Isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ)-based proteomic analysis of Cryptococcus humicola response to aluminum stress.

Cryptococcus humicola is a highly aluminum (Al) tolerant yeast strain isolated from a tea field. Here the relative changes of protein expression in C. humicola undergoing aluminum stress were analyzed to understand the genetic basis of aluminum tolerance.

Clinical effectiveness of split-virion versus subunit trivalent influenza vaccines in older adults.

Background: Inactivated influenza vaccines are manufactured using either split-virion or subunit methods. These 2 methods produce similar hemagglutinin antibody responses, but different cellular immune responses.

Methods: We compared the effectiveness of split-virion influenza vaccines to that of subunit influenza vaccines using prospectively collected data from adults aged ≥50 years who sought care for acute respiratory illness during 3 influenza seasons: 2008-2009, 2010-2011, and 2011-2012 using a case-positive, control test-negative study design.

Effect of the combined extracts of herba epimedii and fructus ligustri lucidi on sex hormone functional levels in osteoporosis rats.

The combination of Herba Epimedii and Fructus Ligustri Lucidi has been used to treat osteoporosis for almost 50 years by Professor Shizeng Li, a famous doctor of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). However, it is unclear whether the combination of the effective constituents of the two herbs may have a protective influence on the skeleton. In the present study, we investigated the effects of the combination extracts of Herba Epimedii and Fructus Ligustri Lucidi on rat model of osteoporosis induced by retinoic acid by gavage.

PTB-associated splicing factor inhibits IGF-1-induced VEGF upregulation in a mouse model of oxygen-induced retinopathy.

Pathological retinal neovascularization, including retinopathy of prematurity and age-related macular degeneration, is the most common cause of blindness worldwide. Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) has a direct mitogenic effect on endothelial cells, which is the basis of angiogenesis. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) activation in response to IGF-1 is well documented; however, the molecular mechanisms responsible for the termination of IGF-1 signaling are still not completely elucidated.

Peripheral blood signature of vasodilator-responsive pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Background: Heterogeneity in response to treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a major challenge to improving outcome in this disease. Although vasodilator-responsive PAH (VR-PAH) accounts for a minority of cases, VR-PAH has a pronounced response to calcium channel blockers and better survival than vasodilator-nonresponsive PAH (VN-PAH). We hypothesized that VR-PAH has a different molecular cause from VN-PAH that can be detected in the peripheral blood.

Influenza vaccine prevents medically attended influenza-associated acute respiratory illness in adults aged ≥50 years.

Background: There are few estimates of effectiveness influenza vaccine in preventing serious outcomes due to influenza in older adults.

Methods: Adults aged ≥50 years who sought medical care for acute respiratory illness were enrolled. A nose/throat swab was tested for influenza virus by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.

HDAC8 and STAT3 repress BMF gene activity in colon cancer cells.

Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors are undergoing clinical trials as anticancer agents, but some exhibit resistance mechanisms linked to anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 functions, such as BH3-only protein silencing. HDAC inhibitors that reactivate BH3-only family members might offer an improved therapeutic approach. We show here that a novel seleno-α-keto acid triggers global histone acetylation in human colon cancer cells and activates apoptosis in a p21-independent manner.

The National Neurosurgery Quality and Outcomes Database (N2QOD): a collaborative North American outcomes registry to advance value-based spine care.

Study Design: National Prospective Observational Registry.

Objective: Describe our preliminary experience with the National Neurosurgery Quality and Outcomes Database (NQOD), a national collaborative registry of quality and outcomes reporting after low back surgery.

Summary Of Background Data: All major health care stakeholders are now requiring objective data regarding the value of medical services.

Influence of early zoledronic acid administration on bone marrow fat in ovariectomized rats.

Although the primary target cell of bisphosphonates is the osteoclast, increasing attention is being given to other effector cells influenced by bisphosphonates, such as osteoblasts and marrow adipocytes. Early zoledronic acid (ZA) treatment to ovariectomized (OVX) rats has been found to fully preserve bone microarchitecture over time. However, little is known regarding the influence of ZA on marrow adipogenesis.

