To determine prevalence of Cyclospora cayetanensis infection in Henan, China, we conducted a study of 11,554 hospital patients. Prevalence was 0.70% (95% confidence interval 0.70% ± 0.15%), with all ...age groups infected. Most cases were found in the summer. Minor sequence polymorphisms were observed in the 18S rRNA gene of 35 isolates characterized.
In this paper we present new petrological and whole-rock geochemical data for the Palaeoproterozoic metasedimentary rocks in the upper part of the Ji'an Group within the Jiao–Liao–Ji Belt, China, as ...well as zircon U–Pb age dates and in situ Lu–Hf isotope data. The new data improve our understanding of the original nature of the metasedimentary rocks, further providing insights into their tectonic setting and the evolutionary history of the northern segment of the Jiao–Liao–Ji Belt. The zircons can be divided into two groups, viz., one of magmatic origin and the other of metamorphic origin. Zircon U–Pb dating gave mean or statistical peak ages for the magmatic zircons at 2035, 2082, 2178, 2343–2421, 2451–2545, 2643–2814 and 2923–3446 Ma, and mean peak ages for the metamorphic zircons at 1855 and 1912 Ma, which indicate a maximum depositional age of 2.03 Ga and two-stage metamorphic events at c. 1.91 and 1.85 Ga for the metasedimentary rocks. Geochemical data show that (1) the protoliths of these rocks were mainly sandstones, greywackes and claystones, together with some shales; (2) the main sources of the sedimentary material were Palaeoproterozoic granites and acid volcanic rocks, with minor contributions from Archaean granitic rocks; and (3) the sediments were deposited in an active continental margin setting. Moreover, along the northeastern margin of the Eastern Block of the North China Craton there is evidence of ancient crustal materials as old as 3.76 Ga, and multiple crustal growth events at 3.23–3.05, 2.80–2.65, 2.54–2.45 and 2.28–2.08 Ga.
A novel
Pseudoalteromonas
marina
bacteriophage, PH101, specifically infecting
Pseudoalteromonas
BH101 was isolated from the water sample of the Yellow Sea of China using the agar overlay method. 16S ...rDNA sequence identification was used to identify the host bacteria. Efficiency of infection, multiplicity of infection value, morphological characterization, one-step growth curve, and host range of the bacteriophage were determined. Purified PH101 genomic DNA was extracted and its genome was completely sequenced and analyzed. The phage morphology showed that PH101 belongs to the
Myoviridae
family with a head of 60 nm in diameter and a tail of 40 nm with a tail fiber of 10–20 nm. Microbiological characterization demonstrated that phage PH101 is stable at a wide range of temperatures (0–70 °C) and showed acid and alkaline resistance (pH 3–12). The one-step growth curve showed a latent period of about 20 min, a rise period of 20 min, and a burst size of about 31.6 virions. The genome sequencing and bioinformatic analysis shows that phage PH101 was a novel bacteriophage which was found to consist of a linear, double-stranded 131,903-bp DNA molecule with a GC content of 37.36 % and 228 putative open reading frames without RNA, which were classified into seven functional groups, including phage structure, adsorption, packaging, gene transfer protease, terminase, DNA binding, and regulation.
The poor survival of cells in ischemic sites diminishes the therapeutic efficacy of stem cell therapy. Previously we and others have reported that Cannabinoid receptor type II (CB2) is protective ...during heart ischemic injury for its anti-oxidative activity. However, whether CB2 activation could improve the survival and therapeutic efficacy of stem cells in ischemic myocardium and the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we showed evidence that CB2 agonist AM1241 treatment could improve the functional survival of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AD-MSCs)
as well as
. Moreover, AD-MSCs adjuvant with AM1241 improved cardiac function, and inhibited cardiac oxidative stress, apoptosis and fibrosis. To unveil possible mechanisms, AD-MSCs were exposed to hydrogen peroxide/serum deprivation to simulate the ischemic environment in myocardium. Results delineated that AM1241 blocked the apoptosis, oxidative damage and promoted the paracrine effects of AD-MSCs. Mechanistically, AM1241 activated signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 (Stat3) through the phosphorylation of Akt and ERK1/2. Moreover, the administration of AM630, LY294002, U0126 and AG490 (inhibitors for CB2, Akt, ERK1/2 and Stat3, respectively) could abolish the beneficial actions of AM1241. Our result support the promise of CB2 activation as an effective strategy to optimize stem cell-based therapy possibly through Stat3 activation.
