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Background Excessive intake of oil, salt and sugar is closely associated with the prevalence of NCDs. Canteen employees’ knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) about oil, salt and sugar directly affect the content of them in dishes and the consumers’ intake. However, there is no valid questionnaire used to assess KAP among canteen employees about the “oil, salt and sugar”. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to establish and validate a questionnaire to evaluate the KAP of canteen employees about the “oil, salt and sugar”.Methods A total of 100 canteen employees randomly selected from three different college canteens in Shandong Province. Participants completed the questionnaire and retested 1 month later. Internal reliability and test-retest reliability were assessed using Cronbach’s α and Pearson correlation coefficients, respectively. Validity was assessed using the exploratory factor analysis.Results The final questionnaire consisted of four sections, 76 items: demography (13 items), knowledge (21 items), attitude (20 items), and practice (23 items). A total of 100 participants finished the questionnaire of which 66% were females with a mean age of 40.3 years. The Cronbach’s α coefficients of the questionnaire and each dimension were 0.822, 0.830, 0.752 and 0.700, respectively. The test-retest reliability coefficient is 0.968; In exploratory factor analysis, 9 common factors are extracted, with a total of 26 items, and the cumulative contribution rate is 70.923%.Conclusion The questionnaire had a satisfactory property for measuring the KAP of the “oil, salt and sugar” among canteen employees in China.

Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) with intrinsic enzyme-like activity have attracted great attention in the biomedical field. The application mainly focused on biosensing area, but the anti-tumor study was restricted due to the poor catalytic efficacy of GQDs. Herein, we introduce an enhancing nanozyme using graphene quantum dots/semiconducting polymer nanocomposites (GQD-SPNs) which provide enhanced nanozyme activity for tumor therapy through photothermal effect. Near infrared irradiation guide local temperature increasing at the tumor and boost the hydroxyl radicals (▪OH) generation, to synergize with generated 1O2 and heat for better cancer therapy in Hela tumor bearing-mice. The present GQD-SPNs may turn on great opportunities for the enhanced nanozymes to cancer catalytic therapy.

Dysfunction of glutamatergic synaptic plasticity in basolateral amygdala (BLA) constitutes a critical pathogenic mechanism underlying the depression-like behaviors induced by chronic pain. Astrocytes serve as an important supporting cell modulating glutamatergic synaptic transmission. Here, we found that peripheral spared nerve injury (SNI) induced astrocyte activation to release IL-6 in BLA. Inhibition of astrocyte activity attenuated SNI-induced IL-6 overexpression and depression-like behaviors. Moreover, SNI enhanced the abundance of DHHC2 in synaptosome and DHHC3 in Golgi apparatus, promoted PSD-95 palmitoylation, and increased the recruitment of GluR1 and NR2B at synapses. Suppression of IL-6 or PSD-95 palmitoylation attenuated the synaptic accumulation of GluR1 and NR2B in BLA and improved depression-like behaviors induced by SNI. Furthermore, IL-6 downstream PI3K increased the expression of DHHC3 in Golgi apparatus and facilitated the interaction of palmitoylated PSD-95 with GluR1 and NR2B at synapses. These findings collectively suggested that SNI activated astrocyte to release IL-6 in BLA, which promoted PSD-95 palmitoylation and enhanced the synaptic trafficking of GluR1 and NR2B, and subsequently mediated the depression-like behaviors induced by nerve injury.

Clathrin-mediated vesicular formation and trafficking are highly conserved in eukaryotic cells and are responsible for molecular cargo transport and signal transduction among organelles. It remains largely unknown whether clathrin-coated vesicles can be generated from chloroplasts. CHLOROPLAST VESICULATION (CV)-containing vesicles (CVVs) generate from chloroplasts and mediate chloroplast degradation under abiotic stress. In this study, we showed that CV interacted with the clathrin heavy chain (CHC) and induced vesicle budding from the chloroplast inner envelope membrane. Defects on CHC2 and the dynamin-encoding DRP1A gene affected CVV budding and releasing from chloroplast. CHC2 is also required for CV-induced chloroplast degradation and hypersensitivity to water stress. Moreover, GLYCERALDEHYDE-3-PHOSPHATE DEHYDROGENASE (GAPC) interacts with CV and impairs the CV-CHC2 interaction. GAPC1 overexpression inhibited CV-mediated chloroplast degradation and hypersensitivity to water stress. CV silencing alleviated the hypersensitivity of gapc1gapc2 plant to water stress. Together, our work revealed a pathway of clathrin-assisted CVV budding from the chloroplast inner envelope membrane, which mediated the stress-induced chloroplast degradation and stress response.

