Improved Binary Grasshopper Optimization Algorithm for Feature Selection Problem.

The migration and predation of grasshoppers inspire the grasshopper optimization algorithm (GOA). It can be applied to practical problems. The binary grasshopper optimization algorithm (BGOA) is used for binary problems. To improve the algorithm's exploration capability and the solution's quality, this paper modifies the step size in BGOA. The step size is expanded and three new transfer functions are proposed based on the improvement. To demonstrate the availability of the algorithm, a comparative experiment with BGOA, particle swarm optimization (PSO), and binary gray wolf optimizer (BGWO) is conducted. The improved algorithm is tested on 23 benchmark test functions. Wilcoxon rank-sum and Friedman tests are used to verify the algorithm's validity. The results indicate that the optimized algorithm is significantly more excellent than others in most functions. In the aspect of the application, this paper selects 23 datasets of UCI for feature selection implementation. The improved algorithm yields higher accuracy and fewer features.

Argon non-thermal plasma treatment promotes the development of rice (Oryza sativa L.) in saline alkali environments.

Soil salinization leads to a reduction in arable land area, which seriously endangers food security. Developing saline-alkali land has become a key measure to address the contradiction between population growth and limited arable land. Rice is the most important global food crop, feeding half of the world's population and making it a suitable choice for planting on saline-alkali lands. The traditional salt-alkali improvement method has several drawbacks. Currently, non-thermal plasma (NTP) technology is being increasingly applied in agriculture. However, there are few reports on the cultivation of salt/alkali-tolerant rice. Under alkaline stress, argon NTP treatment significantly increased the germination rate of Longdao 5 (LD5) rice seeds. In addition, at 15 kV and 120 s, NTP treatment significantly increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes such as catalase and SOD. NTP treatment induced changes in genes related to salt-alkali stress in rice seedlings, such as chitinase and xylanase inhibitor proteins, which increased the tolerance of the seeds to salt-alkali stress. This experiment has expanded the application scope of NTP in agriculture, providing a more cost-effective, less harmful, and faster method for developing salt-alkali-tolerant rice and laying a theoretical foundation for cultivating NTP-enhanced salt-alkali-tolerant rice.

Electroacupuncture Inhibits Ferroptosis Induced by Cerebral Ischemiareperfusion.

BACKGROUND: Electroacupuncture (EA) treatment has been recommended by World Health Organization (WHO) for years on cerebral ischemia treatment, but the specific mechanism is still elusive. Studies have shown that EA can relieve brain damage after ischemic stroke by inhibiting programmed cell death (PCD), such as apoptosis, necroptosis, and autophagy. Ferroptosis, a unique form of cell death, has been highlighted recently and found to occur in I/R injury. We, therefore, investigated whether EA plays an essential role in relieving cerebral I/R injury via ferroptosis. METHODS: The modified MCAO/R rats model was established and then divided into four groups with or without EA treatment. Neurological deficit score and TTC staining were used to evaluate the neurological deficit and infarct volume of each group. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) and immunofluorescence staining were applied for mitochondrial ultrastructure and ROS accumulation observation, respectively. The proteins and mRNA expression of ACSL4, TFR1, and GPX4 were assessed by western blot and qPCR to detect the progress of ferroptosis. RESULTS: EA treatment improved neurological deficits and reduced infarct volume. Moreover, EA significantly relieved the mitochondrial morphological changes and inhibited ROS Production in MCAO rats. In terms of its mechanism, EA obviously decreased the ACSL4 and TFR1 expressions and promoted GPX4 levels in MCAO/R model rats. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that EA might play an essential role in relieving cerebral I/R injury via ferroptosis.

Scutebarbatine A induces ROS-mediated DNA damage and apoptosis in breast cancer cells by modulating MAPK and EGFR/Akt signaling pathway.

