Cr(VI) is a widespread groundwater contaminant that is a potent toxin, mutagen, and carcinogen. In situ reductive immobilization is a favored approach for Cr(VI) bioremediation, and Cr(VI) reduction has been reported in a variety of aerobic, facultative, and anaerobic bacteria, including a number of pseudomonads. However, studies comparing Cr(VI) reduction under aerobic and denitrifying conditions in the same organism are not available. We have conducted studies with strain RCH2, a bacterium similar to Pseudomonas stutzeri that we isolated from a Cr-contaminated aquifer. Cell suspension studies with lactate demonstrated that Cr(VI) reduction could occur under either denitrifying or aerobic conditions (at comparable specific rates) and that reduction was at least 20-fold more rapid when the terminal electron acceptor (i.e., nitrate or O(2)) was present. Our results suggest that Cr(VI) reduction by strain RCH2 under either aerobic or denitrifying conditions is primarily cometabolic in the sense that the physiological electron acceptor (oxygen or nitrate) appears to be required. Under both aerobic and denitrifying conditions, the gene(s) associated with chromate reduction are not inducible by Cr. Continuous culture (chemostat) studies showed strong correlations (r(2) values >0.93) between nitrate reduction rate and the transcript copy number of either nirS (cytochrome cd(1) nitrite reductase) or narG (nitrate reductase alpha subunit). As our studies indicate that anaerobic Cr(VI) reduction by this pseudomonad requires active denitrification and that denitrification and chromate reduction rates are highly correlated (r(2) > 0.99), monitoring expression of such denitrification genes in biostimulated aquifers could provide valuable proxy information for in situ chromate reduction by similar bacteria even if the specific genes involved in chromate reduction have not been identified. We also report incomplete removal of reduced Cr from solution and on artifacts in the widely used diphenylcarbazide assay for Cr(VI), most notably, its complete inactivation in the presence of millimolar nitrite.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the malignant tumors with poor chemo-sensitivity to vincristine sulfate (VCR) due to multi-drug resistance (MDR). Combinations of encapsulated VCR and verapamil hydrochloride (VRP, a chemo-sensitizer) might be a potential strategy to improve HCC therapeutic efficacy of VCR. PLGA nanoparticles (PLGANPs) simultaneously loaded with VCR and VRP (CVn) were prepared. The entrapment efficiencies of VCR and VRP were 70.92 +/- 3.78% and 85.78 +/- 3.23%, respectively (n = 3). The HCC therapeutic activity of CVn was assessed using MTT assay. In BEL7402 and BEL7402/5-FU human hepatocarcinoma cell lines, CVn had the same antitumor effect as one free drug/another agent-loaded PLGANPs (C + Vn or Cn + V) combination and coadministration of two single-agent-loaded PLGANPs (Cn + Vn), which was slightly higher than that of the free VCR/VRP combination (C - V). CVn might cause lower normal tissue drug toxicity by the enhanced permeation and retention effect in vivo. Additionally, CVn might cause fewer drug-drug interaction and be the most potential formulation to simultaneously deliver VCR and VRP to the target cell in vivo than the other three nanoparticle formulations (C + Vn, Cn + V, and Cn + Vn). Therefore, we speculate that CVn might be the most effective preparation in the treatment of drug-resistant human HCC in vivo. (c) 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci.

Caspase-12 has been shown to negatively modulate inflammasome signaling during bacterial infection. Its function in viral immunity, however, has not been characterized. We now report an important role for caspase-12 in controlling viral infection via the pattern-recognition receptor RIG-I. After challenge with West Nile virus (WNV), caspase-12-deficient mice had greater mortality, higher viral burden and defective type I interferon response compared with those of challenged wild-type mice. In vitro studies of primary neurons and mouse embryonic fibroblasts showed that caspase-12 positively modulated the production of type I interferon by regulating E3 ubiquitin ligase TRIM25-mediated ubiquitination of RIG-I, a critical signaling event for the type I interferon response to WNV and other important viral pathogens.

