Serum ferritin is associated with the presence of ischemic stroke among individuals with type 2 diabetes.

Background: Epidemiological evidence regarding the possible link between serum ferritin (SF) level and ischemic stroke risk among individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is sparse.

Aim: To evaluate the association between SF level in plasma and ischemic stroke risk among individuals with T2DM.

Methods: SF levels were measured in 210 T2DM patients with (n = 165) or without ischemic stroke (n = 45).

Genome-Wide Identification and Characterization of the Sweet Orange () GATA Family Reveals a Role for CsGATA12 as a Regulator of Citrus Bacterial Canker Resistance.

Citrus bacterial canker (CBC) is a severe bacterial infection caused by subsp. (), which continues to adversely impact citrus production worldwide. Members of the GATA family are important regulators of plant development and regulate plant responses to particular stressors.

The CsAP2-09-CsWRKY25-CsRBOH2 cascade confers resistance against citrus bacterial canker by regulating ROS homeostasis.

Citrus bacterial canker (CBC) is a serious bacterial disease caused by Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri (Xcc) that adversely impacts the global citrus industry. In a previous study, we demonstrated that overexpression of an Xcc-inducible apetala 2/ethylene response factor encoded by Citrus sinensis, CsAP2-09, enhances CBC resistance.

Cardiovascular disease risk models and dementia or cognitive decline: a systematic review.

Background: Health cognitive promotion and protection is a critical topic. With the world's aging population and rising life expectancy, there will be many people living with highly age-related dementia illnesses. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) and dementia share the same risk factors, such as unhealthy lifestyles and metabolic factors.

CsBZIP40 confers resistance against citrus bacterial canker by repressing CsWRKY43-CsPrx53/CsSOD13 cascade mediated ROS scavenging.

As the bacterial etiologic agent causing citrus bacterial canker (CBC), subsp. () seriously impacts citrus plantation and fruit production globally. In an earlier study, we demonstrated that CsBZIP40 can positively impact CBC resistance in the sweet orange ().

Association between lipoprotein(a) and ischemic stroke: Fibrinogen as a mediator.

Background: Previous studies have reported lipoprotein(a) was related to increased risk of ischemic stroke. However, the role of fibrinogen in their associations was not fully elucidated.

Aim: We aimed to investigate the mediating role of fibrinogen in the association between lipoprotein(a) and risk of ischemic stroke.

eIF3j inhibits translation of a subset of circular RNAs in eukaryotic cells.

Increasing studies have revealed that a subset of circular RNAs (circRNAs) harbor an open reading frame and can act as protein-coding templates to generate functional proteins that are closely associated with multiple physiological and disease-relevant processes, and thus proper regulation of synthesis of these circRNA-derived proteins is a fundamental cellular process required for homeostasis maintenance. However, how circRNA translation initiation is coordinated by different trans-acting factors remains poorly understood. In particular, the impact of different eukaryotic translation initiation factors (eIFs) on circRNA translation and the physiological relevance of this distinct regulation have not yet been characterized.

The DEAD-box helicase Hlc regulates basal transcription and chromatin opening of stress-responsive genes.

Stress-responsive genes are lowly transcribed under normal conditions and robustly induced in response to stress. The significant difference between basal and induced transcription indicates that the general transcriptional machinery requires a mechanism to distinguish each transcription state. However, what factors specifically function in basal transcription remains poorly understood.

Gawky modulates MTF-1-mediated transcription activation and metal discrimination.

Metal-induced genes are usually transcribed at relatively low levels under normal conditions and are rapidly activated by heavy metal stress. Many of these genes respond preferentially to specific metal-stressed conditions. However, the mechanism by which the general transcription machinery discriminates metal stress from normal conditions and the regulation of MTF-1-meditated metal discrimination are poorly characterized.

CitGVD: a comprehensive database of citrus genomic variations.

