Dopamine transporter phosphorylation site threonine 53 is stimulated by amphetamines and regulates dopamine transport, efflux, and cocaine analog binding.

The dopamine transporter (DAT) controls the spatial and temporal dynamics of dopamine neurotransmission through reuptake of extracellular transmitter and is a target for addictive compounds such as cocaine, amphetamine (AMPH), and methamphetamine (METH). Reuptake is regulated by kinase pathways and drug exposure, allowing for fine-tuning of clearance in response to specific conditions, and here we examine the impact of transporter ligands on DAT residue Thr-53, a proline-directed phosphorylation site previously implicated in AMPH-stimulated efflux mechanisms. Our findings show that Thr-53 phosphorylation is stimulated in a transporter-dependent manner by AMPH and METH in model cells and rat striatal synaptosomes, and in striatum of rats given subcutaneous injection of METH.

Clinical Analysis of Unicentric Castleman's Disease with Paraneoplastic Pemphigus and Bronchiolitis Obliterans.

Objective To investigate the clinical features of unicentric Castleman's disease(UCD)with paraneoplastic pemphigus(PNP)and bronchiolitis obliterans(BO).Method Data of UCD patients with PNP and BO from Peking Union Medical College Hospital were retrospectively analyzed,along with literatures review. Results Totally 23 cases(11 males and 12 females)were enrolled.

Sirt6 deficiency exacerbates podocyte injury and proteinuria through targeting Notch signaling.

Podocyte injury is a major determinant of proteinuric kidney disease and the identification of potential therapeutic targets for preventing podocyte injury has clinical importance. Here, we show that histone deacetylase Sirt6 protects against podocyte injury through epigenetic regulation of Notch signaling. Sirt6 is downregulated in renal biopsies from patients with podocytopathies and its expression correlates with glomerular filtration rate.

ApoE rs429358 and rs7412 Polymorphism and Gender Differences of Serum Lipid Profile and Cognition in Aging Chinese Population.

ApoE gene polymorphism has been reportedly associated with serum lipids and cognition. However, very few studies have explored the combined effects of ApoE gene polymorphism and gender on serum lipid profile with subsequent impacts on cognition in Chinese population. A total of 1,000 Chinese community dwellers aged 55 years and above were recruited in this cross-sectional study.

A Five-year Surveillance of Carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae in a Pediatric Hospital in China Reveals Increased Predominance of NDM-1.

Objective: To characterize carbapenem (CPM)-non-susceptible Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) and carbape-nemase produced by these strains isolated from Beijing Children's Hospital based on a five-year surveillance.

Methods: The Minimal Inhibition Concentration values for 15 antibiotics were assessed using the Phonix100 compact system.

Synthesis of novel flavonoid alkaloids as α-glucosidase inhibitors.

A series of novel flavonoid alkaloids were synthesized with different flavonoids and attached nitrogen-containing moieties. These new compounds were screened for inhibitory activity of α-glucosidase, among which compound 23 was found to show the lowest IC of 4.13μM.

The spectrum of biopsy-proven secondary glomerular diseases: A cross-sectional study in China .

Aims: The distribution of the spectrum of chronic kidney disease (CKD) has been found to vary with time. Limited information is available regarding the changing spectrum of secondary glomerular diseases (SGDs). To further investigate changes in the spectrum of SGDs, we performed a cross-sectional study.

A compact Class D RF power amplifier for mobile nuclear magnetic resonance systems.

A 20 MHz Class D amplifier with an output of 100 W of RF power has been developed. The compact size printed circuit board area of 50 cm and efficiency of 73% make it suitable for mobile nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) systems. Test results show that the rise and ring down times of the amplifier are less than 0.

Cell damage and apoptosis in the hepatopancreas of Eriocheir sinensis induced by cadmium.

Cadmium (Cd) is one of the most common pollutants in the environment and it is known to cause a range of tissue damages and apoptosis in invertebrates. In this study, we investigated the effect of Cd on the hepatopancreas of the crab Eriocheir sinensis, a commercially and ecologically important species of crustacean. The crabs were first exposed to water containing different concentrations of Cd (0, 0.

Deep Brain Magnetic Stimulation Promotes Neurogenesis and Restores Cholinergic Activity in a Transgenic Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by progressive decline of memory and cognitive functions. Deep magnetic stimulation (DMS), a noninvasive and nonpharmacological brain stimulation, has been reported to alleviate stress-related cognitive impairment in neuropsychiatric disorders. Our previous study also discovered the preventive effect of DMS on cognitive decline in an AD mouse model.

Association of , , , and gene polymorphisms with risk of idiopathic male infertility in a Han Chinese population.

In this study, we investigated the association between six genetic polymorphisms ( C677T and A1298C, -94ins/del ATTG, 3'UTR A>G, A386G (T54A) and T3801C) and the risk of idiopathic male infertility in a Chinese population. A case-control study comprising 1,759 idiopathic male infertile patients of Han Chinese ethnicity and 1,826 healthy fertile control individuals was carried out. Genotypes of all polymorphisms were determined via PCR-RFLP.

Characteristics of Chinese Costal Cartilage and Costa Calcification Using Dual-Energy Computed Tomography Imaging.

To assess characteristics of Chinese costal cartilage and costa calcification using Dual-Energy computed tomography(DECT). 154 patients who underwent chest DECT scanning were included in our study. They were divided into following groups: less than 30 years old, 31-40 years old, 41-50 years old, 51-60 years old and over 60 years old.

A Magnetically Actuated Microscaffold Containing Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Articular Cartilage Repair.

