1
|
Stability evaluation of candidate reference genes for real-time qPCR normalization in Rhyzopertha dominica (Coleoptera: Bostrycidae). JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY 2024; 117:629-637. [PMID: 38245820 DOI: 10.1093/jee/toae004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
Rhyzopertha dominica is a serious stored grain insect pest around the world. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) is a widely used experimental method in molecular biology for detecting the expression of target genes. As appropriate reference genes are essential for normalizing gene expression, the selection of suitable reference genes is the basis of RT-qPCR experiments. In this study, the expression profiles of 7 candidate reference genes of rps3, rps6, rps13, actin, gadph, tubulin, and 18S rRNA were analyzed under 4 different experimental conditions. The expression stability of candidate genes was evaluated using the ΔCt, GeNorm, BestKeeper, NormFinder, and RefFinder methods. The results revealed that different reference genes were suitable for various experiments. Specifically, rps3 and rps6 were appropriate for the developmental stages and all samples: 18S rRNA and rps13 for temperature-related experiments, actin and rps6 for sex-related experiments, and rps6 and gadph for starvation stress. Our results lay essential groundwork for the normalization of RT-qPCR analyses and contribute to genomic and gene functional research of R. dominica.
Collapse
|
2
|
Penicillium-Infected Apples Benefit Larval Development of Conogethes punctiferalis via Alterations of Their Gut Bacteria Community and Gene Expression. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2024; 72:7774-7783. [PMID: 38563445 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.3c09614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Pathogenic microorganisms can impact the behavior and physiology of herbivores by direct or indirect means. This study demonstrated that yellow peach moth Conogethes punctiferalis larvae feeding on Penicillium-infected apples exhibited significantly longer body length and weight parameters compared to the control group. The sequencing of gut 16S rRNA showed a significant increase in the diversity and abundance of bacteria in the larvae feeding on Penicillium-infected apples. Additionally, transcriptomic sequencing of the larval gut indicated significant upregulation of genes related to digestion and cuticle formation after consuming Penicillium-infected apples. Furthermore, enzyme activity assays revealed notable changes in the trypsin and lipase activity. Consequently, these alterations in gut microbiota structure, diversity, and gene expression levels may underlie the observed growth and developmental variations in C. punctiferalis larvae mediated by pathogenic microorganisms. This study holds theoretical significance for a deeper understanding of the tripartite interaction among microorganisms, insects, and plants as well as for the development of novel pest control measures based on gut microbiota.
Collapse
|
3
|
Trehalose 6-phosphate synthase gene rdtps1 contributes to thermal acclimation in Rhyzopertha dominica. BMC Genomics 2024; 25:172. [PMID: 38350857 PMCID: PMC10863172 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-024-10028-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The lesser grain borer (Rhyzopertha dominica), a worldwide primary pest of stored grain, causes serious economic losses and threatens stored food safety. R. dominica can respond to changes in temperature, especially the adaptability to heat. In this study, transcriptome analysis of R. dominica exposed to different temperatures was performed to elucidate differences in gene expression and the underling molecular mechanism. RESULTS Isoform-sequencing generated 17,721,200 raw reads and yielded 20,416 full-length transcripts. A total of 18,880 (92.48%) transcripts were annotated. We extracted RNA from R. dominica reared at 5 °C (cold stress), 15 °C (cold stress), 27 °C (ambient temperature) and 40 °C (heat stress) for RNA-seq. Compared to those of control insects reared at 27 °C, 119, 342, and 875 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified at 5 °C, 15 °C, and 40 °C, respectively. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis revealed that pathways associated with "fatty acid metabolism", "fatty acid biosynthesis", "AMPK signaling pathway", "neuroactive ligand receptor interaction", and "longevity regulating pathway-multiple species" were significantly enriched. The functional annotation revealed that the genes encoding heat shock proteins (HSPs), fatty acid synthase (FAS), phospholipases (PLA), trehalose transporter (TPST), trehalose 6-phosphate synthase (TPS), and vitellogenin (Vg) were most likely involved in temperature regulation, which was also validated by RT-qPCR. Seven candidate genes (rdhsp1, rdfas1, rdpla1, rdtpst1, rdtps1, rdvg1, and rdP450) were silenced in the RNA interference (RNAi) assay. RNAi of each candidate gene suggested that inhibiting rdtps1 expression significantly decreased the trehalose level and survival rate of R. dominica at 40 °C. CONCLUSIONS These results indicated that trehalose contributes to the high temperature resistance of R. dominica. Our study elucidates the molecular mechanisms underlying heat tolerance and provides a potential target for the pest management in R. dominica.
Collapse
|
4
|
Efficacy and safety of bicyclol for treating patients with antituberculosis drug-induced liver injury. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis 2024; 28:6-12. [PMID: 38178298 DOI: 10.5588/ijtld.23.0038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Bicyclol was used for treating idiosyncratic acute drug-induced liver injury (DILI) in a phase II trial. This study was aimed at evaluating the efficacy and safety of bicyclol 25 and 50 mg thrice a day (TID) for treating acute DILI caused by anti-TB drugs in the light of the trial results.METHODS: We analysed clinical data of patients with TB drug-induced DILI in the trial database. The primary endpoint was reduction in serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels after 4 weeks of treatment compared to baseline.RESULTS: Overall, 148 patients were included, with respectively 48, 52 and 48 patients included in the control (456 mg polyene phosphatidylcholine TID), high-dose (50 mg bicyclol TID) and low-dose (25 mg bicyclol TID) groups. ALT levels decreased by respectively â-"149.0 (IQR â-"299.3 to â-"98.3 (), â-"225.5 (IQR â-"309.3 to â-"181.8 ) and â-"242.5 (IQR â-"364.8 to â-"153.8) U/L in the control, high-dose and low-dose groups (P < 0.001). The ALT normalisation rates at weeks 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8 were higher in the high- and low-dose groups, while adverse events and serious adverse events were similar across groups.CONCLUSIONS: Bicyclol (25 and 50 mg TID) is effective and safe in treating anti-TB DILI, and bicyclol 50 mg TID showed higher efficacy.
Collapse
|
5
|
Big data from small animals: integrating multi-level environmental data into the Dog Aging Project. REV SCI TECH OIE 2023; 42:65-74. [PMID: 37232318 DOI: 10.20506/rst.42.3349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Environmental exposures can have large impacts on health outcomes. While many resources have been dedicated to understanding how humans are influenced by the environment, few efforts have been made to study the role of built and natural environmental features on animal health. The Dog Aging Project (DAP) is a longitudinal community science study of aging in companion dogs. Using a combination of owner-reported surveys and secondary sources linked through geocoded coordinates, DAP has captured home, yard and neighbourhood variables for over 40,000 dogs. The DAP environmental data set spans four domains: the physical and built environment; chemical environment and exposures; diet and exercise; and social environment and interactions. By combining biometric data, measures of cognitive function and behaviour, and medical records, DAP is attempting to use a big-data approach to transform the understanding of how the surrounding world affects the health of companion dogs. In this paper, the authors describe the data infrastructure developed to integrate and analyse multi-level environmental data that can be used to improve the understanding of canine co-morbidity and aging.
