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OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of micro-ribonucleic acid-195 (miR-195) on myocardial fibrosis in hypertensive rats through the transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFβ1)-Smad3 signaling pathway. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) were selected in this study to establish the animal model. The content of miR-195 in the model group and control group was measured, respectively. Arterial blood pressure, liver function and myocardial function in the two groups were detected and examined. Pathological changes in rat myocardial tissues were detected via hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. After that, myocardial fibroblasts were collected and added with miRNA inhibitors and mimics to suppress and overexpress miR-195. Thereafter, Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blotting were employed to detect the mRNA and protein expression levels of checkpoint kinase 1 (Chek1) and alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) (important molecules for proliferation and differentiation of myocardial fibroblasts), as well as the related pathway TGFβ1-Smad3. Furthermore, the effects of miR-195 on myocardial fibrosis in hypertensive rats via the TGFβ1-Smad3 signaling pathway were comprehensively observed. RESULTS: Serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP), glutamic pyruvic aminotransferase (ALT) and creatine kinase (CK) levels in the SHR group were significantly higher than those of the normal group. Cardiac function examination showed that SHR group had significantly reduced fractional shortening (FS, %) and ejection fraction (EF, %) in comparison with the normal group. However, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (LVEDd) and left ventricular end-systolic dimension (LVESd) were markedly elevated in the SHR group. In addition, the miR-195 expression level was remarkably reduced in hypertensive rats. Histopathological changes in rat myocardial tissues were detected through HE staining. The results showed that the normal group had orderly arranged myocardial cells. However, SHR group showed disorderly arranged myocardial cells, thickened myocardial fibers and myocardial fibrosis. RT-PCR assay results revealed that the mRNA levels of Collagen, Chek1, α-SMA, TGFβ1 and Smad3 in rat myocardial fibroblasts were significantly reduced in Mimics group (p<0.05) and increased in Inhibitors group (p<0.05). Western blotting results demonstrated that, compared with the control group, the protein levels of α-SMA, TGFβ1 and Smad3 in rat myocardial cells decreased significantly in Mimics group (p<0.05). Opposite results were observed in Inhibitors group (p<0.05). The above results suggested that overexpression of miR-195 inhibited the expressions of TGFβ1-Smad3 signaling pathway and related molecules, further repressing myocardial fibrosis. CONCLUSIONS: MiR-195 participates in the development and progression of myocardial fibrosis in hypertensive rats through the TGFβ1- Smad3 signaling pathway. Furthermore, this can inhibit the development of myocardial fibrosis in hypertensive rats and prevent myocardial diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sprinkling water is applied in shorter irrigation intervals and lighter irrigation applications in arid areas. The water-saving irrigation is the primary method of local agricultural production. Since chemical fertilizer is the primary emission source of nitrous oxide (N2O), it is appropriate to verify the general influence of water-saving irrigation on N2O. Results of the study, conducted in a potato field as the experimental site for two consecutive years, using two different irrigation systems – namely, furrow (FI) and sprinkling-irrigation (SI) with a mineral N fertilizer (NF) and a control without any fertilizer (Control) are reported. The N2O emission fluxes with NF were higher than those of the control in each irrigation system. On plots where the NF was applied, mean emissions fluxes of N2O was 152.02 μg/(m² hr) in FI, 36.53μg/(m² hr) in SI from 2016 to 2017. The reduction of N2O emissions from SI was due to the lower amount of water applied every time and the lower NO3--N and NH4+-N of soil associated with SI. This work showed that SI is a method that helps save water and mitigates emissions of the atmospheric N2O pollutants compared to FI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of replacing inorganic trace minerals (ITMs) with organic trace minerals (OTMs) on the production performance, blood profile, and antioxidative status of broiler breeders. A total of 600 healthy broiler breeder hens, aged 40 wk, were randomly divided into 5 treatments with 4 replicates in each treatment, and fed for 10 wk. Experimental treatments were: (1) commercial levels of inorganic minerals (COM); (2) L-ITM (50% of the COM, except for Se); (3) VL-OTM (37.5% of the COM, except for Se); (4) L-OTM (equivalent to L-ITM); and (5) OTM (62.5% of the COM, except for Se). The laying rate was 9.56% higher, feed-to-egg ratio was 7.83% lower, and rate of qualified eggs was 18.33% higher (P  < 0.05) for L-OTM compared to L-ITM despite equal mineral levels. The fertility with COM was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than L-ITM, VL-OTM, or L-OTM treatments. OTM and COM treatments both had increased serum LH and P4. The relatively higher mineral levels fed in COM and OTM treatments increased blood total protein (P < 0.05). In addition, activities of serum GSH-Px, Mn-SOD, and T-SOD were higher (P < 0.01), while malondialdehyde (MDA) content was lower (P < 0.05), for COM and OTM birds as compared to L-ITM and VL-OTM. The serum T-SOD of L-OTM birds was significantly higher (9.81%; P < 0.01) than that of L-ITM birds. Higher (P < 0.05) activities of liver GSH-Px and T-SOD, and lower MDA concentrations (P < 0.01) were measured in the COM, L-OTM, and OTM treatments than the L-ITM treatment. Collectively, total replacement of high levels of ITMs by lower levels of OTMs in broiler breeder diets was beneficial for productive performance under the conditions of this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: Endometrial cancer (EC) is one of the three most common gynecological cancers. Due to the lack of effective treatment for EC patients in an advanced stage, the mortality rate of EC is increasing rapidly. Hence, it is essential to seek for novel molecular therapeutic targets and biomarkers for EC. The aim of this study was to explore the role of miR-218 in the occurrence and development of EC and to investigate the possible underlying mechanism. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The expression level of miR-218 in EC tissues and cell lines was detected by quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR). Wound healing assay and Matrigel assay were performed to determine the migration and invasion abilities of EC cells. Meanwhile, the potential targets of miR-218 were predicted by bioinformatics analysis and confirmed by Luciferase reporter gene assay. In addition, the protein expression level of Adducin 2 (ADD2) was assessed by Western blotting analysis. RESULTS: QRT-PCR results revealed that miR-218 was significantly downregulated in EC tiss``````ues and cell lines. Wound healing assay and Matrigel assay demonstrated that miR-218 suppressed the migration and invasion abilities of EC cells. Online prediction databases predicted that ADD2 was a direct target of miR-218, which was verified by Luciferase reporter gene assay. Rescue experiments further validated that miR-218 could serve as a carcinoma suppressor by negatively regulating ADD2 expression in EC. CONCLUSIONS: In the present study, we elucidated that miR-218 served as a tumor suppressor in EC by negatively regulating ADD2. This might bring a novel insight into new molecular therapeutic targets and biomarkers for EC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: To understand the value of high frequency ultrasound in the clinical screening of parathyroid gland, and to summarize the intrinsic relationship between primary hyperparathyroidism and recurrent urinary calculi. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 98 cases of urinary calculi were randomly selected, and the patients were admitted to our hospital from March 2014 to August 2017. A total of 100 healthy subjects were selected as group B in the same period. High frequency color Doppler ultrasonography scan recorded the results. RESULTS: Among the subjects in group A, 67 (68.37%) showed parathyroid gland, 14 cases (14.29%) had tumor mass in the parathyroid system, 40 cases more than those in group B (40.00%) and 2 cases (2.00%), (p<0.05). There were 10 cases (10.20%) of primary hyperparathyroidism in group A and no cases of primary hyperparathyroidism in group B (p < 0.05). The occurrence of primary hyperparathyroidism was 26.92% (7/26) in the number of cases, with 3 and more cases of urinary calculi, which was higher than that in the first recurrent cases (3/72), (p<0.005). CONCLUSIONS: One of the key causes of recurrent episodes of urinary calculi is primary hyperparathyroidism, which can be applied to high frequency ultrasonography to develop professional screening of parathyroid gland in cases of urinary calculi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carrot is generally regarded as a biennial plant with an obligatory vernalization requirement. Early spring cultivation makes plants vulnerable to premature bolting, which results in a loss of commercial value. However, our knowledge of flowering time genes and flowering mechanisms in carrot remain limited., Bolting behavior of D. carota ssp. carota 'Songzi', a wild species sensitive to flower induction by vernalization and photoperiod, and orange cultivar 'Amsterdam forcing', and their offspring were investigated in different growing conditions. We performed RNA-seq to identify the flowering time genes, and digital gene expression (DGE) analysis to examine their expression levels. The circadian patterns of related genes were identified by qPCR., The results showed bolting behavior of carrot was influenced by low temperature, illumination intensity and photoperiod. A total of 45 flowering time-related unigenes were identified, which