Discovery, stereospecific characterization and peripheral modification of 1-(pyrrolidin-1-ylmethyl)-2-[(6-chloro-3-oxo-indan)-formyl]-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolines as novel selective κ opioid receptor agonists.

A novel series of 1-(pyrrolidin-1-ylmethyl)-2-[(3-oxo-indan)-formyl]-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline derivatives maj-3a-maj-3u were synthesized and evaluated in vitro for their binding affinity at κ-opioid receptors. Maj-3c displayed the highest affinity for κ-opioid receptors (Ki = 0.033 nM) among all the compounds evaluated.

Molecular cloning of a dehydration-responsive protein gene (MRD22) from mulberry, and determination of abiotic stress patterns of MRD22 gene expression.

A full-length cDNA sequence coding for Dehydration-responsive protein gene of mulberry tree, which we designated was MRD22 (GenBank accession number: JQ804833) was cloned based on mulberry expressed sequence tags (ESTs). MRD22 is 1503 bp long, contains a 334 bp 5'-UTR (untranslated region) and a 563 bp 3'-UTR, encodes 201 amino acids with a predicted molecular weight of 54.28 kDa and an isoelectric point of 9.

A highly sensitive room temperature H2S gas sensor based on SnO2 multi-tube arrays bio-templated from insect bristles.

A tin oxide multi-tube array (SMTA) with a parallel effect was fabricated through a simple and promising method combining chemosynthesis and biomimetic techniques; a biomimetic template was derived from the bristles on the wings of the Alpine Black Swallowtail butterfly (Papilio maackii). SnO2 tubes are hollow and porous structures with micro-pores regularly distributed on the wall. The morphology, the delicate microstructure and the crystal structure of this SMTA were characterized by super resolution digital microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction.

A phylogenetically informed delineation of floristic regions within a biodiversity hotspot in Yunnan, China.

Traditional attempts to delineate floristic regions typically focus on species distributions, often ignoring the rich context that phylogenetic relationships can provide. In this study, we explore how phylogenetic relatedness, taxonomic composition, and regional phylogenetic structure change across a global biodiversity hotspot region, Yunnan, located in southwestern China. We propose a system of floristic regions within Yunnan by combining data on the distributions and phylogenetic relationships of 1,983 genera of native seed plants.

Sulfur removal from bauxite water slurry (BWS) electrolysis intensified by ultrasonic.

Effects of ultrasonic on desulfurization ratio from bauxite water slurry (BWS) electrolysis in NaOH solution were examined under constant current. The results indicated that ultrasonic improved the desulfurization ratio at high temperatures because of the diffusion and transfer of oxygen gas in electrolyte. However, due to the increase in oxygen gas emission, ultrasonic could not improve the desulfurization ratio obviously at low temperatures.

Novel κ-opioid receptor agonist MB-1C-OH produces potent analgesia with less depression and sedation.

Aim: To characterize the pharmacological profiles of a novel κ-opioid receptor agonist MB-1C-OH.

Methods: [(3)H]diprenorphine binding and [(35)S]GTPγS binding assays were performed to determine the agonistic properties of MB-1C-OH. Hot plate, tail flick, acetic acid-induced writhing, and formalin tests were conducted in mice to evaluate the antinociceptive actions.

Kupffer cell depletion protects against the steatosis, but not the liver damage, induced by marginal-copper, high-fructose diet in male rats.

High-fructose feeding impairs copper status and leads to low copper availability, which is a novel mechanism in obesity-related fatty liver. Copper deficiency-associated hepatic iron overload likely plays an important role in fructose-induced liver injury. Excess iron in the liver is distributed throughout hepatocytes and Kupffer cells (KCs).

Inhibition of miR122a by Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG culture supernatant increases intestinal occludin expression and protects mice from alcoholic liver disease.

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) has a high morbidity and mortality. Chronic alcohol consumption causes disruption of intestinal microflora homeostasis, intestinal tight junction barrier dysfunction, increased endotoxemia, and eventually liver steatosis/steatohepatitis. Probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) and the bacteria-free LGG culture supernatant (LGGs) have been shown to promote intestinal epithelial integrity and protect intestinal barrier function in ALD.

