Efficient EGFR signaling and dorsal–ventral axis patterning requires syntaxin dependent Gurken trafficking

AbstractVesicle trafficking plays a crucial role in the establishment of cell polarity in various cellular contexts, including axis-pattern formation in the developing egg chamber of Drosophila. The EGFR ligand, Gurken (Grk), is first localized at the posterior of young oocytes for anterior–posterior axis formation and later in the dorsal anterior region for induction of the dorsal–ventral (DV) axis, but regulation of Grk localization by membrane trafficking in the oocyte remains poorly understood. Here, we report that Syntaxin 1A (Syx1A) is required for efficient trafficking of Grk protein for DV patterning. We show that Syx1A is associated with the Golgi membrane and is required for the transportation of Grk-containing vesicles along the microtubules to their dorsal anterior destination in the oocyte. Our studies reveal that the Syx1A dependent trafficking of Grk protein is required for efficient EGFR signaling during DV patterning

Expressions of Neuregulin 1β and ErbB4 in Prefrontal Cortex and Hippocampus of a Rat Schizophrenia Model Induced by Chronic MK-801 Administration

Recent human genetic studies and postmortem brain examinations of schizophrenia patients strongly indicate that dysregulation of NRG1 and ErbB4 may be important pathogenic factors of schizophrenia. However, this hypothesis has not been validated and fully investigated in animal models of schizophrenia. In this study we quantitatively examined NRG1 and ErbB4 protein expressions by immunohistochemistry and Western blot in the brain of a rat schizophrenia model induced by chronic administration of MK-801 (a noncompetitive NMDA receptor antagonist). Our data showed that NRG1β and ErbB4 expressions were significantly increased in the rat prefrontal cortex and hippocampus but in different subregions. These findings suggest that altered expressions of NRG1 and ErbB4 might be attributed to the schizophrenia. Further study in the role and mechanism of NRG1 and ErbB4 may lead to better understanding of the pathophysiology for this disorder

Plant regeneration via somatic embryogenesis from root explants of Hevea brasiliensis

A system for induction of callus and plant regeneration via somatic embryogenesis from root explants of Hevea brasiliensis Muell. Arg. clone Reyan 87-6-62 was evaluated. The influence of plant growth regulators (PGRs) including 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), 6-benzylaminopurine (6-BA) and kinetin (KT) on callus induction of root explants from in vitro plantlets were studied. The results showed that the highest induction frequency of embryogenic callus emerged on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 1 mg/l KT, 0.2 mg/l 6-BA without 2,4-D. Mean of 4 somatic embryos per embryogenic callus were obtained and approximately 11.8% of them developed into plantlets. The regenerated plantlets were successfully  transplanted to sand bed. The plant regeneration system established in this study will facilitate mass propagation and may be applied to culture the roots of high-yielding rubber trees.Key words: Hevea brasiliensis Muell. Arg., root explants, callus, somatic embryogenesis, regeneration

Dimethyl 2,5-bis­(5-hexyl­thio­phen-2-yl)benzene-1,4-dioate

In the title compound, C30H38O4S2, the centroid of the benzene ring lies on a center of inversion. The thio­phene ring is aligned at 49.8 (1)° with respect to the benzene ring. The alkyl chain adopts an extended zigzag conformation

Epac1 is involved in cell cycle progression in lung cancer through PKC and Cx43 regulation

Introduction. The exchange protein directly activated by cAMP (Epac1), a downstream target of the second messenger cAMP, modulates multiple biological effects of cAMP, alone or in cooperation with protein kinase A (PKC). Epac1 is necessary for promoting protein kinase C (PKC) translocation and activation. The aim of the study was to assess the intensity of Epac1 and protein kinase C (PKC) immunoreactivity in lung cancer and para-carcinoma tissues, and their associations with clinical-pathological indexes. Correlations between the immunoreactivity of Epac1, PKC, A-kinase anchor protein 95 (AKAP95) and connexin43 (Cx43) were also examined. Material and methods. Epac1, Cx43 (46 cases) and PKC, AKAP95 (45 cases) immunoexpression levels were determined in tissue samples of lung cancer and in 12 samples of neighboring para-carcinoma specimens by the PV-9000 Two-step immunohistochemical technique. Results. The percentage of Epac1 positive samples was significantly lower in lung cancer tissue than in neighboring para-carcinoma specimens (37% vs. 83.3%, p < 0.05); the difference in PKC immunoreactivity was not significant (64.4% vs. 91.7%). Epac1 expression was associated with the degree of malignancy and lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05), but not with histological type (P > 0.05), whereas PKC expression was not related to these parameters. Interestingly, Epac1 expression was correlated with PKC and Cx43 expression. Moreover, PKC expression was correlated with AKAP95 expression. Conclusion. Normal Epac1 expression may suppress lung cancer occurrence and metastasis, and its downregulation is involved in cell cycle progression in lung cancer through PKC and Cx43 regulation.

