Dysfunction of Shh signaling activates autophagy to inhibit trophoblast motility in recurrent miscarriage

In early pregnancy, the placenta anchors the conceptus and supports embryonic development and survival. This study aimed to investigate the underlying functions of Shh signaling in recurrent miscarriage (RM), a serious disorder of pregnancy. In the present study, Shh and Gli2 were mainly observed in cytotrophoblasts (CTBs), Ptch was mainly observed in syncytiotrophoblasts (STBs), and Smo and Gli3 were expressed in both CTBs and STBs. Shh signaling was significantly impaired in human placenta tissue from recurrent miscarriage patients compared to that of gestational age-matched normal controls. VEGF-A and CD31 protein levels were also significantly decreased in recurrent miscarriage patients. Furthermore, inhibition of Shh signaling impaired the motility of JAR cells by regulating the expression of Gli2 and Gli3. Intriguingly, inhibition of Shh signaling also triggered autophagy and autolysosome accumulation. Additionally, knockdown of BECN1 reversed Gant61-induced motility inhibition. In conclusion, our results showed that dysfunction of Shh signaling activated autophagy to inhibit trophoblast motility, which suggests the Shh pathway and autophagy as potential targets for RM therapy.Subject terms: Embryology, Endocrine reproductive disorders, Autophagosomes     

Copper oxide nanocrystals

It is well-known that inorganic nanocrystals are a benchmark model for nanotechnology, given that the tunability of optical properties and the stabilization of specific phases are uniquely possible at the nanoscale. Copper (I) oxide (Cu(2)O) is a metal oxide semiconductor with promising applications in solar energy conversion and catalysis. To understand the Cu/Cu(2)O/CuO system at the nanoscale, we have developed a method for preparing highly uniform monodisperse nanocrystals of Cu(2)O. The procedure also serves to demonstrate our development of a generalized method for the synthesis of transition metal oxide nanocrystals. Cu nanocrystals are initially formed and subsequently oxidized to form highly crystalline Cu(2)O. The volume change during phase transformation can induce crystal twinning. Absorption in the visible region of the spectrum gave evidence for the presence of a thin, epitaxial layer of CuO, which is blue-shifted, and appears to increase in energy as a function of decreasing particle size. XPS confirmed the thin layer of CuO, calculated to have a thickness of approximately 5 A. We note that the copper (I) oxide phase is surprisingly well-stabilized at this length scale.     

苯硫酚等离子体聚会及其结构与性能

应用外部电容耦合式等离子体聚合装置．研究了苯硫酚等离子体聚合规律，找到了最佳聚合条件，通过热失重、红外光谱、X－射线衍射、电子衍射、GC－MS和接触角测定等研究了聚合物结构与性能。电导率测定表明等离子体聚苯硫酚具有半导体性质。     

The study of nafion/xanthine oxidase/au colloid chemically modified biosensor and its application in the determination of hypoxanthine in myocardial cells in vivo

A novel hypoxanthine (Hx) microsensor was constructed. In this work, Nafion xanthine oxidase (XOD) and Au colloid were immobilized onto the surface of a Pt microelectrode. The enzyme biosensor displayed a quick and sensitive response to Hx. Under physiological conditions, a low detection limit, with high selectivity and sensitivity for Hx determination were obtained. The oxidation current [investigated using current-time (I-t) plots] was linear with Hx concentration ranging from 2.0 x 10(-7) to 2.0 x 10(-5) mol L(-1) with a calculated detection limit of 1.0 x 10(-7) mol L(-1) (S/N of 3). The biosensor should be promising for in vivo measurement of Hx without interferences and fouling. The change of Hx concentration in cardiac myocytes stimulated by L-arginine (L-Arg) and acetylcholine (Ach) was also studied.     

Trifluoromethylation of Alkyl Radicals: Breakthrough and Challenges†

Trifluoromethylation of alkyl radicals is emerging as a powerful tool for C(sp³)–CF₃ bond formations. Based on the hypothesis of CF₃ group transfer from Cu(II)–CF₃ to alkyl radicals, a number of trifluoromethylation reactions have been developed, including trifluoromethylation of alkyl halides, decarboxylative trifluoromethylation of aliphatic carboxylic acids, C(sp³)–H trifluoromethylation, amino‐ and carbo‐trifluoromethylation of alkenes, etc. Challenges in this intriguing field are also discussed.     

