Nomenclatural changes in the tribe Empoascini of the subfamily Typhlocybinae (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae).

One genus and species are synonymized in the tribe Empoascini of the subfamily Typhlocybinae. Bhatasca Dworakowska, 1995is a junior synonym of Alebrasca Hayashi & Okada, 1994, Bhatasca rectangulata Qin & Zhang, 2011is a junior synonym of Alebrasca actinidiae Hayashi & Okada, 1994. Furthermore, Bhatasca expansa is (necessarily) transferred to the genus Alebrasca.

miR-203 inhibits the proliferation and self-renewal of esophageal cancer stem-like cells by suppressing stem renewal factor Bmi-1.

Cancer stem-like cells exist in many malignancies and several stem cell-related genes and microRNAs, such as Bmi-1 and miR-203, have been identified as cancer stem-like cell regulators using gene microarray or sequencing analysis. Previously, we used side population (SP) sorting to enrich cancer stem-like cells from esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) cell line EC9706. Our results demonstrated that EC9706 SP cells shared common features of cancer stem-like cells.

Structural interactions between inhibitor and substrate docking sites give insight into mechanisms of human PS1 complexes.

Presenilin-mediated endoproteolysis of transmembrane proteins plays a key role in physiological signaling and in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer disease and some cancers. Numerous inhibitors have been found via library screens, but their structural mechanisms remain unknown. We used several biophysical techniques to investigate the structure of human presenilin complexes and the effects of peptidomimetic γ-secretase inhibitors.

First Report of Fusarium oxysporum Causing Soft Fruit Rot Disease of Gray Jujube (Zizyphus jujuba) in China.

Gray Jujube, Zizyphus jujuba Mill., is a fruit crop unique to China that produces small fruit of high nutritional value with potential health benefits (2). In mid-September 2011, a fruit rot affecting approximately 10% of gray jujube fruit was observed in Xinzheng Date Garden, Henan Province, China.

[Inhibitory effects of human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells on proliferation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from spondyloarthritis patients].

Objective: To explore the inhibitory effects of human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMSC) on the proliferation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from spondyloarthritis (SpA) patients.

Methods: A total of 12 SpA patients at Chinese PLA General Hospital were recruited from May 2012 to October 2012. Information on demographic characteristics, disease and functional activity was collected.

Annexin A10 is an immunohistochemical marker for adenocarcinoma of the upper gastrointestinal tract and pancreatobiliary system.

Aims: Annexin A10 (ANXA10) is a calcium- and phospholipid-binding protein expressed normally in the gastric mucosa. In this study, we evaluated the potential use of ANXA10 as a diagnostic marker.

Methods And Results: We observed ANXA10 expression in the gastric mucosa, the Brunner gland of the duodenum and the urothelium, but absence of expression in other normal organs.

Direct detection of orchid viruses using nanorod-based fiber optic particle plasmon resonance immunosensor.

A fiber optic particle plasmon resonance (FOPPR) immunosensor is developed for label-free detection of orchid viruses that use gold nanorods (AuNRs) as the sensing material. The AuNRs are employed to create a near-infrared sensing window to solve the color interference problem of sample matrix for direct sensing of target analyte. This work cannot be achieved using gold nanospheres (AuNSs) because the signal of sample color absorption largely overlaps the signal of molecular recognition events in the visible spectrum, making the signal interpretation much more difficult.

Full-field optical coherence tomography using immersion Mirau interference microscope.

In this study, an immersion Mirau interference microscope was developed for full-field optical coherence tomography (FFOCT). Both the reference and measuring arms of the Mirau interferometer were filled with water to prevent the problems associated with imaging a sample in air with conventional FFOCT systems. The almost-common path interferometer makes the tomographic system less sensitive to environmental disturbances.

[Culture of pancreatic progenitor cells in hanging drop and on floating filter].

Objective: To construct a method to culture pancreatic progenitor cells in hanging drop and on floating filter,and to examine if pancreatic progenitor cells can differentiate into mature endocrine cells with this method.

Methods: Murine embryos at day 12.5 were isolated and digested into single cells,which were then cultured in hanging drop for 24h and formed spheres.

Effect of age on febrile response in patients with healthcare-associated bloodstream infection.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the effect of age on febrile response in patients with healthcare-associated bloodstream infection (BSI).

Methods: This was a retrospective observational study using medical records as the primary source of data. Three indicators measured body temperature changes: basal body temperature (BBT), body temperature at infection onset (onset T), and maximum temperature (max T) during the infection period.

Mitochondrial dysfunction represses HIF-1α protein synthesis through AMPK activation in human hepatoma HepG2 cells.

Background: Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) is an important transcription factor that modulates cellular responses to hypoxia and also plays critical roles in cancer progression. Recently, somatic mutations and decreased copy number of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) were detected in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). These mutations were shown to have the potential to cause mitochondrial dysfunction.

Clinical findings in 111 cases of influenza A (H7N9) virus infection.

Background: During the spring of 2013, a novel avian-origin influenza A (H7N9) virus emerged and spread among humans in China. Data were lacking on the clinical characteristics of the infections caused by this virus.

