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Highlights: [•] A secondary amine AN-TEPA is used to modify the SBA-15. [•] CO2 adsorption capacity (180.1mgg−1-adsorbent for 70% amine loading) is high. [•] The sorbent exhibits a high stability after 12 cycling runs. [•] The modified SBA-15 achieves complete desorption at low temperature (100°C). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Nestin is a characteristic intermediate filament protein expressed in neural stem cells (NSCs). Evidence has shown that it is also found in reactive astrocytes. Previous studies have demonstrated that the second intron of the human and rat nestin genes harbors the central nervous system (CNS) enhancer and the midbrain enhancer, which regulate nestin expression in different regions of CNS during development. In this study, using an NSC-like cell line C17.2 and primarily cultured astrocytes, we show that both C17.2 cells and astrocytes express nestin. To characterize the nestin enhancer in further detail, we cloned the second intron of the mouse nestin gene, which is homologous to the human and rat counterparts as shown by DNA sequencing. Reporter assay indicated that the full-length nestin enhancer was active in both C17.2 cells and astrocytes, consistent with the immunocytochemistry results. However, in C17.2 cells, the enhancer activity was attributed to the highly conserved 3′ part, and the 5′ part of the enhancer was suppressive to the transcription activation activity of the full-length enhancer. While in astrocytes, both 3′ and 5′ parts were able to enhance the reporter gene expression. Our data suggested that different regions of the nestin enhancer might have different functions in C17.2 cells and astrocytes: while the 3′ region activates transcription in both cell types, the 5′ region suppresses in C17.2 cells but activates in astrocytes nestin expression. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The aim of the study described here was to identify an efficient criterion for the prenatal diagnosis of abnormal invasive placenta. We evaluated 129 women with anterior placenta previa who underwent trans-abdominal ultrasound evaluation in the third trimester. Spectral Doppler ultrasonography was performed to assess the subplacental blood flow of the anterior lower uterine segment by measuring the highest peak systolic velocity and resistive index. These patients were prospectively followed until delivery and evaluated for abnormal placental invasion. The peak systolic velocity and resistive index of patients with and without abnormal placental invasion were then compared. Postpartum examination revealed that 55 of the patients had an abnormal invasive placenta, whereas the remaining 74 did not. Patients with abnormal placental invasion had a higher peak systolic velocity of the subplacental blood flow in the lower segment of the anterior aspect of the uterus (area under receiver operating characteristic curve: 0.91; 95% confidence interval: 0.87-0.96) than did those without abnormal placental invasion. Our preliminary investigations suggest that a peak systolic velocity of 41 cm/s can be considered a cutoff point to diagnose abnormal invasive placenta, with both good sensitivity (87%) and good specificity (78%), and the higher the peak systolic velocity, the greater is the chance of abnormal placental invasion. Resistive index had no statistical significance (area under receiver operating characteristic curve, 0.56; 95% confidence interval: 0.46-0.66) in the diagnosis of abnormal invasive placenta. In conclusion, measurement of the highest peak systolic velocity of subplacental blood flow in the anterior lower uterine segment can serve as an additional marker of anterior abnormal invasive placenta. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study developed novel zinc ion cross-linked alginate/ N -succinyl-chitosan (NSC) blend microspheres (MS) for co-delivery of zinc and 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) for synergistic therapy of colitis. Physicochemical characterization of blend MS was assessed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDS). In v itro release studies demonstrated that blend MS has a pH-dependent release property. Both 5-ASA and zinc have lower release in acid medium and higher release in colonic environment. The therapeutic efficacy of zinc cross-linked blend MS was evaluated using induced-colitis rat models, and showed a superior treatment effect in alleviating inflammation of colitis rats. No systemic toxicity was observed after oral administration of blend MS. Therefore, zinc ion cross-linked alginate/ N -succinyl-chitosan blend MS appeared to be a good candidate for co-delivery of zinc and 5-ASA to colon, and had great potential application in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] A novel series of TRPN dendrimers are synthesized. [•] Structurally disordered mesoporous silica was used to develop the CO2 adsorbent. [•] The CO2 adsorption capacity is relatively high. [•] The sorbent exhibits a high stability after 12 cycling runs. [•] The sorbent achieves complete desorption at low temperature (60°C). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Follicular (FO) B cells and marginal zone (MZ) B cells belong to the mature B cell population in spleen of mice. To identify new surface markers of these mature B cell subsets, we compared gene expression profiles of FO and MZ B cells by DNA microarray using FACS-sorted mouse FO and MZ B cells. From 14,000 mouse genes, 27 membrane proteins were expressed mainly in MZ B cells while another 22 membrane proteins expressed largely in FO B cells. Using FACS analysis, we identified that CD36, CD68, and CD49e were expressed on MZ B cells but not on FO B cells. In addition, using semi-quantitative PCR, we found that the mRNA of CD131 were much more abundant in MZ B cells. These results revealed new phenotypic properties of MZ and FO B cells, and would facilitate further studies in the differentiation and functions of these mature B cells. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]