溶液中(RC2R')Co(CO)(PR″3)2的配体PR″3之间的交换作用——三跳动力学模型

本文成功地运用了三跳动力学模型,通过相关函数和超精细分裂常数的关系, 推出了电子自旋共振波谱的线宽与基本线宽T_(2,0)~(-1)、溶液中各种异构体的超精细分裂常数、配体的交换寿命等之间的关系。求出了在290 K温度下(Ph_2C_2)Co(CO)[P(OEt)_3]_2的THF溶渡中P(OEt)_3配体的交换寿命是5.6×10~(-11)秒。     

The influence of polyelectrolyte charges of polyurethane membrane surface on the growth of human endothelial cells

A novel technique to introduce free amino groups onto polyester scaffolds via aminolyzing the ester groups with diamine has been developed recently. The introduction of the free amino groups on these polyester surfaces provides us the possibility to modify polymer surface in a simpler manner, e.g. layer-by-layer assembly of charged species. By this technique, many negatively and positively charged biopolymers were deposited alternatively on polyurethane surface. The deposition process was monitored by fluorescence spectroscopy and advancing contact angle measurements. The result of human endothelial cells cultured in vitro showed that cells on negatively charged surface could not spread and flatten well due to the electrostatic repulsion. The lower attachment ratio induced the lower proliferation ratio. However, after the surface charge was inversed by collagen, both attachment and proliferation ratios increased to different extent. Observed under SEM, cells also presented a flat and spreading morphology.     

Reaction mechanism studies on isoquinoline with hydroxyl radical in aqueous solutions

The reaction mechanism between isoquinoline and ·OH radical in aqueous dilute solutions under different conditions was studied by pulse radiolysis. The main characteristic peaks in these transient absorption spectra were attributed and the growth-decay trends of several transient species were investigated. Under neutral or alkaline conditions, the reaction of ·OH radical and isoquinoline produces OH-adducts with respective rate constants of 3.4 × 10⁹ and 6.6 × 10⁹ mol⁻¹ · dm³ · s⁻¹ while under acidic conditions, the isoquinoline was firstly protonated and then ·OH added to the benzene ring and produced protonated isoquinoline OH-adducts with a rate constant of 3.9 × 10⁹ mol⁻¹ · dm³ · s⁻¹. With a better understanding on radiolysis of isoquinoline, this study is of help for its degradation and for environmental protection. __________ Translated from Journal of Fudan University (Natural Science), 2006, 45(6): 774–778 [8BD1;81EA: 590D;65E6;5B66;62A5;(自然科学版)]     

Novel Pb(II), Zn(II), and Cd(II) coordination polymers constructed from ferrocenyl-substituted carboxylate and bipyridine-based ligands

Treatment of two kinds of ferrocenyl-substituted carboxylate ligands (3-ferrocenyl-2-crotonic acid, HOOC-CH=(CH(3))CFc (Fc=(eta(5)-C(5)H(5))Fe(eta(5)-C(5)H(4))) or O-ferrocecarbonyl benzoic acid, o-HOOCC(6)H(4)COFc with Pb(OAc)(2).3H(2)O, Zn(OAc)(2).2H(2)O, or Cd(OAc)(2).2H(2)O) resulted in four novel ferrocene-containing coordination polymers [[Pb(mu(2)-eta(2)-OOCCH=(CH(3))CFc)(2)].MeOH](n) (1), [[Zn(o-OOCC(6)H(4)COFc)(2)(4,4'-bipy)(H(2)O)(2)].2MeOH.2H(2)O](n) (4,4'-bipy = 4,4'-bipyridine) (2), [[Cd(o-OOCC(6)H(4)COFc)(2)(bpe)(MeOH)(2)].2H(2)O](n) (bpe = 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethene) (3), and [Pb(o-OOCC(6)H(4)COFc)(eta(2)-o-OOCC(6)H(4)COFc)(bpe)](n)() (4). Their crystal structures have been characterized by single X-ray determinations. In polymer 1, Pb(II) ions are bridged by tridentate FcC(CH(3))=CHCOO(-) anions, forming an infinite chain [Pb(mu(2)-eta(2)-OOC=CH(CH(3))CFc)(2)](n). In polymers 2-4, there are three kinds of components, metal ions, o-FcCOC(6)H(4)COO(-) units, and organic bridging ligands. The bipyridine-based ligands connect metal ions leading to a one-dimensional chain with o-FcCOC(6)H(4)COO(-) units acting as monodentate or chelate ligands in the side chain. Such coordination polymers containing ferrocenyl-substituted carboxylate and bipyridine-based ligands are very rare. The solution-state differential pulse voltammetries of polymers 1-4 were determined. The results indicate that the half-wave potential of the ferrocenyl moieties is influenced by the Pb(II) ions in polymer 1 and strongly influenced by Zn(II), Cd(II), or Pb(II) ions in polymers 2-4. The thermal properties of the four polymers were also investigated.