Managing tobacco black shank disease using biochar: direct toxicity and indirect ecological mechanisms.

Black shank disease in tobacco, caused by , can lead to yield losses of 30%-50% upon outbreak. Recently, biochar derived from agricultural waste has shown significant potential in controlling soil-borne diseases, though its mechanisms remain unclear. Over a 3-year observation period, we found that the incidence of black shank was significantly lower in plots amended with biochar compared with normal cultivation plots.

Krüppel-like factor 17 inhibits urokinase plasminogen activator gene expression to suppress cell invasion through the Src/p38/ MAPK signaling pathway in human lung adenocarcionma.

Krüppel-like factor 17 (KLF17) has been reported to be involved in invasion and metastasis suppression in lung cancer, but the molecular mechanisms underlying the anti-invasion and anti-metastasis roles of KLF17 in lung cancer are not fully illustrated. Here, we showed that KLF17 inhibited the invasion of A549 and H322 cells; the anti-invasion effect of KLF17 was associated with the suppression of urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA/PLAU) expression. KLF17 can bind with the promoter of uPA and inhibit its expression.

[Analysis of virulence-related properties of P. gingivalis clinical isolates].

Purpose: To analyze the relation of virulence properties and pathogenicity of Porphyromonas gingivalis (P.gingivals) isolated from Chinese patients.

Methods: Based on the previous analysis of virulence properties, investigations of pathogenicity properties, including the adhesion to host cells, gingipain activities, and resistance to host immune reaction were performed to analyze the diversity of pathogenic properties of these strains.

High EGFR copy number predicts benefits from tyrosine kinase inhibitor treatment for non-small cell lung cancer patients with wild-type EGFR.

Background: This study was designed to determine whether advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with high copy number of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) can benefit from treatment with EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs).

Methods: EGFR gene copy number was assessed by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and EGFR mutations was tested using Luminex xTAG technology in 502 TKI-treated NSCLC patients. The association between both biomarkers and clinical benefit from EGFR-TKI were analyzed.

[The effects of recombinant porcine amelogenin on human gingival epithelial cells].

Purpose: To investigate the potential effect of recombinant 25kDa porcine amelogenin (rPAm) on attachment, proliferation and migration of primarily cultured human gingival epithelial cells (HGEC).

Methods: The second passage of HGECs were exposed to different concentrations of rPAm (0, 5, 10, 20μg/mL, respectively). Proliferation and attachment activities was measured by using cell counting method.

[Virulent properties of Porphyromonas gingivalis clinical strains].

Purpose: To investigate the virulent properties of P. gingivalis clinical strains.

Methods: By using mouse abscess model (MAM), six P.

[Using DGGE to analyze bacteria community structure changes in subgingival plaque after periodontal initial therapy].

Purpose: To analyze bacteria community structure changes in subgingival plaque after initial therapy, and to provide experimental evidences for clinical decision.

Methods: Six patients with chronic periodontitis were chosen. Subgingival plaque samples, as well as clinical indexes, were collected at baseline and six weeks after initial therapy.

Reduced expression of Krüppel-like factor 17 is related to tumor growth and poor prognosis in lung adenocarcinoma.

Krüppel-like factor 17 (KLF17), a new member of the Krüppel-like factors (KLFs), has been reported to be a negative regulator of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and metastasis in breast cancer. However, the biological role and clinical significance of KLF17 in lung adenocarcinoma has been less clear. In the present study, we showed that KLF17 expression was decreased in lung adenocarcinoma.

Targeting the CD134-CD134L interaction using anti-CD134 and/or rhCD134 fusion protein as a possible strategy to prevent lupus nephritis.

Lupus nephritis (LN) is characterized by an increased upregulation of Th1. This study was undertaken to evaluate the role of CD134 in cytokine production in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from subjects with LN. Percentages of IFN-gamma- (Th1), IL-4-, and IL-10- (Th2) producing cells within the PBMC CD4+ T cell population of LN subjects were found to be higher than those of healthy subjects.

Effect of anti-CD134L mAb and CTLA4Ig on ConA-induced proliferation, Th cytokine secretion, and anti-dsDNA antibody production in spleen cells from lupus-prone BXSB mice.

We sought to evaluate the effects of combined downregulation of CD134 and cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA4) on the autoimmune process of lupus. Concanavalin A (ConA)-induced proliferation, T helper cell cytokine secretion, and anti-double stranded DNA (dsDNA) antibody production were measured in cultures of splenic lymphocytes derived from lupus-prone BXSB mice. Splenocytes from six prednisone-treated and six untreated male lupus-prone BXSB mice, as well as from six syngeneically normal C57BL/6 male mice, were stimulated with ConA.