A site-resolved two-dimensional quantum simulator with hundreds of trapped ions.

A large qubit capacity and an individual readout capability are two crucial requirements for large-scale quantum computing and simulation1. As one of the leading physical platforms for quantum information processing, the ion trap has achieved a quantum simulation of tens of ions with site-resolved readout in a one-dimensional Paul trap2-4 and of hundreds of ions with global observables in a two-dimensional (2D) Penning trap5,6. However, integrating these two features into a single system is still very challenging. Here we report the stable trapping of 512 ions in a 2D Wigner crystal and the sideband cooling of their transverse motion. We demonstrate the quantum simulation of long-range quantum Ising models with tunable coupling strengths and patterns, with or without frustration, using 300 ions. Enabled by the site resolution in the single-shot measurement, we observe rich spatial correlation patterns in the quasi-adiabatically prepared ground states, which allows us to verify quantum simulation results by comparing the measured two-spin correlations with the calculated collective phonon modes and with classical simulated annealing. We further probe the quench dynamics of the Ising model in a transverse field to demonstrate quantum sampling tasks. Our work paves the way for simulating classically intractable quantum dynamics and for running noisy intermediate-scale quantum algorithms7,8 using 2D ion trap quantum simulators.

Direct and size-mediated effects of temperature and ration-dependent growth rates on energy reserves in juvenile anadromous alewives (Alosa pseudoharengus).

Growth rate and energy reserves are important determinants of fitness and are governed by endogenous and exogenous factors. Thus, examining the influence of individual and multiple stressors on growth and energy reserves can help estimate population health under current and future conditions. In young anadromous fishes, freshwater habitat quality determines physiological state and fitness of juveniles emigrating to marine habitats. In this study, the authors tested how temperature and food availability affect survival, growth and energy reserves in juvenile anadromous alewives (Alosa pseudoharengus), a forage fish distributed along the eastern North American continent. Field-collected juvenile anadromous A. pseudoharengus were exposed for 21 days to one of two temperatures (21°C and 25°C) and one of two levels of food rations (1% or 2% tank biomass daily) and compared for differences in final size, fat mass-at-length, lean mass-at-length and energy density. Increased temperature and reduced ration both led to lower growth rates, and the effect of reduced ration was greater at higher temperature. Fat mass-at-length decreased with dry mass, and energy density increased with total length, suggesting size-based endogenous influences on energy reserves. Lower ration also directly decreased fat mass-at-length, lean mass-at-length and energy density. Given the fitness implications of size and energy reserves, temperature and food availability should be considered important indicators of nursery habitat quality and incorporated in A. pseudoharengus life-history models to improve forecasting of population health under climate change.

Experimental Realization of Robust Geometric Quantum Gates with Solid-State Spins.

We experimentally realize a universal set of single-bit and two-bit geometric quantum gates by adiabatically controlling solid-state spins in a diamond defect. Compared with the nonadiabatic approach, the adiabatic scheme for geometric quantum computation offers a unique advantage of inherent robustness to parameter variations, which is explicitly demonstrated in our experiment by showing that the single-bit gates remain unchanged when the driving field amplitude varies by a factor of 2 or the detuning fluctuates in a range comparable to the inverse of the gate time. The reported adiabatic control technique and its convenient implementation offer a paradigm for achieving quantum computation through robust geometric quantum gates, which is important for quantum information systems with parameter-fluctuation noise such as those from the inhomogeneous coupling or the spectral diffusion.

