Toxoplasma gondii: the effects of infection at different stages of pregnancy on the offspring of mice.

Congenital toxoplasmosis can cause fetal damage in humans and domestic animals. This study was focused on the effects of Toxoplasma gondii (Prugniaud strain) infection at different stages of pregnancy on the offspring of mice. Results showed that newborn mice from all infected groups were significantly lower in weight than those from the control group but significant difference was not found among these groups at day 60 after birth.

[Effect of Meisoindigo on Wnt signal pathway in K562 and HL-60 cells].

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of meisoindigo on Wnt signal pathway in K562 cells and HL-60 cells and its possible regulatory mechanism. RT-PCR and Western blot assay were used to detect the expression of GSK-3beta and its downstream associated genes as well as proteins expression respectively. The results showed that the meisoindigo could inhibit the phosphorylation of GSK-3beta and decreased beta-catenin and c-myc genes expression in HL-60 cells, but did not significantly affect the two gene expression in K562 cells.

Cytotoxic triterpenoid glycosides from the roots of Gordonia chrysandra.

Eight new oleanane triterpenoid glycosides, gordonosides A-H (1-8), were isolated from a 50% EtOH extract of the roots of Gordonia chrysandra. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic analysis, including 1D and 2D NMR and ESIMS, and by chemical methods. Among these substances, compounds 1, 3, 5, and 6 exhibited cytotoxic activity against several human cancer cell lines, with 3 being the most potent.

Thiodiketopiperazines produced by the endophytic fungus Epicoccum nigrum.

Thirteen new thiodiketopiperazines, epicoccin I (1), ent-epicoccin G (2), and epicoccins J-T (3-13), together with six known diketopiperazines (14-19), have been isolated from the endophytic fungus Epicoccum nigrum. The structures of 1, 2, and 10 were confirmed by X-ray crystallography, and the absolute configurations of 2, 4, 6, and 8 were assigned using Moshers' method. Compounds 2, 6, 12, and 17 showed potent activities in vitro against the release of beta-glucuronidase in rat polymorphonuclear leukocytes induced by platelet-activating factor, with IC(50) values of 3.

Rapamycin regulates Akt and ERK phosphorylation through mTORC1 and mTORC2 signaling pathways.

Numerous studies have shown that mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor activates Akt signaling pathway via a negative feedback loop while inhibiting mTORC1 signaling. In this report, we focused on studying the role of mTORC1 and mTORC2 in rapamycin-mediated Akt and ERK phosphorylation, and the antitumor effect of rapamycin in cancer cells in combination with Akt and ERK inhibitors. Moreover, we analyzed the effect of mTORC1 and mTORC2 on regulating cell cycle progression.

Chitosan acetate as an active coating material and its effects on the storing of Prunus avium L.

In this article, chitosan acetate (CA) was prepared by the method of solid-liquid reaction. CA was a stable faint yellow powder with water solubility. CA kept the same backbone in the chemical structure as the raw material of chitosan, and it also had the similar antibacterial properties with chitosan.

Luminescent dendritic cyclometalated iridium(III) polypyridine complexes: synthesis, emission behavior, and biological properties.

Luminescent dendritic cyclometalated iridium(III) polypyridine complexes [{Ir(N--C)(2)}(n)(bpy-n)](PF(6))(n) (HN--C = 2-phenylpyridine, Hppy, n = 8 (ppy-8), 4 (ppy-4), 3 (ppy-3); HN--C = 2-phenylquinoline, Hpq, n = 8 (pq-8), 4 (pq-4), 3 (pq-3)) have been designed and synthesized. The properties of these dendrimers have been compared to those of their monomeric counterparts [Ir(N--C)(2)(bpy-1)](PF(6)) (HN--C = Hppy (ppy-1), Hpq (pq-1)). Cyclic voltammetric studies revealed that the iridium(IV/III) oxidation and bpy-based reduction occurred at about +1.

[Isolation, identification and analysis of the expression profile of miRNAs in Aedes albopictus].

Objective: To verify the miRNA in Aedes albopictus and characterize the expression profile of several miRNAs across all the life stages of Aedes albopictus.

Methods: Based on the published miRNA sequences of Anopheles gambiae and Aedes aegypti, 6 DIG-labeled antisense probes were synthesized. The total RNAs from Aedes albopictus in 6 developmental stages (embryo, early larvae, late larvae, pupa, male and female adults) were extracted with a mirVana miRNA isolation kit, loaded onto 15% denaturing polyacrylamide gel and hybridized with the appropriate DIG-labeled probes.

[Establishment of an in vitro tachyzoite-bradyzoite interconversion system for Toxoplasma gondii].

