The effect of aging on VEGF/VEGFR2 signal pathway genes expression in rat liver sinusoidal endothelial cell.

Liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) play a key role in the initiation and neoangiogenesis of liver regeneration. We presume that the abnormity of the VEGF/VEGFR2 and its pathway gene Id1, Wnt2 and HGF expression in aged LSECs may be an important mechanism to affect liver regeneration of the elderly. LSECs from two different groups (adult and old) were isolated in a rodent model, and observed by SEM and TEM. The adult and old rats were underwent 70% partial hepatectomy. The proliferation of hepatocytes and LSECs were analyzed by Immunofluorescence staining. The expression of VEGF/VEGFR2 and its pathway gene in isolated LSECs and liver tissue after hepatectomy were detected by qRT-PCR and Western blot. There is a decreased number of endothelial fenestrae in the LSECs of the old group, compared to the adult group. The old group had a lower expression of VEGF/VEGFR2 and its pathway gene than the adult groups (p < 0.01). The results of western blot were consistent with those of qRT-PCR. The hepatocytes had a high proliferation rate at first 4 days after hepatectomy, and a significantly higher proliferation rate in the adult group. The LSECs began to proliferate after 4 days of hepatectomy, and showed a quantity advantage in the adult group. The adult group had a significantly higher expression of VEGF/VEGFR2 and its pathway gene after hepatectomy than the old group (p < 0.01). LSCEs turn to be defenestration in structure and have a low expression of VEGF/VEGFR2 and its pathway gene with aging.

[Study of PL Spectra of PbSe Quantum Dots for IC Chip Temperature Dependence].

Colloidal PbSe QDs were prepared with the particle size of 3. 6, 5. 1 and 6. 0 nm, and the temperature-dependent optical properties of colloidal PbSe QDs were investigated. At the room temperature, the experiment showed that there is red shift with increasing temperature; photoluminescence spectra of large size colloidal PbSe QDs is blue shifted with increasing temperature. Proposed a temperature detection method of integrated circuit was proposed based on photoluminescence spectra of colloidal PbSe QDs. The method for temperature detection includes colloidal PbSe quantum dots deposited on the surface of the printed circuit board, colloidal PbSe quantum dots of the surface are excited by the laser and infrared spectrometer receives photoluminescence spectra. Image acquisition system used for micron scale areas of temperature detection collects a tiny and specific areas imaging in the surface of chip. Experiments showed that the measurement accuracy is ±3 °C and the relative error is less than 5%.

[Investigation of spectroscopy of ZnCuInS/ZnSe/ZnS quantum dots].

ZnCuInS/ZnSe/ZnS quantum dots were non-toxic and heavy-metal free semiconductor nanocrystals. In the present paper, ZnCuInS/ZnSe/ZnS core/shell/shell quantum dots were prepared with the particle size of 3.3, 2.7 and 2.3 nm. The photoluminescence of ZnCuInS/ZnSe/ZnS quantum dots with different size were measured, and the wavelength of peak was blue-shifted with decreasing the diameter. The wavelength of absorption peaks and photoluminescence peaks were 510 nm, 611 nm (3.3 nm), 483 nm, 583 nm (2.7 nm) and 447 nm and 545 nm(2.3 nm). The obvious size-dependence of ZnCuInS/ZnSe/ZnS quantum dots was shown. The Stokes shifts of ZnCuInS/ZnSe/ZnS quantum dots were 398 meV (3.3 nm), 436 meV (2.7 nm) and 498 meV (2.3 nm). Such large Stokes shifts indicate that the emission should be ascribed to the defect-related recombination. The temperature-dependent photoluminescence of ZnCuInS/ZnSe/ZnS quantum dots with the particle size of 3.3 nm were measured. The wavelength of peaks was red-shifted with increasing temperature and the intensity of photoluminescence spectra was decreased with increasing temperature. Therefore, the emission was concluded to be the transition from the conduction band to defect state.

Systematic Analysis of Zinc Finger-Homeodomain Transcription Factors (ZF-HDs) in Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.).

