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The successful treatment of keloids is a great challenge in the plastic surgery field. Activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3) is discovered as an adaptive responsive gene, which plays a critical role in fibroblast activation. This study aimed to investigate the expression and biological role of ATF3 in the pathogenesis of keloids. ATF3 expression in normal skins and keloids was evaluated by real-time PCR, western blot and immunohistochemistry. Effects of ATF3 on cell growth, apoptosis, invasion and collagen production were evaluated in keloid fibroblast cells overexpressing or downregulating ATF3. ATF3 expression was significantly elevated in keloid tissues when compared with that of normal skins and parakeloidal skin tissues. Moreover, ATF3 promoted cell proliferation and collagen production in keloid fibroblast cells. Conversely, transfection with siRNA targeting ATF3 led to decreased cell viability and collagen synthesis via inhibiting transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and fibroblast growth factor 2/8 (FGF2/8) production in keloid fibroblasts. ATF3 could reduce the apoptosis rate of keloid fibroblast cells. Molecularly, we found that ATF3 promoted BCL2 level and inhibit the expression of BCL2 associated agonist of cell death (Bad), Caspase3 and Caspase9 in keloid fibroblast cells. ATF3 also enhanced the invasive potential via upregulating the expression of Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMP) family members (MMP1, MMP2, MMP9 and MMP13). ATF3 could induce activation of TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway in fibroblasts. Collectively, ATF3 could promote growth and invasion, and inhibit apoptosis via TGF-β/Smad pathway in keloid fibroblast cells, suggesting that ATF3 might be considered as a novel therapeutic target for the management of keloid., GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

A copper-catalyzed formal propargylic [3 + 2] cycloaddition between propargylic acetates and 3-(2-tosylhydrazono)propanoates for the synthesis of (E)-β-substituted-β-pyrazolylacrylates has been realized. The reaction showed broad substrate scope and excellent stereoselectivities, thus leading to a variety of (E)-β-substituted-β-pyrazolylacrylates in moderate to good yields. The employment of a tridentate diPh-pybox ligand proved to be crucial for the success of the reaction.

Children with global developmental delay (GDD) were trained with the Portage Guide to Early Education (PGEE) program. In the treatment group, the PGEE program was performed on children with GDD (45 cases) through a combination of family and hospital interventions, in a 1-to-1 ratio. The Gesell Infant Development Scale (GESELL) developmental quotient (DQ) and social adaptability were measured before and 6 months after PGEE implementation in the treatment group. These parameters were also evaluated in a control group (30 cases) during an initial visit and 6 months later. Before the PGEE intervention, no significant differences were observed between the general characteristics of children in the control and treatment groups. Six months after the PGEE intervention, the DQ values of the children with GDD in the treatment group (64.7 ± 9.5) were significantly higher than those before treatment (54.6 ± 9.3) and those of the control group (58.3 ± 10.2) (P

This paper studies on the problem that the unreasonable choice of clustered routing protocol cluster head of energy heterogeneous WSN and the overload of some cluster head node which are far away from the base station in remote communication. And an improved clustering routing protocol based on energy and density for heterogeneous wireless sensor networks is proposed. Firstly, the optimal number of cluster head is got according to the network energy consumption model, and the node density factor is modified. Then, the new threshold is established by considering the residual energy of the node, the node density and the distance from the node to the BS. The cluster head communicates with the BS by using a single hop and a hybrid way through a relay node to reduce the cluster head load of the remote base station. Finally, the simulation results based on OMNet++ and Matlab show that the improved protocol has better performance in terms of network lifetime and network energy consumption compared with existing protocols.

The aim of this paper is to study the ultimate bearing capacity of steel tubular transmission tower’s joint with annular plate based on the theoretical analysis. A simplified model of annular plate joints was performed to investigate the force distribution of the tube-gusset joints. To obtain the state of stress and ultimate bearing capacity, the annular plate with clamped boundary condition on the inner edges and subjected to diametric loading is employed in this study by the direct integration and thin plate energy principle theory. Experiment and finite element analysis are carried out and the results show that both are the similar.