Cryptosporidium and
Giardia infections are common causes of diarrhea worldwide. To better understand the transmission of human cryptosporidiosis and giardiasis in Henan, China, 10
...Cryptosporidium-positive specimens and 18
Giardia-positive specimens were characterized at the species/genotype and subtype levels.
Cryptosporidium specimens were analyzed by DNA sequencing of the small subunit rRNA and 60
kDa glycoprotein genes. Among those genotyped, nine belonged to
C. hominis and one
C. felis, with the former belonging to three subtype families: Ia, Ib, and Id. The three Ib subtypes identified, IbA16G2, IbA19G2, and IbA20G2, were very different from the two common Ib subtypes (IbA9G3 and IbA10G2) found in other areas of the world. The distribution of
Giardia duodenalis genotypes and subtypes was assessed by sequence analysis of the triosephosphate isomerase (tpi) gene. The assemblages A (eight belonging to A-I and four A-II) and B (belonging to six new subtypes) were found in 12 and six specimens, respectively. More systematic studies are needed to understand the transmission of
Cryptosporidium and
G. duodenalis in humans in China.
Derivatives of 1,4‑naphthoquinone have excellent anti‑cancer effects, but their use has been greatly limited due to their serious side effects. To develop compounds with decreased side effects and ...improved anti‑cancer activity, two novel types of 1,4‑naphthoquinone derivatives, 2,3‑dihydro‑2,3‑epoxy‑2‑propylsulfonyl‑5,8‑dimethoxy‑1,4‑naphthoquinone (EPDMNQ) and 2,3‑dihydro‑2,3‑epoxy‑2‑nonylsulfonyl‑5,8‑dimethoxy‑1,4‑naphthoquinone (ENDMNQ) were synthesized and their anti‑tumor activities were investigated. The effects of EPDMNQ and ENDMNQ on cell viability, apoptosis and accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in liver cancer cells were determined by MTT cell viability assay and flow cytometry. The expression levels of mitochondrial, mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling pathway‑associated proteins in Hep3B liver cancer cells were analyzed by western blot analysis. The results demonstrated that EPDMNQ and ENDMNQ inhibited the proliferation of liver cancer Hep3B, HepG2, and Huh7 cell lines but not that of normal liver L‑02, normal lung IMR‑90 and stomach GES‑1 cell lines. The number of apoptotic cells and ROS levels were significantly increased following treatment with EPDMNQ and ENDMNQ, and these effects were blocked by the ROS inhibitor N‑acetyl‑L‑cysteine (NAC) in Hep3B cells. EPDMNQ and ENDMNQ induced apoptosis by upregulating the protein expression of p38 MAPK and c‑Jun N‑terminal kinase and downregulating extracellular signal‑regulated kinase and STAT3; these effects were inhibited by NAC. The results of the present study demonstrated that EPDMNQ and ENDMNQ induced apoptosis through ROS‑modulated MAPK and STAT3 signaling pathways in Hep3B cells. Therefore, these novel 1,4‑naphthoquinone derivatives may be useful as anticancer agents for the treatment of liver cancer.
This paper mainly discusses electrodeposition of gold from iodine leaching solution through single-factor testing and explores the influence of gold concentration in catholyte, mass fraction of ...iodine in anolyte, anolyte n(I2):n(I−), cell voltage, and electrolysis time on the percentage of gold deposition and coulombic efficiency. Moreover, a response surface methodology was adopted to study interactions among variables and influence on the percentage of gold deposition, with mass fraction of iodine in anolyte, anolyte n(I2):n(I−), and cell voltage as variable factors and percentage of gold deposition as the response value. The electrodeposition process was fitted via pseudo first-order kinetics and pseudo second-order kinetics. Finally, the free surface morphology of gold deposited on the cathode plate was observed by scanning electron microscope. Given the results, a principal effect relationship can be concluded between mass fraction of iodine in anolyte, anolyte n(I2):n(I−), cell voltage, and percentage of gold deposition, with cell voltage > anolyte n(I2):n(I−) > mass fraction of iodine in anolyte and a second-order regression equation obtained with percentage of gold deposition as the response value. The optimized process conditions were gold concentration in catholyte 20 mg/L, mass fraction of iodine in anolyte 0.59%, anolyte n(I2):n(I−) is 1:7.5, cell voltage 12.9 V, and electrolysis time 2 h. The average percentage of gold deposition of three confirmatory experiments was 96.43%, a figure very close to the predicted value of the model 97.76%, which proves that the quadratic polynomial model obtained by response surface methodology optimization is feasible and that the electrodeposition of gold process conforms to a pseudo second-order kinetic model. Au can be attached well to the cathode plate and the deposition layer is formed by granular grain accumulation.
