Yin Yang 1-stimulated long noncoding RNA bladder cancer-associated transcript 1 upregulation facilitates esophageal carcinoma progression via the microRNA-5590-3p/programmed cell death-ligand 1 pathway.

Esophageal carcinoma (EC) is a common gastrointestinal malignancy that poses a threat to public health worldwide. Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) bladder cancer-associated transcript 1 (BLACAT1) exerts a tumorigenic role in several malignant tumors; nevertheless, its function in EC remains largely unknown. Besides, programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), an oncogene in numerous human cancers, has been identified as a therapeutic target for EC. Therefore, we intended to explore the potential regulatory network involving BLACAT1 and PD-L1 in EC. In this study, we observed increased BLACAT1 and PD-L1 levels in EC tissues and EC cell lines. Moreover, YY1 could activate BLACAT1 transcription in EC cells (TE-1 and EC9706). In addition, in vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that BLACAT1 facilitated EC cell proliferation and metastasis and EC tumor growth. Also, the effects of BLACAT1 silencing on EC cell functions were partially reversed by PD-L1 overexpression. Besides, it was identified that BLACAT1 competed with PD-L1 to bind to miR-5590-3p in EC cells. Furthermore, miR-5590-3p suppression could abrogate the functional effects of BLACAT1 knockdown on EC cells; while PD-L1 silencing partly abolished the promoting effects of miR-5590-3p suppression on the biological functions of EC cells. To sum up, YY1-induced BLACAT1 accelerated EC progression via regulating the miR-5590-3p/PD-L1 axis.

Androgen Deprivation Accelerates the Prostatic Urethra Wound Healing After Thulium Laser Resection of the Prostate by Promoting Re-Epithelialization and Regulating the Macrophage Polarization.

BACKGROUND: Complications after a thulium laser resection of the prostate (TmLRP) are related to re-epithelialization of the prostatic urethra. Since prostate growth and development are induced by androgen, the aim of this study was to determine the role and explore the mechanism of androgen in wound healing of the prostatic urethra. METHODS: Beagles that received TmLRPs were randomly distributed into a castration group, a testosterone undecanoate (TU) group, and a control group. The prostate wound was assessed once a week using a cystoscope. Histological analysis was then carried out to study the re-epithelialization of the prostatic urethra in each group. The inflammatory response in the wound tissue and urine was also investigated. RESULTS: The healing of the prostatic urethra after a TmLRP was more rapid in the castration group and slower in the TU group than that in the control group. Castration accelerated re-epithelialization by promoting basal cell proliferation in the wound surface and beneath the wound and by accelerating the differentiation of basal cells into urothelial cells. Castration reduced the duration of the inflammatory phase and induced the conversion of M1 macrophages to M2 macrophages, thus accelerating the maturation of the wound. By contrast, androgen supplementation enhanced the inflammatory response and prolonged the inflammatory phase. Moreover, the anti-inflammatory phase was delayed and weakened. CONCLUSION: Androgen deprivation promotes re-epithelialization of the wound, regulates the inflammatory response, and accelerates wound healing of the prostatic urethra after a TmLRP. Prostate 77:708-717, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Effects of chronic restraint stress on social behaviors and the number of hypothalamic oxytocin neurons in male rats.

Oxytocin (OXT) and vasopressin (AVP) are considered to be related to mammalian social behavior and the regulation of stress responses. The present study investigated the effects of chronic homotypic restraint stress (CHRS) on social behaviors and anxiety, as well as its repercussions on OXT- and AVP-positive neurons in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and supraoptic nucleus (SON) nuclei in rat. Male Sprague-Dawley rats receiving CHRS were exposed to repeated restraint stress of 30min per day for 10days. Changes in social approach behaviors were evaluated with the three-chambered social approach task. Changes in anxiety-like behaviors were evaluated in the light-dark box test. The number of neurons expressing oxytocin and/or vasopressin in PVN and SON were examined by immunohistochemistry techniques. The results demonstrated that social approach was increased and anxiety was decreased following 10-day exposure to CHRS. Furthermore, the number of OXT-immunoreactive cells in PVN was increased significantly, whereas no change in SON was seen. The number of AVP immunoreactive cells either in PVN or SON was unaffected. The results of this study suggest that certain types of stress could be effective in the treatment of social dysfunction in persons with mental disorders such as autism, social anxiety disorder. The therapeutic effects may be mediated by changes in the function of OXT neurons in PVN.

