Angiogenic and Antiangiogenic mechanisms of high density lipoprotein from healthy subjects and coronary artery diseases patients.

Normal high-density lipoprotein (nHDL) in normal, healthy subjects is able to promote angiogenesis, but the mechanism remains incompletely understood. HDL from patients with coronary artery disease may undergo a variety of oxidative modifications, rendering it dysfunctional; whether the angiogenic effect is mitigated by such dysfunctional HDL (dHDL) is unknown. We hypothesized that dHDL compromises angiogenesis.

Correction: Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Treatment Reduces Mortality in Elderly Patients with Moderate to Severe Obstructive Severe Sleep Apnea: A Cohort Study.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Treatment Reduces Mortality in Elderly Patients with Moderate to Severe Obstructive Severe Sleep Apnea: A Cohort Study.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is much more prevalent in older people than in middle-aged or young populations, and has been associated with cardiovascular disease. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the first-line therapy for OSA, but its long-term clinical benefit in the elderly is unclear. Here, we carried out a prospective cohort study to explore the survival rate and incidence of cardiovascular events in elderly patients with moderate to severe OSA who did or did not receive CPAP treatment.

Paeonolum protects against MPP(+)-induced neurotoxicity in zebrafish and PC12 cells.

Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease, affecting 2% of the population aged over 65 years old. Mitochondrial defects and oxidative stress actively participate in degeneration of dopaminergic (DA) neurons in PD. Paeonolum, a main component isolated from Moutan cortex, has potent antioxidant ability.

Identification of marine neuroactive molecules in behaviour-based screens in the larval zebrafish.

High-throughput behavior-based screen in zebrafish is a powerful approach for the discovery of novel neuroactive small molecules for treatment of nervous system diseases such as epilepsy. To identify neuroactive small molecules, we first screened 36 compounds (1-36) derived from marine natural products xyloketals and marine isoprenyl phenyl ether obtained from the mangrove fungus. Compound 1 demonstrated the most potent inhibition on the locomotor activity in larval zebrafish.

Protective effects of puerarin against Aß40-induced vascular dysfunction in zebrafish and human endothelial cells.

Aß40-induced vascular dysfunction has been implicated in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer׳s disease (AD). In the present study, we investigated the possible protective effects of puerarin against Aß40-induced vascular damage and impairment to angiogenesis in transgenic TG (fli1:EGFP) zebrafish and human endothelial cells. Aß40 peptides at 5μM caused an obvious reduction of vessel branches in the subintestinal vein basket, induced NADPH oxidase-derived reactive oxygen species and impaired vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-dependent angiogenesis.

Absence of mutations in exon 6 of the TARDBP gene in 207 Chinese patients with sporadic amyotrohic lateral sclerosis.

Mutations in the TARDBP gene, which encodes the Tar DNA binding protein, have been shown to causes of both familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (FALS) and sporadic ALS (SALS). Recently, several novel TARDBP exon 6 mutants have been reported in patients with ALS in Europe and America but not in Asia. To further examine the spectrum and frequency of TARDBP exon 6 mutations, we investigated their frequency in ethnic Chinese patients with sporadic ALS.

Motoneuron differentiation of induced pluripotent stem cells from SOD1G93A mice.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disorder mainly affecting motor neurons. Mutations in superoxide dismutase-1 (SOD-1) account for about 20% of familial ALS patients. A robust supply of motoneurons carrying the mutated gene would help understand the causes of motoneuron death and develop new therapeutics for the disease.

Salvianolic acid A, a polyphenolic derivative from Salvia miltiorrhiza bunge, as a multifunctional agent for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

The effects of Salvianolic acid A (Sal A) on the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD) were investigated. Sal A significantly inhibits amyloid beta [Formula: see text] self-aggregation and disaggregates pre-formed [Formula: see text] fibrils, reduces metal-induced [Formula: see text] aggregation through chelating metal ions, and blocks the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in SH-SY5Y cells. Sal A protects cells against [Formula: see text]-induced toxicity.

