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Background Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is the leading cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Podocyte epithelial-esenchymal transformation (EMT) induced by the activated Wnt/β-catenin pathway plays a key role in DN. Tang-Shen-Ning (TSN), a Chinese herbal formula, has been shown to decrease proteinuria and protect the renal function in DN. However, the effect of TSN on the Wnt/β-catenin pathway and podocyte EMT is unclear. Methods TSN was orally administrated in KK-Ay mice for 4 weeks, at a daily dose of 20 g/kg body weight in our in vivo study. Rat serum containing TSN was added in podocyte cultured in high glucose for 24 h. The levels of 24 h urine protein, serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen were detected by ELISA. Nephrin, Synaptopodin, P-cadherin, desmin, FSP-1, and collagen I protein and mRNA expressions were detected by western blot, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, and RT-PCR. Snail, β-catenin, and TCF/LEF were detected by Western blot, RT-PCR and luciferase. Results TSN significantly decreased 24-h urine protein, serum creatinine, and blood urea nitrogen in DN mice. Further, TSN also significantly increased the expression of nephrin, synaptopodin, and P-cadherin, while the expression of desmin, fibroblast-specific protein 1 (FSP-1), and collagen I of podocytes was significantly decreased. Moreover, TSN significantly inhibited the activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in podocytes cultured under high glucose (HG). Notably, the effect of TSN on podocyte EMT was reversed by activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Conclusions TSN could protect podocytes from injury in DN, partly via inhibiting the activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway and ameliorating podocyte EMT.

Summary Background Overexpression of certain long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) promotes the progression of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). The significance and potential role of the lncRNA designated pituitary tumour-transforming 3, pseudogene (PTTG3P) in CRPC is unknown. Methods We detected PTTG3P expression by qPCR. Upregulated PTTG3P expression was performed to explore the role of PTTG3P in PCa cells resistant to ADT (androgen deprivation therapy). The relationship among PTTG3P, mir-146a-3p and PTTG1 were validated by qPCR, western blot and luciferase assay. Results PTTG3P levels were significantly increased in the androgen-independent PC cell lines, as well as in CRPC tissues compared with those of the androgen-dependent prostate cancer cell line LNCaP and tumour tissues of patients with hormone-naive prostate cancers. Enforced expression of PTTG3P in androgen-deprived LNCaP cells significantly enhanced survival, clonogenicity, and tumorigenicity. Further, PTTG3P acted as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA, natural miRNA sponge) to upregulate PTTG1 expression by competing for mir-146a-3p in the progression to CRPC. Conclusion Our findings suggest that PTTG3P promotes the resistance of prostate cancer cells to androgen-deprivation therapy via upregulating PTTG1. PTTG3P may therefore represent a potential target for therapy of CRPC.

In order to examine the effects of temperature on the growth, survival, and reproduction of为了明确不同温度对取食玉米籽粒桃蛀螟生长发育、存活和生殖的影响,本研究依据年龄-龄期两性生命表理论计算了在21、24、27和30 ℃下取食玉米籽粒的桃蛀螟种群的生命表参数,并基于这些参数预测了未来80 d的种群动态。结果表明: 在21、24、27和30 ℃下桃蛀螟均能完成1个世代,随着温度升高,各阶段的发育历期缩短,且温度间差异显著。24 ℃下的平均单雌产卵量最高(116.7粒),成虫前期存活率最高(84.7%),雌虫占比最高(0.46),均显著高于其他温度。24、27、30 ℃下种群的内禀增长率分别为0.1059、0.1101、0.1045 d

Diabetes is prevalent worldwide, but ideally intensive therapeutic strategy in clinical diabetes and diabetic nephropathy (DN) is still lack. Pyruvate is protective from glucometabolic disturbances and kidney dysfunction in various pathogenic insults. Present studies focused on oral pyruvate effects on diabetes status and DN with 0.35% pyruvate in pyruvate-enriched oral rehydration solution (Pyr-ORS) and 1% pyruvate as drinking water for 8 weeks, using the model of diabetic db/db mice. Both Pyr-ORS and 1% pyruvate showed comparable therapeutic effectiveness with controls of body weight and blood sugar, increases of blood insulin levels, and improvement of renal function and pathological changes. Aberrant key enzyme activities in glucometabolic pathways, AR, PK, and PDK/PDH, were also restored; indexes of oxidative stress and inflammation, NAD+/NADH ratio, and AGEs in the kidneys were mostly significantly preserved after pyruvate treatments. We concluded that oral pyruvate delayed DN progression in db/db mice and the modified Pyr-ORS formula might be an ideal novel therapeutic drink in clinical prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes and DN.

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the most serious and major renal complications of diabetes. Previously, Six-transmembrane Protein of Prostate 2 (STAMP2) was reported to contribute to nutritional stress. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether overexpression of STAMP2 attenuates diabetic renal injuries in DN rats. We induced the DN rat model by high-fat diet and low-dose streptozotocin and evaluated the metabolite and urine albumin/creatinine. Recombinant adeno-associated virus vectors were injected for overexpression of STAMP2. Pathophysiologic and ultrastructure features of DN by histochemical stain and transmission electron microscope, autophagy-related proteins and signaling pathway by western blotting were assessed. We found the expression of STAMP2 was decreased and autophagy was blunted in DN rat kidneys. Overexpressing STAMP2 significantly ameliorated metabolic disturbance, insulin resistance, and specifically restoring diabetic renal injury. Furthermore, overexpressing STAMP2 improved the autophagy deficiency in DN rats, as revealed by changes in the expressions of Beclin1, p62, and LC3. Furthermore, STAMP2 overexpressing promoted autophagy by inhibiting the mTOR and activating the AMPK/SIRT1 signaling pathway. Our results suggested that STAMP2 overexpression attenuated renal injuries via upregulating autophagy in DN rats. STAMP2 overexpressing promoted autophagy may been involved with inhibition of the mTOR/ULK1 and activation of the AMPK/SIRT1 signaling pathway.

