An observational clinical and video-polysomnographic study of the effects of rotigotine in sleep disorder in Parkinson's disease.

PURPOSE: Sleep disturbance is common in Parkinson's disease (PD) and negatively impacts quality of life. There is little data on how dopamine agonists influence nocturnal sleep in PD, particularly in sleep laboratory data to measure sleep parameters and their changes objectively. The goal of this open-label study was to objectively evaluate the effect of rotigotine on sleep in PD patients by video-polysomnographic methods. METHODS: A total of 25 PD patients with complaints of nocturnal sleep impairment were enrolled. The sleep quality before and after stable rotigotine therapy was evaluated subjectively through questionnaire assessments and objectively measured by video-polysomnographic methods. The Parkinsonism, depression, anxiety, and quality of life of PD patients were also evaluated through questionnaire assessments. RESULTS: At the end of rotigotine treatment, the PD daytime functioning, motor performance, depression, subjective quality of sleep, and the quality of life improved. Video-polysomnographic analysis showed that the sleep efficiency and stage N1% were increased, while the sleep latency, wake after sleep onset, and the periodic leg movements in sleep index were decreased after rotigotine treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Video-polysomnographic analysis confirmed the subjective improvement of sleep after rotigotine treatment. This observation suggests that in PD rotigotine is a treatment option for patients complaining from sleep disturbances.

Highly sensitive force sensor based on optical microfiber asymmetrical Fabry-Perot interferometer.

An asymmetrical Fabry-Perot interferometric (AFPI) force sensor is fabricated based on a narrowband reflection of low-reflectivity fiber Bragg grating (LR-FBG) and a broadband Fresnel reflection of the cleaved fiber end. The AFPI sensor includes a section of microfiber made by tapering and it achieves a force sensitivity of 0.221 pm/µN with a tapered microfiber of 40 mm length and 6.1 µm waist diameter. Compared with similar AFPI structure in 125 µm-diameter single mode fiber, the force sensitivity of the microfiber AFPI structure is greatly enhanced due to its smaller diameter and can be optimized for different force scales by controlling the diameter. The fabrication process of the AFPI sensor is simple and cost-effective. The AFPI sensor has better multiplexing capacity than conventional extrinsic fiber-optic Fabry-Perot sensors, while it also release the requirement on the wavelength matching of the FBG-pair-based FPI.

Enhancement of the immune response and protection against Vibrio parahaemolyticus by indigenous probiotic Bacillus strains in mud crab (Scylla paramamosain).

In a previous study, bacterial communities of the intestine in three populations of crabs (wild crabs, pond-raised healthy crabs and diseased crabs) were probed by culture-independent methods. In this study, we examined the intestinal communities of the crabs by bacterial cultivation with a variety of media. A total of 135 bacterial strains were isolated from three populations of mud crabs. The strains were screened for antagonistic activity against Vibrio parahaemolyticus using an agar spot assay. Antagonistic strains were then identified by 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. Three strains (Bacillus subtilis DCU, Bacillus pumilus BP, Bacillus cereus HL7) with the strongest antagonistic activity were further evaluated for their probiotic characteristics. The results showed that two (BP and DCU) of them were able to survive low pH and high bile concentrations, showed good adherence characteristics and a broad spectrum of antibiotic resistance. The probiotic effects were then tested by feeding juvenile mud crabs (Scylla paramamosain) with foods supplemented with 10(5) CFU/g of BP or DCU for 30 days before being subjected to an immersion challenge with V. parahaemolyticus for 48 h. The treated crabs showed significantly higher expression levels of immune related genes (CAT, proPO and SOD) and activities of respiratory burst than that in controlled groups. Crabs treated with BP and DCU supplemented diets exhibited survival rates of 76.67% and 78.33%, respectively, whereas survival rate was 54.88% in crabs not treated with the probiotics. The data showed that indigenous mud-associated microbiota, such as DCU and BP, have potential application in controlling pathogenic Vibriosis in mud crab aquaculture.

