miR-29a attenuates cardiac hypertrophy through inhibition of PPARδ expression

Although cardiac hypertrophy is widely recognized as a risk factor that leads to cardiac dysfunction and, ultimately, heart failure, the complex mechanisms underlying cardiac hypertrophy remain incompletely characterized. The nuclear receptor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor δ (PPARδ) is involved in the regulation of cardiac lipid metabolism. Here, we describe a novel PPARδ-dependent molecular cascade involving microRNA-29a (miR-29a) and atrial natriuretic factor (ANF), which is reactivated in cardiac hypertrophy. In addition, we identify a novel role of miR-29a, in which it has a cardioprotective function in isoproterenol hydrochloride-induced cardiac hypertrophy by targeting PPARδ and downregulating ANF. Finally, we provide evidence that miR-29a reduces the isoproterenol hydrochloride-induced cardiac hypertrophy response, thereby underlining the potential clinical relevance of miR-29a in which it may serve as a potent therapeutic target for heart hypertrophy treatment.     

Overexpression of RYBP inhibits proliferation,invasion, and chemoresistance to cisplatin in anaplastic thyroid cancer cells via the EGFR pathway

Ring1 and YY1 binding protein (RYBP), a new member of the polycomb group protein family, has been reported to play an important role in various biological processes. Recently, more and more studies have demonstrated an implication of RYBP in cancer development. However, the specific role of RYBP in anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) remains unknown. In this study, we investigated for the first time the expression pattern and biological functions of RYBP in ATC. We showed that RYBP was lowly expressed in ATC tissues and cell lines. We also found that overexpression of RYBP inhibited ATC cell proliferation, invasion, and cisplatin resistance. Furthermore, we observed that upregulation of RYBP decreased the phosphorylation of EGFR and ERK1/2 in ATC cells. Taken together, our data indicated that RYBP might be considered as a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of ATC.     

Apple Fruit Diameter and Length Estimation by Using the Thermal and Sunshine Hours Approach and Its Application to the Digital Orchard Management Information System

In apple cultivation, simulation models may be used to monitor fruit size during the growth and development process to predict production levels and to optimize fruit quality. Here, Fuji apples cultivated in spindle-type systems were used as the model crop. Apple size was measured during the growing period at an interval of about 20 days after full bloom, with three weather stations being used to collect orchard temperature and solar radiation data at different sites. Furthermore, a 2-year dataset (2011 and 2012) of apple fruit size measurements were integrated according to the weather station deployment sites, in addition to the top two most important environment factors, thermal and sunshine hours, into the model. The apple fruit diameter and length were simulated using physiological development time (PDT), an indicator that combines important environment factors, such as temperature and photoperiod, as the driving variable. Compared to the model of calendar-based development time (CDT), an indicator counting the days that elapse after full bloom, we confirmed that the PDT model improved the estimation accuracy to within 0.2 cm for fruit diameter and 0.1 cm for fruit length in independent years using a similar data collection method in 2013. The PDT model was implemented to realize a web-based management information system for a digital orchard, and the digital system had been applied in Shandong Province, China since 2013. This system may be used to compute the dynamic curve of apple fruit size based on data obtained from a nearby weather station. This system may provide an important decision support for farmers using the website and short message service to optimize crop production and, hence, economic benefit.     

Prognostic significance of DNA ploidy and morphometric analyses of adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix

In an effort to improve the prognostic accuracy of the histologic criteria used for cervical adenocarcinomas, the nuclear DNA ploidy levels, means and standard deviations of nuclear areas and amounts of lumen and neoplastic tissue were quantitated. Useful thresholds in discriminating recurrent disease, as identified by logistic regression analysis, included a DNA ploidy level of 3.0 N, a percent of lumen of 34.6% and nuclear area mean and standard deviation of 53.1 sq micron and 20.1 sq micron, respectively. These parameters should provide useful guidelines in the visual assessment of histologic features that have prognostic significance.     

