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BACKGROUND Sodium glucose transporter-2 inhibitors are the newest antidiabetic drugs that seem to be cardioprotective and can prevent type 2 diabetes in patients with high cardiovascular risks. Previous clinical trials have shown that these inhibitors can alleviate endothelial dysfunction, but the mechanism of action remains unknown. How SGLT inhibitor influences the release of NO in PA-induced HUVECs has never been reported. MATERIAL AND METHODS To explore the potential effects of the endothelial-protective mechanism of phlorizin and its impact on nitric oxide (NO), human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were incubated with palmitic acid (PA) and then treated with phlorizin. Western blotting was performed to assess the phosphorylation of AKT, eNOS, and IRS-1. To further explore potential targets, siRNA transfection was used to demonstrate the role of SGLT1 and SGLT2. RESULTS Phlorizin suppressed the expression of SGLT1 and SGLT2, activated the PI3K/AKT/eNOS signaling pathway, increased the output of NO, and promoted the consumption of glucose in PA-induced HUVECs. Through demonstrating siRNA suppression of the expression of SGLT1 and SGLT2 in PA-induced HUVECs, this study provides a new understanding of the mechanism behind SGLT1 and SGLT2. CONCLUSIONS Our data demonstrate that phlorizin ameliorates the endothelial dysfunction link with the activation of the PI3K/AKT/eNOS signaling pathway and augmentation of the release of NO, partially through suppressing the expression of SGLT1 and SGLT2 in PA-induced HUVECS.

Anaerobic bacterium (strain SN10) with simultaneous capabilities of denitrification and sulfate reduction was enriched and isolated by anaerobic Hungate technology. The characterisation of SN10 was conducted from the morphologial, physiological, phylogenetic aspects and HPAM degradation efficiency. It was a rod-shaped, gram-negative, 0.40~1.0μm in width and 1.5~2.5 μm in length. Most of the fatty acids of SN10 was distributed among C12:0~C19-CYC-FAME and the main of them was consisted of C14:0 FAME, C16:0-FAME, C18:1c-FAME, C18:0-FAME and C19-CYC-FAME. Based on the morphologial, physiological characteristics and the phylogenetic analysis, SN10 was identified as Paenibacillus sp. (EU124565), Because its 16S rDNA can reach 97% of the similarity to that of Paenibacillus lautus SN10 (Accession No.DQ450463). The removal efficiencies of NO3 - and SO4 2- were up to 98.52% and 96.49 % when the initial concentrations of NO3 - and SO4 2- were 5830.92 mg/L and 682.83 mg/L, HPAM solution density was 2400mg/L, three days strain biodegradation rate was 68.27%, which can result in obviously decreased viscosity. The SN10 strain isolated would have provided the new microorganism resources for the polyacrylamide biodegradation.

This study aimed to observe the effect of melatonin on chronic stress rats. 60 male rats were randomly divided into five groups: control group (CON group), chronic stress group (CS group), melatonin high dose group (HMT group, 10mg/kg), melatonin middle dose group (MMT group, 5mg/kg), and melatonin low dose group (LMT group, 1mg/kg). Melatonin was daily intragastrically administrated for 4w with stress induction. Ability of spatial learning and memory of rats were determined by morris water maze. Concentration of Ca2+, contents of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and nitric oxide (NO), and the number of CA3 neurons in hippocampus were tested. Compared with CON group rats, ability of learning and memory were significantly decreased, concentration of Ca2+ and contents of NOS and NO in the hippocampus were significantly increased in CS group rats. The number of CA3 neurons in hippocampus was decreased in CS group rats. As compared with CS group rats, ability of learning and memory were improved in MMT group and LMT group rats, and concentration of Ca2+, contents of NOS and NO in the hippocampus were significantly decreased, and the number of CA3 neurons was decreased in hippocampus. It shows that melatonin improving learning and memory impairment is likely by reducing the calcium and NO in hippocampus.

In order to remove ammonia-nitrogen from drinking water and reduce its threat to human health, Copper-chelex chitosan that is to be the new ammonia-nitrogen remover was prepared by chelating chitosan with copper acetate. In this paper, we measure the effect of this remover with pH= 7.5, 8.5, 9.5 and the concentration of ammonia-nitrogen, such as 1.5mg/L,2.5mg/L,5mg/L,10mg/L and 100mg/L. From the result of this experiment, we draw a conclusion that the removal efficiency of ammonia-nitrogen is about 80% when the pH is greater than 7.5 and the water inflow concentration of ammonia-nitrogen is 100mg/L. as the initial concentration ammonia-nitrogen is increasing, the removal rate is improved regularly.

