The genetic differentiation of a cricket () with two modes of life cycle in East Asia after the middle Pleistocene and the invasion origin of the United States of America.

The cricket is widely distributed in East Asia and colonized the United States of America (the USA) in 1959. It has two life cycles: egg and nymph diapause. We aimed to investigate the biogeographic boundary between them and determine when and why diverged.

A new species of genus Sichuana from Sichuan, China (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Tettigoniinae).

In this study, we describe one new species, Sichuana feicui He sp. nov., from Mao County, Sichuan Province, China.

Antifibrotic properties of c-Ski and its regulation of cardiac myofibroblast phenotype and contractility.

Cardiac myofibroblasts are key players in chronic remodeling of the cardiac extracellular matrix, which is mediated in part by elevated transforming growth factor-β₁ (TGF-β₁). The c-Ski proto-oncoprotein has been shown to modify TGF-β₁ post-receptor signaling through receptor-activated Smads (R-Smads); however, little is known about how c-Ski regulates fibroblast phenotype and function. We sought to elucidate the function of c-Ski in primary cardiac myofibroblasts using a c-Ski overexpression system.

Kruppel-like factor 15 regulates smooth muscle response to vascular injury--brief report.

To determine the role of Kruppel-like factor (KLF) 15, a zinc finger transcriptional factor that is expressed in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in vascular biology. VSMCs respond to mechanical injury via a tightly orchestrated series of gene regulatory events. KLF15 is broadly expressed in both arterial and venous vascular beds in a VSMC restricted fashion.

The Kruppel-like factor KLF15 inhibits connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) expression in cardiac fibroblasts.

Cardiac fibrosis is a hallmark feature of pathologic remodeling of the heart in response to hemodynamic or neurohormonal stress. Accumulating evidence implicates connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) as a key mediator of this process. Our group has previously identified Kruppel-Like Factor 15 (KLF15) as an important regulator of cardiac remodeling in response to stress; however, the role of this transcription factor in cardiac fibrosis has not been reported.

Regulation of collagen synthesis by inhibitory Smad7 in cardiac myofibroblasts.

Transforming growth factor-beta(1) (TGF-beta(1)) signal and downstream Smads play an important role in tissue fibrosis and matrix remodeling in various etiologies of heart failure. Inhibitory Smad7 (I-Smad7) is an inducible regulatory Smad protein that antagonizes TGF-beta(1) signal mediated via direct abrogation of R-Smad phosphorylation. The effect of ectopic I-Smad7 on net collagen production was investigated using hydroxyproline assay.

Kruppel-like factor 15 is a regulator of cardiomyocyte hypertrophy.

Cardiac hypertrophy is a common response to injury and hemodynamic stress and an important harbinger of heart failure and death. Herein, we identify the Kruppel-like factor 15 (KLF15) as an inhibitor of cardiac hypertrophy. Myocardial expression of KLF15 is reduced in rodent models of hypertrophy and in biopsy samples from patients with pressure-overload induced by chronic valvular aortic stenosis.

Regulation of gluconeogenesis by Krüppel-like factor 15.

In the postabsorptive state, certain tissues, including the brain, require glucose as the sole source of energy. After an overnight fast, hepatic glycogen stores are depleted, and gluconeogenesis becomes essential for preventing life-threatening hypoglycemia. Mice with a targeted deletion of KLF15, a member of the Krüppel-like family of transcription factors, display severe hypoglycemia after an overnight (18 hr) fast.

Transcriptional regulators of angiogenesis.

Angiogenesis, the process by which new blood vessels develop from a pre-existing vascular network, is essential for normal development and in certain physiological states. Inadequate or excessive angiogenesis has been incriminated in a number of pathologic states. For example, vaso-occlusive disease arising from atherosclerosis can lead to ischemia, a situation in which enhanced angiogenesis would be beneficial.

Analysis of comparative genomic hybridization and loss of heterozygosity in 43 primary gastric carcinomas.

Objective: To investigate common chromosomal changes and the LOH frequency of microsatellite loci in primary gastric cancer samples in order to locate the deleted regions in which human gastric cancer related genes might exist.

Methods: Comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) was used to define global chromosomal aberrations in 43 primary gastric tumors. Based on the results of CGH, analysis of loss of heterozygosity (LOH) was performed in chromosome 19 in which the loss was first discovered in the gastric cancers.

Distribution of the CCR5 gene 32-basepair deletion in 11 Chinese populations.

A mutant allele of the chemokine receptor gene CCR5 bearing a 32-basepair deletion (delta 32CCR5) could increase the resistance to HIV-1 infection or delayed progression to AIDS. The frequency of this mutation is higher in Europeans than in Asians. To investigate the distribution of this polymorphism in China, 715 individuals from 11 Chinese populations were screened by PCR, including the Han and 10 other ethnic groups.

Decreased Smad 7 expression contributes to cardiac fibrosis in the infarcted rat heart.

We examined the role of the transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta(1) signaling inhibitor Smad 7 in cardiac fibrosis. TGF-beta(1) (10 ng/ml) was found to increase cytosolic Smad 7 expression in primary adult rat fibroblasts and induce rapid nuclear export of exogenous Smad 7 in COS-7 cells. Furthermore, overexpression of Smad 7 in primary adult fibroblasts was associated with suppressed collagen type I and III expression.

A new haplogroup pattern displayed in Fujian Han in China.

Human Y-chromosomal binary polymorphisms have been considered to preserve the paternal genetic legacy and provide evidence on human evolution and the genetic relationships among and demographic history of different populations. To reveal the genetic origin and immigration of the Fujian Han, 13 binary markers on the Y chromosome were used to screen Fujian Han by allele-specific polymerase chain reaction. The results indicated that the M9G marker was highly prevalent (96.

[Genescan analysis of non-small cell lung cancer in the long arm of chromosome 6].

Objective: To investigate if there are microsatellite loci in the long arm of chromosome 6 that have close relationship with non-small cell lung cancer.

Methods: Multiple PCR approach was used to analyze the 18 loci in the long arm of chromosome 6. The PCR products were analyzed in PAGE, and then the electrophoresis maps were analyzed with Gene Scan(TM) and Genotyper(TM).