Cell death-inducing DFF45-like effector C (CIDEC) is involved in diet-induced adipose inflammation. Whether CIDEC plays a role in diabetic vascular inflammation remains unclear. A type 2 diabetic rat model was induced by high-fat diet and low-dose streptozotocin. We evaluated its characteristics by metabolic tests, Western blot analysis of CIDEC and C1q/tumor necrosis factor-related protein-3 (CTRP3) expression, and histopathological analysis of aortic tissues. The diabetic group exhibited elevated CIDEC expression, aortic inflammation, and remodeling. To further investigate the role of CIDEC in the pathogenesis of aortic inflammation, gene silencing was used. With CIDEC gene silencing, CTRP3 expression was restored, accompanied with amelioration of insulin resistance, aortic inflammation, and remodeling in diabetic rats. Thus, the silencing of CIDEC is potent in mediating the reversal of aortic inflammation and remodeling, indicating that CIDEC may be a potential therapeutic target for vascular complications in diabetes.

Background Androgen has been implicated in aging-related cardiac remodeling, but its precise role in aging heart remains controversial. We aimed to investigate the role of testosterone in the development of aging-related cardiac remodeling and the mechanisms involved. Methods Wild type and Axl knockout mice (Axl−/−) were randomized into three groups: the young group (n = 30, 3 months old), the aging group (n = 30, 18 months old), the testosterone undecanoate treatment group (TU, n = 30, 18 months old). Mice in the TU group were given testosterone undecanoate (39 mg/kg) by subcutaneous injection on the back at fifteen-months-old, once a month, a total of three times. The old group received solvent reagent (corn oil) by the same method. Results The aging mice exhibited a decrease in serum testosterone, and Gas6 levels and an increase in apoptosis, and manifested cardiac fibrosis. Testosterone injection to wild type mice increased the levels of testosterone and Gas6 in serum and decreased cardiac apoptosis and fibrosis. Axl−/−mice receiving testosterone injection exhibited no obvious improvement in cardiac remodeling although the levels of testosterone and Gas6 in serum elevated. Conclusions These data indicated that testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) alleviates cardiac fibrosis and apoptosis, at least in part by enhancing Gas6 expression. Moreover, deletion of Axl disables testosterone, which indicated that Axl is an important downstream regulator of testosterone. TRT would improve aging-related cardiac remolding via Gas6/Axl signaling pathway, implicating its therapeutic potential to treat aging-related heart disease.

PubMed ID: 29992315, The development, survival, and fecundity data of Conogethes punctiferalis (Guenée) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) reared on chestnut (Castanea mollissima Blume), maize (Zea mays L.), sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.), hawthorn (Crataegus pinnatifida Bunge), and apple (Malus domestica Miller) were collected at 25 ± 1°C and 70 ± 5% RH. Raw data were analyzed and compared by using the age-stage, two-sex life table. The mean fecundity (F) was the highest (282.3 eggs per female) when larvae were reared on chestnut. The lowest mean fecundity (19.2 eggs per female) occurred on apple. The net reproductive rates (R 0) were 134.52, 106.77, 30.29, 27.61, and 8.63 offspring on chestnut, maize, sunflower, hawthorn, and apple, respectively. The intrinsic rates of increase (r) were 0.1359, 0.1326, 0.0807, 0.0811, and 0.0448 d -1 on chestnut, maize, sunflower, hawthorn, and apple, respectively. Computer projections based on the age-stage, two-sex life table revealed the stage structure and variability of the population growth of C. punctiferalis. Our results demonstrated that although chestnut and maize were the most suitable host plants for C. punctiferalis, the moths were also able to develop and reproduce on sunflower, hawthorn, and apple. © The Author(s) 2018. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America. All rights reserved.

Background The carrier of hydroxyethyl starch (HES) may play a critical role in kidney injury in fluid resuscitation. This study aimed mainly to compare effects of pyruvate-enriched saline with normal saline (NS) and acetate Ringer's (AR) solution as a carrier in HES130/0.4 on kidney function in rats subjected to severe burns. Methods Using a lethal burn model, 140 rats were randomly allocated in seven groups (n = 20): sham group (group S); no fluid after burn (group N); burn resuscitated with NS (group NS); burn resuscitated with pyruvate saline (group PS); burn resuscitated with AR plus pyruvate-HES (group SP); burn resuscitated with AR plus acetate-HES (group SA), and burn resuscitated with AR plus NS-HES (group SN). A low volume (18.75 mL·kg−1 during 12 h) of HES130/0.4 was infused with the ratio of 1:1 to crystalloids. Renal surface blood flow, blood creatinine and blood urea nitrogen, early sensitive indicators of kidney function: alpha-1 microglobulin, cystatin-C, and neutrophil gelatinase–associated lipocalin in blood and urine, and kidney tissue water contents were determined. Renal histopathological alterations with Paller scores were also measured at 8 h and 24 h after burn (n = 10), respectively. Results The results showed in a comparable manner that group SP was the best in three HES groups and group PS was superior to group NS in renal preservation; group SP appeared significantly beneficial compared with group PS in renal surface blood flow, cystatin-C, neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin, water contents, and Paller scores at 8-h or both time points after burn, respectively (all P Conclusions The carrier of HES130/0.4 played a crucial role in kidney injury in fluid resuscitation of rats subjected to severe burns. Pyruvate-enriched HES130/0.4 was superior and HES130/0.4, per se, might be not renocytotoxic, but renoprotective. Further studies are warranted.

