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Jia-Wei Zeng,1,2 Juan-Li Zhao,1 Zhen-Jie Han,1 Yan-Jun Duan,2 Li Lin1 1Laboratory of Medical Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, 430065, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Anatomy Teaching and Research, College of Basic Medical sciences, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, 430065, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Li Lin, Laboratory of Medical Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Basic Medical sciences, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, No. 16 of Huangjia Lake Western Road, HongShan District, Wuhan, 430065, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86 27 68890123, Fax +86 27 68890029, Email linli@hbtcm.edu.cn Yan-Jun Duan, Department of Anatomy Teaching and Research, College of Basic Medical sciences, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, No. 16 of Huangjia Lake Western Road, HongShan District, Wuhan, 430065, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86 27 68890047, Fax +86 27 68890029, Email 1861@hbtcm.edu.cnAbstract: Depression, as a common mental illness that is often accompanied by suicidal and homicidal behaviors, is one of the most important diseases in the medical field that requires urgent attention. The pathogenesis of depression is complex, and the current therapeutic drugs such as tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), monoamine oxidase inhibitors, and secondary serotonin reuptake inhibitors have certain shortcomings. The inflammatory factor hypothesis, one of the pathogenesis of depression, suggests that inflammatory response is a key factor leading to the occurrence and development of depression, and that overactivation of inflammatory factors such as NLRP3, Toll-like receptor 4, and IDO leads to immune-system dysfunction and depression. The other pathogenic hypothesis, the gut flora hypothesis, has also been the focus of recent research. The gut flora may work together with inflammatory factors to cause depression. The approach to treating depression has been by altering the gut flora through drugs or probiotics. However, effective and clear treatment methods are lacking. In this study, by exploring the involvement of intestinal flora and inflammatory factors in the pathogenesis of depression, we found that improving the intestinal flora can affect inflammatory factors and, therefore, provide research ideas for the development of novel drugs to treat depression.Keywords: depression, pathogenesis, inflammation, inflammatory factors, intestinal flora, therapeutic drugs

Rui Zhou,* Tao Xu,* XiaoHong Liu, YuanShou Chen, DeYing Kong, Hong Tian, Mingxia Yue, Dujuan Huang, Junwei Zeng Department of Physiology, Zunyi Medical College, Zunyi, People’s Republic of China *These authors contributed equally to this work Objective: The dorsal horn P2Y13 receptor is involved in the development of pain behavior induced by peripheral nerve injury. It is unclear whether the expression of proinflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6 at the spinal dorsal horn are influenced after the activation of P2Y13 receptor in rats with diabetic neuropathic pain (DNP). Methods: A rat model of type 1 DNP was induced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ). We examined the expression of P2Y13 receptor, Iba-1, IL-1β, IL-6, JAK2, STAT3, pTyr1336, and pTyr1472 NR2B in rat spinal dorsal horn. Results: Compared with normal rats, STZ-diabetic rats displayed obvious mechanical allodynia and the increased expression of P2Y13 receptor, Iba-1, IL-1β, and IL-6 in the dorsal spinal cord that was continued for 6 weeks in DNP rats. The data obtained indicated that, in DNP rats, administration of MRS2211 significantly attenuated mechanical allodynia. Compared with DNP rats, after MRS2211 treatment, expression of the P2Y13 receptor, Iba-1, IL-1β, and IL-6 were reduced 4 weeks after the STZ injection. However, MRS2211 treatment did not attenuate the expression of the P2Y13 receptor, Iba-1, IL-1β, and IL-6 at 6 weeks after the STZ injection. MRS2211 suppressed JAK2 and STAT3 expression in the early stage, but not in the later stage. Moreover, pTyr1336 NR2B was significantly decreased, whereas pTyr1472 NR2B was unaffected in the dorsal spinal cord of MRS2211-treated DNP rats. Conclusion: Intrathecal MRS2211 produces an anti-nociceptive effect in early-stage DNP. A possible mechanism involved in MRS2211-induced analgesia is that blocking the P2Y13 receptor downregulates levels of IL-1β and IL-6, which subsequently inhibit the activation of the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway. Furthermore, blocking the activation of the P2Y13 receptor can decrease NR2B-containing NMDAR phosphorylation in dorsal spinal cord neurons, thereby attenuating central sensitization in STZ-induced DNP rats.Keywords: diabetic neuropathic pain, dorsal horn, P2Y13 receptor

Objective: To analyze the results of clinical and bacteriological examinations in patients with crush syndrome who suffered infectious complications after an earthquake in Sichuan, China.Methods: A total of 313 bacteriological samples among 147 patients with crush syndrome were collected. Infectious complications, results of microbiological examinations, potential risk factors of infection and mortality were analyzed statistically.Results: In the obtained database, 112 out of the 147 (75.7%) patients had infectious complications, in which, wound infection, pulmonary infection, and sepsis were most common. The time under the rubble and the time from injury to treatment were related to the occurrence of wound infection (P equal to 0.013, odds ratio 2.25; P equal to 0.017, odds ratio 2.31). Sepsis and wound infection were more common in patients who underwent fasciotomy or amputation than in those who did not (P equal to 0.001).Conclusion: Quick rescue and injury treatment can decrease the infection risk in crush syndrome patients. It is better to obtain microorganic proofs before applying antibiotics, and bacteriological and drug sensitivity data should be taken into account, especially considering that most of these infections are hospital-acquired and drug resistance. Emphasizing the accuracy and efficiency of wound management in emergency situations, cautiously assessing the indications for fasciotomy to avoid open wounds from unnecessary osteofascial compartment decompression incisions may decrease the incidence of infection and ameliorate the prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to explore the risk factors of microvascular obstruction (MVO) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI)., Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on 165 patients with STEMI who successfully underwent emergency PCI and completed cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) within 1 week after PCI. Total ischemia time (symptom onset to wire, S2W), first medical contact to wire (FMC2W), and door to wire (D2W) were compared with the recommended critical time nodes for STEMI treatment. Left ventricular function was evaluated by CMR cine, and myocardial infarction characteristics and MVO were evaluated by late-gadolinium enhancement (LGE). Binary logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the effect of delay in treatment of STEMI on the occurrence of MVO after PCI., Results: In this study, 89 (53.9%) patients with STEMI presented with MVO after emergency PCI. The FMC2W time and S2W time in the MVO (+) group were significantly longer than those in the MVO (-) group (P<0.05). Compared with the MVO (-) group, the MVO (+) group had larger myocardial infarction size (IS) and lower left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (P<0.05). Patients with FMC2W time >120min and S2W time >300min had greater myocardial IS and MVO than the FMC2W ≤120min and S2W time ≤300min group, respectively. Logistic regression analysis showed that S2W time >300min (P=0.039, OR=2.756, 95% CI=1.053-7.213) was an independent predictor of MVO after PCI in patients with STEMI., Conclusion: Shortening the total time of myocardial ischemia and increasing the proportion of early reperfusion therapy can prevent or reduce MVO after PCI., (Copyright © 2024 Hellenic Society of Cardiology. Publishing services by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Non-line-of-sight (NLOS) imaging aims at recovering the shape and albedo of hidden objects. Despite recent advances, real-time video of complex and dynamic scenes remains a major challenge owing to the weak signal of multiply scattered light. Here we propose and demonstrate a framework of spectrum filtering and motion compensation to realize high-quality NLOS video for room-sized scenes. Spectrum filtering leverages a wave-based model for denoising and deblurring in the frequency domain, enabling computational image reconstruction with a small number of sampling points. Motion compensation tailored with an interleaved scanning scheme can compute high-resolution live video during the acquisition of low-quality image sequences. Together, we demonstrate live NLOS videos at 4 fps for a variety of dynamic real-life scenes. The results mark a substantial stride toward real-time, large-scale and low-power NLOS imaging and sensing applications., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature America, Inc.)

