Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of the NF-Y transcription factor family in Populus.

In the past few years, many studies have reported that the transcription factor Nuclear Factor Y (NF-Y) gene family plays important roles in embryonic development, photosynthesis, flowering time regulation and stress response, in various plants. Although the NF-Y gene family has been systematically studied in many species, little is known about NF-Y genes in Populus. In this study, the NF-Y gene family in the Populus genome was identified and its structural characteristics were described. Fifty-two NF-Y genes were authenticated in the Populus trichocarpa genome and categorized into three subfamilies (NF-YA/B/C) by phylogenetic analysis. Chromosomal localization of these genes revealed that they were distributed randomly across 17 of the 19 chromosomes. Segmental duplication played a vital role in the amplification of Populus NF-Y gene family. Moreover, microsynteny analysis indicated that, among Populus trichocarpa, Arabidopsis thaliana, Vitis vinifera and Carica papaya, NF-Y duplicated regions were more conserved between Populus trichocarpa and Vitis vinifera. Redundant stress-related cis-elements were also found in the promoters of most 13 NF-YA genes and their expression levels varied widely following drought, salt, ABA and cold treatments. Subcellular localization experiments in tobacco showed that PtNF-YA3 was localized in nucleus and cytomembrane, while PtNF-YA4 was only in the nucleus in tobacco. According to the transcriptional activity experiments, neither of them had transcriptional activity in yeast. In summary, a comprehensive analysis of the Populus NF-Y gene family was performed to establish a theoretical basis for further functional studies on this family.

Identification of CCCH Zinc Finger Proteins Family in Moso Bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis), and PeC3H74 Confers Drought Tolerance to Transgenic Plants.

CCCH zinc finger proteins are a class of important zinc-finger transcription factors and have functions in various plant growth and stress responses, but their functions in moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) are unclear. In this current study, we main investigated the structures, phylogenetic relationships, promoter elements and microsynteny of PeC3Hs. In this research, 119 CCCH zinc finger proteins (PeC3H1-119) identified genes in moso bamboo were divided into 13 subfamilies (A-M) based on phylogenetic analysis. Meanwhile, moso bamboo were treated with abscisic acid (ABA), methyl jasmonate (Me-JA) and gibberellic acid (GA) and 12 CCCH genes expression levels were assayed using qRT-PCR. In the three hormone treatments, 12 genes were up-regulated or down-regulated, respectively. In addition, PeC3H74 was localized on the cytomembrane, and it had self-activation activities. Phenotypic and physiological analysis showed that PeC3H74 (PeC3H74-OE) conferred drought tolerance of transgenic Arabidopsis, including H2O2 content, survival rate, electrolyte leakage as well as malondialdehyde content. Additionally, compared with wild-type plants, transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana seedling roots growth developed better under 10 µM ABA; Moreover, the stomatal of over-expressing PeC3H74 in Arabidopsis changed significantly under ABA treatment. The above results suggest that PeC3H74 was quickly screened by bioinformatics, and it may enhanced drought tolerance in plants through the ABA-dependent signaling pathway.

Vascularized flap transfer to fingers with volar digital veins as recipient vessels.

Traditionally free vascularized flap transfers to the fingers connect to the proper digital artery and dorsal veins. We report our experience using the volar digital veins as recipient veins for free vascularized flap transfers in 14 fingers of 12 patients. One or two veins (three flaps with two veins, 11 flaps with one vein) of the flap were anastomosed to volar digital veins in the recipient site. The arteries of these flaps were connected to the proper digital arteries. All the transferred flaps survived. No vessel crisis occurred. Our patients demonstrated that volar veins can be the recipient veins for free flap transfers in the fingers without increased risk of venous crisis and flap loss. Level of evidence: IV.

TCP Transcription Factors in Moso Bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis): Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Analysis.

TEOSINTE BRANCHED 1, CYCLOIDEA, and PROLIFERATING CELL FACTORS (T), members of a plant-specific gene family, play significant roles during plant growth and development, as well as in response to environmental stress. However, knowledge about this family in moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) is limited. Therefore, in this study, the first genome-wide identification, classification, characterization, and expression pattern analysis of the TCP transcription factor family in moso bamboo was performed. Sixteen TCP members were identified from the moso bamboo genome using a BLASTP algorithm-based method and verified using the Pfam database. Based on a multiple-sequence alignment, the members were divided into two subfamilies, and members of the same family shared highly conserved motif structures. Subcellular localization and transactivation activity analyses of four selected genes revealed that they were nuclear localized and had self-activation activities. Additionally, the expression levels of several PeTCP members were significantly upregulated under abscisic acid, methyl jasmonate, and salicylic acid treatments, indicating that they play crucial plant hormone transduction roles in the processes of plant growth and development, as well as in responses to environmental stresses. Thus, the current study provides previously lacking information on the TCP family in moso bamboo and reveals the potential functions of this gene family in growth and development.

