Ultrastructural characterization of whole hydrosalpinx from infertile Chinese women

Hydrosalpinx (HSP) has been shown to be detrimental to the outcome of assisted reproduction, but little is known of its pathology. This prospective study examined and detailed ultrastructural characterization of HSP of infertile women presenting for assisted reproductive treatments. Both light and electron microscopies were used to characterize HSP. Hematoxylin and eosin staining of HSP showed areas without epithelial cell lining or with abnormalities such as flattening of the epithelial layer and exfoliation of epithelial cells with occasional normal columnar epithelial lining. HSP muscle fibers were atrophic and occasionally replaced by fibrous tissues, or separated by areas of severe edema. Inflammatory cells could be found in hydrosalpinx fluid (HF) in the lumen in areas with flattened to no epithelial cells, without epithelial lining, as well as in dilated blood vessels and/or lymph vessels. Scanning electron microscopy of the epithelial surface revealed epithelial denudation-severe loss of both cilia and microvilli and stomata exuding globular bodies on eroded ampulla surfaces. Severe chronic inflammation and damage to the epithelial lining and musculature of Fallopian tubes and the presence of inflammatory cells provides an explanation for HF formation, and thus for the detrimental effects of HF on reproductive processes and IVF outcome.     

Total synthesis and antiangiogenic activity of cyclopentane analogues of fumagillol

Novel cyclopentane analogues of fumagillol were synthesized and their endothelial cell proliferation inhibitory activities were evaluated. The cyclopentane-fumagillol derivatives were synthesized from (-)-2,3-O-isopropylidene-D-erythronolactone via stereoselective glycolate Claisen rearrangement and intramolecular ester enolate alkylation as key steps.     

Saucerneol B derivatives as human acyl-CoA: cholesterol acyltransferase inhibitors

A series of 2a-i were prepared from a lead compound, saucerneol B (1) for evaluating their acyl-CoA: cholesterol acyltransferase inhibitory activities. Compounds 2a-g exhibited the high specificity of hACAT-1 than hACAT-2, whereas 2h and 2i showed very weak inhibitory activities in both hACAT-1 and hACAT-2. Saucerneol B (1) exhibited strong cholesterol-lowering effect in high cholesterol-fed mice.     

(E)-Phenyl- and -heteroaryl-substituted O-benzoyl-(or acyl)oximes as lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 inhibitors

A series of (E)-phenyl- and -heteroaryl-substituted O-benzoyl- (or acyl)oximes 3a-n were synthesized for evaluating their human lipoprotein-associated phospholiphase A2 (Lp-PLA2) inhibitory activities. The less lipophilic derivatives 3a-c showed the most potent in vitro inhibitory activity on human Lp-PLA2.     

Intellectual property strategy in bioinformatics and biochips

Intellectual property rights are essential in today's technology-driven age. A strong intellectual property protection strategy is crucial in the bioinformatics and biochips technology spaces as monetary and temporal resources are tremendous in finding a blockbuster drug or gene therapy, as well as in deploying advanced biosensor and other medical systems. Current problems and intellectual property practice in the genomic space are presented and analyzed. Various strategy and solutions are proposed to guide bioinformatic and biochip companies in forming an aggressive strategy to protect one's intellectual property and competitive positioning.     

Mini chamber system for long-term maintenance and observation of cultured cells

We constructed a mini chamber system that was able to maintain cell culture on a microscope for long periods. It is a modified closed system with medium perfusion and CO2 circulation. The closed CO2 circulation and ample air inside the chamber distinguish it from other closed systems. Using different cell lines, the system was shown to be able to support long-term, time-lapse recording. After 229 hours of time-lapse recording, A2058 cells (a melanoma cell line) became overconfluent but still multiplied. Many CAD cells (a murine neuron-like cell line) still moved their cell bodies and kept their neurite-like processes after 28 days of recording. The entire healing process of a scratch-wounded 124 (a bladder cancer cell line) monolayer can be monitored. Such a modified closed system should find many applications in developmental biology, cell biology, and cancer biology where long-term, time-lapse recording is required or when the health of cells is important.     

Structure of the cinnamyl-alcohol dehydrogenase gene family in rice and promoter activity of a member associated with lignification

Analysis of lignification in rice has been facilitated by the availability of the recently completed rice genome sequence, and rice will serve as an important model for understanding the relationship of grass lignin composition to cell wall digestibility. Cinnamyl-alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD) is an enzyme important in lignin biosynthesis. The rice genome contains 12 distinct genes present at nine different loci that encode products with significant similarity to CAD. The rice gene family is diverse with respect to other angiosperm and gymnosperm CAD genes isolated to date and includes one member (OsCAD6) that contains a peroxisomal targeting signal and is substantially diverged relative to other family members. Four closely related family members (OsCAD8A–D) are present at the same locus and represent the product of a localized gene duplication and inversion. Promoter-reporter gene fusions to OsCAD2, an orthologue of the CAD gene present at the bm1 (brown midrib 1) locus of maize, reveal that in rice expression is associated with vascular tissue in aerial parts of the plant and is correlated with the onset of lignification. In root tissue, expression is primarily in the cortical parenchyma adjacent to the exodermis and in vascular tissue.