Melatonin reverses the decreases in hippocampal protein serine/threonine kinases observed in an animal model of autism.

Lower global cognitive function scores are a common symptom of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). This study investigates the effects of melatonin on hippocampal serine/threonine kinase signaling in an experimental ASD model. We found that chronic melatonin (1.

Berberine Targets AP-2/hTERT, NF-κB/COX-2, HIF-1α/VEGF and Cytochrome-c/Caspase Signaling to Suppress Human Cancer Cell Growth.

Berberine (BBR), an isoquinoline derivative alkaloid isolated from Chinese herbs, has a long history of uses for the treatment of multiple diseases, including cancers. However, the precise mechanisms of actions of BBR in human lung cancer cells remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanisms by which BBR inhibits cell growth in human non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells.

Catalytic formation of ketones from unactivated esters through rhodium chelation-assisted C-O bond activation.

A new method for building aryl aryl ketones containing heterocyclic rings through chelation-assisted C-O bond activation catalyzed by a rhodium complex has been developed. In this reaction, methyl quinoline-8-carboxylate, methyl quinoxaline-5-carboxylate, and their derivatives were reacted with an excess amount of a substituted phenyl boronic acid in the presence of a rhodium(I) complex to give substituted phenyl(quinolin-8-yl)methanone, phenylquinoxalin-5-ylmethanone, and their derivatives in medium to high yields. The current method offers a highly favorable synthetic pathway to efficiently build related drugs with an 8-benzoylquinoline core structure.

Ursolic acid simultaneously targets multiple signaling pathways to suppress proliferation and induce apoptosis in colon cancer cells.

Ursolic acid (UA), a natural pentacyclic triterpenoid carboxylic acid distributed in medical herbs, exerts antitumor effects and is emerging as a promising compound for cancer prevention and therapy, but its excise mechanisms of action in colon cancer cells remains largely unknown. Here, we identified the molecular mechanisms by which UA inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in human colon cancer SW480 and LoVo cells. Treatment with UA led to significant inhibitions in cell viability and clone formation and changes in cell morphology and spreading.

Effect of oxidative stress induced by Brevibacterium sp. BS01 on a HAB causing species--Alexandrium tamarense.

Harmful algal blooms occur all over the world, destroying aquatic ecosystems and threatening other organisms. The culture supernatant of the marine algicidal actinomycete BS01 was able to lysis dinoflagellate Alexandrium tamarense ATGD98-006. Physiological and biochemical responses to oxidative stress in A.

Triptolide induces suppressor of cytokine signaling-3 expression and promotes lamina propria mononuclear cells apoptosis in Crohn's colitis.

Background: IL-6/STAT3/SOCS3 signaling pathway plays an important role in the pathogenesis of Crohn's disease by induction of the antiapoptotic factors Bcl-2 and Bcl-xl in lamina propria mononuclear cells (LPMCs). We previously reported that triptolide showed therapeutic activity in mouse colitis by mechanisms involving suppression of IL-6 trans-signaling. IL-10 gene-deficient mice with established colitis were used for the experiments with triptolide administration.

Analysis of EIF4G1 in ethnic Chinese.

Background: Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4-gamma 1 (EIF4G1) gene mutations have recently been reported in autosomal dominant, late-onset Parkinson's disease (LOPD). We carried out genetic analysis to determine the prevalence of EIF4G1 variants in an ethnic Chinese population and to better understand the association between EIF4G1 and PD.

Methods: We conducted a comprehensive genetic analysis of EIF4G1 in a cohort of 29 probands of autosomal dominant, LOPD families.

Long-term clinical effects of programmer-guided atrioventricular and interventricular delay optimization: Intracardiac electrography versus echocardiography for cardiac resynchronization therapy in patients with heart failure.

Objectives: To compare the haemodynamic results and long-term clinical outcomes of intracardiac electrography (QuickOpt®; St Jude Medical, St Paul, MN, USA) and echocardiography for optimization of atrioventricular (AV) and interventricular (VV) delays in cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT).