Efficacy and Safety of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension-specific Therapy in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

BACKGROUND: Previous meta-analyses of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH)-specific therapy for PAH pooled PAH-specific combination therapy and monotherapy. This flaw may threaten the authenticity of their findings. METHODS: PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library were searched for randomized controlled trials that evaluated any PAH-specific medications in the treatment of PAH. We calculated ORs with 95% CIs for dichotomous data and standardized mean differences for continuous data. RESULTS: In total, 35 randomized controlled trials involving 6,702 patients were included. In monotherapy vs placebo/conventional therapy, significance was obtained in mortality reduction (OR, 0.50 [95% CI, 0.33 to 0.76]; P = .001), 6-min walk test (mean difference, 31.10 m [95% CI, 25.40 to 36.80]; P < .00001), New York Heart Association/World Health Organization functional class (OR, 2.48 [95% CI, 1.51 to 4.07]; P = .0003), and hemodynamic status based on mean pulmonary artery pressure, pulmonary vascular resistance, cardiac index, and incidence of withdrawal due to adverse effects. In combination therapy vs monotherapy, significance was reached for the 6-min walk test (mean difference, 19.96 m [95% CI, 15.35 to 24.57]; P < .00001), functional class (OR, 1.65 [95% CI, 1.20 to 2.28]; P = .002), hemodynamic status, and incidence of withdrawal due to adverse effects (OR, 2.01 [95% CI, 1.54 to 2.61]; P < .00001) but not for mortality reduction (OR, 0.98 [95% CI, 0.57 to 1.68]; P = .94). CONCLUSIONS: Our meta-analysis revealed that PAH-specific monotherapy could improve mortality, exercise capacity, functional class, and hemodynamic status compared with placebo or conventional therapy. However, combination therapy could further improve exercise capacity, functional class, and hemodynamic status compared with monotherapy, but it had no proven effect on mortality. Combination therapy had a much higher incidence of withdrawal due to adverse effects than monotherapy.

[m-Nisodipine inhibited 5-HT-induced proliferation of rat PASMCs through Rho/ROCK signal pathway].

This paper is to report the exploration of the activation of Rho/ROCK signal pathway in 5-HT-induced proliferation of rat pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) and the inhibitory effect of m-Nis on this pathway. PASMCs were cultured with the explant technique. MTT assay was used to explore the proliferation of PASMCs after 5-HT treated for different time and the intervening effect of m-Nis. RT-PCR and Western blot were used respectively to explore the mRNA expression of RhoA, ROCK1 and the protein expression of p-MYPT1 in 5-HT-treated PASMCs and intervening effect of m-Nis. The results of MTT assay suggested that 5-HT (1 µmol · L(-1)) treatment for 12-72 h significantly induced the proliferation of rat PASMCs (P<0.05 or P < 0.01), which were inhibited by m-Nis (1 x 10(-5), 1 x 10(-6), l x 10(-7), 1 x10(-8) mol · L(-1)) in dose-dependent manners (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Similarly, the mRNA expression of RhoA, ROCK1 and the protein expression of p-MYPT1 were also inhibited by m-Nis in different degrees (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Thus, the results of this study suggested that Rho/ROCK pathway played an important role in 5-HT-induced proliferation of rat PASMCs, m-Nis inhibited 5-HT-induced proliferation obviously, which may be related to the blockage of Rho/ROCK signal pathway.

N-[4-(4,6-Dimethyl-2-pyrimidinyloxy)-3-methylphenyl]-N'-[2-(dimethylamino)] benzoylurea induces cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis in human cancer cells.

