A highly selective and sensitive rhodamine B-based chemosensor for Sn4+ in water-bearing and biomaging and biosensing in zebrafish.

A novel colorimetric-fluorescent dual-mode chemosensor (JT5) based on rhodamine B has been produced for monitoring Sn4+ in the DMSO/H2O (4:1, v/v) medium. It has high sensitivity, a low detection limit, a short response time (1 s) and high stability, and can still be maintained after two weeks with the red dual fluorescence/ colorimetric response. Enhancement of red fluorescence (591 nm) and red colorimetric (567 nm) response of JT5 by Sn4+ addition. The electrostatic potential of the sensor JT5 molecule was simulated to speculate on the sensing mechanism, and the IR, mass spectrometry and 1H NMR titration were utilized to further demonstrate that JT5 was coordinated to Sn4+ with a 1:1 type, the rhodamine spironolactam ring of JT5 opens up to form a penta-membered ring with Sn4+, meanwhile, its system may have chelation enhanced fluorescence (CHEF) effect. In addition, theoretical calculations were carried out to give the energy gaps of JT5 and [JT5 + Sn4+] as well as to simulate the electronic properties of the maximal absorption peaks. Notably, the sensor JT5 was successfully applied to monitoring Sn4+ in zebrafish, and the JT5-loaded filter paper provided a solid-state platform for detecting Sn4+ by both naked eye and fluorescent methods. In summary, this work contributes to monitoring Sn4+ in organisms and solid-state materials and promotes understanding of Sn4+ functions in biological systems, environments, and solid-state materials.

Ratiometric emission of Tb(III)-functionalized Cd-based layered MOFs for portable visual detection of trace amounts of diquat in apples, potatoes and corn.

Diquat (DQ) is a typical bipyridine herbicide widely used to control weeds in fields and orchards. The severe toxicity of diquat poses a serious threat to the environment and human health. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have received widespread attention due to their unique physical and chemical properties and applications in the detection of toxic and harmful substances. In this work, a two-dimensional (2D) Tb(III) functionalized MOF Tb(III)@1 (1 = [Cd(HTATB)(bimb)]n·H2O (Cd-MOF), H3TATB = 4,4',4″-triazine-2,4,6-tribenzoicacid, bimb = 1,4-bis((1H-imidazol-1-yl)methyl)benzene) has been prepared and characterized. Tb(III)@1 has excellent optical properties and high water and chemical stability. After the Tb(III) is fixed by the uncoordinated -COO- in the 1 framework, Tb(III)@1 emits the typical green fluorescence of the lanthanide ion Tb(III) through the "antenna effect". It is worth noting that Tb(III)@1 can be used as a dual emission fluorescence chemical sensor for the ratio fluorescence detection of pesticide DQ, exhibiting a relatively low detection limit of 0.06 nM and a wide detection range of 0-50 nM. After the addition of DQ, a rapid color change of Tb(III)@1 fluorescence from green to blue was observed due to the combined effects of IFE, FRET and dynamic quenching. Therefore, a simple test paper box has been designed for direct on-site determination of pesticide DQ. In addition, the developed sensor has been successfully applied to the detection of DQ in real samples (fruits a Yin-Xia Sun and Bo-Tao Ji contributed equally to this work and should be considered co-first authors.nd vegetables) with satisfactory results. The results indicate that the probe developed in this study has broad application prospects in both real sample detection and actual on-site testing.

[Advanced glycated albumin induces macrophage apoptosis via activating caspase-12 pathway].

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of advanced glycated albumin (AGE-alb) on the activation of caspase-12, a key molecule in endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS)-associated apoptotic pathway, and to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms of macrophage apoptosis. RAW264.7 macrophages were treated with AGE-alb (2, 4 and 6 g/L), control albumin (C-alb, 4 g/L), tunicamycin (TM, 4 mg/L), or pretreated with 4-phenylbutyric acid (PBA, 5 mmol/L) for 1 h and then treated with AGE-alb (4 g/L). After incubation for 24 h, the cell viability and apoptosis were determined by using MTT assay and TUNEL detection kit, respectively. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity in media was determined by using an assay kit. The protein levels of caspase-12 were examined by Western blot analysis. The results showed that like TM (an ERS inducer), incubation with AGE-alb led to significant decrease in viability and increase in LDH activity in media and apoptotic rate in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, AGE-alb induced activation of caspase-12 especially at the concentration of 4 and 6 g/L (P < 0.01), which was similar to TM. However, PBA (an ERS inhibitor) protected RAW264.7 macrophages from AGE-alb-induced decrease in viability and increases in LDH activity and apoptosis. Moreover, PBA also inhibited the caspase-12 activation induced by AGE-alb (P < 0.05). These results suggest that AGE-alb may induce apoptosis in RAW 264.7 macrophages, and the mechanism may be related to the activation of ERS-associated apoptotic pathway mediated by caspase-12.

