Protective effect of human serum amyloid P on CCl4-induced acute liver injury in mice.

Human serum amyloid P (hSAP), a member of the pentraxin family, inhibits the activation of fibrocytes in culture and inhibits experimental renal, lung, skin and cardiac fibrosis. As hepatic inflammation is one of the causes of liver fibrosis, in the present study, we investigated the hepatoprotective effects of hSAP against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver injury. Our data indicated that hSAP attenuated hepatic histopathological abnormalities and significantly decreased inflammatory cell infiltration and pro-inflammatory factor expression. Moreover, CCl4-induced apoptosis in the mouse liver was inhibited by hSAP, as measured by terminal-deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay and cleaved caspase-3 expression. hSAP significantly restored the expression of B cell lymphoma/leukemia (Bcl)-2 and suppressed the expression of Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) in vivo. The number of hepatocytes in early apoptosis stained with Annexin V was significantly reduced by 28-30% in the hSAP treatment group compared with the CCl4 group, and the expression of Bcl-2 was increased, whereas the expression of Bax and cleaved caspase-3 were significantly inhibited in the hSAP pre-treatment group compared with the CCl4 group. hSAP administration also inhibited the migration and activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) in CCl4-injured liver and suppressed the activation of isolated primary HSCs induced by transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 in vitro. Collectively, these findings suggest that hSAP exerts a protective effect againts CCl4-induced hepatic injury by suppressing the inflammatory response and hepatocyte apoptosis, potentially by inhibiting HSC activation

Renal Function, Bisphenol A, and Alkylphenols: Results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES 2003–2006)

BACKGROUND: Urinary excretion of bisphenol A (BPA) and alkylphenols (APs) was used as a biomarker in most previous studies, but no study has investigated whether urinary excretion of these environmental phenols differed by renal function. OBJECTIVE: We estimated the association between renal function and urinary excretion of BPA and APs. METHODS: Analyses were conducted using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2003-2006. Renal function was measured as estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) calculated by the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) Study equation and by the newly developed Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equation. Regression models were used to calculate geometric means of urinary BPA and APs excretion by eGFR category (>= 90, 60-90, <60 mL/min/m(2)) after adjusting for potential confounding factors. RESULTS: When we used the MDRD Study equation, participants without known renal disease (n = 2,573), 58.2% (n = 1,499) had mildly decreased renal function or undiagnosed chronic kidney disease. The adjusted geometric means for urinary BPA excretion decreased with decreasing levels of eGFR (p for trend = 0.04). The associations appeared primarily in females (p for trend = 0.03). Urinary triclosan excretion decreased with decreasing levels of eGFR (p for trend <0.01) for both males and females, and the association primarily appeared in participants <65 years of age. The association between BPA and eGFR was nonsignificant when we used the CKD-EPI equation. CONCLUSIONS: Urinary excretion of triclosan, and possibly BPA, decreased with decreasing renal function. The associations might differ by age or sex. Further studies are necessary to replicate our results and understand the mechanism.http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000289065900035&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=8e1609b174ce4e31116a60747a720701Environmental SciencesPublic, Environmental & Occupational HealthToxicologySCI(E)22ARTICLE4527-53311

Ferroelastic-switching-driven colossal shear strain and piezoelectricity in a hybrid ferroelectric

Materials that can produce large controllable strains are widely used in shape memory devices, actuators and sensors. Great efforts have been made to improve the strain outputs of various material systems. Among them, ferroelastic transitions underpin giant reversible strains in electrically-driven ferro/piezoelectrics and thermally- or magneticallydriven shape memory alloys. However, large-strain ferroelastic switching in conventional ferroelectrics is very challenging while magnetic and thermal controls are not desirable for applications. Here, we demonstrate an unprecedentedly large shear strain up to 21.5 % in a hybrid ferroelectric, C6H5N(CH3)3CdCl3. The strain response is about two orders of magnitude higher than those of top-performing conventional ferroelectric polymers and oxides. It is achieved via inorganic bond switching and facilitated by the structural confinement of the large organic moieties, which prevents the undesired 180-degree polarization switching. Furthermore, Br substitution can effectively soften the bonds and result in giant shear piezoelectric coefficient (d35 ~ 4800 pm/V) in Br-rich end of the solid solution, C6H5N(CH3)3CdBr3xCl3(1-x). The superior electromechanical properties of the compounds promise their potential in lightweight and high energy density devices, and the strategy described here should inspire the development of next-generation piezoelectrics and electroactive materials based on hybrid ferroelectrics.Comment: 32 pages, 14 figures, 5 table

Phylogeny and evolutionary history of Leymus (Triticeae; Poaceae) based on a single-copy nuclear gene encoding plastid acetyl-CoA carboxylase

