Shu-Chi Wang

The crystal structure of LiVP2O7

The structure of the vanadium(III) pyrophosphate LiVP2O7 was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction data. The title compound, which is isostructural with LiFeP2O7, crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21 (No. 4) with a = 4.8048(6), b = 8.113(1), c = 6.9393(9) A, β = 109.01(1)°, V = 255.75(7) A3, Z = 2, and R = 0.022 for 607 unique reflections. The Li+ cations, which are located in the tunnels which are formed by corner-sharing VO6 octahedra and P2O7 groups, are each coordinated by four oxygen atoms in a geometry with the same general shape as that of SF4. The structure is discussed along with NaVP2O7 and CsVP2O7.

Honokiol inhibits LPS-induced maturation and inflammatory response of human monocyte-derived dendritic cells†

Honokiol (HNK) is a phenolic compound isolated from the bark of houpu (Magnolia officinalis), a plant widely used in traditional Chinese and Japanese medicine. While substantial evidence indicates that HNK possesses anti‐inflammatory activity, its effect on dendritic cells (DCs) during the inflammatory reaction remains unclear. The present study investigates how HNK affects lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐stimulated human monocyte‐derived DCs. Our experimental results show that HNK inhibits the inflammatory response of LPS‐induced DCs by (1) suppressing the expression of CD11c, CD40, CD80, CD83, CD86, and MHC‐II on LPS‐activated DCs, (2) reducing the production of TNF‐α, IL‐1β, IL‐6, and IL‐12p70 but increasing the production of IL‐10 and TGF‐β1 by LPS‐activated DCs, (3) inhibiting the LPS‐induced DC‐elicited allogeneic T‐cell proliferation, and (4) shifting the LPS‐induced DC‐driven Th1 response toward a Th2 response. Further, our results show that HNK inhibits the phosphorylation levels of ERK1/2, p38, JNK1/2, IKKα, and IκBα in LPS‐activated DCs. Collectively, the findings show that the anti‐inflammatory actions of HNK on LPS‐induced DCs are associated with the NF‐κB and mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways. J. Cell. Physiol. 226: 2338–2349, 2011.

β-K2V3P4O17: A vanadium(IV) pyrophosphate with a layer structure

Abstract The high-temperature β-polymorph of the compound of formula K2V3P4O17 has been synthesized and its structure established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction method. Blue-green plate crystal of β-K2V3P4O17 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2 1 c (14) with a = 9.298(3), b = 4.879(2), c = 17.998(9) A, β = 114.98(3)°, V = 740.1 A3, Z = 2, R = 0.055, and Rw = 0.050 for 586 unique reflections. The title compound consists of layers of vanadium(IV) phosphorus oxide with the potassium atoms between the layers. Each layer is built up from corner-sharing VO5 square pyramids and P2O7 groups. Both differential thermal analysis and powder X-ray diffraction indicate that the phase transition from the low temperature α-polymorph to the high temperature β-polymorph occurs at ca. 915°C, and that the β-polymorph melts with decomposition at ca. 950°C. The phase transition is reconstructive and involves considerable bond scission and reformation between the two phases.

Gene Expression Profiling of Dendritic Cells in Different Physiological Stages under Cordyceps sinensis Treatment

Cordyceps sinensis (CS) has been commonly used as herbal medicine and a health supplement in China for over two thousand years. Although previous studies have demonstrated that CS has benefits in immunoregulation and anti-inflammation, the precise mechanism by which CS affects immunomodulation is still unclear. In this study, we exploited duplicate sets of loop-design microarray experiments to examine two different batches of CS and analyze the effects of CS on dendritic cells (DCs), in different physiology stages: naïve stage and inflammatory stage. Immature DCs were treated with CS, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), or LPS plus CS (LPS/CS) for two days, and the gene expression profiles were examined using cDNA microarrays. The results of two loop-design microarray experiments showed good intersection rates. The expression level of common genes found in both loop-design microarray experiments was consistent, and the correlation coefficients (Rs), were higher than 0.96. Through intersection analysis of microarray results, we identified 295 intersecting significantly differentially expressed (SDE) genes of the three different treatments (CS, LPS, and LPS/CS), which participated mainly in the adjustment of immune response and the regulation of cell proliferation and death. Genes regulated uniquely by CS treatment were significantly involved in the regulation of focal adhesion pathway, ECM-receptor interaction pathway, and hematopoietic cell lineage pathway. Unique LPS regulated genes were significantly involved in the regulation of Toll-like receptor signaling pathway, systemic lupus erythematosus pathway, and complement and coagulation cascades pathway. Unique LPS/CS regulated genes were significantly involved in the regulation of oxidative phosphorylation pathway. These results could provide useful information in further study of the pharmacological mechanisms of CS. This study also demonstrates that with a rigorous experimental design, the biological effects of a complex compound can be reliably studied by a complex system like cDNA microarray.

A new antimony(III) molybdate with a layer structure : KSbMo2O8

Abstract The crystal structure of KSbMo2O8 was determined from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data. It crystallizes in the triclinic space group P 1 with a = 5.015(2), b = 7.4216(6), c = 10.304(1) A; α = 90.45(1), β = 100.29(2), γ = 107.79(1)°; V = 358.5 A3, Z = 2, R = 0.028, Rw = 0.038 for 1590 unique reflections with I > 2.5 σ(I). The structure contains layers of antimony molybdate with the potassium cations between the layers. Each layer is built up from strongly distorted MoO6, MoO5, and SbO6 polyhedra and consists of two types of chains parallel to the a-axis. Sb2O10 dimers, formed by two edge-sharing SbO6 polyhedra, are connected by MoO5 groups to form chains. The other type of chains is constructed from skew edge-shared MoO6 octahedra, which are linked through Sb2O10 dimers such that layers in the (010) plane are formed. Each K+ cation is coordinated by nine oxygen atoms in a geometry of tricapped trigonal prism.