Zinc finger-homeodomain transcription factors (ZF-HDs) are pivotal in regulating plant growth, development, and diverse stress responses. In this study, we found 8 ZF-HD genes in barley genome. Theses eight HvZF-HD genes were located on five chromosomes, and classified into ZHD and MIF subfamily. The collinearity, gene structure, conserved motif, and cis-elements of HvZF-HD genes were also analyzed. Real-time PCR results suggested that the expression of HvZF-HD4, HvZF-HD6, HvZF-HD7 and HvZF-HD8 were up-regulated after hormones (ABA, GA3 and MeJA) or PEG treatments, especially HvZF-HD6 was significantly induced. These results provide useful information of ZF-HD genes to future study aimed at barley breeding.

Dietary cholesterol alters memory and synaptic structural plasticity in young rat brain.

Cholesterol plays an important role in synaptic plasticity, learning and memory. To better explore how dietary cholesterol contributes to learning and memory and the related changes in synaptic structural plasticity, rats were categorized into a regular diet (RD) group and a cholesterol-enriched diet (CD) group, and were fed with respective diet for 2 months. Dietary cholesterol impacts on learning and memory, hippocampal synaptic ultrastructure, expression levels of postsynaptic density-95 (PSD-95), synaptophysin (SYP) and cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1R) were investigated. We found CD rats had better performances in learning and memory using Morris water maze and object recognition test than RD rats. The memory improvement was accompanied with alterations of synaptic ultrastructure in the CA1 area of the hippocampus evaluated by electron microscopy, enhanced immunoreactivity of SYP, a presynaptic marker in hippocampus detected by immunocytochemistry, as well as increased levels of PSD-95, SYP and decreased level of CB1R in brains of CD rats determined by Western blot. Taken together, the results suggest that the improvement of learning and memory abilities of the young adult rats induced by dietary cholesterol may be linked with changes in synaptic structural plasticity in the brain.

Sequencing for complete rDNA sequences (18S, ITS1, 5.8S, ITS2, and 28S rDNA) of Demodex and phylogenetic analysis of Acari based on 18S and 28S rDNA.

Due to the difficulty of DNA extraction for Demodex, few studies dealt with the identification and the phyletic evolution of Demodex at molecular level. In this study, we amplified, sequenced, and analyzed a complete (Demodex folliculorum) and an almost complete (D12 missing) (Demodex brevis) ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequence and also analyzed the primary sequences of divergent domains in small-subunit ribosomal RNA (rRNA) of 51 species and in large-subunit rRNA of 43 species from four superfamilies in Acari (Cheyletoidea, Tetranychoidea, Analgoidea, and Ixodoidea). The results revealed that 18S rDNA sequence was relatively conserved in rDNA-coding regions and was not evolving as rapidly as 28S rDNA sequence. The evolutionary rates of transcribed spacer regions were much higher than those of the coding regions. The maximum parsimony trees of 18S and 28S rDNA appeared to be almost identical, consistent with their morphological classification. Based on the fact that the resolution capability of sequence length and the divergence of the 13 segments (D1-D6, D7a, D7b, and D8-D12) of 28S rDNA were stronger than that of the nine variable regions (V1-V9) of 18S rDNA, we were able to identify Demodex (Cheyletoidea) by the indels occurring in D2, D6, and D8.

[Investigation of spectroscopy of ZnCuInS/ZnS quantum dots and poly-TPD].

In the present paper ZnCuInS/ZnS core/shell quantum dots were prepared with the particle size of 3.2 nm. Its radiation is based on the donoracceptor pair transitions, not the band edge emission. According to the measurement of photoluminescence spectrum emitted by ZnCuInS/ZnS core/shell quantum dots, the emitting peak of 620 nm and the full width at half-maximum of 95 nm were achieved as red emitter; meanwhile, organic poly(N, N'-bis(4-butylphenyl)-N, N'-bis(phenyl) benzidine) (Poly-TPD) film was deposited and used as cyan-emitter with the peak of 480 nm. Two structures of Poly-TPD were analyzed and discussed according to the photoluminescence spectrum. Two wavelengths are complementary color. Therefore, two films were deposited one by one as bilayer emitter to obtain the complementary emission. After the suitable bias was applied on the films, the white emission was achieved with the Commission Internationale de l' Eclairage (CIE) chromaticity coordinates of (0.336, 0.339) and color rendering index of 92. Therefore, the bilayer-structure is a promising candidate for white light emitting diodes fabrication.

Structural basis for the inhibition of 1,3-1,4-ß-D-glucanase by noncompetitive calcium ion and competitive Tris inhibitors.