Scutebarbatine A (SBT-A), a diterpenoid alkaloid, has exerted cytotoxicity on hepatocellular carcinoma cells in our previous works. Here, the antitumor activity of SBT-A in breast cancer cells and the underlying mechanism were explored. The anti-proliferative effect of SBT-A was measured by trypan blue staining, 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) incorporation and colony formation assay. DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) were evaluated by observing the nuclear focus formation of γ-H2AX. Cell cycle distribution was assessed by flow cytometry. Apoptosis was determined by a TUNEL assay. Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and superoxide production were measured with 2', 7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA) and dihydroethidium (DHE) staining, respectively. The results indicated that SBT-A showed a dose-dependent cytotoxic effect against breast cancer cells while revealing less toxicity toward MCF-10A breast epithelial cells. Moreover, SBT-A remarkably induced DNA damage, cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in both MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells. SBT-A treatment increased the levels of ROS and cytosolic superoxide production. Pretreatment with N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), a ROS scavenger, was sufficient to block viability reduction, DNA damage, apoptosis and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress caused by SBT-A. By exposure to SBT-A, the phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK) was upregulated, while the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) was downregulated. In addition, SBT-A inhibited the EGFR signaling pathway by decreasing EGFR expression and phosphorylation of Akt and p70S6K. As mentioned above, SBT-A has a potent inhibitory effect on breast cancer cells through induction of DNA damage, apoptosis and ER stress via ROS generation and modulation of MAPK and EGFR/Akt signaling pathway.

[Tiaoshen acupuncture for primary insomnia: a pilot randomized controlled trial].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of Tiaoshen (regulating the spirit) acupuncture on cognitive function and sleep quality in patients with primary insomnia (PI). METHODS: Sixty patients with PI were randomly divided into an observation group (30 cases, 2 cases dropped off) and a control group (30 cases, 2 cases dropped off, 1 case was excluded). The patients in the observation group were treated with acupuncture at Baihui (GV 20), Shenting (GV 24), Sishencong (EX-HN 1), and bilateral Benshen (GB 13), Shenmen (HT 7), Neiguan (PC 6), Sanyinjiao (SP 6). The patients in the control group were treated with shallow needling at non-effective points. Each treatment was provided for 30 min, once every other day, 3 treatments per week for 4 weeks. The Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA), digit span test (DST), trail making test (TMT)-A, Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), and fatigue scale-14 (FS-14) were used to assess cognitive function and sleep quality before and after treatment, as well as in follow-up of 4-week after treatment completion. Correlation analysis was conducted between the differences in PSQI scores and differences in MoCA scores before and after treatment in the observation group. RESULTS: Compared with before treatment, the total score, visuospatial and executive function score and delayed memory score of MoCA as well as DST backward score were increased (P<0.01), while TMT-A time, PSQI and FS-14 scores were significantly reduced (P<0.01) after treatment and in follow-up in the observation group. Compared with before treatment, the PSQI score in the control group was reduced (P<0.01, P<0.05). After treatment and in follow-up, the observation group had significantly higher total score, visuospatial and executive function score, delayed memory score of MoCA, and DST backward score compared to the control group (P<0.05, P<0.01). In the observation group, the TMT-A time was significantly shorter than that in the control group (P<0.05, P<0.01), and the PSQI and FS-14 scores were significantly lower than those in the control group (P<0.01). In the observation group, there was a negative correlation between the difference in PSQI scores (post-treatment minus pre-treatment) and the difference in MoCA scores (post-treatment minus pre-treatment) (r=-0.481, P<0.01). A similar negative correlation was found between the difference in PSQI scores (follow-up minus pre-treatment) and the difference in MoCA scores (follow-up minus pre-treatment) (r=-0.282, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Tiaoshen acupuncture could improve cognitive function, enhance sleep quality, and alleviate daytime fatigue in patients with PI. The improvement in cognitive function in patients with PI is correlated with the improvement in sleep quality.

Bioorthogonal Engineered Virus-Like Nanoparticles for Efficient Gene Therapy.

