Apelin-13 attenuates high glucose-induced calcification of MOVAS cells by regulating MAPKs and PI3K/AKT pathways and ROS-mediated signals.

Vascular calcification (VC) is an inducement of many cardiovascular diseases. Clinic evidences have confirmed that diabetes was the independent risk factor for VC, and the mechanism has not been well explored. Apelin as a ligand molecule is widely found in the cardiovascular system and showed potential in inhibiting VC, but the inhibitory effect and mechanism of apelin-13 against high glucose-induced VC have not been investigated yet.

Changes of hippocampus proteomic profiles after blueberry extracts supplementation in APP/PS1 transgenic mice.

To examine protein changes in the hippocampus of APP/PS1 transgenic mice after blueberry extracts (BB) intervention. Eight APP/PS1 transgenic mice were randomly assigned to Alzheimer's disease (AD)+BB group (=4) and AD+control group (=4). After a 16-week treatment, 2-DE and MALDI-TOF-MS were used to compare the proteomic profiles of the hippocampus in the two groups and Western blot was used to confirm the important differentially expressed proteins.

Cyanidin-3-O-galactoside and blueberry extracts supplementation improves spatial memory and regulates hippocampal ERK expression in senescence-accelerated mice.

Objective: To investigate whether the antioxidation and the regulation on the Extracellular Regulated Protein Kinases (ERK) signaling pathway are involved in the protective effects of blueberry on central nervous system.

Methods: 30 Senescence-accelerated mice prone 8 (SAMP8) mice were divided into three groups and treated with normal diet, blueberry extracts (200 mg/kg•bw/day) and cyaniding-3-O-galactoside (Cy-3-GAL) (50 mg/kg•bw/day) from blueberry for 8 weeks. 10 SAMR1 mice were set as control group.

Pleuropneumonectomy for diffuse pleural metastasis in primary lung cancer.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to analyze a single institution experience with pleuropneumonectomy for pleural metastasis and malignant pleural effusion in primary lung cancer.

Materials And Methods: From August 1978 to August 2011, 66 consecutive patients with lung cancer underwent pleuropneumonectomy. Patients were followed-up after the operation.

Depletion of intracellular zinc induced apoptosis in cultured hippocampal neurons through Raf/MEK/ERK pathways.

An experiment was performed to observe the changes in Raf-1 kinase/mitogen-activated protein kinase ERK (MEK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling pathways in cultured hippocampal neurons and its correlation with neurons apoptosis induced by intracellular zinc depletion. Cultured hippocampal neurons were exposed to a cell membrane-permeant zinc chelator TPEN (2 µM), and to TPEN plus zinc sulfate (5 µM) for 24 h. Cultures were then processed to detect neuronal viability by the methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium assay, while apoptosis rate was simultaneously observed by the flow cytometric analysis.

Utility of squamous cell carcinoma antigen, carcinoembryonic antigen, Cyfra 21-1 and neuron specific enolase in lung cancer diagnosis: a prospective study from China.

Background: Early detection and diagnosis is urgent for the sake of effective treatment strategy for lung cancer. However, a convenient, economical and relatively precise method is not available. We here report a prospective study to find the possible value of the combined use of four popular tumor markers in the early diagnosis of lung cancer among patients with suspicious nodules in the lung.

[Therapeutic effect of 125I-103Pd hybrid radioactive seeds on pulmonary carcinomas in BALB/c-nu mice].

Objective: To prepared (125)I-(103)Pd hybrid radioactive seeds and to explore their therapeutic effect on pulmonary carcinomas.

Methods: The (125)I-(103)Pd hybrid radioactive seeds were prepared by a chemical method of step-by-step coat plating. Pulmonary adenocarcinoma of GLC-82 cells and pulmonary large cell carcinoma of H460 cells were cultured in vitro and then were exposed directly to (125)I, (103)Pd and (125)I-(103)Pd seeds for 48 hours to observe the killing effects of radiation.

[Expression of dopamine receptor D2 in pulmonary carcinoma cells and effects of dopamine on the cell apoptosis].

Objective: To detect the expression of dopamine receptor D2 in different pulmonary carcinoma cells and investigate the effect of dopamine in inducing apoptosis of A549 cells.

