Natural variation in preparation for nutrient depletion reveals a cost-benefit tradeoff.

Maximizing growth and survival in the face of a complex, time-varying environment is a common problem for single-celled organisms in the wild. When offered two different sugars as carbon sources, microorganisms first consume the preferred sugar, then undergo a transient growth delay, the "diauxic lag," while inducing genes to metabolize the less preferred sugar. This delay is commonly assumed to be an inevitable consequence of selection to maximize use of the preferred sugar.

Electrochemical performance and carbon deposition resistance of M-BaZr₀.₁Ce₀.₇Y₀.₁Yb₀.₁O₃₋δ (M = Pd, Cu, Ni or NiCu) anodes for solid oxide fuel cells.

Pd-, Cu-, Ni- and NiCu-BaZr₀.₁Ce₀.₇Y₀.

New insights of nociceptor sensitization in bone cancer pain.

Introduction: Numerous studies have shown that an intact CNS is required for the conscious perception of cancer-induced bone pain (CIBP) and that changes in the CNS are clearly evident. Accordingly, the blockage of nociceptive stimulus into the CNS can effectively relieve or markedly attenuate CIBP, revealing the clinical implication of the blockage of ongoing peripheral inputs for the control of CIBP.

Areas Covered: In this review, the heterogeneity and excitability of nociceptors in bone are covered.

Identification of interferon-inducible genes as diagnostic biomarker for systemic lupus erythematosus.

The identification of biomarkers helps to perform early diagnosis, thus benefits the outcome of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), in which delayed treatment has been proposed as an independent adverse prognostic factor. In this study, we assessed the values of expression levels of five type I interferon (IFN)-inducible genes (LY6E, OAS1, OASL, MX1, and ISG15) and total IFN score for the diagnosis of SLE. Quantitative real-time PCR was applied to determine gene expressions at transcription level in peripheral blood from 69 SLE patients, 42 patients with other connective tissue diseases, and 26 normal controls.

Increased expression of protease-activated receptor 2 and 4 within dorsal root ganglia in a rat model of bone cancer pain.

In an effort to understand the underlying mechanisms of cancer-induced bone pain, we investigated the presence of two protease-activated receptors, protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR2), and protease-activated receptor 4 (PAR4), in dorsal root ganglia (DRGs) neurons in an animal model of bone cancer pain. Female Wistar rats were randomized into three groups: tumor-bearing animals killed after 14 days (D14) and tumor-bearing animals killed after 21 days (D21) group and a sham operation group. After establishment of the Walker 256 carcinoma bone cancer pain model, behavioral tests were carried out to determine both the spontaneous nocifensive behavior and the paw withdrawal threshold (PWT) of mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia in these rats.

The role of transcription in the activation of a Drosophila amplification origin.

The mechanisms that underlie metazoan DNA replication initiation, especially the connection between transcription and replication origin activation, are not well understood. To probe the role of transcription in origin activation, we exploited a specific replication origin in Drosophila melanogaster follicle cells, ori62, which coincides with the yellow-g2 transcription unit and exhibits transcription-dependent origin firing. Within a 10-kb genomic fragment that contains ori62 and is sufficient for amplification, RNA-sequencing analysis revealed that all detected RNAs mapped solely to the yellow-g2 gene.

An improved surface passivation method for single-molecule studies.

We report a surface passivation method based on dichlorodimethylsilane (DDS)-Tween-20 for in vitro single-molecule studies, which, under the conditions tested here, more efficiently prevented nonspecific binding of biomolecules than the standard poly(ethylene glycol) surface. The DDS-Tween-20 surface was simple and inexpensive to prepare and did not perturb the behavior and activities of tethered biomolecules. It can also be used for single-molecule imaging in the presence of high concentrations of labeled species in solution.

Morphological variation of the Scorpionfly Panorpa obtusa Cheng (Mecoptera: Panorpidae) with a new synonym.

Background: The overabundance of synonyms is an unavoidable by-product of taxonomic practice in insects. How to reduce or even eliminate synonymy has long been a great challenge for insect taxonomists. The scorpionflies Panorpa obtusa Cheng, 1949 and Panorpa leei Cheng, 1949 (Insecta: Mecoptera: Panorpidae) were originally described from Taibaishan in the Qinling Mountains with identical collection data and both are based on a single gender, the former on a male and the latter on two females.

