Chinese tuina downregulates the elevated levels of tissue plasminogen activator in sciatic nerve injured Sprague-Dawley rats.

Objective: To elucidate the mechanism of Chinese tuina in treating sciatic nerve crush injury, and to detect the levels of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), which is thought to play an important role in nerve regeneration.

Methods: Thirty-two adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to sciatic nerve crush injury and 16 rats (sham-operated group) went through a sham operation. Control group was given no treatment while tuina group received tuina therapy since day 7 post-surgery.

Tissue expression and predicted protein structures of the bovine ANGPTL3 and association of novel SNPs with growth and meat quality traits.

Angiopoietin-like protein 3 (ANGPTL3) is a secreted protein that regulates lipid, glucose and energy metabolism. This study was conducted to better understand the effect of ANGPTL3 on important economic traits in cattle. First, transcript profiles for ANGPTL3 were measured in nine different Jiaxian cattle tissues.

D(-)-Salicin inhibits the LPS-induced inflammation in RAW264.7 cells and mouse models.

D(-)-Salicin is a traditional medicine which has been known to exhibit anti-inflammation and other therapeutic activities. The present study aimed to investigate whether D(-)-Salicin inhibited the LPS-induced inflammation in vivo and in vitro. We evaluated the effect of D(-)-Salicin on cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-10) in vivo and in vitro by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and signaling pathways (MAPKs and NF-κB) in vivo by Western blot.

Tetrazolium compounds: synthesis and applications in medicine.

Tetrazoles represent a class of five-membered heterocyclic compounds with polynitrogen electron-rich planar structural features. This special structure makes tetrazole derivatives useful drugs, explosives, and other functional materials with a wide range of applications in many fields of medicine, agriculture, material science, etc. Based on our research works on azoles and other references in recent years, this review covers reported work on the synthesis and biological activities of tetrazole derivatives.

N-acetylcysteine relieves oxidative stress and protects hippocampus of rat from radiation-induced apoptosis by inhibiting caspase-3.

It has been recognized that radiation-induced effects remain a significant risk. An accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is considered to be one factor that contributes to neurodegenerative changes. The aim of our study was to investigate the potential radioprotective effects of NAC.

Study of foreign-body extraction from the upper third of the esophagus in children.

Background: Throat-operating forceps are an auxiliary tool used for tracheal intubation during general anesthesia as well as for artificial respiration and during airway emergency when tracheal intubation is necessary. These forceps are a commonly used tool particularly for introducing the distal end of the endotracheal catheter into the airway at the epiglottis during difficult airway intubation and nasotracheal intubation. Throat-operating forceps have a required radian for operation at the intraoral epiglottis and have different types (large, medium, and small) that are suitable for patients of different ages.

The genome of a Mongolian individual reveals the genetic imprints of Mongolians on modern human populations.

Mongolians have played a significant role in modern human evolution, especially after the rise of Genghis Khan (1162[?]-1227). Although the social cultural impacts of Genghis Khan and the Mongolian population have been well documented, explorations of their genome structure and genetic imprints on other human populations have been lacking. We here present the genome of a Mongolian male individual.

Enantioseparation and chiral recognition of α-amino acids and their derivatives on (-)-18-crown-6-tetracarboxylic acid bonded silica by capillary electrochromatography.

Capillary electrochromatography was employed for enantioseparation of α-amino acids and their derivatives. (-)-18-Crown-6-2,3,11,12-tetracarboxylic acid bonded on the silica was used as the chiral stationary phase and methanol/Tris-citric acid (20 mM, pH 3.0-4.

Recombinant expressed vector pET32a (+) S constructed by ligation independent cloning.

The aim of this work was to develop a new method for constructing vectors, named ligation-independent cloning (LIC) method. We constructed the S label expression vector and recombinant pET32a (+) S-phoN2 by LIC. The recombinant proteins were expressed in E.

Effect of dietary vitamin E on the growth performance and nonspecific immunity in sub-adult turbot (Scophthalmus maximus).

This study investigated the growth performance and non-specific immunity in sub-adult turbot fed with graded levels of vitamin E (0, 120, 240, 480 and 960 mg kg(-1)) for 15 weeks. Results showed that the final weight, specific growth rate, nitro blue tetrazolium positive leucocytes of head kidney, phagocytic index, serum lysozyme activity and superoxide dismutase activity significantly increased with increasing vitamin E levels. The highest values were recorded in the diet with 480 mg kg(-1) vitamin E.

Crucial enzymes in the hydroxylated triacylglycerol-ricinoleate biosynthesis pathway of castor bean.

Castor bean (Ricinus communis L.) is an important oilseed crop for the rich hydroxylated triacylglycerol (TAG)-ricinoleate which is a raw material with wide applications in industry. Hydroxylated TAG synthesis occurs through complicated pathways among multiple subcellular organelles.

Comparative Study of Three Traditional Mongolian Medicines on Streptozotocin-induced Diabetic Nephropathy in Rats.

3 kinds of prescription of Traditional Mongolian (Chinese) Medicine (TMM) have been used in treating diabetic nephropathy (DN). We aimed to investigate: first, which prescription was more effective; second, whether it was more effective when combined with the 3 prescriptions. The DN model was prepared by a single dose of Streptozotocin (STZ, 65 mg/kg, i.

Suppressing autophagy protects photoreceptor cells from light-induced injury.

Autophagy, a conserved cellular self-degradation process, not only serves to protect cells at critical times during development and nutrient stress, but also contributes to cell death. Photoreceptor cells are unique neurons which when directly exposed to the light, transduces light stimuli into visual signal. However, intense light exposure can be cytotoxic to the retina.

