Eliminating interference by anthocyanin in chlorophyll estimation of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) leaves.

Background: Spectral reflectance was evaluated for its usefulness as a nondestructive estimation of chlorophyll (Chl) content from three cultivars of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) with green, yellow, and purple leaves grown in a greenhouse for 22 days. While the green and yellow leaves contain variant amount of photosynthetic pigments without or with little level of anthocyanins, the purple leaves, except large amount of photosynthetic pigments, have high quantity of anthocyanins.

Chiral metal-organic frameworks bearing free carboxylic acids for organocatalyst encapsulation.

Two chiral carboxylic acid functionalized micro- and mesoporous metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are constructed by the stepwise assembly of triple-stranded heptametallic helicates with six carboxylic acid groups. The mesoporous MOF with permanent porosity functions as a host for encapsulation of an enantiopure organic amine catalyst by combining carboxylic acids and chiral amines in situ through acid-base interactions. The organocatalyst-loaded framework is shown to be an efficient and recyclable heterogeneous catalyst for the asymmetric direct aldol reactions with significantly enhanced stereoselectivity in relative to the homogeneous organocatalyst.

Applications of Legionella pneumophila protein FLA and PILE in serological diagnosis.

Background: Serological testing for antibody against Legionella pneumophila (LP) is often the primary method of screening for possible Lp infections.

Methods: This study is an attempt to use the Lp protein FLA and PILE as coating antigen for ELISA. First, the coding sequences of the two proteins were cloned into the pET32a(+) vectors.

One-step in situ biosynthesis of graphene oxide-bacterial cellulose nanocomposite hydrogels.

Graphene oxide-bacterial cellulose (GO/BC) nanocomposite hydrogels with well-dispersed GO in the network of BC are successfully developed using a facile one-step in situ biosynthesis by adding GO suspension into the culture medium of BC. During the biosynthesis process, the crystallinity index of BC decreases and GO is partially reduced. The experimental results indicate that GO nanosheets are uniformly dispersed and well-bound to the BC matrix and that the 3D porous structure of BC is sustained.

Reduced genetic distance and high replication levels increase the RNA recombination rate of hepatitis delta virus.

Hepatitis delta virus (HDV) replication is carried out by host RNA polymerases. Since homologous inter-genotypic RNA recombination is known to occur in HDV, possibly via a replication-dependent process, we hypothesized that the degree of sequence homology and the replication level should be related to the recombination frequency in cells co-expressing two HDV sequences. To confirm this, we separately co-transfected cells with three different pairs of HDV genomic RNAs and analyzed the obtained recombinants by RT-PCR followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism and sequencing analyses.

Engineering chiral Fe(salen)-based metal-organic frameworks for asymmetric sulfide oxidation.

Two chiral porous Fe(salen)-based metal-organic frameworks are constructed and are shown to be efficient and recyclable heterogeneous catalysts for asymmetric oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides with an enantioselectivity of up to 96%.

[Preparation of lentivirus containing human FcγRIIB gene and FcγRIIB expression in HT-1080 cells].

Objective: To construct a lentiviral expression vector for FcγRIIB and identify its expression in HT-1080 cells.

Methods: FcγRIIB gene fragment was obtained using reverse transcription with human mRNA as the template, and then was cloned into TRE lentiviral expression plasmid to construct the lentiviral expression recombinant plasmid TRE-FcγRIIB. The recombinant plasmid TRE-FcγRIIB and lentiviral inducible plasmid Tet were transfected into HEK293T cells respectively with lentivirus packaging mix plasmids to pack the expression lentivirus and inducible lentivirus.

A case-control study of high-intensity focused ultrasound combined with sonographically guided intratumoral ethanol injection in the treatment of uterine fibroids.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to explore the feasibility of high-intensity focused ultrasound combined with sonographically guided intratumoral ethanol injection in the treatment of uterine fibroids and to compare its therapeutic effects and potential side effects with those of simple high-intensity focused ultrasound treatment.

