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Characteristically, uterine myometrial cells (MCs) are proliferative, inducing angiogenesis within the female reproductive organ. We evaluated whether MCs implanted into myocardium could also induce angiogenesis and restore heart function after injury. MCs were isolated from the adult rat uterus and cultured for three studies: 1) Intracellular VEGF levels were measured in MCs cultured with progesterone ([10.sup.-11], [10.sup.-9], and [10.sup.-7] M) (n = 6 tests per group). 2) Blood vessel density was evaluated 8 days after MCs (3 x [10.sup.6] or 6 x [10.sup.6]), smooth muscle cells (SMCs), or endothelial cells (n = 6 rats per group) were injected with matrigel into the subcutaneous tissue of adult rats. 3) MCs, SMCs (5 x [10.sup.6]/rat), or media were injected into a transmural scar 3 wk after cryoinjury in rat hearts (n = 12 rats per group), and heart function, blood vessel density, and myocardial scar size and thickness were evaluated 5 wk later. In study 1, cultured MCs expressed VEGF, with levels significantly (P < 0.05) upregulated by progesterone at an optimal dose of [10.sup.-11] M. In study 2, MCs injected into the subcutaneous tissue with matrigel induced significantly more blood vessels, especially large-diameter vessels, than did SMCs or endothelial cells (P < 0.01 for all groups). This angiogenic effect was greatest (P < 0.01) at higher doses of MCs and was enhanced by progesterone ([10.sup.-11] M). In study 3, MCs implanted into the injured myocardium increased blood vessel density at the implant area, reduced scar size, and improved cardiac function relative to SMCs and media. Overall, MCs induced angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo, prevented cardiac remodeling, and improved heart functional recovery after cardiac injury. cell transplantation; heart failure; ischemic cardiomyopathy; angiogenic effect; heart function

In the mechanical, automobile, aerospace, and construction industries, Ti and steel are the mostly commercial materials be used. But the poor hardness, wear, and corrosion resistance limit their applications. In this study, we presented a composite material that consists of thermal-sprayed titanium (Ti) layer on AISI 1020 steel. Then we added different concentrations of c-BN to the electrolyte in the MAO process to enhance the wear resistance and corrosion resistance. The operating parameters of MAO were set to 35A/dm2 current density, 450V voltage and 10 minutes operating time. The concentration of c-BN added to the electrolytes were 0.1 g L-1, 0.3 g L-1, 0.5 g L-1, 0.7 g L-1, 0.9 g L-1, and denoted as Ti/MAO-BN1, Ti/MAO-BN3, Ti/MAO-BN5, Ti/MAO-BN7, Ti/MAO-BN9, respectively. To determine the properties of the composite coating, measurements of coating thickness, surface roughness, microstructure, hardness, XRD analysis, EDS observations were performed. Then potentiodynamic polarization test and a ball-on-disc wear test were used to determine the corrosion resistance and wear resistance. All the results indicated that all Ti/MAO contained c-BN (Ti/MAO-BN) have higher hardness, lower surface roughness, and thicker coatings thickness than that of Ti/MAO-free (Ti/MAO-F). In the corrosion resistance, Ti/MAO-BN was at least about 64% better than Ti/MAO-F, with Ti/MAO-BN9 being about 5 times better. In the wear resistance, Ti/MAO-BN reduces the wear volume at least about 59% compared to Ti/MAO-F, with Ti/MAO-BN9 reducing the wear volume by about 70%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stem cell transplantation is nearly available for clinical application in the treatment of ischaemic heart disease (IHD), where it may be joined traditional methods (intervention and surgery). The angiogenic ability of seed cells is essential for this applicability. The aim of this study was to reveal the presence of CD34+ angiogenic stem cells in human decidua at the first trimester and to use their strong angiogenic capacity in the treatment of IHD. In vitro, human decidual CD34+ (dCD34+) cells from the first trimester have strong proliferation and clonality abilities. After ruling out the possibility that they were vascular endothelial cells and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), dCD34+ cells were found to be able to form tube structures after differentiation. Their angiogenic capacity was obviously superior to that of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). At the same time, these cells had immunogenicity similar to that of BMSCs. Following induction of myocardial infarction (MI) in adult rats, infarct size decreased and cardiac function was significantly enhanced after dCD34+ cell transplantation. The survival rate of cells increased, and more neovasculature was found following dCD34+ cell transplantation. Therefore, this study confirms the existence of CD34+ stem cells with strong angiogenic ability in human decidua from the first trimester, which can provide a new option for cell‐based therapies for ischaemic diseases, especially IHD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Canopy FGF signaling regulator 2 (CNPY2) is a FGF21-modulated protein containing a saposin B-type domain. In vitro studies have shown CNPY2 is able to enhance neurite outgrowth in neurons and stabilize the expression of low density lipoprotein receptor in macrophages and hepatocytes. However, no in vivo data are available on the normal expression of CNPY2 and information is lacking on which cell types express this protein in tissues. To address this, the present study examined CNPY2 expression at the mRNA and protein levels. Quantitative PCR and ELISA examination of mouse tissues showed that CNPY2 varies between organs, with the highest expression in the heart, lung and liver. Immunohistochemistry detected CNPY2 in a variety of cell types including skeletal, cardiac and smooth muscle myocytes, endothelial cells and epithelial cells. CNPY2 was also detectable in mouse blood and human and mouse uteri. These data demonstrate CNPY2 is widely distributed in tissues and suggest the protein has biological functions that have yet to be identified. Using these new observations we discuss possible functions of the protein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The consensus that the civil morality is in severe crisis in our country is reached mainly on the basis of the widespread phenomenon that the moral knowledge of our citizens is inconsistent or even in conflict with their behaviors. However, this viewpoint is unreasonable in that it is based on a one-sided, superficial and simplistic cognition of the status of citizens' moral life in our country, which is non-historical in nature. In fact, the main cause for