Analysis of bromocriptine treatment in pregnant pituitary prolactinoma patients.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the therapeutic effects and duration of bromocriptine treatment during pregnancy in patients with pituitary prolactinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of the clinical data of 230 female pituitary prolactinoma patients at the Beijing Union Medical College Hospital neurosurgery clinic from January 2001 to May 2014 was conducted. When confirmed pregnant, patients in the control group immediately stopped taking bromocriptine, but patients in the treatment group continued to take the same dose of bromocriptine. RESULTS: The embryos stop rate in the control group was 16.7%, significantly higher than the rate in the natural population (p < 0.05), while the rate in the treatment group (0.9%) not statistically different from that of the natural population (p > 0.05). There was no significant difference in the embryonic malformation rate between the two study groups compared to the normal pregnancy group (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Pregnant pituitary prolactinoma patients should not stop bromocriptine treatment, but should instead continue with the same dose for four months. For patients with macroadenoma, bromocriptine should be taken during the entire pregnancy. Blood prolactin, progesterone, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), and visual dysfunction should be monitored every two weeks during treatment. Patients should be treated with progesterone and hCG if the blood levels become too low. If regular monitoring shows that prolactin has increased too fast and/or visual dysfunction worsened, the dose of bromocriptine should be in- creased. The authors have found that bromocriptine treatment during pregnancy significantly reduces the embryo stop rate without in- creasing the embryo deformity rate; therefore, bromocriptine treatment is safe and necessary during pregnancy of pituitary prolactinoma patients.

Neuropeptide Y mediates glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis and marrow adiposity in mice.

UNLABELLED: Increased neuropeptide Y (NPY) expression occurred in the glucocorticoid-induced osteoporotic skeleton. NPY knockout mice exhibited a minor response to the glucocorticoid-mediated exacerbation of bone accretion and fatty marrow pathogenesis. NPY deletion restored SITR1 signaling and enhanced PPARγ ubiquitination of bone tissue, an alternative strategy for ameliorating glucocorticoid-induced skeletal deterioration. INTRODUCTION: Glucocorticoid excess is observed to worsen the pathogenesis of osteoporosis and fatty marrow. This study was undertaken to investigate the contribution of neuropeptide Y (NPY) to glucocorticoid-induced bone loss and marrow adiposity. METHODS: NPY knockout and wild-type mice were administered methylprednisolone for four consecutive weeks. Bone mineral density, microarchitecture, and calcein-labeled mineral acquisition were quantified by µCT, dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, and histomorphometry. Expression of osteogenic and adipogenic markers and acetylation states of PPARγ were detected by RT-quantitative PCR, immunoprecipitation, and immunoblotting. RESULTS: High NPY levels were associated with glucocorticoid-induced trabecular bone deterioration and marrow fat accumulation. Mice lacking NPY had high bone mass concomitant with spacious trabecular and cortical bone microstructure. NPY deletion shielded skeletal tissues from the glucocorticoid-induced impediment of bone mass, trabecular morphometric characteristics, mineral accretion activity, and fatty marrow development. Ex vivo, NPY deficiency sustained osteogenic differentiation capacity and curtailed the glucocorticoid-mediated escalation of adipocyte formation reactions of primary bone-marrow mesenchymal cells. NPY deletion appeared to modulate Y1 and Y2 receptors, sirtuin 1, ERK, and p38 signaling pathways, an effect that facilitated hypoacetylation and ubiquitination of adipogenic transcription factor PPARγ in the skeletal tissues exposed to glucocorticoid stress. CONCLUSIONS: NPY mediates the glucocorticoid-induced disturbance of mineral accretion and marrow adipogenesis through post-translational modification of PPARγ. This study brings a new molecular insight into the disintegration of adipogenic and osteogenic activities within glucocorticoid-mediated osteoporotic skeletons. Control of NPY is an alternative strategy to ameliorate glucocorticoid-induced bone destruction and fatty marrow.

[The surgery of thyrotropin-secreting pituitary adenomas and the significance of thyroid stimulating hormone level in follow-up].

