Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of the ZF-HD gene family in pea ( L.).

Pea is a conventional grain-feed-grass crop in Tibet and the only high-protein legume in the region; therefore, it plays an important role in Tibetan food and grass security. Zinc finger-homeodomain (ZF-HD) belongs to a family of homozygous heterotypic cassette genes, which play an important role in plant growth, development, and response to adversity stress. Using a bioinformatics approach, 18 PsZF-HD family members were identified.

Mapping Chinese annual gross primary productivity with eddy covariance measurements and machine learning.

Annual gross primary productivity (AGPP) is the basis for grain production and terrestrial carbon sequestration. Mapping regional AGPP from site measurements provides methodological support for analysing AGPP spatiotemporal variations thereby ensures regional food security and mitigates climate change. Based on 641 site-year eddy covariance measuring AGPP from China, we built an AGPP mapping scheme based on its formation and selected the optimal mapping way, which was conducted through analysing the predicting performances of divergent mapping tools, variable combinations, and mapping approaches in predicting observed AGPP variations.

[Correlations of F-FDG PET/CT Metabolic Parameters and Metabolic Heterogeneity with Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 Expression in Patients with Gastric Cancer].

Objective To investigate the value of F-FDG PET/CT metabolic parameters and metabolic heterogeneity for predicting the expression of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) in patients with gastric cancer. Methods A total of 45 patients with gastric cancer confirmed by surgical pathology between September 2016 and May 2021 were enrolled in this study.All the patients underwent F-FDG PET/CT examination before surgery.

RNA-Seq Analysis of the Key Long Noncoding RNAs and mRNAs Related to the Regulation of Acute Heat Stress in Rainbow Trout.

As the global climate warms, more creatures are threatened by high temperatures, especially cold-water fish such as rainbow trout. Evidence has demonstrated that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play a pivotal role in regulating heat stress in animals, but we have little understanding of this regulatory mechanism. The present study aimed to identify potential key lncRNAs involved in regulating acute heat stress in rainbow trout.

KIF22 promotes progress of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cells and is negatively regulated by miR-122.

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) increases at fast rate of all cancer types in China, which urges the investigations of its potential mechanism. In this research, a highly expressed kinesin superfamily protein 22 (KIF22) was founded both in ESCC tissues and cancer cell lines. The following experiments pointed out that down-regulation of KIF22 remarkably restrained the malignant progression of ESCC cells.

The effect of acute heat stress on the innate immune function of rainbow trout based on the transcriptome.

Heat stress is a condition in which the body's homeostasis is disturbed as a result of the rise in water temperature, resulting in the decline or even death of growth, immunity, and other functions. The mechanisms directing this response are not fully understood. To better characterize the effects of acute heat stress on the innate immune function of rainbow trout, we identified differentially regulated messenger RNA (mRNA) and non-coding RNA (ncRNA) in rainbow trout exposed to acute heat stress.

Establishing a deeper understanding of the osteogenic differentiation of monolayer cultured human pluripotent stem cells using novel and detailed analyses.

Background: Derivation of osteoblast-like cells from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) is a popular topic in bone tissue engineering. Although many improvements have been achieved, the low induction efficiency because of spontaneous differentiation hampers their applications. To solve this problem, a detailed understanding of the osteogenic differentiation process of hPSCs is urgently needed.

Translationally controlled tumor protein exerts a proinflammatory role in acute rejection after liver transplantation.

Background: Translationally controlled tumor protein (TCTP), which has been verified to have a proinflammatory activity, plays an important role in allergy. However, it remains unclear whether TCTP has an impact on the acute rejection (AR) after liver transplantation.

Methods: Three protocols were used to delineate the role of TCTP in AR after liver transplantation.

Physiological response and miRNA-mRNA interaction analysis in the head kidney of rainbow trout exposed to acute heat stress.

