Exclusive decay of Υ\Upsilon into J/ψ+χc0,1,2J/\psi+\chi_{c0,1,2}

We study the $\Upsilon$ exclusive decay into double charmonium, specifically, the $S$-wave charmonium $J/\psi$ plus the $P$-wave charmonium $\chi_{c0,1,2}$ in the NRQCD factorization framework. Three distinct decay mechanisms, i.e., the strong, electromagnetic and radiative decay channels are included and their interference effects are investigated. The decay processes $\Upsilon(1S,2S,3S)\to J/\psi+\chi_{c1,0}$ are predicted to have the branching fractions of order $10^{-6}$, which should be observed in the prospective Super $B$ factory.Comment: 22 pages, 9 figures, 3 table

Clematis chinensis Extract Protects against Diabetic Nephropathy in Rats

Purpose: To study the effect of Clematis chinensis extract (CCE) on diabetic nephropathy in rats.Methods: Eight-week old male Wistar rats were injected with streptozotocin to induce diabetes. The effects of CCE(250 or 500 mg/kg) on renal function index, fasting blood glucose (FBG), blood fat, oxidation index, and pathological kidney changes for 3 weeks were compared to those of the positive control drug, captopril.Results: At 12 weeks, CCE(500 mg/kg) treatment had significantly decreased serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN, 12.61 ± 1.42 mmol/L), serum creatinine (SCr, 84.64 ± 6.37 μmol/L), creatinine clearance (CCr, 0.88 ± 0.10 mmol/L), interleukin-6 (IL-6, 297.56 ± 19.62 pg/mL), urinary albumin, urinary albumin excretion rate (UAER, 11.68 ± 0.97 μg/min), kidney hypertrophy index (kidney weight/body weight, 0.58 ± 0.03%) and FBG (11.51 ± 0.96 mmol·L-1). It significantly decreased triglyceride (TG, 0.26 ± 0.05 mmol/L), total cholesterol (TC, 1.52 ± 0.06 mmol/L) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c, 0.71 ± 0.06 mmol/L) levels and increased high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-c, 0.65 ± 0.05 mmol/L). CCE treatment also significantly decreased malondialdehyde (MDA, 16.14 ± 1.24 nmol/mgprot) levels and increased superoxide dismutase (SOD, 95.17 ± 4.06 U/mgprot) and glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx, 154.33 ± 11.76 mmol/L) (both p < 0.05). Finally, CCE reduced the degree of glomerular basement membrane and renal tubular thickening and swelling in diabetic rats.Conclusion: CCE has a significant inhibitory effect on diabetic nephropathy-induced renal injury in rats.Keywords: Clematis chinensis, Diabetic nephropathy, Renal function, Pathological morpholog

Translational investigation and treatment of neuropathic pain

Neuropathic pain develops from a lesion or disease affecting the somatosensory system. Translational investigations of neuropathic pain by using different animal models reveal that peripheral sensitization, spinal and cortical plasticity may play critical roles in neuropathic pain. Furthermore, descending facilitatory or excitatory modulation may also act to enhance chronic pain. Current clinical therapy for neuropathic pain includes the use of pharmacological and nonpharmacological (psychological, physical, and surgical treatment) methods. However, there is substantial need to better medicine for treating neuropathic pain. Future translational researchers and clinicians will greatly facilitate the development of novel drugs for treating chronic pain including neuropathic pain

(±)-1-(1H-Benzimidazol-2-yl)ethanol

The asymmetric unit of the title mol­ecule, C9H10N2O, contains two mol­ecules. The fused benzene and imidazole rings are nearly coplanar, the largest deviations from the mean plane being 0.025 (3) Å at the non-bridgehead imidazole C atom of one mol­ecule and 0.018 (3) Å at one of the bridgehead C atoms in the other mol­ecule. Intermolecular O—H⋯N and N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds result in the formation of a sheet parallel to the (010) plane

MicroRNAs in Human Pituitary Adenomas

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of recently identified noncoding RNAs that regulate gene expression at posttranscriptional level. Due to the large number of genes regulated by miRNAs, miRNAs play important roles in many cellular processes. Emerging evidence indicates that miRNAs are dysregulated in pituitary adenomas, a class of intracranial neoplasms which account for 10–15% of diagnosed brain tumors. Deregulated miRNAs and their targets contribute to pituitary adenomas progression and are associated with cell cycle control, apoptosis, invasion, and pharmacological treatment of pituitary adenomas. To provide an overview of miRNAs dysregulation and functions of these miRNAs in pituitary adenoma progression, we summarize the deregulated miRNAs and their targets to shed more light on their potential as therapeutic targets and novel biomarkers

