Optimization of factors affecting the rooting of pine wilt disease resistant Masson pine (Pinus massoniana) stem cuttings.

Pine wilt disease (PWD) is a devastating disease affecting trees belonging to the genus Pinus. To control the spread of PWD in the Masson pine forest in China, PWD resistant Masson pine clones have been selected by the Anhui Academy of Forestry. However, because Masson pine is a difficult-to-root species, producing seedlings is challenging, especially from trees older than 5 years of age, which impedes the application of PWD resistant clones.

MiR-27a-5p regulates apoptosis of liver ischemia-reperfusion injury in mice by targeting Bach1.

Ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury causes cellular dysfunction and a series of immune or apoptotic reactions. Bach1 is a mammalian transcription factor that represses Hmox1, which encodes heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) that can degrade heme into free iron, carbon monoxide, and biliverdin, to play an important role in antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic activities. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) can be found in a variety of eukaryotic cells and viruses, a class of noncoding small RNAs that are encoded by endogenous genes.

The long noncoding RNA ZFAS1 facilitates bladder cancer tumorigenesis by sponging miR-329.

The incidence and mortality rate of bladder cancer have dramatically expanded, so it's urgent to discover new biomarker and therapeutic target for bladder cancer. Recently, lncRNA has been identified as oncogene or tumor suppressor to regulate the tumorigenesis. LncRNA ZFAS1 has been confirmed as oncogene in various tumors.

The luminescence properties of Sr P O :xDy ,yCe phosphor for near-UV-based white LEDs synthesized by a chemical co-precipitation method.

A series of Sr P O :Dy , Sr P O :Ce and Sr P O :Dy ,Ce phosphors was synthesized via the one-step calcination process for the precursors prepared by co-precipitation methods. The phases, morphology, quantum efficiency and photoluminescence properties of the obtained phosphors were characterized systematically. These results show that the near-spherical particles prepared through calcining the precursors by means of ammonium dibasic phosphate co-precipitation (method 3) have the smallest particle size and strongest emission intensity among the three methods in the paper.

The luminescent properties and crystal structure of Sr Mg SiO :xEu ,yCe blue phosphor synthesized by co-precipitation method.

In order to improve the luminescent performance of silicate blue phosphors, Sr Mg SiO :xEu ,yCe phosphors were synthesized using one-step calcination of a precursor prepared by chemical co-precipitation. The crystal structure and luminescent properties of the phosphors were analyzed using X-ray diffraction and fluorescence spectrophotometry, respectively. Because the activated ions (Eu ) can occupy two different types of sites (Sr and Sr ), the emission spectrum of Eu excited at 350 nm contains two single bands (EM and EM ) in the wavelength range 400-550 nm, centered at 463 nm, and the emission intensity first increases and then decreases with increasing concentrations of Eu ions.

NADPH oxidase inhibitor regulates microRNAs with improved outcome after mechanical reperfusion.

Background: Inhibition of the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase (NOX) pathway improves the neurological outcome in the transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) animal model. In this study we analyzed the microRNAs profile targeting NOX2 and NOX4 genes and its response to NOX2/4 inhibitor VAS2870 to understand the mechanisms of this protective effect.

Methods: The intraluminal filament tMCAO model was established in hyperglycemic rats (n=106) with 5 hours ischemia followed by 19 hours reperfusion.

The B3 Subunit of the Cone Cyclic Nucleotide-gated Channel Regulates the Light Responses of Cones and Contributes to the Channel Structural Flexibility.

Cone photoreceptor cyclic nucleotide-gated (CNG) channels play a pivotal role in cone phototransduction, which is a process essential for daylight vision, color vision, and visual acuity. Mutations in the cone channel subunits CNGA3 and CNGB3 are associated with human cone diseases, including achromatopsia, cone dystrophies, and early onset macular degeneration. Mutations in CNGB3 alone account for 50% of reported cases of achromatopsia.

Chromophore supply rate-limits mammalian photoreceptor dark adaptation.

Efficient regeneration of visual pigment following its destruction by light is critical for the function of mammalian photoreceptors. Here, we show that misexpression of a subset of cone genes in the rd7 mouse hybrid rods enables them to access the normally cone-specific retina visual cycle. The rapid supply of chromophore by the retina visual cycle dramatically accelerated the mouse rod dark adaptation.

Matrix metalloproteinase-9 expression in carotid atherosclerotic plaque and contrast-enhanced MRI in a swine model.

Background: A swine model of carotid atherosclerosis may greatly facilitate the identification of imaging characteristics of vulnerable plaques and the preclinical evaluation of endovascular intervention. In this study we assess the association of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 expression and neovascularity in carotid atherosclerotic plaques with MRI patterns in a swine model.

Methods: Carotid atherosclerosis models were created in miniswine using a combination of partial ligation and a high cholesterol diet.

Overexpression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 is correlated with carotid intraplaque hemorrhage in a swine model.

Objective: Carotid intraplaque hemorrhage may result in rapid worsening of stenosis and thrombus formation leading to stroke in patients with carotid atherosclerosis. The purpose of this study was to assess the association of the lesional expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 with carotid plaque and intraplaque hemorrhage in a swine model.

Methods: Carotid atherosclerosis was induced in miniswine using a combination of partial ligation and a high cholesterol diet.

Interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein as the physiologically relevant carrier of 11-cis-retinol in the cone visual cycle.