Objective:  This study aimed to compare the gender differences in isolated mitral regurgitation (MR) repair., Methods:  Of 381 adults aged 54.8 ± 12.3 years undergoing mitral valve repair (MVP) for isolated MR from January 2019 to December 2022, the baseline and operative data, and outcomes were compared between 161 women (42.3%) and 220 men (57.7%)., Results:  Women tended to be nonsmokers (98.1 vs. 45%, p <  0.001), and have more cerebrovascular accidents (38.5% vs. 24.1%, p  = 0.004) and isolated annular dilatation (19.3 vs. 9.1%, p  = 0.010), lower creatinine (70.0 ± 19.5 vs. 86.3 ± 19.9 μmol/dL, p <  0.001), and smaller left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD; 54.4 ± 6.7 vs. 57.8 ± 6.6 mm, p <  0.001). One female died of stroke at 2 days (0.3%). Another female (0.3%) underwent mitral valve replacement for failed repair. Stroke occurred in 4 (1.0%). Two underwent reexploration for bleeding (0.5%). Women were more likely to have less 24-hour drainage (290 ± 143 vs. 385 ± 196 mL, p <  0.001). Over a mean follow-up of 2.1 ± 1.1 years (100% complete), 1 woman died and 1 man underwent a reoperation; 28 had moderate MR, and 9 had severe MR. Neither did early and late mortality and reoperation, nor freedom from late moderate or severe MR (71.6 vs. 71.4% at 5 years; p  = 0.992) differ significantly between the two genders. Predictors for late moderate or severe MR were anterior leaflet prolapse (hazard ratio [HR] 4.45; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.18-16.72; p  = 0.027) and isolated annular dilation (HR 5.47, 95% CI 1.29-23.25; p  = 0.021)., Conclusion:  In this series of patients undergoing isolated MR repair, despite significant differences in smoking, cerebrovascular accidents, creatinine, LVEDD, and isolated annular dilatation at baseline, and 24-hour drainage postoperatively, women and men did not show significant differences in early and late survival, reoperation, and freedom from late moderate or severe MR., Competing Interests: None declared., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Non-line-of-sight (NLOS) imaging has the ability to reconstruct hidden objects, allowing a wide range of applications. Existing NLOS systems rely on pulsed lasers and time-resolved single-photon detectors to capture the information encoded in the time of flight of scattered photons. Despite remarkable advances, the pulsed time-of-flight LIDAR approach has limited temporal resolution and struggles to detect the frequency-associated information directly. Here, we propose and demonstrate the coherent scheme-frequency-modulated continuous wave calibrated by optical frequency comb-for high-resolution NLOS imaging, velocimetry, and vibrometry. Our comb-calibrated coherent sensor presents a system temporal resolution at subpicosecond and its superior signal-to-noise ratio permits NLOS imaging of complex scenes under strong ambient light. We show the capability of NLOS localization and 3D imaging at submillimeter scale and demonstrate NLOS vibrometry sensing at an accuracy of dozen Hertz. Our approach unlocks the coherent LIDAR techniques for widespread use in imaging science and optical sensing.

Single-photon time-of-flight (TOF) non-line-of-sight (NLOS) imaging enables the high-resolution reconstruction of objects outside the field of view. The compactness of TOF NLOS imaging systems, entailing the miniaturization of key components within such systems, is crucial for practical applications. Here, we present a miniaturized four-channel time-correlated single-photon counting module dedicated to TOF NLOS imaging applications. The module achieves excellent performance with a 10 ps bin size and 27.4 ps minimum root-mean-square time resolution. We present the results of the TOF NLOS imaging experiment using an InGaAs/InP single-photon detector and the time-correlated single-photon counting module and show that a 6.3 cm lateral resolution and 2.3 cm depth resolution can be achieved under the conditions of 5 m imaging distance and 1 ms pixel dwell time., (© 2024 Author(s). Published under an exclusive license by AIP Publishing.)

Background: Increasing evidence highlights the potential role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in the biological behaviors of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Here, we explored the mechanism of AGAP2-AS1 in the occurrence and development of clear cell RCC (ccRCC) involving IGF2BP3/miR-9-5p/THBS2., Methods: The expressions of AGAP2-AS1, IGF2BP3, miR-9-5p, and THBS2 and their relationship were analyzed by bioinformatics. The targeting relationship between AGAP2-AS1 and miR-9-5p and between miR-9-5p and THBS2 was evaluated with their effect on cell biological behaviors and macrophage polarization assayed. Finally, we tested the effect of AGAP2-AS1 on ccRCC tumor formation in xenograft tumors., Results: IGF2BP3 could stabilize AGAP2-AS1 through m6A modification. AGAP2-AS1 was highly expressed in ccRCC tissues and cells. The lentivirus-mediated intervention of AGAP2-AS1 induced malignant behaviors of ccRCC cells and led to M2 polarization of macrophages. In addition, THBS2 promoted M2 polarization of macrophages by activating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. AGAP2-AS1 could directly bind with miR-9-5p and promote the expression of THBS2 downstream of miR-9-5p. These results were further verified by in vivo experiments., Conclusion: AGAP2-AS1 stabilized by IGF2BP3 competitively binds to miR-9-5p to up-regulate THBS2, activating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and inducing macrophage M2 polarization, thus facilitating the development of RCC., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Multidrug resistance (MDR) is considered one of the significant chemotherapy failures of cancer patients and resulting in tumor recurrence and refractory cancer. The collateral sensitivity phenomenon is suggested as a potential alternative therapy for coring multidrug resistance in cancer. To achieve better effects and reduce toxicity, a polypharmacology strategy was applied. Arctigenin has been reported as a signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) inhibitor as an anticancer drug with low toxicity. However, the effective dosage of arctigenin was too high for re-sensitization in MDR cell lines. Therefore, we have designed and synthesized arctigenin derivatives and have evaluated their chemoreversal effects in KBvin and KB cells. The results conveyed that compounds 9, 10, and 12 displayed significant collateral sensitivity effects on MDR cancer cells, and the corresponding calculated RF values were 32, 174, and 133, respectively. In addition, compounds 9, 10, and 12 were identified to influence the activation of STAT3 and the function of P-glycoprotein in KBvin cells. Combining the active compounds (9, 10, and 12) with paclitaxel significantly inhibits MDR tumor growth in a zebrafish xenograft tumor model without toxicity. Thus, this study provided novel effective arctigenin derivatives and is considered a potential co-treatment with paclitaxel for treating MDR tumors., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Hsin-Yi Hung and Chin-Chuan Hung reports financial support was provided by Ministry of science of technology., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

To understand the population characteristics of Collichthys lucidus , an important economic fish in the Pearl River Estuary, the biological characteristics and resource density distribution characteristics of C. lucidus were preliminarily analyzed using bottom trawling by cruises conducted in each spring and autumn during 2017 and 2020. The results showed that the body length and weight of C. lucidus ranged between 22-168 mm and 0.23-103.11 g, respectively. Female individuals were larger than the male ones. The length of sexually mature individuals intensively ranged between 90 mm and 140 mm. Neither of them evidenced the earlier of sexually maturity nor the minimizer of dominant group. The population of C. lucidus in Pearl River estuary still developed in safe status in all, but its habitat downgraded than in 1988, as indicated by the fact that the allometric growth factor ( b =2.9057) of the body length to body weight had no significant annual variations, but the conditional factor ( a =3.029×10 -5 ) was drama-tically decreased than in 1988. The population was at a state of overexploitation due to the estimated exploitation rate of 0.67. The resource density averaged 77.73 kg·km -2 , showing a pattern of higher in the middle and west than in the east and relatively uniform of latitudinal distribution. The four high densities of sampling zones suggested that the zone around Nansha Port was probably the core of spawning ground of C. lucidus . Considering the annual average resource density in 2017-2020 sharply decreased by 93.5% than in 1980 to 1982, it was pressing to establish the protection zone in spawning ground in spring to protect the recruiting and spawning stocks of C. lucidus population.