To investigate the effect ofC57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned into the PBS group (The spleen coefficient was significantly greater in the PBS2 + ESA group and the Lewis2 + ESA group than in the PBS2 (0.66% ± 0.09% vs. 0.30% ± 0.02%,[

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is the leading cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The ROS-mediated PI3K/AKT pathway plays a key role in podocyte apoptosis and DN progression. Our previous study demonstrated that Baoshenfang (BSF) can decrease proteinuria and attenuate podocyte injury. However, the effects of BSF on podocyte apoptosis induced by the ROS-mediated PI3K/AKT pathway remain unclear. Herein, in vivo and in vitro studies have been performed. In our in vivo study, BSF significantly decreased 24-h urinary protein, serum creatinine, and blood urea nitrogen levels in DN mice. Meanwhile, BSF significantly inhibited oxidative stress and podocyte apoptosis in our in vivo and in vitro studies. Moreover, BSF significantly decreased the inhibition of the PI3K/AKT pathway induced by HG in DN. More importantly, the effects of BSF on podocyte apoptosis were reversed by PI3K siRNA transfection. In conclusion, BSF can decrease proteinuria and podocyte apoptosis in DN, in part through regulating the ROS-mediated PI3K/AKT pathway.

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a serious kidney-related complication of type 1 and type 2 diabetes. The Chinese herbal formula Baoshenfang (BSF) shows therapeutic potential in attenuating oxidative stress and apoptosis in podocytes in DN. This study evaluated the effects of BSF on podocyte injury in vivo and in vitro and explored the possible involvement of the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-oxidase-4/reactive oxygen species- (NOX-4/ROS-) activated p38 pathway. In the identified compounds by mass spectrometry, some active constituents of BSF were reported to show antioxidative activity. In addition, we found that BSF significantly decreased 24-hour urinary protein, serum creatinine, and blood urea nitrogen in DN patients. BSF treatment increased the nephrin expression, alleviated oxidative cellular damage, and inhibited Bcl-2 family-associated podocyte apoptosis in high-glucose cultured podocytes and/or in diabetic rats. More importantly, BSF also decreased phospho-p38, while high glucose-mediated apoptosis was blocked by p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitor in cultured podocytes, indicating that the antiapoptotic effect of BSF is p38 pathway-dependent. High glucose-induced upexpression of NOX-4 was normalized by BSF, and NOX-4 siRNAs inhibited the phosphorylation of p38, suggesting that the activated p38 pathway is at least partially mediated by NOX-4. In conclusion, BSF can decrease proteinuria and protect podocytes from injury in DN, in part through inhibiting the NOX-4/ROS/p38 pathway.

Background To investigate whether pyruvate-enriched oral rehydration solution (Pyr-ORS), compared with citrate-enriched ORS (Cit-ORS), improves hemodynamics and organ function by alleviating vasopermeability and plasma volume loss during intra-gastric fluid rehydration in dogs with severe burn. Methods Forty dogs subjected to severe burn were randomly divided into four groups ( n = 10): two oral rehydrated groups with Pyr-ORS and Cit-ORS (group PR and group CR), respectively, according to the Parkland formula during the first 24 h after burns. Other two groups were the intravenous (IV) resuscitation (group VR) with lactated Ringer's solution with the same dosage and no fluid rehydration (group NR). During the next 24 h, all groups received the same IV infusion. The hemodynamics, plasma volume, vasopermeability and water contents and function of various organs were determined. Plasma levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and platelet activating factor (PAF) were detected by ELISA. Results Hemodynamics parameters were significantly improved in group PR superior to group CR after burns. Levels of VEGF and PAF were significantly lower in group PR than in group CR. Organ function parameters were also greatly preserved in group PR, relative to groups CR and NR. Lactic acidosis was fully corrected and survival increased in group PR (50.0%), compared to group CR (20.0%). Conclusion Pyr-ORS was more effective than Cit-ORS in improving hemodynamics, visceral blood perfusion and organ function by alleviating vasopermeability-induced visceral edema and plasma volume loss in dogs with severe burn.

With the development of technology and space exploration, studies on long-duration space flights have shown that microgravity induces damage to multiple organs, including the dorsal root ganglia (DRG). However, very little is known about the effects of long-term microgravity on DRG neurons. This study investigated the effects of microgravity on lumbar 5 (L5) DRG neurons in rats using the hindlimb unweighting (HU) model. Male (M) and female (F) Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into M- and F-control (CON) groups and M- and F-HU groups, respectively (n = 10). At the end of HU treatment for 4 weeks, morphological changes were detected. Myelin basic protein (MBP) and degenerated myelin basic protein (dgen-MBP) expressions were analyzed by immunofluorescence and western blot assays. Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) protein and mRNA expressions were also analyzed by immunohistochemistry, western blot, and RT-PCR analysis, respectively. Compared with the corresponding CON groups, the HU groups exhibited slightly loose junctions between DRG neurons, some separated ganglion cells and satellite cells, and lightly stained Nissl bodies that were of smaller size and had a scattered distribution. High levels of dgen-MBP and low MBP expressions were appeared and GDNF expressions were significantly decreased in both HU groups. Changes were more pronounced in the F-HU group than in the M-HU group. In conclusion, HU treatment induced damage of L5 DRG neurons, which was correlated with decreased total MBP protein expression, increased dgen-MBP expression, and reduced GDNF protein and mRNA expression. Importantly, these changes were more severe in F-HU rats compared with M-HU rats.