Gene therapy offers potentially transformative strategies for major human diseases. However, one of the key challenges in gene therapy is developing an effective strategy that could deliver genes into the specific tissue. Here, we report a novel virus-like nanoparticle, the bioorthgonal engineered virus-like recombinant biosome (reBiosome), for efficient gene therapies of cancer and inflammatory diseases. The mutant virus-like biosome (mBiosome) is first prepared by site-specific codon mutation for displaying 4-azido-L-phenylalanine on vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein of eBiosome at a rational site, and the reBiosome is then prepared by clicking weak acid-responsive hydrophilic polymer onto the mBiosome via bioorthogonal chemistry. The results show that the reBiosome exhibits reduced virus-like immunogenicity, prolonged blood circulation time and enhanced gene delivery efficiency to weakly acidic foci (like tumor and arthritic tissue). Furthermore, reBiosome demonstrates robust therapeutic efficacy in breast cancer and arthritis by delivering gene editing and silencing systems, respectively. In conclusion, this study develops a universal, safe and efficient platform for gene therapies for cancer and inflammatory diseases.

[Identification of genomic structure and resistance trait associated SNP loci in glutathione peroxidase gene of Hyriopsis cumingii].

Based on the cDNA sequence of GPX in Hyriopsis cumingii, the complete genomic DNA of GPX gene and it's 5'-flanking region were identified from H. cumingii using PCR and genome walking technique. The length of the complete genomic sequence was 6 708 bp including the 5'-flanking region, two exons, and one intron. Sequence analysis of the 992 bp 5'-flanking region revealed that it contained a core promoter element (TATA-box) and other transcription regulation elements such as AP1, C/EBP, and CdxA. The sequence lengths of the two exons were 273 bp and 991 bp, respectively, and the intron was 4 491 bp in length. Sixteen single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were detected in the GPX gene from resistant stock (RS) and susceptible stock (SS) of H. cumingii. These polymorphisms were analyzed with regard to resistance to Aeromonas hydrophila. Among them, three SNPs including A-99G, A-86C, and A-49C in GPX promoter and five SNPs including A2841T, C2847T, G3146C, A3150G, and G4645T in GPX introns were associated with resistance/susceptibility of H. cumingii to A. hydrophila, both in genotype and allele frequency. Linkage disequilibrium analysis revealed that A-86C, A-49C, C2847T, A3150G, G4645T, A2841T, and G3146C were in high linkage disequilibrium, and haplotype analysis revealed that the frequency of two major predominant haplotypes (ACTGT and TG) in the resistant group was significantly higher than that in the susceptible group. The results suggest that the polymorphic loci in the GPX gene could be potential genetic markers for future molecular selection of strains resistant to diseases.

Integrated mRNA and miRNA expression profile analysis of female and male gonads in Hyriopsis cumingii.

Hyriopsis cumingii is an important species for freshwater pearl cultivation in China. In terms of pearl production, males have larger pearls and better glossiness than females, but there are few reports focusing on the sex of H. cumingii. In this study, six mRNA and six microRNA (miRNA) libraries were prepared from ovaries and testes. Additionally, 28,502 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 32 differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) were identified. Compared with testis, 14,360 mRNAs and 20 miRNAs were up-regulated in ovary, 14,142 mRNAs and 12 miRNAs were down-regulated. In DEGs, the known genes related to sex determinism and/or differentiation were also identified, such as DMRT1, SOX9, SF1 for males, FOXL2 for females, and other potentially significant candidate genes. Three sex-related pathways have also been identified, which are Wnt, Notch, and TGF-beta. In 32 DEMs, the three miRNAs (miR-9-5p, miR-92, miR-184) were paid more attention, they predicted 28 target genes, which may also be candidates for sex-related miRNAs and genes. Differential miRNAs target genes analysis reveals the pathway associated with oocyte meiosis and spermatogenesis. Overall, the findings of the study provide significant insights to enhance our understanding of sex differentiation and/or sex determination mechanisms for H. cumingii.