Objective To explore the role of phosphorylation of cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) in the incision-induced pain hypersensitivity. Methods A longitudinal incision was made in one plantar hind paw of isoflurane-anesthetized rats. Spinal cords were removed at various postoperative time after behavior test. Phosphorylation of CREB was determined by immunohistochemistry and double-labeling immunofluorescence. Morphine and gabapentin were intraperitoneally injected before the behavior test and were used to determine the interaction between phosphorylation of CREB and morphine and gabapentin. Results After the hind-paw incision, phosphorylation of CREB was enhanced in the ipsilateral lumbar spinal cord(P<0.05). The enhancement of p-CREB was mainly in the neurons in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. All these were shown by double-labeling technique and p-CREB was mainly in the neurons. Intraperitoneal injection of morphine prevented the increased phosphorylation of CREB in the spinal cord and inhibited the mechanical allodynia induced by the incision(P>0.05). Gabapentin didn't inhibit the phosphorylation of CREB(P<0.05) but partly inhibited the mechanical allodynia. Conclusion Incision induces the phosphorylation of CREB in the spinal cord, and the increase of p-CREB is mainly in the neurons. Phosphorylation of CREB in the spinal cord contributes to the pain hypersensitivity induced by surgical incision.

Objective To detect the 278 bp region of gene of the cytochrome oxidase subunitI (COI) in mitochondral DNA (mtDNA) of sarcosaphagous flies, identify the species of sarcosaphagous flies, and provide reference for forensic application.Methods Samples were collected in Baotou and Chifeng of Inner Mongolia, Tianjin, Nanning, Fuzhou, Linyi of Shandong, Shijiazhuang, Yinchuan, Lanzhou, Huairou of Beijing, Xinxiang and Nanyang of Henan, Datong of Shanxi, Wuhu of Anhui, Quzhou of Zhejiang, Changsha, Zhuzhou and Yongzhou of Hunan. A total of 38 flies were randomly collected from rabbits, dogs and pigs which were set outdoors, then the flies' mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) were extracted by the improved small insects DNA homogenate method. Amplification was conducted by Perkin-Elmer 9600 thermal cycler, then vertical non-denaturing 7% polyacrylamide gelectrophoresis. PCR products were purified using the nucleic acid purification kit. Sequences of both strands were obtained by direct sequence of the double-stranded PCR product using one of the PCR primers and the ABI PRISM big dye terminator cycle sequencing dit. Sequence reactions were electrophorsed on ABI Model 3730 DNA Sequencers. A UPGMA tree was contrasted using the maximum composite likelihood method in MEGA4.Results The 38 sarcosaphagous flies belonged to 3 families(Muscidae, Calliphoridae, and Sarcophagidae), 10 genuses(Musca Linnaeus, Hydrotaea Robineau-Desvoidy, Aldrichina Townsend, Hemipyrellia Townsend, Achoetandrus Bezzi, Protophormia Townsend, Chrysomya Robineau-Desvoidy, Lucilia Robineau-Desvoidy, Helicophagella Enderlein, and Boettcherisca Rohdendorf), and 12 species [Musca domestica (Linnaeus), Hydrotaea(Ophyra)capensis (Wiedemann), Lucilia caesar (Linnaeus), Lucilia illustris (Meigen), Aldrichina graham (Aldrich), Hemipyrellia ligurriens, Achoetandrus (Chrysomya) rufifacies(Macquary), Protophormia terraenovae(Robineau-Desvoidy), Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius), Lucilia sericata (Meigen), Helicophagella melanura (Meigen), and Boettcherisca peregrine (Robineau-Desvoidy)]. Conclusion The genus of the sarcosaphagous flies can be identified by 278 bp gene sequence analysis of COIin mtDNA. This method is rapid, convenient and precise.

