A multifunctional Schiff base as a fluorescence sensor for Fe and Zn ions, and a colorimetric sensor for Cu and applications.

Chemosensors play important parts in the selective recognition of ions, which is widely applied in various fields of environment, industry and biological sciences. In this work, a chemosensor for multi-metal ions based on rhodamine B derivative was synthesized, which could selectively recognize various metal ions in different solvent system. The addition of Cu caused the color change from colorless to pink in EtOH/HO (v/v=1:1) solvent system, which could be quickly identified by the naked eyes with a detection limit of 8.

Optimization of the formation of embedded multicellular spheroids of MCF-7 cells: How to reliably produce a biomimetic 3D model.

To obtain a multicellular MCF-7 spheroid model to mimic the three-dimensional (3D) of tumors, the microwell liquid overlay (A) and hanging-drop/agar (B) methods were first compared for their technical parameters. Then a method for embedding spheroids within collagen was optimized. For method A, centrifugation assisted cells form irregular aggregates but not spheroids.

Histone modifications facilitate the coexpression of bidirectional promoters in rice.

Background: Bidirectional gene pairs are highly abundant and mostly co-regulated in eukaryotic genomes. The structural features of bidirectional promoters (BDPs) have been well studied in yeast, humans and plants. However, the underlying mechanisms responsible for the coexpression of BDPs remain understudied, especially in plants.

Anti-inflammatory activities of essential oil isolated from the calyx of Hibiscus sabdariffa L.

Hibiscus sabdariffa Linn., belonging to the family of Malvaceae, is considered to be a plant with health care applications in China. The main purpose of this study was to analyze the composition of its essential oil and assess its potential therapeutic effect on anti-inflammatory activity.

Limb-salvage treatment of en-block resected distal femoral tumors with endoprosthesis of all-polyethylene tibial component: a 9-year follow-up study.

Objective: To evaluate the medium-term outcome of limb-salvage surgery using all-polyethylene tibial endoprosthetic replacement following en-block resection for distal femoral tumors.

Methods: Forty-nine patients with distal femoral tumor were treated between June 2006 and June 2012. The follow-up period was 6-110 months (average 53.

Optical nonsubsampled contourlet transform.

The nonsubsampled contourlet transform (NSCT) is a fully shift-invariant, multiscale, and multidirectional expansion implemented in optics using the Fourier transform of its filters. In this paper, we propose a novel optical NSCT filter design method and the corresponding post-processing method to avoid the use of holographic techniques. The novel optical NSCT filter has real and non-negative Fourier transforms.

Differential deposition of H2A.Z in combination with histone modifications within related genes in Oryza sativa callus and seedling.

As a histone variant, H2A.Z is highly conserved among species and plays a significant role in diverse cellular processes. Here, we generated genome-wide maps of H2A.

Development of protocatechualdehyde proliposomes-based sustained-release pellets with improved bioavailability and desired pharmacokinetic behavior for angina chronotherapy.

The present study was aimed to develope a proliposomal formulation to decrease the hepatic first-pass metabolism of protocatechualdehyde (PD), followed by pellet coating to modify the drug release for angina chronotherapy. PD proliposomes were prepared by depositing PD-phospholipid complex on mannitol powders to improve the drug encapsulation. Afterwards, the PD proliposomes were prepared into pellet cores via extrusion-spheronization using 10% κ-carrageenan as pelletization aid prior to the development of PD sustained-release pellets (PD-SRPs).

Functional characterization of open chromatin in bidirectional promoters of rice.

Bidirectional gene pairs tend to be highly coregulated and function in similar biological processes in eukaryotic genomes. Structural features and functional consequences of bidirectional promoters (BDPs) have received considerable attention among diverse species. However, the underlying mechanisms responsible for the bidirectional transcription and coexpression of BDPs remain poorly understood in plants.

Synergistic effects of baicalein with cefotaxime against Klebsiella pneumoniae through inhibiting CTX-M-1 gene expression.

Background: Generation of extended- spectrum β- lactamases is one of the major mechanisms by which clinical Klebsiella pneumoniae develop resistance to antibiotics. Combined antibiotics prove to be a relatively effective method of controlling such resistant strains. Some of Chinese herbal active ingredients are known to have synergistic antibacterial effects.

A locking compression plate as an external fixator for treating infected nonunion of the humeral diaphysis.

Background: Infected nonunion of the humeral diaphysis is a challenging problem for orthopedic surgeons. This study aimed to evaluate the outcome of using a locking compression plate (LCP) as a definitive external fixator in the management of infected nonunion of the humeral diaphysis after failure of internal fixation.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed a series of seven patients with infected nonunion of the humeral diaphysis treated with an LCP as an external fixator between June 2010 and August 2014.

[Clinical Significance of Hip Rotation Center Location after Reconstruction with Modular Hemipelvic Prostheses for Pelvic Tumor].

Objective: To investigatethe clinical significance of hip rotation center location after reconstruction with modular hemipelvic prostheses for periacetabula tumors.

Methods: Forty-two patients who received periacetabular tumor resection and reconstruction with modular hemipelvic prosthesis between January 2004 and January 2014 in our institute were included. Postoperative complications, function (measured by MSTS score), survival rate and recurrence rate were analyzed.

A High-Capacity Adenoviral Hybrid Vector System Utilizing the Hyperactive Sleeping Beauty Transposase SB100X for Enhanced Integration.

For efficient delivery of required genetic elements we utilized high-capacity adenoviral vectors in the past allowing high transgene capacities of up to 36 kb. Previously we explored the hyperactive Sleeping Beauty (SB) transposase (HSB5) for somatic integration from the high-capacity adenoviral vectors genome. To further improve this hybrid vector system we hypothesized that the previously described hyperactive SB transposase SB100X will result in significantly improved efficacies after transduction of target cells.

