Intestine-specific Mttp deletion decreases mortality and prevents sepsis-induced intestinal injury in a murine model of Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia.

Background: The small intestine plays a crucial role in the pathophysiology of sepsis and has been referred to as the "motor" of the systemic inflammatory response. One proposed mechanism is that toxic gut-derived lipid factors, transported in mesenteric lymph, induce systemic injury and distant organ failure. However, the pathways involved are yet to be defined and the role of intestinal chylomicron assembly and secretion in transporting these lipid factors is unknown.

Predictive value of electrocorticography for postoperative epilepsy in patients with supratentorial meningioma.

This study examines electrocorticography (ECoG) signals in patients with supratentorial meningioma before and after tumor resection, and discusses its predictive value with regard to postoperative epilepsy. Ninety-one patients with supratentorial meningioma, who presented with seizures, were studied. Patients were followed-up for 2 to 5 years, and the occurrence rate of postoperative epilepsy in each group was compared.

Genome-wide association studies-derived susceptibility loci in type 2 diabetes: confirmation in a Chinese population.

Purpose: Several novel genetic variants for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have been identified through genome-wide association studies (GWAS). A case-controll study was performed to investigate the association of five new European or South Asian GWAS-derived susceptibility loci with T2DM in a Chinese population.

Methods: Five single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were genotyped: rs3923113 near GRB14, rs16861329 in ST6GAL1, rs1802295 in VPS26A, rs7178572 in HMG20A, and rs231362 near KCNQ1, by high-resolution melting (HRM) of small amplicons.

Experimental and theoretical studies of ammonia generation: Reactions of H2 with neutral cobalt nitride clusters.

Ammonia generation through reaction of H(2) with neutral cobalt nitride clusters in a fast flow reactor is investigated both experimentally and theoretically. Single photon ionization at 193 nm is used to detect neutral cluster distributions through time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Co(m)N(n) clusters are generated through laser ablation of Co foil into N(2)/He expansion gas.

Intestine-specific expression of Apobec-1 rescues apolipoprotein B RNA editing and alters chylomicron production in Apobec1 -/- mice.

Intestinal apolipoprotein B (apoB) mRNA undergoes C-to-U editing, mediated by the catalytic deaminase apobec-1, which results in translation of apoB48. Apobec1(-/-) mice produce only apoB100 and secrete larger chylomicron particles than those observed in wild-type (WT) mice. Here we show that transgenic rescue of intestinal apobec-1 expression (Apobec1(Int/O)) restores C-to-U RNA editing of apoB mRNA in vivo, including the canonical site at position 6666 and also at approximately 20 other newly identified downstream sites present in WT mice.

[A retrospective study on the progression of myopia in school-age children].

Objective: To study the progression of myopia in school-age children over the past 12 years and factors influencing myopia progression.

Methods: A total of 4569 cases of 5 to 12-year-old children who had refractive examinations in the Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University between January 2000 and December 2011 were enrolled in this study. The children had no family history of congenital high myopia or other eye diseases.

A novel method for rapid and reliable detection of complex vertebral malformation and bovine leukocyte adhesion deficiency in Holstein cattle.

Background: Complex vertebral malformation (CVM) and bovine leukocyte adhesion deficiency (BLAD) are two autosomal recessive lethal genetic defects frequently occurring in Holstein cattle, identifiable by single nucleotide polymorphisms. The objective of this study is to develop a rapid and reliable genotyping assay to screen the active Holstein sires and determine the carrier frequency of CVM and BLAD in Chinese dairy cattle population.

Results: We developed real-time PCR-based assays for discrimination of wild-type and defective alleles, so that carriers can be detected.

Lead acetate reduces the ability of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells to support hematopoiesis in vitro.

Plumbum (Pb) is a heavy metal toxin that causes many pathophysiological effects in various systems of the human body. It has previously been reported that excessive lead trioxide causes hematopoietic system toxicity. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), as cells with self-renewal and multipotent differentiation potential, play a supportive role in hematopoietic function.

