A regulatory circuit involving miR-143 and DNMT3a mediates vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation induced by homocysteine.

Accumulating evidence has suggested that homocysteine (Hcy) is an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis (AS). Hcy can promote vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation, which is pivotal in the pathogenesis and progression of AS. The aim of the present study was to investigate the epigenetic regulatory mechanism of microRNA (miR)‑143‑mediated VSMCs proliferation induced by Hcy.

Effects and Mechanism of Combination of Rhein and Danshensu in the Treatment of Chronic Kidney Disease.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) plays a systemic role in disease treatment, targeting multiple etiological factors simultaneously. Based on clinical experience, rhubarb and Salvia miltiorrhiza are commonly prescribed together for the treatment of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and have been proven to be very effective. However, the rationale of the combination remains unclear.

Aralia taibaiensis Protects Cardiac Myocytes against High Glucose-Induced Oxidative Stress and Apoptosis.

Patients with type 2 diabetes have increased cardiovascular disease risk compared with those without diabetes. Hyperglycemia can induce reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, which contributes to the development of diabetic cardiomyopathy. Our previous study has demonstrated that the total saponins of Aralia taibaiensis (sAT), a frequently-used antidiabetic medicine in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), can scavenge free radicals in vitro and have good anti-oxidant ability on lipid peroxidation of rat liver microsomes.

Co-sensitization promoted light harvesting with a new mixed-addenda polyoxometalate [Cu(C12H8N2)2]2[V2W4O19]·4H2O in dye-sensitized solar cells.

A di-vanadium-substituted Lindqvist-type polyoxometalate [Cu(C12H8N2)2]2[V2W4O19]·4H2O (1) was hydrothermally synthesized and characterized structurally by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and energy disperse spectroscopy tests further prove the existence of vanadium. Ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy and density functional theoretical studies indicate that the energy level of 1 matches well with the conduction band of the TiO2.

[miR-135b promotes the invasion and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma cells].

Objective: To explore the effect of miR-135b on the invasion and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma cells and the underlying molecular mechanism.

Methods: The invasive and metastasis abilities were detected by Transwell(TM) assay in hepatocellular carcinoma cells with over-expressed or down-regulated miR135b. The hepatocellular carcinoma cell growth and tumor formation abilities in vivo were examined by xenograft model.

Transgenic Restoration of Urea Transporter A1 Confers Maximal Urinary Concentration in the Absence of Urea Transporter A3.

Urea has a critical role in urinary concentration. Mice lacking the inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD) urea transporter A1 (UT-A1) and urea transporter A3 (UT-A3) have very low levels of urea permeability and are unable to concentrate urine. To investigate the role of UT-A1 in the concentration of urine, we transgenically expressed UT-A1 in knockout mice lacking UT-A1 and UT-A3 using a construct with a UT-A1 gene that cannot be spliced to produce UT-A3.

The association effect of quaternary ammonium salt on carboxymethyl cellulose and its analytical applications.

Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) has been extensively used in petroleum, geology, common household chemicals, food, medicine and other industries, owing to its excellent water-soluble, emulsifying, water retention and film forming properties. It is known as 'industrial monosodium glutamate'. However, the research of the test method on CMC is far behind the research of its actual application value.

Effect of acetochlor on transcription of genes associated with oxidative stress, apoptosis, immunotoxicity and endocrine disruption in the early life stage of zebrafish.

The study presented here aimed to characterize the effects of acetochlor on expression of genes related to endocrine disruption, oxidative stress, apoptosis and immune system in zebrafish during its embryo development. Different trends in gene expression were observed after exposure to 50, 100, 200μg/L acetochlor for 96h. Results demonstrated that the transcription patterns of many key genes involved in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal/thyroid (HPG/HPT) axis (e.

Transoral Robotic Surgery in Oropharyngeal Carcinoma.

Context: The incidence of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma has increased during the past decade and is related primarily to the human papillomavirus. This change in etiology, from tobacco and alcohol to human papillomavirus, has resulted in improved survival for the disease. In the United States, open resection had largely been replaced by concurrent chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy by the early 2000s.

