Expression of 4kD scorpion defensin and its in vitro synergistic activity with conventional antibiotics.

The 4kD scorpion defensin (SD) is a potent disulfide-linked peptide. In this study, we expressed it in methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris and purified it using Ni-NTA His Bind Resin. We investigated its in vitro antibacterial activity and effect in combination with several conventional antibiotics.

Relationship between PTEN and Livin expression and malignancy of renal cell carcinomas.

Objectives: This study focused on PTEN and Livin expression and associations with malignancy in human renal clear cell carcinomas (RCCC).

Methods: PTEN and Livin expression was assessed in 100 RCCC tissue samples, 50 paracarcinoma cases, and 20 normal renal tissue samples using the immunohistochemical Streptavidin proxidase (SP) method. The relationships between binding and corresponding biological characteristics, such as histological grade, lymph node metastases, and clinical stages were analyzed.

Construction of baculovirus expression vector of miRNAs and its expression in insect cells.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous small non-protein coding RNAs that play important regulatory roles in animals and plants by binding to target transcripts for cleavage or translational repression. The miR-9a is very conservative in animals from flies to humans. Studies indicated that miR-9a is involved in the regulation of neurogenesis in animals.

[Preparation of kappa-carrageenan-chitosan polyelectrolyte gel beads].

Objective: To prepare kappa-carrageenan-chitosan polyelectrolyte gel pellets and detect the effects of formulation and preparation factors on in vitro drug release from the pellets.

Method: The K-carrageenan-chitosan polyelectrolyte gel pellets with baicalin as model drug were prepared by ionotropic gelation technique. The ratio of kappa-carrageenan/chitosan in pellets was determined with the composite of K-carrageenan and chitosan.

Regulatory long non-coding RNA and its functions.

The discovery of large numbers of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) has been driven by genome-wide transcriptional analyses. Compared to small ncRNAs, lncRNAs have been shown to harbor biological activities, but the functions of the great majority of lncRNAs are not known. There is growing evidence that lncRNAs can regulate gene expression at epigenetic, transcription, and post-transcription levels and widely take part in various physiological and pathological processes, such as participating in cell development, immunity, oncogenesis, clinical disease processes, etc.

[Treatment of cicatricial stricture subsequent to esophageal chemical burns with transverse colon replacing esophagus in children].

Objective: To study the validity of transplanting transverse colon to replace esophagus in treating cicatricial stricture resulting from severe esophageal chemical burns in children.

Methods: A retrospective study was carried out on the clinical data of 46 patients with severe chemical esophageal burns who were treated from November 1972 to September 2008. The transverse colon with the ascending branch of the left colic artery was brought through a retrosternal tunnel to replace strictured esophagus.

Stereoselective Synthesis of Cyclometalated Iridium (III) Complexes: Characterization and Photophysical Properties.

The stereoselective synthesis of a highly luminescent neutral Ir(III) complex comprising two bidentate chiral, cyclometalating phenylpyridine derivatives, and one acetylacetonate as ligands is described. The final complex and some intermediates were characterized by X-ray structural analysis, NMR-, CD-, and CPL-spectroscopy.

Study on Resistance Switching Properties of Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3Thin Films Using Impedance Spectroscopy.

The Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3(NBT) thin films sandwiched between Au electrodes and fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) conducting glass were deposited using a sol-gel method.

The molecular design of a recombinant antimicrobial peptide CP and its in vitro activity.

Antibacterial peptides from various sources express different antibacterial activity. In order to obtain a high activity antibacterial peptide, the sequences of four antimicrobial peptides--Protegrin-1, 4 kDa Scorpion Defensin, Metalnikowin-2A and Sheep Myeloid Antibacterial Peptide SMAP-29--were exploited to generate a synthetic antimicrobial peptide cp gene, which was then cloned into the expression vector pPICZalpha-A. The constructed recombinant expression vector pPICZalpha-cp was transformed into Pichia pastoris X-33, in which the synthetic antimicrobial peptide (CP) could be expressed under the control of the inducible AOX1 promoter and secreted via the alpha mating factor leader of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

[Lorenz plot and its application in automatic diagnoses of atrial fibrillation ECG signals].

In this paper is presented the Lorenz plot, the qualitative analyses and quantitative parameters of the plot. The long axis vs short axis(LVS) parameter is given. Atrial Fibrillation Electrocardiogram (AF ECG) is compared with sinus ECG by use of Lorenz plot.

Bcl-2 switches the type of demise from apoptosis to necrosis via cyclooxygenase-2 upregulation in HeLa cell induced by hydrogen peroxide.

Bcl-2 is best known for its anti-apoptotic function in a wide variety of cell types. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of bcl-2 on the types of cell demise in the HeLa/bcl-2 cells induced by H2O2. The HeLa cell expressed stably bcl-2 was established and defined as the HeLa/bcl-2 cell strain, while the cell transfected with the empty expression vector was defined as the HeLa/vector cell strain.

Thalidomide inhibits growth of tumors through COX-2 degradation independent of antiangiogenesis.

Thalidomide is an antiangiogenic drug and is clinically useful in a number of cancers. However, the molecular mechanism by which thalidomide exerts its antitumor effects is poorly understood. This study was designed to clarify the relationship between antiangiogenesis and antitumor effects of thalidomide and to explore the molecular mechanism for its antitumor activity.

[Investigation on optical limiting performance in solution of cobalt porphyrin].

The nonlinear optical effects of cobalt porphyrin have been investigated with three CW laser lines of 457.9, 488 and 514.5 nm, respectively.