Correlation between pericardial, mediastinal, and intrathoracic fat volumes with the presence and severity of coronary artery disease, metabolic syndrome, and cardiac risk factors.

Aims: To investigate the association of pericardial, mediastinal, and intrathoracic fat volumes with the presence and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD), metabolic syndrome (MS), and cardiac risk factors (CRFs).

Methods And Results: Two hundred and sixteen consecutive patients who underwent cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging and had a coronary angiogram within 12 months of the CMR were studied. Fat volume was measured by drawing region of interest curves, from short-axis cine views from base to apex and from a four-chamber cine view.

Restored immunosuppressive effect of mesenchymal stem cells on B cells after olfactory 1/early B cell factor-associated zinc-finger protein down-regulation in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objective: To evaluate whether olfactory 1/early B cell factor-associated zinc-finger protein (OAZ), a candidate lupus susceptibility gene involved in antinuclear antibody (ANA) production, plays a role in the regulation of B cells by mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs).

Methods: MSCs derived from the bone marrow of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and healthy control subjects were expanded and incubated with small interfering RNAs specific for OAZ or a nontargeting sequence. Knockdown of messenger RNA levels of OAZ and its downstream genes was measured using real-time polymerase chain reaction, and protein levels of chemokine/cytokine and immunoglobulins were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay or Western blotting.

Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) with right ventricular sense triggered left ventricular pacing benefits for the hemodynamics compared with standard CRT for chronic congestive heart failure: A cross-over study.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) with right ventricular (RV) sense triggered left ventricular (LV) pacing for chronic heart failure (CHF).

Methods: Thirty patients who were eligible for the Class I indication of CRT were enrolled and the informed consents were signed. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), diastolic mitral flow velocity time integral (VTI), mitral regurgitation flow VTI, and aortic valve flow VTI were measured with GE Vivid 7 (GE Medical, Milwaukee, WI, USA) before and after CRT.

Fine structure of the midgut of Sinopanorpa tincta (Navás) (Mecoptera: Panorpidae).

Fine structure of the midgut and degeneration of the midgut epithelium of the scorpionfly Sinopanorpa tincta (Navás) adults were investigated using light microscopy and scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The results show that the tubular midgut lacks gastric caeca and is composed of an outer longitudinal and an inner circular muscle layer, a basal lamina, an epithelium and a lumen from the outside to inside. A peritrophic membrane was not found in the lumen.

Discriminating infectious meningitis versus neuropsychiatric involvement in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: a single-center experience.

The objective of this study is to identify the clinical differences between infectious meningitis and neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE) in patients with SLE. Clinical manifestations, laboratory test results, and prognoses of 14 SLE patients complicated with various infectious meningitis, hospitalized in the Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School in the past 7 years, were reviewed and compared with those of 34 concomitantly treated NPSLE patients. Our study shows that mortality rate was much higher in SLE patients with infectious meningitis than in NPSLE patients.

Differentiating enteric Escherichia coli from environmental bacteria through the putative glucosyltransferase gene (ycjM).

This study is to tackle the challenge posed by the "naturalized" Escherichia coli population against the worldwide practice of E. coli-based water quality monitoring. In the literature, the putative glucosyltransferase gene (ycjM) of E.

PAR2-mediated upregulation of BDNF contributes to central sensitization in bone cancer pain.

Background: Bone cancer pain is currently a major clinical challenge for the management of cancer patients, and the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the spinal sensitization remain unclear. While several studies demonstrated the critical role of proteinase-activated receptor (PAR2) in the pathogenesis of several types of inflammatory or neuropathic pain, the involvement of spinal PAR2 and the pertinent signaling in the central sensitization is not determined yet in the rodent model of bone cancer pain.

Findings: Implantation of tumor cells into the tibias induced significant thermal hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia, and enhanced glutamatergic strength in the ipsilateral dorsal horn.

Fei-Liu-Ping ointment inhibits lung cancer growth and invasion by suppressing tumor inflammatory microenvironment.