To study the effect of exogenous nitric oxide donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP) on antioxidant enzymes activities and lipid peroxidation of mice infected withBALB/c mice were infected withThe levels of SOD, CAT, GSH-Px and MDA concentration in the liver and the blood from the mice infected with［摘要］

To explore the anti-tumor effect of 17XL strains ofB16F10 tumor cells were axillarilly injected into the right flank of 20 C57BL/6 mice to establish tumor-bearing mouse models. The next day, the mice were randomly divided into a P.y infection group and control group, 10 mice each group. Each mouse of the P.y infection group was intraperitoneally injected with 1×10The time of tumor formation in the P.y infection group［ (11.30 ± 0.21) d］was significantly later than that in the control group ［ (10.40 ± 0.22) d］ (The P.y infection can delay the occurrence of tumor and inhibit the growth of melanoma.

To observe the effect of excretory/secretory products fromForty-eight BALB/c mice were randomly divided into 3 groups：a sham operation group (PBS + sham group, Group A), a CLP-induced sepsis group (PBS+CLP group, Group B) and an AES treatment group (AES+CLP group, Group C). The mice of each group were intraperitoneally injected with 25 μg of AES or PBS only as a control in a total volume of 200 μl. Eight mice from each group were selected randomly for survival analysis of 96 hours. The other 8 mice in each group were observed for pathological changes in the lung, liver and kidney tissues by HE staining 12 h after CLP, and then determined for the detection of cytokines including TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10 and TGF-β in the sera by ELISA.The difference among the survival rates of mice in the 3 groups was statistically significant (

Background Recent findings showed advantages of a novel pyruvate-enriched oral rehydration solution (Pyr-ORS) in resuscitation of burns. This study focused on effects of Pyr-ORS on the visceral blood perfusion (VBP), gastrointestinal function, and survival rate, compared with the bicarbonate-based World Health Organization-guided oral rehydration solution (WHO-ORS), during intragastric rehydration of lethal hemorrhagic shock in rats. Methods Sixty adult rats were subjected to 45% total blood volume loss and were randomly allocated to the following three groups (n = 20): group NR (no fluid resuscitation), group PORS (oral Pyr-ORS rehydration), and group BORS (oral WHO-ORS rehydration), respectively. Other 10 rats were served as group NH (the sham group). Enteral rehydration lasted for 4 h after hemorrhage. The mean arterial pressure (MAP), VBP, and plasma enzymes activities of heart, liver, and kidney, and intestinal fatty acid binding protein were measured. Liver, kidney, and ileum were harvested for the evaluation of activities of oxidative enzymes and intestinal barrier protein (ZO-1). Other 84 rats with identical procedures without sampling were observed for their 24-h survival rates. Results Pyr-ORS was more effective in enhancing the MAP and VBP, inhibiting tissue oxidative damage, and improving organ function, compared with WHO-ORS. Hypoxic lactic acidosis was fully corrected in group PORS in 4 h, whereas it worsened in group BORS, and the 24-h survival rate was twice higher in group PORS than in group BORS (45.8 versus 20.8%, P Conclusions A small amount of pyruvate in Pyr-ORS was more therapeutically beneficial than equivalent bicarbonate in WHO-ORS and greatly raised survival in enteral rehydration of lethal hemorrhagic shock. The Pyr-ORS may be an ideal oral fluid in resuscitation of hypovolemic shock, especially in prehospital and resource-poor settings.

Myocardial dysfunction is a serious complication induced by sepsis. Puerarin is an oriental medicine that possesses therapeutic benefits for cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-myocardial dysfunction effects of puerarin in isolated rat hearts induced by lipopolysaccharide- and compare the myocardial protective effects between the different concentrations of puerarin. Isolated hearts were attached to a Langendorff apparatus and perfused with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and different concentrations of puerarin. The hemodynamic parameters of heart rate (HR), left ventricular end systolic pressure [LVESP], +dp/dt

Lactic acidosis is a life-threatening complication of hemorrhagic shock. There is no ideal therapy for it in the clinical setting.This study was designed to investigate whether pyruvate Ringer's solution could treat hypoxic lactic acidosis associated with lethal hemorrhagic shock in rats.A total of 54 rats were subjected to hemorrhagic shock with mean arterial pressure (MAP) of 40 mm Hg for 1 h. They were then randomly divided into three groups (n = 18 each): Group N had no fluid resuscitation; Group L received lactated Ringer's solution infusion; and Group P received pyruvate Ringer's solution infusion. The survival rate was investigated after 24 h. In addition, a second set of 54 rats was selected for blood sampling, with identical methods for shock and resuscitation being followed, to determine arterial pH, blood gas analysis, lactate, pyruvate, and organs' enzyme activities at various time points. The MAP was monitored for 6 h in both populations.Pyruvate Ringer's solution significantly increased the survival rate of rats subjected to fatal shock and receiving pyruvate Ringer's solution (Group P) by 1.5 times the survival rate in Group L at 24 h after fluid resuscitation (55.6% vs. 22.2%, respectively; p 0.05). Pyruvate infusion maintained a higher MAP and fully corrected severe acidosis 1 h after resuscitation in comparison to the lactated infusion, and markedly decreased blood lactate levels and the lactate-to-pyruvate ratio 4 h after resuscitation. It also significantly improved serum markers of organ dysfunction.Pyruvate Ringer's solution efficiently treated hypoxic lactic acidosis and significantly increased the survival rate in rats with lethal hemorrhagic shock. Pyruvate Ringer's solution is potentially applicable to clinical resuscitation in humans.

