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The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of forkhead box protein P3 (FOXP3) intron single nucleotide variants (SNVs) in high-risk human papilloma virus (HR-HPV) infection and cervical cancer (CC) malignant lesions. We performed FOXP3 genotyping in 350 patients with CC and 350 healthy controls using the ImLDR multiple single nucleotide polymorphism genotyping technology. The heterozygous mutation TC in rs2294021 decreased the risk of HR-HPV infection and CC malignant lesions (TC vs. TT: OR = 0.71, 95% CI = 0.51-0.99); the dominant model TC+CC and allele C in rs2294021 decreased the risk of CC malignant lesions (TC+CC vs. TT: OR = 0.69, 95% CI = 0.50-0.95; C vs. T: OR = 0.78, 95% CI = 0.63-0.97). The heterozygous mutation GA, dominant model GA+AA and allele A in rs3761549 also decreased the risk of HR-HPV infection and CC malignant lesions (GA vs. GG: OR = 0.70, 95% CI = 0.51-0.96; GA+AA vs. GG: OR = 0.69, 95% CI = 0.51-0.94; A vs. G: OR = 0.75, 95% CI = 0.58-0.96). Patients with CC and HR-HPV infection carrying rs2294021 TC and rs3761549 GA had lower expression of FOXP3 protein. Haplotype analysis revealed that T-C-A decreased the risk of HR-HPV infection. Furthermore, we found a significant association between immune cells infiltration and prognosis in patients with CC. Our findings demonstrated that rs2294021 and rs3761549 variants may protect against HR-HPV and CC malignant lesions by downregulating FOXP3 and that FOXP3 was associated with immune cells infiltration, which affected the prognosis of CC.

Background The berberine (Ber) is an isoquinoline alkaloid compound extracted from Rhizoma coptidis and has the effect that reduces adipose. MicroRNA‐192 (miR‐192) is related to fat metabolism. However, the relevant mechanism of berberine on lipid metabolism during in vitro maturation (IVM) of porcine oocytes remains unclear. Objectives In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanism by which berberine promotes the IVM and lipid metabolism of porcine oocytes via miR‐192. Methods Ber was added to IVM medium of porcine oocytes. MiR‐192 agomir, miR‐192 antagomir and negative control fragment were microinjected into the cytoplasm of oocytes without Ber. Rates of oocyte IVM and embryonic development in each group were observed. The content of lipid droplets in IVM oocytes in each group was analyzed by Nile red staining. Expression levels of miR‐192 and FABP3, SREBF1 and PPARG, were detected by qPCR and western blotting. The target genes of miR‐192 were determined by luciferase reporter assays. Results and Conclusions We found that Ber significantly increased the rate of oocytes IVM and blastocyst development, and decreased the area and numbers of lipid droplets in IVM oocytes. Ber significantly increased the expression of miR‐192 in IVM oocytes, and significantly decreased the expression of SREBF1 and PPARG, which were target genes of miR‐192. This study indicates that Ber promotes lipid metabolism in porcine oocytes by activating the expression of miR‐192 and down‐regulating SREBF1 and PPARG, thus, improving IVM of porcine oocytes., This study investigated the molecular mechanism of Berberine (Ber) promoting the in vitro maturation (IVM) and lipid metabolism of porcine oocytes via miR‐192. The results suggest that Ber promotes lipid metabolism in IVM porcine oocytes and improves oocyte IVM by activating miR‐192 and downregulating SREBF1 and PPARG.

The production of photo-switchable molecular nanomagnets with substantial coercivity, which is indispensable for information storage and process applications, is challenging. Introducing photo-responsive spin-crossover units provides a feasible means of controlling the magnetic anisotropy, interactions, and overall nanomagnet properties. Herein, we report a cyanide-bridged chain 1⋅12H2 O ({[(Pz Tp)FeIII (CN)3 ]2 FeII (Pmat)2 }n ⋅12 H2 O) generated by linking the FeII -based spin-crossover unit with the [(Pz Tp)Fe(CN)3 ]- (Pz Tp: tetrakis(pyrazolyl)borate) building block in the presence of asymmetric ditopic ligand Pmat ((4-pyridine-4-yl)methyleneamino-1,2,4-triazole). Structural characterization revealed that the introduction of this asymmetric ligand led to a distorted coordination environment of FeII ions, which were equatorially coordinated by four cyanide N atoms, and apically coordinated by one pyridine N atom and one triazole N atom. Upon 808-nm light irradiation, 1⋅12H2 O underwent photoinduced spin-crossover and exhibited single-chain magnet behavior with a coercive field of up to 1.3 T. This represents a 3d-based photoinduced single-chain magnet exhibiting pronounced hysteresis.

