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Aim This study aimed to investigate the effect of high glucose (HG) level on the proliferation, migration and invasion of trophoblasts and determine the role of placental growth factor (PLGF) in the process. Methods HTR8-S/Vneo was treated with different concentrations of d-glucose (0, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 μM) at different times (0, 6, 12 and 24 h). qRT-PCR and Western blot analyses were used to measure PLGF expression. The protein level of PLGF was measured by immunofluorescence. Cell proliferation was assessed with CCK-8 analysis. Wound healing and transwell assays were used to evaluate cell migration and invasion. Intercellular ROS was detected with DCFH-DA. Results After d-glucose treatment, the viability decreased in 25 and 30 μM groups. The HG group (25 μM) showed inhibited cell migration and invasion ability. The mRNA and protein levels of PLGF decreased under HG condition. Elevated ROS production was also detected in the HG group. Knocked-down PLGF expression enhanced increased ROS production and decreased cell migration and invasion, which reverted to the original levels after PLGF was overexpressed. Conclusion High glucose treatment inhibited HTR8-S/Vneo viability, migration and invasion by downregulating PLGF expression.

Chemical investigation on the deep-sea-derived fungus Chaetomium globosum led to the isolation of nine compounds. By extensive analyses of the1D and 2D NMR as well as HRESIMS spectra, their structures were elucidated as xylariol A ( 1 ), 1,3-dihydro-4,5,6-trihydroxy-7-methyl-isobenzofuran ( 2 ), epicoccone B ( 3 ) epicoccolide B ( 4 ), chaetoglobosin G ( 5 ), chaetoglobosin Fex ( 6 ), cochliodone A ( 7 ), cochliodone B ( 8 ), and chaetoviridin A ( 9 ), assorting as four phenolics ( 1 - 4 ), two cytochalosans ( 5 - 6 ), and three azaplilones ( 7 - 9 ). Compounds 1 - 3 were firstly reported from C. globosum . Under the concentrations of 20 μg/mL, 1 , 2 , and 3 exhibited potent in vitro anti-HIV activity with the inhibition rates of 70%, 75%, and 88%, respectively.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is becoming a growing threat for all pregnancies. In this study, we set up an automatic screening method combining both transcriptomic databases and support vector machine (SVM)-based pattern recognition to select biomarkers that can be used in predicting and preventing GDM for gravidas. We screened 63 samples (32 GDM samples and 31 normal controls) in GEO database for the GDM-specific biomarkers. Differentially expressed genes between patients with GDM and normal controls were picked out using edgeR package. Enrichment analysis was performed using database for annotation, visualization, and integrated discovery. The regulatory gene network was constructed based on the KEGG pathway database. Genes in the hub of the network were selected as specific biomarkers of GDM and further validated through document investigation. Finally, the GDM prediction model was verified using the SVMs. In total, 189 probes corresponding to 69 genes that differentially expressed between GDM and controls were screened out by edgeR package. Nineteen pathways were clustered by KEGG enrichment analysis and were integrated into a regulatory network containing 572 nodes and 1874 edges. The intersection of 50 hub genes extracted from the network and 69 differential genes picked out by edgeR was a collection of six genes, including members of HLA superfamily. In the SVM model, the six genes had a good capacity of predicting GDM in both the training data set (area under curve [AUC] is 0.781) and the testing data set (AUC is 0.710) and had been reported to be associated with GDM. We found that the collection of six genes can be potentially applied as a biomarker for GDM diagnosis.

High concentrations of plasma lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] have been inferred to be an independent risk factor for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, such as coronary artery diseases, restenosis, and stroke. Apolipoprotein(a) [apo(a)] is one of the most important components of Lp(a) and contributes greatly to the increased concentration of plasma Lp(a). As a critical positive transacting factor of apo(a) gene, Ets1 has been proven as a target gene of several miRNAs, such as miR-193b, miR-125b-5p, miR-200b, miR-1, and miR-499. In this study, a series of experiments on miRNAs and relative miRNAs inhibitor delivered HepG2 cells were conducted, and two miRNAs that downregulate the apo(a) by targeting the 3'-UTR of Ets1 were identified. Results showed that apo(a) and Ets1 were differentially expressed in SMMC7721 and HepG2 cell lines. Meanwhile, apo(a) and Ets1 were inversely correlated with several hepatic endogenous miRNAs, such as miR-125b-5p, miR-23b-3p, miR-26a-5p, and miR-423-5p, which were predicted to bind to Ets1. Results show that miR-125b-5p and miR-23b-3p mimics could inhibit the synthesis of apo(a) by directly targeting Ets1 in HepG2, thereby reducing the plasma Lp (a) concentration.

Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is a strong genetic risk factor for coronary heart diseases. However, the metabolism of this protein remains poorly understood. Efficient and specific drugs that can decrease high plasma levels of Lp(a) have not been developed yet. Hydrogen sulfide (H2 S), a member of the gas transmitter family, performs important biological actions, including protection against cardiovascular diseases and maintenance of the lipid metabolism equilibrium in hepatocytes and adipocytes. In this study, we investigated the possible molecular mechanism of H2 S that influences apolipoprotein(a) [apo(a)] biosynthesis. We also determined the effects of H2 S on apo(a) expression and secretion in HepG2 cells as well as the underlying mechanisms. Results showed that H2 S significantly inhibited the expression and secretion levels of apo(a). These effects were attenuated by the PKCα inhibitor and FXR siRNA. H2 S also reduced HNF4α expression and enhanced FXR expression. The Akt inhibitor partially reversed H2 S-induced inhibition of apo(a) and HNF4α expression and apo(a) secretion. This study reveals that H2 S suppressed apo(a) expression and secretion via the PKCα-FXR and PI3K/Akt-HNF4α pathways.

This study was performed in a 2 × 4 factorial arrangement to explore and compare the effects of inclusion of two live Bacillus additives (B. licheniformis and B. subtilis) at four doses (0, 0.25 × 10(7), 0.50 × 10(7) and 0.75 × 10(7) colony-forming units (cfu)) on in vitro gas production kinetics, fiber degradation, methane production and ruminal fermentation characteristics of maize stover and rice straw by mixed rumen microorganisms in dairy cows. The pH, concentrations of ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) and isovalerate were increased (P

Oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) is an independent risk factor of atherosclerosis. However, the mechanism underlying its pro-atherosclerosis roles has not yet been well explored. DNA demethylation modification, via DNA methyltransferases or ten-eleven-translocation (TET) family, is a crisis epigenetic regulation for various biological and pathological processes. This study aimed to investigate the effects of ox-LDL on macrophage autophagy and its potential epigenetic mechanism. Results showed that after treatment with 0, 10, 20, 40 or 80 mg/L ox-LDL for 24 h, the autophagy markers Beclin 1 and LC3 expression were obviously decreased at protein levels (P

Correspondence Yong-Jun Wang, Neurology Department, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China. Tel.: 0086-010-67098351; Fax: 0086-010-67038316; E-mail: yongjunwang111@yahoo.com.cn and Su-Ming Zhang, Neurology Department, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China. Tel.: 0086-027-83612633; Fax: 0086-027-83612633; E-mail: suming_zhang@163.com and Liqun Zhang, Neurology Department, St George’s Hospital, London, UK. Tel.: 44-7837827866; Fax: 44-2087254505; E-mail: lqnzhang@yahoo.com Received 19 October 2011; revision 22 November 2011; accepted 26 November 2011

This paper presents a numerical analysis of large displacement responses of elastic–plastic plane frames under static and dynamic loads, by applying the vector-form intrinsic finite element (VFIFE or V-5) method. The VFIFE method defines the structure into a number of mass points, and applies Newton's second law and the internal force equilibrium to describe the motions of each mass point. By tracing the motions of all the mass points, it can analyze the large geometrical and material nonlinear changes during the motion of the structure without using the geometrical stiffness matrix and iterative procedures. Three different numerical examples are presented to demonstrate both the capability and the accuracy of the VFIFE method in a nonlinear dynamic analysis of frame structures with extremely large displacement. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Although successful embryo development is dependent upon genetic and epigenetic contributions from both the male and female, the male potential to adversely affect embryo development has been scarcely studied. It is unclear whether the sperm variation among different males would affect the outcome of oocyte evaluation by embryo development following fertilization. In the present study, variation in the developmental potential of mouse embryos was first compared between in vitro fertilization with epididymal spermatozoa from different males and Sr2+ parthenogenetic activation using oocytes of different qualities, and then the effect of male on fertilization and embryo development was examined using randomly chosen oocytes and spermatozoa from cauda epididymidis, vas deferens or electro-ejaculates. Rates of fertilization and blastocyst formation were significantly higher with spermatozoa from cauda epididymidis or vas deferens than with ejaculated spermatozoa. Rates of embryonic development differed significantly between different males, but not between different ejaculates of the same male. Analysis of standard errors of means and coefficients of variance indicated that as long as multiple males were involved, the variation in oocyte fertilization/activation and blastocyst formation was always higher after fertilization than after Sr2+ parthenogenetic activation whether spermatozoa were collected from epididymidis, vas deferens or ejaculates and regardless of oocyte qualities. It is concluded that (1) epididymal mouse spermatozoa fertilize more oocytes than ejaculated spermatozoa under identical experimental conditions; (2) like farm animals, the mice also show a remarkable male effect on the developmental potential of in vitro produced embryos although they are supposed to be less genetically diverse; (3) parthenogenetic activation is recommended for assessment of oocyte quality to exclude the effect of male. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 76: 239–245, 2009. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