Effect of 'hand and foot acupuncture with twelve needles' on hemiplegia patients with 'qi deficiency and blood stasis' syndrome in the convalescent stage of Ischaemic stroke: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Hemiplegia is a common sequela after stroke, and acupuncture is one of the most common physical therapies used to treat hemiplegia during the recovery stage after ischaemic stroke. 'Hand and foot acupuncture with twelve needles' is an acupuncture treatment performed after stroke. The principal objective of this study is to assess the efficacy and safety of 'hand and foot acupuncture with twelve needles' for hemiplegia in the convalescent stage of ischaemic stroke. METHODS: This is the protocol for a randomised, controlled clinical trial with two groups: a 'hand and foot acupuncture with twelve needles' group and a routine acupuncture group. A total of 208 participants will be randomly assigned to two different groups in a 1:1 ratio and will undergo conventional rehabilitation. Limb function will be evaluated by the simplified Fugl-Meyer assessment scale, Barthel Index, modified Ashworth scale and National Institute of Health stroke scale. The participants will be evaluated at baseline (on the day of enrolment) and followed up at 2 weeks, 1 month, 2 months and 3 months after enrolment. DISCUSSION: The results of this study will provide evidence on the effectiveness of 'hand and foot acupuncture with twelve needles' in the treatment of limb dysfunction that can be used for future evaluations. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chictr.org.cn ChiCTR1900021774 . Registered on 8 March 2019.

[Full-length cDNA cloning and encoding protein structure analysis of GPX in Hyriopsis cumingii].

Based on the EST sequence of mantle cDNA library of Hyriopsis cumingii, the complete cDNA of Hyriopsis cumingii GPX gene was cloned by rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) in this paper. The GPX full-length cDNA sequence was 1286 bp including a 39 bp 5'-untranslated region, a 659 bp 3'-untranslated region and an open reading frame (ORF) 588 bp in length, which encodes for 195 amino acids with the predicted molecular weight of 22.2 kDa and the isoelectric point of 8.44. Molecular structure analysis revealed that GPX was Se-GPX. The amino acid sequences have three highly conserved loop structures that have a stabilizing effect on the tertiary structure of the enzyme. The amino acid sequence did not contain obvious hydrophobic domain and signal peptide. Homologous analysis of amino acid sequences indicated that the GPX of H. cumingii shared a high similarity with GPX-2 and GPX-1 of vertebrates (73.1%-80.8%), and low similarity with other types (lt; 60%). Phylogenetic trees showed that GPX of Hyriopsis cumingii was clustered together with GPX of some fishes and far away from GPX of several other published Molluscas. These results indicated GPX gene of H. cumingii cloned in this study was different from the GPX genes from other Molluscas.

[Analysis of complete mitochondrial genome of Cristaria plicata].

The complete mitochondrial genome of Cristaria plicata was obtained using long amplification polymerase chain reaction (LA-PCR). Analysis showed that the total length of sequence was 15 712 bp, including 13 protein-coding genes, 2 ribosomal RNA genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, and 26 non-coding regions ranged from 2 bp to 328 bp in size. The nucleotide composition of A, T, C, G were 36.54% 27.22% 23.22% and 13.02%, respectively. Most genes were encoded on the L strand, While ND3-ND5, ND4L, COI-COIII, ATP6, ATP8, tRNAAsp, and tRNAHis were encoded on the H strand. The arrangement of genes in C. plicata was identical to that of Lampsilis ornata, but was different from that of Hyriopsis cum-ingii between COII and 12S rRNA in the same family. Thirteen protein genes contained 3 initiation codons, i.e., I (AUU, AUC), V (GUG), and M (AUA, AUG), all of which had complete stop codons (UAA or UAG), except for the stop codon in ND2 that had an incomplete T. Fifteen tRNAs had typical cloverleaf structure, except for tRNAThr, tRNALys, tRNASer(UCN), tRNAAsp, tRNAArg, tRNATyr, and tRNAMet. Like other freshwater bivalvia, C. plicata contained ATP8 gene, which might be related to the balance of osmotic pressure in the cytoplasm.