The life table of the green lacewing, Chrysopa pallens (Rambur), was studied at 22 degrees C, a photoperiod of 15:9 (L:D) h, and 80% relative humidity in the laboratory. The raw data were analyzed using the age-stage, two-sex life table. The intrinsic rate of increase (r), the finite rate of increase (lambda), the net reproduction rate (R0), and the mean generation time (T) of Ch. pallens were 0.1258 d(-1), 1.1340 d(-1), 241.4 offspring and 43.6 d, respectively. For the estimation of the means, variances, and SEs of the population parameters, we compared the jackknife and bootstrap techniques. Although similar values of the means and SEs were obtained with both techniques, significant differences were observed in the frequency distribution and variances of all parameters. The jackknife technique will result in a zero net reproductive rate upon the omission of a male, an immature death, or a nonreproductive female. This result represents, however, a contradiction because an intrinsic rate of increase exists in this situation. Therefore, we suggest that the jackknife technique should not be used for the estimation of population parameters. In predator-prey interactions, the nonpredatory egg and pupal stages of the predator are time refuges for the prey, and the pest population can grow during these times. In this study, a population projection based on the age-stage, two-sex life table is used to determine the optimal interval between releases to fill the predation gaps and maintain the predatory capacity of the control agent.

Stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) is a potent chemokine for bone marrow-derived stromal stem cells (BMSCs) that express CXCR4, the receptor for SDF-1. SDF-1 is considered to play an important role in the trafficking of BMSCs. We investigated the contribution of SDF-1 to the recruitment of BMSCs to the wound area and its promotion of wound repair and neovascularization. BMSCs were pretreated with or without anti-CXCR4 blocking antibody and combined with CM-DiI label, and injected via the tail vein into mice with full-thickness skin wounds on the dorsum. Simultaneously, anti-SDF-1 antibody was injected into local wounds in another group of mice. The results show that blockade of CXCR4 on either infused BMSCs or SDF-1 in the host wounds (1) dramatically impaired the number of infused BMSCs being recruited to the injured tissue, (2) reduced the expression of growth factors involved in the repair of injured tissue such as vascular endothelial growth factor, basic fibroblast growth factor and transforming growth factor beta 1, (3) decreased the resultant neovascularization, and (4) retarded wound healing. Taken together, the findings indicate that the SDF-1/CXCR4 signal pathway facilitates wound healing through augmenting BMSC recruitment to wound tissues, responsive secretion of growth factors by BMSCs and neovascularization in the wound area.

Two new species of the genus Aalatettix Zheng & Mao, 2002, namely Aalatettix yangi sp. nov. and Aalatettix xiai sp. nov. are described and illustrated. The new species Aalatettix yangi sp. nov. is allied to Aalatettix gibbosa Zheng, Cao & Chen, 2011, but upper margin of pronotum waved in lateral view, width of frontal ridge narrower than width of basal joint of antennae, hind tibiae dark brown, base not pale. The new species Aalatettix xiai sp. nov. is allied to Aalatettix yangi sp. nov., but length of pronotum shorter, not reaching epiproct, width of vertex 1.5 times diameter of eye, lateral carinae of pronotum contracted backward distinctly, posterior apex of lower margin angular on lateral lobe of pronotum, lower margin of median femur waved, antennae placed under lower margin of eyes. The type specimens are deposited in the National Museum of Natural Science, Taichung, Taiwan, China.

Objective Pyruvate can reduce lipid peroxidation, which plays a critical role in organ injury, in various models. However, it is not fully understood if this inhibition occurs in resuscitation of hemorrhagic shock (HS). This study examines effects of pyruvate Ringer solution (PR) in this respect in rats. Methods Rats, subjected to 45% blood loss, were randomly allocated to the 3 groups (n = 18): HS with no fluid resuscitation (group NR), HS resuscitated with lactated Ringer solution (LR) (group LR), and HS resuscitated with PR (group PR). Mean arterial pressure, plasma levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), and superoxide dismutase were measured at various time points until 360 minutes after hemorrhage. Visceral organs were harvested at the end for evaluations of the TBARS, antioxidant enzyme, and tissue water content. Other 54 rats with identical procedures without sampling were documented for 24-hour survival rates (n = 18) after fluid resuscitation. Results Pyruvate Ringer solution significantly increased mean arterial pressure and decreased blood TBARS levels after lethal HS. It also reduced TBARS concentrations and glutathione peroxidase activities but significantly enhanced glutathione reductase activities in most organs and greatly improved the ratios of reduced glutathione over oxidized glutathione in various organs in group PR, compared to group LR. Furthermore, PR significantly improved various organ function and water contents relative to LR. Group PR showed a more than 2-fold higher 24-hour survival rate of group LR. Conclusions Pyruvate Ringer solution alleviated organ edema and injury and prompted survival partially through inhibition of lipid peroxidation in various organs in severe HS rats.

A new species of the genus Formosatettix Tinkham, 1937, namely Formosatettix xiai sp. n. is described and illustrated. The new species is allied to Formosatettix wulaoshanensis ZhengXu, 2010, but differs from the latter by the apex of pronotum reaching distal 2/3 of hind femur, width of frontal ridge equal to that of basal segment of antennae, length of a segment of antennae in the middle 3 times its width, lower margin of fore and mid femora straight, pronotum dorsally with one black spot on each side. The new species is also allied to Formosatettix tianmushanensis ZhengLi, 2001, but the apex of pronotum reaching distal 2/3 of hind femur, the width of frontal ridge equal to that of basal antennal segment, length of upper ovipositor valve 3 times its width, length of a segment in the middle of antennae 5.0 times its width and pronotum dorsally with one black spot on each side. The type specimens are deposited in the College of Life Sciences, Hebei University, Baoding, Hebei, China.

