Joint geophysical prospecting for groundwater exploration in weathered terrains of South Guangdong, China.

Groundwater occurrence in a hard rock terrain is strongly controlled by the weathered/fractured zones. However, delineation of such zones is a challenging task given their structural heterogeneity. Traditionally, large numbers of well tests are conducted to assess the subsurface formation.

Tenecteplase for Acute Ischemic Stroke Treatment.

The introduction of thrombolytic therapy in the 1990s has transformed acute ischemic stroke treatment. Thus far, intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) also known as alteplase is the only thrombolytic proven to be efficacious and approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration. But the thrombolytic agent tenecteplase (TNK) is emerging as a potential replacement for rt-PA.

Structural and luminescent properties of co-crystals of tetra-iodo-ethyl-ene with two aza-phenanthrenes.

Two new co-crystals, tetra-iodo-ethyl-ene-phenanthridine (1/2), 0.5CI·CHN () and tetra-iodo-ethyl-ene-benzo[]quinoline (1/2), 0.5CI·CHN (), were obtained from tetra-iodo-ethyl-ene and aza-phenanthrenes, and characterized by IR and fluorescence spectroscopy, elemental analysis and X-ray crystallography.

Delineation of contaminated aquifers using integrated geophysical methods in Northeast Punjab, Pakistan.

A decline in surface water sources in Pakistan is continuously causing the over-extraction of groundwater resources which is in turn costing the saltwater intrusion in many areas of the country. The saltwater intrusion is a major problem in sustainable groundwater development. The application of electrical resistivity methods is one of the best known geophysical approaches in groundwater study.

Prodomain of Furin Promotes Phospholipid Transfer Protein Proteasomal Degradation in Hepatocytes.

Background: Phospholipid transfer protein (PLTP) is one of the major modulators of lipoprotein metabolism and atherosclerosis development; however, little is known about the regulation of PLTP. The effect of hepatic prodomain of furin (profurin) expression on PLTP processing and function is investigated.

Methods And Results: We used adenovirus expressing profurin in mouse liver to evaluate PLTP activity, mass, and plasma lipid levels.

C609T polymorphism and lung cancer susceptibility: Evidence from a comprehensive meta-analysis.

A variety of case-control studies have been performed to assess the correlation between C609T polymorphism and the risk of lung cancer, but an explicit consensus has not been reached. We conducted this updated meta-analysis to identify the function of C609T polymorphism in lung cancer risk. All relevant literature was retrieved from the PubMed, EMBASE, CNKI, and WanFang databases before April 2017.

Geophysical Assessment of Groundwater Potential: A Case Study from Mian Channu Area, Pakistan.

An integrated study using geophysical method in combination with pumping tests and geochemical method was carried out to delineate groundwater potential zones in Mian Channu area of Pakistan. Vertical electrical soundings (VES) using Schlumberger configuration with maximum current electrode spacing (AB/2 = 200 m) were conducted at 50 stations and 10 pumping tests at borehole sites were performed in close proximity to 10 of the VES stations. The aim of this study is to establish a correlation between the hydraulic parameters obtained from geophysical method and pumping tests so that the aquifer potential can be estimated from the geoelectrical surface measurements where no pumping tests exist.

Hepatic S1P deficiency lowers plasma cholesterol levels in apoB-containing lipoproteins when LDLR function is compromised.

Background: Site-1 protease (S1P) is the key enzyme required for activation of the sterol regulatory element binding proteins (SREBPs) that govern lipid synthesis. While S1P has been speculated to influence plasma apoB-containing lipoprotein (Blp) metabolism, there has been little investigative work. LDL receptor (LDLR) is the major receptor for clearing plasma LDL cholesterol (LDL-c).

Adipocyte phospholipid transfer protein and lipoprotein metabolism.

Objective: Phospholipid transfer protein (PLTP) is highly expressed in adipose tissues. Thus, the effect of adipose tissue PLTP on plasma lipoprotein metabolism was examined.