[Efficacy of splenic artery trunk embolization with detachable balloon for portal hypertension and hypersplenism].

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of detachable balloon for splenic artery trunk embolization in patients with cirrhotic portal hypertension and hypersplenism.

Methods: Eight patients with cirrhotic portal hypertension received splenic artery trunk disconnection using detachable balloons under the guidance of digital subtraction angiography. The diameter and blood flow of the portal vein, the superior mesenteric vein, the splenic vein and the hepatic artery were measured by color Doppler ultrasound.

A case of Francisella tularensis subspecies holarctica in China.

We report a highly unusual case of ulceroglandular tularemia in Beijing, China. The serological texting, and sequencing of three specific genes by PCR analysis, suggested that this case was infected by Francisella tularensis. Next, using 15 canonical single-nucleotide polymorphisms and insertion-deletion markers (SNPs-INDELs) and five variable-number tandem repeat loci (VNTRs), this case was assigned to a known clade from Russia, and not to the four clades that were previously identified, including previous Chinese isolates.

Changes in land use, climate and the environment during a period of rapid economic development in Jiangsu Province, China.

Understanding changes in climate and environment on a regional scale can provide useful guidance for regional socio-economic development. The present study characterizes changes in the environment, climate, land use and cover types via in situ observed, statistical data and remote sensing images for Jiangsu Province, China, during the period 1980-2012. Statistical and spatial analyses indicate that the pace of urbanization in southern Jiangsu is more rapid than that in northern Jiangsu.

Research advances in microneme protein 3 of Toxoplasma gondii.

Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite. It has extensive host populations and is prevalent globally; T.

Selenite-Releasing Bone Mineral Nanoparticles Retard Bone Tumor Growth and Improve Healthy Tissue Functions In Vivo.

Selenite-doped bone mineral nanoparticles can retard the growth of osteosarcoma in a nude mice model, through sustained release of selenite ions. The selenite ions released from the nanoparticles through a degradation-mediated fashion inhibit tumor metastasis. Blood routine analysis indicates that selenite ions can also improve the functions of liver, kidney, and heart.

Assessing joint toxicity of four organophosphate and carbamate insecticides in common carp (Cyprinus carpio) using acetylcholinesterase activity as an endpoint.

Mixtures of organophosphate (OP) and carbamate (CB) pesticides are commonly detected in freshwater ecosystems. These pesticides inhibit the activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and have potential to interfere with behaviors that may be essential for the survival of species. Although the effects of individual anticholinesterase insecticides on aquatic species have been studied for decades, the neurotoxicity of mixtures is still poorly understood.

Carbendazim has the potential to induce oxidative stress, apoptosis, immunotoxicity and endocrine disruption during zebrafish larvae development.

Increasing evidence have suggested deleterious effects of carbendazim on reproduction, apoptosis, immunotoxicity and endocrine disruption in mice and rats, however, the developmental toxicity of carbendazim to aquatic organisms remains obscure. In the present study, we utilized zebrafish as an environmental monitoring model to characterize the effects of carbendazim on expression of genes related to oxidative stress, apoptosis, immunotoxicity and endocrine disruption during larval development. Different trends in gene expression were observed upon exposing the larvae to 4, 20, 100, and 500 μg/L carbendazim for 4 and 8d.

Accelerating T1ρ cartilage imaging using compressed sensing with iterative locally adapted support detection and JSENSE.

Purpose: To accelerate T1ρ quantification in cartilage imaging using combined compressed sensing with iterative locally adaptive support detection and JSENSE.

Methods: To reconstruct T1ρ images from accelerated acquisition at different time of spin-lock (TSLs), we propose an approach to combine an advanced compressed sensing (CS) based reconstruction technique, LAISD (locally adaptive iterative support detection), and an advanced parallel imaging technique, JSENSE. Specifically, the reconstruction process alternates iteratively among local support detection in the domain of principal component analysis, compressed sensing reconstruction of the image sequence, and sensitivity estimation with JSENSE.