Xyloketal B exhibits its antioxidant activity through induction of HO-1 in vascular endothelial cells and zebrafish.

We previously reported that a novel marine compound, xyloketal B, has strong antioxidative actions in different models of cardiovascular diseases. Induction of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), an important endogenous antioxidant enzyme, has been considered as a potential therapeutic strategy for cardiovascular diseases. We here investigated whether xyloketal B exhibits its antioxidant activity through induction of HO-1.

Marine cyclotripeptide X-13 promotes angiogenesis in zebrafish and human endothelial cells via PI3K/Akt/eNOS signaling pathways.

Cyclotripeptide X-13 is a core of novel marine compound xyloallenoide A isolated from mangrove fungus Xylaria sp. (no. 2508).

dl-3n-Butylphthalide promotes angiogenesis via the extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt-endothelial nitric oxide synthase signaling pathways.

We have previously demonstrated that dl-3n-butylphthalide (NBP) has a potential angiogenic activity. In this study, we investigated the angiogenic effect of NBP and the molecular mechanisms underlying NBP-mediated angiogenesis. Zebrafish embryos and human umbilical vein endothelial cells were treated with various doses of NBP and several signaling pathway inhibitors.

[Protective effects of Lycium barbarum extract against MPP(+) -induced neurotoxicity in Caenorhabditis elegans and PC12 cells].

Objective: To investigate the neuroprotective effects of Lycium barbarum extract against MPP(+) -induced neurotoxicity in Caenorhabditis elegans and PC12 cells and its mechanism.

Methods: Pretreated MPP(+) -induced nearotoxicity in C. elegans and PC12 cells with Lycium barbarum at different dosages.

Neuronal differentiation potential of mouse induced pluripotent stem cells.

Induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells have been generated from somatic cells by ectopic expression of defined transcription factors. The important issues for clinical applications of iPS cells are the defined methods for somatic cell differentiation and how to effectively enrich desired cell population. Here we used humanized renilla green fluorescent protein under the control of Tα1 α-tubulin promoter as lineage selection marker for neuronal differentiation of iPS cells.

Protective effects of xyloketal B against MPP+-induced neurotoxicity in Caenorhabditis elegans and PC12 cells.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease, affecting 2% of the population over age 65years. Mitochondrial defect and oxidative stress actively participate in the dopaminergic (DA) neuron degeneration in PD. Xyloketal B is a novel marine compound with unique chemical structure isolated from mangrove fungus Xylaria sp.

[Impact of organized stroke ward on the therapeutic effect in stroke patients].

Objective: To study the impact of organized stroke ward on the therapeutic effect in stroke patients.

Methods: A total of 2637 patients with acute stroke were randomly assigned to organized stroke ward or the general ward for treatment, and the rates of mortality, nonrecovery, improvement, and recovery were compared between the two groups.

Results: The rates of mortality, nonrecovery, improvement, and recovery in 5 years were 2.

[Mesenchymal stem cells transplanted in mdx mice differentiate into myocytes and express dystrophin/utrophin].

Objective: To investigate the differentiation of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into myocytes and their expression of dystrophin/utrophin after transplantation in mdx mice.

Methods: BrdU-labeled fifth-passage rat MSCs were transplanted in mdx mice with previous total body gamma irradiation (7 Gy). At 4, 8, 12 and 16 weeks after the transplantation, the mice were sacrificed to detect dystrophin/BrdU and utrophin expressions in the gastrocnemius muscle using immunofluorescence assay, RT-PCR and Western blotting.

Baculovirus-transduced mouse amniotic fluid-derived stem cells maintain differentiation potential.

Amniotic fluid-derived stem cells have attracted considerable attention in the field of regenerative medicine. Approach of genetic modification probably enhances their regenerative potential. In this work, we wanted to determine whether baculovirus as a new gene vector could efficiently and safely transduce mouse amniotic fluid-derived stem cells (mAFSs).