Effects of chinese formula jueyin granules on psoriasis in an animal model.

Although Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is known to be effective for psoriasis patients, the responsible mechanisms still remain poorly understood. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of one formula, named Jueyin granules (JYG) in the mouse model of the vaginal epithelium and tail epidermis. Additionally, we also determined the anti-inflammatory effects of JYG in an imiquimod- (IMQ-) induced psoriasis-like skin mouse model.

Dipeptidyl-peptidase 4 inhibition and the vascular effects of glucagon-like peptide-1 and brain natriuretic peptide in the human forearm.

Background: Dipeptidyl-peptidase 4 (DPP4) inhibitors improve glycemic control in patients with diabetes mellitus by preventing the degradation of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). GLP-1 causes vasodilation in animal models but also increases sympathetic activity; the effect of GLP-1 in the human vasculature and how it is altered by DPP4 inhibition is not known. DPP4 also degrades the vasodilator brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) to a less potent metabolite.

Long-term therapeutic effects of mesenchymal stem cells compared to dexamethasone on recurrent experimental autoimmune uveitis of rats.

Purpose: We tested the long-term effects of different regimens of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) administration in a recurrent experimental autoimmune uveitis (rEAU) model in rats, and compared the efficacy of MSC to that of dexamethasone (DEX).

Methods: One or two courses of MSC treatments were applied to R16-specific T cell-induced rEAU rats before or after disease onsets. The DEX injections were given for 7 or 50 days continuously after disease onsets.

Engagement of Toll-like receptor 2 enhances interleukin (IL)-17(+) autoreactive T cell responses via p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase signalling in dendritic cells.

Functional analysis of single Toll-like receptors (TLRs) in vivo is necessary to understand how they shape the ocular inflammation involved in uveitis. In this study we explored the role and mechanisms of TLR-2 agonists on the autoreactive T helper type 17 (Th17) response in experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU). Treatment by peptidoglycan (PGN), a specific TLR-2 agonist, remarkably increased mRNA levels of Th17-lineage genes interleukin (IL)-17A, IL-21 and RAR-related orphan receptor (ROR)γt and promoted antigen-specific Th17 response in EAU mice.

RNA-seq analyses of multiple meristems of soybean: novel and alternative transcripts, evolutionary and functional implications.

Background: Soybean is one of the most important crops, providing large amounts of dietary proteins and edible oil, and is also an excellent model for studying evolution of duplicated genes. However, relative to the model plants Arabidopsis and rice, the present knowledge about soybean transcriptome is quite limited.

Results: In this study, we employed RNA-seq to investigate transcriptomes of 11 soybean tissues, for genome-wide discovery of truly expressed genes, and novel and alternative transcripts, as well as analyses of conservation and divergence of duplicated genes and their functional implications.

A novel approach to supporting relationship-centered care through electronic health record ergonomic training in preclerkship medical education.

Problem: How can physicians incorporate the electronic health record (EHR) into clinical practice in a relationship-enhancing fashion ("EHR ergonomics")?

Approach: Three convenience samples of 40 second-year medical students with varying levels of EHR ergonomic training were compared in the 2012 spring semester. All participants first received basic EHR training and completed a presurvey. Two study groups were then instructed to use the EHR during the standardized patient (SP) encounter in each of four regularly scheduled Doctoring (clinical skills) course sessions.

Pollen count and presentation of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor-associated angioedema.

Background: The incidence of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor-associated angioedema is increased in patients with seasonal allergies.

Objective: We tested the hypothesis that patients with ACE inhibitor-associated angioedema present during months when pollen counts are increased.

Methods: Cohort analysis examined the month of presentation of ACE inhibitor-associated angioedema and pollen counts in the ambulatory and hospital setting.

Icariin prevents ovariectomy-induced bone loss and lowers marrow adipogenesis.

Objective: Icariin prevents bone loss by stimulating new bone formation and by inhibiting bone resorption. However, less is known about how icariin affects marrow adiposity. This lack of information is a vital problem, as the degree of marrow adipogenesis may be an alternative indicator of the severity of osteoporosis in relation to the degree of osteogenesis and osteoblastogenesis.

