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Myocardial infarction (MI) is characterized by ventricular remodeling, hypertrophy of the surviving myocardium, and an insufficient angiogenic response. Thyroxine is a powerful stimulus for myocardial angiogenesis. Male rats that underwent coronary artery ligation and subsequent MI were given 3,5-diiodothyropropionic acid (DITPA; MI+DITPA group) during a 3-wk period. We evaluated ventricular remodeling using echocardiography and histology and myocardial vessel growth using image analysis. Protein expression was assessed using Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. This study tested the hypothesis that the thyroxine analog DITPA facilitates angiogenesis and influences postinfarction remodeling in the surviving hypertrophic myocardium. The increase in the region of akinesis (infarct expansion) was blunted in the MI+DITPA rats compared with the MI group (3 vs. 21%); the treated rats had smaller percent increases in the left ventricular (LV) volume (64 [+ or -] 14 vs. 95 [+ or -] 12) and the LV volume-to-mass ratio (47 [+ or -] 13 vs. 84 [+ or -] 10) as well as a blunted decrease in ejection fraction (-9 [+ or -] 8 vs. -30 [+ or -] 7%). Arteriolar length density was higher after treatment in the largest (>50% of the free wall) infarcts (64 [+ or -] 3 vs. 43 [+ or -] 7). Angiogenic growth factors [vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)] and the angiopoietin receptor tyrosine kinase with immunoglobulin and epidermal growth factor homology domains (Tie-2) values were elevated during the first week after infarction. DITPA did not cause additional increases in VEGF or Tie-2 values but did induce an increase in bFGF value after 3 days of treatment. This study provides the first evidence for an anatomical basis, i.e., attenuated ventricular remodeling and arteriolar growth, for improved function attributed to DITPA therapy of the infarcted heart. The favorable influences of DITPA on LV remodeling after large infarction are principally due to border zone preservation. diiodothyropropionic acid; angiogencsis; thyroxine analog; angiopoietin

Abstract Massively parallel pyrosequencing is a high-throughput technology that can sequence hundreds of thousands of DNA/RNA fragments in a single experiment. Combining it with immunoprecipitation-based biochemical assays, such as cross-linking immunoprecipitation (CLIP), provides a genome-wide method to detect the sites at which proteins bind DNA or RNA. In a CLIP-pyrosequencing experiment, the resolutions of the detected protein binding regions are partially determined by the length of the detected RNA fragments (CLIP amplicons) after trimming by RNase digestion. The lengths of these fragments usually range from 50-70 nucleotides. Many genomic regions are marked by multiple RNA fragments. In this paper, we report an empirical approach to refine the localization of protein binding regions by using the distribution pattern of the detected RNA fragments and the sequence specificity of RNase digestion. We present two regions to which multiple amplicons map as examples to demonstrate this approach.

Previous studies from our laboratory and those of others have shown thyroxine to be a stimulator of coronary microvascular growth. The present study tested the hypothesis that 3,5-diiodothyropropionic acid (DITPA), a thyroid hormone analog with inotropic but not chronotopic characteristics, is angiogenic in the nonischemic heart. Daily injections (3.75 mg/kg sc) of DITPA to Sprague-Dawley rats affected protein increases in vascular endothelial growth factor [(VEGF).sub.164], [VEGF.sub.188], basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) (FGF-2), angiopoietin-1, and Tie-2 during the first few days of treatment. After 3 wk of treatment, arteriolar length density and the relative number of terminal arterioles ( growth factors; angiogenesis; 3,5-diiodothyroproprionic acid; basic fibroblast growth factor; vascular endothelial growth factor

The newly-built Wujiang Grand Bridge of Wengan-Machangping Railway crosses the Wujiang Gorge, the terrain of which is undulating with a relative elevation difference of about 400 m and a natural slope of 60° to 85°. The gorge is deep and steep, resulting in inconvenient traffic. In order to overcome the difficulties in crossing V-shaped gorge by railway bridges, comprehensive consideration of the control factors in bridge site design comes to the selection of three bridge types of steel box girder suspension bridge, concrete-filled steel tube arch bridge and stiff skeleton concrete arch bridge. This paper introduces in detail their structural scheme and construction scheme, and analyzes them by comparison from the aspects of feasibility, static performance, construction method, economic performance, landscape characteristics, maintenance and repair. The results show that the suspension bridge is expensive and has low vertical rigidity, while the concrete-filled steel tube arch bridge requires large- scale excavation of rock mass with difficulties in construct and a lot of maintenance and repair works. The analysis conclusion points out that in order to adapt to the V-shaped valley terrain, Wujiang Grand Bridge should adopt a stiff skeleton concrete arch bridge with good dynamic performance, convenient construction, small maintenance and repair works, and economical savings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background The fibrinogen-like (FBG) domain consists of approximately 200 amino acid residues, which has high sequence similarity to the C-terminal halves of fibrinogen β and γ chains. Fibrinogen-related proteins (FREPs) containing one or more FBG domains are found universally in vertebrates and invertebrates. In invertebrates, FREPs are involved in immune responses and other aspects of physiology. To understand the complexity of this gene family in Drosophila, we analyzed FREPs in twelve Drosophila species. Results Using the genome data from 12 Drosophila species, we identified FBG domains in each species. The results show that the gene numbers in each species vary from 14 genes up to 43 genes. Using sequence profile analysis, we found that FBG domains have high sequence similarity and are highly conserved throughout. By comparison of structure and sequence conservation, some of the FBG domains in Drosophila melanogaster are predicted to function in recognition of carbohydrates and their derivatives on the surface of microorganisms in innate immunity. Conclusion Sequence and structural analyses show that FREP family across 12 Drosophila species contains conserved FBG domains. Expansion of the FREP families in Drosophila is mainly accounted by a major expansion of FBG domains.

Abstract Background The fibrinogen-like (FBG) domain, which consists of approximately 200 amino acid residues, has high sequence similarity to the C-terminal halves of fibrinogen β and γ chains. Fibrinogen-related proteins (FREPs), which contain FBG domains in their C-terminal region, are found universally in vertebrates and invertebrates. In invertebrates, FREPs are involved in immune responses and other aspects of physiology. To understand the complexity of this family in insects, we analyzed FREPs in the mosquito genome and made comparisons to FREPs in the fruitfly genome. Results By using the genome data of the mosquito, Anopheles gambiae, 53 FREPs were identified, whereas only 20 members were found in the Drosophila melanogaster genome. Using sequence profile analysis, we found that FBG domains have high sequence similarity and are highly conserved throughout the FBG domain region. By secondary structure analysis and comparison, the FBG domains of FREPs are predicted to function in recognition of carbohydrates and their derivatives on the surface of microorganisms in innate immunity. Conclusion Detailed sequence and structural analysis discloses that the FREP family contains FBG domains that have high sequence similarity in the A. gambiae genome. Expansion of the FREP family in mosquitoes during evolutionary history is mainly accounted for by a major expansion of the FBG domain architecture. The characterization of the FBG domains in the FREP family is likely to aid in the experimental analysis of the ability of mosquitoes to recognize parasites in innate immunity and physiologies associated with blood feeding.