In vitro cultivation of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and establishment of pEGFP/Ang-1 transfection method

ABSTRACTObjectiveTo obtain the bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs), complete phenotypic identification and successfully transfect rat BMSCs by recombinant plasmid pEGFP/Ang-1.MethodsBMSCs were isolated from bone marrow using density gradient centrifugation method and adherence screening method, and purified. Then the recombinant plasmid pEGFP/Ang-1 was used to transfect BMSCs and the positive clones were obtained by the screen of G418 and observed under light microscopy inversely. Green fluorescent exhibited by protein was enhanced to measure the change time of the expression amount of Ang-1.ResultsBMSCs cell lines were obtained successfully by adherence screening method and density gradient centrifugation. Ang-1 recombinant plasmid was transfected smoothly into rat BMSCs, which can express Ang-1 for 3 d and decreased after 7 d.ConclusionsAdherence screening method and density gradient centrifugation can be effective methods to obtain BMSCs with high purity and rapid proliferation. Besides, the expression of transfected recombinant plasmid pEGFP/Ang-1 in rat BMSCs is satisfactory

Bis{2-[6-(1H-benzimidazol-2-yl-κN 3)-2-pyridyl-κN]benzimidazolato-κN}manganese(II)

In the title compound, [Mn(C19H12N5)2], each MnII atom lies on a position of site symmetry 222 and has a distorted octa­hedral coordination geometry made up from six N atoms of two tridentate 2-[6-(1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)-2-pyrid­yl]benz­imidazolate ligands. The complex mol­ecules are linked into layers parallel to (001) by N—H⋯N hydrogen bonds, with the H atoms disordered over four symmetry-equivalent non-coordinated N atoms

LOPINGIAN (LATE PERMIAN) BRACHIOPOD FAUNAS FROM THE QUBUERGA FORMATION AT TULONG AND KUJIANLA IN THE MT. EVEREST AREA OF SOUTHERN TIBET, CHINA

Permian strata containing abundant brachiopods are well developed in the Himalaya Tethys Zone. However, relatively few has been systematically described due to the difficult working condition for collecting. In this paper, we describe the brachiopods from the Qubuerga Formation at the Tulong and Kujianla sections in southern Tibet. The brachiopod faunas consist of 15 species belonging to 11 genera. Among the identified 15 species, Retimarginfera xizangensis, Costiferina indica, Fusispirifer semiplicatus, Spiriferella sinica, Biplatyconcha grandis and Neospirifer (Quadrospina) tibetensis are very common in the equivalents of the Himalaya Tethys Zone including the Selong Group at the Selong Xishan and Qubu sections in southern Tibet, the Senja Formation in northwest Nepal, the Zewan Formation in Kashmir, and the upper part of the Wargal Formation and the Chhidru Formation in the Salt Range, Pakistan. They are all comparable and can be assigned to the Wuchiapingian- early Changhsingian. Since the brachiopods from the Qubuerga Formation at Tulong and Kujianla are all composed of typical Gondwanan, bipolar or cosmopolitan elements, it is conclusive that the Himalaya Tethys Zone in the northern margin of the Indian Plate was still situated at southern high-latitudes under cold palaeoclimatic conditions during most of the Lopingian. The faunal succession at Tulong also recorded a rapid warming at the very end of the Changhsingian in view of the fact that the typical cold-water Lopingian brachiopod, gastropod and bivalve faunas were dramatically replaced by extremely abundant conodonts Clarkina in the basal part of the dolostone unit of the Tulong Formation. This end-Changhsingian warming is comparable with that recorded throughout the Permian-Triassic boundary interval at Selong, Qubu in southern Tibet, the Salt Range, Pakistan and the sections in Kashmir as well as South China

miR-650 Promotes the Metastasis and Epithelial–Mesenchymal Transition of Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Directly Inhibiting LATS2 Expression

