899 research outputs found

    Dichlorido{2-[2-(dimethyl­ammonio)ethyl­imino­meth­yl]-6-methoxy­phenolato}zinc(II)

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    The structure of the title complex, [ZnCl2(C12H18N2O2)], contains a zwitterionic Schiff base ligand. The complex adopts a distorted tetra­hedral coordination geometry around the metal centre with the Schiff base ligand coordinated in a bidentate fashion via the imine N and phenolate O atoms. In the crystal, inter­molecular N—H⋯O and C—H⋯Cl hydrogen bonds link the mol­ecules into chains parallel to the c-glide planes

    Smad7 enables STAT3 activation and promotes pluripotency independent of TGF-β signaling

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    TGF-β and related growth factors critically regulate cell potency and functions. Smad7 is induced by TGF-βs and inhibits the physiological functions of TGF-β signaling. This study describes an unexpected finding that Smad7 promotes self-renewal of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) in a manner independent of its inhibition on TGF-β signaling. Instead, Smad7 acts to induce activation of transcription factor signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 (STAT3) in ESCs. Smad7 activates STAT3 through its direct binding to the cytokine receptor upstream of STAT3 activation. In agreement with the role of STAT3 in maintaining ESC pluripotency, Smad7 promotes ESC self-renewal and induced pluripotent stem cell reprogramming. This finding illustrates a regulatory mechanism for Smad7 in maintaining pluripotency, and likely in cancer and inflammation

    SCM-36 zeolite nanosheets applied in the production of renewable p-xylene from ethylene and 2,5-dimethylfuran

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    Zeolites as solid acid materials have played important roles in industrial catalysis. The attempts to obtain new zeolite framework structures and related chemical compositions have never stopped, and may expand the application thereof. Using renewable bioderived molecules as starting feedstocks would be of great help in building a more circular carbon cycle. However, zeolites have only shown limited efficiency in the conversion or production of bioderived chemicals. In this work, we report on the synthesis of a new aluminosilicate zeolite named SCM-36 (Sinopec Composite Material No. 36) using tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAOH) with the presence of hexadecylpyridinium bromide hydrate (C16PyBr) or octyltrimethylammonium chloride (OTMAC). The pore opening of this new zeolite material is about 0.6 nm, which is consistent with the size of 10 to 12 membered ring channel. SCM-36 possesses a nanoflower-like morphology with a thickness of ~20 nm. The SiO2/Al2O3 molar ratio of the SCM-36 material is ranging from 21.2 to 36.6, with most Al incorporated into the zeolite framework structure. The acid strength of SCM-36 is not strong, as confirmed by various techniques, including NH3-TPD, pyridine FT-IR, ex-situ confocal fluorescence microscopy and in-situ UV-Vis micro-spectroscopy. In the catalytic conversion of bio-derived 2,5-dimethylfuran (DMF) and ethylene into para-xylene (PX), H-SCM-36 zeolite showed better performance than the more traditional zeolites. The highest selectivity towards PX reached a value of ~93%. Besides, SCM-36 zeolite showed remarkable recyclability in the reaction

    Controlling the nutritional status score: a new tool for predicting postoperative mortality in patients with infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm treated with endovascular aneurysm repair

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    BackgroundAAA is a fatal condition that commonly occurs during vascular surgery. Nutritional status exerts a significant influence on the prognosis of various pathological conditions Scores from the CONUT screening tool have been shown to predict outcomes of certain malignancies and chronic diseases. However, the ramifications of nutritional status on AAA patients undergoing EVAR have not been elucidated in prior studies. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the correlation between CONUT scores and postoperative prognostic outcomes in patients with AAA undergoing EVAR.MethodsThis was a retrospective review of 177 AAA patients treated with EVAR from June 2018 to November 2019 in a single center. Patient characteristics, CONUT scores, and postoperative status were collected. These patients were stratified into groups A and B according to CONUT scores. Subsequently, a comparative analysis of the baseline characteristics between the two cohorts was conducted. Cox proportional hazards and logistic regression analyses were employed to identify the autonomous predictors of mid-term mortality and complications, respectively.ResultsCompared with group A, patients in group B had higher midterm mortality (p < 0.001). Univariate analysis showed that CONUT scores; respiratory diseases; stent types; preoperative Hb, CRP, PT, and Fb levels were risk factors for death. Multivariate analysis confirmed that CONUT score [HR, 1.276; 95% CI, 1.029–1.584; p = 0.027] was an independent risk factor for mortality. Logistic regression analysis showed that prior arterial disease, smoking, and D-dimer levels were risk factors, although multivariate analysis showed smoking (OR, 3.492; 95% CI, 1.426–8.553; p = 0.006) was an independent risk factor. Kaplan–Meier curves showed that patients in group B had shorter mid-term survival than those in group A (log-rank p < 0.001).ConclusionMalnutrition was strongly associated with mid-term mortality in patients with infrarenal AAA treated with EVAR

