Relationship between gastric mucosal atrophy, cystic dilatation, and histopathological characteristics.

Objective: This study aims to elucidate the relationship between gastric mucosal atrophy, cystic dilatation, and their associated histopathological characteristics.

Methods: A comprehensive analysis was conducted on endoscopic biopsy specimens from 527 cases exhibiting gastric mucosal cystic dilatation. Detailed histological observations and immunohistochemical analysis were performed.

Postoperative jaundice related to and gene mutations: A case report and literature review.

Background: Patients with obstructive jaundice caused by intrahepatic bile duct stones can be effectively managed by surgery. However, some patients may develop postoperative complications, liver failure, and other life-threatening situations. Here, we report a patient with mutations in the uridine 5'-diphospho-glucuronosyltransferase 1A1 () and bile salt export pump (adenosine triphosphate-binding cassette subfamily B member 11, ) genes who presented multiple intrahepatic bile duct stones and cholestasis, and the jaundice of the patient increased after partial hepatectomy.

FMR1 allele frequencies in 51,000 newborns: a large-scale population study in China.

Background: Fragile X syndrome (FXS), caused by CGG-repeat expansion in FMR1 promoter, is one of the most common causes of mental retardation. Individuals with full mutation and premutation alleles have a high risk of psychophysiological disorder and of having affected offspring. Frequencies of FMR1 alleles in general newborns have been reported in Caucasians but have not been investigated in the large-scale population in  the mainland of China.

Constructing 24(23→22)-abeo-Cholestane from Tigogenin in a 20(22→23)-abeo-Way via a PhI(OAc)-mediated Favorskii Rearrangement.

Transforming tigogenin, a steroidal sapogenin, to a 24(23→22)-abeo-cholestane, which is an unusual structural feature shared by the aglycons of saundersiosides and candicanoside A, is described. The spiroketal of tigogenin was unfolded and the resulting C22-ketone was subjected to Favorskii rearrangement mediated by PhI(OAc)/KOH/MeOH to squeeze out the C22 from the side chain, thus reaching the 24(23→22)-abeo-cholestane structure.

Synthesis of 12,12'-azo-13,13'-diepi-Ritterazine N.

A synthesis of the 12,12'-azo-analogue of ritterazine N from hecogenin is reported. Ring contraction of two 6/5 bicyclic ring systems, one trans-fused and another spiro, to 5/5 spiro ring systems is accomplished with excellent stereochemical control. Key transformations include an abnormal Baeyer-Villiger oxidation, a Norrish type I cleavage, an intramolecular dipolar [3 + 2] cycloaddition, and an intramolecular oxymecuration.

Concise synthesis of the core structures of saundersiosides.

A divergent synthesis of three core pentacyclic lactones of nine rearranged cholestane sapogenins, saundersiosides A-H (1-8) and candicanoside A (9), is reported. Key features include a one-flask CBS reduction/Brown hydroboration-oxidation, a SmI2-mediated intramolecular Reformatskii reaction, and an intramolecular transesterification. This synthesis provides a general strategy and key precursors for the collective synthesis of natural and designed saundersiosides.

A blunted sympathetic and accentuated parasympathetic response to postural change in subjects with depressive disorders.

Background: In recent years, the bi-directional relationship between depression and ANS dysfunction has received considerable attention, but findings remain inconclusive. In this study, we aimed to examine the spectral HRV response to postural change in subjects with depressive disorders and in healthy controls, in order to gain insight into the characteristics of autonomic nervous system (ANS) response to postural change in subjects with depressive disorders.

Methods: We compared HRV response to postural change between subjects with depressive disorders and healthy controls aged 20-37 years.

Tanshinone IIA therapeutically reduces LPS-induced acute lung injury by inhibiting inflammation and apoptosis in mice.

Aim: To study the effects of tanshinone IIA (TIIA) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury in mice and the underlying mechanisms.

Methods: Mice were injected with LPS (10 mg/kg, i.p.

Attenuated or absent HRV response to postural change in subjects with primary insomnia.

Previous studies have compared rest heart rate variability (HRV) between insomniacs and good sleepers, but the results have not been consistent. The altered HRV behavior in response to postural change was considered useful as another sensitive measure for evaluating the autonomic nervous function, however, to our knowledge, no study was found using HRV response to postural change in primary insomnia. Our study aimed to examine HRV response to postural change maneuver (PCM) in both primary insomniacs and controls between 22 and 39 years of age to gain insights into the characteristics of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) function in primary insomnia subjects.

Complete sequence of a hepatic cirrhosis inbred C57BL/6 mice model mitochondrial genome.

In the present work we undertook the complete mitochondrial genome sequencing of an important hepatic cirrhosis model inbred C57BL/6 strain for the first time. Its mitogenome was 16,312 bp and coding 13 protein-coding genes, 2 ribosomal RNA genes, 22 transfer RNA genes. A total of 96 SNPs were examined when compared to reference BN sequence.

[Effects of harvest date on quality of BNS hybrid wheat flour and steamed bread].

