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Background: Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a serious vascular disease for which there is no effective drug treatment. The incidence of AAA increases significantly as a subject ages, and the molecular mechanism of AAA formation remains elusive. In the present study, we investigated the role of syndecan-4 (SDC4), an important component of focal adhesions, in AAA formation and its association with phenotypic changes in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Methods and Results: The protein expression levels of SDC4 were significantly decreased in human AAA tissue and those of an AAA mouse model. Moreover, SDC4 knockout (KO) in mice accelerated the formation and rupture of AAAs induced by angiotensin II (Ang II) and calcium chloride (CaCl2) Mechanistically, the decrease in SDC4 led to the transformation of cultured VSMCs from a contractile to a secretory phenotype. The RhoA-F/G-actinmyocardin-related transcription factor-A (MRTF-A) signalling pathway was shown to be involved in SDC4-dependent VSMC alteration. Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), a G-protein-coupled receptor, attenuated the AAA formation in SDC4-KO and wild-type (WT) mice in response to Ang II and CaCl2 stimulation. Conclusion: We herein demonstrated that silencing SDC4 was associated with increased AAA formation and phenotypic changes in VSMCs via the RhoAF/G-actin-MRTF-A pathway. These findings indicated that a reduction in SDC4 expression was an important pathological alteration and potential therapeutic target for AAA formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: External root resorption, commonly starting from cementum, is a severe side effect of orthodontic treatment. In this pathological process and repairing course followed, cementoblasts play a significant role. Previous studies implicated that parathyroid hormone (PTH) could act on committed osteoblast precursors to promote differentiation, and inhibit apoptosis. But little was known about the role of PTH in cementoblasts. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of intermittent PTH on cementoblasts and its influence after mechanical strain treatment. Results: Higher levels of cementogenesis- and differentiation-related biomarkers (bone sialoprotein (BSP), osteocalcin (OCN), Collagen type I (COL1) and Osterix (Osx)) were shown in 1-3 cycles of intermittent PTH treated groups than the control group. Additionally, intermittent PTH increased alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and mineralized nodules formation, as measured by ALP staining, quantitative ALP assay, Alizarin red S staining and quantitative calcium assay. The morphology of OCCM-30 cells changed after mechanical strain exertion. Expression of BSP, ALP, OCN, osteopontin (OPN) and Osx was restrained after 18 h mechanical strain. Furthermore, intermittent PTH significantly increased the expression of cementogenesis- and differentiation-related biomarkers in mechanical strain treated OCCM-30 cells. Conclusions: Taken together, these data suggested that intermittent PTH promoted cementum formation through activating cementogenesis- and differentiation-related biomarkers, and attenuated the catabolic effects of mechanical strain in immortalized cementoblasts OCCM-30. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Howto satisfy customers' heterogeneous demands by limitedmodels of product is the key problem in anATO(Assemble-to-Order) manufacturer's operations management. Based on the condition that customers' demands depend on their types which follow uniform distribution, we develop an inventory model to study how an ATO manufacturer selects the products from the candidate products in a same product family and determines components replenishment quantities, in order to maximize its profit. We get the optimal set of products which an ATO manufacturer should assemble, as well as the components replenishment quantities through theoretical, numerical, and case analyses. Furthermore, we propose an algorithm to obtain the optimal solution on the set of products and the components replenishment quantities. We found that an ATO manufacturer should make the performance and qualities of products over a certain level, and determine the optimal selling duration of products according to their selling prices and qualities, as well as the purchase prices and holding costs of their components. This paper offers consultation for ATO manufacturers to make policies on product selection and components replenishment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cells are constantly exposed to various mechanical environments; therefore, it is important that they are able to sense and adapt to changes. It is known that the cytoskeleton plays a critical role in mediating and generating extra- and intracellular forces and that mitochondrial dynamics are crucial for maintaining energy homeostasis. Nevertheless, the mechanisms by which cells integrate mechanosensing, mechanotransduction, and metabolic reprogramming remain poorly understood. In this review, we first discuss the interaction between mitochondrial dynamics and cytoskeletal components, followed by the annotation of membranous organelles intimately related to mitochondrial dynamic events. Finally, we discuss the evidence supporting the participation of mitochondria in mechanotransduction and corresponding alterations in cellular energy conditions. Notable advances in bioenergetics and biomechanics suggest that the mechanotransduction system composed of mitochondria, the cytoskeletal system, and membranous organelles is regulated through mitochondrial dynamics, which may be a promising target for further investigation and precision therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In today's science, with the use of nanotechnology, nanomaterials, which behave very differently from the bulk solid, can be made. One of the capable uses of nanomaterials is bioapplications which make good use of the specific properties of nanoparticles. However, since the nanoparticles will be used both in vivo and in vitro, their stability is an important issue to the scientists, concern. In this dissertation,we are going to test the stability of gold nanoparticles in a number ofmedia including the biocompatiblemedium and their behaviors will be illustrated in terms of optical properties change and aggregation degree. Herein, we report the synthesis of gold nanoparticles of different shapes and applications for the rice growth with significant difference.The gold nanoparticles can inhibit the elongation of rice root without inhibiting the germination of rice seeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]