The rainbow trout is a cold-water fish cultured in China. Heat stress has a serious impact on the summer survival and the yield of rainbow trout. A better understanding of the regulatory response of rainbow trout to heat stress will help in determining the relationship between heat stress signaling pathways and adaption mechanisms and help contribute to breeding new high-temperature tolerant strains of rainbow trout.

Pathological response and serum VEGF changes during chemoradiotherapy for esophageal carcinoma.

The aim of this study was to observe pathological response and change in serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in esophageal carcinoma (EC) during chemoradiotherapy (CRT).Eighty-nine patients diagnosed with EC were treated with radiotherapy at the Department of Radiotherapy of the Second People's Hospital of Changzhou between May 2008 and December 2014, including 65 patients with CRT. Gastroscopy and pathological examination were conducted 4 weeks afterwards.

[Response of dry matter partitioning coefficient of summer maize to drought stress in North China].

The dry matter partitioning coefficient (PC) reflects the distribution and accumulation of dry matter in crop organs. Understanding the responses of PC to drought stress is fundamental for understanding crop development under drought stress. Using field data collected under drought stress conditions during the period 2013-2015 at three sites (Xiajin, Shandong; Gucheng, Hebei; and Yuncheng, Shanxi) in North China, we quantified the effects of different drought stress intensities on the PC of stems, leaves and ears during the development stages (from emergence to jointing, from jointing to tasseling, and from tasseling to maturity).

[β-glucan content spatial distribution characteristics and its influencing factors of cultivated barley in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China].

β-glucan content spatial distribution characteristics of cultivated barley in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau were investigated based on the data measured from 83 sampling sites. The results showed that β-glucan content exhibited a macrocosm pattern of spatial distribution along the horizontal direction in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, with staggered patches of different values. Two regions of higher β-glucan content were observed with centers of Guide and Tongde in Qinghai Province and Xiahe and Hezuo in Gansu Province (northeast), and Jiangzi, Bailang, Xietongmen, Shigatse, Lazi, Kangma, Gongga and Qushui in Tibet (southwest).

[Parameters modification and evaluation of two evapotranspiration models based on Penman-Monteith model for summer maize].

The dynamic variations of evapotranspiration (ET) and weather data during summer maize growing season in 2013-2015 were monitored with eddy covariance system, and the applicability of two operational models (FAO-PM model and KP-PM model) based on the Penman-Monteith model were analyzed. Firstly, the key parameters in the two models were calibrated with the measured data in 2013 and 2014; secondly, the daily ET in 2015 calculated by the FAO-PM model and KP-PM model was compared to the observed ET, respectively. Finally, the coefficients in the KP-PM model were further revised with the coefficients calculated according to the different growth stages, and the performance of the revised KP-PM model was also evaluated.

Intestinal Barrier Disruption in Ileal Pouchitis After Ileal Pouch-Anal Anastomosis in a Rat Model.

Background: Pouchitis occurs in approximately 50% of patients with ulcerative colitis after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) but the pathogenesis remains unclear. We used a rat model of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced ileal pouchitis to examine whether intestinal barrier disruption plays a role in the development and progression of the disease.

Methods: Rats were randomly divided into DSS (underwent IPAA and administered 5% DSS orally), IPAA (underwent IPAA), and Sham groups (underwent switch abdominal surgery).

Morphology and ultrastructure of the adrenal gland in Bactrian camels (Camelus bactrianus).

In the present study, we examined the morphological features of the adrenal gland in Bactrian camel by means of digital anatomy, light and electron microscopy. Our findings testified that the gland was divided into three parts, capsule, cortex and medulla from outside to inside as other mammals, and the cortex itself was further distinguished into four zones: zona glomerulosa, zona intermedia, zona fasciculate and zona reticularis. Notably, the zona intermedia could be seen clearly in the glands from females and castrated males, whereas it was not morphologically clear in male.

Fecal microbiota in pouchitis and ulcerative colitis.

Aim: To investigate the changes in microbiota in feces of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and pouchitis using genomic technology.

