Pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) has been shown previously to prevent liver fibrosis and hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation. By investigating the functional domains in PEDF, we identified a 34-mer peptide (residues Asp44-Asn77) that harbors the same function as the full-length PEDF protein. Not only did the 34-mer suppress the development of fibrosis in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-t...

OBJECTIVE To observe the changes in protein expression induced by botulinum toxin A (BoNT-A) injection and to characterize the molecular and cellular action of mechanisms of BoNT-A injection on skeletal muscles using proteomic elements as biomarkers. METHODS BoNT-A was injected into left gastrocnemius muscles of 12 Sprague-Dawley rats (2 months of age) at a dosage of 5 units/kg body weight. F...

the rose sawfly, arge rosae linnaeus, is one of the most destructive pests of rose bushes in the north of iran. nowadays, many attempts have been made to reduce pesticide application by looking for new methods of pest control. a non chemical method for controlling insect pests including a. rosae can be achieved by using genetically engineered plants expressing carbohydrase inhibitors. therefore...

in this study, modified starch was used as a fat replacer in the milk. the fat replacer was manufactured from modified starch such as pre-gelatinized and cross–linked starches. modified starches were manufactured by hydrochloric acid and citric acid treatments from potato and wheat and were added to skim milk at concentrations of 0.15%, 0.30% and 0.45%. viscosity, total solid, fat content, titr...

The goal of the present study was to modulate the phenotype expression of hepatocytes in vitro on surfaces imprinted with growth factors (GFs). Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) or transforming-growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) were mixed with collagen (I) and robotically printed onto standard glass slides to create arrays of 300 μm or 500 μm diameter spots. Primary rat hepatocytes were seeded on top of t...

Prostaglandins (PGs) and other eicosanoids exert important physiological actions in insects and other invertebrates, including influencing ion transport and mediating cellular immune defense functions. Although these actions are very well documented, we have no information on the mechanisms of PGs actions in insect cells. Here we report on the outcomes of experiments designed to test our hypoth...

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is the third most widely consumed plant food by humans. Its tubers are rich in starch and vitamin C, but have low or null levels of essential nutrients such as provitamin A and vitamin E. Transformation of potato with a bacterial mini-pathway for β-carotene in a tuber-specific manner results in a "golden" potato (GP) tuber phenotype resulting from accumulation of p...

Five mid-lactation multicatheterized Jersey cows were used in a 4×4 Latin square design to investigate whether the increase in milk N yield associated with diets rich in starch versus fiber could originate from changes in the splanchnic AA metabolism and if these changes depended upon the dietary crude protein (CP) content. Four isoenergetic diets were formulated to provide 2 different carbohyd...

PURPOSE β-Limit dextrin has been studied for many years as a means to investigate the internal structures of amylose and amylopectin. However its role as an excipient in the pharmaceutical industry has never been reported. This paper is the first one in a series to explore its potential use as an excipient to aid drug delivery. METHODS The bioadhesive properties of β-limit dextrin were studie...