Background Grain shape is a critical agronomic trait affecting grain yield and quality. Exploration and functional characterization of grain shape-related genes will facilitate rice breeding for higher quality and yield. Results Here, we characterized a recessive mutant named Oat-like rice for its unique grain shape which highly resembles oat grains. The Oat-like rice displayed abnormal floral organs, an open hull formed by remarkably elongated leafy lemmas and paleae, occasionally formed conjugated twin brown rice, an aberrant grain shape and a low seed setting rate. By map-based cloning, we discovered that Oat-like rice harbors a novel allele of OsMADS1 gene (OsMADS1Olr), which has a spontaneous point mutation that causes the substitution of an amino acid that is highly conserved in the MADS-box domain of the MADS-box family. Further linkage analysis indicated that the point mutation in the OsMADS1Olr is associated with Oat-like rice phenotype, and expression analysis of the OsMADS1 by qRT-PCR and GUS staining also indicated that it is highly expressed in flower organs as well as in the early stages of grain development. Furthermore, OsMADS1Olr-overexpressing plants showed similar phenotypes of Oat-like rice in grain shape, possibly due to the dominant negative effect. And OsMADS1-RNAi plants also displayed grain phenotypes like Oat-like rice. These results suggested that OsMADS1Olr is responsible for the Oat-like rice phenotype including aberrant grain shape. Moreover, the expression levels of representative genes related to grain shape regulation were apparently altered in Oat-like rice, OsMADS1Olr-overexpressing and OsMADS1-RNAi transgenic plants. Finally, compared with Oat-like rice, OsMADS1Olr-overexpressing and OsMADS1-RNAi plants, mild phenotype of seed-specific OsMADS1-RNAi transgenic plants indicated that OsMADS1 may has has a direct regulation role in grain development and the grain phenotypes of Oat-like rice, OsMADS1Olr-overexpressing and OsMADS1-RNAi plants are majorly caused by the abnormal lemma and palea development. Conclusions Altogether, our results showed that grain shape and a low seed setting rate of the notable ‘Oat-like rice’ are caused by a spontaneous point mutation in the novel allele OsMADS1Olr. Furthermore, our findings suggested that OsMADS1 mediates grain shape possibly by affecting the expression of representative genes related to grain shape regulation. Thus, this study not only revealed that OsMADS1 plays a vital role in regulating grain shape of rice but also highlighted the importance and value of OsMADS1 to improve the quality and yield of rice by molecular breeding.

Objective: It is unclear how tidal volume (Vt) impacts patients during one-lung ventilation (OLV). A meta-analysis was performed to assess the effect of Vt on physiology and clinical outcomes in OLV patients. Methods: PubMed, Cochrane library, and Web of Science were retrieved until February 2020. Randomized controlled trials comparing the application of low and high Vt ventilation in adults with OLV were included. Demographic variables, Vt, physiology, and clinical outcomes were retrieved. Summary odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and mean difference with standard deviation were calculated using a random-effects model.Results: 12 studies involving a total of 876 participants met inclusion criteria. Significant difference in blood interleukin-6 (IL-6) was observed between low Vt ventilation and high Vt ventilation (MD -35.51 pg/ml, 95% CI [-66.47, -4.54 pg/ml], p = 0.02). Low Vt ventilation decreased driving pressure (ΔP) (MD -6.02 cmH2O, 95% CI [-8.32, -3.72 cmH2O], p < 0.0001), Peak pressure (Ppeak) (MD -2.88 cmH2O, 95% CI [-4.60, -1.16 cmH2O], p = 0.001), and improved PaO2/FiO2 (MD 32.27 mmHg, 95% CI [19.54, 45.01 mmHg], p p = 0.02). Decreased hospital length of stay in the low Vt group occurred when Vt was set 4-5 ml/kg (MD -0.78 d, 95% CI [-1.45, -0.11 d], p = 0.02).Conclusions: In OLV patients, low Vt ventilation improved PaO2/FiO2, and it was also associated with decreased blood IL-6, ΔP, Ppeak, and risk of acute lung injury, when the low Vt was set 4-5 ml/kg hospital length of stay was decreased .

