Peptides modeled on the RGG domain of AUF1/hnRNP-D regulate 3' UTR-dependent gene expression.

Messenger RNA binding proteins control post-transcriptional gene expression of targeted mRNAs. The RGG (arginine-glycine-glycine) domain of the AUF1/hnRNP-D mRNA binding protein is a regulatory region that is essential for protein function. The AUF1-RGG peptide, modeled on the RGG domain of AUF1, represses expression of the macrophage cytokine, VEGF.

Closed-loop control of the thalamocortical relay neuron's Parkinsonian state based on slow variable.

A novel closed-loop control strategy is proposed to control Parkinsonian state based on a computational model. By modeling thalamocortical relay neurons under external electric field, a slow variable feedback control is applied to restore its relay functionality. Qualitative and quantitative analysis demonstrates the performance of feedback controller based on slow variable is more efficient compared with traditional feedback control based on fast variable.

Intratumor hypoxia promotes immune tolerance by inducing regulatory T cells via TGF-β1 in gastric cancer.

Regulatory T cell (Treg)-mediated immunosuppression represents one of the crucial tumor immune evasion mechanisms and is a main obstacle for successful tumor immunotherapy. Hypoxia, a common feature of solid tumors, has been associated with potentiated immunosuppression, decreased therapeutic response, malignant progression and local invasion. Unfortunately, the link between hypoxia and Treg-mediated immune tolerance in gastric cancer remains poorly understood.

[Selection and identification of ssDNA aptamers specific to clinical isolates of Streptococcus mutans strains with different cariogenicity].

Objective: To select and identify ssDNA aptamers specific to Streptococcus mutans strains with different cariogenicity isolated from clinical specimens.

Methods: Subtractive SELEX technology targeting the whole intact cells was used to screen for ssDNA aptamers specific to the clinical isolates Streptococcus mutans strains with different cariogenicity. Radioactive isotope, flow cytometry, gene cloning and sequencing, MEME online software and RNA structure analysis software were employed to analyze the first and secondary structures of the aptamers and identify the screened aptamers.

[Preliminary screen of high cariogenicity Streptococcus mutans strains isolated from clinical specimens].

Objective: To screen of high cariogenicity Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) strains isolated from clinical specimens preliminary.

Methods: Acidogenicity, aciduricity, extracellular polysaccharide production and adhesion of 41 strains of S.

A microfluidic system for cell type classification based on cellular size-independent electrical properties.

This paper presents a microfluidic system enabling cell type classification based on continuous characterization of size-independent electrical properties (e.g., specific membrane capacitance (C(specific membrane)) and cytoplasm conductivity (σ(cytoplasm)).

Synchronous vs sequential laparoscopic cholecystectomy for cholecystocholedocholithiasis.

Aim: To compare synchronous laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) combined with endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) and sequential LC combined with EST for treating cholecystocholedocholithiasis.

Methods: A total of 150 patients were included and retrospectively studied. Among these, 70 were selected for the synchronous operation, in which the scheme was endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography combined with EST during LC.

Effects of time delay on the stochastic resonance in small-world neuronal networks.

The effects of time delay on stochastic resonance in small-world neuronal networks are investigated. Without delay, an intermediate intensity of additive noise is able to optimize the temporal response of the neural system to the subthreshold periodic signal imposed on all neurons constituting the network. The time delay in the coupling process can either enhance or destroy stochastic resonance of neuronal activity in the small-world network.

Topology identification of uncertain nonlinearly coupled complex networks with delays based on anticipatory synchronization.

This paper presents an adaptive anticipatory synchronization based method for simultaneous identification of topology and parameters of uncertain nonlinearly coupled complex dynamical networks with time delays. An adaptive controller is proposed, based on Lyapunov stability theorem and Barbǎlat's Lemma, to guarantee the stability of the anticipatory synchronization manifold between drive and response networks. Meanwhile, not only the identification criteria of network topology and system parameters are obtained but also the anticipatory time is identified.