Methods: Using medical charts, we collected data on 111 patients with laboratory-confirmed avian-origin influenza A (H7N9) infection through May 10, 2013.

Molecular and cellular mechanisms of neutral lipid accumulation in diatom following nitrogen deprivation.

Background: Nitrogen limitation can induce neutral lipid accumulation in microalgae, as well as inhibiting their growth. Therefore, to obtain cultures with both high biomass and high lipid contents, and explore the lipid accumulation mechanisms, we implemented nitrogen deprivation in a model diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum at late exponential phase.

Results: Neutral lipid contents per cell subsequently increased 2.

[Inhibitory effect of human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells on interleukin-17 production in peripheral blood T cells from spondyloarthritis patients].

In this study, the inhibitory effect of human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMSC) on interleukin-17 (IL-17) production in peripheral blood T cells from patients with spondyloarthritis (SpA) were investigated, in order to explore the therapeutic potential of hUCMSC in the SpA. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNC) were isolated from patients with SpA (n = 12) and healthy subjects (n = 6). PBMNC were cultured in vitro with hUCMSC or alone.

Antibody conjugated supported lipid bilayer for capturing and purification of viable tumor cells in blood for subsequent cell culture.

Interest in the identification and isolation of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) has been growing since the introduction of CTCs as an alternative to the tumor tissue biopsy, which can potentially be important indices for prognosis and cancer treatment. However, the contamination of non-specific binding of normal hematologic cells makes high purity CTCs detection problematic. Furthermore, preserving the viability of CTCs remains a challenge.

Magnolol ameliorates ligature-induced periodontitis in rats and osteoclastogenesis: in vivo and in vitro study.

Periodontal disease characterized by alveolar bone resorption and bacterial pathogen-evoked inflammatory response has been believed to have an important impact on human oral health. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether magnolol, a main constituent of Magnolia officinalis, could inhibit the pathological features in ligature-induced periodontitis in rats and osteoclastogenesis. The sterile, 3-0 (diameter; 0.

[Immune evasion molecules of Toxoplasma gondii].

Toxoplasma gondii can live in the host for a long time relying on effective immune escape mechanisms and cause a chronic infection. Different antigenic molecules in the parasitophorous vacuole membrane, rhoptry and cytoplasm play an important role in evading the host's immune response. They can effectively help avoid the host immune response by inhibiting excessive inflammatory response and production of nitric oxide, affecting gene expression of some cytokines, depleting the specific immune substances, reducing the function of immune cells and so on.

Role of TRPA1 and TRPV1 in the ROS-dependent sensory irritation of superior laryngeal capsaicin-sensitive afferents by cigarette smoke in anesthetized rats.

Background: Laryngeal exposure to cigarette smoke (CS) evokes sensory irritation, but the mechanisms are largely unclear. The TRPA1 and TRPV1 receptors are two types of Ca(2+)-permeant channels located at the terminals of airway capsaicin-sensitive afferents. We investigated the mechanisms underlying the airway reflex evoked by laryngeal CS exposure in anesthetized rats.

Brazilin isolated from Caesalpinia sappan L. acts as a novel collagen receptor agonist in human platelets.

Background: Brazilin, isolated from the heartwood of Caesalpinia sappan L., has been shown to possess multiple pharmacological properties.

Methods: In this study, platelet aggregation, flow cytometry, immunoblotting analysis, and electron spin resonance (ESR) spectrometry were used to investigate the effects of brazilin on platelet activation ex vivo.

[Staging and histologic grading of gastrointestinal stromal tumors].

Objective: To investigate the clinical stage and histological grade of gastrointestinal stromal tumors.

Methods: Twelve clinical and pathological parameters were assessed in 613 patients with follow-up information. These parameters were classified into two gross spread parameters including liver metastasis and peritoneal dissemination, five microscopic spread parameters including lymph node metastasis, vascular, fat, nerve and mucosal infiltration, and five histological parameters including mitotic count ≥ 10 per 50 high-power fields, muscularis propria infiltration, coagulative necrosis, perivascular pattern and severe nuclear atypia.

[Detection of KRAS gene mutation and its clinical significance in colorectal adenocarcinoma].

Objective: To explore the clinical significance of KRAS mutation detection in colorectal adenocarcinoma.

Methods: Paraffin-embedded tissue specimens were obtained from 440 patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma. The genomic DNA was extracted.

Microsomal triglyceride transfer protein gene -493G/T polymorphism and its association with serum lipid levels in Bama Zhuang long-living families in China.

Background: The -493G/T polymorphism in the microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTP) gene is associated with lower serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and triglyceride (TG) levels and longevity in several populations, but the results are inconsistent in different racial/ethnic groups. The current study was to investigate the plausible association of MTP -493G/T polymorphism with serum lipid levels and longevity in Zhuang long-lived families residing in Bama area, a famous home of longevity in Guangxi, China.

Methods: The MTP -493G/T was genotyped by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism in 391 Bama Zhuang long-lived families (BLF, n = 1467, age 56.