Novel Lanthanide Complexes Synthesized from 3-Dimethylamino Benzoic Acid and 5,5'-Dimethyl-2,2' Bipyridine Ligand: Crystal Structure, Thermodynamics, and Fluorescence Properties.

Two isostructural lanthanide complexes were synthesized by solvent evaporation with 3-dimethylaminobenzoic acid and 5,5'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine as ligands. The general formula of the structure is a [Ln(3-N,N-DMBA)3(5,5'-DM-2,2'-bipy)]2·2(3-N,N-DMHBA), Ln = (Gd(1), Tb(2)), 3-N,N-DMBA = 3-Dimethylamino benzoate, 5,5'-DM-2,2'-bipy = 5,5'-dimethyl-2,2' bipyridine. Both complexes exhibited dimeric structures based on X-ray diffraction analysis. At the same time, infrared spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy were used to measure the spectra of the complex. A thermogravimetric infrared spectroscopy experiment was performed to investigate the thermal stability and decomposition mechanism of the complexes. Measurements of the low-temperature heat capacity of the complexes were obtained within the temperature range of 1.9 to 300 K. The thermodynamic function was calculated by heat capacity fitting. In addition, the fluorescence spectra of complex 2 were studied and the fluorescence lifetime values were determined, and the energy transfer mechanism of complex 2 was elucidated.

Serum Leukocyte Cell-Derived Chemotaxin 2 (LECT2) Level Is Associated with Osteoporosis.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine serum leukocyte cell-derived chemotaxin 2 (LECT2) levels in osteoporosis subjects to confirm its association with osteoporosis. METHODS: A total of 204 adult subjects were recruited. Bone mineral densities (BMD) were assessed and blood samples were collected for measurements of biomedical parameters and the bone turnover markers. Serum LECT2 levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The relationships between serum LECT2 levels and other parameters were analyzed using the Spearman correlation coefficient. RESULTS: Serum LECT2 levels were significantly increased in osteoporosis subjects over controls. We found a significantly negative correlation of serum LECT2 with BMD, 25-hydroxy-vitamin D, and creatinine and a significantly positive correlation with C-terminal telopeptide of type 1 collagen and total cholesterol. CONCLUSION: Serum LECT2 levels were significantly upregulated in osteoporosis subjects and correlated with the severity of bone loss. Serum LECT2 could be a potential biomarker to assess the risk of bone loss.

Increased Plasma Levels of S100A8, S100A9, and S100A12 in Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria.

BACKGROUND: Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is a skin disorder with an important immunologic profile. S100A8, S100A9, and S100A12 are the members of S100 family that have been reported to play important role in autoimmune diseases, but the characteristics of these three S100 members have not been defined in CSU. AIMS: This study was performed to investigate the levels of these three S100s in patients with CSU and to study whether they were associated with the severity and clinical characteristics of CSU. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The levels of plasma S100A8, S100A9, and S100A12 were measured in 51 CSU patients and 20 healthy controls using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay kits. The values in the patient group and that of the healthy controls were statistically compared. The relationships between the different markers were evaluated by correlation analysis. RESULTS: The plasma levels of S100A8, S100A9, and S100A12 were significantly higher in CSU patients than those in controls. Interestingly, the level of S100A12 was significantly correlated with S100A8 and S100A9 in CSU patients (P < 0.05 and P < 0.001, respectively). In addition, S100A8, S100A9, and S100A12 were all significantly inversely correlated with blood basophil percentage. CONCLUSIONS: Plasma S100A8, S100A9, and S100A12 levels were elevated in CSU patients. They might be useful biomarkers of CSU, with the potential role in the pathogenesis of CSU.