Collapse
|
6
|
[Relationship between preoperative inflammatory indexes and prognosis of patients with rectal cancer and establishment of prognostic nomogram prediction model]. ZHONGHUA ZHONG LIU ZA ZHI [CHINESE JOURNAL OF ONCOLOGY] 2022; 44:402-409. [PMID: 35615796 DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.cn112152-20200630-00612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/08/2023]
Abstract
Objective: To compare the prognostic evaluation value of preoperative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR), and systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) in rectal cancer patients. Nomogram survival prediction model based on inflammatory markers was constructed. Methods: The clinical and survival data of 585 patients with rectal cancer who underwent radical resection in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiao tong University from January 2013 to December 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. The optimal cut-off values of NLR, PLR, LMR, and SII were determined by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. The relationship between different NLR, PLR, LMR and SII levels and the clinic pathological characteristics of the rectal cancer patients were compared. Cox proportional risk model was used for univariate and multivariate regression analysis. Nomogram prediction models of overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) of patients with rectal cancer were established by the R Language software. The internal validation and accuracy of the nomograms were determined by the calculation of concordance index (C-index). Calibration curve was used to evaluate nomograms' efficiency. Results: The optimal cut-off values of preoperative NLR, PLR, LMR and SII of OS for rectal cancer patients were 2.44, 134.88, 4.70 and 354.18, respectively. There was statistically significant difference in tumor differentiation degree between the low NLR group and the high NLR group (P<0.05), and there were statistically significant differences in T stage, N stage, TNM stage, tumor differentiation degree and preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level between the low PLR group and the high PLR group (P<0.05). There was statistically significant difference in tumor differentiation degree between the low LMR group and the high LMR group (P<0.05), and there were statistically significant differences in T stage, N stage, TNM stage, tumor differentiation degree and preoperative CEA level between the low SII group and the high SII group (P<0.05). The multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that the age (HR=2.221, 95%CI: 1.526-3.231), TNM stage (Ⅲ grade: HR=4.425, 95%CI: 1.848-10.596), grade of differentiation (HR=1.630, 95%CI: 1.074-2.474), SII level (HR=2.949, 95%CI: 1.799-4.835), and postoperative chemoradiotherapy (HR=2.123, 95%CI: 1.506-2.992) were independent risk factors for the OS of patients with rectal cancer. The age (HR=2.107, 95%CI: 1.535-2.893), TNM stage (Ⅲ grade, HR=2.850, 95%CI: 1.430-5.680), grade of differentiation (HR=1.681, 95%CI: 1.150-2.457), SII level (HR=2.309, 95%CI: 1.546-3.447), and postoperative chemoradiotherapy (HR=1.837, 95%CI: 1.369-2.464) were independent risk factors of the DFS of patients with rectal cancer. According to the OS and DFS nomograms predict models of rectal cancer patients established by multivariate COX regression analysis, the C-index were 0.786 and 0.746, respectively. The calibration curve of the nomograms showed high consistence of predict and actual curves. Conclusions: Preoperative NLR, PLR, LMR and SII levels are all correlated with the prognosis of rectal cancer patients, and the SII level is an independent prognostic risk factor for patients with rectal cancer. Preoperative SII level can complement with the age, TNM stage, differentiation degree and postoperative adjuvant chemoradiotherapy to accurately predict the prognosis of rectal cancer patients, which can provide reference and help for clinical decision.
Collapse
|
7
|
The protective effect of mangiferin on osteoarthritis: An in vitro and in vivo study. Physiol Res 2022; 71:135-145. [PMID: 35043648 PMCID: PMC8997682 DOI: 10.33549/physiolres.934747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Mangiferin is a kind of polyphenol chemical compound separated from these herbal medicines of Mangifera indica L., Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bge. and Belamcanda chinensis L., which has anti-inflammatory, anti-virus, and other physiological activities without toxic effects. Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic disease that is also a kind of arthritis disease in which articular cartilage or bones under the joint is damaged. In addition, artificial replacements are required in severe cases. At present, there are not too much researches on the potential biological activities of mangiferin that plays a protective role in the treatment of OA. In this study, we evaluated the protective effect of mangiferin on osteoarthritis (OA) in vitro and in vivo. First, the effect of different concentrations of mangiferin on rat chondrocytes was determined by MTT assay. Second, the effects of mangiferin on the expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-13, TNF alpha, Collagen II, Caspase-3, and cystatin-C in interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta)-induced rat chondrocytes were examined by the real-time polymerase chain reaction in vitro, meanwhile the effects of mangiferin on the nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-kappaB) signaling pathway were also investigated by Western Blot. Finally, the anti-osteoarthritic protective effect of mangiferin was evaluated in the rat model by anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT) combined with bilateral ovariectomy-induced OA in vivo. The results showed that the mangiferin was found to inhibit the expression of MMP-13, TNF-alpha, and Caspase-3 which also increased the expression of Collagen II and cystatin-C in IL 1beta induced rat chondrocytes. In addition, IL-1beta-induced activation of nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-kappaB) and the degradation of inhibitor of kappaB (IkappaB)-alpha were suppressed by mangiferin. For the in vivo study in a rat model of OA, 100 microl of mangiferin was administered by intra-articular injections for rats, the results showed that the cartilage degradation was suppressed by mangiferin through Micro CT and Histological Examination. According to both in vitro and in vivo results, mangiferin has a protective effect in the treatment of OA which may be a promising therapeutic agent for OA.
Collapse
|
8
|
The Regulatory Functions of σ 54 Factor in Phytopathogenic Bacteria. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222312692. [PMID: 34884502 PMCID: PMC8657755 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222312692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Revised: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
σ54 factor (RpoN), a type of transcriptional regulatory factor, is widely found in pathogenic bacteria. It binds to core RNA polymerase (RNAP) and regulates the transcription of many functional genes in an enhancer-binding protein (EBP)-dependent manner. σ54 has two conserved functional domains: the activator-interacting domain located at the N-terminal and the DNA-binding domain located at the C-terminal. RpoN directly binds to the highly conserved sequence, GGN10GC, at the −24/−12 position relative to the transcription start site of target genes. In general, bacteria contain one or two RpoNs but multiple EBPs. A single RpoN can bind to different EBPs in order to regulate various biological functions. Thus, the overlapping and unique regulatory pathways of two RpoNs and multiple EBP-dependent regulatory pathways form a complex regulatory network in bacteria. However, the regulatory role of RpoN and EBPs is still poorly understood in phytopathogenic bacteria, which cause economically important crop diseases and pose a serious threat to world food security. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on the regulatory function of RpoN, including swimming motility, flagella synthesis, bacterial growth, type IV pilus (T4Ps), twitching motility, type III secretion system (T3SS), and virulence-associated phenotypes in phytopathogenic bacteria. These findings and knowledge prove the key regulatory role of RpoN in bacterial growth and pathogenesis, as well as lay the groundwork for further elucidation of the complex regulatory network of RpoN in bacteria.