Additional file 1: Figure S1. Morphologies of NIP and Oat-like rice at maturation stage. Figure S2. Grain shape (a) and grain length (b) of 23 representative rice varieties or accessions from 15 countries in the world in comparison with that of Oat-like rice. Bar: (a) 5 mm. Figure S3. Variation in floral organ numbers, morphologies and structures of Oat-like rice. Figure S4. Sequence alignment of exon 1 of the OsMADS1Olr or OsMADS1 gene among Oat-like rice and representatively normal rice varieties. Figure S5. Protein sequence alignment of the MADS domain among OsMADS1Olr or OsMADS1 and other MADS-Box family members in rice. Figure S6. Abnormal spikelet phenotypes of OsMADS1Olr-overexpressing plants in comparison with the wild-type plants. Figure S7. Abnormal spikelet phenotypes of OsMADS1-RNAi plants in comparison with the wild-type plants. Figure S8. Tissue-specific expression pattern of OsMADS1 (a and c) and OsTip3 (b and d), respectively. a and b Expression pattern of OsMADS1 (a) and OsTip3 (b) in various vegetative, reproductive tissues & organs, and seeds according to the microarray data released in the ePlant Rice database ( http://bar.utoronto.ca/eplant_rice/ ). Color scale represents microarray signal level. P1: 0–3 cm inflorescence, floral transition and floral organ development; P2 and P3: 3–10 cm inflorescence, meiotic stage; P4: 10–15 cm inflorescence, young microspore stage; P5: 15–22 cm inflorescence, vacuolated pollen stage; P6: 22–30 cm inflorescence, mature pollen stage; Seed S1: 0–2 DAP, early globular embryo; Seed S2: 3–4 DAP, middle and late globular embryo; Seed S3: 5–10 DAP, embryo morphogenesis; Seed S4: 11–20 DAP, embryo maturation; Seed S5: 21–29 DAP, dormancy and desiccation tolerance; DAP: Days After Pollination; SAM: Shoot Apical Meristems. c and d Expression pattern of OsMADS1 (c) and OsTip3 (d) in various vegetative, reproductive tissues & organs, in addition to ovary, embryo and endosperm of seeds during different developmental stages according to the microarray data released in the Rice Expression Profile Database (RiceXPro) ( https://ricexpro.dna.affrc.go.jp/category-select.php ). The numbers 10,301 (c) and 02686 (d) indicate feature numbers of expression pattern of OsMADS1 and OsTip3 by using the corresponding probe, S-8726 (c) and S-2143 (d), respectively; DAF: Days After Fertilization. OsMADS1 is expressed in inflorescences, spikelets, floral organs and seeds (a and c), and OsTip3 is specifically expressed in seeds (b and d). Figure S9. Normal spikelet phenotypes of T0 pOsTip3::OsMADS1-RNAi plants (T3-Ri-6 (T0), T3-Ri-3 (T0), T3-Ri-4 (T0) and T3-Ri-7 (T0)) in comparison with wild-type (NIP). a-o Phenotypic analysis of spikelets and floral organs of NIP (a-c) and pOsTip3::OsMADS1-RNAi plants (d-o) by stereomicroscope. a, d, g, j and m A normal spikelet of NIP (a), T3-Ri-6 (T0) (d), T3-Ri-3 (T0) (g), T3-Ri-4 (T0) (j) and T3-Ri-7 (T0) (m). b, e, h, k and n A normal and dissected spikelet of NIP (b), T3-Ri-6 (T0) (e), T3-Ri-3 (T0) (h), T3-Ri-4 (T0) (k) and T3-Ri-7 (T0) (n) in which a lemma and a palea were ripped off, consisting of a pair of empty glumes, a pair of lodicules, six stamens and a pistil. c, f, i, l and o A normal pistil from a spikelet of NIP (c), T3-Ri-6 (T0) (f), T3-Ri-3 (T0) (i), T3-Ri-4 (T0) (l) and T3-Ri-7 (T0) (o) consists of an ovary and a pair of stigmas. eg, empty glume; le, lemma; pa, palea; lo, lodicule; st, stamen; pi, pistil; sti, stigma; ov, ovary. Bars: (a-o) 1 mm. Figure S10. Grain shape and relative expression of OsMADS1 in 12 DAF grains of T0 pOsTip3::OsMADS1-RNAi plants (T3-Ri-6 (T0), T3-Ri-3 (T0), T3-Ri-4 (T0) and T3-Ri-7 (T0)) in comparison with wild-type (NIP). a-d Grain shape and phenotypes of T0 pOsTip3::OsMADS1-RNAi plants (T3-Ri-6 (T0) (a), T3-Ri-3 (T0) (b), T3-Ri-4 (T0) (c) and T3-Ri-7 (T0) (d)) in comparison with NIP. e Relative expression of OsMADS1 in 12 DAF grains of wild-type and T0 pOsTip3::OsMADS1-RNAi plants (T3-Ri-6 (T0), T3-Ri-3 (T0), T3-Ri-4 (T0) and T3-Ri-7 (T0)). The value of OsActin mRNA was used as an internal control for data normalization, and the expression level of OsMADS1 in (NIP) were set as 1.0. DAF, Days After Fertilization. Values are means ± SDs of three replicates. Student’s t-test: *p

