bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Chimeric mice transplanted with human hepatocytes as a model for prediction of human drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics
Authors: Sanoh Seigo , Ohta Shigeru 
Published: October 2013

ABSTRACTPreclinical studies in animal models are used routinely during drug development, but species differences of pharmacokinetics (PK) between animals and humans have to be taken into account in interpreting the results. Human hepatocytes are also widely used to examine metabolic activities mediated by cytochrome P450 (P450) and other enzymes, but such in vitro metabolic studies also have limitations. Recently, chimeric mice with humanized liver (h‐chimeric mice), generated by transplantation of human donor hepatocytes, have been developed as a model for the prediction of metabolism and PK in humans, using both in vitro and in vivo approaches. The expression of human‐specific metabolic enzymes and metabolic activities was confirmed in humanized liver of h‐chimeric mice with high replacement ratios, and several reports indicate that the profiles of P450 and non‐P450 metabolism in these mice adequately reflect those in humans. Further, the combined use of h‐chimeric mice and r‐chimeric mice, in which endogenous hepatocytes are replaced with rat hepatocytes, is a promising approach for evaluation of species differences in drug metabolism. Recent work has shown that data obtained in h‐chimeric mice enable the semi‐quantitative prediction of not only metabolites, but also PK parameters, such as hepatic clearance, of drug candidates in humans, although some limitations remain because of differences in the metabolic activities, hepatic blood flow and liver structure between humans and mice. In addition, fresh h‐hepatocytes can be isolated reproducibly from h‐chimeric mice for metabolic studies. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Sonodynamic antitumor effect of a novel sonosensitizer on S180 solid tumor
Authors: Li Caifeng , Zhang Kun , Wang Pan , Hu Jianmin , Liu Quanhong , Wang Xiaobing 
Published: October 2013

ABSTRACTPurpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the sonodynamically induced antitumor effect of a novel sonosensitizer (DVDMS) in mice bearing sarcoma 180 solid tumors. Methods: In order to determine the optimum timing of ultrasound exposure after administration of DVDMS, a three‐dimensional optical imaging system (IVIS spectrum) was used to observe the biodistribution of DVDMS in S180 tumor. The antitumor effects were estimated by the tumor inhibition ratio (volume and weight) after sonodynamic therapy. Results: The experiments suggested that DVDMS has a preferential localization in tumors, but a low accumulation in most normal tissues. A significant synergistic effect of ultrasound combined with DVDMS was obtained when the load power indicated 4 W and DVDMS dose was above 2 mg/kg. At day 14 after DVDMS‐SDT, the tumor volume inhibition ratio was 56.27%. In addition, the tumor weight inhibition ratio after the synergistic treatment was 55.37%, which was obviously stronger than ultrasound treatment alone (23.85%) and DVDMS alone (23.15%). Moreover, no metastasis occurred to the tumors in the SDT‐treated mice compared with the control group. Conclusions: DVDMS is a potential sensitizer for sonodynamic cancer therapy. The antitumor effect of ultrasound could be enhanced in the presence of DVDMS, which might be involved in a sonochemical mechanism. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Maternal reporting of prenatal ultrasounds among women in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study
Authors: Weedn Ashley E. , Mosley Bridget S. , Cleves Mario A. , Waller D. Kim , Canfield Mark A. , Correa Adolfo , Hobbs Charlotte A. ,   the National Birth Defects Prevention Study
Published: October 2013

BackgroundIncreased availability and usage of ultrasound screening have led to improved identification of fetal structural abnormalities prenatally. Few population‐based studies have been published on prenatal detection for structural birth defects in the United States. The aim of this study is to determine the frequency of maternal reporting of abnormal prenatal ultrasounds for selected birth defects and to investigate associated maternal characteristics.MethodsParticipants included 4013 mothers enrolled in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study who carried a fetus with at least one of 14 structural birth defects between 1997 and 2004. Frequencies of abnormal prenatal ultrasounds were based on maternal report and computed for isolated and multiple defects. Associations between maternal characteristics and abnormal prenatal ultrasounds were assessed using logistic regression.ResultsOverall, 46% of participants reported an abnormal ultrasound. Infants with omphalocele, anencephaly, gastroschisis, and renal agenesis were more likely to have abnormal prenatal ultrasounds than those with cleft and limb abnormalities. Hispanic women were less likely to report abnormal prenatal ultrasounds of birth defects than Caucasians, as were women who had a body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m2compared with those with a normal body mass index.CONCLUSIONOf the 14 selected birth defects in this study, less than half were reported by mothers of affected infants to have had an abnormal ultrasound during pregnancy. The frequency of reporting abnormal prenatal ultrasounds varies by type of defect, maternal race/ethnicity, and maternal body mass index status.Birth Defects Research (Part A) 100:4–12, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Lipid utilization in radish seedlings as affected by weak horizontal extremely low frequency magnetic field
Authors: Novitskii Yurii I. , Novitskaya Galina V. , Serdyukov Yurii A. 
Published: October 2013