Collapse
|
9
|
Abstract
AbstractPhenols are important components of pharmaceuticals, biologically active natural products, and materials. Here, we briefly discuss recent advances in catalytic hydroxylation reactions for the synthesis of phenols, with particular attention to our recent work. H2O is proved to be an efficient hydroxide reagent in converting (hetero)aryl halides into the corresponding phenols under synergistic organophotoredox and nickel catalysis. Aryl bromides as well as less reactive aryl chlorides show high reactivity in this catalytic system. This methodology can be applied to the efficient synthesis of diverse phenols and allows the hydroxylation of multifunctional pharmaceutically relevant aryl halides.1 Introduction2 Representative Methods for Transition-Metal-Catalyzed Hydroxylation of (Hetero)Aryl Halides3 Organophotoredox/Ni Dual Catalytic Hydroxylation of Aryl Halides with Water4 Summary and Outlook
Collapse
|
10
|
First molecular characterization of poxviruses in cattle, sheep, and goats in Botswana. Virol J 2021; 18:167. [PMID: 34391449 PMCID: PMC8364013 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-021-01634-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Poxviruses within the Capripoxvirus, Orthopoxvirus, and Parapoxvirus genera can infect livestock, with the two former having zoonotic importance. In addition, they induce similar clinical symptoms in common host species, creating a challenge for diagnosis. Although endemic in the country, poxvirus infections of small ruminants and cattle have received little attention in Botswana, with no prior use of molecular tools to diagnose and characterize the pathogens. Methods A high-resolution melting (HRM) assay was used to detect and differentiate poxviruses in skin biopsy and skin scab samples from four cattle, one sheep, and one goat. Molecular characterization of capripoxviruses and parapoxviruses was undertaken by sequence analysis of RPO30 and GPCR genes. Results The HRM assay revealed lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV) in three cattle samples, pseudocowpox virus (PCPV) in one cattle sample, and orf virus (ORFV) in one goat and one sheep sample. The phylogenetic analyses, based on the RPO30 and GPCR multiple sequence alignments showed that the LSDV sequences of Botswana were similar to common LSDV field isolates encountered in Africa, Asia, and Europe. The Botswana PCPV presented unique features and clustered between camel and cattle PCPV isolates. The Botswana ORFV sequence isolated from goat differed from the ORFV sequence isolated from sheep. Conclusions This study is the first report on the genetic characterization of poxvirus diseases circulating in cattle, goats, and sheep in Botswana. It shows the importance of molecular methods to differentially diagnose poxvirus diseases of ruminants.
Collapse
|
11
|
LINC00641 induces the malignant progression of colorectal carcinoma through the miRNA-424-5p/PLSCR4 feedback loop. EUROPEAN REVIEW FOR MEDICAL AND PHARMACOLOGICAL SCIENCES 2021; 25:749-757. [PMID: 33577029 DOI: 10.26355/eurrev_202101_24636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To illustrate the role of LINC00641 in inducing the malignant progression of colorectal cancer (CRC) through the miRNA-424-5p/PLSCR4 feedback loop. PATIENTS AND METHODS LINC00641 levels in paired CRC and non-tumoral tissues were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Its prognostic potential in CRC was assessed by Kaplan-Meier method. Changes in proliferative and migratory abilities of HCT116 and SW620 cells transfected with si-LINC00641 were evaluated by 5-Ethynyl-2'- deoxyuridine (EdU), cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and transwell assay. The feedback loop LINC00641/miRNA-424-5p/PLSCR4 was identified through Dual-Luciferase reporter assay and its involvement in CRC progression was finally explored by rescue experiments. RESULTS LINC00641 was upregulated in CRC tissues, which was an unfavorable factor to the overall survival of CRC. Proliferative and migratory abilities of HCT116 and SW620 cells were inhibited by knockdown of LINC00641. LINC00641 could competitively bind miRNA-424-5p, thereby abolishing its inhibitory effect on PLSCR4 expression. Knockdown of PLSCR4 could inhibit proliferative and migratory abilities of HCT116 and SW620 cells. CONCLUSIONS LINC00641 stimulates proliferative and migratory abilities of CRC through the miRNA-424-5p/PLSCR4 feedback loop.
Collapse
|
12
|
Correlation between microRNA-766 expression in patients with advanced gastric cancer and the efficacy of platinum-containing chemotherapy. EUROPEAN REVIEW FOR MEDICAL AND PHARMACOLOGICAL SCIENCES 2021; 24:8822-8829. [PMID: 32964970 DOI: 10.26355/eurrev_202009_22821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We aimed at observing the correlation between microRNA-766 expression and the efficacy of platinum-containing chemotherapy in patients with stage IV gastric cancer (GCa). PATIENTS AND METHODS Tissue specimens were obtained from 100 patients with stage IV GCa who received platinum-based chemotherapy, and microRNA-766 expression in these samples was examined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analysis. Survival analysis was carried out through Kaplan-Meier test. The influencing factors of survival were assessed through COX univariate and multivariate regression. RESULTS GCa tissues contained significant lower expression of microRNA-766 than adjacent tissues. The degree of tumor differentiation and peritoneal metastasis were confirmed to have great relevance to microRNA-766 level. Patients with high microRNA-766 expression have better chemotherapy efficacy and longer progression-free survival. CONCLUSIONS Our study shows for the first time that the highly expressed microRNA-766 in tumor tissues of patients with stage Ⅳ GCa predicts better platinum-containing chemotherapy efficacy and prognosis.
Collapse
|
13
|
Early L-T4 intervention improves fetal heart development in pregnant rats with subclinical hypothyroidism rats by activating BMP4/Smad4 signaling pathway. BMC Cardiovasc Disord 2020; 20:369. [PMID: 32795258 PMCID: PMC7427857 DOI: 10.1186/s12872-020-01646-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2020] [Accepted: 07/31/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND It is unclear whether the offspring of subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) pregnant rats still have abnormal cardiac development, and whether early intervention with L-T4 can improve the abnormality of these offspring. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of early L-T4 intervention on the heart development of offspring of SCH pregnant rats and its possible molecular mechanism. METHODS Eighty female Wistar rats were randomly divided into Sham group (placebo control), SCH group, LT4-E10 group (L-T4 treatment started on the 10th day of gestation), and LT4-E13 group (L-T4 treatment started on the 13th day of gestation). Each group was further divided into E16 (16th day of gestation), E18 (18th day of gestation), P5 (5th day postnatal day), and P10 (10th day postnatal day) subgroups. The levels of serum TT4 and TSH, the ratio of heart weight to body weight of offspring rats, the expression of metabolic enzymes, and the histopathology of cardiomyocytes were determined. To elucidate the effects of L-T4 on cardiac development of offspring of SCH pregnant rats, the expression levels of GATA4, Nkx2-5 and proteins involved in BMP4/Smad4 signaling pathway were detected by immunohistochemistry, real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting to elucidate the molecular mechanism of L-T4 regulating the heart development of the offspring of SCH pregnant rats. RESULTS Compared with Sham group, serum TSH was significantly increased in SCH pregnant rats. Moreover, early L-T4 intervention significantly reduced the levels of serum TSH. Compared with the offspring in the SCH group, early L-T4 intervention significantly increased the heart weight, heart weight to body weight ratio, the activities of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), Na+/K+-ATPase and Ca2+-ATPase, but reduced myocardial cell shrinkage and nuclear staining, hyperemia/congestion and vacuolar degeneration. In addition, early L-T4 intervention not only significantly increased the mRNA and protein expression of Gata4 and Nkx2-5, but also increased the protein expression involved in BMP4/Smad4 signal pathway in myocardium of the offspring of SCH pregnant rats. CONCLUSIONS Early L-T4 intervention can regulate the cardiac development of the offspring of SCH pregnant rats by activating BMP4/Smad4 signaling pathway and increasing the expression of Gata4 and Nkx2-5 proteins.
