Small GTP-binding protein GDP dissociation stimulator influences cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury via PERK-dependent ER stress.

Cisplatin is a common anticancer drug, but its frequent nephrotoxicity limits its clinical use. Small GTP-binding protein GDP dissociation stimulator (smgGDS), a small GTPase chaperone protein, was considerably downregulated during cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury (CDDP-AKI), especially in renal tubular epithelial cells. SmgGDS-knockdown mice was established and found that smgGDS knockdown promoted CDDP-AKI, as demonstrated by an increase in serum creatine, blood urea nitrogen levels and the appearance of tubular patterns.

Chicken DNA Sensing cGAS-STING Signal Pathway Mediates Broad Spectrum Antiviral Functions.

The innate DNA sensing receptors are one family of pattern recognition receptors and play important roles in antiviral infections, especially DNA viral infections. Among the multiple DNA sensors, cGAS has been studied intensively and is most defined in mammals. However, DNA sensors in chickens have not been much studied, and the chicken cGAS is still not fully understood.

Steroid therapy and the risk of osteonecrosis in SARS patients: a dose-response meta-analysis.

Unlabelled: This meta-analysis synthesized current evidence from 10 trials to evaluate the association between steroid therapy and osteonecrosis incidence in patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Our results suggest that higher cumulative doses and longer treatment durations of steroids are more likely to lead to the development of osteonecrosis in SARS patients.

Introduction: The link between steroid treatment and the risk of osteonecrosis in SARS patients remains unknown.

Determinants of Knowledge and Biosecurity Preventive Behaviors for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Risk Among Chinese Poultry Farmers.

Biosecurity measures are the first line of defense against highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) on farms. It is generally recognized that an individual's behavior can be influenced by the knowledge they possess. However, empirical study has not reported an association between poultry producers' awareness of HPAI symptoms and their actual biosecurity actions.

Electrochemical detection of nitrate in PM2.5 with a copper-modified carbon fiber micro-disk electrode.

The accurate measurement of nitrate in PM2.5 is essential for a complete understanding of the effects of aerosols on human health, the impact of aerosols on the radiative balance of the earth and the role of aerosols in visibility problems. In this paper, we present a novel, quick, easy, cheap and eco-friendly electroanalytical procedure for the determination of nitrate in PM2.

Critical Intermediates Reveal New Biosynthetic Events in the Enigmatic Colibactin Pathway.

Colibactin is a potent genotoxin that induces DNA double-strand breaks; it is produced by Escherichia coli strains harboring a pks+ island. However, the structure of this compound remains elusive. Here, using transformation-associated recombination (TAR) cloning to perform heterologous expression, we took advantage of the significantly increased yield of colibactin pathway-related compounds to determine and isolate a series of vital (pre)colibactin intermediates.

Virulent and attenuated strains of duck hepatitis A virus elicit discordant innate immune responses in vivo.

Previous studies of duck hepatitis A virus infection have focused only on the pathogenicity and host response of one strain. Here, we show that the virulent SH strain and the attenuated FC64 strain induced varied pathogenicity, apoptosis and immune responses in the livers of 1-day-old ducklings. SH infection caused apoptosis and visible lesions in the liver; serum aspartate aminotransferase, alanine transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, γ-glutamyltransferase and total bilirubin activities were markedly upregulated; and ducklings died at 36 h post-infection (p.

A derivative photoelectrochemical sensing platform for 4-nitrophenolate contained organophosphates pesticide based on carboxylated perylene sensitized nano-TiO2.

A novel visible light sensitized photoelectrochemical sensing platform was constructed based on the perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxylic acid/titanium dioxide (PTCA/TiO(2)) heterojunction as the photoelectric beacon. PTCA was synthesized via facile steps of hydrolysis and neutralization reaction, and then the PTCA/TiO(2) heterojunction was easily prepared by coating PTCA on nano-TiO(2) surface. The resulting photoelectric beacon was characterized by transmission electron microscope, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffractometry, FTIR spectroscopy, and ultraviolet and visible spectrophotometer.

A subnanomole level photoelectrochemical sensing platform for hexavalent chromium based on its selective inhibition of quercetin oxidation.

An indirect photoelectrochemical sensing platform for toxic hexavalent chromium was for the first time constructed based on its redox reaction with quercetin as both the electron donor and photosensitizer on a TiO(2) photoanode, and thus inhibiting the photocurrent quantitatively and selectively. The presence of even 500-fold coexisting Cr(III) does not interfere in the detection of Cr(VI). Under the optimum conditions, the electrode displayed a linear decrease response as the Cr(VI) concentration increased from 1 to 10 nmol L(-1) and from 20 to 140 nmol L(-1) with a detection limit of 0.

A novel photoelectrochemical sensor for the organophosphorus pesticide dichlofenthion based on nanometer-sized titania coupled with a screen-printed electrode.

A novel photoelectrochemical sensor for detection of the organophosphorus pesticide (OP) dichlofenthion using nanometer-sized titania coupled with a screen-printed electrode is presented. Nonelectroactive dichlofenthion can be indirectly determined through the photocatalytical degradation of dichlofenthion with nanometer-sized titania. The electrochemical characterization and anodic stripping voltammetric performance of dichlofenthion were evaluated using cyclic voltammetric (CV) and differential pulse anode stripping voltammetric (DPASV) analysis, respectively.

A sub-nanomole level electrochemical method for determination of prochloraz and its metabolites based on medical stone doped disposable electrode.

A ultrasensitive, simple and convenient electrochemical method was firstly developed for the determination of prochloraz and its metabolites as 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (2,4,6-TCP) using nano-aperture medical stone. Compared with the undoped disposable electrode (UDE), nano-aperture medical stone doped disposable electrode (MSDDE) not only significantly enhances the oxidation peak current of 2,4,6-TCP but also lowers the oxidation overpotential, suggesting that the nano-aperture MSDDE can remarkably improve the sensitivity of 2,4,6-TCP. The experimental conditions such as pH values of buffer solution, the content of nano-aperture medical stone, accumulation potential and time were optimized for the determination of 2,4,6-TCP.

The VQ motif protein IKU1 regulates endosperm growth and seed size in Arabidopsis.

Arabidopsis seed size is regulated by the IKU pathway that includes IKU2 (a leucine-rich repeat kinase) and MINI3 (a WRKY transcription factor). We report the cloning of the IKU1 (At2g35230) gene. iku1 mutants cause reduced endosperm growth and the production of small seeds.