Efficacy of turmeric in the treatment of oral mucositis in patients with head and neck cancer after radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Oral mucositis is a major complication for head and neck cancer (HNC) patients after radiotherapy or chemotherapy. A meta-analysis was performed to assess the efficacy of turmeric in the treatment of oral mucositis in HNC patients. Methods: Randomized controlled trials investigating our topic were included in the meta-analysis. The clinical outcomes considered were the severity of oral mucositis, pain level, and weight loss. Results: A total of eight articles that met our inclusion criteria were included in our meta-analysis. At the 3-week follow-up visit, the turmeric group showed significantly lower grades of oral mucositis compared to the control group (p = 0.03). When compared to the placebo group, a significant difference in the degree of oral mucositis was observed at the 4-(p = 0.03) and 6-week (p < 0.00001) follow-up visits. No significant difference in pain levels was observed between the turmeric and control groups at any of the follow-up visits. However, a significant improvement in pain levels for the turmeric group when compared with the placebo group was observed only at the 6-week follow-up visit (p = 0.006). Interestingly, a significant improvement in pain levels was observed for the turmeric group at the 2-, 4-, 5-, and 6-week follow-up visits (p < 0.05) when compared to the non-placebo group. The turmeric group showed less weight loss than the control group at the final follow-up visit (p = 0.03). conclusion: Our meta-analysis showed that using turmeric may be effective in improving both the severity of oral mucositis and pain levels in HNC patients who have received radiotherapy or radiochemotherapy. In addition, the turmeric group experienced less weight loss.

Transcutaneous auricular vagal nerve stimulation for consciousness recovery in patients with prolonged disorders of consciousness (TAVREC): study protocol for a multicenter, triple-blind, randomized controlled trial in China.

INTRODUCTION: Prolonged disorders of consciousness (pDoC) are a catastrophic condition following brain injury with few therapeutic options. Transcutaneous auricular vagal nerve stimulation (taVNS), a safe, non-invasive intervention modulating thalamo-cortical connectivity and brain function, is a possible treatment option of pDoC. We developed a protocol for a randomised controlled study to evaluate the effectiveness of taVNS on consciousness recovery in patients with pDoC (TAVREC). METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The TAVREC programme is a multicentre, triple-blind, randomised controlled trial with 4 weeks intervention followed by 4 weeks follow-up period. A minimum number of 116 eligible pDoC patients will be recruited and randomly receive either: (1) conventional therapy plus taVNS (30 s monophasic square current of pulse width 300 µs, frequency of 25 Hz and intensity of 1 mA followed by 30 s rest, 60 min, two times per day, for 4 weeks); or (2) conventional therapy plus taVNS placebo. Primary outcome of TAVREC is the rate of improved consciousness level based on the Coma Recovery Scale-Revised (CRS-R) at week 4. Secondary outcomes are CRS-R total and subscale scores, Glasgow Coma Scale score, Full Outline of UnResponsiveness score, ECG parameters, brainstem auditory evoked potential, upper somatosensory evoked potential, neuroimaging parameters from positron emission tomography/functional MRI, serum biomarkers associated with consciousness level and adverse events. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study was reviewed and approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University (Reference number: 2023-SR-392). Findings will be disseminated in a peer-reviewed journal and presented at relevant conferences. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ChiCTR2300073950.

Random-lasing-based distributed fiber-optic amplification.

The gain and noise characteristics of distributed Raman amplification (DRA) based on random fiber laser (RFL) (including forward and backward random laser pumping) have been experimentally investigated through comparison with conventional bi-directional 1st-order and 2nd-order pumping. The results show that, the forward random laser pumping exhibits larger averaged gain and gain fluctuation while the backward random laser pumping has lower averaged gain and nonlinear impairment under the same signal input power and on-off gain. The effective noise figure (ENF) of the forward random laser pumping is lower than that of the bi-directional 1st-order pumping by ~2.3 dB, and lower than that of bi-directional 2nd-order pumping by ~1.3 dB at transparency transmission, respectively. The results also show that the spectra and power of RFL are uniquely insensitive to environmental temperature variation, unlike all the other lasers. Therefore, random-lasing-based distributed fiber-optic amplification could offer low-noise and stable DRA for long-distance transmission.

Morphology and Phylogeny Reveal Five Novel Species in the Genus Cordyceps (Cordycipitaceae, Hypocreales) From Yunnan, China.

