Search

In this work, we use the tight-binding model to study the low-energy electronic properties of carbon nanoscrolls subject to the influences of a transverse electric field. A carbon nanoscroll can be considered as an open-ended spirally wrapped graphene nanoribbon. The inter-wall interactions will alter the subband curvature, create additional band-edge states, modify the subband spacing or energy gap, and separate the partial flat bands. Furthermore, the energy band symmetry about the Fermi level is lifted by such interactions. The truncated Archimedean spiral ρ = raθ +r is used to describe the spiral structures of carbon nanoscrolls. The energy gap is found to oscillate significantly with r, and exhibits complete energy gap modulations. With the inclusion of a transverse electric field, the band structures are further altered. Inter-wall hoppings will cause electron transfers between different atoms leading to distortions of the electron wavefunctions. The main features of the energy dispersions are directly reflected in the density of states. The numbers, heights, and energies of the density of states peaks are dependent on the electric field strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to analyze the association between cytokine gene polymorphisms and outcome following allogeneic hematopoietic SCT (allo-HSCT). A total of 138 unrelated donor/recipient pairs who underwent allo-HSCT from 2001 to 2009 were tested for TNFA-1031 (T>C), -863 (C>A), -857 (C>T), -238 (G>A), TNFB+252 (A>G) and TNFRII codon 196 (T>G) single nucleotide polymorphisms by multiplex SnaPshot analysis. Transplantation involving recipients and/or donors with TNFA-857 C/C genotype or TNFB+252 G allele-positivity resulted in a higher incidence of acute GVHD (aGVHD), which was independent of HLA mismatching. In multivariate analysis, TNFA-857 C/C genotype donors (relative risk (RR)=2.29, P=0.006) and TNFB+252 G allele-positive recipients (RR=1.789, P=0.036) were found to be significantly associated with an increased incidence of aGVHD. TNFA-857 C/C genotype donors (RR=3.748, P=0.002) and TNFB+252 G allele-positive recipients (RR=1.823, P=0.063) were also associated with the development of grades II-IV aGVHD. TNFRII polymorphism in recipients was also related to relapse rate, but no significant associations were found between TNFA, TNFB or TNFRII 196 genotype and cGVHD, relapse or overall survival after transplantation. These results provide the first report of an association between TNFA, TNFB and TNFRII polymorphic features and outcome of allo-HSCT in a Chinese population, and suggest an interaction between TNFA-857 and TNFB+252 genotypes and risk of aGVHD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of natural killer (NK) cell alloreactivity on the outcome of unrelated hematopoietic SCT (HSCT) remains a topic of debate. NK cell alloreactivity after allogeneic HSCT is regulated by killer-cell Ig-like receptors (KIRs). To investigate the influence of KIRs on outcome after unrelated HSCT, we retrospectively analyzed the HLA and KIR genotypes of 116 donor-recipient pairs. We found that missing KIR ligands in recipients were significantly associated with a decreased leukemic relapse risk (P=0.019, HR=0.329), mainly in myeloid disease (P=0.003, HR=0.193). This beneficial effect was seen in AML/myelodysplastic syndrome and also in chronic myeloid leukemia. In myeloid disease, missing KIR ligands also improved 5-year OS (P=0.034, HR=0.430) and disease-free survival (DFS) (P=0.024, HR=0.445). Meanwhile, the presence of donor-activating KIR2DS3 gene was associated with increased relapse risk (P=0.003, HR=5.046), decreased OS (P=0.004, HR=3.181) and DFS (P=0.003, HR=2.919) in myeloid disease. No effect was seen in patients with lymphoid disease. Our study indicated that, in unrelated HSCT for myeloid leukemia, missing KIR ligands in recipients offered a lower relapse risk and a long-term survival advantage. The presence of KIR2DS3 in the donor was an important risk factor for myeloid leukemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electronic and transport properties of bilayer graphene nanoribbons with different width are investigated theoretically by using the tight-binding model. The energy dispersion relations are found to exhibit significant dependence on the interlayer interactions and the geometry of the bilayer graphene nanoribbons. The energy gaps are oscillatory with the upper ribbon displacement. For all four types of bilayer graphene nanoribbons, the bandgaps touch the zero value and exhibit semiconductor-metal transitions. Variations in the electronic structures with the upper ribbon