[Effects of BMP-2 and FGF-2 on osteoblast differentiation of murine MSCs in vitro].

Aim: To study the effects of BMP-2 and FGF-2 on osteoblast differentiation of murine MSCs in vitro.

Methods: The bone marrow cells were collected from 3-18 month old C57BL/6J mice (50 mice), and they were isolated, enriched and expanded using bone marrow adherent culture, and then purified by immunomagnetic microbeads. At last they were identified as mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs).

[Transduction of various mammalian bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells by baculovirus].

The use of stem cells will lead to novel treatments for a wide range of diseases due to their properties of self-renewing, pluripotent, and undifferentiated state, and the stem cells are usually genetically modified for cell and gene therapy. If the baculovirus, as a new gene vector, can be effectively transduced into various mammalian bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) in vitro, it will be a better gene vector to genetically modify the stem cells. The aim of the present study is to investigate the transduction efficiency of recombinant baculovirus (BacV-CMV-EGFP), which expressed a reporter gene encoding enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) under a cytomegalovirus immediate early (CMV-IE) promoter, into various mammalian BMSCs.

[Sibling brother and sister both with Duchenne muscular dystrophy].

Objective: To investigate the clinical and lab features of sibling brother and sister both with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD).

Methods: We conducted comprehensive clinical and lab investigations including the test of serum enzymes, electromyography (EMG), electrocardiography, color Doppler echocardiography, HE staining of skeletal muscles, immunohistochemical study of dystrophin and utrophin, multiple ligation probe amplification (MLPA) on exon 1-79 of dystrophin gene, and short tandem repeat-poly- merase chain reaction of CA repeats located in dystrophin gene.

Results: These two patients were confirmed to suffer from DMD.

[Association between angiotensin-converting enzyme and polymorphisms of N5, N10-methylenetetrahydrofolic acid reductase gene in patients with ischemic stroke].

Objective: To explore the association between angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and the polymorphisms of N5, N10-methylenetetrahydrofolic acid reductase (MTHFR) gene in patients with ischemic stroke (IS).

Methods: Totally 454 patients with IS (IS group) and 334 controls (control group) were recruited in our study. Their I/D polymorphisms of ACE gene and C677T polymorphisms of MTHFR gene were detected by PCR and denaturing high performance liquid chromatography.

[Relationship between angiotensin converting enzyme gene and ischemic stroke].

Objective: To study relationship between angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene and ischemic stroke (IS).

Methods: (1)Four hundred and fifty-four patients and 334 controls were recruited in our study, their I/D polymorphisms of ACE gene were detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and denaturing high performance liquid chromatogram, and their risk factors of IS were recorded at the same time. (2)In addition, 29 stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR-SP) and 40 Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were enrolled, and hypoxia- apnoea animal models and simple apnoea animal models were used at the same time.

[The experimental study on bone marrow stem cell transplantition combinated with bushen fang therapy for DMD].

Objective: To investigate the effect on bone marrow stem cell transplantition (BMST) combinated with Bushen fang therapy in mdx mice.

Methods: Cultured the bone marrow cells of C56BL/6 in vitro and tranplante these cells to mdx mice after irradiation. Bushen fang was used to cure the mdx mice after BMST.

[Carrier genetic diagnosis of intron and/or exon-deletion Duchenne muscular dystrophy by microsatellite analysis and quantitative polymerase chain reaction].

Objective: To detect the female carriers from the intron and/or exon-deletion Duchenne/Becker musclular dystrophy (DMD) familial members for prenatal or preimplantation genetic diagnosis.

Methods: Using method of PCR to five microsatellite markers (located in 5' terminus and intron 44, 45, 49, 50), analysing of the short tandem repeat sequence polymorphism with the genescan and binding with the quantitative polymerase chain reaction, we detected the DMD carriers from 1 intron and exon -deletion family and 1 intron-deletion family.

Results: The STR-50 genotype of II 2 in family 5 was 245/245, so II3 is DMD gene carrier.