The current study was aimed to introduce five new species of Cordyceps from Yunnan, with morphological descriptions, illustrations, color photographs, phylogenetic placement, associated host, and a comparison with allied taxa. The five new species were morphologically distinct from all other Cordyceps sensu lato species, and it was also suggested that they should differ from other species in the genus Cordyceps based on combined multigene analyses. Employing DNA nucleotide sequences of the nrLSU, nrSSU, tef-1α, rpb1, and rpb2, the five new species were recognized in the clade of Cordyceps by using molecular phylogenetic analyses, including five well-supported subclades: three new species, Cordyceps bullispora, Cordyceps longiphialis, and Cordyceps nabanheensis, were found in the subclade of C. pruinosa, and two new species, Cordyceps pseudotenuipes and Cordyceps simaoensis, were located in the subclade of C. tenuipes. The five novel species shared similar morphologies to other species in the genus Cordyceps, with fleshy and brightly pigmented stromata; perithecia superficial to completely immersed, ordinal in arrangement; and hyaline asci, with thickened cylindrical ascus apex. The morphological characteristics of 66 species in Cordyceps sensu stricto, namely, 5 novel species and 61 known taxa, were also compared.

The Outcomes of XEN Gel Stent Implantation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

PURPOSE: XEN gel stents are used for the treatment of open-angle glaucoma (OAG), including primary and secondary glaucoma that are uncontrolled by previous medical therapy and cases with previous failed surgery. Our aim was to systematically review of the clinical data of currently published ab-interno XEN gel stents with an emphasis on intraocular pressure (IOP), antiglaucoma medication outcomes, and safety profiles. METHODS: We analyzed all of the publications (MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library) on the ab-interno XEN gel stent to evaluate the reduction in IOP and antiglaucoma medications following the procedure. The primary outcomes measured for the meta-analysis were reduction in IOP and anti-glaucoma medications. The secondary outcome were adverse events. For each study, we used a random effects analysis model to calculate the mean difference and 95% confidence intervals for the continuous results (reduction in IOP and antiglaucoma medications) using the inverse variance statistical method. RESULTS: Five hundred twenty-seven articles were checked and 56 studies were found to be relevant with a total of 4,410 eyes. There was a significant reduction in IOP as well as in the number of medications required in patients treated with ab-interno XEN implant either alone or combined with cataract surgery. This new treatment for various types of glaucoma reduced the IOP by 35% to a final average close to 15 mmHg. This reduction was accompanied by a decrease in the number of antiglaucoma medications in all the studies, approximately 2 classes of medication at the price of more needlings. The overall complete success rate was 21.0-70.8% after 2 years using strict criteria originally designed to record success rate in filtration surgery. The incidence of complications vision-threatening was low at <1%. CONCLUSIONS: XEN gel stent was effective and safe for primary and secondary OAG. Further studies should be performed to investigate the impact of ethnicity on the success and failure rate after XEN implantation.

The Hippo pathway and its correlation with acute kidney injury.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a significant clinical complication with a substantial impact on morbidity and mortality, for which therapeutic options remain limited. The Hippo signaling pathway is an evolutionarily conserved pathway implicated in cell proliferation, dedifferentiation, and apoptosis via phosphorylation and inactivation of its downstream effectors Yes-associated protein (YAP)/transcriptional co-activator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ). Recent studies have revealed that the Hippo pathway plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis and repair of AKI. The Hippo pathway can mediate renal dysfunction through modulation of mitochondrial apoptosis under AKI conditions. Transient activation of YAP/TAZ in the acute phase of AKI may benefit renal recovery and regeneration, whereas persistent activation of YAP/TAZ in severe AKI may lead to maladaptive repair and transition to chronic kidney disease. This review aims to summarize recent findings on the associations between the Hippo pathway and AKI and to identify new therapeutic targets and strategies for AKI.