Chestnut rose, R. roxburghii Tratt. (Rosaceae) (RR) is an important crop in China due to its nutritional and medicinal values. RR frequently produces trichomes on the surfaces of a diverse range of organs, however a genetic component exists to the control of trichome development, with some cultivars having significantly fewer trichomes to others. Certain varieties have fruits that are thickly covered with macroscopic trichomes, which is an undesirable trait for fruit processing and consumption. However, smooth-fruit cultivars exist, such as R. roxburghii Tratt. f. esetosa Ku (RRE). Despite their economic importance, the anatomical features of trichomes have not been explored in detail for these two chestnut rose germplasms. Here, we investigate the ultrastructure of trichomes distributed on the stem, sepal, and fruit of RR and RRE using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The internal structure of stem prickle trichomes in RR and RRE was oval in shape and did not contain nucleoli or other organelles. The cell walls of stem prickles in RR are thick and the intercellular spaces occupied with liquid, whereas the cells wall of stem prickles in RRE are thin and have air-filled intercellular spaces. The cells of sepal acicular trichomes in RR and glandular trichomes (GTs) of sepals in RRE had similar vacuole sizes, cytoplasm content, intercellular spaces, and arrangement of plastids within cells. However, there were osmiophilic granules present in the GTs of RRE. The flagelliform trichomes in the sepals of the two germplasms are composed of oval or rod-shaped cells. Although the flagelliform trichomes in the sepals of the two germplasms had a similar internal structure, and both contained starch grains and plastids with visible thylakoid membranes, the flagelliform trichomes in the sepals of RR had a thinner cell wall and a higher proportion of cytoplasm which was more evenly distributed across the cell. There were granules that stained heavily with osmium tetroxide which occurred infrequently in the flagelliform trichomes of sepals in RRE but were not observed in RR. On the acicular trichomes of fruit in RR, the flagelliform trichomes and the GTs of fruit in RRE shared similar cell morphology, arrangement and vacuole size as well as intercellular space. Both the fruit flagelliform trichomes and GTs in RRE contain granules which stain heavily with osmium tetroxide, and the GTs contain plastids and starch grains. These differences in trichome cell ultrastructure may be related to developmental processes or biological functions of the trichomes. These results also suggest that the two chestnut rose germplasms are good candidates for further study of trichome ontogeny in the genus and subsequent breeding of the smooth organ trait in this species., (© 2021 The Authors. Microscopy Research and Technique published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Background: More and more studies have investigated the relationship between serum copper (Cu) and/or zinc (Zn) levels and breast cancer (BC). However, the results are inconsistent. It is unclear whether the serum Cu to Zn ratio (Cu/Zn) is associated with BC risk. Therefore, we evaluated serum Cu and Zn concentrations, and Cu/Zn in BC through meta-analysis., Materials and Methods: Studies reporting serum Cu and/or Zn concentrations in BC patients and controls from 1991 to 2020 were identified from PubMed, CNKI, and Wanfang databases online. Based on a random effects model, summary standard mean differences (SMDs) and the corresponding 95 % confidence intervals (95 % CIs) were applied to compare the serum levels of Cu, Zn and Cu/Zn between BC patients and controls., Results: Thirty-six eligible studies involving 5747 female subjects were included. The present study illustrated that the BC patients had significantly higher serum Cu levels than healthy controls (HC) (SMD (95 % CI): 1.99(1.48, 2.49)) and patients with benign breast diseases (BD) (SMD (95 % CI): 0.99(0.38, 1.61)). However, Zn concentrations were statistically decreased in BC patients than HC (SMD (95 % CI): -1.20(-1.74, -0.66)) and BD (SMD (95 % CI): -1.13 (-1.73, -0.54)). Cu/Zn concentrations were remarkably increased in BC patients than HC (SMD (95 % CI): 2.75(1.79, 3.60)) and BD (SMD (95 % CI): 2.98(1.91, 4.05)) in some studies., Conclusion: The results show that elevated serum levels of Cu and Cu/Zn, as well as decreased Zn might be associated with increased risk of breast cancer. These three parameters have the potential to distinguish breast cancer from benign breast diseases., (Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier GmbH.)

Aim: To explore the apoptosis of ARPE-19 cells after the treatment with different doses of all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA)., Methods: ARPE-19 cells were used in the in-vitro experiment. Flow cytometry assay was employed to evaluate the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and apoptosis. The effects of ATRA (concentrations from 2.5 to 20 µmol/L) on the expression of endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) markers in vitro were evaluated by Western blot and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) assays. The contribution of ROS and ERS-induced apoptosis in vitro was determined by using N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) and Salubrinal, an antagonist of NAC and ERS, respectively., Results: Flow cytometry showed that ATRA significantly increased ARPE-19 cell apoptosis and ROS levels in each group ( F =86.39, P <0.001; F =116.839, P <0.001). Western blot and qRT-PCR revealed that levels of CHOP and BIP were elevated in a concentration-dependent pattern after the cells were incubated with ATRA (2.5-20 µmol/L). The upregulation of VEGF-A and CHOP induced by ATRA could be inhibited by NAC (antioxidant) and Salubrinal (ERS inhibitor) in vitro ., Conclusion: ATRA induces the apoptosis of ARPE-19 cells via activated ROS and ERS signaling pathways., (International Journal of Ophthalmology Press.)