The estimation of neurotransmitter release probability in feedforward neuronal network based on adaptive synchronization.

In this paper, we proposed a new approach to estimate unknown parameters and topology of a neuronal network based on the adaptive synchronization control scheme. A virtual neuronal network is constructed as an observer to track the membrane potential of the corresponding neurons in the original network. When they achieve synchronization, the unknown parameters and topology of the original network are obtained.

Bacillus subtilis SC02 supplementation causes alterations of the microbial diversity in grass carp water.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of Bacillus subtilis SC02 supplement on water quality, microbial community diversity and structure in a grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus) culture. Our selected strain, B. subtilis SC02, significantly reduced ammonia, nitrite and total nitrogen levels in water over an extended period compared with the control group.

The novel 13S,14S-epoxy-maresin is converted by human macrophages to maresin 1 (MaR1), inhibits leukotriene A4 hydrolase (LTA4H), and shifts macrophage phenotype.

Maresins are produced by macrophages from docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and exert potent proresolving and tissue homeostatic actions. Maresin 1 (MaR1; 7R,14S-dihydroxy-docosa-4Z,8E,10E,12Z,16Z,19Z-hexaenoic acid) is the first identified maresin. Here, we investigate formation, stereochemistry, and precursor role of 13,14-epoxy-docosahexaenoic acid, an intermediate in MaR1 biosynthesis.

[Isolation and identification of Streptococcus mutans strains with different genotype from clinical samples].

Objective: To identify Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) strains from clinical samples.

Methods: Plaque samples from caries-active and caries-free sites on enamel surfaces were obtained and cultivated for S.

The effect of age and emphysematous and fibrotic injury on the re-cellularization of de-cellularized lungs.

Use of de-cellularized cadaveric lungs as 3-dimensional scaffolds for ex vivo lung tissue generation offers a new potential therapeutic approach for clinical lung transplantation. However, it is likely that some of the available cadaveric human lungs may be from older donors or from donors with previously existing structural lung diseases such as emphysema or pulmonary fibrosis. It is not known whether these lungs will be suitable for either de-cellularization or re-cellularization.

The effects of storage and sterilization on de-cellularized and re-cellularized whole lung.

Despite growing interest on the potential use of de-cellularized whole lungs as 3-dimensional scaffolds for ex vivo lung tissue generation, optimal processing including sterilization and storage conditions, are not well defined. Further, it is unclear whether lungs need to be obtained immediately or may be usable even if harvested several days post-mortem, a situation mimicking potential procurement of human lungs from autopsy. We therefore assessed effects of delayed necropsy, prolonged storage (3 and 6 months), and of two commonly utilized sterilization approaches: irradiation or final rinse with peracetic acid, on architecture and extracellular matrix (ECM) protein characteristics of de-cellularized mouse lungs.

TGF-β1 secreted by hepatocellular carcinoma induces the expression of the Foxp3 gene and suppresses antitumor immunity in the tumor microenvironment.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to explore the mechanisms of TGF-β1 mediated immunosuppression in tumor stroma.

Methods: The expression of TGF-β1 was investigated in Huh7, Hep 3B, SGC-7901, Eca-109 and Hepa1-6 cell lines using immunofluorescence. Knocked-down TGF-β1 of the Hepa1-6 cell line was established through lentivirus-based RNA interference.

A microfluidic system enabling continuous characterization of specific membrane capacitance and cytoplasm conductivity of single cells in suspension.

This paper presents a microfluidic system enabling continuous characterization of specific membrane capacitance (Cspecific membrane) and cytoplasm conductivity (σcytoplasm) of single cells in suspension. In this study, cells were aspirated continuously through a constriction channel while cell elongations and impedance profiles at two frequencies (1kHz and 100kHz) were measured simultaneously using microscopy imaging and a lock-in amplifier. 1kHz impedance data were used to evaluate cellular sealing properties with constriction channel walls and 100kHz impedance data were translated to quantify equivalent membrane capacitance and cytoplasm resistance of single cells, which were further translated to Cspecific membrane and σcytoplasm.