displacement will be reflected in the electrical and thermal conductance. The chemical-potential-dependent electrical and thermal conductances exhibit a stepwise increase and spike behavior. These conductances can be tuned by varying the upper ribbon displacement. The peak and trench structures of the conductance will be stretched out as the temperature rises. In addition, quantum conductance behavior in bilayer graphene nanoribbons can be observed experimentally at temperature below 10 K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of polydimethylsiloxane-containing elastomers (S elastomers) were synthesised from 4,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI), 1,4-butanediol (1,4-BD) and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). Through TGA analysis, S elastomers exhibited a four-stage degradation. The first and second stages resulted from the degradation of hard segment; the complicated degradation behaviour in the stages is associated with two hard-segment structures in the S elastomers. The third stage was the decomposition of PDMS, in which a cyclosiloxane degradation product was formed; subsequently, at a higher temperature it proved to be macrocyclics, which were degraded in the vicinity of 550 °C. Obviously, the degradation of S elastomers differed from the two-stage degradation of conventional polyurethane. Compared to conventional polyurethane, S elastomers presented better mechanical properties, showing the strength and elongation at break about 5.6∼20.6 MPa and 550∼830 %, respectively. With the better mechanical properties of S elastomers, nano-stmctured fibre mats were produced by electrospinning. Fibre morphology was observed by SEM and the effects of processing variables, including solution concentrations and voltages, on the morphology were evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electronic and transport properties of nanotube-ribbon hybrids subject to the influences of a transverse electric field are investigated theoretically. The energy dispersion relations are found to exhibit rich dependence on the nanotube-ribbon interactions, the field strength, and the geometry of the hybrids. The nanotube-ribbon coupling will modify the subband curvature, create additional band-edge states, and change the subband spacing or energy gap. The bandstructures are asymmetric and symmetric about the Fermi energy when the interactions are turned on and off, respectively. The inclusion of a transverse electric field will further alter the bandstructures and lift the degeneracy of the partial flat bands in hybrid (IV). The chemical-potential-dependent electrical and thermal conductance exhibit a stepwise increase behavior. Variations in the electronic structures with field strength will be reflected in the electrical and thermal conductance. Prominent peaks, as well as single-shoulder and multi-shoulder structures in the electrical and thermal conductance are predicted when varying the electric field strength and the nanotube location. The features of the conductance are found to be strongly dependent on the field strength, the geometry and the temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented discussing reduced-intensity allogeneic transplantation combined with imatinib mesylate for chronic myeloid leukemia.

Aims: To compare bacterial populations and antimicrobial resistance patterns between clinical and sewage isolates from a regional hospital in northern Taiwan. The dissemination of antibiotic-resistant bacteria from hospital compartments to the hospital sewage treatment plant was examined. Methods and Results: A total of 1020 clinical isolates and 435 sewage isolates were collected between July and September 2005. The percentages of Gram-negative bacteria from the clinical and sewage isolates were 87·2% and 91·0%, respectively ( P = 0·033). Escherichia coli were the leading bacterial isolates in both groups. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing showed a significant difference ( P < 0·001) in resistance to ampicillin (85·6% vs 94·1%), ampicillin/sulbactam (31·7% vs 55·4%), cefazolin (29·2% vs 71·5%) and cefuroxime (20·7% vs 61·9%) between clinical and sewage coliform isolates, respectively. Conclusions: The sewage isolates had higher antimicrobial resistance rates than the clinical isolates from the same hospital. Significance and Impact of the Study: The low efficacy of the hospital sewage treatment may contribute to the dissemination of multidrug resistant bacteria from this hospital compartments to the environment. Practices which limit the disposal of antimicrobial agents into the wastewater system may be