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Estradiol is an ovarian steroid hormone that regulates physiological functions in the central nervous system, including mood, cognition, sleep and mental state. Emerging evidence has revealed that there is an enrichment of cells that express the estrogen receptor in the lateral habenula (LHb) region, however, the precise biological functions of estradiol on neurons in the LHb remain to be elucidated. The present study aimed to determine the effects of estradiol on LHb neurons, by observing neuronal firing activity, and c-Fos mRNA and protein expression levels in the LHb using whole cell recording, reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting. Ovariectomized female Wistar rats were supplemented with a range of estradiol doses across five groups: Ovariectomized (no treatment); Oil (sesame oil); low estradiol; medial estradiol (ME) and high estradiol. Circulating serum estradiol levels were assessed over a 33 day period following surgery. Estradiol suppressed spontaneous firing activity in LHb neurons (P<0.05, compared with firing rates prior to estradiol treatment), which suggested a role for this hormone in regulating neuronal activity. Estradiol replacement therapy resulted in sustained serum estradiol levels for ~3 weeks after surgery. The mRNA and protein levels of c-Fos were significantly downregulated in LHb tissues from ME rats as compared with Oil animals (P<0.05). In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that estradiol suppresses neuronal activities in the LHb region, suggesting that the LHb may be a potential target for estradiol action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mouse incisor is a valuable but under-utilized model organ for studying the behavior of adult stem cells. This remarkable tooth grows continuously throughout the animal's lifetime and houses two distinct epithelial stem cell niches called the labial and lingual cervical loop (laCL and liCL, respectively). These stem cells produce progeny that undergo a series of well-defined differentiation events en route to becoming enamel-producing ameloblasts. During this differentiation process, the progeny move out of the stem cell niche and migrate toward the distal tip of the tooth. Although the molecular pathways involved in tooth development are well documented, little is known about the roles of miRNAs in this process. We used microarray technology to compare the expression of miRNAs in three regions of the adult mouse incisor: the laCL, liCL, and ameloblasts. We identified 26 and 35 differentially expressed miRNAs from laCL/liCL and laCL/ameloblast comparisons, respectively. Out of 10 miRNAs selected for validation by qPCR, all transcripts were confirmed to be differentially expressed. In situ hybridization and target prediction analyses further supported the reliability of our microarray results. These studies point to miRNAs that likely play a role in the renewal and differentiation of adult stem cells during stem cell-fueled incisor growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The TRP73 gene, a member of the p53 family, encodes several variants through differential splicing and use of alternative promoters. At the N terminus, two different promoters generate the full-length and the ΔN isoforms, with or without the transactivating domain. At the C terminus, seven isoforms generated through alternative splicing have been cloned. Previous studies have demonstrated that ΔN-p73 interferes with p73-induced apoptosis. However, there has been no evidence for functional diversity of the C-terminal p73 variants. In this study, we found that p73α and p73β exerted differential effect on the differentiation of C2C12 myoblasts. Although p73β lacked any detectable effect on differentiation, p73α caused a substantial delay in the expression of muscle-specific genes. In co-transfection experiments p73α, but not p73β, attenuated the transcriptional activity of MyoD. Microarray-based gene profiling confirmed the protraction of MyoD-dependent gene expression in C2C12 cells stably expressing p73α. Notwithstanding the differential effect on differentiation, p73α and p73β showed similar activity in sensitizing C2C12 myoblasts to cisplatin-induced cell death. These results demonstrated a functional diversity between the two C-terminal variants of p73 and suggested that p73α can regulate cellular differentiation in addition to its role in stimulating cell death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peripheral nerve injury induces upregulation of the calcium channel α2δ-1 structural subunit in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and dorsal spinal cord of spinal nerve-ligated rats with neuropathic pain, suggesting a role of the calcium channel α2δ-1 subunit in central sensitization. To investigate whether spinal dorsal horn α2δ-1 subunit upregulation derives from increased DRG α2δ-1 subunit and plays a causal role in neuropathic pain development, we examined spinal dorsal horn α2δ-1 subunit expression with or without dorsal rhizotomy in spinal nerve-ligated rats and its correlation with tactile allodynia, a neuropathic pain state defined as reduced thresholds to nonnoxious tactile stimulation. We also examined the effects of intrathecal α2δ-1 antisense oligonucleotides on α2δ-1 subunit expression and neuropathic allodynia in the nerve-ligated rats. Our data indicated that spinal nerve injury resulted in time-dependent α2δ-1 subunit upregulation in the spinal dorsal horn that correlated temporally with neuropathic allodynia development and maintenance. Dorsal rhizotomy diminished basal level expression and blocked injury-induced expression of the spinal dorsal horn α2δ-1 subunit and reversed injury-induced tactile allodynia. In addition, intrathecal α2δ-1 antisense oligonucleotides blocked injury-induced dorsal horn α2δ-1 subunit upregulation and diminished tactile allodynia. These findings indicate that α2δ-1 subunit basal expression occurs presynaptically and postsynaptically in spinal dorsal horn. Nerve injury induces mainly presynaptic α2δ-1 subunit expression that derives from increased α2δ-1 subunit in injured DRG neuron. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a paper about {[SmCl(en)4][In2Te4]}n, an indium telluride with a one-dimensional sinusoidal chain. It mentions the presence or absence of N-H...Cl hydrogen bonding which affects the conformation of the anion. A figure that presents views of the cation and the anion of (I), showing the atom-numbering schemes, is provided.