The effect of berberine (Ber) on in vitro fertilization (IVF) embryo development in pigs and the associated differential expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) in the embryo were investigated. NCSU-23 embryonic culture medium was used for a control group, while NCSU-23 embryonic culture medium added with Ber was used for a Ber group. The embryo development rates in these groups were determined, and the zygotes, 4- and 8-cell embryos, and blastocysts were collected for cDNA microarray analysis. The development rates of 2-, 4-, 8-cell embryos and blastocysts were significantly higher in the Ber group than those in the control group (p < 0.01). The differentially expressed miRNAs in the 8-cell versus the 4-cell stage in control group as well as in the 8-cell Ber group versus the 8-cell control group overlapped, and it was found that nine miRNAs were commonly upregulated and two of them were downregulated, while there was no overlap among the other groups. The target genes of Ber-regulated miRNAs at the 8-cell stage were mainly associated with the molecular pathway of nucleic acid and protein synthesis. These findings suggest that Ber may regulate the expression of miRNAs at the 8-cell stage, which is beneficial to provide material reserves for the maternal to zygote transition of porcine embryos, thereby increasing the porcine IVF embryo development rate.

Right ventricular (RV) wall dissection following ventricular septal rupture related to inferior myocardial infarction (MI) is an extremely rare complication with a high mortality rate. We report the case of a 61-year-old man who was admitted to our hospital because of syncope and intermittent chest pain with a precordial murmur. Transthoracic echocardiography showed a rupture at the basal infero-posterior septum and RV free-wall dissection forming an echolucent cavity that extended beyond the septum and subsequently re-entered into RV chamber. The patient's overall cardiac and renal functions deteriorated and he died 24 days after the diagnosis. We present a literature review of the published cases of complex dissecting tracts through the septum and RV wall in ischemic context.

The aim of this study was to investigate the association of genetic polymorphisms in the promoter region of miR‐17‐92 with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The gene polymorphism was analysed using SNaPshot in 312 SLE patients and 396 controls. Relative expression of miR‐17‐92 was measured by quantitative real‐time PCR. Association was found between rs9515692 and a decreased risk of SLE (CT vs CC: OR = 0.65, 95%CI, 0.46‐0.92, P = .014; CT+TT vs CC: OR = 0.64, 95%CI, 0.46‐0.90, P = .009; T vs C: OR = 0.69, 95%CI, 0.52‐0.92, P = .010, respectively). Haplotype analysis showed that C‐G‐G, C‐A‐A haplotypes were associated with an increased SLE risk (OR=4.46, 95%CI, 2.17‐9.17, P < 0.001; OR=2.33, 95%CI, 1.44‐3.76, P < 0.001, respectively). T allele and CT+TT genotypes in rs9515692 were associated with decreased risk of anti‐dsDNA in SLE (CT+TT vs CC: OR = 0.42, 95%CI = 0.24‐0.72, P = .002; T vs A: OR = 0.49, 95%CI = 0.31‐0.79, P = .003). Moreover, rs9515692 CT+TT genotypes had a higher level of miR‐17 as compared to CC genotype (P = .017). These findings suggest that the rs9515692 CT+TT genotypes were a protective factor for the susceptibility of SLE, probably by increasing the expression of miR‐17.

The binding interaction of adenosine with human serum albumin (HSA) was investigated under simulative physiological conditions by fluorescence spectroscopy in combination with a molecular modeling method. A strong fluorescence quenching reaction of adenosine to HSA was observed and the quenching mechanism was suggested as static quenching according to the Stern-Volmer equation. The binding constants (K) at different temperatures as well as thermodynamic parameters, enthalpy change (ΔH) and entropy change (ΔS), were calculated according to relevant fluorescent data and Vant′Hoff equation. The hydrophobic interaction was a predominant intermolecular force in order to stabilize the complex, which was in agreement with the results of molecular modeling study.

