Müller cells are activated in response to retinal outer nuclear layer degeneration in rats subjected to simulated weightlessness conditions.

JOURNAL/nrgr/04.03/01300535-202507000-00032/figure1/v/2024-09-09T124005Z/r/image-tiff A microgravity environment has been shown to cause ocular damage and affect visual acuity, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Therefore, we established an animal model of weightlessness via tail suspension to examine the pathological changes and molecular mechanisms of retinal damage under microgravity.

Isolation and Cultivation of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells from the Mouse Circle of Willis.

Introduction: Culturing cerebrovascular smooth muscle cells (CVSMCs) in vitro can provide a model for studying many cerebrovascular diseases. This study describes a convenient and efficient method to obtain mouse CVSMCs by enzyme digestion.

Methods: Mouse circle of Willis was isolated, digested, and cultured with platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) to promote CVSMC growth, and CVSMCs were identified by morphology, immunofluorescence analysis, and flow cytometry.

Endothelial MICU1 alleviates diabetic cardiomyopathy by attenuating nitrative stress-mediated cardiac microvascular injury.

Background: Myocardial microvascular injury is the key event in early diabetic heart disease. The injury of myocardial microvascular endothelial cells (CMECs) is the main cause and trigger of myocardial microvascular disease. Mitochondrial calcium homeostasis plays an important role in maintaining the normal function, survival and death of endothelial cells.

Programing Cell Assembly via Ink-Free, Label-Free Magneto-Archimedes Based Strategy.

Tissue engineering raised a high requirement to control cell distribution in defined materials and structures. In "ink"-based bioprintings, such as 3D printing and photolithography, cells were associated with inks for spatial orientation; the conditions suitable for one ink are hard to apply on other inks, which increases the obstacle in their universalization. The Magneto-Archimedes effect based (Mag-Arch) strategy can modulate cell locomotion directly without impelling inks.

Transcriptomic analysis of the cerebral hippocampal tissue in spontaneously hypertensive rats exposed to acute hypobaric hypoxia: associations with inflammation and energy metabolism.

We evaluated the effect of acute hypobaric hypoxia (AHH) on the hippocampal region of the brain in early-stage spontaneously hypertensive male rats. The rats were classified into a control (ground level; ~ 400 m altitude) group and an AHH experimental group placed in an animal hypobaric chamber at a simulated altitude of 5500 m for 24 h. RNA-Seq analysis of the brains and hippocampi showed that differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were primarily associated with ossification, fibrillar collagen trimer, and platelet-derived growth factor binding.

Equilibrium and Vestibular Safety of Modafinil in Healthy Volunteers.

Modafinil, as a wake-promoting agent, is commonly used to relieve fatigue during military operations. However, there is a lack of clarity regarding the effects of modafinil on the equilibrium and vestibular organs, especially when prescribing this drug to flight crewmembers. The objective of this study was to evaluate the equilibrium- and vestibular-related safety effects of modafinil.

Icaritin promotes apoptosis and inhibits proliferation by down-regulating AFP gene expression in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Icaritin, an active ingredient of the Chinese herb Epimedium, plays an anti-tumor role in liver cancer by inhibiting the proliferation of hepatocellular cells and promoting their apoptosis. In China, phase II and a large phase III clinical trial of icaritin reagent for the treatment of hepatocellular cancer is under-going, but the specific mechanism of icaritin action was unclear. Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), an oncofetal protein, produced in the healthy fetal liver and yolk sac.

Comparison of heavy metal bioaccessibility between street dust and beach sediment: Particle size effect and environmental magnetism response.

Direct ingestion of urban sediment particles represents an important pathway of human exposure to heavy metals. The effect of particle sizes on metal bioaccessibilities in human digestive system has not been fully understood. In this study, an in-vitro simulation experiment (PBET), along with environmental magnetic measurements, is conducted on two urban sediments (street dusts and beach sediments) with different particle sizes (Φ31.

Acetylation of alpha-fetoprotein promotes hepatocellular carcinoma progression.

Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is a well-established biomarker for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Here, we investigated the acetylation state of AFP in vivo. AFP acetylation was regulated by the acetyltransferase CBP and the deacetylase SIRT1.

Protective effects of hydrogen gas in a rat model of branch retinal vein occlusion via decreasing VEGF-α expression.

Background: Oxidative stress (OS) is an essential factor in the pathogenesis of branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO). Studies have demonstrated the role of hydrogen gas in the regulation of OS. This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of hydrogen gas on the BRVO rat model.