AbstractComposition and content of lipids were studied in 5‐day‐old radish seedlings (Raphanus sativus L. var. radicula DC.) grown in lowlight and darkness in an extremely low frequency (ELF) magnetic field characterized by 50 Hz frequency and ∼500 µT flux density. The control seedlings were grown under the same conditions, but without exposure to the magnetic field. The products of lipid metabolism were compared with lipid composition in seeds. In control seedlings, reserve neutral lipids, mostly triacylglycerides, were utilized for the formation of polar lipids (PL). As a result, the amount of the latter doubled, particularly due to glycolipids (GL) and phospholipids (PhL) compared to their content in seeds. At 20–22 °C in light, magnetic field exposure increased the production of PL by threefold specifically, GL content increased fourfold and PhL content rose 2.5 times, compared to seeds. In darkness, the effect of magnetic field on lipids was weaker. At the lower temperature of 13–16 °C in light, the effect of the magnetic field was weak, but in the darkness, no magnetic field action was recorded. It is concluded that ELF magnetic field stimulated lipid synthesis in chloroplast, mitochondrial, and other cell membranes in radish seedlings grown in light at 20–22 °C and 13–16 °C. Bioelectromagnetics. 35:91–99, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Continuous exposure to 60 Hz magnetic fields induces duration‐ and dose‐dependent apoptosis of testicular germ cells
Authors: Kim Hee‐Sung , Park Byung‐Jae , Jang Hye‐Jin , Ipper Nagesh S. , Kim Seung‐Han , Kim Young‐Jin , Jeon Sung‐Ho , Lee Kwang‐Soo , Lee Sang‐Kon , Kim Nam , Ju Young‐Jun , Gimm Yoon‐Myoung , Kim Yoon‐Won 
Published: October 2013

AbstractTo evaluate duration‐ and dose‐dependent effects of continuous exposure to a 60 Hz magnetic field (MF) on the testes in mice, BALB/c male mice were exposed to a 60 Hz MF at 100 μT for 24 h a day for 2, 4, 6, or 8 weeks, and at 2, 20, or 200 μT for 24 h a day for 8 weeks. Any exposures to MF did not significantly affect body or testicular masses. However, the apoptotic cells among testicular germ cells were increased duration‐dependent at exposures of 100 μT for 6 and 8 weeks and dose‐dependent at exposures of 20 and 200 μT for 8 weeks. The number of sperm in epididymis and the diameter of seminiferous tubule decreased in mice exposed to 100 and 200 μT for 8 weeks, respectively. To induce the apoptosis of testicular germ cell in mice, the minimum dose is 20 μT at continuous exposure to a 60 Hz MF for 8 weeks and the minimum duration is 6 weeks at continuous exposure of 100 μT. Taken together, these results suggest that continuous exposure to a 60 Hz MF might affect, duration‐ and dose‐dependent biological processes including apoptotic cell death and spermatogenesis in the male reproductive system of mice. Bioelectromagnetics. 35:100–107, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Swift heavy ion induced structural and luminescence characterization of Y2O3:Eu3+ phosphor: a comparative study
Authors: Som S , Sharma S K , Lochab S P 
Published: October 2013

