Differential expression analysis of microRNAs and mRNAs in the mouse hippocampus of post-stroke depression (PSD) based on transcriptome sequencing.

To clarify the differential expressions of microRNAs and mRNAs in a PSD model, this study employed PSD mice for model construction by injecting vasoconstrictor ET-1 (angioendothelin-1) into the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) of mice. The animals underwent elevated plus maze test, open field test, tail suspension test, and forced swimming test subsequently. Transcriptome sequencing was performed to analyze the differentially expressed mRNAs and microRNAs. The results showed that open arm entries and time of PSD mice were markedly decreased. Times of the entry to center for mice in the model group were apparently decreased. The climbing time of mice in the model group was greatly decreased. The behavior of PSD mice indicated a marked change, and several indicators of the behavioral tests were significantly lower than those of the control group. Transcriptome sequencing analysis demonstrated that expressions of 1 206 genes and 21 microRNAs were markedly upregulated in model group, whereas expressions of 2 113 genes and 32 microRNAs were markedly downregulated. GO analysis revealed that the differentially expressed genes were mainly involved in regulatory pathways of single-multicellular organism process, developmental process, cell periphery, plasma membrane, and neuron projection. Meanwhile, KEGG analysis results indicated that the differentially expressed genes mostly participated in signaling pathways of neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, calcium signaling pathway, and cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction. In conclusion, differentially expressed microRNAs and mRNAs were screened, which offers a theoretical foundation for further investigation of molecular mechanisms and novel insight for the early identification, prevention, and treatment of PSD.

Effect of the traditional Chinese medicine Pinggan-Qianyang decoction on SIRT1-PTEN signaling in vascular aging in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Age-related functional decline is a physiological phenomenon that occurs in all organ systems. However, the acceleration and early occurrence of this process are observed in cardiovascular pathologies, including hypertension. This study aimed to investigate SIRT1-PTEN signaling in aortic tissue from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) and changes in SIRT1 and PTEN expression following treatment with Pinggan-Qianyang decoction (PGQYD) and explore the mechanism involved in the treatment of hypertensive vascular aging with traditional Chinese medicine. In this study, we used two rat models: spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) at 14 and 64 weeks of age and WKY rats at 64 weeks of age. The degree of irritability and rotation tolerance time were evaluated to determine the effects of PGQYD on animal behavior. The morphology of the thoracic aorta was examined by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and Masson staining and electron microscopy. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase activity and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and anti-superoxide anion content were detected. Senescence-associated ß-galactosidase (SA-ß-Gal) staining was used to observe the thoracic aorta during vascular aging. RT-qPCR, immunofluorescence, and Western blot analysis were performed to detect changes in the mRNA and protein expression of p53, p21, SIRT1, and PTEN in rat aortic tissues. Behavioral tests and histological and morphological analyses showed the remarkable amelioration of vascular aging after PGQYD treatment compared with that in the older SHRs. Moreover, PGQYD significantly decreased vascular aging in SHRs, as indicated by reduced SA-ß-Gal staining, NADPH oxidase activity, and p53 and p21 expression, and increased anti-superoxide anion and SOD content. Furthermore, PGQYD increased SIRT1 and PTEN expression, but the downregulated expression of SIRT1 induced by a SIRT1 inhibitor abolished the PGQYD-induced antiaging effects on gene expression and antioxidant activity and enhanced PTEN expression. PGQYD could ameliorate vascular aging effects in SHRs, which may have been mediated via the regulation of SIRT1-PTEN signaling in aortic tissue.

[Construction and operation of schistosomiasis diagnosis reference (network) laboratory in Yunnan Province].

A three-level (provincial, municipal and county levels) schistosomiasis diagnosis network platform had been created in Yunnan Province, and assessment of laboratory quality-control samples and field evaluation of nucleic acid diagnostic techniques and immunodiagnostic reagents had been performed. This paper described the review process of the schistosomiasis diagnosis network laboratory and the operation of schistosomiasis diagnosis network laboratory and analyzed the problems of the schistosomiasis diagnosis network laboratory in Yunnan Province. The establishment of the schistosomiasis diagnosis reference (network) laboratory will provide a strong support for schistosomiasis control in Yunnan Province in the new era.