This study proposes a magnetically actuated microscaffold with the capability of targeted mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) delivery for articular cartilage regeneration. The microscaffold, as a 3D porous microbead, is divided into body and surface portions according to its materials and fabrication methods. The microscaffold body, which consists of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), is formed through water-in-oil-in-water emulsion templating, and its surface is coated with amine functionalized magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) via amino bond formation.

The protective effect of astaxanthin on learning and memory deficits and oxidative stress in a mouse model of repeated cerebral ischemia/reperfusion.

Oxidative stress has been implicated in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders, such as vascular cognitive impairment (VCI). The present study was performed to investigate the potential neuroprotective effect of the antioxidant astaxanthin (ATX) in a mouse model of VCI. VCI was induced in male ICR mice by repeated occlusion of the bilateral common carotid artery, leading to repeated cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (IR) injury.

Fucoxanthin Inhibits β-Amyloid Assembly and Attenuates β-Amyloid Oligomer-Induced Cognitive Impairments.

β-Amyloid (Aβ) can form aggregates through self-assembly and produce neurotoxicity in the early stage of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Therefore, the inhibition of Aβ assembly is considered as the primary target for AD therapy. In this study, we reported that fucoxanthin, a marine carotenoid, potently reduced the formation of Aβ fibrils and oligomers.

LncRNA MALAT1 is dysregulated in diabetic nephropathy and involved in high glucose-induced podocyte injury via its interplay with β-catenin.

Metastasis associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1(MALAT1) is a long non-coding RNA, broadly expressed in mammalian tissues including kidney and up-regulated in a variety of cancer cells. To date, its functions in podocytes are largely unknown. β-catenin is a key mediator in the canonical and non-canonical Wnt signalling pathway; its aberrant expression promotes podocyte malfunction and albuminuria, and contributes to kidney fibrosis.

A facile mechanochemical route to a covalently bonded graphitic carbon nitride (g-CN) and fullerene hybrid toward enhanced visible light photocatalytic hydrogen production.

Graphitic carbon nitride (g-CN) as an emerging two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterial has been commonly used as a metal-free photocatalyst with potential applications in visible light photocatalytic water-splitting. However, the photocatalytic activity of g-CN is quite low due to its relatively large band gap and the existence of contact resistance between the nanosheets. Herein we report for the first time the facile synthesis of a covalently bonded g-CN/C hybrid via a solid-state mechanochemical route and its application in photocatalytic hydrogen production under visible light.

Application of dead space fraction to titrate optimal positive end-expiratory pressure in an ARDS swine model.

This study aimed to apply the dead space fraction [ratio of dead space to tidal volume (VD/VT)] to titrate the optimal positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) in a swine model of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Twelve swine models of ARDS were constructed. A lung recruitment maneuver was then conducted and the PEEP was set at 20 cm HO.

Synergetic Neuroprotective Effect of Docosahexaenoic Acid and Aspirin in SH-Y5Y by Inhibiting miR-21 and Activating RXRα and PPARα.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a serious neurodegenerative disorder that lacks effective therapeutic methods. In this research, expressions of PPARα, RXRα, and miR-21 were evaluated in PD patients and normal controls. To investigate the effects of miR-21, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and aspirin (ASA) on PD, as well as the relationships between them, SH-Y5Y cells were treated with DHA, ASA, or both for 24 h.

Protective effects of tacrolimus on podocytes in early diabetic nephropathy in rats.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the protective effect of tacrolimus on early podocyte damage in rats with diabetic nephropathy (DN). A total of 38 normal male Sprague‑Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: Normal control group (group N; n=8), DN group (n=10), tacrolimus (FK506) treatment group (group F; n=10), benazepril (Lotensin) treatment group (group L; n=10). The rats in groups DN, F and L were administered with streptozotocin (STZ; 60 mg/kg) by intraperitoneal injection to establish the diabetic rat model.

Vegetable and fruit juice enhances antioxidant capacity and regulates antioxidant gene expression in rat liver, brain and colon.

To explore the effect of fruit and vegetable (FV) juice on biomarkers of oxidative damage and antioxidant gene expression in rats, 36 adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into control, low FV juice dosage or high FV juice dosage treatment groups. The rats were given freshly extracted FV juice or the same volume of saline water daily for five weeks. After intervention, serum and tissues specimens were collected for biomarker and gene expression measurement.

A Novel Immunosuppressor, (5R)-5-Hydroxytriptolide, Alleviates Movement Disorder and Neuroinflammation in a 6-OHDA Hemiparkinsonian Rat Model.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is one of the most common age-related neurodegenerative diseases. Promising therapies for PD still need to be explored. Immune dysfunction has been found to be involved in PD pathogenesis.

[Study of polymorphisms of HLA class Ⅰ (-A, -B, -C) and class Ⅱ (DRB1, DQA1, DQB1, DPA1, DPB1) genes among ethnic Hans from Southern China].

Objective: To study the genetic polymorphisms of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)- A, B, C, DRB1, DQA1, DQB1, DPA1and DPB1among ethnic Hans from southern China.

Methods: 481 randomly selected individuals were genotyped using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) sequence-based typing (SBT) method for the above genes. Their allele frequencies were determined by direct counting.

[Association of genetic polymorphisms of KIR-HLA system with chronic myeloid leukemia among ethnic Hans from southern China].

Objective: To explore the association of KIR-HLA gene polymorphism with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) among ethnic Hans from southern China.

Methods: A total of 172 adult CML patients and 480 unrelated healthy controls were screened for the presence of KIR with sequence-specific primers-PCR (PCR-SSP) and sequence-based typing (SBT) of HLA-A, -B and -C loci. Polymorphisms of the KIR-HLA system were analyzed at 4 levels, and the frequencies of KIR framework genes and KIR profiles, classⅠHLA ligands, matched KIR+HLA pairs and KIR-HLA compound profile were compared between the two groups.