The review focuses on biochemical metabolisms of conventional buffers and emphasizes advantages of sodium pyruvate (Pyr) in the correction of intracellular acidosis. Exogenous lactate (Lac) as an alternative of natural buffer, bicarbonate, consumes intracellular protons on an equimolar basis, regenerating bicarbonate anions in plasma while the completion of gluconeogenesis and/or oxidation occurs via tricarboxylic-acid cycle in mitochondria mainly in liver and kidney, or heart. The general assumption that Lac is ‘metabolized to bicarbonate’ in liver to serve as a buffer has been questioned. Pyr as a novel buffer would be superior to conventional ones in the correction of metabolic acidosis. Several likely biochemical mechanisms of Pyr action are discussed. Experimental evidence, in vivo, strongly suggested that Pyr would be particularly efficient in the correction of severe acidemia: type A lactic acidosis, hypercapnia with cardiac arrest, and diabetic and alcoholic ketoacidosis in animal experiments and clinic settings. Because of its multi-cytoprotection, Pyrs not only correct acidosis, but also benefit theunderlying dysfunction of vital organs. In addition, Pyr is also a potential buffer component of dialysis solutions. However, the instability of Pyr in aqueous solutions restricts its clinical applications as a therapeutic agent. Attempts to create a stable Pyr preparation are needed.

The genus Mongolotettix Rehn, 1928 is a small genus of family Adrididae. It has nine species discovered from the Far Eastern Asian countries, including China, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, and Russia [Bolivar, 1898; Uvarov, 1914; Caudell, 1921; Chogsomzhav, 1974; Li et Lian, 1994; Wan, Ren et Zhang, 1998; Xie et Li, 2000, Kim et Kim 2005; Dong, et al, 2015; Shi et al, 2016; Storozhenko, 2016; Eades et al, 2017; Zhang et al, 2017]. In the present paper, we describe a new species of the genus from Hubei, China. Type specimens are deposited in the College of Plant Protection, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong, China.

Recent studies have suggested that pyruvate-enriched oral rehydration solution (Pyr-ORS) may be superior to the standard bicarbonate-based ORS in the protection of intestine from ischemic injury. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of Pyr-ORS with citrate-enriched ORS (Cit-ORS) on the intestinal hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1)-erythropoietin (EPO) signaling pathway for enteral rehydration in a rat model of burn injury.Rats were randomly assigned to 4 groups (N = 20, 2 subgroups each: n = 10): scald sham (group SS), scald with no fluid resuscitation (group SN), scald and resuscitation with enteral Cit-ORS (group SC), and scald and resuscitation with enteral Pyr-ORS (group SP). At 2.5 and 4.5 hours after a 35% total body surface area (TBSA) scald, intestinal mucosal blood flow (IMBF), contents of HIF-1, EPO, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), nitric oxide (NO), barrier protein (ZO-1), levels of serum diamine oxidase (DAO), and intestinal mucosal histology injury score were determined.Serum DAO activities in the scalded groups were significantly elevated, but less raised in group SP than in group SC, at 2.5 hours and at 4.5 hours after the scald. Further, group SP more profoundly preserved intestinal HIF-1 expression compared with group SC at the 2 time points. Compared with group SC, group SP had markedly elevated intestinal EPO, eNOS, and NO levels at the same time points, respectively (P.05). Similarly, IMBF and ZO-1 levels were significantly higher in group SP than in group SC. Intestinal mucosal histopathological scores were statistically higher at 2.5 hours and 4.5 hours after scalding but were more attenuated in group SP than in group SC (P.05). Immunofluorescence expression of intestinal mucosal ZO-1 was consistent with the above changes. The above parameters were also significantly different between groups SC and SN (all P.05).Pyr-ORS provides a superior option to Cit-ORS for the preservation of intestinal blood flow and barrier function and the attenuation of histopathological alterations in enteral resuscitation of rats with burn injury. Its underlying mechanism may be closely related to the pyruvate in activation of intestinal HIF-1-EPO signaling cascades.

The vertical and horizontal distributions of Pseudorobitis gibbus adults on Lagerstroemia indica were analyzed by using the aggregation indices and geostatistics. The results from aggregation index methods indicated that its vertical distribution was an aggregated distribution, and the aggregation average (lambda) was above two, showing that the aggregation resulted from its bionomics and behaviors, not from the environmental factors. The results of geostatistic analysis showed that the best fitting models for the five different sampling data in June 4, June 16, June 29, July 25 and August 22 were Gaussian, Gaussian, Linear, Gaussian and Linear models, respectively, but random models in July 12 and August 7. It was concluded that the horizontal distribution of the pest was aggregated on the whole, and there existed a spatial correlation ranging from 1.68 to 9.79 m on the different dates.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of electroacupuncture at ST36 (EA ST36) on gastric emptying and mucosal blood flow during intragastric resuscitation with pyruvate-enriched oral rehydration solution (Pyr-ORS) in scalded rats.The rats were subjected to a 35% total body surface area (TBSA) of scald injury and randomly divided into five groups (N=24) and two subgroups (n=12) in each group. The Pyr-ORS was delivered intragastrically according to the Parkland formula immediately after scalding at a dose of 1 mL kg(-1) %TBSA(-1) in 1 h. In these animals, the bilateral Zusanli points (ST36) were electroacupunctured at a constant voltage (2 mA and 2-100 HZ) for 0.5 h immediately after intragastric resuscitation. At 2 and 4 h after scalding, the gastric emptying rate (GER) and gastric mucosal blood flow (GMBF) were determined, and the motilin levels of the plasma and gastric tissues were also analyzed at two time points, respectively.GER and GMBF were markedly decreased in groups with scalding and resuscitation, compared with the sham groups at two time points (P0.05), but they were greatly improved in groups byEAST36 at 2 and 4 h after sustaining scald injuries (P0.05). Bilateral vagotomy further aggravated the reduction of GER and GMBF in scalded rats. EA after gastric vagotomy failed to raise GER and GMBF. Neither EA nor vagotomy had effects on the reduced motilin levels of plasma and gastric tissues in animals after scalding.EA ST36 has a significant effect on improving gastric emptying and mucosal ischemia in the oral resuscitation of burn injury, possibly through the activation of a cholinergic nerve-dependent mechanism. In addition, EA ST36 showed no effects on motilin levels, but requires further investigations.

