Chromatin State Maps of Blood Pressure-Relevant Renal Segments Reveal Potential Regulatory Role for SNPs.

Background: Hypertension or elevated blood pressure (BP) is a worldwide clinical challenge and the leading primary risk factor for kidney dysfunctions, heart failure, and cerebrovascular disease. The kidney is a central regulator of BP by maintaining sodium-water balance. Multiple genome-wide association studies revealed that BP is a heritable quantitative trait, modulated by several genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors.

Effect of Fluorine Atoms and Piperazine Rings on Biotoxicity of Norfloxacin Analogues: Combined Experimental and Theoretical Study.

To clarify the effect of the fluorine atom and piperazine ring on norfloxacin (NOR), NOR degradation products (NOR-DPs, P1-P8) were generated via UV combined with hydrogen peroxide (UV/HO) technology. NOR degradation did not significantly affect cytotoxicity of NOR against BV2, A549, HepG2, and Vero E6 cells. Compared with that of NOR, mutagenicity and median lethal concentration of P1-P8 in fathead minnow were increased, and bioaccumulation factor and oral median lethal dose of P1-P8 in rats were decreased.

Selection signature analysis reveals genes associated with tail phenotype in sheep.

Tail type of sheep, which may be affected by many genes with a complex mechanism, is an important economic trait concerned by both raiser and consumers. Here, we employed two sheep breeds with extreme phenotypes - Mongolian sheep (short-fat-tailed) and Bamei Mutton sheep (long-thin-tailed) to analyze the genetic differences at the genomic level and find candidate genes associated with tail phenotype. The results of population structure analysis showed that the LD decay rate of Mongolian sheep was greater than that of Bamai Mutton sheep.

Effectiveness and Safety of Polydioxanone Thread Embedding Acupuncture Compared with Acupuncture Treatment for Knee Osteoarthritis: a Protocol for a Pilot, Assessor-Blinded, Randomized Controlled Trial.

Importance: Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a common degenerative joint disease in aging populations. Knee OA is difficult to cure and requires ongoing management. Thread embedding acupuncture (TEA) is a popular Korean medical treatment for knee OA.

Amadori compounds: analysis, composition in food and potential health beneficial functions.

Amadori compounds (ACs) are key intermediates of the Maillard reaction, and found in various thermally processed foods. Simultaneous analysis of multiple ACs is challenging due to the complex amino acid and carbohydrate compositions, and the different food matrices. Most studies focus on the effects of ACs on food flavor and related sensory properties, but not their biological functions.