Saikosaponin a and its epimer saikosaponin d exhibit anti-inflammatory activity by suppressing activation of NF-κB signaling pathway.

Saikosaponin a (SSa) and its epimer saikosaponin d (SSd) are major triterpenoid saponin derivatives from Radix bupleuri (RB), which has been long used in Chinese traditional medicine for treatment of various inflammation-related diseases. In the present study, the anti-inflammatory activity, as well as the underlying mechanism, of SSa and SSd was investigated in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 cells.

[Preparation of curcumin solid dispersion and inclusion complex].

Objective: To prepare the curcumin solid dispersion and the curcumin inclusion complex, evaluate its stability and the transdermal properties.

Methods: The samples were prepared with hydrophilic, or water-soluble polymers, by solvent and solvent-melting methods. The optical microscope and the melting point were used to identify the state of the drug existence in it, and UV-Vis spectrophotometer was used to determine the solubility and content of different samples.

Exposure to supernatants of macrophages that phagocytized dead mesenchymal stem cells improves hypoxic cardiomyocytes survival.

Objective: To observe the impact of supernatants from macrophages that phagocytized dead MSCs (pMΦ) on the survival of hypoxic cardiomyocytes.

Methods: MSCs were isolated from bone marrow of mice and dead MSCs were harvested after 6h hypoxia. Macrophages were obtained from thioglycolate-elicited peritoneal cavity.

[Parkinson's disease combined with overactive bladder syndrome treated with acupuncture and medication].

Objective: To evaluate the therapeutic effect of Parkinson's disease combined with overactive bladder syndrome (GAB) treated with combined therapy of oral administration of Tolterodine with low dose and electroacuponcture.

Methods: Sixty cases of Parkinson's disease combined with GAB were randomly divided into a combined acupuncture and medication group (group A) and a medication group (group B), 30 cases in each group. In both groups, Madopar basic doses were same, and anticholinergic agents such as Artane were stopped.

Conversion of spent mushroom substrate to biofertilizer using a stress-tolerant phosphate-solubilizing Pichia farinose FL7.

To develop high-efficient biofertilizer, an environmental stress-tolerant phosphate-solubilizing microorganism (PSM) was isolated from agricultural wastes compost, and then applied to spent mushroom substrate (SMS). The isolate FL7 was identified as Pichia farinose with resistance against multiple environmental stresses, including 5-45°C temperature, 3-10 pH range, 0-23% (w/v) NaCl and 0-6M ammonium ion. Under the optimized cultivation condition, 852.

Identification and characterization of broadly cross-reactive neutralizing antibodies in patients infected with HIV-1 B'/C recombinant (CRF07_BC).

The identification of broadly cross-reactive neutralizing (BCN) antibodies is essential for the development of a more universally effective vaccine for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). In this study, CRF07_BC serum was analyzed for cross-clade antibody reactivity and neutralization. A total of 117 HIV-1 sera (CRF07_BC) were screened for their capacity to neutralize three primary HIV-1 isolates.

Value of fused positron emission tomography CT in detecting primaries in patients with primary unknown cervical lymph node metastasis.

Objective: Identification of the primary tumour can prolong the life expectancy of patients with primary unknown cervical lymph node metastasis (PUCLNM) through targeted therapy. This study investigated the value of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG PET-CT) at identifying primaries in patients with PUCLNM.

Methods: Twenty-seven patients (21 males and 6 females, median age 48.

[Expression of E-cadherin, p120catenin and 34βE12 in invasive lobular carcinoma of breast and their roles in diagnosis].

Objective: To investigate expressions of E-cadherin (E-cad), p120catenin (p120), 34βE12 in invasive lobular carcinomas of the breast and their roles of diagnoses.

Methods: The 81 cases of ILC, including 67 cases of pure type and 14 cases of ductal-lobular mixed type, which had been diagnosed in our department were collected and immunohistochemistry of E-cad, p120 and 34βE12 were performed. All the cases were diagnosed again according to morphology and immunophenotypes (MaxVision method), and difference of diagnoses and expressions of the three indexes were analysed.

