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We studied feeding intake and food selection of nine captive forest musk deer (Moschus berezovskii) offered 17 species of plants in China. We also determined nutrient characteristics related to plant quality to assess their effect on food selection. Results indicated that forest musk deer exhibited positive selectivity for four species of plants (M. azedarach, M. baccata, K. japonica and C. orbiculatus) and negative selectivity for the remainder. Two plant species with the highest selectivity values accounted for 47.39 % of total food intake; thus, forest musk deer exhibited the strongest preference for these species. Food intake was positively correlated with feeding frequency and duration (r = 0.764, p < 0.005; r = 0.843, p < 0.005) but was not correlated with sniffing frequency or duration. However, olfaction did play an important role in food recognition by the deer. Pearson correlation analysis (data were log10 transformed) indicated that leaf intake was positively correlated with crude protein content (r = 0.708, p = 0.001) and negatively correlated with crude fiber content (r = -0.811, p < 0.001) and ash content (r = -0.496, p = 0.043). In addition, forest musk deer preferred tannin-rich plants with high protein and low fiber. Food intake was also positively correlated with potassium content (r = 0.672, p < 0.005). Our results suggest that forest musk deer is able to positively select high quality food (high protein content) and avoid low quality food (high fiber content). However, the fact that musk deer also prefer tannin-rich food requires further research to gain deeper insight into the underlying mechanisms in the food selection of forest musk deer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Persistent fibroblast activation initiated by transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) is a fundamental event in the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis, and its pharmacological inhibition represents a potential therapeutic strategy. The nuclear receptor, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPAR-γ), exerts potent fibrotic activity. The synthetic oleanane triterpenoid, 2-cyano-3,12-dioxo-olean-1,9-dien-28-oic acid (CDDO), is a PPAR-γ agonist with potential effects on TGF-β signalling and dermal fibrosis. Objective To examine the modulation of fibrogenesis by CDDO in explanted fibroblasts, skin organ cultures and murine models of scleroderma. Material and methods The effects of CDDO on experimental fibrosis induced by bleomycin injection or by overexpression of constitutively active type I TGF-β receptor (TgfbR1ca) were evaluated. Modulation of fibrotic gene expression was examined in human skin organ cultures. To delineate the mechanisms underlying the antifibrotic effects of CDDO, explanted skin fibroblasts cultured in two-dimensional monolayers or in three-dimensional full-thickness human skin equivalents were studied. Results CDDO significantly ameliorated dermal fibrosis in two complementary mouse models of scleroderma, as well as in human skin organ cultures and in three-dimensional human skin equivalents. In two-dimensional monolayer cultures of explanted normal fibroblasts, CDDO abrogated fibrogenic responses induced by TGF-β. These CDDO effects occurred via disruption of Smad-dependent transcription and were associated with inhibition of Akt activation. In scleroderma fibroblasts, CDDO attenuated the elevated synthesis of collagen. Remarkably, the in vitro antifibrotic effects of CDDO were independent of PPAR-γ. Conclusions The PPAR-γ agonist triterpenoid CDDO attenuates fibrogenesis by antagonistically targeting canonical TGF-β/Smad and Akt signalling in a PPAR-γ-independent manner. These findings identify this synthetic triterpenoid as a potential new therapy for the control of fibrosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chitooligosaccharide (COS) or oligochitosan has been shown to induce tobacco defense responses which are connected with nitric oxide (NO) and OIPK (oligochitosan-induced Ser/Thr protein kinase). The aim of this study was to reveal the relationship between NO production and OIPK pathway in the defense response of tobacco elicited by COS. NO generation was investigated by epidermal strip bioassay and fluorophore microscope using fluorophore diaminofluorescein diacetate (DAF-2DA). Tobacco epidermal cells treated with COS resulted in production of NO, which was first present in chloroplast, then in nucleus, finally in the whole cell; this NO production was sensitive to NO scavenger cPTIO and the mammalian NO synthase (NOS) inhibitor l-NAME, suggesting that NOS-like enzyme maybe involved in NO generation in tobacco epidermal cells. However, NOS and nitrate reductase (NR, EC 1.6.6.1) inhibitors reduced NO content in tobacco leaves by using NO Assay Kit, suggesting both NOS and NR were involved in NO production in tobacco leaves. Using a pharmacological approach and western blotting, we provide evidence that NO acts upstream of OIPK expression. NO scavenger, NOS inhibitor partly blocked the activation of OIPK and the activities of several defense-related enzymes induced by COS; treatment with NO donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP) induced the activation of OIPK and enhanced the defense systems. The results suggest that COS is able to induce NO generation, which results in up-regulation the activities of some defense-related enzymes through an OIPK-dependent or independent pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Diabetes is a major risk factor for the development of kidney disease. We aimed to determine the prevalence of albuminuria and chronic kidney disease (CKD) in Chinese subjects with diabetes and pre-diabetes and the risk factors for kidney disease. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background & objectives: Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α) is a central transcriptional regulator of hypoxic response. Suppression of HIF-1α is important for exploring hypoxia-induced pathophysiological events. This study was carried out to analyze the hypoxia-induced changes of biological characteristics in the human tongue squamous cell carcinoma cell line Tca8113 and evaluate the effects of HIF-1α on the phenotype of the tongue squamous cell carcinoma. Methods: HIF-1α gene was silenced with synthesized short interfering ribonucleic acids (siRNA). HIF-1α expression was measured on mRNA level by real-time reverse transcription (RT)-PCR and protein level by Western blot and immunofluorescence. The cell cycle and apoptosis of Tca8113 cells were analyzed by FACS. The proliferation and adhesion of Tca8113 cells were determined by MTT colorimetric assay. Results: Tca8113 could survive and showed a more aggressive phenotype under hypoxic condition. Exposure to hypoxia induced a prolonged elevation of HIF-1α protein and transfection of siRNA targeting HIF-1α (siRNAHIF-1α) reduced HIF-1α synthesis as measured on mRNA and protein level. Under normoxic or hypoxic conditions, treatment of Tca8113 cells with siRNAHIF-1α induced cell apoptosis and inhibited the growth and adhesion. Interpretation & conclusions: siRNAHIF-1α could attenuate the tolerance against hypoxia in Tca8113 cells and inhibit their aggressive potential. Interfering with HIF-1α pathways by siRNA strategy may provide a therapeutic target for human tongue squamous cell carcinomas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Membrane-bound anionic phospholipids such as phosphatidylinositols have the capacity to modulate ATP-sensitive potassium (K[sub ATP]) channels through a mechanism involving long-range electrostatic interaction between the lipid headgroup and channel. However, it has not yet been determined whether the multiple effects of phosphatidylinositols reported in the literature all result from this general electrostatic interaction or require a specific headgroup structure. The present study investigated whether phosphatidic acid (PA), an anionic phospholipid substantially different in structure from phosphatidylinositols, evokes effects similar to phosphatidylinositols on native K[sub ATP] channels of rat heart and heterogeneous Kir6.2/SUR2A channels. Channels treated with PA (0.2-1 mg/ml applied to the cytoplasmic side of the membrane) exhibited higher activity, lower sensitivity to ATP inhibition, less Mg[sup 2+]-dependent nucleotide stimulation, and poor sulfonylurea inhibition. These effects match the spectrum of phosphatidylinositols' effects, but, in addition, PA also induced a novel pattern in gating kinetics, represented by a decreased mean open time (from 12.2 ± 2.0 to 3.3 ± 0.7 ms). This impact on gating kinetics clearly distinguishes PA's effects from those of phosphatidylinositols. Results indicate that multiple effects of anionic phospholipids on K[sub ATP] channels are related phenomena and can likely be attributed to a common mechanism, but additional specific effects due to other mechanisms may also coincide. Membrane-bound anionic phospholipids such as phosphatidylinositols have the capacity to modulate ATP-sensitive potassium (K[sub ATP]) channels through a mechanism involving long-range electrostatic interaction between the lipid headgroup and channel. However, it has not yet been determined whether the multiple effects of phosphatidylinositols reported in the literature all result from this general electrostatic interaction or require... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the feasibility of image colour information in predicting the moisture content of dried Hami jujube, the images were obtained under different colour space models, and the colour model component mean and chromaticity frequency sequences of R, G, B, H, S, V, L*, a* and b* were extracted through image analysis. After optimising the colour model component mean and chromaticity frequency sequence, the model was established and compared. The results showed that the GA-ELM (genetic algorithm - extreme learning machine) model established by CARS (competitive adaptive reweighted sampling) method to optimise 12 chromaticity features of S chromaticity frequency sequence had the best prediction effect, with Rc of 0.917, Rp of 0.934 and residual predictive deviation (RPD) of 2.507. Therefore, the colour image information can accurately predict the moisture content of dried Hami jujube. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To compare and analyze the clinical effects of internal fixation of minimally invasive elastic stable intramedullary nail and plate in the treatment of pediatric femoral shaft fracture., Methods: A total of 120 children with femoral shaft fractures who were admitted to our hospital from December 2016 to April 2018 were enrolled. The children were divided into an observation group and a control group by random number table, with 60 children in each group. The children in the observation group underwent internal fixation of minimally invasive elastic stable intramedullary nail, while those in the control group underwent open reduction based on internal fixation of plate. The surgical status and postoperative complications of the two groups were observed and compared, and Kolmert knee function scoring criteria were used for assessing the surgical effects of children., Results: The operation duration, intraoperative blood loss, hospitalization duration, fracture healing time and time of off-bed loaded activity of the observation group were significantly shorter than those of the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). The excellent and good rate of fracture healing in the observation group was 100%, which was higher than that of the control group, 83.33%, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The total incidence rate of complications in the observation group was 8.33%, which was lower than that of the control group, 10.00%, but the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05)., Conclusion: Pediatric femoral shaft fractures can be treated with internal fixation of minimally invasive elastic intramedullary nail, and it has advantages of significant curative effect, small trauma and fast postoperative recovery, which is conducive to fracture healing and worth promoting.