High nitrogen inhibits biomass and saponins accumulation in a medicinal plant .

Nitrogen (N) is an important macronutrient and is comprehensively involved in the synthesis of secondary metabolites. However, the interaction between N supply and crop yield and the accumulation of effective constituents in an N-sensitive medicinal plant (Burkill) F. H.

Responses of photosystem to long-term light stress in a typically shade-tolerant species .

Photosynthetic adaptive strategies vary with the growth irradiance. The potential photosynthetic adaptive strategies of shade-tolerant species (Burkill) F. H.

A Comparison of Photoprotective Mechanism in Different Light-Demanding Plants Under Dynamic Light Conditions.

Light intensity is highly heterogeneous in nature, and plants have evolved a series of strategies to acclimate to dynamic light due to their immobile lifestyles. However, it is still unknown whether there are differences in photoprotective mechanisms among different light-demanding plants in response to dynamic light, and thus the role of non-photochemical quenching (NPQ), electron transport, and light energy allocation of photosystems in photoprotection needs to be further understood in different light-demanding plants. The activities of photosystem II (PSII) and photosystem I (PSI) in shade-tolerant species , intermediate species , and sun-demanding species were comparatively measured to elucidate photoprotection mechanisms in different light-demanding plants under dynamic light.

Responses of Linear and Cyclic Electron Flow to Nitrogen Stress in an N-Sensitive Species .

Nitrogen (N) is a primary factor limiting leaf photosynthesis. However, the mechanism of N-stress-driven photoinhibition of the photosystem I (PSI) and photosystem II (PSII) is still unclear in the N-sensitive species such as , and thus the role of electron transport in PSII and PSI photoinhibition needs to be further understood. We comparatively analyzed photosystem activity, photosynthetic rate, excitation energy distribution, electron transport, OJIP kinetic curve, P700 dark reduction, and antioxidant enzyme activities in low N (LN), moderate N (MN), and high N (HN) leaves treated with linear electron flow (LEF) inhibitor [3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethyl urea (DCMU)] and cyclic electron flow (CEF) inhibitor (methyl viologen, MV).

The Responses of Light Reaction of Photosynthesis to Dynamic Sunflecks in a Typically Shade-Tolerant Species .

Light is highly heterogeneous in natural conditions, and plants need to evolve a series of strategies to acclimate the dynamic light since it is immobile. The present study aimed to elucidate the response of light reaction of photosynthesis to dynamic sunflecks in a shade-tolerant species and to examine the regulatory mechanisms involved in an adaptation to the simulated sunflecks. When was exposed to the simulated sunflecks, non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) increased rapidly to the maximum value.

Hypergravity Load Modulates Acetaminophen Nephrotoxicity via Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress in Association with Hepatic microRNA-122 Expression.

Hypergravity conditions may subject the kidney to intrinsic stress and lead to hemodynamic kidney dysfunction. However, the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon remain unclear. Accumulation of unfolded proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (i.

High nitrogen inhibits photosynthetic performance in a shade-tolerant and N-sensitive species Panax notoginseng.

Nitrogen (N) is a primary factor limiting leaf photosynthesis. However, the mechanism of high-N-driven inhibition on photosynthetic efficiency and photoprotection is still unclear in the shade-tolerant and N-sensitive species such as Panax notoginseng. Leaf chlorophyll (Chl) content, Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase oxygenase (Rubisco) activity and content, N allocation in the photosynthetic apparatus, photosynthetic performance and Chl fluorescence were comparatively analyzed in a shade-tolerant and N-sensitive species P.

Integrated analysis on biochemical profiling and transcriptome revealed nitrogen-driven difference in accumulation of saponins in a medicinal plant Panax notoginseng.

The medicinal plant Panax notoginseng is considered a promising source of secondary metabolites due to its saponins. However, there are relatively few studies on the response of saponins to nitrogen (N) availability and the mechanisms underlying the N-driven regulation of saponins. Saponins content and saponins -related genes were analyzed in roots of P.

Liver X Receptor α-Induced Cannabinoid Receptor 2 Inhibits Ubiquitin-Specific Peptidase 4 Through miR-27b, Protecting Hepatocytes From TGF-β.

Liver X receptor-alpha (LXRα) acts as a double-edged sword in different biological situations. Given the elusive role of LXRα in hepatocyte viability, this study investigated whether LXRα protects hepatocytes from injurious stimuli and the underlying basis. LXRα activation prevented hepatocyte apoptosis from CCl challenges in mice.

Raloxifene inhibits adipose tissue inflammation and adipogenesis through Wnt regulation in ovariectomized rats and 3 T3-L1 cells.

Background: Loss of ovarian function, as in menopause or after ovariectomy (OVX), is closely associated with obesity and white adipose tissue (WAT) inflammation. Estrogen replacement protects against postmenopausal obesity but increases the risks of carcinogenesis. In the present study, we investigated the effects of long-term treatment of raloxifene (RAL), a selective estrogen receptor modulator, on the features of estrogen deficiency-induced obesity and explored the involvement of canonical and non-canonical Wnt regulation in vivo and in vitro.

Improved Monitoring of Low-Level Transcription in by a β-Galactosidase α-Complementation System.

Genetically encoded reporter proteins are important and widely used tools for the identification and capture of a promoter, tracking the dynamic behavior of transcription, and the quantification of promoter activity. The sensitivity of the reporter gene is a critical factor for an ideal reporter system because weak transcriptional signal has usually failed to be detected using classical reporters. In this study, we present a novel reporter system for improved monitoring of transcription in based on β-galactosidase α-complementation.

