VvCCD7, a novel strigolactone synthesis gene in grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.), increases sensitivity to drought and low-phosphorus stress in transgenic Arabidopsis.

As a new plant hormone, strigolactone not only promotes leaf senescence, inhibits plant branching and regulates root structure, but also plays an important role in abiotic stress resistance. However, little is known about the function of VvCCD7 under abiotic stress, a key gene for the synthesis of strigolactone in grapevine. In this study, VvCCD7 gene was cloned from grape leaves of 'Cabernet Sauvignon'.

Differential effects of EPA and DHA on aging-related sarcopenia in mice and possible mechanisms involved.

Sarcopenia frequently occurs with aging and leads to major adverse impacts in elderly individuals. The protective effects of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids against aging-related sarcopenia have been demonstrated; however, the effect and underlying mechanism of EPA or DHA alone remain inconclusive. Hence, the present study was aimed to clarify the differential effects and possible mechanisms of EPA and DHA on aging-related sarcopenia.

Capsaicin pretreatment attenuates salt-sensitive hypertension by alleviating AMPK/Akt/Nrf2 pathway in hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus.

Background: Long term hypertension seriously promotes target organ damage in the brain and heart, and has increasingly become serious public health problem worldwide. The anti-hypertensive effects of capsaicin has been reported, however, the role and mechanism of capsaicin within the brain on salt-induced hypertension have yet to be elucidated. This study aimed to verify the hypothesis that capsaicin attenuates salt-induced hypertension via the AMPK/Akt/Nrf2 pathway in hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN).

[Research on mechanism of hypolipidemic effect of Massa Medicata Fermentata based on metabolomics].

This paper aims to study the therapeutic effect of Massa Medicata Fermentata on hyperlipidemia model rats and investigate its mechanism of hypolipidemic effect with the help of non-targeted metabolomics. The mixed hyperlipidemia model rats were constructed by giving high-fat chow. After successful modeling, the rats were divided into the model group, pravastatin sodium group(4.

[Morin induces autophagy and apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma cells through Akt/mTOR/STAT3 pathway].

This study investigated the effect and mechanism of morin in inducing autophagy and apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma cells through the protein kinase B(Akt)/mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR)/signal transducer and activator of transcription protein 3(STAT3) pathway. Human hepatocellular carcinoma SK-HEP-1 cells were stimulated with different concentrations of morin(0, 50, 100, 125, 200, and 250 μmol·L~(-1)). The effect of morin on the viability of SK-HEP-1 cells was detected by Cell Counting Kit-8(CCK-8).

[Inhibitory effect and molecular mechanism of sinomenine on human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 and SK-HEP-1 cells].

This study aimed to investigate the effect and molecular mechanism of sinomenine on proliferation, apoptosis, metastasis, and combination with inhibitors in human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells and SK-HEP-1 cells. The effect of sinomenine on the growth ability of HepG2 and SK-HEP-1 cells were investigated by CCK-8 assay, colony formation assay, and BeyoClick~(TM) EdU-488 staining. The effect of sinomenine on DNA damage was detected by immunofluorescence assay, and the effect of sinomenine on apoptosis of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells was clarified by Hoechst 33258 staining and CellEvent~(TM) Cystein-3/7Green ReadyProbes~(TM) reagent assay.

[Determination of Haloacetic Acids, Disinfection Byproducts, in Tap Water with Reversed-Phase Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography-High Resolution Mass Spectrometry].

Objective: To establish a method for quantitative analysis of haloacetic acids (HAAs), disinfection byproducts, in tap water with reversed-phase ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-orbitrap high resolution mass spectrometry.

Methods: Tap water samples were collected and 0.70 g/L ascorbic acid was added to eliminate residual chlorine.

Simultaneous subacute interstitial nephritis and anticoagulant-related nephropathy related to novel oral anticoagulants use.

Interstitial nephritis related to novel oral anticoagulants was only reported in sporadic case reports and none was accompanied by anticoagulants related nephropathy (ARN). We presented here a case of biopsy-proven subacute interstitial nephritis (SubAIN) accompanied by ARN after oral dabigatran to alarm clinicians. This case manifested with gross hematuria, acute kidney injury, slightly prolonged thrombin time, moderate anemia, moderate proteinuria, a large quantity of intratubular hemoglobin casts confirmed by hemoglobin antibody immunohistochemical staining which presumed to occur around 1 week after dabigatran and subacute interstitial nephritis accompanied by focal proliferative glomerulonephritis.