Collapse
|
14
|
[Comprehensive analysis of unplanned abdominal - pelvic reoperations in Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute from 2008 to 2018]. ZHONGHUA WEI CHANG WAI KE ZA ZHI = CHINESE JOURNAL OF GASTROINTESTINAL SURGERY 2019; 22:869-875. [PMID: 31550827 DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.1671-0274.2019.09.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Objective: To summarize the characteristics of abdominal-pelvic unplanned reoperation (URO) in a cancer hospital. Methods: Retrospectively descriptive cohort research was adopted. The classification of diseases was based on ICD-10, and surgical classification was based on ICD-9-CM-3. Medical record summary database from 2008 to 2018 in Beijing Cancer Hospital was collected, and all URO information of abdominal-pelvic surgery was retrieve. The time of URO, disease type, surgery type and cause were statistically analyzed. Distribution of main disease incidence and constituent ratio, and the application of major surgery and surgery type composition ratio were analyzed as well. Results: From 2008 to 2018, a total of 46854 cases underwent abdominal-pelvic surgery (including gastrointestinal, hepatic-biliary-pancreatic, gynecological, urological, or esophageal cancer surgery) and 713 patients received URO (1.52%), including 486 males and 227 females (2.14:1.00) with a mean age of (58.1±12.2) years. A total of 246 patients (34.50%) had comorbidity, and with comorbidity: without comorbidity was 1.13:1.00. The hospital stay was (44.5±43.0) days, and the total cost was (178000±112000) yuan. There were 22 deaths (3.09%). The median interval between URO and the first operation was 8 (0 to 131) days. The highest rate of URO was 2.45% (89/3629) in 2012, while the lowest was 0.95% (53/5596) in 2015. The top 3 major cancer types of URO included colorectal cancer (222 cases, 31.14%), gastric cancer (166 cases, 23.28%) and esophageal cancer (45 cases, 6.31%). The cancer types with the highest URO rate included pancreatic cancer (3.97%, 30/756), gastric cancer (1.81%, 166/9171) and colorectal cancer (1.80%, 222/12333). The top 3 surgical procedures resulting in URO were rectal resection (109 cases, 15.29%), total gastrectomy (79 cases, 11.08%), and total pancreatectomy (64 cases, 8.98%). Focusing on 497 URO cases from 2012 to 2018, 465 cases (93.56%) followed relatively difficult grade III and IV surgery, while only 32 cases (6.44%) followed grade I and II surgery. The top 5 main causes of URO were bleeding (225 cases, 31.56%), anastomotic leak (225 cases, 31.56%), infection (89 cases, 12.48%), intestinal obstruction (53 cases, 7.43%), and wound dehiscence (35 cases, 4.91%), adding up to a total of 87.94% of all URO. Conclusion: This study summarizes the epidemiology of abdominal - pelvic URO in our cancer institution, providing the solid baseline for future investigation of URO and the subsequent formulation of corresponding prevention and intervention measures.
Collapse
|
15
|
Identification of c-di-GMP Signaling Components in Xanthomonas oryzae and Their Orthologs in Xanthomonads Involved in Regulation of Bacterial Virulence Expression. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:1402. [PMID: 31354637 PMCID: PMC6637768 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.01402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2018] [Accepted: 06/04/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) causes bacterial leaf blight of rice, one of the most devastating bacterial diseases of this staple crop worldwide. Xoo produces a range of virulence-related factors to facilitate its pathogenesis in rice, however, the regulatory mechanisms of Xoo virulence expression have been not fully elucidated. Recent studies have revealed that virulence factor production is regulated via cyclic dimeric guanosine monophosphate (c-di-GMP) signaling pathway that is well-conserved in Xoo and other Xanthomonas species. A set of GGDEF, EAL, HD-GYP, and PilZ domain proteins with diverse signal sensory domains for c-di-GMP synthesis, hydrolysis, and binding is encoded in the Xoo genome. Bioinformatic, genetic, and biochemical analysis has identified an array of diguanylate cyclases (DGCs) and phosphodiesterases (PDEs), as well as degenerate GGDEF/EAL, PilZ domain proteins along with a transcription regulator. These signaling components have been characterized to regulate various bacterial cellular processes, such as virulence, exopolysaccharide (EPS) production, biofilm formation, motility, and adaptation at the transcriptional, post-translational, and protein-protein interaction levels. This review summarized the recent progress in understanding the importance and complexity of c-di-GMP signaling in regulating bacterial virulence expression, highlighting the identified key signal elements and orthologs found in Xanthomonads, discussing the diverse functions of GGDEF/EAL/HD-GYP domains, existence of a complicated multifactorial network between DGCs, PDEs, and effectors, and further exploration of the new c-di-GMP receptor domains. These findings and knowledge lay the groundwork for future experimentation to further elucidate c-di-GMP regulatory circuits involved in regulation of bacterial pathogenesis.
Collapse
|
16
|
Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae Response Regulator TriP Regulates Virulence and Exopolysaccharide Production Via Interacting With c-di-GMP Phosphodiesterase PdeR. MOLECULAR PLANT-MICROBE INTERACTIONS : MPMI 2019; 32:729-739. [PMID: 30589364 DOI: 10.1094/mpmi-09-18-0260-r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
PdeR, a response regulator of the two-component system (TCS) with the cognate histidine kinase PdeK, has been shown to be an active phosphodiesterase (PDE) for intracellular cyclic dimeric guanosine monophosphate (c-di-GMP) turnover and positively regulates the virulence of Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae, the causal pathogen of bacterial blight of rice. To further reveal the key components and pathways involved in the PdeR-mediated c-di-GMP regulation of virulence, 16 PdeR-interacting proteins were identified, using the yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) assay. Among them, PXO_04421 (named as TriP, a putative transcriptional regulator interacting with PdeR) was verified via Y2H and glutathione-S-transferase pull-down assays, and its regulatory functions in bacterial virulence and exopolysaccharide (EPS) production were assessed by biochemical and genetic analysis. The REC domain of TriP specifically interacted with the EAL domain of PdeR. TriP promoted the PDE activity of PdeR to degrade c-di-GMP in the presence of PdeK. In-frame deletion in triP abolished the polar localization of PdeR in the cell. Notably, the ∆triP mutant showed significantly reduced virulence on susceptible rice leaves and impaired EPS production compared with wild type, whereas the double mutant ∆triP∆pdeR, like ∆pdeR, caused shorter lesion lengths and produced less EPS than ∆triP. In addition, cross-complementation showed in trans expression of pdeR in ∆triP restored its EPS production to near wild-type levels but not vice versa. Taken together, our results suggest that TriP is a novel regulator that is epistatic to PdeR in positively regulating virulence expression in X. oryzae pv. oryzae.