Background: Lung cancer is the main cause of cancer--related deaths worldwide, and the overall 5-year survival rate of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remained low. -MicroRNAs had been confirmed to be an important regulator in tumor progression, and they could serve as either tumor promoters or suppressors in NSCLC., Objectives: To identify the novel cancer-specific biomarkers for NSCLC patients, which may be useful to monitor tumor progression and improve NSCLC patients' survival., Method: The expression profile of miR-421 was analyzed in NSCLC samples using public datasets, including The Cancer Genome Atlas and GSE102286. The expression level of miR-421 was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Cell proliferation and cell cycle were detected by Cell Counting Kit assay, flow cytometry assay, respectively. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis were applied to determine the biological roles of miR-421, based on the online DAVID system. Statistical comparisons between groups of normalized data were performed using t test or Mann-Whitney U test according to the test condition., Results: In this study, we focused on exploring the roles of miR-421 in NSCLC prognosis and growth. The present study for the first time showed that miR-421 was overexpressed in NSCLC and associated with a shorter overall survival time of patients with NSCLC. Bioinformatics analysis revealed miR-421 was involved in transcription, cell cycle, and insulin signaling pathway regulation. Furthermore, a gain of function assay showed that overexpression of miR-421 could promote NSCLC cell proliferation and cell cycle progression., Conclusions: Our findings suggest that miR-421 might be a promising prognostic and therapeutic target for NSCLC., (© 2019 The Author(s) Published by S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Transient Receptor Potential Melastatin-2 (TRPM2) is a nonselective cation channel mediating Ca 2+ influx in response to oxidative stress. Given that insulin resistance-related endothelial dysfunction in obesity attributes to fatty-acid-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) overproduction, in this study, we addressed the possible role of TRPM2 in obesity-related endothelial insulin resistance and the underlying mechanisms. Whole-cell patch clamp technique, intracellular Ca 2+ concentration measurement, western blot, vasorelaxation assay, and high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese model were employed to assess the relationship between TRPM2 and endothelial insulin response. We found that both the expression and activity of TRPM2 were higher in endothelial cells of obese mice. Palmitate rose a cationic current in endothelial cells which was inhibited or enlarged by TRPM2 knockdown or overexpression. Silencing of TRPM2 remarkably improved insulin-induced endothelial Akt activation, nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) phosphorylation and nitric oxide (NO) production, while TRPM2 overexpression resulted in the opposite effects. Furthermore, TRPM2-mediated Ca 2+ entry, CaMKII activation and the following activation of PERK/ATF4/TRB3 cascade were involved in the mechanism of obesity or palmitate-induced endothelial insulin resistance. Notably, in vivo study, knockdown of TRPM2 with adeno-associated virus harboring short-hairpin RNA (shRNA) against TRPM2 alleviated endothelial insulin resistance and ameliorated endothelium-dependent vasodilatation in obese mice. Thus, these results suggest that TRPM2-activated Ca 2+ signaling is necessary to induce insulin resistance-related endothelial dysfunction in obesity. Downregulation or pharmacological inhibition of TRPM2 channels may lead to the development of effective drugs for treatment of endothelial dysfunction associated with oxidative stress state., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death worldwide and cancer relapse accounts for the majority of cancer mortality. The mechanism is still unknown, especially in hereditary lung cancer without known actionable mutations. To identify genetic alternations involved in hereditary lung cancer and relapse is urgently needed. We collected genetic materials from a unique hereditary lung cancer patient's blood, first cancer tissue (T1), adjacent normal tissue (N1), relapse cancer tissue (T2), and adjacent normal tissue (N2) for whole genome sequencing. We identified specific mutations in T1 and T2, and attributed them to tumorigenesis and recurrence. These tumor specific variants were enriched in antigen presentation pathway. In addition, a lung adenocarcinoma cohort from the TCGA dataset was used to confirm our findings. Patients with high mutation burdens in tumor specific genes had decreased relapse-free survival (P = 0.017, n = 186). Our study may provide important insight for designing immunotherapeutic treatment for hereditary lung cancer., (© 2019 The Authors. Cancer Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Over the past decade, breakthrough has been made on myopia progression control with a lot of evidence from clinical trials, but the effective clinical application of many of them remained immature. Though refraction clinics have been set up in many specialized hospitals offering spectacles to correct refractive error, there was few protocol or standard of treatment for reducing myopia progression. This commentary reviews the latest and essential publications and presents critical advice on applying the research findings to clinical practice. (Chin J Ophthalmol, 2019, 55: 89 - 92) .

This article was not made open access when initially published online, which was corrected before print publication. In addition, ORCID links were missing for 12 authors and have been added to the HTML and PDF versions of the article.

Background and Purpose: Transmembrane member 16A (TMEM16A), an intrinsic constituent of the Ca 2+ -activated Cl - channel, is involved in vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation and hypertension-induced cerebrovascular remodelling. However, the functional significance of TMEM16A for apoptosis in basilar artery smooth muscle cells (BASMCs) remains elusive. Here, we investigated whether and how TMEM16A contributes to apoptosis in BASMCs., Experimental Approach: Cell viability assay, flow cytometry, Western blot, mitochondrial membrane potential assay, immunogold labelling and co-immunoprecipitation (co-IP) were performed., Key Results: Hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) induced BASMC apoptosis through a mitochondria-dependent pathway, including by increasing the apoptosis rate, down-regulating the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax and potentiating the loss of the mitochondrial membrane potential and release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria to the cytoplasm. These effects were all reversed by the silencing of TMEM16A and were further potentiated by the overexpression of TMEM16A. Endogenous TMEM16A was detected in the mitochondrial fraction. Co-IP revealed an interaction between TMEM16A and cyclophilin D, a component of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP). This interaction was up-regulated by H 2 O 2 but restricted by cyclosporin A, an inhibitor of cyclophilin D. TMEM16A increased mPTP opening, resulting in the activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3. The results obtained with cultured BASMCs from TMEM16A smooth muscle-specific knock-in mice were consistent with those from rat BASMCs., Conclusions and Implications: These results suggest that TMEM16A participates in H 2 O 2 -induced apoptosis via modulation of mitochondrial membrane permeability in VSMCs. This study establishes TMEM16A as a target for therapy of several remodelling-related diseases., (© 2018 The British Pharmacological Society.)

The genus Oryza is a model system for the study of molecular evolution over time scales ranging from a few thousand to 15 million years. Using 13 reference genomes spanning the Oryza species tree, we show that despite few large-scale chromosomal rearrangements rapid species diversification is mirrored by lineage-specific emergence and turnover of many novel elements, including transposons, and potential new coding and noncoding genes. Our study resolves controversial areas of the Oryza phylogeny, showing a complex history of introgression among different chromosomes in the young 'AA' subclade containing the two domesticated species. This study highlights the prevalence of functionally coupled disease resistance genes and identifies many new haplotypes of potential use for future crop protection. Finally, this study marks a milestone in modern rice research with the release of a complete long-read assembly of IR 8 'Miracle Rice', which relieved famine and drove the Green Revolution in Asia 50 years ago.

Background: Pseudomonas aeruginos a can cause disease and also can be isolated from the skin of healthy people. Additionally, it exhibits certain antimicrobial effects against other microorganisms . Methods: We collected 60 strains of P. aeruginosa and screened their antimicrobial effects against Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923) using the filter paper-disk method, the cross-streaking method and the co-culture method and then evaluated the antimicrobial activity of the chloroform-isolated S. aureus extracts against methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA, Gram-positive cocci), vancomycin intermediate-resistant S. aureus (VISA, Gram-positive cocci), Corynebacterium spp. (CS, Gram-positive bacilli) , Acinetobacter baumannii (AB, Gram-negative bacilli), Moraxella catarrhalis (MC, Gram-negative diplococcus) , Candida albicans (CA, fungi), Candida tropicalis (CT, fungi), Candida glabrata (CG, fungi) and Candida parapsilosis (CP, fungi). Results: The PA06 and PA46 strains have strong antimicrobial effects. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis revealed that the major components of PA06 and PA46 that exhibit antimicrobial activity are functionally similar to phenazine-1-carboxylic acid (PCA) and pyocyanin. Preparative HPLC was performed to separate and isolate the 4 major potential antimicrobial components: PA06ER10, PA06ER16, PA06ER23 and PA06ER31. Further, the molecular masses of PA06ER10 (260.1), PA06ER16 (274.1), PA06ER23 (286.1) and PA06ER31 (318.2) were determined by electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectrometry. Conclusion: P. aeruginosa can produce small molecules with potential antimicrobial activities against MRSA, VISA, CS, MC, CA, CT, CG and CP but not against AB., Competing Interests: Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interest exists.

