Identification of jasmonic acid-associated microRNAs and characterization of the regulatory roles of the miR319/TCP4 module under root-knot nematode stress in tomato.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are important transcriptional and post-transcriptional modulators of gene expression that play crucial roles in the responses to diverse stresses. To explore jasmonic acid (JA)-dependent miRNA-mediated regulatory networks that are responsive to root-knot nematode (RKN), two small RNA libraries were constructed from wild-type (WT) and JA mutant (spr2) plants. A total of 263 known miRNAs and 441 novel miRNAs were significantly regulated under RKN stress in the two libraries.

Dysregulated LIF-STAT3 pathway is responsible for impaired embryo implantation in a Streptozotocin-induced diabetic mouse model.

The prevalence of diabetes is increasing worldwide with the trend of patients being young and creating a significant burden on health systems, including reproductive problems, but the effects of diabetes on embryo implantation are still poorly understood. Our study was to examine effects of diabetes on mouse embryo implantation, providing experimental basis for treating diabetes and its complications. Streptozotocin (STZ) was applied to induce type 1 diabetes from day 2 of pregnancy or pseudopregnancy in mice.

Tonsillectomy for IgA nephropathy: a meta-analysis.

Background: The efficacy of tonsillectomy in immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) remains controversial. Our meta-analysis was intended to investigate its efficacy as an adjunct or independent treatment.

Study Design: Meta-analysis of prospective and retrospective studies using PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials.

Down-regulation of integrin β1 and focal adhesion kinase in renal glomeruli under various hemodynamic conditions.

Given that integrin β1 is an important component of the connection to maintain glomerular structural integrity, by binding with multiple extracellular matrix proteins and mediating intracellular signaling. Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is the most essential intracellular integrator in the integrin β1-FAK signalling pathway. Here, we investigated the changes of the two molecules and visualized the possible interaction between them under various hemodynamic conditions in podocytes.

Genetically engineered Pichia pastoris yeast for conversion of glucose to xylitol by a single-fermentation process.

Xylitol is industrially synthesized by chemical reduction of D-xylose, which is more expensive than glucose. Thus, there is a growing interest in the production of xylitol from a readily available and much cheaper substrate, such as glucose. The commonly used yeast Pichia pastoris strain GS115 was shown to produce D-arabitol from glucose, and the derivative strain GS225 was obtained to produce twice amount of D-arabitol than GS115 by adaptive evolution during repetitive growth in hyperosmotic medium.

Inverse compensation for hysteresis in piezoelectric actuator using an asymmetric rate-dependent model.

This paper presents a modified Bouc-Wen model for asymmetric rate-dependent hysteresis in piezoelectric actuator. On this basis, we develop a new digital inverse controller with a simple structure cascaded in the feedforward path for piezoelectric actuator. In order to eliminate modeling errors and parameter uncertainties, the developed inverse controller is combined with a feedback loop to establish a hybrid control scheme.

In situ hybridization and immunostaining of Xenopus brain.

The dynamic expression pattern analysis provides the primary information of gene function. Differences of the RNA and/or protein location will provide valuable information for gene expression regulation. Generally, in situ hybridization (ISH) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) are two main techniques to visualize the locations of gene transcripts and protein products in situ, respectively.

Functional role of β domain in the Thermoanaerobacter tengcongensis glucoamylase.

Thermoanaerobacter tengcongensis MB4 glucoamylase (TteGA) contains a catalytic domain (CD), which is structurally similar to eukaryotic GA, and a β domain (BD) with ambiguous function. Firstly, BD is found to be essential to TteGA activity because CD alone could not hydrolyze soluble starch. However, starch hydrolysis activity, similar to that of intact TteGA, was restored to CD in the presence of BD.

Alteration of podocyte protein expression and localization in the early stage of various hemodynamic conditions.

Given that podocalyxin (PCX) and nestin play important roles in podocyte morphogenesis and the maintenance of structural integrity, we examined whether the expression and localization of these two podocyte proteins were influenced in the early stage of various hemodynamic conditions. Mice kidney tissues were prepared by in vivo cryotechnique (IVCT). The distribution of glomeruli and podocyte proteins was visualized with DAB staining, confocal laser scanning microscopy and immunoelectron microscopy.