the highly intense contradiction between moral knowledge and behavior is the moral polarization intentionally created in our daily lives. Owing to the fact that the idealism and ambiguity embedded in morality itself determines the long-standing tension between knowledge and practice, the conflict between them is objective and inevitable. In other words, the agreement between knowledge and practice is actually relative. Consequently, the development of citizens' morality shows such a process; from being innocent to knowing; from knowledge to the accidental practice; and at last from the accidental practice to the inevitable behavior. However, the moderate tension between moral knowledge and practice can stimulate the development and progress of morality, and rational moral criticism can play a positive role in relieving the pressure from the tension between moral knowledge and behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current social conflicts largely result from the serious separation between the and concrete facets of human beings. People are reduced to an existence, which in particular means some leaders who control public resources regard the concrete individuals as symbols. This distorted view on human beings has greatly undermined people's interests and turned the scientific outlook on development into an empty notion. This inhuman reduction of human beings is closely related to such factors as the transition in the themes of the times, the implementation of market economy, and the dominance of capitalist ideology. Because of the complexity of human existence, it is necessary to the defining features of human beings if we want to cultivate and protect the essence of human beings. In today's China, there is a paradox concerning the generalization of human nature : inadequate generalization coexists with excessive reduction (the latter being more common). The former leads to treating people's interests according to one's personal wishes while the latter greatly obscuring them. Both of them are severe distortions of human nature. An appropriate generalization of human nature will reveal its four essential elements, i.e. natural need, social need, intellectual need, and moral need. The recognition of these four elements will correspondingly lead to four human forces : passion for life, affinity with society, control of reasoning, and commitment to morality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three diploid ( Triticum boeoticum, AA; Aegilops speltoides, BB and Ae. tauschii, DD), two tetraploid (T. dicoccoides, AABB and T. dicoccon, AABB) and one hexaploid (T. vulgare, AABBDD) varieties of wheat, which are very important in the evolution of wheat were chosen in this study. A pot experiment was carried out on the wheat under different water and nutrient conditions (i) to understand the differences in biomass, yield, water use efficiency (WUE), and nutrient (N, P and K) use efficiency (uptake and utilization efficiency) among ploidies in the evolution of wheat; (ii) to clarify the effect of water and nutrient conditions on water and nutrient use efficiency; and (iii) to assess the relationship of water and nutrient use efficiency in the evolution of wheat. Our results showed that from diploid to tetraploid then to hexaploid during the evolution of wheat, both root biomass and above-ground biomass increased initially and then decreased. Water consumption for transpiration decreased remarkably, correlating with the decline of the growth period, while grain yield, harvest index, WUE, N, P and K uptake efficiency, and N, P and K utilization efficiency increased significantly. Grain yield, harvest index and WUE decreased in the same order: T. vulgare > T. dicoccon > T. dicoccoides > Ae. tauschii > Ae. speltoides > T. boeoticum. Water stress significantly decreased root biomass, above-ground biomass, yield, and water consumption for transpiration by 47–52%, but remarkably increased WUE. Increasing the nutrient supply increased wheat above-ground biomass, grain yield, harvest index, water consumption for transpiration and WUE under different water levels, but reduced root biomass under drought conditions. Generally, water stress and low nutrient supply resulted in the lower nutrient uptake efficiency of wheat. However, water and nutrient application had no significant effects on nutrient utilization efficiency, suggesting that wheat nutrient utilization efficiency is mainly controlled by genotypes. Compared to the other two diploid wheats, Ae. squarrosa (DD) had significant higher WUE and nutrient utilization efficiency, indicating that the D genome may carry genes controlling high efficient utilization of water and nutrient. Significant relationships were found between WUE and N, P and K utilization efficiency. (Handling editor: Jin-Zhong Cui) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The activity of TIMP-3, a natural tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), is decreased in the failing heart. This study evaluated the response to coronary ligation of cardiac structure, function, and matrix remodeling in wild-type (WT) mice, and those deficient in TIMP-3 (timp-3 −/− ). The coronary artery was ligated in timp-3 −/− and age-matched WT mice. At various time points over the following 28-day period, left ventricular structure and function (by echocardiography, pressure–volume measurements and morphometry), MMP levels and activity, blood vessel density, cell proliferation, apoptosis, matrix structure, and inflammatory cytokine levels were assessed in both groups. After ligation, mortality was significantly greater in timp-3 −/− than in WT mice. Morphometry and echocardiography demonstrated no difference in heart size or function prior to ligation; however, the progression of left ventricular systolic dysfunction was accelerated in timp-3 −/− mice at 7, 14 and 28 days after infarction compared to WT controls. Left ventricular dilatation, gelatinase MMP activity, and TNF-α levels were significantly greater in timp-3 −/− than in WT mice at different times after ligation. By histological evaluation, timp-3 −/− mice exhibited significantly increased blood vessel density, cell proliferation, and apoptosis in the infarct area, and reduced collagen content in the viable remote myocardium compared to WT mice at 7 and 14 days after ligation. TIMP-3 deficiency accelerated maladaptive cardiac remodeling after a myocardial infarction by promoting matrix degradation and inflammatory cytokine expression. This study supports further investigations to determine whether such remodeling could be reduced by augmenting TIMP-3 expression in the infarcted myocardium. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]