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The current effective method for the treatment of myocardial infarction is timely restoration of the blood supply to the ischemic area of the heart. Although reperfusion is essential for reestablishing oxygen and nutrient supplies, it often leads to additional myocardial damage, creating an important clinical dilemma. Reports from long-term studies have confirmed that mitochondrial damage is the critical mechanism in cardiac ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Mitochondria are dynamic and possess a quality control system that targets mitochondrial quantity and quality by modifying mitochondrial fusion, fission, mitophagy, and biogenesis and protein homeostasis to maintain a healthy mitochondrial network. The system of mitochondrial quality control involves complex molecular machinery that is highly interconnected and associated with pathological changes such as oxidative stress, calcium overload, and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Because of the critical role of the mitochondrial quality control systems, many reports have suggested that defects in this system are among the molecular mechanisms underlying myocardial reperfusion injury. In this review, we briefly summarize the important role of the mitochondrial quality control in cardiomyocyte function and focus on the current understanding of the regulatory mechanisms and molecular pathways involved in mitochondrial quality control in cardiac I/R damage.

Waterborne polyurethane–acrylate (WPUA) as a surface protective coating has been widely used in industrial, architectural, and textile applications. To extend the application of WPUA in the biological field, a novel ultraviolet-fluorinated waterborne polyurethane–acrylate (UV-WFPUA) film, which contains 2, 4-dihydroxybenzophenone (DHBP) as the ultraviolet (UV) absorber and dodecafluoroheptyl methacrylate (DFMA) as the fluorine monomer, was prepared. The paper discussed the effect of UV absorber and fluorine monomer on the UV adsorption performance, thermo-stability, and physical and mechanical properties of the UV-WFPUA film. Furthermore, it explored the independent and cooperative effects of UV absorber and fluorine monomer in affecting the antiprotein fouling property on a quantitative level. Results show that the antiprotein fouling performance of UV-WFPUA film significantly weakened after adding 0.4 wt.% DHPB since the average protein concentration increased from 0.14 to 0.37 mg/mL. In contrast, after adding 9 wt.% DFMA, the average protein concentration dropped from 0.37 to 0.13 mg/mL, indicating the antiprotein fouling properties improved. Therefore, the addition of fluorine monomer will contribute to antiprotein fouling and eliminate the adhesion of UV absorber with proteins. The excellent antiprotein fouling, thermal, and optical properties endow the waterborne polyurethane–acrylate films with promising applications in corneal contact lenses or intraocular lenses.

With environmental and resource issues become increasingly prominent, as well as the requirements of the bioeconomy, the synthesis of polyurethane tends to follow the green chemistry and uses sustainable biological resources as raw materials. As a kind of biomass material, sorbitol has great potential for the bio-based polyurethane industry because of the high performance that sorbitol brings to polyurethane. What,s more, the various extraction technologies for sorbitol have matured. This paper reviews the extraction methods of sorbitol and analyzes the effects of sorbitol as polyols, crosslinkers and chain extenders used in polyurethane. Sorbitol based non-isocyanate polyurethane was also introduced.