Objective: To establish an tachyzoite-brachyzoite interconversion system for Toxoplasma gondii RH strain in vitro.

Methods: COS-7 cells were inoculated with purified tachyzoites of T.gondii RH strain and cultured in vitro.

Adsorption characteristics of residual oil on amphiphilic chitosan derivative.

In this study, a novel chitosan-based polymeric surfactant, H-Oleoyl-Carboxymethyl chitosan was used as a coagulation agent for cleaning residual oil. The characteristics of H-Oleoyl-Carboxymethyl chitosan were investigated by FTIR and XRD. And the adsorption capacities of chitosan and H-O-CMCS for removing the residue oil from the wastewater of oil extraction have been investigated.

Synthesis and antitumor activity of bisindolylmaleimide and amino acid ester conjugates.

A series of novel bisindolylmaleimide and natural amino acid ester conjugates were synthesized and evaluated for their inhibitory activity against six tumor cell lines. Some compounds displayed interesting cytotoxic profiles. The most active compound 8e showed inhibitory activity against several human cancer cell lines.

Hydrothermal removal of Sr2+ in aqueous solution via formation of Sr-substituted hydroxyapatite.

We removed Sr(2+) in simulating wastewater and simultaneously prepared Sr-substituted hydroxyapatite via chemical precipitation and hydrothermal treatment. Both higher initial pH value and higher molar ratio of Sr/(Sr+Ca) contributed to lower residual Sr(2+) concentration and higher removal efficiency. About two thirds of Sr(2+) residual in solution after chemical precipitation were further reduced by hydrothermal treatment.

Enrichment features of anammox consortia from methanogenic granules loaded with high organic and methanol contents.

Vigorous anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) activity was realized by seeding with diverse sludge contents. Granules taken from a 2-year old methanogenic reactor loaded with high organic and methanol contents were used as inoculum to enrich anammox biomass in a 1.1L upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor.

Triterpenoids from the roots of Pterospermum heterophyllum Hance.

Two new triterpenoids taraxer-14-ene-1alpha,3beta-diol (1) and 3beta-hydroxytaraxer-14-ene-1-one (2), together with the known triterpenes taraxerol (3), betulin (4), betulinic acid (5), sumaresinolic acid (6), and 5-hydroxy-2-methoxy-1,4-naphthoquinone (7), 5,7-dihydroxy-6,8-dimethylchromone (8), alpha-monpalmitin (9), palmitic acid (10), 6beta-hydroxystigmast-4-en-3-one (11), beta-sitostero1 (12), have been isolated from the petroleum ether fraction of the ethanolic extract of Pterospermum heterophyllum. Their structures were established by spectroscopic methods including IR, MS, 1D, and 2D NMR experiments. Compounds 1-8 were evaluated against several human cancer cell lines.

Four new minor taxanes from cell cultures of Taxus chinensis.

Four new minor taxanes (1-4) have been isolated from Ts-19 cell cultures of Taxus chinensis together with five known taxanes (5-9) by silica gel chromatography combined with semi-preparative HPLC chromatography. On the basis of the analyses of the chemical and spectroscopic (IR, MS, 1D, and 2D NMR) data, the structures of new compounds were elucidated as 5alpha-hydroxy-2alpha,10beta-diacetoxy-14beta-(3-hydroxy-2-methyl-butyryl)oxytaxa-4(20),11-diene (1), 2alpha,5alpha,10beta-triacetoxy-14beta-(2-hydroxy-propionyl)oxytaxa-4(20),11-diene (2), 2alpha,5alpha,10beta-triacetoxy-14beta-(2-hydroxy-3-methyl-butyryl)oxytaxa-4(20),11-diene (3), and 2alpha-benzoxy-4alpha,9alpha,10beta,13alpha-tetraacetoxytax-11-ene (4), respectively. Compounds 1-5 were pharmacologically evaluated for their cytotoxicities against five human cancer cell lines (HCT-8, Bel-7402, BGC-823, A549, and A2780) and their reversing activity towards multi-drug resistance A549/taxol tumor cell line, and the results showed that all of the tested compounds exhibited very low cytotoxicities, while compound 4 possessed twice the reversing activity as that of verapamil at 10 muM.

Effect of molecular weight on the oleoyl-chitosan nanoparticles as carriers for doxorubicin.

Self-assembled oleoyl-chitosan (OCH) nanoparticles based on chitosan with different molecular weights (5kDa, 38kDa and 300kDa) were prepared by oil/water (O/W) emulsification method. The nanoparticles have spherical shape and the mean diameters were 131.8nm, 255.