The interaction between N-(4-ethoxyphenyl)-N'-(4-antipyrinyl)thiourea (EPAT) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) was studied by fluorescence spectroscopy in combination with UV absorption spectroscopy. The intrinsic fluorescence of bovine serum albumin was quenched by EPAT through a static quenching procedure. The binding constants of EPAT with BSA were estimated according to the fluorescence quenching results at different temperatures. The thermodynamic parameters: enthalpy change (AH) and entropy change (AS) were calculated to be -10.69 kJ/mol and 42.64 J·mol -1 ·K -1 according to thermodynamic equations, respectively, and indicating that the binding force was suggested to be mainly a hydrophobic force. The effect of common ions on the binding constant was also investigated. A new fluorescence spectroscopy assay of the proteins was presented in this paper. The determination results of the proteins in bovine serum by means of this method were very close to those obtained using Coomassie Brilliant Blue G-250 colorimetry.

Under physiological conditions, interaction between N,N'-di(4-chlorophenyl)thiourea synthesized and human serum albumin was investigated by using fluorescence spectroscopy and UV absorption spectrum. The intrinsic fluorescence of human serum albumin was quenched by N,N'-di(4-chlorophenyl)-thiourea through a static quenching procedure. The binding constants (K) at 14 °C and 24 °C were obtained, and the values were 2.541 x 10 5 M -1 and 2.021 x 10 5 M -1 , respectively. Thermodynamic parameter enthalpy change (AH) and entropy change (AS) were calculated to be -16.19 KJ/mol and 47.05 J-mol -1 .K -1 , respectively, which indicated that hydrophobic force played a major role in interaction. The binding distance was evaluated on the basis of the theory of Foster energy transfer. The effects of various metal ions on the binding constants of N,N'-di(4-chlorophenyl)thiourea with human serum albumin were studied. A synchronous fluorescence technique for determination of human serum albumin was developed, and the method was successfully applied to the detection of HSA in human serum samples.

In this study, the interaction between cytidine and human serum albumin (HSA) was investigated for the first time by fluorescence spectroscopy in combination with UV absorption spectrum and molecular modeling under simulative physiological conditions. Experimental results indicated that cytidine had a strong ability to quench the intrinsic fluorescence of human serum albumin. The binding constants (K) at different temperatures, thermodynamic parameter enthalpy changes (ΔH) and entropy changes (ΔS) of HSA-cytidine had been calculated according to the relevant fluorescence data, which indicated that the hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions played a major role, which was in agreement with the results of molecular modeling study. In addition, the effects of other ions on the binding constants were also studied. Furthermore, synchronous fluorescence technology was successfully applied to the determination of human serum albumin added into the cytidine solution. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 87: 174–182, 2007. This article was originally published online as an accepted preprint. The “Published Online” date corresponds to the preprint version. You can request a copy of the preprint by emailing the Biopolymers editorial office at biopolymers@wiley.com

The interaction between human serum albumin (HSA) and N6-(2-hydroxyethyl)-adenosine (HEA) was investigated using fluorescence spectroscopy in combination with UV absorption spectroscopy for the first time. The results of spectroscopic measurements suggested that the hydrophobic interaction was the predominant intermolecular force stabilizing the complex, which was in good agreement with the results of molecular modelling study. The enthalpy change (ΔH) and the entropy change (ΔS) were calculated, according to the Van't Hoff equation, to be –24.05 kJ/mol and 30.23 J/mol/K, respectively. The effects of common ions on the binding constant of the HEA–HSA complex at room temperature were also investigated. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Deactivated phenols such as 4-nitro or 4-chlorophenol are unsuitable substrates due to formation of by-products.

A series of novel L-iso-glutamine derivatives were prepared by condensing of compound 4 with various amino acid methyl esters. These compounds have not been reported in literature, and their chemical structures were confirmed by ESI-MS, IR and NMR.