A luminescent-based protocol for NAD/NADH detection in C. elegans, mice, and human whole blood.

Here, we present a NAD/NADH detection assay for evaluating NAD, NADH, and NAD/NADH ratio across diverse biological models, including Caenorhabditis elegans, mouse muscle tissue, mouse whole blood, and human whole blood. We describe steps for sample collection and preparation from different models as well as detection and calculation of NAD and NADH levels. This protocol is applicable for quantifying cellular/tissue NAD and NADH levels across different biological models.

Meeting Summary of The NYO3 5th NO-Age/AD Meeting and the 1st Norway-UK Joint Meeting on Aging and Dementia: Recent Progress on the Mechanisms and Interventional Strategies.

Unhealthy aging poses a global challenge with profound healthcare and socioeconomic implications. Slowing down the aging process offers a promising approach to reduce the burden of a number of age-related diseases, such as dementia, and promoting healthy longevity in the old population. In response to the challenge of the aging population and with a view to the future, Norway and the United Kingdom are fostering collaborations, supported by a "Money Follows Cooperation agreement" between the 2 nations.

Chemotaxis assay for evaluation of memory-like behavior in wild-type and Alzheimer's-disease-like C. elegans models.

Here, we present an olfactory-dependent chemotaxis assay for evaluating changes in memory-like behavior in both wild-type and Alzheimer's-disease-like C. elegans models. We describe steps for synchronizing and preparing C.

Implications of altered sirtuins in metabolic regulation and oral cancer.

Sirtuins (SIRTs 1-7) are a group of histone deacetylase enzymes with a wide range of enzyme activities that target a range of cellular proteins in the nucleus, cytoplasm, and mitochondria for posttranslational modifications by acetylation (SIRT1, 2, 3, and 5) or ADP ribosylation (SIRT4, 6, and 7). A variety of cellular functions, including mitochondrial functions and functions in energy homeostasis, metabolism, cancer, longevity and ageing, are regulated by sirtuins. Compromised sirtuin functions and/or alterations in the expression levels of sirtuins may lead to several pathological conditions and contribute significantly to alterations in metabolic phenotypes as well as oral carcinogenesis.

The effects of epigenetic modifications on bone remodeling in age-related osteoporosis.

Purpose: As the population ages, there is an increased risk of fracture and morbidity diseases associated with aging, such as age-related osteoporosis and other bone diseases linked to aging skeletons.

Results: Several bone-related cells, including multipotent bone mesenchymal stem cells, osteoblasts that form bone tissue, and osteoclasts that break it down, are in symbiotic relationships throughout life. Growing evidence indicates that epigenetic modifications of cells caused by aging contribute to compromised bone remodeling and lead to osteoporosis.

[Effects of elevated CO concentration on production and water use efficiency of spring wheat in semi-arid area].

In the present study, the response of spring wheat production and water use efficiency (WUE) to the elevated CO concentrations was investigated based on the open-top chamber (OTC) experiment platform in Dingxi, a typical semi-arid area. Three different CO concentrations (390 μmol·mol, 480 μmol·mol and 570 μmol·mol) were involved. The results showed that the air temperature above plant canopy increased and the soil temperature at depth of 10 cm decreased by elevated CO.

Prognostic Significance of Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio in Oncologic Outcomes of Cholangiocarcinoma: A Meta-analysis.

Increasing evidence indicates that the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a useful biomarker of long-term outcomes in patients with cholangiocarcinoma. However, the prognostic role of NLR in patients with cholangiocarcinoma remains unclear. Thus, the current meta-analysis was undertaken to clarify the correlation between NLR and overall survival (OS) in cholangiocarcinoma, and a comprehensive literature research was conducted to understand the association of NLR and prognosis of cholangiocarcinoma.

[Effects of increasng field temperature on growth, development and yield of spring wheat in semi-arid area].

A field infrared temperature-increasing simulation experiment was conducted to investi- gate the effects of air temperature increases (0, 1 and 2 °C ) on growth, development and yield of spring wheat at the Dingxi Arid Meteorology and Ecological Environment Experimental Station of the Institute of Arid Meteorology of China Meteorological Administration. The results showed that the growth period of spring wheat was shortened by 7-11 d when the temperature increased by 1-2 °C. The plant height and leaf area index increased at early growth stage, decreased after entering the jointing stage, and warming 2 °C had a higher effect than warming 1 °C.

[Effects of air temperature increase and precipitation change on grain yield and quality of spring wheat in semiarid area of Northwest China].

In order to predict effects of climate changing on growth, quality and grain yields of spring wheat, a field experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of air temperature increases (0 °C, 1.0 °C, 2.0° C and 3.

Relationships between abnormal MMP2 expression and prognosis in gastric cancer: a meta-analysis of cohort studies.

We carried out this current meta-analysis of relevant cohort studies in an attempt to investigate the relationships between abnormal matrix metalloproteinases-2 (MMP2) expression and gastric cancer (GC) prognosis. A range of electronic databases were searched for relevant articles without any language restrictions: Web of Science (1945-2013), the Cochrane Library Database (Issue 12, 2013), PubMed (1966-2013), EMBASE (1980-2013), CINAHL (1982-2013), and the Chinese Biomedical Database (CBM) (1982-2013). Meta-analysis was conducted using the STATA 12.