Interpersonal relatedness and psychological functioning following traumatic brain injury: implications for marital and family therapists.

Recovery from a mild-to-moderate traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a challenging process for injured persons and their families. Guided by attachment theory, we investigated whether relationship conflict, social support, or sense of belonging were associated with psychological functioning. Community-dwelling persons with TBI (N = 75) and their relatives/significant others (N = 74) were surveyed on relationship variables, functional status, and TBI symptom severity.

Effects of solid dispersion and self-emulsifying formulations on the solubility, dissolution, permeability and pharmacokinetics of isorhamnetin, quercetin and kaempferol in total flavones of Hippophae rhamnoides L.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of solid dispersions (SD) and self-emulsifying (SE) formulations on the solubility and absorption properties of active components in total flavones of Hippophae rhamnoides L. (TFH). The solubility, dissolution rate, permeability and pharmacokinetics of isorhamnetin, quercetin and kaempferol in TFH SD/SE formulations and TFH were compared.

Synthesis and evaluation of carbocyanine dyes as PRMT inhibitors and imaging agents.

Protein arginine methylation regulates multiple biological processes. Deregulation of protein arginine methyltransferase (PRMT) activities has been observed in many disease phenotypes. Small molecule probes that target PRMTs with strong affinity and selectivity can be used as valuable tools to dissect biological mechanisms of arginine methylation and establish the role of PRMT proteins in a disease process.

Regulator of G protein signaling 2 is a key modulator of airway hyperresponsiveness.

Background: Drugs targeting individual G protein-coupled receptors are used as asthma therapies, but this strategy is limited because of G protein-coupled receptor signal redundancy. Regulator of G protein signaling 2 (RGS2), an intracellular selective inhibitor of multiple bronchoconstrictor receptors, may play a central role in the pathophysiology and treatment of asthma.

Objective: We defined functions and mechanisms of RGS2 in regulating airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), the pathophysiologic hallmark of asthma.

The clinical features, therapeutic responses, and prognosis of the patients with mantle cell lymphoma.

Mantle cell lymphoma(MCL), a special type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, is incurable through conventional treatment. This study aimed to analyze the clinical features, therapeutic responses, and prognosis of patients with MCL. Clinical data of 30 patients with MCL treated in our hospital between April 2006 and July 2011 were analyzed.

Human-carnivore conflict in China: a review of current approaches with recommendations for improved management.

Human-wildlife conflict (HWC) is a conservation concern that increasingly threatens the continued existence of some of the world's most endangered species. With an increase in human population, urban sprawl and subsequent encroachment on wild land, human and wildlife interaction has become inevitable. In the majority of cases, this interaction results in a negative outcome for humans, wildlife or both.

Liver X receptor agonist modulation of cholesterol efflux in mice with intestine-specific deletion of microsomal triglyceride transfer protein.

Objective: Previous work demonstrated that intestinal cholesterol absorption and regulated expression of intestinal Niemann-Pick C1-like 1 and ATP-binding cassette protein A1 are required for liver X receptor (LXR) agonist-mediated increases in high-density lipoprotein biogenesis. We re-examined those conclusions in mice with intestine-specific deletion of the microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTTP-IKO), where chylomicron formation is eliminated.

Methods And Results: MTTP-IKO mice demonstrated sustained ≈90% reduction in cholesterol absorption and >80% reduction in Niemann-Pick C1-like 1 expression, yet LXR agonist treatment increased serum high-density lipoprotein and upregulated intestinal ATP-binding cassette protein A1 expression.

Reactive oxygen species induced by p66Shc longevity protein mediate nongenomic androgen action via tyrosine phosphorylation signaling to enhance tumorigenicity of prostate cancer cells.

Steroid hormones exhibit diverse biological activities. Despite intensive studies on steroid function at the genomic level, their nongenomic actions remain an enigma. In this study, we investigated the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in androgen-stimulated prostate cancer (PCa) cell proliferation.

Targeting phosphoinositide 3-kinase γ in airway smooth muscle cells to suppress interleukin-13-induced mouse airway hyperresponsiveness.

