Emerging roles of air pollution and meteorological factors in autoimmune eye diseases.

Autoimmune eye diseases (AEDs), a collection of autoimmune inflammatory ocular conditions resulting from the dysregulation of immune system at the ocular level, can target both intraocular and periorbital structures leading to severe visual deficit and blindness globally. The roles of air pollution and meteorological factors in the initiation and progression of AEDs have been increasingly attractive, among which the systemic and local mechanisms are both involved in. Exposure to excessive air pollution and extreme meteorological conditions including PM/PM, environmental tobacco smoke, insufficient sunshine, and high temperature, etc.

The genus Megastylus Schidte (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Orthocentrinae) in China with a key to the species of China and Oriental Region.

Three new species of Megastylus Schidte, 1838 (Ichneumonidae, Orthocentrinae), M. (Dicolus) mentouense Sheng Li, sp. nov.

Comparative Analysis of Differentially Expressed Circular RNAs in Polarized Macrophages.

Macrophage polarization is a process that macrophages exert different functions according to surrounding micro-environment. Macrophages commonly exist in two distinct subsets: classically activated M1 macrophages and alternatively activated M2 macrophages. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a novel class of non-coding RNAs generated by back-splicing.

Controllable ion transport induced by pH gradient in a thermally crosslinked submicrochannel heterogeneous membrane.

Solid-state nanochannels have attracted considerable attention for their similar ion transport properties to biological ion channels. The construction of porous ion channels with good stability at the submicro/micrometer scale is very beneficial to develop large-area ion channel devices. In this manuscript, based on thermal crosslinking of a small organic molecule containing triphenylamine and styrene groups, we construct a heterogeneous membrane with asymmetrical charge and wettability on cylindrical anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) channels ( ≈ 319 nm).

Ketone Body 3-Hydroxybutyrate Ameliorates Atherosclerosis via Receptor Gpr109a-Mediated Calcium Influx.

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease that can cause acute cardiovascular events. Activation of the NOD-like receptor family, pyrin domain containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome enhances atherogenesis, which links lipid metabolism to sterile inflammation. This study examines the impact of an endogenous metabolite, namely ketone body 3-hydroxybutyrate (3-HB), on a mouse model of atherosclerosis.

Targeting choroidal vascular dysfunction via inhibition of circRNA-FoxO1 for prevention and management of myopic pathology.

Myopia has become a global public health problem due to high prevalence. Although the etiological factors of myopia have been gradually recognized, the underlying mechanism remains largely elusive. Choroidal vascular dysfunction is recognized as a critical vision-threatening complication in myopia.

Analysis of the polysaccharide fractions isolated from pea (Pisum sativum L.) at different levels of purification.

Crude pea (Pisum sativum L.) polysaccharides (CPPs) were extracted under ultrasound assistance, and CPP yield was highest to 6.27381%, which optimized using response surface methodology.

Circular RNA-ZNF532 regulates diabetes-induced retinal pericyte degeneration and vascular dysfunction.

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the leading cause of blindness in working-age adults. Vascular pericyte degeneration is the predominant clinical manifestation of DR, yet the mechanism governing pericyte degeneration is poorly understood. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) play important roles in multiple biological processes and disease progression.

Circular RNA-ZBTB44 regulates the development of choroidal neovascularization.

: Choroidal neovascularization (CNV) is a major cause of severe vision loss and occurs in many ocular diseases, especially neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are emerging as a new class of endogenous noncoding RNAs, which have been implicated in the regulation of endothelial cell dysfunction in diabetes mellitus and cancer. In this study, we aimed to determine the role of circRNA-ZBTB44 (cZBTB44) in the pathogenesis of CNV.

Multi-chamber petaloid root-growth chip for the non-destructive study of the development and physiology of the fibrous root system of Oryza sativa.

The root system of plants is a major component of their bodies in terms of both function and bulk. The investigation of root system development is greatly assisted by microfluidic devices, which improve the spatial and temporal resolution of observations without destroying tissue. In the present study, a multi-chamber petaloid root-growth chip was developed for studying the development and physiology of root systems that have thin branching structures (i.

Targeting pericyte-endothelial cell crosstalk by circular RNA-cPWWP2A inhibition aggravates diabetes-induced microvascular dysfunction.

The crosstalk between vascular pericytes and endothelial cells (ECs) is critical for microvascular stabilization and remodeling; however, the crosstalk is often disrupted by diabetes, leading to severe and even lethal vascular damage. Circular RNAs are a class of endogenous RNAs that regulate several important physiological and pathological processes. Here we show that diabetes-related stress up-regulates cPWWP2A expression in pericytes but not in ECs.

Abnormal mTORC1 signaling leads to retinal pigment epithelium degeneration.

Retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) degeneration is potentially involved in the pathogenesis of several retinal degenerative diseases. mTORC1 signaling is shown as a crucial regulator of many biological processes and disease progression. In this study, we aimed at investigating the role of mTORC1 signaling in RPE degeneration.

Circular RNA-ZNF609 regulates retinal neurodegeneration by acting as miR-615 sponge.

Glaucoma is a major cause of visual impairment characterized by progressive retinal neurodegeneration. Circular RNAs are a class of endogenous noncoding RNAs that regulate gene expression in eukaryotes. In this study, we investigated the role of cZNF609 in retinal neurodegeneration induced by glaucoma.

