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Though normally bone regenerates well, non-union, delayed union, or defective bone formation can occur. Since impaired healing is often caused by local trophic disorders, standard fracture management is often ineffective. Gene therapy is a promising field for bone engineering. We have created a recombinant plasmid construct encoding the genes for pro-angiogenic vascular endothelial growth factor 165A (VEGF165A) and pro-osteogenic bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2) with kanamycin resistance (pBudKan-VEGF165A-BMP2). This plasmid has the potential for use in treatment of trauma and skeletal system disorders, especially in cases of low trophicity.

In this study, we have generated a dual expression cassette plasmid DNA (pDNA) construct containing the species-specific horse (Equus caballus) codon optimized sequence encoding potent pro-angiogenic vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF164) and basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF2) under eukaryotic promoters (EF-1α and CMV promoters, respectively). We have demonstrated effective and simultaneous recombinant proteins expression in vitro. Resulting pDNA is suitable for potential gene therapy applications in horses.

Liquid Ga was used as a solvent to explore the phase formation between rare-earth metals (REs), Ni, and a tetrelide (Tt = Si, Ge). The reactions were performed in excess liquid Ga at 850 °C. Two new phases of general formulas RE0.67Ni2Ga5-xTtx and RE0.67Ni2Ga6-xTtx were found and structurally characterized. The Co analogues of the latter RE0.67Co2Ga6-xGex (RE = Y, Gd) were also prepared. Single-crystal X-ray data:  The first group of compounds RE0.67Ni2Ga5-xTtx crystallizes in the hexagonal space group P63/mmc with a structure related to the RE2-xPt4Ga8+y type (Sm0.53Ni2Ga5-xGex, a = 4.1748(7) Å, c = 16.007(4) Å, V = 241.61(8) ų, Z = 2; Y0.59Ni2Ga5-xGex, a = 4.1344(11) Å, c = 15.887(6) Å, V = 235.18(12) ų, Z = 2; Tb0.67Ni2Ga5-xSix, a = 4.1415(11) Å, c = 15.843(6) Å, V = 235.33(12) ų, Z = 2; Ho0.67Ni2Ga5-xGex, a = 4.1491(4) Å, c = 15.877(2) Å, V = 236.71(5) ų, Z = 2). The second group RE0.67Ni2Ga6-xTtx crystallizes in P&sixmacr;m2 (Gd0.67Ni2Ga6-xGex, a = 4.1856(10) Å, c = 9.167(3) Å, V = 139.08(7) ų, Z = 1; Sm0.67Ni2Ga6-xSix, a = 4.1976(8) Å, c = 9.159(3) Å, V = 139.76(5) ų, Z = 1) in a structure related to the ErNi3Al9 structure type with disorder in the RE−Ga plane. Dy0.67Ni2Ga6-xGex crystallizes in space group P&thremacr;1c (a = 7.2536(8) Å, c = 18.308(3) Å, V = 834.21(2) ų, Z = 6) with partial disorder in the RE−Ga plane. The structures of these two groups of compounds are related to each other and contain similar building motifs, namely Gan[NiGa2-x/2Gex/2]2 slabs and RE0.67Ga monatomic layers which alternate along the c-direction, forming a 3D structure. The parameter x and the position of the tetrelide in the structure were determined by single-crystal neutron diffraction. Complete or partial disorder of the RE and Ga atoms is observed in the RE−Ga plane. The origin of the disorder lies in the extensive and random stacking faults of ordered RE−Ga planes, which apparently slide easily in the ab plane and create an averaged disordered picture. Electrical conductivity and thermopower measurements indicate that these compounds are metallic conductors. The magnetic measurements show antiferromagnetic ordering at ~3−4 K and Curie−Weiss behavior at higher temperatures with the values of μeff close to those of RE³⁺ free ions. Strong 2-fold crystal field anisotropy is observed for the heavy RE analogues. The anisotropy constants K2^para calculated from the Weiss constant anisotropy for heavy RE analogues are reported.

Abstract: Effects of various β-carotene preparations on the viability and proliferation of A431 cells were studied. Colloid water dispersion of β-carotene stabilized with proxanol and containing the minimal number of components was shown to exhibit the highest level of incorporation in the cells, to be nontoxic, and to weakly inhibit cell growth.

Multiplicities of p--mesons from central collisions of12C and16O(4.5 GeV/c/n momentum) with several target nuclei were studied in a streamer chamber experiment. The parameter ?=(-2>-->2)/-> was determined for several samples of events characterized by different values of Tch — the “vetoangle” for emission of the projectile charged fragments. The value of ? is shown to decrease when the projectile mass number increases from 12 to 16 and to decrease significantly when Tch increases from 0° to 4°, whereas it remains nearly constant when Tch increases further to 14°. The results are compared with predictions of some theoretical models.

ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 100 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.

ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 100 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.