Self-assembling micelles were prepared from polylactide-poly(ethylene glycol) (PLA-PEG) block copolymer by using two different methods: direct dissolution and dialysis. The in vitro degradation properties of the micelles were investigated at 37(o)C and monitored by using various techniques. During the investigated degradation time, the size of micelles by dialysis remains stable, while that of micelles by direct dissolution first increases, followed by a collapse of micellar structure. The composition of PLA-PEG copolymers greatly affects the degradation of micelles. Micelles with longer hydrophobic PLA blocks exhibit less size changes due to more compact structure. On the other hand, the structural integrity of L/D mixed micelles is preserved for longer time than that of single micelles, in agreement with the stereocomplexation effect between L-PLA and D-PLA blocks. As degradation proceeds, the average molar mass of copolymer decreases and the distribution becomes wider, especially for micelles by dialysis and L/D mixed micelles with a more compact structure. Additionally, the PEG content in the copolymer chains increases during degradation, leading to a decrease of glass transition and crystallization temperature of the copolymers. However, the residual LA fragments produced by degradation disfavors the crystallization of PEG blocks, thus resulting in the decrease of melting temperature and melting enthalpy.

ABSTRACT: Hepatitis A virus (HAV) causes acute hepatitis and sometimes leads to fulminant hepatitis. Amantadine is a tricyclic symmetric amine that inhibits the replication of many DNA and RNA viruses. Amantadine was reported to suppress HAV replication, and the efficacy of amantadine was exhibited in its inhibition of the internal ribosomal entry site (IRES) activities of HAV. Interferon (IFN) also has an antiviral effect through the induction of IFN stimulated genes (ISG) and the degradation of viral RNA. To explore the mechanism of the suppression of HAV replication, we examined the effects of the combination of amantadine and IFN-alpha on HAV IRES-mediated translation, HAV replicon replication in human hepatoma cell lines, and HAV KRM003 genotype IIIB strain replication in African green monkey kidney cell GL37. IFN-alpha seems to have no additive effect on HAV IRES-mediated translation inhibition by amantadine. However, suppressions of HAV replicon and HAV replication were stronger with the combination than with amantadine alone. In conclusion, amantadine, in combination of IFN-alpha, might have a beneficial effect in some patients with acute hepatitis A.