The objective of this article was to study the developmental and hormonal regulation of cumulus expansion and secretion of cumulus expansion-enabling factor (CEEF) in goat follicles. M-199 medium was conditioned for 24 hr with cumulus-denuded oocytes (DOs), oocytectomized complexes (OOXs), or mural granulosa cells (MGCs) from goat follicles of different sizes. Mouse OOXs and eCG were added to culture drops of the conditioned medium and cumulus expansion was scored at 18 hr of culture to assess CEEF production. While mouse OOXs did not expand, goat OOXs underwent full cumulus expansion when cultured in nonconditioned eCG-supplemented M-199 medium. When cultured in nonconditioned medium containing 10% follicular fluid (FF) from goat medium (2–4 mm) and small (0.8–1.5 mm) follicles, 71–83% mouse OOXs expanded; but expansion rates decreased (P

Tissue culture, SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and spectra analysis were used for studying the aggregation mechanism of protoplasts from Bryopsis hypnoides Lamouroux and the discrepancy between the protoplast-regenerated plants and the wild type. The aggregation of protoplasts from B. hypnoides was observed in natural seawater and artificial seawater with different pH values, and the location and mechanism of the materials causing the aggregation were also studied. Results showed that the protoplasts could aggregate into some viable spheres in natural seawater and subsequently grow into mature individuals. Aggregation of the protoplasts depended exclusively upon the pH value (6-11), and the protoplasts aggregated best at pH 8-9. Some of the extruded protoplasts were separated into two parts by centrifugation: the pellet (PO) and the supernatant (PL). The PO could aggregate in artificial seawater (pH 8.3) but not in PL. No aggregation was found in PO cultured in natural seawater containing nigericin, which can dissipate the proton gradients across the membrane. These experiments suggest that the aggregation of protoplasts is proton-gradient dependent and the materials causing the aggregation were not in the vacuolar sap, but located on the surface or inside the organelles. Furthermore, the transfer of the materials across the membrane was similar to Delta pH-based translocation (Delta pH/TAT) pathway that occurs in the chloroplasts of higher plants and bacteria. Obvious discrepancies in both the total soluble proteins and the ratio of chlorophyll a to chlorophyll b between the regenerated B. hypnoides and the wild type were found, which may be related to the exchange of genetic material during aggregation of the organelles. In the process of development, diatom Amphora coffeaeformis Agardh attached to the protoplast aggregations, retarding their further development, and once they were removed, the aggregations immediately germinated, which showed that diatoms can affect the development of other algae.

Two new indole diketopiperazines, luteoalbusin A (Ia) and B (Ib), are isolated along with eight known compounds from the fungus Acrostalagmus luteoalbus SCSIO F457.

Three new γ-pyrones named marinactinones A-C (1-3) were isolated from marine-derived actinomycete Marinactinospora thermotolerans SCSIO 00606. These structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic methods. All three new compounds were evaluated for cytotoxic effects on six cancer cell lines and inhibitory activities of DNA topoisomerase II. Compounds 1-3 exhibited moderate cytotoxicities against SW1990, HepG2 and SMCC-7721 cell lines, and compound 2 showed weak DNA topoisomerase II inhibition activity. This is the first report on the chemical constituents and their biological activities from Marinactinospora, a novel genus of marine actinomycetes.