Approach And Results: We crossed PLTP-Flox-ΔNeo and adipocyte protein 2 (aP2)-Cre recombinase (Cre) transgenic mice to create PLTP-Flox-ΔNeo/aP2-Cre mice that have a 90 and a 60% reduction in PLTP mRNA in adipose tissue and macrophages, respectively.

Hepatic overexpression of the prodomain of furin lessens progression of atherosclerosis and reduces vascular remodeling in response to injury.

Objective: Atherosclerosis is a complex disease, involving elevated LDL-c, lipid accumulation in the blood vessel wall, foam cell formation and vascular dysfunction. Lowering plasma LDL-c is the cornerstone of current management of cardiovascular disease. However, new approaches which reduce plasma LDL-c and lessen the pathological vascular remodeling occurring in the disease should also have therapeutic value.

Liver-specific phospholipid transfer protein deficiency reduces high-density lipoprotein and non-high-density lipoprotein production in mice.

Objective: The liver is one of the critical organs for lipoprotein metabolism and a major source for phospholipid transfer protein (PLTP) expression. The effect of liver-specific PLTP deficiency on plasma lipoprotein production and metabolism in mice was investigated.

Approach And Results: We created a liver-specific PLTP-deficient mouse model.

Measurement of the phospholipase activity of endothelial lipase in mouse plasma.

Endothelial lipase (EL) is a major negative regulator of plasma HDL levels in mice, rabbits, and most probably, humans. Although this regulatory function is critically dependent on EL's hydrolysis of HDL phospholipids, as yet there is no phospholipase assay specific for EL in plasma. We developed such an assay for the mouse enzyme using a commercially available phospholipid-like fluorescent substrate in combination with an EL neutralizing antibody.

The impact of phospholipid transfer protein (PLTP) on lipoprotein metabolism.

It has been reported that phospholipid transfer protein (PLTP) is an independent risk factor for human coronary artery disease. In mouse models, it has been demonstrated that PLTP overexpression induces atherosclerosis, while its deficiency reduces it. PLTP is considered a promising target for pharmacological intervention to treat atherosclerosis.

Mechanisms involved in cellular ceramide homeostasis.

Sphingolipids are ubiquitous and critical components of biological membranes. Their biosynthesis starts with soluble precursors in the endoplasmic reticulum and culminates in the Golgi complex and plasma membrane. Ceramides are important intermediates in the biosynthesis of sphingolipids, such as sphingomyelin, and their overload in the membranes is injurious to cells.

Mining the LIPG allelic spectrum reveals the contribution of rare and common regulatory variants to HDL cholesterol.

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have successfully identified loci associated with quantitative traits, such as blood lipids. Deep resequencing studies are being utilized to catalogue the allelic spectrum at GWAS loci. The goal of these studies is to identify causative variants and missing heritability, including heritability due to low frequency and rare alleles with large phenotypic impact.

Proteolytic processing of angiopoietin-like protein 4 by proprotein convertases modulates its inhibitory effects on lipoprotein lipase activity.

Angiopoietin-like protein 4 (ANGPTL4) has been associated with a variety of diseases. It is known as an endogenous inhibitor of lipoprotein lipase (LPL), and it modulates lipid deposition and energy homeostasis. ANGPTL4 is cleaved by unidentified protease(s), and the biological importance of this cleavage event is not fully understood with respect to its inhibitory effect on LPL activity.

Determination of lipoprotein lipase activity using a novel fluorescent lipase assay.

A novel, real-time, homogeneous fluorogenic lipoprotein lipase (LPL) assay was developed using a commercially available substrate, the EnzChek lipase substrate, which is solubilized in Zwittergent. The triglyceride analog substrate does not fluoresce, owing to apposition of fluorescent and fluorescent quenching groups at the sn-1 and sn-2 positions, respectively, fluorescence becoming unquenched upon release of the sn-1 BODIPY FA derivative following hydrolysis. Increase in fluorescence intensity at 37°C was proportional to LPL concentration.

