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Background: Sexual dimorphism is widespread in insects. The certain specialized structures may be used as weapons in male-male combats or as ornaments to enhance mating opportunities. Results: We report striking swollen first tarsal segments in two families, four genera and six species of scorpionflies from the Middle Jurassic Yanliao Biota of Northeastern China. Swollen tarsal segments are restricted to male specimens and to hind leg tarsi. The geometric morphometric analyses reveal that the degree of swelling within the orthophlebiid species possessing swollen first metatarsal segments is species-specific, which can be used as a diagnostic character for taxonomic and phylogenetic studies. Conclusions: The new findings indicate that swollen first metatarsal segments are relatively common in the family Orthophlebiidae during the Middle Jurassic. The tarsal swellings are considered to be sexually dimorphic, potentially associated with sexually display by males and/or camouflage of a "nuptial gift" in the mating process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant ovule initiation determines themaximumof ovule number and has a great impact on the seed number per fruit. The detailed processes of ovule initiation have not been accurately described, although two connected processes, gynoecium and ovule development, have been investigated. Here, we report that ovules initiate asynchronously. The first group of ovule primordia grows out, the placenta elongates, the boundaries of existing ovules enlarge and a new group of primordia initiates fromthe boundaries. The expression pattern of different marker genes during ovule development illustrates that this asynchronicity continues throughout whole ovule development. PIN-FORMED1 polar distribution and auxin response maxima correlate with ovule primordia asynchronous initiation. We have established computational modeling to show how auxin dynamics influence ovule primordia initiation. Brassinosteroid signaling positively regulates ovule number by promoting placentae size and ovule primordia initiation through strengthening auxin response. Transcriptomic analysis demonstrates numerous known regulators of ovule development and hormone signaling, and many new genes are identified that are involved in ovule development. Taken together, our results illustrate that the ovule primordia initiate asynchronously and the hormone signals are involved in the asynchrony. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The main objective of this study was to summarize the existing evidence and quantitatively evaluate whether serum/plasma levels of homocysteine (Hcy) were associated with sclerosis (SSc) diseases by performing a meta-analysis of previous studies. Methods: PubMed, Elsevier ScienceDirect and Cochrane Library databases were used to obtain all relative published literatures. Stata version 11.0 (StataCorp, College Station, TX) was used for statistical analysis. The effect size of each study was calculated by the standardized mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence interval (CI) or quartiles. Results: A total of eight studies including 475 cases and 265 controls were finally included in this meta-analysis. We found significant between-study heterogeneity and conducted analyses using random-effects models. No significant association was found between the serum levels of Hcy and SSc (pooled SMD =1.382 μmol/L, 95%CI = -0.442 to 3.206, p = .137), but there are two outlier studies that deviate significantly from most other studies, which made it difficult to generalize these results. After excluding these two studies, six studies were included in the meta-analysis. The results showed that the serum levels of Hcy in SSc were significantly higher than that in healthy controls (pooled SMD = 1.182μmol/L, 95%CI = 0.230-2.134, p = .015). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Although pre-exercise consumption of a low-glycemic-index (LGI) carbohydrate meal is generally recommended, the findings regarding subsequent exercise performance are inconsistent. Objective: This meta-analytic study was conducted to determine whether a pre-exercise LGI carbohydrate meal leads to greater endurance performance than a pre-exercise high-glycemic-index (HGI) meal. Data sources: The following electronic databases were searched until April 2016: MEDLINE, SPORTDiscus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. The reference lists of selected articles were searched manually. Study selection: Randomized controlled or crossover trials comparing the effects of LGI and HGI preexercise carbohydrate meals on subsequent exercise performance of healthy participants were included. Data extraction: The Jadad scale was used to assess the methodological quality of the included studies. A fixed-effects model was used to evaluate overall and subgroup estimates. Results: In total, 15 eligible studies