Anti-wrinkle effects of Sargassum muticum ethyl acetate fraction on ultraviolet B-irradiated hairless mouse skin and mechanistic evaluation in the human HaCaT keratinocyte cell line.

The present study investigated the photoprotective properties of the ethyl acetate fraction of Sargassum muticum (SME) against ultraviolet B (UVB)­induced skin damage and photoaging in a mouse model. HR­1 strain hairless male mice were divided into three groups: An untreated control group, a UVB­irradiated vehicle group and a UVB­irradiated SME group. The UVB­irradiated mice in the SME group were orally administered with SME (100 mg/kg body weight in 0.1 ml water per day) and then exposed to radiation at a dose of 60­120 mJ/cm2. Wrinkle formation and skin damage were evaluated by analysis of skin replicas, epidermal thickness and collagen fiber integrity in the dermal connective tissue. The mechanism underlying the action of SME was also investigated in the human HaCaT keratinocyte cell line following exposure of the cells to UVB at a dose of 30 mJ/cm2. The protein expression levels and activity of matrix metalloproteinase­1 (MMP­1), and the binding of activator protein­1 (AP­1) to the MMP­1 promoter were assessed in the HaCaT cells using western blot analysis, an MMP­1 fluorescent assay and a chromatin immune­precipitation assay, respectively. The results showed that the mean length and depth of the wrinkles in the UVB­exposed hairless mice were significantly improved by oral administration of SME, which also prevented the increase in epidermal thickness triggered by UVB irradiation. Furthermore, a marked increase in collagen bundle formation was observed in the UVB­treated mice with SME administration. SME pretreatment also significantly inhibited the UVB­induced upregulation in the expression and activity of MMP­1 in the cultured HaCaT keratinocytes, and the UVB­enhanced association of AP­1 with the MMP­1 promoter. These results suggested that SME may be useful as an anti-photoaging resource for the skin.

Electro-acupuncture improves the social interaction behavior of rats.

Oxytocin (OXT) and arginine-vasopressin (AVP) are two closely related neuropeptides and implicated in the regulation of mammalian social behaviors. A prior clinical study in our laboratory suggested that electro-acupuncture (EA) alleviated social impairment in autistic children accompanied by changes of peripheral levels of OXT and AVP. However, it remains unclear whether EA stimulation had an impact on central OXT and AVP levels. In the present study, rats were subjected to a single session of EA (sEA) or repeated sessions of EA (rEA). Following the stimulation, mRNA levels and peptide levels of OXT/AVP systems were determined. The results showed that sEA led to region-specific up-regulation of OXT and AVP mRNA levels in the hypothalamus where the peptides were produced, without affecting the content of OXT and AVP in the hypothalamus and peripheral blood. The rEA of 5 sessions in 9 days was given to the low socially interacting (LSI) rats. LSI rats that underwent rEA showed significant improvement of social behavior characterized by spending more time investigating the strange rats in the three-chamber sociability test. The improved sociability was accompanied by an up-regulation of mRNA and the peptide levels of OXT or AVP in SON of the hypothalamus as well as a significant increase of the serum level of AVP. It is concluded that activation of OXT/AVP systems may be associated with the pro-social effect caused by EA stimulation.

Isorhamnetin Protects Human Keratinocytes against Ultraviolet B-Induced Cell Damage.