Methods: Patients with CRT devices were prospectively enrolled; AV/VV delays were optimized by either QuickOpt® or echocardiography. Patients in the QuickOpt® group underwent both echocardiography and QuickOpt® optimization, and QuickOpt® AV/VV delays were used to program the CRT.

Tenacibaculum xiamenense sp. nov., an algicidal bacterium isolated from coastal seawater.

A Gram-stain-negative, elongated rod-shaped, yellow-pigmented, aerobic bacterial strain, designated WJ-1(T), was isolated from coastal seawater in Xiamen, Fujian province, China. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain WJ-1(T) fell within the genus Tenacibaculum and was most closely associated with Tenacibaculum aestuarii SMK-4(T) (96.7% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity); lower similarities were shown to other members of the genus Tenacibaculum (<96.

The disturbance of hippocampal CaMKII/PKA/PKC phosphorylation in early experimental diabetes mellitus.

Background: Defining the impact of diabetes and related risk factors on brain cognitive function is critically important for patients with diabetes.

Aims: To investigate the alterations in hippocampal serine/threonine kinases signaling in the early phase of type 1 and type 2 diabetic rats.

Methods: Early experimental diabetes mellitus was induced in rats with streptozotocin or streptozotocin/high fat.

Chemopreventive effect of dietary glutamine on colitis-associated colon tumorigenesis in mice.

Chronic colonic inflammation is a known risk factor for colorectal cancer (CRC). Glutamine (GLN) supplementation has shown its anti-inflammation benefit in experimental colitis. Whether GLN is effective in preventing colon carcinogenesis remains to be investigated.

True complete left bundle branch block morphology strongly predicts good response to cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Aims: To determine whether patients with congestive heart failure and true left bundle branch block (LBBB) morphology have better response to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) than do patients without true LBBB.

Methods And Results: We defined true LBBB as conventional LBBB plus QRS duration ≥ 130 ms and mid-QRS notching/slurring in at least two of the leads I, aVL, V1, V2, V5, or V6. We prospectively enrolled 58 patients with heart failure and allocated them to three groups: true LBBB (t-LBBB, n = 22); non-true LBBB (nt-LBBB, LBBB with no notch or notches in fewer than two of the leads, n = 17); and non-specific intraventricular conduction delay (IVCD, n = 19).

Effects of brown sugar and calcium superphosphate on the secondary fermentation of green waste.

The generation of green waste is increasing rapidly with population growth in China, and green waste is commonly treated by composting. The objective of this work was to study the physical and chemical characteristics of composted green waste as affected by a two-stage composting process and by the addition of brown sugar (at 0.0%, 0.

Melatonin potentiates the antiproliferative and pro-apoptotic effects of ursolic acid in colon cancer cells by modulating multiple signaling pathways.

Ursolic acid (UA), a natural pentacyclic triterpenoid carboxylic acid, is largely distributed in medical herbs and edible plants. Melatonin is an indoleamine compound produced in the pineal gland and also a plant-derived product. Both UA and melatonin have been shown to inhibit cancer cell growth in numerous studies, but they have never been combined altogether as an anticolon cancer treatment.

[Dynamics of bacterial community during the bloom caused by Skeletonema costatum and Akashiwo sanguinea in Xiamen sea area].

Objective: To investigate the dynamics of bacterial community in Xiamen sea during the bloom mainly caused by Skeletonema costatum and Akashiwo sanguine in August 2011.

Methods: Bacterial community structures of samples from two bloom sites and one non-bloom site were evaluated by PCR-DGGE (Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis, DGGE). The genetic diversity of bacterial community was analyzed based on the DGGE fingerprint.

Effects of grazing intensity on soil labile organic carbon fractions in a desert steppe area in Inner Mongolia.

