Physicochemical Properties,Polysaccharide Composition Analysis and Efficacy Evaluation of Narcissus Tazetta Extract

Numerous literature has reported that polysaccharides-based cosmetics present multifunctional effects in skin moisturizing for protecting the skin barrier.The aim of this study is to investigate the physicochemical properties,purities,composition and cellular functions of polysaccharides extracted from the bulb of Narcissus tazetta var.chinensis(NBP)and to evaluate its efficacy evaluation on skin moisture,elasticity,allergies and inflammation.The polysaccharides were obtained from the Narcissus tazetta bulb by using cold water extraction and ethanol precipitation methods.The residual impurities,polysaccharides molecular weight and composition were analyzed by UV spectrophotometry,gel chromatography,high performance liquid chromatography and infrared spectroscopy;skin hydration and elasticity assay were analyzed following efficacy evalution on human body;laboratory test was used to evaluate histamine and nitric oxide(NO)activity.The results indicate that a yield of 6%(w/w)of NBP,show that the NBP does not contain starch,protein,colchicine,lycorine,etc.,The average molecular weight of NBP is 559 kDa,and is composed of mannose and glucose,n(mannose):n(glucose)=4:1.0.5%NBP can increase skin hydration and elasticity assay on human body.The NBP is non-cytotoxic,in the basophils RBL-2H3 cell model tests,NBP concentrations at 100~250μg/mL can effectively inhibit the release of histamine,and the NBP concentrations 600~1000μg/mL can significantly inhibit LPS-induced NO production in RAW264.7 cells which are showed dose-responsive effects.These findings demonstrate that the NBP prepared in the study could offer potent skin protection,preserving hydration and elasticity,while also providing anti-allergy and anti-inflammatory properties.It can,therefore,be considered an excellent candidate for polysaccharide-based cosmetics.

Melatonin combined with exercise cannot alleviate cerebral injury in a rat model of focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury

Previous studies have demonstrated that melatonin combined with exercise can alleviate secondary damage after spinal cord injury in rats. Therefore, it is hypothesized that melatonin combined with exercise can also alleviate ischemic brain damage. In this study, adult rats were subjected to right middle cerebral artery occlusion after receiving 10 mg/kg melatonin or vehicle subcutaneously twice daily for 14 days. Forced exercise using an animal treadmill was performed at 20 m/min for 30 minutes per day for 6 days prior to middle cerebral artery occlusion. After middle cerebral artery occlusion, each rat received melatonin combined with exercise, melatonin or exercise alone equally for 7 days until sacrifice. Interestingly, rats receiving melatonin combined with exercise exhibited more severe neurological deficits than those receiving melatonin or exercise alone. Hypoxia-inducible factor la mRNA in the brain tissue was upregulated in rats receiving melatonin combined with exercise. Similarly, microtubule associated protein-2 mRNA expression was significantly upregulated in rats receiving melatonin alone. Chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan 4 （NG2） mRNA expression was significantly decreased in rats receiving melatonin combined with exercise as well as in rats receiving exercise alone. Furthermore, neural cell loss in the primary motor cortex was significantly reduced in rats receiving melatonin or exercise alone, but the change was not observed in rats receiving melatonin combined with exercise. These findings suggest that excessive intervention with melatonin, exercise or their combination may lead to negative effects on ischemia/reperfusion-induced brain damage.

Dynamic simulation of universal spacer in Dynesys dynamic stabilization system for human vertebra

The aim of this study is to analyze the simulated behavior of universal spacer in Dynesys dynamic stabilization system inserted in human vertebra. Dynesys, so-called "Dynamic neutralization system for the spine", dynamic stabilization system is a new concept in the surgical treatment of lower back pain recently. Universal spacer used as flexible material is to stabilize the spine and the material property of universal spacer is polycarbonate urethane. Universal spacer may apply different kinematic behaviors at implanted level in vertebra. Spinal range of motion(SROM) of inter-vertebra with installed Dynesys dynamic stabilization system was studied using Adams+LifeMOD as simulation software package. The vertebra model was set up to closely resemble the in-vivo conditions. Inter-vertebra rotations were measured by post processor of Adams and compared with the intact values. SROMs of the flexion, extension, lateral bending, and axial rotation of human virtual models were measured, where three spinal fixation systems such as rigid system, Dynesys system, and fused system were installed. As a result, the value of SROM is decreased in flexion-extension and lateral bending when the spinal fixation system is implanted. The movement of Dynesys system is similar to that of intact model by allowing the movement of lumbar. This means that the Dynesys system is proved to be safe and effective in the treatment of unstable spinal condition.