the possible measure to prevent the selection of multidrug-resistant bacteria from sewage treatment plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excessive activation of G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) and receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) pathways has been linked to prostate cancer metastasis. Rac activation by guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) plays an important role in directional cell migration, a critical step of tumor metastasis cascades. We found that the upregulation of P-Rex1, a Rac-selective GEF synergistically activated by Gβγ freed during GPCR signaling, and PIP3, generated during either RTK or GPCR signaling, strongly correlates with metastatic phenotypes in both prostate cancer cell lines and human prostate cancer specimens. Silencing endogenous P-Rex1 in metastatic prostate cancer PC-3 cells selectively inhibited Rac activity and reduced cell migration and invasion in response to ligands of both epidermal growth factor receptor and G-protein-coupled CXC chemokine receptor 4. Conversely, expression of recombinant P-Rex1, but not its ‘GEF-dead’ mutant, in non-metastatic prostate cancer cells, such as CWR22Rv1, increased cell migration and invasion through Rac-dependent lamellipodia formation. More importantly, using a mouse xenograft model, we showed that the expression of P-Rex1, but not its mutant, induced lymph node metastasis of CWR22Rv1 cells without an effect on primary tumor growth. Thus, by functioning as a coincidence detector of chemotactic signals from both GPCRs and RTKs, P-Rex1-dependent activation of Rac promotes prostate cancer metastasis.Oncogene (2009) 28, 1853–1863; doi:10.1038/onc.2009.30; published online 23 March 2009 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electronic and transport properties of monolayer and AB-stacked bilayer zigzag graphene nanoribbons subject to the influences of a magnetic field are investigated theoretically. We demonstrate that the magnetic confinement and the size effect affect the electronic properties competitively. In the limit of a strong magnetic field, the magnetic length is much smaller than the ribbon width, and the bulk electrons are confined solely by the magnetic potential. Their properties are independent of the width, and the Landau levels appear. On the other hand, the size effect dominates in the case of narrow ribbons. In addition, the dispersion relations rely sensitively on the interlayer interactions. Such interactions will modify the subband curvature, create additional band-edge states, change the subband spacing or the energy gap, and separate the partial flat bands. The band structures are symmetric or asymmetric about the Fermi energy for monolayer or bilayer nanoribbons, respectively. The chemical-potential-dependent electrical and thermal conductance exhibits a stepwise increase behaviour. The competition between the magnetic confinement and the size effect will also be reflected in the transport properties. The features of the conductance are found to be strongly dependent on the field strength, number of layers, interlayer interactions, and temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

p66Shc is shown to negatively regulate the life span in mice through reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Recent reports, however, revealed that p66Shc protein level is significantly elevated in several human cancer tissues and growth-stimulated carcinoma cells, suggesting a mitogenic and carcinogenic role for p66Shc. In this communication, we demonstrate for the first time that p66Shc mediates androgenic growth signals in androgen-sensitive human prostate cancer cells through mitochondrial ROS production. Growth stimulation of prostate cancer cells with 5α-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is accompanied by increased p66Shc level and ROS production, which is abolished by antioxidant treatments. However, antioxidant treatments do not affect the transcriptional activity of androgen receptor (AR) as observed by its inability to block DHT-induced prostate-specific antigen expression, an AR-dependent correlate of prostate cancer progression. Elevated expression of p66Shc by cDNA transfection increases the basal cell proliferation and, thus, reduces additional DHT-induced cell proliferation. Furthermore, DHT increases the translocation of p66Shc into mitochondria and its interaction with cytochrome c. Conversely, both redox-negative p66Shc mutant (W134F), which is deficient in cytochrome c interaction, and p66Shc small interfering RNA decrease DHT-induced cell proliferation. These results