[Effects of organic selenium supplement on glutathione peroxidase activities: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials].

Objective: To study the effects of organic selenium supplementation on glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities.

Methods: Randomized controlled trials (RCT) published from January 1988 to December 2010 on the relationship between organic selenium supplementation and GPx activities were collected. Meta-analysis was applied to estimate the combined standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI).

Resolving multiple protein-peptide binding events: implication for HLA-DQ2 mediated antigen presentation in celiac disease.

Techniques that can effectively separate protein-peptide complexes from free peptides have shown great value in major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-peptide binding studies. However, most of the available techniques are limited to measuring the binding of a single peptide to an MHC molecule. As antigen presentation in vivo involves both endogenous ligands and exogenous antigens, the deconvolution of multiple binding events necessitates the implementation of a more powerful technique.

PLA2G4A mutants modified protective effect of tea consumption against colorectal cancer.

Purpose: The primary aim was to respectively evaluate PLA2G4A mutants modifying protective effect of tea consumption against colorectal cancer (CRC), colon and rectal cancer.

Methods: All participants were recruited from January 2006 to April 2008. The information about tea consumption was collected by a structured questionnaire.

[Classification and pollution characteristic analysis for inflow rivers of Chaohu Lake].

Based on main pollution sources and characteristics of inflow rivers of Chaohu Lake, the inflow rivers are clustered and the pollution levels are classified by statistical methods. In addition, the correlation between algal biomass and the river nutrients input loads is derived according to the inflow river water quality monitoring parameters and the Chl-a concentrations in lake areas. Results show that the inflow rivers are classified into three groups.

Effects of different biomaterials: comparing the bladder smooth muscle cells on waterborne polyurethane or poly-lactic-co-glycolic acid membranes.

Tissue engineering materials have often been used to repair bladder damage caused by conditions, such as infection, resection, inflammation, and trauma. However, the concept of generating a functional urinary bladder using autologous cells obtained from a biopsy specimen combined with a biomaterial scaffold remains a challenge. Previously, we presented a new method for synthesizing a biocompatible, mechanically sound, nontoxic, and cross-linked waterborne polyurethane (WBPU) as a potential material for bladder regeneration.

Initial identification of heavy metals contamination in Taihu Lake, a eutrophic lake in China.

A detailed investigation of seven heavy metals (Cu, Cd, Cr, As, Pb, Zn, Ni) in the water column, interstitial water and surface sediment was conducted to quantify the extent of their contamination in Taihu Lake. Results showed the average total concentrations ranged from 0.93 microg/L for Cd to 47.

Evaluating de novo locus-disease discoveries in GWAS using the signal-to-noise ratio.

A genome-wide association study (GWAS) involves examining representative SNPs obtained using high throughput technologies. A GWAS data set can entail a million SNPs and may soon entail many millions. In a GWAS researchers often investigate the correlation of each SNP with a disease.

Capillary electrophoretic studies on displacement and proteolytic cleavage of surface bound oligohistidine peptide on quantum dots.

Subtle changes in the chemical structure or the composition of surface bound ligands on quantum dots (QDs) remain difficult to detect. Here we describe a facile setup for fluorescence detection coupled capillary electrophoresis (CE-FL) and its application in monitoring ligand displacement on QDs through metal-affinity driven assembly. We also describe the use of CE-FL to monitor amide bond cleavage by a specific protease, based on Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) between Cy5 and QDs spaced by a hexahistidine peptide (H6-Cy5).

Thiol-functionalization of metal-organic framework by a facile coordination-based postsynthetic strategy and enhanced removal of Hg2+ from water.

The presence of coordinatively unsaturated metal centers in metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) provides an accessible way to selectively functionalize MOFs through coordination bonds. In this work, we describe thiol-functionalization of MOFs by choosing a well known three-dimensional (3D) Cu-based MOF, i.e.

UVC mutagenicity is suppressed in Japanese miso-treated human RSa cells, possibly via GRP78 expression.

Little is known about the ability of miso, to modulate mutability in human cells. We have observed increased levels of glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78) expression in association with suppression of mutation in human RSa cells irradiated with ultraviolet C (UVC). Here we examined to determine whether miso treatment results in increased GRP78 expression and suppression of UVC mutagenicity in RSa cells.

A bayesian method for evaluating and discovering disease loci associations.

Background: A genome-wide association study (GWAS) typically involves examining representative SNPs in individuals from some population. A GWAS data set can concern a million SNPs and may soon concern billions. Researchers investigate the association of each SNP individually with a disease, and it is becoming increasingly commonplace to also analyze multi-SNP associations.

Infrapatellar fat pad may be with tendon repairing ability and closely related with the developing process of patella Baja.

Patella Baja, as a common complication of knee trauma or knee surgery, was very difficult to deal with, and scarring and shortening of the patellar tendon were looked on as the most important reason for it. Infrapatellar fat pad, also known as Hoffa's fat pad was traditionally regarded as with only buffering and lubricating functions in knee joints, which can limit the knee's excessive activities, absorb shocks from the anterior knee and reduces friction between the patellar tendon and the tibia, it should be with direct protection function and avoid the damage of patella tendon. Recently, a large number of studies had shown that adipose tissue was an accessible and abundant source of mesenchymal stem cells for tissue engineering.