Nested PCR for mtDNA-4977-bp deletion and comet assay for DNA damage - a combined method for radiosensitivity evaluation of tumor cells.

To identify an effective method of evaluating the radiosensitivity of human tumor cell lines , the present study adopted mtDNA-4977-bp deletion coupled with comet assay. The three human tumor cell lines applied were HepG, EC-9706 and MCF-7. The surviving fraction (SF), ratio of the mtDNA-4977-bp deletion and DNA damage were detected by MTT assay, nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique and comet assay, respectively.

Radioprotective effect of a pan-caspase inhibitor in a novel model of radiation injury to the nucleus of the abducens nerve.

There is increasing evidence that neuronal cell death occurs via extrinsic (death receptors) and intrinsic (mitochondria) pathways. Radiation induces caspase activation fundamentally via the mitochondrial pathway. Caspases are the key regulators of apoptosis.

Sesquiterpene acids from Shellac and their bioactivities evaluation.

Seven sesquiterpenes, including four α-cedrene types (Shellolic acid A-C, Laccishellolic acid), two R-curcumene types (Shellolic acid D-E) and Shellolic acid F were isolated from Shellac, of which six were unknown. Their structures were elucidated by HR-ESI-MS, UV, IR, 1D and 2D NMR methods. The absolute configurations were confirmed via the Mosher's method, circular dichroism (CD) and optical rotation analyses.

Effect of trapidil in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury in rabbit.

Objectives: To evaluate the cardioprotective effects of trapidil on myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MIRI) in rabbits.

Materials And Methods: Rabbits were subjected to 40 min of myocardial ischemia followed by 120 min of reperfusion. Blood for superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were estimated.

E3 ubiquitin ligase Pub1 is implicated in endocytosis of a GPI-anchored protein Ecm33 in fission yeast.

We previously identified three glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored proteins including Ecm33, as multicopy suppressors of the phenotypes of a mutant allele of cis4(+) that encodes a zinc transporter in fission yeast. Here, we further identified two multicopy suppressor genes, ubi1 (+) and ubc4 (+), encoding ubiquitin-ribosomal fusion protein and ubiquitin conjugating enzyme E2, respectively. In addition, Ubi1 or Ubc4 overexpression failed to suppress the phenotypes of the double deletion of cis4 (+) and pub1 (+) gene, which encodes a HECT-type ubiquitin ligase E3.

Radiation-induced cytochrome release and the neuroprotective effects of the pan-caspase inhibitor z-VAD-fmk in the hypoglossal nucleus.

Numerous studies have demonstrated that neuronal cell death occurs via extrinsic (death receptors) and intrinsic (mitochondria) pathways. Radiation induces caspase activation fundamentally via the mitochondrial pathway. To investigate the role of caspase, a cell permeable pan-caspase inhibitor, z-VAD-fmk [N-benzyloxycarbonyl-Val-Ala-Asp(OMe)-fluoromethylketone], was used to investigate the effects of caspase blockade following irradiation.

Oxidative stress and neurodegenerative disorders.

Living cells continually generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) through the respiratory chain during energetic metabolism. ROS at low or moderate concentration can play important physiological roles. However, an excessive amount of ROS under oxidative stress would be extremely deleterious.

[Identification of mutation in PAX9 gene in a Mongolian family with non-syndromic oligodontia].

Objective: To investigate the mutation in transcription factor paired box gene PAX9 in a mongolian family with non-syndromic oligodontia.

Methods: Peripheral blood was collected from 17 core family members (9 unaffected, 8 affected) in this Mongolian family with non-syndromic oligodontia. Mutation in exons of PAX9 gene was identified by PCR amplification and DNA sequencing.

Murine double minute 2 siRNA and wild-type p53 gene therapy enhances sensitivity of the SKOV3/DDP ovarian cancer cell line to cisplatin chemotherapy in vitro and in vivo.

SKOV3/DDP cells urgently require an efficient therapy to improve drug resistance. Here we show a critical role for cisplatin combined with gene therapy, using transfection of a p53 gene/MDM2-siRNA plasmid, in improving cisplatin sensitivity of SKOV3/DDP cells with a strong inhibition of tumor cell growth in vitro and in vivo. The effects may be associated with enhancement of intracellular platinum accumulation via decreased MDR1/P-gp and improvement of apoptotic resistance via increased P53, PUMA and NOXA expression.

Effects of supplemental canola meal and various types of distillers grains on ruminal degradability, duodenal flow, and intestinal digestibility of protein and amino acids in backgrounded heifers.

The objective of this study was to compare the diets with and without supplemental protein or protein sources on ruminal degradability, duodenal flows, and intestinal digestibility of protein and AA in growing heifers; supplemental protein included canola meal (CM) or dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) that varied in grain source and milling process. Five ruminally and duodenally cannulated Angus heifers (initial BW, 386 kg±20 kg) were assigned to a 5×5 Latin square with 21-d experimental periods. The diets consisted of 60% barley silage and 40% barley grain-based concentrate (DM basis) varying in protein source: CON (no protein supplement), CM, wheat DDGS (wDDGS), corn DDGS (cDDGS), or fractionated corn DDGS (fDDGS) plus urea N.

Cadmium and its neurotoxic effects.

Cadmium (Cd) is a heavy metal that has received considerable concern environmentally and occupationally. Cd has a long biological half-life mainly due to its low rate of excretion from the body. Thus, prolonged exposure to Cd will cause toxic effect due to its accumulation over time in a variety of tissues, including kidneys, liver, central nervous system (CNS), and peripheral neuronal systems.