Bioinformatic identification and experimental validation of miRNAs from foxtail millet (Setaria italica).

MiRNAs are a novel group of non-coding small RNAs that negatively regulate gene expression. Many miRNAs have been identified and investigated extensively in plant species with sequenced genomes. However, few miRNAs have been identified in foxtail millet (Setaria italica), which is an ancient cereal crop of great importance for dry land agriculture.

Enhancement of interaction of BSEP and HAX-1 on the canalicular membrane of hepatocytes in a mouse model of cholesterol cholelithiasis.

We induced gallstones in C57L mice fed with a high cholesterol diet and examined the expression of bile salt export pump (BSEP) on the canalicular membrane of hepatocytes and its relation with PKCα and HAX-1.Twenty-four gallstone-prone C57L mice were randomly assigned to receive a high cholesterol diet or a regular diet. Gallstone formation was recorded.

Hijacking of host calreticulin is required for the white spot syndrome virus replication cycle.

We have previously shown that multifunctional calreticulin (CRT), which resides in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and is involved in ER-associated protein processing, responds to infection with white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) by increasing mRNA and protein expression and by forming a complex with gC1qR and thereby delaying apoptosis. Here, we show that CRT can directly interact with WSSV structural proteins, including VP15 and VP28, during an early stage of virus infection. The binding of VP28 with CRT does not promote WSSV entry, and CRT-VP15 interaction was detected in the viral genome in virally infected host cells and thus may have an effect on WSSV replication.

Sorafenib metabolism is significantly altered in the liver tumor tissue of hepatocellular carcinoma patient.

Background: Sorafenib, the drug used as first line treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), is metabolized by cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4-mediated oxidation and uridine diphosphate glucuronosyl transferase (UGT) 1A9-mediated glucuronidation. Liver diseases are associated with reduced CYP and UGT activities, which can considerably affect drug metabolism, leading to drug toxicity. Thus, understanding the metabolism of therapeutic compounds in patients with liver diseases is necessary.

Visual and quantitative screening of α1-adrenoceptor antagonists in living cells using quantum dots.

The performance of α1-adrenoceptor antagonists in living cells was assessed using quantum dots conjugated to a derivative of the α1-adrenoceptor antagonist prazosin. The optimum receptor binding condition and apparent Kd of prazosin-conjugated quantum dots was first determined, followed by application of these structures to drug screening. Total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry were used to visually and quantitatively measure the affinity of five candidate drugs.

Inhibition potential of UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (Ugts) 1A isoforms by the analogue of resveratrol, bakuchiol.

Bakuchiol is a promising anti-tumor candidate with resveratrol-like structure. The present study aims to evaluate the inhibition potential of bakuchiol towards UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGT) 1A isoforms. An in vitro incubation system using 4-methylumbelliferone (4-MU) glucuronidation was used to evaluate the inhibition capability of bakuchiol towards UGT1A1, 1A3, 1A6, 1A7, 1A8, 1A9 and 1A10.

Leukotriene D4 inhalation challenge for predicting short-term efficacy of montelukast: a pilot study.

Introduction: The convenient measure to predict efficacy of leukotriene receptor antagonist is lacking.

Objectives: To determine if leukotriene D4 inhalation challenge predicts short-term efficacy of montelukast in asthma.

Methods: In this open-labelled 28-day trial, 45 patients with asthma were allocated to leukotriene-sensitive and leukotriene-insensitive group to receive montelukast monotherapy (10 mg, once daily) based on the positive threshold of leukotriene D4 inhalation challenge test (4.

Identification and characterization of microRNAs in ovary and testis of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) by using solexa sequencing technology.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous non-coding small RNAs which play important roles in the regulation of gene expression by cleaving or inhibiting the translation of target gene transcripts. Thereinto, some specific miRNAs show regulatory activities in gonad development via translational control. In order to further understand the role of miRNA-mediated posttranscriptional regulation in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) ovary and testis, two small RNA libraries of Nile tilapia were sequenced by Solexa small RNA deep sequencing methods.

Strain response of magnetic order in perovskite-type oxide films.

The role of elastic strain for magnetoelectric materials and devices is twofold. It can induce ferroic orders in thin films of otherwise non-ferroic materials. On the other hand, it provides the most exploited coupling mechanism in two-phase magnetoelectric materials and devices today.

Effects of liver diseases on drug-metabolizing enzymes: implications for drug fate alterations and nano-therapeutic openings.

Metabolizing and eliminating toxic chemicals in the liver are key processes in the body's defense system. Drug-metabolizing enzymes (DMEs) play central roles in such processes. The activity and expression of several key DMEs are changed in various liver diseases and thus lead to significantly altered drug disposition.

Vibration response imaging in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: a pilot study.

Background: Vibration response imaging (VRI) is a novel imaging technique and little is known about its characteristics and diagnostic value in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The aim of this study was to investigate the features of VRI in subjects with IPF.

Methods: We enrolled 23 subjects with IPF (42-74 y old) and 28 healthy subjects (42-72 y old).

[Effects of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on the prognostic mortality risk of invasive transitional bladder cancer: a meta-analysis].

Objective: To systematically assess the effects of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on the prognostic risk of invasive transitional bladder cancer.