The introduction of double stranded RNA (dsRNA) into the cytoplasm of mammalian cells usually leads to a potent antiviral response resulting in the rapid induction of interferon beta (IFNbeta). This response can be mediated by a number of dsRNA sensors, including TLR3, MDA5, RIG-I and PKR. We show here that pluripotent human cells (human embryonic stem (hES) cells and induced pluripotent (iPS) cells) do not induce interferon in response to cytoplasmic dsRNA, and we have used a variety of approaches to learn the underlying basis for this phenomenon. Two major cytoplasmic dsRNA sensors, TLR3 and MDA5, are not expressed in hES cells and iPS cells. PKR is expressed in hES cells, but is not activated by transfected dsRNA. In addition, RIG-I is expressed, but fails to respond to dsRNA because its signaling adapter, MITA/STING, is not expressed. Finally, the interferon-inducible RNAse L and oligoadenylate synthetase enzymes are also expressed at very low levels. Upon differentiation of hES cells into trophoblasts, cells acquire the ability to respond to dsRNA and this correlates with a significant induction of expression of TLR3 and its adaptor protein TICAM-1/TRIF. Taken together, our results reveal that the lack of an interferon response may be a general characteristic of pluripotency and that this results from the systematic downregulation of a number of genes involved in cytoplasmic dsRNA signaling.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The cross-reactive antigen(s) of tubulointerstitial nephritis and uveitis (TINU) syndrome from renal tubulointerstitia and ocular tissue remain unidentified. The authors' recent study demonstrated that the presence of serum IgG autoantibodies against modified C-reactive protein (mCRP) was closely associated with the intensity of tubulointerstitial lesions in lupus nephritis. The study presented here investigates the possible role of IgG autoantibodies against mCRP in patients with TINU syndrome. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS: mCRP autoantibodies were screened by ELISA with purified human C-reactive protein in 9 patients with TINU syndrome, 11 with drug-associated acute interstitial nephritis, 20 with IgA nephropathy, 19 with minimal change disease, 20 with ANCA-associated vasculitis, 6 with Sjogren's syndrome, and 12 with amyloidosis. mCRP expression was analyzed by immunohistochemistry in renal biopsy specimens from the 9 patients with TINU syndrome and 40 from disease controls. Frozen normal human kidney and iris were used to demonstrate co-localization of human IgG and mCRP from patients with TINU syndrome with laser scanning confocal microscopy. RESULTS: The mCRP autoantibodies were detected in all nine patients with TINU syndrome, significantly higher than that of those with disease controls (P < 0.05). The renal histologic score of mCRP in TINU syndrome was significantly higher than that in disease controls (P < 0.05). The staining of mCRP and human IgG were co-localized in renal and ocular tissues. CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that mCRP might be a target autoantigen in TINU syndrome.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Although a renal biopsy is indispensable for depicting the severity of pathologic lesions in drug-induced tubulointerstitial nephritis (DTIN), it is not acceptable in some cases and cannot be performed serially because of its invasive nature. Therefore, the discovery of noninvasive markers that are closely related to the pathology of DTIN is of great value. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS: In this study, the urinary levels of monocyte chemotactic peptide-1 (MCP-1), neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), N-acetyl-beta-d-glucosaminidase, and alpha1-microglobulin were measured in 40 DTIN subjects, and the performances of these parameters for distinguishing different pathologic lesions were compared. RESULTS: Linear correlation and receiver operating characteristic curve analyses showed that urinary MCP-1 levels were able to identify serious interstitial edema and inflammatory infiltration with greater accuracy than the other biomarkers (r = 0.501, P < 0.001 and r = 0.768, P < 0.001, respectively), whereas urinary NGAL levels showed the highest correlation coefficient with tubular atrophy (r = 0.692, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that these biomarker levels were higher in patients with DTIN than in controls. Urinary MCP-1 levels correlated and were predictive of the gradated severity of acute lesions in DTIN, whereas the roles of NGAL and alpha1-microglobulin in chronic alterations require further study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody on the chemosensitivity of human colon cancer cells and explore the possible molecular mechanism. METHODS: The inhibitory effect of irinotecan (CPT-11), oxaliplatin (L-OHP) and fluorouracil (5-Fu), used alone or in combination with anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody, on the proliferation of LoVo cells in vitro was assessed by MTT assay. The expressions of PI3K and Akt protein in the treated cells were examined by Western blotting, and their mRNA expressions were detected by RT-PCR. RESULTS: Both h-R3 and C-225 treatments significantly increased the chemosensitivity of LoVo cells to irinotecan and oxaliplatin. 5-Fu and h-R3 coadministered showed a synergistic effect on the cells, but 5-Fu and C-225 had an antagonistic action. Treatment with C-225 or h-R3 resulted in lowered expressions of PI3K and Akt in LoVo cells. CONCLUSION: Anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody can increase the chemosensitivity of human colon cancer cells to most chemotherapeutic drugs, and such effect might be attributed to the blocking of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway by these antibodies.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of hepatitis B virus X protein (HBx) on adriamycin-induced apoptosis of hepatocellular carcinoma cells and the expressions of p53 and PTEN. METHODS: HepG(2), HepG(2)/GFP, and HepG(2)/GFP-HBx cells were treated with adriamycin (2.5 microg/ml), and the apoptotic cell death was determined by observing the morphological changes and flow cytometry. The expressions of p53 and PTEN mRNA in the 3 cells were detected by RT-PCR, and the expressions of p53 and PTEN protein were analyzed by Western blotting. RESULTS: Adriamycin induced significant cell death in HepG(2) and HepG(2)/GFP cells, which became rounded, shrunk, and detached after the treatment; but no significant cell death occurred in HepG(2)/GFP-HBx cells. Flow cytometry analysis showed that the apoptotic rate was significantly lower in HepG(2)/GFP-HBx cells (3.94%) than in HepG(2) (59.03%) and HepG(2)/GFP cells (61.38%) at 36 h after the treatment (P<0.001), while no significant difference was observed between HepG(2)/GFP-HBx (3.94%) and the control cells (2.12%, 2.78%, and 2.55%) (P>0.05). RT-PCR showed lowered expression of PTEN mRNA in HepG(2)/GFP-HBx cells as compared to that in HepG(2) and HepG(2)/GFP cells, while no significant difference was noted in p53 mRNA. Western blot analysis showed that PTEN protein decreased while p53 protein remain unchanged in HepG(2)/GFP-HBx cells. CONCLUSION: HBx suppresses adriamycin-induced apoptosis of HepG(2) cells and PTEN expression. The inhibitory effect of HBx on the cell apoptosis may be related to the inhibition of p53-PTEN pathway.