Doxorubicin-Loaded In Situ Gel Combined with Biocompatible Hydroxyethyl Cellulose Hemostatic Gauze for Controlled Release of Drugs and Prevention of Breast Cancer Recurrence Postsurgery.

Biodegradable hemostatic gauze used for surgical hemostasis has attracted great interest due to its excellent compliance and local anti-inflammatory and therapeutic effects when combined with drugs. Herein, we demonstrate the successful fabrication of water-soluble absorbed cellulose hemostatic material by introducing a biocompatible hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) hemostasis gauze into doxorubicin-loaded in situ gel (GEL(DOX)) for the prevention of breast cancer recurrence after surgical tumor resection. The present results show that HEC has a shorter metabolic period, no anaphylaxis and peripheral nerve toxicity, and possesses more advantages than oxidative regenerated cellulose hemostasis gauze, a commercially available product in market. HEC is of the physical hemostasis in mechanism, which does not induce physiological hemostasis and hemolysis. In addition, the combination of HEC with GEL(DOX) not only stops the bleeding efficiently, but also effectively reduces the proliferation of tumor with no cardiac toxic and bone marrow suppression. After treatment, the tumor inhibition rate is up to 90%, resulting in prolonged survival time to 58 days. In conclusion, HEC hemostatic gauze has a broad prospect in clinical application due to its perfect biocompatibility, and we envision that it is a new strategy for the prevention of breast cancer to implant HEC hemostatic gauze containing GEL(DOX) at the postoperative site after surgery.

Effect of fire needle therapy on mild-moderate benign prostatic hyperplasia: Protocol for a randomized controlled pilot trial.

BACKGROUND: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is the most common non-cancerous disease of the prostate and leads to lower urinary tract symptoms in middle-aged and elderly males. Fire needle therapy could improve the lower urinary tract symptoms associated with mild-moderate BPH in clinical practice. The aim of the present pilot study is to assess the preliminary effects of fire needle therapy on mild-moderate BPH. METHODS: The present study is a prospective parallel randomized controlled pilot trial. A total of 60 eligible participants will be randomly assigned to a treatment or control group at a 1:1 ratio. The treatment group will receive fire needle therapy and the control group will receive watchful waiting with lifestyle advice and education regarding BPH. Participants will receive intervention for 4 weeks, with a follow-up period of 4 additional weeks. Adverse events will be recorded to assess the safety and tolerability of fire needle therapy for mild-moderate BPH. The primary outcome will be the change in the International Prostate Symptom Score. The secondary outcomes will include the change in the mean number of nightly urinations, the maximum urinary flow rate, the average flow rate, and the prostate volume as measured by a B-mode ultrasound device. All outcome measures will be observed at baseline and at 4 and 8 weeks following the beginning of treatment. DISCUSSION: The present study will provide evidence of the preliminary effects of fire needle therapy on mild-moderate BPH and indicate an optimal sample size for future studies.

Effects of moxibustion on symptoms of mild cognitive impairment: protocol of a systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is considered the intermediate phase between normal age-related cognitive decline and dementia. Moxibustion has gained increased popularity for the management of MCI in China.This study aimed to evaluate the effects and safety of moxibustion on symptoms of MCI. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Four English databases and six Chinese databases will be searched from their inception to October 2019: Embase, MEDLINE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Allied and Complementary Medicine Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chongqing VIP Chinese Science and Technology Periodical Database, Wanfang Database, SinoMed, China Doctoral Dissertations Full-text Database and the China Master's Theses Full-text Database. Only clinical randomised controlled trials and the first period in randomised cross-over trial related to moxibustion for MCI will be included. The primary outcomes include the improvement of cognitive function, as measured by validated assessment tools. The secondary outcomes include changes in the activity of daily living scale, effective rate and the incidences of adverse events. The selection of studies, data extraction and risk of bias assessment will be carried out by two independent reviewers. Review Manager V.5.3 software will be used for statistical analyses. Heterogeneity test, data synthesis and subgroup analysis will be performed if necessary. The risk of bias of included studies will be assessed by the Cochrane Handbook risk of bias tool. Evidence quality will be evaluated using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation system. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethics approval is not required as no private information from individuals are collected. The results will be published in a peer-reviewed journal or disseminated in relevant conferences. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42018112657.