The toxicity assessment of herbal medicines is important for human health and appropriate utilization of these medicines. However, challenges have to be overcome because of the complexity of ...coexisting multiple components in herbal medicines and the highly interconnected organismal system. In this study, a target profiling approach was established by combining the characteristic fingerprint analysis of herbal chemicals with potential toxicity through a precursor ion scan-based mass spectroscopy and the target profiling analysis of biomarkers responsible for the toxicity. Through this newly developed approach, the comparative hepatotoxicity assessment of two herbal medicines from the same genus,
Senecio vulgaris
L. and
Senecio scandens
Buch.-Ham, was performed. Significant differences were found between the two species in their chemical markers (i.e., pyrrolizidine alkaloids) and biomarkers (i.e., bile acids) responsible for their toxicities. This result was consistent with the conventional toxicity assessment conducted by histopathological examination and clinical serum index assay on experimental animal models. In conclusion, this study provided a new approach for the hepatotoxicity assessment of herbal medicines containing pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which are widely distributed in various herbal medicines. The target profiling approach may shed light on the toxicity assessment of other herbal medicines with potential toxicity.
Graphical Abstract
The comparative hepatotoxicity assessment of two herbal medicines,
Senecio vulgaris
L. (SV) and
Senecio scandens
Buch.-Ham (SS), was performed by combining the characteristic fingerprint analysis of toxic chemical markers (i.e. pyrrolizidine akaloids) through a precursor ion scan-based mass spectroscopy and the target profiling analysis of toxic biomarkers (i.e. bile acids). It was found that SV was highly hepatotoxic as they contained higher concentration of toxic chemicals, which induced significant changes in the bile acid profile by the transcriptional regulation of their synthesis, excretion, and uptake
Objectives
This study aimed to explore the effect of maternal iodine status on the brain development of offspring in rats. Since in human studies, the interference of environmental factors and other ...nutrients cannot be removed.
Materials and methods
A total of 48 female Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: low iodine (LI), normal iodine (NI), 10-fold high iodine (10HI), and 50-fold high iodine (50HI). The rats were killed on the 15th day of pregnancy and lactation after collecting 24-h urine. The iodine concentration in 24-h urine, blood, and placenta of pregnant rats, and 24-h urine, milk, blood, and mammary glands of lactating rats was determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The thyroid hormone of pregnant and lactating rats was detected by chemiluminescence. The offspring were subjected to the Morris water maze on the 10th day after birth. Serum was collected to detect the thyroid hormone of offspring. The protein expression of neuroendocrine-specific protein (NSP)-A and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the offspring brain were studied.
Results
Iodine storage in the placenta during pregnancy and mammary glands during lactation was positively correlated with iodine intake, and iodine storage in the placenta and mammary glands in the 50HI group was significantly higher than that in the NI group (
P
= 0.045 and
P
= 0.040). Compared with the NI group, the offspring thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) level was significantly higher in the 10HI group (
P
= 0.046), and the FT4 level was significantly lower in the 50HI group (
P
= 0.032). The Morris water maze showed that LI and 50HI groups required longer time and distance to find the platform than the NI group (
P
< 0.001). The platform crossing numbers in the LI and 50HI groups decreased significantly (
P
< 0.001). The expression of NSP-A in offspring brain was lower in the 10HI and 50HI groups than in the NI group (
P
= 0.026 and
P
= 0,008). BDNF expression levels were significantly lower in the LI, 10HI, and 50HI groups than in the NI group (
P
< 0.001).
Conclusion
Maternal iodine intake affects iodine storage in the placenta and lactating mammary gland, which in turn affects thyroid function and BDNF and NSP-A expression in the offspring.
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