[microRNA expression in childhood acute granulocytic leukemia and its subtypes].

Objective: Recent studies have suggested that there is a close relation between microRNA and acute leukemia (AL). The aim of this study was to investigate and better understand the classification and diagnosis of AL as well as pathogenesis and prognosis of this disease.

Methods: A total of 93 children with AL and and 12 cases of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (as control group) were enrolled in this study.

Clonidine improved laboratory-measured decision-making performance in abstinent heroin addicts.

Background: Impulsivity refers to a wide spectrum of actions characterized by quick and nonplanned reactions to external and internal stimuli, without taking into account the possible negative consequences for the individual or others, and decision-making is one of the biologically dissociated impulsive behaviors. Changes in impulsivity may be associated with norepinephrine. Various populations of drug addicts all performed impulsive decision making, which is a key risk factor in drug dependence and relapse.

Drug-related cues exacerbate decision making and increase craving in heroin addicts at different abstinence times.

Rationale: Relapse is a persistent problem in the management of addiction. Drug-related cues are powerful instigators of relapse. Impulsive decision making may contribute to relapse through a poorly considered assessment of the consequences of drug use.

Association of variations of NAb 2F5 and 4E10 epitopes and disease progression in Chinese antiretroviral treatment-naïve patients infected with HIV-1 clade B'.

Background: Studies on human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) vaccines have recently focused on targeting the conserved neutralizing epitopes 2F5 and 4E10, and hence it is important to understand the extent of mutations in these two viral epitopes. Here, we investigated the amino acid mutations in epitopes of 2F5 (ELDKWA, HIV-1 HXB2 env 662 - 667 aa) and 4E10 (NWFDIT, HIV-1 HXB2 env 671 - 676 aa) in the membrane proximal-external region of gp41 from clade B' HIV-1-infected individuals living in Henan province, China. We also examined the frequency of a mutation and its relation to disease progression.

Effect of mesoporous TiO₂ bead diameter in working electrodes on the efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells.

Mesoporous TiO₂ beads with diameters of 320±50, 550±50, and 830±40 nm, comprising interconnected and densely packed TiO₂ nanocrystals, were used as working electrodes for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs). These electrodes possess high surface areas and superior light-scattering properties, which are ideal for DSC applications. Although the electrode prepared by using 320±50 nm beads demonstrated the highest dye loading and the electrode prepared by using 550±50 nm beads showed the best light-scattering properties in the wavelength region λ=400-800 nm, DSC devices with working electrodes composed of 830±40 nm beads achieved the highest power conversion efficiencies of 9.

[Genetic characterization of poliovirus isolates from environmental sewage surveillance in Shandong, 2010].

To investigate the genetic characteristics of poliovirus isolates from environmental sewage surveillance in Shandong province, we collected sewage samples in Jinan and Linyi City. Serotyping and VP1/ 3D sequencing were performed on polioviruses isolated from the concentrated sewage samples, and VP1 mutation and recombination were analyzed. Thirty-two of sewage samples were collected, and polioviruses were detected in 10 of the samples with a positive rate of 31.

Flavone C-glycosides from the leaves of Lophatherum gracile and their in vitro antiviral activity.

Four new flavone C-glycosides, luteolin 6-C-α-L-arabinopyranosyl-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, apigenin 6-C-β-D-galactopyranosiduronic acid (1 → 2)-α-L-arabinopyranoside, luteolin 6-C-β-D-galactopyranosiduronic acid (1 → 2)-α-L-arabinopyranoside, and luteolin 6-C-β-D-glucopyranosiduronic acid (1 → 2)-α-L-arabinofuranoside, along with three known ones, were isolated from the leaves of Lophatherum gracile. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic methods as well as acid hydrolysis. All the flavone glycosides isolated from this plant were screened for their in vitro antiviral activity against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) with cytopathic effect (CPE) reduction assay, and several flavone 6-C-monoglycosides showed potent in vitro anti-RSV effect.

Strong anodic near-infrared electrochemiluminescence from CdTe quantum dots at low oxidation potentials.

