Discovery of structurally diverse sesquiterpenoids from Streptomyces fulvorobeus isolated from Elephas maximus feces and their antifungal activities.

Thirty-six structurally diverse sesquiterpenoids, including caryolanes (1-12), germacranes (13-16), isodaucane (17), cadinanes (18-22), epicubenols (23, 24), oplopanane (25), pallenanes (26, 27), and eudesmanes (28-36), were isolated from the fermentation broth of Streptomyces fulvorobeus derived from Elephas maximus feces. Pallenane is a kind of rarely reported sesquiterpene with a distinctive C5/C3 bicyclic skeleton and was firstly found from microbial source. The structures of fifteen new compounds (1-4, 13-15, 17, 18, 22, 23, 25-28) were established through detailed spectroscopic data analysis, which included data from experimental and calculated ECD spectra as well as Mosher's reagent derivative method.

Fabrication of norepinephrine and ε-polylysine engineered magnetic nanocomposites tailored for phosphopeptides analysis.

Protein phosphorylation is a highly prevalent post-translational modification that holds a vital position in numerous physiological processes. Prior to mass spectrometry detection, the enrichment of phosphopeptides is critically significant due to their susceptibility to interference from abundant non-phosphopeptides. In this study, the magnetic nanocomposite (FeO@NE@PL) was successfully synthesized and characterized.

Efficacy and Safety of Sevelamer Carbonate in Chinese Nondialysis Chronic Kidney Disease Patients with Hyperphosphatemia: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Parallel-Group Study.

Introduction: Previous studies suggested that sevelamer carbonate is well tolerated with a favorable efficacy and safety profile in both dialysis and nondialysis patients in Europe; however, the efficacy remains controversial, and few studies have examined sevelamer carbonate therapy in other ethnic nondialysis CKD patients. This study assessed the efficacy and safety of sevelamer carbonate in Chinese nondialysis CKD patients with hyperphosphatemia.

Methods: The multicenter, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled, and phase 3 clinical trial enrolled 202 Chinese nondialysis CKD patients with serum phosphorus ≥1.

Prevalence and risk factors for vascular calcification in Chinese patients receiving dialysis: baseline results from a prospective cohort study.

Objective: With limited data available on calcification prevalence in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients on dialysis, the China Dialysis Calcification Study (CDCS) determined the prevalence of vascular/valvular calcification (VC) and association of risk factors in Chinese patients with prevalent hemodialysis (HD) or peritoneal dialysis (PD).

Methods: CKD patients undergoing HD/PD for ≥6 months were enrolled. Prevalence data for calcification and medical history were documented at baseline.

Protective Effect of Hydrogen Sulfide in the Secondary Renal Disease and Renal Transplantation.

The prevalence of kidney disease was increasing,which has become an important threaten to the health of the population.Hydrogen sulfide is the third gas signaling molecules after CO and NO.It has toxic effect at high concentration,but plays an important role in relaxing blood vessel ,antioxidation anti -inflammation and anti-apoptosis at physiological concentration.

Inhibition of Uncoupling Protein 2 Attenuates Cardiac Hypertrophy Induced by Transverse Aortic Constriction in Mice.

Background: Uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) is critical in regulating energy metabolism. Due to the significant change in energy metabolism of myocardium upon pressure overload, we hypothesize that UCP2 could contribute to the etiology of cardiac hypertrophy.

Methods: Adult male C57BL/6J mice were subjected to pressure overload by using transverse aortic constriction (TAC), and then received genipin (a UCP2 selective inhibitor; 25 mg/kg/d, ip) or vehicle for three weeks prior to histologic assessment of myocardial hypertrophy.

Exposure to atrazine during gestation and lactation periods: toxicity effects on dopaminergic neurons in offspring by downregulation of Nurr1 and VMAT2.

High atrazine (2-chloro-4-ethytlamino-6-isopropylamine-1,3,5-triazine; ATR) contents in the environment threaten the health conditions of organisms. We examined the effects of ATR exposure on Sprague-Dawley rats during gestation and on the dopaminergic neurons of offspring during lactation. Pregnant dams were orally treated with 0 mg/kg/day to 50 mg/kg/day of ATR from gestational day 5 to postnatal day 22.

[Isolation and biological characterization of human amniotic fluid-derived stem cells].

Objective: To establish in vitro culture procedure for human amniotic fluid-derived CD117 positive stem cells, and to identify the characteristics of CD117 positive stem cells.

Methods: 86 amniotic fluid samples (10 mL of each) were obtained by second-trimester amniocentesis. Isolation of amniotic fluid-derived stem cells expressing CD117 antigen was performed via magnetic cell sorting using the CD117 MicroBead Kit.

Role of microRNA-214-targeting phosphatase and tensin homolog in advanced glycation end product-induced apoptosis delay in monocytes.

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) delay spontaneous apoptosis of monocytes and contribute to the development of inflammatory responses. However, the mechanism by which AGEs affect monocyte apoptosis is unclear. We studied the role of microRNA-214 (miR-214) and its target gene in AGE-induced monocytic apoptosis delay.

Effect of taurine-conjugated ursodeoxycholic acid on endoplasmic reticulum stress and apoptosis induced by advanced glycation end products in cultured mouse podocytes.

Background: Activations of death receptors and mitochondrial damage are well-described common apoptotic pathways. Recently, a novel pathway via endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress has been reported.

Methods: We assessed the role of tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) in inhibition of ER stress and its protective effect on advanced glycation end products (AGEs)-induced apoptosis in murine podocytes.

Cytotoxic activity and probable apoptotic effect of Sph2, a sphigomyelinase hemolysin from Leptospira interrogans strain Lai.

Our previous work confirmed that Sph2/LA1029 was a sphigomyelinase-like hemolyisn of Leptospira interrogans serogroup Icterohaemorrhagiae serovar Lai. Characteristics of both hemolytic and cytotoxic activities of Sph2 were reported in this paper. Sph2 was a heat-labile neutral hemolysin and had similar hemolytic behavior as the typical sphingomyelinase C of Staphylococcus aureus upon sheep erythrocytes.

[Expression of connective tissue growth factor in renal interstitial fibrosis after ureteral obstruction and effects of rapamycin thereupon: experiment with rats].

Objective: Is a common feature of progressive renal diseases regardless of the initiating insult To clarify the role of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in after (UUO) in renal interstitial fibrosis and effects of rapamycin (RAP) thereupon.

Methods: Eighteen Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 3 equal groups: unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) model group, undergoing ligation of the left ureter; RAP treatment group, undergoing ligation of the left ureter and intraperitoneal injection of RAP 0.04 mg.

[Efficiency of total parathyroidectomy and autotransplantation in 31 patients with uremic hyperparathyroidism].

Objective: To analyse the efficacy of total parathyroidectomy with autotransplantation (total PTX + AT) in treating uremic secondary hyperparathyroidism and to discuss the relevant medical treatment used.

Methods: The clinical data of 31 patients with uremic SHPT admitted into our hospital from 1996-2005 were analysed with respect to total PTX + AT.

Results: The period of hemodialysis were for the patients was on the average 9.