Association of vitamin D receptor Fok1 (rs2228570), TaqI (rs731236) and ApaI (rs7975232) gene polymorphism with the risk of chronic kidney disease.

Relationship between vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphism and the risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD) from the published reports are still conflicting. This study was conducted to evaluate the relationship between VDR Fok1 (rs2228570), TaqI (rs731236) and ApaI (rs7975232) gene polymorphism and the risk of CKD using meta-analysis method. The association studies were identified from PubMed and Cochrane Library on 1 March 2014, and eligible investigations were included and synthesized using meta-analysis method.

Association of vitamin D receptor gene polymorphism with the risk of systemic lupus erythematosus.

Relationship between vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphism and the risk of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) from the published reports are still conflicting. This study was conducted to evaluate the relationship between VDR BsmI (rs1544410), Fok1 (rs2228570), ApaI (rs7975232) and TaqI (rs731236) gene polymorphism and the risk of SLE using meta-analysis method. The association studies were identified from PubMed and Cochrane Library on 1 March 2014, and eligible investigations were included and synthesized using meta-analysis method.

Detection of GM soybean by multiplex-touchdown PCR-microchip capillary electrophoresis with response surface methodology optimization.

The combination of the molecular technique, the multivariate strategy and microchip capillary electrophoresis (MCE) was applied to rapid and sensitive analysis of genetically modified (GM) soybean in food samples. A multiplex-touchdown polymerase chain reaction (PCR) system was developed for simultaneously amplifying three target sequences in Roundup Ready soybean (RRS). Response surface methodology was introduced to determine the optimal separation condition in MCE with good resolution and short analytical time.

Nucleosome-binding protein HMGN2 exhibits antitumor activity in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Natural killer (NK) cells and cytolytic T lymphocytes (CTLs) serve as effectors in the antitumor response. High mobility group nucleosomal binding domain 2 (HMGN2) is a candidate effector molecule involved in CTL and NK cell function. In the current study, recombinant human HMGN2 was isolated and purified from transformed .

The efficacy of plasma biomarkers in early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease.

Background: Early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is imperative for the prevention of disease progression and the development of effective treatments.

Objective: Clinically, AD diagnosis has been based on adherence to clinical criteria. It has recently been proposed that diagnostic criteria should also incorporate biomarker findings.

Glatiramer acetate ameliorates experimental autoimmune neuritis.

Glatiramer acetate (GA) is one of the first-line disease-modifying medications that have been approved for the treatment of multiple sclerosis via immune modulatory mechanisms. However, it remains unclear whether the immunomodulation effect of GA is central nervous system (CNS) antigen specific. Here, we explored the mechanism of action of GA by subcutaneously injecting GA in experimental autoimmune neuritis (EAN) rats, an animal model for Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS).

Blockade of SOCE protects HT22 cells from hydrogen peroxide-induced apoptosis.

Oxidative stress is an established event in the pathology of neurobiological diseases. Previous studies indicated that store-operated Ca(2+) entry (SOCE) has been involved in oxidative stress. The present study was carried out to investigate the effects of SOCE inhibition on neuronal oxidative stress injury induced by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in HT22 cells, a murine hippocampal neuronal model.

Responsiveness to reduced dosage of rituximab in Chinese patients with neuromyelitis optica.

Objective: To determine the effect of a lower dose of rituximab in depleting B lymphocytes, maintaining low B-cell counts, and relapse in patients with neuromyelitis optica (NMO) and NMO spectrum disorders.

Methods: We treated 5 Chinese patients with deteriorating NMO and NMO spectrum disorders with a 100-mg IV infusion of rituximab once a week for 3 consecutive weeks, followed by additional infusion of the same dosage depending on circulating B-cell repopulation.

Results: This reduced dosage of rituximab was sufficient to deplete B cells and maintain low B-cell counts.

Interleukin-10 producing-B cells and their association with responsiveness to rituximab in myasthenia gravis.

Introduction: A subset of regulatory B cells in humans and mice has been defined functionally by their ability to produce interleukin (IL)-10. We characterized IL-10-producing B (B10) cells in myasthenia gravis (MG) patients and correlated them with disease activity and responsiveness to rituximab therapy.

Methods: Frequencies of B10 cells from MG patients and healthy controls were monitored by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS).

The role of peritoneal alternatively activated macrophages in the process of peritoneal fibrosis related to peritoneal dialysis.

It has been confirmed that alternatively activated macrophages (M2) participate in tissue remodeling and fibrosis occurrence, but the effect of M2 on peritoneal fibrosis related to peritoneal dialysis (PD) hasn't been elucidated. This study was therefore conducted to assess the association between M2 and peritoneal fibrosis related to PD. In this study, peritoneal fibrosis was induced by intraperitoneal (i.

miR-205 promotes tumor proliferation and invasion through targeting ESRRG in endometrial carcinoma.

Increasing evidence suggests that miR‑205 is frequently dysregulated in many types of human cancers, suggesting its important roles in the initiation and progression of cancer. However, the functions of miR‑205 in human endometrial endometrioid carcinoma (EEC) are still unknown. In this study, we investigated the expression of miR‑205 in both normal endometrium and EEC tissues using TaqMan PCR.

