A chromosome-level reference genome of non-heading Chinese cabbage [Brassica campestris (syn. Brassica rapa) ssp. chinensis].

Non-heading Chinese cabbage (NHCC) is an important leafy vegetable cultivated worldwide. Here, we report the first high-quality, chromosome-level genome of NHCC001 based on PacBio, Hi-C, and Illumina sequencing data. The assembled NHCC001 genome is 405.

Differential impacts of charcoal-stripped fetal bovine serum on c-Myc among distinct subtypes of breast cancer cell lines.

Charcoal-stripped fetal bovine serum (CS-FBS) is frequently used in studies on hormone-responsive cancers to provide hormone-free cell culture conditions. CS-FBS may influence the growth of cancer cells; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we aimed to clarify the effects of CS-FBS on distinct subtypes of breast cancer cells.

A group of tissue-specific microRNAs contribute to the silencing of CUX1 in different cell lineages during development.

Cut-like homeobox 1 (CUX1) is a highly conserved homeoprotein that functions as a transcriptional repressor of genes specifying terminal differentiation. We previously showed that liver-specific microRNA-122 (miR-122) regulates the timing of liver development by silencing CUX1 post-transcriptionally. Since the CUX1 protein is expressed in a subset of embryonic tissues, we hypothesized that it is regulated by specific microRNAs (miRNAs) in each cell type during development.

27-Hydroxycholesterol increases Myc protein stability via suppressing PP2A, SCP1 and FBW7 transcription in MCF-7 breast cancer cells.

27-hydroxycholesterol (27-HC), the most abundant metabolite of cholesterol, is a risk factor for breast cancer. It can increase the proliferation of breast cancer cells and promote the metastasis of breast tumours in mouse models. Myc is a critical oncoprotein overexpressed in breast cancer.

VEGF Gene Polymorphisms are Associated with Risk of Tetralogy of Fallot.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate associations of 3 common polymorphisms in the VEGF gene, -2578C>A, -634C>G, and 936C>T, with risk of tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) in Chinese Han children.

Material And Methods: From January 2010 to June 2013, a total of 400 pediatric subjects were recruited, including 160 cases with TOF (TOF group) and 240 healthy controls (control group). The genotypes of 3 common VEGF polymorphisms, -2578C>A, -634C>G, and 936C>T, were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism.

Two new species of Digamasellidae from Taiwan (Acari: Mesostigmata).

This paper reports the occurrence of two new species of Digamasellidae from Taiwan, Dendroseius vulgaris n. sp. and Dendrolaelaps (Foveodendrolaelaps) linjianzheni n.

Penoscrotal extramammary Paget's disease: surgical techniques and follow-up experiences with thirty patients.

To report the surgical management, complications and prognosis of patients with penoscrotal extramammary Paget's disease (EMPD) at different clinical stages. Between 2003 and 2008, a total of 30 male patients with penoscrotal EMPD were enrolled and evaluated. All enrolled subjects received frozen biopsy-guided local wide resection and immediate reconstruction.

A prospective, randomized clinical trial comparing plasmakinetic resection of the prostate with holmium laser enucleation of the prostate based on a 2-year followup.

Purpose: We compared plasmakinetic resection with holmium laser enucleation of the prostate for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia by analyzing 2-year followup data from a prospective randomized clinical trial.

Materials And Methods: A total of 280 patients were randomly treated with plasmakinetic resection or holmium laser enucleation of the prostate. Perioperative and postoperative outcome data were obtained during a 2-year followup.

MicroRNA-195 plays a tumor-suppressor role in human glioblastoma cells by targeting signaling pathways involved in cellular proliferation and invasion.

Accumulating evidence has implicated the deregluation of miRNAs in tumorigenesis. Previous studies have reported that microRNA-195 (miR-195) is markedly down-regulated in human glioblastoma cells, compared with normal brain tissue, but the biological role of miR-195 in glioblastoma development is currently unknown. In this study, we define a tumor-suppressor role for miR-195 in human glioblastoma cells.

Normal prostate-derived stromal cells stimulate prostate cancer development.

Stromal cells play a decisive role in regulating tumor progression. In this study, we assessed the significance of normal prostate-derived stromal cells (PSCs) in prostate cancer development. An in vivo s.

Deep sequencing of human nuclear and cytoplasmic small RNAs reveals an unexpectedly complex subcellular distribution of miRNAs and tRNA 3' trailers.

Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are approximately 22-nt small non-coding regulatory RNAs that have generally been considered to regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level in the cytoplasm. However, recent studies have reported that some miRNAs localize to and function in the nucleus.

Methodology/principal Findings: To determine the number of miRNAs localized to the nucleus, we systematically investigated the subcellular distribution of small RNAs (sRNAs) by independent deep sequencing sequenced of the nuclear and cytoplasmic pools of 18- to 30-nucleotide sRNAs from human cells.

High glucose down-regulates miR-29a to increase collagen IV production in HK-2 cells.

Deposition of collagen IV in proximal tubule cells (PTCs) plays an important role during diabetic nephropathy, but the mechanism underlying excessive production of collagen IV remains poorly understood. In this study, we examined the miRNA profile of HK-2 cells and found that high glucose/TGF-beta1 induced significant down-regulation of miR-29a. We then showed that miR-29a negatively regulated collagen IV by directly targeting the 3'UTRs of col4a1 and col4a2.

Stress-induced tRNA-derived RNAs: a novel class of small RNAs in the primitive eukaryote Giardia lamblia.

Giardia lamblia is an early diverging and evolutionarily successful protozoan as it can enter into a dormant cyst stage from a vegetative trophozoite. During dormant stage, its metabolic rate decreases dramatically. However, to date, the regulatory molecules participating in the initiation and maintenance of this process have not been fully investigated.

Restriction fragment length polymorphism of adhesin gene hpaA from different Helicobacter pylori strains of Chongqing, China.

Aim: To assess the variability of adhesin gene hpaA between different Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) strains with PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP).

Methods: Twelve different H pylori strains were chosen to amplify the 710-bp segments of gene hpaA. These strains were NCTC11637, SS1; Chongqing clinical isolates CCS9801, CCS9802, CCS9803, CCS9806, CCS9809, CCS9810, CCS9813, which were gained from patients of gastritis; Mongolia gerbil adapted H pylori strains (abbreviation MG), which were gained from the following steps: gastric mucosal specimens of Mongolia gerbils infected by clinical isolate CCS9803 were cultured and detected, the positive H pylori strains were named as the first generation of Mongolia gerbil adapted H pylori strains (abbreviation MG1) and then were subcultured with healthy Mongolia gerbil to generate MG2, in turn to gain the ninth generation (abbreviation MG9).