In this paper, we determine the mutant W203F structure of TFsß-glucanase, which contains aromatic residue Trp203 at the active site of the enzyme. Residue Trp203 is stacked with the glucose product of cellotriose. Further analysis reveals that two extra calcium ions and a Tris molecule bind to the mutant structure. A Tris molecule, bound to the catalytic residues of Glu56 and Glu60, was found at the position normally taken by substrate binding at the -1 subsite. In addition, a second Ca(2+) ion was found near the residues Phe152 and Glu154 on the protein's surface, and a third one near the active site residue Asp202. Kinetic experiments reveal that both Tris and imidazole are competitive inhibitors, while calcium is a noncompetitive inhibitor for TFsß-glucanase. The two types of enzymatic inhibition are first-time descriptions for the glycosyl hydrolase family 16.

Jeotgalicoccus halophilus sp. nov., isolated from salt lakes.

Two slightly halophilic bacterial strains, C1-52(T) and YD-9, were isolated from Daban and Aiding salt lakes in Xinjiang, China, respectively. The isolates were gram-positive, non-endospore-forming, non-motile, facultatively anaerobic cocci. Colonies were pale yellow, and a light pink, diffusible pigment was produced after a few additional days of incubation. The isolates grew optimally with 2-3 % (w/v) NaCl, at pH 7.5 and at 30-35 °C. The peptidoglycan type was L-Lys-Gly(3-4)-L-Ala(Gly). The menaquinones were MK-7 (83.2 %) and MK-6 (16.8 %). The major fatty acids (>10 %) were anteiso-C(15 : 0) and iso-C(15 : 0). The DNA G+C content of strains C1-52(T) and YD-9 was 41.2 and 41.0 mol%, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strains C1-52(T) and YD-9 were closely related to Jeotgalicoccus psychrophilus YKJ-115(T) (98.0 and 97.1 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, respectively), followed by Jeotgalicoccus halotolerans YKJ-101(T) (97.1 and 96.8 %). Strains C1-52(T) and YD-9 shared, respectively, 20 and 11 % DNA-DNA relatedness with J. halotolerans JCM 11198(T) and 8 and 13 % with J. psychrophilus JCM 11199(T). DNA-DNA relatedness between the isolates was 91 %. On the basis of phenotypic and phylogenetic distinctiveness, strains C1-52(T) and YD-9 belonged to the same species, which should be placed in the genus Jeotgalicoccus as a novel species. The name Jeotgalicoccus halophilus sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain C1-52(T) ( = CGMCC 1.8911(T)  = NBRC 105788(T)).

Halomonas aidingensis sp. nov., a moderately halophilic bacterium isolated from Aiding salt lake in Xinjiang, China.

Two Gram-negative moderately halophilic bacterial strains, designated Ad-1(T) and C-12, were isolated from Aiding salt lake of Xinjiang in China. The novel isolates were subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic study. Cells of these strains were cocci or short rods and motile with polar flagella. Colonies produced brown-red pigment. The isolates grew in the range of 0.5-25% (w/v) NaCl, pH 5.5-10.5 and 4-45°C. Analysis of their 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strains Ad-1(T) and C-12 belonged to the genus Halomonas showing 92.7-98.4% similarity with the type species. The isoprenoid quinones of the isolates were Q-9 and Q-8. The major cellular fatty acids were C18:1ω7c, C16:1ω7c/6c, C16:0, C12:0-3OH and C10:0. The DNA G + C contents of strains Ad-1(T) and C-12 were 64.6 and 63.9 mol%, respectively. The DNA relatedness between the two isolates was 89.2%. The similarities of these newly isolated strains with closely related type strains were lower than 35% at the genetic level. Based on phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and genetic characteristics, the representative strain Ad-1(T) is considered to be a novel species of the genus Halomonas, for which the name Halomonas aidingensis sp. nov. is proposed, with Ad-1(T) (= CGMCC 1.10191(T) = NBRC 106173(T)) as the type strain.

Norepinephrine plays an important role in antinociceptive modulation of hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus in the rat.

