A rapid and highly efficient sorghum transformation strategy using GRF4-GIF1/ternary vector system.

Sorghum is an important crop for food, forage, wine and biofuel production. To enhance its transformation efficiency without negative developmental by-effects, we investigated the impact of GRF4-GIF1 chimaera and GRF5 on sorghum transformation. Both GRF4-GIF1 and GRF5 effectively improved the transformation efficiency of sorghum and accelerated the transformation process of sorghum to less than 2 months which was not observed when using BBM-WUS.

Evaluation of Recovery Efficacy of Inspiratory Muscle Training After Lobectomy Based on Computed Tomography 3D Reconstruction.

Background: Progressive resistance inspiratory muscle training is the principle of inspiratory air-flow resistance loading training to restore diaphragm function, increase alveolar compliance, and further improve respiratory function. However, there is a lack of research on the effectiveness of progressive resistance inspiratory training in post-lobectomy rehabilitation and the accurate assessment of lung volumes.

Methods: In this study, 79 subjects diagnosed with lung cancer and undergoing thoracoscopic lobectomy were retrospectively analyzed.

Nur77 is involved in the regulation of obesity-related lower muscle mass by promoting Pten degradation.

Obesity may impair muscle function and is sometimes associated with lower muscle mass. However, the internal regulatory mechanism is still unclear. Nur77 has been reported to improve obesity phenotype by regulating glucose and lipid metabolism and inhibiting the production of inflammatory factors and reactive oxygen species.

Association of pericoronary adipose tissue with atrial fibrillation recurrence after ablation based on computed tomographic angiography.

Purpose: Quantitative measurement of pericoronary adipose tissue volume (PCATV) and fat attenuation index (FAI) has mostly been used in the study of coronary artery related diseases but rarely in the relationship with atrial fibrillation (AF). This study was conducted to investigate the correlation of PCATV and FAI with the AF recurrence after ablation and the clinical significance.

Materials And Methods: Patients with continuous AF who underwent radiofrequency ablation and computed tomographic angiography (CTA) were retrospectively enrolled.

Right ventricular area predicts short-term mortality in acute pulmonary embolism based on CT pulmonary angiography: A retrospective study.

We performed this cohort study to assess the prognostic value of right ventricular size, including diameter, area, and volume, in short-term mortality of acute pulmonary embolism (APE) based on 256-slice computed tomography compared with D-dimer, creatine kinase muscle and brain isoenzyme, and Wells scores. A total of 225 patients with APE, who were followed up for 30 days were enrolled in this cohort study. Clinical data, laboratory indices (creatine kinase, creatine kinase muscle and brain isoenzyme, and D-dimer), and Wells scores were collected.

Oxidative stress impairs the Nur77-Sirt1 axis resulting in a decline in organism homeostasis during aging.

Sirt1 is an NAD -dependent deacetylase that protects against premature aging and cell senescence. Aging accompanied by oxidative stress leads to a decrease in Sirt1 levels and activity, but the regulatory mechanism that connects these events remains unclear. Here, we reported that Nur77, which shares similar biological pathways with Sirt1, was also decreased with age in multiple organs.

Factors associated with left atrial appendage filling defects on early-phase cardiac computed tomography in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation: a case-control study.

Background: The significance of left atrial appendage (LAA) filling defects on early-phase cardiac computed tomography (CCT) remains uncertain. This study retrospectively investigated predictive factors of LAA filling defects on early-phase CCT.

Methods: A total of 68 patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF) and early filling defect on CCT who underwent transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) were enrolled [48 males, 20 females; mean ± standard deviation (SD) age 62.

Smartphone-based infrared thermography to assess progress in thoracic surgical incision healing: A preliminary study.

Immediate assessment of surgical incisions is an important component of wound management, and the development of relevant technologies has the potential to address these challenges. Smartphone-based handheld thermal imagers can collect infrared radiation from the skin to monitor local blood perfusion and metabolic levels in incisions. Here, we used this imaging technology for early assessment of healing progress and potential for predicting the healing status of thoracic surgical incisions.

Transcriptome analysis provides insights into the bases of salicylic acid-induced resistance to anthracnose in sorghum.