[Genetic analysis of β -thalassemia mutations in the minority populations of Guizhou province].

Objective: To investigate the gene mutation frequencies and patterns of β-thalassemia (β-thal) in the minority populations of Guizhou province.

Methods: Three thousand and five hundred couples in the reproductive age were screened by using automatic hemocyte analyzer and hemoglobin autoanalyzer-variant. The diagnostic criteria for β-thal were: the mean corpuscular volume (MCV) was ≤ 82 fl, and the HbA(2) level was ≥ 3.

Angiopoietin-like protein 3 inhibits lipoprotein lipase activity through enhancing its cleavage by proprotein convertases.

Lipoprotein lipase (LPL)-mediated lipolysis of triglycerides is the first and rate-limiting step in chylomicron/very low density lipoprotein clearance at the luminal surface of the capillaries. Angiopoietin-like protein 3 (ANGPTL3) is shown to inhibit LPL activity and plays important roles in modulating lipoprotein metabolism in vivo. However, the mechanism by which it inhibits LPL activity remains poorly understood.

A Translational Medicine perspective of the development of torcetrapib: Does the failure of torcetrapib development cast a shadow on future development of lipid modifying agents, HDL elevation strategies or CETP as a viable molecular target for atherosclerosis? A case study of the use of biomarkers and Translational Medicine in atherosclerosis drug discovery and development.

Although the relationship between HDL (high density lipoprotein) function and cardiovascular (CV) risk has been extensively explored, the premise that HDL elevation is linked to reduced CV risks and that high HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) might be a potential surrogate biomarker for reduced CV risk remains controversial. Substantial genetic, molecular, biochemical and preclinical evidence have raised the hope that HDL-C elevation via CETP inhibition might generate clinical benefits. However, four large-scale clinical trials with the CETP inhibitor torcetrapib failed to demonstrate benefits on CV clinical outcomes.

Anti-oxygen-quenching room temperature phosphorescence stabilized by deoxycholate aggregate.

Oxygen is the most effective dynamic quencher in liquid room temperature phosphorimetry (LRTP). Using oxygen scavenger to achieve significant or more sensitive RTP signals may bring about kinds of trouble in many cases and is apparently not very convenient in procedures. To date a few examples on LRTP without deoxygenation have been reported.

Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9): hepatocyte-specific low-density lipoprotein receptor degradation and critical role in mouse liver regeneration.

Unlabelled: The gene encoding the proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) is linked to familial hypercholesterolemia, as are those of the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) and apolipoprotein B. PCSK9 enhances LDLR degradation, resulting in low-density lipoprotein accumulation in plasma. To analyze the role of hepatic PCSK9, total and hepatocyte-specific knockout mice were generated.

Studies on the effects of metal ions and counter anions on the aggregate behaviors of meso-tetrakis(p-sulfonatophenyl)porphyrin by absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy.

The aggregation behaviors of meso-tetrakis(p-sulfonatophenyl)porphyrin (TPPS) in the function of metal ions and their counter anions (Cl(-), SO4(2-), and NO3(-)) were investigated by absorption, fluorescence spectroscopy and resonance scattering spectrum. It was shown that the TPPS J-aggregates could be effectively promoted by metal ions under lower ionic strength. Moreover, the prominent effects of counter ions (Cl(-), SO4(2-), and NO3(-)) on TPPS J- and/or H-aggregate formation at higher ionic strength were observed.

Hepatic proprotein convertases modulate HDL metabolism.

The risk of atherosclerosis is inversely associated with plasma levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). However, HDL metabolism is incompletely understood, and there are few effective approaches to modulate HDL-C levels. Here we show that inhibition in the liver of the classical proprotein convertases (PCs), but not the atypical PCs S1P and PCSK9, decreases plasma HDL-C levels.