[Curve fitting and estimates of the cumulative rice consumption of resident in Dayu County of Jiangxi Province].

Objective: To explore the method for estimating the cumulative staple food intake of resident.

Methods: A curve fitting equation based on three dietary survey data of resident in Dayu County of Jiangxi Province was established.

Results: The equation were y =- 0.

Advances in the enzymatic production of L-hexoses.

Rare sugars have recently drawn attention because of their potential applications and huge market demands in the food and pharmaceutical industries. All L-hexoses are considered rare sugars, as they rarely occur in nature and are thus very expensive. L-Hexoses are important components of biologically relevant compounds as well as being used as precursors for certain pharmaceutical drugs and thus play an important role in the pharmaceutical industry.

Improving the Thermostability and Catalytic Efficiency of the d-Psicose 3-Epimerase from Clostridium bolteae ATCC BAA-613 Using Site-Directed Mutagenesis.

d-Psicose is a highly valuable rare sugar because of its excellent physiological properties and commercial potential. d-Psicose 3-epimerase (DPEase) is the key enzyme catalyzing the isomerization of d-fructose to d-psicose. However, the poor thermostability and low catalytic efficiency are serious constraints on industrial application.

Improving drug retention in liposomes by aging with the aid of glucose.

This paper describes a novel method to improve drug retention in liposomes for the poorly water-soluble (lipophilic) model drug asulacrine (ASL). ASL was loaded in the aqueous phase of liposomes and the effects of aging conditions and drug loading levels on drug retention were investigated using an in vitro bio-relevant drug release test established in this study. The status of intra-liposomal drug was investigated using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and cryo-transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM).

Using tDCS to Explore the Role of the Right Temporo-Parietal Junction in Theory of Mind and Cognitive Empathy.

The right temporo-parietal junction (rTPJ) is thought to be closely related to theory of mind (ToM) and cognitive empathy. In the present study, we investigated whether these socio-cognitive abilities could be modulated with non-invasive transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) of the rTPJ. Participants received anodal (excitatory), cathodal (inhibitory), or sham stimulation before performing a social cognitive task which included inferring other's intention (the ToM condition) and inferring other's emotion (the cognitive empathy condition).

[Identification and analysis of the NAC transcription factor family in Triticum urartu].

NAC transcription factors are one of plant-specific gene families with diverse functions, and they regulate plant development, organ formation and stress responses. Currently, the researches about NAC transcription factors mainly focus on model plants, Arabidopsis and rice, whereas such studies are hardly reported in wheat and other plants. In this study, the full-length coding sequences (CDS) of NAC transcription factors from Triticum urartu (TuNAC) were identified through bioinformatic analysis.

Antidifferentiation Noncoding RNA Regulates the Proliferation of Osteosarcoma Cells.

Background: Antidifferentiation noncoding RNA (ANCR), a newly identified long noncoding RNA (lncRNA), plays a critical role for stem cells to maintain undifferentiated cell state. However, the functions of ANCR in human cancers have not been reported. This study is designed to explore the role of ANCR in osteosarcoma.

[Tubacin promotes Foxp3 expression and suppressive function of mouse CD4+;CD25+; regulatory T cells].

Objective: To observe the changes of fork head transcription factor (Foxp3) expressions and suppressive functions of mouse regulatory T cells (Tregs) after stimulated by tubacin (histone deacetylase 6 inhibitor) in vitro.

Methods: CD4(+) CD25(+) T and CD4(+) CD25(-) T cells were gained from C57BL/6J mouse spleen lymphocytes by double positive magnetic bead sorting method. Natural Tregs (nTregs) and transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1)-induced Tregs (iTregs) were stimulated by tubacin in vitro.

Novel naproxen/esomeprazole magnesium compound pellets based on acid-independent mechanism: in vitro and in vivo evaluation.

The purpose of this study was to develop the novel naproxen/esomeprazole magnesium compound pellets (novel-NAP/EMZ) depending on EMZ acid-independent mechanism which has been proved to be predominate in the mechanism of co-therapy with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug. The novel-NAP/EMZ compound pellets, composed of NAP colon-specific pellets (NAP-CSPs) and EMZ modified-release pellets (EMZ-MRPs), were prepared by fluid-bed coating technology with desired in vitro release profiles. The resulting pellets were filled into hard gelatin capsules for in vivo evaluation in rats and compared with the reference compound pellets, consisted of NAP enteric-coated pellets (NAP-ECPs) and EMZ immediate-release pellets (EMZ-IRPs).

L-Rhamnose isomerase and its use for biotechnological production of rare sugars.

L-Rhamnose isomerase (L-RI, EC 5.3.1.

Cloning and Large-Scale Production of High-Capacity Adenoviral Vectors Based on the Human Adenovirus Type 5.

High-capacity adenoviral vectors (HCAdV) devoid of all viral coding sequences represent one of the most advanced gene delivery vectors due to their high packaging capacity (up to 35 kb), low immunogenicity and low toxicity. However, for many laboratories the use of HCAdV is hampered by the complicated procedure for vector genome construction and virus production. Here, a detailed protocol for efficient cloning and production of HCAdV based on the plasmid pAdFTC containing the HCAdV genome is described.

Blood Glucose Fluctuations in Type 2 Diabetes Patients Treated with Multiple Daily Injections.

To compare blood glucose fluctuations in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients were treated using three procedures: insulin intensive therapy which is continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII), MDI3 (three injections daily), and MDI4 (four injections daily). T2DM patients were hospitalized and were randomly assigned to CSII, aspart 30-based MDI3, and glargine based MDI4. Treatments were maintained for 2-3 weeks after the glycaemic target was reached.