Expression profiling and function analysis identified new microRNAs regulating cumulus expansion and apoptosis in cumulus cells.

Although microRNAs (miRNAs) expressed in cumulus cells (CCs) may be used to select competent oocytes/embryos, only a limited number of such miRNAs has been reported. To identify more miRNAs that regulate cumulus expansion (CE) and CC apoptosis, we first established that mouse cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) cultured in expansion-supporting medium supported full CE while undergoing mild apoptosis, whereas mouse oocytectomized COCs (OOXs) cultured in apoptosis-triggering medium underwent severe apoptosis while supporting no CE. RNA- and miRNA-sequencing and bioinformatics using CCs from these cultured COCs/OOXs identified candidate apoptosis- and/or CE-regulating miRNAs.

Ten-Year Follow-up of Lamellar Keratoplasty Treatment With Acellular Porcine Corneal Stroma: A Case Report.

Purpose: To report a 10-year follow-up case of the first lamellar keratoplasty treatment with acellular porcine corneal stroma (APCS).

Methods: A 62-year-old woman was diagnosed with a fungal corneal ulcer and received lamellar keratoplasty treatment with APCS in 2010. The 10-year follow-up results were evaluated by slit lamp biomicroscopy, anterior segment optical coherence tomography, in vivo confocal microscopy, and corneal biomechanics analysis.

Anatomical Study of the Accessory Tendon of the Extensor Hallucis Longus Muscle and Its Clinical Application.

Backgroud: The accessory tendon of the extensor hallucis longus (ATEHL) muscle is a common abnormal structure, and its clinical significance remains debatable. In this study, we provide the incidence of the ATEHL and characterize its morphological types in Asian cadavers and investigate its clinical applications.

Methods: The tendons from 50 adult cadaveric feet, fixed in 10% formalin, were analyzed.

[Effect of Biochar on the Adsorption Characteristics and Adsorption Mechanisms of Ammonia Nitrogen in Rainfall Runoff].

In order to study the performance and mechanisms of bioretention pond media ( biochar) for NH-N removal in rainfall runoff, three kinds of alkali modified biochars (marked as BC1, BC2, and BC3) were prepared with various concentrations of NaOH solution (1, 2, and 3 mol·L) to explore their adsorption performance for NH-N. The results showed that:① Appropriate modifications of the NaOH concentration increased the specific surface area and surface microstructure of biochar, with the content of O and the surface functional groups being enriched. In addition, BC2 possessed the best adsorption performance.

Subconjunctival Injection of Transdifferentiated Oral Mucosal Epithelial Cells for Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency in Rats.

Rat limbal niche cells (LNCs) have been proven to induce transdifferentiation of oral mucosal epithelial cells (OMECs) into corneal epithelial-like cells termed transdifferentiated oral mucosal epithelial cells (T-OMECs). This investigation aimed to evaluate the effect of subconjunctival T-OMEC injections on alkali-induced limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) in rats. LNCs were cocultured with OMECs in the Transwell system to obtain T-OMECs, with NIH-3T3 cells serving as a control.

A Comparison of Methods for Isolation of Limbal Niche Cells: Maintenance of Limbal Epithelial Stem/Progenitor Cells.

Purpose: Limbal niche cells (LNCs) play a vital role in the maintenance of limbal epithelial stem/progenitor cells (LESCs). Four methods have been reported to isolate and expand LNCs: digestion by collagenase alone (C-LNC), collagenase following dispase removal of the limbal epithelium (DC-LNC), dissection of dispase-isolated limbal epithelial sheets (D-LNC), and explant cultures of limbal stromal tissues (Ex-LNC). This study aimed to isolate LNCs using those four methods and to compare their capacity to maintain LESCs.

Corticosterone induced apoptosis of mouse oviduct epithelial cells independent of the TNF-α system.

