EPAS1 prevents telomeric damage-induced senescence by enhancing transcription of , , and .

Telomeres are nucleoprotein structures located at the end of each chromosome, which function in terminal protection and genomic stability. Telomeric damage is closely related to replicative senescence and physical aging . As relatively long-lived mammals based on body size, bats display unique telomeric patterns, including the up-regulation of genes involved in alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT), DNA repair, and DNA replication.

Molecular convergence and transgenic evidence suggest a single origin of laryngeal echolocation in bats.

The laryngeal echolocation is regarded as one of the conspicuous traits that play major roles in flourishing bats. Whether the laryngeal echolocation in bats originated once, however, is still controversial. We here address this question by performing molecular convergence analyses between ancestral branches of bats and toothed whales.

Phylogenomic relationships and molecular convergences to subterranean life in rodent family Spalacidae.

All extant species in the rodent family Spalacidae are subterranean and have evolved various traits for underground life. However, the phylogenomic relationships among its three subfamilies (Myospalacinae, Spalacinae, and Rhizomyinae) and the molecular basis underlying their adaptations to underground life remain poorly understood. Here, we inferred the phylogenomic relationships among these subfamilies based on sequencing the genome of the hoary bamboo rat ( ).

Cochlear hair cells of echolocating bats are immune to intense noise.

Exposure to intense noise can damage cochlear hair cells, leading to hearing loss in mammals. To avoid this constraint, most mammals have evolved in relatively quiet environments. Echolocating bats, however, are naturally exposed to continuous intense sounds from their own and neighboring sonar emissions for maintaining sonar directionality and range.

Echolocation in soft-furred tree mice.

Echolocation is the use of reflected sound to sense features of the environment. Here, we show that soft-furred tree mice () echolocate based on multiple independent lines of evidence. Behavioral experiments show that these mice can locate and avoid obstacles in darkness using hearing and ultrasonic pulses.

Genomic and functional evidence reveals molecular insights into the origin of echolocation in whales.

Echolocation allows toothed whales to adapt to underwater habitats where vision is ineffective. Because echolocation requires the ability to detect exceptional high-frequency sounds, fossils related to the auditory system can help to pinpoint the origin of echolocation in whales. However, because of conflicting interpretations of archaeocete fossils, when and how whales evolved the high-frequency hearing correlated with echolocation remain unclear.

Lung Cancers Manifesting as Part-Solid Nodules in the National Lung Screening Trial.

Objective: The objective of our study was to determine how often death occurred from lung cancers that manifested as part-solid nodules in the National Lung Screening Trial (NLST).

Materials And Methods: NLST radiologists classified nodules as solid, ground-glass, or mixed. All lung cancers classified as mixed nodules by NLST radiologists were reviewed by four experienced radiologists and reclassified as solid, nonsolid, or part-solid nodules.

Lung Cancer Deaths in the National Lung Screening Trial Attributed to Nonsolid Nodules.

Purpose To validate the recommendation of performing annual follow-up of nonsolid nodules (NSNs) identified by computed tomographic (CT) screening for lung cancer, all cases of lung cancer manifesting as NSN in the National Lung Screening Trial (NLST) were reviewed. Materials and Methods Institutional review board and informed consent were waived for this study. The NLST database was searched to identify all participants with at least one NSN on CT scan with lung cancer as the cause of death (COD) documented by the NLST endpoint verification process.

CT Screening for Lung Cancer: Part-Solid Nodules in Baseline and Annual Repeat Rounds.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the frequencies of identifying participants with part-solid nodules, of diagnostic pursuit, of diagnoses of lung cancer, and long-term lung cancer survival in baseline and annual repeat rounds of CT screening in the International Early Lung Cancer Action Project.

Materials And Methods: Screenings were performed under a common protocol. Participants with solid, nonsolid, and part-solid nodules and the diagnoses of lung cancer were documented.

Low-Dose CT Screening for Lung Cancer: Computer-aided Detection of Missed Lung Cancers.

Purpose To update information regarding the usefulness of computer-aided detection (CAD) systems with a focus on the most critical category, that of missed cancers at earlier imaging, for cancers that manifest as a solid nodule. Materials and Methods By using a HIPAA-compliant institutional review board-approved protocol where informed consent was obtained, 50 lung cancers that manifested as a solid nodule on computed tomographic (CT) scans in annual rounds of screening (time 1) were retrospectively identified that could, in retrospect, be identified on the previous CT scans (time 0). Four CAD systems were compared, which were referred to as CAD 1, CAD 2, CAD 3, and CAD 4.

CT Screening for Lung Cancer: Nonsolid Nodules in Baseline and Annual Repeat Rounds.

Purpose: To address the frequency of identifying nonsolid nodules, diagnosing lung cancer manifesting as such nodules, and the long-term outcome after treatment in a prospective cohort, the International Early Lung Cancer Action Program.

Materials And Methods: A total of 57,496 participants underwent baseline and subsequent annual repeat computed tomographic (CT) screenings according to an institutional review board, HIPAA-compliant protocol. Informed consent was obtained.

CT screening for lung cancer: value of expert review of initial baseline screenings.

OBJECTIVE. Appropriate radiologic interpretation of screening CT can minimize unnecessary workup and intervention. This is particularly challenging in the baseline round.

Retrospective review of lung cancers diagnosed in annual rounds of CT screening.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to review the records of patients with diagnoses of lung cancer in annual repeat rounds of CT screening in the International Early Lung Cancer Action Program to determine whether the cancer could have been identified in the previous round of screening.