Background. Persistent peripheral CD4+T cell differentiation towards T helper (Th)2 rather than Th1 has been proved to be related to immunosuppression and poor prognosis in sepsis. However, it is unclear whether these circulating Th1 and Th2 subtype accumulations differed in septic populations of distinct infection sites and presented different associations with outcomes among patients with pulmonary versus nonpulmonary sepsis. Methods. From a secondary analysis of a prospective observational study, seventy-four previously immunocompetent patients with community-acquired severe sepsis within 24 hours upon onset were enrolled. Whole blood was collected on the admission day (D0), 3rd day (D3), and 7th day (D7). The patients were classified as pulmonary (n=52) and nonpulmonary sepsis (n=22). Circulating Th1 and Th2 populations were evaluated by flow cytometry, and clinical data related to disease severity and inflammatory response were collected. The associations of circulating Th1 and Th2 subset accumulations with distinct infection sites or outcomes within subgroups were explored. Results. Patients with pulmonary sepsis held similar disease severity and 28-day mortality with those of nonpulmonary sepsis. Of note is the finding that circulating Th2 levels on D7 (P=0.04) as well as Th2/Th1 on D3 (P=0.01) and D7 (P=0.04) were higher in the pulmonary sepsis compared with nonpulmonary sepsis while Th1 levels were lower on D0, D3, and D7 (P=0.01, P<0.05, HR>1), rather than nonpulmonary sepsis. Conclusions. Circulating Th2 accumulation was more apparent among pulmonary sepsis while nonpulmonary sepsis was characterized with the hyperactive circulating Th1 subset among previously immunocompetent patients. This finding suggested that circulating Th1 and Th2 subset accumulations vary in septic subgroups with different infection sites.

Graphene oxide was prepared by improving Hummers method and then modified by 4,4′-oxydianiline to get aminated graphene oxide, which was used to construct redox initiator system with dibenzoyl peroxide for synthesis of poly(methyl methacrylate) grafted to graphene oxide by in situ polymerization. Nanocomposites used grafted polymer as fillers with loadings from 0.5 to 1.0 wt % of poly(methyl methacrylate) were obtained by solution blending. The structures, properties and morphology of graphene oxide, grafted poly(methyl methacrylate) and composites are characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectra, scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, dynamic mechanical thermal analysis and bacterial adhesion examination respectively. The initial decomposition temperature and the glass transition temperature of the nanocomposites are improved by addition of grafted poly(methyl methacrylate). Furthermore, there is a significant enhancement of the decreasing of the surface bacterial adhesion of prepared nanocomposites.