The crystal structure and upconversion properties of Yb³⁺, Er³⁺/Ho³⁺ codoped BaLiF₃ microcrystals with different morphologies.

A series of x mol% Yb(3+), 1 mol% Ho(3+)/1 mol% Er(3+) (0 ≤ x ≤ 25) codoped BaLiF3 microcrystals with different cubic morphologies and sizes (1.52 μm-3.83 μm) were synthesized by a facile surfactant-assisted hydrothermal-microemulsion approach for the first time.

Delivery of oligonucleotides with lipid nanoparticles.

Since their inception in the 1980s, oligonucleotide-based (ON-based) therapeutics have been recognized as powerful tools that can treat a broad spectrum of diseases. The discoveries of novel regulatory methods of gene expression with diverse mechanisms of action are still driving the development of novel ON-based therapeutics. Difficulties in the delivery of this class of therapeutics hinder their in vivo applications, which forces drug delivery systems to be a prerequisite for clinical translation.

In vitro transport mechanism of psoralen in a human placental cell line (BeWo cells).

The mechanism by which psoralen is transported across the placenta was investigated in the BeWo human placental cell line derived from choriocarcinoma in a transwell assay system using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry detection. Psoralen uptake by BeWo cells increased linearly over the concentration range of 0.01 µM to 100 µM (r (2) = 0.

Enhanced AMPK phosphorylation contributes to the beneficial effects of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG supernatant on chronic-alcohol-induced fatty liver disease.

Background: We have previously demonstrated that Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG culture supernatant (LGGs) prevents acute-alcohol-exposure-induced hepatic steatosis and injury. The protective effects of LGGs were attributed to the improved intestinal barrier function leading to decreased endotoxemia. The purpose of this study was to determine whether LGGs was effective in protecting against chronic-alcohol-induced hepatic steatosis and injury and to evaluate the underlying mechanisms of LGGs on hepatic lipid metabolism.

Infrared-induced variation of the magnetic properties of a magnetoplasmonic film with a 3D sub-micron periodic triangular roof-type antireflection structure.

A carbon-matrix nickel composite magnetoplasmonic film with a 3D sub-micron periodic triangular roof-type antireflection structure (SPTAS) was fabricated via a simple and promising method that combines chemosynthesis with biomimetic techniques. The Troides helena (Linnaeus) forewing (T_FW) was chosen as the biomimetic template. The carbon-matrix Ni wing fabricated via electroless Ni deposition for 6 h (CNMF_6h) exhibits enhanced infrared absorption.

Measuring the dynamics of cyclic adenosine monophosphate level in living cells induced by low-level laser irradiation using bioluminescence resonance energy transfer.

Several studies demonstrated that the cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), an important second messenger, is involved in the mechanism of low-level laser irradiation (LLLI) treatment. However, most of these studies obtained the cAMP level in cell culture extracts or supernatant. In this study, the cAMP level in living cells was measured with bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET).

Hepatic and fecal metabolomic analysis of the effects of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG on alcoholic fatty liver disease in mice.

The interactions among the gut, liver, and immune system play an important role in liver disease. Probiotics have been used for the treatment and prevention of many pathological conditions, including liver diseases. Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC×GC-TOF MS) was used herein, in conjunction with chemometric data analysis, to identify metabolites significantly affected by probiotics in mice fed with or without alcohol.

A novel Ce³⁺ activated Lu₃MgAl₃SiO₁₂ garnet phosphor for blue chip light-emitting diodes with excellent performance.

A novel Ce(3+) activated Lu3MgAl3SiO12:Ce phosphor was synthesized and found to crystallize in the garnet structure. The crystal structure of the synthesized phosphor has been characterised by X-ray diffraction and Rietveld refinement. Both room and high temperature photoluminescence spectra are utilized to investigate the luminescence properties and crystal field splitting.

Composite nanoparticles for gene delivery.

