Water-compatible surface-imprinted microspheres for high adsorption and selective recognition of peptide drug from aqueous media

Through employing a synergetic effect of directional and non-directional interactions, surface-imprinted microspheres can selectively recognize thymopentin in aqueous media.

Preparation of molecularly imprinted polymers using ion-pair dummy template imprinting and polymerizable ionic liquids

New IL-based MIPs were prepared using ion-pair dummy template imprinting which confined charged monomers in the imprinting cavities.

An effective way to imprint protein with the preservation of template structure by using a macromolecule as the functional monomer

A novel strategy of using a macromolecular functional monomer to stabilize and imprint protein was proposed for the first time.

Increased serum ADAMTS-4 in knee osteoarthritis: a potential indicator for the diagnosis of osteoarthritis in early stages

We compared serum levels of a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs (ADAMTS)-4, ADAMTS-5, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1, and MMP-3 in patients with different stages of knee osteoarthritis (OA), and investigated the clinical significance of diagnosing OA in early stages. OA patients were divided into 2 groups: early OA group (44 cases), intermediate and advanced OA group (26 cases). The healthy control group included 30 samples. ADAMTS-4, ADAMTS-5, MMP-1, and MMP-3 levels in the serum were tested using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. A protein-protein interaction network was constructed by seeding the significantly expressed marker, followed by Gene Ontology enrichment analyses using Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery. ADAMTS-4 levels were significantly higher in patients at early stages of OA compared to intermediate or advanced OA and healthy controls. ADAMTS-5, MMP-1, and MMP-3 levels in intermediate and advanced-stage OA patients were significantly higher than those in early-stage OA patients and healthy controls. The protein-protein interaction network showed that ADAMTS-4 participates in 67 interactions. Gene Ontology enrichment analysis validated that genes associated with ADAMTS-4 participate in collagen metabolism and OA. ADAMTS-4 is a potential biomarker as an early diagnostic indicator of OA.

Stimulant-induced dopamine increases are markedly blunted in active cocaine abusers

Dopamine signaling in nucleus accumbens is essential for cocaine reward. Interestingly, imaging studies have reported blunted dopamine increases in striatum (assessed as reduced binding of [(11)C]raclopride to D2/D3 receptors) in detoxified cocaine abusers. Here, we evaluate whether the blunted dopamine response reflected the effects of detoxification and the lack of cocaine-cues during stimulant exposure. For this purpose we studied 62 participants (43 non-detoxified cocaine abusers and 19 controls) using positron emission tomography and [(11)C]raclopride (radioligand sensitive to endogenous dopamine) to measure dopamine increases induced by intravenous methylphenidate and in 24 of the cocaine abusers, we also compared dopamine increases when methylphenidate was administered concomitantly with a cocaine cue-video versus a neutral-video. In controls, methylphenidate increased dopamine in dorsal (effect size 1.4; P<0.001) and ventral striatum (location of accumbens) (effect size 0.89; P<0.001), but in cocaine abusers methylphenidate's effects did not differ from placebo and were similar whether cocaine-cues were present or not. In cocaine abusers despite the markedly attenuated dopaminergic effects, the methylphenidate-induced changes in ventral striatum were associated with intense drug craving. Our findings are consistent with markedly reduced signaling through D2 receptors during intoxication in active cocaine abusers regardless of cues exposure, which might contribute to compulsive drug use.

Biomechanical effects of vertebroplasty on thoracolumbar burst fracture with transpedicular fixation: a finite element model analysis

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the biomechanical effects of augmentation of the fractured vertebrae after posterior instrumentation.

METHODS

By simulating internal fixation plus augmentation with cement, eight tridimensional, anatomically detailed finite element models of the T11-L1 functional spinal junction were developed. Two kinds of models for mimicking different severity of the fracture were established according to the Denis' classification. Augmentation with cement was conducted after reduction with posterior fixation using a universal spine system. These models assumed a three-column loading configuration as follows: compression, anteflexion, extension, lateroflexion and axial rotation. Stress of the implants and spine was evaluated.

RESULTS

Data showed that for severely fractured models, augmentation apparently decreased the von Mises stresses by 50% for the rods and 40% for the screws, about 40% for the inferior endplate of T11, and 50% for the superior endplate of L1 in vertical compression and other load situations.

CONCLUSION

We should only apply vertebroplasty to prevent correction loss and implants failure based on the fact that it could significantly decrease stress of the instrumentations and spine when the vertebrae are severely fractured.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level IV, biomechanical study.