ABSTRACTWe report a comparative study on structural and thermoluminescence modifications of Y2O3:Eu3+ phosphor induced by 150 MeV Ni7+, 120 MeV Ag9+ and 110 MeV Au8+ swift heavy ions (SHI) in the fluence range 1 × 1011 to 1 × 1013 ions/cm2. X‐Ray diffraction and transition electron microscopy studies confirm the loss of crystallinity of the phosphors after ion irradiation, which is greater in the case of Au ion irradiation. Structural refinement using the Rietveld method yields the various structural parameters of ion‐irradiated phosphors. Thermoluminescence glow curves of ion‐irradiated phosphors show a small shift in the position of the peaks, along with an increase in intensity with ion fluence. Stopping range of ions in Matter (SRIM) calculations were performed to correlate the change in thermoluminescence properties of various ion‐irradiated phosphors. It shows that the defects created by 110 MeV Au8+ ions are greater in number. Trapping parameters of ion‐irradiated phosphors were calculated from thermoluminescence data using various glow curve analysis methods. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Characterization of intermolecular interaction between cyanidin‐3‐glucoside and bovine serum albumin: Spectroscopic and molecular docking methods
Authors: Shi Jie‐hua , Wang Jing , Zhu Ying‐yao , Chen Jun 
Published: October 2013

ABSTRACTThe intermolecular interaction between cyanidin‐3‐glucoside (Cy‐3‐G) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) was investigated using fluorescence, circular dichroism and molecular docking methods. The experimental results revealed that the fluorescence quenching of BSA at 338 nm by Cy‐3‐G resulted from the formation of Cy‐3‐G–BSA complex. The number of binding sites (n) for Cy‐3‐G binding on BSA was approximately equal to 1. The experimental and molecular docking results revealed that after binding Cy‐3‐G to BSA, Cy‐3‐G is closer to the Tyr residue than the Trp residue, the secondary structure of BSA almost not change, the binding process of Cy‐3‐G with BSA is spontaneous, and Cy‐3‐G can be inserted into the hydrophobic cavity of BSA (site II′) in the binding process of Cy‐3‐G with BSA. Moreover, based on the sign and magnitude of the enthalpy and entropy changes (ΔH0 = – 29.64 kcal/mol and ΔS0 = – 69.51 cal/mol K) and the molecular docking results, it can be suggested that the main interaction forces of Cy‐3‐G with BSA are Van der Waals and hydrogen bonding interactions. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Synthesis of some novel quinone diimine derivatives of benzo‐15‐crown‐5 for application in Hg2+ recognition
Authors: Jagadale S. D. , Sawant A. D. , Patil P. P. , Patil D. R. , Mulik A. G. , Chandam D. R. , Sankpal S. A. , Deshmukh M. B. 
Published: October 2013

ABSTRACTA series of novel fluoroionophore bearing derivatives of benzo‐15‐crown‐5 were synthesized by the amination of benzo‐15‐crown‐5 followed by condensation with different quinones in the presence of titanium tetrachloride (TiCl4) and 1,4‐diazabicyclo‐[2.2.2]octane. The compounds were characterized by infrared, 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance, mass spectroscopy and elemental analysis. Absorption and fluorescence spectral characteristics of these compounds were studied. It was observed that the anthraquinone derivative was acting as an Hg2+ ion sensor. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Size‐dependent temperature sensitivity of photoluminescence peak position of CdTe quantum dots
Authors: Vyhnan N. , Khalavka Y. 
Published: October 2013

ABSTRACTThe size dependence of the temperature coefficient (sensitivity) of the photoluminescence (PL) peak position of CdTe quantum dots stabilized by thioglycolic acid in aqueous solution has been investigated. Temperature sensitivity increases as the average radius of CdTe quantum dots decraeases. This must be taken into account in the design of solar light concentrators and light‐emmiting diode‐monitors as well as other technologies in which a fine tuning of the light emission is important. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Current developments in high‐throughput analysis for microalgae cellular contents
Authors: Lee Tsung‐Hua , Chang Jo‐Shu , Wang Hsiang‐Yu 
Published: October 2013

AbstractMicroalgae have emerged as one of the most promising feedstocks for biofuels and bio‐based chemical production. However, due to the lack of effective tools enabling rapid and high‐throughput analysis of the content of microalgae biomass, the efficiency of screening and identification of microalgae with desired functional components from the natural environment is usually quite low. Moreover, the real‐time monitoring of the production of target components from microalgae is also difficult. Recently, research efforts focusing on overcoming this limitation have started. In this review, the recent development of high‐throughput methods for analyzing microalgae cellular contents is summarized. The future prospects and impacts of these detection methods in microalgae‐related processing and industries are also addressed.
The centrality of RNA for engineering gene expression
Authors: Chappell James , Takahashi Melissa K. , Meyer Sarai , Loughrey David , Watters Kyle E. , Lucks Julius 
Published: October 2013

