Advanced Materials Research Vols. 554-556

Abstract: A water-soluble polysaccharide named as APS was isolated from the roots of Astragalus membranaceus by hot water extraction, anion-exchange and gel-permeation chromatography and tested for its renal protective effect. Its structural characteristics were investigated by FTIR, AMLC, NMR spectroscopy, GLC–MS, methylation analysis, periodate oxidation and Smith degradation. Based on the data obtained, APS was found to be a α - (1-4)-D -glucan, with a single α- D-glucose at the C-6 position every nine residue, on average, along the main chain. The glucan has a weight-average molecular weight of about 3.6×104 Da. 24h Urine protein quantification and morphological observation, NF-κB protein expression and IL-2, IL-6 and TNF- α concentrations were significantly decreased by APS treatment, clearly suggesting that APS is effective in protecting against glomerulonephritis induced by C-BSA through the inhibition of NF- κB mediated-cytokine pathway.

Abstract: Black tea is a very popular beverage in China. The study evolution on the extraction technology of theabrownin (TB) in black tea was reported. And the chemical constitution, structural characteristics and biological activity of TB were analyzed. Besides, the main research directions for the future of TB were discussed.

Abstract: In this paper, a novel simple method for VEGF immobilization was developed using a new genetically engineered vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) fused to IgG-Fc (abbreviated as VEGF-Fc). The fusion protein of VEGF-Fc was biosynthesized by eukaryocyte expression system with the cloning plasmid encoding VEGF165 and Fc domain. Owe to the hydrophobic-bind property of the Fc domain, the VEGF-Fc is efficiently immobilized on the surface of porous polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffold in our study. The quantitative assay of VEGF-Fc immobilization by ELISA showes that the VEGF-Fc can uniformly distributed throughout the PCL scaffold and the immobilization rate is above 96% that is much higher than that of commercial VEGF. Furthermore, the proliferation of HUVECs was improved two times in the VEGF-Fc immobilized PCL scaffold comparing with that in commercial VEGF in cell culture medium, which detected by the cellular glucose consumption assays.

Abstract: Currently, the methods of establishing mammary precancer animal model is various, including hormones-induced precancerous lesions model, chemical carcinogen precancerous lesions model, precancerous lesions model induced by hormones combined with chemical carcinogen, MCF10AT cell lines transplantation model, transgenic model and disease and syndrome animal model. This paper aims to explore the establishing and applied research of animal models of mammary precancerous lesions. Showing it would play a critical role in studying the cause and pathogenesis of mammary precancerous lesions, effective prevention and improving treatment effect by a proper mammary precancerous lesion animal model.

Abstract: To find the differences in the trnL-F sequences and provide scientific data for the authentication of Potentilla chinensis and its related species, we extracted the genome DNA from the leaves of 5 common Potetilla species in Jilin Province, amplified the trnL-F region using universal primers of angiosperm, and sequenced the purified PCR products directly. We found that the trnL-F sequences of different species of Potentilla are significantly different. So trn-L sequence analysis and other methods derived from it can be used in authentication of Potentilla.

Abstract: Calcium-activated chloride channels (CaCCs) play pivotal roles in many physiological Activities, including transepithelial fluid secretion, smooth muscle contraction and sensory transduction. TMEM16A is a bona fide calcium-activated chloride channel，which was discovered by three independent labs in 2008 after Calcium-activated chloride channel current was recorded about thirty years ago. In this study, DNA fragments encoding mouse TMEM16A with green fluorescence protein (GFP) fusion protein were subcloned into pcDNA3.1/Zeo. Transient transfection condition was optimized and Fischer Thyroid epithelial cells (FRT) expressing TMEM16A were got by stable transfection. The classical calcium-activated chloride channels current was recorded in FRT cells stably expressing TMEM16A by whole cell patch clamp technique. These results were beneficial for the delving into the effects of other bivalent cations on TMEM16A-CaCCs and the role of TMEM16A-CaCCs in cell proliferation and migration.

Abstract: The differences between the urinary crystallites from patients with renal calculi and healthy subjects were compared using SEM, XRD, and nano-particle size analyzer, etc. These differences concern morphology, aggregation state, number, particle size, crystal phase and Zeta potential, etc. About 90% of the crystallites had the particle sizes less than 20 μm, the Zeta potential was -(113) mV, and the composition included a large proportion of calcium oxalate dihydrate (COD) crystals. By comparison, the urinary crystallites from patients with renal calculi had sharp edges and corners and exhibited significant aggregation. There were more crystallites with the size greater than 20 μm in comparison with those in healthy subjects, their Zeta potential was -(73) mV, and calcium oxalate existed mainly in the form of calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM) crystals. The above differences increased the aggregation trend of the crystallites in lithogenic urine and caused the probability of renal calculi formation to increase.

Abstract: GC-MS-based metabonomics was applied to investigate the urinary metabolic response to Cantonese Herbal tea (CHT) intake during a 38-day-period. Orthogonal projection on latent structures discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) with student’s t-test revealed that the global characterization of metabolic changes at each sampling time point were different. Dynamic sampling made it possible to evaluate dynamic metabolic responses to CHT intake.

Abstract: RNAi become a popular technique in exploring gene function. Synthesized siRNA duplexes and vector-based siRNA are mostly used in gene silencing. However, vector-based siRNA constructed from plasmids are rarely used in inhibition gene expression.In our study, vector-based siRNA are used in reducing PSMD4 expression. Our study suggests that vector-based siRNA can be used in cancer research.

Abstract: Because of the special physical and chemical character, TiO₂ nonmaterials have been applied in many fields and bring enormous progress to people’s life. However, a new problem has turned to be the focus of people’s attention, that is, whether TiO₂ nonmaterial may bring about harm to the organism. This paper introduces three contacts (breathing contact, alimentary canal contact, shin contact) between TiO₂ nanometer materials and people, and then recommends the safety affection of TiO₂ nonmaterial for people. In the end there are some protection measures of TiO₂ nanometer dust which may be harmful to our health.