Targeted quantitative metabolomic and flavor objective quantification technique reveal the impact mechanism of shaking on black tea quality and non-volatile metabolites.

Shaking constitutes a pivotal technique for enhancing black tea quality; nevertheless, its impact on the transformation mechanism of non-volatile metabolites (NVMs) in black tea remains obscure. The present study aimed to investigate the impact of shaking-withering methods (SWM) and traditional-withering methods (TWM) on black tea quality and NVMs conversion. A total of 57 NVMs and 14 objective quantitative indicators were obtained.

Artificial intelligence-accelerated high-throughput screening of antibiotic combinations on a microfluidic combinatorial droplet system.

Microfluidic platforms have been employed as an effective tool for drug screening and exhibit the advantages of lower reagent consumption, higher throughput and a higher degree of automation. Despite the great advancement, it remains challenging to screen complex antibiotic combinations in a simple, high-throughput and systematic manner. Meanwhile, the large amounts of datasets generated during the screening process generally outpace the abilities of the conventional manual or semi-automatic data analysis.

Microfluidic High-Throughput Platforms for Discovery of Novel Materials.

High-throughput screening is a potent technique to accelerate the discovery and development of new materials. By performing massive synthesis and characterization processes in parallel, it can rapidly discover materials with desired components, structures and functions. Among the various approaches for high-throughput screening, microfluidic platforms have attracted increasing attention.

Effects of extracellular calcium on viability and osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow stromal cells in vitro.

Bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) have been extensively used for tissue engineering. However, the effect of Ca(2+) on the viability and osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs has yet to be evaluated. To determine the dose-dependent effect of Ca(2+) on viability and osteogenesis of BMSCs in vitro, BMSCs were cultured in calcium-free DMEM medium supplemented with various concentrations of Ca(2+) (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 mM) from calcium citrate.

Enhancement of bone formation with a synthetic matrix containing bone morphogenetic protein-2 by the addition of calcium citrate.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to test whether calcium citrate combined with rhBMP-2 was able to enhance bone regeneration compared with a matrix containing only rhBMP-2.

Methods: In each of experimental mice, one cylinder of calcium citrate-rhBMP-2 or rhBMP-2 alone was implanted into the thigh muscle pouches of the mouse. The following two treatment modalities were randomly allocated: (1) empty control with rhBMP-2 alone in a gelatin matrix and (2) a gelatin matrix including both calcium citrate and BMP-2.

Psychological characteristics in high-risk MSM in China.

Background: Men who have sex with men (MSM) have become a high-risk group of HIV infection in China. To date, little is known regarding the behavioral, social and psychological characteristics in Chinese MSM, which makes the implementation of preventive and therapeutic strategies for this high-risk subpopulation of people extremely difficult.

Methods: A total of 714 questionnaires were retrieved from the database of a Chinese government-sponsored National Key Research Project titled "Risk Analysis and Strategic Prevention of HIV Transmission from MSM to the General Population in China".

Curcumin down-regulates Ets-1 and Bcl-2 expression in human endometrial carcinoma HEC-1-A cells.

Objective: Curcumin has been demonstrated to have an anti-tumor activity but the underlying molecular mechanisms are not fully uncovered. The present study was undertaken to determine the effect of curcumin on the expression of the proto-oncogene Ets-1 and the anti-apoptotic molecule Bcl-2 in human endometrial adenocarcinoma HEC-1-A cells.

Methods: Confluent HEC-1-A cells were treated with curcumin at various doses for 16 h or at 60 microM for various time points.

U-937 monocyte-mediated c-Jun dephosphorylation and AP-1 activation in human endometrial stromal cells.

Objective: To determine paracrine effects of monocytes/macrophages on c-Jun dephosphorylation and AP-1 DNA binding activity in human endometrial stromal cells.

Study Design: Conditioned medium (CM) was prepared from human monocyte U-937 cells in serum-free medium. Subconfluent immortalized human endometrial stromal N5 cells were serum-starved for 24 h and cultured in the CM or the control medium for 30 min, 1, 3, 8, 16 or 24 h.