Our previous study has proven that hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) plays a role in antinociception. The effects of studied classical neurotransmitter on PVN antinociceptive modulation were investigated in the rat. The results showed: (1) Pain stimulation increased norepinephrine (NE), but not epinephrine, dopamine (DA), 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DA metabolic product), homovanilic acid (DA metabolic product), serotonin (5-HT), 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HT metabolic product), acetycholine (Ach), choline (Ach metabolic product), gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and L-glutamate acid concentrations in the PVN perfusion liquid; (2) PVN stimulation with L-glutamate sodium, which excited local neurons only, did not influence the concentrations of the studied classical neurotransmitter and metabolic product in the PVN perfusion liquid; (3) Microinjection of NE, epinephrine, or L-glutamate sodium into the PVN elevated pain threshold, and local administration of GABA decreased pain threshold in a dose-dependent manner, but PVN administration of Ach, DA, or 5-HT did not change pain threshold; (4) Microinjection of phentolamine (alpha-receptor antagonist) or MK801 [NMDA-receptor antagonist] into the PVN reduced pain threshold, and local administration of bicuculline (GABA-receptor antagonist) raised pain threshold, but PVN administration of propranolol (beta-receptor antagonist), atropine (Muscarinic cholinergic receptor antagonist), 6-OH gallamine (Nicotinic cholinergic receptor antagonist), fluperidol (DA-receptor antagonist), or cyproheptadine (5-HT-receptor antagonist) did not alter pain threshold. The data suggested that endogenous NE, not epinephrine, 5-HT, Ach, GABA, and L-glutamate acid played an important role in the PVN antinociceptive modulation.

Effect of arginine vasopressin on acupuncture analgesia in the rat.

Arginine vasopressin (AVP) has been proven to be involved in the process of pain regulation. This communication was designed to investigate the effect of AVP on acupuncture analgesia in the rat model. The results showed that intraventricular injection (icv) of AVP could enhance acupuncture analgesia in a dose-dependent manner, whereas icv of anti-AVP serum decreased acupuncture analgesia. However, neither intrathecal (ith) nor intravenous injection (iv) of AVP or anti-AVP serum could influence acupuncture analgesia. Electrical acupuncture of "Zusanli" points (St. 36) decreased AVP concentration in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN), and increased AVP concentration in the hypothalamic supraoptic nucleus (SON), periaqueductial gray (PAG), caudate nucleus (CdN) and raphe magnus nucleus (RMN), but did not change AVP concentration in the pituitary, spinal cord and plasma. The effect of AVP on acupuncture analgesia was partly reversed by pretreatment with naloxone, an opiate receptor antagonist. These data suggested that AVP in the brain played a role in the process of acupuncture analgesia in combination with the endogenous opiate peptide system.

4,4'-Diazenediyldipyridinium 4-(4-pyridyldiazen-yl)pyridinium octa-cyanidotungstate(V) dihydrate.

The asymmetric unit of the title complex, (C(10)H(10)N(4))(C(10)H(9)N(4))[W(CN)(8)]·2H(2)O, contains two 4,4'-diazenediyldipyridinium, [H(2)(4,4'-azpy)](2+), two 4-(4-pyridyldiazen-yl)pyridinium, [H(4,4'-azpy)](+), cations, two [W(V)(CN)(8)](3-) anions, and four uncoordinated water mol-ecules. Each of the W centers is coordinated by eight CN groups in a slightly distorted square-anti-prismatic geometry. In the crystal structure, intra- and inter-molecular N-H⋯O, N-H⋯N and O-H⋯N hydrogen bonds link the cations and anions in an alternating fashion, forming a two-dimensional layered structure, in which they are further linked through the very weak π-π stacking inter-actions [shortest distance = 4.640 (2) Å] and van der Waals forces between adjacent layers, forming a three-dimensional supra-molecular network.

Chemical constituents and biological activities of Viburnum macrocephalum f. keteleeri.

