Wnt5a deficiency in osteocalcin-expressing cells could not alleviate the osteoarthritic phenotype in a mouse model of post-traumatic osteoarthritis.

Objectives: Wnt5a, which regulates the activities of osteoblasts and osteoclasts, is reportedly overexpressed in osteoarthritis (OA) tissues. The purpose of this study was to elucidate its role in the development of OA by deleting Wnt5a in osteocalcin (OCN)-expressing cells.

Materials And Methods: Knee OA was induced by anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT) in knockout (Wnt5a-cKO) mice and control littermates.

[Overview of research and development of polypeptide drugs and traditional Chinese medicine-peptides].

Peptide is a compound consisting of 2-50 amino acids, which is intermediate between small molecule and protein. It is characterized by a variety of biological activities, easy absorption, strong specific targeting, and few side effects and has become one of the hotspots in biomedical research in recent years. Chinese medicine contains a large number of peptides.

[Effects of Side-effect Attenuation Prescriptions on Cyclophosphamide-induced Myelosuppression in Mice].

Objective: To determine the effects of Side-effect Attenuation Prescriptions on the levels of white blood cells (WBC), hemoglobin (HGB) and platelet (PLT) in peripheral blood of mice influenced by cyclophosphamide (CTX).

Methods: Mice were randomly divided into 6 groups: normal control group, myelosuppression group induced by CTX (model group), recombinant human granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) group, and Side-effect Attenuation Prescriptions group (experimental groups with high, middle, and low dosages). Marrow depressed models were established by injecting CTX intraperitoneally (40 mg/kg, once/d, 10 d) to the mice.

Polydatin protects learning and memory impairments in a rat model of vascular dementia.

Polydatin is one of the most common encountered stilbenes of nature and a key component of the Chinese herb Polygonum cuspidatum. This study is to investigate the effects of polydatin on learning and memory impairments induced by chronic cerebral hypoperfusion in rats, as well as the potential mechanism. Both common carotid arteries and both vertebral arteries occlusion (four-vessel occlusion, 4-VO) induced severe cognitive deficits tested by water maze task, along with oxidative stress in hippocampus.

Oxidative stress and peripheral skeletal muscle dysfunction in rats with emphysema.

Background: Peripheral skeletal muscle dysfunction in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may be due to the disease per se or as a result of concomitant confounding factors. Although the mechanistic basis for this functional impairment is uncertain, oxidative stress may play a role. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether local oxidative stress is associated with the reduced peripheral skeletal muscle performance in rats with emphysema.

[Ion channel mechanism of regulatory volume decrease in human epithelial cells].

Aim: To observe the regulatory volume decrease (RVD) process of human intestine cells and investigate its ion channel mechanism.

Methods: Cultured human intestine cells were exposed to hypotonic solution and the cell volume was measured using Coulter Counter System. RT-PCR was explored to detect the mRNA expression of Ca(2+) -activated K+ channel.

Using oligonucleotide suspension arrays for laboratory identification of bacteria responsible for bacteremia.

The aim of this study was to develop and validate an oligonucleotide suspension array for rapid identification of 15 bacterial species responsible for bacteremia, particularly prevalent in Chinese hospitals. The multiplexed array, based on the QIAGEN LiquiChip Workstation, included 15 oligonucleotide probes which were covalently bound to different bead sets. PCR amplicons of a variable region of the bacterial 23S rRNA genes were hybridized to the bead-bound probes.

[Identification of closely related bacteria via phylogenetic methods].

Objective: To differentiate closely related pathogenic bacteria via phylogenetic method on the basis of gyrB gene sequences.

Methods: GyrB sequences of 19 strains of E.coli, 13 Shigella spp.

Effects of arsenic on seed germination and physiological activities of wheat seedlings.

The effects of arsenic (As) were investigated on seed germination, root and shoot length and their biomass and some other factors to elucidate the toxicity of As. The results showed low concentrations of As (0-1 mg/kg) stimulated seed germination and the growth of root and shoot, however, these factors all decreased gradually at high concentrations of As (5-20 mg/kg). The contents of O2*-, MDA, soluble protein and peroxidase (POD) activity all increased with increasing As concentrations.

[Study on the fluorescence characteristics of the interaction between DNA and two halogenated fluoresceins].

The fluorescence characteristics of the interaction between DNA and two halogen fluoresceins, tetrabromofluorescein (TBF) and tetrachlorotetrabromofluorescein (TTF), were studied. The result showed that for TBF, lamda ex/ lamda em were 518 nm/540 nm, and for TTF, they were 540 nm/560 nm. The intensity of fluorescence of TBF and TTF changed in the presence of DNA.

[Classification and identification of vibrio cholerae and vibrio parahaemolyticus isolates based on gyrB gene phylogenetic analysis].

In order to validate the usefulness of gyrB genotype for the classification and identification of Vibrio cholerae and Vibrio parahaemolyticus isolates, the phylogenetic analysis of 13 V. cholerae, 8 V. parahaemolyticus, 2 Aeromonas hydrophila and 1 Plesiomonas shigelloides strains was carried out using the partial coding sequence of gyrB, a gene that encodes the B subunit of DNA gyrase (topoisomerase type II ) in bacteria.

[Inhibition of HBV core antigen gene expression in human embryonic kidney cell line AD293 by plasmid-based RNAi].

Objective: To inhibit HBV core antigen gene expression with plasmid-based RNAi.

Methods: The shRNA expression vector targeting HBV core antigen gene was designed and constructed. Human embryonic kidney cell line AD293 was co-transfected with HBcAg-EGFP fusion protein expression vector and shRNA expression vector transiently, and the cells without shRNA-transfection and with non-specific shRNA transfection were used as controls.