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Single- and low- copy genes are less likely subject to concerted evolution, thus making themselves ideal tools for studying the origin and evolution of polyploid taxa. <it>Leymus </it>is a polyploid genus with a diverse array of morphology, ecology and distribution in Triticeae. The genomic constitution of <it>Leymus </it>was assigned as NsXm, where Ns was presumed to be originated from <it>Psathyrostachys</it>, while Xm represented a genome of unknown origin. In addition, little is known about the evolutionary history of <it>Leymus</it>. Here, we investigate the phylogenetic relationship, genome donor, and evolutionary history of <it>Leymus </it>based on a single-copy nuclear <it>Acc1 </it>gene.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Two homoeologues of the <it>Acc1 </it>gene were isolated from nearly all the sampled <it>Leymus </it>species using allele-specific primer and were analyzed with those from 35 diploid taxa representing 18 basic genomes in Triticeae. Sequence diversity patterns and genealogical analysis suggested that (1) <it>Leymus </it>is closely related to <it>Psathyrostachys</it>, <it>Agropyron</it>, and <it>Eremopyrum</it>; (2) <it>Psathyrostachys juncea </it>is an ancestral Ns-genome donor of <it>Leymus </it>species; (3) the Xm genome in <it>Leymus </it>may be originated from an ancestral lineage of <it>Agropyron </it>and <it>Eremopyrum triticeum</it>; (4) the <it>Acc1 </it>sequences of <it>Leymus </it>species from the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau are evolutionarily distinct; (5) North America <it>Leymus </it>species might originate from colonization via the Bering land bridge; (6) <it>Leymus </it>originated about 11-12MYA in Eurasia, and adaptive radiation might have occurred in <it>Leymus </it>during the period of 3.7-4.3 MYA and 1.7-2.1 MYA.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p><it>Leymus </it>species have allopolyploid origin. It is hypothesized that the adaptive radiation of <it>Leymus </it>species might have been triggered by the recent upliftings of the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau and subsequent climatic oscillations. Adaptive radiation may have promoted the rapid speciation, as well as the fixation of unique morphological characters in <it>Leymus</it>. Our results shed new light on our understanding of the origin of Xm genome, the polyploidization events and evolutionary history of <it>Leymus </it>that could account for the rich diversity and ecological adaptation of <it>Leymus </it>species.</p

Functional interplay between SA1 and TRF1 in telomeric DNA binding and DNA-DNA pairing

Proper chromosome alignment and segregation during mitosis depend on cohesion between sister chromatids. Cohesion is thought to occur through the entrapment of DNA within the tripartite ring (Smc1, Smc3 and Rad21) with enforcement from a fourth subunit (SA1/SA2). Surprisingly, cohesin rings do not play a major role in sister telomere cohesion. Instead, this role is replaced by SA1 and telomere binding proteins (TRF1 and TIN2). Neither the DNA binding property of SA1 nor this unique telomere cohesion mechanism is understood. Here, using single-molecule fluorescence imaging, we discover that SA1 displays two-state binding on DNA: searching by one-dimensional (1D) free diffusion versus recognition through subdiffusive sliding at telomeric regions. The AT-hook motif in SA1 plays dual roles in modulating non-specific DNA binding and subdiffusive dynamics over telomeric regions. TRF1 tethers SA1 within telomeric regions that SA1 transiently interacts with. SA1 and TRF1 together form longer DNA-DNA pairing tracts than with TRF1 alone, as revealed by atomic force microscopy imaging. These results suggest that at telomeres cohesion relies on the molecular interplay between TRF1 and SA1 to promote DNA-DNA pairing, while along chromosomal arms the core cohesin assembly might also depend on SA1 1D diffusion on DNA and sequence-specific DNA binding

Breast cancer stage at diagnosis and area-based socioeconomic status: a multicenter 10-year retrospective clinical epidemiological study in China

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Although socioeconomic status (SES) has been focused on as a key determinant of cancer stage at diagosis in western countries, there has been no systemic study on the relationship of SES and breast cancer stage at diagnosis in China.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The medical charts of 4,211 eligible breast cancer patients from 7 areas across China who were diagnosed between 1999 and 2008 were reviewed. Four area-based socioeconomic indicators were used to calculate area-based SES by cluster analysis. The associations between area-based SES and stage at diagnosis were analyzed by trend chi-square tests. Binary logistic regression was performed to estimate odds ratios for individual demographic characteristics' effects on cancer stages, stratified by area-based SES.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The individual demographic and pathologic characteristics of breast cancer cases were significantly different among the seven areas studied. More breast cancer cases in low SES areas (25.5%) were diagnosed later (stages III & IV) than those in high (20.4%) or highest (14.8%) SES areas (<it>χ</it>²for trend = 80.79, <it>P </it>< 0.001). When area-based SES is controlled for, in high SES areas, cases with less education were more likely to be diagnosed at later stages compared with more educated cases. In low SES areas, working women appeared to be diagnosed at earlier breast cancer stages than were homemakers (OR: 0.18-0.26).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>In China, women in low SES areas are more likely to be diagnosed at later breast cancer stages than those in high SES areas.</p

An Updated Search of Steady TeV γ−\gamma-Ray Point Sources in Northern Hemisphere Using the Tibet Air Shower Array

Using the data taken from Tibet II High Density (HD) Array (1997 February-1999 September) and Tibet-III array (1999 November-2005 November), our previous northern sky survey for TeV $\gamma-$ray point sources has now been updated by a factor of 2.8 improved statistics. From $0.0^{\circ}$ to $60.0^{\circ}$ in declination (Dec) range, no new TeV $\gamma-$ray point sources with sufficiently high significance were identified while the well-known Crab Nebula and Mrk421 remain to be the brightest TeV $\gamma-$ray sources within the field of view of the Tibet air shower array. Based on the currently available data and at the 90% confidence level (C.L.), the flux upper limits for different power law index assumption are re-derived, which are approximately improved by 1.7 times as compared with our previous reported limits.Comment: This paper has been accepted by hepn

Compositionally tunable ternary Bi2(Se1-xTex)3 and (Bi1-ySby)2Te3 thin films via low pressure chemical vapor deposition

The inherently rapid ligand substitution kinetics associated with the novel and chemically compatible precursors, [MCl3(EnBu2)3] (M = Sb, Bi; E = Se, Te), enable CVD growth of ternary Bi2(Se1−xTex)3 and (Bi1−ySby)2Te3 thin films with very good compositional, structural and morphological control, for the first time. X-ray diffraction data follow Vegard's law and Raman bands shift linearly with the atom substitutions, indicating very well-distributed solid solutions