Chronic pain is the most prominent and disabling symptom in the patients with osteoarthritis (OA), and the underlying mechanism largely remains unclear. Interleukin-6 (IL-6), a proinflammatory cytokine, is critically involved in the development and maintenance of central sensitization in several rodent models of chronic pain. The present study aims to elucidate the IL-6 mediated neurological adaptation in dorsal horn in the rat with monosodium iodoacetate (MIA) - induced OA. Significant upregulation of IL-6 expression was detected in the dorsal horn in the modeled rats. Blockade of IL-6 function by tocilizumab markedly suppressed the activation of astrocytes and microglia in the ipsilateral dorsal horn, reduced c-Fos immunoreactivity in dorsal horn neurons, and attenuated the upregulation of glutamate receptor subunits GluR1 and NR2B in dorsal horn in the rats with MIA-induced OA. It was further reported that administration of tocilizumab significantly improved the performance in weight-bearing test and mitigated the mechanical allodynia in the modeled rats. These data illustrated spinal IL-6 mediated mechanism underlying the chronic pain, and proposed the potential therapeutic effect of tocilizumab on the chronic pain in the setting of OA.

Hyperglycemia is one of the most important pathogenesis of diabetic osteopathy. Several lines of studies indicate Runx2 plays a critical role in the process of osteogenic differentiation. However, little studies have analyzed the effect of Runx2 on osteoblast differentiation of rat bone mesenchymal stem cells (rBMSCs) in high-glucose condition. In this study, the effect of Runx2 on osteoblast differentiation in high-glucose condition was evaluated by the expression of osteogenesis-related maker including Runx2, ALP, OC, and OPN, as well as ALP staining, ALP activity, and Alizarin red S staining. Western blot analysis was performed to detect the protein expression levels of p-AKT, AKT, p-GSK3β, GSK3β, and β-catenin. Immunofluorescence staining analysis was performed to detect subcellular localization of β-catenin. Our results revealed that high glucose significantly inhibited osteogenic differentiation, hyperosmolarity did not cause a suppression. In addition, Runx2 could upregulate the expression of osteogenic-related genes and increase matrix mineralization, while applying 10 µM PI3K/AKT inhibitor LY294002 abolished the beneficial effect. Collectively, these results indicate that Runx2 alleviates high glucose-induced inhibition of osteoblast differentiation by modulating PI3K/AKT/GSK3β/β-catenin pathway.

Background Light provides the energy for photosynthesis and determines plant morphogenesis and development. Low light compromises photosynthetic efficiency and leads to crop yield loss. It remains unknown how rice responds to low light stress at a proteomic level. Results In this study, the quantitative proteomic analysis with isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) was used and 1221 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were identified from wild type rice plants grown in control or low light condition (17% light intensity of control), respectively. Bioinformatic analysis of DEPs indicated low light remarkably affects the abundance of chloroplastic proteins. Specifically, the proteins involved in carbon fixation (Calvin cycle), electron transport, and ATPase complex are severely downregulated under low light. Furthermore, overexpression of the downregulated gene encoding rice β subunit of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (OsGAPB), an enzyme in Calvin cycle, significantly increased the CO2 assimilation rate, chlorophyll content and fresh weight under low light conditions but have no obvious effect on rice growth and development under control light. Conclusion Our results revealed that low light stress on vegetative stage of rice inhibits photosynthesis possibly by decreasing the photosynthetic proteins and OsGAPB gene is a good candidate for manipulating rice tolerance to low light stress.