Jinjing Wu,* Yanli Yang,* Yafen Gao, Zhaoqi Wang, Jun Ma Department of Anesthesiology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University-Beijing Institute of Heart Lung and Blood Vessel Diseases, Beijing, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Jun MaDepartment of Anesthesiology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University-Beijing Institute of Heart Lung and Blood Vessel Diseases, No. 2 Anzhen Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100029, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +8613370103571Email majuntongxun@163.comPurpose: Autophagy caused by ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) increases the extent of cardiomyocyte damage. Melatonin (Mel) diminishes cardiac injury through regulating autophagy and mitochondrial dynamics. However, illustrating the specific role of mitophagy in the cardioprotective effects of melatonin remains a challenge. The aim of our research was to investigate the impact and underlying mechanisms of melatonin in connection with mitophagy during anoxia/reoxygenation (A/R) injury in H9c2 cells.Methods: H9c2 cells were pretreated with melatonin with or without the melatonin membrane receptor 2 (MT2) antagonist 4-P-PDOT, the MT2 agonist IIK7 and the sirtuin 3 (SIRT3) inhibitor 3-TYP for 4 hours and then subjected to A/R injury. Cell viability, cellular apoptosis, necrosis levels and oxidative markers were assessed. The expression of SIRT3 and forkhead box O3a (FoxO3a), mitochondrial function and the levels of mitophagy-related proteins were also evaluated.Results: A/R injury provoked enhanced mitophagy in H9c2 myocytes. In addition, increased mitophagy was correlated with decreased cellular viability, increased oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction in H9c2 cells. However, melatonin pretreatment notably increased cell survival and decreased cell apoptosis and oxidative response after A/R injury, accompanied by restored mitochondrial function. The inhibition of excessive mitophagy is involved in the cardioprotective effects of melatonin, as shown by the decreased expression of the mitophagy-related molecules Parkin, Beclin1, and BCL2-interacting protein 3-like (BNIP3L, best known as NIX) and decreased light chain 3 II/light chain 3 I (LC3 II/LC3 I) ratio and upregulation of p62 expression. Moreover, the decreased expression of SIRT3 and FoxO3a in A/R-injured H9c2 cells was abrogated by melatonin, but these beneficial effects were attenuated by the MT2 antagonist 4-P-PDOT or the SIRT3 inhibitor 3-TYP and enhanced by the MT2 agonist IIK7.Conclusion: These results indicate that melatonin protects H9c2 cells during A/R injury through suppressing excessive mitophagy by activating the MT2/SIRT3/FoxO3a pathway. Melatonin may be a useful candidate for alleviating myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (MI/R) injury in the future, and the MT2 receptor might become a therapeutic target.Keywords: melatonin, mitophagy, anoxia/reoxygenation injury, melatonin receptor, SIRT3

To explore whether the association of community urbanization levels with overweight incidence changes over time and varies by region.The data is from the China Health and Nutrition Survey(1991-2015). The survey applied a multistage, random cluster design to draw samples. A total of 8684 adults aged 20-64 years were confined in nine provinces(autonomous regions). Based on an urbanicity score, communities were divided into two groups: low-and high-urbanization-level groups. The nine provinces(autonomous regions) were divided into four regions, including the Coast, Central, Northeast and West. Multilevel Logistic regression models was applied to examine whether the association between urbanization levels and overweight incidence changed over time and varied by region.38.08% of respondents became overweight during the follow-up surveys. The interactions between the high urbanization level with the Coast(OR=0.45, 95%CI 0.34-0.60), the Central(OR=0.67, 95%CI 0.52-0.86), and the Northeast(OR=0.70, 95%CI 0.52-0.94) were statistically significant. The interaction between the high urbanization level and period was also statistically significant(OR=0.97, 95%CI 0.96-0.99). In 1991, the Coast(OR=0.99, 95%CI 0.77-1.26), the high urbanization level was positively associated with overweight incidence in the Central(OR=1.45, 95%CI 1.15-1.83), Northeast(OR=1.53, 95%CI 1.16-2.02) and West(OR=2.18, 95%CI 1.68-2.83), with statistical significance. In 2015, the high urbanization level was significantly negatively associated with overweight incidence in the Coast(OR=0.53, 95%CI 0.41-0.68) and Central(OR=0.77, 95%CI 0.62-0.97), while the association in the Northeast(OR=0.82, 95%CI 0.63-1.05) and West(OR=1.17, 95%CI 0.91-1.49) was statistically insignificant.There were spatiotemporal variations in the association between urbanization levels and overweight incidence among adults in the nine provinces(autonomous regions).

OBJECTIVES: To examine generational differences in longitudinal blood pressure trajectories by region following socioeconomic transitions, which is important for establishing the population risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). METHODS: With data from the China Health and Nutrition Survey (1991–2011), we used multilevel growth-curve models to estimate systolic/diastolic blood pressure (SBP/DBP) levels at the mean age and rates of change by cohort (born between 1931 and 1980), region, and sex. RESULTS: Younger cohorts generally had higher SBP/DBP levels at 44.5 years but lower growth rates in SBP/DBP than older cohorts. They became prehypertensive (SBP ≥ 120 mm Hg or DBP ≥ 80 mm Hg) at an earlier age. The upward shift of SBP/DBP trajectories across cohorts was more pronounced in the Coastal and Southern Mountainous Regions than the Northeastern and Inland Regions, and for males versus females. CONCLUSIONS: Younger cohorts have a longer lifetime duration of being susceptible to CVDs, posing warnings for an increased burden of CVDs. Generational differences in BP trajectories and geographic and sex variations in the cohort trends highlight the need for tailored interventions to tackle the generation, region, and sex-based risk of CVDs.