Background: Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Conventional chemotherapy and radiotherapy are the primary therapeutic methods for lung cancer with the use of combination therapies gaining popularity. The frequency and duration of treatment, as well as, managing lung cancer by targeting multiple aspects of cancer biology is often limited by toxicity to the patient.

Berberine regulates AMP-activated protein kinase signaling pathways and inhibits colon tumorigenesis in mice.

Colorectal cancer, a leading cause of cancer death, has been linked to inflammation and obesity. Berberine, an isoquinoline alkaloid, possesses anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetes and anti-tumor properties. In the azoxymethane initiated and dextran sulfate sodium (AOM/DSS) promoted colorectal carcinogenesis mouse model, berberine treated mice showed a 60% reduction in tumor number (P = 0.

Complementary and alternative medicine for cancer pain: an overview of systematic reviews.

Background and Objective. Now with more and more published systematic reviews of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) on adult cancer pain, it is necessary to use the methods of overview of systematic review to summarize available evidence, appraise the evidence level, and give suggestions to future research and practice. Methods.

Evaluating and monitoring the efficacy of recombinant activated factor VIIa in patients with haemophilia and inhibitors.

Although the use of bypassing agents has dramatically improved the management of haemophilia in patients with inhibitors, questions remain regarding optimal dosing regimens and methodology for monitoring their clinical effectiveness. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of two different doses of recombinant activated factor VIIa (rFVIIa) in patients with haemophilia and inhibitors and assessed the feasibility of using thromboelastography (TEG) and thrombin generation assays (TGA) for monitoring the response to rFVIIa. Six patients aged 9-49 years with congenital or acquired haemophilia with inhibitors who experienced a total of nine bleeding episodes were included.

[Safety evaluation of Chinese medicine on tumor therapy].

As a characteristic tumor therapy in China, Chinese medicine (CM) plays an important position in comprehensive treatment of tumor. It's a critical issue of objective realization, analysis and evaluation of CM safety for scientific decision-making in tumor safe medication and it also is a pivotal issue which affects the international communication. The safety evaluation of CM includes three phases: pre-clinical safety evaluation, clinical trials (micro-dose studies and traditional clinical trials) and post-marketing CM safety assessment.

Proton transfer in host-guest complexation between a difunctional pillar[5]arene and alkyldiamines.

Host-guest complexation between a novel difunctional pillar[5]arene-based host H and alkyldiamines was fully investigated in both solution and the solid state. Proton transfer from the carboxylic acid groups to the amine units occurred in the principle by undergoing an acid-base reaction. Driven by the cooperativity of electrostatic interactions, multiple C-H···π interactions, and H-bonds, the guests penetrated into the cavity of H to form pseudorotaxane-type inclusion complexes with relatively high binding affinities.

Influence of cell disruption and elution on cellulase release of Clostridium straminisolvens (CSK1).

Clostridium straminisolvens (CSK1) is a novel cellulolytic bacterium isolated from a cellulose-degrading bacterial community MC1. In this study, the influence of the following cell disruption and elution methods on CSK1cellulase release was investigated: (1) freezing-thawing, (2) ultrasonication, (3) elution, (4) freezing-thawing following elution, (5) ultrasonication following elution, and lastly (6) high-pressure homogenization following elution. The activity of the cellulases CMCase, β-glucosidase, Avicelase, FPase, and xylanase in crude extracts increased 81.

Larval morphology of Panorpodes kuandianensis (Insecta, Mecoptera, Panorpodidae) and its evolutionary implications.

Larval characters play a significant role in evolutionary and systematic studies of holometabolous insects. However, Panorpodidae, a derived family of Mecoptera, are largely unknown in their immature stages to date. Here, the first instar larva of the short-faced scorpionfly Panorpodes kuandianensis Zhong, Zhang & Hua, 2011 is described and illustrated using light and scanning electron microscopy.

Sperm ultrastructure of Panorpodes kuandianensis (Mecoptera: Panorpodidae).

The sperm ultrastructure of the short-faced scorpionfly Panorpodes kuandianensis Zhong et al. was investigated using transmission electron microscopy. The spermatozoon is composed of a short head containing a bilayered acrosome and an elongate nucleus, a neck transition region, and a long flagellum.