Three wheat hybrids derived from the BNS male sterile line were used to study the effect of harvest time on gluten content, dough rheological properties, starch pasting properties of wheat flour and the quality of steamed bread. Each of the three hybrids was harvested at May 27, May 31 and June 4, respectively. The results showed that the flour quality of BNS hybrids was affected by harvest time to some extents, and the best harvest time varied among the different hybrids.

Lentiviral miR30-based RNA interference against heparanase suppresses melanoma metastasis with lower liver and lung toxicity.

Aim: To construct short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) and miR30-based shRNAs against heparanase (HPSE) to compare their safety and their effects on HPSE down-modulation in vitro and in vivo to develop a more ideal therapeutic RNA interference (RNAi) vector targeting HPSE.

Methods: First, we constructed shRNAs and miR30-based shRNAs against HPSE (HPSE-shRNAs and HPSE-miRNAs) and packed them into lentiviral vectors. Next, we observed the effects of the shRNAs on knockdown for HPSE expression, adhesion, migration and invasion abilities in human malignant melanoma A375 cells in vitro.

Involvement of microRNA-mediated gene expression regulation in the pathological development of stem canker disease in Populus trichocarpa.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a type of short (21-23 nucleotides), non-coding RNA molecule, mediate repressive gene regulation through RNA silencing at the post-transcriptional level, and play an important role in defense and response to abiotic and biotic stresses. In the present study, Affymetrix® miRNA Array, real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) for miRNAs and their targets, and miRNA promoter analysis were used to validate the gene expression patterns of miRNAs in Populus trichocarpa plantlets induced with the poplar stem canker pathogen, Botryosphaeria dothidea. Twelve miRNAs (miR156, miR159, miR160, miR164, miR166, miR168, miR172, miR319, miR398, miR408, miR1448, and miR1450) were upregulated in the stem bark of P.

Case-control study on the association between qi-stagnation and insomnia.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between insomnia and qi-stagnation by using the international standardized measurement of sleep quality and the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Constitution Scales.

Methods: A survey by means of the TCM Constitution Scales, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and the Deep Sleep Scale (DSS) in 169 participants aged between 16 and 80 years old was conducted. Comparison was made to examine the sleep quality and insomnia symptoms in the qi-stagnation group and other-constitution group.

[Construction of VEGF gene-targeted small interfering RNA mediated by CMV promoter and its silencing effect].

Objective: To construct VEGF gene-targeted small interfering RNA (siRNA) and its expression vector driven by CMV promoter and to investigate its interference effect.

Methods: The VEGF gene-targeted hairpin siRNA was designed, two complementary oligonucleotide strands were synthesized. After annealing, two-strand oligonucleotide was inserted into pDC311-SV40-RC vector, which was then identified by PCR and sequenced.

A genetic map constructed using a doubled haploid population derived from two elite Chinese common wheat varieties.

Genetic mapping provides a powerful tool for the analysis of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) at the genomic level. Herein, we report a new genetic linkage map developed from an F(1)-derived doubled haploid (DH) population of 168 lines, which was generated from the cross between two elite Chinese common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) varieties, Huapei 3 and Yumai 57.

Matrine inhibits invasiveness and metastasis of human malignant melanoma cell line A375 in vitro.

Background: Matrine is a traditional Chinese medicine with significant inhibitory activity against malignant tumors. Its effects on the invasiveness and metastasis of malignant tumors have rarely been reported.

Aim: To investigate whether matrine can inhibit the metastasis-related activities of the human malignant melanoma cell line A375 in vitro.

Invariant natural killer T cells from rhesus macaque spleen and peripheral blood are phenotypically and functionally distinct populations.

Background: Natural killer T cells (NKT) possess dual functions of innate and adaptive immune systems, controlling viral infections and regulating autoimmune diseases. Non-human primates (NHP) are penultimate models for advancing therapeutic immunoregulatory strategies for translational application in humans, though, little is known about NHP NKT cells. Here we characterized rhesus macaque NKT cells ex vivo.

Assessment of the utility of the tomato fruit-specific E8 promoter for driving vaccine antigen expression.

To assess the utility of the tomato fruit-specific E8 gene's promoter for driving vaccine antigen expression in plant, the 2.2 kb and 1.1 kb E8 promoters were isolated and sequenced from Lycopersicon esculentum cv.

Cholera toxin B protein in transgenic tomato fruit induces systemic immune response in mice.

Cholera toxin B (CTB) subunit is a well-characterized antigen against cholera. Transgenic plants can offer an inexpensive and safe source of edible CTB vaccine and may be one of the best candidates for the production of plant vaccines. The present study aimed to develop transgenic tomato expressing CTB protein, especially in the ripening tomato fruit under the control of the tomato fruit-specific E8 promoter by using Agrobacterium-mediated transformation.

[Inhibition of invasiveness and expression of heparanase-mRNA in human malignant melanoma cell line A375 by matrine].

Objective: To investigate the effect of matrine on the invasiveness and expression of heparanase-mRNA in human malignant melanoma cell line A375.

Methods: The A375 cells were treated by matrine in different concentration. The total RNAs were extracted from the cells 48 hours after treatment and then semi-quantitative RT-PCR were performed to evaluate the heparanase-mRNA expression levels.