Variability in Lipid Profiles During Young Adulthood and the Risk of Coronary Artery Calcium Incidence in Midlife: Insights From the CARDIA Study.

Background: Intraindividual variability in lipid profiles is recognized as a potential predictor of cardiovascular events. However, the influence of early adulthood lipid profile variability along with mean lipid levels on future coronary artery calcium (CAC) incidence remains unclear.

Methods: A total of 2395 participants (41.

Expression, purification, and characterization of c-FLIP tandem death effector domains from Escherichia coli.

Cellular FLICE-like inhibitory protein (c-FLIP) regulates extrinsic apoptosis by controlling procaspase-8 activation through its tandem N-terminal death effector domains (DEDs). Here, we present the expression and purification of c-FLIP tandem DEDs (tDED) from Escherichia coli. We observed that the c-FLIP maintains monomeric form under near-physiological pH condition in vitro.

Solution structure of c-FLIP death effector domains.

The formation of death-inducing signaling complex (DISC) and death effector domain (DED) filament initiates extrinsic apoptosis. Recruitment and activation of procaspase-8 at the DISC are regulated by c-FLIP. The interaction between c-FLIP and procaspase-8 is mediated by their tandem DEDs (tDED).

Backbone and side-chain chemical shift assignments of a cellular FLICE-inhibitory protein (c-FLIP).

Cellular FLICE-inhibitory protein (c-FLIP), which is involved in regulating the apoptosis of the extrinsic cell death pathway contains two death effector domains (DED). There are several splicing variants including short-form (c-FLIP) and long-form (c-FLIP). The death-inducing signaling complex (DISC) initiates apoptosis and programmed necrosis, DISC assembly and activation are regulated by c-FLIP.

The 90-day prognostic value of serum cyclophilin A in traumatic brain injury.

Background: Cyclophilin A is involved in many inflammatory diseases and its expression is up-regulated after brain injury. We determined if serum cyclophilin A could be used as a marker for severity and 90-day outcome in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Methods: Serum cyclophilin A concentrations were quantified in 105 severe TBI patients and 105 healthy individuals.

New meroterpenoids from the endophytic fungus Aspergillus flavipes AIL8 derived from the mangrove plant Acanthus ilicifolius.

Four new meroterpenoids (2-5), along with three known analogues (1, 6, and 7) were isolated from mangrove plant Acanthus ilicifolius derived endophytic fungus Aspergillus flavipes. The structures of these compounds were elucidated by NMR and MS analysis, the configurations were assigned by CD data, and the stereochemistry of 1 was confirmed by X-ray crystallography analysis. A possible biogenetic pathway of compounds 1-7 was also proposed.

New phenyl derivatives from endophytic fungus Aspergillus flavipes AIL8 derived of mangrove plant Acanthus ilicifolius.

Two new aromatic butyrolactones, flavipesins A (1) and B (2), two new natural products (3 and 4), and a known phenyl dioxolanone (5) were isolated from marine-derived endophytic fungus Aspergillus flavipes. The structures of compounds 1-5 were elucidated by 1D- and 2D-NMR and MS analysis, the absolute configurations were assigned by optical rotation and CD data, and the stereochemistry of 1 was determined by X-ray crystallography analysis. 1 demonstrated lower MIC values against Staphylococcus aureus (8.

MOF-76: from a luminescent probe to highly efficient U(VI) sorption material.

MOF-76 exhibits not only high sensitivity for the detection of U(vi), but also high adsorption capacity of 298 mg g(-1) at a low pH value of ∼3.0. Furthermore, the high selectivity for uranium adsorption over a series of competing metal ions is also illustrated.

[Mechanism of heavy-metal tolerance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa ZGKD2].

The cadmium-resistant bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain ZGKD2 exhibiting tolerance to various heavy-metals was isolated from gangue pile of coal area in our laboratory. This bacterium could serve as an effective metal sequestering and growth-promoting bioinoculant for plants grown in metal-contaminated soil. However, the mechanism of heavy-metal tolerance is still unclear.

Pituitary adenoma biomarkers identified using proteomic fingerprint technology.

