Dysregulated Serum Cytokine Production in Pediatric Patients with β-Thalassemia Major.

β-Thalassemia major (β-TM) is an inherited disorder of hemoglobin (Hb) production, which can cause severe anemia. A compromised immune system has been observed in patients with β-TM, whereas cytokines have a major role in immune modulation. Interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-8, IL-13 and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) are critical in initiating pro-inflammatory responses, and the serum levels of those cytokines may be involved in the pathophysiology of β-thalassemia (β-thal).

FXR activation prevents liver injury induced by preparations.

Tripterygium glycosides tablets (TGT) and tablets (TWT) are the preparations of used to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in the clinic, but the hepatotoxicity was reported frequently. This study aimed to determine the potential toxicity mechanism of liver injury induced by the preparations of in mice.Here, we performed metabolomic analysis, pathological analysis and biochemical analysis of samples from mice with liver injury induced by TGT and TWT, which revealed that liver injury was associated with bile acid metabolism disorder.

The RopGEF2-ROP7/ROP2 Pathway Activated by phyB Suppresses Red Light-Induced Stomatal Opening.

Circadian rhythm of stomatal aperture is mainly regulated by light/darkness. Blue and red light induce stomatal opening through different mechanisms that are mediated by special receptors. ROP2, a member of Rho GTPase family in Arabidopsis (), has been found to negatively regulate light-induced stomatal opening.

[Overexpression of the truncated fosb isoform (Delta2Deltafosb) increases nodus in CD1 primary osteoblastes].

The recombinant adenoviruses which can overexpress fosb and Delta2Deltafosb proteins were produced. Primary calvarial osteoblasts from new born CD1 mice were infected with those adenoviruses by different proportion of Ad-Delta2Deltafosb and induced by 5 mmol/L beta-glycerophosphate, 50 microg/ml ascorbic acid and 10 nmol/L dexamethasone for 23 days and 29 days, respectively. The results by Alizarin Red Staining showed that the primary osteoblasts overexpressing Delta2Deltafosb protein formed more nodus than the control cells and the nodus in overexpressing Delta2Deltafosb protein osteoblasts were smaller than those in control cells on day 23.