Independent prognostic value of lipocalin-2 in congenital heart disease-associated pulmonary artery hypertension.

Background: Timely and accurate evaluation of the patient's pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) is of great significance for the treatment of congenital heart disease. Currently, there is no non-invasive gold standard method for evaluating PAP.

Aim: To assess the prognostic value of lipocalin-2 (LCN2) in relation to PAP in patients with congenital heart disease associated with pulmonary artery hypertension.

Evaluation the protective role of baicalin against HO-driven oxidation, inflammation and apoptosis in bovine mammary epithelial cells.

Mastitis is one of the most common diseases in dairy farms. During the perinatal period, the bovine mammary epithelial cells (BMECs) of High-yielding dairy cows accelerate metabolism and produce large amounts of reactive oxygen species (ROS). It is one of the primary causes of mastitis and will lead to the breakdown of redox balance, which will induce oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis.

Lipocalin-2 induced LDHA expression promotes vascular remodelling in pulmonary hypertension.

Aerobic glycolysis is involved in the pathogenesis of pulmonary hypertension (PH). The mechanisms by which glycolysis is increased and how it contributes to pulmonary vascular remodelling are not yet fully understood. In this study, we demonstrated that elevated lipocalin-2 (LCN2) in PH significantly enhances aerobic glycolysis in human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) by up-regulating LDHA expression.

Generation of two induced pluripotent stem cell lines from Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an X-linked recessive disorder that leads to death in early adulthood. Patients with DMD have null mutations leading to loss of functional dystrophin protein. Here we generated two DMD induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines, one with deletion of exon 51 and the other with a single nucleotide nonsense mutation (c.

Donor T cell STAT3 deficiency enables tissue PD-L1-dependent prevention of graft-versus-host disease while preserving graft-versus-leukemia activity.

STAT3 deficiency (STAT3-/-) in donor T cells prevents graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), but the impact on graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) activity and mechanisms of GVHD prevention remains unclear. Here, using murine models of GVHD, we show that STAT3-/- donor T cells induced only mild reversible acute GVHD while preserving GVL effects against nonsusceptible acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cells in a donor T cell dose-dependent manner. GVHD prevention depended on programmed death ligand 1/programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-L1/PD-1) signaling.

Generation of two induced pluripotent stem cell lines from catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia patients carrying RYR2 mutations.

Catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT) is a congenital arrhythmic syndrome caused by the RYR2 gene encoded ryanodine receptor. Mutations on RYR2 are commonly associated with ventricular tachycardia after adrenergic stimulation, leading to lethal arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. We generated two human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines from CPVT affected patients carrying single missense heterozygote RYR2 mutations, c.

Generation of two induced pluripotent stem cell lines from spinal muscular atrophy type 1 patients carrying no functional copies of SMN1 gene.

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a severe neurodegenerative muscular disease caused by the homozygous loss of survival of motor neuron 1 (SMN1) genes. SMA patients exhibit marked skeletal muscle (SKM) loss, eventually leading to death. Here we generated two iPSC lines from two SMA type I patients with homozygous SMN1 mutations and validated the pluripotency and the ability to differentiate into three germ layers.

Changes and bioactivities on volatile organic compounds of endophytic fungi Neurospora dictyophora 3ZF-02 in different ages.

The endophytic fungus Neurospora dictyophora 3ZF-02 with a special aroma was isolated from the arils of Torreya grandis. Analysis of volatile organic compounds was done by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. A total of 46 compounds were identified in the volatile organic compounds by 3ZF-02.

Investigation on bioactive metabolites produced by an endophytic fungus from the arils of .

An endophytic fungus capable of producing active substances was isolated from the arils of . Seven compounds were separated from the ethyl acetate extract of fermentation broth and mycelium by chromatography, respectively identified as trichomerol (), bisorbicillinolide (), sohirnone A (), emodin (), stigmasterol (), ergosterol (), daidzein (). This study is the first to report of the isolation of the endophytic fungus from the arils of with complete assignments of -.

