Safety evaluation of human umbilical cord-mesenchymal stem cells in type 2 diabetes mellitus treatment: A phase 2 clinical trial.

Background: Progressive pancreatic β cell dysfunction is a fundamental aspect of the pathology underlying type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Recently, mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) transplantation has emerged as a new therapeutic method due to its ability to promote the regeneration of pancreatic β cells. However, current studies have focused on its efficacy, and there are few clinical studies on its safety.

[Consecutive 4-year Elevated Atmospheric CO on Shaped Microbial Communities in the Rhizosphere Soil of L. Seedlings Grown in Pb-contaminated Soils].

Elevated atmospheric CO could affect the speciation of heavy metals in rhizosphere soils by changing root exudates, thereby influencing soil microecosystem in the rhizosphere. Therefore, understanding the function of heavy metals in soils on rhizospheric ecology under elevated atmospheric CO scenarios is highly important. Here, we investigated the combined effects of a four-year period of elevated air CO concentrations[(700±27) μmol·L] and Pb-contamination (15.

, a new species of Gesneriaceae from Southern Gansu Province, China.

is a new species of Gesneriaceae from Gansu, China and is described and illustrated here. It is morphologically similar to , and , but those congeners of this new taxon can be distinguished by several salient characters. A description of , together with illustrations and photos, are presented.

Brain injury in combination with tacrolimus promotes the regeneration of injured peripheral nerves.

Both brain injury and tacrolimus have been reported to promote the regeneration of injured peripheral nerves. In this study, before transection of rat sciatic nerve, moderate brain contusion was (or was not) induced. After sciatic nerve injury, tacrolimus, an immunosuppressant, was (or was not) intraperitoneally administered.

Puerarin Prevents LPS-Induced Osteoclast Formation and Bone Loss via Inhibition of Akt Activation.

Osteolysis induced by chronic Gram-negative bacterial infection underlies many bone diseases such as osteomyelitis, septic arthritis, and periodontitis. Drugs that inhibit lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced osteolysis are critically needed for the prevention of bone destruction in infective bone diseases. In this study, we assessed the effect of puerarin, a natural isoflavone isolated from Pueraria lobata OHWI root, on LPS-induced osteoclastogenesis and bone loss.

Hypoglycemic effect of D-chiro-inositol in type 2 diabetes mellitus rats through the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

In this investigation, a model of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) was used on Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats to clarify more details of the mechanism in the therapy of T2DM. D-chiro-inositol (DCI) was administrated to the diabetic rats as two doses [30, 60 mg/(kg·body weight·day)]. The biochemical indices revealed that DCI had a positive effect on hypoglycemic activity and promoted the glycogen synthesis.

The longitudinal epineural incision and complete nerve transection method for modeling sciatic nerve injury.

Injury severity, operative technique and nerve regeneration are important factors to consider when constructing a model of peripheral nerve injury. Here, we present a novel peripheral nerve injury model and compare it with the complete sciatic nerve transection method. In the experimental group, under a microscope, a 3-mm longitudinal incision was made in the epineurium of the sciatic nerve to reveal the nerve fibers, which were then transected.

Rapid, high-throughput tracking of bacterial motility in 3D via phase-contrast holographic video microscopy.

Tracking fast-swimming bacteria in three dimensions can be extremely challenging with current optical techniques and a microscopic approach that can rapidly acquire volumetric information is required. Here, we introduce phase-contrast holographic video microscopy as a solution for the simultaneous tracking of multiple fast moving cells in three dimensions. This technique uses interference patterns formed between the scattered and the incident field to infer the three-dimensional (3D) position and size of bacteria.

Crystal structure of Der f 7, a dust mite allergen from Dermatophagoides farinae.

Background: Der f 7 is the group 7 allergen from the dust mite Dermatophagoides farinae, homologous to the major allergen Der p 7 from D. pteronyssinus. Monoclonal antibody that bind to residues Leu48 and Phe50 was found to inhibit IgE binding to residue Asp159, which is important for the cross-reactivity between Der f 7 and Der p 7.

NMR structure and IgE epitopes of Blo t 21, a major dust mite allergen from Blomia tropicalis.

Blo t 21 is a paralogue of the group 5 allergen, Blo t 5, a major allergen from the dust mite Blomia tropicalis. Blo t 21 has moderate sequence identity (40.7%) to Blo t 5 and low to moderate cross-reactivity to Blo t 5.

Identification and functional characterization of a putative 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 12 in abalone (Haliotis diversicolor supertexta).

The 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases (17β-HSDs) are key enzymes in the downstream process of steroid hormone biosynthesis. To date, relatively little is known about the role of 17β-HSDs in marine gastropods. In the present study, a putative cDNA sequence encoding type 12 17β-HSD (17β-HSD-12) was identified in abalone (Haliotis diversicolor supertexta).

[The study of effects and mechanism of U50, 488H on electrical coupling during ischemia in the perfused isolated rat heart].

Objective: To determine the effect of activation of lambda-opioid receptor with U50, 488H, a selective kappa-opioid receptor agonist, on the changes in electrical coupling during prolonged ischemia and to explore the possible mechanism.

Methods: The isolated rat heart was perfused in a Langendorff apparatus. The effect of U50, 488H on electrical coupling parameters including onset of uncoupling, plateau time, slope and fold increase in r(t) was observed in isolated perfused rat heart subjected to global no-flow ischemia.

Innate immune parameters and haemolymph protein expression profile to evaluate the immunotoxicity of tributyltin on abalone (Haliotis diversicolor supertexta).

The immunotoxicity of tributyltin (TBT) on marine gastropods has been comparatively little studied although risks to wildlife associated with this compound are well known. In this study, a 30-day trial was conducted to evaluate the immunotoxic effects on abalone (Haliotis diversicolor supertexta) by exposing a range of doses of TBT (0, 2, 10, and 50 ng/L). Innate immune parameters, including phagocytic ability (PA), lysozyme activity, phenoloxidase (PO) level and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were monitored at intervals of 5, 15 and 30 days.

A proteomics based approach to assessing the toxicity of bisphenol A and diallyl phthalate to the abalone (Haliotis diversicolor supertexta).

The contamination of marine ecosystems by endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) is of great concern. Protein expression profile maybe a good method to help us understand the molecular mechanisms of EDCs-toxicity to aquatic organisms. In this study, the abalone (Haliotis diversicolor supertexta), was selected as the target organism.

Preparation and PEGylation of exendin-4 peptide secreted from yeast Pichia pastoris.

Exendin-4, a peptide analogue of glucagon-like peptide (GLP-1), has been developed for treatment of type 2 diabetes. Herein, the secretive exendin-4 peptide, expressed by methanol induction in Pichia pastoris, was purified to near homogeneity by Ni-NTA agarose chromatography. 103.

Nuclear magnetic resonance structure and IgE epitopes of Blo t 5, a major dust mite allergen.

A high incidence of sensitization to Blomia tropicalis, the predominant house dust mite species in tropical regions, is strongly associated with allergic diseases in Singapore, Malaysia, and Brazil. IgE binding to the group 5 allergen, Blo t 5, is found to be the most prevalent among all B. tropicalis allergens.

Identification and characterization of a novel allergen from Blomia tropicalis: Blo t 21.

Background: Allergenic components from Blomia tropicalis are important triggers of allergies in the tropics.

Objective: We sought to identify and characterize a novel allergen, Blo t 21, from B tropicalis.

Methods: Blo t 21 was initially identified from an expressed sequence tag database generated from a B tropicalis cDNA library.