MDM2 promotes genome instability by ubiquitinating the transcription factor HBP1.

Genome instability is a common feature of tumor cells, and the persistent presence of genome instability is a potential mechanism of tumorigenesis. The E3 ubiquitin ligase MDM2 is intimately involved in genome instability, but its mechanisms are unclear. Our data demonstrated that the transcription factor HBP1 is a target of MDM2.

A Natural Occurring Mouse Model with Adgrv1 Mutation of Usher Syndrome 2C and Characterization of its Recombinant Inbred Strains.

Background/aims: Our laboratory discovered a Kunming mouse with enormous electroretinogram (ERG) defects. Its auditory brainstem response (ABR) threshold was significantly elevated and closely resembled the features of Usher syndrome (USH). This study sought to cross these USH-like mice (named KMush/ush mice) with CBA/CaJ mice to establish recombinant inbred strains and identify their phenotypes and genotypes.

A positive feedback loop between Pim-1 kinase and HBP1 transcription factor contributes to hydrogen peroxide-induced premature senescence and apoptosis.

Oxidative stress can induce cell dysfunction and lead to a broad range of degenerative alterations, including carcinogenesis, aging, and other oxidative stress-related conditions. To avoid undergoing carcinogenesis in response to oxidative stress, cells trigger a succession of checkpoint responses, including premature senescence and apoptosis. Increasing evidence indicates that HO, an important cause of oxidative stress, functions as an important physiological regulator of intracellular signaling pathways that participate in regulation of cell premature senescence and apoptosis.

Protective effects of hydrogen-rich saline against N-methyl-N-nitrosourea-induced photoreceptor degeneration.

The N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU)-treated rat is typically used as an animal model of chemically-induced retinitis pigmentosa (RP). Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been recognized as the crucial contributor to the retinal photoreceptor apoptosis seen in MNU-treated rats. In the present study, we explored the therapeutic effects of hydrogen-rich saline (HRS), a selective ROS scavenger, on MNU-induced photoreceptor degeneration.

The Time Course of Deafness and Retinal Degeneration in a Kunming Mouse Model for Usher Syndrome.

Usher syndrome is a group of autosomal recessive diseases characterized by congenital deafness and retinitis pigmentosa. In a mouse model for Usher syndrome, KMush/ush, discovered in our laboratory, we measured the phenotypes, characterized the architecture and morphology of the retina, and quantified the level of expression of pde6b and ush2a between postnatal (P) days 7, and 56. Electroretinograms and auditory brainstem response were used to measure visual and auditory phenotypes.

HBP1-mediated Regulation of p21 Protein through the Mdm2/p53 and TCF4/EZH2 Pathways and Its Impact on Cell Senescence and Tumorigenesis.

The activity of the CDK inhibitor p21 is associated with diverse biological activities, including cell proliferation, senescence, and tumorigenesis. However, the mechanisms governing transcription of p21 need to be extensively studied. In this study, we demonstrate that the high-mobility group box-containing protein 1 (HBP1) transcription factor is a novel activator of p21 that works as part of a complex mechanism during senescence and tumorigenesis.

Scalable Fabrication of Polydopamine Nanotubes Based on Curcumin Crystals.

Herein we for the first time demonstrated a scalable and simple fabrication of polydopamine nanotubes by using curcumin crystal as templates. BET surface area of obtained polydopamine nanotubes is 51.9 m/g.

Interfacial Interaction in Anodic Aluminum Oxide Templates Modifies Morphology, Surface Area, and Crystallization of Polyamide-6 Nanofibers.

Here, we demonstrated that, when the precipitation process of polyamide-6 (PA6) solution happens in cylindrical channels of an anodized aluminum oxide membrane (AAO), interface interactions between a solid surface, solvent, non-solvent, and PA6 will influence the obtained polymer nanostructures, resulting in complex morphologies, increased surface area, and crystallization changes. With the enhancing interaction of PA6 and the AAO surface, the morphology of PA6 nanostructures changes from solid nanofibers, mesoporous, to bamboo-like, while at the same time, metastable γ-phase domains increase in these PA6 nanostructures. Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface areas of solid, bamboo-like, and mesoporous PA6 nanofibers rise from 16, 20.

Trace metal contamination in surface sediments of intertidal zone from Qinhuangdao, China, revealed by geochemical and magnetic approaches: Distribution, sources, and health risk assessment.