Targeting circular RNA-ZRANB1 for therapeutic intervention in retinal neurodegeneration.

Glaucoma is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by retinal ganglion cell (RGC) loss, optic disc excavation, and progressive visual field loss. Direct or indirect ameliorating retinal neurodegeneration is a promising therapeutic therapy for glaucoma. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a class of covalently closed circular RNA transcripts and have emerged as potential regulators in several neurodegenerative diseases.

[Effects of continuous drought during different growth stages on maize and its quantitative relationship with yield loss].

To investigate the influences of continuous decline of soil water content during different growth stages on the growth, development and yield of maize, artificial water control experiment with a rainout shelter were conducted, and the dynamic variations of several physiological and ecological indices of maize were analyzed, including plant height, leaf area index (LAI), photosynthesis characteristics, aboveground biomass, and yield. The experimental factors considered in this field experiment were the starting time and duration of water control. Rainfall was sheltered from jointing with duration of 20 (T) and 27 days (T) and from heading with duration of 20 (T) and 27 days (T) for each starting time.

Identification and Characterization of Circular RNAs as a New Class of Putative Biomarkers in Diabetes Retinopathy.

Purpose: To reveal the expression profile and clinical significance of circular RNAs (circRNAs) in diabetic retinopathy (DR).

Methods: Circular RNA microarrays were performed to identify DR-related circRNAs. Gene ontology (GO) enrichment and KEGG analysis was performed to determine the biologic modules and signaling pathway.

Mosaic UPD(7q)mat in a patient with silver Russell syndrome.

Background: Silver-Russell syndrome (SRS) is one of the imprinting disorders characterized by prenatal and postnatal growth restriction, relative macrocephaly, body asymmetry and characteristic facial features. ~ 10% of SRS cases are known to be associated with maternal uniparental disomy of chromosome 7 (UPD(7)mat). Mosaic maternal segmental UPD of 7q (UPD(7q)mat) is very rare, had only been described in one case before.

Circular Noncoding RNA HIPK3 Mediates Retinal Vascular Dysfunction in Diabetes Mellitus.

Background: The vascular complications of diabetes mellitus are the major causes of morbidity and mortality among people with diabetes. Circular RNAs are a class of endogenous noncoding RNAs that regulate gene expression in eukaryotes. In this study, we investigated the role of circular RNA in retinal vascular dysfunction induced by diabetes mellitus.

de novo interstitial deletions at the 11q23.3-q24.2 region.

Background: Jacobsen syndrome (JBS) is a contiguous gene deletion syndrome involving 11q terminal deletion. Interstitial deletions at distal 11q are rare and their contributions to the clinical phenotype of JBS are unknown.

Case Presentation: We presented the chromosome microarray (CMA) data and the clinical features of two individuals carrying a non-overlapping de novo deletion each at the 11q23.

Morphine preconditioning confers cardioprotection in doxorubicin-induced failing rat hearts via ERK/GSK-3β pathway independent of PI3K/Akt.

Preconditioning against myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury can be suppressed in some pathological conditions. This study was designed to investigate whether morphine preconditioning (MPC) exerts cardioprotection in doxorubicin (DOX)-induced heart failure in rats and the mechanisms involved. Phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt), extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)-3β pathways were examined.

[Spatiotemporal dynamics of maize water suitability and assessment of agricultural drought in Liaoning Province, China from 1981 to 2010].

Maize water suitability (MWS) model was developed at growth stage scale. Frequency and severity of drought were evaluated by combining MWS estimates and agricultural meteorological drought indexes. The MWS at each growth stage was calculated by using maize observational data and conventional meteorological data at 52 sites in Liaoning during the period from 1981 to 2010.

Cumulative mtDNA damage and mutations contribute to the progressive loss of RGCs in a rat model of glaucoma.

Glaucoma is a chronic neurodegenerative disease characterized by the progressive loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) alterations have been documented as a key component of many neurodegenerative disorders. However, whether mtDNA alterations contribute to the progressive loss of RGCs and the mechanism whereby this phenomenon could occur are poorly understood.

Hepatocellular carcinoma 20 mm or smaller in cirrhosis patients: early magnetic resonance enhancement by gadoxetic acid compared with gadopentetate dimeglumine.

Purpose: To evaluate the differences in enhancement pattern of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) 20 mm or smaller and enhancement effects of hepatic vessels on early dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) obtained with gadoxetic acid and gadopentetate dimeglumine in the same patients with cirrhosis.

Methods: We reviewed MR images using gadoxetic acid and gadopentetate dimeglumine in the same 34 patients with 42 histologically confirmed HCCs (median diameter, 14.5 mm).

RNAi screening identifies GSK3β as a regulator of DRP1 and the neuroprotection of lithium chloride against elevated pressure involved in downregulation of DRP1.

Elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) is considered as the major risk factor for the loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and their axons in glaucoma. Emerging evidence suggests elevated IOP can induce Drp1 upregulation and mitochondrial fission, which is involved in cell death. However, the underlying mechanism for these effects remains unknown.

[Effects of sowing date and planting density on the seed yield and oil content of winter oilseed rape].

A field experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of different sowing date and planting density on the seed yield and seed oil content of winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus). Sowing date mainly affected the seed yield of branch raceme, while planting density affected the seed yields of both branch raceme and main raceme. The seed oil content was less affected by sowing date.