Rapid determination of 103 common veterinary drug residues in milk and dairy products by ultra performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry

A multi-residue method has been developed for the identification and quantification of 103 common veterinary drug residues in milk and dairy Products. This method was based on QuEChERS with dispersive solid-phase where C18 sorbent and anhydrous sodium sulfate were used to sample purification. After evaporation and reconstitution, the samples were analyzed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The mean recovery results were all higher than 60% except ampicillin, pipemidic acid, enoxacin, and estriol, and the relative standard deviation was <20.0%. The limit of quantification ranged between 0.1 and 5 μg/kg for milk and between 0.5 and 25 μg/kg for milk powder. It was successfully used to detect residues of veterinary drug in real samples. This study proposes a simple and fast analytical method for monitoring multi-class veterinary drug residues to ensure food safety

Effect of Cervus and Cucumis Peptides on Osteoblast Activity and Fracture Healing in Osteoporotic Bone

Osteoporosis is associated with delayed and/or reduced fracture healing. As cervus and cucumis are the traditional Chinese treatments for rheumatoid arthritis, we investigated the effect of supplementation of these peptides (CCP) on bone fracture healing in ovariectomized (OVX) osteoporotic rats in vitro and in vivo. CCP enhanced osteoblast proliferation and increased alkaline phosphatase activity, matrix mineralization, and expression of runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4), and osteopontin. In vivo, female Sprague-Dawley rats underwent ovariectomy and the right femora were fractured and fixed by intramedullary nailing 3 months later. Rats received intraperitoneal injections of either CCP (1.67 mg/kg) or physiological saline every day for 30 days. Fracture healing and callus formation were evaluated by radiography, micro-CT, biomechanical testing, and histology. At 12 weeks after fracture, calluses in CCP-treated bones showed significantly higher torsional strength and greater stiffness than control-treated bones. Bones in CCP-treated rats reunified and were thoroughly remodeled, while two saline-treated rats showed no bone union and incomplete remodeling. Taken together, these results indicate that use of CCP after fracture in osteoporotic rats accelerates mineralization and osteogenesis and improves fracture healing

Use of an Automated Quantitative Analysis of Hippocampal Volume, Signal, and Glucose Metabolism to Detect Hippocampal Sclerosis

Purpose: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18FDG) are valuable tools for evaluating hippocampal sclerosis (HS); however, bias may arise during visual analyses. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare MRI and PET post-processing techniques, automated quantitative hippocampal volume (Q-volume), and fluid-attenuated inversion-recovery (FLAIR) signal (Q-FLAIR) and glucose metabolism (Q-PET) analyses in patients with HS.Methods: We collected MRI and 18FDG-PET images from 54 patients with HS and 22 healthy controls and independently performed conventional visual analyses (CVA) of PET (CVA-PET) and MRI (CVA-MRI) images. During the subsequent quantitative analyses, the hippocampus was segmented from the 3D T1 image, and the mean volumetric, FLAIR intensity and standardized uptake value ratio (SUVR) values of the left and right hippocampus were assessed in each subject. Threshold confidence levels calculated from the mean volumetric, FLAIR intensity and SUVR values of the controls were used to identify healthy subjects or subjects with HS. The performance of the three methods was assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, and the detection rates of CVA-MRI, CVA-PET, Q-volume, Q-FLAIR, and Q-PET were statistically compared.Results: The areas under the curves (AUCs) for the Q-volume, Q-FLAIR, and Q-PET ROC analyses were 0.88, 0.41, and 0.98, which suggested a diagnostic method with moderate, poor, and high accuracy, respectively. Although Q-PET had the highest detection rate among the two CVA methods and three quantitative methods, the difference between Q-volume and Q-PET did not reach statistical significance. Regarding the HS subtypes, CVA-MRI, CVA-PET, Q-volume, and Q-PET had similar detection rates for type 1 HS, and Q-PET was the most sensitive method for detecting types 2 and 3 HS.Conclusions: In MRI or 18FDG-PET images that have been visually assessed by experts, the quantification of hippocampal volume or glucose uptake can increase the detection of HS and appear to be additional valuable diagnostic tools for evaluating patients with epilepsy who are suspected of having HS