Aim: To investigate the effect of dopamine on bone morphogenesis protein-2 (BMP-2) expression in retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells in vitro ., Methods: ARPE-19 cells as a human RPE cell line were cultured with dopamine for different times (2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16 and 24h) or with different concentrations (0.1, 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 100 µg/mL) in vitro . BMP-2 mRNA expression level in ARPE-19 cells was analyzed with real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis and BMP-2 protein level was measured with Western blot analysis. The active form of BMP-2 in the culture medium was measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)., Results: The expression level of BMP-2 increased significantly cultured with 20 µg/mL dopamine, at different time points ( P <0.05). BMP-2 mRNA level peaked 2h and the protein level peaked at 6 and 8h after treatment. The concentrations of secreted BMP-2 elevated at 12h and peaked at 24h ( P <0.05) in a time-dependent manner. Treated with 100 µg/mL dopamine for 6h, the expression levels of BMP-2 mRNA and protein in ARPE-19 cells were enhanced significantly compared to that in the untreated cells ( P <0.05). And secreted BMP-2 protein in the cell culture supernatant was also increased ( P <0.05)., Conclusion: Dopamine up-regulate BMP-2 expression in RPE cells, and this may be associated with its inhibitive effect on myopia development.

Objective: P2 receptors have been implicated in the release of neurotransmitter and pro-inflammatory cytokines due to their response to neuroexcitatory substances in the microglia. Dorsal horn P2Y 12 and P2Y 13 receptors are involved in the development of pain behavior induced by peripheral nerve injury. However, it is not known whether P2Y 12 and P2Y 13 receptors activation is associated with the expression and the release of interleukin-1B (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in cultured dorsal spinal cord microglia. For this reason, we examined the effects of ADPβs (ADP analog) on the expression and the release of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α., Methods and Results: In this study, we observed the effect of P2Y receptor agonist ADPβs on the expression and release of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α by using real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). ADPβs induced the increased expression of Iba-1, IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α at the level of messenger RNA (mRNA). ADPβs-evoked increase in Iba-1, IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α mRNA expression was inhibited only partially by P2Y 12 receptor antagonist MRS2395 or P2Y 13 receptor antagonist MRS2211, respectively. Similarly, ADPβs-evoked release of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α was inhibited only partially by MRS2395 or MRS2211. Furthermore, ADPβs-evoked increased expression of Iba-1, IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α mRNA, and release of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α were nearly all blocked after co-administration of MRS2395 plus MRS2179. Further evidence indicated that P2Y 12 and P2Y 13 receptor-evoked increased gene expression of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α were inhibited by Y-27632 (ROCK inhibitor), SB203580 (P38MAPK inhibitor) and PDTC (NF-κb inhibitor), respectively. Subsequently, P2Y 12 and P2Y 13 receptor-evoked release of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α, were also inhibited by Y-27632, SB203580 and PDTC, respectively., Conclusion: These observations suggest that P2Y 12 and P2Y 13 receptor-evoked gene expression and release of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α are associated with ROCK/P38MAPK/NF-κb signaling pathway., Competing Interests: Disclosure The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

Root samples of 'Sanhu' red tangerine trees infected with and without Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas) were collected at 50 days post inoculation and subjected to RNA-sequencing and isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ) to profile the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and proteins (DEPs), respectively. Quantitative real-time PCR was subsequently used to confirm the expression of 16 selected DEGs. Results showed that a total of 3956 genes and 78 proteins were differentially regulated by HLB-infection. Among the most highly up-regulated DEPs were sperm specific protein 411, copper ion binding protein, germin-like proteins, subtilisin-like proteins and serine carboxypeptidase-like 40 proteins whose transcript levels were concomitantly up-regulated as shown by RNA-seq data. Comparison between our results and those of the previously reported showed that known HLB-modulated biological pathways including cell-wall modification, protease-involved protein degradation, carbohydrate metabolism, hormone synthesis and signaling, transcription activities, and stress responses were similarly regulated by HLB infection but different or root-specific changes did exist. The root unique changes included the down-regulation in genes of ubiquitin-dependent protein degradation pathway, secondary metabolism, cytochrome P450s, UDP-glucosyl transferases and pentatricopeptide repeat containing proteins. Notably, nutrient absorption was impaired by HLB-infection as the expression of the genes involved in Fe, Zn, N and P adsorption and transportation were significantly changed. HLB-infection induced some cellular defense responses but simultaneously reduced the biosynthesis of the three major classes of secondary metabolites, many of which are known to have anti-pathogen activities. Genes involved in callose deposition were up-regulated whereas those involved in callose degradation were also up-regulated, indicating that the sieve tube elements in roots were hanging on the balance of life and death at this stage. In addition, signs of carbohydrate starvation were already eminent in roots at this stage. Other interesting genes and pathways that were changed by HLB-infection were also discussed based on our findings.

Background: Previous studies have investigated the association between a polymorphism (-455 G>A) in the β-fibrinogen gene and the risk of cerebral infarction. However, these results are controversial. To shed light on these inconclusive findings, we performed a meta-analysis of studies relating the β-fibrinogen genetic polymorphism (-455 G>A) to the risk of cerebral infarction., Methods: We identified literature published before July 2013 by searching PubMed, EMBASE, ISI Web of Science, the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure database (CNKI) and the Wanfang database in China and by reviewing the references of retrieved articles. We included studies that reported odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) for the association between the β-fibrinogen genetic polymorphism and cerebral infarction risk. Publication bias was tested by a funnel plot, and the OR of all studies were combined dependent on the results of the heterogeneity tests among the individual studies. The software Review Manager (Version 5.2) was used for meta-analysis., Results: Twenty independent case-control studies containing 9477 subjects were included. Our results showed that the -455 G>A polymorphism in the β-fibrinogen gene was associated with the increased risk of cerebral infarction [(AA+GA) vs. GG, OR=1.17, 95%CI: 1.04-1.31, p=0.008; A vs. G, OR=1.12, 95%CI: 1.01-1.23, p=0.03] in the Chinese population by a meta-analysis. However, we did not find this association in the Caucasian population [(AA+GA) vs. GG, OR=0.99, 95%CI: 0.87-1.11, p=0.84; A vs. G, OR=0.97, 95%CI: 0.84-1.13, p=0.73, respectively]., Conclusion: The results of our meta-analysis indicate that the -455 G>A polymorphism in the β-fibrinogen gene is a susceptibility marker of ischemic cerebral infarction in the Chinese population., (© The Author(s) 2014.)

Objective: To explore the influence of steam killenzyme torrefaction on the quality of Camellia nitidissima., Methods: Based on the quality evaluation index, Camellia nitidissima was processed by steam killenzyme torrefaction and sun-dried. The contents of functional ingredients such as flavonoids, saponins, tea polyphenols, polysaccharides, amino acids, tea extracts, catechin and epicatechin were determined by HPLC and UV. Meanwhile, the antioxidant activity was determined by ABTS method, DPPH x assay, pyrogallol method and phenanthroline., Results: Compared with the sun-dried sample, the total flavonoids, saponins and epicatechin content were decreased in varying degrees, catechin was not detected., Conclusion: The water soluble components content of Camellia nitidissima is increased, and antioxidant capacity is enhanced by processed using steam killenzyme torrefaction. By contrast, the alcohol soluble components and antioxidant capacity are decreased.