3-(2-Hydroxy­benzyl­ideneamino)benzonitrile

In the title mol­ecule, C14H10N2O, an intra­molecular O—H⋯N hydrogen bond contributes to the essential coplanarity of the two benzene rings, which form a dihedral angle of 6.04 (18)°

Gender differences in age-related decline in glomerular filtration rates in healthy people and chronic kidney disease patients

Background: Since men with chronic kidney disease (CKD) progress faster than women, an accurate assessment of CKD progression rates should be based on gender differences in age-related decline of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in healthy individuals. Methods: A Chinese sample population from a stratified, multistage, and clustered CKD screening study was classified into healthy, at-risk, and CKD groups. The gender differences in estimated GFR (eGFR) and age-related eGFR decline were calculated for each group after controlling for blood pressure, fasting glucose levels, serum lipids levels, education level, and smoking status. After referencing to the healthy group, gender-specific multivariate-adjusted rates of decline in eGFR and differences in the rates of decline were calculated for both CKD and at-risk groups. Results: The healthy, at-risk, and CKD groups consisted of 4569, 7434, and 1573 people, respectively. In all the 3 groups, the multivariate-adjusted eGFRs in men were lower than the corresponding eGFRs in women. In addition, in the healthy and at-risk groups, the rates of decline in eGFR in men were lower than the corresponding rates of decline in women (healthy group: 0.51 mL.min(-1).1.73 m(-2).yr(-1) vs. 0.74 mL.min(-1).1.73 m(-2).yr(-1) and at-risk group: 0.60 mL.min(-1).1.73 m(-2).yr(-1) vs. 0.73 mL.min(-1).1.73 m(-2).yr(-1)). However, in the CKD group, the rates of decline in eGFR in men were similar to those in women (0.96 mL.min(-1).1.73 m(-2).yr(-1) vs. 0.91 mL.min(-1).1.73 m(-2).yr(-1)). However, after referencing to the healthy group, the rates of decline in eGFR in men in the at-risk and CKD groups were greater faster than the corresponding rates in women (at-risk group: 0.10 mL.min(-1).1.73 m(-2).yr(-1) vs. -0.03 mL.min(-1).1.73 m(-2).yr(-1) and CKD group: 0.44 mL.min(-1).1.73 m(-2).yr(-1) vs. 0.15 mL.min(-1).1.73 m(-2).yr(-1)). Conclusion: To accurately assess gender differences in CKD progression rates, gender differences in age-related decline in GFR should be considered.Urology & NephrologySCI(E)PubMed12ARTICLE201

Detection of recurrent 4p16.3 microdeletion with 2p25.3 microduplication by multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification and array comparative genomic hybridization in a fetus from a family with Wolf–Hirschhorn syndrome

AbstractObjectiveWe present prenatal diagnosis, genetic counseling, and molecular cytogenetic features of familial recurrence of Wolf–Hirschhorn syndrome (WHS).Materials and methodsA 31-year-old woman was referred to a hospital at 24 weeks of gestation because of abnormal ultrasound findings in the fetus. Her first child was a boy who had growth retardation, mental defect, and a distinctive facial appearance. Based on the conventional cytogenetic analysis, the combined use of multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) and array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) facilitated the prenatal diagnosis and genetic counseling in the fetus.Results of the standard G-banging karyotype analysis of the fetus, the parents, and the boy were normal.ResultsThe MLPA analysis revealed the same 4p microdeletion accompanied by 2p microduplication in the fetus and the boy. The aCGH analysis revealed a 3.57-Mb 4p16.3 microdeletion or arr [hg19] 4p16.3 (71,552–3,636,893) x1 in the fetus and a 3.29-Mb 4p16.3 microdeletion or arr [hg19] 4p16.3 (71,148–3,360,737) x1 in the boy. The 3.57-Mb 4p16.3 microdeletion encompassed 39 OMIM genes. The 3.29-Mb 4p16.3 microdeletion encompassed 36 OMIM genes. They both included LETM1 and WHSC1. The 2p25.3 microduplication was smaller than 666 kb and encompassed only one OMIM gene, ACP1.ConclusionThe combined use of MLPA and aCGH is an effective way to diagnose recurrent WHS. Although WHS is typically caused by a de novo deletion, prenatal diagnosis and genetic counseling are necessary in the next pregnancy in families that have suffered such cases