[Effect of semaphorin4D gene silencing on malignant behavior of human ovarian cancer SKOV3 cells].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of DNA Sema4D gene silencing by RNA interfering on the proliferation, migration and invasion of human ovarian cancer SKOV3 cells, and to study the effect of pshRNASema4D on the growth of SKOV3 cells in transplanted tumor in nude mice. METHODS: Recombinant plasmid pshRNASema4D-A, B and C were respectively transfected into SKOV3 cells by lipofetamine 2000, while cells transfected by plasmid vector pcDNA3.1 and cells untreated as control groups. RT-PCR was adopted to select the recombinant plasmid which showed the most optimal inhibition effect. RT-PCR and Western blot were used to detected the mRNA and protein expression of Sema4D in SKOV3 cells tranfected for 24, 48 and 72 hours. MTT assay was used to investigate the proliferation of the SKOV3 cells after trasnsfection. Transwell cell migration and invasion assays were used to investigate the migration and invasion abilities of the SKOV3 cells after trasnsfection. Human ovarian cancer model was established in nude mice, and the nude mice were treated with pshRNASema4D-B once every 3 days for 3 weeks. The bulk of the transplanted tumor was measured. RESULTS: Three Sema4D-targeted short hairpin RNA (shRNA) A, B and C were successfully inserted into the plasmid vector pshRNA, and the coding sequences of the obtained shRNA were consistent with the designed fragment. The results indicated that both recombinant plasmid pshRNASema4D-A and B could effectively knock down the expression of Sema4D gene in human ovarian cancer cells, of which pshRNASema4D-B was the better choice, while no effect of pshRNASema4D-C was seen. RT-PCR results showed that the relative mRNA expression of Sema4D gene in SKOV3 cells transfected with pshRNA-Sema4D for 24, 48 and 72 hours were 0.401 ± 0.051, 0.120 ± 0.035 and 0.014 ± 0.015, respectively, which were significantly lower than that in SKOV3 cells transfected by empty vector and non-transfected cells at 72 hours after transfection. (0.521 ± 0.019, 0.536 ± 0.040,respectively, P < 0.05). The Westen blot analysis manifested that the relative expression of Sema4D protein of SKOV3 cells transfected by pshRNASema4D for 24, 48 and 72 hours were 0.196 ± 0.023, 0.074 ± 0.015 and 0.040 ± 0.014, respectively, which were significantly lower than that in SKOV3 cells transfected by empty vector and non-transfected cells at 72 hours after transfection. (0.275 ± 0.009, 0.282 ± 0.015, respectively, P < 0.05). Comparing with the empty vector-transfected and non-transfected cells, the proliferation, invasion and migration ability of SKOV3 cells transfected with pshRNA-Sema4D were obviously weakened. The pshRNASema4D-B significantly suppressed the growth of the SKOV3 cells-transplanted tumors in nude mice, and the IR (inhibitory rate) of pshRNASema 4D-B group was (61.0 ± 3.3)% (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Sema4D can be successfully silenced by RNA interfering in human ovarian cancer SKOV3 cells. Downregulation of Sema4D can inhibit the proliferation, migration and invasion of ovarian cancer cells. The pshRNASema4D can significantly suppress the growth in transplanted tumor of human ovary cancer in nude mice. Sema4D may become a candidate gene of gene therapy of human ovarian cancer.

[Effects of PTEN gene on invasion and migration of ovarian cancer cell line A2780 and related mechanisms].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of PTEN on invasive and migration ability of human ovarian cancer cell line A2780 and related mechanisms. METHODS: The plasmid including WT-PTEN and mutant PTEN were transferred into A2780 cells. The invasive and migration ability were measured before and after transfection by transwell chamber and wound-healing assays. The expression of PTEN protein and related proteins in the cells were detected by Western blot analysis. Empty plasmid-transfected A2780 and normal A2780 cells were used as control (the different four groups were named as WT-PTEN/A2780, C124A-PTEN/A2780, GFP/A2780 and A2780). RESULTS: The number of penetrating cells was significantly less in WT-PTEN/A2780 cells (24.3 ± 2.5) than those in C124A-PTEN/A2780, GFP/A2780 and A2780 cells (43.7 ± 3.8, 44.7 ± 2.1 and 45.0 ± 3.0) (P < 0.05). The migration distance was markedly shorter in WT-PTEN/A2780 cells (54.1 ± 3.7) than those in C124A-PTEN/A2780, GFP/A2780 and A2780 cells (78.7 ± 3.4, 78.1 ± 3.1 and 76.8 ± 3.5) (P < 0. 05). CONCLUSIONS: Transfection with PTEN may suppress the invasive and migration ability of ovarian cancer cell line A2780 depending on its phosphatase activity, and the suppressive effect may be due to the down-regulation of MMP-9 in the cancer cells.