Dynamic changes of the ecological environment quality in a river basin: a case study of the main stream of Songhua river basin

This paper reports the investigation and analysis of the status and dynamic changes of ecological environment quality in the main stream of Songhua river basin. The evaluation index system was established and the eco-environment quality in the year of 2000 and 2008 was studied in depth. Based on our research, the trend of dynamic changes of the eco-environment quality and its origins have been further discussed: In the year of 2000, the range of evaluation index covered from 0.31 to 0.47. Harbin and Yichun was relatively better than the rest of study areas. In the year of 2008, except districts of Daqing and Qitaihe, the environmental quality of Songhua river basin has entirely improved, wherein the evaluation index of the eco-environment covered from 0.31 to 0.57. Particularly, the eco-environment quality of Hegang and Shuangyashan has obtained significant improvement, whereas the improvement of Jiamusi was not obvious. According to the evaluation results, the environmental quality in the study area has an upward trend with the average growth rate 0.13% per year.

Comparison of Disulfide Contents and Solubility at Alkaline pH of Insecticidal and Noninsecticidal Bacillus thuringiensis Protein Crystals

We compared two insecticidal and eight noninsecticidal soil isolates of Bacillus thuringiensis with regard to the solubility of their proteinaceous crystals at alkaline pH values. The protein disulfide contents of the insecticidal and noninsecticidal crystals were equivalent. However, six of the noninsecticidal crystals were soluble only at pH values of >/=12. This lack of solubility contributed to their lack of toxicity. One crystal type which was soluble only at pH >/=12 (strain SHP 1-12) did exhibit significant toxicity to tobacco hornworm larvae when the crystals were presolubilized. In contrast, freshly prepared crystals from the highly insecticidal strain HD-1 were solubilized at pH 9.5 to 10.5, but when these crystals were denatured, by either 8 M urea or autoclave temperatures, they became nontoxic and were soluble only at pH values of >/=12. These changes in toxicity and solubility occurred even though the denatured HD-1 crystals were morphologically indistinguishable from native crystals. Our data are consistent with the view that insecticidal crystals contain distorted, destabilized disulfide bonds which allow them to be solubilized at pH values (9.5 to 10.5) characteristic of lepidopteran and dipteran larval midguts.

Bacillus thuringiensis HD-73 Spores Have Surface-Localized Cry1Ac Toxin: Physiological and Pathogenic Consequences

Spores from Cry(sup+) strains of Bacillus thuringiensis bound fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled antibodies specific for the 65-kDa activated Cry 1Ac toxin, whereas spores from Bacillus cereus and Cry(sup-) strains of B. thuringiensis did not. The Cry(sup+) spores could be activated for germination by alkaline conditions (pH 10.3), whereas Cry(sup-) spores could not. Once the surrounding exosporia had been removed or permeabilized, Cry(sup+) spores were able to bind the toxin receptor(s) from insect gut brush border membrane vesicle preparations, and their germination rates were increased ca. threefold in the presence of brush border membrane vesicles. A model is presented whereby in the soil the Cry toxins on the spore surface are protected by the exosporium while in the gut they are exposed and available for binding to the insect receptors. This model explains why the disulfide-rich C terminus of the cry genes is so highly conserved even though it is removed during the processing of the protoxin to the activated toxin. It also highlights the trade-off resulting from having Cry toxins located on the spore surface, i.e., decreased spore resistance versus enhanced insect pathogenesis.

Enamel proteases reduce amelogenin-apatite binding

Organic matrix degradation and crystal maturation are extracellular events that occur simultaneously during enamel biomineralization. We hypothesized that enamel proteases control amelogenin-mineral interaction, which, in turn can affect crystal nucleation, organization, and growth. We used a recombinant amelogenin (rP172), a homolog of its major cleavage product (rP148), and a native amelogenin lacking both N- and C-termini (13k). We compared apatite binding affinity between amelogenins and their digest products during proteolysis. We further compared binding affinity among the 3 amelogenins using a Langmuir model for protein adsorption. Amelogenin-apatite binding affinity was progressively reduced with the proteolysis at the C- and N- termini by recombinant pig MMP-20 (rpMMP20) and recombinant human kallikrein-4 (rhKLK4), respectively. The binding affinity of amelogenin to apatite was found to be in the descending order of rP172, rP148, and 13k. Analysis of our data suggests that, before its complete degradation during enamel maturation, stepwise processing of amelogenin by MMP-20 and then KLK4 reduces amelogenin-apatite interaction.

Undergraduate research. Genomics Education Partnership

The Genomics Education Partnership offers an inclusive model for undergraduate research experiences incorporated into the academic year science curriculum, with students pooling their work to contribute to international data bases.

Undergraduate research. Genomics Education Partnership

The Genomics Education Partnership offers an inclusive model for undergraduate research experiences incorporated into the academic year science curriculum, with students pooling their work to contribute to international data bases.