[Changes of left ventricular remodeling in hypertension patients with carotid atherosclerosis of phlegm-dampness syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To study changes of left ventricular remodeling (LVR) in hypertension patients with carotid atherosclerosis (CAS) of phlegm-dampness syndrome (PDS). METHODS: Doppler ultrasonography data of CAS were observed in 223 hypertension patients with CAS (as the hypertension group, including 119 patients of the PDS group and 104 of the non-PDS group), 81 CAS patients with non-hypertension, and 19 non-hypertension non-CAS patients (as the control group). The difference in the degree of LVR was compared among the above groups. RESULTS: The left ventricular posterior wall thickness (LVPWT), inter ventricular septum thickness (IVS), E/A were higher in the hypertension group than in the non-hypertension group (P < 0.05). The left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (LVEDD), left ventricular end-systolic diameter (LVESD), stroke volume (SV) were higher in the soft plaque hypertension group and the soft plaque non-hypertension group than in the hard plaque group, the thickening intimal group, and the normal intimal group (P < 0.01 , P < 0.05). The LVEDD, LVESD, and SV were higher, and the ejection fraction (EF) was lower in the PDS hypertension group than in the non-PDS hypertension group (all P < 0.05). Of them, LVEDD, LVESD, and SV were higher in the soft plaque group than in the hard plaque group (P < 0.01), the thickening intimal group (P < 0.01) and the normal intimal group (P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference in PDS hypertension between the soft plaque group and the hard plaque group (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The hypertension patients with CAS of PDS might be correlated to LVR, and LVR was more obviously in the soft plaque patients.

Zileuton improves memory deficits, amyloid and tau pathology in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease with plaques and tangles.

The 5-lipoxygenase (5LO) enzyme is widely distributed within the central nervous system. Previous works showed that this protein is up-regulated in Alzheimer's disease (AD), and plays an active role in the development of brain amyloidosis in the APP transgenic mice. In the present paper, we studied the effect of its pharmacological inhibition on the entire AD-like phenotype of a mouse model with plaques and tangles, the 3 × Tg mice. Compared with mice receiving placebo, the group treated with zileuton, a specific 5LO inhibitor, manifested a significant improvement of their memory impairments. The same animals had a significant reduction in Aß levels and deposition, which was secondary to a down-regulation of the γ-secretase pathway. Additionally, while total tau levels were unchanged for both groups, zileuton-treated mice had a significant reduction in its phosphorylation state and insoluble forms, secondary to a decreased activation of the cdk5 kinase. These data establish a functional role for 5LO in the pathogenesis of the full spectrum of the AD-like phenotype and represent the successful completion of the initial step for the preclinical development of 5LO inhibitors as viable therapeutic agents for AD.

5-lipoxygenase activating protein reduction ameliorates cognitive deficit, synaptic dysfunction, and neuropathology in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease.

BACKGROUND: 5-lipoxygenase activating protein (FLAP) is abundantly present in the central nervous system. Although its function has been extensively interrogated in the context of peripheral inflammation, novel roles for this protein are emerging in the central nervous system. The objective of our study was to investigate the functional role that FLAP plays in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease (AD) with plaques and tangles (i.e., 3xTg mice). METHODS: By implementing a genetic knockout of FLAP and pharmacologic inhibition with a FLAP inhibitor (MK-591), we evaluated the effect on the AD-like neuropathology, cognition, and synaptic plasticity in the 3xTg mice. RESULTS: We show that reduction of FLAP leads to amelioration of cognition and memory along with the rescuing of synaptic dysfunction at an early age before the development of overt neuropathology. Genetic knockout and pharmacologic inhibition of FLAP also yielded an improvement in AD pathology through a reduction in Aß via the γ-secretase pathway and a decrease in tau phosphorylation through the cdk5 pathway. CONCLUSIONS: Our studies identify a novel functional role for FLAP in regulating memory and synaptic plasticity. They establish this protein at the crossroad of multiple pathways that ultimately contribute to the development of the entire AD-like phenotype, making it a viable therapeutic target with disease-modifying capacity for the treatment of this disease.