Invariant NKT cells increase lipopolysacchride-induced pregnancy loss by a mechanism involving Th1 and Th17 responses.

Objective: To determine the role of invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells in infection-associated pregnancy loss.

Methods: B6 and iNKT cell-deficient Jα18(-/-) mice were injected i.p.

Up-regulation of heme oxygenase-1 attenuates brain damage after cerebral ischemia via simultaneous inhibition of superoxide production and preservation of NO bioavailability.

Cerebral ischemia exacerbates neuronal death and neurological dysfunction. Evidence supports the involvement of oxidative/nitrative stress in the pathophysiology of cerebral ischemia. Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is a rate-limiting enzyme in heme catabolism, possessing potent anti-oxidant and anti-apoptosis effects.

In vitro synthesis of native, fibrous long spacing and segmental long spacing collagen.

Collagen fibrils are present in the extracellular matrix of animal tissue to provide structural scaffolding and mechanical strength. These native collagen fibrils have a characteristic banding periodicity of ~67 nm and are formed in vivo through the hierarchical assembly of Type I collagen monomers, which are 300 nm in length and 1.4 nm in diameter.

Lyn is involved in CD24-induced ERK1/2 activation in colorectal cancer.

Background And Aim: CD24 expression is associated with human colorectal cancer (CRC). Our previous data indicated that CD24 promoted the proliferation and invasion of colorectal cancer cells through the activation of ERK1/2. Since Src family kinases are frequently deregulated in CRC and closely related to the MAPK signaling pathway, we investigated the impact of Lyn, an important member of SFKs, on CD24-induced ERK1/2 activation in CRC.

Identification of novel MiRNAs and MiRNA expression profiling during grain development in indica rice.

Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) modulate gene expression in different tissues and at diverse developmental stages, including grain development in japonica rice. To identify novel miRNAs in indica rice and to study their expression patterns during the entire grain filling process, small RNAs from all stages of grain development were sequenced and their expression patterns were studied using customized miRNA chips.

Results: A total of 21 conserved and 91 non-conserved miRNA families were found in developing indica grains.

[Clostridium sp. MH18 strain induces the formation of carbonate minerals].

Objective: We studied the formation of carbonate minerals by bacteria to understand the mechanism of microbial mineralization.

Methods: Cultures of carbonate precipitation using Lagoa Vermelha medium with 6:1 molar ratio of Mg/Ca within 35 days were made under the mediation of Clostridium sp. (MH18 strain) isolated from soil.

Specific saccade deficits in patients with Alzheimer's disease at mild to moderate stage and in patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment.

Saccadic impairment in Alzheimer's disease (AD) was found in horizontal saccades. The present study extends investigation to vertical saccades in a large number of subjects, including AD and amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI). We examined both horizontal and vertical saccades in 30 healthy elderly, 18 aMCI, and 25 AD.

In situ growth of metal particles on 3D urchin-like WO3 nanostructures.

Metal/semiconductor hybrid materials of various sizes and morphologies have many applications in areas such as catalysis and sensing. Various organic agents are necessary to stabilize metal nanoparticles during synthesis, which leads to a layer of organic compounds present at the interfaces between the metal particles and the semiconductor supports. Generally, high-temperature oxidative treatment is used to remove the organics, which can extensively change the size and morphology of the particles, in turn altering their activity.

MiR-219-5p inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma cell proliferation by targeting glypican-3.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been linked to the molecular pathogenesis of many cancers. In this study, we found that miR-219-5p was significantly downregulated in 83 HCC tissues and three HCC cell lines, compared to their non-tumor counterparts. MiR-219-5p expression correlated with tumor size, histological differentiation, and overall survival time in HCC patients.

Disruption of a rice pentatricopeptide repeat protein causes a seedling-specific albino phenotype and its utilization to enhance seed purity in hybrid rice production.

The pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) gene family represents one of the largest gene families in higher plants. Accumulating data suggest that PPR proteins play a central and broad role in modulating the expression of organellar genes in plants. Here we report a rice (Oryza sativa) mutant named young seedling albino (ysa) derived from the rice thermo/photoperiod-sensitive genic male-sterile line Pei'ai64S, which is a leading male-sterile line for commercial two-line hybrid rice production.

Real-time bioluminescence and tomographic imaging of gastric cancer in a novel orthotopic mouse model.

Gastric cancer is the second leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide. Understanding the multistep process of carcinogenesis of gastric cancer is pivotal to develop novel therapeutic strategies. Molecular imaging in preclinical cancer models bridges the gap of laboratory-based experiment and clinical translation.

Thioredoxin-1 attenuates post-ischemic neuronal apoptosis via reducing oxidative/nitrative stress.

Recent studies show that Thioredoxin (Trx) possesses a neuronal protective effect and that Trx inactivation is closely related to cerebral ischemia injury. Peroxynitrite (ONOO⁻) formation may trigger oxidative/nitrative stress and represent a major cytotoxic effect in cerebral ischemia. The present study was conducted to validate whether treatment with recombinant human Trx-1 (rhTrx-1) would attenuate ONOO⁻ generation and oxidative/nitrative stress in focal transient cerebral ischemia.