2,4-Dibromo-6-{(E)-[(R)-1-phenyl­ethyl]imino­meth­yl}phenol

In the title Schiff base, C15H13Br2NO, the benzene and phenyl rings form a dihedral angle of 75.18 (13)°. The N=C bond length of 1.263 (6) Å is shorter than of the N—C bond [1.476 (5) Å], indicating a double bond. In the crystal, there is some pseudosymmetry. This occurs because most of the two mol­ecules are centrosymmetrically related. The mol­ecular structure is stabilized by intra­molecular O—H⋯N hydrogen bonds

Tris[tris­(1,10-phenanthroline-κ2 N,N′)iron(II)] dodeca­tungstoferrate dihydrate

The title compound, [Fe(C12H8N2)3]3[FeW12O40]·2H2O, was prepared under hydro­thermal conditions. The discrete Keggin-type [FeW12O40]6− heteropolyoxoanion has threefold symmetry, with the FeII atom located on the threefold rotation axis. The central FeO4 tetra­hedron in the anion shares its O atoms with four W3O13 trinuclear units, each of which is made up of three edge-shared WO6 octa­hedral units. The FeII atom in the complex cation, viz [Fe(phen)3]2+ (phen is 1,10-phen­anthroline), shows a slightly distorted octa­hedral geometry defined by six N atoms from three phen ligands. The polyoxoanions pack together with the cations, with the disordered water mol­ecules located in voids; the site occupancy factor for each water O atom is 0.33

The Intoxication Effects of Methanol and Formic Acid on Rat Retina Function

Objective. To explore the potential effects of methanol and its metabolite, formic acid, on rat retina function. Methods. Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 3- and 7-day groups and a control. Experimental groups were given methanol and the control group were provided saline by gavage. Retinal function of each group was assessed by electroretinogram. Concentrations of methanol and formic acid were detected by GC/HS and HPLC, respectively. Results. The a and b amplitudes of methanol treated groups decreased and latent periods delayed in scotopic and photopic ERG recordings. The summed amplitudes of oscillatory potentials (OPs) of groups B and C decreased and the elapsed time delayed. The amplitudes of OS1, OS3, OS4, and OS5 of group B and OS3, OS4, and OS5 of group C decreased compared with the control group. The IPI1 of group B and IPI1-4 of group C were broader compared with the control group and the IPI1-4 and ET of group B were broader than group C. Conclusions. Both of scotopic and photopic retinal functions were impaired by methanol poisoning, and impairment was more serious in the 7-day than in the 3-day group. OPs, especially later OPs and IPI2, were more sensitive to methanol intoxication than other eletroretinogram subcomponents

Gene Expression Divergence and Evolutionary Analysis of the Drosomycin Gene Family in Drosophila melanogaster

Drosomycin (Drs) encoding an inducible 44-residue antifungal peptide is clustered with six additional genes, Dro1, Dro2, Dro3, Dro4, Dro5, and Dro6, forming a multigene family on the 3L chromosome arm in Drosophila melanogaster. To get further insight into the regulation of each member of the drosomycin gene family, here we investigated gene expression patterns of this family by either microbe-free injury or microbial challenges using real time RT-PCR. The results indicated that among the seven drosomycin genes, Drs, Dro2, Dro3, Dro4, and Dro5 showed constitutive expressions. Three out of five, Dro2, Dro3, and Dro5, were able to be upregulated by simple injury. Interestingly, Drs is an only gene strongly upregulated when Drosophila was infected with microbes. In contrast to these five genes, Dro1 and Dro6 were not transcribed at all in either noninfected or infected flies. Furthermore, by 5′ rapid amplification of cDNA ends, two transcription start sites were identified in Drs and Dro2, and one in Dro3, Dro4, and Dro5. In addition, NF-κB binding sites were found in promoter regions of Drs, Dro2, Dro3, and Dro5, indicating the importance of NF-κB binding sites for the inducibility of drosomycin genes. Based on the analyses of flanking sequences of each gene in D. melanogaster and phylogenetic relationship of drosomycins in D. melanogaster species-group, we concluded that gene duplications were involved in the formation of the drosomycin gene family. The possible evolutionary fates of drosomycin genes were discussed according to the combining analysis of gene expression pattern, gene structure, and functional divergence of these genes

Photoprotection of Cotton in the Field

This chapter focuses on the mechanisms by which cotton leaves regulate and use incident light and dissipate the excess light energy when cotton suffers from drought in the field. The photoprotection of non-foliar organs, including bract, capsule wall and stem, will also be considered. This chapter includes a general description of photoprotection from the perspective of leaf movement, drought and non-foliar organs. Leaf diaheliotropic movement and wilting movement can regulate the excess light energy of the photosynthetic apparatus. Besides non-photochemical (heat) energy dissipation, the alternative electron sinks for the electron transport chains are of vital importance for resistance of the photosynthetic apparatus against excess light energy under drought. Thus, the functioning of both photosystem II (PSII) and the photosynthetic electron transport systems of cotton leaves shows a relatively high stability. Compared with leaf, bract mainly relies on high activities of thermal energy dissipation for photoprotection. Nevertheless, capsule wall of bolls is less able to dissipate energy via heat

Increased serum myeloid-related protein 8/14 level is associated with atherosclerosis in type 2 diabetic patients