Grazing can cause changes in soil carbon (C) level. This study aimed to elucidate the response of soil labile organic carbon (SLOC) under four different grazing intensities: non grazing (NG), 0 sheep·ha(-1); light grazing (LG), 0.91 sheep·ha(-1); moderate grazing (MG), 1.

A marine algicidal actinomycete and its active substance against the harmful algal bloom species Phaeocystis globosa.

A strain O4-6, which had pronounced algicidal effects to the harmful algal bloom causing alga Phaeocystis globosa, was isolated from mangrove sediments in the Yunxiao Mangrove National Nature Reserve, Fujian, China. Based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence and morphological characteristics, the isolate was found to be phylogenetically related to the genus Streptomyces and identified as Streptomyces malaysiensis O4-6. Heat stability, pH tolerance, molecular weight range and aqueous solubility were tested to characterize the algicidal compound secreted from O4-6.

The γ-secretase blocker DAPT reduces the permeability of the blood-brain barrier by decreasing the ubiquitination and degradation of occludin during permanent brain ischemia.

Background: Tight junction protein degradation is a principal characteristic of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) damage that occurs during brain ischemia.

Aims: We investigated the mechanisms of occludin degradation that underlie permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (pMCAO) in rats.

Methods And Results: Western blot and Co-immunoprecipitation data indicated ubiquitination and degradation of occludin in brain after pMCAO, which was consistent with ZO-1 degradation in penumbra regions as observed at 24 h after pMCAO.

Muricauda zhangzhouensis sp. nov., isolated from mangrove sediment.

A Gram-staining-negative, rod-shaped and non-motile bacterial strain, designated 12C25(T), was isolated from the crude-oil-degrading bacterial consortium enriched from mangrove sediment collected in Fujian Province, China. Optimal growth was observed at 25-28 °C, at pH 7.0 and in the presence of 2% (w/v) NaCl + 2% (w/v) KCl.

GeoChip-based analysis of the functional gene diversity and metabolic potential of soil microbial communities of mangroves.

Mangroves are unique and highly productive ecosystems and harbor very special microbial communities. Although the phylogenetic diversity of sediment microbial communities of mangrove habitats has been examined extensively, little is known regarding their functional gene diversity and metabolic potential. In this study, a high-throughput functional gene array (GeoChip 4.

Sinobacterium caligoides gen. nov., sp. nov., a new member of the family Oceanospirillaceae isolated from the South China Sea, and emended description of Amphritea japonica.

A taxonomic study was carried out on strain SCSWE24(T), isolated from a seawater sample collected from the South China Sea. Cells of strain SCSWE24(T) were Gram-negative, rod-shaped, non-motile, moderately halophilic and capable of reducing nitrate to nitrite. Growth was observed at salinities from 1.

Mangrovimonas yunxiaonensis gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from mangrove sediment.

A Gram-negative, short-rod-shaped, orange-pigmented bacterium, strain LYYY01(T), was isolated from a mangrove sediment sample collected from Yunxiao mangrove National Nature Reserve, Fujian Province, China. 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons showed that strain LYYY01(T) is a member of the family Flavobacteriaceae, forming a distinct lineage with species of the genera Meridianimaribacter, Sediminibacter, Gelidibacter and Subsaximicrobium. The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity between strain LYYY01(T) and the type strains of related species ranged from 93.

Ischemic injury promotes Keap1 nitration and disturbance of antioxidative responses in endothelial cells: a potential vasoprotective effect of melatonin.

Clinical epidemiology has indicated that the endothelial injury is a potential contributor to the pathogenesis of ischemic neurovascular damage. In this report, we assessed S-nitrosylation and nitration of Keap1 to identify downstream nitric oxide redox signaling targets into endothelial cells during ischemia. Here, oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) exposure initiates the nuclear import of Keap1 in endothelial cells, which interacted with nuclear-localized Nrf2, as demonstrated through co-immunoprecipitation and immunocytochemical assay.