In situ continuous Dopa supply by responsive artificial enzyme for the treatment of Parkinson's disease.

Oral dihydroxyphenylalanine (Dopa) administration to replenish neuronal dopamine remains the most effective treatment for Parkinson's disease (PD). However, unlike the continuous and steady dopamine signaling in normal neurons, oral Dopa induces dramatic fluctuations in plasma Dopa levels, leading to Dopa-induced dyskinesia. Herein, we report a functional nucleic acid-based responsive artificial enzyme (FNA-FeO) for in situ continuous Dopa production.

MiR-152-5p suppresses osteogenic differentiation of mandible mesenchymal stem cells by regulating ATG14-mediated autophagy.

Background: Osteoporosis affects the mandible resulting in bone loss. Though impairments are not life threatening, they affect a person's quality-of-life particularly vulnerable elderly. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are novel regulatory factors that play an important role in regulating bone metabolism.

Exploring the adsorption behavior of benzotriazoles and benzothiazoles on polyvinyl chloride microplastics in the water environment.

As a kind of emerging pollutant, microplastics (MPs) play an important role as a carrier for pollutant migration in the water environment. Carried by the MPs, benzotriazoles, and benzothiazoles (collectively referred to as BTs) are ubiquitous water contaminants. In this paper, the adsorption behavior of BTs on polyvinyl chloride (PVC) MPs was first studied systematically to explain the adsorptive mechanisms and the consequential pollution caused by the absorption-desorption process.

Reduced environmental stimuli is associated with improved insulin-like growth factor-1 levels and physical growth in very low birth weight premature infants.

Standard environmental features of the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) may be stressful and not optimal for the maturation of very low birth weight premature infants (VLBWPIs). The present study investigated whether structured no-touch periods and reducing periods of light and sound stimulation may influence the developmental indices of VLBWPIs. Between June 2012 and June 2013, 60 consecutive VLBWPIs were equally apportioned to either an experimental or control group.

Development of a Novel BAFF Responsive Cell Line Suitable for Detecting Bioactive BAFF and Neutralizing Antibodies against BAFF-Pathway Inhibiting Therapeutics.

BAFF has a critical role in B-cell survival, maturation and function, which makes its pathway a prime therapeutic target for various autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis and Sjögren's syndrome. A cell-based assay that measures the functional activity of BAFF is required for many high throughput purposes, such as lead target screening and BAFF quantification. We report here the development of a sensitive BAFF responsive cell line via stable transfection of the BAFFR-TNFR1 hybrid receptor into monkey kidney epithelial COS-1 cells.

[Simultaneous determination of captan and folpet pesticide residues in apples by solid-phase extraction and high performance liquid chromatography].

A method for the simultaneous determination of captan and folpet pesticide residues in apples was developed by solid-phase extraction and high performance liquid chromatography. The sample was extracted with acetonitrile and cleaned-up by a mixture of homemade sorbent and silica gel with hexane-dichloromethane-acetonitrile (50:49: 1, v/v) as the eluent. The cleaned effects by using Florisil column, amino column, the mixed sorbent were compared, and the effect of the mixed sorbent was the best.

A novel method for detecting neutralizing antibodies against therapeutic proteins by measuring gene expression.

The presence of neutralizing antibodies against protein therapeutics is a concern in the biomedical field. Such antibodies not only reduce the efficacy of protein therapeutics, but also impose potential dangers to the patients receiving them. To date, a small number of in vitro cell-based bioassays for detecting neutralizing antibodies against therapeutic proteins have been developed.

Expression of GFRalpha1 receptor splicing variants with different biochemical properties is modulated during kidney development.

The glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) family coreceptor alpha1 (GFRalpha1) is a critical component of the RET receptor kinase signal-transducing complex. The activity of this multicomponent receptor is stimulated by the glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and is involved in neuronal cells survival and kidney development. GFRalpha1 pre-mRNA is alternatively spliced and produces two isoforms: GFRalpha1a, which includes the exon 5; and GFRalpha1b, which excludes it.