were classified into five categories including photoperiod, vernalization, autonomous and gibberellin pathway, and floral integrators. Homologs of LATE ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL ( LHY) and CONSTANS-LIKE 2 ( COL2) were more highly expressed under short day condition than under long day condition. Homologs of COL2, CONSTANS-LIKE 5 ( COL5), SUPPRESSION OF OVEREXPRESSION OF CONSTANS 1 ( SOC1), FLOWERING LOCUS C ( FLC) and GIBBERELLIC ACID INSENSITIVE ( GAI) were differentially expressed between 'Songzi' and 'Amsterdam forcing'. The homolog of COL2 (Dct43207) was repressed by light, but that of COL5 (Dct20940) was induced. A preliminary model of genetic network controlling flowering time was constructed by associating the results of DGE analysis with correlation coefficients between genes., This study provides useful information for further investigating the genetic mechanism of flowering in carrot. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the correlation of levels of procalcitonin (PCT) and blood lactic acid with the effectiveness of the non-invasive ventilation (NIV) in the treatment of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) with different severities. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We used a case-control method to study patients who were admitted for AECOPD to the ICU at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from January 1, 2012, to December 31, 2014. The patients had shown no response to conventional therapy or NIV treatment. The patients who had been treated with NIV before ICU admission were excluded. According to the pH value of arterial blood gas analysis after ICU admission, the AECOPD patients were divided into a mild group (pH ≥ 7.30) and a severe group (pH < 7.30). On the basis of whether a patient needed an artificial airway after NIV therapy, the two groups of patients were divided into two subgroups: an effective group and an ineffective group. A total of 153 patients were screened for the study. Of the 62 patients in the mild group, 38 cases were in the effective group, while 24 cases were in the ineffective group. Through the comparative analysis of clinical features of the patients in the two subgroups before NIV therapy, the single factor analysis between groups was applied to find the factor that influenced the effectiveness of NIV in the treatment of AECOPD with different severities. The logistic regression for multi-factor analysis was applied. RESULTS: The results implied that the level of procalcitonin (PCT) in patients of the effective group was significantly lower than the level in the ineffective group (0.95 ± 0.54 vs. 1.34 ± 0.70, p = 0.016). Of 89 patients in the severe group, 33 cases were in the effective group, while 56 cases were in the ineffective group. The results indicated that levels of PCT (0.99 ± 0.57 vs. 1.46 ± 0.81, p = 0.004) and blood lactic acid (1.5 ± 0.5 vs. 1.9 ± 0.8, p = 0.008) in patients of the effective group were significantly lower than levels of the ineffective group. CONCLUSIONS: The PCT and blood lactic acid, which reflect the infection severity, are factors influenced by the effectiveness of NIV in the treatment of AECOPD of different severities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rhizome of Menispermum dauricum DC known as a traditional Chinese medicine, with high content of alkaloids, has been found to possess antitumor activity. In this research, an attempt to correlate fingerprinting with bioactivity was made for quality control of M. dauricum. Firstly, the cytotoxicity of extracts from ten batches of samples against human breast MCF-7 cancer cells was estimated by [3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazole-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazoliumbromide] assay. Then, cytotoxic activity-integrated fingerprints were established by high performance liquid chromatography. Eight peaks were selected as the common peaks to evaluate the similarities of samples and hierarchical clustering analysis was used to identify and classify different samples into groups. Assays for determinations of total alkaloids and dauricine contents enabled cytotoxicity coefficient of each extract. The potential usefulness of employing cytotoxicity coefficient was investigated by a combination of Pearson correlation coefficients and multiple linear regression analysis as being the reliable parameter to evaluate the herbal extracts. The results indicated that the level of dauricine (peak 8 in the fingerprint) correlated closely with cytotoxicity and played a significant role in the cytotoxicity of Bei Dou-Gen and could be related to its antitumor properties. It is proposed that the cytotoxicity coefficient value with a cytotoxic activity-integrated fingerprint of key biomarkers (dauricine) may be useful indicators to adopt for the quality control of M. dauricum. The analysis of cytotoxic-activity-integrated fingerprint could correlate fingerprinting with bioactivities and would provide a reasonable strategy for quality control of complex mixture of herbal medicines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]