Bioinsecticide PA1b alleviates lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation and impairment of bovine mammary epithelial cells.

Pea Albumin 1, subunit b (PA1b) is a 37 amino acid peptide. It was extracted from pea seeds and showed significant insecticidal activity against certain insects, such as the mosquitoes Culex pipiens and Aedes aegyptii, cereal weevils (genus Sitophilus), and certain species of aphids. Considering that pea seeds are regularly consumed by humans and mammals, PA1b is assumed to be a promising bioinsecticide with no allergenicity or toxicity to hosts. To clarify this aspect, PA1b was applied to bovine mammary epithelial cells challenged with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The results revealed that LPS induced inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL6) and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) secretion, while PA1b depressed these cytokines release via inhibiting NF-κB signaling activation. In addition, PA1b protected mammary epithelial cells from impairment caused by LPS, because it reduced cell membrane permeability and subsequently reconstructed mammary epithelial cell viability. Moreover, it inhibited cell apoptosis accompanied with alleviated oxidative stress. Furthermore, PA1b prevented opening of mitochondrial permeability transition pores, in turn up-regulated mitochondrial membrane potential and ATP production. Therefore, PA1b improved mitochondrial function, which contributed to re-construction of mammary epithelial cell viability. In conclusion, PA1b alleviates LPS-induced inflammation of bovine mammary epithelial cells via inhibiting NF-κB signaling activation and protects bovine mammary epithelial cells by improving mitochondrial function. PA1b is a good therapeutic survival factor for mammary epithelial cells.

Novel soybean polypeptide dglycin alleviates atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice.

Atherosclerosis is a dominant cause of cardiovascular disease. Accumulation of low-density lipoproteins (LDL), formation of foam cells, and endothelial dysfunction within the arterial intima contribute to atherosclerotic plaque formation. Soy consumption is thought to have positive effect on the prevention of atherosclerosis. Therefore, in the present study, a novel soybean polypeptide dglycin was purified and characterized. Oral administration of 20 mg/g.d dglycin reduced 47.6 % lesion area, and 49.1 % lipid deposition in the atherosclerotic plaques in aortic roots in ApoE-/- mice. In addition, it decreased the levels of 26.0 % plasma low-density lipoprotein, 27.2 % triglyceride, 40.1 % cholesterol, 25.1 % malondialdehyde and 24.2 % tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα). In vitro experiments revealed that dglycin inhibited inflammatory cytokine secretion from aortic endothelial cells via the inhibition of NF-κB signaling. Furthermore, it inhibited reactive oxygen species generation, subsequently enhanced cell viability, and protected aortic endothelial cells from necrosis and apoptosis via mitochondrial function improvement. On the other hand, dglycin prevented the uptake of oxidized LDL by macrophages via suppressing the expression of scavenger receptor class A1, which suggested that dglycin prevented foam cell formation. Therefore, dglycin alleviated the early-stage of atherosclerosis via depressing inflammation, lipid deposition, protecting aortic endothelial cells and preventing foam cell formation.

Quercetin suppresses lung cancer growth by targeting Aurora B kinase.

aurora B kinase is highly expressed in several cancer cells and promotes tumorigenesis and progression, and therefore, it is an important target for drug to treat tumors. Quercetin was identified to be an antitumor agent. Herein, we report for the first time that quercetin inhibited aurora B activities by directly binding with aurora B in vitro and in vivo. Ex vivo studies showed that quercetin inhibited aurora B activities in JB6 Cl41 cells and A549 lung cancer cells. Moreover, knockdown of aurora B in A549 cells decreased their sensitivities to quercetin. In vivo study demonstrated that injection of quercetin in A549 tumor-bearing mice effectively suppressed cancer growth. The phosphorylation of histone 3 in tumor tissues was also decreased after quercetin treatment. In short, quercetin can suppress growth of lung cancer cells as an aurora B inhibitor both in vitro and in vivo.

The structure of H2TiO3-a short discussion on "Lithium recovery from salt lake brine by H2TiO3".

A short discussion on the structure of H2TiO3 presented in the article entitled Lithium recovery from salt lake brine by H2TiO3 (R. Chitrakar, Y. Makita, K. Ooi and A. Sonoda, Dalton Trans., 2014, 43, 8933) is presented. In our opinion, it is not correct to identify the phase of H2TiO3 as monoclinic. The XRD pattern of H2TiO3 differs substantially from that of Li2TiO3. XRD pattern simulation shows that the peak (1[combining macron]33) and the peak (2[combining macron]06) cannot be fully collapsed or substantially decrease in intensity by substitution of Li(+) with H(+) if H2TiO3 shares a similar space group and lattice parameters with Li2TiO3. A direct verification of a similar structure by N. V. Tarakina and co-workers may aid the confirmation of the structure. The layered double hydroxide type with the 3R1 sequence of oxygen layers is more reasonable for H2TiO3 and can be described as a stacking of charge-neutral metal oxyhydroxide slabs [(OH)2OTi2O(OH)2].