Fluid resuscitation guided by sublingual partial pressure of carbon dioxide during hemorrhagic shock in a porcine model.

To avoid aggressive fluid resuscitation during hemorrhagic shock, fluid resuscitation is best guided by a specific measurement of tissue perfusion. We investigated whether fluid resuscitation guided by sublingual PCO2 would reduce the amount of resuscitation fluid without compromising the outcomes of hemorrhagic shock. Ten male domestic pigs weighing between 34 and 37 kg were used.

Sequence Regulated Poly(ester-amide)s Based on Passerini Reaction.

Multicomponent polymerization based on Passerini reaction is described. Room temperature polymerization of dicarboxyl acid, monoaldehyde, and diisocyanide leads to the formation of a new type of sequence regulated poly(ester-amide)s in an efficient one-pot process. The polymerization was confirmed to be a stepwise mechanism, and the resulting polymers were characterized and determined to be linear polymers with a sequence regulated backbone repeating unit of ester-ester-amide-amide.

MRT letter: application of novel "in vivo cryotechnique" in living animal kidneys.

Aim: To compare the influence of different fixation procedures on morphologic studies in living mice, and to identify the advantages of the "in vivo cryotechnique" (IVCT).

Methods: We prepared mouse kidneys using four different fixation methods: conventional immersion-fixation, quick-freezing following resection of the kidney, quick-freezing following perfusion-fixation, and IVCT.

Results: Kidney glomeruli were noticeably contracted after conventional immersion-fixation or quick-freezing following resection compared to glomeruli from tissues preserved by the IVCT.

Efficacy and safety of mycophenolate mofetil versus cyclophosphamide for induction therapy of lupus nephritis: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Introduction: Whether mycophenolate mofetil is superior to cyclophosphamide as induction therapy for lupus nephritis (LN) remains controversial.

Objective: Our objective was to investigate the efficacy and safety of mycophenolate mofetil compared with cyclophosphamide as induction therapy for LN patients.

Methods: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on humans were identified in searches of PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (all to 1 December 2011).

Comparison of the durations of mild therapeutic hypothermia on outcome after cardiopulmonary resuscitation in the rat.

Background: Current studies have demonstrated that applying therapeutic hypothermia for 12 to 24 hours after resuscitation from cardiac arrest improves the outcomes of cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The present study investigated whether a shorter duration of therapeutic hypothermia induced quickly and early after resuscitation would provide an equal improvement in the outcomes of cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Methods And Results: Ventricular fibrillation was induced and untreated for 8 minutes in 24 male Sprague-Dawley rats.

Application of "in vivo cryotechnique" to morphological and immunohistochemical analyses of living mouse subepicardial microcirculation under various pathological conditions.

"In vivo cryotechnique" (IVCT), which involves immediately cryofixing cells and tissues of living animals in situ, can display more native morphology in vivo and eliminate artificial changes in conventional preparations. However, the technical characteristics of IVCT are not known for the practical examination of subepicardial microcirculation of beating heart tissue. Histological sections of subepicardial area were prepared using IVCT and conventional fixation methods: quick freezing, immersion fixation, or perfusion fixation followed by alcohol dehydration, respectively from healthy mice.

Successful treatment of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus complicated with autoimmune thyroid disease using double-filtration plasmapheresis: a retrospective study.

Introduction: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) associated with autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) is a complex and well recognized autoimmune disorder. Careful monitoring/surveillance of thyroid gland functioning and active treatment of SLE patients with coexisting AITD, typically using medications, are critically important. The role of apheresis in this setting remains to be fully explored.

Construction and immunogenicity of a recombinant pseudotype baculovirus expressing the glycoprotein of rabies virus in mice.

A pseudotype baculovirus with the glycoprotein of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV-G) on the envelope was used as a vector for the construction of recombinant baculovirus expressing the G protein of rabies virus (RABV) under the cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter. The generated recombinant baculovirus (BV-G) efficiently expressed the RABV G proteins in mammalian cells. Intramuscular vaccination with BV-G (10(9) PFU/mouse) induced the production of RABV G-specific neutralizing antibodies and strong T cell responses in mice.

The role of tumor necrosis factor-α converting enzyme in renal transplant rejection.