To investigate protective effects of pyruvate-enriched peritoneal dialysis solution (P-PDS), compared with lactate-PDS (L-PDS), on the intestinal mucosal barrier in peritoneal resuscitation (PR) from severe hemorrhagic shock (HS) in rats.Fifty male SD rats were randomly divided into five groups (n = 10): group sham, group control (HS without fluid resuscitation), group intravenous resuscitation (IVR) (HS with IVR only), group L-PDS (HS with i.v. infusion plus PR with L-PDS), and group P-PDS (HS with i.v. infusion plus PR with P-PDS). HS was induced by hemorrhage with mean arterial pressure 40 mm Hg for 60 min. In three groups with fluid rehydration, IVR included shed blood and dl-lactate Ringer solution equal to two times the volume of shed blood during 60 min; in two groups with PR, 20 mL of L-PDS, or P-PDS were infused when i.v. infusion started after HS into the peritoneal cavity in 20 min, respectively. Blood samples were taken for determinations of pH, base excess, PaCO2, PaO2, and D-LA 60 min post fluid resuscitation. After rats were sacrificed, a segment of intestine was harvested for the detection of expressions of intestinal barrier proteins: zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) and phosphorylated vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (p-VASP) by Western blot and immunohistochemistry. Intestinal morphologic alterations were also observed.Blood pH, base excess, and PaO2 were higher, whereas PaCO2 and D-LA were lower in group P-PDS than in other three HS groups (P0.05 and P0.01, respectively). Severe acidosis was nearly corrected in group P-PDS. Intestinal barrier proteins ZO-1 and p-VASP were significantly preserved in group P-PDS than in group L-PDS (P0.05) although they were improved in group L-PDS in comparison with other two HS groups (P0.05 or P0.01). Expressions of barrier proteins by Western blotting in group P-PDS were reversed to normal. The score of intestinal epithelial damage index was reduced in group L-PDS, compared with other two HS groups (P0.05), however, it was significantly lower in group P-PDS than in group L-PDS (P0.05).Pyruvate was superior to lactate in PDS in the correction of severe acidosis with PR. P-PDS was more preservative of expressions of intestinal ZO-1 and p-VASP and mucosal barrier function, compared with L-PDS in PR from severe HS in rats.

AIMS The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of pyruvate-containing fluids on peritoneal resuscitation (PR), following intravenous fluid resuscitation from hemorrhagic shock (HS) in rats. METHODS One hundred rats following 1-h HS with mean arterial pressure 35 ± 5 mmHg were randomly assigned to five groups (n = 10) in each of two comparable sets: group VR: intravenous resuscitation (VR) only and four groups with PR after VR: groups NS, LA, P1, and P2, resuscitated with normal saline, lactated peritoneal dialysis solution (PDS), pyruvated PDS, and 2.2% pyruvate, respectively. The splanchnic blood flow on surfaces of liver, kidney, and intestinal mucosa was detected. Blood samples were taken before HS and at T180 or T360 in these two animal sets after hemorrhage for function tests of liver, kidney, and intestinal mucosa, respectively. The intestinal mucosal barrier protein: zonula occludens 1 (ZO-1) and tissue water contents of these organs were also determined. RESULTS Splanchnic blood flow was significantly preserved in all PR groups with hyperosmolar solutions: group P1 and group P2 with pyruvate were more advantageous than group LA. Group P2 was the most efficient among groups in reverse of visceral hypoperfusion. Organ function and tissue water contents of liver, kidney, and intestine and the intestinal barrier ZO-1 density were also improved in group P1 and group P2, compared with group LA. Among organs, the pyruvate protection of intestinal mucosa was the most apparent by reversing splanchnic blood flow and diamine oxidase close to reference ranges with the highest ZO-1 density. Group P2 showed the most pyruvate protection in all test parameters among four groups with PR. CONCLUSIONS Peritoneal resuscitation with hyperosmolar fluids attenuated visceral vasoconstriction and splanchnic hypoperfusion and improved the intestinal barrier protein and organ function following conventional fluid resuscitation from severe HS in rats. Pyruvate was superior to lactate in PDS as PR fluids, and 2.2% pyruvate was the optimal fluid in PR.