N-[4-(4,6-Dimethyl-2-pyrimidinyloxy)-3-methylphenyl]-N'-[2-(dimethylamino)]benzoylurea (SUD) is a novel synthesized benzoylurea derivative. We selected several human cancer cell lines to investigate whether SUD can inhibit the growth of cancer cells. We selected the liver cell line L-02 to investigate the effect of SUD on the normal cells. Flow cytometric analysis was used to detect the effect of SUD on cell cycle, Hoechst 33258 staining was used to evaluate the apoptosis induced by SUD, real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR was used to investigate the expression of the cell cycle-relevant and apoptosis-relevant genes, a reactive oxygen species (ROS) assay was used to observe the production of ROS, and western blotting was used to determine the level of cell cycle-relevant and apoptosis-relevant proteins. According to the results of the MTT assay, the growth of human cancer cell lines was significantly inhibited by SUD treatment in a time-dependent and concentration-dependent manner; however, the growth of human normal cells was not significantly inhibited by SUD treatment. The results of flow cytometric analyses showed that SUD induced cell-cycle arrest at the G2-phase in MCF-7 cells and at the G1-phase in BGC-823 cells. The results of Hoechst 33258 staining showed that SUD induced apoptosis in MCF-7 and BGC-823 cells. The results of the ROS assay showed that the production of ROS was increased by SUD in MCF-7 and BGC-823 cells. Our research suggests that the growth-inhibitory effect of SUD on MCF-7 cells was related to G2-phase arrest, which was associated with the upregulated expression of p53 and Chk1 proteins, and downregulation of the cyclin B1 gene, cdc25a, and cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1) proteins; the growth-inhibitory effect of SUD on BGC-823 cells was related to G1-phase arrest, which was associated with upregulation of the p53 gene and Chk1 protein and downregulation of cdc25a protein and the CDK4 gene. SUD also induced apoptosis in MCF-7 and BGC-823 cell lines through the mitochondrial pathway in a p53-dependent manner.

[Effect of m-nisoldipine on the Ca2+/CaM/CaN signal pathway in 5-HT-induced proliferation of rat PASMCs].

This study is to explore the activation of the Ca2+/CaM/CaN signal pathway in 5-HT-induced proliferation of rat pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) and the inhibitory effect of m-nisoldipine (m-Nis) on this pathway. PASMCs were cultured with the explant technique. The proliferation of PASMCs was evaluated by MTT assay. Confocal microscopy was used to measure the change of [Ca2+]i. The mRNA expression of CaM and CaN was evaluated by RT-PCR and the activity of CaN was measured according to the instruction of kits. The results of MTT assay suggested that 5-HT (1 micromol x L(-1)) significantly induced the proliferation of rat PASMCs (P < 0.01), which was inhibited obviously by m-Nis (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Similarly, m-Nis inhibited 5-HT-induced elevation of [Ca2+]i (P < 0.01). The mRNA expression of CaM, CaN and the activation of CaN were also inhibited by m-Nis at different degrees (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Thus, the results of this study suggested that Ca2+/CaM/CaN signal pathway played an important role in 5-HT-induced proliferation of rat PASMCs, the inhibition of m-Nis on proliferation of rat PASMCs may be related to the blockage of Ca2+/CaM/CaN signal pathway by inhibiting the elevation of [Ca2+]i.

[The synergistic and toxicity-reducing effects of zhenqifuzheng injection on mice with 60Co radiotherapy].

OBJECTIVE: To study the synergistic and toxicity-reducing effect of zhenqifuzheng (ZQFZ) injection on mice with 60Co radiotherapy. METHODS: The tumor-bearing mice models with Hepatoma-22 were established. Mice in 60Co control group were treated by 60Co; ZQFZ injection were administered with dosages of 1.5, 3.0, 6.0 g/(kg x d) through ip for 7 days,then the inhibitory rate, the number of WBC,the spleen and thymus index were calculated. Meanwhile,the MDA content and SOD activity in serum were determined. Phagocytosis of mononuclear macrophage was determined with carbon particle clearance test. RESULTS: Each dose of ZQFZ injection inhibited the development of tumor, and had synergism with 60Co. High dose of ZQFZ injection increased the number of WBC, and the spleen index in all ZQFZ groups increased (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Whereas, no significant difference was found of thymus index in all groups, and the changes of MDA content and SOD activity induced by 60Co were reversed obviously by three doses of ZQFZ (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Meanwhile, non-specific immunity was enhanced in different degree in three doses of ZQFZ groups (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: ZQFZ injection can increase the activity of non-specific immunity, improve the anti-tumor effects and meanwhile attenuate the toxicity of 60Co, which may be related to the antagonistic effect on lipid peroxidation.