A DTBP-promoted metal-free and solvent-free formation of C-Se and C-S bonds through sp(3) C-H functionalization of methyl arenes with diselenides and disulfides is described.

Background: Depression is a frequent mood disorder that affects around a third of stroke patients and has been associated with poorer outcome. Our aim was to determine whether there is a relationship between serum Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels and post-stroke depression (PSD)., Methods: Two hundred and sixteen ischemic stroke patients admitted to the hospital within the first 24h after stroke onset were consecutively recruited and followed up for 3 months. Based on the symptoms, diagnoses of depression were made in accordance with DSM-IV criteria for post-stroke depression at day 90. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure serum levels of BDNF at admission. Multivariate analyses were performed using logistic regression models., Results: In our study, 59 patients (27.3%) were diagnosed as having major depression at 3 months. Patients with major depression showed lower levels of serum BDNF [8.1 (5.6-9.4) vs. 13.7 (10.4-16.5)ng/ml, P<0.0001] at admission. In multivariate analyses, serum BDNF was an independent predictor of PSD at 3 months [odds ratio (OR): 0.79(0.72-0.87), P=0.003]. Serum levels of BDNF≤10.2ng/ml were independently associated with post-stroke (OR, 11.5; 95% CI, 5.6-23.4, P<0.0001), after adjustment for possible variables., Conclusion: The present study demonstrates a strong relationship between serum BDNF levels at admission and the development of PSD within 3 months. Further studies are necessary to confirm this association, which may open the way to the proposal of new therapeutic options., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) acts as a cAMP-dependent chloride channel, has been studied in various types of cells. CFTR is abundantly expressed in vascular smooth muscle cells and closely linked to vascular tone regulation. However, the functional significance of CFTR in basilar vascular smooth muscle cells (BASMCs) remains elusive. Accumulating evidence has shown the direct role of CFTR in cell apoptosis that contributes to several main pathological events in CF, such as inflammation, lung injury and pancreatic insufficiency. We therefore investigated the role of CFTR in BASMC apoptotic process induced by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). We found that H2O2-induced cell apoptosis was parallel to a significant decrease in endogenous CFTR protein expression. Silencing CFTR with adenovirus-mediated CFTR specific siRNA further enhanced H2O2-induced BASMC injury, mitochondrial cytochrome c release into cytoplasm, cleaved caspase-3 and -9 protein expression and oxidized glutathione levels; while decreased cell viability, the Bcl-2/Bax ratio, mitochondrial membrane potential, total glutathione levels, activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase. The pharmacological activation of CFTR with forskolin produced the opposite effects. These results strongly suggest that CFTR may modulate oxidative stress-related BASMC apoptosis through the cAMP- and mitochondria-dependent pathway and regulating endogenous antioxidant defense system.

Background: Depression is a frequent mood disorder that affects around 33% of stroke patient. Our aim was to test the possible association between plasma glutamate and the development of post-stroke depression (PSD) in Chinese patients., Methods: The subjects were first-ever acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients who were hospitalized during the period from November 2011 to September 2013. Clinical information and stroke severity was collected at admission. Neurological and neuropsychological evaluations were conducted at the 3-month follow-up. Plasma glutamate levels were analyzed at baseline using liquid chromatography followed by tandem mass spectrometry. Glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT), glutamate-pyruvate transaminase (GPT) and blood markers were also tested. Multivariate analyses were performed using logistic regression models., Results: During the study period, 209 patients were included in the analysis. Seventy patients (33.5%) were diagnosed as having major depression at 3 month. Patients with major depression showed higher levels of plasma glutamate [299 (235-353) vs. 157 (108-206) μM, P<0.0001] and lower GOT [14 (11-20) vs. 21 (15-32)U/L, P<0.0001] at admission. In multivariate analyses, plasma glutamate and GOT were independent predictors of PSD at 3 months [odds ratio (OR): 1.03 (1.02-1.04), P<0.0001; 0.84 (0.75-0.97), P=0.003]. Plasma levels of glutamate >205 μM were independently associated with PSD (OR, 21.3; 95% CI, 8.28-67.36, P<0.0001), after adjustment for possible variables., Conclusion: The present study demonstrates a strong relationship between plasma glutamate and GOT levels at admission and the development of PSD within 3 months. Further studies are necessary to confirm this association, which may open the way to the proposal of new therapeutic options., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background and Purpose: Cerebrovascular remodelling is one of the important risk factors of stroke. The underlying mechanisms are unclear. Integrin β3 and volume-regulated ClC-3 Cl(-) channels have recently been implicated as important contributors to vascular cell proliferation. Therefore, we investigated the role of integrin β3 in cerebrovascular remodelling and related Cl(-) signalling pathway., Experimental Approach: Cl(-) currents were recorded using a patch clamp technique. The expression of integrin β3 in hypertensive animals was examined by Western blot and immunohistochemisty. Immunoprecipitation, cDNA and siRNA transfection were employed to investigate the integrin β3/Src/ClC-3 signalling., Key Results: Integrin β3 expression was up-regulated in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats, 2-kidney 2-clip hypertensive rats and angiotensin II-infused hypertensive mice. Integrin β3 expression was positively correlated with medial cross-sectional area and ClC-3 expression in the basilar artery of 2-kidney 2-clip hypertensive rats. Knockdown of integrin β3 inhibited the proliferation of rat basilar vascular smooth muscle cells induced by angiotensin II. Co-immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence experiments revealed a physical interaction between integrin β3, Src and ClC-3 protein. The integrin β3/Src/ClC-3 signalling pathway was shown to be involved in the activation of volume-regulated chloride channels induced by both hypo-osmotic stress and angiotensin II. Tyrosine 284 within a concensus Src phosphorylation site was the key point for ClC-3 channel activation. ClC-3 knockout significantly attenuated angiotensin II-induced cerebrovascular remodelling., Conclusions and Implications: Integrin β3 mediates cerebrovascular remodelling during hypertension via Src/ClC-3 signalling pathway., (© 2014 The British Pharmacological Society.)

Purpose: To investigate the role of angiotensin II (Ang II) in the regulation of corneal myofibroblast apoptosis and the possible signaling pathway., Methods: Rabbit corneal myofibroblasts were cultured in vitro and the cell phenotype was identified by expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and formation of F-actin. The expression of Ang II type I receptor (AT1R) in keratocytes and corneal myofibroblasts were detected by immunofluorescence staining and Western blot. The effect of Ang II on corneal myofibroblast apoptosis induced by serum starvation and TNFα plus cycloheximide (CHX) was examined by TUNEL, Hoechst 33258 staining, and caspase 3/7 activity assay. The effect of Ang II on nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB)-dependent DNA binding activity and transcriptional activity was studied by electrophoresis mobility shift assay (EMSA) and luciferase reporter assay, respectively. Ang II-induced TGFβ1 secretion by corneal myofibroblasts was determined by ELISA., Results: Ang II type I receptor expression was more abundant in corneal myofibroblasts compared with keratocytes. Ang II reduced corneal myofibroblasts apoptotic response to serum starvation or treatment with TNFα plus CHX. This protective effect was attenuated in the presence of AT1R antagonist losartan or NF-κB-specific inhibitor Bay11-7082. Ang II increased NF-κB-dependent DNA-binding activity and transcriptional activity, and also increased TGFβ1 production by corneal myofibroblasts., Conclusions: Ang II induces corneal myofibroblasts resistance to apoptosis via activating NF-κB signaling pathway, and thus should be further investigated as a possible target for therapy of corneal fibrosis., (Copyright 2014 The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Inc.)