Recent Applications of Triazolopyrimidine-Based Bioactive Compounds in Medicinal and Agrochemical Chemistry.

The triazolopyrimidine ring is a ubiquitous structural feature of many active compounds with diversified pharmacology efficacy. These structures have aroused our / researchers interests in the development of novel compounds with anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, and other activities. A large number of published literatures were reviewed during the last few decades. This review contains various pharmacological and agrochemical activities of triazolopyrimidine and it may be regarded as the lead compound for the new research towards future medicinal and agrochemical development.

Resistance Monitoring of Four Insecticides and a Description of an Artificial Diet Incorporation Method for Chilo suppressalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae).

Chilo suppressalis (Walker; Lepidoptera: Crambidae) is one of the most damaging rice pests in China. Insecticides play a major role in its management. We describe how we monitored the resistance of C. suppressalis to four insecticides in seven field populations from Jiangxi, Hubei, and Hunan Provinces, China, in 2014-2016. The topical application method for resistance monitoring was suitable for triazophos, monosultap, and abamectin. The conventional rice seedling dipping method proved ineffective for testing chlorantraniliprole so the new artificial diet incorporation method was substituted. This new method provided more consistent results than the other methods, once baseline toxicity data had been established. All populations had moderate to high resistance to triazophos from 2014 to 2016. Monosultap resistance in two populations increased from low in 2014 to moderate in 2016 and the other five populations showed moderate to high-level resistance throughout. Abamectin resistance in three populations increased from sensitive or low in 2014 to moderate in 2015-2016, and the other populations had moderate to high levels of resistance. Resistance to chlorantraniliprole increased from sensitive or low in 2014 to moderate to high in 2016. These results suggested that resistance management strategies should be developed according to the needs of a specific location. It was suggested that, in these localities, organophosphate insecticides should be prohibited, the application of nereistoxin, macrolide antibiotic, and diamide insecticides should be limited, and other insecticides, including spinetoram and methoxyfenozide, that exhibited no resistance should be used rationally and in rotation to delay resistance development.

[Short - term effects of two kinds of plastic mulch on Oncomelania hupensis snail control in irrigation and drainage ditches in Yunnan Province].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate and compare the short-term effects of two kinds of plastic mulch on Oncomelania hupensis snail control in irrigation and drainage ditches with snails in Yunnan Province. METHODS: The irrigation and drainage ditches with high density of Oncomelania hupensis snails were chosen as the investigation sites, and then 4 groups were set, namely a colorless plastic mulch group, black plastic mulch group, colorless plastic mulch with molluscicide group and black plastic mulch with molluscicide group. The snail situation of the 4 groups was surveyed before the experiment and 7, 14, 21, 30 days after covering plastic mulch, and the snail death rates were compared among the 4 groups. Meanwhile, the hourly temperatures of soil surface, soil surface under plastic mulch and soil layer 5, 15 cm under the surface as well as the weather situation during the study period were measured and recorded. RESULTS: The average snail mortality rate of the colorless plastic mulch group was only 15.29% that was higher than that of the black plastic mulch group (6.56%) (P < 0.01). The average snail mortality rates of the colorless and black plastic mulch with molluscicide groups were 40.80% and 50.15%, respectively, and there was no statistic difference between them (P > 0.05). Both kinds of plastic mulches could raise the temperature of the soil surface under plastic mulch and the soil layer below it, and the temperature of soil under the mulches increased over the cover time, and the average temperature of the soil surface under the black mulch in 30 days was higher than that under the colorless mulch. CONCLUSIONS: It is not suitable to use plastic mulch only in irrigation and drainage ditches with snails widely in Yunnan Province because of its low effect, and if necessary, the molluscicide should be added.