Collapse
|
17
|
[microRNA-146a reverses the inhibitory effects of Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide on osteogenesis of human periodontal ligament cells]. ZHONGHUA KOU QIANG YI XUE ZA ZHI = ZHONGHUA KOUQIANG YIXUE ZAZHI = CHINESE JOURNAL OF STOMATOLOGY 2018; 53:753-759. [PMID: 30419656 DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.1002-0098.2018.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Objective: To investigate the effects and mechanisms of microRNA-146a (miR-146a) on osteogenic differentiation of human periodontal ligament cells (hPDLC) stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg). Methods: hPDLC were cultured in vitro and induced to the phase of osteogenic differentiation. These cells were divided into five groups: non-osteogenic differentiation cells, osteogenic differentiation cells, osteogenic differentiation cells treated with Pg LPS, osteogenic differentiation cells treated with Pg LPS and miR-146a mimic, osteogenic differentiation cells treated with Pg LPS and miR-146a negative control. Osteogenic markers and mineralization were detected via quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) and alizarin red staining, respectively. Meanwhile, non-radioactive transcription factor assay was applied to explore the nuclear activity of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) p65 in nuclear extracts of hPDLC. Results: Compared with cells of osteogenic differentiation in non-LPS-stimulated groups, Pg LPS could decrease the markers of osteogenic differentiation of hPDLC such as collagen Ⅰ (Col-Ⅰ), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), Runt-related transcription factor-2 (RUNX2) and osteocalcin (OCN) (P<0.05), inhibit mineralization, and stimulate NF-κB p65 nuclear activity expression (non-LPS stimulated group: 1.023±0.217, LPS stimulated group: 6.252±0.613, P=0.008). However, compared with cells in Pg LPS/miR-146a negative control group, miR-146a increased Col-Ⅰ (P=0.007) and OCN (P=0.049) mRNA expression, rather than ALP (P=0.167) and RUNX2 (P=0.580) at day 3; miR-146a also upregulated mRNA levels of Col-Ⅰ, ALP, RUNX2 and OCN (P<0.05) at day 7 and day 14, and enhance mineralization. Meanwhile, miR-146a mimic could decrease the nuclear activity of NF-κB p65 induced by Pg LPS in hPDLC (miR-146a: 2.427±0.354, negative control: 5.863±0.482, P=0.019). Conclusions: miR-146a could reverse the inhibitory effects of Pg LPS on osteogenic differentiation of hPDLC through enhancing the expression of osteogenic markers and decreasing inflammatory pathway in hPDLC.
Collapse
|
18
|
Plumbagin-mediating GLUT1 suppresses the growth of human tongue squamous cell carcinoma. Oral Dis 2018; 24:920-929. [PMID: 29080392 DOI: 10.1111/odi.12799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2017] [Revised: 10/16/2017] [Accepted: 10/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
|
19
|
A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY—THE RELATIONSHIP OF MUSCLE MASS AND MUSCLE FUNCTION WITH AGE. Innov Aging 2017. [DOI: 10.1093/geroni/igx004.2066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
|
20
|
A rare case of trisomy 11q23.3-11q25 and trisomy 22q11.1-22q11.21. GENETICS AND MOLECULAR RESEARCH 2016; 15:gmr8140. [PMID: 27173335 DOI: 10.4238/gmr.15028140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Partial duplication of the long arm of chromosome 11 and the partial trisomy of 22q are uncommon karyotypic abnormalities. Here, we report the case of a 6-year-old girl who showed partial trisomy of 11q and 22q, as a result of a maternal balanced reciprocal translocation (11;22), and exhibited dysmorphic features, severe intellectual disability, brain malformations, and speech delay related to this unique chromosomal abnormality. Array comparative genomic hybridization (array CGH) revealed a gain in copy number on the long arm of chromosome 11, spanning at least 18.22 Mb. Additionally, there was a gain in copy number on the long arm of chromosome 22, spanning at least 3.46 Mb. FISH analysis using a chromosome 11 short arm telomere probe (11p14.2), a chromosome 11 long arm telomere probe (11q24.3), and a chromosome 22 long arm telomere probe (22q13.33) confirmed the origin of the marker chromosome. It has been confirmed by the State Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics of China that this is the first reported instance of the karyotype 47,XX, +der(22)t(11;22)(q23.3;q11.1)mat in the world. Our study reports an additional case that can be used to further characterize and delineate the clinical ramifications of partial trisomy of 11q and 22q.
Collapse
|
21
|
Phytochemical and biological properties of ajuga decumbens (labiatae): A review. TROP J PHARM RES 2015. [DOI: 10.4314/tjpr.v14i8.28] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
|
22
|
Xiayuxue decoction reduces renal injury by promoting macrophage apoptosis in hepatic cirrhotic rats. GENETICS AND MOLECULAR RESEARCH 2015; 14:10760-73. [DOI: 10.4238/2015.september.9.15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
|
23
|
|
24
|
Cloning and expression analysis of a stress-induced GmIMT1 gene in soybean (Glycine max). GENETICS AND MOLECULAR RESEARCH 2014; 13:806-18. [PMID: 24615045 DOI: 10.4238/2014.february.7.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Here, we aimed to clone and identify the GmIMT1 gene related to the salt stress response in soybean. The full-length cDNA sequence of the GmIMT1 gene was amplified in soybean using degenerate primers of Mesembrythmum crystallium. To understand the stress response, the GmIMT1 gene was cloned and sequenced. Then, the expression vectors of the gene were constructed, and introduced into the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana through Agrobacterium mediated transformation, and the salt tolerance was analyzed in the transgenic plants. In addition, the expression patterns of GmIMT1 gene in soybean were analyzed. The expression was examined in different organs (roots, leaves, flower seeds, and stem) and under different stress conditions (drought, high salt, low temperature, salicylic acid, ethane, abscisic acid, and methyl jasmonate) by real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis. The results showed that the root, leaves, and stems exhibited high level of GmIMT1 gene expression, whereas there was no expression in the seeds. In addition, the GmIMT1 gene expression was upregulated under all stress conditions. Overall, the results clearly indicate that GmIMT1 might be involved in multiple plant response pathways to the different environmental conditions. Furthermore transgenic plants exhibited higher salt-tolerance compared to wild type plants.
Collapse
|
25
|
Carotid arterial intima–media thickness and arterial stiffness in pre-eclampsia: analysis with a radiofrequency ultrasound technique. ULTRASOUND IN OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF ULTRASOUND IN OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY 2013; 42:644-652. [PMID: 23335074 DOI: 10.1002/uog.12409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2012] [Revised: 12/24/2012] [Accepted: 01/04/2013] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Whether arterial elasticity is reduced in preeclampsia has been investigated only rarely. This study aimed to characterize in vivo the carotid arterial intima–media thickness (IMT) and mechanical properties in women with pre-eclampsia by employing a radiofrequency ultrasound technique. METHODS We included 22 late-onset pre-eclamptic pregnant women and 28 normotensive pregnant women who were matched for age (29 ± 6 vs. 27 ± 3, P=0.09) and gestational age (36.0 ± 3.2 vs. 35.8 ± 2.4 weeks, P=0.802). All women were nulliparous with singleton pregnancy. The pre-eclamptic women had a significantly higher arterial pressure than did the normotensive women (P<0.0001). All women underwent right common carotid arterial measurements with an ultrasound machine equipped with automatic Quality IMT (QIMT) and Quality Arterial Stiffness (QAS) capability. At follow-up examination 18 months after parturition, measurements were repeated in 10 of the pre-eclamptic women and 11 of the normotensive women. RESULTS In pre-eclamptic compared with normotensive pregnancy, carotid arterial IMT (459 ± 95 vs. 351 ± 85 μm, P=0.0001), internal diameter (7.8 ± 0.5 vs. 7.2 ± 0.4 mm, P<0.0001), pulse wave velocity (7.1 ± 1.7 vs. 6.0 ± 1.5 m/s, P=0.007), augmentation index (7.9 ± 9.2 vs. −5.0 ± 5.6%, P<0.0001) and arterial wall tension (55.0 ± 6.5 vs. 38.6 ± 4.9 mmHg/cm, P<0.0001) were significantly greater, and the distensibility coefficient (0.020 ± 0.009 vs. 0.029 ± 0.011 1/kPa, P=0.006) was significantly smaller, remaining so after adjusting for body mass index and carotid arterial pressure. Eighteen months after parturition, carotid arterial internal diameter, pressure and wall tension remained greater in the pre-eclamptic group. CONCLUSION Carotid arterial remodeling, including changes in arterial internal diameter and wall thickness, and arterial stiffening occur in pre-eclampsia but this may reverse, to some extent, postpartum. QIMT and QAS techniques together could provide a comprehensive assessment of carotid arterial remodeling.