Anodic near-infrared electrochemiluminescence (ECL) from CdTe quantum dots was achieved at low potential on a glass carbon electrode and a strategy for greatly enhanced band-gap ECL was presented.

Activation of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 ameliorates postischemic renal injury via inducible nitric oxide synthase.

Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) could ameliorate renal ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI), but the underlying mechanism remains elusive. In the current study, we aim to investigate the possible role of prolyl hydroxylases inhibitor dimethyloxalylglycine (DMOG) in inducing delayed preconditioning-like effects against IRI. Mice were divided into four groups (n = 6): sham group; IRI group; DMOG group: pretreated with DMOG 24 h before IRI; and GW274150 + DMOG group: pretreated with DMOG followed by iNOS inhibitor GW274150 treatment 24 h before IRI.

Impact of myocardial perfusion imaging on in-hospital coronary angiography and revascularization of patients with suspected coronary artery disease.

Background: Noninvasive cardiac imaging is now central to the diagnosis and management of patients with moderate probability for coronary artery disease. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of stress myocardial perfusion single photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT) on in-hospital coronary angiography and revascularization for such patients.

Methods: Between January 2005 and June 2007, 1053 consecutive in-hospital patients (423 women, the average age of (57.

Efficiently tracking of stem cells in vivo using different kinds of superparamagnetic iron oxide in swine with myocardial infarction.

Background: Superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) particles have shown much promise as a means to visualize labeled cells using molecular magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Micrometer-sized superparamagnetic iron oxide (MPIO) particles and nanometer-sized ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide (USPIO) are two kinds of SPIO widely used for monitoring stem cells migration. Here we compare the efficiency of two kinds of SPIO during the use of stem cells to treat acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Enhanced open-circuit voltage of p-type DSC with highly crystalline NiO nanoparticles.

Highly crystalline NiO nanoparticles synthesized through a facile thermolysis route were used as photocathode materials in p-type dye-sensitized solar cells resulting in open-circuit voltages exceeding 300 mV with an iodide/triiodide mediator.

Effects of stress on decision-making deficits in formerly heroin-dependent patients after different durations of abstinence.

Objective: Drug abuse is associated with substantial impairments in decision making. However, little is known about the time course of changes in decision-making ability after abstinence or about the effects of stress on decision making in individuals recovering from heroin dependence after different durations of abstinence.

Method: First, the authors assessed decision-making performance with the original card version of the Iowa Gambling Task in formerly heroin-dependent patients who had been abstinent for 3, 7, 15, or 30 days or 3, 6, 12, or 24 months.

Effects of heme oxygenase-1 gene modulated mesenchymal stem cells on vasculogenesis in ischemic swine hearts.

Background: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) transplantation may partially restore heart function in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The aim of this study was to explore the beneficial effects of MSCs modified with heme xygenase-1 (HO-1) on post-infarct swine hearts to determine whether the induction of therapeutic angiogenesis is modified by the angiogenic cytokines released from the implanted cells.

Methods: In vitro, MSCs were divided into four groups: (1) non-transfected MSCs (MSCs group), (2) MSCs transfected with the pcDNA3.

Expression patterns of prion protein gene in differential genotypes sheep: quantification using molecular beacon real-time RT-PCR.

Determination of the transcription level of cellular prion protein (PrP(C)) is essential for understanding its role in organisms and revealing mechanism of susceptibility and resistance to scrapie. However, the expression of prion protein (PrP) mRNA in sheep has not been quantified in great detail in digestive tract which is important during scrapie spread through oral route. Herein, we report on measurement of sheep PrP mRNA using absolute quantitative real-time RT-PCR.

Five Chinese pediatric patients with leukemias possibly arising from immature natural killer cells: clinical features and courses.

Leukemias arising from immature nature killer (NK) cells have been proposed as distinct entities and are rare. Treatment and prognosis of these diseases are controversial, and data on children are limited. According to the literature, one of these distinct leukemias may be myeloid/NK cell precursor acute leukemia (MNKPL), with the blasts being cytochemically myeloperoxidase negative (MPO(-)) and phenotypically CD56(+)CD3(-)CD7(+)CD34(+) and myeloid antigens(+).