A Golgi vesicle-membrane-localized cytochrome B561 regulates ascorbic acid regeneration and confers Verticillium wilt resistance in cotton.

Ascorbic acid (AsA) serves as a key antioxidant involved in the various physiological processes and against diverse stresses in plants. Due to the insufficiency of AsA de novo biosynthesis, the AsA regeneration is essential to supplement low AsA synthesis rates. Redox reactions play a crucial role in response to biotic stress in plants; however, how AsA regeneration participates in hydrogen peroxide (HO) homeostasis and plant defense remains largely unknown.

Re-localization of a repeat-containing fungal effector by apoplastic protein Chitinase-like 1 blocks its toxicity.

A fungal effector that is toxic to plant cells was identified in Verticillium dahliae. The effector contains a non-canonical Common in several Fungal Extracellular Membrane proteins (CFEM) domain, a tandem repeat region consisting of four 14-amino acid repeats rich in proline, and a C-terminal region, thus is designated V. dahliae tetrapeptide repeat protein (VdTRP).

Changes in physical architecture and lipids compounds in skeletal muscle from Pekin duck and Liancheng white duck.

As a complex food, meat displays various biochemical properties that are determined to a great extent by physical architecture and lipid metabolites. Pekin duck and Liancheng white duck are elite breeds with distinct characteristics. Here, we explored the development of the muscle fibers from embryonic stage to 10-wk after birth, and muscle fibers grow slowly after 8-wk.

Natural variation of OsML1, a mitochondrial transcription termination factor, contributes to mesocotyl length variation in rice.

Mesocotyl length (ML) is a crucial factor in determining the establishment and yield of rice planted through dry direct seeding, a practice that is increasingly popular in rice production worldwide. ML is determined by the endogenous and external environments, and inherits as a complex trait. To date, only a few genes have been cloned, and the mechanisms underlying mesocotyl elongation remain largely unknown.

Cotton peroxisome-localized lysophospholipase counteracts the toxic effects of Verticillium dahliae NLP1 and confers wilt resistance.

Plasma membrane represents a critical battleground between plants and attacking microbes. Necrosis-and-ethylene-inducing peptide 1 (Nep1)-like proteins (NLPs), cytolytic toxins produced by some bacterial, fungal and oomycete species, are able to target on lipid membranes by binding eudicot plant-specific sphingolipids (glycosylinositol phosphorylceramide) and form transient small pores, causing membrane leakage and subsequent cell death. NLP-producing phytopathogens are a big threat to agriculture worldwide.

Prognostic significance of combined α-fetoprotein and CA19-9 for hepatocellular carcinoma after hepatectomy.

Background: The prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) varies considerably among patients with the same disease stage and characteristics, and only about two thirds show high levels of α-fetoprotein (AFP), a common prognostic indicator for HCC. Here, we assessed whether the combination of presurgical serum levels of AFP and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) can predict the prognosis of HCC patients after hepatectomy.

Methods: The clinicopathological characteristics and post-hepatectomy outcomes of 711 HCC patients were retrospectively reviewed.

Aquaporin1-3 expression in normal and hydronephrotic kidneys in the human fetus.

Background: Decreased expression of the renal aquaporin (AQP) protein family is associated with hydronephrosis in adult humans and animals. However, the expression of AQPs, especially subtypes AQP1-3, which play a core role in the urinary concentration function, in hydronephrotic human fetuses is not clear. The aim of this study is to investigate the expression of the AQP1-3 in normal and hydronephrotic human fetal kidneys.

GbCYP86A1-1 from Gossypium barbadense positively regulates defence against Verticillium dahliae by cell wall modification and activation of immune pathways.

Suberin acts as stress-induced antipathogen barrier in the root cell wall. CYP86A1 encodes cytochrome P450 fatty acid ω-hydroxylase, which has been reported to be a key enzyme for suberin biosynthesis; however, its role in resistance to fungi and the mechanisms related to immune responses remain unknown. Here, we identified a disease resistance-related gene, GbCYP86A1-1, from Gossypium barbadense cv.

Impact of Cold Exposure on the Reproductive Function in Female Rats.

Female reproductive system diseases caused by exposure to a cold environment are widely considered as important human health challenges. Although the projection of female reproduction in cold temperature has been studied, a holistic view on the probable effects of cold exposure on the functions of the female reproductive system has not been achieved. Our aim was to evaluate the effects of cold exposure to the functions of the ovary and uterus in female rats.

The combined effects of silicon dioxide nanoparticles and cold air exposure on the metabolism and inflammatory responses in white adipocytes.