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Myeloid-related protein 8/14 (MRP8/14) is a stable heterodimer formed by two different calcium-binding proteins (MRP8 and MRP14). Studies have identified that MRP8/14 regulates vascular inflammation and serves as a novel marker of acute coronary syndrome. In this study, we evaluated the correlation between serum levels of MRP8/14, hsCRP, endogenous secretory receptor for advanced glycation end-products (esRAGE) and the occurrence of coronary artery disease (CAD), or carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) when CAD was not yet developed in diabetic patients.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Serum levels of MRP8/14, esRAGE and hsCRP were measured in 375 diabetic patients. Then the results of those who had CAD were compared against who had not. Also, we investigated the associations between above-mentioned indicators and IMT of subjects without CAD in both diabetic group and non-diabetic one.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Serum MRP8/14 was significantly higher in CAD than in non-CAD group (9.7 ± 3.6 ug/ml vs. 8.2 ± 3.0 ug/ml, <it>P </it>< 0.001). It was associated with severity of CAD (<it>r </it>= 0.16, <it>P </it>= 0.026). In non-CAD group, MRP8/14 was associated with IMT in patients with (<it>r </it>= 0.30, <it>P </it>< 0.001) or without diabetes (<it>r </it>= 0.26, <it>P </it>= 0.015). The areas under the curves of receiver operating characteristic for CAD were 0.63 (95% CI 0.57-0.68) for MRP8/14, 0.76 (95% CI 0.71-0.81) for hsCRP and 0.62 (95% CI 0.56 -0.67) for esRAGE.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In summary, we report that diabetic patients with CAD had elevated plasma MRP8/14 levels which were also positively correlated with the severity of CAD and carotid IMT in patients without clinically overt CAD.</p

Mitigation of chronic unpredictable stress–induced cognitive deficits in mice by Lycium barbarum L (Solanaceae) polysaccharides

Purpose: To investigate the neuroprotective effects of Lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP) against concomitant cognitive dysfunction and changes in hippocampal CREB-BDNF signaling pathway in chronically unpredictable stressed mice.Methods: The mice were subjected to different unpredictable stressors for a period of 4 weeks. Behavioral tests, including open field (OFT) and Morris water maze (MWMT) tests were used to evaluate pharmacological effects. Serum corticosterone levels, protein expression level of BDNF and pCREB/CREB in hippocampus were assessed by ELISA, Western blot and immunohistochemistry methods, respectively. Morphological changes in pyramidal neurons in the hippocampus were studied by Nissl staining.Results: LBP improved mice performance in MWMT, indicating that it reversed chronic unpredictable stress (CUS)-induced cognitive deficits. LBP treatment reduced serum corticosterone levels and prevented neuron loss in the hippocampus. It maintained expression levels of BDNF and phosphorylation of CREB in hippocampus during CUS procedure.Conclusion: Lycium barbarum polysaccharide protects CREB-BDNF signaling pathway in hippocampus and relieves CUS-induced cognitive deficits. These results suggest that Lycium barbarum polysaccharides is potentially an alternative neuro-protective agent against stress-induced psychopathological dysfunction.Keywords: Lycium barbarum, Polysaccharide, Chronic unpredictable stress, Cognitive deficits, Brainderived neurotrophic factor, Calcium/cyclic-AMP responsive binding protei

The Intoxication Effects of Methanol and Formic Acid on Rat Retina Function

Objective. To explore the potential effects of methanol and its metabolite, formic acid, on rat retina function. Methods. SpragueDawley rats were divided into 3-and 7-day groups and a control. Experimental groups were given methanol and the control group were provided saline by gavage. Retinal function of each group was assessed by electroretinogram. Concentrations of methanol and formic acid were detected by GC/HS and HPLC, respectively. Results. The a and b amplitudes of methanol treated groups decreased and latent periods delayed in scotopic and photopic ERG recordings. The summed amplitudes of oscillatory potentials (OPs) of groups B and C decreased and the elapsed time delayed. The amplitudes of OS1, OS3, OS4, and OS5 of group B and OS3, OS4, and OS5 of group C decreased compared with the control group. The IPI1 of group B and IPI1-4 of group C were broader compared with the control group and the IPI1-4 and ET of group B were broader than group C. Conclusions. Both of scotopic and photopic retinal functions were impaired by methanol poisoning, and impairment was more serious in the 7-day than in the 3-day group. OPs, especially later OPs and IPI2, were more sensitive to methanol intoxication than other eletroretinogram subcomponents

Mapping codon usage of the translation initiation region in porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus genome

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Porcine reproductive and respitatory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is a recently emerged pathogen and severely affects swine populations worldwide. The replication of PRRSV is tightly controlled by viral gene expression and the codon usage of translation initiation region within each gene could potentially regulate the translation rate. Therefore, a better understanding of the codon usage pattern of the initiation translation region would shed light on the regulation of PRRSV gene expression.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In this study, the codon usage in the translation initiation region and in the whole coding sequence was compared in PRRSV ORF1a and ORFs2-7. To investigate the potential role of codon usage in affecting the translation initiation rate, we established a codon usage model for PRRSV translation initiation region. We observed that some non-preferential codons are preferentially used in the translation initiation region in particular ORFs. Although some positions vary with codons, they intend to use codons with negative CUB. Furthermore, our model of codon usage showed that the conserved pattern of CUB is not directly consensus with the conserved sequence, but shaped under the translation selection.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The non-variation pattern with negative CUB in the PRRSV translation initiation region scanned by ribosomes is considered the rate-limiting step in the translation process.</p