Functional characterization of a novel jasmonate ZIM-domain interactor (NINJA) from upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum).

The jasmonic acid (JA) signalling pathway plays roles in plant development and defence against biotic and abiotic stresses. We isolated a cotton NINJA (novel interactor of JA ZIM-domain) gene, designated GhNINJA, which contains a 1305 bp open read frame. The GhNINJA gene encodes a 434 amino acid peptide.

A single-center experience of hemofiltration treatment for acute aortic dissection (Stanford type A) complicated with postoperative acute renal failure.

Objective: To investigate the effect of continuous venovenous hemofiltration (CVVH) for aortic dissection patients with acute renal failure after surgery in retrospective manner.

Methods: A total of thirty-seven aortic dissection patients with postoperative acute renal failure accepted CVVH therapy. The effect of CVVH was evaluated by analyzing clinical condition changes and laboratory examination results.

Totally thoracoscopic closure of ventricular septal defect without a robotically assisted surgical system: a summary of 119 cases.

Objectives: To summarize the clinical outcomes of totally thoracoscopic closure of a ventricular septal defect (VSD).

Methods: Totally thoracoscopic VSD closure was performed in 119 patients (66 boys; mean age, 7.1 ± 3.

Perioperative levosimendan therapy is associated with a lower incidence of acute kidney injury after cardiac surgery: a meta-analysis.

Objective: Levosimendan is a calcium sensitizer that enhances myocardial contractility without increasing myocardial oxygen use. Limited data are available on its renal-protective effect, and no statistically significant effects have been found. A meta-analysis was conducted for randomized studies to show whether perioperative levosimendan use could reduce acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

Pre-treatment with bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells inhibits systemic intravascular coagulation and attenuates organ dysfunction in lipopolysaccharide-induced disseminated intravascular coagulation rat model.

Background: Bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) can activate immunological cells to secrete various proinflammatory cytokines involved in the pathophysiological process of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) during infection. In recent years, it has been found that bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) can affect the activity of these immune cells and regulate the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines. Here, we report the possible protective effect of BMSCs pre-treatment in LPS-induced DIC rat model and the mechanism.

Is obesity an indicator of complications and mortality in acute pancreatitis? An updated meta-analysis.

Objective: To provide a meta-analyisis on whether obesity could be a prognostic indicator on the severity, development of complications and mortality of acute pancreatitis (AP).

Methods: Eligible articles were retrieved using electronic databases. Clinical studies evaluating the association between obesity and disease course of patients with AP were included.

[Pretreatment of isolated vein with rapamycin nanoparticles inhibits vein graft stenosis in rabbits].

Objective: To explore the effects of pretreatment of carbopol-encapsulated rapamycin-loaded nanoparticles (RPM-NP) on vein graft stenosis in a rabbit vein graft model.

Methods: A segment of common carotid artery was replaced with a segment of external jugular vein in 40 rabbits. They were separated into four treatment groups, i.

Valve replacement in pediatric patients: a single center experience.

Background: Reconstructive surgery is the primary goal in pediatric patients with valve disease. However, in cases with irreparable valve lesions, valve replacement is the only option. This study aimed to retrospectively analyze the clinical experience of heart valve prosthesis replacement in children.

Small interfering RNA against the apurinic or apyrimidinic endonuclease enhances the sensitivity of human pancreatic cancer cells to gemcitabine in vitro.

Objective: To investigate whether the downregulation of human apurinic or apyrimidinic endonuclease/redox factor-1 gene (APE1/Ref-1) expression by ribonucleic acid interference (RNAi) would increase the sensitivity of SW1990 cells to gemcitabine.

Methods: Chemically synthesized small interfering RNA (siRNA) directed against human APE1/Ref-1 (si-APE1) was transfected into SW1990 cells through transfection reagents. The mRNA expression of APE1/Ref-1 was detected by semi-quantitative RT-PCR and the protein expression of APE1/Ref-1 was detected by Western blot; cell proliferation and apoptosis were studied by a Cell Counting Kit 8 (CCK-8) and flow cytometry (FCM) and fluorescence microscopy.

[Study of adventitial inflammation and inflammatory factors in pathogenesis of allograft arteriosclerosis in rats].