Abnormal FHIT protein expression may be correlated with poor prognosis in gastric cancer: a meta-analysis.

Our current meta-analysis is aimed to investigate the relationships between fragile histidine triad (FHIT) protein expression and prognosis in gastric cancer patients. We searched MEDLINE (1966 ~ 2013), the Cochrane Library Database (Issue 12, 2013), EMBASE (1980 ~ 2013), CINAHL (1982 ~ 2013), Web of Science (1945 ~ 2013), and the Chinese Biomedical Database (CBM) (1982 ~ 2013) without any language restrictions. The meta-analysis was conducted using the STATA 12.

ALDH2 and ADH1 genetic polymorphisms may contribute to the risk of gastric cancer: a meta-analysis.

Aim: We conducted a meta-analysis of case-control studies to determine whether ALDH2, ADH1 and ADH2 genetic polymorphisms contribute to the pathogenesis of gastric cancer.

Methods: The PubMed, CISCOM, CINAHL, Web of Science, Google Scholar, EBSCO, Cochrane Library, and CBM databases were searched for relevant articles published before November 1st, 2013 without any language restrictions. Meta-analysis was conducted using the STATA 12.

Promoter methylation of the RASSF1A gene may contribute to colorectal cancer susceptibility: a meta-analysis of cohort studies.

This meta-analysis of published cohort studies was conducted to evaluate whether promoter methylation of the RASSF1A gene contributes to colorectal cancer (CRC) susceptibility. A range of electronic databases were searched without language restrictions. Meta-analysis was conducted using the STATA 12.

Role of p16 gene promoter methylation in gastric carcinogenesis: a meta-analysis.

This meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the relationships between promoter DNA methylation in tumor suppressor gene p16 and gastric carcinogenesis. The PubMed, CISCOM, CINAHL, Web of Science, Google Scholar, EBSCO, Cochrane Library and CBM databases were searched for relevant articles published before November 1st, 2013 without any language restrictions. Meta-analysis was conducted using the STATA 12.

Aberrant promoter methylation of RASSF1A gene may be correlated with colorectal carcinogenesis: a meta-analysis.

We conducted a meta-analysis of cohort studies to evaluate the potential role of RASSF1A promoter methylation in colorectal carcinogenesis. A range of electronic databases were searched: PubMed (1966-2013), the Cochrane Library Database (Issue 12, 2013), EMBASE (1980-2013), CINAHL (1982-2013), Web of Science (1945-2013) and the Chinese Biomedical Database (CBM) (1982-2013) without language restrictions. Meta-analysis was conducted using the STATA 12.

[Effects of different water harvesting modes on alfalfa planting in semi-arid areas of Northwest China].

A field experiment with complete random design was conducted to investigate the effects of different mulching materials [common plastic film (CMR), biodegradable mulch film (BMR), and soil crust (SR)] and different ratios of furrow to ridge (60 cm:30 cm, 60 cm:45 cm, and 60 cm:60 cm) on the runoff efficiency, soil water storage, soil water content, and hay yield and water use efficiency of alfalfa in semiarid areas of the Loess Plateau. The runoff efficiency in treatments SR, BMR, and CMR was 32.0%, 90.

[Characteristics of evapotranspiration and crop coefficient of agroecosystems in semi-arid area of Loess Plateau, Northwest China].

Evapotranspiration (ET) is an important component of ground surface energy balance and water balance, and closely related to water cycle. By using eddy covariance technique, this paper studied the ET characteristics of agroecosystems in the semi-arid area of Loess Plateau in growth season (from April to September), 2010, and analyzed the relationships between crop coefficient and environmental factors. During the observation period, the diurnal variation of latent heat flux (LE) in each month was similar to single-peak curve, and the peak value (151.

[Spatiotemporal characteristics of reference crop evapotranspiration in inland river basins of Hexi region].

Based on the 1961-2008 daily observation data from 17 meteorological stations in the inland river basins in Hexi region, the daily reference crop evapotranspiration (ET0) in the basins was computed by Penman-Monteith equation, and the spatiotemporal characteristics of seasonal and annual ET0 were studied by GIS and IDW inverse-distance spatial interpolation. In 1961-2008, the mean annual ET0 (700-1330 mm) increased gradually from southeast to northwest across the basins. The high value of mean annual ET0 in Shule River basin and Heihe River basin declined significantly (P < 0.

Reduction and conversion of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) by sulfide under simulated anaerobic conditions.

To account for the fast disappearance of TNT in anaerobic fermentative liquid, we investigated TNT (TNT(0)=50 mg/L) reduction by Na(2)S at 30+/-1 degrees C in two types of buffer systems, a phosphate buffer (PB, system A) and a CH(3)COOH-NaHCO(3) buffer (system B). The effects of pH, sulfide concentration and buffer system on the conversion and reaction rate of TNT were investigated. The effect of different variables on the conversion of TNT decreased in the following order: Na(2)S concentration>pH>buffer system.