Rapid room-temperature phosphorescence chiral recognition of natural amino acids.

Chiral recognition of amino acids is very important in both chemical and life sciences. Although chiral recognition with luminescence has many advantages such as being inexpensive, it is usually slow and lacks generality as the recognition module relies on structural complementarity. Here, we show that one single molecular-solid sensor, L-phenylalanine derived benzamide, can manifest the structural difference between the natural, left-handed amino acid and its right-handed counterpart via the difference of room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP) irrespective of the specific chemical structure. To realize rapid and reliable sensing, the doped samples are obtained as nanocrystals from evaporation of the tetrahydrofuran solutions, which allows for efficient triplet-triplet energy transfer to the chiral analytes generated in situ from chiral amino acids. The results show that L-analytes induce strong RTP, whereas the unnatural D-analytes produce barely any afterglow. The method expands the scope of luminescence chiral sensing by lessening the requirement for specific molecular structures.

Improved biotransformation of lignin-valorized vanillin into vanillylamine in a sustainable bioreaction medium.

Lignin is a critical biopolymer for creating a large number of highly valuable biobased compounds. Vanillin, one of lignin-derived aromatics, can be used to synthesize vanillylamine that is a key fine chemical and pharmaceutical intermediate. To produce vanillylamine, a productive whole-cell-catalyzed biotransformation of vanillin was developed in deep eutectic solvent - surfactant - H2O media. One newly created recombinant E. coli 30CA cells expressing ω-transaminase and L-alanine dehydrogenase was employed to transform 50 mM and 60 mM vanillin into vanillylamine in the yield of 82.2% and 8.5% under 40 °C, respectively. The biotransamination efficiency was enhanced by introducing surfactant PEG-2000 (40 mM) and deep eutectic solvent ChCl:LA (5.0 wt%, pH 8.0), and the highest vanillylamine yield reached 90.0% from 60 mM vanillin. Building an effective bioprocess was utilized for transamination of lignin-derived vanillin to vanillylamine with newly created bacteria in an eco-friendly medium, which had potential application for valorization of lignin to value-added compounds.

Clinical Significance of NKD Inhibitor of WNT Signaling Pathway 1 (NKD1) in Glioblastoma.

Introduction: As the most malignant type of gliomas, glioblastoma is characterized with disappointing prognosis. Here, we aimed to investigate expression and function of NKD inhibitor of Wnt signaling pathway 1 (NKD1), an antagonist of Wnt-beta-catenin signaling pathways, in glioblastoma. Methods: The mRNA level of NKD1 was firstly retrieved from TCGA glioma dataset to evaluate its correlation with clinical characteristics and its value in prognosis prediction. Then, its protein expression level in glioblastoma was tested by immunohistochemistry staining in a retrospectively cohort collected from our medical center (n = 66). Univariate and multivariate survival analyses were conducted to assess its effect on glioma prognosis. Two glioblastoma cell lines, U87 and U251, were used to further investigate the tumor-related role of NKD1 through overexpression strategy in combination with cell proliferation assays. Immune cell enrichment in glioblastoma and its correlation with NKD1 level was finally assessed using bioinformatics analyses. Results: NKD1 shows a lower expression level in glioblastoma compared to that in the normal brain or other glioma subtypes, which is independently correlated to a worse prognosis in both the TCGA cohort and our retrospective cohort. Overexpressing NKD1 in glioblastoma cell lines can significantly attenuate cell proliferation. In addition, expression of NKD1 in glioblastoma is negatively correlated to the T cell infiltration, indicating it may have crosstalk with the tumor immune microenvironment. Conclusions: NKD1 inhibits glioblastoma progression and its downregulated expression indicates a poor prognosis.

Pure ICL Implantation: A Novel Ophthalmic Viscosurgical Device-Free Method.

