Cytocompatible performance of thermosensitive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) nanoparticles.

The development of biomedical materials with biocompatibility, especially cytocompatibility, is the frontal research field for material science, biology, medicine, pharmacology and related interdisciplines. We have successfully synthesized a new biomedical material, PNIPAM-g-P(NIPAMco-St) (PNNS) core-shell nanoparticles, and investigated its thermosensitive and fluorescent properties. In order to evaluate the cytocompatibility of the PNNS nanoparticles, the effect of the PNNS nanoparticles on the human ether-àgo-go-related gene (hERG) K(+) channel in HEK-293 cells was investigated for the first time with the inverted fluorescence microscope and the whole-cell patch-clamp technique.

Modeling animal-vehicle collisions considering animal-vehicle interactions.

Animal-Vehicle Collisions (AVCs) have been a major safety problem in the United States over the past decades. Counter measures against AVCs are urgently needed for traffic safety and wildlife conservation. To better understand the AVCs, a variety of data analysis and statistical modeling techniques have been developed.

Novel polyurethane ionomer nanoparticles displayed a good biosensor effection.

This study described the bioelectrochemistry property of hemoglobin (Hb) on biopolymer film of polyurethane ionomer nanoparticles (PUI-NPs) noncovalently functionalized with multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The polyurethane ionomer nanoparticles (PUI-NPs) were synthesized by emulsion polymerization, and could provide a good biocompatible microenvironment for Hb immobilization. The characteristic of (PUI-NPs)/MWCNTs and Hb/(PUI-NPs)/MWCNTs composite films were performed by using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and circular dichroism (CD).

Measurement of 10B content in thin-film 10B samples.

Two thin-film (10)B samples on tantalum backings were made for measurement of cross sections of the (10)B(n,α)(7)Li reaction in the MeV neutron energy region. The number of (10)B atoms in the samples was determined using the relative comparison method by detecting alpha and triton particles from thermal neutron induced nuclear reactions of (10)B(n(th),α)(7)Li and (6)Li(n(th),t)(4)He with a (6)LiF sample as the reference. A twin gridded ionization chamber was used as the detector of charged particles.

Lipopolysaccharide pretreatment protects against ischemia/reperfusion injury via increase of HSP70 and inhibition of NF-κB.

It has been reported that pretreatment of rats with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) increases myocardial functional recovery in ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) hearts. However, the mechanisms by which LPS induces cardioprotection against I/R injury have not been fully elucidated. In this study, we pretreated rats with LPS (1.

Ion sensing in the RCK1 domain of BK channels.

BK-type K(+) channels are activated by voltage and intracellular Ca(2+), which is important in modulating muscle contraction, neural transmission, and circadian pacemaker output. Previous studies suggest that the cytosolic domain of BK channels contains two different Ca(2+) binding sites, but the molecular composition of one of the sites is not completely known. Here we report, by systematic mutagenesis studies, the identification of E535 as part of this Ca(2+) binding site.

An epilepsy/dyskinesia-associated mutation enhances BK channel activation by potentiating Ca2+ sensing.

Ca(2+)-activated BK channels modulate neuronal activities, including spike frequency adaptation and synaptic transmission. Previous studies found that Ca(2+)-binding sites and the activation gate are spatially separated in the channel protein, but the mechanism by which Ca(2+) binding opens the gate over this distance remains unknown. By studying an Asp-to-Gly mutation (D434G) associated with human syndrome of generalized epilepsy and paroxysmal dyskinesia (GEPD), we show that a cytosolic motif immediately following the activation gate S6 helix, known as the AC region, mediates the allosteric coupling between Ca(2+) binding and channel opening.

The effect of hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha on hypoxia-induced apoptosis in primary neonatal rat ventricular myocytes.

Aim: To study the role of hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1alpha) on hypoxia-induced apoptosis in primary neonatal rat ventricular myocytes.

Methods: Primary neonatal rat ventricular myocytes were exposed to hypoxia for 24 hours. HIF-1alpha activity was suppressed by treating the cells with 3-(5'-hydroxymethyl-2'- furyl)-1-benzyl indazole (YC-1).

Optimization of microwave-assisted extraction followed by RP-HPLC for the simultaneous determination of oleanolic acid and ursolic acid in the fruits of Chaenomeles sinensis.

An optimized microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) method and an efficient HPLC analysis method were developed for fast extraction and simultaneous determination of oleanolic acid and ursolic acid in the fruit of Chaenomeles sinensis. The open vessel MAE process was optimized by using a central composite experimental design. The optimal conditions identified were microwave power 600 W, temperature 52 degrees C, solvent to material ratio 32 mL/g and extraction time 7 min.

Cross section measurement for the (95)Mo(n, alpha)(92)Zr reaction at 4.0, 5.0 and 6.0MeV.

Measurements of cross sections of the (95)Mo(n, alpha)(92)Zr reaction at E(n)=4.0, 5.0 and 6.

Lipopolysaccharide preconditioning enhances the efficacy of mesenchymal stem cells transplantation in a rat model of acute myocardial infarction.

Background: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)-based regenerative therapy is currently regarded as an alternative approach to salvage the acute myocardial infarcted hearts. However, the efficiency of MSCs transplantation is limited by lower survival rate of engrafted MSCs. In previous study, we found that 1.

