Identification of key sensory and chemical factors determining flavor quality of Xinyu mandarin during ripening and storage.

Xinyu mandarin is popular for its good flavor, but its flavor deteriorates during postharvest storage. To better understand the underlying basis of this change, the dynamics of the sensory profiles were investigated throughout fruit ripening and storage. Sweetness and sourness, determined especially by sucrose and citric acid content, were identified as the key sensory factors in flavor establishment during ripening, but not in flavor deterioration during storage.

Nifurtimox Hampered the Progression of Astroglioma In vivo Via Manipulating the AKT-GSK3β axis.

Background: Astroglioma, one major form of brain tumors, has remained principally tough to handle for decades, due to the complexity of tumor pathology and the poor response to chemo- and radio-therapies.

Methods: Our previous study demonstrated that nifurtimox could regulate the signaling axis of AKT-GSK3β in various tumor types including the astroglioma U251 cells. Intriguingly, earlier case studies suggested that nifurtimox could possibly permeate the blood brain barrier and arrest neuroblastoma in the brain.

An Overview of Available Antimalarials: Discovery, Mode of Action and Drug Resistance.

Malaria is one of the three most deadly infectious diseases in the world and seriously endangers human health and life. To reduce the public health burden of this disease, scientists have focused on the discovery and development of effective antimalarial drugs, from quinine and chloroquine to antifolates and artemisinin and its derivatives, which all play a profound role in the treatment of malaria. However, drugresistant strains of Plasmodium falciparum have emerged due to frequent use of antimalarials and have become increasingly resistant to existing antimalarial drugs, causing disastrous consequences in the world.

Effect of Pb Exposure on Synaptic Scaling Through Regulation of AMPA Receptor Surface Trafficking.

Homeostatic synaptic plasticity (HSP) helps to stabilize the neuronal network activity, which is essential for optimal information coding. Synaptic scaling is a form of homeostatic plasticity that stabilizes neuronal firing in response to activity blockade. Lead (Pb) is a ubiquitous environmental neuro-toxicant and can impair the input-specific Hebbian type synaptic plasticity, but whether Pb exerts effects in HSP remains unknown.

Fructus Ligustri Lucidi modulates estrogen receptor expression with no uterotrophic effect in ovariectomized rats.

Background: Accumulating evidence suggests that Fructus Ligustri Lucidi (FLL) plays a beneficial role in preventing the development of osteoporosis. However, the effects of FLL on estrogen receptor (ER) α and ERβ expressions remain unknown. Therefore, in the current study we attempted to probe into the effects of FLL on ERα and ERβ expressions in femurs, tibias and uteri of ovariectomized (OVX) rats.

Kinetics and pathways of Bezafibrate degradation in UV/chlorine process.

UV/chlorine, as a novel disinfection method, has attracted great interest due to its effective removal for pathogenic microorganism and degradation of trace organic contaminants existed in water environment. This paper investigated the degradation kinetics and pathways of Bezafibrate (BZF), a typical antilipemic drug, during UV/chlorine process. The results showed that 92.

Curcumin treatment suppresses CCR7 expression and the differentiation and migration of human circulating fibrocytes.

Background/aim: Recent studies have demonstrated that circulating fibrocytes contribute to the formation and development of fibrosis. Curcumin, a polyphenolic compound isolated from turmeric, has been shown to have anti-fibrotic effects in various organs. We and others have demonstrated that curcumin beneficially affects the development of fibrosis.

Enhancement of flap survival and changes in angiogenic gene expression after AAV2-mediated VEGF gene transfer to rat ischemic flaps.

Necrosis of surgically transferred flaps due to ischemia is a serious wound problem. We evaluated the improvement of flap survival and changes in angiogenic gene expression profiles after transfer of the VEGF gene by means of adeno-associated virus type 2 (AAV2) vector to rat ischemic flaps. Thirty rats were divided into one experimental group, one AAV2-GFP group, and one saline group.