Cytotoxic ent-kaurane diterpenoids from Isodon nervosus.

Four new ent-kaurane diterpenoids, rabdonervosins G-J (1-4, resp.), were isolated from the leaves and stems of Isodon nervosus. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analyses, including 1D-, 2D-NMR and HR mass spectra.

Efficient agroinfiltration of plants for high-level transient expression of recombinant proteins.

Mammalian cell culture is the major platform for commercial production of human vaccines and therapeutic proteins. However, it cannot meet the increasing worldwide demand for pharmaceuticals due to its limited scalability and high cost. Plants have shown to be one of the most promising alternative pharmaceutical production platforms that are robust, scalable, low-cost and safe.

Ten-m2 is required for the generation of binocular visual circuits.

Functional binocular vision requires that inputs arising from the two retinae are integrated and precisely organized within central visual areas. Previous studies have demonstrated an important role for one member of the Ten-m/Odz/teneurin family, Ten-m3, in the mapping of ipsilateral retinal projections. Here, we have identified a distinct role for another closely related family member, Ten-m2, in the formation of the ipsilateral projection in the mouse visual system.

Changes in spontaneous brain activity in early Parkinson's disease.

Resting state brain activity can provide valuable insights into the pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease (PD). The purpose of the present study was (a) to investigate abnormal spontaneous neuronal activity in early PD patients using resting-state functional MRI (fMRI) with a regional homogeneity (ReHo) method and (b) to demonstrate the potential of using changes in abnormal spontaneous neuronal activity for monitoring the progression of PD during its early stages. Seventeen early PD patients were assessed with the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), the Hoehn and Yahr disability scale and the Mini-mental State Examination (MMSE) were compared with seventeen gender- and age-matched healthy controls.

Diffusion tensor imaging of Parkinson's disease, atypical parkinsonism, and essential tremor.

Diffusion tensor imaging could be useful in characterizing movement disorders because it noninvasively examines multiple brain regions simultaneously. We report a multitarget imaging approach focused on the basal ganglia and cerebellum in Parkinson's disease, parkinsonian variant of multiple system atrophy, progressive supranuclear palsy, and essential tremor and in healthy controls. Seventy-two subjects were studied with a diffusion tensor imaging protocol at 3 Tesla.

Evaluation of oxygen transfer parameters of fine-bubble aeration system in plug flow aeration tank of wastewater treatment plant.

Knowledge of the oxygen mass transfer of aerators under operational conditions in a full-scale wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) is meaningful for the optimization of WWTP, however, scarce to best of our knowledge. Through analyzing a plug flow aeration tank in the Lucun WWTP, in Wuxi, China, the oxygenation capacity of fine-bubble aerators under process conditions have been measured in-situ using the off-gas method and the non-steady-state method. The off-gas method demonstrated that the aerators in different corridors in the aeration tank of WWTP ha d significantly different oxygen transferperformance; furthermore, the aerators in the samecorridor shared almost equal oxygen transfer performance over the course of a day.

Predicting the next eye pathogen: analysis of a novel adenovirus.

Unlabelled: For DNA viruses, genetic recombination, addition, and deletion represent important evolutionary mechanisms. Since these genetic alterations can lead to new, possibly severe pathogens, we applied a systems biology approach to study the pathogenicity of a novel human adenovirus with a naturally occurring deletion of the canonical penton base Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) loop, thought to be critical to cellular entry by adenoviruses. Bioinformatic analysis revealed a new highly recombinant species D human adenovirus (HAdV-D60).

Automated online optical biosensing system for continuous real-time determination of microcystin-LR with high sensitivity and specificity: early warning for cyanotoxin risk in drinking water sources.

The accelerated eutrophication of surface water sources and climate change have led to an annual occurrence of cyanobacterial blooms in many drinking water resources. To minimize the health risks to the public, cyanotoxin detection methods that are rapid, sensitive, real time, and high frequency must be established. In this study, an innovative automated online optical biosensing system (AOBS) was developed for the rapid detection and early warning of microcystin-LR (MC-LR), one of the most toxic cyanotoxins and most frequently detected in environmental water.

