Construction of Magnesium Phosphate Chemical Conversion Coatings with Different Microstructures on Titanium to Enhance Osteogenesis and Angiogenesis.

Titanium (Ti) and its alloys are widely used as hard tissue substitutes in dentistry and orthopedics, but their low bioactivity leads to undesirable osseointegration defects in the early osteogenic phase. Surface modification is an important approach to overcome these problems. In the present study, novel magnesium phosphate (MgP) coatings with controllable structures were fabricated on the surface of Ti using the phosphate chemical conversion (PCC) method. The effects of the microstructure on the physicochemical and biological properties of the coatings on Ti were researched. The results indicated that accelerators in PCC solution were important factors affecting the microstructure and properties of the MgP coatings. In addition, the coated Ti exhibited excellent hydrophilicity, high bonding strength, and good corrosion resistance. Moreover, the biological results showed that the MgP coatings could improve the spread, proliferation, and osteogenic differentiation of mouse osteoblast cells (MC3T3-E1) and vascular differentiation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), indicating that the coated Ti samples had a great effect on promoting osteogenesis and angiogenesis. Overall, this study provided a new research idea for the surface modification of conventional Ti to enhance osteogenesis and angiogenesis in different bone types for potential biomedical applications.

Three new compounds isolated from the whole plants of Salsola collina pall.

One new alkaloid, 6, 7-dimethoxyisoquinoline-N-oxide (1), one new benzofuran derivative, 3,7-dimethyl-6-acetyl-8-benzofuranol (2) and one new lignan, salsolains A (3), along with seven known compounds (4-10), were isolated from the whole plant of Salsola collina Pall. Their structures were elucidated by extensive analysis of spectroscopic data (IR, UV, HR-ESI-MS, 1 D and 2 D NMR), and their absolute configurations were determined by the X-ray crystallography and ECD calculation. The activities of compounds 1-10 against inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α levels on LPS-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages were assessed, especially, compound 5 (50 µM) exhibited the most significant anti-inflammatory activity with the secretion levels of IL-6 and TNF-α at 3.87% and 4.03%, respectively.

Low expression of citron kinase is associated with poor patient outcomes in hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Citron kinase (CIT) is a protein related to cytokinesis and is an important abscission regulator. However, the relationship between CIT and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression CIT in HCC tissues, and explore the connection between this expression and clinicopathological characteristics of HCC. METHODS: Immunohistochemistry staining on 235 HCC tissues and 96 non-tumorous liver tissues controls was performed to examine the CIT protein expression. We then analyzed the correlation between protein expression and clinicopathological parameters via χ2 tests, and we performed overall survival analyses via the Kaplan-Meier survival approach. Based on the online Oncomine Expression Array and UALCAN databases, we more broadly compared CIT mRNA expression between normal and HCC tissues. Finally, we compared CIT mRNA expression in these databases to protein expression in our study and explored potential sources for any observe differences. RESULTS: Compared to normal tissues, CIT expression was significantly lower in HCC tissues. Low CIT expression was found to be related to gender, tumor size, Edmondson Grade, Microvascular invasion, serum AFP levels and poor overall survival. Based on the online databases, CIT mRNA expression was found to be high in HCC tissues and decreased in normal tissues. We hypothesize that this unexpected result is due to a negative feedback loop whereby low protein CIT levels mediate increased CIT mRNA levels. CONCLUSIONS: Lower CIT protein levels are associated with a poorer prognosis in HCC patients, and lower CIT protein levels may mediate a negative feedback loop leading to increased CIT mRNA levels.

Organocatalytic Isomerization/Allylic Alkylation of O-Acylated Hemithioacetals and Their Application in Tandem Sequence to Access 2,7-Dioxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-3-one Derivatives.

A novel protocol for the efficient preparation of α-hydroxy allylic thioesters via a Lewis base-catalyzed tandem isomerization/allylic alkylation process is reported. The resulting allylic thioesters can serve as valuable scaffolds to undergo a stereoselective intramolecular cyclization to deliver 2,7-dioxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-3-one derivatives in a catalytically atom-economic fashion.