Applications and prospects of cryo-EM in drug discovery.

Drug discovery is a crucial part of human healthcare and has dramatically benefited human lifespan and life quality in recent centuries, however, it is usually time- and effort-consuming. Structural biology has been demonstrated as a powerful tool to accelerate drug development. Among different techniques, cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) is emerging as the mainstream of structure determination of biomacromolecules in the past decade and has received increasing attention from the pharmaceutical industry.

Subchronic Oral Toxicity Evaluation of Sodium Dehydroacetate: A 90-day Repeated Dose Study in Rats.

Objective: The present study was undertaken to evaluate the subchronic oral toxicity of sodium dehydroacetate (DHA-Na) and to determine the point of departure (POD), which is a critical factor in the establishment of an acceptable dietary intake.

Methods: DHA-Na was administered once daily by gavage to Sprague-Dawley rats at dose levels of 0.0, 31.

Large cystic-solid pulmonary hamartoma: A case report.

Background: It now seems that all pulmonary hamartomas (PHs) are large cystic-solid lesions that are difficult to diagnose. However, few cases of large cystic-solid PHs have been reported. The present case report presents a large cystic-solid PH and provides a literature review of the imaging features, formation mechanism and histopathological basis of PHs.

Lipid Accumulation and IL-6 Production in L02 Hepatocytes Induced by Sodium Oleate: Dose and Time Dependence.

To explore interleukin-6 (IL-6) production and characterize lipid accumulation in L02 hepatocytes induced by sodium oleate. L02 hepatocytes were incubated with 0, 37.5, 75, 150, 300, 600, or 1,200 μmol/L sodium oleate for 24 h, and the supernatant was collected to detect the concentration of IL-6.

Subchronic toxicity of cerium nitrate by 90-day oral exposure in wistar rats.

This study evaluated the subchronic toxicity of cerium nitrate and determined the no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) in Wistar rats. In accordance with the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development guidelines, cerium nitrate was orally administered to Wistar rats by gavage at 0, 0.2, 75, 150, and 300 mg/kg bw/day for 90 days, followed by 28 days of recovery period in the 300 mg/kg bw/day and the control groups.

Radiologic features of Castleman's disease involving the renal sinus: A case report and review of the literature.

Background: We present a rare case of plasma cell type of Castleman's disease (CD) involving only the right renal sinus in a 65-year-old woman with a duplex collecting system (DCS).

Case Summary: The patient presented with a right renal sinus lesion after renal ultrasonography. Subsequent abdominal enhanced computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the kidneys showed DCS and a soft tissue mass with mild enhancement at the lower right renal sinus.

Evaluation of behavioral profiles in mice fed with milk supplemented diets derived from human lactoferrin gene-modified cows.

To date, many safety assessments of genetically modified (GM) food have been done, but there was still considerable skepticism about the safety of genetic modified foods because no study could be designed to discover all of the potential effects. Since behavioral endpoints could provide one of the most sensitive strategies to reveal subtle functional deficits. In the present study, behavioral profiles in mice fed with milk derived from human lactoferrin gene-modified cows were investigated to enrich the toxicological data of GM food.

Subchronic Oral Toxicity Evaluation of Lanthanum: A 90-day, Repeated Dose Study in Rats.

Objective: The present study was undertaken to evaluate the subchronic toxicity of lanthanum and to determine the no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL), which is a critical factor in the establishment of an acceptable dietary intake (ADI).

Methods: In accordance with the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) testing guidelines, lanthanum nitrate was administered once daily by gavage to Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats at dose levels of 0, 1.5, 6.

Subchronic Oral Toxicity of Silica Nanoparticles and Silica Microparticles in Rats.

Objective: To investigate the subchronic oral toxicity of silica nanoparticles (NPs) and silica microparticles (MPs) in rats and to compare the difference in toxicity between two particle sizes.

Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into seven groups: the control group; the silica NPs low-, middle-, and high-dose groups; and the silica MPs low-, middle-, and high-dose groups [166.7, 500, and 1,500 mg/(kg•bw•day)].

Subchronic toxicity study of yttrium nitrate by 90-day repeated oral exposure in rats.

Concerns regarding the adverse effects of long-term exposure to low levels of rare earth elements (REEs) from foods on human health have arisen in recent years. Nevertheless, no official acceptable daily intake (ADI) has yet been proposed for either total REEs or individual REE. In accordance with the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) testing guideline, the present study was undertaken to evaluate the subchronic toxicity of yttrium, a representative heavy REE with higher contaminated level in foods in China, to achieve a no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) which is a critical basis for the establishment of an ADI.

Effects of Parental Dietary Exposure to GM Rice TT51 on the Male Reproductive System of Rat Offspring.

Objective: To evaluate the health effects of parental dietary exposure to GM rice TT51 on the male reproductive system of rat off spring.

Methods: Rice-based diets, containing 60% ordinary grocery rice, MingHui63, or TT51 by weight, were given to parental rats (15 males/30 females each group) for 70 days prior mating and throughout pregnancy and lactation. After weaning, eight male offspring rats were randomly selected at each group and fed with diets correspondent to their parents' for 70 days.

Neurobehavioral Assessment of Rats Exposed to Yttrium Nitrate during Development.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the effects of yttrium nitrate on neurobehavioral development in Sprague-Dawley rats.

Methods: Dams were orally exposed to 0, 5, 15, or 45 mg/kg daily of yttrium nitrate from gestation day (GD) 6 to postnatal day (PND) 21. Body weight and food consumption were monitored weekly.

Endocrine disruption of cadmium in rats using the OECD enhanced TG 407 test system.

