the three-way case. A flexible novel trilinear decomposition algorithm of the trilinear component model as a modification of an alternating least squares algorithm for three-way calibration is proposed. The proposed algorithm (constrained alternating trilinear decomposition, CATLD) is based on an alternating approximate least-squares scheme, in which two extra terms are added to each loss function, making it more efficient and flexible.

Antimicrobial activities and action mechanism studies of transportan 10 and its analogues against multidrug-resistant bacteria.

The increased emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria is perceived as a critical public health threat, creating an urgent need for the development of novel classes of antimicrobials. Cell-penetrating peptides that share common features with antimicrobial peptides have been found to have antimicrobial activity and are currently being considered as potential alternatives to antibiotics. Transportan 10 is a chimeric cell-penetrating peptide that has been reported to transport biologically relevant cargoes into mammalian cells and cause damage to microbial membranes.

Longitudinal changes in plasma Caspase-1 and Caspase-3 during the first 2 years of HIV-1 infection in CD4Low and CD4High patient groups.

Over 95% of CD4 cell death occurs by Caspase-1-mediated pyroptosis during HIV infection. Caspase-3-mediated apoptosis accounts for the death in a small proportion of infected CD4 cells. To date, there have been no reports on the dynamics of Caspase-1 and Caspase-3 and their relationship with disease progression in acute HIV-1 infection.

Selective detection toward quercetin and kaempferol on NH3-plasma treated carbon nanotubes modified glassy carbon electrode.

NH3-plasma treated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (pn-MWCNTs) were prepared based on the plasma technique and developed as sensing materials for detection of quercetin and kaempferol with the differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) and amperometric measurement. Such experimental parameters as pH values, accumulation potential and accumulation time were carefully investigated. The pn-MWCNTs modified electrode (pn-MWCNTs/GCE) was further explored for the analysis of quercetin and kaempferol in diluted blood serum and average recovery rates of 96.

Evidence of the presence of amyloid substance in the blood of familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy patients with ATTR Val30Met mutation.

Transthyretin (TTR) is a major amyloid fibril protein found in patients with familial amyloidotic polynuropathy (FAP) and senile systemic amyloidosis (SSA). Mainly synthesized in the live, TTR is transferred in the form of tetramer bound with thyroxine, retinol-binding protein (RBP) and lipoprotein in the blood. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the presence of amyloid substances in the blood by investigated the hemocoelom amyloid in different tissue sections from autopsies such as brain, kidney, heart and aorta arch tissue.

Cell penetrating peptide TAT can kill cancer cells via membrane disruption after attachment of camptothecin.

Attachment of traditional anticancer drugs to cell penetrating peptides is an effective strategy to improve their application in cancer treatment. In this study, we designed and synthesized the conjugates TAT-CPT and TAT-2CPT by attaching camptothecin (CPT) to the N-terminus of the cell penetrating peptide TAT. Interestingly, we found that TAT-CPT and especially TAT-2CPT could kill cancer cells via membrane disruption, which is similar to antimicrobial peptides.

A new pyrazoline-based fluorescent sensor for Al3+ in aqueous solution.

A new pyrazoline-based fluorescent sensor was synthesized and the structure was confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The sensor responds to Al(3+) with high selectivity among a series of cations in aqueous methanol. This sensor forms a 1:1 complex with Al(3+) and displays fluorescent quenching.

Short communication: Longitudinal changes in peripheral blood NK cells during the first year of HIV-1 Infection in CD4Low and CD4High patient groups.

Natural killer (NK) cells may modulate the pathogenesis of primary HIV-1 infection. However, the relationship between the number and function of NK cells during an acute HIV-1 infection and HIV-1 disease progression remains to be elucidated. In this study, we enrolled two distinct patient groups.

Functional properties of a novel hybrid antimicrobial peptide NS: potent antitumor activity and efficient plasmid delivery.

Antimicrobial peptides have been widely recognized as potential candidates for treating tumor, especially for defending against multidrug-resistant cells. Previously, based on the structure of substance P, we have designed a novel class of hybrid antimicrobial peptide NS, which possesses potent antimicrobial activity against a broad spectrum of bacterial pathogens. In this study, we evaluated its cytotoxicity to tumor cells and studied the possible mechanism of action.

Higher HIV DNA in CD4+ naïve T-cells during acute HIV-1 infection in rapid progressors.

AbFew reports have shown the relationship between the distribution of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) proviral DNA in CD4 subsets during acute HIV-1 infection and HIV disease progression. In this study, we enrolled two groups with distinct differences in disease progression. The CD4 counts of one group fell below 200 cells/μL within 2 years (rapid progressors), whereas the other group maintained CD4 counts above 500 cells/μL (slow progressors).

Flow injection determination of diclofenac sodium based on its sensitizing effect on the chemiluminescent reaction of acidic potassium permanganate-formaldehyde.

A sensitive and simple chemiluminescent (CL) method for the determination of diclofenac sodium has been developed by combining the flow injection technique and its sensitizing effect on the weak CL reaction between formaldehyde and acidic potassium permanganate. A calibration curve is constructed for diclofenac sodium under optimized experimental parameters over the range 0.040-5.

Studies on the analgesic activities of Jia-Yuan-Qing pill and its safety evaluation in mice.

The analgesic activity of Porcellio laevis Latreille, Rhizoma Corydalis, and Radix Cynanchi Paniculati have been reported in recent years. A new formula named Jia-Yuan-Qing pill (JYQP) is therefore created by combining the three herbs at 9:7:7 ratio according to traditional Chinese theories. The present study aims to evaluate the effect of JYQP as a novel painkiller in various models.

Serine protease inhibitor Kazal type 1 promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition through EGFR signaling pathway in prostate cancer.

Background: Overexpression of serine protease inhibitor Kazal type 1 (SPINK1) defines an aggressive molecular subtype of ETS fusion-negative prostate cancer (PCa) patients in western countries. However, how SPINK1 contributes to PCa invasion and metastasis is largely unknown.

Methods: Fluorescence in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry were utilized to detect ERG rearrangement, SPINK1 expression, and EGFR aberrations in a cohort of 211 PCa patients with radical prostatectomy.

Stearylated antimicrobial peptide melittin and its retro isomer for efficient gene transfection.

A crucial bottleneck in nonviral vector-mediated gene delivery is poor endosomal escape. Here, we constructed novel gene vectors by coupling the stearyl moiety to the N-terminus of the antimicrobial peptide melittin (stearyl-Mel) and its retro isomer (stearyl-rMel) due to their high membrane-lytic activity. As expected, stearyl-Mel showed obvious increases in endosome-lytic activity and transfection efficiency compared with the reported stearyl-TP10.