Most intensive human activities occur in lowlands. However, sporadic reports indicate that human activities are expanding in some Asian highlands. Here we investigate the expansions of human activities in highlands and their effects over Asia from 2000 to 2020 by combining earth observation data and socioeconomic data. We find that ∼23% of human activity expansions occur in Asian highlands and ∼76% of these expansions in highlands comes from ecological lands, reaching 95% in Southeast Asia. The expansions of human activities in highlands intensify habitat fragmentation and result in large ecological costs in low and lower-middle income countries, and they also support Asian developments. We estimate that cultivated land net growth in the Asian highlands contributed approximately 54% in preventing the net loss of the total cultivated land. Moreover, the growth of highland artificial surfaces may provide living and working spaces for ∼40 million people. Our findings suggest that highland developments hold dual effects and provide new insight for regional sustainable developments.

There has been a generally negative view of the impact of urbanization on a rising burden of non-communicable diseases including cardiovascular disease. However, the evidence on the relationship between urbanization and cardiovascular health has remained inconclusive. A comprehensive picture of the relationship is lacking, given an implicit assumption that the longitudinal association between changes in cardiovascular health and an increasingly urbanized environment is similar between less and more urbanized communities, men and women. We used the longitudinal data on adults (18-64 years) from the China Health and Nutrition Survey (1991-2015) and employed within-between random-effects models to disaggregates the longitudinal and cross-sectional associations between urbanization and systolic/diastolic blood pressure (SBP/DBP) and examined heterogeneities in the longitudinal association by average urbanization level and gender. We found that the positive longitudinal association of urbanization with SBP/DBP was stronger in less urbanized than more urbanized communities. The cross-sectional association between urbanization and SBP was negative and significant, although the cross-sectional association between urbanization and DBP was of no statistical significance. Moreover, the positive longitudinal association between urbanization and DBP was stronger among men than women, although the gender heterogeneity in the longitudinal association of urbanization with SBP was not significant.

One dimensional (1D) nanostructures have many possible applications in electronic, optical, and sensing devices associated with their nanosized lateral dimensions. In this regard, a general and bottom-up strategy to synthesize 1D nanoparticle arrays and conductive nanowires with a facile structural/compositional control is highly desired. We herein report a protein-sheathed single walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) that satisfies the criteria for an ideal template to assemble micron-long gold nanoparticle (AuNP) linear arrays with high structural rigidity. The resulting AuNP array has minimized inter-particle gaps, which is especially useful to template the overgrowth of Ag, Pd, and Pd/Ag metals into continuous nanowires (Au@M, M=Ag, Pd, Ag/Pd). Our method successfully overcomes the incompatibility between carbon and metal materials, and the resulting superstructured metal nanowires have a tunable diameter below 100 nm and a shape closely replicating a SWNT. The Ag nanowires are composed of coalesced Au@Ag coreshell nanoparticles, while the Pd and Pd/Ag nanowires are made of very fine Pd nanocrystallites around the AuNP cores. These unique structural features are pivotal to various applications including surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), electrocatalysis, and gas sensors.

Urbanization is believed to result in a transition towards energy-dense diets, sedentary lifestyles, and a subsequent increase in the burden of hypertension (HTN) and other cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in developing countries. However, the extent to which this occurs is likely dependent on social contexts. We performed multilevel logistic regression models to examine whether the association between incident HTN and the degree to which a community exhibits urban features varied by region (the Northeast, East Coast, Central, and West) within China and period. We used longitudinal data from the China Health and Nutrition Survey (1991&ndash, 2015) and stratified analyses by sex. Among women, the positive association between medium-to-high urbanicity and HTN onset generally shifted to negative between 1991 and 2015. The high urbanicity was associated with lower odds of developing HTN in the East Coast from the early 1990s. The negative association between high urbanicity and HTN occurrence became statistically significant during 1991&ndash, 2015 in the Northeastern and Central Regions, while the association remained positive and non-significant in the West. Among men, the relationship between urbanicity and incident HTN was generally non-significant, except for the East Coast in which the negative association between high urbanicity and HTN occurrence became statistically-significant in more recent years. Our findings suggest that, when a subnational region or the society as a whole has become more economically developed, higher urbanicity might turn out to be a protective factor of cardiovascular health. Moreover, improvements made to communities&rsquo, urban features might be more effective in preventing HTN for women than for men.