AbstractSynthetic biology holds promise as both a framework for rationally engineering biological systems and a way to revolutionize how we fundamentally understand them. Essential to realizing this promise is the development of strategies and tools to reliably and predictably control and characterize sophisticated patterns of gene expression. Here we review the role that RNA can play towards this goal and make a case for why this versatile, designable, and increasingly characterizable molecule is one of the most powerful substrates for engineering gene expression at our disposal. We discuss current natural and synthetic RNA regulators of gene expression acting at key points of control – transcription, mRNA degradation, and translation. We also consider RNA structural probing and computational RNA structure predication tools as a way to study RNA structure and ultimately function. Finally, we discuss how next‐generation sequencing methods are being applied to the study of RNA and to the characterization of RNA's many properties throughout the cell.
An assay for the bacterial sweet spot
Authors: Tullman‐Ercek Danielle 
Published: October 2013

AbstractGlycosylation is critical for the proper folding and function of many eukaryotic proteins. A lack of native asparagine‐linked glycosylation machinery has hampered production of eukaryotic proteins in Escherichia coli. This commentary by Danielle Tullman‐Ercek discusses the work of Matt Delisa's group on an assay using beta‐lactamase activity as a reporter for successful glycoprotein folding in the periplasm of E. coli.See accompanying article by Mansell et al. DOI: 10.1002/biot.201300026
DNA detection and cell adhesion on plasma‐polymerized pyrrole
Authors: Zhang Zhihong , Liu Shunli , Shi Yu , Dou Jun , Fang Shaoming 
Published: October 2013

ABSTRACTThis study investigates the application of Plasma‐polymerized pyrrole (ppPY) as bioactive platform for DNA immobilization and cell adhesion based on the fundamental properties of ppPY, such as chemical structure, electrochemical property, and protein adsorption. Variations in electrochemical properties of the ppPY film deposited under different plasma conditions before and after DNA immobilization were measured using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The equilibrium concentration of the probe DNA immobilized on the ppPY surface was deduced by detecting the variations in the surface charge transfer resistance (Rct) of the ppPY films after DNA immobilization with different concentrations. In addition, the detection limit of the target DNA hybridization with probe DNA, the association constant, Ka, and the dissociation constant were deduced from Langmuir isotherm equations simulated using the experimental data collected by EIS. Moreover, inverted microscope was used to observe the cell adhesions onto the surface of the ppPY films prepared under different plasma conditions. Different adhesive behaviors of cells were observed, demonstrating that ppPY films could be an alternative biomaterial used as the sensitive layer for DNA sensor or cell adhesion. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 101: 496–503, 2014.
Unmethylated and methylated CpG dinucleotides distinctively regulate the physical properties of DNA
Authors: Jimenez‐Useche Isabel , Shim Daphne , Yu Jianger , Yuan Chongli 
Published: October 2013

ABSTRACTIn eukaryotic cells, DNA has to bend significantly to pack inside the nucleus. Physical properties of DNA such as bending flexibility and curvature are expected to affect DNA packaging and partially determine the nucleosome positioning patterns inside a cell. DNA CpG methylation, the most common epigenetic modification found in DNA, is known to affect the physical properties of DNA. However, its detailed role in nucleosome formation is less well‐established. In this study, we evaluated the effect of defined CpG patterns (unmethylated and methylated) on DNA structure and their respective nucleosome‐forming ability. Our results suggest that the addition of CpG dinucleotides, either as a (CG)n stretch or (CGX8)n repeats at 10 bp intervals, lead to reduced hydrodynamic radius and decreased nucleosome‐forming ability of DNA. This effect is more predominant for a DNA stretch ((CG)5) located in the middle of a DNA fragment. Methylation of CpG sites, surprisingly, seems to reduce the difference in DNA structure and nucleosome‐forming ability among DNA constructs with different CpG patterns. Our results suggest that unmethylated and methylated CpG patterns can play very different roles in regulating the physical properties of DNA. CpG methylation seems to reduce the DNA conformational variations affiliated with defined CpG patterns. Our results can have significant bearings in understanding the nucleosome positioning pattern in living organisms modulated by DNA sequences and epigenetic features. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 101: 517–524, 2014.
Antimicrobial hydrogels for the treatment of infection
Authors: Salomé Veiga Ana , Schneider Joel P. 
Published: October 2013