[Cyclic strain promotes migration of human periodontal ligament cell via extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling pathway].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of cyclic strain on migration of human periodontal ligament cell(hPDLC) and underlying mechanism. METHODS: The cultured hPDLC were subjected to 10% or 20%-elongation magnitude cyclic strain at frequency of 0.1 Hz by FX-4000T system for 6 or 24 hours-duration respectively, while the static group serves as control. hPDLC migration was assayed by wound healing method. The expressions of matrix metalloproteinases-9 (MMP-9) and p-ERK1/2 in hPDLC without or with cyclic strain were analyzed by Western blotting. To investigate the effect of ERK signaling pathway and MMP-9 on migration of hPDLC, the cells were incubated with PD98059, a specific extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) kinase inhibitor, or doxycycline, a MMP inhibitor. Then the expressions of p-ERK1/2 and MMP-9 and hPDLC migration were analyzed. RESULTS: In wound healing tests, the migration of hPDLC exposed to 10% or 20%-cyclic strain at 0.1 Hz-frequency for 6 hours was not apparent but became significantly different for 24 hours (P < 0.05) compared to control. Furthermore, the 20%-elongation magnitude of cyclic strain had more remarkable effect on migration of hPDLC than 10%-elongation magnitude at 24 hours-duration (P < 0.05). Cyclic strain obviously increased the expression of MMP-9 in hPDLC (P < 0.05). PD98059 could repress not only the activation of p-ERK1/2 but also the expression of MMP-9 induced by cyclic strain in hPDLC. The migration of hPDLC enhanced by cyclic strain was repressed by DOX or PD98059 in wound healing tests. CONCLUSIONS: Cyclic strain promotes the migration of hPDLC through activating ERK signaling pathway and inducing the expression of MMP-9.

[The crown inclination of the teeth and its clinical value].

The crown inclination, representing an angle formed by the clinical crown axis and a line which bears 90 degrees to the occlusal plane, reflects the labiolingual or buccolingual inclination of the long axis of the crown. The crown inclination is related to the races. And it is compensated by different vertical or sagittal jaw relationships. It plays an important role in fine occlusal relationship and achieving functional, artistic and stable treatment goal. The torque design of the straight wire bracket is based on the normal crown inclination. There is much discrepancy in the torque design of the different straight wire bracket because of the different race and philosophy. This review gave a brief introduction of the influential factors, the clinical meaning of the crown inclination and the torque design of the different bracket system.

[Clinical survey of the association between age and maturation of cervical vertebra in 216 adolescents in Shanghai municipality].

PURPOSE: To investigate the relationship between age and maturation of cervical vertebra in 216 adolescents in Shanghai municipality. METHODS: 216 adolescents from 10 to 20 years old were investigated by lateral cephalometric radiographs. The growth status and the relationship of C2- C5 cervical vertebra were evaluated by SAS 6.12 software package with Fisher's test. RESULTS: The shapes of cervical vertebra bodies varied in regular manner. Although female went into the young quick growing period 2 years earlier than male, the shape changes had no significant difference between gender.The beginning and the peak of the puberty spurt was with great individual diversity. CONCLUSION: The morphological variation of cervical vertebra can be used as an indicator of skeletal age to determine adolescents' growth and development status.

[The application of headgear in treatment of the upper crowding].

PURPOSE: To evaluate the treatment effect of headgear for distal movement of maxillary first molars to correct the crowding caused by molar anterior displacement. METHODS: 12 crowding cases were treated with headgear combining with fixed appliances if necessary. Cephalometric radiographs and casts were taken and analyzed before and after treatment. SPSS13.0 software package was used for paired-samples t test. RESULTS: The crowding of upper arch was significantly decreased (P<0.05), the amount of crowding decrease was from 3.0 mm to 6.0 mm, the average crowding decrease of 12 cases was 4.52 mm. The decrease was mainly due to the distal movement of the first upper molar, the amount of decrease of Ptm-U6 was from 1.2 mm to 3.5 mm, the average was 2.14 mm. CONCLUSION: Distal movement of the first upper molar by headgear is one of the effective way to solve the upper crowding.

[The effect of premolar extractions on Bolton index.].

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of premolar extractions on Bolton index. METHODS: 213 plaster casts were divided into Bolton big, normal and small groups according to Bolton normal value and one standard deviation. Bolton overall ratios and number of patients in each group were measured and compared between parameters before and after hypothetical premolar extractions. RESULTS: The Bolton overall ratios in each group were smaller after premolar extractions than those before extractions. Part of patients in the Bolton normal group and big group were changed into Bolton small group and normal group after premolar extractions, respectively. CONCLUSION: The Bolton overall ratios decreased after premolar extractions.