Background Quadratus lumborum block (QLB) can reduce pain and opioid consumption after cesarean delivery. This systematic review investigated the effectiveness of QLB in reducing postoperative opioid use and its effect on pain scores compared with other analgesic methods after cesarean delivery. Methods Six medical databases were searched from their inception to August 2019. Trials were eligible if parturients underwent cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia (not epidural or general anesthesia). The primary outcome was postoperative opioid consumption during the first 24 and 48 h. Secondary outcomes included pain scores, patient satisfaction, and side effects. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane tool. Where possible, meta-analytic techniques were used to synthesize data, presented as mean difference with 95% confidence interval (CI). Results Twelve studies involving 904 patients were identified and analyzed. Opioid (intravenous morphine) consumption was significantly reduced with QLB when compared with placebo or no block during the first 24 h by 14.1 mg, (95% CI −20.8 to −7.5 mg) and 48 h by 20.8 mg, (95% CI −33.1 to −8.5 mg). Additionally, QLB significantly reduced 12-h pain scores at rest and during movement. However, this difference disappeared at 24 and 48 h. There was insufficient evidence regarding postoperative opioid use or pain scores with the use of QLB compared to intrathecal morphine. Conclusions The review findings show the superior analgesic effect of QLB when compared with systemic opioids in reducing postoperative opioid consumption, when intrathecal morphine is not administered.

Background Low differentiation rates of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) limit their therapeutic effects on patients in clinical studies. Our previous study demonstrated that overexpressing p130 or E2F4 affected the multipotential differentiation of MSCs, and the underlying mechanism was attributed to the regulation of the G1 phase. Improving the efficiency of MSC differentiation into epithelial cells is considered to be a new method. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the effects of overexpressing p130 or E2F4 in MSCs on improving re-epithelization in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ARDS animals. Methods Mouse MSCs (mMSCs) stably transfected with p130 and E2F4 were transplanted intratracheally into LPS-induced ARDS mice. After 7 and 14 days, the mice were sacrificed, and the histopathology of the lungs was assessed by haematoxylin-eosin staining and lung injury scoring. Homing and differentiation of mMSCs were analysed by labelling and tracking mMSCs with NIR815 dye and immunofluorescent staining. Surfactant proteins A and C and occludin in the lungs were assessed by western blot. Permeability was evaluated by analysing the protein concentration of BALF using ELISA. Alveolar fluid clearance was assessed by absorbance measurements of BALF. Lung fibrosis was assessed by Masson’s trichrome staining and Ashcroft scoring. Results The engraftment of mMSCs overexpressing p130 or E2F4 led to attenuated histopathological impairment of the lung tissue, and the lung injury scores of the LPS+mBM-MSC-p130 and LPS+mBM-MSC-E2F4 groups were also decreased (p p p p p Conclusion Overexpressing p130 or E2F4 in mMSCs could further improve the injured structure and function of epithelial cells in the lungs of ARDS mice as a result of improved differentiation of mMSCs into epithelial cells.

The effect of non-linear phenomenon such as wave run-up and wave impact on the heaving buoy wave energy converter may lead to its efficiency decrease and overtopping. In this study, a hydrodynamic simulation of wave run-up heights and maximum wave loads on a cylindrical heaving buoy is constructed and preliminarily analysed using the Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes equations. The numerical results show that kinetic energy is mainly concentrated in the wave-ward and leeward sides of the buoy. Further, the maximum pressure at the bottom of the buoy occurs on the leeward side when the wave hits the buoy, increasing by 47% over the initial pressure and 32% over the maximum pressure at the centre of the buoy. For a heaving buoy with the power take-off mechanism (PTO), the damping coefficient is the main parameter that affects the wave run-up and wave loads. By contrast, for a heaving buoy without PTO, the wave height and the radius of the buoy are the main parameter. The accuracy of the numerical results is verified through model tests of the motion response of the buoy and the wave surface characteristics around it. The computational method can guide future buoy designs in terms of safety and reliability.