Due to the difficulty in low diagnostic accuracy under the three-level inverter with multiple faults, a novel fault detection approach based on the improved stacked auto-encoder (SAE) is proposed in this paper. By analyzing the circuit characteristics of the three-level Neutral Point Clamped (NPC) inverter, the inverter bridge arm phase voltage is selected as the fault characteristic signal, and the feature vector formed by the amplitude spectrum is used as the input of SAE network. Since the feature extraction performance of the SAE network has a great correlation with the number of hidden layer nodes, the gravitational search algorithm is chosen to obtain the optimal neuron number of hidden layers, so that the deep learning network could extract features automatically and classify the multiple faults accurately. Finally, the simulation and comparison analysis results show that the proposed method has higher classification accuracy compared with traditional BP neural network and support vector machine. The classification accuracy rate of the three-level NPC inverter faults can reach 100%, which further validates the effectiveness of the developed method.

Introduction Lower-income Americans are suffering from declines in income, health, and longevity over time. Income and employment policies have been proposed as a potential non-medical solution to this problem. Methods An interrupted time series analysis of state-level incremental supplements to the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) program was performed using data from 1993 to 2010 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System surveys and state-level life expectancy. The cost effectiveness of state EITC supplements was estimated using a microsimulation model, which was run in 2015. Results Supplemental EITC programs increased health-related quality of life and longevity among the poor. The program costs about $7,786/quality-adjusted life-year gained (95% CI=$4,100, $13,400) for the average recipient. This ratio increases with larger family sizes, costing roughly $14,261 (95% CI=$8,735, $19,716) for a family of three. Conclusions State supplements to EITC appear to be highly cost effective, but randomized trials are needed to confirm these findings.

ObjectiveThe New Rural Cooperative Medical Scheme (NCMS) is a universal healthcare coverage plan now covering over 98% of rural residents in China, first implemented in 2003. Rising costs in the face of modest gains in health and financial protections have raised questions about the cost-effectiveness of the NCMS.MethodsUsing the most recent estimates of the NCMS's health and economic consequences from a comprehensive review of the literature, we conducted a cost-effectiveness analysis using a Markov model for a hypothetical cohort between ages 20 and 100. We then did one-way sensitivity analyses and a probabilistic sensitivity analysis using Monte Carlo simulations to explore whether the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) falls below 37,059 international dollars [Int$], the willingness-to-pay (WTP) threshold of three times per capita GDP of China in 2013.FindingsThe ICER of the NCMS over the lifetime of an average 20-year-old rural resident in China was about Int$71,480 per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained (95% confidence interval: cost-saving, Int$845,659/QALY). There was less than a 33% chance that the system was cost-saving or met the WTP threshold. However, the NCMS did fall under the threshold when changes in the program costs, the risk of mortality and hypertension, and the likelihood of labor force participation were tested in one-way sensitivity analyses.ConclusionThe NCMS appears to be economically inefficient in its current form. Further cost-effectiveness analyses are warranted in designing insurance benefit packages to ensure that the NCMS fund goes toward health care that has a good value in improving survival and quality of life.

This paper is concerned with the stability of linear systems under time-varying sampling. First, the closed-loop sampled-data system under study is represented by a discrete-time system using a non-standard discretization method. Second, by introducing a new sampled-date-based integral inequality, the sufficient condition on stability is formulated by using a simple Lyapunov function. The stability criterion has lower computational complexity, while having less conservatism compared with those obtained by a classical input delay approach. Third, when the system is subject to parameter uncertainties, a robust stability criterion is derived for uncertain systems under time-varying sampling. Finally, three examples are given to show the effectiveness of the proposed method.

The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of navel orange, Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck, peel essential oil (NOPEO) for inhibiting spoilage fungi in potato slices. Sixteen different components accounting for 99.79% of the headspace components of NOPEO were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. d-Limonene was the major component of NOPEO. Antifungal activity of NOPEO was tested in vitro and in vivo against four foodborne fungi. A MIC of NOPEO against the four fungal species was 9.40 μL/mLair. NOPEO provided about 74, 74, 73, and 69% protection against Aspergillus niger, Mucor wutungkiao, Penicillium funiculosum, and Rhizopus oryzae at 2.00 μL/mLair concentration, respectively. NOPEO has been demonstrated to significantly improve the microbiological quality of potato slices.