collectively reveal a novel role for p66Shc–ROS pathway in androgen-induced prostate cancer cell proliferation and, thus, may play a role in early prostate carcinogenesis.Oncogene (2008) 27, 5057–5068; doi:10.1038/onc.2008.143; published online 26 May 2008 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aberrant regulation in the adhesive ability of cancer cells is closely associated with their metastatic activity. In this study, we examine the role of ErbB-2 in regulating the adhesive ability of androgen receptor (AR)-positive human prostate cancer (PCa) cells, the major cell population of PCa. Utilizing different LNCaP and MDA PCa2b cells as model systems, we found that ErbB-2 activity was correlated with PYK2 activity and adhesive ability in those cells. Increased ErbB-2 expression or activity in LNCaP C-33 cells enhanced PYK2 activation and cell adhesion, while the high PYK2 activity and the rapid adhesion of LNCaP C-81 cells were decreased by diminishing ErbB-2 expression or activity. Knockdown studies revealed the predominant role of ErbB-2 in regulating LNCaP C-81 cell adhesion. Coimmunoprecipitation showed that C-81 cells had increased interaction between ErbB-2 and PYK2. Elevated ErbB-2 activity in LNCaP cells correlated with increased ERK/MAPK activity and enhanced adhesive ability, which were abolished by the expression of K457A-PYK2 mutant or the treatment of PD98059, a MEK inhibitor. In summary, our data suggested that ErbB-2, via PYK2-ERK/MAPK, upregulates the adhesive ability of AR-positive human PCa cells.Oncogene (2007) 26, 7552–7559; doi:10.1038/sj.onc.1210570; published online 11 June 2007 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we apply the tight-binding method to magneto-electronic properties of the AA- and ABC-stacked graphites, which are strongly dependent on the interlayer interactions, the magnetic field, and the stacking sequences. First of all, the interlayer interactions induce the significant changes in the energy dispersions, the band symmetry about the Fermi level, the overlap between valence and conduction bands, the band width, and the band-edge states or the symmetry points. Then, the magnetic field induces the Peierls phase in the Bloch functions and thus strongly affects the energy dispersions of the Landau Levels, the subband spacings, the energy width, and the special structures in density of states (DOS). Finally, the stacking sequences dominates over the low-energy band overlap and the anisotropy of energy bands. The effects mentioned above are exactly reflected in the density of state. Here, DOS exhibits the 3D, 2D, and 1D characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transport properties of finite length double-walled carbon nanotubes subject to the influences of a transverse electric field and a magnetic field with varying polar angles are investigated theoretically. The electrical conductance, thermal conductance and Peltier coefficient dependences on the external fields and symmetric configuration are studied in linear response regime. Prominent peak structures of the electrical conductance are predicted when varying the electric field strength. The features of the conductance peaks are found to be strongly dependent on the external fields and the intertube interactions. The heights of the electrical and thermal conductance peaks display the quantized behavior, while those of the Peltier coefficient do not. The conductance peaks are found to be broadened by the finite temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growth and progression of prostate cancer are dependent on androgens and androgen receptor (AR), which act by modulating gene expression. Utilizing a gene microarray approach, we have identified the α1-subunit gene of soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) as a novel androgen-regulated gene. A heterodimeric cytoplasmic protein composed of one α and one β subunit, sGC mediates the widespread cellular effects of nitric oxide (NO). We report here that, in prostate cancer cells, androgens stimulate the expression of sGCα1. A cloned human sGCα1 promoter is activated by androgen in an AR-dependent manner, suggesting that sGCα1 may be a direct AR target gene. Disruption of sGCα1 expression severely compromises the growth of both androgen-dependent and androgen-independent AR-positive prostate cancer cells. Overexpression of sGCα1 alone is sufficient for stimulating prostate cancer cell proliferation. Interestingly, the major growth effect of sGCα1 is independent of NO and cyclic guanosine monophosphate, a major mediator of the sGC enzyme. These data strongly suggest that sGCα1 acts