Collapse
|
26
|
Correlation between CD14+CD16++ monocytes in peripheral blood and hypertriglyceridemia after allograft renal transplantation. Transplant Proc 2013; 45:3279-83. [PMID: 24182800 DOI: 10.1016/j.transproceed.2013.08.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2013] [Revised: 07/15/2013] [Accepted: 08/06/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cardio-cerebrovascular diseases are key factors causing recipient the death after kidney transplantation (KT). Hypertriglyceridemia (HTG), a complication commonly occurring among KT patients, is a major risk factor for cardio-cerebrovascular diseases. The objective of this study was to examine the correlation between peripheral CD14+CD16++ monocytes in KT patients and blood lipids as well as factors affecting hyperglycemia, seeking to understand mechanisms of inflammatory immune reactions. METHODS KT patients (n = 60) were divided into subjects with HTG (n = 35) versus without HTG (n = 25). A cohort of healthy participants (55 cases) was divided into the cases without (n = 30) versus with HTG (n = 25). The proportion of peripheral CD14+CD16 ++ monocytes was determined using flow cytometry and hematology, and biochemical indicators were measured by conventional methods. We correlated HTG with these indicators. RESULTS The proportion of peripheral blood CD14+CD16++ monocytes among the renal transplant group was significantly lower (P < .05) than that of normal controls. The expression of CD14+CD16++ monocytes among transplant recipients positively correlated with triglycerides (R = 0.449 and R = 0.008, respectively). CONCLUSION CD14+CD16++ mononcytes in peripheral blood may represent an independent risk factor for HTG after KT.
Collapse
|
27
|
Electroless deposition of Cu dendrites decorated with ZnO rods. CRYSTAL RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY 2011. [DOI: 10.1002/crat.201100010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
|
28
|
Survey on the function, structure and operation of hospital ethics committees in Shanghai. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ETHICS 2009; 35:512-516. [PMID: 19644011 DOI: 10.1136/jme.2008.028340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The objectives of this study are to understand the current functions, structure and operation of hospital ethics committees (HECs) in Shanghai and to facilitate their improvement. METHODS (1) A questionnaire survey, (2) interviews with secretaries and (3) on-site document reviews of HECs in Shanghai were used in the study, which surveyed 33 hospitals. RESULTS In Shanghai, 57.56% of the surveyed hospitals established HECs from 1998 to 2005. Most HECs used bioethical review of research involving human subjects as well as bioethical review or consultation regarding medical care services and administrative decision- making. Of the surveyed HECs, 14.3% did not provide any formal bioethical training to the HECs' members and many HECs had no standard operating procedures. Some HECs had no clear definition of what was "conflict of interest" that should be considered by the HECs, while 44.4% of the HECs did not perform continuing review. DISCUSSION After the issues of related national regulations, more and more hospitals established HECs in Shanghai, but the functions of HECs need to be further developed and formal training on bioethics should be provided to HEC members. To assure the independence and good performance of HECs, the conflict of interest procedure, the standard operating procedures and bioethical review should be improved. CONCLUSION HECs in Shanghai had developed in the preceding 10 years and they played great roles in protecting the rights and welfare of human subjects and patients; some areas need improvement.
Collapse
|
29
|
|
30
|
Enhanced effects of combined bu-zhong-yi-qi-tang (TJ-41) and interleukin-18 on the production of tumour necrosis factor-alpha and interferon-gamma in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. J Int Med Res 2004; 32:25-32. [PMID: 14997702 DOI: 10.1177/147323000403200104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Co-stimulatory molecules play important roles in immune responses. We investigated the effect of Bu-Zhong-Yi-Qi-Tang (TJ-41) on the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), B7.1 and B7.2 by peripheral blood mononuclear cells stimulated by interleukin-18 (IL-18) using fluorescence-activated cell sorter analysis. TJ-41 increased IL-18-induced ICAM-1 and B7.2 expression, resulting in enhanced production of tumour necrosis factor-alpha and interferon-gamma. These results suggest that TJ-41 enhances IL-18-induced cell-mediated immunity and may enhance host defence mechanisms against pathogens.
Collapse
|
31
|
148 BAY 57-9352: an inhibitor of VEGFR-2 and PDGFR receptor tyrosine kinases that demonstrates broad anti-tumor activity as a single agent in preclinical models. EJC Suppl 2004. [DOI: 10.1016/s1359-6349(04)80156-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
|
32
|
Erratum to “Crystal structure, vibrational spectra and nonlinear optical properties of the orthoarsenic acid-tris-(hydroxymethyl)-aminomethane crystal” [J. Molstruc. 661–662 (2003) 595–601]. J Mol Struct 2004. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molstruc.2003.12.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
|
33
|
Preliminary study on the relationship between cAMP level and gsp expression in cultured human pituitary somatotrophinomas. JOURNAL OF TONGJI MEDICAL UNIVERSITY = TONG JI YI KE DA XUE XUE BAO 2002; 20:214-6. [PMID: 11215052 DOI: 10.1007/bf02886994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
In order to investigate the relationship between abnormal intracellular signal transduction and tumorgenesis of human pituitary somatotrophinomas, the effects of protein kinase A (PKA)-dependent growth hormone (GH) releasing hormone (GHRH) and protein kinase C (PKC)-dependent GH-releasing peptide (GHRP-6) on cAMP production were observed by using cell culture and biochemical methods, and the expression of the gsp oncogene was detected by using PCR and direct sequence assay methods in 11 patients with human pituitary somatotrophinomas. It was found that GHRP-6 exerted significant stimulatory effect on cAMP production by 2 gsp-positive tumors and no effect on the gsp-negative tumors. GHRP-6 could enhance the stimulation of cAMP production induced by GHRH in tumor without gsp oncogenes. It was suggested that both GHRH and GHRP-6 exert identical effects on human pituitary soamtotrophinomas, which was contributed to the cross-talk between the two intracellular signal transduction pathways in pituitary cells.