Certain microRNAs (miRs) have important roles in the maintenance of bone development and metabolism, and a variety of miRs are known to be deregulated in diabetes. The present study investigated the role of miR‑203‑3p in the regulation of bone loss by assessing jaw bones of a rat model of type 2 diabetes. The results indicated that miR‑203‑3p inhibited osteogenesis in the jaws of diabetic rats and in rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells cultured in high‑glucose medium. A luciferase re-porter assay was used to verify the bioinformatics prediction that miR‑203‑3p targets the 3'‑untranslated region of Smad1, which is an important mediator of the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)/Smad pathway. Overexpression of Smad1 attenuated the miR‑203‑3p‑mediated suppres-sion of osteogenic differentiation. It was therefore indicated that the BMP/Smad pathway is attenuated and the transforming growth factor‑β/activin pathway is promoted by Smad1 reduction. Taken together, it was indicated that miR‑203‑3p inhibits osteogenesis in jaw bones of diabetic rats by targeting Smad1 to inhibit the BMP/Smad pathway.

Background 5-HT3 receptor antagonists are effective antiemetics for perioperative use. However, their effects on myometrial contractility remain unknown. We examined whether three different 5-HT3 receptor antagonists could affect the contraction of human myometrium. Methods Samples of human myometrium were taken from parturients undergoing elective cesarean delivery. Effects of ondansetron, granisetron and tropisetron (over a range of 1–10 4 ng/mL) on spontaneous contraction (ratios of amplitude, interval, and duration of the contraction) were examined and compared to saline controls (n=6 for each agent). Results None of the three 5-HT3 receptor antagonists significantly affected myometrial contraction. Conclusion 5-HT3 receptor antagonists do not affect the contraction of myometrial strips isolated from term pregnant women.

Local scour around foundations is a hot research topic in ocean engineering, especially for shallow composite bucket foundations. In this study, a physical model was developed for the scour induced by waves and current around a composite bucket foundation. Foundation models with scales of 1:40 and 1:60 were placed in a flume, and the scour process was monitored at eight points arranged evenly and symmetrically along the model circumference. The scoured topography was investigated in detail under different wave and current conditions, and the maximum equilibrium scour depths were compared. The experimental results showed that the combined wave–current condition induced a greater scour range than the wave-only or current-only condition, but it did not necessarily induce a greater equilibrium scour depth than the current-only condition. In contrast to the current-induced scour, the combined wave–current and wave-only conditions induced obvious scour pits in the front of and close to the foundation. The effects of dimensionless parameters such as the Keulegan–Carpenter number ( K C ), ratio of velocities ( U c w ) and Froude number ( F r a ) on the maximum equilibrium scour depth were considered.

Hyperglycemia is one of the most important pathogenesis of diabetic osteopathy. Several lines of studies indicate Runx2 plays a critical role in the process of osteogenic differentiation. However, little studies have analyzed the effect of Runx2 on osteoblast differentiation of rat bone mesenchymal stem cells (rBMSCs) in high-glucose condition. In this study, the effect of Runx2 on osteoblast differentiation in high-glucose condition was evaluated by the expression of osteogenesis-related maker including Runx2, ALP, OC, and OPN, as well as ALP staining, ALP activity, and Alizarin red S staining. Western blot analysis was performed to detect the protein expression levels of p-AKT, AKT, p-GSK3β, GSK3β, and β-catenin. Immunofluorescence staining analysis was performed to detect subcellular localization of β-catenin. Our results revealed that high glucose significantly inhibited osteogenic differentiation, hyperosmolarity did not cause a suppression. In addition, Runx2 could upregulate the expression of osteogenic-related genes and increase matrix mineralization, while applying 10 µM PI3K/AKT inhibitor LY294002 abolished the beneficial effect. Collectively, these results indicate that Runx2 alleviates high glucose-induced inhibition of osteoblast differentiation by modulating PI3K/AKT/GSK3β/β-catenin pathway.

Cannabinoid receptor type-2 (CB2, CB2 receptor or CB2-R) mediates analgesia via two mechanisms. CB2 receptors contained in peripheral immune tissue mediate analgesia by altering cytokine profiles, and thus have little adverse effects on central nervous systems (CNSs). CB2 is also expressed in the neurons and glial cells of the CNS. This neuronal expression may also contribute to pain attenuation. The CB2 receptor has been proposed as a potential target in treating chronic pain of several etiologies.