Modern climate and vegetation variability recorded in organic compounds and carbon isotopic compositions in the Dianchi watershed.

The aliphatic hydrocarbons distribution and compound-specific characteristics of carbon isotopic compositions in the sediments from the small catchment (197 km(2)) of the Dianchi watershed were investigated for identification of modern climate and vegetation variations in the study area. Results show that a regular bimodal n-alkanes distribution ranged from nC16 to nC33, with strong dominance at nC17 for short-chain n-alkanes and nC31 for long-chain n-alkanes. Mass chromatogram of total fatty acids also indicates corresponding mixed contribution of algae, hydrophilous non-emergent (C4 plants) and terrestrial plants (C3 plants) to sedimentary organic matter (OM).

A novel animal model of impaired glucose tolerance induced by the interaction of vitamin E deficiency and (60)Co radiation.

Impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), known as the prediabetes stage, is usually induced by habits of life or environmental factors. Established IGT animal models are mostly conducted with chemical compounds such as streptozocin or genetic modification. However, the occasion of exposure to these factors in daily life is seldom.

[Effects of single and co-exposure of Cu and chlorpyrifos on the toxicity of earthworm].

Combined pollution of heavy metal and pesticide had posed a serious threat to soil ecology and human living environment. As two common types of pollutants in soil environment, the environmental effects of combined pollution of Cu and chlorpyrifos are worth for attention. The acute lethal effects and avoiding behavior of single and co-exposure of Cu and chlorpyrifos on earthworms were analyzed by using the methods of standard OECD filter paper test and artificial soil test.

Effects of trehalose supplementation on cell viability and oxidative stress variables in frozen-thawed bovine calf testicular tissue.

Trehalose is widely used for cryopreservation of various cells and tissues. Until now, the effect of trehalose supplementation on cell viability and antioxidant enzyme activity in frozen-thawed bovine calf testicular tissue remains unexplored. The objective of the present study was to compare the effect of varying doses of trehalose in cryomedia on cell viability and key antioxidant enzymes activities in frozen-thawed bovine calf testicular tissue.

Sleeve bridging of the rhesus monkey ulnar nerve with muscular branches of the pronator teres: multiple amplification of axonal regeneration.

Multiple-bud regeneration, i.e., multiple amplification, has been shown to exist in peripheral nerve regeneration.

Neuroprotective effect and underlying mechanism of sodium danshensu [3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl) lactic acid from Radix and Rhizoma Salviae miltiorrhizae = Danshen] against cerebral ischemia and reperfusion injury in rats.

Sodium danshensu (SDSS), the sodium salt of danshensu (DSS), has the same pharmacological effects as DSS. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the neuroprotective effect and possible mechanism of SDSS against cerebral ischemic/reperfusion injury. Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: sham, control, 30 mg/kg and 60 mg/kg SDSS.

The burden of MDR/XDR tuberculosis in coastal plains population of China.

Background: We conducted a first baseline survey in Jilin Province of China to determine the proportion of drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB), and to analyze risk factors associated with the emergence of drug-resistance.

Methodology/principal Findings: Thirty counties in Jilin Province were randomly selected as survey sites using a stratified cluster sampling method. People enrolled in the survey were new and re-treated, smear-positive pulmonary TB patients newly enrolled in local TB control and prevention institutions during the survey period.

The synergistic toxicity of the multiple chemical mixtures: implications for risk assessment in the terrestrial environment.

The combined toxicity of five insecticides (chlorpyrifos, avermectin, imidacloprid, λ-cyhalothrin, and phoxim), two herbicides (atrazine and butachlor) and a heavy metal (cadmium) has been examined with the earthworm acute toxicity test. Toxicological interactions of these chemicals in four, five, six, seven, and eight-component mixtures were studied using the combination-index (CI) equation method. In four-component and five-component mixtures, the synergistic effects predominated at lower effect levels, while the patterns of interactions found in six, seven, and eight-component mixtures displayed synergism.