Waste cooking oil (WCO) can be converted into a bio-flotation agent (BFA) which can replace diesel and develop into a new coal flotation agent with the Zr-SBA-15 catalyst. A tech-economic assessment of WCO-to-BFA on the basis of the pilot program showed that compared with petro-diesel, WCO-to-BFA technology can help save energy by 13%, reduce CO 2 emission by 76%, and save production costs by 0.003–0.005 USD·MJ −1 . WCO-to-BFA technology provided an excellent result regarding BFA substituting diesel as a coal flotation agent, which can lead to reduction of standard coal consumption by 1.2 kg, reduction of CO 2 emission by 5.5 kg, reduction of production costs for each ton of coal slime by 0.836 USD in the whole production chain lifecycle that includes the application of WCO-to-BFA technology into coal flotation process. It has proven that the WCO-to-BFA technology is an efficient, economic and environmentally friendly technique which has widespread applications and bright market prospects.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the analgesic effect and safety of the application of different doses of nalbuphine in patient-controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA) for patients undergoing subtotal gastrectomy. A total of 120 patients, who underwent subtotal gastrectomy at our hospital between May, 2015 and January, 2017 under combined spinal epidural combined anesthesia, were selected. The patients received PCIA after surgery. The patients were randomly divided into four groups, including the morphine (MOP group), nalbuphine 60 mg (N60 group), nalbuphine 80 mg (N80 group) and nalbuphine 100 mg (N100 group). The first dose of PCIA treatment was 2 ml, the background dose was 2 ml/h, PCIA dose was 0.5 ml, and the lockout time was 15 min. Postoperative vital signs and adverse reactions (bleeding, fullness and aching of upper abdomen and vomiting) were recorded. The visual analogue scale (VAS) and Ramsay sedation score of patients were evaluated. The number of PCIA and analgesia-related complications during analgesia were recorded. No significant differences in general data were found among the four groups (P>0.05). The VAS score of the three nalbuphine groups was lower than that of the MOP group, but the differences were not significant. All postoperative Ramsay sedation scores of the four groups showed appropriate sedation, but no significant differences were found between the groups. Compared with the MOP group, the use of postoperative PCIA was significantly delayed and the number of PCIA was significantly smaller in the three nalbuphine groups (P

We evaluated whether Nurse-Family Partnership might serve as a cost-effective social policy for improving health. Using data from studies of randomized controlled trials as well as real-world data, we conducted a Monte Carlo simulation to estimate cost-effectiveness of Nurse-Family Partnership in a hypothetical cohort of first-born children in the United States. Analyses were conducted in 2015. Were all new mothers eligible for Nurse-Family Partnership, the program would produce 0.11 QALYs (95% confidence interval [CI]=0.06, 0.17) at an additional cost of $1,021 (95% CI=-$2,831, $4,414) per nurse-visited child's lifetime relative to the comparison-group children or $14,642 (95% CI = Savings, $71,877) per QALY gained. However, if applied to high-risk mothers, it would generate 0.19 QALYs (95% CI = 0.09, 0.44) and a net benefit of $2,764 (95% CI =-$1,210, $7,092) per nurse-visited child. Nurse-Family Partnership should be considered as a policy investment, particularly in an era of investments in the social determinants of health.

Herein, recent advances of propiolic acids in decade (2009–2019) were summarized as five pathways according to their triggered mechanisms: (1) acids as nucleophiles; (2) electrophilic alkynes; (3) decarboxylative coupling; (4) decarboxylative addition; (5) electrophilic acids. Reactions with alkenes, alkynes, isocyanides, indonium, free radicals, R-X (X = leaving groups) et al were discussed. We hope this review will promote future research in this area.

Ketene dithioacetals were widely used in organic reactions. Herein, recent advances were summarized as five categories according to their triggered mechanisms: (1) nucleophilic enethiols; (2) formation of C-Pd-SR intermediates; (3) C S bond cleavage; (4) substitution of SR; (5) reactions of the double bond. Reactions with alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, aldehydes, isocyanides, indonium ylides et al were discussed. We hope this review will promote future research in this area.