The potential hazard of nanoparticles (NPs) from air pollution has attracted widespread attention. Though the toxicology of NPs has been intensively studied, few works have been reported on the combined effect of silicon dioxide (SiO) NPs and cold air exposure at the cellular level. Herein, we evaluated the combined effect of SiO NPs and cold exposure on metabolism and the inflammatory responses in white adipocytes by qRT-PCR .

Genetic parameters for residual feed intake in a random population of Pekin duck.

Objective: The feed intake (FI) and feed efficiency are economically important traits in ducks. To obtain insight into this economically important trait, we designed an experiment based on the residual feed intake (RFI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) of a random population Pekin duck.

Methods: Two thousand and twenty pedigreed random population Pekin ducks were established from 90 males mated to 450 females in two hatches.

Visually Exploring Transportation Schedules.

Public transportation schedules are designed by agencies to optimize service quality under multiple constraints. However, real service usually deviates from the plan. Therefore, transportation analysts need to identify, compare and explain both eventual and systemic performance issues that must be addressed so that better timetables can be created.

Walking, obesity and urban design in Chinese neighborhoods.

Objective: We examined the connections (1) between the design of the built environment and walking, (2) between the design of the built environment and obesity, and (3) between walking and obesity and income in urban settings in China.

Methods: Six neighborhoods with different built environment characteristics, located in the Chinese cities of Shanghai and Hangzhou, were studied. Data on walking and other physical activity and obesity levels from 1070 residents were collected through a street intercept survey conducted in 2013.

Research progress on bladder cancer molecular genetics.

Bladder cancer is a common malignant urinary tumor with a high rate of recurrence and quick progression, which threats human health. With the research on bladder cancer molecular genetics, the knowledge of gene modification and the development of molecular detection methods, more tumor markers have been discovered, which may have potential for early diagnosis, clinical examination and prognosis. This article reviews the research progress on bladder cancer molecular genetics.

Lack of association between vitamin D receptor gene FokI and BsmI polymorphisms and prostate cancer risk: an updated meta-analysis involving 21,756 subjects.

The vitamin D receptor (VDR) is a crucial mediator for the cellular effects of vitamin D. The polymorphisms in the VDR gene have been hypothesized to alter the risk of prostate cancer. However, studies investigating the association between VDR polymorphisms (BsmI and FokI) and prostate cancer (PCa) risk report conflicting results , therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis to re-examine the controversy.

Three common polymorphisms in the IL-4 gene and cancer risk: a meta-analysis involving 5,392 cases and 6,930 controls.

Unlabelled: Interleukin-4 (IL-4) is a typical pleiotropic T helper 2 (Th2) cytokine. This cytokine is a critical mediator of the Th1/Th2 balance and apoptosis potential and involved in the process of inflammation-mediated carcinogenesis in human organs. IL-4 gene polymorphisms influence IL-4 transcription and have been implicated in cancer risks.

Four years follow-up of 101 children with melamine-related urinary stones.

The melamine-contaminated milk powder incidence occurred in China in 2008. Many studies have been published regarding the epidemiology, clinical symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of melamine-related urinary stones. The objective of this study is to follow-up the effects of melamine-contaminated milk powder consumption on kidney and body growth in children with melamine-related urinary stones 4 years ago.

Current evidence on the relationship between three polymorphisms in the CYP1A2 gene and the risk of cancer.

CYP1A2 is an important cytochrome P450 enzyme that is involved in the metabolism of many clinical drugs and activation of some precarcinogens. Functional CYP1A2 polymorphisms are considered to exert significant effects on the risk of cancer, but the conclusions are inconsistent. Three commonly studied CYP1A2 polymorphisms, namely rs762551 (A>C), rs2069514 (G>A), and rs3569413 (T>delT), were selected to explore their association with the risk of development of cancer by meta-analysis of published case-control studies.

Overweight, obesity, and inactivity and urban design in rapidly growing Chinese cities.

China faces rising rates of overweight, obesity, and physical inactivity among its citizens. Risk is highest in China's rapidly growing cities and urban populations. Current urban development practices and policies in China heighten this risk.

Toxicity of organic chemicals to Tetrahymena pyriformis: effect of polarity and ionization on toxicity.

A large toxicity data set containing the toxicities of 250 phenols and 252 aliphatic compounds to Tetrahymena pyriformis was classified into different groups based on the structure and substituted functional groups. QSAR analysis was performed between the toxicity and calculated descriptors, expressed as hydrophobicity, polarity and ionization. Through an analysis of these class-based compounds, significant relationships were developed between the toxicity and hydrophobicity for non-polar and polar narcotic compounds.