Objective: To determine whether pituitary adenomas can be diagnosed by identifying protein biomarkers in the serum.

Methods: We compared serum proteins from 65 pituitary adenoma patients and 90 healthy donors using proteomic fingerprint technology combining magnetic beads with matrix assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS).

Results: A total of 42 M/Z peaks were identified as related to pituitary adenoma (P<0.

[Geographic variation of seed morphological traits of Picea schrenkiana var. tianschanica in Tianshan Mountains, Xinjiang of Northwest China].

Taking the Picea schrenkiana var. tianschanica forests at three sites with different longitudes (Zhaosu, Tianchi, and Qitai) in Tianshan Mountains as the objects, the cones were collected along an altitudinal gradient to analyze the variation of their seed morphological traits (seed scale length and width, seed scale length/width ratio, seed wing length and width, seed wing length/ width ratio, seed length and width, and seed length/width ratio). All the seed traits except seed width tended to decrease with increasing altitude.

Decreased plasma gelsolin is associated with 1-year outcome in patients with traumatic brain injury.

Purpose: Decreased plasma gelsolin level has been associated with 1-month mortality after traumatic brain injury (TBI). Thus, we investigated the ability of gelsolin to predict 1-year mortality and functional outcome in these patients.

Methods: One hundred fourteen healthy controls and 114 patients with acute severe TBI were included in this study.

[Distribution patterns of Picea schrenkiana var. tianschanica population in Tianshan Mountains].

A vertical transect investigation on Picea schrenkiana var. tianschanica forests was conducted at five different longitudinal sites (Zhaosu, Gongliu, Wusu, Urumqi, and Hami) in Tianshan Mountains, and the distribution pattern of P. schrenkiana var.

Identification and Function of MicroRNAs Encoded by Herpesviruses.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in eukaryotes, plants and some viruses. It is increasingly clear that miRNAs-encoded by viruses can affect the viral life cycle and host physiology. Viral miRNAs could repress the innate and adaptive host immunity, modulate cellular signaling pathways, and regulate the expression of cellular and viral genes.

Nasal cavity-maxillary sinus-pterygopalatine fossa-Meckel's cave: a preliminary anatomic study of an endoscopy-based operative approach.

Objective: To provide a new approach for the treatment of tumor in Meckel's cave, by dissecting adjacent structures of the nasal cavity-maxillary sinus-pterygopalatine fossa-Meckel's cave approach.

Methods: Fifteen adult cadaver heads (30 sides) were dissected and the correlated anatomic landmarks were observed, measured and analyzed in an operative route.

Results: The approach was divided into 3 steps: entering the maxillary sinus, the later pterygopalatine fossa and the final Meckel's cave.

[Human cytomegalovirus inhibits the differentiation of human hippocampus neural stem cells].

The objective of present study is to investigate the effect of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection on human hippocampus neural stem cells NSCs differentiation in vitro, Fetal hippocampus tissue was dissociated mechanically and then cultured in proliferation medium with EGF and bFGF. Immunofluorescence method was used to detect the expression of NSCs marker-Nestin within these cells. Cultured in 10% FBS, NSCs began to differentiate.

[The expression and anti-apoptotic function of HCMV IE2 protein controlled by Tet-On system].

During the infection of host cells, IE2 protein is one of the first and most abundantly expressed products of HCMV genome, which plays an important role in the controlling of cell cycle and apoptosis. But the correlation between expression level and anti-apoptotic activity of IE2 protein is still not clear. In this study, we successfully established a HCMV IE2 protein expression cell line that was controlled by Tet-On system.

[Species richness patterns of Picea schrenkiana var. tianschanica communities along an altitudinal gradient at different longitudes in Xinjiang of Northwest China].

The Picea schrenkiana var. tianschanica forest in Zhaosu, Gongliu, Wusu, Urumqi and Hami that covered about 12 longitudes (81 degrees 05'-93 degrees 41.5'E) along the Tianshan Mountains was investigated by using vertical transects to analyze the species richness of the forest along an altitudinal gradient at different longitudes.