Individual microRNAs (miRNAs) display distinct mRNA targeting "rules".

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) guide Argonaute (AGO)-containing microribonucleoprotein (miRNP) complexes to target mRNAs.It has been assumed that miRNAs behave similarly to each other with regard to mRNA target recognition. The usual assumptions, which are based on prior studies, are that miRNAs target preferentially sequences in the 3'UTR of mRNAs,guided by the 5' "seed" portion of the miRNAs.

[The prevalence of otitis media with effusion of kindergarten children in Wuhan city].

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of otitis media with effusion (OME) of kindergarten children in Wuhan City.

Method: The study subjects were 3-6-year-old children in some kindergarten children in Wuhan City . All subjects were assessed with routine otorhinolaryngologic examination, otoscopic examination and tympanometry.

Anti-Argonaute RIP-Chip shows that miRNA transfections alter global patterns of mRNA recruitment to microribonucleoprotein complexes.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play key roles in gene expression regulation by guiding Argonaute (AGO)-containing microribonucleoprotein (miRNP) effector complexes to target polynucleotides. There are still uncertainties about how miRNAs interact with mRNAs. Here we employed a biochemical approach to isolate AGO-containing miRNPs from human H4 tumor cells by co-immunoprecipitation (co-IP) with a previously described anti-AGO antibody.

Regression-based approach for testing the association between multi-region haplotype configuration and complex trait.

Background: It is quite common that the genetic architecture of complex traits involves many genes and their interactions. Therefore, dealing with multiple unlinked genomic regions simultaneously is desirable.

Results: In this paper we develop a regression-based approach to assess the interactions of haplotypes that belong to different unlinked regions, and we use score statistics to test the null hypothesis of non-genetic association.

Three-dimensional computed tomography imaging increases the reliability of classification systems for tibial plateau fractures.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine whether three-dimensional reconstructed computed tomography (CT) images can improve intra-observer and inter-observer reliability for classification systems of tibial plateau fractures compared to plain radiographs and two-dimensional CT images.

Methods: Twenty-one tibial plateau fractures were classified independently by four attending orthopaedic trauma surgeons using the AO/ASIF and Schatzker classification systems. First, a combination of plain radiographs and two-dimensional (2D) CT images were evaluated.

[Soil enzyme activities under two forest types as affected by different levels of nitrogen deposition].

A simulation test was conducted to study the change trends of soil cellulase, polyphenol oxidase, and sucrase activities under natural broadleaf-Korean pine (Pinus koraiensis) and secondary poplar (Populus davidiana) -birch (Betula platyphylla) mixed forests as affected by 0, 25, and 50 kg x hm(-2) x a(-1) of N deposition. The results showed that the effects of elevated N deposition on test enzyme activities varied with forest type, and short-term nitrogen addition could significantly affect the test enzyme activities. High N deposition decreased soil polyphyneol oxidase activity, and correspondingly, soil cellulase and sucrase activities also had a trend of decrease.

[Evaluation of peripherally inserted central catheters in high risk newborns].

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility and safety of the peripherally inserted central catheters (PICC) as a venous access for newborns who need a long-term venous transfusion.

Methods: Sixty-five newborns receiving PICC and 80 newborns receiving peripheral intravenous catheters (PIV) from April 2006 to February 2008 were included in this study. A retrospective cohort study was used to compare the indwelling time of catheters, catheter-related mechanical complications, the incidence of sepsis, and the mortality between the two groups.

Preliminary separation of the growth factors in platelet-rich plasma: effects on the proliferation of human marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells.

Background: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) as a storage vehicle of growth factors has been successfully used in clinical applications, but in most cases the platelets were autologous. However, the large volume of blood withdrawn has detrimental effects on patients with anemia or poor general health. To overcome these limitations, this study was designed to separate the growth factors in homologous platelet-rich plasma.

[Decomposition of litter organic matter and its relations to C, N and P release in secondary conifer and broadleaf mixed forest in Changbai Mountains].

By using litterbag method, the decomposition processes of 9 types of foliar litter in secondary conifer and broadleaf mixed forest in Changbai Mountains were assessed during a period of 34 months. The initial N and P concentrations varied greatly among the litters, and there were significant relationships between litter decomposition constant (k) and initial N concentration and C/N. The percent organic matter remaining had a significant linear correlation with percent C remaining, and a significant polynomial correlation with percent N and P remaining.

[Landmark-based automatic registration of serial cross-sectional images of Chinese digital human using Photoshop and Matlab software].

This paper describes automatic registration of the serial cross-sectional images of Chinese digital human by projective registration method based on the landmarks using the commercially available software Photoshop and Matlab. During cadaver embedment for acquisition of the Chinese digital human images, 4 rods were placed parallel to the vertical axis of the frozen cadaver to allow orientation. Projective distortion of the rod positions on the cross-sectional images was inevitable due to even slight changes of the relative position of the camera.

[Effects of soil temperature and humidity on soil respiration rate under Pinus sylvestriformis forest].

Employing root-wrenching method and LI-6400-09 soil respiration chamber, this paper measured the diurnal changes of soil respiration rate with and without roots in situ on June 17, August 5, and October 10, 2003. The seasonal changes of soil respiration were also measured from May to September, 2004. The results showed that both the total and the root-wrenched soil respiration appeared single diurnal pattern, with the peaks presented during 12:00-14:00.