Preparation of novel (-)-gossypol nanoparticles and the effect on growth inhibition in human prostate cancer PC-3 cells in vitro.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the antitumor effects and possible mechanism of (-)-gossypol nanoparticles, loaded with vv polyethylene glycol-maleimide (mPEG-Mal), in vitro. Emulsification-volatilization was used to prepare the loaded (-)-gossypol nanoparticles. The toxicity of blank nanoparticles on human prostate cancer PC-3 cells and human prostate RWPE-1 cells was measured. The antitumor effects of the nanoparticles on PC-3 cells were evaluated by an MTT assay, acridine orange staining and transmission electron microscopy in vitro, and the results were compared with those of free (-)-gossypol. In addition, the mRNA expression levels of Bcl-2 and Bak were measured using semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. The growth inhibition activity of the loaded (-)-gossypol nanoparticles was found to be dose- and time-dependent, and similar to the activity of free (-)-gossypol. The nanoparticles induced apoptotic morphological changes on the PC-3 cells, downregulating the mRNA expression level of Bcl-2 and upregulating the mRNA expression level of Bak. Blank nanoparticles exhibited no evident toxicity on PC-3 and RWPE-1 cells at a high dose. Therefore, the mPEG-Mal loaded (-)-gossypol nanoparticles demonstrated a favorable antitumor activity and no toxicity. The nanoparticles were able to induce the apoptosis of prostate cancer cells; thus, may be a potential antitumor nanodrug.

Expression of Kin17 promotes the proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma cells in vitro and in vivo.

Kin17 protein is ubiquitously expressed in mammals and is correlated with vital biological functions. However, little is known about the role of Kin17 in the proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma cells. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the upregulation of Kin17 can promote the growth of hepatocellular carcinoma cells. A series of assays was performed to study the effect of Kin17 in the proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma cells in vitro and in vivo. The western blotting results revealed that Kin17 expression was increased in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues compared with that of the corresponding normal tissues. Moreover, ectopic upregulation of Kin17 expression promoted the growth of hepatocellular carcinoma cells in vitro and in vivo. These results indicated that Kin17 is involved in the tumorigenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma, and that Kin17 has the potential to serve as a therapeutic target for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Study on in-vivo anti-tumor activity of Verbena officinalis extract.

We investigated the anti-tumor effects of Verbena officinalis extract on H22 tumor-bearing mice and its effect on immune function. Mice model of H22 solid tumor was established, the mice were divided into five groups and administered the extract, later, tumors were removed and inhibition rates were calculated; spleens were removed and spleen indices were calculated, and the sheep red blood cell-delayed-type hypersensitivity (SRBC-DTH) and the serum hemolysin level were determined. The Verbena officinalis extract had anti-tumor effect, with the inhibition rate reaching 38.78%, it also increased the spleen index to a certain extent, in addition, the changes in DTA and HA were not obvious compared with the model group. The Verbena officinalis extract had in vivo anti-tumor effect, while causing no damage on the immune function.

[Mechanism of MBL inhibiting the LPS-induced DC maturation].

The study was aimed to investigate the mechanism of mannan-binding lectin (MBL) on bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced human peripheral blood monocyte-derived dendritic cell (DC) maturation. The monocytes were prepared from the peripheral blood of healthy adult volunteers. The immature dendritic cells (imDC) were induced by 5-day-culture in medium supplemented with rhGM-CSF and rhIL-4. FACS was used to investigate the interaction of MBL with imDC and the impact of MBL on LPS binding to imDC. ELISA and Western blot was used to analyze the interaction of MBL with soluble TLR4 ectodomain protein (sTLR4); Western blot was used to detect LPS-induced NF-κB translocation in imDC. The results showed that MBL could directly bind to imDC in the presence of calcium. sTLR4 protein or LPS could competitively inhibit the binding of MBL to imDC. ELISA and Western blot showed that MBL could evidently bind to sTLR4 protein in a concentration-dependent manner. FACS showed that MBL could competitively inhibit the binding of LPS to imDC by binding to imDC directly. Western blot showed that MBL decreased LPS-induced NF-κB translocation in imDC. It is concluded that MBL may competitively inhibit the binding of LPS to imDC by binding to TLR4 expressed on imDC, resulted in inhibition of LPS-induced DC maturation, suggesting that MBL can regulate DC maturation through ligand-binding. This study provides the good foundation to clarify the mechanism of MBL inhibiting the LPS-induced DC maturation.