Based on geochemical and magnetic approaches, the distribution, sources, and health risk of trace metals in surface sediments from a seashore tourist city were investigated. A significant correlation was found between magnetic susceptibility (χ) and trace metals, which suggested that levels of trace metals in the sediments can be effectively depicted by the magnetic approach. The spatial distribution of χ and trace metals matched well with the city layout with relatively higher values being found in the port and busy tourist areas.

Structures and spectroscopic characterization of calcium chloride-nicotinamide, -isonicotinamide, -picolinamide and praseodymium bromide-nicotinamide complexes.

The coordination structures formed by calcium complexes with nicotinamide (na), isonicotinamide (ina) and picolinamide (pa) and praseodymium bromide-na are reported. The structures of CaCl2·(C6H6N2O)2·2H2O (Ca-na), CaCl2·(C6H6N2O)2·4H2O (Ca-ina), CaCl2·(C6H6N2O)2·5H2O (Ca-pa) and PrBr3·(C6H6N2O)2·6H2O (PrBr-na) in the solid state have been characterized by X-ray single crystal diffraction, FTIR, FIR, THz and Raman spectroscopies. Carbonyl oxygen of nicotinamide is coordinated to Ca(2+), but it is O-monodentate (carbonyl oxygen) and N,O-bidentate ligand (pyridyl nitrogen and carbonyl oxygen) for Pr(3+) to form a chain structure in PrBr-na.

The comparison of sensitivity of motion sickness between retinal degeneration fast mice and normal mice.

Recent studies report that a conflict between information from the visual system and vestibular system is one of the main reasons for induction of motion sickness (MS). We may be able to clarify the integration mechanism of visual and vestibular information using an animal model with a visual defect, the retinal degeneration fast (rdf) mouse, and the role of vestibular information in the pathogenesis of MS. The rdf mice and wild-type Kunming mice were subjected to rotary stimulation to induce MS.

Sugar-metal ion interactions: the complicated coordination structures of cesium ion with D-ribose and myo-inositol.

The novel cesium chloride-D-ribose complex (CsCl·C5H10O5; Cs-R) and cesium chloride-myo-inositol complex (CsCl·C6H12O6; Cs-I) have been synthesized and characterized using X-ray diffraction and FTIR, FIR, THz, and Raman spectroscopy. Cs(+) is eight-coordinated to three chloride ions, O1 and O2 from one D-ribose molecule, O1 from another D-ribose molecule, and O4 and O5 from the third D-ribose molecule in Cs-R. For one D-ribose molecule, the oxygen atom O1 in the ring is coordinated to two cesium ions as an oxygen bridge, O2 is cocoordinated with O1 to one of the two cesium ions, and O4 and O5 are coordinated to the third cesium ion, respectively.

The expression of calcitonin gene-related Peptide and acetylcholine in the vestibular-related nucleus population of wild-type mice and retinal degeneration fast mice after rotary stimulation.

Due to the lack of an appropriate animal model, few studies have addressed the integration of visual and vestibular information in the visual system. Using a mouse model with a visual defect (retinal degeneration fast, rdf), we have verified that the prepositus hypoglossal nucleus (PrH) and the Kooy cap of the inferior olive medial nucleus (IOK) are key regions in which visual and vestibular information integrate. Although the integration regions were identified, the precise mechanisms of integration require further investigation.

(Butane-1,2,3,4-tetraol-κ(3) O (1),O (2),O (3))(ethanol-κO)tris-(nitrato-κ(2) O,O')erbium(III).

In the title Er(III)-erythritol complex, [Er(NO3)3(C2H5OH)(C4H10O4)], the Er(III) cation is chelated by one erythritol mol-ecule, three nitrate anions and an ethanol mol-ecule, completing an irregular ErO10 coordination geometry. The Er-O bond lengths are in the range 2.348 (3)-2.

[(2R,3S)-Butane-1,2,3,4-tetraol-κ(3) O (1),O (2),O (3)](ethanol-κO)tris-(nitrato-κ(2) O,O')samarium(III).

The title Sm(III)-erythritol complex, [Sm(NO3)3(C2H6O)(C4H10O4)], is isotypic with its Nd, Eu, Y, Gd, Tb and Ho analogues. The Sm(III) cation exhibits a coordination number of ten and is chelated by a tridentate erythritol ligand and three bidentate nitrate anions. It is additionally coordinated by an O atom of an ethanol mol-ecule, completing an irregular coordination sphere.