Nanoparticle-mediated gene and siRNA delivery has been an appealing area to gene therapists when they attempt to treat the diseases by manipulating the genetic information in the target cells. However, the advances in materials science could not keep up with the demand for multifunctional nanomaterials to achieve desired delivery efficiency. Researchers have thus taken an alternative approach to incorporate various materials into single composite nanoparticle using different fabrication methods.

[Electrophysiological study on the antiarrhythmic mechanism of ampelopsin in rats].

Objective: To explore the antiarrhythmic mechanism of ampelopsin through electrophysiological study in rats.

Methods: The in vivo experimental groups were as follows:control group, low-dose, middle-dose and high-dose group. Arrhythmia in rats was induced by aconitine injection, and then the antiarrhythmic effects of ampelopsin were studied.

Correlation between SNPs in CDH1 and gastric cancer in Chinese population.

Background: Many recent studies revealed that the single nucleotide polymorphisms have considerable effects on the susceptibility of cancer, such as prostate cancer, lung cancer and gastric cancer. The E-cadherin, a calcium-dependent transmembrane glycoprotein encoded by CDH1 gene, is critical for epithelial construction, intercellular adhesion and cell migration. Some associations have been reported between single nucleotide polymorphisms and gastric cancer in the Chinese population.

Identification and characterization of cold-responsive microRNAs in tea plant (Camellia sinensis) and their targets using high-throughput sequencing and degradome analysis.

Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are approximately 19 ~ 21 nucleotide noncoding RNAs produced by Dicer-catalyzed excision from stem-loop precursors. Many plant miRNAs have critical functions in development, nutrient homeostasis, abiotic stress responses, and pathogen responses via interaction with specific target mRNAs. Camellia sinensis is one of the most important commercial beverage crops in the world.

Ultrastructural features of ischemic tissue following application of a bio-membrane based progenitor cardiomyocyte patch for myocardial infarction repair.

Background And Objective: Implantation of cell-sheets into damaged regions of the heart after myocardial infarction (MI) has been shown to improve heart function. However, the tissue morphology following application of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cardiomyocytes (CM) has not been studied in detail at the level afforded by electron microscopy. We hypothesized that increasing the number of CM derived from iPSC would increase the effectiveness of cell-sheets used to treat ischemic cardiomyopathy.

MicroRNA-377 regulates mesenchymal stem cell-induced angiogenesis in ischemic hearts by targeting VEGF.

MicroRNAs have been appreciated in various cellular functions, including the regulation of angiogenesis. Mesenchymal-stem-cells (MSCs) transplanted to the MI heart improve cardiac function through paracrine-mediated angiogenesis. However, whether microRNAs regulate MSC induced angiogenesis remains to be clarified.

Overexpression of Camellia sinensis H1 histone gene confers abiotic stress tolerance in transgenic tobacco.

Overexpression of CsHis in tobacco promoted chromatin condensation, but did not affect the phenotype. It also conferred tolerance to low-temperature, high-salinity, ABA, drought and oxidative stress in transgenic tobacco. H1 histone, as a major structural protein of higher-order chromatin, is associated with stress responses in plants.

[Clinical research of safflower injection on hibernating myocardial revascularization].

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is one of the leading causes of death. Safflower attracts great attention owing to its anti-ischemia/reperfusion injury effect. Ninety-three patients with CAD were included and randomized into safflower treatment group, PCI group and control group.

Pharmacological characterization and therapeutic potential for the treatment of opioid abuse with ATPM-ET, an N-ethyl substituted aminothiazolomorphinan with κ agonist and μ agonist/antagonist activity.

We previously reported that the κ agonists with mixed μ activity could attenuate heroin self-administration with less potential to develop tolerance. The present study further investigated the effects of (-)-3-N-Ethylamino-thiazolo[5,4-b]-N-cyclopropylmethylmorphinan hydrochloride (ATPM-ET), a κ agonist and μ agonist/antagonist, on the acquisition and reinstatement of morphine-induced conditioned place preference (CPP), heroin self-administration and heroin-primed reinstatement of drug-seeking behavior. We found that ATPM-ET produced a longer duration of potent antinociceptive effects with less side effect of sedation.