Chemical Components of Dufour's and Venom Glands in (Hymenoptera, Formicidae).

The Dufour's and venom glands are the most developed glands connected to the female reproductive organs, playing important roles in defense, foraging, information exchange, and reproduction in ants. The main chemical secretions of these glands vary among species and even among castes of the same species. In this study, we analyzed the chemical components of the Dufour's and venom glands in different castes of (original worker, minor worker, major worker, gyne, and queen) using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) with two sample processing methods (hexane solution and solid-phase microextraction).

Population Density and Host Preference of the Japanese Pine Sawyer () in the Qinling-Daba Mountains of China.

is a serious trunk-boring pest and is the most important and effective vector of the pine wood nematode , which causes pine wilt disease. The pine wilt disease poses a serious threat to forest vegetation and ecological security in the Qinling-Daba Mountains and their surrounding areas. In order to clarify whether the population density of larvae is related to the host preference of adults, we investigated the population density of overwintering larvae and explored the host preference of adults on , , and .

Lactic Acid Bacteria Are Prevalent in the Infrabuccal Pockets and Crops of Ants That Prefer Aphid Honeydew.

Ants are evolutionarily successful species and occupy diverse trophic and habitat niches on the earth. To fulfill dietary requirements, ants have established commensalism with both sap-feeding insects and bacteria. In this study, we used high-throughput sequencing of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene to characterize the bacterial composition and structure of the digestive tracts in three species of ants and (Linnaeus)-species that predominantly feed on honeydew secreted by aphids.

A meta-analysis of the relationship between MYO9B gene polymorphisms and susceptibility to Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

Objective: Both Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) have a complex etiology involving multiple genetic and environmental factors. Multiple UC and CD susceptibility genes have been identified through genome-wide association studies and subsequent meta-analyses. The aim of this meta-analysis was to clarify the impact of MYO9B gene polymorphisms on CD and UC risk.

Cannabinoid receptor subtype 2 (CB2R) agonist, GW405833 reduces agonist-induced Ca(2+) oscillations in mouse pancreatic acinar cells.

Emerging evidence demonstrates that the blockade of intracellular Ca(2+) signals may protect pancreatic acinar cells against Ca(2+) overload, intracellular protease activation, and necrosis. The activation of cannabinoid receptor subtype 2 (CB2R) prevents acinar cell pathogenesis in animal models of acute pancreatitis. However, whether CB2Rs modulate intracellular Ca(2+) signals in pancreatic acinar cells is largely unknown.

Purification and characterisation of a salt-stable protease from the halophilic archaeon Halogranum rubrum.

Background: Because proteases play an important role in the fermentation of fish sauce, the purification and characterisation of an extracellular protease from the halophilic archaeon Halogranum rubrum was investigated.

Results: The molecular mass of the protease was estimated to be approximately 47 kDa based on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electropheresis (SDS-PAGE) and native-PAGE analysis. The optimum conditions for catalytic activity were pH 8.

TCR-CD3ζ gene polymorphisms and expression profile in rheumatoid arthritis.

Objectives: Recent evidence has demonstrated that CD3ζ (also called CD247) play a vital role in multiple autoimmune diseases. In this study, we explored the association between CD247 gene single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in a Chinese Han population. We also evaluated the CD3ζ expression profile in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients with RA and health controls.

Association Study of Matrix Metalloproteinases Gene Polymorphisms with Susceptibility to Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Meta-Analysis.

Objective: Association of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) gene polymorphisms with rheumatoid arthritis is controversial. We conduct a meta-analysis to clarify this dispute.

Methods: We systematically searched the electronic PUBMED, EMBASE and CNKI databases for research articles about MMPs (MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-3, MMP-9) gene polymorphisms and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) up to January 2015.

Serum resistin levels in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus: a meta-analysis.

The purpose of this meta-analysis was to investigate whether serum resistin level was associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) by comparing serum resistin levels between RA or SLE patients and normal controls. PubMed and EMBASE databases (up to May 13, 2014) were used to search all related articles. The weighted mean differences (WMDs) with 95 % confidence interval (CI) were calculated using random-effect model analysis.

Association of lymphotoxin alpha polymorphism with systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis: a meta-analysis.

Aim: The aim of this study was to perform a meta-analysis of eligible studies to derive precise estimation of the associations of lymphotoxin alpha (LTA) 252 A>G polymorphism (rs909253) with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) risk.

Method: Data were collected from the following electronic databases, including EMBASE, PubMed and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI). A total of 19 studies (13 studies involving 1346 SLE patients and 1951 controls, six studies involving 1079 RA patients and 1057 controls) were included.

Congo red modulates ACh-induced Ca(2+) oscillations in single pancreatic acinar cells of mice.

Aim: Congo red, a secondary diazo dye, is usually used as an indicator for the presence of amyloid fibrils. Recent studies show that congo red exerts neuroprotective effects in a variety of models of neurodegenerative diseases. However, its pharmacological profile remains unknown.

[Laser scanning confocal microscopic imaging for Ca2 + oscillations of pancreatic acinar cells in mice].

Objective: To establish a simple but effective method of laser scanning confocal microscopic imaging for Ca2+ oscillations of pancreatic acinar cells in adult mice.

Methods: Pancreatic acinar cells from adult Kunming mice were isolated acutely with collagenase, and then loaded with fluo-4-AM, a Ca2+ indicator. A laser scanning confocal microscope armed with 488 nm laser was employed to record the dynamic fluorescent signals in-time and synchronously while acetylcholine (ACh) was added in the pancreatic acinar cells.