Inorganic–organic hybrid chalcogenidometalate materials have attracted considerable interest, because they are a new type of materials with unique topologic structures. The syntheses of these materials are typically carried out under hydro(solvo)thermal conditions at relatively low temperatures. Organic amines have been demonstrated to be successful and versatile molecules to be used in template-directed synthesis of numerous chalcogenide-based open-framework materials. Some comprehensive reviews have summarized the preparation and structures of the chalcogenidometalates with non-chelating amines. Extended and embedded researches on the chelating amines containing a different number of N -donor atoms have recently attracted more interest in synthetic chemistry. A series of unique inorganic–organic hybrid chalcogenidometalate materials are successfully isolated lately. This review focuses on the recent developments in solvothermal synthesis of main group chalcogenidometalates in the presence of organic chelating amines or polyamines as reaction medium. In contrast to the non-chelating amines, the roles of the chelating amines in the syntheses and the effects of the chelating amines on the crystal structures are discussed. A comprehensive outline of the chalcogenidometalate compounds with metal complex cations is also presented.

Three new 1-D selenidogallates [Co(en)3]Ga2Se4 (1), [(dienH2)(dienH)3]Ga5Se10 (2) and [(tetaH2)3(teta)]Ga6Se12 (3) (en = ethylenediamine, dien = diethylenetriamine, teta = triethylenetetramine) were prepared under mild solvothermal conditions and structurally characterized. Although 1-D chains in 1–3 are all built of GaSe4 tetrahedra sharing opposite edges, these chains were classified as three types according to the period of the repeating unit. The crystal structure of type I (2) consists of 1-D common straight chains with [Ga2Se4]2− periodic units, while the crystal structures of type II (1) and type III (3) contain 1-D sinusoidal chains with [Ga4Se8]4− and [Ga8Se16]8− periodic units, respectively. The band gaps of 3.27 eV for 1, 3.26 for 2 and 3.17 eV for 3 have been derived from optical absorptions.

Two new indium selenides [In(en)2Se]2·2I (1) and [In(teta)Se]2·2I (2) (en = ethylenediamine, teta = triethylenetetramine) were obtained under mild solvothermal conditions and structurally characterized. Compounds 1 and 2 consist of unusual organic hybrid indium selenide cations and I− anions. These ions are assembled to two different supramolecular structures by N-H···I and N-H···Se H-bonds, namely extended 3-D network structure for 1 and extended sheet structure for 2. The optical band gaps of 2.92 eV for 1 and 3.15 eV for 2 were derived from optical absorption spectra. The thermal stability of 1 and 2 was investigated by thermogravimetric measurements.

This study investigated the in vivo protective effect of cyanidin 3-glucoside (C3G) against ethanol-induced gastric lesions in rats. The experimental rats were treated with 80% ethanol after pretreatment with various doses of C3G (4 and 8 mg/kg of body weight), and the control rats received only 80% ethanol. Oral pretreatment with C3G significantly inhibited the formation of ethanol-induced gastric lesions and the elevation of the lipid peroxide level. In addition, pretreatment with C3G significantly increased the level of glutathione and the activities of radical scavenging enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase, in gastric tissues. These results suggest that the gastroprotective effect of C3G removes the ethanol-induced lipid peroxides and free radicals and that it may offer a potential remedy for the treatment of gastric lesions.

Anthocyanin pigments are extracted from various plants and used for diverse purposes. The overall goal of this study was to develop high-anthocyanin corn to enhance the economic efficiency of anthocyanin production. We determined and compared the anthocyanin contents from the different parts of purple corn in various breeding lines. Our results revealed that purple corn produced the anthocyanin pigment throughout the plant, especially high in the husk and cob regions, although anthocyanin levels varied significantly among different plant parts. We analyzed the 295 selected lines from the 2006 breeding population, and it showed that anthocyanin levels of husks ranged from 17.3% to 18.9% of dry weight, roughly 10 times more than the standard current purple corn kernel content, 1.78%. LC-MS/MS analysis demonstrated that the main components of purple corn husk anthocyanin were cyanidin derivatives, and the most prevalent constituents were cyanidin-3-glucoside, cyanidin-3-succinylglucoside and pelargonidin-3-(6''-malonylglucoside). The results suggested that high-anthocyanin corn will boost the purple corn pigment production far more than its current level.