[Measurement and analysis of micropore aeration system's oxygenating ability under operation condition in waste water treatment plant].

Using the aeration pool in the fourth-stage at Wuxi Lucun Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP) as experimental setup, off-gas method was selected to measure the oxygenating ability parameters of micropore aerators in a real WWTP operating condition and these values were compared with those in fresh water to evaluate the performance of the micropore aerators. Results showed that the micropore aerators which were distributed in different galleries of the aeration pool had significantly different oxygenating abilities under operation condition. The oxygenating ability of the micropore aerators distributed in the same gallery changed slightly during one day.

Strongyloidiasis: an emerging infectious disease in China.

Since the first case of strongyloidiasis reported in China in 1973, there have been 330 confirmed cases as of 2011. The present study conducted a meta-analysis on 106 cases for which detailed information on clinical symptoms, diagnosis, and outcome was available. Most (63%) cases were from the past decade.

Using steered molecular dynamics to predict and assess Hsp70 substrate-binding domain mutants that alter prion propagation.

Genetic screens using Saccharomyces cerevisiae have identified an array of cytosolic Hsp70 mutants that are impaired in the ability to propagate the yeast [PSI(+)] prion. The best characterized of these mutants is the Ssa1 L483W mutant (so-called SSA1-21), which is located in the substrate-binding domain of the protein. However, biochemical analysis of some of these Hsp70 mutants has so far failed to provide major insight into the specific functional changes in Hsp70 that cause prion impairment.

Isolation and characterization of three fungi with the potential of transforming glycyrrhizin.

Three fungi with different types of transformation of glycyrrhizin (GL) were isolated from the soil samples of glycyrrhiza glabra planting area in China. According to their morphologies and 18 S rDNA gene sequence analysis, the three fungi were identified and named as Penicillium purpurogenum Li-3, Aspergillus terreus Li-20 and Aspergillus ustus Li-62. Transforming products analysis by TLC and HPLC-MS indicated that P.

A novel pathway construction in Candida tropicalis for direct xylitol conversion from corncob xylan.

In this study, an integrated xylitol production pathway, directly using xylan as the substrate, was constructed in Candida tropicalis BIT-Xol-1 which could efficiently convert xylose into xylitol. In order to consolidate this bioprocessing, a β-1,4-xylanase gene (atn) and a β-xylosidase gene (atl) were cloned from Aspergillus terreus, and were constructed onto episomal plasmid pAUR123. Additionally, combination of the individual atn and atl expression cassette was also cloned onto pAUR123.

Differential requirements for HIV-1 Vif-mediated APOBEC3G degradation and RUNX1-mediated transcription by core binding factor beta.

Core binding factor beta (CBFβ), a transcription regulator through RUNX binding, was recently reported critical for Vif function. Here, we mapped the primary functional domain important for Vif function to amino acids 15 to 126 of CBFβ. We also revealed that different lengths and regions are required for CBFβ to assist Vif or RUNX.

PCOS is associated with increased CD11c expression and crown-like structures in adipose tissue and increased central abdominal fat depots independent of obesity.

Context: Adipose tissue macrophage (ATM) infiltration is a major pathway for obesity-induced insulin resistance but has not been studied as a mechanism for insulin resistance in PCOS.

Objective: We tested whether polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is associated with increased ATM infiltration, especially of inflammatory subtype identified by the CD11c marker.

Design And Setting: We conducted a case-control study at an academic medical center in the United States.

N-terminal horseshoe conformation of DCC is functionally required for axon guidance and might be shared by other neural receptors.

Deleted in colorectal cancer (DCC) is a receptor for the axon guidance cues netrin-1 and draxin. The interactions between these guidance cues and DCC play a key role in the development of the nervous system. In the present study, we reveal the crystal structure of the N-terminal four Ig-like domains of DCC.