from 727 articles were included in this meta-analysis. All included studies were of low research quality. The synthesized effect size (d=0.42, z=3.40, P=0.001) indicated that the endurance performance following an LGI meal was superior to that following an HGI meal. Subgroup analyses demonstrated that the treatment effect did not vary across outcome measures (exercise to exhaustion, time trial, and work output) or athletic status (trained or recreational participants). Conclusions: Weak evidence supports the claim that endurance performance following a pre-exercise LGI meal is superior to that following a pre-exercise HGI meal. Further high-quality research in this area is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies were conducted for soil improvement in earth pressure balance (EPB) shield tunneling in sandy cobble strata based on the construction of the Chengdu Metro project in China. The results indicate choice of improver and optimal soil proportions. For mid-density sandy cobble with 8% water content, a slurry injection ratio greater than 25% meets the construction requirements. A mixture of slurry and foam achieves construction efficiency and flow plasticity of soil for a slurry injection ratio of 15% and foam injection ratio of 80-100%. For dense sandy cobble, water content of 7.5-10% and foam injection ratio of approximately 40% - or a slurry injection ratio higher than 10% and foam injection ratio of approximately 30% is desirable. A foaming agent with water is a good improver for mid-density sandy cobble strata tunneling; i.e., soil water content of 8.6-11% and foam injection ratio of 60-100%. For dense sandy cobble strata, a mixture of slurry and foam is suggested as the improver; foam injection ratio of 40-80% and a slurry injection ratio of approximately 10%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Meals with low glycemic index (GI) may suppress short-term appetite and reduce subsequent food intake compared with high-GI meals. However, no meta-analysis has been conducted to synthesize the evidence. This meta-analytic study was conducted to assess the effect of high- and low-GI breakfast on subsequent short-term food intake. Trials were identified through MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled trials, and manual searches of bibliographies until May 2015. Randomized controlled and cross-over trials comparing the effect of low- with high-GI breakfast on subsequent energy intake among healthy people were included. Nine studies consisting of 11 trials met the inclusion criteria. Only one trial was classified with high methodological quality. A total of 183 participants were involved in the trials. The meta-analytic results revealed no difference in breakfast GI (high-GI vs. low-GI) on subsequent short-term energy intake. In conclusion, it seems that breakfast GI has no effect on short-term energy intake among healthy people. However, high quality studies are still warranted to provide more concrete evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the expression and aberrant methylation of X-ray repair cross-complementing gene 1 (XRCC1) in gastric carcinogenesis, and identify the molecular mechanism of gastric carcinogenesis. METHODS: The method based on methyl binding domain protein (MBD) immuno-precipitation and promoter microarray was employed to screen the gastric cancer-related methylation-sensitive gene. An immunohistochemistry assay was applied to detect the protein expression of XRCC1 in the multistep progression of gastric carcinogenesis. The mRNA expression of XRCC1 was determined by real-time PCR in tumor tissues and their corresponding non-tumorous tissues. The methylation status and Arg194Trp and Arg399Gln polymorphisms of XRCC1 in gastric cancer and gastritis tissues were analyzed by methylation-specific PCR, bisulfite genomic sequencing and direct DNA sequencing, respectively. RESULTS: Promoter microarray screening and identification suggested that XRCC1 was a methylation-sensitive gene. Immunochemistry results showed that XRCC1 protein expression gradually decreased with progression of gastric mucosal lesions (P < 0.05). The positive rate of XRCC1 in patients with well/ moderately differentiated gastric cancer was significantly higher than patients with poorly differentiated gastric cancer (P < 0.05). The mRNA expression of XRCC1 in gastric cancer tissues was significantly lower than that in the non-tumorous tissues (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, XRCC1 methylation in gastric cancer tissues was more frequent than that in the gastritis tissues (P < 0.05), and the downregulation of XRCC1 expression was relevant to methylation (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The expression of XRCC1 is downregulated in gastric carcinogenesis, and promoter hypermethylation may be one of the mechanisms contributing to its downregulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Oridonin, a tetracycline diterpenoid compound, has the potential antitumor activities. Here, we evaluate the antitumor activity and action mechanisms of oridonin in colorectal cancer. Methods: Effects of oridonin on cell proliferation were determined by using a CCK-8 Kit. Cell cycle distribution was determined by flow cytometry. Apoptosis was examined by analyzing subdiploid population and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling assay. Senescent cells were determined by senescence-associated β-galactosidase activity analysis. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR was used to examine the changes of mRNA of p16, p21, p27 and c-myc. The concomitant changes of protein expression were analyzed with Western blot. Expression of AcH3 and AcH4 were examined by immunofluorescence staining and Western blots. Effects of oridonin on colony formation of SW1116 were examined by Soft Agar assay. The in vivo efficacy of oridonin was detected using a xenograft colorectal cancer model in nude mice. Results: Oridonin induced potent growth inhibition, cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, senescence and colony-forming inhibition in three colorectal cancer cell lines in a dose-dependent manner in vitro. Daily i.p. injection of oridonin (6.25, 12.5 or 25 mg/kg) for 28 days significantly inhibited the growth of SW1116 s.c. xenografts in BABL/C nude mice. With western blot and reverse transcription-PCR, we further showed that the antitumor activities of oridonin correlated with induction of histone (H3 and H4) hyperacetylation, activation of p21, p27 and p16, and suppression of c-myc expression. Conclusion: Oridonin possesses potent in vitro and in vivo anti-colorectal cancer activities that correlated with induction of histone hyperacetylation and regulation of pathways critical for maintaining growth inhibition and cell cycle arrest. Therefore, oridonin may represent a novel therapeutic option in colorectal cancer treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the anticancer effects of rapamycin (RPM) and 5-aza-deoxycytidine (AZA) have been studied extensively, the combined effect of these two drugs on colorectal cancer (CRC) is still unknown. This study addresses the effect of AZA and RPM combination therapy on CRC and its influence on the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and its signal transduction pathway. Human CRC cell line HCT116 was treated with AZA alone, RPM alone, or concurrently with a combination of both drugs. Cell viability, apoptosis, and cell cycle distribution were analyzed. CRC was initiated in S-ICR mice, which were then treated with the drugs mentioned above, and tumor incidence and volume were measured. The activity of the mTOR signal transduction pathway was detected by Western blot analysis or immunohistochemistry. Combination treatment with AZA and RPM inhibited the growth of HCT116 cells, induced apoptosis, arrested the cell cycle, and reduced the incidence and tumor volume of CRC in mice, as well as inhibited the phosphorylation of components of the mTOR signal transduction pathway. These effects were more significant than those of single-drug treatments. Combination treatment with AZA and RPM inhibits the formation and growth of CRC. These findings may provide a novel strategy for CRC treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gastric cancer has traditionally been staged using purely histological methods, but these methods provide little information about the biology of gastric cancer and have limited predictive power. Recent studies have shown that clinically relevant gastric cancer subtypes have distinct gene expression profiles. This approach, termed molecular staging, can lead to the discovery of novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers of gastric cancers. This update reviews advances in molecular staging of gastric cancer and discusses their implications for the prognosis and diagnosis of this complex disease. Technologies used in molecular staging as well as future directions for the optimization of molecular staging of gastric cancer are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the femtosecond laser-produced Cu-plasma, the transient transition dynamics that the excited state 5s′4D7/2 via electron–ion recombination transfers to 4p (465.11 nm, Λ1 line) and 4p (529.25 nm, Λ2 line) states are investigated by using the time-resolved spectroscopy. The occupation number and relevant lifetime of the excited state 5s′4D7/2, the temporal evolutions of spectral intensities for Λ1 line and Λ2 line emissions are demonstrated to be in direct proportion to the employed laser intensity, which reveals the transient features of transition dynamics clearly differing from that resulted in the traditional collision excitation. Furthermore, some unique characteristics for Λ1 and Λ2 transitions stemming from electron–ion recombination are examined in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]