Tetra­kis(ethyl pyridine-4-carboxyl­ate-κN)bis­(thio­cyanato-κN)cobalt(II)

In the title complex, [Co(NCS)2(C8H9NO2)4], the CoII atom is six-coordinated by four N atoms from four ethyl pyridine-4-carboxyl­ate ligands in the equatorial plane and two N atoms of thio­cyanate ligands in the axial positions, showing a slightly distorted octa­hedral geometry. The structure exhibits disorder in one of the ethyl chains, which was refined using a two-site model with 0.70 (6):0.30 (6) occupancy

Tyrosine phosphorylation of HPK1 by activated Src promotes ischemic brain injury in rat hippocampal CA1 region

AbstractHematopoietic progenitor kinase 1 (HPK1) is a hematopoietic cell-restricted member of the Ste20 serine/threonine kinase super family. We recently reported that HPK1 is involved in c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling pathway by sequential activation of MLK3–MKK7–JNK3 after cerebral ischemia. Here, we used 4-amino-5-(4-chlorophenyl)-7-(t-butyl) pyrazolo [3,4-d] pyrimidine (PP2) and MK801 to investigate the events upstream of HPK1 in ischemic brain injury. Immunoprecipitation and immunoblot results showed that PP2 and MK801 significantly decreased the activation of Src, HPK1, MLK3, JNK3 and c-Jun, respectively, during ischemia/reperfusion. Histology and TUNEL staining showed PP2 or MK801 protects against neuron death after brain ischemia. We speculate that this unique signaling pathway through the tyrosine phosphorylation of HPK1 promotes ischemic brain injury by activated Src via N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor and, ultimately, the activation of the MLK3–MKK7–JNK3 pathway after cerebral ischemia

A protocol specialized for microbial DNA extraction from living poplar wood

Microbial DNA extraction is a critical step in metagenomic research. High contents of chemical substances in wood tissues always cause low microbial DNA yield and quality. Up to date, almost no specialized methods involved in microbial DNA extraction from living wood were reported. In this study, an improved protocol (M1) concerning microbial DNA extraction from living poplar wood was developed. We compared microbial DNA yield and quality by M1 with those by other seven methods, including PowerSoil DNA isolation kit (M2), two soil microbial DNA extraction methods (M3 and M4), poplar genomic DNA extraction method from wood (M5), and microbial DNA extraction method from herb stems (M6), isolating bacteria (M7) and isolating fungus (M8). Results showed that M1 yielded much better quality and concentration of microbial DNA than the other methods (M2-M8) from both poplar wetwood and sapwood tissues. Following M1 protocol, 1 g of wetwood sample could yield 272.27 ng/ul (vol=50 ul) pure microbial DNA with the absorption ratios of 1.87 (A260/A230) and 1.66 (A260/A280). For 1 g of sapwood sample, these values were 361.83 ng/ul, 1.85 and 2.24, respectively. These DNA could be stably visualized by agarose gel electrophoresis and amplified by primer sets of bacteria (16S V3-V4, 16S-V4, 16S V4-V5) and fungus (ITS1, ITS2). While, the other seven methods only obtained less or contaminated microbial DNA, which could not be amplified stably by aforementioned primer sets. Our protocol provided an approach for microbial community study in living poplar wood in a more accurate way by molecular biology techniques

苦碟子联合低分子肝素钙治疗急性脑梗死疗效观察

Objective:  to evaluate combinative effect of Kudiezi Injection and low molecular weight heparin calcium in the treatment of acute cerebral infarction. Methods:  72 cases of acute cerebral infarction were randomly divided into two groups, the treatment group of 36 cases were treated with the combination of Kudiezi Injection and low molecular heparin calcium; the other 36 cases in the control group were treated with the combination of Xuesaitong injection and low molecular weight heparin calcium. The degree of neurological deficit score and clinical outcome were respectively evaluated before and after treatment. Results:  There are significant differences between the treatment group and the control group in results efficiency. Conclusion:  It can improve the curative effect and the prognosis of the patients in the acute stage of cerebral infarction in the combinative treatment of Kudiezi Injection and low molecular weight heparin.目的 评价苦碟子注射液联合低分子肝素钙治疗急性脑梗死的临床效果及护理方法。方法 将72例急性脑梗死患者随机分为两组，治疗组36例用苦碟子联合低分子肝素钙治疗；对照组36例用血塞通注射液联合低分子肝素钙治疗。治疗前后分别进行神经功能缺损程度评分以及临床疗效评定[5]。结果 治疗组显效率与对照组比较差异有非常显著性(P=0.009)。结论 对急性期脑梗死患者在常规治疗基础上加用苦碟子及低分子肝素钙可显著提高疗效，改善患者预后。

Tetra­aqua­bis­(2-methyl-1H-benzimidazolium-1,3-diacetato-κO)cobalt(II) tetra­hydrate

