Novel Biomarkers for Non-functioning Invasive Pituitary Adenomas were Identified by Using Analysis of microRNAs Expression Profile

The microRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in multiple pathological processes among various types of tumors. However, the functions of miRNAs in benign brain tumors are largely unexplored. In order to explore the pathogenesis of the invasiveness in non-functional pituitary adenoma (NFPA), the miRNAs expression profile was analyzed between invasive and non-invasive non-functional pituitary adenoma by miRNAs microarray. Six most significant differentially expressed miRNAs were identified including four upregulated miRNAs hsa-miR-181b-5p, hsa-miR-181d, hsa-miR-191-3p, and hsa-miR-598 and two downregulated miRNAs hsa-miR-3676-5p and hsa-miR-383. The functions and corresponding signaling pathways of differentially expressed miRNAs were investigated by bioinformatics techniques, including Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis. The result of GO analysis indicates regulation of voltage-gated potassium channel activity, positive regulation of sodium ion transport, positive regulation of GTPase activity, negative regulation of Notch signaling pathway, etc. KEGG pathway reveals a series of biological processes, including prolactin signaling pathway, endocrine and other factor-regulated calcium reabsorption, fatty acid metabolism, neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, etc. The miRNAs hsa-miR-181a-5p was verified by quantitative real-time PCR, and the expression level was in accordance with the microarray result. Our result can provide the evidence on featured miRNAs which play a prominent role in pituitary adenoma as effective biomarkers and therapeutic targets in the future.     

Removal of selectable marker gene from fibroblast cells in transgenic cloned cattle by transient expression of Cre recombinase and subsequent effects on recloned embryo development

Introduction of selectable marker genes to transgenic animals could create an inconvenience to further research and may exaggerate public concerns regarding biological safety. The objective of the current study was to excise loxP flanked neo^R in transgenic cloned cattle by transient expression of Cre recombinase. Green fluorescent protein gene (GFP) was incorporated to monitor Cre expression; therefore, Cre-expressed cells could be selected indirectly by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). The neo^R was removed and Cre expressed transiently in GFP-positive colonies; excision of neo^R was confirmed by single-blastocyst PCR in recloned blastocysts, with neo^R-free fibroblast cells as donors. There was no difference (P > 0.05) in rates of cleavage (76.0% vs. 68.8%) or blastocyst formation (56.6% vs. 52.9%) between recloned embryos with neo^R-free or neo^R-included donors. The differential staining of recloned blastocysts were similar (P >0.05) in terms of total cell number (124 vs. 122) and the ratio of ICM (Inner Cell Mass) to the total cell number (38.1% vs. 38.2%). Furthermore, pregnancy and calving rates were not different (P > 0.05) from those of the control. In conclusion, we successfully excised neo^R from transgenic cloned cattle; the manipulation did not affect the developmental competence of recloned preimplantation embryos. This approach should benefit bioreactor and transgenic research in livestock.     

Top-down modulations from dorsal stream in lexical recognition: an effective connectivity FMRI study

Both the ventral and dorsal visual streams in the human brain are known to be involved in reading. However, the interaction of these two pathways and their responses to different cognitive demands remains unclear. In this study, activation of neural pathways during Chinese character reading was acquired by using a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) technique. Visual-spatial analysis (mediated by the dorsal pathway) was disassociated from lexical recognition (mediated by the ventral pathway) via a spatial-based lexical decision task and effective connectivity analysis. Connectivity results revealed that, during spatial processing, the left superior parietal lobule (SPL) positively modulated the left fusiform gyrus (FG), while during lexical processing, the left SPL received positive modulatory input from the left inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) and sent negative modulatory output to the left FG. These findings suggest that the dorsal stream is highly involved in lexical recognition and acts as a top-down modulator for lexical processing.     

Multi-class protein fold recognition using support vector machines and neural networks

MOTIVATION: Protein fold recognition is an important approach to structure discovery without relying on sequence similarity. We study this approach with new multi-class classification methods and examined many issues important for a practical recognition system. RESULTS: Most current discriminative methods for protein fold prediction use the one-against-others method, which has the well-known 'False Positives' problem. We investigated two new methods: the unique one-against-others and the all-against-all methods. Both improve prediction accuracy by 14-110% on a dataset containing 27 SCOP folds. We used the Support Vector Machine (SVM) and the Neural Network (NN) learning methods as base classifiers. SVMs converges fast and leads to high accuracy. When scores of multiple parameter datasets are combined, majority voting reduces noise and increases recognition accuracy. We examined many issues involved with large number of classes, including dependencies of prediction accuracy on the number of folds and on the number of representatives in a fold. Overall, recognition systems achieve 56% fold prediction accuracy on a protein test dataset, where most of the proteins have below 25% sequence identity with the proteins used in training.     