PURPOSE: To assess the clinical efficiency of a novel ophthalmic viscosurgical device-free (OVD-free) method for intraocular collamer lens (EVO-ICL) implantation in myopic eyes. METHODS: In this study, 40 patients underwent ICL implantation for both eyes: one eye underwent traditional ICL implantation, and the other eye underwent OVD-free (pure) ICL implantation. Preoperative and postoperative UDVA, BCVA, equivalent spherical degree (SE), IOP, visual quality index, subjective visual quality scale, corneal endothelial cell density (ECD), operation time, and complications were compared between and within the traditional and pure ICL implantation groups. RESULTS: Increased IOP >22 mmHg 2 h after surgery was noted in 8 eyes (20%) in the traditional group, but not in the pure group (0%, P < 0.001). Increased IOP relative to baseline was significantly higher at 2 h after surgery for the traditional group compared with the pure group (P < 0.001). UDVA, BCVA, and SE were significantly improved in the pure group compared with those in the traditional group 1 day (P < 0.001, P=0.003) after implantation, but not 1 week or 3 months after. Modulation transfer function cut-off frequency (MTF cut-off), Strehl ratio (SR), and OV20% were significantly better in the pure group than in the traditional group 1 day after implantation (P=0.013, P=0.009, and P=0.004). No significant difference in ECD changes within or between groups was observed (P > 0.05). The operation time for the pure group (2.897 ± 0.346 min) was significantly shorter than that for the traditional group (4.444 ± 0.656 min; P < 0.001). No complications were reported for either group during the observation period, except early IOP elevation in the traditional group. CONCLUSIONS: The pure ICL implantation method was associated with faster visual acuity recovery, shorter operation time, and more stable intraocular pressure. Pure ICL represents a safe and convenient method for ICL implantation compared with the traditional method, completely eliminating OVD-related complications without causing additional complications.

ALDH2 improved irbesartan treatment efficacy among rats with hypertension.

Hypertension is a common cardiovascular disease in clinical scenario. The level of leptin changes with the development of hypertension and is regulated by Aldehyde dehydrogenase2 (ALDH2). Our study explored the relationship between irbesartan treatment and ALDH2. Spontaneously hypertensive rats were treated with irbesartan solution and ALDH2 over expression adenovirus vector for experimental group, and the equivalent amount of spontaneously hypertensive rats was treated with irbesartan solution and null adenovirus vector for control group. Sham group included spontaneously hypertensive rats treated with saline solution and null adenovirus vector. Pathological change of cardiac muscle tissue was observed with microscope. N-terminal Pro-brain natriuretic peptide, blood pressure, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular fractional shortening (LVFS) and renal function were assessed to determine cardiovascular function. Expression of serum leptin and mRNA of leptin were examined, respectively. ALDH2 was confirmed by western blot examination. Statistical Analysis was performed to determine correlation. Compared with sham group, ALDH2 were decreased significantly in control group. Remarkable pathological changes of cardiovascular and renal injury were observed in control group rats, including increased NT-proBNP, renal interstitial fibrosis and aberrant hypertension. Compared with control group, experimental group had lower levels of blood pressure and NT-proBNP, but higher level of Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR). Moreover, irbesartan -treated rats had significantly higher levels of leptin, suggesting irbesartan treatment ameliorated symptoms of hypertension. Expression of serum leptin had a negative correlation with mRNA of leptin (P<0.05). Moreover, compared with control group, ALDH2 over expression significantly improved irbesartan treatment, verified by hypertension related index. Decreased ALDH2 expression were correlated with progression of hypertension. Rats with Hypertension indeed benefited from irbesartan treatment. ALDH2 elevated the drug susceptibility of irbesartan treatment for hypertension via regulating serum leptin, and improved efficacy of irbesartan treatment on hypertension.

Administration time-dependent effects of combination therapy on ambulatory blood pressure in hypertensive subjects.

The aim of this study was to explore the influence of combination therapy in different administration time on antihypertensive efficacy and blood pressure variability in patients with essential hypertension. A total of 86 patients with stage II to III essential hypertension were randomly divided into 4 groups: taking indapamide and losartan potassium together in the morning or in the evening 2 to 4 hours before sleep, indapamide in the morning and losartan potassium in the evening, losartan potassium in the morning and indapamide in the evening. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring was performed before and 12 weeks after the medication. The result showed that statistically significant reductions from baseline of systolic blood pressure/diastolic blood pressure occurred in all treatment groups. There was no significant difference of the reductions or SI among the four groups, neither the rate of decline of BP in the night or the circadian rhythm. In group B, the numbers of rapid rise in BP in the morning hours were significantly less after the medication, while not in the other groups. It is concluded that independent of the administration time, both once-daily treatment and component-based dual therapy had significant antihypertensive effect, but the night taken-together combination resulted in reductions of BP, SI and morning blood pressure peak that may have advantages over the other combinations, without the increased incidence of hypotension at night. Medicines should be taken 2 to 4 hours before sleep.