LncRNA-Smad7 mediates cross-talk between Nodal/TGF-β and BMP signaling to regulate cell fate determination of pluripotent and multipotent cells.

Transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) superfamily proteins are potent regulators of cellular development and differentiation. Nodal/Activin/TGF-β and BMP ligands are both present in the intra- and extracellular milieu during early development, and cross-talk between these two branches of developmental signaling is currently the subject of intense research focus. Here, we show that the Nodal induced lncRNA-Smad7 regulates cell fate determination via repression of BMP signaling in mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs).

Trafficking between clonally related peripheral T-helper cells and tissue-resident T-helper cells in chronic GVHD.

Chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) is an autoimmune-like syndrome. CXCR5-PD-1hi peripheral T-helper (Tph) cells have an important pathogenic role in autoimmune diseases, but the role of Tph cells in cGVHD remains unknown. We show that in patients with cGVHD, expansion of Tph cells among blood CD4+ T cells was associated with cGVHD severity.

A Nodal enhanced micropeptide NEMEP regulates glucose uptake during mesendoderm differentiation of embryonic stem cells.

TGF-β family proteins including Nodal are known as central regulators of early development in metazoans, yet our understanding of the scope of Nodal signaling's downstream targets and associated physiological mechanisms in specifying developmentally appropriate cell fates is far from complete. Here, we identified a highly conserved, transmembrane micropeptide-NEMEP-as a direct target of Nodal signaling in mesendoderm differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs), and this micropeptide is essential for mesendoderm differentiation. We showed that NEMEP interacts with the glucose transporters GLUT1/GLUT3 and promotes glucose uptake likely through these interactions.

Murine Models Provide New Insights Into Pathogenesis of Chronic Graft--Host Disease in Humans.

Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) is a curative therapy for hematologic malignancies, but its success is complicated by graft--host disease (GVHD). GVHD can be divided into acute and chronic types. Acute GVHD represents an acute alloimmune inflammatory response initiated by donor T cells that recognize recipient alloantigens.

An enzyme linked aptamer photoelectrochemical biosensor for Tau-381 protein using AuNPs/MoSe as sensing material.

Alzheimer's disease is a worldwide health problem and it has attracted extensive attention. Tau protein is an important biomarker in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. Herein, we devise a in situ enzyme catalysis generating electron donor photoelectrochemical (PEC) biosensor for Tau-381 protein.

Tissue-resident PSGL1loCD4+ T cells promote B cell differentiation and chronic graft-versus-host disease-associated autoimmunity.

CD4+ T cell interactions with B cells play a critical role in the pathogenesis of systemic autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus and chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD). Extrafollicular CD44hiCD62LloPSGL1loCD4+ T cells (PSGL1loCD4+ T cells) are associated with the pathogenesis of lupus and cGVHD, but their causal role has not been established. With murine and humanized MHC-/-HLA-A2+DR4+ murine models of cGVHD, we showed that murine and human PSGL1loCD4+ T cells from GVHD target tissues have features of B cell helpers with upregulated expression of programmed cell death protein 1 (PD1) and inducible T cell costimulator (ICOS) and production of IL-21.

Proteomic profiling of HIV-1 infection of human CD4 T cells identifies PSGL-1 as an HIV restriction factor.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) actively modulates the protein stability of host cells to optimize viral replication. To systematically examine this modulation in HIV infection, we used isobaric tag-based mass spectrometry to quantify changes in the abundance of over 14,000 proteins during HIV-1 infection of human primary CD4 T cells. We identified P-selectin glycoprotein ligand 1 (PSGL-1) as an HIV-1 restriction factor downregulated by HIV-1 Vpu, which binds to PSGL-1 and induces its ubiquitination and degradation through the ubiquitin ligase SCF.

Flow cytometric analyses of the viability, surface marker expression and function of lymphocytes from children following cryopreservation.

Flow cytometric analysis is important for the investigation and clinical preparation of lymphocytes from children. However, the strict requirement of cell freshness and inter‑assay variability limits the application of this methodology for pediatric investigations. Therefore, it is necessary to identify a reliable cryopreservative method capable of maintaining high cell viability and proper cell function in lymphocytes from children.

