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OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to examine the influence of femoral shaft fracture on systemic inflammation and gut microbiome in adolescent rats and evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) and its regulation of intestinal flora, as well as illustrate the mechanism by which LGG ameliorates the inflammatory response and restores intestinal dysbacteriosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-four male Sprague Dawley rats of 5 to 6 weeks of age were subjected to a standard femoral shaft fracture and internally fixed with LGG supplementation in advance or on the same day of injury or with saline solution for 1 week. The levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10, and CRP were assessed using standard protocols. Furthermore, gut microbiota composition was analyzed in the fecal samples using 16S rDNA gene sequencing, and the relationship between gut microbiota variation and inflammatory response was tested. RESULTS: The serum indices of the above-mentioned inflammatory cytokines were significantly increased, and the gut microbial balance was significantly disturbed in adolescent rats by diaphyseal fractures of the femur and surgery. Moreover, L. rhamnosus strains manipulated the gut microbiota by decreasing the relative abundance of Proteobacteria and increasing that of Firmicutes, Actinobacteria and Bacteroidetes, which in turn increased the levels of IL-10 and alleviated the levels of IL-6, CRP, and TNF-α. CONCLUSIONS: L GG e xhibited a nti-inflammatory effects by alleviating the inflammatory response and regulating the gut microbiota in adolescent rats who underwent skeletal fracture and surgery. Our results suggested that the L. rhamnosus strains could be considered as an alternative dietary supplement for the prevention or treatment of skeletal injury and its associated complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of degradable mulching film on dry direct- seeded rice remains largely unknown. Then the aim of this research is to investigate the effects of degradable mulching film on dry direct-seeded rice. A field investigation of four treatments (CK: non-mulching; MF1: a degradable film (Shanghai Hongrui Biotech, Shanghai, China); MF2: a degradable film (Xifeng Plastic Corp. Ltd., Baishan, China); MF3: common agricultural mulching film (Jialiming New Material Corp Ltd., Hinggan League, China)) was conducted to evaluate the effects of degradable mulching film on the rice seed germination, seedling growth, soil temperature, and grain yield of dry direct-seeded rice. The results showed that compared to CK, mulching film treatments increased soil temperature, especially at night time, improved seed germination rate, plant height, leaf area of seedlings, and grain yield. MF1 showed good degradation performances and had the highest soil temperature at the night time of 13.65°C- 14.08 °C, grain yield at 7.938t ha-1, and seedling growth with shoot dry mass at 46.73 mg plant-1 and root dry mass at 31.34 mg plant-1. The germination rate significantly increased by 6.99%-755.60% at MF1 as compared to CK. Overall, mulching films resulted in high yield due to the increasing soil temperature, seedling germination, and improving seedling growth, amongst MF1 performance the best. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electromagnetic shielding fabric (ESF) is a novel electromagnetic shielding product with portability, flexibility, and good mechanical properties. However, the existing ESFs suffer from poor washing fastness of coating and poor comfort performance in terms of hand-feel characteristic. In this study, a core layer-coated yarn (CLCY) was successfully spun using a carboxylic acid-functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotube/polypyrrole/Fe3O4 composite suspension with polyvinyl butyral as an adhesive agent. To better explore the properties, the original fabric and treated fabrics, viz., core layer-coated fabric (CLCF) and surface layer-coated fabric (SLCF), were characterized by several methods. Scanning electron microscopic observations revealed that the coating was on the core layer in CLCF. In addition, the Fouriertransform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction spectroscopy results revealed that the composition of the coating corresponds with that in the multi-composite suspension. Moreover, the coating of CLCY formed a conductive path with good conductivity in the core layer, but the conductivity of the coating on the surface layer of SLCF deteriorated sharply after washing. Further, compared with the original fabric and SLCF, CLCF has highest breaking strength (after 10 washes), and keeps a relatively good hand-feel characteristic. Finally, the evaluated electromagnetic interference shielding characteristics reveal that the fastness of coating affects the electromagnetic shielding effectiveness, suggesting that the wrapped protection of outside staple fibers in CLCF reduce the loss of coating in the core layer during washing. However, the coating on the surface layer in SLCF could be washed away easily. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: Endometriosis is a common benign disease in gynecology, and can cause chronic pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea and even infertility. Its pathogenesis mechanism has not been fully illustrated. miRNA (miR) participates in various biological activities including cell growth, proliferation, apoptosis, organ formation, inflammation and tumor. Its role in endometriosis has not been reported. MiR-33b is involved in cell metabolism, proliferation and invasion, but with its function and mechanism in endometriosis unknown. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Real-time PCR was used to test miR-33b expression in ectopic endometrial and normal tissues. In vitro cultured endometrial cells were transfected with miR-33b mimic or inhibitor, followed by Real-time PCR for miR-33b expression. MTT method detected endometrial cell proliferation. Caspase 3 activity was quantified by test kit. Real- time PCR and Western blot measured effect of miR-33b on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and matrix metalloprotein 9 (MMP-9). RESULTS: MiR-33b was down-regulated in ectopic endometrial tissues (p < 0.05 compared to normal tissues). Transfection of miR-33b inhibitor facilitated endometrial proliferation, decreased Caspase 3 activity, increased VEGF and MMP-9 mRNA or protein expression (p < 0.05 compared to control group). MiR-33b mimic suppressed endometrial proliferation, elevated Caspase 3 activity, and decreased VEGF or MMP-9 expression (p < 0.05 compared to control group). CONCLUSIONS: MiR-33b can mediate cell apoptosis, alter VEGF and MMP-9 expression and affect proliferation and apoptosis of uterus endometrial cells, thus participating endometriosis formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between vitamin A deficiency (VAD), vitamin E deficiency (VED) and infectious diseases. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We chose 684 cases of healthy children age 5 months-12 years from our hospital, measured their VA, VE from vein under the light proof condition with high-pressure liquid chromatography. Thereafter, the children who get the acute respiratory tract infection (ARI) or diarrhea two weeks later were registered. RESULTS: After the two weeks trial (N=684 cases), the VA level of children with ARI was lower than that of children without ARI (0.23±0.02 mg/ ml/0.33±0.01 mg/ml), p<0.05. Moreover, the VE level of children with ARI was significantly lower than that of children without ARI (p<0.05). Most interestingly, the proportion of children with diarrhea accompanied with decreased VA level in serum was higher than that of children without diarrhea, indicating that VA level <0.2 mg/L more easily affected acute respiratory tract infection. CONCLUSIONS: We were able to demonstrate that Children who presented vitamin A deficiency were easier to get the acute respiratory tract infection (ARI) and diarrhea. Children who presented vitamin E deficiency were easier to get the acute respiratory tract infection (ARI). Vitamin A and vitamin E deficiencies are one of the important factors related to occurrences of acute infectious diseases in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A correction for the article "Regulation of miR-33b on endometriosis and expression of related factors" is presented, which is published in the previous issue of the periodical.

E2F6 is believed to repress E2F-responsive genes and therefore plays an important role in cell-cycle regulation. However, the role of E2F6 in the control of apoptosis remains unknown. We show here that the expression of E2F6 was downregulated with a concurrent increase in BRCA1 mRNA and cleaved protein during ultraviolet (UV)-induced apoptosis in human embryonic kidney 293 cells. Moreover, E2F6 overexpression distinctly inhibited UV-induced apoptosis as well as UV-induced increases in BRCA1 expression and cleavage, accompanied with increases of the full-length BRCA1 and BRCA1 nuclear foci. In contrast, knockdown of E2F6 by small interfering RNA had opposite effects. Furthermore, these effects of E2F6 on BRCA1 depended upon the association of E2F6 with BRCA1 via its C-terminus in a UV-triggered manner and upon the transcriptional repression by E2F6 on the BRCA1 promoter. These findings provide the first demonstration of the important role for E2F6 in the control of apoptosis via targeting of BRCA1.Cell Death and Differentiation (2007) 14, 807–817. doi:10.1038/sj.cdd.4402062; published online 10 November 2006 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The white rot fungus Cerrena unicolor 87613 has been previously shown to be a promising resource in laccase production, an enzyme with significant biotechnological applications. Conventional methods face technical challenges in improving laccase activity. Attempts are still being made to develop novel approaches for further enhancing laccase activity. This study aimed to understand the regulation of laccase activity in C. unicolor 87613 for a better exploration of the novel approach. Transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses were performed to identify key genes and metabolites involved in extracellular laccase activity. The findings indicated a strong correlation between the glutathione metabolism pathway and laccase activity. Subsequently, experimental verifications were conducted by manipulating the pathway using chemical approaches. The additive reduced glutathione (GSH) dose-dependently repressed laccase activity, while the GSH inhibitors (APR-246) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) inducer (H 2 O 2 ) enhanced laccase activity. Changes in GSH levels could determine the intracellular redox homeostasis in interaction with ROS and partially affect the expression level of laccase genes in C. unicolor 87613 in turn. In addition, GSH synthetase was found to mediate GSH abundance in a feedback loop. This study suggests that laccase activity is negatively influenced by GSH metabolism and provides a theoretical basis for a novel strategy to enhance laccase activity by reprogramming glutathione metabolism at a specific cultivation stage.IMPORTANCEThe production of laccase activity is limited by various conventional approaches, such as heterologous expression, strain screening, and optimization of incubation conditions. There is an urgent need for a new strategy to meet industrial requirements more effectively. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of the transcriptome and metabolome of Cerrena unicolor 87613. For the first time, we discovered a negative role played by reduced glutathione (GSH) and its metabolic pathway in influencing extracellular laccase activity. Furthermore, we identified a feedback loop involving GSH, GSH synthetase gene, and GSH synthetase within this metabolic pathway. These deductions were confirmed through experimental investigations. These findings not only advanced our understanding of laccase activity regulation in its natural producer but also provide a theoretical foundation for a strategy to enhance laccase activity by reprogramming glutathione metabolism at a specific cultivation stage., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.