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Previously, it was found that several proteins of Haemonchus contortus were involved in the stimulation of the host immune system. However, the information about the selection of superlative antigens with immunogenic efficacies on host DCs is lacking. In the current study, the stimulatory effects of five recombinant proteins (elongation factor-1α, arginine kinase, ES-15, ES-24, and ADP-ribosylation factor 1) of H. contortus on the maturation of goat monocyte-derived dendritic cells (md-DCs) were reported. Recombinant proteins were purified separately in E. coli expression and incubated with isolated goat peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Immunofluorescence assay (IFA) results confirmed the binding of these molecules to the md-DC's surface as compared to control groups. In the flow cytometry analysis, recombinant proteins induced md-DC stimulation via the up-regulation of the expression of the costimulatory molecule (CD80) and MHC-II. Quantitative RT-PCR data showed a significant increase in the expression of specific genes of the WNT and toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling pathways. The result of ELISA indicated the higher levels of cytokine (IL-10, IL-12, IFN-γ, and TNF-α) secretion in the md-DC compared to the negative (pET-32a His-Tag) and blank (PBS) control groups. The data gives valuable support in the selection of potential antigens for future studies on the immunomodulation of the host against the infection of H. contortus.

Excretory and secretory products (ESPs) of nematode contain various proteins which are capable of inducing the instigation or depression of the host immune response and are involved in the pathogenesis of the worms. In the present study, Haemonchus contortus excretory and secretory products (HcESPs) were collected from the adult worms. Binding of HcESPs to goat peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was confirmed by immune-fluorescence assay. Effects of the HcESPs on cytokine production, cell proliferation, cell migration and nitric oxide (NO) production of PBMCs were checked by co-incubation of HcESPs with goat PBMCs. The results indicated that the production of IL-4 and IFN-γ were significantly decreased by HcESPs in dose dependent manner. On the contrary, the production of IL-10 and IL-17 were increased. Cell migration was significantly enhanced by HcESPs, whereas, HcESPs treatment significantly suppressed the cell proliferation and NO production. These results indicated that the HcESPs played important suppressive regulatory roles on PBMCs and provided highlights to the understanding of the host-parasite interactions.

A sequential one-pot two-step tandem reaction for efficient synthesis of polysubstituted cyclopropanes has been developed. The three-component reaction of alpha-halogenated methylene compounds, aromatic aldehydes, and acetonitrile derivatives produced first the intermediates pyridinium salts and electron-deficient olefins, followed by cyclopropanation of pyridinium ylide with electron-deficient olefins in situ to afford polysubstituted cyclopropanes. Target compounds were obtained in high yields and were diastereomerically pure after recrystallization.

Polysubstituted pyrido[1,2-a]benzimidazole derivatives are efficiently produced in moderate yields in a novel one-pot, four-component reaction from pyridine or 3-picoline, chloroacetonitrile, malononitrile, and aromatic aldehyde in refluxing acetonitrile. The mechanism of this novel reaction was believed involving the formation of polysubstituted benzenes with subsequent substitution and annulation reaction of pyridine. All pyrido[1,2-a]benzimidazoles, polysubstituted benzenes, polysubstituted indoles, and some key reaction intermediates are characterized by (1)H and (13)C NMR, MS, IR spectra, and elemental analysis as well as X-ray crystallography.

To study the effects of parthenolide on human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line BEL-7402 and explore its possible mechanism, human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line BEL-7402 was cultured in vitro and treated with parthenolide of different concentrations. Cells without addition of parthenolide were used as control. The growth of inhibition of cells induced by various concentrations was analyzed by using the MTT assay. The morphologic changes of apoptosis was observed under an inversion microscope by Giemsa staining. The expression levels of PCNA albumen were measured by means of immunohistochemical methods. Parthenolide can inhibit the proliferation of BEL-7402 cells in vitro in adose-dependent manner. Apoptosis with nuclear chromatin condensation, fragmentation and cell shrinkage were found by means of inversion microscopy. Formation of apoptotic bodies was observed by Giemsa staining. The immunohistochemical results show that the expression of PCNA has been decreased. Parthenolide can inhibit the tumor growing of BEL-7402 cells, and induce the apoptosis of cells. The mechanisms of those functions may be via inhibiting the expression of PCNA.

