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The sex pheromone gland extracts collected from calling females of Apamea apameoides (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) were analyzed with GC-MS, the electrophysiological and behavioral responses of the male adults to serial dilutions of sex pheromone components and their synthetic blends were investigated with Y-tube olfactometer in laboratory and in bamboo forest field. The results indicated that (Z)-11-hexadecenyl acetate and (Z)-11-hexadecen-1-ol were the functional components in the sex pheromone gland extracts. Electroantennogram (EAG) recordings showed that sex pheromone gland extracts, (Z)-11-hexadecenyl acetate, (Z)-11-hexadecen-1-ol and the mixture of (Z)-11-hexadecenyl acetate and (Z)-11-hexadecen-1-ol all could elicit strong EAG responses, and the average EAG values increased with the increasing concentration of the sex pheromone. The blends of (Z)-11-hexadecenyl acetate and (Z)-11-hexadecen-1-ol at the ratio of 57:43 elicited a higher EAG value than each singular component did. The results of behavioral assay by Y-tube olfactometer accorded with those of EAG responses on the whole, and the mixture of (Z)-11-hexadecenyl acetate and (Z)-11-hexadecen-1-ol at the ratio of 57:43 was more attractive than each component alone. In field tests with silicone rubber as pheromone dispensers (concentration=104 ng∙uL-1), the average number of male adults captured per trap by the mixture was (48.5±6.7). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The calling and mating behaviors of Kumasia kumaso were studied in laboratory at (25±1) degrees C and (60 ± 10) % RH under a cycle 14 L:10 D photo period, and the EAG response of male K. kumaso to female K. kumaso sex gland extracts was also tested. The calling and mating behaviors of K. kumaso could only be observed in scotophase. The females began calling at the first scotophase following emergence, and the peak of calling occurred during the second scotophase and decreased thereafter. The calling of the females commenced 0-4 h after dark, reached the maximum between the 5th and the 7th hour of the scotophase, and terminated during the last 1-2.5 h of the scotophase. Moth age had significant effects on the calling patterns. With increasing moth age, the onset time of calling advanced gradually, and the mean number of calling bouts as well as the calling length per bout had a gradual increase from calling day 1 to day 4 but decreased on day 5. The peak time and terminated time of calling advanced with increasing moth age. The mating of K. kumaso adults initiated during the first scotophase and terminated till the 5th scotophase following emergence, and the peak of mating was observed during the second scotophase. The peak of mating was observed 5.5-7.0 h after dark, and advanced with increasing moth age. Moth age affected the mean onset time of mating and the copulation duration significantly. With increasing moth age, the mean onset time of mating advanced, and the copulation duration decreased. Sex ratio had significant effects on the mating behavior as well. Treatment 2 ... :1 ... showed a significantly higher mating percentage, but an earlier onset time of mating and shorter copulation duration, as compared with treatment 1 ... :1 ... . The results of EAG test indicated that the male adults showed a significant EAG response to the sex gland extracts of 2-day-old virgin females. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sarcolemmal ATP-sensitive potassium (K ATP ) channels play a vital role in cardioprotection. Cardiac K ATP channels are enriched in caveolae and physically interact with the caveolae structural protein caveolin-3 (Cav3). Disrupting caveolae impairs the regulation of K ATP channels through several signaling pathways. However, the direct functional effect of Cav3 on K ATP channels is still poorly understood. Here, we used the cardiac K ATP channel subtype, Kir6.2/SUR2A, and showed that Cav3 greatly reduced K ATP channel surface density and current amplitude in a caveolae-independent manner. A screen of Cav3 functional domains revealed that a 25 amino acid region in the membrane attachment domain of Cav3 is the minimal effective segment (MAD1). The peptide corresponding to the MAD1 segment decreased K ATP channel current in a concentration-dependent manner with an IC50 of ∼5 μM. The MAD1 segment prevented K ATP channel recycling, thus decreasing K ATP channel surface density and abolishing the cardioprotective effect of ischemic preconditioning. Our research identified the Cav3 MAD1 segment as a novel negative regulator of K ATP channel recycling, providing pharmacological potential in the treatment of diseases with K ATP channel trafficking defects. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Cardiac K ATP channels physically interact with caveolin-3 in caveolae. In this study, we investigated the functional effect of caveolin-3 on K ATP channel activity and identified a novel segment (MAD1) in the C-terminus domain of Caveolin-3 that negatively regulates K ATP channel surface density and current amplitude by impairing K ATP channel recycling. The peptide corresponding to the MAD1 segment abolished the cardioprotective effect of ischemic preconditioning.