Isorhamnetin (3-methylquercetin) is a flavonoid derived from the fruits of certain medicinal plants. This study investigated the photoprotective properties of isorhamnetin against cell damage and apoptosis resulting from excessive ultraviolet (UV) B exposure in human HaCaT keratinocytes. Isorhamnetin eliminated UVB-induced intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and attenuated the oxidative modification of DNA, lipids, and proteins in response to UVB radiation. Moreover, isorhamnetin repressed UVB-facilitated programmed cell death in the keratinocytes, as evidenced by a reduction in apoptotic body formation, and nuclear fragmentation. Additionally, isorhamnetin suppressed the ability of UVB light to trigger mitochondrial dysfunction. Taken together, these results indicate that isorhamnetin has the potential to protect human keratinocytes against UVB-induced cell damage and death.

The role of adenosine deaminase in the electroacupuncture preconditioning induced rapid tolerance to focal cerebral ischemia / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the electroacupuncture (EA) pretreatment at Baihui (GV20) on the concentration of adenosine deaminase (ADA) and adenosine, and to evaluate its effects on the neurologic function score and the infarction volume after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) ischemia/reperfusion (I/R), thus exploring its mechanisms for relieving the ischemia/reperfusion injury.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 54 male SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups, the sham-EA group, the EA group, and the control group, 18 in each group. Rats in the control group were not intervened after anesthesia. Rats in the EA group were needled at Baihui (GV20) for 30 min. Rats in the sham-EA group received the same procedure as those performed in the EA group without electricity connected. The changes of adenosine and ADA contents were detected at 30, 60, and 120 min after EA respectively. The I/R model was established. Totally 48 male SD rats were randomly divided into 6 groups, i.e., the model group (Group A), the EA group (Group B), the EA +8-Cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine (DPCPX) group (Group C), the EA + DMSO group (Group D), the Deoxycoformycin (Deo) group (Group E), and the normal saline group (Group F). Rats in Group B, C, and D received EA for 30 min before modeling. Rats in Group C and D were peritoneally injected with DPCPX (1 mg/kg) and DMSO (1 mL/kg) at 30 min before EA. The neurologic function score was evaluated and the infarct volumes were detected after 24-h reperfusion.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the sham-EA group, there was no statistical difference in the contents of the adenosine or ADA in the control group at each time point (P > 0.05). Compared with the control group at the same time point, the content of ADA significantly decreased at 60 min in the EA group [(315.0 +/- 22.9 U/L), P < 0.05], and restored to the normal level at 120 min after EA. The content of adenosine increased in the EA group at 120 min [(20.4 +/- 2.2) ng/microL, P < 0.05]. Compared with the model group, the neurologic function score decreased (P < 0.05) and the infarct volumes were obviously reduced (P < 0.01) in Group B, D and E. There was no statistical difference in the neurologic function score or the infarct volumes in other groups, when compared with the model group (P > 0.05)</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>EA at Baihui (GV20) showed protective effects on the cerebral I/R rats, which might be achieved through lowering the ADA concentration and elevating the adenosine content, and further activating adenosine A1 receptor.</p>

[Study of traditional Chinese medicine pulse signals in patients with coronary heart disease based on recurrence quantification analysis].

OBJECTIVE: By using recurrence quantification analysis (RQA) to analyze traditional Chinese medicine pulse signals of patients with coronary heart disease (CHD), this study aims to find nonlinear dynamic parameters of pulses to distinguish patients with CHD from normal subjects. METHODS: First, pulse signals were collected using ZBOX-I pulse digitization gathering analyzer from October 2007 to June 2008. RQA was used to analyze RQA parameters of pulses of 63 patients with CHD and 61 normal subjects. RQA parameters included recurrence rate (RR), determinism (DET), averaged diagonal length (L), entropy of diagonal length (ENTR), length of longest diagonal line (L(max)), laminarity (LAM), trapping time (TT) and length of longest vertical line (V(max)). Then, rank-sum test and BoxPlot were employed to find significant difference and distribution of RQA parameters. Lastly, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to assess the diagnostic value of the measurements with significant difference. RESULTS: There were significant differences in RQA parameters of pulse signals between the two groups, including RR, DET, L, ENTR, LAM, TT and V(max), and their areas under the ROC curves were 1.000, 0.898, 0.653, 0.673, 0.885, 0.898, 0.986 and 0.994, respectively. CONCLUSION: Compared with the normal subjects, the pulse signals of the patients with CHD are presented with more certainty, regularity and stability. RQA measurements of RR, TT, Vmax, DET and LAM show good diagnostic value according to their ROC curves.