Objective: To explore the clinical characteristics of thyrotropin-secreting pituitary adenomas and the effect of the transsphenoidal approach of procedure with/without drug treatment for thyrotropin-secreting pituitary adenomas, and to investigate the correlation between the prognosis of thyrotropin-secreting pituitary adenomas and the postoperative level of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). Methods: A total of 45 patients with thyrotropin-secreting pituitary adenoma who hospitalized in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from 2000 to 2015 were enrolled in the study.We collected the clinical features, hormone levels, imaging findings, treatment and follow-up data of these patients. Results: The average age of the patients was 40.26 years old and the average disease duration was 5.83 years.Among them, 8 cases were microadenomas and 37 cases were macroadenoma.Thirty patients were treated with somatostatin analogues before surgery.TSH level was significantly decreased after operation (P=0.012). All of them had done the pituitary surgery, including 44 transsphenoidal surgery and 1 subfrontal surgery that had recurrence one year after the transsphenoidal surgery.The TSH level of 34 cases went back to normal on the third day after surgery.The remission rates on three months and one year after surgery in patients with TSH level<0.1 mIU/L on postoperative day (POD) 3 were significantly higher than those in patients with TSH level>0.1 mIU/L on POD3.As well as the remission rates on three months and one year after surgery in patients with TSH level normal on postoperative one month were significantly higher than those in patients with TSH level abnormal on postoperative one month. Conclusions: TSH level of postoperative one month could be used to predict prognosis and monitor recurrence.

[Analysis of curative effect of surgical therapy for male prolactinoma].

OBJECTIVE: To summarize the treatment outcome of surgery for male prolactinoma. METHODS: One hundred and eighty-four cases of male prolactinoma who underwent surgery were analyzed retrospectively.The average age of patients was 36.3 years, and the mean course was 41.9 months.The main clinical manifestation included sexual dysfunction (47.4%), headache (55.9%) and visual disturbance (46.7%). The serum prolactin levels ranged from 6.83 to 9 325.32 nmol/L.The size of tumors varied from 6 mm to 70 mm.Suprasellar adenoma with visual deficits accounted for 40.7%. 98.9% patients underwent pituitary adenoma resection via single nasal transsphenoidal approach. RESULTS: Postoperative pathological Ki-67 index of most patients (45.1%) were less than 1%.After surgical therapy, 163 patients (88.6%) got relief of symptoms, 57 patients (31.0%) achieved initial remission, and 26 patients (45.6%) unfortunately recurred. The possibility of gross resection decreased as tumor size increased (P<0.05). Preoperative PRL had no significant relation with both tumor size and extent of resection (P>0.05). The favorable prognosis predictive factors included microadenoma, intrasellar adenoma and Ki-67 index≤3 (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Male prolactinomas is an invasive tumor with higher serum prolactin level.Tumor size could predict degree of gross resection while predictors for recurrence include tumor size, growth pattern and Ki-67 index.

[Surgical treatment of pituitary adenomas in childhood and adolescence].

Objective: To investigate the clinical characteristics and treatment of pituitary adenomas of childhood and adolescence. Methods: Thisarticle was a retrospective study of 140 pituitary adenomas of childhood and adolescence that was admitted into Peking Union Medical College Hospital from December 1987 to December 2014, whose clinical manifestations, hormone secretions, images, pathological types, surgical complications and follow-ups were studied. Results: A total of 58 (41.4%) males and 82 females (58.6%) were included, whose mean age was 12.5 years old (age range from 7 to 18). As for the type of tumors, ACTH adenoma, PRL adenoma, GH adenoma, non-functional adenoma and multiple-secreting adenoma accounted for 35.7%, 25.7%, 12.2%, 25.7% and 0.7%, respectively. Microadenoma accounted for 33.6% of total patients, while macroadenoma and giant adenoma accounted for 60.0% and 6.4% respectively. 19.3% of adenomas in our study wereinvasive. Transsphenoidal approach surgery was commonly used and accounted for 97.9% of cases in our study, 2 of which used intraoperative navigation assistance. Total resection was achieved in 93.6% of patients, and the rest achieved subtotal resection. 108 (77.1%) patients got full term follow-up until 1 year after surgery, and tumor recurred in 14 patients (13.0%). Conclusions: ACTH-secreting adenoma is the most common pituitary adenoma in childhood and adolescence which need surgical treatment. Transsphenoidal approach surgery is the most commonly used surgical procedure. The recurrence rate is about 13%, and the patients need regular examination of pituitary hormones and image study to confirm the recurrence.