We recently reported that phosphoinositide 3-kinase γ (PI3Kγ) directly regulates airway smooth muscle (ASM) contraction by modulating Ca(2+) oscillations. Because ASM contraction plays a critical role in airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) of asthma, the aim of the present study was to determine whether targeting PI3Kγ in ASM cells could suppress AHR in vitro and in vivo. Intranasal administration into mice of interleukin-13 (IL-13; 10 μg per mouse), a key pathophysiologic cytokine in asthma, induced AHR after 48 h, as assessed by invasive tracheostomy.

Histomorphometric analysis and regional variations of full thickness skin grafts in dogs.

Objective: To (1) compare thickness of the epidermis and dermis of anatomically different donor sites in dogs, and (2) evaluate hair follicle damage during full thickness skin grafts (FTSG) preparation from anatomically different donor sites. Another objective was to compare the extent of agreement between gross and histologic quality of graft preparation.

Study Design: Ex vivo study.

Rapid genotyping of APOA5 -1131T>C polymorphism using high resolution melting analysis with unlabeled probes.

The APOA5 -1131 T/C polymorphism (rs662799) exhibits a very strong association with elevated TG levels in different racial groups. High resolution melting (HRM) analysis with the use of unlabeled probes has shown to be a convenient and reliable tool to genotyping, but not yet been used for detecting rs662799 polymorphism. We applied the unlabeled probe HRM analysis and direct DNA sequencing to assay the -1131T>C SNP in 130 cases DNA samples blindly.

Scorpion ethanol extract and valproic acid effects on hippocampal glial fibrillary acidic protein expression in a rat model of chronic-kindling epilepsy induced by lithium chloride-pilocarpine.

The present study analyzed the effects of ethanol extracts of scorpion on epilepsy prevention and hippocampal expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein in a lithium chloride-pilocarpine epileptic rat model. Results were subsequently compared with valproic acid. Results showed gradually-increased hippocampal glial fibrillary acidic protein expression following model establishment; glial fibrillary acidic protein mRNA expression was significantly increased at 3 days, reached a peak at 7 days, and then gradually decreased thereafter.

[An analysis of hepatitis B virus infection rate in 405 cases of non-Hodgkin lymphoma].

Objective: To analyze the status of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) patients.

Methods: The serum HBV markers in NHL patients were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The infection rate of HBV in NHL patients was compared with that in nationwide general population.

Decreased body weight and hepatic steatosis with altered fatty acid ethanolamide metabolism in aged L-Fabp -/- mice.

The tissue-specific sources and regulated production of physiological signals that modulate food intake are incompletely understood. Previous work showed that L-Fabp(-/-) mice are protected against obesity and hepatic steatosis induced by a high-fat diet, findings at odds with an apparent obesity phenotype in a distinct line of aged L-Fabp(-/-) mice. Here we show that the lean phenotype in L-Fabp(-/-) mice is recapitulated in aged, chow-fed mice and correlates with alterations in hepatic, but not intestinal, fatty acid amide metabolism.

Crotoxin enhances the antitumor activity of gefinitib (Iressa) in SK-MES-1 human lung squamous carcinoma cells.

Crotoxin (CrTX), a neurotoxin, is isolated from the venom of South American rattlesnakes and has potent antitumor activity. Here, we investigated the antitumor effect of CrTX on the SK-MES-1 human lung squamous cell carcinoma cell line that has acquired resistance to epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors. CrTX caused G1 arrest and p-JNK protein upregulation that resulted in apoptosis of SK-MES-1 cells.

Cloning and heterologous expression of a bacteriocin sakacin P from Lactobacillus sakei in Escherichia coli.

Sakacin P, a bacteriocin from Lactobacillus sakei, shows strong activity against food-borne pathogens such as Listeria monocytogenes. In L. sakei, the structural gene (sppA) encoding sakacin P is controlled by a strict regulatory mechanism, and the quantity of secreted sakacin P is limited.