Functional analysis of transgenic cry1Ah-1 maize.

Maize is an important food crop in the world, but the yield and quality of maize have been significantly reduced due to the impact of insect pests. In order to address this issue, the cry1Ah gene was subjected to error-prone PCR for mutagenesis, and subsequently, the mutant cry1Ah-1 gene was introduced into maize inbred line GSH9901 callus using the Agrobacterium-mediated method. The T2 generation transformed plants were obtained by subculture, and 9 transgenic positive plants were obtained by molecular detection which was carried out by PCR, qRT-PCR, Bt gold-labeled immunoassay test strips, Western blot and ELISA. It was found that the Cry1Ah-1 gene could be transcribed normally in maize leaves, of which OE1 and OE3 had higher relative expression levels and could successfully express proteins of 71.94 KD size. They were expressed in different tissues at the 6-leaf stage, heading stage and grain-filling stage, and could ensure the protection of maize from corn borer throughout the growth period. The biological activities of OE1 and OE3 were tested indoors and in the field, and the results showed that in indoors, the corn borer that fed on OE1 and OE3 corn leaves had a mortality rate of 100 % after 3 days; in the field, OE1 and OE3 had strong insecticidal activity against corn borer, reaching a high resistance level. In conclusion, the transgenic cry1Ah-1 maize has a strong insecticidal effect on corn borer, and has a good prospect of commercialization.

Using integrated problem- and lecture-based learning teaching modes for imaging diagnosis education.

BACKGROUND: There are two parts included in traditional imaging diagnosis teaching: theoretical lessons and experimental lessons. Most of the time, the experimental lesson is a review of the theoretical lesson. The teacher is the centre of the course and students are passive learners. Thus, in this study we included the patient problem of the imaging centre in our imaging diagnosis education. The traditional theoretical lessen was used to discuss prior knowledge, the discussion and analysis of patient problems was arranged under class, and the experimental lesson was used to synthesize and test the newly acquired information. The aim of this study is to determine whether or not integration of problem- and lecture-based learning teaching modes in imaging diagnosis education was associated with a good teaching effect. Forty-six of sixty students (76.7%) like integrated problem- and lecture-based learning teaching mode and 53 of 60 students (88.3%) think that integrated problem- and lecture-based learning teaching mode can make their ability of self-study be improved. METHODS: Sixty students participated in a prospective study with a two-phase cross-over design. All of the students were divided into 2 groups of 30 each. In the first term, the first group participated in an integration of the problem- and lecture-based learning teaching mode, whereas students in the second group underwent the lecture-based learning teaching mode alone. During the second term, the teaching modes were exchanged between the two groups. A close-exam and survey were used to evaluate the teaching effect, and the data were analysed means of analysis of variance with a two-phase cross-over design and a χ2 test with a 2-tailed α of 0.05. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference in the test scores between the integration of the problem- and lecture-based learning teaching mode and the lecture-based learning teaching mode alone (P < 0.05). The integration of problem- and lecture-based learning teaching mode was well-appraised. CONCLUSION: Integration of the problem- and lecture-based learning teaching modes in teaching imaging diagnosis education resulted in a good teaching effect.

Mechanisms of electroacupuncture effects on acute cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury: possible association with upregulation of transforming growth factor beta 1.

Electroacupuncture at the head acupoints Baihui (GV20) and Shuigou (GV26) improves recovery of neurological function following ischemic cerebrovascular events, but its mechanism remains incompletely understood. We hypothesized that the action of electroacupuncture at these acupoints is associated with elevated serum levels of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-ß1). To test this, we established a rat model of cerebral ischemia by middle cerebral artery occlusion. Electroacupuncture was performed at Baihui and Shuigou with a "disperse-dense" wave at an alternating frequency of 2 and 150 Hz, and at a constant intensity of 3 mA. Each electroacupuncture session lasted 30 minutes and was performed every 12 hours for 3 days. Neurological severity scores were lower in injured rats after acupuncture than in those not subjected to treatment. Furthermore, serum level of TGF-ß1 was greater after electroacupuncture than after no treatment. Our results indicate that electroacupuncture at Baihui and Shuigou increases the serum level of TGF-ß1 in rats with acute cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury, and exerts neuroprotective effects.