The present study addressed these issues by using primary cultures of rat hippocampal neurons and a pharmacological protocol of selective NMDAR stimulation for Western blot and immunocytochemistry analyses. We found that the activation of extrasynaptic NMDARs, either alone or together with synaptic NMDARs, triggers cyclin-D1-associated

re-entry into the cell cycle, which does not proceed beyond the S-phase. This aberrant cell cycle re-entry is particularly associated with neuronal death triggered specifically via extrasynaptic NMDAR-induced c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase (JNK). In addition, NMDA-elicited neuronal death was significantly inhibited by pharmacological blockade of JNK-mediated cyclin D1 expression or by silencing cyclin D1 RNA. Taken together, these data suggest a causal relationship between Cytoskeletal Signaling inhibitor cyclin D1 induction and extrasynaptic NMDAR-triggered neuronal death along the excitotoxic NMDA pathway. Therefore, cyclin D1 may be a putative target for the development of neuroprotective strategies sparing physiological synaptic NMDAR signaling. Copyright (C) 2012 S. Karger AG, Basel”
“The potential of the new cellulase Cel9B from Paenibacillus barcinonensis for the modification of cellulose flax fibers was VX-689 concentration for the first time assessed in this work.

Cel9B treatments were found to enhance the development of properties during the refining of fibers, the precise effects depending on the enzyme dose used. Scanning electron micrographs showed the treatments to alter flax fiber surface and cause defibrillation, peeling and fiber

wall removal. Zero-span tensile strength was determined to elucidate the changes in intrinsic resistance ACY-241 in vitro of cellulose fibers and solubilization of carbohydrates evaluated by HPLC. Low Cel9B doses resulted in improved tensile strength in handsheets and can thus be used to save energy in the refining process. Also, on equal tear resistance, handsheets had a higher tensile index. High doses of Cel9B raised the collapsibility and bonding potential of cellulose flax fibers and produced heavier handsheets. Cel9B also improved air permeance at low refining intensities. The results obtained in this work are useful in understanding the effects brought by cellulase Cel9B on flax fibers and provide a proof of a biotechnological platform for the development of added-value fiber products. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.”
“Background: Our objective was to observe the role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) 121 gene transfer in promoting vascular reconstruction and bone repair in femur head necrosis of rabbits.

Methods: The femoral head necrosis model was induced by injection with ethanol. The necrotic femoral head was transfected with a human adenoviral vector expressing VEGF (Ad-hVEGF121).