Insulin improves cardiac myocytes contractile function recovery in simulated ischemia-reperfusion: Key role of Akt

In Vivo MRI and X-Ray Bifunctional Imaging of Polymeric Composite Supplemented with GdPO4 ·H2 O Nanobundles for Tracing Bone Implant and Bone Regeneration

Homogeneous and monodisperse GdPO4 ·H2 O nanobundles are successfully synthesized via a solvothermal method. Then, GdPO4 ·H2 O are incorporated into the composite of hydroxyapatite and poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) to obtain a biodegradable and traceable bone implant. After implanted, the GdPO4 ·H2 O/HA/PLGA implant and the newly formed bone can be easily traced and observed through the combination of magnetic resonance imaging and X-ray imaging.

Fibroblast response to lanthanoid metal ion stimulation: potential contribution to fibrotic tissue injury

The purpose of this study was to compare each of the 14 naturally occurring lanthanoid metal ions for ability to stimulate pro-fibrotic responses in human dermal fibroblasts. When fibroblasts were exposed to individual lanthanoids over the concentration range of 1-100 μM, increased proliferation was observed with each of the agents as compared with control cells that were already proliferating rapidly in a growth factor-enriched culture medium. Dose-response differences were observed among the individual metal ions. Matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 levels were also increased in response to lanthanoid exposure but type I procollagen production was not. A dose-response relationship between induction of proliferation and increased MMP-1 was observed. Non-lanthanoid transition metal ions (aluminum, copper, cobalt, iron, magnesium, manganese, nickel, and zinc) were examined in the same assays; there was little stimulation with any of these metals. When epidermal keratinocytes were examined in place of dermal fibroblasts, there was no growth stimulation with any of the lanthanoids. Several of the lanthanoid metals inhibited keratinocyte proliferation at higher concentrations (50-100 μM).

Determination of the formation constant for the inclusion complex between Lanthanide ions and Dansyl chloride derivative by fluorescence spectroscopy: theoretical and experimental investigation

In this paper, a sensitive, easy, efficient, and suitable method for the calculation of K(f) values of complexation between one derivative of Dansyl chloride [5-(dimethylamino) naphthalene-1-sulfonyl 4-phenylsemicarbazide] (DMNP) and Lanthanide(III) (Ln) ions is proposed, using both spectrofluorometric and spectrophotometric methods. Determination of K(f) showed that DMNP was mostly selective towards the erbium (III) ion. The validity of the method was also confirmed calculating the Stern-Volmer fluorescence quenching constants (K(sv)) that resulted in the same consequence, obtained by calculating the K(f) of complexation values. In addition, the UV-vis spectroscopy was applied for the determination of K(f) only for the Ln ions that had interactions with DMNP. Finally, the DFT studies were done on Er(3+) and the DMNP complex for distinguishing the active sites and estimating the pair wise interaction energy. It can be concluded that this derivative of Dansyl chloride with inherent high fluorescence intensity is a suitable reagent for the selective determination of the Er(3+) ion which can be used in constructing selective Er(3+) sensors.

Inheritance and expression of copies of transgenes 1Dx5 and 1Ax1 in elite wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) varieties transferred from transgenic wheat through conventional crossing

To study the inheritance and expression of multiple copies of transgenes from transgenic wheat lines, three crosses between transgenic wheat lines B72-8-11b and B102-1-2 and Chinese elite wheat varieties Chuan89-107 and Emai18 were carried out. Chuan89-107x72-8-11b, Chuan89-107x102-1-2 and Emai18x72-8-11b, and F(1) plants were selfed or backcrossed to obtain different generation populations. Protein analysis in grains of F(1) and F(2) and backcross progenies of BC(1)F(1), BC(1)F(2), BC(1)F(3), BC(2)F(1), BC(2)F(2) and BC(2)F(3) by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed that the transgenes 1Dx5 and 1Ax1 were expressed and segregated in the target wheat according to Mendelian laws. A range of 1Dx5 expression levels were observed in the progenies of Chuan89-107x72-8-11b and Emai18x72-8-11b, but the expression levels of 1Ax1 in progenies of Chuan89-107x102-1-2 rarely changed. It suggested that the two foreign genes had different mechanisms of expression in the cross progeny, even though they were produced in the same way and the foreign 1Dx5 gene of 5-10 copies had the more complicated expression mechanism than the 1Ax1 gene of 4-5 copies.

