Phosphorylation of SPOROCYTELESS/NOZZLE by the MPK3/6 Kinase Is Required for Anther Development.

Germ cells are indispensable carriers of genetic information from one generation to the next. In contrast to the well-understood process in animals, information on the mechanism of germ cell initiation in plants is very limited. / was previously identified as an essential regulator of diploid germ cell (archesporial cell) differentiation in the stamens and ovules of Arabidopsis ().

Novel 4-(4-substituted amidobenzyl)furan-2(5H)-one derivatives as topoisomerase I inhibitors.

In this study, two series of novel 4-(4-substituted amidobenzyl)furan-2(5H)-one derivatives containing an α,β-unsaturated lactone fragment were synthesized and screened for Topo I inhibition and antitumor activity. The topoisomerase I inhibitory activities and cytotoxicities against three human cancer cell lines (MCF-7,Hela,A549) were evaluated. The results revealed that series 2, compounds bearing an exocyclic double bond on the furanone ring, generally showed more potent activity than series 1, compounds lacking an exocyclic double bond.

Novel bivalent securinine mimetics as topoisomerase I inhibitors.

A series of novel bivalent securinine mimetics incorporating different linkers between C-15 and C-15' were synthesized and their topoisomerase I (Topo I) inhibitory activities evaluated. It was thus revealed that mimetic incorporating a rigid -substituted benzene linker exhibits Topo I inhibitory activity three times that of parent securinine. Comprehensive structure-activity relationship analyses in combination with docking studies were used to rationalize the potent activity of these bivalent mimetics.

Cucurbitacin B exerts anti-cancer activities in human multiple myeloma cells in vitro and in vivo by modulating multiple cellular pathways.

Cucurbitacin B (CuB), a triterpenoid compound isolated from the stems of Cucumis melo, has long been used to treat hepatitis and hepatoma in China. Although its remarkable anti-cancer activities have been reported, the mechanism by which it achieves this therapeutic activity remains unclear. This study was designed to investigate the molecular mechanisms by which CuB inhibits cancer cell proliferation.

Urinary 3-(3-Hydroxyphenyl)-3-hydroxypropionic Acid, 3-Hydroxyphenylacetic Acid, and 3-Hydroxyhippuric Acid Are Elevated in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are a group of mental illnesses highly correlated with gut microbiota. Recent studies have shown that some abnormal aromatic metabolites in autism patients are presumably derived from overgrown Clostridium species in gut, which may be used for diagnostic purposes. In this paper, a GC/MS based metabolomic approach was utilized to seek similar biomarkers by analyzing the urinary information in 62 ASDs patients compared with 62 non-ASDs controls in China, aged 1.

A GC/MS-based metabolomic approach for reliable diagnosis of phenylketonuria.

Although the phenylalanine/tyrosine ratio in blood has been the gold standard for diagnosis of phenylketonuria (PKU), the disadvantages of invasive sample collection and false positive error limited the application of this discriminator in the diagnosis of PKU to some extent. The aim of this study was to develop a new standard with high sensitivity and specificity in a less invasive manner for diagnosing PKU. In this study, an improved oximation-silylation method together with GC/MS was utilized to obtain the urinary metabolomic information in 47 PKU patients compared with 47 non-PKU controls.

Effective Electrochemistry of Human Sulfite Oxidase Immobilized on Quantum-Dots-Modified Indium Tin Oxide Electrode.

The bioelectrocatalytic sulfite oxidation by human sulfite oxidase (hSO) on indium tin oxide (ITO) is reported, which is facilitated by functionalizing of the electrode surface with polyethylenimine (PEI)-entrapped CdS nanoparticles and enzyme. hSO was assembled onto the electrode with a high surface loading of electroactive enzyme. In the presence of sulfite but without additional mediators, a high bioelectrocatalytic current was generated.

Hypermethylated ERG as a cell-free fetal DNA biomarker for non-invasive prenatal testing of Down syndrome.

Background: Previous reports have shown that the ERG gene is hypermethylated in the placenta and hypomethylated in maternal blood cells. In this study, we explore the feasibility of hypermethylated ERG as a cell-free fetal (cff) DNA biomarker for non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) of Down syndrome.

Methods: We randomly selected 90 healthy pregnant women, including 30 cases at each trimester of pregnancy.

Clinical and molecular characteristics of invasive community-acquired Staphylococcus aureus infections in Chinese children.

Background: This study aims to investigate the clinical features of invasive community-acquired Staphylococcus aureus (CA-SA) infection in Chinese children and analyze its molecular features.

Methods: Clinical data and invasive CA-SA isolates were prospectively collected. Pediatric risk of mortality (PRISM) score was used for disease severity measurement.

[Diagnostic value of magnetic resonance spectroscopy and intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging in the treatment of brain abscesses].

Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic value of magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and the role of intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging (iMRI) in the treatment of brain abscesses by aspiration and drainage.

Methods: From November 2009 to June 2013, Forty-one brain abscess patients were evaluated. MRS was employed to acquire the metabolic information and assist in the differential diagnosis of brain abscesses showing lactate cytosolic amino acids (AAs) with/without succinate, acetate, alanine and glycine on MRS.

Prevalence and invasiveness of community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: a meta-analysis.

Background: Reports suggest that the prevalence of community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) has increased, and that CA-MRSA is more virulent than healthcare-associated (HA)-MRSA.

Aims: The aim of this study is to gain a better understanding of the invasiveness and prevalence of CA-MRSA in patients; we systematically reviewed the literature by conducting a meta-analysis.

Materials And Methods: We searched the MEDLINE and PUBMED databases from the year these databases were established to January 2013.

The detection of autoantibodies to ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 and its role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objectives: To investigate the prevalence of autoantibodies against ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) in SLE patients, and evaluate the association between anti-ABCA1 autoantibodies and atherosclerosis in SLE.

Design And Methods: The sera of 75 SLE patients and 75 healthy controls were tested by immunoblotting. Then, we examined the effect of anti-ABCA1 autoantibodies on cholesterol efflux in vitro.

Clinical features and prognosis of adult-onset still's disease: 61 cases from China.

Objective: To describe the onset, clinical features, prognostic factors, and treatment of adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD) in cases from China.

Methods: Sixty-one Chinese patients with AOSD were analyzed retrospectively.

Results: Common clinical features were fever (100.

Simultaneous detection of six human diarrheal pathogens by using DNA microarray combined with tyramide signal amplification.

Multiplex PCR and DNA microarray were combined with tyramide signal amplification (TSA) to develop a reliable method suitable for simultaneous detection of six species of human diarrheal pathogens (Yersinia enterocolitica, Shigella spp, Salmonella typhi, Brucella spp, Vibrio cholera and Escherichia coli O157:H7). Meanwhile, our method could distinguish V. cholera serotype O1 from O139, and O157:H7 from O157: non-H7.

The levels of macrophage migration inhibitory factor as an indicator of disease activity and severity in adult-onset Still's disease.

Objectives: This study investigated the levels of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) in adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD) and explored the role of this pro-inflammatory cytokine in the systemic inflammation of AOSD.

Design And Methods: Serum MIF levels were measured by ELISA in patients with AOSD and controls. Intracellular MIF production by peripheral blood leukocytes was detected by three-color flow cytometry.