Combination of mesenchymal stem cells and three-dimensional collagen scaffold preserves ventricular remodeling in rat myocardial infarction model

BACKGROUND Cardiovascular diseases are the major cause of mortality worldwide.Regeneration of the damaged myocardium remains a challenge due to mechanical constraints and limited healing ability of the adult heart tissue.Cardiac tissue engineering using biomaterial scaffolds combined with stem cells and bioactive molecules could be a highly promising approach for cardiac repair.Use of biomaterials can provide suitable microenvironment to the cells and can solve cell engraftment problems associated with cell transplantation alone.Mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs)are potential candidates in cardiac tissue engineering because of their multilineage differentiation potential and ease of isolation.Use of DNA methyl transferase inhibitor,such as zebularine,in combination with three-dimensional(3D)scaffold can promote efficient MSC differentiation into cardiac lineage,as epigenetic modifications play a fundamental role in determining cell fate and lineage specific gene expression.AIM To investigate the role of collagen scaffold and zebularine in the differentiation of rat bone marrow(BM)-MSCs and their subsequent in vivo effects.METHODS MSCs were isolated from rat BM and characterized morphologically,immunophenotypically and by multilineage differentiation potential.MSCs were seeded in collagen scaffold and treated with 3μmol/L zebularine in three different ways.Cytotoxicity analysis was done and cardiac differentiation was analyzed at the gene and protein levels.Treated and untreated MSC-seeded scaffolds were transplanted in the rat myocardial infarction(MI)model and cardiac function was assessed by echocardiography.Cell tracking was performed by DiI dye labeling,while regeneration and neovascularization were evaluated by histological and immunohistochemical analysis,respectively.RESULTS MSCs were successfully isolated and seeded in collagen scaffold.Cytotoxicity analysis revealed that zebularine was not cytotoxic in any of the treatment groups.Cardiac differentiation analysis showed more pronounced results in the type 3 treatment group which was subsequently chosen for the transplantation in the in vivo MI model.Significant improvement in cardiac function was observed in the zebularine treated MSC-seeded scaffold group as compared to the MI control.Histological analysis also showed reduction in fibrotic scar,improvement in left ventricular wall thickness and preservation of ventricular remodeling in the zebularine treated MSC-seeded scaffold group.Immunohistochemical analysis revealed significant expression of cardiac proteins in DiI labeled transplanted cells and a significant increase in the number of blood vessels in the zebularine treated MSC-seeded collagen scaffold transplanted group.CONCLUSION Combination of 3D collagen scaffold and zebularine treatment enhances cardiac differentiation potential of MSCs,improves cell engraftment at the infarcted region,reduces infarct size and improves cardiac function.

Down-regulation of Halr1 during induced differentiation of embryonal carcinoma P19 cells

Maintenance of pluripotency depends to diverse regulatory factors.Studies in embryonic stem cells(ESCs)have indicated that large intergenic non-coding RNAs(lincRNAs)are involved in the regulatory network of pluripotency.However,the presence and function of pluripotency-associated lincRNAs in cancer cells with pluripotency features are unknown.In this study,we used embryonal carcinoma(EC)P19 cell lines to investigate the expression level of Halr1 in pluripotency and retinoic acid(RA)-induced differentiated states.Down-regulation of pluripotency associated factors such as OCT4,NANOG,SSEA1 and alkaline phosphatase at transcript and protein levels were used to confirm the differentiated status of P19 cells.Quantitative measurement of Halr1 transcript levels revealed a 79% decrease during RA-induced differentiation of P19 cells.These results indicate that upon exiting the pluripotency state the expression level of Halr1 similar to core pluripotency factors is remarkably reduced.