Both Akt and Aurora A kinase have been shown to be important targets for intervention for cancer therapy. We report here that Compound A (A-443654), a specific Akt inhibitor, interferes with mitotic progression and bipolar spindle formation. Compound A induces G2/M accumulation, defects in centrosome separation, and formation of either monopolar arrays or disorganized spindles. On the basis of gene expression array studies, we identified Aurora A as one of the genes regulated transcriptionally by Akt inhibitors including Compound A. Inhibition of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway, either by PI3K inhibitor LY294002 or by Compound A, dramatically inhibits the promoter activity of Aurora A, whereas the mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitor has little effect, suggesting that Akt might be responsible for up-regulating Aurora A for mitotic progression. Further analysis of the Aurora A promoter region indicates that the Ets element but not the Sp1 element is required for Compound A-sensitive transcriptional control of Aurora A. Overexpression of Aurora A in cells treated with Compound A attenuates the mitotic arrest and the defects in bipolar spindle formation induced by Akt inhibition. Our studies suggest that that Akt may promote mitotic progression through the transcriptional regulation of Aurora A.

Phytic acid inhibits mineral absorption in the intestines of monogastric animals, inhibition which can contribute to public health problems in human populations. This research compared the nutritional properties of parent rice cultivar Il-pum with those of an Il-pum-derived, mutant low-phytate rice cultivar, Sang-gol. No significant differences were shown in moisture, fat, carbohydrate and mineral content between Il-pum and Sang-gol. In the composition of protein and fatty acid, there were also no differences between the two cultivars. In the nutritional aspects, though Sang-gol had a 50% lower phytate content than Il-pum, the total phosphorus contents in the two cultivars were shown to be similar. These results indicated that Sang-gol had similar nutritional properties to those of the parent cultivar Il-pum, with the added benefit of lower phytate content.

Mechanisms of chronic pain, including neuropathic pain, are poorly understood. Upregulation of voltage-gated calcium channel (VGCC) alpha2delta1 subunit (Ca(v)alpha2delta1) in sensory neurons and dorsal spinal cord by peripheral nerve injury has been suggested to contribute to neuropathic pain. To investigate the mechanisms without the influence of other injury factors, we have created transgenic mice that constitutively overexpress Ca(v)alpha2delta1 in neuronal tissues. Ca(v)alpha2delta1 overexpression resulted in enhanced currents, altered kinetics and voltage-dependence of VGCC activation in sensory neurons; exaggerated and prolonged dorsal horn neuronal responses to mechanical and thermal stimulations at the periphery; and pain behaviors. However, the transgenic mice showed normal dorsal horn neuronal responses to windup stimulation, and behavioral responses to tissue-injury/inflammatory stimuli. The pain behaviors in the transgenic mice had a pharmacological profile suggesting a selective contribution of elevated Ca(v)alpha2delta1 to the abnormal sensations, at least at the spinal cord level. In addition, gabapentin blocked VGCC currents concentration-dependently in transgenic, but not wild-type, sensory neurons. Thus, elevated neuronal Ca(v)alpha2delta1 contributes to specific pain states through a mechanism mediated at least partially by enhanced VGCC activity in sensory neurons and hyperexcitability in dorsal horn neurons in response to peripheral stimulation. Modulation of enhanced VGCC activity by gabapentin may underlie at least partially its antihyperalgesic actions.

The title compound, catena-poly[[chloridotetrakis(ethylenediamine-kappa(2)N,N')samarium(III)] [indium(III)-di-mu-tellurido-indium(III)-di-mu-tellurido]], {[SmCl(C(2)H(8)N(2))(4)][In(2)Te(4)]}(n), consists of a one-dimensional sinusoidal {[InTe(2)](-)}(n) anionic chain and [SmCl(en)(4)](2+) cations (en is ethylenediamine). The only other previously reported lanthanide analogue, viz. [LaCl(en)(4)][In(2)Te(4)], contains more usual linear one-dimensional {[InTe(2)](-)}(n) anion chains [Chen, Li, Chen & Proserpio (1998). Inorg. Chim. Acta, 273, 255-258]. The one-dimensional polymeric {[InTe(2)](-)}(n) chain is built of InTe(4) tetrahedra sharing opposite edges. The Sm(III) ion in the [SmCl(en)(4)](2+) cation is nine-coordinated by eight N atoms from four bidentate en molecules and by one chloride ion to form a monocapped square-antiprismatic geometry. The presence or absence of N-H...Cl hydrogen bonding is shown to affect the conformation of the anion.