ABSTRACTThe increasing prevalence of microbial infections, especially those associated with impaired wound healing and biomedical implant failure has spurred the development of new materials having antimicrobial activity. Hydrogels are a class of highly hydrated material finding use in diverse medical applications such as drug delivery, tissue engineering, as wound fillers, and as implant coatings, to name a few. The biocompatible nature of many gels make them a convenient starting platform to develop selectively active antimicrobial materials. Hydrogels with antimicrobial properties can be obtained through the encapsulation or covalent immobilization of known antimicrobial agents, or the material itself can be designed to possess inherent antimicrobial activity. In this review we present an overview of antimicrobial hydrogels that have recently been developed and when possible provide a discussion relevant to their mechanism of action. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers (Pept Sci) 100: 637–644, 2013.
Design and synthesis of α‐conotoxin GID analogues as selective α4β2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor antagonists
Authors: Banerjee Jayati , Yongye Austin B. , Chang Yi‐Pin , Gyanda Reena , Medina‐Franco José L. , Armishaw Christopher J. 
Published: October 2013

ABSTRACTThe α4β2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) is an important target for currently approved smoking cessation therapeutics. However, the development of highly selective α4β2 nAChR antagonists remains a significant challenge. α‐Conotoxin GID is an antagonist of α4β2 nAChRs, though it is significantly more potent toward the α3β2 and α7 subtypes. With the goal of obtaining further insights into α‐conotoxin GID/nAChR interactions that could lead to the design of GID analogues with improved affinity for α4β2 nAChRs, we built a homology model of the GID/α4β2 complex using an X‐ray co‐crystal structure of an α‐conotoxin/acetylcholine binding protein (AChBP) complex. Several additional interactions that could potentially enhance the affinity of GID for α4β2 nAChRs were observed in our model, which led to the design and synthesis of 22 GID analogues. Seven analogues displayed inhibitory activity toward α4β2 nAChRs that was comparable to GID. Significantly, both GID[A10S] and GID[V13I] demonstrated moderately improved selectivity toward α4β2 over α3β2 when compared with GID, while GID[V18N] exhibited no measurable inhibitory activity for the α3β2 subtype, yet retained inhibitory activity for α4β2. In this regard, GID[V18N] is the most α4β2 nAChR selective α‐conotoxin analogue identified to date. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers (Pept Sci) 102: 78–87, 2014.
Structural adaptation of tooth enamel protein amelogenin in the presence of SDS micelles
Authors: Chandrababu Karthik Balakrishna , Dutta Kaushik , Lokappa Sowmya Bekshe , Ndao Moise , Evans John Spencer , Moradian‐Oldak Janet 
Published: October 2013

ABSTRACTAmelogenin, the major extracellular matrix protein of developing tooth enamel is intrinsically disordered. Through its interaction with other proteins and mineral, amelogenin assists enamel biomineralization by controlling the formation of highly organized enamel crystal arrays. We used circular dichroism (CD), dynamic light scattering (DLS), fluorescence, and NMR spectroscopy to investigate the folding propensity of recombinant porcine amelogenin rP172 following its interaction with SDS, at levels above critical micelle concentration. The rP172‐SDS complex formation was confirmed by DLS, while an increase in the structure moiety of rP172 was noted through CD and fluorescence experiments. Fluorescence quenching analyses performed on several rP172 mutants where all but one Trp was replaced by Tyr at different sequence regions confirmed that the interaction of amelogenin with SDS micelles occurs via the N‐terminal region close to Trp25 where helical segments can be detected by NMR. NMR spectroscopy and structural refinement calculations using CS‐Rosetta modeling confirm that the highly conserved N‐terminal domain is prone to form helical structure when bound to SDS micelles. Our findings reported here reveal interactions leading to significant changes in the secondary structure of rP172 upon treatment with SDS. These interactions may reflect the physiological relevance of the flexible nature of amelogenin and its sequence specific helical propensity that might enable it to structurally adapt with charged and potential targets such as cell surface, mineral, and other proteins during enamel biomineralization. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 101: 525–535, 2014.