Key Message Transcriptome analysis of SA sensitive and tolerant lines indicates that SA enhances anthracnose resistance in sorghum by upregulating the expression of some immune-related genes and pathways.Abstract Anthracnose caused by the hemibiotrophic pathogen Colletotrichum sublineolum is one of the most destructive diseases of sorghum, the fifth most important cereal crop in the world. Salicylic acid (SA) is a phytohormone essential for plant immunity; however, the role of SA in sorghum resistance to anthracnose has not been well explored.

Nur77 Prevents Osteoporosis by Inhibiting the NF-κB Signalling Pathway and Osteoclast Differentiation.

Inflammation is a major risk factor for osteoporosis, and reducing inflammatory levels is important for the prevention of osteoporosis. Although nuclear receptor 77 (Nur77) protects against inflammation in a variety of diseases, its role in osteoporosis is unknown. Therefore, the main purpose of this study was to investigate the osteoprotective and anti-inflammatory effects of Nur77.

Nur77 ameliorates age-related renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis by suppressing the TGF-β/Smads signaling pathway.

Nerve growth factor-induced gene B (Nur77) has been shown to ameliorate several biological processes in chronic diseases, including inflammatory response, cellular proliferation, and metabolism. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is characterized by tubulointerstitial fibrosis for which no targeted therapies are available as yet. In this study, we performed in vivo and in vitro experiments to demonstrate that Nur77 targets fibrosis signals and attenuates renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis during the aging process.

Berberine modulates deacetylation of PPARγ to promote adipose tissue remodeling and thermogenesis via AMPK/SIRT1 pathway.

Pharmacological stimulation of adipose tissue remodeling and thermogenesis to increase energy expenditure is expected to be a viable therapeutic strategy for obesity. Berberine has been reported to have pharmacological activity in adipose tissue to anti-obesity, while the mechanism remains unclear. Here, we observed that berberine significantly reduced the body weight and insulin resistance of high-fat diet mice by promoting the distribution of brown adipose tissue and thermogenesis.

Risk Factors for Sarcopenia in the Elderly with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and the Effect of Metformin.

Aims: Sarcopenia is a common condition in older individuals, especially in the elderly with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The aim of the present study was to examine the risk factors for sarcopenia in elderly individuals with T2DM and the effects of metformin.

Methods: A total of 1732 elderly with T2DM were recruited to this cross-sectional observational study, and we analyzed the data using logistic regression analyses.

Erratum: Measurement of the Combined Levels of Serum Uric Acid and Alanine Aminotransferase and the Risk of Metabolic Syndrome in a Population Aged 60 Years or More in Northeastern China.

The authors informed the journal that several errors occurred in their manuscript and request the following to be corrected:  1. The affiliation for Jiabei Wang should be corrected from Department of Geriatric, Huangshi Central Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Hubei Polytechnic University, Edong Healthcare Group, Huangshi, Hubei, P.R.

Measurement of the Combined Levels of Serum Uric Acid and Alanine Aminotransferase and the Risk of Metabolic Syndrome in a Population Aged 60 Years or More in Northeastern China.

BACKGROUND Serum uric acid (SUA) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels are increased in patients with metabolic syndrome. This study aimed to investigate the association between the combined levels of SUA and ALT and the risk of metabolic syndrome in residents ≥60 years of age in Northeastern China. MATERIAL AND METHODS A population study included nine communities in Shenyang, Northeast China, and 3,998 participants (1,434 men and 2,564 women) who were ≥60 years old.

Risk factors for depression in elderly diabetic patients and the effect of metformin on the condition.

Background: At present, only a few studies have focused on the risk factors for depression in elderly diabetic patients, and there is little evidence for the effect of metformin in depressed elderly patients with diabetes than on its effect on blood glucose. The aim of the current work was to study the risk factors for depression in elderly diabetic patients and to ascertain the effects of metformin on the depressive state.

Methods: We initiated a 1:4 matched case-control study.

Specific higher levels of serum uric acid might have a protective effect on bone mineral density within a Chinese population over 60 years old: a cross-sectional study from northeast China.

Oxidative stress has been demonstrated to be a mechanism that leads to bone mass reduction, and according to many studies, serum uric acid (UA) is a strong endogenous antioxidant that can protect bone mineral density (BMD). To date, there have been no large-scale, cross-sectional studies based on the population in northeast China to assess the relationship between serum UA and BMD. Therefore, we examined the association between serum UA and BMD among a Chinese population older than 60 years old in northeast China.