A copper-catalyzed asymmetric etherification of propargylic acetates with oximes as O-nucleophiles has been developed. The employment of a chiral tridentate P,N,N-ligand proved to be crucial for the success of the reaction. The reaction features a broad scope on either reaction partners and led to a variety of etherification products in good yields and enantioselectivities.

East Xing Six District of Daqing oilfield development has 50 years of history, the block has entered high well density, high water cut stage. The apricot East Xing Six District demonstration zone development belongs to the continental sedimentary system, it has reservoir types and physical properties have large differences, It was long-term effected by injected water, after water flooding, water degree condition becomes very complex and unpredictable, so the washing condition analysis is an important guarantee for Daqing oilfield stable production. Using the oil field sealed coring well data, various types of reservoirs washing degree thickness change and growth are analyzed, We can know that with the further water flooding development and well pattern infilling, all kinds of oil reservoir production status; and then analyzes the potential distribution of the oilfields, and provides a basis for the development of the block and the adjustment of the next step of work, has an important guiding significance.

To guide the potential tapping and carry out adjustment plan, the conventional mercury injection experimental data in coring well X is analyzed by Logistic Regression analysis in SPSS 18 software. The main influence factors on reservoir producing status in the data are screened, which are the main factors from the data on microscopic pore structure; the relationship between microscopic pore structure and producing status is analyzed by capillary pressure curve and water-washing data. The result shows that, the influence of microscopic pore structure on producing status of un-tabulated reservoir is more powerful than its influence on that of tabulated reservoir; the main factor on producing status in mercury injection data of tabulated reservoir is average pore radius, the main factors on producing status in mercury injection data of un-tabulated reservoir is pore distribution peak position, permeability distribution peak value and maximum withdrawal efficiency.

Apotransferrin could bind a number of metal ions besides Fe, which makes it an attractive delivery vehicle for metal-based medicines. In order to evaluate whether anticancer Mn(II) complex of [(Adpa)Mn(Cl)(H2O)] Adpa = bis(2-pyridylmethyl)amino-2-propionic acid) (AdpaMn) could be transported by apotransferrin, we investigated its interaction with human apotransferrin by fluorescence and circular dichroism spectroscopy (CD). The association dynamics show that AdpaMn could bind to apotransferrin spontaneously in Hepes buffer. Synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy and CD spectroscopy show that the conjugation of AdpaMn and apotransferrin by hydrophobic interactions induces the change of the microenvironment and conformation of apotransferrin. The reversible binding and release of AdpaMn was studied with fluorescence titration method. The AdpaMn complex can be released from the AdpaMn–apotransferrin entity in weak acid environments. MTT assay in vitro confirms that apotransferrin can enhance the inhibition rate of AdpaMn on the proliferation of HepG-2 cells, so we deduce that AdpaMn could be transported by apotransferrin in vivo.

TiO2 supported gold clusters are prepared by photo-deposition method. The effect of preparation parameters on the size and morphology of gold clusters are investigated. The as-prepared Au/TiO2 samples are characterized by means of ICP, XRD and TEM. Au/TiO2 samples with different gold cluster sizes are studied as possible catalysts in the selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde and smaller gold clusters are observed to exhibit higher catalytic activity.

It focused on how the low carbon steel surface was pretreated by hydrolyzed KH-560 silane solution and the polyethylene (PE) coatings were prepared on the pretreated surface in the paper. Moreover, the comparison of the adhesive strengths of PE coatings has been made between the coating and the steel substrate surfaces pretreated by silane agents and other various conventional pretreatment methods. The results show that the highest adhesive strength between coatings and steel surface could be acquired on the condition that the concentration of KH-560 was about 5% and the hydrolytic time was 48 hours, and the adhesive strength of coatings coated on the steel substrate surfaces pretreated by silane agents was more or less higher than those pretreated by conventional processes such as sandpaper grinding, acid etching, phosphating and sandblasting by 40.3%, 46%, 17.6% and 13.2%, respectively. The fracture morphology of the coatings coated on silane agent pretreated substrate surface showed cohesive failure, which was also different from the ones coated on the conventional process pretreated substrate surfaces.

Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) play important roles in regulating plant growth and development. The purpose of this study was to investigate how N and P nutrients affect amino acids in the root exudates and grains of rice (Oryza sativa L.) using two cultivars, Yangdao 6 (indica) and Yangjing 9538 (japonica), with 5 treatments, 0N (without N), 1/2N (1/2 N of the standard Espino nutrition solution), 0P (without P), 1/2P (1/2 P of the standard Espino nutrition solution), and CK (standard Espino nutrition solution), during the grain filling period. The concentrations and components of amino acids in the root exudates and grains were measured, and their relations were analyzed. The results showed that the concentration of each amino acid in the root exudates decreased gradually during the process of grain filling. Nitrogen stress (0N) during grain filling significantly reduced the concentration of each amino acid in the root exudates and grains. Phosphorus stress (0P) significantly increased the concentrations of acidic and neutral amino acids in root exudates, but significantly reduced the contents of total amino acids, essential amino acids, and other amino acids in the grains. The concentrations of amino acids in the root exudates were significantly and negatively correlated with the relative content of amino acids in grains, and the concentration of alkali amino acids in the root exudates was significantly and negatively correlated with a 1000-grain-weight. The results suggested that the concentrations and components of amino acids in the root exudates were closely associated with those in grains as well as with the grain weight. Nitrogen and phosphorous nutrients played a significant role in regulating the concentrations/contents and components of amino acids in roots and grains, and accordingly, affect the grain yield and nutrient quality of rice.

Meiosis stage is the most stress-sensitive period of reproduction in rice (Oryza sativa L.). However, the underlying biochemical mechanism is poorly understood. This study was carried out to investigate whether and how plant hormones are involved in the regulation of spikelet sterility when exposed to water stress during meiosis. Two rice cultivars, Han A-3 (HA-3, drought-resistant) and Wuyujing 7 (WY-7, drought-susceptible), were used and subjected to well-watered (WW) and water-stressed (WS) treatments during meiosis (15 to 2 d before heading). Leaf water potentials of both cultivars markedly decreased during the period as a result of WS treatment, but panicle water potentials remained constant. The percentage of sterile spikelets in WS plants was increased by 48.5% to 50.9% for WY-7, whereas only by 12.6% to 12.8% for HA-3. The concentrations of zeatin + zeatin riboside (Z+ZR), indole-3-acetic acid and gibberellins (GA1+GA4) in spikelets showed no significant differences either between the WW and WS treatments or between the 2 cultivars. Abscisic acid (ABA), ethylene, and 1-aminocylopropane-1-carboxylic acid were all enhanced in spikelets following water stress, with further enhancement for ethylene than for ABA in WY-7, whereas elevated ABA balanced ethylene production in HA-3. The spikelet sterility was significantly reduced when amino-ethoxyvinylglycine (an inhibitor of ethylene synthesis) or ABA was applied to the panicles of WS plants at the early meiosis stage. Application of ethephon (an ethylene-releasing agent) or fluridone (an inhibitor of ABA synthesis) had the opposite effect. These results indicate that antagonistic interactions between ABA and ethylene may be involved in mediating the effect of water stress on spikelet fertility. A higher ratio of ABA to ethylene would be a physiological trait of rice adaptation to water stress.

Cooking and nutrition qualities of grain are two of the most important aspects of rice quality. To understand the difference in cooking and nutrition qualities among the grains at different positions within a rice panicle, the distributions of gel consistency (GC), amylose content (AC) and crude protein content (CPC) of grains in a panicle in association with different nitrogen levels (0, 120 and 240 kg/ha) were investigated by using two rice varieties, Yangdao 6 (indica) and Wuyujing 3 (japonica). In general, the grains at the basal part of a panicle had lower GC and higher AC than those at the upper or middle part of a panicle. The 1 st grain on the secondary branch with earlier flowering exhibited the highest GC, whereas the 2 nd grain on the primary branch with later flowering showed the highest AC. For Yangdao 6, CPC in the grains on the primary branches was lower at the middle part of a panicle than at the upper or basal part of a panicle. For Wuyujing 3, there were no significant differences in CPCs in the grains among the upper, middle and basal parts of a panicle. GC in the grains was increased, whereas AC was reduced from zero nitrogen application (0N) to low amount of nitrogen application (LN), and the result was reversed from LN to medium amount of nitrogen application (MN). CPC was increased with the increase in the amount of nitrogen application.