Collapse
|
34
|
|
35
|
A dynamic reactive scheduling mechanism for responding to changes of production orders and manufacturing resources. COMPUT IND 2001. [DOI: 10.1016/s0166-3615(01)00119-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
|
36
|
Abstract
Programmed cell death (apoptosis) is a tightly regulated process of cell disassembly in which dying cells and their nuclei shrink and fragment and the chromosomal DNA is degraded into internucleosomal repeats. Here we report the characterization of the cps-6 gene, which appears to function downstream of, or in parallel to, the cell-death protease CED-3 of Caenorhabditis elegans in the DNA degradation process during apoptosis. cps-6 encodes a homologue of human mitochondrial endonuclease G, and its protein product similarly localizes to mitochondria in C. elegans. Reduction of cps-6 activity caused by a genetic mutation or RNA-mediated interference (RNAi) affects normal DNA degradation, as revealed by increased staining in a TUNEL assay, and results in delayed appearance of cell corpses during development in C. elegans. This observation provides in vivo evidence that the DNA degradation process is important for proper progression of apoptosis. CPS-6 is the first mitochondrial protein identified to be involved in programmed cell death in C. elegans, underscoring the conserved and important role of mitochondria in the execution of apoptosis.
Collapse
|
37
|
|
38
|
If phosphatidylserine is the death knell, a new phosphatidylserine-specific receptor is the bellringer. Cell Death Differ 2001; 8:582-7. [PMID: 11536008 DOI: 10.1038/sj.cdd.4400856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2000] [Revised: 02/08/2001] [Accepted: 02/19/2001] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Recognition of phosphatidylserine (PtdSer) is essential for engulfment of apoptotic cells by mammalian phagocytes. Engagement of a new phosphatidylserine-specific receptor (PtdSerR) appears to be necessary for uptake of apoptotic cells. Many other mammalian receptors have been described to function in the clearance of apoptotic cells. The emerging picture is that many of these receptors may provide the strong adhesion needed to increase the likelihood of contact between the PtdSerR and its phospholipid ligand, which is required for uptake. Furthermore, stimulation of this receptor on different types of phagocytes by apoptotic cells, PtdSer-containing liposomes or an IgM monoclonal anti-PtdSer antibody initiates release of TGFbeta, known to be involved in the anti-inflammatory effects of apoptotic cells. Although highly homologous genes exist in C. elegans and Drosophila melanogaster, their role in engulfment of apoptotic cells remains to be determined.
Collapse
|
39
|
Regional characteristics of sulfur and lead isotope ratios in the atmosphere at several Chinese urban sites. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2001; 35:1064-1071. [PMID: 11347915 DOI: 10.1021/es001399u] [Citation(s) in RCA: 137] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Sulfur and lead isotope ratios in the atmosphere were measured at several selected sites (Harbin, Changchun, Dalian, Waliguan, Shanghai, Nanjing, Guiyang) in China and Tsukuba (Japan), to reveal regional sources characteristics over Eastern Asia. Average S isotope ratios for SO2 and sulfate in the atmosphere in China were close to those of the coals used in each region, indicating a considerable contribution of coal combustion to the sulfur compounds in the atmosphere. Most northern cities had around 5% sulfur isotope ratio, while Guiyang, a southwestern city in China, showed a considerably lower sulfur isotope ratio (about -3%) because of the unusually light sulfur isotope ratio of coals in this region. These were considerably different from the value (-1.4%) for Tsukuba (Japan). Lead isotope ratios also suggested that coal combustion considerably contributed to atmospheric lead in some cases in China. At the same time, influences by the emission of Chinese lead ores were also observed in northern cities. Seasonal variations of both sulfur and lead isotope ratios indicated the existence of a certain amount of industrial sources other than coal combustion. In addition, fractionation effect between SO2 and sulfate showed a seasonal tendency (high in winter (0-6%) and low in summer (-1-3%)), suggesting the oxidation pathway of SO2 changed seasonally.
Collapse
|
40
|
Abstract
The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans has been shown to be an excellent model organism with which to study the mechanisms of programmed cell death because of its powerful genetics and the ability to study cell death with single-cell resolution. In this chapter, we describe methods that are commonly used to examine various aspects of programmed cell death in C. elegans. These methods, in combination with genetic analyses, have helped identify and characterize many components of the C. elegans cell death pathway, illuminating the mechanisms by which these components affect programmed cell death.
Collapse
|
41
|
Lanthanide ions induce hydrolysis of hemoglobin-bound 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG), conformational changes of globin and bidirectional changes of 2,3-DPG-hemoglobin's oxygen affinity. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA 2001; 1535:200-16. [PMID: 11342009 DOI: 10.1016/s0925-4439(00)00100-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
The changes in structure and function of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate-hemoglobin (2,3-DPG-Hb) induced by Ln(3+) binding were studied by spectroscopic methods. The binding of lanthanide cations to 2,3-DPG is prior to that to Hb. Ln(3+) binding causes the hydrolysis of either one from the two phosphomonoester bonds in 2,3-DPG non-specifically. The results using the ultrafiltration method indicate that Ln(3+) binding sites for Hb can be classified into three categories: i.e. positive cooperative sites (N(I)), non-cooperative strong sites (N(S)) and non-cooperative weak sites (N(W)) with binding constants in decreasing order: K(I)>K(S)>K(W). The total number of binding sites amounts to about 65 per Hb tetramer. Information on reaction kinetics was obtained from the change of intrinsic fluorescence in Hb monitored by stopped-flow fluorometry. Fluctuation of fluorescence dependent on Ln(3+) concentration and temperature was observed and can be attributed to the successive conformational changes induced by Ln(3+) binding. The results also reveal the bidirectional changes of the oxygen affinity of Hb in the dependence on Ln(3+) concentration. At the range of [Ln(3+)]/[Hb]<2, the marked increase of oxygen affinity (P(50) decrease) with the Ln(3+) concentration can be attributed to the hydrolysis of 2,3-DPG, while the slight rebound of oxygen affinity in higher Ln(3+) concentration can be interpreted by the transition to the T-state of the Hb tetramer induced by Ln(3+) binding. This was indicated by the changes in secondary structure characterized by the decrease of alpha-helix content.
Collapse
|
42
|
Long-term results of ammonia removal and transformation by biofiltration. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2000; 80:259-269. [PMID: 11080582 DOI: 10.1016/s0304-3894(00)00314-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
In this paper, long-term (>8 month) results of ammonia removal in biofilters was studied. Compost was used as the biofilter medium and activated carbon as an added material. The ammonia removal was normally >95% at influent ammonia concentrations of 20-500ppmv. According to the test results, the influent ammonia concentration should be <200ppmv (0.1570g ammonia/kg media per day) so that the effluent concentration of ammonia is <1.0mg/m(3) (the emission standard of China), and the biofiltration system can achieve good long-term performance. In the biofiltration system utilized in this study, the shortest retention time that the system could attain was 0.532min. However, the retention time can be decreased further without decreasing the ammonia removal efficiency. Countercurrent flow is favorable, as it enhances the moisture retention ability of the media. In the bioreactors, ammonia can be converted into the nitrate. The bioreactors have a stratification phenomenon for ammonia removal over the biofiltration depth, which implies that different parts of the bioreactor play different roles in the ammonia removing process.