Materials And Methods: Three radiologists reviewed the scans of 104 lung cancer patients and assigned the findings to one of three categories: 1, cancer was not visible at previous CT screening; 2, cancer was visible at previous CT screening but not identified; 3, abnormality was identified at previous CT screening but not classified as malignant. Nodule size, nodule consistency, cell type, and stage at the previous screening and when identified for further workup for each of the three categories were tabulated.

Studies on chemical constituents of Ophiopogon japonicus.

Two new and six known steroidal glucosides were isolated from the tuber of Ophiopogon japonicus. The new steroidal glucosides were established as (20R,25R)-26-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-3β,26-dihydroxycholest-5-en-16,22-dioxo-3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-β-d-glucopyranoside (1) and 26-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(25R)-furost-5-en-3β,14α,17α,22α,26-pentaol-3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-β-d-glucopyranoside (3) on the basis of spectroscopic data as well as chemical evidence.

A new triterpenoid saponin from Gymnema sylvestre.

Besides four known compounds, a new triterpenoid saponin was isolated from the stems of Gymnema sylvestre. The structure of the new triterpenoid saponin was established as 3β,16β,22α-trihydroxy-olean-12-ene 3-O-β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 6)-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 6)-β-D-glucopyranoside (1) on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR techniques, including COSY, HMBC, HMQC, and NOESY correlations. Four known compounds 2, 3, 4, and 5 were identified on the basis of spectroscopic data.

[Analysis of the test results of HBV serum markers and HBV DNA of the neonates born to HBsAg-positive mothers].

Objective: To observe the HBV serum markers and HBV DNA expressions of the neonates born to the HBsAg-positive mothers.

Methods: By detecting serum immunity markers of hepatitis B virus (5 items) and serum HBV DNA of 283 neonates (a pair of twins) born to 282 HBsAg-positive mothers.

Results: 12 patterns emerge from the study of the hepatitis B serum markers of 283 neonates.

Morphological and histological analysis on the in vivo degradation of poly (propylene fumarate)/(calcium sulfate/β-tricalcium phosphate).

Poly (propylene fumarate)/(Calcium sulfate/β-tricalcium phosphate) (PPF/(CaSO(4)/β-TCP)) is a kind of biodegradable composite designed for bone tissue engineering. The in vitro degradation behavior of this composite has been investigated in our previous study. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of PPF molecular weight and CaSO(4)/β-TCP molar ratio on the in vivo degradation of PPF/(CaSO(4)/β-TCP) composite and the bone tissue response to PPF/(CaSO(4)/β-TCP).

CT- and computer-based features of small hamartomas.

Purpose: To identify characteristic computed tomographic (CT) and computer-derived features of hamartomas manifesting as small pulmonary nodules.

Methods: Individuals with a diagnosis of hamartoma were identified among participants in the International Early Lung Cancer Action Program and were included if there thin section CT images that included the entire nodule. The CT findings were reviewed to determine the nodule consistency (solid, part-solid, nonsolid), nodule diameter (average of length and width), shape (round, lobulated, neither) and edge (smooth, not smooth).

[Research on the behavior of fruit and vegetable intake in adolescents with Transtheoretical Model].

Objective: To study the current situation and factors influencing the behavior of fruit and vegetable intake in adolescents, and to discuss health education strategy related to the behavior.

Methods: 1677 students were selected from primary school and middle school in urban area of Hangzhou by a multistage sampling method. The behavior of fruit and vegetable intake was surveyed by questionnaires of the patient-centered assessment and counseling for exercise plus nutrition project (PACE+) for adolescent-scale of fruit and vegetable consumption, and analyzed by Transtheoretical Model on the servings of intake, the stage of change, process of change, decisional balance and the current status of self-efficacy.

Two new furostanol saponins from Tribulus terrestris.

Two new furostanol saponins were isolated from the fruits of Tribulus terrestris L. Their structures were established as 26-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(25S)-5alpha-furost-20(22)-en-3beta,26-diol-3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 --> 2)-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 --> 4)]-beta-D-galactopyranoside (1) and 26-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(25S)-5alpha-furost-20(22)-en-12-one-3beta,26-diol-3-O-beta-D-galactopyranosyl-(1 --> 2)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 --> 4)-beta-D-galactopyranoside (2) on the basis of spectroscopic data as well as chemical evidence.

Two new steroidal glucosides from Tribulus terrestris L.

Two new furostanol saponins, tribufurosides D (1) and E (2), were isolated from the fruits of Tribulus terrestris L. With the help of chemical and spectral analyses (IR, MS, 1D, and 2D NMR), the structures of the two new furostanol saponins were established as 26-O-beta-d-glucopyranosyl-(25S)-5alpha-furost-12-one-2alpha,3beta,22alpha,26-tetraol-3-O-beta-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 --> 4)-beta-d-galactopyranoside (1) and 26-O-beta-d-glucopyranosyl-(25R)-5alpha-furost-12-one-2alpha,3beta,22alpha,26-tetraol-3-O-beta-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 --> 4)-beta-d-galactopyranoside (2).

Management of lung nodules detected by volume CT scanning.

Background: The use of multidetector computed tomography (CT) in lung-cancer screening trials involving subjects with an increased risk of lung cancer has highlighted the problem for the clinician of deciding on the best course of action when noncalcified pulmonary nodules are detected by CT.

Methods: A total of 7557 participants underwent CT screening in years 1, 2, and 4 of a randomized trial of lung-cancer screening. We used software to evaluate a noncalcified nodule according to its volume or volume-doubling time.