A high level of integrin α6 expression in human intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma cells is associated with a migratory and invasive phenotype.

Background: The integrin α6 subunit is part of the integrin α6β1 and α6β4 complexes, which are known to mediate the invasion of carcinoma cells. However, the precise role of integrin α6 in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) has not yet been addressed.

Methods: Twenty cases of ICCs and matched nontumor samples were used to analyze integrin α6 expression by immunohistochemistry.

Embryotoxicity of Psoralea corylifolia L.: in vivo and in vitro studies.

Background: Psoralea corylifolia L. (PC) was commonly used to treat miscarriages clinically. The aim of this study was to examine its embryotoxicity in mice and embryonic stem cells (ESCs).

[Identification and denitrification characteristics of an aerobic denitrifier].

An aerobic denitrifier named F1 was isolated from grass fish pond water by BTB culture medium preliminary screening and denitrification activity analysis. The isolate was identified as Pseudomonas stutzeri through morphological feature, biochemical characteristics and 16S rDNA sequence analysis. Further studies showed that the optimal carbon resources for F1 denitrification were sodium acetate, sodium citrate, glucose and sucrose, with which the nitrate removal rate could reach 100%.

Effects of Bacillus preparations on immunity and antioxidant activities in grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus).

This experiment was conducted to study the effects of Bacillus preparations on immunity and antioxidant activities in grass carp. A total of 315 grass carp, with similar initial weight (average weight of fish 45 g), were randomly divided into three groups with three replicates. The control group was fed the basal diet without Bacillus; treatment group 1 was added Bacillus preparation no.

Beta-Cell Injury in Ncb5or-null Mice is Exacerbated by Consumption of a High-Fat Diet.

NADH-cytochrome b5 oxidoreductase (Ncb5or) in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is involved in fatty acid metabolism, and Ncb5or(-/-) mice fed standard chow (SC) are insulin-sensitive but weigh less than wild type (WT) littermates. Ncb5or(-/-) mice develop hyperglycemia at about age 7 weeks due to β-cell dysfunction and loss associated with saturated fatty acid accumulation and manifestations of ER and oxidative stress. Here we report that when Ncb5or(-/-) mice born to heterozygous mothers fed a high fat (HF) diet continue to ingest HF, they weigh as much as SC-fed WT at age 5 weeks.

Propagation of spiking regularity and double coherence resonance in feedforward networks.

We investigate the propagation of spiking regularity in noisy feedforward networks (FFNs) based on FitzHugh-Nagumo neuron model systematically. It is found that noise could modulate the transmission of firing rate and spiking regularity. Noise-induced synchronization and synfire-enhanced coherence resonance are also observed when signals propagate in noisy multilayer networks.

A genetic variant in 3'-untranslated region of cyclooxygenases-2 gene is associated with risk of gastric cancer in a Chinese population.

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) involves in multiple processes in carcinogenesis, including inflammation, apoptosis inhibition, immune response suppression, tumor cell invasion, and angiogenesis. COX-2 is overexpressed in various cancers, including gastric cancer. COX-2 is encoded by prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2) gene.

Stochastic resonance on a modular neuronal network of small-world subnetworks with a subthreshold pacemaker.

We study the phenomenon of stochastic resonance on a modular neuronal network consisting of several small-world subnetworks with a subthreshold periodic pacemaker. Numerical results show that the correlation between the pacemaker frequency and the dynamical response of the network is resonantly dependent on the intensity of additive spatiotemporal noise. This effect of pacemaker-driven stochastic resonance of the system depends extensively on the local and the global network structure, such as the intra- and inter-coupling strengths, rewiring probability of individual small-world subnetwork, the number of links between different subnetworks, and the number of subnetworks.