MicroRNA-646 inhibits the proliferation of ovarian granulosa cells via insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) in polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)

Introduction: Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrinopathy in women. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been proven to play a crucial role in balancing the proliferation and apoptosis of granulosa cells (GCs) in PCOS. Material and methods: The miRNA of PCOS was screened by bioinformatics analysis, and microRNA 646 (miR-646) was found to be involved in insulin-related pathways by enrichment analysis. The cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), cell colony formation, and the 5-ethynyl-2’-deoxyuridine (EdU) assays were used to explore the effect of miR-646 on proliferation of GCs, flow cytometry was used to measure the cell cycle and apoptosis, and Western blot and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) were used to explore the biological mechanism of miR-646. The human ovarian granulosa cells KGN were selected by measuring the miR-646 and via insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) levels and used for cell transfection. Results: Overexpressed miR-646 inhibited KGN cell proliferation, and silenced miR-646 advanced it. Most cells were arrested in the S phase of cell cycle with overexpressed-miR-646, while after silencing miR-646, cells were arrested in the G2/M phase. And the miR-646 mimic raised apoptosis in KGN cells. Also, a dual-luciferase reporter proved the regulation effect of miR-646 on IGF-1, miR-646 mimic inhibited IGF-1, and miR-646 inhibitor advanced IGF-1. The cyclin D1, cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2), and B-cell CLL/lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) levels were inhibited with overexpressed-miR-646, while silenced-miR-646 promoted their expression, and the bcl-2-like protein 4 (Bax) level was the opposite. This study found that silenced-IGF1 antagonized the promotive effect of the miR-646 inhibitor on cell proliferation. Conclusions: MiR-646 inhibitor treatment can promote the proliferation of GCs by regulating the cell cycle and inhibiting apoptosis, while silenced-IGF-1 antagonizes it

Jute/polypropylene composites: Effect of enzymatic modification on thermo-mechanical and dynamic mechanical properties

In this study, a high-performance composite was prepared from jute fabrics and polypropylene (PP). In order to improve the compatibility of the polar fibers and the non-polar matrix, alkyl gallates with different hydrophobic groups were enzymatically grafted onto jute fabric by laccase to increase the surface hydrophobicity of the fiber. The grafting products were characterized by FTIR. The results of contact angle and wetting time showed that the hydrophobicity of the jute fabrics was improved after the surface modification. The effect of the enzymatic graft modification on the properties of the jute/PP composites was evaluated. Results showed that after the modification, tensile and dynamic mechanical properties of composites improved, and water absorption and thickness swelling clearly decreased. However, tensile properties drastically decreased after a long period of water immersion. The thermal behavior of the composites was evaluated by TGA/DTG. The fiber-matrix morphology in the modified jute/PP composites was confirmed by SEM analysis of the tensile fractured specimens.This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (51173071), the Program for New Century Excellent Talents in University (NCET-12-0883), the Program for Changjiang Scholars and Innovative Research Team in University (IRT1135) and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (JUSRP51312B, JUSRP51505)

Effect of compassion fatigue on the caring ability of young psychiatric nurses: A dominance analysis and chain mediation model

Abstract Aims The aim of this study is to explore the mechanism by which three factors of compassion fatigue affect caring ability in young psychiatric nurses. Methods We used the Professional Quality of Life Scale and Caring Ability Inventory to investigate 309 young nurses in three psychiatric hospitals in Heilongjiang. Dominance analysis and chain mediation model were performed to explore the effects of three factors of compassion fatigue on caring ability. Results (1) The three factors of compassion fatigue affected the caring ability of young in the order compassion satisfaction > burnout>secondary traumatic stress by dominance analysis; (2) burnout played a partially mediating effect between compassion satisfaction and caring ability; and (3) secondary traumatic stress and burnout had a chain mediating effect between compassion satisfaction and caring ability. Conclusions Higher levels of compassion satisfaction had the strongest impact on the caring ability of young psychiatric nurses which could be mediated via burnout and secondary traumatic stress. No patient or public contribution

Dynamic behavior and microstructural evolution of TiAl alloys tailored via phase and grain size

As a kind of promising aerospace material, TiAl alloys need to withstand extreme conditions such as high-rate impact loads and high temperatures. The mechanism on the failure and fracture of TiAl alloys under extreme conditions is related with the microstructure, including phase and grain size. In the present research, two kinds of TiAl alloys tailored with different microstructures, near lamellar (NL) and near gamma (NG), were fabricated by thermo-mechanical treatment. Microstructural characterization was analyzed by XRD and EBSD. The dynamic behavior of the TiAl alloys under different temperatures ranging from 293 K–873 K was investigated by a split Hopkinson pressure bar. The strain rate sensitivity and temperature sensitivity was analyzed. The microstructural evolution was concerned to understand the failure mechanism of the two kinds of the TiAl alloys. The NG-TiAl had the homogeneous deformation with synergy effect between homogeneous equiaxed grain and lamellar structure, and no failure occurred in NG-TiAl. However, the NL-TiAl showed heterogeneous deformation with both “orange peel effect” and cracks, which was attributed to large equiaxed grain and brittle γ-lamellae with similar orientation. Further, the cracks were easily nucleated and propagated from the interface between γ-lamellae structures, especially in the γ-lamellae structures parallel with the loading direction. Finally, the modified Johnson–Cook constitutive model was proposed to describe the deformation behavior, in which both strain rate hardening and temperature softening terms were expressed as a function of strain and strain rate