Complex regional pain syndrome type 1 (CRPS-I) remains one of the most clinically challenging neuropathic pain syndromes and its mechanism has not been fully characterized. Cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2) has emerged as a promising target for treating different neuropathic pain syndromes. In neuropathic pain models, activated microglia expressing CB2 receptors are seen in the spinal cord. Chemokine fractalkine receptor (CX3CR1) plays a substantial role in microglial activation and neuroinflammation. We hypothesized that a CB2 agonist could modulate neuroinflammation and neuropathic pain in an ischemia model of CRPS by regulating CB2 and CX3CR1 signaling. We used chronic post-ischemia pain (CPIP) as a model of CRPS-I. Rats in the CPIP group exhibited significant hyperemia and edema of the ischemic hindpaw and spontaneous pain behaviors (hindpaw shaking and licking). Intraperitoneal administration of MDA7 (a selective CB2 agonist) attenuated mechanical allodynia induced by CPIP. MDA7 treatment was found to interfere with early events in the CRPS-I neuroinflammatory response by suppressing peripheral edema, spinal microglial activation and expression of CX3CR1 and CB2 receptors on the microglia in the spinal cord. MDA7 also mitigated the loss of intraepidermal nerve fibers induced by CPIP. Neuroprotective effects of MDA7 were blocked by a CB2 antagonist, AM630. Our findings suggest that MDA7, a novel CB2 agonist, may offer an innovative therapeutic approach for treating neuropathic symptoms and neuroinflammatory responses induced by CRPS-I in the setting of ischemia and reperfusion injury.

Background. It was suggested that labor may influence the spread of intrathecal bupivacaine using combined spinal epidural (CSE) technique. However, no previous studies investigated this proposition. We designed this study to investigate the spinal block characteristics of plain bupivacaine between nonlaboring and laboring parturients using CSE technique. Methods. Twenty-five nonlaboring (Group NL) and twenty-five laboring parturients (Group L) undergoing cesarean delivery were enrolled. Following identification of the epidural space at the L3-4 interspace, plain bupivacaine 10 mg was administered intrathecally using CSE technique. The level of sensory block, degree of motor block, and hemodynamic changes were assessed. Results. The baseline systolic blood pressure (SBP) and the maximal decrease of SBP in Group L were significantly higher than those in Group NL ( 𝑃 = 0 . 0 0 2 and 𝑃 = 0 . 0 3 , resp.). The median sensory level tested by cold stimulation was T6 for Group NL and T5 for Group L ( 𝑃 = 0 . 4 6 ). The median sensory level tested by pinprick was T7 for both groups ( 𝑃 = 0 . 3 5 ). The degree of motor block was comparable between the two groups ( 𝑃 = 0 . 8 5 ). Conclusion. We did not detect significant differences in the sensory block levels between laboring and nonlaboring parturients using CSE technique with intrathecal plain bupivacaine.

MicroRNAs, a class of 22-nucleotide non-coding RNAs, modulate gene expression by associating with the 3’-untranslated regions (3’- UTRs) of messenger RNAs (mRNAs). Although multiple miRNAs are known to be regulated during angiogenesis, their individual roles in blood vessel development are still not fully understood. Herein, we investigate the role of miR-29c in regulating cell cycle and angiogenic phenotype of endothelial cells. The results showed that IGF-1 is highly expressed and down-regulated by miR-29c in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Consistent with this preliminary finding, introduction of exogenous miR-29c or miR-29c inhibitor alters cell cycle progression, proliferation and tube formation of HUVEC, respectively. Furthermore, by using luciferase reporter assay, we find that the expression of IGF-1, a suppressor transcription factor, is directly regulated by miR-29c through 3’-UTR. In addition, we show that the selective inhibition of PI3K/AKT pathway prior to miR-29c stimulation prevents the expression of angiogenesis suppressor miRNAs that are family and cluster specific. As a conclusion, we find that miR-29c plays a significant role in regulating cell cycle, proliferation and angiogenic properties of HUVECs. This function is likely mediated through IGF-1 proteins at the post-transcriptional level. As a novel molecular target, miR-29c may have a potential value in the treatment of angiogenesis-associated diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases and cancers.