[Analysis of outcomes and learning curve of endoscopic transsphenoidal surgeries for 124 patients with pituitary adenomas].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the outcomes of the Endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery for patients with pituitary adenomas, analyze the learning curve and provide reference for future surgeries. METHODS: Retrospective analysis was carried out on 124 patients by endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery with a single neurosurgeon over a period spanning from January 2010 to January 2014 at Peking Union Medical College Hospital.The changes of endocrine and tumor imaging before and after surgery were analysed. Operative time and complication rates of one surgeon in the early period of learning curve were compared with that in later period. RESULTS: There were significant differences in Gross total resection (GTR) rate of pituitary adenomas with different sizes and different Knosp classifications (P<0.01, P<0.01). GTR rate of huge adenomas was significantly lower than that of macroadenoma and adenomas (P<0.05). GTR rate of Knosp 4 grade adenoma was significantly lower than that of Knosp 0-3 level (P<0.05). No significant difference in GTR among all types of functional pituitary adenomas and hormone levels after surgery was observed (P>0.05). In addition, no significant difference (P>0.05) in complications among different sizes, Knosp grade and type of pituitary adenomas was observed.GTR of Knosp 4 adenoma in later period of the learning curve was significantly higher than that in early period (P<0.05). Meanwhile the operative time was significantly lower than early period (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic transsphenoidal pituitary adenoma resection has the advantages of wider surgical field, higher GTR rate, less trauma, fewer complications and better life quality of patients.Through standardized learning, the GTR rate of the invasive pituitary adenomas can be improved.

[The value and comparison of plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone and urinary free cortisol in predicting long-term outcome after operation of Cushing's disease].

Objective: To study and the value of morning plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and urinary free cortisol (24 h UFC) within 3 days after operation in patients with Cushing's disease in predicting the long-term outcome. Methods: The clinical data of 140 patients with Cushing's disease who were treated in Department of Neurosurgery of PUMCH from 2012 to 2014 were analyzed retrospectively.The univariate analysis, multivariate Logistic analysis, ROC curve analysis and other statistical methods were used to study the predicting value of morning plasma ACTH and 24 h UFC in 3 days post operation. Results: Univariate analysis showed that in the two groups of the early remission and no remission, there was significant statistical difference between the preoperative ACTH, preoperative 24 h UFC, postoperative ACTH and postoperative 24 h UFC (P<0.05, <0.01, <0.01). Logistic analysis showed that ACTH and 24 h UFC after operation of two groups had significant difference (P<0.01, <0.05). ROC curve analysis showed that postoperative cutoff values of ACTH and 24 h UFC were 4.11 pmol/L (18.7 pg/ml) and 281.42 nmol (102 µg)/24 h. ROC analysis was performed to evaluate the predicting performance of postoperative ACTH, resulting in an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.917 (95%CI: 0.858-0.957, P<0.01). In comparison, 24 h UFC had an AUC of 0.814 (95%CI: 0.739-0.875, P<0.01). The predicting value of ACTH is significantly better than that of 24 h UFC (P=0.005). Conclusion: Early morning 24 h UFC and ACTH within 3 days after operation both showed considerable accuracy in predicting the long-term outcome of Cushing's disease, and the significance of ACTH was even greater than that of 24 h UFC.

[Use early morning serum cortisollevel to evaluate the effect of Cushing's disease after transsphenoidal surgery].

OBJECTIVE: To predict the therapeutic effect of Cushing's disease after transsphenoidal surgery by using morning serum cortisol level. METHODS: The clinical data of 275 cases that had transsphenoidal surgery in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from 2010 to 2014 were analyzed retrospectively.Early morning serum cortisol level less than 140 nmol/L 3 days postoperation was usedto predict endocrinological remission. And long-term efficacy was evaluated by follow-up. RESULTS: Of the 275 patients, there were 49 males and 226 females; average age was 36.5 years old.Remission wasconfirmed in 201 cases, the remission rate was 73.1%, and 8 cases recurrent duringfollow-up.There were 17 macroadenomas, theremission rate was 47.1%; 258 microadenomas and MRI negative adenomas, the remission rate was 74.8%.And 43 recurrent cases had reoperations; the remission rate was 46.5%. CONCLUSION: Early morningserum cortisol 3 days post operation can evaluate the effectof transsphenoidal surgery, but even if the level of cortisol is less than 140 nmol/L, there is still tumor recurrence.Patients should be follow-up for a lifetime.

