Root-secreted (-)-loliolide modulates both belowground defense and aboveground flowering in Arabidopsis and tobacco.

Plant defense, growth, and reproduction can be modulated by chemicals emitted from neighboring plants, mainly via volatile aboveground signals. However, belowground signals and their underlying control mechanisms are largely unknown. Here, we experimentally demonstrate that the root-secreted carotenoid (-)-loliolide mediates both defensive and reproductive responses in wild-type Arabidopsis, a carotenoid-deficient Arabidopsis mutant (szl1-1), and tobacco (Nicotiana benthamiana).

Cx32 mediates cisplatin resistance in human ovarian cancer cells by affecting drug efflux transporter expression and activating the EGFR‑Akt pathway.

Our previous study demonstrated that connexin 32 (Cx32) was upregulated and redistributed to the cytoplasm in A2780 human ovarian cancer cells with acquired resistance to cisplatin; this increased Cx32 feedback promoted cisplatin resistance. To further investigate the mechanism underlying Cx32‑mediated cisplatin resistance, alterations in drug transporters, the DNA repair system and the anti‑apoptotic signalling pathway were investigated by overexpressing or knocking down Cx32 in parental cells (A2780); cisplatin‑resistant human ovarian cancer cells (A2780/CDDP) were also acquired. Upregulation of efflux transporters [multi‑drug resistance protein 2 (MRP‑2), ATPase copper transporting α (ATP7A) and ATPase copper transporting β] and downregulation of the influx transporter copper uptake protein 1 mediated cisplatin resistance in A2780/CDDP cells.

In vivo and in vitro performance of a China-made hemodialysis machine: a multi-center prospective controlled study.

Objective: To evaluate the in vivo and in vitro performance of a China-made dialysis machine (SWS-4000).

Methods: This was a multi-center prospective controlled study consisting of both long-term in vitro evaluations and cross-over in vivo tests in 132 patients. The China-made SWS-4000 dialysis machine was compared with a German-made dialysis machine (Fresenius 4008) with regard to Kt/V values, URR values, and dialysis-related adverse reactions in patients on maintenance hemodialysis, as well as the ultrafiltration rate, the concentration of electrolytes in the proportioned dialysate, the rate of heparin injection, the flow rate of the blood pump, and the rate of malfunction.

An outbreak of hepatitis A associated with a contaminated well in a middle school, Guangxi, China.

Background: In May 2012, an outbreak of viral hepatitis A was reported to the Guangxi Center for Disease Control and Prevention from a middle school in Liujiang County. An investigation was conducted to identify the cause and mode of transmission and to recommend control and prevention measures.

Methods: A case was defined as any person from the middle school with onset of fatigue, anorexia, abdominal pain, diarrhoea or jaundice from 20 February to 20 May 2012.

Prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension in the non-dialysis chronic kidney disease patients.

Background: Data on the epidemiology of hypertension in Chinese non-dialysis chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients are limited. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension in the non-dialysis CKD patients through a nationwide, multicenter study in China.

Methods: The survey was performed in 61 tertiary hospitals in 31 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions in China (except Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan).

Epidemiological characteristics of Japanese encephalitis in Guizhou Province, China, 1971-2009.

Objective: The aim of the study was to establish the contemporary epidemiological characteristics of Japanese encephalitis (JE) in Guizhou Province.

Methods: A retrospective study of National Notifiable Disease Reporting System (NNDRS) data from 1971 through 2009, was conducted to ascertain the geographical, seasonal, and age distributions of JE incidence in Guizhou Province, China.

Results: A total of 68 425 JE cases were reported in Guizhou from 1971-2009.

Correlation between protein sequence similarity and x-ray diffraction quality in the protein data bank.

As the most widely utilized technique to determine the 3-dimensional structure of protein molecules, X-ray crystallography can provide structure of the highest resolution among the developed techniques. The resolution obtained via X-ray crystallography is known to be influenced by many factors, such as the crystal quality, diffraction techniques, and X-ray sources, etc. In this paper, the authors found that the protein sequence could also be one of the factors.

Epidemiologic clues to SARS origin in China.

An epidemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) began in Foshan municipality, Guangdong Province, China, in November 2002. We studied SARS case reports through April 30, 2003, including data from case investigations and a case series analysis of index cases. A total of 1,454 clinically confirmed cases (and 55 deaths) occurred; the epidemic peak was in the first week of February 2003.