A Dual-Function Transcription Factor, AtYY1, Is a Novel Negative Regulator of the Arabidopsis ABA Response Network.

Abscisic acid (ABA) plays crucial roles in plant growth and development, as well as in response to various environmental stresses. To date, many regulatory genes involved in the ABA response network have been identified; however, their roles have remained to be fully elucidated. In this study, we identified AtYY1, an Arabidopsis homolog of the mammalian C2H2 zinc-finger transcription factor Yin Yang 1 (YY1), as a novel negative regulator of the ABA response.

[Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection and drug resistance in children: an analysis of 1026 cases].

Objective: To investigate the Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) infection and drug resistance in children with respiratory tract infection and to provide a rational basis for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of MP infection.

Methods: Throat swabs were collected from 3529 children with respiratory tract infection, who visited the pediatric outpatient department or received treatment in the pediatric ward of our hospital from September 2010 to September 2011. The swabs were cultured to detect MP.

[An epidemiologic survey on blood lead levels in preschool children living in towns of Hunan Province].

Objective: To investigate blood lead levels (BLLs) and influencing factors of BLLs among preschool children living in towns of Hunan Province.

Methods: A total of 2 044 preschool children (1,108 boys and 936 girls) from towns of 12 regions in Hunan Province were enrolled by a cluster sampling between September 2008 and June 2009. The average age of the children was 4.

[Factors influencing successful isolation of mesenchymal stem cells from human umbilical cord blood].

Objective: Emerging evidences suggest that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can be isolated from human umbilical cord blood (HUCB) and cultured in vitro, the same as the MSCs derived from bone marrow. However previous attempts to isolate MSCs from UCB showed a low rate of success (less than 30%). The present study was conducted to clarify the factors that influence the yields of MSCs from HUCB of different gestational age deliveries and to observe the bioactivity of MSCs derived from UCB.

[Protective effects of baicalin pretreatment on hypoxic-ischemic brain damage in neonatal rats].

Objective: Previous research suggests that dexamethasone (Dex) pretreatment protects neonatal rats against hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (HIBD). Some of the pharmacological effects of baicalin (a traditional Chinese medicine extracted from Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi) are similar to Dex. This study was designed to explore the effect of baicalin on the neuronal apoptosis following HIBD in neonatal rats.

[Study on molecular mechanism of inhibitory effect of baicalin on proliferation of insulinoma cell line in rats].

Objective: To investigate the effect of baicalin on insulinoma cell line and the molecular mechanism involved.

Methods: Light microscope, MTT assay, flow cytometry, gene analysis and Western Blot were applied to investigate the effects of baicalin on the cell proliferation, the cell cycle and the involved molecular mechanism.

Results: After treatment with baicalin, the number of cells in mitotic stage and the survival rate of cells obviously decreased, and cell proliferation was inhibited in a drug concentration- and acting time-dependent manner, with the appearance of apoptotic insulinoma cells.

[Effect of baicalin on the proliferation of insulinoma cell line].

Objective: To investigate the effect of baicalin on the proliferation of insulinoma cell line and the molecular mechanism involved.

Methods: Such methods as light microscope, MTT assay, flow cytometry and Western blotting were applied to investigate the effects of baicalin (0, 100, 200, and 400 microg/ml baicalin treated for 24 h or 200 microg/ml baicalin treated at different time points) on the cell proliferation, cell survival rate, the cell cycle and related molecular mechanisms.

Results: The number of proliferating cells obviously decreased with the increase of baicalin under the light microscope, and the survival rate of cells decreased as determined by MTT assay.

[Expression of exogenous gene in bone marrow stromal cells by liposome].

Objective: To transform eukaryotic expression vector pEGFP-PDX-1 into marrow stromal cells by liposome and to optimize the conditions of transformation.

Methods: The recombinant vector was identified by enzyme digestion analysis and sequencing. The recombinant plasmid was transformed into bone marrow stromal cells and it changed the quantity of DNA or liposome.