Improving fatty acid composition and increasing triacylglycerol content in plants by gene engineering: a review / 生物工程学报

This article reviewed key genes that involved in fatty acid synthesis and triacylglycerol assembly pathway. The transcription factors which play important roles in seed development and oil content were also reviewed. We summarized the achievement in modifying fatty acid composition and increase oil content in plant by gene engineering using these genes.

Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of tricyclic heterocycle-tetraamine conjugates as potent NMDA channel blockers.

We have developed a new class of N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) channel blockers having a conjugate structure that consists of a nitrogenous heterocyclic head and a tetraamine tail. Among them, dihydrodibenzazepine-homospermine conjugate (8) exhibited potent antagonistic activity at NR1/NR2A or NR1/NR2B NMDA subtype receptors compared with the lead compound, AQ343 (1), or memantine, as well as weak cytotoxicity. Its superior biological profiles compared with known compounds point to its potential use as therapeutic agents for neurological disorders.

Cloning, expression, and mapping of GDP-D-mannose pyrophosphorylase cDNA from tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum).

GDP-D-mannose pyrophosphorylase (GMP, EC 2.7.7.22) catalyzes the synthesis of GDP-D-mannose and represents the first committed step in plant ascorbic acid biosynthesis. Using potato GMP cDNA sequence as a querying probe, 65 highly homologous tomato ESTs were obtained from dbEST of GenBank and the putative cDNA sequence of tomato GMP was assembled. The full-length GMP cDNA of tomato was cloned by RACE-PCR with primers designed according to the assembled cDNA sequence. The full-length cDNA sequence contained a complete open reading frame (ORF) of 1,086 bp, which encoded 361 amino acid residues. This gene was designated as LeGMP (GenBank accession No. AY605668). Homology analysis of LeGMP showed a 96% identity with potato GMP and the deduced amino acid showed 99%, 97%, 91% and 89% homology with GMP from potato, tobacco, alfalfa and Arabidopsis thaliana, respectively. Northern blot analysis showed that LeGMP was constitutively expressed in roots, stems, leaves, flowers and fruits of tomato; but the expression levels varied. LeGMP was mapped to 3-D using 75 tomato introgression lines (ILs), each containing a single homozygous RFLP-defined chromosome segment from the green-fruited species Lycopersicon pennellii.

Molecular cloning, expression and mapping analysis of a novel cytosolic ascorbate peroxidase gene from tomato.

Ascorbate peroxidase (APX, EC 1.11.1.11) plays a major role in H(2)O(2)-scavenging in plants and can help to avoid reactive oxygen species (ROS) damage. A new cytosolic APX gene was cloned from tomato (designated LecAPX2) by RACE-PCR. The full-length cDNA of LecAPX2 contained a complete open reading frame (ORF) of 753 bp, which encoding 250 amino acid residues. Homology analysis of LecAPX2 showed a 94% identity with potato cAPX gene and 92% identity with another tomato cAPX gene (APX20), the deduced amino acid showed 88% homology with APX20 protein and 75-92% identity with cAPX from other plants such as potato, tobacco, broccoli, spinach, pea, rice, etc. LecAPX2 revealed the existence of a haem peroxidase and plant APX family signatures. Northern blot analysis showed that LecAPX2 was constitutively expressed in root, stem, leaf, flower and fruit of tomato, whereas the expression levels were different. LecAPX2 was mapped to 6-A using 75 tomato introgression lines (ILs), each containing a single homozygous RFLP-defined chromosome segment from the green-fruited species Lycopersicon pennellii.