Theophylline derivatives promote primordial follicle activation via cAMP-PI3K/Akt pathway and ameliorate fertility deficits in naturally aged mice.

In elderly women and patients with premature ovarian insufficiency (POI), activating their remaining dormant primordial follicles is challenging. In this study, we found that phosphodiesterase (PDE) subtypes were expressed mainly in primordial follicle oocytes. The specific PDE inhibitors and theophylline derivatives (aminophylline, dyphylline, and enprofylline) activated primordial follicles in neonatal mice by ovary culture and intraperitoneal injection.

DCAF2 regulates the proliferation and differentiation of mouse progenitor spermatogonia by targeting p21 and thymine DNA glycosylase.

DDB1-Cullin-4-associated factor-2 (DCAF2, also known as DTL or CDT2), a conserved substrate recognition protein of Cullin-RING E3 ligase 4 (CRL4), recognizes and degrades several substrate proteins during the S phase to maintain cell cycle progression and genome stability. Dcaf2 mainly expressed in germ cells of human and mouse. Our study found that Dcaf2 was expressed in mouse spermatogonia and spermatocyte.

Photosynthetic System Based on a Polyoxometalate-Based Dehydrated Metal-Organic Framework for Nitrogen Fixation.

In nature, biological nitrogen fixation is accomplished through the π-back-bonding mechanism of nitrogenase, which poses significant challenges for mimic artificial systems, thanks to the activation barrier associated with the N≡N bond. Consequently, this motivates us to develop efficient and reusable photocatalysts for artificial nitrogen fixation under mild conditions. We employ a charge-assisted self-assembly process toward encapsulating one polyoxometalate (POM) within a dehydrated Zr-based metal-organic framework (d-UiO-66) exhibiting nitrogen photofixation activities, thereby constructing an enzyme-mimicking photocatalyst.

The metallic compound promotes primordial follicle activation and ameliorates fertility deficits in aged mice.

Aged women and premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) patients have residual dormant primordial follicles that are hard to be activated through a physiological process. However, there are no effective and safe drugs to help them. We used the culture model of newborn mouse ovaries to identify the drugs that promote primordial follicle activation and study its mechanisms.

Nano-gold-enhanced LAMP method for qualitative visual detection of Salmonella in milk.

Since Salmonella can cause foodborne disease and public health safety issues and requires a robust, rapid, on-site detection method, a novel visual qualitative method with nano-gold-enhanced loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) reaction was established for detecting Salmonella in an integrated tube. During the experiment, nano-gold were used to enhance LAMP amplification, improving amplification efficiency and shortening the reaction time to within 30 min. Visual qualitative detection is achieved via negative staining, involving the addition of CuSO to the final products of the LAMP reaction.

Paraquat Reduces the Female Fertility by Impairing the Oocyte Maturation in Mice.

Paraquat (PQ) is a widely used non-selective and oxidizing herbicide in farmland, orchards, flower nursery, and grassland. Overuse of PQ will accumulate in the body and affect the reproduction in mammals. In this study, we found that PQ could reduce the female fertility by oral administration for 21 days in mice.

Roles of Resveratrol in Improving the Quality of Postovulatory Aging Oocytes In Vitro.

After ovulation, mammalian oocytes will undergo a time-dependent process of aging if they are not fertilized. This postovulatory aging (POA) seriously affects the oocyte quality and then impairs the subsequent fertilization and early embryo development, which should be avoided especially in assisted reproductive technology (ART). Resveratrol is an antioxidant substance that can scavenge free radicals and is effective in improving ovary functions.

NNS-Conjugated Chitosan Mediated IGF-1 and miR-140 Overexpression in Articular Chondrocytes Improves Cartilage Repair.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of phosphorylatable nucleus localization signal linked nucleic kinase substrate short peptide (NNS)-conjugated chitosan (NNS-CS) mediated miR-140 and IGF-1 in both rabbit chondrocytes and cartilage defects model. NNS-CS was combined with pBudCE4.1-IGF-1, pBudCE4.

Effect of dopamine on bone morphogenesis protein-2 expression in human retinal pigment epithelium.

Aim: To investigate the effect of dopamine on bone morphogenesis protein-2 (BMP-2) expression in retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells .

Methods: ARPE-19 cells as a human RPE cell line were cultured with dopamine for different times (2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16 and 24h) or with different concentrations (0.1, 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 100 µg/mL) .

[Assessment of heavy metal pollution and potential ecological risks of urban soils in Kaifeng City, China].

Ninety-nine topsoil (0-15 cm) samples were collected from Kaifeng City, China using the grid method, and then the concentrations of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn in the samples were measured by standard methods. Soil pollution levels and potential ecological risks of the heavy metals were assessed using the pollution load index (PLI) and potential ecological risk index (RI), respectively. Ordinary Kriging interpolation technique was employed to investigate the spatial distribution of PLI and RI of the city.

[The influence of CD44 on the adhesive, migratory and infiltrative abilities of leukemia cells].

Objective: To investigate the expression of CD44 in leukemia cell lines and its role in adhesion, migration and infiltration of leukemia cells.

Methods: The expression levels of CD44 in four leukemia cell lines SHI-1, THP-1, NB4 and K562 were assayed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot when they were in logarithmic phase. And these cell lines were divided into control group (treated with same species and isotype IgG) and experimental group (treated with anti-CD44 mono-clonal antibody).

A meta-analysis of primary external dacryocystorhinostomy with and without mitomycin C.

Objective: To assess the efficacy and safety of local application of intraoperative mitomycin C (MMC) at the osteotomy site in primary external dacryocystorhinostomy (EX-DCR).

Methods: A comprehensive literature search of the Cochrane Library, PubMed and Embase was undertaken to identify relevant trials comparing EX-DCR with MMC (MMC group, from 0.2-1.

Amperometric glucose sensor based on enhanced catalytic reduction of oxygen using glucose oxidase adsorbed onto core-shell Fe3O4@silica@Au magnetic nanoparticles.

Monodisperse Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared under facile solvothermal conditions and successively functionalized with silica and Au to form core/shell Fe3O4@silica@Au NPs. Furthermore, the samples were used as matrix to construct a glucose sensor based on glucose oxidase (GOD). The immobilized GOD retained its bioactivity with high protein load of 3.

Overexpression of chloroplastic monodehydroascorbate reductase enhanced tolerance to temperature and methyl viologen-mediated oxidative stresses.

A tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) monodehydroascorbate reductase gene (LeMDAR) was isolated. The LeMDAR-green fluorescence protein (GFP) fusion protein was targeted to chloroplast in Arabidopsis mesophyll protoplast.

Evidence that the amino acid residue Cys117 of chloroplastic monodehydroascorbate reductase is involved in its activity and structural stability.

Monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDAR; EC 1.6.5.