Coordination of unsaturated [In(amine)]3+ onto indium telluride structure, where the complex ion has higher positive charge, not only forms an organic-inorganic hybrid polymeric structure, but also offers an indium telluride with positive charge. Based on this strategy, cationic networks of metal chalcogenide may be expected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the title complex, [Cu(C11H7O2)2(H2O)], the CuII atom exists in a square-pyramidal environment, coordinated by four O atoms from two formyl­naphtholate ligands and one water O atom. Mol­ecules are linked by weak Cu⋯O inter­actions and hydrogen bonding into a two-dimensional network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antikeratin autoantibodies (AK auto Abs) are very important elements of the human immune system. To improve the outcome of studies on AK auto Abs, it is necessary to generate antikeratin human monoclonal antibodies. The purpose of present study was to isolate antikeratin human monoclonal antibodies by panning a phage antibody library. A semisynthetic phage antibody library with capacity of 4.0× 108 members was previously constructed. Panning of the library was performed against human epidermal keratin extracted from psoriatic scales. At the last round of the panning, individual colonies were grown in culture for expression of phage antibodies. Their binding activities and specificities to keratin were determined by ELISA, and positive clones were analyzed by DNA fingerprinting. The selected clones were induced with IPTG to express soluble Fab fragments, which were further characterized by ELISA, immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. Finally, DNA sequencing of the variable regions was performed. A human antibody clone which was able to express soluble Fab fragments and recognize Mr 46,000 keratin (K17) was isolated. DNA sequencing demonstrated that the VH and VL of the antibody came from the human VH1 and Vκ2 families, respectively. We conclude that phage antibody library technology is a powerful way to generate human monoclonal antibodies. The antikeratin antibody we isolated in the present study would be useful in the research on AK auto Abs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drug addiction is mediated by complex neuronal processes that converge on the shell of the nucleus accumbens (NAcSh). The NAcSh receives inputs from the lateral hypothalamus (LH), where selfstimulation can be induced. Melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) is produced mainly in the LH, and its receptor (MCH1R) is highly expressed in the NAcSh. We found that, in the NAcSh, MCH1R is coexpressed with dopamine receptors (DiR and D2R), and that MCH increases spike firing when both DiR and D2R are activated. Also, injecting MCH potentiates cocaine-induced hyperactivity in mice. Mice lacking MCH1R exhibit decreased cocaine-induced conditioned place preference, as well as cocaine sensitization. Using a specific MCH1 R antagonist, we further show that acute blockade of the MCH system not only reduces cocaine self-administration, but also attenuates cueand cocaine-induced reinstatement. Thus, the MCH system has an important modulatory role in cocaine reward and reinforcement by potentiating the dopaminergic system in the NAcSh, which may provide a new rationale for treating cocaine addiction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives This study was designed to determine the optimal treatment frequency with the 308-nm excimer laser for vitiligo and identify key clinical variable(s) associated with treatment efficacy at the optimal frequency. Background Data Optimal clinical parameters for excimer laser treatment of vitiligo have not been fully determined. Data about the influence on treatment frequency of different clinical variables of vitiligo are needed to facilitate effective treatment regimens. Methods A total of 187 patients were treated with the 308-nm excimer laser for 20 sessions at different frequencies (0.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0 per week). The repigmentation rate was graded on a six-point scale and was blindly evaluated by independent physicians. Results The final percentage of repigmentation for group 0.5 was statistically lower than those for group 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0, and percentages of final levels of repigmentation among these three groups were not statistically different. The clinical variables showed no statistical differences in the final repigmentation effect. Repigmentation occurred fastest with treatment frequencies of 2.0 and 3.0 and there was no statistically significant difference between them. The onset of repigmentation correlated with the area of vitiliginous patches treated, not with the other clinical variables. Conclusions The 308-nm excimer laser is effective for therapy to treat vitiligo on the face and neck. The ultimate laser-induced repigmentation effect does not correlate with treatment frequency and repigmentation occurs faster with treatment frequencies of 2.0 and 3.0 than that of 1.0. It appears that the onset of repigmentation correlates with the total area of vitiliginous patches and the optimal treatment frequency. Monitored studies on a larger population with long-term follow-up would be needed to confirm and extend our findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of one-dimensional (1-D) telluridoindate compounds built from InTe4tetrahedra sharing opposite edges were synthesized, and the structures of the InTe2-∞chains were classified as three types. Compound Zn(taa)(-tren)0.5InTe2Cl (Ia) has a common structure feature of a 1-D straight chain (type I). Compounds M(en)3In2Te4·en (M Ni (IIa) and Co (IIb)) have a sinusoidal 1-D structure with In4Te84-periodic units (type II), while compounds M(en)32(en)0.5In4Te8(M Mn (IIIa), Fe (IIIb), and Zn (IIIc)) show another type of sinusoidal anionic chain (type III). The repeating unit of type III consists of eight edge-sharing tetrahedra for a complete sinusoidal period, In8Te168-n. Although numerous 1-D polymeric anion chains built from MQ4tetrahedra with the formula of MQ2n-∞exist, these chains are usually straight. The compounds of types II and III are rare examples of 1-D chains within main group chalcogenometalates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shows that p73alpha protein is expressed in cells derived from anaplastic thyroid cancer. Interdependence of activated nuclear abelson murine leukemia oncogene tyrosine kinase and p73alpha in the induction of apoptosis; Upregulation of p73alpha in a malignant form of thyroid cancer; Reduced c-Abelson murine leukemia oncogene nuclear entry in ARO and KAK cells.

In the title complex, [CoCl2(C13H11N3O2)2(H2O)2]·2H2O, each CoII atom occupies an inversion center and is coordinated by two water mol­ecules, two Cl− anions and two N-benzoyl- N′-(isonicotino­yl)hydrazine ligands in a distorted octa­hedral geometry. The asymmetric unit contains two half-complexes. The three-dimensional supra­molecular architecture is stabilized by inter­molecular hydrogen bonding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]