Objective: To evaluate the endocrine disrupting effects of cadmium (Cd) using OECD enhanced TG407 test guideline.

Methods: Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into six groups and accordingly administered with 0, 1, 2.5, 5, 10, 20 mg/kg•BW/day of Cd by gavage for 28 days.

Immunotoxicity of acrylamide in female BALB/c mice.

Objective: To investigate the immunotoxicity of acrylamide (ACR) in female BALB/c mice.

Methods: A total of 200 female mice weighing 18-22 g were randomly divided into four clusters based on body weight, and each weight-based cluster included five groups (10 mice per group): negative control, positive control (cyclophosphamide), low, intermediate, and high dose ACR groups, and all the groups were administered ACR by gavage for 30 days. At the end of the study, the immunotoxicological effects of the ACR were evaluated through immunopathology, humoral immunity, cellular immunity, and non-specific immunity.

Effects of application of corn straw on soil microbial community structure during the maize growing season.

This study investigated the influence of corn straw application on soil microbial communities and the relationship between such communities and soil properties in black soil. The crop used in this study was maize (Zea mays L.).

A two-generation reproduction study with transgenic Bt rice TT51 in Wistar rats.

TT51 is a transgenic Bt rice created by fusion a synthetic CryAb/CryAc gene into rice MingHui63. A significant number of animal feeding studies with transgenic crops have been carried out with the rapid development of transgenic crops. However, the evidence is far from identifying whether certain novel transgenic crops possess potential danger for human or animal health after long-term consumption.

Immunotoxicological evaluation of wheat genetically modified with TaDREB4 gene on BALB/c mice.

Objective: To evaluate the immunotoxicological effects of genetically modified wheat with TaDREB4 gene in female BALB/c mice.

Methods: Female mice weighing 18-22 g were divided into five groups (10 mice/group), which were set as negative control group, common wheat group, parental wheat group, genetically modified wheat group and cyclophosphamide positive control group, respectively. Mice in negative control group and positive control group were fed with AIN93G diet, mice in common wheat group, non-genetically modified parental wheat group and genetically modified wheat group were fed with feedstuffs added corresponding wheat (the proportion is 76%) for 30 days, then body weight, absolute and relative weight of spleen and thymus, white blood cell count, histological examination of immune organ, peripheral blood lymphocytes phenotyping, serum cytokine, serum immunoglobulin, antibody plaque-forming cell, serum half hemolysis value, mitogen-induced splenocyte proliferation, delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction and phagocytic activities of phagocytes were detected.

Combined subchronic toxicity of bisphenol A and dibutyl phthalate on male rats.

Objective: To evaluate the combined subchronic toxicity of bisphenol A (BPA) and dibutyl phthalate (DBP) in male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats.

Methods: Forty 4-week-old male rats weighing 115-125 g were randomly divided into BPA-treated, DBP-treated group, BPA+DBP-treated and control groups and fed with a soy- and alfalfa-free diet containing 285.4 ppm BPA, 285.

[Immunotoxicologic assessment of genetically modified drought-resistant wheat T349 with GmDREB1].

Objective: To assess the immunotoxicologic effects of genetically modified drought resistant wheat T349 with GmDREB1 gene.

Methods: A total of 250 female BALB/c mice (6-8 week-old, weight 18-22 g) were divided into five large groups (50 mice for each large group) by body weight randomly. In each large group, the mice were divided into five groups (10 mice for each group) by body weight randomly, which were set as negative control group, common wheat group, parental wheat group, genetically modified wheat group and cyclophosphamide positive control group, respectively.

Subchronic toxicity study of GH transgenic carp.

A subchronic toxicity study of GH (growth hormone) transgenic carp was carried out with 60 SD rats aged 4 weeks, weight 115∼125 g. Ten male and 10 female rats were allotted into each group. Animals of the three groups (transgenic carp group (GH-TC), parental carp group (PC) and control group) were fed soy- and alfalfa-free diet (SAFD) with 10% GH transgenic carp powder, 10% parental carp powder or 10% common carp powder for 90 consecutive days, respectively.

An assessment of androgenic/anti-androgenic effects of GH transgenic carp by Hershberger assay.

Objective: To evaluate the androgenic and anti-androgenic effects of GH (growth hormone) transgenic carp in male rats.

Methods: Hershberger assay was carried out in castrated male SD rats aged 4-5 weeks. Testosterone propionate (TP) (0.

Evaluation of the in vitro and in vivo genotoxicity of almond skins.

Objective: It aims to study potential genotoxicity of almond skins.

Methods: A bacterial reverse mutation assay was performed on S. typhimurium strains TA97, TA98, TA100, TA102, and TA1535 in the absence or presence of S-9 mixture at a dose range of 312.

Subchronic toxicity study on soy isoflavones in rats.

Objective: To investigate the subchronic toxicity of soy isoflavones (SIF) in male rats.

Method: Fifty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 5 groups, 10 rats per group. SIF were given to rats in different groups by gavage at dose of 0, 0.

Assessment on dietary melamine exposure from tainted infant formula.

Objective: To estimate the dietary melamine exposure in Chinese infants and young children from the consumption of melamine adulterated Sanlu infant formula.

Methods: Four age groups of infants and young children (3, 6, 12, and 24 months) were chosen as the assessed subjects and the maximum amount of infant formula consumption was estimated based on the recommended usage level in the package insert of Sanlu infant formula and other brands. Melamine was analyzed in 111 Sanlu infant formula samples collected from the markets in Beijing and Gansu province using the LC-MS-MS with a limit of quantification of 0.