Crystal structure of the tetrapolyphosphate Cr2P4O13

The structure of the tetrapolyphosphate Cr2P4O13 was determined from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data. It crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21c with a = 8.097(2), b = 8.787(3), c = 13.098(4)A, β = 105.54(2)°, V = 897.8(5) A3, Z = 4, and R = 0.0297, Rw = 0.0287 for 1802 unique reflections. Hexagonal tunnels along the a-axis are formed by the edges of two CrO6 octahedra and four PO4 tetrahedra. The framework consists of pairs of edge-sharing CrO6 octahedra forming Cr2O10 units and unusual tetrapolyphosphate anions P4O6−13. The phosphate anion forms a “U” shape and is built up by four corner-sharing PO4 tetrahedra. The present state of tetrapolyphosphate chemistry is briefly reviewed.

Effect of music on level of anxiety in patients undergoing colonoscopy without sedation

Background Listening to music can be a noninvasive method for reducing the anxiety level without any adverse effects. The aim of this study was to explore whether music can reduce anxiety and to compare two different styles of music, informal classical music and light music, to ascertain the more effective style of music in reducing anxiety in patients undergoing colonoscopy without sedation. Methods This study enrolled 138 patients who underwent colonoscopy without sedation during a general health examination from February 2009 to January 2015. The patients were randomly assigned to a group that did not listen to music, a group that listened to music by David Tolley, or a group that listened to music by Kevin Kern. The State‐Trait Anxiety Inventory was used to evaluate the status of anxiety. Results A trend test for mild anxiety was performed on the patients in the three groups, and a significant trend was noted (p = 0.017 for all patients; p = 0.014 for analysis by sex). Multivariate analysis for mild anxiety on the patients in each group was also performed in this study, and music by Kevin Kern was found to have the lowest odds ratio (Odds ratio = 0.34, p = 0.045). Conclusion Listening to music, especially music by Kevin Kern, reduced the level of anxiety in patients undergoing colonoscopy examination without sedation.

Genetics Variants and Serum Levels of MHC Class I Chain-related A in Predicting Hepatocellular Carcinoma Development in Chronic Hepatitis C Patients Post Antiviral Treatment

Background/aims The genome-wide association study has shown that MHC class I chain-related A (MICA) genetic variants were associated with hepatitis C virus (HCC) related hepatocellular carcinoma. The impact of the genetic variants and its serum levels on post-treatment cohort is elusive. Methods MICA rs2596542 genotype and serum MICA (sMICA) levels were evaluated in 705 patients receiving antiviral therapy. Results Fifty-eight (8·2%) patients developed HCC, with a median follow-up period of 48·2 months (range: 6–129 months). The MICA A allele was associated with a significantly increased risk of HCC development in cirrhotic non-SVR patients but not in patients of non-cirrhotic and/or with SVR. For cirrhotic non-SVR patients, high sMICA levels (HR/CI: 5·93/1·86–26.38·61, P = 0·002) and the MICA rs2596542 A allele (HR/CI: 4·37/1·52–12·07, P = 0·002) were independently associated with HCC development. The risk A allele or GG genotype with sMICA > 175 ng/mL provided the best accuracy (79%) and a negative predictive value of 100% in predicting HCC. Conclusions Cirrhotic patients who carry MICA risk alleles and those without risk alleles but with high sMICA levels possessed the highest risk of HCC development once they failed antiviral therapy.

The structure of CsV(MoO4)2

Abstract The crystal structure of CsV(MoO4)2 was determined from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data. It crystallizes in the trigonal space group P 3 m1 (No. 164) with a = 5.662(3), c = 7.976(2)A, Z = 1. The structure contains layers of vanadium molybdate with the cesium cations between the layers. Each layer is built up from corner-sharing VO6 octahedra and MoO4 tetrahedra. The structural relationship between the title compound, KAl(SO4)2, KV(SO4)2, and a high-temperature form of Zr(MoO4)2 is discussed.

The Paradoxical Effects of Different Hepatitis C Viral Loads on Host DNA Damage and Repair Abilities

Hepatitis C virus (HCV)-induced hepatic stress is associated with increased oxidative DNA damage and has been implicated in hepatic inflammation. However, HCV infection and replication are uneven and vary among individual hepatocytes. To investigate the effect of the viral load on host DNA damage, we used an Enhanced Yellow Fluorescent Protein gene (EYFP)-tagged HCV virus to distinguish between HCV intracellular high viral load (HVL) cells and low viral load (LVL) cells. The cell sorting efficiency was confirmed by the high expression of the HCV polyprotein. We found DNA damage γ-H2AX foci in the HVL population. Comet assays demonstrated that HVL was related to the extent of the DNA strand breaks. Surprisingly, the DNA qPCR arrays and western blotting showed that the damage-related genes GPX2, MRE11, phospho-ATM, and OGG1 were significantly up-regulated in LVL cells but inversely down-regulated or consistently expressed in HVL cells. The colony survival assay to examine the repair abilities of these cells in response to irradiation showed that the LVL cells were more resistant to irradiation and had an increased ability to repair radiation-induced damage. This study found that intracellular viral loads drove cellular DNA damage levels but suppressed damage-related gene expression. However, the increase in damage-related gene expression in the LVL cells may be affected by ROS from the HVL cells. These findings provide new insights into the distinct DNA damage and repair responses resulting from different viral loads in HCV-infected cells.