Methods: Western blotting and RT-PCR were employed to detect the expression of dopamine receptor D2 in different pulmonary carcinoma cells (95D, H460, GLC-82, A549 and H446 cells). The apoptosis of A549 cells after a 6-hour exposure to 0.

Effects of intracellular zinc depletion on the expression of VDAC in cultured hippocampal neurons.

An experiment was conducted to investigate whether intracellular zinc depletion can actually change expression of voltage-dependent anion channel 1 (VDAC1) and VPAC2 in cultured hippocampal neurons as well as their significance. Hippocampal neurons were obtained by primary culture from hippocampus of newborn Wistar rats. Cultured hippocampal neurons were exposed to a cell membrane-permeable zinc chelator N,N,N',N'-tetrakis (2-pyridyl methyl) ethylenediamine (TPEN) (2 µM), and to TPEN plus zinc sulfate (5 µM) for 1 or 24 hours.

Polymorphism of MTHFR C677T, serum vitamin levels and cognition in subjects with hyperhomocysteinemia in China.

Relationships between hyperhomocysteinemia (HHE) and neurodegenerative diseases have been widely studied. However, the impact of serum total homocysteine (tHcy) levels on cognitive function has not been confirmed. C677T polymorphisms in the 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene have impacts on tHcy level; it is suspected to influence cognitive function, but only few investigations have assessed its effects on non-dementia adults and the results have been controversial.

[Cytoprotective effect of blueberry extracts against oxidative damage of rat hippocampal neurons induced by H2O2].

Objective: To investigate the protective effect of blueberry extract (BE, 25% anthocyanins) against oxidative damage in primary cultures of rat hippocampal neurons induced by H2O2.

Methods: Rat hippocampal neurons were randomly assigned to control group, H2O2 group and BE pretreatment groups, BE at six different doses (0.01, 0.

[Studies on glycosides from Gentiana veitchiorum].

Objective: To study the chemical constituents of Gentiana veitchiorum.

Method: The chemical constituents were isolated by chromatography and identified by spectral data.

Result: Five glycosides, loganic acid (1), gentiopicroside (2), isoorientin 3'-methyl ether (3), isovitexin (4), isoorientin (5) were isolated and identified.

[Research on application of modified polyethylene glycol hydrogels in the construction of tissue engineered heart valve].

Objective: To explore the effect of the polyethylene glycol (PEG)-hydrogels to enhance the seeding-cells adhesion to the biomaterial scaffolds.

Methods: Sixteen porcine aortic valves were decellularized with Triton X-100 and trypsin, then divided into A and B group, eight in each group. Group A: the donor goat's autologous bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) Selected as the seeding-cells were encapsulated into the modified PEG-hydrogels to complete the process of the cells attaching to the acellular porcine aortic valves.

[Study on triterpenes from of Ligularia xanthotricha].

Objective: To investigate the chemical constituents of Ligularia xanthotricha.

Method: Silica gel column chromatography and preparative TLC were employed for the isolation and purification. The structures were identified on the basis of spectral data (IR, EI-MS, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, DEPT) and chemical evidence.

[Fluorescence spectrum analysis system for protoporphyrin IX in serum based on wavelet transform].

Protoporphyrin IX is an important kind of organic compound for vital movement, and can be used as the sign of tumour blood. Human protoporphyrin IX content in serum is very low, and affected by various factors. The serum fluorescence spectrum analysis system based on wavelet transform was used to discriminated the protoporphyrin IX weak signals.

Serum transforming growth factor-beta1 level reflects disease status in patients with esophageal carcinoma after radiotherapy.

Aim: To evaluate the relationship between changes in serum transforming growth factor beta1 (TGFbeta1) level and curative effect of radiotherapy (RT) in patients with esophageal carcinoma.

Methods: Ninety patients with histologically confirmed esophageal carcinoma were enrolled. Serum samples for TGFbeta1 analysis were obtained before and at the end of RT.

Two new polyporusterones from Polyorus umbellatus.

Two new polyporusterones named as porusterone I and polyprosterone II were isolated from polyourus umbellatus. Their structures have been established on the basis of spectroscopic analysis.