Effect of Bone Mineral Density on Rotator Cuff Tear: An Osteoporotic Rabbit Model

IntroductionAn increased bone mineral density (BMD) in the proximity to tendon insertion can improve rotator cuff repair and healing. However, how a decrease of BMD in the humeral head affects the biomechanical properties of the rotator cuff tendon is still unclear. Previous studies have demonstrated ovariectomy in animals to lead to osteoporosis and decreased BMD, and Teriparatide (PTH) administration to improve BMD and strength of bone. This study aimed to explore the correlation between humeral head BMD and infraspinatus (ISP) tendon insertion strength, and if an increase in bone quantity of the humeral head can improve the strength of the rotator cuff.ResultsSignificant differences were observed in the measured humeral head BMD of the Control and OVX-PTH groups compared to the OVX-Saline group (P = 0.0004 and P = 0.0024, respectively). No significant difference was found in failure stress among the three groups, but an expected trend with the control group and OVX-PTH group presenting higher failure strength compared to the OVX-Saline group. BMD at the humeral head showed a positive linear correlation with stress (r² = 0.54). Histology results showed the superiority in OVX-PTH group ISP enthesis compared to the OVX-Saline group.ConclusionBone loss of the humeral head leads to decreased tendon/bone insertion strength of the infraspinatus tendon enthesis. Teriparatide administration can increase bone density of the humeral head and may improve the mechanical properties of the infraspinatus tendon enthesis.     

Responses of Crop Water Use Efficiency to Climate Change and Agronomic Measures in the Semiarid Area of Northern China

It has long been concerned how crop water use efficiency (WUE) responds to climate change. Most of existing researches have emphasized the impact of single climate factor but have paid less attention to the effect of developed agronomic measures on crop WUE. Based on the long-term field observations/experiments data, we investigated the changing responses of crop WUE to climate variables (temperature and precipitation) and agronomic practices (fertilization and cropping patterns) in the semi-arid area of northern China (SAC) during two periods, 1983–1999 and 2000–2010 (drier and warmer). Our results suggest that crop WUE was an intrinsical system sensitive to climate change and agronomic measures. Crops tend to reach the maximum WUE (WUEmax) in warm-dry environment while reach the stable minimum WUE (WUEmin) in warm-wet environment, with a difference between WUEmax and WUEmin ranging from 29.0%-55.5%. Changes in temperature and precipitation in the past three decades jointly enhanced crop WUE by 8.1%-30.6%. Elevated fertilizer and rotation cropping would increase crop WUE by 5.6–11.0% and 19.5–92.9%, respectively. These results indicate crop has the resilience by adjusting WUE, which is not only able to respond to subsequent periods of favorable water balance but also to tolerate the drought stress, and reasonable agronomic practices could enhance this resilience. However, this capacity would break down under impact of climate changes and unconscionable agronomic practices (e.g. excessive N/P/K fertilizer or traditional continuous cropping). Based on the findings in this study, a conceptual crop WUE model is constructed to indicate the threshold of crop resilience, which could help the farmer develop appropriate strategies in adapting the adverse impacts of climate warming.     

Cloning of the cDNA for U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particle 70K protein from Arabidopsis thaliana.

We cloned and sequenced a plant cDNA that encodes U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (snRNP) 70K protein. The plant U1 snRNP 70K protein cDNA is not full length and lacks the coding region for 68 amino acids in the amino-terminal region as compared to human U1 snRNP 70K protein. Comparison of the deduced amino acid sequence of the plant U1 snRNP 70K protein with the amino acid sequence of animal and yeast U1 snRNP 70K protein showed a high degree of homology. The plant U1 snRNP 70K protein is more closely related to the human counter part than to the yeast 70K protein. The carboxy-terminal half is less well conserved but, like the vertebrate 70K proteins, is rich in charged amino acids. Northern analysis with the RNA isolated from different parts of the plant indicates that the snRNP 70K gene is expressed in all of the parts tested. Southern blotting of genomic DNA using the cDNA indicates that the U1 snRNP 70K protein is coded by a single gene.     

Sucrose phosphorylase as cross-linked enzyme aggregate: Improved thermal stability for industrial applications

Sucrose phosphorylase is an interesting biocatalyst that can glycosylate a variety of small molecules using sucrose as a cheap but efficient donor substrate. The low thermostability of the enzyme, however, limits its industrial applications, as these are preferably performed at 60°C to avoid microbial contamination. Cross-linked enzyme aggregates (CLEAs) of the sucrose phosphorylase from Bifidobacterium adolescentis were found to have a temperature optimum that is 17°C higher than that of the soluble enzyme. Furthermore, the immobilized enzyme displays an exceptional thermostability, retaining all of its activity after 1 week incubation at 60°C. Recycling of the biocatalyst allows its use in at least ten consecutive reactions, which should dramatically increase the commercial potential of its glycosylating activity.     

α5-nAChR modulates melanoma growth through the Notch1 signaling pathway

The roles of α5-nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (α5-nAChRs) in various types of solid cancer have been reported; however, its role in melanoma remains unknown. We knocked down α5-nAChR expression in melanoma cells to investigate the role of α5-nAChR in the proliferation, migration, and invasion of melanoma cells, and its effect on downstream signaling pathways. Using immunohistochemical analysis, we determined that α5-nAChR expression is significantly increased in human melanoma tissues and cell lines compared with normal human skin tissues. Knocking down α5-nAChR expression in melanoma cells in culture significantly inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasiveness of melanoma cell lines. Specifically, knockdown of α5-nAChR inhibited PI3K-AKT and ERK1/2 signaling activity. Moreover, we confirmed that the Notch1 signaling pathway is the downstream target of α5-nAChR in melanoma. Our findings suggest that α5-nAChR plays a critical role in melanoma development and progression, and that targeting α5-nAChR may be a strategy for melanoma treatment.     

LncRNA882 regulates leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) by sponging miR-15b in the endometrial epithelium cells of dairy goat

Despite the fact that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play roles in almost all biological processes, little is known about their biological function in the endometrium during the formation of endometrial receptivity. In this study, a comprehensive analysis of lncRNAs in goat endometrial tissues on Day 5 (prereceptive endometrium, PE) and Day 15 (receptive endometrium, RE) of pregnancy was performed by using RNA-Seq. As a result, 668 differentially expressed lncRNAs (DELs) were found between the PE and RE. Further study showed that lncRNA882, regulated by estrogen (E2) and progestin (P4), could act as competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) for miR-15b, which inhibited the expression of transforming growth factor-b-activated kinase 1 binding protein 3 (TAB3) and then indirectly regulated the level of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF). This was helpful for the formation of endometrial receptivity in dairy goats. In conclusion, we elucidated the endometrium lncRNA profiles of PE and RE in dairy goats; lncRNA882 acted as a ceRNA for miR-15b and then indirectly regulated the level of LIF in goat endometrial epithelium cells. Thus, this study helped us to better understand the molecular regulation of endometrial receptivity in dairy goats.