Three new compounds (1-3) and seven known compounds (4-10) have been isolated from the ethanolic extract of Viburnum macrocephalum f. keteleeri using bioactivity-guided fractionation and identified as methyl (2-α-L-rhamnopyranosyloxy)acetate (1), methyl (2R-3-α-L-rhamnopyranosyloxy)glycerate (2), methyl (3R-4-α-L-rhamnopyranosyloxy-3-hydroxy)butanoate (3), bridelionoside B (4), (6S,7E,9R)-roseoside (5), linarionoside A (6), 3,7,11-trimethyl-1,6-dodecadien-3,10,11-triol (7), (+)-8-hydroxylinalool (8), ß-sitosterol (9) and daucosterol (10). The structures of 1-3, including absolute configurations, were determined by spectroscopic data (1H and 13C NMR, HSQC, HMBC and ORD) and chemical methods. In addition, compounds 1-8 were assayed for their insecticidal and antimicrobial activities. Compounds 7 and 8 exhibited moderately insecticidal effects against Mythimna separata with LD50 values of 180 and 230 µg g-1, respectively. Compounds 2, 3, 7 and 8 showed varying antimicrobial activities with IC50 values ranging from 125 to 529 µM.

Insecticidal and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities of chemical constituents from Viburnum fordiae Hance.

The ethanolic extract of the stems of Viburnum fordiae Hance showed insecticidal and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities and then was fractionated by bioactivity-guided fractionation to obtain a rare C13-norisoprenoid (1), together with a new phenolic glycoside (2), and seven known compounds, alangionoside C (3), pisumionoside (4), koaburaside (5), 3,5-dimethoxy-benzyl alcohol 4-O-ß-d-glucopyranoside (6), 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzyl-ß-d-glucopyranoside (7), arbutin (8), and salidroside (9). The previously undescribed compounds were elucidated as (3R,9R)-3-hydroxy-7,8-didehydro-ß-ionyl 9-O-α-d-arabinopyranosyl-(1→6)-ß-d-glucopyranoside (1) and 2-(4-O-ß-d-glucopyranosyl)syringylpropane-1,3-diol (2) by spectroscopic data (1H and 13C NMR, HSQC, HMBC, 1H-1H COSY, HSQC-TOCSY, HRESIMS, IR and ORD) and chemical methods. Compound 1 showed potent insecticidal effect against Mythimna separata with LD50 value of 140 µg g-1. Compounds 2, 5, 6, 8 and 9 showed varying α-glucosidase inhibitory activity with IC50 values ranging from 148.2 to 230.9 µM.

Effect of hypothalamic supraoptic nucleus on acupuncture analgesia in the rat.

Hypothalamic supraoptic nucleus (SON) has been demonstrated to involve in pain modulation. Acupuncture analgesia is a very useful clinical skill for pain relief, which has over 2500-year history in China. The present study investigated the effect of SON on acupuncture analgesia in the rat. Electrical stimulation of the SON or microinjection of a small dose L-glutamate sodium into the SON enhanced acupuncture analgesia in a dose-dependent manner, while cauterization of the SON weakened acupuncture analgesia. Pituitary removal did not influence the effect of L-glutamate sodium that enhanced acupuncture analgesia in the SON. The data suggested that the neurons and not the nerve fibers in the SON played an important role in acupuncture analgesia, which effect might be through the central nervous system rather than the hypothalamo-neurohypophyseal system.

Investigating the role of the hypothalamic supraoptic nucleus in nociception in the rat.

We investigated the role of the hypothalamic supraoptic nucleus (SON) in nociception in the rat. Electrical stimulation of the SON or microinjection of a small dose of L-glutamate sodium into the SON elevated the nociceptive threshold in a dose-dependent manner, while cauterization of the SON decreased the nociceptive threshold. Pituitary removal did not influence the antinociceptive effect of L-glutamate sodium in the SON. The data suggested that the neurons and not the nervous fibers in the SON played an important role in antinociception.

4,4'-Diazenediyldipyridinium (4-pyridyldiazen-yl)pyridinium octa-cyanidomolyb-date(V) tetra-hydrate.

The structure of the title complex, (C(10)H(10)N(4))(C(10)H(9)N(4))[Mo(CN)(8)]·4H(2)O, consists of 4,4'-diazenediyldipyridinium and (4-pyridyldiazen-yl)pyridinium cations disordered over the same site, an [Mo(CN)(8)](3-) anion and four uncoordinated water mol-ecules. The cations (crystallographic symmetry, 2) and the [Mo(CN)(8)](3-) anion (crystallographic symmetry, 222) are arranged in an alternating fashion, forming a two-dimensional layered structure through hydrogen bonds. Hydrogen bonds, π-π stacking inter-actions (shortest distance = 4.7872 Å) and van der Waals forces between adjacent layers generate a three-dimensional supra-molecular structure.