    Polysaccharides from the root of Angelica sinensis promotes hematopoiesis and thrombopoiesis through the PI3K/AKT pathway

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    <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Dozens of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) formulas have been used for promotion of "blood production" for centuries, and we are interested in developing novel thrombopoietic medicines from these TCMs. Our previous studies have demonstrated the hematopoietic effects of DangGui BuXue Tong (DBT), a formula composed of <it>Radix Angelicae Sinensis </it>and <it>Radix Astragali </it>in animal and cellular models. As a step further to identify and characterize the active chemical components of DBT, we tested the hematopoietic and particularly, thrombopoietic effects of polysaccharide-enriched fractions from the root of <it>Radix Angelicae Sinensis </it>(APS) in this study.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A myelosuppression mouse model was treated with APS (10 mg/kg/day). Peripheral blood cells from APS, thrombopoietin and vehicle-treated samples were then counted at different time-points. Using the colony-forming unit (CFU) assays, we determined the effects of APS on the proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells and megakaryocytic lineages. Using a megakaryocytic cell line M-07e as model, we analyzed the cellular apoptosis progression with and without APS treatment by Annexin V, Mitochondrial Membrane Potential and Caspase 3 assays. Last, the anti-apoptotic effect of APS on cells treated with Ly294002, a Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinse inhibitor (PI3K) was also tested.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In animal models, APS significantly enhanced not only the recovery of platelets, other blood cells and their progenitor cells, but also the formation of Colony Forming Unit (CFU). In M-07e cells, we observed the anti-apoptotic effect of APS. Treatment by Ly294002 alone increased the percentage of cells undergoing apoptosis. However, addition of APS to Ly294002-treated cells significantly reduced the percentage of cells undergoing apoptosis.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>APS promotes hematopoiesis and thrombopoiesis in the mouse model. This effect likely resulted from the anti-apoptosis activity of APS and is likely to involve the PI3K/AKT pathway.</p

    Mouse nuclear myosin I knock-out shows interchangeability and redundancy of myosin isoforms in the cell nucleus.

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    Nuclear myosin I (NM1) is a nuclear isoform of the well-known "cytoplasmic" Myosin 1c protein (Myo1c). Located on the 11(th) chromosome in mice, NM1 results from an alternative start of transcription of the Myo1c gene adding an extra 16 amino acids at the N-terminus. Previous studies revealed its roles in RNA Polymerase I and RNA Polymerase II transcription, chromatin remodeling, and chromosomal movements. Its nuclear localization signal is localized in the middle of the molecule and therefore directs both Myosin 1c isoforms to the nucleus. In order to trace specific functions of the NM1 isoform, we generated mice lacking the NM1 start codon without affecting the cytoplasmic Myo1c protein. Mutant mice were analyzed in a comprehensive phenotypic screen in cooperation with the German Mouse Clinic. Strikingly, no obvious phenotype related to previously described functions has been observed. However, we found minor changes in bone mineral density and the number and size of red blood cells in knock-out mice, which are most probably not related to previously described functions of NM1 in the nucleus. In Myo1c/NM1 depleted U2OS cells, the level of Pol I transcription was restored by overexpression of shRNA-resistant mouse Myo1c. Moreover, we found Myo1c interacting with Pol II. The ratio between Myo1c and NM1 proteins were similar in the nucleus and deletion of NM1 did not cause any compensatory overexpression of Myo1c protein. We observed that Myo1c can replace NM1 in its nuclear functions. Amount of both proteins is nearly equal and NM1 knock-out does not cause any compensatory overexpression of Myo1c. We therefore suggest that both isoforms can substitute each other in nuclear processes

    hSAGEing: An Improved SAGE-Based Software for Identification of Human Tissue-Specific or Common Tumor Markers and Suppressors

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    SAGE (serial analysis of gene expression) is a powerful method of analyzing gene expression for the entire transcriptome. There are currently many well-developed SAGE tools. However, the cross-comparison of different tissues is seldom addressed, thus limiting the identification of common- and tissue-specific tumor markers.To improve the SAGE mining methods, we propose a novel function for cross-tissue comparison of SAGE data by combining the mathematical set theory and logic with a unique “multi-pool method” that analyzes multiple pools of pair-wise case controls individually. When all the settings are in “inclusion”, the common SAGE tag sequences are mined. When one tissue type is in “inclusion” and the other types of tissues are not in “inclusion”, the selected tissue-specific SAGE tag sequences are generated. They are displayed in tags-per-million (TPM) and fold values, as well as visually displayed in four kinds of scales in a color gradient pattern. In the fold visualization display, the top scores of the SAGE tag sequences are provided, along with cluster plots. A user-defined matrix file is designed for cross-tissue comparison by selecting libraries from publically available databases or user-defined libraries
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