Development of a novel bacterial surface display system using truncated OmpT as an anchoring motif.

Objectives: An efficient bacterial surface display system based on the anchoring motif derived from Escherichia coli (E. coli) outer membrane protease OmpT was developed in this study.

Results: Referring to the classical Lpp-OmpA (LOA) display system, the signal peptide and nine amino acids of mature Lpp were fused to the transmembrane domain comprising five β-strands of truncated OmpT to generate a novel Lpp-OmpT (LOT) display system.

Primary culture of lung fibroblasts from hyperoxia-exposed rats and a proliferative characteristics study.

Lung fibrosis is an ultimate consequence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) which shows the excessive proliferation of lung fibroblasts (LFs). To find a better model for studying the role of LFs in hyperoxia-induced lung fibrosis at the cellular level, we isolated LFs from the lung tissue of hyperoxia- and normoxia-exposed rat lungs on postnatal days 7, 14 and 21 for primary culture to study their proliferative behavior. In the present study, the LF predominance was > 95% in our culture method.

5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine, a DNA methylation inhibitor, attenuates hyperoxia-induced lung fibrosis via re-expression of P16 in neonatal rats.

BackgroundP16 methylation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of hyperoxia-induced lung fibrosis. 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-aza-CdR) is a major methyltransferase-specific inhibitor. In this study, the effects of 5-aza-CdR on a hyperoxia-induced lung fibrosis in neonatal rats were investigated.

Binge Alcohol Intake After Hypergravity Stress Sustainably Decreases AMPK and Transcription Factors Necessary for Hepatocyte Survival.

Background: Binge alcohol consumption elicits mitochondrial dysfunction in hepatocytes. An understanding of the effect of ethanol (EtOH) exposure after hypergravity stress on liver function may assist in the implementation of pathophysiological countermeasures for aerospace missions. This study investigated whether a combination of hypergravity stress and binge alcohol intake has a detrimental effect on AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and other molecules necessary for hepatocyte survival.

Synthesis of Pyrazine-1,3-thiazine Hybrid Analogues as Antiviral Agent Against HIV-1, Influenza A (H1N1), Enterovirus 71 (EV71), and Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3).

A novel series of pyrazine-1,3-thiazine hybrid conjugates were synthesized in excellent yield. These derivatives were subsequently tested against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1); hemagglutinin type 1 and neuraminidase type 1-'influenza' A (H1N1) virus; enterovirus 71 (EV71); and coxsackievirus B3. The effect of these conjugates on the key enzymes responsible for the progression of these viral infections was also illustrated via enzyme-based assay, such as HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) and neuraminidase, where entire tested molecules showed considerable inhibition.

A load of mice to hypergravity causes AMPKα repression with liver injury, which is overcome by preconditioning loads via Nrf2.

An understanding of the effects of hypergravity on energy homeostasis is necessary in managing proper physiological countermeasures for aerospace missions. This study investigated whether a single or multiple load(s) of mice to hypergravity has an effect on molecules associated with energy metabolism. In the liver, AMPKα level and its signaling were repressed 6 h after a load to +9 Gz hypergravity for 1 h, and then gradually returned toward normal.

Effect of exogenous pulmonary surfactants on mortality rate in neonatal respiratory distress syndrome: A network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background: The utilization of multiple natural and synthetic products in surfactant replacement therapies in treatment of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS) prompted us to take a closer looks at these various therapeutic options and their efficacies. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the effects of six exogenous pulmonary surfactants (EPS) (Survanta, Alveofact, Infasurf, Curosurf, Surfaxin and Exosurf) on mortality rate in NRDS by a network meta-analysis.

Methods: An exhaustive search of electronic databases was performed in PubMed, Ovid, EBSCO, Springerlink, Wiley, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang and VIP databases (last updated search in October 2014) to retrieve randomized controlled trials (RCTs) relevant to our study topic.

Autophagy regulates hyperoxia-induced intracellular accumulation of surfactant protein C in alveolar type II cells.

Surfactant protein C (SP-C) deficiency is a risk factor for hyperoxia-induced bronchopulmonary dysplasia in newborn infants. However, the role of SP-C deficiency in the process is unclear. Here, using neonatal rat BPD model and MLE-12, mouse alveolar epithelial type II cell, we examined the changes of SP-C levels during hyperoxia.

The role of placenta growth factor in the hyperoxia-induced acute lung injury in an animal model.

Prolonged exposure to hyperoxia leads to acute lung injury. Alveolar type II cells are main target of hyperoxia-induced lung injury. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms remain unknown.

Specific oligopeptides in fermented soybean extract inhibit NF-κB-dependent iNOS and cytokine induction by toll-like receptor ligands.

The ethanol extract of fermented soybean from Glycine max (chungkookjang, CHU) has been claimed to have chemopreventive and cytoprotective effects. In the present study, we examined the inhibitory effect of CHU on inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cytokine induction by toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands treatment and attempted to identify the responsible active components. Nitric oxide (NO) content and iNOS levels in the media or RAW264.

Mitigation of carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatic injury by methylene blue, a repurposed drug, is mediated by dual inhibition of GSK3β downstream of PKA.

Background And Purpose: Methylene blue (MB) has recently been considered for new therapeutic applications. In this study, we investigated whether MB has antioxidant and mitochondria-protecting effects and can prevent the development of toxicant-induced hepatitis. In addition, we explored the underlying basis of its effects.