Hypoxic postconditioning enhances the survival and inhibits apoptosis of cardiomyocytes following reoxygenation: role of peroxynitrite formation

OBJECTIVES

Our previous study has shown that slow or "controlled" reperfusion for the ischemic heart reduces cardiomyocyte injury and myocardial infarction, while the mechanisms involved are largely unclear. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that enhancement of survival and prevention of apoptosis in hypoxic/reoxygenated cardiomyocytes by hypoxic postconditioning (HPC) are associated with the reduction in peroxynitrite (ONOO(-)) formation induced by hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R).

METHODS

Isolated adult rat cardiomyocytes were exposed to 2 h of hypoxia followed by 3 h of reoxygenation. After 2 h of hypoxia the cardiomyocytes were either abruptly reperfused with pre-oxygenized culture medium or postconditioned by two cycles of 5 min of brief reoxygenation and 5 min of re-hypoxia followed by 160 min of abrupt reoxygenation.

RESULTS

H/R resulted in severe injury in cardiomyocytes as evidenced by decreased cell viability, increased LDH leakage in the culture medium, increased apoptotic index (P values all less than 0.01 vs. normoxia control group) and DNA ladder formation, which could be significantly attenuated by HPC treatment applied before the abrupt reoxygenation (P < 0.05 vs. H/R group). In addition, H/R induced a significant increase in ONOO(-) formation as determined by nitrotyrosine content in cardiomyocytes (P < 0.01 vs. normoxia control). Treatment with the potent ONOO(-) scavenger uric acid (UA) at reoxygenation significantly decreased ONOO(-) production and protected myocytes against H/R injury, whereas the same treatment with UA could not further enhance myocyte survival in HPC group (P > 0.05 vs. HPC alone). Statistical analysis showed that cell viability closely correlated inversely with myocyte ONOO(-) formation (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

These data demonstrate that hypoxic postconditioning protects myocytes against apoptosis following reoxygenation and enhances myocytes survival, which is partly attributable to the reduced ONOO(-) formation following reoxygenation.

Soil microbial counts and identification of culturable bacteria in an extreme by arid zone

Sixteen samples of two soil cores (about 550 and 180 cm in depth) were drilled at intervals in the lower reach of Heihe river basin (northwest of China) in order to illustrate soil microbial characteristics and diversity of culturable bacteria in an extreme by arid environment. Soil water content, organic matter, total nitrogen, pH, direct cell counts, and culturable microorganism counts were evaluated. The total cell concentration was 19-1120/microg (i.e. 0.19-11.2 x 10(8) per g) soil, the culturable bacteria count being 0.2-10.9 per microg (i.e. 2 x 10(5)-10.9 x 10(6) CFU/g) soil. The number of direct cell counts obtained by 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole-staining or the cound of culturable microbes after enrichment with different media were statistically significantly correlated with soil organic matters, total nitrogen content, soil water content and surface vegetation; this partly explained the larger number in the deeper first core than in the shallower one. As part of identification of 228 colonies isolated from the two cores, thirty-two were selected for 16S rDNA amplification, sequencing and molecular identification. These 32 isolates were affiliated to 5 major groups of bacteria: alpha-Proteobacteria, 5-Proteobacteria, gamma-Proteobacteria, the high-G+C G+-bacteria, the low-G+C G- -bacteria, and the Cytophaga-Flexibacter-Bacteroides group. Twenty-eight were rod- or short-rod shaped, which accounted for >87.5% of all species; only 4 of 32 species were cocci (<12.5%).