Effects of mitogen-activated protein kinase signal pathway on heat shock protein 27 expression in human lens epithelial cells exposed to sodium salicylate in vitro.

The roles of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signal pathway in sodium salicylate-induced expression of heat shock protein 27 (HSP27) in human lens epithelial cells (HLECs-B3) in vitro were investigated. HLECs-B3 were incubated in the fresh media containing sodium salicylate at different concentrations for different durations, and allowed to be recovered in fresh medium without sodium salicylate for different durations with or without pretreatment with p38MAPK inhibitor (SB203580), ERK1/2 inhibitor (PD98059) and JNK/SAPK inhibitor (SP600125). The expression of P38MAPK, ERK1/2, JNK/SAPK, phosphorylated P38MAPK, phosphorylated ERK1/2, phosphorylated JNK/SAPK and HSP27 was detected by Western blot. The expression of HSP27 mRNA and protein was detected by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry respectively. It was found there was only weak expression of HSP27 in normal HLECs. The expression of HSP27 was not detectable in HLECs-B3 that were exposed to sodium salicylate (55 mmol/L) for 1-5 h. It was indicated that recovery from sodium salicylate (>35 mmol/L) significantly increased the synthesis of HSP27. The expression of HSP27 was up-regulated in HLECs-B3 under sodium salicylate recovery for 3 h, reached the peak level for 6 h, and returned to the level of control cells by 24 h. Activation of P38MAPK from sodium salicylate stimulation occurred at 30th min, and increased significantly at 1st h, then declined and returned to baseline level at 3rd h under sodium salicylate recovery. Activation of ERK1/2 occurred at 1st h and reached the peak level at 6th h under sodium salicylate recovery. However, JNK/SAPK was inactivated by sodium salicylate. The expression of HSP27 could be down-regulated with the pretreatment of SB203580 and PD98059 jointly. It is concluded that sodium salicylate can induce the expression of HSP27 in HLECs-B3. The effects are mediated, at least in part, through the activation of P38MAPK and ERK1/2 signaling pathway.

Effects of Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase Signal Pathway on Heat Shock Protein 27 Expression in Human Lens Epithelial Cells Exposed to Sodium Salicylate in vitro / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

d that sodium salicylate can induce the expression of HSP27 in HLECs-B3. The effects are mediated, at least in part, through the activation of P38MAPK and ERK1/2 signaling pathway.

Inhibitory effects of NO-fluvastatin on proliferation of human lens epithelial cells in vitro by modulating cell cycle regulatory proteins.

The effects of NO-Fluvastatin on proliferation of human lens epithelial cells (HLECs) and the action mechanism were investigated. Cell proliferation was assessed by MTT assay. Cell cycle was analyzed by flow cytometry. The expression of cell cycle regulatory proteins CyclinE mRNA and P21(waf1) mRNA was detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). MTT staining colorimetry showed that HLECs proliferation was markedly inhibited by NO-Fluvastatin and the effect was dependently related to time (24, 48 and 72 h) and dosage (1, 5 and 20 mumol/L). Flow cytometry revealed that NO-Fluvastatin could significantly block HLECs in the G(0)/G(1) phase, resulting in the increased cells in the G(0)/G(1) phase and decreased in the S phase (P<0.05). RT-PCR showed that NO-Fluvastatin could obviously inhibit the CyclinE mRNA expression and induce the P21(waf1) mRNA expression as compared with the negative control groups (P<0.05). This experiment suggested that NO-Fluvastatin could suppress the proliferation of HLECs by regulating cell cycle regulatory proteins (inhibiting the expression of CyclinE mRNA and inducing the expression of P21(waf1) mRNA), resulting in the arrest of HLECs in the G(0)/G(1) phase, which can offer theory basis for NO-Fluvastatin in treating posterior capsular opacification in clinic practice.