Cytomegalovirus Infection and Alzheimer's Disease: A Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Evidence on the association of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection with Alzheimer's disease (AD) is scarce and the results are inconsistent. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association of CMV infection with the risk of AD. METHODS: Observational studies on the relationship between CMV infection and AD were identified from PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library until September 30, 2022. The quality of included studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Random-effect meta-analysis was performed using a generic inverse-variance method, followed by sensitivity analyses and subgroup analyses based on study designs, regions, adjustments, and population types. RESULTS: Our search yielded 870 articles, of which 200 were duplicates and 663 did not meet the inclusion criteria, and finally yielded seven studies with 6,772 participants. No strong evidence was observed in the summary analysis for the association of CMV infection and risk of AD (odds ratio [OR] = 1.33; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.88, 2.03, I2 =69.9%). However, subgroup analysis showed that an increased risk of AD was detected in East Asians (OR = 2.39; 95% CI: 1.63, 3.50, I2 = 0.00%), cohort studies (OR = 1.99; 95% CI: 1.35, 2.94, I2 = 28.20%), and studies with confounder adjustment (OR = 2.05; 95% CI: 1.52, 2.77, I2 = 0.00%). CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis provides evidence to support the heterogeneity of the associations between CMV infection and AD. Future studies with larger sample sizes and multi-ethnic populations are necessary.

Metabolic syndrome in normoglycaemic elderly men.

OBJECTIVE: Type-2 diabetes is mainly the metabolic defect involving multiple organs. To conclude their intricate relationships, the term 'ominous octet' had been proposed to denote this phenomenon. In this study, we enrolled older men without any medications for MetS components to further elucidate the relationships between normoglycaemic state and MetS. METHODS: We enrolled male subjects with FPG less than 100 mg/dl and aged 65 and older undergoing routine health check-ups in Taiwan. After excluding subjects taking medications that might affect the components of MetS, a total of 6679 men were eligible for the analysis. Study subjects were further grouped into FPG tertiles (< 91 mg/dl, 92-95 mg/dl and > 95 mg/dl for tertil 1, tertil 2 and tertil 3, respectively). RESULTS: There was a significant trend between the FPG and percentages of subjects having MetS (p = 0.009). The relationships between the MetS components were higher in FPG 2 and FPG 3 than FPG 1. In simple correlation, all of the MetS and LDL-C were positively correlated with FPG level and multiple regression further confirmed the same result except for HDL-C that became non-significant. Subjects in FPG3 had significantly higher ORs (ORs = 1.19) for having MetS than those in FPG1. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, higher FPG still had higher risk of having MetS in normoglycaemic range in elderly male. More strict FPG level control may be valuable in CVD prevention and warrants further investigations.

Effects of early-cleavage embryo transfer on in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer pregnancy outcomes.

PURPOSE: To observe the effects of early-cleavage embryo transfer (ET) on pregnancy outcomes in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The data of 6,548 two pro-nucleate (2PN) embryos and 968 patients who underwent IVF or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) were analyzed. Of the 968 cycles, early-cleavage embryos were used in 432 cycles (early-cleavage group), late-cleavage embryos were used in 246 cycles (late-cleavage group), and both early and late-cleavage embryos were used in 290 cycles (mixed group). RESULTS: High-quality embryo rate was significantly higher in early-cleavage group than in late-cleavage group (82.74% vs 59.83%; p < 0.01). Both clinical pregnancy and implantation rates in IVF or ICSI were significantly higher in early-cleavage group than in late-cleavage group (all p < 0.01). In ICSI, both clinical pregnancy and implantation rates were significantly higher in mixed group than in late-cleavage group (all p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Early-cleavage ET can improve pregnancy outcomes in IVF or ICSI.

Identification of supraoptimal temperatures in juvenile blueback herring (Alosa aestivalis) using survival, growth rate and scaled energy reserves.