in prostate cancer via a novel pathway that does not depend on sGCβ1. Tissue studies show that sGCα1 expression is significantly elevated in advanced prostate cancer. Thus, sGCα1 may be an important mediator of the procarcinogenic effects of androgens.Oncogene (2007) 26, 1606–1615. doi:10.1038/sj.onc.1209956; published online 11 September 2006 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hormones acting through G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) can cause androgen-independent activation of androgen receptor (AR) in prostate cancer cells. Regulators of G-protein signaling (RGS) proteins, through their GTPase activating protein (GAP) activities, inhibit GPCR-mediated signaling by inactivating G proteins. Here, we identified RGS2 as a gene specifically downregulated in androgen-independent prostate cancer cells. Expression of RGS2, but not other RGS proteins, abolished androgen-independent AR activity in androgen-independent LNCaP cells and CWR22Rv1 cells. In LNCaP cells, RGS2 inhibited Gq-coupled GPCR signaling. Expression of exogenous wild-type RGS2, but not its GAP-deficient mutant, significantly reduced AR activation by constitutively activated GqQ209L mutant whereas silencing endogenous RGS2 by siRNA enhanced GqQ209L-stimulated AR activity. RGS2 had no effect on RGS-insensitive GqQ209L/G188S-induced AR activation. Furthermore, extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) was found to be involved in RGS2-mediated regulation of androgen-independent AR activity. In addition, RGS2 functioned as a growth suppressor for androgen-independent LNCaP cells whereas androgen-sensitive LNCaP cells with RGS2 silencing had a growth advantage under steroid-reduced conditions. Finally, RGS2 expression level was significantly decreased in human prostate tumor specimens. Taken together, our results suggest RGS2 as a novel regulator of AR signaling and its repression may be an important step during prostate tumorigenesis and progression.Oncogene (2006) 25, 3719–3734. doi:10.1038/sj.onc.1209408; published online 30 January 2006 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optical absorption spectra of BC3 nanotubes are studied within the gradient approximation. BC3 nanotubes exhibit rich absorption peaks in the overall frequency because of a lot of one-dimensional energy bands. The threshold absorption frequency is ∼0.15γ0 for all BC3 nanotubes. Absorption peaks are mainly determined by the chirality, radius, and magnetic flux. BC3 nanotubes quite differ from carbon nanotubes in the low- and high-frequency absorption spectra. The calculated results are roughly consistent with the optical measurements, such as the threshold absorption frequency and the existence of the low-frequency absorption peaks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An 8-week feeding trial was conducted to determine two vitamin C derivatives,l-ascorbyl-2-sulphate (C2S) andl-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (C2PP), to satisfy vitamin C requirement and to test their effects on the non-specific humoral immune responses of juvenile grouper,Epinephelus malabaricus. C2S and C2PP were each supplemented at 20, 50, 80, 150, 250 and 400 mg kg−1 diet in the semi-purified basal diet providing of 7, 16, 28, 55, 86, 142 mg ascorbic acid (AA) equivalent of C2S kg−1 diet and 4, 9, 15, 31, 49, 75 mg AA equivalent of C2PP kg−1 diet, respectively. Basal diet without AA supplemented was included as a control. Each diet was fed to triplicate groups of grouper (mean initial weight: 6.69 ± 0.07 g). Fish fed diets with≥28 mg AA equivalent of C2S or≥4 mg AA equivalent of C2PP kg−1 had significantly (P < 0.05) greater weight gain (WG) than fish fed the unsupplemented control diet. Liver AA concentrations were higher in fish fed diets with≥16 mg AA equivalent of C2S or≥9 mg AA equivalent of C2PP kg−1 than fish fed the control diet. Alternative pathway of complement activation (ACP) was higher in fish fed diets with≥55 mg AA equivalent of C2S or≥15 mg AA equivalent of C2PP kg−1 than fish fed the control diet. Lysozyme activity was higher in fish fed≥86 mg AA equivalent of C2S or≥15 mg AA equivalent of C2PP kg−1 than fish fed the control diet. Analysis by broken-line regression of WG indicated that the adequate dietary vitamin C concentration from each vitamin C derivative in growing grouper is 46.2 mg AA equivalent of C2S kg−1 diet and 17.8 mg AA equivalent of C2PP kg−1 diet, and it also indicated that C2S is approximately 39% as effective as C2PP in meeting the vitamin C requirement for grouper. The data suggest that both C2S and C2PP supplementation support non-specific immune