Treatment of rodents with a bombesin receptor subtype-3 (BRS-3) agonist reduces food intake and increases fasting metabolic rate, causing weight loss with continued treatment. In small mammals, core body temperature (T(b)) is regulated in part by nutritional status, with a reduced Tb during fasting. We report that fed Brs3 knockout mice have a lower T(b), which is discordant with their nutritional status. Treatment of wild type mice with a BRS-3 agonist increased T(b), more so when the baseline T(b) was reduced such as by fasting or during the inactive phase of the light cycle. With repeated BRS-3 agonist dosing, the T(b) increase attenuated, despite continued weight loss efficacy. The increase in T(b) was not prevented by inhibitors of prostaglandin E production, but was partially reduced by a beta-adrenergic blocker. These results demonstrate that BRS-3 has a role in body temperature regulation, presumably secondary to its effect on energy metabolism including effects on sympathetic tone. Making use of this phenomenon, the reversal of the fasting T(b) reduction was developed into a sensitive single-dose pharmacodynamic assay for BRS-3 agonism and other anti-obesity compounds acting by various mechanisms, including sibutramine, cannabinoid-1 and melanin-concentrating hormone-1 receptor blockers, and melanocortin, beta3-adrenergic, and cholecystokinin-1 receptor agonists. These drugs increased both the fasted T(b) and the fasted, resting metabolic rate. The T(b) assay is a robust, information-rich assay which is simpler and has a greater throughput than measuring metabolic rate, and is a practical, effective tool for drug discovery.

The present experiment was conducted to determine proteome changes in Longissimus muscle of finishing pigs fed conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), in association with alteration of intramuscular fat content. Previously, seventy-two Duroc x Landrace x Large White gilts (approximately 60 kg) had been fed maize-soyabean meal-based diets with 0, 12.5 and 25 g CLA/kg diet. The CLA contained 369.1 mg/g cis-9, trans-11 CLA, 374.6 mg/g trans-10, cis-12 CLA and 53.7 mg/g other isomers. Six pigs per treatment were slaughtered when they reached a body weight of approximately 100 kg. Data published from a previous experiment demonstrated that supplementation with 12.5 or 25 g CLA/kg diet increased intramuscular fat content (P < 0.05). The present study investigated the proteome changes in Longissimus muscle of control and pigs supplemented with 25 g CLA/kg diet. CLA significantly influenced the abundance of proteins related to energy metabolism, fatty acid oxidation and synthesis, amino acid metabolism, defence, transport and other miscellaneous processes (P < 0.05). The increase in intramuscular fat content was positively correlated with the increased abundance of carbonic anhydrase 3 and aspartate aminotransferase (P < 0.05). We suggest that the proteome changes in Longissimus muscle contributed to greater intramuscular lipid content in CLA-supplemented pigs.