For young fishes, growth of somatic tissues and energy reserves are critical steps for survival and progressing to subsequent life stages. When thermal regimes become supraoptimal, routine metabolic rates increase and leave less energy for young fish to maintain fitness-based activities and, in the case of anadromous fishes, less energy to prepare for emigration to coastal habitats. Thus, understanding how energy allocation strategies are affected by thermal regimes in young anadromous fish will help to inform climate-ready management of vulnerable species and their habitat. Blueback herring (Alosa aestivalis) are an anadromous fish species that remain at historically low population levels and are undergoing southern edge-range contraction, possibly due to climate change. We examined the effects of temperature (21°C, 24°C, 27°C, 30°C, 33°C) on survival, growth rate and energy reserves of juveniles collected from the mid-geographic range of the species. We identified a strong negative relationship between temperature and growth rate, resulting in smaller juveniles at high temperatures. We observed reduced survival at both 21°C and 33°C, increased fat and lean mass-at-length at high temperatures, but no difference in energy density. Juveniles were both smaller and contained greater scaled energy reserves at higher temperatures, indicating growth in length is more sensitive to temperature than growth of energy reserves. Currently, mid-geographic range juvenile blueback herring populations may be well suited for local thermal regimes, but continued warming could decrease survival and growth rates. Blueback herring populations may benefit from mitigation actions that maximize juvenile energy resources by increasing the availability of cold refugia and food-rich habitats, as well as reducing other stressors such as hypoxic zones.

Molecular cloning of sheep and cashmere goat Pdia3 and localization in sheep testis.

Protein disulphide isomerase family A3 (PDIA3) is a member of the protein disulphide isomerase (PDI) family and is multifunctional in many processes. Recently, it has been confirmed as a sperm membrane component and is implicated in sperm-egg fusion under which the molecular mechanism is still obscure. Protein disulphide isomerase family A3 cDNA has been cloned in several mammals; however, goat and sheep counterparts have not been identified. To facilitate the studies on the potential function of PDIA3 protein in sperm-egg fusion in sheep and goat, we cloned the cDNA encoding for Pdia3 of sheep (Ovis aries) and cashmere goat (Capra hircus) and studied its transcript and protein localization in sheep testis. The cloned sheep and cashmere goat Pdia3 cDNA are 1660 bp and 1591 bp, respectively. Bioinformatics analysis showed that sheep and goat Pdia3 cDNA both have a coding region of 1518 bp with the same nucleotides encoding the same 505 amino acids. The predicted peptide, with two typical motifs of Trp-Cys-Gly-His-Cys-Lys (WCGHCK) which is a hallmark of the PDI family, has high homology to that of bovine (99.21%), human (95.05%), rat (89.50%) and mouse (90.89%). Protein disulphide isomerase family A3 protein was observed in cells of various stages of spermatogenesis, from the primary spermatocyte to spermatozoa phases, as well as in the Leydig cells. It was observed in the entire sheep spermatozoa and mostly at the equatorial segment and the forepart of the flagellum. The Pdia3 mRNA was detected over the seminiferous epithelium in all stages of spermatogenesis.