Deciphering of Space Images of the Inder Salt-Dome Upland in ENVI 4.7 Program

Space images play an important role in the Earth study as they bring the main information received from the Space Flyer Units (SFU) to help researchers. Space images’ deciphering gives the opportunity to study the territory and to plot different maps. On the basis of the space image obtained from Landsat 5TM (30 m resolution, 01.09.2012 year), we managed to get a picture of the modern relief of the northern part of Inder lake. When comparing the space image with topographic maps of 1985, we succeeded to identify the dynamics of landforms change on the studied area, what has been shown on the drawn map of the relief of the Inder salt dome uplift. 14 classes, corresponding to a particular type of terrain or to a landscape complex, have been distinguished on the studied area. Inder salt dome uplift is a paradynamic conjugation, consisting of highly karsted Inder Mountains corresponding to large diapir uplift, and of the Inder Lake having a large ellipsoidal shape. Geomorphologically, the investigated territory is located on the left bank of Zhaiyk River, and presents a salt dome uplift in the form of a plateau-like hill raised above the surrounding surface from 12 to 40 m. The maximum height reaches 42.5 m (g. Suatbaytau). The crest of the Inder salt dome is composed of Low Permian sediments (rock salt with anhydrite, potassiummagnesium salts), and has an area of about 210 km2. Inder lake’s basin is represented by a tectonic depression, which is the local basis of erosion and is a drainage place of the Inder uplift karstic water. The lake area is 150 km2. Depending on the climatic conditions, the water level can vary.

Karst and Pseudokarst of the West Kazakhstan (Republic of Kazakhstan)

An analysis of the formation of karst and karst-suffosion forms on the territory of the West Kazakhstan region is presented in this paper. Numerous literary sources were used as the information database for the analysis of the relief features of the West Kazakhstan region. Evaluation of the morphometric features of the collapsed new formations on the basis of materials of our own field research is presented here for the first time. According to the research objectives there were defined localization places of the karst-collapsed phenomena where the reconnaissance field surveys were carried out. Survey points’ localization has been carried out by means of GPS system with the help of 12-channel GPS-receiver of Garmin eTrex model. Geoinformational technology, based on MapInfo 9.5 and ArcGIS 9.2 packages was used for the building of the information and cartographic database. Original thematic maps compiled on the basis of the research results’ analysis have been obtained in this research. The features of the Caspian Basin’s karst landscapes, formed as a result of salt-dome tectonic manifestations (Inder Mountains, Malaya Bogdo Mountain, Bish-Chokho hill) are described in this paper. The important elements of the Caspian Basin salt-dome landscapes are landforms of the karst origin from large karst depressions of the karst-tectonic origin to modern forms of the sulfate karst: sinkholes, wells, polje, knobs (“Kurgantau”), arches, caves and grottoes. Some karst formations have a non-salt-dome origin. Three areas with the collapsed forms that have the karst-suffosion origin have been identified (near Konyr village, Berezovka village and Zhanatalap village). The mechanism of the sinkholes formation is due to the changes of the groundwater regime and the displacement of limestone eluvium as a result of active anthropogenic impacts. The sinkholes occurence near Zhanatalap village, which is located near the Karachaganak oil and gas field, is probably due to the anthropogenic initiation of karst-suffosion processes.

The Ability of Edible Mushrooms to Act as Biocatalysts: Preparation of Chiral Alcohols Using Basidiomycete Strains

To examine the potential ability of edible mushrooms to act as biocatalysts, 19 basidiomycete strains were screened. Modified media (PG, O, and PGO medium) for liquid cultivation of these basidiomycete strains were designed and tested. Wet cells (>10 g) of 4 basidiomycete strains (Pleurotus salmoneostramineus H7, P. salmoneostramineus H13, Ganoderma lucidum NBRC31863, Flammulina velutipes NBRC31862) were harvested from PGO medium for 7 days. The stereoselective reduction of α-keto esters using the 4 strains was tested. It was found that each of these strains had a reducing activity toward 6 aliphatic α-keto esters. In the presence of L-alanine as an additive, the reduction of ethyl 2-oxobutanoate and ethyl 2-oxopentanoete by P. salmoneostramineus H7 produced the corresponding alcohol with a high conversion ratio and with excellent enantiomeric excess (>99% e.e. (R)). Furthermore, ethyl pyruvate, ethyl 2-oxobutanoate, and ethyl 2-oxopentanoate were predominantly reduced to the corresponding (R)-hydroxy ester (>99% e.e.) by G. lucidum. Thus, we found that these edible mushrooms have great potential to be used as biocatalysts for the stereoselective reduction of carbonyl compounds.