AIM: To design and validate broad-range 16S rRNA primers for use in high throughput sequencing to classify bacteria isolated from the human foregut microbiome. METHODS: A foregut microbiome dataset was constructed using 16S rRNA gene sequences obtained from oral, esophageal, and gastric microbiomes produced by Sanger sequencing in previous studies represented by 219 bacterial species. Candidate primers evaluated were from the European rRNA database. To assess the effect of sequence length on accuracy of classification, 16S rRNA genes of various lengths were created by trimming the full length sequences. Sequences spanning various hypervariable regions were selected to simulate the amplicons that would be obtained using possible primer pairs. The sequences were compared with full length 16S rRNA genes for accuracy in taxonomic classification using online software at the Ribosomal Database Project (RDP). The universality of the primer set was evaluated using the RDP 16S rRNA database which is comprised of 433 306 16S rRNA genes, represented by 36 phyla. RESULTS: Truncation to 100 nucleotides (nt) downstream from the position corresponding to base 28 in the Escherichia coli 16S rRNA gene caused misclassification of 87 (39.7%) of the 219 sequences, compared with misclassification of only 29 (13.2%) sequences with truncation to 350 nt. Among 350-nt sequence reads within various regions of the 16S rRNA gene, the reverse read of an amplicon generated using the 343F/798R primers had the least (8.2%) effect on classification. In comparison, truncation to 900 nt mimicking single pass Sanger reads misclassified 5.0% of the 219 sequences. The 343F/798R amplicon accurately assigned 91.8% of the 219 sequences at the species level. Weighted by abundance of the species in the esophageal dataset, the 343F/798R amplicon yielded similar classification accuracy without a significant loss in species coverage (92%). Modification of the 343F/798R primers to 347F/803R increased their universality among foregut species. Assuming that a typical polymerase chain reaction can tolerate 2 mismatches between a primer and a template, the modified 347F and 803R primers should be able to anneal 98% and 99.6% of all 16S rRNA genes in the RDP database. CONCLUSION: 347F/803R is the most suitable pair of primers for classification of foregut 16S rRNA genes but also possess universality suitable for analyses of other complex microbiomes.

In Arabidopsis thaliana, the salt overly sensitive (SOS) pathway plays an essential role in maintaining ion homeostasis and conferring salt tolerance. Here we identified three SOS components in the woody plant Populus trichocarpa, designated as PtSOS1, PtSOS2 and PtSOS3. These putative SOS genes exhibited an overlapping but distinct expression pattern in poplar plants and the transcript levels of SOS1 and SOS2 were responsive to salinity stress. In poplar mesophyll protoplasts, PtSOS1 was specifically localized in the plasma membrane, whereas PtSOS2 was distributed throughout the cell, and PtSOS3 was predominantly targeted to the plasma membrane. Heterologous expression of PtSOS1, PtSOS2 and PtSOS3 could rescue salt-sensitive phenotypes of the corresponding Arabidopsis sos mutants, demonstrating that the Populus SOS proteins are functional homologues of their Arabidopsis counterpart. In addition, PtSOS3 interacted with, and recruited PtSOS2 to the plasma membrane in yeast and in planta. Reconstitution of poplar SOS pathway in yeast cells revealed that PtSOS2 and PtSOS3 acted coordinately to activate PtSOS1. Moreover, expression of the constitutively activated form of PtSOS2 partially complemented the sos3 mutant but not sos1, suggesting that PtSOS2 functions genetically downstream of SOS3 and upstream of SOS1. These results indicate a strong functional conservation of SOS pathway responsible for salt stress signaling from herbaceous to woody plants.