Bone cancer pain is a major clinical problem and remains difficult to treat. ATP-sensitive potassium (KATP) channels may be involved in regulating nociceptive transmission at the spinal cord level. We determined the role of spinal KATP channels in the control of mechanical hypersensitivity in a rat model of bone cancer pain. The rat model of bone cancer pain was induced by implanting rat mammary gland carcinoma cells (Walker256) into the tibias. KATP modulators (pinacidil and glibenclamide) or the specific Kir6.2-siRNA were injected via an intrathecal catheter. The mechanical withdrawal threshold of rats was tested using von Frey filaments. The Kir6.2 mRNA and protein levels were measured by quantitative PCR and western blots, respectively. Intrathecal injection of pinacidil, a KATP channel opener, significantly increased the tactile withdrawal threshold of cancer cell-injected rats in a dose-dependent manner. In contrast, intrathecal delivery of glibenclamide, a KATP channel blocker, or the specific Kir6.2-siRNA significantly reduced the tactile withdrawal threshold of cancer cell-injected rats. The mRNA and protein levels of Kir6.2 in the spinal cord of cancer cell-injected rats were significantly lower than those in control rats. Our findings suggest that the KATP channel expression level in the spinal cord is reduced in bone cancer pain. Activation of KATP channels at the spinal level reduces pain hypersensitivity associated with bone cancer pain.

The interstrand orientation of a DNA duplex plays a pivotal role in its biological and chemical functions. Therefore, developing an efficient way to determine (control and monitor) the parallel or antiparallel conformation of a DNA duplex is of great significance, which, however, remains a big challenge under some circumstances. In this work, we demonstrate that gold nanoparticles tagged on DNA are especially useful in trapping and detecting a special interstrand orientation of a DNA double helix, based on inherent electrostatic and steric repulsions between nanoparticles which will affect their self-assembly into a large structure. More importantly, some of the conformations revealed by the gold nanoparticle assay may even not be thermodynamically preferred and thus will be hard to detect using currently available methods. This simple, straightforward, and efficient methodology capable of dictating and probing a special DNA duplex structure provides a useful tool for conformational analyses and functional explorations of biomolecules as well as biophysical and nanobiomedical research.

Previous studies have indicated that estrogen protects the brain from ischemic damage and regulates K(ATP) channel activity; the present study was designed to address the involvement of K(ATP) channels in the neuroprotective effects of estrogen in focal cerebral ischemia: in experiment 1, K(ATP) mRNA and protein in the cortices of rats were compared among groups of ovariectomized rats (Ovx-1), Sham-operated rats (Sham-1), and ovariectomized rats administered 17β-estradiol (Estr-1). In experiment 2, neurobehavioral scores and infarct volume of rats were evaluated after middle cerebral artery occlusion in ovariectomized rats (Ovx-2), Sham-operated rats (Sham-2), ovariectomized female rats administered 17β-estradiol (Estr-2), and ovariectomized rats administered both 17β-estradiol and stereotactic injections of glibenclamide (Estr+G). Our results showed that the Kir6.2 and SUR1 mRNA and protein levels in the brain cortices of female ovariectomized rats were lower than those in Sham rats. However, the expression levels of Kir6.2 and SUR1 in brain cortices of ovariectomized rats recovered after supplementation with 17β-estradiol. The protective effects of 17β-estradiol were abolished by glibenclamide, a K(ATP) channel blocker. This indicates that estradiol significantly upregulates the expression of K(ATP) channel subunits and channel activity in the brain cortices of ovariectomized rats. This regulation is associated with the neuroprotective effects of estradiol.

Food and other environmental factors affect gene expression and behaviour of animals. Differences in bacterial food affect the behaviour and longevity of Caenorhabditis elegans. However, no research has been carried out to investigate whether bacteria could utilize endogenous RNAs to affect C. elegans physiology. Here we show that two Escherichia coli endogenous noncoding RNAs, OxyS and DsrA, impact on the physiology of C. elegans. OxyS downregulates che-2, leading to impairment in C. elegans chemosensory behaviour and DsrA suppresses diacylglycerol lipase gene F42G9.6, leading to a decrease in longevity. We also examine some genes in the C. elegans RNA interference pathway for their possible involvement in the effects of OxyS and DsrA. Other bacteria, such as Bacillus mycoides, may also utilize its noncoding RNAs to interfere with gene expression in C. elegans. Our results demonstrate that E. coli noncoding RNAs can regulate gene expression and physiological conditions of C. elegans and indicate that noncoding RNAs might have interspecies ecological roles., It is known that differences in the bacterial food of Caenorhabditis elegans can alter their behaviour. In this study, bacteria expressing two different noncoding RNAs alter the chemosensory and longevity of C. elegans, suggesting a role in modulating C. elegans physiology.