Polyaspartate is an excellent Pb2+-binding agent in comparison with some polyaspartamide derivatives with different side chains, in that it possesses a higher Pb2+ uptake and a lower Pb2+ equilibrium concentration. Equilibrium sorption data for Pb2+ on polyaspartate can be well fitted with the Freundlich and Langmuir models. Experimental results show that a crosslinked polyaspartate hydrogel is superior to poly(acrylic acid)-based resins and polystyrene-based chelating resins. IR spectra and X-ray photoelectron spectra reveal that the polyaspartate hydrogel binds Pb2+ by both an ion-exchange mechanism and a chelating mechanism. The polyaspartate hydrogel is also an effective agent for the removal of Pb2+ from glycyrrhizin. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 97: 2215–2220, 2005

A new sesquiterpene lactone (1) was obtained from the cytotoxic fraction of 95% ethanol extract of root barks of Tsoongiodendron odorum Chun together with two known sesquiterpene lactones, costunolide (2) and parthenolide (3). The structure of 1 was elucidated as 5alpha, 6alpha, 7beta, 10beta- 11alpha, 13-dihydro-4(15)-eudesmene-12, 6-olide on the basis of chemical and spectral evidence including X-ray diffraction analysis. Costunolide showed cytotoxic activity against human leukemia (HL-60) cell line. Parthenolide showed promising cytotoxic activities in vitro against HCT-8, Bel-7402, SKOV3, KB, HELA and EJ cell lines. Also, the cytotoxic ethyl acetate fraction of ethanol extract of the root barks from which three chemical components were isolated showed promising cytotoxic activities in vitro against KB, BGC-823, Bel-7402, HCT-8, HL-60 cell lines.

To assess the ability of ABCD3-I score in evaluating the early risk of cerebral infarction after transient ischemic attack (TIA).A total of 107 TIA patients were evaluated according to ABCD2, ABCD3 and ABCD3-I criteria. The occurrences of cerebral infarction within 2 days and 7 days were observed.The AUC(ROC) of ABCD2, ABCD3 and ABCD3-I were 0.61, 0.66 and 0.71 in predicting the risk of cerebral infarction within 2 days, and were 0.62, 0.68 and 0.74 in predicting within 7 days, respectively. Among 107 patients with TIA, 13 evolved into cerebral infarction within 2 days, accounting for 12.1%, and 24 within 7 days, accounting for 22.4%.According to ABCD3-I criteria, 17 patients were of low risk scored 0-3; 54 patients were of medium risk scored 4-7; and 36 patients were of high risk scored 8-13. The different incidence of cerebral infarction after TIA was related to ABCD3-I score: the higher the score was, the higher incidence was. Except for age factor, every score item of ABCD3-I display obvious influence to the occurrence of cerebral infarction within 2 days and 7 days after TIA (P0.05).ABCD3-I criteria could more effectively predict the occurrence of early risk of cerebral infarction after TIA, which could be used in regular clinical practice for assistance in TIA risk stratification and treatment.

Toxoplasma gondii is widely distributed in humans and other animals including domestic poultry throughout the world, but the data on prevalence of T. gondii in free-ranged (FR) chickens in People's Republic of China (PRC) are limited. In the present study, the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in FR chickens was investigated in 13 provinces/municipalities of China during the period from January to June 2010. A total of 1173 serum samples were collected and assayed for T. gondii circulating antigens (TCA) and antibodies (TCAb) using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. Out of this number, 199 samples were TCA positive (16.97%), 226 samples were TCAb positive (19.27%), 69 samples were positive for both TCA and TCAb (5.88%), and the total seropositive rate was found in 356 of 1173 (30.36%). The results of the present survey indicated that infection with T. gondii in FR chickens is widely spread in China.

A sequential one-pot two-step tandem reaction for efficient synthesis of polysubstituted cyclopropanes has been developed. The three-component reaction of α-halogenated methylene compounds, aromatic aldehydes, and acetonitrile derivatives produced first the intermediates pyridinium salts and electron-deficient olefins, followed by cyclopropanation of pyridinium ylide with electron-deficient olefins in situ to afford polysubstituted cyclopropanes. Target compounds were obtained in high yields and were diastereomerically pure after recrystallization.

Polysubstituted pyrido[1,2-a]benzimidazole derivatives are efficiently produced in moderate yields in a novel one-pot, four-component reaction from pyridine or 3-picoline, chloroacetonitrile, malononitrile, and aromatic aldehyde in refluxing acetonitrile. The mechanism of this novel reaction was believed involving the formation of polysubstituted benzenes with subsequent substitution and annulation reaction of pyridine. All pyrido[1,2-a]benzimidazoles, polysubstituted benzenes, polysubstituted indoles, and some key reaction intermediates are characterized by 1H and 13C NMR, MS, IR spectra, and elemental analysis as well as X-ray crystallography.

Polysubstituted benzene derivatives with an unprecedented substitution pattern are produced in a novel one-pot multi-component cyclization reaction from pyridine, ethyl alpha-bromoacetate, malononitrile and aromatic aldehyde in refluxing acetonitrile.