AIM: To explore the changes of X-box binding protein 1 splicing (XBP1s) and inflammatory cytokine expression in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) in response to endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS). METHODS: Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and quantitative polymerase chain reaction were performed to detect the forms of XBP1s and the expression of interleukin (IL)-2, interferon (IFN)-γ, and IL-17α. Differences between patients with UC and normal subjects were then determined. RESULTS: Mononuclear cells of the peripheral blood of normal subjects and UC patients with were stimulated with no drugs (control), phytohemagglutinin (PHA), thapsigargin (TG), or both PHA and TG. XBP1s in patients with UC exhibited splicing, which was greater with co-stimulation than single stimulation. Co-stimulation increased the expression level of IL-2, IFN-γ, and IL-17α. CONCLUSION: The T lymphocytes of both normal subjects and patients with UC responded to ERS by activating the XBP1s-mediated signalling pathway, upregulating the expression of inflammatory cytokines, and increasing the occurrence of inflammation. The mononuclear cells in the peripheral blood of patients with UC were more sensitive to ERS than those in the peripheral blood of normal subjects.

For the most existing MAODV protocol is only improved by a single performance, there is a problem that the comprehensive performance of the protocol cannot be improved as well. By uses of the routing selection mechanism with the constraints of bandwidth, delay and packet loss rate of the original protocol, a new multi-objective routing protocol RCQ-MAODV of mobile ad hoc network is put forward. Simulations are conducted to MAODV protocol and RCQ-MAODV by NS2, the simulation results show that RCQ-MAODV routing performance has greatly improved than MAODV, its transmission rate, delivery rate is increased and the network cost is greatly reduced. This shows that the RCQ-MAODV protocol can provide more comprehensive quality assurance for mobile ad hoc networks.

Aloe vera and Vitis vinifera have been traditionally used as wound healing agents. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of aloe emodin and resveratrol in the burn wound healing procedure. Burn wounds are common in developed and developing countries, however, in developing countries, the incidence of severe complications is higher and financial resources are limited. The results of the present study demonstrated that neither aloe emodin or resveratrol were cytotoxic to THP-1 macrophages at concentrations of 1, 100 and 500 ng/ml. A significant increase in wound-healing activity was observed in mice treated with the aloe emodin and resveratrol, compared with those which received control treatments. The levels of IL-1β in the exudates of the burn wound area of the treated mice increased in a time-dependent manner over 7 days following burn wound injury. At 10 days post-injury, steady and progressive wound healing was observed in the control animals. The present study confirmed that increased wound healing occurs following treatment with aloe emodin,, compared with resveratrol, providing support for the use of Aloe vera plants to improve burn wound healing.

Lectins are the tools for the determination of sugar chain structure. Recently, lectin arrays have become a popular new technology; therefore, lectins with specific sugar-binding properties are required. The objective of the study was to isolate a novel lectin from Pleurotus ferulae mushrooms and characterize its various biological activities. A novel lectin was extracted with deionized water, precipitated from the aqueous extract using 75% saturated (NH4)2SO4, and subjected on DEAE-cellulose followed by affinity chromatography on sepharose-6B. The activity was tested using hemagglutination assays, and carbohydrate-binding specificity was determined by glycan microarray analysis. Its effects on the mitogenic activity of mouse splenocytes were determined by MTT assay. The novel lectin was adsorbed on ion-exchange chromatography DEAE-cellulose and shown as a band with the molecular mass of 17.5 kDa on a SDS-PAGE and as a single 35.0-kDa peak in gel filtration on Superdex G-75. The hemagglutinating activity of the lectin was inhibited by D-glucose, lactose, D-galactose, and galactosamine. The lectin was stable on 60°C. The hemagglutinating activity of lectin was reduced by 50% at 70°C. At 80°C, it was further reduced to 6.25% of its original activity. The hemagglutinating activity was the highest at pH 6-9. Moreover, its hemagglutinating activity was inhibited by Mg2+ and Ca2+ ions. The lectin isolated from P. ferulae in the current study possessed highly potent hemagglutinating and proliferative activities toward mouse splenocytes.