Aims The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of transcatheter closure for perimembranous ventricular septal defect (pmVSD) and its long-term results. The most common congenital heart condition is pmVSD. Transcatheter closure of pmVSD is a recently described technique with limited results for mid- to long-term follow-up. Methods and results Between June 2002 and June 2008, 848 patients with pmVSD were enrolled in our study and treated percutaneously with pmVSD occluders. All patients were followed up until December 2008, an average of 37 months. According to colour Doppler transthoracic echocardiography before the intervention and ventriculography, the average end-diastolic pmVSD size was 5.1 and 5.4 mm, respectively. Placement of the device was successful in 832 patients (98.1%) and the median device size was 8.6 mm. During follow-up, 103 adverse events (12.4%) were reported. Most adverse events were categorized as minor and there were nine major adverse events (8.7%), including two complete atrioventricular block requiring pacemaker implantation. Kaplan-Meier estimates showed >85% freedom from major or minor adverse events during a maximal follow-up of 79 months. Conclusions In experienced hands, transcatheter pmVSD closure can be performed safely and successfully with low morbidity and mortality. Long-term prognostic results are favourable, and the transcatheter approach provides a less-invasive alternative that may become the first choice in selected pmVSD patients. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00890799.

Impurities in the synthesized gold nanoparticle (AuNP) solution are systematically identified followed by determining an optimal purification process and evaluating the stability as well as oxidation state of the purified 20-nm AuNPs. Quantified non-AuNP components and a newly speciated byproduct (acetate) complete the stoichiometric equation of AuNP synthesis through the citrate reduction method. Among the five tested centrifugation forces (3000-11,000g) and durations (10-60 min), optimal purification of AuNPs was achieved by centrifugation operating at 7000g for 20 min which satisfactorily recovers approximately 80% of AuNPs without detectable impurities. Storage in the dark at 4 degrees C prolongs the stability of the purified AuNP suspensions up to 20 days. AuNPs employed in this study persist in their atomic status without being oxidized, even after they were aerosolized in air or heated at 500 degrees C. This work demonstrates how impurities are identified and removed, and the purified AuNPs can be a reference material to evaluate toxicity or reactivity of other engineered nanomaterials.

Salvinorin A (1), the main active ingredient of Salvia divinorum, is a potent and selective kappa opioid receptor (KOPR) agonist. Based on the SAR, its C-2 position is one of the key binding sites and has very little space tolerance (3-4 carbons atoms) and limited to only lipophilic groups. In our attempt to prepare PET brain imaging agent for mapping KOPR, a series of C-2 halogenated analogs have been synthesized and screened for binding affinity at kappa (KOPR), mu (MOPR), and delta (DOPR). These C-2 halogenated analogs with sequential changes of atomic radius and electron density serve as excellent molecular probes for further investigating the binding pocket at C-2, particularly on the effects of alpha verses beta configuration at C-2 position. The results of KOPR binding and functional studies reveal beta isomer in general binds better than alpha isomer with the exception of iodinated analogs and none of the C-2 halogenated analogs shows any improvement of KOPR binding affinity. Interestingly, functional assay has characterized that 6b is a partial agonist with E(max) of 46% of the kappa receptor full agonist U50,488H at 250nM (K(i)). We have also observed that the affinity to the kappa receptor increases with atomic radius (I>Br>Cl>F) which is in good agreement with halogen bonding interactions reported in the literature.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of married women's beliefs regarding gender equity on their use of prenatal and delivery care in China's rural Xinjiang and Anhui provinces. METHODS: In this survey, 1029 women aged from 15 to 69years, living in rural Xinjiang and Anhui provinces, and married, answered a questionnaire designed to collect information on their demographic characteristics, reproductive history (number of pregnancies, level of prenatal care, and mode and place of delivery), and beliefs regarding gender equity. We quantified "belief in gender equity" based on responses to 7 specific statements and graded the responses according to a system scoring the strength of the overall belief (a total score >/=19, strong; 15-18, moderate; and </=14, weak). RESULTS: Only 34.3% of the women demonstrated strong convictions about gender equity. Even after adjusting for education and ethnicity, the percentage of women who received consistent prenatal care and were delivered at a maternity facility was highest among those scoring 19 or higher, and the reverse was true for women scoring 14 or less. CONCLUSION: Overall, women in China's rural Xinjiang and Anhui provinces do not hold strong convictions about gender equity. There was a positive correlation between belief in gender equity and use of prenatal and delivery care.