The title compound, [Dy2(en)6(μ2-OH)2]Ga4S8 (en = ethylenediamine), contains 1D infinite sinusoidal [ GaS 2 - ] n anions and hydroxy bridged dinuclear dysprosium complex cations. Two bridging hydroxy ions connect two inversion-related Dy3+ ions to form a centrosymmetric dimer, in which a Dy2O2 rhomboidal core is formed. The title compound is the only example of the thiogallates with lanthanide-containing counter cation.

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.

The title compound, catena-poly[[chloridotetrakis(ethylenediamine-kappa(2)N,N')samarium(III)] [indium(III)-di-mu-tellurido-indium(III)-di-mu-tellurido]], {[SmCl(C(2)H(8)N(2))(4)][In(2)Te(4)]}(n), consists of a one-dimensional sinusoidal {[InTe(2)](-)}(n) anionic chain and [SmCl(en)(4)](2+) cations (en is ethylenediamine). The only other previously reported lanthanide analogue, viz. [LaCl(en)(4)][In(2)Te(4)], contains more usual linear one-dimensional {[InTe(2)](-)}(n) anion chains [Chen, Li, Chen & Proserpio (1998). Inorg. Chim. Acta, 273, 255-258]. The one-dimensional polymeric {[InTe(2)](-)}(n) chain is built of InTe(4) tetrahedra sharing opposite edges. The Sm(III) ion in the [SmCl(en)(4)](2+) cation is nine-coordinated by eight N atoms from four bidentate en molecules and by one chloride ion to form a monocapped square-antiprismatic geometry. The presence or absence of N-H...Cl hydrogen bonding is shown to affect the conformation of the anion.

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 self-stimulation 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 (D1R and D2R), and that MCH increases spike firing when both D1R 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 MCH1R antagonist, we further show that acute blockade of the MCH system not only reduces cocaine self-administration, but also attenuates cue- and 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.

Two new indium selenides [In(en)2Se]2·2I (1) and [In(teta)Se]2·2I (2) (en = ethylenediamine, teta = triethylenetetramine) were obtained under mild solvothermal conditions and structurally characterized. Compounds 1 and 2 consist of unusual organic hybrid indium selenide cations and I− anions. These ions are assembled to two different supramolecular structures by N-H···I and N-H···Se H-bonds, namely extended 3-D network structure for 1 and extended sheet structure for 2. The optical band gaps of 2.92 eV for 1 and 3.15 eV for 2 were derived from optical absorption spectra. The thermal stability of 1 and 2 was investigated by thermogravimetric measurements.

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.

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.

A continuous cell line of rat retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), named BPEI-1, has been established and characterized. Sheets of pure RPE cells, uncontaminated by choroidal or neural retinal cell types, were isolated from eyes of 7-day-old Long Evans rats and established in primary culture. The primary RPE cells became extensively spread and grew slowly for approximately 1 month, at which time a colony of small rapidly dividing cells spontaneously appeared. Following trypsinization, most of the typical primary RPE cells did not survive and were quickly outnumbered by the smaller cells, which gave rise to a cell line that was grown continuously for several hundred generations. When growing at the maximal rate in media containing 20% FBS (doubling time 18 h), the cells were fibroblastic and nearly devoid of pigment, but were capable of morphologic transition back to a pigmented, epithelioid form when cultured under low serum conditions. Evidence that these cells originated from RPE included specific immunolabeling with antibodies to cellular retinaldehyde binding protein and cytokeratin, negative GFAP immunoreactivity, and demonstration of avid phagocytosis of isolated rod outer segments by these cells. Partial characterization of choroidal cells eliminated the latter cells as possible contaminants which could have given rise to the cell line. The BPEI-1 cell line, and other rat RPE cell lines currently being developed from pigmented normal (LE, RCS rdy + p + ) and retina] dystrophic (RCS p + ) rats should facilitate biochemical and molecular biological approaches to study of RPE cell function in health and disease.

In the title complex, [Cu(C(13)H(11)N(3)O(2))(2)(C(12)H(8)N(2))](NO(3))(2), the Cu(II )atom (site symmetry 2) is coordinated by four N atoms from one 1,10-phenanthroline and two hydrazine ligands, respectively. The hydrazine ligands coordinate to the Cu(II)atom by a pyridine N atom. These four atoms form a slightly distorted square-planar N(4) donor set. In the packing, two additional Cu⋯O inter-actions occur [Cu⋯O = 2.462 (2) Å], resulting in a typical Jahn-Teller-distorted octahedral environment around the Cu atom. N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds result in a three-dimensional network. The O atoms of the anion are disordered over two positions in a 0.68 (2):0.32 (2) ratio.