Inhibitory Effects of NO-Fluvastatin on Proliferation of Human Lens Epithelial Cells in vitro by Modulating Cell Cycle Regulatory Proteins / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

Summary: The effects of NO-Fluvastatin on proliferation of human lens epithelial cells (HLECs) and the action mechanism were investigated. Cell proliferation was assessed by MTT assay. Cell cycle was analyzed by flow cytometry. The expression of cell cycle regulatory proteins CyclinE mRNA and P21wafl mRNA was detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). MTT staining colorimetry showed that HLECs proliferation was markedly inhibited by NO-Fluvastatin and the effect was dependently related to time (24, 48 and 72 h) and dosage (1, 5 and 20 μmol/L). Flow cytometry revealed that NO-Fluvastatin could significantly block HLECs in the G0/G1 phase, resulting in the increased cells in the G0G1 phase and decreased in the S phase (P<0.05). RT-PCR showed that NO-Fluvastatin could obviously inhibit the CyclinE mRNA expression and induce the P21wafl mRNA expression as compared with the negative control groups (P<0.05). This experiment suggested that NO-Fluvastatin could suppress the proliferation of HLECs by regulating cell cycle regulatory proteins (inhibiting the expression of CyclinE mRNA and inducing the expression of P21wafl mRNA), resulting in the arrest of HLECs in the G0/G1 phase, which can offer theory basis for NO-Fluvastatin in treating posterior capsular opacification in clinic practice.

[Effect of pH on the biosorption behavior of 4-CP onto anaerobic granular sludge].

The effect of the initial pH value on the biosorption behavior of 4-CP onto anaerobic granular sludge was investigated in this paper. The experimental results indicated that the initial pH value was the important parameter affecting the biosorption of 4-CP, and the biosorption capacity of anaerobic granular sludge decreased with the increase of pH value. The biosorption capacity of 4-CP was 6.675 mg/g at pH 2.25, while it was only 0.260 mg/g at pH 10.27. The equilibrium isotherm of 4-CP biosorption by anaerobic granular sludge was investigated at different pH values, and the results showed that the biosorption behavior of 4-CP could be described by the Langmuir model quite well. The coefficients of the Langmuir and the Freundlich equations of 4-CP biosorption by anaerobic granular sludge at different pH values were given.

Effects of pH and temperature on isotherm parameters of chlorophenols biosorption to anaerobic granular sludge.

As the most important parameters affecting the biosorption, pH and temperature were studied in this paper in order to more completely understand their effects on chlorophenols' biosorption onto anaerobic granular sludge. Sorption isotherms of 4-chlorophenol (4-CP) and 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) at various temperatures were determined; the data of 4-CP could be simulated by Langmuir model, while the data of 2,4-DCP could only be reproduced by Freudlich equation. The uptake capacity of 4-CP and 2,4-DCP could reach 1.5mgg(-1) and 5.04mgg(-1) when 2,4-DCP concentration was 90mgL(-1) and 4-CP concentration was 107mgL(-1), respectively. 2,4-DCP was more strongly adsorbed onto the anaerobic granular sludge than 4-CP, which might be correlated with the numbers of chlorine substitute. The Experiments studying pH effects showed that the adsorption capacity of 4-CP and 2,4-DCP was quite pH dependent and increased with decrease in pH.

[Kinetics and equilibrium of Ni2+ biosorption by waste biomass of Saccharomyces cerevisia].

The biosorption characteristics of Ni2+ by the waste biomass of Saccharomyces cerevisia were investigated, including the biosorption kinetics as well as equilibrium isotherm study. The experimental results showed that when the initial Ni2+ concentration was 65.6 mg/L, the process of Ni2+ biosorption onto the biomass of Saccharomyces cerevisia could be divided into two stages, the first stage was physical sorption and reached equilibrium very quickly (within 10 minutes). The biosorption kinetics could be described by the pseudo second-order equation quite well (R2 = 0.999), and the kinetic parameters k2 and qe were 0.0184 g/(mg x min) and 5.96 mg/g, respectively. The equilibrium isotherm could be fitted by the Langmuir and Freundlich models, with the maximum biosorption capacity of 6.32 mg/g. The removal of Ni2+ from wastewater by biosorption is feasible.