In the title compound, [Co(C12H11N2O4)2(H2O)4]·4H2O, the CoII atom lies on an inversion center and is octa­hedrally coordinated by six O atoms from four water mol­ecules and two monodentate zwitterionic 2-methyl­benzimidazolium-1,3-diacetate ligands. An intra­molecular O—H⋯O hydrogen bond occurs. In the crystal, inter­molecular O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds link the mol­ecules into a three-dimensional network. π–π inter­actions between the imidazole and benzene rings [centroid–centroid distance = 3.9031 (17) Å] consolidate the crystal packing

Comparison of corneal flap thickness using a FS200 femtosecond laser and a moria SBK microkeratome

<b>AIM:</b> To evaluate differences in flap thickness resulting from use of an Alcon Wavelight FS200 femtosecond laser and a MORIA SBK microkeratome when making a 110-μm-thick corneal flap and to identify the potential factors that affect corneal flap thickness.<b>METHODS:</b> A prospective case study was performed on 120 eyes of 60 patients who were divided into two groups for LASIK, each group consisting of 60 eyes (30 patients). The corneal flaps were created using an Alcon Wavelight FS200 femtosecond laser or a MORIA SBK microkeratome. The central corneal flap thickness was calculated by subtraction pachymetry. Age, central corneal thickness (CCT), spherical equivalent refraction, mean keratometry, and corneal diameter were recorded preoperatively for analysis.<b>RESULTS:</b> Cutting of all flaps was easily performed without intraoperative complications. In the Alcon Wavelight FS200 femtosecond lasergroup, the mean right and left corneal flap thicknesses were 114.0±6.6 μm (range:98-126) and 111.4±7.6 μm (range:98-122), respectively. The difference (2.6±9.1 μm) in the corneal flap thickness between the right and left eyes was not significant (<i>t</i>=1.59, <i>P</i>=0.12). Stepwise regression analysis indicated that the resulting corneal flap thickness was unrelated to the patient’s age, preoperative CCT, spherical equivalent refraction, mean keratometry, or corneal diameter. In the MORIA SBK microkeratome group, the mean right and left corneal flap thicknesses were 110.6±7.4 μm (range:97-125 μm) and 108.2±6.1 μm (range:78-123 μm), respectively. The difference in the corneal flap thickness between the right and left eyes (2.4±6.5μm) was not significant (<i>t</i>=2.039, <i>P</i>=0.0506). The corneal flap thickness was positively correlated with the preoperative CCT through stepwise regression analysis (<i>r</i>=0.297,<i> P</i>=0.021). The corneal flap thickness was not related to age, spherical equivalent refraction, mean keratometry, or corneal diameter. The corneal flap thickness was estimated using the following equation:Tflap=67.77+0.076 CCT (<i>F</i>=5.63, <i>P</i>=0.021).<b>CONCLUSION:</b>Both the Alcon Wavelight FS200 femtosecond laser and the MORIA SBK microkeratome produced 110-μm-thick corneal flaps. The central corneal flap thickness was positively correlated with the preoperative CCT in MORIA SBK microkeratome surgery

PACAP neuropeptide promotes Hepatocellular Protection via CREB-KLF4 dependent autophagy in mouse liver Ischemia Reperfusion Injury.

Organ ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI), associated with acute hepatocyte death, remains an unresolved problem in clinical orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). Autophagy, an intracellular self-digesting progress, is responsible for cell reprograming required to regain post-stress homeostasis. Methods: Here, we analyzed the cytoprotective mechanism of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP)-promoted hepatocellular autophagy in a clinically relevant mouse model of extended hepatic cold storage (4 °C UW solution for 20 h) followed by syngeneic OLT. Results: In contrast to 41.7% of liver graft failure by day 7 post-transplant in control group, PACAP treatment significantly improved graft survival (91.7% by day 14), and promoted autophagy-associated regeneration programs in OLT. In parallel in vitro studies, PACAP-enhanced autophagy ameliorated cellular damage (LDH/ALT levels), and diminished necrosis in H2O2-stressed primary hepatocytes. Interestingly, PACAP not only induced nuclear cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB), but also triggered reprogramming factor Kruppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) expression in IR-stressed OLT. Indeed, CREB inhibition attenuated hepatic autophagy and recreated hepatocellular injury in otherwise PACAP-protected livers. Furthermore, CREB inhibition suppressed PACAP-induced KLF4 expression, whereas KLF4 blockade abolished PACAP-promoted autophagy and neutralized PACAP-mediated hepatoprotection both in vivo and in vitro. Conclusion: Current study documents the essential neural regulation of PACAP-promoted autophagy in hepatocellular homeostasis in OLT, which provides the emerging therapeutic principle to combat hepatic IRI in OLT