responses of grouper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An 8-week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate two vitamin C derivatives, L-ascorbyl-2-monophosphate-Mg (C2MP-Mg) and L-ascorbyl-2-monophosphate-Na (C2MP-Na), to satisfy the vitamin C requirement and to test their effects on the immune responses of juvenile grouper,Epinephelus malabaricus. C2MP-Mg and C2MP-Na were each supplemented at 20, 50, 80, 150, 250, and 400 mg kg−1 diet in the basal diet providing of 7, 18, 31, 51, 93, 145 mg ascorbic acid (AA) equivalent of C2MP-Mg kg−1 diet and 4, 10, 17, 31, 47, 77 mg ascorbic acid (AA) equivalent of C2MP-Na kg−1 diet, respectively. Basal diet without AA supplementation was included as control. Each diet was fed to triplicate groups of grouper (mean initial weight 3.20 ± 0.05 g). Fish fed diets supplemented with either C2MP-Mg or C2MP-Na had significantly (P < 0.05) greater weight gain (WG), feed efficiency and survival than those fed the unsupplemented control diet. Liver ascorbate concentrations in fish generally increased as dietary C2MP-Mg or C2MP-Na supplementation level increased. Haemolytic complement activity was higher in fish fed diets supplemented with 92 mg AA equivalent of C2MP-Mg kg−1 or 10–17 mg AA equivalent of C2MP-Na kg−1 than fish fed the unsupplemented control diet. Lysozyme activity was higher in fish fed≥51 mg AA equivalent of C2MP-Mg kg−1 or≥47 mg AA equivalent of C2MP-Na kg−1 than fish fed the unsupplemented control diet. Analysis by broken-line regression of WG indicated that the adequate dietary vitamin C concentration from each vitamin C derivative in growing grouper is 17.9 mg AA equivalent of 2MP-Mg kg−1 and 8.3 mg AA equivalent of C2MP-Na kg−1, and it also indicated that C2MP-Mg is about 46% as effective as C2MP-Na in meeting the vitamin C requirement of grouper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Phenytoin (PHT), one of the most widely prescribed antiepileptic drugs, has been reported to be associated with numerous drug–drug interactions. However, there are far fewer reports about the pharmacokinetic interactions between PHT and traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs). Paeoniae Radix (PR), one of the well-known TCMs, is used as an adjunct in some epileptic patients. Objective: In the present work, we studied the influences of PR on the pharmacokinetics of PHT in rats to identify the possible interactions between PR and PHT. Method: A single dose of PHT (100 mg/kg) alone or in combination with PR extract (300 mg/kg) was administered by gavage to male SD rats. Serial blood samples of PHT were obtained for up to 24 h post-administration and measured by high-performance liquid-chromatography. The free (unbound) plasma concentrations of PHT were determined by fluorescence polarization immunoassay. The plasma concentrations were used to construct pharmacokinetic profiles by plotting drug concentration–time curves. All data were subsequently processed by the computer program WINNONLIN. Statistical comparisons of pharmacokinetic parameters were performed with the unpaired Student t-test. Results: The mean maximum plasma concentration of PHT was attained 2 h after oral administration of PHT alone and 4–6 h after oral administration of PHT in combination with PR. The plasma level of PHT declined with a half-life of 538 h after PHT alone and 403 h after PHT and PR given together. No statistically significant differences were obtained in most of the pharmacokinetic parameters (Cmax, AUC, t1/2, MRT and CL/F) and protein binding rates of PHT between the two treatments. However, significant differences in Tmax and Vd/F between groups were noted. Conclusion: The significant increase in Tmax indicated that simultaneous oral administration of PR delayed the absorption of PHT. The delayed absorption of PHT might lead to its slow onset of clinical effect. There were no significant differences in Cmax, AUC, t1/2, MRT and CL/F of PHT between the two groups, showing that PR could not significantly affect the extent of absorption, metabolism and elimination of PHT. No significant difference in protein binding rate was found, indicating that PR might not significantly alter the protein binding of PHT. While a significant decrease in Vd/F was noted, the mechanism underlying the apparently decreased Vd/F of PHT influenced by PR needs further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objective: In addition to the standard antiepileptic drugs, traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) are used for the treatment of epilepsy in oriental countries. The interactions between antiepileptic drugs and