Efficacy and safety of phacoemulsification plus goniosynechialysis and trabectome in patients with primary angle-closure glaucoma.

We evaluated the efficacy and safety of combined phacoemulsification, intraocular lens implantation, goniosynechialysis (GSL), and trabectome in patients with primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG). Twenty patients (22 eyes) of PACG treated with combined phacoemulsification, intraocular lens implantation, GSL, and trabectome between September 2017 and September 2020 were included in this case series study. The intraocular pressure (IOP), number of glaucoma medications, and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) were recorded at baseline, 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery. Successful surgery was defined as IOP < 21 mmHg with or without IOP-lowering medications. IOP was decreased significantly from 22.07 ± 6.62 mmHg at baseline to 15.06 ± 3.39 mmHg at 12 months' follow-up (p = 0.001). The number of glaucoma medications was significantly reduced from 2.68 ± 1.17 preoperatively to 0.78 ± 0.73 at 12 months' follow-up (p < 0.01). The rate of successful surgery was 88.9% at 12 months. The reduction in IOP showed a positive correlation with baseline IOP (p < 0.001), and the reduction in number of glaucoma medications was positively correlated with baseline number of glaucoma medications (p < 0.001). There were no vision-threatening complications intraoperatively or postoperatively. Combined phacoemulsification, IOL implantation, GSL, and trabectome were effective and safe in PACG patients in this study. These combined surgical techniques may be useful in PACG patients, especially those with long term and extensive peripheral anterior synechiae.

[Retracted] Bergamottin isolated from Citrus bergamia exerts in vitro and in vivo antitumor activity in lung adenocarcinoma through the induction of apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, mitochondrial membrane potential loss and inhibition of cell migration and invasion.

Following the publication of the above paper, a concerned reader drew to the Editor's attention that a number of figures (specifically, Figs. 6, 8, 9, 10 and 12) contained apparent anomalies, including repeated patternings of data within the same figure panels. After having conducted an independent investigation in the Editorial Office, the Editor of Oncology Reports has determined that this paper should be retracted from the Journal on account of a lack of confidence concerning the originality and the authenticity of the data. The authors were asked for an explanation to account for these concerns, but the Editorial Office never received any reply. The Editor regrets any inconvenience that has been caused to the readership of the Journal. [the original article was published in Oncology Reports 36: 324­332, 2016; DOI: 10.3892/or.2016.4833].

The immunomodulatory effects of ginsenoside derivative Rh2-O on splenic lymphocytes in H22 tumor-bearing mice is partially mediated by TLR4.

PURPOSE: Previously, we reported the octyl ester derivative of ginsenoside Rh2 (Rh2-O) had better antitumor and immunomodulatory effects than Rh2 in H22 tumor-bearing mice. Therefore, this study further explored the effects of Rh2-O on splenic lymphocytes in H22 tumor-bearing mice and the underlying mechanism. METHODS: Wild type and Tlr4-/- mice were selected to establish the H22 tumor-bearing mice model. After the treatment of Rh2-O (10 mg/kg by gavage) for 15 days, the sizes of tumor were measured. Subsequently, the splenic lymphocytes were isolated and the activities (eg. cell proliferation, cytotoxicity and cytokine secretion) were evaluated. Then, the proteins and mRNA expression levels of TRAF6 and NF-ĸB p65 in splenic lymphocytes were examined. RESULTS: The results showed that Rh2-O administration enhanced the proliferative capacity and cytotoxicity of splenic lymphocytes, and the effects were Tlr4-associated. Compared to WT mice, the up-regulation of cytokines secretion (eg. IFN-γ, IL-2 and IL-4) in isolated splenic lymphocytes after Rh2-O administration was lower in Tlr4-/- mice. Moreover, the results showed Rh2-O increased the expression of TRAF6 and the level of endonuclear NF-ĸB p65, which was inhibited in Tlr4-/- mice (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Rh2-O could exert immunomodulatory effects on splenic lymphocytes with the partial participation of TLR4 in H22 tumor-bearing mice.