Down-regulation of GhADF1 gene expression affects cotton fibre properties.

Cotton fibre is the most important natural fibres for textile industry. To date, the mechanism that governs the development of fibre traits is largely unknown. In this study, we have characterized the function of a member of the actin depolymerizing factor (ADF) family in Gossypium hirsutum by down-regulation of the gene (designated as GhADF1) expression in the transgenic cotton plants. We observed that both the fibre length and strength of the GhADF1-underexpressing plants increased as compared to the wild-type fibre, and transgenic fibres contained more abundant F-actin filaments in the cortical region of the cells. Moreover, the secondary cell wall of the transgenic fibre appeared thicker and the cellulose content was higher than that of the control fibre. Our results suggest that organization of actin cytoskeleton regulated by actin-associated proteins such as GhADF1 plays a critical role in the processes of elongation and secondary cell wall formation during fibre development. Additionally, our study provided a candidate intrinsic gene for the improvement of fibre traits via genetic engineering.

Caudatin potentiates the anti-tumor effects of TRAIL against human breast cancer by upregulating DR5.

BACKGROUND: The ability of tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) to preferentially induce apoptosis in transformed cells while sparing most normal cells is well established. However, the intrinsic and acquired resistance of tumors to TRAIL-induced apoptosis limits its therapeutic applicability. PURPOSE: We investigated the effect of caudatin, a species of C-21 steroidal glycosides isolated from the roots of Cynanchum auriculatum, on TRAIL-induced apoptosis in human breast cancer cells. METHODS: Cell growth inhibition was evaluated by the CCK-8 assay. The cell cycle distribution was assessed by propidium iodide flow cytometry. Apoptosis was determined by TUNEL staining. Protein expression was detected by western blotting analysis. RESULTS: Caudatin enhanced TRAIL-induced apoptosis in human breast cancer cells. This sensitization was achieved by upregulating death receptor 5 (DR5). Knockdown of DR5 abolished the enhancing effect of caudatin on TRAIL responses. The caudatin-induced upregulation of DR5 was accompanied by increased expression of CHOP and phosphorylation of p38 MAPK and JNK. CHOP knockdown blocked caudatin-upregulated DR5 expression. Moreover, cotreatment of breast cancer cells with p38 MAPK and JNK inhibitors significantly counteracted the caudatin-induced expression of DR5. CONCLUSION: Our results showed that caudatin sensitized breast cancer cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis through activation of CHOP, p38 MAPK and JNK-mediated upregulation of DR5 expression. The combination of TRAIL and caudatin may be a promising therapeutic approach for the treatment of breast cancer.

SsTypA1, a chloroplast-specific TypA/BipA-type GTPase from the halophytic plant Suaeda salsa, plays a role in oxidative stress tolerance.

Suaeda salsa is a leaf-succulent euhalophytic plant capable of surviving under seawater salinity. Here, we report the isolation and functional analysis of a novel Suaeda gene (designated as SsTypA1) encoding a member of the TypA/BipA GTPase gene family. The steady-state transcript level of SsTypA1 in S. salsa was up-regulated in response to various external stressors. Expression of SsTypA1 was restricted to the epidermal layers of the leaf and stem in S. salsa, and SsTypA1-green fluorescence protein (GFP) fusion proteins were targeted to the chloroplasts of tobacco leaves. Ectopic over-expression of SsTypA1 rendered the transgenic tobacco plants with significantly increased tolerance to oxidative stress, and this was accompanied by a reduction in H(2)O(2) content. Enzymatic and Western blot analyses revealed that the activity and amount of the thylakoid-bound NAD(P)H dehydrogenase (NDH) complex in the chloroplasts of leaf cells were enhanced. Additionally, an in vitro assay demonstrated that SsTypA1 bound to GTP and possessed GTPase activity that was stimulated by the presence of chloroplast 70S ribosomes. Together, these results suggest that SsTypA1 may play a critical role in the development of oxidative stress tolerance, perhaps as a translational regulator of the stress-responsive proteins involved in reactive oxygen species (ROS) suppression in chloroplast.