Background: Tumor necrosis factor receptors (TNFR) are differentially regulated in human rejecting renal transplants. The TNF-α converting enzyme (TACE) regulates the membrane shedding of both receptors and TNF itself. We analyzed the expression and regulation of TACE in human rejecting renal transplants.

The alcohol dehydrogenase system in the xylose-fermenting yeast Candida maltosa.

Background: The alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) system plays a critical role in sugar metabolism involving in not only ethanol formation and consumption but also the general "cofactor balance" mechanism. Candida maltosa is able to ferment glucose as well as xylose to produce a significant amount of ethanol. Here we report the ADH system in C.

The modifier protein of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase reduces free radical-mediated renal damage in a rat model of acute kidney injury.

Background: The modifier protein (MP) of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase has been shown to promote growth of renal epithelial cells in vitro. The aim of this study was to show the in vivo effects of MP in a rat model of gentamicin-induced acute kidney injury (AKI).

Method: MP was purified from monkey renal tubular epithelial cell line BSC-1 and confirmed by amino acid sequencing.

Cloning, purification and characterization of an NAD-Dependent D-Arabitol dehydrogenase from acetic acid bacterium, Acetobacter suboxydans.

D-Xylulose-forming D-arabitol dehydrogenase (aArDH) is a key enzyme in the bio-conversion of D-arabitol to xylitol. In this study, we cloned the NAD-dependent D-xylulose-forming D-arabitol dehydrogenase gene from an acetic acid bacterium, Acetobacter suboxydans sp. The enzyme was purified from A.

A dithiolate-bridged (CN)2(CO)Fe-Ni complex reproducing the IR bands of [NiFe] hydrogenase.

A dithiolate-bridged dinuclear Fe-Ni complex, which has the desired fac-(CN)(2)(CO) ligand set at iron, has been synthesized. Its CN/CO bands in the IR spectrum reproduce those of the Ni-A, Ni-B, and Ni-SU states, which indicate that these octahedral Fe(II) centers have similar electronic properties. This result verifies the assignment of a (CN)(2)(CO)Fe(II) moiety in the active site of [NiFe] hydrogenase.

Thiolate-bridged dinuclear iron(tris-carbonyl)-nickel complexes relevant to the active site of [NiFe] hydrogenase.

The reaction of NiBr(2)(EtOH)(4) with a 1:2-3 mixture of FeBr(2)(CO)(4) and Na(SPh) generated a linear trinuclear Fe-Ni-Fe cluster (CO)(3)Fe(mu-SPh)(3)Ni(mu-SPh)(3)Fe(CO)(3), 1, whereas the analogous reaction system FeBr(2)(CO)(4)/Na(S(t)Bu)/NiBr(2)(EtOH)(4) (1:2-3:1) gave rise to a linear tetranuclear Fe-Ni-Ni-Fe cluster [(CO)(3)Fe(mu-S(t)Bu)(3)Ni(mu-Br)](2), 2. By using this tetranuclear cluster 2 as the precursor, we have developed a new synthetic route to a series of thiolate-bridged dinuclear Fe(CO)(3)-Ni complexes, the structures of which mimic [NiFe] hydrogenase active sites. The reactions of 2 with SC(NMe(2))(2) (tmtu), Na{S(CH(2))(2)SMe} and ortho-NaS(C(6)H(4))SR (R = Me, (t)Bu) led to isolation of (CO)(3)Fe(mu-S(t)Bu)(3)NiBr(tmtu), 3, (CO)(3)Fe(S(t)Bu)(mu-S(t)Bu)(2)Ni{S(CH(2))(2)SMe}, 4, and (CO)(3)Fe(S(t)Bu)(mu-S(t)Bu)(2)Ni{S(C(6)H(4))SR}, 5a (R = Me) and 5b (R = (t)Bu), respectively.

Genome shuffling in the ethanologenic yeast Candida krusei to improve acetic acid tolerance.

Genome shuffling was used to improve the acetic acid tolerance of an ethanologenic yeast, Candida krusei GL560. A mutant, S4-3, was isolated and selected after four rounds of genome shuffling. It was found that the mutant S4-3 had a higher viability in the YNBX (yeast nitrogen base/xylose) medium with acetic acid and grew better in the YPD (yeast extract, peptone and dextrose) medium [1% (w/v) yeast extract, 2% (w/v) peptone and 2% (w/v) glucose] with acetic acid than the parent strain GL560.