The decreased circular RNA hsa_circ_0072309 promotes cell apoptosis of ischemic stroke by sponging miR-100.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of circ_0072309 in patients with ischemic stroke (IS) and in LIFR humanized mice with middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Further, we explored the underlying mechanism of circ-0072309 in IS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The content of circ-0072309 in serum of patients with IS (n = 70) was measured by qRT-PCR, and the ROC curve was analyzed. LIFR humanized mice were used to measure the content of circ-0072309 in ischemic hemisphere by qRT-PCR and the protein expression of cleaved-caspase-3, cleaved-caspase-8 were detected by Western blot. After that, the expression of miR-100 in serum of patients with IS and in ischemic hemisphere of MCAO mice were detected, and then, we analyzed the correlation between the expression of circ-0072309 and miR-100. The binding sites between circ-0072309 and miR-100 were predicted by online database. We detected whether cric-0072309 bind to miR-100 by Dual-Luciferase report in bEnd2. In addition, bEnd2 was treated with oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) to simulate injury of cerebral vascular after cerebral ischemia. After treated with miR-100 mimic or miR-100-inhibitor, we detected the cell survival and rate of cell apoptosis, and the content of cleaved-caspase-3 and caspase-8 protein. The target mRNA of miR-100 was predicted by bioinformatics analysis and analyzed by Dual-Luciferase. After treating bEnd2 with circ-0072309 and miR-100 mimic, we analyzed the cell survival and apoptosis to identify the potential regulatory mechanism. RESULTS: The results of qRT-PCR showed that the expression of circ-0072309 was significantly decreased while the content of miR-100 was significantly increased in the serum of IS patients and in the ischemic hemisphere of MCAO mice. There was a negative correlation between the expression of circ-0072309 and miR-100. The results of Dual-Luciferase showed that circ-0072309 could directly bind to miR-100. After treating bEnd2 with OGD, miR-100-mimic caused a decrease rate of cell survival and an increased rate of apoptosis. Dual-Luciferase showed that miR-100 regulated cell survival and apoptosis by directly binding to mTOR. By comparing treated bEnd2 with circ-0072309, co-transfected bEnd2 with circ-0072309 and miR-100 reduced cell survival and increased apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS: According to these results, this study revealed that the circ_0072309-miR-100-mTOR regulatory axis could alleviate IS, and it may be a potential target for the treatment of IS.

Disassembly of DNA-ligand on mica surface: atomic force microscopy studies.

Disassembly of DNA-ligands, including DNA-methylene blue (MB) complex and DNA-Co(phen)(3) (3+) complex on mica surface, were investigated by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The disassembly of these complexes occurred after they were immersed in ultra-pure water. AFM results showed that the disassembly depended strongly on bridge ions that were used to immobilize the complex onto mica surface, DNA species and ligands. When Mg(2+) was used as the bridge ion, the DNA-MB complex was completely disassembled because of the weak interactions between Mg(2+) and DNA's bases or mica surface. Although if Co(2+) was used as the bridge ion, the disassembly of the DNA-MB complex mainly depended on the species and shape of DNA. For plasmid DNA pBR 322, plasmid DNA pUC 18 and the linear DNA pBR 322/PstI, the degree of disassembly was gradually increased. Whereas if Co(phen)(3) (3+) was chosen as the ligand, the disassembly of the DNA-Co(phen)(3) (3+) complex was almost blocked because Co(phen)(3) (3+) could hardly diffuse into the ultra-pure water. This obtained information may be useful for practical application of the AFM imaging of biological molecules, especially in liquid.

Response of AMP-activated protein kinase and lactate metabolism of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) under acute hypoxic stress.

To study adaptation of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) to hypoxic stress, we investigated physiological responses and lactate metabolism of the fish under acute hypoxia. The objectives of this study were to (a) observe changes in glucose, glycogen, and lactate content; (b) detect the activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in serum, brain, heart, and liver tissues; and (c) quantify the dynamic gene expression of AMP activated protein kinase alpha (AMPKα), hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α), monocarboxylate transporter 1 (MCT1), monocarboxylate transporter 4 (MCT4), and lactate dehydrogenase-a (LDHa) following exposure to hypoxia. The fish were subjected to two hypoxia stresses (dissolved oxygen [DO] 1.20 ±â€¯0.2 mg/L and 3.50 ±â€¯0.3 mg/L, respectively) for 24 h. Our results showed that hypoxic stress significantly increased the decomposition of liver glycogen and significantly increased the concentration of blood glucose; however, the muscle glycogen content was not significantly decreased, which indicates that liver glycogen was the main energy source under acute hypoxia. Moreover, hypoxia led to accumulation of a large amount of lactic acid in tissues, possibly due to the activity of lactic acid dehydrogenase, but this process was delayed in the heart and brain relative to the liver. Additionally, hypoxia induced the expression of AMPKα, HIF-1α, MCT1, MCT4, and LDHa, suggesting that glycometabolism had switched from aerobic to anaerobic. Our results contribute to a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms of the response to hypoxia in largemouth bass.