Relationship between carotid atherosclerosis and cerebral infarction.

OBJECTIVE: To study the relationship between carotid atherosclerosis and cerebral infarction (CI). METHODS: Between November 2008 and March 2009, 147 CI patients (CI group) and 48 patients with non-cerebrovascular diseases (control group) were enrolled from inpatients of Neurology Department of our hospital. The diagnostic criterion of thickened carotid intima was set as 1.0 mm 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Carotid atherosclerosis is to some extent able to reveal the atherosclerotic condition of cerebral arteries and act as an important predictor for the risk of CI. The color Doppler ultrasonography of carotid arteries can provide a convenient way for the prevention and treatment of CI.

[Studies on character variation of parent of "Ganzaoxian 47" by space mutation].

OBJECTIVE: To breed a new variety from "86-70 selective line"--a late-maturing early indica rice variety with small spike, light grain and weak disease resistance by space mutation. METHOD: Dry seeds of "86-70 selective line" were carried by recoverable satellite, to a near earth orbit and sowed and planted on the earth after recovery, heritance and variation of the characters of SP1- SP9 generation were observed. RESULT: Because of comprehensive space mutation, the characters of their progenies were segregated and varied in many aspects and directions, and the segregated and varied characters were found to be heritable; by selecting early-maturing mutants from these progenies and cultivating them directionally, a new rice variety "Ganzaoxian 47 " was bred. In comparison with its parent, "Ganzaoxian 47" had superior agronomic and economic characters, significantly strong resistance to rice blast and so on, its filled grains per spike [correction of spile], kilo-grain weight and yield were increased by 37.9%, 5.3% and 22.5% respectively, but its growth and developmental duration were shortened by 14 d. CONCLUSION: This study provided a new demonstration for space mutation breeding by recoverable satellite, and indicated that space mutation was an effective and new approach to agricultural crops breeding.

[A study of genetic stability of male sterile mutant of maize obtained from space flighted seeds].

OBJECTIVE: To select a male sterile mutant of maize through space flight for production application. METHOD: Air dried seeds of maize (Chuan Dan No. 9) were carried to space for 15 d. After returned to the earth, a male sterile mutant was selected and a sterile line was obtained through direction breeding. RESULT: It was found that the sterile material was thoroughly abortive. The sterile was trail stable and expressed a genetic feature of single recessive gene controlled nucleus sterility. CONCLUSION: The appearance of male sterile mutant was due to gene mutation caused by space conditions.

[Rice breeding by space technology].

In order to inquire into the influences of space conditions on rice breeding,the dry seeds of 12 rice varieties were carried by recoverable satellite. After recovery,these seeds were showed in the yield, the inheritance and variation of the characters of their progenies were observed and analysed. The results showed that the characters of the progenies mutated under space conditions segregated and varied in many aspects and directions,and the segregated and varied characters were heritable. These progenies posoessed significant transgressive inheritance, a plenty of variation types and variation was characterized by short breeding period. The results in this study indicated that space technology breeding could be developed and used as a new method of mutation breeding.

[Studies of inheritance and application in rice breeding of the large grain mutant induced in space environment].

The inheritance and utilization of a stable large-grain mutant,selected from the induced generation derived from japonica Nongkeng 58 after space treatment carried by recoverable satellite, were analyzed. The results indicated that the grain volume of the large-grain mutant was quantitative trait controlled by multiple genes. The large-grain mutant had characteristics of slender grain,favorable scent, high apparent grain quality and good compatibility with japonica,and can be used as a valuable resource for improving grain quality. When high yield japonica variety with bad looking quality was used as a recurrent parent to cross with the mutant and a procedure of a limited backcross combined with identification of brown rice quality in segregation generations was applied,some japonica lines with good looking quality were developed. The utility of the limited backcross method for improvement of quantitative traits was discussed.