Background/Aims: Previous studies have confirmed that microRNAs are involved in the metastasis and epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) of malignancies. In this study, we examined whether miR-650 promotes the migration, invasion, and EMT of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells by targeting the large tumor suppressor kinase 2 gene (LATS2). Methods: qRT-PCR was used to detect expression of miR-650 in HCC tissues and paired normal tissues. MTT and Transwell assay were used to observe the effect of miR-650 on proliferation, migration and invasion of HCC cells. Western blot assay and Immunohistochemistry were performed to demonstrate association between miR-650 expression level and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) related protein. Mechanistically, Reporter luciferase assay was performed to reveal whether large tumor suppressor kinase 2 (LATS2) was a direct target of miR-650 in HCC cells. Results: We observed that miR-650 levels were largely up-regulated in HCC tissues, and that the increased expression was closely associated with the adverse clinical features of HCC patients. Additionally, the expression of LATS2, which was identified as a direct target of miR-650, can counteract the effects of miR-650 in HCC. Furthermore, we demonstrated that high miR-650 expression levels and low LATS2 expression levels in tumors may indicate a poor prognosis for HCC patients. Conclusion: In conclusion, the miR-650/LATS2 pathway may serve as a novel prognostic biomarker and an attractive therapeutic target for HCC patients

Feasibility of Direct Utilization of Biomass Gasification Product Gas Fuels in Tubular Solid Oxide Fuel Cells for On-Site Electricity Generation

Biomass is one of the most abundant and cheap renewable energy sources, and gasification product gases from the pyrolysis process of biomass, such as mallee wood and wheat straw, contain typically 20-27% H2 and a small amount of CO and CH4 (8-13%). Here, preliminary results on the performance of Ni/Y2O3-ZrO2 cermet anode-supported tubular solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) for the electricity generation from gasification product gases are presented. Two product gases derived from mallee wood and wheat straw are used as the fuels. The tubular SOFCs deliver a maximum power density over 576 mW cm-2 at 800 °C, close to the power density based on the equivalent amount of pure H2 or CH4 fuel. The power density is affected by the flow rate of product gas, but there are no significant differences of power output among the product gas sources used. However, the cell performance decreases gradually, and the degradation in the electricity generation performance of the tubular SOFC is most likely due to the presence of impurities, such as sulfur- and chlorine-containing compounds in the biomass feedstock. The results demonstrate the feasibility of the gasification product gas-fueled SOFCs for the on-site electricity generation, and the deterioration effect of impurities could be mitigated by cleaning the product gases or developing the contaminant-tolerant electrodes

Neonatal hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with dyspnoea as the first symptom: a case report

Neonatal hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is an idiopathic disease characterised by myocardial hypertrophy with normal or small ventricular chambers, a systolic hyperdynamic state and diastolic dysfunction. The etiology, pathogenesis and clinical manifestations of HCM are diverse, and it is likely to progress to sudden cardiac death. The highly heterogeneous nature of this disease determines the difficulty of its diagnosis, and it is especially rare to report that can be diagnosed conclusively in the neonatal period. However, when it does occur, the younger the age of onset is, the higher the mortality rate and the worse the prognosis. The genetic variants and diagnostic timing can affect the life course of the patient. This case report describes a neonate with a family history of HCM who was diagnosed with hypertrophic non-obstructive cardiomyopathy by echocardiography shortly after birth. At 4 years of age, the patient presented with slow weight gain, feeding difficulties, tachypnoea and diaphoresis, and cardiac ultrasound findings suggesting progression to severe hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy, with a high likelihood of arrhythmias, heart failure, pulmonary hypertension, syncope and even sudden death. Neonatal congenital hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is extremely rare and difficult to diagnose before the onset of symptoms. Echocardiography has a definite diagnostic value in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and helps in early detection and treatment. At the time of clinical diagnosis, children with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy should be asked about their family history and, if necessary, a survey of family members should be conducted for the early detection of mildly ill patients and gene carriers to enable timely intervention and treatment, which remains the focus of our research and efforts