Mobile ad hoc network is a distributed wireless communication network, and energy issue has become a hot topic.CMMBCR considers the latest routing strategy about energy issue in ad hoc networks according to different situation , AOMDV multi-path routing protocol is improved based on the energy saving strategy CMMBCR.The improved protocol sets three node status and the nodes that do not work for a long time must be changed into sleep state,thus reducing the energy consumption of nodes. In order to validate the performance of the improved protocol which based on CMMBCR, it uses the simulation platform of NS2 to analyse the improved multipath routing protocol.The results show that, compared with AOMDV protocol the improved routing protocol which based on CMMBCR enhances the delivery rate and the energy costs also is greatly reduced, thus it advances the network performance to some degree.

Neuregulin 1 (NRG1) is a trophic factor that acts by stimulating ErbB receptor tyrosine kinases and has been implicated in neural development and synaptic plasticity. In this study, we investigated mechanisms of its suppression of long-term potentiation (LTP) in the hippocampus. We found that NRG1 did not alter glutamatergic transmission at SC-CA1 synapses but increased the GABA A receptor-mediated synaptic currents in CA1 pyramidal cells via a presynaptic mechanism. Inhibition of GABA A receptors blocked the suppressing effect of NRG1 on LTP and prevented ecto-ErbB4 from enhancing LTP, implicating a role of GABAergic transmission. To test this hypothesis further, we generated parvalbumin (PV)-Cre;ErbB4 −/− mice in which ErbB4, an NRG1 receptor in the brain, is ablated specifically in PV-positive interneurons. NRG1 was no longer able to increase inhibitory postsynaptic currents and to suppress LTP in PV-Cre;ErbB4 −/− hippocampus. Accordingly, contextual fear conditioning, a hippocampus-dependent test, was impaired in PV-Cre;ErbB4 −/− mice. In contrast, ablation of ErbB4 in pyramidal neurons had no effect on NRG1 regulation of hippocampal LTP or contextual fear conditioning. These results demonstrate a critical role of ErbB4 in PV-positive interneurons but not in pyramidal neurons in synaptic plasticity and support a working model that NRG1 suppresses LTP by enhancing GABA release. Considering that NRG1 and ErbB4 are susceptibility genes of schizophrenia, these observations contribute to a better understanding of how abnormal NRG1/ErbB4 signaling may be involved in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia.

This study was aimed to explore the effects of STI571 alone or with As₂O₃ on proliferation, apoptosis and caspase 3, bcl-xL mRNA expression of K562 cells, and the molecular mechanism of As₂O₃ enhancing the anti-leukemia effect of STI571 so as to provide the scientific basis for clinical treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia. The effect of drugs on proliferation of K562 cells was assayed by MTT method, the apoptosis rate of K562 cells was detected by flow cytometry with Annexin V/PI double staining, the caspase 3, bcl-xL mRNA expressions of K562 cells were determined by real time quantitative PCR. The results showed that STI571 alone or with As₂O₃ both could inhibit the proliferation of K562 cells. OD value in test groups reduced along with prolonging of action times, the OD values between different time points were significantly different (p0.05), furthermore the OD values at 72 hours in test groups were lowest, while as compared with control group, OD values at same time points in test groups all gradually decreased, among which decrease of OD value in test 5 group was most significant. The flow cytometric detection indicated that along with time prolonging, the apoptotic rate in control group not obviously changed, but the apoptotic rate in test groups gradually increased, the difference between time points was significant (p0.05), moreover apoptotic rate increased most obviously at 72 hours, while as compared with control group, apoptotic rate at same time points in test groups was gradually enhanced (p0.05), among which the apoptotic rate in test 5 group was highest. The real time qPCR assay revealed that as compared with control group, the bcl-xL mRNA expression in test groups reduced with decrease of 2-ΔΔCT value, furthermore the decrease of expression level in test 3 group was higher than that in test 2 group (p0.05), while the caspase 3 mRNA expression in test groups was enhanced with increase of 2-ΔΔCT value, moreover the increase of expression level in test 3 group was higher than that in test 2 group (p0.05). It is concluded that the STI571 can inhibit the proliferation of K562 cells, accelerate the apoptosis of K562 cells. The STI571 combined with As₂O₃ can enhance these two effects, increase the expression of caspase-3 mRNA and decrease the expression of bcl-xL mRNA. Therefore, the effect of STI571 combined with As₂O₃ on expression of caspase 3 and bcl-xL mRNA may be one of molecular mechanisms underlying their synergic antileukemia efficacy.