It has been reported in recent studies that restraint stress on pregnant mice during the preimplantation stage elevated corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH) and glucocorticoid levels in the serum and oviducts; furthermore, CRH and corticosterone (CORT) impacted preimplantation embryos indirectly by triggering the apoptosis of oviductal epithelial cells (OECs) through activation of the Fas system. However, it remains unclear whether TNF-α signaling is involved in CRH- and/or glucocorticoid-induced apoptosis of OECs. In the present study, it was shown that culture with either CRH or CORT induced significant apoptosis of OECs.

Restraint stress and elevation of corticotrophin-releasing hormone in female mice impair oocyte competence through activation of the tumour necrosis factor α (TNF-α) system.

Studies have observed that restraint stress (RS) and the associated elevation in corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH) impair oocyte competence by triggering apoptosis of ovarian cells but the underlying mechanisms are largely unclear. Although one study demonstrated that RS and CRH elevation triggered apoptosis in ovarian cells and oocytes via activating Fas/FasL signalling, other studies suggested that RS might damage cells by activating other pathways as well as Fas signalling. The objective of this study was to test whether RS and CRH elevation impairs oocytes by activating tumour necrosis factor α (TNF-α) signalling.

Glucocorticoids impair oocyte competence and trigger apoptosis of ovarian cells via activating the TNF-α system.

Mechanisms by which female stress and particularly glucocorticoids impair oocyte competence are largely unclear. Although one study demonstrated that glucocorticoids triggered apoptosis in ovarian cells and oocytes by activating the FasL/Fas system, other studies suggested that they might induce apoptosis through activating other signaling pathways as well. In this study, both in vivo and in vitro experiments were conducted to test the hypothesis that glucocorticoids might trigger apoptosis in oocytes and ovarian cells through activating the TNF-α system.

Anatomical Study of the Compositions and Internal Connections of the Chiasma Plantare (Master Knot of Henry): Exploring Its Possible Clinical Impact.

The purposes of this study were to integrate the types of interconnecting fibers among components of the chiasma plantare and to deduce their flexion actions. The chiasma plantare and the long flexor tendons in 52 cadaveric feet (26 left feet and 25 right feet) were dissected and removed via gross anatomic dissection. The connections among the flexor digitorum longus (FDL), flexor hallucis longus (FHL), and quadratus plantae (QP) were then classified and analyzed.

Limbal niche cells can reduce the angiogenic potential of cultivated oral mucosal epithelial cells.

Background: Autologous cultivated oral mucosal epithelial transplantation (COMET) is an important treatment for limbal stem cell deficiency. However, peripheral corneal neovascularization after surgery hinders its application. This study aims to employ a culture system using allogenic limbal niche cells (LNCs) instead of mouse-derived 3T3 cells as a feeder layer that could relieve postoperative neovascularization.

Limbal niche cells: a novel feeder cell for autologous cultivated oral mucosal epithelial transplantation.

Aim: To establish a culture system using conspecific limbal niche cells (LNCs) as feeders for autologous cultivated oral mucosal epithelial transplantation (COMET).

Materials & Methods: Rabbit oral epithelial sheets, harvested from culture systems containing LNCs or 3T3 cells, were transplanted onto limbal stem cell-deficient rabbit eyes (COMET-3T3 or COMET-LNCs).

Results: After COMET, corneas were relatively restored, with the exception of mild neovascularization in one cornea of the COMET-3T3 group.

Rat limbal niche cells can induce transdifferentiation of oral mucosal epithelial cells into corneal epithelial-like cells in vitro.

Background: Cultivated oral mucosal epithelial cells (OMECs) are widely used in the treatment of limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) for their ocular reconstruction capability. As the most important component of the limbal microenvironment, limbal niche cells (LNCs) play a key role in the direction of stem cell differentiation. In this study, we investigated whether LNCs can induce the transdifferentiation of rat OMECs to corneal epithelial-like cells.

Rat Limbal Niche Cells Prevent Epithelial Stem/Progenitor Cells From Differentiation and Proliferation by Inhibiting Notch Signaling Pathway In Vitro.

Purpose: Limbal niche cells (LNCs) play a pivotal role in regulating limbal epithelial stem/progenitor cells (LESCs). This study aimed to investigate whether Notch signaling is involved in LNCs' regulation of LESCs.

Methods: Rat limbus was digested by dispase and collagenase, respectively.