[Apoptosis inducing factor mediates cisplatin-induced apoptosis of renal tubular epithelial cells].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the involvement of apoptosis inducing factor (AIF) in caspase-independent pathway mediating apoptosis of cultured renal tubular epithelial cells induced by cisplatin (CP). METHODS: Western Blot analysis and real-time PCR were performed to detect cytosol AIF (cAIF), nuclear AIF (nAIF) and AIF mRNA expression in cultured renal epithelial cells (HK-2) treated with cisplatin (CP) at various concentrations (0 - 200 micromol/L) and time courses (0 - 12 h). Immunofluorescence analysis was used to detect the AIF protein distribution in HK-2 cells. Pan-caspase inhibitor (Z-VAD-FMK) and AIF-siRNA treatment, TUNEL and flow cytometer were used to measure the suppression of apoptosis induced by CP in HK-2 cells. RESULTS: The expressions of cAIF, nAIF protein and AIF mRNA were all increased to some extent in HK-2 cells treated with CP at various concentrations and time points. cAIF expression was 2.3-fold (P < 0.05) increased after 25 micromol/L CP treatment for 12 h and 1.7-fold (P < 0.01) increased after 50 micromol/L CP treatment for 3 h, compared with that of control groups, and showed a concentration- and time-dependent increment. The nAIF expression reached a peak (4.3-fold increase) (P < 0.005) after 150 micromol/L CP treatment for 12 h and 3.7-fold incease (P < 0.05) after 50 micromol/L CP treatment for 9 h, compared with that of the 25 micromol/L group and 3 h group, respectively. The expression of nAIF was approximately consistent with cleaved-PARP expressive pattern. Real-time PCR showed that AIF mRNA increased gradually with prolonged treatment with 50 micromol/L CP and reached a peak at 9 h. Immunofluorescence assay showed AIF translocation from cytosol to nuclei in some cultured HK-2 cells treated with CP. Applying pan-caspase inhibitor (Z-VAD-FMK) and AIF-siRNA to CP-treated HK-2 cells, the apoptotic rates were decreased by 60.1% and 39.2%, respectively. The inhibitory effect on HK-2 cell apoptosis was even more significant with combination of both Z-VAD-FMK and AIF-siRNA. CONCLUSION: The AIF activation and translocation to nuclei with the increment of its mRNA expression mediates CP-induced apoptosis of renal tubular epithelial cells in vitro. It may provide a new therapeutic target for protecting from nephrotoxciity of cisplatin.

[Evaluation the value of Pentacam arterial segment analysis system in the study of anterior segment of the eye before and after laser periphery iridectomy].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the anterior segment parameters in early primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG) and primary angle closure (PAC) eyes before and after neodymium:yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) laser periphery iridectomy (LPI) by using Pentacam system. METHODS: Self-control study. Sixty one eyes of 33 patients were recruited into this study. The images of the anterior segment of the eye were captured and the parameters [i.e. the anterior chamber (AC) volume, the central AC depth, the peripheral AC depth, the peripheral AC angle and the pupil size] were measured by the Pentacam system pre-operatively and 1 week after laser treatment. RESULTS: The Pentacam system clearly showed the structure changes of the anterior segment after LPI (i.e. the convex configuration of the iris was flattened and the peripheral AC depth was deepened). The average AC volume (t=15.928), the peripheral AC depth (t=-17.399, -10.629, -12.576, -14.474) and the peripheral AC angle (t=-5.087) were increased significantly (P<0.01) after LPI. The AC volume was (74.10±16.35) mm3 before LPI and (94.10±18.42) mm3 after LPI, and the increases of peripheral AC depth were 0.17 mm (nasal) and 0.29 mm (temporal). There was no statistical significant changes in the AC depth before and after LPI. CONCLUSION: In patients with PACG and PAC, the changes of AC after LPI can be demonstrated by the Pentacam qualitatively and quantitatively.

