Oleanolic acid improves the in vitro developmental competence of early porcine embryos by reducing oxidative stress and ameliorating mitochondrial function.

Objective: Oleanolic acid (OA) is a pentacyclic triterpenoid with antioxidant activity that can be an effective scavenger of free radicals in cells. This study was designed to investigate the effects of OA on porcine early embryo developmental competence in vitro and its possible mechanisms of action.

Methods: In the present study, parthenogenetically activated porcine embryos were used as models to assess the effect of OA on the in vitro developmental capacity of early porcine embryos in vitro.

Chlorogenic acid improves the development of porcine parthenogenetic embryos by regulating oxidative stress and ameliorating mitochondrial function.

Chlorogenic acid (CGA) is an effective phenolic antioxidant that can scavenge hydroxyl radicals and superoxide anions. Herein, the protective effects and mechanisms leading to CGA-induced porcine parthenogenetic activation (PA) in early-stage embryos were investigated. Our results showed that 50 μM CGA treatment during the in vitro culture (IVC) period significantly increased the cleavage and blastocyst formation rates and improved the blastocyst quality of porcine early-stage embryos derived from PAs.

[Short-term Effects of Different Grazing Intensities on Greenhouse Gas Fluxes in Semi-arid Grassland].

Grazing is one of the most important ways for managing grassland in northern China. Different studies have focused on the effects of grazing on the structure and function of ecosystems. Grazing affects the structure and function of soil via biological and physical processes, such as animal trampling, feeding, and excretion, which further affects NO emissions.

Sulforaphane Analogues with Heterocyclic Moieties: Syntheses and Inhibitory Activities against Cancer Cell Lines.

Recent studies have shown that sulforaphane (SFN) selectively inhibits the growth of ALDH⁺ breast cancer stem-like cells.Herein, a series of SFN analogues were synthesized and evaluated against breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and SUM-159, and the leukemia stem cell-like cell line KG-1a. These SFN analogues were characterized by the replacement of the methyl group with heterocyclic moieties, and the replacement of the sulfoxide group with sulfide or sulfone.

Synthesis and cytotoxicity of triterpenoids derived from betulin and betulinic acid via click chemistry.

In this study, a series of triazole substituted betulin and betulinic acid derivatives was designed and synthesized via click chemistry at C-30 position. Eighteen target compounds were evaluated in vitro for their antitumor activities against leukemia cell-line HL-60. Seventeen compounds have not reported before.

[UV/Visible spectroscopic study of the beta-diketonate zirconium active species for olefin polymerization].

The method of UV/Visible absorption spectroscopy for olefin catalytic system was introduced in this paper, whose testing condition was much closer to the polymerization conditions. The actions of olefin polymerization catalyst (dbm)2 ZrCl2 with cocatalyst AlEt2 Cl (or MAO) were investigated by UV/visible absorption spectroscopy at atmosphere temperature. It was shown that the UV/Visible main absorption band of the zirconocenium, which can be related to the ligand to metal charge transfer bands (LMCT), varies greatly upon incremental addition of AlEt2 Cl or MAO.

A novel mutation in GATA4 gene associated with dominant inherited familial atrial septal defect.

Objective: Atrial septal defect (ASD) is a common congenital heart disease (CHD). Although most cases are sporadic, familial cases have been reported. The transcription factors NKX2.