Methods: Fecal samples were obtained from UC patients with or without an ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) procedure, as well as healthy controls. The touchdown polymerase chain reaction technique was used to amplify the whole V3 region of the 16S rRNA gene, which was transcribed from DNA extracted from fecal samples.

Combining Exosomes Derived from Immature DCs with Donor Antigen-Specific Treg Cells Induces Tolerance in a Rat Liver Allograft Model.

Allograft tolerance is the ultimate goal in the field of transplantation immunology. Immature dendritic cells (imDCs) play an important role in establishing tolerance but have limitations, including potential for maturation, short lifespan in vivo and short storage times in vitro. However, exosomes (generally 30-100 nm) from imDCs (imDex) retain many source cell properties and may overcome these limitations.

[Effects of rice-duck mutualistic organic farming on rice quality in the Yellow River Delta, China.].

Three cultivation models including rice-duck mutualistic, manual weeding and conventional rice farming were designed in the Yellow River Delta area to study the effects on rice milling quality, appearance quality, cooking and eating quality, and sanitation quality. The results showed that compared to conventional rice farming, the rice-duckmutualistic treatment increased grain width and brown rice rate, milled rice rate, head rice rate and reduced the chalkiness. This was mainly due to the increase of panicle numbers and grain mass and the decrease of the inferior grains.

Significance of serum microRNA-21 in diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC): clinical analyses of patients and an HCC rat model.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are associated with human carcinogenesis and tumor development. Moreover, serum miRNAs can reflect the level of tissue miRNAs and be potential tumor markers. Serum microRNA-21 (miR-21) is overexpressed in many human cancers including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Pathologic response during chemo-radiotherapy and variation of serum VEGF levels could predict effects of chemo-radiotherapy in patients with esophageal cancer.

Background: To investigate the relationship between pathologic tumor response to concurrent chemo- radiotherapy and variation of serum VEGF in patients with esophageal cancer.

Materials And Methods: Forty six patients with esophageal cancer who were treated with concurrent chemo-radiotherapy were enrolled. Endoscopic and pathologic examination was conducted before and four weeks afterwards.

Radiobiological characteristics of cancer stem cells from esophageal cancer cell lines.

Aim: To study the cancer stem cell population in esophageal cancer cell lines KYSE-150 and TE-1 and identify whether the resulting stem-like spheroid cells display cancer stem cells and radiation resistance characteristics.

Methods: A serum-free medium (SFM) suspension was used to culture esophageal cancer stem cell lines and enrich the esophageal stem-like spheres. A reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assay was used to detect stem cell gene expression in the spheroid cells.

Intestinal pseudo-obstruction in systemic lupus erythematosus: a case report and review of the literature.

Intestinal pseudo-obstruction (IPO) is a rare but dangerous complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) when the patient has no other manifestations except gastrointestinal symptoms. We performed 1 patient with a 2-month history of recurrent vomiting and abdominal distension. She admitted past surgical histories of cesarean section and appendectomy.

[Soil N/P ratio distribution characteristics of alpine grassland ecosystem in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau].

The distribution characteristics of soil N/P ratio in alpine grassland ecosystem of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau were surveyed by field investigation and laboratory analysis. Horizontally, soil N/ P ratio was generally higher in west and lower in east in a manner of staggered patch distribution, with higher N/P ratios mainly centralized in the hinterland of northern part of Tibet Plateau and in the lake basin area of the northern foot of Himalayas. Significant differences in soil N/P ratio were observed among grassland types and natural transects.

Dew water isotopic ratios and their relationships to ecosystem water pools and fluxes in a cropland and a grassland in China.

Dew formation has the potential to modulate the spatial and temporal variations of isotopic contents of atmospheric water vapor, oxygen and carbon dioxide. The goal of this paper is to improve our understanding of the isotopic interactions between dew water and ecosystem water pools and fluxes through two field experiments in a wheat/maize cropland and in a short steppe grassland in China. Measurements were made during 94 dew events of the D and (18)O compositions of dew, atmospheric vapor, leaf, xylem and soil water, and the whole ecosystem water flux.