Menopause accelerates biological aging.

Although epigenetic processes have been linked to aging and disease in other systems, it is not yet known whether they relate to reproductive aging. Recently, we developed a highly accurate epigenetic biomarker of age (known as the "epigenetic clock"), which is based on DNA methylation levels. Here we carry out an epigenetic clock analysis of blood, saliva, and buccal epithelium using data from four large studies: the Women's Health Initiative (n = 1,864); Invecchiare nel Chianti (n = 200); Parkinson's disease, Environment, and Genes (n = 256); and the United Kingdom Medical Research Council National Survey of Health and Development (n = 790).

[Factors influencing Agrobacterium-mediated cotyledonary-node transformation of soybean (Glycine max L.)].

Using Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain EHA105 carrying binary vector p1301, which containing the gus and hpt genes, a highly efficient transformation system was developed based on the study of factors influencing the Agrobacterium-mediated cotyledonary-node transformation of soybean. The results demonstrated the additions of acetosyringone (200 micromol/L) and ascorbatic acid (50 mg/L) in both infection medium and co-cultivation medium resulted in a significant increase in the transformation efficiency. The induction of the shoots was benefited from the combined utilization of Carbnicillin (250 mg/L) and Cefotaxime (100 mg/L).

[Plasticity of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells differentiating into cardiomyocytes and the potential of cardiac therapeutics].

Current treatments for ischemic cardiomyopathy aim at minimizing the deteriorated consequences of damaged myocardium. Recent stem cell researches have provided major impetus for the possibility of treating heart failure by generating new myocardium and vascular structures. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) , also referred to as marrow stromal cells, differentiate readily into chondrocytes, adipocytes, and osteocytes.