Methods: Forty patients with uterine fibroids from the Department of Ultrasonography in our hospital were randomly divided into 2 groups of the same size: group H, which only underwent high-intensity focused ultrasound treatment; and group H + A, which underwent sonographically guided intratumoral ethanol injection therapy first and then high-intensity focused ultrasound treatment the following day. The treatment times, treatment doses, pain scores, side effects, and therapeutic effect rates of the groups were then recorded and compared.

Effects of quercetin on CDK4 mRNA and protein expression in A549 cells infected by H1N1.

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of quercetin on the expression of cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK4) mRNA and protein in A549 lung epithelial tumor cells infected by H1N1. First, the Thiazolyl Blue Tetrazolium Bromide (MTT) method was used to determine H1N1 virulence, quercetin cytotoxicity and inhibition of the cytopathic effect of H1N1 on A549 cells by quercetin. Subsequently, 100 TCID H1N1 was used to infect A549 cells for 2 h prior to culture in maintenance media containing 10 mg/l quercetin.

[An indirect ELISA using Legionella pneumophila recombinant MOMP protein and its application in serological diagnosis].

Objective: To express and purify the recombinant major outer membrane protein (MOMP) of Legionella pneumophila (Lp) as diagnostic antigen, and explore its practical value in the serological diagnosis of Lp infection.

Methods: The recombinant plasmid pET-momp was transformed into the E.coli BL21 competent cells.

Role of GRK4 in the regulation of arterial AT1 receptor in hypertension.

G-protein-coupled receptor kinase 4 (GRK4) gene variants, via impairment of renal dopamine receptor and enhancement of renin-angiotensin system functions, cause sodium retention and increase blood pressure. Whether GRK4 and the angiotensin type 1 receptor (AT(1)R) interact in the aorta is not known. We report that GRK4 is expressed in vascular smooth muscle cells of the aorta.

Mutation effects of neuraminidases and their docking with ligands: a molecular dynamics and free energy calculation study.

A systematic study has been performed on neuraminidase (NA) mutations and NA-inhibitor docked complexes, with the aim to understand protein-ligand interactions and design broad-spectrum antiviral drugs with minimal resistances. The catalytic D151 residue is likely to mutate while others are relatively conserved. The NA active-site conformations are altered by mutations, but more alterations do not necessarily result in larger deviations to the binding properties.

Construction of nanoparticles based on amphiphilic copolymers of poly(γ-glutamic acid co-L-lactide)-1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine as a potential drug delivery carrier.

A novel amphiphilic copolymer (γ-PGA-co-PLA-DPPE) containing poly(γ-glutamic acid) (γ-PGA), polylactide (PLA), and 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (DPPE) segments has been successfully synthesized. The chemical structures of the copolymers were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), NMR ((1)H NMR, (13)C NMR, (31)P NMR), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). In order to estimate the feasibility as novel drug carriers, an anti-tumor model drug, doxorubicin hydrochloride salt (DOX) was encapsulated into the copolymers nanoparticles (NPs) by double emulsion and nanoprecipitation methods.

Preparation of three-dimensional braided carbon fiber-reinforced PEEK composites for potential load-bearing bone fixations. Part I. Mechanical properties and cytocompatibility.

In this study, we focused on fabrication and characterization of three-dimensional carbon fiber-reinforced polyetheretherketone (C3-D/PEEK) composites for orthopedic applications. We found that pre-heating of 3-D fabrics before hot-pressing could eliminate pores in the composites prepared by 3-D co-braiding and hot-pressing techniques. The manufacturing process and the processing variables were studied and optimum parameters were obtained.

Mechanistic study on ligand-controlled cobalt-catalyzed regioselectivity-switchable hydroarylation of styrenes.