Hepatic Bmal1 Regulates Rhythmic Mitochondrial Dynamics and Promotes Metabolic Fitness.

Mitochondria undergo architectural/functional changes in response to metabolic inputs. How this process is regulated in physiological feeding/fasting states remains unclear. Here we show that mitochondrial dynamics (notably fission and mitophagy) and biogenesis are transcriptional targets of the circadian regulator Bmal1 in mouse liver and exhibit a metabolic rhythm in sync with diurnal bioenergetic demands.

γδT cells drive myeloid-derived suppressor cell-mediated CD8+ T cell exhaustion in hepatitis B virus-induced immunotolerance.

The mechanisms of liver hepatitis B virus (HBV)-induced systemic immune tolerance are still elusive, and the role of γδT cells has not yet been described. We examined the function of γδT cells in HBV-carrier mice--immunocompetent mice with plasmid-mediated persistent HBV expression in the liver. In this study, we found that γδT cell deficiency led to a break in HBV-induced tolerance and subsequent recovery of hepatic HBV-specific CD8(+) T cells.

IL-12-based vaccination therapy reverses liver-induced systemic tolerance in a mouse model of hepatitis B virus carrier.

Liver-induced systemic immune tolerance that occurs during chronic hepadnavirus infection is the biggest obstacle for effective viral clearance. Immunotherapeutic reversal of this tolerance is a promising strategy in the clinic but remains to be explored. In this study, using a hepatitis B virus (HBV)-carrier mouse model, we report that IL-12-based vaccination therapy can efficiently reverse systemic tolerance toward HBV.

[Analysis the viral etiology of fever and respiratory tract infection syndrome in Shaanxi province].

Objective: Analysis the viral pathogenic spectrum for patients with fever and respiratory tract infection syndrome in Shaanxi province during 2010 and investigate the molecular epidemiology characteristics of respiratory syncytial virus.

Methods: A total of 208 patients' pharyngeal swabs were collected based on surveillance definition from January 2010 to January 2011 and screened for sixteen human respiratory virus types/subtypes by Qiaxcel-based multiplex reverse transcription-PCR assay, including HRV,HCoV, Flu, HPIV, ADV, HRSV, HMPV and HBoV and investigate molecular epidemiology of HRSV by sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of the C-terminal second hypervariable region of the G gene.

Results: 109 out of 208 specimens (53%) were positive for one or more viruses.

[Analysis of genetic characteristics of type II non-wild poliovirus in mainland China, 2010].

To study the genetic characteristics of 123 type II non-wild polioviruses isolated from acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) cases in mainland China in 2010, provide the scientific basis for maintaining the "polio-free" status, and the switching use of polio vaccine for China. VP1 gene was amplified by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and the PCR products were then sequenced. The sequence results were analyzed with Sequencher 4.

[Ananlysis on the molecular characteristics of CVA9 virus in Tibet].

Objective: To study the molecular characterization of CVA9 virus in Tibet.

Methods: To isolate the enteroviruses from stool specimens of AFP cases and other children in Tibet in 1999-2002, and identify them by neutralization test using the RIVM antiserum; then determine the complete nucleotide sequence of VP1 region of CVA9 viruses, and analyze the results.

Results: A total of 10 strains of CVA9 virus were isolated from the stool specimens and identified.

Dendritic carbon architectures formed by nanotube core-directed diffusion-limited aggregation of nanoparticles.

A regular array of fractal patterns with macroscopic dendritic carbon architecture was prepared by catalytic chemical vapor deposition (CVD). The dendritic carbon architectures have micrometre-sized stems and hyperbranches evolved by lateral growth, and they are formed by diffusion-limited aggregation of carbon-encapsulated iron nanoparticle building blocks generated from catalytic pyrolysis of toluene, which is directed by carbon nanotube cores, and followed by subsequent restructuring from surface to bulk. Incorporation of such proposed processes in Monte Carlo simulations generates dendritic architectures similar to the morphologies observed from the experiments.