Target-dependent suppression of siRNA production modulates the levels of endogenous siRNAs in the Caenorhabditis elegans germline.

Despite the prominent role of endo-siRNAs in transposon silencing, their expression is not limited to these 'nonself' DNA elements. Transcripts of protein-coding genes ('self' DNA) in some cases also produce endo-siRNAs in yeast, plants and animals. How cells distinguish these two populations of siRNAs to prevent unwanted silencing of active genes in animals is not well understood.

Hepatoprotective Effect of the Penthorum Chinense Pursh Extract against the CCl-Induced Acute Liver Injury via NF-κB and p38-MAPK PATHWAYS in Dogs.

Acute liver injury (ALI), manifested by acute hepatocellular damages and necrosis, is a life-threatening clinical syndrome and Penthorum Chinense Pursh (PCP) is a well-known folk medicine practiced for liver-related diseases. This study aimed to investigate the ameliorative effects of PCP extract (PCPE) on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced ALI in dogs via mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and Nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway. Healthy dogs were induced by CCl4 and treated with different dosage regimes of PCPE for 7 days.

Antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects of Yinzhihuang injection.

The Yinzhihuang injection, a traditional Chinese medicine, has been the recent target of increasing interest due to its anti-inflammatory properties. The molecular basis by which Yinzhihuang injection could cure Riemerella anatipestifer (RA) serositis in ducks is unclear. This study evaluated the antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of Yinzhihuang injection, using disease models of RA-induced infectious serositis in ducks and heptane-induced inflammation in mice and rats.

[Efficacy of protein-free calf blood extract for mechanical corneal epithelial defects in human eyes].

Objective: To evaluate the clinical efficacy between protein-free calf blood extract eye drops and recombinant human epidermal growth factor (rhEGF) eye drops for mechanical corneal epithelial defects in human eyes.

Methods: A multi-center, randomized and double-blind study with a parallel, positive-control designation was carried out from April to November in 2005 at Department of Ophthalmology, Eye Ear Nose and Throat Hospital of Fudan University, Xinhua Hospital of Shanghai Jiaotong University, the First Hospital of Zhejiang University, the Second Hospital of Zhejiang University and Qingdao Municipal Hospital. 240 patients (240 eyes) with confirmed diagnosis of corneal epithelial defects at that six hospitals were enrolled in this study and were randomly arranged into two groups in average.

Lack of threshold for anisotonic cell volume regulation.

Most cells possess mechanisms that are able to detect cellular volume shifts and to signal the initiation of appropriate volume regulatory responses. However, the identity and characteristics of the detecting mechanism remain obscure. In this study, we explored the influence of hypertonic and hypotonic challenges of varying magnitude on the characteristics of the ensuing regulatory volume increase (RVI) and regulatory volume decrease (RVD) of cultured bovine corneal endothelial cells (CBCECs).