Density functional theory (DFT) calculations have been performed to study the mechanism of the recently reported Co-catalyzed ligand-controlled hydroarylation of styrenes as a means of preparing 1,1- or 1,2-diarylalkanes. The present study corroborates the previously proposed three-step mechanism, comprising C-H activation (C-H oxidative addition), styrene insertion, and reductive elimination. In the C-H activation and reductive elimination steps, our calculations suggest that styrene does not coordinate to the Co center.

Chiral microporous Ti(salan)-based metal-organic frameworks for asymmetric sulfoxidation.

Chiral porous metal-metallosalan frameworks are constructed from an unsymmetrical chiral pyridinecarboxylate ligand derived from Ti(salan) and are shown to be heterogeneous catalysts for asymmetric oxidation of thioethers to sulfoxides.

[Expression and purification of Legionella pneumophila MIP protein and its application in serological diagnosis].

Objective: To express and purify macrophage infectivity potentiator (MIP) protein of Legionella pneumophila(Lp), and explore its value in the serological diagnosis of Lp.

Methods: The recombinant plasmid pET-mip was transformed into E.coli BL21 competent cells.

Hepatoprotective effects of kombucha tea: identification of functional strains and quantification of functional components.

Background: Kombucha tea (KT), a traditional health beverage containing potential hepatoprotective agents, is fermented from sugared tea by a symbiotic culture of yeast and bacteria for 8 days. However, the functional strains that produce components for the hepatoprotective property of KT remain unclear. Multiple strains are involved in traditional KT production.

Discovery of liver-targeted inhibitors of stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD1).

Inhibitors based on a benzo-fused spirocyclic oxazepine scaffold were discovered for stearoyl-coenzyme A (CoA) desaturase 1 (SCD1) and subsequently optimized to potent compounds with favorable pharmacokinetic profiles and in vivo efficacy in reducing the desaturation index in a mouse model. Initial optimization revealed potency preferences for the oxazepine core and benzylic positions, while substituents on the piperidine portions were more tolerant and allowed for tuning of potency and PK properties. After preparation and testing of a range of functional groups on the piperidine nitrogen, three classes of analogs were identified with single digit nanomolar potency: glycine amides, heterocycle-linked amides, and thiazoles.

[Preparation and function of human soluble FcγRIIb].

Aim: To detect the concentration of soluble FcγRIIb in blood sera of SLE patients and healthy controls, then to obtain recombinant human soluble FcγRIIb protein (husFcγRIIb) in Escherichia coli (E.coli) and examine its binding capability with immune complexes (IC) and its effect on IgM secretion by B cells.

Methods: The concentration of husFcγRIIb in blood sera of SLE patients and healthy controls was detected by ELISA.

Basal and postprandial serum levels of gastrin in normotensive and hypertensive adults.

Gastrin is a peptide hormone, which acts not only to regulate gastric acid secretion, but also to exert physiological actions such as the regulation of sodium balance. From a case (n = 95)-control (n = 82) study in Fuyang People's Hospital, Anhui Province, China, we found that the fasting serum gastrin levels are similar in normotensive and hypertensive adults but increased to higher levels in the latter group than in the former group after a mixed meal. We suggest that gastrin is involved in the regulation of blood pressure, possibly via the regulation of sodium and water metabolism and/or renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system.

Genome-wide identification and in silico analysis of poplar peptide deformylases.

Peptide deformylases (PDF) behave as monomeric metal cation hydrolases for the removal of the N-formyl group (Fo). This is an essential step in the N-terminal Met excision (NME) that occurs in these proteins from eukaryotic mitochondria or chloroplasts. Although PDFs have been identified and their structure and function have been characterized in several herbaceous species, it remains as yet unexplored in poplar.

Chiral nanoporous metal-metallosalen frameworks for hydrolytic kinetic resolution of epoxides.

Chiral nanoporous metal-organic frameworks are constructed by using dicarboxyl-functionalized chiral Ni(salen) and Co(salen) ligands. The Co(salen)-based framework is shown to be an efficient and recyclable heterogeneous catalyst for hydrolytic kinetic resolution (HKR) of racemic epoxides with up to 99.5% ee.