榆梨绵蚜一些型与卵的新发现和记述（同翅目：蚜总科：瘿绵蚜科）

对榆梨绵蚜Ｅｒｉｏｓｏｍａ ｌａｎｕｇｉｎｏｓｕｍ ｄｉｌａｎｕｇｉｎｏｓｕｍ Ｚｈａｎｇ,１９８０的干母,无翅干雌,有翅干雌,无翅侨蚜,有翅性母,雌,雄性蚜放卵进行了描述,除有翅干雌外,其余各型与卵均为首镒记述。所有研究用标本均保存在中国科学院动物研究所昆虫标本馆内。     

Comprehensive metabolomic,proteomic and physiological analyses of grain yield reduction in rice under abrupt drought–flood alternation stress

Abrupt drought–flood alternation (T1) is a meteorological disaster that frequently occurs during summer in southern China and the Yangtze river basin, often causing a significant loss of rice production. In this study, the response mechanism of yield decline under abrupt drought–flood alternation stress at the panicle differentiation stage was analyzed by looking at the metabolome, proteome as well as yield and physiological and biochemical indexes. The results showed that drought and flood stress caused a decrease in the yield of rice at the panicle differentiation stage, and abrupt drought–flood alternation stress created a synergistic effect for the reduction of yield. The main reason for the decrease of yield per plant under abrupt drought–flood alternation was the decrease of seed setting rate. Compared with CK0 (no drought and no flood), the net photosynthetic rate and soluble sugar content of T1 decreased significantly and its hydrogen peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, peroxidase activity increased significantly. The identified differential metabolites and differentially expressed proteins indicated that photosynthesis metabolism, energy metabolism pathway and reactive oxygen species response have changed strongly under abrupt drought–flood alteration stress, which are factors that leads to the rice grain yield reduction.     

Wnt and BMP signaling pathways co-operatively induce the differentiation of multiple myeloma mesenchymal stem cells into osteoblasts by upregulating EMX2

Osteoblast differentiation, defined as the process whereby a relatively unspecialized cell acquires the specialized features of an osteoblast, is directly linked to multiple myeloma (MM) bone disease. Wnt and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) are proved to be implicated in the pathological or defective osteoblast differentiation process. This study aims to test the involvement of Wnt, bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP) pathways, and empty spiracles homeobox 2 (EMX2) in osteoblast differentiation and MM development. Initially, differentially expressed genes in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from MM patients and healthy donors were identified using microarray-based gene expression profiling. The functional role of Wnt and BMP in MM was determined. Next, we focused on the co-operative effects of Wnt and BMP on calcium deposition, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, the number of mineralized nodules, and osteocalcin (OCN) content in MSCs. The expression patterns of Wnt and BMP pathway–related genes, EMX2 and osteoblast differentiation-related factors were determined to assess their effects on osteoblast differentiation. Furthermore, regulation of Wnt and BMP in ectopic osteogenesis was also investigated in vivo. An integrated genomic screen suggested that Wnt and BMP regularly co-operate to regulate EMX2 and affect MM. EMX2 was downregulated in MSCs. The activated Wnt and BMP resulted in more calcium salt deposits, mineralized nodules, and a noted increased in ALP activity and OCN content by upregulating EMX2, leading to induced differentiation of MSCs into osteoblasts. Collectively, this study demonstrated that Wnt and BMP pathways could co-operatively stimulate differentiation of MSCs into osteoblasts and inhibit MM progression, representing potential targets for MM treatment.     

Fluorometric, Chromatographic, and Spectronic Evidence for the Non-indolic Nature of Citrus Auxin

Evidence for the non-indolic nature of the new citrus auxinis presented on the basis of fluorometric properties, thin-layerchromatography, Ehrlich's colour reaction, paper electrophoresis,and the infra-red spectra determinations. Citrus auxin had alower Rf in TLC than IAA, did not give the typical indole reactionwith Ehrlich's reagent, and behaved differently in electrophoresis.The infra-red spectra also provided preliminary informationconcerning chemical structure. The hypothesis that indolic compoundsconstitute the only natural auxins in higher plants should berevised in view of this evidence that a non-indole auxin existsin higher plants.     

Inhibition of Monoamine Oxidase by 7-Chloro-4-Nitrobenzofurazan

7-Chloro-4-nitrobenzofurazan (NBD-Cl) is a potent inhibitor of both types of monoamine oxidase (MAO). NBD-Cl competitively inhibited the oxidative deamination of kynuramine catalyzed by human placenta MAO-A, the oxidative deamination of benzylamine catalyzed by bovine liver MAO-B, the oxidative deamination of serotonin catalyzed by rat brain MAO-A, and the oxidative deamination of phenylethylamine catalyzed by rat brain MAO-B. In addition, a time-dependent inactivation of MAOs by NBD-Cl has been demonstrated upon incubation of the enzyme preparations with NBD-Cl at pH 9, but not at pH 7.5. The time-dependent inhibition of MAO by NBD-Cl could be prevented by the addition of 4-nitrophenyl azide, an active site-directed label of MAO, during incubation of the enzyme with NBD-Cl. On the basis of these findings, it is suggested that at pH 9, NBD-Cl modifies one (or more) essential lysine residue(s) in the active sites of the two types of MAO.