Metal pollution (Cd, Pb, Zn, and As) in agricultural soils and soybean, Glycine max, in southern China.

Crops produced on metal-polluted agricultural soils may lead to chronic toxicity to humans via the food chain. To assess metal pollution in agricultural soils and soybean in southern China, 30 soybean grain samples and 17 soybean-field soil samples were collected from 17 sites in southern China, and metal concentrations of samples were analyzed by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The integrated pollution index was used to evaluate if the samples were contaminated by Cd, Pb, Zn and As.

Substance P increases sympathetic activity during combined angiotensin-converting enzyme and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibition.

Unlabelled: Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors prevent the degradation of incretin hormones and reduce postprandial hyperglycemia in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 degrades other peptides with a penultimate proline or alanine, including bradykinin and substance P, which are also substrates of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE). During ACE inhibition, substance P is inactivated primarily by dipeptidyl peptidase-4, whereas bradykinin is first inactivated by aminopeptidase P.

Lessons learned from developing a drug evidence base to support pharmacovigilance.

Objective: This work identified challenges associated with extraction and representation of medication-related information from publicly available electronic sources.

Methods: We gained direct observational experience through creating and evaluating the Drug Evidence Base (DEB), a repository of drug indications and adverse effects (ADEs), and supplemented this through literature review. We extracted DEB content from the National Drug File Reference Terminology, from aggregated MEDLINE co-occurrence data, and from the National Library of Medicine's DailyMed.

OsDREB2A, a rice transcription factor, significantly affects salt tolerance in transgenic soybean.

The dehydration responsive element binding (DREB) transcription factors play an important role in regulating stress-related genes. OsDREB2A, a member of the DREBP subfamily of AP2/ERF transcription factors in rice (Oryza sativa), is involved in the abiotic stress response. OsDREB2A expression is induced by drought, low-temperature and salt stresses.

Identification and comparative analysis of cadmium tolerance-associated miRNAs and their targets in two soybean genotypes.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play crucial roles in regulating the expression of various stress responses genes in plants. To investigate soybean (Glycine max) miRNAs involved in the response to cadmium (Cd), microarrays containing 953 unique miRNA probes were employed to identify differences in the expression patterns of the miRNAs between different genotypes, Huaxia3 (HX3, Cd-tolerant) and Zhonghuang24 (ZH24, Cd-sensitive). Twenty six Cd-responsive miRNAs were identified in total.

FTIR spectroscopic studies of lithium tetrafluoroborate in propylene carbonate+diethyl carbonate mixtures.

FTIR (Fourier transformed infrared) spectra have been collected and analyzed for solutions of lithium tetrafluoroborate in propylene carbonate (PC), diethyl carbonate (DEC), and PC+DEC mixtures. It has been shown that the carbonyl stretch bands of PC and DEC, the ring of PC and the ether oxygen stretch bands of DEC are all very sensitive to the interaction between Li(+) and the solvent molecules. New shoulders appear and the original bands split with the addition of LiBF4, indicating that a strong interaction between Li(+) and molecules of PC and DEC exists through the oxygen group of C=O and ring of PC and both C=O oxygen and ether oxygen atoms of DEC.

High prevalence of hypertension among collegiate football athletes.

Background: The prevalence of hypertension among collegiate football athletes is not well described.

Methods And Results: A retrospective cohort of all male athletes who participated in varsity athletics at a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I university between 1999 and 2012 was examined through chart review. Mandatory annual preparticipation physical examinations included blood pressure, body mass index, medication use, and supplement use.

Biotransformation of baicalin to baicalein significantly strengthens the inhibition potential towards UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs) isoforms.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of biotransformation of baicalin into baicalein towards the inhibition potential towards one of the most important drug-metabolizing enzymes (DMEs) UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs). in vitro incubation method using recombinant UGTs-catalyzed 4-methylumbelliferone (4-MU) glucuronidation was used to evaluate the inhibition towards important UGT isoforms in the liver, including UGT1A1, 1A3, 1A6, 1A9, and 2B7. At the same concentration (100 microM), baicalein showed stronger inhibition potential than baicalin towards all the tested UGT isoforms.