Collapse
|
43
|
Demonstration of the in vivo interaction of key cell death regulators by structure-based design of second-site suppressors. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2000; 97:11916-21. [PMID: 11027303 PMCID: PMC17269 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.210391597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Demonstrating in vivo interaction of two important biomolecules and the relevance of the interaction to a biological process have been difficult issues in biomedical research. Here, we report the use of a homology modeling approach to establish the significance of protein interactions in governing the activation of programmed cell death in Caenorhabditis elegans. A protein interaction cascade has been postulated to mediate activation of cell death in nematodes, in which the BH3-domain-containing (Bcl-2 homology region 3) protein EGL-1 binds the cell-death inhibitor CED-9 and induces release of the death-activating protein CED-4 from inhibitory CED-4/CED-9 complexes. We show here that an unusual gain-of-function mutation in ced-9 (substitution of glycine 169 to glutamate) that results in potent inhibition of most nematode cell deaths impairs the binding of EGL-1 to CED-9 and EGL-1-induced release of CED-4 from CED-4/CED-9 complexes. Based on a modeled EGL-1/CED-9 complex structure, we generated second-site compensatory mutations in EGL-1 that partially restore the binding of EGL-1 to CED-9(G169E) and EGL-1-induced release of CED-4 from CED-4/CED-9(G169E) complexes. Importantly, these mutations also significantly suppress the death-protective activity of CED-9(G169E) in vivo. These results establish that direct physical interaction between EGL-1 and CED-9 is essential for the release of CED-4 and the activation of cell death. The structure-based design of second-site suppressors via homology modeling should be widely applicable for probing important molecular interactions that are implicated in fundamental biological processes.
Collapse
|
44
|
|
45
|
Abstract
In all eukaryotic nuclei, the La autoantigen binds nascent RNA polymerase III transcripts, stabilizing these RNAs against exonucleases. Here we report that the La protein also functions in the assembly of certain RNA polymerase II-transcribed RNAs into RNPs. A mutation in a core protein of the spliceosomal snRNPs, Smd1p, causes yeast cells to require the La protein Lhp1p for growth at low temperatures. Precursors to U1, U2, U4 and U5 RNAs are bound by Lhp1p in both wild-type and mutant cells. At the permissive temperature, smd1-1 cells contain higher levels of stable U1 and U5 snRNPs when Lhp1p is present. At low temperatures, Lhp1p becomes essential for the accumulation of U4/U6 snRNPs and for cell viability. When U4 RNA is added to extracts, the pre-U4 RNA, but not the mature RNA, is bound by Smd1p. These results suggest that, by stabilizing a 3'-extended form of U4 RNA, Lhp1p facilitates efficient Sm protein binding, thus assisting formation of the U4/U6 snRNP.
Collapse
|
46
|
The role of protein kinase C and its effect on GHRH in the regulation of hormone secretion by somatotrophinomas. Curr Med Sci 2000; 20:16-9. [PMID: 12845746 DOI: 10.1007/bf02887665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/1999] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Phorbol ester-induced release of growth hormone (GH) and prolactin (PRL) from human somatotrophic tumors was examined in vitro. 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) strongly stimulated GH and PRL secretion and showed an additive effect on GH secretion if used in combination with GH releasing hormone (GHRH). In contrast, staurosporine exerted a variable inhibitory effect on GH release. There was no correlation between such effects and gsp mutations. The findings suggested that TPA doesn't act directly through cAMP signal transduction system.
Collapse
|
47
|
The regulatory effects of protein kinase C on the proliferation of cultured human low-passage meningioma cells. Curr Med Sci 2000; 20:217-9. [PMID: 11215053 DOI: 10.1007/bf02886995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/1999] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The potential role of the protein kinase C (PKC)-mediated signal transduction pathways in growth regulation was evaluated and the effects and the possible mechanism of PKC inhibitor on low-passage human meningioma cells in vitro investigated. Freshly resected meningiomas obtained from the operation were placed into cell cultures. Cells from early-passage were used for the following experiments. The numbers of the cultured meningioma cells were counted to evaluate the effect of the PKC inhibitor staurosporine on proliferation of meningioma cells. The basal phosphatidylinositol (PI) turnover rate and the inhibitory rate of starosporine on the proliferation of the meningioma cells were detected. It was found that the proliferation of the low-passage human meningioma cells was inhibited by staurosporine in a dose-dependent manner. The inhibitory rate of staurosporine was positively correlated with the basal PI turnover rate (r = 0.58, P < 0.01). It was suggested that PKC-mediated signal pathway is involved in the proliferation of the low-passage human meningioma cells. The procedure that PKC regulated the proliferation of human meningioma cells is a complex procedure. It is necessary to make more research in order to explore a non-operation therapy or an adjuvant therapy.
Collapse
|
48
|
|
49
|
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES The relationship between preoperative tumor volume and patient survival has long been studied, but the results have been inconsistent. Since geometric measurement of tumor volume was used in these studies, the aim of this study was to ascertain whether the inconsistency of the study results is due to less accurate geometric measurement. METHODS Prognostic tumor volume effects were compared between the planimetry method and the geometric method using survival analysis, performed for 99 patients diagnosed with anaplastic glioma tumor. RESULTS A significant correlation was found between planimetry tumor volume and patient survival, but there was no correlation between geometric tumor volume and patient survival. The larger planimetry tumor volume was significantly associated with shorter survival. CONCLUSIONS The study indicated that in brain tumor research the preoperative tumor volume measured by the geometric method may not be prognostically important. The more accurate measurement, i.e., the planimetry method (based on either computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging), is needed in brain tumor clinical research and prognostic diagnosis.
Collapse
|
50
|
Biphasic opening of the blood-brain barrier following transient focal ischemia: effects of hypothermia. Can J Neurol Sci 1999; 26:298-304. [PMID: 10563216 DOI: 10.1017/s0317167100000421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 173] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Tracer constants (Ki) for blood-to-brain diffusion of sucrose were measured in the rat to profile the time course of blood-brain barrier injury after temporary focal ischemia, and to determine the influence of post-ischemic hypothermia. METHODS Spontaneously hypertensive rats were subjected to transient (2 hours) clip occlusion of the right middle cerebral artery. Reperfusion times ranged from 1.5 min to 46 hours, and i.v. 3H-sucrose was circulated for 30 min prior to each time point (1 h, 4 h, 22 h, and 46 h; n = 5-7 per time point). Ki was calculated from the ratio of parenchymal tracer uptake and the time-integrated plasma concentration. Additional groups of rats (n = 7-8) were maintained either normothermic (37.5 degrees C) or hypothermic (32.5 degrees C or 28.5 degrees C) for the first 6 hours of reperfusion, and Ki was measured at 46 hours. RESULTS Rats injected after 1.5-2 min exhibited a 10-fold increase in Ki for cortical regions supplied by the right middle cerebral artery (p < 0.01). This barrier opening had closed within 1 to 4 hours post-reperfusion. By 22 hours, the blood-brain barrier had re-opened, with further opening 22 and 46 hours (p < 0.01), resulting in edema. Whole body hypothermia (28 degrees C-29 degrees C) during the first six hours of reperfusion prevented opening, reducing Ki by over 50% (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Transient middle cerebral artery occlusion evokes a marked biphasic opening of the cortical blood-brain barrier, the second phase of which causes vasogenic edema. Hypothermic treatment reduced infarct volume and the late opening of the blood-brain barrier. This opening of the blood-brain barrier may enhance delivery of low permeability neuroprotective agents.
Collapse
|