Effects of PTTG down-regulation on proliferation and metastasis of the SCL-1 cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma cell line.

AIMS: To study effects of down-regulation of pituitary tumor-transforming gene (PTTG) on proliferation and metastasis ability of the SCL-1 cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) cell line and explore related mechanisms. METHODS: SCL-1 cells were divided into 3 groups (untreated, siRNA control and PTTG siRNA). Cell proliferation assays were performed using a CCK-8 kit and proliferation and metastasis ability were analyzed using Boyden chambers. In addition, expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 was detected by r-time qPCR and Western blotting. RESULTS: Down-regulation of PTTG could markedly inhibit cell proliferation in SCL-1 cells, compared to untreated and control siRNA groups (P < 0.05). Real-time qPCR demonstrated that expression levels of PTTG, MMP-2 and MMP-9 in the PTTG siRNA group were 0.8%, 23.2% and 21.3% of untreated levels. Western blotting revealed that expression of PTTG, MMP-2 and MMP-9 proteins in the PTTG siRNA group was obviously down-regulated. The numbers of migrating cells (51.38 ± 4.71) in the PTTG siRNA group was obviously lower than that in untreated group (131.33 ± 6.12) and the control siRNA group (127.72 ± 5.20) (P < 0.05), suggesting that decrease of proliferation and metastasis ability mediated by PTTG knock-down may be closely correlated with down-regulation of MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression. CONCLUSION: Inhibition of PTTG expression may be a new target for therapy of CSCC.

[Clinical value of dual-source CT in evaluating coronary artery disease].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical value of dual-source CT (DSCT) in the diagnosis of coronary artery disease. METHODS: Fifty-five patients with suspected coronary heart disease underwent both DSCT coronary angiography (DSCTCA) and selective coronary angiography (CAG) examination, and the diagnostic sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of the DSCTCA was evaluated. RESULTS: The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value, and accuracy of DSCT in the diagnosis of coronary heart disease were 97.7%, 72.6%, 93.5%, 88.9% and 92.7% by the number of patients, respectively; by calculating the coronary arteries, the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value, accuracy were 94.9%, 95.8%, 92.5%, 97.1%, 95.5%, respectively. According to the lesion segment, these values were 88.2%, 96.9%, 90.5%, 96.1%, 94.7%, respectively. DSCTCA showed no significant difference from CAG for a diagnostic purpose, nor did their vessel sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value, and accuracy in different coronaries differ significantly. CONCLUSION: DSCT has a diagnostic accuracy of coronary heart disease close to that CAG and can on some occasion serve as an alternative to CAG in the screening of coronary artery disease.

[Construction of normal human lymphocyte cDNA library].

A lymphocyte cDNA library of normal human was constructed in order to obtain specific gene and prepare lymphocyte gene chips to detect the relative genes between psychiatric diseases and immunity. The lymphocyte was abstracted from fresh normal human blood and cultured in vitro. Total RNA of lymphocyte was extracted from the cultured cells and then mRNA was extracted further. Moreover,single-strand cDNA and double-strand cDNA were synthesized in turn. The double-strand cDNAs were ligated to SalI and NotI adaptor,which were later ligated to arms of gammaZipLox. Ligated-cDNAs were packed in vitro, and then infected E. coli Y1090. Titering the phage and amplifying the library. The lymphocyte cDNA library consisted of 2.6 x 10(6) recombinants with the length of 1-5 kb and the cloning efficiency was 5 x 10(12) recombinants/g cDNA. The amplified library was 3 x 10(7) recombinants/microl in concentration and the number of bacteriophage plagues was the most suitable in density after it was diluted to 10(-6) in concentration. The constructed cDNA library of normal human lymphocyte would be helpful to further detecting target genes and preparing gene chips etc.