Methods: All known randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the treatment of invasive transitional bladder cancer, published from the date of database building to September 2012, were retrieved from such databanks as Pubmed, CBMdisc, Embase and Cochrane. The data on 5-year survival rate of included studies were extracted for further heterogeneity exploration, subgroup analysis and statistical pooling with the RevMan 5.

A haplotype map of genomic variations and genome-wide association studies of agronomic traits in foxtail millet (Setaria italica).

Foxtail millet (Setaria italica) is an important grain crop that is grown in arid regions. Here we sequenced 916 diverse foxtail millet varieties, identified 2.58 million SNPs and used 0.

The surgical management of a penetrating orbitocranial injury with a bakelite foreign body reaching the brain stem.

Background: Penetrating orbital injuries constitute a significant threat to ocular and cerebral structures. The incidence of central nervous system damage from orbital injury is related to the orbital anatomy and the characteristics of the penetrating object. Penetrating orbital injuries involving the brain stem are extremely rare.

Interface and transport properties of metallization contacts to flat and wet-etching roughed N-polar n-type GaN.

The electrical characteristics of metallization contacts to flat (F-sample, without wet-etching roughed) and wet-etching roughed (R-sample) N-polar (Nitrogen-polar) n-GaN have been investigated. R-sample shows higher contact resistance (Rc) to Al/Ti/Au (~2.5 × 10(-5) Ω·cm(2)) and higher Schottky barriers height (SBH, ~0.

20-Hydroxyecdysone upregulates Atg genes to induce autophagy in the Bombyx fat body.

Autophagy is finely regulated at multiple levels and plays crucial roles in development and disease. In the fat body of the silkworm, Bombyx mori, autophagy occurs and Atg gene expression peaks during the nonfeeding molting and pupation stages when the steroid hormone (20-hydroxyecdysone; 20E) is high. Injection of 20E into the feeding larvae upregulated Atg genes and reduced TORC1 activity resulting in autophagy induction in the fat body.

Purification and characterization of a new alginate lyase from a marine bacterium Vibrio sp.

Unlabelled: An alginate lyase-producing bacterial strain, Vibrio sp. QY105, was isolated from sea mud of Qingdao. It secreted 90 % of total enzyme activity within the first 20 h of fermentation.

Molecular cloning of vasa gene and the effects of LHRH-A on its expression in blue tilapia Oreochromis aureus.

The full length of vasa cDNA in blue tilapia Oreochromis aureus was cloned and sequenced using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). Nucleotide sequence analysis revealed that the cDNA contained 2,143 bp and was consisted of a 48-bp 5' untranslated terminal region (5'-UTR), a 157-bp 3' untranslated terminal region (3'-UTR) and a 1,938-bp open reading frame (ORF) which encoded 645 amino acids. Homological protein analysis showed that vasa in O.

[Study on reliability and validity of the Tinnitus Evaluation Questionnaire].

Objective: To investigate the value of the Tinnitus Evaluation Questionnaire (TEQ) in clinical application.

Methods: Cronbach's α coefficient was used to examine the reliability of the TEQ internal consistency. Examined the re-measured reliability by the correlation coefficient by two doctors' 1 - 3 hours interval questionnaires' scores.

TRAF2 docking with related proteins in silico studies.

Using the protein-protein docking program, this study investigates the relationship between TRAF2 and its related proteins and the diversity within the 3D structures of TRAF2s. TRAF2 exists in monomer, trimer, and hexamer forms and it can combine with a number of proteins. Through comparative analysis we found that TRAF2(122), TRAF2(22), TRAF2(21740), TRAF2(2), TRAF2( 22ABC), and TRAF2(Phyre) perform very close homoousia in docking with the same group of ligands, though these TRAF2s come from different sources.

Over-expression of wild-type p53-induced phosphatase 1 confers poor prognosis of patients with gliomas.

Wild-type p53-induced phosphatase 1 (Wip1) is a member of the protein phosphatase 2C family, which is characterized by distinctive oncogenic properties. Overexpression of Wip1 is observed in certain types of human tumors that are associated with significantly poor prognosis. This study aimed to detect the expression of Wip1 in gliomas and to analyze its prognostic value in the patients.

Genotypic variants at 2q33 and risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in China: a meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies.

Genome-wide association studies have identified susceptibility loci for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). We conducted a meta-analysis of all single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that showed nominally significant P-values in two previously published genome-wide scans that included a total of 2961 ESCC cases and 3400 controls. The meta-analysis revealed five SNPs at 2q33 with P< 5 × 10(-8), and the strongest signal was rs13016963, with a combined odds ratio (95% confidence interval) of 1.

Genome-wide identification and characterization of ATP-binding cassette transporters in the silkworm, Bombyx mori.

Background: The ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter superfamily is the largest transporter gene family responsible for transporting specific molecules across lipid membranes in all living organisms. In insects, ABC transporters not only have important functions in molecule transport, but also play roles in insecticide resistance, metabolism and development.

Results: From the genome of the silkworm, Bombyx mori, we have identified 51 putative ABC genes which are classified into eight subfamilies (A-H) by phylogenetic analysis.