Pummelo cultivars are usually difficult to identify morphologically, especially when fruits are unavailable. The problem was addressed in this study with the use of two methods: high resolution melting analysis of SNPs and sequencing of DNA segments. In the first method, a set of 25 SNPs with high polymorphic information content were selected from SNPs predicted by analyzing ESTs and sequenced DNA segments. High resolution melting analysis was then used to genotype 260 accessions including 55 from Myanmar, and 178 different genotypes were thus identified. A total of 99 cultivars were assigned to 86 different genotypes since the known somatic mutants were identical to their original genotypes at the analyzed SNP loci. The Myanmar samples were genotypically different from each other and from all other samples, indicating they were derived from sexual propagation. Statistical analysis showed that the set of SNPs was powerful enough for identifying at least 1000 pummelo genotypes, though the discrimination power varied in different pummelo groups and populations. In the second method, 12 genomic DNA segments of 24 representative pummelo accessions were sequenced. Analysis of the sequences revealed the existence of a high haplotype polymorphism in pummelo, and statistical analysis showed that the segments could be used as genetic barcodes that should be informative enough to allow reliable identification of 1200 pummelo cultivars. The high level of haplotype diversity and an apparent population structure shown by DNA segments and by SNP genotypes, respectively, were discussed in relation to the origin and domestication of the pummelo species.

Bone morphogenesis proteins (BMPs) are multi-functional growth factors. They are expressed in retina, retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and sclera and serve as a regulator in the growth and development of the eye. This article reviewed the chondrogenic potency of the sclera, biochemical and pathological changes of myopic scleral tissue and the differentiation of chondrogenesis by BMP-2. We proposed the hypothesis that BMP-2 can regulate differentiate of scleral fibroblasts and affect the development of myopia.

The study examined the effect of DS147, the bioactive component of the traditional herbal recipe Bangdeyun, on pregnancy in mice with embryo implantation dysfunction induced by controlled ovarian stimulation (COS), and the underlying mechanisms. Female mice were superovulated by intraperitoneal injection of 7.5 IU of pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG) followed by an additional injection of 7.5 IU hCG 48 h later to establish embryo implantation dysfunction (EID) model. Pregnant mice were randomly divided into normal control group, COS group and DS147-treated groups. The pregnancy rate and the average implantation site were obtained on pregnancy day 8 (PD8). The side effect of 200 mg/kg of DS147 on naturally pregnant mice was also observed. Further, the uterine and ovarian tissue samples were collected on PD5 for measuring their weights, observing the development of the endometrium and ovary, and detecting the endometrial expression of MMP-2, TIMP-2, CD34 and angiogenin (ANG). The female mice treated with DS147 at doses of 100 to 800 mg/kg showed a higher pregnancy rate than those in COS group, and the highest pregnancy rate of 83.3% occurred in the 200 mg/kg DS147-treated group. Moreover, no obvious side effect was found in mice treated with 200 mg/kg DS147 on PD8 and PD16. The ovarian and uterine weights, and the expression levels of MMP-2, ANG and CD34 were significantly increased in DS147-treated groups when compared with COS group. The TIMP-2 expression level was much lower in DS147-treated mice than in COS mice and the ratio of MMP-2/TIMP-2 was much higher in DS147-treated group than in COS group, and even higher than normal control group. In all, these findings suggest that DS147 may improve pregnancy in mice with COS-induced EID by promoting matrix degradation and angiogenesis, and improving the development of corpus luteum and endometrial decidualization around the implantation window.

P2X receptors are ATP-gated cationic channels composed of seven cloned subunits (P2X(1 -7)). P2X(3) homomultimer and P2X(2/3) heteromultimer receptors expressed by primary afferent dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons are involved in pain processing. The aim of the study was to investigate the expression of the P2X(5) receptor subunit in DRG in different species including mouse, rat, cat and guinea pig. Immunohistochemistry showed that P2X(5) receptors exhibited low levels of immunostaining in rat DRG, but high levels in mouse and guinea pig. Only a few neurons were immunoreactive for P2X(5) receptors in cat. In mouse DRG, the P2X(5) receptor was expressed largely by medium-diameter neurons (42.9 %), less in small (29.3 %) and large (27.8 %) neurons. In contrast, in the guinea pig DRG, P2X(5) receptor expression was greatest in small-diameter (42.6 %), less in medium- (36.3 %) and large-diameter (21.1 %) neurons. Colocalization experiments revealed that, in mouse DRG, 65.5, 10.9 and 27.1 % of P2X(5) receptors were immunoreactive for NF-200, CGRP and calbindin, while only a few P2X(5)-immunoreactive (IR) neurons were coexpressed with IB4 or with NOS. In guinea pig DRG, a total of 60.5 and 40.5 % of P2X(5)-IR neurons were coexpressed with IB4 or with CGRP, while 20.3 and 24.5 % of P2X(5) receptors were coexpressed with NF-200 or with NOS. Only a few P2X(5)-IR neurons were coexpressed with calbindin in guinea pig DRG. It will be of great interest to clarify the relative physiological and pathophysiological roles of P2X(5) receptors.

Objective: To develop the characteristic chromatographic profile of Sarcandra glabra by HPLC for its quality control., Method: The HPLC analysis was performed on an Agilent Zorbax Eclipse XDB-C18 column (4. 6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm) with column temperature at 40 degree C. The mobile phase was consisted of water containing 0. 5% formic acid and acetonitrile to methanol (1:9) in gradient mode, and the detection wavelength was set at 344 nm., Result: A common mode of the HPLC characteristic chromatographic profile has been establised. There were 20 common peaks , seven of which were identified, and 46 samples from different habitats were classified into five groups based on principal component cluster analysis., Conclusion: The method was time-saving and can represent the chemical information and provide a scientific basis for quality control of S. glabra.

Purpose: To investigate the efficacy of progressive addition lenses on the treatment of ametropia and loss of accomodation after the single eye's IOL implantation., Methods: Eighty four patients undergoing IOL implantation in single eyes were prescribed with progressive addition lenses for ametropia correction and regularly followed up to observe subsequent correction effect., Results: Among these 84 patients, 72 could comfortably adapt to the use of progressive addition lenses to improve visual acuity and accomondation, while the remaining 12 patients failed to accomodate the usage of progressive addition lenses., Conclusion: Wearing progressive addition lenses acts as a relatively feasible approach to improve visual acuity and alleviate disorders of accomodation for patients who underwent IOL implantation in single eyes. The patients should be prescribed with progressive lenses under professional instructions and guidance.