Analysis of ammonia and aliphatic amines in environmental water by micellar electrokinetic chromatography and QSPR modeling of electrophoretic migration time.

In this paper, a rapid and sensitive method for the determination of ammonia and 22 aliphatic amines derivatized was established by cyclodextrin (CD) modified micellar electrokinetic chromatography with laser-induced fluorescence detection using 4-chloro-7-nitrobenzo-2-oxa-1,3-diazole as a derived reagent. By a series of unvaried studies, the best conditions were selected using 20mM tetraborate (pH 9.70) containing 25 mM SDS, 7 mM beta-CD, 10% acetonitrile, 0.

[Study on rhGM-CSF as adjuvant in revaccination among adults of non-and hyporesponders to hepatitis B vaccine].

Objective: To investigate the effect of recombinant human granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (rhGM-CSF) as adjuvant on immune response in adults of non-and hyporesponders to hepatitis B vaccine.

Methods: Those who were once immunized with recombined yeast gene hepatitis B vaccine more than one standard scheme in two years and negative for hepatitis B markers were randomly sorted as group A and group B. 33 adults of group A were given hepatitis B vaccine 10 microg each time.

Bed expansion behavior and sensitivity analysis for super-high-rate anaerobic bioreactor.

Bed expansion behavior and sensitivity analysis for super-high-rate anaerobic bioreactor (SAB) were performed based on bed expansion ratio (E), maximum bed sludge content (V(pmax)), and maximum bed contact time between sludge and liquid (tau(max)). Bed expansion behavior models were established under bed unfluidization, fluidization, and transportation states. Under unfluidization state, E was 0, V(pmax) was 4 867 ml, and tau(max) was 844-3 800 s.

Stereotactic localization and visualization of the subthalamic nucleus.

Background: The subthalamic nucleus (STN) is widely recognized as one of the most important and commonly targeted nuclei in stereotactic and functional neurosurgery. The success of STN surgery depends on accuracy in target determination. Construction of a digitalized atlas of STN based on stereotactic MRI will play an instrumental role in the accuracy of anatomical localization.

[Toxoplasma gondii: past, present and future].

Toxoplasma gondii is a globally distributed Apicomplexan Protozoa which can infect all warm-blooded animals and cause serious diseases in immunocompromised host. More attention has been paid to wide distribution and opportunistic pathogenesis of T. gondii.

Monoclonal antibodies against nucleoside triphosphate hydrolase-II can reduce the replication of Toxoplasma gondii.

Nucleoside triphosphate hydrolase (NTPase) is an abundant protein secreted by the obligate protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii, which has a wide specificity toward NTP. In the present study, two monoclonal antibodies (mAbs, MNT1 and MNT2) against recombinant T. gondii NTPase-II (rTgNTPase-II) were developed.

[In vitro study on bFGF expression of rat astrocytes after mechanical injury].

Objective: To study the alteration of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGB) expression in astrocytes in vitro after mechanical injury and to understand the repair mechanism of brain injury.

Methods: Astrocytes were isolated from cerebral cortex of SD rats born in 24 hours, and then cultured and purified. The cultured astrocytes were randomly divided into control group and injury groups that were subjected to mechanical injury at 30 min, 1h, 3h, 6h, 12h, 24h, 3d, and 7d.

[Anaerobic biodegradation of microcystin by bacterial community from sediment of Dianchi Lake].

Aerobic biodegradation has been identified as the main attenuation mechanism for microcystin, but the role of anaerobic microcystin biodegradation remains unclear. To elucidate this process, we assessed the potential for anaerobic microcystin LR biodegradation by sediment microbial community from Dianchi Lake and evaluated the effects of environmental factors and additional nutrient sources on the rates of anaerobic biodegradation. The results showed that microcystin LR was rapidly degraded from 5 mg/L to below detection limit within 2 days, demonstrating that the indigenous microorganisms can efficiently degrade microcystin LR under anaerobic conditions and can use microcystin LR as a sole nitrogen source.

[siRNAs targetting sphingomyelin phosphodiesterase 1 protect mouse oocytes from apoptosis].

Objective: To investigate the potential of siRNAs targeting sphingomyelin phosphodiesterase 1 (SMPD1) in protecting the oocytes from apoptosis, and explore new approaches to female fertility preservation.

Methods: Chemically synthesized siRNA targeting SMPD1 were introduced into mouse oocytes retrieved by hyperstimulation, and the cell apoptosis was analyzed by comic assay 48 and 72 h later.

Results: In the oocytes without any siRNA injection, oocyte DNA damage occurred after 24 h, and large amount of DNA fragments migrated from the cells 48 h later.