Activation of Slo1 BK channels by Mg2+ coordinated between the voltage sensor and RCK1 domains.

The voltage-sensor domain (VSD) and the ligand sensor (cytoplasmic domain) of BK channels synergistically control channel activities, thereby integrating electrical and chemical signals for cell function. Studies show that intracellular Mg2+ mediates the interaction between these sensory domains to activate the channel through an electrostatic interaction with the VSD. Here we report that Mg2+ binds to a site that consists of amino acid side chains from both the VSD (Asp99 and Asn172) and the cytoplasmic domain (Glu374 and Glu399).

Measurement of cross sections for the 147Sm(n, alpha)144Nd reaction at 5.0 and 6.0 MeV.

Cross sections of the (147)Sm(n, alpha)(144)Nd reaction were measured at En=5.0 and 6.0MeV.

Cross-section measurement for the 10B(n, alpha)7Li reaction at 4.0 and 5.0 MeV.

Cross-sections of the (10)B(n, alpha)(7)Li reaction were measured at En=4.0 and 5.0 MeV.

Subunit-specific effect of the voltage sensor domain on Ca2+ sensitivity of BK channels.

Large conductance Ca(2+)- and voltage-activated K(+) (BK) channels, composed of pore-forming alpha-subunits and auxiliary beta-subunits, play important roles in diverse physiological processes. The differences in BK channel phenotypes are primarily due to the tissue-specific expression of beta-subunits (beta1-beta4) that modulate channel function differently. Yet, the molecular basis of the subunit-specific regulation is not clear.

Measurement of neutron capture cross sections for 141Pr from 0.5 to 1.6 MeV.

Cross sections of 141Pr(n,gamma) 142Pr reaction are measured at neutron energies of 0.54, 1.09 and 1.

The 4.438 MeV gamma to neutron ratio for the Am-Be neutron source.

An accurate measurement of the 4.438 MeV gamma-ray to total neutron ratio, namely R=Sgamma/Sn, for a Chinese-made Am-Be neutron source is described. The neutron strength of the source relative to a previously standardized source was determined by the manganese bath technique.

[The hemodynamic effect of dobutamine stress on myocardial bridging-mural coronary artery].

Objective: Patient with myocardial bridging (MB) usually has a benign prognosis, but some MB patients might experience myocardial ischemia, infarction and sudden cardiac death, especially during active physical activities. The purpose of the study was to study the stress-induced blood flow changes of the mural coronary artery in MB patients determined by intracoronary Doppler.

Methods: In 8 patients with MB, the basic average peak velocity (bAPV), hyperemic average peak velocity (hAPV) of blood flow, coronary flow reverse (CFR) proximal and distal to the mural coronary artery were measured before and during intravenously dobutamine (10 microg kg-1 min-1, then add 10 microg kg-1 min-1 at 3 min interval till 40 microg kg-1 min-1) by intracoronary Doppler.

[Design and manufacture of mechanic modeling of fluid dynamics related to the myocardial bridging and mural coronary artery].

A model of fluid dynamics related to the myocardial bridginged and mural coronary artery was designed and manufactured according to the physical principle and characteristic of the mural coronary artery. The model can imitate systematically well the effect of myocardial bridging on hemodynamic change of the mural coronary artery under different controlled experimental parameter. The methodology is proved to be feasible and has good prosperity of experimental study.

[The effect of esmolol on hemodynamic of the myocardial bridging-mural mural coronary artery].

Objective: To assess the effect of beta blocker on blood flow velocity and reserve on the intramural coronary artery of patients with myocardial bridging.

Methods: In 8 patients with myocardial bridge, intracoronary Doppler was performed before and after esmolol was given intravenously. The basic average peak velocity (bAPV), hyperaemic average peak velocity (hAPV) of blood flow, and coronary flow reserve (CFR) proximal and distal to the mural myocardial bridging was measured and compared.

[Effects of lead on NO, NOS, SOD, MDA in rat cerebral cortex].

Unlabelled: To study the effects of lead exposure on nitric oxide (NO), nitric oxide synthase (NOS), super oxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in cerebral cortex of rats, Wistar rats are exposed to lead from drinking 0, 18.4, 184 mg/L lead acetate solution respectively.

Results: Cerebral cortex NOS activity in low and high-dosed lead exposure groups are significantly increased at the time of 7 days (P < 0.

Tuning the redox chemistry of 4-benzoyl-N-methylpyridinium cations through para substitution. Hammett linear free energy relationships and the relative aptitude of the two-electron reduced forms for H-bonding.

In anhydrous CH3CN a series of nine 4-(4-substituted-benzoyl)-N-methylpyridinium cations (substituent: -OCH3, -CH3, -H, -SCH3, -Br, -Ctbd1;CH, -CHO, -NO2, and -(+)S(CH3)2) demonstrate two chemically reversible, well-separated one-electron (1-e) reductions in the same potential range as other main stream redox catalysts such as quinones and viologens. Hammett linear free energy plots yield excellent correlation between the E(1/2) values of both waves and the substituent constants sigma(p)(-)(X). The reaction constants for the two 1-e reductions are rho(1) = 2.