Development of Portable Dynamic Ion Flux Detecting Equipment

International audienceNon-destructive testing of plant organs, tissues, and cells has important implications in studying the immediate physiological status of plants. The portable dynamic ion flux test equipment (PDIFTE) was developed based on Fick’s first law of diffusion and the Nernst equation to achieve the ion flux measurement in pmol cm−2s−1. This equipment integrates micro-imaging, micro-signal processing, automation and control, and biosensor technologies with the original signal acquisition and conditioning module, the motion control module, the macro 3D automatically control platform, micro digital imaging system, electrostatic shielding coating, ion-selective microelectrode, and other components. PDIFTE can detect H+, K+, Na+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Cd2+, Cl−, $${\text{NO}}_{3}^{ - }$$, and $${\text{NH}}_{4}^{ + }$$. This device can be used in the physiological mechanism research of salt-resistant, drought-resistant, cold-tolerant, heavy metal-resistant, and disease-resistant plants. It can also be used in the research on plant nutrition, ion channel-related gene function, and crop resistant breeding screening

The ameliorating effects of Guizhi Fuling Wan combined with rosiglitazone in a rat ovarian model of polycystic ovary syndrome by the PI3K/AKT/NF-κB and Nrf2/HO-1 pathways

GuizhiFulingWan (GFW) has been reported to be effective against polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) by possessing oxidative stress and inflammation which related to PI3K/AKT/NF-κB, Nrf2/HO-1 pathway. This study aims to probe the effects and mechanisms of GFW combined with rosiglitazone on PCOS via PI3K/AKT/NF-κB and Nrf2/HO-1 pathways. A rat PCOS model established by dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) injection. The experiment was allocated to control, DHEA, GFW, rosiglitazone, GFW + rosiglitazone groups. Treatment for 30 days, we monitored weight and ovarian weight of rats. Fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting insulin (FINS), homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), lipid metabolism indexes, estrous cycle and sex hormone-, inflammation-, oxidative stress-related factors were examined. Hematoxylin&eosin staining assessed ovarian tissue pathological changes. Western blot determined PI3K/AKT/NF-κB, Nrf2/HO-1 pathways-related markers. GFW and rosiglitazone treatment suppressed body weight and ovarian weight in PCOS rats. They also decreased FBG, FINS, HOMA-IR while inhibited total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and enhanced high-density lipoprotein (HDL). They ameliorated estrous cycle, ovarian histological changes and follicular development. They restrained testosterone (T), luteinizing hormone (LH) and accelerated estradiol (E2), progesterone (P), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). They inhibited glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) in serum while increased GSH-Px, SOD and decrease MDA in ovarian tissues. They reduced C-reactive protein, interleukin-18 (IL-18), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), IL-6, IL-1β levels. GFW and rosiglitazone co-intervention regulated PI3K/AKT/NF-κB and Nrf2/HO-1 pathways in PCOS rats. GFW alleviated ovarian dysfunction in PCOS rats, which may be related to the PI3K/AKT/NF-κB, Nrf2/HO-1 pathways.</p

A Series of [MnMo₉O₃₂]^6– Based Solids: Homochiral Transferred from Adjacent Polyoxoanions to One-, Two-, and Three-Dimensional Frameworks

Five new compounds based on the Waugh-type polyoxoanion [MnMo₉O₃₂]^6– Na₄Mn­[MnMo₉O₃₂]·11.5H₂O (<b>1</b>), KNa₃Mn­[MnMo₉O₃₂]·9H₂O (<b>2</b>), Na₂Ni₂[MnMo₉O₃₂]·12H₂O (<b>3</b>), l-Mn₃[MnMo₉O₃₂]·13H₂O (<b>4a</b>), d-Mn₃[MnMo₉O₃₂]·13H₂O (<b>4b</b>), and l-Ni₃[MnMo₉O₃₂]·11.5H₂O (<b>5a</b>) have been synthesized. In these compounds, with the changes of Na⁺/TM (TM = Mn²⁺, Ni²⁺) in the crystal, the homochiral interactions were extended from two adjacent [MnMo₉O₃₂]^6– to one-dimensional (compounds <b>1</b> and <b>2</b>), two-dimensional (compound <b>3</b>), and three-dimensional (compounds <b>4</b> and <b>5</b>) systems, respectively

Antioxidant Enzymatic Activity and Osmotic Adjustment as Components of the Drought Tolerance Mechanism in Carex duriuscula

Drought stress is a major environmental constraint for plant growth. Climate-change-driven increases in ambient temperatures resulted in reduced or unevenly distributed rainfalls, leading to increased soil drought. Carex duriuscula C. A. Mey is a typical drought-tolerant sedge, but few reports have examined the mechanisms conferring its tolerant traits. In the present study, the drought responses of C. duriuscula were assessed by quantifying activity of antioxidant enzymes in its leaf and root tissues and evaluating the relative contribution of organic and inorganic osmolyte in plant osmotic adjustment, linking it with the patterns of the ion acquisition by roots. Two levels of stress—mild (MD) and severe (SD) drought treatments—were used, followed by re-watering. Drought stress caused reduction in a relative water content and chlorophyll content of leaves; this was accompanied by an increase in the hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and superoxide (O2−) contents in leaves and roots. Under MD stress, the activities of catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) increased in leaves, whereas, in roots, only CAT and POD activities increased. SD stress led to an increase in the activities of CAT, POD, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and GPX in both tissues. The levels of proline, soluble sugars, and soluble proteins in the leaves also increased. Under both MD and SD stress conditions, C. duriuscula increased K+, Na+, and Cl− uptake by plant roots, which resulted in an increased K+, Na+, and Cl− concentrations in leaves and roots. This reliance on inorganic osmolytes enables a cost-efficient osmotic adjustment in C. duriuscula. Overall, this study revealed that C. duriuscula was able to survive arid environments due to an efficient operation of its ROS-scavenging systems and osmotic adjustment mechanisms