Aim To investigate alteration in intestinal absorption during enteral resuscitation with pyruvate-enriched oral rehydration solution (Pyr-ORS) in scalded rats. Methods To compare pyruvate-enriched oral rehydration solution (Pyr-ORS) with World Health Organisation oral rehydration solution (WHO-ORS), 120 rats were randomly divided into 6 groups and 2 subgroups. At 1.5 and 4.5 h after a 35% TBSA scald, the intestinal absorption rate, mucosal blood flow (IMBF), Na + -K + -ATPase activity and aquaporin-1 (AQP-1) expression were determined ( n = 10), respectively. Results The intestinal Na + -K + -ATPase activity, AQP-1 expression and IMBF were markedly decreased in scald groups, but they were profoundly preserved by enteral resuscitation with WHO-ORS and further improved significantly with Pyr-ORS at both time points. Na + -K+-ATPase activities remained higher in enteral resuscitation with Pyr-ORS (Group SP) than those with WHO-ORS (Group SW) at 4.5 h. AQP-1 and IMBF were significantly greater in Group SP than in Group SW at both time points. Intestinal absorption rates of water and sodium were obviously inhibited in scald groups; however, rates were also significantly preserved in Group SP than in Group SW with an over 20% increment at both time points. Conclusion The Pyr-ORS may be superior to the standard WHO-ORS in the promotion of intestinal absorption of water and sodium during enteral resuscitation.

In order to understand the effects of fluctuating thermal regime (FTR) on the cold tolerance of female and male Aphidius gifuensis adults in the mummies of Schizaphis graminum and to explore the variation patterns of the biochemical substances in the adult body, this paper determined the supercooling point (SCP), freezing point (FP), and the water, fat, protein, and carbohydrate contents of the adults after FTR treatments. Compared with that at constant temperature (20 degrees C), the cold tolerance of the adults at 4 degrees C 22 h/20 degrees C 2 h and 4 degrees C 46 h/20 degrees C 2 h after 1 week enhanced significantly. The SCP and FP after FTR presented a downtrend, being the lowest (-26.38 degrees C and -25.51 degrees C, respectively) for the female adults after 1 week of 4 degrees C 22 h/20 degrees C and the lowest (-26.82 degrees C and -26.38 degrees C, respectively) for the male adults after 1 week of 4 degrees C 46 h/20 degrees C 2 h. After FTR, the carbohydrate and protein contents of the female and male adults increased while the fat and water contents were in adverse, with distinct changes after 1 week of 4 degrees C 22 h/20 degrees C 2 h and 4 degrees C 46 h/20 degrees C 2 h. The results indicated that FTR could enhance the cold tolerance of A. gifuensis adults, which was closely related to the variations of the biochemical substances in the adult body, and the treatments 4 degrees C 22 h/20 degrees C 2 h and 4 degrees C 46 h/20 degrees C 2 h for 1 week were most advantageous to the survival and practical application of A. gifuensis.

Two new species of the genus Taipodisma Yin et al, 2014 from Taiwan, China are described in this paper. The new species Taipodisma viriditibia sp. nov. is similar to Taipodisma hsiehi Yin et al. , 2014, it differs from the latter by antennae longer, length of a middle segment 4.0 times its width; interspace of mesosternum longer in male, the length 2.0 times the narrowest; lateral lobes of metasternum slightly separated in male; epiproct of male with longitudinal sulcus at base only and length of subgenital plate of female longer than width. The new species Taipodisma kaohsiungensis sp. nov. is similar to Taipodisma nigritibia Yin et al. , 2014, it differs from the latter by prozona of pronotum 1.2 times metazona; length of interspace as long as the narrowest in mesosternum of male; hind tibia yellowish green on lower side and length of subgenital plate longer than width in female. The type specimens are deposited in the National Museum of Natural Science, Taichung, Taiwan, China and the Institute of Entomology, Taiwan University, Taibei, Taiwan, China, respectively.

The insect pest and natural enemy communities in Red Fuji apple orchard in Mouping District of Yantai City were quantitatively analyzed by multivariate analysis. The temporal structure of the communities was grouped into five continuous stages by using optimal sorting method, and the community characteristics at each stage were described. The dominant pests and natural enemies were determined at different growth stages of apple trees through analyzing the sub-communities of the insect pests and the predatory and parasitic enemies by principal component analysis and factor analysis. Canonical correlation analysis showed that there were significant correlations between the dominant insect pests and the dominant natural enemies, especially between Lithocolletis ringoniella and its parasitoids, between Aphis citricola and its parasitoids, and between Tetranychus viennensis and its obligatory predatory enemies, Stethorus punctillum and Amblyseius orientalis.

B cell activating factor of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) family (BAFF) and a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) are closely related ligands within the TNF superfamily that play important roles in B lymphocyte biology. Both ligands share two receptors—transmembrane activator and calcium signal–modulating cyclophilin ligand interactor (TACI) and B cell maturation antigen (BCMA)—that are predominantly expressed on B cells. In addition, BAFF specifically binds BAFF receptor, whereas the nature of a postulated APRIL-specific receptor remains elusive. We show that the TNF homology domain of APRIL binds BCMA and TACI, whereas a basic amino acid sequence (QKQKKQ) close to the NH2 terminus of the mature protein is required for binding to the APRIL-specific “receptor.” This interactor was identified as negatively charged sulfated glycosaminoglycan side chains of proteoglycans. Although T cell lines bound little APRIL, the ectopic expression of glycosaminoglycan-rich syndecans or glypicans conferred on these cells a high binding capacity that was completely dependent on APRIL's basic sequence. Moreover, syndecan-1–positive plasma cells and proteoglycan-rich nonhematopoietic cells displayed high specific, heparin-sensitive binding to APRIL. Inhibition of BAFF and APRIL, but not BAFF alone, prevented the survival and/or the migration of newly formed plasma cells to the bone marrow. In addition, costimulation of B cell proliferation by APRIL was only effective upon APRIL oligomerization. Therefore, we propose a model whereby APRIL binding to the extracellular matrix or to proteoglycan-positive cells induces APRIL oligomerization, which is the prerequisite for the triggering of TACI- and/or BCMA-mediated activation, migration, or survival signals.