New species of Nepalomyia henanensis species group from China(Diptera: Dolichopodidae: Peloropeodinae)

Three new species of Nepalomyia henanensis species group are described from China, N. damingshanus sp. nov., N. dongae sp. nov., and N. shennongjiaensis sp. nov. A key to known species of this species group is presented.     

Polymorphisms of 5,10-methylenetetralydrofolate reductase (MTHFR), fruit and vegetable intake, and the risk of stomach cancer

Stomach cancer is a serious public health problem in China. 5,10-Methylenetetralydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) may be involved in both DNA methylation and DNA synthesis. Folate deficiency is associated with cancer risk that may be modulated by a genetic variation in the MTHFR gene in folate metabolism. The main goal of this study was to evaluate the association between polymorphisms of the MTHFR gene and the risk of stomach cancer. This study also explored the modification effects of fruit and vegetable intake (one of the main constituents is folate) on the risk of this disease. A population-based case-control study was conducted in Taixing, China, consisting of 206 newly diagnosed cases with primary stomach cancer and 415 healthy population controls. Polymorphisms of MTHFR C677T and A1298C were assayed by polymerase chain reaction-restricted fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) techniques. The data were analysed using the logistic regression model. No obvious association between the MTHFR A1298C polymorphism and the risk of stomach cancer was observed in this study. The frequencies of 677 C/C, C/T, and T/T were 34.5, 50.9, and 14.6%, respectively, in controls. The frequency of the MTHFR 677 wild homozygotic genotype was 25.8% in cases, which was lower than that in controls (34.5%). The adjusted odds ratio (OR) for the MTHFR 677 any T genotype was 2.05 (95% confidence interval (CI), 1.26-3.34) when compared with the C/C genotype. In the low fruit and vegetable intake group an increasing trend was observed with the T allele exposure, p=0.0056. The adjusted ORs were 1.68 (95% CI = 0.86-3.29) for the C/T genotype and 3.58 (95% CI = 1.46-8.75) for the T/T genotype, respectively. The MTHFR 677 any T genotype was associated with an increased risk of primary stomach cancer among the Chinese population. Folate deficiency might modify the MTHFR gene polymorphism and influence the risk of stomach cancer.     

The role of the ubiquitin proteasome system in synapse remodeling and neurodegenerative diseases

The ubiquitin proteasome system is a potent regulatory mechanism used to control protein stability in numerous cellular processes, including neural development. Many neurodegenerative diseases are featured by the accumulation of UPS-associated proteins, suggesting the UPS dysfunction may be crucial for pathogenesis. Recent experiments have highlighted the UPS as a key player during synaptic development. Here we summarize recent discoveries centered on the role of the UPS in synapse remodeling and draw attention to the potential link between the synaptic UPS dysfunction and the pathology of neurodegenerative diseases.     

霍乱弧菌EL－Tor35A3菌株外膜蛋白主区带的纯化

选用霍乱弧菌ＥＬ－Ｔｏｒ生物型３５Ａ３菌株（血清稻叶型）以ＥＤＴＡ－溶菌酶法与超速离心法提取其外膜蛋白,并将聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳后一条蛋白主区带分离。ＳＤＳ－聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳测得该蛋白主区带的分子量为２５ｋＤ,免疫电泳显示一条线,免疫双扩试验表明,不同的霍乱弧菌菌株均有该蛋白抗原存在。     

铁蛋白基因表达对烟草耐低铁能力的影响

铁是植物生长发育的必需元素。由于土壤中的三价铁离子不能被植物直接利用, 使一些植物经常表现出缺铁症状。为探讨利用铁蛋白基因提高植物耐低铁胁迫的作用, 利用农杆菌介导法将大豆铁蛋白基因SoyFer1和内源反义铁蛋白基因NtFer2的cDNA分别导入烟草基因组, 采集转基因烟草种子。对T1转基因烟草的卡那霉素抗性分析表明, 整合到烟草基因组的外源基因多为单拷贝基因, 也有少数为多拷贝基因。对具有卡那霉素抗性的转基因植株进行PCR检测和Northern杂交分析表明, 外源基因已整合到烟草基因组中, 并且得到了正确表达。将转基因株系移栽到铁离子浓度不同的培养基中生长2个月后进行比较表明, 转大豆铁蛋白基因烟草株系的生长量明显高于非转基因烟草株系, 而转内源反义铁蛋白基因烟草株系的生长量则明显低于非转基因烟草株系。转大豆铁蛋白基因和转内源反义铁蛋白基因烟草株系的叶绿素含量、丙二醛(MDA)含量和过氧化物酶(POD)活性等生理性状也发生了明显变化, 表现为转大豆铁蛋白基因株系的叶绿素含量明显增加, POD活性明显增强, MDA含量明显降低; 而转内源反义铁蛋白基因株系的叶绿素含量、POD活性和MDA含量等则表现为与转大豆铁蛋白基因株系的相反。铁蛋白过量表达提高了烟草耐低铁能力, 而铁蛋白抑制表达则降低了烟草耐低铁能力。