Objective: To study the roles of serum inflammatory factors IL-6 and TNF-alpha and allograft adventitial inflammation in the pathogenesis of allograft arteriosclerosis in rats.

Methods: Thirty-six allogeneic allograft rats and 16 syngeneic allograft rats were randomly divided into 4 groups (9 rats in each experimental group and 4 in each control group): A, harvested at Week 1 post-operation; B, harvested at Week 2 post-operation; C, harvested at Week 3 post-operation; D, harvested at Week 4 post-operation. Blood samples were collected before transplantation and after harvest.

[Comparative study on the immunogenicity of human homologous cardiac valve and great artery homograft cryopreserved with liquid nitrogen].

Objective: To study the differences on the immunogenicity of the leaflets, arterial wall and myocardium of conduit valved homograft (CVH) cryopreserved with liquid nitrogen.

Methods: Mono-cell suspension of leaflets cells and arterial cells of CVH were respectively co-cultured with human lymphatic cells whose blood groups were the same with that of CVH donors. Expressive levels of CD25 and HLA-DR of these lymphatic cells were detected by flow cytometry in the different cultural duration and compared with that of lymph cells alone cultured (comparative group).

[In vivo transfection of hepatocyte growth factor gene induces pulmonary angiogenesis in rabbits with hyperkinetic pulmonary hypertension].

Objective: To investigate the effect of adenoviral-mediated exogenous HGF (Ad-HGF) gene transfer on lung angiogenesis in the rabbit lung in rabbits with hyperkinetic pulmonary artery hypertension.

Methods: A thoracotomy was performed through a midsternal incision in 1-month-old immature rabbit and an anastomosis between the left innominate artery and the pulmonary trunk was made to establish a chronic patent left to right shunt. Three months later, animals were randomly assigned to receive either Ad-HGF (2 x 10(9) Pfu in 0.

Susceptibility for NSAIDs-induced apoptosis correlates to p53 gene status in gastric cancer cells.

The anti-tumor effect of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) remains unclear. Here, we found that the susceptibility for NSAIDs-induced apoptosis might correlate with the status of the p53 gene in gastric cancer cells. Apoptosis in gastric cancer cells expressing wild-type p53 is induced through up-regulation of bax and down-regulation of bcl-2 and that regulation of the bax-bcl-2 heterodimer may be a major target of NSAIDs.

Effects of thalidomide in experimental models of post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis.

Background: Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) plays a central role in the pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis and related systemic complications. The authors hypothesized that it may also play an important role in the development of pancreatitis after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of thalidomide, an immunomodulator that exerts an inhibitory action on TNF-alpha by enhancing mRNA degradation, in reducing post-ERCP pancreatitis in a rat model.

[Effects of blood washing and autotransfusion during cardiopulmonary bypass on erythrocyte immune and kidney function].

Objective: To study changes of erythrocyte immune and kidney function after autotransfusion washed red blood cells during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).

Methods: Thirty-two patients undergoing valve replacement with CPB were randomly divided into study group and control group (16 in each group). In study group, the blood in operative field and the residual blood in the extracorporal machine were collected, centrifuged, washed and retransfused to patients.

Role of prophylactic antibiotic administration in severe acute pancreatitis: a meta-analysis.

Objective: To carry out a meta-analysis of published studies in order to evaluate the clinical efficacy of prophylactic antibiotics in severe acute pancreatitis (SAP).

Material And Methods: MEDLINE, China Biological Medicine, Embase and Cochrane Data Base for Systematic Reviews were searched for randomized controlled trials on the efficacy of prophylactic antibiotics in patients with SAP from 1966 to 2004. Six studies met our inclusion criteria.

[Study on the effect of adrenomedulin and urotensin-II on pulmonary hypertension of patients with congenital heart disease].

Objective: To evaluate the effect and clinical significance of adrenomedulin (ADM) and urotensin-II (UII) on pulmonary hypertension (PH), by detecting their levels of patients with congenital heart disease and pulmonary hypertension.

Methods: 52 patients with congenital heart disease who had left-to-right shunt were selected randomly. 52 patients were divided three groups according to pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP): group A was not pulmonary hypertension (PASP < 30 mm Hg, n = 17); group B was mild pulmonary hypertension (PASP30-49 mm Hg, n = 18); group C was moderate and severe pulmonary hypertension (PASP > or = 50 mm Hg, n = 17).