an-automated-rapid-iterative-negative-geotaxis-assay-for-analyzing

An Automated Rapid Iterative Negative Geotaxis Assay for Analyzing Adult Climbing Behavior in a <em>Drosophila</em> Model of Neurodegeneration

Neurodegenerative diseases are frequently associated with a progressive loss of movement ability, reduced life span, and age-dependent neurodegeneration. ...

Tongji University School of Medicine

The prevalence of Tropheryma whippelii DNA in saliva from healthy controls and patients with spondyloarthropathy.

High expression of CD40 on skin fibroblasts from patients with systemic sclerosis.

The single nucleotide polymorphisms of matrix metalloproteinase-1 in patients with systemic sclerosis.

To investigate the genetic association between ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of collagen 6A1 gene (COL6A1), the candidate gene for ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament.

Single nucleotide polymorphism of COL6A1 in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

Dietary flavonoid apigenin inhibits endothelin-1-induced contraction of collagen gel.

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a connective tissue disease characterized by vasculopathy, excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix, and fibrosis of the skin and internal organs. An animal model of SSc, the bleomycin-induced mouse model, has been established and used extensively to investigate the pathogenesis of SSc and to seek novel therapeutic agents. We recently developed thermo-reversible combination gels that can be injected subcutaneously and are made in aqueous solution by forming a complex coacervate with the substance of interest and cationic macromolecules, followed by co-formulation with methylcellulose (MC) as a negative thermosensitive polysaccharide. The objective of this study was to demonstrate whether weekly injections of bleomycin using combination gels loaded with bleomycin can induce the skin fibrosis model of SSc in susceptible mouse strains. A low molecular weight MC (4%) gel with 4.5% ammonium sulfate was made in aqueous solution, and mixed with bleomycin. This was injected subcutaneously into female C3H/He mice at weekly intervals. Control mice were injected with the gel made with phosphate-buffered saline. After 4 weeks, histological examination and gene expression assays of cytokines were performed. Examination in vitro showed that more than 80% of the bleomycin was released from the gel by the 4th day. Histological examination showed that dermal thickness increased in the MC-bleomycin-injected group compared with the control, and semi-quantitative analysis indicated that the extent of inflammation did not differ between the groups. In the MC-bleomycin-injected group, dermal fibrosis assessed with the Masson-Trichrome stain and numbers of alpha-smooth muscle actin-positive fibroblastic cells also increased. The procedure for inducing scleroderma in which bleomycin is injected weekly as an easily-made gel system using methylcellulose, can induce dermal fibrosis in susceptible mice without causing inflammation. We believe this system represents a time- saving and convenient procedure that should facilitate research on SSc.

A convenient method for producing the bleomycin-induced mouse model of scleroderma by weekly injections using a methylcellulose gel.

Congenital muscular torticollis (CMT) is characterized by thickening and/or tightness of the unilateral sternocleidomastoid muscle (SCM), ending up with torticollis. Our aim was to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and novel protein interaction network modules of CMT, and to discover the relationship between gene expressions and clinical severity of CMT.

Integrative analysis of congenital muscular torticollis: from gene expression to clinical significance.

SKI306X, a mixed extract of three herbs, Clematis mandshurica (CM), Prunella vulgaris (PV), and Trichosanthes kirilowii (TK), is chondroprotective in animal models of osteoarthritis (OA). The objectives of this study were to investigate its effect on interleukin (IL)-1β-induced degradation of glycosaminoglycan (GAG) and the basis of its action in human OA cartilage, as well as to screen for the presence of inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-13 and a disintegrin and metalloprotease with thrombospondin motifs (ADAMTS)-4 in SKI306X and its component herbs, as well as in fractions from SKI306X.

SKI306X inhibition of glycosaminoglycan degradation in human cartilage involves down-regulation of cytokine-induced catabolic genes.

We report a simple approach for the production of copper nanoparticles by a wire explosion process that creates different structures in deionized (DI) water versus isopropyl alcohol (IPA) liquid media. In DI water, copper nanoparticles (CNs) are formed, while multi-layer graphene-synthesized copper nanoparticles (MGCNs) with a high degree of graphitization are formed in the IPA liquid media. The nanoparticles have an average diameter ranging from 10 nm to 300 nm and a quasi-spherical morphology. The morphologies and sizes of nanoparticles formed via this method were characterized by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), field-emission scattering electron microscopy (FESEM), and analysis of dynamic light scattering (DLS). The microstructures and chemical bonding of the nanoparticles were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectra measurement, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). This results show an easily reproducible way to synthesize metal-core nanoparticles with multi-layer graphene shells based onto the liquid media used during synthesis. These materials can be used in the field of energy storage and as additives in the near future.

Article	Year
The prevalence of Tropheryma whippelii DNA in saliva from healthy controls and patients with spondyloarthropathy. Rheumatology international\| PubMed ID: 17013607	2007
High expression of CD40 on skin fibroblasts from patients with systemic sclerosis. Rheumatology international\| PubMed ID: 17687557	2007
The single nucleotide polymorphisms of matrix metalloproteinase-1 in patients with systemic sclerosis. Rheumatology international\| PubMed ID: 18506448	2008
Single nucleotide polymorphism of COL6A1 in patients with ankylosing spondylitis. The Journal of rheumatology\| PubMed ID: 18634150	2008
Dietary flavonoid apigenin inhibits endothelin-1-induced contraction of collagen gel. Rheumatology international\| PubMed ID: 20012048	2010
A convenient method for producing the bleomycin-induced mouse model of scleroderma by weekly injections using a methylcellulose gel. Rheumatology international\| PubMed ID: 21448642	2012
Integrative analysis of congenital muscular torticollis: from gene expression to clinical significance. BMC medical genomics\| PubMed ID: 23819832	2013
SKI306X inhibition of glycosaminoglycan degradation in human cartilage involves down-regulation of cytokine-induced catabolic genes. The Korean journal of internal medicine\| PubMed ID: 25228841	2014
Effect of Liquid Media on the Formation of Multi-Layer Graphene-Synthesized Metal Particles. Journal of nanoscience and nanotechnology\| PubMed ID: 26726634	2015

Na Yi

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