We measured total creatine kinase (CK), CK-MB isoenzyme, and the MB isoforms in 202 serum and plasma samples from nine groups of patients and normal individuals: 39 with acute myocardial infarction (MI), divided according to time between the onset of chest pain and blood collection (1-6 h, 7-12 h, and 13-48 h); 26 with chest pain for whom an MI was ruled out, sampled at admission; 17 undergoing bypass surgery or cardiac catheterization, sampled within 6 h after either procedure; 17 with acute skeletal muscle injury, sampled within 8 h after injury; 30 marathon runners immediately after a race; 17 runners and other athletes > 12 h after training or a race; 12 with cerebral injury or seizures, sampled at admission; 8 with closed head injury, sampled at admission; and 38 normal subjects. CK-MB (relative index) and MB isoforms (MB2/MB1) were respectively increased in 15% and 75% of MI patients 1-6 h after onset, 94% and 94% after 7-12 h, and 88% and 8% after 12 h, and in 87% and 82% of cardiac surgery patients. MB isoforms were increased in most patients with acute skeletal muscle trauma and in subjects examined after exercise, but were within normal limits in patients for whom MI was ruled out, patients with cerebral trauma, and normal individuals. The relative index of MB/total CK was normal in essentially all individuals in the last groups, including those with acute skeletal muscle trauma. We concluded that the CK-MB isoform ratio is increased in both acute skeletal muscle injury and MI. The isoform ratio is most useful for distinguishing recent from old (> 12 h) injury.

To assess the value of perfusion-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) imaging (PWMRI) in monitoring vascularization in tissue-engineered bone graft.Tibial diaphyseal defect of 20 mm was induced in 25 lower limbs of 13 rhesuses and fixed with an AO reconstruction plate with 7 holes. The monkeys were randomized into 5 groups according to the materials used for defect filling: group A, with beta-tricalcium phosphate (beta-TCP), bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) and blood vessel bundles; group B, with beta-TCP and blood vessel bundles; group C, with beta-TCP and BMSCs; group D, with beta-TCP, and group E without filling. PWMRI, X-ray, and radionuclide imaging were carried out at weeks 4, 8, 12 postoperatively. The maximum slope rates of the single intensity-time curve (SS(max)) and the baseline values (SI(baseline)) on the same time points were calculated. Transmittances on the X-ray films and isotope counts in the region of interest (ROI) were assessed and calculated.Compared with other groups, group A showed the highest SS(max) at weeks 4, 8, and 12 postoperatively, and its SS(max) at week 8 was significantly higher than that at week 4 (P=0.003). The SS(max) was positively related to isotope counts in ROI at week 8 after operation (r(s)=0.899, P=0.038), and inversely related to transmittance on X-ray films at week 12 (r(s)=-0.892, P=0.042).The SS(max) of the single intensity-time curve can accurately reflect the vascularization of the tissue-engineered bone graft, and PWMRI allows sensitive, quantitative, noninvasive and radiation-free vascularization monitoring.