Citrus is one of the most important commercial fruit crops worldwide. With the vast genomic data currently available for citrus fruit, genetic relationships, and molecular markers can be assessed for the development of molecular breeding and genomic selection strategies. In this study, to permit the ease of access to these data, a web-based database, the citrus genomic variation database (CitGVD, http://citgvd.

Functional analysis of citrus AP2 transcription factors identified CsAP2-09 involved in citrus canker disease response and tolerance.

Genetic engineering approaches offer an alternative method to the citrus canker resistance breeding. The ethylene response factor (ERF) family is a member of families of transcription factors that are particular to plants and contribute significantly to biotic stress response and to plant growth. CsAP2-09 belongs to the citrus AP2/ERF transcription factor family.

GLP-1 signaling suppresses menin's transcriptional block by phosphorylation in β cells.

Both menin and glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) pathways play central yet opposing role in regulating β cell function, with menin suppressing, and GLP-1 promoting, β cell function. However, little is known as to whether or how GLP-1 pathway represses menin function. Here, we show that GLP-1 signaling-activated protein kinase A (PKA) directly phosphorylates menin at the serine 487 residue, relieving menin-mediated suppression of insulin expression and cell proliferation.

Expression Patterns and Potential Biological Roles of Dip2a.

Disconnected (disco)-interacting protein 2 homolog A is a member of the DIP2 protein family encoded by Dip2a gene. Dip2a expression pattern has never been systematically studied. Functions of Dip2a in embryonic development and adult are not known.

Large genomic fragment deletions and insertions in mouse using CRISPR/Cas9.

ZFN, TALENs and CRISPR/Cas9 system have been used to generate point mutations and large fragment deletions and insertions in genomic modifications. CRISPR/Cas9 system is the most flexible and fast developing technology that has been extensively used to make mutations in all kinds of organisms. However, the most mutations reported up to date are small insertions and deletions.

The self-limiting dynamics of TGF-β signaling in silico and in vitro, with negative feedback through PPM1A upregulation.

The TGF-β/Smad signaling system decreases its activity through strong negative regulation. Several molecular mechanisms of negative regulation have been published, but the relative impact of each mechanism on the overall system is unknown. In this work, we used computational and experimental methods to assess multiple negative regulatory effects on Smad signaling in HaCaT cells.

Transcriptional profiling of mouse uterus at pre-implantation stage under VEGF repression.

Uterus development during pre-implantation stage affects implantation process and embryo growth. Aberrant uterus development is associated with many human reproductive diseases. Among the factors regulating uterus development, vascular remodeling promoters are critical for uterus function and fertility.

Tethered spheroids as an in vitro hepatocyte model for drug safety screening.

Hepatocyte spheroids mimic many in vivo liver-tissue phenotypes but increase in size during extended culture which limits their application in drug testing applications. We have developed an improved hepatocyte 3D spheroid model, namely tethered spheroids, on RGD and galactose-conjugated membranes using an optimized hybrid ratio of the two bioactive ligands. Cells in the spheroid configuration maintained 3D morphology and uncompromised differentiated hepatocyte functions (urea and albumin production), while the spheroid bottom was firmly tethered to the substratum maintaining the spheroid size in multi-well plates.

A robust high-throughput sandwich cell-based drug screening platform.

Hepatotoxicity evaluation of pharmaceutical lead compounds in early stages of drug development has drawn increasing attention. Sandwiched hepatocytes exhibiting stable functions in culture represent a standard model for hepatotoxicity testing of drugs. We have developed a robust and high-throughput hepatotoxicity testing platform based on the sandwiched hepatocytes for drug screening.

Natural inhibitors of DNA topoisomerase I with cytotoxicities.

DNA Topoisomerase I can cause DNA breaks and play a key role during cell proliferation and differentiation. It is an important target for anticancer agents. While screening for anticancer compounds, seven natural compounds, 1-7, showed potent cytotoxicities against a panel of ten cancer cell lines.