Inhibitory effect of nitrobenzene on oxygen demand in lake sediments.

Nitrobenzene is an important raw material and product, which presents a heavy threat to the ecosystem. The potential impacts of nitrobenzene on sediment oxygen demand (SOD) were studied in lake sediment simulating reactors receiving relatively low inputs of nitrobenzene. Oxygen microprofiles were measured in these sediment reactors using microelectrodes.

Microstructural abnormalities of white matter differentiate pediatric and adult-onset bipolar disorder.

Objectives: White-matter microstructure, known to undergo significant developmental transformation, is abnormal in bipolar disorder (BD). Available evidence suggests that white-matter deviation may be more pronounced in pediatric than adult-onset BD. The present study aimed to examine how white-matter microstructure deviates from a typical maturational trajectory in BD.

Reduced APOBEC3H variant anti-viral activities are associated with altered RNA binding activities.

APOBEC3H (A3H) is a member of the APOBEC3 family of proteins with varying activities against retroviruses and retrotransposons. The A3H gene contains several single nucleotide polymorphisms and up to seven haplotypes have been detected in humans. Although variations in anti-viral function among A3H haplotypes are not fully understood, only 15N105R-containing A3H variants are known to have potent activities against Vif-deficient HIV-1.

A novel DCAF1-binding motif required for Vpx-mediated degradation of nuclear SAMHD1 and Vpr-induced G2 arrest.

HIV-2 and closely related SIV Vpx proteins are essential for viral replication in macrophages and dendritic cells. Vpx hijacks DCAF1-DDB1-Cul4 E3 ubiquitin ligase to promote viral replication. DCAF1 is essential for cell proliferation and embryonic development and is responsible for the polyubiquitination of poorly defined cellular proteins.

[A hydroponic cultivation system for rapid high-yield transient protein expression in Nicotiana plants under laboratory conditions].

Objective: To develop a hydroponic Nicotiana cultivation system for rapid and high-yield transient expression of recombinant proteins under laboratory conditions.

Methods: To establish the hydroponic cultivation system, several parameters were examined to define the optimal conditions for the expression of recombinant proteins in plants. We used the green fluorescent protein (GFP) and the geminiviral plant transient expression vector as the model protein/expression vector.

Neutrophils in acute lung injury.

Acute lung injury (ALI)/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is characterised by lung oedema due to increased permeability of the alveolar-capillary barrier and subsequent impairment of arterial oxygenation. Lung oedema and endothelial and epithelial injury are accompanied by an influx of neutrophils into the interstitium and alveolar space. Hence, the activation and recruitment of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) are thought to play key roles in the progression of ALI/ARDS.

Effects on motor development of kicking and stepping exercise in preterm infants with periventricular brain injury: a pilot study.

Background: Preterm infants with periventricular brain injury (PBI) have a high incidence of atypical development and leg movements.

Objective: Determine whether kicking and treadmill stepping intervention beginning at 2 months corrected age (CA) in children with PBI improves motor function at 12 months CA when compared with control subjects.

Method: In a multi-center pilot study for a controlled clinical trial, sixteen infants with PBI were randomly assigned to home exercise consisting of kicking and treadmill stepping or a no-training control condition.

[Effect of RNA interference on small heat shock protein Sjp40 of Schistosoma japonicum].

Objective: To study the effect of RNA interference (RNAi) on small heat shock protein (sHSP) Sjp40 of Schistosoma japonicum and its synergistic effect on the expression of SjHSP60, SjHSP70, and SjHSP90 mRNA, and observe the mRNA expression levels of Sjp40, SjHSP60, SjHSP70, and SjHSP90 in different stages of S.japonicum.

Methods: Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) of Sjp40 (dsSjp40) and a control dsRNA of green fluorescent protein (dsGFP) were generated by in vitro transcription and transfected into adult worm by immersing the worm in dsRNA solution.