Bone marrow mesenchymal cells: polymorphism associated with transformation of rough endoplasmic reticulum.

To understand the behavior and function of bone-marrow mesenchymal cells (BMMCs), we overviewed the morphological presentation of BMMCs in bone-marrow granules (b-BMMCs), isolated BMMCs (i-BMMCs), and BMMCs (c-BMMCs) cultured in H4434 methylcellulose semisolid and MEM media. All samples were derived from bone-marrow aspirates of 30 patients with hematocytopenia. Light microscopy exhibited b-BMMCs and i-BMMCs characterized by abundant cytoplasm and irregular shape in bone-marrow smears, as well as c-BMMCs in culture conditions. Scanning electron microscopy demonstrated cultured c-BMMCs with a sheet-like feature enveloping hematopoietic cells. Transmission electron microscopy revealed b-BMMCs constructing a honeycomb-like structure by thin bifurcate processes among hematopoietic cells. Furthermore, i-BMMCs had bifurcate parapodiums on the surface and prominent rough endoplasmic reticulum (rER) connected with the plasmalemma of the parapodiums. The detailed images suggested that rER may serve as a membrane resource for plasmalemmal expansion in BMMCs in bone marrow.

MEG2 is regulated by miR-181a-5p and functions as a tumour suppressor gene to suppress the proliferation and migration of gastric cancer cells.

BACKGROUND: Protein-tyrosine phosphatase MEG2 (MEG2) is a classic tyrosine-specific protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP). It has been reported that MEG2 participates in the carcinogenesis of the breast and liver. However, functions of MEG2 in gastric cancer remain poorly understood. METHODS: We examined the expression of MEG2 protein by western blotting and that of miR-181a-5p by qRT-PCR. We used bioinformatic analyses to search for miRNAs that potentially target MEG2. We performed a luciferase reporter assay to investigate the interaction between miR-181a-5p and MEG2. In addition, we assessed the effects of MEG2 and miR-181a-5p on gastric cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. RESULTS: We found that MEG2 is downregulated in human gastric cancer and that miR-181a-5p is predicted to be a potential regulator of MEG2. We also observed that expression of MEG2 is reversely correlated with that of miR-181a-5p in gastric cancer. Moreover, we observed that MEG2 regulation by miR-181a-5p significantly suppresses the proliferation and migration of gastric cancer cells in vitro and decelerates tumour growth in vivo. CONCLUSIONS: Our results revealed that MEG2 is a tumour suppressor gene and negatively regulated by miR-181a-5p in gastric cancer.

miR-208a-3p suppresses cell apoptosis by targeting PDCD4 in gastric cancer.

Programmed cell death 4 (PDCD4) is a novel tumor suppressor gene and a promising target for anticancer therapies. PDCD4 is frequently downregulated in various human cancers; however, the molecular mechanism accounting for the loss expression of PDCD4 in cancers is not fully understood. In this study, we identified specific targeting sites for miR-208a-3p in the 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) of the PDCD4 gene which regulated PDCD4 expression. We demonstrated that miR-208a-3p suppressed apoptosis in gastric cancer cells by targeting PDCD4. We also showed that miR-208a-3p promoted the development of tumor growth in xenograft mice by negatively regulating PDCD4. Taken together, this study revealed a critical role for miR-208a-3p as an oncogenic miRNA in gastric carcinogenesis and it may provide a potential novel target for gastric cancer diagnosis and therapy.

[Use of Near-Infrared Hyperspectral Images to Differentiate Architectural Coatings with Different Qualities].

Architectural coatings sold in market fall into many categories which mean different models and qualities. The research plans to differentiate different kinds of architectural coatings in quality using hyperspectral technology. Near-Infrared hyperspectral images of four kinds of architectural coatings (in a descending quality order of brand A, B, C, and D) in same color were acquired. The optimal wavelengths were selected at 1283 and 2447 nm to differentiate the four kinds of coatings through ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) method. The band ratio index of R1283/R2447 was built and the results were segmented into the corresponding coatings, and the accuracies of segmentation were compared with that from Maximum Likely Classification (MLC). The results indicated all J-M distances are more than 1.8 except between C and D; the lowest accuracy of 87.54% in segmentation and 95.63% in MLC were both from brand D, and others' accuracies all were over 90% in both ratio index and MLC. Therefore, the ratio index R1283/R2447 could be used to distinguish different kinds of architectural coatings. Also, the research could provide support for identification, quality acceptance, as well as conformity assessment of architectural coatings.

Lathyrus sativus (grass pea) and its neurotoxin ODAP.

Lathyrus sativus (grass pea) is a high-yielding, drought-resistant legume consumed as a food in Northern India and neighboring countries as well as in Ethiopia. Its development into an important food legume, however, has been hindered by the presence of the neurotoxin - beta-N-oxalyl-L-alpha,beta-diaminopropionic acid (beta-ODAP) in seeds which, if consumed in large quantities for prolonged periods, can cause irreversible paralysis. Recently, some low-toxin lines have been developed that may prove safe for both animal and human foods. Cultivation of L. sativus should thus be considered in suitable regions because the demand for legume animal feed protein products is expected to increase. This paper addresses advances in understanding L. sativus from the perspective of its taxonomy, genetics, ecology, chemistry, nutrition, medicine, biology and for animal nutrition.