Molecular mechanisms involved in adenosine-induced endothelial cell barrier enhancement.

Extracellular adenosine is a physiologically relevant agonist released by various sources, including endothelial cells (EC) and activated platelets, with complex effects mediated via activation of P1 purinergic receptors. Adenosine-induced EC production of glutathione peroxidase1 and nitric oxide is recognized, and an anti-inflammatory mechanism has been described. Effects of extracellular adenosine on the pulmonary EC barrier function and vascular permeability, however, remain poorly characterized.

Adeno-associated virus of a single-polarity DNA genome is capable of transduction in vivo.

The adeno-associated virus (AAV) is a promising vector for gene therapy. Further improvement of the virus for clinical application depends on better understanding of the molecular structure and fate of the vector genome. AAV vectors with wild-type inverted terminal repeats package either the plus- or the minus-strand DNA genomes with equal frequency.

[Characterization of bubble size distribution in ES-DAF unit].

ES-DAF unit was introduced and studied in this paper. Without a costly air saturator, ES-DAF consists of an ejector and a static mixer between the pressure side and suction side of the recycle rotary pump. The bubble size distribution in this novel unit was studied by using a CCD imagination through a microscope.

[Study on the relationship between some genetic factors and peak bone mineral density in Beijing young women].

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between the peak bone mineral density (PBMD) and vitamin D receptor (VDR), estrogen receptor (ER) allelic variants in Beijing young women.

Methods: From March, 2000 to July, 2001, one hundred and fifty-nine young healthy women (25 - 37 years old) in Beijing were voluntarily enrolled in the study. (1) BMD were measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXEA) at lumbar and hip.

Truncation of herpes simplex virus type 2 glycoprotein B increases its cell surface expression and activity in cell-cell fusion, but these properties are unrelated.

Formation of small polykaryons by cell-cell fusion is characteristic of herpes simplex virus (HSV) lesions, but the great majority of viruses isolated from such lesions produce only limited cell fusion in tissue culture. Because of this, HSV laboratory strains that produce extensive cell fusion (syncytium formation) in culture are regarded as variants or mutants. Furthermore, the rarity of clinical isolates able to produce syncytia in culture suggests that extensive cell fusion is deleterious in vivo.