Cones function in constant light and are responsible for mediating daytime human vision. Like rods, cones use the photosensitive molecule 11-cis-retinal to detect light, and in constant illumination, a continuous supply of 11-cis-retinal is needed. A retina visual cycle is thought to provide a privileged supply of 11-cis-retinal to cones by using 11-cis-retinol generated in Müller cells.

The cone-specific visual cycle.

Cone photoreceptors mediate our daytime vision and function under bright and rapidly-changing light conditions. As their visual pigment is destroyed in the process of photoactivation, the continuous function of cones imposes the need for rapid recycling of their chromophore and regeneration of their pigment. The canonical retinoid visual cycle through the retinal pigment epithelium cells recycles chromophore and supplies it to both rods and cones.

Fields of applications, diagnostic yields and findings of OMOM capsule endoscopy in 2400 Chinese patients.

Aim: To retrospectively analyze the fields of application, diagnostic yields and findings of OMOM capsule endoscopy in Chinese patients.

Methods: A database including 2400 Chinese patients who received OMOM capsule endoscopy in 27 endoscopy centers in China was retrieved from the Jianshan Science and Technology Ltd. OMOM capsule endoscopy database.

[Clinical analysis of donor hepatectomy in living donor liver transplantation: report of 74 cases].

Objective: To evaluate the living donor selection, donor hepatectomy technique, and surgical complication in living donor liver transplantation.

Methods: From June 2007 to July 2008, 74 consecutive cases living donor hepatectomy were performed by the same surgical team. Seventy-four donors (64 males and 10 females) with a mean age of 29.

Single-cell suction recordings from mouse cone photoreceptors.

Rod and cone photoreceptors in the retina are responsible for light detection. In darkness, cyclic nucleotide-gated (CNG) channels in the outer segment are open and allow cations to flow steadily inwards across the membrane, depolarizing the cell. Light exposure triggers the closure of the CNG channels, blocks the inward cation current flow, and thus results in cell hyperpolarization.

An alternative pathway mediates the mouse and human cone visual cycle.

One of the fundamental mysteries of the human visual system is the continuous function of cone photoreceptors in bright daylight. As visual pigment is destroyed, or bleached, by light, cones require its rapid regeneration, which in turn involves rapid recycling of the pigment's chromophore. The canonical visual cycle for rod and cone pigments involves recycling of their chromophore from all-trans retinol to 11-cis retinal in the pigment epithelium, adjacent to photoreceptors.

Intra-retinal visual cycle required for rapid and complete cone dark adaptation.

Daytime vision is mediated by retinal cones, which, unlike rods, remain functional even in bright light and dark-adapt rapidly. These cone properties are enabled by rapid regeneration of their pigment. This in turn requires rapid chromophore recycling that may not be achieved by the canonical retinal pigment epithelium visual cycle.

Diverse effects of Stat1 on the regulation of hsp90alpha gene under heat shock.

Stat1 has been known as a regulator of gene expression and a mediator of IFNgamma signaling in mammalian cells, while its effect in a heat shock response remains unclear. We used RNAi knockdown, point mutations, ChIP and promoter activity assays to study the effect of Stat1 on the heat-shock induction of the hsp90alpha gene under heat shock conditions. We found that Stat1 regulates the heat shock induction of its target genes, the hsp90alpha gene in a heat shock response while the constitutive activity of the gene remains unaffected.

Lmx1b is required for maintenance of central serotonergic neurons and mice lacking central serotonergic system exhibit normal locomotor activity.

Central serotonergic neurons have been implicated in numerous animal behaviors and psychiatric disorders, but the molecular mechanisms underlying their development are not well understood. Here we generated Lmx1b (LIM homeobox transcription factor 1 beta) conditional knock-out mice (Lmx1b(f/f/p)) in which Lmx1b was only deleted in Pet1 (pheochromocytoma 12 ETS factor-1)-expressing 5-HT neurons. In Lmx1b(f/f/p) mice, the initial generation of central 5-HT neurons appeared normal.

[Three dimensional finite element analysis of the upper incisor with different levels of periodontal support].

Purpose: To study the stress variation and distribution of the periodontium and the tooth initial displacement when the lingual fixate forces were applied to the depressed periodontal height.

Methods: Spiral CT (SCT) scanning technology, digital image transfer and transcription were used to obtain the initial 3-D data of the upper central incisor. The 3-D finite element models at six periodontal support heights were created by reducing the height of periodontal support tissues.

Molecular mapping of developing dorsal horn-enriched genes by microarray and dorsal/ventral subtractive screening.

The dorsal horn of the spinal cord consists of distinct laminae that serve as a pivotal region for relaying a variety of somatosensory signals such as temperature, pain, and touch. The molecular mechanisms underlying the development of the dorsal horn are poorly understood. To define a molecular map of the dorsal horn circuit, we have profiled dorsal horn-enriched (DHE) gene expression in dorsal spinal cords on embryonic day 15.

[Spectrophotomatric determination of antioxidative activity of extractives of Chinese traditional medicine by supercritical fluid CO2 extraction technology].

Applying supercritical CO2 fluid extraction technology, flavonoids were extracted from Chinese traditional medicine asarum heterotropoides, atractylodes macrocephala, and rheum palmatun. Using the method of autoxidation pyrogallol (known as 325 nm method), the superoxide radical scavenging effect of the extraction was carried out in the buffer solution of HCl-tris (pH 8.2).