Objective: To carry out a nationwide epidemiologic survey on the neonates in urban hospitals with an attempt to understand the disease spectrum and treatment outcomes of hospitalized neonates in China., Methods: The clinical data of 43,289 hospitalized neonates from 86 hospitals in 47 Chinese cities (22 provinces) between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2005 were retrospectively analyzed., Results: The male:female ratio was 1.73:1. Premature infants accounted for 26.2% of the hospitalized neonates, which was higher than that reported in 2002 (19.7%). The top three diseases during the neonatal period were jaundice, pneumonia, and hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. The incidences of pneumonia, meconium aspiration syndrome, and bilirubin encephalopathy in term infants were higher than those in premature infants, while the incidences of asphyxia, respiratory distress syndrome, and pulmonary hemorrhage in term infants were lower than those in premature infants. The incidences of asphyxia, small for gestational age infant, and wet lung were higher in neonates whose mother had pregnancy induced hypertension. The outcomes of these hospitalized neonates included: recovered, 63.9%; improved, 27.3%; discharged due to the family's own decisions, 7.6%, and died, 1.2%. Nearly half (46.4%) of the neonatal death occurred within 24 hrs after admission., Conclusion: The incidence of premature birth shows an increasing trend among hospitalized neonates. Since the neonatal deaths mainly occur within 24 hrs after admission, monitoring during this period should be enhanced.

Aim: To determine the effect of 7-methylxanthine (7-MX) on the posterior sclera of form-deprivation myopia (FDM) in pigmented rabbits., Methods: Sixteen pigmented rabbits were monocularly deprived (MD) by suturing the right eyelids after natural eye opening (ten-day old) for a period of 30 days. Two groups of pigmented rabbits were fed either 7-MX (30 mg per kg body weight; n=8) or vehicle control (saline equal volume with 7-MX; n=8). Ocular refractions, axial lengths and body weights were measured at the start and the end of the experiment 30 days later. Electron microscopy was used to measure and determine the collagen fibril diameters in the posterior pole of sclera., Results: In vehicle control MD pigmented rabbits, 30 days of MD produced -1.10D±0.78D of myopia and the axial length increased 0.51mm±0.09mm. In MD pigmented rabbits fed with 7-MX, 30 days of MD induced only -0.21D±0.11D of myopia and the axial length increased 0.07mm±0.10mm. There was significant change in axial length of vehicle control MD pigmented rabbits (13.11mm±0.19mm versus 12.60mm±0.06mm; P=0.03). The changes in refraction and axial length of two MD groups' contralateral eyes during the 30 days were not significantly different (2.75D±0.27D versus 2.75D±0.35D, P>0.05; 12.60mm±0.06mm versus 12.45mm±0.14mm, P>0.05). The weights of the two groups pigmented rabbits had no significant changes (187g±22.1g versus 189g±19.3g, P>0.05). The diameter of scleral collagen fibers increased in both eyes of 7-MX treated pigmented rabbits. There was significant difference in collagen fibril diameters of inner layer (111.34nm±28.30nm versus 94.80nm±27.52nm, P=0.002) and outer layer (167.92nm±55.82 nm versus 144.04 nm±47.02nm, P=0.016) in the posterior sclera between the myopic eyes of vehicle control MD group and contralateral eyes of 7-MX treated MD group., Conclusion: 7-MX appears to prevent FDM in pigmented rabbits by remodeling the posterior sclera.

Aim: To investigate the distribution of bone morphogenetic protein receptors (BMPRs) in human scleral fibroblsasts (HSFs) and in human sclera., Methods: Primary HSFs were cultured in vitro. The mRNA levels of BMP-2 and BMPRs in HSFs were assayed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The protein distributions of BMP-2 and BMPRs in HSFs were further detected by immunocytofluorescence and western blot. Their protein expression was also detected in frozen human posterior scleral sections by immunohistofluorescence., Results: BMP-2 and BMPRs were expressed in both HSFs and human sclera not only at mRNA level but also at protein level. The expressions of BMPRIA and BMPRII were higher than that of BMPRIB in the cytoplasm and cell membrane of HSFs in vitro. Western blot further verified the results of immunocytofluorescence. In human sclera, BMP2, BMPR IB and BMPR II were found to be expressed in the cytomatrix of HSF, and weak signal was detected about BMPRIA., Conclusion: BMP-2 and all three subtypes of BMPRs were found in HSFs and may play a role in scleral remodeling.

Aim: To test the hypothesis that amblyopic neuroretina may have an altered thickness when compared to the normal., Methods: Twenty-five amblyopic, young patients between the ages of 7 and 11 years old were studied. The interested neuroretina areas are defined into 10 sub-regions according to superior-inferior, nasal-temoral, and peri-para axis, which cross the fovela structure. The thicknesses of ten, defined macular regions were separately measured by optical coherence tomography (OCT) and analyzed by t-test., Results: The average thickness of neuroretina in the exact foveola of the amblyopic eyes is larger than that of normal eyes (P<0.05), but the other nine regions have no significant difference. Interestingly, in both the normal and amblyopic eyes, the temporal area looks thinner than other quadrants (P<0.05)., Conclusion: Thickness alteration may be associated with amblyopic disorders in young patients. Studying a larger volume of subjects of similar age is required to confirm this observation.

Houttuynia cordata is one of the most potential medicinal and edible wild herb whose resources have decreased sharply due to excessive exploitation. Besides its slow agamic propagation, problems of browning and non-dedifferentiation have prevented the application of micropropagation in H. cordata. Through 4 week pre-culture in darkness and wounding after 1 week pre-culture, the browning rate of leaf explants decreased significantly and resulted in efficient regeneration (20.64 +/- 5.94 adventitious buds per explant) on the induction medium. The protocol shall facilitate conservation and commercial cultivation of the endangered species.

Houttuynia cordata Thunb. is an edible herb with a variety of pharmacological activities, but only limited information is available about its response towards potassium supplementation. Sterile plantlets were cultured in media with different potassium levels, and parameters related to growth, foliar potassium, water and chlorophyll contents, photosynthesis, transpiration, H 2 O 2 contents and antioxidative enzyme activities were determined after a month. Results showed that 1.28 mM potassium was the optimum for H. cordata as highest values of dry weight, shoot height, root length and number were obtained at this concentration. The optimum potassium concentration resulted in the maximum net photosynthetic rate which could be associated with the highest chlorophyll content rather than limited stomatal conductance. The supply of surplus potassium resulted in higher content of foliar potassium, but negatively correlated with the biomass. Both potassium starvation (0 mM) and high potassium (>1.28 mM) could lead to water loss through high transpiration rate and low water absorption, respectively, and resulted in H 2 O 2 accumulation and increased activities of catalase and peroxidase, which suggested induction of oxidative stress. Moreover, H. cordata showed the minimum of H 2 O 2 content and the maximum of superoxide dismutase activity on 1.28 mM potassium, implying its role in inducing tolerance against oxidative stress., (Copyright © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Adenosine receptors (ADORs) have been reported to play a role in experimental myopia. This study aimed to determine the distribution of ADORs in human retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells cultured in vitro., Methods: Human RPE cells (cell line D407) were cultured in vitro. ADOR mRNA in RPE was detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. ADOR protein expression in RPE was confirmed by Western blotting analysis of cell lysates. Confocal fluorescence microscopy was used to study the subcellular distribution of ADORs., Results: All four subtypes of ADORs mRNA and protein were expressed in human RPE. This was confirmed by Western blotting analysis. The ADOR subtypes were differently distributed within the cells. ADORA1 was expressed in nucleus, perinucleus and cytoplasm of RPE. ADORA2A was concentrated mainly in one side of the perinucleus and cytoplasm of RPE. ADORA2B was strongly expressed in the nucleus, perinucleus and the cytoplasm, and ADORA3 was expressed weakly in the cytoplasm of RPE., Conclusions: ADORs are expressed in human RPE. The different distribution at the subcellular level suggests different functions of ADOR subtypes.