Aim: To compare survival and recurrence in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients who did or did not receive adjuvant transarterial chemoembolization (TACE)., Methods: A consecutive sample of 229 patients who underwent curative resection between March 2007 and March 2010 in our hospital was included. Of these 229 patients, 91 (39.7%) underwent curative resection followed by adjuvant TACE and 138 (60.3%) underwent curative resection alone. In order to minimize confounds due to baseline differences between the two patient groups, comparisons were conducted between propensity score-matched patients. Survival data and recurrence rates were compared using the Kaplan-Meier method. Independent predictors of overall survival and recurrence were identified using Cox proportional hazard regression., Results: Among 61 pairs of propensity score-matched patients, the 1-, 2-, and 3-year overall survival rates were 95.1%, 86.7%, and 76.4% in the TACE group and 86.9%, 78.5%, and 73.2% in the control group, respectively. At the same time, the TACE and control groups also showed similar recurrence rates at 1 year (13.4% vs 24.8%), 2 years (30.6% vs 32.1%), and 3 years (40.1% vs 34.0%). Multivariate Cox regression identified serum alpha-fetoprotein level ≥ 400 ng/mL and tumor size > 5 cm as independent risk factors of mortality (P < 0.05)., Conclusion: As postoperative adjuvant TACE does not improve overall survival or reduce recurrence in HCC patients, further study is needed to clarify its clinical benefit.

The calling and mating behaviors of Kumasia kumaso were studied in laboratory at (25 1) degrees C and (60 +/- 10) % RH under a cycle 14 L:10 D photo period, and the EAG response of male K. kumaso to female K. kumaso sex gland extracts was also tested. The calling and mating behaviors of K. kumaso could only be observed in scotophase. The females began calling at the first scotophase following emergence, and the peak of calling occurred during the second scotophase and decreased thereafter. The calling of the females commenced 0-4 h after dark, reached the maximum between the 5th and the 7th hour of the scotophase, and terminated during the last 1-2.5 h of the scotophase. Moth age had significant effects on the calling patterns. With increasing moth age, the onset time of calling advanced gradually, and the mean number of calling bouts as well as the calling length per bout had a gradual increase from calling day 1 to day 4 but decreased on day 5. The peak time and terminated time of calling advanced with increasing moth age. The mating of K. kumaso adults initiated during the first scotophase and terminated till the 5th scotophase following emergence, and the peak of mating was observed during the second scotophase. The peak of mating was observed 5.5-7.0 h after dark, and advanced with increasing moth age. Moth age affected the mean onset time of mating and the copulation duration significantly. With increasing moth age, the mean onset time of mating advanced, and the copulation duration decreased. Sex ratio had significant effects on the mating behavior as well. Treatment 2 female:1 male showed a significantly higher mating percentage, but an earlier onset time of mating and shorter copulation duration, as compared with treatment 1 female:1 male. The results of EAG test indicated that the male adults showed a significant EAG response to the sex gland extracts of 2-day-old virgin females.

We used cultured neonatal rat cardiac myocytes to test the hypothesis that all-trans retinoic acid (atRA) may act to modulate ANG II actions in inducing myocyte hypertrophy. Our observations were as follows. 1) atRA (10(-7) to approximately 10(-5) M ) inhibited ANG II-induced hyperplasia of fibroblasts in a dose-dependent manner. 2) Treatment of atRA attenuated the ANG II-induced increase in total cell protein content. 3) Treated with ANG II (10(-7) M) for 5 days, the cultured neonatal rat cardiac myocytes demonstrated an apparent accumulation of sarcomeric fiber proteins and Golgi's complex, as well as reorganization of the sarcomeric unit within individual myocytes. atRA (10(-6) M) treatment reduced the accumulation of contractile proteins and Golgi's complex without affecting the ANG II-induced reorganization of the sarcomeric unit. 4) atRA attenuated the ANG II-induced increase in intracellular Ca2+. Our results show that atRA inhibits some effects of ANG II on neonatal rat cardiac myocytes and suggest that atRA may be a therapeutic candidate for the prevention and therapy of cardiac hypertrophy and remodeling.