[Characteristic analysis of the adsorption/desorption of nitrogen and phosphorus in the sediments of Taihu Lake].

The adsorption isotherms curves of 90 simples were studied in Taihu Lake through the experiment of adsorption/desorption. And the relation between the equilibrium concentrations, NAP, adsorption efficiency and corresponding parameter in interstitial water and sediment has been analyzed, in order to analyze the "source" and "collection" of Taihu. The results showed that the isotherms curves of nitrogen and phosphorus in the sediment had significant correlations in the range of the concentrations of experiment.

Detection of neuronal current MRI in human without BOLD contamination.

Controversial results regarding the detectability of neuronal current magnetic resonance imaging (ncMRI) have been reported in different studies on human subjects. In all the previous studies, the ncMRI signal was detected under a continuous and paradigm task-induced blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) signal background. The aim of this study is to investigate the possibility of detecting ncMRI signal in human brain in the situation that task-induced BOLD background is absent or minimum.

Preferential binding of a novel polyhistidine peptide dendrimer ligand on quantum dots probed by capillary electrophoresis.

Fluorescence detection coupled to capillary electrophoresis (CE-FL) effectively separates molecules in solution and at the same time allows monitoring of the fluorescence spectrum of each individual species. The integration of separation and fluorescence detection results in a powerful method superior to the ensemble in-cuvette fluorescence measurement, in probing the binding interaction between ligands and quantum dots (QDs) in complex solutions. Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) between fluorescent ligands and QDs could be readily detected by CE-FL, which together with the migration times of the fluorescent peaks provides an indication of the binding interaction between ligands and QDs.

Acetyl-L-carnitine ameliorates spatial memory deficits induced by inhibition of phosphoinositol-3 kinase and protein kinase C.

Glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) plays a crucial role in memory deficits and tau hyperphosphorylation as seen in Alzheimer's disease, the most common dementia in the aged population. We reported that ventricular co-injection of wortmannin and GF-109203X (WT/GFX) can induce tau hyperphosophorylation and memory impairment of rats through activation of GSK-3 [Liu S. J.

Synthesis and self-assembly of an amino-functionalized hybrid hydrocarbon/fluorocarbon double-chain phospholipid.

In this article, we designed and synthesized an amino-functionalized hybrid hydrocarbon/fluorocarbon double-chain phospholipid (ACFPC) containing one chain with the hydrophobic fluorocarbon chain and terminal amino, amide, and ether linkages and one chain with the hydrocarbon chain. The novel reactive phospholipid was fully characterized with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), and mass spectrometry (MS). Then the self-assembly behaviors of the hybrid double-chain phospholipid in aqueous and acidic media were investigated with transmission electron microscopy (TEM), the critical micelle concentration (cmc), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and the hydrocarbon double-chain phospholipid (ACCPC) for comparison.

[Association of miR-605 and miR-149 genetic polymorphisms with related risk factors of lung cancer susceptibility].

Objective: To explore association of miR-149 and miR-605 polymorphisms with other risk factors of lung cancer susceptibility among Chinese population.

Methods: Two hundred and forty-four patients with lung cancer and 243 cancer-free controls matched by age and sex were enrolled from 2002 to 2008. Peripheral venous blood samples were collected from all subjects.

[Association of CASP3 and CASP9 polymorphisms with genetic susceptibility to stomach cancer].

Objective: To investigate the association between the apoptosis genes CASP3(rs12108497) and CASP9 (rs4646018) polymorphisms and the risk of developing stomach cancer.

Methods: In this population-based case-controlstudy, 278 cases with stomach cancer and 278 age (± 5 years), gender, and residential area matched controls were recruited. The genotypes were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method.

New photocatalysts based on MIL-53 metal-organic frameworks for the decolorization of methylene blue dye.

The photocatalytic decolorization of methylene blue dye in aqueous solution using a novel photocatalyst MIL-53(Fe) metal-organic frameworks was investigated under UV-vis light and visible light irradiation. The effect of electron acceptor H(2)O(2), KBrO(3) and (NH(4))(2)S(2)O(8) addition on the photocatalytic performance of MIL-53(Fe) was also evaluated. The results show that MIL-53(Fe) photocatalyst exhibited photocatalytic activity for MB decolorization both under UV-vis light and visible light irradiation, and the MB decolorization over MIL-53(Fe) photocatalyst followed the first-order kinetics.

Modeling MR signal change induced by oxygen effect in neural tissue preparations of various geometries.

Tissue preparation has recently been utilized for detection of neuronal activation in multiple non-BOLD based functional MRI studies to eliminate vascular contamination. However, undesired signal change could still occur in such systems due to the concentration change of dissolved O(2) upon tissue activation. To estimate the impact of such effects, the O(2) concentration distribution and the consequent susceptibility field in tissue-solution systems were simulated with various tissue geometries and experimental parameters.

Learning genetic epistasis using Bayesian network scoring criteria.

Background: Gene-gene epistatic interactions likely play an important role in the genetic basis of many common diseases. Recently, machine-learning and data mining methods have been developed for learning epistatic relationships from data. A well-known combinatorial method that has been successfully applied for detecting epistasis is Multifactor Dimensionality Reduction (MDR).