Co-expression and preferential interaction between two calcineurin B-like proteins and a CBL-interacting protein kinase from cotton.

The CBL/CIPK signaling system mediates a variety of responses to environmental stimuli in plants. In this work, we identified four CBL genes from Gossypium hirsutum, two of which (designated GhCBL2 and GhCBL3) showed preferential expression in the elongating fiber cells. Moreover, the expression patterns of these two CBL genes coincided with that of a putative CBL-interacting protein kinase gene (GhCIPK1) that we isolated in a previous study. Yeast two-hybrid assay indicated that among the four CBLs, GhCIPK1 interacted selectively with GhCBL2 and GhCBL3. The co-expression and interactions of these proteins suggest that they are components of the same signaling pathway. These findings strengthen our previous prediction that CBL/CIPK signaling plays a critical role in the regulation of cotton fiber elongation.

[Progress in the study of the chemical synapse in glioma-associated epileptogenesis].

Seizures may be the first or sometimes the only manifestation of patients with glioma in clinics. The aim of operation is to eliminate epilepsy far beyond mere resection of tumor mass. The underlying mechanisms of glioma-associated epileptogenesis are poorly understood. Recently the theory of amino-acid like neurotransmitters in chemical synapse is gradually accepted. However, the molecular mechanisms remain to be further investigated on how glutamate release is regulated and how synaptic homeostasis in peripheral neurons is kept or disturbed. So detailed studies are needed to clarify specific molecular target and provide proper evidence for optimal antiepileptic drugs in glioma-associated epileptogenesis.

[Impact of patient compliance on the outcomes in hypertensive patients receiving hydrochlorothiazide based combination therapy with spironolactone or captopril].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the impact of patient compliance on the long-term outcomes in hypertensive patients receiving hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) based combination therapy with spironolactone or captopril. METHODS: A total of 853 patients with mild to moderate hypertension were recruited and randomly divided into HCTZ group (HCTZ 12.5 mg q.d), spironolactone group (HCTZ 12.5 mg q.d and spironolactone 20 mg q.d), and captopril group (HCTZ 12.5 mg q.d and captopril 25 mg bid) after 2-week placebo washout period and 6-week loading period for HCTZ. Since the efficacy of combination therapy was proven to be better than monotherapy 1 year after therapy beginning, patients in HCTZ group were randomly assigned to spironolactone group or captopril group. The patients were followed up for 4 years. Patients were divided to compliance (n = 424) or non-compliance group (n = 429) according test drug taking questionnaire. During the follow-up time, the blood pressure and the outcomes were recorded monthly, and blood biochemical parameters were determined once a year. RESULTS: At the end of follow up, incidence of cardio-cerebral vascular events was significantly lower in compliance group (2 fatal, 8 non-fatal) than that in noncompliance group (7 fatal, 21 non-fatal, P < 0.05). Systolic blood pressure [-(19.4 +/- 20.6) mm Hg, 1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa] and diastolic blood pressure [-(10.7 +/- 13.5) mm Hg] were significantly reduced compared values at baseline and noncompliance group (all P < 0.001) while the reduction did not reach statistically significance in noncompliance group [-(7.3 +/- 18.2) mm Hg and -(3.5 +/- 10.2) mm Hg, all P > 0.05 vs. baseline]. The serum BUN, Cr and UA levels in the compliance group were significantly higher and the serum K(+), CHO, LDL-C level were significantly lower than baseline values. The serum BUN, UA levels in the compliance group were significantly higher while the serum K(+), cholesterol levels were significantly lower than those in the noncompliance group (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that patient compliance could affect the long-term outcome and antihypertensive efficacy in hypertensive patients receiving HCTZ based combination therapy with spironolactone or captopril.