[Function of TTG1A in hepatic stellate cells].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the biological functions of TTG1A in liver fibrosis. METHODS: Yeast two-hybrid system was used to screen proteins associated with TTG1A. Briefly, the coding sequence of TTG1A was cloned into pGBKT7 vector, and the recombinant plasmid was transformed into yeast cells AH109 ( a type), then these cells were mated with yeast cells Y187 (a type) transformed with human leukocyte cDNA library plasmid pACT2. The obtained diploid yeast cells were plated on synthetic dropout nutrient medium containing X-alpha-gal for double selection. The plasmids from positive colonies were transformed into E.coli and sequenced. RESULTS: The recombinant yeast expression vector pGBKT7-TTG1A was successfully constructed. Nineteen TTG1A binding proteins, including Homo sapiens major histocompatibility complex, class II DP beta 1 (HLA-DPb1), Homo sapiens ribosomal protein L30 (RPL30), Homo sapiens nucleophosmin Homo sapiens nucleobindin 2 (NUCB2), Homo sapiens ash2, variant Gaucher disease and variant metachromatic leukodystrophy, MORF4L1, Homo sapiens ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2L3 (UBE2L3), APOA1, Homo sapiens lectin, and galectin 1, were identified. CONCLUSIONS: This study may help to elucidate the molecular function of TTG1A.

M2b macrophage polarization and its roles in diseases.

Macrophages play an important role in a wide variety of physiologic and pathologic processes. Plasticity and functional polarization are hallmarks of macrophages. Macrophages commonly exist in two distinct subsets: classically activated macrophages (M1) and alternatively activated macrophages (M2). M2b, a subtype of M2 macrophages, has attracted increasing attention over the past decade due to its strong immune-regulated and anti-inflammatory effects. A wide variety of stimuli and multiple factors modulate M2b macrophage polarization in vitro and in vivo. M2b macrophages possess both protective and pathogenic roles in various diseases. Understanding the mechanisms of M2b macrophage activation and the modulation of their polarization might provide a great perspective for the design of novel therapeutic strategies. The purpose of this review is to discuss current knowledge of M2b macrophage polarization, the roles of M2b macrophages in a variety of diseases and the stimuli to modulate M2b macrophage polarization.

Cloning, sequence and functional analysis of goat ATP-binding cassette transporter G2 (ABCG2).

ATP-binding cassette transporter G2 (ABCG2) gene encodes a protein that has a wide variety of substrates and is responsible for the active secretion of clinically and toxicologically important molecules into milk. Although known in many species, this marks the first time this gene product has been reported in goats. In this study, we cloned and sequenced goat ABCG2 gene complete coding sequence and predicted its putative translated protein structure with implicative functional domains. One six-transmembrane span on C-terminal region and at least one coiled-coil domain on N-terminal were predicted and compared primarily with those of other closely related species. In addition, three conserved cysteines (in positions 595, 606, and 611) were determined toward the C-terminal of goat's ABCG2. Two known functional motifs were identified in goat's protein through comparative studies with other species. The goat ABCG2 relative expression profile revealed that the gene expression was a function of lactation stage and parallel to goat lactation curve.

Construction and characterization of a goat mammary gland cDNA library.

A lactating goat mammary gland cDNA library was constructed by using a modified commercially available cDNA library construction kit protocol. The resulting clones were sequenced and functionally analyzed through cross-species genomic comparison to assess (1) the capacity and functional quality of the constructed library for subsequent research and (2) the efficiency of the procedural modifications. The study resulted in the construction of a high-quality mammary gland cDNA library, which was characterized by (1) the total recombinants number of 1.4 x 10(7) colony-forming units (cfus) that was at least 10 times greater than the number expected from the application of the standard kit protocol, (2) the recombinants rate of 96%, and (3) the average insert size of 1,082 bp. BLAST analysis of sequenced clones against GenBank databases determined 55.7% of clone redundancy, 22 known function gene clusters, and 29 novel gene clusters. The analysis of the primary gene expression profile showed that 59% of the tested clones were genes that coded for milk proteins while 16% of the clones coded for ribosomal, metabolism, immune response, and translation proteins. The remaining 25% of the tested clones were described as novel genes. Cross-species comparison showed that 77% of characterized gene clusters were successfully identified by using resources from other ruminants and unrelated species. This outcome is in consonance with the common belief that the genomic resources that have been generated across species are potentially powerful tools that could be used for enhancing the molecular understanding of less genomically studied species, such as goat.