TCMs represent a potential problem in clinical application. Because valproic acid (VPA), one of the most widely prescribed antiepileptic drugs, may be administered concomitantly with Paeoniae Radix (PR), one of the famous TCMs, in some epileptic patients, the present study was conducted to evaluate the influences of PR on the pharmacokinetics of VPA. Method: The pharmacokinetics of VPA were investigated in a randomized, open-label, two-way crossover study. Six healthy volunteers received the following treatments in a crossover design: (i) 1·2 g extract powder of Paeoniae Radix once daily for 7 days and one 200 mg VPA gastro-resistant tablet on day 7 and (ii) one 200 mg VPA gastro-resistant tablet alone on day 7. Serial plasma samples were obtained on day 7. Total and free (unbound) VPA plasma concentrations were determined by fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPIA). Safety measures included laboratory tests (haematology, serum chemistry and urinalysis) and adverse event monitoring. Statistical comparisons of pharmacokinetic parameters were performed with the Student paired t-test. Results: Overall clinical safety was satisfactory. The mean maximum plasma concentration of VPA was attained at within 6 h after oral administration of VPA alone and 3–4 h after oral administration of VPA in combination with PR. The plasma level of VPA declined with a half-life of 11·71 and 11·91 h, respectively. No statistically significant difference was obtained in any of the pharmacokinetic parameters (Tmax, Cmax, AUC, t1/2, MRT, CL/F and Vd/F) of VPA between the two treatments. Also, there was no significant difference in the protein binding rates of VPA. Conclusion: PR did not significantly affect the absorption, distribution, metabolism and elimination of VPA in healthy volunteers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the experiment was to investigate the effects of different protein concentration diets on the semen traits of the Muscovy drakes. 28 white Muscovy LRI No.1 were used as experimental animals and randomly divided into 4 groups as followed: T1 (CP 12%), T2 (CP 12%, added Rhizopus fermentation extract 2.4%), T3 (CP 15%) and T4 (CP 18%), each group of feed ME was 2,700 kcal / kg. Semen was collected from 37 weeks to 54 weeks age twice a week. The average semen volume and sperm concentration of the four groups, T1, T2, T3 and T4, were both significantly highest in the T3 group (P < 0.05). Part of the drakes of T1 and T2 treatments showed transparent semen or uncollectible at 45 to 46 weeks of age, while drakes of T3 and T4 started at 51 to 52 weeks of age. Most breeder farmers feed semen collection Muscovy drakes with laying duck feed (CP 18%). It is recommended to reduce the feed CP to 15% to reduce the cost of foodstuff. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

he objective of this study was to investigate the impact of A. muciniphila and Amuc_1100* on weight control of obese animals. The following experiment was divided into in vitro and in vivo studies. Mice were fed by high fat diet with oral gavage of A. muciniphila, Amuc_1100* and denatured Amuc_1100*. The experiment lasted for 5 weeks. Results showed that A. muciniphila and Amuc_1100* decreased lipid accumulation in liver of obese mice. None of the treatments contributed to hepatotoxicity or nephrotoxic. In vitro studies part, HEK-Blue cells expressed human TLR2 and reporter gene were utilized to investigate whether Amuc_1100* can stimulate TLR2 responses. The results showed that 3,300 time of concentration of dosage is required for Amuc_1100* to achieve the same TLR2 respone with Pam2CSK4. In conclusion, the effect of different conformation of Amuc_1100* on weight control of obese mice is limited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of Rhizopus fermentation extract (RE) on atopic dermatitis. In vitro study aimed at evaluating the effect of Rhizopus fermentation extract on the extent of degranulation of RBL-2H3. After incubated with RE 24 hours, RBL-2H3 was induced to degranulate by IgE and antigen. The result showed there was no significant difference between treatment groups and control group. In vivo study aimed at evaluating the effects of RE on house-dust-mite-skin-sensitized BALB/c mice. The result showed RE significantly reduced the epidermal hyperplasis concentration of total serum IgE (P < 0.05). To sum up, although RE could not reduce the extent of degranulation in in vitro study, they could reduce epidermal hyperplasia and concentration of total serum IgE. In conclusion, this study showed RE possess anti-allergic potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]